What Judges Ask About Angus Heifer EPDs and Production

In many breeding heifer classes, judges ask questions to find out whether the exhibitor knows the animal and understands why she was chosen. One common area is genetics: the heifer's expected progeny differences, or EPDs, and the production records of her family. These numbers can feel intimidating to young exhibitors, but you do not need to be a geneticist. You need to know what a handful of numbers mean and be able to explain them in your own words.

This guide explains common EPD terms and the kinds of questions judges may ask, and gives tips for answering honestly. Rules and question styles vary, and EPD values change as new data comes in, so always use current numbers for your animal. If you want to find junior Angus events near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

What an EPD Is

An expected progeny difference is a prediction of how an animal's offspring will perform, on average, compared with the offspring of other animals in the breed, for a particular trait. EPDs are expressed in the units of the trait, such as pounds, and can be positive or negative. They are calculated by breed associations like the American Angus Association from pedigree, performance records and, increasingly, genomic information. They are not guarantees, and accuracy varies. Higher-accuracy EPDs generally come from animals with more data.

Common Traits You Should Know

Birth weight (BW). Predicts the weight of calves at birth. Lower numbers generally mean smaller calves and fewer calving problems, but very low numbers can mean lower growth.
Weaning weight (WW). Predicts calf growth to about 205 days, which reflects both the calf's growth and, indirectly, the dam's milk.
Yearling weight (YW). Predicts growth to about one year of age.
Milk. Predicts the effect of the heifer's milk production on her calves' weaning weights when she becomes a cow.
Calving ease direct (CED) and maternal (CEM). CED predicts how easily her calves will be born when she is the sire's daughter or a sire is used, and CEM predicts her ability to calve easily as a dam.
Carcass traits. Such as marbling and ribeye area, which predict carcass quality of offspring.

Terms and indexes vary, so look at the association's current definitions. Our guide to reading an EPD sheet goes deeper.

Questions Judges May Ask

What are your heifer's EPDs for birth weight and weaning weight?
What does milk EPD mean?
Why did you choose this heifer?
Which of her EPDs are strengths, and which would you like to improve?
How old is she, and what is her sire and dam?
How did her dam perform?
What would you breed her to?
What do you want her calves to do?

How to Answer

Keep it simple and honest. For example, if you are asked about birth weight EPD, you might say the number and explain that it predicts calf size at birth and that you were looking for a heifer with a moderate number to help with calving ease. If you do not remember a number, it is better to say you do not remember than to guess. Having a printed sheet in your show box to look at, if allowed, is reasonable. Do not make up answers. Judges can tell, and honesty earns respect.

Know Your Heifer's Strengths

Choose two or three traits you can talk about confidently. If she has strong maternal traits, say so. If she has high growth, explain why that matters. Link the numbers to your goals. This shows that you chose her for a reason rather than just because she was pretty.

Be Careful With Overstatement

Do not claim that EPDs guarantee anything. A good answer acknowledges that EPDs are predictions and that management and environment also affect performance. If a judge asks what you would change, a thoughtful answer such as wanting to improve a particular trait through the sire you choose shows maturity.

Production Records

If the dam has production records, such as calving interval, weaning weights of her calves or udder scores, you can mention them. Ask the seller for this information when you buy. Records are especially meaningful because they show real performance rather than prediction. The Beef Research site and extension programs like Nebraska Beef offer information on genetic evaluation.

Practice

Write short answers in your own words and practice them aloud with a parent or leader. Have someone ask questions in random order. Review the numbers before each show, since EPDs can update.

Common Mistakes

Memorizing numbers without understanding. Explain what they mean.
Guessing. Say you do not know instead.
Using outdated numbers. Check the current evaluation.
Ignoring weaknesses. Every animal has some.
Overselling. EPDs are predictions.

Farm.fm's page on improving reproductive success in Angus breeding gives related background, and for a laugh, see farm.fm's humor piece on a county agricultural exhibition.