Animal model evaluation of dairy goats for milk, fat, and protein yields with crossbred animals included.

Genetic evaluation of dairy goats was extended to include evaluation of protein yield and evaluation of Oberhasli and experimental breeds. Diverse genetic background of parents of crossbred animals can be accounted for with an animal model that includes all relationships. The animal model system implemented for dairy goats differed from the one for dairy cattle in that all breeds were processed simultaneously and evaluations of relatives included data from does without a first lactation record and from later herds for does that changed herds. Unknown parent groups were defined for each breed except Oberhasli, which was grouped with the Alpine breed because of small population size. Management groups were 2-mo seasons with separate groups for first and later lactations. Management groups with fewer than five lactation records were combined with other groups until five lactations were included or the management group was 10-mo long. Evaluations for milk and fat were computed for 141,003 animals: 80,227 does with lactation records, 34,294 dams without records, and 26,482 bucks. About 70% of animals had protein evaluations. Genetic trend in 1984 for the five breeds with largest population sizes ranged from 3.8 to 5.2 kg/yr for milk yield.