EPD review

If the percent of heritability for birth weight is 40, weaning weight is 30, tenderness is 60, and ribeye area is 70 in beef cattle, which trait can be improved the most through selective breeding?

• Birth weight
• Ribeye area 
• Tenderness
• Weaning weight 

The EPD trait that predicts the average size of calves is: 

• Maternal milk
• Yearling weight
• Weaning weight
• Birth weight

The formula that includes number of pigs born alive and adjusted 21-day litter weight for individual sows compared to a contemporary group of sows is the:

• general gilt index.

• growth rate index.

• heritability estimates index.

• sow productivity index.

Which performance data is a measure of growth rate in swine?

• Adjusted days to 230 pounds

• Number of live pigs born per litter

• Number of pigs weaned per litter

• USDA grade

A bull with an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) of +60 pounds for yearling weight would have an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) of +30 pounds because:

• all this trait comes from the mother.

• half the trait comes from the mother.

• percent heritability is 30 percent.

• percent heritability is 50 percent.

If the percent of heritability for birth weight is 40, weaning weight is 30, tenderness is 60, and ribeye area is 70 in beef cattle, which trait can be improved the most through selective breeding?

• Birth weight

• Ribeye area

• Tenderness

• Weaning weight

If four bulls have the same pedigree and look the same but their Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) for weaning weight are –34.2,–18.0, +10.5, and +36.9, the bull with which EPD should be selected as the sire to most improve the calf weaning weight in the herd?

• –34.2

• –18.0

• +10.5

• +36.9

What are EPDs not used for?

• not a total substitute for visual evaluation

• cannot predict absolute performance of progeny

• cannot directly compare breeds

• not a contest for maximization

measures growth, efficiency, and backfat

• Terminal Sire Index

• Sow Productivity Index

• Maternal Line Index

• Loin Eye Area