Implications of using an average relationship matrix in genetic evaluation for a population using multiple-sire matings

SUMMARY: Ambiguous paternity can be incorporated into the mixed model equations (MME) by including the average numerator relatinship matrix (average A), which averages the true sire-offspring relationship over the putative sires. A previous study has shown that some overestimation of genetic trend results from this substitution. A population of 40 breeding females and 2 breeding males was simulated 1,000 times with either random mating or sequential selection continuing for 8 breeding cycles. In the selection case candidates were ranked on estimated breeding values (EBVs) calculated from the MME with an animal model and the average A. Variances of the EBVs and prediction errors were computed. The results showed the average A incorrectly perceives both the variance of family sizes among males and the variance loss due to selection to be smaller. This will lead to an overestimation of genetic trend. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Folgerungen aus der Anwendung einer durchschnittlichen Verwandtschaftsmatrix bei der Zuchtwertsch?tzung für eine Population mit mehreren V?tern in einer Paarungsgruppe In den Mischmodellgleichungen kann eine unklare v?terliche Abstammung durch die Verwendung einer durchschnittlichen Verwandtschaftsmatrix, die die Abstammung zu gleichen Teilen über die m?glichen V?ter aufteilt, berücksichtigt werden. Eine frühere Arbeit hat gezeigt, da? diese Ma?nahme zu einer gewissen übersch?tzung des genetischen Fortschritts führt. Eine Population mit 40 weiblichen und 2 m?nnlichen Tieren wurde 1000mal über 8 Paarungsperioden simuliert und zwar mit und ohne gerichteter Selektion. Im Falle der Selektion wurden die Tiere aufgrund der mit einem Tiermodell und der durchschnittlichen Verwandtschaftsmatrix gesch?tzten Zuchtwerte geordnet. Die Varianzen der Zuchtwerte und der Sch?tzfehler wurden berechnet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, da? durch eine durch-schnittliche Verwandtschaftsmatrix die Varianz der Gr??e der Nachkommensgruppen der V?ter und der Verlust an genetischer Varianz aufgrund der Selektion untersch?tzt wird. Dies führt zu einer übersch?tzung des genetischen Fortschritts.     

Chylous effusions revisited

Varying terms and criteria have been used in the veterinary literature to characterize milky opaque pleural effusions through the years. This article addresses ideas widely repeated in the veterinary and human literature upon which time, experience, diagnostic techniques, experimental data, and improved understanding of pathogenesis have cast doubt. Topics discussed include terminology, pathogenesis of chylous and pseudochylous effusions, criteria for differentiation of chylous from pseudochylous effusions, and clinicopathologic changes associated with drainage of chylous effusions.     

Associations between body weight and rectal temperature in turkey poults

1. Associations between body weight and rectal temperature were observed in female turkeys.

2. Turkeys with lower weights between 13 and 30 d of age tended to have higher temperatures.

3. Turkeys with lower weights at 7 d exhibited depressed body temperatures.

4. Higher or lower body temperatures may be associated with poorer performance depending on the time of appearance.     

Genetic study of fertility traits and production in different parities in Italian Friesian cattle

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Genetische Analyse von Fruchtbarkeits- und Produktionsmerkmalen bei italienischen Schwarzbunten in verschiedenen Laktationen Produktions- und Reproduktionsdaten von italienischen Schwarzbunten sind für die Analyse von Wechselbeziehungen zwischen den Merkmalen Zwischentragzeit, Rastzeit, Tr?chtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung, Anzahl von Besamungen je Tr?chtigkeit einerseits und der 305 Tage Milchleistung andererseits verwendet worden. Die Milchleistung der Kühe wurde für Laktationsnummer, Kalbealter und Zwischentragezeit korrigiert. Die Analyse wurde für die ersten drei Abkalbungen getrennt durchgeführt. Die Sch?tzwerte für die Heritabilit?t liegen für die Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmale zwischen .01 und .03 und für die Milchleistungsmerkmale zwischen .16 und .22. Für die Wiederholbarkeiten wurden Werte zwischen .02 und .08 (Fruchtbarkeit) bzw. .49 und .59 (Milchleistung) gesch?tzt. Die genetische Korrelation zwischen Milchmenge und Zwischentragezeit, zwischen Milchmenge und Rastzeit sowie zwischen Tr?chtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung und Anzahl Besamungen je Tr?chtigkeit betr?gt .70, .92 und -.98, resp. Zwischen Fruchtbarkeits- und Milchleistungsmerkmalen wurden generell negative Korrelationen gesch?tzt, was als Antagonismus zwischen Fruchtbarkeit und Milchleistung interpretiert werden mu?. Dies bedeutet, da? bei ausschlie?licher Selektion nach Milchleistung negative Auswirkungen bezüglich der Fruchtbarkeit der Kühe zu erwarten sind. Als m?gliche Selektionsmerkmale für die Zuchtwertsch?tzung auf Fruchtbarkeit werden Tr?chtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung und Rastzeit (oder alternativ Anzahl Besamungen je Tr?chtigkeit) vorgeschlagen. SUMMARY: A data set of production records with breeding information was used to analyse the relationship between open period, days to first breeding, conception rate at first service, number of services per conception and 305 day milk yield adjusted for age/month of calving and open period in the Italian Friesian Cattle Breed. Separate analyses were performed for the first three parities. Heritability estimates for reproductive traits varied from .01 to .03 and for productive traits from .16 to .22 depending on parities. Repeatabilities for fertility traits were .02 to .08 while for milk yield they were between .49 and .59. Open period and days to first service were found to be highly correlated (genetic correlation: +.70 / +.92) as were conception rate at first service and number of services per conception (-.98). An antagonistic genetic relationship was found between all reproductive traits considered and production. The magnitude of the antagonistic genetic association between production and fertility indicate that genetic deterioration of fertility is to be expected if selection pressure continues to be applied to milk production only. For multiple trait selection, the reproductive measures which complement each other are days to first service and first service conception rate (or number of services per conception).     

Changes in liveweight and behaviour of alpaca dams and offspring following weaning

The effects of offspring sex, weight, age, and level of interaction with the dam on responses to weaning were examined to assist in the development of a weaning protocol for alpacas. In the first study, preand post-weaning activities, and weight change over Days -12-0,0-7 and 7-16 with respect to weaning, were recorded for 20 dam-offspring (hembra-cria) pairs aged 81-200 days. Pre-weaning changes in dam and offspring weights were positively related (P<0.05). Although heavier crias tended to be found closer to their dams than lighter crias (P<0.05) no additional effect of age on the dam-offspring relationship was found. Following weaning, cria growth rates were low over Days 0-7 but improved over Days 7-16, and hembra weight change followed the same pattern. Over Days 0-2, grazing and sitting activities of hembras and crias were replaced by standing and walking along paddock fencelines, although by Day 2 fenceline activities had decreased (P<0.05). Crias which were more frequently observed at fencelines had lower post-weaning growth rates (P<0.05). In the second study, pre-weaning sucking behaviour, and weight change over Days -30-0, 0-8 and 8-16 with respect to weaning, were recorded for 19 hembra-cria pairs aged 124-160 days. During 10 hours of observation on Days -5 and -4, the total duration of sucking by individual crias varied from 0-18 minutes, and the mean +/- SEM duration of sucking was 1.94 +/- 0.113 minutes. Cria sucking behaviour was positively related to growth rate prior to and weight at weaning (P<0.05). As in the first study, pre-weaning changes in dam and offspring weights were positively related (P<0.05). Following weaning, growth rates of the crias were depressed and the hembras lost weight over Days 0-8 and 8-16. The changes in growth rate and behaviour in Studies 1 and 2 indicated that weaning can be stressful for hembras and crias. However, there was no evidence from either study that pre-weaning behavioural or physical characteristics were related to the changes.     

Vascular characteristics of the cartilage and subchondral bone of the distal radial epiphysis of the young foal

The vascular features of the distal epiphysis of the radius of 27 foals aged from 3 weeks premature to 120 days postpartum were determined. The limbs were perfused with barium, and the distal radius was sawn into sagittal slabs which were decalcified, cut into thin slices and radiographed. More arteries approached areas of thick cartilage than thin cartilage. In thick cartilage, vessels in a lattice network were observed, and adjacent to these vessels was sinusoidal filling in the epiphyseal subchondral bone, which had a similar pattern to sinusoidal filling in the metaphysis. The sinusoidal filling adjacent to thick cartilage was at the predisposition site for epiphyseal osteomyelitis lesions in foals. This particular type of bone infection occurs commonly in the foal, but much less commonly in other species. The vascular features of the immature epiphysis may account for the predominance of epiphyseal osteomyelitis in the foal.