Some traits are not so easily characterized for $Prof t. Milk, for example, is a good thing until you get too much. When over +25, milk EPD has a more negative effect on fertility than it has a positive effect on weaning weight. There are a few traits not yet included in $Prof t: longevity, structure and disposition. These traits are important but diff cult to express in dollars. Feed Eff ciency EPDs Explained: Feed: Gain: Difference in the amount of feed a bull’s progeny will consume to produce one pound of gain. Example: A -0.50 F:G EPD means this animal’s progeny will consume 1/2 pound less feed per pound of gain than would progeny of a zero F:G sire. Feed Intake: Difference in feed consumption of each of a bull’s progeny in a 112-day feeding period. Example: A steer whose sire has a -100 Intake EPD will eat one hundred pounds less feed in 112 days than one whose sire had a zero Intake EPD. EPD Def nitions Genetic prediction values from the $Prof t Share program are generated on an across breed basis. This means that all animals can be compared regardless of their breed or breed mix. Further, when applicable, all EPD values are directly comparable to their equivalent in the American Angus Association. Def nitions for the values on each trait follow: ciency of the bull’s offspring. A negative number means that the bull’s progeny will use less feed to gain a pound of live weight. Example: -0.50 means that the bull’s progeny will require ½ pound less dry matter feed per pound of gain. 1. F:G is the pedigree estimated feed-to-gain EPD that predicts the feedlot eff 2. Intake: is an estimate of the amount of feed that the bull’s progeny will consume over a 112-day feeding period. Animals with higher intake will consume more throughout their life. Animals with lower intake will consume less. This is the best prediction of the feed needs for a bull’s steer offspring and for the feed needs of daughters. tability based on calving ease, weaning weight, maternal milk, cow cost and FERTILITY. It is based on producing 100 calves. Selection for this index will increase prof t per acre and decrease cow size. 3. $Ranch EPD: This prof t index predicts weaning prof 4. $Feeder: This number is expressed in terms of the bull’s added value to the sale price of your feeder calves. It is expressed in dollars per head. Thus, when comparing a +100 bull vs. a +50 bull, we expect the f rst bull to sire calves worth $50 per head more at weaning (regardless of their weight). 5. $Prof t™ EPD: One simple, proven number that gives each trait a weight according to its impact on prof t. This takes into account fertility, growth, feed intake and carcass merit. This index is the fastest method to improve the overall prof tability of a herd of beef cattle.
“On the Ranch, In the Feedlot, and on the rail, $Prof t™ simply works!” Lee Leachman
MATHIASRANCH.COM
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