Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Growth, Feed Consumption, and Conformation Traits for Double-Muscled Belgian Blue Bulls Performance-Tested in Belgium

For 1,442 Belgian Blue bulls performance- tested at the Centre de Selection de la Race Blanc-Bleue Belge, nine traits were observed: height at withers at 7 mo, height at withers at 13 mo, weight at 7 mo, weight at 13 mo, average feed consumption of concentrates, average daily gain, average feed consumption of concentrates per average daily gain, average feed consumption of concentrates per mean metabolic weight, and price per kilogram of live weight. This price is based on muscle conformation and is therefore used as muscle conformation score. Restricted maximum likelihood with a derivative-free algorithm was used to estimate (co)variance components because there were different models and missing values per trait. Estimates of heritabilities were above .50 except for average feed consumption per average daily gain (.16) and average feed consumption per mean metabolic weight (.33). Estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations between height at withers and weight traits were positive and moderate to high. Average daily gain showed a negative genetic correlation with weight at 7 mo ( -.68) but had positive correlations with height at withers at 13 mo and weight at 13 mo (.22 and .43). Muscle conformation expressed as price per kilogram of live weight was related to low average feed consumption per average daily gain. Average feed consumption showed high correlations with weight at 7 mo and weight at 13 mo. Average feed consumption per average daily gain had a high negative genetic correlation with average daily gain ( -.89)

Crafting resilient futures by looking to the past: 25 years of online learning at FSU and Illinois

For 25 years, the iSchools at Florida State University (FSU) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have been leaders in online learning, providing education to students who might not otherwise have had access to a master’s-level degree. This panel, made up of faculty and staff from FSU and Illinois, will discuss the history of online learning at these schools, the challenges faced and lessons learned, and the positive impact their online programs have had on access, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The landscape of higher education and of the information professions has changed significantly over the past quarter century. The rise of the Internet, organizational realignment and mergers in higher education, and the iSchool movement have all had an impact on the information professions and the ways we educate students to become information professionals. In the mid-90s, FSU and Illinois began offering online programs as a way of contributing to the resilience of the information professions, especially librarianship, and ensuring the resilience of their own programs. Both programs were pioneers in offering online learning, and from the outset they employed unique strategies: both use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning, while Illinois also uses a cohort model. Online learning at both institutions has fostered resilience by increasing access for students; promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion; encouraging innovative uses of technology; and inspiring scholarship that bridges online learning research and practice. This panel will consist of four 10-minute presentations by faculty and staff from FSU and Illinois (see below for specific presentation titles and descriptions). The session will also feature a discussion with the audience organized around three questions: 1. What have been your best successes with online learning? 2. What have been your greatest challenges, and how have you dealt with them? 3. What is the future of online learning—both at your institution and in general? Presentations “Crafting Resilience Through Engagement: Synchronous Online Learning” – Kathleen Burnett (FSU): Today, there are numerous options for learning management systems and applications to support interaction online, but in 1996 when FSU and Illinois began their programs, these simply did not exist. At FSU, what became one of the earliest research progams to investigate interaction in online learning, began as a collaborative effort to construct the best environment we could to meet our goal of serving the geographically and socio-economically diverse population of Florida, without uprooting them from the communities they called home. “Crafting Resilience Through Community: The Cohort Model in Online Learning” – Linda C. Smith (Illinois): A distinguishing feature of the Illinois Leep online option for the MS/LIS degree has been the emphasis on shaping a cohort identity as a means of building community and enhancing retention and student success. The program provides students flexibility both with courses they take and the pace at which they move through the program. Cohort identity is not defined by taking a large number of courses together, but instead by forming relationships that remain a strong source of support throughout the program and beyond. The collaborative spirit that infused cohort 1 in 1996 continues to characterize cohorts today. “Crafting Resilience Through Access: The Role of Technology” – Jill Gengler (Illinois): Technology can be a tool that enables access for anyone who wants further education. Early on in the Illinois Leep program, the support staff chose solutions that allowed students to overcome barriers to earn their degrees. Staff worked with campus partners to make the program accessible to individuals with disabilities. Our program remained committed to a caring approach to ensure all students felt supported in order to overcome feelings of isolation in a distance education program. The goal was to make technology as simple as possible to enable our outstanding faculty and students to collaborate effectively. “Crafting Resilience By Connecting Research and Practice in Online Learning” – Michelle Kazmer (FSU): Early research about knowledge- and community-building through synchronous classes and residency requirements at Illinois demonstrated the importance of the residency to student success. Ongoing research in FSU’s program, which avoided an on-campus requirement, showed how community could be supported for entirely-remote students. Simultaneously, scholars throughout the discipline generated a robust body of research about online learning in LIS. This research helped promulgate the open-minded approaches to evidence-based technology experimentation and implementation that were fostered by the early-adopter programs and have shaped 25 years of resilience in LIS online education. Panel Participants Don Latham (moderator), Professor, School of Information, FSU. Don was a student in the master’s program at FSU when the online learning program began. Since joining the faculty, he has taught a number of graduate-level online courses using a variety of platforms. Kathleen Burnett, F. William Summers Professor and Director, School of Information, FSU. Kathy’s first faculty meeting at FSU was held in July 1996, following the announcement that the then School of Library and Information Studies would offer the first comprehensive distance learning degree program at FSU. Although her contract had not yet started, she eagerly darted down the rabbit hole of online learning, where she can still be found teaching and problem-solving 25 years later. Linda C. Smith, Professor Emerita and Interim Executive Associate Dean, Illinois. Linda taught online from fall 1997 through spring 2019 and coordinated the Leep online option for the MS/LIS degree. With Bruce Kingma of Syracuse, she co-founded the WISE (Web-based Information Science Education) consortium. Jill Gengler, Director of Alumni Affairs, Illinois. After earning her MS from the School of Information Sciences, Jill spent 10 years supporting the technology for the Leep program followed by 10 years managing the iSchool’s Help Desk. She is currently the Director of Alumni Affairs for the iSchool since her favorite aspect of her technology jobs was always talking to the students. Michelle Kazmer, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Information, FSU. Michelle was the first online TA in the Illinois “LEEP3” program in 1997, and joined the faculty at FSU in 2002. She has conducted research in community processes in online learning, and continues to relish teaching online after (almost!) 25 years

Estimation of (co)variance components for Jersey type traits using a repeatability model

(Co)variance components for final score and 15 linear type traits of Jersey cows were estimated by multitrait REML using multiple diagonalization and a repeatability model with 34,999 records of 22,354 cows. Multiple diagonalization gave relative off-diagonals (ratio of squared off-diagonals to the product of diagonals) of <0.1%. Heritabilities and repeatabilities, respectively, were estimated as 0.29 and 0.48 for final score, 0.40 and 0.57 for stature, 0.26 and 0.39 for strength, 0.28 and 0.43 for dairy form, 0.13 and 0.25 for foot angle, 0.13 and 0.25 for rear legs (side view), 0.27 and 0.41 for body depth, 0.31 and 0.52 for rump angle, 0.22 and 0.33 for thurl width, 0.22 and 0.36 for fore udder attachment, 0.28 and 0.46 for rear udder height, 0.26 and 0.42 for rear udder width, 0.32 and 0.48 for udder depth, 0.20 and 0.36 for udder cleft, 0.29 and 0.46 for front teat placement, and 0.31 and 0.48 for teat length. Estimates of heritability generally were higher, and estimates of repeatability were lower, than values used previously for USDA genetic evaluations, which were based on data from the 1970s and early 1980s. Final score was highly correlated both genetically and phenotypically with dairy form and rear udder traits. These estimates of heritabilities and (co)variance components are necessary for multitrait genetic evaluation of linear type traits of US Jerseys

On some invariant ideals, and on extension of differentiations to seminormalization

AbstractLet A be a noetherian integral domain, D=(1,D1,…,Di…) be a differentation of A, and B be a ring such that A⊂B⊂Ā. In the paper we mainly prove (whenever Ā is finite over A): (a) if α is the conductor of A in B, then A√α is D-invariant. (b) D extends to the seminormalization +A of A in Ā

Neuroblastic tumors of the adrenal gland in elderly patients: a case report and review of the Literature

Background: Neuroblastic neoplasms (NN) include ganglioneuromas (GN), ganglioneuroblastomas (GNB), and neuroblastomas (NB). They generally arise in childhood from primitive sympathetic ganglion cells. Their incidence in adults, especially among elderly, is extremely low. Case Presentation: This is the case of a 74-year-old woman with history of abdominal pain, weakness and night sweating since several months. Blood pressure was normal. CT-scan showed a 10 cm left adrenal mass, without other pathologic findings. An open left-sided adrenalectomy was performed. Recovery was uneventful with hospital length of stay of 8 days. Based on morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features the diagnosis was a nodular GNB. A positron emission tomography (PET) performed 6 weeks after the resection did not show any residual tumor or distant metastases. The patient was followed-up with annual clinical and radiological exams. Conclusion: This case presentation, associated with a review of the literature, illustrates the importance to include NN in the preoperative differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors in adults and highlights the need for multidisciplinary patient work-up and management

Genetic parameters analysis of milk citrate for Holstein cows in early lactation

peer reviewedDelivering innovative and holistic monitoring and decision-making PLF tools relies on the availability of critical biomarkers. Negative energy balance is a difficult trait complex as there is a difference between perceived imbalance and physiological imbalance. Milk citrate is considered to be an early biomarker of negative energy balance for dairy cows in early lactation, but its genetic analysis is lacking. The objectives of this study were to (1) show the distribution of milk citrate content in early lactation; (2) analyze the genetic parameters of milk citrate. The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the predicted milk citrate model by milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra in external validation were 0.86 and 0.76 mmol/L, and available from DIM 5 to 50 d. Records were divided into three traits according to the first (citrate1), second (citrate2), and from third to fifth party (citrate3+). After editing, the data included 134,517 records, from 52,198 cows, and 4,479 animals in the pedigree with 566,170 SNPs. A multiple-trait repeatability model was used in this study. The citrate is decreasing in early lactation, on average from 10.04 to 8.58 mmol/L from DIM 5 to 50 d. When cows start to be in energy balance (DIM ≈ 40 d), milk citrate was 8.82 mmol/l. The average of citrate1 was 8.93 mmol/l; citrate2 was 8.93 mmol/l; citrate3+ was 9.17 mmol/l. The heritability for citrate1 was 0.40; for citrate2, 0.37 and for citrate3+, 0.35. The ranges of genetic correlations between the three traits were from 0.98 to 0.99, and of phenotypic correlations, from 0.41 to 0.42. This study shows that considering MIR-based milk citrate as an indicator to identify negative energy balance should be possible in early lactation and that this indicator could help select for animals less affected by negative energy balance

Relationship between proxies of energy states and nitrogen use efficiency for Holstein cows in early lactation

peer reviewedThe purposes of this study were to estimate the genetic parameters of the energy status indicator (C18:1 cis-9) of Holstein cows in early lactation and its relationship with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) (predicted NUE and milk urea concentration). After editing, the data included 143,517 records within 5 to 50 days in milk from 52,198 cows, and 3,546 animals in the pedigree with 28,427 SNPs. Two multiple-trait repeatability models were used in this study. In early lactation, the average C18:1 cis-9 was gradually decreasing and was highest in May. The heritabilities of C18:1 cis-9 for primiparous and multiparous cows were 0.12 and 0.09, respectively. The C18:1 cis-9 had positive genetic correlations with predicted NUE (from 0.28 to 0.67), and weak genetic correlations with milk yield, milk urea concentration (from-0.15 to 0.14). This study suggests that breeding for NUE alone may enhance energy troubles in early lactation

Genetic evaluation for birth traits in dual-purpose Belgian Blue using a mixed inheritance model

In this study a genetic evaluation, based on a mixed inheritance model, was developed for birth traits (calving ease, gestation length and birth weight) in dual-purpose Belgian Blue (dpBB), a separated type inside Belgian Blue Herd-book. About 80% of dpBB animals have a single or a double copy of the muscular hypertrophy gene. This heterogeneity is the reason of a great variability in birth performance traits like calving ease or birth weight. The muscular hypertrophy gene substitution and dominance effects for calf genotype had a significant impact both on birth weight and calving ease, in accordance with partially recessive expression of the muscular hypertrophy gene. Observed high heritability estimates of direct calving ease (0.334) and birth weight (0.260) suggested that a large genetic variability for birth traits was present in dpBB, and that genetic improvement was possible through selection. This variability has allowed dpBB breeders to apply mass selection successfully in the past. However analysis of breeding values showed that a sire selection for calving ease within genotype was progressively applied by breeders, the selection intensity being more important for calving ease in double muscled lines. This study illustrated the possible confusion that can appear by the use of a major gene in selection, and the importance to use appropriated models combining polygenic and monogenic information, like mixed inheritance models

Defining a nitrogen efficiency index in Holstein cows and assessing its potential effect on the breeding program of bulls.

peer reviewedThe purposes of this study were (1) to explore the relationship between 3 milk mid-infrared predicted features including nitrogen intake (NINT), milk true protein N (MTPN), and milk urea-N yield (MUNY); (2) to integrate these 3 features into an N efficiency index (NEI) and analyses approximate genetic correlations between the NEI and 37 traits (indices) of interest; and (3) to assess the potential effect of including the NEI into breeding programs of bulls. The edited data were 1,043,171 test-day records on 342,847 cows in 1,931 herds and 143,595 test-day records on 53,660 cows in 766 herds used for estimating breeding values (EBV) and variance components, respectively. The used records were within 5 to 50 d in milk. The records were grouped into primiparous and multiparous. The genetic parameters for the included mid-infrared features and EBV of the animals included in the pedigree were estimated using a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. Then, the EBV of the NINT, MTPN, MUNY were integrated into the NEI using a selection index assuming weights based on the N partitioning. The approximate genetic correlations between the NEI and 37 traits of interest were estimated using the EBV of the selected bulls. The bulls born from 2011 to 2014 with NEI were selected and the NEI distribution of these bulls having EBV for the 8 selected traits (indices) was checked. The heritability and repeatability estimates for NINT, MTPN, and MUNY ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, and 0.37 to 0.65, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between NINT, MTPN, and MUNY ranged from -0.31 to 0.87, and -0.02 to 0.42, respectively. The NEI ranged from -13.13 to 12.55 kg/d. In total, 736 bulls with reliability ≥0.50 for all included traits (NEI and 37 traits) and at least 10 daughters distributed in at least 10 herds were selected to investigate genetic aspects of the NEI. The NEI had positive genetic correlations with production yield traits (0.08-0.46), and negative genetic correlations with the investigated functional traits and indices (-0.71 to -0.07), except for the production economic index and functional type economic index. The daughters of bulls with higher NEI had lower NINT and MUNY, and higher MTPN. Furthermore, 26% of the bulls (n = 50) with NEI born between 2011 to 2014 had higher NEI and global economic index than the average in the selected bulls. Finally, the developed NEI has the advantage of large-scale prediction and therefore has the potential for routine application in dairy cattle breeding in the future.13. Climate actio

Genome-wide association study for selected cheese-making properties in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows

peer reviewedThis study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and identify genomic region(s) associated with selected cheese-making properties (CMP) in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue (DPBB) cows. Edited data were 46,301 test-day records of milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, casein percentage, milk calcium content (CC), coagulation time (CT), curd firmness after 30 min from rennet addition (a30), and milk titratable acidity (MTA) collected from 2014 to 2020 on 4,077 first-parity (26,027 test-day records), and 3,258 secondparity DPBB cows (20,274 test-day records) distributed in 124 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Data of 28,266 SNP, located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) of 1,699 animals were used. Random regression test-day models were used to estimate genetic parameters through the Bayesian Gibbs sampling method. The SNP solutions were estimated using a single-step genomic BLUP approach. The proportion of the total additive genetic variance explained by windows of 25 consecutive SNPs (with an average size of ~2 Mb) was calculated, and regions accounting for at least 1.0% of the total additive genetic variance were used to search for candidate genes. Heritability estimates for the included CMP ranged from 0.19 (CC) to 0.50 (MTA), and 0.24 (CC) to 0.41 (MTA) in the first and second parity, respectively. The genetic correlation estimated between CT and a30 varied from −0.61 to −0.41 and from −0.55 to −0.38 in the first and second lactations, respectively. Negative genetic correlations were found between CT and milk yield and composition, while those estimated between curd firmness and milk composition were positive. Genome-wide association analyses results identified 4 genomic regions (BTA1, BTA3, BTA7, and BTA11) associated with the considered CMP. The identified genomic regions showed contrasting results between parities and among the different stages of each parity. It suggests that different sets of candidate genes underlie the phenotypic expression of the considered CMP between parities and lactation stages of each parity. The findings of this study can be used for future implementation and use of genomic evaluation to improve the cheese-making traits in DPBB cows