205 days is the traditional weaning age, weaning weights are adjusted to that time. The bulls actual weaning weight is not always a good measure of his capabilities when it comes to siring WW or YW. That said: if a bull is creep fed as a calf his own WW will be higher then one that was just on pasture and momma. The EPD WW/YW if it has achieved any accuracy at all is based on multiple herds and gives you a better feel of his capabilities as a sire. I would think that a charolais bull without creep should wean in the mid 700 to low/mid 800's. We like to think that a cows will wean half her body weight at 205 days. Heifers calves will be lighter ET calves will be heavier at birth but should balance out by 205 days. A lot of that too depends on the dam, if she is a sorry milker the calf won't wean as heavy but may be a real bruiser by yearling time.
dunmovin farms
> I'm looking to buy a new bull for
> the first time. I keep seeing the
> weaning weight on the EPD's and
> there seems to be a big gap in the
> weights. Some are in the 500's
> others are in the 800's. Is there
> a set time period? I've seen on
> some breeders list a 205 day and a
> 225 day wt. Is this their weaning
> weight? By the way the bulls are
> charolais if that makes a
> difference.