Population structure and inbreeding of Holstein cattle in southern Brazil

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the population structure and inbreeding of Holstein herds in southern Brazil. To carry out the analysis, the Associação Paranaense de Criadores de Bovinos da Raça Holandesa (APCBRH) in Brazil provided the data, which consisted of a pedigree file of 206,796 animals born between 1970 and 2014. Results regarding the following parameters were determined: pedigree integrity, effective number of founders, effective number of ancestors, generation interval, inbreeding coefficient, realized effective population size, and average relatedness coefficient. POPREP and ENDOG v.4.5 software packages were employed to estimate these parameters. Based on the data set, the mean generation interval was found to be 6.3 years, and the average inbreeding coefficient, related to inbred animals, was 4.99%. Furthermore, the realized effective population size varied throughout the time period, ranging from 22 to 114, whereas the rate of inbreeding in this same period showed a decreasing trend towards the later years in the period until 2014. Upon evaluation, average relatedness coefficient was estimated to be 0.71%. Moreover, the effective number of founders and ancestors were estimated as 418 and 400 animals, respectively. According to the level of inbreeding observed, it could be noticed that genetic diversity remains elevated, which will be important to the genetic progress in the Holstein breeding program in Southern Brazil.(AU)

Growth curves for Ile de France female sheep raised in feedlot / Curvas de crescimento de fêmeas da raça Ile de France criadas em confinamento

The objective of the present study was to analize the non-linear models that best fit the growth of ewes Ile de France. The experiment was conducted in school farm Capão da Onça, located in city of Ponta Grossa - PR and so, were used data on weight at birth to 210 days of age of 34 females of the breed Ile de France. The animals showed mean weight at birth (PN) of 4,58 kilograms, weaning weight (P60) of 19,58 kilograms and weight at 210 days (P210) equal to 43,18 kilograms, providing daily weight gain (GMD) equal to 0,183 kg/day. The non-linear models used were: Brody, Von Bentarlanffy, Logístic and Gompertz, presenting results, respectively, of 33.5453; 33.7120; 33.6714 and 33.8836 for Error Mean Square (EMS) and 0.9650; 0.8302; 0.9649 and 0.9647 for coefficient of determination (R2). All models tended to describe accordingly the curve of animals growth, but, according to the methods adopted to select the most appropriate model, Von Bertarlanffy showed the best fit. All models presented high and negative correlation between the A and k parameters, indicating that the most precocious animals are less likely to reach elevated weights for 210 days of age.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar os modelos não lineares que melhor se ajustam ao crescimento de fêmeas da raça Ile de France. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Escola Capão da Onça, localizada no município de Ponta Grossa - PR e para tanto, foram utilizados dados de peso ao nascimento até os 210 dias de idade de 34 fêmeas da raça Ile de France. Os animais apresentaram médias de peso ao nascer (PN) de 4,58 kg, peso a desmama (P60) de 19,58 kg e peso aos 210 dias (P210) igual a 43,18 kg, proporcionando ganho de peso médio diário do nascimento aos 210 dias (GMD) igual a 0,183 kg/dia. Os modelos não lineares utilizados foram: Brody, Von Bentarlanffy, Logístico e Gompertz, apresentando resultados, respectivamente, de 33,5453; 33,7120; 33,6714 e 33,8836 para o Quadrado Médio do Resíduo (QMR) e de 0,9650; 0,8302; 0,9649 e 0,9647 para o Coeficiente de Determinação (R2). Todos os modelos tenderam a descrever adequadamente a curva de crescimento destes animais, porém, de acordo com os métodos adotados para escolha do modelo mais adequado, Von Bertarlanffy apresentou o melhor ajuste. Todos os modelos demonstraram correlação alta e negativa entre os parâmetros A e k, indicando que animais mais precoces possuem menor probabilidade de atingir pesos mais elevados aos 210 dias de idade.(AU)

Growth curves of texel male lambs

Background: The consumption of lamb meat is growing due to improved farming methods. However, to be economically feasible, the animal should stand out for its precocity, fast finishing and muscular force, such as seen in Texel breed. Besides, knowledge about weight gain and development can facilitate the selection of the best animals, and allow a better fitting to farming systems. Growth curves are an effective method that describes animal development, modeling the relationship between weight and age and help to predict the growth rate. Thus, this study aimed to analyze which nonlinear model, including Brody, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Logistic best describe the growth curve of Texel sheep.Materials, Methods & Results: In this experiment, the lambs were kept in confined system while the ewes, in a semi-extensive system. This study followed 42 Texel male lambs, which were confined from birth to slaughter, and fed concentrated feed (3% of body weight) and corn silage (average 1.5 kg/animal/day), 4 times a day. The lambs were weighed fortnightly, in different classes considered as follows, weight at birth (BW), 15 days (P15), 30 days (P30), 45 days (P45), 60 days (P60), 75 days (P75), 90 days (P90), 105 days (P105), and 120 days (P120), which was defined as the slaughtering weight. The growth curves were determined using the nonlinear models of Brody, Von Bertalanffy, [...](AU)

Growth curves of texel male lambs

Background: The consumption of lamb meat is growing due to improved farming methods. However, to be economically feasible, the animal should stand out for its precocity, fast finishing and muscular force, such as seen in Texel breed. Besides, knowledge about weight gain and development can facilitate the selection of the best animals, and allow a better fitting to farming systems. Growth curves are an effective method that describes animal development, modeling the relationship between weight and age and help to predict the growth rate. Thus, this study aimed to analyze which nonlinear model, including Brody, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Logistic best describe the growth curve of Texel sheep.Materials, Methods & Results: In this experiment, the lambs were kept in confined system while the ewes, in a semi-extensive system. This study followed 42 Texel male lambs, which were confined from birth to slaughter, and fed concentrated feed (3% of body weight) and corn silage (average 1.5 kg/animal/day), 4 times a day. The lambs were weighed fortnightly, in different classes considered as follows, weight at birth (BW), 15 days (P15), 30 days (P30), 45 days (P45), 60 days (P60), 75 days (P75), 90 days (P90), 105 days (P105), and 120 days (P120), which was defined as the slaughtering weight. The growth curves were determined using the nonlinear models of Brody, Von Bertalanffy, [...]

Growth curves for Ile de France ram lambs raised in feedlot / Curvas de crescimento de cordeiros da raça Ile de France criados em confinamento

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nonlinear models that best describe the growth curve of ram lambs Ile de France created in intensive system in the state of Paraná. Therefore, there were weighed fortnightly during the period from February 2013 to June 2013, from birth to slaughter (120 days) of 31 Ile de France ram lambs. Growth curves were obtained by nonlinear models Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic in which parameters were considered maturation rate (K), asymptotic weight (A), age of the animal (t) is given by integration determining the proportion of growth after birth (B) and the proportion of asymptotic value at which the inflection point occurs curve (m) in accordance with the adopted model. The parameters were estimated by Marquardt applied to the NLIN procedure of SAS statistical program and the criteria used to verify the accuracy of the fit of the curves were the mean square of the coefficient of determination. The Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic resulted respectively in 26.4579; 26.1668; 26.136; 26.1582 for the mean square and 0.813; 0.958; 0.958; 0.958 for the coefficient of determination. Considering the criteria assumed the Gompertz model, followed by Logistic and Von Bertalanffy, presented the best fit to describe the growth of Ile de France ram lambs.(AU)

O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar os modelos não lineares que melhor descrevem a curva de crescimento de ovinos machos da raça Ile de France criados em confinamento no estado do Paraná. Para tanto, foram realizadas pesagens quinzenais no período de fevereiro de 2013 a junho de 2013, desde o nascimento até o abate (120 dias) de 31 machos da raça Ile de France. As curvas de crescimento foram obtidas pelos modelos não lineares de Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz e Logístico em que foram considerados os parâmetros da taxa de maturação (K), peso assintótico (A), idade do animal (t), constante de integração que determina a proporção de crescimento após nascimento (B) e proporção do valor assintótico em que ocorre o ponto de inflexão da curva (m), de acordo com o modelo adotado. Os parâmetros foram estimados pelo método Marquardt aplicado ao procedimento NLIN do programa estatístico SAS e os critérios utilizados para verificar a precisão do ajuste das curvas foram o quadrado médio do resíduo e o coeficiente de determinação. Os modelos Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz e Logístico resultaram respectivamente em 26,4579; 26,1668; 26,1360 e 26,1582 para o quadrado médio do resíduo e 0,8130; 0,9580; 0,9587 e 0,9580 para o coeficiente de determinação.(AU)

Growth curves for Ile de France ram lambs raised in feedlot / Curvas de crescimento de cordeiros da raça Ile de France criados em confinamento

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nonlinear models that best describe the growth curve of ram lambs Ile de France created in intensive system in the state of Paraná. Therefore, there were weighed fortnightly during the period from February 2013 to June 2013, from birth to slaughter (120 days) of 31 Ile de France ram lambs. Growth curves were obtained by nonlinear models Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic in which parameters were considered maturation rate (K), asymptotic weight (A), age of the animal (t) is given by integration determining the proportion of growth after birth (B) and the proportion of asymptotic value at which the inflection point occurs curve (m) in accordance with the adopted model. The parameters were estimated by Marquardt applied to the NLIN procedure of SAS statistical program and the criteria used to verify the accuracy of the fit of the curves were the mean square of the coefficient of determination. The Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic resulted respectively in 26.4579; 26.1668; 26.136; 26.1582 for the mean square and 0.813; 0.958; 0.958; 0.958 for the coefficient of determination. Considering the criteria assumed the Gompertz model, followed by Logistic and Von Bertalanffy, presented the best fit to describe the growth of Ile de France ram lambs.

O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar os modelos não lineares que melhor descrevem a curva de crescimento de ovinos machos da raça Ile de France criados em confinamento no estado do Paraná. Para tanto, foram realizadas pesagens quinzenais no período de fevereiro de 2013 a junho de 2013, desde o nascimento até o abate (120 dias) de 31 machos da raça Ile de France. As curvas de crescimento foram obtidas pelos modelos não lineares de Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz e Logístico em que foram considerados os parâmetros da taxa de maturação (K), peso assintótico (A), idade do animal (t), constante de integração que determina a proporção de crescimento após nascimento (B) e proporção do valor assintótico em que ocorre o ponto de inflexão da curva (m), de acordo com o modelo adotado. Os parâmetros foram estimados pelo método Marquardt aplicado ao procedimento NLIN do programa estatístico SAS e os critérios utilizados para verificar a precisão do ajuste das curvas foram o quadrado médio do resíduo e o coeficiente de determinação. Os modelos Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz e Logístico resultaram respectivamente em 26,4579; 26,1668; 26,1360 e 26,1582 para o quadrado médio do resíduo e 0,8130; 0,9580; 0,9587 e 0,9580 para o coeficiente de determinação.

Growth curves for Ile de France female sheep raised in feedlot / Curvas de crescimento de fêmeas da raça Ile de France criadas em confinamento

The objective of the present study was to analize the non-linear models that best fit the growth of ewes Ile de France. The experiment was conducted in school farm Capão da Onça, located in city of Ponta Grossa - PR and so, were used data on weight at birth to 210 days of age of 34 females of the breed Ile de France. The animals showed mean weight at birth (PN) of 4,58 kilograms, weaning weight (P60) of 19,58 kilograms and weight at 210 days (P210) equal to 43,18 kilograms, providing daily weight gain (GMD) equal to 0,183 kg/day. The non-linear models used were: Brody, Von Bentarlanffy, Logístic and Gompertz, presenting results, respectively, of 33.5453; 33.7120; 33.6714 and 33.8836 for Error Mean Square (EMS) and 0.9650; 0.8302; 0.9649 and 0.9647 for coefficient of determination (R2). All models tended to describe accordingly the curve of animals growth, but, according to the methods adopted to select the most appropriate model, Von Bertarlanffy showed the best fit. All models presented high and negative correlation between the A and k parameters, indicating that the most precocious animals are less likely to reach elevated weights for 210 days of age.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar os modelos não lineares que melhor se ajustam ao crescimento de fêmeas da raça Ile de France. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Escola Capão da Onça, localizada no município de Ponta Grossa - PR e para tanto, foram utilizados dados de peso ao nascimento até os 210 dias de idade de 34 fêmeas da raça Ile de France. Os animais apresentaram médias de peso ao nascer (PN) de 4,58 kg, peso a desmama (P60) de 19,58 kg e peso aos 210 dias (P210) igual a 43,18 kg, proporcionando ganho de peso médio diário do nascimento aos 210 dias (GMD) igual a 0,183 kg/dia. Os modelos não lineares utilizados foram: Brody, Von Bentarlanffy, Logístico e Gompertz, apresentando resultados, respectivamente, de 33,5453; 33,7120; 33,6714 e 33,8836 para o Quadrado Médio do Resíduo (QMR) e de 0,9650; 0,8302; 0,9649 e 0,9647 para o Coeficiente de Determinação (R2). Todos os modelos tenderam a descrever adequadamente a curva de crescimento destes animais, porém, de acordo com os métodos adotados para escolha do modelo mais adequado, Von Bertarlanffy apresentou o melhor ajuste. Todos os modelos demonstraram correlação alta e negativa entre os parâmetros A e k, indicando que animais mais precoces possuem menor probabilidade de atingir pesos mais elevados aos 210 dias de idade.