Ruminant parameters breeding

CLEM.Resources.RuminantParametersBreeding

Provides the breed parameters relating to breeding.

This component is placed as a child of the Ruminant parameters holder for each Ruminant type and holds the parameters needed for breeding.

The following breed parameters are provided

These farm level parameters are usually specified for each simulation and available for all user levels.

The proportion of standard reference weight (SRW) required before conception possible (minimum size for mating).

This parameter is no longer used as the functionality is replaced by Ruminant conception by condition.

The property provides a breeding limit in natural mating systems to account for the ability of sires to mate.

This parameter is designed to represent the energy demands of mating and the physical limits of bulls. This functionality may be added to the animal energetics at a later time. It is desinged to provide a limit on bull matings to ensure mixing of sires in phenotypic and genetic analysis.

Name MaxMaleMatingsPerDay
Category Farm
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

The minimum age of females before able to mate.

This property is an Age Specifier type to determine this age in days.

Name MinAgeFirstMating
Category Farm
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

The minimum age of males before able to mate.

This property is an Age Specifier type to determine this age in days.

Name MaleMinAgeFirstMating
Category Farm
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

The minimum size as a proportion of Standard Reference Weight (female) before females are able to mate. A value of 0 will turn off this limit.

Name MinSizeFirstMating
Category Farm
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

Rate at which multiple births occur (twins, triplets, etc.). An empty entry dictates than no multiple births are possible.

This property accepts an array of values representing the probability of conceiving twins, triplets, etc.

Name MultipleBirthRate
Category Farm
Sub-category Breeding
Location

Ruminant.Parameters.General

This property defines the mortality rate of the fetus/newborn from conception to birth.

The suitability of this property is currently being investigated, especially with the tracking of condition and energy relations of the mother and fetus during pregnancy. A more mechanistic approach may be added if deemed appropriate. There may be little evidence for this approach and so previous simulations may overestimate this mortality influencing the birth and weaning rates. I believe it was originally specified to ensure the set conception rates resulting in the correct birth rates and further weaning rates.

These parameters are required by the user creating new breeds for simulations and will not be changed by the general user.

A freemartin is a sterile offspring resulting from a mixed-sex multiple birth (e.g. twins). It is observed in cattle where the lack of separation of individuals in the womb allows the mixing of sex hormones and mostly affects females. This switch determines whether the model will implement freemartins for this breed.

Name AllowFreemartins
Category Breed
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

The length of gestation.

This property is an Age Specifier type to determine this age in days.

Name GestationLength
Category Breed
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

Coefficient value of for the equation to calculate inter parturition interval.

This parameter is being phased out as this approach is no longer used in CLEM.

Intercept value of for the equation to calculate inter parturition interval.

This parameter is being phased out as this approach is no longer used in CLEM.

The minimum number of days for breeder between last birth and next conception.

Name MinDaysBirthToConception
Category Breed
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

This allows for a set ratio of male to female offspring. The default is 0.5 (50%) with equal probability of giving birth to a male or female.

This property defines the proportion of offspring that are male. It is assumed the default value of 0.5 (50%) will be used.

Name ProportionOffspringMale
Category Breed
Sub-category Breeding
Location Ruminant.Parameters.Breeding

See also