Setting breeding objectives

What emphasis should you place on a trait when selecting breeding stock?

Setting a breeding objective can be as simple as choosing a breed, or more sophisticated like lifting weaning weight. It is easier to make more progress in fewer traits than it is in many traits. Keeping this in mind, a good breeding objective is simple but achievable, and it can be measured.

Tuesday 8th March 2016

Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL)

What is SIL?

SIL (Sheep Improvement Ltd) is the New Zealand sheep industry’s performance recording and genetic evaluation database.

Part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics, SIL provides tools and information for ram breeders and commercial farmers – with the goal of improving the profitability of sheep farming in New Zealand. This site is primarily geared towards ram breeders.

Monday 25th January 2016

Breedplan

What is Breedplan?

Breedplan is a modern genetic evaluation system for beef cattle that offers the potential to accelerate genetic progress.

Monday 25th January 2016

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs)

What is an EBV?

An animal’s breeding value can be defined as its genetic merit for each trait. While it is not possible to determine an animal’s true breeding value, it is possible to estimate it, thus “EBVs” (Estimated Breeding Values). EBVs take into account all information possible, to give an unbiased estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for a given trait.

EBVs are expressed as the difference between an individual animal’s genetics and the genetic base to which the animal is compared.

They are reported in the units which the measurements are taken (e.g. kilograms for the weight EBVs).

Monday 25th January 2016