Genetics of fear in ruminant livestock

We provide first an overview of studies on ruminant livestock that emphasises an inter-individual variability and a relative intra-individual consistency in fear responsiveness. Then, we provide evidence that genetic factors underlie fear responsiveness. We discuss problems that may hinder the genetic evaluation and the application of fearfulness traits for genetic selection in livestock. These problems include the absence of validation in experimental designs, the complexity of fear-related responses, and the interaction between genetic factors and environmental influences that limit the consistency in fear-related responses. Some possible welfare consequences of current selection programs are also considered. Finally, we discuss the possibility for including fear criteria in current selection programs and consider how such approaches may have considerable promise in ruminant livestock. More particularly, we outline current knowledge about how genes control fearfulness. Even if fear-related responses in ruminant livestock are complex, the capacity to select on fear-related criteria or even perhaps on genes that confer fearfulness traits has the potential to significantly enhance our ability to optimise livestock for their production environment and reduce the potential for compromise to their welfare.     

青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊经济性状遗传力估测

对青海省柴达木地区青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊9个主要经济性状进行了遗传力估测。结果表明,初生重、断奶重、周岁剪毛量、羊毛细度、毛长、剪毛前体重、剪毛量都是高遗传力性状,也是青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊育种过程中的主要选择依据;断奶重、周岁剪毛量、剪毛前体重与剪毛量之间呈强正遗传相关,断奶重可作为对剪毛量进行早期选择的参数;断奶重与羊毛细度之间呈负遗传相关。     

Inheritance of equine sarcoid disease in Franches-Montagnes horses

The mode of inheritance for susceptibility to equine sarcoid disease (ES) remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to analyse a large sample of the Franches-Montagnes (FM) horse population and investigate the heritability and mode of inheritance for susceptibility to ES. Horses were clinically examined for the presence of sarcoid tumours. A standardized examination protocol and client questionnaire were used and a pedigree- and subsequent segregation-analysis for the ES trait performed. To investigate the mode of inheritance, five models were evaluated and compared in a hierarchical way.The analyses reveal that variation in susceptibility to ES is best explained by a model incorporating polygenic variation. The possible effect of a major gene, such as specific equine leukocyte antigen alleles, is unlikely, but cannot be ruled-out entirely. The heritability of the phenotype on the observation scale for the trait ‘affected with ES’ was estimated to be 8%. A corrected value for the heritability on a liability scale was estimated at 21% and it is therefore possible to estimate breeding values for ES. The arguments against the practical implementation of an estimated breeding value in a multifactorial condition like ES are discussed.     

杉木不同种源优系间杂交遗传分析

对 10年生杉木不同种源优系 5× 5双因素交叉式遗传设计试验林的胸径和木材比重两性状进行了测定和遗传分析。结果表明 ,两性状在组合间均达极显著差异 ,组合内亲本的一般配合力和杂交的特殊配合力亦达显著差异水平。胸径的一般配合力方差分量为 70 32 % ,而木材比重的一般配合力方差分量则为 5 3 84 % ,胸径、木材比重广义遗传力分别为 4 2 4 9%和6 9 6 0 % ,狭义遗传力分别为 2 9 88%和 37 0 0 %。亲本川 15、闽 4、湘 6、粤 11对胸径生长有较高一般配合力正向效应值 ,同时亲本闽 4对木材比重亦有较高的一般配合力正向效应值。另有 4个杂交组合浙 13×浙 8、湘 30×川 18、闽 16×湘 6、川15×闽 4对胸径生长有较高的特殊配合力正向效应值 ,对胸径和木材比重均表现出正向效应的只有闽 16×川 18和粤 5×湘 6组合     

家蚕若干数量性状配合力和遗传力研究

用9个家蚕品种组成5×4不完全双列杂交,估算家蚕10个数量性状的配合力和遗传力。结果表明:(1)各性状的一般配合力方差均达极显著,杂交组合间9个性状的特殊配合力达极显著水准;(2)同一品种在不同性状上一般配合力相对效应值差异明显;(3)对于不同的性状,一般配合力在品种间变动范围也不尽相同;(4)同一杂交组合在不同性状的特殊配合力相对效应值差异显著;(5)茧层量、茧层率、茧丝长、一蛾产卵量狭义遗传力较高;全茧量、缫折、解舒、解舒丝长较低,对NPV病的敏感性的狭义遗传力特低。     

遗传力,配合力等几个重要遗传参数之间的关系

用实验数据分析了遗传力、配合力、亲子相关等几个遗传参数间的关系,结果表明,狭义遗传力与一般配合力方差百分数(Vgca,％),亲子相关、亲本表现与一般配合力效应的相关等参数存在显著相关,强调了在育种工作中应注意对狭义遗传力的分析和研究。     

Variation and heritability of seed mass in chia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia hispanica L.</Emphasis>)

Variation and heritability of seed mass in the Mesoamerican crop chia, Salvia hispanica L. was studied to examine the feasibility of selection for the trait. Genotypic variation in seed mass in wild/cultivated and domesticated accessions of chia from different origins was assessed. Broadsense heritability of seed mass was estimated using variances associated with parental and F2 generations derived from two crosses and from the response to one cycle of selection. Significant (P . 0.0001) genotypic variation was observed among accessions. Mean seed mass for domesticated accessions (14.84 mg/100 seeds) was greater than that of the wild accessions (11.29 mg/100 seeds) by 31%. The heritability of seed mass was relatively high in chia (0.75), suggesting that this trait is under strong genetic control. This conclusion was supported by a single selection cycle from the F2 to F3 generation that produced a 16% increase in mean seed mass. The realized heritability estimated based on this one cycle of selection also was 0.75. These observations indicate that gains from selection in chia seed mass are possible when mass selection is conducted in early generations. Basic information is thus provided for future breeding efforts in a species for which little or no knowledge of inheritance currently exists.     

小麦穗发芽敏感性的配合力分析

为了探讨冬小麦穗发芽敏感性的遗传特点，并为小麦的抗穗发芽育种提供科学依据，对穗发芽敏感性不同的4个红皮和3个白皮小麦品种进行完全双列杂交，并对杂交材料进行配合力分析。结果表明，小麦收获前穗发芽性受加性效应、非加性效应和细胞质效应的共同影响，说明小麦的穗发芽抗性能够稳定地遗传给后代；小麦穗发芽敏感性的广义遗传力和狭义遗传力都比较高，说明小麦的穗发芽性主要受遗传因素决定。所以在穗发芽抗性育种中，早代选择是有效的。     

Genetic analyses for linear conformation traits in Pura Raza Español horses

A linear assessment methodology was developed for the conformational data in the Pura Raza Español horse (Andalusian horse). The final design included 31 linear traits (20 primary and 11 secondary). A total of 4158 records from 2512 horses collected during 2008 and 2011 were included in the genetic evaluation. The genetic analyses were executed twice, the first one only with the first conformation assessment record of each animal (dataset 1: 2512 horses and records), and the second one, only for animals with more than one conformation records available (dataset 2: 876 horses and 2522 records). Genetic parameters were estimated using REML methodology (in a linear animal model), and age, sex, geographic region and combination of appraiser×event were included as fixed effects in the model. For the analysis with dataset 2, permanent environment was also included as random effect. The pedigree file traced back the relationships to include a total of 12,385 (dataset 1) and 3025 (dataset 2) horses. After the repeatability and reproducibility of the system were evaluated, according to our results, the appraisers used the whole scale and showed an adequate level of repeatability (≥0.95), and the reproducibility of analyzed traits was over 0.90 for all traits. Despite the fact that the quality of the morphological assessment can be considered adequate, further training is recommendable for appraisers in order to improve uniformity. Heritabilities with dataset 1 were low-moderate, ranging from 0.06±0.026 (angle of shoulder) to 0.35±0.044 (head length) for the primary traits, and from 0.08±0.032 (frontal angle of knee) to 0.23±0.035 (head-neck junction) for the secondary ones. Heritabilities found with dataset 2 were slightly lower than those obtained with dataset 1. Genetic correlations between traits were also obtained, which ranged from 0.92 to 0.00 in both datasets. These results must be taken into account in order to reduce the number of traits routinely collected in this population.     

Genetic Variation in Bovine Neutrophil Sensitivity to Glucocorticoid Challenge

Blood neutrophils use CD62L and CD18 adhesion molecules to contact and migrate rapidly through blood vessels in defense against infections in underlying tissues. Previous work showed that glucocorticoid hormones repress expression of CD62L and CD18, causing neutrophilia and increased mastitis susceptibility in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to determine whether bovine neutrophil sensitivity to glucocorticoids exhibits genetic variability. Test animals included 60 pedigreed Holstein bulls treated on 3 consecutive days with a synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) and five untreated control bulls. Five indicator traits of neutrophil glucocorticoid sensitivity were monitored, including circulating neutrophil counts and two measures on each of CD62L and CD18 expression. Random regression models with treatment-specific serial correlation were used to estimate genetic and non-genetic sources of variation before, during and after glucocorticoid administration. Significant genetic variation was observed for neutrophil CD18 expression, with longitudinal heritability estimates ranging from 0.10 to 0.54 and influenced by dexamethasone. Significant genetic variation was also observed for blood neutrophil counts (heritability estimates ranging from 0.11 to 0.24) but was not influenced by dexamethasone administration. Estimated genetic correlations between circulating neutrophil counts and various indicators of CD62L and CD18 expression were large and negative (-0.44 to - 0.78). These results imply significant genetic variability and pleiotropic effects for neutrophil traits that are important for stress-induced disease susceptibility in dairy cattle and might be exploited by genetic selection.