Topical summary of USDA-DHIA evaluation changes (1989

Topical summary of USDA-DHIA evaluation changes (1989–2013)

Topic	Evaluation date	Changes
Genomics	August 2013	Version 2 of GeneSeek Genomic Profiler chip Foreign and genomic information in parent averages
	May 2013	Additional variables added to XML files Information on GP2 chip
	April 2013	Distribution and access to genomic evaluations Use of a new chip with 76,867 markers Ayrshire genomic evaluations Weights used in genomic evaluations
	December 2012	Correction and adjustment of health trait evaluations and reliabilities Changes in HH1, HH3, and JH1 status Automated processing of genotypes
	August 2012	Additional Brown Swiss genotypes from Interbull Updated Chromosomal PTA Query
	April 2012	Adjustments to genomic evaluations and reliabilities
	December 2011	Genomic evaluations using 6,909 markers
	August 2011	Inclusion of British and Italian Holstein genotypes Changes in marker edits
	April 2011	Improved imputation Genomic reliability discount
	December 2010	Evaluations using 2,900 markers
	August 2010	Validation of genomic evaluations Improvements to imputed dam genotypes Preliminary evaluations using 3,000 markers
	April 2010	Cow adjustments in genomic evaluation of yield traits Haplotypes used for imputing genotypes Genotypes from Switzerland Improved reliability for genomic evaluations
	January 2010	Revised genomic evaluation methods Web query to track genotypes
	August 2009	Brown Swiss genomic evaluations Revised marker set used in genomic predictions Blending of genomic and current Interbull evaluations
	April 2009	Revisions to genomic calculations
	January 2009	Genomic evaluations become official
	April 2008	Genomic prediction

U.S. yield traits	April 2011	Adjustment of yield evaluations for all cows
	April 2010	Cow adjustments in genomic evaluation of yield traits
	January 2010	Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2010 revision [AIPL Research Report NM$4 (12-09)]
	January 2009	Multitrait best prediction
	May 2007	All-breed animal model Revisions to herd variance adjustment
	August 2006	Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2006 revision [AIPL Research Report NM$3 (7-06)]
	May 2005	Herd-by-sire interaction variance
	November 2000	Heritability increase for Jersey and Brown Swiss
	August 2000	True protein replaced crude protein
	February 1999	Lactation records computed from test-day data by best prediction Factors to adjust for 3 milkings per day updated
	November 1998	Cows in owner-sampler plans received predicted transmitting abilities (PTAs)
	February 1998	Reliabilities of milk, fat, and protein combined into yield reliability
	August 1997	Heritability increased to 30%, herd-sire interaction decreased to 10%, and permanent environment decreased to 15% Deviations from management group mean limited to 4 standard deviations
	February 1997	Owner-sampler and other records with type-of-test 40 to 77 used Future milk prices forecast with a relative protein:fat ratio of 2:1
	July 1996	Lactation weights computed from record standards variables instead of days in milk
	January 1995	New adjustment factors for age, parity, season, and previous days open Residual age-parity effects included in model
	July 1994	Percentiles changed from milk-fat-protein dollars (MFP$) to net merit (bulls only)
	January 1993	Animal model computations moved from Cornell to AIPL
	July 1991	Heterogeneous variance adjustment began
	January 1991	New lactation weights and expansion of partial records began (RIP dip adjustment)
	January 1990	Records from later herds included in animal model
	July 1989	Animal model implemented Missing protein PTAs estimated Percentiles changed from milk-fat dollars (MF$) to MFP$

Foreign yield traits	August 2012	Specific cow adjustments by country of evaluation for Holsteins
	April 2012	Sire-dam multitrait across-country evaluation (MACE)
	August 2010	Mexican cow records
	January 2008	Interbull evaluations on Milking Shorthorn base
	August 2007	Parent averages for young bulls
	May 2001	Officiality rules changed
	November 2000	Effective number of daughters used in Interbull reliabilities
	February 2000	Foreign evaluations requested for more cow dams
	November 1999	Foreign evaluations of parents included in cow evaluations
	May 1999	Foreign evaluations of bull dams from more countries used in parent averages
	February 1999	Use of Canadian dam data extended to other nations
	May 1998	Interbull evaluations official for a larger number of bulls
	August 1997	Five Netherlands bulls received U.S. PTAs
	February 1997	National and international evaluations released together Interbull evaluations preferred when reliability is 5% higher than U.S. reliability except when U.S. reliability reaches 80%
	January 1996	Reliabilities for foreign bulls account for imperfect genetic correlation
	July 1995	For bulls with Canadian dams, converted Canadian data used for parent averages
	January 1995	Conversions for European bulls replaced with Interbull multitrait across-country evaluations (MACE)
	July 1993	Converted Canadian data provided on same day and in same format as U.S. data
	January 1993	Canadian evaluations converted and combined with U.S. PTAs

Other traits	April 2013	Calving-ease format change
	December 2012	Correction and adjustment of health trait evaluations and reliabilities PTA for days from calving to first insemination New reproductive status and culling annual reports
	August 2012	Revisions to heifer and cow conception rates Mobility for Brown Swiss and additional traits for Milking Shorthorns
	April 2012	Data cutoff date for sire conception rate Productive life field format
	April 2011	Multitrait heifer and cow conception rates
	December 2010	Data sources for sire conception rate evaluations
	August 2010	Conception rate evaluations for males and females
	April 2010	Fertility data
	January 2010	Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2010 revision [AIPL Research Report NM$4 (12-09)] Heifer and cow conception rates
	January 2009	Cow and heifer conception rates
	August 2008	Service sire conception rate More traits of foreign sires used in cow evaluations
	January 2008	Interbull fertility evaluations for breeds other than Holstein Interbull evaluations on Milking Shorthorn base Jersey, Brown Swiss, and Guernsey conformation composites
May 2007	All-breed animal model Genetic trend for daughter pregnancy rate Genetic trends for calving ease and stillbirth Revisions to herd variance adjustment
	February 2007	Fertility evaluations from Interbull
	November 2006	Holstein stillbirth and Brown Swiss calving ease (CE) from Interbull
	August 2006	Productive life (PL) credits revised Stillbirth and calving ability CE edits Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2006 revision [AIPL Research Report NM$3 (7-06)]
	May 2006	Bull fertility evaluation transferred to AIPL Milking speed evaluations for Brown Swiss Rear legs/rear view evaluations for Brown Swiss and Guernseys
	February 2006	Daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) for foreign bulls
	May 2005	CE edits Interbull daughter CE
	November 2004	Interbull longevity evaluations
	May 2004	New variances for Jersey and and Brown Swiss type Jersey Interbull type evaluations
	February 2004	Pregnancy rate excludes embryo donors Release of Interbull type evaluations for Ayrshire bulls
	November 2003	Earlier evaluation of DPR Fertility and CE in prediction of PL
	August 2003	Fertility and CE in net merit New variances for Ayrshire type traits
	May 2003	New variances for type traits Parent averages for net merit and DPR
	February 2003	DPR evaluations introduced Changes in type evaluations for non-Holsteins
	November 2002	Release of Interbull type evaluations for Guernsey and Brown Swiss bulls
	August 2002	Correlations between PL and yield reduced Sire-maternal grandsire threshold model for CE Adjustment for heterogeneous variance in genetic evaluation of type traits
	February 2002	PL for embryo donors
	November 2001	PL in discontinued herds
	August 2001	Release of Interbull type evaluations for Jersey bulls
	May 2001	Interbull SCS evaluations Variance adjustments for Jersey type traits Interbull conformation evaluations Officiality rules changed Editing system
	February 2001	Delayed release of Interbull files Development of comparison tables Development of new e-mail notification list Editing system
	November 2000	Effective number of daughters used in Interbull reliabilities Revised correlations in multitrait PL Heritability increase for Jersey and Brown Swiss 3-character error codes Canadian and American ID checking
	August 2000	Base change for production traits Base change for non-Holstein type traits Multitrait PL Lifetime net merit True protein replaced crude protein Foreign bull pedigree added Cross-references generated from cow control number
	May 2000	High ranking grade designation corrected First-herd designation corrected Usable-herd designation corrected Reporting of test-day errors Cross-references derived from cow control number
	August 1999	Net merit calculated from Interbull evaluations that include SCS and PL evaluations based on 1 to 9 daughters; parent average previously used for those bulls
	May 1999	Fluid and cheese merit indexes and expected inbreeding available for cows
	February 1999	Fluid merit and cheese merit indexes introduced
	February 1998	Type data for breeds other than Holstein evaluated with a multitrait animal model
	January 1996	Missing PL and SCS added to make net merit available for all cows
	July 1995	Net merit, PL, and SCS provided for cows with records
	January 1995	New multiplicative SCS age adjustment factors
	July 1994	Direct and indirect measures of PL combined by Holstein Association Missing PL and SCS added to provide net merit for all bulls Reliability of net merit added
	January 1994	PL, SCS, and net merit introduced

Delivery and base	May 2013	Release rule changes Additional variables added to XML files
	April 2013	Distribution and access to genomic evaluations
	April 2011	Chip type and genomic inbreeding in formats 38 and 105
	November 2010	Estimated 2010 genetic base changes for goats–production and type traits [AIPL Supplemental Report (07-10)]
	August 2009	Genetic base changes for January 2010 [AIPL Research Report BASE2 (8-09)]
	January 2008	New evaluation schedule Interbull evaluations on Milking Shorthorn base
	May 2007	All-breed animal model
	November 2006	Additional release of yield evaluations for dairy goats
	February 2005	Genetic base changes for February 2005 [AIPL Research Report BASE1 (10-04)]
	August 2003	Changes to the Red-and-White elite cow list
	August 2002	New Interbull schedule Changes to bull file formats
	August 2001	Early release of bull ID information Early release of official Interbull evaluations
	February 2001	Delayed release of Interbull files Development of comparison tables Development of new e-mail notification list
	August 2000	Base change for production traits Base change for non-Holstein type traits
	August 1999	Evaluation start moved 1 week later, allowing an additional week of data to be included
	February 1999	Bull rankings provided on web and automatically by e-mail
	May 1997	Frequency of evaluations increased to 4 times per year
	February 1997	Public access to cow and bull PTAs provided at AIPL web site
	January 1995	Genetic base changed to cows born in 1990
	July 1989	Genetic base changed to cows born in 1985

Identification and inbreeding	August 2013	New fertility and stillbirth haplotypes and changes in haplotype status Six digit cow control numbers
	December 2012	Changes in HH1, HH3, and JH1 status Automated processing of genotypes
	August 2012	Genomic and pedigree inbreeding match better
	December 2011	Maternal grandsire detection and discovery
	August 2011	Reporting of haplotypes that affect fertility
	April 2010	Breed-specific markers
	August 2008	Genetic evaluations for clones Reporting genetic recessive codes
	August 2007	Breed composition file for crossbreds Adjustments to all-breed model Revised definition of Interbull type-of-proof code Correction of bull identification (ID) numbers with more than nine digits
	May 2007	All-breed animal model
	February 2007	Elimination of duplicate evaluations for Red-and-White bulls and related format-38 changes
	November 2006	Ayrshire and Red Dairy Cattle breed codes Series-840 animal ID numbers
	November 2003	Measure of pedigree completeness
	November 2001	Specification of clones
	August 2001	Determination of preferred identification
	May 2001	Increased inclusion of crossbred cows from upgrading programs
	November 2000	Canadian and American ID checking
	August 2000	Foreign bull pedigree added Cross-references generated from cow control number
	May 2000	Cross-references derived from cow control number
	February 2000	Inbreeding sample included more complete pedigrees Error detection improved for country codes in ID numbers
	November 1999	Foreign ID may be preferred over U.S. ID
	May 1999	Maternal grandsire and birth date supplied for international bulls
	February 1999	New sampling procedures used for expected inbreeding
	November 1998	Registry status and recessive codes provided
	February 1998	Formats displayed international ID numbers and 4-digit years Expected inbreeding of future progeny provided to help identify outcross bulls
	January 1994	Inbreeding calculated and used in relationship matrix inverse
	July 1989	Animal model implemented Genetic base changed to cows born in 1985 Missing protein PTAs estimated Percentiles changed from milk-fat dollars (MF$) to MFP$ Red-and-White breed data combined with Holstein data

Edits and corrections	December 2012	Correction and adjustment of health trait evaluations and reliabilities Automated processing of genotypes
	February 2007	Consistency in reporting abortions Designation of breedings with sexed semen
	May 2004	Detection of abnormally high test-day yields for goats
	February 2004	Pregnancy rate excludes embryo donors Release of Interbull type evaluations for Ayrshire bulls
	August 2003	Calculation of owner-sampler percentage Calculation of data collection ratings Edits applied to owner-sampler herds
	May 2003	Changes in detection and adjustment of abnormal test-day yields
	August 2002	Detection and adjustment of outlier test-day yields Addition of initiation code to lactation record
	August 2001	Evaluations and edits for owner-sampler data
	May 2001	Edits for long lactations Goat data edits and queries Correction of protein lactation records
	February 2001	Improvements in checking for twins
	November 2000	3-character error codes
	May 2000	High ranking grade designation corrected First-herd designation corrected Usable-herd designation corrected Reporting of test-day errors
	February 2000	Editing improved for test-day data
	November 1999	Different tests included when cows change herds
	May 1999	Cows required to be tested in first 90 instead of 75 days of lactation
	February 1999	New test-day edits and new programs to accommodate American ID installed
	January 1993	Improved editing system installed

Earlier history	1862–2013	History of USDA dairy evaluations