Use of heat tolerance traits in discriminating between groups of sheep in central Brazil

The animal and its environment make up an integrated system, where each acts on the other. Tropical regions are characterized by high levels of solar radiation and environmental temperature which may adversely affect animal production. This study carries out a multivariate analysis of physical and physiological traits in sheep in the Federal District of Brazil to test the ability to separate groups of animals and determine which traits are most important in the adaptation of animal to heat stress. The variables studied included coat thickness, number and length of hairs, pigmentation of the skin and coat, number of sweat glands as well as heart and respiratory rates, rectal and skin temperatures, sweating rate, and blood parameters. Five groups of ten animals were used depending on breed (Bergamasca, crossbred, or Santa Inês) or coat color (Santa Inês—brown, white, and black). The data underwent multivariate statistical analyses including cluster, discriminate, and canonical, using Statistical Analysis System—SAS®. The tree diagram showed clear distances between groups studied and canonical analysis was able to separate individuals in groups, especially Bergamasca and white Santa Inês. The canonical correlation redundancy analysis showed that coat reflectance as well as hair length and number of hairs per unit area were the most useful in explaining changes in physiological traits. Skin and coat traits such as hair length, coat reflectance, percentage of epithelial area occupied by sweat glands, skin reflectance and thickness, as well as heart and breathing rates were the most important in separating these groups.

     

Multivariate analysis for characteristics of heat tolerance in horses in Brazil

The environment in which the horse is reared affects its ability to maintain thermal balance which is in turn related to thermal characteristics and regulatory physiological mechanisms. In this study a multivariate analysis of physiological traits in relation to heat tolerance in horses was carried out in the Federal District, Brazil. The aim was to test the ability of these analyses to separate groups of animals and determine which physiological traits are most important in the adaptation to heat stress. Forty adult horses (4 to 13 years) were used, ten from each of four different genetic groups (English thoroughbred, Brazilian showjumper, crossbred and Breton). The traits examined included heart and breathing rate, rectal temperature as well as blood parameters. The data underwent multivariate statistical analysis including cluster, discriminate and canonical using Statistical Analysis System - SAS ® procedures CLUSTER, STEPDISC, CANCORR and DISCRIM. The tree diagram showed clear distances between groups studied and canonical analysis was able to separate individuals in groups. The discriminate analysis identified the variables which were most important in separating these groups. The multivariate analysis was able to separate the animals into groups with RR, HR and RT being important in this separation.     

Multivariate analysis of heat tolerance characteristics in Santa Inês and crossbred lambs in the Federal District of Brazil

Heat tolerance is an important trait for deciding on which genetic resource to use on farms in tropical regions. Three genetic groups of lambs were evaluated by physical and physiological parameters related to adaptation and multivariate analyses used to test if these traits were efficient in separating the genetic groups and which traits were more important in this separation. Crossbred lambs were more similar to each other than to Santa Inês, in general; but individually there was an overlap between Ile de France and Santa Inês lambs. Size traits had higher canonical correlation with physiological variables, while rectal temperature, heart rate, and hemoglobin were more highly correlated with physical traits. Error rates using only physiological traits were high, suggesting that these are inefficient in separating groups of lambs for heat tolerance, while separation with physical traits was more efficient.     

湖北白猪活体测定性状与屠宰性状间的典型相关分析

通过对湖北白猪新系90头样本的话体测定性状的9个变量与屠宰测定性状的10个变量之间的典型相关分析,得出了决定两组性状间相关关系的三对典型变量.湖北白猪活体测定性状与屠宰测定性状之间的相关主要是由:腹围、臀宽及活体膘厚与板油率密切相关,胸围、臀宽、臀长、臀围与屠宰率及后腿比例密切相关,及体长、胸围与瘦肉率和肥肉率间的较强相关所决定的.分析表明在湖北白猪新品系选育中,要加强胸围选择,注意保持适宜的体长.可以依据三个活体性状典型变量的信息利用达到改良屠宰性状的目的.     

Correlation Analysis of Ecological Traits and Economic Traits for Chinese Native Chicken Breeds

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of ecological traits on body size traits and economic traits (body size traits and slaughter traits) in Chinese native chicken breeds and reveal the essential connection of three group traits.In this study,simple correlation analysis and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were applied to estimate the relationship between local 6 ecological traits and 8 body size traits,6 ecological traits and 8 slaughter traits,8 body size traits and 8 slaughter traits of Chinese native chicken breeds.The result of ecological traits and slaughter traits suggested that the first canonical correlation coefficient was 0.536 (P < 0.01),the value of pct was 55.046% for the total correlation information.It showed that the correlation between two sets of traits mainly by mean annual temperature and dressed weight closely related to the cause,the lower mean annual temperature,the heavier dressed weight.The result of ecological traits and body size traits suggested that the first canonical correlation coefficient was 0.679 (P < 0.01),the value of pct was 54.118%,for the total correlation information.It showed that the correlation between two sets of traits mainly by latitude and shank girth closely related to the cause,the higher latitude,the smaller shank girth.The second canonical correlation coefficient was 0.556 (P < 0.05),the value of pct was 28.251% for the total correlation information.It showed that the correlation between two sets of traits mainly by forst free period and chest bone length closely related to the cause,the longer forst free period,the longer chest bone length.The result of body size traits and slaughter traits suggested that the first canonical correlation coefficient was 0.901 (P < 0.01),the value of pct was 81.063% for the total correlation information.It showed that the correlation between two sets of traits mainly by chest bone length and dressed weight closely related to the cause,the longer chest bone length,the greater dressed weight.     

中国地方鸡生态因子和经济性状的相关性分析

试验旨在研究中国地方鸡品种生长所在地的生态因子和鸡的经济性状（体尺性状和屠宰性状）的相关性,探讨生态因子、体尺性状和屠宰性状3组性状之间的相关关系,揭示其内在联系。对中国107个地方鸡品种生长所在地的6个生态因子及其8个体尺性状、8个屠宰性状进行了简单相关分析和典型相关分析（CCA）。结果表明,生态因子和屠宰性状两组性状间的第1个典型相关系数为0.536（P < 0.01）,贡献率55.046%,说明这两组性状间的相关性主要是由年平均气温和屠体重之间密切相关引起的,年平均气温越低,鸡的屠体重越高。生态因子和体尺性状两组性状间的第1个典型相关系数为0.679（P < 0.01）,贡献率54.118%,纬度和胫围相关性最大,纬度越高,胫围越小;第2个典型相关系数为0.556（P < 0.05）,贡献率28.251%,无霜期和龙骨长相关性最大,无霜期越长,龙骨长越长。体尺性状和屠宰性状两组性状间的第1个典型相关系数为0.901（P < 0.01）,贡献率81.063%,说明这两组性状间的相关性主要是由龙骨长和屠体重之间密切相关引起的,龙骨长越长,鸡的屠体重越大。     

Heat tolerance in naturalized Brazilian cattle breeds

Research carried out at the Sucupira Farm of Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, in Brasilia-DF, aimed to evaluate heat tolerance in five naturalized and two exotic breeds of cattle, at different temperatures and humidity, based upon physiological and blood parameters. The data collected included heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and sweating rate (SR). Blood was also collected for hemogram analysis and cortisol level. The measurements were taken at 7 am and at 2 pm after the animals were exposed to the sun, with water ad libitum. This procedure was repeated for six days, three in the middle of the dry season when temperatures and humidity were lower and three at the start of the rainy season when temperatures and humidity were higher. Significant statistical differences were observed in RR and HR for day, breed and animal within breed. The analysis indicated that the Junqueira and Nellore breeds are most adapted to climatic conditions in Brasilia; while Mocho Nacional and Holstein breeds were the least adapted. Although sample size is limited, these results are important to identify which breeds are most resistant towards climatic variations observed in the Brasilia region, as well as which physiological parameters are the most indicated for use in animal breeding programs intended to select animals and breeds adapted to thermal stress conditions.     

Study on environmental indices and heat tolerance tests in hair sheep

The ability to predict the effects of climatic factors on animals and their adaptability is important for livestock production. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether existing indices are suitable for evaluating heat stress in Santa Ines and Morada Nova sheep, which are locally adapted hair sheep breeds from northeastern Brazil, and if the limits used to classify thermal stress are suitable for these breeds. Therefore, climatic, physiological, and physical parameters, as well as thermographic images, were collected in 26 sheep, 1 1/2 years old, from two genetic groups (Santa Ines 12 males and 4 females; Morada Nov. 7 males and 3 females) for 3 days in both morning (4:00 a.m.) and afternoon (2:00 p.m.) with six repetitions, totalizing 156 repetitions. Statistical analysis included correlations and broken-line regressions. Iberia and Benezra indices were the tolerance tests that best correlated with the assessed parameters. High correlations between environmental indices and rectal or skin surface temperatures was observed, which indicates that these indices can be used for Santa Ines and Morada Nova sheep raised in central Brazil. However, some indicative values of thermal discomfort are different from the existing classification. Therefore, in order to classify appropriately, the model used needs to be carefully studied, because these classifying values can vary according to the species and model. Further research is necessary to establish indicators of thermal stress for sheep breeds raised in the region.     

Behavioral profiles of dog breeds

Breed behavior profiles were obtained by a method that was quantitative and free of personal biases. The profiles concerned 13 traits, eg, excitability, snapping at children, watchdog barking, and affection demand, which are of interest to people wanting dogs as pets. Authorities for the development of the profiles were 48 small animal veterinarians and 48 obedience judges, randomly selected from directories so as to represent equally men and women, and eastern, central, and western geographic regions of the United States. Each authority was asked to rank on each of the behavioral traits a list of 7 breeds chosen randomly from a list of 56 breeds. The data were analyzed in a custom-designed computer program that pooled the data and then ranked all 56 breeds on the basis of the 13 traits. The results indicated that some behavioral traits discriminate between breeds better than others. An examination of sample profiles indicated the feasibility of developing a statistically meaningful behavioral profile that integrates comparative rankings of several authorities balanced as to representation of geographic location, sex, and type of experience with dogs.     

Inbreeding depression in Zebu cattle traits

The productivity of herds may be negatively affected by inbreeding depression, and it is important to know how intense is this effect on the livestock performance. We performed a comprehensive analysis involving five Zebu breeds reared in Brazil to estimate inbreeding depression in productive and reproductive traits. Inbreeding depression was estimated for 13 traits by including the individual inbreeding rate as a linear covariate in the standard genetic evaluation models. For all breeds and for almost all traits (no effect was observed on gestation length), the performance of the animals was compromised by an increase in inbreeding. The average inbreeding depression was ?0.222% and ?0.859% per 1% of inbreeding for linear regression coefficients scaled on the percentage of mean (β_m) and standard deviation (β_σ), respectively. The means for β_m (and β_σ) were ?0.269% (?1.202%) for weight/growth traits and ?0.174% (?0.546%) for reproductive traits. Hence, inbreeding depression is more pronounced in weight/growth traits than in reproductive traits. These findings highlight the need for the management of inbreeding in the respective breeding programmes of the breeds studied here.     

全基因组选择信号揭示绵羊毛囊发育及脱毛性状相关的候选基因

利用全基因组选择信号研究不同羊毛类型绵羊的群体结构及遗传分化程度,以挖掘与毛囊发育及脱毛性状相关的候选基因。本研究以3种羊毛类型的21个品种共290只绵羊群体为研究对象,利用Illumina Ovine SNP 50K芯片基因分型数据,基于群体分化指数Fst和核苷酸多样性比值θπ Ratio方法对无绒毛型、细毛型和中毛型绵羊进行选择信号检测。将Fst和θπ Ratio的top 5%作为阈值检测受到强烈选择的SNPs位点并进行注释。结果表明,SOX18、ALX4、FGF1和LRP4等与毛囊发育及脱毛性状相关的基因受到强烈选择。本研究通过Fst和θπ Ratio两种方法检测出与毛囊发育周期、羊毛形成以及毛囊和皮脂腺部分细胞相关的重要基因,这将为进一步研究绵羊重要经济性状形成的机制提供有意义的参考。     

银蓝水貂重要经济性状的遗传参数估计

本研究以银蓝水貂为材料,对6个世代的1686只水貂的生长记录进行统计分析,分析性别及年份对水貂体重、体长、针毛长、绒毛长和针、绒毛长比率的表型趋势影响。利用多性动物模型约束最大似然法（REML）估计以上水貂生产性状的遗传力和遗传相关。在模型中考虑了年份和性别固定效应,随机效应为个体的加性效应。结果表明,各性状遗传力均较高,其中体重为0.41,体长为0.53,针毛长为0.53,绒毛长为0.52,针、绒毛长比率为0.52。除针、绒毛长比率与其他性状间呈表型负相关（-0.218、-0.178、-0.074、-0.425）外,各性状间均为表型正相关（分别为0.289、0.882、0.869、0.806、0.788、0.930）。体长与绒毛长、针、绒毛长比率呈现遗传负相关（-0.941、-0.983）,其他均为较强的遗传正相关,分别为0.983、0.731、0.972、0.981、0.622、0.992、0.641、0.987。     

Present status of the conservation of livestock genetic resources in Brazil

Brazil has various species of domestic animals, which developed from breeds brought by the Portuguese settlers soon after the discovery of the country. After being submitted to a long process of natural selection, these breeds present characteristics adapted to specific Brazilian environmental conditions, and are known as “criollo”, “local” or naturalized breeds. From the beginning of the 20th century, some exotic breeds, selected in temperate regions, have begun to be imported, and, although more productive, they do not have adaptive traits, such as resistance to disease and parasites found in the naturalized breeds. Even so, they gradually replaced the native breeds, to such an extent that the latter are in danger of extinction. To avoid further loss of this important genetic material, in 1983 the National Research Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Cenargen) of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) decided to include conservation of animal genetic resources among its priorities. The conservation activities have been conducted under the Brazilian Genetic Resources Network — Renargen, and is carried out by various research centres of Embrapa, universities and State research institutions, as well as by private farmers, with a single coordinator at national level, Cenargen. The in situ conservation of cattle, horses, buffaloes, donkeys, goats, sheep and pigs is being carried out by Conservation Nuclei, located in the animal's original habitat. Ex situ conservation is centred at the Brazilian Animal Germplasm Bank (AGB), kept at Cenargen. This is responsible for the storage of semen and embryos of various breeds of domestic animals threatened with extinction. Presently the AGB has almost 60,000 doses of semen and more than 250 embryos, as well as over 7000 DNA samples. An important challenge for this program is to increase awareness within the different segments of society in terms of the importance of the conservation of animal genetic resources. The development and evolution of Renargen and its efforts to facilitate the conservation of genetic resources of livestock in Brazil are described in this paper.     

Skin and coat traits in sheep in Brazil and their relation with heat tolerance

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare physical parameters in groups of sheep with different phenotypic characteristics in the Centre-west region of Brazil. Five groups of sheep, with nine animals per group, were selected, three groups of Santa Inês animals with different coat colours (white, brown and black), one group with crossbred animals (Santa Inês × Bergamasca) and one group with animals of the Bergamasca breed. The following traits were evaluated: coat thickness, number and length of hair, pigmentation level in the coat and the skin as well as the percentage area of sweats glands in the skin tissue, carried out by histological analysis. The number of hairs and the area of sweats glands were not significantly different between the evaluated groups. The Bergamasca breed showed low pigmentation of the skin and long hairs. The levels of pigmentation of the hair and of the skin were highly correlated. Between the Santa Inês groups, the group with white hair showed the better parameters for heat adaptation, while the brown hair group showed the lower heat adaptation when compared with another hair breed groups.     

Estimation of economic weights for number of teats and sperm quality traits in pigs

Accurate predictive modelling facilitates efficient and effective trait selection in animal breeding and can decrease costs while maximizing profits when raising economically important animals. The objective of this study was to extend a previously developed bioeconomic model and computer program to calculate the marginal economic values (MEVs) and economic weights (EWs) for direct and maternal pig traits affected by new reproductive traits, namely the number of sow functional teats (NFTs) and boar sperm quality traits (SQTs) that included sperm volume, sperm concentration, motility percentage and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. The MEV of NFTs represented the cost differences between naturally and artificially reared piglets until weaning and the cost differences between naturally and artificially reared finished animals. The MEVs of SQTs expressed the saved costs for artificial insemination, assuming a decreased price per insemination dose when improving the SQTs. The absolute and relative EWs for the newly defined complex of traits in the breeding objectives for pig breeds involved in the Czech national three-way crossing system (Czech Large White [CLW], Czech Landrace [CL] and Pietrain [PN]) were calculated using gene flow methods. The NFT trait was included only for dam breeds, and the relative EW averaged 3.6% of the total economic importance based on the genetic standard deviations of all 19 simultaneously evaluated traits in CLW and CL breeds. The relative EWs of the four SQTs comprised 2.0% of the total economic importance of the 19 traits in the CLW and CL dam breeds and 8% of the total economic importance of the 18 traits in the PN sire breed. Therefore, inclusion of the NFTs for dam breeds and SQTs for sire breeds in the breeding goal is recommended to aid in obtaining ideal outcomes with optimal economic values.     

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.     

生态因子对中国乌骨鸡体量性状和繁殖性状的影响

试验旨在探讨生态因子对中国地方乌骨鸡的体量性状及繁殖性状的影响,分析性状间的相关关系,揭示其内在联系。对中国17个地方乌骨鸡品种的9个体量性状和5个繁殖性状分别与其产区的4个生态因子进行了典型相关分析(CCA)。结果表明,生态因子和体量性状间的第1个典型相关系数为0.992(P<0.01),贡献率为83.368%,第2个典型相关系数为0.953(P<0.01),贡献率12.566%,说明这两组性状间的相关性主要是由年日照时数、无霜期和胸宽之间密切相关引起的,年日照时数越长,无霜期就越长,乌骨鸡的胸宽就越大;生态因子和繁殖性状间的第1个典型相关系数为0.867(P<0.01),贡献率60.797%,第2个典型相关系数为0.754(P<0.01),贡献率为26.496%,说明这两组性状间的相关性主要是由年日照时数和平均开产日龄之间密切相关引起的,两者是正向趋势,即年日照时数越长,乌骨鸡的平均开产日龄也就越晚。本研究结果为乌骨鸡的遗传育种与繁殖提供了参考依据。     

Multivariate Analyses for Determining the Association of Field Porcine Fertility With Sperm Motion Traits Analysed by Computer‐Assisted Semen Analysis and With Sperm Morphology

This study investigates the association of semen traits with boar fertility. The fertility outcome (farrowing rate – FR and total piglets born – TB) of 14 boars was obtained from a field trial conducted during 10 week of breeding period on a commercial farm using multiparous sows (n = 948) through single‐sire mating with 2 × 10⁹ motile sperm cells per artificial insemination (AI) dose. Sperm motion parameters, evaluated with computer‐assisted semen analysis system in raw and stored semen at 17°C for 240 h, in addition to morphological sperm defects, measured on the collection day, were included in the analysis to determine which semen traits were important to discriminate the fertility potential of ejaculates from these boars. The data underwent multivariate cluster, canonical and discriminant analyses. Four clusters of boars were formed based on fertility outcome. One boar, with the lowest FR and TB values (89.7% and 11.98), and two boars, with the highest FR and TB values (97.8% and 14.16), were placed in different clusters. The other boars were separated in two distinct clusters (four and seven boars), including boars with intermediate TB (12.64 and 13.22) but divergent values for FR (95.9% vs 91.8%). Semen traits with higher discriminatory power included total motility, progressive motility, amplitude of lateral head displacement and cytoplasmatic droplets. Through multivariate discriminant analysis, more than 80% of the 140 ejaculates were correctly classified into their own group, showing that this analysis may be an efficient statistical tool to improve the discrimination of potential fertility of boars. Nevertheless, the validation of the relationship between fertility and semen traits using this statistical approach needs to be performed on a larger number of farms and with a greater number of boars.     

二郎山绒山羊体尺、绒毛性状与经济性状的相关及回归分析

为研究内蒙古二郎山绒山羊体尺、绒毛性状与经济性状间的相关关系,选取1 000只3岁成年母羊进行生产性能测定,并利用SAS 9.0和Excel 2003软件进行统计分析。结果表明,二郎山绒山羊体尺、绒毛性状中体高(X₁)、体斜长(X₂)、胸围(X₃)与体重(Y)之间呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),最优回归方程为Y=-12.0856+0.0821X₁+0.4053X₂+0.1624X₃,回归方程的截距和3个偏回归系数都达到了极显著的程度(P<0.01),说明该方程是最优回归方程。胸围对体重的影响最大,而体高、体斜长和绒细度主要通过胸围对体重产生影响;体高对产绒量的影响最大,其次为绒厚度,但是就体高、体斜长、胸围、绒细度、绒厚度、毛长与产绒量之间并未找到最优回归方程。表明二郎山绒山羊体尺、绒毛性状与经济性状之间存在着复杂的内在联系。     

Performance of three tropical hair sheep breeds.

The performance of three hair sheep breeds (Brazilian Somali, Morada Nova, and Santa Ines) was evaluated in the production environment of northeastern Brazil. Data from a total of 524 lambs sired by 21 rams and out of 190 ewes were analyzed. These data were collected from 1980 to 1983 at Sobral, Brazil from an experiment designed to compare performance of the three breeds. The traits included weights of lambs at birth, weaning, 8 mo, 10 mo, and yearling ages and ewe characters of weight at lambing (EWT), total lamb weight born (LWB), total lamb weight weaned (LWW), and prolificacy rate (PR). Differences (P < .01) among breeds were found for all characters. The Brazilian Somali, the smallest and slowest-gaining breed, was less sensitive to yearly variation than were the other breeds. The Santa Ines, the largest and fastest-gaining breed, was superior in LWB and LWW per ewe lambing. Averaged over the 4-yr period, the Morada Nova had the highest PR (1.82), and the Brazilian Somali and Santa Ines had similar PR (1.39 and 1.31, respectively). Environmental effects on PR due to yearly rainfall quantity and distribution pattern influenced lamb growth up to weaning and ewe reproduction performance. Breed x year (P < .05) interaction effects on PR were largely attributable to the Somali breed's exhibiting higher PR than the Santa Ines and Morada Nova breeds during the relatively wet years of 1981 and 1982.