Interbull Routine Genetic Evaluation for Direct Longevity Traits

February 2005

Introduction
International genetic evaluations for direct longevity of bulls from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands and The United States of America were computed in this evaluation for Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein and the Simmental breed.

Changes in national data compared to:
- November 2004 routine evaluations for Holsteins
- September 2004 test evaluations for non-Holstein breeds

• Sweden discovered an error in the last model they had tested, so they will not participate with Ayrshire data for the current routine run.
• The model for Italien Brown Swiss tested in the test run was based purely on indicator traits and was therefore not considered in the current routine run for direct longevity
• Switzerland is in a process of changing their model for longevity evaluation for both Simmental and Red Holstein and did therefore participate in the current routine run
• Austria-Germany is in a process of changing their model for longevity evaluation for Simmental and do therefore not participate in the current routine run
• The Netherlands did not participate with Holstein data in the routine run in November 2004 but do participate in the current routine run with the model they had tested in August 2004.
• France discovered a small discrepancy between submitted data and submitted heritability for the MON breed for the test run in September. Changes were very small and the heritability corresponding to data was used in the current evaluation.

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.

Tables 2 presents the date of evaluation as supplied by each country in the 017-proof file.

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 3).

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.

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.

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 dairy production, udder health, conformation, longevity and calving traits (Holsteins) is scheduled for May 2005. New data for the May routine run should reach the Interbull Centre not later than Tuesday April 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 May 5, 2005. Official release date of the results is targeted to be Monday May 9, 2005.

Next test international evaluation

The next test international evaluation for dairy production, conformation, udder health, longevity and calving traits (Holstein) is scheduled for March 2005. Countries wishing to enter the system for the first time or planning to submit new information (modified national evaluation procedure, newbreeds 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 March 2005 test evaluation is March 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 has 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;

Please use Interbull_at_hgen.slu.se for all communication regarding Interbull services.