Interbull Routine Genetic Evaluation for Dairy Production Traits
May 2005
Introduction
The latest routine international evaluation for dairy production traits took place as scheduled at the Interbull Centre. Data from twenty six (26) countries were included in this evaluation. Results were distributed on May 4, 2005, to designated representatives.
International genetic evaluations for milk, fat and
protein yields of bulls from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Rep. of South Africa,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States
of America were computed. Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey and
Simmental breed data were included in this evaluation.
New data (national genetic evaluations) included in this evaluation
Changes in Interbull procedures
Data and method of analysis
Data were national genetic evaluations of AI sampled bulls
with daughters in at least 10 herds. Table 1
presents the amount of data included in this Interbull evaluation. The
difference between "No. Records" and "No. Bulls" is explained by common bulls
with proofs in more than one country. The entry "Publishable Proofs" reflects
bulls whose international evaluations were distributed to service customers. The
difference between "No. Bulls" and "Publishable Proofs" is explained by bulls
not meeting the minimum criterion for official publication in the country of
origin.
Table 2 and table 3
presents the current definition of the reference (genetic) base and date of
evaluation, respectively, as supplied by each country in the dairy-production
proof file.
Estimated genetic parameters are shown in APPENDIX I
and the corresponding number of common bulls are listed in
APPENDIX II. Parameters are listed by breed, trait
and country.
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. Different breeds were analysed separately. Heritability
estimates used in both the de-regression and international evaluation were as in
each country's national evaluation (Table 4).
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). Birth year grouping was by 1-5 year periods.
Small groups (generally consisting of less than 10 bull) were combined.
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 and genetic parameter estimation
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:
Sigurdsson et al., 1996. Acta Agric. Scand. 46:129-136
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_042t.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 (www.interbull.org)
under "Publications and Documentation/General information".
Next routine international evaluation
The next routine international evaluation for dairy production, udder health, conformation, longevity and calving traits (Holsteins) is scheduled for August 2005. New data for the August routine run should reach the Interbull Centre not later than Tuesday July 26, 2005, 17:00 Central European Time (CET); in any case, the most recently received data will be considered. The target time for distribution of results for internal review to designated representatives, who have signed a confidentiality agreement with the Centre, is Thursday August 4, 2005. Official release date of the results is targeted to be Monday August 8, 2005.
Next test international evaluation
The next test international evaluation for dairy
production, conformation, udder health, longevity and calving traits (Holstein)
is scheduled for September 2005. Countries wishing to enter the system for the
first time or planning to submit new information (modified national evaluation
procedure, new breeds etc) for following routine evaluations must have their
data tested in this test-run.
Deadline for sending data and validation results to the Interbull Centre for the
next test-run is September 1, 2005 at 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 |
Thomas.Mark_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 | ||
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.