Dumb question

[CM Cattle]

I am wandering what the stuff like ced, bw, ww, milk, yw, marb, and rib stand for, and how they come up with the numbers. Ive always wandered how they come up with the numbers and what some of them ment in sale catologs. Thanks

 

[Bulldaddy]

Those are abbreviations for the various expected progency differences (EPD's) that breed associations calculate to help purebred breeders make mating decisions and commercial bull buyers make purchasing decisions.  Ced stands for calving ease direct; bw for birth weight; ww, for weaning weight and so on.  For young cattle with no progeny, EPD's are calculated using data from close relatives.  Once a cow or bull has progeny, that infomation is used to calculate the EPD's.  In the simmental breek, EPD's are refigured twice per year in the spring and fall using data supplied by breeders.