Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

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Rozempolska-Rucińska I. , Jeżewska-Witkowska G. , Zięba G. 2004. EVALUATION OF BREEDING ACTIVITIES OF A MINK FARM, EJPAU 7(2), #01.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume7/issue2/animal/abs-01.html

ABSTRACT

Selection, one of the more important stages in fur animal breeding, is based on the phenotype of the animals only. Although a phenotype-based evaluation is the quickest and the simplest method that can be carried out in an on-farm environment, the results of such an evaluation, however, remain reliable exclusively in relation to highly heritable traits. The material comprised data collected from the breeding documentation of a standard mink reproduction farm and referred to 12 generations of animals. The covariance components of reproduction and conformation traits were estimated by means of the REML method based on a multitrait animal model, using the DMU software package. The components were used for a BLUP-based estimation of the breeding value of the animals. The genetic trends considerably differed from the phenotypic ones. Despite the fact that selection was carried out both for reproduction and conformation traits, only body size and conformation as well as fur quality were the trait

Key words: mink, breeding value, genetic trends, maternal effect.

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