Move over EBVs... here come GBVs.

So-called genomic breeding values will be in use in New Zealand this autumn and they promise to bring a new level of precision to ram and bull selection, says Pfizer.

But the SNP Chip analysis of a stud animal’s genetics will come at a price, about $10 per ram and $260 per bull, based on the US price of about $US180/bull.

“You could look at the price or you could look at the value,” Pfizer’s Sharl Liebergreen told Rural News. “For that you get a 50,000 ‘snip’ chip analysis on that animal and its molecular breeding value.”

Each analysis scans over 50,000 gene markers in one go, making genetic prediction of the animal’s performance, or more importantly, that of its progeny, a lot more definitive.

The analysis is also a lot faster than the methods used to identify well-known single gene markers such as Myomax or Inverdale in recent years.

In sheep the technology will initially predict traits such as number of lambs born, faecal egg counts, weaning and carcass weights.

“This is just the first bunch of traits we’re releasing.”

For cattle, an Angus breed product was launched in the US in January. It offered 13 traits previously predicted with EBVs, such as birth weight, weaning weight, and calving ease, plus four not previously predicted: average daily gain, dry matter intake, net feed intake and tenderness.

Pfizer is now “proving the product” in Australia and here. “We’re taking pre-launch samples. They’ll be results available before the bull sales.”

The sheep product, branded Sheep 50k – reflecting the 50,000 genes analysed – will be launched in March.

“We’re circulating it to breeders now.”

Liebergreen says adoption of the technology will be a challenge as there is a lot to learn.

However, for the commercial producer, understanding how it works is unimportant. Ensuring your stud breeder does is what matters, he says.

For now the sheep product is only applicable to animals with at least 50% Romney, Coopworth or Perendale in them. Cattle is limited to Angus.

And for all the information the DNA sample can deliver, it seems breeders can’t forget about the flock book just yet.

“Phenotype is still very, very valuable. Essentially the more data you have on that animal, the more accurate the product is going to be.”