Breeding Progress in Mugalzhar Horses: The Irtysh Type as a Model for Meat Production Efficiency

BackgroundIn a previous screen to identify differentially expressed genes associated with embryonic development, the porcine PNAS-4 gene had been found. Considering differentially expressed genes in early stages of muscle development are potential candidate genes to improve meat quality and production efficiency, we determined how porcine PNAS-4 gene regulates meat production. Therefore, this gene has been sequenced, expression analyzed and associated with meat production traits.ResultsWe cloned the full-length cDNA of porcine PNAS-4 gene encoding a protein of 194 amino acids which was expressed in the Golgi complex. This gene was mapped to chromosome 10, q11–16, in a region of conserved synteny with human chromosome 1 where the human homologous gene was localized. Real-time PCR revealed that PNAS-4 mRNA was widely expressed with highest expression levels in skeletal muscle followed by lymph, liver and other tissues, and showed a down-regulated expression pattern during prenatal development while a up-regulated expression pattern after weaning. Association analysis revealed that allele C of SNP A1813C was prevalent in Chinese indigenous breeds whereas A was dominant allele in Landrace and Large White, and the pigs with homozygous CC had a higher fat content than those of the pigs with other genotypes (P < 0.05).ConclusionPorcine PNAS-4 protein tagged with green fluorescent protein accumulated in the Golgi complex, and its mRNA showed a widespread expression across many tissues and organs in pigs. It may be an important factor affecting the meat production efficiency, because its down-regulated expression pattern during early embryogenesis suggests involvement in increase of muscle fiber number. In addition, the SNP A1813C associated with fat traits might be a genetic marker for molecular-assisted selection in animal breeding.

Introduction. Beef occupies an important place in the structure of consumption of meat and meat products in Ukraine, and is also characterized by high taste, nutritional and culinary qualities. The analysis of the development of animal husbandry shows that the production of cattle meat is a derivative of dairy cattle breeding, so the state authorities and the management of agricultural enterprises did not pay much attention to the issue of the development of specialized meat cattle breeding. Methods. The following methods and techniques were used to implement the tasks: monographic, statistical grouping – for a comprehensive study of the current state of production of meat and livestock products and the determination of factors affecting its effectiveness; grouping – to determine the influence of various factors on the level of efficiency of cattle meat production in Ukraine, comparison – to compare economic phenomena in different time periods with the aim of identifying a cause-and-effect relationship, conducting a comparative analysis of the state of beef and veal production in Ukraine with leading countries the world. Results. It has been proven that the negative experience of the functioning of enterprises producing meat and livestock products shows that ensuring the efficiency of their functioning as independent business entities is impossible due to the monopoly position of meat processing enterprises and trade establishments. At the same time, the latter create and appropriate the largest share of added value. Orientation of agricultural enterprises-producers of meat and livestock products to the export of live cattle will ensure obtaining a certain economic benefit only in conditions of high prices on the world market, which reflects its favorable situation in the short term. At the same time, the probability of the manifestation of commodity risks will increase, which is characteristic of a commodity-based agrarian economy with signs of “Dutch disease”. Discussion. In the post-war period of the revival of the agrarian economy, it is expedient to direct the efforts of state and local self-government bodies to the creation of cooperative associations that will process and sell meat and livestock products for small and medium-sized business entities, as well as to the formation of territorial clusters, members which will be all: in addition to manufacturers, processors, trade, as well as scientific institutions, institutions of higher education and local self-government bodies. Implementation of the proposed measures will ensure a parity distribution of the creation of added value at all stages of the commodity movement of meat and livestock products from the producer to the final consumer. Keywords: cattle, added value, agro-industrial chain, efficiency, export.

SynopsisMuch of the land surface of Scotland is suitable only for grazing ruminants, but, however inefficient in comparison with plants, these represent the sole feasible means of converting sparse vegetation into an organoleptically desirable and highly nutritious commodity.The efficiency of meat production could be increased by hormonal enhancement of fertility and growth in cattle and sheep and by various advances in meat science whereby abattoir operations could be greatly accelerated. The latter could involve electrical killing and muscular stimulation, hot deboning and selective conditioning of portions of the carcase. Modernization of abattoir operations would facilitate the economic recovery and upgrading of underutilized animal protein of intrinsically high biological value.An increase in the preservation of meat and meat products by low doses of ionizing radiation in combination with chilling and by freezing can be envisaged.Irrespective of current controversies on diet, the nutritive excellence of meat is utterly factual. There are thus both reasons and opportunities for further development of Scottish meat production by ruminants.

The deposition of fat in ruminants is a dynamic process that significantly impacts meat quality and production efficiency. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamics of fat deposition over time across various depots in bottle-fed ram lambs, focusing on pre-adipocyte cell number and gene expression as a key determinants of fat accumulation. Suffolk ram lambs (n = 13) were serially harvested on d 15 (n = 4), d 45 (n = 4), and d 105 of age (n = 5). Lambs were supplemented with milk replacer 20% of body weight (BW)] from d 5 to d 30 of age, milk replacer (10% BW) with creep feed (2.5% of BW) supplementation from d 30 to 45, and creep feed (5% of BW) from d 45 to d 105 of age. At each harvest timepoint, fat depots, including subcutaneous, intramuscular (longissimus muscle), and visceral fat, were snap-frozen for RNA extraction, downstream gene expression analysis, and fatty acid extraction. Pre-adipocyte cells were also preserved, enzymatically digested and subsequently isolated from each depot. Pre-adipocyte cell number was assessed using the CellDrop (Denovix). Preliminary results revealed that pre-adipocyte cell numbers were significantly greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in subcutaneous and visceral depots 17-d old lambs in comparison to all other depots in other timepoints. The number of pre-adipocytes in intramuscular adipose depots did not differ over time (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Visceral and subcutaneous adipose depots had a significantly greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) amount of preadipocytes present in comparison with the intramuscular depot. Total fatty acid content differed (P &amp;lt; 0.05) among depots and timepoints. Omental fat from d 105 lambs exhibited the greatest (P &amp;lt; 0.05) total fatty acid content in comparison with all other depots. Total fatty acid amount did not statistically differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between d 17 and d 45 omental fat depots. Total fatty acid content did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) over time in intramuscular fat samples (LM). The gene expression of several proposed pre-adipogenic markers were evaluated across timepoints and tissues. Moreover, the relationship between pre-adipocyte cell number and fat deposition in both subcutaneous and visceral depots indicates their crucial role in overall fat accumulation in ram lambs. These findings offer novel insights into the dynamics of fat deposition in ruminants, emphasizing the importance of intramuscular fat depots as key sites for fat accumulation. Understanding the relationship between pre-adipocyte cell number and fat deposition across depots can inform management strategies aimed at enhancing meat quality and production efficiency in sheep farming systems. Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying fat deposition in different depots and its impact on meat quality traits.

Nordic experts on Sámi reindeer husbandry cooperated with the reindeer husbandry experts from the Soviet Union, exchanging knowledge, experiences, and insights from 1957 until 1974. The Soviet Union had been collectivizing Indigenous reindeer herders’ property since the 1930s, using results from experimental research and collectivization as a method to increase the rationalization and efficiency of reindeer meat production. The Soviet reindeer husbandry expert professor Andreev first visited Finland in 1957, starting cooperation that would last for years. In 1960, after the Sámi leader from Røros Anders Fjellheim visited the USSR, he articulated that “the Russians are far ahead of us in the practice of reindeer herding. The reindeer herding industry receives more support than us.” Later, after another Norwegian delegation visited the Nenets National District in 1965, the local newspaper Naryana Vynder reported: “Everything looked new and significant for Norwegians: our planned economy, accounting principles, and the new system of organizing herding.” Expert Sven Skjenneberg from Norway said in an interview with this newspaper: “Reindeer herding is no longer romance, but the economy; and we are striving to study your best practices and learn your lessons, for we share common problems, and you are solving them quite successfully.” Later in 1968, Soviet experts documented the views of their Norwegian colleagues who stated that “it is not easy to teach the former Sámi nomads to use houses and property correctly, to transit to a sedentary way of life”…“Norway began making a lot of efforts…to thoroughly understand the herd structure in Norwegian reindeer herding, which is developing chaotically now.” After this cross-border cooperation, Sámi reindeer husbandry in Finland and Norway was reformed to increase the efficiency of meat production. This chapter argues that neither the Norwegian nor the Finnish experts had insights into the Indigenous knowledge and practices of the reindeer herders in the Soviet Union to understand the limitation of reforms that affected the Sámi reindeer herders’ practices and society.

Sebum deposition is a vital trait influencing meat quality and production efficiency in Pekin ducks. Providing insights into the genetic basis of fat deposition could help improve breeding strategies aimed at producing high-quality meat ducks. This study aimed to identify the genetic mechanisms and lipid metabolism pathways regulating subcutaneous and intramuscular fat deposition in two Pekin duck strains: Nankou No. 1 and Jingdian. A total of 72 male ducks, Nankou No. 1 (n = 36) and Jingdian (n = 36), were raised under controlled conditions for 42 days. On days 28, 35, and 42, ducks from each group were selected and slaughtered, and their subcutaneous and liver tissues were collected to analyze lipid enzyme activities. On day 42, additional ducks from each strain were slaughtered and evaluated for carcass performance, as well as intramuscular and sebum yield. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted in the Nankou No. 1 strain. Our results showed statistically significant differences in intramuscular and subcutaneous fat yield between the two strains, with Nankou No. 1 exhibiting a higher yield than Jingdian (p < 0.05). The GWAS results identified 96 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with sebum deposition. Functional annotation identified ALDH7A1 as a key candidate gene involved in lipid metabolism and fat storage regulation in Pekin ducks, Nankou No. 1 strain. Enzyme activity assays in liver and subcutaneous tissues revealed breed-specific differences in lipid metabolism, aligning with genetic findings. The activities of the lipid enzymes changed over time, suggesting changes in the developmental stages. The results on fat yield and enzymatic activities further align with molecular findings from the GWAS, which identified variations in lipid metabolism pathways. These results highlight genetic markers and biochemical pathways related to fat deposition in Pekin ducks, offering new insights for selective breeding programs aimed at optimizing fat content in meat production. Further research is needed to clarify the specific role of ALDH7A1 in lipid metabolism and its potential to enhance fat deposition traits in poultry.

Aim:This study was aimed to evaluate dietary crude protein (CP) level on performance of body weight (BW) gain, carcass production, and nitrogen emission on lambs.Materials and Methods:A total of 12 male thin-tailed lambs (15.2±1.8 kg initial BW and aged 3-4 months) were assigned to completely randomized design for 84-day feeding trial. The animals were divided into three different levels of CP (i.e., 14%, 16%, and 18% with isocaloric diets and 60% total digestible nutrients) with four replications.Results:Increasing CP level was not significantly affected on average daily gain (ADG), carcass production, N and N2O emissions, and efficiency of emissions related to the productions. The average of ADG, carcass production, meat production, meat protein production, N emission, and N2O emission was 141.4 g, 11.6 kg, 6.8 kg, 0.9 kg, 53.1 g/day, and 0.3 g/day, respectively. The efficiency of ADG, carcass production, meat production, and meat protein related to N emissions were 119.7 g/kg, 4.4 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, and 56.6 g/kg, respectively, while N2O emissions related to ADG, carcass production, meat production, and meat protein were 2.4 g/kg, 0.027 g/kg, 0.36 g/kg, and 0.34 g/kg, respectively.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the increase of CP level up to 18% did not affect productivity, N emissions, and efficiency of emissions per unit product because the increase of CP was not balanced by energy content in feed.

One hundred and thirty-two ewes of the Merino (M), Finn × Merino (FLXM), Border Leicester × Merino (BLXM), Bleu de Maine × Merino (BMXM), Texel × Merino (TXM), Cheviot × Merino (ChXM) and Merino Landsheep × Merino (MLXM) were evaluated for efficiency of lamb production. Individual food intakes of every ewe and also of her lamb(s) were determined over a complete production cycle. Efficiency of lamb production (kg lamb marketed at 35 kg live mass per kg food consumed by the ewe and her lamb(s)) indicated that the FLXM was the most efficient, followed by the TXM, Merino, MLXM, BLXM, ChXM and the BMXM was the least efficient. No significant differences (P &lt; 0·05) were found between genotypes for efficiency of lamb production for ewes producing and rearing singletons until 35 kg live mass with ewe mass included as a covariate. Efficiency of wool production of the Merino was significantly (T &lt; 0·001) higher than that of the other crosses. These results emphasize the importance of reproduction traits in improving efficiency of lamb production.

Experiments were carried out on 4 different breeds (Simmental, Black-white, Brown- latvian and Brown -caucasian) in order to prepare them for meat production technology in the field of dairy cattle breeding and to study the rearing of young animals using the industrial method. During the experiment: The comparative characteristics of the sexes were studied. The body sizes and indices of the animals were observed. The composition of blood, the needs and use of animal feed have been studied. Various indicators were considered, such as skin thickness, cut, carcass, meat and bone extract, meat composition and muscle chemistry. Economic indicators and production costs were calculated. This research will help improve the quality and efficiency of meat production in dairy farming. They will also help analyze options in the field, determining the yield, breeding potential and financial benefits of different breeds. These studies will provide important assessments and recommendations for optimal crop production and effective field management as a whole.

Welfare including housing conditions

IMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY ON BREEDING FOR MEAT PRODUCTION

Small ruminants are important farm animals in tropical regions of Africa, as may be concluded from the large number present. ILCA (1979) estimated the total small ruminant population of the humid zone of West Africa at 25 million. Two major reasons for keeping small ruminants are as a savings account and for meat production.

In order to increase the meat productivity of poultry scientists around the all world are working to improve the breeding traits and technologies of housing and feeding. However, the efficiency of poultry meat production on an industrial basis depends not only on the strengthening and inheritance of breed qualities, but also on a complete and balanced feeding, including the use of new feed additives. All this generally affects the duration of rearing, the average daily and absolute live weight gains, the biological value and nutritional value of poultry meat produced in industrial conditions. The purpose of the work was to study the effect of the amino acid complex and silicon dioxide on the productivity and quality of broiler chicken meat. The paper scientifi cally substantiates and experimentally proves the effectiveness of using a rational dose of ultrafine silicon dioxide (300 mg/kg of feed) and the complex of amino acids (arginine – 7 g/kg, lysine – 6 g/kg, methionine – 2 g/kg) in the rearing of broiler chickens. Data on the positive influence of the studied factor on the consumption, digestibility and use of feed nutrients, as well as meat productivity and quality of broiler chicken meat have been obtained. The dependence of meat productivity and quality of chicken meat on physiological and biochemical parameters has been proved. Analysis of the results of the production experiment has been shown that the livability of poultry in the experimental group was higher than the control group by 1,4 %. This made it possible to reduce feed consumption to 100 g/head, and feed consumption per 1 kg of chicken growth in the experimental group by 9,2 %. Activation of metabolic processes of the body of broiler chickens of the experimental group contributed to the increase in their live weight, which increased the weight of the gutted carcass, the yield of meat by 13,8 %, and meat with off al for sale by 18,0 %. The efficiency of the complex application of amino acids and silicon dioxide in the production of poultry meat is economically justified.

Treating livestock as senseless production machines has led to rampant depletion of natural resources, enhanced greenhouse gas emissions, gross animal welfare violations, and other ethical issues. It has essentially instigated constant scrutiny of conventional meat production by various experts and scientists. Sustainably in the meat sector is a big challenge which requires a multifaced and holistic approach. Novel tools like digitalization of the farming system and livestock market, precision livestock farming, application of remote sensing and artificial intelligence to manage production and environmental impact/GHG emission, can help in attaining sustainability in this sector. Further, improving nutrient use efficiency and recycling in feed and animal production through integration with agroecology and industrial ecology, improving individual animal and herd health by ensuring proper biosecurity measures and selective breeding, and welfare by mitigating animal stress during production are also key elements in achieving sustainability in meat production. In addition, sustainability bears a direct relationship with various social dimensions of meat production efficiency such as non-market attributes, balance between demand and consumption, market and policy failures. The present review critically examines the various aspects that significantly impact the efficiency and sustainability of meat production.

In current condition, the issue of providing poultry with mineral elements in particular selenium is relevant. Scientists’ research has established the role of selenium in the processes of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, stabilization of membrane functions, protein synthesis on ribosomes and macroergic compounds in mitochondria. The manifestation of signs of microelement deficiency differs in poultry of different ages, it depends on the conditions of housing and feeding. The use of probiotic drugs in poultry farming practice is an effective way to increase the body’s resistance to negative environmental influences, which helps to increase the survival rate of livestock and productive traits of poultry. The eff ect of preparations based on probiotic microorganisms depends on the diets used, individual components of which can reduce their eff ectiveness. The purpose of the work was to study the eff ect of biologically active drugs on meat productivity and meat quality of broiler chickens. The research was conducted to study the ways of increasing the meat productivity and meat quality of broiler chickens cross Ross-308 by using the selenium-containing drug DAFS-25k in the diets both separately and in combination with the probiotic additive Bacell-M. The influence of the studied additives on the digestibility and use of feed nutrients, and blood biochemical parameters was theoretically and practically confirmed. The optimal rate of additive introduction into broiler chicken diets was established and the economic efficiency of poultry meat production was determined. In order to improve the completeness of broiler chicken feeding, increase their productivity and meat quality, it is necessary to introduce the selenium-containing drug DAFS-25k into the diet together with the probiotic additive Bacell-M at the rate of 0.9 mg and 2.0 g per 1 kg of compound feed, respectively, up to 40 days of age.