ANGUS EPD AND $VALUE DEFINITIONS
not an issue, this expected difference would not be realized.
sires if the sires were randomly mated to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment.
CLAW SET EPD (Claw), is expressed in units of claw-set score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal claw set. The ideal claw set is toes that are symmetrical, even and appropriately spaced. FOOT ANGLE EPD (Angle), is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal foot angle. The ideal is a 45-degree angle at the pastern joint with appropriate toe length and heel depth. PULMONARY ARTERIAL PRESSURE EPD (PAP), is expressed in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny with a lower PAP score. PAP score is an indicator of susceptibility to high altitude disease commonly experienced at elevations greater than 5,500 feet. Selection for this trait aims to improve the genetic potential for a sire’s progeny to have lower PAP scores thus a lower chance of contracting high altitude disease increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in mountain areas. HAIR SHED EPD, is expressed in units of hair shed score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny who shed their winter coat earlier in the spring. Selection for this trait should improve the genetic potential for a sire’s progeny to shed off earlier increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in heat stressed areas and producers grazing endophyte-infected (hot) fescue. CARCASS EPDs CARCASS WEIGHT EPD (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
MATERNAL WEANED CALF VALUE ($M), an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts proÀtability 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 Àrst 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 ($W), an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict proÀtability differences in progeny due to genetics from birth to weaning. The underlying objective being producers will retain 20% of the female progeny as replacements and sell the rest of the cull females and their male counterparts as feeder calves. Traits included are as follows (in no particular order): birth weight, weaning weight, milk, and mature cow weight. FEEDLOT VALUE ($F), an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict proÀtability dif - ferences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning feedlot merit compared to the progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass weight basis, but with no consider- ation of premiums or discounts for quality and yield grade. Traits contributing directly to the index are as follows: yearling weight (gain), carcass weight and dry-matter intake. GRID VALUE ($G), an index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict proÀtability differ - ences in progeny due to genetics for carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will market cattle on an above-industry-aver - age carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows (in no particular order): carcass weight, marbling, rib eye area, and fat. BEEF VALUE ($B), a terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict proÀtability 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 ($C), an index, expressed in dollars per head, which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($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 differ- ences (EPDs) directly inÁuencing 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).
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 progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
FAT THICKNESS EPD (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. GROUP/PROGENY (C GrP/Pg and U Grp/PG), reÁects the number of contemporary groups and the number of carcass and ultrasound progeny included in the analysis. ANGUS-ON-DAIRY $VALUE INDEXES ANGUS-ON-DAIRY $VALUE INDEXES, are bioeconomic selection indexes that allow multiple change in several different traits at once pertaining to a dairy-beef crossbreeding objective. These values are terminal crossbreeding indexes to estimate of how future beef-on-dairy progeny of each Angus sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to beef-on-dairy progeny of other Angus sires if the sires were randomly mated and beef-on-dairy calves were exposed to the same environment.
These indexes were designed as speciÀc crossbreeding tools for Angus bulls being mated to dairy cows. Two indexes have been developed for the dairy market:
ANGUS-ON-HOLSTEIN ($AxH), a terminal index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict proÀtability differences in progeny due to genetic traits weighted by appropriated economics of each Angus sire when mated to Holstein females. The underlying breeding objective assumes Angus bulls will be mated to Holstein females to produce Angus-dairy crossbred calves to be fed and marketed on a quality-based grid. Traits included are as follows: calving ease, growth from birth through the feeding phase, feed intake, dressing percent, yield grade, quality grade, muscling, and height. ANGUS-ON-JERSEY ($AxJ), a terminal index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict proÀtability differences in progeny due to genetic traits weight by appropriated economics of each Angus sire when mated to Jersey females. The underlying breeding objective as - sumes Angus bulls will be mated to Jersey females to produce Angus-dairy crossbred calves to be fed and marketed on a quality-based grid. Traits included are as follows: calving ease, growth from birth through the feeding phase, feed intake, dressing percent, yield grade, quality grade, and muscling. $VALUE INDEXES $Value indexes, an economic selection index allows multiple change in several different traits at once pertaining to a speciÀc breeding objective. The $Value is an estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other
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Tanner Farms
November 1, 2025
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