Genetic Evaluation Of Bulls Research Articles

Genomic simulation for the study of data transformation efficiency in the genetic evaluation of cattle in the presence of heterogeneity

Efficiency of data transformation strategies is evaluated to correct heterogeneity among cattle in the genetic evaluation of bulls, cows and progenies. Four data structures of bovine weaning weights were simulated: herds with and without heterogeneity for means and variances, and herds with and without genetic connectedness. In the genetic evaluations, data were used in the original scale and transformed (Logarithmic, Square root, standardization and ratio by phenotypic standard deviation). The evaluated data transformation strategies were not efficient in eliminating the negative effects of heterogeneity among cattle in the genetic evaluation of bulls, cows and progenies.

Interação genótipo x ambiente para produção de leite na raça Pardo Suíço, utilizando-se inferência Bayesiana

Data from 2,981 first lactation records of Brown Swiss cows, daughters of 151 sires, from 62 herds, calving from 1980 to 2002 were used to evaluate the effects of heterogeneity of variance on genetic evaluation of bulls. The milk yields were used to classify the herds among high and low production level. An animal model used to estimate variance component, included the fixed effect of herds-year, calving season, linear effect of length lactation, linear and quadratic effect of cow age, random effects of animal and temporary environment. Variance components were estimated to milk yield in both levels, considering the milk yield in each production level as a different trait. Estimates of heritability were 0.21 in both levels for milk production and 0.25 and 0.26 for the levels of high and low production, respectively. The genetic correlation between high and low production levels was equal to 0.48. These results showed the presence of heterogeneity of variance. Spearman correlations in breeding values of sires predicted in joint analysis with values in high and low production level were higher; otherwise, the spearman correlations were lower to 10, 20 and 30% of the best sires of the rank. Sires with daughters in more changeable herds would be better ranked in the genetic evaluation, when the heterogeneity of variance is not considered

Genetic Evaluation of Bulls and Cows with Single- and Multiple-Country Test-Day Models

First-lactation milk yield test-day records on cows from Australia, Canada, Italy, and New Zealand were analyzed by single- and multiple-country random regression models. Models included fixed effects of herd-test day and breed composition—age at calving—season of calving by days in milk, and random regressions with Legendre polynomials of order four for animal genetic and permanent environmental effects. Milk yields in different countries were defined as genetically different traits for the purpose of multiple-trait model. Estimated breeding values of bulls and cows from single- and multiple-trait models were compared within and across countries for two traits: total milk yield in lactation and lactation persistency, defined as the linear coefficient of animal genetic curve. Correlations between single- and multiple-trait evaluations within country for total yield were higher than 0.95 for bulls and close to 1 for cows. Correlations for lactation persistency were lower than respective correlations for total yield. Between country correlations for lactation yield ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, indicating different ranking of bulls on different country scales under multiple-trait model. Lactation persistency had in general lower between-country correlations, with the highest values for Canada—Italy and Australia—New Zealand pairs, for both single- and multiple-country models. Although multiple-country random regression test-day model was computationally feasible for four countries, the same would not be true for routine international genetic evaluation in the near future.

Heterogeneidade de Variância na Avaliação Genética de Reprodutores da Raça Pardo-Suíça no Brasil

Informações de 6.842 lactações de 3.274 vacas da raça Pardo-Suíça, filhas de 71 reprodutores, distribuídas em 100 rebanhos, com parições entre 1980 a 1999, foram utilizadas para verificar a existência da heterogeneidade de variância entre rebanhos e o seu impacto na classificação de reprodutores. As produções de leite e gordura, ajustadas para 305 dias e para a idade adulta da vaca, foram utilizadas para classificar os rebanhos em níveis de alta e baixa produção. Utilizando-se um modelo animal que incluiu os efeitos fixos de rebanho, ano-estação e grupo genético do animal, efeitos aleatórios de animal, efeito de ambiente permanente e ambiente temporário, estimaram-se componentes de variância considerando os rebanhos como uma única amostra e assumindo a produção de leite em cada nível de produção como característica diferente. Médias e componentes de variância foram maiores para o nível de alta produção, caracterizando a presença de heterogeneidade de variância entre os rebanhos. As estimativas de herdabilidade foram de 0,38 em ambos os níveis para a produção de leite e 0,39 e 0,32 para os níveis de alta e baixa produção, respectivamente. As correlações genéticas entre os níveis foram 0,85 e 0,79 para as produções de leite e gordura, respectivamente. Na avaliação genética de reprodutores, é importante considerar a variabilidade entre rebanhos, pois, se rebanhos mais variáveis contribuem com a maior parte dos animais, a seleção de reprodutor pelo desempenho de suas filhas, pode ser em função não apenas do seu potencial, mas também do ambiente no qual suas progênies expressam o fenótipo.

Efficiency of part lactation test day records for genetic evaluations using fixed and random regression models

AbstractThe efficiency of part lactation test day (TD) records in first parity for the genetic evaluation of bulls and cows using a random regression model (RRM) and a fixed regression model (FRM) was studied, modelling the random and fixed lactation curves by Legendre polynomials. The data set consisted of 9 242 783 TD records for first lactation milk yield of 1 134 042 Holstein Friesian heifers. The efficiency of both models with part lactation TD records was examined by comparing predicted transmitting abilities (PTAs) for 305-day milk yield for 114 bulls and their 4697 daughters, from analyses where the maximum number of TD records of these daughters was restricted to the initial 2, 4 or 6 TDs with those estimated from 10 TDs. The correlations of PTAs estimated from 2, 4 or 6 TDs with those from 10 TDs computed for cows and bulls within each model were very similar. A rank correlation of 0·91 (0·92 FRM) was obtained for cows between PTAs based on 2 TDs and those from 10 TDs. The correlation increased to 0·96 with 4 TDs and 0·98 with 6 TDs. For bulls, correlations between PTAs estimated from 4 or 6 TDs with those estimated from 10 TDs were high at 0·98 and 0·99 respectively. With 2 TDs, the correlation was 0·95. The average under-prediction of PTAs with 2, 4 or 6 TDs relative to 10 TDs was generally higher and more variable with a FRM compared with a RRM for highly persistent cows and bulls. A similar trend was observed for mean over-prediction of PTAs, except for the initial predictions based on 2 TDs when the RRM gave a higher mean over-prediction for bulls and their daughters with low persistency but high initial TD records. The range of over and under-predictions were large (up to 200 kg milk) for some bulls when only 2 TDs were included in both models. A moderate correlation of 0·64 was obtained between persistency evaluations estimated from 10 TDs with those estimated from 2 TDs. The correlation increased to 0·71 with 4 TDs included and 0·85 with 6 TDs. The moderately high correlation between 6 TDs and 10 TDs of 0·85 was unexpected given the high correlation of 0·99 between PTAs for yield estimated from 6TDs with those estimated from 10 TDs.