Evaluation of Bayesian models for analysis of crude protein requirement for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed

We evaluated the inclusion of information on genetic relationship into the analysis of crude protein requirement in diets for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed, using Bayesian inference. The animals were assigned to treatments in a completely randomized design in factorial scheme 4 × 2 (crude protein levels × sex) with 12 repetitions per treatment. The evaluations were carried out in the initial, growing and finishing phases, and after slaughter. The traits evaluated were feed conversion (FC), backfat thickness (BF), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and some carcass cuts. Three models were considered to evaluate the inclusion of information on genetic relationship into the analysis: Model I, a simple linear model; Model II, the same effects of Model I with addition of the independent random effect of animal; and Model III, the same effects of Model II, but including the genetic relationship between the animals. Model III presented the best fit and was considered for later inferences. Crude protein (CP) levels did not significantly influence any of the evaluated traits. The effect of sex was significant only for the growing phase, while its interaction with protein levels presented an opposite result for all evaluated traits. Additionally, CP levels of 10.2 %, 9.6 % and 9.0 % can be used in diets for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed in the initial, growing and finishing phases, respectively.

Evaluation of Bayesian models for analysis of crude protein requirement for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed

We evaluated the inclusion of information on genetic relationship into the analysis of crude protein requirement in diets for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed, using Bayesian inference. The animals were assigned to treatments in a completely randomized design in factorial scheme 4 × 2 (crude protein levels × sex) with 12 repetitions per treatment. The evaluations were carried out in the initial, growing and finishing phases, and after slaughter. The traits evaluated were feed conversion (FC), backfat thickness (BF), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and some carcass cuts. Three models were considered to evaluate the inclusion of information on genetic relationship into the analysis: Model I, a simple linear model; Model II, the same effects of Model I with addition of the independent random effect of animal; and Model III, the same effects of Model II, but including the genetic relationship between the animals. Model III presented the best fit and was considered for later inferences. Crude protein (CP) levels did not significantly influence any of the evaluated traits. The effect of sex was significant only for the growing phase, while its interaction with protein levels presented an opposite result for all evaluated traits. Additionally, CP levels of 10.2 %, 9.6 % and 9.0 % can be used in diets for pigs of Brazilian Piau breed in the initial, growing and finishing phases, respectively.(AU)

Estimation of genetic and environmental relationships between milk yield and different measures of mastitis and hyperkeratosis in Holstein cows / Relações genéticas e ambientais entre produção de leite e tipos diferentes de mastite e hiperqueratose em vacas holandesas

In this research, records of milk yield, mastitis occurrence and teats hyperkeratosis of 453 Holstein cows from a large herd with calving dates from December 2012 to December 2014 was used to estimate genetic and environmental correlations between milk yield, mastitis and hyperkeratosis. The highest and the lowest number of mastitis occurrence were in winter (January to March) and spring (April to June), respectively. Also, the highest and the lowest averages of days in milk at the time of mastitis occurrence were observed in winter and spring, respectively (162.53 vs. 29.67 days). The total number of mastitis occurrence was 151 times and in average a sick cow was infected 1.649 times. Obtained results showed low heritabilities for measures of mastitis (ranging from 0.048 to 0.134). Genetic correlations between measures of mastitis and milk yield were negative (from -0.502 to -0.183). Genetic correlation between hyperkeratosis and mastitis was positive which showed that selection for udder type traits would decrease mastitis occurrence. The results of this study can provide a background about the relationships between aforementioned traits and serve as a starting point for further study on these traits.

Os registros de produção leiteira, ocorrência de mastite e hiperquesatose dos úberes de 453 vacas holandesas de um grande rebanho, com datas de parição entre dezembro 2012 e dezembro de 2014, foram usados para estimar as correlações genéticas e ambientais entre produção de leite, mastite e hiperqueratose. O número mais alto e o mais baixo da ocorrência de mastite aconteceram respectivamente no inverno (janeiro março) e na primavera (abril - junho). As médias mais altas e baixas em dias/leite no período da ocorrência da mastite foram registradas respectivamente no inverno e na primavera (162,53 vs. 29,67 dias). O número total de ocorrência de mastite foi 151 vezes e, em média, uma vaca doente foi infectada 1649 vezes. Os resultados revelaram baixa herdade para as medidas de mastite (entre 0,048 e 0,134). Correlações genéticas entre mastite e produção de leite foram negativas (entre -0,502 e -0,183). A correlação genética entre hiperqueratose e mastite foi positiva e mostrou que a seleção de características de úbere poderia diminuir a ocorrência de mastite. Os resultados podem proporcionar uma base para o relacionamento entre as características mencionadas acima, como também servem de ponto de partida para mais estudos sobre essas características.

Estimation of genetic and environmental relationships between milk yield and different measures of mastitis and hyperkeratosis in Holstein cows / Relações genéticas e ambientais entre produção de leite e tipos diferentes de mastite e hiperqueratose em vacas holandesas

In this research, records of milk yield, mastitis occurrence and teats hyperkeratosis of 453 Holstein cows from a large herd with calving dates from December 2012 to December 2014 was used to estimate genetic and environmental correlations between milk yield, mastitis and hyperkeratosis. The highest and the lowest number of mastitis occurrence were in winter (January to March) and spring (April to June), respectively. Also, the highest and the lowest averages of days in milk at the time of mastitis occurrence were observed in winter and spring, respectively (162.53 vs. 29.67 days). The total number of mastitis occurrence was 151 times and in average a sick cow was infected 1.649 times. Obtained results showed low heritabilities for measures of mastitis (ranging from 0.048 to 0.134). Genetic correlations between measures of mastitis and milk yield were negative (from -0.502 to -0.183). Genetic correlation between hyperkeratosis and mastitis was positive which showed that selection for udder type traits would decrease mastitis occurrence. The results of this study can provide a background about the relationships between aforementioned traits and serve as a starting point for further study on these traits.(AU)

Os registros de produção leiteira, ocorrência de mastite e hiperquesatose dos úberes de 453 vacas holandesas de um grande rebanho, com datas de parição entre dezembro 2012 e dezembro de 2014, foram usados para estimar as correlações genéticas e ambientais entre produção de leite, mastite e hiperqueratose. O número mais alto e o mais baixo da ocorrência de mastite aconteceram respectivamente no inverno (janeiro março) e na primavera (abril - junho). As médias mais altas e baixas em dias/leite no período da ocorrência da mastite foram registradas respectivamente no inverno e na primavera (162,53 vs. 29,67 dias). O número total de ocorrência de mastite foi 151 vezes e, em média, uma vaca doente foi infectada 1649 vezes. Os resultados revelaram baixa herdade para as medidas de mastite (entre 0,048 e 0,134). Correlações genéticas entre mastite e produção de leite foram negativas (entre -0,502 e -0,183). A correlação genética entre hiperqueratose e mastite foi positiva e mostrou que a seleção de características de úbere poderia diminuir a ocorrência de mastite. Os resultados podem proporcionar uma base para o relacionamento entre as características mencionadas acima, como também servem de ponto de partida para mais estudos sobre essas características.(AU)

Development and validation of new SSR markers from expressed regions in the garlic genome

Only a limited number of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is available for the genome of garlic (Allium sativum L.) despite the fact that SSR markers have become one of the most preferred DNA marker systems. To develop new SSR markers for the garlic genome, garlic expressed sequence tags (ESTs) at the publicly available GarlicEST database were screened for SSR motifs and a total of 132 SSR motifs were identified. Primer pairs were designed for 50 SSR motifs and 24 of these primer pairs were selected as SSR markers based on their consistent amplification patterns and polymorphisms. In addition, two SSR markers were developed from the sequences of garlic cDNA-AFLP fragments. The use of 26 EST-SSR markers for the assessment of genetic relationship was tested using 31 garlic genotypes. Twenty six EST-SSR markers amplified 130 polymorphic DNA fragments and the number of polymorphic alleles per SSR marker ranged from 2 to 13 with an average of 5 alleles. Observed heterozygosity and polymorphism information content (PIC) of the SSR markers were between 0.23 and 0.88, and 0.20 and 0.87, respectively. Twenty one out of the 31 garlic genotypes were analyzed in a previous study using AFLP markers and the garlic genotypes clustered together with AFLP markers were also grouped together with EST-SSR markers demonstrating high concordance between AFLP and EST-SSR marker systems and possible immediate application of EST-SSR markers for fingerprinting of garlic clones. EST-SSR markers could be used in genetic studies such as genetic mapping, association mapping, genetic diversity and comparison of the genomes of Allium species.

Development and validation of new SSR markers from expressed regions in the garlic genome

Only a limited number of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is available for the genome of garlic (Allium sativum L.) despite the fact that SSR markers have become one of the most preferred DNA marker systems. To develop new SSR markers for the garlic genome, garlic expressed sequence tags (ESTs) at the publicly available GarlicEST database were screened for SSR motifs and a total of 132 SSR motifs were identified. Primer pairs were designed for 50 SSR motifs and 24 of these primer pairs were selected as SSR markers based on their consistent amplification patterns and polymorphisms. In addition, two SSR markers were developed from the sequences of garlic cDNA-AFLP fragments. The use of 26 EST-SSR markers for the assessment of genetic relationship was tested using 31 garlic genotypes. Twenty six EST-SSR markers amplified 130 polymorphic DNA fragments and the number of polymorphic alleles per SSR marker ranged from 2 to 13 with an average of 5 alleles. Observed heterozygosity and polymorphism information content (PIC) of the SSR markers were between 0.23 and 0.88, and 0.20 and 0.87, respectively. Twenty one out of the 31 garlic genotypes were analyzed in a previous study using AFLP markers and the garlic genotypes clustered together with AFLP markers were also grouped together with EST-SSR markers demonstrating high concordance between AFLP and EST-SSR marker systems and possible immediate application of EST-SSR markers for fingerprinting of garlic clones. EST-SSR markers could be used in genetic studies such as genetic mapping, association mapping, genetic diversity and comparison of the genomes of Allium species.(AU)