LCP
Well-known member
Does anyone know how they calculate Milk EPD's? It is my understanding that the number represents the lbs at weaning attributed to the mother's milk. So how exactly do you figure that out?
What made me think about this was looking at Diamond D Angus's sale catalog. Their bulls probably average around +12 on milk, and most of their cows are weaning 50% of their body wt or better. The bulls I've bought in the past few years probably averaged +25 Milk, but I am fairly certain those cows were not weaning 50% of their body wt. So those cows are bigger (eat more to maintain wt), milk harder (eat more to produce), and don't wean a calf that matches the increased inputs. I am speculating of course, because the other places I've bought bulls from don't post cow wt or compare cow/calf wt. If it was good, I think they would probably post that kind of data.
What made me think about this was looking at Diamond D Angus's sale catalog. Their bulls probably average around +12 on milk, and most of their cows are weaning 50% of their body wt or better. The bulls I've bought in the past few years probably averaged +25 Milk, but I am fairly certain those cows were not weaning 50% of their body wt. So those cows are bigger (eat more to maintain wt), milk harder (eat more to produce), and don't wean a calf that matches the increased inputs. I am speculating of course, because the other places I've bought bulls from don't post cow wt or compare cow/calf wt. If it was good, I think they would probably post that kind of data.