Genotype data from 30 microsatellites were used to assess genetic diversity and relationships among 10 native Portuguese cattle breeds, American Charolais and the Brazilian Caracú. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed for all loci/population combinations except for five loci in Brava de Lide and one locus in Alentejana that exhibited heterozygote deficiency. Estimates of average observed and expected heterozygosities, total number of alleles (TNA) per breed and mean number of alleles (MNA) per locus/population were obtained. A total of 390 alleles were detected. TNA among Iberian cattle ranged from 170 to 237 and MNA ranged from 5.67 to 8.07. The highest observed heterozygosities were found in the Caracú, Maronesa, Garvonesa and Arouquesa and the lowest in Brava de Lide and Mirandesa. Estimation of population subdivision using Wright's FST index showed that the average proportion of genetic variation explained by breed differences was 9%. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic trees based on DA distances showed that the genetic relationships of present-day Portuguese native breeds are consistent with historical origins in the Brown Concave (Arouquesa, Mirandesa, Marinhoa) and Red Convex (Mertolenga, Alentejana, Garvonesa, Minhota) evolutionary groups. The Iberian Black Orthoide group, represented by Brava de Lide and Maronesa, and the Barrosã breed appeared to be more closely related to the Brown Concave group but may represent a separate lineage. The Caracú breed was not found to be closely associated with any of the native Portuguese breeds.
Fiber type and nutrient compositions from Biceps femoris (Bf), Longissimus dorsi (Ld) and Supraspinatus (Ss) muscles of 10 Barrosã calves were determined and the respective relationships investigated by principal component analysis (PCA). The Ss muscle had higher proportion of type IIA fibers than Bf (P b 0.001) and Ld (P b 0.01), higher percentage of oxidative fibers than Ld muscle (P b 0.01) and lower proportion of IIB fibers than Bf (P b 0.001) and Ld (P b 0.01). The latter muscle had higher intramuscular total lipids (ITL) (P b 0.01), neutral lipids (NL) (P b 0.01), C18:2c9t11-CLA (P b 0.001), saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P b 0.001), trans fatty acids (TFA) (P b 0.001) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (P b 0.01) contents than its counterparts. In contrast, Bf and Ss muscles had higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P b 0.001), n-6 PUFA (P b 0.001), n-3 PUFA (P b 0.01), polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio (P/S) (P b 0.001) and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio (h/H) (P b 0.001) than Ld muscle. The higher iron (P b 0.001) and phospholipids (PL) (P b 0.05) contents were found in Ss muscle. Cholesterol amount was unaffected by anatomical location and ranged from 0.50 to 0.54 mg/g. Barrosã muscles were not well distinguishable by PCA since, based on fiber and nutritional compositions, they did not clearly present different patterns. Barrosã-PDO veal is a low fat meat providing 367-558 mg of n-6 PUFA and 151-172 mg of n-3 PUFA of which 67-78 mg are EPA + DHA (based on 150 g consumption). The n-6/ n-3 ratio was close to the recommended values for human diet and the P/S index was below those values.
The aim of this study was to investigate the lactation curve properties of primiparous and multiparous Barrosã cows, using two different milking systems. A data set with 2518 daily milk yields of 15 primiparous (107 test day records by lactation) and 11 multiparous (83 test day records by lactation) cows was individually fitted with the Wood’s model by the application of a non linear procedure. Milk yield measurements were recorded using a weigh-suckle-weigh technique in half of the cows and the rest of the cows were hand milking. Average daily milk yield of primiparous and multiparous suckled cows were 4.9 and 5.2 kg, respectively, while correspondent scores on milked cows were lower (2.4 and 3.0 kg). All 26 fitted lactations followed the typical curve shape with high goodness of fit. ANOVA on Wood’s parameters indicated that milked cows have a peak yield of 3.5 and 4.6 kg reached at lactation day 23 and 16, for primiparous and multiparous, respectively. On the other hand, suckled cows reached their peak of lactation later (56-63 d) and the peak yield (5.3-5.7 kg) was greater than milked cows. The absence of the calf and the cow’s difficulty in adapting to the hand-milking can explain differences between milked and suckled cows. Barrosã cows, in their traditional production system, have lactation yields of 805 and 843 kg in parities 1 and 2, respectively
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.