Truncated MACE (TMACE)
An increasing number of National Genetic Evaluation Centres (NGECs) are now performing national genomic evaluations, which rely on Interbull's MACE results. These evaluations incorporate foreign genotypes without national phenotypic information, with the only available data being de-regressed MACE estimated breeding values (EBVs).
While NGECs can use the latest MACE EBVs for SNP effect estimation, obtaining the de-regressed values for validation can be complex. To assist with this, Interbull introduced Truncated MACE (TMACE) in 2019 to improve national genomic predictions and validations.
Service description
TMACE uses national EBVs obtained from the current national model as an input, but with the four most recent years of phenotypic data removed. This is particularly important for groups of countries sharing the same reference population for genomic predictions.
TMACE is performed annually in October. While TMACE is open to all breeds and NGECs participating in MACE evaluations, it is expected that TMACE is of particular interest to breeds and NGECs having also a national genomic evaluation.
The TMACE service covers the six dairy breed groups that are included in MACE:
- Brown Swiss
- Guernsey
- Holstein-Friesian (Black & White / Red & White)
- Jersey
- Red Dairy Cattle (including Dairy Shorthorn)
- Simmental (including Montbeliarde)
The TMACE service covers all seven trait groups that are included in MACE:
- Calving
- Conformation
- Female Fertility
- Longevity
- Production
- Udder health
- Workability
- SNP Training for Clinical Mastitis
Truncated MACE (TMACE) provides appropriate validation inputs for countries using foreign bulls in their reference population, potentially providing MACE results for foreign bulls with no daughters in the participating country.
- A minimum of four years of MACE participation.
- NGECs that are interested in participating need to inform the Interbull Centre.
- Participating NGECs are requested to submit national EBVs from their current models excluding the last four years of data.
- €1,500 per annum for NGECs submitting data for a single breed.
- €2,500 per annum for NGECs submitting data for two or more breeds.