How to Get EPDs on Your Purebred Angus

Breed Development — Using EPDs

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are the most powerful genetic tool we have for selecting the best animals for your breeding program.
EPDs are values that predict how the future progeny of an animal will perform relative to the progeny of other animals in the same breed. They are expressed in the units of that particular trait. For example, weaning weight is measured in pounds thus the Weaning Weight EPD is expressed in pounds. Another way to look at it is EPDs measure an animal’s value as a parent.
EPDs are based on pedigree information and performance data such as weight information and are then compared to other animals within a contemporary group. The different traits are adjusted to a standard age to ensure that all animals are equal when they are compared. The traits are adjusted as follows:

• 205 days of age for weaning weight
• 365 days of age for yearling weight
• 365 days of age for bulls in ultrasound
• 390 days of age for heifers in ultrasound

EPDs are then calculated using complex statistical procedures twice each year during the National Cattle Evaluation (NCE).
To ensure that your animals receive EPDs you must:

1.  Be enrolled in the Canadian Angus Performance Program (CAPP).

2.  Submit weaning weights on all of your animals.

3.  Place your animals in a (same sex) contemporary group of more than two.

4.  Ensure your animals are within the acceptable age ranges:

a.      130–280 days for WW for red Angus animals

b.      120–280 days for WW for black Angus animals

c.       290–440 days for YW for all Angus animals

5.  Animals that are in a management group of their own, such as twins, fosters, ET calves and lone bull calves are automatically placed into a single animal contemporary group and will not receive EPDs until they are parents to performance-recorded progeny.

To use EPDs effectively you must understand how they work. Imagine you are interested in purchasing a couple of bulls for your herd. You are looking at the EPDs in a sale catalogue. Bull A has a weaning weight EPD of +10 and Bull B has a WW of +60. What does that mean? How can you use the EPDs to choose between the two bulls?

If these animals were randomly mated with 10 similar cows, we would expect the group average weaning weight of Bull A’s offspring to be 50 lbs lighter than that of Bull B’s (60-10=50).

For complete information on EPDs from the CAA, click on this link, http://www.cdnangus.ca/breed/using_EPDs.htm

November 1st is Deadline Day

Canadian Angus Performance Program Submission Deadline

Extended to November 1, 2011

 

We understand that weaning and weighing calves before October 11 is difficult for many breeders. The Canadian Angus Association has worked very hard with the Associations that we cooperate with in genetic evaluations on your behalf to increase efficiencies. We are very pleased to inform you that we are able to extend the deadline for performance data to be included in the next National Cattle Evaluation to Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Our staff will do their best to still have the new EPDs available in early 2012 for sale catalogue and bull buying decisions.

• To be included in the evaluation, your performance data must be in the office on or before November 1, 2011.
• It is preferable that you mail, rather than fax, the worksheet to ensure accuracy.
• Weights can be submitted electronically if you are an electronic user or a HerdMaster user.
• Refer to Breed Development pages 10–11 of the Breeder Handbook for guidelines on completing the 205 day worksheet.

Important Note:

If it is not possible to submit your weights by November 1, 2011, then please submit them as soon as possible to remain compliant on the Performance Program. There will be another evaluation in May 2012, so weights received after November 1, 2011 will be evaluated in 2012.

Remember, for a weaning weight:

• The calf must be between 120 and 280 days of age if black.
• The calf must be between 130 and 280 days if red.

Whole Herd Reporting

Canadian Angus Performance Program is based on Whole Herd Reporting. Please provide a weight for each calf on the worksheet or a disposal code if the calf was removed from your herd before your weaning weight date. Missing data will result in delays with adjusted weight and EPD calculations.

 

Please contact Kajal Devani, Breed Development Coordinator, at 1-888-571-3580 ext #227 or by email for questions regarding the Performance Program and EPDs.

Success Starts Here

PEI Angus Bulls Going on Winter Test

Here is a summary of PEI Angus bulls going on test this winter.  If there are mistakes or omissions, please let us know.

Bannockburn Valley Farm, the Dixon Family.  All bulls are going on home test.

Duncan Livestock.  1 bull going on test at the Maritime Beef Test Station.

Hampshire Meadows Farm, Temple Stewart and Family.  All bulls are going on home test.

Hillcrest Farm, Dr. Bill Best and Mary Best and Family.  1 bull going on test at the Maritime Beef Test Station and other bulls are going on home test.

Miltonvale Angus, 1 bull going on test at Dixon Farms.

Wheatley River Farm, 1 bull going on test at the Maritime Beef Test Station and other bulls going on home test.

Worth-a-Bit Angus, Dixon Farms.  1 bull going on test at the Maritime Beef Test Station and 5 bulls on home test.

Angus in Action Sale Results

Below are some of the highlights from the Angus in Action Sale.  For details on each lot, click on the sale catalog above.  If there are any errors or missing results, please let us know.

Lot#    Consignor                                  Buyer                             Sale Price

4          Bob Higgins                                Temple Stewart                    1175

7          Eric & Tim Dixon                Weldon Estabrooks              1550

8          Glen & Ronnie Ford            Myron MacQuarrie              2350

9          Temple Stewart                           Donald Oulton                     1550

10        Glen & Ronnie Ford            H. & C. Oulton             1375

11        Temple Stewart                           Doug Trenholm                     1525

19        Temple Stewart                           Luc Cormier                         1350

20        Bannockburn                              Clarence Estabrooks             2100

21        Bannockburn                              A. & D Campbell          2150

22        Bannockburn                              A. & D Campbell          2100

27        Eric & Tim Dixon                Richard Feeney                     1325

Good Luck PEI 4H Beef Royal Participants

Good luck to all PEI 4H Beef Members attending the Royal Winter Fair next week.

Representing PEI will be Matthias Drake, Emily Johnston, Bennett Crane, Ellen Crane, Courtney Hogan, Ellen Dixon, Hannah Dixon, Emily McKenna, Patrick Holland and Kyle Younker.

PEI Angus Breeders Listing

If you would like to have your farm listed or edited on the PEI Angus Breeders Listing, please email kurtduncan@pei.sympatico.ca with the details.  You can also click on the tab at the top of the page.