= Guideline to Form GENO =
You are kindly asked to fill in a Form GENO for all official traits in your country and submit the form(s) to the Interbull Centre ( interbull@slu.se ). We require that all traits submitted for a GMACE evaluations are described in a Form GENO in such a way that it is easy to understand exactly what traits are included in the GMACE international genetic evaluations.
We also encourage you to submit details for all other official traits in your country to facilitate transparency.
Please follow these guidelines as closely as possible when filling out the form(s) in order to accomplish this and in order for forms to be as homogeneous across country as possible.
== General Guidelines ==
 * Write in English.
 * Use one form for each main trait group. Number sub-traits within a main trait group and refer to these numbers throughout the document, when you have evaluations for more than one trait per main trait group.
 * Provide details on genetic parameters in Appendix GENO. 
 * Do not modify the form, i.e. keep all appendices even if they are empty, but feel free to add for instance tables with genetic (co-)variances.
 * Be detailed, but concise.
 * Quantify answers wherever possible.
 * Give as detailed information as possible, but remember that some information is better than no information! <<BR>>

== Specific Guidelines: ==

'''Country (or countries)''' <<BR>>Give the complete name. Write all country names if joint evaluation. <<BR>>

'''Main trait group ''' <<BR>> Either: Production, Conformation, Health, Longevity, Calving, Female fertility, Workability <<BR>>

'''Breed(s)''' <<BR>> Give the complete name of the breed(s). If a breed is evaluated together with a different breed, write the breed of evaluation in parenthesis. <<BR>>

'''Trait(s), trait definition(s) and unit(s) of measurement ''' <<BR>> Briefly state the definition of the trait in words (e.g. fat percentage, non- return rate 56d, etc). Write the unit of measurement, e.g. liter, kg, lb, 1000cells/ml, etc. Indicate frequencies per category if the trait is categorical and specify transformation of data if practiced. For combined traits give the exact formula used to combine sub-traits. Press enter before each new trait is described and number the traits (this number should be used to make reference to a particular trait throughout the document). <<BR>>

'''Source of genotypes ''' <<BR>> Indicate source of data, i.e. chips used <<BR>>

'''Imputation method for missing genotypes''' <<BR>> Describe the methodology applied. <<BR>>

'''Propagation of genomic information to non-genotyped descendants and ancestors''' <<BR>> Describe methodology used <<BR>>

'''Animals included in reference population ''' <<BR>> define number of males, females, countries included, total number <<BR>>

''' Source of phenotypic data ''' <<BR>> DYD, de-regressed proofs, national EBVs and/or MACE evaluations <<BR>>

''' Other criteria (data edits) for inclusion of records ''' <<BR>> Explain briefly <<BR>>

'''Criteria for extension of records''' <<BR>> (if applicable) e.g. minimum and maximum number of test days required and extension method/formula. <<BR>>

'''Sire categories''' <<BR>> Give sire categories included in the genetic evaluations: AI vs. NS, 1st vs. 2nd crop, young vs. proven bulls, percentage of ET produced bulls, etc., and preferably quantify number of sires in each category. <<BR>>

'''Genomic model ''' <<BR>> linear, Bayesian, polygenic effect, genotypes or haplotypes <<BR>>

'''Blending of direct genomic value (DGV) with traditional EBV  ''' <<BR>> Yes or no. If yes, please briefly explain how or give reference.<<BR>>

'''Environmental effects in the genetic evaluation model ''' <<BR>> State nature of these effects (e.g. continuous, discontinuous), number of levels, and in parenthesis how they are treated (e.g. fixed=F, random=R). <<BR>>

'''Adjustment for heterogeneous in variance in evaluation model ''' <<BR>> Indicate whether adjusted for '''in''' the model and if so what is adjusted for and how. Please give reference(s) if available. <<BR>>

'''Computation of genomic reliability  ''' <<BR>> Describe how the genomic reliability is calculated <<BR>>

'''Blending of foreign/Interbull information in evaluation ''' <<BR>> Yes or no. If yes, please briefly explain how or give reference. <<BR>>

'''Genetic parameters in the evaluation ''' <<BR>> Use Appendix GENO for heritability/genetic variance estimates <<BR>>

'''Expression of genetic evaluations ''' <<BR>> If standardized (e.g. RBV), give standardization formula in the appendix  <<BR>>


'''Definition of genetic reference base ''' <<BR>> How is the genetic (reference) base defined: cow or bull; Fixed or rolling; birth year, calving year or proof year; etc.

'''Labeling of genomic evaluations  ''' <<BR>>

'''Criteria for official publication of evaluations ''' <<BR>> Minimum reliability or number of daughters / herd, etc. <<BR>>


'''Number of evaluations / publications per year ''' <<BR>> 1, 2, 3,...? Which month(s)? <<BR>>

'''Use in total merit index ''' <<BR>> Name the total merit (performance) index and its constituents. Give economic weights and indicate how they are expressed (preferably in genetic standard deviation units). <<BR>>

'''Anticipated changes in the near future ''' <<BR>> State the nature and the date of the anticipated / planned change. <<BR>>

'''Key reference on methodology applied ''' <<BR>> Please name the key references, which are used as the basis of the current genetic evaluations. <<BR>>

'''Key organization: name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, web site ''' <<BR>> Be explicit.