Search

Your search keyword '"Baes C"' showing total 161 results
Start Over Author "Baes C" Search Limiters Full Text
161 results on '"Baes C"'

2. Novel genetic parameters for genetic residual feed intake in dairy cattle using time series data from multiple parities and countries in North America and Europe

Author

Stephansen, R.B., Martin, P., Manzanilla-Pech, C.I.V., Gredler-Grandl, B., Sahana, G., Madsen, P., Weigel, K., Tempelman, R.J., Peñagaricano, F., Parker Gaddis, K.L., White, H.M., Santos, J.E.P., Koltes, J.E., Schenkel, F., Hailemariam, D., Plastow, G., Abdalla, E., VandeHaar, M., Veerkamp, R.F., Baes, C., and Lassen, J.

Published
2023
Full Text
View/download PDF

10. Machine learning classification of breeding protocol descriptions from Canadian Holsteins

Author

Alcantara, L M, Schenkel, F S, Lynch, C, Oliveira Junior, G A, Baes, C F, and Tulpan, D

Subjects
Canada, 630 Agriculture, 590 Tiere (Zoologie), Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Machine Learning, Fertility, Pregnancy, Genetics, Animals, Lactation, 590 Animals (Zoology), Cattle, Female, Animal Science and Zoology, 630 Landwirtschaft, Estrus Synchronization, Algorithms, Insemination, Artificial, Progesterone, Food Science
Abstract

Dairy farmers are motivated to ensure cows become pregnant in an optimal and timely manner. Although timed artificial insemination (TAI) is a successful management tool in dairy cattle, it masks an animal's innate fertility performance, likely reducing the accuracy of genetic evaluations for fertility traits. Therefore, separating fertility traits based on the recorded management technique involved in the breeding process or adding the breeding protocol as an effect to the model can be viable approaches to address the potential bias caused by such management decisions. Nevertheless, there is a lack of specificity and uniformity in the recording of breeding protocol descriptions by dairy farmers. Therefore, this study investigated the use of 8 supervised machine learning algorithms to classify 1,835 unique breeding protocol descriptions from 981 herds into the following 2 classes: TAI or other than TAI. Our results showed that models that used a stacking classifier algorithm had the highest Matthews correlation coefficient (0.94 ± 0.04, mean ± SD) and maximized precision and recall (F1-score = 0.96 ± 0.03) on test data. Nonetheless, their F1-scores on test data were not different from 5 out of the other 7 algorithms considered. Altogether, results presented herein suggest machine learning algorithms can be used to produce robust models that correctly identify TAI protocols from dairy cattle breeding records, thus opening the opportunity for unbiased genetic evaluation of animals based on their natural fertility.

Published
2022
Full Text
View/download PDF

13. Novel genetic parameters to improve gRFI in dairy cattle using big data from multiple lactations and countries

Author

Stephansen, R.B., Martin, P., Gredler-Grandl, B., Manzanilla Pech, C.I.V., Sahana, G., Ducrocq, V., Baes, C., Schenkel, F., Veerkamp, R.F., Lassen, J., Stephansen, R.B., Martin, P., Gredler-Grandl, B., Manzanilla Pech, C.I.V., Sahana, G., Ducrocq, V., Baes, C., Schenkel, F., Veerkamp, R.F., and Lassen, J.

Abstract

To optimize breeding for feed efficiency, dry matter intake data from 3,967 Holstein cows with 131,234 weekly records from Denmark, France, The Netherlands, and Canada were combined. A random regression model was fitted to 1st and 2nd parity data for dry matter intake, energy corrected milk and body weight. Results showed that genetic residual feed intake is heritable in both parities, with an average heritability of 0.21. Genetic correlations across lactation and parities showed moderate to high estimates between mid and late lactation within parity. Early lactation had low genetic correlation with mid and late lactation. The genetic correlations between parities were around zero at all lactation stages. These findings show the importance of data collection and modelling at all lactation stages and parities.

Published
2022

18. Assessing the use of public weather station data to investigate the effects of heat stress on milk production in Canadian Holstein cattle

Author

Campos, I., Baes, C., Canovas, A., and Schenkel, F.

Subjects
heat stress, dairy cow, temperature-humidity index
Abstract

Oral Presentation at the 2020 ADSA Annual Meeting (online). The objectives of this study were to identify the temperature-humidity index (THI) thresholds where heat load starts to affect production traits (milk, fat, and protein yield) in the first 3 lactations of Holstein cows, and to assess potential differences in heat stress in Quebec and Ontario. A total of 2.1 million test-day records from 167,620 Ontario cows and 3.1 million records from 225,104 Quebec cows spanning an 11-yr period (2008 – 2018) were used. The climatic data consisted of hourly measurements of ambient temperature and relative humidity. In total 58 weather stations were located within a maximum distance of 20km from each herd. A k-means cluster analysis was performed within each THI >75 to exclude herds that may have some type of cooling system. A linear model was fitted to adjust the phenotypes, which were then plotted against the THI levels for each parity. To identify the THI threshold at which milk production starts to decline, a segmented polynomial was used to describe the shape of the curve of the relationship between production and THI values. During the summer, the average THI was 69 and 68 in Ontario and Quebec, respectively. Two heat stress thresholds were identified for milk yield and protein yield, one being associated with a low decline in the yield and the other one associated with sharper decline. For both provinces, the second threshold was reached at about THI = 79 for both milk and protein yields, while the first threshold was reached at about a THI = 64 – 72 for milk yield and THI = 57 – 64 for protein yield, depending on the province and parity. The expected reduction in milk yield after a THI ~79 was −0.40 kg/d and −0.19kg/d in Ontario and Quebec, respectively. The same features for protein yield were −16.2 g/d and −9.7 g/d. For fat yield, the expected reduction in yield after a THI ~57 was −3.3g/d and −2.6g/d for Ontario and Quebec, respectively. Therefore, the estimated rate decline differed between the 2 provinces, which may be related to the higher percentage of tie stall barns in Quebec (92%) compared with Ontario (

Published
2020

19. Conformation traits of Holstein cows and their association with the Pro$ selection index

Author

Alcantara, L., Baes, C., Oliveira Jr., G., and Schenkel, F.

Subjects
conformation traits, Holstein, pro$, genomics, genetics
Abstract

Oral Presentation at the 2020 ADSA Annual Meeting (online). Breeding programs across the globe are shifting their selection goals from production-driven to more balanced indexes that include traits of direct and indirect economic significance, such as conformation, fertility and health. In Canada, for instance, changes were made to better reflect producers and market needs in the wake of improved accuracy of genetic and genomic evaluations and national efforts regarding data recordings. In 2015 a new national profit index, Pro$, was introduced to maximize production yields, while maintaining functional and conformation traits, taking into consideration the accumulated profit to 6 years of age of proven sire’s daughters. The Canadian classification system comprises several linear and nonlinear descriptive traits and defective characteristics that are taken into account to calculate points, which are distributed in 4 different scorecard sections: Mammary System (MS), Feet & Legs, Dairy Strength (DS) and Rump. Understanding the contribution of each of these traits to a monetary index, such as Pro$, would help producers make culling and mating decisions ultimately resulting in more profitable herds. Therefore, the present study used statistical regression and principal component analysis to look at the overall and individual contribution of 23 classification traits to the Pro$ index using deregressed Estimated Breeding Values from 9,292 proven bulls (Lactanet). The total variance explained by the full model was 0.66, and out of the traits included in the model, Dairy Capacity contributed the most to the increase in Pro$. Stepwise backward regression analysis indicated that all traits should remain in the full model. Principal component analysis showed that the vast majority of traits contributed positively to Pro$ values. Traits from the MS contributed the most to the increase in Pro$ values, whereas Thurl Placement and Rump Angle did not seem to have a sizeable impact on Pro$. Dairy Research Cluster 3 – Canada, Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Lactanet, Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL)

Published
2020

20. Opinion paper: COVID-19 and the livestock sector

Author

Ani, A. O., Baes, C., Chemineau, P., Gauly, M., Jiménez-Flores, R., Kashiwazaki, N., Kegley, E. B., Kembe, M. A, Loh, T. C., Maiwashe, A., Medina-Villacìs, M., Rosati, A., Ani, A. O., Baes, C., Chemineau, P., Gauly, M., Jiménez-Flores, R., Kashiwazaki, N., Kegley, E. B., Kembe, M. A, Loh, T. C., Maiwashe, A., Medina-Villacìs, M., and Rosati, A.

Abstract

Pandemics are a recurring theme in human history, with evidence from the beginning of civilization up to the current Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The genotype of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus that has paralyzed the entire world since early 2020 is most closely related to a coronavirus from bats, eventually passed via Pangolins, although is not identical (Zhu et al., 2020). One of the most accredited hypotheses is that the virus first infected a human at or near a wet market in Wuhan, in the Hubei region of China; this city was the epicenter of the outbreak. In spite of some dis-information which circulates in the social media, it is clear that the virus originates in the over-exploitation of a wildlife at risk of transmission of diseases to humans and, moreover, in danger of extinction. In spite of the very numerous alerts which have been given in the past about the risk of a major outbreak coming from bats which host a high number of SARS viruses, the uncontrolled use of wildlife as a source of meat, bones, scales, blood, horns, hair and many other tissues has never ceased. These products, coming from poaching of endangered and not farmed species, feed both un-official and official markets of food or/and pharmacopeia. We should clearly affirm here that these processes should stop in a near future as they are not only destroying biodiversity but also producing pandemics which have major socio-economical consequences.

Published
2021

21. Opinion paper: COVID-19 and the livestock sector

Author

Ani, A.O., primary, Baes, C., additional, Chemineau, P., additional, Gauly, M., additional, Jiménez-Flores, R., additional, Kashiwazaki, N., additional, Kegley, E.B., additional, Kembe, M.A., additional, Loh, T.C., additional, Maiwashe, A., additional, Medina-Villacìs, M., additional, and Rosati, A., additional

Published
2021
Full Text
View/download PDF

22. Using publicly available weather station data to investigate the effects of heat stress on milk production traits in Canadian Holstein cattle.

Author

Campos, I. L., Chud, T. C. S, Oliveira, H. R., Baes, C. F., Cánovas, A., and Schenkel, F. S.

Subjects
HOLSTEIN-Friesian cattle, MILK yield, METEOROLOGICAL stations, PRODUCTION losses, DAIRY industry, DAIRY cattle, CATTLE
Abstract

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Animal Science is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Published
2022
Full Text
View/download PDF

26. 324 A progress report for the Efficient Dairy Genome Project.

Author

Miglior, F, primary, Baes, C, additional, Cánovas, A, additional, Coffey, M, additional, Connor, E, additional, De Pauw, M, additional, Goddard, E, additional, Hailu, G, additional, Lassen, J, additional, Malchiodi, F, additional, Osborne, V, additional, Pryce, J, additional, Sargolzaei, M, additional, Schenkel, F, additional, Wall, E, additional, Wang, Z, additional, Wegman, S, additional, Wright, T, additional, and Stothard, P, additional

Published
2018
Full Text
View/download PDF

31. Determining the economic value of daily dry matter intake and associated methane emissions in dairy cattle.

Author

Richardson, C. M., Baes, C. F., Amer, P. R., Quinton, C., Martin, P., Osborne, V. R., Pryce, J. E., and Miglior, F.

Abstract

Feed represents a substantial proportion of production costs in the dairy industry and is a useful target for improving overall system efficiency and sustainability. The objective of this study was to develop methodology to estimate the economic value for a feed efficiency trait and the associated methane production relevant to Canada. The approach quantifies the level of economic savings achieved by selecting animals that convert consumed feed into product while minimizing the feed energy used for inefficient metabolism, maintenance and digestion. We define a selection criterion trait called Feed Performance (FP) as a 1 kg increase in more efficiently used feed in a first parity lactating cow. The impact of a change in this trait on the total lifetime value of more efficiently used feed via correlated selection responses in other life stages is then quantified. The resulting improved conversion of feed was also applied to determine the resulting reduction in output of emissions (and their relative value based on a national emissions value) under an assumption of constant methane yield, where methane yield is defined as kg methane/kg dry matter intake (DMI). Overall, increasing the FP estimated breeding value by one unit (i.e. 1 kg of more efficiently converted DMI during the cow's first lactation) translates to a total lifetime saving of 3.23 kg in DMI and 0.055 kg in methane with the economic values of CAD $0.82 and CAD $0.07, respectively. Therefore, the estimated total economic value for FP is CAD $0.89/unit. The proposed model is robust and could also be applied to determine the economic value for feed efficiency traits within a selection index in other production systems and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
Full Text
View/download PDF

32. Genetic and genomic analysis of hyperthelia in Brown Swiss cattle

Author

Butty, A.M., Frischknecht, M., Gredler, B., Baes, C., Neuenschwander, S., Moll, J., Bieber, A., Seefried, F.R., Butty, A.M., Frischknecht, M., Gredler, B., Baes, C., Neuenschwander, S., Moll, J., Bieber, A., and Seefried, F.R.

Abstract

Supernumerary teats (SNT) are any abnormal teats found on a calf in addition to the usual and functional 4 teats. The presence of SNT has also been termed “hyperthelia” since the end of the 19th century. Supernumerary teats can act as an incubator for bacteria, infecting the whole udder, and can interfere with the positioning of the milking machine, and consequently, have economic relevance. Different types of SNT are observed at different positions on the udder. Caudal teats are in the rear, ramal teats are attached to another teat, and intercalary teats are found between 2 regular teats. Not all teats are equally developed; some are completely functional but most are rudimentary and not attached to any mammary gland tissue. Recently, different studies showed the poly/oligogenic character of these malformations in cattle as well as in other mammalian species. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic architecture and incidence of hyperthelia in Swiss Brown Swiss cattle using both traditional genetic evaluation as well as imputed whole genome sequence variant information. First, phenotypes collected over the last 20 yr were used together with pedigree information for estimation of genetic variance. Second, breeding values of Brown Swiss bulls were estimated applying the BLUP algorithm. The BLUP-EBV were deregressed and used as phenotypes in genome-wide association studies. The gene LGR5 on chromosome 5 was identified as a candidate for the presence of SNT. Using alternative trait coding, genomic regions on chromosome 17 and 20 were also identified as being involved in the development of SNT with their own supernumerary mammary gland tissue. Implementing knowledge gained in this study as a routine application allows a more accurate evaluation of the trait and reduction of SNT prevalence in the Swiss Brown Swiss cattle population.

Published
2017

33. Efficiency of different selection strategies against boar taint in pigs

Author

Haberland, A. M., Luther, H., Hofer, A., Tholen, E., Simianer, H., Lind, B., Baes, C., Haberland, A. M., Luther, H., Hofer, A., Tholen, E., Simianer, H., Lind, B., and Baes, C.

Abstract

The breeding scheme of a Swiss sire line was modeled to compare different target traits and information sources for selection against boar taint. The impact of selection against boar taint on production traits was assessed for different economic weights of boar taint compounds. Genetic gain and breeding costs were evaluated using ZPlan+, a software based on selection index theory, gene flow method and economic modeling. Scenario I reflected the currently practiced breeding strategy as a reference scenario without selection against boar taint. Scenario II incorporated selection against the chemical compounds of boar taint, androstenone (AND), skatole (SKA) and indole (IND) with economic weights of −2.74, −1.69 and −0.99 Euro per unit of the log transformed trait, respectively. As information sources, biopsy-based performance testing of live boars (BPT) was compared with genomic selection (GS) and a combination of both. Scenario III included selection against the subjectively assessed human nose score (HNS) of boar taint. Information sources were either station testing of full and half sibs of the selection candidate or GS against HNS of boar taint compounds. In scenario I, annual genetic gain of log-transformed AND (SKA; IND) was 0.06 (0.09; 0.02) Euro, which was because of favorable genetic correlations with lean meat percentage and meat surface. In scenario II, genetic gain increased to 0.28 (0.20; 0.09) Euro per year when conducting BPT. Compared with BPT, genetic gain was smaller with GS. A combination of BPT and GS only marginally increased annual genetic gain, whereas variable costs per selection candidate augmented from 230 Euro (BPT) to 330 Euro (GS) or 380 Euro (both). The potential of GS was found to be higher when selecting against HNS, which has a low heritability. Annual genetic gain from GS was higher than from station testing of 4 full sibs and 76 half sibs with one or two measurements. The most effective strategy to reduce HNS was selecting against ch

Published
2017

34. Effect of Cows in the Reference Population: First Results in Swiss Brown Swiss

Author

Bapst, B., Baes, C., Seefried, F.R., Bieber, A., Simianer, H., Gredler, B., Bapst, B., Baes, C., Seefried, F.R., Bieber, A., Simianer, H., and Gredler, B.

Abstract

The effect of including 1,236 cows in the current reference population of Swiss Brown Swiss cattle on the accuracy of genomic breeding values was studied. The accuracy of genomic predictions based on reference populations consisting of bulls only and bulls and cows was compared. The gain in accuracy was very small or not existing at all. Reasons could be that the number of cows was too small for a reference population consisting of 4,085 bulls and that the cows and bulls were too closely related. Nevertheless, genotyping cows and subsequent inclusion in the reference population should be accelerated.

Published
2013

40. Solubility Parameters and the Distribution of Ions to Nonaqueous Solvents

Author

Baes, C. F., Jr. and Moyer, B. A.

Abstract

Provided a singly charged, spherically symmetrical ion has a radius greater than ca. 0.2 nm, its distribution to a nonaqueous solvent from water can be accounted for by assigning to it a Hildebrand solubility parameter estimated for an uncharged atom or molecule, regardless of the model assumed for the Gibbs energy of charging the ion&sbd;that of Born, Abraham, and Liszi (J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1 1978, 74, 1604, 2858) or Abe (J. Phys. Chem. 1986, 90, 713)&sbd;in the nonaqueous phase. For smaller ions, however, no choice of solubility parameter or ion size can alone account for their extractability. The extensive data available for the Gibbs energy of transfer of monovalent ions from water to a variety of solvents can be accounted for by assigning to the ion, in addition to a plausible solubility parameter, an effective radius rs = (ri3 + Δrs3)1/3, wherein ri is the radius of the ion and Δrs is an adjustable distance characteristic of the solvent. Separate sets of Δrs values are needed for cations and anions. While the alternative models for charging the ion all give acceptable fits to the data, the shell model of Abraham and Liszi was selected as the most appropriate. The distance Δrs can be predicted for cations from the molar volume of the solvent and its hydrogen-bond acceptance index β. For anions, Δrs can be predicted from the molar volume and the hydrogen-bond donation index α. On the basis of these correlations, expressions are derived for predicting the extractability of a singly charged, approximately spherical ion and its activity coefficient in the nonaqueous phase.

Published
1997

41. Acidity measurements at elevated temperatures. VII. Dissociation of water

Author

Sweeton, F. H., Mesmer, R. E., and Baes, C. F.

Abstract

The self-dissociation of water has been studied over the temperature range from 0 to 300°C and in KCl media from 0.02m to 2.7m. Also, isothermal pressure coefficients of the dissociation quotients have been obtained in these same media up to 250°C. A potentiometric method employing a hydrogen electrode concentration cell with flowing solutions was employed. The estimated accuracy of logQw values up to 250°C is 0.02 log units and at 300°C is 0.04 log units. Smoothing functions have been found which fit these data along with the precise potentiometric data of Harned and co-workers at low temperatures, the existing calorimetric data up to 55°C and the recent conductimetric measurements of pure water up to 271°C by Bignoldet al., within about 1.5 times the estimated errors. Thermodynamic quantities for the dissociation reaction have been tabulated for rounded values of temperature and ionic strength at the saturation pressure of water. The isothermal pressure coefficients of log Qw varies approximately linearly with the square root of the ionic strength. This and the dependence of logKw on the density of the water is consistent with the assumption that the molal volumes of aqueous ions vary linearly with the compressibility coefficient of water. The heat for the dissociation reaction at infinite dilution is also shown to be strongly dependent on density.

Published
1974
Full Text
View/download PDF

42. Phosphoric acid dissociation equilibria in aqueous solutions to 300°C

Author

Mesmer, R. E. and Baes, C. F.

Abstract

The dissociation equilibria of phosphoric acid were studied potentiometrically using a hydrogen-electrode concentration cell to 300°C at KCl concentrations up to 1.0m. Least-squares analysis of data atP(V) concentration of 0.008 and 0.045m indicate the absence of significant amounts of polyphosphates up to 200°C.P(V) data at concentrations less than 0.01m extending to 300°C were analyzed in terms of the species HnPO4(n-3). The equilibrium quotients expressed for neutralization reactions have been fitted with a nine-parameter expression for the first stepwise neutralization and 11 parameters for the second. Fewer data were obtained for the third neutralization since the HPO2- becomes a strong base above about 150°C in water. Thermodyanamic parameters have been derived for these equilibria, and comparisons have been drawn with other similar data recently reported. There is evidence from the salt effects that the extent of association of HPO42- or H2PO4- with K+ is not great in 1m KCl.

Published
1974
Full Text
View/download PDF

43. Review: Genetic selection of high-yielding dairy cattle toward sustainable farming systems in a rapidly changing world

Author

Brito, L F, Bedere, N, Douhard, F, Oliveira, H R, Arnal, M, Peñagaricano, F, Schinckel, A P, Baes, C F, and Miglior, F

Subjects
2. Zero hunger, 630 Agriculture, 590 Animals (Zoology)
Abstract

The massive improvement in food production, as a result of effective genetic selection combined with advancements in farming practices, has been one of the greatest achievements of modern agriculture. For instance, the dairy cattle industry has more than doubled milk production over the past five decades, while the total number of cows has been reduced dramatically. This was achieved mainly through the intensification of production systems, direct genetic selection for milk yield and a limited number of related traits, and the use of modern technologies (e.g., artificial insemination and genomic selection). Despite the great betterment in production efficiency, strong drawbacks have occurred along the way. First, across-breed genetic diversity reduced dramatically, with the worldwide use of few common dairy breeds, as well as a substantial reduction in within-breed genetic diversity. Intensive selection for milk yield has also resulted in unfavorable genetic responses for traits related to fertility, health, longevity, and environmental sensitivity. Moving forward, the dairy industry needs to continue refining the current selection indexes and breeding goals to put greater emphasis on traits related to animal welfare, health, longevity, environmental efficiency (e.g., methane emission and feed efficiency), and overall resilience. This needs to be done through the definition of criteria (traits) that (a) represent well the biological mechanisms underlying the respective phenotypes, (b) are heritable, and (c) can be cost-effectively measured in a large number of animals and as early in life as possible. The long-term sustainability of the dairy cattle industry will also require diversification of production systems, with greater investments in the development of genetic resources that are resilient to perturbations occurring in specific farming systems with lesser control over the environment (e.g., organic, agroecological, and pasture-based, mountain-grazing farming systems). The conservation, genetic improvement, and use of local breeds should be integrated into the modern dairy cattle industry and greater care should be taken to avoid further genetic diversity losses in dairy cattle populations. In this review, we acknowledge the genetic progress achieved in high-yielding dairy cattle, closely related to dairy farm intensification, that reaches its limits. We discuss key points that need to be addressed toward the development of a robust and long-term sustainable dairy industry that maximize animal welfare (fundamental needs of individual animals and positive welfare) and productive efficiency, while also minimizing the environmental footprint, inputs required, and sensitivity to external factors.

44. A performance test for boar taint compounds in live boars

Author

Baes, C., Mattei, S., Luther, H., Ampuero, S., Sidler, X., Bee, G., Spring, P., Hofer, A., Baes, C., Mattei, S., Luther, H., Ampuero, S., Sidler, X., Bee, G., Spring, P., and Hofer, A.

Abstract

Genetically reducing boar taint using low-taint lines is considered the most sustainable and economic long-term alternative to surgical castration of male pigs. Owing to the high heritability of the main boar taint components (androstenone, skatole and indole), breeding is an excellent tool for reducing the number of tainted carcasses. To incorporate boar taint into breeding programmes, standardized performance testing is required. The objective of this study was to develop and formally present a performance test for the main boar taint compounds on live breeding candidates. First, a standardized performance test for boar taint was established. A biopsy device was developed to extract small tissue samples (200 to 300 mg) from breeding candidates. Quantification of boar taint components from these small samples using specialized chemical extraction methods proved accurate and repeatable (r = 0.938). Following establishment of the method, biopsy samples of 516 live boars (100 to 130 kg live weight) were collected in the second step. Various mixed linear models were tested for each boar taint compound; models were ranked in terms of their information content. Pedigree information of 2245 ancestors of biopsied animals was included, and genetic parameters were estimated using univariate and multivariate models. Androstenone (in μg/g liquid fat (LF): mean = 0.578, σ = 0.527), skatole (in μg/g LF: mean = 0.033, σ = 0.002) and indole (in μg/g LF: mean = 0.032, σ = 0.002) levels obtained by biopsy were plausible. Heritability estimates for androstenone calculated with univariate (0.453) and multivariate (0.452) analyses were comparable to those in the literature. Heritabilities for skatole (0.495) and indole (0.550) were higher than that for androstenone. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were similar to those published previously. Our results show that data on boar taint compounds from small adipose samples obtained by biopsy provide similar genetic parameters as that des

45. Efficiency of different selection strategies against boar taint in pigs

Author

Haberland, A. M., Luther, H., Hofer, A., Tholen, E., Simianer, H., Lind, B., Baes, C., Haberland, A. M., Luther, H., Hofer, A., Tholen, E., Simianer, H., Lind, B., and Baes, C.

Abstract

The breeding scheme of a Swiss sire line was modeled to compare different target traits and information sources for selection against boar taint. The impact of selection against boar taint on production traits was assessed for different economic weights of boar taint compounds. Genetic gain and breeding costs were evaluated using ZPlan+, a software based on selection index theory, gene flow method and economic modeling. Scenario I reflected the currently practiced breeding strategy as a reference scenario without selection against boar taint. Scenario II incorporated selection against the chemical compounds of boar taint, androstenone (AND), skatole (SKA) and indole (IND) with economic weights of −2.74, −1.69 and −0.99 Euro per unit of the log transformed trait, respectively. As information sources, biopsy-based performance testing of live boars (BPT) was compared with genomic selection (GS) and a combination of both. Scenario III included selection against the subjectively assessed human nose score (HNS) of boar taint. Information sources were either station testing of full and half sibs of the selection candidate or GS against HNS of boar taint compounds. In scenario I, annual genetic gain of log-transformed AND (SKA; IND) was 0.06 (0.09; 0.02) Euro, which was because of favorable genetic correlations with lean meat percentage and meat surface. In scenario II, genetic gain increased to 0.28 (0.20; 0.09) Euro per year when conducting BPT. Compared with BPT, genetic gain was smaller with GS. A combination of BPT and GS only marginally increased annual genetic gain, whereas variable costs per selection candidate augmented from 230 Euro (BPT) to 330 Euro (GS) or 380 Euro (both). The potential of GS was found to be higher when selecting against HNS, which has a low heritability. Annual genetic gain from GS was higher than from station testing of 4 full sibs and 76 half sibs with one or two measurements. The most effective strategy to reduce HNS was selecting against ch

48. Identification of a two-marker-haplotype on Bos taurus autosome 18 associated with somatic cell score in German Holstein cattle

Author

Reinsch Norbert, Mayer Manfred, Baes Christine, Brand Bodo, and Kühn Christa

Subjects
Genetics, QH426-470
Abstract

Abstract Background The somatic cell score (SCS) is implemented in routine sire evaluations in many countries as an indicator trait for udder health. Somatic cell score is highly correlated with clinical mastitis, and in the German Holstein population quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SCS have been repeatedly mapped on Bos taurus autosome 18 (BTA18). In the present study, we report a refined analysis of previously detected QTL regions on BTA18 with the aim of identifying marker and marker haplotypes in linkage disequilibrium with SCS. A combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium approach was implemented, and association analyses of marker genotypes and maternally inherited two-marker-haplotypes were conducted to identify marker and haplotypes in linkage disequilibrium with a locus affecting SCS in the German Holstein population. Results We detected a genome-wide significant QTL within marker interval 9 (HAMP_c.366+109G>A - BMS833) in the middle to telomeric region on BTA18 and a second putative QTL in marker interval 12-13 (BB710 - PVRL2_c.392G>A). Association analyses with genotypes of markers flanking the most likely QTL positions revealed the microsatellite marker BMS833 (interval 9) to be associated with a locus affecting SCS within the families investigated. A further analysis of maternally inherited two-marker haplotypes and effects of maternally inherited two-marker-interval gametes indicated haplotype 249-G in marker interval 12-13 (BB710 - PVRL2_c.392G>A) to be associated with SCS in the German Holstein population. Conclusion Our results confirmed previous QTL mapping results for SCS and support the hypothesis that more than one locus presumably affects udder health in the middle to telomeric region of BTA18. However, a subsequent investigation of the reported QTL regions is necessary to verify the two-QTL hypothesis and confirm the association of two-marker-haplotype 249-G in marker interval 12-13 (BB710 - PVRL2_c.392G>A) with SCS. For this purpose, higher marker density and multiple-trait and multiple-QTL models are required to narrow down the position of the causal mutation or mutations affecting SCS in German Holstein cattle.

Published
2009
Full Text
View/download PDF

49. Genetic parameters for clutch and broodiness traits in turkeys (Meleagris Gallopavo) and their relationship with body weight and egg production.

Author

Begli, H Emamgholi, Wood, B J, Abdalla, E A, Balzani, A, Willems, O, Schenkel, F, Harlander-Matauschek, A, and Baes, C F

Subjects
*AGRICULTURAL egg production, *WILD turkey, *TURKEYS, *BODY weight, *GENETIC correlations, *FISH eggs
Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters for clutch and broodiness (BR) traits in turkeys and their relationship with body weight and egg production. Data on dam line hens was available and included: body weight at 18 wk of age (BW18), body weight at lighting (BWL , 29 to 33 wk), age at first egg (AFE), egg number (EN), rate of lay (RL), clutch length (CL), maximum clutch length (MCL), pause length (PL), maximum PL (MPL) and BR. BR was defined as the average number of consecutive pause days between clutches that was higher than the average PL per hen. Heritability estimates for BW18 and BWL were 0.50 and 0.53, respectively. The heritability for egg production, clutch, and pause traits varied from low (MPL = 0.15; BR = 0.15) to moderate (AFE = 0.22; EN = 0.28; RL = 0.29; CL = 0.21; MCL = 0.27; PL = 0.25). Genetic correlations were negative between body weight traits and EN (rg (BW18, EN) = −0.27; rg(BWL, EN) = −0.33) and CL (rg(BW18, CL) = −0.40; rg(BWL, CL) = −0.33). BR was negatively genetically correlated with EN (rg(BR, EN) = −0.85) and CL (rg(BR, CL) = −0.30), and positively genetically correlated with PL (rg(BR, PL) = 0.93) and AFE (rg(BR, AFE) = 0.21). EN had a positive (0.73) and a negative (−0.84) genetic correlation with CL and PL, respectively. Overall, the results of this study confirmed the negative (unfavorable) correlations between egg production and body weight. Despite unfavorable genetic and phenotypic correlations between egg production traits and those relating to BR, the inclusion of BR in a selection program through incorporation of clutch length traits and pause length traits is feasible. Integration of either clutch length traits or pause length traits in a selection index is likely to increase egg number while decreasing broodiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2019
Full Text
View/download PDF

Catalog

Books, media, physical & digital resources
See catalog results