First, Second, and Third Records of a Cow to Estimate Superiority of her Daughters

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Abstract
Partial regression coefficients indicated the appropriate use of the first 3 records of a cow to predict her daughter''s production placed nearly all of the emphasis on the 1st record. Deviations from annual contemporary herd averages of 904 Guernseys and their dams and 1592 Holsteins and their dams were used. Heritabilities of milk production in 1st lactation were 0.32 for Guernseys and 0.54 for Holsteins. Repeatabilities were 0.53 for Guernseys and 0.52 for Holsteins. Averages of the cow''s records were less reliable than the 1st record alone to predict the superiority of the daughter.