BMY和婆罗门牛早期生长性状遗传力研究

本文采用云南省肉牛与牧草研究中心杂交选育的热带亚热带肉牛BMY和纯种婆罗门(Brahman,简称B)2000至2003年的资料,配合动物模型应用MTDFREML软件进行初生重和6月龄体重两个性状的遗传力估计,结果为BMY的初生重、6月龄体重、B的初生重,6月龄体重遗传力分别是:0.34、0.16、0.36、0.13。     

Genetic parameters for carcass traits of field progeny and their relationships with feed efficiency traits of their sire population for Japanese Black cattle

Genetic parameters for carcass traits of 1774 field progeny (1281 steers and 493 heifers), and their genetic relationships with feed efficiency traits of their sire population (740 bulls) were estimated with REML. Feed efficiency traits included feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). RFI was calculated by the residual of phenotypic (RFI_phe) and genetic (RFI_gen) regression from the multivariate analysis of feed intake on metabolic weight and daily gain. Progeny traits were carcass weight (CWT), rib eye area (REA), rib thickness (RBT), subcutaneous fat, yield estimate (YEM), marbling score (MSR), meat quality grade, meat color, fat color, meat firmness and meat texture. The estimated heritability for CWT (0.70) was high and heritabilities for all the other traits were moderate (ranged from 0.32 to 0.47), except for meat and fat color and meat texture which were low (ranged from 0.02 to 0.25). The high genetic correlation (0.62) between YEM and MSR suggests that simultaneous improvement of high carcass yield and beef marbling is possible. Estimated genetic correlations of RFI (RFI_phe and RFI_gen) of sires with CWT (− 0.60 and − 0.53) and MSR (− 0.62 and − 0.50) of their progeny were favorably negative indicating that the selection against RFI of sires may have contributed to produce heavier carcass and increase in beef marbling. The correlated responses in CWT, REA and RBT of progeny were higher to selection against RFI than those to selection against FCR of sires. This study provides evidence that selection against RFI is preferred over selection against FCR in sire population for getting better correlated responses in carcass traits of their progeny.     

云南肉牛BMY和婆罗门牛公牛育种值估计

本文采用云南省肉牛与牧草研究中心杂交选育的热带亚热带肉牛BMY和纯种婆罗门(Brahman,简称B)的资料,配合动物模型,应用MTDFREML软件估计了2000～2003年每头公牛的EBV最佳线性无偏预测值,并依据年度均值作出遗传趋势,为选种和遗传评估提供依据。     

Weaning weight and post-weaning gain genetic parameters and genetic trends in a Blanco Orejinegro–Romosinuano–Angus–Zebu multibreed cattle population in Colombia

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for weaning weight adjusted to 240 d of age (WW240), and weight gain from weaning to 24 mo of age (GW730) were estimated in a Colombian beef cattle population composed of Blanco Orejinegro, Romosinuano, Angus, and Zebu straightbred and crossbred animals. Calves were born and weaned in a single farm, and moved to 14 farms postweaning. Data were analyzed using a multiple trait mixed model procedures. Estimates of variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by Restricted Maximum Likelihood. The 2-trait model included the fixed effects of contemporary group (herd–year–season–sex), age of dam (WW240 only), breed direct genetic effects (as a function of breed fractions of calves), breed maternal genetic effects (as a function of breed fractions of dams; WW240 only), individual heterosis (as a function of calf heterozygosity), and maternal heterosis (as a function of dam heterozygosity; WW240 only). Random effects for WW240 were calf direct genetic, dam maternal genetic, permanent environmental maternal, and residual. Random effects for GW730 were calf direct genetic and residual. All relationships among animals were accounted for. Program AIREML was used to perform computations. Estimates of heritabilities for additive direct genetic effects were 0.20 ± 0.003 for WW240, and 0.32 ± 0.004 for GW730. Maternal heritability was 0.14 ± 0.002 for WW240. Estimates of heritability suggest that selection for preweaning and postweaning growth in this population is feasible. Low direct and maternal preweaning heritabilities suggest that nutrition and management should be improved to allow fuller expressions of calf direct growth and cow maternal ability. The genetic correlation between direct additive and maternal additive effects for WW240 was − 0.42 ± 0.009, indicating an antagonistic relationship between these effects. The correlation between additive direct genetic effects for WW240 and GW730 was almost zero (− 0.04 ± 0.009), suggesting that genes affecting growth preweaning may differ from those influencing growth postweaning. Trends were negative for direct WW240 and GW730 weighted yearly means of calves, sires, and dams from 1995 to 2006. Maternal WW240 showed near zero trends during these years. Trends for calf direct WW240 and GW730 followed sire trends closely, suggesting that more emphasis was placed on choosing sires than on dam replacements.     

宏基因组NGS技术在肉牛疫病检测中的应用研究

为调查新疆昌吉州区肉牛主要疫病病原,本试验应用mNGS宏基因组测序技术,对昌吉州地区的肉牛养殖场、活畜交易市场和屠宰场中表现不同临床症状的46份病样进行检测,结果检出病毒、细菌,血原虫病和支原体等78种病原,结合当前国内外肉牛养殖过程中已经报道和流行的病原,与宏基因组检测的46份临床病例样品的检测出的进行临床比对,筛查出细菌13种、病毒13种,以及支原体、血原虫等其他病原4种,共计30个主要病原,为新疆昌吉肉牛养殖疫病综合防控技术的研究提供科学的数据支撑。     

集成配套技术普及应用对肉牛繁殖性能的影响

为了对普及应用集成配套技术饲养肉牛的效果进行评价。对平凉肉牛繁殖性能进行了调查。结果表明：受配率、受胎率、犊牛成活率和繁殖成活率分别提高7%、1.44%、3.72%和11%。通过集成配套技术普及应用,平凉肉牛繁殖性能明显提高。     

Experimental design for integrated research projects to estimate genetic and numerous treatment effects

There is a trend towards integrated research, where experimenters aim to make the best possible use of available resources, and individuals or institutions pool their expertise, make use of common resources and collaborate towards a common set of scientific goals. This allows a larger number of factors to be investigated, enabling the most influential or important ones to be identified as well as providing information on how the different factors interact or fit together.The issues involved in generating complex multi-factor designs are described and discussed, using as examples the entire series of experiments in the Australian Beef Cattle CRC and a simpler experiment to estimate genetic marker effects. An algorithm to generate suitable designs is presented. For the genetic marker experiment, the resultant designs were up to 10% more efficient than less sophisticated designs. In the case of the Beef Cattle CRC, achieving the same accuracy of estimating treatment and sire effects without sophisticated designs would have required 5–10% more animals, at a cost of $150,000–300,000 for purchase, transport and feeding of animals. If all additional costs of experimentation were included, the total savings from use of efficient designs were estimated to lie between $0.5 and $1 million.     

Genetic parameters and relationships of heifer pregnancy and age at first calving with weight gain, yearling and mature weight in Nelore cattle

The objectives of the current study were to investigate the additive genetic associations between heifer pregnancy at 16 months of age (HP16) and age at first calving (AFC) with weight gain from birth to weaning (WG), yearling weight (YW) and mature weight (MW), in order to verify the possibility of using the traits measured directly in females as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of sexual precocity in Nelore cattle. (Co)variance components were estimated by Bayesian inference using a linear animal model for AFC, WG, YW and MW and a nonlinear (threshold) animal model for HP16. The posterior means of direct heritability estimates were: 0.45 ± 0.02; 0.10 ± 0.01; 0.23 ± 0.02; 0.36 ± 0.01 and 0.39 ± 0.04, for HP16, AFC, WG, YW and MW, respectively. Maternal heritability estimate for WG was 0.07 ± 0.01. Genetic correlations estimated between HP16 and WG, YW and MW were 0.19 ± 0.04; 0.25 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.05, respectively. The genetic correlations of AFC with WG, YW and MW were low to moderate and negative, with values of − 0.18 ± 0.06; − 0.22 ± 0.05 and − 0.12 ± 0.05, respectively. The high heritability estimated for HP16 suggests that this trait seem to be a better selection criterion for females sexual precocity than AFC. Long-term selection for animals that are heavier at young ages tends to improve the heifers sexual precocity evaluated by HP16 or AFC. Predicted breeding values for HP16 can be used to select bulls and it can lead to an improvement in sexual precocity. The inclusion of HP16 in a selection index will result in small or no response for females mature weight.     

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for age at first calving and calving interval in an Angus-Blanco Orejinegro-Zebu multibreed cattle population in Colombia

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for age at first calving (AFC), interval between first and second calving (CI1), and interval between second and third calving (CI2) were estimated in a Colombian beef cattle population composed of Angus, Blanco Orejinegro, and Zebu straightbred and crossbred animals. Data were analyzed using a multiple trait mixed model procedures. Estimates of variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by Restricted Maximum Likelihood. The 3-trait model included the fixed effects of contemporary group (year-season of calving-sex of calf; sex of calf for CI1 and CI2 only), age at calving (CI1 and CI2 only), breed genetic effects (as a function of breed fractions of cows), and individual heterosis (as a function of cow heterozygosity). Random effects for AFC, CI1, and CI2 were cow and residual. Program AIREMLF90 was used to perform computations. Estimates of heritabilities for additive genetic effects were 0.15 ± 0.13 for AFC, 0.11 ± 0.06 for CI1, and 0.18 ± 0.11 for CI2. Low heritabilities suggested that nutrition and reproductive management should be improved to allow fuller expressions of these traits. The correlations between additive genetic effects for AFC and CI1 (0.33 ± 0.41) and for AFC and CI2 (0.40 ± 0.36) were moderate and favorable, suggesting that selection of heifers for AFC would also improve calving interval. Trends were negative for predicted cow yearly means for AFC, CI1, and CI2 from 1989 to 2004. The steepest negative trend was for cow AFC means likely due to the introduction of Angus and Blanco Orejinegro cattle into this population.     

分子育种技术研究进展及新疆肉牛分子育种现状

经济社会的发展使人们对牛肉的经济性和肉品质要求提高,培育生长性能和生产性能更加良好的肉牛品种的重要性日益凸显.随着分子生物学技术的进步,动物育种逐渐从表型性状研究向基因调控发展,通过分子标记辅助育种能够更加快速准确的选择目标性状,分子育种技术提高了品种培育效率并降低了成本,且繁育的后代优良性状更加稳定,其应用范围也越来越广泛.目前新疆肉牛分子育种的应用较少,多停留在理论研究阶段,且存在着经费不足和育种场规模小、难以获得足够的样本等问题.本文综合阐述了分子育种的概述、肉牛分子育种研究进展和新疆肉牛分子育种现状,旨在为新疆肉牛分子育种工作提供一定的思路和理论依据.     

我国肉牛产业发展的几个问题

文章阐述了我国养牛业发展从役用向肉用的转变历程,并根据国情和现存国家级种公牛站(45个)中的牛群品种结构状况,提出了培育我国肉牛品种的途径。     

Linear model vs. survival analysis for genetic evaluation of sires for longevity in Chianina beef cattle

The objective of this study was to compare sire EBVs for longevity in Chianina beef cattle estimated with linear models and survival analysis. Two datasets were created, one considered all data (SURVall), the other only uncensored records (SURVun). The linear models were used to analyze longevity measured as three correlated dichotomous (yes/no) measures of survival in the first three parities (LIN-S3) and as an overall measure of lifespan in months (LIN-LPL). Correlation between sire EBVs from the two survival analyses were 0.85. For LIN-S3 the correlations of EBVs across parities were between 0.69 to 0.93. Medium correlations (from 0.50 to 0.62) were found when only uncensored data (SURVun) were compared to the linear model (LIN-S3). Higher correlations (from 0.71 to 0.93) were found when EBV based on both censored and uncensored data (SURVall) were compared to LIN-S3. Heritability was estimated at 0.11, 0.09 and 0.08 for SURVall, SURVun and LIN-LPL, respectively; and 0.05, 0.02 and 0.02, respectively, for survival in the first three parities according to LIN-S3. Linear and non-linear models differed in many aspects; the most precise EBV were obtained when all data was used in the evaluation.     

Genetic analyses for linear conformation traits in Pura Raza Español horses

A linear assessment methodology was developed for the conformational data in the Pura Raza Español horse (Andalusian horse). The final design included 31 linear traits (20 primary and 11 secondary). A total of 4158 records from 2512 horses collected during 2008 and 2011 were included in the genetic evaluation. The genetic analyses were executed twice, the first one only with the first conformation assessment record of each animal (dataset 1: 2512 horses and records), and the second one, only for animals with more than one conformation records available (dataset 2: 876 horses and 2522 records). Genetic parameters were estimated using REML methodology (in a linear animal model), and age, sex, geographic region and combination of appraiser×event were included as fixed effects in the model. For the analysis with dataset 2, permanent environment was also included as random effect. The pedigree file traced back the relationships to include a total of 12,385 (dataset 1) and 3025 (dataset 2) horses. After the repeatability and reproducibility of the system were evaluated, according to our results, the appraisers used the whole scale and showed an adequate level of repeatability (≥0.95), and the reproducibility of analyzed traits was over 0.90 for all traits. Despite the fact that the quality of the morphological assessment can be considered adequate, further training is recommendable for appraisers in order to improve uniformity. Heritabilities with dataset 1 were low-moderate, ranging from 0.06±0.026 (angle of shoulder) to 0.35±0.044 (head length) for the primary traits, and from 0.08±0.032 (frontal angle of knee) to 0.23±0.035 (head-neck junction) for the secondary ones. Heritabilities found with dataset 2 were slightly lower than those obtained with dataset 1. Genetic correlations between traits were also obtained, which ranged from 0.92 to 0.00 in both datasets. These results must be taken into account in order to reduce the number of traits routinely collected in this population.     

肉牛定时输精程序的研究进展

定时输精(TAI)技术作为家畜繁殖技术的重大突破和革新,综合了同期发情和人工授精技术,不仅解决了在生产实践中发情鉴定难、配种受胎率较低的问题,同时也明显提高了生产效率。TAI技术的应用有助于促进肉牛良种产业化和提高经济效益。本文综述了国内外肉牛TAI技术的应用现状并对各程序进行比较,以期为肉牛繁殖新技术的研究和应用提供参考依据。     

Estimates of non-genetic effects and genetic parameters for body measures and subjectively scored traits in Finnhorse trotters

This study examined non-genetic effects and genetic parameters of body measures and subjectively scored traits in the Finnhorse trotter population. The data was based on studbook inspections from 1971 to 2004 covering observations on 6381 horses. There were five body measures – height at withers, height at croup, circumference of girth, length of body and circumference of cannon bone – and six subjectively scored traits – character, body conformation, leg stances, quality of legs, hooves and movements – included in the analyses. Multivariate mixed models were applied with year–sex and age as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. The year–sex effect had a significant influence on body measures and scored traits. Age at judging had a significant influence on all traits but height at withers and body conformation. Heritability estimates were from 0.53 to 0.78 for body measures and 0.10 to 0.19 for scored traits. Genetic correlations between body measures were highly positive, from 0.75 to 0.98, whilst genetic correlations between scored traits varied between − 0.20 and 0.51. Genetic correlations between body measures and scored traits were mainly negative, from − 0.38 to 0.09. Our results indicate that additive genetic effects are relevant determinants for body measures of Finnhorse trotters. The scored traits were of low to moderate heritability and were relevantly influenced by environmental effects.     

固原市原州区肉牛改良工作调查研究

调查了宁夏固原市原州区肉牛改良工作开展情况,测量了区内67头繁殖母牛的体尺,利用肉用指数(Beef purpose index,BPI)研究了牛群的经济类型。结果表明:利秦F_1和西秦F_1的繁殖母牛平均BPI分别达到3.40和3.42,比纯种秦川牛提高了12.21%和12.87%,改良效果显著(P<0.05),利秦F1和西秦F1改良效果无明显区别(P>0.05)。