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International genetic evaluation for direct longevity in dairy bulls

Interbull Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden

¹ Corresponding author: Flavio.Forabosco{at}hgen.slu.se

The aims of this study were to document, present, and discuss the procedure used to calculate the international estimated breeding value (EBV) for longevity for Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Red Dairy Cattle, and Simmental breeds. Data from 19 countries and 123,833 national sires’ breeding value were used for this purpose. Trait definitions and national genetic evaluation procedures were first summarized; and this showed that differences among countries existed. International breeding values for direct longevity were calculated using a multi-trait across-country evaluation model. The data editing method was identical to the one used for the February 2007 routine international genetic evaluation. Estimated genetic correlations presented in this study were similar to those presented in the literature and, in general, differed from unity because of differences in trait definitions, culling reasons, data included, evaluation procedures, genotype-environment interactions, and weak genetic ties among countries. The average genetic correlations for Holstein ranged from 0.49 to 0.76. The genetic correlations for Brown Swiss and Guernsey ranged from 0.29 to 0.95 and from 0.30 to 0.89, respectively. For Jersey and Red Dairy Cattle the genetic correlations ranged from 0.39 to 0.61 and from 0.30 to 0.96, respectively. For Simmental the genetic correlation was 0.59. Different predictors were used at national levels to define combined longevity. These predictors were combined using economic and empirical weights. Three out of 15 countries published international EBV of direct longevity only and 12 out of 15 countries combined direct longevity with predictors (combined longevity). International breeding values for longevity were combined into the total merit index by most of the member organizations and made available to breeders across the world through magazines and Web sites. Even if some breeders are not familiar with longevity EBV, they will select for this trait automatically if they use the published total merit indexes.

Key Words: longevity • international evaluation • multiple-trait across country evaluation • genetic correlation