Accuracies are an important value to consider when using EPDs. All EPDs are presented with a related accuracy value. Accuracy is the measure of reliability of an EPD. The more data that an animal has with an associated trait, the more accurate the EPD (for example: an animal with a high number of progeny with weaning weights recorded would get a better prediction of weaning weight for any future progeny). An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy values are reported as decimal numbers between 0 and 1. Values closer to 1 indicate larger amounts of available information and greater certainty that an EPD is significantly reliable.

Low accuracy = less than 0.4
Low to medium accuracy = 0.4–0.6
Medium to high accuracy = 0.6–0.8
High accuracy = greater than 0.8

Possible change is the expected amount of probable deviation for an EPD at a specified accuracy level. EPDs are predicted values of an animal’s true genetic merit. Possible change tables give us the range in which the true genetic merit of an animal might fall given the accuracy of the EPD. As accuracies increase, the range in which the true genetic merit of an animal might fall becomes narrower.

Reports

National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) data is used to generate reports that help members identify and market high performance animals. Sire summary reports are available for registered young and mature sires. Trait Leader Reports identify animals that perform extremely well in individual traits. Refer to the sire selection guidelines for help with using EPDs to make selection decisions.

Sire Summary Reports

A mature sire is defined as having a minimum weaning weight accuracy of 0.67 and having at least one registered progeny with a weaning weight on file. The top 500 animals who meet these criteria qualify to be listed on the Mature Sire Report for black Angus animals and for red Angus animals.

A young sire is defined as being 2 to 4 years of age, having a weaning weight accuracy of at least 0.48 and having at least one registered progeny born. The top 400 animals who meet these criteria qualify to be listed on the Young Sire Report black Angus animals and for red Angus animals.

*Criteria last updated January 2010

Trait Leaders

Trait leaders: the top 25 proven and mature sires for each EPD trait are listed on the Trait Leaders reports. The reports for black Angus animals include the top 25 sires with a minimum of 0.70 accuracy for the trait. Red Angus animals must have 0.64 accuracies (with the exception of 0.40 for Fat EPD) to qualify to be listed on this prestigious report.

Percentile Tables

Elite Program

Canadian Angus Elite Cow: has a minimum of five calves, four of which must be registered, to determine her regularity of calving and ability to consistently produce calves with a superior weaning weight year after year, display early puberty, breeding and early calving, followed by regularity of calving and high performance offspring. The Canadian Angus Elite Cow Report identifies superior cows in the Canadian Angus herdbook.

Canadian Angus Elite Sire: has sired six or more Elite Cows within the current listing. The Elite Sire Report recognizes and celebrates bulls in the Canadian Angus herdbook that have consistently produced superior daughters.

Click here to learn more about Elite Programs.

Possible Change Table for Black Angus Animals

 

Accuracy	BW	WW	YW	Milk	CED	Marb	RE	Fat
0.95	0.13	0.6	0.9	0.5	0.4	0.01	0.02	0.002
0.9	0.26	1.2	1.7	1	0.8	0.03	0.03	0.004
0.8	0.53	2.3	3.4	1.9	1.6	0.06	0.06	0.009
0.7	0.79	3.5	5.1	2.9	2.4	0.09	0.1	0.013
0.6	1.05	4.6	6.8	3.9	3.2	0.12	0.13	0.017
0.5	1.31	5.8	8.5	4.9	3.9	0.15	0.16	0.022
0.4	1.58	7	10.2	5.8	4.7	0.18	0.19	0.026
0.3	1.84	8.1	11.9	6.8	5.4	0.21	0.23	0.03
0.2	2.1	9.3	13.6	7.8	6.2	0.24	0.26	0.035
0.1	2.36	10.4	15.3	8.7	7.2	0.26	0.29	0.039

Possible Change Table for Red Angus Animals

More Information

• Canadian Angus Performance Program—Performance Data Collection

• Genetic Evaluation Definitions

• Using EPDs