Genetic Variability and Conservation Challenges in Lithuanian Dairy Cattle Populations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the genetic variability of open Lithuanian Red and Red-and-White (LRWP) and Lithuanian Black-and-White (LBWP) dairy cattle populations and indicate the differences from the old genotypes of Lithuanian Black-and-White (LBW) and Lithuanian Red cattle (LR), which are currently under a conservation program. In order to gain a better understanding of the populations under conservation and to minimize the potential influence of other breeds, a distinct subgroup was formed that comprised animals whose father and mother belonged to the same breed (LR_pure and LBW_pure). The genetic variability was estimated using the number of founders, pedigree completeness, number of males and females in reproduction and age distribution, generation interval (GI), inbreeding coefficient (F) and effective population size (Ne). The highest average pedigree completeness values in the second generations of the old genotype LR and LBW were 100%. Higher ages of females in the populations under conservation were related to a higher GI and their longer life expectancy. In 2021, the reproductive age of bulls used for insemination within these populations ranged from 5.1 to 27.8 years. The proportions of males producing offspring in their older age indicate that the semen was used from the national gene bank of commercial artificial insemination companies. The GI (>5) in LR and LBW females was higher than that in LRWP and LBWP. The analysis of the data over the 15-year period showed that the GI of males in LRWP and LBWP decreased equally by 38%, while in LR_pure population, it increased by 80%. A high (9.24%) average inbreeding coefficient (F) was found in inbred animals of LR_pure population, while in LBW_pure, it was 5.35% in 2021. The coefficient of inbreeding varied within the different cattle populations. In the open LR population, it ranged from 1.48% to 2.7%, while in the LRWP population, it fell between 2.12% and 3.72%. The lowest effective population size (Ne) concerning the rate of inbreeding was observed in LBW_pure (23) and LR_pure (59), with the highest Ne identified in the LBWP population (462). When considering Ne based on the number of parents, LR_pure displayed the lowest Ne (42), while the highest Ne was found in LBWP (4449). An analysis of local cattle populations reveals that LR faces the most critical situation. This particular population has been steadily declining for a number of years, necessitating additional measures and efforts to safeguard the LR's ancestral genetic makeup. The results of the LBWP analysis also highlight a concerning trend. Even in very large populations with open breeding programs, the effective population size per generation can experience a significant decrease.

Effect of Gender on Meat Quality from Adult Obsolescent Horses

Simple Summary

Horses have played an important role for humans through history, being used as a transport, draught power in the past, and they continue to be used for leisure activities, recreation, and other tasks, including horse milk and meat consumption. Different contradictory cultural meanings are associated with horse meat consumption, and horse meat is a taboo in some countries but remains popular in others. There are also efforts to promote horse meat consumption as a healthy and nutritious food. As only a small part of raised horses is destined for meat production, in Europe most of horses are usually not slaughtered but are put down in other ways and often destroyed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of gender, age, and carcass weight on the properties of meat from adult obsolescent horses. Age did not show any effect on meat properties, whereas gender appeared to affect intramuscular fat, cholesterol content, color parameters, fatty acid composition, and toughness. Despite the differences in meat quality parameters between the genders, horse meat from all groups demonstrated a good quality, favorable fatty acid composition, and lipid indices in relation to healthy nutrition.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of gender, age, and carcass weight on the properties of meat from adult horses slaughtered in Lithuania. M. pectoralis profundus of twenty-six obsolescent horses from 3 to 21 years of age were used in the experiment. Gender appeared to affect the horse meat properties. Stallions demonstrated (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) lower content of dry matter and also considerably lower (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) intramuscular fat content compared with mares and geldings and higher (p < 0.01) cholesterol content compared with mares. The meat of stallions showed the highest pH; however, a significant (p < 0.01) difference was obtained only in comparison with mares. Meat lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) of stallions were lower (p < 0.05) compared with geldings. Meat toughness of stallions was also lower (p < 0.01) than the meat of mares and geldings. The highest (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) proportion of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), higher (p < 0.05) and more favorable PUFA/SFA ratio, and also the highest (p < 0.05) but least favorable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, were detected in the muscles of stallions compared with mares and geldings. The differences in horse ages did not exhibit any effect on the properties of M. pectoralis profundus. Despite the age differences at the decline of horse life, the properties of the horse meat exhibited good quality and showed that horse meat is potentially highly beneficial to human health.