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Background

Explore the value of interim evaluations for progeny-test bulls based on recent performance records to enhance genetic merit and optimize semen collection practices for superior bulls in the dairy industry.

jandreau
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Background

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  1. Alternatives for evaluating daughter performance of progeny-test bulls between official evaluationsAbstr. #10

  2. Background • All artificial insemination (AI) organizations want genetic information quickly to manage their semen production operations effectively • Most don’t want official information too frequently as they’re pressured to update sales material when new official information is provided

  3. Background cont.) • Receiving timely genetic information allows use of superior bulls earlier, thus increasing genetic improvement • Each week of earlier delivery of sires’ Predicted Transmitting Abilities for milk is worth about $5 million annually as a result of better genetics

  4. Background (cont.) • USDA changed from quarterly to triannual genetic evaluations in August 2007 to coincide with Interbull schedule • Industry cooperators had requested unofficial interim evaluations for progeny-test (PT) bulls to offset delay in receiving information

  5. Objectives • Investigate value of interim evaluations for PT bulls based on recent first-parity records of daughters and their contemporaries in cooperator herds • Determine if interim evaluations provide information accurate enough for semen collection and storage (banking) for bulls of potentially superior genetic merit • Secondarily assess value of interim evaluations for older bulls currently being marketed

  6. Data • Focused on Holstein PT bulls from August 2006. Extracted all the first-parity milk yield records of their daughters and their daughters’ contemporaries • 4 data subsets based on recent calvings in cooperator herds • Most recent 12 mo for herds with ≥5 PT daughter • Most recent 18 mo for herds with ≥5 PT daughter • Most recent 12 mo for herds with ≥1 PT daughters • Most recent 18 mo for herds with ≥1 PT daughters

  7. Methods • Compute interim evaluations for PT bulls and sires of contemporaries (non-PT) using current USDA animal model system and 4 data subsets • Calculate correlations of interim evaluations with May 2006, August 2006, and August 2007 official evaluations for bulls with ≥10 daughters for the interim evaluation and an increase in reliability

  8. Bulls with increased reliability*

  9. Bulls with increased reliability*

  10. Correlations between evaluations*

  11. Correlations between evaluations*

  12. Evaluation reliabilities (%)*

  13. Correlations between evaluations*

  14. Correlations between evaluations*

  15. Correlations with 2007 evaluation*

  16. Conclusions • High correlations (0.95 to 0.98) between interim and official evaluations for PT bulls • Highest correlation when data were from most recent 18 mo of calvings from herds with ≥1 PT daughter • Higher reliability for interim evaluation than previous official evaluation for almost all PT bulls • Lower reliability for almost all non-PT bulls

  17. Impact • Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding and dairy records processing centers support June, September, and November interim evaluations with release limited to PT bulls with ≥10 daughters and an increase in reliability since the most recent official evaluation

  18. Applications • Interim evaluations will provide valuable information for PT bulls between official evaluations • Savings of ~$11 million/yr by eliminating delay in delivery of genetic information to US dairy producers

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