The relationships between performance traits and the bGH/Alu I and Pit-1/Hinf I polymorphisms in Holstein cows

Author(s):  
Memis Ozdemir ◽  
Mehmet Topal ◽  
Vecihi Aksakal

Progress in genetic selection in livestock can be increased by marker asisted selection. The identification of favorable genetic markers is one of the most important stages in marker-asisted selection. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of the bGH/AluI and Pit-1/HinfI polymorphisms on the production traits of organic reared cows. Genotyping was performed on total 245 Holstein cows, n=181 for Pit-1 gene and n=186 for bGH gene. Milk yields and some reproduction traits analyzed by analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure, and 703 production records from cows were used to. The results showed that neither the Pit-1/Hinf I nor bGH/Alu I polymorphisms affect the tested milk traits (p>0.05).

Author(s):  
Darlene Ana Souza Duarte ◽  
Martine Schroyen ◽  
Rodrigo Reis Mota ◽  
Sylvie Vanderick ◽  
Nicolas Gengler

AbstractBoar taint is an unpleasant odor in male pig meat, mainly caused by androstenone, skatole, and indole, which are deposited in the fat tissue. Piglet castration is the most common practice to prevent boar taint. However, castration is likely to be banished in a few years due to animal welfare concerns. Alternatives to castration, such as genetic selection, have been assessed. Androstenone and skatole have moderate to high heritability, which makes it feasible to select against these compounds. This review presents the latest results obtained on genetic selection against boar taint, on correlation with other traits, on differences in breeds, and on candidate genes related to boar taint. QTLs for androstenone and skatole have been reported mainly on chromosomes 6, 7, and 14. These chromosomes were reported to contain genes responsible for synthesis and degradation of androstenone and skatole. A myriad of work has been done to find markers or genes that can be used to select animals with lower boar taint. The selection against boar taint could decrease performance of some reproduction traits. However, a favorable response on production traits has been observed by selecting against boar taint. Selection results have shown that it is possible to reduce boar taint in few generations. In addition, modifications in diet and environment conditions could be associated with genetic selection to reduce boar taint. Nevertheless, costs to measure and select against boar taint should be rewarded with incentives from the market; otherwise, it would be difficult to implement genetic selection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-225
Author(s):  
Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh ◽  
Hassan Darmani Kuhi ◽  
James France ◽  
Secundino López

AbstractThe aim of the work reported here was to investigate the appropriateness of a sinusoidal function by applying it to model the cumulative lactation curves for milk yield and composition in primiparous Holstein cows, and to compare it with three conventional growth models (linear, Richards and Morgan). Data used in this study were 911 144 test-day records for milk, fat and protein yields, which were recorded on 834 dairy herds from 2000 to 2011 by the Animal Breeding Centre and Promotion of Animal Products of Iran. Each function was fitted to the test-day production records using appropriate procedures in SAS (PROC REG for the linear model and PROC NLIN for the Richards, Morgan and sinusoidal equations) and the parameters were estimated. The models were tested for goodness of fit using adjusted coefficient of determination $\lpar {R_{{\rm adj}}^2 } \rpar $, root mean square error (RMSE), Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC). $R_{{\rm adj}}^2 $ values were generally high (>0.999), implying suitable fits to the data, and showed little differences among the models for cumulative yields. The sinusoidal equation provided the lowest values of RMSE, AIC and BIC, and therefore the best fit to the lactation curve for cumulative milk, fat and protein yields. The linear model gave the poorest fit to the cumulative lactation curve for all production traits. The current results show that classical growth functions can be fitted accurately to cumulative lactation curves for production traits, but the new sinusoidal equation introduced herein, by providing best goodness of fit, can be considered a useful alternative to conventional models in dairy research.


Author(s):  
Günter Daniel Rey

<span>Students (N = 101) used an introductory text and a computer simulation to learn fundamental concepts about statistical analyses (e.g., analysis of variance, regression analysis and General Linear Model). Each learner was randomly assigned to one cell of a 2 (with or without time advice) x 3 (with learning questions and corrective feedback, with learning questions without feedback or without learning questions) between subjects factorial design. Time spent with the simulation as well as retention and transfer tests were used as dependent measures. Neither the time advice presented immediately before students chose to finish the simulation nor the learning questions presented during the simulation significantly improves learners' retention or transfer performances. Students who were asked to employ more time on the computer simulation or who received learning questions with corrective feedback spent significantly more time with the simulation than did students for whom the time advice or the learning questions were absent. The results were discussed on the basis of the </span><em>cognitive theory of multimedia learning</em><span> and the </span><em>cognitive-affective theory of learning with media</em><span>, as well as in conjunction with adaptive computer simulations.</span>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Korkuć ◽  
Danny Arends ◽  
Katharina May ◽  
Sven König ◽  
Gudrun A. Brockmann

German Black Pied cattle (DSN) is an endangered population of about 2,550 dual-purpose cattle in Germany. Having a milk yield of about 2,500 kg less than the predominant dairy breed Holstein, the preservation of DSN is supported by the German government and the EU. The identification of the genomic loci affecting milk production in DSN can provide a basis for selection decisions for genetic improvement of DSN in order to increase market chances through the improvement of milk yield. A genome-wide association analysis of 30 milk traits was conducted in different lactation periods and numbers. Association using multiple linear regression models in R was performed on 1,490 DSN cattle genotyped with BovineSNP50 SNP-chip. 41 significant and 20 suggestive SNPs affecting milk production traits in DSN were identified, as well as 15 additional SNPs for protein content which are less reliable due to high inflation. The most significant effects on milk yield in DSN were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, and 20. The region on chromosome 6 was located nearby the casein gene cluster and the corresponding haplotype overlapped the CSN3 gene (casein kappa). Associations for fat and protein yield and content were also detected. High correlation between traits of the same lactation period or number led to some SNPs being significant for multiple investigated traits. Half of all identified SNPs have been reported in other studies, previously. 15 SNPs were associated with the same traits in other breeds. The other associated SNPs have been reported previously for traits such as exterior, health, meat and carcass, production, and reproduction traits. No association could be detected between DGAT1 and other known milk genes with milk production traits despite the close relationship between DSN and Holstein. The results of this study confirmed that many SNPs identified in other breeds as associated with milk traits also affect milk traits in dual-purpose DSN cattle and can be used for further genetic analysis to identify genes and causal variants that affect milk production in DSN cattle.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
J. L. M. Vasconcelos ◽  
D. T. G. Jardina ◽  
C. A. Rodrigues ◽  
V. C. Guerreiro

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of season and lactation status on embryo production in Holstein donors (n = 51). Data from 195 embryo collections (94 from lactating cows and 101 from non-lactating cows), at a dairy farm located in Descalvado, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2005, were analyzed. The superstimulation protocol included two 3-mg norgestomet ear implants (Crestar�; Intervet, Sao Paulo, Brazil) and an injection of 3 mg of estradiol benzoate IM (EB) on random days of the estrous cycle. Four days later, 500 IU FSH IM (Pluset�; Calier, Buenos Aires, Argentina) were divided into 8 decreasing doses given 12 h apart. With the seventh FSH injection, 0.530 mg IM of sodium cloprostenol (PGFα Ciosin�; Coopers-Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was given, and implants were removed with the eighth FSH injection. Twelve hours later, 250 �g IM of gonadorelin (Fertagyl�; Intervet) was given, followed by two AI 12 and 24 h later. Ova/embryos were recovered 6.5 days after the first insemination. The total number of ova/embryos, IETS grades 1, 2, and 3 (viable) and grade 4 plus unfertilized (non-viable), were analyzed by General Linear Model (GLM). Effects of donor, lactation status (lactating or non-lactating), sire, season (1: January through March, n = 56; 2: April through June, n = 37; 3: July through September, n = 50; 4: October through December, n = 52), and their interactions were included in the model. There was an effect of donor on all outcome variables (P &lt; 0.01). There was an effect of season on the total number of ova/embryos (1: 10.2 � 1.2; 2: 6.6 � 1.0; 3: 10.0 � 1.1; 4: 11.2 � 1.2; P &lt; 0.02) and of viable embryos (1: 3.7 � 0.5; 2: 2.4 � 0.5; 3: 5.9 � 0.9; 4: 4.4 � 0.7; P &lt; 0.001). Lactation status influenced the total number of ova/embryos (lactating: 10.9 � 0.9 vs. non-lactating: 8.7 � 0.7; P &lt; 0.001) and the number of non-viable embryos (lactating: 6.7 � 0.8 vs. non-lactating: 4.4 � 0.5; P &lt; 0.01). However, there was no effect of lactation status on the number of viable embryos (lactating: 4.14 � 0.5 vs. non-lactating: 4.29 � 0.5; P &gt; 0.10). In summary, the number of viable embryos in Holstein cows was influenced by season and donor, but not by lactation status.


2009 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Ilari ◽  
Megha Sundara

This study investigated infant listening preferences for two versions of an unfamiliar Chinese children's song: unaccompanied (i.e., voice only) and accompanied (i.e., voice and instrumental accompaniment). Three groups of 5-, 8- and 11-month-old infants were tested using the Headturn Preference Procedure. A general linear model analysis of variance was carried out with gender and age as the between-subjects variables and listening time to the two renditions (unaccompanied, accompanied) as the within-subjects variable. Results indicated a clear preference for the unaccompanied version of the song in all age groups.


2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zavadilová ◽  
M. Štípková

Effects of age at first calving (AFC) on functional longevity of Czech Holstein cows and their reproduction traits in the first lactation were analyzed using the first lactation data of 605 538 Holstein cows first calved from 1993 to 2008. Three classes were formed for AFC: low age class (16&ndash;24 months), average age class (25&ndash;30 months), and high age class (33&ndash;46 months). Effects of AFC on length of productive life (LPL), days open (DO), days between calving and first service (CTFS), and days between first service and conception in the first lactation (FSTC) were estimated by survival and linear model analyses. It was found that LPL was on average slightly shorter for cows with higher AFC who showed also a lower proportion of higher lactations and tended to longer DO and longer CTFS in the first parity. The results of survival analysis indicate that cows with higher AFC had a tendency to shorter LPL (risk of culling 1.118) and to longer DO (risk of conception 0.758), CTFS (risk of conception 0.757), and FSTC (risk of conception 0.754) in comparison with cows with lower AFC. When the effect of fertility traits on LPL was analyzed, it was found that longer DO, CTFS, and FSTC were connected with a lower risk of culling (0.132, 0.183, 0.206) regardless of the particular AFC group. In linear model analysis, the effects of AFC group were estimated from two datasets, where the second dataset included also the missing values of fertility traits. It was found that the cows group with the highest AFC showed worse values of fertility traits (16.75, 19.69, 20.46 days) than the cows groups with lower AFC. Results of all analyses showed that a high AFC is connected with worse cow&rsquo;s fertility at the first lactation and with lower cow&rsquo;s LPL. &nbsp; &nbsp;


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