Abstracts volume 52 (2009) 2, 111-218
Prof. Dr. habil. Ernst Ritter – 80 years [in German]
Manfred Schwerin
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 111-112 PDF
Bovine cardiac troponin I gene (TNNI3) as a candidate gene for bovine dilated cardiomyopathy
Marta Owczarek-Lipska, Gaudenz Dolf, Karina E. Guziewicz, Tosso Leeb, Claude Schelling, Horst Posthaus and Martin H. Braunschweig
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 113-123 PDF
The cardiac troponin complex, which is an important component of the contractile apparatus, is composed of the three subunits troponin I (TnI), troponin C (TnC) and troponin T (TnT). Troponin I is the inhibitory subunit and consists of three isoforms encoded by TNNI1, TNNI2 and TNNI3 genes, respectively. Due to the different types of cardiomyopathies caused by mutations in the TNNI3 gene and its fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping on bovine chromosome 18q26, which was shown to be linked to the recessively inherited bovine dilated cardiomyopathy (BDCMP), bovine TNNI3 was considered as candidate gene for BDCMP. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) TNNI3 expression analysis resulted in a significant difference between BDCMP affected and unaffected animals when normalized to ACTB gene expression, but there was no significant difference in expression when normalized to GAPDH. Northen blotting experiment was in agreement with the expression analysis and did not reveal a significant difference between the group of BDCMP affected and unaffected animals. Sequencing of the bovine TNNI3 gene revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism in intron 6 (c.378+315G>A), but this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)was present regardless of the BDCMP status. In summary our data provide evidence to exclude the bovine TNNI3 gene as a candidate for BDCMP.
Some factors influencing milk somatic cell count of Holstein Friesian and Brown Swiss cows under the Mediterranean climatic conditions
Atakan Koç and Kadir Kizilkaya
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 124-133 PDF
The aim of this study was to determine the influencing factors on somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk of Holstein Friesian (HF) and Brown Swiss (BS) cows raised on three dairy farms under the Mediterranean climatic conditions in Turkey. For a two-year period, farms were visited monthly to measure daily milk yield (DMY) and collect milk samples from each cow during the morning and evening milking. Total of 1429 SCC readings from 67 HF and 16 BS cows were analyzed by using repeated measures. Breed (P<0.01), lactation number (LN) (P<0.01), milking time (MT) (P<0.05), lactation month (LM) (P<0.01) and the interactions of breed-LM (P<0.05), herd-LM (P<0.01) and LN-LM (P<0.01) effects on SCC were statistically significant as did the co-variable DMY effect (P<0.01). The effect of herd and herd-MT interactions on SCC were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The SCC means for BS and HF cows were 5.464±0.060 (291072 cells/ml) and 5.654±0.029 (450817 cells/ml), respectively. The SCC mean for morning milking (338065 cells/ml) was 25850 cells/ml lower than that of evening milking. The LN4 had the highest SCC mean (490908 cells/ml) and was statistically different from those of LN1 (P<0.01) and LN2 (P<0.05). The SCC level was the highest in the first LM (601174 cells/ml) and this level then decreased in the later months. Possible reasons for the difference in SCC means between the breeds are different resistance mechanisms against mastitis, different morphological conformations of udders and different milk yields between these two breeds. The insignificant differences found among herds show the similarities of management, milking hygiene and barn conditions. In order to decrease SCC in milk and increase udder health, some precautions need to be taken like improving milking management, hygiene and barn conditions, milking the cow at uniform intervals, feeding the cows after the milking and applying a mastitis control program.
Determination of suitable timing, frequency and sample size of body condition scoring for herd management in Holstein herds
Erdal Yaylak and Yavuz Akbaş
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 134-142 PDF
In this study, 11526 body condition scores obtained from 1033 lactations of 696 Holstein cows raised in 17 dairy herds enrolled in Izmir Holstein Breeders Association were used. Several scoring schedules according to days in milk (DIM) such as weekly, bi-weekly, 3-weekly, 4-weekly, 6-weekly, 8-weekly and 12-weekly were compared. As a results of this study, it was advised more frequent scoring (weekly) in the first 4-weeks and less frequent scoring (8-weekly) in the mid and the late parts of lactation. Since scoring each cow, especially in large dairies, is time consuming and high labour cost process, a group of cows reflecting group performance can be scored. For example, in the 4-weekly scheme, percentages of cows needed for each DIM group were 5% of the number of cows available for the first 305 days of lactations. Number of cows to be scored is high at the beginning of lactation and this number decreased towards end of lactation.
Development of eight-plex microsatellite PCR for parentage control in deer
Attila Zsolnai, István Lehoczky, Alice Gyurmán, János Nagy, Istvan Anton, Peter Horn and István Magyary
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 143-149 PDF
Nine loci have been compiled into two multiplex microsatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sets (four and five loci) and used as a tool to determine the most probable hind for each calf. The two sets were suitable to combine them in an eight-plex reaction. The exclusion probabilities of the eight-plex reaction and the nine loci were 99.3 and 99.6 % respectively, which allows the routine application of eight loci in wildlife management – as a first attempt to use molecular genetic information for such a task and it eliminates multiple sample handling in consecutive PCRs. Two loci out of the nine were never been used in deer previously.
Effects of two different diets on carcass and meat quality traits of Chato Murciano pigs
Begona Peinado, Laura Almela, Nelson Duchi and Angel Poto
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 150-160 PDF
A total of 40 castrated male pigs of the Spanish autochthonous Chato Murciano breed were used for this study to evaluate the influence of two diets. One group of 20 pigs was fed with a high protein/low fat (HP/LF) diet and slaughtered with life weight (LW) of 125.03 kg. The other group of 20 pigs was fed with a low protein/high fat (LP/HF) diet and slaughtered with 121.91 kg LW. The effects of diet on carcass and meat quality traits were studied. Meat samples were taken from the longissimus lumbar (LL) muscle. The HP/LF diet produced a faster growing rate and higher daily weight gain, and measurements in the LL muscle showed higher values of ultimate pH (pHu), colour parameters, and higher content in Ca, Mg, Zn, K and Na. The LP/HF diet led to higher values of Fe and Cu. The difference in the LL muscle intramuscular fat (IMF) levels was noteworthy, with values of 3.21% in the HP/LF group and 11.00% in the LP/HF group; however, the dorsal fat thickness measurements showed no differences. The fatty acid composition of the IMF was 42.43 and 42.29% of saturated fatty acids (SFA), 50.34 and 51.35% of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and 7.20 and 6.24% of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for the HP/LF group and LP/HF group respectively, with only statistically significant differences in the MUFA levels (P≤0.05).
The relationship between blood serum and seminal plasma cholesterol content in young boars and their semen qualitative traits and testes size
Eugenia Jacyno, Anita Kołodziej, Maria Kawęcka, Arkadiusz Pietruszka, Beata Matysiak and Marian Kamyczek
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 161-168 PDF
The relationship between blood serum and seminal plasma cholesterol concentration and semen traits and testes size was examined on 110 young boars (6 month old) of the 990 synthetic line. In the study were determined: testes volume, semen quality traits (ejaculate volume, motile spermatozoa percentage, spermatozoa concentration and total number per ejaculate, percentage of spermatozoa with normal acrosome, percentage of spermatozoa with major and minor morphological defects, osmotic resistance test value [ORT] and activity of aspartate aminotransferase in seminal plasma [AspAT]). Cholesterol content in blood serum and seminal plasma were determined. Mean cholesterol content in blood serum amounted to 71.2, while that in seminal plasma to 6.96 mg/dL. Total cholesterol content in blood serum correlated positively with testes volume (P≤0.05), whereas no correlation was found with semen quality traits of the examined males. Cholesterol concentration in seminal plasma was positively correlated (P≤0.05) with spermatozoa motility, concentration and total number, while negatively (P≤0.05) with the percentage of spermatozoa with major morphological defects and the activity of AspAT in seminal plasma. No relationship was found between total cholesterol content in blood serum and that in seminal plasma.
Effects of crossbreeding Hungarian Merino sheep with Suffolk and Ile de France on carcass traits
Ferenc Pajor, Edina Láczó, Orsolya Erdős and Péter Póti
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 169-176 PDF
In this examination, Hungarian Merino (ram n=30, ewe n=30), Hungarian Merino × Ile de France F1, and Hungarian Merino × Suffolk F1 (ram n=15, ewe n=15) lambs were used to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on carcass characteristics and composition. We examined fattening performances and the following carcass traits: dressing percentage, weight of valuable carcass cuts, percentage of valuable meat, bone to meat ratio, and as well as meat conformation and fat cover (S/EUROP grading). In the present investigation, the weight at slaughter was fixed between 31-32 kg approximately, thus ensuring, weight would not affect carcass composition. Standardizing carcass weight allowed us to spot differences due to genotype and gender. The best results of fattening performance showed the Hungarian Merino × Ile de France F1 lambs (358 g/day). The tested crossed genotypes had not greatly influence dressing percentage and warm carcass weight, but the best percentage valuable carcass cuts had Hungarian Merino × Suffolk F1 (83.37%). The best percentage of valuable meat presented (77.76%) the Hungarian Merino × Ile de France F1 lambs. The best meat conformation and fat covered showed the Hungarian Merino × Suffolk F1 lambs. Hungarian Merinos showed less favourable results. To the summarising, the Suffolk and Ile de France improved the Hungarian Merino’s fattening performance, slaughter value and ability of market over 30 kg live weight, therefore there were both breeds suggest with crossing.
Nucleolar organizer regions, satellite associations and nucleoli of goat cells (Capra hircus)
Katarzyna Andraszek, Elzbieta Horoszewicz and Ezbieta Smalec
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 177-186 PDF
The Polish White Improved goat karyotype consists of 29 pairs of acrocentric autosomes, a large acrocentric X chromosome and a metacentric Y chromosome which is the smallest in the karyotype. Staining of chromosomes with AgNO3 solution has revealed active nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) in terminal parts of q arms of pair 2, 3, 4, 5, and 28 chromosomes. Out of the total of 100 analysed cells 736 active NORs have been found, on average 7.4±0.2 per cell. Active NORs were most frequently observed in pair 2, and 3 chromosomes, most rarely on pair 5 chromosomes. In all the analysed cells 141, satellite associations (SA) were observed, on average 1.4±0.2 per cell. SAs most often occurred in cells with seven active NORs, and least often in cells with three or four nucleolar organizer regions. Most frequently in SAs the presence of pair 2, 3 and 28 chromosomes was observed. On meiotic chromosomes staining with AgNO3 solution revealed two nucleoli stained with different intensity. Both nucleoli in the cell were of similar size.
Genetic analysis of the laying pattern in floor management in terms of new performance parameters for breeding [in German]
Wiebke Icken, Stefan Thurner, David Cavero, Matthias Schmutz, Georg Wendl and Rudolf Preisinger
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 187-199 PDF
In order to facilitate a specific selection of laying hens which are suitable for alternative housing systems, it will be of advantage if the individual hens were tested in their later husbandry environment. Therefore, a new technology has been developed, the »Weihenstephan Funnel Nest Box«, which enables the automatic recording of these essential performance and nesting behaviour parameters of the individual hens in a group housing system. The exact oviposition times of 263 laying hens of Lohmann Silver line were recorded and used to analyse the laying pattern. Some results which were already pointed out in literature were thus confirmed, other brought new cognitions in terms of the oviposition pattern and about the pause following a laying sequence. A positive genetic correlation between the length of a laying sequence and the subsequent pause durations (rg=+0.49) confirmed the tendency to longer breaks following an increasing laying sequence. The duration of a break was, however, not such an essential criteria for the productivity of a hen. More important in this context was the number of pauses which rises constantly with the number of laying sequences over the whole observation period. When the hens laid in shorter sequences, it was observed that the proportion of sequences grew, which was reflected as smaller number of registered eggs per hen (rg=−0.73). The logical conclusion was the highly positive correlation between the length of a laying sequence and the number of registered eggs (rg=+0.82). Closely associated with the length of a laying sequence, as well as the laying performance, was the parameter time interval between two laid eggs. The time interval between two laid eggs was significant shortened from the first to the third egg within one laying sequence and eventually reached for more than 24 h for most of the hens. The phenotypic and genetic correlation between the time interval and the laying performance was negative (rp=−0.46 and rg=−0.46). The heritability for the time interval was estimated at h²=0.17 which was similar to the heritability for number of eggs (h²=0.20). Slightly higher heritabilities were estimated for the indirect parameter of the time interval, the oviposition time of the third to the fifth egg in a laying sequence (h²=0.25, h²=0.34 and h²=0.29). Valuations in this range would be in regard of new performance testing parameter competitive to the parameter number of eggs and therefore, be tested in further investigations.
Effect of fluctuate lighting on performance of laying hens (Short Communication)
İsmail Durmuş and Süleyman Kalebaşi
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 200-204 PDF
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of fluctuate lighting on performance of laying hens. Two programs were applied with 16 hours daily lighting: step-up (normal) lighting program as the control treatment and a fluctuate lighting program of 2 W/m² for 45 min and 6 W/m² for 15 min. Egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, hen-day egg production and hen-housed egg production of the laying hens were recorded for 46 weeks. No significant difference for hen-day and hen-housed egg production between the step up and fluctuate lighting programs (P>0.05) were found. However, fluctuate lighting program resulted in a significant increase in egg weight (P<0.05). Moreover, hens in the fluctuate lighting program consumed significantly less amount of feed and had a better feed conversion ratio than hens in the step-up lighting program (P<0.01). The results of the present study indicate that fluctuate lighting can be used for a profitable egg production.
The effect of crossing New Zealand White with Californian rabbits on growth and slaughter traits
Dorota Maj, Józef Bieniek, Piotr Łapa and Ina Sternstein
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 205-211 PDF
The study was aimed to determine the effect of reciprocal-crossing rabbits on growth and slaughter traits. The experiment was conducted on 120 New Zealand White (NZW) and Californian (CAL) medium-sized rabbits and their F1 reciprocal crosses (CAL × NZW and NZW × CAL). The rabbits were fed pellets ad libitum, and slaughtered at body weight around 2.5 kg. The following traits were recorded: body weight and average daily gain at birth to slaughter, average feed consumption from weaning to slaughter, slaughter age, carcass weight, meat, bone and fat content of carcass, prime cuts weight (fore part, loin and hind part), and dressing percentage. The results indicated that reciprocal crossbred CAL × NZW and NZW × CAL rabbits were heavier than purebred animals. NZW × CAL crosses attained the slaughter body weight earlier, and had lower feed consumption. The dressing percentage in NZW × CAL crosses was highest, while the lowest in NZW rabbits. For other slaughter traits, except the fat content of carcass, effects of crossing rabbits were small. The magnitude of the crossbreeding effects depended on the direction of crossbreeding. Maximum effects in crosses for slaughter age, body weight, feed consumption and dressing percentage were obtained when the Californian breed was used as a maternal component.
Sequence and expression analysis of the androgen receptor gene from Compact mouse (Brief Report)
Gyula Veress, Katalin Bakos, Edit Korom, Orsolya Pinke, Balázs Kovács and László Varga
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 212-214 PDF
Genotyping of the polymorphism within exon 1 of Hormone Sensitive Lipase (LIPE) Gene in three Chinese Yak (Bos grunniens) breeds by PCR RFLP (Brief Report)
Zhijie Ma, Jincheng Zhong, Jingtao Xu and Yaping Wei
Arch Tierz 52 (2009), 215-218 PDF