Dystocia in nine British breeds of cattle and its relationship to the dimensions of the dam and calf

The degree of assistance provided at 1353 calvings from 954 heifers and cows of nine breeds of British cattle (Ayrshire, British White, Dexter, Friesian/Holstein type, Gloucester, Kerry, Longhorn, Shetland and White Park) was recorded and analysed in terms of the dimensions of the dam and the calf. The sires had been chosen in accordance with normal farming practice. A heavy calf did not lead to dystocia. Assistance at calving was most frequently provided in the Ayrshire herd, which was used for veterinary teaching. There were very few difficult calvings in the seven rare breeds, but this was as likely to have been due to management policy as to the breed characteristics. A large tuber coxae measurement was associated with ease of calving, particularly in the Dexter. The breeds showed a wide range of pelvic dimensions and therefore provide a source of genetic variation.     

中国黄牛酪氨酸关联蛋白1（TYRP1）基因多态性的研究

[目的]验证TYRP1基因的错义突变(g.1300C>T)与中国黄牛毛色性状是否存在相关性。[方法]采用PCR测序及生物信息学的方法,对991头中国黄牛、48头安格斯牛、104头婆罗门牛的TYRP1基因进行多态性分析。[结果]通过对中国黄牛的等位基因频率和基因型频率的分析,发现此变异与中国黄牛棕色毛色性状不相关。[结论]TYRP1基因的错义突变(g.1300C>T)与中国黄牛棕色表型不相关。该位点可能在一些品种中受到了选择,中国黄牛的棕色表型可能受其他基因调控。     

Non-additive effects on milk production in Czech dairy cows

Crossbreeding effects on milk production traits of Czech dual‐purpose and dairy cattle breeds were estimated. Nearly 370 000 cows with known gene proportions from Czech Pied, Ayrshire or Holstein cattle were selected from the national milk recording data base. Single‐trait animal models were calculated for milk, fat and protein yield, fat and protein content. The model of Dickerson including additive, additive maternal, heterotic and recombination effects was used for the part of the animal model describing the crossbreeding effects in all calculations. For milk yield, the additive genetic effect (defined as deviation from Czech Pied cattle) was 850–900 kg for Holstein and 240–480 kg for Ayrshire. The maternal effects were low and negative. Low significant positive heterotic effects were observed being up to approximately 100 kg for Czech Pied × Holstein. The recombination effects were negative and statistically significant for Czech Pied × Holstein. The results for fat and protein yield were similar to the results for milk yield. For fat and protein content, nearly no statistically significant crossbreeding effects were found.     

Cytokine mRNA profiles in bovine macrophages stimulated with Trypanosoma congolense

It is known that different breeds of cattle display differential susceptibilities to Trypanosome congolense infections, and that N'Dama cattle remain more productive after infection than Boran cattle which are more susceptible to T. congolense. Macrophages from both breeds were cultured in vitro and the expressions of a number of cytokines and iNOS mRNA were analyzed using real time RT-PCR after stimulation with antibody-opsonized trypanosomes. No significant difference was seen between the responses of the two breeds. However, RNA levels of TNF-alpha in the IFN-gamma-primed macrophages were about 100-fold higher than those in the non-primed macrophages. A significant ten-fold decrease was seen for the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. These results indicate that priming of the cells with IFN-gamma cause a serious shift toward an inflammatory response.     

新疆褐牛及其肉用类型群体选育进展

新疆褐牛是以新疆地方品种牛哈萨克牛为母本,经过多品种杂交,历经数十年选育形成的乳肉兼用牛品种。随着时代的不断发展和人民对于农产品的消费亲睐,综合考虑新疆肉牛优势产区的生态环境、生产条件和接受程度,确定了新疆褐牛的选育方向和技术路线。该文主要从新疆褐牛品种培育历程、选育方向确定和肉用类型群体选育技术与进展方面进行阐述,旨在推动品种改良和品种形成,为其他肉牛新品种选育提供借鉴。     

基于主成分逐步回归法的新疆褐牛体重预测模型研究

[目的]为了找到适合新疆褐牛体重预测的方法。[方法]运用主成分回归分析法构建了新疆褐牛公牛体重模型,消除了常用估重方法中体尺指标间普遍存在的多重共线性模型。[结果]表明,该模型具有较高的精度(R2=0.810,P0.01),估测体重与实测体重具有较高的拟合度(R=0.922,P0.01)。[结论]这种方法适合新疆褐牛的体型结构特点,同时,该方法与模型的应用也为其他品种牛体重估测模型的构建提供了参考。     

Studies on the major histocompatibility complex of indigenous cattle in the Ivory Coast

The MHC (BoLA) type has been determined for cattle from three breeds in West Africa. Seventy Baoule, 50 N'Dama and 30 Zebu cattle from the centre and north of the Ivory Coast were tested. Lymphocytes from these cattle were tested in a lymphocytotoxicity test with alloantisera detecting all of the internationally recognised BoLA sera. 78 sera prepared in Edinburgh and 57 in Jouy-en-Josas were used in the study. The results showed that sera prepared in Europe detect similar specificities in West Africa. Although with some specificities the frequencies differ from those seen in Europe. The frequency of null alleles is higher than in Europe in the Ndama and Zebu animals indicating the existence of additional specificities which will require the production of alloantisera in these breeds. However in the Baoule the null allele frequency is lower even then in some European breeds. The population data in which no animals have more than two workshop specificities is consistent with a single locus control in West Africa as in Europe.     

新疆褐牛的资源状况与发展策略

新疆褐牛是中国优良的地方品种,同时也是乳肉兼用品种,对发展地方经济、农牧民增产增收起到重要的作用。本文就新疆褐牛的资源状况、存在的问题以及发展展望等方面做了详细阐述,希望能推动新疆褐牛业的快速、健康、持续发展。     

试论牛品种经济类型的形成与划分问题

传统方法将世界上成百上千的牛品种划分为乳用、肉用、兼用和役用牛四大经济类型。本文分析证明：以肉用性能中的肉块产量或肉质指标作为牛经济类型划分缺乏根据；试提出以产奶指数作为量值指标。经对国内外１７３个牛品种ＭＰＩ值计算，提出乳用的ＭＰＩ＞７．９，肉用牛（包括役用牛）的ＭＰＩ＜２．４，而兼用牛为２．５≤ＭＰＩ≤７．９。与传统方法相比，以ＭＰＩ划分结果与前者吻合程度８４．４％以上，且更简明，也避免了传统     

Production characters of the Sahiwal and Ayrshire breeds and their crosses in Kenya

Summary Data were analysed for lactation characters of Ayrshire, Ayrshire×Sahiwal, Sahiwal×Ayrshire and Sahiwal females and on survival and growth characters of progeny of Ayrshire, Sahiwal, Simmental and Mixed breed sires mated to these females in the temperate highlands ecological zone of Kenya. The Ayrshire females had significiantly higher total lactation yield than the other breeding groups; however, the Ayrshire females received preferential treatment. Despite this the Sahiwal-Ayrshire crosses were superior (3.8%) to the Ayrshire females in productivity index per cow per year because of a shorter calving interval and a higher level of calf survival. Sahiwal females had significantly lower total lactation yield than Ayrshire and Sahiwal×Ayrshire cross females. At 2 years of age female progeny of Sahiwal and Simmental sires were significantly heavier than the female progeny of Ayrshire sires but not of Mixed breed sires,viz. Sahiwal×Ayrshire and calves with sires not known. The Ayrshire breed was shown to be superior to the Sahiwal breed in transmitted effects for milk production and the Sahiwal breed was superior to the Ayrshire breed in transmitted effects for growth rate. It is concluded that the Sahiwal breed has potential to contribute to both milk and beef production programmes when combined in crosses withBos taurus breeds of cattle in ecological zones similar to the lower to mid-potential areas of the temperate highlands of Kenya.

---

Caracteres De Produccion De Las Razas Sahiwal Y Ayrshire Y Sus Cruces En Kenia

Resumen Se analizaron datos de los caracteres de lactación de Ayrshire, Ayrshire×Sahiwal, Sahiwal×Ayrshire y hembras Sahiwal como tambien caracteres de supervivencia y crecimiento de la progénie de Ayrshire, Sahiwal, Simmental y toros mestizos cruzados con ellas, en las tierras altas de Kenia. Las hembras Ayrshire tuvieron el más alto indice de lactancia; sinembargo éstas recibieron tratamiento preferencial. A pesar de esto, los cruces Sahiwal-Ayrshire fueron superiores (3.8%) a las hembras Ayrshire en indices de productividad vaca/año de bido a losintervalos de parición más cortos y niveles más altos de supervivencia neonatal. Las hembras Sahiwal tuvieron significativamente las producciones de leche más bajas. A los 2 años de edad, las hembras progenie de toros Sahiwal y Simmental pesaron significativamente más que las hembras progénie de toros Ayrshire pero nó de toros mestizos.La raza Ayrshire fué superior a la Sahiwal en transmitir los caracteres de crecimiento. Se concluye que la raza Sahiwal tiene potencial para contribuir a la producción de leche y carne cuando se combinan los cruces conBos taurus en zonas ecológicas similares a las más bajas y medias de las zonas montañosas frias de Kenia.

---

Productivite, Au Kenya, Des Races Sahiwal Et Ayrshire, Et Des Produits De Leurs Croisements

Résumé Des documents ont été analysés concernant la lactation des femelles Ayrshire, Ayrshire × Sahiwal, Sahiwal×Ayrshire et femelles Sahiwal, le taux de survie, la croissance des produits Ayrshire, Sahiwal, Simmental et des produits métissés issus de croisement de taureaux avec ces femelles, dans la zone des hauts plateaux tempérés du Kenya.Les vaches Ayrshire ont une production lactée totale significativement supérieure à celle des autres races; il est vrai que ces femelles ont été l'objet de traitements préférentiels. Malgré cela, les produits Ayrshire×Sahiwal ont un taux de productivité par vache et par an supérieur (3,8 p. 100) à celui des femelles Ayrshire à cause d'intervalles plus courts entre les vêlages et un taux plus élevé en ce qui concerne la survivance des veaux. Les femelles Sahiwal ont une lactation totale significativement plus basse que celles des vaches Ayrshire et Sahiwal×Ayrshire. A l'âge de 2 ans, les femelles issues des taureaux Sahiwal et Simmental sont significativement plus lourdes que les femelles de taureaux Ayrshire mais pas plus lourdes que celles issues de taureaux métis (par exemple métis Sahiwal×Ayrshire et veaux dont le géniteur est inconnu).Le bétail Ayshire a été reconnu comme étant supérieur au bétail Sahiwal dans la transmission des caractères de production laitière et le bétail Sahiwal supérieur au Ayrshire en ce qui concerne le taux de croissance. En conclusion, le bétail Sahiwal peut potentiellement contribuer à la fois aux programmes visant à la production de lait et de viande lorsque croisé avec du bétail taurin (Bos taurus) dans les zones écologiquement semblables aux régions à faible et moyen potentiel des hautes terres tempérées du Kenya.

---

---

Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research center, Agricultural Research, Science and Education Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, NE 68933 USA.     

The coding sequence of the ASIP gene is identical in nine wild-type coloured cattle breeds

The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of the Agouti signaling peptide (ASIP) gene coding region in the Agouti locus variation within wild‐type coat colour in cattle. We determined the Extension genotype in 241 individuals from six Spanish and three French brown cattle breeds representative of wild‐type coat variation. Polymerase chain reaction–single‐strand conformation polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) analysis was carried out in individuals of each Extension genotypes within the same breed in an attempt to identify variants in the three coding exons of the ASIP gene. No SSCP variants were found. Results were confirmed by sequencing the coding exons of the ASIP gene in 20 individuals. Our results suggest that the ASIP coding region does not play a central role in coat colour variation in cattle.     

秦川牛品种资源的保护与利用

秦川牛是中国五大良种黄牛品种之一,具有优良的肉用品质,做好秦川牛品种资源的保护与利用,对我国未来养牛业的发展具有重要的战略意义。本文对秦川牛的选育、改良及存在问题,秦川牛未来的育种方向,技术路线和措施作了分析和阐述。     

Relationship of Icelandic cattle with Northern and Western European cattle breeds,admixture and population structure

ABSTRACT

Icelandic cattle is believed to have been brought from Norway during the settlement of Iceland around AD 870-930. Previous research on genetic relationships has indicated that Icelandic cattle is most related to northern Nordic indigenous breeds. Using single nucleotide polymorphism genotype data from Icelandic cattle and 29 Northern and Western European cattle breeds, we studied relationships and admixture among these breeds, and assessed population structure in Icelandic cattle. Population structure analysis through principal component analysis, estimation of ancestry, and analysis of patterns of population splitting and mixing revealed that Icelandic cattle are most related to three Finncattle breeds (Eastern, Northern and Western Finncattle), and Swedish Mountain cattle. Icelandic cattle has very low levels of admixture. We observed very limited population structure in Icelandic cattle. The observed structure was due to variable sire contributions. Over 1000 years of almost complete isolation has made Icelandic cattle highly genetically distinct from other cattle breeds.     

Analysis of genetic and cultural conservation value of three indigenous Croatian cattle breeds in a local and global context

It is widely accepted that autochthonous cattle breeds can be important genetic resources for unforeseeable environmental conditions in the future. Apart from that, they often represent local culture and tradition and thus assist in the awareness of ethnic identity of a country. In Croatia, there are only three indigenous cattle breeds, Croatian Bu?a, Slavonian Syrmian Podolian and Istrian Cattle. All of them are threatened but specialized in a particular habitat and production system. We analysed 93 microsatellites in 51 animals of each breed to get thorough information about genetic diversity and population structure. We further set them within an existing frame of additional 16 breeds that have been genotyped for the same marker set and cover a geographical area from the domestication centre near Anatolia, through the Balkan and alpine regions, to the north‐west of Europe. The cultural value was evaluated regarding the role in landscape, gastronomy, folklore and handicraft. The overall results recognize Croatian Bu?a being partly admixed but harbouring an enormous genetic diversity comparable with other traditional unselected Bu?a breeds in the Anatolian and Balkan areas. The Podolian cattle showed the lowest genetic diversity at the highest genetic distance to all remaining breeds but are playing an important role as part of the cultural landscape and thus contribute to the tourist industry. The genetic diversity of the Istrian cattle was found in the middle range of this study. It is already included in the tourist industry as a local food speciality. Current and future conservation strategies are discussed.     

Allele frequencies of the extension locus encoding the melanocortin-1 receptor in Japanese and Korean cattle

In order to estimate the influence of the Extension (E) locus in cattle coat color, the melanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R) gene in Japanese Black, Japanese Brown and Korean (Hanwoo) cattle were sequenced. The sequences of the coding region revealed three alleles (E^D, E⁺ and e), which were previously reported. Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed to investigate the gene frequencies of the three breeds. Japanese Black was almost composed of E^D and E⁺ individuals, E^D = 0.481 and E⁺ = 0.514, and no homozygous e/e, therefore that is consistent with the hypothesis that E^D and E⁺ induce black pigment synthesis. Allele frequencies between Japanese Brown and Hanwoo were obviously different; however, recessive red e allele frequency was 0.038 for Japanese Brown and 0.948 for Hanwoo, even though both breeds have quite similar coat colors (ranging from yellowish brown to dark brown including a red coat color). This result suggested that other genes are also associated with a coat color of red and brown in cattle.     

5个黄牛群体垂体转录因子基因变异研究

 为了阐明云南黄牛垂体转录因子(POU1F1)基因的群体变异特征,采用DNA序列分析和PCR-RFLP技术对云南地区5个黄牛群体（3个本地群体和2个引进品种）的垂体转录因子(POU1F1)基因的第5内含子和第6外显子进行了基因克隆测序和群体变异检测分析。在5个群体中均发现存在A和B两个等位基因,在国外引进的短角牛和安格斯牛中,A等位基因为优势等位基因,其基因频率分别为0.944和0.700;而在云南的昭通黄牛、迪庆黄牛和荷斯坦奶牛中B等位基因占优势,其基因频率分别为0.645,0.727和0.917;在短角牛和安格斯牛中,BB基因型频率为0;而在云南荷斯坦奶牛中,AA基因型频率为0。在所检测的座位中,昭通黄牛、迪庆黄牛和安格斯牛具有较高的杂合度,而其他群体该座位杂合度较低。     

民和县良种肉牛的杂交试验

[目的]为了验证优良品种改良本地黄牛的效果,[方法]运用三个杂交组合在民和县用引进的良种肉牛西门塔尔、利木赞和皮尔蒙特牛改良当地黄牛。[结果]表明F1不同年龄的生长速度和体尺指标均明显于本地黄牛（P〈0.01）,说明良种肉牛改良本地黄牛效果明显;在不同杂交后代的比较中,皮×黄F1各年龄段体重均高于西×黄F1、利×黄F1,杂交组合最为理想。[结论]说明不同的杂交组合具有不同的效果。     

新疆褐牛与荷斯坦牛NF -κB基因表达与TOLL样受体4基因型的关系

核转录因子NF-κB与动物机体的炎症反应、免疫应答、细胞分化和凋亡等密切相关,而Toll样受体（TLR）通过对侵入机体的病原微生物的抗原识别和信号转导,在NF-κB介导的炎症和免疫应答反应中发挥着重要作用。本研究在新疆褐牛和荷斯坦牛隐性乳房炎调查和TLR4外显子3 +2021 位点（E3+2021）SNP基因型与隐性乳房炎相关性研究的基础上,分析和比较了E3+2021 SNP位点3种不同基因型奶牛个体NF-κB信号通路上9个基因(NFκB1、NFκB2、RelA、c-Rel、RelB、IKKα、IKKβ、IKKγ和IκBα基因)转录水平的差异。结果显示,在BB基因型中,NFκB1和IKKα基因的mRNA转录水平在新疆褐牛与荷斯坦牛品种间差异显著（P＜0.05）,RelA、RelB、IKKβ、IKKγ和IκBα基因mRNA转录水平在品种间差异极显著（P<0.01）。在AB基因型中,IκBα基因mRNA转录水平在品种间差异显著（P＜0.05）。在对新疆褐牛的研究中发现,RelB、IKKγ和IκBα基因mRNA转录水平在AB和BB两种基因型间差异显著（P＜0.05）;而在荷斯坦牛检测的9个基因的mRNA转录水平在AB和BB两种基因型间差异均不显著。因此,Toll样受体信号转导通路下游NFκB1、RelA、IKKβ、IKKγ和IκBα基因的mRNA转录水平在品种间的变化,可能与新疆褐牛乳汁中体细胞数（SCS）显著低于荷斯坦牛相关。在新疆褐牛中,RelB、IKKγ和IκBα基因mRNA转录水平的变化可能是AA基因型SCS显著高于AB基因型的原因之一。     

不同品种牛背最长肌抗氧化性能的研究

本试验旨在研究不同品种牛肌肉的抗氧化特性,为优质牛肉的生产提供试验数据。选用5个品种牛(利木赞牛、中国西门塔尔牛、鲁西牛、秦川牛、晋南牛)的背最长肌,测定肌内脂肪含量、24小时的滴水损失以及在0～4℃下肉色、过氧化物值(PV)及硫代巴比妥酸反应物(TBARS)在72h内的变化动态。结果表明,背最长肌的肌内脂肪含量与24小时滴水损失率在不同品种牛肌肉之间没有显著差异(P>0.05);在整个储存时期(0～72h),5个品种牛肌肉的a*、b*值均呈下降趋势;4～72h内,利木赞牛肌肉的a*值均是最高的,且在冷藏8、12h时,利木赞牛肌肉的a*值显著大于鲁西牛肉和秦川牛(P<0.05),24h后利木赞牛的a*值显著大于西门塔尔牛(P<0.05);随着储存时间的延长,5个品种牛背最长肌的PV和TBARS值均有不同程度的增加,利木赞牛肌肉的PV和TBARS值增加最慢,秦川牛和鲁西牛肌肉的PV和TBARS值增加较快。结果表明,5个品种牛的肌内脂肪含量和滴水损失差异不显著,利木赞牛肌肉能够较长时间保持肉色和抗氧化特性。