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milk epd

Justin

Well-known member
for those of you angus folks that follow epds, what number do you like to see your bull have under milk? and why?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Not really that much on EPD's- but If I had the perfect cow- I would prefer somewhere between +15 and 20...I added it up one time for a thread on Advantage-- and my cows average +19--- and my current bulls average +15...The AI bull I used this year is a +14...

This just fits my belief and personal preference in the pursuit of moderation in all traits- which I think makes a good efficient cow that will last for awhile- while still giving me a 600 lb weaning weight- and won't come in empty or in bad shape on those low grass/low feed/low water drought years (which seems to be about every year anymore :roll: )...
 

Dylan Biggs

Well-known member
OT, I would agree well said. Like you though I don't know how much confidence to put in the epd's milk especially. I have seen daughters from bulls that by the time the bull had a high accuracy on his milk epd it was a plus 4 on milk. But all the daughters raised calves just as good as the rest.
There's an old Red Angus bull we used back in the late eighties Red Get-Along Licorice and his milk epd now is +3 we had over 20 daughters and they were tremendous cows, with excellent longevity. The more I see of numerical estimates the less I am convinced of their importance. Don't ignore them but I sure wouldn't ignore a bull that does everything else right just because of some projected epd's that are less than stellar, especially milk epd's.
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Probably more profit generated by cows breed average or even a bit lower than the other end of the rainbow. I've got a purebred customer that isn't asfraid to use cattle at that end of the scale probably hasas good a herd there is in Sask.-he sells 90% of his bulls within 20 miles of his gate which says volumes to me. I don't need a whole bunch of guys to buy bulls from I'm pretty happy with who we deal with now-but I do like to check out other outfits.
 

Big Swede

Well-known member
I would say it's not so much the number of the milk epd but more the type of udder. Some cows could be 25 on milk and handle it fine with the right type of udder and some could have a swing bag with 10 pounds. Finding the right combination is the challenge but I would think 15 should be enough for any ranch. My nutritionist claims there's research out there that says even when a cow is dry the higher her milk epd, the more feed she needs to maintain her condition.
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Maintenance needs probably trump udders a bit-udders break down from poor structure not milk production-one thing calving on grass sorts the bad uddered cows pretty quick. If she can't get a calf up sucking on the grass in warm weather they are a gone goose.
 

cowboyup

Well-known member
I want my cows to have milk. I sell pounds and milk equalls pounds. the cows are taken good care of and anything that fails is culled. don't put up with problems or keep anything out of problems this isn't a welfare outfit...earn your keep or you are gone. I will by the bulls with higher milk index. I really liked two of the bulls that justin bought and would be glad to have them in my herd. Sitz angus has a program in place now that places a number on how hard the cow is to keep. I relly like their cattle and will promote their cattle because they have done a very good job for me
 

Just Ranchin

Well-known member
IMO, the milk EPD is the stupidest EPD out there. Tough to measure, and I have seen outstanding cow makers with a +1 milk, and bulls with a +30 milk EPD have cows that milk hard for 2 years, then either come in open or their udder needs a bra. Agree with the other posts that moderation is key
 

Justin

Well-known member
Just Ranchin said:
IMO, the milk EPD is the stupidest EPD out there. Tough to measure, and I have seen outstanding cow makers with a +1 milk, and bulls with a +30 milk EPD have cows that milk hard for 2 years, then either come in open or their udder needs a bra. Agree with the other posts that moderation is key

that is why i don't like anything over 20.
 
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