The rôle of various classes of nutrients (energy substrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids) in the production of wool and hair from follicles, is considered for a variety of animal species. The wool and hair follicle have evolved a number of interesting features of carbohydrate metabolism including glutaminolysis, aerobic glycolysis, significant activity of the pentose phosphate pathway, and storage and mobilisation of glycogen. Presumably the necessity to continue to produce fibre despite fluctuations in the supply of oxygen and nutrients has resulted in some of these unique features, while others reflect the high level of DNA and protein synthesis occurring in the follicle. While it is considered that energy does not normally limit fibre growth, the relative contributions of aerobic and anerobic metabolism will greatly influence the amount of ATP available for follicle activity, such that energy availability may at times alter fibre growth. Alopecia and deficient fibre growth are consistent outcomes of deficiencies of biotin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folate and pantothenic acid, but the precise rôles of these vitamins in follicle function await elucidation. Folate, in particular appears to play an important rôle in wool production, presumably reflecting its involvement in methionine metabolism. Cholecalciferol (vitamin D) significantly alters fibre growth in cultured follicles; vitamin D receptors are located in the outer root sheath, bulb, and dermal papilla of the follicle; and alopecia occurs in humans with defects in the vitamin D receptor. Retinol (vitamin A), too, appears to influence follicle function by altering keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, with direct effects on the expression of keratin genes. The receptors for the retinoids are present in the keratogenous zone, the outer root sheath, the bulb, and the sebaceous glands. Vitamin A may also act indirectly on follicle function by influencing the activity of the insulin-like and epidermal growth factors and by altering vitamin D activity. At present there is little evidence implicating alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) or phytylmenaquinone (vitamin K) in follicular events. Of the minerals, only copper and zinc have been shown to have direct effects on follicle function, independent of effects on food intake. Copper has direct effects on the activity of an unidentified enzyme on oxidation of thiol groups to form disulphide linkages. Wool produced by copper-deficient sheep lacks crimp, is weak and lustrous. Copper is also necessary for the activity of tyrosinase and the tyrosinase-related proteins involved in melanin synthesis. Zinc, like copper, is required for the normal keratinization of fibres but again, the precise rôle has yet to be elucidated. While the importance of amino acid supply for wool growth has long been established, there are still some unaswered questions such as; what are the effects of amino acids on fibre growth in animals other than sheep; what are the characteristics of the amino acid transport genes and proteins operating in the wool and hair follicle; and what are the specific rôles for amino acids in follicle function.

A dynamic selection algorithm for maximizing annual genetic response while constraining the rate of inbreeding per generation in populations with overlapping generations is presented. The procedure gives the optimum number of individuals to be selected and the progeny they each produce. The solution to the problem was obtained by using BLUP estimated breeding values, the augmented numerator relationship matrix and lifetime breeding profiles. The procedure was able to constrain the rate of inbreeding per generation to a predefined level across generations of selection by considering all gene flow pathways. The optimization procedure represents an improvement on standard truncation BLUP selection, as it yielded substantially more genetic response (up to 35%) at the same rate of inbreeding.

The objective of this study was to compare two methods for analysis of longevity in dairy cattle. The first method, currently used for routine genetic evaluation in the UK, uses a linear model to analyse lifespan, i.e. the number of lactations a cow has survived or is expected to survive. The second method was based on the concept of proportional hazard, i.e. modelling the conditional survival probability of a cow as a function of time. Comparisons were based on estimated heritabilities, ranking of estimated breeding values of sires, estimated effects of covariates used in the final models, and the distribution of residuals. The same data set, 21497 observations on the number of lactations cows had survived, was used for both analyses, even in the presence of censored observations. Cows in the data were progeny of 487 sires. Heritability estimates for lifespan or survival were approximately 0·06 for both methods, using the definition of heritability on a logarithmic scale for the proportional hazards model. Correlations between breeding values for sires were high, with absolute values ranging from 0·93 to 0·98, depending on the model fitted. It was concluded that it may be justified to use the standard Weibull model even for discrete time measures such as the number of completed lactations, but that more research is needed in the area of discrete time variates.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and breeding values of sires for different definitions of length of productive life in Swedish Red and White dairy cattle. The data consisted of 534 016 daughters with initial calvings between 1988 and 1996. These cows were daughters of 1266 sires (55 of which were considered proven bulls, and treated as fixed effects). The model for the hazard included: a random time-dependent effect of herd-year-season (hys), a fixed time-dependent effect of year-season, a fixed time-dependent effect of parity by stage of lactation, a fixed time-dependent effect of the cow’s peak yield as deviation from her herdmates in that herd-year, a fixed time-independent effect of age at first calving, and random and fixed effects of sire. The hys effect was assumed to follow a gamma distribution and the random sire effect a normal distribution with mean zero and variance Aσ2s, where σ2s is the variance among sires and A the relationship matrix. Length of productive life was defined as the number of days from first calving to culling or end of data. Two types of length of productive life were studied: (1) functional productive life (PL), all cows that were culled before the end of data were considered as uncensored; (2) fertility determined productive life (FPL), only cows that were culled for fertility problems were considered as uncensored. Heritability estimates were 6·9% and 6·1% for PL and FPL, respectively. The approximated genetic correlation estimates between fertility measures in first lactation and FPL was higher than the corresponding estimates with PL. In conclusion, it was feasible to use the trait fertility-determined length of productive life, its heritability was almost as large as for PL, and the genetic correlation with fertility was higher than for PL. However, the expected selection response in fertility from indirect selection on FPL was lower than from direct selection.

The genetic and economic consequences of introgression of either one or two genes that explain the complete between-breed difference for disease resistance between donor and recipient breeds were investigated. Four backcross strategies (0, 1, 3 or 7 generations of backcrossing) were compared for four initial breed differences (0·1, 1, 2·5 and 5 phenotypic s.d.) when female reproductive capacity was either high (10 offspring) or lower (four offspring). Selection in donor and recipient populations was for production using a selection index. Genetic comparison was based on production level between the hybrid population, after fixation of the disease resistance alleles, and the donor population. Tor a large initial breed difference and high female reproductive capacity, application of seven generations of backcrossing resulted in the largest genetic difference between donor and hybrid populations. Introgression of one or two genes made no difference to the genetic results. From an economic point of view, optimal number of generations depends on the number of genes involved in the introgression, on the female reproductive capacity and ön the initial breed difference. Seven generations of backcrossing in most cases are too many and none to three generations of backcrossing often is more optimal. Introgression of two genes is economically less attractive, especially in case of low female reproduction capacity.

Methods that maximize genetic response in populations with overlapping generations while controlling rate of inbreeding by constraining the average relationship among selection candidates were compared. Firstly, computer simulations of closed nucleus selection schemes showed that a two-stage optimization algorithm approach, where the distribution of parents within and thereafter over age classes was optimized resulted in different breeding schemes than an approach that performed an iteration on this distribution. It yielded significantly lower annual genetic gain (0·194 v. 0·223 σp units), fewer animals selected (21·9 v. 26·4) and longer generation intervals (2·38 v. 1·68 years) but maintained the rate of inbreeding closer to its constraint. In large schemes, iteration may be computationally the only feasible method for the optimization of parents across age classes. Secondly, the use of conventional relationships for constraining inbreeding was compared with that of augmented relationships, which do not depend on the level of inbreeding. Both relationships resulted in very similar breeding schemes, but the use of augmented relationships avoids correction of the current level of inbreeding. Thirdly, a constraint of the rate of inbreeding on a per year basis was compared with a constraint on a per generation basis. When optimizing per generation, the generation interval was shorter compared with a scheme where an analogous annual restriction was in place (2·01 v. 2·38 years) and the annual rate of genetic gain was higher (0·214 v. 0·194 σp units).

The component of variance attributable to maternal lineage for type traits in the UK Holstein Friesian dairy population was estimated. First lactation type classification records of 33 325 contemporary cows, classified between 1996 and 1998 were used in the analysis. Maternal pedigree records were traced back to 1960 to establish maternal lineages. The tracing resulted in cows being assigned to 10 332 cow families with more than one cow per family. Sixty-six percent of the cows were in families of less than five. The traits comprised 16 linear type traits, a total score trait, four composite scores and measures of temperament and ease of milking. Univariate analysis of each trait was performed using residual maximum likelihood, with and without a maternal lineage component. A principal component analysis used a scree test to determine the number of independent traits being considered in-order to establish a level of significance for the test statistic. It was found that eight principal components were responsible for the variation in type. The composite body score trait was found to have a 1·5% component of maternal lineage variance, significant at the 5% level. No other traits showed a significant maternal lineage variance component.

Fertility, generally considered as a trait of the two parents, is perhaps best defined as the interaction between the male and female gametes in the production of a viable zygote. Although zygote development and hatchability are traits of the embryo influenced by maternal effects, in most previous studies they have been considered to be female reproductive traits. The aim of this work was to study the influence of sire on fertility and hatchability traits and to estimate the (co)variance components of direct and maternal genetic effects under a Bayesian setting via Gibbs sampling. We measured the fertility of 6396 eggs and the hatchability of 5393 embryos on an individual basis. In addition, egg weight from 42 to 63 weeks of age (EW63) was recorded on an individual egg basis. The sire accounted for a significant amount of the variation infertility and hatchability. For direct heritability, the marginal posterior mean, for fertility and hatchability were almost equal (0·24). The maternal heritabilities for fertility and hatchability were 0·20 and 0·18, respectively. The direct heritability value for the egg weight trait was high. The direct-direct genetic correlation between egg weight and hatchability was negative and significant. The genetic correlations between the direct effect of the egg weight trait and maternal effects for fertility and hatchability were low, with variable signs, and were not significant. On the other hand, significant negative genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects of fertility and hatchability were obtained (the posterior means were –0·56 for FE and –0·55 for HC).

Estimates of genetic parameters were obtained for weight, hip height, heart girth and shoulder to pin length measurements on Thai swamp buffalo, recorded at birth and weaning. Direct heritability estimates were 0·26 for weights at both ages and were low for skeletal measurements, ranging from 0·11 to 0·19. Low values could, in part at least, be caused by inaccuracies in recording. All traits were subject to maternal effects, permanent environmental maternal effects on traits recorded at weaning explaining proportionately up to 0·14 of the total variation. Estimates of genetic (direct and maternal) and permanent environmental correlations between traits recorded at the same time were high throughout, ranging from 0·83 to 0·97 for additive genetic effects and being close to unity otherwise. Except for heart girth measured at weaning, there appeared to be comparatively little genetic association between traits recorded at different times, direct additive correlation estimates ranging from 0·18 to 0·55 in contrast to estimates of 0·38 to 0·65 for correlations with heart girth at weaning.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific to exon 2 of the bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3 gene were used successfully to amplify the equivalent region in 34 Murrah and 36 Surti buffaloes selected at random. The 304 bp amplified product of the DRB3 gene was separately digested with BstγI, HaeIII and Rsal enzymes. Digestion with BstγI enzyme did not reveal any polymorphism and all animals showed a single restriction pattern, which corresponded exactly to the BstγI pattern ‘b’ previously described for cattle. Digestion with HaeIII enzyme resulted in five patterns, four of which corresponded to the Haelll patterns previously reported in cattle. The new HaeIII pattern was observed in both the breeds of buffaloes studied. The fragment analysis with RsaI revealed 13 different patterns. All of these RsaI patterns corresponded to the RsaI patterns previously described for cattle. The high degree of similarity in the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of cattle and buffalo observed in the present study provide evidence for the strong conservation amongst other bovine species, of restriction sites previously reported in cattle.

Divergent breeding lines of Romney sheep, selected as lambs for consistently high or low faecal worm egg count (FEC) following natural multi-species challenge by nematode parasites, were established in New Zealand at Wallaceville Animal Research Centre in 1979 and at Rotomahana Station in 1985. In 1988 the Rotomahana lines, including an unselected control line maintained under the same management conditions, were transferred to Tokanui Station where they remained for 4 years. In 1993 elite high and low FEC animals from Tokanui, along with the controls, were transferred to Wallaceville, where merged lines have since been managed together. Selection responses from the lines at Rotomahana and Tokanui, and from a further 5 years of divergent selection in the merged lines, are reported here. For the two most recent lamb crops (1996 and 1997 birth years), log-transformed FECs of the high and low lines were 1·27 and -1·46 phenotypic standard deviation units from the control. After back-transformation to the original scale, where the FEC for control line lambs averaged 1255 eggs per g, the means for the high and low lines were 3Ό5 and 0·27 times the control mean. Animal-model restricted maximum likelihood estimates of her it ability and repeatability for single-record FEC (following separate infections) were 0·28 (s.e. 0·02) and 0·42 (s.e. 0Ό1), respectively. Correlated responses in production traits include significantly decreased post-weaning weight gain and increased dags (breech soiling) in lambs, and decreased fleece weight in yearlings and ewes in the low FEC line, compared with those in the high line. However the low FEC line had proportionally 0·11 more lambs weaned per ewe mated than the high FEC line (F < 0·01). It is concluded firstly that selection for high or low FEC in Romney s has achieved an 11-fold difference between the divergent lines. Secondly, it will generally be necessary in a commercial environment to apply index selection for a combination of increased productivity, decreased FEC and possibly decreased dags, when potential candidates are recorded under conditions of nematode challenge.

Risk factors and variance components of pre-weaning mortality were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. Data were from 12 727 piglets born alive from 1338 litters recorded at the pig breeding farm of the University of Kiel from 1989 to 1994. Deviances due to risk factors were estimated by generalized linear model and their odds-ratios by generalized linear mixed model both with binomial errors and a logistic link. Variance components of sire, dam and litter were estimated using a logit or probit link function as well as a linear model for which estimates were transformed to the underlying continuous scale. Highest increase in deviance, indicating the risk factor, which accounts for the greatest amount of unexplained variation of pre-weaning mortality was obtained after exclusion of individual birth weight (1206) from the model, followed by year-season (217), parity-farrowing age or interval (58), genotype of piglets (56), sex (39), total number of piglets born (18) and gestation length (16). Substitution of individual birth weight successively by average piglet birth weight per litter, litter birth weight and standard deviation of birth weight within litter resulted in models with substantially lower explained variation of pre-weaning mortality. Odds of pre-weaning mortality was 1·5 times higher for males than for females and 2·0 times higher in piglets from German Landrace dams than from Large White dams. Odds increased to the fifth parity by 2·2 times the odds of the first parity or increased for the age group of dams between 850 and 949 days by 2·3 times the odds of the age group with less than 350 days. When the continuous risk factors of individual birth weight, average piglet birth weight and litter birth weight decreased or standard deviation of birth weight within litter increased by one standard deviation from the mean, the odds ratios increased by 6·0, 1·6, 0·8 and 0·4, respectively. Piglets with individual birth weights of 1·8, 1·5, 1·2 and 1·0 kg showed a rapid increase in odds ratios of pre-weaning mortality of 1·4, 2·7, 7·0 and 16·1, respectively, relative to piglets with 2·1 kg. Estimates of direct heritability for pre-weaning mortality on the linear observed, transformed underlying, logit and probit scale were 0·02, 0·06, 0·07 and 0·07, respectively. Low estimates of heritability for pre-weaning mortality, even on the underlying continuous scale, suggested low potential for improvement by selection. Therefore, selection for individual birth weight phenotypically closely associated with pre-weaning mortality was recommended to improve survival of piglets during the nursing period.

Random regression models have been advocated for the analysis of test day records in dairy cattle. The effectiveness of a random regression analysis depends on the function used to model the data. To investigate functions suitable for the analysis of daily milk yield, test day milk yields of 7860 first lactation Holstein Friesian cows were analysed using random regression models involving three types of curves. Each analysis fitted the same curve to model overall trends through a fixed regression and random deviations due to animals. Curves included orthogonal polynomials, fitted to order 3 (quadratic), 4 (cubic) and 5 (quartic), respectively, a three-parameter parametric curve and a five-parameter parametric curve. Sets of random regression coefficients were fitted to model both animals’ genetic effects and permanent environmental effects. Temporary measurement errors were assumed independently but heterogeneously distributed, and assigned to one of 12 classes. Results showed that the measurement error variances were generally lowest around peak lactation, and higher at the beginning and end of lactation. Parametric curves yielded the highest likelihoods, but produced negative genetic associations between yield in early lactation and later lactation yields, while positive genetic correlations across the entire lactation were estimated with all models involving orthogonal polynomials. The fit of models using orthogonal polynomials to model test day yield was improved by including higher order fixed regressions.

Carcass traits of two indigenous African (Sanga) breeds (Afrikaner and Nguni), one indigenous African composite breed (Bonsmara), one foreign composite breed (Santa Gertrudis) and two continental European breeds (Brown Swiss and Pinzgauer) were compared. Treatment means were adjusted to the mean overall subcutaneous fat proportion (47 g/kg). Despite differences in maturity type, only the Afrikaner dressed out significantly (P < 0·05) lower than the foreign breeds. Both Sanga breeds and the Bonsmara had significantly higher muscle yields than the Santa Gertrudis and Pinzgauer, mainly due to the high intermuscular fat of the latter two breeds. When muscle yield was expressed per unit of bone, the Afrikaner and Bonsmara compared favourably with the larger breeds, due to their low bone and intermuscular fat yield, while the Nguni had a relatively high bone yield. The Santa Gertrudis had the lowest muscle yield due to its high bone and intermuscular fat yields, especially when compared with the smaller Bonsmara composite. Both Sanga breeds had significantly higher (P < 0·05) proportions of total weight, meat and bone (Afrikaner P > 0·05) in the high-priced cuts compared with the other breeds at the same subcutaneous fat level. Despite the statistical significance, differences were small in magnitude and probably of little commercial value. At the same time mean subcutaneous fat proportion, tissue yield and distribution patterns expected of late maturing breeds were observed for smaller indigenous breeds, suggesting that it was specific breed effects rather than maturity type effects, which were evident.

Body composition in the pig, and its variation, is mostly referred to in terms of body protein and lipid content of the whole body. This study was made to check for animal-intrinsic variation in the partitioning of body protein into protein pools and of body lipid into lipid depots. Results from serial slaughter trials on 316 Danish Landrace and 76 Danish Yorkshire pigs were used to estimate additive genetic and litter-associated variance components for several traits. These traits were total body protein and lipid mass (TOTPROT and TOTLIPD), the proportions of total body protein that are present in the muscles (PROTMUS) or in the (sub-)cutaneous tissue plus bones (connective tissue protein, PROTCON), and the proportions of total body lipid that are present in the (sub-)cutaneous tissue (LIPDSUB), in the muscles (inter- and intramuscular fat, LIPDMUS), or in the bones (LIPDBON). TOTPROT and TOTLIPD were adjusted by regression for body weight; PROTMUS and PROTCON were adjusted for PROTCON, and LIPDSUB, LIPDMUS and LIPDBON were adjusted for TOTLIPD. The pooled estimates (± s.e.) of the degree of genetic determination (the sum of the additive genetic and litter-associated variance components, which approximates the repeatability) of these traits were 0·48 ± 0·19 for TOTPROT, 0·56 ± 0·20 for TOTLIPD, 0·56 ± 0·12 for PROTMUS, 0·57 ± 0·15 for PROTCON, 0·32 ± 0·10 for LIPDMUS, 0·33 ± 0·12 for LIPDSUB, and 0·22 ± 0·10 for LIPDBON. It is concluded that there is animal-intrinsic variation in partitioning of body protein and lipid.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to study the reflectance properties of intact and minced lamb muscles in two presentations to the instrument to predict their chemical composition. A total of 306 muscles were examined from 51 lambs, consisting of the following muscles: longissimus dorsi, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, semimembranosus, semitendinosus and rectus femoris. Modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression models of chemical variables yielded R2 and standard error of cross-validation (SECV) of 0·76 (SECV: 10·4), 0·83 (SECV: 5·5) and 0·73 (SECV: 4·7) for moisture, crude protein and intramuscular fat in the minced samples expressed as g/kg on a fresh-weight basis, respectively. Calibrations for intact samples had lower R2 and higher standard error of cross validation (SECV) compared with the minced samples.

Forty-five Talaverana breed sucking lambs of both sexes were slaughtered at 10 and 12 kg live weight in order to study the effect of gender and slaughter weight on carcass, meat and fat traits. Carcass dressing proportions and fatness (by various measures) were higher in females and heavier lambs, which also showed better conformation. Lightness (L*) of the carcass fat was higher in males and heavier lambs. Females and heavier lambs also displayed a greater proportion of fat on dissection, primarily due to a higher percentage of subcutaneous fat tissue. Water-holding capacity was greater in males and in lower-weight lambs. Males presented higher total collagen and lower soluble collagen values than females. In general, a high percentage of short-chain (C12:0 and C14:0) fatty acids, as well as of palmitic acid (C16:0), was observed in the intramuscular fat of the longissimus dorsi muscle, corresponding with an exclusively milk diet.

The aim of this work was to determine whether developmental changes in growth hormone (GH) secretory patterns and carcass composition were influenced by nutrition and genotype in sheep. Four-month-old wether lambs from lean (low backfat), fat (high backfat) and control selection lines were nutritionally restricted to maintain a 28 kg live weight or given food ad libitum for 24 weeks. Plasma concentrations of GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured at predetermined times and carcass composition of the animals determined at the end of the trial.

From week 3 on, restrictions in dry matter (DM) intake were observed as the ad libitum treatment group had a significantly greater intake than the restricted treatment group (7·70 v. 5·80 kg DM per week, s.e.d. = 0·81). Differences in live weight between the feeding treatments were significant (P < 0·05) at week 9. The restricted feeding regime was associated with significant reductions in plasma levels of IGF-1 but had no effect (P > 0·05) on carcass weight-adjusted carcass fat proportion at the close of the trial. The effect of food restriction on GH secretory patterns was variable. Although there was initially a suppression in mean plasma GH, there was subsequently significantly higher mean plasma GH in the restricted feeding treatment. Periodogram analysis indicated that both the absolute levels of GH and the GH secretory pattern were altered by restricted feeding. In all animals, mean and basal GH concentrations, as well as the frequency and amplitude of pulses, declined from February to March and then increased from May to July (P < 0·001).

DM intake and live weight did not differ (P > 0·05) between genotypes, however the fat genotype had greater carcass fatness than lean or control genotypes (P < 0·01). There were no consistent differences between genotypes in plasma IGF-1 concentrations. In the ad libitum treatment, the lean and control genotypes had higher plasma GH levels than the f at genotype but the pattern of GH release did not vary. Under restricted feeding, both the pattern and the level of plasma GH varied between genotypes.

It is concluded that the developmental change in GH secretory patterns is affected by nutrition but not in a consistent manner. Although restricted feeding resulted in higher mean plasma GH concentrations later in the trial, this did not result in a change in carcass composition. The biological cues which lead to increased fat deposition in older lambs need further study but plasma GH levels may not he an important mechanism in this process.