Birth weight EPD's and selecting bulls question

[Cormac]

I am evaluating two young Angus bulls. Either would be my first Bull. One's sire and dam's BW EPD's are 3 and 3.5, but is perhaps the best looking bull I have ever seen. The others Sire and dams Birth weight EPD's are below 0 and .9. Being new to this and the fact that I am not with the cows everyday, BW is an EPD I felt should be very low, to make my life easier. My questions are: on mature cows is 3-3.5 BW EPD's a real concern? I also have learned that on heifers, try to stay below 2.5. If this is true, is 3-3.5 that much of an increase to be of grave concern? Thanks. This Bull in my planned ownership would be exposed to 7-10 cows twice and maybe 3-5 heifers once.

 

[Aero]

no worry on cows that have calved before.

registration numbers on bulls?

it's all a matter of chance. there is a chance a heifer will calve a +10.0 BW bull's calf but you are going against some bad odds. basically, i would find a low BW bull that will let you sleep at night. try to keep CED over +8 if you can.

 

[Cormac]

The bulls are not registered at this time. But they are AI sired by E161 as the 3 BW and 1407 as the 0 BW.

 

[r and s peckman]

Also look at the bull's birth weight.

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

In my opinion, people get wayyyyy too hung up on birthweight EPDs (and birthweights for that matter).

Pay more attention to the calving ease EPD than the birthweight EPD. There is such a thing as higher birthweight calving ease bulls. Pay more attention to the bulls front shoulders. A nice wedge shape with the shoulders transitioning smoothly into the neck will do more for calving ease than all the birthweight data in the world.

Of course you shouldn't ignore ultra high birthweights (his, and his sire/dams histories), but if this birthweights are reasonable (I use 90 - 95 BW bulls on 8 - 9 weight heifers, 100 - 110 lb BW bulls on 13/1400lb cows), and his shoulders are shaped properly, buy him. As the blockiness increases, birthweights must decrease. If he's a complete block in front, skip by him if you're really concerned about calving ease.

Rod

 

[dun]

In my opinion, people get wayyyyy too hung up on birthweight EPDs (and birthweights for that matter).

Pay more attention to the calving ease EPD than the birthweight EPD. There is such a thing as higher birthweight calving ease bulls. Pay more attention to the bulls front shoulders. A nice wedge shape with the shoulders transitioning smoothly into the neck will do more for calving ease than all the birthweight data in the world.

Of course you shouldn't ignore ultra high birthweights (his, and his sire/dams histories), but if this birthweights are reasonable (I use 90 - 95 BW bulls on 8 - 9 weight heifers, 100 - 110 lb BW bulls on 13/1400lb cows), and his shoulders are shaped properly, buy him. As the blockiness increases, birthweights must decrease. If he's a complete block in front, skip by him if you're really concerned about calving ease.

Rod

Calving ease EPDs for many breeds is still a new deal. AQll there was for years was BW and a lot of folks are still leery of these new fangled calving ease EPDs.

dun

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Calving ease EPDs for many breeds is still a new deal. AQll there was for years was BW and a lot of folks are still leery of these new fangled calving ease EPDs.

I can understand that. I'm still leery of EPDs period Thats why I rely on my eye before all else when deciding on a calving ease bull. All else must be equal before I turn to EPDs to determine my bull selection.

Rod

 

[TSR]

In my opinion, people get wayyyyy too hung up on birthweight EPDs (and birthweights for that matter).

Pay more attention to the calving ease EPD than the birthweight EPD. There is such a thing as higher birthweight calving ease bulls. Pay more attention to the bulls front shoulders. A nice wedge shape with the shoulders transitioning smoothly into the neck will do more for calving ease than all the birthweight data in the world.

Of course you shouldn't ignore ultra high birthweights (his, and his sire/dams histories), but if this birthweights are reasonable (I use 90 - 95 BW bulls on 8 - 9 weight heifers, 100 - 110 lb BW bulls on 13/1400lb cows), and his shoulders are shaped properly, buy him. As the blockiness increases, birthweights must decrease. If he's a complete block in front, skip by him if you're really concerned about calving ease.

Rod

Good post,Rod. I have been breeding practically all my heifers to a >4 BW bull I have yet to have a problem. Most of my heifers will be in the 7-800lb range. I just don't think there is that big of a difference between say a 1.0 and a 4.0 BW sire. The time of year they calve and nutrition will also make a difference. JMHO

 

[Campground Cattle]

In my opinion, people get wayyyyy too hung up on birthweight EPDs (and birthweights for that matter).

Pay more attention to the calving ease EPD than the birthweight EPD. There is such a thing as higher birthweight calving ease bulls. Pay more attention to the bulls front shoulders. A nice wedge shape with the shoulders transitioning smoothly into the neck will do more for calving ease than all the birthweight data in the world.

Of course you shouldn't ignore ultra high birthweights (his, and his sire/dams histories), but if this birthweights are reasonable (I use 90 - 95 BW bulls on 8 - 9 weight heifers, 100 - 110 lb BW bulls on 13/1400lb cows), and his shoulders are shaped properly, buy him. As the blockiness increases, birthweights must decrease. If he's a complete block in front, skip by him if you're really concerned about calving ease.

Rod

Good post,Rod. I have been breeding practically all my heifers to a >4 BW bull I have yet to have a problem. Most of my heifers will be in the 7-800lb range. I just don't think there is that big of a difference between say a 1.0 and a 4.0 BW sire. The time of year they calve and nutrition will also make a difference. JMHO

I have a small seedstock operation, and you are dead on about getting hung up on epds. I see buyer after buyer take epds like they are craved in stone. Its expected progeny again expected.