CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE
PERSPECTIVES OF ANIMAL BREEDING
Milena KOVAČ a)
and Špela MALOVRH
a)
Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
Assoc.Prof., Ph.D., M.Sc.
Review paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
Breeding objectives and selection criteria have been frequently changed. In the
past, changes were due to market changes, improvements of testing equipment and
development of statistical methods. Nowadays, animal breeding must follow
consumer requirements for environment protection, animal welfare, and human
health. Economic weights are not the only guide for desired genetic trends. Many
traits were re-defined and the others were included into genetic merit. A short
review and future perspectives are given for assessment and evaluation of
fattening and slaughter traits, reproduction, resistance and survival data as
well as qualitative traits. Genetic evaluation require sophisticated software
and support of powerful information system. More international cooperation is
expected in animal breeding.
Key words: animal breeding / selection / breeding objectives /
selection criteria / information systems / genetic evaluation
PHENOTYPIC TRENDS FOR THE MASS, HEIGHT AT
WITHERS AND CHEST DEPTH OF ONE YEAR OLD SIMMENTAL BULLS IN PERFORMANCE TEST
FROM 1975 TO 1995
a), Ino
ČURIK, Krešimir KUTEROVAC and Nikola STIPIĆ
a) Univ. of Zagreb, Fac. of Agriculture, Animal
Science Department, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, Prof., Ph.D.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
Since the first Croatian cattle-breeding program dating from 1973 (Jurić et
al., 1973), for the Simmental cattle, growth traits have been tested with
the performance test (Station in Varaždin). Although there are several studies
related to growth traits and body size no systematic analysis of the realized
genetic gain nor the evaluation of the breeding program has been taken in the
past 28 years. During the last decades economic situation was more favourable at
the meat type while selected bulls (mainly imported) were mainly of dairy type.
The aim of this paper was to set up phenotypic trends for the traits (mass,
height at withers and chest depth) and thus to analyze the type of cattle (meat
versus dairy type) Simmental breed in Croatia is going toward in the period of
21 years (from 1975 to 1995). The analysis was related to the measurements of
the one-year-old bulls (around 1000) from the Performance test station Varaždin.
Significant negative linear regression coefficients were obtained for the mass
(b = –0.928, R2
= 0.026) as well as for the chest depth (b = –0.091, R2 = 0.078)
while there was significant positive regression coefficient for the height at
wither (b = 0.064, R2 = 0.078) for the models where season was
considered as a fixed effect. Very similar estimates were obtained in the models
without season as a fixed effect. The obtained estimates suggest that Simmental
population was moving more toward dairy type. However, explained variation in
the model was low and the models with included genetic factors would be
necessary to confirm obtained trends.
MODEL DEVELOPMENT FOR
PREDICTION OF DAILY MILK YIELD AT ALTERNATING (AT) RECORDING SCHEME
Marija KLOPČIČ a),
Špela MALOVRH, Gregor GORJANC, Milena KOVAČ and Jože OSTERC a) Univ. of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje
3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia, Ass., M.Sc.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
The possibility to apply alternating (AT) recording scheme was studied on twelve
farms in Gorenjska region between October 1998 and December 2000. Additionally
to standard A4 records, milk yield at afternoon (PM) and morning (AM) milking
was monitored. There were 4070 records collected and used for prediction of
daily milk yield (DMY). The criteria for comparison of adjustment procedure were
coefficient of determination and reduction of mean square error. Phenotypic
correlation estimates between DMY and partial milk yields exceeded 0.97 and were
significantly different from zero. The correlation coefficient between AM and PM
milk yield was 0.901. Models including AM/PM milk yield and milking interval
explained between 95.16 % in the simplest model 0 to 96.77 % for the most
complex model Z.
FIXED EFFECTS FOR 305-DAY
LACTATION MILK TRAITS IN CATTLE
Gregor GORJANC a),
Špela MALOVRH, Betka LOGAR and Milena KOVAČ
a) Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
Fixed part of the model for genetic evaluation of milk (MY), fat (FY), protein
yield (PY), as well as fat (FC) and protein content (PC) in dairy cattle was
studied. During the period 1975–2000, 786 551 records of milk and fat from
243 634 dairy cows of Black-and-White (B&W), Brown (BR) and Simmental (SI) breed
were obtained from 13 077 herds in Slovenia. Dataset for PY and PC covered
479 456 records and 173 069 cows between the years 1990 and 2000. Breeds were
analysed separately. Parities higher than seventh were combined in one class.
The model for yields included fixed effects of calving season, parity, as well
as age at calving within parity and length of lactation as quadratic
polynomials. Calving season and linear regression for age at calving were
sufficient for FC and PC. Age at calving fitted with quadratic regression within
parity showed considerable patterns. Findings from this research will be
utilised in adjacent study of random effects in the model for genetic evaluation
of milk traits in Slovenia.
Key words: cattle / lactation yields / models / season /
parity / age at calving / lactation length
OPTIMAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR PREDICTION
OF LEAN MEAT CONTENT BY DOUBLE-REGRESSION IN PIGS IN SLOVENIA
Špela MALOVRH a),
Milena KOVAČ and Marjeta ČANDEK POTOKAR
a) Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
Ass.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
The current equation for assessing lean meat content has been used for six years
in Slovenia. In order to recalculate the equation for the two-point DM5 method
and to determine a new equation for instrumental method, sixty-one carcasses
were dissected according to the new European Union (EU) reference method. The
size of sample (N) needed for incomplete dissection in double sampling design
(n, N) with respect to expected accuracy and experimental costs was calculated
on the basis of subsample dissected (n). In case of univariate double-regression
and dissection of ham only, optimal sampling design is (73, 197) for two-point
DM5 and (58, 254) for Hennessey Gradig Probe (HGP) method. Required size
decreases to (51, 180) and (51, 148) with a dissection of four primal cuts and
multivariate double-regression.
GENETIC TRENDS OF LEAN MEAT PERCENTAGE OF
THE HUNGARIAN LANDRACE POPULATION
István NAGY a),
László CSATÓ, János FARKAS and László RADNÓCZI
a)
Univ. of Kaposvár, Fac. of Animal Sciences, Guba Sándor
street 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary, Ph.D.
Preliminary publication
Language: English
ABSTRACT
Authors analysed the lean meat percentage of 6081 Hungarian Landrace pigs from
18 seed stocks between May 1997 and May 1999. Boars showed somewhat higher lean
meat percentage than gilts (0.33 %). The differences among seasons were
negligible (1.63 %), the highest values were found in autumn and the lowest in
summer. The h2 and c2 values of this trait were 0.14 and
0.14 respectively. The genetic trend was practically zero and it can be
concluded that the size of the collected dataset should be increased in order to
carry out a proper genetic evaluation.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE METHODS AVAILABLE
IN MEAT AND MILK PRODUCTION
Gyöngyi BÁNKUTI
a)
a) Univ. of Kaposvár,
Fac. of Animal Sciences, Dept. of Physics and Mathematics, Guba Sándor
street 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary, Ph.D.
Preliminary publication
Language: English
ABSTRACT
A synopsis of modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods: knowledge based
systems and datamining is giving in the paper. Knowledge based systems can be
used in any phase of meat and milk production. If we collect professional
information, rules, events, customs and we use the presented methods (programs),
we can make an expert advisory system. Datamining is a very young special field
of AI. It can “mine” new, unknown information from large databases, without
having a hypothesis. In the bibliography not only titles of books but Internet
addresses and available journals one listed as well.
Key words: artificial intelligence / datamining / knowledge
based systems
COMMON DATA STRUCTURE FOR INFORMATION
SYSTEMS IN LIVESTOCK
Aleksandra JUG
a), Milena KOVAČ and Andrej BRODNIK
a) Univ.
of. Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230
Domžale, Slovenia, Ass.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
This project involves system analysis in order to design information system in
animal production. Existing information systems for Slovenian cattle, pig,
horse, and rabbit population as well as commercial software were analyzed to
derive entity-relationship diagrams (ERD). ERD was translated to relational
tables described by data dictionary and model file. All attributes were given
the name, data type, definition, and business rules for validity checks.
Information systems were divided into twelve modules, while the common two
modules were described in details. Module for Identification and registration
covers origin, pedigree and movements from herd to herd of individually marked
animals. The second module chosen was Database which includes database
administration as well as auxiliary tables containing information about codes,
partners, their jobs, and addresses. Common processes were developed as screen
forms for inserting and querying partner's data and existing codes.
Key words: animal production / information systems / system
analysis / databases
Špela MALOVRH a),
Janja URANKAR and Milena KOVAČ
a) Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
Ass.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
Fattening keeps significant position in animal production due to its magnitude,
as well as its financial effect. To control the herd and to achieve appropriate
efficiency, animals in herd must be monitored during regular production. Data on
growing and finishing animals are normally not collected individually, but for
groups of animals, especially in small species. Methodology of APIIS (Adaptable
Platform Independent Information System) was introduced to develop flexible
module with uniform data structure for group recording in various livestock
species. Pigs and rabbits were compared. Data streams and information processes
were studied, and an entity-relational diagram and data dictionary were
prepared. Data structure was created. Screen forms for entering the data for
measurements from slaughter line and losses during fattening are represented.
Differences among species are negligible, flexible APIIS data structure can
cover specificity and the core data structure is not disrupted.
Key words: animal production / information systems / system
analysis / data recording / fattening / recording / APIIS
Darja ČOP a),
Aleksandra JUG and Milena KOVAČ
a)
Univ. of
Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230
Domžale, Slovenia.
Original scientific paper
Language: English
ABSTRACT
In order to develop a generic database structure, data streams were collected
for Slovenian cattle, pig, horse, and rabbit populations. Additional information
was gained from existing commercial software. Data structure was derived using
logical process diagrams and entity relationship diagrams which were translated
into relational tables creating data dictionary. Relational tables include list
of common items, data type, description, and business rules to be performed on
data entry and at checks of data integrity. Data dictionary was also written in
“Model file” for the four mentioned species to create the specific databases as
suggested by APIIS (Adaptable Platform Independent Information System). Screen
forms for entering and browsing the data were implemented. To illustrate the
steps, we have chosen data that belong to module Reproduction and Milk
production.
Key words: animal production / information systems / system
analysis / data recording / reproduction / milk production / recording / APIIS
