Australian Sheep Breeding Value Definitions

Live Weight Traits

 

Weight (kg) WT

Estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight.

 

Birth: BWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at birth.

Weaning: WWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at 100 days of age.

Post Weaning: PWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at 225 days of age.

Yearling: YWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at 450 days of age.

Adult: AWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in liveweight at 540 days of age.

 

Maternal Weaning Weight (kg) MWWT

MWWT ASBVs are an estimate of the ewe’s potential for milk production and ability to provide a better maternal environment. They are expressed as kilograms of liveweight at 100 days of age (weaning).

 

Carcase Traits

 

Fat Depth (mm) FAT

Estimates the genetic difference between animals in fat depth at the GR site.

 

Post Weaning: PFAT estimates the genetic difference in GR fat depth at 45kg liveweight.

Yearling: YFAT estimates the genetic difference in GR fat depth at 60kg liveweight.

Hogget: HFAT estimates the genetic difference in GR fat depth at 70kg liveweight.

 

Eye Muscle Depth (mm) EMD

Estimates the genetic difference between animals in eye muscle depth at the C site.

 

Post Weaning: PEMD estimates the genetic difference in EMD at the C site at 45kg liveweight.

Yearling: YEMD estimates the genetic difference in EMD at the C site at 60kg liveweight.

Hogget: HEMD estimates the genetic difference in EMD at the C site at 70kg liveweight.

 

Reproduction Traits

 

Number of Lambs Born (%) NLB

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for number of lambs born at each lambing opportunity.

 

Number of Lambs Weaned (%) NLW

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for number of lambs weaned at each lambing opportunity.

 

Scrotal Circumference (cm) SC

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for scrotal circumference.

 

Post Weaning: PSC estimates the genetic difference for scrotal circumference at 225 days of age.

Yearling: YSC estimates the genetic difference for scrotal circumference at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HSC estimates the genetic difference for scrotal circumference at 450 days of age.


Wool Traits

 

Fleece Weight (%) FW

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for greasy (G) or clean (C) fleece weight.

Note: Both greasy and clean fleece weight are expressed in percentage terms.

 

Yearling: YGFW or YCFW estimate the genetic difference in fleece weight at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HGFW or HCFW estimate the genetic difference in fleece weight at 450 days of age.

Adult: AGFW or ACFW estimates the genetic difference in fleece weight at 540 days of age.

 

Fibre Diameter (micron) FD

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for fibre diameter.

 

Yearling: YFD estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HFD estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter at 450 days of age.

Adult: AFD estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter at 540 days of age.

 

Fibre Diameter Coefficient Of Variation (%) FDCV

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for fibre diameter coefficient of variation.

 

Yearling: YFDCV estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter coefficient of variation at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HFDCV estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter coefficient of variation at 450 days of age.

Adult: AFDCV estimates the genetic difference in fibre diameter coefficient of variation at 540 days of age.

 

Staple Strength (N/Kt) SS

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for staple strength.

 

Yearling: YSS estimates the genetic difference in staple strength at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HSS estimates the genetic difference in staple strength at 450 days of age.

Adult: ASS estimates the genetic difference in staple strength at 540 days of age.

 

Staple Length (mm) SL

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for staple strength.

 

Yearling: YSL estimates the genetic difference in staple length at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HSL estimates the genetic difference in staple length at 450 days of age.

Adult: ASL estimates the genetic difference in staple length at 540 days of age.

 

Curvature (degrees per mm) CURV

Estimates the genetic difference between animals for staple length.

 

Yearling: YCURV estimates the genetic difference in curvature at 360 days of age.

Hogget: HCURV estimates the genetic difference in curvature at 450 days of age.

Adult: ACURV estimates the genetic difference in curvature at 540 days of age.

 

Worm Resistance

 

Worm Egg Count (%) WEC

The WEC ASBV describes the value of an animals genes for carrying worm burdens - a combination of being genetically less likely to pick up worms and being able to cope immunologically with the worm burden. WEC ASBVs are expressed as a percentage relative to a count of 500 eggs per gram.

 

Weaning: WWEC estimates the genetic difference in worm burden at 100 days of age.

Post Weaning: PWEC estimates the genetic difference in worm burden at 225 days of age.

Yearling: YWEC estimates the genetic difference in worm burden at 360 days of age.

Hogget HWEC estimates the genetic difference in worm burden at 450 days of age.