2020 Stars of Texas Angus Female Sale

PAGE  53 EPD AND SALE BOOK DEFINITIONS PRODUCTION • CALVING EASE DIRECT (CED) , is expressed as a difference in percent- age 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. • BIRTH WEIGHT EPD (BW EPD) , expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability 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 predictor 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 com- pared to that of other sires. • DOCILITY (DOC) , is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temper- ament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average difference of progeny from a sire in comparison with anoth- er 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 difference 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 differences 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 marbling 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 difference 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 be- tween 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 $Value is an estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires in the database if the sires were randomly mated to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment. • MATERNAL WEANED CALF VALUE ($M) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences from conception to weaning with the underlying breeding objective assuming that individuals retain their own replacement females within herd and sell the rest of the cull female and all male progeny as feeder calves. The model assumes commercial producers will replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% of their breeding females in each subsequent generation. Traits included are as follows: calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, milk, heifer pregnancy, docility, mature cow weight, claw set and foot angle. • WEANED CALF VALUE ($W) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics from birth to weaning. The underlying objective being producers will retain 20% of the female progeny as replacements and sell the rest of the cull females and their male counterparts as feeder calves. Traits included are as follows (in no particular order): birth weight, weaning weight, milk, and mature cow weight. • FEEDLOT VALUE ($F) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning feedlot merit compared to the progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass weight basis, but with no consideration of premiums or discounts for quality and yield grade. Traits contributing directly to the index are as follows: yearling weight (gain), carcass weight and feed efficiency. • GRID VALUE ($G) , an index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will market cattle on an above-industry-average carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows (in no particular order): carcass weight, marbling, ribeye area, and fat. • BEEF VALUE ($B) , a terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postwean- ing and carcass traits. This terminal index assumes commercial produc- ers wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows: yearling weight, dry-matter intake, marbling, carcass weight, ribeye area and fat. • COMBINED VALUE ($C) , expressed in dollars per head, is an index which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value ($B) with the objective that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer proge- ny are then assumed to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of those cattle and eventually sell them on a quality-based carcass merit grid. 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 GeneSeek and Zoetis, when applicable. All EPD data and references to it presented in this publication are based upon data provided by the American Angus Association as of December 13, 2019. 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. Current EPD data for individual animals can always be accessed online at www.angus.org . OTHER CATALOG ABBREVIATIONS/NOTATIONS Pathfinder ® animals are indicated by the pound (#) sign proceeding the name or registration number. Embryo transplants are indicated by the plus (+) sign proceeding the name or registration number.