Breed Categories Research Articles

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA): a genetic resource for vertebrate animals.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) is a freely available curated knowledgebase that contains information and facilitates research on inherited traits and diseases in animals. For the past 29 years, OMIA has been used by animal geneticists, breeders, and veterinarians worldwide as a definitive source of information. Recent increases in curation capacity and funding for software engineering support have resulted in software upgrades and commencement of several initiatives, which include the enhancement of variant information and links to human data resources, and the introduction of ontology-based breed information and categories. We provide an overview of current information and recent enhancements to OMIA and discuss how we are expanding the integration of OMIA into other resources and databases via the use of ontologies and the adaptation of tools used in human genetics.

The meta-analysis of beef cattle body weight prediction using body measurement approach with breed, sex, and age categories.

The aim of the study was to use a meta-analysis to identify the correlation between linear body measurements, including body length (BL), wither height (WH), heart girth (HG), and body volume (BV), and body weight in beef cattle by breed, sex, and age as categories. These results can be used as a method for predicting beef cattle body weight. This study used systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines to create a checklist. The first stage was searching for papers relevant to the study objectives. The second stage was searching using the keywords beef cattle, body weight, body measurement, and correlation. The third stage was reviewing the title and abstract. The fourth stage was abstracting information from selected papers, and the last stage was tabulating data. The results from this study were obtained, and 32 papers were eligible for the meta-analysis stage. The correlation between linear body measurement and body weight of beef cattle showed that HG (r = 0.88) and BV (r = 0.97) were significantly (p < 0.05) different compared to BL (r = 0.74) and WH (r = 0.72). The correlation between HG and body weight, and the categorization of cattle breeds showed significantly (p < 0.05) different results. The correlation between BV and body weight of cattle according to breed categories showed results that were not significantly (p > 0.05) different, while age was significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, to predict beef cattle body weight, it is necessary to use HG or BV, with breed, sex, and age of cattle as categories.

A first meta-analysis study on body weight prediction method for beef cattle based on digital image processing

A first meta-analysis study on body weight prediction method for beef cattle based on digital image processing

Критерии выделения плюсовых насаждений в полезащитных лесных полосах на Северо-Западном Кавказе

Field-Protective Forest Belts (FPFB) are one of the leading objects that ensure the preservation of soil fertility and increase the productivity of agricultural land. The appropriate breeding material is needed for their creation. The suitable forest-seeded objects are selected for this purpose, one of them are plus stands (PS). For the selection of PS, it is necessary to develop appropriate requirements taking into account their regional features. The purpose of this work was to set the PS selection criteria for protective afforestation in the North-Western Caucasus. In this regard, the following tasks have been performed: selection of highly productive forest belts from promising species, selection assessment, determining the ratio of individuals of various breeding categories, comparing the results obtained with data from other authors in various conditions. Fifteen sample plots (SP) have been laid in the field-protective forest belts consisting of pedunculate oak (Quércus róbur L.), pseudoacacia robinia (white acacia) (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), lanceolate ash (Fraxinus lanceolata B.), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), three-pronged gleditschia (Gleditschia triacanthos L.). Thus, 144 – 572 trees were assessed on each sample plot according to the corresponding regional methodology. The processing of the obtained results was carried out using the licensed program Stadia 8.0/prof. The ratio of plus and normal trees to minus trees was calculated on the selected objects. The plantings with 29% or less of minus trees in the selection inventory are recommended to be selected as plus trees in the region. For a smaller sample size, it is necessary to clarify the proportion of negative trees.

New Breeding Localities of Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas Linnaeus, 1758) in Bulgaria: Do Game Feeding Grounds Contribute to Increasing Distribution of the Species?

Between 2020-2023, seven UTM squares were visited in Balkan Mountain and Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain. Five new localities of Stock Pigeon with a certain breeding category were reported. In three of them, the birds regularly visited feeding grounds for big game. In two of the localities, the breeding category was determined as confirmed breeding, and in the remaining three was probable breeding. In the present study, food complexes in some of the squares provided the seed supply at the beginning of the breeding season, and croplands, pastures, and meadows provided food resources during the fledging period, this is also the most likely reason for the increase in the breeding distribution of the species in the studied area.

Variability of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Provenances in Central Ukraine

A total of 65 pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) provenances from the southern, central, northern, and eastern parts of the oak distribution range in Vinnytsia region (Central Ukraine) were assessed in a common garden experiment. Analysis of the population’s survival dynamics indicates an increase with age in the adaptive capacity of the provenances to the environmental conditions. In the initial stage, up to 10 years, the survival rate of the local populations was about 75%, by 40 years the survival decreased to 15%. At the same time, the number of trees of other provenances, which were characterised by higher survival rate, increased. The best adaptive capacity was obtained for the Rivne (Ostrozke), Kirovohrad (Svitlovodske), Chuvash (Kanaske), and Ulyanovsk (Melekske) provenances. The indicators of average height of the trees and geographic longitude (r=-0.513) and latitude of the natural growth of the populations (r=-0.474) are characterised by a significant and moderately close relationship. Oak populations differ by average diameter and remoteness from the natural location ratio (r=-0.431), and by the geographic latitude of their growing place (r=-0.478) in a moderate correlation. According to the comprehensive assessment of the non-local populations, which included survival rate, mean diameter and height, and tree breeding category, we can conclude that in general, the central populations have optimal values. Populations of Bryansk, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhya, and Cherkassy origin, as well as the local ones, have the highest values. The lowest indicators were observed manly for the northern oak populations.

PSIII-14 The Effects of Co-Twin Sex on Fitness Traits in Young Meat Goat Does

Abstract This study examined if co-twin status influenced reproductive and health traits in meat goat does. Herd records of does identified as twin-born between 2003-2022 in the Tennessee State University Research herd were evaluated for fitness traits as two and three-year-olds. Twin category (TC) was classified as female co-twin (n = 188; FT) or male co-twin (n = 194; MT). Study does were the crossbred or purebred daughters of Kiko, Myotonic, Spanish, and South African (Boer and Savanna) sire breeds. Traits analyzed were birth weight (BWT), weaning weight ratio (WWR), doe breeding body weight (DWT), fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), kidding rate (KR), weaning rate (WR), and survival rate (SR) using MIXED and GLIMMIX models of SAS. Birth weight revealed doe sire breed (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and twin category (P = 0.002) were significant. Study does born with a FT were heavier (2.68 ± 0.06 vs. 2.53 ± 0.06 kg) than does born with MT. South African breeds were heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than all three breeds, while the Myotonic was lighter (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than all three breeds. Weaning weight ratio revealed the interaction of TC with doe sire breed (P = 0.05) was significant. The interaction showed that FT Spanish does had a greater (P = 0.01) WWR than MT Spanish does (103.90 ± 2.86 vs. 91.69 ± 2.94). Sire breed (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and doe age (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) were significant for doe breeding weights but not twin category (P = 0.47). Twin category was significant (P = 0.01) for breeding FEC; does with FT had decreased counts (2.53 ± 0.12 vs 2.34 ± 0.12 eggs/g) than does with a MT. Doe age and TC were not significant for breeding PCV while sire breed (P = 0.01) was significant. Doe age, litter size born, and TC were not significant for kidding FEC and PCV. Doe sire breed was significant (P = 0.003) for kidding FEC. The interaction of TC and litter size weaned was significant for weaning FEC (P = 0.01) and weaning PCV (P = 0.04). The nature of the interaction was within TC class for litter size differences. Doe age (P = 0.008) and sire breed (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) were significant for weaning FEC whereas TC was not significant (P = 0.47). Sire breed (P = 0.86) and TC (P = 0.71) were not significant for SR. Sire breed (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) was significant for KR and WR but not TC (P = 0.29 and P = 0.13). Based on the findings of this study, sex of co-twin had limited influence for the traits tested. Sire breed and doe age had more impact on the traits tested.

Impact of breed, body score and animal category on the pregnancy rate of bovine females under IATF management

This study evaluate the impact of the reuse of the intravaginal progesterone implant (DIP), the body condition score and the racial composition on the pregnancy rate of Nelore and Angus heifers (F1) and Nelore cows of different categories submitted to different protocols of TAI, from a database of 3,093 females submitted to the same hormonal induction protocol and from the mating season of a commercial farm in the north of Minas Gerais. The racial com- position influenced the pregnancy rate of heifers, with rates of 55.11% for Nellore heifers and 64.36% for ½ Angus, showing that the ½ Angus breed has 1.55 times more chances of successful gestation compared to the breed Nellore. There is no effect of the progesterone implant until the third use on the pregnancy rate of the heifers evaluated. The increase of one unit in the body condition score on the scale of 1 to 5 implies 1.9109 or 91.09% times more success in pregnancy. The category of calving cows did not significantly affect the pregnancy rate in the evaluated herd, with pregnancy rates of 58.1%, 62.8%, 77.7% and 62.9% for primiparous, early primiparous, secondary and multiparous, respectively. The introduction of ½ Angus heifers to explore the effects of heterosis and complementarity between breeds is a viable alternative. Cows, when well managed in the postpartum period, obtain pregnancy rates higher than that observed in the national average.

Carcase grading reflects the variation in beef yield – a multivariate method for exploring the relationship between beef yield and carcase traits

Beef carcases in Europe are classified as a proxy for the quantity and ratio of tissues, commonly referred to as yield. It is important that proxies accurately measure yield as they contribute to financial transactions between abattoirs and producers. The main purpose of the study was therefore to examine the ability of EUROP carcase classification to explain the variation in yield. Furthermore, the effect of breed, as a confounder, was also examined. A multivariate definition of yield separating the carcase into six product categories was utilised as a response in a linear regression analysis. The conclusion was that EUROP and carcase features explain the majority of yield variation. Breed has an effect on yield beyond what is explained by carcase features including classification. The magnitude of the breed effects varies with breed and product category.

Development of models and assessment of the world walnut variety fund by fruit quality

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a particularly significant plant for humans in terms of its useful properties and in the Russian Federation it can be attributed to the most valuable introducers for forestry and horticulture. It is grown in many countries of the world and the area of its cultivation is constantly expanding. Breeding species for food purposes requires a selection assessment of the quality of its fruits. For this, at different times, appropriate methods were developed and the existing gene pool of the culture was assessed. By now, new varieties and forms have been bred and brought, which also need to be evaluated for rational use for scientific and practical purposes. The descriptions of varieties and forms of walnut often contain insufficient information about all selected traits, which requires the development of new models to assess the variety fund using incomplete data. The purpose of the research is to develop the missing models of selection evaluation using incomplete data and evaluate the world walnut variety fund in terms of fruit quality, to identify varieties and forms of the highest quality category. The well-known methodology and new models have been used for the evaluation. When developing evaluation models for incomplete data, a database of 50 varieties evaluated for all indicators has been used. Using the method of excluding individual indicators, the corresponding multiple regression models have been calculated on its basis, taking into account a different combination of features. The licensed programs Stadia 8.0, Microsoft Excel have been used in the research. The proposed models provide an estimate with an average error of ± 0.48 – 3.72 points at R2 = 0.63 – 0.99. A promising walnut gene pool from 23 countries has been assessed, 69 representatives with fruits of the breeding category of the highest quality identified, and a list of them compiled. Of the 512 ancestors, 19.73% had the selection category of fruits of the highest quality, 62.88% of high-quality fruits, 16.80% of ordinary fruits, and 0.59% of varieties and forms of low-quality fruits.

АБЕРДИН-АНГУС ӨНДІРУШІ-БҰҚАЛАРДЫ ҰРПАҚ САПАСЫ БОЙЫНША БАҒАЛАУ

The research work reflected in the article was carried out in 2022 in the breeding farm of Nur-Zhailau NS LLP, located in the Kostanay region, Arkalyk city, Matrosovo village. The purpose of the work is to evaluate the bulls-producers of the Aberdeen-Angus breed on the farm. The following Aberdeen Angus breed bulls participated in the test: AAA 17320042, AAA 18240588, AAA 17264322, AAA 16448662, AAA 18434747, AAA 18858269. 6 breeding bulls participated in the test, groups of bulls in each n = 10 heads were made up from each bull. According to the purpose of the work: the live weight, the average daily gain, the amount of feed consumed were measured and the indices of meat – offspring obtained from these bulls-producers were calculated. The received digital data underwent biometric statistical processing. The research methodology was carried out according to the VISH, VNIIMS, testing of bulls of producers on the quality of offspring and their own productivity, and a guide for evaluating breeding cattle of the meat direction. According to the test results, the bulls-producers AAA 17264322, AAA 16448662, AAA 18434747 received the breeding category "improver", their breeding score was respectively equal to the following complex indices 102, 100, 105. The examination of the results obtained when evaluating bulls by the quality of offspring shows the stability of breeding indicators and their use for targeted breeding work.

Filariasis in dogs brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Dirofilariasis is the predominant emerging zoonotic filariasis in the world. The two most frequent filarial worms that infect dogs are Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis. This study reports filariasis among dogs brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) at the University of Peradeniya and signifies the first molecular characterization of D. repens, responsible for an emerging zoonotic filarial disease in Sri Lanka. Blood samples were collected and were morphologically analyzed using Modified Knott's Technique, followed by molecular analyses. The difference in filariasis prevalence among gender, breed, and age categories was analyzed using a chi-square test. Infection intensities were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal Wallis test. The dogs were brought to the clinic for either vaccination and/or for a regular checkup, and most were sick having non-specific clinical signs. Among the 87 dogs tested, 27.6% were positive for Dirofilaria. Conventional PCR and bi-directional sequencing of genomic DNA of microscopically tested positive samples revealed that the species in Sri Lanka was D. repens. The infection was significantly higher in males (39.1%) than in females (14.6%; χ2 = 0.447, p = 0.011), thoughit is not significant between puppies (age < 1year) and adult dogs. More crossbred dogs were infected compared to older and purebred dogs. There was no difference in intensity of infection based on their gender, age, or breed. Sequences obtained from the current study were unique and were only 63% identical to those of D. repens reported from South India. The high number of Dirofilaria infections in domestic dogs indicates a potential reservoir for emerging human dirofilariasis cases in Sri Lanka. Thus, morphological and molecular diagnosis, along with epidemiological assessment of these zoonoses, is critical for the formulation of effective public health programs and control mechanisms.

Comparison of methods for selecting a promising walnut gene pool according to fruit quality

Background. Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is considered a particularly valuable plant for humans. A number of methods have been developed to select the species’ gene pool that produces high-quality fruits. Breeders need to know which of them ensures identification of the best ancestors. The objective of this work was to compare the effectiveness of the most frequently used techniques for selecting a valuable gene pool according to taste, extractability, weight, kernel yield, and overall fruit score. They were presented in the Program and Methods for Walnut Breeding (method 1) and the Program and Methodology of Variety Studies for Fruit, Berry and Nut Crops (method 2).Materials and methods. Statistical data processing was performed using the licensed Stadia-8 software.Results. Comparing the results with the program requirements for new cultivars, all the ancestors selected according to method 1 had better taste and higher kernel weight, while according to method 2 12.5% of the forms showed lower values. The recommended kernel yield of 50% or more turned out to be lower than the threshold value in 14.29% (method 1) and 62.5% (method 2) of the selected ramets. Evaluation by to method 1 showed that the group of the “superior quality” breeding category had higher average values in taste (by 3.63%), weight (7.86%), extractability (4.25%), and kernel yield (9.9%). When selecting the first-rank forms by method 1, the values were higher in extractability (by 0.25%), weight (5.26%), taste (3.09%), kernel yield (7.55%), and overall score (7.61%). In the average values for the first-rank and second-rank forms, the excess was by 4.44, 21.91, 4.75, 9.67, and 9.86%, respectively.Conclusions. When selecting a promising walnut gene pool, method 1 provides for stricter selection and higher food quality indicators (taste, extractability, weight, kernel yield, and overall fruit score) compared to method 2.

О НЕКОТОРЫХ ОСОБЕННОСТЯХ СЕЛЕКЦИОННО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ МЕТОДОВ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ ОВЕЦ ПЛЕМЕННЫХ СТАД

n the article, the authors raise the problem of the loss of the genetic value of many breeding herds as a result of crossbreeding. Attention is focused on the need to provide breeding categories of farms with qualifi ed livestock breeders, as well as compliance with rationed feeding that meets the status of a breeding animal. It is said about the need to use the methods of resource-saving technology for the production of sheep products, as well as about the surface improvement of the botanical composition of pastures, due to the overseeding of cereal-bean grass mixtures recommended by scientists.

Prevalence, association with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and outcome of stress hyperglycaemia in sick cats.

To determine the prevalence of stress hyperglycaemia in sick cats, and to investigate the association of stress hyperglycaemia with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and outcome. Medical records (2004 to 2013) from sick cats admitted to the Medicine Unit of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were enrolled if a serum glucose measurement and a complete medical record were available. Cats that were healthy, hypoglycaemic, diabetic, sedated or had a previous administration of drugs (apart from vaccination and deworming) were excluded. The study included 647 cats; stress hyperglycaemia (serum glucose >8.3 mmol/L) was found in 194 (30%) cats, while 453 (70%) cats were normoglycaemic. The prevalence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was significantly higher in cats with stress hyperglycaemia (25/174, 14.4%) compared to normoglycaemic cats (26/399, 6.5%). Significantly, more cats with stress hyperglycaemia were hospitalised [97/194 (50.0%)] compared to normoglycaemic cats [171/453 (37.7%)]. However, the median duration of hospitalisation was not significantly different [4 (1 to 26) days and 4 (1 to 24) days, respectively]. The prevalence of cats with negative outcome was not significantly different between the two groups (cats with stress hyperglycaemia: 37.1%, normoglycaemic cats: 33.9%). Nonetheless, when modelling of outcome prediction included breed, age, stress hyperglycaemia and disease category as factors, cats with stress hyperglycaemia had 2.8 times the odds to have a negative outcome (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 6.4). Based on the cut-off employed in this study, Stress hyperglycaemia, as defined by the cut-off is common in sick cats. Stress hyperglycaemia is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome development and seem to be a negative prognostic indicator.

Критерии оценки плюсовых насаждений дуба

In the Voronezh region the share of seed plantations is less than half of the area of oak forests. Therefore, the regeneration of high-quality forests of seed origin with improved hereditary characteristics is a major challenge. In the production of seeds of improved breeding categories, plus stands play an important role. They produce improved seeds, if minus trees are removed. Moreover, permanent forest seed plots which were planted by the plus stand offspring, produce seeds of the required breeding category. Current laws and regulations do not provide specific recommendations on selection of plus stands. To address this issue and establish the criteria by which such forest stands should be selected we examined all the best stands containing plus trees in the Voronezh region (those that are candidates for plus stands). The frequency of occurrence of plus trees varies from 2 to 10 trees per 10 ha. We took the average value as the minimum to classify the forest plot as a plus stand. Marking forest stands as plus stands based on selection inventory data is recommended regardless of the time of the forest management fieldwork. Besides this, we performed a detailed inventory of the plus stand in the quadrant 41 of the Krasnoye divisional forestry area in the Vorontsovskoye forestry area on the area of 10.7 ha. The study was carried out on 10 trial plots (1 ha each), where a selection inventory was conducted, as well as an inventory of trees by technical assessment with a detailed description of each oak specimen by inventory characteristics, condition and the presence of flaws. The data obtained by selection inventory with identification of “good trees” (sum of plus and normally best trees) correlate with distribution of trees by technical assessment categories. The identified patterns can be used for selection inventory of oak plantations. We recommend to place stands in a category of plus stand if their forest density ranges from 0.7 to 0.9, more than 35 % of the trees have commercial wood and if this plot has at least one plus tree per two ha. Restoring oak forests with acorns harvested from plus stands will improve the quality of forest plantations.

Evaluation of sires according to offspring beef quality

Beef production in the Russian Federation is mainly based on the use of over-replacement young animals and culled adult cattle of dairy and dual purpose breeds, and only 10 % of it is obtained from cattle of specialized beef breeds and their crossbreds. The selection and widespread use of the best breeding sires will help to increase the dairy and meat productivity of cows and overcome the negative correlation between the most important selected traits in large numbers of livestock. The results of the evaluation of the off spring of sires of Simmental breed of domestic and foreign selection (Canadian), as well as the sire of Red-and-White dairy breed have been presented in the article. The complex index of the sire Sokol 1335/6330 TS-2811 of Simmental breed of the Canadian selection (purebred), born in 1999 in the collective farm of name after Ilich in the Kalacheyevsky district in the Voronezh region (color pale-mottled), according to the beef characteristics of the off spring was 116, which corresponds to the international category EX – “excellent” (KI[sub]1[/sub]). From this it follows that the sire Sokol 1335/6330 TS-2811 is an improver for beef productivity with the assignment of category C[sub]1[/sub]. The sire Redky 6631 TS-2710 belongs to the line Signal 4863, born in 1989 in the state farm “Moskovsky” in the Kharkiv region (color pale-mottled) of domestic selection received the complex index 102 for the beef productivity of off spring, corresponding to KI[sub]3[/sub] (G) – “good” with the assignment of category C[sub]3[/sub]. The sire Pamir 9060,2566 CGF-123 of Red-and-White breed belongs to the line Siling Traijun Rocket 252803, which has the A[sub]3[/sub]B[sub]3[/sub] breeding category, is the loser in terms of the meat productivity of the off spring. It follows from this that the sons of sires of Simmental breed of the domestic and Canadian selection have the advantage in beef productivity over the sons of the sire of Red-and-White breed.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТИВНОСТЬ РАЗНЫХ МЕТОДОВ ОЦЕНКИ БЫКОВ-ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛЕЙ ЧЕРНО-ПЕСТРОЙ ПОРОДЫ ПО КАЧЕСТВУ ПОТОМСТВА

The paper presents results of assessing black-and-white bulls by the quality of the offspring with application of different methods. The evaluation of bulls was carried out with application of the “daughter-mother” method in the conditions of Volzhsky Research Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Land Reclamation. The valuation showed that the bulls Aist 7 and Muscat 8 increased milk yield of daughters, in comparison with mothers, by 951 and 486 kg, or by 26.7 and 12.9%. The rest of the servicing bulls reduced milk yield of the offspring by 46 - 1019 kg (1.1 - 24.7%). When assessing the bulls using the “daughterpeer” method, the highest milk productivity was shown by the descendants of Sazan 25 and Aist 7 of Vis Back Ideal line, which surpassed their peers in milk yield by 273 and 419 kg, or by 3.8 and 5.7%, respectively. The producers Snop 57 (his 17 daughters had average milk yield of 4224 kg for the first lactation with milk fat of 3.80%) and Muscat 8 (with an average milk yield of daughters of 4254 kg , milk fat - 3.83%) are also of significant value for the breeding work of this farm. According to the assessment results, the producer Aist 7 was assigned to the breeding category of A1 of milk yield improvers. Bulls Sazan 25 and Muscat 8 are also rated as daughters’ milk yield improvers and are categorized as A2 and A3. All bulls evaluated by comparing daughters to the breed standards are improvers of daughters’ milk yield (+ 454-1860 kg).

Intensive human contact correlates with smaller brains: differential brain size reduction in cattle types.

Cattle are one of the most intensively bred domestic animals, providing humans with a multitude of products and uses. Using data from the fossil record, we test if their domestication, as for other taxa, has resulted in a reduction of their brain size. We not only conclude that Bos taurus (domestic cattle) have smaller brains than their wild ancestor, Bos primigenius (aurochs), but that brain size varies significantly by breed, with some having much smaller brains than others. Differences in husbandry practices between several breed categories align with a range of human engagement, which also aligns with the degree of selection for docility. Sampling 317 domestics from 71 breeds, we investigate if differences in brain size correlate with the intensity of human contact. A clear pattern emerges whereby a brain reduction gradient parallels a gradient in behavioural selection. Bullfighting cattle, which are bred for fighting and aggressive temperament, have much larger brains than dairy breeds, which are intensively selected for docility. Our results add to a fundamental aspect of animal domestication theory: the interplay between basic features of the domestic environment-selection for docility, absence of predators and human provision of resources-seems to explain differences in brain size.

The sesamoid bone in the long abductor muscle tendon of the first digit in the dog.

The sesamoid bone in the tendon of the m. abductor digiti primi longus is considered present in most dog breeds and is described to be radiologically detectable at the level of the carpus from the age of 4 months. However, an extensive investigation of this sesamoid bone has not been conducted before. The aim of this study was therefore to determine its prevalence in different dog breeds, to describe its histological development, and to determine the age at which it becomes radiologically visible. The prevalence of the sesamoid bone was assessed on radiographic images of the carpus or by dissection of the carpal region in 743 adult dogs of 115 breeds. Its development was studied by dissection and histological analysis in 45 puppies and its timing of radiological appearance was evaluated in 209 puppies. At least one sesamoid bone was present in all adult dogs, except for 14 dogs of six breeds of predominantly the small breed category. The lowest prevalence rate of 38.46% was exhibited in the French bulldog. The histological development could be divided into five stages. The first radiographic appearance corresponded to the coalescence of smaller ossification centers into one big nucleus (stage 4). The mean time of radiographic appearance was 108.4 days. This study provides extensive data on the prevalence and timing of the radiographic appearance of a sesamoid at the carpus of the dog. The data on radiographic appearance may be helpful in the age estimation of puppies.