Using data on age at 100 kg of three pig breeds (Large White, Landrace and Duroc) the connectedness between herds in China was evaluated by the connectedness rating (CR) method. The results show that most herds in China have low average CR (0–3.59%) with other herds. In Large White, of the 36 herds analyzed there are 20 herds, which are connected with at least one other herd. In Landrace and Duroc, of the 27 and 18 herds analyzed, only four and five herds, respectively, were found having connectedness with other herds. Generally, the connectedness exists only among two or few herds in the same region. A certain degree of connectedness between herds is a precondition for cross-herd genetic evaluation. A national or regional cross-herd genetic evaluation is not practicable at the present time in China. More intense efforts are needed to establish and enhance the connectedness between herds by means of extensively using artificial insemination (AI) in the swine industry in China.

Early lactation parameters are difficult to estimate from commercial dairy records due to the small number of records available before the peak of production. A biological model of lactation was used with weekly milk records from a single Holstein herd to estimate these early lactation parameters and the secretion rate of milk from the average cell throughout lactation. A genetic analysis of the lactation curve parameters, calculated curve characteristics and secretion rate traits was undertaken. Early lactation traits were found to have little genetic variation and effectively zero heritability. Secretion rate traits for milk, protein, lactose and water were all moderately heritable and highly genetically correlated (>0.87) but fat secretion rate had lower genetic correlations with the other secretion rates. A similar pattern of correlations was seen between total lactation yield traits for fat, protein, lactose and water. The genetic correlations between the lactation curve traits and the secretion rate traits were calculated. Total milk yield, peak yield and maximum secretion potential were all highly correlated with milk, lactose and water secretion rates but less so with fat and protein secretion rates. In particular, fat secretion rate had a moderate to low genetic correlation with these lactation curve traits. Persistency of lactation was highly correlated with fat and protein secretion rates, more persistent lactations being associated with lower rates of secretion of these milk components. Similar levels of heritability were found, where trait genetic parameters were directly equivalent to those derived from the same dataset by random regression methods. However, by using a biological model of lactation to analyse lactation traits new insights into the biology of lactation are possible and ways to select cows on a range of lactation traits may be achieved.

The objective of this study was to examine the population structure of the Trakehner Horse breed. A total of 13 793 pedigree records were used for analysing the active breeding population and their ancestors dating back to 1950. Ancestors that were born before 1950 were called as base animals. The average generation interval was calculated as 10.2 years. The effective population size (Ne) was estimated by the increase in average year-wise inbreeding coefficient and average coancestry, respectively. Two methods were applied to estimate the effective population size: 1. Numerator-relationship-matrix (NRM), which did not consider missing ancestries. 2. Uncertain-parentage-matrix (UPM), which considered a probabilistic correction for unknown ancestors. There were no major differences between these two methods with respect to the rate of increase in inbreeding although the global levels using the UPM method were observed to be higher. Estimates for the inbreeding coefficients and the average coancestries varied little between both methods. The estimates of the effective population size per generation based on the rate of inbreeding ranged from 169 (NRM) to 150 (UPM) and 158 (NRM) to 144 (UPM) calculated by the average coancestry. From the early 1990s onwards, a strong increase in the rate of inbreeding was observed. This may be due to an increasing variance of the family size of sires and may be interpreted as a consequence of the growing use of artificial insemination. Analysing coancestries within and between the centrally managed regional breeding societies in Germany further revealed the Trakehner horse breed to be a genetically fragmented population with a main partition corresponding to formerly divided East and West Germany. The average rate of gene contributions (Thoroughbred (xx), Arab Horse breed (ox)) to the defined actual breeding population was calculated to be 22.3% xx-genes and 11.7% ox-genes.

Many parameters have been proposed for evaluating livestock reproduction performances in tropical farming systems. In tropical free-ranged and small-holder systems, where reproduction cycles cannot be individually observed without expensive field surveys, one of these parameters is the average number of parturitions (h) expected by reproductive female, if the female spends the whole year in the herd. A frequent approach for estimating h is to use the ratio hc = m/T, so-called ‘crude annual parturition rate’, where m is the observed number of parturitions and T is the total time of presence of the reproductive females in the herd during the year. The bias encountered when h is estimated by hc was evaluated in this paper. Six methods of estimation were used, where T was the exact observed time of presence (hc1) or approximated by monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly averages or final size of the reproductive herd size (hc2 to hc6). Data came from long-term follow-up of cattle and small-ruminant herds (with data recorded at animal level) in extensive agro-pastoral systems in Senegal. In general, h was correctly estimated by hc1. Nevertheless hc1 was sensitive to competing risks (e.g. deaths, sales and slaughtering of reproductive females) and was seriously biased when intensive withdrawals of females occurred before or during the parturition peak. Reliability of crude rates progressively decreased from hc2 to hc6, corresponding to the degradation of information used for approximating T. This decrease was much lower for cattle (for which all methods had acceptable reliability) than for small ruminants. Among the compared methods, the lower reliability was observed for hc6 that we do not recommend for small ruminants. Methods hc5 and hc6 are currently used in rapid cross-sectional retrospective surveys based on the recall of the farmers on the demographic events which occurred in the herd over the last past 12 months. The study has showed that such surveys and estimates hc5 and hc6 can generate seriously biased results. More globally, annual parturition rates can be highly variable depending on the 12-month periods considered. Annual parturition rates estimated on short-term data, even with precise herd follow-up surveys, must be considered cautiously.

Breed additive and non-additive effects, and genetic parameters of lactation milk yield (LYD), 305-day milk yield (305YD), lactation length (LL), milk yield per day of lactation (DM) and lifetime milk yield (LTYD) were estimated in Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein in central Ethiopia. The data analyzed included 2360 lactation records spread over 15 years. Ethiopian Boran cattle were consistently inferior (P < 0.01) to the Ethiopian Boran–Holstein crosses for the dairy traits studied. When the crosses were compared, LYD, 305YD and DM were higher (P < 0.01) for 75% and 87.5% crosses compared to 50% and 62.5% ones. However, the 50% crosses had higher (P < 0.01) LTYD than the other genetic groups. The individual additive genetic breed differences for milk production traits were all significant (P < 0.01). The estimates, in favor of Holstein, were 2055 ± 192 kg for LYD, 1776 ± 142 kg for 305YD, 108 ± 24 days for LL, 5.9 ± 0.5 kg for DM and 3353 ± 1294 kg for LTYD. Crossbreeding of the Holstein with the Ethiopian Boran resulted in desirable and significant (P < 0.01) individual heterosis for all milk production traits. The heterosis estimates were, 529 ± 98, 427 ± 72 kg, 44 ± 12 days 1.47 ± 0.23 kg and 3337 ± 681 kg, for LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD, respectively. The maternal heterotic effects were non-significant (P > 0.05) for all traits. Heritabilities of LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD for Ethiopian Boran were 0.20 ± 0.03, 0.18 ± 0.03, 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.02 ± 0.04, respectively. The corresponding estimates for crosses were 0.10 ± 0.002, 0.11 ± 0.003, 0.63 ± 0.02, 0.45 ± 1.05 and 0.24 ± 0.11, respectively. Selection within each of the genetic groups and crossbreeding should substantially improve the milk production potential of the Ethiopian Boran breed under such production system.

In genetic improvement programmes for beef cattle, the effect of selecting for a given trait or index on other economically important traits, or their predictors, must be quantified to ensure no deleterious consequential effects go unnoticed. The objective was to compare live animal measurements, carcass composition and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations of male progeny of sires selected on an economic index in Ireland. This beef carcass index (BCI) is expressed in euros and based on weaning weight, feed intake, carcass weight and carcass conformation and fat scores. The index is used to aid in the genetic comparison of animals for the expected profitability of their progeny at slaughter. A total of 107 progeny from beef sires of high (n = 11) or low (n = 11) genetic merit for the BCI were compared in either a bull (slaughtered at 16 months of age) or steer (slaughtered at 24 months of age) production system, following purchase after weaning (8 months of age) from commercial beef herds. Data were analysed as a 2 × 2 factorial design (two levels of genetic merit by two production systems). Progeny of high BCI sires had heavier carcasses, greater (P < 0.01) muscularity scores after weaning, greater (P < 0.05) skeletal scores and scanned muscle depth pre-slaughter, higher (P < 0.05) plasma insulin concentrations and greater (P < 0.01) animal value (obtained by multiplying carcass weight by carcass value, which was based on the weight of meat in each cut by its commercial value) than progeny of low BCI sires. Regression of progeny performance on sire genetic merit was also undertaken across the entire data set. In steers, the effect of BCI on carcass meat proportion, calculated carcass value (c/kg) and animal value was positive (P < 0.01), while a negative association was observed for scanned fat depth pre-slaughter and carcass fat proportion (P < 0.01), but there was no effect in bulls. The effect of sire expected progeny difference (EPD) for carcass weight followed the same trends as BCI. Muscularity scores, carcass meat proportion and calculated carcass value increased, whereas scanned fat depth, carcass fat and bone proportions decreased with increasing sire EPD for conformation score. The opposite association was observed for sire EPD for fat score. Results from this study show that selection using the BCI had positive effects on live animal muscularity, carcass meat proportion, proportions of high-value cuts and carcass value in steer progeny, which are desirable traits in beef production.

Genetic correlations between production traits (average daily gain from birth till the end of the field test and ultrasonically predicted lean meat content at the end of the field test) and semen traits (semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, total number of spermatozoa and number of functional spermatozoa) were estimated from a large dataset (44 500 observations for production traits and more than 150 000 ejaculates from 2077 boars). The boars belonged to the breeds Duroc, Piétrain and Large White or were crossbreds between them. All estimated genetic correlations were low (maximal absolute value 0.13). Therefore, selection on production traits is expected to have only low effects on semen traits.

The method of Israel and Weller (Estimation of candidate gene effects in dairy cattle populations. Journal of Dairy Science 1998, 81, 1653–1662) to estimate quantitative trait locus (QTL) effects when only a small fraction of the population was genotyped was investigated by simulation. The QTL effect was underestimated in all cases, but bias was greater for extreme allelic frequencies, and increased with the number of generations included in the simulations. Apparently, as the fraction of animals with inferred genotypes increases, the genotype probabilities tend to ‘mimic’ the effect of relationships. Unbiased estimates of QTL effects were derived by a modified ‘cow model’ without the inclusion of the relationship matrix on simulated data, even though only a small fraction of the population was genotyped. This method yielded empirically unbiased estimates for the effects of the genes DGAT1 and ABCG2 on milk production traits in the Israeli Holstein population. Based on these results, an efficient algorithm for marker-assisted selection in dairy cattle was proposed. Quantitative trait loci effects are estimated and subtracted from the cows’ records. Genetic evaluations are then computed for the adjusted records. Animals are then selected based on the sum of their polygenic genetic evaluations and QTL effects. This scheme differs from a traditional dairy cattle breeding scheme in that all bull calves were considered candidates for selection. At year 10, total genetic gain was 20% greater by the proposed algorithm as compared to the selection based on a standard animal model for a locus with a substitution effect of 0.5 phenotypic standard deviations. The proposed method is easy to apply, and all required software are ‘on the shelf.’ It is only necessary to genotype breeding males, which are a very small fraction of the entire population. The method is flexible with respect to the model used for routine genetic evaluation. Any number of genetic markers can be easily incorporated into the algorithm, and the reduction in genetic gain due to incorrect QTL determination is minimal.

The objective of this experiment was to compare the nutritional properties of potato protein concentrate, a by-product of the starch industry produced entirely in Europe, with that of soybean meal (SBM), for growing cattle. The experiment was conducted on double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls, fitted with rumen, duodenal and ileal cannulas, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. They were fed three different iso-N and iso-net energy diets formulated according to the Dutch feed evaluation system, differing in the nature of the main protein source, which was either SBM (‘SBM’ treatment), potato protein concentrate (PPC, ‘PPC’ treatment) or an iso-N mixture of these two protein sources (‘mixed’ treatment). A fourth treatment consisted of ‘PPC’ supplemented by 9.5% digestible proteins supplied by duodenal perfusion of sodium caseinate (CAS, ‘PPC + CAS’ treatment). No significant difference was observed in the ruminal fluid pH, whereas both ‘PPC’ and ‘PPC + CAS’ had the effect of reducing the ruminal ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) concentration. No significant difference was observed in the apparent intestinal digestibility of the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) or N. Outflows of non-NH3-N, microbial proteins and dietary proteins from the rumen were similar for ‘PPC’, ‘SBM’ and ‘mixed’, and increased with CAS infusion by 20%, 17% and 27%, respectively. On the basis of in vivo observations, the degradability of SBM and PPC proteins was estimated at 0.60 and 0.43, respectively, corresponding to the values quoted in the literature. The supply of digestible essential amino acids (EAA) was significantly greater with ‘PPC + CAS’ and did not differ among ‘SBM’, ‘mixed’ and ‘PPC’. This illustrates the difficulty of altering the amino acid (AA) pattern of digestible protein by the nature of the protein of dietary origin when an animal is fed a high nutritional value diet. N retention was not affected by replacing SBM with PPC, but increased by 10% with CAS infusion. On the basis of the plasma AA pattern, the supply of digestible Met was probably limiting with ‘SBM’, ‘mixed’ and ‘PPC’. The CAS perfusion supplemented all AA, including Met, leading to increased N retention. This improvement was limited, however, and N utilisation remained unchanged between treatments. In conclusion, despite a more favourable EAA pattern, PPC offered no advantage compared with SBM for growing bulls when diets were formulated according to the Dutch feed evaluation system.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of a line selected for reproductive longevity (LP) to confront productive challenges compared to a line selected during 31 generations for litter size at weaning (V). A total of 133 reproductive rabbit does were used (72 and 61 from LP and V lines, respectively). Within each line, three groups with different levels of productive effort were planned: PP9, inseminated at day 4 after the first partum and with nine kits during the second partum, and inseminated after first weaning (30 days) and with nine (PW9) or five kits (PW5) during the second partum. The reproductive performance, body condition (perirrenal fat thickness (PFT)) and lipolytic response were controlled. LP does showed greater mean live weight (LW; +128 g; P < 0.05), PFT (+0.47 mm; P < 0.05) and estimated body energy (EBE; +0.29 MJ/kg; P < 0.01) than V does at second partum. However, LP does that mated at first post partum did not significantly differ in EBE relative to V does at second partum. During the first week of lactation, dry matter (DM) intake was similar for both lines (94 and 95 g DM/kg LW0.75 day for V and LP does, respectively). There was a significant difference in milk yield between both lines during the first week when litter size was nine (60 v. 54 g of milk/kg LW0.75 day for LP and V does, respectively; P < 0.01), but no difference when litter size was five. Consequently, when litter size was nine, LP does showed a lower recovery of PFT (0.6 mm less; P < 0.05) than V does during the first 10 days of lactation. However, when litter size was five, LP does showed a higher LW (+210 g; P < 0.05) than V does at 10 days of lactation and a similar recovery of PFT. During the last 3 weeks of the lactation, LP does showed a higher feed intake (+6 g DM/kg LW0.75 day; P < 0.05) and milk yield (+27 g/day; P < 0.001) than V does when litter size was nine, resulting in no significant differences in LW at 30 days of lactation. However, when litter size was five, both lines showed similar feed intake and milk yield, maintaining their differences in LW at 30 days of lactation (+206 g for LP does; P < 0.05). These results show that the rabbit line selected for reproductive longevity is more robust with respect to coping with productive challenges, than a line selected for reproductive intensity.

Osteochondrosis (OC) is an inherited developmental disease in young horses most frequently observed in thoroughbreds, trotters, warmblood and coldblood horses. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for equine OC have been identified in Hanoverian warmblood horses employing a whole genome scan with microsatellites. A QTL on ECA16 reached the genome-wide significance level for hock osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD). The aim of this study was to refine this QTL on ECA16 using an extended marker set of 34 newly developed microsatellites and 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We used the same 14 paternal half-sib groups as in the above-mentioned whole genome scan. The QTL for OCD in hock joints on ECA16 could be delimited at an interval between 17.60 and 45.18 Mb using multipoint non-parametric linkage analyses. In addition, six microsatellites and one SNP were significantly associated with hock OCD in the QTL region between 24.26 and 42.41 Mb. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a second QTL for fetlock OC between 6.55 and 24.26 Mb on ECA16. This report is a further step towards unravelling the genes underlying QTL for equine OC and towards the development of a marker test for OC in Hanoverian warmblood horses.

Heritability estimates and genetic correlations were obtained for body weight and scrotal circumference, adjusted, respectively, to 12 (BW12 and SC12) and 18 (BW18 and SC18) months of age, for 10 742 male Nellore cattle. The adjustments to SC12 and SC18 were made using a nonlinear logistic function, while BW12 and BW18 were obtained by linear adjustment. The contemporary groups (CGs) were defined from animals born on the same farm, in the same year and birth season. The mean heritability estimates obtained using the restricted maximum likelihood method in bi-trait analysis were 0.25, 0.25, 0.29 and 0.42 for BW12, BW18, SC12 and SC18, respectively. The genetic correlations were 0.30 ± 0.11, 0.21 ± 0.13, 0.21 ± 0.11, −0.08 ± 0.15, 0.16 ± 0.12 and 0.89 ± 0.04 between the traits BW12 and BW18; BW12 and SC12; BW12 and SC18; BW18 and SC12; BW18 and SC18; and SC12 and SC18. The heritability for SC18 was considerably greater than for SC12, suggesting that this should be included as a selection criterion. The genetic correlation between BW18 and SC12 was close to zero, indicating that these traits did not influence each other. The contrary occurred between SC12 and SC18, indicating that selection using one of these could alter the other. Because of the mean magnitudes of heritabilities in the various measurements of weight and scrotal perimeter, it is suggested that the practice of individual selection for these traits is possible.

Genetic parameters for survival, reproduction and production traits were estimated for a sire and dam line, originating from one Large White breed separated more than 25 years ago. The change in parameters due to different selection pressure on reproduction and production traits in both lines was also examined. Data collected between 1990 and 2007 were available for the analysis of reproduction traits in 4713 litters (sire line) and 14836 litters (dam line) and for the production traits in 58329 pigs (sire line) and 108912 pigs (dam line). Genetic parameters were estimated using a Bayesian approach. Average phenotypic differences between lines were substantial with 1.5 more piglets born in the dam line and 1.7 mm less backfat thickness (BF) in the sire line. Based on a multiple trait analysis which included both reproduction and production traits, heritabilities for survival and litter size traits in the sire (or dam) line were estimated at 0.03 ± 0.01 (0.06 ± 0.01) for percentage of stillborn piglets (SB), 0.10 ± 0.03 (0.11 ± 0.01) for total number of piglets born (NBT) and 0.09 ± 0.03 (0.09 ± 0.01) for number of piglets born alive. Heritabilities for production traits were estimated at 0.29 ± 0.01 (0.29 ± 0.01) for average daily gain, 0.50 ± 0.01 (0.42 ± 0.01) for BF and 0.41 ± 0.01 for muscle depth. Selection pressure on litter size in the dam line resulted in a slightly unfavourable correlation for SB–NBT (0.21 ± 0.11), which was only marginally unfavourable in the sire line (0.06 ± 0.24). Selection pressure on BF in the sire line may have resulted in the moderately undesirable correlation with SB (−0.46 ± 0.15), which was not significant in the dam line (−0.08 ± 0.06). Changing the base population in the dam line to animals born since the year 2000 indicated that selection pressure on different traits has altered the heritabilities and correlations of the traits within the line. The undesirable correlations between survival at birth and reproduction traits or production traits were low so that simultaneous improvement of all traits can be achieved. Heritabilities for survival at birth and reproduction traits were low, but genetic variation was substantial and extensive pedigree information can be used to improve the accuracy of breeding values, so that genetic improvement is expected to be efficient.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for longevity from Swedish crossbred sows to investigate the possibilities of selecting for this trait. Data were collected from 16 commercial piglet-producing herds, on crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire) sows farrowing in the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004. The data set with records on 10 373 sows was split into two sets according to the breed of the sire, i.e. Landrace sires (LS) or Yorkshire sires (YS). Removal hazard during productive life (PL) was analysed with survival analysis, using a sire model. Stayability from first to second litter (STAY12), stayability from first to third litter (STAY13), length of productive life (LPL) and lifetime production (LTP) were analysed with linear models, using an animal model. Females after the worst sire had 1.7 times higher (progeny of LS) and 2.4 times higher (progeny of YS) risk of removal than females after the best sire. Heritability for PL was estimated at 0.06 (LS) and 0.12 (YS). The heritabilities for the linear longevity traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.08. Genetic correlations between the four linear longevity traits were all high and positive (0.6 to 1.0), as were the phenotypic correlations (0.5 to 0.8). The correlations (Spearman rank) between the sire’s estimated breeding values for all the five longevity traits were all significant (P < 0.001) and moderate to strong in both data sets. Estimated breeding value (EBV) correlations between the five longevity traits and traits included in the present Swedish breeding evaluation (Quality Genetics (QG)) were significant in a few cases. Significant and favourable EBV correlations were found between age at first farrowing and both STAY12 and STAY13 (−0.20 and −0.31), as well as between litter weight at 3 weeks and LPL and LTP (0.13 to 0.20). Significant and unfavourable EBV correlations were found between age at 100 kg and STAY12 (0.32), as well as between the exterior conformation score from testing station and PL (−0.20). The level of the estimated heritabilities for longevity indicates that genetic improvement of sow longevity would be possible. However, overall, there was no strong indirect selection for sow longevity with the current Swedish breeding evaluation (QG).

The Finnish mating records of Standardbred trotters (SB; n = 33 679) and Finnhorses (FH; n = 32 731) were analysed to study the effect of the level of inbreeding on foaling rates and to estimate the heritability of foaling rate. A linear mixed model was assumed, with the outcome of the foaling (foal or no foal) as the trait of the study. A restricted maximum likelihood-based method was used to calculate the estimates of the variance components. Predictions of breeding values and estimates of fixed effects were also calculated. The average level of inbreeding was 9.9% in the SB and 3.6% in the FH. The average foaling rates were better in the SB (72.6%) than in the FH (66.3%), but within each breed intense inbreeding had a statistically significant negative effect on foaling rate (P < 0.05). Also, the mating type, the age and breeding type of the mare, and the age of the stallion had statistically significant effects on foaling rate (P < 0.001). The heritability of foaling rate was between 3.4% and 3.7% in SBs and between 5.5% and 9.8% in FHs, when the outcome of the foaling was considered to be a trait of the expected foal. With the same model, the estimates of maternal genetic effect were 4.7% for SBs and 3.2% for FHs, and the estimates of the permanent environmental effects of the stallion were between 1.3% and 1.7%. Avoiding matings with very high inbreeding coefficients would improve foaling rates. It would also be possible to devise a breeding program for better equine fertility, but because the heritability is low, improvement of environmental factors deserves special attention.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of lamb genotype and plane of nutrition on post-weaning lamb growth, and carcass characteristics in hill sheep systems. The lamb genotypes compared were as follows: purebred Scottish Blackface, Swaledale × Scottish Blackface, Cheviot × Scottish Blackface, Lleyn × Scottish Blackface and Texel × Scottish Blackface lambs. During the finishing period, lambs were allocated to a (i) low plane of nutrition (LP), based on a fixed allowance of dried grass pellets representing a grass-based system; (ii) high plane of nutrition (HP-cereal), with a diet consisting proportionately of 0.20 dried grass pellets : 0.80 cereal-based concentrate offered ad libitum; (iii) high plane of nutrition (HP-cereal/oil), with a diet consisting proportionately of 0.20 dried grass pellets : 0.80 cereal-based concentrate containing oilseed rape offered ad libitum. There were significant genotype × diet interactions for dry matter (DM) intake (P < 0.001), live weight gain (P < 0.05) and carcass gain (P < 0.05). On the LP diet, carcass gains were higher for Texel cross compared to Blackface and Swaledale cross lambs (P < 0.05). On both HP diets, carcass gains were lower in Blackface and Swaledale crosses compared with the Cheviot, Lleyn and Texel cross lambs (P < 0.01). Feed conversion efficiency, expressed in terms of carcass gain per unit of DM, was highest for Texel cross and Cheviot cross, lowest in Swaledale cross and Blackface and intermediate for Lleyn cross lambs (P < 0.001). Conformation classification was lowest for Swaledale cross (P < 0.05) and highest for Texel cross lambs (P < 0.001), whilst those of Blackface, Cheviot and Lleyn cross lambs were similar. Carcasses from Blackface and Lleyn cross lambs had higher fat classifications than Texel and Cheviot cross lambs (P < 0.01). Feed conversion efficiency was lowest with the LP diet compared with the HP diets, resulting in a 5-week longer finishing period and lower carcass weights, fat scores, dressing proportions and subcutaneous fat depth measurements. These results indicate that crossbreeding can have a major effect on lamb performance in the hill sheep sector. Feeding a HP increased lamb growth rates, particularly for high growth-potential genotypes, improved feed efficiency, shortened the finishing period but increased carcass fatness. Including oilseed rape in concentrate-based diets did not affect performance.

An experiment was conducted to exploit the immune-modulation effect of trivalent chromium (Cr) for augmenting immunity against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in dwarf black Bengal goats (Capra hircus). The goats (n = 6 per treatment group) either received a basal diet devoid of supplemental Cr (control) or were supplemented with 0.5 mg Cr as chromic chloride (+Cr) for 60 days. Live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency improved (P < 0.05) in the +Cr dietary group. Supplemental Cr did not affect the total number of monocytes, eosinophils and basophils (P > 0.1) although total leukocytes increased (P < 0.05) and the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes narrowed down (P < 0.05) in the +Cr dietary group. The effect of Cr supplementation on variables of the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was inconclusive. Compared to the control group, the basal concentration of glucose (P < 0.05) and insulin (P < 0.001) was higher, clearance rate was slower (P < 0.05) and serum half-life was greater (P < 0.05) in the +Cr dietary group during the IVGTT. Over the duration of the experiment, serum concentration of insulin increased (P < 0.001) and that of cortisol decreased (P < 0.01) in the +Cr group, which also showed a relatively higher primary antibody (Ab) response against PPR on days 10 (P < 0.01) and 20 (P < 0.05) post-vaccination. In conclusion, the experiment indicated that supplementation of Cr as CrCl3, in the diet of non-stressed goats, may improve primary Ab response against PPR and help confer an augmented immunity to the disease besides promoting growth and feed conversion.

In breeding programs, robustness of animals and uniformity of end product can be improved by exploiting genetic variation in residual variance. Residual variance can be defined as environmental variance after accounting for all identifiable effects. The aims of this study were to estimate genetic variance in residual variance of body weight, and to estimate genetic correlations between body weight itself and its residual variance and between female and male residual variance for broilers. The data sets comprised 26 972 female and 24 407 male body weight records. Variance components were estimated with ASREML. Estimates of the heritability of residual variance were in the range 0.029 (s.e. = 0.003) to 0.047 (s.e. = 0.004). The genetic coefficients of variation were high, between 0.35 and 0.57. Heritabilities were higher in females than in males. Accounting for heterogeneous residual variance increased the heritabilities for body weight as well. Genetic correlations between body weight and its residual variance were −0.41 (s.e. = 0.032) and −0.45 (s.e. = 0.040), respectively, in females and males. The genetic correlation between female and male residual variance was 0.11 (s.e. = 0.089), indicating that female and male residual variance are different traits. Results indicate good opportunities to simultaneously increase the mean and improve uniformity of body weight of broilers by selection.

A genetic analysis of longitudinal binary clinical mastitis (CM) data recorded on about 90 000 first-lactation Swedish Holstein cows was carried out using linear random regression models (RRM). This method for genetic evaluation of CM has theoretical advantages compared to the method of linear cross-sectional models (CSM), which is currently being used. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and suitability of estimating genetic parameters and predicting breeding values for CM with a linear sire RRM. For validation purposes, the estimates and predictions from the RRM were compared to those from linear sire longitudinal multivariate models (LMVM) and CSM. For each cow, the period from 10 days before to 241 days after calving was divided into four 1-week intervals followed by eight 4-week intervals. Within each interval, presence or absence of CM was scored as ‘1’ or ‘0’. The linear RRM used to explain the trajectory of CM over time included a set of explanatory variables plus a third-order Legendre polynomial function of time for the sire effect. The time-dependent heritabilities and genetic correlations from the chosen RRM corresponded fairly well with estimates obtained from the linear LMVM for the separate intervals. Some discrepancy between the two methods was observed, with the more unstable results being obtained from the linear LMVM. Both methods indicated clearly that CM was not genetically the same trait throughout lactation. The correlations between predicted sire breeding values from the RRM, summarized over different time periods, and from linear CSM were rather high. They were, however, less than unity (0.74 to 0.96), which indicated some re-ranking of sires. Sire curves based on the time-specific breeding values from the RRM illustrated differences in intercept and slope among the best and the worst sires. To conclude, a linear sire RRM seemed to work well for genetic evaluation purposes, but was sensitive for estimation of genetic parameters.