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Estimating Maximum Performance: Effects Of Intraindividual Variation, Stephen C. Adolph, Trevor Pickering '05

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Researchers often estimate the performance capabilities of animals using a small number of trials per individual. This procedure inevitably underestimates maximum performance, but few studies have examined the magnitude of this effect. In this study we explored the effects of intraindividual variation and individual sample size on the estimation of locomotor performance parameters. We measured sprint speed of the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis at two temperatures (20 degrees C and 35 degrees C), obtaining 20 measurements per individual. Speed did not vary temporally, indicating no training or fatigue effects. About 50% of the overall variation in speed at each temperature was …

Corroborative Study On Maize Quality, Dry-Milling And Wet-Milling Properties Of Selected Maize Hybrids, Kyung-Min Lee, Timothy J. Herrman, Lloyd Rooney, David S. Jackson, Jane Lingenfelser, Kent D. Rausch, John Mckinney, Chris Iiams, Linda Byrum, Charles R. Hurburgh Jr., Lawrence A. Johnson, Steven R. Fox

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

A corroborative study was conducted on the maize quality properties of test weight, pycnometer density, tangential abrasive dehulling device (TADD), time-to-grind on the Stenvert hardness tester (SHT), 100-kernel weight, kernel size distribution, and proximate composition as well as maize dry- and wet-millability by six participating laboratories. Suggested operating procedures were given to compare their measurements and provide the variance structure within and between laboratories and hybrids. Partial correlation coefficient among maize quality properties varied among laboratories. The repeatability and reproducibility precision values were acceptably low for the physical quality tests, except for TADD and SHT time-to-grind measurements. The yields of …

Estimates Of Genetic Parameters For Racing Times Of Thoroughbred Horses, Bülent Eki̇z, Ömür Koçak

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for racing times, which are needed for a selection program of Thoroughbred horses in Turkey. The racing records used in the study were obtained from the Turkish Jockey Club. The trait used in the study was racing time for racing distances of 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and 2400 m. The data from each racing distance were analyzed separately. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML procedure using the DFREML program. Estimates of heritability ranged from 0.177 to 0.353, depending on the racing distance. …

Calculation Of Adjustment Factors For Standardizing Lactations To Mature Age And 305-Day And Estimation Of Heritability And Repeatability Of Standardized Milk Yield Of Simmental Cattle Reared On Kazova State Farm, Süleyman Çi̇lek, Mehmet Emi̇n Teki̇n

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Adjustment factors of lactation milk yield to mature age and 305-day were calculated and heritability and repeatability of milk yield were estimated for Simmental cows reared on Kazova State Farm. A total of 1549 lactation records of Simmental cows reared on Kazova State Farm between 1992 and 2002 were used. The factors for standardizing incomplete lactations to 305-day were estimated by taking 7 calving age groups into consideration (2, 3, 4, 5, 6-8, 9 and 10 years of age and older). The factors for standardizing to mature equivalent estimated by polynomial regression are between the 24^th and 143^rd month and …

Estimates Of Genetic Parameters For Racing Performances Of Arabian Horses, Bülent Eki̇z, Ömür Koçak, Hidir Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of the type of track, age, sex and origin of horse on racing time for Arabian horses, and to estimate the genetic parameters for racing time. The racing records used in this study were obtained from the Turkish Jockey Club. The trait used in the study was racing time for racing distances of 1200 m, 1300 m, 1400 m, 1500 m, 1600 m, 1800 m, 1900 m, 2000 m, 2100 m and 2200 m. The data from each racing distance were analysed separately. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML procedure …

Estimates Of Phenotypic And Genetic Parameters For Ewe Productivity Traits Of Turkish Merino (Karacabey Merino) Sheep, Bülent Eki̇z, Mustafa Özcan, Alper Yilmaz, Ayhan Ceyhan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aims of the study were to investigate the fixed effects which are considered to influence ewe productivity and to estimate the genetic parameters for ewe productivity traits of Turkish Merino (Karacabey Merino) sheep. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML procedure using the DFREML program. The effects of year and age of ewe were significant for fertility, litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and litter weight at weaning (LWW). The least squares means of fertility, LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW were 0.904, 1.422, 1.358, 6.689 kg and 41.577 kg, respectively. The …

Effect Of Certain Factors On Productive And Reproductive Efficiency Traits And Phenotypic Relationships Among These Traits And Repeatabilities In West Anatolian Holsteins, Mustafa Tekerli̇, Mustafa Gündoğan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present investigation was undertaken to study certain factors affecting production efficiency, milk production and reproduction and to estimate the repeatabilities and phenotypic correlations of these traits in Holsteins maintained at different farms in western Anatolia over 3 years (1990 - 1993). The data consisted of 506 first and 232 second lactations of 525 cows. Three production efficiency traits (milk yield per day of lactation length (MYPDLL), milk yield per day of calving interval (MYPDCI) and milk yield per day of age at second calving (MYPDASC)), one production trait (lactation yield (LY)), and one reproduction trait (calving interval (CI)) were …

The Estimation Of Phenotypic And Genetic Parameters For Calf Birth Weight And Gestation Length Of Brown Swiss Cows Reared At The Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute, Muammer Ti̇lki̇, Şeref İnal, Mehmet Emi̇n Teki̇n, Mehmet Çolak

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was carried out to estimate the phenotypic and genetic parameters for the gestation length and birth weight of Brown Swiss cattle reared at the Bahri Bağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute. The experimental material consisted of 891 calving records and 666 gestation length records between 1989 and 2000. The least-squares means of birth weight and gestation length were 35.6 kg and 284 days, respectively. Except for the effect of the dam's age on gestation length, all other factors investigated in this study had significant effects on both gestation length and birth weight (P < 0.05-0.001). The estimations of heritability and repeatability for birth weight were 0.10 and 0.15, respectively. Estimated repeatability for gestation length was 0.14.

Variation And Repeatability Of Calling Behavior In Crickets Subject To A Phonotactic Parasitoid Fly, Gita R. Kolluru

Biological Sciences

Male Teleogryllus oceanicus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) produce a conspicuous calling song to attract females. In some populations, the song also attracts the phonotactic parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea (Diptera: Tachinidae). I examined the factors affecting calling song by characterizing the calling behavior of caged crickets from an area where the fly occurs. Calling activity (proportion of time spent calling) was repeatable and a significant predictor of female attraction. However, calling activity in the parasitized population was lower than in an unparasitized Moorea population (Orsak, 1988), suggesting a compromise between high activity to attract females and low activity to avoid flies. Calling activity …

Sources Of Variation And Repeatability For Litter Size, Body Weight And Matured Performance Of Awassi Ewes, Saad Ibrahim Said, M. M. Muwalla, J. P. Hanrahan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The objectives of this study were to investigate the environmental factors influencing litter size and postpartum ewe live weight and to estimate the repeatability for these traits and for pre-weaning growth rate in Awassi breed. Least squares means for litter size and ewe body weight were 1.08 and 57.6 kg, respectively. Repeatability estimated by the intraclass correlation method was 0.03, 0.46 and 0.26 for litter size, ewe body weight and pre-weaning growth rate, respectively. Year-month and age of ewe showed highly significant effect on all the traits. It was concluded that selection for litter size should be based not only …

Heritability And Repeatability For Milk Production Traits Of Japanese Holsteins From An Animal Model, Mitsuyoshi Suzuki, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records of the first three lactations of cows were obtained from the file of the Dairy Herd Testing Association in Hokkaido. The data were divided into 10 files containing approximately 24,000 cows each. The derivative-free REML method was used to estimate variances with a repeatability model. The model contained herd-year, calving month, and the linear and quadratic effects of age at calving as fixed effects; additive genetic, permanent environmental, and temporary environmental effects were the random effects. Estimates from the 10 data files were pooled into a simple arithmetic mean. Empirical standard errors were. calculated from the samples. Average estimates …

Coal Mineral Analysis: A Check On Inter-Laboratory Agreement, G. S. Casuccio, F. A. Gruelich, G. Hamburg, F. E. Huggins, D. A. Nissen, J. M. Vleeskens

Scanning Microscopy

Four laboratories co-operated to test repeatibility and reproducibility of the semi-quantitive Coal Mineral Analysis (CMA) method. CMA is an instrumented image analysis method which identifies mineral particles in coal by chemical composition (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and size (scanning electron microscopy). The repeatability of weight percent data was better than 0.2 relative standard deviation for most minerals constituting more than five percent of all coal minerals. The type of mineral had no effect on repeatability. Errors arising from counting statistics were shown to be the major source of bias at a given instrument setting.

Inter-laboratory data for the major minerals …

Twinning In Cattle: Ii. Genetic And Environmental Effects On Ovulation Rate In Puberal Heifers And Postpartum Cows And The Effects Of Ovulation Rate On Embryonic Survival, S.E. Echternkamp, K. E. Gregory, G. E. Dickerson, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The potential of ovulation rate before 18 to 21 mo of age in puberal heifers as an indirect selection criterion for twinning rate was considered. Heritability (h²) was .07 ± .03 for single observations and .34 ± .18 for the mean of 7.9 estrous cycles per heifer. Estimated repeatability (r) of ovulation rate was ≤h², indicating negligible permanent environmental effects. Expected h² for mean ovulation rate (assuming h² = r = .07 for single observations) for increasing numbers of estrous cycles would be as follows: 4, .23; 6, .31; 8, .38; and 10, .43. …

Twinning In Cattle: 1. Foundation Animals And Genetic And Environmental Effects On Winning Rate, K. E. Gregory, S. E. Echternkamp, G. E. Dickerson, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Foundation cows were selected using prior records from one of two sources, private herds or other projects at the Research Center. Comparing twinning rates before and after selection, the repeatability was lower for those from the fist (.08) than for those from the second (.16) source with a combined value of .12. Realized heritability of single-parity twinning rate estimated from selection of parents and response in daughters of foundation females was .06. Paternal half-sib estimate of heritability of twinning rate was .02 ± .07. Estimates of repeatability computed from calving records of females born in the project indicate that permanent …

Factors Influencing Best Annual Racing Time In Finnish Horses, M. Ojala, L. Dale Van Vleck, R. L. Quaas

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The fixed effects of year of race, season of race, sex, method of start, annual number of starts, length of race and racetrack were evaluated on best annual racing time in Finnish Horses. Data included 1,378 records for 554 horses by 206 sires. Five models were assumed within the age groups from 3 to 6 yr. The annual number of starts, method of start and season of race effects were interrelated. An increase in number of starts was associated with considerable improvement in a horse's best annual racing time. Records should not, however, be adjusted for effect of annual number …

Lambing Performance Of Morlam And Dorset Ewes Under Accelerated Lambing Systems, L. C. Iniguez, R. L. Quaas, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two accelerated lambing systems, Morlam using Morlam sheep (USDA, Beltsville 1966 to 1975) and Carnal using Dorset ewes (Cornell 1978 to 1981), were evaluated for first lambing ages, interlambing intervals and conception probabilities. Morlam ewes were continuously exposed to rams over the year, while Carnal Dorset ewes were exposed every other month. Morlam lambs were mated as early as 367 d of age and Carnal Dorset lambs as early as 340 d. Early lambing was associated with higher rates of perinatal mortality (P>.05) and smaller litter size (P<.O1). Lambing years among Morlam ewes and season of birth of Carnal Dorset ewes influenced (P<.01) their first lambing ages. Lambing intervals averaged 293 and 303 d among Morlam and Carnal Dorset ewes, respectively. Age at first lambing and season in which the previous lambing occurred with influential factors (P<.01) on lambing intervals of Morlam ewes; longer intervals resulted when ewe lambs were mated at early ages (<12 mo), and when the previous lambing occurred in winter. Estimates of conditional probabilities of conception by month given the occurrence of estrus, reflected seasonal changes in both systems. The overall probability of conception for the Morlain system (P=.16) was relatively higher than that for the Carnal Dorset system (P=.14); numbers of lambings per ewe per yr were 1.28 and 1.21, respectively. Estimates of heritability for age at first lambing, lambing interval and conception probability were. 31, .06 and .30, respectively.

Measures Of Racetrack Performance With Regard To Breeding Evaluation Of Trotters, M. J. Ojala, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Trotting records on the Finnish Horse were divided into two subsets: the total data set, with 13,000 race records on 554 horses by 206 sires, and the summary data set, with 1,378 records summarized annually for each horse. The purpose of the study was to determine whether these data could be utilized in a simple, yet useful way for the assessment of breeding value. A total of 24 measures of performance based on time at finish, money won and rank at finish were studied in the summary data set. The total data set included four traits compiled from records made …

Factors Influencing Racing Performance Of The Standard-Bred Pacer, R. L. Hintz, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Generalized least squares solutions were used to estimate effects of post position, track condition, purse within class of race, and breaking stride on time at finish of the Standardbred pacer. A total of 30,181 race records made during the 1972 racing season were analyzed. All effects were found to have a significant influence on time at finish. Differences between effects were generally uniform across age groups. Since post position, track condition, purse within class of race, and breaking stride were found to have a substantial influence on racing performance, these factors should be considered when estimating a horse's racing ability. …