1	Revised estimates of lifetime Net Merit for dairy breeds and breed crosses
2	Introduction Previous estimates used net merit (NM$), cheese merit (CM$), and fluid merit (FM$) formulas from 2000 Dairy breeds and breed crosses were compared using updated NM$, CM$, and FM$ formulas that include daughter pregnancy rate (DPR), calving ease, and stillbirth
3	Data and Methods National data for milk, fat, protein, productive life, SCS, and DPR were each evaluated using an all-breed animal model New estimates of breed differences were compared to phenotypic breed differences and to previous estimates from studies that only included herds containing crossbred cows
4	Breed Effects and Heterosis New estimates of breed differences were generally intermediate between the previous estimates and the phenotypic breed differences; all three estimates were similar Estimates of general heterosis from previous studies were used in the current research and not re-estimated
5	Breed Effects and Heterosis Transmitting ability differences from Holstein
6	Other Trait Estimates Body size composite estimated from mature weight Udder composite, Feet & Leg composite extrapolated from regressions on other traits within Holsteins Size, PL, milk, DPR, SCS Breed means for calving ease and for stillbirth 7.3 million HO, 37000 JE, 17000 BS, 2000 GU, 2000 AY, 300 MS
7	Trait Correlations within Holsteins (and Jersey correlations for comparison)
8	Assumed Effects – Other Traits Transmitting ability differences from Holstein
9	Net Merit Relative Emphasis
10	NM$, FM$, CM$ - Economic Values
11	Merit of F₁ Holstein Crossbreds
12	Later Generation Crosses
13	“Exotic” Breeds US has pedigree records for other breeds; but very little production data For further information: Interbull conversions to Ayrshire base U. Minnesota scientists (Heins et al.)
14	Conclusions Breed effects were re-estimated Yield, PL, SCS, DPR by all-breed model Udder, F&L composites from other traits Calving ease and stillbirth breed means New Net Merit formula for August 2006 Holsteins still superior for FM$
15	Conclusions HO x BS and HO x JE higher for NM$ and CM$ BS x JE higher than HO for CM$ Three breed crosses (HO, BS, JE) are higher than HO backcrosses for CM$, similar for NM$