New EPD Adjustments Revolutionize Beef Cattle Breeding Comparisons

LINCOLN, Neb. — Since the 1970s, expected progeny differences (EPDs) have been an essential tool for beef producers seeking to enhance their breeding programs. As of January 2025, a newly revised table of adjustment factors from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) allows producers to compare EPDs across different breeds more accurately.

Developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, these adjustment factors help account for differences in genetic bases among breeds. This is crucial for producers who aim to select bulls with desirable traits, such as birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight.

“The AB-EPDs are most useful to commercial producers purchasing bulls of more than one breed for crossbreeding programs,” said Larry Kuehn, a researcher at USMARC. “They can identify bulls in different breeds with high growth potential or favorable carcass characteristics.”

Each year, the adjustment factors are updated based on data from the USMARC germplasm evaluation program, which provides estimates of breed differences. These revisions reflect the EPDs from the latest national cattle evaluations conducted by 18 breed associations.

For example, consider a Red Angus bull with a carcass weight EPD of +20.0 lb. and a Hereford bull with an EPD of +72.0 lb. The across-breed adjustment factors reveal that the Red Angus has a -6.6 lb. adjustment while the Hereford sees a -61.6 lb. adjustment. Consequently, the adjusted EPDs for the Red Angus and Hereford bulls would be 13.4 lb. and 10.4 lb., respectively, indicating a carcass weight difference of 3 lb. among their offspring when mated to cows of another breed.

Kuehn emphasizes the importance of these adjustment factors, stating, “They should only be used to compare the EPDs (AB-EPDs) of animals in different breeds.” He recommends that producers familiarize themselves with the factors and the implications they carry for their breeding choices.

To further assist producers, a separate EPD scale has been established, which represents expected genetic differences from using these animals as sires. Known as ‘breed of sire means,’ these figures help clarify the potential advantages of selecting average animals from various breeds.

As the cattle industry continues to evolve with genetic advancements and new data, the refinement of EPDs remains a critical focus for producers. The updated adjustment factors not only enhance breeding decisions but also aim to increase the overall quality and productivity of beef cattle.