Genetic and environmental factors that might affect gestation length (GL) were investigated. Data included information from >11 million parturitions from 1999 through 2006 for 7 US dairy breeds. Effects examined were year, herd-year, month, and age within parity of conception; parturition code (sex and multiple-birth status); lactation length and standardized milk yield of cow; service sire; co...

In animal breeding, recording of correct pedigrees is essential to achieve genetic progress. Markers on DNA are useful to verify the on-farm pedigree records (parental verification) but can also be used to assign parents retrospectively (parental identification). This approach could reduce the costs of recording for traits with low incidence, such as those related to diseases or mortality. In t...

sale calves. Other contributions to variation in revenue are from values of cull cows, replacement costs and dystocia costs. Discounting procedures are not included. In contrast to other models, the software provides for sire selection by simulation rather than simply generating economic values for subsequent use. Accordingly, the model needs to directly incorporate heterosis effects from multi...

Accurate demographic knowledge of the equine population is needed to assess and model health events. France one few European countries with an operational centralized database (SIRE) recording individual data on all declared equines living in their owners keepers. Our study aimed SIRE quality concerning updating information by keepers a view its improvement use surveillance research. Two online...

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 ...

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of the Charolais-specific inactive myostatin allele on phenotypic means and genetic parameters of heifer breeding traits. Records were registered from 1996 to 2006 in 282 herds dedicated to the on-farm French Charolais purebred progeny test. Data consisted of 36,867 female calf records, including 17,518 inseminated heifers that were bred b...