Whole-genome re-sequencing association study on yearling wool traits in Chinese fine-wool sheep

To investigate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci associated with yearling wool traits of fine-wool sheep for optimizing marker-assisted selection and dissection of the genetic architecture of wool traits, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on the fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) for yearling staple length (YSL), yearling mean fiber diameter (YFD), yearling greasy fleece weight (YGFW), and yearling clean fleece rate (YCFR) by using the whole-genome re-sequenced data (totaling 577 sheep) from the following four fine-wool sheep breeds in China: Alpine Merino sheep (AMS), Chinese Merino sheep (CMS), Qinghai fine-wool sheep (QHS), and Aohan fine-wool sheep (AHS). A total of 16 SNPs were detected above the genome-wise significant threshold (P = 5.45E-09), and 79 SNPs were located above the suggestive significance threshold (P = 5.00E-07) from the GWAS results. For YFD and YGFW traits, 7 and 9 SNPs reached the genome-wise significance thresholds, whereas 10 and 12 SNPs reached the suggestive significance threshold, respectively. For YSL and YCFR traits, none of the SNPs reached the genome-wise significance thresholds, whereas 57 SNPs exceeded the suggestive significance threshold. We recorded 14 genes located at the region of ±50-kb near the genome-wise significant SNPs and 59 genes located at the region of ±50-kb near the suggestive significant SNPs. Meanwhile, we used the Average Information Restricted Maximum likelihood algorithm (AI-REML) in the “HIBLUP” package to estimate the heritability and variance components of the four desired yearling wool traits. The estimated heritability values (h²) of YSL, YFD, YGFW, and YCFR were 0.6208, 0.7460, 0.6758, and 0.5559, respectively. We noted that the genetic parameters in this study can be used for fine-wool sheep breeding. The newly detected significant SNPs and the newly identified candidate genes in this study would enhance our understanding of yearling wool formation, and significant SNPs can be applied to genome selection in fine-wool sheep breeding.     

Diprosopus, craniorachischisis, arthrogryposis, and other associated anomalies in a stillborn lamb

Congenital malformations with multiple anomalies have been described infrequently in the veterinary literature. A stillborn male crossbred lamb with diprosopus, craniorachischisis, and arthrogryposis was examined macroscopically and histopathologically in this study. The left head was smaller than the right head. Micrencephaly, agnathia, and a rudimentary tongue, which was adherent to the palate, were present in the left head. Micrencephaly, brachygnathia superior, and cleft palate were present in the right head. Cerebellar agenesis and spinal cord hypoplasia were observed. The cerebrums and the spinal cord were covered with a tapering membranous structure. Neural and dermal tissues were noted to intervene upon microscopic examination of this structure. Disorganization of neurons was observed in both cerebrums, though it was more severe in the left one. This case demonstrates many congenital defects occurring together in a lamb.     

日粮添加油脂和出生类型对羔羊肌肉胶原蛋白特性及相关基因表达的影响

旨在研究日粮添加油脂和不同出生类型对羔羊肌肉胶原蛋白特性及相关基因表达的影响。本试验选取64只2月龄断奶双羔(twin born,TW;32只)和三羔(triplet born,TR;32只)湖羊公羔,分别饲喂基础日粮(control, CON)和添加2%大豆油(soybean oil,SBO)的日粮,采用2×2析因试验设计,分为4个处理(TW-CON,TW-SBO,TR-CON,TR-SBO),每个处理16个重复,每个重复1只羊。90 d后屠宰采集羔羊背最长肌,测定其胶原蛋白含量、相关酶活以及肌肉发育相关基因表达水平等。结果表明:1) TW组的Ⅰ型胶原蛋白含量显著高于TR组(P<0.05)。日粮添加油脂有提高可溶性胶原蛋白含量的趋势(0.050.05)。2)基质金属蛋白酶13(MMP-13)含量因日粮中油脂添加而显著下降(P<0.05),而吡啶诺林(PYD)和基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂(TIMP-1)则受日粮油脂添加和出生类型交互作用的显著影响(P<0.05)。3)MYOD1在双羔中表达水平显著高于三羔(P<0.05)。日粮油脂添加显著降低了FN1的相对表达水平(P<0.05),而FGF2和COL3A1的相对表达水平则表现出受日粮油脂添加和出生类型交互作用影响的趋势(0.050.05)。结果提示,双羔肌肉中胶原蛋白含量高于三羔,油脂有促进胶原蛋白含量增加的趋势,且日粮油脂和出生类型共同作用胶原蛋白代谢相关酶含量及基因的表达,进而影响肌肉中胶原蛋白的含量。     

饲粮能量和蛋白质水平对21～60日龄湖羊生长、消化性能及血清指标的影响

旨在研究饲粮能量和蛋白质水平对21～60日龄湖羊羔羊生长、消化性能和血清指标的影响。本研究采用两因素两水平试验设计,选取64只17日龄体重相近、健康的湖羊羔羊,随机分为高能高蛋白(HE-HP)、高能低蛋白(HE-LP)、低能高蛋白(LE-HP)、低能低蛋白(LE-LP)4组,每组4个重复,每重复4只羊。试验预试期3d,21日龄起所有羔羊断母乳,饲喂代乳粉、补饲开食料。正试期40d。每天记录羔羊采食量,每隔20d晨饲前称重、颈静脉采血测定血清指标;31～40和51～60日龄期间采用全收粪法进行消化试验。结果表明:1)饲粮能量与蛋白水平对羔羊生长性能无显著交互作用(P>0.05),但羔羊日增重与饲料转化效率均随饲粮能量或蛋白质水平的降低而显著降低(P<0.05)。2)饲粮能量和蛋白质水平对羔羊31～40日龄干物质和总能消化率存在显著交互作用(P<0.05),表现为饲喂高能量饲粮时羔羊对饲粮干物质和和总能消化率随蛋白质水平的降低而显著降低(P<0.05)。3)40日龄羔羊血清葡萄糖含量随能量水平降低而显著降低(P<0.05);60日龄时,降低蛋白质水平显著降低了羔羊血清尿素氮含量(P<0.05)、提高了血清生长激素含量(P<0.05),降低饲粮能量水平显著提高了血清尿素氮和三酰甘油含量(P<0.05)。综上所述,能量和蛋白质水平对21～60日龄羔羊生长性能有显著影响,适当的能量和蛋白水平能够改善羔羊生长和消化性能。     

The effect of breeding ewe lambs on subsequent two-year-old ewe performance

This study was undertaken to determine if breeding ewe lambs (hoggets) would influence subsequent two-year-old (two-tooth) ewe liveweight and reproductive performance and their lamb's performance to weaning. Two-tooth Romney ewes that had been bred and lambed as a hogget (n = 505) were compared with those of 196 ewes that were bred as a hogget but did not lamb and 235 ewes that were not presented for breeding as a hogget. Hogget lambing resulted in reduced (P < 0.05) two-tooth liveweight and body condition score at breeding although still present this liveweight difference was reduced by two-tooth lamb weaning. Two-tooth ewes that had previously lambed as a hogget had greater (P < 0.05) returns to service rates and lower (P < 0.05) fecundity (multiple-bearing/two-tooth bred) than those that were bred for the first time. Two-tooth lamb liveweights were unaffected by hogget lambing. These results show that hogget lambing had a small negative effect on subsequent two-tooth reproductive performance. This was most likely caused by reduced liveweight at two-tooth breeding and indicates that farmers need to ensure management practices are in place to reduce the impact of hogget lambing on two-tooth liveweight.     

冬季羔羊舍饲育肥中应用膨润土的试验研究

在玉米秸为主的日粮中每头添加膨润土１６ｇ／ｄ和羟甲基尿素２０ｇ／ｄ进行羔羊快速育肥试验。结果表明,羔羊日增重由对照组的６５．００ｇ提高到试验组的１２０．６３ｇ,二者差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。饲料转化效率提高４６．０１％。４０ｄ后羔羊瘤胃液ｐＨ值明显降低。膨润土能改善羔羊瘤胃消化代谢并促进羔羊生长。     

中药在羔羊育肥中的应用探讨

本文对中药在羔羊育肥中的应用进行了系统性的探讨。通过对相关文献的梳理和分析,总结了中药在提高羔羊体重、促进肌肉生长、改善免疫力等方面的作用与机制,并探讨了中药与硒、锌等微量元素的联合应用对羔羊育肥的协同作用。不仅为提高羔羊养殖效益提供了新思路和方法,也有助于推广中药在畜牧业中的应用。     

荒漠草原区饲草组合对苏尼特羔羊的饲喂效果

为合理利用荒漠草原区饲草资源,本研究分别以华北驼绒藜（Ceratoides arborescens）和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)为主要饲草,配合谷草（Setavia italica）、冰草(Agropyron cristatum)饲喂苏尼特羔羊,根据组合效应原理科学组合为6组：100%驼绒藜、50%驼绒藜+50%谷草、50%驼绒藜+50%冰草、100%苜蓿、50%苜蓿+50%谷草和50%苜蓿+50%冰草。结果表明,100%苜蓿饲喂的羔羊增重、屠宰率和净肉率都明显高于其它处理,饲喂效果最好。不同组合饲喂效果为：50%驼绒藜+50%谷草＞100%驼绒藜、50%驼绒藜+50%冰草;100%苜蓿＞50%苜蓿+50%谷草、50%苜蓿+50%冰草。     

Effects of lairage after transport on post mortem muscle glycolysis,protein phosphorylation and lamb meat quality

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lairage after transport on post mortem muscle glycolysis, protein phosphorylation and lamb meat quality. Two preslaughter animal treatments, transport for 3 h and lairage for 0 h (T3L0) and transport for 3 h and then lairage for 12 h (T3L12), were compared with a control treatment of 0 h transport and 0 h lairage. Data obtained showed that preslaughter transport had a significant effect on lamb meat quality. Loins from lambs of the T3L0 treatment showed higher (P=0.026) pH_{24 h} and higher (P=0.021) pH_{48 h} values, but lower (P<0.001) drip loss and lower (P<0.05) glycolytic potential at 0 h post mortem than those of the T3L12 and control groups. Muscle samples of the T3L0 group showed higher (P=0.046) shear force and lower (P=0.005) b* value than those of the T3L12 group. Muscle glycogen concentration at 0, 2, 4 h post mortem were lower (P<0.05) in the T3L0 group than in control. No significant difference (P>0.05) in most meat quality parameters was determined between the T3L12 group and control, showing lairage for 12 h allowed lambs to recover from the effects of transport for 3 h and resulted in similar meat quality characteristics compared to no transport. Lairage after transport did not affect most meat quality indices in comparison with control, but increased the meat drip loss and b* value of lambs possibly through decreasing glycogen concentration and glycolytic potential.