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Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is one of the most important constituent and a pattern recognition molecule of the innate immune system. MBL gene possibly contributes to bacterial infection resistance and was proposed as a molecular marker for milk production traits to control mastitis. Due to its location near to QTLs associated with Somatic cell score (SCS) and mastitis, the MBL1 gene may be considered as a candidate gene. Sahiwal cows in milk were selected randomly to identify g.2686T>C point mutation in exon 2 of MBL1 gene and its association with somatic cell score. A 401 bp PCR fragment of MBL1 gene encompassing the exon 2 was amplified and digested with Hae III to screen the reported SNP. Genotype analysis using PCR-RFLP revealed a polymorphic banding pattern. Sequencing was also carried out to validate the PCR-RFLP results of nucleotide sequence in a particular region. The preliminary information obtained from the study indicated that the targeted variantof MBL1 gene in indigenous cattle had no association with SCS and mastitis resistance which may be a breed specific characteristic. Since present study has formulated the results based on a relatively small sample size, further studies with large sample size are required to validate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Munjal, a muttontype sheep, is popular among the farmers for their heavy body weight. The animals have massive body with a dark brown face. The study reports an assessment of type characteristics of Munjal sheep and their association with body weight. Measurements were recorded on nine morphological characteristics, two zoometric indices and adult body weight on 91 ewes and 36 rams of Munjal breed maintained at sheep farm of LUVAS, Hisar. The adult body weight in females and males was estimated as 35.28±0.61 and 45.00±0.82 kg, respectively. The height, length, heart girth and paunch girth in females were estimated as 71.07±0.34, 70.43±0.41, 80.29±0.42 and 81.93±0.55 cm, respectively. The corresponding estimates in males were obtained as 73.97±0.62, 74.08±0.73, 86.92±0.70 and 89.22±0.72 cm, respectively. The face length and head circumference in ewes were 20.81±0.12 and 44.67±0.20 cm while the corresponding estimates in rams were 23.36±0.23 and 48.50±0.41 cm, respectively. The body index in ewes and rams was 87.80 and 85.27 per cent, respectively pointing towards the rectangular body shape and an indication of better conformation for meat production. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that body weight can be predicted with higher accuracy by incorporating body length and heart girth of the animal under field conditions without weighing scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on 397 Murrah buffaloes maintained at Buffalo Research Center, LLR University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar from 1992 to 2011 was utilised. Average value in kg/ day for different ten test-days were 4.50±0.08, 7.27±0.09, 8.11±0.09, 8.06±0.10, 7.83±0.10, 7.51±0.09, 7.10±0.11, 6.38±0.10, 5.77±0.10 and 5.06±0.11, respectively. Period of calving had significant effect on TDl to TD8. Season of calving had significant effect on TD2 only. High estimates of heritability for TD2 to TD5 and good estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations among these test day milk records offer ample scope of genetic improvement in these traits through selection and correlated response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the objective, the data pertinent to lifetime traits on 762 Hariana cows, progeny of 23 sires maintained at Government Livestock Farm, Hisar were considered for the prediction of lifetime traits from early lactation traits. The prediction of phenotypic values for Number of lactation completed, Life time milk yield, Production life and Milk yield per day of productive life were obtained. The equation having the combination of first three lactation traits is recommended for the prediction of phenotypic value of lifetime traits in Hariana cows. Generally the peak yield of all lactations contributed maximum to R2 value for all lifetime traits. Therefore, it may be concluded that selection on the basis of peak yield would also improve the lifetime performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on genetic studies about milk production efficiency traits in Murrah buffaloes. Various tangible factors on different traits under study were estimated using the least-squares and maximum likelihood computer program of Harvey using Henderson's method III. Estimates were categorized in terms of heritability and genotypic correlations. Findings revealed that first lactation peak yield persistency can be used as a selection criterion.

This article analyzes the genetic traits on 305 days and test day milk yield records in Murrah buffaloes. The experiments showed that period of calving had significant effect on test day milk yield while season of calving had nonsignificant effect on all the traits. It also observes that estimates of heritability of various traits were not different from zero as standard errors of estimates were higher.

In order to predict the breeding value, the data pertaining to lifetime traits on 762 Hariana cows, progeny of 23 sires maintained at Government Livestock Farm, Hisar for a period of 35 years were analyzed which showed that the index including MY1, PY1, MY2 and PY2 showed an increase of at least 19.21 per cent in accuracy compared to the index having only MY1 and PY1 and thereafter, there was trivial increase in accuracy by adding third and fourth lactation traits in the index compared to a large increment in generation interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which estimated genetic parameters on the basis of first lactation milk yield and reproduction traits in Murrah buffaloes. The study analyzed data pertaining to 326 Murrah buffaloes maintained at Buffalo Research Centre (BRC) in Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Haryana, India, from 1987 to 2006. The results showed high genetic and phenotypic correlations for all production traits and reproduction traits except for first dry period (FDP).

The article discusses clinical research which aims to examine the prediction of phenotypic and breeding value of first lactation milk yield in Murrah buffaloes. The first test day of lactation milk yield was recorded from the seventh day following calving and multiple regression analysis was utilized to predict lactation production. In conclusion, the accuracy of bimonthly test day records may be compared to that of lactation yield.

We analysed the distribution of genotypes of two polymorphisms in the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene: C→T substitution in exon 6 and T→C substitution in intron 7 in 52 subjects with colorectal cancer. Genotypes were determined in tumour tissue and distant mucosa samples by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. The antigen levels of uPA in cancer tissue were higher than in distant mucosa as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of uPA antigens in cancer samples with the C/C genotype of C→T polymorphism in exon 6 was higher than in samples with C/T and T/T genotypes. No differences in the level of uPA antigens between the alleles of the intron 7 T→C polymorphism were found. As uPA can be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis, C/C genotype in exon 6 of uPA gene can be further considered as being related to colorectal cancer progression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]