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The table of adjustment factors to estimate across-breed expected progeny differences (AB-EPDs) fourteen breeds was presented to the Genetic Prediction Committee at the Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting in Wichita, Kansas. Animals of different breeds can be compared on the same EPD scale, after adding the appropriate adjustment factor to expected progeny differences (EPDs) produced in the most recent genetic evaluations for each of the fourteen breeds. 
For example, if a Gelbvieh bull has an EPD for weaning weight of =25 and a Hereford bull has an EPD of +25.0, would we expect this progeny of a different breed of dam to weigh about the same? No, not unless the adjustment factor is about the same. In this case, the AB-EPD for the Gelbvieh bull is 42.5, which is the table adjustment factor of 16.5 added to the Gelbvieh bulls EPD of +25.0. The AB-EPD of the Hereford bull is 28.6, the table adjustment of 3.6 added to the Hereford bull's EPD of 25. In this example, progeny of the Gelbvieh bull would be expected to weigh, on average 12.9 lb more at weaning than progeny of the Hereford bull (16.5 + 25.0) - (3.6 + 25) = 12.9 lb.The AB-EPDs are most useful to commercial producers purchasing bulls of two or more breeds to use in systemic cross breeding programs. Uniformity from one generation to the next can be improved by selection of bulls with similar AB-EPDs. Uniformity, is especially important in selection of bulls for use in rotational cross breeding systems for traits such as birth weight to manage calving difficulty, and for traits related to cow size and milk production. For more information, contact Larry Cundiff at 402-762-4171. |
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