Overview of the Mendelian Sampling Variance Test Pilot Study

Authors

  • Valentina Palucci Interbull Centre
  • Hossein Jorjani Interbull Centre
  • João Walter Dürr Interbull Centre
  • Anna-Maria Tyrisevä MTTAgrifood Research Finland

Keywords:

Mendelian sampling, trend validation, dairy cattle, international evaluation

Abstract

A software for calculating the Mendelian sampling variance has been developed by MTT for Interbull service users. In 2013 the software and its methodology was approved by the Interbull Technical Committee to be tested in a pilot study with real countries data. Countries were asked to test the software on two different group of traits: a group of traits with medium-high heritability (protein, stature and somatic cells score) including results for both males and females; two traits of their choice with heritability lower than 0.1 with results restricted only to males. A total of 21 countries participated in the pilot study. Data received were mostly related to the Holstein breed, and for low heritable traits countries chose most commonly direct longevity and fertility related traits. Overall, 50 (26%) country-breed-trait combinations failed the test. Some more investigations will be needed to better understand the reasons behind their failure.

The following paper presents an overview of the data received by countries and of the trend test results.

Author Biographies

Valentina Palucci, Interbull Centre

Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics - SLU, Uppsala

Hossein Jorjani, Interbull Centre

Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics - SLU, Uppsala

João Walter Dürr, Interbull Centre

Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics - SLU, Uppsala

Anna-Maria Tyrisevä, MTTAgrifood Research Finland

Biotechnology and Food Research, Biometrical Genetics, Jokioinen, Finland

Downloads

Published

2014-06-22