by Gert Pedersen Aamand, Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation

Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation has decided to start joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits on a routine basis from 15th April 2006 and onwards at a board meeting 12th December 2005. The method developed for joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits will be used for Holstein, Red breed and Jersey animals in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Yield data from Denmark, Finland and Sweden will be included in the Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield. From Denmark and Finland, test day records will be used whereas 305-day yields will be used from Sweden. During 2006 NAV will work on including Swedish test day records as well.

NAV will deliver results from the joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits to the Interbull test run for yield traits in March 2006. This is necessary in order to have results from the new Nordic model included in the international routine evaluation for yield traits. NAV has already sent results to the Interbull test run in September 2005, but the model has been slightly changed since then. Due to these changes, NAV will deliver new results to Interbull test run in March 2006.

NAV will focus on the following topics until 15th April 2006:

• Doing test runs with updated data sets for all breed groups
• Delivering results to Interbull
• Building up the routine evaluation system
• Informing about joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits.