Comparison of Breeding and Marketing Systems for Red Angus Cattle Using an Integrated Computer-Based Spreadsheet

An integrated computer-based spreadsheet was developed with data from 581 Red Angus-sired calves to compare synchronized AI and natural service breeding systems. This comparison was based on input costs, genetic merit of sires used for mating, and calf marketing system, using differences in net return. The spreadsheet integrated four elements into a decision summary: bull costs, AI costs, genetics merit, and marketing options. An economic sensitivity analysis was used to identify trends and key variables in the net return of each decision. Three prominent variables identified from economic analysis were bull purchase price, semen price, and percent genetic change. Bull purchase price was a primary factor in changes in net return; semen costs and genetic merit change explained rearrangements in ranking of net return. These two variables altered the ranking based on whether the estrous synchronization protocol used estrus detection or timed AI. The spreadsheet identified AI to be more cost effective than natural service when calves are marketed as finished cattle. Net revenue from AI calves was greater in all retained ownership scenarios; the weaned marketing scenario caused net return to vary by synchronization system for the combinations of costs and changes in genetic merit. However, there was a wide variance in identifying which breeding system provided the greatest benefit when calves were marketed as feeder cattle. Retaining ownership through finish and marketing either on the cash market or on a grid proved to be advantageous to AI in all of the estrous synchronization protocols provided. The economic advantage ranged from $142.98 to $214.16 per head compared with marketing at weaning. The spreadsheet developed provides a useful tool for evaluating the economic impacts of breeding system decisions.     

法系夏洛来牛的引进繁育(上)

1986年后我站相继从国内、外引进法国夏洛来牛9头,在4头母牛基础上开始纯繁自育发展牛群。截至2003年6月,繁殖犊牛87头,存栏62头,其中成年公、母牛45头。4岁龄纯繁公、母牛平均体尺体重与同龄原种牛比,均有所提高。纯繁公牛20月龄采精调教,平均利用年限为61.73月龄,生产冻精71 074剂,淘汰年龄平均为84.6月龄。母牛平均初孕年龄为25.16月龄,平均淘汰年龄为95.71月龄,终生产犊4.8头。为社会创造巨大经济效益。     

免疫大师公牛女儿的疾病抗性分析

为探究通过抗病选育的免疫大师公牛女儿的疾病抗性情况,试验收集上海地区3个同时使用免疫大师公牛和普通公牛冻精牧场的5 112条个体疾病记录,采用Logistic回归法分析了犊牛出生季节、成母牛年龄、父亲类型（免疫大师和普通公牛）对部分常见奶牛疾病发病风险的影响。结果表明,出生季节和年龄分别对犊牛和成母牛各类疾病的发病风险有显著影响（P<0.05）;父亲类型对乳房炎的发病风险在部分群体中有显著影响（P<0.05）。与普通公牛的女儿相比,免疫大师公牛女儿乳房炎发病风险更低。综合本研究结果,免疫大师公牛的抗病能力选育技术有效,其在中国奶牛群体的后代表现出更好的疾病抗性,尤其是提高了奶牛乳房炎抗性,为利用育种手段提高奶牛群体的抗病能力和养殖效益提供了可行的技术路线。     

Insemination of Susceptible Heifers with Semen from a Non-Viraemic Bull with Persistent Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus Infection Localized in the Testes

Bulls shedding bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in semen and simultaneously having a high concentration of circulating antibodies may cause reproductive problems and spread the viral infection within cattle populations. To investigate this in detail, three heifers were inseminated with BVDV‐infected semen from a non‐viraemic, seropositive Holstein–Friesian bull, named `Cumulus'. One control heifer was inseminated with semen from a healthy bull that was free of BVDV. All four heifers remained clinically healthy throughout the experiment. The conception succeeded in the control animal and in two of the three heifers inseminated with semen containing BVDV. The heifer with the failed conception was the only one that became systemically infected with BVDV. This animal was deemed non‐pregnant by ultrasonic examination on day 34 after insemination and showed no signs of subsequent oestrus during the entire experimental period. At slaughter, 42 days after insemination, there were no histopathological changes in the ovaries and virus was not detected in ovarian tissue. The fact that seronegative dams served with semen from persistently infected bulls have occasionally produced persistently infected calves together with the present findings and the fact that non‐viraemic, seropositive bulls can constantly shed BVDV, suggest that the use of semen from such bulls in BVDV‐free herds could have far‐reaching consequences, especially if it led to the birth of persistently infected (P1) calves.     

Detection of Akabane viral antigens in spontaneous lymphohistiocytic encephalomyelitis in cattle.

A 5-month-old Japanese black bull calf and twenty-seven 1-27-day-old calves exhibiting neurological signs between August and October 1998 were examined. The bull calf exhibited rapid breathing, fever, hypersensitivity, and ataxia and was euthanized 4 days after the onset of symptoms. The 27 calves primarily exhibited ataxia, and 15 had arthrogryposis. Histological examination of the bull calf revealed perivascular infiltraction by mononuclear cells, diffuse to multifocal gliosis, and neuronal necrosis in the brain and spinal cord. Multiple malacic foci were found in the midbrain in 5 cases. In contrast, in the 15 calves necropsied in October, there were fewer inflammatory changes, but there was neuronal cell loss in the ventral horn and a decrease in myelinated axons in the lateral and ventral funiculi. Immunohistochemical examination using a rabbit antiserum against Akabane virus strain OBE-1 revealed a large amount of viral antigen in the degenerating neurons and glial cells of the bull calf, mainly in the spinal gray matter. Small amounts of viral antigen in swollen axons and a few glial cells were found in 5 of 27 calves. Thirteen of the 27 calves had high neutralization antibody titers against the Akabane virus, whereas there was no significant antibody titer in most of the calves necropsied during August. The present study revealed that viral antigen detection was very useful for the diagnosis of Akabane diseases in the 5-month-old bull calf that was suspected to be infected postnatally, while it had limited usefulness in the other young calves.     

Effect of acrosomal defects on fertility of bulls used in artificial insemination and natural breeding

Four bulls that produced spermatozoa with a high percentage of abnormal acrosomes were individually placed in pens with females for 21 days. Frozen semen from 2 of the bulls was used for artificial insemination. One of the bulls was placed in a competitive mating situation with normal bulls at pasture. First service pregnancy rates were determined by transrectal ultrasonography 28 days after bull removal from breeding pens, or after the last artificial insemination. The results of competitive mating at pasture were determined from breeding observations, the phenotypic characteristics of calves sired, and blood typing for parentage. The results of these studies suggest that bulls that produce a high percentage of spermatozoa with indented acrosomes may have normal fertility when used in artificial insemination or in single sire mating; however, their fertility may be low when breeding competitively with bulls with normal spermiograms.     

夏南横交种公牛生产性能研究

通过对8头采精夏南横交种公牛和18头本交夏南横交种公牛生产情况调查,夏南横交种公牛具有早熟性,无论是生产冻精还是本交,18月龄的种公牛均可投入生产,夏南横交种公牛生产性能良好,本交年均配种量可达264头,可制冻精细管20 175剂,配种数量、冻精产量、首配准胎率具有明显季节性,以春季最高,夏季最低。     

Insemination of susceptible and preimmunized cattle with bovine viral diarrhoea virus infected semen

Six susceptible and six preimmunized heifers were inseminated with semen from a bull persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). They had poor rates of conception, but ultimately, all but one conceived. Eleven, apparently normal, calves were born, none of which showed evidence of BVDV infection.     

散养湘西黄牛精液的采集与异地冷冻保存技术研究

通过散养湘西黄牛的精液采集与冷冻保存,有利于收集多个优良血缘,降低种公牛站内种公牛的饲养成本。2010年5月,在张家界市永定区湘西黄牛保种区,挑选年龄为2~4岁,特级种公牛10头,进行精液采集与冷冻保存。结果表明：10头未调教的公牛中,除2头（3号、7号）没有采精调教成功外,其它8头都可采精。每次采精3回,平均每次的射精量在2.33~7.66 mL、平均每次原精密度在7.18×108~1.51×109之间变化。不同个体的射精量与密度没有显著相关性。冻后细管精液在37~39℃温水中进行解冻,冻后活力在0.35~0.45之间,均能达到国家牛冷精液生产标准要求,10头公牛中有8头共生产冷冻精液3537支。因此,在保种区域现场采精,稀释处理后送至种公牛站实施湘西黄牛冻精生产的方法是可行的。     

The relationship of plasma leptin concentration and puberty in Holstein bull calves (Bos taurus)

The objective of this experiment was to study the changes of plasma leptin concentration during puberty and its relationship with testosterone level and testis dimensions in Holstein bull calves. Six Iranian Holstein bull calves with approximately 6 months of age were used. Semen evaluation was conducted at 1‐month interval to determine the puberty state. To detect the plasma leptin and testosterone changes, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein during pre‐puberty (6–7 months of age), puberty (8–9 months of age) and post‐puberty (10–11 months of age). In addition, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and testicular width and length were measured at 3‐week intervals. The effects of time (age) on total sperm number and percentage of progressive motility of sperm, plasma concentration of leptin and testosterone, amplitude and frequencies of testosterone, BW, BCS, testicular dimensions were significant. Sperm number and progressive motility during post‐puberty were higher than those during puberty and pre‐puberty. Plasma concentration of leptin during the pre‐puberty was higher than those during puberty and post‐puberty (p < 0.01). Mean plasma testosterone concentrations during puberty were higher than those during pre‐puberty (p < 0.05). BW, BCS and testicular dimensions consistently increased throughout the trial. Results indicated that in growing bull calves, plasma concentrations of leptin decreased during puberty, while circulating testosterone increased.     

SERUM SPERMAGGLUTININS AND SEMEN QUALITY IN THE BULL

SUMMARY Three bulls injected with homologous semen or testis material developed spermagglutinins in serum while one control bull inoculated with egg white did not. In one bull a high spermagglutinin titre was associated with allergic epididymitis, a decreased proportion of motile spermatozoa, and an increased proportion of tail abnormalities. The palpable lesion persisted for 35 days, the spermagglutinin titre and semen abnormalities for a further 2 months. No change in semen quality was associated with the lower serum spermagglutinin titres in the other two treatment bulls or over comparable periods of time in the control bull. No naturally occurring spermagglutinins were found in a population of 50 bulls with varying semen qualities at an artificial breeding centre.     

Transmission of bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) by artificial insemination (AI) with semen from a persistently-infected bull

Twelve heifers that did not have antibodies to bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were inseminated with semen from a bull that was persistently infected with the virus and contained 10(4.0)-10(6.5) TCID50 0.1 ml-1. All 12 became infected, as indicated by seroconversion within 2 weeks of insemination. Four control heifers were inseminated with virus-free semen. The virus was not transmitted to these animals in spite of close contact with the heifers inseminated with the infected semen. All the heifers became pregnant and gave birth to clinically normal calves at term. However, one calf was born persistently infected with BVDV. After the birth of this persistently-infected calf the control heifers and their calves seroconverted. The study demonstrates that BVDV may be transmitted in cattle by artificial insemination (AI). Therefore entry of persistently-infected animals into AI centres should be prevented.     

犊牛水中毒实验研究—临床与血液学观察

选用１０头健康、未断奶、日龄和体重相近的黑白花公犊牛，采用试验前后自身对照比较，每日自饮１：３的掺奶水２次，进行为期８ｄ的水中毒人工诱病试验。结果全部供试牛均在首次自饮奶水后即开始显现速度不等的水中毒症状，其中２头至第８ｄ排血红蛋白尿，血Ｎａ＾＋，Ｋ＾＋，ＣＯ２结合力，Ｈｂ，ＰＶＣ，ＲＢＣ，ＷＢＣ以及尿比重，尿ＰＨ等血尿检测指标有差异显著的改变，ＷＢＣ分类计数亦有明显改变，试验表明，犊牛水中毒不但     

Hereditary parakeratosis in shorthorn beef calves

Parakeratosis was diagnosed in 9 Shorthorn beef calves over a 4-year period. When pedigrees of these calves were analyzed, familial associations were strong. Thirty-six coefficients of relationship among all possible combinations of the 9 affected calves ranged from 0.5 to 39.8% and averaged 15.6%. All affected calves were descendants of bull A. Of 9 affected calves, 6 had bull A in their paternal and maternal pedigrees. The 3 remaining affected calves had bull A in their sire's pedigree and were born to 2 full-sib dams. Seemingly, parakeratosis in this Shorthorn herd was hereditary with the mode of inheritance being that of a simple autosomal recessive.     

Distribution of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in organs of naturally infected bull-calves and breeding bulls

Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, has particular importance in cattle due to the resulting chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, decreased production, infertility and eventual death. While faecal oral route of infection is generally recognised, reports about semen-derived infection are rare. The objective of this work was to assess whether M.a. paratuberculosis may disseminate from the gastrointestinal tract to reproductive organs, and compare this event between naturally infected bull-calves and breeding bulls. Ten bull-calves, aged 6-28 weeks and four breeding bulls were tested by serology, faecal and tissue culture, IS900 PCR and RFLP. In seven bull-calves M.a. paratuberculosis was isolated predominantly from mesenteric lymph nodes (75%); isolates from mucosa of the intestine constituted 25%. In three breeding bulls, M.a. paratuberculosis was isolated both from intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes. Head and mediastinal lymph nodes, liver, spleen and semen of bull no. 1 (Holstein-Friesian); testes and epididymis of bull no. 2 (Piemonte); testes, epididymides and seminal vesicle of bull No. 3 (Hereford); and seminal vesicle of bull No. 4 (Simmental) tested positive by culture. Hot-start PCR revealed M.a. paratuberculosis in semen, seminal vesicle and intestinal tissue where culture isolation was difficult. Isolates from bull-calves and breeding bulls were of RFLP types B-C9 and B-C1, respectively. Bull-calves born in infected herd can be sources of infection when later used for natural mating or artificial insemination. Sub-clinically infected bulls release M.a. paratuberculosis into semen, consequently infecting the uterine environment of cows.     

Reproductive performance of apparently healthy cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

A Holstein-Friesian bull and three Holstein-Friesian cows were seronegative for bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus but were persistently infected with the virus. Virus was isolated from buffy coat cells and nasal and lacrimal secretions during their lifetime, and they remained free of clinical signs of BVD. The three cows were pregnant when purchased, and they gave birth to full-term calves. One calf lived only a few hours, one calf became ill and died within a few days, and one calf became ill and was euthanatized within a few weeks. One cow was then bred and became pregnant but aborted a 7-month fetus. A second cow was bred approximately 5 months after parturition but did not conceive. The third cow was necropsied 6 weeks after calving, because of loss of weight. Although the bull's semen contained BVD virus when seropositive cows were bred, normal calves were born. When seronegative heifers were bred, they became seropositive to BVD virus within two weeks, with higher titers in six weeks. On heifer conceived after one service but aborted a 6-month fetus. Three others continued to have estrous cycles until their titers rose to 1:128, then they conceived and gave birth to normal calves. Another heifer conceived on the first service, had a titer of 1:128 two weeks after breeding, and gave birth to a normal calf.     

Multiple hereditary ocular anomalies in a herd of cattle

A Brahman x Santa Gertrudis herd of cows bred to a Hereford bull was evaluated because of a 3-year history of several calves born with congenital blindness. Multiple congenital ocular anomalies in 2 calves included microphthalmos, microcornea, microcoria, heterochromia iridis, microlentia, cataracts, retinal dysplasia, retinal detachment, anterior segment dysgenesis, acorea, and proliferation of the anterior neuroectoderm. On the basis of the lack of environmental factors and persistence of an intermittent problem when breeding to a single bull, a genetic defect was diagnosed as the probable cause. Dominant inheritance with varied expressivity may have best explained the lack of obvious signs in the bull, with emergence of various anterior and posterior segment defects in offspring from unrelated cows.     

Genomic selection strategies in dairy cattle breeding programmes: Sexed semen cannot replace multiple ovulation and embryo transfer as superior reproductive technology

The aim of this study was to test whether the use of X-semen in a dairy cattle population using genomic selection (GS) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) increases the selection intensity on cow dams and thereby the genetic gain in the entire population. Also, the dynamics of using different types of sexed semen (X, Y or conventional) in the nucleus were investigated. The stochastic simulation study partly supported the hypothesis as the genetic gain in the entire population was elevated when X-semen was used in the production population as GS exploited the higher selection intensity among heifers with great accuracy. However, when MOET was applied, the effect was considerably diminished as was the exchange of females between the nucleus and the production population, thus causing modest genetic profit from using X-sorted semen in the production population. In addition, the effect of using sexed semen on the genetic gain was very small compared with the effect of MOET and highly dependent on whether cow dams or bull dams were inseminated with sexed semen and on what type of semen that was used for the bull dams. The rate of inbreeding was seldom affected by the use of sexed semen. However, when all young bull candidates were born following MOET, the results showed that the use of Y-semen in the breeding nucleus tended to decrease the rate of inbreeding as it enabled GS to increase within-family selection. This implies that the benefit from using sexed semen in a modern dairy cattle breeding scheme applying both GS and MOET may be found in its beneficial effect on the rate of inbreeding.     

Efficacy of methods used to test fertility of beef bulls used for multiple-sire breeding under range conditions

A study was conducted during the 1982, 1983 and 1984 breeding seasons with 277 crossbred bulls, 1 to 3 yr of age, that were evaluated for physical soundness, testicular development, seminal quality, and both sexual and social behavior immediately before exposure to crossbred cow herds ranging in size from 89 to 329 cows. Crossbred cow herds were exposed to 4 to 24 bulls per breeding group (mean of 14) at a mean female: male ratio of 21.2 +/- .6:1 under extensive range conditions for 31 to 62 d (mean 46.6 d). All resulting calves were blood-typed to determine the number of calves sired by each bull as an estimate of his fertility. The mean number of calves sired by 1- (n = 116), 2- (n = 126) and 3-yr-old (n = 35) bulls was 4.7 +/- .1, 8.2 +/- .1 and 10.5 +/- .1, respectively. A regression model for predicting bull fertility under multiple-sire, range breeding conditions was selected that accounted for 29% of the total variance in fertility. Similar models accounted for a greater proportion of variance in fertility of 1-yr-old (37%) than of 2-yr-old bulls (22%). Due to the large amount of unexplained variation, the model could not predict individual bull fertility precisely. However, this study demonstrated that selection of herd sires with large scrotal circumference, low backfat thickness, low levels of primary sperm defects, and a low number of mounts in combination with a moderate number of services during libido testing would be expected to improve fertility of beef bulls used under extensive range conditions.