153,963 test day milk yield records and 13,273 first lactations of Holstein cows calving between 1989 and 1998, were used with the objective of estimating genetic, phenotypic and environmental parameters for test day milk yield (PLDC) and 305 day milk yield (P305) and to study the convenience of using test day yields in genetic evaluations to replace P305. Four models were used. Models 1 and 2 differed according contemporary grouping and monthly milk records were considered as repeated measures. In […]

Total milk yield per lactation (PL), milk yield in 305 days (PL305) and lactation length (DL) were estimated based on records of the Brazilian Association of Girolando Breeders (3,574 lactations). Milk production was recorded monthly and 10.8% of the herds were raised under an extensive feeding system, 67.9% under a semi-intensive feeding system and 21.3% under an intensive feeding system. Data were analyzed through the least square method by GLM procedure (SAS, 1996). Preliminary analysis indicated a high interaction between […]

The cactus forage only feed for herd not attend nutritional requeriments, because it is poor in protein and fiber. Protein supplementation sources upon the dairy cows performance fed with cactus forage, grazing at differed pasture, and botanic composition of pastre, were evaluated. Three treatments were tested: T1 = differed pasture (DP) + cactus forage (CF) + broiler litter; T2 = DP + CF + soybean meal; T3 = DP + CF + urea/ammonium sulphate mixture. It was used a randomized […]

Data from 6,842 lactations of 3,274 Brown Swiss cows, daughters of 71 sires, from 100 herds, calving from 1980 to 1999 were used to evaluate the effects of heterogeneity of variance on genetic evaluation of bulls. The milk and fat yields adjusted for 305 days of lactation and mature equivalent age were used to classify the herds among high and low production level. An animal model used to estimate variance component, included the fixed effect of herds, age-season of calving […]

A method was used to account for heterogeneous phenotypic variance for milk yield across herds and over time based on variance for each herd-year class in genetic evaluation of Minas Gerais State Holstein. Phenotypic variances increased twice as within subclass averages increased from 4,000 to 10,000 kg and also with increases in subclass size. Data were standardized to a common variance and the breeding values obtained before and after adjustment were compared. Small variations of Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) and […]

Milk yield in Nellore cows and suckling behavior of their calves of different production systems: NR- Extensive Nellore, NI- Intensive Nellore; and three crossbreeding systems (CN- Canchim-Nellore, AN-Angus-Nellore and SN-Simmental-Nellore in intensive management), were studied. Milk production of cows and number and length of suckles, and daily gain (kg/day) of calves were obtained in three moments of lactation (60, 120 and 180 days after calving). Moment of lactation and production system by lactation moment interaction had a significant effect in […]

Yield records of Holstein cows were used to verify the interaction effect on accuracy of sire breeding values. The records of milk yield were adjusted to 305 days of lactation and age of the cow. Variance components for milk yield were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood methodology through two animal models, either not fitting or fitting a sire-by-herd interaction term. Likelihood ratio test was used to verify the effectiveness of including a sire-by-herd interaction effect in the model. Average milk […]

Milk yield adjusted for 305 days and for age of Holtein cows were used to verify the effectiveness of including sire-by-herd interaction in the model of analysis as an adjustment factor for heterogeneous variances between herds. The herds were classified in three classes of phenotypic standard deviation: high, medium and low. Variance component estimates were obtained by Restricted Maximum Likelihood methodology, for classes of phenotypic standard deviation, considering each one as a different trait, using a multiple trait analysis. Two […]

In this study 9,527 lactations of purebreed Holstein cows, calved between 1988 to 1997, from herds in the Minas Gerais State, were analysed. Two data sets were established: one with first lactations only and another with the first lactation until the third one. Milk and fat 305-day yields were analysed using a multivariate mixed model and restricted maximum likelihood procedure (REML). The milk and fat 305 days yields averages were respectively 5,870 ± 1,662 kg and 199 ± 55 kg […]

Production and breeding records from 6,877 lactations of 4,673 cows were used to evaluate the effect of adjusting for previous days open on genetic evaluations. Predicted breeding values for kg of milk were calculated using three animal models. Model 1 – contained no adjustment for days open and accounted for the fixed effects of herd-year-season, genetic group, age of calving (covariate) and the random effects of animal, permanent environment effect and error; Model 2 – same as one with previous […]