EPD - EXPECTED PROGENY DIFFERENCE - The expected difference in performance of a bull’s progeny compared to the performance of another sire’s progeny. In other words, EPDs for one animal are meaningless until they are compared to EPDs of another animal. For example, if Sire A has a birth weight EPD of 4.0 and Sire B has a birth weight EPD of -2.0, then calves from Sire B would be expected to average 6 pounds lighter at birth than calves from Sire A if the bulls are randomly mated in the same herd. EPDs are designed to compare sires within the same breed. % RANK - Based on percentages, this indicates where a bull’s EPD ranks him in the entire population of his respective breed. CED OR CE - Calving Ease Direct is the difference in percentage of unassisted births when a sire is bred to firstcalf heifers. A higher number is desirable. BW - Birth Weight EPD predicts the difference in average birth weight of a bull’s calves compared to calves of another bull. Reported in pounds, a lower number is desirable. WW - Weaning Weight EPD predicts the difference in average 205-day weight of a bull’s progeny compared to calves of another bull. Reported in pounds, a higher number is desirable. YW - Yearling Weight EPD predicts the difference in average 365-day weight of a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of another bull. Reported in pounds, a higher number is generally desirable. SC - Scrotal Circumference EPD expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires. DOC - Docility 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. MILK - The milk EPD predicts the difference in average 205-day weight of a bull’s daughters’ calves compared to the calves from daughters of another bull. Reported in pounds, ideal milk values depend heavily upon the nutritional environment of the herd. STAY - STAYABILITY (SIMMENTAL) - The stayability EPD predicts the probability of a bull’s daughters staying in production to at least six years of age compared to daughters of another bull. Reported as a percentage, a higher value is desirable. CARCASS TRAITS – EPDs for carcass traits are calculated using weighted averages of yearling ultrasounds and progeny carcass data. CW - CARCASS WEIGHT - The EPD predicts the difference in hot carcass weight of a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of all other bulls evaluated at a given endpoint. Reported in pounds, a higher number is generally desirable. MARB - MARBLING - The EPD predicts the difference in average USDA marbling score of a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of another bull at a similar end point. Reported in degrees of a marbling score, higher values are desirable. REA - RIBEYE AREA - The EPD predicts the difference in ribeye area of a bull’s progeny compared to the progeny of another bull and is an indicator of total muscle in the carcass. Reported in square inches, larger numbers are generally desirable. FAT - The EPD predicts the difference in fat thickness of carcasses, measured between the 12th and 13th ribs, of a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of another bull. Reported in inches, lower values are desirable. CLAW - Claw Set EPD 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.
ANGLE - Foot Angle EPD is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favor- able 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. YG - YIELD GRADE (SIMMENTAL) – The EPD predicts differences in USDA Yield Grade of a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of another bull. Reported in tenths of a USDA YG, lower numbers are desirable. MATERNAL WEANED CALF VALUE ($M; ANGUS) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences from conception to weaning with the underlying breeding objective assuming that individuals retain their own replacement females within herd and sell the rest of the cull female and all male progeny as feeder calves. The model assumes commercial producers will replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% of their breeding females in each sub- sequent generation. Traits included are as follows: calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, milk, heifer pregnancy, docility, mature cow weight, claw set and foot angle. WEANED CALF VALUE ($W; ANGUS) , an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny at weaning compared to progeny of another sire. $W accounts for differences in birth weight, weaning weight direct, maternal milk, and mature cow size. FEEDLOT VALUE ($F; ANGUS), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny for postweaning feedlot performance compared to progeny of another sire.
GRID VALUE ($G; ANGUS), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny when sold on a carcass grid basis compared to progeny of another sire.
BEEF VALUE ($B; ANGUS), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny for postweaning growth performance and carcass value compared to progeny of another sire. COMBINED VALUE ($C; ANGUS), expressed in dollars per head, is an index which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($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 eventually 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). $C = $M + (1.297x$B). ALL-PURPOSE INDEX (API; SIMMENTAL), expressed in net dollars returned per cow exposed, evaluates Simmental sires being used on the entire cowherd (bred to both Angus first-calf heifers and mature cows) with a portion of the daughters retained for breeding and the steers and remaining heifers fed and sold on a carcass grade and yield basis. With the exception of shear force (tenderness), all EPDs are considered in this index. TERMINAL INDEX (TI; SIMMENTAL), expressed in net dollars returned per cow exposed, evaluates the merit of sires when bred to mature Angus cows and all progeny are fed and sold on a carcass grade and yield basis. Consequently, maternal traits such as milk, stayability and MCE are not considered in this index.
2: Van Beek Angus • April 30, 2024• Mobridge Livestock
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