Milkability genetic evaluation in Brown Swiss: An international approach

EBVs for milkability are routinely computed for Brown Swiss breed in different countries interested in international semen exchange. Milkability index is getting more and more important in determining price and quantity of semen exchanged among those countries. The European federation of Brown Swiss Breeders decided recently to investigate on future possibility of international EBV estimation on milkability. Official EBVs computed in different countries were collected and analysed with the aim of providing a first feasibility assessment for an international EBV estimation procedure. The number of common sires and the pseudo-genetic correlations estimated ranging from 70 % to 94% are encouraging for future studies.