This is something that never should have happened. Genex and ABS require all bulls in their line-up be tested for all known and testable defects. Had that happened this would have been caught before hurting their customers. Unfortunately they decided to include Origen bulls, but they failed to require Origen to do that same testing. I hope that policy will now change. Epic's pedigree did not indicate a risk for NHC, but there is most likely an error somewhere in that pedigree. That happens more times than we like to think. Wrong straw, clean-up bull rather than AI, cows switch calves at birth. Lots of possibilities. I can think of at least 3 well known bulls that were later determined to have incorrect parentage, just in the last few years.
He has a genomic profile and was being offered to the general public with semen priced at $45 and certificates at $50. I don't understand why they did not spend an extra $8 each to test for defects? He still is not tested for AM or any of the other defects. I personally will never use a bull unless he has been tested for everything. That is the worst place I can think of for a breeder to save a few bucks. In a commercial herd there are probably plenty of NHC cows, so they will pay the price with open cows and an occasional dead, deformed calf when the buy this bulls carrier sons. With over a 1,000 weaning weights and many more calves not reported or still to be born, this 4 year old bull has just set the control of NH back years.
NEVER breed to an AI bull unless he has been tested for all serious defects.