Bozeman, MT — International Genetic Solutions (IGS) is an unprecedented collaboration between progressive breed associations fervently committed to enhancing commercial profitability. The collaboration has yielded the world’s largest genetic evaluation of beef cattle with over 17 million animals and 120,000+ genotypes.

In keeping with our commitment to the cattle industry, IGS is pleased to announce the IGS Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLTTM. The new genetic evaluation provides more predictive EPDs, better use of genomics, more accurate accuracy reported with EPDs, all with weekly evaluations. The announcement ushers in a new era in genetic evaluation — an era made possible by a genetic evaluation system dubbed BOLT (Biometric Open Language Tools, owned by Theta Solutions, LLC).

The concept for BOLT started in 2014 as a research endeavor between the American Simmental Association (ASA) and Drs. Bruce Golden and Dorian Garrick. BOLT is, quite simply, the most revolutionary and powerful genetic evaluation system in existence. Its power allows IGS to leverage genetic evaluation methodology that was once thought to be untenable on large databases — methodology that significantly improves genetic prediction.

In December of 2016, IGS published a multi-breed stayability, the industry’s first EPD using BOLT and the first single-step methodology applied to a large beef cattle database. Since that time, the IGS genetic evaluation team has worked toward fully implementing BOLT with an automated system that enables weekly evaluations for an entire suite of EPDs. As of May 4, 2018, ASA is the first of the IGS partners to publish a full suite of EPDs generated by the IGS Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT. Each IGS partner has complete autonomy to determine the release date that best fits their organization. As such, the release of EPDs by the other IGS partners is likely to be staggered over the next several weeks. As always, we look forward to your questions and comments about what you see.

Here are the notable changes in the evaluation:
Movement of EPDs and reranking. EPDs and indexes will change. These changes will be more dramatic for younger, lower accuracy cattle. The IGS team has tested the changes and proven the new EPDs result in superior predictions of genetic merit.
Shrinking of EPD range. You will notice a reduction in the range of EPDs for most traits. The IGS
evaluation team tested the statistical veracity of the reduction and it has proven to be in line with
expectations based on the genetic variation in the population.
Improved use of genomics. With the switch to the BOLT software, IGS will use single-step genomic
evaluation on all EPDs. Single-step uses DNA markers, pedigree information, and phenotypic data
simultaneously in the prediction of EPDs. Previously, molecular breeding values (MBVs) were
calculated from the genomic information and those MBVs were blended in a separate procedure into
the EPD predictions. The single-step method squeezes more information from the DNA markers than
the previous approach allowed. Additionally, with single-step, the genomic information will not only
enhance each EPD for the genotyped animals but also will be used in the EPD estimates of relatives.

It is well established that DNA markers vary greatly in their effect on traits — ranging from large to
virtually no impact. To leverage this biological fact in a statistically advantageous manner, the BOLT
single-step method only uses markers that have a meaningful impact on the traits of interest, while
ignoring those that have little to no effect. Research has shown that by using this approach, BOLT
reduces statistical “noise” and thereby increases the accuracy of the EPD prediction compared to other
single-step methods.

It is important to note, continued collection of phenotypic records remains a vital part of genetic
predictions. DNA testing will never replace the need to record and submit phenotypes.
More accurate accuracy. In the previous IGS evaluation platform, and all others in existence other
than BOLT, the calculation of the accuracy associated with each EPD is achieved through
“approximation” methods. It has long been known these methods are a less than optimal approach to
the calculation of accuracy — tending to overestimate accuracy. By employing unique computing
strategies that leverage both software and hardware efficiencies, BOLT performs what was previously
unthinkable — utilizing a sampling methodology to calculate what is essentially true accuracy. Unlike
approximated accuracies, BOLT-derived accuracies will result in predicted movements associated
with possible change holding true over time. This is not the case with the previous IGS software or
any other system currently in existence.

While the IGS evaluation team and partners are excited to release this new chapter in genetic
evaluation, the new genetic evaluation system will only realize its true potential if selection is made
using its EPD and index values. Hands down, there is no better (more accurate) way to select for
quantitative traits than an EPD. Economic indexes predict net profit by weighing the EPD for
economically relevant traits coupled with economic estimates. To compete with other protein
sources, it is imperative that the beef industry adopt the best science and technology to make better
breeding selection decisions.

For more information about the IGS Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT, go to
www.internationalgeneticsolutions.com.

Source: IGS news release