Actual and Adjusted Weights: Actual birth weights, along with adjusted 205-day and off-test weights, are provided for most bulls. This is good information, but it doesn’t tell the whole story because the surrounding environment can greatly affect these weights. Therefore, you can’t use this information to make comparisons with other herds. Ratios, however, allow you to make valid comparisons within a herd.

       Ratios: Ratios are provided for birth weights, 205-day weights, off-test weights, and forage test gains. A ratio shows how a bull compares to his within-herd contemporaries. A ratio of 100% is average, while a ratio of 105% is 5% above herd average, and a ratio of 95% is 5% below herd average. Birth weight ratios have been inverted. The lowest birth weights will have the highest ratios.

        EPDs: EPD is short for Expected Progeny Differences. It’s a prediction of the difference between the average progeny of one individual bull and the average progeny of other individual bulls. Since EPDs are able to take into account the differences that exist between environments, they can be effectively used to compare animals from different herds. Each breed association uses a different method for calculating their EPDs, so you cannot compare EPDs of bulls from two different breeds. Within a breed, though, EPDs can provide some very valuable information. For example, a bull with a birth weight EPD of –2.0 should sire calves that are 5 pounds lighter than a bull with a +3.0 birth weight EPD. We strive for optimum and balanced EPDs, rather than for extremes in any one trait. Selection for extremes can have disastrous consequences. Bulls with the highest growth and milk EPDs are seldom, if ever, the best bulls.

       ADG on Test: Our forage-tested bulls were tested for their ability to perform on grass. Bulls that perform well in a forage test should sire cattle that are also efficient foragers (see article on page 74 for more details). For social reasons, we can only run 35 to 50 bulls in a herd. This set of bulls was run in 10 separate herds on similar, yet different, forage resources. Therefore, the 10 herds differed substantially in their average daily gains. To avoid any confusion, we are not posting individual rates of gain. We are, however, posting individual gain indexes. This figure accurately compares each bull to his herd mates.

    There may be another problem with comparing average daily gains on bulls. This is something I have observed, but not yet documented. It seems that the very masculine bulls with tremendous sex drive are often so busy with extracurricular activities that they are seldom top gainers. I have to wonder if we might be selecting against fertility and early maturity when we select for performance.

      Scrotal Circumference: Actual measurements are provided for our forage-tested bulls. Keep in mind, there is absolutely no fat in the scrotum of these range bulls. There is nothing but testicles! It doesn’t take much fat in the scrotum to increase the circumference by several centimeters. Testicle size seems to be a good indicator of early maturity. This trait can be passed on to a bull’s daughters.

    Frame Score: A frame score of 2 to 5 seems to be optimum for the cowherd, as well as the feedlot. The only difference between a frame 4 and a frame 5 is a couple of inches between the ground and the belly — which doesn’t weigh anything and is impossible to eat! Frame score is hip height adjusted for age. Unfortunately, the formula used for young bulls is based on feedlot tested bulls. It will not work on forage tested bulls. Therefore, we use XS, S, S/M, M, M/L and L (roughly frames 2.5 to 5.5).

    

    Our Predictions: We have provided some predictions on how we feel each of these bulls should be rated for Calving Ease, Disposition, Fleshing Ability and Hair Coat. Each bull is rated with 1 to 5 stars, with “5” being the very best and “3” being about average. Let me emphasize, “3” is not bad. Hair coat, fleshing ability and disposition are discussed more extensively on page 13.

    Maternal Information: Valuable information has also been provided on the mother of most bulls. Cow Age is the dam’s age at calving. Cow Weight is her actual weight at weaning, adjusted to a standard body condition score of 5. At calving we give each cow an Udder Score from 1 to 5. A score of 3 would be an average, yet very functional udder, while a score of 5 would be nearly perfect. On the registered bulls, we are also able to calculate a Cow Longevity score from 1 to 5 — with 5 being the best.