EPDEPD& SCORE EXPLANATION & SCORE EXPLANATION EPD EXPLANATION EPD’s are predictions on how each bull rates against his own contemporary group and the rest of the breed. EPD’s evaluate group averages and offspring’s performance, however they cannot predict individual performance or weights. For example, if Bull A (WW EPD of +10) & Bull B (WW of +60) were randomly mated with 10 similar cows, we would expect the group avg. weaning weight of Bull A’s offspring to be 50 lbs. lighter than Bull B’s (60 - 10 = 50). BW
Birth Weight - expressed in pounds, is a prediction of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny.
WW
Weaning Weight - expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny.
YW
Milk
TM
CE
MCE
Yearling Weight - expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny. A predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters.
CATTLE PEN SCORE Bulls were evaluated for docility in the 1) pen with herd mates 2) chute 3) video pen alone with several humans 4) 12 x 24 pen alone with handler inside. Score is an estimate given the bulls reaction to applied stress in different situations at a point in time. Low stress cattle handling should always be applied.
BIF GUIDELINES 1 = Non-aggressive (docile). Walks slowly, can be approached closely by humans, not excited by humans or facilities. 2 = Slightly Aggressive. Runs along fences, will stand in corner if humans stay away, may pace fence. 3 = Moderately Aggressive. Runs along fences, head up and will run if humans move closer, stops before hitting gates and fences, avoids humans. 4 = Aggressive. Runs, stays in back group, head high and very aware of humans, may run into fences and gates even with some distance, will likely run into fences if alone in pen. 5 = Very Aggressive. Excited, runs into fences, runs over humans and anything else in path, “crazy”. Cattle with a Pen Score of 4 and 5 should be culled.
Total Maternal - 1/2 Weaning Weight + Milk. This index is the expected amount of pounds that a sire’s daughters’ calves will differ from the breed average assuming the daughters are mated to sires of average genetic merit for Weaning Weight. Calving Ease Direct (CE), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted 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. Maternal Calving Ease (MCE) is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf 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.
BREED AVERAGES Black Angus Breed Averages are compiled from the total number of Black Angus calves registered in 2018 to compare the BLACK ANGUS BULLS in this catalogue to: BW WW YW Milk TM
BLACK ANGUS +2.1 +45 +80 +21 +43
45