Genetic factors affecting susceptibility to udder pathogens

Many studies have identified genetic factors underlying resistance or susceptibility to mastitis in dairy cows and heifers. Some authors focused on polygenic variation while others searched for genes and/or quantitative trait loci with major effects on mastitis. Classical traits related to mastitis include somatic cell counts, electrical conductivity and clinical cases of the disease. With the development of automatic milking devices and '-omics' technologies, new traits are considered, such as acute phase proteins, immunological assays, and milk flow patterns, and new biological pathways are discovered, for example the role of mammary epithelium and the nervous system. The usefulness of these traits for the identification of resistant cows is discussed in relation to the biological mechanisms underlying the development of the disease. In addition, the utility of these traits for genetic improvement is reviewed. Finally, the problem of durability in resistance is addressed, including co-evolution and the cost of resistance.     

Searching for DNA markers for milk production and composition on chromosome 6 in sheep

Several milk protein polymorphisms are potential tools for selection in dairy ruminants. However, research results for dairy sheep are not as conclusive as those for goats or cattle and are often controversial. The main objective of this study was to find and later use molecular genetic markers in selection to improve milk production and milk composition in Awassi ewes. Chromosome 6 was chosen because several studies have reported the presence of significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting milk production traits on ovine and bovine chromosome 6. Altogether, genotypes for 13 microsatellite loci were determined for 258 ewes, which were purebred Awassi or Awassi-Merino crosses. Phenotypic data were lactation yield of milk, milk fat, protein and lactose (kg), average milk protein and fat percentage and average somatic cell count. Five out of the 13 microsatellites showed significant association with at least one of the examined traits.     

Breeding for resistance to mastitis in United Kingdom sheep, a review and economic appraisal

Mastitis is a problem in the sheep industry, and its incidence varies widely with how it is recorded, the breed of sheep and the farm. Virtually all the published information about the genetics of mastitis refers to dairy breeds of cattle and sheep, and there is little information for meat sheep breeds. Many dairy breeding programmes worldwide use the somatic cell count (scc) in milk as an indicator of resistance to clinical and subclinical mastitis, but it is difficult to measure in meat sheep breeds. Molecular genetic technologies may therefore be a more practical way to assess susceptibility to mastitis. This paper reviews the genetics of mastitis and considers the opportunities for breeding for resistance to mastitis, with particular reference to sheep. In addition, to investigate the potential economic effects of mastitis in a purebred sheep population, a computer model of flock dynamics was developed. By making a modest set of assumptions about the key farm parameters that influence lowland sheep production, the model showed that breeding for resistance (or other control methods), if it could reduce the risk of contracting mastitis by 10 per cent, would be worth pounds 8.40 per ewe, equivalent annually to pounds 2.7 million for the purebred sector of the Texel breed alone.     

体细胞计数及其在降低奶牛乳房炎发病率方面的应用

介绍奶牛体细胞计数的概念、特征、测量方法、体细胞值所受到的影响及其在乳制品行业的应用,尤其是在降低奶牛乳房炎发病方面,用体细胞值作为一种遗传性状进行选择以提高奶牛对乳房炎抗性的应用。     

A whole genome scan to map QTL for milk production traits and somatic cell score in Canadian Holstein bulls

The detection and mapping of genetic markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) can be utilized to enhance genetic improvement of livestock populations. With the completion of the bovine genome sequence assembly, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) assays spanning the whole bovine genome and research work on large scale identification, validation and analysis of genotypic variation in cattle has become possible. The objective of the present study was to perform a whole genome scan to identify and map QTL affecting milk production traits and somatic cell scores using linkage disequilibrium (LD) regression and 1536 SNP markers. Three and 18 SNP were found to be associated with only milk yield (MY) at a genome and chromosome wise significance (p < 0.05) level respectively. Among the 21 significant SNP, 16 were in a region reported to have QTL for MY in other dairy cattle populations and while the rest five were new QTL finding. Four SNP out of 21 are significant for the milk production traits (MY, fat yield, protein yield (PY), and milk contents) in the present study. Six and nine SNP were associated with PY at a genome and chromosome wise significant (p < 0.05) level respectively. Three and 17 SNP were found to be associated with FY at a genome and chromosome wise significant (p < 0.05) level. Five and seven SNP were mapped with somatic cell score at a genome and chromosome wise significant (p < 0.05) level respectively. The results of this study have revealed QTL for MY, PY, protein percentage, FY, fat percentage, somatic cell score and persistency of milk in the Canadian dairy cattle population. The chromosome regions identified in this study should be further investigated to potentially identify the causative mutations underlying the QTL.     

奶牛生长性状研究进展与展望

近年来,生长性状在奶牛育种中备受关注,随着对奶牛生长性状研究的日益深入,其与重要经济性状间的相关性逐渐凸显出来,对奶牛的育种工作也变得越来越重要。本文就奶牛生长性状定义、遗传参数、与经济性状的关联、生长性状QTL定位、GWAS分析等方面进行了综述,并明确了生长性状在奶牛未来育种中的地位。     

奶牛育种中关注的新性状

各国奶牛群体的选育目标建立之后,选育目标一直在不断发展,选择指数中性状的组成、定义和权重等都在不断变化。奶牛的选育是从关注产奶性能而开始,随后增加了体型外貌性状。由于奶牛的健康和繁殖问题的增加以及社会对动物福利的不断关注,20世纪末,世界范围内平衡育种理念在奶牛育种中逐渐形成,一些重要的功能性状加入各国的选择指数中;进入21世纪后,随着奶牛养殖业和社会的发展,育种家们开始关注和研究更多的性状,部分新性状已经开始在育种实践中选育应用。本文通过整理奶牛育种中有关新性状的研究并收集各国奶牛选育方案中的相关信息,综述了近十年奶业发达国家在奶牛遗传选育中正在研究或已经开始应用的新性状,并将这些新性状分为生产效率相关的新性状、应对环境挑战的新性状、健康福利相关的新性状、产品和加工相关的新性状及管理相关的新性状五大类,总结了这些性状的选育背景、定义方法、遗传基础和选育应用情况等,最后还总结了奶牛育种中新性状的研究应用过程,以期为我国奶牛遗传育种研究和育种目标完善提供一定的借鉴。     

Non-lactational traits of importance in dairy cows and applications for emerging biotechnologies

Dairy cattle have traditionally been selected for their ability to produce milk and milk components. The traditional single-minded approach to selection of dairy cattle has now changed and secondary traits are being included in selection indices by decreasing the emphasis on production. Greater emphasis on non-production traits reflects the industry's desire for functional dairy cattle. Six broad categories of non-lactational traits are discussed in this review. They are: type; growth, body size and composition; efficiency of feed utilisation; disease resistance, e.g. udder health as measured by somatic cell score; reproduction; and management. Most of these traits can be found within selection indices worldwide, although relative emphasis varies. The non-lactational traits mentioned above are quantitative, meaning that the phenotype in the whole animal represents the sum of lesser traits that cannot be easily measured. The physiological mechanisms that underlie quantitative traits are extremely complex. Genetic selection can be applied to quantitative traits but it is difficult to link successful genetic selection with the underlying physiological mechanisms. The importance that the bovine genome sequence will play in the future of the genetics of dairy cattle cannot be understated. Completing the bovine genome sequence is the first step towards modernising our approach to the genetics of dairy cattle. Finding genes in the genome is difficult and scanning billions of base pairs of DNA is an imperfect task. The function of most genes is either unknown or incompletely understood. Combining all of the information into a useable format is known as bioinformatics. At the present time, our capacity to generate information is great but our capacity to understand the information is small. The important information resides within subtle changes in gene expression and within the cumulative effect that these have. Traditional methods of genetic selection in dairy cattle will be used for the foreseeable future. Most non-lactational traits are heritable and will be included in selection indices if the traits have value. The long-term prognosis for genome science is good but advances will take time. Genetic selection in the genome era will be different because DNA sequence analysis may replace traditional methods of genetic selection.     

Comparison of variance components for test-day electrical conductivity of milk and test-day somatic cell score for first lactation cows in an experimental herd

In recent decades, electrical conductivity (EC) has been introduced as an indicator of mastitis, and genetic selection based on this trait may be possible. In this study, genetic parameters for test-day EC and test-day somatic cell score (SCS) were compared. Data were collected from a Danish experimental herd, including daily records of EC and SCS from 265 first lactation cows. Different genetic models were tested, and a random regression animal model with a 4th order Legendre polynomial for the permanent environmental effect for both traits, a 1st order Legendre polynomial for the additive genetic effect of EC and a 2nd order Legendre polynomial for the additive genetic effect of SCS, gave the best fit. The patterns of the curves were similar for both permanent environmental and additive genetic variance for the two traits. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.05 to 0.12, and from 0.01 to 0.09, for EC and SCS, respectively. The estimate of genetic correlation between the traits was high, and ranged from 0.86 to 0.98. Based on these results, EC could be a potential indicator trait in a breeding programme where selection for increased mastitis resistance is included.     

Non-lactational traits of importance in dairy cows and applications for emerging biotechnologies

Dairy cattle have traditionally been selected for their ability to produce milk and milk components. The traditional single-minded approach to selection of dairy cattle has now changed and secondary traits are being included in selection indices by decreasing the emphasis on production. Greater emphasis on non-production traits reflects the industry's desire for functional dairy cattle. Six broad categories of non-lactational traits are discussed in this review. They are: type; growth, body size and composition; efficiency of feed utilisation; disease resistance, e.g. udder health as measured by somatic cell score; reproduction; and management. Most of these traits can be found within selection indices worldwide, although relative emphasis varies.

The non-lactational traits mentioned above are quantitative, meaning that the phenotype in the whole animal represents the sum of lesser traits that cannot be easily measured. The physiological mechanisms that underlie quantitative traits are extremely complex. Genetic selection can be applied to quantitative traits but it is difficult to link successful genetic selection with the underlying physiological mechanisms. The importance that the bovine genome sequence will play in the future of the genetics of dairy cattle cannot be understated. Completing the bovine genome sequence is the first step towards modernising our approach to the genetics of dairy cattle.

Finding genes in the genome is difficult and scanning billions of base pairs of DNA is an imperfect task. The function of most genes is either unknown or incompletely understood. Combining all of the information into a useable format is known as bioinformatics. At the present time, our capacity to generate information is great but our capacity to understand the information is small. The important information resides within subtle changes in gene expression and within the cumulative effect that these have.

Traditional methods of genetic selection in dairy cattle will be used for the foreseeable future. Most non-lactational traits are heritable and will be included in selection indices if the traits have value. The long-term prognosis for genome science is good but advances will take time. Genetic selection in the genome era will be different because DNA sequence analysis may replace traditional methods of genetic selection.     

牛主要抗病候选基因的研究进展

牛抗病基因与其自身的抗病性和免疫能力有一定的相关性,因此研究相关抗病基因对提高牛自身免疫能力和选育优良后代有重要意义,文章着重介绍了国内外关于天然抗性相关巨噬细胞蛋白1（natual resistant macrophage protein 1,Nramp1）、主要组织相容性复合物（major histocompatibility complex,MHC）、甘露糖结合凝集素（maflnan binding lectin,MBL）、Toll样受体（Toll-like receptors,TLR）及干扰素基因（interferon,IFN）与牛某些疾病相关性的研究进展,及其是否可用于后代育种的分子标记,如MHC与奶牛的乳房炎密切相关;牛TLR4基因的外显子1760 C>T突变中的CC基因型可作为奶牛乳房炎抗性筛选中的分子标记等。笔者认为研究这些抗病基因可更深层次了解牛的抗病机制,同时借助先进的技术手段如分子标记、基因工程等,可更好的选育出抗病后代,抗病基因在育种中的应用将是未来研究抗病性和免疫能力的主要方向。     

Genome-wide scan for selective sweeps identifies novel loci associated with resistance to mastitis in German Holstein cattle

Domestication and selection significantly changed phenotypic and behavioural traits in modern domestic animals. In this study, to identify the genomic regions associated with mastitis, genomic data of German Holstein dairy cattle were analysed. The samples were genotyped using the Bovine 50 K SNP chip. For each defined healthy and sick group, 133 samples from 13,276 genotyped dairy cows were selected based on mastitis random residual effects. Grouping was done to infer selection signatures based on XP-EHH statistic. The results revealed that for the top 0.01 percentile of the obtained XP-EHH values, five genomic regions on chromosomes 8, 11, 12, 14 and 26 of the control group, and four regions on chromosomes 3, 4 (two regions) and 22 of the case group, have been under selection. Also, consideration of the top 0.1 percentile of the XP-EHH values, clarified 21 and 15 selective sweeps in the control and case group, respectively. This study identified some genomic regions containing potential candidate genes associated with resistance and susceptibility to mastitis, immune system and inflammation, milk traits, udder morphology and different types of cancers. In addition, these regions overlap with some quantitative trait loci linked to clinical mastitis, immunoglobulin levels, somatic cell score, udder traits, milk fat and protein, milk yield, milking speed and veterinary treatments. It is noteworthy that we found two regions in the healthy group (on chromosomes 12 and 14) with strong signals, which were not described previously. It is likely that future research could link these identified genomic regions to mastitis. The results of the current study contribute to the identification of causal mutations, genomic regions and genes affecting mastitis incidence in dairy cows.     

奶牛乳腺炎抗性候选基因多态性研究进展

奶牛的乳腺炎是一种极其复杂的疾病,是影响奶牛产业发展的一个重要因素。对奶牛乳腺炎抗性的研究有助于选育出有高抗性的奶牛群体,提高奶产品的数量和质量,并且可以减少抗生素的使用。近年来,随着生物信息学、分子育种技术和基因组学的发展,为奶牛的乳腺炎抗病育种提供的新的前景。本文主要介绍了牛锌指蛋白313基因、前脑锌指蛋白基因、T...     

Candidate gene markers associated with somatotropic axis and milk selection.

One of the obstacles to progress in dairy cattle selection is that milk production traits are only expressed after the first calving. However, the use of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) technology will improve the efficiency of dairy industry with a positive image for the consumers. QTL are part of the genome showing a preponderant action and explaining the major part of variation of the trait production. At the present time, the two major strategies developed to detect such QTL are the candidate gene approach and the positional genetics approach. The somatotropic axis contains the most promising candidates in this respect, as it strongly regulates milk production. Then, the identification of favorable QTL associated with the somatotropic axis that are significantly correlated with genetic merits for milk production could lead to more effective selection programs.     

Economic weights of production and functional traits for Holstein‐Friesian cattle in Hungary

A bio‐economic model was used to estimate economic values of 15 milk production, functional, growth and carcass traits for Hungarian Holstein‐Friesian cattle. The calculations were carried out for the situation in Hungary from 2000 to 2007, assuming no production quotas. The marginal economic values were defined as partial derivatives of the profit function with respect to each trait in a production system with dairy cow herds and with sales of surplus male calves. The economic weights for maternal and direct components of traits were calculated multiplying the marginal economic values by the number of discounted expression summed over a 25‐year investment period for 2‐year‐old bulls (candidates for selection). The standardized economic weight (economic weight × genetic standard deviation) of the trait or trait component expressed as percentage of the sum of the standardized economic weights for all traits and trait components represented the relative economic importance of this trait or trait component. The highest relative economic importance was obtained for milk yield (25%), followed by productive lifetime of cows (23%), protein yield and the direct component of a cow’s total conception rate (9% each), the maternal effect of the total conception rate of cows and the somatic cell score (approximately 7% each), fat yield (5%) and mature weight of cows and daily gain in rearing of calves (approximately 4% each). Other functional traits (clinical mastitis incidence, calving difficulty score, total conception rate of heifers and calf mortality) reached a relative economic importance between 0.5% and 2%. Birth weight and dressing percentage were least important (<0.5%). Based on these results, the inclusion of productive lifetime and cow fertility in the breeding programme for Holstein‐Friesian cattle in Hungary is advisable.     

Association between Coxiella burnetii shedding in milk and subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle

The objective of this research was to explore the potential association between Coxiella burnetii shedding in milk and chronic subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. In two separate studies, we identified an association between PCR-based detection of C. burnetii in milk and chronic subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. These studies were conducted in a commercial dairy herd where there was ongoing intensive monitoring of subclinical mastitis by aerobic bacteriology, but no prior knowledge or management of C. burnetii infections. In a case-control study, quarter level C. burnetii status determined by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was strongly associated with chronic subclinical mastitis as measured by milk somatic cell counts. In a subsequent cross sectional study, 147 (45%) of 325 lactating cows were positive for C. burnetii by RT-qPCR of composite milk samples. In a generalized linear model, accounting for the effect of covariates including aerobic intramammary infection status, C. burnetii PCR status was a significant predictor of linear somatic cell count score. In agreement with a small number of previous reports, this research provides evidence that there may be mammary gland specific manifestations of C. burnetii infections in dairy cattle.     

奶牛分子育种技术研究进展

分子育种技术是在DNA水平上直接进行选择,通过对随机分布于整个基因组的分子标记的多态性进行比较,更加全面地了解研究对象的多态性,可以获得更大的信息量,选种的准确性也更高,进而提高奶牛生产效率和经济效益。作者从奶牛分子育种技术的角度入手,阐述了数量性状基因的定位、分子标记辅助选择、转基因育种以及全基因组关联分析这几方面的研究难点、存在问题和研究进展,指出分子育种技术在奶牛育种及改良过程中具有非常重要的作用,进一步研究并应用分子育种技术,不仅可以加速我国奶牛核心群的全面建设,而且对培育种公牛也是非常必要的手段。     

The Research Progress of Molecular Technology for Dairy Cattle Breeding

Molecular breeding technology is direct selection at the DNA level by randomly distributed molecular markers throughout the genome polymorphism comparison,it is helpful to carry out more comprehensive study of polymorphism on investigated subjects,meanwhile,more information can be got,and the accuracy of selection will be higher,thereby,the milk production efficiency and economic benefits can be improved.From the perspective of the dairy cattle molecular breeding technology,the author expounds the research challenges,problems and research progress on several aspects,such as localization of QTL,MAS,transgenic breeding and GWAS,points out that molecular breeding techniques have a very important role in dairy cattle breeding and improvement process.Further research and application of molecular breeding technology not only can accelerate the development of dairy cows in the core group of comprehensive construction,but also is very necessary to cultivate a bull.     

A review of genetic resistance to disease in Bos taurus cattle

Cattle show considerable variability in their responses to a wide range of disease challenges, and much of the variability is genetic. This review highlights genetic variation in disease susceptibility in Bos taurus cattle, with variation found at the breed level and also within breeds. Disease challenges come from bacteria and viruses, parasites and feed-borne toxins. For an animal to survive, it needs its own mechanisms for resisting these challenges, or for being resilient to them, or it must be protected artificially from them. Disease challenges have been classified as 'diseases from without', but there is also another class of genetic diseases resulting from inborn errors of metabolism, which might be called 'diseases from within'. Degrees of inheritance (heritabilities) are reviewed for a range of economically important traits including resistance to mastitis, ketosis, lameness, nematode parasites, external parasites, eye disease, respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, brucellosis, Johne's disease, foot-and-mouth disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, metabolic disorders caused by toxins found on the feed, and threshold levels of minerals and metabolites. Many, but not all, of the above require an immune response as part of the fight against an external challenge, and measurements have been made of general immune response as a way of describing or predicting how an animal will respond. There are now some examples of industry or breed societies applying selection for resistance to one or more diseases as part of a complete breeding objective in dairy cattle, beef cattle or dual purpose livestock. In most cases, industry and breed societies are in the early stages of applying effective selection pressure for resistance to specific cattle diseases, with the notable exceptions of Scandinavian cattle schemes, which lead the world in this respect.     

Quantitative trait loci for milk production and functional traits in two Danish Cattle breeds

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Danish Jersey and Danish Red cattle were independently mapped by least squares regression analysis. For Jersey breed, five grandsire families were genotyped for 186 markers on 16 chromosomes (BTAs). Eight traits analysed were milk yield (MY), fat percentage (FP), protein percentage (PP), clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell score (SCS), maternal stillbirth, maternal calf size (MCS) and maternal calving difficulty. For Red breed, nine grandsire families were genotyped for 166 markers on 18 BTAs. Six traits analysed were MY, FP, PP, CM, SCS and female fertility. Nine and five QTL were detected in Jersey and Red breed, respectively, in across family tests. In Jersey breed, the results indicate QTL for CM and MCS on BTA 3. Additionally, there is an indication of QTL for MCS and FP on BTA 1 and a tentative evidence for a QTL for MY on BTA 26. There is a high risk of detected QTL being false positives. The detected QTL in Jersey breed indicate interesting results from a breeding perspective, but a practical application should await genome-wide association studies.