If you raise cattle for most of your life, it’s likely you’ll influence about 10 generations of cattle. That means each mating should be viewed as a significant responsibility. As beef cattle breeders, it’s our ambition to not simply identify the most popular bull, but the bull that best fits our herd and production objectives. To do so effectively, we must sort through large amounts of data and focus on the information that matters most. That’s where Estimated Progeny Differences, or EPDs, in bull selection become a valuable tool.
EPDs are one of the most powerful tools available to cattle breeders evaluating A.I. sires and herd bulls. EPDs were developed decades ago and are considered the gold standard for making genetic progress. Today, breeders have access to EPDs for a wide range of performance, maternal and carcass traits. Selection indexes are also available for various production scenarios and continue to evolve (more on indexes another time).
Beef Genetics Manager
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Even after years of seeing EPDs in sale catalogs and A.I. directories, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to apply them. Let’s step back and review the fundamentals.
Bull Selection Starts with Three Questions
Before selecting a sire, consider these questions:
- Where are you now?
- Where do you want to be?
- What traits are you paid for?
The current genetic makeup of the cow herd should be the starting point. Are your cows predominantly British-based, Continental-based or a blend of the two? For commercial herds, it has historically made sense (and cents) to utilize crossbreeding for the added benefit to lowly heritable traits like reproductive traits, and to select for highly heritable traits like growth and carcass traits using EPDs.
As an example, Angus-based commercial herds cross well with Simmental or Charolais bulls that rank in the top percentiles for growth, ribeye area and fat thickness. These calves feed extremely well and have excellent end-product value. Today’s feeder and fat cattle markets greatly incentivize pounds, so using growth and carcass EPDs to select proven A.I. sires for use in a terminal breeding system is a profitable endeavor.
Evaluate Strengths and Weaknesses
It is equally important to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the existing cow herd.
If a herd has a higher-than-desired percentage of thin or open cows, choosing sires with lower Milk EPDs may improve long-term efficiency. The optimal level of milk production varies by region, environment and management system. This makes it important to identify the correct level for your scenario, rather than simply pursuing the highest value.
Female fertility can also be addressed through genetic selection. Depending on breed, you may utilize traits such as Functional Longevity and/or $EN (Angus), Stayability (Red Angus and Simmental) or Sustained Cow Fertility (Hereford). Using high accuracy A.I. sires is the best method for matching the needs of each female in the herd while advancing the goals of your breeding program as a whole.
Match EPDs to Your Future Production Goals
After evaluating your current genetics, think about goals for future production. Do you wish to grow the herd by retaining home-raised heifers, or will most of your calves be sold to the feedlot? If your farm or ranch intends to keep replacement heifers, greater emphasis should be placed on using bulls with high-ranking fertility and maternal EPDs. EPDs are even (finally) available for foot and udder traits in some breeds, providing additional tools to improve longevity and functionality.
By contrast, if you market all calves, you may choose to place greater emphasis on performance traits such as Weaning Weight (WW). Ranches that retain ownership benefit from selecting for growth and carcass traits. By combining EPDs in bull selection with practical, functional phenotype (structure, muscling, capacity, balance, etc.), you can make the most informed breeding decisions possible.
Regardless of marketing strategy, most herds should maintain reasonable standards for Calving Ease Direct (CED) and Birth Weight (BW). Many producers use breed average or better as a minimum threshold to reduce calving difficulty and maximize the number of calves weaned.
What EPDs in Bull Selection Really Tell You
EPDs do exactly what their name implies: They predict how a bull’s calves will compare to calves of the average bull of the same breed in the same environment. EPDs are not guarantees, but they are among the most reliable tools available for comparing genetic merit and forecasting future performance. Using high accuracy A.I. sires chosen to complement the needs and goals of the operation is undoubtedly the most economical and practical method to achieve multi-trait genetic progress in a commercial cowherd, regardless of the herd’s goals.
Build Your Team
If genetics is not your area of expertise, don’t go it alone.
Successful cattle producers surround themselves with trusted advisors. A.I. industry professionals, breed association representatives and seedstock suppliers can help interpret data, answer questions and identify breeding strategies that fit your operation.
Every herd has different goals, and the right breeding decisions start with the right conversations. If you have questions about EPDs in bull selection or choosing genetics that fit your operation, do not hesitate to reach out to me or your local GENEX representative. Leverage the expertise of your network of trusted professionals to breed better, more profitable cattle.