Page 22 - Missouri River Red Angus Bull Sale – April 6, 2022

RED ANGUS GUIDE TO EPDS

RedAngus.org

ProS .....Profi tability and Sustainability is an all-purpose index that predicts average economic differences in
all segments in the beef supply chain. This index is a combination of the breeding objectives modeled in the
HerdBuilder and GridMaster selection indexes. In this index, replacement heifers are retained from within the
herd and all remaining progeny are fed out to slaughter and sold on a quality-based grid. Traits included in this
index include calving ease, growth, HPG, STAY, Mature Weight, Dry Matter Intake and carcass traits. The resulting
index is expressed in dollars per head born (Index/High Value).
HB .......HerdBuilder is a maternal selection index that predicts the economic differences of animals for traits
that are important from conception through weaning. Expressed as dollars per head born, HB is calculated based
on the scenario that bulls are mated to heifers and cows, replacement heifers are retained and all remaining
progeny are marketed at weaning. Traits included in the HB index include Calving Ease Direct, Calving Ease
Maternal, Weaning Weight, Milk, Mature Weight, Heifer Pregnancy and Stayability (Index/High Value).
GM.......GridMaster is a selection index that predicts the average economic difference of non-replacement calves
through the post-weaning phase of production. GM places selection pressure on growth, feedyard performance
and carcass traits. Expressed as dollars per head born, GM is calculated based on the scenario that progeny are
fed out to slaughter and marketed on a quality-based carcass grid. Traits included in GM include Average Daily
Gain, Carcass Weight, Dry Matter Intake, Marbling, Back Fat and Rib Eye Area (Index/High Value).

CED ......Calving Ease Direct predicts differences in CEM ......Calving Ease Maternal predicts differences
the percent of calves born unassisted out of 2-year-old in the percent of daughters who are able to calve
dams. (Percent/High Value) unassisted as 2-year-old heifers. (Percent/High Value)
BW ........Birth Weight predicts differences in actual STAY......Stayability predicts differences in the ability
birth weight of progeny. (Pounds/Low Value) of an animals’ retained daughters to remain productive
in the herd – calve every year – through 6 years of age.
WW .......Weaning Weight predicts differences in (Percent/High Value)
205-day weaning weight. (Pounds/High Value)
MARB ....Marbling predicts differences in marbling
YW ........Yearling Weight predicts differences in score – amount of intramuscular fat measured at the
365-day yearling weight. (Pounds/High Value) 13th rib. (Marbling Score Units/High Value)
ADG .......Average Daily Gain predicts differences YG .........Yield Grade predicts differences in USDA
in weight gain between 205 and 365 days of age. Yield Grade, which is calculated using CW, REA and
(Pounds/High Value) Fat. (Yield Grade Units/Low Value)
DMI .......Dry Matter Intake predicts differences in CW ........Carcass Weight predicts differences in actual
daily feed intake as measured in a feedlot during the hot carcass weight. (Pounds/High Value)
post-weaning period. (Pounds/Low Value)
REA .......Ribeye Area predicts differences in square
MILK .....Milk predicts differences in weaning weight inches of ribeye area measured at the 13th rib.(Square
attributed to the milking ability of the animal’s Inches/High Value)
daughters. (Pounds/High Value)
FAT ........Fat predicts differences in the depth of
ME ........Maintenance Energy predicts the difference
in maintence energy requirements. (Mcal per Month/ backfat measured between the 12th and 13th ribs.
Low Value) (Inches/Low Value)
HPG .......Heifer Pregnancy predicts differences in
the percent of daughters who are able to conceive
and calve at 2 years of age following exposure to
breeding. (Percent/High Value)

20 Missouri River Red Angus