Estimating the heritability of nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair of beef cattle

IF 3.6 1区 农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE
Morteza Moradi, Christie L. Warburton, Laercio Ribeiro Porto-Neto, Luis F. P. Silva
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Abstract

The natural abundance of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotopes in animal tissues are used to estimate an animal’s efficiency in nitrogen utilization, and their feed conversion efficiency, especially in tropical grazing systems with prolonged protein restriction. It is postulated that selection for improving these two characteristics (δ15N and δ13C) would assist the optimisation of the adaptation in ever-changing environments, particularly in response to climate change. The aim of this study was to determine the heritability of δ15N and δ13C in the tail hair of tropically adapted beef cattle to validate their inclusion in genetic breeding programs. In total, 492 steers from two breeds, Brahman (n = 268) and Droughtmaster (n = 224) were used in this study. These steers were managed in two mixed breed contemporary groups across two years (year of weaning): steers weaned in 2019 (n = 250) and 2020 (n = 242). Samples of tail switch hair representing hair segments grown during the dry season were collected and analysed for δ15N and δ13C with isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Heritability and variance components were estimated in a univariate multibreed (and single breed) animal model in WOMBAT and ASReml using three generations of full pedigree. The estimated heritability of both traits was significantly different from 0, i.e. 0.43 ± 0.14 and 0.41 ± 0.15 for δ15N and δ13C, respectively. These traits had favourable moderate to high genetic and phenotypic correlations (− 0.78 ± 0.16 and − 0.40 ± 0.04, respectively). The study also provides informative single-breed results in spite of the limited sample size, with estimated heritability values of 0.37 ± 0.19 and 0.19 ± 0.17 for δ15N and δ13C in Brahman, and 0.36 ± 0.21 and 0.46 ± 0.22 for δ15N and δ13C in Droughtmaster, respectively. The findings of this study show, for the first time, that the natural abundances of both nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair in cattle may be moderately heritable. With further research and validation, tail hair isotopes can become a practical tool for the large-scale selection of more efficient cattle.
估算肉牛尾毛中氮和碳同位素的遗传率
动物组织中氮(δ15N)和碳(δ13C)同位素的天然丰度可用于估算动物的氮利用效率及其饲料转化效率,特别是在长期限制蛋白质摄入的热带放牧系统中。据推测,通过选择改善这两个特征(δ15N 和 δ13C)将有助于优化动物在不断变化的环境中的适应性,尤其是在应对气候变化时。本研究旨在确定适应热带地区的肉牛尾毛中δ15N和δ13C的遗传率,以验证将其纳入遗传育种计划的可行性。本研究总共使用了 492 头牛,分别来自两个品种:婆罗门牛(268 头)和旱匠牛(224 头)。这些阉牛在两个混合品种当代组中进行了两年(断奶年份)的管理:2019 年断奶的阉牛(n = 250)和 2020 年断奶的阉牛(n = 242)。收集了代表旱季生长的毛段的尾开关毛样本,并用同位素比质谱法分析了δ15N和δ13C。在 WOMBAT 和 ASReml 的单变量多品种(和单一品种)动物模型中,利用三代全血统估计了遗传率和变异成分。这两个性状的估计遗传率与 0 有显著差异,即 δ15N 和 δ13C 分别为 0.43 ± 0.14 和 0.41 ± 0.15。这些性状具有良好的中高遗传相关性和表型相关性(分别为 - 0.78 ± 0.16 和 - 0.40 ± 0.04)。尽管样本量有限,但该研究也提供了单品种的信息结果,估计勃拉曼δ15N 和 δ13C的遗传力值分别为 0.37 ± 0.19 和 0.19 ± 0.17,而干旱大师δ15N 和 δ13C的遗传力值分别为 0.36 ± 0.21 和 0.46 ± 0.22。本研究结果首次表明,牛尾毛中氮和碳同位素的天然丰度可能具有适度的遗传性。通过进一步的研究和验证,尾毛同位素可以成为大规模选育更高效牛的实用工具。
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来源期刊
Genetics Selection Evolution
Genetics Selection Evolution 生物-奶制品与动物科学
CiteScore
6.50
自引率
9.80%
发文量
74
审稿时长
1 months
期刊介绍: Genetics Selection Evolution invites basic, applied and methodological content that will aid the current understanding and the utilization of genetic variability in domestic animal species. Although the focus is on domestic animal species, research on other species is invited if it contributes to the understanding of the use of genetic variability in domestic animals. Genetics Selection Evolution publishes results from all levels of study, from the gene to the quantitative trait, from the individual to the population, the breed or the species. Contributions concerning both the biological approach, from molecular genetics to quantitative genetics, as well as the mathematical approach, from population genetics to statistics, are welcome. Specific areas of interest include but are not limited to: gene and QTL identification, mapping and characterization, analysis of new phenotypes, high-throughput SNP data analysis, functional genomics, cytogenetics, genetic diversity of populations and breeds, genetic evaluation, applied and experimental selection, genomic selection, selection efficiency, and statistical methodology for the genetic analysis of phenotypes with quantitative and mixed inheritance.
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