The EPD Shuffle

摘要

EPDs have always been a moving target, changing as new information is added. Genomic-enhanced EPDs are no different.Say you have a group of 10 flush-mate Angus bulls. They all have the same EPDs because they're all full brothers. Those EPD estimates are derived from the EPDs of the parents and, because no data on the calves has been collected, aren't very accurate. Time goes on and weaning weights, yearling weights and ultrasound data are collected. As that information is added to the calculation, the EPDs for each animal not only become more accurate but change - some go up, some go down, some stay roughly the same.