Page 9 - Red Hill Farms Annual Bull Sale – March 18, 2023

RED ANGUS GUIDE TO EPDS

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