Across-country genetic and genomic analyses of foot score traits in American and Australian Angus cattle.

Background: Hoof structure and health are essential for the welfare and productivity of beef cattle. Therefore, we assessed the genetic and genomic background of foot score traits in American (US) and Australian (AU) Angus cattle and investigated the feasibility of performing genomic evaluations combining data for foot score traits recorded in US and AU Angus cattle. The traits evaluated were foot angle (FA) and claw set (CS).

Family climate influences next-generation family business leader effectiveness and work engagement.

Effective next-generation leadership is central to the multi-generational survival of family businesses. This study of 100 next-generation family business leaders found that business-owning families that openly express their opinions, take time to listen to each other, and squarely address difficult issues positively influence the development of the emotional and social intelligence competencies in next-generation family leaders that drive their leadership effectiveness. That kind of open and transparent communication in the family also makes it more likely next-generation leaders will be held accountable for their leadership performance by others, which increases the degree to which they are positively engaged with their work in the family firm.

Unraveling the phenotypic and genomic background of behavioral plasticity and temperament in North American Angus cattle.

Background: Longitudinal records of temperament can be used for assessing behavioral plasticity, such as aptness to learn, memorize, or change behavioral responses based on affective state. In this study, we evaluated the phenotypic and genomic background of North American Angus cow temperament measured throughout their lifetime around the weaning season, including the development of a new indicator trait termed docility-based learning and behavioral plasticity. The analyses included 273,695 and 153,898 records for yearling (YT) and cow at weaning (CT) temperament, respectively, 723,248 animals in the pedigree, and 8784 genotyped animals.

Genetic Modeling and Genomic Analyses of Yearling Temperament in American Angus Cattle and Its Relationship With Productive Efficiency and Resilience Traits.

Cattle temperament has been considered by farmers as a key breeding goal due to its relevance for cattlemen's safety, animal welfare, resilience, and longevity and its association with many economically important traits (e.g., production and meat quality).

Haplotype-Based Single-Step GWAS for Yearling Temperament in American Angus Cattle.

Behavior is a complex trait and, therefore, understanding its genetic architecture is paramount for the development of effective breeding strategies. The objective of this study was to perform traditional and weighted single-step genome-wide association studies (ssGWAS and WssGWAS, respectively) for yearling temperament (YT) in North American Angus cattle using haplotypes. Approximately 266 K YT records and 70 K animals genotyped using a 50 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) panel were used.

Survival of the first rather than the fittest in a Shewanella electrode biofilm.

For natural selection to operate there must exist heritable variation among individuals that affects their survival and reproduction. Among free-living microbes, where differences in growth rates largely define selection intensities, competitive exclusion is common. However, among surface attached communities, these dynamics become less predictable.

Impact of Censored or Penalized Data in the Genetic Evaluation of Two Longevity Indicator Traits Using Random Regression Models in North American Angus Cattle.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different proportions (i.e., 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%) of censored (CEN) or penalized (PEN) data in the prediction of breeding values (EBVs), genetic parameters, and computational efficiency for two longevity indicators (i.

A Systematic Review of Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Underlying Behavioral Traits in Farmed Mammals and Their Link with Human Disorders.

The main objectives of this study were to perform a systematic review of genomic regions associated with various behavioral traits in the main farmed mammals and identify key candidate genes and potential causal mutations by contrasting the frequency of polymorphisms in cattle breeds with divergent behavioral traits (based on a subjective clustering approach). A total of 687 (cattle), 1391 (pigs), and 148 (sheep) genomic regions associated with 37 (cattle), 55 (pigs), and 22 (sheep) behavioral traits were identified in the literature. In total, 383, 317, and 15 genes overlap with genomic regions identified for cattle, pigs, and sheep, respectively.

Using Random Regression Models to Genetically Evaluate Functional Longevity Traits in North American Angus Cattle.

This study aimed to propose novel longevity indicators by comparing genetic parameters for traditional (TL; i.e., the cow's lifespan after the first calving) and functional (FL; i.

Development of a genetic evaluation for hair shedding in American Angus cattle to improve thermotolerance.

Background: Heat stress and fescue toxicosis caused by ingesting tall fescue infected with the endophytic fungus Epichloë coenophiala represent two of the most prevalent stressors to beef cattle in the United States and cost the beef industry millions of dollars each year. The rate at which a beef cow sheds her winter coat early in the summer is an indicator of adaptation to heat and an economically relevant trait in temperate or subtropical parts of the world. Furthermore, research suggests that early-summer hair shedding may reflect tolerance to fescue toxicosis, since vasoconstriction induced by fescue toxicosis limits the ability of an animal to shed its winter coat.

Genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction of breeding values for calving performance and body conformation traits in Holstein cattle.

Background: Our aim was to identify genomic regions via genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to improve the predictability of genetic merit in Holsteins for 10 calving and 28 body conformation traits. Animals were genotyped using the Illumina Bovine 50 K BeadChip and imputed to the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip (HD). GWAS were performed on 601,717 real and imputed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes using a single-SNP mixed linear model on 4841 Holstein bulls with breeding value predictions and followed by gene identification and in silico functional analyses.

Evaluation of blood metabolites reflects presence or absence of liver abscesses in beef cattle.

Liver abscesses constitute a prominent concern regarding animal health and profitability of the beef industry. Our objective was to evaluate potential biliary and blood indicators of liver abscesses. Twenty-nine beef bulls (initially averaging 356±70.

Maternal nutrient restriction in mid-to-late gestation influences fetal mRNA expression in muscle tissues in beef cattle.

Background: Manipulating maternal nutrition during specific periods of gestation can result in re-programming of fetal and post-natal development. In this experiment we investigated how a feed restriction of 85% compared with 140% of total metabolizable energy requirements, fed to cows during mid-to-late gestation, influences phenotypic development of fetuses and mRNA expression of growth (Insulin-Like Growth Factor family and Insulin Receptor (INSR)), myogenic (Myogenic Differentiation 1 (MYOD1), Myogenin (MYOG), Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2A (MEF2A), Serum Response Factor (SRF)) and adipogenic (Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARG)) genes in fetal longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST) muscle. DNA methylation of imprinted genes, Insulin Like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) and Insulin Like Growth Factor 2 Receptor (IGF2R), and micro RNA (miRNA) expression, were also examined as potential consequences of poor maternal nutrition, but also potential regulators of altered gene expression patterns.

Liver morphometrics and metabolic blood profile across divergent phenotypes for feed efficiency in the bovine.

Background: Feed costs are a major expense in the production of beef cattle. Individual variation in the efficiency of feed utilization may be evident through feed efficiency-related phenotypes such as those related to major energetic sinks. Our objectives were to assess the relationships between feed efficiency with liver morphometry and metabolic blood profile in feedlot beef cattle.

Genetic diversity of a New Zealand multi-breed sheep population and composite breeds' history revealed by a high-density SNP chip.

Background: Knowledge about the genetic diversity of a population is a crucial parameter for the implementation of successful genomic selection and conservation of genetic resources. The aim of this research was to establish the scientific basis for the implementation of genomic selection in a composite Terminal sheep breeding scheme by providing consolidated linkage disequilibrium (LD) measures across SNP markers, estimating consistency of gametic phase between breed-groups, and assessing genetic diversity measures, such as effective population size (N), and population structure parameters, using a large number of animals (n = 14,845) genotyped with a high density SNP chip (606,006 markers). Information generated in this research will be useful for optimizing molecular breeding values predictions and managing the available genetic resources.

Prediction of genomic breeding values for growth, carcass and meat quality traits in a multi-breed sheep population using a HD SNP chip.

Background: New Zealand has some unique Terminal Sire composite sheep breeds, which were developed in the last three decades to meet commercial needs. These composite breeds were developed based on crossing various Terminal Sire and Maternal breeds and, therefore, present high genetic diversity compared to other sheep breeds. Their breeding programs are focused on improving carcass and meat quality traits.

Assessing accuracy of imputation using different SNP panel densities in a multi-breed sheep population.

Background: Genotype imputation is a key element of the implementation of genomic selection within the New Zealand sheep industry, but many factors can influence imputation accuracy. Our objective was to provide practical directions on the implementation of imputation strategies in a multi-breed sheep population genotyped with three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels: 5K, 50K and HD (600K SNPs).

Results: Imputation from 5K to HD was slightly better (0.

Genome-wide association for milk production and female fertility traits in Canadian dairy Holstein cattle.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a powerful tool for detecting genomic regions explaining variation in phenotype. The objectives of the present study were to identify or refine the positions of genomic regions affecting milk production, milk components and fertility traits in Canadian Holstein cattle, and to use these positions to identify genes and pathways that may influence these traits.

Result: Several QTL regions were detected for milk production (MILK), fat production (FAT), protein production (PROT) and fat and protein deviation (FATD, PROTD respectively).

A large and diverse collection of bovine genome sequences from the Canadian Cattle Genome Project.

Background: The Canadian Cattle Genome Project is a large-scale international project that aims to develop genomics-based tools to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of beef and dairy production. Obtaining DNA sequence information is an important part of achieving this goal as it facilitates efforts to associate specific DNA differences with phenotypic variation. These associations can be used to guide breeding decisions and provide valuable insight into the molecular basis of traits.

Genome-wide association for heifer reproduction and calf performance traits in beef cattle.

The aim of this study was to identify SNP markers that associate with variation in beef heifer reproduction and performance of their calves. A genome-wide association study was performed by means of the generalized quasi-likelihood score (GQLS) method using heifer genotypes from the BovineSNP50 BeadChip and estimated breeding values for pre-breeding body weight (PBW), pregnancy rate (PR), calving difficulty (CD), age at first calving (AFC), calf birth weight (BWT), calf weaning weight (WWT), and calf pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG). Data consisted of 785 replacement heifers from three Canadian research herds, namely Brandon Research Centre, Brandon, Manitoba, University of Alberta Roy Berg Kinsella Ranch, Kinsella, Alberta, and Lacombe Research Centre, Lacombe, Alberta.

Technological, environmental and biological factors: referent variance values for infrared imaging of the bovine.

Background: Despite its variety of potential applications, the wide implementation of infrared technology in cattle production faces technical, environmental and biological challenges similar to other indicators of metabolic state. Nine trials, divided into three classes (technological, environmental and biological factors) were conducted to illustrate the influence of these factors on body surface temperature assessed through infrared imaging.

Results: Evaluation of technological factors indicated the following: measurements of body temperatures were strongly repeatable when taken within 10 s; appropriateness of differing infrared camera technologies was influenced by distance to the target; and results were consistent when analysis of thermographs was compared between judges.

Next-generation leadership development in family businesses: the critical roles of shared vision and family climate.

The multigenerational survival rate for family-owned businesses is not good. Lack of a shared vision for the family enterprise and weak next-generation leadership are often cited as two of the leading reasons for the failure of family firms to successfully transition from one generation of family ownership to the next. The climate of the business-owning family has also been suggested as important to the performance of the family enterprise.