Evaluation & Use of Expected Progeny Differences in Beef Cattle Dr. Fred Rayfield Livestock Specialist Georgia Agricultural Education To accompany lesson 01.432 - 3.2 Selection and Judging July 2001

Management Considerations Assess your present cow herd Assess your present breeding program Assess your feed resources Assess your land and labor resources Determine your future direction and your target goal in production

Expected Progeny Differences Are a highly accurate means of predicting transmitting ability of animals as parents. Describe genetic differences between animals within a breed.

Accuracy of EPD’S Accuracy measures reliability Accuracy values range from 0(poor) to 1 (extremely high) Accuracy simply tells us the data or EPD’S are not simply just a guess.

Accuracy Ranges Less than .40 Unreliable .40 - .60 Look at these but risky .60 - .80 Trustworthy Greater than .80 Excellent reliability

Are all breeds the same?? No Can’t compare across breeds Different base points Future developments may change this scenario

Where do I Find Breed Averages ? Sire Summary Breed Publications Breed Associations AI Companies Sire Catalogs

What EPD’S Do I Consider ? Birth Weight Weaning Weight Yearling Weight Milk or Maternal Marbling Ribeye Area Fat Thickness

Do I Consider All EPD’S ? Balanced set Consider climate, nutrition and economics Improve weaknesses in your cow herd Do not implement unnecessary or unprofitable changes

Final Analysis EPD’S are a management tool use them wisely. Genotype and phenotype are important Only consider significant differences Liars figure and figures lie ? Utilize traits that will benefit your operation and your bottom line.

You Could Produce This !!!! This could be the result of an abundance of thought or an absence of thought. Genetic wreck!!!!

Jimmy Scott Farm Business Management Georgia Agricultural Education Economics of EPD’s Jimmy Scott Farm Business Management Georgia Agricultural Education

EPD Economics Bull #1 Sale Price $2,000.00 Bull #2 BW +4 WW +20 YW +30 MILK +15 Sale Price $2,000.00 Bull #2 BW +2 WW +5 YW +15 MILK +10 Sale Price $1,500.00

Questions? Is Bull #1 worth $500.00 more than Bull #2? How can we economically tell which bull would be the best choice?

Investment Analysis

Conclusion Bull #1 is the genetic and economic better choice.