Consequences of nutritional programs and feeding strategies on growth traits, reproductive performance and mortality in rabbits

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 425-435
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Feeding Strategies

scholarly journals On-farm evaluation of growth and reproductive performances of Washera and Gumuz sheep in northwestern Ethiopia: Basics for setting up breeding objectives/goals

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254924
Author(s):  
Sisay Asmare ◽  
Kefyalew Alemayehu ◽  
Solomon Abegaz ◽  
Aynalem Haile
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Average Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Performance Traits

Growth and reproductive performance traits are traits of economic importance for sheep selection and productivity improvement interventions. This study aimed at comparative evaluation of growth and reproductive performance traits of sheep in the highland and lowland agro-ecologies of northwestern Ethiopia. Data on growth performance traits were collected from 144 Washera (78 males and 66 females) lambs and 72 Gumuz (37 males and 35 females) lambs. Data on reproductive performance traits were collected from 260 Washera (130 rams and 130 ewes) sheep and 150 Gumuz (75 rams and 75 ewes) sheep. General linear model univariate procedure was employed to analyze the collected data. Breed, the interaction effect between breed and season of birth as well as the interaction effect between breed and type of birth all exerted very high significant effect (P<0.001) on live weight at all age groups. Breed type affected pre-weaning average daily weight gain significantly (P<0.01). Pre-weaning average daily weight gain of Washera (70 g/day) was found much better performance than 60 g/day of Gumuz. Breed type exerts significant (P<0.05) effect on age at first lambing, lambing interval, annual reproductive rate and number of lambs born per ewe life time. Average age at first lambing and lambing interval of Washera sheep were 11.69 months and 9.27 months, respectively. The corresponding values for Gumuz sheep were 12.51 months and 10.43 months, respectively. Production and reproduction performance values of traits varied across the two breeds and sexes as well. These values can be used to set up breeding objectives or goals for selective breeding of sheep giving special emphasis to growth traits believed to have medium heritability values.

scholarly journals Identification of Genes Targeted in South African Merino and Afrino Sheep Populations Under Long-Term Selection for Reproduction and Body Weight

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaretha Snyman ◽  
Sunika Süllwald ◽  
Willem Olivier ◽  
Carina Visser
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
South African ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Term Selection ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Selection For

Abstract Background: Reproductive performance and body weight are of the utmost economic importance in determining the efficiency of sheep production. Simultaneous selection for increased reproductive performance and early growth traits is a common strategy in many flocks, but ambiguous results regarding the relationship between reproduction and body weight have been reported. The objective of this study was to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in two South African Merino flocks and an Afrino sheep flock that were selected for both reproduction and body weight over decades. The GWAS aimed to identify SNPs associated with genes affecting the traits number of lambs born (NLB), number of lambs weaned (NLW), total weight of lamb weaned (TWW) and body weight (BW) and thus to ascertain which genes were targeted through directional selection.Results: In the GWAS, 16 SNP markers associated with reproductive traits were identified among the three populations, while 15 SNPs were associated with body weight. These SNPs were linked respectively to 26 and 21 documented genes in the sheep genome. Most of these genes were previously associated in literature with reproduction related, as well as with growth related traits in various farm animal species. This study, supported by results from previous studies performed on sheep and cattle, identified the following genes that warrant further investigation as to their functions and processes relating to growth and reproduction in sheep: MAP7D1, TRAPPC3, THRAP3, TRMP8, SPP2, HDAC9, ZFHX3, SIX6, C14orf39, TAF4B, TRSP1 EYA2, RBMS3, STL38L, BSPH1, LIG1, CABP5 and ELSPBP1. Conclusions: Long-term selection in the flocks for both body weight and reproductive traits, and especially on the composite trait TWW, have favoured genes with pleiotropic effects influencing both groups of traits. SNPs associated with these pleiotropic genes were detected in the association analyses for the various traits.

scholarly journals PSXI-6 Effects of different feeding strategies during gestation on the reproductive performance of crossbred Landrace-Yorkshire sows

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 388-388
Author(s):  
Yuanfei Zhou ◽  
Jian Peng
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
North American ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
American System ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Ad Libitum

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding strategies during gestation on the reproductive performance of sows. A total of 1121 American Landrace-Yorkshire (YL) crossbred sows and parity from 1 to 4 were assigned randomly to “North American System” feeding pattern or “Danish System” feeding pattern during gestation basing on the backfat thickness and body weight. Sows received the same diet and fed ad libitum during lactation. Results showed that over the entire gestation period, there was also no difference in average daily feed intake and total feed intake between two groups (P &gt; 0.05). “Danish System” group has significantly improved the backfat thickness at gestation 30 d (P &lt; 0.01). At 110 d of gestation, there was no difference of the backfat thickness between two groups (P &gt; 0.05). “Danish System” group had significantly increased the total number of born (P = 0.02) and born alive (P = 0.04). The number of total born (P = 0.04), stillborn (P = 0.05) and mummies (P = 0.02), had significantly different in between parities of sows. Mummies had significantly interaction effect (P = 0.01). No different was observed for the number of weaned pigs, litter weight at weaning, piglet weight, and weaning to oestrus interval between two groups. However, a significant increase of litter weight at weaning, piglet weight, was associated with increased parity of sow (P &lt; 0.01). The results of the present investigation showed that “Danish System” group could significantly increase the litter size and number born alive. Our findings point to the importance that the Danish system can be applied to North American genotypes.

Genetic correlation between growth and reproductive performance of beef females depends on environment

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mário L. Santana Jr ◽  
Joanir P. Eler ◽  
Annaiza B. Bignardi ◽  
Arione A. Boligon ◽  
José B. S. Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Environment Interaction

In tropical production systems, beef cattle are raised in highly heterogeneous environments. Heterogeneity is, therefore, expected to exist in the (co)variance components for traits of economic interest in different production environments. The main objective of the present study was to estimate genetic correlations between growth traits and reproductive performance of beef females, depending on the environment. The present study was conducted in the tropical region of Brazil, applying a multiple-trait random regression animal model to field records of heifer pregnancy (HP), hip height, bodyweight at ~18 months of age (BW18) and postweaning weight gain (PWG) from 20 893 Nelore females. As evidence of genotype by environment interaction (G × E), heterogeneity of genetic variance across environments was observed mainly for HP, PWG and BW18. Moreover, the estimates of genetic correlation within these traits reached values lower than unity on the environmental gradient. The genetic correlation among growth traits tended to be stronger in favourable environments, a fact that should favour correlated responses under these conditions. In contrast, the genetic correlations between growth traits and HP tended to become weaker and even exhibited little evidence of antagonism in more favourable environments. On the basis of these findings, selection for higher growth in extreme favourable environments should result in little or no damage to HP as a correlated response. All these results lead us to believe that the G × E is an important factor to be considered in genetic evaluations of beef cattle raised in tropical environments.

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BOOROOLA × FINNISH LANDRACE AND BOOROOLA × SUFFOLK EWE LAMBS, HETEROZYGOUS FOR THE F GENE, AND GROWTH TRAITS OF THEIR THREE-WAY CROSS LAMBS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. CASTONGUAY ◽  
F. MINVIELLE ◽  
J. J. DUFOUR
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
The Other ◽  
F Gene ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Significant Difference

Reproductive performance of Booroola × Finnish Landrace (BFL, n = 19) and Booroola × Suffolk (BS, n = 18) ewe lambs heterozygous for the F gene were compared to Finnish Landrace (FL, n = 14) and Suffolk (S, n = 26) purebred controls. FL lambs reached puberty earlier (211.3 d, P < 0.001) than the other genetic groups (237.8, 233.0 and 232.9 d for S, BS and BFL, respectively) whereas weight at puberty was lower (P < 0.001) for BFL, FL and BS (36.8, 36.7 and 47.0 kg, respectively) than for S (61.1 kg). About 95% of BFL and BS ewe lambs had at least one record of three ovulations or more over the first three estruses, including puberty. Mean ovulation rates at breeding (second estrus after puberty) to a Hampshire (H) ram were 3.8, 3.3, 2.2 and 1.7 for BFL, BS, FL and S, respectively (BFL and BS vs. FL and S, P < 0.001). The corresponding litter sizes at birth were 2.5, 2.1, 1.6 and 1.3 (BFL and BS vs. FL and S, P < 0.001) which reflected a higher embryonic loss in the Booroola crosses. Percentage ova loss ranged between 32.8% (BFL) and 12.8% (S) and was related to the level of prolificacy. Lamb mortality at birth was high in BFL (23.7%) compared to BS, FL and S (6.5, 0.0 and 0.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). Litter size at weaning (50 d of age) averaged 1.9, 1.8, 1.5 and 1.3 for BS, BFL, FL and S ewe lambs (BS vs. S, P < 0.02). Growth performance of H-sired progeny from the four genetic groups of ewes showed that H × S lambs had the highest average daily gain in both preweaning and postweaning periods (preweaning ADG: 349.9 g d−1; postweaning ADG: 332.1 g d−1) while the other genotypes of lambs performed equally (preweaning ADG: 267.4, 249.5 and 246.8 g d−1 for H × FL, H × BFL and H × BS, respectively; postweaning ADG: 281.2, 276.8 and 281.8 g d−1 for the same genetic groups). Overall productivity of ewe lambs in terms of kilograms of lamb produced showed a slight, nonsignificant, advantage for Booroola-cross ewe lambs (55.8 and 54.5 kg for BS and BFL) over purebred S (51.6 kg) and FL (44.9 kg). These results indicate that ovulation rate and litter size can be increased by incorporating F gene in both prolific (FL) and nonprolific (S) background genotypes without resulting in any significant difference in total weight of lamb produced per ewe. Key words: Sheep, ewe productivity, Booroola, ovulation rate, crossbreeding

scholarly journals Some reproductive and growth traits of crossbred genotypes produced by crossing local sheep breeds of Kivircik x White Karaman and Chios x White Karaman in steppe conditions

2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Unal ◽  
H. Akcapinar ◽  
F. Atasoy ◽  
M. Aytac
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Sheep Breeds ◽  
Survival And Growth

Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate some production traits of crossbred genotypes produced for lamb production by crossing local sheep breeds of Kivircik (K) x White Karaman (W) and Chios (C) x White Karaman in steppe conditions. W breed is raised in steppe conditions while K and C breeds are raised in Mediterranean climate conditions in Turkey. A total of 340 ewes was used through 3 years. The litter size for W, KWF1 and CWF1 ewes were 1.26, 1.19 and 1.52 (P<0.05), respectively. The least squares means of W, KW F2, KW B1, CW F2 and CW B1 lambs were 91.2, 95.7, 95.6, 87.3 and 94.2 % for survival rate at weaning (90 days); 4.4, 4.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.1 kg for birth weight; 21.1, 20.3, 19.6, 20.3 and 19.9 kg for weaning weight; 31.9, 29.4, 30.3, 30.5 and 30.1 kg for 180 day weight, respectively. The differences among genotypes for survival rates and growth performance of lambs were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The results indicated that Chios crossbred ewes had the highest reproductive performance while all genotypes had similar performance in terms of survival and growth of lambs in steppe conditions.

The effect of age and growth traits on puberty and reproductive performance in the gilt

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Burnett ◽  
N. Walker ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Significant Trend ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Embryo Survival

ABSTRACTAn experiment involving 320 gilts was conducted to investigate the effects of age and growth traits on puberty attainment and reproductive performance in gilts given boar stimulation with or without exogenous gonadotropins. Following ad libitum feeding during rearing, groups of gilts were stimulated for puberty at one of four ages, namely 130, 150, 170 or 190 days. Within each age group, gilts were selected to maximize the variation in live weight, relocated, mixed and allocated to two treatments in a randomized-block design: (a) mature boar contact (boars only) and (b) boar contact plus an intramuscular injection of 400 i.u. pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin + 200 i.u. human chorionic gonadotropin (boars + PG600). Gilts were mated at puberty and slaughtered at 35 days post coitum.For the gilts on the boars-only treatment, the interval from stimulation to puberty decreased significantly (P < 0·05) and became less variable with ascending age at stimulation. Increasing live weight at a given age also reduced the interval from stimulation to puberty. Multiple regression equations involving age, live weight and backfat thickness at stimulation and growth rate from birth to stimulation were calculated to obtain a prediction equation for the interval from stimulation to puberty. The effects of age and live weight at mating on ovulation rate, embryo survival and number of live embryos 35 days post coitum were not significant.For the gilts on the boars + PG600 treatment, 92% attained puberty within 6 days of treatment, with a non-significant trend to improve with increasing age. Mating rates were similar to those on the boars-only treatment (90%). Ovulation rates were higher (P < 0·001) but embryo survival rates were lower (P < 0·001) in the boars + PG600 group, resulting in similar litter size at 35 days post coitum in the boars-only and boars + PG600 treatments. There was a non-significant trend for litter size to increase with age in the boars + PG600 treatment. Thirty-eight of the gilts treated with hormones failed to conceive and 53% were found by ovarian morphology at slaughter to be cycling normally with a tendency for this proportion to increase with age.

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