Page 8 - AUTUMN BULL SALE EBOOK

EBV’S

EBV Definitions

Genetic prediction values from Leachman are generated on an across breed basis. This means
that all animals can be compared regardless of their breed or breed mix. Given a desire to
compare to international populations, the EBV’s are all directly comparable to values used by
Leachman in the United States and to EPD values found on American Angus Association cattle in
the United States. New Zealand producers typically use EBV’s rather than EPD’s, however EPD’s
in pounds are virtually identical to EBV’s in kilograms. As such, Rissington has elected to publish
these standardized figures. Definitions for the values on each trait follows:

1. Birth weight EBV is expressed with a base equivalent to that of the American Angus
Association. Bull with birth EBV’s under +0.5 can be used on heifers with supervision.
Bulls under -1.0 can be used on heifers with very little supervision. Bulls under -3.0 are
some of the easiest calving bulls in the industry.

2. Weaning weight EBV is expressed on an American Angus Association scale.

3. Yearling EBV is expressed on an American Angus Association scale.

4. Milk EBV is expressed on an American Angus Association scale. This is the best
predictor of a bull’s daughter’s ability to milk. It measures the difference in weaning
weight that will be produced between one bull’s daughters and another bull’s
daughters due solely to milk.

5. IMF is the ultrasound based EBV and is expressed on an American Angus Association
scale.

6. REA is the ultrasound based EBV for ribeye area and is expressed on an American
Angus Association scale.

7. MWT is the predicted mature weight of daughters that you will get if you use the bull
on a 550 kilogram cow. A bull with a MWT of +0 should produce 550 kilogram cows
under most conditions. If your conditions are better, then you will experience heavier
weights than those predicted. This EBV is the best indicator of daughter size -- far
better than frame score or yearling height.

8. F:G is the pedigree estimated feed to gain EBV that predicts the feedlot efficiency of
the bulls offspring. A negative number means that the bull’s progeny will use less feed
to gain a kilo of live weight. Example: -0.50 means that the bulls progeny will require
½ kg less dry matter feed per kg of gain.

9. Intake: is an estimate of the amount of feed that the bull’s progeny will consume over
a 112 day feeding period. Animals with higher intake will consume more throughout
their life. Animals with lower intake will consume less. This is the best prediction of
the feed needs for a bulls steer offspring and for the feed needs of daughters.

10. YHT is an EBV predicting a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches,
compared to the that of other sires.

8 34 AUTUMN BULL SALE CATALOGUE • MAY 2017
th