Spermatogonial Stem Cell Transplantation: Insights and Outlook for Domestic Animals

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 385-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana I. Giassetti ◽  
Michela Ciccarelli ◽  
Jon M. Oatley
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Testicular Tissue ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Current State ◽  
Animal Populations

The demand for food will increase to an unprecedented level over the next 30 years owing to human population expansion, thus necessitating an evolution that improves the efficiency of livestock production. Genetic gain to improve production traits of domestic animal populations is most effectively achieved via selective use of gametes from animals deemed to be elite, and this principle has been the basis of selective breeding strategies employed by humans for thousands of years. In modern-day animal agriculture, artificial insemination (AI) has been the staple of selective breeding programs, but it has inherent limitations for applications in beef cattle and pig production systems. In this review, we discuss the potential and current state of development for a concept termed Surrogate Sires as a next-generation breeding tool in livestock production. The scheme capitalizes on the capacity of spermatogonial stem cells to regenerate sperm production after isolation from donor testicular tissue and transfer into the testes of a recipient male that lacks endogenous germline, thereby allowing the surrogate male to produce offspring with the donor haplotype via natural mating. This concept provides an effective selective breeding tool to achieve genetic gain that is conducive for livestock production systems in which AI is difficult to implement.

Conservation of animal genetic resources: approaches and technologies for in situ and ex situ conservation

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 71-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Woolliams ◽  
O. Matika ◽  
J. Pattison
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
The Face ◽  
Livestock Products

SummaryLivestock production faces major challenges through the coincidence of major drivers of change, some with conflicting directions. These are:1. An unprecedented global change in demands for traditional livestock products such as meat, milk and eggs.2. Large changes in the demographic and regional distribution of these demands.3. The need to reduce poverty in rural communities by providing sustainable livelihoods.4. The possible emergence of new agricultural outputs such as bio-fuels making a significant impact upon traditional production systems.5. A growing awareness of the need to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production.6. The uncertainty in the scale and impact of climate change. This paper explores these challenges from a scientific perspective in the face of the large-scale and selective erosion of our animal genetic resources, and concludes thai there is a stronger and more urgent need than ever before to secure the livestock genetic resources available to humankind through a comprehensive global conservation programme.

281 Can We Developmentally Program the Epigenome to Improve Traits Relevant to Production in Cattle?

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
Robert A Cushman ◽  
Alexandria Snider ◽  
Matthew S Crouse
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Pubertal Development ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Developmental Programming ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Female Progeny ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Functional Changes

Abstract While sequence variation can be informative to associate regions of the genome with specific traits and improve genetic selection, the epigenome may provide a more powerful tool to manage cattle. Identifying practices that are producer friendly and effectively control epigenetic function within animals is crucial to translating developmental programming to a production setting. Initial studies of developmental programming investigated how environmental or nutritional stresses during fetal and peri-natal development impacted performance of animals later in life. These studies demonstrated changes in methylation, alterations in transcript abundance, and negative impacts on physiology, but they also suggested that we may be able to beneficially impact the epigenome and developmentally program animals to excel in their niche in the production system. Maternal nutritional status during the third trimester influenced date of conception of female progeny in several studies but failed to do so in other studies. Transcriptomic analyses provided evidence that nutritional treatments alter mRNA abundance in brain, liver, muscle, and ovary, but does not conclusively demonstrate that this is due to functional changes in the epigenome. If developmental programming is to be applied in production systems, responses must be consistent and beneficial. Reducing nutrient intake in heifers during peri-pubertal development increased number of primordial follicles in the ovaries and reproductive longevity. While nutritional programming of the ovarian reserve in peri-pubertal heifers appears to occur consistently across locations and studies, it does not ensure that subsequent environmental stressors will not induce changes in the ovarian reserve that will negate beneficial effects. These studies demonstrate that it is possible to developmentally program the epigenome in cattle in ways that will improve production traits; however, there remains a need for studies to improve the consistency of response and to determine best practices that fit into production systems. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

scholarly journals Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock Manure Management in Southwestern Siberia, Russia

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Storrle ◽  
Hans-Jorg Brauckmann ◽  
Gabriele Broll
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
Tyumen Oblast

This study investigates the amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to manure handling within different livestock production systems in Tyumen oblast of Western Siberia. Tyumen oblast occupies approx. 160 000 km² of Asian taiga and forest steppe. The amount of GHGs from manure was calculated as a function of the handling according to current IPCC guidelines for ecozones and livestock production systems. The entire Tyumen oblast has annual 7 400 t methane emissions and 440 t nitrous oxide emissions from manure. Three livestock production systems are prevalent in Tyumen oblast: Mega farms, small farms and peasant farms. The share of mega farms is 81 % (171 kt CO2 eq). Additionally, the slurry system in mega farms causes environmental pollution. GHG emissions and environmental pollution could be reduced by implementing solid manure systems or pasturing, by installing storage facilities for slurry outside the stables and through application of the manure as fertiliser at mega farms. In small farms solid manure systems and a small stocking density of livestock lead to smallest GHG emissions (1 %, 3 kt CO2 eq) from manure. In peasant farming 18 % (38 kt CO2 eq) of GHGs are emitted due to pasturing. 

scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities Developing Mathematical Models of Shared Pathogens of Domestic and Wild Animals

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Huyvaert ◽  
Robin Russell ◽  
Kelly Patyk ◽  
Meggan Craft ◽  
Paul Cross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Transmission Pathways ◽  
And Control

Diseases that affect both wild and domestic animals can be particularly difficult to prevent, predict, mitigate, and control. Such multi-host diseases can have devastating economic impacts on domestic animal producers and can present significant challenges to wildlife populations, particularly for populations of conservation concern. Few mathematical models exist that capture the complexities of these multi-host pathogens, yet the development of such models would allow us to estimate and compare the potential effectiveness of management actions for mitigating or suppressing disease in wildlife and/or livestock host populations. We conducted a workshop in March 2014 to identify the challenges associated with developing models of pathogen transmission across the wildlife-livestock interface. The development of mathematical models of pathogen transmission at this interface is hampered by the difficulties associated with describing the host-pathogen systems, including: (1) the identity of wildlife hosts, their distributions, and movement patterns; (2) the pathogen transmission pathways between wildlife and domestic animals; (3) the effects of the disease and concomitant mitigation efforts on wild and domestic animal populations; and (4) barriers to communication between sectors. To promote the development of mathematical models of transmission at this interface, we recommend further integration of modern quantitative techniques and improvement of communication among wildlife biologists, mathematical modelers, veterinary medicine professionals, producers, and other stakeholders concerned with the consequences of pathogen transmission at this important, yet poorly understood, interface.

Airborne particulate matter from livestock production systems: A review of an air pollution problem

2010 ◽  
Vol 158 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Cambra-López ◽  
André J.A. Aarnink ◽  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Salvador Calvet ◽  
Antonio G. Torres
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Airborne Particulate Matter ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Airborne Particulate ◽  
Pollution Problem

Sex hormones originating from different livestock production systems: fate and potential disrupting activity in the environment

2002 ◽  
Vol 473 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris G Lange ◽  
Andreas Daxenberger ◽  
Bettina Schiffer ◽  
Hilda Witters ◽  
Dolores Ibarreta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Livestock Production
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