I bought a registered black angus bull with a EPD number of 3.4 I was told by the man that i bought the bull from that that black angus assocotion recommends that the EPD number be 3.5 or lower if you are planning on using the bull on heifer's. Does this sound right ?
EPD number question.
- Thread starter Stepper
- Start date
Stepper":2hzqnv0x said:
The last recommendation from the Assn that I saw was to use a bull with a BW EPD of 3 or less on first calf heifers. Of course, some heifers are bigger than others, easier calvers, etc. What's the bull's breeding?
Frankie is right about 3 or below being considered a "heifer bull". i like staying below breed average (+2.4 or below).
the chances of you seeing a difference from +3.0 to +3.4 is very slight and to actually see a difference of 0.4 lbs, you would probably need 100 or more calves.
the chances of you seeing a difference from +3.0 to +3.4 is very slight and to actually see a difference of 0.4 lbs, you would probably need 100 or more calves.
Stepper":vbitwa32 said:
with a complete guess, i would say you have a 10% chance of having to assit.
with low accuracy bulls, he could really be a +1.0 or +7.0 if he was proven. everyone takes this chance with young bulls.
what is his reg #?
Victoria
Well-known member
I'd want to know his actual BW and his CE that would tell you a lot. Also look at the bull to make sure he's smooth. A low BW bull with a negative calving ease and no smoothness will give you more of a headache than a higher BW bull (not huge) with snoothness and great CE numbers.
lakading
Well-known member
Stepper":14vmrj3d said:
It depends. Are you going to feed them more protein than they need? If not, then I don't think you'll have any problems. I've used bulls with +4.5 on heifers without much trouble.
