ARS | Publication request: Genetic Base Changes for January 2010

Submitted to: Genetic Trends
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2009
Publication Date: November 30, 2009
Citation: Van Raden, P.M., Cole, J.B., Tooker, M.E., Cooper, T.A. 2009. Genetic Base Changes for January 2010. Genetic Trends. 61(5):11.

Technical Abstract: Genetic bases were updated previously in the United States in 1965, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2000, and 2005, and the next base change is scheduled for January 2010. Changing the base every 5 years subtracts accumulated genetic gain so that all animals are compared with a more recent cow population, while allowing new and previous evaluations to be compared easily for the 5 years between changes. In January 2010, the genetic base for USDA-DHIA genetic evaluations of yield, health, fertility, and type traits will become the average value for cows born in the year 2005. As a result of updating the base year, evaluation standard deviation for each breed will be adjusted along with the average. For most traits, genetic trends comparing cows born in 2005 with those born in 2000 were equal to or slightly less than corresponding trends for the preceding 5 years reported in February 2005.