Investigation of the effect of missense mutations in AHR and DNAH11 on feed conversion ratio and average daily residual feed intake in Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire pigs.

Feed efficiency (FE) in pigs is an important factor in the profitability of pig farming operations. It refers to the ability of a pig to convert the feed it consumes into body weight. We used two metrics to measure FE: feed conversion ratio and average daily residual feed intake.

Identification of a novel QTL for lean meat percentage using imputed genotypes.

Lean meat percentage is a critical production trait in pig breeding systems with direct implications for the sustainability of the industry. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study for lean meat percentage using a cohort of 850 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) crossbred pigs and we identified QTL on SSC3 and SSC18. Based on the predicted effect of imputed variants and using the PigGTEx database of molecular QTL, we prioritized candidate genes and SNPs located within the QTL regions, which may be involved in the regulation of porcine leanness.

Towards identification of new genetic determinants for post-weaning diarrhea in piglets.

Post-weaning diarrhea in pigs is a considerable challenge in the pig farming industry due to its effect on animal welfare and production costs, as well as the large volume of antibiotics, which are used to treat diarrhea in pigs after weaning. Previous studies have revealed loci on SSC6 and SSC13 associated with susceptibility to specific diarrhea causing pathogens. This study aimed to identify new genetic loci for resistance to diarrhea based on phenotypic data.

Mitral valve transcriptome analysis in thirty-four age-matched Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with or without congestive heart failure caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease.

We here report the results of a mitral valve transcriptome study designed to identify genes and molecular pathways involved in development of congestive heart failure (CHF) following myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. The study is focused on a cohort of elderly age-matched dogs (n = 34, age ~ 10 years) from a single breed-Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS)-with a high incidence of MMVD. The cohort comprises 19 dogs (10♀, 9♂) without MMVD-associated CHF, and 15 dogs (6♀, 9♂) with CHF caused by MMVD; i.

Analysis of merged transcriptomic and genomic datasets to identify genes and pathways underlying residual feed intake in growing pigs.

Improvement of feed efficiency (FE) in pigs is an important milestone in order to reduce the economic and environmental impact of pig production. The goal of finding biomarkers for FE has persisted for decades. However, due to the complexity of the FE trait, these goals have still not been met.

Comparison of anaerobic digestion strategies of nitrogen-rich substrates: Performance of anaerobic reactors and microbial community diversity.

In the present study, the application of different operating strategies on performance of three continuous stirred tank reactors digesting chicken manure at mesophilic temperature and constant organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.5gLd was investigated. Control reactor (RC) and reactor (RH) with the decreasing hydraulic retention time (HRT) had the comparable specific biogas production (SBP) with maximum values of 334-351mLg during days 84-93, while the SBP from reactor with zeolites (RZ) was higher and achieved 426-432mLg.