Estimation of the seminal parameters of rooster and its association with fertility traits in synthetic dam line

The objective of the present study was to assess the seminal parameters of rooster and its association with fertility traits (%), viz., hatchability of the fertile egg set (HFES), hatchability of the total egg set (HTES), and fertility (FERT). The data records pertained to traits of interest were obtained from various registers maintained at Poultry farm, of the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (India). The relationship between seminal and fertility characteristics was investigated using regression analysis and correlation. Moreover, the efficacy of seminal characteristics to distinguish between roosters with low and high fertility traits was evaluated using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The findings showed that reproductive traits and seminal characteristics were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated. The LDA showed that the seminal parameters can effectively separate the roosters into those with high and poor reproductive features. It was revealed from LDA that seminal features showed higher classification accuracy for FERT (80.77%). Hatchability is dependent on eggs that have been artificially incubated; hence, these crucial traits are comparatively weaker for HTES (65.38%) and HFES (67.31%). Cross-validation of the seminal parameter LDA corroborated the aforementioned and related conclusions. It is suggested that the studied LDA function may be utilised to choose genotypes with improved reproductive traits based on seminal variables.

Evaluation of physiological and morphological parameters for early prediction of prenatal litter size in goats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the physiological and morphological parameters of pregnant does for early prediction of prenatal litter size. In total, 33 does were screened using ultrasonography and further categorized into three groups based on does bearing twins (n = 12), a single fetus (n = 12), or non-pregnant does (n = 9). The rectal temperature °F (RT) and respiration rate (RR) as physiological parameters, while abdominal girth in cm (AG) and udder circumference in cm (UC) as morphological parameters were recorded at different gestation times, i.e. 118, 125, 132 and 140 days. In addition to this, age (years) and weight at service (kg) were also used. The statistical analyses included analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The results indicated that groups had significant (P < 0.05) differences among morphological parameters at each gestation time, with higher AG and UC in does bearing twins followed by a single fetus and non-pregnant does. However, both physiological parameters were non-significantly (P > 0.05) associated with litter size groups. It was also revealed that the studied parameters showed increasing trends over gestation time in single and twin fetus categories, but they were on par among non-pregnant does. The results of the LDA revealed that estimated function based on age, weight at service, RR, RT, AG and UC had greater (ranging from 75.00 to 91.70%) accuracy, sensitivity and specificity at different gestation times. It was concluded that using an estimated function, future pregnant does may be identified in advance for single or twin litter size, with greater accuracy.

Differentiating characteristics among three new goat populations from northern India

Three non-descript goat populations, viz. Kumaoni and Garhwali of Uttarakhand hills, and Rohilkhandi of upper Ganges alluvial plain of Uttar Pradesh (India) were characterized phenotypically with standard morphometric parameters. The animals were also evaluated for their reproductive and production performance. The null hypothesis that Garhwali, Kumaoni and Rohilkhandi goat populations are same was tested using value of discriminant functions (D), Wilks’ Lambda and Box’s M statistics. The classification results revealed that 84.9% of all the goats were correctly classified to their own population. This could be used by livestock development agencies to take up appropriate breeding program for the improvement of native stock for future genetic conservation. The milk composition of Uttarakhand goats did not differ much due to geographic identities except for milk fat percentage. The study revealed that body height, body length, horn pattern, face length, and chest girth were the most discriminating and unique variables to separate Rohilkhandi, Kumaoni and Garhwali goat populations.