When I was raising registered Polled Herefords I learned to use EPD's as part of my equation to obtain my goal. I wasn't raising a bunch of calves, maybe 15 to 20 a year, so I was strictly hobby. I wanted easy calving, good growth, muscle and depth with good carcass qualities and eye appeal. (I know, I wasn't looking for much). The EPD's I looked at were BW, CE, growth, MM, marbling and fat. I never paid too much attention to the $EPD's. But EPD's were maybe 1/3 of my tool box, my eye was the most important tool and I culled hard.