Page 6 - Tokach Angus Annual Bull & Heifer Production Sale – Feb. 17, 2025

AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION SELECTION TOOLS Maternal Milk (Milk), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering $VALUE INDEXES
ability in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is $Value Indexes, reported in dollars per head, are multi-trait economic selection
Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the prediction of how future progeny of that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability. indexes where a higher values suggest more profit when comparing two individuals.
each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed Mature Weight (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), expressed in dollars per head, predicts prof-
in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires. itability differences in progeny from conception to weaning by decreasing mature
Accuracy (ACC), is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of Mature Height (MH), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature cow size and improving docility, foot structure and fertility while maintaining
close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is impacted whether the animal height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires. weaning weights consistent with current production.
has a genotype and the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the Weaned Calf Value ($W), expressed in dollars per head, provides the expected
analysis. MANAGEMENT difference in future progeny preweaning performance from birth to weaning.
Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted Docility (DOC), is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with Cow Energy Value ($EN), is expressed in dollar savings per cow each year due to
births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It a higher value indicating more favorable docility in a sire’s offspring compared to lower cow maintenance energy requirements (due to lactation and body size) with a
predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when another sire. larger number being more favorable.
he is bred to first-calf heifers. Claw Set (Claw), is expressed in units of claw-set score, a lower EPD is more Feedlot Value ($F), expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average
Birth Weight (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with more symmetrical, even and difference in future progeny performance for postweaning feedlot merit (growth
birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. appropriately spaced toes. and feed efficiency) compared to progeny of other sires assuming producers retain
Weaning Weight (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to Foot Angle (Angle), is expressed in units of foot-angle score, a lower EPD is more ownership of cattle and sell on a carcass weight basis.
transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with an angle closer to 45 degrees Grid Value ($G), expressed in dollars per carcass, is the expected average
Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG), feed efficiency expressed in pounds per at the pastern and appropriate toe length and heel depth. difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit, including quality
day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny Pulmonary arterial pressure EPD (PAP), is expressed in millimeters of Mercury and yield grade attributes, compared to progeny of other sires.
compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed. (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce Beef Value ($B), expressed in dollars per carcass, represents the expected average
Yearling Weight (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to progeny with a lower PAP score to decrease the risk of progeny contracting high differences in the progeny postweaning performance and carcass value compared
transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. altitude disease most commonly experienced at 5,500 ft or greater in elevation. to progeny of other sires. This index assumes commercial pro ducers wean all male
Yearling Height (YH), is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height, and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot and sell
expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires. CARCASS on a carcass merit grid.
Scrotal Circumference (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the Carcass Weight (CW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the differences in hot Combined Value ($C), an index, expressed in dollars per head, includes all traits
difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires. carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. that make up both $M and $B with the objective that commercial producers will
Marbling (Marb), is expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained
MATERNAL score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. within their own herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed
Heifer Pregnancy (HP), is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance of Ribeye Area (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of those cattle and
a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first–calf heifers during a normal breeding ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. sell them on a quality-based carcass merit grid.
season. A higher EPD is more favorable. Fat Thickness (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in
Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of
unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as
first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.

American Angus Association $Value Indexes

Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), an index expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences
in progeny due to genetics from conception to weaning. $M is built off of a self-replacing herd model where
commercial cattlemen replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% in subsequent
generations. Remaining cull females and all male progeny are sold as feeder calves. Increased selection pressure
on $M aims to decrease overall mature cow size and improve foot structure and fertility while maintaining
weaning weights consistent with today’s production.
Weaned Calf Value ($W), an index expressed in dollars per head, provides the expected difference in future
progeny preweaning performance from birth to weaning. $W assumes that producers retain 20% of their female
progeny for replacements and sell the rest of their cull female and male progeny as feeder calves. Over time,
increased selection pressure on $W will increase weaning and maternal milk traits while also continuing to
increase mature cow size.
Feedlot Value ($F), an index expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny
performance for postweaning merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes
commercial producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass
weight basis with no considerations of premiums or discounts for
quality and yield grade. EPDS DIRECTLY INCORPORATED INTO EACH $VALUE
Grid Value ($G), an index expressed in dollars per carcass, is the
expected average difference in future progeny performance for MATERNAL TERMINAL
carcass grid merit, including quality and yield grade attributes, TRAIT $M $W $F $G $B $C
compared to progeny of other sires.
Beef Value ($B), an index expressed in dollars per carcass, CED
BW
facilitates simultaneous multi-trait genetic selection for feedlot and WW
carcass merit. $B represents the expected average differences in the YW
progeny post-weaning performance and carcass value compared to CEM
progeny of other sires. This index assumes commercial producers Milk
wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these
Dollar value indexes, or animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a MW
$Values, are a tool used to select quality-based carcass grid. DOC
for several traits at once based on a Combined Value ($C), an index expressed in dollars per head, HP
specific breeding objective. An includes all traits that make up both $M and $B with the objective Claw
economic index approach takes into that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding Angle
account genetic and economic females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own DMI
values as well as the relationships herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed CW
between traits to select to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of RE
for profit. those cattle and eventually sell them on a quality-based carcass Marb
merit grid. Fat
4 Tokach Angus Ranch