High quality data is significantly correlated with higher rates of genetic gain, due to increased accuracy of ASBVs and therefore a higher selection accuracy. Sheep Genetics members have access to a Data Quality Score (DQS) Report which highlights important aspects of data quality including:
The DQS report provides a rating out of 100 and a star rating (out of 5), as well as providing up to three areas to improve and strengths in data quality for each flock. The DQS Report is heavily used by the Sheep Genetics Development Officers when talking to flocks about how to improve their data quality and rates of genetic gain.
ver the past 12 months, the Sheep Genetics Development Officers have been busy over identifying key areas of data quality to contact relevant flocks about and work with breeders to improve their data quality using the metrics captured in the DQS report and other key aspects of data quality. Focused efforts have been made to improve the following data quality metrics:
The push to improve data quality in the genetic evaluations has seen a significant improvement in the above data quality metrics. This effort from the Development Officers will continue into the future to ensure that the highest quality data is being used to calculate ASBVs, which in turn will have a positive influence on selection accurate and rates of genetic gain. The Sheep Genetics Development Officers also presented the importance of a range of data quality metrics to Service Providers and key Performance Group members across the last 12 months also, providing individual summaries of ways to improve to flocks and Service Providers.