Abstracts volume 53 (2010) 2, 123-246
Weaning performance of beef Hungarian Fleckvieh calves: 3. Genotype × environment interaction
Attila Fördős, Imre Füller, Szabolcs Bene and Ferenc Szabó
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 123-129 PDF
The interaction of sire and population in Hungarian Fleckvieh beef cattle breed were examined in this study on data from the Hungarian Fleckvieh Breeders Association. Data of 2345 progeny (1260 male and 1085 female), born between 1992 and 2003, of 35 sires from two populations were evaluated. Preweaning daily gain (PDG) and 205-day weight (205-dw) were analysed. Population, age of cows, year of birth, season of birth and sex of calves as fixed, sire and sire × population were treated as a random effect. Among the same performance data in the two populations (A, B) genetic correlation (rg), while by the gradiation of sires rank correlation (rrank), were evaluated. Data were analysed with HARVEY’S (1990) Least Square Maximum Likelihood Computer Program and SPSS 9.0 for Windows. Results were as follows: rg=PDGA−PDGB: 0.31(P<0.01); 205-dwA−205-dwB: 0.22(P<0.01) and rrank=PDG: −0.04(P>0.05); 205-dw: 0.078(P>0.05). According to the result of examination important and significant (P<0.001) sire × population interaction were found in case of the two traits in Hungarian Fleckvieh breed.
Variations in feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relationto parity during early to peak lactation
Osman Azizi, Lutz Hasselmann and Otto Kaufmann
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 130-140 PDF
The objective of this study was to compare the feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relation to parity during early to peak lactation and to determine whether or not there was any relationship between variables describing their feeding behaviour and total feed intake. Information concerning feed intake of each individual dairy cow is especially valuable for the herd management, particularly in early lactation. However, technical requirements for implementation are rarely given. Therefore, relationships between feed intake and time-related feeding behaviour parameters are of special interest. Time-related parameters could be recorded on farm conditions adapted sensor technology. Seventy high-yielding lactating dairy cows in different parities (23 in the 1st lactation, 17 in the 2nd lactation, and 30 in the 3rd-and-more-lactation) with an average of 11000 kg milk yield per year were fed using automatic feeders from the 2nd to the 15th week of lactation. 222231 recorded visits were analysed in three equal periods (period 1 = 7-39, period 2 = 40-72, and period 3 = 73-105 days in milk [DIM]) during early to peak lactation. Visits were clustered in meals based on the estimated meal criterion (28.5 min). The present study yielded the following values for meal frequency, number of visits per meal, meal duration, meal size, daily mealtime, daily dry matter intake (DMI), and feeding rate over the course of the study were 7.61±1.7 (mean±SD) meals/d, 4.02±1.68 visits/meal, 37.07±13.77 min/meal, 2.96±0.92 kg DM/meal, 272.18±82.14 min/d, 21.46±4.29 kg DM/d, and 85.56±28.77 g DM/min, respectively. Younger cows had more meals per day, more number of visits per meal, longer daily mealtime but a smaller meal size, lower daily DMI, and lower feeding rate compared to older cows (P<0.001). Meal duration and meal size were highly related to the number of visits at feeder per meal (R2=0.55-0.63; P<0.001, R2=0.25-0.39; P<0.001 respectively). In addition, meal size was highly related to meal duration (R2=0.59-0.72; P<0.001). Results from this study, which analysed data based on meal criterion, showed a higher correlation between the selected parameters of feeding behaviour and feed intake. The high correlation between meal duration and meal size could be used to estimate feed intake.
Comparison of Mangalica and Hungarian Large White pigs at identical bodyweight: 1. Backfat histology (Short Communication)
András Szabó, Anna Viski, Zsolt Egyházi, Zoltán Házas, Péter Horn and Róbert Romvári
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 141-146 PDF
At 130 kg bodyweight Mangalica and Hungarian Large White pig adipose tissue was compared, by means of histology. Adipose cell diameter (117.2±24.1 vs. 55.3±17 µm, Mangalica vs. Hungarian Large White), size (118.9±44.3 vs. 31.9±0.63 µm2∙100) and volume (8.01±0.67 vs. 2.18±0.18 µm3∙1000) was significantly higher in Mangalica, while the hydroxyproline content (0.04±0.005 vs. 0.23±0.014 weight% of wet tissue) and the connective tissue area in the microscopic images (%) were ca. 5-fold higher in Hungarian Large White. The present quantitative results underscore the experience that at identical bodyweight the fat (89.9±1.19 vs. 78.9±0.39%) and dry matter content (97.8±1.72 vs. 87.7±0.38%, Mangalica vs. Hungarian Large White), as well as the cellularity of Mangalica largely differs from that of Hungarian Large White.
Comparison of Mangalica and Hungarian Large White pigs at identical bodyweight: 2. Fatty acid regiodistribution analysis of the triacylglycerols
András Szabó, Péter Horn, Róbert Romvári, Zoltán Házas and Hedvig Fébel
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 147-161 PDF
At identical bodyweight values (130 kg) Mangalica and Hungarian Large White tissue (liver, kidney, heart and skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, spleen and lung) triacylglycerol (TAG) fatty acid distribution analysis was performed, to describe tissue types and possible genotype-associated differences. Tissue TAG was partially hydrolyzed with hog pancreatic lipase, and the fatty acid profile of 2-monoacylglycerols (2MAG) and TAGs was analyzed by gas-chromatography. All extrahepatic tissues provided marked central (sn-2) saturated fatty acid (SFA) (mostly palmitate) recruitment, while liver 2MAGs were mainly aclylated by unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). Inter-genotype differences were minor: in adipose tissue in Mangalica the total palmitate moiety was found in the 2MAGs, while in the liver docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were only found in the Mangalica 2MAGs. In conclusion, the direct analysis results of the 2MAGs in six extrahepatic organs and in the liver provided evidence that the building-up of the characteristic porcine TAG structure is located at a post-hepatic site, being true for most of the organs in the pig body.
Comparison of a GE Lunar DPX-IQ and a Norland XR-26 dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner for body composition measurements in pigs – in vivo
Dorothea Lösel, Prisca Kremer, Elke Albrecht and Armin M. Scholz
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 162-175 PDF
In the context of future growth and performance testing, this study compares corresponding body composition results measured by two dual energy X-ray absorptiometry systems. To test the capability of each device to detect differences among experimental groups widely varying in body composition, 77 pigs from 6 purebred/crossbred groups were used for the experiment. Each pig was scanned consecutively on a Norland XR-26 and on a GE Lunar DPX-IQ. Coefficients of determination were: R²=0.92 for bone mineral content (BMC), R²=0.90 for bone mineral density (BMD), R²=0.94 for lean mass (LEAN), R²=0.92 for fat mass (FAT), R²=0.88 for lean percentage (%LEAN) and fat percentage (%FAT). However, Norland yielded larger values for %FAT and smaller values for %LEAN, BMC, and BMD than Lunar (P<0.001) with the extent of deviation depending on the specific trait and on the breeding group. The deviation in BMC was greater than the deviation in BMD, suggesting different bone detecting algorithms. Both systems revealed similar differences among the breeding groups, and ranked them in the same order based on numerical values. Differences in calibration, bone detection, and software algorithms, however, require a prior cross-calibration to make the body composition data from both systems directly comparable. Finally, they can be used across research centres for the determination of relative and absolute body composition differences among animal groups and individuals.
Impact of hyper-prolific population generation on the reproduction of sows in multiplication herds
Zdenek Tvrdon and Petr Humpolicek
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 176-183 PDF
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of higher selection pressure used in hyper-prolific population on the reproduction of subsequent generations breed in a multiplication herd. Information on 539 litters of 178 ancestors of purebred sows from both hyper-prolific and normal population was included. Higher selection pressure particularly on litter size and teat number was applied in the hyper-prolific population. Differences between total number of piglets born, number of piglets born alive or number of piglets weaned were neither observed on the 1st only nor on the 1st to 5th litters. Likewise, no effect on the age of sows at the first parturition and number of insemination per pregnant had been found. A significant response on selection was determined only for teat number. The descendents of hyper-prolific population had about 0.37 teats more than sows of normal population. The results suggest that to achieve desired litter size in multiplication herds the selection criteria should be revised and higher focus should be put on the prolificacy, particularly on the litter size than on the traits with high heritability like production traits.
Meat quality and ultrastructure of muscle tissue from fatteners of Wild Boar, Pulawska and its crossbreed Pulawska × (Hamshire × Wild Boar)
Anna Kasprzyk, Andrzej Stasiak and Marek Babicz
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 184-193 PDF
The investigation included three genetic groups, i.e. Pulawska, Wild boar and Pulawska × (Hampshire × Wild boar) crossbreds. Each group comprised 8 individuals (1:1 sex ratio). The animals were presented for slaughter at 90 kg body weight. The muscles of the analysed genetic groups have shown good quality, pH 6.07-6.54. Lower diameters were characteristic for both, wild boars and wild pigs, that averaged 33.74 μm and 35.4 μm for m. longissimus dorsi (MLD) and then 42.3 μm and 46.43 μm for m. semimembranosus (MS), respectively. It is likely to arise from their higher rate in the muscles regarding total red fiber content. The shortest sarcomeres were established in a group of wild boars (2.03 μm MLD and 2.31 μm MS) that may confirm the association with their meat tenderness. The most juicy and tender meat was produced by pigs of Pulawska breed, whereas the meat obtained from Pulawska pigs and crossbreds earned the highest score for flavour intensity and taste. Markedly higher sarcosomers number was characteristic for the semimembranosus muscles. Contractile fibres in wild boars’ muscles were separated by greater amount of the sarcoplasma as compared to other animals. The analysis of longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus muscle microstructure confirmed that the presented genetic groups showed proper structure of the muscle tissue and did not show any degenerative lesions. The muscles visualized the well-preserved sarcomeric structure, appropriate cell nuclei and mitochondria. Besides, the regular cross striation was visible giving evidence of the muscle decontraction.
Effect of PrP genotype on milk traits in Bovška sheep
Miran Kastelic, Simon Horvat and Dragomir Kompan
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 194-204 PDF
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PrP genotype on milk traits in the Slovenian autochthonous Bovška sheep breed. The estimated population size is 3700 animals, half of which are included in the selection programme. Genetic resistance for scrapie, a well known prion disease, is determined by the genotype at the PrP locus. In 2003, the Slovenian National Scrapie Programme following EU Regulations was introduced to control scrapie by selecting out the less resistant genotypes and until 2008, a total of 1875 ewes were genotyped. This study determined frequencies of PrP alleles in Bovška sheep, AHQ 17.32%, ARH 7.30%, ARQ 57.14%, ARR 17.12% and VRQ 1.12%, which were very similar to frequencies in other European breeds. The PrP genotype had a significant effect on milk, protein and lactose yield produced in lactation, but the productivity of the most resistant ARR/ARR homozygotes was similar to breed average and did not statistically differ from other genotypes. Heterozygotes AHQ/ARH, AHQ/ARQ and ARH/ARQ exhibited significantly higher productivity compared to respective homozygotes but not from the most resistant ARR/ARR genotype. It is expected therefore that increased frequency of the ARR allele or even its exclusivity will not directly influence the productivity of the breed. However, a careful management programme favouring resistant PrP genotypes should be implemented to reduce potential negative effects of productivity due to reduced selection potential or inbreeding.
Effect of alternative rearing methods on the behaviour and on the growth and slaughter traits of growing rabbits
Gabriella Jekkel, Gábor Milisits and István Nagy
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 205-215 PDF
The aim of this study was to compare the behaviour and the production and slaughter traits of growing rabbits reared in different alternative rearing systems and in conventional fattening cages. The experiment was carried out with 312 Pannon White growing rabbits between 5 and 11 weeks of age. According to the pen size, floor type and stocking density 8 experimental groups were created. For analyzing the different behavioural patterns 24 h video recordings were performed weekly by using infrared cameras. The body weight and the feed consumption of the rabbits were also measured weekly. At 11 weeks of age all of the animals were slaughtered and dissected. For the comparison of the behaviour and production of the experimental and control animals the Dunnett-test was used. It was established that the different alternative rearing methods have a significant effect only on the social and stereotype behaviour of the rabbits. The daily weight gain was highest in the control animals, while lowest in the rabbits reared on deep litter. The feed consumption, the feed conversion ratio and the slaughter characteristics were not affected by the rearing method. It was concluded that from the ethological point of view housing rabbits in pens – particularly on deep litter – has a favourable effect on both of the social and stereotype behaviours’ frequency. However, when rabbits are reared on deep litter, some consumption of the litter material should be calculated, but it does not decrease the pellet consumption and the final liveweight of the animals significantly.
Relationship of early laying, number and weight of laid eggs to fertility and hatchability of eggs in initial laying lines of hens
Ladislav Máchal, Lucie Švábová, Libor Severa and Radek Filipčík
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 216-224 PDF
The relationships between age of hens, number of laid eggs, egg weight on one hand and fertility and hatchability on the other were analysed during two periods of individual pedigree hatching. Altogether 1369 hens originated from 9 selected initial laying lines of Bar Plymouth Rock (BPR) (3 lines), Rhode Island Red (RIR) (4 lines), Rhode Island White (RIW), and Sussex Light (SUL) breeds. A total number of 23473 eggs from hens of all 9 aforementioned lines were set after being artificially inseminated. The total average hatchability of set eggs was 73.2% and the average percentage of unfertilised eggs was 9.3%. Positive correlations (rp=0.22 to rp=0.72; P<0.01) were found between the total number of eggs laid till the 240th day of age and the number of eggs produced at the beginning of the laying period in the all studied lines. There were negative correlations (rp=−0.03 to rp=−0.16; P<0.01) between the total number of eggs laid till the 240th day of age and the average egg weight (on the 222nd day of age). Zero to positive correlations existed between the total number of eggs laid till the 240th day of age on one hand and the number of hatching eggs, number of hatched chicks/hen and hatchability; the calculated values ranged from rp=−0.02 to rp=0.30 (P<0.01), from rp=−0.08 to rp=0.36 (P<0.01), and from rp=−0.09 to rp=0.30 (P<0.01), respectively. Correlations between the egg weight and number of hatched chicks/hen were negative to zero and their values ranged from rp=−0.19 (P<0.01) to rp=0.02. Correlations between the egg weight and hatchability were always negative (rp=−0.15; P<0.05 to rp=−0.04). Regarding the fact that there is a concurrent selection for an increased egg weight it can be said that this preference of smaller eggs is really counter-productive. A positive relationship between the number of hatching eggs/hen and the hatchability (rp=−0.02 to rp=0.39; P<0.01) was influenced by calculated negative correlations existing between the weight of eggs and the hatchability as well as between the weight of eggs and the number of laid eggs. As far as the hatchability is concerned, it can be concluded that in the aforementioned laying lines those hens are preferred, which produce more eggs of smaller size and that this fact obviously influences also the efficiency of selection for a greater weight of produced eggs.
Weight of selected muscles as an indicator of the lean meat and fat content of broiler carcasses (Short Communication)
Katarzyna Kleczek, Kazimierz Wawro, Elżbieta Wilkiewicz-Wawro and Włodzimierz Makowski
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 225-229 PDF
The objective of this study was to test whether the weight of selected arm and leg muscles and breast muscles may be used as an indicator of the content of lean meat and skin, including subcutaneous and abdominal fat, in the carcasses of broiler chickens. The experimental materials comprised 40 Ross 308 chicks aged 42 days (sex ratio 1:1). A total of 17 muscles were dissected from the right wing and the right leg. The right and left breast muscles were also dissected. Coefficients of simple correlation between the weight of individual muscles and selected slaughter quality parameters were calculated. The highest correlation was found between the lean meat content of a carcass and the weight of the right and left breast muscles (r=0.81 and 0.82 respectively), m. gastrocnemius mediale (r=0.81) and m. peroneus superficialis (r=0.73). The prediction of the weight of skin and fat in the carcasses of broilers based on the weight of single muscles may be unreliable due to low and non-significant values of correlation coefficients (r from 0.04 to 0.29). The weight of this tissue component was significantly correlated (r=0.42) with breast muscle weight only.
Annotation and in silico localization of the Affymetrix GeneChip Porcine Genome Array
Watcharapong Naraballobh, Siriwadee Chomdej, Eduard Murani, Klaus Wimmers and Siriluck Ponsuksili
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 230-238 PDF Database (~11 MB zipped MS Excel file, password available from the authors)
Expression microarrays including the Affymetrix GeneChip Porcine Genome Arrays are valuable tools for studying genes and functional networks relevant for the expression of complex traits and the responsiveness of the organism to various treatments. An updated annotation and, for the first time, localization on the porcine physical genome map of »Affymetrix GeneChip Porcine Genome Array probe sets« was made through a workflow of 3 pipelines of comparisions addressing various NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) and EnsEMBL (Ensembl project) databases. »BLAST« (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) comparisons of Affymetrix probe set consensus sequences with the EnsEMBL Sscrofa 9 cDNA database provided 23799 probe sets with hits. After annotation 19730 gene symbols were obtained using the data management system BioMart. Comparison of the Affymetrix probe set consensus sequences with the porcine genome sequence (EnsEMBL Sscrofa 9 LatestGP database) revealed 23298 probe sets with BLAST hits. In the third pipeline in addition to EnsEMBL Sscrofa 9 cDNA and genomic sequence databases also human, mouse and pig NCBI reference sequence RNA databases were interrogated in an integrated approach where also a threshold of bit score >50 or >90% identity over >100 bp was applied in order to filter questionable annotations and localizations. Gene symbols and gene names were queried from HGNC (human genome organization (HUGO) gene nomenclature committee), EASE (EASE: the Expression Analysis Systematic Explorer) and Entrez Gene revealing 20269 annotated probe sets. 20467 probe sets were in silico mapped addressing various sources: EnsEMBL Sscrofa 9 LatestGP, pre-EnsEMBL Sscrofa 8.52 LatestGP, NCBI pig reference sequence RNA and genomic databases and PigQTLdb (Pig Quantitative Trait Locus [QTL] database). Using the new annotation and localization data in functional genomics studies will facilitate improving the understanding of the control of quantitative traits in pigs.
Levels of serum osteocalcin and some electrolytes in foal during the first six months of life (Brief Report)
Alessandro Zumbo, Stefania Casella, Ambra Di Rosa, Salvatore Scianò, Francesco Fazio and Giuseppe Piccione
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 239-241 PDF
Investigation of effects of the MKK3 and MKK6 genes on meat production traits in the pig (Brief Report)
Hui Wu, Shuhong Zhao and Bin Fan
Arch Tierz 53 (2010) 2, 242-245 PDF