Characterization of a unique Sikkimese yak population of India: a multivariate approach.

Native Sikkimese yak in Sikkim state of India is a pastoral treasure being raised through centuries-old transhumance practices and has evolved in response to natural and man-made selection. Currently, the population of Sikkimese yak is at risk with about five thousand total headcounts. Characterization is essential for taking appropriate decisions for conservation of any endangered population. In an attempt to phenotypically characterize the Sikkimese yaks, this study recorded phenotypic morphometric traits information, viz., body length (LG), height at withers (HT), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), horn length (HL), horn circumference (HC), distance between horns (DbH), ear length (EL), face length (FL), face width (FW), and tail length with switch (TL), on 2154 yaks of both sexes. Multiple correlation estimation highlighted that HG and PG, DbH and FW, and EL and FW were highly correlated. Using principal component analysis, LG, HT, HG, PG, and HL were found to be the most important traits for phenotypic characterization of Sikkimese yak animals. Discriminant analysis based on different locations of Sikkim hinted at the existence of two separate clusters, however, broadly, phenotypic uniformity could be observed. Subsequent genetic characterization can offer greater insights and can pave the way for future breed registration and conservation of the population.

Morphometric characteristics and microsatellite markers based diversity and differentiation recognizes the first prospective cattle breed from the Jharkhand state of India.

India is bestowed with immense cattle biodiversity with 50 registered breeds. However, the majority (59.3%) is yet not characterized. Identification and characterization are the gateways to the management of prized indigenous resources. Present research described a unique cattle population of Jharkhand state, managed under a traditional low-input, low-output system. It was characterized by morphological traits, performance parameters, and management practices. Animals have the characteristic pre-scapular location of the hump. Genetic variation within this population and its differentiation with the six closely distributed cattle breeds were evaluated using FAO recommended microsatellite markers. Jharkhandi cattle have substantial genetic variation based on gene diversity (>0.6) and the average number of alleles per locus (>8). The population did not suffer from a genetic bottleneck in the recent past. Pairwise Nei's genetic distance, phylogenetic relationship, population differentiation, and the correct assignment of all the animals to self group substantiated its separate genetic identity. Since gene flow (Nm = 2.8-7.32) was identified and admixture was indicated by the Bayesian analysis there is a pressing need for scientific management of this population. Results endow authorities with critical information for registering a new Indian cattle breed (Medini) that contributes to the food security, livelihood, and economic sustainability of rural tribal households.

Variable sialic acid content in milk of Indian cattle and buffalo across different stages of lactation.

The aim of this Research Communication was to contribute to the knowledge of milk sialic acid concentration of bovines with specific focus on India. Sialic acids (SA) are important constituents of mammalian milks. Buffaloes are the main milk producing species in India, therefore, our research focused on both cow and buffalo. Two Indian cattle (Bos indicus) breeds (Sahiwal, Tharparkar), one cross bred cattle - Karan Fries (Tharparkar × Holstein Friesian) and a buffalo breed (Murrah) were selected. Systematic comparisons of the total, free and bound form of SA and also its distribution over the course of lactation- colostrums and mature milk (120-140 d) was generated. Animal management, sample collection and methodology of SA estimation were identical for the different groups. Colostrum had the highest concentration of SA, which declined with the progress of lactation in all the groups. Majority of the SA existed in bound form. No significant (P < 0.05) difference was recorded in the total, bound or free SA across all the groups. However, differences were obvious in the total and bound SA level in the mature milk. Indian cattle, Sahiwal and Tharparkar were equivalent, but had higher concentration of total and bound SA than crossbred cattle. Milk of buffalo had SA equivalent to that of crossbred cattle. The mean (se) levels of total SA was 23.4 (0.8), 25.8 (2.4), 20.3 (0.6) and 20.2 (1.2) in Sahiwal, Tharparkar, cross bred and Murrah buffalo, respectively. The findings suggested that milk of indigenous cattle may be a potential source of SA, a bioactive compound with beneficial effect on human health and a potential functional ingredient in foods. Results add value to the currently declining indigenous cattle of India.

Comparative milk metabolite profiling for exploring superiority of indigenous Indian cow milk over exotic and crossbred counterparts.

This study was planned to identify differences in the milk metabolite composition of Indian (Sahiwal), exotic (Holstein-Friesian) and their crossbred cows in intensive system of management. To mimic the management system of ancient India, indigenous cattle under extensive system (zero input) were also included. Holstein-Friesian (HF) had significantly higher amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA, 76.3%) as compared to the crossbred (73.3%) and Sahiwal (68.0%). HF had the highest concentration (42.7%) of hypercholesterolemic fatty acids and the maximum value (68.5) of athrogenecity index (AI). Sahiwal had the highest proportion (32.1%) of total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). Mineral, vitamin, n-3 fatty acids and total amount of essential amino acids did not vary across the three groups. Milk of indigenous cattle maintained only on grazing had more favorable nutrient profile. It had low SFA (61.4%), high UFA (38.6%) and higher concentrations of both monounsaturated fatty acids (31.4%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (7.2%). The n-6/n-3 ratio (2.7) and the AI (33.9) were significantly lower. Significantly higher concentrations of minerals (Zn, Fe, P and Cu) and vitamins except vitamin B5 were recorded in their milk. The study revealed that milk metabolite characteristics can be used to promote indigenous cattle.

Locus minimization in breed prediction using artificial neural network approach.

Molecular markers, viz. microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms, have revolutionized breed identification through the use of small samples of biological tissue or germplasm, such as blood, carcass samples, embryos, ova and semen, that show no evident phenotype. Classical tools of molecular data analysis for breed identification have limitations, such as the unavailability of referral breed data, causing increased cost of collection each time, compromised computational accuracy and complexity of the methodology used. We report here the successful use of an artificial neural network (ANN) in background to decrease the cost of genotyping by locus minimization. The webserver is freely accessible (http://nabg.iasri.res.in/bisgoat) to the research community. We demonstrate that the machine learning (ANN) approach for breed identification is capable of multifold advantages such as locus minimization, leading to a drastic reduction in cost, and web availability of reference breed data, alleviating the need for repeated genotyping each time one investigates the identity of an unknown breed. To develop this model web implementation based on ANN, we used 51,850 samples of allelic data of microsatellite-marker-based DNA fingerprinting on 25 loci covering 22 registered goat breeds of India for training. Minimizing loci to up to nine loci through the use of a multilayer perceptron model, we achieved 96.63% training accuracy. This server can be an indispensable tool for identification of existing breeds and new synthetic commercial breeds, leading to protection of intellectual property in case of sovereignty and bio-piracy disputes. This server can be widely used as a model for cost reduction by locus minimization for various other flora and fauna in terms of variety, breed and/or line identification, especially in conservation and improvement programs.

Biometry of frozen-thawed sperm from eight breeds of Indian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Sperm morphometry, in combination with other objective traits, can be useful for developing a fertility index. The objective of the present study was to measure various biometric end points of frozen-thawed sperm from eight breeds of Indian buffaloes (Murrah, Surti, Tarai, Mehsana, Jaffrabadi, Bhadawari, Pandharpuri and Nili-Ravi). The sperm head of Pandharpuri buffaloes had the greatest length (10.21 microm), width (6.05 microm), area (52.31 microm(2)) and perimeter (31.86 microm). The ratio of sperm width to length was also greatest (0.61) in Pandharpuri as well as in two other breeds, viz. Nili-Ravi and Jaffrabadi. Murrah had the smallest sperm head width (4.75 microm), area (41.65 microm(2)) and perimeter (29.17 microm), but its sperm tail was longest (57.02 microm), along with that of Jaffrabadi buffaloes (56.96 microm). Based on mean values of sperm tail length, mid piece length and its width the eight buffalo breeds were categorized into three, four and five groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis and clustering put six breeds (Surti, Tarai, Mehsana, Jaffrabadi, Bhadawari and Nili-Ravi) in one cluster, whereas Murrah and Pandharpuri appeared as separate entities.

Construction of an RAPD linkage map and localization of QTLs for oleic acid level using recombinant inbreds in mustard (Brassica juncea).

RAPD markers were employed for construction of a linkage map and localization of QTLs for oleic acid level using a set of 94 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) as a mapping population. Only 30% of the 235 random primers used were useful in terms of polymorphism detected and the reproducibility of those patterns. Normal Mendelian segregation was observed for the majority of the 130 markers obtained with 71 informative primers; only 13.1% deviated (P < 0.01) from the expected 1:1 ratio. One-hundred and fourteen markers were assigned to 21 linkage groups (LGs) covering a total length of 790.4 cM with an average distance of 6.93 cM between markers. Two quantitative trait loci (QTL) for oleic acid level were mapped to 14- and 10.6-cM marker intervals on two different LGs. Both loci together explained 32.2% of phenotypic variance. One major QTL explained 28.5% of the trait variance observed in this species.