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A Discussion About EPDs
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<blockquote data-quote="Brandonm2" data-source="post: 379473" data-attributes="member: 2095"><p>I think that if you could breed cattle without the EPDs and do a good job at it, you can use EPDs and get a lot of beneficial use out of them. If you know nothing about cattle, phenotype, breeding, selection, pedigrees, etc and descide to go in the cow breeding business based on EPD spreadsheets.......I think you are going to run into trouble. When a train wreck occurs, some will blame the EPDs; but the wreck was really due to breeders not paying due diligence to factors like matching phenotype to environment, selecting sound cattle to begin with, and completely ignoring everything but the EPDs. I would argue that in that case there was going to be a train wreck whether EPDs got involved or not. </p><p></p><p>I really question why we are still pushing the growth numbers. 30 years ago, lack of growth was a huge problem in Herefords AND Anguses. To me, that problem has been addressed. WHY are we still ga-ga over bulls that are in the top 5% of the breed for these traits? I don't see where the commercial market is demanding 650+++ pound steers. The top 5% of the Hereford breed is a +54 weaning wt and a +90 yearling. The top 5% of the Angus breed is a +53 weaning and a +96 yearling (and I know there is a difference between the two breeds EPDs). Both those bulls in theory CAN improve a lot of commercial herds; BUT buy that big strapping +96 yearling wt Angus bull and breed him to a set of larger than avg commercial cows and then follow up those heifers to that +90 Hereford and let heterosis kick in to produce a set of Black Baldie heifers. There are (I'm sure) a lot of exceptions; but I would be willing to bet that most of the time that set of baldies is NOT going to be very easy keeping or very efficient and their mature size could surpass that of many "terminal" breeds. On a lot of ranches they are going to disappoint.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brandonm2, post: 379473, member: 2095"] I think that if you could breed cattle without the EPDs and do a good job at it, you can use EPDs and get a lot of beneficial use out of them. If you know nothing about cattle, phenotype, breeding, selection, pedigrees, etc and descide to go in the cow breeding business based on EPD spreadsheets.......I think you are going to run into trouble. When a train wreck occurs, some will blame the EPDs; but the wreck was really due to breeders not paying due diligence to factors like matching phenotype to environment, selecting sound cattle to begin with, and completely ignoring everything but the EPDs. I would argue that in that case there was going to be a train wreck whether EPDs got involved or not. I really question why we are still pushing the growth numbers. 30 years ago, lack of growth was a huge problem in Herefords AND Anguses. To me, that problem has been addressed. WHY are we still ga-ga over bulls that are in the top 5% of the breed for these traits? I don't see where the commercial market is demanding 650+++ pound steers. The top 5% of the Hereford breed is a +54 weaning wt and a +90 yearling. The top 5% of the Angus breed is a +53 weaning and a +96 yearling (and I know there is a difference between the two breeds EPDs). Both those bulls in theory CAN improve a lot of commercial herds; BUT buy that big strapping +96 yearling wt Angus bull and breed him to a set of larger than avg commercial cows and then follow up those heifers to that +90 Hereford and let heterosis kick in to produce a set of Black Baldie heifers. There are (I'm sure) a lot of exceptions; but I would be willing to bet that most of the time that set of baldies is NOT going to be very easy keeping or very efficient and their mature size could surpass that of many "terminal" breeds. On a lot of ranches they are going to disappoint. [/QUOTE]
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