Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:46 am
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SEC wrote:
This milk number suggests lesser milk production than the average cow so we get down on that. Yet, we know ourselves that the animal raising a good calf and isn't shorting it 's potential one little bit.
not completely correct.
the Milk EPD is a combination of actual milk production and mothering ability. it is a measurement of pounds added to the calf. a cow with less than average milk can add more pounds than the average cow by being a good mother. conversely, a cow with gallons of milk might raise a terrible calf if she wont let him suck.
This Hypothesis is fine - - as far as it goes! BUT, it does not go to the extent that was originally intended.
"
MATERNAL MILK EPD (Milk) - is a predictor of a
sire's genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in pounds of calf weaned by
his daughters compared to daughters of
OTHER SIRES. In other words, it is that part of a calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability." (
emphasis is mine. Doc Harris)
In my discussions of the values and merits of EPD's,
per se, I find that when it is difficult to be in accord with others the reasoning usually is because of equivicating and quibbling over 'presupposed' facts, unsupported by total cognizance of the literal and realistic definition of ALL "EPD's", which after all are
"EXPECTED PROGENY DIFFERENCES"
In this particular case of 'Milk' EPD's, IN MY OPINION, most of us have taken a cursory view of EPD's, in our eagerness to achieve perfection in our breeding programs, have leaped to conclusions that they (EPD's) were
THE answer to all of our hopes and dreams. With that presumption in mind it became easy to take the "path of least resistance", disconnect our cogitating abilities, and lapse into a fairy-land dream world of breeding beef cattle "by-the-numbers", and STOP thinking about reality - - point in fact - - in concert with PHENOTYPE!
The can be NO repudiation of this statement:
There is absolutely NO ONE SINGLE ANSWER to Genetic Perfection!
WHY!?? Because
PERFECTION is in the eye of the beholder. If perfection could be achieved, easily or not, ONE Bull and ONE Cow could produce ALL of the progeny in the Beef Industry, and we could all retire and cease struggling and arguing.
We need to get real here, Folks! Using EPD's in conjunction with Phenotype and our good common Horse (if you'll excuse the expression) sense, is tantamount to a Championship Chess Game - it takes knowledge, intuition, and more good fortune than anyone possesses just to make a step forward in our breeding programs - but it CAN be done - as many good breeder's have proven. But KNOWLEDGE is paramount in the mix and we can never stop learning if we care to advance!
DOC HARRIS