Abstract: Genotype data from 20 microsatellites typed in 253 animals is used here to assess the genetic structure of seven European pedigree cattle breeds. Estimation of genetic subdivision using classical drift-based measures shows that the average proportion of genetic variation among breeds varies between 10 and 11% of the total, depending on the estimator used. We demonstrate that a simple allele-sharing genetic distance parameter can be used to construct a dendrogram of relationships among animals. This phylogenetic tree displays a remarkable degree of breed clustering and reflects an extensive underlying kinship structure, particularly for the Swiss Simmental breed and four breeds originating from the British Isles. Condensation of allele frequencies and individual genotypic compositions using principal component analysis is also used to investigate genetic structure among breeds and individual animals. In addition, the underlying genetic demarcation of European cattle breeds is emphasized in simulations of breed assignment using allele frequency distributions from samples of microsatellite loci. Correct breed designation can be inferred with accuracies approaching 100% using data from a panel of 10 microsatellite loci.

Abstract: Five indigenous Spanish breeds of sheep, Churra, Latxa, Manchega, Rasa-Aragonesa and Merino, with Awassi sheep as a reference breed were genotyped for 19 DNA microsatellites. Allele frequencies and mean heterozygosities revealed the greatest genetic variation in Merino sheep and the lowest in Awassis. Differences in variability were not great in the other breeds studied. The dendrograms obtained based on genetic distances showed a large differentiation between Awassi sheep and the Spanish breeds, as was to be expected from their distinct genetic origin. Merinos appeared separated from the other four breeds, of which, according to a classification based on the fleece characteristics, Churra and Latxa belong to the churro type and Manchega and Rasa-Aragonesa to the so called entrefino type, though no clear separation was evident between the two types. These results suggest that morphological data alone are insufficient for determining relationships between breeds and that studies involving genetic markers may be of great assistance.

Abstract: Objectives of the study were to 1) describe body composition and composition of gain of crossbred steers sired by Angus, Hereford, Belgian Blue, or Piedmontese sires from Angus, Hereford, or MARC III dams and 2) determine the influence of sire and dam type on energy utilization during the finishing period. Beginning at 330 kg, 70 steers were adjusted to a high-corn diet and individual feeding. Steers were assigned, by sire and dam breed, to be killed as an initial slaughter group or fed either a limited amount or ad libitum for 140 d, then killed. Organ weights, carcass traits, and body composition were obtained. Effects included in the statistical model were nutritional treatment (T), sire breed (S), dam breed (D), and the S x T and D x T interactions. All traits were influenced (P .10) regressions of heat production on ME intake. Fasting heat production and maintenance were estimated to be 80.6 and 124.4 kcal ME/(kgx75xd). The nonlinear relationship between energy gain (Y, kcal/[kgx75xd]) and ME intake (X, kcal/[kgx75xd]) was Y = 74.69 x (1 - 2.60 x exp(-.0159x(ME - 80.597))), and indicated energy gain approached an asymptote (74.69) as ME intake increased. This relationship also implies that efficiency of ME use for gain decreased as ME intake increased.

Abstract: 1. Individuals are expected to balance the costs and benefits underlying the trade-off between current and future reproduction. If starting to breed does not seriously lower future reproductive output, individuals that start breeding early in their life should have a higher fitness than individuals that postpone their breeding career. We studied how the fluctuations in food supply interacted with Ural owl’s age at first breeding, lifetime reproductive success (LRS) and fitness. 2. During the period 1977–95, 126 Ural owl females started and ended their breeding career in a study area in southern Finland. Voles, the owls’ main food source, showeda 3-year cycle of low, increase and peak population numbers. We recorded when the females started to breed and how many fledglings they produced. For 57 females the age at first breeding was known. 3. LRS of female Ural owls varied from 0 to 33 fledglings (mean 6.7±0.52 SE). The variance in LRS was explained by variation in the components: breeding lifespan (97%); nest success (23%); and average clutch size (15%). 4. Survival of breeding females was low (62%) after a peak year, when the vole population crashed. In other phases the survival was 85–95%. Females that started breeding in a peak year had half the LRS of females that started in an increase year. 5. There was a strong interaction between the vole cycle and age at first breeding. 1-year-olds started in a peak and 2-year-olds in an increase year. 6. There was no effect of age at first breeding on LRS for females that started breeding in the same phase of the vole cycle. 7. Females that started breeding at age 1–3 years had equal fitness, whereas females that started at age ≥4 had a lower fitness. Females that postponed first breeding as a two-year-old in an increase year had a lower fitness than females that did not do so. Females that postponed first breeding as a 1-year-old in a peak year had equal fitness to females that did not do so. 8. Cyclic fluctuation in food supply clearly constrains the option as to during what phase and at what age to start breeding. In terms of fitness, the optimal age to start breeding depends on the phase of the vole cycle at hatching.

Abstract: We evaluated heifers crossbred from seven breeds of sires (Hereford, Angus, Belgian Blue, Piedmontese, Brahman, Boran, and Tuli) and three breeds of dams (Angus, Hereford, and MARC III [four-breed composite]). Heifers were mated to Red Poll sires to calve at 2 yr of age. Heifers were placed in two treatments from weaning to breeding and raised on a high nutrition level (15.8 Mcal ME/d) or on 80% of the high nutrition level (12.6 Mcal ME/d). Breeds differed in the age of the heifers at parturition (P = .03). Birth weights of calves differed by maternal grandsire (P < .001) but not by heifer treatment (P = .91) or maternal grandam (P = .19). Heifers differed in their postpartum interval to estrus by sire breed (P = .001). Calf age at weaning (P = .02), calf ADG (P < .001), and 205-d weight (P < .001) differed between breeds of maternal grandsires. Milk production from 50 to 200 d of lactation was greatest for heifers of Belgian Blue (1,070 +/- 30 kg) and Brahman (1,029 +/- 38 kg) sires. Milk production did not differ with treatment group (P = .84). This study suggests that over a diverse group of breeds, accelerated rates of gain during the postweaning period within the ranges of this study do not result in increased production efficiency of the cows.

Abstract: Twelve models were fitted to early growth data of two Swiss sheep breeds to investigate their suitability for evaluation of breeding values. Models were identical for fixed parity, litter size, sex and lambing season effects, random flock-year, and direct genetic effects but differed for combinations of random litter, permanent environmental, ram-flock, and maternal genetic effects. Records of average daily gain to 30 d of 25,564 lambs of the Black-Brown Mountain Sheep (SBS) and of 26,391 lambs of the White Alpine Sheep (WAS) born 1989 to 1995 and their pedigrees were available. A single-trait animal model was fitted by the restricted maximum likelihood method. The information criterion of a particular model (i.e., the maximum of the likelihood function adjusted for the number of independently estimated parameters) was used to evaluate the models for their fitting power. The litter effect accounted for between 26 and 31% of the phenotypic variance, with little variation within breed. Models containing the ram-flock effect provided a better fit of the data than otherwise identical models. This effect contributed 6 and 4% to the phenotypic variance in the two breeds and strongly influenced estimates of other components. The proportion of phenotypic variance due to the flock-year effect was 23 and 25% without and 19 and 23% including the ram-flock effect in the model in the two breeds. Including permanent environmental effect of the ewe in addition to litter effect led to a better fit of the data. Depending on the model, it then contributed between 3 and 6% to the phenotypic variance. Fitting the ram-flock effect reduced heritability considerably and increased the breed difference of the estimates of this parameter. Estimates ranging from .16 to .10 and from .08 to .14 were obtained for the SBS and WAS breeds, respectively. For models without the ram-flock effect, negative estimates of the direct-maternal correlation of between -.38 and -.45 were observed. Including the ram-flock effect reduced this correlation substantially to between -.08 and -.17. Including the direct-maternal covariance in addition to the ram-flock effect did not improve the fit any further in either breed. Ranking of the models investigated differed between breeds, but the same model provided the best fit. It contained the random litter, permanent environmental, ram-flock, direct, and maternal genetic effects, but not the covariance between the last two.

Abstract: Objective To analyze selected breed-related data for canine urinary calculi. Sample population 11,000 specimens: 5,781 from female dogs, 5,215 from males, and 4 from dogs of unrecorded sex. Procedure Information was compiled for all canine urinary calculi submitted between July 1981 and January 1994. Results for a mixed-breed group and 26 of the most common breeds of stone-forming dogs were analyzed. Interrelations of breed, sex, and age of affected dogs and mineral composition of the specimens were determined. Results Prevalence of 5 specific mineral types was significantly correlated between the sexes of 27 common breed groups: struvite, calcium phosphate (apatite), calcium oxalate, brushite, and urate. Struvite-containing calculi were seen in high proportions in both sexes of 7 breeds, and in low proportions in both sexes of 7 other breeds. Male and female Lhasa Apsos, Cairn Terriers, and 5 other breeds had high proportions of oxalate-containing calculi; values in males were substantially higher. Low numbers of oxalate-containing calculi were seen in both sexes of 7 breeds; Dalmatians had the lowest numbers. Males and females of 6 breeds had high numbers of urate-containing calculi, Dalmatians and English Bulldogs had the highest numbers. Low amounts of urate were found in calculi from males and females of 6 breeds, Samoyeds had the lowest numbers. Highest proportions of cystine-containing calculi were seen in male Dachshunds, English Bulldogs, and Chihuahuas. Males of 8 breeds had no specimens that contained cystine; only 2 such specimens were obtained from females. Conclusions Prevalence of uroliths differs among breed, age, and sex of affected dogs. Clinical relevance Breed, sex, and age of dogs; mineral types of calculi in males versus females; and their anatomic location within the tract are important considerations for clinicians when evaluating risk in dogs with urolithiasis and in identifying areas that need further in-depth applied or clinical investigation, or both.

Abstract: An abattoir survey of sheep and goats was carried out in The Gambia for one year. A total of 1248 goats and 438 sheep, predominantly young females, were slaughtered and sampled. Sixty per cent of the females of both species were pregnant. There were no significant differences between the dressing percentages of different breeds and age groups. Sex and stage of pregnancy had a significant influence on carcase yields in both species. In goats the highest carcase yields were obtained during the early dry season. Most of the animals were clinically healthy and there were few pathological findings postmortem. In both species, there was a seasonal fluctuation of packed cell volume (Pcv), with a minimum during the rains, and although the prevalence of trypanosomiasis was low it reduced the PCV. Faecal egg counts of Trichostrongylidae were highest during the rainy season and goats had higher faecal egg and coccidial oocyst counts than sheep. In sheep, a breed difference was observed for PCV and an age difference for egg excretion. The peak or higher rates of egg excretion occurred during the rains in both species. The immune status against peste des petits ruminants was significantly lower in goats (39 per cent) than in sheep (49.5 per cent). Antibodies against bluetongue virus were found in 62.6 per cent of goats and 55.8 per cent of sheep.

Abstract: An analysis has been carried out of over 88000 calving survey records for bulls of eight beef breeds tested in commercial dairy herds in England and Wales. The data were collected from 1981 to 1993. The traits analysed were the degree of difficulty at calving, assessed from no difficulty to serious difficulty, calf mortality to 48 h, gestation length, and subjective assessments of calf size and conformation.Major sire breeds in the survey were the Hereford (30070 records, 93 sires), Charolais (25816 records, 105 sires) and the Limousin (15420 records, 55 sires). Other sire breeds were Belgian Blue (5391 records, 24 sires), Simmental (3864 records, 19 sires), Aberdeen Angus (2886 records, 12 sires), Piedmontese (2423 records, 7 sires) and the Blonde d'Aquitaine (2271 records, 8 sires).Information was routinely recorded on cow age (heifer or mature), sex of the calf, and the year and month of the calving, while cow size and the regional location of the herd were also recorded in later years.Heifers had more difficult calvings, higher calf losses and shorter gestations than mature cows (all P < 0·05) Seriously difficult calvings and calf mortality were higher for male calves, which were also larger and had better conformation than heifer calves (P < 0·05).Sire breed effects were significant for all traits, although sire breed ranking for calving ease was different for cow and heifer calvings and some interactions involving sire breed were also significant. For cow calvings, the easiest calving breeds were the Hereford (1·1%) and the Aberdeen Angus (1·4%), while the Charolais (4·3%), Blonde d'Aquitaine (3·7%) and Simmental (3·1%) had most difficult calvings.Gestation length differed between sire breeds, from Aberdeen Angus (281·0 days) and Hereford (282·7 days) up to the Limousin (288·1 days) and the Blonde d'Aquitaine (289·0 days). For calf size and conformation, the Simmental, Charolais and Blonde d'Aquitaine were the best.In general, summer months were associated with lower incidences of difficult calvings, lower losses and shorter gestations.Large cows had calves which were larger and of better conformation than small or medium cows, but large cows also had longer gestations, more difficult calvings and poorer calf survival (all P < 0·05).Statistical models are discussed that should be used for the genetic evaluation of calving survey traits, when beef bulls are to be used in dairy herds in the United Kingdom.

Abstract: In the present investigation we studied the seasonal changes in live weight and testes and pituitary activity in Merino and Corriedale rams in a subtropical climate. Testes activity was measured as scrotal circumference (SC), plasma concentration of testosterone (T) and release of testosterone after exogenous GnRH injection. LH pulsatility and pituitary LH responsiveness to exogenous GnRH was measured as an index of pituitary activity. In addition, we wanted to characterize the seasonal pattern of thyroxine (T4) secretion and the 24 h secretory pattern of melatonin (M) at the winter and summer solstices in the 2 breeds. Nine Corriedale and 7 Merino adult (4-6 years) rams were kept on native pasture and managed in one group. Twice a month live weight (LW) and scrotal circumference (SC) were measured. To monitor plasma concentration of testosterone (T), and thyroxine (T4), 5 animals of each breed were bled every month except during autumn (March-May), when blood samples were collected with 15 day intervals and in spring (October) with 10 day intervals. To monitor pulsatile LH secretion, 3 rams of each breed were bled at 15 min intervals for 6 h at the winter and summer solstices and spring and autumn equinoxes. Pituitary LH and testicular testosterone response to GnRH injection was performed bimonthly from 2 animals of each breed. No effect of breed was found on any of the variables investigated. An interaction between breed and sampling date was found in LW (p < 0.001) and total T response after GnRH challenge (p < 0.001). Sampling date had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on all the variables studied. In both breeds SC decreased during autumn and increased during spring with minimum T concentrations in late autumn and maximum in mid-summer/early autumn. The lowest (p < 0.05) number of LH pulses were observed in winter (June) and the highest (p < 0.05) in early autumn (March). The highest LH and testosterone response to GnRH challenge was observed in autumn (April) (p < 0.05) in both breeds. Baseline concentrations of M were similar in both breeds at the winter and summer solstices and high concentrations were observed during the dark period on both occasions. In both breeds thyroxine was high at the end of winter/spring (February-April) and low from the end of summer to mid-autumn (August-November). The results show that Corriedale and Merino rams under subtropical conditions have annual reproductive cycles. There was an association (p < 0.001) between changes in LW and SC in the 2 breeds and this relationship was stronger in Merino rams (R2 = 0.68) than in Corriedale (R2 = 0.33) which indicates that nutritional factors may have more influence on the reproductive cycle of Merino than Corriedale rams.

Abstract: Genetic differentiation among Hereford populations from Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand together with six other beef breeds was assessed using blood type polymorphisms. Changes in the genetic structure of the British Hereford population over time were also examined. Loci surveyed were seven red cell antigen systems (A, B, C, F, L, S, Z), and two serum protein loci (transferrin and albumin). Within group variation was measured by the average expected heterozygosity, and between group relationships by genetic distance. There was significant genetic differentiation among Hereford populations from different countries. Differences between Hereford groups, however, were not as large as differences between breeds. There were also significance differences among British herds. The proportion of Canadian genes in the British 'hybrid' population was estimated to have increased from 0.42 (+/- 0.34) in the 1970s to 0.98 (+/- 0.11) in the 1990s. Canadian Hereford groups were found to be less heterozygous than other groups, and replacement of the British population with Canadian animals may lead to loss of variation. Breeding strategies that preserve original native genes in British Hereford populations should be considered by commercial breeders, in order to prevent the long-term loss of genetic variation within the breed.

Abstract: Forty-eight Hereford and 60 Simmental steers were used to evaluate breed differences as affected by dietary energy content on growth performance, carcass and chemical composition, and beef quality. Diets were based on corn silage, alfalfa haylage, whole corn, and SBM and were formulated to provide 2.52 to 2.81 Mcal kg−1 ME and 11.7 to 12.6% protein in the growing phase and 2.69 to 2.86 Mcal kg−1 ME and 9.7 to 10.4% protein in the finishing phase. Low- and high-ener-gy diets were formulated for each breed with the high-energy diet for Hereford serving as the low-energy diet for Simmental. Steers were slaughtered after attaining 8 to 10 mm backfat determined by ultrasound. Higher energy diets increased (P < 0.09) average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency within both breeds. Hereford gained more rapidly (P = 0.074) and were more (P = 0.001) efficient in converting feed to gain than Simmental. High-energy diets decreased (P = 0.001) days on feed for both breeds and increased (P = 0.001) carcass weights for...

Abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate the dominance variance for postweaning gain in Limousin cattle. Data included 215,326 records of postweaning gain from 205 to 365 d, provided by the North American Limousin Foundation. Parental dominance subclasses were formed and related using the method of Hoeschele and VanRaden. Variance components were estimated using Method R based on six samples of 50%. Fixed effects in the model included contemporary group and covariates for inbreeding and breed composition (percentage Limousin). Heterozygosity was negatively correlated with breed composition (< -.99) and was therefore not included in the model. Two types of contemporary groups used as original groups from the National Cattle Evaluation were partially based on breed composition. Original contemporary groups that were too homogeneous for breed composition were replaced by herd-year-sex classes. Two models were used with the two data sets. Model 1 contained the fixed effects described above and an additive genetic effect. Model 2 included a dominance effect in addition to the effects contained in Model 1. In total, four combinations of contemporary group × model were used. Dominance variance was computed as being four times the estimated parental subclass variance. Estimates for inbreeding depression and breed composition (percentage Limousin) were all small and not greatly affected by inclusion of dominance effects or changes in contemporary groups. Estimates of the additive variance (expressed as percentage of the phenotypic variance) were only slightly affected, with values between 20 and 21%. Dominance estimates were highly affected when passing from original (10%) and to alternative contemporary groups (18%). Such large values may indicate that dominance is important for postweaning gain. Results showed the advantage of an individual dominance approach based on sire-dam combinations; therefore, expected gains through the use of specific combination ability as a part of the mating selection criteria for growth might be high.

Abstract: Cattle breeds of African, European and Indian origins are being evaluated at Rockhampton for their suitability for beef production in northern Australia. In the current study, Belmont Adaptaur (HS), Belmont Red (AX) and Belmont BX (BX) dams were mated to produce straightbreds and crossbred progeny by Brahman (B), Boran (Bo) and Tuli (Tu) sires. B dams were mated to produce straightbreds and crossbred progeny by AX, BX, Bo, Charolais (Ch), HS and Tu sires. This paper reports values for heterosis for some crosses and live weights on pasture for some straightbred and crossbred genotypes at birth, at weaning and at 18 months.Heterosis for birth weights was greatest for taurine dam breed × indicine sire breed, generally negative for the reciprocal cross and markedly less for Tu-sired than for B- or Bo-sired progeny. Heterosis was not estimated for Bo and Tu crosses at weaning or at 18 months. At these ages, heterosis for growth includes a component related to resistance to environmental stresses. Thus, heterosis was then greater for B crossbreds derived from the less resistant HS than from the more resistant AX.There were significant differences between genotypes in live weights at each age. Progeny by B sires from taurine dams had higher live weights than progeny by Bo or Tu sires. Evidence is presented that strongly indicates that the difference in growth rates between the B- and Bo-sired progeny arose entirely from differences in mature live weights of the B and Bo, not from differences in efficiency of growth of their crossbred progeny. Similarly, live weights of progeny by taurine sires from B dams ranked according to the mature live weights of the sire breeds. Thus, the Ch- and Tu-sired progeny had the highest and lowest live weights at all ages respectively. Comparative growth potentials of the indicine sire breeds were estimated by comparing 18-month live weights of progeny from HS dams. Relative to Bo = 100, growth potential of B = 205. Similarly, growth potentials of the taurine sire breeds were estimated from progeny from B dams. Relative to Tu = 100, the estimates were HS = 104, AX = 111 and Ch = 117. Crossbred progeny by B and Bo sires were generally significantly heavier at all ages than the corresponding straightbreds. However, Tu-sired progeny had similar birth weights too, but generally higher weaning and 18-month live weights than, the corresponding straightbreds. Relatively low birth weight and low heterosis for birth weight identify the Tu as a potentially useful sire breed when an increase in birth weight of crossbreds is undesirable.Within each dam breed, no straightbred could match the growth rate of the best crossbred. At 18 months this advantage was proportionately 0·21, 0·09, 0·05 and 0·16 over that of the straightbred HS, AX, BX and B respectively. Live weight of every crossbred based on B dams exceeded that of the straightbred B, the most populous breed in northern Australia. Thus, increases in growth rates could be achieved by crossbreeding irrespective of the base breed. Live weights at 18 month for progeny of Bo, Tu and AX sires from B dams, all of which exceeded those of the straightbred B, suggest that the African breeds can be used to complement the B in crossbreeding programmes in northern Australia.

Abstract: Birth weights of Boer (BO) sired kids were 9% higher than Alpine (AL) sired kids. Weaning, 160 d weight and preweaning average daily gain (ADG) were similar for the AL × AL, AL × SA and BO × AL. Breed of dam was significant (P < 0.02) for birth, weaning, 100-d weight, and preweaning ADG. Similar dressing percentage (DP) and ribeye muscle area (REA) were observed among AL × AL, AL × SP, and BO × SP crosses. Key words: Crossbreeding, Boer, Alpine, growth, carcass, ultrasound

Abstract: Diet botanical composition, fecal nitrogen percent, and fecal phosphorus percent were determined seasonally during 1991 and 1992 for 3 cattle breeds (Barzona, Brangus, Beefmaster) grazing late-seral Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in southcentral New Mexico. These 3 cattle breeds are considered to be well adapted to harsh environments. Cattle breed main effect was non-significant (P > 0.05) for diet botanical composition. However, season main effects (P < 0.05) did occur for some diet botanical composition components. Total grasses in cattle diets were highest in January and lowest in June. Dropseeds (Sporobolus sp.), black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda Torr.), and threeawns (Aristida sp.) were the primary grasses consumed by cattle. Forb consumption was highest in June lowest in January. Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) consumption by cattle was highest in August and lowest in January. It was the primary shrub in cattle diets. Breed X season interactions (P < 0.05) occurred for a few diet botanical composition components, but the small magnitude of the values and lack of consistency prevented drawing definite management implications. Fecal nitrogen values showed differences (P < 0.05) among breeds in some seasons. However due to lack of consistency no definite conclusions could be drawn regarding superiority of 1 breed compared to another in diet nutritional quality. Both fecal nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations showed cattle diets to be lowest in quality in winter and highest in summer. From a practical standpoint, this study showed no definite advantage of any breed studied in diet botanical composition or in diet quality.

Abstract: Objective To determine typical alterations in acid-base balance and serum electrolyte concentrations in cattle grouped on the basis of age, breed type, hydration status, clinical signs, and underlying disease. Design Retrospective study. Animals 632 cattle. Procedure Information on blood pH, Pvo 2 , Pvco 2 , HCO 3 − concentration, and base excess (BE) as well as serum or plasma sodium, potassium, chloride, and total carbon dioxide concentrations was obtained. Values for calves (ie, cattle ≥ 1 month old) were compared with values for cattle ≥ 1 month old. Within each age-group, values were compared for cattle grouped on the basis of breed type, previous treatment, and hydration status. Proportions of cattle with various disorders for which values were within, greater than, or less than reference ranges were determined. Results BE, pH, and HCO 3 − concentration were significantly higher and Pvco 2 and sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations were significantly lower among cattle ≥ 1 month old than calves. Base excess and HCO 3 - concentration were significantly lower among dairy than beef calves. Sodium and potassium concentrations were significantly lower among dairy than beef cattle ≥ 1 month old. A higher proportion of cattle that did not survive had a high anion gap than cattle that did survive. Sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations were significantly lower among dehydrated cattle than cattle that were not dehydrated. Clinical Implications Because certain alterations were consistently found in some groups of cattle, it may be possible to make reasonable predictions of alterations in acid-base balance and serum electrolyte concentrations when laboratory evaluations are not available. ( J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998;212:1769–1775)