I like EPDs. I like having lots of EPDs; but this one sounds a little strange. Angus is about to release a heifer preganacy EPD. I don't deny that there is a genetic effect cause too how often heifers will settle in a breeding season; BUT the biggest largest cause is NUTRITION. I have always been of the view that if 5-10% of the heifers did not settle, that that was just nature's way of telling me 1) that I didn't feed the heifers well enough or 2) those heifers were going to be low fertility anyway so needed to get gone. Now Angus is going to blame the heifers' daddys. I like the concept; but that seems like such an awfully low heritabilty number that I am not sure what value to place on it; but like all EPDs I pity the bull that is not in the top half of the breed.
http://www.angus.org/release_hp_2007_summary.html
http://www.angus.org/release_hp_2007_summary.html