AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION // SELECTION TOOL Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the prediction of how future progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear on young animals when their performance has yet to be incorporated into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures. This EPD will be preceded by an “I”, and may or may not include the animal’s own performance record for a particular trait, depending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.
CARCASS EPDs Carcass Weight EPD (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the dif - ferences 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 dif - ference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Fat Thickness EPD (Fat) , expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differ - ences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Group/progeny (C Grp/ Pg and U Grp/Pg) reflects the number of contem- porary groups and the number of carcass and ultrasound progeny included in the analysis. $VALUE INDEXES $Value indexes, an economic selection index allows multiple change in sev - eral different traits at once pertaining to a specific breeding objective. The $Value is an estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to per - form, on average, compared to progeny of other sires if the sires were ran - domly mated to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment. Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($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 re- placement 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 ($W), an index, expressed in dollars per head, to pre - dict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics from birth to wean- ing. The underlying objective being producers will retain 20% of the female progeny as replacements and sell the rest of the cull females and their male counterparts as feeder calves. Traits included are as follows (in no particu - lar order): birth weight, weaning weight, milk, and mature cow weight. Beef Value ($B), a terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to pre - dict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning and carcass traits. This terminal 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 ($C), an index, expressed in dollars per head, which in - cludes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($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), maternal 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).
PRODUCTION EPDs Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating 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 centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires. 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 dif - ference 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 susceptibility to high altitude disease commonly experienced at eleva - tions 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. MATERNAL EPDs Heifer Pregnancy (HP), is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance of a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant 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 at - tributed to milk and mothering ability. 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 com - pared to that of other sires’ daughters. 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 pre - dicted to produce by 6 years of age compared to that of other sires’ daugh - ters. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction indicating more calves produced on average. Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollar savings per cow per year, as - sesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when compar - ing two animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy require - ments and energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.
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