Genetic screening of FecB,FecXG and FecXI mutations and their linkage with litter size in Barki and Rahmani sheep breeds

Characterization of fecundity genes offers the opportunity to improve production efficiency, and the consequent increase in litter size in livestock industry, through utilizing them in breeding programs. The main objective of this study was to detect the BMPR‐IB, BMP15 and GDF9 gene mutations and to investigate whether these mutations are associated with litter size in Egyptian sheep breeds. To achieve this goal, 73 adult ewes representing Barki (n = 33) and Rahmani (n = 40) breeds were used. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) screening approach was used to detect the presence of FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I mutations in the two selected breeds. Results of this study showed that the three different candidate gene mutations, namely FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I are not present among these selected populations of the Egyptian breeds. Further studies regarding other mutations and/or other genes, which may influence ovulation rate, should be carried out to determine the type and mode of inheritance of such genes in Egyptian sheep breeds.     

Effect of season and lactation on postpartum fertility of Polypay, Dorset, St. Croix and Targhee ewes

The objective of this study was to compare rebreeding activities of spring- vs fall-lambing Polypay, Dorset, St. Croix and Targhee ewes that either suckled their lambs for 40 d or had lambs weaned at birth. Seasonal effects of male fertility were reduced by utilizing an excess number of fertile rams in the spring. Plasma concentrations of progesterone were monitored to assess days to the first normal ovulation, days to conception and estrous vs anestrous activity. Breed, season and lactation affected the rebreeding performance. Dorset ewes had similar conception rates between spring and fall but a shorter interval from lambing to first ovulation in the fall. Polypay and Targhee ewes were the opposite; they had higher conception rates in fall than in spring matings with no seasonal influence on postpartum interval. Postpartum ewes in the fall had higher conception rates, and fewer of these ewes became anestrous or had estrous cycles of abnormal duration than of those ewes lambing in the spring. Ewes that suckled for 40 d in the spring had delayed estrous activity, but when these ewes became estrual they had higher conception rates than ewes whose lambs were weaned at birth. Lactation had no inhibitory affect on the postpartum interval of fall lambing ewes. These data suggest that the response of different breeds to various components of postpartum fertility varies with season and management of the flock.     

Reproductive performance and genetic parameters in first cross ewes from different maternal genotypes

The reproduction of 2,846 crossbreed ewes with 7,899 records is reported. The ewes were progeny of mainly Merino dams and 91 sires from several maternal sire breeds including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, Corriedale, Booroola Leicester, and several others. There were 3 cohorts of ewes at each of 3 sites that were bred naturally to meat-type rams for each of 3 yr to evaluate reproduction and lamb production. At 2 sites, the ewes were mated in the autumn, first at 7 mo of age, and at 2 sites the ewes were mated in the spring, first at 14 or 17 mo of age. The cohorts of ewes and sites were genetically linked by 3 common sires. Mixed linear models were used to analyze ultrasound scanned pregnancy rate, fetal number, fertility (ewes lambing), litter size, lamb survival, number of lambs born (NLBj), number of lambs weaned (NLWj), and total weight of lamb weaned (TWWj) per ewe bred. Fixed effects included sire breed (1 to 10), environment (1 to 4, site and season of breeding: autumn, spring), breeding (1 to 3), cohort (1 to 3), and their interactions. The REML procedures were used to estimate (co)variance components. Ewe sire breed effects were significant (P < 0.01) for all the reproductive traits and breed means ranged from 0.75 to 0.96 for fertility, 1.22 to 2.08 for litter size, 0.70 to 0.90 for lamb survival, 0.99 to 1.66 for NLBj, 0.87 to 1.26 for NLWj, and 22.9 to 33.8 kg for TWWj, with the ranking of sire breeds varying for different traits. For all traits except lamb survival, the contrast between breeding 1 vs. 2 and 3 was considerably greater than the contrast between breeding 2 vs. 3, with significant environment x breeding interactions (P < 0.01). Estimates of heritability for the components of reproduction ranged from 0.03 +/- 0.02 for lamb survival to 0.19 +/- 0.05 for litter size, and those for the composite traits were 0.17 +/- 0.04 for NLBj, 0.13 +/- 0.04 for NLWj, and 0.17 +/- 0.04 for TWWj, with repeatability ranging from 0.10 to 0.19. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among the traits are reported. The significant variation among sire breeds of the crossbred ewes can be used to improve reproduction, although there was a change in the rank of the breeds for the various traits. There was considerable overlap between the breeds, and additional improvement could be achieved by exploiting the genetic variation between sires within breeds for all the ewe reproductive traits.     

Lamb production and its components in pure breeds and composite lines. II. Breed effects and heterosis

Ewe performance was compared for five pure breeds of sheep (Finnsheep, F; Rambouillet, R; Dorset, D; Targhee, T; Suffolk, S) and the crosses in development of two maternal composite lines (C1 = 1/2F1/4R1/4D and C2 = 1/2F1/4T1/4S). The data involved 10,959 breeding season records of 4,219 ewes by 412 sires. Ewe production and the components (fertility, litter size, neonatal and preweaning lamb survival and mean lamb weaning weight) were adjusted for age and standardized across season of lambing and years. The D and F ewes produced more weight of lamb/ewe exposed than R, S and T ewes because of higher D and F fertility, higher D lamb survival and larger F litters. First cross and inter se generations of C1 and C2 ewes averaged 17 to 27% higher fertility than the parental mean. Litter size averaged about one lamb higher for F than for other pure breeds, but only slightly higher for C1 and C2 than for the mean of F and other breeds. Lower neonatal survival for F than for other breeds and crosses was associated with the larger F litters and with 2 to 8% positive heterosis in the crosses. Preweaning survival of suckled and nursery lambs was low for F and S and positive heterosis ranged from 9 to 19% in crosses. Mean lamb weaning weights were highest for S, lowest for F, with little heterosis in crosses. Crossbred ewes reared .3 to .4 more lambs than mean for parental pure breeds. Heterosis in C1 and C2 ranged from 11 to 28% for lambs born, 27 to 43% for lambs weaned and 29 to 44% for weight of lamb weaned/ewe exposed. Decline in heterosis with inter se mating of crosses was no greater than expected from the reduction in predicted heterozygosity.     

Lambing date and lamb production of spring-mated Rambouillet, Dorset and Finnsheep ewes and their F1 crosses

The reproductive performance of 255 Rambouillet (R), Dorset (D), Finnsheep (F) and F1 ewes born in 1978-1979 (group I) and 1979-1980 (group II) and managed in a semiconfinement fall/winter lambing system was evaluated through 4 yr of age of all ewes and through 5 yr for a portion of group I ewes. Ewes were with rams from approximately May 1 to late September each year, with a 2-wk break late in July/early August. Traits considered were fertility (ewes lambed/ewes exposed), lambing date, litter size, lamb survivial and 70-d lamb weights. Breeds and crossbred groups differed significantly in lambing date, with DR crossbred ewes earliest and F ewes latest. Repeatabilities for groups I and II were .31 and .22, .24 and .24 and .11 and .07 for lambing date, fertility and litter size, respectively. There was no significant heterosis in lambing date, although DR ewes in both groups I and II were superior to (D + R)/2, by about 1 wk on average. There was significant positive heterosis for fertility and traits of which fertility is a component in FR ewes in group I, but none in group II. The FD ewes showed negative heterosis for litter size, -.23 (P less than .05) for group I and -.09 for group II. The results indicate: F and FD ewes are not well adapted to the Mediterranean climate where this experiment was conducted; there is little, if any, useful heterosis in crosses among these three breeds for lambing date or other reproduction traits and RD and R ewes are most suitable of the groups tested, while late onset of the breeding season limits the usefulness of even 50% Finnsheep ewes for an autumn lambing system in this environment.     

Polymorphisms in GDF9 and BMP15 Associated with Fertility and Ovulation Rate in Moghani and Ghezel Sheep in Iran

The genetic base of fertility and ovulation rate in Moghani and Ghezel sheep in northwestern Iran and northeastern Turkey is important because of their fat‐tailed meat and carpet quality wool. The genes encoding bone morphogenetic (BM) protein 15 and growth differentiation (GD) factor 9, respectively BMP15 and GDF9 have been shown to affect female productivity in domesticated sheep. Recently, numerous investigations have been performed on a variety of breeds to determine the association between mutations in these genes and fertility. Thus, in this study, we assessed such mutations in the Moghani and Ghezel breeds using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with appropriate enzymes. Our data were similar to those of the previous studies showing that the genotypes were heterozygous for GD (G →A) and BM (C →T) mutations. These heterozygous genotypes resulted in higher ovulation rates, illustrating that one copy of each of the BMP15 and GDF9 mutations had equivalent effects on the ovulation rate. We demonstrate for the first time that the BM variant may not be sufficient on its own for infertility. In addition, although the previous studies have shown no notable relationship between the GD variant, known as the non‐effecting mutation and sterility, we report that this mutation has an important role in the Moghani and Ghezel breeds.     

Mutations in bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 genes are associated with increased litter size in fat-tailed sheep breeds

The objective of this study was to investigate association between GDF9 and BMP15 gene polymorphism and litter size in fat-tailed sheep, a total of 97 mature ewes from four breeds (Afshari=19; Baluchi=18; Makui=30 and Mehraban=30) were genotyped for the BMP15 HinfI and GDF9 HhaI polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP technique. The highest and lowest mutant allele frequencies were found in Makui (0.27) and Afshari (0.10) sheep for the BMP15 gene and in Afshari (0.24) and Mehraban (0.18) sheep for the GDF9 gene, respectively. Litter size was significantly influenced by genotype of the ewe for two genes (P < 0.01). Heterozygous genotypes for both loci showed higher litter size than homozygous genotypes (P < 0.01). None of the individuals carried homozygous genotype for both of the GDF9 and BMP15 variants in these breeds. The individuals carrying the mutant allele for one of the investigated candidate gene still showed fertile phenotype. Thus, existence of homozygosity at one of the BMP15 and GDF9 variant is not probably able to block normal hormonal pathway of reproduction in fat-tailed sheep.     

绵羊繁殖性状相关基因的研究进展

绵羊的繁殖特性已成为绵羊生产的一个重要研究方向,对绵羊繁殖力进行遗传改良是提升中国绵羊生产水平的必由之路,母羊的年产羔能力主要受单胎产羔数和季节性发情的影响。本研究对影响产羔能力的排卵数和季节性发情相关基因及miRNA的研究进行了简要的综述,并对全基因组比较在繁殖性状相关QTL检测中的应用进行了展望。     

A review on prolificacy genes in sheep

Ovulation rate and litter size are important reproduction traits in sheep and are of high economic value. Reproduction traits typically have low to medium heritabilities and do not exhibit a noticeable response to phenotypic selection. Therefore, inclusion of genetic information of the genes associated with reproductive ability could efficiently enhance the selection response. The most important major genes affecting prolificacy and their genetic diversities in different sheep breeds were reviewed. Different causative mutations with major effects on reproductive traits including ovulation rate and litter size have been found in various sheep breeds around the world. A general overview of the studies on main prolificacy genes showed that some alleles may express different phenotypic effects in different breeds, and thus, further studies on epistatic effects are necessary for more understanding of genetic control of reproductivity in sheep. Regarding the polygenic control of fertility traits, application of new high‐throughput technologies to find new variants is essential for future studies. Moreover, genomewide association studies and genomic best linear unbiased predictions of breeding values are likely to be effective tools for genetic improvement of sheep reproductive performance traits.     

6个绵羊群体BMP15、GDF9基因多态性分析

本研究旨在检测新吉细毛羊、中国美利奴羊（无角型）、东北细毛羊、杜×寒杂交羊（F1）、杜×寒杂交羊（F3）、白头杜泊羊6个绵羊群体骨形态发生蛋白15（bone morphogenetic protein 15,BMP15）、生长分化因子9（growth differentiation factor 9,GDF9）基因的多态性,为绵羊繁殖力的标记辅助选择和育种提供理论依据。以6个绵羊群体共378只个体为研究对象,利用PCR-SSCP技术检测BMP15、GDF9基因多态性;用DNAStar软件与I-TASSER软件预测蛋白质二级结构和三级结构;计算基因频率、基因型频率、Hardy-Weinberg平衡、杂合度（He）、纯合度（Ho）、有效等位基因数（Ne）和多态信息含量（PIC）。运用GraphPad Prism 6软件对新吉细毛羊群体BMP15基因多态性与产羔数进行相关性分析。结果显示,BMP15基因P1引物扩增片段存在多态性,6个群体共呈现3种基因型：AA、AC、CC,该突变为BMP15基因外显子1上58-60 bp 3个碱基（CTT）缺失,新吉细毛羊、杜×寒杂交羊（F3）、白头杜泊羊的χ²值均达到显著水平,处于Hardy-Weinberg不平衡状态,不同基因型间新吉细毛羊平均产羔数差异均不显著（P>0.05）;GDF9基因P2引物扩增片段存在多态性,6个群体共呈现3种基因型：DD、DE、EE,其中新吉细毛羊仅有1种基因型：DD,该突变为GDF9基因外显子2上477 bp处T→C的转换,该突变未导致氨基酸的改变,除新吉细毛羊外其余5个群体χ²值均未达到显著水平,处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态,说明GDF9基因T477C突变不能作为新吉细毛羊多胎性状遗传标记位点。     

Reproductive performance of Finnish Landrace and Suffolk sheep maintained indoors year-round

The reproductive performance (fertility and prolificacy) of Finnish Landrace (Finn) and Suffolk sheep on an accelerated breeding program was evaluated. Both breeds were contained in each of two separate flocks housed indoors year-round on expanded metal floors in windowless buildings. The two flocks were bred alternately at 4-mo intervals in January, May and September. The sheep were exposed to either an abrupt (ALR) or constant (CLR) lighting regimen. Data from nine breedings during a 4-yr period were considered. Fertility was significantly higher for ewes in the ALR lighting regimen. Fertility was lower for ewes bred in September. For ewes that had lambed from breeding 8 mo earlier, fertility was higher for Finn ewes than for Suffolk ewes; however, similar fertility levels were observed in both breeds if the ewes had not lambed following the previous breeding. Higher prolificacy was observed in the Finn ewes than in the Suffolk ewes, but the differences in prolificacy varied with the month of breeding. The probability of a ewe having more than one lamb was significantly higher for Finn ewes than for Suffolk ewes in both January and May breedings, but was similar in September breedings. Incorporating the Finnish Landrace breed into an accelerated breeding program for sheep maintained indoors year-round is a practical way to increase the number of lambs born. Controlling daylength and dividing the flock into smaller flocks are also practical procedures to increase lamb production.     

鲁中肉羊BMPR1B、BMP15和GDF9基因多态性与产羔数关联分析

为分析绵羊已知多羔主效基因BMPR1B、BMP15和GDF9的多态性与鲁中肉羊产羔数之间的关系,采用Sequenom MassARRAY■SNP技术检测鲁中肉羊BMPR1B、BMP15和GDF9基因中已知主效位点多态性,并与产羔数进行关联分析。结果表明:BMPR1B基因在鲁中肉羊中存在FecB突变,GDF9基因6个分型位点仅4个位点(G1、G3、G4、G5)在鲁中肉羊中存在多态,BMP15基因中5个分型位点在鲁中肉羊中均不存在多态性。FecB基因3种基因型(CC、CT、TT)突变频率分别为0.16、0.58和0.26,此位点多态性较高(0.25相似文献   

奶牛性别鉴定的研究与应用

 以控制部分绵、山羊品种高繁殖力的BMPR IB、BMP15和GDF9基因为候选基因,采用PCR RFLP方法分析闽东山羊BMPR IB,BMP15 和GDF9 基因多态性与繁殖性状的关系。研究发现：多胎品种闽东山羊及南江黄羊在BMPR IB 基因的相应位置上并未发生与Booroola Merino 羊相同的突变,同时也未检测到BMP15 的FecXI, FecXH , FecXB基因及GDF9的FecGH 基因,因此排除了这5个突变位点影响闽东山羊高繁殖力性状的可能性。然而,由于闽东山羊的BMPR IB、BMP15、GDF9 的全基因序列信息的缺乏,尚不能完全断定3个基因对闽东山羊高繁殖力性状没有影响。     

BMPR-IB、BMP15、GDF9基因作为闽东山羊多胎性能候选基因的研究

以控制部分绵、山羊品种高繁殖力的BMPR-IB、BMP15和GDF9基因为候选基因,采用PCR-RFLP方法分析闽东山羊BMPR-IB,BMP15和GDF9基因多态性与繁殖性状的关系。研究发现：多胎品种闽东山羊及南江黄羊在BMPR-IB基因的相应位置上并未发生与Booroola Merino羊相同的突变,同时也未检测到BMP15的FecXI,FecXH,FecXB基因及GDF9的FecGH基因,因此排除了这5个突变位点影响闽东山羊高繁殖力性状的可能性。然而,由于闽东山羊的BMPR-IB、BMP15、GDF9的全基因序列信息的缺乏,尚不能完全断定3个基因对闽东山羊高繁殖力性状没有影响。     

BMPR-IB、BMP15、GDF9基因作为福清山羊高繁殖力候选基因的研究

以控制部分绵、山羊品种高繁殖力的BMPR-IB、BMP15和GDF9基因为候选基因,采用PCR-RFLP方法分析福清山羊BMPR-IB、BMP15和GDF9基因多态性与繁殖性状的关系。结果表明:多胎品种福清山羊及南江黄羊在BMPR-IB基因的相应位置上并未发生与Booroola Merino羊相同的突变,同时也未检测到BMP15的FecXI、FecXH、FecXB基因及GDF9的FecGH基因,因此排除了这5个突变位点存在控制福清山羊高繁殖力主效基因的可能性。     

Usefulness of subjective ovine milk scores: I. Associations with range ewe characteristics and lamb production

Range ewes are commonly evaluated for milking ability by producers to determine the ewe's ability to rear lamb(s). The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station has subjectively scored (low, average, high) a ewe's milking ability within 24 h of lambing for many years. The relationship of subjective milk scores with lamb production was investigated using lambing records of Columbia (n = 1,731), Polypay (n = 1,129), Rambouillet (n = 1,704), and Targhee (n = 1,638) ewes. The incidence of high milk scores increased from less than 10% at first parity to 29 to 40% at second and greater parities. At maturity, Columbia ewes (38%) had the highest percentage of high milk scores. A positive association existed between ewe BW and her milk score at third and later parities. Ewes with high milk scores gave birth to heavier lambs (P < 0.05), whereas ewes with low milk scores were associated with lighter (P < 0.05) lambs at birth. Ewes with low milk scores weaned less (P < 0.05) total weight than ewes with better milk scores across all age groups for all breeds. Lighter weaned litter weights from ewes with low milk scores were linked to lighter birth weights and fewer weaned lambs. Differences for litter weight weaned between ewes with average and high milk scores were generally observed at 2 and 3 yr of age, when litter weights were heavier among ewes with high milk scores (P < 0.05) for all breeds. Between the ages of 1 and 3 yr, Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee ewes with an average milk score weaned heavier (P < 0.05) litters (average differences of 10, 9, 13, and 12%, respectively) than ewes with low milk scores. For all breeds at all ages, individual lamb weaning weights were heavier (P < 0.05) when they were reared by ewes with high milk scores compared to lambs reared by ewes with low milk scores. Results suggest that milk score is an economically important trait in these four breeds and should be considered in management and breeding objectives; at a minimum, the incidence of low milk scores should be kept as small as possible.     

产羔期、补饲水平对考力代羊生产和繁殖性能影响的研究

为了研究草地一绵羊系统中草畜供求间的动态平衡，寻求在人工草地放牧条件下适宜的产羔时期及在此时期给产羔母羊的合理补饲水平，１９９０～１９９３年，在贵州省威宁县灼甫联户示范牧场进行了两期产羔期及补饲水平对绵羊生产性能影响的试验。产羔期的改变，导致了母羊及羔羊体重的不同变化趋势。结果显示出母羊体重对其生产、繁殖性能的重要性。春羔母羊配种前体重较之冬羔母羊提高９．７５ｋｇ，两者产羔率分别为１３９．２％和１１６．１％。春羔母羊较高的双羔率导致了春羔母羊较之冬羔母羊更低的繁殖成活率（分别为９１．２％和１０４．７％）。断奶时，春羔较之冬羔体重高５．２５ｋｇ，但断奶以后这种优势即消失了。补饲水平的差异对母羊及羔羊体重有一定的影响，但在牧草丰富的条件下表现得并不很强烈。     

繁殖母羊分期饲养技术

繁殖母羊是羊场快速扩繁的基础,饲养繁殖母羊的最终目的是充分挖掘母羊的生产潜力,增加羊群数量,提高羊群质量。母羊每年都要经历1~2次配种、妊娠、哺乳这一复杂的繁殖生理过程,每一次繁殖经历,都是对繁殖母羊体质的一次重要考验。只有不断优化繁殖母羊空怀期、妊娠期和哺乳期各阶段、各环节的饲养管理,才能保证繁殖母羊的体质健康,提高产羔率和羔羊成活率,从而提高养羊效益。     

牛羊多胎性状的分子遗传基础研究

本研究采用了RAPD、PCR RFLP、微卫星、PCR SSCP、序列分析等方法对2个牛品种(秦川牛和荷斯坦奶牛共60头)、6个中国固有绵羊品种(多胎品种小尾寒羊,双胎品种大尾寒羊,单胎品种兰州大尾羊、蒙古羊、同羊和哈萨克羊共197余只`进行了分子遗传基础研究,旨在寻找牛羊多胎性状合适的分子标记,为进一步对牛双胎基因、绵羊多胎基因的探索和高繁殖率牛羊的选育提供科学依据.     

Genetic selection for increased mean and reduced variance of twinning rate in Belclare ewes

It is sometimes possible to breed for more uniform individuals by selecting animals with a greater tendency to be less variable, that is, those with a smaller environmental variance. This approach has been applied to reproduction traits in various animal species. We have evaluated fecundity in the Irish Belclare sheep breed by analyses of flocks with differing average litter size (number of lambs per ewe per year, NLB) and have estimated the genetic variance in environmental variance of lambing traits using double hierarchical generalized linear models (DHGLM). The data set comprised of 9470 litter size records from 4407 ewes collected in 56 flocks. The percentage of pedigreed lambing ewes with singles, twins and triplets was 30, 54 and 14%, respectively, in 2013 and has been relatively constant for the last 15 years. The variance of NLB increases with the mean in this data; the correlation of mean and standard deviation across sires is 0.50. The breeding goal is to increase the mean NLB without unduly increasing the incidence of triplets and higher litter sizes. The heritability estimates for lambing traits were NLB, 0.09; triplet occurrence (TRI) 0.07; and twin occurrence (TWN), 0.02. The highest and lowest twinning flocks differed by 23% (75% versus 52%) in the proportion of ewes lambing twins. Fitting bivariate sire models to NLB and the residual from the NLB model using a double hierarchical generalized linear model (DHGLM) model found a strong genetic correlation (0.88 ± 0.07) between the sire effect for the magnitude of the residual (V_E) and sire effects for NLB, confirming the general observation that increased average litter size is associated with increased variability in litter size. We propose a threshold model that may help breeders with low litter size increase the percentage of twin bearers without unduly increasing the percentage of ewes bearing triplets in Belclare sheep.