Page 10 - Heart River Ranch/Open A Angus Production Sale Black & Red Angus – March 14, 2018
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General Information
        8 – Quality Genetics Built on a Heritage of Commitment

                                                                       ®
                              American Angus Association  Selection Tools
          Expected Progeny Difference (EPD),  is the prediction of  how future   Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollars savings per cow per year,
          progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of   assesses differences in cow  energy requirements as  an  expected dollar
          other animals listed in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure   savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable
          for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear on young animals when   when comparing two animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses).
          their performance has  yet  to  be incorporated into the American Angus   Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation
          Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures. This EPD will be   energy requirements and energy costs associated with differences in mature
          preceded by an “I”, and may or may not include  the animal’s own   cow size.
          performance record for  a particular trait, depending on its  availability,
          appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.   CARCASS
                                                                The genetic evaluation produces a single set of EPDs for carcass weight,
          Accuracy (ACC), is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An   marbling score, Ribeye area and fat thickness. The units of measure are in
          accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is impacted by   carcass trait format and analyzed on an age-constant basis.
          the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis.
                                                                Carcass Weight EPD (CW),  expressed in pounds is a predictor of the
          GROWTH                                                differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny
          Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of   of other sires.
          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   Marbling EPD (Marb), expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA
          calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers.    marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

          Birth Weight  EPD (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s   Ribeye Area EPD (RE), expressed in square inches,  is a predictor  of the
          ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.    difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny 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 compared to that of other   Fat Thickness EPD (Fat),  expressed in inches, is a predictor of the
          sires.                                                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.
          Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG), feed efficiency expressed in pounds
          per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future   $VALUE INDEXES
          progeny compared to  that of other sires, given a constant  amount of feed   $Value indexes, are multi-trait selection indexes to assist beef producers by
          consumed.                                             adding simplicity to genetic selection decisions. $Values are  reported  in
                                                                dollars per head, where a higher value is more favorable. The $Value is an
          Yearling Weight EPD (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s   estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on
          ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other   average, compared to progeny of other sires in the database if the sires were
          sires.                                                randomly mated to cows and if calves were  exposed to the same
                                                                environment.
          Yearling  Height EPD (YH),  is  a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit
          yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires.    Weaned Calf Value ($W), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is
                                                                the expected average difference in future progeny performance for pre-
          Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor   weaning merit. $W includes both revenue  and  cost adjustments associated
          of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of   with differences in birth weight, weaning direct growth, maternal milk, and
          other sires.                                          mature cow size.

          Docility (DOC), is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament,   Feedlot Value  ($F), an  index value expressed  in  dollars  per head, is  the
          with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average   expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning
          difference of progeny from a sire in comparison with another sire’s calves.    merit compared to progeny of other sires.

          MATERNAL                                              Grid Value ($G), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the
          Heifer Pregnancy (HP),  is  a selection  tool  to increase the probability or   expected average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid
          chance of a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first–calf heifers during a   merit compared to progeny of other sires.
          normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction, and
          the EPD is reported in percentage units.              Quality Grade ($QG) represents the quality grade segment of the economic
                                                                advantage found in $G. $QG is intended for the specialized user wanting to
          Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage   place more emphasis on improving quality grade. The carcass marbling
          of unassisted births with a higher value  indicating greater  calving ease  in   (Marb) EPD, which is influenced by carcass marbling scores and ultrasound
          first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters   percent intramuscular fat (% IMF) measurements, contribute to $QG.
          will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.
                                                                Yield Grade ($YG) $YG represents the yield grade segment of the economic
          Maternal Milk EPD (Milk), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk   advantage found in $G. $YG is intended for the specialized user wanting to
          and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of   place more emphasis on red meat yield. It provides a multi-trait approach to
          other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed   encompass ribeye, fat thickness and weight into an economic value for red
          to milk and mothering ability.                        meat yield.
                                                                $G combines both $QG and $YG, and may be the best carcass decision
          Mature Weight EPD (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the   tool for focusing on quality and red meat yield simultaneously.
          difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters
          of other sires.                                       Beef Value ($B), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the
                                                                expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning
          Mature Height EPD (MH), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the   and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires.
          difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of
          other sires.
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