Form GE

DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL GENETIC EVALUATION SYSTEMS

Country (or countries)	Switzerland	
Main trait group1 NOTE! Only one trait group per form!	Health	
Breed(s)	Holstein, Simmental	
Trait definition(s) and unit(s) of measurement2 Attach an appendix if needed	1) SCS: Somatic cell score (log2), expressed as average daily score
2) Mastitis: Observed mastitis (acute, chronic clinical or subclinical) from -10 to 150 DIM. 0=no mastitis, 1=at least one mastitis event observed and 3 SCC based traits (mean of SCS, standard deviation of SCS and mastitis identified on the basis of at least one SCC above 350’000/ml (only the SCS/SCC measurements within the first 150 DIM are considered))	
Method of measuring and collecting data	1) Until February 2004 all TD-records collected according to ICAR A4-method; now > 50% AT4
2) Diseases are reported by milk producers via a web-based reporting tool. Data on SCC-based traits collected as described for SCS.	
Time period for data inclusion	1) Swissherdbook: Cows which first calved since January 1, 1987; Holstein association: Cows which first calved since January 1, 1994. Pedigree is traced back 3 generations from cows with data.
2) Mastitis observations since February 2013. Pedigree is traced back 5 generations from cows with data. For SCC-based data since 1989 is used.	
Age groups (e.g. parities) included	1) All parities
2) Parities 1 to 5	
Other criteria (data edits) for inclusion of records	1) Includes all test day records between 5 and 365 days in milk (DIM).
2) The completeness of health event recording is validated on every herd. Mastitis observations will only be used if they have been made in herds that meet certain criteria are included in the genetic evaluation.	
Criteria for extension of records (if applicable)	1) and 2) No extension of records is required	
Sire categories	1 and 2) All sires	
Environmental effects3, pre-adjustments 	1) Heterogeneous herd-test day variance adjustment, adjustment factors are estimated every run
2) No	
Method (model) of genetic evaluation3	1) MT (milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, somatic cell score) - ML (1, 2, 3+) - RR - TD - BLUP - AM.  Later lactations (4 and up) are considered to be genetically the same as third lactation, permanent environmental effects in lactation 6 and later are assumed to be the same as 5th lactation.
2) MT - RP - BLUP - AM	
Environmental effects3 in the genetic evaluation model	1) Fixed: Herd-test day
Regression on DIM within Parity - Age of calving - Region - Time Period - Season combination (6th order polynomials).
Random: Animal lactation curve, lactation curve for permanent environment (4th order polynomials).
2) Fixed: Year-month of calving, age at calving-parity interaction, heterosis (Holstein X Simmental, grouped into 7 classes), recombination loss (Holstein X Simmental, grouped into 7 classes).
Random: Herd*Year of calving, PE	
Adjustment for heterogeneous variance in evaluation model	1) Yes, see pre-adjustments
2) No	
Use of genetic groups and relationships	1) Phantom parent groups are defined based on ancestry, birth year, breed and selection pathway
2) Phantom parent groups are defined based on country of origin, birth year, breed and selection pathway.	
Blending of foreign/Interbull information in evaluation	1 and 2) No	
Genetic parameters in the evaluation	See appendix SM	
System validation	1) Method 3
2)	
Expression of genetic evaluations If standardised (e.g. RBV), give standardisation formula in the appendix	1) RBV: EBVs for average score within each lactation are averaged across lactations and then standardized to a mean of 100 and a genetic standard deviation of 12. Sign is changed such that high RBVs are desirable: RBV = 100 + (-12) * ((EBV – mean EBV of base animals) / genetic standard deviation)
2) RBV with mean 100 and standard deviation 12. Raw EBVs are transformed such that high RBV are desirable	
Definition of genetic reference base
Next base change	1) Rolling base yearly updated with the spring evaluation, defined by cows born 6 to 8 calendar years ago, that have own records included in the genetic evaluation.
2) Rolling base yearly updated with the spring evaluation, defined by cows born 6 to 8 calendar years ago.	
Calculation of reliability	1) Similar to the procedure used to calculate EDC’s
2) Reliabilities are approximated using the approach of Tier and Meyer, 2004, J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 121.2, pp. 77–89, implemented in the program ApaX.	
Criteria for official publication of evaluations	1) Daughters with at least 3 TD-records in at least 10 herds
2) Daughters in at least 10 herds	
Number of evaluations / publications per year	1 and 2) 3	
Use in total merit index4	1) Yes. Economic weight HOL-CHE: scs 10%; Economic weight SIM-CHE: scs 5%
2) No	
Anticipated changes in the near future	None	
Key reference on methodology applied	Schaeffer, L. R., J. Jamrozik, G. J. Kistemaker, and B. J. Van Doormaal. 1999. Experience with a test day model. J. Dairy Sci. (Abstract & to be submitted for publication)
Jamrozik, J., L. R. Schaeffer, and F. Grignola. 1998. Genetic parameters for production traits and somatic cell score of Canadian Holsteins with multiple trait random regression model. 6WCGALP. 23:303-306.
Jamrozik, J., L. R. Schaeffer, Z. Liu, and G. Jansen. 1997. Multiple trait random regression test day model for production traits. Interbull Bulletin No. 16:43.	
Key organisation: name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, web site	Evaluation Center:
Qualitas AG
Chamerstrasse 56, CH-6300 Zug, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)41 768 92 92
Fax: +41 (0)41 768 92 99
e-mail: info@qualitasag,ch
URL: http://www.qualitasag.ch

EBV’s published by herdbook organisation:

swissherdbook cooperative
Schützenstrasse 10, CH-3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
URL: http://www.swissherdbook.ch

And

Holstein  Switzerland
Rte de Grangeneuve 27, CH-1725 Posieux, Switzerland
Phone:  +41 26 305 59 12
URL: http://www.holstein.ch	
1) Either: Production (e.g. milk, fat, protein), Conformation, Health (e.g. mastitis resistance, milk somatic cell, resistance to diseases other than mastitis), Longevity, Calving (e.g. stillbirth, calving ease), Female fertility (e.g. non-return rate, interval between reproductive events, number of AI’s, heat strength), Workability (e.g. milking speed, temperament), Beef production, Efficiency (e.g. body weight, energy balance, body conditioning score), or Other traits.
2) Indicate frequencies per category if the trait is categorical and specify transformation of data if practiced.
3) Use abbreviations for most common effects (see document with list of abbreviations at http://www-interbull.slu.se/service_documentation/General/list_of_abbreviations.rtf) and indicate random (R) or fixed (F).
4) Please give economic weights and indicate how they are expressed (preferably in genetic standard deviation units).

Form GE	Appendix GE

Parameters used in genetic evaluation

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:		
Breed (repeat as necessary):		

Trait	Definition	ITBa	h2b	genetic
varianceb	official proof
standardisation formulac	

						

						

						

						

						

a	Indicate, with X, traits that are submitted to Interbull for international genetic evaluations.
b	If repeated records are treated as separate traits, provide heritability estimates and genetic variances separately for each trait, as well as for all traits pooled, i.e. for the trait submitted to Interbull.
c	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix PR

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for production traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Production	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Milk yield:
				
Fat yield:
				
Protein yield:
				
a	If lactations, or part of lactations, are treated as separate traits, provide heritability estimates and genetic variances separately for each lactation, as well as for all lactations pooled, i.e. for the trait submitted to Interbull.
b	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix CO

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for conformation traits as provided to Interbull (all breeds except Brown Swiss)

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed(s):		

Trait	Definition	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Stature					
Chest Width					
Body Depth					
Angularity					
Rump Angle					
Rump Width					
Rear Leg Set					
Rear Leg Rear View					
Foot Angle					
Fore Udder					
Rear Udder Height					
Udder Support					
Udder Depth					
Front Teat Placement					
Teat Length					
Rear Teat Placement					
Overall Conformation Score					
Overall Udder Score					
Overall Feet & Leg Score					
Locomotion					
Body Condition Score					
a	If repeated records are treated as separate traits, provide heritability estimates and genetic variances separately for each trait, as well as for all traits pooled, i.e. for the trait submitted to Interbull.
b	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix BCO

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for conformation traits as provided to Interbull 
Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed:	Brown Swiss	

Trait	Definition	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Stature					
Chest width					
Body depth					
Angularity					
Rump angle					
Rump Width					
Rear Leg Side View					
Pasterns/Foot Angle					
Deep Heel (Hoof Height)					
Fore Udder Attachment					
Rear Udder Attachment Height					
Rear Udder Attachment Width					
Udder Support					
Udder Depth					
Front Teat Placement					
Teat Length					
Rear Teat Placement					
Overall Conformation Score					
Overall Udder Score					
Overall Feet & Leg Score					
Locomotion					
Body Condition Score					
a	If repeated records are treated as separate traits, provide heritability estimates and genetic variances separately for each trait, as well as for all traits pooled, i.e. for the trait submitted to Interbull.
b	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix SM

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for udder health traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):	Switzerland	
Main trait group:	Health	
Breed(s):	Holstein, Simmental	

Trait	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Milk Somatic Cell:
	0.25	0.347	a=0, b=0.5891, c=-12, d=100	
Clinical Mastitis:
	0.030	0.00340	a=0, b=0.0583, c=-12, d=100	
a	If repeated records are treated as separate traits, provide heritability estimates and genetic variances separately for each trait, as well as for all traits pooled, i.e. for the trait submitted to Interbull.
b	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Milk Somatic Cell:
Lactation heritabilities (diagonal), 305d PE correlations (above diagonal) and 305d genetic correlations (below diagonal) for Holstein and Simmental

 	M1	F1	P1	SCS1	M2	F2	P2	SCS2	M3	F3	P3	SCS3	
													
M1	0.40	0.91	0.97	-0.19	0.48	0.43	0.49	-0.10	0.43	0.36	0.42	-0.00	
F1	0.61	0.35	0.94	-0.18	0.41	0.49	0.47	-0.09	0.39	0.45	0.42	-0.01	
P1	0.88	0.74	0.34	-0.16	0.47	0.47	0.52	-0.09	0.42	0.39	0.44	0.00	
SCS1	0.06	0.04	0.05	0.23	-0.07	-0.07	-0.07	0.31	-0.07	-0.06	-0.06	0.25	
M2	0.81	0.46	0.71	-0.02	0.42	0.92	0.96	-0.27	0.52	0.45	0.51	-0.06	
F2	0.45	0.83	0.58	-0.02	0.62	0.35	0.94	-0.29	0.48	0.55	0.52	-0.09	
P2	0.68	0.59	0.80	-0.01	0.88	0.76	0.39	-0.25	0.53	0.51	0.57	-0.07	
SCS2	0.02	-0.01	0.02	0.71	-0.15	-0.16	-0.14	0.27	-0.16	-0.18	-0.16	0.50	
M3	0.76	0.39	0.67	-0.04	0.90	0.53	0.80	-0.18	0.39	0.91	0.96	-0.26	
F3	0.41	0.76	0.55	-0.04	0.54	0.90	0.70	-0.15	0.63	0.33	0.93	-0.29	
P3	0.59	0.52	0.73	-0.04	0.75	0.67	0.90	-0.15	0.87	0.79	0.37	-0.24	
SCS3	0.09	0.04	0.07	0.64	-0.07	-0.10	-0.08	0.78	-0.11	-0.14	-0.12	0.25	

Clinical Masitits:
Heritabilities and genetic correlations

Mastitis (mas) is evaluated together with further three traits in a multi-trait model. These traits are mean of SCS (m_scs), standard deviation of SCS (sd_scs), and mastitis identified on the basis of at least one SCC above 350’000/ml (mar). Only the SCS/SCC measurements within the first 150 DIM are considered. In the following table heritabilities on the observed scale (on the diagonal) and genetic correlations (above the diagonal) are shown.
	mas	m_scs	sd_scs	mar	
mas	0.030	0.832	0.815	0.931	
m_scs		0.153	0.614	0.887	
sd_scs			0.019	0.794	
mar				0.054	

Form GE	Appendix LO

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for longevity traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Longevity	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2	genetic
variance	official proof
standardisation formulaa	
Direct longevity:
				
Combined longevity:
				
a	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix CA

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for calving traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Calving Traits	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2	genetic
variance	official proof
standardisation formulaa	
Direct calving ease:
				
Maternal calving ease:
				
Direct stillbirth:
				
Maternal stillbirth:
				
a	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix CA

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for calving traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Female Fertility	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2	genetic
variance	official proof
standardisation formulaa	
Heifer conception
				
Cow recycling
				
Lactating cows ability to conceive (1)
				
Lactating cows ability to conceive (2)				
Interval traits
				
a	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.

Form GE	Appendix LO

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for longevity traits as provided to Interbull

Country (or countries):		
Main trait group:	Workability traits	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2	genetic
variance	official proof
standardisation formulaa	
Milking Speed
				
Temperament
				
a	Expressed as follows: StandEval=((eval-a)/b)*c+d where a=mean of the base adjustment, b=standard deviation of the base, c=standard deviation of expression (include sign if scale is reversed), and d=base of expression.