Interbull Routine Genetic Evaluation for Female Fertility Traits
April 2008
Introduction
International genetic evaluations for female fertility
traits of bulls from Belgium (BEL), Canada (CAN), Czech Republic (CZE), France (FRA),
Germany-Austria (DEU),Ireland (IRL), Israel (ISR), Italy (ITA), The Netherlands
(NLD), New Zealand (NZL), Nordic countries (DFS: Denmark, Finland, Sweden),
Spain (ESP), Switzerland (CHE and CHR, for Holstein
and Red Holstein, respectively), United Kingdom (GBR), and The United States of
America (USA) were included in this evaluation.
After the decision made by Interbull Steering committee a new way of
classsifying female fertility traits were adopted. Female fertility traits used
in this Interbull routine evaluation were classified in a as follows:
| T1 | (HC): | Maiden (H)eifer's ability to (C)onceive.
A measure of confirmed conception, such as conception rate (CR), will be
considered for this trait group. In the absence of confirmed conception an
alternative measure, such as interval first-last insemination (FL), interval
first insemination-conception (FC), number of inseminations (NI), or non-return rate (NR,preferably NR56) can be submitted; |
| T2 | (CR): | Lactating (C)ow's ability to (R)ecycle after calving. The interval calving-first insemination (CF) is an example for this ability. In the abscence of such a trait, a measure of the interval calving-conception, such as says oprn (DO) or calving interval (CI) can be submitted; |
| T3 | (C1): | Lactating (C)ow's ability to conceive (1), expressed as a rate trait. Traits like conception rate (CR) and non-return rate (NR, preferably NR56) will be considered for this trait group; |
| T4 | (C2): | Lactating (C)ow's ability to conceive (2), expressed as an interval trait. The interval first insemination-conception (FC) or interval first-last insemination (FL) will be considered for this trait group. As an alternative, number of inseminations (NI) can be submitted. In the abscence of any of these traits, a measure of interval calving-conception such as days open (DO), or calving interval (CI) can be submitted. All countries are expected to submit data for this trait group, and as a last resort the trait submitted under T3 can be submitted for T4 as well. |
| T5 | (IT): | Lactating cow's measurements of (I)nterval (T)raits calving-conception, such as days open (DO) and calving interval (CI). |
Changes in national procedures
CChanges in the national genetic evaluation of female fertility traits are as follows:There has not been any change in the Interbull procedures
since the latest evaluation.
Data and method of analysis
Traits submitted by the participating countries are presented in
Table 1.
Data were national genetic evaluations of AI sampled bulls with at least 10
daughters in at least 10 herds. Table 2
presents the amount of data included in this Interbull evaluation for all
breads.
Information on the expression of national genetic evaluation results,
(T)ransmitting abilities or (B)reeding values, and whether higher or lower
values are desirable are presented in Table 3.
National proofs were first de-regressed within country and then analysed jointly
with a linear model including the effects of evaluation country, genetic group
of bull and bull merit. Heritability estimates used in both the de-regression
and international evaluation were as in each country's national evaluation
(Table 4).
Table 5 presents the date of evaluation as supplied by each country in the
019-proof file.
Estimated genetic parameters are shown in APPENDIX I
and the corresponding
number of common bulls are listed in APPENDIX II.
Ancestor-bulls without own proofs were traced back two generations from the
oldest bulls with proofs in order to increase across country connections and
account for the effect of selection.
Genetic groups were defined according to unidentified parents by national
origin, breed and birth year of the bull and path of selection (sire, maternal
grand-sire, maternal grand-dam). Minimum group size was set to 30.
Scientific literature
The international genetic evaluation procedure is based on international work described in the following scientific publications:
International genetic evaluation computation:
Schaeffer. 1994. J. Dairy Sci. 77:2671-2678
Klei, 1998. Interbull Bulletin 17:3-7
Verification and Genetic trend validation:
Klei et al., 2002. Interbull Bulletin 29:178-182.
Boichard et al., 1995. J. Dairy Sci. 78:431-437
Weighting factors:
Fikse and Banos, 2001. J. Dairy Sci. 84:1759-1767
De-regression:
Sigurdsson and G. Banos. 1995. Acta Agric. Scand. 45:207-219
Jairath et al. 1998. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 81:550-562
Genetic parameter estimation:
Klei and Weigel, 1998, Interbull Bulletin 17:8-14
Sullivan, 1999. Interbull Bulletin 22:146-148
Post-processing of estimated genetic correlations:
Mark et al., 2003, Interbull Bulletin 30:126-135
Jorjani et al., 2003. J. Dairy Sci. 86:677-679
Genetic correlation estimation procedure
Time edits
Weigel and Banos. 1997. J. Dairy Sci. 80:3425-3430
International reliability estimation
Harris and Johnson. 1998. Interbull Bulletin 17:31-36
Publication of Interbull evaluations
Results were distributed by the Interbull Centre to designated
representatives in each country. The international evaluation file comprised international proofs expressed on the base and unit of each country included
in the analysis. Such records readily provide more information on bull performance in various countries, thereby minimising the need to resort to
conversions.
At the same time, all recipients of Interbull results are expected to honour the agreed code of practice, decided by the Interbull Steering Committee,
and only publish international evaluations on their own country scale. Evaluations expressed on another country scale are confidential and may only
be used internally for research and review purposes.
All recipients are also expected to follow the agreed guidelines for advertising
genetic merit. The guidelines has been distributed to all members and is available on the Interbull homepage ( http://www.interbull.org) under
"Publications and Documentation/General information".
Next routine international evaluation
The next routine international evaluation for production,
conformation, udder health, longevity, calving (Holstein, Red Dairy Cattle
breeds, Brown Swiss), and female fertility traits is scheduled for August 2008.
Deadline for sending data to the Interbull Centre is Tuesday August 5, 2008,
17:00 CET; confidential distribution of results is targeted for Thursday August
14, 2008, with earliest possible official release of results on Tuesday August
19, 2008.
Next test international evaluation
The next test run for production, conformation, udder
health, longevity, calving traits (Holstein, Red Dairy Cattle breeds, Brown
Swiss), and female fertility will take place in May 2008.
Countries planning to introduce changes in their national evaluation procedures
and wishing to have them included in the routine Interbull evaluation, should
have their data examined in this test run. New data and validation results for
the May test-run should be sent to the Interbull Centre no later than April 22,
2008, 17:00 CET.
Means of result distribution from the Interbull Centre
Electronic exchange of data is probably more efficient
than anything else. Currently most countries in the service have established
internet connections and receive international evaluation results on the day of
their release. Subscribers to the service that do not already exercise this
option are encouraged to consider it and establish an internet connection and
ftp account. When such accounts are available, please provide their
specifications to the Interbull Centre. Until then, data will be delivered on
CD-ROM's.
For more information about the international genetic evaluation service please contact the
Interbull Centre: address: SLU Box 7023, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; fax:
+46-18-672648;
| e-mail: | Freddy.Fikse_at_hgen.slu.se | Phone: | +46-18-671994 |
| Flavio.Forabosco_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671974 | ||
| Jette.Jakobsen_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671955 | ||
| Eva.Hjerpe_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-672438 | ||
| Hossein.Jorjani_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671964 | ||
| Anne.Torsell_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671975 | ||
| Jan.Philipsson_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671976 | ||
| Dan.Englund_at_hgen.slu.se | +46-18-671968 |
Please use Interbull_at_hgen.slu.se for all communication regarding Interbull services.