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Milk production records of Philippine dairy buffaloes were analysed to be able to develop a method of yield calculation and genetic evaluation for milk production and lactation persistency. The method for yield calculation, a multiple trait procedure that utilizes the Wilmink's function (MTP-Wil) to describe the lactation curve of different cow-class categories as well as takes into consideration covariances between milk, fat and protein yields such that prediction of yields can be made with irregular and/or long intervals between test days with slight reduction in precision relative to a complete set of regularly spaced test day records. This method is particularly suitable for establishing a recording system for cows in the various dairy buffalo cooperatives in the Philippines as the yield calculation method may help minimize the cost of recording cow performance. Establishing a milk recording system for cows in the dairy cooperatives will increase the number of cows for genetic evaluation. |
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