2/28/2018 Evaluating BucksI am a notorious buck hoarder - who just experienced a painful reality check. Over the years I've collected a large herd of exceptional bucks. However, as I've become better at analyzing Nigerian genetics, I've become concerned about the prevalence of high inbreeding coefficients.
An inbreeding coefficient is complex statistical calculation (do not try this at home!) that tells you the degree of inbreeding in a particular animal's pedigree. High inbreeding coefficients are an area of concern because the negative effects of inbreeding in all animals begins at 5% and becomes serious at 10%. The short version is that highly inbred animals often lack vigor and may suffer from higher illness and mortality rates. |
Marie-France Orillion, Ph.D.Welcome to my blog! I am a retired researcher/university administrator. Since I'm a bit of a workaholic (my other addiction is sugar), I've embarked on a second career as an elementary school teacher. When I'm not working I enjoy playing with my goats and my gardens. This blog is a place where I reflect on what I've learned along the way. Archives
January 2021
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Certificated Dairy Goat Producer |
OWLHAVEN IS A CLOSED HERD
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