Genetic Parameter Estimates for Milk Yield and Lactation Length in Buffalo

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield at 244 days and lactation length in graded buffalo cows at the El Cangre Cattle Genetic Enterprise. Data were gathered from 2575 lactations, 1377 buffalo cows, 37 milking units and between 2002-2009 calving years. It was employed the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method (REML) for estimating (co) variance components with multi trait model. Average of milk yield at 244 days and lactation length were 864 kg and 240 days, respectively. Heritability was 0.15 for milk yield and 0.13 for lactation length. Genetic correlation between these traits was 0.63. It was concluded that it is necessary to intensify selection and to increase control of the information of the genetic herds to obtain high precision in the estimates and therefore, obtain bigger genetic progress in of this species in our country.

Genetic association between milk yield, stayability, and mastitis in Holstein cows under tropical conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Accumulated productivity and its genetic association with reproductive traits in females Brahman

Objective. Assessment of genetic parameters for accumulative productivity trait (ACP) and genetic correlations with age at first calving (AFC), between calving interval of first and second parity (BCI1) and longevity (LONG). Materials and methods. 8584 Brahman female records were used with an animal model in multi-trait analysis with restricted maximum likelihood method, implemented using the WOMBAT software. The models considered the fixed effects of contemporary group, parity and weaning weight of first calf covariate, the only random effect was the genetic additive direct. Weaning weight (P240) was included to reduce the effect of selection on the estimation of variance components. Results. The heritability estimates were 0.3 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.03, 0.07 +/- 0.03 and 0.24 +/- 0.04 for AFC, BCI1, LONG and ACP respectively. Correlations between ACP and the other features were moderate to high and favorable. Conclusions. ACP can be included in breeding programs for Brahman, and used as selection criteria for its moderate heritability and genetic correlation with reproductive traits.

Genetic variability in progenies of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden for resistance to Puccinia psidii

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic parameter estimation for pre- and post-weaning traits in Brahman cattle in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Genetic parameter estimates for feed efficiency and dry matter intake and their association with growth and carcass traits in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Finishing precocity visual score and genetic associations with growth traits in Angus beef cattle

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic analysis of the temperament of Nellore cattle using linear and threshold models

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic relationship among reproductive traits in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic variability in open pollinated progenies of Jatropha curcas

The objective of the present work was to estimate the genetic parameters of morphological traits, such as plant growth, fruit and seed production; and oil content and also to provide a source of superior genetic material for the breeding program of Jatropha curcas. For that, a J. curcas open pollination progeny test was set up in Sao Manuel Experimental Station, of College of Agricultural Sciences (FCA) of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP). The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with 30 progenies, three replications, and eight plants per linear plot. We evaluated plants height (ALT), number of branches per plant (NRP), number of inflorescences per plant (NINE), number of fruits per plant (NF), weight of fruits (PE), weight of seeds (PS) and oil content % (TO). The software SELEGEN was the used to estimate the genetic parameters. The individual genetic variation coefficients (CVg) and progeny genetic variation coefficients (CVgp) at 24 months were 26.7% and 13.4% for height and 21.2% and 10.6% for number of branches. At 48 months the heritability coefficients among the progeny averages (h(mp)(2)) were 0.41 (ALT); 0.31 (NRP); 0.77 (NINF), and 0.44 (NF). The coefficient of heritability for individual plant level of oil content (TO %) was very low (h(a)(2) = 0.03), therefore, for the heritability of progeny means was higher than the individual level (h(mp)(2) = 0.37). Among progenies, some of them were superior for both, and seed production and oil content. We conclude that the present J. curcas population has enough genetic variability allowing obtaining gains through advanced generations.

Genetic gain in the selection by multi-effects index in open-pollinated progenies of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden

In Brazil, Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden is widely used for commercial reforestation, especially for production of pulp, paper and energy. Its genetic variability is being explored in tree improvement programs for over 30 years. The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters and compare genetic gains by multi-effects index in a breeding population of E. grandis. Progeny tests were established using open-pollinated seeds from ten provenances ranging from 153 to 160 progenies established in a completely randomized block design in four sites of Sao Paulo State (Anhembi, Avere Itarare e Pratania). At 24 months of age the traits diameter at breast height (DBH), height (ALT) and volume (VOL) were measured. The individual site analyses indicated significant genetic differences among progenies, height genetic variability and the mean progeny heritability (> 0.70). For joint analyses of sites, significant differences in genotype x environmental interaction effects were detected, showing differences of performance of the progenies in different sites. The Itarare site gave high genetic gains, effective size and genetic diversity. The genetic diversity and low effective size are unviable factors; considering that the progeny tests studied should retain adequate levels of genetic variability in order to be transformed in future seedling seed orchards.

Genetic parameter estimates and principal component analysis on performance and carcass traits of a terminal pig sire line

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic analysis for gestation length, birth weight, weaning weight, and accumulated productivity in Nellore beef cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic analysis on accumulated productivity and calving intervals in Nelore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Localising and quantifying damage by means of a multi-chromosome genetic algorithm

This paper presents a structural damage detection methodology based on genetic algorithms and dynamic parameters. Three chromosomes are used to codify an individual in the population. The first and second chromosomes locate and quantify damage, respectively. The third permits the self-adaptation of the genetic parameters. The natural frequencies and mode shapes are used to formulate the objective function. A numerical analysis was performed for several truss structures under different damage scenarios. The results have shown that the methodology can reliably identify damage scenarios using noisy measurements and that it results in only a few misidentified elements. (C) 2012 Civil-Comp Ltd and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.