6. Traits and breeds

6.1 The service considers Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian (Black & White, and Red & White), Jersey, Red Dairy Cattle, and Simmental (including Montbeliarde) type bulls (item 7.1.7).

6.2 Dairy-production traits considered are milk, fat and protein yields.

• 6.2.1 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for dairy-production traits should be provided before each test run using Forms GE (including Appendix GE and Appendix PR) and VAL_PR (both forms can be downloaded from Interbull webpage http://www.interbull.org under Costumer Area > Service Documentation).
  6.2.2 Acceptable units of measurement are kilogram, liter, pound, and relative breeding value.

6.3 Conformation traits considered for Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Red Dairy Cattle breeds are:

Conformation traits considered for the Brown Swiss breed are:

• 6.3.1 Validation (item 4.1.4) of conformation traits is required for stature and udder support, although all countries are encouraged to apply the validation tests to all evaluated traits.

  6.3.2 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for conformation traits should be provided using Forms GE (including Appendices GE and CO/BCO) and VAL_CO, respectively (Appendix II or download at http://www.interbull.org).

6.4 Udder health traits considered are milk somatic cells and clinical mastitis.

6.4.1 For each breed, two separate international genetic evaluations are computed. The first includes milk somatic cell national evaluations from individual countries. The second includes national evaluations for clinical mastitis as a direct trait from countries that make this information available and milk somatic cell national evaluations from all other countries.

6.4.2 For clinical mastitis, bulls are required to have at least 50 daughters in at least 10 herds for inclusion in the international genetic evaluation and estimation of genetic correlations between countries, in addition to the criteria mentioned in items 5.3 and 5.4.

6.4.3 Conversion coefficients are computed based on international predicted merit of bull’s that are progeny tested only in one country (country of origin), with minimum birth year 1989 in year 2004 (to be updated by 1 year at each January evaluation), in addition to the criteria mentioned in item 5.8. For country combinations not fulfilling these requirements conversion equations are computed based on theoretical b-values and empirical a-values as described in item 5.8.http://www.interbull.org).

6.4.4 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for udder health traits should be provided using Forms GE (including Appendices GE and SM) and VAL_SM, respectively (Appendix II or download at http://www.interbull.org)

6.5 Longevity trait considered is direct longevity.

6.5.1 National genetic evaluations for direct longevity should be provided if available, even if they are not officially provided in the country, which is an exception from item 7.1.5.

6.5.2 Validation (item 4.1.4) of longevity traits should be done with Method 2 and 3 (Appendix III) when the national evaluation uses a linear model, and with Method 2 when survival models is used. Interbull will implement Method 3, when applicable.

6.5.3 Conversion coefficients are computed based on international predicted merit of bull’s that are progeny tested only in one country (country of origin), with minimum birth year 1989 in year 2004 (to be updated by 1 year at each January evaluation), in addition to the criteria mentioned in item 5.8. For country combinations not fulfilling these requirements conversion equations are computed based on theoretical b-values and empirical a-values as described in item 5.8.http://www.interbull.org).

6.5.4 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for longevity traits should be provided using Forms GE (including Appendices GE and LO) and VAL_LO, respectively (Appendix II).

6.6 Calving traits considered are direct and maternal calving ease and direct and maternal stillbirth.

6.6.1 Bulls are required to have at least 50 calves in at least 10 herds for direct traits and at least 50 daughters in at least 10 herds for maternal traits for inclusion in the international genetic evaluation and estimation of genetic correlations between countries, in addition to the criteria mentioned in items 5.3 and 5.4.

6.6.2 Conversion coefficients are computed based on international predicted merit of bull’s that are progeny tested only in one country (country of origin), with minimum birth year 1989 in year 2004 (to be updated by 1 year at each January evaluation), in addition to the criteria mentioned in item 5.8. For country combinations not fulfilling these requirements conversion equations are computed based on theoretical b-values and empirical a-values as described in item 5.8.

6.6.3 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for calving traits should be provided using Forms GE (including Appendices GE and CA) and VAL_CA, respectively (Appendix II or download at http://www.interbull.org).

6.7 Female fertility traits considered are maiden heifers ability to conceive, lactating cows ability to recycle after calving, lactating cows ability to conceive measured as a rate trait, lactating cows ability to conceive measured as an interval trait, and lactating cows measurement of interval calving conception.

6.7.1 Conversion coefficients are computed based on international predicted merit of bull’s that are progeny tested only in one country (country of origin), with minimum birth year 1989 in year 2004 (to be updated by 1 year at each January evaluation), in addition to the criteria mentioned in item 5.8. For country combinations not fulfilling these requirements conversion equations are computed based on theoretical b-values and empirical a-values as described in item 5.8.

6.8 A description of the national genetic evaluation system and a summarized proof of validation results for female fertility traits should be provided using Forms GE (including Appendices GE and FF) and VAL_FF, respectively (Appendix II).6.8 Consideration of application of international genetic evaluations on other breeds and other traits will be subject to results of pertinent research and development work. Such work would normally follow the subsequent steps:

6.8.1 Scientific research should be conducted at the Interbull Centre or at other institutes worldwide. Collaborative research proposals with Interbull are scientifically reviewed before they are adopted. Research results are usually presented at the annual Interbull meetings and reviewed by technical representatives of members and the Interbull Technical Committee.

6.8.2 When such research has advanced, pilot studies are conducted and results are distributed to participating organisations for review.

6.8.3 Results from the pilot studies are reviewed, usually at a technical workshop, with principal investigators and scientists from all member countries.

6.8.4 Pending the outcome of the review of pilot study results, the Interbull Steering Committee decides to proceed with the expansion of the service. A service document is prepared and distributed, and a test evaluation run is scheduled.

6.8.5 Following successful completion and review of the test evaluation run, the new traits/breeds are included in the routine evaluation

6.9 Deviations from the procedure outlined in item 6.8 may be accepted by the Interbull Steering Committee, for instance when breeds and traits are added to an already established service.