Studying genetic parameters and genetic changes in Santa Ines sheep is important, because it is the commonest breed in Brazil. This study obtained genetic data from 37,735 pedigree records of lambs over 12 years (2003-2014) from 33 flocks in 10 Brazilian States; 11,851 records of performance were available. (Co)variance components, genetic parameters and breeding values estimates were obtained ...

The effects of dam previous reproductive status (PRS) on the pre-adjustment of weaning weight for genetic evaluation (WWT) was examined for Santa Gertrudis (SANTA), Brahman (BRAH) and Tropical Composite (TCOMP) breeds of beef cattle. Weaning weight records were classified into 3 groups according to the dam’s PRS: whether in the last year, she had reared a bull calf (PBC), a heifer calf (PHC) or...

(Co)variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for body weights of a Romosinuano herd located in Sinú Valley, Cordoba, Colombia. Restricted maximum likelihood methods were used with a univariate animal model for birth weight, weaning weight (270 days), 16-month weight (480 days), weaning daily gain, and post-weaning daily gain. Models included random animal direct and maternal ge...

SCOPE Investigate the influence of low-folate supply during pregnancy and lactation on obesity and markers of the metabolic syndrome in offspring, and how provision of a high-fat diet post weaning may exacerbate the resultant phenotype. METHODS AND RESULTS Female C57Bl/6 mice were randomized to low or normal folate diets (0.4 or 2 mg folic acid/kg diet) prior to and during pregnancy and lacta...

A primary genomic screen for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting carcass and growth traits was performed by genotyping 238 microsatellite markers on 185 out of 300 total progeny from a Bos indicus x Bos taurus sire mated to Bos taurus cows. The following traits were analyzed for QTL effects: birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing pe...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect on growth and iron status in preterm infants of a specially devised weaning strategy compared with current best practices in infant feeding. The preterm weaning strategy recommended the early onset of weaning and the use of foods with a higher energy and protein content than standard milk formula, and foods that are rich sources of iron and zinc. SUBJECTS AND DE...

Inbreeding depression is a topic of main interest in experimental and domestic species, although previous studies simplified this genetically complex effect to the linear (or quadratic) regression coefficient linked to the inbreeding coefficient of each individual or, in more recent studies, to founder-specific inbreeding coefficients. Going beyond generalizing to these traditional scenarios, o...

The importance of birth-to-weaning average daily gain as a determinant of weight at a final age and yield of marketable pork was investigated. Treatments were imposed to create variation in birth-to-weaning ADG independent of birth weight. Newborn pigs were cross-fostered to create litters of four through 14 pigs/litter. Creep feed was offered to pigs from 5 d of age or during last 2 d before w...