engleski

The random regression coefficient approach in analysis of earlygrowth of Alpine and Saanen kids

Factors affecting growth of young animals were examined in numerous studies relying on various exper-imental designs and statistical analyses of collected data. In order to provide truthful inferences ofexamined effect, statistical analysis of test day records must be conducted in a very specific way. Thestudy aimed to exemplify the usage of the random regression coefficient approach in the analysis of theearly growth of kids. A total of 3376 test-day body weights repeatedly collected on 644 Alpine and Saanenkids (raised under the same environmental conditions) were used in the statistical analysis. Fitting theage as quadratic regression within kids in the random part of the statistical model helped to determinethe effects of gender, breed, and type of birth on growth rate of the kids. The post-fitting statistical analy-sis revealed that gender was most influential among the examined effects. Males exhibited significantlyfaster growth than females in practically all examined points of age. Type of birth only negligibly affectedgrowth of experimental kids. Singletons were slightly heavier than twins immediately after birth whileit was vice versa at the end of experiment. Breed did not affect growth performances of the kids at anystage of examined age. Along with the findings of the study, the intention of the authors was to initiate awidespread usage of the random regression coefficient approach in studies based on similarly structureddata.

Goats, Kids, Body weight, Test-day records

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