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Validation of national conventional breeding values
Conventional Validation tests have been available for breeds and countries involved in Interbull’s international evaluations since 1996.
Verification of genetic trends by validation of national conventional EBVs is a pre-requisite for data inclusion in Interbull’s international evaluations. Before accepting data from a country to be included in international genetic evaluations, trend validation tests are completed.
Data must pass all applicable tests to be included in Interbull’s genetic evaluations. Results of validation tests are kept confidential between Interbull Centre and the Service User.
Interbull’s Conventional Validations are done using TrendTest software and the Mendelian Sampling Variance test software, both available exclusively for Interbull users via the IDEA interface.
The trend test software allows organisations to perform the following three different methods listed below.
Enables the impact of cow records from different age groups on the genetic trend to be investigated.
- Definition:
Comparison of genetic trends estimated using only first lactation versus all lactations in the routine national genetic evaluations.
- Responsibilities
Countries using multiple-lactation models in national genetic evaluations
Validation tests must be conducted when a Service User:
- First enters the Interbull evaluation system
- Changes the national evaluation model or genetic parameters
- Participates for the first time in a specific Interbull evaluation, or
- Has not submitted validation results to Interbull for more than two years
The validation of national conventional breeding values service covers all the breeds included in the international evaluations:
- Brown Swiss
- Guernsey
- Holstein-Friesian (Black & White / Red & White)
- Jersey
- Red Dairy Cattle (including Dairy Shorthorn)
- Simmental (including Montbeliarde)
- Provides independent assessment and quality assurance of EBVs.
- Assurance that statistical models applied are sound and appropriate to the data.
- Confirmation that the bias in statistical models applied for a given breed or trait are within a tolerated threshold of 2%.
- MACE Participation
- A signed Service User Agreement with Interbull Centre.
- There is no additional fee associated with this service