Understanding EPDs

[dun]

This may have been posted before, the memory sometimes fails me, but thought it might prove interesting

http://www.redangus.org/newredsite/ranc ... toEPDs.pdf

dun

 

[Just_a_girl]

This is helpful, and I'm glad you posted it. I'm sure I'll have questions. I've been reading and trying to keep up with what the cattle folks talk about on the board.

thank you Dun!

 

[Just_a_girl]

Dun,

When you look at cattle, to buy for example. What is it that you are looking at exactly, formation, breeding, or just EPDs?

I know breeds of cattle, mostly in my area though.

I understand that everyone here on the board has specific breed that they like more than another.

So would you tell me exactly what you are looking for when you go to purchase cattle?

I would appreciate it.

 

[Scotty]

I will try. EPDs are just tools, remember. I looked at some cattle that were bred so well I drooled. When I looked at them I barfed. Most were from good sires and good dams but were small boned. Had big bodies and I didn't think they could hold up on the range with the bone structure. You msut look at the cattle and apprasie them just the same as you would on paper.

Scotty

 

[Just_a_girl]

I will try. EPDs are just tools, remember. I looked at some cattle that were bred so well I drooled. When I looked at them I barfed. Most were from good sires and good dams but were small boned. Had big bodies and I didn't think they could hold up on the range with the bone structure. You msut look at the cattle and apprasie them just the same as you would on paper.

Scotty

thanks Scotty....

So I was curious how someone came to select one breed over another? I'm sure there are many things to take into consideration, location being one.

The pictures that people post here of their cattle look good to me. None really look unhealthy or bad to me, and that is why I asked the question because I wanted to know what it is you see that I may have missed.

thanks again Scotty.

 

[dun]

If dealing with registerd cattle it's generally a lot simpler then commercial. Before atending registered sales I sit down and pour over the sales catalog. I have a specific EPD range that is acceptable for a given breed. Any other amplifiing information/data helps to eliminate or include animals in the working list.
Before the sale I spend a good many hours looking over the individual animals that have made the list. I look for size, disposition, and structure. If they're out of my acceptable range size wise they're eliminated, dispostion throws out some more. In the structure department we look at feet, legs, top line, width, shape and angle of the rump and just over all if the animal looks right. Any one part of the equation is enough to disqualify.
I make a note about each animal in the catalog either why they're included or excluded from the acceptable list. That prevents you (in theory) of seeing an animal and letting your emotions get the best of you.
Un-registered anaimls I try to look back at as many generations as possible if they have registered ancestry and make determiniations from whatever data are available.
At the sale barn I look for structure and disposition/behaviour and take a chance.
I have a price pre-set in my mind that an indvidual is worth to me and won;t go over that amount (usually). But the price is kind of an iffy thing. If prices are running a couple of hundred over what I had expected, I may go a head and go a little higher for an individual.
Then there is the "pretty face situation". I've ended up with a few cows that for some reason I just couldn;t pass up, there was just something about them that caught my eye and even though good sense and judgement should have made me pass on them they've ended up coming home with me.
For stocker cattle, just something to help stay ahead of the spring flush, we buy whatever looks healthy and falls into the weight range we're looking for. Gender and breed don;t make any difference. They're only going to be here for a month or 2 so we're not as particular. If they look like they'll make money, that's good enough for me.

dun

 

[Just_a_girl]

Dun,

I appreciate you taking the time to give me all this information.


thank you....