FINNISH EMBRYO-TRANSFER BREEDING PROGRAM ASMO - DESCRIPTION OF THE GOALS AND A SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF INITIAL SELECTION

In 1990 the organizations responsible for Finnish dairy breeding estab lished an open nucleus multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) b reeding program called ASMO. The aim was, besides to test effectivenes s of MOET, to improve the protein to fat ratio in milk produced by Fin nish Ayrshires but without sacrificing the progress in protein yield. The relative weights of traits were such that equal importance was ass igned to protein % and protein yield. Negative weight was assigned to fat % to ensure it remained unaltered. The MOET work continued until 1 994 after which the performance of selected animals has been monitored . During the five years the scheme operated, 276 cows were flushed for embryos, and 2751 embryos were recovered, of which 1810 were transfer able. More than 1600 embryos were transferred to recipients, and 813 c alves were born. Eighty bull calves were sold for the artificial insem ination test scheme. In December 1995 the first 125 ET daughters were evaluated with the national animal model program. Their mean estimated breeding values (EBVs) were +0.13 for protein % and -0.18 for fat % c ompared with the genetic base of progeny tested sires born in 1986-198 8, and the protein yield EBVs were 12 kg above the genetic base. Despi te the efficiency of selection, the program was discontinued in 1994. Due to the difficulty of maintaining sufficient control over donor ani mals, there were fewer than expected embryos per flush and also too fe w flushes per donor.