Interim EPDs may be calculated by using sire and dam EPDs and contemporary group information. If no contemporary group information is available, then pedigree EPDs may be calculated. These are usually the average of the sire and dam EPDs. With each EPD is an associated accuracy value. The accuracy is a number between 0 and 1, with a value closer to 1 indicating less likelihood that the EPD will change with future evaluations.
Most breed associations report a standard error with each accuracy.
This simply indicates how much an EPD might change in future evaluations given some numerical degree of confidence. If traits are heritable, measurable, and economically important, they should be considered in NCE programs. Current traits used in NCE include birth, weaning, and yearling weights, calving ease, scrotal circumference, gestation length, yearling height, carcass cutability, fat thickness, ribeye area, and marbling. Although no breed association has all, most have EPDs for birth, weaning, and yearling weight, and milk, a maternal component of weaning weight. It is useful to know the past genetic trend and EPD averages for each trait to determine the genetic value of the sire in which you are interested compared to the rest of the breed.