Holstein evaluation, including data from: Danish Holstein, Danish Red Holstein, Swedish Holstein, Finnish Holstein, Finnish Ayrshire and Finn Cattle.

Red evaluation, including data from: Danish Red, Swedish Red, Finnish Ayrshire, Finnish Holstein and Finn Cattle

Jersey evaluation, including data from: Danish Jersey

Yield data included in the evaluations was extracted from the national databases the following dates: Denmark 13.3.2007, Finland 4.3.2007 and Sweden 10.3.2007

Type, milkability and temperament data included in the evaluations was extracted from the national databases the following dates: Denmark 16.3.2007, Finland 4.3.2007 and Sweden 12.3.2007

Udder health and fertility data included in the evaluations was extracted from the national databases the following dates: Denmark 10.3.2007, Finland 4.3.2007 and Sweden 2.3.2007

News in relation to NAV genetic evaluation

Yield

· No changes

Type

· No changes

Milk ability and temperament

· No changes

Fertility

· No news

Udder health

· No news

Genetic base

EBVs for Bulls and females are expressed to the same cow base. At this genetic evaluation include the genetic base (average 100) cows born from 15.04.2002 to 15.04.2004.

For functional traits sire models are used and EBVs for cows are not estimated. For functional traits a genetic base including bulls, which are sire of present cows – see table 1.

Table 1. Definition of genetic base of cows and bulls

NAV data included in Interbull test run

· NAV fertility data for Holstein is included in the Interbull test run in March and will be included in the Interbull routine run in May.

· Pilot studies of international genetic evaluations for fertility for Red Dairy Cattle and Jersey breeds gave positive results and Interbull has decided to conduct a test run for the two breeds in September 2007. NAV will deliver RDC and Jersey fertility data to the test runs.

NAV calving trait

· Start of NAV routine runs for calving traits waits for results and conclusions from ongoing comparisons of NAV EBVs and current national EBVs. NAV calving traits data is included in the Interbull test run in March

NAV – frequency and timing of routine runs

NAV has decided to change the frequency and timing of routine runs as consequence of the changes in timing of the international genetic evaluation at the Interbull centre, which will be introduced in autumn 2007. Currently NAV has 7 evaluations per year for type and yield and 4 per year for all other traits. From 1st January 2008 and onwards NAV will have 6 evaluations per year for all traits. The future NAV evaluations are timed in a way so NAV can deliver updated EBVs to all the international evaluations. In table 1 the current and future NAV and Interbull release dates are shown.

Table 2. NAV and Interbull release dates in 2007 and 2008. EBVs released at NAV dates with bold will be delivered to international genetic evaluation.

You can get more information about the joint Nordic evaluation:

General about Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation: www.nordicebv.info
Contact person: Gert Pedersen Aamand, Ph.: +45 87405288 gap@landscentret.dk,

Denmark: www.landscentret.dk/nav
Contact person: Ulrik Sander Nielsen, Danish Cattle, Ph. +45 87405289, usn@landscentret.dk

Sweden: : www.svenskmjolk.se
Contact person: Jan-Åke Eriksson, Swedish Dairy Association, Ph. +46 08-790 58 67
jan-ake.eriksson@svenskmjolk.se

Finland: www.faba.fi
Contact person: Jukka Pösö, Faba Breeding, Ph +358-(0)207472071 jukka.poso@faba.fi