Page 6 - Dahl Land & Cattle LLC 2017-46th Annual Production Sale, Red Angus, South Devon

Sale Informationmation
Sale Infor
South Devon Guide to EPDs Red Angus Guide to EPDs
Courtesy of the North American South Devon Association Courtesy of the Red Angus Association of America
For more information on EPDs, visit southdevon.com. For more information on EPDs, visit redangus.org.
Birth EPD (pounds) is based on the measured birth weight HB ...... HerdBuilder Index – Need bulls for developing a profi table cowherd and
of progeny, adjusted for dam age. The lower the value the maximizing the value of marketed progeny? Select a bull with a high HB value.
lighter the calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a diffi -
cult birth. This is particularly important when selecting sires GM ...... GridMaster Index – If you market all of your calf crop and want to
for use over heifers. increase the value of that calf crop, select a bull with a high GM value to
maximize your profi t.
Weaning EPD (pounds) is calculated from the weight of
progeny taken between 80 and 300 days of age. Values are CED ..... Calving Ease Direct – Breeding Heifers? Select bulls with a high CED to
adjusted to 205 days and for age of dam. This EPD is the increase the probability that the heifers will calve unassisted.
best single estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for growth BW...... Birth Weight – Predicts differences in birth weight. BW is included
to early ages. in the CED EPD, so simplify your decisions by selecting bulls based on CED
Yearling EPD (pounds) is calculated from the weight of instead of BW.
progeny taken between 301 and 450 days of age, adjusted WW ..... Weaning Weight and YW ....Yearling Weight – Predicts differences
to 365 days and for age of dam. This EPD is the best single in weight at weaning and yearling. While selection based on these growth
estimate of a sire’s genetic merit for yearling weight. measures can increase your payweight, be cautious what the bull’s other EPDs
Scrotal Circumference EPD (centimetres) is calculated from are.
measurements of scrotal size in yearling bulls, adjusted to Milk .... Milk – Predicts differences in weaning weight of daughter’s progeny
365 days. Scrotal circumference is a good indicator of pu- due to milk production.
berty, fertility and semen quality/quantity. Increased scrotal
size will also result in decreased age of puberty in daughters ME ...... Maintenance Energy – Selecting bulls with a lower ME EPD will
and greater lifetime production. Positive EPD values indicate decrease the amount of feed his daughters will require to maintain body weight.
larger scrotal circumference.
HPG..... Heifer Pregnancy – Retaining heifers? Select bulls with a high HPG to
Milk EPD (pounds) is an estimate of an animal’s milking increase the percentage of exposures that result in a calving observation.
ability. For sires, this EPD indicates the effect of the daugh-
ter’s milking ability, inherited from the sire, on the weaning CEM .... Calving Ease Maternal – Another number to pay attention to if you are
and yearling weights of her calves. For dams, it indicates her retaining heifers. Selecting bulls with a high CEM will increase the probability of
own milking ability. those daughters calving unassisted.

Maternal Weaning Weight EPD (pounds) is a combination STAY.... Stayability – The most important trait if your goal is developing cows
of Milk and Weaning EPDs and estimates the genetic merit that stay productive, thus increasing your profi tability. Bulls that have a high
of the animal to produce a calf at weaning. Stay EPD are expected to sire daughters that remain productive in the herd until
at least 6 years of age.

MARB .. Marbling Score – Select bulls with high MARB EPD to increase 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 increase the
weight of the hanging carcass, which directly impacts 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.

F1 steer calves born in April and weighing 626 lbs. off
the cow with no creep feed, have sold at the market top
year after year.
4 Dahl Land & Cattle LLC Annual Production Sale