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Shah AM, Bano I, Qazi IH, Matra M, Wanapat M. "The Yak"-A remarkable animal living in a harsh environment: An overview of its feeding, growth, production performance, and contribution to food security. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1086985. [PMID: 36814466 PMCID: PMC9940766 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1086985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Yaks play an important role in the livelihood of the people of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and contribute significantly to the economy of the different countries in the region. Yaks are commonly raised at high altitudes of ~ 3,000-5,400 m above sea level. They provide many important products, namely, milk, meat, fur, and manure, as well as social status, etc. Yaks were domesticated from wild yaks and are present in the remote mountains of the QTP region. In the summer season, when a higher quantity of pasture is available in the mountain region, yaks use their long tongues to graze the pasture and spend ~ 30-80% of their daytime grazing. The remaining time is spent walking, resting, and doing other activities. In the winter season, due to heavy snowfall in the mountains, pasture is scarce, and yaks face feeding issues due to pasture scarcity. Hence, the normal body weight of yaks is affected and growth retardation occurs, which consequently affects their production performance. In this review article, we have discussed the domestication of yaks, the feeding pattern of yaks, the difference between the normal and growth-retarded yaks, and also their microbial community and their influences. In addition, blood biochemistry, the compositions of the yaks' milk and meat, and reproduction are reported herein. Evidence suggested that yaks play an important role in the daily life of the people living on the QTP, who consume milk, meat, fur, use manure for fuel and land fertilizer purposes, and use the animals for transportation. Yaks' close association with the people's well-being and livelihood has been significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mujtaba Shah
- Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand,Department of Livestock Production, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Bano
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Izhar Hyder Qazi
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Maharach Matra
- Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Metha Wanapat
- Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand,*Correspondence: Metha Wanapat ✉
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Effect of Supplementary Levels of Rumen-Protected Lysine and Methionine on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Feedlot Yaks ( Bos grunniens). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123384. [PMID: 34944161 PMCID: PMC8697986 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Yak is an indigenous ruminant on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its meat is known as the “beef crown”. Traditionally, yak graze on the rangeland all year round and without any supplementation, and weight loss would occur in the cold season, which leads to rather low productive performance. In recent years, the strategy of intensive feedlot fattening was introduced to the yak raising industry. However, the results were not as encouraging as in the cattle steers, a fact that can be attributed to yak malnutrition due to differences in feed varieties supply and nutrients requirement between yaks and cattle. Consequently, this study was conducted to examine the effect of the first two limiting amino acids on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in feedlot yaks. The animals were offered total mixed ration with supplementary four levels of rumen-protected lysine and methionine throughout the whole experiment. The results showed that the average daily gain, feed to gain ratio, meat color, drip loss, and shear force were improved when yaks were supplemented with rumen-protected amino acid while the medium level was most promising. These results indicated that supplementary rumen-protected amino acid improved the growth performance and meat quality characteristics of fattening yaks in feedlot. Abstract Yak, a unique bovine species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, has provided pastoralists with the basic materials of production and life for thousands of years. Existing literature showed that yak meat is of high nutritional value for humans whereas the growth performance is relatively low. As it has been demonstrated, lysine and methionine are the two key limiting amino acids in ruminants. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary levels of rumen-protected lysine (RPL) and methionine (RPM) on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in feedlot yaks. Thirty-two male yaks, with initial body weight (IBW) of 237.5 ± 13.99 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (n = 8), including control group (CON; basal diet without adding rumen-protected amino acid (RPAA)), low RPAA supplementation group (Group Low; basal diet supplemented with RPL (30.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (7.5 g/animal/day)), medium RPAA supplementation group (Group Medium; basal diet supplemented with RPL (50.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (12.5 g/animal/day)), and high RPAA supplementation group (Group High; basal diet supplemented with RPL (70.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (17.5 g/animal/day)). The average daily gain was increased linearly (p < 0.001) and quadratically (p < 0.01) while feed to gain ratio was decreased linearly (p < 0.001) and quadratically (p < 0.001) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and the average daily gain was higher while feed to gain ratio was lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.001). Meat color L* values and b* were decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with the increase of RPAA supplementation, and b* was lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). Meat color a* value was increased linearly (p < 0.05) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and a* was higher in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). The 24 h drip loss and shear force were decreased quadratically (p < 0.01) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and drip loss and shear force values were lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). The glycine concentration in longissimus dorsi (LD) increased linearly (p < 0.05) with the increasing RPAA supplementation. These results demonstrated that both the growth performance and meat quality characteristics were improved in feedlot yaks as an effect of the dietary supplementation with RPL and RPM, and the medium supplementary level is recommended, since it showed the most promising results.
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Du M, Yang C, Liang Z, Zhang J, Yang Y, Ahmad AA, Yan P, Ding X. Dietary Energy Levels Affect Carbohydrate Metabolism-Related Bacteria and Improve Meat Quality in the Longissimus Thoracis Muscle of Yak ( Bos grunniens). Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:718036. [PMID: 34631849 PMCID: PMC8492897 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.718036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of different dietary energy levels on the ruminal bacterial population, selected meat quality indices, and their relationship in yak longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle were assessed in this study. A total of 15 castrated yaks were randomly assigned to three groups with low- (NEg: 5.5 MJ/Kg, LE), medium- (NEg: 6.2 MJ/Kg, ME), and high- (NEg: 6.9 MJ/Kg, HE) dietary energy levels and occurred in the cold season (March to May). All yaks from each treatment group were humanely slaughtered and sampled on the day of completion of their feeding treatment. The results showed that the water content and crude fat levels of the LT muscle were markedly elevated in the HE group (P < 0.05), while the shear force was drastically reduced (P = 0.001). Methionine, aspartic acid, and glycine levels in the LT muscle were higher in the LE group compared with the ME and HE groups (P < 0.05). The glutamic acid level in the ME group was greater in comparison to the LE and HE groups (P < 0.05), while the histidine level in the ME group was higher than that in the HE group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HE diet significantly elevated (P < 0.05) the abundance of carbohydrate metabolism-associated bacteria including Prevotella_1, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, U29_B03, Ruminiclostridium_6, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_013 in the rumen. The results of the Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that the abundance of uncultured_bacterium_f_vadinBE97 and uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae showed a significant influence on the indicator of IMF and SF. In conclusion, a high dietary energy level improved the meat quality in the LT muscle of yak mainly by increasing the relative abundance of ruminal amylolytic bacteria to provide substrates for fatty acid synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Du
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zeyi Liang
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yayuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Anum Ali Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ping Yan
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuezhi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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Wu YS, Huang SL, Chung HC, Nan FH. Bioaccumulation of lead and non-specific immune responses in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) to Pb exposure. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 62:116-123. [PMID: 28089748 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated organ accumulation and nonspecific immune response in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) that were exposed to various concentrations of lead (Pb) solution. The concentrations of Pb in the hepatopancreas, haemolymph, and muscle were measured moreover the total heamocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, O2- and physiological factors such as glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and haemolymph glucose were detected. The results showed that the hepatopancreas was the main organ of accumulation of Pb in white shrimp and the cumulative concentration of each organ was positively correlated with the experimental Pb concentration and immersion time. By observing GOT and GPT, Pb was found to inhibit phenoloxidase and O2- activity and to induce organ injury. Thus, the heavy metal Pb accumulates in the hepatopancreas and haemolymph and affects the crustacean metabolic organ injury (rising of GOT and GPT) further to inhibit nonspecific immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Sheng Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20248, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ling Huang
- Freshwater Aquaculture Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Changhua, 50562, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chieh Chung
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20248, Taiwan
| | - Fan-Hua Nan
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20248, Taiwan.
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Durkalec M, Kolenda R, Owczarek T, Szkoda J, Nawrocka A, Grzegrzółka J, Dzięgiel P, Socha P, Kołacz R, Schierack P, Żmudzki J, Posyniak A. Expression of metallothionein in the liver and kidneys of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) from an industrial metal smelting area of Poland. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 137:121-129. [PMID: 27918943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The metallothionein 1 (MT1) coding sequence of red deer was identified and compared to orthologous sequences from other mammals. Over 90% identity was observed between red deer MT1 amino acid sequence and MT1 sequences of other ruminants. Liver and kidney samples of red deer were collected from the industrial zinc smelting site of Miasteczko Slaskie and from the Masuria Lake District serving as a pollution-free control site. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometry technique (AAS). The levels of Cd in the liver of red deer from the metal smelting region was about 8 times higher than for the reference control site. Next, the expression of MT1 mRNA in the liver of red deer was quantified by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the expression of MT1/2 protein in the liver and kidneys was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Positive correlations were found between expression levels for MT1 mRNA and the concentrations of Cu and Zn in liver of red deer, and with the age of animals. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the nuclear and cytoplasmatic expression in both liver and kidney tissues, but with no obvious relationship shown for the expression of MT1/2 protein and tissue metal levels. Our results showed that the analysis of MT expression levels in the red deer could not be used independently as a biomarker for identifying exposure to Cd, but could be co-analyzed with tissue metal levels to give better prognosis for environmental exposure to metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Durkalec
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland.
| | - Rafał Kolenda
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Großenhainer Str. 57, 01968 Senftenberg, Germany; Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. C. K. Norwida 31, 51-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Owczarek
- Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. C. K. Norwida 31, 51-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Józef Szkoda
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nawrocka
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Grzegrzółka
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chałubińskiego 6a, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Piotr Dzięgiel
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chałubińskiego 6a, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland; Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Physical Education, al. I. J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Socha
- Department of Animal Reproduction with Clinic, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. M. Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Roman Kołacz
- Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Chełmonskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Peter Schierack
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Großenhainer Str. 57, 01968 Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Jan Żmudzki
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Andrzej Posyniak
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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The nucleotide sequence of metallothioneins (MT) in liver of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and their potential as biomarkers of heavy metal pollution of the Kafue River. Gene 2012; 506:310-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Zhang L, Wu J, Wang X, Liu B, Ma B. Isolation of metallothionein genes and in silico structural characterization of their proteins using molecular modeling from yak (Bos grunniens). Biochem Genet 2012; 50:585-99. [PMID: 22399135 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-012-9503-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Yak metallothioneins (BgMTs) are cysteine-rich metal-chelating proteins with highly conserved cysteine residues in their amino acid sequences. The 3D structures of the Cd(7)-BgMTs reconstructed by molecular modeling included two domains: the β-domain with M(3)(S(cys))(9) metal-thiolate clusters and the α-domain with M(4)(S(cys))(11) metal-thiolate clusters. An unusual variant was found at position 30 (Cys30→Ser30) in BgMT-III, which is usually conserved in the mammalian MT-I/-II (Cys29) and MT-III (Cys30). The variant residue of BgMT-III may play a key role in yak genetic evolution, metal-binding activity, dynamic conformation, and heavy metal metabolism. BgMT-III contained a Thr insertion at position 5 (T(5)), which may loosen the structure of the β-domain of BgMT-III, and a conserved C(6)PCP(9) motif, which may provide an interacting surface for protein-protein interactions. There is also an acidic hexapeptide insertion (E(55)GAEAE(60)) that could regulate the particular interdomain interactions and lead to the conformational change in the β-domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1 Yingmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China
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Bai WL, Yang RJ, Yin RH, Jiang WQ, Luo GB, Yin RL, Zhao SJ, Li C, Zhao ZH. Molecular characterization and expression analysis of osteopontin cDNA from lactating mammary gland in yak (Bos grunniens). Mol Biol Rep 2011; 39:3627-35. [PMID: 21720759 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-011-1137-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphorylated glycoprotein. It has an important role in mammary gland development and lactation, as well as, is thought to be a potential candidate gene for lactation traits. In the present work, we isolated and characterized a full-length open reading frame (ORF) of yak OPN cDNA from lactating mammary tissue, and examined its expression pattern in mammary gland during different stages of lactation, as well as, the recombinant OPN protein of yak was expressed successfully in E. coli. The sequencing results indicated that the isolated cDNA was 1132-bp in length containing a complete ORF of 837-bp. It encoded a precursor protein of yak OPN consisting of 278 amino acid with a signal peptide of 16 amino acids. Yak OPN has a predicted molecular mass of 29285.975 Da and an isoelectric point of 4.245. It had an identity of 65.50-99.16% in cDNA, identity of 52.06-98.56% and similarity of 65.40-98.56% in deduced amino acids with the corresponding sequences of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, human, and rabbit. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that yak OPN had the closest evolutionary relationship with that of cattle, and next buffalo. In mammary gland, yak OPN was generally transcribed in a declining pattern from colostrum period to dry period with an apparent increase of OPN expression being present in the late period of lactation compared with peak period of lactation. Western blot analysis indicated that His-tagged yak OPN protein expressed in E. coli could be recognized not only by an anti-His-tag antibody but also by an anti-human OPN antibody. These results from the present work provided a foundation for further insight into the role of OPN gene in yak lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W L Bai
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
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Yang L, Zhang L, Wu J, Liu B, Brown MA, Ma B, Wang L. Characterization of metallothionein-III in the yak. J Biotechnol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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