Changes in genetic parameters for milk yield and heat tolerance in the Thai Holstein crossbred dairy population under different heat stress levels and over time

Abstract Background The effect of heat stress on livestock production is a worldwide issue. Animal performance is influenced by exposure to harsh environmental conditions potentially causing genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E), especially in highproducing animals. In this context, the main objectives of this study were to (1) detect the time periods in which heifer fertility traits are more sensitive to the exposure to high environmental temperature and/or humidity, (2) investigate G × E due to heat stress in heifer fertility traits, and, (3) identify genomic regions associated with heifer fertility and heat tolerance in Holstein cattle. Results Phenotypic records for three heifer fertility traits (i.e., age at first calving, interval from first to last service, and conception rate at the first service) were collected, from 2005 to 2018, for 56,998 Holstein heifers raised in 15 herds in the Beijing area (China). By integrating environmental data, including hourly air temperature and relative humidity, the critical periods in which the heifers are more sensitive to heat stress were located in more than 30 days before the first service for age at first calving and interval from first to last service, or 10 days before and less than 60 days after the first service for conception rate. Using reaction norm models, significant G × E was detected for all three traits regarding both environmental gradients, proportion of days exceeding heat threshold, and minimum temperature-humidity index. Through single-step genome-wide association studies, PLAG1, AMHR2, SP1, KRT8, KRT18, MLH1, and EOMES were suggested as candidate genes for heifer fertility. The genes HCRTR1, AGRP, PC, and GUCY1B1 are strong candidates for association with heat tolerance. Conclusions The critical periods in which the reproductive performance of heifers is more sensitive to heat stress are trait-dependent. Thus, detailed analysis should be conducted to determine this particular period for other fertility traits. The considerable magnitude of G × E and sire re-ranking indicates the necessity to consider G × E in dairy cattle breeding schemes. This will enable selection of more heat-tolerant animals with high reproductive efficiency under harsh climatic conditions. Lastly, the candidate genes identified to be linked with response to heat stress provide a better understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of heat tolerance in dairy cattle.

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An ER–Golgi Tethering Factor SLOH4/MIP3 Is Involved in Long-term Heat Tolerance of Arabidopsis

Plant and Cell Physiology ◽

10.1093/pcp/pcaa157 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kazuho Isono ◽

Ryo Tsukimoto ◽

Satoshi Iuchi ◽

Akihisa Shinozawa ◽

Izumi Yotsui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Heat Tolerance ◽

Secretory Proteins ◽

Wild Type ◽

Additional Function ◽

Transcript Levels ◽

Unfolded Protein ◽

In The Wild ◽

Protein Response

Abstract Plants are often exposed not only to short-term (S-) heat stress but also to diurnal long-term (L-) heat stress over several consecutive days. To reveal the mechanisms underlying L-heat stress tolerance, we here used a forward genetic screening for sensitive to long-term heat (sloh) mutants and isolated sloh4. The mutant was hypersensitive to L- but not S-heat stress. The causal gene of sloh4 was identical to MIP3 encoding a member of the MAIGO2 (MAG2) tethering complex, which is composed of the MAG2, MIP1, MIP2, and MIP3 subunits and is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Although sloh4/mip3 was hypersensitive to L-heat stress, the sensitivity of the mag2-3 and mip1–1 mutants was similar to that of the wild type. Under L-heat stress, the ER stress and the following unfolded protein response (UPR) were more pronounced in sloh4 than in the wild type. Transcript levels of bZIP60-regulated UPR genes were strongly increased in sloh4 under L-heat stress. Two processes known to be mediated by INOSITOL REQUIRING ENZYME1 (IRE1)—accumulation of the spliced bZIP60 transcript and a decrease in the transcript levels of PR4 and PRX34, encoding secretory proteins—were observed in sloh4 in response to L-heat stress. These findings suggest that misfolded proteins generated in sloh4 under L-heat stress may be recognized by IRE1 but not bZIP28, resulting in initiation of the UPR via activated bZIP60. Therefore, it would be possible that only MIP3 in MAG2 complex has an additional function in L-heat tolerance, which is not related to the ER–Golgi vesicle tethering.

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Characterization of Short-Term Heat Stress in Holstein Dairy Cows Using Altered Indicators of Metabolomics, Blood Parameters, Milk MicroRNA-216 and Characteristics

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030722 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 722

Author(s):

Jang-Hoon Jo ◽

Jalil Ghassemi Nejad ◽

Dong-Qiao Peng ◽

Hye-Ran Kim ◽

Sang-Ho Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Humidity Index ◽

Holstein Dairy Cows

This study aims to characterize the influence of short-term heat stress (HS; 4 day) in early lactating Holstein dairy cows, in terms of triggering blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and composition, and milk microRNA expression. Eight cows (milk yield = 30 ± 1.5 kg/day, parity = 1.09 ± 0.05) were homogeneously housed in environmentally controlled chambers, assigned into two groups with respect to the temperature humidity index (THI) at two distinct levels: approximately ~71 (low-temperature, low-humidity; LTLH) and ~86 (high-temperature, high-humidity; HTHH). Average feed intake (FI) dropped about 10 kg in the HTHH group, compared with the LTLH group (p = 0.001), whereas water intake was only numerically higher (p = 0.183) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Physiological parameters, including rectal temperature (p = 0.001) and heart rate (p = 0.038), were significantly higher in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Plasma cortisol and haptoglobin were higher (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group, compared to the LTLH group. Milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were lower (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Higher relative expression of milk miRNA-216 was observed in the HTHH group (p < 0.05). Valine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lactic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol, myo-inositol, and urea were decreased (p < 0.05). These results suggest that early lactating cows are more vulnerable to short-term (4 day) high THI levels—that is, HTHH conditions—compared with LTLH, considering the enormous negative effects observed in measured blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and compositions, and milk miRNA-216 expression.

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Heat-tolerant hot pepper exhibits constant photosynthesis via increased transpiration rate, high proline content and fast recovery in heat stress condition

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93697-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sherzod Nigmatullayevich Rajametov ◽

Eun Young Yang ◽

Myeong Cheoul Cho ◽

Soo Young Chae ◽

Hyo Bong Jeong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Treatment ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Heat Tolerance ◽

Transpiration Rate ◽

Stress Condition ◽

Proline Content ◽

Hot Pepper ◽

Fast Recovery ◽

Heat Stress Condition ◽

Heat Tolerant

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanism for heat tolerance is important for the hot pepper breeding program to develop heat-tolerant cultivars in changing climate. This study was conducted to investigate physiological and biochemical parameters related to heat tolerance and to determine leaf heat damage levels critical for selecting heat-tolerant genotypes. Seedlings of two commercial cultivars, heat-tolerant ‘NW Bigarim’ (NB) and susceptible ‘Chyung Yang’ (CY), were grown in 42 °C for ten days. Photosynthesis, electrolyte conductivity, proline content were measured among seedlings during heat treatment. Photosynthetic rate was significantly reduced in ‘CY’ but not in ‘NB’ seedlings in 42 °C. Stomatal conductivity and transpiration rate was significantly higher in ‘NB’ than ‘CY’. Proline content was also significantly higher in ‘NB’. After heat treatment, leaf heat damages were determined as 0, 25, 50 and 75% and plants with different leaf heat damages were moved to a glasshouse (30–32/22–24 °C in day/night). The growth and developmental parameters were investigated until 70 days. ‘NB’ was significantly affected by leaf heat damages only in fruit yield while ‘CY’ was in fruit set, number and yield. ‘NB’ showed fast recovery after heat stress compared to ‘CY’. These results suggest that constant photosynthetic rate via increased transpiration rate as well as high proline content in heat stress condition confer faster recovery from heat damage of heat-tolerant cultivars in seedlings stages.

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Effects of dry period length on milk yield and content and metabolic status of high-producing dairy cows under heat stress

Tropical Animal Health and Production ◽

10.1007/s11250-021-02634-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

Author(s):

A. Boustan ◽

V. Vahedi ◽

M. Abdi Farab ◽

H. Karami ◽

R. Seyedsharifi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Period Length ◽

Metabolic Status ◽

Dry Period

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Effects of Sprinkler Flow Rate on Physiological, Behavioral and Production Responses of Nili Ravi Buffaloes during Subtropical Summer

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020339 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 339

Author(s):

Musa Bah ◽

Muhammad Afzal Rashid ◽

Khalid Javed ◽

Talat Naseer Pasha ◽

Muhammad Qamer Shahid

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Latin Square ◽

Flow Rates ◽

Group Water ◽

Humidity Index ◽

Daily Milk Yield ◽

Daily Milk

Water buffaloes wallow in water to combat heat stress during summer. With the decreasing reservoirs for wallowing, the farmers use sprinklers to cool the buffaloes in Pakistan. These sprinklers use a large quantity of groundwater, which is becoming scarce. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of different sprinkler flow rates on the physiological, behavioral, and production responses of Nili Ravi buffaloes during summer. Eighteen buffaloes were randomly subjected to three sprinkler flow rate treatments in a double replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. The flow rates were 0.8, 1.25, and 2.0 L/min. During the study, the average afternoon temperature humidity index was 84.6. The 1.25 and 2.0 L/min groups had significantly lower rectal temperature and respiratory rates than the 0.8 L/min group. Water intake was significantly higher in the 0.8 L/min group. Daily milk yield was higher in the 1.25 and 2.0 L/min groups than in the 0.8 L/min group. These results suggested that the sprinkler flow rates > 0.8 L/min effectively cooled the buffaloes. The sprinkler flow rate of 1.25 L/min appeared to be more efficient, as it used 37.5% less water compared to the 2.0 L/min.

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PSV-14 Using Bayesian Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and a nonlinear model for the estimation of genetic parameters for lactation curves in goats

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.562 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 305-307

Author(s):

Andre C Araujo ◽

Leonardo Gloria ◽

Paulo Abreu ◽

Fabyano Silva ◽

Marcelo Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monte Carlo ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Nonlinear Model ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Hamiltonian Monte Carlo ◽

Heritability Estimates ◽

Correlated Parameters ◽

Wood Model

Abstract Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) is an algorithm of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method that uses dynamics to propose samples that follow a target distribution. This algorithm enables more effective and consistent exploration of the probability interval and is more sensitive to correlated parameters. Therefore, Bayesian-HMC is a promising alternative to estimate individual parameters of complex functions such as nonlinear models, especially when using small datasets. Our objective was to estimate genetic parameters for milk traits defined based on nonlinear model parameters predicted using the Bayesian-HMC algorithm. A total of 64,680 milk yield test-day records from 2,624 first, second, and third lactations of Saanen and Alpine goats were used. First, the Wood model was fitted to the data. Second, lactation persistency (LP), peak time (PT), peak yield (PY), and total milk yield [estimated from zero to 50 (TMY50), 100(TMY100), 150(TMY150), 200(TMY200), 250(TMY250), and 300(TMY300) days-in-milk] were predicted for each animal and parity based on the output of the first step (the individual phenotypic parameters of the Wood model). Thereafter, these predicted phenotypes were used for estimating genetic parameters for each trait. In general, the heritability estimates across lactations ranged from 0.10 to 0.20 for LP, 0.04 to 0.07 for PT, 0.26 to 0.27 for PY, and 0.21 to 0.28 for TMY (considering the different intervals). Lower heritabilities were obtained for the nonlinear function parameters (A, b and l) compared to its predicted traits (except PT), especially for the first and second lactations (range: 0.09 to 0.18). Higher heritability estimates were obtained for the third lactation traits. To our best knowledge, this study is the first attempt to use the HMC algorithm to fit a nonlinear model in animal breeding. The two-step method proposed here allowed us to estimate genetic parameters for all traits evaluated.

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