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Machado PC, Brito LF, Martins R, Pinto LFB, Silva MR, Pedrosa VB. Genome-Wide Association Analysis Reveals Novel Loci Related with Visual Score Traits in Nellore Cattle Raised in Pasture-Based Systems. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243526. [PMID: 36552446 PMCID: PMC9774243 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Body conformation traits assessed based on visual scores are widely used in Zebu cattle breeding programs. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions and biological pathways associated with body conformation (CONF), finishing precocity (PREC), and muscling (MUSC) in Nellore cattle. The measurements based on visual scores were collected in 20,807 animals raised in pasture-based systems in Brazil. In addition, 2775 animals were genotyped using a 35 K SNP chip, which contained 31,737 single nucleotide polymorphisms after quality control. Single-step GWAS was performed using the BLUPF90 software while candidate genes were identified based on the Ensembl Genes 69. PANTHER and REVIGO platforms were used to identify key biological pathways and STRING to create gene networks. Novel candidate genes were revealed associated with CONF, including ALDH9A1, RXRG, RAB2A, and CYP7A1, involved in lipid metabolism. The genes associated with PREC were ELOVL5, PID1, DNER, TRIP12, and PLCB4, which are related to the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids, lipid metabolism, and muscle differentiation. For MUSC, the most important genes associated with muscle development were SEMA6A, TIAM2, UNC5A, and UIMC1. The polymorphisms identified in this study can be incorporated in commercial genotyping panels to improve the accuracy of genomic evaluations for visual scores in beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela C. Machado
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Luiz F. Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Rafaela Martins
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Luis Fernando B. Pinto
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Bahia, Av. Adhemar de Barros 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, BA, Brazil
| | - Marcio R. Silva
- Melhore Animal and Katayama Agropecuaria Lda, Guararapes 16700-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor B. Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Correspondence:
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Martins R, Machado PC, Pinto LFB, Silva MR, Schenkel FS, Brito LF, Pedrosa VB. Genome-wide association study and pathway analysis for fat deposition traits in nellore cattle raised in pasture-based systems. J Anim Breed Genet 2020; 138:360-378. [PMID: 33232564 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a powerful tool to identify candidate genes and genomic regions underlying key biological mechanisms associated with economically important traits. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify genomic regions and metabolic pathways associated with backfat thickness (BFT) and rump fat thickness (RFT) in Nellore cattle, raised in pasture-based systems. Ultrasound-based measurements of BFT and RFT (adjusted to 18 months of age) were collected in 11,750 animals, with 39,903 animals in the pedigree file. Additionally, 1,440 animals were genotyped using the GGP-indicus 35K SNP chip, containing 33,623 SNPs after the quality control. The single-step GWAS analyses were performed using the BLUPF90 family programs. Candidate genes were identified through the Ensembl database incorporated in the BioMart tool, while PANTHER and REVIGO were used to identify the key metabolic pathways and gene networks. A total of 18 genomic regions located on 10 different chromosomes and harbouring 23 candidate genes were identified for BFT. For RFT, 22 genomic regions were found on 14 chromosomes, with a total of 29 candidate genes identified. The results of the pathway analyses showed important genes for BFT, including TBL1XR1, AHCYL2, SLC4A7, AADAT, VPS53, IDH2 and ETS1, which are involved in lipid metabolism, synthesis of cellular amino acids, transport of solutes, transport between Golgi Complex membranes, cell differentiation and cellular development. The main genes identified for RFT were GSK3β, LRP1B, EXT1, GRB2, SORCS1 and SLMAP, which are involved in metabolic pathways such as glycogen synthesis, lipid transport and homeostasis, polysaccharide and carbohydrate metabolism. Polymorphisms located in these candidate genes can be incorporated in commercial genotyping platforms to improve the accuracy of imputation and genomic evaluations for carcass fatness. In addition to uncovering biological mechanisms associated with carcass quality, the key gene pathways identified can also be incorporated in biology-driven genomic prediction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Martins
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Pamela C Machado
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | | | - Marcio R Silva
- Melhore Animal and Katayama Agropecuaria Lda, Guararapes, Brazil
| | - Flavio S Schenkel
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Luiz F Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Victor B Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Hernandez A, Berg C, Westin R, Galina C. Seasonal Differences in Animal Welfare Assessment of Family Farming Dual-Purpose Cattle Raised under Tropical Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:E125. [PMID: 30037102 DOI: 10.3390/ani8070125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Family-run cattle farms in the tropics deal with two distinct seasons, the dry and the rainy, where features such as resources, diseases and climate are variable. Nevertheless, an acceptable level of animal welfare must be maintained throughout the year. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were animal welfare issues at farms affected by either the dry or the rainy season. Forty-five dual-purpose family farms in the Mexican tropics were assessed via the Welfare Quality® protocol. The animal welfare assessment on these farms obtained better results during the dry season, hence the season presenting a greater risk to animal welfare of dual-purpose cattle raised under tropical conditions is the rainy season. However, there were management-related differences observed between the two seasons, and the dry season also had some animal welfare threats. The fact that farms scored higher during the dry season is possibly the result of farmer awareness, leading to modification of their systems to provide animals with the necessary inputs to meet their production needs. If these modifications, such as providing supplementary feed and water points were not fulfilled, then welfare conditions might have been jeopardized. Abstract Conditions on farms in the tropics can differ greatly depending on the season of the year. Characteristics such as disease prevalence, climate and availability of resources may not be constant all year around; however an acceptable level of animal welfare must be maintained throughout the year. Since it is neither practical nor economically feasible to perform several assessments per year, the purpose of this study was to define whether there were animal welfare issues at farms that were affected by the season to identify which season would present a greater risk to animal welfare, using a risk-based approach. Forty-five dual-purpose family farms in the Mexican tropics were assessed via the Welfare Quality® protocol. During the rainy season, 2.2% of the farms were classified as excellent, 57.8% as enhanced, 31.1% as acceptable and 8.9% as unclassified. In the dry season, 31.1% were classified as excellent, 68.9% as enhanced and none of the farms were categorized as acceptable or unclassified. Consequently, the season which presented the greatest risk to animal welfare of dual-purpose cattle raised under tropical conditions was the rainy season. However, there were management-related differences observed between the two seasons and the dry season also had some animal welfare threats. The fact that farms scored higher during the dry season is possibly the result of farmer awareness, leading to modification of their systems to provide animals with the necessary inputs to meet their production needs. If these modifications were not fulfilled, then welfare conditions might have been jeopardized.
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