Status as of: 2017-09-01

Form GE

DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL GENETIC EVALUATION SYSTEMS

Country (or countries)	Portugal	
Main trait group1
NOTE! Only one trait group per form!	Conformation traits	
Breed(s)	Holstein	
Trait definition(s) and unit(s) of measurement2
Attach an appendix if needed	Linear traits: stature, chest width, body depth, angularity, rump angle, rump width, rear leg set, rear legs rear view, foot angle, fore udder, rear udder height, udder support, udder depth, teat length, front teat placement, rear teat placement, locomotion, body condition score.
Individual linear traits measured from 1 to 9.
General traits: strength, dairy character, overall feet and legs, mammary system
Overall conformation score	
Method of measuring and collecting data	Linear and composite scores taken by classifier, two options all first lactations	
Time period for data inclusion	Since 2000	
Age groups (e.g. parities) included	Only scores from first lactation cows are include	
Other criteria (data edits) for inclusion of records	535 <age at first calving<1490	
Criteria for extension of records (if applicable)	None	
Sire categories	All sires	
Environmental effects3, pre-adjustments 		
Method (model) of genetic evaluation3	ST BLUP AM	
Environmental effects3 in the genetic evaluation model	HYS, classifiers, country, age at classification	
Adjustment for heterogeneous variance in evaluation model	No	
Use of genetic groups and relationships		
Blending of foreign/Interbull information in evaluation	No	
Genetic parameters in the evaluation	Use Appendix GE for heritability/genetic variance estimates; for multiple-trait genetic evaluations, provide genetic correlation estimates between traits separately.
Use also appendices PR, CO, BCO, SM, LO, CA, as applicable, if you participate in the international genetic evaluations of Interbull	
System validation	Data quality control, genetic trend validation – method 3	
Expression of genetic evaluations
If standardised (e.g. RBV), give standardisation formula in the appendix	STA (Standardized Transmitting Ability) for linear traits and PTA (Predicted Transmitting Ability) for general traits and overall conformation score.
For linear traits the standardized transmitting ability were obtained as follows:
1-	The breeding value was adjusted for genetic base (2010) subtracting the genetic base mean.
2-	The adjusted transmitting ability is obtained dividing by two the previous adjusted breeding value.
3-	Standardized Transmitting Ability was obtained by centering and standardizing the adjusted transmitting ability subtracting its  mean and dividing by its standard deviation.
For general traits the transmitting ability were obtained as follows:
       1-The breeding value was adjusted for genetic base subtracting the genetic base mean.
       2- The transmitting ability obtained dividing by two the previous adjusted breeding value.
	
Definition of genetic reference base
Next base change	cows classified and born in 2010
2020 (new base 2015)	
Calculation of reliability	PEVs
Mrode, R.A. 2005. Linear Models for the Prediction of Animal Breeding Values. CAB International, Oxon, UK.	
Criteria for official publication of evaluations	At least 15 daughters in 5 herds	
Number of evaluations / publications per year	2 (July, December)	
Use in total merit index4		
Anticipated changes in the near future		
Key reference on methodology applied		
Key organisation: name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, web site	ANABLE
Quinta da Medela, Verdemilho
3810-455 Aveiro
Att: Engº Samuel Pinto
Phone:+351234423852
Fax: +351234429359
	
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):	Portugal	
Main trait group:	Conformation traits	
Breed (repeat as necessary):	Holstein	

Trait	Definition	ITBa	h2b	genetic
varianceb	official proof
standardisation formulac	
Stature	WHFF definition	X	0.37222	0.41192	a= -0.1191850; b=0.20264235;c=1; d=0	
Chest Width	WHFF definition	X	0.13513	0.091827	a=-0.0078701; b=0.06616432;c=1; d=0	
Body Depth	WHFF definition	X	0.15847	0.10646	a=-0.0101567; b=0.07527287;c=1; d=0

Angularity	WHFF definition	X	0.18187	0.11486	a=-0.0561821; b=0.08718095;c=1; d=0	
Rump Angle	WHFF definition	X	0.25238	0.28455	a=0.0088485; b=0.13045483;c=1; d=0	
Rump Width	WHFF definition	X	0.20715	0.15545	a=-0.0371087; b=0.09876255;c=1; d=0	
Rear Leg Set	WHFF definition	X	0.070438	0.064330	a=0.0016945; b=0.04995031;c=1; d=0	
Rear Leg Rear View	WHFF definition	X	0.046509	0.058026	a=-0.0097164; b=0.04210629;c=1; d=0	
Foot Angle	WHFF definition	X	0.037684	0.039183	a=-0.0171041; b=0.03589535;c=1; d=0	
Fore Udder	WHFF definition	X	0.11142	0.11108	a=-0.0620762; b=0.07961982;c=1; d=0	
Rear Udder Height	WHFF definition	X	0.15450	0.13187	a=-0.0766479; b=0.09913386;c=1; d=0	
Udder Support	WHFF definition	X	0.071993	0.12203	a=-0.0610703; b=0.07876710;c=1; d=0	
Udder Depth	WHFF definition	X	0.22415	0.25624	a=-0.0575810; b=0.12204400;c=1; d=0	
Front Teat Placement	WHFF definition	X	0.17769	0.24113	a=-0.0732855; b=0.12504003;c=1; d=0	
Teat Length	WHFF definition	X	0.20816	0.15417	a=-0.0028469; b=0.09218560;c=1; d=0	
Rear Teat Placement	WHFF definition	X	0.18012	0.26943	a=-0.0621663; b=0.12924717;c=1; d=0	
Overall Conformation Score	25% strength, 20% dairy character, 15% feet and legs, 40 % mammary system	X	0.16164	0.44061		
Overall Udder Score		X	0.13896	1.08901		
Overall Feet & Leg Score		X	0.030959	0.14308		
Locomotion	WHFF definition	X	0.037454	0.060500	a=-0.0092125; b=0.03834921;c=1; d=0	
Body Condition Score	WHFF definition	X	0.12734	0.13752	a=0.0216491; b=0.07661033;c=1; d=0	
Strength 			0.27477	1.28911		
Dairy character			0.21038	1.09813		
Bone structure	WHFF definition 		0.12878	0.10793	a=-0.0128942; b=0.07319077;c=1; d=0	
Rear udder width	WHFF definition		0.083405	0.074012	a=-0.0230093; b=0.05820009;c=1; d=0	
Teat thickness	WHFF definition 		0.093389	0.087716	a=-0.0322618; b=0.07098015;c=1; d=0	
Muscularity
(Sirloin Strength)	WHFF definition  		0.12343	0.12583	a=-0.0285233; b=0.08235110;c=1; d=0	
Anterior third	WHFF definition		0.13015	0.092362	a=-0.0058243; b=0.06578936;c=1; d=0	
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):	Portugal	
Main trait group:	Conformation	
Breed(s):	Holstein	

Trait	Definition	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Stature	WHFF definition	0.37222	0.41192	a= -0.1191850; b=0.20264235;c=1; d=0	
Chest Width	WHFF definition	0.13513	0.091827	a=-0.0078701; b=0.06616432;c=1; d=0	
Body Depth	WHFF definition	0.15847	0.10646	a=-0.0101567; b=0.07527287;c=1; d=0	
Angularity	WHFF definition	0.18187	0.11486	a=-0.0561821; b=0.08718095;c=1; d=0	
Rump Angle	WHFF definition	0.25238	0.28455	a=0.0088485; b=0.13045483;c=1; d=0	
Rump Width	WHFF definition	0.20715	0.15545	a=-0.0371087; b=0.09876255;c=1; d=0	
Rear Leg Set	WHFF definition	0.070438	0.064330	a=0.0016945; b=0.04995031;c=1; d=0	
Rear Leg Rear View	WHFF definition	0.046509	0.058026	a=-0.0097164; b=0.04210629;c=1; d=0	
Foot Angle	WHFF definition	0.037684	0.039183	a=-0.0171041; b=0.03589535;c=1; d=0	
Fore Udder	WHFF definition	0.11142	0.11108	a=-0.0620762; b=0.07961982;c=1; d=0	
Rear Udder Height	WHFF definition	0.15450	0.13187	a=-0.0766479; b=0.09913386;c=1; d=0	
Udder Support	WHFF definition	0.071993	0.12203	a=-0.0610703; b=0.07876710;c=1; d=0	
Udder Depth	WHFF definition	0.22415	0.25624	a=-0.0575810; b=0.12204400;c=1; d=0	
Front Teat Placement	WHFF definition	0.17769	0.24113	a=-0.0732855; b=0.12504003;c=1; d=0	
Teat Length	WHFF definition	0.20816	0.15417	a=-0.0028469; b=0.09218560;c=1; d=0	
Rear Teat Placement	WHFF definition	0.18012	0.26943	a=-0.0621663; b=0.12924717;c=1; d=0	
Overall Conformation Score	25% strength, 20% dairy character, 15% feet and legs, 40 % mammary system	0.16164	0.44061		
Overall Udder Score		0.13896	1.08901		
Overall Feet & Leg Score		0.030959	0.14308		
Locomotion	WHFF definition	0.037454	0.060500	a=-0.0092125; b=0.03834921;c=1; d=0	
Body Condition Score	WHFF definition	0.12734	0.13752	a=0.0216491; b=0.07661033;c=1; d=0	
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):		
Main trait group:	Health	
Breed(s):		

Trait	h2a	genetic
variancea	official proof
standardisation formulab	
Milk Somatic Cell:
				
Clinical Mastitis:
				
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 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.