Genetic evaluation of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey sires using records from pure- and cross-bred progeny in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in animal science at Massey University

Milk Yield, Milk Fat Yield, Milk Protein Yield and Days in Milk of 72,480 dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian, Jersey and their reciprocal crossbred were analysed. The main objective of this study was to investigate possible use of crossbred progeny records to genetically evaluate sires. Bulls of each breed were evaluated separately using their purebred, crossbred or both purebred and crossbred progeny. First, crossbred progeny were used without including genetic groups. Secondly, crossbred progeny were used with genetic groups included. Rank correlations for different types of evaluations were calculated. In total, 10 different comparisons, 5 for each breed, were performed. The expected correlation of ranks of sires obtained using different data sets were estimated where applicable. Reliability and Prediction Error Variance of sire proofs were estimated both by an approximate method and direct calculation. Over-estimation of reliability and under-estimation of Prediction Error Variance by the approximate method was given. High correlations between ranks of Holstein-Friesian sires evaluated using different data sets were observed, while, the correlation between ranks of Jersey sires evaluated using purebred progeny with ranks of the same sires evaluated using only crossbred progeny was less than expected. Correlations of ranks of Jersey sires evaluated using all progeny with ranks of the same sires evaluated using only crossbred progeny were also low. After plotting EBVs of sires of each breed obtained using only purebred against EBVs of the same sires obtained using both purebred and crossbred progeny, two lines with slightly different slopes were observed. The reasons for the formation of these two lines were investigated. It was found that the number of effective crossbred progeny of sires was affecting the regression of EBVs of sires obtained using all progeny on EBVs of same sires obtained using only purebred progeny. It was concluded that crossbred progeny of Holstein-Friesian sires may be used to assist in their evaluation under New Zealand conditions, but, further research is recommended before using crossbred progeny of Jersey sires in sire evaluation

Post-weaning growth, ultrasound and skeletal measurements, muscularity scores and carcass traits and composition of progeny of five beef suckler cow genotypes

peer-reviewedB. Murphy was in receipt of a Walsh Fellowship provided by Teagasc.Post-weaning growth, ultrasound and skeletal measurements, muscularity scores, and carcass traits and composition of the progeny of spring-calving Limousin (L), Charolais (C), Limousin × Holstein-Friesian (LF), Limousin × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (LLF) and Simmental × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (SLF) cow genotypes was determined over 3 years. Bull and heifer progeny were slaughtered at ~460 and ~610 days of age, respectively. Post-weaning growth did not differ significantly between the genotypes. Progeny from LF and SLF cows had the highest (P<0.001) carcass gain per day of age, whereas progeny from L and C cows had the highest (P < 0.01) carcass conformation score and lowest (P < 0.001) fat score. The proportion of meat in the car¬cass was higher (P < 0.001) and bone lower (P < 0.001), and meat to bone ratio higher (P < 0.001) for the progeny of L cows than all other genotypes, which were similar. Carcass fat proportion was similar for progeny of L and C cows and lower (P < 0.001) than LLF and SLF, with LF being intermediate. The progeny from L cows tended to have the greatest proportion of hind-quarter in the carcass. Genotype effects were mini¬mal when the proportion of high-value cuts was expressed relative to weight of meat in the carcass and hind-quarter. In conclusion, there was no effect of cow genotype on the performance of their progeny from weaning to slaughter. However, crossbred cows with good maternal (milk) traits produced progeny with a higher carcass weight per day of age, whereas the purebred continental cows produced progeny with superior carcass classification traits.Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm

Cellular aspect ratio and cell division mechanics underlie the patterning of cell progeny in diverse mammalian epithelia.

Cell division is essential to expand, shape, and replenish epithelia. In the adult small intestine, cells from a common progenitor intermix with other lineages, whereas cell progeny in many other epithelia form contiguous patches. The mechanisms that generate these distinct patterns of progeny are poorly understood. Using light sheet and confocal imaging of intestinal organoids, we show that lineages intersperse during cytokinesis, when elongated interphase cells insert between apically displaced daughters. Reducing the cellular aspect ratio to minimize the height difference between interphase and mitotic cells disrupts interspersion, producing contiguous patches. Cellular aspect ratio is similarly a key parameter for division-coupled interspersion in the early mouse embryo, suggesting that this physical mechanism for patterning progeny may pertain to many mammalian epithelia. Our results reveal that the process of cytokinesis in elongated mammalian epithelia allows lineages to intermix and that cellular aspect ratio is a critical modulator of the progeny pattern

Validation and Improvement of the Beef Production Sub-index in Ireland for Beef Cattle

End of project reportThe objectives of the following study were to: a. Quantify the effect of sire genetic merit for BCI on: 1. feed intake, growth and carcass traits of progeny managed under bull or steer beef production systems. 2. live animal scores, carcass composition and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in their progeny. b. Compare the progeny of : 1. Late-maturing beef with dairy breeds and 2. Charolais (CH), Limousin (LM), Simmental (SM) and Belgian Blue (BB) sires bred to beef suckler dams, for feed intake, blood hormones and metabolites, live animal measurements, carcass traits and carcass value in bull and steer production systems

Performance and carcass traits of progeny of Limousin sires differing in genetic merit

peer-reviewedGenetic indices for growth and carcass classification are published for beef sires used in Ireland for artificial insemination (AI). The objective of this study was to compare growth and carcass traits of progeny of Limousin sires of low and high genetic index for growth. A total of 70 progeny (42 males and 28 females) out of predominantly Holstein-Friesian cows by 7 AI Limousin sires were reared together to slaughter. The 7 sires were classified as low (n=3) or high (n=4) index based on their published genetic index for growth. The male progeny were reared entire and all animals were slaughtered at about 20 months of age. Carcasses were classified for conformation and fatness, and a rib joint (ribs 6 to 10) was separated into fat, muscle and bone. Growth rate did not differ significantly between the index groups but tended to be higher for the high index progeny. This higher growth rate, combined with a significantly higher kill out proportion, resulted in carcass weight andcarcass weight per day of age being significantly higher for the high index progeny. Carcass conformation and fat class were not affected by genetic index, nor was the composition of the rib joint. Compared with males, females had a significantly lower growth rate and kill out proportion and, consequently, had a significantly lower carcass weight. The proportions of fat and bone in the rib joint were significantly higher, and the proportion of muscle was significantly lower for females than for males. It is concluded that carcass weight reflected sire group genetic index for growth but feed intake, carcass classification and rib joint composition were not affected

A Review and Outlook for the Removal of Radon-Generated Po-210 Surface Contamination

The next generation low-background detectors operating deep underground aim for unprecedented low levels of radioactive backgrounds. The deposition and presence of radon progeny on detector surfaces is an added source of energetic background events. In addition to limiting the detector material's radon exposure in order to reduce potential surface backgrounds, it is just as important to clean surfaces to remove inevitable contamination. Such studies of radon progeny removal have generally found that a form of etching is effective at removing some of the progeny (Bi and Pb), however more aggressive techniques, including electropolishing, have been shown to effectively remove the Po atoms. In the absence of an aggressive etch, a significant fraction of the Po atoms are believed to either remain behind within the surface or redeposit from the etching solution back onto the surface. We explore the chemical nature of the aqueous Po ions and the effect of the oxidation state of Po to maximize the Po ions remaining in the etching solution of contaminated Cu surfaces. We present a review of the previous studies of surface radon progeny removal and our findings on the role of oxidizing agents and a cell potential in the preparation of a clean etching technique.Comment: Proceedings of the Low Radioactivity Techniques (LRT) 2017, Seoul, South Korea, May 24-26, 201

Oviposition Behavior of Indianmeal Moths With and Without Synthetic Pheromone

Plodia interpunctella, commonly known as the Indianmeal moth, is a pyralid moth that is a pest of stored food products (Mohandrass, 2007). While there are many known factors that influence oviposition, like food odor and type of food available (Mohandrass, 2007), the effect of extra sex pheromones is not known. We tested progeny output to see if femaleP. interpunctella will produce less progeny when there is a large dose of synthetic pheromone in the environment. Our research did not show any significant difference between the females exposed to the pheromone and those that were not exposed, in both the total number of progeny produced and weight of the progeny. This experiment is important due to the quantity of pheromone-baited traps that are a major part of pest management for P. interpunctella (Mullen, 1998). This suggests that the widespread use of this pheromone to attract and trap male P. interpunctella does not also have an additional effect on females, which would have been a hidden benefit of this method of trapping and pest control

Diapause and Emergence Patterns in Univoltine and Bivol Tine Populations of Promethea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Data are presented on the diapause and the seasonal emergence patterns of the adults of a univoltine Callosamia promethea population from northern Indiana and a partially bivoltine population from central Illinois. At Urbana, Illinois, the median emergence date of adults from overwintering Illinois pupae was about a month earlier than that of adults from overwintering Indiana pupae. Illinois samples had a much longer emergence period than Indiana samples. Indiana samples showed a slight tendency toward a bimodal emergence pattern, a few individuals emerging in late May and the rest emerging as a tightly synchronized group from late June to mid-July. Early emerging lIIinois moths produced mostly non.diapausing progeny, but the proportion of diapausing progeny increased as the season progressed. Some females produced both diapausing and non· diapausing progeny. Adults from non-diapausing pupae from early August to early September

Genetic exchange in <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>: evidence for mating prior to metacyclic stage development

It is well established that genetic exchange occurs between Trypanosoma brucei parasites when two stocks are used to infect tsetse flies under laboratory conditions and a number of such crosses have been undertaken. Both cross and self-fertilisation can take place and, with the products of mating being the equivalent of F1 progeny in a Mendelian system and. Recently, analysis of a large collection of independent progeny using a series of polymorphic micro and minisatellite markers, has formally demonstrated that the allelic segregation at loci on each of the 11-megabase chromosomes conforms to ratios predicted for a classical diploid genetic system involving meiosis as well as independent assortment of markers on different chromosomes. Further extensive analysis of these F1 progeny, using a large panel of micro and minisatellite markers, has led to the construction of a genetic map of one parasite stock A. MacLeod, A. Tweedie and S. McLellan et al., The genetic map of Trypanosoma brucei, Nucleic Acids Res 33 (2005), pp. 6688–6693. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (10)