Genetic description of a divergent selection experiment in Angora rabbits with overlapping generations

The chief aims of this paper were the following: (i) to describe the demography and genetic structure in two divergent selected lines for total fleece weight (TFW) of French Angora rabbits with overlapping generations; (ii) to describe the effects of inbreeding during an experiment of divergent selection. A study of longevity with the survival kit showed that there was no significant difference in the risk of death or culling between the low line (LL) and high line (HL). A significant effect of inbreeding (p < 0.05) was observed with a 30% higher risk factor in the highest class of inbreeding coefficient compared with the other classes. The means of generation interval were 562 and 601 days in LL and HL, respectively. The numbers of generations for LL and HL were 3.90 and 3.64, respectively. Generation intervals decreased significantly from 1995 to 2000 (p < 0.05). The number of daughters in HL was very variable. The number of animals per generation was higher in HL than in LL. Each buck left nearly three daughters to the next generation (2.52 in LL, 3.24 in HL). In both lines, the effective number of ancestor genomes still present in the genetic pool of the generation was around eight from the reference population of 1995 to that of 2001. Inbreeding in HL was always higher than in LL. The effect of inbreeding was also significant (p < 0.05) on TFW and live weight. The animals with the lowest inbreeding category produced a higher TFW (p < 0.05) than the others. The observed selection differentials were lower than that expected owing to the breeding animal management rules in order to control inbreeding increase.

Characteristics of Angora rabbit fiber using optical fiber diameter analyzer1

An experiment was conducted to describe the characteristics of Angora rabbit fiber using optical fiber diameter analyzer (OFDA). A total of 349 fleece samples were collected from 60 French Angora rabbits. Recorded measurements of OFDA were as follows: mean fiber diameter, CV of fiber diameter, comfort factor, spinning fineness, mean fiber curvature, SD of fiber curvature, mean opacity of fibers, percentage of medullated fibers, mean fiber diameter along the length, and SD of fiber diameter along the length. Comfort factor is the percentage of fibers less than or equal to 30 microns. The main effects included in the mixed model were fixed effects of group, harvest season, and age and a random effect of animal. Correlations among total fleece weight, compression, and OFDA measurements were calculated. Mean fiber diameter was lower than the fiber diameter along the length. Mean percentage of medullated fibers was very low and ranged from 0.1 to 7.3%. The mean comfort factor was 97.5% and ranged from 93.3 to 99.8%. The mean fiber curvature was 40.1 degrees/mm. The major changes in Angora fleece characteristics from 8 to 105 wk of age were an increase in fiber diameter, CV of fiber diameter, mean fiber diameter along the length and curvature, and a decrease in compression and comfort factor. The effect of harvest season was significant on some fiber characteristics. Mean fiber diameter and the mean fiber diameter along the length had a positive correlation with total fleece weight. The OFDA methodology is a method to evaluate fiber diameter, CV of fiber diameter, and bristle content through measuring of the comfort factor. However, OFDA is not adapted for measuring opacity or size of the medulla, or both, in Angora wool and needs a new definition or a special calibration. The spinning fineness should be redefined and adapted for Angora rabbits.

Carcass composition, bone mechanical properties, and meat quality traits in relation to growth rate in rabbits

The objective of this study was to characterize correlated responses in carcass composition, bone mechanical properties, and meat quality indicators to divergent selection for growth rate. Rabbits from low (LOW) or high (HIGH) lines divergently selected over five generations on 63-d BW and a control group (CONT) were used. Rabbits were slaughtered at an average BW of 2,306 +/- 65 g, corresponding to 63, 58, or 52 d of age in LOW (n = 41), CONT (n = 43), and HIGH (n = 44) groups, respectively. Postweaning ADG and G:F increased (P < 0.001) in the order LOW < CONT < HIGH groups. The lengths of the tibia and femur in rabbit legs decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing growth rate. Tibia and femur bone intrinsic stiffness, as assessed by a three-point flexure test, followed the order (P < 0.001) of HIGH < CONT < LOW groups. At the same BW, HIGH rabbits and CONT rabbits showed many similarities for dressing percent, carcass composition, and color and chemical composition of muscles or meat parts. In contrast, carcass yield and the relative proportion of hind part were 3% greater (P < 0.01) in LOW rabbits than in CONT and HIGH rabbits. The meat-to-bone ratio in the hind leg was 11% greater (P < 0.001) in the LOW group compared with the CONT and HIGH groups. Yellow color index and moisture content in LM, a fast-twitch glycolytic muscle, were lower (P < 0.05) in LOW rabbits than in HIGH rabbits, but ultimate pH, WHC, and cooking loss did not differ between the two growth-selected lines. Ultimate pH in semitendinosus, a mixed slow- and fast-twitch oxidoglycolytic muscle, was less (P < 0.001) in HIGH rabbits than in CONT and LOW rabbits. However, lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase activities in this muscle (n = 21 per group), assessed at the time of slaughter as markers of glycolytic and oxidative capacities, respectively, did not differ among groups. Growth rate did not modify mean cross-sectional area and type frequency of myofibers in semitendinosus muscle. Finally, Warner-Bratzler shear force and total energy needed to achieve rupture did not differ among groups in semitendinosus muscle (n = 21 per group), whereas they were the least (P < 0.001) in LM (n = 128) from HIGH rabbits. Results from this study indicate that improvement of growth rate by selection has little effect in rabbit carcass and meat quality traits.

A first-generation microsatellite-based integrated genetic and cytogenetic map for the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and localization of angora and albino

Although the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is used both in agronomics and in research, genomic resources for this species are still limited and no microsatellite-based genetic map has been reported. Our aim was to construct a rabbit genetic map with cytogenetically mapped microsatellites so as to build an integrated genetic and cytogenetic map. A reference population of 187 rabbits comprising eight three-generation families with 10-25 offspring per family was produced. One hundred and ninety-four of 305 previously identified microsatellites were included in this study. Of these, 158 were polymorphic with two to seven alleles. The map reported here comprises 111 markers, including 104 INRA microsatellites, five microsatellites from another source and two phenotypic markers (angora and albino). Ninety markers were integrated into 20 linkage groups. The remaining 21 microsatellites mapped to separate linkage groups, 19 with a precise cytogenetic position and two with only a chromosomal assignment. The genetic map spans 2766.6 cM and covers 20 rabbit chromosomes, excluding chromosomes 20, 21 and X. The density of this map is limited, but we used it to verify the location of angora and albino on chromosomes 15q and 1q, respectively, in agreement with previously published data. This first generation genetic/cytogenetic map will help gene identification and quantitative trait loci mapping projects in rabbit.

Genetic analysis of growth curve parameters for male and female chickens resulting from selection on shape of growth curve

The objectives of this research were to evaluate gender differences and selection on body weight as they affect growth curves of chickens. Marginal posterior densities of growth curve parameters were studied by Gibbs sampling on 10,671 male and female chickens originating from five lines. Line X-+ was selected on low body weight at 8 wk (BW8) and high body weight at 36 wk (BW36), line X+- on high BW8 and low BW36, X++ on high BW8 and BW36, X-- on low BW8, and BW36, and X00 was an unselected control line. Growth was modeled by a Gompertz function. Heritabilities and genetic correlations among parameters of the Gompertz curve were estimated. Marginal posterior densities were drawn for parameters of the growth curve and for sexual dimorphism at ages ranging from hatching to 1 yr. Lines selected for a higher BW8 had higher initial specific growth rates (L), higher maturation rates (K), and lower ages at inflection (T(I)). Lines selected for a higher BW36 had higher asymptotic body weights (A). Estimates of A, L, and T(I) were higher in males and K was higher in females. Difference between sexes for A was greater in the line selected for a lower BW8 and a higher BW36. Dimorphism for L and K was the lowest in lines X++ and X--, respectively. The greatest difference in T(I) was observed in the line selected for lower BW8 and BW36. Sexual dimorphism of body weight was lower at most ages in the lightest line. Before 15 wk, sexual dimorphism in X++ line was lower than in the line selected for higher BW8 and lower BW36. The increase in sexual dimorphism with body weight could be reduced by selecting animals on body weight at two ages instead of one, as is usually done in commercial lines.

Nonneutral evolution of tandem repeats in the mitochondrial DNA control region of lagomorphs

The mitochondrial DNA of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) contains a tandem array of 153-bp repeats in the vicinity of the replication origin of the H-stand. Variation among molecules in the number of these repeats results in inter- and intraindividual length polymorphism (heteroplasmy). Generally, in an individual, one predominant molecular type is observed, the others representing a low percentage of the mtDNA content. At the tissue level, we observe a particular distribution of this polymorphism in the gonads compared with liver, kidneys, or brain, implying a relationship between the differentiation status of the cells and the types of new mtDNA molecules which appear and accumulate during lifetime. Similar tandem repeats were also found in the mtDNA noncoding region of European hares (Lepus europaeus), a cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and a pika (Ochotona rufescens). The lengths and the sequences of these units evolve rapidly and in a concerted way, but the number of repeats is maintained in a narrow range, and an internal 20-bp segment is highly conserved. Constraints restrict the evolution of the primary sequence of these repeated units, the number of which is probably controlled by a stabilizing selection.

Genetic analysis of systematic mitochondrial heteroplasmy in rabbits

One unusual property of rabbit mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the existence of repeated 153-bp motifs in the vicinity of the replication origin of its H strand. Furthermore, every individual is heteroplasmic: it carries mtDNA molecules with a variable number of repeats. A systematic study of 8 females and their progeny has been devised to analyze mtDNA transmission through generations. The results suggest that three mechanisms are acting simultaneously. (1) Genetic drift in the germ line is revealed by the evolution of heteroplasmy when two major molecular forms are present in a female. (2) A high mutation rate (around 10(-2) per animal generation) generating molecular diversity, by deletion and addition of repeated units, is required to explain the observation of heteroplasmy in every individual. Moreover, the rates of mutation from the most frequent type to the other types are unequal. The deletion of one unit is more frequent than a deletion of two units, which is in turn more frequent than a deletion of three. (3) Selection for shorter molecules in somatic cells is probable. The frequency distribution of mtDNA types depends on the organ analyzed (kidney-spleen and liver vs. gonads).