The following is an abstract explanation of EPD’s provided by the American Angus Association.

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 when their performance has yet to be incorporated into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures.  This EPD will be preceded by an “I”, and may or may not include the animal’s own performance record for a particular trait, depending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.

Accuracy (ACC), is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD.  An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability.  Accuracy is impacted by the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis.

Production

Calving Ease Direct (CED) is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers.  It predicts the average difference in ease with which an sire’s calves will be born when he is bread to first-calf heifers. 

Birth Weight EPD (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

Weaning Weight EPD (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

Yearling Weight EPD (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling

growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

Yearling Height EPD (YH), is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires.

Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.

Maternal

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire's daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.

Maternal Milk EPD (Milk), is a predictor of a sire's genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.

Herds (MkH) indicate the number of herds from which daughters are reported.

Daughters (MkD) reflects the number of daughters that have progeny weaning weight records included in the analysis.

Mature Weight EPD (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires.

Mature Height EPD (MH),expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire's daughters compared to daughters of other sires.

Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollars savings per cow per year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.

Carcass

Carcass Weight EPD (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

Marbling EPD (Marb), expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

Ribeye Area EPD (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

Fat Thickness EPD (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

Group/progeny (Grp/Pg) reflects the number of contemporary groups and the number of carcasses for each sire included in the analysis.

Ultrasound

Intramuscular Fat EPD (%IMF), is a predictor of the difference in a sire's progeny for percent intramuscular fat in the ribeye muscle compared to other sires.

Ribeye Area EPD (RE), is a predictor of the difference in square inches of ultrasound ribeye area of a sire's progeny compared to the progeny of other sires.

Fat Thickness EPD (FAT),expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in ultrasound fat thickness at the 12th rib of a sire's progeny compared to the progeny of other sires. It includes considered in this analysis.

Group/progeny (GP/PG) is the number of contemporary groups and number of progeny considered in this analysis.

Each bull listed in this report is comparable to every other bull in the database. The analysis takes into account only the differences expressed in each herd in which the bulls were used. For example, bull A has a weaning EPD of +30 lb. and bull B has a weaning EPD of +20 lb. If you randomly mate these bulls in your herd, you could expect bull A's calves to weigh, on average, 10 lb. more at weaning than bull B's progeny (30 - 20 = 10).

MEETING THE NUTRITIONAL

 NEEDS OF A COW

 Percent calf crop weaned is one of the very best benchmarks for herd production efficiency.  The beginning of maximizing percent calf crop efficiency is providing adequate nutrition.

 There is a 3 step process that is simple, yet effective in achieving this goal.  1)  Know the quality of your hay. 2)  Know what the cow needs.  3) Appraise the cow weekly to judge the body condition of cow.

 The best way to know hay quality is to submit a hay sample to our office for analysis.  Take 5 – 6 handful samples from different bales for a total of 5-6 sub-samples.  The fee is $18.  A complete analysis will be mailed to you.  The crude protein and TDN, (energy) are the two most important nutritional measurements.  A 1200 lb. nursing cow needs 2.08 lbs. of crude protein and 12.3 lbs. of TDN.  A dry cow needs 1.18 lbs. C. P and 10.6 lbs. of TDN.

 While I do not recommend guessing with visual appraisal.  I say that if the hay is brown, with rigid dry stalks, it is poor hay with less than 8% C.P and less than 50% TDN.  Most of the time one can not compensate for this low quality by feeding extra hay because it must stay in the rumen a long time to let the microbes digest it.  Therefore, the cow is full and can not consume enough to meet her needs.

Assess the weight of your cows.  Weigh a sample of the herd to be accurate.  There are not many 1000 lbs. cows out there any more.  Big, long continental bred cows can weigh 1400 lbs.  Look at the chart below to determine your cow needs.

BEEF COW NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

 DRY PREGNANT MATURE COWS

LAST THIRD OF PREGNANCY

(Daily Nutrients per Animal)

AVERAGE MILKING ABILITY

FIRST 3-4 MONTHS POSPARTUM

(Daily Nutrients per Animal)

SUPERIOR MILKING ABILITY

FIRST 3-4 MONTHS POSTPARTUM

(Daily Nutrients per Animal)

Finally, evaluate the body condition of your cows.  There is a body score system of 1-10.  One is extremely thin, bones showing, gaunt, may die.  Ten is excessively fat, no ribs showing with fat deposits laid down over the tail head.  We want 5, adequate flesh, ribs not prominently seen.

(Good example of a Cow with a Score of 5)

 Usually if your cows stay as fives throughout the winter then you are providing adequate nutrition which is the foundation for achieving high percent calf crop weaned.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 As a result of 9-11, each county has to develop an emergency management plan to care for domestic animals.  To that end, we have a CART program, County Agriculture Response Team.

 On behalf of our CART group in cooperation with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, I am asking if you would be willing to shelter livestock if a catastrophic disaster were to occur.

 Please think about this carefully.  The enclosed survey will help us assess our resources in the county.

 We are looking for farm facilities that can shelter animals for approximately 2 weeks.  The animals would need to be sequestered from your herd, not mixed.

 Water, forage, feed and maybe shelter is needed.  The livestock would include cattle, hogs, goats, horses, etc.  Please mail in the survey or drop it by the office at your earliest convenience. We hope you can help, but we hope we will not need your help!

 Please let me know if you can help in anyway.

There is a questionnaire below that you can use to mark any resources you may have to offer and return to me.

Resources Available

Please mark with an X the resources that apply.

  Open Heifer Sale, 2007

 Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association is accepting nominations for Open Heifer Sale to be held around the middle of January in 2007.  Last year the heifers brought $800-$1100 a head.  There is about $115 of additional feed, vet and sales costs in the heifer.  This a value added program.

 Heifers need to be vaccinated, dewormed, open, polled or healed from deworming.  They need to be 750 lbs. or more originating from a progressive herd with a respectable 205 adjusted weaning weight.  If you have been using performance tested bulls on good cow types then your heifers could be eligible.

 They need to have Johanne’s Disease screened and have an electronic I.D. button in their ear.

  There is still time to fulfill the last two requirements.

 Higher quality, stretchy, open ribbed heifers with milking capacity should go back into somebody’s herd not to harvest.

 Private Applicator License Training:

 Several of the more difficult weeds to control, dogfennel and winged stem are best controlled with Grazon P & D, which is a restricted herbicide.  Dogfennel is a tall, woody weed in bloom right now.  Winged Stem is also tall > 6 ft., has a square stem, yellow flower and ovate leaf.  It can take over moist bottomland areas.

 You need a Private Applicator’s License to purchase and use a restricted herbicide.  Call me 635-4722 ext. 116 if you need the training for the test.

 Mark J. Talbert

County Extension Agent

 The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.  Clemson University cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture and South Carolina Counties. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May and June 30, 1914.