RED ANGUS Guide TO EPDS
ProS ..... Profitability and Sustainability is an all-purpose index that predicts average economic differences in all segments in the beef supply chain. This index is a combination of the breeding objectives modeled in the HerdBuilder and GridMaster selection indexes. In this index, replacement heifers are retained from within the herd and all remaining progeny are fed out to slaughter and sold on a quality-based grid. Traits included in this index include calving ease, growth, HPG, STAY, Mature Weight, Dry Matter Intake and carcass traits. The resulting index is expressed in dollars per head born (Index/High Value). HB ....... HerdBuilder is a maternal selection index that predicts the economic differences of animals for traits that are important from conception through weaning. Expressed as dollars per head born, HB is calculated based on the scenario that bulls are mated to heifers and cows, replacement heifers are retained and all remaining progeny are marketed at weaning. Traits included in the HB index include Calving Ease Direct, Calving Ease Maternal, Weaning Weight, Milk, Mature Weight, Heifer Pregnancy and Stayability (Index/High Value). GM ....... GridMaster is a selection index that predicts the average economic difference of non-replacement calves through the post-weaning phase of production. GM places selection pressure on growth, feedyard performance and carcass traits. Expressed as dollars per head born, GM is calculated based on the scenario that progeny are fed out to slaughter and marketed on a quality-based carcass grid. Traits included in GM include Average Daily Gain, Carcass Weight, Dry Matter Intake, Marbling, Back Fat and Rib Eye Area (Index/High Value). CED ........Calving Ease Direct predicts differences in the percent of calves born unassisted out of 2-year-old dams. (Percent/High Value) BW ........Birth Weight predicts differences in actual birth weight of progeny. (Pounds/Low Value) WW .......Weaning Weight predicts differences in 205-day weaning weight. (Pounds/High Value)
YW ........Yearling Weight predicts differences in 365-day yearling weight. (Pounds/High Value) ADG .......Average Daily Gain predicts differences in weight gain between 205 and 365 days of age. (Pounds/High Value) DMI .......Dry Matter Intake predicts differences in daily feed intake as measured in a feedlot during the post-weaning period. (Pounds/Low Value) MILK .....Milk predicts differences in weaning weight attributed to the milking ability of the animal’s daughters. (Pounds/High Value) HPG .......Heifer Pregnancy predicts differences in the percent of daughters who are able to conceive and calve at 2 years of age following exposure to breeding. (Percent/High Value) CEM ......Calving Ease Maternal predicts differences in the percent of daughters who are able to calve unassisted as 2-year-old heifers. (Percent/High Value) STAY ......Stayability predicts differences in the ability of an animals’ retained daughters to remain productive in the herd – calve every year – through 6 years of age. (Percent/High Value) MARB ....Marbling predicts differences in marbling score – amount of intramuscular fat measured at the 13th rib. (Marbling Score Units/High Value) YG .........Yield Grade predicts differences in USDA Yield Grade, which is calculated using CW, REA and Fat. (Yield Grade Units/Low Value) CW ........Carcass Weight predicts differences in actual hot carcass weight. (Pounds/High Value) REA .......Ribeye Area predicts differences in square inches of ribeye area measured at the 13th rib.(Square Inches/High Value) FAT ........Fat predicts differences in the depth of backfat measured between the 12th and 13th ribs. (Inches/Low Value)
AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION Selection TOOLS
$VALUE INDEXES $Value Indexes, reported in dollars per head, are multi-trait economic selection indexes where a higher values suggest more profit when comparing two individuals. Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) , expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences in progeny from conception to weaning by decreasing mature cow size and improving docility, foot structure and fertility while maintaining weaning weights consistent with current production. Weaned Calf Value ($W) , expressed in dollars per head, provides the expected difference in future progeny preweaning performance from birth to weaning. Cow Energy Value ($EN) , is expressed in dollar savings per cow each year due to lower cow maintenance energy requirements (due to lactation and body size) with a larger number being more favorable. Feedlot Value ($F) , expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning feedlot merit (growth and feed efficiency) compared to progeny of other sires assuming producers retain ownership of cattle and sell on a carcass weight basis. Grid Value ($G) , expressed in dollars per carcass, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit, including quality and yield grade attributes, compared to progeny of other sires. Beef Value ($B) , expressed in dollars per carcass, represents the expected average differences in the progeny postweaning performance and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires. This index assumes commercial producers wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot and sell on a carcass merit grid. Combined Value ($C) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, includes all traits that make up both $M and $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 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. Accuracy (ACC) , is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is impacted whether the animal has a genotype and the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis. 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 (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 (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. Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG) , feed efficiency expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed. Yearling Weight (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. Yearling Height (YH) , is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires. Scrotal Circumference (SC) , expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that 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 more favorable. Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) , is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires. Maternal Milk (Milk ), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and of other sires. MATERNAL
mothering ability 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. Mature Weight (MW) , expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires. Mature Height (MH) , expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires. MANAGEMENT Docility (DOC) , is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility in a sire’s offspring compared to another sire. Claw Set (Claw) , is expressed in units of claw-set score, a lower EPD is more favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with more symmetrical, even and appropriately spaced toes. Foot Angle (Angle) , is expressed in units of foot-angle score, a lower EPD is more favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with an angle closer to 45 degrees at the pastern and 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 to decrease the risk of progeny contracting high altitude disease most commonly experienced at 5,500 ft or greater in elevation. CARCASS Carcass Weight (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 (Marb) , is expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Ribeye Area (RE) , expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Fat Thickness (Fat) , expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences 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.
- PRODUCTION SALE 2.21.26-
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