EPDs DECODED BIRTH WEIGHT (BW) predicts the difference, in pounds, for birth weight, and is also used in the calculation of Red Angus’ Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD. CALVING EASE MATERNAL (CEM) predicts the probability of a given animal’s daughters calving unassisted at two years of age. Replacement heifers should be able to calve on their own. 12TH RIB FAT THICKNESS (FAT) predicts differences for carcass fat depth over the 12th rib, as expressed in inches. Increases in fat thickness has a detrimental effect on Yield Grade. MILK EPD (MILK) predicts the difference in maternal production of an individual animal’s daughters as expressed by the weaning weight of their calves. RIB EYE AREA (REA) predicts differences of carcass Rib Eye Area between the 12th and 13th rib. Increased Rib Eye Area has a beneficial effect on Yield Grade which also includes Carcass Weight and Fat Thickness. STAYABILITY (STAY) predicts the probability of a bull’s daughters remaining productive until at least six years of age. Why six? That’s how long it takes a female to breakeven given all the expenses of development. YEARLING WEIGHT (YW) predicts the expected difference, in pounds, for yearling weight (adjusted to a standard 365 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to yearling. WEANING WEIGHT (WW) predicts the difference, in pounds, for weaning weight (adjusted to age of dam and a standard 205 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to weaning. RED BRANGUS ONLY EPDs U.S. INTRAMUSCULAR FAT (IMF) is reported in decimal terms representing percentage of intramuscular fat, which is highly correlated with USDA marbling score, a major determinant of USDA quality grade. As with all EPDs, the absolute value has no inherent relevance, but is used to compare one sire to another. TOTAL MATERNAL (TM) is reported in pounds as a reflection of a sire’s daughters milking ability and growth potential of their calves when compared to other sire’s daughters. It is equal to the Milk EPD plus one half of the WW SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE (SC) is reported in centimeters and predicts the difference in yearling scrotal circumference of a bull’s male progeny compared to sons of other sires. COW WEIGHT (COW WT), or Mature Cow Weight (MCW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature cow weight of a sire’s daughters when compared to daughters of other sires. TERMINAL INDEX (TI) is a bioeconomic index which considers six growth and carcass-related traits, each trait weighted according to its heritability and economic importance in a feedlot situation with carcasses valued by weight, yield, and quality grade. The value is expressed in standard deviation terms, which can be difficult to comprehend. IBBA advises breeders to evaluate the percentile rank rather than the actual index value. FERTILITY INDEX (FI) is a bioeconomic index which considers six traits, each trait weighted according to its heritability and economic importance in a cow-calf enterprise. The value is expressed in standard deviation terms, which can be difficult to comprehend. IBBA advises breeders to evaluate the percentile rank rather than the actual index value. BREED BACK (BB) is the probability that a cow will have a second calf at 3 years old given she had a calf as a 2 year old. NUMBER OF CALVES (NC) measures the number of calves an animal has to 7 ½ years of age. 9
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