Comparison of allele-specific expression in Sistani cattle and its crossbreed with Holstein, Simmental, and Montbeliarde breeds.

The present study has analyzed the allelic-specific expression in Purebred Sistani (Bos Indicus) and their crossbreed with Holstein, Simmental, and Montbeliarde breeds (Bos Taurus). The blood samples were taken from the caudal vein of purebred Sistani cows and crossbreed Sistani's with Holstein, Simental, and Montbeliarde (4 treatments). We discovered 152,496 (Purebred Sistani), 134,285 (Sistani × Simmental), 163,362 (Sistani × Montbeliarde), and 177,042 (Sistani × Holstein) SNPs on the assembled transcriptomes. In the Purebred Sistani, 8295 (5%), Sistani × Holstein crossbreed 11,900 (7%), Sistani × Simmental crossbreed 13,187 (10%), and Sistani × Montbeliarde crossbreed 16,666 (10%) number of SNPs were identified as ASE-SNPs. In the present study, 12 SNPs types identify, of which four were transition and eight were transversion. The most common SNPs were transition types. These SNPs were present in purebred Sistani 71.84%, Sistani × Holstein crossbreed 72.65%, Sistani × Simmental crossbreed 72.60%, and Sistani × Montbeliarde crossbreed 71.94%. Ontology analysis of the expressed genes in these cows revealed the involvement of these genes in different Biological classifications. Conducting such studies in parts of the world, such as the Sistan region, where it is not possible to record accurate records of cows, is a suitable and economical method for identifying genes with different expressions.

Correction: Salimiyekta et al. Random Regression Model for Genetic Evaluation and Early Selection in the Iranian Holstein Population. Animals 2021, 11, 3492.

There was an error in the original publication [...].

Random Regression Model for Genetic Evaluation and Early Selection in the Iranian Holstein Population.

The objective of this study was to use a model to predict breeding values for sires and cows at an early stage of the first lactation of cows and progeny groups in the Iranian Holstein population to enable the early selection of sires. An additional objective was to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters associated with this model. The accuracy of predicted breeding values was investigated using cross-validation based on sequential genetic evaluations emulating yearly evaluation runs. The data consisted of 2,166,925 test-day records from 456,712 cows calving between 1990 and 2015. (Co)-variance components and breeding values were estimated using a random regression test-day model and the average information (AI) restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). Legendre polynomial functions of order three were chosen to fit the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, and a homogeneous residual variance was assumed throughout lactation. The lowest heritability of daily milk yield was estimated to be just under 0.14 in early lactation, and the highest heritability of daily milk yield was estimated to be 0.18 in mid-lactation. Cross-validation showed a highly positive correlation of predicted breeding values between consecutive yearly evaluations for both cows and sires. Correlation between predicted breeding values based only on records of early lactation (5-90 days) and records including late lactation (181-305 days) were 0.77-0.87 for cows and 0.81-0.94 for sires. These results show that we can select sires according to their daughters' early lactation information before they finish the first lactation. This can be used to decrease generation interval and to increase genetic gain in the Iranian Holstein population.