• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.4
• /
• pp.114-118
• /
• 1986

The study was conducted to find out the gene effects on litter size and birth weights in mice with 362 progenies from full-diallel crosses of four lines of BALB/c, CBA, C3H and C57BL. The progenies were farrowed at the Experimental Animal Farm, College of Agriculture, Kyungpook National University in November, 1984, and data were analyzed into general combining ability, specific combining ability and reciprocal effects with Griffing's model. General combining ability effects estimated in line-crosses were -0.4163~0.3337 for litter size and -0.0356~0.0894 for birth weights. However, no significant differences were observed in general combining ability effects on litter size and birth weights. Specific combining ability effects estimated in line-crosses were -1.0388~1.7913 for litter size and -0.1144~0.1343 for birth weights. However, the specific combining ability effects for litter size and birth weights appeared to be insignificant. The reciprocal effects, which appeared to be significant, were -2.26 from BALB/c ${\times}$ C3H, 1.84 from CBA ${\times}$ C57BL and -1.50 from BALB/c ${\times}$ CBA for litter size. For birth weights, the reciprocal effects were estimated -0.26 from CBA ${\times}$ C57BL, 0.15 from BALB/c ${\times}$ CBA and -0.15 from BALB/c ${\times}$ C57BL.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.281-285
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to find out the changes on serum concentrations of estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone in primiparous Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire sows weaned at 7 or 21 days. Also, we compared the litter size at birth and weaning among the breeds weaned after lactation for 7 or 21 days. The estradiol-17$\beta$ concentrations among the breeds were 6.9∼8.8 pg/ml and 6.4∼8.8 pg/ml after lactation for 7 or 21 days, respectively. The progesterone concentrations ranged from 0.3 ng/ml to 1.6 ng/ml. Duroc sow showed higher progesterone concentration compared with Landrace and Yorkshire sows weaned after lactation for 7 or 21 days. Also, we found out that litter size at birth and weaning, respectively, did not show any differences between day 7 and day 21 of lactation. From the facts mentioned above, it was suggested that very early weaning systems could work with no apparent adverse effect on prolificacy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.6
• /
• pp.1024-1034
• /
• 2022

Identifying effective biomarkers for the diagnosis of male fertility is crucial for improving animal production and treating male infertility in humans. Ras-related proteins (Rab) are associated with morphological and motion kinematic functions in spermatozoa. Moreover, Rab2A, a Rab protein, is a possible male fertility-related biomarker. The present study was designed to identify additional fertility-related biomarkers among the various Rab proteins. First, the expression of Rab proteins (Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, 14, 25, 27A, and 34A) from 31 duroc boar spermatozoa was measured before and after capacitation; correlation between Rab protein expression and litter size was evaluated by statistical analysis. The results showed that the expression of Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 25 before capacitation and Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 14 after capacitation were negatively correlated with litter size. Moreover, depending on the cutoff values calculated by receiver operating curves, an increase in litter size was observed when evaluating the ability of the Rab proteins to forecast litter size. Therefore, we suggest that Rab proteins may be potential fertility-related biomarkers that could help select superior sires in the livestock industry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.956-965
• /
• 1999

Genetic selection and sophisticated management technology have produced modern sows which excel in litter size and milk production. Recent research has identified nutritional innovations which may enhance productivity of the high producing sow. Selected research in three areas which have the potential to enhance reproductive performance are summarized in this report. First, preliminary evidence indicates that organic chromium may enhance litter size and conception rate. Secondly, high producing sows, particularly primiparous sows, required higher protein/lysine in late gestation and or lactation to optimize weaning weight and subsequent litter size. Valine and isoleucine, but not leucine, have been shown to enhance milk production. Phased feeding programs with diet cost partitioned toward gilts and away form parity 3 to 8 sows have been suggested as a means of improving reproductive performance in young sows. Lastly, recent research with sufficient sow numbers to document the effect of dietary fiber on reproductive performance has shown that sows fed fiber farrowed and weaned more pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.1179-1183
• /
• 2011

The incidence of mutation in three loci of GDF9, BMP15 and BMP15-1B and their effects on litter sizes was evaluated in Baluchi sheep. Wild-type alleles were detected for BMP15 and BMP15-1B loci and all individuals were found to be as non-carriers for FecB and $FecX^G$ mutations but, a G to A nucleotide substitution was found in GDF9 locus. The frequency of $FecG^+$ (0.82) wild type allele was higher than the frequency of $FecG^l$ (0.18) mutant allele and the frequencies of $FecG^+/FecG^+$, $FecG^+/FecG^1$ and $FecG^1/FecG^1$ genotypes were 0.72, 0.20 and 0.08, respectively in GDF9 locus. The heterozygous ($FecG^+/FecG^1$) and homozygous ($FecG^+/FecG^+$) non-carrier ewes had 0.35 and 0.21 more lambs than the homozygous ($FecG^1/FecG^1$) carrier ewes, respectively (p<0.05). In addition to the finding of segregation of non-additive gene effect on litter size in the previous study in Baluchi sheep, these findings for the first time shows that the $FecG^1$ gene has a major effect on litter size in this breed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.320-324
• /
• 2008

We investigated the effect of ESR gene-based selection on an improvement of litter size in the herds in real (non-experimental) conditions. The pigs were selected for three years. In the tested population the pigs were mated according to a breeding scheme where the individuals with at least one ESR-B allele were preferred in the selection. In the control group (CP; n = 140) the pigs were mated just according to a breeding scheme without knowledge of the ESR genotype. We observed a significant increase in litter size (total number of born, number of born alive and number of weaned piglets per litter) in the final tested ESR-selected population (LP; n = 184) and an insignificant increase in CP as compared with the original population (OP; n = 155). After the selection we could observe a significant increase in the frequency of allele B in LP. Frequency of the genotypes AB and BB increased in both LP and CP; the distribution of the genotypes changed significantly only in LP. An association analysis of the ESR gene effects on reproductive traits in LP showed no significant differences between the genotypes. The results of our study suggest that ESR gene-based selection can be successful also in small herds, under real (non-experimental) conditions with a respect for general breeding principles and limitations and during a short period. An examination of a larger sample population as well as an analysis of selection consequences on other traits (meat and carcass quality) could bring a more conclusive evaluation of ESR-based selection. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging especially for small breeding farms taking a perspective of better litter size improvement.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2014

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary CP levels in gestation under equal lysine content on reproductive performance, blood metabolites and milk composition of gilts. A total of 25 gilts ($F_1$, Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were allotted to 4 dietary treatments at breeding in a completely randomized design, and fed 1 of 4 experimental diets containing different CP levels (11%, 13%, 15%, or 17%) at 2.0 kg/d throughout the gestation. Body weight of gilts at 24 h postpartum tended to increase linearly (p = 0.09) as dietary CP level increased. In lactation, backfat thickness, ADFI, litter size and weaning to estrus interval (WEI) did not differ among dietary treatments. There were linear increases in litter and piglet weight at 21 d of lactation (p<0.05) and weight gain of litter (p<0.01) and piglet (p<0.05) throughout the lactation as dietary CP level increased. Plasma urea nitrogen levels of gilts in gestation and at 24 h postpartum were linearly elevated as dietary CP level increased (p<0.05). Free fatty acid (FFA) levels in plasma of gestating gilts increased as dietary CP level increased up to 15%, and then decreased with quadratic effects (15 d, p<0.01; 90 d, p<0.05), and a quadratic trend (70 d, p = 0.06). There were no differences in plasma FFA, glucose levels and milk composition in lactation. These results indicate that increasing dietary CP level under equal lysine content in gestation increases BW of gilts and litter performance but does not affect litter size and milk composition. Feeding over 13% CP diet for gestating gilts could be recommended to improve litter growth.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.189-192
• /
• 2012

Male factor infertility or sub-fertility contributed half of all cases of infertility while the semen abnormality is the current topic of argument. Conventional analysis of semen showed poor correlation with fertility. Therefore, evaluation of current semen analysis method is necessary to improve standards of semen assessment. The goal of this study was to investigate that correlation between motion kinematic before and after capacitation and litter size in porcine. Sperm motility and kinematics were measure by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The motility of spermatozoa was positively correlated with curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), and mean amplitude of head lateral displacement (ALH) (p<0.05). Where as VCL positively correlated with VSL, VAP and ALH (p<0.01). Straight-line velocity (VSL) was positively correlated with VAP and ALH (p<0.01). VAP was significantly positively correlated with ALH (p<0.01). Also, we found significant positive correlation among variation of VSL, VAP and ALH (p<0.05). No motility and kinematic parameter are correlated with litter size. However, litter size was significantly correlated with breed (p<0.05). Our results suggested that analysis of sperm motility and kinematics using CASA is questionable for prediction of litter size. However, it has some practical importance to evaluate semen commercially.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2007

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the mRNA expression levels of sperm phospholipids hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and heparin-binding protein (HBP), and in-vivo fertility in boars. The farrowing rate was not correlated with litter size. Sperm PHGPx mRNA expression level of the larger litter size (over 10) group $(2,414.7{\pm}400.7)$ was high that of smaller litter size (below 8) group $(1,875.8{\pm}311.2)$. Sperm HBP mRNA expression level was also higher in the larger litter size $(2,255.9{\pm}360.8)$ group than the smaller litter size $(2,155.4{\pm}378.0)$. However, significant differences were not observed. Sperm PHGPx mRNA level was correlated positively with litter size (r=0.206). Because the expression levels of PHGPx and HBP are not strongly correlated with in-vivo fertility, PHGPx and HBP can not be considered a predictive measure for fertility in boars.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.62 no.6
• /
• pp.777-789
• /
• 2020

Intense artificial selection has been imposed to Luzhong mutton sheep population in the past years. Improvements on growth and reproductive performance are two breeding goals in the present herd. Although some progresses were phenotypically observed possibly due to inbreeding induced by strong selection in terms of these traits, the genomic evaluation was poorly understood. Therefore, a high-density SNP array was used to characterize the pattern of runs of homozygosity (ROH), estimate inbreeding and inbreeding depressions on early growth performance and litter size based upon ROH, and scan positive selection signatures of recent population. Consequently, a low inbreeding level was observed which had negative effects on litter size, but not on early growth performance. And 160 genes were under selection, of which some were reported to be linked to several traits of sheep including body weight, litter size, carcass and meat quality, milk yield and composition, fiber quality and health, and the top genes were associated with growth (growth hormone [GH]- growth hormone receptor [GHR]- Insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF1] axis) and litter size (bone morphogenic proteins [BMPs]-associated). The effectiveness of previous breeding measures was highlighted, but purging selection was proposed to alleviate the inbreeding depression on litter size, providing some genomic insights to breeding management of Luzhong mutton sheep.