INTRODUCTION Estimation of genetic parameters is one of the basic tasks in quantitative genetics. As recording schemes become more sophisticated and breeding objectives more detailed, the number of traits of interest is increasing continually. This necessitates multivariate analyses considering more than just a few traits simultaneously. Fortunately, we are at a stage were advances in modelling...

This paper reports genetic parameters for ewe performance traits in sheep breeders' flocks in New Zealand. Animal performance records from the AgResearch Lamb Survival Database and from Sheep Improvement Limited were used to generate data sets from 3 lambing years (2003 to 2005) in 24 flocks, and involving 31,651 ewes and many breeds and breed compositions (predominantly Romney, Coopworth, and ...

Reproductive traits from 7642 ewes were recorded from 1975 to 1983. The ewes were of five breeds (Dorset (D), Finnsheep (F), Rambouillet (R), Suffolk (S) and Targhee (T)) and two composite lines [C1 (1=2F þ 1=4R þ 1=4D) and C2 (1=2F þ 1=4S þ 1=4T)]. Genetic parameters were estimated for six basic and seven composite traits. The basic traits were conception rate (CR), total number of lamb born (...

In order to contribute to the breeding programmes of Asian water buffalo, the aim of this study was to analyse the influence of genetic effects in the stayability of Murrah dairy buffaloes. The stayability trait (ST) was defined as the female's ability to stay in the herd for one (ST1), two (ST2), three (ST3), four (ST4), five (ST5) or six years (ST6) after the first calving. The same trait was...

A wide number of algorithms for surjtiace segmentation in range images have been recently proposed characterized by different approaches (edge filling, region growing, . . . ), different su$ace types (either for planar or curved suifaces) and different parameters involved. Optimization of the parameter set is a particularly critical task since the range of parameter variability is often quite l...

Genetic algorithms GAs are multi dimensional and stochastic search methods involving complex interactions among their parameters For last two decades re searchers have been trying to understand the mechanics of GA parameter interac tions by using various techniques careful functional decomposition of parameter interactions empirical studies and Markov chain analysis Although the complex ities i...

Objective: Estimation of genetic parameters for Kleiber ratio (KR) and genetic trends for pre-weaning weights of Arabi sheep has not been previously conducted.Methods: Data and pedigree information were collected at the Khuzestan Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Animal Science Research Station, located in southwest Iran, from 2001 to 2008. (Co)variance components and corresp...

The objective of the current study was to estimate the genetic parameters for body weight traits at different ages in Iran-Black sheep. Data collected during a 24-year period (1984-2008) on body weight were used to model the growth trajectory and estimate genetic parameters. Studied traits were birth weight (BW), weaning weight at 3 months of age (WW), 6 months weight (6MW), 9 months weight (9M...

the objective followed in this study was to compare six software packages (dfreml, wombat, asreml, matvec, dmu and thrgibbsf90) as based on some such features as being user friendly, easing computational facilities as well as accuracy and precision of the estimated genetic vs. environmental parameters. for conduction of the study, simulated and field data (birth weights and weaning weight of ba...