The five NSIP EPD traits measured for Polypays are: Weaning Weight, WW; Post Weaning Weight, PWW;
Maternal Milk, MM and Milk and Growth, MGR are all measured in pounds. Number Born, NB is measured in
percent.
The easiest way to use them is in comparing one ram or ewe against another. If ram A has a WW of 1.0 and ram
B has a 2.0 for WW. We can expect the lambs from ram B to have a 1.0 pound weaning weight advantage. The
same is true for the other 3 traits that are measured in pounds. If ram A has a NB EPD of 4.0 and ram B has an
NB EPD of 7.0, we can expect the ewe lambs from ram B to have three percent more lambs than ram A.
Since the lamb get one half its genetics from the ram and half from the ewe, we could expect when breeding a ram
with an EPD of 2.0 to a ewe with an EPD of 4.0 in the same trait, for the lamb to have an EPD of 3.0 in this trait.
2.0 plus 4.0 equal 6.0 divided by 2 equal 3.0. The actual EPD of this lamb will probably vary from this calculated
pedigree EPD because of how it does in comparison to others in it’s peer group. EPDs are developed from
statistical models rather than straight arithmetic. However, arithmetic will give us an idea of what the EPD might
be.
An index can be used to rank the sheep based upon how their EPDs compare with the breed average for each
trait EPD. By giving the traits different weights based upon your flock needs, you can get an idea of which ram
might be the best for your operation. A ram that is the best for one operation may not be the best for another
operation. In order for an index to be of value, you must look at your flock see what its production is and where
you want it to be producing. Therefore indexes must be flock specific to be of value in improving your flock.
Maternal Milk, MM and Milk and Growth, MGR are all measured in pounds. Number Born, NB is measured in
percent.
The easiest way to use them is in comparing one ram or ewe against another. If ram A has a WW of 1.0 and ram
B has a 2.0 for WW. We can expect the lambs from ram B to have a 1.0 pound weaning weight advantage. The
same is true for the other 3 traits that are measured in pounds. If ram A has a NB EPD of 4.0 and ram B has an
NB EPD of 7.0, we can expect the ewe lambs from ram B to have three percent more lambs than ram A.
Since the lamb get one half its genetics from the ram and half from the ewe, we could expect when breeding a ram
with an EPD of 2.0 to a ewe with an EPD of 4.0 in the same trait, for the lamb to have an EPD of 3.0 in this trait.
2.0 plus 4.0 equal 6.0 divided by 2 equal 3.0. The actual EPD of this lamb will probably vary from this calculated
pedigree EPD because of how it does in comparison to others in it’s peer group. EPDs are developed from
statistical models rather than straight arithmetic. However, arithmetic will give us an idea of what the EPD might
be.
An index can be used to rank the sheep based upon how their EPDs compare with the breed average for each
trait EPD. By giving the traits different weights based upon your flock needs, you can get an idea of which ram
might be the best for your operation. A ram that is the best for one operation may not be the best for another
operation. In order for an index to be of value, you must look at your flock see what its production is and where
you want it to be producing. Therefore indexes must be flock specific to be of value in improving your flock.
| How can we use NSIP EPDs? Uncompahgre Polypay Farm The home of production Polypays |
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