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Effect of a pen in group-feeding trials: modelling data from suckler cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2008

L. JAUHIAINEN ,
M. MANNINEN  and
J. ÖFVERSTEN
L. JAUHIAINEN*
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Services Unit, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
M. MANNINEN
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Animal Production Research, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
J. ÖFVERSTEN
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Services Unit, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: [email protected]
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Summary

This paper provides information on the extent and containment of intraclass correlation (ICC) concerning group-feeding trials on suckler cows. The research comprised the re-analysis of six previously reported experiments and a parallel simulation study. ICC coefficients were estimated for eight variables. They were seen to be higher in experiments on bulls compared with those on cows and more notable in the measurements of live weight gain compared with final weight. Moreover, the ICC coefficients were generally high for all variables measuring behavioural patterns. The simulation study showed that using a single animal as an experimental unit could be valid in certain situations, but it could not be extended to cover all the cases. The simulation study also showed that the common mixed model approach had significant problems when the ICC was slight. In general, the research strengthened the arguments that much more effort should be placed on the planning and statistical analysis of group-feeding experiments, especially in behavioural studies.

Type
Modelling Animal Systems Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 146 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 381 - 387
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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