Only 2010 AUTUMN Trans-Tasman Shorthorn GROUP BREEDPLAN EBV's or Interim EBV's with Accuracy (Acc) can be validly compared between Shorthorn herds.

EBV'S OF ONE BREED CANNOT BE COMPARED WITH THE EBV'S OF ANOTHER BREED

ESTIMATED BREEDING VALUES (EBV's): The EBV is the best estimate of an animal's genetic merit for that trait.

ACCURACY: Accuracy (%) is based on the amount of information available on the animal and it's close relatives. Accuracy indicates the 'confidence level' of the EBV. An accuracy of below 75% should be regarded as low, between 76-90% as medium and above 90% as high.

Average EBV's for 2008 born animals

BIRTH

BW: Birth Weight EBV (kg) is based on the measured birth weight of animals, adjusted for dam age. The lower the value the lighter the calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a difficult birth. This is particularly important when selecting sires for use over heifers.

FERTILITY

SS: Scrotal Size EBV (cm) is an indicator of male fertility in regards to semen quality and quantity. Higher (positive) EBV's indicate higher fertility. SS is also positively associated with female fertility.

GROWTH

MILK: 200-Day Milk EBV (kg) is an estimate of an animal's milking ability. For sires, this EBV is indicative of their daughter's milking ability as it affects the 200 and 400 day weight of their calves.

200W: 200-Day Growth EBV (kg) is calcualted from the weight of the animals taken between 80 and 300 days of age. Values are adjusted to 200 days and for age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal's genetic merit for growth to early ages.

400W: 400-Day Weight EBV (kg) is calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 301 and 500 days of age, adjusted to 400 days and age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal's gentic merit for yearling weight.

600W: 600-Day Weight EBV (kg) is calculated from the weight of the progeny taken between 501 and 900 days of age, adjusted to 600 days and for age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal's genetic merit for growth beyond yearling stage.

MCW: Mature Cow Weight EBV (kg) is an estimate of the genetic difference in cow weight at 5 years of age.

CARCASE

CWT: Carcase Weight EBV (kg) estimates the genetic difference in carcase weight at a standard age of 650 days.

EMA: Eye Muscle Area EBV (cm squared) estimates genetic differences in eye muslce area at the 12/13th rib site of a 300kg dressed carcase. More positive EBV's indicate better muscling on animals.

RIB FAT: Rib Fat EBV (mm) estimates the genetic differences in fat depth at the 12/13th rib in a 300kg dressed carcase. More positive EBV's indicate more subcutaneous fat and earlier maturity.

RUMP: Rump Fat EBV (mm) estimates the genetic differences in fat depth at the P8 site of a 300kg dressed carcase. More positive EBV's indicate more subcutaneous fat and earlier maturity.

RBY: Retail Beef Yield Percent EBV (%) represents total (boned out) meat yield as a percentage of a 300kg dressed carcase. A more positive EBV indicates higher percentage yield for the 300kg carcase size.

IMF: Intra-muscular Fat Percent EBV (%) is an estimate of the genetic difference in the percentage of intra-muscular fat at the 12/13th rib site in a 300kg carcase. Depending on market targets, larger more positive values are generally more favourable.