Utilising Maternal Trait EBVs in Beef Breeding Programmes

Beef bulls have a major impact on the quality of the UK suckler herd as all suckler cows are sired by a beef bull. To improve the efficiency of the national herd it is therefore essential that the bulls used to breed heifer replacements, be it from the suckler herd or the dairy herd, carry the genetics to improve the maternal characteristics of their daughters.

SAC have produced a note explaining how Maternal Trait EBVs can be utilised. Click here for the latest technical information

Posted by Samuel Boon on 07 Nov 2014

News, Beef

About the author

Samuel Boon

I am the Manager of Signet Breeding Services, within the AHDB.

Enthusiast on all things genetics to do with sheep and cattle and currently also supporting Bridget Lloyd in running the @RamCompare progeny test with ~18,000 lambs/annum.

I am also involved with the:-

Relaunch of Terminal Sire Breeding Programmes (Sheep)
AHDB lead for the Welsh Sheep Breeding Project run by HCC - working with Innovis, HCC and Janet Roden
Database design and development for this website
National Sheep Breeds Survey
Development of Carcase Trait EBVs in Beef Cattle
Formerly involved with the delivery of the Welsh Sheep Strategy, Northern Upland Sheep Strategy, Suckler Cow Project, Highlands and Islands Sheep Strategy

I can be followed on Twitter @SamBoonBreeding