How do you read cattle EPDs?
EPDs are measured in units of traits, such as pounds. For example, a bull with a +70 weaning weight (WW) EPD compared to a bull with a +60 WW EPD is expected to produce calves 10 pounds heavier if mated to the same group of cows and managed under the same conditions.
What is a good BW EPD number?
When comparing the BW EPD of 2.1 to the breed average of 2.6, Bull A would be expected to produce calves with lower birth weights than the average bull in the Angus breed (2.1 – 2.6 = -0.5 or 0.5 lbs lower than the breed average).
What do the EPD numbers mean?
Expected Progeny Difference
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.
What is the most important EPD trait?
The two important maternal EPD traits I look at are 1) Maternal Calving Ease and 2) Milk. These are in addition to physical traits of which I will speak to later. First, Maternal Calving Ease has become an early learned and important trait for me.
How do you read a bull EPD number?
EPDs defined For example, if Bull A has a birthweight EPD of +9.0 lbs and Bull B has a birthweight EPD of +3.0 lbs, this means that Bull A’s calves will have birthweights that are 6 lbs heavier than whatever the birthweight of Bull B’s calves are, on average.
How many pounds should a steer in a feedyard gain per day?
Feedyards feed cattle to finish around 1,100 to 1,200 lbs., the weight that packers prefer. A 600 lb. steer that gains 3 lbs. per day will be on feed 167 days to reach 1,100 lbs., while a 750 lb.
What three items are used to determine EPDs?
For a given trait, EPD values are calculated based on data submitted by producers to breed associations from an animal’s actual performance, performance of progeny, performance of other relatives, and genomic data (DNA analysis, if available).
Which EPD is the best indicator of the calving ease of a bull when bred to heifers?
“When we use birth weight EPDs, that’s a good indirect measurement of calving ease. The biggest indicator of direct calving ease is birth weight,” Bertrand points out.
How much grain should you feed a 500 pound calf?
A full feed of good-quality corn silage supplemented with protein, minerals and Vitamin A will produce from 1.5 to 1.8 pounds of daily gain on a 400- to 500-pound calf. Some grain additions will usually be needed to get 2.0 pounds daily gain.
What is a good birth weight EPD for heifers?
The difference in the birth weight EPD value between Bull A and Bull B is 4 pounds (5 – 1 = 4). Therefore, Bull A would be expected to sire calves that are 4 pounds heavier at birth on the average than calves sired by Bull B….Within-Breed Differences.
| Birth Weight EPD | |
|---|---|
| Bull B | +1 |
Is Cracked corn good for calves?
Even though corn can be fed whole with satisfactory results, cracking or rolling prior to feeding will increase digestibility by 5 to 10 percent. In most instances, grinding or rolling corn will not markedly improve average daily gain, but proper processing will improve feed conversion efficiency.
What is the best feed for fattening cattle?
What is the best feed for fattening cattle? Barley is the best grain for lot feeding cattle, but wheat, triticale, sorghum, maize, and oats can be used. Oats is not an ideal grain on its own for cattle fattening but can be used with any of the other grains. Hay or silage could be used as the roughage source.
What is the accuracy of the birth weight EPD?
For example, The BW (birth weight) EPD is 4.7 and the accuracy of that EPD is . 49. CED and BW should be looked at when one is concerned with the size of calf or the animals that are being bred. Most beef producers don’t like to pull calves.
Do calves need a salt block?
Dairy cows need salt to create milk, and beef cows need salt to gain their proper weight. Calves with a salt deficiency have a much lower weaning weight than calves with access to salt. Like other animals, cows use salt to maintain their bones, muscles, and nervous systems. But, they can’t store it.