Dairy Trait Terminolgy

Holstein Sires

TPI (Total Performance Index)

An industry index created by Holstein Association USA with the goal to offer a balanced approach to selection for production, health, and conformation.

NM$ (Net Merit Dollars)

An industry index created by USDA that combines 39 individual traits for the NM$ Holstein Index. Describes expected lifetime profit per cow as compared to the base population born in 2020. *Please note that Holstein and Jersey values are calculated slightly differently.

DWP$ (Dairy Wellness Profit Index Dollars)

Dairy Wellness Profit developed by Zoetis is a multitrait selection index that includes cow and calf wellness, production, fertility, functional type, longevity, livability, calving ability, and milk quality traits, as well as polled test results.

HHP$ (Herd Health Profit Index Dollars)

HHP$ is index developed by Select Sires, prioritizes the traits that make the greatest impact to profitability. Boost mastitis resistance, lower incidence of other health challenges and breed long-lasting, healthy cows that improve cashflow.

FE (Feed Efficiency)

Feed Efficiency is a measure of an animal’s ability to convert feed at the bunk to milk in the tank. An animal’s feed efficiency is measured by looking at the difference between how much you think an animal will eat, compared to what they actually do consume. A cow that eats less than expected, without losing body condition or decreasing production, is more efficient. 

Milk (Lbs)

Expected second-lactation milk production in pounds compared to breed average

PRO (Protein Lbs)

Expected second-lactation protein production in pounds compared to breed average.

FAT (Fat Lbs)

Expected second-lactation fat production in pounds compared to breed average.

PTAT (Type)

The difference in final score classification points compared to the base population.

UDC (Udder Composite)

A composite index that incorporates fore and rear attachments, udder depth, cleft, teat placement, and stature.

FLC (Feet and Leg Composite)

A composite index based on rear legs–rear view, foot angle, feet and legs score, and stature.

BWC (Body Weight Composite)

A composite index that incorporates strength, body depth, rump width, dairy form and positive stature.

SCE (Sire Calving Ease)

Percentage of difficult births expected in first calf heifers.

DCE (Daughter Calving Ease)

Percentage of difficult births expected for daughters sired by the bull

PL (Productive Life)

Expressed as additional months of life in the milking string

SCS (Somatic Cell Score)

Uses somatic cell score data from the first five lactations as an indicator of mastitis resistance.

HCR (Heifer Conception Rate)

Percentage of inseminated heifers that become pregnant at each service; shown as a deviation in percentage.

CCR (Cow Conception Rate)

Percentage of inseminated cows that become pregnant at each service; shown as a deviation in percentage. For example, a bull with a CCR value of 1 implies that the conception rate for his daughters will likely be 1% higher during the lactation than daughters of a bull with an evaluation of 0

FS (Feed Saved)

The expected pounds of feed saved per lactation based on body weight composite (BWC) and residual feed intake (RFI) evaluations. Larger, positive values are more favorable. This composite trait favors animals with lower BWC.

RFI (Residual Feed Intake)

The difference between the actual and expected feed in-take expressed in pounds of dry matter consumed per lactation. Lower values are considered desirable.

DPR (Daughter Pregnancy Rate)

Percentage of non pregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-day period, compared to breed average. Trait using a 50-day voluntary wait period. A DPR of 1 implies daughters from the bull will on average 4 fewer days open in their lactation.

LIV (Livability)

Represents the additional percentage of cows that avoid dying on the farm, permitting producers to recoup disposal income.

Conformation/ Linear Traits

STA (Stature)

Height at the hips.

STR (Strength)

Evaluation of strength and substance, including width of chest.

BD (Body Depth)

Evaluation of depth of barrel.

DF (Dairy Form)

Evaluation of openness and angularity.

RA (Rump Angle)

The slope from the hips to the pins, measured in inches.

TW (Rump Width/Thurl Width)

Distance between the pins, measured in inches.

RLS (Rear Legs: Side View)

The angle of the set to the hock.

RLR (Rear Legs: Rear View)

Evaluation of the rear legs ability to stand straight, wide apart with feet squarely placed.

FA (Foot Angle)

The angle the front of the toes makes with the ground.

FLS (Feet and Legs Score)

Classification score based on the cumulative evaluation of feet and leg traits including evidence of mobility.

FUA (Fore Udder Attachment)

Evaluation of the strength, length and capacity of the fore udder attachment.

RUH (Rear Udder Height)

Distance between the bottom of the vulva and the top of the milk secreting tissue, measured in inches.

RUW (Rear Udder Width)

The width of the rear udder where the udder attaches to the body, measured in inches. Widen Udder UC Udder Cleft Depth of cleft between the rear quarters, measured in inches, the trait has an intermediate optimum of 0, cleft stronger or weaker will be penalized.

UD (Udder Depth)

The distance between the low-est point of the udder floor and the point of the hock, measured in inches.

FTP (Front Teat Placement)

The distance between the front teats, measured in inches.

RTP (Rear Teat Placement)

Distance between the rear teats, the trait has intermediate optimum of -1 (equal to 1.8 inches), teats closer or wider will be penalized.

TL (Teat Length)

The length of the longest teat, measured in inches. For Holsteins, 0 represents the aver-age teat length of 2.4 inches. -3 represents the teat length of 2.2 inches, and +3 represents the teat of length 2.6 inches.

Beef Sires

EPD (Expected Progeny Diffence)

EPD is the increase or decrease in performance for a given trait that you can expect from the progeny of an animal compared to breed average.

EPDs take into consideration the performance of the individual as well as the performance of relatives and progeny, and the within-herd ratios of contemporary progeny groups. They also factor out the management and environmental differences that may exist between herds. EPDs can accurately be used to compare bulls in different herds within the breed.

EPDs of Angus Sire (22.05.2025.)

Acc (Accuracy)

ACC  provides an indication of the amount of information that has been used in the calculation of that EPD. The higher the accuracy, the more likely the EPD is to predict the animal’s true breeding value. 

%Rank (Ranking)

These breakdowns help producers understand where their animals rank for each individual trait given their category.

CED (Calving Ease Direct)

CED EPD is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers.

BW (Birth Weight)

BW EPD expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

WW (Weaning Weight)

WW EPD expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

YW (Yearling Weight)

YW EPD is expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

RADG (Residual Average Daily Gain)

RADG expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed.

DMI (Dry Matter Intake)

DMI expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of difference transmitting ability for feed intake during the postweaning phase, compared to that of other sires.

YH (Yearling Height)

YH is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to that of other sires.

SC (Scrotal Circumference)

SC EPD expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.

DOC (Docility)

DOC is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average difference of progeny from a sire in comparison with another sire’s calves. In herds where temperament problems are not an issue, this expected difference would not be realized.

HP (Heifer Pregnancy)

HP is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance of a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first-calf heifers during a normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction and the EPD is reported in percentage units.

CEM (Maternal Calving Ease)

CEM is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.

Milk (Maternal Milk)

Milk EPS is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.

MkD Daughters

MkD reflects the number of daughters that have progeny weaning weight records included in the analysis.

MW (Mature Daughter Weight)

MW EPD expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires.

MH (Mature Daughter Height)

MH EPD expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires.

$EN (Cow Energy Value)

$EN expressed in dollar savings per cow per year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.

Carcass EPD's

CW (Carcass Weight)

CW EPD expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires

MARB (Marbling)

Marb EPD expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

REA (Ribeye Area)

REA EPD expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

FAT (Fat Thickness)

Fat EPD expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

$Value Indexes

$W (Weaned Calf Value)

An index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for preweaning merit. $W includes both revenue and cost adjustments associated with differences in birth weight, weaning direct growth, maternal milk and mature cow size.

$F (Feedlot Value)

An index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning merit compared to progeny of other sires.

$G (Grid Value)

An index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires.

$B (Beef Value)

An index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires.

$C (Combined Value)

 Combined Value ($C) aims to characterize profitability differences across the entire chain by combining the two underlying breeding objectives that drive the American Angus Association maternal and terminal economic indices, which are Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value ($B).

$AxH and $AxJ (Angus on Holstein and Angus on Jersey)

These indexes are estimates of how future beef-on-dairy progeny of Angus sires are expected to perform on average if calves are exposed in the same environment.

Each index comprises several genetic traits weighted by the appropriated economics to serve this terminal beef-on-dairy sector including: calving ease, growth from birth through the feeding phase, feed intake, dressing percent, yield grade, quality grade, muscling, and height (only included in $AxH).