Identification of 19-bp indel of the Pleomorphic Adenoma Gene 1 in Bali cattle population

Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) is a zinc finger transcription factor gene located on bovine chromosome 14 (BTA14) affecting body size and reproduction traits in cattle. The objective of this study was to identify 19-bp indel of the PLAG1 gene in Bali cattle population. A total of 96 blood samples of Bali Cattle were collected from Balai Pembibitan Ternak Unggul dan Hijauan Pakan Ternak (BPTU-HPT) Denpasar. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and used to detect 19-bp indel of the PLAG1 gene using following primer pair 5’-TCCGAACAACAGGTGAGGGAGAAAT-3’ and 5’-CCACTTCAGG-GGTGCTCTAGGTTTG-3’. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products using DNA pool samples were sequenced to validate the PCR product and to find out novel polymorphism in Bali cattle population. The result showed that there was no variation found in Bali cattle population based on 19-bp indel of the PLAG1 gene, which is indicated by 123 bp DNA band. However, sequence analysis of the PLAG1 gene resulted in a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at nucleotide number 32235 of the PLAG1 gene that changed guanine (G) to adenine (A). This novel SNP could be furthermore genotyped and it might be a potential candidate marker for body size and reproduction traits in Bali cattle.

Two Different Copy Number Variations of the CLCN2 Gene in Chinese Cattle and Their Association with Growth Traits

Copy number variation (CNV) can affect gene function and even individual phenotypic traits by changing the transcription and translation level of related genes, and it also plays an important role in species evolution. Chloride voltage-gated channel 2 (CLCN2) encodes a voltage-gated chloride channel (CLC-2), which has a wide organ distribution and is ubiquitously expressed. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that CLCN2 could be a candidate gene involved in cell volume regulation, transepithelial transport and cell proliferation. This study aimed to explore CNVs in the CLCN2 gene and investigate its association with growth traits in four Chinese cattle breeds (Yunling cattle, Xianan cattle, Qinchuan cattle and Pinan cattle). We identified there are two copy number variation regions (CNV1: 3600 bp, including exon 2–11; CNV2: 4800 bp, including exon 21–22) of the CLCN2 gene. The statistical analysis showed that the CNV1 mutation in the YL cattle population was significantly associated with cannon circumference (p < 0.01). The CNV2 mutation in the XN cattle population had a significant effect on body slanting length, chest girth and body weight (p < 0.05). In the YL cattle, the association analysis of CLCN2 gene CNV1 and CNV2 combination with cannon circumference was significant (p < 0.01). Our results provide evidence that CNV1 and CNV2 in CLCN2 are associated with growth traits in two different cattle populations and could be used as candidate markers for cattle molecular breeding.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens Abound in the Cattle Population of the Rabat-Sale Kenitra Region, Morocco

Tick-borne pathogens cause the majority of diseases in the cattle population in Morocco. In this study, ticks were collected from cattle in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region of Morocco and identified morphologically, while tick-borne pathogens were detected in cattle blood samples via polymerase chain reaction assay and sequencing. A total of 3394 adult ixodid ticks were collected from cattle and identified as eight different tick species representing two genera, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus. The collected ticks consisted of Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Rhipicephalus bursa, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Hyalomma dromedarii, and Hyalomma impeltatum. The overall prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in blood samples was 63.8%, with 29.3% positive for Babesia/Theileria spp., 51.2% for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., and none of the samples positive for Rickettsia spp. Sequencing results revealed the presence of Theileria annulata, Babesia bovis, Anaplasma marginale, Theileria buffeli, Theileria orientalis, Babesia occultans, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma capra, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma bovis, Ehrlichia minasensis, and one isolate of an unknown bovine Anaplasma sp. Crossbreeds, females, older age, and high tick infestation were the most important risk factors for the abundance of tick-borne pathogens, which occurred most frequently in Jorf El Melha, Sidi Yahya Zaer, Ait Ichou, and Arbaoua locations.

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): Pathomorphological Features and Molecular Detection in Dairy Cattle of West Coastal India

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging pox viral disease affecting cattle population worldwide. In India, the first outbreak of LSD is reported during August 2019 in Odisha state, which then followed by outbreaks in crossbred and indigenous cattle population of other states. Present investigation designed to study the prevalence, pathomorphological changes and molecular detection of LSD virus in naturally infected cattle. The overall morbidity of LSD was 4.48% among 30 dairy farms. Skin nodular biopsy, whole blood and serum samples (n= 66) were collected for the diagnosis of LSD by histopathology, PCR and sequencing. The envelope protein gene (P32), Fusion protein (F) and DNA dependent RNA polymerase 30 kDa subunit (RPO30) genes were targeted for PCR testing. Out of 66, 46 cattle showed generalized skin nodules and papules of various sizes (0.5 - 6.5cm) on the skin particularly at neck, face, nose, tail, perineum and udder. Microscopic examination of the skin nodule biopsy tissue revealed presence of diffuse granulomatous inflammation, hyperkeratosis, focal to diffuse vasculitis and lymphangitis, vacuolar degeneration, spongiosis and acanthosis. The inflammatory cells typically comprised of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils along with diffuse necrosis in dermis in chronic cases. The eosinophilic intracytoplasmic viral inclusions in keratinocytes and epithelial cells were detected in few cases. Gel-PCR assay detected P32 gene in 83%, F gene in 72% and RPO30 gene in 77% of skin biopsy samples. Three blood samples were also found positive for P32 gene by PCR. Whereas TaqMan™ probe Real Time PCR targeting EEV glycoprotein gene (LSDV126) detected LSDV in 94% of biopsy samples and three blood samples which indicated its higher sensitive for the diagnosis of LSDV. Phylogenetic analysis of RPO30 gene sequence showed that the isolates from this study were grouped in same cluster with LSDV isolates of Bangladesh, Kenya and other Indian isolates detected during 2019-20.

Genes and proteins associated with ribeye area and meat tenderness in a commercial Nellore cattle population

Despite several studies on genetic markers and differently expressed genes related to ribeye area (REA) and tenderness traits in beef cattle, there is divergence in the results regarding the genes associated with these traits. Thirteen genes that had been associated or have biological functions that may influence such phenotypes were included in this study. A total of five genes for REA (IGF-1, IGF-2, MSTN, NEDD4, and UBE4A) and eight genes for meat tenderness (CAPN1, CAPN2, CAST, HSPB1, DNAJA1, FABP4, SCD, and PRKAG3) were selected from previously studies in beef cattle. Genes and its respective proteins expression were validated in a commercial population of Nellore cattle using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and advanced mass spectrometry (LC / MS-MS) techniques, respectively. MSTN gene was upregulated in animals with low REA. CAPN1, CAPN2, CAST, HSPB1, and DNAJA1 genes were upregulated in animals with tougher meat. The proteins translated by these genes were not differentially expressed. Our results could confirm the potential of some studied genes as biomarkers for carcass and meat quality in Nellore cattle.

Impacts of Artificial Insemination on Holstein Cattle Population in Turkey

The use of artificial insemination (AI) is common practice in most countries all around the world, in dairy cattle. AI, which started to be implemented in Turkey in 1930, became more widespread in 1987 in order to rapidly improve the native breed. According to data from 2020, 37% of the cattle population is a crossbred and about 15% of this is Holstein cattle. In the last 5 years, approximately 26.5 million doses of sperm have been imported, in other words, an average of 0.70 doses per milked cow. In this study, the pedigree file records of 5 673 405 Holsteins born from 1975 to 2012, and all sires were known individually were selected for this study. It was determined that 5 673 405 individuals had a total of 11 883 sires. The 10 most used sires are parents of 10.61% of progeny in the population. For today, almost 37% of the cattle population is converted to exotic breeds and their crossbreeds. Approximately 15% of this is Holstein. In the last 5 years, approximately 26.5 million doses of semen have been imported, in other words, an average of 0.70 doses of semen per milked cow. Although frequent use of some sires leads to increased inbreeding in some herds, the consanguinity coefficient in the population was found to be 0.0145. Apart from various problems in insemination practices in Turkey, it can be suggested that an effective way is followed in semen selection and importation.

PENENTUAN HARGA POKOK PENJUALAN USAHA PENGGEMUKAN SAPI POTONG MITRA DAN NON-MITRA DI DESA ASTOMULYO KECAMATAN PUNGGUR KABUPATEN LAMPUNG TENGAH

This research aims to find out production main cost, selling main cost, and the differences of production main cost and selling main cost between partner and non-partner cattle fattening business. Furthermore, this research uses cencus method which is conducted on cattle fattening in Astomulyo Village, Punggur Subdistrict, Central Lampung Regency. The location are chosen purposively as the consideration that the Punggur Sub-district, Central Lampung Regency has the largest cattle population in Lampung Province. Data in this research are analyzed using production main cost, selling main cost and independent sample test. The result shows that: the production main cost of cattle fattening partner and non-partner is Rp39,119.17/kg and Rp40,552.24/kg, respectively. Then, the selling main cost of cattle fattening partner and non-partner is Rp39,763.90/kg and Rp40,736.12/kg, respectively. Finally, there is a significant difference in the production main cost and the selling main cost between partner and non-partner cattle fattening business.Key words: cattle fattening, production main cost, selling main cost

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF THE HOLSTEIN CATTLE POPULATION IN THE YAROSLAVL REGION

В работе представлена генетическая структура популяции крупного рогатого скота голштинской породы 9-ти племенных хозяйств Ярославской области, основанная на иммуногенетических показателях групп крови по EAB-локусу. Было проанализировано 6343 головы крупного рогатого скота и выявлено 78 аллельных вариантов. Генотипирование животных по генетическим маркерам позволяет оценить динамику генетических процессов в породе и отдельных стадах. На основании расчета частот аллельных вариантов проведена клатеризация хозяйств методом k-means для выявления генетически близких групп. Популяция голштинской породы разделилась на несколько кластеров, имеющих различное генетическое происхождение и отличающихся уникальными аллельными вариантами групп крови. Доли дисперсии, объясняемые главными компонентами, имеют значения от 0,14 до 0,22, что свидетельствует о высокой степени отражения главными компонентами реальной дисперсии частот. Мера информационного полиморфизма (PIC) для всех хозяйств находится на уровне 0,022—0,024, что говорит о невысокой дискриминационной способности данного маркера. Разброс показателей среднего на локус индекса информации Шенона (I) составил 0,031±0,001—0,039±0,001 и генного разнообразия (Ht) — 0,022±0,005—0,024±0,005, что свидетельствует о более высоком селекционном потенциале животных отдельных хозяйств и об уменьшении вероятности внутрипородного инбридинга. Представленные методы анализа данных и параметры генетического разнообразия позволяют выявить группы скота внутри популяции и оценить его генный потенциал. Это даст возможность судить о генетических процессах, происходящих в стадах, и рекомендовать представленные методы для оценки эффективности и направленности селекционного процесса. The article presents the genetic structure of Holstein cattle population of 9 breeding farms in the Yaroslavl region, based on the immunogenetic parameters of blood types at the EAB-loci. 6343 heads of cattle and 78 allelic variants were analyzed and identified. Genotyping of animals by genetic markers makes it possible to assess the dynamics of genetic processes in the breed and individual herds. Based on the frequency calculations of allelic variants, we carried out the clustering of farms by the k-means method to identify genetically similar groups. The population of the Holstein cattle was divided into several clusters with different genetic origins and differing in unique allelic variants of blood types. The proportions of dispersion explained by the principal components have values from 0.14 to 0.22, which indicates a high degree of reflection by the principal components of the real frequency dispersion. The measure of information polymorphism (PIC) for all farms is at the level of 0.022—0.024, which indicates a low discriminatory ability of this marker. The scatter of the indices of the average per locus of the Shannon information index (I) was 0.031 ± 0.001—0.039 ± 0.001 and of genetic diversity (Ht) — 0.022 ± 0.005-0.024 ± 0.005, this indicates a higher breeding potential of animals on individual farms and a decrease in the probability of inbreeding. The presented methods of data analysis and parameters of genetic diversity make it possible to identify groups of livestock within a population and assess its genetic potential. This will make it possible to judge the genetic processes occurring in herds, and to recommend the presented methods for assessing the performance and direction of the breeding process.

Financial feasibility analysis study of beef cattle business in Minahasa regency

The aim of this research was to study the financial feasibility of beef cattle business in Minahasa Regency. Primary and secondary were used as data sources. The former was obtained directly from interviews using questionnaires, and the latter was collected from related agencies and other relevant references. Sampling was done using purposive sampling based on the largest beef cattle population and at simple random sampling with a total of 120 respondents selected in research locations. Data were descriptively analyzed based on investment criteria. Overall results showed that the beef cattle business in Minahasa Regency is feasibly sustainable because all of the measured parameters have met investment criteria, with the break-even point at 25 ind yr−1 and income gain of IDR 334,069,889, IRR is 33.14% > bank interest rate, B/C Ratio > 1, and Payback Period is 1 year 9 months shorter than the project period of 3 years.