Page 5 - Snake Gully Limousin Sale 2021 ebook

Buyers Guide to Breedplan

A guide to using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs)

The Breedplan Performance Recording Systems uses an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV)
to rank animals on selected traits. An EBV is based on the animal's own performance
plus the performance of all its known relatives (sire, dam, half-siblings, etc.). EBVs
should be read in conjunction with their accuracy percentage score (usually printed below
each EBV). This score indicates how much information has been used to calculate the
EBV. The higher the percentage, the more information has been included in calculating
the EBV, ensuring the greatest reliability.

All EBVs are shown as + or - kilograms of liveweight compared with a herd base of zero.
Thus an animal with an EBV of +2 for 200 day growth weighs in a 2kg over the average
base rate at 200 days of age, and can be expected to leave calves that are on average
heavier at 200 days than the progeny of an animal with, say, a 200 day EBV of -2.

However, all true stockmen should use them only as a guide and not gospel. EBVs are a
useful guide in selecting for the particular traits you wish to breed into your herd.

Birth Weight EBV Milk EBV

This EBV indicates the genetic An important component of fast
potential for birth weight. Positive growth to weaning is the dam's
EBVs indicate higher birth weights maternal performance. A bull with a
and negative EBVs indicate lower high EBV should produce daughters
birth weight of progeny. which milk well.

200 Day Growth EBV

The other component of fast growth to weaning is inherent growth. Bulls with
high 200-day EBVs will sire calves which grow faster to weaning than bulls with
a low 200- day growth EBV.

400 Day Growth EBV 600 Day Growth EBV

This EBV gives an estimation of the This EBV is an estimation of the
animal's genetic potential for growth animal's genetic potential for growth
to 400 days of age. to 600 days of age.

More detailed information on Understanding EBV’s can be found on the
New Zealand Limousin Website - www.limousin.co.nz:-
About Limousin - Understanding EBV’s