2013 Brush Country Bull Sale – 3
PRODUCTION EPDs
Calving Ease Direct (CED)
, is expressed as a difference in per-
centage 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 EPD (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 EPD (WW)
, expressed in pounds, is a predictor
of a sire's ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny com-
pared to that of other sires.
Yearling Weight EPD (YW)
, expressed in pounds, is a predictor of
a sire's ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny com-
pared to that of other sires.
Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)
, 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 con-
stant amount of feed consumed.
Yearling Height EPD (YH)
, is a predictor of a sire's ability to
transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to that of
other sires.
Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC)
, expressed in centimeters, is a
predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size
compared to that of other sires.
Docility (DOC)
, is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle tem-
perament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It
predicts the average difference of progeny from a sire in comparison
with another sire’s calves. In herds where temperament problems
are not an issue, this expected difference would not be realized.
MATERNAL EPDs
Calving Ease Maternal (CEM)
, is expressed as a difference in per-
centage 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 EPD (Milk)
, is a predictor of a sire's genetic merit
for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters com-
pared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of
a calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.
Cow Energy Value ($EN)
, expressed in dollars savings per cow per
year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an ex-
pected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value
is more favorable when comparing two animals (more dollars saved
on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN
savings difference include lactation energy requirements and en-
ergy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.
CARCASS EPDs
Carcass Weight EPD (CW)
, expressed in pounds is a predictor of
the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire's progeny com-
pared to progeny of other sires.
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 meas-
ured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire's progeny com-
pared to progeny of other sires.
Group/progeny (Carc Grp/ Pg and Usnd Grp/Pg) reflects the num-
ber of contemporary groups and the number of carcass and ultra-
sound progeny included in the analysis.
$VALUE INDEXES
$Value indexes are multi-trait selection indexes, expressed in dollars
per head, to assist beef producers by adding simplicity to genetic se-
lection decisions. The $Value is an estimate of how future progeny
of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to prog-
eny of other sires in the database if the sires were randomly mated
to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment.
Weaned Calf Value ($W)
, an index value expressed in dollars per
head, is the expected average difference in future progeny per-
formance for preweaning merit. $W includes both revenue and
cost adjustments associated with differences in birth weight,
weaning direct growth, maternal milk, and mature cow size.
Feedlot Value ($F)
, an index value expressed in dollars per head,
is the expected average difference in future progeny performance
for postweaning merit compared to progeny of other sires.
Grid Value ($G)
, an index value expressed in dollars per head, is
the expected average difference in future progeny performance for
carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires.
Quality Grade ($QG)
$QG represents the quality grade segment of
the economic advantage found in $G. $QG is intended for the spe-
cialized user wanting to place more emphasis on improving qual-
ity grade. The carcass marbling (Marb) EPD contributes to $QG.
Yield Grade ($YG)
$YG represents the yield grade segment of the
economic advantage found in $G. $YG is intended for the special-
ized user wanting to place more emphasis on red meat yield. It
provides a multi-trait approach to encompass ribeye, fat thickness
and weight into an economic value for red meat yield.
Beef Value ($B)
, an index value expressed in dollars per head, is
the expected average difference in future progeny performance for
postweaning and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires.
American Angus Association EPD and $ Index Definitions
