How to Read a Epd for Wagyu

Expected progeny differences (EPDs) have been applied to improve the genetics of beef cattle for nigh iv decades. Expected progeny differences are predictions of the genetic transmitting power of a parent to its offspring and are used to brand selection decisions for traits desired in the herd. For a given trait, EPD values are calculated based on information submitted by producers to brood associations from an animal's actual operation, functioning of progeny, performance of other relatives, and genomic data (DNA assay, if available).

When DNA data is available, EPD accuracy is improved, and these calculations are referred to every bit a Genomic-enhanced EPD (GE-EPD). Thus, in addition to pedigree, performance and progeny data, GE-EPDs utilize genomic test for increased reliability of an animal's EPD (Eenennaam and Drake, 2012; Rolf et al., 2014).

Source: American Angus Association

Combined with all available sources of information, GE-EPDs are the all-time estimate of an animal's genetic value as a parent. Genomics allow better accuracies for younger animals and allows a clear moving-picture show of genetic traits of interest, specially those that are expensive to measure such as feed efficiency, carcass traits in convenance stock, reproductive traits or maternal traits in bulls.

When a producer buys a young balderdash that has GE-EPDs, he is buying with the aforementioned level of conviction in that animal as one that has already sired between 10 and 36 calves, depending on the trait. In this fashion, GE-EPDs increase accuracy in those animals much earlier in their lives. With all these benefits, keep in heed that genomically-enhancing the EPDs does non change how the EPD can be used, it just increases its accuracy.

Table ane. Progeny Equivalents (PE) – Carcass trait PE equate to actual carcass harvest data, not ultrasound scan equivalents.

Trait	PE
Calving Ease Direct	26
Birth Weight	23
Weaning Weight	27
Yearling Weight	23
Dry out Matter Intake	12
Yearling Height	17
Scrotal Circumference	15
Docility	12
Hook Angle	ten
Pes Bending	10
Heifer Pregnancy	17
Calving Ease Maternal	20
Milk	36
Mature Weight	xv
Mature Superlative	nine
Carcass Weight	fifteen
Carcass Marbling	11
Carcass Ribeye	17
Carcass Fat	xiv

Source: American Angus Association (world wide web.angus.org).

EPD Accuracy

Accuracy (ACC) reflects the precision of a prediction for a given animal's EPD and provides united states with a level of confidence for that fauna'south genetic merit. Bulls with greater accuracy values may exist called "proven sires."

The EPD prediction of genetic merit for a trait is the all-time indicator of expected performance of future progeny, which is expressed as deviation from the population's base value. Recognizing that base values may be different among breeds is important; some breeds utilize an boilerplate within a specific twelvemonth, whereas other breeds use a nonspecific historical point.

To improve the accurateness of EPDs for younger bulls, producers may collect and submit DNA samples, which, depending on the trait, may equates to about ten progeny records for a sire with no other progeny records contributing to his EPDs. As more progeny data are obtained for a sire, the relative contribution of genomic information to overall EPD accuracy is reduced.

The lack of confidence associated with EPDs on young cattle comes from not having progeny or performance data, both of which increase the accuracy of the EPD. In young bulls, for case, most of their genetic value is based on their pedigree. As these animals age and have offspring, we know more than and more well-nigh their genetic merit. This increased conviction is denoted by an increase in the accurateness value (0–one scale) associated with each EPD. It does non necessarily mean that the EPD increases if accurateness increases. It just ways the EPD becomes closer to the true value, whether it increases or decreases. Remember that EPD stands for expected progeny deviation. Genotyping a young animal increases accuracy because SNP genotypes accept similar value to evaluating boosted progeny.

How to Use EPDs

Before getting started with EPDs, producers should define their specific product goals beginning and and then select based on the EPDs that volition all-time allow them to meet those product goals. For instance, producers selling calves at weaning may prioritize EPDs differently than producers wishing to retain heifers or producers wishing to retain ownership through the feedlot. Therefore, producers should employ EPDs based on the selection of breeding bulls that come across their personal product goals.

Here are some traits that can be used past those producers who sell the entire calf crop at weaning or following a backgrounding stage:

• Birth Weight (BW);
• Calving Ease (CE) or Calving Ease Direct (CED);
• Weaning Weight (WW);
• Yearling Weight (YW).

Selecting for these traits adds ease to the beef producers daily workload, by attempting to reduce the number of assisted births, while adding sale value (with weight) to those calves that volition be sold as feeders.

For producers who retain replacement heifers, the post-obit EPDs are oft used in addition to the previous list:

• Calving Ease Total Maternal (CETM), Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) or Maternal Calving Ease (MCE);
• Milk Production (Milk) or Maternal Milk (MM);
• Total Maternal (TM), Maternal Weaning Weight (MWW) or Maternal Milk and Growth (M&G);
• Mature Weight (MW) or Mature Cow Weight (MCW);
• Maintenance Free energy (ME);
• Heifer Pregnancy (HP or HPG);
• Stayability (STAY);
• Mature Height (MH);
• Scrotal Circumference (SC or SCR).

These traits are all related to the predicting the success of replacement heifers at becoming valuable dams in the herd.

Producers who heighten their ain animals through the feedlot will often focus on the traits below, in addition to the maternal traits previously mentioned:

• Carcass Weight (CW) or Hot Carcass Weight (HCW);
• Fat (Fat) or Back Fatty (BF);
• Marbling (MB, MRB or MARB)
• Yield Grade (YG);
• Shear Force (SHR);
• Rib-Eye Area (REA or RE).

In this example, the traits selected are value traits for cattle marketed at the end of life.

Example 1 of Using EPDs for Bull Choice

In this example, a producer is looking for a Charolais bull to use on black Angus-influenced cows that have had at to the lowest degree two calves. In this case, the producer is using the Charolais in what is called a terminal cross, all calves being sold at weaning or after a backgrounding period for slaughter. The producer wishes to maintain calving ease and accept the benefit of enhanced weight at the time of sale. Based on the tabular array below, which balderdash would be more than appropriate for the stated purpose based on EPD values?

Table one. Charolais bulls^ane for utilise on mature crossbred females.

Balderdash	CE	BW	WW	YW	MCE	MILK	SCR	CW	REA	FAT	MARB
A	11.6	-4	27	58	iii.9	23	1.1	20	0.66	0.041	0.18
B	2.9	3	59	99	two.ii	i	2.1	49	0.96	0.041	0.22
Breed Average	three.i	0.7	24.4	43.8	4	7.9	0.half-dozen	14.7	0.26	0.002	0.04

¹Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef and Genex.

With the focus on this phase of production, accent should be given mainly to iii traits: CE, BW, and WW. We are bold that these bulls are nearly likely young and have low accuracies, or are not proven.

Calving ease (CE) relates straight to the balderdash'south pressure on birth weight. Bull B is expected, on average, to take 8.7 percent fewer unassisted births when bred to 2-year-old heifers than Bull A (a disadvantage if convenance to heifers). Balderdash B has an expected birth weight that would be seven pounds heavier, on boilerplate, than Balderdash A. Thus, while clear that Bull A would be more advisable for breeding heifers, our producer is interested in breeding multiparous cows. Therefore, because bull B has a BW EPD that is just 2.3 lb. heavier than the breed average, the producer likely volition desire to put their emphasis on other traits. Test of the WW EPD indicated that Balderdash B would be expected to produce calves that are 32 pounds heavier at weaning, on average, than Bull A. This difference is what usually drives sales and profits at weaning. Thus, if the producer decides to sell calves at weaning time, Bull B may be the appropriate selection. In addition, while perhaps non as important if the producer sells at weaning, this producer may likewise desire to look at YW and some carcass traits when selecting their bulls. In this example the logic is that selling loftier quality calves at weaning that will perform well around yearling age and through the feedlot may create a reputation of raising high-value calves that are profitable for feedlot owners. Because this is a terminal cross, no heifers will exist retained, and maternal traits can be ignored.

Option by Index

At present, in addition to private trait selection using EPDs, animals can as well be selected on an "index". An economical alphabetize is a tool used to select for several traits at once based on a specific convenance objective. An economic index arroyo considers genetic and economic values too as the relationships between traits to select for turn a profit. When genetic improvement is desired for several traits that may differ in variability, heritability, economical importance, and in the correlation amid their phenotypes and genotypes, simultaneous multiple-trait index pick has been more effective than independent alternative levels or sequential choice (Philipsson et al., 1994; Garrick and Gilded, 2009).

These are some examples of the economic indices offered by breed associations. Each brood clan has many more selection indices and producers are encouraged to investigate these options.

From the American Angus Association (AAA, 2020):

• Beef Value ($B), an index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average departure in futurity progeny performance for postweaning and carcass value.
• Combined Value ($C), expressed in dollars per head, is an index which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value ($B) with the objective that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own herd.

From the American Hereford Association (AHA, 2020):

• Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$) is an alphabetize to maximize profit for commercial cow-calf producers who use Hereford bulls in rotational crossbreeding programs on Angus-based cows.
• Certified Hereford Beef Alphabetize (CHB$) is a terminal sire index in which Hereford bulls are used on British-cross cows and all offspring are sold equally fed cattle on a CHB pricing grid.

From the American Simmental Association (2020):

• All-Purpose Index (API) is an index that evaluates sires for utilise on the entire cow herd (bred to Angus first-dogie heifers and mature cows), with the portion of their daughters required to maintain herd size retained and the remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold on grade and yield.
• Terminal Alphabetize (TI) is an index that evaluates sires for use on mature Angus cows, with all offspring put on feed and sold on grade and yield.

Example 2 of Using EPDs for Bull Selection

A producer is looking for an Angus bull to breed a straight-bred Angus herd. The producer plans to retain ownership of the females to use in the breeding herd and sell the calves at weaning. Thus, maternal traits of the females volition be important.

Table ii. Angus bulls¹ for use on direct-bred Angus females.

Bull	CED	BW	WW	YW	CW	Marb	RE	Fatty	$M	$W	$F	$G	$B
A	16	-0.6	68	129	62	1.eight	i.11	-0.028	62	79	124	120	244
B	16	-2.5	64	118	32	0.42	0.53	0.046	51	78	69	38	106
Breed Averagetwo	3	i	26	45	22	0.42	0.32	0.008	52	54	82	44	126

¹Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef.
²Breed average retrieved from The American Angus Association.

To address the producer'south goal equally stated, nosotros can look at the Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) because it provides an indication of expected maternal power and profit based on sale of weaned calves. Bull A volition produce calves that volition profit, on average, $11 more Bull B using the $Grand. Balderdash A will be the improve purchase for this scenario where female memory and weaned calf value are both of import.

Across-brood EPD Comparisons

Within a breed, EPDs can exist directly compared. Bulls of unlike breeds can also be compared, only adjustment factors to the EPDs are needed because an EPD from one breed evaluation is not directly comparable to an EPD from another breed evaluation. Since 1993, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Middle (USMARC) has produced a tabular array of these adjustment factors so that the merit of individuals can be compared across breeds.

Example 3 of Using EPDs for Bull Selection

In this case, suppose a producer needs to make a decision between a Simmental bull and a Limousin balderdash to breed his crossbred moo-cow herd. The important traits for him are BW, WW, YW, and Milk.

Table 3. DEPs from unlike breeds to use on a commercial crossbred herd.

Bull	CE	BW	WW	YW	Milk	DOC	YG	CW	REA	Marb
Simmentalane	17.1	-3.9	68	95.7	26.3	7.4	-0.22	28.2	0.58	0.35
Limousin1	fourteen	one.7	61	90	21	eight	-0.73	16	i.23	viii

¹Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef.

With the higher up information, the producer also needs to access the table below:

Tabular array 4. Adjustment Factors to Estimate across-brood EPDs.

Breed	Nascency Wt. (lb)	Weaning WT. (lb)	Yearling Wt. (lb)	Maternal Milk (lb)	Marbling Scorea	Ribeye Area (in2)	Fatty Thickness (in)	Carcass Wt. (lb)
Angus	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.00	0.00	0.000	0.0
Hereford	1.4	-16.five	-44.4	-12.five	-0.xxx	0.02	-0.073	-71.1
Cherry-red Angus	two.6	-19.4	-31.4	1.v	-0.03	0.25	-0.040	-thirteen.2
Shorthorn	4.5	-34.four	-46.vi	-0.1	-0.07	0.47	-0.032	5.6
South Devon	2.6	-29.9	-55.four	3.1	-0.53	0.64	-0.213	-68.viii
Beefmaster	4.0	23.4	1.1	7.7
Brahman	x.3	53.3	14.iv	xvi.vii		0.03	-0.166	-35.9
Brangus	three.1	14.9	5.3	12.9
Santa Gertrudis	5.2	40.four	39.8	16.viii	-0.44	0.12	-0.085	-12.3
Braunvieh	two.ii	-21.1	-46.6	4.i	-0.61	one.00	-0.100	-53.4
Charolais	6.6	32.7	23.2	8.1	-0.29	0.79	-0.201	5.1
Chiangu	2.viii	-21.1	-36.2	2.5	-0.47	0.59	-0.142	-nineteen.3
Gelbvieh	2.9	-15.v	-27.i	8.two	-0.37	0.66	-0.066	1.5
Limousin	2.five	-16.ix	-53.9	-2.4	-0.03	0.59	-0.024	-five.1
Maine-Anjou	2.iv	-30.3	-55.ii	-7.0	-0.43	0.95	-0.179	-35.1
Salers	0.9	-11.2	-48.0	5.6	0.07	1.08	-0.177	-47.6
Simmental	2.8	-xi.6	-nineteen.ii	1.8	-0.12	0.45	-0.049	-7.5
Tarentaise	2.seven	20.2	-12.1	15.vii

^aMarbling score units: 4.00 = s1°0; 5.00 = Sm00
Source: US Meat Animate being Inquiry Center (2020) through Beef Improvement Federation.

With both tables of information, a tabular array for beyond breed comparisons tin exist made, like to Table 5.

Table five. Example of using across-breed adjustment factors to convert noncomparable inside-breed EPDs to comparable across-breed EPDs.

Bull		BW (lb)	WW (lb)	YW (lb)	Milk (lb)
Simmental	EPD1	-3.9	68	95.7	26.three
	AB Adj. Factors2	2.viii	-11.6	19.2	one.8
	AB-EPD3	-1.i	56.4	76.five	28.i
Limousin	EPD1	ane.7	61	90	21
	AB Adj. Factors2	2.5	-sixteen.9	-53.9	-2.4
	AB-EPD3	4.2	44.1	36.1	18.6

¹EPDs are the within-breed EPD values from the breed's genetic evaluation for the bull of interest.
ⁱⁱAB adj. factors are the beyond-brood adjustment factors from Table ane.
ⁱⁱⁱBeyond-breed EPDs subsequently adjustment factors are practical to within-breed EPDs.

The across-breed (AB) aligning factors for BW are ii.8 lb for Simmental sires and 2.5 lb for Limousin sires. The AB-EPD for that trait is -3.9 lb + ii.viii lb = -i.1 lb for the Simmental bull and one.vii lb + 2.5 lb = 4.2 lb for the Limousin bull. The expected nascency weight difference of offspring when both are mated to cows of another breed (due east.g., Angus) would be -1.1 lb - 4.2 lb = -5.3 lb. At weaning, the Simmental bull will produce heavier calves. This weight difference becomes more than evident at yearling age, when the expected yearling weight of the Simmental bull offspring will surpass the Limousin bull offspring by almost xl lb. On pinnacle of that, its daughters will produce, on average, 9.half-dozen lb more milk than the daughters of the Limousin balderdash. Therefore, the Simmental bull will exist easier on heifers (lower birth weight), provide faster growth pre- and post-weaning, and accept daughters that produce more milk.

Benefits of genomic testing females

Selecting females for replacement is one of the most challenging aspects of commercial cow-calf production. Likewise, heifer development is an expensive proposition. Therefore, producers may decide whether a given heifer can be productive and profitable before she has had an opportunity to express productivity associated with profitability, including fertility, calving ease, milking ability, growth and mature size. Past using a good convenance strategy and being specific about selection principles, producers can enhance the right replacement heifers for the herd to optimize profitability. Genomic testing enables seedstock and commercial beef producers to make more informed decisions, and with more conviction, and capitalize on animals with superior genetic merit.

Genotyping females can help producers know where their heifers are genetically, and so that they volition be able to make bull selection with more confidence (Pryce and Hayes, 2012). Focusing on profitability indexes that include health traits, performance, carcass quality, and maternal traits, the commercial herd as well equally the pure breed herd will steepen the genetic progress curve and herd will be more assisting, creating better genetics long term. Genomic testing is that borderland that allows us to get the most value with the least amount of inputs through smart selection pressures.

It is of import to keep in mind that success in the cattle business concern is a function of both genetics and phenotype. The best genetics may still occasionally produce offspring with poor feet and legs that will non hold up well in pasture or feedlot systems. Agreement how and where the herd is excelling and where changes need to be fabricated can help producers brand improvements. Keep in mind that single trait selection, selecting, for example, solely on milk product, is unremarkably a disaster. Cattle genetics must exist selected to fit the environment and product practices of the operation or the operation they will exist marketed to. Know what your market place wants and larn how to provide the type of cattle that fit that market place past applying appropriate selection principles.

Summary

For seedstock producers, genomic testing is a no-brainer and the way of the future. The adoption of this applied science by seedstock producers has already begun to make up one's mind their success in the market. For commercial cattlemen, equally genomic testing costs continue to drop, genotyping females should go increasingly pop to capture extra value.

Herds with a superior genetic contour accept a fundamental advantage over other herds and, in many cases, volition outperform their contemporaries over their lifetime. When immature animals are part of a genetic improvement program, the utilise of GE-EPDs on the bull side and genomic testing on the heifer side are critical. Using good selection techniques will let producers to select and develop the right replacement heifers and consistently mate them to complementary sires to optimize profitability.

Implications

Recollect, EPDs need to be used in conjunction with performance goals and resource. Express available feed may limit the how aggressively you select for traits that requires a great deal of inputs and knowing what creates value for your marketplace will result in focusing on traits that are relevant. Your genetic parameters may be different from someone else based on your environment, then focus on your needs. Retrieve, cattle must still exist audio structured and reproductive to final, grow, and reduce your workload. A counterbalanced approach is crucial for a sustainable enterprise, and that includes making sure that your genetics withal match your system with desired physical features that will last in your system and run into buyer demand.

Bibliography

American Angus Association. 2020. Combined Value Alphabetize - December 13, 2019 Update Accessed on April 21^st, 2020.

American Angus Association. 2020. Value Indexes. Accessed on April 21^st, 2020.

American Hereford Clan. 2020. Trait Definitions. Accessed on Apr 21^st, 2020.

American Simmental Clan. 2020. Quick Reference to ASA EPDs and $ Indexes. Accessed on April 21^st, 2020.

Beef Sires past Breed. 2020. Accessed on April sixteen^thursday, 2020.

Beef Sires Catalog. 2020. Accessed on April xvi^thursday, 2020.

Garrick, D. J., Golden, B. Fifty. 2009. Producing and genetic evaluations in the United states beef industry of today. J. Anim. Sci. 2009, 87: E11-E18. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-1431.

Kuehn, Fifty., and Thallman, M. 2019. Across-Brood EPD Table and Improvements. Accessed on April 15^th, 2020.

Philipsson, J., Yard. Banos, and T. Arnason. 1994. Present and future uses of option index methodology in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci.77:3252–3261. DOI: x.3168/jds.S0022-0302(94)77266-0

Pryce, J., Hayes, B. 2012. A review of how dairy farmers tin utilise and profit from genomic technologies. Animal Production Scientific discipline 52, 180-184.

Rolf, Yard. Thou., Decker, J. E., McKay, Due south. D., Tizioto, P. C., Branham, M. A., Whitacre, L. K., Hoff, J. L., Regitano, L. C. A., Taylor, J. F. Genomics in the United States beef manufacture. Livest Sci. 2014;166:84–93. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.06.005

Van Eenennaam A. 50., Drake D. J. 2012. Where in the beefiness-cattle supply chain might Dna tests generate value? Anim. Prod. Sci. 52:185–96. DOI: ten.1071/AN11060

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Source: https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-epds-and-genomic-testing-in-beef-cattle

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