Meat Breeds Research Articles

New highly productive plant type of pigs “Pridneprovsky” in the Belarusian meat breed

As a result of the research conducted, it was determined that the performance indicators of created plant type correspond to the indicators of the target standard. Performance of first litter gilts, as well as sows with two or more farrowings, amounted to 11.8 and 11.9 piglets of multiple pregnancy rate, 54.5–55.2 kg of milk yield, for the number of piglets and litter weight at weaning – 10 animals, 84.3–85.1 kg, respectively. Among the selected boars for reproduction according to a greater part of traits, animals of Zaslon line were the best, with indicators of the age of reaching a live weight of 100 kg and an average daily weight gain from birth to 100 kg of live weight made 170.5 days and 717 g, respectively. During the lifetime assessment of meat traits in young animals of the created type selected for self-repair, the back fat thickness values measured at two points of the back, as well as the height of the longest muscle and the lean meat content in body made 16.0, 18.7 and 44.2 mm and 52.0 %, for gilts, respectively, and 15.7, 17.2 and 45.3 mm and 53.2 % for boars, respectively. Calculation of the complex index of sows showed that in most animals its value made 100 points. Assessment of the genetic structure of animals of the new plant type in the Belarusian meat breed by genes RYR 1, ESR, H-FABP and IGF2 was carried out.

Ethological observations of reproductive qualities of Aberdeen-Angus and Grey Ukrainian breed in the conditions of forest-steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine

The results of researches in modern herds of meat breeds – classical British, Aberdeen-Angus and autochthonous gray Ukrainian for conducting of pollination in research farms “Polivanivka” of the Institute of Agriculture of Steppe Regions of NAAS of Ukraine and “Progress” of Chernihiv Institute of Agro-Industrial Production in 2009–2012. The ethological behavior of mothers (cows) and their calves was studied in the conditions of keeping and growing livestock on the technology of meat cattle breeding. Animals for conducting research were selected taking into account age, body weight of cows, sex calves, body weight of calves at birth. Collection of accounting materials was carried out according to the data of the primary technological and pedigree records, artificial insemination magazines, materials of ethological observations. Observations were conducted in accordance with the task of preserving genetic diversity in gene pool herds of Aberdeen-Angus and Gray Ukrainian breeds. The herds of animals in the experimental farms kept the meat keeping technology adopted by the farms. The feeding of breeding stock of animals of these breeds was carried out in accordance with established and accepted at experimental farms rations, which consisted of the presence and number of harvested at farms feed. Obtained materials indicate the plasticity and the ability to control the system reproduction reproductive population in modern economic conditions farms. Attention is paid not only to purely selective approaches, but also an attempt is made to substantiate the necessity of adapting breeding breeds to modern systems of economic relations. Knowledge of the ethology of Aberdin-Angus and gray Ukrainian breeds in the conditions of the forest-steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine will allow controlling the processes of reproduction of mother and repair animals in livestock breeding herds, as well as the conservation of genetic resources of aboriginal breeds.

Estimates of genetic parameters and heterosis for birth weight, one-month weight and litter size at birth in five goat breeds

Records of birth weight, one-month old weight and litter size at birth, from 19,887 kids were collected from 1979 to 2000 at the National Goat Centre of Tlahualilo, located in northern Mexico. Local goats of a non-defined breed were recurrently crossed with imported sires of Granadina, Nubian, Alpine, Saanen and Toggenburg breeds. After editing, the data comprised of 12,641 kids and a pedigree file of 14,762 animals. Estimates of (co)variance components, heritability and repeatability of the aforementioned traits were obtained using a mixed model that included the fixed effects of sex, litter size, age of the dam at kidding, season-year of kidding, breed group, level of upgrading of the dam and the interaction between the breed of dam and breed of sire, as well as direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environment random effects. The Granadina kids had the lowest birth and one-month weights. Estimates of direct heritability of the five breeds ranged from 0.202 to 0.510, 0.036 to 0.414 and 0.034 to 0.154 for birth weight, weight at one month of age and litter size, respectively, with several estimates for LS being non estimable. Maternal heritabilities ranged from 0.154 to 0.278 for birth weight and 0.023 to 0.378 for weight at one month of age. Only two estimates of maternal heritability were estimated for litter size and both were not significantly different from zero. Correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were all negative for birth weight and litter size. Genetic and maternal correlations among all traits, estimated in the overall multi-breed population, were not significantly different from zero. These estimates are generally within the range of values reported for other breeds. A negative heterosis was found for both weight traits in the case of Granadina sires. Our estimates for birth weight and litter size are higher than the values reported in other studies with meat breeds.

НЕКОТОРЫЕ БИОХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ КРОВИ И ИХ ВАРИАБЕЛЬНОСТЬ У ХРЯКОВ ПОЛТАВСКОЙ МЯСНОЙ ПОРОДЫ В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ГЕНОТИПА

The paper presents the materials of the authors ' own studies of the influence of the genotype on some biochemical parameters of the blood of purebred breeding boars of Poltava meat breed of the main herd. Animals of three breed groups were studied: 1) lines obtained by breeding clean 2) lines obtained by the method of bloodshed, using the Finnish Landrace 3) lines obtained by the method of bloodshed, using precocious meaty breed. All boars were in the same conditions of feeding and keeping. In the blood serum of pigs, biochemical parameters were determined by conventional methods: the amount of total protein, the number of albumins, globulins, protein coefficient, urea level, aminotransferase activity (ALT and AST), de Ritis coefficient. In boars of different genotypes, the leveling of the difference in biochemical parameters is noted. However, boars of lines with blood of precocious meat breed have higher biological opportunities to activity in the given climatic and technological conditions, i.e. are more perspective for further selection work. According to the results of the study, pigs of this genotype are characterized by a more stable metabolism, the state of humoral mechanisms of natural resistance of the body, and, consequently, they have the potential for higher productivity. The use of blood shedding of precocious meat breed, to create new lines leads to the solution of problems associated with the reduction of the viability of genetically highly productive animals, adverse effects of unilateral breeding on productivity, adverse technological factors. The obtained data of boars will help to establish the average populational of biochemical status of the breed in these conditions, to monitor and adjust the status of pigs depending on gender and genotype in modern industrial technologies.

Екстер’єр та інтенсивність росту помісних ярок F1, одержаних від схрещування маток цигайської породи з баранами м’ясних порід

Екстер’єр та інтенсивність росту помісних ярок F1, одержаних від схрещування маток цигайської породи з баранами м’ясних порід

Пермский классический университет и Пермский аграрно-технологический университет: опыт проведения совместных полевых учебных практик для студентов естественнонаучных факультетов

The main task of modern educational process in higher education is to maximize the theoretical learning on any discipline of the curriculum to its applied aspects. The most important condition for successful mastering of the basic educational program of higher education of any direction is the sequence of mastering by students all its parts—disciplines, practices and state final attestation. Educational practices for students of natural science faculties of higher educational institutions (in our case, students of the Faculty of Geography of PSU and students of the Faculty of Soil Science, Agrochemistry, Ecology and Commodity Studies of PSATU), whose educational activities are related to research of the natural and anthropogenic environment by various methods, occupy a special place. The main purpose of this type of practice is to acquire primary skills and to consolidate theoretical knowledge obtained in the course of theoretical training. Such practices, as a rule, are held on some educational and scientific bases, training and experimental farms, hospitals, where the reference natural and anthropogenic elements are present, and basic and modern data processing technologies are used. With the efforts of the teachers of the Perm State National Research University (PSU) and the Perm Agro-Technological University (PSATU), a joint field training project was implemented. The main goal of such initiative is to involve students from different areas of training in a full cycle of production activities of an enterprise working with spatial data, from the collection and analysis of primary spatial data to the issuance of a completed cartographic product. Within the framework of the practice, field and cameral work was planned and carried out at one of the largest agricultural enterprises of Perm Region, the main activity of which is cattle breeding, meat and dairy cattle breeding, and the cultivation of leguminous and cereal crops. The result of the work is presented in cartographic works—cartograms of soil fertility indicators. Keywords

Удосконалення технологічних елементів утримання новонароджених телят та корів-первісток у м’ясному скотарстві

In Ukraine a beef import portion increases to meet the needs of the population in meat products affects negatively the development of domestic livestock breeding. The force for development of domestic cattle farming is multiplying the number of specialized meat breeds, one of which is Aberdeen-Angus cattle stock breed. The effectiveness of the industry directly depends on the safety state of newborn calves since a calf is the main product in beef cattle breeding. The first 24 hours after the calf’s birth are the most important. Calves are born without natural immunity and acquire it only by consuming colostrum. Gaps in technological processes combining with hostile keeping conditions are the main factors of the calves’ mortality during the first days after the birth. Considering the importance of the safety of young stock, technology elements beef cattle improving and assessment of effectiveness of the joint calves-mothers keeping during colostrum period in individual sections is a serious issue. The studies were conducted on the basis of the state of emergency Agro-Novoselovka 2009. In order to conduct a domestic experiment in the period from 2016 to 2018, Aberdeen-Angus bred heifers and their calves were used (206 goals total), they were divided into three groups according to the years of the experiment. During the first year all the first-calf cows and newborn calves were kept in a joint pinfold. During the second and third years, if a cow revealed weak maternal instinct or a newborn calf – underdeveloped instincts, the cows and the litter were transferred to individual sections and were kept there until the calves began to suckle the bag. The study took into account such factors as first-calf cows’ age and live weight before and after calving. In different years these factors have not shown significant difference. In the first group the number of the challenging calves was 5 heads of the total number of newborns, in the second – 6 heads, and in the third one – 7 heads. The research has shown that usage of new keeping technology elements resulted into 83 and 78 percent of newborn calves’ safety, whereas in the first group with the classic keeping technology, this indicator was only at the mark of 25%. In conversion to the total number of calves the litter safety index in the first group was 87%, and in the second and third groups – 98%, which proves the effectiveness of using new keeping technology elements.

Pharmaceutical allergy pattern for antibacterial of some specified species of bacterial which diagnosed by vitek-2 technology isolated from the infection of the yolk sac in the meat breeders in Al-Diwaniyah

Pharmaceutical allergy pattern for antibacterial of some specified species of bacterial which diagnosed by vitek-2 technology isolated from the infection of the yolk sac in the meat breeders in Al-Diwaniyah

The effective use of Pietren breed at purebred and crossbred selection

The article highlights the problem of finding optimal variants of breeding process in a herd of pigs at purebred and crossbred selection. For this purpose, the control and two experimental groups were formed: ♀ Pietrain × ♂ Pietrain (control), ♀ (Pietrain × Large White) × ♂ Large White (first experimental group), ♀ (Pietrain × Durok) × ♂ Pitren (second experimental group). The analysis of the animals performance in these groups was carried out in 40, 30 and 35 parities, respectively. The research was conducted on the basis of PE «Maglevovany M.I.» in the Donetsk region. It has been established that the higher level of reproductive characteristics have sows of first experimental group, which have heredity of Large White breed, this breed is traditionally considered as a maternal form in cross-breeding schemes. For instance, their litter size at birth is higher than the same indicator in the control and second experimental group (plus 0,5, P<0,05, and 0,3 piglets, respectively); by the litter size at weaning at 28 days (plus 1,6, P<0,001, and 0,6 piglets); by the litter size at 2 months (plus 1,6, P<0,001, and 0,4 piglets). The highest piglet survival at the age of 2 months was in the litters, whose ancestor were boars of Pietrain breed (second experimental group) − plus 3,6 and 2,3 %, respectively, compered to purebred piglets of Pietrain breed and the first experimental group. For such complex indexes as the litter weight at weaning and litter weight at 2 months the first experimental group had an advantage of 18,1 kg (P<0,001) and 31,1 kg (P<0,001) over the control group (purebred Pietrain) and 5,4 kg and 7,6 kg − over the second experimental group. However, the average piglet weight of sows of second experimental group both at 28 days and at 2 months are equal to the average piglet weight of the same age of the first experimental group. The piglets, which are descendants of boars of meat breeds Duroc and Pietrain show a tendency to the faster growth even in an early age. The avarage live weight of pigs of the second experimental group at the age of 100 days and 7 months is higher compared to avarage live weight of pigs of the same age of the control and the first experimental groups – plus 8,5–21,7 kg (P<0,01 for the second experimental group) and 4,4–13,5 kg (P<0,001 for the second experimental group), respectively. At the age of 100 days, the maximum average daily gain was obtained in the second experimental group with an advantage of 190 g (P<0,001) compared to control group and 115 g (P<0,001) compared to the first experimental group. It is obvious that hybrids with the faster growth, which were obtained through crossbreeding ♀ (Pietrain × Duroc) × ♂ Pietrain reach a live weight of 100 kg in a shorter period: they need less time needed to reach 100 kg of live weight – 32 days less (P<0,001 ) compared to purebred animals of Pietrain breed (control group) and 18 days less (P<0,001) compared to hybrids ♀ (Pietrain × Large White) × ♂ Large White (the first control group). By such an indicator as the fat thickness the hybrids of the second experimental group dominate by purebred pigs of the same age of the control group (minus 0,2 mm), that characterize the low ability of meat breed for getting fat. The fat thickness of hybrids of the second experimental group was less by 0,9 mm (P<0,001) compared to the pigs of the first experimental group. Thus, in this herd in order to improve the reproductive qualities of sows, it is suggested to use the crossbreeding scheme ♀ (Pietrain × Large White) × ♂ Large White and to improve the fattening qualities of young animals the optimal is scheme of crossbreeding ♀ (Pietrain × Duroc) × ♂ Pietrain. Key words: pigs, Pietrain, Large White, Duroc, purebred and crossbred selection, reproductive and fattening qualities.

Influence of Progesterone-Treatment Length and eCG Administration on Appearance of Estrus Behavior, Ovulatory Success and Fertility in Sheep.

Simple SummaryThis study examines the pre-ovulatory and ovulatory events (in terms of the timing of the onset of estrous and subsequent ovulation) and the yields obtained (in terms of ovulation rate, progesterone secretion, and fertility) after insertion of Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) for five, six, seven, or fourteen days, with or without equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG).The present study characterizes, for sheep, the occurrence and timing of the onset of estrus behavior and ovulation and the yields obtained (ovulation rate, progesterone secretion, and fertility) after Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) insertion for five, six, seven, or fourteen days, with or without equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) in ewes of the Segureña meat breed. All the treatments showed above 80% of females displaying estrus, but the onset of estrus was earlier and more synchronized when using eCG and, among groups with eCG, onset of estrus was earlier in the sheep treated for 14 days than in the short-term treatments (p < 0.05 for all). Administration of eCG after either short- or long-term treatments assured the occurrence of fertile ovulations in all the animals. Conversely, ovulatory success without eCG was found to be dependent on treatment length, with a high percentage of animals ovulating after five days of treatment (83.3%) and very low percentages after treatment for six or seven days (40% and 20%, respectively). Ovulation rate and progesterone secretion were similar among animals ovulating, but ovulation failures predetermined the fertility yields obtained in response to the treatments. Hence, the best results were found after treatment for 14 days plus eCG, and for 5 days without eCG (83.3 for both, p < 0.05 when compared to the other groups with different treatment lengths and with or without eCG).

LETHAL INDICATORS A HEREFORD X BLACK AND MOTLEY BULLS DEPENDING ON GENOTYPES OF GENES OF A TIREOGLOBULIN (TG5) AND A MIOSTATIN (MSTN)

Objective: to study the lethal indicators a Hereford x black and motley bulls depending on genotypes of genes of a tireoglobulin (TG5) and a miostatin (MSTN).&#x0D; Methods: genetic, biological, and zootechnical.&#x0D; Exert impact on production efficiency of production of livestock production a set of factors, one of the most considerable is genetic the potential of the animals used in breeding work. The majority of economically significant indicators such as meat efficiency have the polygenic nature and can be defined by many genes, for example, miostatin (MSTN), tireoglobulin (TG). Marker selection as an additional method can become the powerful instrument of selection selection of animals. Thus, genetic progress in achievement of a definite purpose in herd accelerates several times in comparison with traditional methods of selection. For production of meat (beef) use animals of all breeds of cattle, however most more effectively use forages and animals of highly specialized meat breeds transform them to the most high-quality meat.&#x0D; Main results. As a result of research in the population bulls with MSTNBBTGTT genotypes all lethal indicators were higher in comparison with animals of genotypes of MSTNAATGCC. They surpassed animals with alternative genotypes in the mass of pair ink on 26,1 kg or 9,4% (Р &lt; 0,01), in an exit of ink – on 3,6 items (Р &lt; 0,05), in lethal weight – on 23,2 kg or 7,6% (Р &lt; 0,05), in a lethal exit – on 3 items (Р &lt; 0,05).&#x0D; Bulls with MSTNABTGCT genotype also surpassed animals with MSTNAATGCC genotypes: on the mass of pair ink – on 19,5 kg or 7% (Р &lt; 0,05), on an exit of ink - on 2,9 items (Р &lt; 0,05), on lethal weight – on 17,5 kg or 5,7% (Р &lt; 0,05), on a lethal exit – on 2,4 items (Р &lt; 0,05).&#x0D; On an exit of internal fat of difference between groups were insignificant and made 0,78–0,39 items (Р &lt; 0,05).&#x0D; The analysis of morphological structure of half carcasses of experimental animals showed that at slaughter in 16 monthly age hulks with higher exit of meat in comparison with peers of the first and second groups are received from bulls with a genotype of MSTNBBTGTT. So, in half carcasses of bulls with a genotype of genes of MSTNBBTGTT the content of meat was 12,7 kg more or 11,1% (Р &lt; 0,001), in half carcasses of animals with a genotype of genes of MSTNABTGCT – on 8,1 kg or 7,1% (Р &lt; 0,05), than at peers of the first group.&#x0D; Bulls with a genotype of genes of MSTNBBTGTT surpassed the peers with a genotype of genes of MSTNAATGCC and MSTNABTGCT for 9,8% and 4,8% in meet coefficient respectively.&#x0D; Conclusions. Studying of lethal indicators of experimental animals at 16 monthly age testifies to that, bull-calves with genotypes of MSTNBBTGTT exceed animals with MSTNAATGCC genotypes on the mass of pair ink, an exit of ink, a lethal exit to 26,1% (Р &lt; 0,01), 3,6 items (Р &lt; 0,05), 3 items (Р &lt; 0,05). Bull-calves with genotypes of MSTNABTGCT surpassed animals with MSTNAATGCC genotypes in the mass of pair ink for 7% (Р &lt; 0,05), in an exit of ink – on 2,9 items, in lethal weight - for 5,7% (Р &lt; 0,05), in a lethal exit – on 2,4 items (Р &lt; 0,05). On an exit of internal fat of difference between groups were insignificant and made 0,78–0,39% (Р &lt; 0,05).&#x0D; Studying of morphological structure of half carcasses of bulls showed that more meat hulks were received from animals with MSTNBBTGTT genotypes – in their half carcasses the content of pulp was more than 11,1% (Р &lt; 0,001), than peers with a genotype of genes have MSTNAATGCC.

Milk production and quality from ewes grazing a plantain-chicory mixture or a grass-based permanent sward

Fat lamb production systems in humid-temperate regions rely heavily on grass-based permanent swards with a seasonal growth pattern: scarce in winter, copious in spring and slow or nil growth in dry summers. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) are summer-active, tolerate water deficit and present a high nutritional quality. They start to grow in late winter (especially plantain) and can be grazed in mid-lactation by ewes suckling their lambs. This work compared milk production and quality of suckling ewes grazing a mixture of plantain-chicory (PCH) or a grass-based permanent sward (GBS) by early spring in two consecutive years. Nine Austral ewes (a local meat breed) in their 8th week post-partum were allocated to PCH and GBS treatments with three replications in two consecutive years. After a pre-experimental period, milk production was determined by the oxytocin method. Milk samples were obtained in the second year and analysed for fat, protein, total solids and urea. Pastures were sampled and analysed for nutritional composition. No effects of treatments were detected for milk production (average 1.43 L/d). PCH milk had lower total solids than GBS milk (19.57 vs. 21.80%, P < 0.01), lower fat (6.97 vs. 9.60%, P < 0.01) and lower urea (47.00 vs, 58.22 mg/100 g, P < 0.05), but protein concentration was higher for PCH than GBS milk (5.71 vs 5.18%, P < 0.05). In forage, total ash was higher (P < 0.05) in PCH than GBS (125.8 vs. 89.9 g/kg dry matter, DM), but lower in year 2016 than 2015 (97.9 vs. 117.7 g/kg DM, respectively). Differences (P < 0.05) were found between swards for NDF (PCH: 245.6; GBS: 394.1 g/kg DM) and years (2015: 372.3; 2016: 267.3 g/kg DM). Apparent DM intake was similar (P > 0.05) between years and swards, averaging 2.15 and 1.78 kg/d for PCH and GBS, respectively. It is concluded that plantain and chicory can be grazed by suckling ewes in mid-lactation without detrimental effects on their milk production or composition.

Моніторинг та оцінка м΄ясної худоби абердин-ангуської породи в Україні

Проаналізовано загальну чисельність племінного поголів΄я, продуктивність м΄ясної худоби абердин-ангуської породи в Україні за період з 2014 по 2017 рік, а також кількість основних племзаводів та племрепродукторів з її розведення. Це дасть змогу вести і корегувати подальшу цілеспрямовану селекційно-племінну роботу з удосконалення та створення вітчизняної ангуської породи.&#x0D; As a result of the research, the issue of the number of breeding cattle of imported Aberdeen-Angus meat breed in Ukraine was studied. The number of breeding plants and breeding products, which specialize in its breeding, has been determined to date. The total number of Aberdeen- Angus in Ukraine in 2017 was 6.520 heads, including cows. At the same time, the number of livestock in both the breeding plants and the breeding farms decreased during the period under review. So, if the Aberdin population had 7649 animals in 2014, then in 2017 it was 6520. Accordingly, the number of enterprises where the cattle of this breed was bred decreased. The largest number of livestock is concentrated in OOO «Buffalo» in Volyn’ region – 1350 heads, including 625 cows. It should also be noted the negative trend of a decrease in both livestock and households. For example, in Zhytomyr region, where in 2015 there were 251 heads of aberdines, at present it is not cultivated by it. For four years out of 20 farms that specialized in this breed, there are 17 in 11 regions of Ukraine. It should be noted that there are areas that do not cultivate Aberdeen-Angus at all, although there are conditions for this.&#x0D; The main indicator of the meat productivity of beef cattle is the living weight. As a result of the analysis it was established that the maximum live weight of full-fat cows is 620 kg, and the minimum weight is 475 kg. In most farms specialize in the breeding of large-type Aberdeen-Angus, and in the rest – small type of British origin.&#x0D; The yield of calves per 100 cows ranges from 65 to 100 %. Live weight of calves at birth on average in Ukraine: heifers – 26.5 kg, bull-calves – 29.4 kg. It again confirms the fecundity of the Aberdeen-Angus.&#x0D; The average daily gain on the suckling is on the average 841 g, after weaning – 887 g.&#x0D; In the economy of beef cattle breeding, the milk of cows is important, on which the calves live after weaning at 7–8 months of age. Milk of cows is low and is in the range of 165–208 kg, which affects the calves' live weight at weaning and it is also a disadvantage of the breed.&#x0D; Given its heterogeneity in origin (British and American), productive indicators and existing shortcomings, a program was developed to create a consolidated competitive Ukrainian Angus meat breed. The program provides for the breeding of a new breed as a result of purebred breeding using rigid selection and selection. Today, work is actively being carried out to create it in Agro-Novoselivka 2009 agrofirm in Kharkiv region. The native breed is created in conditions of resource-saving technology, which in the technological process does not provide for the use of premises, that is, close to the natural conditions.

Presence of causative mutations affecting prolificacy in the Noire du Velay and Mouton Vendéen sheep breeds

For many decades, prolificacy has been selected in meat sheep breeds as a polygenic trait but with limited genetic gain. However, the discovery of major genes affecting prolificacy has changed the way of selection for some ovine breeds implementing gene-assisted selection as in the French Lacaune and Grivette meat breeds, or in the Spanish Rasa Aragonesa breed. Based on statistical analysis of litter size parameters from 34 French meat sheep populations, we suspected the segregation of a mutation in a major gene affecting prolificacy in the Noire du Velay and in the Mouton Vendéen breeds exhibiting a very high variability of the litter size. After the genotyping of mutations known to be present in French sheep breeds, we discovered the segregation of the FecLL mutation at the B4GALNT2 locus and the FecXGr mutation at the BMP15 locus in Noire du Velay and Mouton Vendéen, respectively. The frequency of ewes carrying FecLL in the Noire du Velay population was estimated at 21.2% and the Mouton Vendéen ewes carrying FecXGr at 10.3%. The estimated mutated allele effect of FecLL and FecXGr on litter size at +0.4 and +0.3 lamb per lambing in Noire du Velay and Mouton Vendéen, respectively. Due to the fairly high frequency and the rather strong effect of the FecLL and FecXGr prolific alleles, specific management programmes including genotyping should be implemented for a breeding objective of prolificacy adapted to each of these breeds.

Expression patterns and genetic variation of the ovine skeletal muscle transcriptome of sheep from five Spanish meat breeds

The goal of the current study is to analyse the gene expression profile of the ovine skeletal muscle as well as to characterize the genetic variation of transcripts expressed in such tissue. This aim has been achieved by sequencing the longissimus dorsi transcriptomes of 50 sheep distributed in five pools representing the Canaria de Pelo, Roja Mallorquina, Gallega, Xisqueta and Ripollesa Spanish autochthonous breeds. Approximately, 363 million reads per pool have been produced and 71.9–82.9% have been successfully mapped to the ovine genome in a paired-end mode (2 × 75 bp). The 200 most expressed muscle transcripts (≈1% of the total transcript count) account for 51% (Canaria de Pelo) to 67% (Gallega) of the total ovine skeletal muscle mRNA expression. These highly expressed genes play key roles in pathways related with striated muscle contraction, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, citric acid cycle and respiratory electron transport. RNA-Sequencing of muscle transcripts has also revealed that ~72% of the SNPs detected with this approach are shared by at least two pools, and 10% of them segregate in the five pools under analysis. Most of the substitutions detected by RNA-Seq are synonymous or missense and only a minority are predicted to have consequences on protein function.

Использование быков мясных пород в скрещивании с бестужевскими и помесными коровами для повышения мясной продуктивности и улучшения качества говядины

Использование быков мясных пород в скрещивании с бестужевскими и помесными коровами для повышения мясной продуктивности и улучшения качества говядины

Results of Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus Genotyping by Alpha-S1-Casein, Kappa-Casein Loci, and DNA Fingerprinting

Genotyping of Kazakh camels Camelus dromedarius (milk breed) (n = 18) and Camelus bactrianus (meat breed) (n = 18) by alpha-S1-casein (αs1-CN) and kappa-casein (κ-CN) loci was conducted using the PCR–RFLP analysis method. A new pair of primers was suggested for the amplification of the CSN3 gene fragment with subsequent cleavage of the reaction products by AluI restriction endonuclease in order to identify the gene genetic variants. DNA polymorphism was detected only for the kappa-casein locus; no genetic polymorphism for alpha-S1-casein gene was found in the studied populations. Analysis of the results of DNA fingerprinting demonstrated that the band sharing (BS) coefficient between the groups was low enough (0.13), and the genetic distance (D) between Dromedary and Bactrian breeds was 0.305. The results of genotyping of Bactrian and Dromedary Kazakh camel breeds by alpha-S1-casein, kappa-casein loci, and DNA fingerprinting indicate that the Dromedary breed female camels are more polymorphic as compared with Bactrian.

Slaughter performance and meat quality of Milanino chickens reared according to a specific free-range program

The study aimed to characterize meat quality traits of Milanino chickens reared according to a specific free-range farming program. A total of 120 birds was reared straight-run in outdoor pens (8 m2/bird) from 35 d of life and fed ad libitum a low (16%) protein diet. At 180 d of age, 20 birds (10 birds/sex) were slaughtered, and carcass weight data were recorded. After processing, carcasses were refrigerated at 4°C for 24hours. Then, the right breast and thigh with skin were collected and color parameters, pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), and chemical composition were determined. The left breast and thigh were stored at -20°C until cooking loss and tenderness evaluation. Milanino was confirmed to be a heavy breed with a sexual dimorphism in relation to adult body weight. A high general carcass yield was recorded. Milanino meat was characterized by high protein and low fat contents compared with the standard broiler meat. Differences in meat composition were recorded according to the sex: females presented higher values of dry matter (breast and thigh), protein (breast), and fat (breast and thigh) contents. The meat with skin presented an intense luminosity, and this trait was higher in the females. The muscle color was characterized by high redness and yellowness indices with differences according to the sex: Higher yellowness index was observed in female carcasses, while higher redness index was detected in male breast samples. The pH muscle values were similar to those reported in other autochthonous breeds. WHC values did not show variation between sexes. In contrast, cooking loss values recorded in thigh samples were lower in males compared to females. The degree of tenderness of Milanino meat was not affected by the sex. However, the potential loss of water and the toughness in Milanino meat were low compared to other local chicken breed meat. The present results support the breeding of Milanino chickens for meat production according to its specific straight-run free-range system.

ANALYSIS OF POLYMORPHISM IN MUCIN 4 GENE ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMAL RESISTANCE TO COLIBACTERIOSIS IN PIGS OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SELECTIONS

Nowadays one of the most common and critical problem in pig breeding is colibacteriosis. This infectious disease has acute course and it is caused by enteropathogenic strains of bacteria Escherichia coli. One of the recent and effective approaches to prevent colibacteriosis is using markers of selection; it involves pig genotyping by genome loci. The chosen loci are associated with animal sensitivity to the disease and selection of animals with increased resistance by the results of genotyping. According to several researches, one of such loci is Mucin 4 (MUC4) gene. MUC4 gene is located in the13-th chromosome (SSC13q41). Mucins (MUC) are macromolecular glycoproteins synthesized by goblet enterocytes and play main role in protecting the intestinal epithelium from pathogens, including adhesive strains of Escherichia coli. As a result of spot replacement g.1849 G&gt;С in intron 7, structure of mucin protein encoded by gene is changing which leads to changes in the sensitivity of the intestinal mucosa to pathogenic Escherichia coli. G allele and respectively GG genotype determine the resistance of animals to colibacteriosis, while СС і GС genotypes are susceptible to this disease. In Ukraine, the studies of polymorphism MUC4 g.1849 G&gt; C were held fragmentally and only at certain populations of Ukrainian Meat and Large White. The aim of the work was to determine the genetic structure of pig breeds of domestic and foreign selection for MUC4 gene and to establish the possibility of organizing marker associated selection for genetic improvement of resistance to colibacteriosis. For research the samples of blood and hair were used from the animals of Large White of English selection, Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 1 and Type 3, Red White-Belt, Mirgorod, Poltava Meat and Landrace breeds. DNA isolation from the samples of biomaterial were carried out using ion exchange resin Chelex-100. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP by Jorgensen methods (2006) with own modifications, concerning the selection of primer annealing temperature and optimum concentration of the gel to separate the restriction fragments. Genetic structure was determined using DNA analysis of MUC4 locus at seven breeds and intrabreed types. Predominance of potentially beneficial G allele frequency over undesirable C allele was established in all the populations of the studied pigs. The highest frequencies of G allele were characterized for Mirgorod (0.795), Poltava Meat (0.740) and Red White-Belt (0.820) breeds. Analysis of the distribution of genotypes showed domination of genotypes GG and GC in all analysed populations. Positive Wright fixation index and predominance of expected heterozygosity (0.484) over actual one (0.460) for Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 3 indicate the existence of moderate inbreeding and selective pressure in this herd. Other populations were characterized by a negative value of fixation index, which is indicative of an excess of heterozygotes, these breeds are in outbreeding depression. Statically significant deviation of actual frequencies of genotypes from expected ones was identified using Hardy-Weinberg criterion for pig population of Large White of English selection and Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 1. This may indicate that these populations aren’t in condition of equilibrium and about inclusion of the chosen gene to the selection process. The valuation was performed by calculating the PIC (polymorphic information content) of the marker. Based on the calculated PIC index MUC4 locus could be perspective to be used in marker associated selection with improving genetic resistance to colibacteriosis. The data of Mucin 4 gene polymorphism at Ukrainian pig populations of different origins and productive direction show the possibility of marker selection to improve the genetic resistance of animals to colibacteriosis regardless of their belonging to breed. This creates prerequisites for the establishment and implementation of the early molecular diagnosis of carriers of harmful C allele in MUC4 gene in pig breeding.

Improvement of the method of preparation of ram-sires for the semen col-lection

The results of studies on the semen production of ram-sires of three European meat breeds, such as texel, oxford down and Vvalais blacknose in the process of preparing for a breeding season or taking semen on an artificial vagina for further use for deep freezing, are presented. During the preparatory period, from each group of rams, 120 ejaculates were obtained, 12 ejaculates in the first and second subperiods, 18 ejaculates in the third and fourth and 60 ejaculates in the fifth subperiod. Differences in the semen production performance of the breeders of the studied breeds were determined. At the end of the preparatory period, the volume of the ejaculate of the rams of the oxford down breed was greater than that of texel by 34.8%, of the valais blacknose sheeps – by 53.1%. When comparing the volume of the ejaculate of the rams of the breed of texel and valais blacknose sheeps, the latter was lower by 12.0%. The concentration of semen in the ejaculate was the highest in the Valais rams and amounted to 3.24 billion/ml, which is 3.9% higher than the oxford down rams, and 14.9% is the texel breed. According to the activity of fresh semen, the difference between the breeds was insignificant and ranged from 2.4 to 4.3%. However, the activity of the frozen-thawed semen varied from 6.4% to 14.0%, the highest among the breeders of the oxford down ‒ 3.65 points, the lowest ‒ 3.20 points in rams of the Valais Blacknose breeds. A slight 2.2 – 4.4% deviation between breeds was noted for the resistance of semen to cryopreservation. The smallest number of cryopreserved semen with acrosome damaged in oxford down breeders was found to be 39.14%, which is 3.5% less than that of texel sheep breed and 6.7% more than that of valais blacknose breed breeders. The conducted researches have experimentally confirmed that indicators of semen productivity of ram-sires are improved in accordance with the term of their preparation. Therefore, to train rams to give semen to artificial vagina before the beginning of the steaming season, or to obtain it for cryopreservation, followed by artificial insemination of sheep, is required after careful preparation of the rams for 50‒60 days, with the provision of optimal conditions of keeping and feeding. The main studied parameters of sperm production of ram-sires in the preparatory period, significantly higher values of volume of ejaculate, activity of fresh and preserved semen, their resistance to freezing and the preservation of acrosomes in the breeders of the oxford don was established. The lowest studied indices were found in rams of the valais blacknose breed. Texel breeders occupy an intermediate position for the indicated indices between the studied breeds.