Breeding values provide an estimate of the genetic merit of individuals for a range of traits and are expressed in the units they are measured in relative to an average sire in 1995. Weight BVs are expressed in Kgs, conception date in days earlier or later conceiving.
Breeding values can be combined with an economic weighting based on the value of a 1 unit improvement in the trait to a standardised deer production system to give an overall Index value in cents or dollars per hind mated. A higher value indicates a great return on investment.
A sire with an estimated 12 month Weight Breeding Value (W12eBV) of +15 would have offspring that would be 15kg heavier than average deer in 1995 (when mated to a hind that also had +15).
The daughters of a sire with a Conception Date BV of -6 (CDEBV) would be expected to conceive 6 days earlier than average (again, if from hind that also had -6 CDEBV).
The expected result will be the average of the stag and the hind BV merit for a trait – e.g. a stag with a +20 12month Weight BV (W12eBV)and a hind with +0 W12eBV merit would have offspring that would be 10kg heavier than average
Use the DEERSelect tables to identify the sire stags used in New Zealand that have the breeding values you want. Stud breeders offer sons and daughters of these stags and should be happy to expand further on the genetic merit of the stags they have for sale.
Breeding values for English Red deer and European composite can be directly compared.
There is much more information on getting the best genetics to help your deer farming options here >>
To view the English Sires table, click here >>
Breeding values provide an estimate of the genetic merit of individuals for a range of traits and are expressed in the units they are measured in relative to an average sire in 1995. Weight BVs are expressed in Kgs, conception date in days earlier or later conceiving.
Breeding values can be combined with an economic weighting based on the value of a 1 unit improvement in the trait to a standardised deer production system to give an overall Index value in cents or dollars per hind mated.
The Replacement-Early Kill (R-EK) Index consists of a reward for growth to 12months, a small penalty on mature weight of hinds, and a reward for increased muscling and a small reward for earlier fawning/calving. The Index is expressed as cents or dollars per hind mated. A higher Index value indicates a higher return on investment.
A sire with an estimated 12 month Weight Breeding Value (W12eBV) of +15 would have offspring that would be 15kg heavier than average deer in 1995 (when mated to a hind that also had +15).
The daughters of a sire with a Conception Date BV of -6 (CDEBV) would be expected to conceive 6 days earlier than average (again, if from hind that also had -6 CDEBV).
The expected result will be the average of the stag and the hind BV merit for a trait – e.g. a stag with a +20 12month Weight BV (W12eBV) and a hind with +0 W12eBV merit would have offspring that would be 10kg heavier than average
Use the DEERSelect tables to identify the sire stags used in New Zealand that have the breeding values you want. Stud breeders offer sons and daughters of these stags and should be happy to expand further on the genetic merit of the stags they have for sale.
Breeding values for English Red deer and European composite can be directly compared.
There is much more information on getting the best genetics to help your deer farming options here >>
To view the European and Composite Sires table, click here >>
Wapiti values are currently from a separate evaluation and cannot be directly compared with Red values.
Breeding values provide an estimate of the genetic merit of individuals for a range of traits and are expressed in the units they are measured in relative to an average sire in 1995. Weight BVs are expressed in Kgs, conception date in days earlier or later conceiving.
Breeding values can be combined with an economic weighting based on the value of a 1 unit improvement in the trait to a standardised deer production system to give an overall Index value expressed in cents or dollars per hind mated. A higher value indicates a greater return on investment.
Wapiti are usually used as Terminal sires over mature Red hinds. The sire contributes half of the genetic contribution to the progeny. A sire with an estimated 12 month Weight Breeding Value (W12eBV) of +20 kgs compared to a sire with a W12eBV of + 10kg would have offspring 5kg heavier than the second sire on average mated to the same Red hinds – a 10kg difference in merit, half expressed in the progeny.
The Wapiti Terminal Index (Term) Index consists of a reward for growth to 12months and a reward for increased carcass weight and muscling, expressed as cents per hind mated. A higher value indicates a greater return on investment.
Use the DEERSelect tables to identify the sire stags used in New Zealand that have the right genetic merit you want. Stud breeders offer sons and daughters of these stags and should be happy to expand further on the genetic merit of the stags they have for sale.
There is much more information on getting the best genetics to help your deer farming options here >>
