Consider individual EBVs of importance
Meat & Livestock Australia April 8, 2024
Once you have ranked animals using the chosen selection index, you should consider the individual BREEDPLAN EBVs of each animal. This is because, as was discussed earlier in Topic 2, animals with the same selection index value can have very different individual EBVs.
The animals below are a good example of this; while both have an index value of $63, they have very different growth and calving ease attributes.
When considering individual BREEDPLAN EBVs, particular attention should be paid to traits that are important to your herd (i.e. traits identified in your breeding objective(s)). For example:
- Calving Ease EBVs may be of particular importance for producers looking for a bull to use over first-calf heifers.
- IMF EBVs may be of particular importance for producers producing cattle to meet Meat Standards Australia (MSA) and target market specifications.
It is also important to consider any EBVs that are not currently included in the calculation of selection index values. As of December 2023, EBVs not currently included in the calculation of selection indexes include:
- Temperament EBVs (e.g. Docility, Flight Time)
- Structural Soundness EBVs
One simple practice is to set a range (i.e. minimum and/or maximum) around all individual BREEDPLAN EBVs you wish to consider. This could be based on breed average and/or certain percentile band rankings. Any animal that’s individual EBVs do not fall within your accepted range can be excluded from selection. In Topic 4 we will see how this can be done quickly and easily using online searches.