Scandinavian cooperation in dairy evaluation

1
Scandinavian co-operation in dairy evaluation

• Gert Pedersen Aamand, Nordic Cattle Genetic
  Evaluation,
• Udkaersvej 15, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark e-mail
  gap_at_landscentret.dk Homepage www.nordicebv.info
• Presentation at
• EHRC-Managers meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus
• By Keld Christensen, Danish Holstein
• September 5, 2008
• kec_at_lr.dk

2
The history so far

• 2002 Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway
  established Nordisk AvlsværdiVurdering (NAV)
• 2002 First RD project for estimation of joint
  EBVs was started
• 2004 Norway left NAV
• 2005 First joint EBVs was published - type, milk
  ability, temperament and fertility
• 2006 Yield and mastitis
• 2007 Calving
• 2008 October TMI
• 2009 Longevity and beefproduction

3
NAV-registration development

• Harmonization of existing traits
• e.g. calving ease
• Registration of new traits think Nordic
• (claw trimmer data, locomotion)

4
Harmonization of registration

• Ongoing harmonization work
• Type traits
• Exactly the same traits are scored (Finland 4
  new, Denmark 1 new)
• Joint manual
• Nordic classifier workshop every 2nd year
• Hoof trimming data, other future reg.

5
NAV-EBVs future

• Feet and Leg traits
• Locomotion, claw trimmer data
• Automatic registrations
• Milk flow, progesterone, teat placement, other
  Herd Navigator measurement etc.
• Estimation of BV based on cross breed animals
• QTL, SNPs, GenomSelection

6
Hoof trimmer data - Basis

• 4 categories of hoof problems as 0/1
• Dermatitis
• Heel Horn erosion
• Sole Haemorrhage
• Sole Ulcer

7
Data registration and quality

• Coming years
• Functional traits will be recorded on large scale
  outside the Nordic countries
• Data quality need attention
• Focus on easy and accurate registration also a
  challenge for Nordic countries
• New traits

8
Perspectives - Joint Nordic estimation of
breeding values

• Use resources more efficient
• Development of new method
• Routine evaluation
• Simultaneously use of all data and relationships
  between Nordic animals
• All cows and sires can be directly compared
• Joint platform for practical breeding work

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Data flow in relation to the central data base
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Sweden 138.000 SRB 157.000 HF 295.000 in total
Finland 156.000 FAY 71.000 HF 227.000 in total
Denmark 40.000 RDM 362.000 HF 58.000
Jersey 474.000 in total
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Tested young bulls

• 270 RDC bulls
• 430 Holstein
• 60 Jersey
• 30 of the females inseminated by young bulls
• Progeny group size 90-250 (smallest DNK largest
  FIN)

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Herd size, number of cows
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Number of herds
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Estimation of breeding values

• Use the registered data in the best possible way
• Estimate accurate EBVs
• Improved statistical models
• New traits

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Estimation of breeding values

• Improved statistical models
• More accurate EBVs
• More accurate selection of breeding animals
• Higher genetic progress

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Genetic evaluation

• Finland, Sweden and Denmark benefits from their
  similar registration systems in the Joint Nordic
  Genetic Evaluation

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Genetic evaluation
Denmark
Data
Sweden
Finland
100 agree on breeding goal
NAV
NAV model

• Joint ranking of animals
• Expressed on rolling cow base mean 100
• Expressed with a standard deviation of 10

NAV- EBVs
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Nordic routine evaluation

• Presentation of breeding values
• Common base
• Common standard deviation
• Common dates for publishing EBVs
• Breeders in Denmark, Finland and Sweden can see
  the same EBVs at the same time

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Presentation of EBVsfrom October 2008
NTM Nordic Total Merit
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Breeding goal

• Get maximum economic gain

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Process joint Nordic breeding goal

• Economic basis 2007
• Expectations for the future traits getting
  bigger/smaller value 5-10 years ahead
• Joint Nordic Breeding Goal

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Correlation between the total merit index and sub
indices within country using present total merit
indices or the calculated average NAV-TMI weights
for Holstein
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Conclusion

• NAV want to give
• The practical cattle breeding the best selection
  tool to achieve maximal genetic progress

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Joint Nordic Breeding Goal is decided yet,
and reality October 15, 2008