Tuesday 3 August - Suffolk Sheep Society

The aim of Suffolk Recording is to work out how much of each animal’s
performance is due to its breeding and this information is expressed using
Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for specific traits.
An overall Breeding Index incorporates the commercially economic important
EBVs for Terminal Sires (growth, muscle and fat) whilst including gigot
muscularity and an additional penalty for animals with very low fat depth
EBVs.
The Suffolk Breeding Index is presented as an economic value. This value, in
pounds and pence, ranks animals according to the relative financial merit of
their progeny.
When buying a ram, buyers should use the Breed Benchmark to identify
where an animal’s EBVs rank within the Breed.
Suffolk Breed Benchmark June 2010
Estimated
Breeding Values
Top 50% Top 25% Top 10%
Eight Week Weight (kg) 3.22 3.90 4.72
Litter Size 0.12 0.15 0.17
Maternal Ability (kg) 0.16 0.36 0.60
Scan Weight (kg) 5.72 6.98 8.59
Muscle Depth (mm) 1.04 1.51 2.56
Fat Depth (mm) 0.05 -0.14 leaner
0.25 fatter
Gigot (mm) 0.14 0.51 1.46
Breeding Index £1.37 £1.83 £2.61
Accuracy Values
Accuracy values indicate how similar an animal’s EBVs are to its true breeding
value. Breeders can use accuracy values to predict the likelihood that an
animals EBVs will change over time.
Signet Recording Services
For more information on performance recording contact Signet for an
information pack Tel: 0247 647 8829 Email: signet@eblex.org.uk