Detection of QTL for greasy fleece weight in sheep using a 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism chip

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have introduced an influential tool in the search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing economically important traits in sheep. To identify QTL associated with greasy fleece weight, a GWAS with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed in a Baluchi sheep population. Association with greasy fleece weights was tested using the software Plink. The results of our GWAS provided three novel SNP markers and candidate genes associated with greasy fleece weight. A total of three chromosome-wide significant associations were detected for SNP on chromosomes 17 and 20 affecting greasy fleece weight across the four shearing. One of the significant SNP markers was located within ovine known genes namely FAM101A. Further investigation of these identified regions in validation studies will facilitate the identification of strong candidate genes for wool production in sheep.     

非遗传因素对中国美利奴羊(新疆型)主要经济性状的影响

为探索非遗传因素对中国美利奴羊（新疆型）主要经济性状的影响,试验对拜城种羊场1992-2010年共19年周岁母羊鉴定记录进行统计分析,利用最小二乘方差分析法研究出生年份、群别及出生月份3个非遗传因素对周岁母羊鉴定记录的6个主观鉴定性状（头毛评分、毛密度评分、毛弯曲评分、毛细度评分、体型外貌评分、品种等级评分）和4个客观测定性状（毛长度、鉴定时体重、剪毛后体重、剪毛量）共10个经济性状的影响。结果表明,出生年份和群别对10个性状均有极显著影响（P<0.01）;出生月份对除毛密度评分、毛细度评分、品种等级评分外的其他7个性状均有极显著影响（P<0.01）。从毛细度、毛长度和剪毛量3个最主要的性状来看,2008年毛细度评分最高,显著高于2006、2007和2010年（P<0.05）;1996年毛长度最长,显著高于1994、2002、2004、2006、2007、2008和2010年（P<0.05）,与1995、2003和2009年差异不显著（P>0.05）;1995年剪毛量最多,显著高于1994和2009年（P<0.05）,与1992年差异不显著（P>0.05）;除此之外,其他年份的毛细度评分、毛长度和剪毛量均极显著低于最高值（P<0.01）。除2号群外,不同群别各有优势。1、2月份出生的羊较3、4月份好。由此可见,出生年份、群别和出生月份非遗传因素对中国美利奴羊（新疆型）的主要经济性状存在显著影响,因此,在遗传参数估计和遗传评定时应该综合考虑这些因素,从而为获得更为全面、准确的育种值及制定育种方案提供参考依据。     

运用贝叶斯方法估计中国美利奴羊(新疆型)毛用性状及繁殖性状的遗传参数

为了解中国美利奴羊（新疆型）近年来遗传结构的变化趋势以及探讨毛用性状与繁殖性状的遗传关系,需要进一步研究这些性状的遗传力以及它们之间的关系。本研究收集额敏县聚鑫细毛羊养殖专业合作社1985-2018年中国美利奴羊（新疆型）共计9 428只羊毛生产记录和1987-2018共计5 887只年繁殖记录,运用BLUPF90软件结合Gibbs抽样方法,利用单性状模型对中国美利奴（新疆型）毛用性状（细度支数、等级、总评分、毛长、污毛重和鉴定时体重）和繁殖性状（配种次数、妊娠天数、胎产羔数和总产羔数）进行方差组分和遗传力估计,利用双性状模型分析毛用性状与繁殖性状之间的遗传相关与表型相关。结果显示,中国美利奴羊（新疆型）毛用性状细度支数、等级、总评分、毛长、污毛重、鉴定时体重的遗传力估计值分别为0.471±0.020、0.088±0.030、0.114±0.018、0.426±0.025、0.328±0.041、0.317±0.046;繁殖性状配种次数、妊娠天数、胎产羔数及总产羔数的遗传力估计值分别为0.056±0.009、0.022±0.010、0.120±0.018、0.163±0.016;毛用性状与胎产羔数、总产羔数之间的遗传相关范围为-0.031~0.286,鉴定时体重与胎产羔数（0.286）、总产羔数（0.204）遗传相关最高,细度支数与胎产羔数（-0.143）、总产羔数（-0.048）呈负的遗传相关;毛用性状与胎产羔数、总产羔数之间的表型相关范围为-0.210~0.216,毛长与总产羔数（0.216）表型相关最高,细度支数与胎产羔数（-0.137）、总产羔数（-0.210）呈显著负表型相关。本研究结果发现,毛用性状与繁殖性状之间存在一定的关系,这一结果可为今后制定中国美利奴羊育种规划提供数据基础,为选育优质高产、繁殖性能好的细毛羊提供理论依据,从而进一步提高细毛羊产业经济效益。     

中国美利奴羊DLX3基因3′UTR的多态性及其与羊毛品质性状的关联分析

为探讨DLX3基因的多态性与绵羊羊毛品质及生长性状的关系,本研究以5个品系的中国美利奴羊(新疆军垦型)为试验材料,采用PCR-RFLP方法开展了DLX3基因3′UTR区4个SNPs的多态性检测。通过卡方检验分析了4个SNPs在各品系绵羊中的等位基因频率,采用连锁不平衡分析构建了这4个SNPs的单倍型,最后将单位点和单倍型分别与绵羊羊毛品质和生长性状进行关联分析。结果表明:4个SNPs在5个品系间的等位基因频率均存在极显著差异(P<0.01);超细毛绵羊品系与其他4个品系间的基因型分布均存在极显著差异(P<0.01),2个多胎品系与其他3个品系间的基因型分布同样存在极显著差异(P<0.01);相关分析显示,这4个SNPs及其单倍型均对羊毛卷曲度有显著影响(P<0.05),而对其他羊毛性状及生长性状无显著影响(P>0.05)。由此可见,中国美利奴羊(新疆军垦型)DLX3基因3′UTR区的多态性与绵羊毛发卷曲度性状显著相关,可以尝试使用这些SNPs开展高品质细毛羊的分子标记辅助选择。     

高山美利奴羊重要经济性状遗传参数估计

本研究旨在估计高山美利奴羊重要经济性状的遗传参数,为优化高山美利奴羊选育方案、建设品种完整结构、进行遗传评估及实施育种值选种提供理论技术支撑。采用甘肃省绵羊繁育技术推广站2003—2018年高山美利奴羊核心群数据资料,基于ASReml运用单性状个体动物模型和多性状个体动物模型估计高山美利奴羊体重、产羔数、产毛量、净毛量、净毛率、羊毛纤维直径、羊毛纤维直径变异系数、毛丛长度等重要经济性状的遗传参数。结果表明:高山美利奴羊产羔数为低等遗传力,其他所有性状均为中高等遗传力;大部分经济性状间呈正遗传相关,体重、产毛量、羊毛纤维直径与净毛率间呈负遗传相关,羊毛纤维直径变异系数与体重、产毛量、纤维直径呈负遗传相关。     

Genetic correlations among and between wool, growth and reproduction traits in Merino sheep

Summary Data from seven research resource flocks across Australia were combined to provide accurate estimates of genetic correlations among production traits in Merino sheep. The flocks represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium and broad wool strains over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, and 50 000 records for reproduction and growth traits with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. Individual models developed from the single trait analyses were extended to the various combinations of two-trait models to obtain genetic correlations among six wool traits [clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight, fibre diameter (FD), yield, coefficient of variation of fibre diameter and standard deviation of fibre diameter], four growth traits [birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight (YWT), and hogget weight] and four reproduction traits [fertility, litter size, lambs born per ewe joined, lambs weaned per ewe joined (LW/EJ)]. This study has provided for the first time a comprehensive matrix of genetic correlations among these 14 wool, growth and reproduction traits. The large size of the data set has also provided estimates with very low standard errors. A moderate positive genetic correlation was observed between CFW and FD (0.29 ± 0.02). YWT was positively correlated with CFW (0.23 ± 0.04), FD (0.17 ± 0.04) and LWEJ (0.58 ± 0.06), while LW/EJ was negatively correlated with CFW (−0.26 ± 0.05) and positively correlated with FD (0.06 ± 0.04) and LS (0.68 ± 0.04). These genetic correlations, together with the estimates of heritability and other parameters provide the basis for more accurate prediction of outcomes in complex sheep-breeding programmes designed to improve several traits.     

东北地区部分细毛羊羊毛品质检测分析

为了深入了解东北地区细毛羊的羊毛品质状况,更好地开展细毛羊品种选育与推广工作,试验进行了东北部分地区细毛羊毛样的长度、长度离散度、细度、细度离散度、净毛率、油脂含量、色度以及部分毛样的毛尖、毛中、毛根细度检测及羊毛品质分级。结果表明:所测毛样组成为细羊毛(71.97%)、半细羊毛(2.28%)、等外级(7.19%)和超细型(18.56%)4类。说明东北地区拥有符合细羊毛纺织标准的当地细毛羊品种和符合高档毛纺原料需求的超细型细毛羊种群,同时广泛分布着以毛肉兼用为主的细毛羊生产群。     

采用动物模型BLUP法对不同模型进行筛选

运用动物模型BLUP法时敖汉细毛羊的早期性状和产毛性状进行分析得出:模型(1)适合估计周岁重、断乳毛长度和断乳毛细度;模型(4)适合估计初生重和断乳重;模型(5)适合估计产毛量、体重和毛长度;模型(7)适合估计毛细度、毛弯曲分、毛密度分和毛油汗分.     

夏洛莱羊、白萨福克羊与中国美利奴羊(新疆型)杂交一代母羊生产性能观察

为了改善与提高中国美利奴羊(新疆型)的肉用性能,采用夏洛莱公羊、白萨福克公羊与中国美利奴羊(新疆型)母羊进行杂交试验,并对其F1的初生重、3月龄重、6月龄重、剪毛后体重、剪毛量、羊毛细度等性状进行了测定。结果表明,白萨福克公羊×中国美利奴母羊(新疆型)F(1白中F1)、夏洛莱公羊×中国美利奴母羊(新疆型)F(1夏中F1)2组之间的初生重、3月龄重和剪毛后重差异均不显著(P>0.05);而夏中F16月龄重,则比白中F1高4.5%(P<0.01);2组之间毛纤维直径差异不显著(P>0.05),毛长和剪毛量差异均极显著(P<0.01),夏中F1的剪毛量比白中F1高9.8%。说明在新疆伊犁地区,夏中组合较白中组合更适合用作肥羔生产,而且从毛用性能方面看,夏中组合也较白中组合更具优势。     

新疆细毛羊与澳州美利奴杂交的杂交优势

利用19只公羊和5群母羊来测定初生、断奶和周岁时的杂交优势水平。公羊的基因型包括:纯种新疆细毛羊(XX)、纯种澳州美利奴(AA)和它们的一代杂种(F_1):母羊的基因型只有两个,即(XX)和(F_1)。试验于1987—1989年在新疆维吾尔自治区南山种羊场进行,试验设计了一个不同基因型之间的随机交配,以便估计性状的遗传参数和杂交优势水平。 用计算机分析了552个后代的记录。初生重、断奶重、周岁体重、断奶毛长、周岁毛长和周岁剪毛量的杂交优势分别是4.0％、2％、11.55％、0.4％、6.05％和3.49％。生长发育性状的杂交优势水平明显地高于羊毛生长性状的杂交优势水平。     

细毛羊KRT26基因多态性及其与羊毛细度的关联性分析

本研究旨在揭示影响绵羊重要经济性状的功能基因的分子遗传特征及其与细毛羊群体的遗传关系,为高效选育绵羊品种经济性状及其种质资源的保护与利用提供分子遗传学依据。试验利用PCR-SSCP、DNA测序和生物信息学对289个细毛羊的KRT26基因进行遗传变异分析及其与细毛羊羊毛细度的关联性分析。结果表明,KRT26基因在该细毛羊群体中存在AA、AB、BB 3种基因型,其基因型频率分别为0.221、0.426和0.353,A、B等位基因频率分别为0.434、0.566,细毛羊群体的多态信息含量为0.371,呈中度多态水平,且处于Hardy-Weinberg非平衡状态(P0.05)。经过BioEdit软件比对序列和Chromas软件分析测序结果显示,KRT26基因发现5处碱基突变:83bp(G/C)、86bp(T/C)、112bp(C/T)、140bp(G/A)和247bp(C/T),并通过氨基酸序列的比对结果表明,2处发生了氨基酸的替代,即Val/Ile和Asn/Lys。KRT26基因在细毛羊群体中AA基因型个体极显著高于AB和BB基因型(P0.01)。因此,KRT26基因可能作为羊毛细度性状的一个新的分子标记。     

青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊经济性状遗传力估测

对青海省柴达木地区青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊9个主要经济性状进行了遗传力估测。结果表明,初生重、断奶重、周岁剪毛量、羊毛细度、毛长、剪毛前体重、剪毛量都是高遗传力性状,也是青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊育种过程中的主要选择依据;断奶重、周岁剪毛量、剪毛前体重与剪毛量之间呈强正遗传相关,断奶重可作为对剪毛量进行早期选择的参数;断奶重与羊毛细度之间呈负遗传相关。     

绵羊体重性状全基因组关联分析

Motivated by mining major candidate genes across Ovine genome, the present study is to perform genome-wide association studies(GWAS) to detect genes associated with body weight traits. Using Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip, we performed a GWA study in 329 purebred sheep phenotyped for 6 body weight traits(birth weight, weaning weight, 6-month weight, pre-weaning gain, post-weaning gain, daily weight gain). Statistics and data analysis were based on TASSEL program,mixed linear model and the latest Ovis_aries_v3.1 genome sequence (released October 2012). The results indicated that 10 SNPs consistently reached genome-wise significant level for post-weaning gain and 22 SNPs reached chromosome-wise significant level for other body weight traits. The SNPs were within (MEF2B,RFXANK,et al) or close to some ovine genes, which were thought to be the most important candidate genes associated with body weight traits. The results will contribute to identify candidate genes for ovine body weight traits, and facilitate the potential utilization of genes involved production traits in sheep in future.     

高原超细型细毛羊经济性状的微卫星标记研究

利用3对微卫星引物对70只中国美利奴高原型超细类群个体进行DNA多态性分析,结果表明：3个微卫星座位具有高度多态性,多态信息含量平均为0.739 1,有效等位基因数4.441 9.3个微卫星标记与经济性状间的相关分析表明,微卫星MCM218的160 bp等位基因和BMC1009的288 bp等位基因与中国美利奴高原型超细群体绵羊羊毛细度有极显著的相关性,相关系数分别为-0.956 1和-0.849 1.微卫星BMS1248的145 bp的等位基因与中国美利奴高原型超细型绵羊周岁体重有显著的相关性.相关系数为0.952 3.这一结论初步说明,微卫星MCM218的160 bp等位基因和BMC1009的288 bp的等位基因与中国美利奴高原型超细群体周岁绵羊羊毛细度存在一定程度的连锁,微卫星BMS1248的145 bp的等位基因与中国美利奴高山型超细型绵羊周岁体重也存在一定的连锁关系,为进一步分析细毛羊主要经济性状的连锁标记以及克隆相关基因打下基础.     

青海细毛羊周岁公母羊羊毛细度测定

为了查明青海细毛羊的羊毛细度,青海省三角城种羊场与农业部新疆羊毛羊绒质量监督检验测试中心合作于2007年8月份对青海细毛羊周岁公母羊共计90份羊毛毛样进行了细度分析。结果表明：周岁公羊的羊毛平均细度为20．43±1．72μm,周岁母羊的羊毛平均细度为18．37±1．39μm;变异系数为公羊8．4％,母羊为7．6％。     

Selection response to fleece weight,wool characteristics,and heritability estimates in yearling Romney sheep

The juvenile live weights, yearling fleece weight and wool characteristics of 2987 Romney progeny of 114 sires born over 9 breeding seasons in a fleece-weight-selected and a random control line were analysed. The high fleece weight-selected flock performance was higher (P < 0.001) for weaning weight and spring weight (6.9 and 8.4%), higher (P < 0.001) for greasy and clean fleece weight (23.8 and 24.3%), and also higher (P < 0.001) for FD by 1 μm, staple length by 6 mm, and wool yellowness by 0.3 unit than random control yearling sheep. Heritability estimates for weaning and spring live weight, greasy fleece weight, clean fleece weight, yield, fibre diameter, staple length, staple strength, loose wool bulk, brightness and yellowness were 0.15, 0.51, 0.35, 0.36, 0.40, 0.57, 0.41, 0.24, 0.46, 0.12 and 0.14 respectively. The heritability estimates are within the range of the long wool sheep breeds studied previously. The high selection differential achieved in the initial screening commercial flocks however facilitated to approach a selection response peak in a shorter selection duration and thus resulted in a non-significant genetic gain in greasy fleece weight when averaged over the 9 years of selection.     

高山美利奴羊在低海拔地区适应性研究

为研究高山美利奴羊在低海拔地区的适应情况,选择100只断奶母羊,分成主产区(高山寒旱草原生态区)和推广区(低海拔地区)2组,测定周岁和成年羊的体重、羊毛纤维直径和血液生化指标。结果表明:推广区高山美利奴羊体重均显著高于同年龄主产区羊(P<0.05);推广区成年羊的羊毛纤维直径显著高于主产区成年羊(P<0.05),但推广区与主产区周岁羊的羊毛纤维直径差异不显著(P>0.05);推广区与主产区羊只血液生化指标存在一定的差异,但均在正常范围之内。综上所述,高山美利奴羊在低海拔地区其生产性能没有下降,可以进行推广和利用。     

甘肃高山细毛羊育种现状及发展前景

甘肃高山细毛羊是以新疆细毛羊和高加索细毛羊为父本、以当地藏羊和蒙古羊为母本,经过杂交改良(1943～1957年)、横交固定(1958～1965年)和选育提高(1966～1980)三个阶段培育而成的我国第一个高原型细毛羊品种。从育成至今经过了30年的选育提高,为了改善和提高品种质量,先后10次从国内外引进澳洲美利奴、中国美利奴、新西兰美利奴、超细型中国美利奴、超细型澳洲美利奴等外血对品种进行换血改造。目前该品种质量发生了很大变化。2009年种公羊平均体重达到95.77kg,比1980年品种育成时提高了20.77kg,成年母羊平均体重达到49.55kg,比1980年育成时提高了9.55kg。种公羊平均毛长达到10.79cm,比1980年育成时提高了2.59cm,母羊平均毛长达到9.39cm,比1980年育成时提高了1.8cm。公羊平均剪毛量达到10.32kg,比1980年育成时提高了2.8kg,母羊平均剪毛量达到4.56kg,比1980年育成时提高了0.46kg。羊毛细度从1980年的以64支为主体发展为目前的以66支和70支为主体。以甘肃高山细毛羊为遗传基础,先后育成中国美利奴高山型新类群、甘肃高山细毛羊优质毛品系、甘肃高山细毛羊肉用类群、甘肃高山细毛羊超细品系。     

内蒙古鄂尔多斯市澳美型细毛羊冷冻胚胎移植技术应用效果

通过冷冻胚胎移植技术,2007年和2008年前后分2批在鄂尔多斯细毛羊种羊场实施纯种澳美型细毛羊冷冻胚胎移植,共有371只（2007年266只,2008年105只）受体羊做了冷冻胚胎移植,共生产澳美型细毛羊羔羊106只（2007年70只,2008年36只）。其中公羔60只,母羔46只;受胎率分别为26.32%和37.14%;羔羊初生重为公羔（4.73±0.41）kg/只、母羔（4.54±0.43）kg/只和公羔（4.60±0.68）kg/只、母羔（4.45±0.55）kg/只。经过调查鉴定,用冷冻胚移植技术获得羔羊106只,经培养共获得纯种澳美型细毛羊106只,补充了优质澳美型细毛羊种羊的数量,大大增加了纯种澳美型细毛羊的种源数量、节省了引种费用、缩短了鄂尔多斯细毛羊改良世代间隔和选育提高周期,起到了加速优良种畜繁殖速度、迅速扩大种源的科技效应。     

Genetic parameters among weight, prolificacy, and wool traits of Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep

Genetic parameters for Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep were estimated using REML with animal models for prolificacy, weight, and wool traits. All bivariate analyses included a covariance between additive genetic effects for the two traits plus appropriate additional covariances. Number of observations by breed ranged from 5,140 to 7,095 for prolificacy traits, from 7,750 to 9,530 for weight traits, and from 4,603 to 34,746 for wool traits. Heritability estimates ranged from .03 to .11 for prolificacy traits (litter size at birth and litter size at weaning), from .09 to .26 for weight traits (birth weight and average daily gain), and from .25 to .53 for wool traits (fleece weight, fleece grade and staple length). Estimates of direct genetic correlations among prolificacy and among weight traits were positive and ranged from .58 to 1.00 and .18 to 1.00, respectively. Estimates of direct genetic correlation between fleece weight and staple length were positive (.50 to .70) but were negative between fleece weight and fleece grade (-.60 to -.34) and between staple length and fleece grade (-.72 and -.40). Prolificacy and wool traits were essentially uncorrelated. Weight and prolificacy traits were slightly positively correlated. Weight traits had a moderate positive direct genetic correlation with fleece weight and staple length, but were uncorrelated with fleece grade. These estimates of genetic parameters between prolificacy, weight, and wool traits can be used to construct multiple-trait selection indexes for dual-purpose sheep.