Various breeding plans are available to animal breeders, and the choice of a plan is influenced by many factors, including the type of animal and the particular aspect of its performance in which the breeder is interested. This paper is designed to review briefly the factors which govern the choice of a plan in relation to sheep-breeding for wool production, particularly under Australian condit...

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...

Animal breeding is a field related to a whole range of biotechnologies. The impact of a biotechnology can be measured by the influence it has on genetic progress. According to the type of biotechnology considered, different component of genetic progress may be affected: accuracy of prediction, generation interval, intensity of selection and genetic variance. The first type of biotechnologies af...

Artificial insemination (AI) is widely used by veterinarians and veterinary specialists in most domestic as well as wild animal species. Reasons for use of AI instead of natural matings are diverse and different for individual species. As in humans, AI can be used as a tool to increase conception rate in animals that have fertility problems. This is usually performed in companion animals, like ...

The artificial neural networks, the learning algorithms and mathematical models mimicking the information processing ability of human brain can be used non-linear and complex data. The aim of this study was to predict the breeding values for milk production trait in Iranian Holstein cows applying artificial neural networks. Data on 35167 Iranian Holstein cows recorded between 1998 to 2009 were ...

Records of a White Leghorn Line from three generations were used to evaluate the genetic parameters (heritabilities and breeding values) for production traits in laying hens based on individual and group mean records, taking into account mortality in the data structure. Three different data structures of group mean records, which were Hen Housed Production (HHP), Hen Housed Production corrected...

What we do is determined by the way we "view" a complex issue and what sample of issues or events we choose to deal with. In this paper, a model based on a communal, cultural, or people-centered worldview, informed by a subjective epistemology and a holistic ontology, is considered. Definitions and interpretations of sustainable agriculture are reviewed. Common elements in published definitions...