Using EPDs and GE-EPDs to Improve Beef Cattle Genetics

By Blake Jackson

Expected progeny differences (EPDs) have been used for nearly 40 years as a primary tool for improving beef cattle genetics. EPDs estimate how much of a specific trait an animal is expected to pass on to its offspring compared with the breed average.

They help producers make informed selection decisions based on traits that align with their herd goals. EPDs are calculated using multiple sources of information, including an animal’s own performance, data from its offspring, records from relatives, and, when available, genomic data.

When DNA information is incorporated, the result is a genomic-enhanced EPD (GE-EPD). By combining genomic test results with traditional pedigree, performance, and progeny records, GE-EPDs improve the accuracy of genetic predictions.

This is especially valuable for younger animals that have not yet produced offspring. Genomic data allow producers to better evaluate traits that are difficult or costly to measure, such as feed efficiency, carcass quality, fertility, and maternal performance.

GE-EPDs provide producers with greater confidence when selecting young bulls. In many cases, a bull with GE-EPDs offers the same level of reliability as an older sire that has already produced multiple calves. While genomics do not change how EPDs are interpreted, they significantly improve accuracy, particularly early in an animal’s life.

Accuracy values, reported on a scale from 0 to 1, indicate the reliability of an EPD. Higher accuracy means greater confidence that the EPD reflects the animal’s true genetic merit. As more performance and progeny data are collected over time, accuracy increases and reliance on genomic data decreases.

To effectively use EPDs, producers must first define their production objectives. Operations selling calves at weaning may focus on birth weight, calving ease, and growth traits. Producers retaining replacement heifers often emphasize maternal traits such as fertility, milk production, and longevity.

Those retaining ownership through the feedlot typically place greater importance on carcass traits like marbling, rib-eye area, and yield grade. Selecting EPDs that match production goals helps improve efficiency, profitability, and long-term herd performance.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-erdinhasdemir