EPD Terminology

EPD: Expected Progeny Difference

ACC: Accuracy – The reliability placed on the EPD

CED: Calving Ease Direct – The difference in percentage of
unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving
ease in first–calf heifers.

BW: Birth Weight – The birth weights of a bull’s progeny when
compared to the breed average, in pounds.

WW: Weaning Weight – The adjusted weaning weights of a bull’s
progeny when compared to the breed average, in pounds.

YW: Yearling Weight – The adjusted yearling weights of a bull’s
progeny when compared to breed average, in pounds.

CEM: Calving Ease Maternal--The difference in percentage of
unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease
in first–calf daughters.

Milk: Maternal Milk – The amount of pre–weaning
performance gained by calves which can be attributed to the
milking ability of a bull’s daughters, expressed in pounds of calf.

CW: Carcass Weight – The adjusted carcass weights of a sire’s
progeny, expressed in pounds.

MARB: Marbling – A predictor of the difference in a
sire’s progeny for percent marbling score or percent intramuscular
fat in the ribeye muscle compared to other sires.

RE: Ribeye Area – Adjusted ribeye area of a sire’s progeny,
measured in square inches.

FAT: Back Fat – The adjusted twelfth rib fat thickness of a
sire’s progeny, expressed in inches.

RADG: Residual Average Daily Gain – The adjusted amount of post weaning gain in future progeny, in pounds, given a constant amount of feed consumed. 

MW: Mature Weight – A predictor of the difference in mature weight of a sire’s daughters compared to the daughters of other sires, expressed in pounds. 

MH: Mature Height – A predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires, expressed in inches. 

$EN: Cow Energy Value – Assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires, expressed in dollar savings/cow/year. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two animals. $EN savings include lactation energy requirements and energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.

Carc H/P: Group/Progeny--Reflects the number of contemporary groups and the number of carcass progeny included in the analysis.

Ult H/P: Group/Progeny--Reflects thenumber of contemporary groups and the number of ultrasound progeny included in the analysis.

SCR: Scrotal Circumference  –The adjusted yearling scrotal circumferences of a bull’s progenywhen compared to breed average, in centimeters.

$W: Weaned Calf Value – The expected average difference in future progeny performance for pre-weaning merit, expressed in $/head. $W includes both revenue and cost adjustments associated with differences in birth weight, weaning direct growth, maternal milk and mature cow size.

$F: Feedlot Value – Calculates a $/head difference in expected progeny performance for post weaning merit. $F uses WW and YW EPDs along with trait inter-relationships. Typical feedlot gain value, feed consumption and cost differences are accounted for in the final calculations.

$G: Grid Value – Combines quality grade and yield grade attributes, and is calculated for animals with carcass EPDs, ultrasound EPDs or both types of EPDs. A three-year rolling average is used to establish typical industry economic values for quality grade and yield grade schedules.

$B: Beef Value – The expected average dollar per head difference in the progeny post weaning performance and carcass value. The $B value is comprised of two pieces: $F and $G.

DOC: Docility – The difference in yearling cattle temperament, witha higher value indicating more favorable docility.

HPG or HP: HPG, HP: Heifer Pregnancy– Differencesin percent probability of female progeny conceiving to calve as 2-year-olds; a more accurate measurement than her sire’s or paternal brothers’ scrotal circumference.

UDDR: Udder Suspension – Differences in sire EPDs predict the difference expected in the sires’ daughters udder characteristics when managed in the same environment. Weak udder suspension results in pendulous udders that make it difficult for a calf to nurse.

TEAT: Teat Size – Differences in sire EPDs predict the difference expected in the sires’ daughters udder characteristics when managed in the same environment. Oversized teats are difficult for newborn calves to nurse and the calf may not receive adequate colostrum.

M&G: Maternal Milk & Growth – The Milk EPD plus half the WW EPD. A sire’s M&G EPD reflects what he is expected to transmit to his daughters for a combination of growth genetics and maternal production.

BMI$: Baldy Maternal Index – An index to maximize profit for commercial cow/calf producers who use Hereford bullsin rotational crossbreeding programs on Angus-based cows and heifers. Retained ownership of calves is assumed, with fed cattle marketed on a Certified Hereford Beef® (CHB) pricing grid.

CEZ$: Calving EZ Index  – Similar to BMI$, exceptHereford bulls are mated only to yearling heifers. Increased emphasis on CE and MCE compared with the other index

BII$: Brahman Influence Index – This index is similar to BMI$, except Hereford bulls are used in rotational crossing with Brahman rather than Angus. Greater emphasis placed on traits deficient in Brahman-cross cattle, (fertility and age at puberty) and less on acceptable traits (growth and calving ease).

CHB$: Certified Hereford Beef Index – A terminal sire index where Hereford bulls are mated to British-cross cows and all offspring are sold as fed cattle on a CHB pricing grid.

SCR:Scrotal Circumference –The adjusted yearling scrotal circumferences of a bull’s progeny when compared to breed average, in centimeters.

TM or MWW Total Maternal, Maternal Weaning Weight  – Measure of a sire’s ability to transmit milk production and growth rate through his daughters. Predicts the weaning weight of a sire’s daughters’ calves. Equal to his milk EPD plus half his WW EPD.

ME: Maintenance Energy – Differences in mature cow maintenance energy requirements. Expressed as megacalories per month.

HB: HerdBuilder – Used by producers to increase the sustainability of the cow herd and ultimately their operation. HB assumes bulls will be mated to both cows and heifers, replacement females will be retained within the herd, and the remaining progeny will be sold on a quality based carcass grid.

STAY: Stayability – Differences in percent probability of daughters staying productive past the age of six.

GM: GridMaster Index – Used by producers whose primary goal is to maximize profitability of feeders in the feedyard and on the rail. GM assumes bulls will be mated to cows only, and all progeny will be sold on a quality based carcass grid.

HPG or HP: Heifer Pregnancy – Differences in percent probability of female progeny conceiving to calve as 2-year-olds; a more accurate measurement than her sire’s or paternal brothers’ scrotal circumference.

ADG: Average Daily Gain – The difference in pounds of daily gain expected between animals' progeny during the post weaning feeding period.

YG: Yield Grade – Expressed as a deviation of Yield Grade units where negative values are desirable.

API: All–Purpose Index – Evaluates sires for use on the entire cow herd (bred to both Angus first-calf heifers and mature cows) with daughters retained and remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold grade and yield.

SHR: Shear Force – Pounds of force required to shear a steak.

TI: Terminal Index – Evaluates sires for use on mature Angus cows with all offspring put on feed and sold on a grade and yield basis.

DOC: Docility – The difference in yearling cattle temperament, witha higher value indicating more favorable docility.

TSI: Terminal Sire Index – Combines BW, WW, YW, REA, HCW, MARB and FAT into one single value. The TSI uses estimates of the genetic relationships between traits with an economic default value based on three year rolling USDA data.

SCR: Scrotal Circumference  –The adjusted yearling scrotal circumferences of a bull’s progenywhen compared to breed average, in centimeters.