EPD'S

WHAT ARE EPD'S?

• Prediction of how future progeny will perform.
• Expressed in units of measures, plus or minus

(ACC) Accuracy

• The reliability that can be placed in an EPD number.
• An accuracy closer to 1.0 has an higher reliability.
• The ACC. number progeny and ancestral records included in analysis.

$ VALUE INDEX

• Multi-trait selection indexes
• Expressed in dollars per head.
• Assist beef producers in adding simplicity

$ VALUE INDEX

• how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform on average.
• Compared to progeny of other sires in a database.
• Database assumes sires were randomly mates and calves raised in same env.

PRODUCTION EPDS

CALVING EASE DIRECT (CED)

• Percentage of unassisted birth
• Higher value indicate greater calving ease in first-calf heifers

BIRTH WEIGHT (BW)

• Expressed in pounds
• Prediction of the sires ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny.

WEANING WEIGHT

• Expressed in pounds
• Sire's ability to transmit weaning growth
• 205

YEARLING WEIGHT (YW)

• Expressed in pounds
• Sires ability to transmit yearling growth.
• 365 day
• Higher number preferred

RESIDUAL AVG DAIL GAIN (RADG)

• Pounds per day
• Post weaning weight gain

YEARLING HEIGHT OR FRAME SCORE

• Hip height at a given age
• Inches

SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE (SC)

• Expressed in centimeters
• Trends faster maturing daughters

DOCILITY (DOC)

• Yearling cattle temperament
• Higher value indicating more favorable

MATERNAL EPDS

HEIFER PREGNANCY (HP)

• The of a sire's daughter becoming pregnant.
• During first breeding season.
• A higher number preferable

MATERNAL MILK

• Sire's prediction
• Milk production & Mothering ability
• What the sire's daughters will show.

CARCASS TRAITS

CARCASS WEIGHT (CW)

• In pounds
• Prediction of hot carcass weight for progeny.

MARBLING

• Expressed as a fraction of the difference in marbling score
• Progeny
• Higher number better.

RIBEYE AREA (REA)

• Expressed in sq inches
• Higher number the better

INDEXES

$W

• Used if you sell calves at weaning
• Retain replace heifers
• Background cattle

$W

• Reprod. Sound
• Easily calves
• Rapid early growth
• Enough milk
• Moderate size

$F FEEDLOT

• Dollars per head
• Post weaning merit

$ G (GRID VALUE)

• Dollars per head
• Carcass merit

$B ( BEEF VALUE)

• Dollars per head
• Combo of $f and $ g
• No maternal characteristics
• Retaining ownership through finishing