Top Ten Bulls EPD Values shown by Lot Number
Lot# CED 25 +15 11 +14 57 +14 8 +13 27 +13 44 +13 51 +13 30 +12 40 +12 43 +12 Lot# Milk 46 +38 64 +38 74 +37 21 +36 33 +36 48 +35 44 +34 40 +34 16 +34 49,56 +34
Lot# BW 46 -2.3 11 -1.6 51 -1.3 25 -.9 12 -.9 40 -.8 68 -.8 44 -.5 4 -.5 8, 9 -.3 Lot# Teat 7 +1.22 59 +.94 60 +.93 55 +.85
Lot# WW 35 +103 2 +101 13 +100 37 +98 63 +97 38 +96 26 +94 70 +94 16 +93 49 +93
Lot# YW 63 +174 26 +174 13 +173 38 +173 35 +169 2 +168 37 +161 49 +159 6 +159 16 +158
Lot# SC
Lot# DOC 5 +34 4 +32 40 +31 43 +31 8 +31 58 +29 36 +29 42 +29 47 +29 +28 1,11,17
Lot# Claw 29 +.30 5 +.31 9 +.32 4 +.33 42 +.34 47 +.34 19 +.34 75 +.34 40,30 +.35 50,27 +.35
Lot# Angle 6 +.21 19 +.31 47 +.32 50 +.34 29 +.35 75 +.35 48 +.35 49 +.35 24 +.35 63,13 +.36
Lot# PAP 74 -2.47 55 -2.16 12 -2.01 57 -1.83 1 -1.46 52 -1.22 3 -1.03 34 -1.00 35 -.98 56 -.80
Lot# HP 22 +17.2 58 +16.8 46 +16.5 39 +16.3 9 +15.5 35 +15.1 38 +15.0 20 +14.8 21 +14.7 24 +14.7 Lot# $C 13 +404 41 +356 21 +351 22 +346 14 +343 38 +342 57 +337 16 +335 24 +332 70 +331
71 +2.29 37 +2.04 15 +1.95 32 +1.87 66 +1.82 73 +1.81 40 +1.78 67 +1.71 31 +1.69 +1.67 2,58,33
Lot# Uddr 7 +1.08 59 +.86 60 +.86 6 +.83 67 +.79 27 +.77 24 +.77 52 +.77 70 +.76 68 +.73
Lot# FL
Lot# CW 13 +102 63 +97 26 +87 37 +85 38 +82 6,14 +81 2 +80 35 +77
Lot# Marb 16 +1.65 18 +1.48 67 +1.47 41 +1.36 66 +1.32 57 +1.24 27 +1.22 56 +1.20 38 +1.19 13 +1.17
Lot# RE
Lot# $M 22 +120 9 +118 21 +115 29 +110 43 +109 8 +108 40 +107 11 +106 57 +105 46,47 +103
Lot# $W 2 +109 40 +105 47 +104 9 +100 57 +100 56 +100 36 +100 35 +100 16 +100 42 +99
Lot# $B 13 +242 14 +221 38 +209 63 +202 16 +202 41 +198 27 +197 39 +193 67 +193 26 +190
58 +1.20 6 +1.18 51 +1.18 66 +1.18 40 +1.18 8 +1.18 43 +1.18 1 +1.18 9 +1.18 74 +1.18
26 +1.36 6 +1.26 13 +1.19 61 +1.13 7 +1.07 38 +1.06 39 +1.06 49 +1.06 34 +1.02 32 +.99
6 +.82 12 +.81 27 +.81 46 +.78 28 +.76 29 +.74
70,41 +76 39,36 +76
EPD Definitions PRODUCTION EPDS
$VALUE INDEXES Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences from conception to weaning with the underlying breeding objective assuming that individuals retain their own replacement females within herd and sell the rest of the cull female and all male progeny as feeder calves. The model assumes commercial producers will replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% of their breeding females in each subsequent generation. Traits included are as follows: calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, milk, heifer pregnancy, docility, mature cow weight, claw set and foot angle. Weaned Calf Value ($W) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics from birth to weaning. The underlying objective being producers will retain 20% of the female progeny as replacements and sell the rest of the cull females and their male counterparts as feeder calves. Traits included are as follows (in no particular order): birth weight, weaning weight, milk, and mature cow weight. Beef Value ($B) , a terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning and carcass traits. This termi- nal index assumes commercial producers wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows: yearling weight, dry-matter intake, marbling, carcass weight, ribeye area and fat. Combined Value ($C) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value ($B) with the objective that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of those cattle and sell them on a quality-based carcass merit grid. Expected progeny differences (EPDs) directly influencing a combined index: calving ease direct (CED) and maternal (CEM), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), ma- ternal milk (Milk), heifer pregnancy (HP), docility (DOC), mature cow weight (MW), foot angle (Angle), claw set (Claw), dry matter intake (DMI), marbling (Marb), carcass weight (CW), ribeye area (RE) and fat thickness (Fat).
Teat Size EPD (Teat) , expressed in units of teat size score, with a higher EPD indicating a sire will produce daughters with smaller teat size compared to that of other sires’ daughters. MANAGEMENT EPDS Docility (Doc) , is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average difference of progeny from a sire in comparison with another sire’s calves. In herds where temperament problems are not an issue, this expected difference would not be realized. Claw Set EPD (Claw) , is expressed in units of claw-set score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal claw set. The ideal claw set is toes that are symmetrical, even and appropriately spaced. Foot Angle EPD (Angle) , is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal foot angle. The ideal is a 45-degree angle at the pastern joint with appropriate toe length and heel depth. Pulmonary arterial pressure EPD (PAP) , is expressed in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny with a lower PAP score. PAP score is an indicator of sus- ceptibility to high altitude disease commonly experienced at elevations greater than 5,500 feet. Selection for this trait aims to improve the genetic potential for a sire’s progeny to have lower PAP scores thus a lower chance of contracting high altitude disease increasing the environ- mental adaptability of cattle living in mountain areas. CARCASS EPDS Carcass Weight EPD (CW) , expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Marbling EPD (Marb) , expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Ribeye Area EPD (RE) , expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire’s proge- ny compared to progeny of other sires.
Calving Ease Direct (CED) , is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indi- cating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers. Birth Weight EPD (BW) , expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Weaning Weight EPD (WW) , expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Yearling Weight EPD (YW) , expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC) , expressed in centime- ters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires. MATERNAL EPDS Heifer Pregnancy (HP) , is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance of a sire’s daughters becoming preg- nant as first-calf heifers during a normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction and the EPD is reported in percentage units. Maternal Milk EPD (Milk) , is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability. Udder Suspension EPD (UDDR) , expressed in units of udder suspension score, with a higher EPD indicating a sire will produce daughters with tighter udder suspension compared to that of other sires’ daughters. Functional Longevity EPD (FL) , expressed in number of calves, is a predictor of the number of calves a sire’s daughters are predicted to produce by 6 years of age compared to that of other sires’ daughters. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction indicating more calves produced on average.
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