Frequently Asked Questions
Q – In a nutshell, what is the program?
A – For Superior Genetics (SG), the animal must be in the top
15% (85th percentile ranking or
higher) of their breed according to the Production/Type Index (PTI) ranking at
least once during the life of the animal. The current listing starts with
the 2005 PTI rankings as that is the program’s starting point. To qualify, the ranking may be just in one
area (PTI 2:1 or PTI 1:2) or in both areas.
Once earned, the SG or SGCH becomes a permanent prefix to the animal’s
name and replaces show prefixes that may have already been a part of the
animal’s name.
Q – Do show records contribute?
A – No, the award is based on a combination of DHIR and
LA. But if you have a permanent
champion, the animal will have a SGCH rather than a SG designation only.
Q – Does a one-day milk test count
toward this?
A – No, genetic evaluations for
production only come from year around testing.
This provides the basis for calculating the PTIs.
Q – Can a doe have a SGCH without
having ever been on DHIR?
A – Yes, in
some circumstances, if the daughters and sons of that doe have production
records, a genetic evaluation on the doe is generated on the basis of her
progeny, similar to how it works for bucks.
Q – Does the PTI have to be in the
top 15% in each ratio?
A – No – the
award may be earned by being in either the top 15% of the 2:1 ratio
(emphasizing milk production) or in the top 15% of the 1:2 ratio (emphasizing
type).
Q – How are PTIs caculated?
A – The formulas for calculating PTIs
are listed in the Sire
Development pamphlet.
Q – How is the 15% determined?
A – The top 15% of the total number of
animals in each breed, by gender, that have PTI values.
Q – How often are awards applied?
A – PTIs
generally change twice per year, after the genetic evaluations are run by
USDA. Production evaluations come out in
the summer and type comes out at the end of the year. New SG will appear at those times. Animals already with SG can have a SGCH
appear after earning it through show wins at any time. For example, “SG Betsy” that becomes a
permanent champion will still have a show letter generated. A certificate generated would then change the
name to “SGCH Betsy”.
Q – When do you get a free
certificate revision?
A – The
program was initiated after awaiting computer programming. To catch up, animals were awarded in ‘batch’
fashion based on 2005 PTI values. ADGA
had all programming completed November 15th for this group. Animals
in this group are not eligible for a free revision. Only animals earning SG after 11-15-05 will
be eligible for free revision if they apply within 60 days of receiving
notification about the award. We don’t
expect to see any new SG awards until July of 2006.
Q – How can I find out if my does or
bucks have earned a Superior Genetics designation before the letter process
gets started?
A – There is search function at the ADGA website,
and there will be a complete listing in the 2006 1st quarter News
and Events.
Q – Can you lose the SG designation?
A – While your animal may drop below the 85th
percentile at some time during their life, once the designation is earned it
stays with the animal. The requirement
is that the animal be in the top 15% at least once during their lifetime.
Q– Why are there no Experimentals on the list?
A - The
PTI calculation relies on breed constants for fat % and standard deviations for
fat corrected milk. It isn't possible to
come up with a "breed" average for Experimentals when there are so
many combinations.
Q– Why are there no Nigerian Dwarf goats on the list?
A - The
PTI calculation relies on breed constants for fat % and standard deviations for
fat corrected milk. We do not have
enough data to determine "breed" averages yet for Nigerian Dwarf goats,
especially in the area of type (appraisal).
We expect to be gathering data until 2010 at which time we will have
enough data to set breed averages.
Q – Why then are there Sables on the
list, they are a new breed too?
A – Sables, coming from the Saanen
herdbook are using Saanen breed constants.
Q – Can you give me a simple example
of how the cutoffs and rankings work?
A
– You
have 20 does in a breed with the following 2005 PTI rankings:
|
|
2:1 Rank/PTI
|
1:2 Rank/PTI
|
|
Brownie
|
#1
|
100
|
#1
|
125
|
|
Angel
|
#2
|
92
|
#5
|
63
|
|
Daisy
|
#3
|
61
|
#4
|
82
|
|
Molly
|
#4
|
54
|
#7
|
41
|
|
Elsie
|
#5
|
53
|
#2
|
100
|
|
|
#6
|
49
|
#6
|
62
|
|
|
#7
|
34
|
#8
|
37
|
|
|
#8
|
21
|
#9
|
22
|
|
|
#9
|
13
|
#10
|
15
|
|
Clara
|
#10
|
11
|
#3
|
93
|
|
|
#11
|
10
|
#12
|
9
|
|
|
#12
|
8
|
#14
|
7
|
|
|
#13
|
7
|
#15
|
5
|
|
|
#14
|
6
|
#16
|
3
|
|
|
#15
|
5
|
#18
|
0
|
|
|
#16
|
3
|
#11
|
11
|
|
|
#17
|
0
|
#13
|
8
|
|
|
#18
|
-3
|
#19
|
-30
|
|
|
#19
|
-20
|
#17
|
2
|
|
|
#20
|
-30
|
#20
|
-40
|
There are 20
animals in this breed so three animals make up the top 15%. In the first 2:1 rankings column, Brownie
gets an SG as she is #1. She also would
receive it from being the top rank in the 1:2.
Angel and Daisy receive it because they are #2 and #3 in the 2:1
ranking.
Elsie and Clara
will also get an SG award because if you ordered the second column of 1:2
rankings, they would be in the top three (15%), along with Brownie.
Molly might have a
chance to earn SG in 2006 when more information is available and her rankings
may go up based on new information on her, or on her relatives from being on
DHIR or from additional appraisal information.
Q
- What are the cutoff rankings for all breeds?
A - As animals earn PTI's, and genetic evaluations are released, the cutoff values will change over time. But remember, that once earned, the SG stays even if the PTI falls below the current cutoffs. As of November, 2009, the cutoffs are:
|
Doe 2:1 |
Doe 1:2 |
Buck 2:1 |
Buck 1:2 |
Alpine |
60 |
105 |
52 |
92 |
LaMancha |
98 |
114 |
80 |
95 |
Nubian |
33 |
3 |
23 |
0 |
Oberhasli |
25 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Saanen |
68 |
93 |
56 |
74 |
Sable |
70 |
92 |
22 |
66 |
Toggenburg |
124 |
144 |
119 |
131 |
Q – Where can I find out more?
A
–
http://adga.org/05BoDSummary.html
http://www.adga.org/SuperiorGenetics.html
http://adga.org/SD/genetic_abc.pdf
http://adga.org/SD/SireDevelopment.htm
ADGA News &
Events (performance program articles)
http://www.aipl.arsusda.gov/reference/goat/goatsfs.html
