Breeding schemes with optimum-contribution selection or truncation selection for beef cattle destined for use on dairy females

We tested the hypothesis that the size of a beef cattle population destined for use on dairy females is smaller under optimum-contribution selection (OCS) than under truncation selection (TRS) at the same genetic gain (ΔG) and the same rate of inbreeding (ΔF). We used stochastic simulation to estimate true ΔG realized at a 0.005 ΔF in breeding schemes with OCS or TRS. The schemes for the beef cattle population also differed in the number of purebred offspring per dam and the total number of purebred offspring per generation. Dams of the next generation were exclusively selected among the one-year-old heifers. All dams were donors for embryo transfer and produced a maximum of 5 or 10 offspring. The total number of purebred offspring per generation was: 400, 800, 1,600 or 4,000 calves, and it was used as a measure of population size. Rate of inbreeding was predicted and controlled using pedigree relationships. Each OCS (TRS) scheme was simulated for 10 discrete generations and replicated 100 (200) times. The OCS scheme and the TRS scheme with a maximum of 10 offspring per dam required approximately 783 and 1,257 purebred offspring per generation to realize a true ΔG of €14 and a ΔF of 0.005 per generation. Schemes with a maximum of 5 offspring per dam required more purebred offspring per generation to realize a similar true ΔG and a similar ΔF. Our results show that OCS and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer act on selection intensity through different mechanisms to achieve fewer selection candidates and fewer selected sires and dams than under TRS at the same ΔG and a fixed ΔF. Therefore, we advocate the use of a breeding scheme with OCS and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer for beef cattle destined for use on dairy females because it is favorable both from an economic perspective and a carbon footprint perspective.     

The control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon by selective breeding

Sea lice threaten the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon and the sustainability of fish farming across the world. Chemical treatments are the major method of control but drug resistance means that alternatives are urgently needed. Selective breeding can be a cheap and effective alternative. Here, we combine experimental trials and diagnostics to provide a practical protocol for quantifying resistance to sea lice. We then combined quantitative genetics with epidemiological modelling to make the first prediction of the response to selection, quantified in terms of reduced need for chemical treatments. We infected over 1400 young fish with Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the most important species in the Northern Hemisphere. Mechanisms of resistance were expressed early in infection. Consequently, the number of lice per fish and the ranking of families were very similar at 7 and 17 days post infection, providing a stable window for assessing susceptibility to infection. The heritability of lice numbers within this time window was moderately high at 0.3, confirming that selective breeding is viable. We combined an epidemiological model of sea lice infection and control on a salmon farm with genetic variation in susceptibility among individuals. We simulated 10 generations of selective breeding and examined the frequency of treatments needed to control infection. Our model predicted that substantially fewer chemical treatments are needed to control lice outbreaks in selected populations and chemical treatment could be unnecessary after 10 generations of selection. Selective breeding for sea lice resistance should reduce the impact of sea lice on fish health and thus substantially improve the sustainability of Atlantic salmon production.     

关于影响面条食用品质相关因素的探讨

从小麦生产概况、面条发展历史和工艺、国内外对面条食用品质的研究3个方面,分析了我国面条工业发展缓慢的原因,提出了小麦育种-面粉工业-制面工业,3个环节紧密配合,协调发展,才能形成良性循环的新思路。     

Next Generation Cereal Crop Yield Enhancement: From Knowledge of Inflorescence Development to Practical Engineering by Genome Editing

Artificial domestication and improvement of the majority of crops began approximately 10,000 years ago, in different parts of the world, to achieve high productivity, good quality, and widespread adaptability. It was initiated from a phenotype-based selection by local farmers and developed to current biotechnology-based breeding to feed over 7 billion people. For most cereal crops, yield relates to grain production, which could be enhanced by increasing grain number and weight. Grain number is typically determined during inflorescence development. Many mutants and genes for inflorescence development have already been characterized in cereal crops. Therefore, optimization of such genes could fine-tune yield-related traits, such as grain number. With the rapidly advancing genome-editing technologies and understanding of yield-related traits, knowledge-driven breeding by design is becoming a reality. This review introduces knowledge about inflorescence yield-related traits in cereal crops, focusing on rice, maize, and wheat. Next, emerging genome-editing technologies and recent studies that apply this technology to engineer crop yield improvement by targeting inflorescence development are reviewed. These approaches promise to usher in a new era of breeding practice.     

Fatty acid variation among U.S. Runner-type peanut cultivars

Fatty acid composition was determined among seven U.S. runner-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars: Florunner, Sunrunner, GK-7, Southern Runner, Sunbelt Runner, Okrun, and Langley. Significant year and cultivar differences were found within these fatty acid profiles. Southern Runner had the best oleic to linoleic ratio and iodine values; whereas Florunner, Sunrunner, and Langley were the highest in unsaturated and lowest in saturated and long-chain fatty acids. For the future, breeding programs need to continue developing peanut cultivars with improved oil quality.     

江苏省耐盐生物质能源植物选育和生物柴油制备研究

江苏省有近67万公顷沿海盐土滩涂资源,发展适应这些土地资源的油料植物对促进江苏省生物质能的产业化具有极大的促进作用.本研究针对江苏省土地资源的特点,自2001年,从江苏盐城种植了近10年的美国耐盐油料植物海滨锦葵6万株自然群体中筛选了40个优良单株,并进行了子代测定.目前已经初步选育出了海滨锦葵优良无性系,含油量从原群体平均的18 %提高到23 %.2005年首次从耐盐油料植物海滨锦葵中成功获得生物柴油实验室样品,并已经得到中石化权威机构检测数据.     

产共轭亚油酸乳酸菌的选育和鉴定

采用紫外分光光度法测定共轭亚油酸的含量,从13株实验室保存的乳酸菌中筛选出8株具有转化亚油酸生成共轭亚油酸能力的菌株.其中As1.2686产量最高,发酵液中共轭亚油酸含量达到13.63 mg/L;其次是菌株B11693,共轭亚油酸产量为11.55 mg/L.选择B11693做进一步的菌种鉴定,将传统的形态学、生理生化鉴定方法和细菌16SrDNA分子生物学鉴定方法相结合,鉴定菌株B11693为短乳杆菌.     

基于单片机的养殖水质自动监控系统

本文介绍了一种来自再生水源的水质监控系统。该系统是以单片机为核心,以经过组合型人工湿地处理后的农村生活污水作为养殖水源,它通过对养殖水质中pH值、DO、温度、氨氮含量和浊度等主要参数的检测和控制,以满足水产养殖水质的要求,达到净化环境和再生水利用的目的。     

基于PDA的肉牛养殖可追溯系统的设计与实现

为提高肉牛养殖信息采集、传输的效率和准确性,本文通过对肉牛养殖企业的实地调研,在分析肉牛养殖流程的基础上,对肉牛养殖环节质量安全的关键信息进行了分析,并设计了基于PDA肉牛养殖质量安全可追溯系统的整体结构和功能模块,重点分析了该系统的实现技术。该系统改变了肉牛养殖纸质、人工的信息采集方式,实现了养殖场信息的快速、高效、准确的采集与传输。