Breeding values

Modern breeding tool

The selection of the best individuals from the population is the principle of every breeding process. Czech farmers and breeders can rely on breeding values estimation of 21 traits since 2000. The BLUP Animal Model is used for this breeding value estimation, where are used not only data of the animal itself, but also data of its relatives. This leads to complex (for random effects adjusted) view of the animal as an individual. The estimated breeding values are presented for three basic groups of traits: reproductive (calving ease and maternal calving process), growth traits (direct and indirect effects) and type traits. These particular traits are then used for calculation of total selection index, where are breeding and economic weight of each trait included. Breeding values and selection indexes are regularly updated 4 times per year and they are available for all pure-bred animals on the website of the Association.