Evaluations developed and computed by Numerical genetics, Genomics and Modeling group of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
With the support of Walloon Region, Direction Générale de l'Agriculture and FNRS

APRIL, 3 2025

April Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

DECEMBER, 5 2024

December Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Please note that greater than usual changes in fertility values may be observed, especially in American bulls,due to a change in data provision from USA. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

AUGUST, 22 2024

August Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

APRIL, 04 2024

April Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

DECEMBER, 06 2023

December Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

AUGUST, 17 2023

August Routine Run ========================================================== UPDATE (23/08/2023) The problem that appeared during this evaluation has been solved: the results (indexes) of the Walloon genomic evaluations are those computed in August 2023 for bulls that do not have international results or results from the Walloon polygenic evaluation. All results of these new calculations therefore supersede those previously published. Therefore, local genomic evaluations are now synchronised with local and MACE polygenic evaluations, as in previous routine runs. Work is currently underway to improve and develop local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy, enabling polygenic and genomic calculations to be standardised in a single calculation. ========================================================== Due to a current problem that is in the process of being resolved but delaying the computations, the results (indexes) of the Walloon genomic evaluations for bulls with no international results or results from the Walloon polygenic evaluation are those computed in April 2023. New computations are currently in progress. The bull file and the online bull search database will be updated as soon as possible with the results of these new calculations. However, it is important to note that the results of routine international evaluations (MACE, GMACE) and Walloon polygenic evaluations are those computed in August 2023.

APRIL, 06 2023

April Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

DECEMBER, 08 2022

DECEMBER Routine Run As in previous routine runs, the local genomic evaluations are now synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. Work is still in progress to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a "single-step" strategy enabling the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations in a single calculation. As part of this strategy, from this routine run, inbreeding is taken into account in all polygenic evaluation models to match the futur genomic evaluation system. Information on the content and progress of this work will be provided in time.

AUGUST, 24 2022

AUGUST Routine Run In this routine run, there are no new features for local polygenic, MACE and GMACE evaluations compared to April 2022. Progress in the implementation allows the delivery of local genomic evaluations that are now synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. However, work is still underway to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations to a single-step strategy allowing for the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations into a single calculation. During this work, larger than usual differences. between genomic evaluations, particularly of cows, may be observed. Information about this work and its progress will be provided in the coming months.

APRIL, 7 2022

APRIL Routine Run In this routine run, there are no new features for local polygenic, MACE and GMACE evaluations compared to December 2021. Progress in the implementation allows the delivery of local genomic evaluations that are now synchronised with the local polygenic and MACE evaluations. However, work is still underway to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations to a single-step strategy allowing for the harmonisation of polygenic and genomic calculations into a single calculation. During this work, larger than usual differences. between genomic evaluations, particularly of cows, may be observed. Information about this work and its progress will be provided in the coming months.

DECEMBER, 9 2021

December Routine Run No new features for this routine run are to be noted for the local, MACE and GMACE evaluations compared to those of August 2021. However, work is underway to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a standard "single-step" strategy integrating polygenic and genomic calculations into a single system. During this work, larger than usual differences between genomic evaluations, particularly of cows, may be observed. Information about this work and its progress will be provided in the coming months.

AUGUST, 11 2021

August Routine Run No new features for this routine run are to be noted for the local, MACE and GMACE evaluations compared to those of April 2021. However, work is underway to improve and evolve the local genomic evaluations towards a standard "single-step" strategy integrating polygenic and genomic calculations into a single system. During this work, larger than usual differences between genomic evaluations, particularly of cows, may be observed. Information about this work and its progress will be provided in the coming months.

APRIL, 8 2021

April Routine Run Work is ongoing to continuously improve evaluation systems. This is currently particularly the case for genomic evaluations. As a result of this work to improve our computations, shifts in the ranking of animals are expected between the successive genomic evaluations in December 2020 and April 2021.

DECEMBER, 3 2020

December Routine Run The base changes BC and HC were performed during this run routine for all characters evaluated in the Walloon region of Belgium. An update of the milk economic index (VEL) and the functional economic index (VEF) was also carried out! More details in the document news.pdf as well as in the explanations.

AUGUST, 20 2020

August Routine Run The year 2020 will be the year of the scheduled base change ! However, in order to synchronize it with the adaptations of the VEG also scheduled during this year, the base change was not yet made during this routine runb> were performed during this run routine for all characters evaluated in the Walloon region of Belgium. An update of the milk economic index (VEL) and the functional economic index (VEF) was also carried out! More details in the document news.pdf as well as in the explanations.

APRIL, 8 2020

April Routine Run

The year 2020 will be the year of the scheduled base change ! However, in order to synchronize it with the adaptations of the VEG also scheduled during this year, the base change was not yet made during this routine runynchronize it with the adaptations of the VEG also scheduled during this year, the base change was not yet made during this routine runb> were performed during this run routine for all characters evaluated in the Walloon region of Belgium.

An update of the milk economic index (VEL) and the functional economic index (VEF) was also carried out!

More details in the document news.pdf as well as in the explanations.

DECEMBER Routine Run

All the problems discovered after the routine-run of August 2019 have been successfully solved, the results are again comparable across the types of evaluations and between successive evaluations. ont-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'> April Routine Run

The year 2020 will be the year of the scheduled base change ! However, in order to synchronize it with the adaptations of the VEG also scheduled during this year, the base change was not yet made during this routine runynchronize it with the adaptations of the VEG also scheduled during this year, the base change was not yet made during this routine runb> were performed during this run routine for all characters evaluated in the Walloon region of Belgium.

An update of the milk economic index (VEL) and the functional economic index (VEF) was also carried out!

More details in the document news.pdf as well as in the explanations.

APRIL, 4 2019

APRIL Routine Run Starting with this evaluation, only Holstein animals with sufficient certified breed purity will obtain official genomic values . Indeed, current genomic evaluation systems are breed specific and predicting an animal of another breed is not possible in a reliable fashion. This change should also stabilize the results of evaluations over time. The degree of Holstein purity is calculated through the pedigree starting from North American Holstein ancestors. Moreover, the genetic evaluation system for longevity was updated. The herd x calving x lactation class effect is now random. This modification provides more stable estimated breeding values.

DECEMBER, 6 2018

DECEMBER Routine Run No changes were applied in the genetic evaluations computation from August routine run.

AUGUST, 9 2018

AUGUST Routine Run GplusE is a project from ULiège-GxABT and funded by the European Union. In its framework, more than 3,000 dairy cows, which represents the majority of cows from 50 herds, have been genotyped in 2017. Therefore, thanks to this project, we now have new genotypes included into our reference population, thereby improving the reliability of the Walloon genomic breeding values. Other planned or undergoing projects will also enable an impartial genotyping of Walloon cows. This will be performed in order to achieve more reliable genomic breeding values in future, despite of the decreasing number of progeny testing bulls. In this context, we would like to encourage breeders to genotype different groups of animals, and not only those assumed superiors based on pedigree information or intuition! This broader genotyping will allow breeders to make optimal use of new genomic selection and breeding tools. No changes were applied in the genetic evaluations computation from April routine run.

APRIL, 5 2018

April Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the December routine run.

DECEMBER, 7 2017

DECEMBER Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the August routine run.

AUGUST, 10 2017

AUGUST Routine Run In the European project framework called BlueSel (project INTERREG IV France - Wallonia - Flanders 2007-2013), an across border genetic evaluation was developed for Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cattle. This genetic evaluation is now incorporated into the official Walloon systems, thus, Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue bulls breeding values, available in sireBBM1708 file , are based on Walloon and French information ("Bleue du Nord").

APRIL, 6 2017

APRIL Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the December routine run.

DECEMBER, 8 2016

DECEMBER Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the August routine run.

AUGUST, 10 2016

AUGUST Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the previous routine run.

APRIL, 7 2016

APRIL Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the previous routine run.

DECEMBER, 3 2015

DECEMBER Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the previous routine run.

AUGUST, 13 2015

AUGUST Routine Run No changes were made in the computations of genetic and genomic evaluations from the previous routine run. As a reminder, the various changes and improvements made during the previous routine run (April 2015) are displayed here .

MAY, 12 2015

APRIL Routine Run Several changes and improvements were made during this routine-run and they are displayed in the document News.pdf

DECEMBER, 4 2014

DECEMBER Routine Run UPDATE (16/12/2014) Before making the results from the international genomic evaluation system GMACE official (planned for April 2015) test-files have been prepared. They are available on simple request to Nicolas Gengler. Please note that these results are not official. As a reminder, in order to provide Walloon breeders with relevant results about udder health, we provide breeding values of somatic cell score (SCS) from the INTERBULL Udder Health second run, which also uses mastitis resistance traits if known in the exporting countries. These countries are responsible of the breeding values provided to INTERBULL. Unfortunately, we noticed that some countries send only for a (very) limited number of bulls breeding values based on direct observations of mastitis to the INTERBULL Udder Health second run. To serve our farmers, for this routine run and for a number of bulls (see list of bulls) , if the results from the second run do not have at least a reliability of 45%, the values of the first run are used. We ask every user of our breeding values to indicate this during publication of results. As a reminder, breeding values below the limits of publication are still used in the computations of the indexes (e. g. VEG). No major change in computations of genetic evaluations. For the next routine run (April 2014), a base change and some improvements are planned. More details will be available in the next weeks.

AUGUST, 14 2014

AUGUST Routine Run UPDATE (18/11/2014) Before making the results from the international genomic evaluation system GMACE official test-files have been prepared. They are available on simple request to Nicolas Gengler. Please note that these results are not official. UPDATE (29/09/2014): In Walloon Region, huge advances in genomics are made and the Walloon genomic evaluation system is working. So, we are participating to the international genomic evaluation system (GMACE) provided by INTERBULL. Results from GMACE will be officially published in the next few months on this website. In the meantime, in order to help our breeders, a conversion was again carried out. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the official genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This time, countries of origin of the genomic values remained unchanged from the last conversion for each combination of bull x trait group. No changes were made in the computations of genetic evaluations from the previous routine run.

APRIL, 4 2014

APRIL Routine Run UPDATE (05/05/2014): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Compared to the previous routine-run (December 2013) , the Walloon phenotypic data used have been updated.No changes were made in the computations of genetic evaluations from the previous routine run.

DECEMBER, 5 2013

DECEMBER Routine Run UPDATE (12/12/2013): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. After the successful validation during the test-run of September 2013 and starting with this routine-run, new data preparation routines for longevity were put into service. The problem in the allocation of the code "culled" is therefore resolved. Correlations with other countries increased strongly; therefore limited ranking changes of bulls are expected. Walloon contributions were already updated for latest computations; bulls with Walloon daughters should therefore be more stable. Compared to routine-run of August 2013, the Walloon phenotypic data used have not been updated. However the bull files, as usual, were computed using the latest estimates for each population participating INTERBULL. Breeding values for females will be updated with respect to these latest INTERBULL results. Apart from these two points, no changes were made in the computations of genetic evaluations from the previous routine run.

AUGUST, 14 2013

AUGUST Routine Run UPDATE (30/08/2013): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Discovery and correction of a data preparation problem for longevity A problem in the assignment of the "culled" code has been discovered. This problem had the consequence, that although the correct number of lactations was used; the last lactation may not have received the code "culled" when necessary. This problem was corrected in the local breeding value estimation for the Walloon region in March 2013. However, INTERBULL can only use these "corrected" results after a test-run, therefore "uncorrected" results were still used in the MACE run for longevity. We will however submit the results based on "corrected" data for the next INTERBULL test-run in September 2013 allowing the problem to disappear in the medium term. Meanwhile, a short-term strategy has been developed to overcome the problem. It consists in: 1. Using the corrected results for cows and bulls of the Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue Breed ; 2. Correcting MACE breeding values for Holstein bulls subsequently to the return from INTERBULL. Correction for MACE breeding values is based on methods developed and validated that perform an updating of our contributions entering the MACE (Vandenplas and Gengler, 2012a; Vandenplas and Gengler, 2012b). This strategy was used for this MACE genetic evaluation. Changes in ranking of bulls are quite limited (rank correlation of approximately 0.95), good and bad bulls used in our region are expected to show somewhat generally clearer difference. At the cow level, rearrangements may appear larger but are mitigated by the low heritability of longevity (specific information is less important than the pedigree). References Vandenplas, J. and N. Gengler. 2012a. Comparison and improvements of different Bayesian procedures to integrate external information into genetic evaluations. J. Dairy Sci. 95:1513-1526. Vandenplas, J. and N. Gengler. 2012b. Extension of Bayesian procedures to integrate and blend to multiple external information into genetic evaluations. Presentation at the 2012 ADSA-AMPA-ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting. J. Dairy Sci. 95 (Suppl. 2): 682 No major change in computations of genetic evaluations from the previous routine run.

APRIL, 11 2013

APRIL Routine Run UPDATE (25/04/2013): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Discovery and correction of a data preparation problem for longevity A problem in the assignment of the "culled" code has been discovered. This problem had the consequence, that although the correct number of lactations was used; the last lactation may not have received the code "culled" when necessary. This problem was corrected in the local breeding value estimation for the Walloon region in March 2013. However, INTERBULL can only use these "corrected" results after a test-run, therefore "uncorrected" results were still used in the MACE run for longevity. We will however submit the results based on "corrected" data for the next INTERBULL test-run in September 2013 allowing the problem to disappear in the medium term. Meanwhile, a short-term strategy has been developed to overcome the problem. It consists in: 1. Using the corrected results for cows and bulls of the Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue Breed ; 2. Correcting MACE breeding values for Holstein bulls subsequently to the return from INTERBULL. Correction for MACE breeding values is based on methods developed and validated that perform an updating of our contributions entering the MACE (Vandenplas and Gengler, 2012a; Vandenplas and Gengler, 2012b). This strategy will be used for the next two MACE genetic evaluations (March and August 2013). Changes in ranking of bulls are quite limited (rank correlation of approximately 0.95), good and bad bulls used in our region are expected to show somewhat generally clearer difference. At the cow level, rearrangements may appear larger but are mitigated by the low heritability of longevity (specific information is less important than the pedigree). References Vandenplas, J. and N. Gengler. 2012a. Comparison and improvements of different Bayesian procedures to integrate external information into genetic evaluations. J. Dairy Sci. 95:1513-1526. Vandenplas, J. and N. Gengler. 2012b. Extension of Bayesian procedures to integrate and blend to multiple external information into genetic evaluations. Presentation at the 2012 ADSA-AMPA-ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting. J. Dairy Sci. 95 (Suppl. 2): 682 No major change in computations of genetic evaluations from the previous routine run.

DECEMBER, 06 2012

DECEMBER Routine Run UPDATE (17/12/2012): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Responsibilities for providing breeding values for their bulls are with the exporting countries. Unfortunately, we noticed that some countries send only for a (very) limited number of bulls breeding values based on direct observations of mastitis to the INTERBULL Udder Health second run (calculation using mastitis). As we use these values to provide our breeders breeding values for somatic cell score (SCS), reflecting more than only the influence of somatic cells on udder health, this situation does not allow us to provide SCS breeding values for these bulls to our breeders. We have intervened to the concerned foreign authorities (especially one country)but currently they are still unable to resolve the situation. To serve our farmers, for this routine run and for a number of bulls (see list of bulls) , if the results from the second run do not have at least a reliability of 45%, the values of the first run are used. We ask every user of our breeding values to indicate this during publication of results. As a reminder, breeding values below the limits of publication are still used in the computations of the indexes (e. g. VEG). No major change in computations of genetic evaluations.

AUGUST, 17 2012

AUGUST Routine Run UPDATE (31/08/2012) Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Responsibilities for providing breeding values for their bulls are with the exporting countries. Unfortunately, we noticed that some countries send only for a (very) limited number of bulls breeding values based on direct observations of mastitis to the INTERBULL Udder Health second run (calculation using mastitis). As we use these values to provide our breeders breeding values for somatic cell score (SCS), reflecting more than only the influence of somatic cells on udder health, this situation does not allow us to provide SCS breeding values for these bulls to our breeders. We have intervened to the concerned foreign authorities (especially one country)but currently they are still unable to resolve the situation. To serve our farmers, for this routine run and for a number of bulls (see list of bulls) , if the results from the second run do not have at least a reliability of 45%, the values of the first run are used. We ask every user of our breeding values to indicate this during publication of results. As a reminder, breeding values below the limits of publication are still used in the computations of the indexes (e. g. VEG). No major change in computations of genetic evaluations.

APRIL, 12 2012

APRIL Routine Run UPDATE (27/04/2012): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Responsibilities for providing breeding values for their bulls are with the exporting countries. Unfortunately, we noticed that some countries send only for a (very) limited number of bulls breeding values based on direct observations of mastitis to the INTERBULL Udder Health second run (calculation using mastitis). As we use these values to provide our breeders breeding values for somatic cell score (SCS), reflecting more than only the influence of somatic cells on udder health, this situation does not allow us to provide SCS breeding values for these bulls to our breeders. We have intervened to the concerned foreign authorities (especially one country)but currently they are still unable to resolve the situation. To serve our farmers, for this routine run and for a number of bulls (see list of bulls), if the results from the second run do not exist, the values of the first run are used. We ask every user of our breeding values to indicate this during publication of results. The limits of publication were put back to normal limits (45% respectively 85%). As a reminder, breeding values below the limits of publication are still used in the computations of the indexes (e. g. VEG). No major change in computations of genetic evaluations.

DECEMBER, 08 2011

DECEMBER Routine Run An increasing number of countries, joint by France since the last test-run is providing direct mastitis breeding values for the INTERBULL Udder Health Evaluations that are used in the second run. As we use this run to provide breeding values to our breeders that reflect better the influence of SCS on udder health, reliability limits had to be adapted for young test sires or imported sires with INTERBULL results to have a reliability superior or equal to 35% and imported sires with only Walloon results to be superior or equal to 85%. By doing this we will help our breeders to know the figures, however asking them to be cautious and to take the lower reliabilities into account. No major change were made in the computations of the genetic evaluations.

AUGUST, 11 2011

AUGUST Routine Run UPDATE (29/08/2011): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, The Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. Please note: For the first time breeding values for Body Condition Score (BCS) were published. These breeding values are available on the sire database online and in the sire file. So, the format of sire file was adapted. Publication limits of BCS are, for young test sires or imported sires with INTERBULL results to have a reliability superior or equal to 50% and imported sires with only Walloon results to be superior or equal to 85%. More details about genetic evaluation of BCS will be available in some days. No major change in computations of other genetic evaluations.

APRIL, 7 2011

APRIL Routine Run UPDATE (28/04/2011): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. WARNING: Starting with this publication, the combined female fertility index represented by breeding values for combined female fertility is available in the sire database online. Reminder, the combined female fertility index is composed of two sources of information: direct female fertility (Pregnancy Rate) and indirect female fertility predicted from correlated traits. Publications limits of this combined female fertility index remain the same those used in the previous publications of the female fertility index based only on Pregnancy Rate. More details in explanations. No major change in computations of genetic evaluations.

DECEMBER 9, 2010

DECEMBER Routine Run UPDATE (11/01/2011): Genomic breeding values originating from Canada, Germany, France and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base in a single genomic sire file. The format of this file is the same format as the sire file. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in Canada, Germany, France and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. WARNING: Starting with this publication, the combined female fertility index represented by breeding values for combined female fertility will be available in the sire file, there is therefore no longer a separate file. New format of the sire file is described in download section. Moreover, breeding values will be available, as soon as possible, in the sire database online. Reminder, the combined female fertility index is composed of two sources of information: direct female fertility (Pregnancy Rate) and indirect female fertility predicted from correlated traits. Publications limits of this combined female fertility index remain the same those used in the previous publications of the female fertility index based only on Pregnancy Rate. More details in explanations. No major change in computations of genetic evaluations.

AUGUST 20, 2010

AUGUST Routine Run UPDATE (31/08/2010): Genomic breeding values originating from CANADA and USA are now available on the Walloon reference base. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in CANADA and in USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. The BC base and HC base were changed in August 2010 for traits evaluated in Walloon Region. For the Holstein bulls with the same reliability for V€G at the previous routine run (May 2010) and at the current one, we can expect differences of : 28 kg for milk, -1 kg for fat, 0.3 kg for protein, -1.6 Euros for V€L 0,002 for SCS, 0.06 for combined longevity, 16 euro for V€F 0.8 Euros for V€C, 4 Euros for V€M, 12 Euros for V€P For example, for a bull with a previous value of 200 Euros for V€G in May 2010, we can expect a current value of 169 Euros for V€G of this bull. For all genetic evaluation systems, definition of genetic groups was updated however this update should only affect breeding values of bulls slightly. For the first time breeding values for combined female fertility were published and they are available in a temporary file but they will be available, as soon as possible, in the sire database and in the sire file. New format will be displayed in the same time. The combined female fertility index is composed of two sources of information: direct female fertility (Pregnancy Rate) and indirect female fertility predicted from correlated traits. More details in explanations. Publications limits of this combined female fertility index are the same ones as for the publication of the pregnancy rate.

APRIL 08, 2010

APRIL Routine Run UPDATE (07/07/2010): Genomic breeding values originating from CANADA and FRANCE are now available on the Walloon reference base. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in CANADA and in FRANCE and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. UPDATE (20/05/2010) Genomic breeding values originating from the USA are now available on the Walloon reference base. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in the USA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. Genomic breeding values originating from CANADA and FRANCE will be available on the Wallon reference base at the end of June 2010. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the April 2010 Routine Run. The results for Pregnancy Rate are available here Genomic breeding values originating from the USA, France and Canada on the Walloon reference base will be available in few weeks. For the next routine run (August 2010), a base change and some improvements are planned. More details will be available in the next weeks.

JANUARY 14, 2010

JANUARY Routine Run UPDATE (21/01/2010): Genomic breeding values originating from the USA, FRANCE and CANADA are now available on the Walloon reference base. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in the USA, in FRANCE and in CANADA and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the January 2010 Routine Run. The results for Pregnancy Rate are available here Genomic breeding values originating from the USA, France and Canada on the Walloon reference base will be available in few weeks.

AUGUST 20, 2009

AUGUST Routine Run No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the August 2009 Routine Run. The results for Pregnancy Rate are available here Genomic breeding values originating from the USA, France and Canada on the Walloon reference base will be available in few days.

APRIL 09, 2009

APRIL Routine Run In order to reflect more precisely our evaluated trait of the trait complex called “Female Fertility” by INTERBULL, our breeding values will be called from now on Pregancy Rate. The results for Pregnancy Rate are now published for the third time. Our documentation was adapted. More details are given on the explanation section . Genomic breeding values originating from the USA on the Walloon reference base were updated. You can find more details on genomic breeding values in the USA under http://aipl.arsusda.gov/reference/genomic prediction.html.

JAN 15, 2009

JANUARY Routine Run UPDATE (10/02/2009): Genomic breeding values originating from the USA are now available on the Walloon reference base. These are conversions established from the officiel genomic breeding values published in the USA, or in the future in other countries under the condition that they are official, and official conversion equations from INTERBULL. You can find more details on genomic breeding values in the USA under http://aipl.arsusda.gov/reference/genomic prediction.html. This conversion is an interim solution in order to provide a service to Walloon breeding pending future rules. All publication using this information must acknowledge the genomic origin of these values. For the second time breeding values for female fertility (daughter fertility) were published. This trait is defined as the capacity of cows (here, daughters of published sires) to become pregnant again. It is not the ability of these sires to make cows pregnant. Breeding values for female fertility are expressed in "Pregnancy rate" and in percentage (% of nonpregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-d period). For this evaluation a temporary file has been created and its format is available here . Publication limits are, for young test sires or imported sires with INTERBULL results to have a reliability superior or equal to 35% and imported sires with only Walloon results to be superior or equal to 60%.

SEPT 18, 2008

AUGUST Routine Run For the first time breeding values for female fertility (daughter fertility) were published. This trait is defined as the capacity of cows (here, daughters of published sires) to become pregnant again. It is not the ability of these sires to make cows pregnant. Breeding values for female fertility are expressed in "Pregnancy rate" and in percentage (% of nonpregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-d period). For this evaluation, computed during August 2008, a temporary file has been created and its format is available here . Publication limits are, for young test sires or imported sires with INTERBULL results to have a reliability superior or equal to 35% and imported sires with only Walloon results to be superior or equal to 60%.

AUG 21, 2008

AUGUST Routine Run Genetic Evaluations for the Walloon Region of Belgium use again all available records (until June 2008) and this for all traits (production, SCS, conformation and longevity). Published proofs were obtained fom the INTERBULL Routine Run of August 2008. No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the August 2008 Routine Run.

JUN 12, 2008

Dual Purpose Belgian Blue bulls File was updated The file containing the results of Dual Purpose Belgian Blue bulls was updated.

APR 3, 2008

APRIL Routine Run Due to technical data base problems, the Walloon genetic evaluations use this time data limited to the end of 2007 except for conformation traits. The results presented in the sire file and in the searchable data base were provided by the international genetic evaluations computed by INTERBULL during the Routine Run of April, 2008. Therefore, these results contain all the updated information available at the INTERBULL centre. The file containing the results of Dual Purpose Belgian Blue bulls is from the previous evaluation (January 2008). This file will be updated as soon as possible. Beginning with this evaluation, the site will gradually be translated into German.

JAN 17, 2008

JANUARY Routine Run No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the January 2008 Routine Run.

AUG 16, 2007

AUGUST Routine Run No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the May 2007 Routine Run.

MAY 16, 2007

MAY Routine Run INTERBULL has modified the procedure to obtain conversion coefficients. Previously, such equations were only provided for country with more than 20 bulls tested in this country and that met certain criteria (birth year, reliability, etc.). From now, conversion equations are obtained for the countries not meeting these criteria as well based on theoretical regressions. Therefore, our Walloon cows can be compared with the cows of the other countries taking part in evaluations INTERBULL for the majority of the traits! No major change in computations of genetic evaluations for the May 2007 Routine Run.

FEB 15, 2007

FEBRUARY Routine Run For the second time, breeding values of direct longevity for Dual Purpose Belgian Blue sires are available in the BBM file!!! No major change in genetic evaluations for the February 2007 Routine Run.

NOV 16, 2006

NOVEMBER Routine Run Breeding values for combined longevity are available in the Holstein sire file and on the sire data base. For the first time, breeding values of direct longevity for Dual Purpose Belgian Blue sires are available in the BBM file!!!

SEPT 06, 2006

AUGUST Routine Run Now, breeding values of combined longevity are available on the sire data base!!!

AUG 10, 2006

AUGUST Routine Run For the first time, breeding values for combined longevity are published!!!(Breeding values of combined longevity are available in the sire file and will be available on the sire data base in September!) The combined longevity is composed by direct longevity and predicted longevity from indicator traits (SCS and type traits). Moreover, definitions of economic indexes were changed during the integration of longevity into V€G. All of the economic indexes being in the sire data base are updated! Definitions of these new indexes are available in explications . The format of the sire file is available on format

MAY 11, 2006

MAY Routine Run During the INTERBULL genetic evaluations for the May 2006 routine run, the data for the bull « V Eaton » (NLDM000210903539) were lost for production and conformation traits. Rule A, as defined during the last August routine run (see news from 11th August 2005) was used to assign breeding values to him. For the third time, breeding values for longevity are published! Please, note that the format of the sire file has again changed! Please note that genetic evaluations are only for direct longevity. The publication of combined longevity, combining direct longevity and predicted longevity from indicator traits, will be done together with the integration of longevity into our economic indexes. Studies are in progress and we are planning to start at the next routine run (August 2006). Apart from this, no change in Walloon genetic evaluations for the May 2006 Routine Run.

FEB 16, 2006

February Routine Run Publication of Holstein breeding values for somatic cell score Official breeding values for somatic cell score of Holstein sires are now published if the reliability of the evaluation is superior or equal to 45 % (previously, this repeatability was superior or equal to 50 %) The other publication rules for the breeding values of somatic cell score remain the same than before, so: 1) Sire being at least 75 % Holstein 2) Sire having 10 producing daughters in at least 10 herds 3) Sire born after December 31, 1979 Attention, for sires not having an INTERBULL evaluation but a Walloon evaluation, the publication limit stays the same, so superior or equal to 85 %. These informations are available in explanations. Longevity For the second time, breeding values for longevity are published! Please, note that the file format have changed since the last routine run (November 2005)!!! Publication limits remain the same that the ones introduced during the routine run of November 2005. Also genetic evaluations are for direct longevity. The publication of predicted longevity, including direct longevity and expected longevity from indicator traits, will be done together with the integration of longevity into our economic indexes. Studies are in progress and we are planning to start at the next routine run. Modification in genetic groups The modification in genetic groups was made for all traits (production, conformation, somatic cell score and longevity). This change does not influence breeding values of sires but may influence, in some rare cases, cows having a known sire and an unknown dam or vice-versa.

NOV 17, 2005

November Routine Run For the first time, new breeding values for longevity were added (please note that the file format changed!!!). The methods used for the computations were presented at the 2005 INTERBULL meeting (presented report, technical description). The evolution of cow survival across her productive life is modelled. Results are expressed in lactations with the mean breeding value of cows born in 2000 put to 3 lactations. The maximal and minimal breeding values of bulls from this evaluation are 3.81 and 2.20 with a standard deviation of 0.19. Publication limits are superior or equal to 35% reliability for young test sires or imported sires with INTERBULL results and superior or equal to 60% for imported sires with only domestic results. The new breeding values for longevity are not yet integrated into our economic indexes. This will be done for the next routine run in February 2006. More information on this topic will be available in a short time. For all traits except for longevity, small modifications in genetic groups were made, however these changes do not influence breeding values of bulls but may influence, in some rare cases, cows having a known sire and an unknown dam or vice-versa. These modifications were done for all traits excepted longevity; they will be applied at all traits during the next routine run.

AUG 11, 2005

August Routine Run During the INTERBULL genetic evaluations for the May 2005 routine run, the data of a Danish bull were lost for conformation traits. This problem could be potentially recurrent since the responsibility of sending data of a sire is strictly local, in this case Danish, and we get, here in the Walloon region, back only the information provided by INTERBULL. Therefore, with the agreement of MRW-DGA the following rules were established. Each semen importer meeting this problem has to contact us in order to get information about the methods and coefficients to use. The rules are the following ones: A. If the Walloon genetic evaluations have not changed in their procedures the results from 3 months ago can be published with a clear mention * breeding values of the computation BELWALL YYYYMM where YYYY and MM are the year and the month of national evaluation respectively, e.g. 200502 B. If the Walloon genetic evaluations have changed in their procedures or if the base has changed compared to the previous routine run as this was the case in May 2005: the results from 3 months ago can be converted and these converted results can be published with a clear mention: * breeding values of the computation BELWALL YYYYMM where YYYY and MM are the year and the month of national evaluation respectively, e.g. 200502 The conversion coefficients for this method B are based on the Wilmink method and are established by us based on: 1. Selection of bulls having a sufficient reliability in both evaluations. 2. Selection of bulls, from this group, having a low reliability variation. 3. Establishment of the regression equations from the old breeding values to the new ones. Apart from this, no major change in genetic evaluations for the August 2005 Routine Run.

MAY 12, 2005

May Routine Run The base change was made in May 2005 ; for the Holstein bulls with the same reliability at the previous routine run (February 2005) and the current one, we can expect differences of : 242 kg for milk, 6 kg for fat, 7 kg for protein, 36 euros for V€L -0,03 for SCS, 1 euro for V€F 5 euros for V€C, -2 euros for V€M, 29 euros for V€P For example, for a bull with a current value of 200 euros for V€G, we can expect a previous value of 269 euros for this bull. For all genetic evaluation systems, small modifications in genetic groups were realised however these changes should only affect breeding values of bulls slightly. More information are available in explanations. ATTENTION, the scale was inverted for rear teat placement to agree with the definition of this trait from the other countries.

FEB 17, 2005

February Routine Run No major change in genetic evaluations for the February 2005 Routine Run were done. For the next routine run (May 2005) a base change will be done. Passing from the present bases (cows born in 1995) to the new bases (cows born in 2000) will have a mean influence on V€G, V€L, V€T and V€F (an estimation of the influence will be given in the next days). As other changes are in preparation and the data that will be used in May 2005 is not yet available, the real changes will be slightly different. This page will be updated in the next weeks to give the latest news.

NOV 10, 2004

November Routine Run No major change in genetic evaluations for the November 2004 Routine Run.

AUG 12, 2004

August Routine Run No major change in genetic evaluations for the August 2004 Routine Run.

MAY 13, 2004

Mai Routine Run No major change in genetic evaluations for the Mai 2004 Routine Run. In order to be in line with cow indexes, computations of Dual Purpose Belgian Blue sire repetabilities have been adapted. This modification has only an impact for sires whose repetabilities are mostly based on parents and which have therefore few daughters in production.

FEB 12, 2004

New Functionnal Economic Index, integrating somatic cell score Since May 2004, breeding values for somatic cell score are published for sires in Wallonia. A new index, V€F - functional economic index - has been defined to integrate this economically important trait in the V€G (global economic index). This was done in such a way that a sire with an average somatic cell score breeding value of 3 keeps the same V€G (V€F=0€), while a sire with a breeding value inferior to three (what is more desirable) will have a V€G superior (V€F>0€). More informations on V€F available in explanation.

BV & Indexes of Dual Purpose Belgian Blue Sires Official Breeding Values for production and somaticell score, and indexes V€L and V€F of dual purpose Belgian blue are now published on this site, at the same time as those for Holstein sires. Following are the publication rules: 1) Being atleast 75 % Belgian Blue 2) Sire having producing daughters in at least 5 herds 3) Repetability of evaluation >= 50% 4) Sire born after december 31, 1979 These informations are available in the Download section or directly here ici.

NOV 13, 2003	Evolution of the BV estimation model for conformation Genetic evaluation for type traits has been extended to further classifications in later lactations, if at least one classification occured in the first three lactations. Also, synthetic traits are directly used in the model as additional traits, while they were computed from breeding values of linear traits in the past.
	New trait used by INTERBULL The trait "rear teat placement" is now used by INTERBULL.
	Modification of the Udder economic index (V€P) The udder economic index (V€P) has been modified with the inclusion of rear teat placement in order to reflect the balance between front and rear teat placement.
	Easy access to genetic evaluations of sires A new search too was developped using PHP. This allows easy and direct access to genetic evaluations of sires. With the sire name or its INTERBULL ID, you can directly access to his last evaluations! To try click here or in the menu, at Search for a sire

AUG 14, 2003

New version of site The concept of the site has been modified in order to become more convivial and more evolutive.

MAI 15, 2003

New breeding values for somatic cell scores (SCS) New breeding values for somatic cell scores (SCS) defined as log2(cell count/100000) + 3 were added. The computations uses an adapted test-day model that weights records according to mastitis infection likelihood at this test day. SCS are compared to their expected level based on standardized residuals. SCS above this level have a higher weight, SCS below a lower. Results are expressed as breeding values with the mean breeding value of cows born in 1995 put to 3. Most breeding values are in a range between 2 and 4. A value higher than 3 represents a tendency to show a higher cell count, a value lower than 3 a tendency to have fewer cells compared to the reference base. The use of scores instead of standardized deviations was preferred as Walloon breeders, in opposition to those in most countries are used to these parameters as they are already used in the management tool "bilan cellules". The new breeding values for SCS are not yet integrated into the economic indexes (e.g., V€G). This is projected for November 2003 with several other changes in the genetic evaluation systems for production and conformation. Please note that the file format changed (http://www.elinfo.be/formats/globalfmt.pdf).

FEB 13, 2003	New breeding values and synthetic indexes New breeding values were released for Holstein sire in Wallonia. Results for sires from other breeds will be later available. Please note that the file format changed and breeding values for production, type and economic indexes (e.g., V€G) are now included. Definitions of the new indexes are in the (http://www.elinfo.be/formats/globalfmt.pdf) file. Also breeding values or indexes having reliabilities below 20% will no longer be provided.
	Error in the age-lactation stage intra-breed preadjustment During post processing of results an error in intra-breed age-lactation stage preadjustments for the February 2003 run was discovered that did not produced any significant rerankings or variance changes in Holsteins sires and that therefore did not showed up in the data validation process for INTERBULL. It did however influences the comparison between breeds and therefore the bases and potentially ranking of some cows in multi-breed herds. For this reason results for sires from other breeds will be released later with results for cows provided by a new computation that is underway.
NOV 2002	First release of Walloon breeding values

Evaluations developed and computed
for the Association Wallonne de l'Elevage (AWE asbl)

4, rue des Champs Elysées
5590 Ciney

By Animal Science Unit

With the support of the Walloon Region, Direction Générale de l'Agriculture

Supported by