Using Mating Predictor
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Compare potential sire and dam combinations before making breeding decisions.
- Generate Expected Progeny Averages (EPAs) and inbreeding information for multiple potential matings at once.
- View potential mating results in both table and graphical formats.
Mating Predictor is a decision-support tool within BreedLOGIC Database Search that allows breeders to evaluate potential sire and dam combinations. Using genetic evaluation information for the selected animals, Mating Predictor calculates the expected average genetic merit of the resulting progeny and provides an estimate of inbreeding.
Please note that Mating Predictor is not available for all breed societies.
SELECTING SIRES AND DAMS
To begin, enter the names or identifiers of the sires and dams you wish to evaluate (Figure 1). Multiple animals can be entered.
Wildcards can also be used to identify groups of animals. For example, a breeder may use a search such as ABC% and then specify a calving year to identify all females from their herd in a particular drop.
The Maximum Dams setting allows users to control the number of females included in the analysis, with options of 50, 100, 150, or 200 dams.
Once the required sires and dams have been entered, click Search to generate the mating predictions.
UNDERSTANDING RESULTS
The results page displays the genetic evaluation information for the selected matings (Figure 2). For each mating combination, users can view the sire and dam EBVs and Selection Indexes alongside the predicted Expected Progeny Average (EPA) for all published traits and indexes.
Breed average values are also displayed for comparison, helping users assess how the predicted progeny compare with the wider population.
In addition to the genetic predictions, Mating Predictor displays the expected Inbreeding Coefficient for each mating, together with the minimum and average number of generations used in the inbreeding calculation.
Selecting the View Pedigree and EPA for this Mating button opens a detailed view showing the pedigrees of both the sire and dam, together with a graphical representation of the mating's Expected Progeny Averages.
For organisations participating in genetic evaluation programs such as BREEDPLAN, the EPAs are displayed on the EBV Percentile Graph, providing a visual indication of where the average progeny from the mating are expected to rank within the breed population for each trait.
This can be a useful visualisation tool when comparing mating options and identifying combinations that best align with breeding objectives.
GROUPING RESULTS
Results can be viewed in two different ways using the switch located in the top-left corner of the screen:
- Group By Sire displays one sire against all selected dams.
- Group By Dam displays one dam against all selected sires.
Grouping by sire can be useful when evaluating a team of females against a selected sire, while grouping by dam allows users to compare multiple sire options for an individual female.
Where multiple sires or dams have been entered, the Previous and Next buttons can be used to move between animals and review the associated mating results.
EXPORTING RESULTS
A CSV Export option is available in the top-right corner of the results screen, allowing users to download the mating predictions for further analysis or reporting.