Breeding objectives for pulp production of Eucalyptusglobulus under different industrial cost structures

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.M.G. Borralho ◽  
P.P. Cotterill ◽  
P.J. Kanowski
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Cost Structures ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Forestry Industry ◽  
Pulp Production

Breeding objectives were defined for pulp production of Eucalyptusglobulus Labill, using a simple profit equation relating the monetary cost savings per tonne of pulp produced with stem volume, wood density, and pulp yield. The economic importance of each trait was calculated for five different pulp and forestry industry scenarios with widely different cost structures. Selection indices integrating various combinations of volume growth, wood density, and pulp yield were compared for their ability to meet the different breeding objectives. There was surprising consistency in results across the range of breeding objectives and cost structures studied. It was clear that selection indices integrating volume, wood density, and pulp yield gave the most accurate selection and maximized genetic gain in breeding objectives. The cost savings from indices that included only volume were always much less than one-half, and sometimes as low as one-quarter, as much as those from indices integrating volume and wood traits. In the case study considered, E. globulus in Portugal, these cost savings had substantial implications for company profitability.

Differences in growth and wood property traits in cloned Norway spruce (Picea abies)

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2600-2611 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zubizarreta Gerendiain ◽  
H. Peltola ◽  
P. Pulkkinen ◽  
R. Jaatinen ◽  
A. Pappinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Wood Property ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Forest Tree Breeding ◽  
Wood Processing ◽  
Selection For

Volume growth has typically been used as a selection trait of prime importance in forest tree breeding. Less attention has been given to the genetic or phenotypic relationships between the growth or yield and wood density traits. In the above context, we aimed to investigate the phenotypic relationships among different growth, yield, and wood density traits of 20 Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) clones grown in southeastern Finland, in order to identify whether a high growth rate was associated with low wood density in any of the clones. Compared with growth or yield traits, the wood density traits showed lower phenotypic variations. The phenotypic correlations between growth, yield, and wood density traits were, on average, from moderate to high, suggesting that selection for one trait would simultaneously affect the other traits. Compared with volume production, selection based on stem mass could be more profitable if a clonal stand is managed for pulpwood rather than mechanical wood processing and vice versa; whereas selection for overall wood density alone would reduce both the stem volume and stem mass. However, by compromising the gain or loss in wood density and stem volume, clones with high stem volume and a relatively high wood density could be found.

Determination of relative economic weights for multitrait selection in coastal Douglas-fir

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1164-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A Aubry ◽  
W T Adams ◽  
Thomas D Fahey
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Branch Diameter ◽  
Economic Weights ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Multitrait Selection

Relationships between tree traits and tree value for lumber production were investigated. For the purposes of estimating relative economic weights for use in multitrait selection in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii), tree height, diameter at breast height, and branch diameter were measured on 164 trees (ages 36-66 years). Increment cores from a subsample (92) of these trees were assayed by X-ray densitometry to determine wood density. Bole volume was derived by summing the log volumes of all logs from each tree. Value of lumber recovered from each tree was determined in a separate mill study using both visual and machine stress rated (MSR) grading rules. Multiple linear regression was used to relate tree value to the growth and wood quality traits. Stem volume and branch diameter significantly influenced tree value under visual grading, with relative economic weights of 0.06dm3 and -5.22cm, respectively. Wood density significantly influenced tree value under MSR grading (relative economic weights: 0.06dm3, -6.69cm, and 0.06kg/mdm3, respectively), where lumber strength is measured more accurately. These regression coefficients can be used directly as economic weights in selection indices.

New York’s Medicare Marketplace: Examining New York’s Medicare Advantage Plan Landscape in Light of Payment Reform

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
New York State ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Medicare Advantage ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Payment Reform ◽  
Cost Structures ◽  
Sound Policy ◽  
And Performance

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided for cost savings in the Medicare program, in part to underwrite coverage expansion to Medicare beneficiaries, to finance new coverage for those not eligible for Medicare, and to strengthen Medicare’s financial outlook. One cost-saving measure, a reformulation and reduction in payments to private health insurance plans that provide Medicare benefits through the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, had a sound policy basis but was criticized, particularly by opponents of the ACA, as a measure that would lead to increased costs, reductions in benefits, and diminished plan choices to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans. Despite dire predictions to this effect, a review of a sample of MA plan offerings in New York State in 2012 shows that Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in such plans did not experience significant benefit reductions or increased costs. While the number of plan offerings decreased, the reduction was mostly caused by the elimination of duplicative plan choices in 2011. Although the MA plan executives we interviewed indicated that further reductions in plan reimbursement in future years—tempered by potential bonus payments for meeting quality and performance metrics—could impact plan costs and benefits, they believed plans will employ a number of strategies to remain in the market and maintain beneficiary benefits and cost structures. However, government regulators and consumer advocates will need to examine MA plan offerings in the coming years to determine the effect of plan reaction to the ACA payments on beneficiaries’ costs for coverage and access to care.

scholarly journals Early Selection of Douglas-Fir across South Central Coastal Oregon, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Dean ◽  
R. W. Stonecypher
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Early Selection ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
South Central ◽  
Coos Bay ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Details are given of three first-generation progeny tests (CB1, CB2 and CB3) of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [MIRB.] FRANCO var. menziesii) planted in the Coos Bay region of south-central coastal Oregon in 1973. The three tests included 15 polymix families based on a 10-pollen mix, and 27 families openpollinated on the ortet. The present study gives heritabilities and additive genetic correlations for growth measured between two and 17 years after planting. Correlated responses are estimated for volume at 17 years from early selection for height and diameter. Between four and 17 years after planting the individual heritability (h2) of height of coastal Douglas-fir across the Coos Bay tests was quite stable between h2 = 0.18 and 0.22. The heritability of stem diameter age-forage was consistently much lower than for height. In the critical age range for early selection between five and 10 years the individual heritability of diameter ranged from h2 = 0.07 to 0.10. The additive genetic correlations involving volume-17 and height or diameter increased to high values of rA = 0.80 to 0.84 between eight to 10 years after planting. Before seven years the absolute values of juvenilemature correlations were much lower. The higher heritability of height made this trait the best criterion for early indirect selection to improve mature stem volume growth. Across these Coos Bay tests, early selection on stem height measured at 5-8 years after planting was estimated to produce almost 40% more gain per year in volume-17 compared with direct selection at 17 years on volume-17 itself. The recommendation for maximizing gain per year in mature volume of coastal Douglas-fir at Coos Bay is to select on height at 7-8 years when the mean height of trees in tests should be around 4.5 to 5.5 meters.

Assessing the value of improved marbling in beef breeding objectives and selection

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Barwick ◽  
A. L. Henzell
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Individual Decision ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Japanese Market ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
System Characteristics

A method of assessing the economic value of improved marbling for use in deriving beef breeding objectives for individual decision-makers is described and illustrated. Correlations between breeding objectives that account for marbling score were examined for 6 cases that differed in their breeding role, market-addressed (Domestic Australian, high quality Japanese), and other production system characteristics. Under the assumptions considered, the economic value of improved marbling varied with mean marbling score (i.e. was non-linear) in objectives for the Japanese market. Marbling improvement was a more important aim in populations with a greater propensity to marble. Differences between some breeding objectives were large (genetic correlations ≤0.65), with marked differences (genetic correlations <0.40) between an objective that targeted only feedlot finishing performance for the Japanese market and objectives that targeted complete pasture-fed production for the Domestic Australian market. Varying individual assumptions had only small effects on results. A procedure is described for including marbling evaluations in selection indices where marbling contributes non-linearly to the breeding objective.

Wool prices and sheep breeding objectives - a historical perspective

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Important Determinant ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Sire Evaluation ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Fibre Fineness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fleece Weight

An analysis of weekly wool prices for different fibre diameter market indicators from 1950 to 1993 was conducted to determine appropriate economic values for the calculation of sheep selection indices. An important determinant of breeding objectives and selection indices is the percentage increase in the value of wool for each 1 8m reduction in fibre diameter, termed index percentage (IP). From 1950 to 1981 the appropriate IP value for fine (20 8m), medium (21 8m) and strong (23 8m) wool Merinos was 5%. From 1981 to 1993 the mean weekly IP values for fine, medium and strong wool Merinos were about 20, 15 and 8% respectively. The 5 year moving average IP values in 1993 for fine, medium and strong wool Merinos were 25, 20 and 8% respectively. The distributions of weekly wool prices and IP values are not normal and are positively skewed. Therefore, a safer, more conservative approach is to calculate the median weekly IP values for any period or to use median weekly wool prices to calculate IP values. The median weekly IP values for 1981-1993 were 20, 11 and 8% for fine, medium and strong Merino wools respectively. Thus recently there has been a larger relative premium for fibre fineness which could be a permanent trend. Selection efficiencies for clean fleece weight and fibre diameter in fine and strong wool Merinos are predicted to be at least 90% when 10% and 5% indices are used respectively. Selection efficiency in medium wool Merinos when a 5% index is used is only 79% if the 'true' IP is 15%, or 90% if the 'true' IP is 10%. The 10% and 5% indices are currently calculated and made available to the ram owners who participate respectively in the N.S.W. Merino fine and medium wool sire evaluation schemes. It is suggested that there is a case for using indices with higher fibre diameter premiums (i.e. 20% and 10% respectively), than those currently provided in the fine and medium wool schemes.

Wood Density and Above-Ground Growth in High and Low Wood Density Clones of Pinus radiata D. Don

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
DW Sheriff ◽  
DA Rook
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Pinus Radiata ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
High Light ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Simple Relationship ◽  
Ground Biomass ◽  
High Light Treatment

In Pinus radiata a negative relationship has usually been found between stem volume and wood density. Clones previously found to produce wood of high or low density were used to investigate interrelationships between above-ground partitioning coefficients, carbon gain, and wood density. Cuttings had been propagated c. 5 years earlier, and were 5 m high when the experiment started. Potential carbon gain of the tree was manipulated by using two light environments; one with a light level c. 1.5 times the other. Measurements were of changes in stem, branch, and needle biomass during the 305-day experiment, of rates of photosynthesis, and of wood density by β-ray densitometry and microscopy; densities determined by the two techniques were the same. For all but two trees, wood densities of a stem and its branches were the same; for the other two, stem density was 13% less than that of their branches. Trees in the high light treatment accumulated more above-ground biomass, but there was no simple relationship between wood density and either above-ground growth or photosynthesis. With one exception, partitioning of photosynthate to stem was constant. In most cases, proportionately less photosynthate (30-80%) was allocated to below-ground biomass in the low light treatment than in the high light treatment (60-80%).

A selection Index for hill sheep

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
F.M.S. Al-Nakib ◽  
G. Simm
Keyword(s):  
Selection Index ◽  
Genetic Contribution ◽  
Sheep Industry ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Sheep Production

Apart from the MLC indices for hill sheep (MLC, 1986) and Atkins’ (1984) study for Scottish Blackface sheep, little attention has been directed towards the general implementation of selection indices in hill sheep production, despite the fact that hill sheep constitute the backbone of the British sheep industry (eg. the genetic contribution of hill sheep to lamb carcass meat was estimated at 33 per cent, to total lambs slaughtered 36 per cent, and to dams of the lambs slaughtered 56 per cent - see MLC, 1988)The purpose of this paper is to try to define appropriate breeding objectives for hill sheep that could be incorporated in a selection index, in order to improve output and efficiency of sheep production in such a limiting environment.

Direct Effects of Wood Characteristics on Pulp and Handsheet Properties of Eucalyptus globulus

Holzforschung ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wimmer ◽  
G.M. Downes ◽  
R. Evans ◽  
G. Rasmussen ◽  
J. French
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Microfibril Angle ◽  
Wood Properties ◽  
Bending Stiffness ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Paper Properties ◽  
Handsheet Properties

Summary Fibre length, microfibril angle and wood density were measured in eight-year-old Eucalyptus globulus clones planted on three different sites. Samples were chipped and pulped, and the pulps beaten prior to preparation of 60g/m2 handsheets. Eleven physical handsheet properties, together with pulp freeness, were measured using standard methods. Direct relationships between wood properties and pulp/paper properties were studied using path analysis. Fibre length had a strong, direct effect on tear index, bending stiffness, freeness, pulp yield and active alkali consumption. Wood density was a strong predictor of most handsheet properties: high density woods produced bulkier, more porous sheets with higher bending stiffness, while lower density woods produced smoother, denser sheets with higher tensile strength.The effect of microfibril angle was small and more evident in handsheets made from beaten pulp.

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