Mixed Models in Nonlinear Regression for Description of the Growth of Nelore Cattle.

Simple Summary: Mixed nonlinear models are an extension of mixed models combined with nonlinear models, allowing one or more parameters of the nonlinear regression function to be considered both as fixed and random effects. This work was carried out with the objective of comparing the use of several nonlinear functions of the fixed and mixed linear models to determine the body growth of both sexes in Nelore cattle. For this, body weight records were used to describe the growth curve of the animals. The Brody function obtained the best adjustments according to the evaluators, finding a reduction in the residual variance of 79 and 83%, for males and females, respectively. The absolute growth rate for males ranged from 0.921 to 0.261 kg/day and for females from 0.922 to 0.198 kg/day, while the relative growth rate ranged from 2.55 to 0.06% for females and from 2.39 to 0.08% for males. Males showed greater growth acceleration at the beginning of the growth trajectory, equaling the females at 397 days of age, and thereafter presented lower estimates. Nonlinear regression in the context of mixed models allows for a reduction in residual variance and an increase in model precision. Body weight records were used to characterize the growth curve of Nelore cattle. Body weight was regressed as a function of age, for both sexes, by using nonlinear models through the functions of Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Richards, Meloun 1, Von Bertalanffy, and Von Bertalanffy. The quality of the model arrangements was evaluated by employing Akaike and Bayesian Schwarz information criteria. The Brody function provided the best adaptations by the evaluators and, considering the asymptotic weight and the maturation rate as random, a reduction in residual variance of 79% for males and 83% for females was obtained in relation to the models under fixed contexts. In males, the absolute and relative growth rates ranged from 0.921 to 0.261 kg/day and 2.39 to 0.08%, respectively. For the same rates, under another approach, females ranged from 0.922 to 0.198 kg/day and 2.55 to 0.06%, respectively. Males showed greater growth acceleration at the beginning of the growth trajectory, being equal to females at 397 days of age and from that age onward they presented lower estimates. The nonlinear regression model approach under the mixed-models context allows reduction of residual variance, increasing model accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]