Interbull Routine Genetic Evaluation for Female Fertility Traits

April  2010


Introduction

The latest test international evaluation for females fertility traits took place as scheduled at the Interbull Centre. Data from seventeen (17) countries were included in this evaluation.

International genetic evaluations for female fertility traits of bulls from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America were computed. Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Red Dairy Cattle and Simmental breed data were included in this evaluation.

Based on a decision made by Interbull Steering committee in August 2007, female fertility traits are classified 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).

Based on the above trait definitions the following traits have been submitted for international genetic evaluation of female fertility traits.
Country Traits Submitted traits and their definitions
BEL T2=CY PR=Pregnancy Rate (=[21/(DO-45+11)]*100, with DO=days open)
  T4=C2 PR=Pregnancy Rate (=[21/(DO-45+11)]*100, with DO=days open)
  T5=IT PR=Pregnancy Rate (=[21/(DO-45+11)]*100, with DO=days open)
     
CAN T1=HC NR=Non Return Rate after 56 Days in heifers (NRR), %
  T2=CY CF=Interval from Calving to First Service in cows(CF)
  T3=C1 NR=Non Return Rate after 56 Days in cows(NRR), %
  T4=C2 FC=Interval first insemination-conception in cows
  T5=IT DO=Days open
     
CHE T2=CR CF=Interval from Calving to First Service (ICF), days
  T3=C1 NR=Non Return Rate after 56 Days (NRR), %
  T4=C2 NR=Non Return Rate after 56 Days (NRR), %
     
CHR T2=CR CF=Interval from Calving to First Service (ICF), days
  T3=C1 NR=Non Return Rate after 56 Days (NRR), %
  T4=C2 NR=Cows' Non Return Rate after 56 Days (NRR), binary
     
CZE T1=HC CR=Heifers' Conception rate (pregnant or not after 3 months)
  T3=C1 CR=Cows' Conception rate (pregnant or not after 3 months)
  T4=C2 CR=Cows' Conception rate (pregnant or not after 3 months)
     
AUS/DEU T1=HC NR=Heifers' Non Return Rate after 56 days
  T2=CY CF=Interval from calving to first insemination cows (days)
  T3=C1 NR=Cows' Non Return Rate after 56 days
  T4=C2 FL=Interval from first to last insemination cows (days)
  T5=IT DO=Days open (days)
     
DFS T1=HC NR=Heifers' Non Return Rate after 56 days
  T2=CY CF=Interval from calving to first insemination cows (days)
  T3=C1 NR=Cows' Non Return Rate after 56 days
  T4=C2 FL=Interval from first to last insemination cows (days)
  T5=IT DO=Days open (days)
     
ESP T2=CY DO=Days open
  T4=C2 DO=Days open
  T5=IT DO=Days open
     
FRA T1=HC CR=Heifers' Conception rate (binary trait) for maiden heifers
  T3=C1 CR=Cows' Conception rate (binary trait) for cows
  T4=C2 CR=Cows' Conception rate (binary trait) for cows
     
GBR T2=CY CI=days between 1st and 2nd calvings
  T3=C1 NR=1st lactation non return at 56 days
  T4=C2 CI=days between 1st and 2nd calvings
  T5=IT CI=days between 1st and 2nd calvings
     
IRL T2=CY CI=Calving interval
  T4=C2 CI=Calving interval
  T5=IT CI=Calving interval
     
ISR T3=C1 CR=Inverse of the number of insemination to conception (%)
  T4=C2 CR=Inverse of the number of insemination to conception (%)
     
ITA T2=CY CF=Days to first service
  T3=C1 NR=Non-return rate at 56 days (%)
  T4=C2 CI=Calving Interval (days)
  T5=IT CI=Calving interval (days)
     
NLD T2=CY CF=Interval calving to first insemination (days)
  T3=C1 NR=Non-return rate 56 days (binary trait)
  T5=C2 CI=Calving Interval (days)
  T5=IT CI=Calving Interval (days)
     
NOR T1=HC NR=NR=Non-return rate 56 days (heifers)
  T2=CY CF=Interval calving to first insemination (days)
  T3=C1 NR=NR=Non-return rate 56 days (cows)
  T4=C2 CI=Calving Interval (days)
  T5=IT CI=Calving Interval (days)
     
NZL T2=CY PM=Lactating cow's ability to start cycling
  T4=C2 PC=Lactating cow's ability to conceive (CR42)
  T5=IT PC=Lactating cow's ability to conceive (CR42)
     
POL T1=HC Non return rate at 56 days for heifer
  T2=CR Interval from calving to first insemination
  T3=C1 Non return rate at 56 days for cows
  T4=  
  T5=IT Days open
     
USA T1=HC CR=Conception rate (heifer)
  T2=CY DP=Daughter Pregnancy Rate
  T3=C1 CR=Conception rate (cow)
  T4=C2 DP=Daughter Pregnancy Rate
  T5=IT DP=Daughter Pregnancy Rate
     


Changes in national procedures

Changes in the national genetic evaluation of female fertility traits are as follows:
 
DEU HOL, RDC Base change
     
NLD   Base change
     
CHE (RHOL) Base change
     
IRL   Merged a number of potential puplicates
     
POL   Base change and did a correction to coding of official/non-official proofs of bulls



Changes in Interbull procedures

The same software package as used for the September 2009 test run and the January routine run was used for this evaluation for all traits.

Editing rules for data inclusion have been changed to inclusion of AI sampled bulls with at least 10 daughters or 10 EDC (for clinical mastitis and maternal calving traits at least 50 daughters or 50 EDC, and for direct calving traits at least 50 calvings or 50 EDC) in at least 10 herds.

Data and method of analysis

Data were national genetic evaluations of AI sampled bulls with at least 10 daughters or 10 EDC (for clinical mastitis and maternal calving traits at least 50 daughters or 50 EDC, and for direct calving traits at least 50 calvings or 50 EDC) in at least 10 herds. Table 1 presents the amount of data included in this Interbull evaluation for all breeds.

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 2 presents the date of evaluation as supplied by each country in the 01x-proof file.

Estimated genetic parameters and sire standard deviations are shown in APPENDIX I and the corresponding number of common bulls are listed in APPENDIX II.

Ancestor-bulls without own proofs were traced as far back as possible 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 "Public Area/Publications/Guidelines/Interbull Advertising Guidelines".

Next routine international evaluation

The next routine evaluation of Interbull for production, conformation, udder health, longevity, calving, female fertility and workability traits is scheduled for August 2010. Deadline for sending data to the Interbull Centre is Tuesday July 27, 2010, 17:00 CET; confidential distribution of results is targeted for Thursday August 12, 2010, with earliest possible official release of results on August 17, 2010.

Next test international evaluation

The next test run for production, conformation, udder health, longevity, calving, female fertility and workability traits will take place in May 2010.

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 should be sent to the Interbull Centre no later than April 27, 2010, 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:   Phone
  Joao.Durr_at_hgen.slu.se : +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
  Valentina.Palucci_at_hgen.slu.se   +46-18-671987
  Anne.Loberg_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

For all communication regarding Interbull services, please use: interbull@hgen.slu.se