by Gert Pedersen Aamand, Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation
Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation (NAV) publishes joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits on a routine basis for the first time 18 April 2006. The method developed for joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits are used for Holstein, Red Breed and Jersey animals in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
Yield data from Denmark, Finland and Sweden are included in the Nordic EBVs for yield. From Denmark and Finland test day records are used whereas 305-day yields are used from Sweden. During 2006 NAV will work on including Swedish test day records as well.
NAV has delivered results from the joint Nordic estimation of breeding values for yield traits to the Interbull test run for yield traits in March 2006 and results from the new Nordic model will be included in the international routine evaluation for yield traits in May 2006.
The NAV-model estimate EBVs for 1st, 2nd and 3rd lactation for milk, fat and protein simultaneously. Further advantages with the new model is a simultaneously correction for heterogeneous variance and heterosis. The model and results from the model will be presented at the open Interbull meeting held in Kuopio in Finland in June this year.
Today NAV publish joint Nordic EBVs for the following trait groups: Yield, type, Fertility, temperament and milking speed. In the future we will get joint Nordic EBVs for the remaining traits which are included in the Danish, Finnish and Swedish Total Merit indices. At the moment we are working with mastitis and calving traits.
Further information about Joint Nordic estimation of breeding values is available at:
www.nordicebv.info
In the national languages at:
www.landscentret.dk/nav
www.faba.fi