Page 7 - Flittie Simmental, Schnabel Simmental & Lazy J Bar Ranch – Feb. 20, 2021 Simmental & Red Angus Bulls

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BULL BUYER’S QUICK GUIDE TO ASA EPDS AND $ INDEXES

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs): EPDs are the most Explanation of How to Utilize API and TI Indexes
accurate and effective tool available for comparing genetic levels.
In using EPDs, the difference between two sires’ EPDs represents First, determine which index to use; if you’re keeping replacements
the unit difference expected in the performance of their progeny. use API, if not, TI. Then, just as with EPDs, zero in on the unit dif-
For example, if sires A and B have EPDs of +10 and -5, a 15-unit ference between bulls. (As described to the left, index units are in
difference would be expected in their progeny (moving from -5 to dollars per cow exposed.) The difference can be used to determine
+10 yields 15 units). Key to using EPDs is knowing what units they how much a bull is worth compared to another. Or, put another way,
are expressed in. For example, if the above case referred to weaning how much you can pay for one bull compared to another. For ex-
weight EPDs, A would be expected to sire 15-percent more unas- ample, when buying an all-purpose-type sire, you can quickly fi gure
sisted births in fi rst-calf heifers; in other words, if B sired 30 assists a bull scoring +100 for API is worth an extra $6,000 over a $50 bull
in a group of 100 heifers, we’d expect A to require 15 assists. if both are exposed to 30 cows over 4 years ($50 diff. x hd. x 4 yr. =
$6,000). A percentile-ranking chart is required to determine where a
A percentile-ranking chart is required to determine where a bull’s bull’s index value ranks him relative to other bulls in the breed. For
EPDs rank him relative to other bulls in the breed. For percentile more information, visit www.simmental.org.
rankings or more detailed information about EPDs and $ indexes
visit www.simmental.org. Defi nitions of Terms
Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs): EPDs are the most ac-
$ Indexes: Though EPDs allow for the comparison of genetic levels curate and effective tool available for comparing genetic levels.
for many economically important traits, they only provide a piece
of the economic puzzle. That’s where $ indexes come in. Through Back Fat (BF): Inches of backfat.
well-conceived, rigorous mathematical computation,$ indexes blend Birth Weight (BW): Pounds of birth weight.
EPDs and economics to estimate an animal’s overall impact on your
bottom line. The same technology that led to the dramatic progress Calving Ease (CE): Percent of unassisted births when used on
in swine, poultry and dairy genetics over the last several decades heifers.
was used to develop the following $ indexes: Carcass Weight (CW): Pounds of carcass weight.

All-Purpose Index (API): Evaluates sires for use on the entire cow Maternal Calving Ease (MCE): Percent of unassisted births in
herd (bred to both Angus fi rst-calf heifers and mature cows) with fi rst-calving daughters.
the portion of their daughters required to maintain herd size retained Milk (MLK): Pounds of weaning weight due to milk.
and the remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold grade and
yield. Marbling (MRB): Marbling score.
Maternal Weaning Weight (MWW): Pounds of weaning weight
Terminal Index (TI): Evaluates sire for use on mature Angus cows due to milk and growth.
with all offspring put on feed and sold grade and yield.
Ribeye Area (REA): Square inches of ribeye.
Using API and TI: First, determine which index to use; if you’re Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF): Pounds of force required
keeping replacements use API, if not, TI. Then just as with EPDs, to shear a steak.
zero in on the unit difference between bulls. (As described above,
index units are in dollars per cow exposed.) The difference can be Stayability (STAY): Percent of daughters remaining in the cowherd
used to determine how much a bull is worth compared to another. at 6 years of age.
Or, put another way, how much you can pay for one bull compared Terminal Index (TI): Dollars per cow exposed under a terminal-sire
to another. For example, when buying an all-purpose-type sire, scenario.
you can quickly fi gure a bull scoring +100 for API is worth an extra
$6,000 over a $50 bull if both are exposed to 30 cows over 4 years Weaning Weight (WW): Pounds of weaning weight.
($50 diff. x 30 hd. x 4 yr. = $6,000). A percentile-ranking chart is
required to determine where a bull’s index value ranks him relative Yearling Weight (YW): Pounds of yearling weight.
to other bulls in the breed. For percentile rankings or more detailed Yield Grade (YG): Yield grade score.
information about EPDs and $ indexes visit www.simmental.org.

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