highest bw on "big name bulls"

[Aero]

Progeny ratios are the ONLY thing that BW epd is determined by. Now if you are talking about individual performance ratios, I can see where you are coming from.

incorrect.

EPDs are based on the ratios of 3 types of information: previous generations, individual performance, and progeny performance. all are calculated in.

 

[skcatlman]

Just a few things to think about - after generations of line breeding or pure breeding expect a jump in BW when put into a cross bred cow it is called hybrid vigor. As for the high BW on some angus bulls that is what happens when you chase performance and more muscle just a fact you get more birth weight. As far as AI sires i look at a sim bull starquest he has a mid 90 lb. bw in the AI catalogue and except for twins i have not seen one under 108 most 110 to 115 range. too much for most commercial cattlemen i sell bulls to. As for the feed thing it does make a difference in the last month a fetus really grows and going from a hay diet to grain can add upto 15 pounds on the birth weight.

 

[oakcreekfarms]

All based around the ratios of those three. I believe that was my point, if I am not understanding what you are saying let me know.

The previous generations bw epd was set based off of progeny ratios and previous animals in the pedigree and their ratios and so on. The individuals bw ratio, and then that individuals progeny ratios. As I understand it, ratios from all three determine specifically the bw epd.

 

[KNERSIE]

EPDs are based on the ratios of 3 types of information: previous generations, individual performance, and progeny performance. all are calculated in.

This is correct, but I might add that individual performance and progeny performance ratios WITHIN CONTEMPORARY GROUPS are the deciding factor.

The information of previous generations or other relatives are called genetic coupling, without this there would have been little sense in the ratios as there wouldn't have been anything to compare to.

For what its worth, a contemporary group is a minimum of three animals out of a minimum of two sires. Obviously the bigger the group the better, but that is the minimum requirement for the ratios to have any real use in EPD calculation.

 

[Aero]

right oakcreek.

i thought you were saying the only thing that determines EPDs is the progeny of the animal.

 

[Frankie]

So if you were going to buy a new bull for your herd, would his birthweight matter? How high is acceptable? How high of a BW EPD would you tolerate for a cleanup bull and an AI sire for your herd?

In our case, yes, actual birthweight would matter. But a 100 lb BW wouldn't stop me from buying a bull if his pedigree is right, EPDs are right, performance is right, etc. It's one bit of useful information that we'd use in bull selection.

Since we sell registered Angus bulls, we need to produce what commercial cattlemen want. In our experience, they don't want a bull with a BW EPD of 5 or more. I don't mind using one in my registered herd, but if the calf that I will be selling has a 5 BW EPD, I'm going to take some sort of discount. So we try to stay middle of the road on BW EPDs. Generally, we use below 2 BW EPDs on heifers and 3-5 on cows.