Select Sires Beef

EPD - Expected Progeny Difference - The expected difference
in performance of a bull’s progeny compared to
the performance of another sire’s progeny. In other words,
EPDs for one animal are meaningless until they are compared
to EPDs of another animal. For example, if Sire A
has a birth weight EPD of 4.0 and Sire B has a birth weight
EPD of -2.0, then calves from Sire B would be expected to
average 6 pounds lighter at birth than calves from Sire A if
the bulls are randomly mated in the same herd. EPDs are
designed to compare sires within the same breed.

Acc. - Accuracy - A measure of reliability of an EPD
expressed between 0 and 1.0. Accuracies closer to 1.0
means the EPD is a more reliable estimate of a sire’s true
genetic value for the trait.

% Rank - Based on percentages, this indicates where a
bull’s EPD ranks him in the entire population of his respective
breed.

CED or CE - Calving Ease Direct is the difference in
percentage of unassisted births when a sire is bred to firstcalf
heifers. A higher number is desirable.

BW - Birth Weight EPD predicts the difference in average
birth weight of a bull’s calves compared to calves of
another bull. Reported in pounds, a lower number is desirable.

WW - Weaning Weight EPD predicts the difference in
average 205-day weight of a bull’s progeny compared to
calves of another bull. Reported in pounds, a higher number
is desirable.

YW - Yearling Weight EPD predicts the difference in
average 365-day weight of a bull’s progeny compared
to progeny of another bull. Reported in pounds, a higher
number is generally desirable.

YH - Yearling Height (Angus) - The YH EPD predicts the
difference in yearling hip height of a bull’s progeny compared
to progeny of another bull. Reported in inches, ideal
values vary depending on production environment.

SC - Scrotal Circumference - The SC EPD predicts the
difference in yearling scrotal circumference of a bull’s male
progeny compared to progeny of another bull. Reported in
centimeters, a larger number is desirable.

CEM or MCE - Calving Ease Maternal is expressed as
a difference in percentage of unassisted births of a sire’s
daughters as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters
of other sires. Reported as a percentage, a higher
value is desirable.

Milk - The milk EPD predicts the difference in average
205-day weight of a bull’s daughters’ calves compared
to the calves from daughters of another bull. Reported in
pounds, ideal milk values depend heavily upon the nutritional
environment of the herd.

MWW - Maternal Weaning Weight (Simmental); M&G
- Milk and Growth (Hereford); TM - Total Maternal (Red
Angus) - The EPD predicts the Weaning Weight of a bull’s
daughters’ progeny and reflects both the milking ability of
a bull’s daughters and the growth potential of their calves.
Reported in pounds, higher numbers are generally desirable.

$EN - Cow Energy Value (Angus), expressed in dollars
saved per cow per year, the EPD assesses differences in
cow energy requirements for daughters of sires. A larger
value is more favorable when comparing two animals
(more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). $EN savings
differences account for lactation energy requirements
and mature size of cows.

Stay - Stayability (Red Angus & Simmental) - The stayability
EPD predicts the probability of a bull’s daughters
staying in production to at least six years of age compared
to daughters of another bull. Reported as a percentage, a
higher value is desirable.

Carcass Traits – EPDs for carcass traits are calculated
using weighted averages of yearling ultrasounds and progeny
carcass data.

CW - Carcass Weight - The EPD predicts the difference
in hot carcass weight of a bull’s progeny compared to
progeny of all other bulls evaluated at a given endpoint.
Reported in pounds, a higher number is generally desirable.

Marb - Marbling - The EPD predicts the difference in average
USDA marbling score of a bull’s progeny compared
to progeny of another bull at a similar end point. Reported
in degrees of a marbling score, higher values are desirable.

REA - Ribeye Area - The EPD predicts the difference in
ribeye area of a bull’s progeny compared to the progeny
of another bull and is an indicator of total muscle in the
carcass. Reported in square inches, larger numbers are
generally desirable.

Fat - The EPD predicts the difference in fat thickness of
carcasses, measured between the 12th and 13th ribs, of
a bull’s progeny compared to progeny of another bull. Reported
in inches, lower values are desirable.

YG - Yield Grade (Simmental) – The EPD predicts differences
in USDA Yield Grade of a bull’s progeny compared
to progeny of another bull. Reported in tenths of a USDA
YG, lower numbers are desirable.

$Value Indexes (Angus)

Weaned Calf Value ($W), an index value expressed in
dollars per head, is the expected difference in value of a
bull’s progeny at weaning compared to progeny of another
sire. $W accounts for differences in birth weight, weaning
weight direct, maternal milk, and mature cow size.

Feedlot Value ($F), an index value expressed in dollars
per head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s
progeny for postweaning feedlot performance compared
to progeny of another sire.

Grid Value ($G), an index value expressed in dollars per
head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny
when sold on a carcass grid basis compared to progeny
of another sire.

Beef Value ($B), an index value expressed in dollars per
head, is the expected difference in value of a bull’s progeny
for postweaning growth performance and carcass value
compared to progeny of another sire.

Indexes (Simmental)

All-Purpose Index (API), expressed in net dollars returned
per cow exposed, evaluates Simmental sires being
used on the entire cowherd (bred to both Angus first-calf
heifers and mature cows) with a portion of the daughters
retained for breeding and the steers and remaining heifers
fed and sold on a carcass grade and yield basis. With the
exception of shear force (tenderness), all EPDs are considered
in this index.

Terminal Index (TI), expressed in net dollars returned
per cow exposed, evaluates the merit of sires when bred
to mature Angus cows and all progeny are fed and sold on
a carcass grade and yield basis. Consequently, maternal
traits such as milk, stayability and MCE are not considered
in this index.

$Value Indexes (Shorthorn)

$ CEZ – ($ Calving Ease) This index assumes a bull will only be mated to heifers, not cows. The potential profitability of the sire is measured by the incidence of live calves at birth. Moderate mature size is also emphasized in the index., but performance is not a priority. This index is also a good measure of Shorthorn females’ ability to produce calving ease sires. Overemphasis of $CEZ may cause unwanted depression of weaning and yearling performance.

$F – ($ Feedlot) Similar to a Terminal Sire scenario, $Feedlot places strong emphasis on growth and carcass traits. This multi-trait index assumes the sire will be mated to a mix of heifers and cows and attempts to measure profitability when progeny are sold on the fed market. On the female side, mature size should be monitored closely when selecting for $F. Over-selection may cause detrimental harm to longevity, reproductive efficiency, and fleshing ability.

$BMI – ($ British Maternal Index) As the name implies, this multi-trait selection index attempts to measure a bull’s potential profitability when complimenting the British cow base (Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, etc.). Shorthorn females can likewise be gauged at adding value to British or British-composite bulls of other breeds. A balance of growth and carcass traits is desired with a strong maternal component aimed at optimum reproductive efficiency and cow longevity.

$Profit Indexes (Hereford)

Brahman Influence Index (BII), is a maternally-focused index based on using Hereford bulls on Brahman x Hereford cows. Emphasizes fertility, REA and IMF, with progeny harvested through a commodity market.

Baldy Maternal Index (BMI), is a maternally-focused index based on using Hereford bulls on Hereford x Angus cows with a progeny endpoint directed towards Certified Hereford Beef (CHB). Emphasizes fertility, CE, WW, IMF and REA with slight negative pressure on yearling weight to keep the mature size of cattle manageable.

Certified Hereford Beef (CHB), is a terminal sire index based on using Hereford bulls to sire calves for the CHB market. Some emphasis is applied to CE with positive pressure applied to WW and YW, IMF and REA. No emphasis is placed on fertility as all calves are harvested.

Calving EZ (CEZ), is a general purpose index that focuses on bulls that can be bred to heifers with resulting calves marketed through CHB. CE and MCE carry significant weight along with fertility. Little emphasis is placed on growth with less on carcass. This index is specifically designed to be used in a heifer program.

Additional Terms:

Homozygous Polled - This individual is polled and carries two polled genes. The animal will sire all polled offspring regardless of whether the other parent is horned or polled.

Heterozygous Polled - The individual is polled but carries both a polled gene and a horned gene. The animal will sire both polled and horned calves.

Homozygous Black - This individual will always pass on a black gene for color to his offspring. When bred to a diluted cow, this bull can still sire gray color patterns.

Nondiluter - This individual does not carry the diluter gene and therefore will not pass on the diluter gene to his progeny.