What are EPDs?

Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)

"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."

Courtesy of the American Angus Association

Production EPDs

Calving Ease Direct (CED)

Calving ease direct 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.

Birth Weight EPD (BW)

Calving Ease Direct (CED)

Birth weight EDP is expressed in pounds and is the predictor of a sire's ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

Weaning Weight EPD (WW)

Calving Ease Direct (CED)

Yearling Weight EPD (YW)

Wearing weight EPD is expressed in pounds and is a predictor of a sires's ability to transmit weaning weight growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

Yearling Weight EPD (YW)

Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)

Yearling Weight EPD (YW)

Yearling weight EPD is expressed in pounds and is the predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to other sires.

Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)

Residual average daily gain is expressed in pounds per day. The is a predictor of a sire's genetic ability for post weaning gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed.

Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)

Dry matter intake is expressed in pounds per day and is a predictor of difference transmitting ability for feed intake during the post weaning phase, compared to that of other sires.

Yearling Height EPD (YH)

Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC)

Yearling height EPD is a predator of a sire's ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compares to that of other sires.

Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC)

Scrotal Circumference EPD is expressed in centimeters and is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.

Maternal EPDs

Heifer Pregnancy (HP)

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM)

Heifer pregnancy is a selection tool to increase the probability of a sire's daughters becoming pregnant as a first-calf heifer during a normal breeding season. A high EPD is the more favorable direction and the EPD is reported in percentage units.

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM)

Calving ease maternal is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a hight value indicatinggreater 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.

Maternal Milk EPD (MILK)

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM)

Maternal Milk EPD (MILK)

Maternal Milk EPD 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 the calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.

Herds (MkH)

Mature Weight EPD (MW)

Maternal Milk EPD (MILK)

Herds indicate the number of herds from with the daughters are reported.

Daughters (MkD)

Mature Weight EPD (MW)

Daughters reflect the number of daughters that have progeny weaning weight records included in the analysis.

Mature Weight EPD (MW)

Mature weight EPD is expressed in pounds and is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to daughters of other sires.

Mature Height EPD (MH)

Mature height EPD is expressed in inches and is predictor o the difference in mature height of a sire's daughters compared to daughter of other sires.

Cow Energy Value ($EN)

Mature Height EPD (MH)

Cow energy value is expressed in dollars savings per cow per year, assesses different 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.

Managemant EPDs

Docility (DOC)

Foot Angle EPD (ANGLE)

Claw Set EPD (CLAW)

Docility 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.

Claw Set EPD (CLAW)

Foot Angle EPD (ANGLE)

Claw Set EPD (CLAW)

Claw set EPD is expressed in units of

claw-set score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indication a sire will produce progeny with a more ideal claw set. The ideal claw set is toes that are symmetrical, even, and appropriately spaced.

Foot Angle EPD (ANGLE)

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure EPD (PAP)

Foot angle EPD is expressed in units of

foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indication a sire will produce progeny with a more ideal foot angel. The ideal is a 45 degree angle at the pastern joint with appropriate toe length and heel depth.

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure EPD (PAP)

Pulmonary arterial pressure EPD is expressed in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable, indicating a sire should produce progeny with a lower PAP score. PAP score is an indicator of susceptibility to high altitude disease commonly experiences at elevations greater than 5,500 feet. Selection for this trait aims to improve the genetic potential for a sire's progeny to have lower PAP scores, thus a lower chance of contracting hight altitude disease increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in the

mountain areas.

Hair Shed EPD

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure EPD (PAP)

Hair Shed EPD

Hair shed EPD is expressed in units of hair shed score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny who shed their winter coat earlier in the spring. Selection for this trait should improve the genetic potential for a sire's progeny to shed off earlier increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in heat stresses areas and producers grazing endophyte-infected (hot) fescue.

Carcass EPDs

Carcass Weight EPD (CW)

Carcass weight EPD is expressed in pounds and is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire's progeny compared to the progeny of other sires.

Marbling EPD (MARB)

Carcass Weight EPD (CW)

Marbling EPD is expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire's progeny compared that the progeny of other sires.

Ribeye Area EPD (RE)

Fat Thickness EPD (FAT)

Ribeye area EPD is expressed in square inches and is a predictor of the difference in a ribeye area of a sire's progeny compared to that of other sires.

Fat Thickness EPD (FAT)

Fat thickness EPD is expressed in inches and 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 that of other sires.