Six packages for solving mixed model equations and estimating variance components by REML are compared. Each has a unique strength. Meticulously finished DFREML is the only one that implements hypothesis testing for variance component estimates. MTDFREML is a comprehensive, relatively easy to install and simple to use package for analyses of experimental data. PEST, the only semi-commercial pro...

The paper examines sustainability within the context of farm animal breeding and reproduction. Sustainability can benefit breeders in two ways: (i) it invites breeders to take a comprehensive look at potentially conflicting breeding-related concerns, and to face any difficult trade-offs; and (ii) presenting the concerns within a framework (i.e. of sustainability) that is endorsed by society as ...

The modern animal biotechnologies, such as animal cloning, transgenesis, sex determina‐ tion, stem cells, designing new livestock, must be performed on animal gametes includ‐ ing sperm and oocytes, and embryos based on embryology theory. Currently, some key biotechnologies in embryology have become the most powerful tool for animal scientists and breeders to improve genetic construction of anim...

data related to holstein dairy cattle from 1987 to 2004 were obtained from animal breeding center of iran to estimate the genetic and phenotypic trends. variance components and genetic parameters of the first lactation records were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood method and aireml algorithm through matvec program. animal breeding values were predicted through multiple-trait animal...

The main objective of the present study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic trends for body weight traits in Guilan province sheep. Traits included were birth weight (BW, n=14,549), 3-month weight (3MW, n=13,109) and 6-month weight (6MW, n=10,141). Data and pedigree information used in this study were collected during 1994 to 2011 by the Agricultural Organization of Guilan province in Iran. ...

Animal breeding education is presently facing many challenges. These include rapid changes in breeding knowledge and technology, resource and funding restrictions, and altering demographics of the learner and the animal breeding industry. These challenges can be met via an open learning educational format. This nontraditional approach is based on the needs of individual learners, not the intere...

Animal welfare and the ethical issues it raises have been discussed intensively for a couple of decades. The emphasis has been on the direct effects of housing and husbandry, but more attention is now being given to problems originating in selective breeding. European attempts to adjust animal welfare legislation to deal with these problems have been largely unsuccessful, but the fact that sele...

Animal breeding traditionally has entailed devising means to apply quantitative and population genetic theory to increase productive capacity of livestock. A highly developed and successful industry has been built on foundations established by academic animal breeders. Recent developments in related sciences such as reproductive biology, molecular biology, cellular biology, and cytogenetics off...