BLACK HEREFORDS
EPDS EXPLAINED The EPDs in this catalog were provided by the American Black Hereford Association, and were current at the time of compilation. The ABHA now has their EPD calculations done by IGS, the largest beef genetic evaluation system in the world, combining performance records from 20 million animals and nearly 20 different cattle organizations including the ABHA. An EPD is the difference in expected performance of future progeny of an individual, compared with expected performance of future progeny of an individual of average genetic merit. They are reported in units of measurement for each trait (e.g. lbs., cm, etc.) The data used in this analysis is based on up to 20 generations of J & N breeding and thousands of head of cattle measured over 45 years of performance testing for growth, maternal and carcass traits. PRODUCTION EPDS CALVING EASE DIRECT (CE): Predict the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when bred to first-calf heifers. Expressed as percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease. BIRTH WEIGHT EPD (BW): BW EPDs are expressed in pounds and predict the average difference that can be expected in an animal’s offspring when compared with another animal in the same genetic evaluation. Birth weight EPDs are primarily used as an indicator of calving ease, with the age and size of the females to be bred usually dictating how much birth weight can be tolerated. WEANING WEIGHT EPD (WW): EPDs are expressed in pounds and predict the average differences in weight that can be expected between the progeny of animals in the same genetic evaluation at 205 days of age. Weaning Weight EPDs do not account for differences in weaning weight that are due to milk. YEARLING WEIGHT EPD (YW): EPDs are expressed in pounds and predict the average differences that can be expected between the progeny of animals at one year of age. DOCILITY EPD (DOC): Docility EPDs predict the percentage of an animal’s offspring that are expected to score favorably (1 or 2) on a five point scale when compared to the offspring of another animal. They are expressed as a percentage with higher values being favorable. MATERNAL EPDS MATERNAL CALVING EASE EPD (MCE): Predict the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to the daughters of another sire in the same evaluation. Expressed as percentage of unassisted births. MATERNAL MILK EPD (M): Milk EPDs are expressed as pounds of calf weaned by a bull’s daughters. They reflect the average differences in weaning weight that can be expected in grand progeny due to the milking ability of a bull’s daughters. Available feed resources will dictate the extent to which milking ability should be selected.
CARCASS EPDS MARBLING EPD (MAR): Predict the average difference in USDA Quality Grade in an animal’s progeny when compared to the progeny of another animal at a given age endpoint. Expressed in numerical marbling score where one point equals one USDA marbling score. BACKFAT EPD (FAT): Estimate the average differences that are expected in external fat thickness at the 12th and 13th rib between progeny of different animals. Expressed in inches at a given age endpoint. RIBEYE AREA EPD (REA): Predict the average difference in ribeye area in an animal’s progeny when compared to the progeny of another animal at a given age endpoint. Expressed in square inches. SELECTION INDEXES Though EPDs allow for the comparison of genetic levels for many economically important traits, they only provide a piece of the economic puzzle. That’s where indexes come in. Through rigorous mathematical computation, $ indexes blend EPDs and economics to estimate an animal’s overall impact on your bottom line. The same technology that led to the dramatic progress in swine, poultry and dairy genetics over the last several decades was used to develop the following $ indexes. ALL PURPOSE INDEX (API): Evaluates sires for use on the entire cow herd (bred to both Angus first-calf heifers and mature Angus cows) with the portion of their daughters required to maintain herd size retained and the remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold grade and yield. TERMINAL INDEX (TI): Evaluates sires for use on mature Angus cows with all offspring put on feed and sold grade and yield. Consequently, maternal traits such as milk, stayability, and maternal calving ease are not considered in this index. Using API and TI, if you’re keeping replacements use API, if not use TI. If a bull has an API of 130 his offspring will generate $50 more than a bull with an API of 80. TI measures the increased value of offspring on feed. The higher the number, the more dollars paid when the are sold on a yield and grade basis.
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At The Ranch // Leavenworth, KS
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