Nilgai Research Articles

Sex Wise Morphometrical Studies on the Mid Thoracic Ribs of Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Background: The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is regarded as one of the biggest antelopes in Asia and safeguarded beneath the IUCN since 2003 and under safeguard of ‘Schedule III’ of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This study focused on the detailed gross morphometrical study of mid thoracic ribs of Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus).Methods: The present morphometrical study was carried out in six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. The measurements of various parameters of ribs were taken with the help of weighing machine, thread, scale and digital Vernier’s calliper. Result: It was found that the average diameter of the head of the fourth rib was found to be 2.56±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured as 2.53±0.01 cm in females that was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 2.59±0.01 cm. The average cranio-caudal diameter of the cranial articular facet of the head of 5th rib was found to be 0.97±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured as 0.95±0.02 cm in females that was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 1.00±0.01 cm. The average diameter of the tubercle of sixth rib at the dorso-ventral aspect was found to be 1.66±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured as 1.64±0.02 cm in females that was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 1.69±0.02 cm. Similarly, the average minimum length of the neck of sixth rib at the cranial aspect was found to be 0.68±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured as 0.65±0.02 cm in females that was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 0.70±0.01 cm. The average diameter of vascular groove of seventh rib at the proximal aspect was found to be 0.56±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured as 0.52±0.01 cm in females that was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 0.60±0.01 cm.

Alopecia por diluição da cor em uma cadela Staffordshire Bull Terrier azul: Relato de caso

Em cães a alopecia por diluição da cor (ADC) é uma das afecções dermatológicas que leva a gradual perda dos pelos em animais que possuem pelagens diluídas, como a azul. Embora relativamente rara, a ADC foi observada em diversas raças. Descreve-se aqui um caso em uma cadela de pelagem azul da raça Staffordshire Bull Terrier, atendida em um hospital veterinário de Pernambuco, Brasil. A cadela apresentava rarefação dos pelos desde os seis meses de idade, e ao exame clinico foi observada alopecia no dorso e flanco. Exames complementares foram requisitados e feitos para descartar outros diagnósticos em potencial tais como infeções parasitárias da pele e doenças de origem endócrina. Realizou-se uma biópsia da pele para avaliação histopatológica, onde foi possível observar a presença de plugs de melanina nos folículos pilosos, distorção posterior dos mesmos, pigmentação adjacente aos folículos e a presença de melanógafos, alterações que sugeriram ADC. Através do resultado do exame histopatológico associado aos sinais clínicos e o histórico do animal, foi possível confirmar o diagnóstico de alopecia por diluição da cor. Não foi realizado tratamento terapêutico nesse caso, tendo em vista que os tratamentos existentes variam em resultado e o tutor optou pela não realização do mesmo.

Arm and Forearm Bones of the Adult Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus): A Morphological and Morphometrical Study

Background: There is scanty information on the morphology and morphometry of the arm and forearm bones (humerus, radius, ulna) of the adult blue bull; therefore, the present study was designed to provide details on the morphology and morphometry of the arm and forearm bones of adult blue bull.Methods: The present study was conducted on the arm and forearm bones of six adult blue bull of either sex (n=6, male and n=6, female). The bone specimens were collected from Jodhpur zoo after taking official permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Government of Rajasthan. The collected bones were processed as per the standard hot water maceration technique. The macerated bones were soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide followed by five days of sun-drying.Result: The humerus and radius was the long bones, whereas the ulna was aborted long bone. The humerus was a long, less twisted and strong bone with two extremities and four surfaces. The radius was fused to the ulna in the entire length, except for two interosseous spaces, namely, proximal interosseous spaces and distal interosseous spaces. The present study revealed that all the obtained parameters of arm and forearm bones (humerus, radius, ulna) showed a significant statistical difference (p less than 0.05*) between the males and females of adult blue bull. It can be concluded that the bones of the arm and forearm of the adult blue bull resembled that of small and large ruminants; however, they differed from other domestic and wild animals.

Estimation of losses to agricultural crops by the wild animals in Najibabad forest division

The wild animals cause losses to agriculture crop yields. The present study focuses on the assessment of agricultural damage caused by these wild animals in villages adjacent to protected areas and located in Najibabad forest division in Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh). The results showed that elephant (Elephas maximus) is the most problematic animal responsible for crop raiding followed by nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus). The sugarcane fields closer to the forest edge are raided more by elephants in comparison to rice, wheat and vegetables. This study recommended that active participation of stakeholders with the help of forest officials can help in mitigating crop raiding incidences in future.

Potential consequences of captivity and environmental pollution in endoparasitic prevalence in different antelopes kept at wildlife parks.

Endoparasites are the potential source of substantial health complications in animals; exclusively the endoparasites of zoonotic importance are of great concern to researchers and health authorities for diverse perspectives. A coprological study was conducted to inspect the endoparasitic infestation in antelopes kept at three captive localities, i.e., Safari Park, Jallo Wildlife Park, and Lahore Zoo, situated in Lahore, Pakistan. There were 109 selected species of antelopes including nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), urial (Ovis orientalis), and chinkara (Gazella bennettii). The fresh fecal samples of each experimental animal from individual and mixed animal enclosures were collected and tested by an appropriate parasitological method. The fecal samples were examined by applying the modified McMaster technique through the Whitlock chamber method and observed by a compound microscope for identification and fecal egg count. The prevalence (%) of egg per gram (EPG) and diversity of endoparasitic eggs identified from fecal samples of experimental animals from three captive localities were recorded. The analysis revealed species from phylogenetic groups of nematodes cestodes and trematodes along with coccidian occurrence. The prevalence of endoparasites was highest in nilgai (B. tragocamelus) with combined average prevalence (23.88 ± 3.13) from three captive localities followed by chinkara (G. bennettii) combined average prevalence (21.68 ± 2.64), urial (O. orientalis) combined average prevalence (21.41 ± 4.69), and blackbuck (A. cervicapra) combined average prevalence (16.88 ± 2.66). To prevent such infestations which prevail more intensely regarding changing climate and increasing pollution levels, there should be regular monitoring and appropriate prophylaxis combined with epizootiological investigation for future studies and implication of advance technology, for captive animals so that best possible adaptations can be made to reduce the spread of infective diseases that are of zoonotic importance also.

Comparative molecular characterization and In silico analysis of neck and carbohydrate recognition domain (NCRD) of conglutin in gene in buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Conglutinin, a high molecular-weight C-type lectin belongs to the family of collectins, was originally detected in bovine serum which binds sugar residues in a Ca2+-dependent manner and it is an effector molecules in innate immunity. Total RNA extracted from liver sample of buffalo and nilgai were used to synthesize cDNA. Conglutinin NCR domain cDNA (497 bp) was amplified by proof reading DNA polymerase using primers established for cattle (Bostaurus). The amplicons were ligated to cloning vector (pJET), that was transformed into E. coli DH5α competent cells and the recombinant plasmids (pJET-BuCGN and pJET-NCGN) were characterized by Pst I restriction analysis. The amplicon (497 bp) was released from the recombinant plasmids (pJET-BuCGN and pJET-NCGN) upon Eco RI and Xho I double digestion, sequencing of the recombinant plasmids were carried out. BuCGN was found to be 99.6% similar to NCGN at nucleotde level, and 100% at predicted amino acid level. The predicted proteins of both the species (162 amino acids) were expected to possess five β-sheets in the secondary structure.

Perception survey on Nilgai, Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas, 1766) incidence in crop land ecosystems around rural Jaipur, Rajasthan

A study was conducted to understand the crop raiding by the blue bulls, Boselaphus tragocamelus inChomu tehsil of Jaipur Rural district (Rajasthan) through a perception survey on crop damage and management measures practiced. The Socio-cultural sentiments and legislations rendering safety to the blue bulls irrespective of their interface in crop ecosystems revealed more of passive deterrent measures compared to the active deterrent measures followed by farmers during the study

Distribution of Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and its Conservation Threats in Bardia National Park, Nepal


 
 
 Blue bull is Asia’s largest antelope, a species of least concern in IUCN Red data list of 2020. In Nepal, it is vulnerable and is often considered as a problem animal for its crop raiding habit. Although, its population is restricted in India and Nepal, there are insufficient studies conducted on the distribution and threats of the species at local level. This study aimed to assess the distribution of blue bull and its conservation threats in Bardia National Park and its buffer zone. Field survey was carried out to identify the potential area with the information provided by park staff and buffer zone people and by the transect method in the selected habitat to determine the distribution of blue bull population. Additionally, six focus group discussions (1 in each of thefive sites and 1 with park staff) and a half-day workshop (involving 25 participants representing each site and park office) were organized to assess the existing threats to the species. Data were analyzed descriptively using MS Excel, while the distribution map was prepared using Arc GIS. Also, 8 major identified threats were ranked using relative threat ranking procedure and classified into four severity classes. We found that the population of blue bull was dispersed from core area of Bardia National Park towards the buffer zone area. Open grazing, invasive species, predation by tiger and flash flood were the major threats to the blue bull as perceived by the local people. Habitat management activities including control of grazing, removal of invasive plant species, plantation of palatable grass species, increase in other prey species of tiger and control of flood in blue bull’s habitats are recommended to protect the species and thus sustain their threatened population.
 
 

Mark‐Recapture Distance Sampling for Aerial Surveys of Ungulates on Rangelands

ABSTRACTAerial surveys are an efficient technique for counting animals over large geographic areas such as rangelands. In southwestern rangelands, aerial surveys are routinely conducted for ungulates, with the implicit understanding that abundance estimates represent an undercount. Distance sampling can correct for visibility bias, but assumes perfect detection on the survey line, a condition often violated in aerial surveys of ungulates. The incorporation of mark‐resight methods into the distance‐sampling framework, termed mark‐recapture distance sampling (MRDS), corrects for both visibility bias and imperfect detection on the survey line. However, the use of MRDS introduces logistical and technical constraints that may not be practical for aerial surveys. We conducted aerial surveys of ungulates on rangelands in south Texas, USA, to evaluate the feasibility and performance of MRDS relative to conventional distance sampling (CDS) and multiple covariate distance sampling (MCDS). We conducted surveys prior to and after leaf‐fall in 2013–2015 to test the hypothesis that distance sampling corrected for changes in visibility bias. We surveyed white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and feral swine (Sus scrofa) on 4 sites. Each site was surveyed seasonally for 2 years; twice both prior to (Nov) and after leaf‐fall (Feb). Probability of detection on survey lines for each species was high (range = 0.82–0.97) and the average for each species was similar between seasons (0.89 and 0.92 during pre and post leaf‐fall, respectively). The MRDS density estimates often were only ~10% greater than CDS and MCDS estimates; all population estimates had overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Further, CDS and MCDS estimates were similar indicating that measured covariates (seat position, vegetation type, and cluster size) contributed little towards detection probabilities. Despite similar average probability of detection for all species before and after leaf‐fall (0.47 and 0.51, respectively), deer and nilgai population estimates were 22–59% lower during fall surveys than winter surveys. The discrepancy between consistent probability of detections with different population estimates suggests that availability bias, which cannot be addressed with distance sampling, was an issue. Overall, the MRDS technique addressed imperfect detection on the survey line and generated probabilities of detection in the survey area consistent with previous studies done in Texas. However, the extra costs (~US$13,000) and logistical hurdles to preserve observer independence for a small increase in precision of population estimates may not be justifiable. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

Molecular screening for rickettsial bacteria and piroplasms in ixodid ticks surveyed from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in southern Texas.

A survey of ixodid ticks parasitizing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) was completed during the 2018–2019 public hunt season on the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Cameron County, Texas) and the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch in nearby Willacy County (Texas). Anocenter nitens was the predominant tick species identified with 5% of these ticks collected from nilgai. All life stages were encountered in high numbers on white-tailed deer, indicating that deer may be a primary host in this region. Amblyomma maculatum and Amblyomma inornatum were identified from both hosts, while Ixodes scapularis was encountered only on white-tailed deer. This is the first published record of A. inornatum on nilgai. A subset of ticks was used in PCR assays to detect Rickettsia spp., family Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia spp., and Theileria-Babesia spp. Borrelia spp. were not detected in any of the ticks analyzed. Rickettsia parkeri was detected in three A. maculatum adult ticks from deer, Rickettsia sp. endosymbiont sequences were present in all I. scapularis ticks, and Rickettsia amblyommatis was detected in three A. inornatum adult ticks from deer. Sequence analysis of Anaplasmataceae-positive amplicons from A. nitens and A. maculatum had low percent identity to published Anaplasma spp. sequences, suggesting a unique Anaplasma sp. may be circulating in the population. Anaplasma platys was detected from A. nitens larvae and an Ehrlichia sp. Delta strain was present in A. maculatum, both of unknown pathogenicity towards deer. Theileria cervi was detected in all stages of A. nitens ticks, and positive ticks originated from 27 of 31 deer and a single nilgai sampled from throughout the survey site. The primary vector for T. cervi is absent from this region, suggesting T. cervi is possibly maintained by a different tick species.

Sex Wise Morphometrical Studies on Orbital Cavity and Foramina of Skull of Adult Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Background: The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is one of the biggest antelopes in Asia and is widely distributed in both the forests and adjoining villages with enough green grass.Methods: The present study was carried out on the orbital cavity and foramina of skull of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. The biometrical parameters were measured by scale, graduated tape and digital Vernier’s caliper.Result: The average left cranio-caudal orbital diameter was found to be 5.7±0.11 cm in female, which was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 5.3±0.08 cm. Similarly, the average left orbital depth was found to be 5.7±0.08 cm in female, which was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 5.3±0.06 cm. The average length of left orbital process of frontal bone was found to be 5.1±0.05 cm in female, which was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 5.3±0.07 cm. The average diameter of left supraorbital foramen was found to be 0.31±0.001 cm in female, which was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 0.7±0.003 cm. Similarly, the average maximum distance between two cranial palatine foramina was found to be 1.8±0.05 cm in female, which was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 3.3±0.12 cm. Conclusion: Most of the biometrical observations on different parameters of orbital cavity and different foramina of skull of Blue bull were having significantly (p less than 0.05) more values in males than females. The present gross and biometrical studies would be useful to the wild life professionals for determination of sex of this animal and solving vetero-legal cases related with this species.

Natural and anthropogenic correlates of habitat use by wild ungulates in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal

Wild ungulate herbivores are crucial for maintaining terrestrial ecosystems and restoring population of top predators like tiger. Thus, it is essential to understand wild ungulates-habitat relationships to devise an effective strategy to conserve their population and top predators like tiger that depend on them. We have limited understanding about the ungulates and their habitat in sub-tropical lowlands. In this study, we conducted transect based occupancy surveys in December 2016 across 30 geographic grid cells of 3 km × 3 km spanning 270 km2. We used the occupancy modelling approach that accounts for the imperfect detection to test multiple hypotheses concerning ecological and anthropogenic correlates of site use pattern of five wild ungulate species in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. The model-average estimates showed that proportion of site use was highest for spotted deer (0.83 ± SE 0.29) followed by blue bull (0.53 ± SE 0.22), hog deer (0.37 ± SE 0.12), swamp deer (0.23 ± SE 0.17), and lowest for barking deer (0.14 ± SE 0.05). While the proportion of forest had a positive influence on blue bull and barking deer, the proportion of grassland had a positive influence on spotted deer and swamp deer. Water availability positively influenced site use of barking deer. Human disturbance had a strong negative influence on the distribution of hog deer but blue bull had a positive association with human activities. Similarly, fire had a strong positive influence only on the habitat use of swamp deer. Overall, our results showed that these five wild ungulate species vary in their site use responses to natural habitat and anthropogenic factors suggesting that the consideration of species-specific habitat requirements is important for their conservation and management.

Enhanced biosurveillance of high-consequence invasive pests: southern cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, on livestock and wildlife

BackgroundSome tick species are invasive and of high consequence to public and veterinary health. Socioeconomic development of rural parts of the USA was enabled partly through the eradication by 1943 of cattle fever ticks (CFT, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and R. (B.) microplus). The southern cattle fever ticks (SCFT, R. (B.) microplus) remain a real and present threat to the USA animal agriculture because they are established in Mexico. Livestock-wildlife interactions in the Permanent Quarantine Zone (PQZ) established by the century-old Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Programme (CFTEP) in south Texas endanger its operations.MethodsWe describe a spatially-explicit, individual-based model that simulates interactions between cattle, white-tailed deer (WTD, Odocoileus virginianus), and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) to assess the risk for SCFT infestations across the pathogenic landscape in the PQZ and beyond. We also investigate the potential role of nilgai in sustaining SCFT populations by simulating various hypothetical infestation and eradication scenarios.ResultsAll infestation scenarios resulted in a phase transition from a relatively small proportion of the ranch infested to almost the entire ranch infested coinciding with the typical period of autumn increases in off-host tick larvae. Results of eradication scenarios suggest that elimination of all on-host ticks on cattle, WTD, or nilgai would have virtually no effect on the proportion of the ranch infested or on the proportions of different tick habitat types infested; the entire ranch would remain infested. If all on-host ticks were eliminated on cattle and WTD, WTD and nilgai, or cattle and nilgai, the proportions of the ranch infested occasionally would drop to 0.6, 0.6 and 0.2, respectively. Differences in proportions of the ranch infested from year to year were due to primarily to differences in winter weather conditions, whereas infestation differences among tick habitat types were due primarily to habitat use preferences of hosts.ConclusionsInfestations in nilgai augment SCFT refugia enabled by WTD and promote pest persistence across the landscape and cattle parasitism. Our study documented the utility of enhanced biosurveillance using simulation tools to mitigate risk and enhance operations of area-wide tick management programmes like the CFTEP through integrated tactics for SCFT suppression.

Transient radial paralysis occurring in a Belgian White Blue bull undergoing general anaesthesia for claw amputation

A four-year-old, 973 kg Belgian White Blue bull was presented for further evaluation of a persistent right hindlimb lameness. The physical and radiographic examinations revealed osteitis of the medial second phalanx of the right hindlimb. A claw amputation was performed under general anaesthesia. The bull was premedicated with 0.17 mg/kg xylazine intramuscularly and general anaesthesia was induced with 2 mg/kg ketamine administered intravenously. During the recovery phase, the bull could not bear any weight on his left thoracic limb. Further examinations revealed left radial nerve paralysis. Treatment consists of a bolus of dexamethasone (0.05 mg/kg) intravenously in order to decrease the inflammation; fluid therapy in an attempt to improve muscle perfusion and to replace the fluid losses and cold showers to decrease the rise in temperature. After 90 minutes from the end of general anaesthesia, the radial paralysis resolved spontaneously without any major consequences.

SACRED CONCEPTS CONCERNING COWS IN KAZAKH FOLKLORE

From ancient times our people, who grazed four food animals, believed that they had an owner. The owners of the four food animals were considered to be their "ancestors" or "peers". That is why he gave them a mythical character. He leaned on his holy ancestors and asked them to help him. He wished them well and wished them well. He thought that only then he could have cattle. That is why various rituals and ceremonies have come to everyone. Currently in the country spread a lot of myths, indicating that the cow was the cow skorlupok animal. Special attention was paid to cattle, including bull. Even the purpose of the human earth that applies to spelled. He was known in myths as the blue bull, sometimes the blue bull, which was known in folklore with special vividness. This is mostly associated with myths about the injury of the earth. In the mythology of the peoples of the world say that the earth put on, fish, elephant (for the concept of the ancient Indians), snake Cotes, the myth, widespread among the peoples of Turkic origin, including among Kazakh people put on the surface of the blue ox, and sometimes on a blue bull to pick it up. He draws attention to the myths of the bull or bull and one case depends on the blue bull. In General, the blue color has a special property, for example, "blue Bor", "blue bull", etc. "Blue" is formed from mythical concepts: " blue sky","bull of the blue God". In this regard, it should be noted that in nomadic life, it became the first cargo transport.

The diet of the striped hyena in Nepal's lowland regions.

Striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) are extremely rare in Nepal, and only a few people have studied them in their natural forest and grassland habitat. Their rarity is due to anthropogenic pressures such as hunting, habitat modification, being killed on roads, and depletion of their natural prey. Here, we studied the feeding ecology of hyenas in lowland, Nepal. We employed an opportunistic sampling to collect hyena scats in a range of habitats and the line transect sampling to identify the prey of the hyena in the study site. We collected 68 hyena scats between 2015 and 2018. Most of the hyena scat (39.7%) was found in the Churia Hill forest followed by riverbed (26.4%), mixed forest (14.7%), Sal (Shorea robusta)‐dominated forest (11.7%), and grassland area (7.3%). We found eleven mammalian prey species, plants, and some unidentified items in the hyena scats. The frequency of occurrence and relative biomass of the medium‐sized wild boar (Sus scrofa) were higher than other smaller prey species such as hare (Lepus nigricollis) and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Similarly, the proportion of large prey species such as nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in the hyena diet was lower compared with wild boar, hares, and rhesus macaques indicating medium‐sized wild boar is the most preferred prey species. Livestock contributed 17.3% of the total dietary biomass. Domesticated species such as goats, sheep, cows, and even dogs were found in the diet of hyenas. Predation of livestock by hyenas could cause conflict, especially if this ongoing issue continues in the future. Rather, more conservation effort is required in lowland areas of Nepal to protect the hyenas' natural prey species, particularly in wildlife habitats to reduce the lure of taking domestic livestock. Similarly, conservation education at the local level and active involvement of government authorities in the conservation of this species might be helpful to mitigate human–hyena conflict in the human‐dominated landscape.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of Sex Determining Region-Y Gene Coding Sequences in Belgian Blue Bull and Wagyu Bull Crossbred Cattle

Crossbreeding using exotic bulls have been developed widely in Indonesia. Y-chromosome markers have high value for the evaluation of paternal genetic and phylogeny history. The aim of this study was to investigate the coding sequence polymorphism of SRY gene in crossbred cattle using Belgian Blue Bull and Wagyu Bull. Polymerase chain reaction method was used to identify the target sequence 690 bp of SRY gene coding sequences. Then, direct DNA sequencing with forward primer was performed to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences between individual sample. The results of the alignment coding sequence of SRY gene from four GenBank data, Brahman cross cattle, Belgian Blue Bull Cross and Wagyu Bull cross revealed that there are 21 SNPs variation. Six SNPs out of 21 SNPs (29%) was synonymous and 15 SNPs out of 21 SNPs (71%) was change the amino acid (non-synonymous). Eight out of 21 SNPs (38%) were transition mutation and 13 SNPs out of 21 SNPs (62%) were transversion mutation. Crossbred cattle using Brahman cross cow with Belgian Blue Bull and Wagyu Bull show the SNP at position 1707T→G (transversion mutation). This SNP change the amino acid from Phe(TTT) to Cys(TGT). Thus, the result can be used as molecular marker for identifying the paternal lineage of crossbred cattle which recently develop in Indonesia.

Characterisation of Escherichia coli Recovered from Wild Animals Kept at Bikaner Zoo for Their Antibiotic Resistance

In the present study, a total of 41 E. coli isolates obtained from Boselaphus tragocamelus (5), Antelope cervicapra (18) and Gazella gazelle (18) maintained at Bikaner (Rajasthan) zoo were subjected to antibiogram determination against 15 antibiotics belonging to four different classes and were also genotyped for detecting presence of blaTEM, sul-2, strA and aadA genes. Antibiogram study revealed highest efficacy of ciprofloxacin (90.2%) followed by nalidixic acid (75.6%) and chloramphenicol (68.4%) and high resistance to β lactam, Sulfamethoxazole and Aminoglycoside antibiotics. The overall presence of blaTEM, sul-2, strA and aadA genes was detected in 95.12%, 80.48%, 60.97% and 87.8% in isolates.

Short communication: The genotype of growth hormone gene that affects the birth weight and average daily gain in crossbred beef cattle

Abstract. Hartatik T., Fathoni A, Bintara S., Ismaya, Panjono, Widyobroto B.P, Agus A, Budisatria I.G.S, Leroy P. 2020. Short communication: The genotype of growth hormone gene that affects the birth weight and average daily gain in crossbred beef cattle. Biodiversitas 21: 941-945. Growth Hormone gene has been proposed to direct search for quantitative trait loci, and polymorphisms at these loci have been associated with several production traits in bovine. This research aimed to investigate the association of the genotype of partial growth hormone gene with birth weight and average daily gain in crossbred beef cattle. The materials of this research consist of 47 samples from four different breeds. Birth weight was measured just after calving delivery from the mother. The average daily gain was calculated from the period since birth weight to the second weight (90 days). Genotyping of the growth hormone gene was determined by the sequencing and PCR-RFLP method with the AluI restriction enzyme. The association between genotype and growth traits data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) by RStudio version 1.1.383. The results showed the significantly different (P<0.001) in birth weight and average daily gain according to the different breed. Friesian Holstein breed showed the highest birth weight, followed by Belgian Blue Bull cross and others. The genotype valine/valine only occurs in Belgian blue bull cross and Wagyu bull cross cattle and showed moderate birth weight. Genotype affects birth weight significantly (P<0.001). The birth weight for genotype leucine/leucine, leucine/valine, and valine/valine was 34.82±18.13, 25.31±13.10, and 29.35±13.65, respectively. There was no significant difference in average daily genes according to the different genotypes. In conclusion, the growth hormone gene was probably one of the molecular genetics markers for excellent growth traits in different crossbred beef cattle.

Association of IGFBP-3 gene polymorphism g. 3.930 G>A with birth size and birth weight in crossbred beef cattle

Crossing between cattle breeds is the one way to improve the genetic quality of cattle. Controlling crosses using genetic markers will speed up the process. The IGFBP-3 gene is a potential marker of selection due to its role in regulating growth and metabolism in cattle. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of genotype on birth size and birth weight using IBFBP-3 gene marker. A total of 32 cattle consisted of 10 Brahman Cross cattle, 14 cattle results of Brahman Cross cow crosses with Belgian Blue bull, and 8 cattle results of Brahman Cross cow crosses with Wagyu bull. Sequences of 563 bp, including the part intron 2, exon 3, and the part intron 3. Genotyping was done by sequencing method and PCR-RFLP method with the restriction enzyme PvuII. An SNP was identified at location g 3,930 (G>A). Two genotypes were observed, namely GA and GG. The genotype did not affect the performance of birth (body weight, body length, height at withers, heart girth) of the research sample. Birth traits are influenced by the cattle breed, it can be seen that Brahman Cross cattle have a body length that is bigger than the other crossbred.