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PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of breed and body weight on echocardiographic values in four breeds of dogs of differing somatotype.

Eighty normal dogs of four morphologically disparate breeds (Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Miniature Poodle, Afghan Hound, Golden Retriever) (twenty of each breed), were studied by echocardiography to determine the importance of breed and weight in establishing normal echocardiographic reference ranges. Echocardiographic measurements included left-ventricular chamber dimension at systole and end-diastole, right-ventricular chamber dimension at end-diastole, interventricular septal thickness at systole and end-diastole, left-ventricular free wall thickness at systole and end-diastole, E-point septal separation, aortic root dimension at end-diastole, left atrial dimension, and fractional shortening. Analyses of covariance indicated that for all measurements except right-ventricular chamber dimension, the means were significantly different among breeds, after the differences in weight were taken into account. Echocardiographic measurements are variable even within the same breed. Breed must be considered in establishing echocardiographic measurement reference ranges. Echocardiographic values for each breed are presented.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Genetic parameters of claw and foot disorders estimated with logistic models.

The primary aim of this study was to estimate heritabilities for different types of claw and foot disorders and the genetic relationship of disorders with milk yield and selected conformation traits by applying logistic models in Holstein dairy cattle. The study included data from 5634 Holstein cows kept on large-scale dairy farms in Eastern Germany. Dichotomous response variables were the presence or absence of the disorder in 2003. Cows that were present in herds for <6 wk in 2003 were excluded from the analysis. Incidences, disregarding repeated measurements, for digital dermatitis (DD), sole ulceration (SU), wall disorder (WD), and interdigital hyperplasia (IH) in rear legs were 13.2, 16.1, 9.6, and 6.3%, respectively. The herd effect was highly significant for all disorders. Incidences increased with increasing parities for SU and WD, but were highest among heifers for DD. High milk yield at the first 2 test d after calving was associated with a greater risk for claw and foot disorders in the same lactation. Estimates of heritability were 0.073 for DD, 0.086 for SU, 0.104 for WD, and 0.115 for IH. Genetically, health problems appear to occur in clusters (i.e., a cow showing one disease has an increased genetic risk of showing another claw disease). This phenomenon was also observed between claw and foot disorders and the somatic cell score. Genetic correlations between milk yield in early lactation and disorders were 0.240 for DD, 0.057 for SU, 0.270 for WD, and 0.336 for IH, indicating a physiological antagonism. Correlations between breeding values for claw and foot disorders of bulls and official breeding values for functional type traits were mostly favorable. Routine recording of claw data will offer a new chance to improve claw health within the population as was elaborated by different scenarios applying selection index procedures.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Genetic analysis of an artificial insemination progeny test program.

The success of the progeny test (PT) program from one Spanish artificial insemination (AI) organization was evaluated. The annual genetic trend for the organization was compared with PT programs from other countries. The relationships among parents' estimated breeding values (EBV) and PT results for sons were also studied. Estimated breeding values for type and production traits were obtained from international genetic evaluations from February 2004. The annual genetic gain of the Spanish PT program was similar to that of other international programs. The Spanish AI organization graduated 13% of its sampled bulls, and 52% of primiparous cows were daughters of Spanish bulls (32% from proven bulls and 20% from sampling bulls). Correlations between EBV for PT bulls and their pedigree indices (0.52 to 0.70) were slightly lower than correlations between EBV for PT bulls and their parent averages (0.63 to 0.73). Both young and mature cows contributed to genetic progress. Success of PT bulls (defined by number of second-crop daughters) depended mainly on their EBV for final score, protein yield, and the type-production index. Significant correlations of sire EBV were found for final score and type-production index with the number of second-crop daughters (0.22 and 0.17). Likewise, significant correlations of dam EBV for final score and type-production index with the number of second crop daughters were found (0.25 and 0.18). Final score and protein yield were the main factors in success of a PT bull. The type-production index for PT bulls was not important for success unless it was 2.5 standard deviations above average. The PT bulls with low EBV for type-production index were used as proven bulls when they had higher EBV either for protein or final score.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Application of a multiple-trait herd cluster model for genetic evaluation of dairy sires from seventeen countries.

The multiple-trait across country evaluation method is currently used for international genetic evaluation of dairy sires. This method simultaneously combines national estimated breeding value (EBV) of sires in all countries and produces a separate breeding value to be used in each of the 24 countries that participate in the service. The major drawbacks to this method are the large number of genetic parameters that must be estimated and the large number of EBV produced for each sire. In the current method, each sire receives an EBV for each separate environment, and environments change at the country borders. It is unreasonable to assume that each country contains only one homogeneous environment and that every country has a distinctly different environment from all others. In the present study, an alternative method for international sire evaluation was utilized. Herds were grouped according to important management, climatic, and genetic factors rather than country borders. Data consisted of 16,403,413 first lactation cows in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. Herds were grouped according to 13 descriptive herd variables, including temperature, rainfall, peak yield, persistency, herd-size, age at calving, seasonality of calving, standard deviation of milk yield, culling percentage, fat-to-protein ratio, days to peak yield, percent of North American Holstein genes, and average PTA milk of sires. Variables were weighted by their relative importance in explaining genotype by environment interactions between herds. Herds were grouped into seven clusters; clusters ranged in size from 4805 to 59,272 herds and 1,414,966 to 3,966,431 cows. The proposed model predicts EBV for dairy sires based on the production environment in which their progeny wili perform, rather than the country where they will be located.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Should genetic groups be fitted in BLUP evaluation? Practical answer for the French AI beef sire evaluation.

Some analytical and simulated criteria were used to determine whether a priori genetic differences among groups, which are not accounted for by the relationship matrix, ought to be fitted in models for genetic evaluation, depending on the data structure and the accuracy of the evaluation. These criteria were the mean square error of some extreme contrasts between animals, the true genetic superiority of animals selected across groups, i.e. the selection response, and the magnitude of selection bias (difference between true and predicted selection responses). The different statistical models studied considered either fixed or random genetic groups (based on six different years of birth) versus ignoring the genetic group effects in a sire model. Including fixed genetic groups led to an overestimation of selection response under BLUP selection across groups despite the unbiasedness of the estimation, i.e. despite the correct estimation of differences between genetic groups. This overestimation was extremely important in numerical applications which considered two kinds of within-station progeny test designs for French purebred beef cattle AI sire evaluation across years: the reference sire design and the repeater sire design. When assuming a priori genetic differences due to the existence of a genetic trend of around 20% of genetic standard deviation for a trait with h2=0.4, in a repeater sire design, the overestimation of the genetic superiority of bulls selected across groups varied from about 10% for an across-year selection rate p=1/6 and an accurate selection index (100 progeny records per sire) to 75% for p=1/2 and a less accurate selection index (20 progeny records per sire). This overestimation decreased when the genetic trend, the heritability of the trait, the accuracy of the evaluation or the connectedness of the design increased. Whatever the data design, a model of genetic evaluation without groups was preferred to a model with genetic groups when the genetic trend was in the range of likely values in cattle breeding programs (0 to 20% of genetic standard deviation). In such a case, including random groups was pointless and including fixed groups led to a large overestimation of selection response, smaller true selection response across groups and larger variance of estimation of the differences between groups. Although the genetic trend was correctly predicted by a model fitting fixed genetic groups, important errors in predicting individual breeding values led to incorrect ranking of animals across groups and, consequently, led to lower selection response.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Factors affecting hip dysplasia in German shepherd dogs in Finland: efficacy of the current improvement programme.

Hip dysplasia records from 10,335 German shepherd dogs were used to estimate environmental effects and predict breeding values and genetic change achieved with the Finnish Kennel Club's breeding programme. The best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) procedure was used for the analysis. No clear genetic improvement could be found during the study period (1985 to 1997). This might be due to ineffective selection for good hips. Significant environmental effects included year and month of birth, panellist, screening age and the effect of the genetic group of offspring from imported versus non-imported sires. In order to make the breeding programme more effective, BLUP breeding values should be used instead of phenotypic selection.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed2005

Joint international evaluation of Milking Shorthorn dairy cattle for production traits.

Pedigree information and test-day records for the first 3 parities of Milking Shorthorn dairy cattle from 5 countries were analyzed. After editing, the data included 1,018,528 test-day records from 68,653 cows. A multiple-lactation random regression test-day model with Legendre polynomials of order 4 and a Bayesian method were used to estimate variance components for both single and multiple-countries. Fixed effects included herd-test-day class and regressions on DIM within age at calving-parity-season of calving. Random effects included animal genetic, permanent environmental, and residual effects. Average daily heritabilities from single country analyses ranged from 0.33 to 0.47 for milk yield and from 0.37 to 0.45 for protein yield across lactations and countries. Common sires (66) and their daughters were identified for creating a connected data set for simultaneous (co)variance component estimation of milk yield across all 5 countries. Between-country genetic correlations were low, with values from 0.08 to 0.46 and standard deviations from 0.08 to 0.12. Estimated breeding values for milk were generated for each animal using the same test-day animal model. Correlations among country estimated breeding values were higher than genetic correlations. Top 100 bull lists were generated on the scale of each country, and genetic progress was assessed. Future evaluation with increased genetic ties among countries may facilitate international comparison of Milking Shorthorns.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2024

Genomic prediction and genome-wide association studies of morphological traits and distraction index in Korean Sapsaree dogs.

The Korean Sapsaree dog is a native breed known for its distinctive appearance and historical significance in Korean culture. The accurate estimation of breeding values is essential for the genetic improvement and conservation of such indigenous breeds. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of breeding values for body height, body length, chest width, hair length, and distraction index (DI) traits in Korean Sapsaree dogs. Additionally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify the genomic regions and nearby candidate genes influencing these traits. Phenotypic data were collected from 378 Korean Sapsaree dogs, and of these, 234 individuals were genotyped using the 170k Illumina CanineHD BeadChip. The accuracy of genomic predictions was evaluated using the traditional BLUP method with phenotypes only on genotyped animals (PBLUP-G), another traditional BLUP method using a pedigree-based relationship matrix (PBLUP) for all individuals, a GBLUP method based on a genomic relationship matrix, and a single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) method. Heritability estimates for body height, body length, chest width, hair length, and DI were 0.45, 0.39, 0.32, 0.55, and 0.50, respectively. Accuracy values varied across methods, with ranges of 0.22 to 0.31 for PBLUP-G, 0.30 to 0.57 for PBLUP, 0.31 to 0.54 for GBLUP, and 0.39 to 0.67 for ssGBLUP. Through GWAS, 194 genome-wide significant SNPs associated with studied Sapsaree traits were identified. The selection of the most promising candidate genes was based on gene ontology (GO) terms and functions previously identified to influence traits. Notable genes included CCKAR and DCAF16 for body height, PDZRN3 and CNTN1 for body length, TRIM63, KDELR2, and SUPT3H for chest width, RSPO2, EIF3E, PKHD1L1, TRPS1, and EXT1 for hair length, and DDHD1, BMP4, SEMA3C, and FOXP1 for the DI. These findings suggest that significant QTL, combined with functional candidate genes, can be leveraged to improve the genetic quality of the Sapsaree population. This study provides a foundation for more effective breeding strategies aimed at preserving and enhancing the unique traits of this Korean dog breed.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Principal components and factorial approaches for estimating genetic correlations in international sire evaluation.

The increasing number of participating countries and the lack of genetic links among some of them lead to statistical and computational difficulties in estimating the genetic (co)variance matrix needed for international sire evaluation of milk yield. Reparameterization using principal components or factorial approaches is proposed to exploit patterns in the genetic correlation matrix in order to reduce the number of parameters to be estimated without much loss of information. A 2-step approach was used. First, the genetic matrix between 8 or 9 "base" countries was used to determine a reduced number of principal components or factors. Then, the contributions of the remaining countries to these principal components or factors were computed. The resulting genetic correlations for the 18 countries were compared with the "reference" genetic correlations obtained with a classical model. The impact of using reparameterized genetic correlation matrices on breeding value prediction was investigated for both approaches. A better agreement between predicted breeding values and stability of their rankings was found when an approximate factor analysis was used, whatever the number of factors considered. The estimation of genetic correlations among 18 countries using an approximate factorial approach with 5 factors taken into account led to a reduction of the number of parameters to estimate from 171 to 80. The average absolute deviation of the correlations estimated with an approximate factorial approach from the "reference" genetic correlations was 0.014, which is considered very satisfactory in light of the computational ease.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

Synthesis of direct and maternal genetic components of economically important traits from beef breed-cross evaluations.

Published information on relative performance of beef breed crosses was used to derive combined estimates of purebred breed values for predominant temperate beef breeds. The sources of information were largely from the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, although some European estimates were also included. Emphasis was on maternal traits of potential economic importance to the suckler beef production system, but some postweaning traits were also considered. The estimates were taken from comparison studies undertaken in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, each with representative samples of beef breeds used in temperate agriculture. Weighting factors for breed-cross estimates were derived using the number of sires and offspring that contributed to that estimate. These weights were then used in a weighted multiple regression analysis to obtain single purebred breed effects. Both direct additive and maternal additive genetic effects were estimated for preweaning traits. Important genetic differences between the breeds were shown for many of the traits. Significant regression coefficients were estimated for the effect of mature weight on calving ease, both maternal and direct additive genetic, survival to weaning direct, and birth weight direct. The breeds with greater mature weight were found to have greater maternal genetic effects for calving ease but negative direct genetic effects on calving ease. A negative effect of mature weight on the direct genetic effect of survival to weaning was observed. A cluster analysis was done using 17 breeds for which information existed on nine maternal traits. Regression was used to predict breed-cross-specific heterosis using genetic distance. Only five traits, birth weight, survival to weaning, cow fertility, and preweaning and postweaning growth rate had enough breed-cross-specific heterosis estimates to develop a prediction model. The breed biological values estimated provide a basis to predict the biological value of crossbred suckler cows and their offspring.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Selection and mating considering expected inbreeding of future progeny.

Animals most related or least related to current members of their breed were revealed by calculating the expected inbreeding of their future progeny. A sample of potential mates was chosen by randomly selecting 600 females from a recent birth year (1995). Relationships among the sample were computed by the tabular method. Relationships of other animals to the sample population were computed quickly from the relationships of their parents or ancestors. To-Mar Blackstar-ET and Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation were most related to the Holstein breed with expected inbreeding of 7.9 and 7.7%, respectively. Corresponding Jersey bulls were Highland Magic Duncan and Soldierboy Boomer Sooner of CJF with expected inbreeding of 10.9 and 9.5%, respectively. The highest expected inbreeding was 11.1% for Selwood Bettys Commander, 8.6% for Forest Lawn Simon Jetway, 10.1% for Dutch Mill Telestars Fayette, and 7.4% for Korncrest Pacesetter for Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, and Milking Shorthorn breeds, respectively. Regression on inbreeding in the genetic evaluation model removed effects of past inbreeding. Future inbreeding effects could be included for each potential mating or by adjusting breeding values for average inbreeding expected with random mating. The correlation between Holstein breeding values unadjusted and adjusted for inbreeding was 0.9976. The estimated genetic trend was 6% lower with future inbreeding included.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Efficiency of different selection criteria for persistency and lactation milk yield.

A conversion formula was developed to convert the genetic covariance matrices of daily yields and of random regression coefficients between 305-d and 335-d production periods under a random regression test day model. Five selection criteria were compared in terms of genetic improvement in persistency and lactation milk: 1) lactation estimated breeding value (EBVL), 2) P6 = 279Sigma(i=65) (D280 - Di), 3) ratio of daily estimated breeding value (EBV)(r280/65 = D280/D65), 4) ratio of partial lactation EBV (P280/65 = D66 approximately 28/D5 approximately 65), and 5) differential daily EBV (d65-280 = D65 - D280), where Di refers to EBV at days in milk (DIM) i. Fundamental differences among these 5 selection criteria were interpreted conceptually with a graph. Persistency, defined as k = (delta G65 - delta G280)/215, was the average daily rate of decline in selection gain from DIM 65 to 280, which is free from the effect of lactation milk on the rate of decline. Parameter k provides an objective measure of persistency, which increases when k < 0 and decreases when k > 0. Of the 5 selection criteria compared, d65-280 and P6 achieved greater persistency at the expense of genetic gain in lactation milk, whereas selection based on EBVL achieved the highest response in lactation milk, but was coupled with greatest decline in persistency. Selection on P280/65 or r280/65 improved both lactation milk and persistency and, thus, is recommended for simultaneous improvement of these 2 economically important traits. Further study of the relative economic values of persistency and lactation milk in order to combine both traits into an index for selection decision is warranted.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

The genetic relationship between calving interval, body condition score and linear type and management traits in registered Holsteins.

The trend to poorer fertility in dairy cattle with rising genetic merit for production over the last decade suggests that breeding goals need to be broadened to include fertility. This requires reliable estimates of genetic (co)variances for fertility and other traits of economic importance. In the United Kingdom at present, reliable information on calving dates and hence calving intervals are available for most dairy cows. Data in this study consisted of 44,672 records from first lactation heifers on condition score, linear type score, and management traits in addition to 19,042 calving interval records. Animal model REML was used to estimate (co)variance components. Genetic correlations of body condition score (BCS) and angularity with calving interval were -0.40 and 0.47, respectively, thus cows that are thinner and more angular have longer calving intervals. Genetic correlations between calving interval and milk, fat, and protein yields were between 0.56 and 0.61. Records of phenotypic calving interval were regressed on sire breeding values for BCS estimated from records taken at different months of lactation and breeding values for BCS change. Genetic correlations inferred from these regressions showed that BCS recorded 1 mo after calving had the largest genetic correlation with calving interval in first lactation cows. It may be possible to combine information on calving interval, BCS, and angularity into an index to predict genetic merit for fertility.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1998

Associations between individual cow factors and milk-protein production.

Associations between stage of lactation, cow characteristics, and protein production were evaluated using data from a 2-year period on 75 Ontario, 5 Alberta, and 3 Nova Scotia dairy farms. Individual-cow protein production was defined by 305-day protein yield and by the estimated breeding value for protein yield. Lactation curves for average daily protein yield were computed by parity, breed, and season of calving. Mean protein yield was highest in early lactation. However, there was no pronounced peak in daily protein yield. Parity was positively associated with 305-day protein yield and negatively associated with the estimated breeding values for protein yield. First-calf heifers had lower protein yields in early lactation and a slower rate of decline in protein yield in late lactation, as compared to later parity cows. Holstein cows had higher unadjusted protein yields and lower protein yields after adjusting for milk yield than other breeds. Holstein cows had significantly higher protein yields early in lactation compared to other breeds, but the rate of decline in protein production in late lactation was also greater. Season was associated with 305-day protein yield; the highest protein yields occurred in cows calving in the fall and winter months, but these cows had the greatest rate of decline in protein production in late lactation.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Short communication: quantitative trait loci affecting the somatic cell score on chromosomes 4 and 26 in Italian Holstein cattle.

This work aimed to confirm previously reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the somatic cell score (SCS) in dairy cattle on Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) 4 and 26. A granddaughter design with selective genotyping was implemented that included half-sib families from 12 male lines of Italian Holstein cattle. The animals were genotyped for 5 microsatellite markers each on regions of BTA 4 (average marker spacing 9.42 cM) and BTA 26 (average marker spacing 5.26 cM), previously reported by other authors as carrying QTL for somatic cell count. Quantitative trait loci analyses were performed using interval mapping by regressing sire breeding values for SCS onto genotype probabilities at 1-cM intervals along the 2 chromosome regions. Breeding values for SCS were estimated for the whole population using a test-day repeatability animal model. Results were not significant on a chromosome basis, but a possible QTL was found at BM4505 on BTA 26, confirming this region for further studies of QTL affecting SCS in the Italian Holstein population.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Multivariate analysis of litter size for multiple parities with production traits in pigs: II. Response to selection for litter size and correlated response to production traits.

Litter size and production trait responses to experimental selection for increased litter size in a Landrace pig population are reported. The numbers of sows and litters available for the first cycle of selection were 3,034 and 961, respectively. Selection was carried out using a BLUP repeatability animal model for number of piglets born alive (NBA). The experiment included one selection and one control line, each with three nonoverlapping generations. The selection line (H) consisted of the 160 sows with the highest breeding values and one boar from each of 25 full-sib families with the highest breeding values. The control line (C) consisted of 160 sows and 25 boars randomly chosen. The two subsequent generations in each line were obtained by random selection. A Bayesian analysis of genetic response using a multivariate model was carried out by Gibbs sampler. Marginal posterior distributions were obtained for direct response in NBA, and for correlated response in weight (WT), and backfat thickness (BT) at 175 d of age. The posterior means and posterior standard deviation (PSD) for direct genetic response of NBA ranged from 0.32 (PSD 0.08) in the first parity to 0.64 (PSD 0.08) in the fourth. The posterior means for correlated genetic response in WT and BT were -0.66 kg (PSD 0.36) and 0.20 mm (PSD 0.10), respectively. For WT and BT, the 95% highest posterior density regions (HPD) contain zero-correlated genetic response. Marginal posterior distributions of selection differentials were investigated. The posterior means for standardized selection differentials for NBA in different parities ranged from 0.70 (PSD 0.12) to 0.94 (PSD 0.06) in females for line H, from 0.22 (PSD 0.19) to 0.34 (PSD 0.10) in males for line H, and from 0.08 (PSD 0.08) to 0.13 (PSD 0.07) in females for line C. All available males were used in line C. Results from this experiment showed that selection for increased litter size is effective. Responses to selection were heterogeneous across parities, suggesting that litter size in each parity may have a different genetic background. No correlated genetic response to growth and backfat thickness was observed.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1987

Genetic relationships and additive genetic variation of productive and reproductive traits in Guernsey dairy cattle.

Data were first lactation production and reproduction records initiated from 1958 to 1981 in two experiment station Guernsey herds. Heritability estimates using paternal half sib groups were .24 +/- .12 for milk yield, .27 +/- .12 for fat yield, and .77 +/- .15 for fat percentage. Heritability estimates for reproductive traits ranged from .01 to .04 for number of services, service period, conception rate, and days open, but were higher for days in milk at first breeding (.12) and age at first calving (.13). Except for age at first calving, coefficients of additive genetic variation were larger for reproductive traits than for productive traits. Genetic correlations between measures of production and reproduction were moderate to large and antagonistic, except that the relationship between production and age at first calving was favorable. Breeding value estimates for milk yield and reproduction were negatively correlated for sires with above average breeding values for milk yield. Huge phenotypic variances for reproductive traits masked substantial additive genetic variation for these traits. When all things are considered it seems unwise to ignore reproductive performance in selection programs for dairy cattle.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Statistical analysis of some factors affecting the number of horse births in France.

Declarations of matings (535,746) and 308,549 consecutive declarations of birth from 1989 to 1999 were analysed by logistic regression in order to determine the effects of year, breed and age of parents on numerical productivity (the number of foals declared per mated mare per year). For the years 1994 to 1999, the status of the mare, type of mating and month of first mating, were also available. The effect of inbreeding and, for warm-blooded horses, the effect of the level of performances or the effect of the level of breeding value estimation were also analysed. The main results are the following: numerical productivity progressed in France more for draught breeds than for saddle breeds and trotters. Thoroughbreds progressed less and just reached the level of significance. Cold-blooded horses, however, appeared less productive than warm-blooded horses for which thoroughbreds were at the lower level. It cannot be concluded if this figure reveals biological differences in fertility or if it is only the result of differences in managing the official declarations. For warm-blooded horses, the absence of negative relationships between the trends of selection and numerical productivity results appeared clearly. A high performance level for the mare was positively associated with higher productivity results in sport and trotting horses and showed no significant influence for galloping horses. The relationships with breeding value estimation illustrated the same trends.

Age Factors↗