• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.153-158
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• 2004

Data containing 14,188 lactation and reproductive records of Korean Holstein cows at first parity distributed across 3,734 herd-year-season groups were analyzed to get genetic (co)variance estimates for milk yield, fat yield, calving ease, and days open. Milk and Fat yields were adjusted to 305 d. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated in two different animal models on which were included direct genetic effects (Model 1) and direct+maternal genetic effects (Model 2) using REML algorithms. Milk and fat yields were affected by age at first calving as linear and quadratic. Heritability estimates of direct effects were 0.25 for milk yield, 0.17 for fat yield, 0.03 for calving ease and 0.03 for days open in Model 2. These estimates for maternal effects were 0.05, 0.08, 0.04 and less than 0.01 for each corresponding trait. Milk productions at first lactation were to show genetically favorable correlation with calving ease and days open for direct genetic effects (-0.24 - -0.11). Moreover, calving ease was correlated with days open of 0.30 for direct genetic effects. Correlations between direct and maternal effects for each trait were negatively correlated (-0.63 - -0.32). This study suggested that maternal additive genetic variance would be not ignorable for genetic evaluation of milk production as well as reproductive traits such as calving ease and days open at first parity. Furthermore, difficult calving would genetically influence the next conception.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권8호
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• pp.1085-1090
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• 2002

Genetic parameters for birth weights (BWT), calving ease scores observed from calves born by heifers (CEH), and calving ease scores observed from calves born by cows (CEC) were estimated using Bayesian methodology with Gibbs sampling in different threshold animal models. Data consisted of 77,458 records for calving ease scores and birth weights in Gelbvieh cattle. Gibbs samplers were used to obtain the parameters of interest for the categorical traits in two univariate threshold animal models, a bivariate threshold animal model, and a three-trait linear-threshold animal model. Samples of heritabilities and genetic correlations were calculated from the posterior means of dispersion parameters. In a univariate threshold animal model with CEH (model 1), the posterior means of heritabilities for calving ease was 0.35 for direct genetic effects and 0.18 for maternal genetic effects. In the other univariate threshold model with CEC (model 2), the posterior means of heritabilities of CEC was 0.28 for direct genetic effects and 0.18 for maternal genetic effects. In a bivariate threshold model with CEH and CEC (model 3), heritability estimates were similar to those in unvariate threshold models. In this model, genetic correlation between heifer calving ease and cow calving ease was 0.89 and 0.87 for direct genetic effect and maternal genetic effects, respectively. In a three-trait animal model, which contained two categorical traits (CEH and CEC) and one continuous trait (BWT) (model 4), heritability estimates of CEH and CEC for direct (maternal) genetic effects were 0.40 (0.23) and 0.23 (0.13), respectively. In this model, genetic correlation estimates between CEH and CEC were 0.89 and 0.66 for direct genetic effects and maternal effects, respectively. These estimates were greater than estimates between BWT and CEH (0.82 and 0.34) or BWT and CEC (0.85 and 0.26). This result indicates that CEH and CEC should be high correlated rather than estimates between calving ease and birth weight. Genetic correlation estimates between direct genetic effects and maternal effects were -0.29, -0.31 and 0.15 for BWT, CEH and CEC, respectively. Correlation for permanent environmental effects between BWT and CEC was -0.83 in model 4. This study can provide genetic evaluation for calving ease with other continuous traits jointly with assuming that calving ease from first calving was a same trait to calving ease from later parities calving. Further researches for reliability of dispersion parameters would be needed even if the more correlated traits would be concerned in the model, the higher reliability could be obtained, especially on threshold model with property that categorical traits have little information.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.22-27
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• 2012

The experiment involved observations of 2,514 Holstein-Friesian cows to determine the effects of environmental factors (cow's age, calving season, weight and sex of calves, housing system) and genetic factors on gestation length in dairy cattle and the correlation between gestation length and other reproductive traits (calving ease, stillbirth rates and placental expulsion). Genetic parameters were estimated based on the sires of calved cows (indirect effect) and the sires of live-born calves (direct effect). The following factors were found to contribute to prolonged gestation: increasing cow's age, male fetuses and growing fetus weight. Optimal gestation length was determined in the range of 275-277 days based on calving ease and stillbirth rates. The heritability of gestation length was estimated at 0.201-0.210 by the direct effect and 0.055-0.073 by the indirect effect. The resulting genetic correlations suggest that the efforts to optimize (prolong) gestation length could exert an adverse influence on the breeding value of bulls by increasing perinatal mortality and calving difficulty. The standard errors of the investigated parameters were relatively high, suggesting that any attempts to modify gestation length for the purpose of improving calving ease and reducing stillbirth rates should be introduced with great caution.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.1225-1233
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• 2017

Objective: Calving ease (CE) is a complex reproductive trait of economic importance in dairy cattle. This study was aimed to investigate the genetic merits of CE for Holsteins in Korea. Methods: A total of 297,614 field records of CE, from 2000 to 2015, from first parity Holstein heifers were recorded initially. After necessary data pruning such as age at first calving (18 to 42 mo), gestation length, and presence of sire information, final datasets for CE consisted of 147,526 and 132,080 records for service sire calving ease (SCE) and daughter calving ease (DCE) evaluations, respectively. The CE categories were ordered and scores ranged from CE1 to CE5 (CE1, easy; CE2, slight assistance; CE3, moderate assistance; CE4, difficult calving; CE5, extreme difficulty calving). A linear transformation of CE score was obtained on each category using Snell procedure, and a scaling factor was applied to attain the spread between 0 (CE5) and 100% (CE1). A sire-maternal grandsire model analysis was performed using ASREML 3.0 software package. Results: The estimated direct heritability ($h^2$) from SCE and DCE evaluations were $0.11{\pm}0.01$ and $0.08{\pm}0.01$, respectively. Maternal $h^2$ estimates were $0.05{\pm}0.02$ and $0.04{\pm}0.01$ from SCE and DCE approaches, respectively. Estimates of genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic components were $-0.68{\pm}0.09$ (SCE) and $-0.71{\pm}0.09$ (DCE). The average direct genetic effect increased over time, whereas average maternal effect was low and consistent. The estimated direct predicted transmitting ability (PTA) was desirable and increasing over time, but the maternal PTA was undesirable and decreasing. Conclusion: The evidence on sufficient genetic variances in this study could reflect a possible selection improvement over time regarding ease of calving. It is expected that the estimated genetic parameters could be a valuable resource to formulate sire selection and breeding plans which would be directed towards the reduction of calving difficulty in Korean Holsteins.

• Journal of the Korean Statistical Society
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.177-198
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• 2002

The estimation of variance components or variance ratios in linear model is an important issue in plant or animal breeding fields, and various estimation methods have been devised to estimate variance components or variance ratios. However, many traits of economic importance in those fields are observed as dichotomous or polychotomous outcomes. The usual estimation methods might not be appropriate for these cases. Recently threshold linear model is considered as an important tool to analyze discrete traits specially in animal breeding field. In this note, we consider a hierarchical Bayesian method for the threshold animal model. Gibbs sampler for making full Bayesian inferences about random effects as well as fixed effects is described to analyze jointly discrete traits and continuous traits. Numerical example of the model with two discrete ordered categorical traits, calving ease of calves from born by heifer and calving ease of calf from born by cow, and one normally distributed trait, birth weight, is provided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.404-413
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• 2008

Major objectives were to evaluate effects of three schemes of bST-supplementation of Holstein cows (142.8 mg/14 d, POSILAC) during the prepartum and/or postpartum periods through 63 d (${\pm}3d$) of lactation. Measures evaluated the potential of treatments to improve body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), provoke changes in plasma concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and IGF-I, and improve milk yield, milk composition (percentages of protein and fat, and somatic cell counts), and several calving variables. Multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments (TRT) to give four groups (I = no bST, n = 26; II = bST postpartum, n = 25; III = bST prepartum, n = 27; IV = bST prepartum and postpartum, n = 25). During the prepartum period, cows in groups I and II were not supplemented but those in groups III and IV were supplemented every 2-wk beginning 21 d before expected calving date through calving. During the first 63 DIM only cows in groups II and IV were supplemented with bST. From 64 DIM through the end of lactation cows in all groups were supplemented with the full lactation dose of bST (500 mg/14 d). The BW and BCS were recorded weekly throughout the prepartum and postpartum periods and every 2-wk beyond 70 DIM. Blood samples were collected 3-times a week for analyses of ST and IGF-I. Milk yields were recorded daily though 150 DIM. Prepartum supplementation of bST did not affect BW or BCS, but mean concentrations of ST were increased 12.2% and were 15.5% greater at calving. Overall, mean concentration of IGF-I was not affected by treatment but concentrations were greater at 1 and 2 wk before calving in bST-supplemented cows. During the first 63 DIM the BW and BCS were not affected by treatment. Significant effects of bST-supplementation were detected on concentrations of ST, IGF-I and on milk yield compared to non-supplemented cows in group I. Postpartum concentrations of ST were greater in bST-supplemented cows (TRT II and IV; +41.9 and 54.6%). However, concentrations of IGF-I were greater only in cows in group IV (+25.9%) during the postpartum period. Overall, the three bST-supplemented groups had greater actual milk yield than the control group (I) during the first 63 and 150 DIM. The actual milk yields during 63 and 150 DIM were 6.5 and 4.6 kg/d greater for cows in group IV than cows in group I and the 305-d ME milk yield also was 15.6% greater. No adverse effects of TRT were observed on calf birth weight, colostrum immunoglobulins, ease of calving or other measures evaluated.

• 한국공작기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국공작기계학회 2001년도 춘계학술대회 논문집(한국공작기계학회)
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• pp.361-364
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• 2001

CNC technology is used in various industrial fields, whose best example is the product part. The technology has been applied to machine tools such as automatic lathes and machining centers, etc. Recently, CNC technology has been applied not only to industrial parts but also to consumer part such as dental prosthesis and 3D face carving machine. In this paper, we introduce the application of the CNC technology to the 3D face carving machine, which the public has been not familiar with yet. It enables general users to control the machine and get the product with ease. We also mention examples of the application of the technology to the related fields and the way open CNC technology is used in controlling the calving machine.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.151-164
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• 2002

한우의 근내지방도 또는 임신 여부 등과 같이 이산형 분포의 성질을 갖는 다수의 형질들에 대한 유전모수 및 종축의 유전능력을 평가하기 위한 방법으로써 Threshold 모형하에서 Bayesian 추론방법의 일종인 Gibbs sampling방법을 모의실험을 통하여 알아보았으며 기록이 누락된 다수의 형질을 포함하는 다형질 Threshold 개체모형에서의 종축평가 방법론을 제시하였다. 이산형 형질의 관측치에 대응하는 임의의 잠재변수는 기록을 갖고 있는 형질들에 대한 사전정보를 고려한 사후조건확률분포에서 Gibbs sampling을 할 때 모수에 근접하는 확률분포를 얻을 수 있었으며 이러한 이산형 기록들에 대한 육종가 추정치는 선형모형에서 보다 Threshold 모형에서의 추정치가 실제 모수에 더욱 근접하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 기록이 누락된 개체들에 대한 이산형 분포를 갖는 형질들에 대하여 선형분포를 갖는 형질들과 함께 동시 유전분석할 때 Threshod 모형이 일반 선형모형 보다 적합함을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.137-144
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• 2004

불연속 범주형 자료에 대한 잠재변수가 존재한다는 가정하에 임계값을 추정하고 잠재변수를 생성하며 생성된 잠재변수 및 기타 연속변량에 대한 관측치를 포함하는 다변량 임계개체모형을 설정하고 유전능력을 예측하기 위한 방법을 제시하였다. 각각의 범주형 조사 자료의 특성을 갖는 형질에 있어서 임계점의 추정은 추정 가능한 임계점에 대한 1차 미분값(gradient)과 2차 미분값(Hessian)을 이용한 Newton 방법을 이용하면 추정가능하며 지역모수인 육종가의 추정은 PCG 방법으로 구현 가능하다. 이러한 이론은 Quaas(2001)가 제시한 하나의 이산형 자료와 하나의 연속형 자료의 2변량 동시 분석방법을 확장하여 전개한 것이며 이때 잠재변수 및 임계점의 추정은 기타 형질의 잔차 회귀계수 및 상관을 고려해야 한다. 본 연구를 위한 모의실험은 2개의 연속변량으로 체중과 유량을 고려하였고 또 다른 2개의 불연속 변량인 분만난이도와 출생시 생존유무를 고려하여 4형질 동시 분석을 실시하였다. 임계모형에 의한 육종가 추정치의 정확도는 4개의 구간으로 분류되어 기록된 분만난이도의 경우에 91${\sim}$92%의 정확도를 보였고 이항분포인 분만시 생존유무에 대하여는 87~89%의 정확도를 보였다. 반면에 이들 범주형 자료를 선형으로 간주하고 분석한 선형 동물개체 혼합모형에서는 72${\sim}$84% 및 59${\sim}$70%으로 비교적 낮은 추정의 정확도를 보였다. 따라서 범주형 자료의 유전분석은 선형 혼합모형 보다 임계형 혼합모형이 크게 타당할 것으로 사료되었다.