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Background: Cross breeding is an important way to improve livestock performance. As an important livestock and poultry resource in Henan Province of China, Bohuai goat was formed by crossing Boer goat and Huai goat. After more than 20 years of breeding, BoHuai goats showed many advantages, such as fast growth, good reproductive performance, and high meat yield. In order to better develop and protect Bohuai goats, we sequenced the whole genomes of 30 BoHuai goats and 5 Huai goats to analyze the genetic diversity, population structure and genomic regions under selection of BoHuai goat. Furthermore, we used 126 published genomes of world-wide goat to characterize the genomic variation of BoHuai goat. Results: The results showed that the nucleotide diversity of BoHuai goats was lower and the degree of linkage imbalance was higher than that of other breeds. The analysis of population structure showed that BoHuai goats have obvious differences from other goat breeds. In addition, the BoHuai goat is more closely related to the Boer goat than the Huai goat and is highly similar to the Boer goat. Group by selection signal in the BoHuai goat study, we found that one region on chromosome 7 shows a very strong selection signal, which suggests that it could well be the segment region under the intense artificial selection results. Through selective sweeps, we detected some genes related to important traits such as lipid metabolism (LDLR, STAR, ANGPTL8), fertility (STAR), and disease resistance (CD274, DHPS, PDCD1LG2). Conclusion: In this paper, we elucidated the genomic variation, ancestry composition, and selective signals related to important economic traits in BoHuai goats. Our studies on the genome of BoHuai goats will not only help to understand the characteristics of the crossbred but also provide a basis for the improvement of cross-breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a geographical framework for considering animal breeds as objects of knowledge and living entities, and uses it to explore how ideas of breed origin constitute breeds and affect interspecies relations, human relations and the making of value. It suggests how critical animal geographers could engage more fully with breeds and breeding through an expanded concept of breed wealth that includes the making of breeds as forms of "genetic capital" through the reproductive capacity of animals, the cultural value of breeds in terms of human collective identities and differentiations, and encounter value. This geographical approach to breeds and breeding involves not only engaging with the always situated nature of breed epistemologies, practices and relations, but also the geographical dimensions of what is predominately understood as a genealogically rather than spatially constituted category. A more‐than‐genealogical understanding of breeds draws attention to how place rather than pedigree alone is considered as constitutive of breeds, both in an evolutionary and immediate sense, despite the formal modern genetic definition of breeds and how geographical origination matters in the making of breed wealth across the multiple geographies of a breed as it is dispersed from its original "homeland." Addressing a national and international "love of a breed" – Icelandic horses which are defined as a national breed but are the focus of interest and enthusiasm both within and beyond Iceland – this paper explores how the ethical complexities of love, care and power are worked through in different ways across these geographies. Breed wealth, I argue, is a dynamic relational quality inflected by the meanings attributed to the place of breed origin. This paper offers a geographical approach to considering animal breeds in terms of how ideas of breed origin constitute breeds and affect interspecies relations, human relations and the making of value. It works through an expanded concept of breed wealth that includes the making of breeds as forms of "genetic capital" through the reproductive capacity of animals, the cultural value of breeds in terms of human collective identities and differentiations, and encounter value. Addressing a national and international "love of a breed" – Icelandic horses which are defined as a national breed but are the focus of interest and enthusiasm both within and beyond Iceland – this paper explores how the ethical complexities of love, care and power are worked through in different ways across these geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, concerns have been raised on the diversity, health and welfare of our (pedigree) dog population. Somewhat justified, the popular sire effect, population bottlenecks, the founder effect and inbreeding have left their marks on the dog as we know it. In order to improve the health and welfare of the canine population in general, individual breeding programs should adhere to the concept of ethical breeding (i.e. " the use of healthy animals true to their species in behaviour and looks, and when applicable, showing a sustainable performance ") when population-specific breeding goals are defined. Even though every population has its own problems, the approach to get to possible solution(s) is similar. The starting point will always be the identification of which (un)desirable pheno- and genotypes are segregating and what their prevalence is, followed by an evaluation of the genetic diversity. Based on that information and, when applicable, additional criteria like breed standards, breeding goals can be defined. It is of critical importance that these goals are put forward with a long term vision in mind and with consensus from the stakeholders to ensure collaboration. Upon prioritization of the most important goals, when necessary with the help of specifically developed tools, the final step is choosing the most optimal combination of breeding strategies. This paper aims to provide a stepwise approach to identify and tackle population-specific problems encountered in breeding programs. • The health, welfare and genetic diversity of certain dog populations is in danger. • Causes are popular breeding practices and the population history of the dog. • Problems are population-specific, the approach to get to solutions is similar. • Breeding practices should be tailored to the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose a Bayesian multi-output regressor stacking (BMORS) model that is a generalization of the multi-trait regressor stacking method. The proposed BMORS model consists of two stages: in the first stage, a univariate genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP including genotype · environment interaction GE) model is implemented for each of the L traits under study; then the predictions of all traits are included as covariates in the second stage, by implementing a Ridge regression model. The main objectives of this research were to study alternative models to the existing multi-trait multienvironment (BMTME) model with respect to (1) genomic-enabled prediction accuracy, and (2) potential advantages in terms of computing resources and implementation. We compared the predictions of the BMORS model to those of the univariate GBLUP model using 7 maize and wheat datasets. We found that the proposed BMORS produced similar predictions to the univariate GBLUP model and to the BMTME model in terms of prediction accuracy; however, the best predictions were obtained under the BMTME model. In terms of computing resources, we found that the BMORS is at least 9 times faster than the BMTME method. Based on our empirical findings, the proposed BMORS model is an alternative for predicting multi-trait and multi-environment data, which are very common in genomic-enabled prediction in plant and animal breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weevils (Sitophilus spp) are serious pests that can damage sorghum grains in stores if not controlled. The infestation of sorghum by the pest can cause huge economic loss ranging from 15% to 75% depending on levels of susceptibility. While the weevil uses several infection mechanisms such as avoidance, adaptation and sequestration to arrest its host, the host plant has developed certain chemical mechanisms for defence. The weevil must overcome the hosts’ defensive layers of chemical compounds such as protein resistant molecules, tannin, phenolics and flavonoids that confer antixenosis and or antibiosis functions in sorghum. Besides, the biochemical molecules present in sorghum are also responsible for modulating grain hardness and strength, which are important phenotypic parameters for grain resistance to weevil in sorghum. This paper reviews traits and or their associated produced chemical compounds in sorghum and reveals the gaps or need for incorporating appropriate desirable traits in sorghum through plant breeding techniques as a strategy towards management of grain weevils in sorghums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decades of developments in animal breeding, genetics, genomics and data recording technologies have allowed the evaluation of larger numbers of animal and animal traits than ever before. This should help make animal breeding choices more informed, but it also makes them far more complex. This complexity may be overwhelming farmers, thus compromising realization of potential genetic gain in livestock industries. However, the effect of complexity of animal breeding choices on farmers' selection of animals has received very little theoretical consideration to date. This paper reviews the theoretical principles of complex decisions, contextualizes the findings to the field of animal breeding, and analyses how farmers and the animal breeding industry are currently dealing with complexity. According to the findings of the analyses of complex decisions in other fields, the complexity of animal breeding choices is likely to lead to farmers using conscious or unconscious simplifying strategies (heuristics) to handle such complexity. When these heuristics are ineffective, poor selection decisions and a potential loss of genetic progress can be expected. Further, studies using survey experiments to understand farmer behaviour and selection preferences may be compromised by the complexity of the survey´s choice tasks. Thus, while many animal breeding industries recognize the complexity of animal breeding choices for farmers and attempts are made to assist farmers in their choice making, the effectiveness of these attempts is not well quantified and understood. We discuss three areas of research that could be key to disentangling how, and by how much, animal breeding choice complexity affects farmers' decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of work was to follow up and statistically evaluate the damage and dirty eggs and egg weight, depending on two different breeding systems and different ages of laying hens. Object of investigation were table eggs, their damage and dirty in the laying hens of the final hybrid ISA Brown reared in enriched cage system, and the free range system. In both rearing systems were ensured the conditions for laying hens in accordance with legislation establishing minimum standards for the laying hens minimum standards for the protection of laying hens, protection of animals kept for farming purposes in accordance with the principles of the so-called five freedoms. That was used to feed a complete feed mixture HYD 10 in both breeding systems. The feeders were supplemented with feed by hand every day and the same day were supplemented water to drinking troughs. Egg collection was hand in both breeding systems. This paper is a contribution to the solution of optimal breeding hens and production of high quality and safe of table eggs. Based on the results was formulated conclusion, which shows that to the damage and dirty eggs are not affected by the age of the breeding system and age of laying hens. Statistically significant difference (p ⩽ 0.05) in the egg weight was observed between breeding cage system and breeding free range system and between age 30 and 40 weeks of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of work was to follow up and statistically evaluate the selected quality indicators of egg shell according to two different breeding systems and different age of laying hens. An object of investigation were shell weight, share of the shell, strength and thickness of the shell for table eggs. There were used the laying hens of final hybrid ISA Brown reared in enriched cage system, and free range system. In both breeding systems were ensured the conditions with application of the welfare principles. There was used to feed a complete feed mixture HYD 10 in the both breeding systems. The feeders were supplemented with feed by hand, daily and the same day was supplemented water to drinking troughs. Egg collection was hand in both breeding systems. This paper is a contribution to the solution of optimal breeding laying hens and production of high quality and safe production of table eggs. From the evaluation of the results was formulated conclusion, which shows that statistically significant (p ⩽ 0.05) higher egg shell thickness was observed in the breeding free range system compared to the thickness of the egg shell in the breeding cage system, and in age 40 weeks of laying hens in both breeding systems compared to the thickness of the egg shell in age 30 weeks of laying hens. No statistically significant difference (p ⩾ 0.05) was observed in egg shell weight between breeding cage system and free range system. Statistically significant (p ⩽ 0.05) higher egg shell weight was observed in the age 40 weeks of laying hens in both breeding systems compared to age 30 weeks of laying hens. There no statistically significant difference (p ⩾ 0.05) was observed in the share of egg shell and egg shell strength between breeding cage system and free range system, nor between age 30 and 40 weeks of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian pangolin ( Manis crassicaudata) has been recently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species throughout its range, but in Pakistan it is categorized as vulnerable. Very little is known about the breeding habits of this nocturnal and fossorial animal in the wild. The present paper provides information on breeding ecology of its population in Potohar Plateau in Pakistan. A total of 13 specimens were trapped to record breeding condition of the captured animals. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the study area to collect breeding data on the species. Our limited data show a male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1. The local population seems to breed once a year, usually from July to October, with a litter size of one to two. The juvenile pangolins were observed during the months of January, April and December. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years animal welfare has assumed an increasing interest in our society, influencing legislation to enact many provisions aimed at the protection of animals. Along with increased consumer awareness of the need to maintain ethically acceptable conditions of raised animals, scientists too have begun to investigate the conditions of animal welfare, the tools for its evaluation and for its improvement. Although there are many advances in knowledge, much remains to be investigated concerning many species considered "minor", that is, camels and dromedaries. Dromedaries, recently, have attracted the interest of some breeders following the results of studies concerning the nutritional and therapeutic properties of their products - milk in particular - that make them ideal for some particular categories of consumers, such as diabetics, obesity sufferers, lactose-intolerant subjects, menopausal women and so on. Considering their use in dairy husbandry, dromedaries are reared under intensive and/or semi-intensive systems with the resulting emergence of specific needs, which should be fulfilled in order to have appropriate welfare. This paper's purpose is to give practical elements in order to find out dromedary welfare standards, promoting a comprehensive set of regulations on welfare, care and protection of this animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]