SIRE & DAM SUMMARY
Year 2008 Average , Top and Bottom 25, 10 and 1 percent of Blonde cattle
BLONDE BLUP ANALYSIS: February 2007
Updated 30th April 2008
BOTTOM |
AVERAGE |
TOP |
TRAIT |
1% |
10% |
25% |
25% |
10% |
1% |
|
| Gestation Length (day) | +4.7 |
+3.0 |
+2.1 |
+1.2 |
+0.2 |
-0.4 |
-1.8 |
| Calving Ease | -10.8 |
-5.3 |
-3.1 |
-1.7 |
+0.2 |
+1.4 |
+4.2 |
| Birth Weight (kg) | +4.3 |
+2.7 |
+1.8 |
+1.1 |
+0.3 |
-0.2 |
-1.4 |
| Calving Value | BA-5C |
BA-2C |
BA-1C |
BA0C |
BA2C |
BA3C |
BA5C |
| 200 Day Milk (kg) | -6 |
-3 |
-1 |
0 |
+2 |
+3 |
+7 |
| 200 Day Growth (kg) | -11 |
-1 |
+3 |
+12 |
+19 |
+27 |
+42 |
| 400 Day Growth (kg) | -19 |
-1 |
+6 |
+19 |
+31 |
+45 |
+72 |
| Muscling Score (pts) | -0.3 |
0 |
+0.1 |
+0.3 |
+0.5 |
+0.7 |
+1.0 |
| Muscle depth (mm) | -1.5 |
-0.2 |
+0.3 |
+1.4 |
+2.3 |
+3.4 |
+5.8 |
| Fat Depth (mm) | +0.3 |
+0.1 |
+0.1 |
0.0 |
0 |
-0.1 |
-0.2 |
| Beef Value | BA1 |
BA7 |
BA10 |
BA15 |
BA19 |
BA24 |
BA33 |
Using The Sire and Dam Summary Tables
Individual breeders are likely to have different objectives depending on their target market and the current merit of
their herd. The first step in using the Sire Summary to select potential bulls of interest is to decide which traits are of importance. It may be that a number of traits are important, but the fewer the traits considered, the more progress will be made in each of them. On the other hand, if excessive selection is made for just one trait, without regard for others, penalties might arise. For example, selecting bulls with high EBVs for 400-day growth without taking account of the EBVs for birth weight may give rise to increased levels of calving difficulty.
When selecting a sire due account might be taken, in addition of temperament, to other features such as fertility and locomotion, as well as shape, colour and inbreeding
How to read the Sire and Dam Summary
111 1 Official registered name of bull and name of its sire and dam.
111 2 Name of bull's current owner (or owner of semen if the bull is no longer alive).
111 3 The herd prefix of the bull's current owner (or owner of semen if the bull is no longer alive or has been sold to a 11111non membersof BACS).
111 4 Official ear tattoo.
111 5 Animal's date of birth (day/month/year)
111 6 Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and accuracies (%) for all traits.
Gestation Length
Gestation length refers to the merit of animals when used as terminal sires. The more negative the EBV the shorter the gestation length is expected to be when the bull's progeny are born.
Gestation Length Trait Leaders
Calving Ease
EBV's for calving ease predict the direct effect of using a particular bull on the percentage of unassisted calvings.
Calving Ease Trait Leaders
Birth Weight (expressed in kg liveweight)
The calf's weight at birth. Higher values for birth weight are more likely to be associated with difficult calvings.
Birth Weight Trait Leaders
Calving Value
The calving value is a terminal sire selection index. It indicates what the effect will be of using a particular bull on the ease with which his progeny are born.
Calving Value Trait Leaders
200-Day Milk (expressed in kg liveweight)
The best estimate of the portion of the 200-day weight due to the dam's milking ability and due to the sire's daughters and relative's milking ability and which will be passed on to future daughters. Higher positive values indicate higher milk yields and better maternal ability. This will only be expressed in female descendants, but both males and females carry the genes for maternal ability.
200 Day Milk Trait Leaders
200-Day Growth (expressed in kg liveweight)
Based on the weight of the calf adjusted to 200 days. It is the best estimate of the sire's genetic merit for growth to weaning. Higher positive values indicate faster growth.
200 Day Growth Trait Leaders
400-Day Growth (expressed in kg liveweight)
Based on the weight of the calf adjusted to 400 days. It is the best estimate of the sire's genetic merit for growth to 400 days of age. Higher positive values indicate faster growth.
400 Day Growth Trait Leaders
Muscling Score (expressed in points of muscling)
The best estimate of a calf's muscling at about 400 days of age. Two points on the muscling score scale are equivalent to one EU carcass classification conformation class. Higher positive values indicate greater muscling.
Muscling Score Trait Leaders
Muscle Depth (expressed in mm)
Muscle depth is measured by ultrasonic scanning and gives better evaluations of live animal conformation.
Muscle Depth Trait Leaders
Fat Depth (expressed in mm fat)
The best estimate of a calf's fat depth at about 400 days of age. 2 mm of fat are equivalent to one EU carcass classification fat class. Higher positive values indicate fatter stock; high negative values indicate leaner stock.
Fat Depth Trait Leaders
Beef Value
An overall measure of the beef production potential within the breed. See text for details.
Beef Value Trait Leaders
Click Here for Promising Young Bulls
A Full copy of the Sire & Dam Summary is Avaliable from the Blonde Office
