BRAHMAN BREEDPLAN

Understanding the EBVs, Selection Indices and Accuracy

EBVs

An animal's breeding value is its genetic merit, half of which will be passed on to its progeny.  While we will never know the exact breeding value, for performance traits it is possible to make good estimates.  These estimates are called Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).

In the calculation of EBVs, the performance of individual animals within a contemporary group is directly compared to the average of other animals in that group.  A contemporary group consists of animals of the same sex and age class within a herd, run under the same management conditions and treated equally.  Indirect comparisons are made between animals reared in different contemporary groups, through the use of pedigree links between the groups.

EBVs are expressed in the units of measurement for each particular trait.  They are shown as + ive or - ive differences between an individual animal's genetics difference and the genetic base to which the animal is compared.  For example, a bull with an EBV of +50 kg for 600-Day Weight is estimated to have genetic merit 50 kg above the breed base of 0 kg.  Since the breed base is set to an historical benchmark, the average EBVs of animals in each year drop has changed over time as a result of genetic progress within the breed.

The absolute value of any EBV is not critical, but rather the differences in EBVs between animals.  Particular animals should be viewed as being "above or below breed average" for a particular trait. 

Whilst EBVs provide the best basis for the comparison of the genetic merit of animals reared in different environments and management conditions, they can only be used to compare animals analysed within the same analysis.  Consequently, Brahman BREEDPLAN EBVs cannot be validly compared with EBVs for any other breed.

Although EBVs provide an estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for a range of production traits, they do not provide information for all of the traits that must be considered during selection of functional animals.  In all situations, EBVs should be used in conjunction with visual assessment for other traits of importance (structural soundness, temperament, fertility etc).  A recommended practice is to firstly select breeding stock based on EBVs and to then select from this group to ensure that the final selections are visually acceptable.

EBVs are published for a range of traits covering fertility, milking ability, growth, and carcase merit.  When using EBVs to assist in selection decisions it is important to achieve a balance between the different groups of traits and to place emphasis on those traits that are important to the particular herd, markets and environment.  One of the advantages of having a comprehensive range of EBVs is that it is possible to avoid extremes in particular traits and select for animals with balanced overall performance.

Gestation Length EBV (days) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in gestation length.  Lower or more negative Gestation Length EBVs are considered to be more favourable.

Birth Weight EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in calf birth weight.  Small or moderate Birth Weight EBVs are more favourable.  The lower the value, the lighter the calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a difficult birth.  This is particularly important when selecting sires for use over heifers.

200-Day Growth EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in live weight at 200 days of age due to their genetics for growth.  Larger, more positive 200 Day Growth EBVs are generally more favourable.  This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal's genetic merit for growth to early ages.

400-Day Weight EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in live weight at 400 days of age.  This EBV is important for breeders turning off animals as yearlings.  Larger, more positive 400 Day Weight EBVs are generally more

600-Day Weight EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in live weight at 600 days of age.  This EBV is important for breeders targeting the production of animals suited for heavy weight grass or grain fed markets.  Larger, more positive 600 Day Weight EBVs are generally more favourable.

Mature Cow Weight EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between cows in live weight at 5 years of age.  This EBV is an indicator of growth at later ages and potential feed maintenance requirements of the females in the breeding herd. 

Milk EBV (kg) provides an estimate of maternal genetic contribution of a dam to the 200 day weight of her calf.  In the case of sires, this EBV estimates the maternal genetic effect that his daughters will contribute to the 200 day weight of their progeny.  Larger, more positive, Milk EBVs indicate a greater maternal genetic contribution to 200 day weight.

Scrotal Size EBV (cm) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in scrotal circumference at 400  days of age.  Larger, more positive, Scrotal Size EBVs indicate are generally more favourable.  There is also a small negative correlation with age of puberty in female progeny and therefore selection for increased scrotal size will result in reduced age at calving of female progeny.

Days to Calving EBV (days) provides an estimate of genetic differences in fertility of the daughters of the sire.  It is the time interval between the date when the female is first exposed to a bull in a paddock mating to the day when she subsequently calves.  Relatively lower EBVs for days to calving indicate shorter interval from bull-in date to calving and therefore higher fertility.

Carcase Weight EBV (kg) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in carcase weight at the standard age of 650 days.  Larger, more positive Carcase Weights EBVS are generally more favourable.  The Carcase Weight EBV is an indication of the animal’s carcase weight and not an indication of the animal’s yield percentage.

Eye Muscle Area EBV (sq cm) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in eye muscle areas at 12/13th rib site of a 300 kg dressed steer carcase.  More positive EBVs indicate better muscling on animals.  Animals with relatively higher EMA EBVs are expected to produce better muscled and higher percentage yielding progeny at the same carcase weight than will animals with lower EMA EBVs.

Rib Fat and Rump Fat EBVs (mm) provide estimates of genetic differences between animals in subcutaneous fat depth at the 12/13-rib site and the P8 rump site.  Animals with relatively lower fat EBVs are expected to produce leaner progeny at any particular carcase weight than will animals with higher EBVs.

Retail Beef Yield EBV (%) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals for retail yield percentage in a standard 300 kg steer carcase.  Animals with larger EBVs are expected to produce progeny with higher yielding carcases.

Percent Normal Sperm EBV (%) provides an estimate of genetic differences in percent normal sperm, calculated from measurements taken as part of the bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) at around two years of age.  It is expected that the sires with higher (ie more positive) PNS EBVs will produce sons with higher PNS compared to sires with lower (ie more negative) PNS EBVs.

Flight Time EBV (secs) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in temperament.  Flight Time EBVs are expressed as differences in the number of seconds taken for an animal to travel approximately 2.0 metres after leaving the crush.  Higher (ie longer) EBVs are more favourable, indicating relatively longer time taken to exit the crush and hence relatively better temperament.

Shear Force EBV (kgs) provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals in meat tenderness.  Shear Force EBVs are expressed as kilograms of shear force that are required to pull a mechanical blade through a piece of cooked meat.  Lower, more negative, EBVs are more favourable, indicating that relatively less shear force is required, and hence that the meat is more tender.

More information is available on BREEDPLAN traits and data on the BREEDPLAN website.

Selection Indices

Brahman selection indices relate to typical self-replacing Brahman commercial herds in tropical Australia.

Index values are reported as EBVs, in units of relative earning capacity ($’s) for a given market.  They reflect both the short-term profit generated by a sire through the sale of his progeny, and the longer-term profit generated by his daughters in a self-replacing cow herd.  A selection index combines the EBVs with economic information (costs and returns) for specific market and production systems to rank animals based on relative profit values.  Note that different types of animals can give similar profit values, so consideration should be given to both the index and the component EBVs when selecting animals for a particular production system.  More information is available on using a selection index.

The Index values are derived using BreedObject technology.  More information is available from the BreedObject web site.

Production Index ($) - Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical self-replacing commercial herd targeting pasture finished steers.  Selected heifers are retained for breeding and so maternal traits are of importance.  Steers target 580 kg live weight (315 kg carcase weight and 10 mm P8 fat depth) at 27 months of age, and heifers 470 kg live weight (250 kg carcase weight and 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 25 months of age.

Live Export Index ($) - Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical self-replacing commercial herd (tropical environment) targeting steers for the live export markets.  Steers are assumed to be marketed to the live export agencies at 300 kg live weight and then slaughtered after 120 days feedlot finishing at 470 kg live weight (255 kg carcase weight).

Note that $Index Values for individual animals are sensitive to the assumptions used in the BreedObject analysis used to calculate the selection index.  More information is available on the weightings used in the Brahman Selection Indices.

Accuracy

Accuracy (%) is based on the amount of performance information available on the animal and its close relatives - particularly the number of progeny analysed.  Accuracy is also based on the heritability of the trait and the genetic correlations with other recorded traits.  Hence accuracy indicates the "confidence level" of the EBV.  The higher the accuracy value the lower the likelihood of change in the animal's EBV as more information is analysed for that animal or its relatives.  Even though an EBV with a low accuracy may change in the future, it is still the best estimate of an animal's genetic merit for that trait.  As more information becomes available, an EBV is just as likely to increase in value, as it is to decrease.

Accuracy values range from 0-99%.  The following guide is given for interpreting accuracy:

Accuracy range

 Interpretation

 less than 50%

Low accuracy.  EBVs are preliminary and could change substantially as more performance information becomes available.

 50-74%

Medium accuracy, usually based on the animal's own records and pedigree.

 75-90%

Medium-high accuracy.  Some progeny information included.  EBVs may change with addition of more progeny data.

 more than 90%

High accuracy estimate of the animal's true breeding value.

As a rule, animals should be compared on EBVs regardless of accuracy.  However, where two animals have similar EBVs the one with higher accuracy could be the safer choice, assuming other factors are equal.

For further information please contact the Brahman Association or Brahman BREEDPLAN

BREEDPLAN and GROUP BREEDPLAN results are calculated using software developed by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, which receives funding for this purpose from Meat and Livestock Australia Limited.