Form GE								Status as of: 20011-05-11

DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL GENETIC EVALUATION SYSTEMS

Country (or countries)	France	
Main trait group1	Conformation	
Breed(s)	RED (Pie Rouge des Plaines)	
Trait definition(s) and unit(s) of measurement2
Attach an appendix if needed	See appendix TD (trait definition)	
Method of measuring and collecting data	Linear or scoring measurements by technicians	
Time period for data inclusion	Records from 1995 for group 1 traits (cf. appendix TD) and from 2001 for group 2 traits (cf. appendix TD).	
Age groups (e.g. parities) included	Parity 1 (if missing then parity 2)	
Other criteria (data edits) for inclusion of records	1st scoring	
Criteria for extension of records (if applicable)		
Sire categories	All sires	
Environmental effects3, pre-adjustments 	None	
Method (model) of genetic evaluation3	MT-BLUB AM	
Environmental effects3 in the genetic evaluation model	Stage of lactation * parity * year(F); 
Age at calving * parity (1 or 2) * year(F); 
Herd – round – classifier(F)	
Adjustment for heterogeneous variance in evaluation model	No	
Use of genetic groups and relationships	According to Origin * BY * Sex	
Blending of foreign/Interbull information in evaluation	No	
Genetic parameters in the evaluation	Cf appendix GE, CO and MTP	
System validation	Checks on Data quality; Planned connection between regions (= young bulls with 1st crop daughters) during progeny test. EBV correlations; analysis of proofs’ variation according to number of daughters and status of bull (Progeny tested or not, 1st or 2nd crop). Validation of genetic trend (Interbull Methods II & III). Analysis of residuals within classes (ex: within 1st or 2nd crop)	
Expression of genetic evaluations
If standardised (e.g. RBV), give standardisation formula in the appendix	RBV	
Definition of genetic reference base
Next base change	Male rolling base definition: bulls (with known father) born between years (n-12) and (n-7) with a genetic evaluation REL ≥ 50%.
February 2012.	
Calculation of reliability	REL are estimated for each trait using Harris & Johnson approach but edited REL are FTP REL for traits of group 1 (cf. appendix TD) and TD REL for traits of group 2 (cf. appendix TD).	
Criteria for official publication of evaluations	REL (as defined before) ≥ 50% and no of daughters ≥ 15.	
Number of evaluations / publications per year	2: in January and in June	
Use in total merit index4	Overall composites are used in Total Merit Index (ISU) defined for each breed as follows (for RED):
50% Production + 11% Combined SCC + 14% Combined Fertility + 11% Combined Functional Longevity + 14% Overall type score1	
Anticipated changes in the near future	New traits will be investigated and if possible included in the genetic evaluation process.	
Key reference on methodology applied		
Key organisation: name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, web site	Computing: 
INRA
Station de Génétique Quantitative et Appliquée
Domaine de Vilvert
F78352 Jouy en Josas cedex
Mail: helene.larroque@jouy.inra.fr
Phone: +33 1 34 6 5 22 04, Fax : +33 1 34 65 22 10
Web site: http://www-sgqa.jouy.inra.fr 

Publishing:
Institut de l’Elevage
149 Rue de Bercy
F75595 Paris cedex 12
Mail: sophie.mattalia@inst-elevage.asso.fr
Web site: www.inst-elevage.asso.fr	
1) Overall type score: TY_o = 1/2 ( UD_o + DT)

Form GE	Appendix TD

Parameters used in genetic evaluation

Country (or countries):	France	
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed (repeat as necessary):	RED (Pie Rouge des Plaines)	

Trait abb.	Name	Trait group	Scored since	
Capacity	
HS	Height at sacrum	1	1995	
CW	Chest width	2	2001	
CD	Chest depth	1	1995	
BL	Back line	2	2001	
MU	Muscularity	1	1995 (updating in 2005)	
DT	Dairy type	1	1995	
				
TY_o	Overall conformation = 1/2 ( UD_o + DT)	1		
				
Rump	
RA	Rump angle	1	1995	
RW	Rump width	1	1995	
	
Feet and legs	
RLS	Angle of the hock	1	1995	
RLR	Rear leg rear view	2	2001	
HD	Heel depth	1	1995	
				
Udder				
FU	Fore udder 	1	1995	
RUH	Rear udder height	1	1995	
CL	Central ligament	1	1995	
UD	Udder depth	1	1995	
TL	Teat length	1	1995	
FTP	Front teat placement	1	1995	
TD	Teat direction	2	2001	
UB	Udder balance	2	2001	
UD_o	Overall udder score	1	1995 (updating in 2005)	

				

Form GE	Appendix GE

Parameters used in genetic evaluation

Country (or countries):	France	
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed (repeat as necessary):	RED (Pie Rouge des Plaines)	

Trait	Definition 
( if unclear correspondence with ITB trait)	ITBa	h2b	genetic
varianceb
(s²G)	official proof
standardisation formulac	
HS	Height at sacrum	X	0.55	4.96	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
CW	Chest width	X	0.25	0.25	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
CD	Chest depth  Body depth	X	0.27	0.22	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
BL	Back line		0.15	0.15	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
MUd	Muscularity  Opposite of angularityd	X	0.36	0.42	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
DT	Dairy type		0.49	1.06	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
RA	Rump angle	X	0.40	0.50	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
RW	Rump width	X	0.14	0.06	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
RLS	Angle of the hock  Rear leg set	X	0.10	0.05	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
RLR	Rear leg rear view	X	0.15	0.15	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
HD	Heel depth  Foot angle	X	0.14	0.08	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
FU	Fore udder 	X	0.27	0.37	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
RUH	Rear udder height	X	0.31	0.28	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
CL	Central ligament  Udder support	X	0.21	0.30	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
UD	Udder depth	X	0.39	0.44	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
TL	Teat length	X	0.34	0.49	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
FTP	Front teat placement	X	0.31	0.46	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
TD	Teat direction	X	0.30	0.30	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
UB	Udder balance		0.25	0.25	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
UD_o	Overall udder score	X	0.41	1.25	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
TY_o	Overall conformation = 1/2 ( UD_o + DT)	X	0.31	1	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
LO	Locomotion					
BCS	Body Condition Score					
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.
d	In 015 data file muscularity RBVs are expressed 
on a reversed scale compared to French publishing scale for Angularity prediction and 
as published in France for BCS prediction.

 Form GE	Appendix CO

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

Country (or countries):	France	
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed(s):	RED (Pie Rouge des Plaines)	

Trait	Definition	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Stature	Height at sacrum	0.55	4.96	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Chest Width	Chest width	0.25	0.25	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Body Depth	Chest depth	0.27	0.22	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Angularity	Opposite of muscularity	0.36	0.42	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rump Angle	Rump angle	0.40	0.50	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rump Width	Rump width	0.14	0.06	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rear Leg Set	Rear leg set	0.10	0.05	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rear Leg Rear View	Rear leg rear view	0.15	0.15	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Foot Angle	Heel depth	0.14	0.08	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Fore Udder Attachment	Fore udder	0.27	0.37	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rear Udder Height	Rear udder height	0.31	0.28	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Udder Support	Central ligament	0.21	0.30	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Udder Depth	Udder depth	0.39	0.44	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Front Teat Placement	Front teat placement	0.31	0.46	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Teat Length	Teat length	0.34	0.49	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Rear Teat Placement	Teat placement	0.31	0.46	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Overall Conformation Score	1/2 ( UD_o + DT)	0.31	1	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Overall Udder Score	Overall udder score	0.41	1.25	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and d=100	
Overall Feet & Leg Score					
Locomotion					
Body condition score	Muscularity	0.36	0.42	a=0, b=sG, c=12 and 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.

 
Form GE	Appendix MTP

Parameters for national genetic evaluations for conformation traits: heritability and genetic correlation

Country (or countries):	France	
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed(s):	RED (Pie Rouge des Plaines)	

Heritability (on the diagonal) and genetic correlations (above the diagonal) between traits.

Capacity and rump
	HS	DT	CD	RW	RA	CW	BL	MU	
HS 	0.55	0.93	0.53	0.49					
DT		0.49	0.69	0.46					
CD			0.27	0.36					
RW				0.14					
RA					0.40				
CW						0.25			
BL							0.15		
MU								0.36	

Udder traits 
	FU	RUH	CL	UD	TL	FTP	UD_o	MS	TD	UB	
FU	0.27	0.68	0.46	0.79	-0.19	0.63	0.89	0.27			
RUH		0.31	0.55	0.69	-0.14	0.47	0.80	0.06			
CL			0.21	0.46	-0.12	0.45	0.67	0.08			
UD				0.39	-0.13	0.58	0.84	0.20			
TL					0.34	-0.38	-0.24	-0.27			
FTP						0.31	0.74	0.23			
UD_o							0.41	0.23			
MS								0.26			
TD									0.30		
UB										0.25	

Feet and legs
	RLS	HD	RLR	
RLS	0.10	-0.65		
HD		0.14		
RLR			0.15