Update of genetic parameters and inclusion of Swedish and Finnish β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone measurements to the Nordic General Health evaluation model
Abstract
The Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Sweden) General Health (GH) evaluation model was introduced in 2008 and significantly revised between 2017 and 2019. The current GH index includes reproductive disorders, feet and leg disorders, clinical ketosis, and other metabolic diseases recorded as veterinary treatments. Acetone and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) measurements from milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra are used as correlated traits in mixed model equations and supplied primarily from Danish herds. Although the collection of Swedish acetone and BHB measurements began in 2018, this data has not yet been incorporated into official evaluations. Furthermore, new Finnish measurements are available only for BHB and predicted from MIR using a different equation than those used in Denmark and Sweden.
Swedish BHB and acetone, along with Finnish BHB data, were integrated into the official Nordic evaluation pipeline. Genetic correlations between Finnish and Swedish/Danish BHB were estimated at around 0.8. Genetic parameters were newly estimated for Holstein, Red Dairy Cattle (RDC), and Jersey breeds. The largest changes in heritability and genetic correlations between clinical and subclinical ketosis were observed for RDC and Jersey. Correspondingly, the largest changes in breeding values were observed for RDC and JER Nordic AI bulls. The updated model is planned to be implemented in November 2025.
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