Linear Models For The Prediction Of The Genetic Merit Of Animals 4th Edition

Fundamental to any livestock improvement programme by animal scientists, is the prediction of genetic merit in the offspring generation for desirable production traits such as increased growth rate, or superior meat, milk and wool production. Covering the foundational principles on the application of linear models for the prediction of genetic merit in livestock, this new edition is fully updated to incorporate recent advances in genomic prediction approaches, genomic models for multi-breed and crossbred performance, dominance and epistasis. It provides models for the analysis of main production traits as well as functional traits and includes numerous worked examples. For the first time, R codes for key examples in the textbook are provided online. Suitable for graduate and postgraduate students, researchers and lecturers of animal breeding, genetics and genomics, this established textbook provides a thorough grounding in both the basics and in new developments of linear models and animal genetics.

This book contains 17 chapters that describe the use of statistical analyses and models to estimate, analyse and compare the genetic parameters, breeding value and performance traits of livestock. Each chapter contains the theories and actual application of the concepts. The book has been compiled from various publications and experience in the subject area and from involvement in several national evaluation schemes over the last 14 years. Relevant references are included to indicate sources of some of the materials.

Developments in statistics and computing as well as their application to genetic improvement of livestock gained momentum over the last 20 years. This text reviews and consolidates the statistical foundations of animal breeding. This text will prove useful as a reference source to animal breeders, quantitative geneticists and statisticians working in these areas. It will also serve as a text in graduate courses in animal breeding methodology with prerequisite courses in linear models, statistical inference and quantitative genetics.

This book fills the gap between textbooks of quantitative genetic theory, and software manuals that provide details on analytical methods but little context or perspective on which methods may be most appropriate for a particular application. Accordingly this book is composed of two sections. The first section (Chapters 1 to 8) covers topics of classical phenotypic data analysis for prediction of breeding values in animal and plant breeding programs. In the second section (Chapters 9 to 13) we provide the concept and overall review of available tools for using DNA markers for predictions of genetic merits in breeding populations. With advances in DNA sequencing technologies, genomic data, especially single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, have become available for animal and plant breeding programs in recent years. Analysis of DNA markers for prediction of genetic merit is a relatively new and active research area. The algorithms and software to implement these algorithms are changing rapidly. This section represents state-of-the-art knowledge on the tools and technologies available for genetic analysis of plants and animals. However, readers should be aware that the methods or statistical packages covered here may not be available or they might be out of date in a few years. Ultimately the book is intended for professional breeders interested in utilizing these tools and approaches in their breeding programs. Lastly, we anticipate the usage of this volume for advanced level graduate courses in agricultural and breeding courses.

The prediction of producing desirable traits in offspring such as increased growth rate or superior meat, milk and wool production is a vital economic tool to the animal scientist. Summarizing the latest developments in genomics relating to animal breeding values and design of breeding programs, this new edition includes models of survival analysis, social interaction and sire and dam models, as well as advancements in the use of SNPs in the computation of genomic breeding values.

Genetic Improvement of Farmed Animals provides a thorough grounding in the basic sciences underpinning farmed animal breeding. Relating science to practical application, it covers all the major farmed animal species: cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, pigs and aquaculture species.

Introduction of variance; Anova in quanatiatitve genetics framework; Regression and correlation; Indentification of animals of high genetic merit; Information from relatives; Selection index methodology; Examples of selection objectives and criteria; Factrors affecting the rate of genetic improvement; Performance testing progeny testing and MOET; Simultaneous prediction of breeding values and environmental effects; Multivariate breeding values prediction; Breeding values with a gene of known large effect; Breeding values for binary traits.