6 The Animal Model

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

Build and solve the animal-model MME by hand for a small pedigree
Explain the role of α = σ²e/σ²a and what happens as it grows
Obtain PEV, accuracy, and reliability from the inverse of the LHS
Decompose an EBV into parent average, yield deviation, and progeny contribution
Explain BLUP as a selection index with simultaneously estimated fixed effects

Assumes Ch 2 (X), Ch 3 (Z), Ch 4 (A⁻¹).

Chapter in progress

This chapter has not been written yet. The objectives above are the contract it will be written against — they are taken from CHAPTERS.md, which is the outline for the whole book.

Purpose. The central chapter. Solve the full MME with A⁻¹, then interpret what came out.

---
title: "The Animal Model"
---

::: {.callout-note icon=false}
## Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

1. **Build** and solve the animal-model MME by hand for a small pedigree
2. **Explain** the role of α = σ²e/σ²a and what happens as it grows
3. **Obtain** PEV, accuracy, and reliability from the inverse of the LHS
4. **Decompose** an EBV into parent average, yield deviation, and progeny contribution
5. **Explain** BLUP as a selection index with simultaneously estimated fixed effects
:::

*Assumes Ch 2 (X), Ch 3 (Z), Ch 4 (A⁻¹).*

::: {.callout-warning}
## Chapter in progress

This chapter has not been written yet. The objectives above are the contract it will be written
against — they are taken from `CHAPTERS.md`, which is the outline for the whole book.

**Purpose.** The central chapter. Solve the full MME with **A⁻¹**, then interpret what came out.
:::