• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.899-907
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• 2023

Objective: The better understanding of laying pattern of birds is crucial for developing breed-specific proper breeding scheme and management. Methods: Daily egg production until 50 wk of age of six chicken breeds including one layer (White Leghorn, WL), three dual-purpose (Rhode Island Red, RIR; Columbian Plymouth Rock, CR; and Barred Plymouth Rock, BR), one synthetic dwarf (DY), and one indigenous (Beijing-You Chicken, BYC) were used to characterize their clutch traits and egg production. The age at first egg, egg number, average and maximum clutch length, pause length, and number of clutches and pauses were calculated accordingly. Results: The egg number and average clutch length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR were higher than those in DY and BYC (p<0.01). The numbers of clutches and pauses, and pause length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR were lower than those in DY and BYC (p<0.01). The coefficient variations of clutch length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR (57.66%, 66.49%, 64.22%, and 55.35%, respectively) were higher than DY (41.84%) and BYC (36.29%), while the coefficient variations of egg number in WL, RIR, CR, and BR (9.10%, 9.97%, 10.82%, and 9.92%) were lower than DY (15.84%) and BYC (16.85%). The clutch length was positively correlated with egg number (r = 0.51 to 0.66; p<0.01), but not correlated with age at first egg in all breeds. Conclusion: The six breeds showed significant different clutch and egg production traits. Due to the selection history, the high and median productive layer breeds had higher clutch length than those of the less productive indigenous BYC. The clutch length is a proper selection criterion for further progress in egg production. The age at first egg, which is independent of clutch traits, is especially encouraged to be improved by selection in the BYC breed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1123-1133
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• 2021

Objective: Shandong indigenous pig breeds are important Chinese pig resources. Their progressive population decline in recent decades has attracted attention towards their conservation. Conservation genetics of these indigenous breeds are essential for developing a conservation and utilization scheme. Methods: A high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (HD-SNP) chip-based comparative analysis of genetic characteristics was performed for seven Shandong indigenous pig breeds in the context of five Western commercial breeds. Results: The results showed that Shandong indigenous pig breeds varied greatly in genetic diversity, effective population size, inbreeding level, and genetic distance with the Western commercial breeds. Specifically, Laiwu and Dapulian displayed low genetic diversity, and had a genetically distant relationship with the Western commercial breeds (average F statistics [F_ST] value of 0.3226 and 0.2666, respectively). Contrastingly, the other five breeds (Yantai, Licha, Yimeng, Wulain, and Heigai) displayed high genetic diversity within breed and had some extent of mixture pattern with the Western commercial breeds, especially Duroc and Landrace (F_ST values from 0.1043 to 0.2536). Furthermore, intensive gene flow was discovered among the seven Shandong indigenous breeds, particularly Wulian, Licha, and Heigai, as indicated by the large cluster formed in the principal component analysis scatterplot and small population differentiation (average of 0.1253) among them. Conclusion: Our study advances the understanding of genetic characteristics of Shandong indigenous breeds and provides essential information for developing an appropriate conservation and utilization scheme for these breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.772-784
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• 2012

Marker-assisted gene pyramiding aims to produce individuals with superior economic traits according to the optimal breeding scheme which involves selecting a series of favorite target alleles after cross of base populations and pyramiding them into a single genotype. Inspired by the science of evolutionary computation, we used the metaphor of hill-climbing to model the dynamic behavior of gene pyramiding. In consideration of the traditional cross program of animals along with the features of animal segregating populations, four types of cross programs and two types of selection strategies for gene pyramiding are performed from a practical perspective. Two population cross for pyramiding two genes (denoted II), three population cascading cross for pyramiding three genes(denoted III), four population symmetry (denoted IIII-S) and cascading cross for pyramiding four genes (denoted IIII-C), and various schemes (denoted cross program-A-E) are designed for each cross program given different levels of initial favorite allele frequencies, base population sizes and trait heritabilities. The process of gene pyramiding breeding for various schemes are simulated and compared based on the population hamming distance, average superior genotype frequencies and average phenotypic values. By simulation, the results show that the larger base population size and the higher the initial favorite allele frequency the higher the efficiency of gene pyramiding. Parents cross order is shown to be the most important factor in a cascading cross, but has no significant influence on the symmetric cross. The results also show that genotypic selection strategy is superior to phenotypic selection in accelerating gene pyramiding. Moreover, the method and corresponding software was used to compare different cross schemes and selection strategies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1088-1096
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• 2008

Data from milk performance testing were used to analyze genetic and environmental trends for purebred Tsigai, Improved Valachian and Lacaune sheep. 103,715 (Tsigai), 212,962 (Improved Valachian) and 2,196 (Lacaune) test-day records gathered by the State Breeding Institute of the Slovak Republic entered the analyses. The respective pedigree data comprised 23,724 (Tsigai), 51,401 (Improved Valachian) and 438 (Lacaune) records. The multiple-trait, mixed model methodology was used to predict the breeding values for daily milk yield, fat and protein content and to estimate the fixed and remaining random effects assumed to affect the above mentioned traits, separately for each breed. The breeding values for daily milk yield were adjusted for 150-day standardized lactation length by multiplying with the constant 150, as the breeding goal of the selection scheme in Slovakian sheep is to increase 150-day milk production and constant heritability throughout the whole lactation is assumed. The genetic trends were expressed as changes in averages of breeding values across birth years of animals. For Tsigai and Lacaune breeds, cumulative genetic changes over the analyzed period were 3.8 and 5.1 kg for 150-day milk, 0 and -0.16% for fat content and 0 and -0.12% for protein content. For Improved Valachian breed, either a low (1.6 kg for 150-day milk yield) or zero (fat and protein content) cumulative genetic change was found. The environmental trends were calculated as averages of solutions for flock-test day effect across years and months in which measurements were taken. A distinctive cyclical pattern which reflected short-time variation in milk production traits was found. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are given and discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1244-1251
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• 2015

A herd of Berkshire pigs was established in 2003 and subjected to selection without introduction of any genetic resources until 2007. The complete pedigree, including 410 boars and 916 sows, as well as the records from 5,845 pigs and 822 litters were used to investigate the results obtained from the selections. The index of selection for breeding values included days to 90 kg (D90kg), backfat thickness (BF) and number of piglets born alive (NBA). The average inbreeding coefficients of pigs were found to be 0.023, 0.008, 0.013, 0.025, 0.026, and 0.005 from 2003 to 2007, respectively. The genetic gains per year were 12.1 g, -0.04 mm, -3.13 days, and 0.181 head for average daily gain (ADG), BF, D90kg, and NBA, respectively. Breeding values of ADG, BF and D90kg were not significantly correlated with inbreeding coefficients of individuals, except for NBA (-0.21). The response per additional 1% of inbreeding was 0.0278 head reduction in NBA. The annual increase of inbreeding was 0.23% and the annual decrease in NBA due to inbreeding was 0.0064 head. This magnitude could be disregarded when compared with the annual gain in NBA (0.181 head). These results suggest that inbreeding and inbreeding depression on ordinary farms can be controlled with a proper breeding scheme and that breeding programs are economical and safe relative to the risks associated with importation of pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1387-1392
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• 2018

Objective: In a nucleus breeding scheme, the sire of dam's pathway plays an important role in producing genetic improvement. Selection proportion is the key parameter for predicting selection intensity, through truncating the normal distribution. Semen sexing using flow cytometry reduces the number of vials of sperm that can be obtained from a proved bull. In addition, a lower fertility of this kind of sperm is expected because of the lower sperm dosage in sex sorted semen. Both of these factors could affect the selection proportion in the sire of dam's pathway ($p_{SD}$). Methods: In the current study, through a deterministic simulation, effect of utilizing sex sorted semen on selection ($p_{SD}$) was investigated in three different strategies including 1: continuous use of sex sorted semen in heifers (CS), 2: the use of sex sorted semen for the first two (S2) and 3: the first (S1) inseminations followed by conventional semen. Results: Results indicated that the use of sex sorted semen has a negative impact on the sire of dams (SD) pathway due to increase in selection proportion. Consequently selection intensity was decreased by 10.24 to 20.57, 6.38 to 8.87 and 3.76 to 6.25 percent in the CS, S2, and S1 strategies, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the low effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in dam pathways, it is necessary to consider the joint effect of using sex sorted semen on the sire and dams pathway to estimate about the real effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in a nucleus breeding scheme.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.343-346
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• 2000

Rye breeding using F$_1$ hybrid began about 30 years ago, when cytoplasmically inherited forms of male sterility (CMS) and corresponding nuclear restorers were detected. It is very important to produce inbred lines for making hybrid lines because of strong self-incompatibility in rye. Among the 456 rye germplasms used in hybrid breeding scheme, 24 lines (5.3%) had the above 60% of self-fertility, and six lines of them were selected for their good agronomic characteristics and were used for subsequent inbreeding program. The average self-fertility of selected six lines was 78.4%, ranging from 72.2 to 99.5%. Genetic analysis for the self-fertility using $F_2$ populations showed that the segregation of self-fertile and sterile plants in F$_2$populations could be fit into 3 to 1 ratio suggesting self-fertility in rye be controlled by one major gene. The four different self-fertile lines, PI237923, 5C11, 5G5 and Florida black, had the same self-fertility gene because their F$_2$ plants showed almost the same self-fertility as their parents and showed no genetic segregation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 2009

Reproductive abilities in beef cattle herds are receiving increased attention due to recent rises in production costs. To achieve more efficient management, a measure of fertility, namely the number of calves produced at k yr of age ($NCP_k$), was developed and its genetic parameters were estimated from Japanese Black cows by restricted maximum likelihood procedures. The k examined were distributed from 2 to 10 yr of age and $NCP_2$ averaged 1.077 calves over 43,536 cows. The averages increased by approximately 0.9 calf with each additional 1 yr increment in k. Heritabilities of $NCP_k$ were estimated to be low ranging from 0.083 to 0.162, which seemingly suggested a difficulty of genetic improvement. However, large genetic variation and high accuracy were observed in predicted breeding values of $NCP_k$. For example, the breeding values of $NCP_7$ were predicted between -0.303 and +0.213 with average accuracy of 0.607 for cows with observations. Genetic correlations among different k were generally high and positive (0.474 to 0.995). The analyses showed that at least $NCP_4$ was required to maintain the genetic correlations of 0.8 or higher with subsequent $NCP_k$. Also $NCP_5$ maintained the genetic correlations of 0.9 or higher with subsequent $NCP_k$ The results suggested some possibilities for $NCP_k$ to be a selection criterion considering its genetic variation, high accuracy and consistency with subsequent performance.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.210-221
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• 2020

Since the introduction of Israeli carp into Korea for farming in 1973, there are no breeding studies on developing Korea Israeli carp (domestic) so far. This study performed gene-based cross-breeding studies to restore genetic diversity of lowered Israeli carp through continuous inbreeding, and for rapid growth and better scales. This study produced four cross-breeding groups (F1) using Koean Israeli carp and Chinese Songpu mirror carp for the improvement of growth and scale of Israeli carp in Korea. And mating scheme for breeding groups was set in consideration of the morphological analysis and genetic distance of broodstock. In addition, this study used microsatellite markers and genotype data to analyze genetic diversity and parentage analysis. As a result, the average N_A and H_E values of Korean select broodstock are 8.3 and 0.743, and F1 is 13.0 and 0.764. This study shows that the genetic diversity of F1 has been recovered over Korean Israeli carp through breeding between Korean Israeli carp and Chinese Songpu mirror carp. Common Israeli carp in Korea reached 1.7 kg in 17 months, and improved Israeli carp reached to 2.2 kg. The KC (Korea×China, KC) group was 2.52 and broodstock group was 3.15. F1 showed lower scale score (0.63) than broodstock. The improved carp (F1; CK, KC) had 20% better scales than the parent group (F0), which improved 27% in weight and 25% in scales compared to common Israeli carp. The Israeli carp developed by the genetics-based breeding grew quicker and had improved genetic diversity and fewer scales, which will be of great value for Korean Israeli aquaculture industry due to good marketability.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.6-11
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• 2018

In the Republic of Belarus as well as in the world acute problem of protecting forests from diseases and pests. The damage caused by root rot is essential, therefore, the problem of forest protection is an urgent task. The biologics has the greatest prospects in according with traditional methods of struggle. Deep method of cultivation of a mushroom Phlebiopsis gigantea with use of nutrient mediums on the basis of ethanol stillage and its components (fugat) is researched. Feasibility of use stillage as raw materials in production of a biological product for the wood protection against root decay is shown. The effect of different additives (sawdust, fodder yeast) on the accumulation of reactive biological product - oidy has been studed It was determined that the deep cultivation using sawdust of the highest accumulation oidy (1.5 $10^6units/ml$). It was also found that the stillage is the best breeding ground for fungus biomass accumulation (7.9 9.8 g / l) versus fugat (6.0 6.6 g / l). On the basis of research work the technological scheme for production of a biological product were developed. Based on the conducted studies, a technological scheme was proposed for obtaining a biological preparation by deep cultivation of the fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea.