Additive genetic and maternal effects on postweaning growth and carcass traits in rabbits

SUMMARY: Additive genetic and maternal effects were estimated for postweaning growth traits and carcass traits using a derivate-free REML procedure under animal model. The traits studied were weight at 84 days of age, age at slaughter, postweaning ADG, dressing percentage, weight of kidney and pelvic fat, and muscle pH value and electrical conductivity in the semimembranosus muscle. Heritability estimates from a total of 728 rabbits in a reciprocal crossbreeding experiment ranged from 0.15 to 0.26 for postweaning growth traits, 0.21 for dressing percentage, 0.38 for weight of kidney and pelvic fat, 0.02 for pH value, and 0.51 for electrical conductivity. Considerable maternal effects were present in postweaning growth traits and in weight of kidney and pelvic fat. Genetic correlation estimates indicated that genetic selection for postweaning daily gain would lead to lower dressing percentages (- 0.51) and leaner carcasses (- 0.34). The genetic relationships between ADG after weaning and pH value (- 0.90), and between ADG and electrical conductivity (0.58) illustrated a shifting towards a glycolytic energy metabolism of the muscle due to increased growth. Litter size at birth was found to be a significant source of variation for all postweaning growth traits (p < 0.001) and for electrical conductivity (p < 0.05). Genetic selection for litter size at birth would result in decreased growth rates, lower dressing percentage and enhanced adiposis. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die Sch?tzung additiv-genetischer und maternaler Effekte auf Mastleistungs- und Schlachtk?rpermerkmale beim Kaninchen Additiv-genetische und maternale Effekte wurden für Mastleistungsmerkmale nach dem Absetzen und für Schlachtk?rpermerkmale anhand eines Tiermodells (DFREML-Methode) gesch?tzt. Bei den untersuchten Merkmalen handelt es sich um das 84-Tage-Gewicht, das Schlachtalter, Zunahmen nach dem Absetzen, Ausschlachtungsprozente, Nieren- und Beckenfettgewicht und um den pH-Wert und die elektrische Leitf?higkeit im M. semimembranosus. Die Heritabilit?tssch?tzungen an insgesamt 728 Tieren, die aus einem reziproken Kreuzungsversuch stammten, lagen bei den Wachstumsmerkmalen zwischen h(2) = 0,15 und h(2) = 0,26. Sie betrugen h(2) = 0,21 für die Ausschlachtungsprozente, h(2) = 0,38 für das Nieren- und Beckenfettgewicht, h(2) = 0,02 für den pH-Wert und h(2) = 0,51 für die Leitf?higkeitsmessung. Die Sch?tzung genetischer Korrelationen deutet an, da? eine genetische Selektion auf t?gliche Zunahmen nach dem Absetzen zu einer verringerten Ausschlachtung (- 0,51) und zu magereren Schlachtk?rpern führen würde. Die genetischen Beziehungen zwischen den Zunahmen und dem pH-Wert (- 0,90) und zwischen den Zunahmen und der elektrischen Leitf?higkeit (0,58) lassen eine Verschiebung in Richtung eines glykolytischen Muskelenergiestoffwechsels bei verst?rktem Wachstum erwarten. Die Wurfgr??e bei der Geburt stellt eine signifikante Variationsursache für die Mastleistungsmerkmale nach dem Absetzen (p < 0,001) una für die elektrische Leitf?higkeit (p < 0,05) dar. Bei einer Erh?hung der Wurfgr??e durch Selektion sind verminderte Wachstumsraten, geringere Ausschlachtungsprozente und verst?rkte Verfettung zu befürchten.     

Correct equations for comparing models in diallel analysis

SUMMARY: Correct equations are given to express the parameter estimates of four models for complete diallels as a function of the parameter estimates in the model of Eisen et al. (1983). In recent literature these equations have been partly incorrect. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Korrekte Gleichungen für den Vergleich von Modellen in der Diallelanalyse Für die Darstellung der Parametersch?tzwerte von vier Modellen für vollst?ndige Diallele als Funktion der Parametersch?tzwerte des Modells von Eisen et al. (1983), die in der Literatur teilweise fehlerhaft erfolgte, werden korrekte Formeln angegeben.     

Variation of the growth hormone gene in ryr 1 genotyped Austrian pig breeds

SUMMARY: Polymorphism in the second intron of the porcine growth hormone gene of 273 Austrian Landrace and 81 Austrian Edelschwein pigs was investigated with a PCR-RFLP-technique. Results showed significantly different genotype patterns between the two breeds. The frequency of the Hae II(-) allele was significantly (P < 0,001) higher in the landrace than in the Edelschwein population (0,83 and 0,47 resp.). The Msp I(+) allele was predominant in both breeds but signifanctly higher in the Landrace (0,98 versus 0,69; P < 0,01). Analyses the Hae II/Msp I locus combination revealed also in breed specific difference. In the Landrace a very low interaction was found between the Hae II and ryr 1 locus, and between Msp I and ryr 1 locus (c. c. = 0,181 and 0,186 resp.). The correlation was slightly stronger (c. c. = 0,266) between the ryr 1 and Hae II/Msp I genotypes. No correlation was detected among the three loci in the Edelschwein population. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Variabilit?t des Somatotropin Gens in ?sterreichischen Schweinerassen genotypisiert hinsicbtlich ryr 1 An 273 ?sterreichischen Landrasse Schweinen und 81 ?sterreichischen Edelschweinen wurde der Polymorphismus am zweiten Intron des Schweinewachstumshormons mittels PCR-RFLP-Technik untersucht. Genotypen-und Genfrequenzen waren zwischen den beiden Rassen signifikant verschie- den. Die Hae II(-) Allelfrequenz war bei den Landrassetieren signifikant h?her (P < 0,001) als bei den Edelschweinen (0,83 bzw. 0,47). In beiden Rassen überwiegte das Msp I(+) Allel, das aber signifikant ?fters bei der Landrasse auftrat (0,98 bzw. 0,69; P < 0,01). Die Verteilung der Locuskombination von Hae II/Msp I zwischen den beiden Rassen war ebenfalls unterschiedlich. Bei der Landrasse konnte nur ein sehr geringer Zusammenhang zwischen dem Hae II und ryr 1 Locus (c. c. = 0,181 bzw. 0,186) und auch zwischen dem Msp I und ryr 1 Locus festgestellt werden. Die Korrelation zwischen dem ryr 1 und Hae II/Msp I Genotyp war geringfügig gr??;er (c. c. = 0,266). Bei den Edelschweinen konnte kein Zusammenhang zwischen den drei untersuchten Loci festgestellt werden.     

Effects of timing and size of daylength change on brown egg laying domestic hens: Plasma luteinising hormone concentration and sexual maturity

1. Brown egg laying pullets were transferred from an 8‐h photoperiod to an 8‐, 10‐, 13‐ or 16‐h photoperiod at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 or 20–3 weeks of age. Plasma luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations were measured at transfer and 7 and 14 d afterwards.

2. Significant increases in plasma LH occurred following light stimulations at 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age.

3. Changes in LH concentration 7 d after a light increase from 8 h to 8, 10, 13, 16 h were highly correlated with photoperiod length at 9 and 12 weeks of age.

4. Changes in LH were generally poorly correlated with age at sexual maturity, although the reduced influence on age at first egg of a light increase given close to sexual maturity was reflected in minimal LH responses at 18 and 20.3 weeks.     

Prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine tuberculosis in brushtail possums on a forest-scrub margin

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis was diagnosed in 36 of 68 (53%) brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) trapped in August 1992 from a population of exceptionally low density (trap catch <3%) on a forest-scrub margin in Westland, New Zealand. The prevalence of tuberculosis in possums, based solely on gross lesions, was at least twice that previously recorded in New Zealand, and was about seven times that recorded from the same population in 1980. More male (66%) than female (33%) possums had grossly visible tuberculous lesions. The distribution of infection appeared continuous along the forest-scrub margin. Both stoats (Mustela erminea) and one of six hares (Lepus europaeus occidentalis) trapped were also infected with M. bovis.     

Observations on three outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in lambs

Sickness and deaths associated with leptospirosis were reported in three lamb flocks in the Manawatu region. The clinical, pathological and serological features of Leptospiru interrogans serovar pomona infection are described. The mucous membranes of affected animals were pale and jaundiced. Haemoglobinuria, haemoglobinaemia and centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis were also consistent findings. All clinically sick lambs had very high titres in the microscopic agglutination test for L. pomona. Circumstantial evidence of pigs being the source of infection was found in one of the three cases.     

A formal method of determining the dietary amino acid requirements of laying‐type pullets during their growing period

1. The amino acid requirements of laying type pullets during the growing period can be estimated by measuring the growth of different components of the body and making use of nutritional constants that define the amount of each amino acid that is required for the production of the tissues being formed.

2. In this experiment, carcase analyses of each of three breeds of pullets were conducted at weekly intervals throughout the growth of the pullets, to 18 weeks of age. Measurements were made of body weight, gut‐fill and feather weight, and chemical analyses consisted of water, protein, lipid and ash measurements of both the body and the feathers. Each age group comprised 10 birds of each breed.

3. Gompertz functions accurately estimated the growth of both body protein and feather protein, to 18 weeks of age, from which the rate of growth of these two components of the body could be estimated. The mature weight of pullets was overestimated by the Gompertz growth curve, which may indicate that a pullet ceases to increase in body protein content once sexual maturity has been reached.

4. Using allometric relationships between the chemical components of the body and of feathers, all the components of growth could be estimated from the growth of body protein and feather protein. These components were then added together to determine the growth rate of the body as a whole.

5. The daily amino acid requirements for 4 functions were calculated, namely, those for the maintenance of body protein and feather protein, and for the gain in body protein and feather protein. These requirements were then summed to determine the requirement of pullets on each day of the growing period.

6. Using the ‘effective energy’ system, the amount of energy required by these pullets was calculated for each day of the growing period, from which the desired daily food intake of the pullets could be predicted. By dividing the amino acid requirement by this daily food intake it was possible to determine the concentration of amino acids that would be needed in the diet in order to meet the requirements of a pullet.

7. The results indicate that the ratio between the requirement for lysine and for methionine and cysteine changes dramatically during the growing period, negating the concept of a fixed ratio between all the amino acids during growth.

8. The above process is the first step in determining the optimal feeding programme for a population of pullets of a given genotype. The constraining effects, of the diet being offered and of the environment in which the pullets are housed, on the food intake and growth rate of each pullet have to be estimated, and such a theory can then be expanded to include all the individuals in the population. Only by the use: of simulation models can all these constraining effects be considered simultaneously.     

Effects of dietary corticosterone and trilostane on growth and skeletal muscle protein turnover in broiler cockerels

1. The effects of dietary corticosterone and trilostane, an inhibitor of glucocorticoid synthesis, on: growth, rates of synthesis and breakdown of skeletal muscle protein, and content of abdominal fat were studied in broiler chickens.

2. Dietary corticosterone (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg) depressed body weight gain and increased abdominal fat content in a dose‐dependent manner while dietary trilostane (1.4 or 7.0 mg/kg) had no effect.

3. The rate of protein breakdown in skeletal muscle estimated from N‐methylhistidine excretion was increased in a dose‐dependent manner by dietary corticosterone but it was decreased by trilostane.

4. The rate of skeletal muscle protein synthesis was not affected by corticosterone although it was decreased by trilostane.

5. Plasma corticosterone concentration was increased in a dose‐dependent manner by dietary corticosterone and decreased by treatment with 7 mg trilostane/kg diet.

6. The results indicate that higher concentrations of plasma corticosterone increase protein breakdown in skeletal muscle but do not affect muscle protein synthesis while both the rates of synthesis and breakdown are decreased when plasma corticosterone concentration is reduced.