Quality of dam on paper

[TXCOWBOY]

I have some registered angus cows and mainly commercial herd. I am wanting to start using A.I. on a pair of them with the hopes of being able to get a good replacement bull of my own to turn out.

Do I need to go out and pay a bunch of money for a top quality registered cow/heifer?

I can't remember how much the sire genetics are expressed in its progeny relative to the dam when determining the calf's EPD value. Just wondering if I could A.I. a good Gardiner bull on one of my existing registered angus and get good results on paper in terms of EPDs.

 

[simcross]

Some where i heard once

"EPD's are a tool not a goal"

If you don't have any numbers on your cows it will be hard to come up with numbers on the calf.

Pick a couple of your best cows AI them to the best bull you can find and afford then keep records on the calves-- weaning weight, yealing weight then evaluate them on body conformation If this is the kind of calves you want then use him

If you AI yourself why not AI all your cows and use your best home grown bull for a clean up bull