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Production of maternal EBVs looms large gfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfg
DATA collected for the LINK Sustainable Livestock Programme will be used to produce maternal estimated breeding values (EBVs) for both pure bred and cross-bred animals in two years time.
But cattle breed societies must decide whether to emphasise maternal or terminal sire traits for particular breeds, says the MLCs Duncan Pullar.
"Information is being collected on traits such as fertility, longevity, udder and teat conformation, lactation ability, calving difficulty and condition score change for about 17 breeds.
"This will be whittled down to give breeding information on the most economically important maternal traits."
But if maternal EBVs are to be a success when they become available in 2004, some breed societies must take firm decisions about the future direction of their breeding policy, he believes.
"EBVs will provide the tools to select for terminal sire or maternal traits. But it makes no sense to combine the two. They are not compatible in individual animals or breeds. Breed societies must decide whether to pursue terminal sire or maternal lines. The worry is they will end up breeding a dual purpose animal."
Belgian Blue and Charolais have moved down the terminal sire route, whereas Welsh Black, Red Poll, Galloway and Sussex breeders major on maternal traits, says Dr Pullar. "It is breeds such as Limousin, Simmental, Aberdeen Angus and South Devon, currently occupying the middle ground, that have difficult choices to make.
"Alternatively, it would be possible for a breed to have two branches, one concentrating on maternal traits and the other on terminal sire traits. For example, Swiss Simmentals have been bred along dairy lines, whereas British Simmentals have gone down the terminal sire route.