What breeding indexes do we currently have?

What is a breeding index?

Signet runs beef and sheep genetic evaluations, providing breeders with the latest Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for a range of traits. While EBVs identify animals that excel in individual traits, they can be combined into breeding indexes using economic weightings to meet a broader breeding objective. Providing breeders with the information to be able to rank and compare animals.

Sheep Breeding Indexes 

Terminal Sire Index

This index balances the requirement to produce fast-growing lambs against the need for a high yield of meat in the carcase at an optimum level of finish. A small positive weighting is placed on fatness to avoid the selection of ultra-lean genetics.

Maternal Index

This index favours breeding lines that produce fast-growing lambs, but it also rewards sires whose daughters will successfully rear more lambs due to their genes for prolificacy, milk and maternal care.

Hill Index

This index is expressed in economic terms and is designed to enhance the overall productivity of the hill ewe. The index will increase lamb growth rates, maternal ability and the number of lambs reared in hill farming situations.

Information on trait weightings for these indexes can be found here

Parasite Plus - An indicator of sheep that are more resistant to parasites, considering breeding values for faecal egg count (FEC) and IgA.

Lamb Value - Highlights the economic value of a ram’s progeny at slaughter based on their breeding values for carcase weight, conformation, fat class and days to slaughter.

Beef Breeding Indexes 

Signet’s work is not limited to sheep, Signet also provides genetic evaluation services to a small number of beef breeds, through society initiatives.

Signet publishes four breeding indexes within the cattle evaluation;

Calving Value – Highlights bulls whose calves will be born easily.

Beef Value – Identifies superior cattle for growth and carcase traits.

Maternal Value – Indicates the best bulls for maternal traits, like milk production and longevity, which are important when breeding female replacements.

Maternal Production Value – An overall index calculated from Calving Value, Beef Value and Maternal Value. This index identifies the most profitable cattle for self-replacing herds, where bull calves are slaughtered, and heifers retained.

When using breeding indexes, it is also important to consider the impact this can have on other traits such as continued selection for increasing beef value this may result in larger increases in cow mature size.