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Fouéré C, Hozé C, Besnard F, Boussaha M, Boichard D, Sanchez MP. Investigating the impact of paternal age, paternal heat stress, and estimation of non-genetic paternal variance on dairy cow phenotype. Genet Sel Evol 2024; 56:46. [PMID: 38890567 PMCID: PMC11184688 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-024-00918-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Linear models that are commonly used to predict breeding values in livestock species consider paternal influence solely as a genetic effect. However, emerging evidence in several species suggests the potential effect of non-genetic semen-mediated paternal effects on offspring phenotype. This study contributes to such research by analyzing the extent of non-genetic paternal effects on the performance of Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Normande dairy cows. Insemination data, including semen Batch Identifier (BI, a combination of bull identification and collection date), was associated with various traits measured in cows born from the insemination. These traits encompassed stature, milk production (milk, fat, and protein yields), udder health (somatic cell score and clinical mastitis), and female fertility (conception rates of heifers and cows). We estimated (1) the effects of age at collection and heat stress during spermatogenesis, and (2) the variance components associated with BI or Weekly aggregated BI (WBI). RESULTS Overall, the non-genetic paternal effect estimates were small and of limited biological importance. However, while heat stress during spermatogenesis did not show significant associations with any of the traits studied in daughters, we observed significant effects of bull age at semen collection on the udder health of daughters. Indeed, cows born from bulls collected after 1500 days of age had higher somatic cell scores compared to those born from bulls collected at a younger age (less than 400 days old) in both Holstein and Normande breeds (+ 3% and + 5% of the phenotypic mean, respectively). In addition, across all breeds and traits analyzed, the estimates of non-genetic paternal variance were consistently low, representing on average 0.13% and 0.09% of the phenotypic variance for BI and WBI, respectively (ranging from 0 to 0.7%). These estimates did not significantly differ from zero, except for milk production traits (milk, fat, and protein yields) in the Holstein breed and protein yield in the Montbéliarde breed when WBI was considered. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that non-genetic paternal information transmitted through semen does not substantially influence the offspring phenotype in dairy cattle breeds for routinely measured traits. This lack of substantial impact may be attributed to limited transmission or minimal exposure of elite bulls to adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Fouéré
- Eliance, 75012, Paris, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Chris Hozé
- Eliance, 75012, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Florian Besnard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Idele, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Mekki Boussaha
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Didier Boichard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Sanchez
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Cinar B, Bollwein H, Siuda M, Lautner M, Leiding C, Malama E. Impact of bull age, sperm processing, and microclimatic conditions on the viability and DNA integrity of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:RD23219. [PMID: 38713807 DOI: 10.1071/rd23219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Seasonal microclimatic fluctuations can cause changes in sperm quality even in dairy bulls bred under temperate climate. These changes can vary between sires of different age and affect sperm freezability. Aims We aimed to evaluate the modulating effect of bull age and equilibration time before freezing on the seasonal pattern of sperm viability and DNA integrity post-thaw. Methods In the frame of systematic sperm quality control, we assessed the integrity of sperm plasma membrane and acrosome (PMAI) in 15,496 cryopreserved bovine batches, and the percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) after 0h and 3h incubation at 38°C post-thaw (3h) in 3422 batches. Semen was equilibrated for 24h before freezing if collected on Monday or Wednesday and 72h if produced on Friday. We investigated the effect of season, bull age, equilibration, and temperature-humidity index (THI) on the day of semen collection on sperm traits using mixed-effects linear models. Key results PMAI and %DFI (0h and 3h) deteriorated with increasing THI. The effect of THI on %DFI was detected with a 30-day time lag. Seasonal fluctuations of sperm quality were similar between young, mature, and older sires. Prolonged equilibration did not affect PMAI but was linked to elevated %DFI (3h) in summer. Conclusions Extending equilibration from 24 to 72h is compatible with commercial standards of bovine sperm quality post-thaw; however, it could interfere with the seasonal pattern of the latter. Implications Systematic monitoring of bovine sperm quality enables the prompt detection of stress factors related to microclimate and semen processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Cinar
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Heinrich Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Siuda
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Lautner
- Besamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V., Karl-Eibl-Straße 17-27, Neustadt a.d. Aisch 91413, Germany
| | - Claus Leiding
- Besamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V., Karl-Eibl-Straße 17-27, Neustadt a.d. Aisch 91413, Germany
| | - Eleni Malama
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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Wang X, Yang J, Xue J, Zhang M, Zhang F, Wang K, Li Y, Zhang Y, Wu X, Wang F, Zhao X, Ni J, Ma Y, Li R, Wang L, Su G, Gao Y, Li J. Genetic Parameters of Semen Traits and Their Correlations with Conformation Traits in Chinese Holstein Bulls. Vet Med Int 2024; 2024:5593703. [PMID: 38318262 PMCID: PMC10843862 DOI: 10.1155/2024/5593703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The elite bull plays an extremely important role in the genetic progression of the dairy cow population. The previous results indicated the potential positive relationship of large scrotal circumference (SC) with improved semen volume, concentration, and motility. In order to improve bull's semen quantity and quality by selection, it is necessary to estimate the genetic parameters of semen traits and their correlations with other conformation traits such as SC that could be used for an indirect selection. In this study, the genetic parameters of seven semen traits (n = 66,260) and nine conformation traits (n = 3,642) of Holstein bulls (n = 453) were estimated by using the bivariate repeatability animal model with the average information-restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) approach. The results showed that the estimated heritabilities of semen traits ranged from 0.06 (total number of motile sperm, TNMS) to 0.37 (percentage of abnormal sperm, PAS) and conformation traits ranged from 0.23 (pin width, PW) to 0.69 (hip height, HH). The highest genetic correlations were found between semen volume per ejaculation (SVPE), semen concentration per ejaculation (SCPE), total number of sperm (TNS), and TNMS traits that were 0.97, 0.98, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between SC and SVPE, SCPE, TNS, and TNMS were 0.35, 0.35, 0.48, and 0.42, respectively. In summary, the moderate or high heritability of semen traits indicates that genetic improvement of semen quality by selection is feasible, where SC could be a useful trait for indirect selection or as correlated information to improve semen quantity and production in the practical bull breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Jie Xue
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yanqin Li
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yuanpei Zhang
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiuxin Zhao
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Junqing Ni
- Fine Breed Centre of Animal Husbandry of HeBei, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
| | - Yabin Ma
- Fine Breed Centre of Animal Husbandry of HeBei, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
| | - Rongling Li
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Guosheng Su
- Shandong OX Livestock Breeding Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yundong Gao
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jianbin Li
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
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