Interbull Routine Genetic Evaluation for Conformation Traits

January 2010

Introduction
The latest test international evaluation for conformation traits took place as scheduled at the Interbull Centre. Data from twenty (20) countries were included in this evaluation.

International genetic evaluations for calving traits of bulls from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark-Finland-Sweden,  Spain, France, United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Estonia, and the United States of America were computed. Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein,Jersey and Red Dairy Cattle breed data were included in this evaluation.

Changes in national procedures
Changes in the national genetic evaluation of conformation traits are as follows:

• ESP (HOL):            - included locomotion and did a base change
   
• CZE (HOL):            - included locomotion and body condition score
   
• USA (non-HOL):    - base change
   
• DEU (BSW):           - included overall conformation for the first time. Change trait definition for overall feet and legs, fore udder
                                     attachment and rear teat placement
   
• GBR (non-HOL):     -base change

Changes in the Interbull procedures
The same software package as used for the September 2009 test 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
http://www.interbull.org/documents/genetic_correlation_estimation_procedure.pdf 

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 evaluation of Interbull for production, conformation, udder health, longevity, calving, female fertility and workability traits is scheduled for April 2010. Deadline for sending data to the Interbull Centre is Tuesday March 23, 2010, 17:00 CET; confidential distribution of results is targeted for Thursday April 1,  2010, with earliest possible official release of results on April 6, 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;

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