Genetic gain in dairy cattle populations is increased using sexed semen in commercial herds

Using stochastic simulation, the effect of using sexed semen to cow dams (CD) in a dairy cattle breeding scheme, with or without use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) to bull dams (BD), on annual genetic gain at the population level was examined. Three levels of sexed semen were combined with three levels of MOET: no sexed semen, sexed semen to the best CD and sexed semen to all heifers, combined with no MOET, MOET on all BD and MOET randomly on 20% of the BD. In total, nine scenarios were compared. The simulated population was monitored for 30 years and included 450 herds with 100 cows each. Each year 50 young bulls (YB), 10 active sires and 215 BD were selected on best linear unbiased prediction estimated breeding values by truncation selection across the simulated population, and the YB were tested within the population. Use of sexed semen alone gave a positive increase in the annual genetic gain of 2.1% when used on the best CD and 2.7% when used on all heifers, but only the latter was statistically significant. The increased annual genetic gain was caused by a larger contribution from the CD to the BD. Use of sexed semen together with MOET on BD increased the annual genetic gain by 1.8-2.5% compared with schemes without sexed semen and MOET on all BD. Performing MOET on all BD enables selection of offspring with high Mendelian deviations, which increase the annual genetic gain. Use of sexed semen decreased the genetic lag between the sires and the CD by 12-14% when used on the best CD and by 6% when used to all heifers. The decrease in the genetic lag is caused by the increased selection intensity of the cow dams.     

基于无线射频识别技术的罗非鱼冷链物流温度监控系统

为了提高冷链物流过程中品质控制,以罗非鱼为例,分析了冷链物流中温度监测需求与温度数据传输的业务流程;基于无线射频识别(RFID)技术,利用Visual Studio2005和SQL server2005,结合编码技术开发了冷链物流温度监控系统,并将货架期模型嵌入到系统中,实现了对运输后水产品的货架期预测.系统运行结果表...     

雨雪冰冻灾害对竹林生态系统影响及病虫控制

主要探讨了雨雪冰冻灾害对竹林生态系统的影响,分析了灾害产生的主要原因及灾后病虫害发生的趋势分析,并提出了雨雪冰冻灾害后竹林生态系统调控及病虫害控制一些关键技术措施.     

沙棘果速冻分离试验研究

沙棘纯果是沙棘果加工工艺中的一道关键工序。采用速冻方式,解决沙棘果难与枝条脱落、分离以 及保鲜贮藏问题,并进一步探讨该项技术的可行性。     

纳米硒和大蒜油对公兔生长、养分消化和精液品质的影响

文章旨在探讨纳米硒、大蒜油及其组合对雄性家兔营养物质消化率、精子质量、血清睾酮和代谢产物的影响。将160只(120日龄)家兔随机分为4组,每组40只(10只/重复)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,大蒜油组在基础日粮中添加600 mg/kg大蒜油,纳米硒组在基础日粮中添加0.4 mg/kg纳米硒,大蒜油+纳米硒组在基础日粮中添加0.4 mg/kg纳米硒和600 mg/kg大蒜油,试验从120 d开展到180 d。结果表明,纳米硒处理组的末重、日增重和料重比均较未添加硒处理组的有所改善,且纳米硒和大蒜油对家兔末重的影响有一定的交互作用。与不添加硒、大蒜油、纳米硒和大蒜油混合物组相比,纳米硒、大蒜油及其混合物组的养分消化率均显著提高(P <0.05)。此外,与对照组相比,添加纳米硒和大蒜油组的精液质量显著改善(P <0.05)。同样,补充纳米硒、大蒜油及混合物可以显著改善肝脏和肾脏功能,提高血清睾酮水平。综上所述,纳米硒或大蒜油及其组合可以提高雄性家兔的营养物质消化率、精液质量、肝肾功能和睾酮水平。     

EGTA对猪精液液态保存的影响

猪精液液态保存体系中,钙离子浓度升高将降低精子活力,缩短精子体外保存时间。常用的金属螯合剂EDTA的溶解度较低,且容易发生沉淀,因此改进螯合剂对于改进猪精液保存液配方,提高猪精液液态保存质量十分重要。本研究中我们在精液液态保存液中分别添加不同浓度(1.5,3,6,12 mmol/L)的钙离子螯合剂EGTA,检测其对猪精子的活力、质膜完整性、顶体完整率、获能情况以及受精能力的影响。结果表明,精液保存液中添加EGTA能显著提高猪精子保存质量,其中添加3 mmol/L EGTA效果最好(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,添加3 mmol/L EGTA时,体外受精率和囊胚率显著提高(P<0.05)。因此,精液保存液中添加EGTA有助于提高猪精液液态保存的质量。     

Differences in aromatase expression and steroid hormone concentrations in the reproductive tissues of male domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) with white and yellow semen

ABSTRACT

1. To show hormonal differences between male turkeys with yellow semen syndrome (YSS) and white, normal semen (WNS), the expression of aromatase, oestrogen receptor α (ERα), and oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) as well as testosterone and oestradiol concentrations in YSS and WNS testes, epididymis, and ductus deferens were examined.

2. To measure gene expression levels of aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERs), three complementary techniques (real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry) were used, whereas steroid hormone levels were determined radio-immunologically.

3. Upregulation of aromatase and ERα mRNAs in YSS testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) compared to those of WNS tissues was detected. Significant increases in the levels of aromatase and ERα proteins were detected in YSS testes (P < 0.001; P < 0.05), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.001; P < 0.05). The expression of ERβ mRNA and protein level was upregulated in the testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) and epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) but not in ductus deferens where it was downregulated (P < 0.01; P < 0.01). Increased intensity of immunoreactive proteins in YSS versus WNS reproductive tissues corroborated gene expression results.

4. Testosterone concentration diminished in YSS epididymis (P < 0.05) and ductus deferens (P < 0.05), but not in the testes, remaining at high level (P < 0.05) compared to WNS values. Concomitantly, increased oestradiol concentration was found in YSS testes (P < 0.05) and epididymis (P < 0.05) but decreased in the ductus deferens (P < 0.05).

5. From the published literature, this study is the first to demonstrate the ability for androgen aromatisation in the turkey reproductive tissues and to show the cellular targets for locally produced oestrogens. The data suggested that the androgen/oestrogen ratio is a mechanistic basis for amplification of differences between turkeys with white and yellow semen and that these results can have a relevance in applied sciences to widen the knowledge on domestic bird reproduction.     

Effects of breed proportion and components of heterosis for semen traits in a composite cattle breed

The aim of this study was to estimate the non‐additive genetic effects of the dominance component of heterosis as well as epistatic loss on semen traits in admixed Swiss Fleckvieh, a composite of Simmental (SI) and Red Holstein Friesian (RHF) cattle. Heterosis is the additional gain in productivity or fitness of cross‐bred progeny over the mid‐purebred parental populations. Intralocus gene interaction usually has a positive effect, while epistatic loss generally reduces productivity or fitness due to lack of evolutionarily established interactions of genes from different breeds. Genotypic data on 38,205 SNP of 818 admixed, as well as 148 RHF and 213 SI bulls as the parental breeds were used to predict breed origin of alleles. The genomewide locus‐specific breed ancestries of individuals were used to calculate effects of breed difference as well as the dominance component of heterosis, while proxies for two definitions of epistatic loss were derived from 100,000 random pairs of loci. The average Holstein Friesian ancestry in admixed bulls was estimated 0.82. Results of fitting different linear mixed models showed including the dominance component of heterosis considerably improved the model adequacy for three of the four traits. Inclusion of epistatic loss increased the accuracy of the models only for our new definition of the epistatic effect for two traits, while the other definition was so highly correlated with the dominance component that statistical separation was impossible.     

Semen parameters and testicular dimensions in small breed dogs below ten‐kilogram bodyweight

Because of few available data on semen parameters in small breed dogs, the study aimed to analyse semen and measure testes of dogs ≤10.0 kg bodyweight. Semen was collected from 41 fertile stud dogs, which were divided based on bodyweight: group 1 ≤ 5.0 kg and group 2 between 5.1 and 10.0 kg. Median values for ejaculate volume (group 1: 1.2 ml; group 2: 2.2 ml), total sperm output (group 1: 110.7 × 10⁶; group 2: 215.1 × 10⁶) and testicular volume (group 1: left testicle 2.8 ml, right testicle 2.7 ml; group 2: left testicle 5.5 ml, right testicle 5.0 ml) were lower in group 1 compared to dogs of group 2 (p = .001; p = .001; both testes: p < .001). There was no difference in sperm concentration (p = .985). Based on these results, introduction of an additional weight group to the commonly used reference values is recommended, since values for ejaculate volume, total sperm output and testicular dimensions for dogs ≤5.0 kg bodyweight differed significantly from values of dogs with a bodyweight from 5.1 to 10.0 kg.     

牛人工授精所需有效精子数的研究

为了探索不同数量有效精子与受胎率之间的关系,试验用200万、400万、600万、800万有效精子数冻精输配母牛。结果表明,600万与800万有效精子数受胎率比较差异不显著(P>0.05),400万和200万有效精子数受胎率显著低于800万(P<0.05)。该结果可为相关单位进一步优化细管冻精生产提供参考。