Variation in Conception Rates of Guernsey Cattle

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Abstract
Data from 42 Guernsey herds served by one A.I. stud and 37 Guernsey herds served by another were analyzed to determine heritability of conception rate. The data included records of 2470 daughters of bulls in these studs, and breedings occurred during the period from 1950 through 1959. Heritability estimates from intrasire correlations of paternal half-sib groups were 0.08 and 0.02 based on an average of from 1 to 4 records per daughter, while those based on heifer records only were 0.06 and zero, respectively. Regression of daughters on dams yielded heritability estimates of 0.03 and 0.10 for the two studs.