ABSTRACT
The effect of prolactin (PRL), beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG), and kappa-casein (CSN3) on milk yield was estimated in an East Friesian dairy sheep population from Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, New York. Genotypes were determined by PCR amplification followed by digestion with HaeIII and RsaI for PRL and beta-LG, respectively, and by PCR amplification for CSN3. Monthly milking records and pedigree information were used to evaluate the effect of each polymorphism on milk yield. Results indicated that PRL genotype had a significant effect on milk yield. Ewes carrying one A allele produced 110.6g more milk per day than ewes with no A alleles. There was no statistical difference between ewes with only one A allele and ewes with 2 A alleles. No association among polymorphisms at the beta-LG and CSN3 loci and milk yield was found. The results presented in this study indicate that the PRL gene is a potential marker that could be used in selection programs for improving milk yield in dairy sheep.
Subject(s)
Caseins/genetics , Lactoglobulins/genetics , Milk/metabolism , Prolactin/genetics , Sheep/genetics , Animals , Dairying , Female , Gene Amplification , Gene Frequency , Genotype , Lactation/genetics , Milk/standards , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Polymorphism, GeneticABSTRACT
We evaluated combinations of telazol, ketamine, and xylazine (TKX), telazol and xylazine (TX), telazol, xylazine, and xylazine (T2X), and ketamine and xylazine (KX) for chemical restraint and anesthesia induction in swine. Forty healthy mixed-breed pigs were randomly assigned to the four treatment groups with 10 pigs in each group. For TKX, TX, and T2X combinations, anesthetics were premixed by adding xylazine and ketamine, sterile water and xylazine, or xylazine alone directly into the telazol vial. For KX, anesthetic agents were drawn up separately, then mixed in the same syringe immediately before injection. All anesthetics were given as a single intramuscular injection. All four anesthetic combinations induced a rapid onset of sternal recumbency within 1.55 +/- 0.5 min and lateral recumbency within 2.27 +/- 0.6 min in pigs after intramuscular injection. There was no significant difference among treatments in these regards. The T2X combination induced a significantly longer duration of analgesia than did either TKX, TX, or KX. The T2X combination also induced a significantly longer duration of tolerance for endotracheal intubation and duration of lateral recumbency. Heart and respiratory rates were not significantly different among the four treatment groups. Vomiting was not observed in any of the treated pigs throughout the procedure. Recovery quality and duration from time of drug administration to recovery of pig walking unassisted were similar in three treatment groups but was shorter in KX-treated pigs. We concluded that all four anesthetic combinations were suitable for chemical restraint but that only TKX, TX, and T2X were suitable for anesthesia induction in pigs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
