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ABSTRACT: Indigenous animal genetic resources should be preserved because of their well adaptation to the environment, their tolerance to low food availability and their sociocultural importance. The characterization of the quality of the products generated by heritage breeds may bring more arguments to encourage the raising of these animals. This study aimed at evaluating the egg performance and quality of Spanish indigenous Black Castellana (BC) breed as compared with a selected strain (Lohmann LSL-Classic). Four groups of 30 hens were arranged: 1) Lohmann hens fed a control diet; 2) BC hens fed the control diet; 3) Lohmann hens fed a diet including linseed at 70 g/kg (omega-3 diet); 4) BC hens fed the omega-3 diet. Egg production was higher by 12.3% for Lohmann hens but, since BC eggs were heavier by 15.4%, no effect of genetics was found on daily egg mass. Feed intake was higher by 5.0% for BC hens. Nonetheless, no difference was detected for feed conversion ratio. Eggshell was thicker by 6.78% in Lohmann eggs. Haugh units did not differ among freshly laid and stored eggs in Lohmann hens, whereas Haugh units decreased in stored BC eggs (80.5 vs. 76.7 vs. 72.3 at 0, 14, and 30 d of storage). Yolks of BC eggs contained less fat (57.5 vs. 60.8% DM), more protein (32.8 vs. 31.9% DM) and more cholecalciferol (1.25 vs. 1.22 μg/g DM), and showed lower proportion of saturated fatty acids (29.0 vs. 37.0%) and higher proportions of monounsaturated (45.7 vs. 39.6%) and polyunsaturated (25.2 vs. 23.4%) fatty acids. Feeding the omega-3 diet reduced the yolk proportions of saturated (32.5 vs. 33.5%) and monounsaturated (42.0 vs. 43.3%) fatty acids and increased those of polyunsaturated (25.4 vs. 23.2%) and ω-3 (7.05 vs. 2.42%) fatty acids. No effect due to genetics or diet was found on yolk color score or on yolk content in cholesterol, cobalamin, retinol and γ-tocopherol. This study represents the first exhaustive characterization of eggs from Spanish indigenous Black Castellana breed.

This study determined reproductive performance, milking traits and body measurements in 630 Manavlı goats that were reared purely in the Denizli province of Türkiye in six goat flocks. In this study, live weights and zoometrical body measurements of does and bucks were defined. Additionally, flock reproductive traits and milk yield were determined for six flocks. Overall, birth rate, twin birth rate, kidding rate and litter size in six flocks were determined as 98.34%, 43.42%, 1.41 and 1.44, respectively. The mean of the lactation milk yield, lactation period and daily milk yield were 160.48 kg, 198 days and 0.810 kg, respectively. The live weights of does ranging in age from 4.1 to 4.7 were between 74.59 and 86.30 kg, while the live weights of bucks ranging in age from 2.1 to 2.7 were between 101.19 and 118.23 kg . Some body measurements of does, such as height at withers, rump height, rump width, body length, heart girth, ear length, tail length, and front and back wrist girth, were measured as 92.80, 93.07, 22.86, 91.97, 105.02, 26.83, 20.19, 12.35 and 12.31 cm, respectively, before mating season. The same values at the abovementioned period were measured as 98.27, 98.71, 23.87, 100.48, 109.89, 26.97, 22.30, 14.46 and 14.41 cm, respectively. This study is the first research related to Manavlı goats, for which no features have been reported to date. The obtained results will help to contribute to livestock diversity.

The quality of pork meat directly influences the price and consumption. The genetic improvement of pigs has mainly focused on high productive efficiency, which has resulted in poor meat quality. Crossbreeds containing commercial and indigenous breeds could improve the meat quality, but identifying breed composition was difficult because of the lack of an ancestry reference panel. Therefore, we first constructed an abundant reference panel and convenient pipeline to identify ancestry/breed composition. The ancestry reference panel consisted of 517 reliable individuals, including three commercial breeds (Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire) and 38 indigenous Chinese breeds. The nature of the reference panel showed that the European domestic breed (EUD) and Asian domestic breed (ASD) were distinctly divided into two clusters. The evaluation of ancestry identification revealed that the reference panel performed well in identifying EUD and ASD ancestry proportions for commercial breeds, indigenous breeds, and crossbreeds. In addition, the ancestry reference panel also performed excellently in identifying breed composition for 3 commercial and 38 indigenous breeds. Specifically, the reference panel showed the outstanding identification of breed composition for crossbred individuals. These results suggested that the ancestry reference panel and convenient pipeline played a good role in identifying breed composition for pigs.

A comparative fatty acid analysis of raw milk and during in vitro digestion of milk from different breeds of cow (Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Karan fries) and buffalo (Murrah) maintained under similar feeding regimes was conducted. Saturated fatty acids were higher in Murrah and Karan Fries, whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in Gir, Sahiwal and Tharparkar. Based on the fatty acid profile, atherogenic, thrombogenic index and hypercholesterolemic saturated fatty acids were lower, and desired fatty acids were higher in milk from indigenous breeds than in crossbred and Murrah. The size of milk fat globules was also lower in indigenous cattle breeds, which has allowed for faster in vitro digestibility of milk fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pampa Rocha (PR) is a breed of pig that emerged in eastern Uruguay during the 18th century. They represent an important resource for non-intensive production using purebred or crossbred animals. However, productive activities have been oriented towards intensive production using commercial breeds, abandoning, except by some academic and educational institutions, the promotion of this creole breed. Thus, a population of few animals is still maintained, which could be in danger of disappearing. This work focuses on the fecal microbiota of these animals, which is related to the animal genetic background but also to their grazing capacity and resistance to weather. The structure and diversity of bacterial communities in the intestines of four PR adult females and of other breeds, including crosses, reared under non-grazing conditions, were analyzed and compared. Results obtained indicate that PR fecal microbiota is clearly different from those of other animals analyzed. Some sequences, corresponding to particular groups apparently related to the consumption of fiber, were strongly associated with PR pigs.

The identification of the dwarf phenotype in chicken is based on body weight, height, and shank length, leaving the differentiation between dwarf and small breeds ambiguous. The aims of the present study were to characterize the sequence variations associated with the dwarf phenotype in three Italian chicken breeds and to investigate the genes associated with their phenotype. Five hundred and forty-one chickens from 23 local breeds (from 20 to 24 animals per breed) were sampled. All animals were genotyped with the 600 K chicken SNP array. Three breeds were described as "dwarf", namely, Mericanel della Brianza (MERI), Mugellese (MUG), and Pepoi (PPP). We compared MERI, MUG, and PPP with the four heaviest breeds in the dataset by performing genome-wide association studies. Results showed significant SNPs associated with dwarfism in the MERI and MUG breeds, which shared a candidate genomic region on chromosome 1. Due to this similarity, MERI and MUG were analyzed together as a meta-population, observing significant SNPs in the LEMD3 and HMGA2 genes, which were previously reported as being responsible for dwarfism in different species. In conclusion, MERI and MUG breeds seem to share a genetic basis of dwarfism, which differentiates them from the small PPP breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous animal genetic resources should be preserved because of their well adaptation to the environment, their tolerance to low food availability and their sociocultural importance. The characterization of the quality of the products generated by heritage breeds may bring more arguments to encourage the raising of these animals. This study aimed at evaluating the egg performance and quality of Spanish indigenous Black Castellana (BC) breed as compared with a selected strain (Lohmann LSL-Classic). Four groups of 30 hens were arranged: 1) Lohmann hens fed a control diet; 2) BC hens fed the control diet; 3) Lohmann hens fed a diet including linseed at 70 g/kg (omega-3 diet); 4) BC hens fed the omega-3 diet. Egg production was higher by 12.3% for Lohmann hens but, since BC eggs were heavier by 15.4%, no effect of genetics was found on daily egg mass. Feed intake was higher by 5.0% for BC hens. Nonetheless, no difference was detected for feed conversion ratio. Eggshell was thicker by 6.78% in Lohmann eggs. Haugh units did not differ among freshly laid and stored eggs in Lohmann hens, whereas Haugh units decreased in stored BC eggs (80.5 vs. 76.7 vs. 72.3 at 0, 14, and 30 d of storage). Yolks of BC eggs contained less fat (57.5 vs. 60.8% DM), more protein (32.8 vs. 31.9% DM) and more cholecalciferol (1.25 vs. 1.22 μg/g DM), and showed lower proportion of saturated fatty acids (29.0 vs. 37.0%) and higher proportions of monounsaturated (45.7 vs. 39.6%) and polyunsaturated (25.2 vs. 23.4%) fatty acids. Feeding the omega-3 diet reduced the yolk proportions of saturated (32.5 vs. 33.5%) and monounsaturated (42.0 vs. 43.3%) fatty acids and increased those of polyunsaturated (25.4 vs. 23.2%) and ω-3 (7.05 vs. 2.42%) fatty acids. No effect due to genetics or diet was found on yolk color score or on yolk content in cholesterol, cobalamin, retinol and γ-tocopherol. This study represents the first exhaustive characterization of eggs from Spanish indigenous Black Castellana breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ‘Pinzgau of Transylvania’ taurine breed was formed in Transylvania and Banat through the German population’s efforts in what concerns the work of amelioration and selection. The research has been carried out during 1998 – 2008. In the year 1936 there were approximately 18700 specimens of the ‘Pinzgau of Transylvania’ breed, while in 2008 there are only 875 specimens left (pure blood and half blood) and the number is still heavily decreasing. In Banat, the breeding system regarding this breed is the traditional one. The average milk production of the ‘Pinzgau of Transylvania’ breed here in Banat is 3278 kg, the fat percent is 3,23±0,01 and the protein percent 3,88±0,01. The ability for meat production is 740 – 810 g/day. In what concerns the global warming, this breed adapts very well to mountain areas as well as to plain areas. In order to preserve the traditional products of Banat, it is advisable to maintain this breed.

The present study aims to review the literature on the functioning of short value chains and public perceptions regarding indigenous farm animal breeds (IFABs), local plant varieties (LPVs), and their products. Our work mainly concerns Greece, providing additional concrete examples from the wider Balkan area, which is characterized by high agrobiodiversity and richness in various IFAB and LPV, enhanced by the extensive farming systems that still operate in many parts of the area. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature search of recent relevant studies was performed, followed by a description of their results and conclusions, as well as proposed measures and policies for the conservation and utilization of biodiversity in agricultural and livestock systems. According to our findings, the Balkan region is characterized by a great wealth of local plant varieties and indigenous breeds of farm animals, which is largely recognized by consumers, who would, however, recommend stronger eco-labeling of local agricultural products. Similar data are observed in Greece, which are reinforced by the Mediterranean climatic environment. NGO organizations occasionally play an important role in promoting local agricultural products and creating awareness about the need to preserve local breeds and plant varieties. Finally, the recognition, certification, and measurements carried out by local authorities, as well as EU regulations, are of great importance in highlighting the value of agrobiodiversity from a sustainable point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelung chicken, as one of the Indonesian indigenous chicken breeds, is known for its distinct characteristics. Pelung chicken has been an object of selective breeding programs due to its slow-growing performance, particularly in live weight gain. Through selective breeding, the backcross and its reciprocal generations have been produced. This study was aimed to identify the phenotypes, performance in live weight gain, and insulin gene (INS) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C1549T genotyping. The phenotypes consisted of morphometrics and morphological traits. The tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method was used to detect the SNP C1549T of the INS gene. The live weight gain of reciprocal backcross (RBC1) outperformed the first backcross (BC1) chickens. Morphometrics and morphological traits of BC1 and RBC1 indicated a directional selection effect towards pelung chicken. The transition mutation of SNP C1549T was only detected in RBC1 chickens as CT genotype (44.44%) and TT genotype (55.56%). The presence of SNP C1549T might have a significant association with the live weight gain of RBC1. T-ARMS-PCR method is suitable for the rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms. Additional studies are required to confirm the association of INS gene polymorphism and live weight gain with a larger population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece has a long history in autochthonous sheep, the genetic ancestry of which has been associated with four subtypes known to inhabit Greece at the end of the nineteenth century. Among them, the Karamaniko breed is still surviving, however endangered. This study was designed in order to (a) determine the phylogenetic status, (b) to evaluate the levels of inbreeding, and (c) to assess the genetic basis of coat color of Karamaniko breed. For these purposes, the mitochondrial cyt b gene was sequenced, the AFLP methodology was applied, and the MC1R was genotyped, respectively, in 72 female sheep from the Karamaniko breed. Four different novel cyt b haplotypes were defined and three MC1R genotypes were scored, whereas inbreeding levels estimated using AFLPs by the means of relatedness coefficient (r) were 0.287, with gene diversity at the levels of 0.105. Phylogenetic analysis indicated an eastern Asian tropical and subtropical origin of the Karamaniko breed, close with breeds originating from central Turkey, or a clustering within western European or Mediterranean sheep, mirroring a recent genetic divergence, with a non-random spread towards the formation of lowland breeds. The MC1R genotypes were all associated with the white coat color, in which selective breeding has probably been based on traditional morphological characters. Finally, levels of inbreeding do not constitute an indication for a particular mating plan to prevent unpleasant phenomena such as inbreeding depression, probably because of the special attention paid by the farmers towards the avoidance of relative recurrent mating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry are the most widely distributed type of livestock in Nigeria. Indigenous chickens are extremely common throughout the country. Indeed, approximately 83 million chickens are raised in extensive systems and 60 million in semi-intensive systems. To provide the first comprehensive overview of the maternal lineages in Southwest Nigeria, we analyzed 96 mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from 2 indigenous chicken ecotypes: Fulani and Yoruba. All samples belonged to the most frequent haplogroup (E) in Africa and Europe and showed noticeably low haplotype diversity. Although only 11 different haplotypes were detected, with 2 of them never found before in Nigeria, the presence of unique sequences among our indigenous samples testified to their status as an important genetic resource to be preserved. Furthermore, a total of 7,868 published sequences were included in the comparative analysis, which revealed an east-west geographic pattern of haplogroup distribution and led to the conclusion that the gene flow from Southeastern Asia mainly involved one mitochondrial clade. Moreover, owing to the extensive genetic intermixing among Nigerian chickens, conservation efforts are required to safeguard the extant mitochondrial variability in these indigenous ecotypes and establish future improvement and selection programs.

In order to contribute to our knowledge of the meat quality of local lamb breeds in Spain, we carried out a characterization of the Montesina lamb breed, including nutritional (proximal composition, fatty acid profile, mineral content) and organoleptic (color, water holding capacity, shear force and volatile compounds) traits. The lambs were distributed in the following three production systems: spring grazing (SP; n = 10); winter grazing supplemented with concentrate (WP + c; n = 10) and concentrate supplemented with forage (C; n = 10). A combined statistical analysis using ANOVA, principal components and discriminant analysis by steps allowed us to select biomarkers in Montesina lambs' meat to identify the production system. The lambs' meat SP showed the highest moisture content (73.32%) and the lowest fat (1.05%). The lowest redness and yellowness color indices were observed in C lamb's meat (6.76 and 10.08, respectively). A higher content of aldehydes, C18:3n-3 and C22:5 n-3 DPA was associated to SP and WP + c, while alcohols were associated to C lamb's diet. Alcohol and aldehyde compounds, in combination with C18:3n-3 and C22:5 n-3 DPA fatty acids, could be proposed as potential biomarkers to differentiate the three production systems and as a tool to monitor the traceability of lambs' meat from the Montesina breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of animal growth is important for the improvement of management and feeding practices; however, little is known about the growth curve in Vietnamese indigenous chicken. This study was performed to determine the most appropriate models for describing the growth curve of Vietnamese Mia chicken. The study evaluated the performances of the Logistic, Gompertz, Richards, and Bridges models of body weights in 224 Mia chickens. Models were fitted using minpack.lm package in R software and Akaike's information criterion and Bayesian information criterion were used for model comparison. Based on these criteria, the Gompertz and Bridges were the best models for males and females, respectively. Estimated asymmetric weights (a) were ranged from 2,241.91 ± 14.74 (g) (Logistic) to 2,623.86 ± 30.23 (g) (Gompertz) for males and from 1,537.36 ± 10.97 (g) (Logistic) and 1,958.36 ± 72.92 (g) (Bridges) for females, respectively. The age at the inflection point was estimated from 9.32 to 10.5 weeks and from 8.51 to 9.86 weeks for males and females, respectively. In conclusion, the Gompertz model is the most suitable model for describing the growth curve of Mia chicken. The parameters obtained from growth models could help define feeding programs to meet nutritional needs from hatching to the age of maximum growth, reproduction programs, and marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighteen quantitative measurements and fourteen qualitative characteristics taken from 306 adult sheep (57 rams and 249 ewes) were used to characterize sheep populations of district, Ethiopia. Most traits showed significant variation by zone, sex and age groups with higher values generally recorded for rams as compared to ewes. Middle age group animals displayed highest values for several traits, reflecting the optimal production age. zone affected ewes more than rams. The highland sheep height at withers, widest shoulder points and longest hair, indicative of adaptation to their environment. Qualitative characteristics of the studied sheep populations such as tail shape, plain coat color pattern, skin, hairy fiber and the absence of horn, toggle, ruff and beard suggest that they constitute a previously sheep breed. Tan coat color differentiated high and midland sheep from lowland sheep where white and brown colors were dominant. Canon bone length, height at withers and tail length were the three most important variables used in discriminating the sheep populations. On average 66% of the animals could be classified into their respective zone. Our data suggest that highland sheep populations are distantly related to lowland sheep, while midland sheep are more closely related to lowland sheep. It can be concluded that breeding programs specific to each zone need to be designed for sustainable utilization and conservation of the studied sheep populations. Furthermore, molecular based studies might allow further characterization of Ethiopian sheep breeds.

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of diet with supplementation of linseed scrap fed to Prestice Black-Pied pigs on carcass parameters, meat quality and oxidative stability. We also evaluated the effect of the diet on fatty acid profile in M. longissimus lumborum et thoracis. Barrows (30) of an indigenous breed Prestice Black- Pied pig were included in the experiment. The pigs fed with the linseed diet (L) were characterized by intramuscular fat lower by 1.1% in comparison with the control group (C). Of the saturated fatty acids, C6:0, C8:0 increased while C16:0, C17:0, C18:0 decreased in the experimental group of pigs fed with the L diet when compared to pigs of the C group. Of the monounsaturated fatty acids, a significant decrease of C18:1 n-9 was recorded in the experimental group. The most significant differences were found in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), where the L group showed an increase in C18:3 n-3, C20:3 n-3, C20:4 n-3 and also C20:5 n-3 a C22:5 n-3. These findings corresponded to higher content of n-3 PUFA and more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in the meat of L group against the C group. A higher PUFA/SFA ratio was recorded in the experimental group.

Abstract Background Crossed beaks have been reported to occur in Appenzeller Barthuhn, a local Swiss chicken breed. The assumed causes for this beak deformity which are also seen in other bird species including domestic chickens, range from environmental influences to genetic factors. The aim of this project was to characterize the prevalence, the phenotype, and the underlying genetics of crossed beaks in Appenzeller Barthuhn chickens. Results The estimated prevalence of 7% crossed beaks in Appenzeller Barthuhn was significantly higher compared to two other local Swiss chicken breeds. A breeding trial showed significantly higher prevalence of offspring with deformed beaks from mating of affected parents compared to mating of non-affected parents. Examination of 77 Appenzeller Barthuhn chickens with crossed beaks showed a variable phenotype presentation. The deviation of the beak from the median plane through the head ranged from 1° to 61°. In more than 60% of the cases, the upper and lower beak were bent in the same direction, whereas the remaining cases showed different forms of crossed beaks. Computed tomographic scans and bone maceration of the head of two chickens with crossed beaks revealed that the maxilla and the mandibula were affected, while other parts of the skull appeared to be normal. The gene LOC426217, a member of the keratin family, was postulated as a candidate gene for beak deformity in domestic chickens. Sequencing of the coding region revealed two significantly associated synonymous variants for crossed beaks in Appenzeller Barthuhn chickens. A genome-wide association study and a comparative analysis of runs of homozygosity based on high-density SNP array genotyping data of 53 cases and 102 controls showed no evidence of association. Conclusions The findings suggest a hereditary cause of crossed beaks in Appenzeller Barthuhn chickens. However, the observed variation in the phenotype, together with the inconclusive molecular genetic results indicates the need for additional research to unravel the genetic architecture of this beak deformity.

A study was conducted to find out various feeding management practices of Vechur cattle farmers of Kerala. Three districts of the state namely Kottayam, Thrissur and Palakkad were selected for the study. By employing chain referral sampling, a total of 60 farmers were selected as respondents and data were collected through personal interview method using a structured pretested interview schedule. It was found that majority (75%) of the farmers followed tethering and only 5 percent practiced grazing. All the farmers fed their animals green grass and majority (75%) prepared concentrate feed mixtures on their own. Only 15 per cent of farmers gave commercially available concentrate feed to their animals. Only 20 per cent of the farmers provided supplements like mineral mixture or calcium. About 36.67 per cent of the farmers had fodder cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research examined the effects of two rearing systems (conventional versus free-range) on carcass characteristics, and cholesterol content, chemical and fatty acid properties of the backfat from Mangalitsa pigs. Depending on the rearing system utilized and live weight observed, we found important differences in the heaviness of the cold and warm Mangalitsa carcasses. The maximum total cholesterol in the backfat of pigs reared outdoors was 46.96 mg kg-1, while the maximum total cholesterol in backfat of conventionally-raised Mangalitsa pigs was 55.80 mg kg-1. The backfat from free-ranging Mangalitsa pigs contained lower levels of PUFA n-6 and greater amounts of PUFA n-3. The ratio of PUFA/SFA was remarkably different in pigs raised in the two systems, whereas the ratio of MUFA/SFA was lower in the pigs reared outdoors. Based on these results, the selection of rearing system could affect the chemical properties and carcass characteristics of Mangalitsa backfat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a companion and hunting dog, height, length, length to height ratio (LHR) and body-weight are the vital economic traits for Jindo dog. Human selection and targeted breeding have produced an extraordinary diversity in these traits. Therefore, the identification of causative markers, genes and pathways that help us to understand the genetic basis of this variability is essential for their selection purposes. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) combined with enrichment analysis on 757 dogs using 118,879 SNPs. The genomic heritability (h2) was 0.33 for height and 0.28 for weight trait in Jindo. At p-value < 5 × 10−5, ten, six, thirteen and eleven SNPs on different chromosomes were significantly associated with height, length, LHR and body-weight traits, respectively. Based on our results, HHIP, LCORL and NCAPG for height, IGFI and FGFR3 for length, DLK1 and EFEMP1 for LHR and PTPN2, IGFI and RASAL2 for weight can be the potential candidate genes because of the significant SNPs located in their intronic or upstream regions. The gene-set enrichment analysis highlighted here nine and seven overlapping significant (p < 0.05) gene ontology (GO) terms and pathways among traits. Interestingly, the highlighted pathways were related to hormone synthesis, secretion and signalling were generally involved in the metabolism, growth and development process. Our data provide an insight into the significant genes and pathways if verified further, which will have a significant effect on the breeding of the Jindo dog’s population.

Of the 345 million people in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 30.6% are severely food insecure, 8% malnourished and 50% live with less than US $1 per day, respectively. Livelihood, food and nutrition security have, therefore, become key priorities for the SADC region in response to these complex challenges. Given that 70% of the SADC population directly rely on agriculture for food, nutrition and income, sustained agricultural productivity may play an important role in achieving livelihood, food and nutrition security in the region. Being an important part of the agri-food system of marginalised communities in the region, cattle have great potential to contribute to the goal of reducing food and nutrition insecurity. The region has a population size of about 64 million cattle of which 75% of the population is kept under the smallholder farming systems, and primarily composed of indigenous tropical breeds. Most indigenous cattle breeds are, however, either undergoing rapid genetic dilution or at risk of extinction. At the same time, their environments, production and marketing systems are experiencing high rates of change in time and space. More importantly, indigenous cattle breeds in the region are undervalued. This makes it uncertain that future systems will have the adapted cattle breeds required for optimal livelihoods, food and nutrition security. To this end, the promotion of sustainable use of indigenous cattle for livelihood, food and nutrition security in the SADC region is strongly recommended.

Abstract Characterization of indigenous domestic animal breeds is of high importance in the sense of conservation and genetic improvement. There are six registered indigenous Greek horse breeds, defined by geographic orientation, as well as a few non-descript ones. Among the latter, the Macedonian pacer population is the most featured one, exhibiting the specific gaiting ability to pace. This study constitutes the first genetic investigation of the Macedonian pacer horses, in an effort to examine the validity of their inclusion in the herdbook as a distinct breed. To achieve this goal, we analyzed the DMRT3 gene, which has been associated with the ability to pace, as well as the mitochondrial cyt b gene, to estimate the genetic relationships with other breeds. Analysis of the DMRT3 gene revealed a very high frequency (0.988) of the "gait keeper" allelic mutation. Genetic differentiation of the Macedonian pacer horses based on cyt b sequencing was in almost all pairwise comparisons significant and in equal or greater levels than in pairs of the rest Greek breeds, with F st ranging from 0 to 0.355. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity in the Macedonian pacer population were 0.917 and 0.0044, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in low genetic distances supported by not significant values that indicated slight genetic divergence among different breeds. Overall, the fact that Macedonian horses exhibit a particular phenotypic character of locomotion, transmitted to the next generations in combination with the significant levels of genetic differentiation, are considered valuable data toward their recognition and official registration. Graphical abstract Highlights • High frequency of the "gait keeper" mutation in a non-descript indigenous Greek horse population that has the ability to pace. • Mitochondrial cytochrome b analysis reveals the genetic relationships distinction of this non-descript population. • Recognition of the non-descript Macedonian pacer horse population, as a distinct breed cannot be precluded. • There is a need for further examination of molecular and morphological characters to verify and register this population as a distinct breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of molecular markers in recent years has been widely used to determine the genetic diversity between populations and animal species. Molecular genetics studies allow a comparison of genetic diversity within and across breeds and make a new insight to reconstruct the breed history and history of ancestral populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic structure and genetic variation of indigenous and exotic sheep breeds using 50,000 SNP markers. Genotype data of indigenous breeds (Afshari, Ghezel and Moghani) and exotic breeds (Dorper, Merinos and Romney) were obtained from the Ovin HapMap project. Multiple population stratification analysis such as, population structure using multivariate statistics and model-based approach were applied. The result of all methods obviously showed the correct population differentiation. In DAPC K=4 inferred best cluster results by BIC. Despite the use of different methods, all of these methods showed a distinct structure for indigenous and exotic populations and it can be concluded that Iranian sheep breeds has more genetic similarity rather than exotic breeds and Iranian sheep breeds grouped as one category and Romney, Merinos and Dorper breeds were separated as distant groups. However, when the indigenous breeds were studied alone, the breeds were genetically separated and population differentiation statistic (Fst) for Afshari, Moghani and Qezel was 0.038, 0.107, and 0.298, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigate genetic diversity and unravel genomic regions potentially under selection for climatic conditions and geographic isolation in Hainan cattle. • The population structure revealed that Hainan cattle were originally from bos indicus and carried other ancestry. • The positive selection genes in Hainan cattle were mainly associated with immune pathways including bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, chemokine signaling pathway, and T cell receptor signaling pathway. The equatorial climate of Hainan Island has led to the evolution of Hainan cattle that are well adapted to the local conditions. This study aims to estimate the genetic diversity and selection signatures of Hainan cattle. After analyzing the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of 76 cattle from four representative populations of East Asian taurine cattle, India-Pakistan indicine cattle, Chinese indicine cattle, and Hainan locally adapted cattle, a total of 20,075,403 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected. The Hainan cattle exhibited the highest level of genetic diversity (Ho=0.31, He=0.3). The increased genetic diversity observed in Hainan cattle population may be attributed to the admixture with Chinese indicine cattle population. The analysis of selective sweep, which was achieved through the utilization of Z F ST and log 2 π, indicated the detection of 92 potential loci in Hainan cattle, which encompassed 141 genes that underwent positive selection and were associated with immune pathways, including bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, the chemokine signaling pathway, and the T cell receptor signaling pathway. Mutations analysis revealed that two missense mutations in SKINT1 (c.458C>T, p.P153L and c.580G> A , p.D194N) and two missense mutations in BCAR1 (c.1765C>G, p.A589P and c.1150C>T, p.G384S) were the homozygous genotypes in Hainan cattle. This finding enhances our understanding of the polygenic basis underlying climatic adaptation in Hainan cattle and holds significant value for the preservation and utilization of these genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very little information about local breed goat milk is available, which is relevant for biodiversity preservation and local cheese production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of breed and week of lactation on milk mineral profile of five Italian local breeds (Garganica, Girgentana, Jonica, Maltese and Mediterranean Red) and a cosmopolitan breed (Saanen). Sixty goats (10 per breed) from an experimental farm were enrolled in the study and sampled every 2 weeks for milk gross composition analysis. In addition, an individual milk sample was collected monthly from 42 goats (seven goats per breed) for mineral determination through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Data were analysed using a mixed linear model with repeated measures, including breed and week of lactation as fixed effects. Week of lactation affected mineral contents, except for B, being lower in early than late lactation, whereas, breed affected only P, Mg and Zn. Mediterranean Red and Jonica breeds’ milk was richer in P than Maltese, and in Zn than Maltese, Girgentana and Saanen breeds. For Mg, only Saanen differed from Maltese. Such information might be useful for the valorisation of goat milk produced by autochthonous breeds.

In livestock sub sector the existing policies in place, have exclusively focused on high yield with adoption of modern technologies and establishment of large commercial units to increase the production and productivity of the breeds. Cross breeding native cattle breeds with exotic high yielding breeds mainly Holstein Friesian and Jersey, which has been the most preferred way to increase milk yield, led to the depletion of several indigenous breeds and also pushed some to extinction. This gets evident from the dwindling numbers of indigenous breeds in the country. The policies for conservation of indigenous breed mainly refer to the identification of utility genes and breeds and utilizing them for breeding and research; such a conservation effort being directed towards individual breed overlooks the ecosystem or the small and marginal farmers or the herders and pastoralists who nurture them and depend on them for livelihood. The emphasis on high yielding exotic breeds has also escalated the maintenance cost for cattle rearing with increased uncertainties. This has mainly impacted the small and marginal farmers, the herders and pastoralists who cannot afford such high maintenance cost, led to the disruption or break in the humanlivestock- nature interaction or the crop - livestock system. This article draws an example of Sahiwal- a priced milch cattle, whose numbers are declining in the country, to argue the need for a breeding policy to protect the breed and also the interests of the small and marginal farmers and herders and pastoral community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pampa Rocha (PR) is a breed of pig that emerged in eastern Uruguay during the 18th century. They represent an important resource for non-intensive production using purebred or crossbred animals. However, productive activities have been oriented towards intensive production using commercial breeds, abandoning, except by some academic and educational institutions, the promotion of this creole breed. Thus, a population of few animals is still maintained, which could be in danger of disappearing. This work focuses on the fecal microbiota of these animals, which is related to the animal genetic background but also to their grazing capacity and resistance to weather. The structure and diversity of bacterial communities in the intestines of four PR adult females and of other breeds, including crosses, reared under non-grazing conditions, were analyzed and compared. Results obtained indicate that PR fecal microbiota is clearly different from those of other animals analyzed. Some sequences, corresponding to particular groups apparently related to the consumption of fiber, were strongly associated with PR pigs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A challenge of modern stock breeding is conservation of the native gene pool threatened by improved breeds, and the justification to conserve livestock breeds requires a revaluation of their production. With the aim of showing the productive possibilities of a native Spanish bovine breed in danger of extinction, and to contribute to its development, this study presents for the first time the variables of meat quality in Pajuna breed calves raised in two production systems: semi-extensive (grass and feed concentrate, Sem) and extensive (permanent grazing, Ex). The changes in meat quality variables were also analyzed at 7, 14 and 21 d of maturation. A panel of untrained consumers compared the consumption preferences for this meat at different moments of maturation. The experimental design was completely random with a factorial arrangement of 2x3: production system (Sem and Ex), and maturation (T7, T14 and T21 d), and 23 Pajuna breed castrated calves' carcasses of two years of age were used. The characteristics of the calves' meat were similar to those described for other Spanish native breeds. The calves' meat from the Ex system was darker and presented higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids than the one produced in the Sem system (13.90 and 7.14 %, respectively). In the meat, for both production systems, luminosity (L) increased, as well as the water-holding capacity and the tenderness during the maturation process, and the most relevant changes were observed during the first 14 d of maturation. The best evaluation notes for the meat were observed after that period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to understand the existing genetic diversity and structure of native cattle breeds (Rathi and Sahiwal) adapted to the north-western arid and semi-arid region of India based on microsatellite loci. Since cattle domestication from Neolithic (8,000-10,000 years ago) today the population has reached 1.5 billion and further it's likely to be 2.6 billion by 2050. High magnitude of numbers, breed management, market need of traceability of breed product, conservation prioritization and IPR issues due to germplasm flow/exchange, has created a critical need for accurate and rapid breed identification. Till date breed identification methods based on molecular data analysis has great importance. The study describes the genetic variability within and among two indigenous bovine breeds' viz. Rathi and Sahiwal based on five microsatellite markers (BM1818, CSRM60, ETH10, ETH225 and INRA005). High PIC values observed for most of the markers with an average of 0.5313 are indicative of high polymorphism of these markers in rathi breed whereas in Sahiwal 0.4202, which showed high in formativeness of all five microsatellite markers in Rathi breed. Reasonably high PIC values observed for most of the markers, with an average PIC value of 0.5116 across all the loci imply that this set of microsatellite are very informative for evaluation of genetic diversity and characterization in both the breeds. This in formativeness of microsatellite markers showed it can be used for various applications like, conservation, disease diagnosis and polymorphism in different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Namaqua Afrikaner is an endangered sheep breed indigenous to South Africa, primarily used in smallholder farming systems. Genetic characterization is essential for the breed's conservation and utilization. In this study, a genetic characterization was performed on 144 Namaqua Afrikaner sheep kept at the Karakul Experimental Station (KES), Carnarvon Experimental Station (CES), and a private farm Welgeluk (WGK) using 22 microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles observed was low (3.7 for KES, 3.9 for CES, and 4.2 for WGK). Expected heterozygosity values across loci ranged between 46 % for WGK, 48 % for KES, and 55 % for CES, indicating low to moderate genetic variation. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that 89.5 % of the genetic variation was due to differences within populations. The population structure confirmed the differentiation of three clusters with high relationships between the CES and WGK populations. In the population structure comparison with Pedi and South African Mutton Merino sheep, limited hybridization between the Namaqua Afrikaner sheep and both of these breeds was observed. The results of this study will serve as a reference for genetic management and conservation of Namaqua Afrikaner sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the breed influence on milk fatty acid (FA) composition, particularly on the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from two different indigenous breeds of goats (Pateri and Kamori; n =30 for each breed) and ewes (Kachi and Kooka; n =25 for each) from Sindh, Pakistan. All animals were managed together and received the same diet. Statistical significant differences (P <0.05) in the proportions of individual fatty acids were observed among goat and ewe breeds. Milk fat cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentration from Kamori goats and Kooka ewes were [17–28%] higher when compared to Pateri goats and Kachi ewes, with mean values of 0.48g/100g for goat breeds and 0.82g/100g for ewes. The greatest differences (P <0.01) were observed between the group of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in goat (Pateri and Kamori 64.37 vs. 59.07g/100g) and ewe breeds (Kachi and Kooka 66.96 vs. 59.00g/100g). The sum of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was lower in Pateri goat and Kooka breed ewe as compared to Kamori goats and Kachi ewes (27.60 vs. 31.04g/100g and 25.35 vs. 30.33g/100g). The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) did not differ statistically (P >0.05) among goat and ewe breads, ranging from 2.45 to 3.60 for goats and 2.48 to 3.27g/100g for ewes. The present study reveals that the breed has a pronounced effect on FA composition of goat and ewes milk fat, and in the future genetic selection plans along with improved nutrition program of goats and ewes may result in optimum levels of various fatty acids in milk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV2) is a widespread virus and presents sub-clinically in most of the swineherd. Globally, eight genotypes of PCV2 have been identified that is PCV2a to 2h. To determine the region-wide genotype distribution of PCV2 infection, with additional reference to indigenous breeds, a total of 1314 pig's clinical samples from the eight states of North-eastern India between 2011 and 2014; were analyzed. The overall prevalence rate of PCV2 in this region was 28.2% (370/1314) by PCR. The state-wise PCR based PCV2 prevalence rate was: Tripura (20.8%), Nagaland (25.0%), Meghalaya (25.8%), Assam (32.1%), Sikkim (32.6%), Manipur (33.3%), Mizoram (36.7%) and Arunachal Pradesh (42.3%). Subsequently, a total of 29 complete genomes of PCV2 were amplified and sequenced from these PCV2 positive samples. The phylogenetic tree represents that the 29 PCV2 isolates of this study were divided into four distinct genetic groups; PCV2a, PCV2b, PCV2d, and PCV2f. Among these, 14 PCV2 strains were classified as PCV2f, 13 classified as PCV2d, and one isolate of each classified as PCV2a and PCV2b. All the 14 PCV2f strains appeared from indigenous pigs of this region. Based on the date of collection, the present study further describes that the PCV2f genotypes circulate in the indigenous pigs' population back in 2011. The amino acid residues and the atomic coordinate structure (3D model) of PCV2f capsid protein represents similarity to PCV2d capsid protein support the efficacy of the existing PCV2 vaccine against the PCV2f. The observation of this study helps to understand the genotype distribution of PCV2 and stands as a reference for future molecular epidemiological studies in North-eastern India. • Identify the prevalence and region-wide genotype distribution of PCV2 in North-eastern India. • The overall prevalence rate of PCV2 in this region was 28.2% (370/1314). • The phylogenetic tree represents that the 29 PCV2 isolates of this study were divided into four distinct genetic groups; PCV2a, PCV2b, PCV2d, and PCV2f. • This is the first report of the PCV2f genotype from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The height, length and body-weight are the economic traits of Jindo dogs and it is necessary to study their underlying genetic basis. Thus, a post-genome-wide association enrichment study on four body-size traits of Jindo dog including height, length, length to height ratio and body-weight was carried out here. The results revealed several potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes which were significantly associated with the traits of interest. Furthermore, we have found several pathways to be significantly associated with the traits of interest and these pathways are generally involved in the growth and development process. The findings of this study may help to use the identified SNPs and genes as possible biomarkers for Jindo breeding. As a companion and hunting dog, height, length, length to height ratio (LHR) and body-weight are the vital economic traits for Jindo dog. Human selection and targeted breeding have produced an extraordinary diversity in these traits. Therefore, the identification of causative markers, genes and pathways that help us to understand the genetic basis of this variability is essential for their selection purposes. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) combined with enrichment analysis on 757 dogs using 118,879 SNPs. The genomic heritability (h2) was 0.33 for height and 0.28 for weight trait in Jindo. At p-value < 5 × 10−5, ten, six, thirteen and eleven SNPs on different chromosomes were significantly associated with height, length, LHR and body-weight traits, respectively. Based on our results, HHIP, LCORL and NCAPG for height, IGFI and FGFR3 for length, DLK1 and EFEMP1 for LHR and PTPN2, IGFI and RASAL2 for weight can be the potential candidate genes because of the significant SNPs located in their intronic or upstream regions. The gene-set enrichment analysis highlighted here nine and seven overlapping significant (p < 0.05) gene ontology (GO) terms and pathways among traits. Interestingly, the highlighted pathways were related to hormone synthesis, secretion and signalling were generally involved in the metabolism, growth and development process. Our data provide an insight into the significant genes and pathways if verified further, which will have a significant effect on the breeding of the Jindo dog's population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hematological studies of Gaolao cattle (10 animals each of calves, heifers and cows) showed that values of hemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and lymphocytes were low in cows than calves and heifers while low eosinophil per cent in calves and heifers than cow were observed. [Veterinary World 2008; 1(4.000): 113-114]