Birth Weights by Breed

[angus9259]

I came across this in a separate web search - I know I've seen similar numbers on these boards before. It claims the data is from 2005. Wondering if anyone has anything more recent? I looked this up as I consider beginning to produce some lim flex bulls from my registered angus cows.

Below is the adjusted BW EPD equivalent for each of the top breeds (adjusted to Angus base), according to 2005 U.S. Meat Animal Research Center data.

Thus, an Angus bull with BW EPD of 0 should sire calves with the same BW as a Gelbvieh at -4.7 for BW, if the cows are similar.

Angus 0
Simmental -5.9
Charolais -10
Red Angus -3.1
Gelbvieh -4.7
Hereford -2.9
Limousin -4

 

[dun]

Remember this is for EPDs not actual weights!

Here is the most recent adjustments:
http://www.bifconference.com/bif2009/pr ... _Kuehn.pdf
The table is towards the bottom

 

[dcara]

Nice link dun.

 

[Frankie]

I came across this in a separate web search - I know I've seen similar numbers on these boards before. It claims the data is from 2005. Wondering if anyone has anything more recent? I looked this up as I consider beginning to produce some lim flex bulls from my registered angus cows.

Below is the adjusted BW EPD equivalent for each of the top breeds (adjusted to Angus base), according to 2005 U.S. Meat Animal Research Center data.

Thus, an Angus bull with BW EPD of 0 should sire calves with the same BW as a Gelbvieh at -4.7 for BW, if the cows are similar.

Angus 0
Simmental -5.9
Charolais -10
Red Angus -3.1
Gelbvieh -4.7
Hereford -2.9
Limousin -4

I think you're looking at the MARC Across breed EPDs? Here's a link to the 2009 info. By themselves, the adjustment factors don't mean much. You need to add them to the EPDs of the bulls your considering using. If you are considering an Angus bull with a BW EPD of 5 versus a Simmental bull with a BW EPD of 3, you ADD those numbers to the "adjustment factor". Adjustment factor for Angus is 0, so you'd be looking at 5 as the Angus BW EPD. Adjustment factor for Simmental is 5.5, so add 3 + 5.5 and you get the Simmental equivalent of an Angus 8.5 BW EPD. This allows you to compare bulls of different breeds head to head.

http://www.beefimprovement.org/PDFs/200 ... elease.pdf

Thanks for the link, Dun. I can't read it right now. But it looks like it's very interesting......

 

[Stocker Steve]

What is the reason RA run heavier than BA?

 

[vclavin]

Each "breed" used different criteria in their breeding programs. Angus stayed with low birth and evidently the Red Angus did not. Unless you are careful, going for high gain can get you high birthweights as well. I think the Red Angus has heavier ww and yw than Black Angus.
Blessings
Valerie Clavin

 

[redcowsrule33]

What is the reason RA run heavier than BA?

Each "breed" used different criteria in their breeding programs. Angus stayed with low birth and evidently the Red Angus did not. Unless you are careful, going for high gain can get you high birthweights as well. I think the Red Angus has heavier ww and yw than Black Angus.
Blessings
Valerie Clavin

I think you are misinterpreting this.

#1 If you look at that same link (http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Pl ... 09News.pdf) average actual birthweights between Angus and Red Angus differed by exactly one pound. I don't find this to be significant.

#2 Let's do a real world example!

I chose bulls from 3 different breeds (Angus, Red Angus, and Simmental) that all rank in the upper 1% in their respective breeds for birthweight.

HARB PENDLETON 765 J H BW=-3.6
BUF CRK LANCER-F L297 BW=-6.7
HOOKS SHEAR FORCE 38K BW=-5.0

Now (Lord don't strike me down for doing this :cowboy: ) let's turn them into Angus.

HARB PENDLETON 765 J H BW=-3.6 (no change, we are adjusting to Angus)
BUF CRK LANCER-F L297 BW=-3.8
HOOKS SHEAR FORCE 38K BW=+0.5

So, as you can see, two very similar breeds adjusted to being basically equal, whereas the Simmental is still low but adjusts to a higher number because they have a very different structure and will weigh more on average, even with below-average numbers within the breed. It's not that the breeds use different criteria, just a different scale. Like converting pounds to kilograms.

 

[vclavin]

http://www.angus.org/Nce/AcrossBreedEpdAdjFactors.aspx

Oops, I spoke too soon. Red Angus is 2.9 lbs heavier and less WW and YW. Hmmmm

Blessings
Valerie Clavin

 

[robert]

http://www.angus.org/Nce/AcrossBreedEpdAdjFactors.aspx

Oops, I spoke too soon. Red Angus is 2.9 lbs heavier and less WW and YW. Hmmmm

Blessings
Valerie Clavin

it's really not that complicated, Red Angus is a significantly smaller genepool, kinda like the example I gave of using your own bulls vs the latest, greatest of the breed.

 

[Julian]

http://www.angus.org/Nce/AcrossBreedEpdAdjFactors.aspx

Oops, I spoke too soon. Red Angus is 2.9 lbs heavier and less WW and YW. Hmmmm

Blessings
Valerie Clavin

Too bad that there isn't an across-breed EPD adjustment factor that would be able to compare the Red Angus ME EPD with the $EN EPD from the AAA. Perhaps someday there will be an adjustment factor for disposition as well between the two breeds.

 

[Frankie]

Too bad that there isn't an across-breed EPD adjustment factor that would be able to compare the Red Angus ME EPD with the $EN EPD from the AAA. Perhaps someday there will be an adjustment factor for disposition as well between the two breeds.

As long as Red Angus breeders continue to incorporate black Angus genetics into their herds, you're not going to convince me they have a better disposition. I think disposition is as much a result of management as genetics.

 

[novatech]

I think disposition is as much a result of management as genetics.

I think there is a lot more truth to that statement than most people realize. I have had several exceptional cattle go to the vet and come back mean as he!!.