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Variation associated with interactions of sire of fetus, sire of cow, and herd-year-season in Jersey production and reproduction

J. Moya^I; C.J. Wilcox^II; R.C. Littell^III; W.W. Thatcher^II; F.G. Martin^III

^IRalston Purina Canada, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7X5, Canada
^IIDairy Science Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. Send correspondence to C.J.W.
^IIIStatistics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA

ABSTRACT

Records of Jersey production and reproduction (n = 14, 147) from four southeastern states in the United States of America were analyzed to estimate magnitude of two-factor interactions involving (A) herd-year-season, (B) sire of cow, and (C) sire of fetus. Each interaction was estimated singly in a model containing only A, B, and C, since program capability did not permit solution of larger models; there were a total of 1893 main effects classes and 12,716 two factor interaction classes. Statistical analyses were by mixed model methodology (Henderson Method 3) and minimum variance quadratic estimation (zero prior) procedures. Estimates expressed as a percentage of total, for the two procedures, for milk yield, fat yield, fat %, days open, and gestation length, were AB: 1.1 and .5, 1.7 and .4, 2.1 and .8, 2.5 and .8, and 4.1 and 1.7; AC: 6.5 and 1.8, 4.8 and 2.2, 6.4 and 3.7, .4 and -.1, and 3.3 and 1.3; BC: 2.5 and 1.3, 2.9 and .7, 4.7 and 1.1, 4.4 and 1.4, and 2.8 and 1.1. AB is a common definition of environmental correlation, and estimates for milk and fat yield were lower than some, but not all previous estimates: Estimation of magnitude of interactions from more extensive and sophisticated mathematical models and procedures seems warranted.

Keywords: Size of fetus; Sire of cow; Herd-year-season; Jersey.

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