Comparison of fattening performance and slaughter value of local Hungarian cattle breeds to international breeds

Abstract. The objective of the trial is to compare fattening performance, slaughter results and meat quality of bulls from international cattle breeds with local Hungarian breeds fattened under the same conditions. Altogether 62 growing bulls – Angus, Charolais, Holstein, Hungarian Grey, Hungarian Simmental, Charolais × Hungarian Grey – were fattened in small groups. The daily gain varied from 897 (Hungarian Grey) to 1 240 g/day (Angus). In general, the lower gain value is caused by the semi-intensive fattening system with low concentrate supplementation. The slaughter weight showed a similar tendency as final weight, there was a significant difference between Angus and Hungarian Grey. The killing out of Charolais (59.50 %), Angus (56.80 %) and Hungarian Simmental (57.84 %) was significantly higher than Hungarian Grey (55.13 %) and Holstein (55.03 %). Due to Charolais crossing the dressing percentage of Hungarian Grey was developed by about 1.5 %. The EU conformation scores of Charolais (9.50) and Hungarian Simmental (9.33) and the fatness scores of Angus (8.33) and Charolais × Hungarian Grey (7.33) were significantly higher than that of the other genotypes. The tissue composition of dissected carcass as well as ribs joint composition determined by X-ray computerised tomography method showed the lean meat of Hungarian Simmental and bone proportions of Holstein to be the highest, whilst Angus had the highest fat content. Charolais und Hungarian Simmental had significant higher longissimus muscle area in ribs joint compared to Angus, Holstein and Charolais × Hungarian Grey. Angus and Hungarian Grey had the highest intramuscular fat level of the three examined muscles.

Microsatellite markers for identification and parentage analysis in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa)

BACKGROUND

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is among the most widespread mammal species throughout the old world. Presently, studies concerning microsatellites in domestic pigs and wild boars have been carried out in order to investigate domestication, social behavior and general diversity patterns among either populations or breeds. The purpose of the current study is to develop a robust set of microsatellites markers for parentage analyses and individual identification.

FINDINGS

A set of 14 previously reported microsatellites markers have been optimized and tested in three populations from Hungary, Portugal and Spain, in a total of 167 samples. The results indicate high probabilities of exclusion (0.99999), low probability of identity (2.0E(-13) - 2.5E(-9)) and a parentage assignment of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that this set of markers is a useful and efficient tool for the individual identification and parentage assignment in wild boars.

Porcine prolactin receptor genotypes and production and reproduction traits in Hungarian Large White and Landrace sows (Brief Report)

Abstract. Prolactin is an anterior pituitary hormone involved in many endocrine activities and plays and essential role in reproduction. Its receptor (PRLR) was detected in various tissues including brain, ovary, placenta, an uterus in several mammalian species (BOLE-FEYSOT et al. 1998). Reproductive performance of sows is a crutial point in pig production with significant economic importance and may be estimated with the help of markers. Porcine prolactin receptor gene is said to be a candidate genetic marker for reproductive traits. It has been mapped to porcine chromosome 16 (Vincent et al. 1997). There is a C/G SNP in PRLR gene (KMIEC et al. 2001) at the position of 203 (GAN: U96306) which eliminates an AluI cleavage site. The effect of this polymorphism on litter size in various breeds has been estimated (VINCENT et al. 1998, ROTHSCHILD et al. 1998, VAN RENS et al. 2002, KMIEC and TERMAN, 2004, DRÖGEMÜLLER et al. 2001, KORWIN-KOSSAKOWSKA et al. 2003). The influence of the bovine hormone variant was also estimated (RATNA-KUMARI et al. 2008). The aim of the study was to estimate PRLR AluI polymorphism effects on litter size in Hungarian Large White (HLW) and Hungarian Landrace (HL) breeds.

Association between PrP genotypes and selected growth traits of Hungarian Merino and German Mutton Merino rams (Short Communication)

Abstract. In sheep, susceptibility to scrapie is associated with the prion protein (PrP) gene polymorphism. In this study the association between selected growth traits (daily weight gain from birth to weaning and in farm fattening performance test, as well as body weight at one and two years) and PrP genotypes ARR/ARR, ARR/XXX and XXX/XXX (XXX representing AHQ, ARQ, ARH or VRQ) has been investigated in Hungarian Merino (n=286) and German Mutton Merino (n=215) rams. No significant association was found among the studied growth traits and the PrP genotypes in the Hungarian Merino breed. In case of a group of German Mutton Merino rams lamb daily gain was significantly (P≤0.05) – but in a small extent – associated with PrP genotype, which influenced the daily gain values by 9.6 %.

Development of eight-plex microsatellite PCR for parentage control in deer

Abstract. 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.

Breeding for scrapie resistance in the Hungarian sheep population

The first results of the Hungarian sheep prion protein (PrP) genotyping programme are discussed in this paper. To obtain initial genotype frequency data 10 commercial (Hungarian Merino, German Mutton Merino, Merino Landschaf, German Blackheaded, Suffolk, Texel, Ile de France, Charollais, Lacaune, British Milksheep) and 4 indigenous (Gyimes Racka, Hortobágy Racka, Tsigaja, Cikta) breeds were sampled in 2003 and 2004, and the PrP genotypes were determined by microsequencing analysis with capillary electrophoresis. In all commercial breeds, a higher number of sheep were genotyped in 2005 (3648) and in 2006 (3834) within the breeding programme to increase scrapie resistance, and the estimated frequency data were compared to the initial figures to evaluate the efficiency of selection. The new developments arising from the identification of the so-called 'atypical' scrapie cases are also discussed.

Effect of DGAT1 and TG gene polymorphisms on intramuscular fat and on milk production traits in different cattle breeds in Hungary

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of the thyroglobulin (TG) locus on beef quality traits in some beef cattle breeds and to investigate the effect of the DGAT1 locus on milk production traits in the Hungarian Holstein Friesian population. TG and DGAT1 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. At the TG locus TT bulls showed the highest fat percentage values in the longissimus dorsi muscle (m. longissimus dorsi); the difference between CC and TT genotypes was significant. DGAT1 GC/GC cows had the highest milk, fat and protein yield values. Due to the relatively small number of GC/GC cows the difference proved to be significant only between AA/AA and AA/GC genotypes.

Do Mangalica Pigs of Different Colours Really Belong to Different Breeds?

Abstract. The genetic relationships among the indigenous Hungarian Mangalica swine breeds in farms at different geographical locations have been studied by ten microsatellite markers (S0005, S0090, S0101, S0155, S0355, S0386, SW24, SW240, SW857, SW951), in order to characterise the population and to give sound scientific basis for management practices. The work hypothesis – that Mangalica individuals form just one unpartitioned population – has been rejected. The estimated value of clusters in population is three and it is in content with the history of the breeds. The estimated distances (Ds, Da, Fst) were the smallest between Swallow-Belly and Blond, while the Red showed the largest genetic distance from the previous two breeds. This approach proves the existence of distinct populations and can be used for assignment of individuals with high probability value (in the range from 0.83 to 0.91) to the different Mangalica breeds if required.

Effect of MYOG genotypes on growth rate and production traits in Hungarian large white pigs

The effect of the porcine myogenin (Myog) 3' polymorphism on birth weight, growth rate, carcass weight, lean weight, lean meat percentage and back-fat thickness has been investigated in Hungarian Large White pigs. MYOG genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP assay. The obtained MYOGA frequency value was 0.6275. Due to the small number of BB piglets the effect of the MYOG genotypes on birth weight was not significant; however, an increasing tendency was observed from genotype AA to BB. The growth rate difference between MYOG genotypes was significant: BB animals showed the highest growth rate values during the fattening period. Since few results are available on the possible use of MYOG gene polymorphism in selection to improve carcass and growth traits, by this study the authors hope to provide additional data on this particular subject.

Oestrogen receptor genotypes and litter size in Hungarian Large White pigs

A total of 869 litter records of 226 Hungarian Large White sows have been analysed to investigate the possible use of the oestrogen receptor gene (ESR) as marker to improve litter size. First, second and later parities have been evaluated separately. Frequencies of A = 0.55 and B = 0.45 have been calculated for the two ESR alleles and the observed/ expected number of the three genotypes were as follows: AA: 71/69.1, AB: 108/111.8 and BB: 47/45.1. BB type first and later parity sows were superior to AB and AA sows for number born alive (NBA), total number of born (TNB) and the corrected number of weaned piglets (CNW), respectively.

Detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms coding for three ovine prion protein variants by primer extension assay and capillary electrophoresis

An alternative method is described for the determination of ovine prion protein allelic variants at codon 136, 154, and 171. The four mutations responsible for amino acid changes are typed simultaneously. The technique utilizes dideoxy chain termination reaction using fluorescently labeled dideoxy nucleotides. The single-base extended primers are resolved on a capillary electrophoresis instrument. Data obtained by our approach are presented according to genotype distribution in some breeds as a part of the validation procedure.

Survey of ß-Lactoglobulin and α_S1-Casein polimorpbisms in Hungarian dairy sheep breeds and crosses on DNA level (short communication)

Abstract. Beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) and the Welsh αS1-casein (αS1-casein D) types have been determined using PCR-RFLP tests in DNA isolated from blood samples collected from four dairy sheep breeds (Awassi, British Milk Sheep, Tsigaia, Lacaune), from Hungarian Merinos and from various crossbreeds (AwassixMerino) F1, (MerinoxLanghe) F1, (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1, (MerinoxPleven Blackhead ) F1x Black East Friesian). The following LGBA frequency values have been obtained: Awassi 0.3478; British Milk Sheep 0.6857; Tsigaia 0.5650; Lacaune 0.4730; Hungarian Merino 0.6767; (Awassix Merino) F1 0.4694; (MerinoxLanghe) F1 0.7777; (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1 0.5945; (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1 x Black East Friesian 0.6026. The Welsh αS1-casein variant was found in the Hungarian Merino breed only (4 homozygous and 16 heterozygous ewes). Plans for studies on the possible effects of these milk protein types, on milk yield and composition as well as on cheese making properties ofmilk and cheese yields are outlined.