Goat Breeds Research Articles

Constraints and recommendation for countrywide extension of artificial insemination in buffalo, goat and sheep

Background: The workshop aimed to identify the constraints and way forward to extend the artificial insemination in buffalo, sheep and goat countrywide. Methods: A day long workshop was organized jointly by the Coastal Vet Society Bangladesh (CVS-BD) and Grameen Jano Unnayan Sangstha (GJUS) at Bangladesh Development Society conference hall in Barishal district of Bangladesh. A total of 100 stakeholders in different aspect were joined in this workshop. Results: On the workshop, the constraints were lack of buffalo, sheep and goat breeding policy, recording systems, knowledge about the high-yielding breed, scarcity of quality feed, fodder and pasture land, lack of technical skills in reproduction and production personal, no or limited facilities to breed improvement technologies, lack of breeding infrastructure, non-availability of proven sire, no coordination among farmers, researchers, public and private organization, universities as well as other beneficiaries. The recommendations to overcome those constraints were to build up and strengthening the breeding policies and infrastructure, continuous up-gradation of native breed by high yielding breeds or varieties, adopted with assisted reproductive technologies, frequently advertise the beneficial aspects of buffalo milk and meat, development of manpower by technical training, national and international collaboration should be strengthened, private investment should be encouraged and alternative feed supply is needed to warrant. Conclusion: It is concluded that an initiative through public and private partnership or collaboration is needed to extent the artificial insemination program in buffalo, sheep and goat countrywide.

Can Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation Save Native Goat Breeds? The Situation in Campania Region (Southern Italy) between History and Regional Policy Interventions

The Campania region has a genetic heritage, both vegetal and animal, of great scientific interest, but many genetic resources risk extinction or abandonment. Thus, from a sustainability perspective, their conservation is very important and represents an imperative to allow future generations to satisfy their needs just as we are doing today. The aims of the present paper were to describe the current consistency and importance of goat farming in Italy and in the Campania region and to study its trend from 1861 to understand whether the policies for the sector implemented over time have been sufficient to conserve goat biodiversity. To these ends, the latest available data of the national livestock register of the Italian Ministry of Health, those of the different available Italian agricultural censuses, and historical–cultural documents published over time for the livestock sector were acquired and consulted to describe the goat sector and reconstruct its temporal trend. The results showed that in Italy there are just over 1,000,000 goats (the same consistency as 60 years ago), 50% of which are distributed in the southern regions, and 50,616 farms with goats, 43% of which are extensive. In this contest, the Campania region represents approximately 5% of the national goat population. The continuous decrease in the size of the national and regional goat heritage since the 1920s is the result of the agricultural policy instruments implemented for the livestock sector over time, which have effectively excluded the goat sector. Two small increases in the number of caprines were registered: the first in 1980s, when the Italian scientific community realized that the native goat genetic types, its milk and its organoleptic and dietary qualities could constitute a wealth of endogenous resources that needed to be valorized; the second, in the last decade, due to the actions of sustainability and biodiversity conservation implemented at the national and regional level. At the same time, today the goat sector continues to have a marginal role in the national and regional agricultural economy, and the survival of native goat farming is essentially ensured by sustainable rural communities conceived as the custodians of biodiversity.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Body Conformation Traits in Tashi Goats (Capra hircus).

Identifying genetic markers of economically valuable traits has practical benefits for the meat goat industry. To better understand the genomic variations influencing body conformation traits, a genome-wide association study was performed on Tashi goats, an indigenous Chinese goat breed. A total of 155 Tashi goats were phenotyped for eight body conformation traits: body height, body length, chest depth, chest width, chest girth, rump width, rump height, and cannon bone circumference. Then, 100 Tashi goats were randomly selected for whole-genome sequencing and genotyped. We obtained 1676.4 Gb of raw data with an average sequencing depth of 6.2X. Clean reads were aligned to the ARS1.2 reference genome, and 11,257,923 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. The structure analysis showed that these Tashi goats were almost not genetically related. The 109, 20, 52, 14, 62, 51, 70, and 7 SNPs were significantly associated with body height, body length, chest depth, chest width, chest girth, rump width, rump height, and cannon bone circumference. Within the ±500 kb region of significant SNPs, 183 genes were annotated. The most significantly enriched KEGG pathway was "olfactory transduction", and the most significantly enriched gene ontology (GO) terms were "cellular process", "cellular anatomical entity", and "molecular transducer activity". Interestingly, we found several SNPs on chromosomes 10 and 11 that have been identified multiple times for all eight body conformation traits located in two fragments (114 kb and 1.03 Mb). In chr.10:25988403-26102739, the six SNPs were tightly linked, the TACTAG genotype was the highest at 91.8%, and the FNTB (Farnesyltransferase, CAAX Box Beta) and CHURC1 (Churchill Domain Containing 1) genes were located. In chr.11:88216493-89250659, ten SNPs were identified with several dependent linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks, and seven related genes were annotated, but no significant SNP was located in them. Our results provide valuable biological information for improving growth performance with practical applications for genomic selection in goats.

Goat flock abortion: a retrospective study at Abergelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray, Ethiopia

BackgroundSmall ruminants are the principal component of livestock production in Tigray region, Ethiopia. But their productivity is affected by various factors. According to farmers and expert observation, goat abortion is among the leading causes of production losses in Tanqua-Abergelle district. However, study findings that examine the extent of distribution and economic impact of abortion cases in goats in the district are scarce. This retrospective study investigated the occurrence of abortion and its associated risk factors in three goat breed types at Abergelle Agricultural Research Center goat breeding site over a seven year period. The study included a total of does above one year old, and data were collected from a casebook that was specifically prepared for abortion cases. A thorough follow up was conducted to identify abortion cases. Additionally, a community survey was conducted in selected villages where the research center is located.ResultsThe overall abortion proportion was 29.8% in the goat farm. Begait goat breeds had the highest abortion proportion (50.9%, CI 0.36–0.64) in 2015/16. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified year, season, age and breed as major risk factors of abortion occurrence at flock level. Accordingly, the likelihood of goats experiencing abortion during the dry season (proportion = 34) was 1.87 times higher compared to those in the wet season (proportion = 22.8). Begait breeds had a higher incidence of abortion (proportion 37.5%, OR 4.87, CI 2.49–10.35) compared to other breeds. Age was negatively associated with abortion, suggesting that older goats (OR = 0.67) had a higher relative risk than younger goats (OR = 0.57). Moreover, the study noted a high incidence of abortion during the years 2014/15 to 2016/17 (proportion = 35.7–39.7). Within-breed analysis revealed that age and season were significant risk factors for Abergelle and Begait breeds, respectively by using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. A community survey indicated that 89.7% households responded their goats experienced abortion.ConclusionsThis study highlighted the high prevalence of goat abortion at Abergelle and identifies important risk factors associated with its occurrence. The findings can inform targeted interventions to reduce abortion rates and improve goat productivity in the district.

Haematological and Plasma Biochemical Parameters in Response to Natural Coccidian Infection in Barbari and Jamunapari Goat Breeds in Semi-arid Tropics

Background: Small ruminants like goats are considered the most resourceful and efficient animal all over the world. Eimeria species causes disease in goats associated with poor growth, diarrhoea and decrease in production, high morbidity and mortalities. The present study was conducted to analyse the haematological and biochemical parameters in response to natural coccidian infection in Barbari and Jamunapari goat breeds in semi-arid tropics. Methods: A total of 474 goats were examined; 96 goats were selected (48 Barbari and 48 Jamunapari) and divided on the basis of high (12 males and 12 females) and low (12 males and 12 females) oocyst per gram (OPG) counts of both Barbari and Jamunapari goats. The blood was aseptically collected from the jugular vein, using a 22-gauge needle for each animal separately in 5 ml blood for the haematological and biochemical estimations. Result: In haematological parameters of Barbari goats there were no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences in males and females. Although significantly higher values of RBC were observed in low OPG females, similar results were also observed in Hct, Mcv, Hb, MCH and MCHC. Whereas, in WBC, Lymphocyte, Monocyte and Granulocyte statistically had no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences among all the groups. In haematological parameters of Jamunapari goats no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences was seen in males and females of both the groups. The same group of Barbari goats were also selected for biochemical parameters and high OPG females had significantly (P less than 0.05) higher blood glucose values. The blood potassium concentration was found to be significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in low OPG males compared to high OPG males. The same group of Jamunapari goats were selected for biochemical parameters and ALT, total protein and globulin had significantly (P less than 0.05) higher values in high OPG females than others. A/G ratio had significantly (P less than 0.05) higher value observed in high OPG males.

Chemical, nutritional and sensory characteristics of milk and cheeses obtained from autochthonous, cosmopolitan, and crossbred goats

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the milk parameters and the chemical, nutritional, and sensory characteristics of cheeses made from the milk of three groups of goats: native Carpathian goat, Anglonubian and crossbred goats (Saanen × Alpine). For this study, milk was collected three times during the grazing season and was processed into rennet semi-hard cheeses according to a traditional recipe in a pre-farm cheese dairy. Samples of the milk were subjected to physicochemical analyses. The chemical composition, vitamin, macronutrient content, and fatty acid profile of the cheeses were determined. The cheeses were also subjected to organoleptic evaluation. The results showed that the factors studied, such as breed and month of milking, had a significant effect on the physicochemical properties and chemical composition of goat milk. The month of milking affected all the milk characteristics studied, with September having the highest values of acidity, dry matter, fat and protein content. The month did not affect the level of basic components in the cheeses, but it influenced the content of vitamins and macronutrients; the cheeses produced in September had significantly higher levels of Mg, K, and vitamin E. The month of milking had, as did the breed of goat, a significant effect on the profile of most fatty acids in the cheeses. As for the breed factor, it affected both the chemical composition and sensory value of the cheeses. Cheeses made from the milk of the native Carpathian goat had the best health-promoting properties: a more favourable fatty acid profile, the lowest PUFA-6/3 ratio, and the lowest atherogenic index. According to the panellists, cheese from the milk of Carpathian goats also had the most distinctive aroma, typical for goat cheese. The research shows that the cheeses made from the milk of the native Carpathian goat had the best health-promoting properties, which confirms the need for further popularisation of the breed and can be the basis for marketing more products.

Neurological complications following spinal anaesthesia in a goat

AbstractA 2‐year‐old, female, mixed breed goat presented for an abdominal hernia repair. After anaesthetic induction, spinal anaesthesia at the level of the lumbosacral junction was performed with preservative‐free morphine. After extubation, the patient developed neurological symptoms, which included extensor rigidity in the hindlimbs, twisting and bending at the thoracolumbar junction, and horizontal nystagmus. The patient also began vocalising and had hypersalivation. Three hours after the completion of anaesthesia, the patient was able to rise on its own. Two days after general anaesthesia, the patient collapsed unexpectedly. The postmortem examination revealed spinal haemorrhage and pulmonary thrombosis. Pulmonary thrombosis might have led to the death of the goat; however, a definitive conclusion was not reached regarding the cause of the pulmonary thrombosis and spinal haemorrhage. Veterinarians should be aware of possible complications with spinal anaesthesia, although rare; the evident cause for the neurological symptoms in this case remains unclear.

Increasing The Ability And Adoption Of Goat Breeding Technology In Mitra Sepakat Farmer Group Kabupaten Sijunjung

Goat rearing in Kenagarian Palaluar Kecamatan Koto VII Kabupaten Sijunjung is carried out extensively with field grass feed. This causes the potency of goat kacang is not optimal. There are no practical and health-qualified livestock cages, forage cultivation gardens, feed preservation, handling of sick livestock, or untapped livestock waste to reduce pollution. If the potential of kacang goat farming can be optimized, it can improve the economy of farmers. The purpose of this activity is to improve the ability of goat farming Mitra Sepakat farmer group through the adoption of technology and goat farming management. This activity began in 2020 starting with: the selection and cultivation of forage animal feed, demonstration plots of effective goat cages and selection breed goats; in 2021, feed management, fermentation feed manufacturing, concentrate manufacturing, reproduction management, and business analysis; in 2022, this was continued by the activity of making fermented feed, managing goat livestock waste into manure and evaluating the application of goat breeding science and technology that had been given. Based on the evaluation of the implementation of service activities that have been carried out from two years ago have been: a) changes in goat breeding patterns from (15 people) 100% extensive to 8 people (53) % intensive and intensive breeding patterns have been able to implement 100% transfer of Science and technology provided. The results of the evaluation conducted still found some problems faced by farmers such as the calf mortality rate being quite high, which became the plan for the next service for the next service activities.

Study Efisiensi Reproduksi Kambing Kacang dan Hasil Persilangannya Dengan Kambing Boer (Boerka) di Lombok

This research was carried out with the aim of determining the reproductive efficiency of Kacang goats and goats resulting from crosses with Boer goats (Boerka goats). This research was carried out in the area of ​​development of the Kacang goat and a cross between the Kacang goat and the Boer goat (Boerka) in Lombok with the aim of determining the level of reproductive efficiency of the Boerka goat and the Kacang goat in the people's breeding business. The variables observed include: An Estrus Post Partum, Open Days, service per conception, service period and kid interval, litter size and first mating after giving birth. Location determination was carried out using purposive sampling based on the breed of goats being kept. Livestock samples were taken randomly from 60 mother goats (30 Kacang mother goats and 30 Boerka mother goats). The observation data was tabulated using the Excel program and then analyzed using the t-test. Data analysis activities use Genstat software. Goat race/breed has no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the first estrus after giving birth, service conception and number of offspring per birth, but has a significant effect (P < 0.05) on service period, days open and calving interval (kid interval). The calving interval for the mother Kacang goat is longer, namely 253.00 ± 14.87 days (8.4 months) compared to the mother Boerka goat, namely 234.86 ± 07.09 days (7.8 months).

Hematological parameters of sheep and goats fed diets containing various amounts of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).

A major global barrier to increased animal output is nutrition. The use of aquatic plants, which were previously considered to be waste and needed a lot of labor to eliminate, has recently come to light due to the lack of feed during the dry season in the majority of tropical regions of Africa. The objectives of this study were therefore to see how different dietary Eichhornia crassipise inclusion rates affect the hematological indicators of Ethiopian Doyogena sheep and Woyto-Guji goats. Blood samples were taken from the jugular veins of 12 Doyogena sheep and 12 Woyto-Guji goats in a 2 × 4 randomized crossover design with two animal species, four diets, and four random periods (15 - day adaption period followed by a 7- day experimental diet in each period). The dietary inclusion rates E. crassipise were 0, 25, 50, and 75% that was used as a replacement for commercial concentrate mix diet in the treatment groups. The data was analyzed using the SAS software programme PROC GLM, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated between hematological markers. The hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC) results revealed substantial, RDW-SD, and WBC differences between animal species (P < 0.001). Sheep had greater WBC, Hb, RBC, PCV, RDW-SD, and RDW-CV levels, while goats had higher MCH and MCHC values (P < 0.001). For the analyzed hematological measures, the Pearson's correlation coefficient ranged from low to strong in terms of positive and negative associations (P < 0.05). Since all hematological indicators were closer to those of clinically healthy native Ethiopian sheep and goat breeds, feeding water hyacinth to sheep and goats up to a 75% inclusion level in diets without producing sickness may provide a remedy for adverse feed shortages.

Produktivitas Induk dalam Usaha Ternak Kambing Lakor pada Kondisi Pedesaan di Pulau Lakor Kabupaten Maluku Barat Daya

Parent Productivity in the Lakor Goat Farming Business in Rural Conditions on Lakor Island, Southwest Maluku Regency. This research was carried out in May-June 2023 in three villages, namely Letoda, Yamluli and Lolotwara villages. The method used was a survey of 30 Lakor goat breeder respondents who were determined using a simple random sampling method. The research results showed that the average weaning weight of the three sample villages, namely Yamluli Village, was 14.3kg, Lolotwara Village was 14.8kg and Letoda Village was 14.6kg; average body weight of goat kids aged 6-8 months from three sample villages, namely Yamluli Village 19.9kg, Lolotwara Village 24.3 kg and Letoda Village 23.6kg; types of forage in the form of banyan leaves, kusambi leaves and natural/field grass; the number of marriages/pregnancies from the three sample villages, namely Yamluli Village 1.5, Lolotwara Village 1.5, and Letoda Village 1.6 times, type of birth from the three sample villages was single 34.67%, twins 272% and triplets 48, 67%; litter size 3.79 tails, pre-weaning mortality 13.17%; The sex ratio of the three sample villages is Yamluli Village 2.1:2.2, Lolotwara Village 3.5-4 and 3.1:3.2 Tail Village and the lust cycle is 18-24 days. It was concluded that parent productivity in the Lakor goat farming business in rural conditions on Lakor Island, Southwest Maluku Regency is still good because even though the rearing of goats on Lakor Island is semi-intensive, the forage on Lakor Island really fulfills the livestock's needs, resulting in good productivity.

Studi Program Youth Entrepreneurship And Employment Support Services Pada Peternakan Kambing Di Kecamatan Gondang Kabupaten Tulungagung

Tulungagung Regency was chosen to implement the YESS program because the majority of its people rely on the agricultural sector as their main livelihood and raising livestock as a side business. Geographically, the location of the Tulungagung Regency area is also quite strategic with abundant natural resources, thus supporting it as a target for implementing the Program. This research was carried out for 1 month from March 10 2023 to April 15 2023. In this research primary data and secondary data were obtained. Primary data was obtained from interviews and observations of 7 breeders who received benefits from competitive grants from the YESS Program in 2022, goat breeders as key informants in Gondang District, Tulungagung Regency and Expert Informants who came from YESS Program implementers from the Tulungagung Agriculture Service and program facilitators. Secondary data was obtained from literature. From the research, the results showed that the YESS program was considered successful in improving livestock farmers' skills, facilitating market access, increasing access to financing and activating institutional policies and media for youth involvement in rural areas. The suggestion for this research is that it is necessary to carry out further analysis regarding the obstacles that occur in implementing the YESS program.

Collaborative Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity and Research on Sweet Acorn Oaks within Paths of Knowledge and Sustainability Education

Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of residents’ awareness of conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity was investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with the local population engaged in livestock activities and young residents who were shifting toward hospitality and tourism. The study area, covering over 800 km2 in Sardinia, is half forested and attracts interest in its landscape. During our research, genotypes of Quercus ilex L., with sweet acorns rich in polyphenols, as the oldest ecosystem services in these rural communities, were discovered. Collaborative monitoring focused attention on the benefits of plants in different habitats as follows: 53% were known to livestock farmers as food for local breeds of goats and pigs, 15% were official, and 13% were endemic. They had also been used for human nutrition within the Mediterranean diet and attracted interest for their use in landscapes and gardens. This study analyzes numerical data from critical and educational perspectives. These data serve as indicators of ecosystem health for the purpose of sustainable management policies and attest to collaborative monitoring as a tool for analyzing human activities and the necessary balance between profit and biodiversity conservation, given the current challenging climate change conditions.

Pengaruh Modal Sosial Terhadap Kinerja Peternak Kambing Di Desa Besowo, Kecamatan Kepung, Kabupaten Kediri

Social capital is an important factor for farmers because it can support the management of livestock businesses in Indonesia. Especially because Indonesian culture still relies heavily on group activities in society. Research on the influence of social capital on the performance of goat breeders in the Besowo Village area aims to describe the characteristics of social capital (Trust, Norm, Network, Reciprocity) by identifying the level of social capital of breeders in Besowo Village, Kepung subdistrict on the performance of the livestock. The research was carried out on 1-28 September 2023 using the Systematic Random Sampling method, namely determining the initial sample randomly using the Slovin formula to obtain 82 respondents in all hamlets in Besowo Village. The results of this research show that social capital has an important role in people's livestock by utilizing the existing social patterns of society.

A Metabolomics Approach to Establish the Relationship between the Techno-Functional Properties and Metabolome of Indian Goat Yoghurt.

Goat milk has poorer fermentation characteristics due to the absence or only traces of αs1-casein, due to which goat yoghurt contains a less dense gel structure. Moreover, the fermentation characteristics of the milk vary between the breeds of the same species. Therefore, it becomes imperative to explore a few metabolites which could regulate the techno-functional properties of goat yoghurt. This study was aimed at relating the metabolite profile of yoghurt prepared from milk of Barbari, an indigenous goat breed of India, and its techno-functional properties (firmness, whey syneresis, and flow behaviour) using multivariate data analysis and regression models. Goat yoghurt was prepared with two different total solids (TS) levels (12 and 16%) and cultures, namely, commercial culture comprising a thermophilic yoghurt culture (A) and NCDC-263 comprising a mixed yoghurt culture (B). Results demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in whey syneresis with the increase in the TS level. Flow behaviour of all yoghurt samples showed a decrease in viscosity with an increase in shear rate, which confirmed its non-Newtonian behaviour and shear thinning nature, whereas frequency sweep confirmed its viscoelastic nature. Firmness was the most affected under the influence of different TS and culture levels. It was higher (p < 0.05) for 16-A, followed by 16-3B, and minimum for 12-2B. GC-MS-based metabolomics of the yoghurt revealed a total of 102 metabolites, out of which 15 metabolites were differentially expressed (p < 0.05), including 2-hydroxyethyl palmitate, alpha-mannobiose, and myo-inositol. Multivariate data analysis revealed clear separation among groups using principal component analysis and several correlations using a correlation heat map. Further, regression analysis exhibited methylamine (0.669) and myo-inositol (0.947) with higher regression coefficients (R2 values) exceeding 0.6, thus demonstrating their significant influence on the techno-functional properties, mainly firmness, of the yogurt. In conclusion, A gas chromatography-based metabolomics approach could successfully establish a relationship between the metabolome and the techno-functional properties of the yoghurt.

Comprehensive whole-genome resequencing unveils genetic diversity and selective signatures of the Xiangdong black goat.

Xiangdong black goats, indigenous to Hunan Province, China, exhibit remarkable adaptation to challenging environments and possess distinct black coat coloration alongside exceptional meat quality attributes. Despite their significance, comprehensive genomic investigations of this breed have been notably lacking. This study involved a comprehensive examination of population structure, genomic diversity, and regions of selection in Xiangdong black goats utilizing whole-genome sequencing data from 20 samples of this breed and 139 published samples from six other Chinese goat breeds. Our genomic analysis revealed a total of 19,133,125 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Xiangdong black goat genome, primarily located in intergenic and intronic regions. Population structure analysis indicated that, compared with Jintang, Guizhou and Chengdu goats, Xiangdong black goats exhibit a reduced level of genetic differentiation but exhibit relatively greater divergence from Jining goats. An examination of genetic diversity within Xiangdong black goats revealed a moderate level of diversity, minimal inbreeding, and a substantial effective population size, which are more reflective of random mating patterns than other Chinese goat breeds. Additionally, we applied four distinct selective sweep methods, namely, the composite likelihood ratio (CLR), fixation index (F ST), θ π ratio and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), to identify genomic regions under positive selection and genes associated with fundamental biological processes. The most prominent candidate genes identified in this study are involved in crucial aspects of goat life, including reproduction (CCSER1, PDGFRB, IFT88, LRP1B, STAG1, and SDCCAG8), immunity (DOCK8, IL1R1, and IL7), lactation and milk production (SPP1, TLL1, and ERBB4), hair growth (CHRM2, SDC1, ITCH, and FGF12), and thermoregulation (PDE10A). In summary, our research contributes valuable insights into the genomic characteristics of the Xiangdong black goat, underscoring its importance and utility in future breeding programs and conservation initiatives within the field of animal breeding and genetics.

Comparison of the gene expression profile of testicular tissue before and after sexual maturity in Qianbei Ma goats

BackgroundWith long-term research on the reproductive ability of Qianbei Ma goat, we found that the puberty of the male goats comes at the age of 3 months and reaches sexual maturity at 4 months,the male goats are identified as physically mature at 9 months and able to mate. Compared with other kinds of breeds of goats, Qianbei Ma goat is featured with more faster growth and earlier sexual maturity.Therefore, in order to explore the laws of growth of Qianbei Ma goat before sexual maturity(3-month-old)and after sexual maturity (9-month-old). The testicular tissue was collected to explore their changes in morphology through HE staining, the serum was collected to detect the hormone content, and the mRNA expression profile of the testis was analyzed by transcriptomics. In this way, the effect of testicular development on the reproduction of Qianbei ma goats was further analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that the area and diameter of spermatogenic tubules were larger at 9 months than 3 months, and the number of spermatocytes, interstitial cells, spermatogonia and secondary spermatocytes in the lumen of the tubules showed a similar trend. The appearance of spermatozoa at age 3 months indicated that puberty had begun in Qianbei Ma goats. The Elasa test for testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and anti-Müllerian hormone showed that the levels of these hormones in the serum at age 9 months were all highly significantly different than those at age 3 months (P < 0.01). There were 490 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the (|log2(fold change)| > 1 and p value < 0.05) 3-month-old and 9-month-old groups, of which 233 genes were upregulated and 257 genes were downregulated (3 months of age was used as the control group and 9 months of age was used as the experimental group). According to the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of DEGs, PRSS58, ECM1, WFDC8 and LHCGR are involved in testicular development and androgen secretion, which contribute to the sexual maturation of Qianbei Ma goats.ConclusionsPotential biomarker genes and relevant pathways involved in the regulation of testicular development and spermatogenesis in Qianbei Ma goats were identified, providing a theoretical basis and data support for later studies on the influence of testicular development and spermatogenesis before and after sexual maturity in Qianbei Ma goats.

111 First Kiko Buck Performance Test in Mississippi

Abstract Kiko is a meat breed of goats originating from New Zealand, they are recognized for their hardiness and parasite resistance. There is a lack of information on economically important traits for this breed in the US, particularly in the Southeast. The Kiko buck performance test allows producers to make educated breeding decisions through impartial data. These tests have occurred in the United States for years; however, this is the first buck test performed on commercial farm grazing conditions in Mississippi (MS). A goat that performs well in a test in another state may not perform well in high temperatures, humidity, ground moisture, and availability of parasites in MS. The objective of the test was to collect data on the performance of weaned Kiko bucks grazing under commercial farm conditions in south MS from July to October of 2023 (IACUC-23-138). Forty-five farmers from 14 different states (KY, OK, FL, NC, MS, AL, IN, IL, GA, TN, AR, VA, MO, and WV) consigned 88 Kiko bucks. Every 2 wk measurements were taken on the goats including body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), FAMACHA, and fecal count of nematode eggs (FEC expressed as eggs per gram of feces – EPG), also at the start and end of the test loin eye area (LEA) was measured through ultrasound. Forage samples were collected for quality analysis, the average values starting the test were 13% CP and 47.4 TDN. Upon arrival, the bucks were dewormed using a combination of drugs, and after 2 wk of confinement went out with only grazing to start the 10 wk of test. During the test bucks were dewormed using the following parameters: &amp;gt;2,500 EPG and FAMACHA 4 or 5 or BCS &amp;lt; 1.5, any goat falling in these criteria was not considered for the final ranking. Bucks were separated into two groups: those born on or before February 8th, 2023 (group 1-G1, n = 44) and those born after (group 2-G2 n = 34). Ratios of the average daily gain (ADG), nematode FEC, and the ratio of LEA/BW were used in the final index. As all values are considered of equal economic importance, they all contributed the same to the final index. For G1 ADG, FEC, LEA/BW was 60 g/d (SD 20), 832.75 EPG (SD = 504.32), and 0.88 cm²/kg (SD = 0.20), respectively. For G2 ADG, FEC, and LEA/BW was 50 g/d (SD = 40), 907.86 EPG (SD = 492.61), and 0.81 cm²/kg (SD = 0.19), respectively. Bucks were ranked by highest index value in the group, for G1 the 1st place buck was from MS with ADG, FEC, LEA/BW of 90 g/d, 175 EPG, and 1.41 cm²/kg, respectively. For G2 the 1st place buck was from IN with ADG, FEC, and LEA/BW of 140 g/d, 116.67 EPG, and 1.00 cm²/kg, respectively.

Runs of Homozygosity Detection and Selection Signature Analysis for Local Goat Breeds in Yunnan, China.

Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) are continuous homozygous DNA segments in diploid genomes, which have been used to estimate the genetic diversity, inbreeding levels, and genes associated with specific traits in livestock. In this study, we analyzed the resequencing data from 10 local goat breeds in Yunnan province of China and five additional goat populations obtained from a public database. The ROH analysis revealed 21,029 ROH segments across the 15 populations, with an average length of 1.27 Mb, a pattern of ROH, and the assessment of the inbreeding coefficient indicating genetic diversity and varying levels of inbreeding. iHS (integrated haplotype score) was used to analyze high-frequency Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in ROH regions, specific genes related to economic traits such as coat color and weight variation. These candidate genes include OCA2 (OCA2 melanosomal transmembrane protein) and MLPH (melanophilin) associated with coat color, EPHA6 (EPH receptor A6) involved in litter size, CDKAL1 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1 like 1) and POMC (proopiomelanocortin) linked to weight variation and some putative genes associated with high-altitude adaptability and immune. This study uncovers genetic diversity and inbreeding levels within local goat breeds in Yunnan province, China. The identification of specific genes associated with economic traits and adaptability provides actionable insights for utilization and conservation efforts.

A comparison of genetic and genomic breeding values in Saanen and Alpine goats

Nowadays, several countries are developing or adopting genomic selection in the dairy goat sector. The most used method to estimate breeding values is Single-Step Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (ssGBLUP) which offers several advantages in terms of computational process and accuracy of the estimated breeding values (EBVs). Saanen and Alpine are the predominant dairy goat breeds in Italy, and both have similar breeding programs where EBVs for productive traits are currently calculated using BLUP. This work describes the implementation of genomic selection for these two breeds in Italy, aligning with the selection practices already carried out in the international landscape. The available dataset included 3 611 genotyped animals, 11 470 lactation records, five traits (milk, protein and fat yields, and fat and protein percentages), and three-generation pedigrees. EBVs were estimated using BLUP, GBLUP, and ssGBLUP both with single and multiple trait approaches. The methods were compared in terms of correlation between EBVs and genetic trends. Results were also validated with the linear regression method excluding part of the phenotypic data. In both breeds, EBVs and GEBVs were strongly correlated and the trend of each trait was similar comparing the three methods. The average increase in accuracy across traits and methods amounted to +13 and +10% from BLUP to ssGBLUP for Alpine and Saanen breeds, respectively. Results indicated higher prediction accuracy and correlation for GBLUP and ssGBLUP compared to BLUP, implying that the use of genotypes increases the accuracy of EBVs, particularly in the absence of phenotypic data. Therefore, ssGBLUP is likely to be the most effective method to enhance genetic gain in Italian Saanen and Alpine goats.