Developing a genetic evaluation for calf survival during rearing in The Netherlands

Abstract

Little is known about calf survival during the rearing period. Therefore, a genetic evaluation for calf survival during rearing has been developed in The Netherlands. The trait of interest is calf survival of replacement heifers in the period day 3 to 365. Two other traits, day 3 to 14 for all calves and day 15 to 180 for veal calves, are used as predictor traits. The existing system for identification and registration yields a data set of nearly 33 million records of 17.5 million calves. Heritabilities are ranging from 0.005 to 0.011. With a genetic standard deviation of 2.49% for day 3 to 365 it is possible to distinguish good and bad bulls for calf survival. Although heritabilities are low, young test bulls will have a reliability of approximately 64% before the first daughter is lactating due to large progeny groups. The economic importance of calf survival justifies the implementation  of a breeding value estimation.