Knowledge on the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in livestock populations is essential to determine the minimum distance between markers required for effective coverage when conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS). This study evaluated the extent of LD, persistence of allelic phase and effective population size (Ne) for four Sanga cattle breeds in South Africa including the Afri...

Data from an F 2 cross between breeds of livestock are typically analysed by least squares line-cross or half-sib models to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) that differ between or segregate within breeds. These models can also be combined to increase power to detect QTL, while maintaining the computational efficiency of least squares. Tests between models allow QTL to be characterized into ...

Farmers play a key role in conserving native livestock breeds, but without economic support, farms with breeds may not be viable. We hypothesized that terminal crossbreeding can improve herd economy and decrease the support needed from society. Three scenarios were simulated using SimHerd Crossbred: of purebred Swedish Polled Cattle, Red, 75% Cattle 25% F1 crossbreds. The results showed annual ...

BACKGROUND Diversity patterns of livestock species are informative to the history of agriculture and indicate uniqueness of breeds as relevant for conservation. So far, most studies on cattle have focused on mitochondrial and autosomal DNA variation. Previous studies of Y-chromosomal variation, with limited breed panels, identified two Bos taurus (taurine) haplogroups (Y1 and Y2; both composed ...

Balkan Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) were bred to help protect sheep flocks in sparsely populated, remote mountainous areas the Balkans. The aim of this study was genomic characterization (107,403 autosomal SNPs) three LGD breeds from Balkans (Karst Shepherd, Sharplanina Dog, and Tornjak). Our analyses performed on 44 dogs representing breeds, as well 79 publicly available genotypes eight other...

We estimate the potential reductions in methane and carbon dioxide emissions from several livestock and pasture management options in the mixed and rangeland-based production systems in the tropics. The impacts of adoption of improved pastures, intensifying ruminant diets, changes in land-use practices, and changing breeds of large ruminants on the production of methane and carbon dioxide are c...