2003

Paul VanRaden, Melvin Tooker,* Ashley Paul VanRaden, Melvin Tooker,* Ashley Sanders, and George WiggansSanders, and George Wiggans

Animal Improvement Programs LaboratoryAgricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MDpaul@aipl.arsusda.gov

Quality of Data Included in Quality of Data Included in Genetic Evaluations for Genetic Evaluations for

Daughter Pregnancy RateDaughter Pregnancy Rate

ADSA Phoenix (2) Melvin Tooker200

3

Evaluation MethodsEvaluation Methods

BLUP Animal Model

Same programs used for yield, PL, SCS

Adjust for regional, seasonal and parity differences.

Convert to preg rate = (233-DO) / 4

ADSA Phoenix (3) Melvin Tooker200

3

Average breed effects across Average breed effects across regions and time by calving monthregions and time by calving month

-10-8-6

-4-2024

68

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Day

s O

pen

AyrshireB. SwissGuernseyJerseyM. ShortHolstein

ADSA Phoenix (4) Melvin Tooker200

3

Parity Pre-Adjustments Parity Pre-Adjustments Initiated May 2003Initiated May 2003

Parity Holstein Jersey

1st 0 0

2nd - 4.1 - 3.7

3rd - 7.1 - 5.6

4th - 11.7 - 9.4

5th - 16.7 - 13.4

ADSA Phoenix (5) Melvin Tooker200

3

Pregnancy Rate Evaluation Pregnancy Rate Evaluation Data SourcesData Sources

Days open reported, verified calving interval.

No calving interval, days open reported.

No breeding date reported, next calf.

No breeding reported, no next calf.

Sold for reproductive reasons, days open set to 250.

Pregnancy verification codes have been available since 2002.

ADSA Phoenix (6) Melvin Tooker200

3

Pregnancy Rate EvaluationPregnancy Rate Evaluation

Records considered complete at 250 DIM

Lower limit set to 50 DO• 5% of records

Upper limit set to 250 DO• 14% of records

ADSA Phoenix (7) Melvin Tooker200

3

AY BS GU HO JE MSBreeding date verified by next calving date 55 54 48 57 64 53

Breeding date disagrees with next calving date 6 8 8 5 5 8

Breeding date but no next calving date 16 15 20 19 17 16

Next calving date, but no breeding reported 7 9 8 6 6 11

Cows sold for reproductive problems 6 5 5 5 3 4

No information for fertility 10 9 11 8 5 8

Sources of Fertility Data 1998-1999Sources of Fertility Data 1998-1999

ADSA Phoenix (8) Melvin Tooker200

3

May 2003 EvaluationMay 2003 Evaluation

Holstein data from May 2003 evaluation• 40 million lactations• 16 million cows

Example evaluations: • Data for recent, well-sampled bulls • Actual bull evaluations

ADSA Phoenix (9) Melvin Tooker200

3

Older Bull Evaluations (May 2003)Older Bull Evaluations (May 2003)

Bull REL DO DPR PL NM$

Duster 99 - 9.6 +2.4 +4.3 +451

Bellwood 99 - 0.8 +0.2 -0.5 +353

Mandel 99 +7.2 - 1.8 -0.7 +244

Luke 99 +9.2 - 2.3 -1.8 +136

Mountain 99 - 4.4 +1.1 +1.1 +280

Mascot 99 +3.2 - 0.8 -2.9 +20

ADSA Phoenix (10) Melvin Tooker200

3

Bulls ranked by Net Merit May 2003Bulls ranked by Net Merit May 2003

Bull DPR PL Net Merit $

O Manfred Justice 0.4 3.1 759

Vision-Gen Ozzie - 0.7 0.6 692

Emerald Dawson - 1.1 0.9 675

Pagen-Ernwood - 1.3 2.2 630

Ricecrest Marshall - 1.7 - 0.1 625

Carol Prel. Mtoto - 1.5 2.0 607

Windsor Machoman 1.1 3.0 598

C.-Corner Defense 0.0 2.6 593

ADSA Phoenix (11) Melvin Tooker200

3

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

Pregnancy rate will be included in Net Merit.

Fertility records will be used earlier in lactation.

DPR can be used in multi-trait PL.

Fertility database and formats will be improved.

ADSA Phoenix (12) Melvin Tooker200

3

Format 5 - Reproductive RecordsFormat 5 - Reproductive Records

Animal ID, sire ID, dam ID, X-ref ID

Animal herd code information

Reproductive segments:• Date of event, code for actual or

estimated date• Includes many events, service sire ID

ADSA Phoenix (13) Melvin Tooker200

3

Format 5 - Reproductive Format 5 - Reproductive Event CodesEvent Codes

H Observed in estrus (heat) but not inseminated

S Synchronized estrus event (injection or other methods)

A Artificial insemination N Natural service breeding E Embryo donation

ADSA Phoenix (14) Melvin Tooker200

3

Format 5 - Reproductive Format 5 - Reproductive Event Codes . . .Event Codes . . .

I Embryo implantation P Confirmed pregnant O Confirmed not pregnant (open) X Cow given a “do not breed”

designation D Delete event(s) for this “date of

event”

ADSA Phoenix (15) Melvin Tooker200

3

Format 5 in the Future:Format 5 in the Future:

Separate estrus expression and conception rate (female fertility)

Service sire fertility (male fertility)

Keep track of ALL service sires, number and type of services, not just the most recent

ADSA Phoenix (16) Melvin Tooker200

3

ConclusionsConclusions

Most herds are reporting accurate breeding dates.

Records currently used only if complete (250 DIM).

More reproductive events will be obtained in the future.

More accurate and complete data will provide better fertility evaluations for farmers and industry.

ADSA Phoenix (17) Melvin Tooker200

3

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

All DHIA herds and processing centers contributed data

Lillian Bacheller for work on improving the fertility database

John Clay suggested expressing cow fertility as pregnancy rate