Use of animal breeds and breeding to overcome the incidence of grass tetany: a review

British breeds of cattle are not so effective as Zebu in extracting nutrients from low-quality roughages, and these breeds differ in their nutrient metabolism and animal physiology. Breeds of cattle may differ in their requirements for Mg. Brahman cows are less susceptible to death from disease and metabolic disorders than are British breeds of cattle, whereas cows with 50% or greater dairy breeding (Holstein and Jersey) are more susceptible than British or Brahman breeds when maintained in beef production herds. Brahman or Brahman crossbred cows are less susceptible than other breeds to metabolic disorders such as grass tetany. Magnesium absorption has been shown to be greater in Brahman than in Jersey, Holstein and Hereford cows. These differences in the efficiency of Mg absorption between different breeds of cows may be due to genetic variation in the absorptive mechanisms of Mg, in feeding behavior, in gastrointestinal tract motility, in gastrointestinal tract fill or to some combination.     

一种先进的动物育种值估计方法--动物模型BLUP法

文章介绍了动物模型BLUP法的基本原理、特征、应用现状 ,合理运用该方法对育种值估计有实用价值。     

Revolutionize livestock breeding in the future: an animal embryo-stem cell breeding system in a dish

Meat and milk production needs to increase ～ 70–80% relative to its current levels for satisfying the human needs in 2050.However,it is impossible to achieve such genetic gain by conventional animal breeding systems.Based on recent advances with regard to in vitro induction of germ cell from pluripotent stem cells,herein we propose a novel embryo-stem cell breeding system.Distinct from the conventional breeding system in farm animals that involves selecting and mating individuals,the novel breeding system completes breeding cycles from parental to offspring embryos directly by selecting and mating embryos in a dish.In comparison to the conventional dairy breeding scheme,this system can rapidly achieve 30–40 times more genetic gain by significantly shortening generation interval and enhancing selection intensity.However,several major obstacles must be overcome before we can fully use this system in livestock breeding,which include derivation and mantaince of pluripotent stem cells in domestic animals,as well as in vitro induction of primordial germ cells,and subsequent haploid gametes.Thus,we also discuss the potential efforts needed in solving the obstacles for application this novel system,and elaborate on their groundbreaking potential in livestock breeding.This novel system would provide a revolutionary animal breeding system by offering an unprecedented opportunity for meeting the fast-growing meat and milk demand of humans.     

Patent protection in the field of animal breeding

Abstract

There are a rapidly growing number of patent applications relevant for the animal-breeding sector. Patent law is general in form and is seldom adapted to single areas of innovation. It was initially created for the purpose of granting exclusive rights to technical inventions; and it was taken for granted that higher animals, food production and pharmaceuticals were too important for mankind to be included under exclusive private rights. When patent law now is becoming increasingly in use in the animal sector, it is an unanswered question how the law will apply to this particular field of innovation. There is legal uncertainty of how the courts will apply the general law to this particular field. Patent law has the potential to alter the existing legal conditions for competition and investments in the field of animal breeding, and needs therefore a higher level of awareness among policy makers, animal breeders and farmers.     

《家畜育种学》教材存在问题及更新刍议

《家畜育种学》课程是动物生产学科重要的一门专业基础课程.近年来,由于生物技术、信息技术、计算机科学等领域的发展迅速以及在动物育种中的应用,动物育种领域又出现了不少新理论和新技术.为了使教学更好跟上家畜育种学及其相关领域发展的步伐,本文对我国《家畜育种学》教材中存在问题进行分析,并重点阐述了《家畜育种学》教材更新内容.     

Possible consequences of the Nagoya Protocol for animal breeding and the worldwide exchange of animal genetic resources

The paper discusses animal genetic resources in the context of the Nagoya Protocol, providing an overview of the distinctive features and practices in this sector of genetic resources. It presents how animal genetic resources are utilized, who are the users and providers, and what are the trends in gene flow of these resources. The paper reflects on current access measures and arrangements for local breeds and for international commercial breeds. Key benefits arising from the international exchange of animal genetic resources for research and livestock production and current developments in the sector supporting the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol are presented. References to the scope and application of EU ABS legislation are also made. The paper underlines the importance of continuous undisturbed access to animal genetic resources for research and breeding to facilitate further development within the global livestock sector.     

RNA干扰技术在动物抗病育种中的应用前景

动物疾病尤其是病毒性疾病一直是畜牧业亟待解决的问题,随着转基因技术的出现,生产遗传修饰动物来抵抗特定传染病的策略备受关注。从长远利益来看,这种基因工程动物从遗传本质上提高了畜禽的抗病能力。转基因抗病育种在未来可能成为减少动物传染性疾病的最有前途的方法之一。RNA干扰是双链RNA特异性诱导同源基因表达沉默的现象。研究证实,RNA干扰在细胞水平,小鼠模型以及动物个体的抗病毒效果是非常明显的,RNA干扰技术作为抗病毒策略为生产抗病转基因动物提供了光明的应用前景。RNA干扰技术介导的抗病转基因动物的研究相继取得了阶段性进展,抗疯牛病转基因羊和牛以及抗内源性逆转录病毒猪已经成功获得,虽然目前获得的转基因动物类型有限,但为继续生产抗病转基因家畜提供了有效的参考和依据。     

动物育种目标性状经济重要性研究的方法

动物育种者的主要目的是根据适宜的育种目标选育优良的种用个体,确保生产群在预期的生产目标和市场条件下获得最大的经济效益。随着育种科学的发展,确定和评价动物育种目标的方法趋于在多性状的综合选择中用综合育种值表达数量化的育种目标。由于育种目标在育种方案的实施过程中得以实现,所以在育种方案中,育种目标性状通常包含对遗传进展更为有利的经济性状。而以经济效益为基础的动物育种目标,通过确定目标性状的经济重要性阐明收益性过程中遗传的作用,简化了选择方案的研究。本文根据定量经济学原理,育种目标性状经济重要性是性状边际效益和性状经贴现的标准化性状表现值的乘积量,综述了动物育种目标性状的边际效益以及各性状经贴现的标准化性状表现值获得的方法对育种目标性状经济重要性研究的方法。     

Use of anorganic rhodanides in the breeding of piglets

Breeding results of sows reared under conventional conditions could be raised by treating them with 20 mg potassium rhodanide/day 14 days before up to 14 days after farrowig. An increase of the rhodanide level could be demonstrated in the colostrum providing a higher rhodanide supply in piglets of treated sows.     

Use of oocyte transfer in a commercial breeding program for mares with reproductive abnormalities

In some mares with lesions of the reproductive tract, embryo collection and survival rates are low, or collection of embryos is not feasible. For these mares, oocyte transfer has been proposed as a method to induce pregnancies. In this report, a method for oocyte transfer in mares and results of oocyte transfer performed over 2 breeding seasons, using mares with long histories of subfertility and various reproductive lesions, are described. Human chorionic gonadotropin or an implant containing a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog was used to initiate follicular and oocyte maturation. Oocytes were collected by means of transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. Following follicular aspiration, cumulus oocyte complexes were evaluated for cumulus expansion and signs of atresia; immature oocytes were cultured in vitro to allow maturation. The recipient's ovary and uterine tube (oviduct) were exposed through a flank laparotomy with the horse standing, and the oocyte was slowly deposited within the oviduct. Oocyte transfer was attempted in 38 mares between 9 and 30 years old during 2 successive breeding seasons. All mares had a history of reproductive failure while in breeding and embryo transfer programs. Twenty pregnancies were induced. Fourteen of the pregnant mares delivered live foals. Results suggest that oocyte transfer can be a successful method for inducing pregnancy in subfertile mares in a commercial setting.     

Use of the Leptospira sp. ligB C-terminus coding region as a diagnostic tool of animal leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis worldwide, and it can cause reproductive failures in livestock, while in humans may vary from a mild fever to multi-organ failure and death. Due to this, in this study, we evaluated the usefulness of the segment encoding LigB C-terminus region, only present in pathogenic as target for a diagnostic PCR.This new PCR yielded a 100 % positivity for pathogenic Leptospira species and no cross-reactivity was found with intermediate or non-pathogenic species, or with other microorganisms, demostrating its high analytical specificity.The estimated analytical sensitivity was higher in serum samples than in blood or urine samples (6−9 × 10² lept/mL and 6−9 × 10⁵ and 6−9 × 10⁶ lept/mL, respectively). Multiple sequence alignment of the target region from different pathogenic Leptospira species confirmed that this gene region is highly conserved among these species, with few single nucleotide polymorphisms.The ligb-ct PCR here developed appears as a useful tool for the molecular diagnosis of leptospirosis.     

Use of FAMACHA Scoring System as a diagnostic aid for the registration of distinguishing marks in the breeding program for lambs exposed to an experimental Haemonchus contortus infection

The control of gastro-intestinal nematodes in sheep has almost entirely been based on the use of anthelmintics and pasture management. Therefore anthelmintic resistance escalated in the past. One way of reducing this problem may be the limitation of anthelmintic treatment to those animals with clinical symptoms only. The FAMACHA Eye-colour-chart is based on the principle knowledge that the colour of mucous membranes are correlated with the anaemiae situation of an animal. To monitor anaemic animals they are identified and classified in a 1 to 5-color scale based on the colour of the conjunctiva, and anaemic animals can be selectively treated. It helps to reduce treatments and therefore the development of drug resistance. The objective of this study was to estimate the correlation between FAMACHA-scores, haematocrit values, faecal egg counts, plasma albumin level and worm burden following an experimental infection with Haemonchus contortus in lambs. The estimated correlations have been low. This proofs the limits of the FAMACHA system under a situation of low parasite pressure.