The contribution of domestic cattle in human societies is enormous, making cattle, along with other essential benefits, the economically most important domestic animal in the world today. To expand ...existing knowledge on cattle domestication and mitogenome diversity, we performed a comprehensive complete mitogenome analysis of the species (802 sequences, 114 breeds). A large sample was collected in South‐east Europe, an important agricultural gateway to Europe during Neolithization and a region rich in cattle biodiversity. We found 1725 polymorphic sites (810 singletons, 853 parsimony‐informative sites and 57 indels), 701 unique haplotypes, a haplotype diversity of 0.9995 and a nucleotide diversity of 0.0015. In addition to the dominant T3 and several rare haplogroups (Q, T5, T4, T2 and T1), we have identified maternal line in Austrian Murbodner cattle that possess surviving aurochs’ mitochondria haplotype P1 that diverged prior to the Neolithization process. This is convincing evidence for rare female‐mediated adaptive introgression of wild aurochs into domesticated cattle in Europe. We revalidated the existing haplogroup classification and provided Bayesian phylogenetic inference with a more precise estimated divergence time than previously available. Occasionally, classification based on partial mitogenomes was not reliable; for example, some individuals with haplogroups P and T5 were not recognized based on D‐loop information. Bayesian skyline plot estimates (median) show that the earliest population growth began before domestication in cattle with haplogroup T2, followed by Q (~10.0–9.5 kyBP), whereas cattle with T3 (~7.5 kyBP) and T1 (~3.0–2.5 kyBP) expanded later. Overall, our results support the existence of interactions between aurochs and cattle during domestication and dispersal of cattle in the past, contribute to the conservation of maternal cattle diversity and enable functional analyses of the surviving aurochs P1 mitogenome.
Considering the challenging market conditions for dairy farms, calf gender management should be one of the tools used to increase profitability. The objective of this paper was to examine the effect ...of calf gender on lactation milk traits in Holstein and Simmental cows. Holstein cows that calved a female calf had a higher milk yield (p<0.0001) and lower milk fat and protein content (p<0.01) in the first lactation. The favourable effect of female calf on milk yield was also found in the second lactation of Holstein cows (p<0.0001). Simmental cows that calved female calves in the first and the second lactation also had higher milk yield and lactation gain, however the differences were not significant. Although no statistically significant effect of calf gender on milk yield was determined in the Simmental population, indications of positive effect of female calf gender on lactation milk yield impose the need for further research. Using gender selected semen as a tool for calf gender management could enable to increase the milk yield of Holstein cows and the profitability of Holstein farms as well.
The majority of the nearly 400 existing local pig breeds are adapted to specific environments and human needs. The demand for large production quantities and the industrialized pig production have ...caused a rapid decline of many local pig breeds in recent decades. Black Slavonian pig and Turopolje pig, the latter highly threatened, are the two Croatian local indigenous breeds typically grown in extensive or semi-intensive systems. In order to guide a long-term breeding program to prevent the disappearance of these breeds, we analyzed their genetic diversity, inbreeding level and relationship with other local breeds across the world, as well as modern breeds and several wild populations, using high throughput genomic data obtained using the Illumina Infinium PorcineSNP60 v2 BeadChip. Multidimensional scaling analysis positioned Black Slavonian pigs close to the UK/North American breeds, while the Turopolje pig clustered within the Mediterranean breeds. Turopolje pig showed a very high inbreeding level (F
= 0.400 and F
= 0.332) that considerably exceeded the level of full-sib mating, while Black Slavonian pig showed much lower inbreeding (F
= 0.098 and F
= 0.074), indicating a planned mating strategy. In Croatian local breeds we identified several genome regions showing adaptive selection signals that were not present in commercial breeds. The results obtained in this study reflect the current genetic status and breeding management of the two Croatian indigenous local breeds. Given the small populations of both breeds, a controlled management activity has been implemented in Black Slavonian pigs since their commercial value has been recognized. In contrast, the extremely high inbreeding level observed in Turopolje pig argues for an urgent conservation plan with a long-term, diversity-oriented breeding program.
Uzgojnim programom uzgojnog tipa Hrvatski teški konj Središnji savez udruga uzgajivača hrvatskog hladnokrvnjaka (SSUUHH) želi povećati gospodarsku vrijednost nacionalnog uzgoja konja i proizvodnju ...ekološke hrane za prehranu ljudi u održivim sustavima uzgoja. Nacionalni pašnjački resursi nisu dovoljno iskorišteni, a jedna su od mogućnosti racionalnog uzgoja konja i ekološke proizvodnje konjskog mesa. Cilj rada je predstaviti uzgojni program konja temeljen na uzgojno manje vrijednim populacijama i jedinkama konja, većem iskorištavanju pašnjačkih površina, povoljnim tržišnim uvjetima i povećanju dohodovnosti gospodarstava koje se bave uzgojem konja.
By implementing the Croatian Heavy Horse breeding programme, the Croatian Federation of Heavy Draft Horse Breeders Associations (SSUUHH) aims to increase the economic value of national horse breeding and the production of organic food for human consumption in sustainable breeding systems. National pasture resources are not sufficiently used, and they are one of the possibilities of rational horse breeding and ecological production of horse meat. The aim of this paper is to present the breeding programme of horses based on breeding less valuable populations and individuals of horses, increased use of pastures, favourable market conditions, and increased profitability of horse breeding farms.
Effective population size (Ne) is one of the most important tools used to assess genetic diversity for conservation purposes. Using pedigree data of three Croatian autochthonous cattle breeds (Buša, ...Istrian and Slavonian Syrmian Podolian) the effective maternal (NeF), paternal (NeM) and combined maternal-paternal (NeFM) population size was estimated. Additionally, we estimated the effective population size based on the census population sex ratio (Nes), the effective population size from the individual increase in inbreeding (NeFi) and the effective population size from individual increase in coancestry (NeCi). We compared these sizes with the values obtained for 20 additional cattle populations, as well as with the newly calculated NeFM. The effective population sizes calculated for three autochthonous breeds were consistently the lowest in amongst all the considered cattle breeds. Utilisation of extremely small numbers of breeding males is the main reason for the observed reduction in the effective population size. The decomposition of effective population size into maternal and paternal components is shown to be an informative parameter in detecting the reduction of the effective population size as a consequence of unequal sex contribution. Still, the impact of the pedigree depth and completeness on the NeF, NeM and NeFM estimation remain to be analysed. A large deviation between Nes and all other methods of Ne estimation was observed and it is our recommendation that breeders and stakeholders should consider using alternative methods of Ne estimation when planning breeding programmes as well as in the determination of the endangered status of animal populations.
Dio teladi oteljenih na mliječnim farmama ili je neprikladan ili nije potreban za zamjenu muznog stada i kao višak se prodajom izlučuje iz uzgoja. U cilju utvrđivanja modela korištenja muške i ...križane teladi u mliječnim farmama u sustavu kontrole mliječnosti u Republici Hrvatskoj, anketirano je 1717 upravitelja mliječnih farmi. Najvećim dijelom muška telad prodaje se kao sisajuća ili mlada telad, a samo 26,6 % farmi je telad zadržalo u tovu do kategorije utovljene junadi. Prosječna dob pri prodaji je iznosila 47 dana, a do 30 dana starosti mušku telad je prodalo 56,8 % farmi. Očekivano, holštajn muška telad prodaje se ranije u odnosu na mušku telad drugih mliječnih pasmina. Pasmina ima veliki utjecaj na prodajnu dob i cijenu muške teladi, a simentalska telad je prodavana po najvećoj cijeni i u najstarijoj dobi. Velike farme ranije prodaju mušku telad, a između veličine muznog stada i dobi pri prodaji utvrđena je negativna korelacija (p<0,01). Muška telad prodavana je po prosječnoj cijeni od 332,14 €, a prodajna cijena bila je usko povezana s pasminom i dužinom uzgoja teladi na farmi. Prodajna cijena i razdoblje zadržavanja muške teladi na farmi razlikovala se između regija u kojoj se farme nalaze. Razlike u prosječnoj prodajnoj cijeni prema županijama rezultat su različitih pasminskih struktura i veličina muznih stada na mliječnim farmama. Utvrđeno je da na modele ekonomskog korištenja muške teladi značajan utjecaj imaju pasmina, veličina farme i regija u kojoj se farme nalaze.
On dairy farms a certain number of calves are either unsuitable or not needed for the replacement of the milking herd. Therefore, they are removed from breeding being sold as a surplusage. To determine the model of using male and crossbred calves in dairy farms in the milk production control system in the Republic of Croatia, 1,717 managers of dairy farms were surveyed. Most male calves were sold as suckling or young calves, and only 26.6% of the farms kept the calves for fattening up to the category of fattened beef. The average age at sale was 47 days, and 56.8% of farms sold male calves up to 30 days of age. As expected, Holstein male calves were sold earlier than male calves of other dairy breeds. The breed has a significant influence on the age at sale and price of male calves, Simmental calves were sold at the highest age and for higher prices. Large farms sell male calves earlier, and a negative correlation was found between the size of the milking herd and the age at sale (P<0.01). Male calves were sold for an average price of 332.14 €, and the selling price was affected by the breed and the length of period in which the calves were reared on the farm. The selling price and time spent on the farm of male calves differed between the regions in which the farms were located. Differences in the average selling price by county result from different breed structures and different sizes of milking herds. It was found that the economic models of the use of male calves were significantly influenced by the breed, the size of the farm and the region where the farm is located.
Mitochondrial DNA information can be used to verify pedigree concordance of both close and remote relatives along maternal lines. Different haplotypes in the same maternal line point out to an error ...in the pedigree. This has been used in several studies as the indication of the accuracy of the pedigree data. In all of these studies the collation of the haplotype data has been performed manually. With large pedigrees this is a tedious work prone to mistakes. We present the computational approach to this task based on the algorithm that systematically traces non-concordance among all sequenced individuals through maternal pedigree. Based on the number of found errors, we have introduced several numerical descriptors of pedigree quality. We demonstrate the functionality of our program with the analysis of a small example taken from a long and complex Lipizzan horse pedigree.
•Automated use of mtDNA information in maternal pedigree verification is provided.•Several numerical descriptors of pedigree quality are introduced.•We demonstrate the method on the example of Lipizzan horse.
Nutritive effect of different levels (10% and 20%) of dried olive cake on the body mass, feed conversion ratio and histopathological changes in tissues in conventionally bred Hyla rabbits was ...investigated. During a 56-day experimental feeding regime, 60 rabbits were divided into a control group and two experimental groups with 20 animals each (10 males and 10 females). Control group received no olive cake, while the first experimental group received 10% and the second experimental group 20% of dried olive cake throughout the whole feeding period. No significant differences in the body mass were found between the groups in the trial. In both experimental groups, feed conversion was better than in the control group. Histopathological tests were performed on a total of 28 rabbits. Histopathological changes observed in the brain, heart and kidneys of rabbits were the consequence of pathological activity of microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi found in all groups. In the rabbits of both experimental groups fed with olive cake, deposition of fat in the heart, liver, lymph nodes, thyroid gland, adrenal gland and pancreas might be explained by the greater amount of fat from olive oil in the meal. Statistically significant was only the fat deposition in the liver, namely, in hepatocytes. Histopathological screening identified pathological action of fungus Cyniclomyces guttulatus in the digestive tract of all rabbit groups which caused inflammation of the mucous membranes (enteritis) of the entire digestive system (from the stomach to the large intestine) and therefore possibly interfered with the absorption of certain nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.).
U radu je prikazan nutritivni utjecaj različitih količina (10% i 20%) osušenih komina maslina na tjelesnu masu, konverziju hrane i histopatološke promjene tkiva konvencionalno uzgojenih kunića Hyla hibrida u tovu. U pokusnom tovu od 56 dana bilo je ukupno 60 kunića koji su bili podijeljeni u tri skupine, kontrolnu i dvije pokusne s po 20 kunića u svakoj skupini (10 muških i 10 ženskih). Kunići kontrolne (C) skupine u obroku nisu dobivali kominu, dok su tijekom cijelog pokusa kunići prve pokusne skupine dobivali 10%, a kunići druge skupine 20% osušenih komina maslina. Nisu utvrđene statistički značajne razlike u tjelesnim masama između skupina kunića u tovu. U obje pokusne skupine utvrđena je bolja konverzija hrane u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Histopatološkom pretragom 28 kunića utvrđene su histopatološke promjene u mozgu, srcu i bubrezima kunića kao posljedica patološkog djelovanja mikrosporidije Encephalitozoon cuniculi. U kunića obiju pokusnih skupina utvrđena je depozicija masti u srcu, jetri, limfnim čvorovima, štitnoj žlijezdi, nadbubrežnoj žlijezdi i gušterači iz razloga što su u hrani dobivali veću količinu maslinova ulja. Statistički značajno povećanje masti nađeno je samo u jetri, odnosno hepatocitima, ali ne i u drugim organima i žlijezdama. Histopatološkom pretragom utvrđeno je i patološko djelovanje gljivice Cyniclomyces guttulatus u probavnom sustavu svih skupina kunića koje su uzrokovale enteritis u cijelom probavnom sustavu, od želuca do debelog crijeva, čime je bila poremećena resorpcija hranjivih tvari, vitamina, minerala, itd.
Međimurski konj je kritično ugrožena pasmina (Ne = 14,17) i jedna je od tri hrvatske izvorne pasmine konja. Cilj istraživanja je sistematizirati uzgoj međimurskog konja definiranjem linija pastuha i ...kobila, te analizirati zastupljenost drugih pasmina u uzgoju međimurskog konja. Rezultat sistematizacije je definiranje 7 linija pastuha i 37 rodova kobila koji su temelj daljnjeg planskog vođenja uzgoja. Analizom rodovnika utvrđena je velika zastupljenost drugih pasmina u uzgoju međimurskog konja, te ne vođenje uzgoja u čistoj krvi od utemeljenja pasminskog registra 1999. godine do danas, što je nužno obzirom da se radi o izvornoj pasmini. Veliki udio grla drugih pasmina u registru navodi na zaključak da se ne radi o izvornoj pasmini, nego o uzgojnom tipu hladnokrvnog konja, te da je upitan status „izvornosti“ aktualne populacije.
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