Application Possibilities of Selection Indices in the Pannon Ka Rabbit Breed

The Pannon Ka is a synthetic breed which can be used as a maternal crossing partner in the Pannon breeding program of the University of Kaposvár, Hungary. In the present study genetic parameters of the number of kits born alive (NBA) and the litter weight at 21 days of age (LW21) were estimated, and a two trait selection index was created in order to test the possible modification of the selection process of this breed. 14465 NBA and LW21 records were collected from 3509 Pannon Ka does between 1999 and 2016 and the total number of animals in the pedigree was 5627. NBA and LW21 were analyzed jointly in a two-trait animal model which was used to estimate the variance components and to predict the breeding values. The considered fixed effects in the model were parity and year and month of kindling. The covariate factors were the number of kits after equalization and age of the kits at measurement for LW21. The random effects were permanent environmental effect and the additive genetic effect for both traits. The estimated heritability of LW21 and NBA were 0.1±0.01 and 0.06±0.01, respectively. Genetic correlation between the traits was 0.16±0.06. The created selection index had a 50-50% contribution of the measured traits. Nevertheless, the selection index scores showed stronger correlation (0.98) with NBA, than with LW21 (0.36) due to its economic importance

The Genetic Background of the Muscle Development of the Rabbit

Selection programs of hybrid rabbits and meat specific breeds are based on growing the amount of valuable meat parts of the carcass, making more profit to the breeder and extra amount of protein for customers. In this point of view,  it is essential to know the process of muscle development from embryonic to the postnatal phase, and the regulatory genes which are able to determine muscle growth. This review briefly summarizes the prenatal development of the muscle tissue, regarding myogenic regulating factors and the upstream regulation of myogenesis. In addition, there are some significant components of the postnatal phase which are not negligible in terms of muscle development. It is crucial to see the whole process and the latest steps of molecular genetics helping to increase the selection progress

Application Possibilities of Selection Indices in the Pannon Ka Rabbit Breed

The Pannon Ka is a synthetic breed which can be used as a maternal crossing partner in the Pannon breeding program of the University of Kaposvár, Hungary. In the present study genetic parameters of the number of kits born alive (NBA) and the litter weight at 21 days of age (LW21) were estimated, and a two trait selection index was created in order to test the possible modification of the selection process of this breed. 14465 NBA and LW21 records were collected from 3509 Pannon Ka does between 1999 and 2016 and the total number of animals in the pedigree was 5627. NBA and LW21 were analyzed jointly in a two-trait animal model which was used to estimate the variance components and to predict the breeding values. The considered fixed effects in the model were parity and year and month of kindling. The covariate factors were the number of kits after equalization and age of the kits at measurement for LW21. The random effects were permanent environmental effect and the additive genetic effect for both traits. The estimated heritability of LW21 and NBA were 0.1±0.01 and 0.06±0.01, respectively. Genetic correlation between the traits was 0.16±0.06. The created selection index had a 50-50% contribution of the measured traits. Nevertheless, the selection index scores showed stronger correlation (0.98) with NBA, than with LW21 (0.36) due to its economic importance

Examining the racing performance and longevity in the Hungarian Thoroughbred population

The aim of the study was to examine the factors affecting longevity (as the number of years spent in race) in the Hungarian Thoroughbred horse population, and to investigate the total earnings won during lifetime and per start. The performance data was collected from 3,029 Thoroughbred horses (1,704 female, 1,674 male) born between 1996 and 2018 in Hungary with full known racing career. A multivariate generalized linear model was used to estimate the effect of sex of the horses, age at first start and the month of birth to longevity, expressed by the number of starts and years spent in race. Age of the horses at first start had a significant effect on the years spent in race, thereafter the model was dissected into age groups initiating a more accurate research. This showed that birth month also have a momentous effect on the examined traits in case of 2-year-old horses. Age of the horses at first start also affected the lifetime earnings. Sex of the horses had no effect on longevity in 2-year olds however, males are more likely to race because female horses tend to win less money

Az emberi test kültéri hőterhelésének a humán állapothatározóktól való függése

A new clothing resistance model for estimating outdoor thermal load of a walking individual has been proposed by our research team. The model is used as a tool to analyse the relationship between clothing resistance (estimated by this new model) and body structural parameters in different weather conditions. More than 3000 children’s and adults’ body structural – BMI, relative fat mass (fatBMI) and relative muscle mass (muscleBMI) data, as well as simulated data of weather conditions having influence on thermal perception were used in the analysis. The relationship between BMI, fatBMI, muscleBMI and clothing resistance showed very strong relations both in simulated winter and summer conditions, in both sexes in almost every age-group. The bigger the BMI, fatBMI, muscleBMI, the smaller clothing resistance (smaller heating demand) was estimated in winter weather conditions, while the bigger clothing resistance (smaller cooling demand) was estimated in summer weather conditions. Females’ clothing resistance was higher in winter weather conditions, while was smaller in summer conditions than the clothing resistance of their male age-peers having the same relative body mass, fat mass or muscle mass. BMI showed the strongest relations with clothing resistance both in summer and winter thermal stresses. The preliminary results of the project confirmed that age, gender, BMI and presumably relative fat and muscle mass should be built in the procedure of parameterization of clothing resistance. Keywords: Weather conditions; Thermal load; Clothing resistance; Body structural parameters; Body mass index