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by Julie Jones, Performance
Recording, Hybu Cig Cymru
In conjunction with the Welsh Black Cattle Society
The Welsh Black Cattle Society promotes a breed improvement
programme. About 10% of the actively recording membership
is involved with recording supported by funding from Objective
5b.
The aim is to enable the herds participating to increase
their efficiency and so profitability.
If you have any queries about cattle recording, please contact:
HCC, PO Box 176, Aberystwyth, SY33 2YA
Tel: 01970 625 050
E-mail: enquiries@hccmpw.org.uk
Welsh Black Cattle Performance Recording
Why record?
- To be able to make sure that your herd is moving in the
right direction, producing animals with the best possible
conformation, as efficiently as possible. It is very difficult
to remember exactly what condition each cows progeny were
in each year, but by taking the weights of the stock it
is easier to remember and make the best breeding decisions.
- To give buyers information about how well your cattle
compare to others.
It is becoming increasingly important to be able to provide
extra information about cattle. Estimated Breeding Values
(EBVs) are widely used overseas and are becoming much more
recognised in the UK. Internationally Signet’s Beefbreeder
program is well regarded because of the way in which it works
and the fact that it is independent. With the imminent reopening
of the export markets it is important to try and provide figures
– Welsh Blacks currently have large overseas semen orders
to fulfil.
What are EBVs?
The important point to make is that Estimated Breeding Values
(EBVs) are exactly what they say – they are an estimate
of what an animal will breed, not an indication of what the
animal itself should look like.
For example; two animals may have the same EBVs but one may
have been fed much more. The animal that has been fed the
most would be expected to be the largest, but EBVs are able
to distinguish between feeding and breeding.
How are EBVs calculated?
EBVs are calculated by taking the weight of animals up to
18 months of age. One ultrasonic measurement is also taken
of the muscle and fat depth. The work involved is kept to
a minimum.
Ideally cattle need to be weighed 3 times per year –
these weighings can be combined with other management work.
The information that is collected about each animal is put
into a computer program – BLUP. This program compares
and contrasts how each animal has performed. Information about
how its relatives have performed is also taken into account
to produce the final EBVs.
The primary objective is to allow breeders to identify which
animals will leave the best progeny (e.g. heavier carcases,
better conformation, short gestation length).
Key Features of Welsh Black Beef Breeder:
- Routine calf performance reports
- Across herd BLUP evaluations to produce estimates of
each animal’s genetic worth in the form of nine EBVs,
a Calving Value and a Beef Value.
These can be compared with all other animals in the Welsh
Black breed. They allow breeders and breeds as a whole to
monitor genetic progress.
- Annual technician visit for herds over 20 cows to scan
muscle and backfat depth and evaluate overall muscularity
- Invitations to group discussion meetings
What Welsh Black EBVs are available?
The EBV’s that are produced are designed to provide
breeders with a wide range of information about each animal.
They are as follows:
Gestation Length (days) Shorter gestation
length is desirable as it is associated with lighter birthweight
and easier calvings and it increases the interval between
calving and the start of mating. The more negative a bull’s
EBV the shorter the expected gestation length when his offspring
are born.
A bull with an EBV of –2 for gestation length is expected
to produce calves, which on average are born 1 day earlier
than calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Calving Ease Recorded using 5 categories
1 no assistance 5 surgery section This predicts the effect
of using a particular bull on the percentage of unassisted
calving when his calves are born.
e.g. It would be expected that 3% more of the calves sired
by a bull with an EBV of +6 for calving ease would be born
easily compared to calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Birth Weight High birthweights are more
likely to be associated with difficult calvings. Birth weight
EBVs predict which bulls are likely to sire the heaviest calves.
A bull with an EBV of –1 is expected on average, to
produce calves 0.5 Kg lighter than calves sired by a bull
with an EBV of 0.
Calving Value This tells us what the effect
will be of using a particular bull on the ease with which
his progeny are born. It is calculated from the EBVs for calving
ease and gestation length, with are both highly correlated
with birthweight. Bulls with positive Calving Value EBVs are
likely produce calves that do not incur high calving costs,
compared to calves produced by bulls with lower Calving Values
200-Day Milk The maternal component of the
200-day weight record. It is estimated how much of the performance
of the calf up to 200 days is due to the dam’s maternal
performance.
A bull with high 200-day milk EBVs is expected to produce
heifer calves which will have above average maternal characteristics
leading to their calves being heavier at 200 days –
e.g. a bull with an EBV of +4 for 200 day milk is expected
to produce heifer calves which will have above average maternal
characteristics leading to their calves being 2Kg heavier
at 200 days than calves from heifers sired by a bull with
an EBV of 0.
200-Day Growth (kg liveweight) The animal’s
genetic potential for growth from birth to weaning at 200
days.
A bull with an EBV of +20 for 200 day growth is expected
to produce, on average calves 10Kg heavier at 200 days than
calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
400-Day Growth (kg liveweight) The animal’s
genetic potential for growth from birth to 400 days of age.
A bull with an EBV of +40 for 400 day growth is expected
to produce, on average calves 20Kg heavier at 400 days than
calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Muscling Score (points; 1-15) Visual assessment
of an animal’s conformation at around 400 days. Animals
are assessed on a 1 to 15 point scale based on the EU carcase
classification system. A score of 1 (P) indicates very poor
conformation whereas animals with a score of 15 (E) will be
extremely double muscled.
A bull with an EBV for muscling score of 1.0 point is expected
to produce, on average, calves 0.5 points better on the conformation
scale than calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Muscle Depth (mm) Based on the ultrasonic
measurement of eye muscle at around 400 days. A bull with
an EBV for muscle depth of +0.2 is expected to produce, on
average, calves with 0.1mm greater eye muscle depth compared
to calves sired by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Fat Depth (mm) Based on an ultrasonic measure
of backfat depth at around 400 days of age. Negative EBVs
for fat indicate leanness.
A bull with an EBV of –0.2 for fat depth is expected
to produce, on average, calves 0.1mm leaner at 400 days than
calves by a bull with an EBV of 0.
Beef Value The Beef Value is a combination
of all the EBV’s, in particular the growth and carcase
traits. The goal of the Beef Value is to improve financial
returns by improving carcase weight, fat and conformation
scores.
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