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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75224
Title: USABILITY FOR GENETIC EVALUATIONS OF RECORDS FROM HERDS PARTICIPATING IN PROGENY TEST PROGRAMS OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION ORGANIZATIONS

Author
item MEINERT, TODD - PFIZER
item NORMAN, H
item MATTISON, JAY - REQUEST
item SATTLER, CHARLES - NAAB

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Although growth in progeny test programs has provided an opportunity for more intense selection of dairy bulls, thus allowing artificial insemination (AI) organizations to provide dairy producers with access to young bulls of outstanding genetic merit, little information has been available on the effectiveness of progeny testing in the United States except for the number of bulls sampled. This research determined 1) the percentage of records usable for genetic evaluations for herds that participate in AI progeny testing compared to that for nonparticipating herds and 2) those herd management characteristics that might be helpful in predicting the percentage of records usable. For herds that participated in AI progeny test programs, mean percentage of records usable was 77% in 1991 and 78% in 1992; mean percentage of usable records for nonparticipating herds was 62% in 1991 and 60% in 1992. Participating herds also had larger average herd sizes, standardized milk yields, younger cows, and a lower percentage of registered cows than did nonparticipating herds. Herds that participated in AI progeny test programs or that had smaller herd sizes, higher mean standardized milk yields, younger cows, or larger percentages of registered cows had higher percentages of records usable for genetic evaluations. Improved usability of records for genetic evaluations increases the efficiency of AI progeny testing; consideration of herd characteristics associated with higher percentages of records usable should aid AI organizations in evaluating prospective herds for progeny test programs.

Technical Abstract: Thirteen artificial insemination (AI) organizations provided identification of herds that participated in progeny test programs in 1989 and 1990; 15% of those herds participated in programs of more than one AI organization, but only 2.6% participated in programs of more than two AI organizations. Of the 19,589 participating herds, 82% and 76% were enrolled in Dairy Herd Improvement test plans considered usable for genetic evaluations during 1991 and 1992. For herds that had participated in AI progeny test programs, mean percentage of records usable was 77% in 1991 and 78% in 1992; mean percentage of usable records for nonparticipating herds was 62% in 1991 and 60% in 1992. Participating herds had larger mean herd sizes, mean standardized milk yields, and standard deviations of milk yields; younger cows; and a lower percentage of registered cows than did nonparticipating herds. Analysis of covariance was used to explain percentage of records usable for genetic evaluations. Herds that participated in AI progeny test programs or that had smaller herd sizes, higher mean standardized milk yields, younger cows, or larger percentages of registered cows had higher percentages of records usable for genetic evaluations. Improved usability of records for genetic evaluations would increase the efficiency of AI progeny testing; consideration of herd characteristics associated with higher percentages of records usable should aid AI organizations in evaluating prospective herds for progeny test programs.