Should Commercial Cattlemen Select Bulls with High Scrotal Circumference EPDs?

Darrh Bullock (University of Kentucky): Scrotal circumference EPD is one of the few traits that we deal with, that for commercial producers, the actual measurement is better value to use than the EPD. Because, if you think about it, an EPD tells us about a bull's progeny. So, if we select a bull with a high scrotal circumference EPD, it means that his progeny are going to have large scrotal circumferences. If you're a commercial cattleman and castrating your calves at weaning time, that advantage in scrotal circumference is not going to do you any good. Whereas a seedstock producer, who is trying to produce bulls with large scrotal circumferences, would use the scrotal circumference EPD in order to make advancements for that trait. Scrotal circumference in yearling bulls actually impacts serving capacity. So, we like to have bulls with larger scrotal circumferences and feel more comfortable that they can cover a larger number of cows than bulls with smaller scrotal circumferences.