BACKGROUND Predicting the ability of rams to detect, mate and fertilise ewes in oestrus accurately is certainly difficult; however, tests based on clinical examinations have been performed to assess the overall potential capacity of rams to serve and impregnate ewes. Clinical examinations for breeding soundness evaluation were carried out in 897 Rasa Aragonesa (RA) rams from 35 flocks in North-...

The genetic markers associated with economic traits have been widely explored for animal breeding. Among these markers, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) are gradually becoming a prevalent and effective evaluation tool. Since SNPs only focus on the genetic sequences of interest, it thereby reduces the evaluation time and cost. Compared to traditional approaches, SNP genotyping techniques in...

In 1995, the multiple-trait across country genetic evaluation procedure replaced regression-based conversion equations as the preferred method for international genetic comparisons of dairy bulls. In the present study, February 1999 estimated breeding values of 632 foreign Holstein bulls that were used in Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the US were compared with January 199...

An animal model and computer software were developed to conduct across-herd genetic evaluations using data from producers participating in the Sow Productivity Index program of the American Yorkshire Club. The final data set consisted of 61,596 litter records from 1986 to early 1990. The animal model included fixed contemporary group effects and random additive direct, service sire, permanent e...

We study challenges that are imposed to mathematical domain reasoning in the context of natural language tutorial dialog on mathematical proofs. The focus is on proof step evaluation: (i) How can mathematical domain reasoning support the resolution of ambiguities and underspecified parts in proof steps uttered by a student? (ii) How can mathematical domain reasoning support the evaluation of a ...

The pure prolog evaluation of a goal yields a list of answers, but the tools provided for manipulating these structures are very poor. We discuss augmenting pure prolog with a list comprehension construct that offers the possibility of referring to the finite or infinite list of answers produced. Thus meta-predicates can be defined. A substructural calculus is used to give an axiomatic semantic...

Increased international trade of genetic material from dairy cattle requires genetic evaluations across countries. Methods are discussed for comparing genetic evaluations of bulls computed in different countries. A system that combines information from several countries and produces routine international evaluations of dairy bulls is described, and possible ways of utilizing such international ...