Effect of sampling status and adjustment for heterogeneous variance on bias in bull evaluations

Holstein bulls were assigned to sampling categories (AI stud, AI nonstud, or non-AI) based on bull code, controller number, and age at semen distribution. The AI stud bulls were sampled through traditional progeny-testing programs of 13 AI organizations; AI nonstud bulls had AI semen collection reported by another organization or by multiple organizations. The non-AI bulls had no reported AI semen collection. Actual daughter yield deviations for these three groups of bulls were compared with expected performance (parent average) to provide an indication of whether evaluations were free from bias for daughter yield deviations. Mean difference of daughter yield deviation from parent average was close to 0 kg for animal model evaluations of all 22,930 bulls but was positively biased by 46 kg of milk for AI nonstud bulls. Mean PTA and reliabilities for parents were highest for AI stud bulls and lowest for non-AI bulls. The AI stud bulls varied least and were intermediate for mean management, approximated as mean daughter yield minus bull PTA. Management was highest for AI nonstud bulls, which suggested that adjustment for heterogeneous variance might reduce bias. However, the effect of this adjustment on mean difference of daughter yield deviation from parent average was small.