INTRODUCTION
An EPD is an estimation of the genetic value that an animal will pass on to its progeny. An EPD uses all performance information on the relatives and progeny of the animal as well as the animal’s own performance. More emphasis is put on progeny performance, then the animal own performance and finally ascendants performance.
HOW ARE ESTIMATED THE EPDs?
EPDs take into account the animal own performance, but also progeny, descendant and ascendant performance records.
WHY TO SELECT ON LOWER VALUE FOR FEW EPDs?
For few traits, selection should be done to select animals having lower EPD values.
IMPORTANT: Percentile values for those traits are already adjusted to select lower value.
Trait |
Look for |
Result |
| EPD Age First Lambing | Look for ewe-lambs that will give birth earlier in their life | less days old |
| EPD Lambing Interval | Look for ewes that lamb more often | less days between lambing |
| EPD Fat Deposition | Look for leaner animals | less millimiters of fat |
| EPD Birth Weight | Avoid too big lambs at lambing | less kg of weight |
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EBV AND EPD?
Some other genetic programs will present breeding values as EBV. An EBV is the Estimated Breeding Value. It is an expression of the performance of the animal itself.
EBV : what we expect as performance of an animal
EPD: what we expect this animal will pass on to its progeny
EPD = EBV/2
- The EPD is the half of an EBV as the animal will pass on to its progeny the half of its own performance.
- The unit are the same for EPDs and EBVs for the same traits.
- It is two ways to present breeding values to breeders.