EPD reliability

I understand the accuracy statistics related to EPD numbers and the fact that as the accuracy approaches  1  that more faith can be placed in the numbers.  What I need to know is this,  how many animals must be in an EPD  "proof" for any particular accuracy level.    So if the accuracy is .35 for weaning weight on a bull, for example,    how many calves from that bull does that represent?  Thanks in advance. 

Right now with Genomics that bull could have no progeny. To me I don't always trust the people putting in the data and I also recognize that genetics is only about half of expression and the other half is environment/management. I'm not sure where you are going with this but you will have more success going to an honest breeder who runs cattle the way you want to be treated. Once you find them then you can select for epds within their herd. Also, if you can go look at the females, its not completely scientific but there is something about the cow that carries through to her daughter productivity more than the sire and his dam do.

http://shorthornbeef.com.au/about/durham-research-development/understanding-ebvs-selection-indexes-and-accuracy/

At the bottom of this link gives a indication of the data required for different accuracy %.
Realise its a different country but would be about the same.

.35 is mid parent no data from calves and probably none of his data.

I often wonder about the reliability of epd's.  For instance we looked at some maine bulls last year.  They were low bw bulls according to the epds and the breeder.  Everything in his herd was low bw.  However when asking about the temperament of his cows he informed us that when they were calving he watched through binoculars and as soon as the calf was born he slipped up behind the cow and tagged them and didn't mess with them anymore.  So my thought was when did he get the bw.  My guess is he estimates and probably on the low side at that.  Walking through this guys pasture with him was like being on a car lot with a car salesman.  He had one bull we liked out of a sooner son and a hotline cow but after being there and meeting him I was scared to buy anything off of him.  Good cattle sell themselves.  they don't need a salesman.  I will take epds into consideration but they are not the most important thing to me.  Too many dishonest people out there to take them too seriously.  Just my two cents.