Time is really important when it comes to figuring out how good breeding values are during the selection process. Here’s a simple breakdown of how time affects this:

1. Generation Interval: If it takes a long time for new generations to come along, it can slow down the selection process. This may lead to less accurate estimates of breeding values (EBVs). For example, in cattle, it takes time to select young female cows (heifers) before their babies can start contributing to the breeding goals.

2. Sampling Variation: As time goes by, collecting more performance data can help make better estimates. With more measurements, the accuracy of EBVs usually gets better because there are more examples to work with.

3. Environmental Changes: Sometimes, changes in the environment can affect how well things grow, which can change the breeding value predictions. For example, a drought can slow down growth and lead to unclear breeding values.

In short, it's really important to balance time with collecting accurate data to make smart selection decisions.