Diet during pregnancy and lactation is a critical factor in relation to the health of dams and their offspring. Currently, control diets used in metabolic imprinting studies differ in composition and type, i.e. semi-purified diets (SD) or chow-based diets (ND). The aim of the present study was to determine whether two widely used control diets, a SD and a ND, that mainly differ in fat content (...

The heritability response for growth of rainbow trout during early developmental stages was detected on the basis of full-sib and half-sib cross between the selected lines. The experiment was done in Shahid Bahonar Salmon Propagation Center, Kelardasht, Iran. Breeders were taken from the stocks maintained in this station. A bifactorial cross was done between two line using four randomly sire an...

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...

The objectives of this study were to analyze calf performance traits and sex ratio frequencies in reciprocal Bos indicus–Bos taurus F2 Nellore–Angus calves (n = 539). produced using Angus-sired (AN) Nellore-sired (NA) F1 sires dams, resulting four cross types. Calf weight analyzed mixed models. Deviations from 50% ratios tested against expected binomial thresholds. Dam type influenced Julian bi...

Angus x Hereford heifers (15 mo and AI to a single sire) were used to evaluate the effect of prenatal nutritional restriction on postnatal growth and regulation of glucose in plasma. Dams (d 32 of gestation) were stratified by BW and BCS and allotted to low [LN, 55% of NRC (1996) requirements, n = 7] or moderate nutrition [MN, 100% of NRC (1996) requirements, n = 7]. After 83 d of feeding, dams...

Abstract Our objectives were to determine changes in colostrum yield and composition across the 36 hours post-calving effects of late gestational nutrient restriction (NR) on these changes. Fall-calving, crossbred beef heifers (BW: 472 ± 33 [SD] kg; BCS: 5.4 0.5) individually fed 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (NR; NASEM metabolizable energy protein requirements for maintenance, growth, pre...

The purpose of this article is to describe a program for evaluation of seedstock populations in the swine industry. Differences among seedstock populations for economically important traits must be identified in order for pork producers to efficiently use available genetic resources. National genetic evaluation programs have the potential to identify the important differences among populations ...

Excellent reviews of cattle breed comparisons or breed-cross comparisons have been previously reported by Franke (1980), Long (1980), and Marshall (1994). However, these reviews do not contain information on the calving ease, performance, carcass characteristics, or beef palatability of crossbred progeny of Holstein dams sired by different beef breeds. In many countries dairy females are common...

The objective of this study was to compare weight and quality of fleeces of different F1 ewe types produced from breeds with a broad range of fleece types. Weights of 629 fleeces produced during 1988 through 1991 from F1 ewes that were daughters of Suffolk and Targhee dams and Finnsheep, Combo-6, Booroola Merino, St. Croix, and Barbados sires were recorded. Staple length was measured on the mid...

The use of terminal sires (TS) for crossbreeding is integral to the UK sheep industry where approximately 71% of market lambs are sired by TS rams. Early growth of these crossbred lambs affects profitability. The objectives of this study were i) to evaluate the effectiveness of index selection among TS on BW and ADG of their crossbred offspring; and ii) to compare the efficacy of that selection...