Estimated Breeding Values

EBVs predict the genetic merit that an animal possesses for an individual trait or characteristic. Traits for which EBVs are calculated include 8 week weight of lambs; 21 week weight of lambs; muscle depth; fat depth; mature size; litter size; and maternal ability.

EBVs are produced using information recorded about their sheep by members of the group breeding schemes. They are calculated by computer using a programme that disentangles the complex relationship between the environment (feeding; management etc.) and the genetics of an individual animal. In this way, EBVs are able to provide considerable extra information about an animal compared to selecting ‘by eye’ alone. Nearly all dairy farmers select their animals using genetic information produced in a similar way. The production of EBVs by Flockbook.org members allows sheep farmers a similar advantage. To help identify superior animals, EBVs for a range of traits are also combined into a single breeding index. Please note that EBVs and breeding indexes can not be compared across different breeds.