The objective of this study was to determine if dairy cow families could be used to select for superior pregnancy rate. Holstein cow records in 13 southern states were obtained from Animal Improvement Laboratory of USDA. Cows were included from historical records dating back to birth year of 1981 or 1982 as the foundation cows. Historical records included cows calving and completing lactations through August, 2005. Cows from various generations were then put in maternal family groups using dam identification within herd. Standardized milk production and pregnancy rate (based on days open) deviations were obtained within herd-year-season. A family value was calculated by averaging the first and second lactations across parity by degree of relationship to the individual (free of progeny information) for generation one though four. Each family entered into one of three groups based on average deviations milk production, pregnancy rate, and combining pregnancy rate and milk into a selection index. Analysis was performed on fifth generation members to determine if milk production and pregnancy rates in the fifth generation were significantly associated with historical performance of the respective cow families. Average of the standardized values for milk production has improved (8,542 to 10,275 kg) from generation one to five while pregnancy rate decreased from (26.91 to 18.28) in the same period for cow families having daughters represented in the fifth generation. After adjustments for sire predicted transmitting ability (PTA), maternal-grandsire PTA, and family group for milk or pregnancy rate in the model the effect of maternal cow family remained highly significant for pregnancy rate (P < 0.05, R2=0.0759) and milk production (P < 0.05, R2=0.1192) when single trait selection was utilized. Utilizing a selection index with equal weights for milk and pregnancy rate the effect of the maternal cow family remained significant (P < 0.05, R2=0.0208) but pregnancy rate was not significant (P > 0.05, R2=0.0106). The findings provide evidence that pregnancy rate and milk production are inherited through the maternal lineage. Thus, there may be potential economic value in considering maternal family history for pregnancy rate when selecting future bull dams.

Four studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of different feeding programs during rearing and production on broiler breeder male growth, fertility, and progeny performance. In Experiment I, the effects of two levels (High and Low) of cumulative nutrient intake during the rearing period to photostimulation at 21 wk of age through different dietary formulations or feeding programs were evaluated. The High cumulative nutrition program supplied 33.5 Mcal ME and 1,730 g CP, while the Low cumulative nutrition program supplied 29.6 Mcal ME and 1,470 g CP. At 21 wk of age in Experiment I-2, males were classified into Heavy or Light BW groups. A cumulative nutrient intake during the rearing period of 29.6 Mcal ME and 1,470 g CP, regardless of diet or feeding program resulted in a male of adequate BW that was able to maintain good fertility throughout the production period and produce broilers with increased 42-d BW. In Experiment III, two levels of dietary CP (12% and 17%) and two feeding programs (Concave and Sigmoid) were evaluated during the rearing period to 26 wk of age. The Concave or 17% CP treatments were unable to sustain fertility after 40 wk of age without an increased allocation of feed. In Experiments II, two antioxidant levels and different source of selenium were evaluated during the production period. In Experiment IV different feeding programs from 16 to 26 wk of age and during the production period were evaluated. The data showed that feed allocation relative to BW affected fertility more than did antioxidant inclusion. Furthermore, slow and consistently increasing feed increments from 16 to 26 wk of age and during the production period improved fertility and favorably impacted progeny performance. In conclusion, when males failed in accumulate adequate nutrients during the rearing period or gain adequate BW, as an indication of ME allocation, after photostimulation fertility declined and significant negative effects were observed in progeny performance.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Texas A&M University, 2006. / "Major Subject: Animal Science" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Feb. 23, 2007.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.