Estimation of Genetic Parameters for 305 Days Milk Yields and Calving Interval in Xinjiang Brown Cattle

This study was conducted to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for 305 days mature equivalent milk yields (MEM) and calving interval (CAI) of registered Xinjiang Brown cattle. The total records were 3940 including 2579 for 305-day MEM and 1970 for CAI, which were collected from Xinjiang Urumqi Cattle Breeding farm in China with calving records from 1990 to 2008. Genetic parameters were obtained by multiple trait derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) using animal model. The model included year, season, parity and calving interval of calving for 305 days MEM, and year, season and parity of birth for CAI as fixed effects. Heritability for 305 days MEM was moderate (0.39) and in the same range of parameters estimated in management systems with medium production levels. Heritability of calving interval was small (0.02) as fertility traits for Xinjiang Brown cattle. Estimates of genetic and environmental correlations between 305 days MEM and CAI were 0.47 and 0.37, respectively. Estimates of genetic variation and heritability indicated that selection would result in genetic improvement of production traits. Estimates of both heritability and genetic variation for CAI were small, which indicates that genetic improvement would be difficult.

BN/SiBCN light-leakage-proof coatings of silica optical fiber for long term sensors at high temperatures

SiBCN and BN/SiBCN light-leakage-proof coatings were prepared on silica optical fibers for sensing applications at high temperatures.Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the surface morphology and microstructure of the coated fiber.Mechanical and optical properties of the coated fiber were characterized by Raman,optical and tensile tests.Compared with the original fiber,the tensile strength of Si BCN and BN/Si BCN coated fiber show an increase of about 60%and 90%at room temperature,respectively.In addition,the tensile strength of BN/Si BCN coated silica optical fiber was increased by about 42%at 700°C.It has been found that the improvement of the strength of BN/Si BCN coated silica optical fiber is related to the healing of defects and residual compressive stress in fibers.From the light transmittance performance of the coated fiber,it was found that BN/Si BCN double coating could be an ideal total reflection solution to protect silica optical fiber from light leakage during high temperature sensing operation.