Page 42 - Loonan Stock Farm 46th Annual Production Sale, Red Angus, Simmental, F1 Cross – Feb. 6, 2021
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A Look At Frame Score


                                          One frame score equals roughly 2” in hip height.
        We have agreed with our bull buyers for several years that   went up. Some by more than a full frame score.
        the frame scores calculated for our catalog using the BIF   Note: We hear a lot about the need for uniformity in beef cattle.
        formula seem unrealistically low. The bulls grow out big-  Frame size measurement is not an exact science, but we do believe
        ger than that. For 2000-2004, we re-measured the bulls in   the uniformity in the entire Loonan program, along with the
        March and compared that to the original frame score based   natural fl eshing ability, is why calves by Loonan bulls excel on
        on December measurements. In all cases the frame scores   the rail.
                                            About The Catalog


        RED ANGUS has four categories of registered Red Angus.  SIMMENTAL has a complete upgrading program from the
             1A – Purebred 100% Red Angus with no disqualifying   half-blood to the purebred.
             characteristics.
             1B – 87% to 99% Red Angus with no disqualifying   POLLED:        P = Polled
             characteristics.                                                 P/S = Polled/Scurred,
             II – 86% or greater Red Angus blood, also 1A and 1B              DP = Double Polled (both parents polled)
             animals that are disqualifi ed because of scurs, white            H = Horned
             in front of navel, etc. Multiple sire animals (more than
             one purebred bull in pasture) are also Category II.
             III – Less than 87% Red Angus blood.
                          EPDs (Expected Progeny Difference)


        Simmental data is from the American Simmental Association. Red Angus data is from the Red Angus Association of America. Growth
        and carcass EPDs are confi gured on the same common multi-breed base.
        EPDs in the catalog are current as of this fall. When new data is processed by the associations, these fi gures will be updated and adjusted and the
        EPDs on your registration papers may not be the same as those available at sale time due to new data at the association.
        EPD Terms                                              MM – Maternal Milk EPD – Simmental or M – Milk EPD – Red Angus
        CEh – Calving Ease Heifer:                                  Expected increase or decrease in weaning weight of daughters of this bull
            Simmental: Expected ease with which calves sired by the bull will be born to   due to milk production compared to breed average. Note: Data on this trait is
            fi rst-calf heifers. Highest (+) fi gures mean more unassisted births. Lowest (-)   limited, and, in many instances, has low accuracy.
            fi gures mean less unassisted births.               Marb – Marbling EPD
            Red Angus: Expresses calving ease as CED (Calving Ease Direct). We have       Predicts diff erences for carcass marbling score as expressed in marbling
            ranked each bull one-, two- or three-star based on the best information we   score units. Higher marbling scores are positively correlated with higher
            have available on the individual and close relatives.  carcass grades.
                ***  Should produce few calving problems when bred to   REA – Ribeye Area EPD
                  fi rst-calf heifers.                               Predicts diff erences of carcass rib eye area between the 12th and 13th rib.
                **  Should work well on growthy heifers and cows.  Ribeye area is positively correlated with carcass yield grade which also
                *  Recommended for use on cows only.               considers fat thickness and carass weights.
        BW – Birth Weight EPD                                  FAT or BF– Backfat EPD
            Expected birth weight of calves sired by this bull. Heavier (+) or lighter (-)       Predicts diff erences for carcass fat depth over the 12th rib as expressed in
            than “0” EPD animals are expressed in pounds. The BW EPD takes into   inches. Fat thickness is negatively correlated with carcass yield grade which
            account the genetics of the sire and dam and the actual birth weight of this   also considers ribeye area and carcass weights.
            bull. We weigh all calves on a spring scale within 24 hours of birth. We do   API Index – All-Purpose Index  – Simmental
            not estimate any birth weights. Some calves born late on pasture are not   API evaluates sires being used on the entire cowherd (bred to both Angus
            weighed and are reported as UNK (unknown).             fi rst-calf heifers and mature cows) with a portion of their daughters being
        WW – Weaning Weight EPD                                    retained for breeding and steers and remaining heifers being put on feed and
            Expected weaning weight of this bull’s calves, heavier (+) or lighter (-) than   sold on grade and yield.
            an animal with a “0” EPD are expressed in pounds. Weaning weight EPD   TI Index – Terminal Index  – Simmental
            takes into account the genetics inherited from the sire and dam in addition to   TI is designed for evaluating sires’ economic merit in situations where they
            the actual 205-day weaning weight of the individual.   are bred to mature Angus cows and all off spring are placed in the feedlot
        YW – Yearling Weight EPD                                   and sold on grade and yield.
            Expected weight of this bull’s calves at 365 days of age, expressed in pounds,   HB Index – HerdBuilder Index  – Red Angus
            heavier (+) or lighter (-) than an animal with a “0” EPD.  HB will assist in building profi table cowherds with bulls mated to both heif-
        MCE-h – Maternal Calving Ease EPD of fi rst-calf heifer     ers and mature cows, replacement heifers retained in the herd and remaining
            Simmental: Expected ease with which this bull’s daughters calve as fi rst calf-  progeny sold on a quality-based carcass grid.
            heifers. Larger positive fi gures indicate a higher percent of unassisted births   GM Index – GridMaster Index  – Red Angus
            (MCEc - cow).                                          GM will increase profi tablity with bulls mated to mature cows and all prog-
        STAY – Stayability EPD – Red Angus                         eny sold on a quality-based carcass grid.
             Predicts the probability of a bull’s daughters remaining productive until at   Red SimAngus™ –
            least six years of age.                                 The Red Angus Association of America and American Simmental Associa-
        ME  – Maintenance Energy EPD – Red Angus                   tion have worked together to build a multi-breed database that includes
             The ME EPD predicts diff erences in energy requirements of mature daugh-  SimAngus™. In the catalog, I have used the Association for the sire of each
            ters of an individual and is expressed in Mega-calories per month.  calf to publish as long as available.
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