PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY OF FERTILITY AND MILK TRAITS IN OFFSPRING OBTAINED BY INSEMINATION BY SEXED AND CONVENTIONAL SEMEN OF HOLSTEIN BREED BULLS

The objective of this paper was to compare heifers reproductive traits and characteristics of their calves after artificial insemination performed by conventional (non-sexed) and sexed sperm on 6 commercial farms in Serbia. Conception rate was 55% and 44% for conventional and sexed semen, an average gestation length being 274.6 and 274.9 days, respectively. Average body mass at birth was 37.47 and 36.75 kg for non-sexed and sexed semen, respectively. The rate of stillbirths and twinning was 6.19 and 3.78% for conventional and 7.54 and 1.13% for sexed semen, respectively. The use of conventional semen exerted no statistically significant (P>0.05) effect on female: male calves relationship (51.96 : 48.04) while artificial insemination by sexed semen highly significantly (P<0.01) changed calf sex-ratio (85.10 : 14.90). First-calf heifers originating from sires whose sperm was obtained in conventional way produced 7880 kg milk with 269 kg milk fat and 242 kg protein in standard lactation, while first-calf heifers originating from sires whose sperm was sex-sorted produced 8184 kg milk with 251 kg milk fat and 242.3 kg protein. Type of insemination (conventional and sexed semen) did not significantly affect the studied milk yield traits (P>0.05)

Utjecaj DGAT1 genetskih varijanti na količinu i kvalitetu mlijeka holstein, simentalske i smeđe pasmine goveda u Hrvatskoj

The aim of this study was to determine allele frequency at the diacylglycerol-O-transferase 1 gene (DGAT1) K232A polymorphic site and effect of allelic variants K and A on milk production traits of Holstein (dairy), Simmental and Brown Swiss (dual purpose) cattle breeds in Croatia. The DNA was extracted from hair of 371 cows, while coding region of DGAT1p.K232A was amplified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Dominant frequency of K allele was determined in all three analysed breeds: Holstein (0.775), Simmental (0.616) and Brown Swiss (0.651). The most Holstein cows were homozygotus for KK variant (0.637), while dominant genotype in other two breeds was KA (Simmental 0.647; Brown Swiss 0.644). Positive effect of KK genotype on milk yield was detected in Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds, while in Simmental breed was negative (-220.8 kg; -463.6 kg) in regard to KA and AA genotype. Milk of cows with KK genotype in Holstein breed, KA in Simmental and AA in Brown Swiss were found as the most favourable in terms of fat content. Cows of AA genotype in all the three analysed breeds have had higher milk protein content. Statistical analysis was performed using the GLM procedure, including genotype and breed effects as independent variables. The effects of DGAT1genotypes on milk quantity and quality were not significant (P>0.05).Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi frekvenciju alela diacilglicerol-0-transferase 1 gena (DGAT1) K232A polimorfnog mjesta i utjecaja alelnih varijanti K i A na količinu i kvalitetu mlijeka tri pasmine krava, mliječnog i dvojnog tipa proizvodnje u Hrvatskoj. Istraživanje je uključivalo 371 jedinku holstein, simentalske i smeđe pasmine krava. DNA je izolirana iz dlake, kodogena regija DGAT1p.K232A gena umnožena je korištenjem PCR-RFLP metode. Dominantna frekvencija alela K utvrđena je kod sve tri istraživane pasmine: holstein (0,775), simentalske (0,616) i smeđe pasmine (0,651). Većina krava holstein pasmine bila je homozgotna za KK varijantu (0,637), dok je dominantan genotip za druge dvije pasmine bio KA (simentalska 0,647; smeđa pasmina 0,644). Pozitivan utjecaj KK genotipa na proizvodnju mlijeka zabilježen je populacijama u holstein i smeđe pasmine, dok je u simentalskoj populaciji bio negativan (-220,8 kg; -463,6 kg) u odnosu na KA i AA genotipove. Mlijeko krava KK genotipa holstein, KA genotipa simentalske i AA genotipa u smeđe pasmine imalo je veći sadržaj mliječne masti. Krave AA genotipa u sve tri istraživane pasmine proizvodile su mlijeko s većim sadržajem proteina. Statistička analiza provedena je uz pomoć GLM procedure, uvažavajući genotip i pasminu kao neovisne varijable. Utjecaj DGAT1 genotipova na istraživane kvantitativne i kvalitativne osobine mlijeka nisu bile signifikantne (P>0,05)

Relationship between genetic polymorphism of k- casein and quantitative milk yield traits in cattle breeds and crossbreds in Serbia

The quality and yield of milk, and therefore of dairy products as well, depends directly on their protein composition. Milk gene proteins represent structural locuses that are functionally associated with milk production. In cattle selection a special importance is attached to the variability of kappa casein (kappa-CN) as one of the four casein milk proteins. Genotypes of 21 Simmental breed cows, 20 crossbred cows obtained by crossing of Simmental and Red Holstein breed, and 25 cows of autochthonous Busha breed were determined for kappa casein by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) of amplified DNA. The kappa-CN genotype frequencies for Simmental breed were: 42.8; 47.6 and 9.6 % for AA, AB and BB genotype, for crossbreds: 75.0; 25.0 and 0.0% and for Busha individuals: 41.7; 50.0 and 8.3 %, respectively. Frequencies of A and B alleles, assessed on the basis of genotypic frequencies were 0.667 and 0.333 for Simmental breed, 0.875 and 0.125 for crossbreds and 0.667 and 0.333 for autochthonous Busha cattle breed, respectively. For confirming the phenotypic variability of milk yield in standard lactation, yield of milk fat and the content of milk fat per kappa-CN genotypes within breeds observed the fixed model which included the breed effect, lactation in order and effect of kappa-CN genotype (AA, AB and BB) was used. The kappa-CN genotype statistically significantly (p lt = 0.05) influenced milk yield and highly significantly (p lt = 0.01) milk fat yield, while the content of milk fat was not statistically significantly (p >0.05) influenced in examined animals

Characteristics and possible utilisation of Busha population in different Balkan countries

Received: 2018-05-07 | Accepted: 2018-05-14 | Available online: 2018-11-26https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2018.21.04.155-158Busha cattle are indigenous breed in many Balkan countries. Because of the economic, cultural and scientific reasons it is very important to protect biological diversity of autochthonous breeds like Busha. In the past several decades, as a result of uncontrolled crossing of this cattle with some more productive breeds, the number of purebred Busha animals is permanently being reduced which imposes an urgent need for setting up in situ and ex situ conservation program for this breed. Since Busha is bred in many Balkan countries, the aim of this study was to define main productive, reproductive and exterior traits of Busha cattle in the following countries: Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia. Also, number of animals and possibility of future production system was analysed. Analysed data indicate that highest milk production potential and lowest age at first mating has Serbian Busha (till 2000 kg in lactation, at 18 months). Regarding the exterior traits, smallest frame was observed in Bosnian and Macedonian Busha. The population decrease in the past several decades was determined in all analysed countries. The conservation programs in Croatia and Serbia resulted in certain increase of Busha population, but aiming successful preservation of the breed, economically effective production systems should be put in practice. The branding of Busha’s products could result in necessary added value. Taking into account similarity between all Busha breeds as well as population sizes, branding should be organized on regional level.Keywords: Busha breed, Balkan region, characteristics, preservationReferencesAdilović, S., Andrijanić, M. (2005) Indigenous Breeds of Domestic Animals of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo.Agency of Food and Veterinary (AFV) of RM (2014) Cattle breed structure in Macedonia. [Online] Skopje: Agency of Food and Veterinary. Available at: http://www.fva.gov.mk/index.php?lang=mk [Accessed 1 March 2018].Brka, M., Zečević, E., Dokso, A., Rahmanović, A. (2007) Identifikacija i evidencija brojnog stanja autohtonih pasmina goveda i konja Bosne i Hercegovine. Sarajevo: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.Brka, M., Omanović, H., Zečević, E., Dokso, A. (2011) Model the preservation of indigenous breeds. In: Sustainable conservation of livestock breeds diversity for the future: impact of globalisation of animal breeding and the loss of farm animal genetic diversity – a conflict? 8th Global Conference on the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources. Tekirdag: Namik Kemal University, 455-458.Bunevski G., Saltamarski Z. (2017) Genetic erosion of genetic resources of cattle in the R. of Macedonia. In: 3rd International Symposium for Agriculture and Food – ISAF 2017. 18th to 20th of October 2017, Ohrid, Macedonia.Croatian Agricultural Agency (2017) Annual report for 2016 – Cattle Breeding. [Online] Križevci: Croatian Agricultural Agency. Available at: http://www.hpa.hr/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Govedarstvo.pdf [Accessed 1 May 2018].Institute for Animal Husbandry (2018) Main breeding program for autochthonous breeds of Serbia. Annual reports 2018. Belgrade: Institute for Animal Husbandry.Škrtić, Z., Levart, A., Jovanovac, S., Gantner, V., Kompan, D. (2008) Fatty Acid Profile in Milk of Busha, Cika and Simmental Breed. Acta agriculturae Slovenica, Suplement 2, 213-217

Genetic Parameters for Functional Longevity, Type Traits, and Production in the Serbian Holstein

In this study, the authors focused on the evaluation of the genetic parameters of longevity, milk yield traits, and type traits in dairy cattle populations in the Republic of Serbia. The total dataset used consisted of production records and pedigree data for 32,512 Holstein cows that calved from 1981 to 2015. The animal model was applied to determine the variance and covariance components and genetic parameters of the analyzed traits by applying the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) approach and using the programs VCE6 and PEST. The heritability of longevity traits was estimated using the Survival Kit V6.0 software package. Variance and covariance were estimated for five production traits: milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY), milk fat content (MC), and protein content (PC), and three longevity traits: length of productive life (LPL), lifetime milk yield (LMY), and the number of lactations achieved (NL) as well as for 18 standard type traits. Heritabilities for the milk, fat, and protein yield traits were 0.20 (MY), 0.15 (FY), and 0.19 (PY), respectively. The estimated coefficients of heritability for the longevity traits were higher when using the Weibull proportional hazards model compared to the traditional linear methods and ranged from 0.08 for NL to 0.10 for LPL. Heritability values for the type traits varied from a low of 0.10 (RLSsv—rear legs set–side view) to medium values of 0.32 (ST-stature). Genetic correlations were found between MY and the following longevity traits: LPL, LMY, and NL with values of −0.18, −0.11, and −0.09, respectively. Genetic correlations were found between MY and a number of linear type traits and varied from 0.02 (between MY and RUH-rear udder height) to 0.28 (between MY and FUA-fore udder attachment). Genetic correlations between the 18 investigated type traits ranged from −0.33 between TL (top line) and RTP (rear teats position) to 0.71 between AN (angularity) and RUH (rear udder height). Genetic correlations between most linear type traits and longevity traits (LPL, LMY, and NL) were generally negative and very low. The highest positive genetic correlation was found between UD and LPL (rxy = 0.38). © 2023 by the authors

Effect of β-lactoglobulin, κ-casein and αs1-casein polymorphic allelic variant on milk production traits in Croatian population of Holstein, Simmental and Brown cattle breed

Cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti utjecaj polimorfnih varijanti β-laktoglobulina, κ-kazeina i αs1-kazeina na ukupnu proizvodnju mlijeka te prosječni udio mliječne masti i bjelančevina u mlijeku holstein, simentalske i smeđe pasmine goveda u Hrvatskoj tijekom prve tri laktacije. Premda su uočeni određeni utjecaji polimorfnih varijanti β-laktoglobulina, κ-kazeina i αs1-kazeina na visinu proizvodnje mlijeka istraženih pasmina goveda, razlike nisu bile značajne. Istraživanjem su utvrđeni utjecaji polimorfnih varijanti β-laktoglobulina, κ-kazeina i αs1-kazeina na prosječni udio mliječne masti u mlijeku istraženih pasmina goveda, no uočene razlike također nisu bile značajne. Utvrđene razlike u udjelu bjelančevina u kravljem mlijeku s različitim polimorfnim varijantama β-laktoglobulina, κ-kazeina i αs1-kazeina nisu bile značajne, osim u slučaju BC genotipa αs1-kazeina koji je pokazao pozitivan utjecaj (P<0,05) na udio bjelančevina u mlijeku krava holstein pasmine.The object of the present study was to analyse effect of polymorphic allelic variants of β-lactoglobulin, κ-casein and αs1-casein on total milk yield, fat and protein content in milk of Holstein, Simmental and Brown cattle breeds in Croatia during the first three standard lactations. Although the certain effects of polymorphic variants of β-lactoglobulin, κ-casein and αs1-casein on the level of milk yield in analyzed breeds of cattle are observed, those effects were not significant. The effect of polymorphic variants of β-lactoglobulin, κ-casein and αs1-casein on average fat content in milk of analyzed breeds has noticed, although differences were not significant. Differences in protein content in milk with different polymorphic variants of β-lactoglobulin, κ-casein and αs1-casein were not significant, except in case of BC genotype of αs1-casein, which was significant (P<0.05) on protein content in the milk of Holstein breed

Research on Spontaneously Emerged Chromosomal Aberrations in the Periphery Blood Lymphocytes in Cattle (‘Buša’ Breed)

Knowledge of spontaneous aberrations, namely, of their frequency in non-irradiated cells is of paramount importance not only in cytogenetic research, but also in contemporary animal production. The paper deals with research on spontaneously emerged chromosomal aberrations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in the cattle of ‘Buša’ breed. To obtain metaphase chromosomes the conventional method of lymphocyte cultivation was used, albeit slightly modified and adapted to the examined animals and the laboratory conditions. The research findings indicate that a certain percent of spontaneously emerged chromosomal aberrations of chromatid type (gap and break) have been found in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in the cattle of ‘Buša’ breed

Polymorphism of the kappa-casein gene in two Bosnian autochthonous cattle breeds

Busa is an old endangered autochthonous breed of the western Balkan, especially Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Albania. A related breed is Gatacko, derived from Busa x Tirolean Grey crossbreds. Fifteen purebred Busa cattle and thirteen Gatacko animals were genotyped for polymorphisms at the kappa-casein gene by a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) essay. The alleles A, B and C were found and the allelic frequencies were 0.46 (A), 0.46 (B) and 0.08 (C) in Busa cattle and 0.58 (A) and 0.42 (B) in Gatacko. Only AA, AB, BB and BC genotypes occurred. Further alleles were not detected and are therefore either absent in both populations or rare. The allele "B" found in this small population will be useful for a sire selection program in the future

Quantification of Selected Toxic and Potentially Toxic Elements in Vegetables, and Health Risk Assessment

Vegetables play an important role in human nutrition and their importance in diet is determined by its chemical composition. Numerous studies indicate a high degree of contamination of soil and plants produced in certain agro-ecological conditions, especially near urban and industrial areas. Accordingly, toxic and potentially toxic elements (aluminum, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc) were quantified in edible parts of four vegetable species (potato, cabbage, carrot and broccoli) by means of inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES). In addition, health risk assessment was done and expressed through estimated weekly intake of elements (EWI) and hazard quotient (HQ). Samples of each species originating from different localities were collected from three green markets in the city of Belgrade (Serbia). The content of studied elements ranged from 1.32 to 4.00, 0.31 to 5.77, 3.50 to 23.11, 1.82 to 11.17 and 2.11 to 10.62 mg/kg for aluminum, cooper, manganese, nickel and zinc, respectively. Chromium was detected in carrot sample (1.76 mg/kg), whereas concentration of lead in two samples of broccoli exceeded the maximum allowed concentration (>0.3 mg/kg) set by the national regulations. The average estimated weekly intakes for Al, Cu, and Zn were within the safe limits set by FAO/WHO, while for Ni and Pb in some vegetables were considerably higher than proposed values. In respect to the obtained results, a great weekly health risk was indicated for chromium, nickel and lead with the highest HQ values: 2.44, 10.32 and 2.02, respectively. The results of the study impose the necessity for continuous monitoring of harmful elements content in individual vegetable crops as well as strict regulative guide-lines in order to diminish possibility of contamination

Content and Nutritional Value of Selected Biogenic Elements in Monofloral Sunflower Bee-Collected Pollen from Serbia

Pollen (floral or bee-collected) can be used as a good source of different nutrients including several important biogenic elements (minerals). The aim of this study was to determine content of selected biogenic elements (phosphorous, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc) in monofloral bee-collected pollen originated from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants grown in Serbia and to estimate its nutritional value regarding to elements content. In that purpose ICP-OES analytical method was applied. According to obtained results the examined pollen sample contains above mentioned elements in following quantities: P – 3523.98 mg/kg; K – 2869.13 mg/kg; S – 1951.74 mg/kg; Ca – 1919.20 mg/kg; Mg – 654.36 mg/kg; Fe –83.55 mg/kg; Zn – 45.92 mg/kg of dry weight. Based on recommended daily intakes for iron, phosphorus and zinc application of pollen, as food or food ingredient, will cover meaningful part of human needs for these three important elements