Hereford EPDs

by getpenned

Units of Measure:

EPD DEFINITIONS FROM HEREFORD.ORG

  • Calving Ease — Direct (CE) – CE EPD is based on calving ease scores and birth weights and is measured on a percentage. CE EPD indicates the influence of the sire on calving ease in females calving at 2 years of age.
  • Birth Weight (BW) – BW EPD is an indicator trait for calving ease and is measured in pounds.
  • Weaning Weight (WW) – WW EPD is an estimate of pre-weaning growth that is measured in pounds.
  • Yearling Weight (YW) – YW EPD is an estimate of post-weaning growth that is measured in pounds.
  • Dry Matter Intake (DMI) – The DMI EPD predicts the daily consumption of pounds of feed.
  • Scrotal Circumference (SC) – Measured in centimeters and adjusted to 365 days of age, SC EPD is the best estimate of fertility. It is related to the bull’s own semen quantity and quality, and is also associated with age at puberty of sons and daughters.
  • Sustained Cow Fertility – SCF EPD is a prediction of a cow’s ability to continue to calve from three years of age through 12 years of age, given she calved as a two-year-old.
  • Maternal Milk (MM) – The MM EPD of a sire’s daughters is expressed in pounds of calf weaned. It predicts the difference in average weaning weights of sires’ daughters’ progeny due to milking ability.
  • Maternal Milk & Growth (M&G) – The M&G EPD reflects what the sire is expected to transmit to his daughters for a combination of growth genetics through weaning and genetics for milking ability. It is an estimate of the daughter’s progeny weaning weight.
  • Maternal Calving Ease (MCE) – MCE EPD predicts how easily a sire’s daughters will calve at two years of age and is measured on a percentage.
  • Mature Cow Weight (MCW) – The MCW EPD was designed to help breeders select sires that will either increase or decrease mature size of cows in the herd.
  • Udder suspension (UDDR) – UDDR EPDs are reported on a 9 (very tight) to 1 (very pendulous) scoring scale.
  • Teat size (TEAT) – TEAT EPDs are reported on a 9 (very small) to 1 (very large, balloon shaped) scoring scale.
  • Carcass Weight (CW) – CW EPD is a beneficial trait when considering the impact that pounds have relative to end product value. At the same age constant endpoint, sires with higher values for carcass weight will add more pounds of hot carcass weight compared to sires with lower values for carcass weight.
  • Rib Fat (FAT) – The FAT EPD reflects differences in adjusted 365-day, 12th-rib fat thickness based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle.
  • Ribeye Area (REA) – REA EPDs reflect differences in an adjusted 365-day ribeye area measurement based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle.
  • Marbling (MARB) – MARB EPDs reflect differences in an adjusted 365-day marbling score (intramuscular fat, [IMF]) based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle.

    Indexes
  • Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$) – The BMI$ is a maternally focused index that is based on a production system that uses Hereford x Angus cross cows. Progeny of these cows are directed towards Certified Hereford Beef. This index has significant weight on Sustained Cow Fertility, which predicts fertility and longevity of females. There is a slightly positive weight on Weaning Weight, Mature Cow Weight and Milk which accounts for enough growth but ensures females do not increase inputs. There is some negative emphasis on Dry Matter Intake, but a positive weighting on Carcass Weight which is anticipated to provide profitability from finishing of non-replacement females and castrated males. Marbling and Rib-eye Area are also positively weighted to keep the harvested progeny successful for CHB. This index is geared to identify Hereford bulls that will be profitable when used in a rotational cross with mature commercial Angus cows.
  • Brahman Influence Index (BII$) – The BII$ is a maternally focused index that is based on a production system that uses Brahman x Hereford cross cows. Progeny of these cows are directed towards a commodity beef market since Certified Hereford Beef© does not accept Brahman influenced cattle. This index has significant weight on Sustained Cow Fertility, which predicts fertility and longevity of females. There is a slightly positive weight on Weaning Weight, Mature Cow Weight and Milk which accounts for enough growth but ensures females do not increase inputs. There is some negative emphasis on Dry Matter Intake, but a positive weighting on Carcass Weight which is anticipated to provide profitability in finishing non- replacement females and castrated males. Marbling and Rib-eye Area are also positively weighted to keep harvested progeny successful for a variety of commodity based programs. This index targets producers that use Hereford bulls on Brahman influenced cows.
  • Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$) – A terminal sire index that is built on a production system where Hereford bulls are mated to mature commercial Angus cows where all progeny will be targeted for Certified Hereford Beef after the finishing phase. This index has significant weight on Carcass Weight and Marbling to ensure profit on the rail. As well there is a positive weighting for Average Daily Gain along with a negative weighting on Dry Matter Intake to ensure efficient pounds of growth in the finishing phase. In addition, there is a positive weighting for Rib-eye Area and a negative weighting for Back Fat to maintain desirable Yield Grades. This is the only index that has no emphasis on fertility. Remember that no replacement heifers are being retained.