Abstract In sexually reproducing organisms, the specific combinations of parental alleles can have important consequences on offspring viability and fitness. Accordingly, genetic relationship between mates can be used as a criterion for mate choice. Here, we used microsatellite genetic markers to estimate the genetic relationship between mating pairs in the wild boar, Sus scrofa . Males, females and foetuses proceeding from Portugal, Spain and Hungary were genotyped using 14 microsatellite markers. The genetic relationship between mates was estimated using different measures of foetus heterozygosity. We found that the observed heterozygosity of foetuses was lower than that expected under random mating. This result occurred mainly when Sd 2 (relatedness of parental genomes) was used as the heterozygosity measure. After simulations, we concluded that the observed low heterozygosity was possibly due to outbreeding avoidance. Outbreeding avoidance based on genetically different genomes might play an important role in species evolution and its genetic conservation.
The g.66493737C/T polymorphism of the myostatin gene (MSTN) majorly influences muscle fiber composition and best race distance of Thoroughbreds. Thus, a better understanding of this process may lead to superior genetic exploitation for maximizing Thoroughbred athletic potential. Our objective is to investigate whether myostatin genotypes are associated with muscular development and cardiac variables of Thoroughbreds. Echocardiography and muscular ultrasonography were performed on three groups having C/C, C/T, and T/T genotypes, respectively. Each group consisted of 22 animals. Homogeneity of variance between the groups was checked by Levene's test. Multivariate analysis of variance was applied to determine differences in measured variables vs. MSTN genotypes. Fascicle length of anconeus and thickness of triceps brachii muscles showed significant differences between C/C and T/T genotypes (pFascicle-length-of-anconeus = 0.004, pthickness-of-triceps-brachii < 0.001). According to the primary outcome, there are associations between myostatin genotypes and cardiac variables. Aortic diameter at the sinus of Valsalva (end-diastole and end-systole) and aortic diameter at the valve (end-systole) indicated significant differences between C/C and T/T genotypes (paortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-diastole = 0.015, paortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-systole = 0.011, paortic-diameter-at-the-valve-end-systole = 0.014). Pearson correlation effect sizes were rFascicle-length-of-anconeus = 0.460, rthickness-of-triceps-brachii = 0.590, raortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-diastole = 0.423, raortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-systole = 0.450, and raortic-diameter-at-the-valve-end-systole = 0.462. C/C genotypes gave 22.1, 12.2, 6.3, 6.0, and 6.7% higher values compared to T/T genotypes, respectively. Differences regarding aortic diameter between genotype groups support the hypothesis that C/C animals have consequently increased cardiac output and aerobic capacity.
Abstract. The objective of the trial is to compare fattening performance, slaughter results and meat quality of bulls from international cattle breeds with local Hungarian breeds fattened under the same conditions. Altogether 62 growing bulls – Angus, Charolais, Holstein, Hungarian Grey, Hungarian Simmental, Charolais × Hungarian Grey – were fattened in small groups. The daily gain varied from 897 (Hungarian Grey) to 1 240 g/day (Angus). In general, the lower gain value is caused by the semi-intensive fattening system with low concentrate supplementation. The slaughter weight showed a similar tendency as final weight, there was a significant difference between Angus and Hungarian Grey. The killing out of Charolais (59.50 %), Angus (56.80 %) and Hungarian Simmental (57.84 %) was significantly higher than Hungarian Grey (55.13 %) and Holstein (55.03 %). Due to Charolais crossing the dressing percentage of Hungarian Grey was developed by about 1.5 %. The EU conformation scores of Charolais (9.50) and Hungarian Simmental (9.33) and the fatness scores of Angus (8.33) and Charolais × Hungarian Grey (7.33) were significantly higher than that of the other genotypes. The tissue composition of dissected carcass as well as ribs joint composition determined by X-ray computerised tomography method showed the lean meat of Hungarian Simmental and bone proportions of Holstein to be the highest, whilst Angus had the highest fat content. Charolais und Hungarian Simmental had significant higher longissimus muscle area in ribs joint compared to Angus, Holstein and Charolais × Hungarian Grey. Angus and Hungarian Grey had the highest intramuscular fat level of the three examined muscles.
To estimate effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the intramuscular fat content (IMF) of Hungarian Simmental bulls.Genotypes were determined on high-density Illumina Bovine DNA Chip. After slaughtering of animals, chemical percentage of intramuscular fat was determined from longissimus dorsi muscle. A multi-locus mixed-model was applied for statistical analyses.Analyses revealed four loci (rs43284251, rs109210955, rs41630030, and rs41642251) to be highly associated (-log10P>12) with IMF located on chromosome 1, 6, 13, and 17, respectively. The frequency of their minor alleles was 0.426, 0.221, 0.162, and 0.106.The loci above can be useful in selection programs and gives the possibility to assist selection by molecular tools.
Abstract Studies of wild boar, Sus scrofa Linnaeus 1758, in urban and suburban areas of Budapest, Hungary, have indicated that these populations do not have continuous contact. Based on the assumption that the city has a discrete population, we hypothesized that the urban wild boar would differ genetically from those in suburban areas. Analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data using the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP) Porcine 50 K system (Neogen, Scotland, UK) differentiated three populations: Buda (B) from the Western bank of the Danube; Buda Surrounding (BS); and Valkó (V) from the Eastern bank of the Danube. The coefficient of genetic differentiation ( F ST ) for the B and BS populations was low. The inbreeding coefficients of the populations BS and V were close to zero, while population B had a high positive value reflecting the influence of founders and the inbreeding of the continuous urban population. The genome regions that were most differentiated between the B and BS populations were analyzed based on the F ST values of the SNP markers using a mixed linear multi-locus model and BayeScan software. The most differentiated marker, WU_10.2_18_56278226, was found on chromosome 18. The surrounding region contained several candidate genes that could play important roles in adaptations related to human-induced stress. Two of these, encoding the adenylate cyclase 1 ( ADCY1 ) and inhibin beta A chain precursor ( INHBA ) genes, were sequenced. While IHBA gene did not display variation, the allele distribution of the ADCY1 gene in the B population was significantly different from that of the BS population supporting the parapatric differentiation of wild boar.
The Mangalitza pig breed has suffered strong population reductions due to competition with more productive cosmopolitan breeds. In the current work, we aimed to investigate the effects of this sustained demographic recession on the genomic diversity of Mangalitza pigs. By using the Porcine Single Nucleotid Polymorphism BeadChip, we have characterized the genome-wide diversity of 350 individuals including 45 Red Mangalitza (number of samples; n=20 from Hungary and n=25 from Romania), 37 Blond Mangalitza, 26 Swallow-belly Mangalitza, 48 Blond Mangalitza × Duroc crossbreds, 5 Bazna swine, 143 pigs from the Hampshire, Duroc, Landrace, Large White and Pietrain breeds and 46 wild boars from Romania (n=18) and Hungary (n=28). Performance of a multidimensional scaling plot showed that Landrace, Large White and Pietrain pigs clustered independently from Mangalitza pigs and Romanian and Hungarian wild boars. The number and total length of ROH (runs of homozygosity), as well as FROH coefficients (proportion of the autosomal genome covered ROH) did not show major differences between Mangalitza pigs and other wild and domestic pig populations. However, Romanian and Hungarian Red Mangalitza pigs displayed an increased frequency of very long ROH (>30 Mb) when compared with other porcine breeds. These results indicate that Red Mangalitza pigs underwent recent and strong inbreeding probably as a consequence of severe reductions in census size.
This study aims to investigate the genetic structure and characteristics of the Angus cattle population in Hungary. The survey was performed with the assistance of the Hungarian Hereford, Angus, Galloway Association (HHAGA).
Abstract. Beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) and the Welsh αS1-casein (αS1-casein D) types have been determined using PCR-RFLP tests in DNA isolated from blood samples collected from four dairy sheep breeds (Awassi, British Milk Sheep, Tsigaia, Lacaune), from Hungarian Merinos and from various crossbreeds (AwassixMerino) F1, (MerinoxLanghe) F1, (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1, (MerinoxPleven Blackhead ) F1x Black East Friesian). The following LGBA frequency values have been obtained: Awassi 0.3478; British Milk Sheep 0.6857; Tsigaia 0.5650; Lacaune 0.4730; Hungarian Merino 0.6767; (Awassix Merino) F1 0.4694; (MerinoxLanghe) F1 0.7777; (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1 0.5945; (MerinoxPleven Blackhead) F1 x Black East Friesian 0.6026. The Welsh αS1-casein variant was found in the Hungarian Merino breed only (4 homozygous and 16 heterozygous ewes). Plans for studies on the possible effects of these milk protein types, on milk yield and composition as well as on cheese making properties ofmilk and cheese yields are outlined.
Abstract. In sheep, susceptibility to scrapie is associated with the prion protein (PrP) gene polymorphism. In this study the association between selected growth traits (daily weight gain from birth to weaning and in farm fattening performance test, as well as body weight at one and two years) and PrP genotypes ARR/ARR, ARR/XXX and XXX/XXX (XXX representing AHQ, ARQ, ARH or VRQ) has been investigated in Hungarian Merino (n=286) and German Mutton Merino (n=215) rams. No significant association was found among the studied growth traits and the PrP genotypes in the Hungarian Merino breed. In case of a group of German Mutton Merino rams lamb daily gain was significantly (P≤0.05) – but in a small extent – associated with PrP genotype, which influenced the daily gain values by 9.6 %.