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 positive or negative 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 +30 kg for 400-Day Weight is estimated to have genetic
merit 30 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. The breed averages for the current two
year old animals are reported with the selected animals’ EBVs.
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, British Blue BREEDPLAN EBVs cannot be validly compared
with EBVs for any other breed.
EBVs are published for a range of traits
covering fertility, calving ease, 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.
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 % Dir
= 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 a tendency
for 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 200 days, 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 own 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.
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 650 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 300 kg carcase. This EBV
estimates genetic differences in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site of a
300 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.
Fat EBV (mm) are calculated from measurements of
subcutaneous fat depth at the rib (from live animal ultrasound scans and from
abattoir carcases) and are adjusted to a standard 300 kg carcase. This EBV indicates the genetic
difference in fat distribution on a standard 300 kg carcase. Sires with a low, or negative, fat EBV
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 300 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 300 kg carcase. Depending on market targets, larger more positive values are
generally more favourable.
The British Blue Cattle Society
has developed two selection indices - the BBB Carcase Profitability Index and
BBB Pure Breeding Index. Based on
the BREEDPLAN performance
recording technology, the indexes are calculated for commercial cattle
producers wishing to produce slaughter progeny from larger framed, mature
cows. Each Index is reported as an
EBV, in units of relative earning capacity (£’s) per cow mated for the given
market, and reflects the profit generated by a sire for the production
system.
BBB Carcase Profitability Index (£’s)
- Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability
per cow mated for an example commercial herd targeting the EU market with no
marbling requirement. All progeny
are assumed to be marketed at around 550-580 kg live weight (280-320 kg carcase
weight) at approximately 19 months of age.
As the
name suggests, this index ranks bulls by their genetic potential for the
production of prime steers and heifers for beef production. Consequently, growth and carcase EBV’s
are the main drivers used in compiling this Index. Some emphasis is also placed on calving ease direct, which
is an estimate of genetic difference between animals ability to calve without
assistance.
Typical production
parameters, prices and costs underlay this selection Index. Benefits and costs
evaluated include both those for the sale animal from birth to slaughter and
average running costs for a typical cow herd. Feed is assumed a limited resource for a large part of the
year and any increase in feed requirement is a cost.
Bulls
with a higher BBB Carcase Profitability Index will have a greater genetic potential to
sire heavier finished progeny. As
there are no maternal traits included in the calculation of the BB Carcase
Profitability Index, bulls with a high Index will not necessarily be suitable for
breeding heifer replacements.
BBB Pedigree Breeding Index (£’s) - This index (£ per cow joined) targets herds that breed their own
replacement cows and bulls and slaughter progeny from large framed cows. Steer
progeny are slaughter at around 16 months of age at 620 kg live weight (360 kg
carcase weight). The main EBV
emphases are on weight, carcase retail beef yield and calving ease. The index estimates the
genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow mated for a
herd targeting the EU market with no marbling requirement. With this in mind, the index also
identifies suitable replacement breeding animals by also considering the
maternal and fertility traits of the animal. Therefore, both direct and daughters calving ease are
included in the index.
This index is only reported for animals with at
least moderate accuracy for the key traits. Animals must also be in the top 50th
percentile or better for Calving Ease Direct, 400 Day Weight and Retail Beef
Yield % EBVs.
Typical
production parameters, prices and costs underlay this selection Index. Benefits
and costs evaluated include those for the sale animal from birth to slaughter;
replacement animals and average running costs for a typical cow herd breeding
their own replacement animals.
Feed is assumed a limited resource for a large part of the year and any
increase in feed requirement is a cost.
A s breeding animals potentially have a longer impact on the herd, the
benefits of the index are accrued over a longer period than the Terminal index
and this is reflected in the index.
Bulls
with a higher BBB Pedigree Breeding Index will have a greater genetic potential
to sire heavier finished progeny while also producing replacement bulls and
heifers for the herd. The
inclusion of maternal and fertility traits in the index may highlight different
sires than those having high indexes in the terminal Carcase Profitability Index. While some sires may have good values
for both indices, others may be more suited to one production system rather
than the other. It is therefore important to use the index that best describes
your production system (terminal or self-replacing).
The
Indexes are derived using BreedObject technology. More information is available from the BreedObject web site.
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
relationships (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, there is an equal likelihood that
an EBV will 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 British Blue Cattle Society