BREEDPLAN and the Bull buyer

Shorthorn BREEDPLAN EBVsA Better Bottom Line

Shorthorn BREEDPLAN provides a modern genetic evaluation tool for bull buyers, which provides estimates for expected progeny performance. It is important to remember, when using EBVs that only half the EBV differences between animals will be passed on through progeny. This is because each animal only contributes half of the expected genetic gain in each mating.

Example: 400-day Wt  EBV
BULL 1 +48 kg
BULL 2 +24 kg

Expected difference in 400 day weight:
½ x (48 kg – 24 kg) = 12 kg per calf (expected difference)

Total gain over 3 years of use, with 30 calves per year (as example):
30 calves x 3 years x 12 kg = 1080 kg
difference.

There is also the added benefit from daughters which will flow onto their progeny.

It is also important to realise that not all EBVs should be selected for maximum values. Understanding your herds requirements from Maternal, Terminal and Environmental performance is important for selecting Shorthorn sires to achievable your overall production requirements. It is also important to understand the average EBVs for Shorthorn cattle born in that year to compare when making selections.

Accuracies are also an important consideration when making selections.

Understanding Shorthorn Beef Accuracies.

Below are links to Shorthorn breed percentiles and useful exercises to help strengthen your understanding of using Shorthorn EBVs.

Shorthorn Beef percentiles

Shorthorn Bull selection exercises

 

Shorthorn Indexes

Shorthorn Beef Indexes are designed to provide a “balanced” approach to selecting Shorthorn sires for various market requirements. The Indexes are developed using BreedObject software and are created by analysing all available Shorthorn EBVs for each animal, with a weighting on certain EBVs, depending on the economic relevance towards the specific target market.

There are three Shorthorn Beef Indexes; Domestic Maternal, Export Maternal and Northern Maternal. It is important before using Shorthorn Beef Indexes, that you are familiar with each index and their relevance to your program.

Understanding Shorthorn Beef Indexes

Do EBV’s Really Work?

EBV’s provide an estimate for the expected performance of progeny of each animal. They are an extremely powerful tool, but like all systems, need to provide proof that they actually work.

Please click on the link here for evidence of the effective ability of EBV’s to predict performance across progeny groups. Do EBV’s Work?

Making your selection

Shorthorn Beef EBVs and Indexes are powerful tools designed to assist buyers make more informed decisions and to assist them to tailor their bull selections to their herd and target market requirements more effectively.

It is important however to remember that whilst these tools are a valuable addition, there are other considerations to make regarding the economic relevance of your selections to your program. Visual inspections for type which should also include structural soundness, fertility and temperament are also extremely important and should not be overlooked.

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About Shorthorn

The Shorthorn breed is truly unique, from their distinctive roan colour, to their rich breed history and most importantly, the wonderful community of breeders, there is nothing else quite like a Shorthorn.

The key to the Shorthorn breeds advantage lies in their balanced genetic profile, driven by market participation that has been developed and refined, after more than 200 years of genetic selection under Australian conditions.

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