Featured Genetics
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Proven Sires
Genetic Venture Sires
Summit Cows
Summit Sires
Trait Leaders
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BW
WW
YW
MILK
SC
TM
REA
IMF
min FAT
max FAT
Breed Averages &
% Ranking Charts
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Non-Parents
Active Sires
Active Dams
Genetic Trends
Brangus-Influenced Females
Beef Sire Selection
Whether a seedstock breeder or a commercial cattleman...
... sire selection is the premier decision that all cattle breeders
make. Understanding the concepts and the tools is
the first step in increasing your chance of success.
EPD Definitions
EPD is an effective tool for producing better cattle, but EPD alone will not produce better cattle. In fact the use of EPD alone for selection can actually create negative progress in other traits, because there are a multitude of important traits for which there are no EPD values.
Visual appraisal, performance ratios, and common sense still are necessary to produce true multi-trait genetic improvement for efficient beef production. But, trying to make economically based genetic improvement without the aid of EPD is like traveling in an unknown country without a map. You may eventually still get where you want to go, but wrong turns and false starts will slow your progress.
US-MARC
Across-Breed EPD Factors
In leiu of a true, nationwide multi-breed cattle evaluation, the researchers at US-MARC provide adjustment factors, on an annual basis, for use in comparing the genetic differences in bulls of different breeds.