EBI EXPLANATION

Economic Breeding Index (EBI) Is a measure of the genetic potential of an animal. The Index is based on €0 and is comprised of seven sub-indices (milk, fertility, calving, beef, maintenance, management and health).

Milk Sub Index The milk sub index makes up to 34% of the total EBI Index. In the milk sub index, there is three parts that make up the index, (milk kgs 9%, fat kgs 7% and protein kgs 18%). So, bulls that will have high kgs of milk (300kgs +), fat kgs (15kgs +) and protein (15kgs +) will come back with a high value on this index.

Fertility Sub Index The fertility sub index makes up to 34% of the total EBI Index. In the fertility sub index, there is two parts that make up the index (calving interval 23% and survival 11%). The calving interval is measured in days so the ideal calving interval is 365 days which means ideally the cow should have a calf every year. Survival is measured in a percentage this based on how long the cow is going to last in the herd. The higher the percentage the more likely the cow will be in the herd at 6-7 lactations.

Calving Sub index The calving sub index makes up to 10% of the total EBI Index. In the calving sub index, there is four parts that is the bull for heifers and also cows, ideally heifers shouldn’t be serviced with a bull greater than 7% calving easily his daughters will calve down. Gestation length is how long the cow is pregnant. The average gestation length is 283 days, so anything longer than this mean that the calf will bigger at birth. Calf mortality determines how many calves are dead or die at birth.

Trait Emphasis make-up in the EBI

Beef Sub Index The beef sub index makes up to 8% of the total EBI Index. In the beef sub index, there is four parts that make up the index (cull cow weight 0.5%, carcass weight 4.5%, carcass conformation 2%, carcass fat 1 %). Cull cow weight is looking at weight of live weight of the cow before been processed. Carcass weight is looking at the weight of cow when she has been slaughtered. Carcass conformation is looking at the grade the carcass has been graded from the factory. Carcass fat is looking at fat score the factory have scored the carcass of the animal that has been slaughtered.

Maintenance Sub Index The maintenance sub index makes up to 6% of the total EBI Index. In the maintenance sub index, there is only one part that makes up the index (cow live weight 6%). Cow live weight is looking at how heavy a cow is fully mature. Cows under 500kgs will be a positive and cows over 500kgs will be a negative in the index. Management Sub Index The management sub index makes up to 5% of the total EBI Index. In the management sub index, there is two parts that make up the index (milking speed 3%, milking temperament 2%). Milking speed is looking at how long temperament is looking how quiet/easy is cow the milk will she is in the milking parlour.

Health Sub Index The health sub index makes up to 3% of the total EBI Index. In the health sub index, there is three parts that make up the index (lameness 0.5%, SCC 1%, mastitis 0.5%). Lameness is looking at how often will the cow be lame and will have locomotion problems. SCC is looking at how often will the cow have high SCC problems and also how long it takes to cure. Mastitis is looking at how often will the cow get mastitis and also what type of mastitis does the cow have.