Association of the MC4R gene with growth traits and meat quality in Colombian hair sheep.

Objective: The objective of this study was to associate the 1016G > A variant of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene with lamb's weight, growth, and meat quality in the Colombian hair sheep breed. Materials and Methods: A total of 168 lambs, weights were measured at birth weight (BW), at weaning adjusted weaning weight (AWW), at 6 months [adjusted weight (AW180)], at slaughter adjusted slaughter weight (ASW), daily weight gain preweaning daily gain (preWDG), and postweaning daily gain (postWDG) weaning, and after slaughter, pH, texture, and cook-loss (CL) in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle according to the American Meat Science Association methodology. The 1016G > A genotypes were obtained by sequencing. Genotypic and allele frequencies, heterozygosities, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were estimated. Using a generalized linear model, the genotype and the allelic substitution effect were associated with the evaluated traits. Results: The heterozygous genotype (0.48) and G allele (0.61) were the most frequent. Heterozygosities were similar (0.47), indicating HWE. The genotype affected the BW (p < 0.05), with a higher value for the GG genotype (2.69 kg). AWW (12.75 kg), AW180 (19.67 kg), and ASW (31.21 kg) weights and daily weight gain (preWDG = 115.41 gm; postWDG = 96.16 gm) were not associated. Average pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and CL were 5.75 units, 49.46 N, and 32.02%, with no genotype effect. The G > A substitution only affected BW at -388 gm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The 1016G > A variant is polymorphic and affects the BW but not other growth traits or the meat quality of the LTL muscle.

The role of L-carnitine in bovine embryo metabolism. A review of the effect of supplementation with a metabolic modulator on in vitro embryo production.

Early embryo development is driven first by the maternal RNAs and proteins accumulated during the oocyte's cytoplasmic maturation and then after the embryo genome activation. In mammalian cells, ATP generation occurs via oxidative pathways or by glycolysis, whereas in embryonic stem cells, the consumption of glucose, pyruvate, lipids, and amino acids results in ATP synthesis. Although the bovine embryo has energy reserves in glycogen and lipids, the glycogen concentration is deficient. Conversely, lipids represent the most abundant energy reservoir of bovine embryos, where lipid droplets-containing triacylglycerols are the main fatty acid stores. Oocytes of many mammalian species contain comparatively high amounts of lipids stored as droplets in the ooplasm. L-carnitine has been described as a cofactor that facilitates the mobilization of fatty acids present in the oocyte's cytoplasm into the mitochondria to facilitate ß-oxidation processes. However, the L-carnitine effects by addition to media in the in vitro produced embryos on the quality are highly disputed and contradictory by different researchers. This review's objective was to explore the effect that the addition of L-carnitine on culture media could have on the overall bovine embryo production in vitro, from the oocyte metabolism to the modulation of gene expression in the developing embryos.

Zoometric and ethnological characterization of the colombian creole donkey in Sucre, Colombia

In Colombia, works performed with the colombian creole donkey (CCD) have shown a possible danger of extinction. The above, associate with an alarming decrease in its inventory and a reduction in genetic diversity. Thus, morphological characterization could be the first step for future conservation plans to conduct a repopulation. Therefore, this work aimed to characterize the zoometric and ethnological traits of CCD in five natural subregions of the department of Sucre. 20 males from each of the natural subregions from Sucre (Golfo de Morrosquillo: GM, Montes de María: MM, Mojana: MO, San Jorge: SJ, Sabanas: SA) with an age average of 4.7 ± 1.0 years old and weight estimated between 126.0 ± 19.4 kg were recorded and were submitted to 28 morphometric measurements. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance between subregions, and hierarchical grouping for statistical analysis were performed. Also, five ethnological indices and five productive indices were estimated. The results showed that most of the zoometric variables varied significantly between subregions. The values assessed were similar to other creole donkey breeds. The hierarchical grouping analysis allowed the creation of two groups with geographic proximity. The structural homogeneity and morphostructural harmony found within the subregions were medium-low. However, when analyzing all the CCD measurements together, medium to high morphostructural uniformity and harmony were evidenced. The ethnological indices allow us to classify the CCD as a longlinear, hypermetric, dolichocephalic, and concavilinear animal. In addition, the productive indices indicated that the CCD is a proportionate donkey, with good poise and aptitude for work.

Es posible que el asno criollo colombiano (ACC) se encuentre en peligro de extinción. La alarmante disminución de su inventario está reduciendo la diversidad genética. Así, la caracterización morfológica es un primer paso en futuros planes de conservación, con el objetivo de repoblación; por tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue caracterizar zoométricamente y etnológicamente el ACC, de las cinco subregiones naturales del departamento de Sucre. En 20 machos de cada una de las subregiones naturales del departamento de Sucre (Golfo de Morrosquillo: GM, Montes de María: MM, Mojana: MO, San Jorge: SJ, Sabanas: SA), con edad promedio de 4,7 ± 1,0 años y peso promedio estimado de 126,0 ± 19,4kg, se registraron 28 medidas morfométricas. En el análisis de datos, se consideró la estadística descriptiva, el análisis de varianza entre subregiones, análisis de agrupación jerárquica. También, se estimaron cinco índices etnológicos y cinco índices productivos. La mayoría de las variables zoométricas variaron significativamente entre subregiones, con valores similares a otras razas criollas. El análisis de agrupación jerárquica formó dos grupos con cercanía geográfica. La homogeneidad estructural y la armonía morfoestructural encontrada al interior de las subregiones fue media-baja; sin embargo, al analizar todo el ACC, la homogeneidad y la armonía morfoestructural fue media-alta. Los índices etnológicos clasifican al ACC como longilíneo, hipermétrico, dolicocéfalo y concavilíneo, mientras que los índices productivos indican de un asno proporcionado, de buenos aplomos y de aptitud al trabajo.

Curvas de crecimiento en ovino de pelo colombiano en los departamentos de Córdoba y Cesar, Colombia

La producción ovina en los últimos años en Colombia, se considera como una actividad con miras a exportación de carne, por lo cual, es necesario conocer el desempeño productivo de las diferentes razas dedicadas a este propósito en las regiones, con un número considerable de animales respecto al inventario nacional; por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue describir el crecimiento en ovinos de pelo colombiano en los departamentos de Córdoba y Cesar, Colombia. Se utilizaron 99 animales de los biotipos Sudán y Etíope. Fueron evaluados los modelos Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Brody y Logístico. Los parámetros para obtener las curvas de crecimiento fueron estimados por medio del procedimiento NLIN de SAS. Utilizando el modelo de mejor ajuste, se determinó el porcentaje y la edad de madurez. El modelo Brody fue el que mejor ajustó los datos. El sexo no tuvo efecto significativo sobre los parámetros estimados, mientras que el biotipo racial fue significativo para todos los parámetros estimados, con la excepción de ß 1 ; la zona presentó efecto significativo sobre ß 0 y ß 2 y la época solo para ß 1. De acuerdo con los parámetros de la curva Brody estimados y a los porcentajes y edades a la madurez, en las poblaciones en estudio, se debe mejorar la alimentación de los animales e implementar un programa de selección, con el fin de mejorar los pesos de los animales, al llegar a la edad adulta.

Sheep production in recent years in Colombia is considered as an activity for the exportation of meat, therefore, it is necessary to know the productive performance of the different breeds dedicated to this purpose in the regions with a considerable number of animals with respect to national inventory. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to describe the growth in Colombian hair sheep in the departments of Cordoba and Cesar, Colombia. 99 animals of the Sudan and Ethiopian biotypes were used. The Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Brody and Logistic models were evaluated. The parameters of the growth curves were estimated by the procedure NLIN of SAS. Using the best fit model, the percentage and age of maturity were determined. The Brody model was the one that best fit the data. Sex had no significant effect on the estimated parameters, while racial biotype was significant for all estimated parameters, with the exception of ß 1; the zone presented a significant effect on ß 0 and ß 2; and the season only for ß 1. According to the estimated parameters of the Brody curve and the percentages and ages at maturity, in the populations under study, the feeding of the animals should be improved and a conduct a selection program, in order to improve the weights of the animals at reach adulthood.

Predicción del peso y del rendimiento en canal en conejos Nueva Zelanda a partir de medidas corporales

RESUMEN Objetivo. Predecir del peso y el rendimiento en canal en conejos Nueva Zelanda blanco a partir de medidas corporales. Materiales y métodos. En 100 machos Nueva Zelanda (NZ) criados de forma comercial de 60±3 días, con ayuno de 12 horas, se tomó el peso vivo (PV) el largo de cuerpo dorsal (LC) y ventral (LV), perímetro del tórax (PT), largo de lomo (LL), ancho de lomo (AL), ancho de tórax (AT) ancho de cabeza (AC) largo de cabeza (LC), perímetro de muslo (PM), largo de muslo (LM), perímetro del brazo (PB) y largo del brazo (LB). Los conejos fueron sacrificados, pesadas sus canales calientes (PC). Se realizó estadística descriptiva y se estimó el rendimiento en canal caliente (RC). Se estableció una ecuación de regresión del PC y del RC, con el procedimiento "Stepwise Regression" y se estimaron los coeficientes de correlación entre las variables a partir de un análisis de componentes principales. Resultados. Las variables in vivo fueron homogéneas con coeficientes de variación menores de 20%. El RC fue 54.7±2.4%. La ecuación de regresión que mejor se ajustó al PC fue Y= 75.83+0.58PV-11.86LC (R2: 0.91; p<0.05) y al RC fue Y= 49.23+0.21LD+0.25PT-0.64AT-0.57LC (R2: 0.20; p<0.05). De determinaron cuatro componentes que explican el 69% de la variación. Las mediciones de cabeza, lomo y brazo fueron las de mayor aporte. La correlación más alta que se encontró con el PC fue el PV (r= 0.84; p<0.001). Conclusiones. El RC es similar a otros NZ de edad similar. Las mediciones biométricas predicen mejor el PC que el RC. Estos resultados se pueden utilizar en programas de mejoramiento genético animal.

ABSTRACT Objective. Predicting carcass weight and yield in New Zealand white rabbits from body measurements. Materials and methods. In 100 New Zealand (NZ) commercially reared males of 60±3 days, with a 12-hour fast, the live weight (BW) was taken, length the dorsal (LD) and ventral (LV) body length, chest circumference (CC), loin length (LL), loin width (LW), chest width (CW) head width (HW) head length (HL), thigh circumference (TC), thigh length (TL), arm circumference (AR) and arm length (AL). The rabbits were euthanized, their carcasses weighed (CAW). Descriptive statistics and carcass yield (CAY) were estimated. A regression equation of the CAW and the CAY was established with the "Stepwise Regression" procedure and the correlation coefficients between the variables were estimated from the principal component analysis. Results. Variables in vivo were homogeneous with coefficients of variation of less than 20%. The CAY was 54.7±2.4%. The regression equation that best fit the CAW was Yi = 75.83+0.58BW-11.86HL (R2: 0.91; p<0.05) and the CAY was Yi = 49.23+0.21LD+0.25CC-0.64CW-0.57HL (R2: 0.20; p<0.05). Four components were determined that explain 69% of the variation. Head, loin, and arm measurements were the most important. The highest correlation found with the CAW was the BW (r=0.84; p<0.001). Conclusions. The CAY is similar to other NZs of similar age. Measurements in the live animal better predict CAW than CAY. These results can be used in animal genetic improvement programs.

Genetic diversity of BoLA-DRB3 gene in Colombian creole Hartón del Valle cattle / Diversidad genética del gen BoLA-DRB3 en el ganado criollo colombiano Hartón del Valle / Diversidade genética do gene BoLA-DRB3 em gado crioulo colombiano Hartón del Valle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of ball-DRB3 gene in the Colombian creole Hartón del Valle cattle. A total of 93 Hartón del Valle (HV), 30 Lucerne (LUC), and 30 Holstein (HOL) animals were evaluated for DRB3 gene polymorphism using the PCR-SBT method. The number of alleles found were 27, 17 and 14 for HV, LUC, HOL, respectively. The most frequent alleles were DRB3*1101 (14.5%) in HV; LUC DRB3 * 0701 in LUC; and *1107, *1501 and *2301 in HOL (11.7%). Expected heterozygosity values were higher than observed, which resulted in a low fixing index, positive F IS (significant only for HV), and no significant deviations from Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium for LUC. The molecular analysis of variance reflected little variation between breeds (3%) and a moderate genetic differentiation (F ST = 0.056 p<0.01). Regarding sequence, LUC was the most diverse breed, no neutral selection is occurring, and none of the breeds is in selection equilibrium. Comparison with reports on other breeds showed high genetic diversity in Colombian breeds. We conclude that HV has high genetic diversity in BoLA-DRB3 locus. The cause of this polymorphism may be due in part to the origin of HV. This high variation can be maintained by selection equilibrium.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la diversidad genética del gen BoLA-DRB3 en el ganado criollo Colombiano Hartón del Valle. En 93 animales Hartón del Valle (HV), 30 Lucerna (LUC) y 30 Holstein (HOL) se evaluó el polimorfismo del gen DRB3 usando la metodología PCR-SBT. Se encontraron 27 alelos en la raza HV, 17 en LUC y 14 en HOL. El alelo más frecuente en HV fue el DRB3*1101 (14,5%), en la raza LUC los alelos DRB3*0701, *1107, *1501 y *2301 al igual que el alelo DRB3*0701 en la raza HOL tuvieron la frecuencia más alta (11,7%). Los valores de heterocigocidad esperada fueron más altos que la observada, lo que se tradujo en un valor bajo del índice de fijación, valores de F IS positivos solo significativo en el HV y desviaciones del equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg no significativos en LUC. El análisis de varianza molecular reflejó poca variación entre razas (3%) y una diferenciación genética moderada (F ST= 0,056 p<0,01). A nivel de secuencia se resalta que, la raza más diversa es LUC, que no se está presentando selección neutral y que ninguna de las razas se encuentra en equilibrio de selección balanceadora. La comparación con otras razas reportadas, mostró alta diversidad genética en las razas colombianas. Se concluye que la raza HV tiene alta diversidad genética en el locus BoLA-DRB3, que el origen del polimorfismo puede deberse en parte al origen de la raza y que esta alta variación puede ser mantenida mediante equilibrio de selección.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a diversidade genética do gene BoLA-DRB3 no gado crioulo colombiano Hartón del Valle. O estudo se fez com 93 animais Hartón del Valle (HV), 30 Lucerna (LUC) e 30 Holandês (HOL). Avaliou-se o polimorfismo do gene DRB3 utilizando a metodologia PCR-SBT. Encontraram-se 27 alelos na raça HV, 17 em LUC e 14 em HOL. O alelo com maior frequência em HV foi o DRB3*1101 (14,5%), na raça LUC os alelos DRB3*0701, *1107, *1501 e *2301 ao igual que o alelo DRB3*0701 na raça HOL tiveram a maior frequência (11,7%). Os valores de heterocigocidade esperada foram maiores que a observada, o que se traduz em um valor baixo do índice de fixação, valores de F IS positivos só foram significativos no HV e desvio do equilíbrio de Hardy- Weinberg foram não significativos em LUC. O Analice de variância molecular reflexou pouca variação entre raças (3%) e uma diferenciação genética moderada (F ST= 0,056 p<0,01). No nível de sequência destacasse que, a raça mais diversa é LUC, que não está apresentando seleção neutral e que nenhuma das raças encontra-se em equilíbrio de seleção balanceadora. Se comparar com outras raças reportadas, as raças colombianas exibiram uma alta diversidade genética. Conclui-se que a raça HV tem alta diversidade genética no locus BoLA DRB3, que a origem do polimorfismo pode se dever em parte àorigem da raça e que essa alta variação pode ser mantida mediante o equilíbrio de seleção.