UNDERSTANDING THE DATA Limousin
Maternal and Growth Traits Calving ease direct (CED): Percent of unassisted births of a bull’s calves when he is used on heifers. A higher number is favorable, meaning better calving ease. Birth weight (BW): Predicts the difference, in pounds, for birth weight of the calf. 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. 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. Scrotal circumference (SC): Is a good indicator of age at puberty, and is a highly heritable trait. EPDs for scrotal circumference are expressed in centimeters, with higher values indicating genes for larger yearling scrotal circumferences of sons and earlier puberty of daughters. Docility (Doc): Predicts genetic differences in the probability that offspring are scored a 1 (docile) or 2 (restless) as opposed to 3, 4, 5 or 6 (nervous to very aggressive). Higher EPD values for docility represent genetics for calmer behavior. Calving ease maternal (CEM): Represented as percent of unassisted births in a sire’s first-calving daughters. A higher number represents more favorable calving ease. Milk (MK): The genetic ability of a sire’s daughters to produce milk expressed in pounds of weaning weight.
Total maternal (TM): An index that combines growth and milk information as a prediction of the weaning weight performance of calves from a sire’s daughters. A greater TM value means a mother that returns comparatively higher weaning weights on her calves. TM Index = MK EPD + ½ WW EPD. Stayability (ST): Predicts the genetic difference, in terms of percent probability, that a bull’s daughters will stay productive within a herd to at least six year of age. The stayability EPD is one of the best measures currently available to compare a bull’s ability to produce females with reproductive longevity. Carcass Traits Yield grade (YG): Differences in yield grade score, which is a predictor of percent retail product. Smaller values suggest that progeny will have a better lean to fat ratio. Carcass weight (CW): Differences in pounds of hot carcass weight, adjusted to an industry standard age endpoint. Ribeye area (REA): Differences in ribeye area in inches between the 12th and 13th rib. Greater ribeye areas are preferable. Marbling (MB): Predicts the differences in the degree of marbling within the ribeye as expressed in marbling score units. Greater marbling numbers are preferable and are an indicator of higher carcass quality grades. Fat (FT): Differences for fat thickness, in inches, for a carcass over the 12th rib. Smaller numbers of fat thickness are preferable as excess fat can be detrimental to yield grade. Terminal Profit Index ($TPI): Predicts genetic differences in profit per carcass by combining the potential for and value of post- weaning growth, quality grade and yield.
LIM-FLEX CATTLE
CUSTOMER success Cramer Farms is a progressive crop and cattle operation in northern Missouri. They have been Buck Ridge bull customers and friends for the past 15 years. Below is harvest data from a set of cattle they fed and sold on the grid. 3 58% CAB or Prime 3 100% Choice & Above 3 65% Yield CAN DO IT ALL! Excellent Quality Grade with Superior Yield Grade
Amazing combination of quality and red meat yield with no YG4 or YG5 deductions!
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BUCK RIDGE CATTLE COMPANY - OCTOBER 27, 2025 - 1PM
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