During three falls (2003-2005), Boer (B; n=81), Kiko (K; n=64), and Spanish (S; n=59) straightbred does were exposed to B (n=11), K (n=9), and S (n=8) bucks in a three breed diallel to assess meat goat breeds for doe-kid performance on southeastern US pasture. There were 157 B, 152 K, and 150 S doe exposures. Birth and 90-day weaning weights were recorded for 781 and 635 kids, respectively. The proportion of does delivering live kids was lower ( P P P P P P P P
Bucklings (n = 275) from a complete diallel of Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goats were slaughtered at 7 mo of age (4 mo postweaning) to evaluate genetic effects on carcass yield. Breed of sire did not affect (P > 0.05) live, carcass, and primal weights. Conversely, breed of dam was a consistently significant source of variation for carcass weight traits. Kiko dams produced kids with heavier (P < 0.05) live, carcass, and primal weights than Boer dams. Weights from Spanish dams were intermediate to Boer and Kiko with the significance of differences varying by trait. Cold carcass dressing percent was affected (P < 0.01) by breeds of sire and dam. Boer sires decreased (P < 0.05) dressing percent compared with Kiko and Spanish sires. Dressing percent was also less (P < 0.01) from Boer dams than from Kiko dams; Spanish dams were intermediate and did not differ (P > 0.05) from Boer or Kiko. Subjective conformation scores for muscularity were affected (P < 0.01) by breeds of sire and dam. Boer-sired kids had better (P < 0.01) live scores than Kiko-sired kids. Progeny of Boer dams had better (P < 0.05) live scores than progeny of Spanish dams. Boer-sired kids also had better carcass scores (P < 0.05) than Kiko-sired and Spanish-sired kids. Breed differences for primal cut proportions were negligible. Proportional boneless meat yields did not vary (P > 0.05) by breeds of sire or dam. Direct effects of Boer were negative for carcass weight, dressing percent, and shoulder weight and positive for proportional leg weight. Direct effects of Kiko were positive for carcass weight and shoulder weight and negative for proportional leg weight. Direct effects of Spanish did not differ (P > 0.10) from 0 for any trait tested. Heterosis levels were similar among breed pairings. Heterosis was substantial (P ≤ 0.05) for live, carcass, and primal weights (5 to 9%) but not for dressing percent, proportional boneless meat yield, or primal weight proportions (<2%). Significant genetic variation was observed among goat breeds for carcass yield traits. Dam breed was more influential than sire breed. Boer germplasm was not superior to Kiko or Spanish germplasm for carcass yield when semi-intensively managed on humid, subtropical pasture. Results emphasize the importance of comparative breed evaluations to provide industry with reliable information on carcass yield among goat genotypes.
Profitability in commercial meat goat enterprises is affected by animal productivity, market value, and input costs. Productivity indicators include doe reproductive output, kid growth rate, carcass merit, and hardiness. Breed choice(s) can affect these profit factors and set the path to profit or loss. Meat goat breed options are scant compared to other ruminant livestock sectors in the US. The South African Boer goat was a highly visible new breed introduced in the 1990s to enhance meat production of the US herd base of primarily Spanish-type goats. This model has been repeated worldwide. New Zealand Kiko goats were also imported by US interests in the 1990s. New breeds are usually introduced with a focus on improving growth and end-products (e.g., meat, milk, fiber) while overlooking fitness traits (health and reproduction) that may be greater profit drivers, especially if doelings are retained for future breeding. Successful new breed introductions require some level of adaptation to destination environments, particularly in low-input systems. Loss of native or naturalized local genotypes possessing desirable fitness levels while pursuing improved growth or end-product traits is a global concern. This was true after large-scale crossbreeding of naturalized Spanish goats with imported Boer commenced. Research indicated that Boer germplasm generated an insignificant to negative impact on doe fitness compared to the Spanish maternal base. Reductions in doe reproductive output, wellness, and stayability point to lowered expected enterprise profitability. Health and stayability problems increase input costs. Economic analysis demonstrated lower annual net return for Boer does (-$52.25) compared to Spanish does ($7.18) in a low-input setting. Some relative increases in weight were evident using Boer at various research stations, but improvements in carcass merit were not so obvious. One carcass trait noticeably improved by the Boer influence was conformation score. Improved conformation score can increase market value. Across performance traits, other data suggests that Kiko goats may be a favored import over Boer for increasing commercial herd profitability. The newest breed garnering attention among US producers is the South African Savanna. Like Boer and Kiko in the 1990s, current industry use of Savanna is preceding objective characterization. The newer breeds have increased industry popularity, but not necessarily profitability. Proper selection and use of new and established breeds in meat goat mating systems is important for profitability in a low-input commercial setting. Managing around poor meat goat breed choices is probably not profitable or sustainable.
Understanding fitness level among various breeds is essential for sustainable meat goat production. Research on the relative fitness of Boer F1 does and straightbred base breed has been limited. Meat goat does of various genotypes (Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko reciprocal F1 crosses, and Boer × Spanish reciprocal F1 crosses) were studied to evaluate breed effects on doe fitness traits and the expression of heterosis over 7 production years. The herd was semi-intensively managed under humid subtropical pasture. Doe age affected (P < 0.05) various traits. Boer × Kiko does were heavier (P < 0.05) than Boer does at fall breeding, but Boer × Spanish does did not differ (P > 0.05) from Boer does for breeding weight. The body weights of Boer × Spanish and Boer × Kiko crosses did not differ (P > 0.05) from the weights of their respective Kiko and Spanish base cohorts at breeding, kidding, or weaning. Boer does had lower (P < 0.05) kidding rate (KR) and weaning rate (WR) than the other breeds and crosses. Boer × Kiko and Kiko were similar for KR and WR. Boer × Spanish and Spanish were also similar for KR and WR. However, the combined group of Boer F1 does had lower (P < 0.01) KR and WR than the combined purebred biotype group of Kiko and Spanish does. Boer does weaned smaller (P < 0.05) litter sizes per doe exposed compared with Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko, and Boer × Spanish does with the latter four doe breedtypes not differing from each other. The combined Boer F1 doe group weaned smaller (P < 0.05) litter sizes per doe exposed than the combined purebred group of Kiko and Spanish does. Boer × Kiko dams had higher (P < 0.05) fecal egg counts at parturition than Kiko dams. Significant heterosis was observed for reproductive traits within each of the 2-breed diallels. Boer F1 does exhibited reproductive output similar to or lower than Kiko and Spanish straightbred does and higher than Boer straightbred does.
Fetuin, a major serum glycoprotein secreted by the liver, has been shown to play a role in bone development, calcium homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that bovine fetuin can bind to the plasma membrane of squamous and spindle-cell carcinoma cells. To test our hypothesis that fetuin plays a causal role in skin tumorigenesis, fetuin-A null and wild-type mice were challenged using a two-stage chemically-induced carcinogenesis protocol with DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenzo(a)anthracene) as the initiator, followed by twice weekly treatments with the tumor promoter TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate). Tumors that developed on fetuin-A null animals grew at a similar rate as those arising on their wild-type counterparts. Absence of fetuin-A did not alter tumor onset or conversion to squamous cell carcinoma, but reduced the number of tumors per mouse by 30%. This correlated with a decrease in tumor burden in fetuin-A null animals compared to wild-type weeks 18-22 from tumor onset. In addition, tumors arising on fetuin-A null mice had a diminished proliferative index with no change in cell survival or neovascularization in comparison with wild-type tumors. Our results suggest that fetuin-A contributes to early stages of skin tumorigenesis.
Research was conducted to determine whether individual ergot alkaloids could induce signs of fescue toxicosis. Nine Angus heifers received single i.v. injections of ergotamine tartrate, ergonovine maleate, and saline vehicle in a simple cross-over design. Each heifer received a different compound each week and all treatments during the study. Physiological traits measured 15 min before and 30, 60, and 90 min after treatment were respiration rate, rectal and skin temperatures, systolic and diastolic pressures, and heart rate. Blood samples were collected 5 min before and 105 min after treatments to assess plasma prolactin concentrations. Heifers were on a fescue-free diet in drylot. Ambient temperature averaged 35°C during data collection. A treatment × time interaction existed (P < .05) for respiration rate and prolactin concentrations. Ergot alkaloids altered (P < .05) all traits across time, except rectal temperature. Heifers under the influence of ergot alkaloids exhibited significantly lower skin temperature, heart rate, and prolactin and had higher respiration rate and blood pressure. Results indicated that individual ergot alkaloids administered i.v. induced signs of fescue toxicosis in cattle.
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