An Example of Yak Paternity Assignment by Microsatellite Genotyping

12 cattle microsatellite DNA markers were used for establishing the paternity of 4 Datong Yak calves.The results indicated that paternity can be assigned by use of exclusion method directely when the mother is clearly known and data of all likely sires were obtained. The more the alleles of a locus possessed, the more effectively the paternity can be assigned. Not only the microsatellite DNA marker is a promising tool in establishment of yak detail pedigrees, but also can provide us information of reproductive efficiency of the bull(s) based on the numbers of calves it produced in the herd, which will be useful in speeding up the processes of yak genetics improvement.     

中国家鸡和红色原鸡mtDNA控制区遗传多态性及系统进化分析

通过线粒体DNA控制区的结构和多态性来研究中国家鸡和红色原鸡的遗传多态性与系统进化。测定14个中国地方鸡种和红色原鸡2个亚种的256个个体线粒体DNA控制区部分序列约560bp,结果表明,A、C、G、T这4种核苷酸的平均比例分别为25．∞％、37．40％、4．40％和33．20％。共发现44个变异位点,约占分析位点总数的7．86％,没有观测到插入／缺失,颠换和转换之比为0．13;共具有32种单倍型,9种为共享单倍型;16个群体内单倍型多样度从0到0．964,单倍型变异度总体为0．909±0．014,整体的平均核苷酸差异数为7．276,核苷酸多样度为1．851％。群体间核苷酸分歧度（Dxy）在0．747％～3．125％之间变化,核苷酸净遗传距离（Da）为0．015％～2．633％。16个群体表现出较高水平的遗传多态性,群体间表现出显著的遗传分化。群体遗传多态性和亲缘关系分析表明,一些中国家鸡的群体（如固始鸡和仙居鸡）起源于泰国红色原鸡Gallus gallu sgallus亚种,一些中国家鸡的群体（如茶花鸡和藏鸡等）起源于中国红色原鸡Gallus gallus spadiceus亚种,在一些中国地方鸡种还同时具有这2种红色原鸡的遗传贡献;认为中国家鸡起源于泰国或单纯起源于中国的观点都是不全面的。     

Assessing the genetic diversity conserved in the Norwegian live poultry genebank

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity within and between lines at the Norwegian live poultry gene bank as well as assessing the conservation value in an international context. Eight lines including the national breed, Jærhøns, were genotyped with the 600K Affymetrix^® Axiom^® Chicken Genotyping Array. The white egg layers were generally more inbred than the brown layers. Comparative analyses were carried out with 72 international populations of different origins. The lines that were last bred for commercial production in Norway, Norbrid, are clearly separated from the rest of the international set and more closely related to the current commercial lines. The brown egg layer Norbrid 7 has the highest relative contribution to genetic diversity. The Norwegian genebank lines are of conservation value in a national and international perspective, as they all add genetic diversity to the global set.     

Choice of breeding stock,preference of production traits and culling criteria of village chickens among Zimbabwe agro-ecological zones

Free ranging chickens reared by smallholder farmers represent genetic diversity suited for particular environments and shaped by the socio-economic and cultural values of the farming systems. This study sought to investigate the existence of chicken strains and evaluate the breeding goals and strategies used by village chicken farmers in Zimbabwe. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 97, 56, 70, 104 and 37 households randomly selected from five agro-ecological-zones I-V, respectively. Fifteen chicken strains mostly defined by morphological traits were reported in the five eco-zones. Production criteria such as body size, and fertility were highly ranked (ranging from 1.3 – 2.6) by farmers across all the eco-zones, while cultural traits were the least preferred production traits. As a common breeding practice, farmers chose the type of hens and cocks to retain for breeding purposes and these randomly mixed and mated with others from community flocks. Chicken body size was ranked the major determinant in choosing breeding animals followed by mothering ability, and fertility. More households culled chickens associated with poor reproductive performance, poor growth rates and those intolerant to disease pathogens. The focus on many negatively correlated production traits and the absence of farmer records compromises breeding strategies in these production systems.     

Genetic resistance to Heterakis gallinarum in two chicken layer lines following a single dose infection

Groups of White Leghorn and New Hampshire male and female chicks were reared under helminth-free conditions and divided into two groups at an age of 8 weeks. One group was artificially infected with 100 embryonated Heterakis gallinarum eggs, while the other group was kept as uninfected control. After 8 weeks all animals were harvested and worm burden was established. Maximum of 60 worms per bird randomly selected were measured for length. Body weights were recorded at 8 and 16 weeks of age. Total worm burden was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in infected males than in infected females. Furthermore, White Leghorns showed a significantly (P=0.011) higher number of worms when compared with New Hampshire animals. Average worm lengths were not significantly different between the breeds (P=0.155) and sexes (P=0.062). Correlations between worm burden and worm length was 0.08 (P=0.140). The daily weight gains between 8 and 16 weeks of age of the infected animals were significantly (P=0.038) lower when compared with the control group. There was no significant correlation between daily weight gain and worm burden. The estimated heritabilities for logarithm (ln) worm burden were 0.41 (S.E.+/-0.086) in White Leghorn and 0.31 (S.E.+/-0.126) in New Hampshire, respectively. Based on the estimated heritabilities it is possible to select for H. gallinarum resistance in both genetically distinct chicken breeds. This approach may be of importance for chickens kept in floor husbandry systems.     

Genetic diversity and conservation of South African indigenous chicken populations

In this study, we compare the level and distribution of genetic variation between South African conserved and village chicken populations using microsatellite markers. In addition, diversity in South African chickens was compared to that of a reference data set consisting of other African and purebred commercial lines. Three chicken populations Venda, Ovambo and Eastern Cape and four conserved flocks of the Venda, Ovambo, Naked Neck and Potchefstroom Koekoek from the Poultry Breeding Resource Unit of the Agricultural Research Council were genotyped at 29 autosomal microsatellite loci. All markers were polymorphic. Village chicken populations were more diverse than conservation flocks. structure software was used to cluster individuals to a predefined number of 2 ≤ K ≤ 6 clusters. The most probable clustering was found at K = 5 (95% identical runs). At this level of differentiation, the four conservation flocks separated as four independent clusters, while the three village chicken populations together formed another cluster. Thus, cluster analysis indicated a clear subdivision of each of the conservation flocks that were different from the three village chicken populations. The contribution of each South African chicken populations to the total diversity of the chickens studied was determined by calculating the optimal core set contributions based on Marker estimated kinship. Safe set analysis was carried out using bootstrapped kinship values calculated to relate the added genetic diversity of seven South African chicken populations to a set of reference populations consisting of other African and purebred commercial broiler and layer chickens. In both core set and the safe set analyses, village chicken populations scored slightly higher to the reference set compared to conservation flocks. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the conservation flocks of South African chickens displayed considerable genetic variability that is different from that of the assumed founder populations (village chickens).     

12个中国地方鸡种群体遗传结构及遗传多样性分析

利用29对微卫星引物对我国的12个地方鸡种进行群体遗传结构及遗传多样性评估，结果表明：每个座位的等位基因数从2到23不等，所有的12个群体均显示较高水平的杂合度，固始鸡最低，为0．4532，大骨鸡最高，为0．6271。鸡种间存在较大的遗传分化，16．7％的遗传变异源于品种间的差异。基于Reynolds’遗传距离的邻近（NJ）聚类图显示，12个群体可以分为2个主要的类群：重体型的鸡种首先聚在一起，然后轻体型鸡种加入。structure程序同时也被用于评价鸡种间的遗传关系，结果与NJ聚类法相似，重体型的鸡种首先与轻体型鸡种分成两类。     

Conservation priorities and optimum allocation of conservation funds for Vietnamese local chicken breeds

The objectives of this study were to estimate conservation potential of Vietnamese local breeds and to investigate optimal allocation of conservation funds to maximize genetic diversity conserved between these breeds. Twenty-nine microsatellites were genotyped in 353 individuals from nine Vietnamese local chicken breeds and two chicken breeds of Chinese origin. The Vietnamese chicken breeds were sampled from the northern and southern parts of Vietnam while the two Chinese breeds have been kept as conservation flocks at the National Institute of Animal Sciences, Hanoi. The Weitzman approach was used to assess alternative strategies for conserving genetic diversity between breeds. Three different models, which reflect the range of possible functions in typical conservation situations, were applied. An average extinction probability of 48.5% was estimated for all Vietnamese chicken breeds. The highest conservation potential was found in the Te, Dong Tao and Ac chicken breeds, whereas the lowest corresponding values were observed in the Ri and Mia chicken breeds. The conservation funds were mainly allocated to the same three breeds (Te, Dong Tao and Ac) under all three models. This study suggests that conservation potential of the Vietnamese chicken breeds varies considerably. Population priorities for allocation of conservation funds in this study do not depend on the cost model used. The three breeds (Te, Dong Tao and Ac) with the highest conservation potential should be the prime candidates to be allocated conservation funds if the conservation budgets are limited.     

Variation in village chicken production systems among agro-ecological zones of Zimbabwe

The degree to which village chickens are integrated in the smallholder farming systems differs depending on the socio-economic, cultural and biological factors within each system. The objective of this study was to characterise the village chicken farming systems and identify possible threats to, and opportunities for, local chickens in the agro-ecological zones of Zimbabwe. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to households randomly selected from five districts, Risitu (n = 97), Hurungwe (n = 56), Gutu (n = 77), Gokwe-South (n = 104) and Beitbridge (n = 37) in eco-zones I–V, respectively. Age of head of household averaged 47 years (SD = 14.3). Land holdings per household averaged 4.82 ha (SD = 3.6). Overall, 17.7 percent of the households ranked livestock as the major source of income compared to 70.8 percent who ranked crops as the main contributor. Chicken flock size averaged 16.7 (SD = 12.4), and the highest flock sizes were observed in eco-zones I and IV. Households owning cattle, goats and other livestock assigned less important ranks to chickens. Chickens were used mainly for the provision of meat and eggs whilst the use of chicken feathers and investment were uncommon practises. Results indicate that more support is necessary for village chickens in the non-cropping regions of the country.     

A rapid high-precision flow cytometry based technique for total white blood cell counting in chickens

The automated analysis of total white blood cell count and white blood cell differentials is routine in research and clinical diagnosis in mammalian species. In contrast, in avian haematology these parameters are still estimated by conventional microscopic procedures due to technical difficulties associated with the morphological peculiarities of avian erythrocytes and thrombocytes. Both cell types are nucleated and fairly resistant to cell lysis, a prerequisite for automated leukocyte quantification and differentiation by commercial instruments. By using an anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody in combination with selected subset specific markers we have established a simple (no-lyse no-wash single-step one-tube) flow cytometry based technique for high precision chicken blood cell quantification. EDTA-blood samples are diluted, spiked with fluorescence beads and incubated with a mixture of fluorochrome conjugated chicken leukocyte specific antibodies. We demonstrate that total leukocyte numbers as well as thrombocyte, monocyte, T-cell, B-cell and heterophilic granulocyte numbers can be determined by flow cytometry in a single step without prior cell lysis, cell separation or cell washing steps. Importantly, we also show that blood samples can be fixed prior to cell staining which enables shipping of samples making the technology widely available. Comparison of this technique with conventional microscopy revealed superior precision. By comparing leukocyte differentials of two chicken populations and during immune system development after hatch we demonstrate that large sample numbers can be analysed within hours. This technique will help to overcome previous restrictions in immune status analysis in chickens in experimental systems, during vaccine testing and health status monitoring in chicken flocks. Advances in avian genomics should facilitate the development of appropriate tools for other avian species in the future which will make this technique broadly applicable.