Livestock systems research in Nigeria's subhumid zone

Compilation of proceedings of the 2nd ILCA/NAPRI symposium on livestock production in subhumid Nigeria discussing the ecology, vegetation & land use & development potential of the zone; traditional cattle & small ruminant production practices; research updates in livestock systems research, animal nutrition & feed production; extension & adoption of innovations; and future research

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the Polynesian motif and the peopling of Madagascar

More than a decade of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies have given the 'Polynesian motif' renowned status as a marker for tracing the late-Holocene expansion of Austronesian speaking populations. Despite considerable research on the Polynesian motif in Oceania, there has been little equivalent work on the western edge of its expansion - leaving major issues unresolved regarding the motif's evolutionary history. This has also led to considerable uncertainty regarding the settlement of Madagascar. In this study, we assess mtDNA variation in 266 individuals from three Malagasy ethnic groups: the Mikea, Vezo, and Merina. Complete mtDNA genome sequencing reveals a new variant of the Polynesian motif in Madagascar; two coding region mutations define a Malagasy-specific sub-branch. This newly defined 'Malagasy motif' occurs at high frequency in all three ethnic groups (13-50%), and its phylogenetic position, geographic distribution, and estimated age all support a recent origin, but without conclusively identifying a specific source region. Nevertheless, the haplotype's limited diversity, similar to those of other mtDNA haplogroups found in our Malagasy groups, best supports a small number of initial settlers arriving to Madagascar through the same migratory process. Finally, the discovery of this lineage provides a set of new polymorphic positions to help localize the Austronesian ancestors of the Malagasy, as well as uncover the origin and evolution of the Polynesian motif itself

Use of Unstructured Event-Based Reports for Global Infectious Disease Surveillance

Free or low-cost unstructured reports offer an alternative to traditional indicator-based outbreak reporting

Fulani cattle productivity and management in the Kachia grazing reserve, Nigeria

Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR) in northern Nigeria was home to some 10,000 Fulani pastoralists and their 40,000 cattle in June 2011. This study examines productivity and management of cattle belonging to livestock keepers within the reserve before and after a mass immigration event when 3,000 refugees moved into the reserve with their cattle to escape inter-community violence during May 2011. Data, on livestock management strategies (transhumance) and production parameters (herd size, composition, fertility, dynamics), were collected in March, June and October 2011.Cattle productivity in KGR is geared to supporting Fulani households while maintaining herd wealth. High offtake of young animals, especially the selling of heifers, was an unusual finding and may indicate that KGR pastoralists have been restricting their herd size voluntarily as well as limiting milk production to household requirements. This is probably due to the absence of a commercial milk market and a higher reliance on the sale of young stock to meet cash needs.Despite the widespread perception that grazing reserves are promoting sedentarisation of Fulani pastoralists and curbing transhumance, the inhabitants of the KGR were observed to practise wide-ranging transhumance both during wet and dry seasons driven by the limited availability of grazing. Some households selected a sub-sample of animals for transhumance rather than sending their whole herd, and some maintained cattle on alternative land-holdings outside the reserve. KGR households described modifying their usual transhumance practices in response to the mass immigration event and insecurity.Nevertheless, the herd demography results from this study are broadly similar to data obtained from other studies over the past 40 years, indicating that productivity and management practices have remained relatively unchanged

La ciudad perdida vs la ciudad ganada : transformación de los barrios de promoción oficial

En la década de los 40 del siglo XX se inició en España un cambio de modelo económico y social que afectó de forma directa al crecimiento de la ciudad. Los Barrios de Promoción Oficial fueron la solución al problema de la vivienda en España, sin embargo, la ciudad ha evolucionado desde entonces y la sustitución de algunos de estos barrios ha sido inevitable. Esta sustitución no siempre ha respondido de forma adecuada ante los problemas que había presentes en el barrio. Tras un análisis de algunos de los Barrios de Promoción Oficial que se sustituyeron, se eligieron dos que por su escala, su adecuada circunscripción y su patente mejoría o manifiesto empeoramiento, eran adecuados para un estudio más en profundidad. Con el fin de definir qué criterios se han de seguir para que un barrio sea o no de buena calidad desde el punto de vista urbanístico, se analizaron tanto los barrios originales como los actuales. Basándose en el estudio, se definieron los criterios para una buena actuación: un buen tratamiento de la morfología urbana y el viario para dotar de estructura al barrio; la alternancia de la tipología con el fin de jerarquizar la estructura urbana y de aportar un ritmo claro al barrio; un adecuado tratamiento de los espacios libres, con atención a la vegetación, acompañando al viario o agrupada en jardines

Domestic chicken diversity: Origin, distribution, and adaptation

Chicken is the most numerous among the domesticated livestock species. Across cultures, religions, and societies, chicken is widely accepted with little or no taboo compared to other domestic animals. Its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and demonstrated potential for breeding improvement provide a unique genetic resource for addressing the challenges of food security in a world impacted by climatic change and human population growth. Recent studies, shedding new knowledge on the chicken genomes, have helped reconstruct its past evolutionary history. Here, we review the literature concerning the origin, dispersion, and adaptation of domestic chicken. We highlight the role of human and natural selection in shaping the diversity of the species and provide a few examples of knowledge gaps that may be the focus of future research

Contacts in the last 90,000 years over the Strait of Gibraltar evidenced by genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

[EN] Contacts across the Strait of Gibraltar in the Pleistocene have been studied in different research papers, which have demonstrated that this apparent barrier has been permeable to human and fauna movements in both directions. Our study, based on the genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa), suggests that there has been contact between Africa and Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar in the Late Pleistocene (at least in the last 90,000 years), as shown by the partial analysis of mitochondrial DNA. Cytochrome b and the control region from North African wild boar indicate a close relationship with European wild boar, and even some specimens belong to a common haplotype in Europe. The analyses suggest the transformation of the wild boar phylogeography in North Africa by the emergence of a natural communication route in times when sea levels fell due to climatic changes, and possibly through human action, since contacts coincide with both the Last Glacial period and the increasing human dispersion via the strait.This study was supported by The Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (Morocco). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Soria-Boix, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Urios, V. (2017). Contacts in the last 90,000 years over the Strait of Gibraltar evidenced by genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa). PLoS ONE. 12(7). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181929S12

Southeast Asian diversity: first insights into the complex mtDNA structure of Laos

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vast migrations and subsequent assimilation processes have shaped the genetic composition of Southeast Asia, an area of close contact between several major ethnic groups. To better characterize the genetic variation of this region, we analyzed the entire mtDNA control region of 214 unrelated donors from Laos according to highest forensic quality standards. To detail the phylogeny, we inspected selected SNPs from the mtDNA coding region. For <it>a posteriori </it>data quality control, quasi-median network constructions and autosomal STR typing were performed. In order to describe the mtDNA setup of Laos more thoroughly, the data were subjected to population genetic comparisons with 16 East Asian groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Laos sample exhibited ample mtDNA diversity, reflecting the huge number of ethnic groups listed. We found several new, so far undescribed mtDNA lineages in this dataset and surrounding populations. The Laos population was characteristic in terms of haplotype composition and genetic structure, however, genetic comparisons with other Southeast Asian populations revealed limited, but significant genetic differentiation. Notable differences in the maternal relationship to the major indigenous Southeast Asian ethnolinguistic groups were detected.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, we portray the great mtDNA variety of Laos for the first time. Our findings will contribute to clarify the migration history of the region. They encourage setting up regional and subpopulation databases, especially for forensic applications. The Laotian sequences will be incorporated into the collaborative EMPOP mtDNA database <url>http://www.empop.org</url> upon publication and will be available as the first mtDNA reference data for this country.</p