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Binational evaluation of type traits from Germany and France with a single-trait MACE animal model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2009

J. Tarrés ,
Z. Liu ,
F. Reinhardt ,
R. Reents  and
V. Ducrocq
J. Tarrés*
Affiliation:
Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung, Heideweg 1, 27283 Verden, Germany UR337, Station de génétique quantitative et appliquée, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France
Z. Liu
Affiliation:
Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung, Heideweg 1, 27283 Verden, Germany
F. Reinhardt
Affiliation:
Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung, Heideweg 1, 27283 Verden, Germany
R. Reents
Affiliation:
Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung, Heideweg 1, 27283 Verden, Germany
V. Ducrocq
Affiliation:
UR337, Station de génétique quantitative et appliquée, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France
*
E-mail: joaquim.tarres@dga.jouy.inra.fr
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Abstract

Binational genetic evaluation between Germany and France were performed for each type trait using a single-trait MACE (multiple across-country evaluation) model. Daughter yield deviations (DYD) of bulls having 30 equivalent daughter contributions or more were the data for parameter estimation. Full pedigree information of bulls was used via sire and dam relationships. In general, across-country genetic correlation estimates were in agreement with what is observed by Interbull. The estimated correlations were over 0.93 for stature, rump angle, udder depth, front teat placement, teat length and rear teat placement. These traits have been classified in both countries for a long period of time. However, some other type traits were included later in the French type classification system (most of them since 2000): chest width, body depth, angularity, rump width, rear leg rear view, fore udder and rear udder height. The estimated correlations for these traits were relatively low. In order to check changes in genetic correlations over time, data from bulls born until the end of 1995 were discarded. Higher genetic correlation estimates between both countries were obtained by using more recent data especially for traits having lower genetic correlation, e.g. body depth correlation increased from 0.55 to 0.83. Once genetic correlations were estimated, binational genetic evaluation between Germany and France were performed for each type trait using DYD of bulls. The rankings of bulls obtained from this evaluation had some differences with Interbull rankings but a similar proportion of bulls from each country was found. Finally, more computationally demanding binational evaluations were performed using yield deviations of cows for binational cow comparison. The rankings obtained were influenced by the number of daughters per bull and heritabilities used in each country.

Keywords

multiple across-country evaluationtype traitsdaughter yield deviationdairy cattle
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 3 , Issue 7 , July 2009 , pp. 925 - 932
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

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