Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Early Growth Traits in Luzhong Mutton Sheep.

In this study, six different animal models were fitted, and the constrained maximum likelihood method was used to assess the genetic parameters and genetic trends of early growth traits in Luzhong mutton sheep. The experimental data of this study included the newborn weight (BWT, N = 2464), weaning weight (WWT, N = 2923), weight at 6 months of age (6WT, N = 2428), average daily weight gain from birth to weaning (ADG1, N = 2424), and average daily weight gain from weaning to 6 months of age (ADG2, N = 1836) in Luzhong mutton sheep (2015~2019). The best model for the genetic parameters of the five traits in Luzhong mutton sheep was identified as Model 4 using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and likelihood ratio test (LRT) methods, in which the estimated values of direct heritability for the BWT, WWT, 6WT, ADG1, and ADG2 were 0.

Isobutyramide and Slow-Release Urea as Substitutes for Soybean Meal in the Finishing Diet of Beef Cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of isobutyramide (IBA) and slow-release urea (SRU) as substitutes for soybean meal (SBM) in the finishing diet of beef cattle. The completely randomized design in vitro experiment with five treatments, i.e.

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis and Functional Validation of Litter Size Traits in Jining Grey Goats.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is associated with the reproductive system. However, the genetic mechanism through which DNAm regulates gene expression and thus affects litter size in goats is unclear. Therefore, in the present work, genome-wide DNAm profiles of HP and LP Jining Grey goat ovary tissues were comprehensively analyzed via WGBS, and RNA-Seq data were combined to identify candidate genes associated with litter size traits in the Jining Grey goat.

MiR-23b and miR-133 Cotarget TGFβ2/NOTCH1 in Sheep Dermal Fibroblasts, Affecting Hair Follicle Development.

Wool is produced and controlled by hair follicles (HFs). However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in HF development and regulation. Sheep dermal fibroblasts (SDFs) play a key role in the initial stage of HF development.

Methylation Levels in the Promoter Region of and Genes Associated with Mastitis Resistance in Xinjiang Brown Cattle.

Mastitis causes serious economic losses in the dairy industry, but there are no effective treatments or preventive measures. In this study, the , , , , , and genes in Xinjiang brown cattle, which are associated with mastitis resistance, were identified using a GWAS. Pyrosequencing analysis showed that the promoter methylation levels of the and genes in the mastitis group were higher and lower, respectively, than those in the healthy group (65.

Transcriptome analysis reveals genes associated with wool fineness in merinos.

Hair/wool usually plays an important role in maintaining animal physiological activities, and the economic value of wool cannot be ignored. At present, people set higher demands on wool fineness. Hence, improving wool fineness is the concern of fine wool sheep breeding.

Two mutations at KRT74 and EDAR synergistically drive the fine-wool production in Chinese sheep.

Introduction: Fine-wool sheep are the most common breed used by the wool industry worldwide. Fine-wool sheep have over a three-fold higher follicle density and a 50% smaller fiber diameter than coarse-wool sheep.

Objectives: This study aims to clarify the underlying genetic basis for the denser and finer wool phenotype in fine-wool breeds.

Integrated analysis of miRNAs and mRNA profiling reveals the potential roles of miRNAs in sheep hair follicle development.

Background: Merino sheep exhibit high wool production and excellent wool quality. The fleece of Merino sheep is predominantly composed of wool fibers grown from hair follicles (HFs). The HF is a complex biological system involved in a dynamic process governed by gene regulation, and gene expression is regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs).

Effect of the FA2H Gene on cashmere fineness of Jiangnan cashmere goats based on transcriptome sequencing.

Background: Cashmere goats are a heterogeneous hairy mammal. The fineness of cashmere can affect its economic value. Therefore, in this study, we used transcriptome sequencing techniques to analyze the gene expression profiles of the skin tissues of cashmere goats with different cashmere fineness.

Gene network analysis reveals candidate genes related with the hair follicle development in sheep.

Background: Merino sheep are the most famous fine wool sheep in the world. They have high wool production and excellent wool quality and have attracted worldwide attention. The fleece of the Merino sheep is composed predominantly of wool fibers grown from secondary wool follicles.

Integrated analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs by RNA-Seq in secondary hair follicle development and cycling (anagen, catagen and telogen) of Jiangnan cashmere goat (Capra hircus).

Background: Among the world's finest natural fiber composites is derived from the secondary hair follicles (SHFs) of cashmere goats yield one of the world's best natural fibres. Their development and cycling are characterized by photoperiodism with diverse, well-orchestrated stimulatory and inhibitory signals. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) and mRNAs play important roles in hair follicle (HF) development.

Differential Methylation and Transcriptome Integration Analysis Identified Differential Methylation Annotation Genes and Functional Research Related to Hair Follicle Development in Sheep.

Hair follicle growth and development are a complex and long-term physiological process, which is regulated by a variety of physical factors and signal pathways. Increasing the understanding of the epigenetic regulation and function of candidate genes related to hair follicle development will help to better understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms of hair follicle development. In this study, the methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq) was used to obtain the genome-wide methylation map of the hair follicular development of Super Merino sheep in six stages (fetal skin tissue at 65d, 85d, 105d, 135d, 7d, and 30d after birth).

Comprehensive transcriptome and methylome analysis delineates the biological basis of hair follicle development and wool-related traits in Merino sheep.

Background: Characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying hair follicle development is of paramount importance in the genetic improvement of wool-related traits in sheep and skin-related traits in humans. The Merino is the most important breed of fine-wooled sheep in the world. In this study, we systematically investigated the complexity of sheep hair follicle development by integrating transcriptome and methylome datasets from Merino sheep skin.

Integration of a single-step genome-wide association study with a multi-tissue transcriptome analysis provides novel insights into the genetic basis of wool and weight traits in sheep.

Background: Genetic improvement of wool and growth traits is a major goal in the sheep industry, but their underlying genetic architecture remains elusive. To improve our understanding of these mechanisms, we conducted a weighted single-step genome-wide association study (WssGWAS) and then integrated the results with large-scale transcriptome data for five wool traits and one growth trait in Merino sheep: mean fibre diameter (MFD), coefficient of variation of the fibre diameter (CVFD), crimp number (CN), mean staple length (MSL), greasy fleece weight (GFW), and live weight (LW).

Results: Our dataset comprised 7135 individuals with phenotype data, among which 1217 had high-density (HD) genotype data (n = 372,534).

Study of microRNA Expression Profile in Different Regions of Ram Epididymis.

The regional expression of epididymal genes provides a guarantee for sperm maturation. As a class of endogenous non-coding small RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in spermatogenesis, maturation and fertilization. Currently, the regulatory role of miRNA in the epididymis is poorly understood.

Integrated analysis of lncRNA and mRNA reveals novel insights into cashmere fineness in Tibetan cashmere goats.

Tibetan cashmere goats are famous for producing the finest, softest and lightest cashmere fiber in China. The growth and development of skin are closely related to fineness and are the key factors affecting the quality of cashmere. To investigate the specific role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in regulating cashmere fineness of Tibetan Cashmere goats in the anagen phase, we conducted high-throughput RNA sequencing of fine-type and coarse-type skin tissues.

The Effect of Integrating Genomic Information into Genetic Evaluations of Chinese Merino Sheep.

Genomic evaluations are a method for improving the accuracy of breeding value estimation. This study aimed to compare estimates of genetic parameters and the accuracy of breeding values for wool traits in Merino sheep between pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (PBLUP) and single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) using Bayesian inference. Data were collected from 28,391 yearlings of Chinese Merino sheep (classified in 1992-2018) at the Xinjiang Gonaisi Fine Wool Sheep-Breeding Farm, China.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of long non-coding RNAs expressed during sheep fetal and postnatal hair follicle development.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), >200 nt in length, are transcribed from mammalian genomes. They play important regulatory roles in various biological processes; However, the function and expression profile of lncRNAs involved in the development of hair follicles in the fetus, have been relatively under-explored area. To investigate the specific role of lncRNAs and mRNAs that regulate hair follicle development, we herein performed a comprehensive study on the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of sheep at multiple embryonic days (E65, E85, E105, and E135) and six lambs aged one week (D7) and one month (D30) using RNA-seq technology.

Ruminal metagenomic analyses of goat data reveals potential functional microbiota by supplementation with essential oil-cobalt complexes.

Background: Essential Oils (EO) are complex mixtures of plant secondary metabolites that have been proposed as promising feed additives for mitigating methane and ammonia emissions. We have previously demonstrated that Essential Oil-Cobalt (EOC) supplementation resulted in increased average daily gain and improved phenotypes (cashmere fiber traits, carcass weight, and meat quality) when cashmere goats received supplementation at approximately 2 mg/kg of body weight. However, the ruminal microbiological effects of EO remain poorly understood with regard to the extent to which ruminal populations can adapt to EO presence as feed ingredients.

Association analysis of polymorphisms in six keratin genes with wool traits in sheep.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic effects of six keratin () genes on the wool traits of 418 Chinese Merino (Xinjiang type) (CMXT) individuals.

Methods: To explore the effects and association of six genes on sheep wool traits, The polymerase chain reaction-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), DNA sequencing, and the gene pyramiding effect methods were used.

Results: We report 20 mutation sites (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) within the six genes, in which twelve induced silent mutations; five induced missense mutations and resulted in Ile→Thr, Glu→Asp, Gly→Ala, Ala→Ser, Se→His; two were nonsense mutations and one was a same-sense mutation.

WITHDRAWN:Identification of Polymorphisms and Association of Five KAP Genes with Sheep Wool Traits.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

[Candidate gene analysis of high quality merino sheep].

Partial sequences of wool fiber constituent genes KAP1.1 and KAP1.3 and the exonic sequence of the KAP6.