ARS | Publication request: Increased Reliability Of Genetic Evaluations For Dairy Cattle In The United States From Use Of Genomic Information

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 9, 2010
Publication Date: August 1, 2010
Citation: Wiggans, G.R., Cooper, T.A., Van Raden, P.M., Silva, M.V. 2010. Increased Reliability Of Genetic Evaluations For Dairy Cattle In The United States From Use Of Genomic Information. World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production. Proc. 9th World Congr. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod., Leipzig, Germany, Aug. 1–6, 4 pp.

Interpretive Summary: Use of genomic information increased reliability of genetic evaluations for yield and functional traits. The average gain compared to parent averages was 28.4% for Holsteins, 20.7% for Jerseys and 12.8% for Brown Swiss. These gains were calculated from correlations of evaluations in August 2006 (predictor population of 10,002 animals) with deregressed values from January 2010 for 4,553 animals with traditional evaluations in 2010 but not 2006. For yield traits, cows evaluations were adjusted so that mean and variance approximated that of bulls with similar reliability. This adjustment increased reliability gain by 2.7% for Holsteins and 8.6% for Jerseys across yield traits. Reliability gain increases as more animals are added to the predictor population.

Technical Abstract: Use of genomic information increased reliability of genetic evaluations compared to parent averages by 28.4% for Holsteins, 20.7% for Jerseys and 12.8% for Brown Swiss when averaged across milk, fat and protein yields and three functional traits. Correlations of genomic predictions based on evaluations in August 2006 (predictor population of 10,002 animals) with deregressed values from January 2010 were calculated for 4,553 animals with traditional evaluations in 2010 but not 2006. For yield traits, deregressed values for cows were adjusted so that mean and variance approximated that of bulls with similar reliability. This adjustment increased reliability gain by 2.7% for Holsteins and 8.6% for Jerseys across yield traits. Reliability gain increases as more animals are added to the predictor population.