Haplotype structure of MSTN, IGF1, and BMP2 genes in Tunisian goats (Capra hircus) and their association with morphometric traits.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate variability and haplotype structure of twenty-eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at myostatin (MSTN), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) genes. Association between the polymorphic SNPs and morphometric traits was performed on a population of 263 Tunisian goats. The SNPs analyzed were all polymorphic (except one), and the three genes had different haplotype structures.

Historical Westward Migration Phases of Inferred from the Population Structure and the Phylogeography of Occidental Mediterranean Native Sheep Breeds.

In this study, the genetic relationship and the population structure of western Mediterranean basin native sheep breeds are investigated, analyzing Maghrebian, Central Italian, and Venetian sheep with a highly informative microsatellite markers panel. The phylogeographical analysis, between breeds' differentiation level (Wright's fixation index), gene flow, ancestral relatedness measured by molecular coancestry, genetic distances, divergence times estimates and structure analyses, were revealed based on the assessment of 975 genotyped animals. The results unveiled the past introduction and migration history of sheep in the occidental Mediterranean basin since the early Neolithic.

Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic trend for Wood's lactation curve traits of Tunisian Holstein-Friesian cows.

This study was conducted to (1) estimate Wood's incomplete gamma function parameters (a, b and c) for individual registered Tunisian Holsteins in the 3 first lactations; (2) estimate persistency (Per), peak time (PT), peak yield (PY) and 305-day lactation milk yields (Y305); (3) estimate the genetic parameters of the predicted traits and (4) evaluate the genetic trend of the most heritable traits. Pedigree data and 380,709 test-day milk records of 20,758 Holstein cattle collected from 2008 to 2018 in 33 herds were analyzed. Initially, Wood's incomplete gamma function parameters were determined and subsequently along with some production characteristics (Per, PT, PY and Y305).

Genetic Variability and Population Structure of the Tunisian Sicilo-Sarde Dairy Sheep Breed Inferred from Microsatellites Analysis.

This study analyzed the genetic variability, inbreeding and population structure of the Tunisian-North African dairy sheep breed, the Sicilo-Sarde (SS), created by crossing the Sarda and Comisana dairy breeds. The level of variability in the SS, considered as an endangered breed after a dramatic decrease, was assessed using 17 microsatellite markers by analyzing the two breed populations sampled from their respective cradles: SS of Beja (SS, = 27) and SS of Mateur (SS, = 25). High levels of genetic diversity in SS were revealed, with a total of 212 alleles, a high mean number of alleles (12.

Ordered categorical sire evaluation for dystocia in Holsteins.

New statistical procedures for analysis of ordered categorical data were investigated. In using the standardized threshold model, scores are transformed to estimate unknown boundary points and fixed and random effects on an underlying scale of continuous response. The model for calving ease included sex of calf, parity of dam, and the unknown boundary points as fixed effects; herd-year-seasons and sires were random.