How to use EPD's to your benefit

     EPD stands for Expected Progeny Difference. Progeny refers to the offspring produced by that animal. They are an evaluation of an animal's genetic worth as a parent. They are based on standards or average statistics for the breed, some characteristics you want to be higher and others you want to be lower. These can greatly help livestock ranchers or producers when choosing which traits they want to bring into their herd or group of animals. The whole objective of raising livestock animals is to improve meat production and body structure of the animals, as well as milk production if raising dairy cattle.

     This is an example of an EPD. This is for a bulls. When looking for a replacement bull you want to consider each of the following. Birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and milk production. When choosing a bull you want one with a low birth EPD, this means that the calves born generally weigh less making it easier for the cows or heifers to gives birth. Number 1 would be a good example of this. Number 2 would not because his calves would be too big to have naturally, causing problems for the calf and cow.Next is weaning weight, generally all cattle are weaned around the same time so this is a good time to compare them to see how the look or weigh compared to others aroundx the same age. You want a high weaning weigh as this directly corresponds with how efficient they are at putting on weight. Number 2 is a good representation of what you want, considering the other bulls being compared.He has a much higher weaning weight than the other bulls, therefore his offspring would weigh more compared to the others. Number 1's calves would be small and not be very profitable if selling for meat. 

Next is yearling weight, this is there to show the efficiency or rate at which the animal gains givean a certain amount of feed over a certain amount of time and feed. An animal who is more efficient at converting feed to muscle is desired. This means less money the ranchers has to spend and more muscle the animal produces. Bull number 2 is a great example of this.

Last but not least is milk production. This is VERY important when planning on keeping his offspring for future breeding. A cow or heifer who can't produce milk is useless. The more milk they can produce the healthier the calf will be and the more likely chances it will have to survive. If this were to be a dairy type operation this would be the most important aspect of the EPD. The more milk a cow can produce the more money the rancher or operator can make. Bull 4 would be the best in this category, he has a higher number than any of the other bulls. It costs about the same amount of money to feed an ok animal vs an amazing one. This is just one of many ways a livestock racher or operation can greatly improve their herd in just a few generations. To learn more about EPD's click 

EPD. N.d. Genetics. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.

 Bull. N.d. Doris Show Cattle. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.

 Dairy Cattle. N.d. Climate Change. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.