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Title: ESTIMATION OF VARIANCE COMPONENTS FOR COW AND PARITY EFFECTS FROM TEST-DAY YIELDS

Author
item BORMANN, J - GEMBLOUX AGRIC UNIV
item Wiggans, George
item Lake, Jill
item DRUET, T - GEMBLOUX AGRIC UNIV
item GENGLER, N - GEMBLOUX AGRIC UNIV

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The initial step in implementing a U.S. test-day model includes estimation of cow and parity test-day variances needed to calculate lactation stage, age, and pregnancy effects. Single-trait repeatability models were fitted, and variance components were estimated for milk, fat, and protein test-day yields using Method R and a preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) equation solver because of large data sets (.7 to 7.7 million records). Data were obtained for calvings since 1990 for Brown Swiss and Jerseys and for Holsteins from California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. At least 3 observations were required per subclass for herd test date and milking frequency. Three parity groups were defined: 1st, 2nd, later. Test-day data were adjusted for environmental effects of age, calving season, and milking frequency. Estimated breeding values (EBV's) were expressed on a daily basis. To assess effect of adjustments, data also were analyzed without correction. For adjusted data, variance ratios (residual divided by effect variance) within parity were similar across breeds, subpopulations, and samples: 1.5 to 1.8 for milk, 3.0 to 4.3 for fat, and 1.8 to 2.3 for protein. Variance ratios across parities were 3.5 to 6.8 for milk, 8.7 to 17.6 for fat, and 5.5 to 9.4 for protein. Adjustment for EBV reduced both cow genetic and nongenetic variances. Variance ratios for permanent environment within parity from unadjusted data were nearly identical to those from adjusted data. For unadjusted data, heritabilities ranged from .19 to .30 for milk, .13 to .15 for fat, and .17 to .23 for protein. Although computations took several weeks, use of Method R and a PCG solver enabled estimation of the variance components that will be used for U.S. evaluations based on a test-day model.