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Panigrahi M, Rajawat D, Nayak SS, Jain K, Vaidhya A, Prakash R, Sharma A, Parida S, Bhushan B, Dutt T. Genomic insights into key genes and QTLs involved in cattle reproduction. Gene 2024; 917:148465. [PMID: 38621496 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
From an economic standpoint, reproductive characteristics are fundamental for sustainable production, particularly for monotocous livestock like cattle. A longer inter-calving interval is indicative of low reproductive capacity. This issue changes the dynamics of current and future lactations since it necessitates more inseminations, veterinary care, and hormone interventions. Various reproductive phenotypes, including ovulation, mating, fertility, pregnancy, embryonic growth, and calving-related traits, are observed in dairy cattle, and these traits have been associated with several QTLs. Calving ease, age at puberty, scrotal circumference, and inseminations per conception have been associated with 4437, 10623, 10498, and 2476 Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), respectively. This data offers valuable insights into enhancing and comprehending reproductive traits in livestock breeding. Studying QTLs associated with reproductive traits has far-reaching implications across various fields, from agriculture and animal husbandry to human health, evolutionary biology, and conservation. It provides the foundation for informed breeding practices, advances in biotechnology, and a deeper understanding of the genetic underpinnings of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India.
| | - Divya Rajawat
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Sonali Sonejita Nayak
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Karan Jain
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Ayushi Vaidhya
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Ravi Prakash
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Anurodh Sharma
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Subhashree Parida
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Triveni Dutt
- Livestock Production and Management Section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
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Dominguez-Castaño P, Fortes M, Tan WLA, Toro-Ospina AM, Silva JAIV. Genome-wide association study for milk yield, frame, and udder conformation traits of Gir dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)01031-2. [PMID: 39067750 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are employed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with several traits. The aim of this study was to perform a GWAS to identify causative variants and genes associated with milk yield, frame, and udder conformation traits in Gir dairy cattle. Body conformation traits were classified as "frame," and "udder" traits for this study. After genotyping imputation and quality control 42,105 polymorphisms were available for analyses and 24,489 cows with pedigree information had phenotypes. First, P-value was calculated based on the variance of the prediction error of the SNP-effects on the first iteration. After that, 2 more iterations were performed to carry out the weighted single-step genome-wide association methodology, performed using genomic moving windows defined based on linkage disequilibrium. The significant SNPs and top 10 windows explaining the highest percentage of additive genetic variance were selected and used for QTL and gene annotation. The variants identified in our work overlapped with QTLs from the animal QTL database on chromosomes 1 to 23, except for chromosome 4. The Gir breed is less studied than the Holstein breed and as such the animal QTL database is biased to Holstein results. Hence it is noteworthy that our GWAS had similarities with previously described QTLs. These previously known QTLs were related to milk yield, body height, rump angle, udder width, and udder depth. In total, 5 genes were annotated. Of these genes, FAM13A and CMSS1 had been previously related to bone and carcass weight in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Dominguez-Castaño
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo 14884-900, Brasil; Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Fundación Universitaria Agraria de Colombia-UNIAGRARIA, Bogotá 111166, Colombia; The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - M Fortes
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - W L A Tan
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - A M Toro-Ospina
- Science and Humanities Faculty, Digital University Institute of Antioquia, IUDigital, Medellin 50010, Colombia
| | - J A Ii V Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo 14884-900, Brasil; Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ), Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-000, Brasil.
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Zayas GA, Rodriguez EE, Hernandez AS, Rezende FM, Mateescu RG. Exploring genomic inbreeding and selection signatures in a commercial Brangus herd through functional annotation. J Appl Genet 2024; 65:383-394. [PMID: 38528244 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-024-00859-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Composite breeds, including Brangus, are widely utilized in subtropical and tropical regions to harness the advantages of both Bos t. taurus and Bos t. indicus breeds. The formation and subsequent selection of composite breeds may result in discernible signatures of selection and shifts in genomic population structure. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess genomic inbreeding, 2) identify signatures of selection, 3) assign functional roles to these signatures in a commercial Brangus herd, and 4) contrast signatures of selection between selected and non-selected cattle from the same year. A total of 4035 commercial Brangus cattle were genotyped using the GGP-F250K array. Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) were used to identify signatures of selection and calculate genomic inbreeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) enrichment analysis and literature search identified phenotypic traits linked to ROH islands. Genomic inbreeding averaged 5%, primarily stemming from ancestors five or more generations back. A total of nine ROH islands were identified, QTL enrichment analysis revealed traits related to growth, milk composition, carcass, reproductive, and meat quality traits. Notably, the ROH island on BTA14 encompasses the pleiomorphic adenoma (PLAG1) gene, which has been linked to growth, carcass, and reproductive traits. Moreover, ROH islands associated with milk yield and composition were more pronounced in selected replacement heifers of the population, underscoring the importance of milk traits in cow-calf production. In summary, our research sheds light on the changing genetic landscape of the Brangus breed due to selection pressures and reveals key genomic regions impacting production traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Zayas
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | | | - Aakilah S Hernandez
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina States University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Fernanda M Rezende
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raluca G Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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D’Occhio MJ, Campanile G, Baruselli PS, Porto Neto LR, Hayes BJ, Snr AC, Fortes MRS. Pleomorphic adenoma gene1 in reproduction and implication for embryonic survival in cattle: a review. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae103. [PMID: 38586898 PMCID: PMC11056886 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The pleomorphic adenoma gene1 (PLAG1) encodes a DNA-binding, C2H2 zinc-finger protein which acts as a transcription factor that regulates the expression of diverse genes across different organs and tissues; hence, the name pleomorphic. Rearrangements of the PLAG1 gene, and/or overexpression, are associated with benign tumors and cancers in a variety of tissues. This is best described for pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands in humans. The most notable expression of PLAG1 occurs during embryonic and fetal development, with lesser expression after birth. Evidence has accumulated of a role for PLAG1 protein in normal early embryonic development and placentation in mammals. PLAG1 protein influences the expression of the ike growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene and production of IGF2 protein. IGF2 is an important mitogen in ovarian follicles/oocytes, embryos, and fetuses. The PLAG1-IGF2 axis, therefore, provides one pathway whereby PLAG1 protein can influence embryonic survival and pregnancy. PLAG1 also influences over 1,000 other genes in embryos including those associated with ribosomal assembly and proteins. Brahman (Bos indicus) heifers homozygous for the PLAG1 variant, rs109815800 (G > T), show greater fertility than contemporary heifers with either one, or no copy, of the variant. Greater fertility in heifers homozygous for rs109815800 could be the result of early puberty and/or greater embryonic survival. The present review first looks at the broader roles of the PLAG1 gene and PLAG1 protein and then focuses on the emerging role of PLAG1/PLAG1 in embryonic development and pregnancy. A deeper understanding of factors which influence embryonic development is required for the next transformational increase in embryonic survival and successful pregnancy for both in vivo and in vitro derived embryos in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J D’Occhio
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Campanile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro S Baruselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Animal Reproduction, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ben J Hayes
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alf Collins Snr
- CBV Brahman, Marlborough, Central Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Hengwei Y, Raza SHA, Wang S, Khan R, Ayari-Akkari A, El Moneim Ahmed DA, Ahmad I, Shaoib M, Abd El-Aziz AH, Rahman SU, Jahejo AR, Zan L. The growth curve determination and economic trait correlation for Qinchuan bull population. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:2649-2656. [PMID: 35980325 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2022.2111309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Carcass weight, as a measure of meat yield, and body measurements are directly correlated traits in livestock. However, longitudinally collected phenotype records of local breeds are not comprehensive. The research was performed on Qinchuan bull population to understand their growth and development, and data from Qinchuan bull that was weighed and measured at birth, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age was analyzed. Furthermore, Logistic, Brody, Gompertz, and Bertallanffy were used to fit the growth curves for weight and body size traits. The results showed that the four curve models have good fitting degrees for the weight and body size (R2 > 0.99), and the Bertallanffy model exhibited a good fit to the measured data of body weight, and the model estimated the inflection point of body weight as (5.43 months of age, 122.01 kg). Particularly, the limited mature body weight can reach 557.8 kg by the Brody model. Body weight was significantly positively correlated with body height, hip height, body length, chest circumference, abdominal girth, and calf girth (p < 0.0001), and the correlation between body weight and body length was the highest (r = 0.975). The regression equation predicting body weight was Y = -275.691 + 3.28 X3 + 1.311 X4 - 0.397 X5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hengwei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | | | - Sihu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Rajwali Khan
- Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetic, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Amel Ayari-Akkari
- Biology Department, College of Sciences, King Khaled University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Ijaz Ahmad
- Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetic, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shaoib
- College of Veterinary Science, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Ayman H Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Siddiq Ur Rahman
- Department of Computer science and Bioinformatics, Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, Pakistan
| | - Ali Raza Jahejo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Linsen Zan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Yangling, China
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Calderón-Chagoya R, Vega-Murillo VE, García-Ruiz A, Ríos-Utrera Á, Martínez-Velázquez G, Montaño-Bermúdez M. Discovering Genomic Regions Associated with Reproductive Traits and Frame Score in Mexican Simmental and Simbrah Cattle Using Individual SNP and Haplotype Markers. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2004. [PMID: 38002947 PMCID: PMC10671695 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive efficiency stands as a critical determinant of profitability within beef production systems. The incorporation of molecular markers can expedite advancements in reproductive performance. While the use of SNPs in association analysis is prevalent, approaches centered on haplotypes can offer a more comprehensive insight. The study used registered Simmental and Simbrah cattle genotyped with the GGP Bovine 150 k panel. Phenotypes included scrotal circumference (SC), heifer fertility (HF), stayability (STAY), and frame score (FS). After quality control, 105,129 autosomal SNPs from 967 animals were used. Haplotype blocks were defined based on linkage disequilibrium. Comparison between haplotypes and SNPs for reproductive traits and FS was conducted using Bayesian and frequentist models. 23, 13, 7, and 2 SNPs exhibited associations with FS, SC, HF, and STAY, respectively. In addition, seven, eight, seven, and one haplotypes displayed associations with FS, SC, HF, and STAY, respectively. Within these delineated genomic segments, potential candidate genes were associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Calderón-Chagoya
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
- National Center for Disciplinary Research in Physiology and Animal Improvement, National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, Querétaro 76280, Mexico;
| | - Vicente Eliezer Vega-Murillo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Veracruzana University, Veracruz 91710, Mexico; (V.E.V.-M.); (Á.R.-U.)
| | - Adriana García-Ruiz
- National Center for Disciplinary Research in Physiology and Animal Improvement, National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, Querétaro 76280, Mexico;
| | - Ángel Ríos-Utrera
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Veracruzana University, Veracruz 91710, Mexico; (V.E.V.-M.); (Á.R.-U.)
| | - Guillermo Martínez-Velázquez
- Experimental Field Santiago Ixcuintla, National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, Nayarit 63570, Mexico;
| | - Moisés Montaño-Bermúdez
- National Center for Disciplinary Research in Physiology and Animal Improvement, National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, Querétaro 76280, Mexico;
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Bejarano DH, Martínez RA, Rocha JF. Genome-wide association study for growth traits in Blanco Orejinegro and Romosinuano cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55:358. [PMID: 37848724 PMCID: PMC10581918 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03743-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Growth traits are economically important characteristics for the genetic improvement of local cattle breeds. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide valuable information to enhance the understanding on the genetics of complex traits. The aim of this study was to perform a GWAS to identify genomic regions and genes associated to birth weight, weaning weight adjusted for 240 days, 16 months, and 24 months weight in Romosinuano (ROMO) and Blanco Orejinegro (BON) cattle. A single-step genomic-BLUP was implemented using 596 BON and 569 ROMO individuals that were genotyped with an Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip. There were 25 regions of interest identified on different chromosomes, with few of them simultaneously associated with two or more growth traits and some were common to both breeds. The gene mapping allowed to find 173 annotations on these regions, from which 49 represent potential candidate genes with known growth-related functions in cattle and other species. Among the regions that were associated with several growth traits, that at 24 - 27 MB of BTA14, has important candidate genes such as LYPLA1, XKR4, TMEM68 and PLAG1. Another region of interest at 0.40-0.77 Mb of BTA23 was identified in both breeds, containing KHDRBS2 as a potential candidate gene influencing body weight. Future studies targeting these regions could provide more knowledge to uncover the genetic architecture underlying growth traits in BON and ROMO cattle. The genomic regions and genes identified in this study could be used to improve the prediction of genetic merit for growth traits in these creole cattle breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego H Bejarano
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria -AGROSAVIA. Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Km. 14, Mosquera, Cundinamarca, Colombia
| | - Rodrigo A Martínez
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria -AGROSAVIA. Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Km. 14, Mosquera, Cundinamarca, Colombia
| | - Juan F Rocha
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria -AGROSAVIA. Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Km. 14, Mosquera, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
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Reding JJ, van der Westhuizen RR, Berry DP, van Marle-Köster E. Understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms for age at first calving, inter-calving period and scrotal circumference in Bonsmara cattle. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:480. [PMID: 37620802 PMCID: PMC10464233 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09518-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproduction is a key feature of the sustainability of a species and thus represents an important component in livestock genetic improvement programs. Most reproductive traits are lowly heritable. In order to gain a better understanding of the underlying genetic basis of these traits, a genome-wide association was conducted for age at first calving (AFC), first inter-calving period (ICP) and scrotal circumference (SC) within the South African Bonsmara breed. Phenotypes and genotypes (120,692 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) post editing) were available on 7,128 South African Bonsmara cattle; the association analyses were undertaken using linear mixed models. RESULTS Genomic restricted maximum likelihood analysis of the 7,128 SA Bonsmara cattle yielded genomic heritability's of 0.183 (SE = 0.021) for AFC, 0.207 (SE = 0.022) for ICP and 0.209 (SE = 0.019) for SC. A total of 16, 23 and 51 suggestive (P ≤ 4 × 10-6) SNPs were associated with AFC, ICP and SC, while 11, 11 and 44 significant (P ≤ 4 × 10-7) SNPs were associated with AFC, ICP and SC respectively. A total of 11 quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 11 candidate genes were co-located with these associated SNPs for AFC, with 10 QTL harbouring 11 candidate genes for ICP and 41 QTL containing 40 candidate genes for SC. The QTL identified were close to genes previously associated with carcass, fertility, growth and milk-related traits. The biological pathways influenced by these genes include carbohydrate catabolic processes, cellular development, iron homeostasis, lipid metabolism and storage, immune response, ovarian follicle development and the regulation of DNA transcription and RNA translation. CONCLUSIONS This was the first attempt to study the underlying polymorphisms associated with reproduction in South African beef cattle. Genes previously reported in cattle breeds for numerous traits bar AFC, ICP or SC were detected in this study. Over 20 different genes have not been previously reported in beef cattle populations and may have been associated due to the unique genetic composite background of the SA Bonsmara breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Reding
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
| | | | - Donagh P Berry
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
- Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork, Ireland
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Tahir MS, Porto-Neto LR, Reverter-Gomez T, Olasege BS, Sajid MR, Wockner KB, Tan AWL, Fortes MRS. Utility of multi-omics data to inform genomic prediction of heifer fertility traits. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:skac340. [PMID: 36239447 PMCID: PMC9733504 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologically informed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) impact genomic prediction accuracy of the target traits. Our previous genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics work identified candidate genes related to puberty and fertility in Brahman heifers. We aimed to test this biological information for capturing heritability and predicting heifer fertility traits in another breed i.e., Tropical Composite. The SNP from the identified genes including 10 kilobases (kb) region on either side were selected as biologically informed SNP set. The SNP from the rest of the Bos taurus genes including 10-kb region on either side were selected as biologically uninformed SNP set. Bovine high-density (HD) complete SNP set (628,323 SNP) was used as a control. Two populations-Tropical Composites (N = 1331) and Brahman (N = 2310)-had records for three traits: pregnancy after first mating season (PREG1, binary), first conception score (FCS, score 1 to 3), and rebreeding score (REB, score 1 to 3.5). Using the best linear unbiased prediction method, effectiveness of each SNP set to predict the traits was tested in two scenarios: a 5-fold cross-validation within Tropical Composites using biological information from Brahman studies, and application of prediction equations from one breed to the other. The accuracy of prediction was calculated as the correlation between genomic estimated breeding values and adjusted phenotypes. Results show that biologically informed SNP set estimated heritabilities not significantly better than the control HD complete SNP set in Tropical Composites; however, it captured all the observed genetic variance in PREG1 and FCS when modeled together with the biologically uninformed SNP set. In 5-fold cross-validation within Tropical Composites, the biologically informed SNP set performed marginally better (statistically insignificant) in terms of prediction accuracies (PREG1: 0.20, FCS: 0.13, and REB: 0.12) as compared to HD complete SNP set (PREG1: 0.17, FCS: 0.10, and REB: 0.11), and biologically uninformed SNP set (PREG1: 0.16, FCS: 0.10, and REB: 0.11). Across-breed use of prediction equations still remained a challenge: accuracies by all SNP sets dropped to around zero for all traits. The performance of biologically informed SNP was not significantly better than other sets in Tropical Composites. However, results indicate that biological information obtained from Brahman was successful to predict the fertility traits in Tropical Composite population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad S Tahir
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Laercio R Porto-Neto
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Toni Reverter-Gomez
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Babatunde S Olasege
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Mirza R Sajid
- Department of Statistics, University of Gujrat, 50700 Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Kimberley B Wockner
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Andre W L Tan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
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Integrating genome-wide association study and pathway analysis reveals physiological aspects affecting heifer early calving defined at different ages in Nelore cattle. Genomics 2022; 114:110395. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Chakraborty D, Sharma N, Kour S, Sodhi SS, Gupta MK, Lee SJ, Son YO. Applications of Omics Technology for Livestock Selection and Improvement. Front Genet 2022; 13:774113. [PMID: 35719396 PMCID: PMC9204716 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.774113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional animal selection and breeding methods were based on the phenotypic performance of the animals. These methods have limitations, particularly for sex-limited traits and traits expressed later in the life cycle (e.g., carcass traits). Consequently, the genetic gain has been slow with high generation intervals. With the advent of high-throughput omics techniques and the availability of multi-omics technologies and sophisticated analytic packages, several promising tools and methods have been developed to estimate the actual genetic potential of the animals. It has now become possible to collect and access large and complex datasets comprising different genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phonemics data as well as animal-level data (such as longevity, behavior, adaptation, etc.,), which provides new opportunities to better understand the mechanisms regulating animals’ actual performance. The cost of omics technology and expertise of several fields like biology, bioinformatics, statistics, and computational biology make these technology impediments to its use in some cases. The population size and accurate phenotypic data recordings are other significant constraints for appropriate selection and breeding strategies. Nevertheless, omics technologies can estimate more accurate breeding values (BVs) and increase the genetic gain by assisting the section of genetically superior, disease-free animals at an early stage of life for enhancing animal productivity and profitability. This manuscript provides an overview of various omics technologies and their limitations for animal genetic selection and breeding decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyendu Chakraborty
- Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Ranbir Singh Pura, India
| | - Neelesh Sharma
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Ranbir Singh Pura, India
- *Correspondence: Neelesh Sharma, ; Young Ok Son,
| | - Savleen Kour
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Ranbir Singh Pura, India
| | - Simrinder Singh Sodhi
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India
| | - Sung Jin Lee
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
| | - Young Ok Son
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, College of Applied Life Sciences and Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology and Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Neelesh Sharma, ; Young Ok Son,
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12
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Keogh K, Kenny DA. Gene co-expression networks contributing to reproductive development in Holstein-Friesian bull calves. Animal 2022; 16:100527. [PMID: 35500509 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhanced early life nutrition stimulates the functionality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) biochemical signalling axis, resulting in precocious reproductive development in bull calves. Additionally, there is evidence that peptides and hormones produced within adipose tissue depots are also central in mediating the effect of metabolic status with reproductive development. The objective of this study was to undertake gene co-expression analyses on transcriptional data of the HPT and adipose tissues derived from bull calves fed contrasting planes of nutrition up to 18 weeks of life. The relationship between networks of co-expressed genes in each tissue dataset with calf phenotypic data was also assessed using a Pearson correlation analysis. Phenotypic data were related to metabolic status (systemic concentrations of insulin, leptin, adiponectin and IGF-1) reproductive development (systemic concentrations of testosterone, FSH and LH) and markers of testicular development (seminiferous tubule diameter, seminiferous tubule lumen score, spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells). In the hypothalamus, gene co-expression networks involved in biochemical signalling processes related to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion were positively associated (P < 0.05) with systemic concentrations of IGF-1 and insulin. Similarly, a network of gene transcripts involved in GnRH signalling in the anterior pituitary was positively associated (P < 0.05) with systemic concentrations of LH. In the testes and adipose tissues, networks of co-expressed genes implicated in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis were positively associated (P < 0.05) with lumen score, Sertoli cell number, and stage of spermatogenesis. Additionally, gene co-expression networks significantly associated (P < 0.05) with both metabolic and reproductive trait data were found to be enriched (P < 0.05) for biological pathways related to energy production, cellular growth and proliferation, GnRH signalling and cholesterol biosynthesis across multiple tissues examined. Results from this study highlight networks of co-expressed genes directly associated with markers of enhanced metabolic status and subsequent earlier reproductive development. Furthermore, genes involved in biological processes mentioned above may hold potential for informing genomic selection breeding programmes for the selection of calves capable of displaying earlier reproductive development as a consequence of enhanced dietary intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Keogh
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - D A Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
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13
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Chen SY, Schenkel FS, Melo ALP, Oliveira HR, Pedrosa VB, Araujo AC, Melka MG, Brito LF. Identifying pleiotropic variants and candidate genes for fertility and reproduction traits in Holstein cattle via association studies based on imputed whole-genome sequence genotypes. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:331. [PMID: 35484513 PMCID: PMC9052698 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08555-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic progress for fertility and reproduction traits in dairy cattle has been limited due to the low heritability of most indicator traits. Moreover, most of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes associated with these traits remain unknown. In this study, we used 5.6 million imputed DNA sequence variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 18 fertility and reproduction traits in Holstein cattle. Aiming to identify pleiotropic variants and increase detection power, multiple-trait analyses were performed using a method to efficiently combine the estimated SNP effects of single-trait GWAS based on a chi-square statistic. Results There were 87, 72, and 84 significant SNPs identified for heifer, cow, and sire traits, respectively, which showed a wide and distinct distribution across the genome, suggesting that they have relatively distinct polygenic nature. The biological functions of immune response and fatty acid metabolism were significantly enriched for the 184 and 124 positional candidate genes identified for heifer and cow traits, respectively. No known biological function was significantly enriched for the 147 positional candidate genes found for sire traits. The most important chromosomes that had three or more significant QTL identified are BTA22 and BTA23 for heifer traits, BTA8 and BTA17 for cow traits, and BTA4, BTA7, BTA17, BTA22, BTA25, and BTA28 for sire traits. Several novel and biologically important positional candidate genes were strongly suggested for heifer (SOD2, WTAP, DLEC1, PFKFB4, TRIM27, HECW1, DNAH17, and ADAM3A), cow (ANXA1, PCSK5, SPESP1, and JMJD1C), and sire (ELMO1, CFAP70, SOX30, DGCR8, SEPTIN14, PAPOLB, JMJD1C, and NELL2) traits. Conclusions These findings contribute to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of fertility and reproduction traits measured in heifers, cows, and sires, which may contribute to improve genomic evaluation for these traits in dairy cattle. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08555-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Yi Chen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA.,Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Flavio S Schenkel
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ana L P Melo
- Department of Reproduction and Animal Evaluation, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, 23897-000, Brazil
| | - Hinayah R Oliveira
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA.,Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Victor B Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA.,Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Andre C Araujo
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA
| | - Melkaye G Melka
- Department of Animal and Food Science, University of Wisconsin River Falls, River Falls, WI, 54022, USA
| | - Luiz F Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA. .,Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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14
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Cahyadi M, Sukaryo S, Dhiaurridho MI, Bramastya TA, Yanti Y, Riyanto J, Volkandari SD, Sudrajad P. Association of pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 with body weight and measurement of Bali cattle (Bos javanicus). Vet World 2022; 15:782-788. [PMID: 35497968 PMCID: PMC9047134 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.782-788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) encodes a multifunctional transcription factor that controls many genes and pathways and is associated with cattle body weight and measurements. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PLAG1 polymorphisms with body weight and measurements in Bali cattle. Materials and Methods: A total of 87 Bali cattle, consisting of 48 bulls and 39 heifers at the Breeding Center for Bali Cattle, were used as the population in this study. Cattle were 2 years old and kept semi-intensively in the pasture. Phenotype data consisting of body weight, withers height, body length, chest girth, waist height, and chest depth were measured. Birth weight data were obtained from birth records, and weight gain, adjusted weaning weight, and yearling weight were calculated using formulas. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein as much as 5 mL, and genomic DNA was isolated using the salting-out method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify three target polymorphisms, namely, g.48308 C>T, g.32212 (19 bp indel), and g.45233 T>C. The presence of a 19 bp indel was determined by direct observation of the PCR product on a 2% agarose gel. Two other polymorphisms were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism using the restriction endonuclease enzymes SacII and BclI. PLAG1 genotype and phenotype associations were analyzed using a general linear model. Results: The results showed that two of the target polymorphisms in PLAG1 did not vary. The DD genotype indicated by 123 bp of PCR product was the only genotype identified for g.32212 19 bp indel, and TT genotype was the only genotype found for g.45233 T>C single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Conversely, g.48308 C>T SNP was found to be polymorphic. In addition, the g.48308 C>T polymorphism of PLAG1 was significantly associated with body length of Bali cattle. Cattle with the CC genotype had a greater body length than the other two genotypes. Conclusion: The g.48308 C>T SNP in PLAG1 was associated with Bali cattle body length characteristics. This finding could be used as a basis for selecting Bali cattle based on body length characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Cahyadi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Sukaryo Sukaryo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Thoriq Aldri Bramastya
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yuli Yanti
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Joko Riyanto
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Slamet Diah Volkandari
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Research Organization for Life Sciences, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | - Pita Sudrajad
- Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology – Central Java, Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Semarang, Indonesia
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15
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Engle BN, Hayes BJ. Genetic variation in PLAG1 is associated with early fertility in Australian Brahman cattle. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6549654. [PMID: 35294025 PMCID: PMC9030205 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in the genome region coding for PLAG1 has well-documented associations with skeletal growth and age at puberty in cattle. However, the influence of PLAG1 on other economically important traits such as cow stayability has not yet been explored. Here we investigate the effect of PLAG1 variation on early and later in life female fertility, as well as size and growth, in a well phenotyped Australian Brahman herd. Yearly pregnancy and productivity records were collected from 2,839 genotyped Brahman cows and used to generate fertility, growth, and weight phenotypes. A variant on chromosome 14 in PLAG1 (NC_037341.1:g.23338890G>T, rs109815800) was previously determined to be a putative causative mutation associated with variation in cattle stature. The imputed PLAG1 genotype at this variant was isolated for each animal and the effect of PLAG1 genotype on each trait was estimated using linear modelling. Regardless of how heifer fertility was measured, there was a significant (P < 0.05) and desirable relationship between the additive effects of PLAG1 genotype and successful heifer fertility. Heifers with two copies of the alternate allele (TT) conceived earlier and had higher pregnancy and calving rates. However, the effects of PLAG1 genotype on fertility began to diminish as cows aged and did not significantly influence stayability at later ages. While there was no effect of genotype on growth, PLAG1 had a negative effect on mature cow weight (P < 0.01), where females with two copies of the alternate allele (TT) were significantly smaller than those with either one or none. Selection emphasis on improved Brahman heifer fertility will likely increase the frequency of the T allele of rs109815800, which may also increase herd profitability and long-term sustainability through improved reproductive efficiency and reduced mature cow size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey N Engle
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ben J Hayes
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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16
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Sustainable Intensification of Beef Production in the Tropics: The Role of Genetically Improving Sexual Precocity of Heifers. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12020174. [PMID: 35049797 PMCID: PMC8772995 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tropical pasture-based beef production systems play a vital role in global food security. The importance of promoting sustainable intensification of such systems has been debated worldwide. Demand for beef is growing together with concerns over the impact of its production on the environment. Implementing sustainable livestock intensification programs relies on animal genetic improvement. In tropical areas, the lack of sexual precocity is a bottleneck for cattle efficiency, directly impacting the sustainability of production systems. In the present review we present and discuss the state of the art of genetic evaluation for sexual precocity in Bos indicus beef cattle, covering the definition of measurable traits, genetic parameter estimates, genomic analyses, and a case study of selection for sexual precocity in Nellore breeding programs. Abstract Increasing productivity through continued animal genetic improvement is a crucial part of implementing sustainable livestock intensification programs. In Zebu cattle, the lack of sexual precocity is one of the main obstacles to improving beef production efficiency. Puberty-related traits are complex, but large-scale data sets from different “omics” have provided information on specific genes and biological processes with major effects on the expression of such traits, which can greatly increase animal genetic evaluation. In addition, genetic parameter estimates and genomic predictions involving sexual precocity indicator traits and productive, reproductive, and feed-efficiency related traits highlighted the feasibility and importance of direct selection for anticipating heifer reproductive life. Indeed, the case study of selection for sexual precocity in Nellore breeding programs presented here show that, in 12 years of selection for female early precocity and improved management practices, the phenotypic means of age at first calving showed a strong decreasing trend, changing from nearly 34 to less than 28 months, with a genetic trend of almost −2 days/year. In this period, the percentage of early pregnancy in the herds changed from around 10% to more than 60%, showing that the genetic improvement of heifer’s sexual precocity allows optimizing the productive cycle by reducing the number of unproductive animals in the herd. It has a direct impact on sustainability by better use of resources. Genomic selection breeding programs accounting for genotype by environment interaction represent promising tools for accelerating genetic progress for sexual precocity in tropical beef cattle.
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17
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Crum TE, Schnabel RD, Decker JE, Taylor JF. Taurine and Indicine Haplotype Representation in Advanced Generation Individuals From Three American Breeds. Front Genet 2021; 12:758394. [PMID: 34733318 PMCID: PMC8558500 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.758394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of the American Breeds of beef cattle began in the 1920s as breeders and U. S. Experiment Station researchers began to create Bos taurus taurus × Bos taurus indicus hybrids using Brahman as the B. t. indicus source. By 1954, U.S. Breed Associations had been formed for Brangus (5/8 Angus × 3/8 Brahman), Beefmaster (½ Brahman × ¼ Shorthorn × ¼ Hereford), and Santa Gertrudis (5/8 Shorthorn × 3/8 Brahman). While these breeds were developed using mating designs expected to create base generation animals with the required genome contributions from progenitor breeds, each association has now registered advanced generation animals in which selection or drift may have caused the realized genome compositions to differ from initial expected proportions. The availability of high-density SNP genotypes for 9,161 Brangus, 3,762 Beefmaster, and 1,942 Santa Gertrudis animals allowed us to compare the realized genomic architectures of breed members to the base generation expectations. We used RFMix to estimate local ancestry and identify genomic regions in which the proportion of Brahman ancestry differed significantly from a priori expectations. For all three breeds, lower than expected levels of Brahman composition were found genome-wide, particularly in early-generation animals where we demonstrate that selection on beef production traits was likely responsible for the taurine enrichment. Using a proxy for generation number, we also contrasted the genomes of early- and advanced-generation animals and found that the indicine composition of the genome has increased with generation number likely due to selection on adaptive traits. Many of the most-highly differentiated genomic regions were breed specific, suggesting that differences in breeding objectives and selection intensities exist between the breeds. Global ancestry estimation is commonly performed in admixed animals to control for stratification in association studies. However, local ancestry estimation provides the opportunity to investigate the evolution of specific chromosomal segments and estimate haplotype effects on trait variation in admixed individuals. Investigating the genomic architecture of the American Breeds not only allows the estimation of indicine and taurine genome proportions genome-wide, but also the locations within the genome where either taurine or indicine alleles confer a selective advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar E Crum
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Robert D Schnabel
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jared E Decker
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jeremy F Taylor
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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18
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SHARMA UPASNA, BANERJEE PRIYANKA, JOSHI JYOTI, KAPOOR PRERNA, RAHEJA MEENAL, VIJH RAMESHKUMAR. Identification of markers for functional traits in Murrah buffaloes. THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.56093/ijans.v91i6.115448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Twelve half sib families were created and two functional traits, viz. age at first heat and age at first calving were recorded for 4,851 and 946 daughters belonging to 12 sires. Partial genome scan was carried out using Interval Mapping with different algorithms. The QTLs obtained for each half sib family were further subjected to meta analysis to identify chromosomal regions associated with age at first heat and age at first calving on 8 chromosomes of buffalo. We identified 4 metaQTL regions on chromosomes BBU1q, BBU6, BBU7, BBU8 and BBU10; 3 metaQTL regions on BBU2q; 2 metaQTL regions on BBU9 and one on BBU15 of buffalo. Comparative genomics was used for finding out genes underlying the meta-QTL regions. 1019 genes were found to be underlying the metaQTL regions in buffaloes assuming buffalo-cattle-human synteny. Several of these genes are supposedly important candidate genes for further analysis as several of them revealed functions related to fertility. The QTL markers identified in the present analysis can be used in the breeding programs of buffalo to select the bulls which affect the functional traits and thus reduce the cost of production.
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19
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Dubon MAC, Pedrosa VB, Feitosa FLB, Costa RB, de Camargo GMF, Silva MR, Pinto LFB. Identification of novel candidate genes for age at first calving in Nellore cows using a SNP chip specifically developed for Bos taurus indicus cattle. Theriogenology 2021; 173:156-162. [PMID: 34392169 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The age at first calving has a great economic impact on the beef cattle system and calving at 24 months is an objective of selection for a more efficient herd. However, an age at first calving around 36 months has been observed for Nellore cattle in Brazil. Thus, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out with 8376 records of age at first calving and 3239 animals genotyped with the GGP-Indicus 35K, which has been developed specifically for Bos taurus indicus. The weighted single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction method was used, with adjacent SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in genomic windows of 1.0 Mb. After quality control, 3239 (2161 males and 1078 females) animals genotyped for 30,519 SNPs were used in GWAS analysis. The average and standard deviation of age at first calving were 1041.7 and 140.6 days, respectively. The heritability estimate was 0.10 ± 0.02. The GWAS analysis found seven genomic regions in BTA1, 2, 5, 12, 18, 21, and 24, which explained a total of 11.24% of the additive genetic variance of age at first calving. In these regions were found 62 protein coding genes, and the genes HSD17B2, SERPINA14, SERPINA1, SERPINA5, STAT1, NFATC1, ATP9B, CTDP1, THPO, ECE2, PSMD2, EIF4G1, EIF2B2, DVL3, POLR2H, TMTC2, and GPC6 are possible candidates for age at first birth due their function. Moreover, two molecular functions ("serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity" and "negative regulation of endopeptidase activity") were significant, which depend on several serpin genes. The use of a SNP chip developed especially for Bos taurus indicus allowed to find genomic regions for age at first calving, which are close to QTLs previously reported for other reproduction-related traits. Future studies can reveal the causal variants and their effects on reproductive precocity of Nellore cows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victor Breno Pedrosa
- State University of Ponta Grossa, 4748, Av. General Carlos Cavalcanti, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84030900, Brazil.
| | | | - Raphael Bermal Costa
- Federal University of Bahia, 500, Av. Adhemar de Barros, Salvador, BA, 40170110, Brazil.
| | | | - Marcio Ribeiro Silva
- Melhore Animal and Katayama Agropecuaria Lda, Guararapes, SP, 16700-000, Brazil.
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20
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Sánchez JM, Keogh K, Kelly AK, Byrne CJ, Lonergan P, Kenny DA. A high plane of nutrition during early life alters the hypothalamic transcriptome of heifer calves. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13978. [PMID: 34234169 PMCID: PMC8263617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93080-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to examine the effect of rapid body weight gain during early calfhood consistent with earlier sexual development on the transcriptional profile of the hypothalamus. Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves (19 ± 5 days of age) were offered a high (HI, n = 14) or moderate (MOD, n = 15) plane of nutrition from 3 to 21 weeks of age to achieve a growth rate of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. Following euthanasia at 21 weeks, the arcuate nucleus (ARC) region was separated from the remainder of the hypothalamus and both were subjected to RNA-Seq. HI calves exhibited altered expression of 80 and 39 transcripts in the ARC and the remaining hypothalamus, respectively (P < 0.05) including downregulation of AGRP and NPY and upregulation of POMC, previously implicated in precocious sexual development. Stress-signaling pathways were amongst the most highly dysregulated. Organ morphology, reproductive system development and function, and developmental disorder were amongst the networks derived from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ARC. Gene co-expression analysis revealed DEGs within the ARC (POMC, CBLN2, CHGA) and hypothalamus (PENK) as hub genes. In conclusion, enhanced nutrition during early calfhood alters the biochemical regulation of the hypothalamus consistent with advanced sexual development in the prepubertal heifer.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Sánchez
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria, Ctr. de la Coruña Km 5.9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Kate Keogh
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Alan K Kelly
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Colin J Byrne
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Pat Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David A Kenny
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
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21
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Genomic and phenotypic analyses of antral follicle count in Aberdeen Angus cows. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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22
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Tahir MS, Porto-Neto LR, Gondro C, Shittu OB, Wockner K, Tan AWL, Smith HR, Gouveia GC, Kour J, Fortes MRS. Meta-Analysis of Heifer Traits Identified Reproductive Pathways in Bos indicus Cattle. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:768. [PMID: 34069992 PMCID: PMC8157873 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility traits measured early in life define the reproductive potential of heifers. Knowledge of genetics and biology can help devise genomic selection methods to improve heifer fertility. In this study, we used ~2400 Brahman cattle to perform GWAS and multi-trait meta-analysis to determine genomic regions associated with heifer fertility. Heifer traits measured were pregnancy at first mating opportunity (PREG1, a binary trait), first conception score (FCS, score 1 to 3) and rebreeding score (REB, score 1 to 3.5). The heritability estimates were 0.17 (0.03) for PREG1, 0.11 (0.05) for FCS and 0.28 (0.05) for REB. The three traits were highly genetically correlated (0.75-0.83) as expected. Meta-analysis was performed using SNP effects estimated for each of the three traits, adjusted for standard error. We identified 1359 significant SNPs (p-value < 9.9 × 10-6 at FDR < 0.0001) in the multi-trait meta-analysis. Genomic regions of 0.5 Mb around each significant SNP from the meta-analysis were annotated to create a list of 2560 positional candidate genes. The most significant SNP was in the vicinity of a genomic region on chromosome 8, encompassing the genes SLC44A1, FSD1L, FKTN, TAL2 and TMEM38B. The genomic region in humans that contains homologs of these genes is associated with age at puberty in girls. Top significant SNPs pointed to additional fertility-related genes, again within a 0.5 Mb region, including ESR2, ITPR1, GNG2, RGS9BP, ANKRD27, TDRD12, GRM1, MTHFD1, PTGDR and NTNG1. Functional pathway enrichment analysis resulted in many positional candidate genes relating to known fertility pathways, including GnRH signaling, estrogen signaling, progesterone mediated oocyte maturation, cAMP signaling, calcium signaling, glutamatergic signaling, focal adhesion, PI3K-AKT signaling and ovarian steroidogenesis pathway. The comparison of results from this study with previous transcriptomics and proteomics studies on puberty of the same cattle breed (Brahman) but in a different population identified 392 genes in common from which some genes-BRAF, GABRA2, GABR1B, GAD1, FSHR, CNGA3, PDE10A, SNAP25, ESR2, GRIA2, ORAI1, EGFR, CHRNA5, VDAC2, ACVR2B, ORAI3, CYP11A1, GRIN2A, ATP2B3, CAMK2A, PLA2G, CAMK2D and MAPK3-are also part of the above-mentioned pathways. The biological functions of the positional candidate genes and their annotation to known pathways allowed integrating the results into a bigger picture of molecular mechanisms related to puberty in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis. A reasonable number of genes, common between previous puberty studies and this study on early reproductive traits, corroborates the proposed molecular mechanisms. This study identified the polymorphism associated with early reproductive traits, and candidate genes that provided a visualization of the proposed mechanisms, coordinating the hypothalamic, pituitary, and ovarian functions for reproductive performance in Brahman cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad S. Tahir
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Laercio R. Porto-Neto
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Cedric Gondro
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Olasege B. Shittu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Kimberley Wockner
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Andre W. L. Tan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Hugo R. Smith
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Gabriela C. Gouveia
- Animal Science Department, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Jagish Kour
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Marina R. S. Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Australia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.T.); (O.B.S.); (K.W.); (A.W.L.T.); (H.R.S.); (J.K.)
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Korkuć P, Arends D, May K, König S, Brockmann GA. Genomic Loci Affecting Milk Production in German Black Pied Cattle (DSN). Front Genet 2021; 12:640039. [PMID: 33763120 PMCID: PMC7982544 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.640039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
German Black Pied cattle (DSN) is an endangered population of about 2,550 dual-purpose cattle in Germany. Having a milk yield of about 2,500 kg less than the predominant dairy breed Holstein, the preservation of DSN is supported by the German government and the EU. The identification of the genomic loci affecting milk production in DSN can provide a basis for selection decisions for genetic improvement of DSN in order to increase market chances through the improvement of milk yield. A genome-wide association analysis of 30 milk traits was conducted in different lactation periods and numbers. Association using multiple linear regression models in R was performed on 1,490 DSN cattle genotyped with BovineSNP50 SNP-chip. 41 significant and 20 suggestive SNPs affecting milk production traits in DSN were identified, as well as 15 additional SNPs for protein content which are less reliable due to high inflation. The most significant effects on milk yield in DSN were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, and 20. The region on chromosome 6 was located nearby the casein gene cluster and the corresponding haplotype overlapped the CSN3 gene (casein kappa). Associations for fat and protein yield and content were also detected. High correlation between traits of the same lactation period or number led to some SNPs being significant for multiple investigated traits. Half of all identified SNPs have been reported in other studies, previously. 15 SNPs were associated with the same traits in other breeds. The other associated SNPs have been reported previously for traits such as exterior, health, meat and carcass, production, and reproduction traits. No association could be detected between DGAT1 and other known milk genes with milk production traits despite the close relationship between DSN and Holstein. The results of this study confirmed that many SNPs identified in other breeds as associated with milk traits also affect milk traits in dual-purpose DSN cattle and can be used for further genetic analysis to identify genes and causal variants that affect milk production in DSN cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Korkuć
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Breeding Biology and Molecular Genetics, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Danny Arends
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Breeding Biology and Molecular Genetics, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina May
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Gudrun A Brockmann
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Breeding Biology and Molecular Genetics, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Lefebvre R, Larroque H, Barbey S, Gallard Y, Colleau JJ, Lainé AL, Boichard D, Martin P. Genome-wide association study for age at puberty and resumption of cyclicity in a crossbred dairy cattle population. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:5794-5804. [PMID: 33516553 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fertility is of primary economic importance in dairy cattle and the most common reason for involuntary culling. However, standard fertility traits have very low heritability that renders genetic selection slow and difficult. In this study, we explored fertility from an endocrine standpoint. A total of 1,163 crossbred Holstein-Normande females in a 3-generation familial design were studied for progesterone level measured every 10 d to determine age at puberty (PUB) and commencement of postpartum luteal activity (CPLA). Genetic parameters were estimated using REML with WOMBAT software. The heritability estimates were 0.38 ± 0.10 and 0.16 ± 0.07 for PUB and CPLA, respectively. Moreover, the 2 traits were genetically correlated (0.45 ± 0.23), suggesting a partially common determinism. Because of the family structure, a linkage disequilibrium and linkage analysis approach was preferred over standard genome-wide association study to map genomic regions associated with these traits. Ten quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for PUB on chromosomes 1, 3, 11, 13, 14, 21, and 29, whereas 3 QTL were associated with CPLA on chromosomes 21 and 26. Only the QTL on chromosome 21 was common to both traits. Four functional candidate genes (NCOA2, GAS2, OVOL1, and FOSL1) were identified in the detected regions. These findings will contribute to a clearer understanding of fertility determinism and enhance the value of introducing endocrinological data in fertility studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lefebvre
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - H Larroque
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, F-31326, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - S Barbey
- INRAE UE326 Domaine Expérimental du Pin, INRA, Exmes 61310, France
| | - Y Gallard
- INRAE UE326 Domaine Expérimental du Pin, INRA, Exmes 61310, France
| | - J J Colleau
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - A L Lainé
- INRAE, UMR-PRC, Laboratoire Phénotypage-Endocrinologie, Nouzilly 37380, France
| | - D Boichard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - P Martin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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Vanvanhossou SFU, Scheper C, Dossa LH, Yin T, Brügemann K, König S. A multi-breed GWAS for morphometric traits in four Beninese indigenous cattle breeds reveals loci associated with conformation, carcass and adaptive traits. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:783. [PMID: 33176675 PMCID: PMC7656759 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07170-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific adaptive features including disease resistance and growth abilities in harsh environments are attributed to indigenous cattle breeds of Benin, but these breeds are endangered due to crossbreeding. So far, there is a lack of systematic trait recording, being the basis for breed characterizations, and for structured breeding program designs aiming on conservation. Bridging this gap, own phenotyping for morphological traits considered measurements for height at withers (HAW), sacrum height (SH), heart girth (HG), hip width (HW), body length (BL) and ear length (EL), including 449 cattle from the four indigenous Benin breeds Lagune, Somba, Borgou and Pabli. In order to utilize recent genomic tools for breed characterizations and genetic evaluations, phenotypes for novel traits were merged with high-density SNP marker data. Multi-breed genetic parameter estimations and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the six morphometric traits were carried out. Continuatively, we aimed on inferring genomic regions and functional loci potentially associated with conformation, carcass and adaptive traits. RESULTS SNP-based heritability estimates for the morphometric traits ranged between 0.46 ± 0.14 (HG) and 0.74 ± 0.13 (HW). Phenotypic and genetic correlations ranged from 0.25 ± 0.05 (HW-BL) to 0.89 ± 0.01 (HAW-SH), and from 0.14 ± 0.10 (HW-BL) to 0.85 ± 0.02 (HAW-SH), respectively. Three genome-wide and 25 chromosome-wide significant SNP positioned on different chromosomes were detected, located in very close chromosomal distance (±25 kb) to 15 genes (or located within the genes). The genes PIK3R6 and PIK3R1 showed direct functional associations with height and body size. We inferred the potential candidate genes VEPH1, CNTNAP5, GYPC for conformation, growth and carcass traits including body weight and body fat deposition. According to their functional annotations, detected potential candidate genes were associated with stress or immune response (genes PTAFR, PBRM1, ADAMTS12) and with feed efficiency (genes MEGF11 SLC16A4, CCDC117). CONCLUSIONS Accurate measurements contributed to large SNP heritabilities for some morphological traits, even for a small mixed-breed sample size. Multi-breed GWAS detected different loci associated with conformation or carcass traits. The identified potential candidate genes for immune response or feed efficiency indicators reflect the evolutionary development and adaptability features of the breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carsten Scheper
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Luc Hippolyte Dossa
- School of Science and Technics of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Tong Yin
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brügemann
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany.
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Silva R, Espigolan R, Berton M, Stafuzza N, Santos F, Negreiros M, Schuchmann R, Rodriguez J, Lôbo R, Banchero G, Pereira A, Bergmann J, Baldi F. Genetic parameters and genomic regions associated with calving ease in primiparous Nellore heifers. Livest Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Moorey SE, Biase FH. Beef heifer fertility: importance of management practices and technological advancements. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2020; 11:97. [PMID: 33014361 PMCID: PMC7528292 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-020-00503-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of replacement heifers is at the core of cow-calf beef production systems. In 2020, the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service reported 5.771 million beef heifers, 500 pounds and over, are under development for cow replacement. A compilation of data from several studies indicate that between 85% and 95% of these heifers will become pregnant in their first breeding season. Several thousands of heifers being raised for replacement may not deliver a calf on their first breeding season and result in economic losses to cow-calf producers. Many management procedures have been developed to maximize the reproductive potential of beef heifers. Such approaches include, but are not limited to the following: nutritional management for controlled weight gain, identification of reproductive maturity by physiological and morphological indicators, and the implementation of an estrous synchronization program. The implementation of management strategies has important positive impact(s) on the reproductive efficiency of heifers. There are limitations, however, because some heifers deemed ready to enter their first breeding season do not become pregnant. In parallel, genetic selection for fertility-related traits in beef heifers have not promoted major genetic gains on this particular area, most likely due to low heritability of female fertility traits in cattle. Technologies such as antral follicle counting, DNA genotyping and RNA profiling are being investigated as a means to aid in the identification of heifers of low fertility potential. To date, many polymorphisms have been associated with heifer fertility, but no DNA markers have been identified across herds. Antral follicle count is an indication of the ovarian reserve and is an indicator of the reproductive health of a heifer. We have been working on the identification of transcriptome profiles in heifers associated with pregnancy outcome. Our current investigations integrating protein-coding transcript abundance and artificial intelligence have identified the potential for bloodborne transcript abundance to be used as indicators of fertility potential in beef heifers. In summary, there is an ongoing pressure for reducing costs and increasing efficiency in cow-calf production systems, and new technologies can help reduce the long-standing limitations in beef heifer fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Moorey
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
| | - Fernando H. Biase
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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Peripolli E, Reimer C, Ha NT, Geibel J, Machado MA, Panetto JCDC, do Egito AA, Baldi F, Simianer H, da Silva MVGB. Genome-wide detection of signatures of selection in indicine and Brazilian locally adapted taurine cattle breeds using whole-genome re-sequencing data. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:624. [PMID: 32917133 PMCID: PMC7488563 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07035-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cattle introduced by European conquerors during the Brazilian colonization period were exposed to a process of natural selection in different types of biomes throughout the country, leading to the development of locally adapted cattle breeds. In this study, whole-genome re-sequencing data from indicine and Brazilian locally adapted taurine cattle breeds were used to detect genomic regions under selective pressure. Within-population and cross-population statistics were combined separately in a single score using the de-correlated composite of multiple signals (DCMS) method. Putative sweep regions were revealed by assessing the top 1% of the empirical distribution generated by the DCMS statistics. RESULTS A total of 33,328,447 biallelic SNPs with an average read depth of 12.4X passed the hard filtering process and were used to access putative sweep regions. Admixture has occurred in some locally adapted taurine populations due to the introgression of exotic breeds. The genomic inbreeding coefficient based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) concurred with the populations' historical background. Signatures of selection retrieved from the DCMS statistics provided a comprehensive set of putative candidate genes and revealed QTLs disclosing cattle production traits and adaptation to the challenging environments. Additionally, several candidate regions overlapped with previous regions under selection described in the literature for other cattle breeds. CONCLUSION The current study reported putative sweep regions that can provide important insights to better understand the selective forces shaping the genome of the indicine and Brazilian locally adapted taurine cattle breeds. Such regions likely harbor traces of natural selection pressures by which these populations have been exposed and may elucidate footprints for adaptation to the challenging climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Peripolli
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Christian Reimer
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ngoc-Thuy Ha
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Geibel
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marco Antonio Machado
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Lago Sul, 71605-001, Brazil
- Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Juiz de Fora, 36038-330, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernando Baldi
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Henner Simianer
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, University of Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
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Kang X, Li M, Liu M, Liu S, Pan MG, Wiggans GR, Rosen BD, Liu GE. Copy number variation analysis reveals variants associated with milk production traits in dairy goats. Genomics 2020; 112:4934-4937. [PMID: 32898641 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Copy number variation (CNV) is a major type of genomic structural variation. We investigated their impacts on goat dairy traits using the CaprineSNP50 array. From 120 samples of five dairy goat breeds, we totally identified 42 CNVs ranging from 56,044 bp to 4,337,625 bp. We found significant associations between two CNVs (CNV5 and CNV25) and two milk production traits (mean of milk fat yield and mean of milk protein yield) after false discovery rate (FDR) correction (P < 0.05). CNV5 overlaps the ADAMTS20 gene, which is involved in the differentiation of mammary cell and plays a crucial role in lactogenic activity of bovine mammary epithelial cells. CNV25 overlaps with PAPPA2, which has been found to be associated with bovine reproduction and milk production traits. Our results revealed that CNVs overlapped with ADAMTS20 and PAPPA2 could be involved in goat dairy traits and function as candidate markers for further genetic selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Kang
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA; College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Mingxun Li
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA; College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Animal Nutritional Genome and Germplasm Innovation Research Center, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuli Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Michael G Pan
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | | | - Benjamin D Rosen
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - George E Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, BARC, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA.
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Zhu S, Guo T, Zhao H, Qiao G, Han M, Liu J, Yuan C, Wang T, Li F, Yue Y, Yang B. Genome-Wide Association Study Using Individual Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Haplotypes for Erythrocyte Traits in Alpine Merino Sheep. Front Genet 2020; 11:848. [PMID: 32849829 PMCID: PMC7411260 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia is essential for domestic animals, such as yak, Tibetan chicken, and Tibetan sheep, living on high plateaus, as it ensures efficient oxygen absorption and utilization. Red blood cells are the primary medium for transporting oxygen in the blood. However, little is known about the genetic mechanism of erythrocyte traits. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) based on single markers or haplotypes have identified potential mechanisms for genetic variation and quantitative traits. To identify loci associated with erythrocyte traits, we performed a GWAS based on the method of the single marker and haplotype in 498 Alpine Merino sheep for six erythrocyte traits: red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and RBC volume distribution width coefficient of variation (RWD_CV). Forty-two significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the six erythrocyte traits were detected by means of a single-marker GWAS, and 34 significant haplotypes associated with five erythrocyte traits were detected by means of haplotype analysis. We identified six genes (DHCR24, SPATA9, FLI1, PLCB1, EFNB2, and SH2B3) as potential genes of interest via gene function annotations, location, and expression variation. In particular, FLI1 and PLCB1 were associated with hematopoiesis and erythropoiesis, respectively. These results provide a theoretical basis for analyzing erythrocyte traits and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation in Alpine Merino sheep and will be a useful reference for future studies of plateau-dwelling livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Zhu
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongchang Zhao
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guoyan Qiao
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mei Han
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianbin Liu
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chao Yuan
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tianxiang Wang
- Gansu Provincial Sheep Breeding Technology Extension Station, Sunan, China
| | - Fanwen Li
- Gansu Provincial Sheep Breeding Technology Extension Station, Sunan, China
| | - Yaojing Yue
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bohui Yang
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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Aliloo H, Mrode R, Okeyo AM, Gibson JP. Ancestral Haplotype Mapping for GWAS and Detection of Signatures of Selection in Admixed Dairy Cattle of Kenya. Front Genet 2020; 11:544. [PMID: 32582285 PMCID: PMC7296079 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the genetic structure of adaptation and productivity in challenging environments is necessary for designing breeding programs that suit such conditions. Crossbred dairy cattle in East Africa resulting from over 60 years of crossing exotic dairy breeds with indigenous cattle plus inter se matings form a highly variable admixed population. This population has been subject to natural selection in response to environmental stresses, such as harsh climate, low-quality feeds, poor management, and strong disease challenge. Here, we combine two complementary sets of analyses, genome-wide association (GWA) and signatures of selection (SoS), to identify genomic regions that contribute to variation in milk yield and/or contribute to adaptation in admixed dairy cattle of Kenya. Our GWA separates SNP effects due to ancestral origin of alleles from effects due to within-population linkage disequilibrium. The results indicate that many genomic regions contributed to the high milk production potential of modern dairy breeds with no region having an exceptional effect. For SoS, we used two haplotype-based tests to compare haplotype length variation within admixed and between admixed and East African Shorthorn Zebu cattle populations. The integrated haplotype score (iHS) analysis identified 16 candidate regions for positive selection in the admixed cattle while the between population Rsb test detected 24 divergently selected regions in the admixed cattle compared to East African Shorthorn Zebu. We compare the results from GWA and SoS in an attempt to validate the most significant SoS results. Only four candidate regions for SoS intersect with GWA regions using a low stringency test. The identified SoS candidate regions harbored genes in several enriched annotation clusters and overlapped with previously found QTLs and associations for different traits in cattle. If validated, the GWA and SoS results indicate potential for SNP-based genomic selection for genetic improvement of smallholder crossbred cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Aliloo
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Raphael Mrode
- Animal Biosciences, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.,Animal and Veterinary Science, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - A M Okeyo
- Animal Biosciences, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John P Gibson
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Warburton CL, Engle BN, Ross EM, Costilla R, Moore SS, Corbet NJ, Allen JM, Laing AR, Fordyce G, Lyons RE, McGowan MR, Burns BM, Hayes BJ. Use of whole-genome sequence data and novel genomic selection strategies to improve selection for age at puberty in tropically-adapted beef heifers. Genet Sel Evol 2020; 52:28. [PMID: 32460805 PMCID: PMC7251835 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-020-00547-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In tropically-adapted beef heifers, application of genomic prediction for age at puberty has been limited due to low prediction accuracies. Our aim was to investigate novel methods of pre-selecting whole-genome sequence (WGS) variants and alternative analysis methodologies; including genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) with multiple genomic relationship matrices (MGRM) and Bayesian (BayesR) analyses, to determine if prediction accuracy for age at puberty can be improved. Methods Genotypes and phenotypes were obtained from two research herds. In total, 868 Brahman and 960 Tropical Composite heifers were recorded in the first population and 3695 Brahman, Santa Gertrudis and Droughtmaster heifers were recorded in the second population. Genotypes were imputed to 23 million whole-genome sequence variants. Eight strategies were used to pre-select variants from genome-wide association study (GWAS) results using conditional or joint (COJO) analyses. Pre-selected variants were included in three models, GBLUP with a single genomic relationship matrix (SGRM), GBLUP MGRM and BayesR. Five-way cross-validation was used to test the effect of marker panel density (6 K, 50 K and 800 K), analysis model, and inclusion of pre-selected WGS variants on prediction accuracy. Results In all tested scenarios, prediction accuracies for age at puberty were highest in BayesR analyses. The addition of pre-selected WGS variants had little effect on the accuracy of prediction when BayesR was used. The inclusion of WGS variants that were pre-selected using a meta-analysis with COJO analyses by chromosome, fitted in a MGRM model, had the highest prediction accuracies in the GBLUP analyses, regardless of marker density. When the low-density (6 K) panel was used, the prediction accuracy of GBLUP was equal (0.42) to that with the high-density panel when only six additional sequence variants (identified using meta-analysis COJO by chromosome) were included. Conclusions While BayesR consistently outperforms other methods in terms of prediction accuracies, reasonable improvements in accuracy can be achieved when using GBLUP and low-density panels with the inclusion of a relatively small number of highly relevant WGS variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie L Warburton
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | - Bailey N Engle
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Elizabeth M Ross
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Roy Costilla
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen S Moore
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Corbet
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
| | - Jack M Allen
- Agricultural Business Research Institute, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Alan R Laing
- Formerly Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ayr, QLD, Australia
| | - Geoffry Fordyce
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Russell E Lyons
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Neogen, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael R McGowan
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Brian M Burns
- Formerly Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
| | - Ben J Hayes
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Genome-wide scan highlights the role of candidate genes on phenotypic plasticity for age at first calving in Nellore heifers. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6481. [PMID: 32296097 PMCID: PMC7160148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63516-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Age at first calving (AFC) plays an important role in the economic efficiency of beef cattle production. This trait can be affected by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, leading to physiological changes in response to heifers’ adaptation to a wide range of environments. Genome-wide association studies through the reaction norm model were carried out to identify genomic regions associated with AFC in Nellore heifers, raised under different environmental conditions (EC). The SNP effects for AFC were estimated in three EC levels (Low, Medium, and High, corresponding to average contemporary group effects on yearling body weight equal to 159.40, 228.6 and 297.6 kg, respectively), which unraveled shared and unique genomic regions for AFC in Low, Medium, and High EC levels, that varied according to the genetic correlation between AFC in different EC levels. The significant genomic regions harbored key genes that might play an important biological role in controlling hormone signaling and metabolism. Shared genomic regions among EC levels were identified on BTA 2 and 14, harboring candidate genes associated with energy metabolism (IGFBP2, IGFBP5, SHOX, SMARCAL1, LYN, RPS20, MOS, PLAG1, CHCD7, and SDR16C6). Gene set enrichment analyses identified important biological functions related to growth, hormone levels affecting female fertility, physiological processes involved in female pregnancy, gamete generation, ovulation cycle, and age at puberty. The genomic regions highlighted differences in the physiological processes linked to AFC in different EC levels and metabolic processes that support complex interactions between the gonadotropic axes and sexual precocity in Nellore heifers.
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Kumar TVC, Sharma D, Surla GN, Vedamurthy GV, Singh D, Onteru SK. Body condition score, parity, shelter cleanliness and male proximity: Highly associated non-genetic factors with post-partum anestrus in Murrah buffalo in field conditions. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 214:106282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Brunes LC, Baldi F, e Costa MFO, Lobo RB, Lopes FB, Magnabosco CU. Genetic-quantitative analysis for reproductive traits in Nellor cattle selected for sexual precocity. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/an19120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
The selection of animals for sexual precocity and reproductive efficiency is a trend to reduce the production cycle, promote higher economic viability to the system, increase selection intensity and higher genetic gain, as well to promote the profitability of production systems. To include these traits as selection criterion in cattle breeding programs, estimating genetic parameters and studying the possibility of obtaining genetic gains is required. The hypothesis tested was that the indicators of sexual precocity traits present genetic variance and moderate heritability that allows these to be used as a criterion of selection to obtain improvement for sexual precocity, without negative implications for the reproductive efficiency in Nellore cattle.
Aims
This study was carried out to estimate the genetic parameters for reproductive traits (scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days of age, gestation length, days open, calving interval, real fertility, cumulative productivity, calf weight:cow weight ratio) and age at first conception and first calving in a Nellore cattle herd under selection for sexual precocity.
Methods
Data of reproductive traits and indicators of sexual precocity traits from 4081 Nellore cattle born between 2009 and 2015 were used. The covariance components, heritabilities and correlations were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, available in the BLUPF90 package, in single- and multiple-trait animal mixed models.
Key results
Estimates of heritability and standard errors for scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days of age, gestation length, days open, calving interval, real fertility, cumulative productivity, calf weight:cow weight ratio, age at first conception (AFCo) and age at first calving (AFCa) were 0.33 ± 0.03, 0.33 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.03, 0.34 ± 0.11, 0.23 ± 0.12, 0.21 ± 0.16, 0.23 ± 0.08, 0.25 ± 0.10, 0.21 ± 0.08 and 0.24 ± 0.08 respectively. The genetic correlations estimated between AFCo and the other reproductive traits ranged from –0.61 to 0.14 (standard error 0.1–0.21), and between AFCa and the other reproductive traits ranged from –0.60 to 0.16 (standard error 0.1–0.19), all of them in a favourable direction.
Conclusions
Selection for sexual precocity based on AFCo and AFCa may promote improvement in reproductive efficiency and fertility, except for the calf weight:cow weight ratio, whose correlation was close to zero.
Implications
The estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations suggest that selection programs for reproductive traits and indicators of sexual precocity traits for the Nellore breed may provide genetic gain. In addition, considering the genetic correlation obtained between AFCo and AFCa (0.96), when the selection objective is to increase the sexual precocity of heifers, we could use the age of the first conception as criterion, as the measurement of this trait occurs at a lower age at first calving, which implies reducing the time required for animal evaluation and decision-making.
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Melo TP, Fortes MRS, Fernandes Junior GA, Albuquerque LG, Carvalheiro R. RAPID COMMUNICATION: Multi-breed validation study unraveled genomic regions associated with puberty traits segregating across tropically adapted breeds1. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:3027-3033. [PMID: 30997484 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficient strategy to improve QTL detection power is performing across-breed validation studies. Variants segregating across breeds are expected to be in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with causal mutations affecting economically important traits. The aim of this study was to validate, in a Tropical Composite cattle (TC) population, QTL associations identified for sexual precocity traits in a Nellore and Brahman meta-analysis genome-wide association study. In total, 2,816 TC, 8,001 Nellore, and 2,210 Brahman animals were available for the analysis. For that, genomic regions significantly associated with puberty traits in the meta-analysis study were validated for the following sexual precocity traits in TC: age at first corpus luteum (AGECL), first postpartum anestrus interval (PPAI), and scrotal circumference at 18 months of age (SC). We considered validated QTL those underpinned by significant markers from the Nellore and Brahman meta-analysis (P ≤ 10-4) that were also significant for a TC trait, i.e., presenting a P-value of ≤10-3 for AGECL, PPAI, or SC. We also considered as validated QTL those regions where significant markers in the reference population were at ±250 kb from significant markers in the validation population. Using this criteria, 49 SNP were validated for AGECL, 4 for PPAI, and 14 for SC, from which 5 were in common with AGECL, totaling 62 validated SNP for these traits and 30 candidate genes surrounding them. Considering just candidate genes closest to the top SNP of each chromosome, for AGECL 8 candidate genes were identified: COL8A1, PENK, ENSBTAG00000047425, BPNT1, ADAMTS17, CCHCR1, SUFU, and ENSBTAG00000046374. For PPAI, 3 genes emerged as candidates (PCBP3, KCNK10, and MRPS5), and for SC 8 candidate genes were identified (SNORA70, TRAC, ASS1, BPNT1, LRRK1, PKHD1, PTPRM, and ENSBTAG00000045690). Several candidate regions presented here were previously associated with puberty traits in cattle. The majority of emerging candidate genes are related to biological processes involved in reproductive events, such as maintenance of gestation, and some are known to be expressed in reproductive tissues. Our results suggested that some QTL controlling early puberty seem to be segregating across cattle breeds adapted to tropical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaise P Melo
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gerardo A Fernandes Junior
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucia G Albuquerque
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
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Utsunomiya YT, Milanesi M, Fortes MRS, Porto-Neto LR, Utsunomiya ATH, Silva MVGB, Garcia JF, Ajmone-Marsan P. Genomic clues of the evolutionary history of Bos indicus cattle. Anim Genet 2019; 50:557-568. [PMID: 31475748 DOI: 10.1111/age.12836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Together with their sister subspecies Bos taurus, zebu cattle (Bos indicus) have contributed to important socioeconomic changes that have shaped modern civilizations. Zebu cattle were domesticated in the Indus Valley 8000 years before present (YBP). From the domestication site, they expanded to Africa, East Asia, southwestern Asia and Europe between 4000 and 1300 YBP, intercrossing with B. taurus to form clinal variations of zebu ancestry across the landmass of Afro-Eurasia. In the past 150 years, zebu cattle reached the Americas and Oceania, where they have contributed to the prosperity of emerging economies. The zebu genome is characterized by two mitochondrial haplogroups (I1 and I2), one Y chromosome haplogroup (Y3) and three major autosomal ancestral groups (Indian-Pakistani, African and Chinese). Phenotypically, zebu animals are recognized by their hump, large ears and excess skin. They are rustic, resilient to parasites and capable of bearing the hot and humid climates of the tropics. Many resources are available to study the zebu genome, including commercial arrays of SNP, reference assemblies and publicly available genotypes and whole-genome sequences. Nevertheless, many of these resources were initially developed to support research and subsidize industrial applications in B. taurus, and therefore they can produce bias in data analysis. The combination of genomics with precision agriculture holds great promise for the identification of genetic variants affecting economically important traits such as tick resistance and heat tolerance, which were naturally selected for millennia and played a major role in the evolution of B. indicus cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T Utsunomiya
- Department of Support, Production and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.,International Atomic Energy Agency, Collaborating Centre on Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - M Milanesi
- Department of Support, Production and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.,International Atomic Energy Agency, Collaborating Centre on Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - M R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Chemistry Bld, 68 Cooper Rd, Brisbane, 4072, Qld, Australia
| | - L R Porto-Neto
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia QLD, Brisbane, 4067, Qld, Australia
| | - A T H Utsunomiya
- Department of Support, Production and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.,International Atomic Energy Agency, Collaborating Centre on Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - M V G B Silva
- Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, MG, 360381330, Brazil
| | - J F Garcia
- Department of Support, Production and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.,International Atomic Energy Agency, Collaborating Centre on Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, 16050-680 R. Clovis Pestana 793-Dona Amelia, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.,Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Reproduction, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 14884-900 Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - P Ajmone-Marsan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti-DIANA and BioDNA, Centro di Ricerca sulla Biodiversità e sul DNA Antico, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84, Piacenza, 29122, Italy
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38
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Li Y, Lee YM, Kim YS, Park SP, Kim JJ. Identifying Loci Under Positive Selection in Yellow Korean Cattle (Hanwoo). Evol Bioinform Online 2019; 15:1176934319859001. [PMID: 35210744 PMCID: PMC8862131 DOI: 10.1177/1176934319859001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Jeju Black cattle is one of the aboriginal Korean cattle breeds that has been isolated in Jeju island for a long time, while Yellow Hanwoo cattle has been extensively selected for beef production traits for the last several decades. Aiming to investigate broader patterns of selection, we genotyped 352 Yellow Hanwoo and 169 Jeju Black cattle using a customized 150 K bovine chip. Our composite selection signals’ analysis to identify selection signatures (cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity [XP-EHH], ΔSAF, and FST) identified recent and strong signature of selection near many loci with mutations affecting the traits under strong selection as outlier in Yellow Hanwoo, including SCP2 (P = 8.41 × 10−10) that may be involved in the meat quality. We found nine candidate regions with significant clusters of selection signals, and further bioinformatics analyses of the genes located within these regions revealed mainly genes involved in G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway (GO:0007186) or olfactory transduction (bta04740), which may be due to adaptation to natural environments in Jeju island. Based on the stronger correlation of Ne10/Ne100 ratio between Yellow Hanwoo (0.61) and Jeju Black (0.66) cattle, our results suggest that the difference of chromosomal regions of selection signature between the 2 cattle breeds was due to a consequence of selection processes to adapt to environmental differences between Jeju island and the main inland, Korean peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- School of Statistics, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yun-Mi Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Sam Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Pil Park
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Joo Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
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Vignal A, Boitard S, Thébault N, Dayo GK, Yapi-Gnaore V, Youssao Abdou Karim I, Berthouly-Salazar C, Pálinkás-Bodzsár N, Guémené D, Thibaud-Nissen F, Warren WC, Tixier-Boichard M, Rognon X. A guinea fowl genome assembly provides new evidence on evolution following domestication and selection in galliformes. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:997-1014. [PMID: 30945415 PMCID: PMC6579635 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The helmeted guinea fowl Numida meleagris belongs to the order Galliformes. Its natural range includes a large part of sub‐Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Eritrea and from Chad to South Africa. Archaeozoological and artistic evidence suggest domestication of this species may have occurred about 2,000 years BP in Mali and Sudan primarily as a food resource, although villagers also benefit from its capacity to give loud alarm calls in case of danger, of its ability to consume parasites such as ticks and to hunt snakes, thus suggesting its domestication may have resulted from a commensal association process. Today, it is still farmed in Africa, mainly as a traditional village poultry, and is also bred more intensively in other countries, mainly France and Italy. The lack of available molecular genetic markers has limited the genetic studies conducted to date on guinea fowl. We present here a first‐generation whole‐genome sequence draft assembly used as a reference for a study by a Pool‐seq approach of wild and domestic populations from Europe and Africa. We show that the domestic populations share a higher genetic similarity between each other than they do to wild populations living in the same geographical area. Several genomic regions showing selection signatures putatively related to domestication or importation to Europe were detected, containing candidate genes, most notably EDNRB2, possibly explaining losses in plumage coloration phenotypes in domesticated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Vignal
- GenPhySE, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Simon Boitard
- GenPhySE, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Noémie Thébault
- GenPhySE, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Francoise Thibaud-Nissen
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Xavier Rognon
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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40
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Engle BN, Corbet NJ, Allen JM, Laing AR, Fordyce G, McGowan MR, Burns BM, Lyons RE, Hayes BJ. Multivariate genomic predictions for age at puberty in tropically adapted beef heifers. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:90-100. [PMID: 30481306 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Heifers that have an earlier age at puberty often have greater lifetime productivity. Age at puberty is moderately heritable so selection should effectively reduce the number of days to puberty, and improve heifer productivity and profitability as a result. However, recording age at puberty is intensive, requiring repeat ovarian scanning to determine age at first corpus luteum (AGECL). Genomic selection has been proposed as a strategy to select for earlier age at puberty; however, large reference populations of cows with AGECL records and genotypes would be required to generate accurate GEBV for this trait. Reproductive maturity score (RMS) is a proxy trait for age at puberty for implementation in northern Australia beef herds, where large scale recording of AGECL is not feasible. RMS assigns a score of 0 to 5 from a single ovarian scan to describe ovarian maturity at ~600 d. Here we use multivariate genomic prediction to evaluate the value of a large RMS data set to improve accuracy of GEBV for age at puberty (AGECL). There were 882 Brahman and 990 Tropical Composite heifers with AGECL phenotypes, and an independent set of 974 Brahman, 1,798 Santa Gertrudis, and 910 Droughtmaster heifers with RMS phenotypes. All animals had 728,785 real or imputed SNP genotypes. The correlation of AGECL and RMS (h2 = 0.23) was estimated as -0.83 using the genomic information. This result also demonstrates that using genomic information it is possible to estimate genetic correlations between traits collected on different animals in different herds, with minimal or unknown pedigree linkage between them. Inclusion of heifers with RMS in the multi-trait model improved the accuracy of genomic evaluations for AGECL. Accuracy of RMS GEBV generally did not improve by adding heifers with AGECL phenotypes into the reference population. These results suggest that RMS and AGECL may be used together in a multi-trait prediction model to increase the accuracy of prediction for age at puberty in tropically adapted beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey N Engle
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Nicholas J Corbet
- Central Queensland University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
| | - Jamie M Allen
- Agricultural Business Research Institute, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Alan R Laing
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ayr, QLD, Australia
| | - Geoffry Fordyce
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael R McGowan
- University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Brian M Burns
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ayr, QLD, Australia
| | - Russell E Lyons
- NeoGen, University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Ben J Hayes
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Carreño LOD, da Conceição Pessoa M, Espigolan R, Takada L, Bresolin T, Cavani L, Baldi F, Carvalheiro R, de Albuquerque LG, da Fonseca R. Genome Association Study for Visual Scores in Nellore Cattle Measured at Weaning. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:150. [PMID: 30786866 PMCID: PMC6381746 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5520-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are utilized in cattle to identify regions or genetic variants associated with phenotypes of interest, and thus, to identify design strategies that allow for the increase of the frequency of favorable alleles. Visual scores are important traits of cattle production in Brazil because they are utilized as selection criteria, helping to choose more harmonious animals. Despite its importance, there are still no studies on the genome association for these traits. This study aimed to identify genome regions associated with the traits of conformation, precocity and muscling, based on a visual score measured at weaning. RESULTS Bayesian approaches with BayesC and Bayesian LASSO were utilized with 2873 phenotypes of Nellore cattle for a GWAS. The animals were genotyped with Illumina BovineHD BeadChip, and a total of 309,865 SNPs were utilized after quality control. In the analyses, phenotype and deregressed breeding values were utilized as dependent variables; a threshold model was utilized for the former and a linear model for the latter. The association criterion was the percentage of genetic variance explained by SNPs found in 1 Mb-long windows. The Bayesian approach BayesC was better adjusted to the data because it could explain a larger phenotypic variance for both dependent variables. CONCLUSIONS There were no large effects for the visual scores, indicating that they have a polygenic nature; however, regions in chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 23 were identified and explained a large part of the genetic variance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Orlando Duitama Carreño
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Matilde da Conceição Pessoa
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Rafael Espigolan
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Luciana Takada
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Tiago Bresolin
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ligia Cavani
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Fernando Baldi
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ricardo da Fonseca
- Animal Science Department, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Dracena, São Paulo, Brazil
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42
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Costa RB, Irano N, Diaz IDPS, Takada L, Hermisdorff IDC, Carvalheiro R, Baldi F, de Oliveira HN, Tonhati H, de Albuquerque LG. Prediction of genomic breeding values for reproductive traits in Nellore heifers. Theriogenology 2019; 125:12-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Melo TP, Fortes MRS, Bresolin T, Mota LFM, Albuquerque LG, Carvalheiro R. Multitrait meta-analysis identified genomic regions associated with sexual precocity in tropical beef cattle. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:4087-4099. [PMID: 30053002 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Multitrait meta-analyses are a strategy to produce more accurate genome-wide association studies, especially for complex phenotypes. We carried out a meta-analysis study for traits related to sexual precocity in tropical beef cattle (Nellore and Brahman) aiming to identify important genomic regions affecting these traits. The traits included in the analyses were age at first calving (AFC), early pregnancy (EP), age at first corpus luteum (AGECL), first postpartum anoestrus interval (PPAI), and scrotal circumference (SC). The traits AFC, EP, and SCN were measured in Nellore cattle, while AGECL, PPAI, and SCB were measured in Brahman cattle. Meta-analysis resulted in 108 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), at an empirical threshold P-value of 1.39 × 10-5 (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05). Within 0.5 Mb of the significant SNP, candidate genes were annotated and analyzed for functional enrichment. Most of the closest genes to the SNP with higher significance in each chromosome have been associated with important roles in reproductive function. They are TSC22D2, KLF7, ARHGAP29, 7SK, MAP3K5, TLE3, WDR5, TAF3, TMEM68, PPP1R15B, NR2F2, GALR1, SUFU, and KCNU1. We did not observe any significant SNP in BTA5, BTA12, BTA17, BTA18, BTA19, BTA20, BTA22, BTA23, BTA25, and BTA28. Although the majority of significant SNPs are in BTA14, it was identified significant associations in multiple chromosomes (19 out of 29 autosomes), which is consistent with the postulation that reproductive traits are complex polygenic phenotypes. Five proposed association regions harbor the majority of the significant SNP (76%) and were distributed over four chromosomes (P < 1.39 × 10-5, FDR < 0.05): BTA2 (5.55%) from 95 to 96 Mb, BTA4 (5.55%) from 94.1 to 94.8 Mb, BTA14 (59.26%) from 24 to 25 Mb and 29 to 30 Mb, and BTA21 (5.55%) from 6.7 Mb to 11.4 Mb. These regions harbored key genes related to reproductive function. Moreover, these genes were enriched for functional groups associated with immune response, maternal-fetal tolerance, pregnancy maintenance, embryo development, fertility, and response to stress. Further studies including other breeds and precocity traits could confirm the importance of these regions and identify new candidate regions for sexual precocity in beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaise P Melo
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/ UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tiago Bresolin
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/ UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucio F M Mota
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/ UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucia G Albuquerque
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/ UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, FCAV/ UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
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44
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Fonseca PADS, Id-Lahoucine S, Reverter A, Medrano JF, Fortes MS, Casellas J, Miglior F, Brito L, Carvalho MRS, Schenkel FS, Nguyen LT, Porto-Neto LR, Thomas MG, Cánovas A. Combining multi-OMICs information to identify key-regulator genes for pleiotropic effect on fertility and production traits in beef cattle. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205295. [PMID: 30335783 PMCID: PMC6193631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of biological processes related to the regulation of complex traits is a difficult task. Commonly, complex traits are regulated through a multitude of genes contributing each to a small part of the total genetic variance. Additionally, some loci can simultaneously regulate several complex traits, a phenomenon defined as pleiotropy. The lack of understanding on the biological processes responsible for the regulation of these traits results in the decrease of selection efficiency and the selection of undesirable hitchhiking effects. The identification of pleiotropic key-regulator genes can assist in developing important tools for investigating biological processes underlying complex traits. A multi-breed and multi-OMICs approach was applied to study the pleiotropic effects of key-regulator genes using three independent beef cattle populations evaluated for fertility traits. A pleiotropic map for 32 traits related to growth, feed efficiency, carcass and meat quality, and reproduction was used to identify genes shared among the different populations and breeds in pleiotropic regions. Furthermore, data-mining analyses were performed using the Cattle QTL database (CattleQTLdb) to identify the QTL category annotated in the regions around the genes shared among breeds. This approach allowed the identification of a main gene network (composed of 38 genes) shared among breeds. This gene network was significantly associated with thyroid activity, among other biological processes, and displayed a high regulatory potential. In addition, it was possible to identify genes with pleiotropic effects related to crucial biological processes that regulate economically relevant traits associated with fertility, production and health, such as MYC, PPARG, GSK3B, TG and IYD genes. These genes will be further investigated to better understand the biological processes involved in the expression of complex traits and assist in the identification of functional variants associated with undesirable phenotypes, such as decreased fertility, poor feed efficiency and negative energetic balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Augusto de Souza Fonseca
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Samir Id-Lahoucine
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juan F. Medrano
- University of California-Davis, Department of Animal Science, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Marina S. Fortes
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joaquim Casellas
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Filippo Miglior
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luiz Brito
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Raquel S. Carvalho
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávio S. Schenkel
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Loan T. Nguyen
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laercio R. Porto-Neto
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Milton G. Thomas
- Colorado State University, Department of Animal Science, Fort-Colins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Angela Cánovas
- University of Guelph, Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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45
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Engle BN, Herring AD, Sawyer JE, Riley DG, Sanders JO, Gill CA. Genome-wide association study for stayability measures in Nellore-Angus crossbred cows. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:1205-1214. [PMID: 29669078 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Beef cow stayability is a complex, economically important trait often used as an indicator of a cow's potential lifetime productivity. Stayability is defined as capability of a cow to maintain a perfect record up to 6 yr of age. This age is commonly cited as a financial break-even point, where initial costs of cow development and maintenance are recovered by her cumulative net income from yearly calf receipts. Later-maturing Bos indicus-Bos taurus crossbred cows may experience reproductive difficulty early in life but have a high potential for a long reproductive life span. It was the objective of this study to identify genetic variants associated with measures of beef cow stayability. A population of B. indicus-B. taurus crossbred cows (n = 305) from central Texas was used. Phenotypes for various measures of stayability to 6 yr of age were produced by artificially imposing five different culling criteria on data from the population. Cows were scored either as a 1 (indicating a perfect record through 6 yr) or a 0 (indicating failure at or before 6 yr), under each criterion. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted for each criterion using univariate procedures and prefitting the fixed effect of cow contemporary group. SNP associations for two criteria surpassed the false discovery threshold of 0.15, when a cow was scored as 0 upon her first failure to wean a calf, regardless of reason, through 6 yr (criterion 2), and when a cow was scored as 0 upon her first failure to give birth to a calf, through 6 yr (criterion 3). Associated SNP were found on bovine chromosomes (BTA) 1, 2, 5, 9, 18, and 21 for criterion 2 and on BTA 1, 5, 11, 15, and 24 for criterion 3. A critical region on BTA 5: 43-50 Mb was identified for each criterion. Due to the similarities to prior work, the tendency for B. indicus cattle to experience reproductive difficulties early in life, and due to the large proportion of cows that left the herd at an early age under these criteria, these results suggest that the associations are likely driven by an early life trait such as age at puberty or rate of heifer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey N Engle
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Andy D Herring
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Jason E Sawyer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - David G Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - James O Sanders
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Clare A Gill
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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46
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Naderi S, Bohlouli M, Yin T, König S. Genomic breeding values, SNP effects and gene identification for disease traits in cow training sets. Anim Genet 2018; 49:178-192. [PMID: 29624705 DOI: 10.1111/age.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Holstein Friesian cow training sets were created according to disease incidences. The different datasets were used to investigate the impact of random forest (RF) and genomic BLUP (GBLUP) methodology on genomic prediction accuracies. In addition, for further verifications of some specific scenarios, single-step genomic BLUP was applied. Disease traits included the overall trait categories of (i) claw disorders, (ii) clinical mastitis and (iii) infertility from 80 741 first lactation Holstein cows kept in 58 large-scale herds. A subset of 6744 cows was genotyped (50K SNP panel). Response variables for all scenarios were de-regressed proofs (DRPs) and pre-corrected phenotypes (PCPs). Initially, all sick cows were allocated to the testing set, and healthy cows represented the training set. For the ongoing cow allocation schemes, the number of sick cows in the training set increased stepwise by moving 10% of the sick cows from the testing to the training set in each step. The size of training and testing sets was kept constant by replacing the same number of cows in the testing set with (randomly selected) healthy cows from the training set. For both the RF and GBLUP methods, prediction accuracies were larger for DRPs compared to PCPs. For PCPs as a response variable, the largest prediction accuracies were observed when the disease incidences in training sets reflected the disease incidence in the whole population. A further increase in prediction accuracies for some selected cow allocation schemes (i.e. larger prediction accuracies compared to corresponding scenarios with RF or GBLUB) was achieved via single-step GBLUP applications. Correlations between genome-wide association study SNP effects and RF importance criteria for single SNPs were in a moderate range, from 0.42 to 0.57, when considering SNPs from all chromosomes or from specific chromosome segments. RF identified significant SNPs close to potential positional candidate genes: GAS1, GPAT3 and CYP2R1 for clinical mastitis; SPINK5 and SLC26A2 for laminitis; and FGF12 for endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Naderi
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gießen, Ludwigstr. 21b, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - M Bohlouli
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gießen, Ludwigstr. 21b, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - T Yin
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gießen, Ludwigstr. 21b, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - S König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gießen, Ludwigstr. 21b, 35390, Gießen, Germany
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47
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Nguyen LT, Reverter A, Cánovas A, Venus B, Anderson ST, Islas-Trejo A, Dias MM, Crawford NF, Lehnert SA, Medrano JF, Thomas MG, Moore SS, Fortes MRS. STAT6, PBX2, and PBRM1 Emerge as Predicted Regulators of 452 Differentially Expressed Genes Associated With Puberty in Brahman Heifers. Front Genet 2018; 9:87. [PMID: 29616079 PMCID: PMC5869259 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a central role in metabolism and produces important hormones. Hepatic estrogen receptors and the release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) are critical links between liver function and the reproductive system. However, the role of liver in pubertal development is not fully understood. To explore this question, we applied transcriptomic analyses to liver samples of pre- and post-pubertal Brahman heifers and identified differentially expressed (DE) genes and genes encoding transcription factors (TFs). Differential expression of genes suggests potential biological mechanisms and pathways linking liver function to puberty. The analyses identified 452 DE genes and 82 TF with significant contribution to differential gene expression by using a regulatory impact factor metric. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor was observed as the most down-regulated gene (P = 0.003) in post-pubertal heifers and we propose this gene influences pubertal development in Brahman heifers. Additionally, co-expression network analysis provided evidence for three TF as key regulators of liver function during pubertal development: the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, PBX homeobox 2, and polybromo 1. Pathway enrichment analysis identified transforming growth factor-beta and Wnt signaling pathways as significant annotation terms for the list of DE genes and TF in the co-expression network. Molecular information regarding genes and pathways described in this work are important to further our understanding of puberty onset in Brahman heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loan T Nguyen
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Biotechnology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bronwyn Venus
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen T Anderson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alma Islas-Trejo
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Marina M Dias
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agráìrias e Veterináìrias, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalie F Crawford
- Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sigrid A Lehnert
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Juan F Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Milt G Thomas
- Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Stephen S Moore
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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48
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Dickinson SE, Griffin BA, Elmore MF, Kriese-Anderson L, Elmore JB, Dyce PW, Rodning SP, Biase FH. Transcriptome profiles in peripheral white blood cells at the time of artificial insemination discriminate beef heifers with different fertility potential. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:129. [PMID: 29426285 PMCID: PMC5807776 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infertility is a longstanding limitation in livestock production with important economic impact for the cattle industry. Female reproductive traits are polygenic and lowly heritable in nature, thus selection for fertility is challenging. Beef cattle operations leverage estrous synchronization in combination with artificial insemination (AI) to breed heifers and benefit from an early and uniform calving season. A couple of weeks following AI, heifers are exposed to bulls for an opportunity to become pregnant by natural breeding (NB), but they may also not become pregnant during this time period. Focusing on beef heifers, in their first breeding season, we hypothesized that: a- at the time of AI, the transcriptome of peripheral white blood cells (PWBC) differs between heifers that become pregnant to AI and heifers that become pregnant late in the breeding season by NB or do not become pregnant during the breeding season; and b- the ratio of transcript abundance between genes in PWBC classifies heifers according to pregnancy by AI, NB, or failure to become pregnant. Results We generated RNA-sequencing data from 23 heifers from two locations (A: six AI-pregnant and five NB-pregnant; and B: six AI-pregnant and six non-pregnant). After filtering out lowly expressed genes, we quantified transcript abundance for 12,538 genes. The comparison of gene expression levels between AI-pregnant and NB-pregnant heifers yielded 18 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (ADAM20, ALDH5A1, ANG, BOLA-DQB, DMBT1, FCER1A, GSTM3, KIR3DL1, LOC107131247, LOC618633, LYZ, MNS1, P2RY12, PPP1R1B, SIGLEC14, TPPP, TTLL1, UGT8, eFDR≤0.02). The comparison of gene expression levels between AI-pregnant and non-pregnant heifers yielded six DEGs (ALAS2, CNKSR3, LOC522763, SAXO2, TAC3, TFF2, eFDR≤0.05). We calculated the ratio of expression levels between all gene pairs and assessed their potential to classify samples according to experimental groups. Considering all samples, relative expression from two gene pairs correctly classified 10 out of 12 AI-pregnant heifers (P = 0.0028) separately from the other 11 heifers (NB-pregnant, or non-pregnant). Conclusion The transcriptome profile in PWBC, at the time of AI, is associated with the fertility potential of beef heifers. Transcript levels of specific genes may be further explored as potential classifiers, and thus selection tools, of heifer fertility. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4505-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Dickinson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA.,Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Brock A Griffin
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA
| | - Michelle F Elmore
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA.,Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Lisa Kriese-Anderson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA
| | | | - Paul W Dyce
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA
| | - Soren P Rodning
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA
| | - Fernando H Biase
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, 559 Devall Dr, Auburn, AL, 36839, USA.
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49
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Corbet NJ, Allen JM, Laing AR, Fordyce G, McGowan MR, Burns BM. Using ultrasound to derive new reproductive traits in tropical beef breeds: implications for genetic evaluation. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/an16616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Key components of female fertility in tropically adapted beef breeds are age at puberty and interval from calving to conception. Presence of an ovarian corpus luteum or stage of pregnancy were recorded using trans-rectal ultrasonography in 4649 heifers and 2925 first-lactation cows in seven herds of either Brahman, Droughtmaster or Santa Gertrudis tropical beef cattle breeds in northern Australia. The traits derived from a single ultrasonographic examination were incidence of corpus luteum at ~600 days of age in heifers, and weeks pregnant 5 weeks post-mating in heifers at ~2.5 years of age and in first-lactation cows at either 2.5 or 3.5 years of age. At 600 days of age, the bodyweight of heifers averaged 340 kg and 40% had a corpus luteum. At 2.5 years of age bodyweight of heifers averaged 452 kg and 80% were pregnant. First-lactation cows averaged 473 kg and 64% were pregnant. Considerable between-herd variation in traits reflected differences in climate and management at each site. However, estimates of heritability of incidence of corpus luteum at 600 days (0.18–0.32) and weeks pregnant in lactating cows (0.11–0.20) suggested that a significant proportion of the variation was due to additive gene action. Small to moderate genetic correlations with other economically important traits and the range in estimated breeding values indicate substantial opportunity for genetic improvement of the traits. The study provided evidence to accept the hypothesis that strategically timed ultrasound examinations can be adopted to derive useful traits for genetic evaluation.
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50
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Abstract
There is sustained growth in the number of tropical cattle, which represent more than half of all cattle worldwide. By and large, most research in tropical areas is still focused on breeds of cattle, their particular advantages or disadvantages in tropical areas, and the tropical forages or feeds that could be usefully fed to them. A consistent issue for adaptation to climate is the heat of tropical environments. Changing the external characteristics of the animal, such as color and coat characteristics, is one way to adapt, and there are several major genes for these traits. However, further improvement in heat tolerance and other adaptation traits will need to use the entire genome and all physical and physiological systems. Apart from the response to heat, climate forcing through methane emission identifies dry season weight loss as an important if somewhat neglected trait in climate adaptation of cattle. The use of genome-estimated breeding values in tropical areas is in its infancy and will be difficult to implement, but will be essential for rapid, coordinated genetic improvement. The difficulty of implementation cannot be exaggerated and may require major improvements in methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Barendse
- CSIRO Agriculture, St. Lucia 4067, Australia.,School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia;
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