DQI – What is it?

The Data Quality Index (DQI) is simply the quantity and how good of quality the data is when you are uploading to the Sheep Ireland database over a given year. The DQI reflects three aspects of your data recording such as timeliness, completeness and quality of recording.

DQI – Why is it Important?

Data needs to be recorded on the database in a prompt manner to minimize significant movements in the €urostar’s of animals later in the season, making their evaluations more accurate. DQI illustrates how engaged breeders are in the genetic evaluations and the €urostar system as a whole. Purchasing animals from a breeder with a high DQI reassures buyers that the €urostars generated for this animal are accurate as the breeder has met Sheep Ireland’s desired data required for accurate evaluations.

Example

A common question from breeders is “what has changed between today and 1 week ago? I have not inputted information on a particular ram? Why has he jumped in his €urostars?”. The answer to this question is; if this ram was shared by several breeders, one breeder may input data straight away and giving as much details as possible (giving them a high DQI -) where another breeder may not input data until one month after the event occurred and with very little detail (retrieving low a DQI). This then affects the €urostars of that particular ram, as a flood of in information is processed in the genetic evaluation – this may cause the €urostars to increase or decrease or in some cases the €urostars may stay the same.

Check out improvements that were made to the DQI in last year –  click here for details

Please see below video of Dr Alan Bohan, Teagasc explaining important questions and improvements made to the DQI