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The aim of this paper is to investigate whether characteristics of the first lactation (FL) curve of Iranian Holstein cows are associated with survival. Cows with least 10 test-days of milk production in their FL were used. The persistency of lactation (PL) and survival were estimated using a random regression model by restricted maximum likelihood with the ECHIDDNA software. We also used the Wood model to parameterize each individual lactation curve and then analyzed various curve characteristics using an animal model. The predicted breeding value (EBV) of the characteristics of the lactation curve of the cows from day 40 to 305 was predicted. The EBV of the production range (PR) and the slope of line in increasing phase (m40,Peak) of production curve of sires with higher survival EBV were lower than other sires (P < 0.05). The estimates of PL were independent of survival estimate. Therefore, the PR from 40th day after calving can be considered as a definition of PL because the lower the PR, the flatter is the milk production curve. Genetic evaluation of young bulls for survival needs the data of death or culling of their daughters. Therefore, the bulls can genetically be evaluated for survival according to the PL and m40,Peak of FL information of their daughters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of eggs produced in a given period (egg production rate) is an important trait in layers that change over time and can be presented as a curve. This study aimed to fit the weekly egg production data of Khazak indigenous hens using non-linear regression models and to select an appropriate model for describing the egg production curve for this bird. Biweekly egg production of 144 laying hens over 52 weeks of egg production was used to evaluate the egg production curve. Seven non-linear models (Gamma, McNally, Compartmental II, Nelder, Yang, Lokhorst, and Narushin-Takma) were fitted to egg production data. The four goodness fit criteria (Akaike' s information criterion, Mean square error, Log Likelihood, and Bayesian information criterion) were used to compare the models. The results of the goodness of fit criteria showed that the Narushin-Takma and Yang models were the best and worst models, respectively, for describing the egg production curve of Khazak hens. The time and egg production at the peak with the Narushin-Takma model was similar to the actual values, and this model was significantly better than other studied models. The correlation between actual and predicted egg production indicated that the Narushin-Takma model could accurately predict the egg production of this breed. As a result, the Narushin-Takma model can be used to predict the egg production curve of Khazak hens in breeding programs and nutritional management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysozyme activity is one of the nonspecific immunity parameters measured by changing the amount of adsorption at different times. The objective of the present study was to compare five non-linear models including Gompertz, Richards, Logistic, Lopez, and Weilbull to describe the cumulative plasma lysozyme activity in quails. In total 1364 plasma samples (1004 females and 360 males) were collected and the cumulative lysozyme activity was calculated by turbidimetric method assay in Micrococcus luteus. The goodness-of-fit of models was compared according to different criteria of Maximum loglikelihood, Akaike information criterion, Mean square error, and Bayesian information criterion. The results showed that the Gompertz model was the best model for describing of decreasing cumulative pattern of lysozyme activity in female and male quails and provided satisfactory predictions of lysozyme activity at different times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300 seconds). The parameters of all models were higher in females than males except for the k parameter which was greater in the males. Male quails had higher values for time and lysozyme activity than females at inflection points, whereas the absolute growth rate in 30, 150, and 300 seconds was predicted higher in female quails. In conclusion, the Gompertz model can be used accurately to evaluate cumulative lysozyme activity patterns in both sexes of quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of breeding programmes is to maximise the genetic improvement of the economic traits of farm animals. Beside the economic traits, the birds' survival has directly influenced on the economic gain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the genetic relationship between survival and productive traits in Japanese quail. A total of 1854 records were collected during four generations from 2017 to 2019 in Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Research and Training Centre (KRARTC). Data were used to estimate the genetic correlations among quail survival (S) with egg weight (EW) and body weight gain (BWG) traits. Linear-threshold model was used to estimate (co)variance components, and genetic parameters of traits via the Gibbs sampling method. The heritability of EW was 0.04, and the heritability estimates for survival at different ages ranged from 0.138 to 0.399 in joint analysis with EW. The highest negative genetic correlation between EW and S0–14 (i.e. survival up to 14 d) was obtained as −0.704. The highest and lowest heritability of weight gain traits for BWG0–7 and BWG7–14 were 0.583 and 0.116, respectively. The analyses of BWG traits with survival at different ages revealed that the genetic correlations ranged from 0.015 (between BWG0–7 and S0–14) to 0.638 (between BWG0–7 and S0–7). This study showed that the genetic selection for survival at different ages could be effective. On the other hand, selection for BWG0–7 could also indirectly improve the survival in quails because of the positive and high genetic correlation between BWG0–7 with S0–7. Genetic improvement of production traits in quail may lead to reduced survival in quail. Studies regarding on the survival of quail were yet not carried out. Heritability of the survival at different ages showed that genetic selection for this trait could improve the survival. Survival at different ages had a negative genetic correlation with egg weight (EW), and body weight gain (BWG) traits after 21 d of old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detoxification effects of some medicinal plants under both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro experiment was performed with 25 treatments in 5 replications. The samples of medicinal plants were incubated with AFB1 for 72 h, and the toxin residual in the supernatant was determined. The highest aflatoxin elimination was found to be related to peppermint (81%). Thereafter, in vivo experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of peppermint dried leaves, essential oil, and menthol on liver, bone, and meat, as well as the performance of growing Japanese quail fed diet contaminated with AFB1. A total of 640 7-day-old Japanese quails were assigned using a completely randomized design as 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with two levels of AFB1 (including 0 and 2.5 mg/kg diet) and four treatments (including no additive; peppermint powder, 20 g/kg; peppermint essential oil, 800 mg/kg; and menthol powder, 400 mg/kg). Those birds fed AFB1-contaminated diet with no additives showed the worst liver health status by considering super oxide dismutase (P = 0.0399), glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.0139), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.0001), and aspartate aminotransferase levels (P = 0.0512). However, the supplementation of AFB1 contaminated diet with additives improved their liver health status. Menthol receiving birds showed the highest tibia strength, while the birds fed with AFB1-contaminated diet with no additives had the weakest bone strength (P < 0.0001). A significant increase was also observed in malondialdehyde level of meat by dietary inclusion of AFB1, which was well-repressed by the dietary supplementation of peppermint essential oil and menthol (P = 0.0075). Body weight gain dramatically decreased by adding AFB1 to the diet, which was recovered with the dietary supplementation of additives (P = 0.0585). According to the results of the current study, peppermint and its derivatives can be used to suppress aflatoxin effects on the liver, bone, and meat quality and to improve the performance of Japanese quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Animal breeds are often recognized through their specific characteristics, nevertheless, the breeds' anatomical and biochemical characteristics have not considered yet in many of the researches done on one-humped camels. There are some particular differences in camel breeds due to different climate conditions and rearing necessity OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to compare differences in anatomical and plasma biochemical parameters of two Iranian one-humped camels, the Jammaz (racing) and Balouchi (dual-purpose) breeds. METHODS: Anatomical parameters were body length (BL), neck length (NL), chest girth (CG), barrel girth (BG), hump circumference (HC), fore limb length (FLL), hind limb length (HLL), height at hump (HH), fore limbs interval (FLI), hind limbs interval (HLI), fore hoof circumference (FHC), hind hoof circumference (HHC), abdominal circumference (AC), shank circumference (SC) and leg circumference (LC). Moreover, concentrations of Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, total bilirubin (Bili-T), direct bilirubin (Bili- D), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were measured as plasma biochemical parameters. Data analysis was conducted through t-test statistics. RESULTS: Results revealed significant differences between body type traits of breeds, especially in organs related to running ability, while the Jammaz breed has more height and longer limbs than the Balouchi breed. Some blood parameters (glucose, LDH, BUN, cortisol and T4) are considerably higher in Jammaz breed, too. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study suggest some anatomical (especially fore and hind limb lengths, neck length and body height at hump) and physiological characteristics (lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, cortisol, glucose and T4) of Iranian racing and dual purpose camels as breed markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-additive genetic effects are important to increase the accuracy of estimating genetic parameters for growth traits. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and variance components, specially dominance and epistasis genetic effects, for growth traits (birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 3 (W3), 6 (W6), 9 (W9), and 12 (W12) month weight) in Adani goats. Analyses were carried out using Bayesian method via Gibbs sampler animal model by fitting of 18 different models. All fixed effects (sex, type of birth, age of dam, and year) showed significant effects on BW, WW, W3, and W6, whereas the type of birth and age of dam were not significant on W9 and W12. With the best model, direct heritability estimates were 0.347, 0.178, 0.158, 0.359, 0.278, and 0.281 for BW, WW, W3, W6, W9, and W12 traits, respectively. Maternal permanent environmental effect was significant for BW and WW, but maternal genetic effect was significant only for W3. Dominance and epitasis effects were significant almost for all traits and as a proportion of phenotypic variance were ranged from 0.115 to 0.258 and 0.107 to 0.218, respectively. The range of accuracy of breeding values estimated for growth traits with appropriate evaluation models was from 0.521 to 0.652, 0.616 to 0.694, and 0.548 to 0.684 for the all animals, 10% of the best males and 50% of the best females, respectively. When dominance and epistasis effects added to models, the error variance was reduced and the accuracy of estimated breeding values increased. The accuracy of the best model showed a significant difference with the accuracy of other models (p < 0.01). The result of the present study suggests that non-additive genetic effects should be in genetic evaluation models for goat growth traits because of its effect on accuracy of estimated breeding values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of genetic variance has mostly been limited to additive effects estimated using pedigree data and non-additive effects have been ignored. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) marker models in the mixed and orthogonal framework including both additive and nonadditive effects for estimating variances and genomic prediction in four diabetes-related traits in heterogeneous stock mice. Models have performed differently in detecting SNPs affecting traits. Dominance variances explained over 14.7 and 3.8% of genetic and phenotype variance in a Genomic prediction and variance component estimation method (GVCBLUP) framework. Reliabilities of additive Genomic best linear unbiased prediction model (GBLUP) in different traits ranged from 44.8 to 66.6%, for GVCBLUPs framework including both additive and dominance effects (MAD), and 46.1 to 69% for the model including additive effect (MA). Dominance GBLUP reliabilities ranged from 6 to 26.4% for MAD and from 22.5 to 50.5% in the model including dominance (MD). MA and MD had higher reliability for additive and dominance GBLUPs compared to MAD. Reliabilities of GBLUPs in MAD and MA for all traits were not significant except for growth slope (P < 0.01). In orthogonal framework models, epistasis variances accounted for a greater proportion (87.3, 89.1, 95.5, and 77.2%) of genetic variation for end weight, growth slope, body mass index, and body length, respectively. Heritability in a broad sense was estimated at 1.12, 1.67, 3.64, and 2.0%, in which non-additive heritability had a significant contribution. Genetic variances explained by dominance using GVCBLUPs were 16.8, 29.4, 14.6, and 14.9% for the traits. Generally, the non-additive models had a lower value of deviance information criterion (DIC) and performed better in estimating the variance component. Comparing the estimated variance by orthogonal framework models confirmed the results previously estimated by GVCBLUPs, with the difference that the estimates were shrinking. Following significant SNPs affecting diabetes-related traits by post-genome-wide studies could reveal unknown aspects and contribute to genetic control of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the growth pattern of seven strains of Japanese quail including Wild, Italian Speckled, Tuxedo, Scarlett, English white, White button, and A&M Texas by nonlinear growth functions including Gompertz, Richards, logistic, Lopez, and Weibull functions. The body weights of the unselected randomly bred populations of these strains were measured weekly from 1 to 42 days of age and then used to fit functions. The fitness of each function was assessed by statistics including the mean square error, Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, and adjusted coefficient of determination. The results showed that Gompertz was the best function for describing the growth curve in Italian Speckled and Wild strains; however, the best function for the other strains was the logistic function. The maximum and minimum values for age and weight at the inflection point were obtained for the White button and Scarlett strains, respectively. The weight to age ratio at the inflection point was maximized for Italian Speckled. The best growth rate was observed for the Italian Speckled strain, whereas the White button strain exhibited the worst growth rate. In conclusion, the Italian Speckled strain had the best properties among the tested strains for breeding as broiler poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fisheries substantially contribute to the reduction of poverty, local economies and food safety in many countries. However, limited and low-quality catches and effort data for small-scale fisheries complicate the stock assessment and management. Bayesian modelling has been advocated when assessing fisheries with limited data. Specifically, Bayesian models can incorporate information of the multiple sources, improve precision in the stock assessments and provide specific levels of uncertainty for estimating the relevant parameters. In this study, therefore, the state-space Bayesian generalised surplus production models will be used in order to estimate the stock status of fourteen Demersal fish species targeted by small-scale fisheries in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran. The model was estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and Gibbs Sampling. Model parameter estimates were evaluated by the formal convergence and stationarity diagnostic tests, indicating convergence and accuracy. They were also aligned with existing parameter estimates for fourteen species of the other locations. This suggests model reliability and demonstrates the utility of Bayesian models. According to estimated fisheries' management reference points, all assessed fish stocks appear to be overfished. Overfishing considered, the current fisheries management strategies for the small-scale fisheries may need some adjustments to warrant the long-term viability of the fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of inbreeding and the loss of genetic diversity is a potential problem in Holstein dairy cattle. The goal of this study was to estimate inbreeding levels and other measures of genetic diversity, using pedigree information from Iranian Holstein cattle. Edited pedigree included 1 048 572 animals. The average number of discrete generation equivalents and pedigree completeness index reached 13.4 and 90%, respectively. The rate of inbreeding was 0.3% per year. Effective number of founders, founder genomes, non-founders and ancestors of animals born between 2003 and 2011 were 503, 15.6, 16.1 and 25.7, respectively. It was proven that the unequal founder contributions as well as bottlenecks and genetic drift were important reasons for the loss of genetic diversity in the population. The top 10 ancestors with the highest marginal genetic contributions to animals born between 2003 and 2011 and with the highest contributions to inbreeding were 48.20% and 63.94%, respectively. Analyses revealed that the most important cause of genetic diversity loss was genetic drift accumulated over non-founder generations, which occurred due to small effective population size. Therefore, it seems that managing selection and mating decisions are controlling future co-ancestry and inbreeding, which would lead to better handling of the effective population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth traits in Ghezel sheep, using pedigree information and body weight records which collected from 2000 to 2009 at Ghezel Sheep Breeding Station. Traits of interest were birth weight (BW, n=2,073), weaning weight (WW, n=1,663) and six-month old weight (6MW, n=1,315). The environmental factors were studied using GLM procedure in SAS software. (Co) variance components estimated based on multivariate animal model by REML method, using DMU-package. All traits were significantly influenced by birth year, lamb's sex, type of birth and dam age (p<0.01). Heritability estimates for BW, WW and 6MW were 0.16±0.05, 0.24±0.06 and 0.35±0.07, respectively. All genetic correlations between traits were estimated positive and ranged from 0.57 (BW-6MW) to 0.97 (WW-6MW). The phenotypic correlations among all traits were also positive. The results of this study indicate that because of high genetic correlation between traits, selection for each of these traits may result in improvement in other traits as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to estimate the optimal calcium (Ca) requirement for growth performance and bone health in quail from 21 to 35 days posthatch. Five dietary treatments containing 0.45, 0.60, 0.75, 0.90, and 1.05 % Ca were evaluated in a completely randomized design with 6 replicates per treatment and 12 birds per pen. Body weight gain (BW gain; P = 0.04), tibia-Ca (P = 0.01), tibia ash (P = 0.01), and bone breaking strength (BBS; P = 0.01) increased quadratically with increasing dietary Ca levels, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a tendency to decrease (P = 0.07). Based on the statistical model, the optimal Ca requirements for BW gain and FCR were estimated to range from 0.75 to 0.84 % and 0.74 to 0.83 %, respectively. The Ca requirements for the Seedor index, tibia mass, and tibia length were estimated to range from 0.83 to 0.87 %, 0.81 to 0.87 %, and 0.78 to 0.86 %, respectively. The corresponding values for tibia-Ca, tibia ash, and BBS ranged from 0.67 to 0.73 %, 0.68 to 0.73 %, and 0.75 to 0.83 %, respectively. The study revealed that Ca requirements for optimal bone density may exceed those for growth performance, indicating the need for dietary Ca recommendations to be influenced by bone health considerations. These findings suggest that dietary calcium levels between 0.75 % and 0.87 % are optimal for growth performance and bone health in quail during the post-hatch growth period, with higher levels potentially required to maximize bone density and strength., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Minimizing bird mortality in the commercial quail breeding industry is important from an economic and welfare perspective. Genetic and non-genetic factors can influence on the cumulative survival of the birds (CS). Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate non-genetic factors on CSs (cumulative survival of the birds from hatch to 5 (CS 1 ), 10 (CS 2 ), 15 (CS 3 ), 20 (CS 4 ), 25 (CS 5 ), 30 (CS 6 ), 35 (CS 7 ), 40 (CS 8 ), and 45 (CS 9 ) days of age), and estimation of the genetic parameters for CSs in crossbred population of quail. Data set included 1794 records from crossbred chicks hatched from 70 sires and 72 dams. The fixed effects were analyzed using an animal model by ASReml software, and all traits were analyzed using Bayesian method via Gibbs sampling by fitting of 6 threshold animal models including the direct genetic effect, the maternal permanent environmental effect, and the maternal genetic effect. The best fitted model for each trait was selected based on the deviance information criteria. Hatch number, the month of hatch, and combination of chickens showed a significant effect on CSs, but the sex of chickens does not have a significant effect on CSs. However, females have higher survival than males (except for CS 1 ). With the best model, the highest and lowest direct heritability was estimated for CS 5 (0.386) and CS 3 (0.250), respectively. The maternal genetic effect was significant for CS 1 , CS 2 , CS 3 , and CS 4 traits, but the maternal permanent environmental effect was significant only for CS 1 . The range of maternal heritability for CS 1 to CS 4 traits was estimated from 0.064 to 0.111, and ratio of the permanent environmental variance to phenotypic variance for CS 1 was 0.021. The result showed that increasing of the birds' survival could be performed by correcting non-genetic factors and genetic selection for CSs considering the maternal genetic effects in younger ages. HIGHLIGHTS: • In the commercial quail breeding industry, the bird mortality is important from an economic and welfare perspective. • Improving quail survival can be achieved by controlling the genetic and non-genetic factors affecting on survival, so knowledge of these factors is necessary. • The combination of crossbred chickens had a significant effect on cumulative survival traits. • The Cumulative survival traits in the crossbred population had relatively high genetic diversity, so genetic selection for these traits could be effective., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)