Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Zavadilová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Štípková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Effect of age at first calving on longevity and fertility traits for Holstein cattle Abstract: Effects of age at first calving (AFC) on functional longevity of Czech Holstein cows and their reproduction traits in the first lactation were analyzed using the first lactation data of 605 538 Holstein cows first calved from 1993 to 2008. Three classes were formed for AFC: low age class (16-24 months), average age class (25-30 months), and high age class (33-46 months). Effects of AFC on length of productive life (LPL), days open (DO), days between calving and first service (CTFS), and days between first service and conception in the first lactation (FSTC) were estimated by survival and linear model analyses. It was found that LPL was on average slightly shorter for cows with higher AFC who showed also a lower proportion of higher lactations and tended to longer DO and longer CTFS in the first parity. The results of survival analysis indicate that cows with higher AFC had a tendency to shorter LPL (risk of culling 1.118) and to longer DO (risk of conception 0.758), CTFS (risk of conception 0.757), and FSTC (risk of conception 0.754) in comparison with cows with lower AFC. When the effect of fertility traits on LPL was analyzed, it was found that longer DO, CTFS, and FSTC were connected with a lower risk of culling (0.132, 0.183, 0.206) regardless of the particular AFC group. In linear model analysis, the effects of AFC group were estimated from two datasets, where the second dataset included also the missing values of fertility traits. It was found that the cows group with the highest AFC showed worse values of fertility traits (16.75, 19.69, 20.46 days) than the cows groups with lower AFC. Results of all analyses showed that a high AFC is connected with worse cow's fertility at the first lactation and with lower cow's LPL. Keywords: functional traits, survival analysis, linear model, cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 47-57 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6614-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6614-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6614-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D.Y. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: D.G. Smith Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, USA Author-Name: H.L. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.P. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: X.L. Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Zhu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Title: Genetic effects of melatonin receptor genes on chicken reproductive traits Abstract: The melatonin receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that bind melatonin. Three types of melatonin receptors have been cloned. The MTNR1A (or Mel1A or MT1) and MTNR1B (or Mel1B or MT2) receptor subtypes are present in humans and other mammals, while an additional melatonin receptor subtype MTNR1C (or Mel1C or MT3) has been identified in amphibians and birds. Previous research has shown that the three common melatonin receptors regulate physiological processes, including seasonal reproduction and ovarian physiology. However, whether or not any polymorphisms of the different melatonin receptor subtypes are associated with reproductive traits in chickens is not known. In this study, we performed candidate gene analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C genes in the Erlang Mountain Chicken population. SNP discovery was achieved by sequencing pooled DNA samples. Direct PCR-sequencing, PCR-SSCP/PCR-sequencing, and PCR-RFLP method were used to genotype the MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C genes, respectively. The GLM Procedure was used to estimate the statistical significance of association between genotypes at each locus and reproductive traits of chickens. In a sample of 460 chickens, four novel polymorphisms (JQ249890:g.384T>C, JQ249891:g.387T>C, JQ249894:g.63C>T, and JQ249896:g.294G>A) were detected in the melatonin receptor genes MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C, respectively. A statistically significant association (P < 0.01) was found between two SNPs (MTNR1A SNP, MTNR1C SNP) and reproductive traits: egg number at 300 days of age (EN) and age at first egg (AFE). Keywords: MTNR1A, MTNR1B, MTNR1C, polymorphism, egg production traits Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 58-64 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6615-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6615-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6615-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: G.R. Ruan Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Fujian Vocational College of Agriculture, Fuzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.Y. Xing Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Fan Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: R.M. Qiao Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: X.F. He Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: N.S. Ding Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Ren Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: L.S. Huang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: S.J. Xiao Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Title: Genetic variation at RYR1, IGF2, FUT1, MUC13, and KPL2 mutations affecting production traits in Chinese commercial pig breeds Abstract: The identification of causative mutations affecting economically important traits has benefited the worldwide pig industry. We investigated the genetic variation at five loci including RYR1, IGF2, FUT1, MUC13, and KPL2 affecting traits related to production, reproduction, and disease resistance in a sample of 8009 pigs representing 3 commercial breeds (Duroc, Landrace, and Large White) from 28 farms in China. We found that all breeds, especially Duroc pigs, have high frequencies of favourable alleles for lean production and stress resistance at the IGF2 and RYR1 loci. However, all breeds have low frequencies of the diarrhea-resistant allele of FUT1, indicating that multigenerational selection is required for E. coli F18+ resistant pigs. No linkage disequilibrium was found between the RYR1 and FUT1 loci on pig chromosome 6, supporting the possibility of combined selection for both F18 and stress-resistant pigs. Relatively high frequencies (> 0.5) of the MUC13 allele conferring resistance to E. coli F4ac were found in all three breeds with the highest frequency in Duroc pigs, suggesting that the breeders can establish F4ac diarrhea-resistant lines in a few generations. No defective allele at the KPL2 locus causing immotile short-tail sperms was found in Large White pigs of American, Canadian, Danish, English, and French origin, supporting the conclusion that the KPL2 defective allele is present exclusively in Finnish Large White pigs. These results provide useful information for pig breeding schemes in China. Keywords: China, commercial pig breed, genetic variation, economically important markers Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 65-70 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6616-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6616-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6616-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Galov Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: K. Byrne Author-Workplace-Name: Ruthven, Carolside, Earlston TD4 6AL, UK Author-Name: T. Gomerčić Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: M. Duras Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: H. Arbanasić Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: M. Sindičić Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: D. Mihelić Author-Workplace-Name: Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: A. Kovačić Author-Workplace-Name: Public Health Institute of Split and Dalmatia County, Split, Croatia Author-Name: S.M. Funk Author-Workplace-Name: Nature Heritage, Berlin, Germany Title: Genetic structure and admixture between the Posavina and Croatian Coldblood in contrast to Lipizzan horse from Croatia Abstract: The Posavina and Croatian Coldblood are Croatian autochthonous horse breeds with interwoven breeding histories for which studbooks have only recently been established. The Lipizzan breed has the oldest formalized breeding and no record of recent genetic introgression from other breeds in Croatia. We analyzed the genetic structure, interbreeding, and breed characteristics by genotyping nine dinucleotide microsatellite loci for 53 Posavina, 37 Croatian Coldblood, and 33 Lipizzan horses and showed that differing breeding schemes and histories have had a strong and measurable impact on the population genetic structure within and between the three breeds. A Bayesian clustering method demonstrated that two population clusters best explain the genetic structure. Samples from the pre-defined breeds of the Posavina and Croatian Coldblood were assigned to a separate genetic cluster, while Lipizzan specimens were assigned to another distinct genetic group. Twelve samples of the Posavina/Croatian Coldblood cluster (13%) showed admixed ancestry with Lipizzan horses. A test for heterozygosity excess, allele frequency distribution mode-shift, and M-ratio test were used to detect genetic evidence of recent population bottlenecks, none of which provided evidence for bottlenecks in the Posavina and Croatian Coldblood populations. In contrast, although somewhat ambiguous, evidence suggests a genetic bottleneck in the Lipizzan population in Croatia. Keywords: autochthonous horse breed, microsatellite, bottleneck Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 71-78 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6617-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6617-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6617-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Van den Broeke Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Author-Name: M. Van Poucke Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Author-Name: A. Van Zeveren Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Author-Name: L.J. Peelman Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Title: Ribosomal protein SA and its pseudogenes in ruminants: an extremely conserved gene family Abstract: The ribosomal protein SA (RPSA), also known as 37-kDa laminin receptor precursor/67-kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR), has been identified as a multifunctional protein, playing an important role in multiple pathologies like cancer and prion diseases. Since RPSA is involved in the binding and internalization of the prion protein, mutations in the ovine RPSA gene, influencing the RPSA-PrPC/PrPSc binding, can potentially play a part in the resistance to prion diseases. Our goal was to further characterize the complex RPSA gene family and to detect structural mutations which can play a role in this disease. In a prior study, 11 ovine pseudogenes were detected experimentally. As the whole genome shotgun ovine genome became accessible, an in silico genome-wide screening was performed and 37 new pseudogenes (36 processed and one semi-processed pseudogene) were detected, bringing the total to 48 ovine RPSA pseudogenes. Additionally, the complete bovine genome was screened in silico and 56 pseudogenes were identified. Once these sequences were known, it was possible to analyze the presence of mutations in the coding sequence and exon-flanking regions of the ovine functional full-length RPSA gene without the interference of pseudogenic sequences. Nineteen mutations were found: one in the 5' UTR, a silent one in the coding region, and seventeen in the exon-flanking regions, including an interesting mutation in the SNORA62 gene, localized in intron 4 of RPSA, leading to potential ribosomal defects. Structural mutations of the RPSA gene can be ruled out to play a role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies but regulatory mutations still can have an effect on these diseases. Keywords: laminin receptor, mutation detection, prion, polymorphism, RPSA, sequence conservation, 37 kDA laminin receptor precursor/67-kDA laminin receptor Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 79-90 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6618-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6618-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6618-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Skřivan Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Marounek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Englmaierová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Skřivanová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Influence of dietary vitamin C and selenium, alone and in combination, on the performance of laying hens and quality of eggs Abstract: Two hundred and forty laying hens were fed diets supplemented with vitamin C and selenium (Se). Vitamin C was added at 0 or 200 mg/kg, and Se was added as sodium selenite or selenized yeast at 0.3 mg/kg. The feed intake and egg production were measured, and egg quality parameters were determined. Supplementation of the basal diet with Se significantly increased the laying performance; however, vitamin C significantly decreased feed intake and egg production. Vitamin C increased vitamin E concentration in the yolk. Both selenite and Se-enriched yeast increased the vitamin E concentration in the yolk and the Se concentration in the yolk and albumen. The oxidative stability of yolk lipids was improved in hens fed diets supplemented with sodium selenite, but not in those fed diets supplemented with Se-yeast. After 28 days of storage, however, the beneficial effect of selenite on lipid stability ceased. The supplementation of the basal diet with vitamin C significantly worsened the oxidative stability of yolk lipids, indicating that vitamin C acted as a pro-oxidant. Thus, vitamin C increased the laying performance and influenced some traits of egg quality. The combined supplementation of vitamin C and Se did not prove to be successful. Keywords: ascorbic acid, sodium selenite, selenized yeast, layers, vitamins, egg production Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 91-97 Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6619-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6619-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201302-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:2:id:6619-CJAS