Fat-Tailed Sheep Traits as Affected by Docking

The literature mostly indicates that docking fat-tailed lambs initially reduces growth but that post-weaning growth and feed conversion efficiency then increase. The amount of fat deposited, the total separable lean meat to fat ratio and the meat quality all increase, while the percentage of bone in the carcase either decreases or does not change in the carcases of the docked lambs. Wool growth and characteristics are, in general, not affected and reproductive traits in ewes and lambs are improved by docking. The rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate are decreased following docking. The concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and cortisol in the plasma and the incidence of foot stamping and restlessness, as indicators of stress, increase after docking. Other constituents of the blood are not significantly altered following docking or by the methods of docking. Docking of fat-tailed sheep using rubber rings at one day of age can be recommended. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

微卫星标记与丝羽乌骨鸡产蛋性能的关系研究

从鸡的遗传图谱中选择9个与产蛋性能相关的微卫星基因座,对在产蛋性能上有明显差异的丝羽乌骨鸡个体共170只进行标记基因型与产蛋性状的最小二乘分析,结果表明：有4个标记G31913、X82867、Z95315、G01672与丝羽乌骨鸡的4个月连产蛋量、开产蛋重及500日龄产蛋量间存在显著的关系。标记G31913中基因型AB所对应的开产体重最小二乘均值与其它基因型的对应值间的差异达显著或极显著,开产蛋重间无显著差异。标记Z95315的基因型CC所对应开产蛋重、开产体重最小二乘均值最高,并且均显著高于其余8种基因型所对应的开产蛋重、开产体重最小二乘均值。标记G01672基因型为EE、AE所对应开产蛋重最小二乘均值与基因型为CE、CC的对应值间差异显著;等位基因E与开产蛋重有显著正相关,等位基因C与开产蛋重有显著负相关。标记X82867基因型CD所对应500日龄产蛋量最小二乘均值显著低于AB型,4个月连产蛋量、300日龄产蛋量也低于基因型为AB个体。研究表明,标记G31913的基因型AB和标记Z95315的基因型CC有望作为开产蛋重、开产体重早期选择的辅助标记。     

鸡GDF-5基因外显子1多态性与鸡骨骼发育性状的相关研究

根据GenBank发表的鸡GDF-5基因的mRNA序列设计引物，以白耳鸡和东北农业大学选育的肉鸡高、低腹脂系第8世代鸡群为试验材料，通过测序和PCR-SSCP的方法进行SNP检测和基因型分析，探讨GDF5基因多态性与鸡生长和骨骼发育性状之间的关系。结果发现在GDF-5基因外显子1的84bp处存在1个C／T的突变位点，对该突变位点在研究群体中进行基因型分析，结果产生3种基因型，AA型个体的基因序列和GenBank（Accession No：AF123389）中的一致为C，而BB型个体的基因序列在84bp处突变为T。基因型与鸡体组成性状的统计分析结果表明，AA基因型个体的跖骨围显著高于AB基因型个体（P〈0．05）；AA基因型和AB基因型个体的跖爪重和跖爪率显著高于BB基因型个体（P〈0．05）；AB基因型个体的股骨长和股骨重显著高于BB基因型个体（P＜0．05）；表明该基因对鸡的骨骼性状有较大的影响或与控制骨骼发育性状的主效基因相连锁。     

MC4R基因主效位点在中外猪种中的遗传多样性及其与生长肥育性状的关联性分析

采用PCR-TaqI-RFLP技术,检测了9个中国地方猪种、3个外来猪种和1个培育猪种的612个个体及白色杜洛克×二花脸资源家系418头F2个体在MC4R基因D298N主效位点的遗传变异,统计分析了MC4R基因型与日增重、腹脂率及肩、胸、腰、臀部膘厚等生长肥育性状的关联性。结果表明:(1)G等位基因在中国地方猪种、长白和杜洛克中呈高频分布,而大白和南昌白猪具有高频率的A等位基因;(2)GG基因型个体的胸、腰、臀部膘厚较AA基因型和AG基因型个体厚,GG基因型个体的240日龄重、至240日龄平均日增重大于AA基因型个体,GG基因型个体的腹脂率高于AA基因型个体,差异显著。试验结果进一步验证了MC4R基因对猪生长肥育性状的影响效应。     

蟛蜞菊对肉兔的饲用价值

选择24只体重相近的40日龄肉兔,随机分成2组,每组12只,基础日粮相同,青饲料分别饲喂桂牧1号象草与蟛蜞菊,两组在平均日增重、平均日耗基础料量、平均日耗青料量间均无显著差异(P>0.05),表明肉兔采食蟛蜞菊可正常生长发育。同时,两组肉兔的血液指标和内脏重量无显著差异,表明蟛蜞菊与桂牧1号的饲用价值相似,可用于肉兔生产。     

Identification of polymorphisms and association analysis with meat quality traits in the porcine KIAA1717 and HUMMLC2B genes

Skeletal muscle genes are potential candidates for production and meat quality. Screening a subtracted cDNA library constructed with mRNA obtained from longissimus dorsi muscles of F1 hybrids Landrace × Yorkshire and their female parents Yorkshire, we isolated two partial sequences coding for the H3-K4-specific methyltransferase (KIAA1717) and skeletal muscle myosin regulatory light chain (HUMMLC2B) genes. Database search revealed KIAA1717 and HUMMLC2B encoded proteins with SET domain and EF-hand calcium binding motif, respectively. In the present work we identified their partial polymorphisms and two SNPs, one (C1354T) at the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of KIAA1717 and one (A345G) at the SINE (PRE-1) element of HUMMLC2B, both created/disrupted a restriction site for endonuclease Msp I. The selected pigs were genotyped at the KIAA1717 C1354T and HUMMLC2B A345G sites by means of a PCR-RFLP protocol. Significant associations were observed for the KIAA1717 C1354T polymorphic site with meat marbling (longissimus doris (p < 0.05), biceps femoris (p < 0.01)) and intramuscular fat (p < 0.01). HUMMLC2B A345G were significantly associated with meat pH (longissimus doris (p < 0.05), biceps femoris (p < 0.01)), drip loss (p < 0.01), water holding capacity (p < 0.01) and meat color value (longissimus doris (p < 0.01), biceps femoris (p < 0.05)). Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.     

甜菜碱对育肥猪生长性能及胴体的肉质影响

试验选用30kg商品猪60头,随机分为4组,设1个对照组及3个试验组,试验组分别在对照组基础上每100kg日粮添加50g、100g、150g甜菜碱,探讨甜莱碱对育肥猪生长性能及胴体品质效果。表明,甜菜碱能有效地促进商品猪生长、改善胴体品质。添加剂量以每100 kg日粮中添加100g~150g甜菜碱较为适宜。     

肉牛经济性状关联的微卫星标记研究进展

微卫星序列是以1～6个短核苷酸为基本重复单位的重复序列,呈共显性、重复性好、多态性丰富和操作简单,在基因定位与QTL分析、亲权分析、分子标记辅助选择等方面应用广泛.本文综述了与肉牛部分经济性状(生长发育性状、胴体性状、肉质性状、多胎性状和出生重)相关的微卫星标记研究进展.     

Effect of Supplementing Alfalfa Powder to Diet on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Goose

The experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of dietary alfalfa powder on the growth performance,body size,slaughter performance,organ index and meat quality of Siji geese.A total of 256 15-day-old geese (half male and half female) with similar body weight were randomly divided into four groups with 4 replicates of 16 geese each.The geese in control group were fed with corn-soybean meal-based diet (control diet),and geese in the experimental groups were fed the basal diet replaced with 10%,20% and 30% alfalfa powder,respectively.The results showed that,compared with the control group,dietary alfalfa powder supplementation had no significant effect on the average daily intake,average daily gain,feed conversion ratio,body oblique length,keel length,shin circumference,semi diving length,chest width and shin length (P>0.05),and also had no effect on the carcass ratio,half-eviscerated carcass ratio and pectoral muscle ratio (P>0.05).However,dietary 20% and 30% alfalfa powder supplementation significantly increased the chest depth (P<0.05),dietary 30% alfalfa powder significantly decreased the full-eviscerated carcass ratio (P<0.05),and dietary 10% alfalfa powder significantly increased the leg muscle ratio (P<0.05) of geese.In addition,dietary alfalfa powder significantly decreased the abdominal fat ratio (P<0.05),raised the growth index of liver,jejunum,ileum,and cecum (P<0.05),and increased the water loss rate of pectoral muscle and leg muscle (P<0.05) compared with the control group.Dietary 10% and 30% alfalfa powder significantly increased duodenal growth index (P<0.05) of geese.In conclusion,dietary alfalfa powder supplementation might improve the slaughter performance (increase chest depth and leg muscle ratio,reduce abdominal fat rate) and organ growth index (increase the growth index of liver,duodenum,jejunum,ileum and cecum).However,dietary alfalfa powder increased water loss rates in pectoral muscle and leg muscle,and 30% alfalfa powder reduced the full-eviscerated carcass ratio of geese.The appropriate supplementation level of alfalfa powder was recommended at 10% in the present study.