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VikingNews UK 04 2016
6 / 28
6 vikingnews | november 2016 changes from
nav
important improvements in
nav
routine evaluation in the november index run the nordic cattle genetic evaluation (
nav
) has introduced new calculation methods in order to have more accurate and reliable
genomic
prediction for vikingholstein, vikingred and vikingjersey. by veronica löfgren, vikinggenetics each day,
nav
continously works on improvements and fine tunings on methods and calculations to get the most correct
breeding
value as possible. the improvements that
nav
has made this time in november 2016 has mostly had an effect on the ntm level of the
genomic
bulls. there has been an overestimation that is now eliminated. the result is that the gap between proven bulls and
genomic
bulls is less today than before the change. the
genomic
bulls are still far ahead in ntm and the best bulls are still the
genomic
bulls. for vikingjersey, the ntm level has in average dropped 2.5 ntm units, for vikingred the drop is 5.2 ntm units and for vikingholstein it is a drop of 5 ntm units. b y the end of october, the
breeding
manager of vikinggenetics, lars nielsen, informed that
nav
would introduce several improvements on the next
breeding
evaluation in the november index run. ?these improvements in the use of data and calcula- tion methods show that
nav
continuously strives after up-to-date improved tools to help the farmers decide their
breeding
plan on reliable and accurate
genomic
predictions,? nielsen said. a consequence of the new calculations is that the new prediction model will smooth the transition from the
genomic
ally enhanced
breeding
value (gebv) to estimated
breeding
value (ebv). the main changes occurred in these areas: ? index for female fertility has been adjusted for the use of x-vik semen and reliability in general. ? udder coordinates from automatic milking system (ams) have been included in the genetic evaluation for udder traits. ? females? information is improved in calving ease and birth index. ? better prediction on yield performance using data from robot herds with significant variation in the milking time. these advances also mean that there will be adjust- ments in the gntm (
genomic
nordic total merit). ?as a consequence of these improvements in practical life, you will find some changes in the level of
genomic
ntm because there has been an over estimation of the
genomic
breeding
values. this is a general problem all over the world and we are taking the responsibility to adjust it?, nielsen states. 6 vikingnews | november 2016
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