Achieving Calving Ease Without Sacrificing
Content for this article came from Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist. Over time, 90% of genetic change in a cattle herd is the result of sire selection. Bulls contribute more to the genetic makeup of a herd in a calving season than a cow does in a lifetime. Effective sire selection should be based on genetic values in the form of Estimated Progeny Differences (EPDs). Selection on EPDs is 7 – 9 times more effective than selection based on individual performance data, herd ratios or performance testing...