Different animal models for estimating breeding values using earlier records in a Friesian herd in Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Different methods for evaluating sires, considering available information, were, investigated. Multiple-trait and single-trait animal model analyses were employed to obtain predicted breeding values (PBVs)for all the sires in the herd for the first three lactations of Friesian cows in an institutional herd in Egypt. Three types of statistical analyses were investigated. In the first analysis (analysis 1), the multiple-trait animal model with derivative free restricted maximum likelihood (DF-REML) was used to analyze the first three lactations simultaneously as three different traits where covariances between the three lactations and relationships between animals were taken into account. Different sets of fixed effects were fitted to each lactation.

Summary in Arabic.

1