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Hybrid Bulls
Commercial Females Ranchers’ Guide to EPDs
HB ...... HerdBuilder Index – Need bulls for developing a profi table
25 cowherd and maximizing the value of marketed progeny? Select a bull
25 Red Angus Commercial Replacement
Heifers with a high HB value.
_______________________________ GM ...... GridMaster Index – If you market all of your calf crop and want
to increase the value of that calf crop, select a bull with a high GM value
_______________________________ to maximize your profi t.
CED ..... Calving Ease Direct – Breeding Heifers? Select bulls with
6 Bred Commercial Red Angus Heifers a high CED to increase the probability that the heifers will calve
from Tofte Ranch unassisted.
_______________________________ BW...... Birth Weight – Predicts differences in birth weight. BW is
included in the CED EPD, so simplify your decisions by selecting bulls
_______________________________ based on CED instead of BW.
WW ..... Weaning Weight and YW ....Y earling Weight – Predicts
10 differences in weight at weaning and yearling. While selection based on
10 Bred Commercial Red Angus Heifers
from Ledahl Ranch these growth measures can increase your payweight, be cautious what
the bull’s other EPDs are.
_______________________________
Milk .... Milk – Predicts differences in weaning weight of daughter’s
_______________________________ progeny due to milk production.
ME ...... Maintenance Energy – Selecting bulls with a lower ME EPD will
5 Red Angus Yearling Heifers from the decrease the amount of feed his daughters will require to maintain body
Drawbond Ranch weight.
_______________________________ HPG..... Heifer Pregnancy – Retaining heifers? Select bulls with a high
HPG to increase the percentage of exposures that result in a calving
_______________________________ observation.
CEM .... Calving Ease Maternal – Another number to pay attention to if
5 Red Angus Yearling Heifers from the you are retaining heifers. Selecting bulls with a high CEM will increase
Guenther Ranch the probability of those daughters calving unassisted.
_______________________________ STAY.... Stayability – The most important trait if your goal is developing
cows that stay productive, thus increasing your profi tability. Bulls
_______________________________ that have a high Stay EPD are expected to sire daughters that remain
productive in the herd until at least 6 years of age.
5 Red Angus Yearling Heifers from the MARB .. Marbling Score – Select bulls with high MARB EPD to increase
Schilke Ranch the number of progeny that grade Choice or Prime.
_______________________________ YG ...... Yield Grade – Marketing calves on a grid? Placing selection
pressure on YG EPD will decrease the number of YG discounts on grid-
_______________________________ marketed progeny.
CW...... Carcasss Weight – Selecting bulls with a high CW EPD will
5 Red Angus Yearling Heifers from the increase the weight of the hanging carcass, which directly impacts
Ledahl Ranch revenue.
_______________________________ REA ..... Rib Eye Area – Need to add muscle? Select bulls with a high
REA EPD to increase rib eye area, which favorably increases Yield
_______________________________ Grade.
FAT ..... Backfat – Need to reduce waste in carcasses? Select bulls with a
low FAT EPD to reduce backfat, which favorably increases Yield Grade.
