Page 9 - Dandaleith Angus Sale 2021 ebook

ES TIMATED B REED IN G VAL UES (EB V S)
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
N O TES performance traits it is possible to make good estimates. These estimates
are called Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).
Looking after your new 2 year bull
1. Run with one or two in calf cows or heifers In the calculation of EBVs, the performance of individual animals within a
2. Preferably in an easy paddock with no tin, wire or rubbish. 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
3. Plenty of fresh feed and a little hay will help to settle him in. class within a herd, run under the same management conditions and treated
4. Never put him in with mixed age bulls. The result can be disastrous and equally. Indirect comparisons are made between animals reared in different
your insurance company may not pay out. 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.
REMEMB ER HE IS Y O UR INVES T MENT
IN Y O UR FU TURE P R OS P ERIT Y. 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
We hope you will purchase again. 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,
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