Abstract

Due to the length of the experiments and the large number of animals involved in production experiments with dairy cows are expensive and time consuming. Traditionally, throughout an experimental period the experiments are based on individual daily recordings of milk production, feed intake and live weight. However, in most applied statistical analysis of the data, the experimental units which are analyzed are animalwise means taken over the experimental period, instead of the daily individual recordings. This results in relatively few observations, even if a large number of animals have been recorded over a long time. The development of new technologies for animal recording and data processing have open up possibilities for applications of statistical models based on repeated measurements that have been developed for research in animal science and medicine. The aim with this project is to evaluate the possibilities to apply new statistical models based on time series, profile and growth curve analysis. The project will evaluate the possibilities to reduce the observation time, without loosing statistical power, when analysing effects of different dietary treatments on intake, milk production as well as within day feeding behavior in diary cows

Published in

Conference

Nordic-Baltic Biometric Conference 2007

Authors' information