EPD questions with verified answers
Accuracy (Acc) Ans✓✓✓ The reliability that can be placed on an EPD. Accuracy
expresses the reliability of the EPD and is presented as a number between .01 and
.99 The amount of change expected will be decreased the closer the Acc. is to 1.0
Birth Weight (BW) Ans✓✓✓ The birth weights of a bull's/cow's progeny when
compared to the breed average, in pounds. The lower the value the lighter the
calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a difficult birth.
Carcass Weight (CW) Ans✓✓✓ carcass weight is a good predictor of total retail
product. In general, carcass weight is not a good predictor of percent retail
product. Selecting sires/dams with the higher EPD for carcass weight will result in
progeny carcasses that produce more total retail product at constant fat and age
end points. An industry target weight range for carcasses would be between 650
and 850 pounds. As with any trait, you need to be cautious of selecting for
extremes unless these are necessary for you program. Is calculated from carcass
weight data from the progeny of sires, adjusted to 450 days of age. Positive values
indicate heavier carcass weights at the standard age of 450 days
Chromosomes Ans✓✓✓ Structure in cell nucleus which stores and transmits
genetic information in the form of DNA
Direct calving ease EPD Ans✓✓✓ an estimate of calving ease of calves sired by or
out of the animal represented. For bulls this is the expected calving ease
compared to other bulls when mated to equal cows. For females this is the
relative calving ease with the maternal calving factors equalized
DNA Typing Ans✓✓✓ -May be used to establish identity or parentage
, -Useful in determining animal origin
-May become a component of national ID programs
-Particularly beneficial in seedstock operations
DNA typing for parentage Ans✓✓✓ Confirm parentage for pedigree records and
genetic evaluation
Quality control for carcass data collection
Identify sires of calves from multiple sire pastures
Allow multiple sires to be used simultaneously in embryo transfer
Docility EPD Ans✓✓✓ calculated from measurements of temperament score.
Positive EPD values indicate a tendency towards more acceptable temperament.
EPD is based on a scoring system ranging from 1=Docile, 2=Restless to 5=Nervous,
and 6=Very Aggressive. Expressed in "percentage deviation", this EPD represents
whether an offspring of this individual will be either docile or restless
EPD Ans✓✓✓ -Expected progeny differences
-a valuable tool to aid purebred and commercial producers in the selection of
potential breeding stock
-the measure of predicted genetic merit in beef cattle
Accuracy (Acc) Ans✓✓✓ The reliability that can be placed on an EPD. Accuracy
expresses the reliability of the EPD and is presented as a number between .01 and
.99 The amount of change expected will be decreased the closer the Acc. is to 1.0
Birth Weight (BW) Ans✓✓✓ The birth weights of a bull's/cow's progeny when
compared to the breed average, in pounds. The lower the value the lighter the
calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a difficult birth.
Carcass Weight (CW) Ans✓✓✓ carcass weight is a good predictor of total retail
product. In general, carcass weight is not a good predictor of percent retail
product. Selecting sires/dams with the higher EPD for carcass weight will result in
progeny carcasses that produce more total retail product at constant fat and age
end points. An industry target weight range for carcasses would be between 650
and 850 pounds. As with any trait, you need to be cautious of selecting for
extremes unless these are necessary for you program. Is calculated from carcass
weight data from the progeny of sires, adjusted to 450 days of age. Positive values
indicate heavier carcass weights at the standard age of 450 days
Chromosomes Ans✓✓✓ Structure in cell nucleus which stores and transmits
genetic information in the form of DNA
Direct calving ease EPD Ans✓✓✓ an estimate of calving ease of calves sired by or
out of the animal represented. For bulls this is the expected calving ease
compared to other bulls when mated to equal cows. For females this is the
relative calving ease with the maternal calving factors equalized
DNA Typing Ans✓✓✓ -May be used to establish identity or parentage
, -Useful in determining animal origin
-May become a component of national ID programs
-Particularly beneficial in seedstock operations
DNA typing for parentage Ans✓✓✓ Confirm parentage for pedigree records and
genetic evaluation
Quality control for carcass data collection
Identify sires of calves from multiple sire pastures
Allow multiple sires to be used simultaneously in embryo transfer
Docility EPD Ans✓✓✓ calculated from measurements of temperament score.
Positive EPD values indicate a tendency towards more acceptable temperament.
EPD is based on a scoring system ranging from 1=Docile, 2=Restless to 5=Nervous,
and 6=Very Aggressive. Expressed in "percentage deviation", this EPD represents
whether an offspring of this individual will be either docile or restless
EPD Ans✓✓✓ -Expected progeny differences
-a valuable tool to aid purebred and commercial producers in the selection of
potential breeding stock
-the measure of predicted genetic merit in beef cattle
