What is the accuracy of a Breeding Value and why do we publish it?

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What is an accuracy of an estimated breeding value, and why do we publish it?

DR. BOBBIE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN & DR. JAPIE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

he accuracy of an estimated breeding value

by the symbol h², heritability is a statistical concept that

(EBV) is a measure of how effectively it

quantifies the proportion of trait variation attributed to

represents the true breeding value of an

genetic variation within a particular population.

animal for a specific trait. The accuracy is always expressed as a value between 0 and

1, usually published as a percentage

Heritability estimates range from zero to one. A heritability close to zero suggests that the variability in a trait among animals is primarily influenced by

ranging between 0% to 100%.

environmental factors, with minimal contribution

In statistical terms, the accuracy

from genetic differences. On the other hand, a

of a breeding value is determined

heritability close to one indicates that the variation in a

trait is predominantly due to genetic differences, with

between the true breeding value

minimal influence from environmental factors.

of a specific animal for a given

For traits with higher heritability, obtaining

trait and the predicted (estimated)

breeding value based on the available information.

Conversely, traits with lower heritability

indicates a greater accuracy of the

breeding value and increases the

reliability of the estimated breeding

to achieve higher accuracy values.

value. Moreover, a higher accuracy

Therefore, it is possible to achieve high

means that the prediction is less likely

accuracies for low heritable traits when

to change as more information becomes

sufficient performance data is recorded

available. Accuracy is influenced by various factors, including the heritability of the trait, the accuracy of parent recording, the completeness of available performance

for all related animals of a specific individual. Obviously, the number of related animals increases significantly with more measured (recorded) progeny.

information, and the accuracy of measurements

associated with the performance data. Additionally,

dependent on the accuracy and completeness of an

the effective size of the contemporary group in which

animal’s recorded pedigree. Animals with meticulously

the animal and its relatives were recorded is another

recorded and complete pedigree trees are associated

with more precise breeding value predictions.

Heritability of a trait is a measure of the extent to which

differences in genes account for variations in the

recorded within the pedigree that truly contribute to

specific physical expression of that trait. Represented

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