ML, REML and MINQUE Estimates of Variance Components and Heritabilites for Milk Yield Characteristics of Brown Swiss

Authors: Ömer AKBULUT

Abstract: Variance components and heritabilites were estimated using by ML, REML, MINQUE methods for milk yield, fat percentage, fat yield, protein percentage. ML estimates were smaller for variance components and higher for heritabilites, than estimates obtained by REML and MINQUE. REML and MINQUE estimates were similar for variance components and heritabilites.

Keywords: Cattle, Brown Swiss, Dairy traits, Variance components, Heritabilites