The second product is Kryptic Pro, a product which can be added to milk for the first 14 days of a calf's life, to improve milk clotting and enhance digestion, which the company says promotes disease ...resistance.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays for domestic cattle have catalyzed the identification of genetic markers associated with complex traits for inclusion in modern breeding and selection ...programs. Using actual and imputed Illumina 778K genotypes for 3887 U.S. beef cattle from 3 populations (Angus, Hereford, SimAngus), we performed genome-wide association analyses for feed efficiency and growth traits including average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), mid-test metabolic weight (MMWT), and residual feed intake (RFI), with marker-based heritability estimates produced for all traits and populations.
Moderate and/or large-effect QTL were detected for all traits in all populations, as jointly defined by the estimated proportion of variance explained (PVE) by marker effects (PVE ≥ 1.0%) and a nominal P-value threshold (P ≤ 5e-05). Lead SNPs with PVE ≥ 2.0% were considered putative evidence of large-effect QTL (n = 52), whereas those with PVE ≥ 1.0% but < 2.0% were considered putative evidence for moderate-effect QTL (n = 35). Identical or proximal lead SNPs associated with ADG, DMI, MMWT, and RFI collectively supported the potential for either pleiotropic QTL, or independent but proximal causal mutations for multiple traits within and between the analyzed populations. Marker-based heritability estimates for all investigated traits ranged from 0.18 to 0.60 using 778K genotypes, or from 0.17 to 0.57 using 50K genotypes (reduced from Illumina 778K HD to Illumina Bovine SNP50). An investigation to determine if QTL detected by 778K analysis could also be detected using 50K genotypes produced variable results, suggesting that 50K analyses were generally insufficient for QTL detection in these populations, and that relevant breeding or selection programs should be based on higher density analyses (imputed or directly ascertained).
Fourteen moderate to large-effect QTL regions which ranged from being physically proximal (lead SNPs ≤ 3Mb) to fully overlapping for RFI, DMI, ADG, and MMWT were detected within and between populations, and included evidence for pleiotropy, proximal but independent causal mutations, and multi-breed QTL. Bovine positional candidate genes for these traits were functionally conserved across vertebrate species.
The company explains that, while recording and analysing body condition score (BCS) can help in making informed decisions on dairy herd health and management, the accuracy, consistency and ...availability of BCS records 'are often sticking points' as finding a user-friendly method to allow farmers record key statistics for their herd is often difficult.
Sean Wensley, the BVA President, said: 'BVA recognises the need to control the wildlife reservoir of disease as part of a comprehensive strategy to eradicate bovine TB. ...control measures in cattle ...must be accompanied by simultaneous and coordinated control measures in badgers and susceptible farmed species.
Abstract
The cow herd consumes approximately 70% of the annual feed resources. To date, most genetic evaluations of feed intake in beef cattle have been made in growing animals and little information ...is available for mature cows. Genetic evaluations in mature cows have predominately been confined to lactating dairy cows and the relationship between feed intake as growing heifers and mature cows has not been addressed. It was the purpose of this study to estimate the heritability of feed intake when measured as growing heifers and mature cows and determine the genetic correlation between these measurements. Individual feed intake and BW gain were measured on 687 heifers and 622 5-yr-old cows. The heritability of average daily DMI (ADDMI) estimated in heifers was 0.84 ± 0.12 and 0.53 ± 0.12 in cows. The heritability of ADG estimated in heifers was 0.53 ± 0.12 and 0.34 ± 0.11 in cows. The genetic correlation between heifer and cow ADDMI was 0.84 ± 0.09. The genetic correlation between heifer and cow ADG was 0.73 ± 019. Heritability of residual feed intake in heifers was 0.25 ± 0.11 and 0.16 ± 0.10 in cows. Heritability for residual gain in heifers was 0.21 ± 0.11 and 0.14 ± 0.10 in cows. Feed intake and ADG are heritable and genetically correlated between heifers and cows. Selection for decreased feed intake and ADG in growing animals will probably have the same directional effects on mature cows.
Phenotypic performances of livestock animals decline with increasing levels of inbreeding, however, the noticeable decline known as inbreeding depression, may not be due only to the total level of ...inbreeding, but rather could be distinctly associated with more recent or more ancient inbreeding. Therefore, splitting inbreeding into different age classes could help in assessing detrimental effects of different ages of inbreeding. Hence, this study sought to investigate the effect of recent and ancient inbreeding on production and fertility traits in Canadian Holstein cattle with both pedigree and genomic records. Furthermore, inbreeding coefficients were estimated using traditional pedigree measure (F
) and genomic measures using segment based (F
) and marker-by-marker (F
) based approaches.
Inbreeding depression was found for all production and most fertility traits, for example, every 1% increase in F
, F
and F
was observed to cause a - 44.71, - 40.48 and - 48.72 kg reduction in 305-day milk yield (MY), respectively. Similarly, an extension in first service to conception (FSTC) of 0.29, 0.24 and 0.31 day in heifers was found for every 1% increase in F
, F
and F
, respectively. Fertility traits that did not show significant depression were observed to move in an unfavorable direction over time. Splitting both pedigree and genomic inbreeding into age classes resulted in recent age classes showing more detrimental inbreeding effects, while more distant age classes caused more favorable effects. For example, a - 1.56 kg loss in 305-day protein yield (PY) was observed for every 1% increase in the most recent pedigree age class, whereas a 1.33 kg gain was found per 1% increase in the most distant pedigree age class.
Inbreeding depression was observed for production and fertility traits. In general, recent inbreeding had unfavorable effects, while ancestral inbreeding had favorable effects. Given that more negative effects were estimated from recent inbreeding when compared to ancient inbreeding suggests that recent inbreeding should be the primary focus of selection programs. Also, further work to identify specific recent homozygous regions negatively associated with phenotypic traits could be investigated.
Concern from the public is growing regarding early cow-calf separation, yet proponents of this practice maintain that artificial rearing is critical for cow and calf health. Early separation is ...assumed to reduce the risk of transfer of pathogens from dam to neonatal calf, but a wide range of health benefits associated with extended cow-calf contact has also been documented. The aim of this systematic review was to report and synthesize conclusions from the literature on dairy cow and calf health in conventional rearing versus cow-calf contact systems. Peer-reviewed, published manuscripts, written in English, directly comparing dairy cow or calf health in artificial versus suckling systems, were eligible for inclusion. We conducted 7 targeted searches using Web of Science to identify key literature on important health conditions. The resulting manuscripts underwent a 4-step appraisal process, and further manuscripts were sourced from reference lists. This process resulted in a final sample of 70 articles that addressed cow and calf health. Sufficient literature was available to assess mastitis in cows, and scours, cryptosporidiosis, Johne's disease, pneumonia, immunity, and mortality in calves. The results for cryptosporidiosis, pneumonia, immunity, and mortality were mixed, with some differences between studies likely attributable to flawed comparisons between cohorts. Overall, the articles addressing calf scours and mastitis pointed to beneficial or no effects of suckling. The studies addressing Johne's disease did not find cow-calf contact to be a significant risk factor. In conclusion, the scientific peer-reviewed literature on cow and calf health provides no consistent evidence in support of early separation.
Cattle ticks are an important constraint on livestock production, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Use of synthetic acaricides is the primary method of tick control; therefore, it ...would be imperative to develop strategies to preserve the efficacy of existing acaricides. This paper summarizes the status of acaricide resistance in cattle ticks from different parts of the world and reviews modes of action of currently used acaricides, mechanism of resistance development, contributory factors for the development and spread of resistance, management of resistant strains and strategies to prolong the effect of the available acaricides. Use of vaccines, synthetic and botanical acaricides and educating farmers about recommended tick control practices are discussed, along with the integration of currently available options for the management of drug resistance and, ultimately, the control of cattle ticks.
Cattle that are not eligible for private IFN-GAMMA testing include: * Cattle from herds under restriction that are undergoing government IFN-GAMMA blood testing; * Skin test-positive and other cattle ...awaiting slaughter for TB control purposes; * Animals in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland at the time of testing; * Herds under restrictions for overdue tuberculin skin tests; and * Cattle that are under six months of age.
Gastrointestinal disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most important diseases of young ruminant livestock, particularly neonatal calves. Infected animals ...may suffer from profuse watery diarrhoea, dehydration and in severe cases death can occur. At present, effective therapeutic and preventative measures are not available and a better understanding of the host-pathogen interactions is required. Cryptosporidium parvum is also an important zoonotic pathogen causing severe disease in people, with young children being particularly vulnerable. Our knowledge of the immune responses induced by Cryptosporidium parasites in clinically relevant hosts is very limited. This review discusses the impact of bovine cryptosporidiosis and describes how a thorough understanding of the host-pathogen interactions may help to identify novel prevention and control strategies.
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