international genomic evaluation methods for dairy cattle国际奶牛基因评价方法.pdfVIP

VanRaden and Sullivan Genetics Selection Evolution 2010, 42:7 Ge n e t i c s /content/42/1/7 Se l e c t i o n Evolution RESEARCH Open Access International genomic evaluation methods for dairy cattle Paul M VanRaden1*, Peter G Sullivan2 Abstract Background: Genomic evaluations are rapidly replacing traditional evaluation systems used for dairy cattle selection. Higher reliabilities from larger genotype files promote cooperation across country borders. Genomic information can be exchanged across countries using simple conversion equations, by modifying multi-trait across- country evaluation (MACE) to account for correlated residuals originating from the use of foreign evaluations, or by multi-trait analysis of genotypes for countries that use the same reference animals. Methods: Traditional MACE assumes independent residuals because each daughter is measured in only one country. Genomic MACE could account for residual correlations using daughter equivalents from genomic data as a fraction of the total in each country and proportions of bulls shared. MACE methods developed to combine separate within-country genomic evaluations were compared to direct, multi-country analysis of combined genotypes using simulated genomic and phenotypic data for 8,193 bulls in nine countries. Results: Reliabilities for young bulls were much higher for across-country than within-country genomic evaluations as measured by squared correlations of estimated with true breeding values. Gains in reliability from genomic MACE wer