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. 2004. GENETIC BACKGROUND OF PERFORMANCE AND FUNCTIONAL TRAITS IN MINK, EJPAU 7(2), #03.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume7/issue2/animal/abs-03.html

ABSTRACT

The material comprised the data on 12 generations of animals collected from the breeding documentation of a standard mink reproduction farm. Reproduction and conformation traits covariance components were estimated by means of the REML method based on a multitrait animal model, using the DMU software package. Estimated heritability coefficients demonstrate a low additive effect of animal on the discussed traits. Particularly low values of this index were related to litter sizes at birth and at weaning. As to the conformation traits, the heritability coefficients remained between 0.116 and 0.218. Additive maternal effect on the level of reproduction and conformation traits was also estimated in the studies. The value of the parameter was about twice as high as the genetic variability resulting from the additive value of an individual and ranged from 0.037 to 0.202. A significant importance for breeding is attributed to genetic associations among individual traits taken into account in the br

Key words: mink, genetic variability, maternal effect.

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