Importance of standardised testing in accurate genetic evaluation

In recent years, the beef breeding industry has witnessed a surge in private performance testing service providers catering to cattle breeders. This makes it more important than ever to emphasise the value of standardised performance testing procedures at testing centres. Such standards ensure that tests are scientifically sound, that the collected data is reliable, and that the results add value to breeders' selection decisions while benefiting the national beef industry.

- By Freek Botes, Melville Ferreira and Dr Ben Greyling, ARC National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme

Why standardised testing matters

The main purpose of performance testing is to generate estimated breeding values (EBVs). To understand why standardised testing procedures are essential, it is useful to revisit what EBVs are.

An EBV is a prediction of an animal's genetic potential to pass on desirable traits to its offspring. EBVs are calculated using performance records, pedigree data and, increasingly, genomic information. These values are produced through best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) models, which separate genetic influences from environmental factors to provide a clearer measure of breeding potential. The more accurate the EBVs, the more reliable they become in predicting an animal's genetic contribution to the next generation.