TIPS & TOOLS
Angus BREEDPLAN
EBV Standard Error Graph
The EBV Standard Error graph provides an indication of
the possible change in EBVs for each trait as more
information becomes available.
indication available of the animal’s breeding value for
each trait at this point in time, irrespective of accuracy.
Accessing the EBV Standard Error Graph
The EBV Standard Error Graph for an animal can be
accessed from the EBV Enquiry facility on the Angus
Australia website.
The horizontal bar for each trait displays one standard
error either side of the current EBV value, meaning that
statistically, there is a 67% chance that the true breeding
value for this trait will be within this range.
Another way of looking at this is to consider that as more
performance information is added for this animal, the EBV
would be expected to fall within the EBV range displayed
in the graph on 7 out of 10 occasions.
To access the EBV Standard Error graph, users need to
navigate to animal’s individual animal details page and
then click either “EBV Graph” or the graph icon as they
would normally do to display the EBV Percentile graph.
Of course, as the EBV takes into account all the pedigree,
performance and genomic information that is available
at this point in time, the EBV is also the most reliable
At the bottom of the EBV Percentile Graph, a button will
display titled “Switch Graph”. Clicking on this button will
display the EBV Standard Error graph for the animal.
Interpreting the EBV Standard Error Graph
Breed Average
Calv Ease Dir
Harder
-10.1
-0.1
Calv Ease Dtrs
Harder
-8.9
-0.1
Easier
47%
+8.7
Easier
39%
-18.0
Shorter
84%
-4.5
Lighter
73%
+75
Heavier
64%
+75
+132
Heavier
62%
+98
+185
Heavier
63%
+86
+203
Heavier
59%
+45
Higher
44%
+6.8
Bigger
55%
-28.4
Shorter
35%
+119
Heavier
52%
+18.4
Bigger
50%
+8.8
Fatter
53%
+10.4
Fatter
52%
+7.1
Higher
49%
+6.0
Higher
49%
-1.79
Lower
39%
-2.76
Lower
40%
+41
More
57%
Gest. Length
Longer
+11.0
-3.5
Birth Wt
Heavier
+13.1
+4.3
200 Day Wt
Lighter
+7
+41
400 Day Wt
Lighter
+18
600 Day Wt
Lighter
+11
Mat. Cow Wt
Lighter
-31
Milk
Lower
-17
+14
Scrotal Size
Smaller
-3.6
+1.6
Days to Calv
Longer
+12.2
Carcase Wt
Lighter
-11
Eye Musc Area
Smaller
-9.6
Rib Fat
Leaner
-8.8
Rump Fat
Leaner
-10.4
Retail Yield
Lower
-6.5
IMF
Lower
-3.0
NFI-P
Higher
+1.97
NFI-F
Higher
+3.06
Docility
Less
-33
+34
+69
+86
+53
+0.5
+6.3
+6.3
-11.2
-1.6
+22
-3.6
-5.2
+49
Acc
+9.9
+54
+4.4
+7.3
+0.0
+0.6
+0.0
-0.2
+0.3
+0.6
+1.5
+0.09
+1.9
+0.04
+0.15
+0.29
+4
+5
The EBV Accuracy for each trait is
shown at the right side of the graph.
The Breed Average EBV values are
listed in the centre of the graph and
reflect the average EBVs of current
animals within the breed (i.e. all 2 year
old animals).
The minimum and maximum EBV
values displayed at the left and right of
the graph for each trait represent four
standard deviations from the current
Breed Average values, rather than the
current minimum and maximum EBV
values for the breed.
The horizontal bar displays where
the animal is placed in relation to
the current animals within the breed
for each trait. One standard error
either side of the current EBV value is
displayed, meaning that statistically,
the animal’s true breeding value for
this trait will be within this range on 7
out of 10 occasions.
In the example above the animal’s Birth Wt EBV is of higher accuracy than its Milk EBV and so there is less
possible change in the Birth Wt EBV as additional information becomes available.
For further assistance with the interpretation and understanding of
the EBV Standard Error Graph, please contact staff at:
Angus Australia
Phone: 02 6773 4600
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.angusaustralia.com.au
© Angus Australia, October 2016