ANIMAL GENETICS & BREEDING

UNIT – I
Principles of Animal & Population Genetics
Lecture – 2

Standard Error & Coefficient of Variation %

Dr K G Mandal
Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna
Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna
 Standard Error
Standard Error:
It is the ratio of Standard Deviation (SD) and the square
root of total number of observation.
It is also called as the S.D. of the mean.
The standard error (S.E.) together with mean (X ± SE)
describes the true mean of the population.
SE tells about the reliability of the mean of that sample
from which it was estimated.
The SE of the mean is a measure of spread of the means
estimated from a number of samples drawn from a large
population.
• It is logical to think over reliability of the sample
mean as a true representative of the population
mean.
However, the reliability of the mean depends on:
i) amount of variation in the population &
ii) sample size i.e., no. of observations taken
• The sample mean has a certain error depending upon
the : i) no. of individuals included in a sample &
ii) sampling procedure
• If the entire population is divided into a large
number of samples with N number of observation per
sample and standard deviation, 6, then mean of the
population is obtained with its standard deviation
6/√N.
• This expression is a measure of error with which a
sample estimates the population mean.
• This is called the standard error of the mean or
simply standard error and it is given with the mean
value.
As for example, (X ± SE).
•  The standard error is thus obtained by dividing the
6 (SD) of the distribution by square root of the
number of observation in the sample.
Hence, SE =
SD = + variance
Variance = [∑x2 – (∑x)2 / N] / (N – 1)
Use of Standard Error:
1. To measure the precision of sample statistic i.e., the
sample mean. Higher the standard error lower is the
precision of statistic. It indicates that the data are
not consistent.
2. The S.E. indicates the reliability of the mean.
However, the reliability of the mean depends on the
sample size.
• 3. To fix confidence limit for the population
parameters.
95% confidence limit:
Mean ± 1.96 SE should include 95% of the means.
Lower limit = mean – 1.96 SE of mean
Upper limit = mean + 1.96 SE of mean
It means that if a large number of samples are
drawn from a population, about 95% of them will
have a value in the range between the sample mean ±
1.96 SE of mean.
99% confidence limit:
Mean ± 2.58 SE should include 99% of the means.
Lower limit = mean – 2.58 SE of mean
Upper limit = mean + 2.58 SE of mean
It means that if a large number of samples are drawn
from a population, about 99% of them will have a value in
the range between the sample mean ± 2.58 SE of mean.
Example: at 95% confidence limit
Mean body wt. of chicken at 12 weeks 1500 ± 50g
Lower limit 1500 – 1.96x50 = 1402g
Upper limit 1500 + 1.96x50 = 1598g
 To determine the size of the sample required to achieve
• 4.
the desired precision.
• 5. To compute test of significance for significant difference
between two means.
The standard errors of two independent means can be used
to determine the test of significance of the difference
between the two means.
If the difference between the two means is about twice
than the SD or SE of difference, it is then taken as a
significant difference between the two means at 5% level of
probability.
 Coefficient of Variation Percentage
•Coefficient
  of variation (CV):
It is the ratio of standard deviation (SD) to the
mean.
• It is always expressed in percentage (%).

CV% = x 100 % & SD = + variance

• If in a particular group the CV % is less, then it is
suggestive that the data are more consistent and
reliable.
• The concept of CV% was given by Karl Pearson.
Merit of CV%
• Independent of unit i.e., no unit but expressed in %
• Used to compare the variability of two or more than two
sets of data
• Used to compare the variability when different sets of data
have different units.
• Based on each and every item of the of the set of data.
• Less affected by sampling fluctuation.
THANK YOU