EPD Definitions

Calving Ease (CE) Calving Ease EPDs are calculated using birth weight and calving ease score information. Calving ease EPDs represent the ease with which progeny of an animal are born to first calf heifers. The EPD is expressed as a percent probability, with a higher value representing calves with a higher probability of being born unassisted.

Birth Weight (BW) Birth weight is an indicator of calving ease. Higher birth weight EPDs usually indicates more calving difficulty.

Weaning Weight (WW) The weaning EPD reflects progeny growth differences up to 205-days.

Yearling Weight (YW) The yearling EPD reflects progeny growth differences through to 365-days.

Milk The milk EPD indicates the ability of a sire’s daughters to provide their calves with an environment that encourages growth from birth to weaning, through mothering ability and milk production. This EPD is expressed in the expected difference in pounds of calf at weaning.

Total Maternal (TM) Also known as Milk + Growth, this EPD combines the milk EPD plus ½ the weaning weight EPD. It is expressed in pounds of calf weaned at 205-days and combines the genetics for preweaning growth and the influence of the maternal environment on the weaning weight of the daughter’s progeny.

Maternal Calving Ease (MCE) Maternal Calving Ease EPD represents the ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first calf heifers, when compared to daughters of other sires. The EPD is expressed as a percent probability, with a higher value representing daughters with a higher probability of unassisted calving.

Scrotal Circumference (Scrotal Circ.) The Scrotal Circumference EPD reflects differences in scrotal measurements, taken in centimetres and adjusted to 365 days of age. The SC EPD is positively associated with age at puberty of progeny.

Cow Weight (CW) The Cow WT EPD reflects differences in the mature weight of a sire’s daughters. This is important as it is related to maintenance energy requirements.

Stayability (Stay) The Stay EPD reflects differences in the probability that a sire’s daughters will remain in production to produce 3 consecutive calves when retained as breeding heifers.

Maternal Productivity Index (MPI) MPI combines the traits of weaning weight, milk, cow weight and stayability based on their relative economic importance, and then ranks animals within the population.

Feedlot Merit Index (FMI) FMI combines the traits of calving ease, weaning weight, yearling weight, rib-eye area, marbling and fat based on their relative economic importance, and then ranks animals within the population.

Residual Feed Intake (RFI) RFI is a measure of feed efficiency, and is defined as the difference between an animal's actual feed intake and its expected feed intake based on its size and growth.

Post Weaning Gain (PWG) Simply, Weaning Weight EPD subtracted from Yearling Weight EPD

Fat The Fat EPD reflects differences in carcass backfat measures in feeder progeny.

RibEye Area (REA) The REA EPD reflects differences in rib-eye area carcass measures in feeder progeny.

Marbling (MARB) The MARB EPD reflects differences in carcass measures of marbling in feeder progeny, using USDA marbling scores.

Carcass Weight (Carc Wt) The Carcass Weight EPD shows differences in expected carcass weight of feeder progeny in pounds. A higher value indicates heavier carcasses.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

PHONE IN BIDS: Not all customers have internet access or you may not be comfortable doing business online. We would be pleased to take your inquires and bids by phone or email. For phone bids call Don Richardson at 250-557-4348 or Craig Flewelling at 403-556-0515 or Jamie Richardson at 250-699-1406. Send all email bids to Don at don@richardsonranch.ca

Payment: We will contact all winning bids and arrange payments as soon after the closing date as possible. We accept Visa, MasterCard, bank transfers, e-transfers or certified cheque. Payment is expected in Canadian dollars before cattle are moved to their designated pickup sites. Each animal purchased becomes the property of the buyer 24 hours after we have notified you of your winning bid and we advise you to acquire insurance on your purchases.

Delivery of cattle: We will be selling all the bulls for pick up from either Olds, Alberta, BC Livestock in Vanderhoof or BC Livestock in Williams Lake. It will be the buyers choice at time of settlement to elect where they will pick up their bull. Richardson Ranch will then move the sale bulls, including those wintered in Tlell, to either Olds College, Alberta, or a BC Livestock Yard in Vanderhoof or Williams Lake, as directed by the buyers choice at the time of settlement. Buyers will be notified when their bulls will be available for pickup at their chosen site.

Richardson Ranch will cover board charges at these sites for up to 72 hours. Board bills beyond the first 72 hours will be responsibility of the new owner who must make arrangements for extended stay with staff at the designated yard. We will have all animals brand inspected and provide shipping manifests issued at our expense prior to your bull being ready for pick up.

Bulls in the sale: All bulls are being sold “100% possession, retaining 50% Semen Interest”. This means should you buy this bull he will be yours to possess and use at your ranch without any restrictions. However, should you elect to collect semen from this bull for resale outside your own herd, we would be equal partners in both the costs involved and the profits generated from this sale of semen.

Genetic Defects: All the cattle in this sale have been DNA tested to achieve Genomically Enhanced EPDS and are free of all known genetic defects.

Guarantee: All cattle are guaranteed to meet the “Terms and Conditions” as mandated by the Canadian Hereford Association on their “Agreement of Sale” as posted on the hereford.ca web page.

Herd health: All cattle have been vaccinated with “Pyramid 5 plus Presponse”, “8-way Clostridial vaccine with Somnus”, and “Fusiguard for Footrot”. All Tlell bulls have been treated with Ivermectin pour-on and Valbazen for both internal and external parasites.

Certificate of Registration: All cattle purchased, will be transferred to the new owner and a registration paper from the Canadian Hereford Association will be supplied.

Semen Certificate: All bulls will be semen tested in the 30 days prior to the sale.

Grow Safe EPDs and Raw Scan Ultrasound data will be available on the Richardsonranch.ca web site prior to the sale.