Author
 |
Powell, Rex |
|
Submitted to: Typex
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: August 1995 bull evaluations from the International Bull Evaluation Service (INTERBULL) were its 3rd routine release. In February 1995, evaluations had been released for 5 dairy breeds and 10 countries, but only about half of the countries accepted the results on their scale as official. Reluctance to accept the evaluations seemed largely to be caused by not considering genetic correlations between countries. A lesser concern was that evaluations from countries where a bull was used secondarily were not included. These two limitations were largely removed with August 1995 evaluations. Genetic correlations of .87 to .96 between countries and traits were computed and applied, which caused local bulls to rank a bit higher than before for each country relative to bulls from other countries. Data for bulls previously proven elsewhere were allowed but only with permission of the country providing the data (given by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and the United States for Holsteins; withheld by Canada, France, and Sweden). Each country has the right to determine what use to make of INTERBULL evaluations on their base and scale. Germany and The Netherlands joined Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden, and the United States in considering results official on their country's base and scale for foreign bulls; Canada and Italy didn't accept evaluations as official. Norway participates only for Ayrshires, allows use of 2nd-country evaluations, and accepts INTERBULL evaluations as official. An individual country now is allowed to distribute INTERBULL evaluations only on its base and scale. New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are hoped to be included in February 1996 evaluations. Australia is expected to participate in testing after February 1996. |
