| 1. |
- Rochus, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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ASIP and MC1R mutations causing black coat colour in five Swedish sheep breeds
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Black coat colour in sheep can be determined by the recessive black allele (Aa) in Agouti signaling protein (ASIP) and the dominant black allele (ED) in Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R). Aa is a 5 bp deletion (D5) or a mutation (g.5172T>A), and ED is attributed to two mutations; c.218T>A and c.361G>A. ASIP and MC1R coding regions were sequenced in 26 black and 21 white Swedish sheep from Gute, Finewool, Klövsjö, Roslags and Värmlands breeds. Three combinations of D5 and g.5172T>A, where one or both of the mutations were homozygous, were only found in black sheep. The only wildtype animal was white with the remaining sheep, 10 black and 20 white, heterozygous in one or both of the mutations. Animals homozygous or heterozygous for mutations c.218T>A and c.361G>A were black Finewool sheep. Seven black individuals were not black due to Aa or ED.
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| 2. |
- Jönsson, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Associations of health status and conformation with longevity and lifetime competition performance in young Swedish warmblood riding horses: 8,238 cases (1983-2005)
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. - : American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). - 0003-1488. ; 244, s. 1449-1461
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective - To determine associations of health status and conformation with competition longevity and lifetime performance in young Swedish Warmblood riding horses. Design - Cohort study and genetic analysis. Animals - 8,238 horses. Procedures - Horses were examined for health, conformation, and performance from 1983 to 2005, when they were 4 to 5 years old, and competition results from 1983 to 2012 were evaluated. Associations between conformation, health, and talent scores of young horses and longevity (years in competition) and lifetime performance were analyzed. Odds ratios of competing later in life among horses with joint flexion test reactions were determined. Genetic correlations between young horse health, conformation, and talent scores and longevity and lifetime performance were determined. Results - Good overall 4- to 5-year-old health, conformation, and talent scores for performance were phenotypically and genetically associated with greater longevity and lifetime performance. Good health was genetically correlated (rg = 0.3) to longevity and lifetime performance. Among conformation traits, body type and movements in the trot were most strongly associated with future longevity; these were genetically correlated (rg = 0.2 to 0.3) to longevity and lifetime performance. Intermediate-sized horses were associated with highest longevity and lifetime performance. Positive flexion test results were associated with lower ORs (OR, 0.59 for moderate to severe and 0.76 for minor reactions) of competing later in life, compared with no reaction, and were associated with lower longevity (0.4 years). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Horses with good health and conformation at a young age had better longevity in competitions than the mean. Positive correlations suggested that improvement of health and conformation of young horses will enhance their future athletic talent and performance.
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| 3. |
- Jönsson, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Conformation traits and their genetic and phenotypic associations with health status in young Swedish warmblood riding horses
- 2014
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Ingår i: Livestock Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1871-1413 .- 1878-0490. ; 163, s. 12-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Health in horses is thought to be influenced by conformation traits, including limb deviations. As few studies on the subject are available, the relevance of selecting for specific conformation traits to improve health is uncertain. The objective was to determine the genetic variation in conformation and relationships between conformation and health status in young riding horses. Analyses included 8187 young horses independently examined for conformation and health, during the Swedish Riding Horse Quality Test (RHQT) for 4-5 year-old horses. Both descriptive conformation traits and assessment scores of conformation were studied. Phenotypic effects were estimated using single trait General Linear Models and heritabilities and genetic correlations using multi-trait linear animal models. Four major health indicators were constructed from the detailed veterinary examinations. Conformation assessment scores were all favourably related to at least one of 4 studied health traits, both phenotypically and genetically. Genetic correlations reached 0.75 between conformation scores for head-neck-body and locomotion examinations, including flexion tests, and 0.43 for limb scores and locomotion examinations. Best health status was found for an intermediate-sized horse, with a wellpositioned neck, a light front, and no major limb deviations. This finding was consistent with the role of correct movements at trot. Among limb deviations stiff pasterns, toed-out or toed-in forelimbs, and small or large hock angles showed highest negative effects on health. However, the prevalence of limb deviations was generally low, thus only toed-in forelimbs and small joints had significant genetic correlations to impaired health. Heritabilities for withers height, cannon bone circumference and overall conformation scores (except for limbs), were medium to high (0.20-0.67, s.e. 0.03-0.04). For specific limb deviations, heritabilifies were in the range of 0.01-0.15 (s.e. 0.01-0.02) on the observed scale, corresponding to 0.04-0.48 on the underlying quantitative scale. Heritabilities of conformation traits and favourable correlations to health indicate good opportunities for genetic improvement, of conformation, and indirectly to some extent also of health. However, only limited improvements could be expected for the prevalence of some limb deviations, where frequencies are already low. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Zonabend König, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Breeding objectives for Red Maasai and Dorper sheep in Kenya – a participatory approach
- 2014
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Red Maasai sheep breed is under threat due to indiscriminate crossbreeding and strategies are needed to conserve and improve the breed. The aim of this study was to understand farmers' preferences for important traits of flocks of Red Maasai, Dorper and crosses in two different areas, Amboseli and Isinya, in Kenya. Farmers identified three ewes that represented the best, average, and poorest within its breed group of each farm and gave reasons for their ranking. The most important traits were body size and growth rate and thereafter milk yield. The Red Maasai was preferred for its better reproduction and tolerance against diseases and drought. In the harshest area, Amboseli, all breed groups had about the same body weight, whereas in Isinya, where conditions are better and farmers are more market oriented, Dorper and crosses had superior weights.
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| 5. |
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