- EXPORT/MATERNAL

- HEREFORD PRIME/MATERNAL

- DAIRY BEEF/ MATERNAL.

The Indexes are derived by acknowledging the relative importance (weighting's) of EBV's across the sixteen EBV's produced for the Association by ABRI. Derived in relation to market returns less the cost of production, with all indexes being expressed in dollar terms.

The Export Index - focuses on the production of a 555 kg steer by age 20 months from a self replacing cow herd - that is a herd producing females over a 5 year period to continue the breeding policy.

The Hereford Prime Index - focuses on producing a 510kg steer by age, 18 months.

The Dairy Beef Index - aims to produce readily marketable crossbred steers at 475 kg by 16 months, but also a component for the breeding of Hereford Friesian cross heifers particularly sought after for beef cows.

The Association wishes to stress the importance of, when using BREEDOBJECT indexes, for breeders to accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of their female herd, then check the EBVs of similar index animals being considered. This is because animals of the same index may have arrived at the same end point by different EBV strengths, which may not take the herd in the direction, desired. Therefore it may be advantageous to check before purchase.