Theoretical Basis and Computational Methods for a Number of Different Animal Models

Abstract The animal model is actually a set of many different models. Their common feature is that all animals in a herd or region or nation are evaluated jointly in contrast, for example, to separate male and female evaluations. An animal model can account for repeated records, multiple traits, nonadditive genetic effects, litter effects, and, in addition, a number of environmental effects, both fixed and random. Some of these possible models are described, some computational aspects are presented, and where possible, corresponding reduced animal model methods are presented.