In this third episode of Behind the Beef, Madison and Becky tackle a common question from producers: "Is a 13-inch ribeye good or bad?". They use this as a starting point to explain why actual raw numbers matter less than how an animal compares to its "contemporary group".

• The "It Depends" Rule: Why a 13-inch ribeye might be poor for a group of heavy bulls but excellent for a group of young heifers.

• Contemporary Grouping: An in-depth look at the "backbone of EPDs". Learn how animals are grouped by the same calving season, sex, and management history to ensure fair genetic comparisons.

• Understanding Ratios: A breakdown of how data progresses from an actual measurement to an adjusted value (standardizing for age), and finally to a ratio.

  • The 100 Baseline: Learn why a ratio of 100 represents the group average, while numbers above or below 100 show how much better or worse an animal performed relative to its peers.

• Actuals vs. Genetics: Why you should never compare your raw data to a neighbor's. Becky explains how environmental factors like creep feeding or specialized show diets can inflate actual numbers without changing the underlying genetics.

• The Accuracy Mission: A reminder that while seedstock producers should strive for the "best" data, commercial cattlemen should focus on accurate data that improves the long-term genetic potential of their herd.

Whether you are looking at weaning weights or ultrasound carcass traits, this episode emphasizes that the most valuable data is that which removes environmental "noise" to reveal true genetic value.

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