HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wiggans, G. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wiggans, G. R.

Animal Model Evaluation of Dairy Goats for Milk, Fat, and Protein Yields with Crossbred Animals Included

Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705

ABSTRACT

Genetic evaluation of dairy goats was extended to include evaluation of protein yield and evaluation of Oberhasli and experimental breeds. Diverse genetic background of parents of crossbred animals can be accounted for with an animal model that includes all relationships. The animal model system implemented for dairy goats differed from the one for dairy cattle in that all breeds were processed simultaneously and evaluations of relatives included data from does without a first lactation record and from later herds for does that changed herds. Unknown parent groups were defined for each breed except Oberhasli, which was grouped with the Alpine breed because of small population size. Management groups were 2-mo seasons with separate groups for first and later lactations. Management groups with fewer than five lactation records were combined with other groups until five lactations were included or the management group was 12-mo long. Evaluations for milk and fat were computed for 141,003 animals: 80,227 does with lactation records, 34,294 dams without records, and 26,482 bucks. About 70% of animals had protein evaluations. Genetic trend in 1984 for the five breeds with largest population sizes ranged from 3.8 to 5.2 kg/yr for milk yield.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. VanRaden, M. E. Tooker, J. B. Cole, G. R. Wiggans, and J. H. Megonigal Jr. Genetic Evaluations for Mixed-Breed Populations J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2007; 90(5): 2434 - 2441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]