One of the key factors underpinning the accuracy of EBVs is the quantity of performance information recorded with Breedplan. ‘Completeness of performance’ assesses the quantity of pedigree and performance information submitted to Breedplan by an individual herd.
The standard completeness of performance product is comprised of two major components:
(i) Annual distribution of completeness of performance reports to each individual Breedplan member
(ii) Production of a completeness of performance star rating for each individual Breedplan member
The completeness of performance reports allow members of Breedplan to assess how ‘complete’ their animal’s information is and identify areas where additional performance information could be recorded. The reports provide a summary of the breeder’s submitted information. A range of statistics are provided within the reports including details of the recorded pedigree, weight, carcase, birth and fertility information.
The reports also play an important role in enabling members to double check performance information has been recorded with Breedplan.
The completeness of performance star rating is an extension of the reports and can be implemented at the discretion of each individual breed society conducting a Breedplan evaluation.
The star rating for each herd is calculated based on the proportion of calves within the herd born in a fixed five year period which have been performance recorded for each trait. Different criteria are used within each individual breed depending on the traits for which EBVs are calculated within the breed. Each herd receives a star rating on a 0 – 5 scale (including half stars) that summarises the ‘completeness’ of their performance information.
Herds with a star rating of 5 are considered to be gold standard and are recording ‘complete’ performance information for all traits for which EBVs are available. Animals bred within a herd of 4 stars or higher will be highlighted in the society’s official shows and sales catalogues.
While ultimately EBV accuracy values provide an indication of the reliability an animal’s EBVs, the completeness of performance star rating provides both pedigree and commercial producers alike with an assessment of how much performance has been submitted to Breedplan by a herd when looking at the EBVs for animals within their herd.
The publication of completeness of performance star rating information differs slightly between each breed society, however the completeness of performance star rating is generally provided to each herd within their completeness of performance report, plus displayed on the member enquiry facility within each breed’s online database system. Users have the ability to limit animal and EBV searches based on a herd’s star rating.
(5) Herds with a star rating of 5 are gold standard. They are considered to be recording complete performance information with Breedplan for all animals across all traits for which EBVs are available.
(4) or (4.5) Herds with a star rating of 4 or 4.5 are silver standard. They are considered to be recording comprehensive performance information with Breedplan for most animals and traits, but are recording less performance than a 5 star herd.
(3) or (3.5) Herds with a star rating of 3 or 3.5 are considered bronze standard. They are considered to be recording performance information with Breedplan for a reasonable number of traits or animals, but are recording less performance information than a 4 or 5 star herd.
(2.5) or less Herds with a rating of 2.5 or less are recording information with Breedplan but not for all animals or traits. They are recording less performance information than a 3, 4 or 5 star herd.