March '23 Black Angus Sire Evaluation EPD's Page 4

Calving Ease Maternal

How to read EPD's

indicates the percentage difference of unassisted births or greater calving ease in first calf daughters of a particular sire compared to the daughters of another sire. The higher the value the greater the calving ease in first calf daughters.

Birth Weight

BW is related to calving ease. Larger birthweight EPD's generally indicate more calving difficulty.

Progeny of JUSTICE 455G are expected to weigh 5 lbs more than the progeny of BRILLLIANCE 9G

Weaning Weight

WW EPD's reflects pre-weaning growth. Progeny of JUSTICE 455G can be expected to average 14 lbs more at weaning than the progeny of BRILLIANCE 9G

Yearling Weight

YW EPD's reflect differences in the ADJ 365-day weigths for progeny and is the best estimate of total growth. Progeny of JUSTICE 455G can be expected to average 36 lbs more as yearlings than progeny of BRILLIANCE 9G.

Scrotal Circumference

SC is expressed in cm. and is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of an average sire.

Heifer Pregnancy the percent probability in a bull's daughters ability to conceive and calve as two year olds. The heifer born from BRILLIANCE 522C have a 3% higher probability of breeding & calving than of PINEBANK 434F

Milk

Milk EPD 's reflects the milking ability of the sire's daughter expressed in pounds of calf weaned. The milking ability of daughters of BASIN 350G should contribute 6 lbs more to the WW of their calves when compared to daughters of BRILLIANCE 9G

The Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners has recently reviewed the Breeding Soundness Evaluation form for bulls. The current recommendation, with respect to yearlings, is to not perform this examination on bulls less than 12 months of age and preferably delay the exam until the majority of bulls reach maturity, which is between 13-16 months of age.

The yearling bulls offered for sale by Deer River Ranch have passed a physical exam and have scrotal circumference measurements above the minimum requirement recommended by the Society of Theriogenology and the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners. They have not been evaluated for semen in compliance with the recommendation of the association.

I recommend that all the yearling bulls purchased at this sale be given a Breeding Soundness Evaluation by a licensed veterinarian at a future point in time. It is preferable to conduct this exam no earlier than 13 months of age to avoid immaturity issues that often affect younger bulls. Deer River Ranching is selling all bulls with a full breeder’s guarantee.

Bull development at Deer River Ranching is based around a two year old program for ranching conditions. Cows are maintained on pasture conditions throughout the winter thus only bulls from efficient cows on high forage diets will make the cut. Yearlings are fed to maximize muscular enhancement and are fed a balanced ration to optimize the pasture conditions. As two year olds, development is finished on large pastures where the capacity to consume forages to maintain body condition is critical.We cannot overlook the fact that without adequate sugars testicular development would suffer, however bulls are kept lean for pasture breeding.

Deer River Ranching - Predominant Traits (Critical evaluation of birth weights on both dam and sire group)

C.E.E. Calving Extra Easy - no large birthweights

C.E. Calving Ease - small birthweights with one large on sire/dam/granddam

Mat. Maternal - Excellent Udders