Animals bred in pastoral systems are often part of multiple-sire groups, introducing uncertainty into pedigrees. Genetic evaluation of sires and dams in such instances is complicated by the uncertainty of parenthood. This article defines a simple and rapid algorithm to compute the inverse of a numerator relationship matrix under uncertain parenthood. The algorithm can accommodate inbreeding and...

OBJECTIVE The objective was to review the obstetric performance of booked grand multiparae. DESIGN AND SETTING A 5-year prospective observational study of cases between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006, was conducted in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, a tertiary institution, in Kano, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS The antenatal complications and pregnancy outcomes among booked grand mul...

Conformation scores can account for more than 20% of cattle price variation at Australian livestock sales. However, there are limited available references which define genetic factors relating objective live developmental traits to carcass composition. Weaning and post-weaning weight, height, length, girth, muscle (ratio of stifle to hip width) and fat depth of 1202 progeny from mature Hereford...

The genetic model for fetal effect on production of the dam is described, and studies on genetic and economic implications are reviewed. The effect on production from the sire of the cowhas 1.58 to 3.02 times as much economic value as the effect from the sire of the fetus. The use of mate records in evaluating a sire in addit ion to daughter records could increase economic gain from selection b...

We studied the effects of maternal age on fitness of progeny in the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Five-, 20-, and 50-d-old female rice weevils were used to study the effects of maternal age on the lifetime fecundity and longevity of their daughters. In addition, we determined the effects of maternal age on the weight and survivorship of daughters' progeny. Daugh...

A strategy for simultaneous sire and cow evaluation of genetic merit was implemented. First lactation records of 1,074,971 Holstein cows in 20,065 herds were included. After inclusion of ancestors, there were 1,741,356 equations: 1,505,938 cow, 229,394 herd-year-season, 6000 sire, and 24 genetic group equations. All known genetic relationships among animals were considered. Genetic group coeffi...

________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Longevity reflects the ability of a cow to avoid being culled for low production, low fertility or illness. Longevity can be used in breeding programmes if genetic parameters are known. Various measures are used for longevity. In this study survival in each of the first three lactations was analysed. Survi...

________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The objectives of the study were to estimate genetic parameters for stayability in the South African Angus cattle and to compare the sire and animal threshold models. Data and pedigree information were obtained from the Integrated Registration and Genetic Information System of South Africa. Stayability was...

Group effects are used in sire evaluation models to account for genetic trend. The objective of this paper was to develop definitions of these group effects where sires are related. Definitions were obtained for sire groups from results of a set of modified mixed model equations. Definitions were functions of genetic selection differentials. Definitions were dependent on the matrix of numerator...