EBVs and ASBVs are great, but....

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By Dwain Duxson

EBVs and ASBVs are great, but.... - These days, everybody is talking about A.I. (artificial intelligence, not artificial insemination), and how it will shape the decisions we make in the future. I'd say that Estimated Breeding Values were A.I. well before A.I. was ever thought of. I'd describe A.I. as data-enabled decision-making done by a computer that we humans can then use for positive outcomes. Isn't that how the Breeding Values system has been working for decades?

So it could be said that Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) have arguably revolutionised the Cattle and Sheep industries.

But with Breeding Values, someone has to collect the data, and someone has to pay. This is why we say Farming is getting more complex. It's a real commitment (and a costly one) to sell your Stud Stock with Breeding Values attached. Hence the reason why many say no, and just breed in a subjective way.

And then, you have to educate the Commercial Breeders as to which traits best suit them and the reasons why. But it gets even more complex when they bring out new traits. Increasing the number of traits leads to more traits becoming antagonistic, i.e if you just breed for growth and muscle, eating quality will be jeopardised. Putting on weight and adding muscle is one of the main profit drivers in a Livestock operation. You get paid for that, but eating quality is not so lucrative, at least not yet. Hope you're confused, because I am........

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