Perspectives of gene editing for cattle farming in tropical and subtropical regions

Cattle productivity in tropical and subtropical regions can be severely affected by the environment. Reproductive performance, milk and meat production are compromised by the heat stress imposed by the elevated temperature and humidity. The resulting low productivity contributes to reduce the farmer's income and to increase the methane emissions per unit of animal protein produced and the pressure on land usage. The introduction of highly productive European cattle breeds as well as crossbreeding with local breeds have been adopted as strategies to increase productivity but the positive effects have been limited by the low adaptation of European animals to hot climates and by the reduction of the heterosis effect in the following generations. Gene editing tools allow precise modifications in the animal genome and can be an ally to the cattle industry in tropical and subtropical regions. Alleles associated with production or heat tolerance can be shifted between breeds without the need of crossbreeding. Alongside assisted reproductive biotechnologies and genome selection, gene editing can accelerate the genetic gain of indigenous breeds such as zebu cattle. This review focuses on some of the potential applications of gene editing for cattle farming in tropical and subtropical regions, bringing aspects related to heat stress, milk yield, bull reproduction and methane emissions.(AU)

Chromium supplementation modulates glucose metabolism in heatstressed Girolando dairy cows / Suplementação com cromo modula o metabolismo de glicose de vacas Girolando sob estresse térmico pelo calor

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary chromium supplementation on hepatic gene expression of lactating Girolando (Holstein x Gyr) cows under heat stress conditions in climatic chamber. Thirty-six ¾ Holstein x Gyr lactating cows were used, based on a 2x3 factorial scheme, to evaluate the effects of two diets (0 vs 0.50 mg of organic chromium kg-¹ dry matter) and three environmental conditions (ECs): heat stress conditions in climatic chamber with ad libitum feeding (HS), a thermoneutral environment with ad libitum feeding (TN), and a pair-fed group in a thermoneutral environment (PF). Under HS group, the expression levels of glucose transporter 2(GLUT2), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and growth hormone receptor (rGH) were down regulated (P 0.05). Heat stress caused changes in the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism, and organic chromium could modulate glucose metabolism in animals under heat stress conditions to some extent.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação com cromo na dieta na expressão gênica hepática de vacas Girolando (Holstein x Gyr) sob estresse térmico pelo calor em câmara climática. Foram utilizadas 36 vacas da raça Holandês x Gir, em um esquema fatorial 2x3, para avaliar duas dietas (0 vs 0,50 mg de cromo orgânico kg-1 de matéria seca) e três condições ambientais: condições de estresse térmico pelo calor em câmara climática com alimentação ad libitum (HS), ambiente termoneutro com alimentação ad libitum (TN) e um grupo com alimentação restrita em um ambiente termoneutro (PF). No grupo HS, as expressões de transportador de glicose 2 (GLUT2), glicose-6-fosfatase (G6Pase) e receptor de hormônio de crescimento (rGH) foram reguladas negativamente (P 0.05). O estresse térmico pelo calor causou alterações na expressão de genes relacionados ao metabolismo da glicose, e o cromo orgânico pode modular o metabolismo da glicose em animais sob essas condições de estresse pelo calor.

Chromium supplementation modulates glucose metabolism in heatstressed Girolando dairy cows / Suplementação com cromo modula o metabolismo de glicose de vacas Girolando sob estresse térmico pelo calor

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary chromium supplementation on hepatic gene expression of lactating Girolando (Holstein x Gyr) cows under heat stress conditions in climatic chamber. Thirty-six ¾ Holstein x Gyr lactating cows were used, based on a 2x3 factorial scheme, to evaluate the effects of two diets (0 vs 0.50 mg of organic chromium kg-¹ dry matter) and three environmental conditions (ECs): heat stress conditions in climatic chamber with ad libitum feeding (HS), a thermoneutral environment with ad libitum feeding (TN), and a pair-fed group in a thermoneutral environment (PF). Under HS group, the expression levels of glucose transporter 2(GLUT2), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and growth hormone receptor (rGH) were down regulated (P < 0.05) in chromium-supplemented cows compared to those in cows fed the control diet. GLUT2 expression was upregulated (P = 0.02) in the HS group and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) was downregulated (P < 0.01) in the PF group in cows fed the control diet compared to the expressionin the TN group. No differences were observed between the ECs in terms of relative abundances of GLUT2, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), G6Pase, rGH, and IGF1 transcripts among the chromium-supplemented cows (P > 0.05). Heat stress caused changes in the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism, and organic chromium could modulate glucose metabolism in animals under heat stress conditions to some extent.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação com cromo na dieta na expressão gênica hepática de vacas Girolando (Holstein x Gyr) sob estresse térmico pelo calor em câmara climática. Foram utilizadas 36 vacas da raça Holandês x Gir, em um esquema fatorial 2x3, para avaliar duas dietas (0 vs 0,50 mg de cromo orgânico kg-1 de matéria seca) e três condições ambientais: condições de estresse térmico pelo calor em câmara climática com alimentação ad libitum (HS), ambiente termoneutro com alimentação ad libitum (TN) e um grupo com alimentação restrita em um ambiente termoneutro (PF). No grupo HS, as expressões de transportador de glicose 2 (GLUT2), glicose-6-fosfatase (G6Pase) e receptor de hormônio de crescimento (rGH) foram reguladas negativamente (P < 0,05) nas vacas suplementadas com cromo orgânico em comparação com as vacas alimentadas com a dieta controle. A expressão de GLUT2 foi regulada positivamente (P < 0,02) no grupo HS e o fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina 1 (IGF1) foi regulado negativamente (P < 0,01) no grupo PF em comparação como grupo TN para as vacas alimentadas com a dieta controle. Não foram observadas diferenças entre as diferentes condições ambientais na abundância relativa de GLUT2, fosfoenolpiruvato carboxiquinase (PEPCK), G6Pase, rGH e transcritos de IGF1 para as vacas suplementadas com cromo orgânico(P > 0.05). O estresse térmico pelo calor causou alterações na expressão de genes relacionados ao metabolismo da glicose, e o cromo orgânico pode modular o metabolismo da glicose em animais sob essas condições de estresse pelo calor.(AU)