Signet Sheepbreeder

The MLC “Sheepbreeder” service is delivered to the industry to enable breeders to work out how much of an animal’s performance is due to its genes and how much is due to the environment in which it was raised.

In order to make selection decisions a breeder needs to assess genetic merit or “breeding value” , also called EBVs.

As any animal will, on average, inherit half of its genes from each of its parents so selecting breeding stock involves using the EBVs, (and all other characteristics important to the breeder) to select the best animals for use in his own flock.

By using BLUP it is possible to compare animals born in different flocks, in different environments, and under different management. To improve the accuracy this involves creating links between flocks by being part of a Sire Reference or Group Breeding Scheme

Bfelite – the sire reference scheme for the Scottish Blackface breed uses the “Hill – 2 Index”