Understanding EBVs

The TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation is the genetic evaluation program adopted by Angus Australia for Angus and Angus influenced beef cattle. The TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation uses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) technology to produce Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) of recorded cattle for a range of important production traits (e.g. weight, carcase, fertility).

The TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation is an international genetic evaluation and includes pedigree, performance and genomic information from the Angus Australia and Angus New Zealand databases, along with selected information from the American and Canadian Angus Associations.

The TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation utilises a range of genetic evaluation software, including the internationally recognised BLUPF90 family of programs, and BREEDPLAN® beef genetic evaluation analytical software, as developed by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), a joint institute of NSW Agriculture and the University of New England, and Meat and Livestock Australia Limited (MLA).

This module on Understanding EBVs and Selection Indexes will be looking in depth at some of the things that you need to consider when looking at TACE information. These topics include:

• What is an EBV?
• Using EBVs to compare and benchmark an animal’s genetics
• Birth EBVs
• Growth EBVs
• Fertility EBVs
• Carcase EBVs
• Feed Efficiency EBVs
• Structural Soundness EBVs
• Selection Indexes

These topics are each outlined in the resource shown below.

Further to this, if you would like to explore the topics in depth, just work your way through the module topics on the following pages.

Several topics have optional activities for you to test your knowledge.

At the end of the module, you will have an opportunity to send feedback and ask any questions that reading the materials might have raised.