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Explanation of Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)
EPDs are reported for the growth traits and milk production. Some are reporting
EPDs for calving ease. Below are the common EPDs currently being reported
within this catalog, yet not all are reported for each breed registry:
Calving Ease: The ease with which a sire's calves are born. Expressed in a percent
of unassisted births. Larger positive numbers indicate greater calving ease.
Determined largely by the weight of the calf.
Calving Ease Direct: Predicts calving ease of a sire when mated to heifers.
Expressed as the difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value
indicating increased calving ease in first-calf heifers.
Calving Ease Maternal: Predicts calving ease in a sire's first-calf daughters in
comparison to other sires included in the evaluation. Expressed as the difference
of unassisted birth in different sires' daughters when calving as first-calf heifers.
Birth Weight: Calf Weight at birth adjusted to a mature dam equivalent.
Weaning Weight: Weaning weight in pounds adjusted to 205 days excluding
maternal effects (evaluated as milk).
Yearling Weight: Yearling weight in pounds adjusted to 365 days excluding
maternal effects.
Milk:
A measure of the pre-weaning performance, pounds of calf attributed to the
milking ability of a sire's daughters. The use of the term milk is inaccurate because
the trait measures all maternal effects of which milk is the major, but not the only,
factor.
FPI: Feeder Profit Index. An economic selection index designed to aid producers in
selecting sires whose progeny will perform in the feedlot and are sold on a grade
and yield standpoint. Well ranking sires for FPI have higher marbling and carcass
weight than their contemporaries. As a terminal index, little emphasis is put on
maternal traits such as stayability and calving ease. (Gelbvieh/Balancer)
BMI: Baldy Maternal Index. This is the expected average performance of progeny
of Hereford bulls used in rotational crossbreeding programs on Angus-based cows
and heifers, with the progeny marketed on a Certified Hereford Beef LLC pricing
grid. (Hereford)
