We have been hearing from different groups of breeds that the multi-breed EPD's aren't working for their breed of animals like they feel they should. Some have mentioned that before the multi-breed EPD's many bulls were good on calving ease, but since the multi-breed EPD's started these same bulls do not look good at all for calving ease.
So many breeds have today such a high percentage of Angus influenced genetics within the breed, and with this Angus influence, it also effects the EPD's. All of the Continental breeds today have very few breeders that have pureblood or fullblood animals on which the breed association was founded. All of the breeds have turned black because of the Angus influence. There is not as much diversity among the breeds because of this.
We have reviewed a few bulls and we are seeing the same result. A bull that is in the top 10% of a breed with good calving ease on a within-breed EPD, when you look at a multi-breed EPD many times that same bull can be in the bottom 40% for calving ease.
This is a problem for breeders especially when it comes to bull sales.
If you look at some other factors, we have heard it said that a cow should be able to give birth to a calf that is 6% of her body weight. With this in mind this means that a cow that weighs 1150 lbs should be able to give birth to a 69 lb calf. But some breeds are bigger so a 1500 lb cow should be able to have a 90 lb calf. So between the two cows their is 21 lbs difference in the birth size of the calf.
Both cows gave birth to calves that were 6% of their body weight, but when it come to the EPD's, the calf that weighed 90 lbs is going to have a much worse calving ease EPD.
Birth weight is the most discussed trait, there are many factors that can affect the birth weight, time of year ( spring vs fall), feeding, breed, and weather (cold vs warmer temperatures).
Many farmers these days do more selection for calving ease bulls, even on mature cows. But they are leaving money on the table. Yes, it is the goal of every farmer to have a live calf on the ground, make a lot more money that a dead calf. But are we focusing too much on calving ease especially in older cows.
There have been a few studies done comparing lighter birth weight calves to heavier birth weight calves. Calves born with heavier birth weights averaged about 35 lbs more at weaning. If you value that at $1.50 per lb that is $52.50 and if you have 10 calves that would be $525 more money in your pocket.
What opinion does everyone have here concerning multi-breed vs within-breed EPD's?
So many breeds have today such a high percentage of Angus influenced genetics within the breed, and with this Angus influence, it also effects the EPD's. All of the Continental breeds today have very few breeders that have pureblood or fullblood animals on which the breed association was founded. All of the breeds have turned black because of the Angus influence. There is not as much diversity among the breeds because of this.
We have reviewed a few bulls and we are seeing the same result. A bull that is in the top 10% of a breed with good calving ease on a within-breed EPD, when you look at a multi-breed EPD many times that same bull can be in the bottom 40% for calving ease.
This is a problem for breeders especially when it comes to bull sales.
If you look at some other factors, we have heard it said that a cow should be able to give birth to a calf that is 6% of her body weight. With this in mind this means that a cow that weighs 1150 lbs should be able to give birth to a 69 lb calf. But some breeds are bigger so a 1500 lb cow should be able to have a 90 lb calf. So between the two cows their is 21 lbs difference in the birth size of the calf.
Both cows gave birth to calves that were 6% of their body weight, but when it come to the EPD's, the calf that weighed 90 lbs is going to have a much worse calving ease EPD.
Birth weight is the most discussed trait, there are many factors that can affect the birth weight, time of year ( spring vs fall), feeding, breed, and weather (cold vs warmer temperatures).
Many farmers these days do more selection for calving ease bulls, even on mature cows. But they are leaving money on the table. Yes, it is the goal of every farmer to have a live calf on the ground, make a lot more money that a dead calf. But are we focusing too much on calving ease especially in older cows.
There have been a few studies done comparing lighter birth weight calves to heavier birth weight calves. Calves born with heavier birth weights averaged about 35 lbs more at weaning. If you value that at $1.50 per lb that is $52.50 and if you have 10 calves that would be $525 more money in your pocket.
What opinion does everyone have here concerning multi-breed vs within-breed EPD's?