Using Catalog EPD information (continued) Gelbvieh/Balancer (https://gelbvieh.org/genetic-technology/epd-info/epd-definitions)
Calving Ease Direct (CED): Percent of unassisted births of a bull’s calves when he is used on heifers. A higher number is favorable, meaning better calving ease. This EPD can be vital to a rancher looking to decrease the amount of calves pulled in his herd. Milk (Milk): The genetic ability of a sire’s daughters to produce milk expressed in pounds of weaning weight. Calving Ease Maternal (CEM): Represented as percent of unassisted births in a sire’s first-calving daughters. A higher number represents more favorable calving ease. This EPD is important to a rancher’s bottom line because it predicts which animals produce daughters with a genetic pre-disposition to calve unassisted as heifers. Stayability (STAY): Predicts the genetic difference, in terms of percent probability, that a bull’s daughters will stay productive within a herd to at least six year of age. The stayability EPD is one of the best measures currently available to compare a bull’s ability to produce females with reproductive longevity. Weaning Weight (WW): Predicts the difference, in pounds, for weaning weight (adjusted to age of dam and a standard 205 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to weaning. Mature Weight (MWT): Body weight of cows adjusted to six years of age at body condition score 5. MWT is reported in pounds and is computed from a genetic model that leverages information from weaning weight, post-weaning gain, and mature weights of cows. Reported weights are adjusted for both age at observation and for body condition. Ribeye Area (CREA): Differences in ribeye area in inches between the 12th and 13th rib. Greater ribeye areas are preferable. Marbling (MARB): Predicts the differences in the degree of marbling within the ribeye as expressed in marbling score units. Greater marbling numbers are preferable and are an indicator of higher carcass quality grades. Maternal Profit Index (MPI): In this production scenario, Gelbvieh bulls are mated to Angus-based cows with surplus calves marketed at weaning, with replacement heifers retained from the calf crop. Feeder Profit Index (FPI ): Envisioned as a completely terminal index, FPI assumes all calves are marketed as finished beef carcasses priced on a value-based grid. Total Profit Index (TPI): Combining replacement female retention from the herd with carcass endpoint for marketed surplus heifers and all steers, TPI balances both maternal and terminal selection criteria. Hereford (https://hereford.org/genetics/breed-improvement/trait-definitions/) Calving Ease Direct (CE): is based on calving ease scores and birth weights and is measured on a percentage. CE EPD indicates the influence of the sire on calving ease in females calving at 2 years of age. Weaning Weight (WW): estimate of pre-weaning growth that is measured in pounds. Maternal Milk (MM): of a sire’s daughters is expressed in pounds of calf weaned. It predicts the difference in average weaning weights of sires’ daughters’ progeny due to milking ability. Maternal Calving Ease (MCE): predicts how easily a sire’s daughters will calve at two years of age and is measured on a percentage. Mature Cow Weight (MCW): designed to help breeders select sires that will either increase or decrease mature size of cows in the herd. Ribeye Area (REA): reflects differences in an adjusted 365-day ribeye area measurement based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle. Marbling (MARB): reflect differences in an adjusted 365-day marbling score (intramuscular fat, [IMF]) based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle. Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$): is a maternally focused index that is based on a production system that uses Hereford x Angus cross cows. Progeny of these cows are directed towards Certified Hereford Beef. Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$): is a terminal sire index that is built on a production system where Hereford bulls are mated to mature commercial Angus cows where all progeny will be targeted for Certified Hereford Beef after the finishing phase. Red Angus (https://redangus.org/genetics/ranchers-guide-to-epds/) Calving Ease Direct (CED): predicts differences in the percent of calves born unassisted out of 2-year-old dams. Weaning Weight (WW): predicts differences in 205-day weaning weight. Milk (MILK): predicts differences in weaning weight attributed to the milking ability of the animal’s daughters. Calving Ease Maternal (CEM): predicts differences in the percent of daughters who are able to calve unassisted as 2-year-old heifers. Stayability (STAY): predicts differences in the ability of an animals’ retained daughters to remain productive in the herd-calve every year-through 6 years of age. Marbling (MARB): predicts differences in marbling score – amount of intramuscular fat measured at the 13th rib. Ribeye Area (REA): predicts differences in square inches of ribeye area measured at the 13th rib.
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