This study aimed to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for weight and height (4860 records) of equines from four genetic groups: Brazilian Showjumper (BH), Thoroughbred (PSI), Hanoverian (HAN) and No Defined Breed (SRD). Data collected from 1977 to 2002 on 1629 animals was provided by the Brazilian Army. Models used for analyses included the fixed effects of month and year of foaling and measuring, age of dam, foal sex and genetic group. Foaling month did not affect height or weight […]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of genetic direct-maternal covariance on genetic parameters estimates and on ranking of breeding values (VG) for average daily gain from birth to weaning age (GMDND) and from weaning to 550 days of age (GMDDS) using records from 11,202 and 4,665 Angus animals respectively. Covariance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method and for GMDND the model included the additive genetic direct, maternal, permanent environmental and residual random effects and […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotype × environment interaction for weaning and yearling weights, daily weight gain from weaning to 12 months of age and the growth performance in Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) beef cattle estimated by a principal components analysis including those three traits. The environment was defined by season of birth (first and second semesters of the year). Genetic parameters were estimated by bayesian method with the Gibbs sampler using bivariate analyses […]

Data comprising 39,578 test-day records of 3,766 first lactation Holstein cows calving from 1994 to 2002 was used to estimate genetic parameters for test-day yields (TDY) and 305-day milk yield (MY305) and to compare two selection criteria. Variance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood using univariate and bivariate animal models. The TDY models included the additive genetic random effect and the fixed effects of contemporary groups and the regressions of calving age (linear and quadratic effects) and days in […]

Data from 26.314 animals of Guzerá cattle, weighted every 90 days from birth to 630 days, between 1975 and 2001, were used to estimate covariance components by REML methodology using four different models. The first model was the complete one and included four random components: direct genetic (GA), maternal genetic (GM), maternal permanent environmental (AM) and the residual; model 2 did not include the GM effect; model 3 did not include the AM effect and model 4 did not include […]

Records of growth traits of 1,698 animals born from 1979 to 2002 in a Caracu herd selected for yearling weight were used to estimate genetic parameters for birth weight (PN), weight at 4 months adjusted at 120 days (P120), weaning weight adjusted at 210 days (P210), daily weight gain from birth to weaning (GND), weight adjusted at 378 days of males (P378), weight adjusted at 550 days of heifers (P550), daily weight gain during the performance test (G112), post-weaning daily […]

Data consisting of 3,531 test day records of 620 first parity Jersey cows were used to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield. Covariance components were estimated by repeatability and random regression animal models. The Wilmink function was used in the random regression model to fit the fixed effect of season of calving and the additive genetic, permanent environment and residual random effects. The repeatability model included the fixed effects of herd-year-month of test, season of calving and age at calving […]

The aim of this work was to study the adjustment of Richards, Brody, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Logistic functions on the growth curve of Santa Inês hair sheep and to estimate genetic parameters for the traits obtained from the best fitting function. Information from females of the Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros herd recorded between 1993 and 2004 and from the Embrapa Caprinos herd recorded between 1981 and 2004 was used. Functions were fitted for each herd, using NLIN procedure of Statistical […]

Data comprising 68,523 test day milk yield of 8,536 cows of the Holstein breed, daughters of 537 sires, distributed in 266 herds, calving from 1996 to 2001, were used to compare random regression models, for estimating variance. Test day records (TD) were analyzed by different random regression models regarding the function used to describe the trajectory of the lactation curve of the animals. Legendre orthogonal polynomials function of second, third and fourth order were used. The random regression models included […]

Variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits of Gyr breed were estimated using univariate analyses by restricted maximum likelihood. Five models differing in the random effects were evaluated. The models included the fixed effects of month of birth, contemporary group and age of cow. According to the likelihood ratio test (LRT) the best fit for all traits measured in the pre-weaning period was obtained by the model including the direct and maternal effects (genetic and environment). Heritability estimates for […]