Agroecology Is Affecting Village Chicken Producers’ Breeding Objective in Ethiopia

This study assessed factors that determine village chicken producers’ trait preferences in different agroecologies of Ethiopia. Three hundred and eighty village chicken producers were sampled for individual interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Inbreeding coefficients of chicken populations in the three major agroecologies were estimated. In addition, the multivariate regression model was employed to evaluate the degree to which agroecological difference and socioeconomic and institutional factors impact village chicken producers’ trait preferences. Egg and meat production for consumption and income generation were the three major village chicken production functions in the study. Plumage color and weight were ranked first for male and female chicken, respectively. Red plumage color (52.4%) was the primary choice followed by white color (24.5%). Agroecology and livestock holding (TLU) significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected farmers’ preference toward economic traits, while land holding significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected reproductive traits. Distance to market significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected farmers’ preference toward adaptive traits. The inbreeding coefficient of 0.25, 0.23, and 0.06 was recorded in low, mid, and highland agroecologies, respectively. The agroecological difference is affecting village chicken producers’ breeding objective in Ethiopia. A higher inbreeding coefficient was observed in the low and mid agroecologies. Future breed improvement programs should give due consideration to village chicken producers’ socioeconomic characteristics and agroecological differences.

Assessment of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in Black Pied cattle in the Novosibirsk Region using microsatellite markers

There are currently over a thousand indigenous cattle breeds well adapted to local habitat conditions thanks to their long history of evolution and breeding. Identification of the genetic variations controlling the adaptation of local cattle breeds for their further introduction into the genome of highly productive global breeds is a matter of great relevance. Studying individual populations of the same breed with the use of microsatellite markers makes it possible to assess their genetic diversity, relationships, and breed improvement potential. Although the Black Pied breed is the most common dairy cattle breed in Russia, there are only a few studies on genetic diversity in local Black Pied populations in some Russian regions. The goal of the present study was to analyze the genetic diversity in Black Pied cattle populations in the Novosibirsk Region and compare them with other Russian populations; to identify significantly divergent populations with a view to preserving them under the programs aimed at maintaining the genetic diversity of the domestic Black Pied breed. DNA samples from 4788 animals of the Black Pied breed from six breeding enterprises in the Novosibirsk Region have been studied using 11 microsatellite markers. No significant differences in genetic variability parameters were found between individual populations. Private alleles have been identified in five out of six populations. Five populations have shown inbreeding coefficient values (FIS) below zero, which indicates heterozygosity excess. The population distribution test, principal component analysis, FST and DEST values, cluster analysis, and phylogenetic analysis have revealed two populations genetically distinct from the others. Essentially, the genetic diversity parameters of the six studied Black Pied cattle populations from the Novosibirsk Region show no significant differences from other Russian populations of the breed. Excess heterozygosity is observed in most breeding enterprises, which is a sign of a low inbreeding rate. To maintain the genetic diversity of the Russian Black Pied cattle, we recommend focusing on the two populations with significant genetic distinctions from the others.

PSVIII-6 Genetic features of Russian Simmental cattle population different origin derived by assessing milk production and fertility traits

Since the beginning of the 20th century, over 43 thousand animals of Simmental cattle and related breeds have been imported to Russia from Europe. This had a significant impact on the selection intensity and genetic structure within the pale-motley population. The research included 42 breeding herds from 14 regions of Russia. The EBV using the BLUPF90 program based on the ANIMAL MODEL procedure was calculated. Totally of 1471 bulls by using 61816 daughters were estimated. The heritability coefficients showed moderate variability for milk yield (MY) h2=0.140, fat percentage (FP) h2=0.194, protein percentage (PP) h2=0.184 and live weight h2=0.163, as an indirect predictor for meat production. The variability for fertility features like number of inseminations per conception and days open was h2=0.073 and h2=0.061, respectively. Genetic correlation between MY and FP was rg=0.149, and for MY and PP – rg=0.180, while between FP and PP – rg=0.226. The average bulls’ EBV for milk traits in Red Holsteins consisted +23 kg MY, +0.002% FP and +0.001% PP, by Austrian Simmental +10 kg MY, +0.013% FP and +0.002% PP. For Russian Simmental origin animals was signed negative selection response for MY (-23 kg), FP (-0.001%) and PP (-0.003%). High average EBV for imported Simmental cows were revealed +146 kg MY, +0.009% FP and +0.004% PP, while in Russian Simmental we got negative values for MY -70 kg and PP -0.004% but only for FP was showed positive level +0.001%. Simmental breed improvement strategy in Russia focused not only to increasing milk yield but also to improving milk compositions with stabilizing cows’ reproductive traits using the world gene pool of related breeds from Europe. The study was funded by Ministry of Science and Higher Education No.0445-2021-0016

Genetic Improvement of Tharparkar Cattle: A Review

Tharparkar cattle are an important dual breed of desert which can be improved for sustainable milk production by using different molecular markers and through selective breeding. Although, genetic studies done on Tharparkar, are fewer, there is need of more attention on genetic studies and identification of useful markers and SNPs associated with production traits. This review article describes the production and reproduction performance of the breed and emphasizes more on genetic studies, breed characterization, marker assisted selection or identification of molecular markers, genomic assessment, etc. to improve the breed status. Molecular markers for heat tolerance, disease resistance, high fat and protein production, A2 milk composition identified in Tharparkar cattle positively encourage breeders to improve the breed for future use. It may help the government agencies to undertake systematic animal husbandry practices and breed improvement programmes so that high quality germ plasm may be provided to the farmers for breed improvement in rural area.

112 How Will the Purebred Association Adapt to a Changing Beef Industry?

The role of the breed association has historically been to keep a registry of a pure breed, aggregate the performance data surrounding that one breed, develop breeding and selection tools, and conduct breed promotion. Larger associations have been able to augment that with operating magazines and other media, running branded beef programs, feeder calf marketing programs, and genetic evaluation for other breeds. The relevance of breed associations is being and will continue to be challenged as genomics and large commercial databases develop and allow for breeding and selection tools to be developed independently by large breeders or private entities. Gene editing and other such technology will also challenge the traditional seedstock models and opens the door for proprietary genetic lines. Breed associations may need to modify their traditional policies to incorporate these innovations. Supply chains will continue to become far more sophisticated and will incorporate more genetic information to guide management decisions and potentially validate brand promises around sustainability. To stay relevant, breed associations of the future will need to do the following: Balance the needs of diverse membership (show, hobby, lifestyle, etc.) with commercial industry value and significance. Have access to large amounts of data and be leaders in adopting the most current technologies. Deliver tools for breeders that enhance the profitability of commercial producers – identify optimum production levels vs maximum outputs. Work collaboratively with multiple supply chains providing the needed genetic information. Be a significant educational resource to breeders and commercial producers. Be a leader in research on breed improvement and genetic advancement. Have value-added programs that create real and sustained pull-through demand for the end product.

Setting the mountain ablaze? The Royal Highland Festival in Bhutan from the semi-nomads’ perspective

A study was conducted to assess the effects of the Royal Highland Festival (RHF) from the perspective of yak herders in Laya, Bhutan. Sixty-six respondents were randomly selected from amongst the domicile herders who were regular visitors to the festival. A survey was carried out through a questionnaire with mixed questions. Herders’ opinions suggest good progress of RHF as reflected by improved community vitality and networking with stakeholders. Tourists, both international and domestic, were the major contributors to the income of yak herders during the festival. Livestock products were the biggest income earner, followed by homestays. Herders were encouraged to produce more quantities of livestock products and desired to diversify yak products. Animal shows were adequate and encouraged breed improvement. The grazing resources and the environment were unharmed by the presence of animals in the festival. However, yak herders expressed concerns over the lack of skills and knowledge for yak product diversification and management of festival waste. Herders felt the need to shift the festival venue to benefit highlanders in other areas of Bhutan. The study recommends authorities to consider imparting skills to Laya communities on developing diverse and value-added yak products. Homestay owners require more capacity to manage and maintain farmhouses with proper sanitation. Effective management of festival wastes calls for a farsighted plan. Finally, to inculcate a sense of pride and ownership, the communities of Laya must be empowered to self-organize the festival, while government authorities should consider shifting the festival venue to other highland areas.

Sire Evaluation Based on First Lactation 305 Day Milk Yield and Individual Part Lactation Records in Frieswal Cattle

Background: Frieswal, the crossbred cattle, between sahiwal and Holstein Friesian breed with 62.50 per cent of exotic (inheritance) with total lactation milk yield of (4000 Kg) with average lactation length 300 days (PDC Annual Report, 2015-16). Presently, the Frieswal Animal is mainly maintained at 36 Military Farms located in various agro-climatic regions in the country.Methods: The present study was undertaken on first lactation 305 days and part lactation records of 1470 Frieswal cows maintained over a period of 10 years (2003-2012) from military farm at CIRC Meerut Uttar Pradesh as well as Ambala. The success of any breed improvement programme depends mainly on the Sire evaluation which involves the estimation of expected breeding value of the bulls on the basis of average first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and part lactation records of their daughters (FL305DMY).Result: The estimate breeding value of 55 Frieswal sires on the basis of first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and individually part lactation records, by LSM, BLUP and DFREML methods were 2701.48 kg and 2660.70 kg, followed by 333.40, kg and 329.17 kg, respectively. A number of 55 Frieswal sires with three or more daughters were evaluated and ranked on the basis of first lactation 305-day milk yield and individual third month part lactation was having better heritability and comparatively higher genetic correlations with the first lactation 305-days or less milk yield.

Livestock Keepers’ Attitudes: Keystone of Effective Community-Based Breeding Programs

Livestock keepers in southwestern Burkina Faso hold the local Lobi taurine breed, local Zebu cattle, and their crosses. Some communities in the region have begun to implement community-based cattle breeding programs (CBBPs), which involve animal tagging and recording and, potentially, also bull sharing. Based on the hypothesis that the participation of livestock keepers in CBBPs depends on their attitudes towards these programs, we used questionnaires to survey the attitudes of 125 farmers towards cattle breeding strategies and tools. Results were analyzed using principal component analysis. Farmers showed a highly positive attitude towards maintaining the features of their preferred cattle breed, but their attitudes varied substantially towards crossbreeding for breed improvement. Farmers generally agreed that performance was more important than animal appearance, and most of them were willing to cooperate with breeders’ associations but were skeptical about sharing their bulls with other farmers. The majority was reluctant to record performance data, which may be due to a capacity deficit and their confidence in being able to select the best animals based purely on phenotype. Our analysis suggests that breeders’ associations, as a key component of CBBPs, should lay down clear rules and obligations for their members from the outset. Timely consideration of farmers’ attitudes towards different breeding tools may improve their uptake and guarantee the sustainability of CBBPs.

Morphological Standard of Murrah Buffalo of India based on Multivariate Analysis of the Phenotypic Traits

Background: Morphometric measurements are important for the characterization of farm animal breeds and have become very useful in determining their morphological standards. Identification of animals based on breed standards are important for breed improvement and conservation programmes. Murrah, India’s world famous buffalo breed, is the highest milk producer and improver breed. Prevalence of Murrah grades in the vicinity of breeding tract of the Murrah warrants their differentiation. The objective of this study was to define the morphological standard of the Murrah buffalo and differentiate it from the Murrah grades. Methods: Fourteen body biometric traits of 258 she buffaloes were recorded from the core and peripheral breeding tract of the breed. In order to separate the animals into two groups, data were subjected to cluster analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis were used respectively to describe the body conformation and identify the combination of independent traits that distinguished Murrah from grade Murrah.Result: Our study showed significant differences between the traits of Murrah and grade Murrah (p less than 0.05). The grade Murrah she buffaloes were smaller than the Murrah counterparts. PCA results showed that five factors explained 67.4% of total variance of studied morphometric traits in Murrah she buffaloes, whereas in Grade Murrah six components explained 72.7% of the total variance. The stepwise discriminant function derived with eight body biometric traits was able to discriminate Murrah and grade Murrah she buffaloes effectively. A total of 93.5% original grouped animals were classified correctly. The present work determines the morphometric standard of the Murrah buffalo through characterization and identification of latent factors of morphometric traits. Subsequent use of this information in marketing, breeding, management and conservation purposes can give significant productivity gains.

Whole Genome Selective Sweeps Analysis in Pakistani Kamori Goat

Natural and artificial selection fix certain genomic regions of reduce heterozygosity which is an initial process in breed development. Primary goal of the current study is to identify these genomic selection signatures under positive selection and harbor genes in Pakistani Kamori goat breed. High throughput whole genome pooled-seq of Kamori (n = 12) and Bezoar (n = 8) was carried out. Raw fastq files were undergone quality checks, trimming and mapping process against ARS1 reference followed by calling variant allele frequencies. Selection sweeps were identified by applying pooled heterozygosity (Hp) and Tajima’s D (TD) on Kamori while regions under divergent selection between Kamori & Bezoar were observed by Fixation Index (FST) analysis. Genome sequencing yielded 619,031,812 reads of which, 616,624,284 were successfully mapped. Total 98,574 autosomal selection signals were detected; 32,838 from Hp and 32,868 from each FST & TD statistics. Annotation of the regions with threshold (-ZHp ≥ 5, TD ≤ -2.72 & FST ≤ 0.09) detected 60 candidate genes. The top hits harbor Chr.1, 6, 8 & 21 having genes associated with body weight (GLIS3, ASTE1), coat color (DOCK8, MIPOL1) & body height (SLC25A21). Other significant windows harbor milk production, wool production, immunity, adaptation and reproduction trait related genes. Current finding highlighted the under-selection genomic regions of Kamori breed and likely to be associated with its vested traits and further useful in breed improvement, and may be also propagated to other undefined goat breeds by adopting targeted breeding policies to improve the genetic potential of this valued species.