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,
ANGUS 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 (such as
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 otherwise acceptable.
EBVs are published for a
range of traits covering fertility, calving ease, milking ability, growth, carcase
merit and feed efficiency. 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.
Calving Ease
EBVs (%) are based on
calving difficulty scores, birth weights and gestation length information. More positive EBVs are favourable and indicate
easier calving.
CE % Direct = Direct Calving Ease - The EBV for
direct calving ease indicates the influence of the sire on calving ease in
purebred females calving at two years of age.
CE % Daughters = Daughters' Calving Ease - The EBV
for daughters' calving ease indicates how easily that sire's daughters will
calve at two years of age.
Gestation
Length EBV (days) is
an estimate of the time from conception to the birth of the calf and is based
on AI and hand mating records. Lower
(negative) GL EBVs indicate shorter gestation length and therefore easier
calving and increased growth after birth.
Birth Weight
EBV (kg) is based on the measured birth
weight of progeny, adjusted for dam age. 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) is
calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 80 and 300 days of age. Values are adjusted to 200 days and for age of
dam. This EBV is the best single
estimate of an animal's genetic merit for growth to early ages.
400-Day
Weight EBV (kg) is
calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 301 and 500 days of age,
adjusted to 400 days and for age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an
animal's genetic merit for yearling weight.
600-Day
Weight EBV (kg) is
calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 501 and 900 days of age,
adjusted to 600 days and for age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an
animal's genetic merit for growth beyond yearling age.
Mature Cow
Weight EBV (kg) is based on the cow weight when
the calf is weighed for weaning, adjusted to 5 years of age. This EBV is an estimate of the genetic
difference in cow weight at 5 years of age and is an indicator of growth at
later ages and potential feed maintenance requirements of the females in the
breeding herd. Steer breeders wishing to
grow animals out to a larger weight may also use the Mature Cow Weight EBV.
Milk EBV (kg) is an estimate of an animal's milking ability. For sires, this EBV indicates the effect of
the daughter's milking ability, inherited from the sire, on the 200-day weights
of her calves. For dams, it indicates
her milking ability.
Scrotal Size
EBV (cm) is calculated from the
circumference of the scrotum taken between 300 and 700 days of age and adjusted
to 400 days of age. This EBV is an
estimate of an animal's genetic merit for scrotal size. 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)
indicates the fertility of the daughters of the sire. It is the time interval between the day when the female is first exposed to a bull in a paddock
mating to the day when she subsequently calves. A negative EBV for days to calving indicates a
shorter interval from bull-in date to calving and therefore higher fertility.
Carcase
Weight EBV (kg) is based on abattoir carcase
records and is an indicator of the genetic differences in carcase weight at the
standard age of 750 days.
Eye Muscle
Area EBV (sq cm) is calculated from measurements from live animal
ultrasound scans and from abattoir carcase data, adjusted to a standard 400 kg
carcase. This EBV estimates genetic
differences in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site of a 400 kg dressed
carcase. More positive EBVs indicate better muscling on animals. Sires with relatively higher EMA EBVs are
expected to produce better-muscled and higher percentage yielding progeny at
the same carcase weight than will sires with lower EMA EBVs.
Rib Fat and
Rump Fat EBVs (mm)
are calculated from measurements of subcutaneous fat depth at the 12/13-rib
site and the P8 rump site (from live animal ultrasound scans and from abattoir
carcases) and are adjusted to a standard 400 kg carcase. These EBVs are indicators of the genetic
differences in fat distribution on a standard 400 kg carcase. Sires with low, or negative, fat EBVs are
expected to produce leaner progeny at any particular carcase weight than will
sires with higher EBVs.
Retail Beef
Yield EBV (%) indicates genetic differences
between animals for retail yield percentage in a standard 400 kg carcase. Sires with larger EBVs are expected to produce
progeny with higher yielding carcases.
Intramuscular
Fat EBV (%) is an estimate of the genetic
difference in the percentage of intramuscular fat at the 12/13th rib site in a
400 kg carcase. Depending on market
targets, larger more positive values are generally more favourable.
Net Feed
Intake (post weaning) EBV
(kg per day) is an estimate of genetic differences between animals in feed
intake at a standard weight and rate of weight gain when animals are in a
growing phase. NFI-P EBVs are expressed
as kilograms (kg) of feed intake per day.
Docility EBV
(%) is an estimate of genetic differences between animals in temperament. Docility EBVs are expressed as differences in
the percentage of progeny that will be scored with acceptable temperament (ie. either “docile” or “restless”).
There are currently four
standard selection indexes calculated for Australian Angus animals. These are: Angus Breeding Index; Domestic Index; Heavy
Grain Index and Heavy Grass Index. Each
selection index has been developed for a different production/market scenario.
Index values are reported as
EBVs, in units of relative earning capacity ($’s) for a given market. They reflect both the short-term profit
generated by a sire through the sale of his progeny, and the longer-term profit
generated by his daughters in a self-replacing cow herd. More information is available on selecting animals using a selection index.
The Index values are derived
using BreedObject technology. More
information is available from the BreedObject web site.
Angus
Breeding Index ($) - Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net
profitability per cow joined in a typical commercial self-replacing herd
using Angus bulls. This selection index
is not specific to particular production system or market end-point, but
identifies animals that will improve overall profitability in the majority of
commercial grass and grain finishing beef production system. The Angus Breeding Index is particularly
suited to commercial producers who sell progeny into different markets, or to
seedstock producers supplying bulls to commercial clients who produce for a
range of different production systems and market end points.
Domestic
Index ($) - Estimates
the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for
a commercial self-replacing herd targeting the domestic supermarket trade. Steers are assumed to be finished using either
grass, grass supplemented by grain, or grain (e.g. 50 – 70 days) with steers
slaughtered at 490 kg live weight (270 kg HSCW and 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 16
months of age. Emphasis has been placed
on eating quality and tenderness to favour animals that are suited to MSA
requirements.
Heavy Grain
Index ($) - Estimates
the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in
a commercial self-replacing herd targeting pasture grown steers with a 200 day
feedlot finishing period for the grain fed high quality, highly marbled
markets. Steers are assumed to be
slaughtered at 760 kg live weight (420 kg HSCW and 30 mm P8 fat depth) at 24
months of age. Daughters are retained
for breeding and therefore maternal traits are of importance. There is a significant premium for steers that
exhibit superior marbling.
Heavy Grass
Index ($) - Estimates
the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in
a commercial self-replacing herd targeting pasture finished steers. Steers are assumed to be slaughtered at 620
kg live weight (340 kg HSCW and 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 22 months of age. Daughters are retained for breeding and
therefore maternal traits are of importance. Emphasis has been placed on eating quality and
tenderness to favour animals that are suited to MSA requirements.
Note that Selection Index
values for individual animals are sensitive to the assumptions used in the
BreedObject analysis to calculate the selection index. More information is available on the
weightings used in the Australian Angus
Selection Indices.
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% |
EBV
should be considered as a preliminary estimate. It could change
substantially as more performance information becomes available. |
50-74% |
Medium
accuracy, usually based on the animal's own records and pedigree. Still
subject to substantial changes with more information, particularly when the
performance of progeny are analysed. |
75-90% |
Medium
- high accuracy and includes some progeny information. Becoming a more
reliable indicator of the animal's value as a parent. |
more
than 90% |
High
accuracy estimate of the animal's true breeding value. It is unlikely
that the EBV will change much with the addition of more progeny data. |
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 Angus Australia or Angus
BREEDPLAN.