Understanding Our Catalog Frame Standard relative measurement used to refer to the size of an animal, based on 12 months of age, using the rear height measurements and adjust weight. Interpreting EPDs EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) may vary in each individual as more information is recorded and analyzed. Many breed association specialized in beef currently publish up to 2 summaries per year. Always use the most current summary possible as a tool to compare breeders of the same breed and year. EPDs are specific and cannot be used to compare sires from different breeds. Accuracy (ACC) Accuracy indicates the degree of confidence of a EPD estimate. Accuracy values can vary from zero to one, with higher values indicating greater safety in the EPD estimate. It is fundamental to always remember that the selection must be made based on EPD and indexes, and not on accuracy. Accuracies should only be used as a defining factor of the intensity of use of a specific sire.
GROWTH Weight at Birth (WB) Linked to calving facility. Positive correlation with growth. An important characteristic to be considered when selecting sires for young heifers. A positive EPD value indicates greater weight at birth and a negative, lower weight at birth, compared to the breed average. WW (Weight at Weaning - kg) Indicative of the growth potential up to weaning. An important trait for herds aimed at producing calves that are heavy at weaning. Maternal Total Ability of the sire to transmit milk production and growth potential through its daughters. Estimate the weight at weaning the progeny’s daughters, calculated through the sire’s Milk EPD, added to half of its 205 EPD. Also expressed in pounds or kg. Year Weight (YW) Indicative of the growth potential in the post-weaning phase unassociated to the maternal effect. Height (Year Height) Expressed in inches. Indicates the capacity of a sire to transmit height to its offspring. Dietary Efficiency (DE) Predicts the genetic ability of the progeny of a sire to obtain better dietary efficiency indexes in the post-weaning phase. Expressed in pounds. Milk Average weight gain value for calves at weaning, which can be attributed to the milking ability of the daughters of a sire. The EPD will be expressed in pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg) for the calf.
Prob. Pregnancy - (Probability of Pregnancy - %) This is the probability of the heifers of a sire to become pregnant at 24 months old. Higher numbers are more desirable. Longevity (%) This is the probability of the daughters of a sire to remain in the herd up to 6 years old, producing one calf per year with a suitable interval between calvings. Higher numbers are more desirable. $EN (Angus) Expressed in dollars. Predicts the differences in the energy requirement needs of a sire’s daughters. Elevated numbers are desirable, as it denotes females that are more efficient in the use of energy. This data is calculated considering the energy requirements associated to lactation and adult size of the dam. Days to calving (days) Indicative of the fertility of a sire’s daughters. This is the time interval of time from a female’s exposure to a sire up to the subsequent calving. Negative values are more desirable, as it indicates a smaller interval between calvings and greater fertility. Docil. (Docility - %) Predicts the difference in progeny temperament of a sire. Higher numbers are desirable, as they denote sires that transmit good temperament to their offspring.
Scrotal Perimeter (SP) This is the best fertility indicator for breeding herds. It is correlated to a smaller interval between calvings, sexual precocity of females and finishing precocity. AS (Adult Size - kg) Based on the weight of the dam when weaning her offspring and adjusted to 5 years of age. Indicates the growth potential of adult animals and maintenance requirement of breeding females. Lower numbers are more desirable for pasture production systems. Energy EPD (Mcal/months) - Red Angus Predicts the energy difference required by the adult daughters of a sire. Negative numbers are most desirable, as they indicate more efficient and economic adult cows in the use of energy. Gestation (Gest. Days) Estimate from conception to birth of the offspring based on IA registration. Negative numbers indicate less gestation time and, thus, less calving problems and greater post-birth growth potential. Facility in calving (%) Based on the evaluation score for calving difficulty, weight at birth and gestation period. Elevated and positive values indicate less occurrence of calving problems.
PROFITABILITY INDEXES $ (AMERICAN HEREFORD ASSOCIATION) Weaning Value ($D or $BMI) This is a maternally-focused index based on the quality of the progeny produced by Hereford sires in Angus-based cows. The index has a positive emphasis in fertility, CE, Weight at Weaning, MAR and LEA, and a negative emphasis for excessive size and height. Calving Ease Value ($Fac. Par. or $CEZ) Similar to the $D index, however, it considers the use of Hereford sires mated to young heifers. The greatest emphasis in the index is the direct calving ease trait and the calving ease of the sire’s daughters. Crossbreed Value ($cruza Z or $BII) Similar to $D, however, it considers crossbreeding with Brahman-based cattle. The index has a greater emphasis on fertility and age at puberty traits, and less emphasis on performance traits. Beef Value ($VC or $CHB) Terminal index based on the use of Hereford sires that produce progenies classified in the Hereford beef certification program. Less emphasis on fertility and greater emphasis on traits for growth, marbling and loin eye area.
NATURA AND CONEXÃO DELTA G SUMMARY NH: Number of herds NP: Number of products
CARCASS EVALUATION Carcass Weight Adjusted carcass weight of the progeny of a sire, expressed in pounds (lbs). Elevated values indicate progenies with heavier carcasses. Loin Eye Area (LEA) Measurement relative to the surface (area) of the loin eye of a progeny of a sire, taken at the level of the 12th rib. Measurement expressed in square inches. High values indicate greater yield of beef. Marbling (MAR and IMF) This is the fat streaked in the beef, taken at the level of the 12th rib. This EPD is expressed in numeric indexes, with 1 point = to the U.S.D.A. index (according to the USA’s Department of Agriculture). The higher the numbers, the better quality the beef.
EPDh - EPD harmony Predicts the Phenotype of the progeny of a sire instead of predicting the expected differences between the progeny averages of different sires (EPDs). This tool identifies those animals that are able to not only produce progenies with a higher performance, but also progenies with greater Uniformity and Standardization in their production traits. Weight Gain from Birth to Weaning (GBW) Expressed in kg, the GBW EPD is indicative of the sire’s capacity to transmit genes with a direct effect on the speed of growth from birth to weaning (205 days) for its progeny. Weight Gain from Birth to 18 months (GB18M) Expressed in kg, the GB18M EPD is indicative of the sire’s capacity to transmit genes with a direct effect on the speed of growth of its progeny from weaning to 18 months old (550 days).
Fat (FAT) Relative to the thickness of fat on the progeny carcass, adjusted to the 12th rib. Value expressed in square inches. Elevated numbers indicate carcasses with a greater cover of fat.
Decas (D) This is a classification of animals in classes of 10% obtained based on standardized EPDs. Deca 1 indicates that the sire is among the best 10%.
Cut Yield (Yield %) Estimate of the cut yield of a deboned carcass. Value expressed in percentage (%) of yield (muscle/carcass ratio).
Conformation (EPD C) Expressed in score units for carcass conformation. It is evaluated by means of visual scoring, with 1 the worst and 5 the best carcass conformation.
Bioeconomic Index Value $ (American Angus Association) Tool for the selection of multiple traits.
REPRODUCTION
Facility in Calving
D.C.E. - Daughter Calving Ease (%) This is the probability of sire daughter to calve at 24 months without any calving assistance.
Weaning Value ($D or $W) Expressed in dollars per head. This is the expected mean difference in the progeny yield at the pre-weaning phase. The $W index considers the revenue and costs associated to weight at birth, direct effect of growth to weaning, effect of the maternal environment and size of the adult cow. Confinement Value ($C or $F) Expressed in dollars per head, it is the mean expected difference in the progeny for growth merit in the post-weaning phase. This data considers the EPDs of Weight at Weaning, year weight, as well as efficiencies in a confinement environment (cost, consumption, average price). Carcass Quality Value ($Q or $G) Expressed in dollars per head, it is the mean expected difference in the progeny for carcass merit. This index considers the information measured directly on the carcass and ultrasound measurements. Marbling, carcass weight, fat cover, yield and USDA classification (Prime, select, choice and standard) are considered in the $Q index. Beef Value ($VC or $B) Expressed in dollars per head, it is the mean expected difference in the progeny for genetic merit in performance in the post-weaning phase and the carcass quality value. The $B is thus composed of $Confinement and $Quality indexes. This index facilitates the choice of sires with high growth performance in the post-weaning phase, which produce quality beef and with costs associated to this phase of production.
(F3)
Calving ease indicator, varying from 1 to 4 and using a pure herd as a base. The higher the number, the lighter the offspring will be at birth. Scores 3 and 4 can be used in heifers.
Precocity (EPD P) Finish precocity, expressed in visual score units, with 1 the greatest precocity for carcass finish. Musculature (M) For musculature, expressed in visual score units, with 1 less muscular and 5 more muscular.
ROCK SOLID GENETICS
Rock Solid
I.A.
Proven .99 Accuracy
This logo identifies highly proven sires with a number of evaluated daughters. A sire with this mark means that it has had at least 100 daughters evaluated in 5 herds and its numbers are above the breed average. For carcass traits, the sire needs at least 50 offspring in 5 different contemporary groups and data above average.
ADVANCED GENERATION
Advanced generation animals (from the 3rd generation on for traits with direct effects and from the 4th generation on for traits with maternal effects) have already suffered and established the consequences of epistatic loss in synthetic breed populations. As a result, advanced generation sires produce progenies with greater uniformity and standardization.
Carcass Quality Animal genetic indicator influencing beef improvement. The scores vary from 1 to 4. The higher the score, the greater the chance of the sire transmitting favorable genes for marbling and yield in special cuts.
ICON CAPTIONS