Novel SNP in 5' flanking region of EDG1 associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Marbling, defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat, is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The endothelial differentiation , sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor , 1 ( EDG1 ) gene has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling. We have recently reported that 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), c.-312A > G in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and c.*446G > A in the 3' UTR in EDG1 were associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle, but this was not functional and a causal mutation for marbling. In the present study, we detected 2 novel SNPs, referred to as g.1475435G > A and g.1471620G > T , in the 5' flanking region of the EDG1 between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, which were previously shown to have EDG1 expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle. The g.1475435G > A SNP seemed not to segregate in Japanese Black beef cattle. The g.1471620G > T SNP was associated with the predicted breeding value for beef marbling standard number by the analyses using Japanese Black beef cattle population. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the g.1471620G > T SNP might have an impact on EDG1 expression and also marbling.     

Surgical removal of a dermoid cyst from the bony part of the nasolacrimal duct in a Scottish highland cattle heifer

The ophthalmologic, radiologic and surgical findings of a 2-year-old Scottish Highland Cattle heifer with a dermoid cyst within the bony part of the nasolacrimal duct and the successful treatment are presented.     

Effects of maize (Zea mays L.) silage feeding on dry matter intake and milk production of dairy buffalo and cattle in Tarai, Nepal

To identify the effects of whole crop maize silage (MS) as a substitute for rice straw (RS) on feed intake and milk production of mid-late lactating buffalo and cattle in Tarai, Nepal, eight Murrah and eight Jersey-Hariana were fed the basal diet, RS ( ad libitum ) with concentrate (0.68% of bodyweight [BW] on a dry matter [DM] basis). A 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment was conducted in each animal species with graded levels of MS substitution for RS (0%, T1; 33%, T2; 67%, T3 and 100%, T4). The MS had higher digestibility and total digestible nutrient (TDN) than RS. The DM intake per BW of the both species was highest in T3. The substitution of MS for RS increased the crude protein intake and the TDN intake in the both species. Although the buffalo showed the highest milking performance in T4, the cattle showed no significant differences in their milking performance among the treatments. The substitution of MS for RS improved the feed intake and milk production in the buffalo. On the other hand, the milk yield was not raised in the cattle, though the feed intake was increased by the substitution.     

中国荷斯坦牛运动评分的遗传参数估计

本研究利用2007年间武汉惠尔康扬子江乳业有限公司武湖牧场887头母牛运动评分的鉴定记录,配合单性状动物模型,利用MTDFREML软件,采用REML方法估计了相关的参数。结果表明,运动评分受泌乳期和饲养方式的影响,运动评分随泌乳期的增加有增加的趋势,栓系式饲养奶牛相对于散栏式饲养奶牛有更高的运动评分。运动评分的遗传力为0.09,为低遗传力性状。     

牛GHR10基因Hind Ⅲ酶切多态性与体尺、体重指标的相关性分析

采用PCR-RFLP技术检测生长激素受体基因外显子10 (GHR10) 730 bp在南阳牛、利木赞、盖洛威中的单核苷酸多态性,同时分析不同基因型与3个品种体尺、体重指标的关系。结果表明,GHR10基因的730 bp突变（A/G）对体尺、体重等12个指标并无显著影响。     

杂种奶牛POU1Fl、GHR、GHRH-R和CSN1S2基因部分序列PCR-SSCP多态性分析

利用PCR-SSCP技术,对荷斯坦公牛冻精改良的93头杂种奶牛的脑垂体转录因子-1（POU1Fl）基因第6外显子、生长激素受体（GHR）基因第10外显子、生长激素释放激素受体（GHRH-R）基因第2外显子和酪蛋白(CSN1S2) 基因第18外显子进行了多态性研究。结果表明,在检测的4个基因位点中,只有POU1Fl基因第6外显子存在2种基因型,AB、BB基因型频率及A、B基因频率分别为0.0323、0.9677和0.0162、0.9838,未发现AA型个体。该群体在此位点上处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态,基因杂合度和多态信息含量分别为0.0318和0.0313。测序显示,与普通黄牛POU1Fl基因序列Y15995相比,A等位基因在POU1F1基因第6外显子的第209个碱基处发生了G→C的碱基颠换,导致Thr/Arg替代,其多态的成因及效应需进一步研究。     

牛病毒性腹泻病的研究进展

牛病毒性腹泻-粘膜病是由牛病毒性腹泻病毒引起的一种呈多种临床症状的疾病,给世界养牛业造成了巨大的经济损失。本文从BVD的病原学、发病机理、诊断、治疗和预防等方面进行了详细阐述。     

Fit of Wood's function to daily milk records and estimation of environmental and additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters of crossbred dual purpose cattle

The objectives of this study were to estimate the environmental and additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters of crosses of Holstein (H), Brahman (B) and Brown Swiss (BS) in Olancho region in Honduras. The data consisted of 54,517 milk yield records from 192 dual-purpose crossbred cows lactating from 2000 to 2005 at the Universidad Nacional de Agricultura de Honduras (UNA). The lactation curve and lactation parameters of interest were the scaling factor to represent yield at the beginning of lactation (a), the factor associated with the inclining (b) and declining (c) slopes of the lactation curves, and the milk yield at initial day of lactation (MY₂₀), peak milk yield (MY_max), day at peak milk yield (t_max), and the total milk yield (TM) per lactation, respectively. The incomplete gamma function (Wood function) was used to estimate lactation curve and lactation parameters from daily milk records of H × B, H × BS and BS × B crossbred cows. The environmental, additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters were estimated using Dickerson and Kinghorn models. The coefficients of determination of fitness of Wood's function (R²) ranged from 80% to 97% with an average of 93%. The lactation curve of the crossbred cows was similar to those reported for dairy cows grazing in the tropics. Lactation parameters such as MY_max, t_max and TM were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by environmental sources of variation suggesting the necessity of differential management strategies. The moderate to large positive phenotypic correlation of MY_max and TM indicate that one of the milk yield parameters could be used as a selection criterion to improve either one or both traits. Despite the fact that both genetic models showed similar patterns, the absolute value of the parameters varied. For both models, individual additive genetic breed effect for H breed were significant (P < 0.05) and contributed more to TM than the BS breed. In the Dickerson model, highly positive significant (P < 0.01) effect on TM for H×BS and BS×B crosses was found. The Kinghorn model did not show significant effects of dominance on this parameter. The estimate of recombination effect for all crosses involving B breed were negative and significant (P < 0.05) for positive correlated lactation curve parameters. Although the inclusion of non-additive effects on crossbreeding genetic effects were not all significant for lactation curve and lactation parameters, non-additive effects should be taken into account to improve the Honduran dairy cattle production management.     

Fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat from Nellore steers fed dry or high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle from carcasses of Nellore steers fed diets with calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) and high moisture corn. Forty eight steers were fed during 70 days four diets containing dry corn (DC), high moisture corn (HM), dry corn plus CSFA (DC-CSFA) or high moisture corn plus CSFA (HM-CSFA). Fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle was determined by gas chromatography. Corn type had no effect on the ether extract percentage and in the content of the majority of the fatty acids, although steers fed HMC showed higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio. Feeding CSFA increased ether extract percentage but had no effect on total of saturated, unsaturated and saturated: unsaturated ratio. Both high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids increased CLA (cis9, trans11) and total CLA concentrations in intramuscular fat.     

In vitro fermentation characteristics of different carbohydrate sources in two dog breeds (German shepherd and Neapolitan mastiff)

Few studies have been published on the normal intestinal biota of canines unlike the wealth of information regarding livestock animal species. The in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) including measurements of accumulating gas during fermentation and end‐product determinations allows obtaining a complete picture of microbial activity kinetics. The aim of this study was to study the in vitro fermentation characteristics of different carbohydrate sources using inocula from two dog breeds (German Shepherd and Neapolitan mastiff). Faeces sampled from rectum of two GS and NM adult dogs, fed the same dry food, were used as inocula. The samples, diluted and filtered, were incubated at 39 °C under anaerobic condition with nine substrates different for carbohydrate composition (rice, corn, potato, spelt, pure cellulose, beet pulp, wheat bran, inulin and fructo‐oligosaccharide). Gas production was recorded 17 times using a manual pressure transducer. After 48 h, the fermentation was stopped and fermenting liquor was analysed for pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Organic matter digestibility (OMD) was calculated as difference after burning the residuals. OMD, gas production and end‐products were significantly correlated with chemical composition of substrates, in particular carbohydrate fractions (total dietary fibre and starch), confirming the effectiveness of the IVGPT in evaluating dog feeds. Concerning the comparison between breeds significant differences (p < 0.01) were found for OMD, gas production, fermentation kinetic parameters and end‐products, suggesting a different pathway of fermentation and consequently, a different anaerobic population.