Simple SummaryThe recent alarming reports on global climate change and the challenges facing the agricultural sector to meet the increase in meat consumption, impose research in biodiversity. An important genetic pool of local breeds might play a crucial role in the near future to address these challenges. Although Italy is considered as one of the richest countries in biodiversity, there are autochthonous cattle breeds under extinction. To safeguard biodiversity and increase genetic diversity within breeds, appropriate management tools must be developed. To achieve this, precise knowledge of the population structure and genetic diversity per breed are required. This study analyzed pedigree data of six local beef breeds: Calvana, Mucca Pisana, and Pontremolese (from the region of Tuscany), all under extinction, and Sarda, Sardo Bruna, and Sardo Modicana, from the island of Sardinia, that are larger in number but of lower productivity. In addition, the study investigated the population structure of the cosmopolitan beef breeds, Charolais and Limousine, reared in the same regions and undergoing selection. The high mating percentage between relatives for Mucca Pisana and Calvana is an alarming situation for these breeds. The population structure of the Sardinian breeds suggests the application of breeding programs.AbstractThe aim was to investigate the population structure of eight beef breeds: three local Tuscan breeds under extinction, Calvana (CAL), Mucca Pisana (MUP), and Pontremolese (PON); three local unselected breeds reared in Sardinia, Sarda (SAR), Sardo Bruna (SAB), and Sardo Modicana (SAM); and two cosmopolitan breeds, Charolais (CHA) and Limousine (LIM), reared in the same regions. An effective population size ranges between 14.62 (PON) to 39.79 (SAM) in local breeds, 90.29 for CHA, and 135.65 for LIM. The average inbreeding coefficients were higher in Tuscan breeds (7.25%, 5.10%, and 3.64% for MUP, CAL, and PON, respectively) compared to the Sardinian breeds (1.23%, 1.66%, and 1.90% in SAB, SAM, and SAR, respectively), while for CHA and LIM they were <1%. The highest rates of mating between half-siblings were observed for CAL and MUP (~9% and 6.5%, respectively), while the highest rate of parent–offspring mating was ~8% for MUP. Our findings describe the urgent situation of the three Tuscan breeds and support the application of conservation measures and/or the development of breeding programs. Development of breeding strategies is suggested for the Sardinian breeds.

-The objective of this work was to estimate the phenotypic diversity in Jafarabadi, Murrah, and Mediterranean buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis). Thoracic perimeter, withers-and-rump height, body length, and biiliac, external biischiatic, external ilioischiatic, sacropubic, and mean biiliac diameters were measured. The following indexes were calculated: anamorphosis index, pelvic index, withers-to-rump ratio, body index, lateral-body index, relative body index, body capacity indexes 1 and 2, transversal pelvic index, longitudinal pelvic index, and thoracic-perimeter-to-withers ratio index. The effect of breed was evaluated using univariate (mean tests) and multivariate (size-free discriminant analysis and Fisher's linear discriminant function) analyses. The diversity among the breeds and their correlation with the variables were also evaluated using biplot graphs developed from principal component analysis. The breeds evaluated show a rectilinear, midline body model with similar capacity of muscular tissue development in body parts from which the most valuable cuts are extracted, and intermediate suitability for meat and milk production. The Jafarabadi breed has a larger body size, with a rear portion wider than longer, while the Murrah and Mediterranean breeds show similar biotypes, mainly differentiated in the pelvic region.Index terms: Bubalus bubalis, biometric measurements, pelvimetry, zootechnical indexes. Diversidade fenotípica em búfalas Jafarabadi, Murrah e MediterrâneoResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a diversidade fenotípica em búfalas (Bubalus bubalis) das raças Jafarabadi, Murrah e Mediterrâneo. Mensuraram-se perímetro torácico, altura de anterior e de garupa, comprimento do corpo e diâmetros do biilíaco, biisquiático externo, ilioisquiático externo, sacropúbico e biilíaco médio. Calcularam-se os seguintes índices: de anamorfose, pélvico, relação cernelha-garupa, corporal, corporal-lateral, corporal relativo, capacidade corporal 1 e 2, pélvico transversal, pélvico longitudinal e relação perímetro torácico-cernelha. Avaliou-se o efeito de raça por meio das análises univariada (teste de médias) e multivariada (análise discriminante independente do tamanho e função discriminante linear de Fisher). Também avaliaram-se a diversidade entre as raças e a sua relação com as variáveis, por meio de gráficos biplot, elaborados a partir da análise de componentes principais. As raças apresentam modelo corpóreo retilíneo, mediolíneo e com capacidade igual para desenvolvimento de tecido muscular em locais de onde são extraídos cortes nobres, com aptidões intermediárias para produção de carne e leite. A raça Jafarabadi apresenta maior porte corporal, assim como uma porção traseira mais larga do que comprida, enquanto a Murrah e a Mediterrâneo apresentam biótipos próximos, diferenciados principalmente na região pélvica.Termos para indexação: Bubalus bubalis, medidas biométricas, pelvimetria, índices zootécnicos.

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Purebred and crossbred calves (n = 3,871) were selected that were born in the sub-region of the Pantanal of Aquidauana (Brazil), derived from Nellore, Brangus, Wagyu, and ½ Brangus + ½ Nellore cows, which were artificially inseminated by bulls of the Aberdeen Angus, Red Angus, Brangus, Nellore, and Wagyubreeds. Parameters such as weaning weight, daily gain from birth to weaning, and the number of days to gain 160 kg, were assessed inthese calves and phenotypic correlations between the traits were evaluated. Data were analyzed using two statistical models. The first model included sire breed effects, the genetic group of the cow, sex, year of birth (AN), birth season (EN), and the interaction AN * EN. The second model included the genetic group of the calf, sex, AN, EN, and the interaction AN * EN. The genetic group of the cow and calf and the interaction AN * EN did not significantly affect body weight (p < 0.05). The average weaning weights of progeny were as follows:

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So far, rumination has been used as a proxy for monitoring dairy cow health at farm level. However, investigating its genetic aspects as well as its correlation with other important productive traits may turn this management tool into a new informative selection criterion. However, scientific evidences on genetic correlation among rumination time (RT) and milk production and milk composition are still scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of RT across three lactation phases and its genetic correlation with milk production, milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC). Results of our study showed that heritability for RT was 0.34 and was constant across lactation. The mean genetic correlations between RT and milk production and composition traits were 0.07 (milk production), −0.07 (protein yield), −0.31 (fat yield), and −0.32 (fat/protein ratio). The mean genetic correlation between RT and the SCC was 0.05.

resUMoConhecer o progresso genético e fenotípico de uma população é importante para se avaliar o resultado dos programas de seleção adotados e como elementos norteadores de ações futuras. Assim, objetivou-se estimar parâmetros genéticos, tendências genéticas e fenotípicas dos pesos aos 205 (P205), 365 (P365) e 550 (P550) dias de idade, idade ao primeiro parto (IPP), circunferência escrotal (CE) e intervalos de partos (IDP) de 175.231 bovinos Nelore, nascidos no período de 1967 a 2011 na região Nordeste do Brasil. Os componentes de (co) variância e valores genéticos foram obtidos por meio da metodologia da máxima verossimilhança restrita. As estimativas dos coeficientes de herdabilidades para as características de crescimento foram de baixa a moderada magnitude. A seleção direta proporcionará maiores ganhos genéticos para P550. Para as características reprodutivas, a estimativa de herdabilidade foi baixa para IPP e próxima a zero para IDP. Contudo, para a CE a herdabilidade foi moderada, indicando seu uso como critério de seleção. As tendências genéticas diretas para P205, P365, P550 e IPP, indicam pequenos ganhos genéticos ao longo dos anos. Os progressos fenotípicos evidenciam que as características estão melhorando com o decorrer dos anos, principalmente em decorrên-cia da melhoria ambiental. Genetics parameters for growth and reproductive traits in Nellore Cattle from Brazil sUMMarYTo know the genetic and phenotypic progress of a population is important to evaluate the outcome of the adopted selection programmes and as guiding elements of future actions. The objective was to estimate genetic parameters, genetic and phenotypic trends of weights at 205 (W205) 365 (W365) 550 (W550) days of age, age at first calving (AFC), scrotal circumference (SC) and calving interval (CI) of 175.231 Nellore, born in the period 1967-2011 in the Northeast region of Brazil. The components of (co) variance and breeding values were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood methodology. Estimates of heritability coefficients for growth traits were of a low to moderate magnitude. Direct selection will provide greater genetic gains for W550. For reproductive traits, the heritability estimate was low for ACF and close to zero for CI. However, for the SC heritability was moderate, indicating its use as selection criteria. Direct genetic trends for W205, W365, W550 and ACF indicate small genetic gains over the years. Phenotypic progress shows that the features are improving with the years, mainly because of environmental improvements. additional keYwordsGenetic gain. Genetic trends.

Analisou-se pelagens, índices morfométricos (IM) e conformação (IC) de 125 equinos adultos da raça Quarto de Milha (QM), distribuídos em puros (67 fêmeas e 26 machos) e mestiços (24 fêmeas e 8 machos) utilizados em provas de Laço Comprido no Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Estudou-se variação das pelagens a partir da simples contagem das ocorrências do fenômeno. Para análise dos IM, mensuram-se 28 medidas lineares e com base nessas, calculou-se 12 IC. Utilizou-se o método dos quadrados mínimos, com modelo contendo como fontes de variação os efeitos de sexo, grupo genético (equino puro ou mestiço) e interação grupo genético*sexo e estimaram-se correlação de Pearson entre os IM com os IC. As pelagens de maior predominância entre os equinos foram à alazã (42,40 %) e castanha (22,40 %). Observaram-se nos IM e IC (p