Ginette Gottswiller
The Source
You don’t need to play Go Fish when comparing bulls.
Ever play Go Fish?
It is a pretty simple card game and doesn’t take long to figure out. You just need four of a kind and you’ve got some points on the board.
Trying to compare different bull breeds doesn’t take long to figure out either, but first you need to be using the same deck of cards. Is a heart the same as a diamond just because they are red?
How do you compare different bull breeds when using expected progeny differences (EPDs)?
One of the best tools to use is the U.S. Meat Animal Research (USMARC) across-breed EPD table that was recently updated. This is one government resource commercial cattlemen can use to help make decisions that doesn’t make them feel like they are playing a game.
| Breed | Birth Wt. | Weaning Wt. | Yearling Wt. | Milk | Marbling Score |
Ribeye Area | Fat Thickness |
| Angus | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| Hereford | 1.6 | -18.2 | -42.1 | -14.1 | -0.29 | -0.06 | -0.075 |
| Red Angus | 2.3 | -28.3 | -35.4 | 5.5 | -0.13 | 0.06 | -0.017 |
| Shorthorn | 4.2 | -39.8 | -32.8 | 3.6 | -0.13 | 0.60 | -0.103 |
| South Devon | 2.3 | -32.5 | -55.2 | 14.1 | -0.47 | 0.66 | -0.220 |
| Beefmaster | 4.5 | 21.9 | -0.3 | 9.9 | |||
| Brahman | 10.6 | 49.5 | 15.8 | 19.4 | -0.64 | 0.10 | -0.169 |
| Brangus | 3.3 | 13.9 | 4.5 | 12.3 | |||
| Santa Gertudis | 4.8 | 38.3 | 38.4 | 17.7 | -0.46 | 0.04 | -0.086 |
| Braunveigh | 2.4 | -24.0 | -43.3 | 4.7 | -0.58 | 1.11 | -0.107 |
| Charolais | 6.9 | 32.5 | 23.2 | 5.5 | -0.26 | 1.21 | -0.204 |
| Chiangus | 2.8 | -19.3 | -29.9 | 0.9 | -0.16 | 0.57 | -0.095 |
| Gelbveigh | 2.8 | -22.3 | -32.1 | 6.5 | -0.25 | 0.86 | -0.103 |
| Limousin | 1.7 | -21.5 | -46.9 | -7.4 | -0.22 | 1.13 | -0.101 |
| Maine Anjou | 2.4 | -33.3 | -52.4 | -7.0 | -0.44 | 9.93 | -0.184 |
| Salers | 0.9 | -16.5 | -46.3 | 8.1 | -0.06 | 1.03 | -0.179 |
| Simmental | 2.9 | -8.9 | -14.9 | 3.8 | -0.21 | .51 | -0.105 |
| Tarantaise | 3.4 | 18.5 | -11.6 | 20.8 | |||
| Source: U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. | |||||||
This table is located on the American Angus Association website at https://www.angus.org/Nce/AcrossBreedEpdAdjFactors.aspx.
Angus is the base on this table. If you want to compare a Simmental bull to the Angus base follow these steps:
Example: Simmental bull EPDs from bull stud sale book.
Birth weight (BW) -1.2; weaning weight (WW) 54.5; yearling weight (YW) 63.4; Milk 15.8
Adjustment factors to estimate across-breed EPDs for Simmentals
BW 2.9; WW -8.9; YW -14.9; Milk 3.8
- 1. Use the Simmental sire BW EPD -1.2, then add the +2.9 adjustment factor = +1.7
- 2. Simmental sire WW EPD 54.5 -8.9 adjustment factor = +45.6
- 3. Simmental sire YW EPD 63.4 -14.9 adjustment factor = +48.5
- 4. Simmental sire Milk EPD 15.8 + 3.8 adjustment factor = +19.6
Now choose the Angus bull you want to compare the Simmental sire’s EPDs to.
Example: Angus bull EPDs from bull stud sale book Simmental sire with adjusted EPDs
BW +1.4; WW +52; YW +99; Milk +20 BW +1.7; WW+45.6; YW +48.5; Milk +19.6
Instead of “fishing” for a bull, you can tell if you are comparing diamonds to hearts. It is much easier to use one of the across-breed EPD calculators on university websites to make these calculations, but it is good to know how to find the right card in the pile.
When you enroll your calves in AngusSource® the Marketing Document lists the Angus sires used to sire the calf crop. This gives potential buyers a glimpse into how your calves could gain and grade in the feedlot and on the rail. Sometimes a buyer is curious how the EPDs compare to another breed. The across-breed adjustment factors are a good way to put each bull on an even playing field.
Currently the AngusSource Marketing Document is emailed to more than 800 potential buyers. It is an outstanding way for your enrolled calves to get noticed before they go in the salering. This year before you market your calf crop consider using AngusSource to help you put a few more buyers in the boat to increase your odds of landing a bigger payday.
Editor's Note: Ginette Gottswiller is the director of commercial programs for the American Angus Association.