Genetic evaluation for direct and maternal livability in The Netherlands
Abstract
A new breeding value estimation for livability has been implemented in the Dutch/Flemish genetic evaluation in April 2011. Breeding values are estimated with a multiple trait animal model with correlated direct and maternal effects. Benefits of the new model are that the maternal effect is modelled more correctly and observations from heifers and cows are treated as different traits. The phenotypic trend for live-born calves from heifers is negative and for cows stable. Therefore the breeding goal has changed towards breeding for more live-born calves from heifers, whereas previous breeding for more live-born calves from heifers and cows was the breeding goal. Genetic trends in the last decade remained stable or slightly increased. Interbull correlations with other countries increased in case of breeding values based on heifer observations and a comparable evaluation model. Trait and model harmonisation amongst countries is preferable to get higher correlations.
Downloads
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
