Potential of in-plant intramuscular fat predictions to enable sheep breeders to incorporate consumer preferences in breeding programmes.

The inclusion of eating quality traits in sheep genetic improvement programmes is desirable. Intramuscular fat (IMF) plays a key role in ensuring consumer satisfaction when eating lamb, but genetic progress for IMF is constrained by a lack of routine data collection. This study investigated the potential for IMF predictor traits to substitute for measured IMF in genetic improvement programmes.

Can the application of farm dairy effluent enhance cadmium leaching from soil?

The application of amendments such as farm dairy effluent (FDE) to soils which contain dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has the potential to increase cadmium (Cd) leaching through the formation of soluble organo-Cd complexes. However, the extent of Cd leaching loss is currently unknown. A lysimeter study measured Cd leaching from coarse and fine-textured Pumice soils amended with either FDE or single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer.

Transpiration Rate of White Clover ( L.) Cultivars in Drying Soil.

Determining the performance of white clover cultivars under drought conditions is critical in dry climates. However, comparing the differences in cultivar performance requires equivalent soil water content for all plants, to reduce the water deficit threshold eliciting stomatal closure. In this study, the objective was to compare the rate of stomatal closure in eighty white clover cultivars in response to soil drying.

Short communication: Long term performance of near infrared spectroscopy to predict intramuscular fat content in New Zealand lamb.

This study investigates the performance of a partial least squares regression model to predict intramuscular fat (IMF) in lamb M. longissimus lumborum developed using near infrared (NIR) data collected under a range of different conditions. A total of 26 independent NIR datasets were collected across 7 years, including 14 flocks, four devices and several measurement conditions.

Transgenic goats producing an improved version of cetuximab in milk.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent one of the most important classes of pharmaceutical proteins to treat human diseases. Most are produced in cultured mammalian cells which is expensive, limiting their availability. Goats, striking a good balance between a relatively short generation time and copious milk yield, present an alternative platform for the cost-effective, flexible, large-scale production of therapeutic mAbs.

Targeted histone demethylation improves somatic cell reprogramming into cloned blastocysts but not postimplantation bovine concepti†.

Correct reprogramming of epigenetic marks in the donor nucleus is a prerequisite for successful cloning by somatic cell transfer (SCT). In several mammalian species, repressive histone (H) lysine (K) trimethylation (me3) marks, in particular H3K9me3, form a major barrier to somatic cell reprogramming into pluripotency and totipotency. We engineered bovine embryonic fibroblasts (BEFs) for the doxycycline-inducible expression of a biologically active, truncated form of murine Kdm4b, a demethylase that removes H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 marks.

Mathematical modelling supports the existence of a threshold hydrogen concentration and media-dependent yields in the growth of a reductive acetogen.

The bacterial production of acetate via reductive acetogenesis along the Wood-Ljungdahl metabolic pathway is an important source of this molecule in several environments, ranging from industrial bioreactors to the human gastrointestinal tract. Here, we contributed to the study of reductive acetogens by considering mathematical modelling techniques for the prediction of bacterial growth and acetate production. We found that the incorporation of a hydrogen uptake concentration threshold into the models improves their predictions and we calculated this threshold as 86.

Temporal, spatial, and management variability in the carbon footprint of New Zealand milk.

The carbon footprint of milk from year-round grazed-pasture dairy systems and its variability has had limited research. The objective of this study was to determine temporal, regional, and farm system variability in the carbon footprint of milk from New Zealand (NZ) average dairy production. Farm production and input data were collected from a national database for 2010/11 to 2017/18 across regions of NZ and weighted on relative production supplied to the major dairy cooperative Fonterra to produce an NZ-average.

Defining freshwater as a natural resource: A framework linking water use to the area of protection natural resources.

Purpose: While many examples have shown unsustainable use of freshwater resources, existing LCIA methods for water use do not comprehensively address impacts to natural resources for future generations. This framework aims to (1) define freshwater resource as an item to protect within the Area of Protection (AoP) natural resources, (2) identify relevant impact pathways affecting freshwater resources, and (3) outline methodological choices for impact characterization model development.

Method: Considering the current scope of the AoP natural resources, the complex nature of freshwater resources and its important dimensions to safeguard safe future supply, a definition of freshwater resource is proposed, including water quality aspects.

Complex Interactions among Sheep, Insects, Grass, and Fungi in a Simple New Zealand Grazing System.

Epichloë fungi (Ascomycota) live within aboveground tissues of grasses and can have important implications for natural and managed ecosystems through production of alkaloids. Nonetheless, vertebrate herbivores may possess traits, like oral secretions, that mitigate effects of alkaloids. We tested if sheep saliva mitigates effects of Epichloë alkaloids on a beetle pest of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.

Water scarcity footprint of dairy milk production in New Zealand - A comparison of methods and spatio-temporal resolution.

Water scarcity footprinting now has a consensual life cycle impact assessment indicator recommended by the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative called AWaRe. It was used in this study to calculate the water scarcity footprint of New Zealand (NZ) milk produced in two contrasting regions; "non-irrigated moderate rainfall" (Waikato) and "irrigated low rainfall" (Canterbury). Two different spatial and temporal resolutions for the inventory flows and characterisation factors (CFs) were tested and compared: country and annual vs.

Feeding dicyandiamide (DCD) to cattle: An effective method to reduce NO emissions from urine patches in a heavy-textured soil under temperate climatic conditions.

Nitrate (NO) leaching and nitrous oxide (NO) emission from urine patches in grazed pastures are key sources of water and air pollution, respectively. Broadcast spraying of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) has been shown to reduce these losses, but it is expensive. As an alternative, it had been demonstrated that feeding DCD to cattle (after manual mixing with supplementary feeds) was a practical, effective and cheaper method to deliver high DCD rates within urine patches.

Systemic granulomatous disease in dairy cattle during a dicyandiamide feeding trial.

Case History: Mature, in-calf, non-lactating, Friesian or Friesian-cross cows were fed dicyandiamide (DCD) at daily doses of 0.15 g/kg (Group 1; n=31), 0.45 g/kg (Group 2; n=21) and 0.

KDM4B-mediated reduction of H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 levels improves somatic cell reprogramming into pluripotency.

Correct reprogramming of epigenetic marks is essential for somatic cells to regain pluripotency. Repressive histone (H) lysine (K) methylation marks are known to be stable and difficult to reprogram. In this study, we generated transgenic mice and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) for the inducible expression of KDM4B, a demethylase that removes H3 K9 and H3K36 trimethylation (me3) marks (H3K9/36me3).

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project.

The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.

Proteomic and peptidomic differences and similarities between four muscle types from New Zealand raised Angus steers.

Four muscles from New Zealand-raised Angus steers were evaluated (musculus semitendinosus, m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum, m. psoas major and m.

Assessing DNA methylation levels in animals: choosing the right tool for the job.

Selection of agricultural animals for improved performance based on genetics has seen significant progress made over the past few decades. Further improvements are likely by combining genetic selection with epigenetic selection or manipulation. However, before this can be undertaken, an understanding of epigenetic mechanisms is required, and this can be obtained only by precise and accurate analysis of epigenetic patterns.

Exploring genome wide bisulfite sequencing for DNA methylation analysis in livestock: a technical assessment.

Recent advances made in "omics" technologies are contributing to a revolution in livestock selection and breeding practices. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation are important determinants for the control of gene expression in mammals. DNA methylation research will help our understanding of how environmental factors contribute to phenotypic variation of complex production and health traits.

Analyses of hypomethylated oil palm gene space.

Demand for palm oil has been increasing by an average of ∼8% the past decade and currently accounts for about 59% of the world's vegetable oil market. This drives the need to increase palm oil production. Nevertheless, due to the increasing need for sustainable production, it is imperative to increase productivity rather than the area cultivated.

DNA methylation at a bovine alpha satellite I repeat CpG site during development following fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Incomplete epigenetic reprogramming is postulated to contribute to the low developmental success following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Here, we describe the epigenetic reprogramming of DNA methylation at an alpha satellite I CpG site (αsatI-5) during development of cattle generated either by artificial insemination (AI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) and SCNT. Quantitative methylation analysis identified that SCNT donor cells were highly methylated at αsatI-5 and resulting SCNT blastocysts showed significantly more methylation than IVF blastocysts.

Transient JMJD2B-mediated reduction of H3K9me3 levels improves reprogramming of embryonic stem cells into cloned embryos.

Correct reprogramming of epigenetic marks in the donor nuclei is crucial for successful cloning by nuclear transfer. Specific epigenetic modifications, such as repressive histone lysine methylation marks, are known to be very stable and difficult to reprogram. The discovery of histone lysine demethylases has opened up opportunities to study the effects of removing repressive histone lysine methylation marks in donor cells prior to nuclear transfer.

Primary transgenic bovine cells and their rejuvenated cloned equivalents show transgene-specific epigenetic differences.

Cell-mediated transgenesis, based on somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), provides the opportunity to shape the genetic make-up of cattle. Bovine primary fetal fibroblasts, commonly used cells for SCNT, have a limited lifespan, and complex genetic modifications that require sequential transfections can be challenging time and cost-wise. To overcome these limitations, SCNT is frequently used to rejuvenate the cell lines and restore exhausted growth potential.

Sprinklers and shade cool cows and reduce insect-avoidance behavior in pasture-based dairy systems.

The body temperature of dairy cows in pastoral systems during summer reaches a peak during and following the p.m. milking.

Bovine embryo culture in vitro: new developments and post-transfer consequences.

The past decade has seen a significant shift away from co-culture systems for cattle blastocyst production. In particular, recent adoption of sequential media systems has increased performance. However, wholly defined systems, such as the replacement of albumin with nonbiological macromolecules, fail to reproduce the nutritive role that this molecule has during development.