P
age
 43
PRODUCTION
•
Calving Ease Direct (CED)
,
is expressed as a difference in percentage of unas-
sisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers.
It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born
when he is bred to first-calf heifers.
•
Birth Weight EPD (BW EPD)
,
expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s abil-
ity to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
•
Weaning Weight EPD (WW EPD)
,
expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s
ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
•
Yearling Weight EPD (YW EPD)
,
expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s
ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
•
Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)
,
expressed in pounds per day, is a pre-
dictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny compared to
that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed.
•
Yearling Height EPD (YH)
,
is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling
height, expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires.
•
Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC)
,
expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of
the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.
•
Docility (DOC)
,
is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with
a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average difference
of progeny from a sire in comparison with another sire’s calves. In herds where
temperament problems are not an issue, this expected difference would not be
realized.
MATERNAL
•
Maternal Milk EPD (Milk)
,
is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and
mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other
sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and
mothering ability.
•
Cow Energy Value ($EN)
,
expressed in dollars savings per cow per year,
assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings dif-
ference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two
animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). Components for computing
the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and energy
costs associated with differences in mature cow size.
CARCASS
•
Carcass Weight EPD (CW)
,
expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differ-
ences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
•
Marbling EPD (Marb)
,
expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA mar-
bling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
•
Ribeye Area EPD (RE)
,
expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the differ-
ence in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
•
Fat Thickness EPD (Fat)
,
expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in
external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs)
of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
$VALUE INDEXES
$Value indexes are multi-trait selection indexes, expressed in dollars per head, to assist
beef producers by adding simplicity to genetic selection decisions. The $Value is an esti-
mate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared
to progeny of other sires in the database if the sires were randomly mated to cows and if
calves were exposed to the same environment.
•
Weaned Calf Value ($W)
,
an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the
expected average difference in future progeny performance for preweaning merit.
$W includes both revenue and cost adjustments associated with differences in
birth weight, weaning direct growth, maternal milk, and mature cow size.
•
Feedlot Value ($F)
,
an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the
expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning merit
compared to progeny of other sires.
•
Grid Value ($G)
,
an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected
average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit compared
to progeny of other sires.
•
Beef Value ($B)
,
an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected
average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning and carcass
value compared to progeny of other sires.
OTHER CATALOG ABBREVIATIONS/NOTATIONS
Pathfinder
®
animals are indicated by the pound (#) sign proceeding the name or registra-
tion number. Embryo transplants are indicated by the plus (+) sign proceeding the name
or registration number.
For more information on how to use this information in your breeding program, visit the American Angus Association website:
www.angus.org
Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)
,
is the prediction of how future progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed
in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear on young animals when their performance has yet to be incorporated
into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures. This EPD will be preceded by an “I”, and may or may not include the animal’s own performance
record for a particular trait, depending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.
EPDs are enhanced by genomic profiles generated by Igenity and Pfizer, when applicable.
$Value Indexes, are multi-trait selection indexes, expressed in dollars per head, to assist beef producers by adding simplicity to genetic selection decisions. The $Value is an estimate
of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires in the database if the sires were randomly mated to cows and if calves
were exposed to the same environment.
All EPD data and references to it presented in this publication are based upon data provided by the American Angus
Association as of December 7, 2012. EPD data is updated weekly by the American Angus Association and additional
weight ratio data, ultrasound ratio data and genomic data from individuals that sell in this sale, their parents and their
progeny will impact the EPD data for that animal. An updated summary of EPD data as of January 25, 2013 will be
provided at the sale site. Current EPD data for individual animals can always be accessed online at angus.org.
ANGUS Breed Average EPDs for Current Dams
CW
MARB
RE
FAT
+20
+0.36
+0.22
+0.007
CED
BW EPD
WW EPD
YW EPD
SC
CEM
MILK
$EN
+4
+2.1
+41
+75
+0.43
+7
+21
+2.86
$W
$F
$G
$B
+24.70
+19.26
+23.21
+50.94
ANGUS Breed Average EPDs for Non-Parent Cows
CW
MARB
RE
FAT
+24
+0.47
+0.38
+0.008
CED
BW EPD
WW EPD
YW EPD
SC
CEM
MILK
$EN
+5
+1.8
+45
+82
+0.43
+8
+23
-1.40
$W
$F
$G
$B
+26.08
+24.70
+26.49
+57.63
STARS OF TEXAS Female Sale Offering Average EPDs
CW
MARB
RE
FAT
+30
+0.73
+0.68
+0.005
CED
BW EPD
WW EPD
YW EPD
SC
CEM
MILK
$EN
+6
+2.1
+54
+99
+0.40
+8
+28
-11.04
$W
$F
$G
$B
+30.99
+38.44
+39.41
+76.68
AVG 50K C
hange
in
ACC
from
0.05
P
rogeny
E
quivalent
BW
.25
8
WW
.23
16
YW
2
.27
20
RADG
3
.27
13
M
ilk
.15
13
CW
.17
7
MARB
.24
12
RE
4
.23
9
FAT
4
.23
11
Expected added EPD accuracy for EPD information that has been
enhanced by Pfizer HD50K analysis:
2
-
ADG
3
-
DMI
4
-
Carcass progeny, not scanned progeny (scanned progeny equivalent closer to 30-40)
EPD
and
S
ale
B
ook
D
efinitions