Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Annik Imogen Gmel, Alexander Burren, Markus Neuditschko
Summary: This study measured joint angles and quantified the variation in shape of Swiss Franches-Montagnes (FM) horses. The research found that the poll angle had the highest heritability, and the shape of the FM stallions has evolved towards a lighter type over time. Image-based phenotyping improves accuracy in selecting horses for conformation traits.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh
Summary: It is essential to have sound estimates of genetic parameters for economically important traits in animal breeding plans. This study conducted a meta-analysis to combine different published heritability estimates and genetic correlations between conformation traits in horses, revealing substantial variability among these estimates. The results of this study can be applicable in breeding designs when reliable estimates are not available for conformation traits in horse populations.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alexandra Novotna, Alena Birovas, Hana Vostra-Vydrova, Zdenka Vesela, Lubos Vostry
Summary: The genetic evaluation of Czech sport horses has been based on jumping competition results since 2014. The study found that incorporating performance test results into genetic evaluation can refine breeding values, especially for young mares and stallions.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ana Rita Goncalves, Luis Telo da Gama, Luis Antunes, Helena Guimaraes, Miguel Bliebernicht, Cristina Cosinha, Bruno Duarte Rego, Pedro Ferro da Costa, Tiago Guimaraes, Elisa Bettencourt, Antonio Rocha, Jose Carlos Duare
Summary: The study aimed to establish baseline information for seminal traits in Lusitano stallions, assess the impact of inbreeding, collection interval, and age on semen quality, and estimate the genetic parameters. A total of 2129 ejaculates by 146 Lusitano stallions were analyzed. Results showed normal values for seminal traits and a decline in quality as inbreeding increased. Season and age also influenced semen quality, with the highest values observed during the breeding season and a nonlinear relationship with age. Genetic parameters suggested the possibility of improving semen quality through selection and the importance of considering inbreeding when selecting Lusitano stallions.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Grum Gebreyesus, Mogens S. Lund, Kasia Kupisiewicz, Guosheng Su
Summary: The study found that semen quality traits have a certain degree of heritability, and the moderate genetic and phenotypic correlations indicate the predictive value of these traits for service sire NRR. Selection for semen quality traits may be beneficial for improving service sire NRR.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Davinia Perdomo-Gonzalez, Rocio de las Aguas Garcia de Paredes, Mercedes Valera, Ester Bartolome, Maria Dolores Gomez
Summary: This study estimated genetic parameters and analyzed the relationship between coat color traits (QB and WM) and other linear morpho-functional traits in Pura Raza Menorquina horses. The highest genetic correlations were found between QB and upper neck line, as well as between WM and form of the hoof. There was a clear differentiation in other morpho-functional traits between animals with different breeding values for QB and WM.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Masoumeh Naserkheil, Deukmin Lee, Kihoon Chung, Mi Na Park, Hossein Mehrban
Summary: The study finds that genetic improvement in carcass merit can lead to increased primal cut yields and higher profitability in the beef industry.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Amelie Crespel, Toby Miller, Anita Racz, Kevin Parsons, Jan Lindstrom, Shaun Killen
Summary: Fishing activities can directly select for fish social behavior, potentially leading to heritable changes in fish behavior. While trawling selection remains consistent across different density conditions, population density influences the heritability and genetic correlations of behaviors.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Charlotte Schrurs, Sarah Blott, Guillaume Dubois, Emmanuelle Van Erck-Westergren, David S. S. Gardner
Summary: Using a stride tracking device, this study objectively measures and compares the stride lengths of racehorses categorized as sprinters or stayers. The results show that there are significant differences in stride length between these two categories, even before they compete in races. The study also finds that stride length during training cannot predict racing success, but stayers tend to have better race results than sprinters. This objective data on stride characteristics can be helpful for trainers in selecting appropriate races for each racehorse.
Article
Agronomy
Madeliene L. Facy, Michelle L. Hebart, Helena Oakey, Rudi A. McEwin, Wayne S. Pitchford
Summary: Female fertility is crucial in beef breeding programs. However, limited genetic progress has been made due to long generation intervals and inadequate phenotyping. Days to calving (DC) is a potential trait for genetic improvement and increased weaning rate. Genetic parameters and correlations were estimated for DC in different joinings (first, second and third+) and lactation status (lactating and non-lactating) in a tropical composite cattle population. The study found that first joining DC and mature joining DC had a moderate-high genetic correlation (0.55-0.83). However, there was no correlation between DC in multiparous lactating and non-lactating cows (r(G) = -0.10). The correlation between mature joining DC and second joining lactating DC was stronger (0.41-0.69) compared to second joining non-lactating DC (-0.14 to -0.16). Therefore, different joinings and lactation status should be treated as separate traits to maximize genetic gain.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Abdel Abdellaoui, Conor Dolan, Karin J. H. Verweij, Michel G. Nivard
Summary: Gene-environment correlations have an impact on the associations between genetic variants and complex traits in genome-wide association studies. This study found that educational attainment polygenic scores in the British population capture gene-environment correlations, and migration extends these correlations beyond the family to broader geographic regions. Additionally, controlling for geographic regions significantly reduces the heritability of socioeconomic status-related traits and decreases the genetic correlations with educational attainment and income for most traits.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ester Bartolome, Davinia Isabel Perdomo-Gonzalez, Maria Jose Sanchez-Guerrero, Mercedes Valera
Summary: This study found that the way a horse activates and recovers during a sport event can be influenced by genetic background and sex. Differences in effort and recovery between stallions and mares were observed, with stallions showing better recovery after the sport test. High positive correlations were found between effort phase and recovery phase, while a low negative correlation was found between eye temperature increase and ranking position. Genetically, there were medium-high heritabilities with a medium positive genetic correlation between effort and recovery. This suggests that breed origins and sex play a role in horses' performance and recovery during sport events with a suitable genetic basis for selection.
Article
Cell Biology
Michael Elgart, Matthew O. Goodman, Carmen Isasi, Han Chen, Alanna C. Morrison, Paul S. de Vries, Huichun Xu, Ani W. Manichaikul, Xiuqing Guo, Nora Franceschini, Bruce M. Psaty, Stephen S. Rich, Jerome I. Rotter, Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, Myriam Fornage, Adolfo Correa, Nancy L. Heard-Costa, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Ryan Hernandez, Robert C. Kaplan, Susan Redline, Tamar Sofer
Summary: We developed a new estimator, HEc, for calculating the genetic and environmental correlation coefficients between complex phenotypes, which is more accurate and faster than traditional methods. Our study found genetic differences in multiple phenotypes and phenotype pairs between individuals of different self-reported races (Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White), as well as differences in genetic and environmental correlations between genders. We introduced the concept of fractional genetic correlation to estimate the contribution of genetics to observed phenotypic correlation, and quantified the enrichment of correlations between different phenotypic domains.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
B. S. Marestone, R. A. A. Torres, L. O. C. Silva, G. R. O. Menezes, C. A. S. D. Muniz, E. L. A. Ribeiro
Summary: The objective of this study was to contribute to genetic improvement for carcass quality in Nellore cattle. The best indicators of muscling were found to be REA450 and RATIO, with medium heritability and low correlation with body weight.
TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziqiang Han, Xiang Guo, Zuoliang Lu, Yiheng Song, Ruimin Chen, Xiaojie Han, Shiqi Yu, Kang Tu, Liangjie Liu, Huayong Que
Summary: Selecting precocious individuals to shorten the reproductive cycle has minimal effects on gonadal development and productive traits of Crassostrea angulata, except for the egg diameter where it does have a significant effect. This selection method may have a greater impact on females than males.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)