Non-genetic factors influencing reproductive traits and calving weight in Saudi camels

Reproductive traits and calving weight were assessed in Saudi camels, and non-genetic factors influencing them were studied using data collected at Al Jouf centre from 1987 to 2009. Age at first conception, age at first calving, open period, calving interval, gestation length and weight at calving of camels averaged 42.3 months, 54.8 months, 10.6 months, 22.6 months, 377.5 days and 591.9 kg, respectively. A mixed model including the camel as a random effect was used to assess the effect of environmental effects on the traits studied. Age at first conception and age at first calving were affected by camel’s birth year. Open period and calving interval were not affected by parity or year of calving. However, camels that calved from October to February had a calving interval of 2.5 months higher than those that calved from March to September. Gestation length was affected by season and year of calving but not by parity or sex of calf. Camels calving from March to September had a gestation length 6.6 days shorter than those calving from October to February. Weight at calving was affected by parity and year of calving but not by season of calving. It was concluded that an improvement in camel reproductive traits is possible both through improving management systems and utilisation of controlled breeding techniques.     

放牧率对绵羊体重及繁殖性能的影响

通过不同放牧率对内蒙古本地绵羊(母羊)连续2年(2008～2009)的体重和繁殖性能的影响的研究表明:(1)在试验期内,随着时间的推移,不同放牧率下的绵羊体重总体上都呈上升趋势;间隔1个放牧率或以上的处理间,存在不同程度的显著性差异;(2)绵羊的个体增重与放牧率之间存在负相关关系;而公顷增重与放牧率的关系符合二次曲线关系,在达到公顷最大增重前,随着放牧率的增大而增大,之后随着放牧率的增大减小;(3)单位家畜增重和单位面积增重的交点的生态学意义在于放牧率为1羊/hm2,公顷增重和家畜个体增重相同;单位家畜个体增重对应的畜产品最优放牧率为0.50羊/hm2,单位面积家畜最大增重对应的畜产品最优放牧率为2.38羊/hm2;(4)过高的放牧率导致绵羊出现空怀现象及产羔率下降;羔羊的初生重和个体增重均随着放牧率的增大而减小,但其显著性差异仅表现在较高的放牧率与较低的放牧率之间,而在相邻放牧率间差异不显著。     

非遗传因素对多胎细毛羊初生重和断奶重的影响

本研究旨在分析影响多胎细毛羊出生重和断奶重的因素,为优质多产细毛羊的选育奠定基础.利用SPSS19.0软件对多胎细毛羊羔羊的初生重和断奶重进行了描述性统计分析,并利用SAS9.2软件的GLM(最小二乘方差分析)程序对新疆科创畜牧繁育中心2009-2019年多胎细毛羊1 567条产羔记录分析出生年份、出生月份、性别和母羊...     

微卫星标记与考力代羊体重体尺性状遗传关系研究

本试验用单标记法研究考力代绵羊1号染色体ILSTS004~CSSM004和BM6506~MCM130之间的12个微卫星位点ILSTS004、MCMA008、MNS0094、CSSM004、BM6505、BMS4008、CSRD0298、TGLA415、BM8246、RM0509、URB0038、MCM0130,与其绵羊初生重、断奶重、体重(8月龄)、体高、体长、胸围、管围的遗传关系,结果ILSTS004位点不同基因型对初生重影响极显著(P<0·01)、对体重影响显著(P<0·05),CSSM004位点对体长影响显著(P<0·05),其余位点对体重等性状无显著影响(P>0·05)。其中,ILSTS004位点:基因型101099个体的初生重显著高于基因型095093(P<0·05),基因型101099个体的体重显著高于基因型103103(P<0·05);CSSM004基因型196196个体的体长显著大于基因型202202(P<0·05)。提示在1号染色体微卫星位点ILSTS004附近可能存在影响绵羊初生重、体重的数量性状位点(QTL),ILSTS004可作为其遗传标记之一;在CSSM004附近可能存在影响体长的QTL,CSSM004可作为其遗传标记之一。     

影响内蒙古细毛羊羊毛生产的主要因素

通过不同年龄不同性别及不同饲养方式等因素对羊毛生产的影响研究表明,在天然放牧条件下，羊毛生长的季节性变化，主要分为青草期和枯草期两个阶段。夏秋季节羊毛纤维长度的生长速度、净毛生长率和纤维直径及断裂强度均达最大值，随后开始下降，到冬春之交降到最低点，然后随气温的上升和牧草的返青又开始回升。育成母羊和成年母羊羊毛纤维长度的生长速度相当，其青草期与枯草期的变异幅度均比成年羯羊的大；净毛生长率以育成母羊的最小，成年羯羊与成年母羊的相当；但在春夏之交，羯羊的净毛生长率明显大于母羊；成年羯羊羊毛纤维直径在青草期与枯草期的极差最大。不同年龄不同性别的绵羊羊毛纤维的生长速度、净毛生长率和纤维直径，枯草期分别相当于青草期的78．5％－83．6％，46．4％－59．4％和71．8％－75．7％；羊毛纤维直径与羊毛长度相比，对营养状况的变化更为敏感；就全年羊毛生长状况而言，成年羯羊与成年母羊未有显著性的差异；成年母羊的净毛生长率比初产母羊高；成年羯羊的毛纤维绝对长度和净毛量均比初产母羊大，但净毛率却较低；羊毛生长效率－单位体重产毛量均无差异，即净毛量主要与体重大小有关，通过工程措施（棚舍）和技术措施（补饲）相结合的办法，可以减少母羊体重下降的幅度，增加羔羊的初体重和绵羊全年净毛产量；与当地饲养管理方式相比，产毛量可提高17．2％－25．3％。     

云南地区乌骨绵羊黑色素的初步研究

对7只兰坪乌骨绵羊、4只本地绵羊(非乌骨绵羊)和2羽乌骨鸡组织器官黑色素进行了测定,结果表明:乌骨绵羊黑色素与乌骨鸡黑色素的IR光谱基本一致,黑色物质主要是真黑色素;乌骨绵羊各组织器官中的黑色素含量高于本地绵羊;黑色素在乌骨绵羊组织器官中的沉积表现出明显的时(年龄)空(组织器官)差异,即随着年龄的增加,组织器官中的黑色素含量也随之增加;各组织器官中黑色素含量高低顺序为肝脏>气管、心脏、肾脏>脾脏、肺>舌、肌肉、皮肤>骨骼,与乌骨鸡的沉积模式有所不同;乌骨绵羊组织器官中黑色素含量与绵羊的毛色有关,黑毛绵羊组织器官黑色素含量高于花毛绵羊。     

Selection potential of different prolificacy traits in the finnish landrace and large white populations

Heritabilities and genetic correlations for different prolificacy traits were estimated to assess possibilities of selection for high number of piglets weaned. Three litter-size traits: total number of piglets born (TNB), number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of piglets weaned (NW); four piglet survival traits: number of stillborn piglets (NSB), percent of stillborn piglets (NSB%), piglet mortality between birth and weaning (PM), percent of dead piglets during suckling (PM%); and three traits measuring time intervals: age at first farrowing (AFF), first farrowing interval (FFI), and gestation length (GL) were analysed. The Finnish national litter recording scheme provided data on the first parity litters of 11 329 Landrace and 8 362 Large White pigs born between 1986 and 2000. The heritabilitiy estimates were moderate for AFF and GL (0.24–0.37), and low for all the other traits (0.03–0.11). The genetic correlations between TNB and PM (0.68 in Landrace and 0.43 in Large White) and between NBA and PM (0.64 in Landrace and 0.31 in Large White) suggest that selection only for high TNB or NBA will lead to increased PM. The results showed further that GL will increase indirectly if the selection pressure is for low PM (r _g =?0.050 in Landrace and ?0.43 in Large White.     

人工草地绵羊系统母羊繁殖性能和羔羊育肥试验

分别以考尔木母羊和考尔木公羊杂交羔羊(R×C)、考尔木母羊和罗姆尼公羊杂交羔羊(C×C)为试验对象,在优质人工草地上划区轮牧,进行考尔木母羊繁殖性能和羔羊育肥定期监测试验。结果表明:二系统羔羊初生重和断奶重几乎一样;断奶后,R×C系统羔羊体重比C×C系统高,7月龄出栏体重和1岁龄体重分别为:R×C系统35 5、44 0kg,C×C系统30 7、39 9kg;3月龄(断奶重)羔羊日增重最高,R×C和C×C系统分别为203 3、180g/d。系统间母羊繁殖性能指标基本一样。牧草生长季羔羊育肥效益分别为:R×C系统1925元/hm2、C×C系统1781元/hm2,为原系统(860元/hm2)的2 24、2 0倍。     

Mapping genomic regions for reproductive traits in beef cattle: Inclusion of the X chromosome

Although the second largest chromosome of the genome, the X chromosome is usually excluded from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Considering the presence and importance of genes on this chromosome that are involved in reproduction, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of its inclusion in GWAS on reproductive traits (scrotal circumference [SC], early pregnancy [P16] and age at first calving [AFC]) in a Nelore herd. Genotype data from 3,263 animals with the above-mentioned phenotypes were used. The results showed an increase in the variances explained by the autosomal markers for all traits when the X chromosome was not included. For SC, there was an increase of more than 10% for the windows on chromosomes 2 and 6. For P16, the effect was increased by almost 20% for windows on chromosome 5. The same pattern was found for AFC, with an increase of more than 10% for the most important windows. The results indicate that the noninclusion of the X chromosome can overestimate the effects of autosomes on SC, P16 and AFC not only because of the additive effect of the X chromosome itself but also because of its epistatic effect on autosomal genes.     

Genetic correlations between growth and reproductive traits in Zandi sheep

For the first time, the current study reports the genetic and phenotypic correlations between growth and reproductive traits in Zandi sheep. The data were comprised of 4,309 records of lamb growth traits from 1,378 dams and 273 sires plus 2,588 records of reproductive traits from 577 ewes. These data were extracted from available performance records at Khojir Breeding Station of Zandi sheep in Tehran, Iran, from 1993 to 2008. Correlations were estimated from two animal models in a bivariate analysis using restricted maximum likelihood procedure between lamb growth traits [birth weight (BW), weaning weight at 3 months of age (WW), as well as six-month weight (6 MW)] and ewe reproductive traits [litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB), and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW)]. The genetic correlations between BW and reproductive traits varied from low to high ranges from 0.10 for BW–LSB to 0.86 for BW–TLWB. WW was moderately (0.37) to highly (0.96) correlated with all the reproductive traits. Moreover, the genetic correlations were observed between 6 MW and reproductive traits, varied from 0.19 to 0.95. Relationships between growth and reproductive traits ranged from 0.01 for BW–LSW to 0.28 for BW–TLWB in phenotypic effects. Results indicated that selection to improve WW would have high effect on genetic response in TLWW, and also, these results could be effective for all of the reproductive traits in Zandi sheep.     

Estimates of genetic parameters for growth traits in Kermani sheep

Birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6-month weight (W6), 9-month weight (W9) and yearling weight (YW) of Kermani lambs were used to estimate genetic parameters. The data were collected from Shahrbabak Sheep Breeding Research Station in Iran during the period of 1993-1998. The fixed effects in the model were lambing year, sex, type of birth and age of dam. Number of days between birth date and the date of obtaining measurement of each record was used as a covariate. Estimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood, using single and two-trait animal models. Based on the most appropriate fitted model, direct and maternal heritabilities of BW, WW, W6, W9 and YW were estimated to be 0.10 +/- 0.06 and 0.27 +/- 0.04, 0.22 +/- 0.09 and 0.19 +/- 0.05, 0.09 +/- 0.06 and 0.25 +/- 0.04, 0.13 +/- 0.08 and 0.18 +/- 0.05, and 0.14 +/- 0.08 and 0.14 +/- 0.06 respectively. Direct and maternal genetic correlations between the lamb weights varied between 0.66 and 0.99, and 0.11 and 0.99. The results showed that the maternal influence on lamb weights decreased with age at measurement. Ignoring maternal effects in the model caused overestimation of direct heritability. Maternal effects are significant sources of variation for growth traits and ignoring maternal effects in the model would cause inaccurate genetic evaluation of lambs.     

Examination of non-genetic factors affecting the growth performance of djallonke sheep in soudanian zone at the Okpara breeding farm of Benin

A study was carried out at the Okpara breeding farm in Benin. Records on 558 lambs of the Djallonke sheep breed, born from 1997 to 2000, were used to determine the weekly growth curve from birth up to 119 days of age. Non-genetic factors affecting lamb weights at birth and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days and average daily gains from 0 to 30 days, from 0 to 60 days, from 0 to 90 days and from 0 to 120 days were investigated. A linear model comprising the fixed effects of birth season, birth year, parity number of ewe and sex of lambs was used for analysis of variance by least squares. All fixed effects were significant for weight at 30 and 60 days and average daily gains at 30 days, with the exception of the parity of the ewe for birth weight, weight and average daily gain at 90 days. All fixed effects tended to cancel out for weight and average daily gains by 120 days. Lambs born in the dry season were the heaviest. Single lambs and male lambs were heavier than twins and females. Lambs from ewes of 3rd and 4th parity were heavier, with higher, average daily gains.     

绵山羊双羔素提高美利奴羊繁殖率的研究

为了提高美利奴羊的繁殖率,增加美利奴羊产区养殖者的经济效益,运用绵山羊双羔素(睾酮-3-羧甲基肟·牛血清白蛋白)对新疆维吾尔自治区巩乃斯种羊场、新疆生产兵团76团兴牧公司、齐齐哈尔种畜场和甘肃省绵羊繁育技术推广站的美利奴羊进行免疫试验。结果显示:4个试验点试验组发情率和受胎率与对照组相比,差异均不显著(P>0. 05);与相应对照组相比,巩乃斯种羊场和76团兴牧公司产羔率和双羔率极显著升高(P<0. 01),齐齐哈尔种畜场和甘肃省绵羊繁育技术推广站显著提高(P<0. 05);单羔和双羔初生重与对照组相比,齐齐哈尔种畜场试验组显著降低(P<0. 05),其他羊场无显著差异(P>0. 05);对76团兴牧公司2～6岁母羊双羔率进行统计,发现2岁母羊产双羔率最低,5岁母羊产双羔率最高;齐齐哈尔种畜场试验组双羔的断奶重与对照组相比,降低2. 10 kg。结果提示:通过对不同地方美利奴羊应用绵山羊双羔素可以提高美利奴羊的繁殖率,提高养殖者的经济效益。     

Calculating economic values for growth and functional traits in non‐dairy sheep

A bio‐economic model including a computer program was developed where a large number of parameters can be modified to describe a great variety of production systems. Economic values for up to 27 traits can be calculated. Seasonal feeding is considered and protein requirement in addition to net energy may be taken into account when calculating feed requirement. Furthermore, the model allows for the evaluation of individual parts of the growth curve. The model was applied to the Czech Suffolk breed used in pure‐breeding. An extensive pasture system with spring lambing and sale of surplus progeny for slaughter after weaning or after a finishing period was assumed. The economic values (in Euro cent per ewe, per year and per genetic standard deviation of the trait) were as follows: 9.9 for birth weight, ?72.6 for mature weight, 142, 32.1 and 16.9 for growth rates till weaning, in rearing of breeding animals and in fattening, respectively, 19.9 and 101 for conception rate of female lambs and ewes, respectively, 690 for litter size per ewe lambing, 172 for productive lifetime of ewes, 402 and 503 for survival rate of lambs at lambing and till weaning, respectively, and 16.5 for fleece weight.     

Whole-genome re-sequencing association study on yearling wool traits in Chinese fine-wool sheep

To investigate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci associated with yearling wool traits of fine-wool sheep for optimizing marker-assisted selection and dissection of the genetic architecture of wool traits, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on the fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) for yearling staple length (YSL), yearling mean fiber diameter (YFD), yearling greasy fleece weight (YGFW), and yearling clean fleece rate (YCFR) by using the whole-genome re-sequenced data (totaling 577 sheep) from the following four fine-wool sheep breeds in China: Alpine Merino sheep (AMS), Chinese Merino sheep (CMS), Qinghai fine-wool sheep (QHS), and Aohan fine-wool sheep (AHS). A total of 16 SNPs were detected above the genome-wise significant threshold (P = 5.45E-09), and 79 SNPs were located above the suggestive significance threshold (P = 5.00E-07) from the GWAS results. For YFD and YGFW traits, 7 and 9 SNPs reached the genome-wise significance thresholds, whereas 10 and 12 SNPs reached the suggestive significance threshold, respectively. For YSL and YCFR traits, none of the SNPs reached the genome-wise significance thresholds, whereas 57 SNPs exceeded the suggestive significance threshold. We recorded 14 genes located at the region of ±50-kb near the genome-wise significant SNPs and 59 genes located at the region of ±50-kb near the suggestive significant SNPs. Meanwhile, we used the Average Information Restricted Maximum likelihood algorithm (AI-REML) in the “HIBLUP” package to estimate the heritability and variance components of the four desired yearling wool traits. The estimated heritability values (h²) of YSL, YFD, YGFW, and YCFR were 0.6208, 0.7460, 0.6758, and 0.5559, respectively. We noted that the genetic parameters in this study can be used for fine-wool sheep breeding. The newly detected significant SNPs and the newly identified candidate genes in this study would enhance our understanding of yearling wool formation, and significant SNPs can be applied to genome selection in fine-wool sheep breeding.     

Genome-wide association studies of preweaning growth and in vivo carcass composition traits in Esme sheep

Sheep are considered as a major contributor of global food security. Moreover, sheep preweaning growth traits as well as in vivo carcass composition traits such as ultrasonic measurements of Longissimus dorsi muscle depth (UMD) and back-fat thickness (UFD) are crucially important indicators of meat yield and hot carcass composition. Despite their relative importance for productivity and profitability of a sheep production system, detected QTL for these traits are quite scarce. Therefore, we implemented GWAS for these traits using animal mixed model-based association approach provided by GenABEL in Esme sheep. Three genome-wide and 14 individual chromosome-wide associated SNPs were discovered. As a result, ESRP1, LOC105613082, ZNF641, DUSP5, TEAD1, SMOX, PTPRT, RALYL, POM121C, PHIP, LOC101106051, ZIM3, PEG3, TRPC7, FBXL4, LOC105610397, LOC105616489 and DNAAF2 were suggested as candidates. Some of the discovered genes and involved pathways were already annotated to contribute growth and development in various species including human, mice and cattle. All in all, the results of this study are expected to strongly contribute to shed a light on the underlying molecular mechanisms behind growth and carcass composition traits, with potential implications on studies aiming faster genetic improvement, targeted low-resolution SNP panel designs and genome-editing studies.     

超细型细毛羊生化遗传标记与经济性状相关性研究

采用双垂直板高pH不连续性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳系统,对中国美利奴高山型超细型细毛羊群体的4个血液蛋白位点多态性进行检测发现:血红蛋白(Hb)、转铁蛋白(Tf)、血清酯酶(Es)存在多态性,血浆白蛋白(Alb)呈单态性。对存在多态性的位点与细毛羊经济性状的相关分析表明:中国美利奴高山型超细型细毛羊群体血红蛋白、血浆酯酶位点的不同表现型与体侧毛长、羊毛伸度、羊毛细度及剪毛量等存在显著相关。部分位点可为中国美利奴高山型超细品系培育的早期选种提供辅助依据。     

Genetic variation in the ovine uncoupling protein 1 gene: association with carcass traits in New Zealand (NZ) Romney sheep,but no association with growth traits in either NZ Romney or NZ Suffolk sheep

The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) plays an important role in the regulation of lipolysis and thermogenesis in adipose tissues. Genetic variation within three regions (the promoter, intron 2 and exon 5) of the ovine UCP1 gene (UCP1) was investigated using polymerase chain reaction‐single‐strand conformational polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) analyses. These revealed three promoter variants (designated A, B and C) and two intron 2 variants (a and b). The association of this genetic variation with variation in lamb carcass traits and postweaning growth was investigated in New Zealand (NZ) Romney and Suffolk sheep. The presence of B in a lamb's genotype was associated with decreased subcutaneous carcass fat depth (V‐GR) (p = 0.004) and proportion of total lean meat yield of loin meat (p = 0.005), and an increased proportion of total lean meat yield of hind‐leg meat (p = 0.018). In contrast, having two copies of C was associated with increased V‐GR (p < 0.001) and proportion of total lean meat yield of shoulder meat (p = 0.009), and a decreased hind‐leg yield (p = 0.032). No associations were found with postweaning growth. These results suggest that ovine UCP1 is a potential gene marker for carcass traits.     

冷季放牧绵羊补饲尿素-糖蜜营养舔砖的效果

对冷季放牧绵羊补饲尿素-糖蜜营养舔砖效果进行了分析。选用蒙古系绵羊后备母羊60只,随机分为3 组,在全放牧条件下,试验1 组每天只均补饲整粒玉米Zea mays 100 g和尿素-糖蜜营养舔砖200 g,试验2组每天只均补饲整粒玉米300 g,3组（纯放牧组）不补饲。结果表明,试验1组比纯放牧组和试验2组日增体质量分别提高205.65 g(P <0.01)和58.87 g(P<0.01),头均收入分别比纯放牧组和试验2组增加41.99元和21.14元。     

谷胱甘肽对肉羊生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响

选择东北细毛羊×德国肉用美利奴的杂交一代肉羊12只,分成对照组、试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组,每组4只,研究谷胱甘肽对肉羊生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响。试验期60 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,谷胱甘肽显著提高了肉羊的日增重(P<0.05),试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组分别提高了14.6%和11.4%;降低了肉羊的料重比(P<0.05),试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组分别降低了11.0%和8.1%。试验Ⅰ组的净肉率和GR值显著高于对照组(P<0.05),Ⅱ组的宰前活重显著高于对照组(P<0.05);试验Ⅰ组肉的剪切力显著低于对照组(P<0.05);试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组的滴水损失显著低于对照组(P<0.05),而熟肉率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),且两试验组间差异不显著(P>0.05);各试验组宰后45 min内肉的pH没有显著差异(P>0.05),但试验Ⅰ组24 h的pH极显著地高于其他2组(P<0.01)。