Argentine genetic evaluation. Results of bull performance

摘要

Since 1998, the Argentine Holstein Association has being implementing the BLUP Animal Model methodology in order to estimate the genetic values of the breed regarding production and type. The present work aims at analysing the genetic values of the Argentine Holstein Breed. The data was taken from lactation, classification, and grade animal genealogical files of the Argentine Holstein Association and from registered animal genealogical files of the Argentine Rural Society. In the genetic evaluation of the production traits, 1710 246 lactation records and 963 327 genealogical records were used. Moreover, 127 065 classification records and 214 626 genealogical records were considered in the genetic evaluation of type traits. The model used to analysekg of milk, kg of fat, and percentage of fat contained the following effects: Herd-year-season, month of calving, age and number of calving, animal, genetic group, and permanent effect. Furthermore, the effects taken into account in the model used to analyse the morphological traits were: Herd-year-classification date, age and number of calving, month in lactation, animal, and genetic group. The results showed an annual genetic trend of 15 kg of milk (Predicted Transmitting Ability-PTA) and 0.5 kg of fat (PTA) for the bulls born since 1985 and used in Argentina. Regarding the value of final score, it was 0.12 units of Standardized Transmitting Ability (STA). The annual genetic trend obtained for the cows was 20 kg of milk (PTA), 0.7 kg of fat (PTA), and 0.13 units of Standardized Transmitting Ability (STA). Considering the genetic performance of bulls of different origins, the highest values on kg of milk and final score were estimated for American and Canadian animals.