A physiological, rather than a superovulated, post-implantation environment can attenuate the compromising effect of assisted reproductive techniques on gene expression in developing mice embryos.

Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) may perturb the pre-/peri-conception microenvironments, which subsequently threaten the health of offspring. This study aimed to investigate the effects of superovulation, vitrification, in vitro culture, and embryo transfer on the expression of epigenetic modulators, imprinted genes, and pluripotency markers in expanded blastocysts and Day-9.5 (D9.5) concepti. Results revealed that 53.4% (8/15) and 86.7% (13/15) of genes in the fetus and placenta, respectively, have similar patterns of transcription in all D9.5 concepti, despite the perturbed mRNA expression observed at the blastocyst stage for each embryo-production technique. These observations indicate a counterbalancing of the abnormal expression pattern analyzed at the blastocyst stage during post-implantation development, particularly when the uterus of a naturally synchronized foster mother is employed. Superovulation resulted in the most abnormal expression patterns compared to other treatment groups, although these same blastocysts were able to develop in a synchronized uterus. Thus, superovulation creates a hormonal environment that negatively affected gene expression and impairs fetal growth more adversely during post-implantation development than other ART protocols, such as in vitro culture, vitrification, or embryo transfer-although each did contribute negatively to the implantation and development process. Together, these results may have implications for treating infertility in humans.

Effect of LEPR, ABCG2 and SCD1 gene polymorphisms on reproductive traits in the Iranian Holstein cattle.

During the last decades, genetic selection for milk production traits has led to increased fertility and health problems in dairy cattle. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of three polymorphisms located in the ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 transporter (ABCG2), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes on reproductive traits and somatic cell count (SCC). The analysis was conducted on 408 randomly selected cows. The SNPs within the genes (LEPR, ABCG2 and SCD1) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. All three possible genotypes were observed for SCD1-T878C and LEPR-T945M SNPs, but not for ABCG2-Y581S SNP. LEPR-T945M and ABCG2-Y581S SNPs had no statistically significant effect on the studied reproductive traits and SCC. However, SCD1-T878C SNP were negatively and significantly related to pregnancy length, dry days and open days (p < 0.05), which lead to decreased profitability in dairy herds. The results suggest that the T878C SNP of SCD1 might be useful as a DNA marker to decrease reproductive problems and improve production traits in Iranian Holstein dairy cows.

Responses to betaine and inorganic sulphur of sheep in growth performance and fibre growth.

Sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA) are essential and usually the first limiting amino acids for growth, milk and wool production. The keratin fibre that grows from epidermal tissue is rich in SAA. The rate of fibre growth and its S content are influenced by the availability of SAA. Betaine is a dietary source for a labile methyl group and actively participates in methionine metabolism by donating methyl groups for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Ruminants are capable of synthesizing SAA from inorganic S sources, and most bacteria in the rumen can use inorganic S to meet their requirements for growth. The objective of this study was to examine whether betaine and an inorganic sulphur supplement could provide methyl groups and sulphur amino acids in a way that growth performance and wool production of ewes and lambs are improved. Treatments performed included betaine supplementation, sulphate supplementation and betaine plus sulphate supplementation with five replications for each treatment. The dry matter intake of the ewes was affected by betaine plus sulphate supplementation (p < 0.05). In the ewes, betaine plus sulphate supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the wool growth rate, wool yield, staple length and wool sulphur concentration, while decreasing wool wax and wool yellowness (p < 0.05). In the lambs, wool growth rate, wool yield, fibre diameter, staple length, staple strength, wool sulphur concentration, wool wax and fibre percentage did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. In the ewes, plasma methionine concentration increased (p < 0.05) with betaine plus sulphate treatment. No corresponding difference (p > 0.05) was observed in plasma methionine concentration in the lambs. It can be concluded that betaine plus sulphate supplementation has the potential to change wool characteristics in the ewes, while these compounds were without any effect on growth and wool production of the lambs. Combining the two supplements was advantageous.

Replacement of corn in the diet of broiler chickens using foxtail millet produced by 2 different cultivation strategies.

Foxtail millet is well-suited to climatic conditions in semi-arid tropic regions where it is cultivated using both agro-ecologic and conventional cultivation practices. This study evaluated the nutritional value, digestibility, and physiological effects of agro-ecologic and conventionally cultivated foxtail millet in comparison with corn. Chemical and TME(n) analysis of foxtail millet cultivated conventionally and agro-ecologically indicated similar nutritional value. In total, 432 eight-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks, using a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, were randomly assigned to 4 replicate pens for each of 6 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets. Experimental diets were formulated by replacing corn with conventional or agro-ecologic millet at 3 levels (33, 66, or 100% of corn replacement). Body weight at 21 and 42 d of age was higher (P < 0.05) at 100% millet inclusion versus the lower inclusion levels. At 42 d of age, feed intake and feed conversion ratios were also improved (P < 0.05) at the 100% millet inclusion level. Similarly, the apparent ileal digestibility of CP increased (P < 0.05) for 100% millet diets. There were no differences in ileal digestibility of nutrients between millet growth conditions. Millet inclusion level significantly affected small intestinal morphology such that crypt depth was lowest (P < 0.05) in the 100% inclusion group for duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at 28 d of age, and for duodenum and ileum at 42 d of age. The villus crypt ratio was also highest (P < 0.05) in the 100% millet inclusion group for jejunum and ileum at 28 d of age, and duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at 42 d of age. Millet growth condition did not markedly affect small intestinal morphology. Serum antibody responses to Gumboro and Newcastle diseases were not affected by millet inclusion level or growth condition. In conclusion, foxtail millet could be considered as an alternate cereal for inclusion in the diet of broiler chickens. Broiler chicken performance and physiological responses to foxtail millet were similar whether grown conventionally or using agro-ecologic practices.

IGF-I gene polymorphism, but not its blood concentration, is associated with milk fat and protein in Holstein dairy cows.

We estimated the allele and genotype frequencies of IGF-I/SnaBI gene polymorphism and the concentration of this protein in Holstein dairy cows. We also examined the association with milk yield (305-day milk yield) and milk components (fat and protein percentage, and 305-day milk protein and fat yield). Blood IGF-I levels were measured and genotyping was performed on 250 Holstein cows of four different herds. In the association studies, traits of interest were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS; means of the IGF-I level among genotypes were compared by the LSMeans test. The AB and AA genotypes were the most (0.583-0.661) and least (0.083-0.192) frequent in the herds, respectively; the frequency of the BB genotype ranged from 0.201 to 0.333. The frequency of the A allele ranged from 0.375 to 0.495, while the frequency of the B allele ranged from 0.504 to 0.625, being the dominant allele. The mean level of IGF-I was 107 +/- 22 ng/mL for all groups, without any significant correlation with the production traits. Association of IGF-I/SnaBI genotypes with percentage of fat and protein in the milk was relatively high (P < 0.1 and P < 0.05, respectively); the AB genotype was superior to AA and BB genotypes. We concluded that this marker should be considered for milk component selection in Holstein dairy cattle.

Genetic parameters of early growth traits in Mehraban breed of sheep.

Genetic parameters were estimated for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT) and pre-weaning Average Daily Gain (ADG) using Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures. Six different animal models were fitted, differentiated by including or excluding maternal effects. The direct heritability estimates (h2) ranged from 0.26 to 0.53, 0.18 to 0.32 and 0.15 to 0.33 for BWT, WWT and ADG, respectively. The estimates were substantially higher when maternal effects, either genetic or environmental, were ignored from the model. The maternal heritability (m2) for BWT was the highest (0.25) when maternal genetic effect alone was fitted in the basic model. It was decreased to 0.14 when the maternal permanent environmental effect (c2) was employed.

A study on some physical attributes of Naeini sheep wool for textile industry.

In order to evaluate some physical and qualitative characteristics of Naeini sheep wool for using in textile industry, herds from 6 different regions of Isfahan province were chosen. Staple length from 3 different body parts (shoulder, side and britch) was measured prior to shearing. Wool samples were taken from a 100 cm2 surface on the mid-side of the Animals. Then the samples were transferred to the Laboratory of Animal Sciences for evaluations of some quality characteristics and to the Fiber Physics Laboratory for measuring tenacity, breaking strength and elongation at break of fibers. The means and standard deviations of staple length were estimated (10.8 +/- 2.36), (9.71 +/- 3.14) and (10.99 +/- 2.49) cm for shoulder, side and britch parts, respectively. The total average staple length of Naeini sheep (10.5 cm) is suitable for using in textile industry. Wool fibers of Naeini sheep have desirable tenacity and breaking strength (1.22 cN/dtex and 13.76 centi-Newton) to resist against mechanical tensions of the spinning step. However, Naeini sheep wool fibers have an adequate, but not a desirable % elongation at break (28.6%). Based on the fiber diameter mean of Naeini sheep and its variation (28.51 +/- 4.33 microm) the fleece grade of Naeini sheep was predicted 54's, which is an intermediate grade. However, by conducting breeding programs toward enhancing fleece grade, Naeini sheep wool will be simply applicable in textile industry.

Effect of age at first calving on some productive and longevity traits in Iranian Holsteins of the Isfahan province.

Production and pedigree data of Iranian Holsteins were collected from 1991 to the end of 2001 on 45 herds in Isfahan province. Data on culled cows (birth and culling dates) were used to estimate the effect of age at first calving on total lifetime and productive life; and the effect of age at first calving on first-lactation yields was estimated from corrected (2x 305 d) first-lactation records of 12,082 dairy heifers that calved between 1995 and 2001. The estimate of heritability of age at first calving obtained in this study was 0.086. This low heritability indicates the importance of using available information on relatives for selection on this trait. Age at first calving significantly affected all the traits investigated, including: milk yield, fat yield, fat percentage, lifetime, and productive life. Results indicated a positive effect of reducing age at first calving on milk yield and productive life, although reducing age at first calving to 21 mo of age had a negative effect on yields of milk and milk fat. Lifetime did not show a similar trend with age at first calving. However, a slight positive phenotypic correlation (0.052) was detected between age at first calving and lifetime. We conclude that due to negative effects of age at first calving on productive life and because of optimum age at first calving for milk yield was 24 mo in this study, the reduction of age at first calving to 24 mo of age could be an effective management practice.

Effects of dietary sorghum of different tannin concentrations and tallow supplementation on the performance of broiler chicks.

1. The chemical compositions and tannin contents of 17 varieties of grain sorghum were determined. 2. Commercial broiler chicks were fed from 7 to 49 d of age on 15 experimental diets which varied in their concentrations of tannins and animal fat (tallow), by the inclusion of different amounts of high and a low protein varieties of sorghum. 3. Substitution of a low tannin sorghum completely for maize did not have any significantly adverse effect on performance. Broiler chicks could tolerate up to 2.6 g tannin/kg above which their performance was reduced. Addition of tallow did not significantly affect broiler performance except at the highest tannin content and added fat intake, where weight gain and efficiency appeared to improve significantly.

Relationship of plasma calcium and phosphorus to the shell quality of laying hens receiving saline drinking water.

1. From 36 to 43 weeks of age 210 White Leghorn laying hens were used to study the relationship of plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations to egg-shell quality when saline drinking water was given. 2. Seven experimental treatments in which different amounts of sodium chloride were supplied by the food and/or the drinking water were compared. 3. Increasing salt intake through the drinking water or the food reduced shell thickness and shell calcium, and increased the numbers of damaged eggs. Sodium chloride given in the drinking water was more effective in reducing shell quality and increasing plasma calcium and phosphorus than sodium chloride given in the food.