Phenotypic and genetic parameters for growth traits in Red Chittagong Cattle of Bangladesh

The present study was carried out to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) for growth traits. Means of birth weight (BW), three month weight (3MW), six month weight (6MW), weaning weight (WW), nine month weight (9MW) and yearling weight (YW) were 15.74, 31.48, 45.33, 57.00, 60.91 and 76.18 kg respectively. Sex significantly (p0.05) 3MW, 6MW, WW, 9MW and YW. BW, 6MW, WW, 9MW and YW did not vary significantly (p>0.05) on year of birth but varied significantly (p0.05) on BW, 9MW and YW. The growth rates at zero to six month (6MGR) and six to twelve month (12MGR) were 0.17 and 0.17 kg /d respectively. Growth rate in both stages had no significant effect (p>0.05) on sex and year of birth. 6MGR had no significant effect (p>0.05) on season of birth but had significant (p<0.05) effect on 12MGR. From single trait analyses heritability (h2) of BW, 3MW, 6MW, WW, 9MW, YW, 6MGR and 12MGR were 0.497, 0.468, 0.475, 0.467, 0.447, 0.478, 0.499 and 0.65, respectively, whereas from multi-trait analysis heritability (h2) of first four traits were 0.498, 0.456, 0.500 and 0.490, respectively. Genetic correlations of BW with 3MW, 6MW and WW were 0.23, 0.38, and 0.53, respectively, 3MW with 6MW and WW were 0.78 and 0.69, respectively and 6MW with WW was 0.76. Estimated heritability values were rather high in magnitude and indicate that these traits would likely respond to selection. Estimates of phenotypic correlations among the traits studied were very low to moderate with values ranging from -0.40 to 0.81, whereas magnitude of genetic correlation ranged from 0.23 to 0.78. It was concluded that these estimated parameters would help to understand the biology of the traits and in designing breeding programme for other indigenous cattle in general

On-farm characterization and present status of North Bengal Grey (NBG) cattle in Bangladesh

North Bengal Grey (NBG) cattle are an important indigenous cattle genetic resource found mainly in the northern part of Bangladesh. The study was undertaken at Bogra district. The physical and morphological characteristics, and Kahalu Upazila (sub-district) in the Bogra district. The physical and morphological characteristics, and the productive and reproductive performance of NBG cattle were studied. The coat colour of these neck regions in adults bulls was found to be generally ashy with a range of shades. The body is small, compact and less fleshy. Ear length and ear width were 18.0±0.17 and 11.0±0.21 cm, respectively. The head length average was 38.0±0.56 cm, the head width 16.0±17cm, foreleng length average 65.0±0.64 cm, the hind leg length 71.0±0.64cm, the tail length average 71.0±0.67 cm, the horn length average 9.0±0.39 cm, the horn diameter 10.0±0.37 cm, the average teat length 5.0±0.18cm, the teat diameter 6.0±0.22 cm, the distance between the front teats 7.0±0.13 cm and distance between the rear teats 7.0±0.13 cm. Body length, height at wither and heart girth in adult cows were 105.0±1.20, 94.0±1.12 and 127.0±1.52 cm, respectively. The recorded highest peak milk production per day was 3.5±0.18 kg, lactation length was 219±6.1 days, and the dry period was 180 ± 6.8 days. The average birth weight calves was 180±6.8 days. The average birth weight of calves was 18.4±0.52kg and mature live weight of cows 241.0±4.0kg. The calving 1191±19.7 days, gestation length 281±1.3 days, calving interval 442±7.4 days, postpartum heat period 110±4.2 day sand the number of services per conception 1.4 ±0.6. About 54%of total cattle population was NBG cattle in the surveyed area of Bangladesh. The results indicated that the productivity and reproductively performance of NBG cattle was better than other non-descript indigenous cattle of Bangladesh. The study further revealed an obvious need for more in-depth and objective information on wider samples of this type of indigenous cattle in order to assess the future need for conservation and improvement programs to be undertaken

Stakeholder perspectives on breeding strategy and choice of breeds for livestock development in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, a science based systematically organized pragmatic breeding policy has never been formulated and adopted. In breeding research and development projects, perspectives of stakeholders like researchers, extension agents and farmers on criteria for selection of breeds for adaptation in the country have not been adequately considered. In this paper, opinions of a sample of 128 university teachers, researchers and extension experts in the field of livestock and 196 farmers with at least one milking cow on criteria for selection of breeds and their relative weights and a number of other breed development issues are presented. The results show that there are significant differences among experts about the breeding objectives and strategies to be followed, on relative weights to be given on various traits for evaluation and selection of breeds and allocation of research resources on different species for breed development. Moreover, there are significant differences between experts and farmers about relative weights to be given for breed evaluation and selection, and on the extent of suitability of different available breeds for local adaptation. These results indicate that breeding research and development needs to be based on more such studies to facilitate serious debate and arrive at a consensus for adoption of long-term breeding policy

Variation in chicken populations may affect the enzymatic activity of lysozyme

The chicken lysozyme gene encodes a hydrolase that has a key role in defence, especially in ovo. This gene was resequenced in global chicken populations [red, grey, Ceylon and green jungle fowl (JF)] and related bird species. Networks, summary statistics and tests of neutrality indicate that although there is extensive variation at the gene, little is present at coding sites, with the exception of one non-synonymous site. This segregating site and a further fixed non-synonymous change between red JF and domestic chicken populations are spatially close to the catalytic sites of the enzyme and so might affect its activity

Cattle breeds: Extinction or quasi-extant?

Uniquely selected breeds bred over thousands of years of domestication in awide range of environments have been declared extinct over the last century. Still morebreeds are at risk of becoming extinct and the rate continues to accelerate. Assessing thecurrent status and possible future dynamics of livestock breeds is therefore a critical step inthe management of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR). This study applies a qualitativeapproach to comprehensively analyze cattle genetic resources in selected countries in orderto better understand the risk status of cattle breeds and those that need to be considered extinct and/or quasi-extant. The status of each breed, i.e., not at risk, critical, endangeredand extinct, was verified using information available at the Domestic Animal DiversityInformation System (DAD-IS) web site, as well as cattle statistics (where available) and abreed survey. In most examples, breeds listed as extinct have played important roles in thedevelopment of new breeds, and should not be classified as extinct, unless provenotherwise, given that even breeds existing in vivo are developing. Therefore, a new riskstatus quasi-extant for this category of cattle breeds is suggested. In addition, based on thefindings of this study, the concept of breed needs to be questioned as relates to it being agood measure of genetic diversity. Further investigations of the situation of cattle breeds (andother livestock species) in more countries/continents using similar categories aredeemed necessary

Contrasting evolution of diversity at two disease-associated chicken genes

Olivier Hanotte is ILRI authorThere have been significant evolutionary pressures on the chicken during both its speciation and its subsequent domestication by man. Infectious diseases are expected to have exerted strong selective pressures during these processes. Consequently, it is likely that genes associated with disease susceptibility or resistance have been subject to some form of selection. Two genes involved in the immune response (interferon-γ and interleukin 1-β) were selected for sequencing in diverse chicken populations from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Botswana, as well as six outgroup samples (grey, green, red and Ceylon jungle fowl and grey francolin and bamboo partridge). Haplotype frequencies, tests of neutrality, summary statistics, coalescent simulations and phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood were used to determine the population genetic characteristics of the genes. Networks indicate that these chicken genes are most closely related to the red jungle fowl. Interferon-γ had lower diversity and considerable coding sequence conservation, which is consistent with its function as a key inflammatory cytokine of the immune response. In contrast, the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin 1-β had higher diversity and showed signals of balancing selection moderated by recombination, yielding high numbers of diverse alleles, possibly reflecting broader functionality and potential roles in more diseases in different environments