Rate of genetic improvement for milk yield has been increasing in recent years. Cows born in 1986 were about 135 kg superior in breeding value for milk yield to those born in 1985. Over 2.2 million cows contribute new data to genetic evaluations for production traits annually. These evaluations are computed with an animal model that provides best linear unbiased predictions of transmitting abil...

APOSTOLOV, A. and I. SABEVA, 2009. Breeding value estimation on some selection traits of performance productivity of small pig populations from the Danube White breed. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 15: 276-280 Breeding value estimation was calculated on the basis of mixed-model, Animal model (sire model). The influence of the herd (replacement animals and culled animals), sex and year was studied. The ...

A genetic analysis of longitudinal binary clinical mastitis (CM) data recorded on about 90 000 first-lactation Swedish Holstein cows was carried out using linear random regression models (RRM). This method for genetic evaluation of CM has theoretical advantages compared to the method of linear cross-sectional models (CSM), which is currently being used. The aim of this study was to investigate ...

Weights of males and females can be considered to be correlated traits with different averages and variances. This study attempted to determine whether defining traits as expressed in males or in females would change estimates of breed of sire differences needed to calculate across-breed factors for adjustment of within-breed EPD to across-breed EPD. Records from the US Meat Animal Research Cen...

Effects of fetal sire on postpartum reproductive changes of the dam were studied in 21 Holstein heifers whose pregnancy had been initiated by either Angus (n = 7), Holstein (n = 7) or Brahman (n = 7) bulls. After parturition, all heifers were managed uniformly. Heifers in each service-sire-breed group were bled via jugular venipuncture thrice weekly from d 160 to 265 of pregnancy, daily thereaf...

Practitioners and academics apply a range of regional economic models for impacts assessment. These models extend from a simple economic base through to input-output and econometric models and computable general equilibrium models. All such models have strengths and weaknesses. Dimensions of which impact assessment models are often compared include level of industry detail, data availability, a...

Three models were used to estimate heritabilities for milk yields at different production levels and for different years as twice the regression of daughter residual effects on dam residual effects. The denominator is the residual mean square for dams. The numerator is the difference between the residual term for sum of dam's and daughter's records and sum of residual terms for records of dams ...

Performance of the "quasi-REML" method for estimating correlations between a continuous trait and a categorical trait, and between two categorical traits, was studied with Monte Carlo simulations. Three continuous, correlated traits were simulated for identical populations and three scenarios with either no selection, selection for one moderately heritable trait (Trait 1, h2 = .25), and selecti...