A general method to audit BLUP programs

International genetic evaluations as carried out by Interbull rely on the results of national evaluations undertaken by numerous computing centres throughout the world. The BLUP method has become the standard methodology for the estimation of breeding values. Worldwide, a large number of BLUP computer programs, each one usually tailored towards the needs of an individual country, are in use. It is of vital interest for Interbull as well as all countries participating in MACE evaluations that national evaluations reach a high quality level. This quality is a demand at all tiers of the evaluation procedure, starting at the quality of data entering from recording systems and stretching over data editing and preparation, the BLUP run itself to postprocessing of the results.