I recently had a conversation with a gentleman contemplating purchasing a bull who was concerned that the prospective bull may be a carrier for a genetic defect. This led to a conversation on simply inherited traits and how DNA testing plays a big role in selecting against genetic defects.

In bull selection, indexes and EPDs are often used as an either/or type of question: “Do I use indexes when I select bulls, or do I stick with EPDs because our operation focuses on _____?” Without a doubt, the answer is always: “Use both.”