Have a breeding objective in mind, or better yet written down. This should include how you plan to sell calves, if you plan on retaining replacement females, and any labor or other environmental constraints (e.g., limited forage). This helps identify the traits that are economically relevant to you.

Choose a breed that fits your crossbreeding system and matches your objectives. Compare breeds based on current research (i.e., U.S. Meat Animal Research Center) and not a historical view, as breeds have changed over time.

Identify a seedstock supplier that you trust and that has bulls for sale that match your breed needs and your breeding objective.

Identify bulls based on EPD or preferably economic index values that match your objectives.

If calving ease EPD exist, do not use birth weight EPD. Calving ease EPD are generated using birth weight information.

If you retain replacement females, pay attention to calving ease maternal EPD. These are really "total maternal calving ease" EPD and reflect how easily a bull’s daughters will calve as 2-year-olds.

Reproductive longevity is a key profit driver for self-replacing herds. If a stayability EPD or sustained cow fertility EPD exists, use it.

If you retain replacement females in limited feed environments, consider selecting bulls with more moderate mature weight and milk (maternal weaning weight) EPD.

Understand that even if you sell calves at weaning, someone is going to own them in the feedyard. If you want to build a market for your calves, do not completely ignore post-weaning gain and carcass merit.

Use an index that fits your objectives. This can greatly simplify bull selection decisions. Do not use a completely terminal index if you retain replacement heifers.

Buy quality, but do not overpay. Sometimes the bull that is not top on your list is actually the better economic decision.