1. Genetic Selection- More ways than 1!
EPD’s- Animal Anatomy

2. Who will be your cowherd sugar daddy?
Congratulations!
You have just become the proud new owner of 10 Angus heifers.
Background on your cows: The cows are all first calf heifers (meaning they have never calved before.
Your task:
Your new heifers need to be bred as soon as possible.
However you did not purchase a bull and don’t have the money or resources to own a bull.
You now need to purchase semen for your heifers and the first step is to select a bull– on the next slide you will visually appraise and place in order (rank) of preference.
After ranking your bulls, turn to your neighbor and see what they decided.
Who will be your cowherd sugar daddy?

3. 2. 1. 3. 4.

4. What’s your ranking?
You just judged the 4 bulls based on phenotypic traits.
Based on this- #1 should be your Sugar Daddy choice– he is the most balanced, complete, masculine, big footed, clean front– Overall based on looks he should be your winner 
But what about picking based on numbers? EPD’s?

5. EPD’s
What is the most important trait used in selecting a herd bull?
How do you know that the first bull is really your sugar daddy?
Are looks everything? Or is there more to selection that meets the eye?
List 4 things you think are the most important traits for a bull when selecting for your herd?
How can size, muscle, reproductive soundness, and birth weight be measured other than using your eyeball?
How can we determine the history and traits of the bull's family, his dam and sire? How can we make sure the bull semen we buy fits our needs on our ranch?

6. Now judge based on numbers…
1. Bull 131
Tehama Fullback
Birth Weaning Milk Yearling
BW EPD 205 wt EPD EPD 365 wt EPD
2. Bull 127
Tehama Ambush
BW EPD 205 wt EPD EPD 365 wt. EPD ,
3. Bull 129
Tehama Bando
BW EPD 205 wt EPD EPD 365 wt EPD
4. Bull 145
Tehama Attack
BW EPD 205 wt EPD EPD 365 wt EPD

7. Now who’s the Sugar Daddy?
Based on numbers, partially genotypic, who would be the bull you would select?
Bull 2 or 3 would be the best options on paper… So that is when you go back to visual selection and use it to help make your final decision.