Submitted to: AIPL Research Reports
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: February 9, 1998
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract:
Changes in the system for calculation of national genetic evaluations for dairy cattle were documented for evaluations released in February 1998. All dates now include four characters for year to accommodate the year 2000. The U.S. identification (ID) system was expanded to provide unique lifetime ID numbers and to handle international ID numbers. Breed and bull ID codes assigned by the National Association of Animal Breeders also were expanded. Computer formats 380 and 380S were replaced by format 38 to accommodate the ID changes. The bull evaluation and daughter list was discontinued. To reduce labor, bull evaluation information was sent by postcard to owners of bulls not in artificial-insemination service. Expected inbreeding percentage of future progeny was added to bull evaluations (format 38). For active Holstein bulls, expected inbreeding of offspring ranged from 3.1 to 7.2%. A single reliability for yield based on the economic value of milk, fat, and protein was made available to summarize the reliabilities for protein and for milk and fat. Although individual trait reliabilities are still available, the new yield reliability and the reliability for the economic index for net merit are recommended for use in advertising. For Brown Swiss bulls, the international evaluation calculated by the International Bull Evaluation Service (INTERBULL) is now considered official if the INTERBULL reliability is 5 units higher than the reliability for the corresponding evaluation based on U.S. data only. For evaluation of conformation (type) traits of breeds other than Holstein, an animal model replaced the sire model. New age adjustment factors and heritabilities also were estimated for type traits of these breeds.
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