Genetic structure of populations in western Tyrol.

ABO, MNSs, and RH blood groups of 920 indigenous inhabitants of two western Austrian mountain valleys were identified, and frequencies of 17 genes and haplotypes were estimated. FST coefficients between the six larger villages were computed and served as the basis for dendrograms by average linkage, a principal components analysis, and a nonlinear map that includes European groups in addition to the Tyrolean population. The genetic distances between the Tyrolean villages are somewhat larger than those among Appenine villages. The two most accessible villages are closest to the neighboring European groups, whereas the more remote villages appear more distant to these. Nevertheless, the gene frequencies are typical of central European populations.

Influence of growth-hormone genotypes on breeding values of Simmental bulls.

SUMMARY: A leucine/valine substitution of growth hormone amino-acid 127 was genotyped in 221 Bavarian Simmental bulls by PCR/RFLP. Gene frequencies for leucine (L) and valine (V) were 0.68 and 0.32, respectively. Breeding values for meat traits were significantly different between genotypes. The heterozygous genotype LV was superior to LL and VV in both carcass gain (p < 0.01) and meat value, an index which includes carcass gain and classification score (p < 0.05). In relation to classification score, genotype VV was significantly better (p < 0.05) than LV and VV. No effects on milk breeding values were apparent even though those of milk composition approached significance. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Einfluß von Wacbstumshormon-Genotypen auf Zuchtwerte von Fleckviehbullen Ein Polymorphismus der Aminosäure 127 des bovinen Wachstumshormones wurde bei 221 bayerischen Fleckviehbullen mit PCR/RFLP genotypisiert. Die Genfrequenzen für Leucin (L) und Valin (V) betrugen 0.68 und 0.32. Es bestand ein signifikanter Einfluß auf die Fleischzuchtwerte. Der heterozygote Genotyp LV war in den Merkmalen Nettozunahme (p < 0.01) und Fleischwert (p < 0.05) den Geno-typen LL und VV signifikant überlegen. Im Merkmal Handelsklasse war Genotyp VV signifikant günstiger als LV und LL. Es konnten keine Beziehungen zu den Milchzuchtwerten beschrieben werden, allerdings grenzte der Einfluß auf Milchzusammensetzung an statistische Signifikanz.

Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations in bulls of various growth hormone genotypes.

A leucine/valine substitution at amino acid position 127 was identified by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism in the bovine growth hormone gene. Genotyping was performed in 84 AI bulls of three different breeds, in which plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) were also measured. Gene frequencies of variants L (leucine) und V (valine) were 0.80/0.20 (Black and White), 0.90/0.10 (Brown), 0.71/0.29 (Simmental). Hormone concentrations were measured during different physiological conditions (normal feeding, fasting, realimentation) in the majority of animals. Generally, genotype LL was associated with higher concentrations of GH than LV. This difference was significant in Black and White bulls (P < 0.05). In contrast, IGF-1 concentrations were higher in LV than in LL animals. This was most pronounced in mature, realimented Simmental bulls. We conclude that the various GH alleles influence the circulating concentrations of GH and IGF-1.

Relationship between age, nutritional status and dairy merit with plasma profiles of growth hormone (GH) and free fatty acids (FFA) in bulls.

SUMMARY: Blood plasma levels of growth hormone (bGH) and of free fatty acids (FFA) were measured in repeated samples drawn every 15' for bHG, every 1 h for FFA one day after morning feeding and after 3 days of severe feed restriction of 7 young (< 2 years) and 14 old (> 5 years) bulls. The numerous data were condensated by the PULSAR program of Merriam and Wachter (1982) to mean level, average baseline concentration, number, average amplitude and average duration of secretory peaks. Young bulls had higher values for all of these parameters except peak duration and increased these after fast except for peak duration, baseline and integral while mature bulls reacted little to food restriction. FFA plasma levels were higher in young bulls under normal feeding when mature bulls had more frequent peaks. After feed restriction mature bulls increased the mean plasma level to the increased level of young bulls but decreased the peak frequency. The milk protein yield breeding values are related significantly to mean level, integral and the peak duration of plasma bGH levels but in different directions in young and in mature bulls. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Beziehungen zwischen Alter, Futterstatus, Milchzuchtwert und Plasmaspiegel von Wachstumshormon (GH) und Freien Fettsäuren (FFA) bei Stieren Blutplasmaspiegel von Wachstumshormon (GH) und Freien Fettsäuren (FFA) wurden in wiederholten Proben gemessen, die im Falle von GH alle 15 min. und im Falle von FFA jede Stunde einen Tag nach Morgenfütterung, nach drei Tagen starker Futterrestriktion bei sieben jungen (weniger als zwei Jahre) und 14 alten (über fünf Jahre) Stieren gezogen worden waren. Die zahlreichen Daten wurden mit Hilfe des Computerprogrammes von Merriam und Wachter (1982) kondensiert zu durchschnittlichen Plasmaspiegel, durchschnittliche Basiskonzentration, Zahl, durchschnittliche Amplitude und durchschnittliche Dauer von Sekretionsspitzen und Integral. Die Jungstiere hatten für alle diese Parameter höhere Werte, außer der Dauer von Sekretionsspitzen und nahmen mit Ausnahme von dieser, von Basisspiegel und Integral nach Futterrestriktion zu, während Altstiere auf diese sehr wenig reagiert haben. FFA-Plasmaspiegel waren bei jungen Stieren höher unter Normalfütterung, während alte Stiere häufiger Sekretionsspitzen zeigten. Nach Futterrestriktion steigerten Altstiere den mittleren Plasmaspiegel auf den angestiegenen Spiegel junger Stiere, aber verminderten die Häufigkeit der Sekretionsspitzen. Milchprotein-Zuchtwerte sind signifikant mit mittlerem Plasmaspiegelwert, Integral und Dauer der Sekretionsspitzen bei Plasma GH korreliert, aber in verschiedener Richtung bei jungen und bei Altstieren.

Breed differences and intra-breed genetic variability of dermatoglyphic pattern of cattle.

SUMMARY: Muzzle dermatoglyphics - n. ridges, granula and vibrissae - were analysed in various breeds. Differences among these in most traits were significant. Herd effects accounted for about 1/10 of the variance and heritability, estimated by combining sib, halfsib and dam-daughter correlations corrected for herd differences was above 50% for ridges and vibrissae and about 30% for granula. Genetic correlations between ridge counts and n. vibrissae in different nose fields, respectively, were high as they were between the former and n. granula but they were negative or very low between vibrissae and the other two traits. Asymmetry among the counts in the two muzzle sides was significant for nearly all traits, Heritabilities were low, around 10 to 20%, and the crossbreds had less asymmetry than their parental breeds. The correlations among asymmetry measures were low. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Rassenunterschiede und genetische Variabilität von Flotzmaulmustern Flotzmaulmerkmale - Zahl von Leisten, Warzen und Haaren - wurden in verschiedenen Rassen untersucht. Unterschiede zwischen diesen waren für alle Merkmale signifikant. Herdeneinflüsse verursachten etwa 1/10 der Varianz und Heritabilitätswerte, geschätzt aus Korrelationen zwischen Zwillingen, Halbgeschwistern und Töchter-Müttern, korrigien für Herdeneinflüsse, variierten zwischen 36 und mehr als 50%. Genetische Korrelationen zwischen Leistenzahl und Zahl von Haaren in verschiedenen Flotzmaulfeldern waren hoch, ebenso wie die zwischen ersteren und Zahl von Warzen, aber sie waren negativ oder sehr gering zwischen Haaren und den andern beiden Merkmalen. Asymmetrie zwischen Zahlen in beiden Flotzmaulhälften war signifikant für fast alle Merkmale. Heritabilitätswerte waren niedrig, etwa 10-20% und Kreuzungstiere zeigten weniger Asymmetrie als ihre Herkunftsrassen. Die Korrelationen zwischen Asymmetriemaßen waren niedrig.

Biochemical polymorphism in Egyptian Baladi cattle and their relationship with other breeds.

Gene frequencies were estimated in a sample of Baladi cattle for milk proteins, blood proteins and blood groups. Gene frequency estimates of Bos taurus, Bos indicus and Sanga breeds were assembled from the literature. The gene frequencies were utilized for estimating the genetic distance between the breeds and breed groups. The Egyptian Baladi cattle appeared to be closer to Bos taurus breeds than to the Sanga. They are far removed from Zebus.