Nonlinear mixed effects models for comparing growth curves for Guzerá cattle / Modelos não lineares mistos para comparar curvas de crescimento de bovinos da raça Guzerá

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the accuracy of the fitted Gompertz and von Bertalanffy models for male and female Guzerá cattle, respectively. Four production regions in Northeast Brazil were included in the models as a fixed effect, and the animals were included as a random effect. In addition, the coefficients of the growth models in the production regions were compared. The accuracy of the fit equations was assessed with the Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, mean absolute deviation, mean squared error, and coefficient of determination. Confidence intervals were used for comparing the production regions. The Guzerá males in the Gado-Algodão and Serra Geral da Bahia production regions were statistically equal in asymptotic weight, and the animals in the Itapetinga-Valadares and Mata-Agreste regions had equivalent maturity rates. The Guzerá females in the Itapetinga-Valadares and Serra Geral da Bahia regions had the same asymptotic weight. The maturity rates in Itapetinga-Valadares were equal to those estimated for Mata-Agreste and Serra Geral da Bahia. The inclusion of the fixed effect of the production region and the random effect of the animals in the models improved the fit quality and increased the possibility of generating growth curves for each region.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a acurácia dos modelos Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy ajustados, respectivamente, para machos e fêmeas da raça Guzerá, sendo incorporado nos modelos o efeito fixo de quatro regiões de produção do nordeste brasileiro e efeito aleatório de animal, além de comparar os coeficientes dos modelos de crescimento entre regiões de produção. A acurácia das equações ajustadas foi avaliada por meio do critério de informação de Akaike, critério de informação Bayesiano, desvio médio absoluto, erro quadrático médio e o coeficiente de determinação. Para comparar as regiões de produção foram utilizados intervalos de confiança. Verificou-se que machos da raça Guzerá das regiões de produção Gado-Algodão e Serra Geral da Bahia possuem peso assintótico estatisticamente igual, enquanto que a taxa de maturidade é equivalente para animais das regiões Itapetinga-Valadares e Mata-Agreste. As fêmeas da raça Guzerá das regiões de Itapetinga-Valadares e Serra Geral da Bahia possuem o mesmo peso assintótico. A taxa de maturidade em Itapetinga-Valadares é igual a estimada para Mata-Agreste e Serra Geral da Bahia. Ao incluir o efeito fixo de região de produção e aleatório de animal nos modelos, houve melhora na qualidade de ajuste e a possibilidade de gerar curvas de crescimento para cada região.(AU)

Nonlinear mixed effects models for comparing growth curves for Guzerá cattle / Modelos não lineares mistos para comparar curvas de crescimento de bovinos da raça Guzerá

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the accuracy of the fitted Gompertz and von Bertalanffy models for male and female Guzerá cattle, respectively. Four production regions in Northeast Brazil were included in the models as a fixed effect, and the animals were included as a random effect. In addition, the coefficients of the growth models in the production regions were compared. The accuracy of the fit equations was assessed with the Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, mean absolute deviation, mean squared error, and coefficient of determination. Confidence intervals were used for comparing the production regions. The Guzerá males in the Gado-Algodão and Serra Geral da Bahia production regions were statistically equal in asymptotic weight, and the animals in the Itapetinga-Valadares and Mata-Agreste regions had equivalent maturity rates. The Guzerá females in the Itapetinga-Valadares and Serra Geral da Bahia regions had the same asymptotic weight. The maturity rates in Itapetinga-Valadares were equal to those estimated for Mata-Agreste and Serra Geral da Bahia. The inclusion of the fixed effect of the production region and the random effect of the animals in the models improved the fit quality and increased the possibility of generating growth curves for each region.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a acurácia dos modelos Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy ajustados, respectivamente, para machos e fêmeas da raça Guzerá, sendo incorporado nos modelos o efeito fixo de quatro regiões de produção do nordeste brasileiro e efeito aleatório de animal, além de comparar os coeficientes dos modelos de crescimento entre regiões de produção. A acurácia das equações ajustadas foi avaliada por meio do critério de informação de Akaike, critério de informação Bayesiano, desvio médio absoluto, erro quadrático médio e o coeficiente de determinação. Para comparar as regiões de produção foram utilizados intervalos de confiança. Verificou-se que machos da raça Guzerá das regiões de produção Gado-Algodão e Serra Geral da Bahia possuem peso assintótico estatisticamente igual, enquanto que a taxa de maturidade é equivalente para animais das regiões Itapetinga-Valadares e Mata-Agreste. As fêmeas da raça Guzerá das regiões de Itapetinga-Valadares e Serra Geral da Bahia possuem o mesmo peso assintótico. A taxa de maturidade em Itapetinga-Valadares é igual a estimada para Mata-Agreste e Serra Geral da Bahia. Ao incluir o efeito fixo de região de produção e aleatório de animal nos modelos, houve melhora na qualidade de ajuste e a possibilidade de gerar curvas de crescimento para cada região.

Parametrization of the Davis Growth Model using data of crossbred Zebu cattle

The system of differential equations proposed by Oltjen et al. [1986, named Davis Growth Model (DGM)] to represent cattle growth has been parameterized with data from Bos taurus (British) and Bos indicus (Nellore) breeds. The DGM has been successfully used for simulation and decision support in the United States. However, the effect of about 30 years of genetic improvement and the use of different breeds may affect the model parameter values, which also may need to be re-estimated for crossbred animals. The aim of this study was to estimate parameter values and confidence intervals for the DGM with growth and body composition data from Zebu crossbred animals. Confidence intervals and asymptotic distribution were generated through nonparametric bootstrap with data from a field experiment conducted in Brazil. The parameters showed normal probability distribution for most scenarios. The rate constant for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis had a minimum increase of 156 % and the maximum of 389 %, compared to the original values and the maintenance requirement had a minimum increase of 126 % and maximum of 160 % compared to the original values. Lower limits of 95 % confidence intervals for the parameters related to maintenance and protein accretion rates were higher than the original estimates of the DGM, evidencing genetic differences of the Zebu crossbred animals in relation to the original DGM parameters.

Parametrization of the Davis Growth Model using data of crossbred Zebu cattle

The system of differential equations proposed by Oltjen et al. [1986, named Davis Growth Model (DGM)] to represent cattle growth has been parameterized with data from Bos taurus (British) and Bos indicus (Nellore) breeds. The DGM has been successfully used for simulation and decision support in the United States. However, the effect of about 30 years of genetic improvement and the use of different breeds may affect the model parameter values, which also may need to be re-estimated for crossbred animals. The aim of this study was to estimate parameter values and confidence intervals for the DGM with growth and body composition data from Zebu crossbred animals. Confidence intervals and asymptotic distribution were generated through nonparametric bootstrap with data from a field experiment conducted in Brazil. The parameters showed normal probability distribution for most scenarios. The rate constant for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis had a minimum increase of 156 % and the maximum of 389 %, compared to the original values and the maintenance requirement had a minimum increase of 126 % and maximum of 160 % compared to the original values. Lower limits of 95 % confidence intervals for the parameters related to maintenance and protein accretion rates were higher than the original estimates of the DGM, evidencing genetic differences of the Zebu crossbred animals in relation to the original DGM parameters.(AU)