Real-time Ultrasound Trait Age Adjustment Factors for Replacement Angus Heifers

Real-time ultrasound (RTU) images from replacement Angus heifers were analyzed to determine adjustment factors and genetic parameter estimates. The traits analyzed included ribeye area, 12-13th rib fat thickness, rump fat thickness, and % intramuscular fat. Adjustments were calculated for heifers averaging 805 lbs at time of scanning. The adjustments include age adjustment and weight per day of age adjustment factors

Progress Report: Centralized Ultrasound Processing

In January of 1998 Iowa State University began a twoyear cooperative research pilot project with the American Angus Association (AAA). The purpose was to organize the collection and interpretation of ultrasound images and calculate Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) for genetic improvement of carcass traits using the ultrasound data. The first Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) center was established and located at Iowa State Universtiy. In 1998 a select group of ultrasound technicians was trained following a unique protocol for the collection of ultrasound images including rump fat thickness, rib fat thickness, ribeye area and % intramuscular fat (marbling). Images for over 9,000 head of bulls, steers, replacement heifers and feedlot heifers were received and processed through the CUP laboratory during 1998. Many of the results of these data can be found in ASL R1625

Adjustment Factors for Ultrasound Measures in Yearling Angus Bulls and Developing Heifers

Ultrasound measures for 12-13th rib fat thickness, rump fat thickness, ribeye area and % intramuscular fat have been collected on more than 27,000 yearling Angus bulls and more than 7,000 developing heifers as part of a two-year research program with the American Angus Association. The effects of the age of the cow producing the calf and the age of the calf at scanning time are significant and must be accounted for through adjustments to the actual ultrasound measures before breeders can use the information to compare animals within contemporary groups

Carcass EPDs for Yearling Angus Bulls Using Real-time Ultrasound Measures

Real-time ultrasound (RTU) images from yearling Angus bulls were analyzed to determine adjustment factors and genetic parameter estimates. The traits analyzed included ribeye area, 12-13th rib fat thickness, rump fat thickness, and % intramuscular fat. The heritability estimates are higher than those calculated from the American Angus Association’s carcass database. Expected progeny differences (EPD) for these traits were computed for the sires that produced the yearling bulls. The rank correlations for sires with both carcass EPD and RTU EPD from this study were developed. As accuracy for RTU EPD increases, the rank correlation with carcass EPD increases positively

Comparison of Sire Carcass EPD Rankings Using Real-time Ultrasound Measures from Yearling Angus Bulls Versus Using Measures from Developing Angus Heifers

The purpose of this study was to compare how sires rank on EPD generated solely from yearling Angus bull measures against those generated solely from developing heifer measures. Ultrasound EPD from heifer progeny ultrasound measures are ranking the sires identically to the EPD from the bull progeny ultrasound measures. The heifer data complement the bull data, and breeders should be encouraged to scan all of their developing females at or around 390 days of age to improve the accuracy of carcass EPD based ultrasound measures

Genetic Relationship between Live Animal Ultrasound Measures and Scrotal Circumference in Yearling Angus Bulls

The purpose of this study was to determining the relationship between 365-d yearling scrotal circumference, scanning weight, and component ultrasound measured compositional traits. The genetic correlations between scrotal circumference measured at 365-d of age and other live animal measures are low. Of these five genetic relationships, the highest correlation is with % intramuscular fat (IMF) at .13. However, this is a low genetic correlation. The positive sign of the scrotal circumference-% IMF genetic correlation is encouraging for breeders wanting to increase scrotal circumference and % IMF at the same time. Scrotal circumference in yearling Angus bulls is not strongly linked genetically with weight and compositional traits. Selection programs for either increased retail product (as measured by weight and ribeye area) or quality (as measured by % IMF) will not result in an antagonistic effect on scrotal circumference

Carcass EPDs from Angus Heifer Real-time Ultrasound Scans

The objective of this research was to use developing Angus heifer real-time ultrasound records to estimate genetic parameters and calculate carcass EPD for external 12-13th rib fat (FAT), rump fat thickness (RFAT), ribeye area (REA), and % intramuscular fat (%IMF). Heritability estimates are all of a moderate level (\u3e .40) and are higher than the estimates determined previously with bull-only ultrasound data. Genetic correlations are generally of the same magnitude and same sign as previously reported with the bull-only ultrasound data. Angus breeders need to be alerted to the fact that developing heifers can be scanned to accurately predict carcass merit in steer-mate half-sibs. The results of this research indicate that the heifer data may be more accurate than the half-sib yearling bulls findings because the heritability estimates from the heifer data are higher than those estimated from the yearling bull data

Engaging rural communities health policy

Aims & Rationale: The Alma-Ata Declaration espouses participation as a right for all citizens and important in the provision of primary health care. Australian health policy discourse encourages citizen engagement, but the extent to which this actually occurs remains unclear. Citizen engagement potentially offers considerable benefits for rural communities – a population with known health disadvantages. Drawing on results of a research project exploring the health policy implications for rural maternity care, this paper aims to (a) discuss the extent of community participation found in four rural north Queensland towns; and (b)consider how policy discourse around citizen engagement may be applied to rural health policies. Methods: Case studies of four rural north Queensland towns were completed. Observational, interview and documentary data were collected and qualitatively analysed via an inductive thematic technique. Findings: The case studies provided little indication of formal mechanisms through which community members could provide input to local health service delivery. Two communities demonstrated rapid mobilisation to rally and apply political pressure when their health services were threatened, but a distinction must be made between community action and true engagement processes. While mindful of the benefits, interviewees at all sites were particularly concerned about the barriers to successful community engagement, including: (i) overcoming community scepticism; (ii) concerns about representativeness; and (iii) community capacity. Benefits to the community: For rural communities, citizen engagement may have particular advantages in enhancing the appropriateness and responsiveness of local health services. Recommendations are made for improving rural communities' input to health policies which affect them

Health policy: outcomes for rural residents’ access to maternity care

Regular health care during pregnancy, birthing and the postnatal period is recommended for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes and accessing such care has become a common expectation for Australian families. Studies have highlighted the relative safety of birthing in rural hospitals even though these units are typically associated with low volumes of deliveries. Yet, in Queensland, the location and number of public maternity units shows a clear trend towards centralisation of services. During 1995- 2005, 43% of Queensland public maternity units closed, with the remaining units predominantly located in coastal and more populated locations. The closure of rural maternity units is not restricted to Queensland: the National Rural Health Alliance estimated 130 rural maternity units had closed across Australia throughout the decade 1996-20065. Growing numbers of closed rural maternity units raises considerable questions regarding the care accessed by rural residents. This paper presents findings from research conducted in north Queensland which examined the impact of health policy on an issue that is of central importance to rural communities—access to birthing services. A multi-dimensional understanding of access to maternity services was adopted in this study, a view which goes beyond measuring access only in terms of geographic distance. Gulliford et al have provided a constructive discussion of the multifaceted nature of access, particularly the differentiation between ‘having access’ and ‘gaining access’ to health care. Having access implies that a person has the opportunity to use a health service if they need or want it. This type of access is often measured in terms of doctors or hospital beds per capita and is dependent on the provision, and geographical allocation of resources, as well as the actual configuration of the network of health services. The authors draw attention to Mooney’s proposition that equal costs in using a service (eg costs of care, costs of travel, lost work) indicates equal access to services. On the other hand, gaining access to health care can be complicated by a variety of barriers including those of a personal nature (eg patients recognising their need to access health care); financial (that is, costs to be borne by the potential patient) or organisational (eg waiting lists)