Genomic regions associated with coat color in Gir cattle.

Indicine cattle breeds are adapted to the tropical climate, and their coat plays an important role in this process. Coat color influences thermoregulation and the adhesion of ectoparasites and may be associated with productive and reproductive traits. Furthermore, coat color is used for breed qualification, with breeders preferring certain colors.

Estimation of genetic parameters for reproductive indices in sheep.

This study aimed to estimate two reproductive efficiency indices in sheep based on the ratio between litter weight (at birth and weaning) and dam weight, as well as their genetic parameters. Phenotypic and pedigree data comprising the period from 1990 to 2018 were obtained from the Santa Inês sheep database of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros. For estimation of the genetic parameters of the indices, a repeatability model was applied in single- and two-trait analyses by a Bayesian approach.

Economic considerations of breeding for polledness versus disbudding in beef cattle.

The domestication of animals has rendered horns less necessary for survival. Moreover, the use of polled and disbudded animals is interesting in order to avoid injuries of animals and handlers, among other advantages. We therefore conducted a comparative economic analysis of different traditional disbudding techniques versus selective breeding for polledness in Nelore cattle, the main beef breed of tropical systems in Brazil.

Variability in the PRDM9 gene in Sindhi cattle.

Background: Sindhi is a dual-purpose breed adapted to tropical environments. However, this breed has the smallest total population among indicine breeds in Brazil and the smallest effective number. In addition, the inbreeding coefficient is higher than 6.

Genomic association using principal components of morphometric traits in horses: identification of genes related to bone growth.

The measurement of morphometric traits in horses is important for determining breed qualification and is one of the main selection criteria for the species. The development of an index (HPC) that consists of principal components weighted by additive genetic values allows to explore the most relevant relationships using a reduced number of variables that explain the greatest amount of variation in the data. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using HPC are a relatively new approach that permits to identify regions related to a set of traits.

Kappa and beta-casein alleles in dairy zebu cattle.

The kappa () and beta-casein () genes are intensively genotyped in dairy cattle for selection purposes. This information is also generated and disseminated for Zebu breeds adapted to tropical climates. The objective of this work was to gather information on the genotypes for the and genes in three breeds (Gyr, Guzerat and Sindhi), and to verify the genotypic frequencies in the populations.

Genetic origin of donkeys in Brazil.

Introduction: The genetic groups of native donkeys in Brazil are characterized by adaptation to the local environment. However, the donkey population in the country is declining, mainly because of agricultural mechanization and transportation that has led to the abandonment and the consequent indiscriminate slaughter of these animals. There are three local genetic groups of distinct geographic and temporal formation.

Selection effect for growth traits on energy requirements in beef Nelore steers.

Growth data of 77,372 Nelore steers were used to estimate the selection effect on energy requirements considering two beef production systems: cow-calf and slaughter cycles. All the animals had measures from 120 days to 7 years old. The parameters necessary to evaluate the selection effect on energy requirements were obtained by random regression analysis using Legendre polynomials.

Consumption of rabbit meat in Brazil: Potential and limitations.

Rabbit production is still small in Brazil and organization of its production chain is therefore necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate consumer perceptions of rabbit meat in the country. An online survey was conducted with 2614 participants.

Genomic Regions Associated with the Position and Number of Hair Whorls in Horses.

The position and number of hair whorls have been associated with the behavior, temperament, and laterality of horses. The easy observation of whorls assists in the prediction of reactivity, and thus permits the development of better measures of handling, training, mounting, and riding horses. However, little is known about the genetics involved in the formation of hair whorls.

Identification of novel candidate genes for age at first calving in Nellore cows using a SNP chip specifically developed for Bos taurus indicus cattle.

The age at first calving has a great economic impact on the beef cattle system and calving at 24 months is an objective of selection for a more efficient herd. However, an age at first calving around 36 months has been observed for Nellore cattle in Brazil. Thus, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out with 8376 records of age at first calving and 3239 animals genotyped with the GGP-Indicus 35K, which has been developed specifically for Bos taurus indicus.

Guzerat indicine cattle and A2 milk production.

Cow milk might be associated to gastrointestinal disorders and abdominal pain in some people, which are, in part, due to the digestion of A1 beta-casein. Within this context, A2 milk has emerged as an alternative since it only contains A2 beta-casein that does not cause these complications. This milk is produced by cows with the A2A2 genotype.

Do non-bovine domestic animals produce A2 milk?: an analysis.

A2 milk is an easily digestible product since it has only A2 beta-casein. In cattle, the A1 and A2 alleles are found in the population and the A2 milk is produced from A2A2 animals. Little is known about these alleles in other domestic dairy species.

Effect of genomic X-chromosome regions on Nelore bull fertility.

Scrotal circumference (SC) is a commonly used trait related to sexual precocity in bulls. Genome-wide association studies have uncovered a lot of genes related to this trait, however, only those present on autosomes. The inclusion of the second biggest chromosome (BTAX) can improve the knowledge of the genetic architecture of this trait.

Influence of coat color on genetic parameter estimates in horses.

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of the inclusion of coat color on the genetic parameter estimation for linear measurements in Campolina horses. Two models (1 and 2) were applied. For model 1, coat color effect was not included as variable of the contemporary group formation; in model 2, it was included.

Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) only have A2A2 genotype for beta-casein.

Beta-casein is a milk protein that has two variants: A1 and A2. Some individuals have difficulties digesting beta-casein A1, which can cause gastrointestinal disorders. A2 milk has emerged as an alternative.

The effect of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms on cattle reproduction.

The aim of this study was to identify SNPs located in mitochondrial DNA that are associated with reproductive traits in beef cows. A total of 1999 Nelore females genotyped with the high-density Illumina BovineHD BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) were used to study the association of mitochondrial DNA variants with reproductive traits using a single-step procedure.

Effect of the X chromosome in genomic evaluations of reproductive traits in beef cattle.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there are predictive advantages for breeding values with inclusion of X chromosome genomic markers for reproductive (occurrence of early pregnancy - P16 and age at first calving - AFC) and andrological (scrotal circumference -SC) variables in beef cattle. There were 3263 genotypes of females and males evaluated. There were breeding value estimates for SC, AFC and P16 considering two scenarios: 1) only autosomal markers or 2) autosomal and X chromosome markers.

Polymorphisms in Gene Associated With Somatic Cell Score in Water Buffaloes ().

Considering the importance of the diseases affecting the productive performance of animals in the dairy industry worldwide, it is necessary to implement tools that help to control and limit the occurrence of such diseases. As the increased somatic cell counts (SCC) are a direct expression of the inflammatory process, they are candidates to become the usual parameter for assessing udder health regarding milk quality and for monitoring mastitis incidences. Toll-Like Receptors are membrane proteins that play a key role in immunity, recognizing pathogens and, subsequently, activating immune responses.

Inconsistencies in horse coat color registration: A case study.

Grullo is a dun dilution on a black coat that is common in the Campolina horse: an autochthonous Brazilian breed. The aims of this case study were to evaluate inconsistencies in grullo coat color registration and to explain their possible causes. A total of 3,270 grullo Campolina horses were evaluated.

Mapping genomic regions for reproductive traits in beef cattle: Inclusion of the X chromosome.

Although the second largest chromosome of the genome, the X chromosome is usually excluded from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Considering the presence and importance of genes on this chromosome that are involved in reproduction, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of its inclusion in GWAS on reproductive traits (scrotal circumference [SC], early pregnancy [P16] and age at first calving [AFC]) in a Nelore herd. Genotype data from 3,263 animals with the above-mentioned phenotypes were used.

Twinning rate in buffaloes: A case report.

The information of twin pregnancy frequencies in buffaloes is scarce in the literature. Evidence even indicates that twin pregnancies are not carried to term, but it does not seem to be the case. In this case report, the event of twin pregnancy in buffaloes is reported as well as its frequency.