Ioan Padeanu

Mitochondrial DNA variability in Gyimesi Racka and Turcana sheep breeds

The current knowledge and documentation on the origins and relationship between Gyimesi Racka reared in Hungary and the Romanian Turcana is rather controversial. Lack of information and scientific reliable proofs for the divergent theories found in the two countries motivated us to implement a trial using molecular methods to assess the genetic distance and diversity in the two breeds. Hair follicles were collected from Gyimesi Racka (2 phenotypes) and from Turcana (6 ecotypes). The 599 bp segment of the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA was sequenced. Altogether, 42 haplotypes were identified, while 23 were found in both populations. Populations were highly diverse according to the haplotype and nucleotide diversity indices. AMOVA analysis showed that most of the variation was observed within populations (98%), indicating a weak genetic structure between the two breeds. Animals were grouped into seven groups based on their phenotype; however genetic distances among them were also low. Tajimas D, Fus Fs, goodness-of-fit statistics, mismatch distribution and network analysis suggested recent demographic expansion. Current comprehensive mtDNA study indicates that there is very low level of genetic differentiation between the Gyimesi Racka and Turcana populations therefore they are de facto one trans-boundary breed.

Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP™) genotyping of 48 polymorphisms at different caprine loci in French Alpine and Saanen goat breeds and their association with milk composition

Using a novel and fast genotyping method called Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP™), we carried out a pilot study on 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) belonging to 40 genes in French Alpine (n = 24) and Saanen (n = 25) goats reared in Romania. Furthermore, the associations of the 13 polymorphic genetic variants with milk production and composition were investigated. Thirty-five SNPs did not show polymorphism in the studied populations. Polymorphic SNPs were detected in the following genes: CAST, CLEC4E, DES, GHRHR, HSP90AA1, IL15RA, IL1RN, IL8, MITF, PPRC1, SOCS3, TNF and TNFSF13. The studied Alpine population was in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium at the g.62894878A>G locus (rs671391101) (P < 0.05). The results showed that four SNPs rs671391101 (GHRHR), rs640582069 (IL1RN) rs635583012 (SOCS3) and rs635969404 (IL15RA) out of the 13 polymorphic markers were significantly associated with milk production, protein, fat and lactose content in the Alpine breed. However, no significant effect was recorded in the Saanen population regarding milk yield or milk chemical composition. The current results provide new insights for the development of SNP marker-assisted selection technology in the goat industry and confirm the potential of using SNPs for the GHRHR, IL1RN, SOCS3, and IL15RA genes as candidate genes for selection, highlighting the direct implications of such genes for farm production outputs. The results from this study are relevant for future goat genomic studies and the inclusion of the associated traits into up-to-date selection schemes.

Evolution of the body weight and absolute growing rate of turcana x ile de france hybrid from lambing up to 5 months of age

Studies were carried out on a group of 12 hybrids Turcana x Ile de France lambs (E) compared with a pure Turcana breed (like the Pramenka) group lambs (C = 12) following the evolution of the body weight and the mean daily gain. Hybrid lambs presented a significantly higher body weight (p<0,01) at 5 months compared with the pure Turcana breed lambs. The mean daily gain was also significantly higher (p<0,001) with 24 g in hybrid lambs compared with the Turcana breed lambs. It is a suggestion that the use of Ile de France breed for crossing with Turcana breed is efficient.