Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Breeding for better eye health in Finnish blue fox (Vulpes lagopus)
Summary The frequency of eye infections in the Finnish blue fox population has increased during the past decade. Eye infection may incur economic losses to producers due to reduced selection intensity, but ethical aspects need to be considered as well because eye infection can be quite painful and reduce animal well‐being. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential for genetic selection against susceptibility to eye infection. The data were collected from 2076 blue foxes at the MTT fur animal research station. Genetic parameters were estimated using single‐ and multiple‐trait animal models. The heritabi...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - June 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: R. Kempe, I. Strandén Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Genetic variation of the weaning weight of beef cattle as a function of accumulated heat stress
The objective of this study was to identify the genetic variation in the weaning weight (WW) of beef cattle as a function of heat stress. The WWs were recorded at approximately 205 days of age in three Brazilian beef cattle populations: Nelore (93 616), Brangus (18 906) and Tropical Composite (62 679). In view of the cumulative nature of WW, the effect of heat stress was considered as the accumulation of temperature and humidity index units (ACTHI) from the animal's birth to weaning. A reaction norm model was used to estimate the (co)variance components of WW across the ACTHI scale. The accumulation of THI units from b...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - June 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: M.L. Santana, A.B. Bignardi, J.P. Eler, J.B.S. Ferraz Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Characterization of microRNA profile in mammary tissue of dairy and beef breed heifers
In this study, we performed a microarray analysis to identify miRNAs associated with high mammogenic potential of the bovine mammary gland. We identified 54 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs between the mammary tissue of dairy (Holstein‐Friesian, HF) and beef (Limousin, LM) postpubertal heifers. Fifty‐two miRNAs had higher expression in the mammary tissue of LM heifers. The expression of the top candidate miRNAs (bta‐miR‐10b, bta‐miR‐29b, bta‐miR‐101, bta‐miR‐375, bta‐miR‐2285t, bta‐miR‐146b, bta‐let7b, bta‐miR‐107, bta‐miR‐1434‐3p) identified in the microarray experiment...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - June 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Z. Wicik, M. Gajewska, A. Majewska, D. Walkiewicz, E. Osińska, T. Motyl Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Effect of specialization on genetic parameters of studbook–entry inspection in Dutch Warmblood horses
Summary Recent studies on data from the Dutch Warmblood Studbook (KWPN) have shown that the ongoing specialization of horses for either dressage (DH) or show jumping (JH) has led to a decreasing genetic relationship between the two subpopulations. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of the specialization process on the genetic parameters of traits measured in the studbook–entry inspection of KWPN during the last fifteen years. Data from 18 125 DH and 23 800 JH recorded from 1998 until 2013 were used to analyse 13 traits scored in both DH and JH. Analyses were performed in a Bayesian framework. Firstly, vari...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - May 27, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: G. Rovere, P. Madsen, E. Norberg, J.A.M. Arendonk, B.J. Ducro Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

A genomewide association mapping study using ultrasound‐scanned information identifies potential genomic regions and candidate genes affecting carcass traits in Nellore cattle
Summary The aim of this study was to identify candidate genes and genomic regions associated with ultrasound‐derived measurements of the rib‐eye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT) and rumpfat thickness (RFT) in Nellore cattle. Data from 640 Nellore steers and young bulls with genotypes for 290 863 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for genomewide association mapping. Significant SNP associations were explored to find possible candidate genes related to physiological processes. Several of the significant markers detected were mapped onto functional candidate genes including ARFGAP3, CLSTN2 and DPYD for R...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - May 27, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: M.H.A. Santana, R.V. Ventura, Y.T. Utsunomiya, H.H.R. Neves, P.A. Alexandre, G.A. Oliveira Junior, R.C. Gomes, M.N. Bonin, L.L. Coutinho, J.F. Garcia, S.L. Silva, H. Fukumasu, P.R. Leme, J.B.S. Ferraz Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Impact of relationships between test and training animals and among training animals on reliability of genomic prediction
This study investigated the reliability of genomic prediction in various scenarios with regard to the relationship between test and training animals, and among animals within the training data set. Different training data sets were generated from EuroGenomics data and a group of Nordic Holstein bulls (born in 2005 and afterwards) as a common test data set. Genomic breeding values were predicted using a genomic best linear unbiased prediction model and a Bayesian mixture model. The results showed that a closer relationship between test and training animals led to a higher reliability of genomic predictions for the test anim...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - May 23, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: X. Wu, M.S. Lund, D. Sun, Q. Zhang, G. Su Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

The Dutch national breeding programmes have developed to major globally operating companies
(Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics)
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - May 6, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: J. Napel, R.F. Veerkamp Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Mitogenome revealed multiple postdomestication genetic mixtures of West African sheep
Summary Notable diversity observed within African ovine breeds makes them of great interests, but limited studies on genetic origins and domestications remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the evolutionary status of West African native breeds, Djallonke and Sahelian sheep using mitogenome sequencing. Compared with other ovine mitogenome sequences, West African sheep were revealed a Eurasian origin, and the initially tamed sheep breeds in West Africa have been genetically mixed with each other and mixed with European breeds. Worldwide domestic sheep is deemed the Eurasian origin and migrated west to Europe and Afr...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 12, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: O.H.D. Brahi, H. Xiang, X. Chen, S. Farougou, X. Zhao Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Genetic management of Dutch golden retriever dogs with a simulation tool
Summary Excessive inbreeding rates and small effective population sizes are an important problem in many populations of dogs. Proper genetic management of these populations can decrease the problem, and several measures are available. However, the effectiveness of these measures is not clear beforehand. Therefore, a simulation model was developed to test measures that aim to decrease the rate of inbreeding. The simulation program was used to evaluate inbreeding restriction measures in the Dutch golden retriever dog population. This population consisted of approximately 600 dams and 150 sires that produce 300 litters each y...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: J.J. Windig, K. Oldenbroek Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Estimation of indirect genetic effects in group‐housed mink (Neovison vison) should account for systematic interactions either due to kin or sex
Summary Social interactions among individuals are abundant, both in wild and in domestic populations. With social interactions, the genes of an individual may affect the trait values of other individuals, a phenomenon known as indirect genetic effects (IGEs). IGEs can be estimated using linear mixed models. Most IGE models assume that individuals interact equally to all group mates irrespective of relatedness. Kin selection theory, however, predicts that an individual will interact differently with family members versus non‐family members. Here, we investigate kin‐ and sex‐specific non‐genetic social interactions i...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: S.W. Alemu, P. Berg, L. Janss, P. Bijma Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

The genetic diversity and structure of 18 sheep breeds exposed to isolation and selection
Summary The phylogenetic layout of the genotyped (30 microsatellite) 18 sheep breeds in this study demands and provides the opportunity to evaluate both neutral and adaptive components of genetic diversity in a naturally and artificially selected and subdivided sheep population. Seven Pramenka strains from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia characterized by a very low intensity of artificial selection, preserved the highest neutral genetic variability. Eight central and north‐western European breeds under considerable artificial isolation and selection preserved the lowest genetic variability. Only combinations of variou...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: M. Ćurković, J. Ramljak, S. Ivanković, B. Mioč, A. Ivanković, V. Pavić, M. Brka, C. Veit‐Kensch, I. Medugorac Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Phenotypic and genetic variation in longevity of Polish Landrace sows
Summary The influence of some production traits on the longevity of Polish Landrace sows was evaluated using survival analysis. Estimates of genetic parameters were obtained from the sire and animal components in linear and survival methodologies. Comparison between survival and linear models was based on heritabilities and ranking of estimated breeding values of sires. The same data set, 13 031 sows, was used for both methodologies, even in the presence of censored observations. The effects of herd*year and year*season of the first farrowing had the largest influence on the risk of culling of sows. Sows born in spring se...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: M. Sobczyńska, T. Blicharski Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Genomic best linear unbiased prediction method reflecting the degree of linkage disequilibrium
Summary The degree of linkage disequilibrium (LD) between markers differs depending on the location of the genome; this difference biases genetic evaluation by genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). To correct this bias, we used three GBLUP methods reflecting the degree of LD (GBLUP‐LD). In the three GBLUP‐LD methods, genomic relationship matrices were conducted from single nucleotide polymorphism markers weighted according to local LD levels. The predictive abilities of GBLUP‐LD were investigated by estimating variance components and assessing the accuracies of estimated breeding values using simulation da...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: M. Nishio, M. Satoh Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Use of genomic recursions and algorithm for proven and young animals for single‐step genomic BLUP analyses – a simulation study
Summary The purpose of this study was to examine accuracy of genomic selection via single‐step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) when the direct inverse of the genomic relationship matrix (G) is replaced by an approximation of G−1 based on recursions for young genotyped animals conditioned on a subset of proven animals, termed algorithm for proven and young animals (APY). With the efficient implementation, this algorithm has a cubic cost with proven animals and linear with young animals. Ten duplicate data sets mimicking a dairy cattle population were simulated. In a first scenario, genomic information for 20k genotyped bulls, di...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: B.O. Fragomeni, D.A.L. Lourenco, S. Tsuruta, Y. Masuda, I. Aguilar, I. Misztal Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Relationship between perilipin genes polymorphisms and growth, carcass and meat quality traits in pigs
Summary The perilipins (PLIN) belong to a family of structural proteins that play a role regulating intracellular lipid storage and mobilization. Here, PLIN1 and PLIN2 have been evaluated as candidate genes for growth, carcass and meat quality traits in pigs. A sample of 607 Duroc pigs were genotyped for two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, one in intron 2 of the PLIN1 gene (JN860199:g.173G>A) and the other at the 3′ untranslated region of the PLIN2 gene (GU461317:g.98G>A). Using a Bayesian approach, we have been able to find evidence of additive, dominant and epistatic associations of the PLIN1 and PLIN2 polymor...
Source: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics - April 1, 2015 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: S. Gol, R. Ros‐Freixedes, P. Zambonelli, M. Tor, R.N. Pena, S. Braglia, M. Zappaterra, J. Estany, R. Davoli Tags: Original Article Source Type: research