A new single nucleotide polymorphism in CAPN1 extends the current tenderness marker test to include cattle of Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and crossbred descent

The three objectives of this study were to 1) test for the existence of beef tenderness markers in the CAPN1 gene segregating in Brahman cattle; 2) test existing CAPN1 tenderness markers in indicus-influenced crossbred cattle; and 3) produce a revised marker system for use in cattle of all subspecies backgrounds. Previously, two SNP in the CAPN1 gene have been described that could be used to guide selection in Bos taurus cattle (designated Markers 316 and 530), but neither marker segregates at high frequency in Brahman cattle. In this study, we examined three additional SNP in CAPN1 to determine whether variation in this gene could be associated with tenderness in a large, multisire American Brahman population. One marker (termed 4751) was associated with shear force on postmortem d 7 (P < 0.01), 14 (P = 0.015), and 21 (P < 0.001) in this population, demonstrating that genetic variation important for tenderness segregates in Bos indicus cattle at or near CAPN1. Marker 4751 also was associated with shear force (P < 0.01) in the same large, multisire population of cattle of strictly Bos taurus descent that was used to develop the previously reported SNP (referred to as the Germplasm Evaluation [GPE] Cycle 7 population), indicating the possibility that one marker could have wide applicability in cattle of all subspecies backgrounds. To test this hypothesis, Marker 4751 was tested in a third large, multisire cattle population of crossbred subspecies descent (including sire breeds of Brangus, Beefmaster, Bonsmara, Romosinuano, Hereford, and Angus referred to as the GPE Cycle 8 population). The highly significant association of Marker 4751 with shear force in this population (P < 0.001) confirms the usefulness of Marker 4751 in cattle of all subspecies backgrounds, including Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and crossbred descent. This wide applicability adds substantial value over previously released Markers 316 and 530. However, Marker 316, which had previously been shown to be associated with tenderness in the GPE Cycle 7 population, also was highly associated with shear force in the GPE Cycle 8 animals (P < 0.001). Thus, Marker 316 may continue to be useful in a variety of populations with a high percentage of Bos taurus backgrounds. An optimal marker strategy for CAPN1 in many cases will be to use both Markers 316 and 4751.     

贵州威宁黄牛线粒体DNA D-loop区全序列分析

为了解贵州威宁黄牛的遗传多样性及遗传背景，我们分析测定了19个个体线粒体DNA D-loop区序列。结果检测到8种单倍型，7种为普通牛血统的单倍型，1种为瘤牛血统的单倍型，表明威宁黄牛同时受普通牛和瘤牛的影响。本研究同时构建了19个威宁黄牛个体的系统发生树，结果发现它们明显分为普通牛血统单倍型组和瘤牛血统单倍型组两组。     

Allelic and Genotypic Frequencies of the Leptin Gene Sau3AI-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Evaluation of Its Association with Age at Puberty in Cattle in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico

Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipose tissue that influences appetite, growth, and reproduction. In cattle, the leptin gene contains a Sau3A-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) within intron II and exon III. This RFLP yields two alleles (A and B) and three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB). Because level of adiposity is important to numerous performance traits, two studies were conducted to assess the potential use of the leptin Sau3AI-RFLP as a selection tool in cattle in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The objective of the first study was to survey allelic and genotypic frequencies of the Sau3AI-RFLP in breed groups of cattle selected for beef production. High frequencies (≥0.76) of the A allele were observed in cattle that were Bos taurus (Angus and Criollo), Bos indicus-influenced (Brangus, Brahman, F₁-Hereford x Brahman, Santa Cruz, and Santa Gertrudis), and of historic lineage of Bos taurus x Bos indicus (African Mashona). Genotypic frequencies in these breed groups were 0.82 (AA), 0.16 (AB), and 0.02 (BB). The objective of the second study was to evaluate the relationship of the leptin RFLP to age at puberty in heifers. No relationship was detected (P < 0.38) between genotype and age at puberty. The A allele existed in the breed groups evaluated with high frequency, thus negating the ability to assess the relationship of the B allele to age at puberty. Findings do not support use of the leptin Sau3AI-RFLP as a marker in selection strategies for cattle in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.     

中国黄牛Y-STRs遗传多样性与起源研究

[目的]研究中国黄牛Y染色体STRs的遗传多样性及父系起源。[方法]利用非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,选择2个牛Y-STRs位点INRA189和BM861,分析16个中国地方黄牛品种284头公牛与4头缅甸黄牛公牛的Y染色体遗传多样性。[结果]在中国16个黄牛品种中,2个Y-STR位点可以区分中国黄牛中的普通牛和瘤牛类型,表明中国黄牛有普通牛和瘤牛两种父系起源。4头缅甸黄牛均为瘤牛类型。在中国16个黄牛品种中,普通牛和瘤牛分布频率分别为57.0%和43.0%,其中普通牛频率在北方黄牛中占优势(98.3%),瘤牛频率在南方黄牛中占优势(76.1%),中原黄牛中普通牛频率较高为63.8%,瘤牛频率为36.2%。[结论]中国黄牛存在普通牛和瘤牛两种父系起源;普通牛频率自北向南逐渐减少,瘤牛频率自北向南逐渐增加,中原地区为普通牛和瘤牛的交汇处。     

Bos taurus Y chromosome of Africander cattle and the development of improved breeds for the tropics.

The Africander has anatomical and other characteristics of an animal of approximately 3/4 Bos indicus heredity. The fact that these cattle carry the Bos taurus Y chromosome supports this view and indicates that the local cattle in South Africa would have been crossed with one or more Bos taurus bulls. Droughtmaster and Braford cattle retain the Bos indicus Y chromosome because Bos indicus instead of Bos taurus bulls were used to establish these taurindicus breeds. Contrary to some assumptions, an approximate tenfold increase in productivity of cattle was made during the 18th and 19th centuries due to improvements in disease control, nutrition and genetic improvement. What is now needed is the development of taurindicus breeds combining to the maximum possible extent the disease resistance and hardiness of Bos indicus with the early maturity and productivity of Bos taurus cattle. In addition, the ravages of disease and the seasonal variations of food supply need to be overcome in tropical areas.     

温岭高峰牛线粒体DNA全基因组遗传多样性分析

[目的]通过测定温岭高峰牛线粒体DNA全基因组序列以分析温岭高峰牛的母系起源及遗传多样性。[方法]采用DNA提取、测序及生物信息学方法。[结果]通过对19头温岭高峰牛线粒体DNA全基因组序列分析,共发现263个变异位点,定义9种单倍型,单倍型多样度(Hd±SD)为0.778±0.096,核苷酸多样度(Pi±SD)为0.0017±0.0014,表明温岭高峰牛的遗传多样性较低。构建的NJ系统发育树和单倍型进化网络图表明温岭高峰牛有普通牛和瘤牛2种母系起源。[结论]温岭高峰牛线粒体DNA基因组的遗传多样性较低,有瘤牛和普通牛两个母系起源,但主要受瘤牛的影响。     

Identification of quality management practices to reduce the incidence of retail beef tenderness problems: development and evaluation of a prototype quality system to produce tender beef.

A prototype quality system for ensuring beef tenderness was designed and tested. The test population of cattle was genetically diverse, but it was constrained to include youthful (14- to 17-mo-old) steers with no more than 3/8 Bos indicus inheritance. Feeding and preharvest management of the cattle were consistent with procedures recommended for production of grain-finished beef of an acceptable quality level. In addition, the target endpoint for harvest (11-mm external fat thickness over the longissimus at the 12th rib) resulted in production of mostly Select and low Choice beef carcasses; 92% of the resulting carcasses qualified for these two grade levels. Application of the prototype quality system reduced the expected rate of nonconformance to desired tenderness specifications from about one in four loin steaks (23% for top sirloins and 26% for strip loins) to approximately one in eight loin steaks (13% for top sirloins and 12% for strip loins). Tenderness comparisons among sires suggested that the rate of nonconformance for strip loin steaks might be reduced even further by control of genetic inputs into the system. Use of process control in a quality management system was demonstrated to be an effective approach for assurance of beef tenderness.     

Assessment of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes residing on chromosomes 14 and 29 for association with carcass composition traits in Bos indicus cattle

Objective of this study was to assess the association of SNP in the diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), thyroglobulin (TG), and micromolar calcium-activated neutral protease (CAPN1) genes with carcass composition and meat quality traits in Bos indicus cattle. A population of Brahman calves (n = 479) was developed in central Florida from 1996 to 2000. Traits analyzed were ADG, hip height, slaughter weight, fat thickness, HCW, marbling score, LM area, estimated KPH fat, yield grade, retail yield, sensory panel tenderness score, carcass hump height, and cooked meat tenderness measured as Warner-Bratzler shear force at 7, 14, and 21 d postmortem. Single nucleotide polymorphisms previously reported in the TG and DGAT1 genes were used as markers on chromosome 14. Two previously reported and two new SNP in the CAPN1 gene were used as markers on chromosome 29. One SNP in CAPN1 was uninformative, and another one was associated with tenderness score (P < 0.05), suggesting the presence of variation affecting meat tenderness. All three informative SNP at the CAPN1 gene were associated with hump height (P < 0.02). The TG marker was associated with fat thickness and LMA (P < 0.05), but not with marbling score. No significant associations of the SNP in the DGAT1 gene were observed for any trait. Allele frequencies of the SNP in TG and CAPN1 were different in this Brahman population than in reported allele frequencies in Bos taurus populations. The results suggest that the use of molecular marker information developed in Bos taurus populations to Bos indicus populations may require development of appropriate additional markers.     

Effects of biological type of beef steers on vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus status

Feedlot steers (n = 36) from three biological types (Bos indicus, Bos taurus-Continental, and Bos taurus-English) were used to determine the Ca, P, and vitamin D3 status of feedlot cattle. The USDA yield and quality grade traits were measured at slaughter, and the concentrations of vitamin D3 (VITD) and the metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2 D) were determined in LM, liver, kidney, and plasma. Plasma and muscle Ca and P concentrations also were determined. Biological type of cattle affected a number of carcass traits. Carcasses from Bos taurus-English cattle had more marbling, resulting in higher quality grades (P < 0.05). Carcasses from Bos taurus-Continental cattle had lower calculated yield grades (P < 0.05) than did carcasses from cattle in the other biological types. In general, differences in carcass traits resulting from biological type were consistent with other reports. Plasma and LM Ca and P concentrations were not affected (P = 0.06) by biological type of cattle, indicating that Ca and P homeostasis is a conserved trait across the different types of cattle. Plasma VITD and 25-OH D concentrations were not affected (P = 0.41) by biological type, whereas plasma 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in Bos taurus-Continental and Bos indicus cattle. Liver VITD and 25-OH D were not affected by biological type (P = 0.76), but liver 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in Bos indicus cattle than in Bos taurus-Continental cattle. Kidney vitamin D metabolite concentrations were not affected by biological type of cattle (P = 0.21). Muscle VITD concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in the other two biological types, and muscle 25-OH D concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in Bos indicus cattle. Muscle 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was less (P < 0.05) in the Bos taurus-Continental cattle than in the other two biological types. Cooking eliminated vitamin D metabolite differences among the biological types. Our results suggest that Bos indicus cattle had greater 1,25-(OH)2 D (the biologically active form) in tissues, and greater 1,25-(OH)2 D plasma concentrations than Bos taurus cattle. Thus, the need for VITD supplementation and optimal levels of Ca and P in feedlot diets might differ between Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle.     

A Cytogenetic Investigation of Madura Cattle

Contents: " Madura cattle," the variety found on the Indonesian island of Madura, is most often referred to as a cross between Bos javanicus and Bos indicus, based largely on phenotypic appearance. The karyotypic patterns of Madura cattle resemble those of Bos taurus, with the exception of the Y chromosome, which is of Bos indicus type. Based on what is known of Bos javanicus, it is concluded that Madura cattle could be the result of a cross between a Bos taurus or Bos javanicus cow and a Bos indicus bull .
Inhalt: Eine cytogenetische Untersuchung über das Madura-Rind
Das Madura-Rind, eine Varietät der indonesischen Insel Madura, wird wegen seines Aussehens oft als Kreuzung zwischen Bos javanicus ( Banteng) und Bos indicus ( Zebu) angesehen. Das karyotypische Bild des Madura-Rindes gleicht jenem von Bos taurus mit Ausnahme des Y-Chromosoms, welches dem Bos indicus- Typ entspricht. Nachdem, was über Bos javanicus bekannt ist, muβ man folgern, daβ das Madura-Rind ein Kreu-zungsprodukt zwischen einer Bos taurus- oder Bos javanicus-Kuh und einem Bos indi- cusBullen sein könnte .     

Physiological responses of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle to prolonged, continuous heat and humidity

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the physiological responses of Bos taurus (Angus cross, n = 6) and Bos indicus (Brahman, n = 6) cattle to prolonged heat and humidity, as can occur during live export by sea. Each experiment was carried out in climate-controlled rooms, where heifers were exposed to 15 d of sustained heat and humidity. The treatment was designed to be representative of a long-haul, live-export voyage leaving a southern Australian winter and traveling to a Middle Eastern summer. Wet bulb temperature (WBT) was used to give a combined measure of dry bulb temperature and relative humidity and was increased over several days, culminating in 5 d at 32 degrees C WBT between d 7 and 11. By d 11, the respiratory rate and core body temperature increased (P < 0.001) compared with values at lower ambient temperature on d 1 and 2 when climate-controlled rooms were not operating. Feed intake of Bos taurus was reduced (P < 0.001) by d 11, whereas that of Bos indicus did not change (P = 0.14). Despite no diurnal variation in climatic conditions, core body temperature of both Bos taurus and Bos indicus continued to show a circadian amplitude of approximately 1 degrees C throughout the hottest period. This amplitude increased during the recovery period after heat was removed (up to 1.8 degrees C for Bos indicus and 1.6 degrees C for Bos taurus). Water intake for both Bos taurus and Bos indicus increased when WBT increased (P < 0.01 on d 11). Significant acid-base and blood electrolyte imbalances occurred in both Bos taurus and Bos indicus, with changes in Bos taurus being more substantial and prolonged. The increase in respiratory rate coincided with a decrease in the partial pressures of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate in venous blood. However, during the hottest period, average daily venous blood pH remained unchanged. When the heat load was reduced after d 11, the blood pH decreased, indicating metabolic acidosis. Blood pH declined from 7.44 to 7.36 for Bos taurus (P < 0.001) and from 7.44 to 7.38 for Bos indicus (P < 0.001). Other parameters measured include heart rate; packed cell volume; plasma and urine Na, K, and Cl; urine pH; and specific gravity. Our results suggest that Bos taurus cattle experience significant physiological changes during exposure to prolonged and continuous high heat and humidity, with alterations persisting for some days after the heat-stress conditions subside. Bos indicus experience similar but less pronounced physiological changes.     

贵州黎平黄牛线粒体DNA D-loop区全序列初步分析

为了解贵州黎平黄牛的遗传多样性及遗传背景,我们测定了20头黄牛的线粒体DNA D-loop区序列。结果检测到8种单倍型,其中4种为普通牛血统的单倍型,4种为瘤牛血统的单倍型,表明黎平黄牛同时受普通牛和瘤牛的影响。该研究对于黎平黄牛的保种及持续利用有着重要的理论指导意义。     

Comparative Histology of the Kidney of Bos taurus and Bos indicus Cattle

Twenty-six kidneys of 2–4 years old Bos indicus (zebu cattle) and twenty kidneys of 4-year old Bos taurus were examined under the light microscope. The renal tubular epithelial heights and diameters were smaller in zebu than in Bos taurus. The Bos indicus kidney had fewer vascular bundles in the outer medullary zone and a smaller number of capillaries per vascular bundle, hence a lower renal blood flow than in Bos taurus. The Bos indicus proximal tubules had broader brush borders than those of Bos taurus. The smaller renal corpuscles with smaller glomerular filtration surface and low renal blood flow are responsible for low glomerular filtration rate and urinary flow, enabling their kidneys to retain more water than those of Bos taurus.     

Prevalence of and risk factors for paratuberculosis in purebred beef cattle

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of paratuberculosis in purebred beef cattle in Texas and identify risk factors for seropositivity. DESIGN: Epidemiologic survey. ANIMALS: 4,579 purebred cattle from 115 beef ranches in Texas. PROCEDURE: Blood was collected, and serum was analyzed for antibodies with a commercial ELISA. Fecal samples were collected and frozen at -80 degrees C until results of the ELISA were obtained, and feces from seropositive cattle were submitted for mycobacterial culture. Herd owners completed a survey form on management factors. RESULTS: Results of the ELISA were positive for 137 of the 4,579 (3.0%) cattle, and 50 of the 115 (43.8%) herds had at least 1 seropositive animal. Results of mycobacterial culture were positive for 10 of the 137 (7.3%) seropositive cattle, and 9 of the 50 (18%) seropositive herds had at least 1 animal for which results of mycobacterial culture were positive. Risk factors for seropositivity included water source, use of dairy-type nurse cows, previous clinical signs of paratuberculosis, species of cattle (Bos taurus vs Bos indicus), and location. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that seroprevalence of paratuberculosis among purebred beef cattle in Texas may be greater than seroprevalence among beef cattle in the United States as a whole; however, this difference could be attributable to breed or regional differences in infection rates or interference by cross-reacting organisms. Veterinarians should be aware of risk factors for paratuberculosis as well as the possibility that unexpected serologic results may be found in some herds.     

Effect of breed of cattle on innate resistance to infection with Anaplasma marginale transmitted by Boophilus microplus

OBJECTIVE: To assess the innate resistance of and transmission in naive Bos taurus cross Bos indicus and purebred Bos indicus cattle when placed in a paddock with cattle infected with Anaplasma marginale and carrying Boophilus microplus ticks. DESIGN: A group of 49 purebred B indicus, and 48 B indicus cross B taurus (50%, F1 generation) 24-month-old steers were kept in the same paddock with cattle artificially infected with a virulent isolate of A marginale and Boophilus microplus. The cattle were seronegative for A marginale at the start of the trial but had previously been exposed to Babesia bovis and B bigemina. PROCEDURE: Cattle were inspected twice weekly for 118 days. Whole blood, blood smears and serum samples were collected from the cattle on day 37 after exposure and then at regular intervals to day 83 after exposure to measure packed-cell volumes, parasitaemias and antibody titres to A marginale. Any animals that met preset criteria were treated for anaplasmosis. On day 83 all cattle were treated with an acaricide and cattle infected with A marginale were removed from the rest of the group. RESULTS: A marginale was detected in blood smears from 14 crossbred and 9 B indicus steers between days 56 and 72 after exposure. Five and two of the infected crossbred and B indicus steers required treatment, respectively. One of the Bos indicus cattle died as a result of the A marginale infection despite treatment. Antibodies to A marginale were detected in the 23 infected cattle. The mean packed-cell volume depression was 40 and 37% in the affected crossbred and Bos indicus groups, respectively. There was no significant difference detected in susceptibility between these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Innate resistance of purebred B indicus and crossbred cattle was not significantly different. The results confirm that purebred B indicus and crossbred cattle are sufficiently susceptible to warrant the use of vaccination against Anaplasma infections.     

C- AND G- BANDING PATTERNS AND CHROMOSOMAL MORPHOLOGY OF SOME BREEDS OF AUSTRALIAN CATTLE

A cytogenetical study using metaphase chromosomes from cultured lymphocytes, was made of 2 Banteng (Bibos banteng) steers and 218 bulls representing 13 purebreeds (Bos taurus type, Bos indicus type and Sanga) and 7 cross-breeds. Studies were made of photographic karyotypes of Giemsa stained and C-banded chromosomes of bulls of each breed and of B-banded chromosomes from 3 breeds of Bos indicus and one cross-breed Australian Friesian Sahiwal) cattle. The relative lengths of chromosomes of Bos taurus and Bos indicus bulls were compared and significant difference in relative lengths of the X chromosomes were noted between these two species. There was a differences in morphology of the Y chromosomes; Sanga, Banteng and Bos taurus type breeds had a small submetacentric Y chromosome, except for the Jersey which had a metacentric Y chromosome. All Bos indicus type bulls had an acrocentric Y chromosome but the Droughtmaster breed had two forms of the Y chromosome (submetacentric and acrocentric). The C-banding patterns of the autosomes and X chromosomes were similar for all breeds while those of the Y chromosomes of Bos indicus type cattle allowed their accurate identification. G-banding patterns of Bos indicus resembled those of Bos taurus and enabled pairing of homologous chromosomes. Centromeres of the autosomes were unstained but those of the sex chromosomes were darkly stained.     

南宁市肉牛的Y染色体遗传多样性分析

[目的]为了探究广西南宁市肉牛的父系遗传背景与遗传组成。[方法]利用PCR扩增、限制性酶酶切和生物信息学方法,对南宁屠宰场的73头肉牛Y染色体USP9Y基因的遗传多态性进行分析。[结果]发现73头公牛USP9Y基因的PCR产物具有多态性,2头牛显示471 bp带型,71头牛显示552 bp带型。在71个552 bp带型中,有28个可以被SspI酶切成2条带(338 bp和215 bp),表明这28头牛为Y3单倍型组(38.36%),而其余43个不能被SspI酶切,表明这43头牛为Y2单倍型组(58.90%)。仅有2头牛的PCR产物为471 bp,表明这2头牛为Y1单倍型组(2.74%)。屠宰牛群的单倍型多样度为0.5122±0.0309,表明屠宰牛群的Y染色体遗传多样度较高。[结论]南宁市屠宰牛群的来源比较复杂,有普通牛(Y1与Y2单倍型组)和瘤牛(Y3单倍型组)2个父系起源。     

Validation of commercial DNA tests for quantitative beef quality traits

Associations between 3 commercially available genetic marker panels (GeneSTAR Quality Grade, GeneSTAR Tenderness, and Igenity Tender-GENE) and quantitative beef traits were validated by the US National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. Validation was interpreted to be the independent confirmation of the associations between genetic tests and phenotypes, as claimed by the commercial genotyping companies. Validation of the quality grade test (GeneSTAR Quality Grade) was carried out on 400 Charolais x Angus crossbred cattle, and validation of the tenderness tests (GeneSTAR Tenderness and Igenity Tender-GENE) was carried out on over 1,000 Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle. The GeneSTAR Quality Grade marker panel is composed of 2 markers (TG5, a SNP upstream from the start of the first exon of thyroglobulin, and QG2, an anonymous SNP) and is being marketed as a test associated with marbling and quality grade. In this validation study, the genotype results from this test were not associated with marbling score; however, the association of substituting favorable alleles of the marker panel with increased quality grade (percentage of cattle grading Choice or Prime) approached significance (P < or = 0.06), mainly due to the effect of 1 of the 2 markers. The GeneSTAR Tenderness and Igenity TenderGENE marker panels are being marketed as tests associated with meat tenderness, as assessed by Warner-Bratzler shear force. These marker panels share 2 common mu-calpain SNP, but each has a different calpastatin SNP. In both panels, there were highly significant (P < 0.001) associations of the calpastatin marker and the mu-calpain haplotype with tenderness. The genotypic effects of the 2 tenderness panels were similar to each other, with a 1 kg difference in Warner-Bratzler shear force being observed between the most and least tender genotypes. Unbiased and independent validation studies are important to help build confidence in marker technology and also as a potential source of data required to enable the integration of marker data into genetic evaluations. As DNA tests associated with more beef production traits enter the marketplace, it will become increasingly important, and likely more difficult, to find independent populations with suitable phenotypes for validation studies.     

Genotype x environment interactions for fatty acid profiles in Bos indicus and Bos taurus finished on pasture or grain

A study was conducted to characterize lipid profiles in the M. longissimus thoracis of commercial Brazilian beef and to assess how those profiles are influenced by finishing system, genetic group, and their interaction. Intramuscular fat (IMF) and fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined in 160 bulls of the Bos taurus (n = 75) and Bos indicus (n = 85) genetic groups, finished on pasture (n = 46) or with grain supplementation (n = 114) and slaughtered in a commercial abattoir. Finishing system had a major impact on the deposition of IMF, as well as on the concentration of SFA, PUFA, and their ratio, but genetic groups showed important differences in the ability to convert SFA into cis-9 MUFA and to convert 16:0 into 18:0. When compared with pasture-finished animals, those finished with grain had greater content of IMF and SFA (P < 0.01), similar amounts of MUFA (P > 0.05), and about one-half the amount of PUFA (P < 0.01). Except for MUFA, differences in FA profiles among finishing systems were mostly mediated through their effect on IMF, even though the relationship of IMF with groups of FA differed among finishing systems. Under grain finishing, B. taurus had less SFA and greater MUFA than B. indicus (P < 0.01), but no differences were observed in PUFA (P > 0.05). With pasture-finishing, no differences were observed among the 2 genetic groups in SFA and MUFA (P > 0.05), but PUFA were decreased in B. taurus (P < 0.01). When genetic groups were compared in grain-finishing, B. taurus had a decreased ability for elongation and B. indicus had a decreased aptitude for desaturation of FA. On the other hand, with pasture-finishing a greater deposition of intermediate FA from ruminal biohydrogenation was observed in B. indicus than in B. taurus. Overall, FA profiles were affected more by finishing system in B. indicus than in B. taurus.     

Prevalence of bovine leukemia virus infection in Florida

A serologic study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy and beef cattle in Florida. Using the agar gel immunodiffusion test with a glycoprotein antigen 47.8% of 7,768 dairy cattle and 6.7% of 4,911 beef cattle were found to have antibodies to BLV. The prevalence of BLV antibodies increased significantly (P less than 0.0001) with increasing age. After data were adjusted for age, prevalence of BLV antibodies was significantly associated with dairy breed (P less than 0.05) but not with species (Bos taurus and B indicus) or sex.