Page 22 - Regency Acres Annual Angus Production Sale – April 1, 2022

American Angus Association Selection Tools

Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the prediction of how FOOT SCORE
future progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the Claw Set (Claw), is expressed in units of claw-set score. A lower
progeny of other animals listed in the database. EPDs are expressed in EPD is more favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with
units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear more ideal claw set, which is toes that are symmetrical, even and
on young animals when their performance has yet to be incorporated appropriately spaced.
into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE)
procedures. This EPD will be preceded by an “I”, and may or may not Foot Angle (Angle), is expressed in units of foot-angle score. A lower
include the animal’s own performance record for a particular trait, EPD is more favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with
depending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or more ideal foot angle, which is a 45-degree angle at the pastern joint
data edits needed for NCE. with appropriate toe length and heel depth.
Accuracy (ACC), is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. CARCASS
An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is The genetic evaluation produces a single set of EPDs for carcass traits
impacted by the number of progeny and ancestral records included in where the units of measure are in trait format and analyzed on an age-
the analysis. constant basis.
Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in Carcass Weight (CW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the
percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to
calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in progeny of other sires.
ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf
heifers. Marbling (Marb), is expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA
marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
Birth Weight (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s Ribeye Area (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the
ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of
sires. other sires.
Weaning Weight (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s Fat Thickness (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the
ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured
other sires. between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire’s progeny compared to

Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG), feed efficiency expressed in progeny of other sires.
pounds per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning $VALUE INDEXES
gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant $Value Indexes, reported in dollars per head, are multi-trait selection
amount of feed consumed. indexes where a higher value suggests more profit. The $Value is an
Yearling Weight (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform,
on average, compared to progeny of other sires if sires were randomly
ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of mated to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment.
other sires.
Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), expressed in dollars per head,
Yearling Height (YH), is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit predicts profitability differences in progeny due to genetics from
yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to the that of other conception to weaning. Increased selection pressure on $M aims
sires. to decrease overall mature cow size and improve foot structure and
Scrotal Circumference (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor fertility while maintaining weaning weights consistent with today’s
production.
of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that
of other sires. Weaned Calf Value ($W), expressed in dollars per head, provides
Docility (DOC), is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle the expected difference in future progeny preweaning performance
from birth to weaning. Increased selection pressure on $W increases
temperament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility in weaning and maternal milk traits while increasing mature cow size.
a sire’s offspring compared to another sire.
Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollars savings per cow per
MATERNAL year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected
Heifer Pregnancy (HP), is a selection tool to increase the probability dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more
or chance of a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first–calf heifers favorable when comparing two animals. Components for computing
during a normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and
direction, and the EPD is reported in percentage units. energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.
Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in Feedlot Value ($F), expressed in dollars per head, is the expected
percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning
calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective
which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared assumes commercial producers will retain ownership of cattle through
to daughters of other sires. the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass weight basis with no
considerations of premiums or discounts for quality and yield grade.
Maternal Milk (Milk), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk
and mothering ability in his daughters compared to daughters of other Grid Value ($G), expressed in dollars per carcass, is the expected
sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid
to milk and mothering ability. merit, including quality and yield grade attributes, compared to
progeny of other sires.
Mature Weight (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the
difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the Beef Value ($B), expressed in dollars per carcass, represents
daughters of other sires. the expected average differences in the progeny postweaning
performance and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires.
Mature Height (MH), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the This index assumes commercial producers wean all male and female
difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot phase,
daughters of other sires. and market these animals on a quality-based carcass grid.
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