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, Santa Gertrudis 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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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 Eye Muscle Area EBVs are expected to produce better muscled and higher percentage yielding progeny at the same carcase weight than will sires with lower Eye Muscle Area EBVs.
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 300 kg carcase. These EBVs are indicators of the genetic differences in fat distribution on a standard 300 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.
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.
is an estimate of the genetic difference in the percentage of intramuscular fat (marbling) at the 12/13th rib site in a 300 kg carcase. Depending on market targets, larger more positive values are generally more favourable.
is based on abattoir carcase records and is an indicator of
the genetic differences in carcase weight at the standard
age of 650 days.
Santa Gertrudis selection indexes are calculated for two market specifications, namely, Domestic and Export. These Indexes relate to typical commercial herds targeting these specifications.
Indexes are reported as an EBV, 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 long-term profit generated by his daughters in a sustainable cow herd, if a proportion of heifers are retained for breeding.
The Indexes are derived using Breed Object technology.
More information on this technology is available from the
Breed Object web site.
Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for an example self replacing commercial herd (run in a temperate environment) producing steers for the Domestic trade. This Index assumes that the steer progeny are pasture grown and finished and marketed at 500 kg live weight (280 kg HSCW and 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 16 months of age. Daughters are retained for breeding. More information is available on the EBV weightings for the Domestic Production Index.
Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for an example commercial herd (run in a sub-tropical environment) producing steers for the Export trade. This Index assumes that the steer progeny are pasture grown and finished and are marketed at 620 kg live weight (340 kg HSCW and 15 mm P8 fat depth) at 28 months of age. Daughters are retained for breeding. More information is available on the EBV weightings for the Export Production Index.
Note that $Index Values for individual animals are sensitive to the assumptions used in the BreedObject analysis to calculate the relevant selection index.
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