A randomized block design is used to compare litter sizes of…
A randomized block design is used to compare litter sizes of the Yorkshire and Duroc breeds of sows. Blocking is used in an attempt to remove the effects of sow age, since it is known that sow age influences litter size. Each block contains sows of similar ages. The data collected for this experiment are as follows: Yorkshire Duroc Block totals Block 1 9 pigs 7 pigs 16 pigs Block 2 10 8 18 Block 3 11 9 20 Block 4 13 10 23 Totals 43 34 77 The partially completed ANOVA table for this experiment is as follows: Source df SS MS F Total 23.875 Breed 10.125 10.125 81.0 Block 13.375 Error 0.375 Calculate the mean square for blocks and the mean square for error and then calculate the F statistic for blocks. Do the block means differ (i.e., was blocking effective in removing variation in litter size)? Use a significance level of α = 0.05.