• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.18
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• pp.43-51
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• 2000

Eleven inbred lines of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. were exposed to two main different temperature (23C and 25C) during the larval period in order to elucidate the effect of the temperature differences on their main characters under the, prevailing in Egyptial agro-climactic conditions. The results show that the temperature differences did not affect significantly the pupation ratio and cocoon shell ratio. However, they affected their larval duration to become shorter with the high temperature treatment ($27^{\circ}C$) and their cocoon shell weight and cocoon yield per box of silkworm eggs to be higher in the lower temperature($23^{\circ}C$). It was recommended that some inbred lines should be bred at the 23C throughout the whole larval period, particularly in being reared with high nutritional leaves in order to maximize the hybridization of cocoon yields.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.804-811
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• 2018

Objective: Complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of four Thai indigenous chicken varieties, including Pra-dhu-hang-dam (PD), Leung-hang-khao (LK), Chee (CH), and Dang (DA) were explored for genetic diversity and relationships with their potential ancestor and possible associates to address chicken domestication in Thailand. Methods: A total of 220 complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of the four Thai indigenous chicken varieties were obtained by Sanger direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction amplicons of 1,231 to 1,232 base pair in size. A neighbor-joining dendrogram was constructed with reference complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of Red Junglefowl (RJF) and those different chicken breeds available on National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Genetic diversity indices and neutrality test by Tajima's D test were performed. Genetic differences both within and among populations were estimated using analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Pairwise fixation index ($F_{ST}$) was conducted to evaluated genetic relationships between these varieties. Results: Twenty-three identified haplotypes were classified in six haplogroups (A-E and H) with the majority clustered in haplogroup A and B. Each variety was in multiple haplogroups with haplogroups A, B, D, and E being shared by all studied varieties. The averaged haplotype and nucleotide diversities were, respectively 0.8607 and 0.00579 with non-significant Tajima's D values being observed in all populations. Haplogroup distribution was closely related to that of RJF particularly Gallus gallus gallus (G. g. gallus) and G. g. spadiceus. As denoted by AMOVA, the mean diversity was mostly due to within-population variation (90.53%) while between-population variation (9.47%) accounted for much less. By pairwise $F_{ST}$, LK was most closely related to DA ($F_{ST}=0.00879$) while DA was farthest from CH ($F_{ST}=0.24882$). Conclusion: All 4 Thai indigenous chickens are in close relationship with their potential ancestor, the RJF. A contribution of shared, multiple maternal lineages was in the nature of these varieties, which have been domesticated under neutral selection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1555-1559
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• 2003

The objective of the present study was to explore associations between five microsatellites linked to $Fec^B$ and $FecX^I$ genes and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. The polymorphisms of five microsatellite loci, OarAE101, BM1329, BMS2508, TGLA54 and TGLA68 were detected in 244 ewes of Small Tail Han sheep. Analysis of association between three microsatellite loci (BMS2508, BM1329 and OarAE101) located in the 10 cM region covering the $Fec^B$ gene (Booroola gene) and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep indicated that BMS2508 had significant effect on litter size in the second parity (p<0.05), but no significant effect on litter size in the first parity (p>0.05), while the other two microsatellite loci had no significant effect on litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep (p>0.05). At microsatellite locus BMS2508, least squares means in the second parity of genotypes 101/111 and 99/109 were significantly higher than those of genotypes 99/99, 99/101, 99/111 and 99/115 (p<0.05); least squares mean in the second parity of genotype 101/111 was significantly higher than that of genotypes 109/111 and 111/111 (p<0.05). Results of this study also indicated that two microsatellite loci (TGLA54 and TGLA68) that confined the 28.7 cM region covering the $FecX^I$ gene (Inverdale gene) did not affect litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep significantly (p>0.05). The information found in the present study is very important for improving the reproductive performance in sheep breeds by marker assisted selection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1360-1365
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• 2004

Using the method of 'random sampling in typical colonies of the central area of the habitat', 60 Small-tailed Han sheep were obtained in Jining city, Shangdong province. The variations of Small-tailed Han sheep at 12 structural loci encoding blood proteins were detected by several electrophoresis techniques and their gene frequencies were then estimated. The same data of four other sheep populations from Near-sea Mainland in East Asia were cited for the analysis of genetic differentiation. The average heterozygosities of five populations, namely Kharkhorin sheep, Ulaanbaatar sheep, Small-tailed Han sheep, Hu sheep and Cham Tribe sheep were 0.3447, 0.3285, 0.3157, 0.3884 and 0.2300, respectively. The coefficient of gene differentiation among four populations, Kharkhorin sheep, Ulaanbaatar sheep, Small-tailed Han sheep and Hu sheep, was 0.045557, and that between these four breeds and Cham Tribe sheep was 0.088005, indicating that the level of gene differentiation among the former four sheep populations of Mongolian group was comparatively lower than that between Cham Tribe sheep and other four sheep populations. The origin of Cham Tribe sheep deserve further research. The documentary research on the evolution of Small-tailed Han sheep and Hu sheep from Mongolian sheep was further verified by the biochemical experiments in the study. It was reasonably deduced that Hu sheep, Small Tailed Han sheep and Cham Tribe sheep were decreasingly influenced by the bloodline of Mongolian sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.489-493
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• 2003

Reproductive traits of sows are determined chiefly by the genetic background of the dam herself. Whether the breed of the serviced boars also contributes is not yet clear. A total of 8,946 litters of Landrace (L) sows from 68 farms were examined. Of these, 876, 1,260, and 6,810 litters were produced from natural mating with L, Yorkshire (Y), and Duroc (D) breeds, respectively. The birth litter size (BLS), weaning litter size (WLS), live born piglets (LBP), and survival rate % (SR), of every litter were recorded. A general linear-model procedure was followed to estimate the effects of boars' breed (B), parity (P) and B${\times}$P interaction on the reproductive traits of the sows. Results show that BLS, WLS, and LBP were all significantly (p<0.001) affected by B and P. SR% was significantly influenced by B but not by P. L sows crossbred with Y or purebred with L produced litters with higher BLS, WLS, and LBP values than those bred with D. Pure L breeding yielded litters with lower SR% than did crossbreeding with D, while the difference between SR% due to LY and that due to LD crossbreeding was not significant. The interaction of B with P was significant with respect to BLS, WLS, and LBP (p<0.001), but not SR%. No significant B effect on reproductive traits was measured in sows at their first parity; but at latter parities, LL or LY produced litters with similarly high BLS, WLS and LBP, which values were all significantly greater than those of LD litters. The breed of boar evidently affected the subsequent reproductive performance of L sows and this effect may be further manipulated by the parity effect. Breed differences in semen quality and the success of fetus development with different interactions of the genetic background with the uterus function of the sow that may contribute to these effects are discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.946-951
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• 2003

The Genetic diversity and relationship of native Siri (Bos indicus) cattle populations of Bhutan were evaluated using 20 microsatellite markers. A total of 120 Siri cattle were sampled and were grouped into four populations according to their geographical locations which were named Siri West, Siri South, Siri Central and Siri East cattle. For each, 30 individuals were sampled. In addition, 30 samples each of Indian Jaba (B. indicus), Tibetan Goleng (B. taurus), Nepal Hill cattle (B. indicus), Holstein Friesian (B.taurus) and Mithun (B. frontalis) were typed. The mean number of alleles per loci (MNA) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were high in the Siri populations ($MNA=7.2{\pm}0.3$ to $8.9{\pm}0.5$ and $Ho=0.67{\pm}0.04$ to $0.73{\pm}0.03$). The smallest coefficient of genetic differentiation and genetic distance ($F_{ST}=0.015$ and $D_A=0.073$) were obtained between Siri West and Siri Central populations. Siri East population is genetically distinct from the other Siri populations being close to the Indian Jaba ($F_{ST}=0.024$ and $D_A=0.084$). A high bootstrap value of 96% supported the close relationship of Siri South, Siri Central and Siri West, while the relationship between Siri East and Jaba was also supported by a high bootstrap value (82%). Data from principal component analysis and individual assignment test were in concordance with the inference from genetic distance and differentiation. In conclusion we identified two separate Siri cattle populations in Bhutan at the genetic level. One population included Siri cattle sampled from the West, Central and South of the country and the other Siri cattle was sampled from the East of the country. We suggest that Siri cattle conservation program in Bhutan should focus on the former population as it has received less genetic influence from other cattle breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2006

The registration data of 15 populations from nine major swine breeding farms were investigated to check levels of inbreeding and the current status of pedigree structures of breeding stocks. The average rate of inbreeding per generation was 0.208%, 0.209%, 0.098%, 0.307% and 0.071% for farms D, S, K, H, and Y in Duroc, 0.071%, 0.188%, 0.685%, 0.336%, and 0.449% for farms S, H, C, J, and W in Landrace, and 0.243%, 0.123%, 0.103%, 0.165%, and 0.286% for farms D, S, G, H, and J in Yorkshire, respectively. The average inbreeding rate was highest for Landrace, intermediate for Yorkshire, and lowest for Duroc farms. In Landrace and Yorkshire populations there were few immigrant animals per generation. In Duroc, however, there were quite large numbers of immigrant animals per generation compared to other breeds. The effective population sizes calculated from the average rate of inbreeding were distributed between 73.0 and 708.7. Specific values were 204.8, 239.7, 508.8, 163.0 and 708.2 for farms D, S, K, H, and Y in Duroc, 708.7, 266.5, 73.0, 148.9, and 111.3 for farms S, H, C, J, and W in Landrace, and 205.5, 406.0, 486.9, 302.6 and 175.0 for farms D, S, G, H, and J in Yorkshire, respectively. The values were acceptable for natural selection for fitness and inbreeding depression. The results showed that there was no cause for concern over the current inbreeding level of major swine breeding farm populations and the inbreeding level was within an acceptable range.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.435-438
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• 1992

Data were collected on productive and reproductive performance of different $F_1$ crossbred cows (Deshi cows joined by A.I. to Sindhi, Sahiwal, Jersey or Holstein-Friesian Bull semen) reared by farmers in and around the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus at Mymensingh. The traits considered were birth weight, age at first heat, age at first calving, gestation length, post-partum heat period, milk yield, lactation length, dry period and calving interval. Data were analyzed statistically using a completely randomized design and Duncan's Multiple Range Test to compare and determine the significance of between individual group means. It was observed that the Holstein $\times$ Deshi had the highest birth weight (21.4 kg) followed by Sahiwal (17.6 kg), Jersey (16.7 kg) and Sindhi (16.1 kg). Shortest age at first heat (854 and 920 days) and age at first calving (1002 and 1201 days) were found for the Jersey $\times$ Deshi and Holstein $\times$ Deshi crosses respectively. The post-partum heat period were significantly different between breeds with Jersey and Holstein sired calves having the shortest intervals. There was no difference in the gestation length of the four crosses. Holstein $\times$ Deshi and Jersey $\times$ Deshi cows gave the highest milk yields due to longer lactation periods and higher daily milk production. Similarly, Holstein $\times$ Deshi and Jersey $\times$ Deshi crosses had significantly shorter dry periods and Jersey $\times$ Deshi had a shorter calving interval. From this study it may be concluded that exotic genotypes such as Holstein-Friesian and Jersey can perform very well under rural conditions in Bangladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 1997

This study was conducted in North Sulawesi, Indonesia to identify the factors affecting reproductive efficiency and to determine the contribution of each factor in reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Records of reproductive efficiency, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) as well as age on one hundred and sixty seven Indonesian native cows (seventy six cows of the Bali breed and ninety one cows of the synthetic breed from unknown proportion of th Madura, the Sumba and the Ongole breeds) of 58 farmers were available in this research. The data were analyzed by covariance analysis using SAS package including reproductive efficiency as a dependent variable and breed, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) and age of cows as independent variables. The contribution of each independent factor to dependent variable was estimated as the percentage of the sum of square in the corrected total sum of squares. The results showed that body weight and body size of cows would be considered as th most important factors affecting reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Therefore, the reproductive efficiency could be increased by 1) using cows that reached a target weight of at least 250 kg, 2) using cows with relatively well developed height at hip of at least 117 cm, heart girth of at least 150 cm, and body length of at least 125 cm, 3) keeping breeding cows that reach a target age of 24 months old with the maximum interval between postpartum and next breeding season of 90 days for each year, and 4) using good nutritional feeding to reach the optimum weight and body condition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1662-1669
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• 2007

The high mobility group AT-hook1 (HMGA1) proteins are known to be related to the regulation of gene transcription, replication and promotion of metastatic progression in cancer cells. The loss of expression by disrupting the HMGA1 gene affects insulin signaling and causes diabetes in the mouse. Previously identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of HMGA1 was significantly associated with fat deposition traits in the pig. In this study, we identified 3,935 bp nucleotide sequences from exon 5 to exon 8 of the bovine HMGA1 gene and its mRNA expression was observed by quantitative real-time PCR. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovine HMGA1 gene were detected and the allele frequencies of these SNPs were investigated using the PCR-RFLP method in nine cattle breeds including Limousin, Simmental, Brown Swiss, Hereford, Angus, Charolais, Hanwoo, Brahman and Red Chittagong cattle. The map location showed that the bovine HMGA1 gene was also closely located with a previously identified meat quality QTL region indicating this gene is the most likely positional candidate for meat quality traits in cattle.