Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Genetic selection for high milk production, type and appearance for the last 50 years has suppressed secondary traits such as reproductive performance, productive life, health and survivability in the pure milk breeds. The economic importance of these secondary traits in dairy production systems is the basis for the interest seen in crossbreeding. The problem of growth rate of heifers, cow fertility, reduced disease resistance and small body frame for beef production in Jerseys can be improved by crossing Jerseys with dual purpose breeds, such as Fleckviehs which possess a more beef potential. Against this background, this study aimed at comparing the production and reproduction of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey cows in a pasture-based system. Milk recording was done according to standard milk recording procedures. Milk production (milk, fat, and protein yield) was adjusted to 305 days of lactation and corrected for age at calving. Effects of breed, parity, month and year were estimated for milk, fat and protein yield as well as fat and protein percentage using general linear models procedure. The fixed effects identified as having significant effects on milk, fat and protein yield were breed, parity and year. F×J cows produced significantly more milk than J cows (6141 ± 102 vs. 5398 ± 95 kg milk). Protein and fat yield were significantly higher in F×J (201 ± 3 and 272 ± 4 kg, respectively) than in J cows (194 ± 2 and 246 ± 3 kg, respectively). There percentages of fat and protein differed slightly between the two breeds with the Jersey recording slightly higher percentages (4.61 ± 0.04 and 3.62 ± 0.03 %, respectively) compared to the F×J cows’ percentages, which were, respectively, 4.47 ± 0.04 and 3.51 ± 0.03 %. It was concluded that F×J crossbred cows were more productive than purebred J cows probably owing to heterotic effects. Heifers were inseminated at 13 months of age and cows 40 days post-calving. Using insemination records and pregnancy check results, fertility traits were analyzed and compared between the two breeds, using analysis of variance for continuous records. Conception age was the same for both breeds resulting in a similar age at first calving. For cows, the interval from calving to first insemination was significantly shorter (P <0.001) in crossbred cows being 76.7 ± 2.2 days compared to 82.4 ± 2.5 days for purebreds. A larger proportion (P < 0.001) of 0.70 for crossbred cows was inseminated within 80 days after calving compared to 0.54 for J cows. Although the absolute number of days between calving and conception (DO) was lower for F×J cows in comparison to J cows (104.8 ± 6.8 vs. 114.8 ± 8.1days, respectively), the difference was not significant. However, the proportion of F×J cows confirmed pregnant by 100 days in milk was 0.79, which was higher (P < 0.001) than the 0.66 for J cows. Results indicate the potential of improving reproductive performance of J cows through crossing with dual-purpose breeds. The beef production of purebred J and Fleckvieh x Jersey (F×J) bull calves was compared, where bull calves were reared similarly for veal, i.e. carcass weight not exceeding 100 kg, or as steers for beef to 21 months of age. In both the veal and steer production systems, the mean birth weight were higher (P < 0.001) for crossbred in comparison to J calves and steers (33.5 ± 1.2 kg vs. 27.9 ± 1.2 kg for veal) and (33.4 ± 0.9 kg vs. 26.9 ± 0.9 kg for steers) respectively. The live weight at 6 months of age was 163.5 ± 3.9 kg for J bull calves, which was lower (P < 0.001) than that for F×J bull calves (180.6 ± 4.0 kg). The F×J bull calves had a significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) of 0.82 ± 0.02 kg/day compared to 0.73 ± 0.02 kg/day for J bulls. Marketing age differed (P < 0.001) in the veal production system with F×J and J bull calves marketed at 7.1 ± 0.1 and 6.3 ± 0.1 months, respectively. End live weight at 21 months of age was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in F×J bulls (441.4 ± 14.9 kg) than the 322.6 ± 13.4 kg in J bulls; while ADG differed (P < 0.001) between the two breeds being 0.64 ± 0.02 and 0.46 ± 0.0 kg/day in F×J and J bull calves, respectively. Crossbred steers had a significantly higher carcass of 206.5 ± 8.9 kg compared to 157.9 ± 8.6 kg for J steers. Results indicate the potential of improving beef production characteristics of the J cattle through crossbreeding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Genetiese seleksie vir hoë melkproduksie, tipe en voorkoms die afgelope 50 jaar het sekondêre eienskappe soos reproduksie, produktiewe lewe, gesondheid en oorlewing onderdruk in die suiwer melk rasse. Die ekonomiese belangrikheid van hierdie sekondêre eienskappe in melkproduksie stelsels is die basis vir kruisteling. Probleme soos groei tempo van verse, koei vrugbaarheid, verlaagde weerstandbiedenheid teen siektes en klein liggaam raam vir vleisproduksie in Jerseys kan verbeter word deur die kruising van Jerseys met ' n dubbele doel rasse, soos Fleckviehs wat beskik oor beter vleis potensiaal. Teen hierdie agtergrond, is hierdie studie daarop gemik om produksie en reproduksie van Jersey en Fleckvieh x Jersey koeie in 'n weiveld - gebaseerde stelsel te vergelyk. Melk opname is gedoen volgens standaard melkaantekening prosedures. Melkproduksie (melk-, veten proteïen opbrengs) was aangepas vir 305 dae van laktasie en gekorrigeer vir kalf ouderdom. ‘n Algemene lineêre model was gebruik om die effekte van ras, pariteit , maand en jaar op melk-, vet- en proteïen opbrengs sowel as vet- en proteïen persentasie te bepaal. Die vaste effekte geïdentifiseer met 'n beduidende effek op melk-, vet- en proteïen opbrengs was ras, pariteit en jaar. F × J koeie het aansienlik meer melk as J koeie (6141 ± 102 teen 5398 ± 95 kg melk) produseer . Vet opbrengs was aansienlik hoër in F × J koeie as in J koeie (272 ± 4 246 teen ± 3 kg vet). Proteïen opbrengs was ook aansienlik hoër in F × J koeie as J koeie (201 ± 3 vs 194 ± 2 kg proteïen). Vet en proteïen persentasies het geneig om effens te verskil met 'n klein effek (4.61 ± 0.04 % vet en 3.62 ± 0.03 % proteïen) vir J koeie en (4.47 ± 0.04 % vet en 3.51 ± 0.03 % proteïen) vir F × J koeie. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat F × J gekruisde koeie kan meer produktief wees as suiwer J koeie weens heterotiese effekte. Verse kunsmatig geïnsemineer was op 13 maande ouderdom en koeie 40 dae na- kalwing aangehou was. Met behulp van bevrugting en swangerskap rekords, is vrugbaarheid eienskappe ontleed en vergelyk tussen die twee rasse, met behulp van ontleding van variansie vir deurlopende rekords. Ouderdom van bevrugting was dieselfde vir beide rasse wat in 'n soortgelyke ouderdomsgroep was by eerste kalwing. Vir koeie was die interval van kalf tot eerste inseminasie aansienlik korter (P < 0.001) vir kruisgeteelde koeie wat 76.7 ± 2.2 dae in vergelyking met 82.4 ± 2.5 dae suiwerrasse is. ‘n Groter proporsie ( P < 0.001) van 0.70 vir gekruisteelde koeie is binne 80 dae na kalwing geïnsemineer in vergelyking met 0.54 vir J koeie. Alhoewel die absolute aantal dae tussen kalwing en opvatting (DO) laer was vir F × J koeie in vergelyking met J koeie (104.8 ± 6.8 teen 114.8 ± 8.1dae, onderskeidelik), is die verskil nie betekenisvol nie. Maar die verhouding van F × J koeie wat swanger bevestig is met 100 dae in melk was 0.79, wat hoër was (P < 0.001) is as die 0.66 vir J koeie. Resultate dui daarop dat daar potensiaal is reproduktiewe prestasie te verbeter van J koeie deur kruisteling met 'n dubbel- doel rasse. Die vleisproduksie van suiwer J en Fleckvieh x Jersey (F × J) bulkalwers vergelyk. Die bul kalwers is soortgelyk grootgemaak vir kalfsvleis, d.w.s karkas gewig mag nie 100 kg oorskry as bulkalwers nie, en as osse vir vleis tot 21 maande oud. In die kalwers- en os produksie stelsels, was die gemiddelde geboorte gewig hoër (P < 0.001) vir die kruise in vergelyking met J kalwers en osse (33.5 ± 1.2 kg teen 27.9 ± 1.2 kg vir kalwers) en (33.4 ± 0.9 kg vs . 26.9 ± 0.9 kg vir osse) onderskeidelik . Die lewendige gewig op 6 maande ouderdom was 163.5 ± 3.9 kg vir J bulkalwers en was hoër (P < 0.001) vir F × J bulkalwers 180.6 ± 4.0 kg. Die F × J bul kalwers het 'n aansienlik ‘n hoër gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT) van 0.82 ± 0.02 kg/dag in vergelyking met 0.73 ± 0.02 kg/dag vir J bulle. Bemarkingsouderdom verskil (P < 0.001) in die kalf produksie stelsel met F × J en J bulkalwers bemark op 7.1 ± 0.1 en 6.3 ± 0.1 maande , onderskeidelik. Finale lewendige gewig van 21 maande oud was aansienlik hoër 441.4 ± 14.9 kg in F × J bulle as 322.6 ± 13.4 kg in J bulle , terwyl GDT hoër was (P < 0.001), met 0.64 ± 0.02 kg/dag en 0.46 ± 0.0 kg/dag in F × J en J bulkalwers, onderskeidelik. Gekruisde osse het 'n aansienlik hoër karkasgewig 206.5 ± 8.9 kg in vergelyking met 157.9 ± 8.6 kg van J osse. Resultate dui daarop dat daar potensiaal is om die beesvleis produksie-eienskappe van die J beeste te verbeter d.m.v. kruisteling.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:07:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao de mestrado Gustavo Feliciano.pdf: 265513 bytes, checksum: fb176c72883386b514a490c2fa638f58 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-13 / This study was designed to evaluate the changes of some blood biochemical variables during the transition period as an indicative of metabolic diseases and to correlate them with the calving-first estrus interval, calving- conception interval, conception rate per service and parity in dairy crossbred cows raised in pasture based system. Sixty-three cows were evaluated during 12 months. Serum sodium, potassium, calcium (ion selective), glucose, triglycerides and betahyidroyibutyrate (BHB) were measurement in serum samples obtained at different times during the three weeks before and three weeks after calving. No significant differences were observed for the values of sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose and BHB between the pre-and postpartum, but triglyceride concentrations differed (p <0.05), with lower values in the postpartum. Regarding parity, significant differences (p <0.05) between the concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium were present. For calcium during the prepartum period, lower concentrations were found in animals calving. Interval from calving to first estrus variable (PSPI), differences were observed (p <0.05), with higher calcium concentrations for animals with IPPE up to 45 days and from 45 to 85 days for animals with IPPE above 85 days. For the interval delivery design changes observed for the variable triglycerides (p> 0.05). The data showed that, under the conditions present in this study metabolic changes indicative of metabolic diseases, even subclinical are not present. / Esse trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar as alterações de algumas variáveis bioquimicas sanguineas no período de transição como indicativas de doenças metabolicas e correlaciona-las com os intervalos parto primeiro estro, parto concepção, taxa de concepção por serviço e paridade em vacas leiteiras mestiças criadas a pasto. Foram avaliadas 63 vacas que pariram durante o período de 12 meses. Foram realizadas dosagens de sódio, potássio, cálcio (íons seletivo), glicose , triglicérides e betahidróxibutirato (BHB) em amostras de soro sanguineo obtidas em diferentes momentos durante as 3 semanas anteriores e as tres semanas posteriores ao parto. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para os valores de sódio, potássio, cálcio, glicose e BHB entre os períodos pré e pós parto, mas as concentrações de triglicérides apresentaram diferença (p<0,05), com valores inferiores no pós parto. Em relação a paridade, houve diferença (p<0,05) entre as concentrações de sódio, potássio e cálcio. Para o cálcio durante o período pré-parto, concentrações menores foram verificadas nos animais de primeiro parto. Para a variável intervalo parto primeiro estro (IPPE), observou-se diferença (p<0,05), com maiores concentrações de cálcio para os animais com IPPE até 45 dias e de 45 a 85 dias em relação aos animais com IPPE acima de 85 dias. Para o intervalo parto concepção observou-se alterações para a variável triglicérides (p>0.05). Os dados obitdos permitiram concluir que, nas condições presentes nesse estudo alterações metabolicas indicativas de doenças metabólicas, mesmo que subclínicas não estiveram presentes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:34:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MiguelASFC_DISSERT.pdf: 664410 bytes, checksum: ea1412fbbc90b4e28d5ec902a12a2ff5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-29 / Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte / The objective of this study was to identify DNA polymorphisms at the genes leptin, &#946;-lactoglobulin and pituitary-specific transcription factor in three genetic groups of Holstein x Guzerat dairy cows and investigate the relationship between their genotypes and the composition and quality of milk of dairy cows. Samples were collected in August 2009, being 113 blood samples from lactating crossbred cows and 58 milk samples. For analysis of DNA polymorphisms blood samples were collected, analyzed later in the Genetic Laboratory affiliated to the Zootechny Institute of S?o Paulo and individual milk samples were collected according to standards established by the laboratory of Management Program of Northeast Dairy Herds (PROGEN), at Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) for analysis of milk composition and quality. The characterization of genotypes was performed by PCR-RFLP, for which were designed specific primers for each studied gene and restriction enzymes Kpn2I, HaeIII and HinfI that cut the DNA of the following genes: leptin, &#946;-lactoglobulin and a PIT, respectively. The leptin estimate genotypic frequence were CC 0.112, TT 0.225 and CT 0.661, for &#946;-lactoglobulin were AA 0.136, AB 0.323 and BB 0.539, and for PIT were ++ 0.655, -- 0.311 and +- 0.032. The results show that the population is in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium for leptin, &#946;-lactoglobulin and a PIT due to excess of heterozygotes in the population, however, as these genes are associated with the milk production it is considered that the animals have genetic potential for milk production in the Brazilian semi-arid conditions. Through the characterization of the studied herd there were not found implications of the polymorphism of leptin, &#946;-lactoglobulin and PIT in the composition and quality of milk from cows in the different genetic groups 1/2, 3/4 and 7/8 Holstein x Guzerat. Key words: &#946;-lactoglobulin, crossbred cows, leptin, PCR-RFLP, PIT1, semi-arid. / O objetivo do presente estudo ? identificar os polimorfismos de DNA nos genes leptina, &#946;-lactoglobulina e fator de transcri??o pituit?rio espec?fico, em tr?s grupos gen?ticos de vacas leiteiras Holand?s x Guzer? e verificar a rela??o entre seus gen?tipos com a composi??o e qualidade do leite de vacas leiteiras. As amostras foram coletadas em agosto de 2009, sendo 113 amostras de sangue de vacas mesti?as em lacta??o e 58 amostras de leite. Para a an?lise do polimorfismo de DNA foram coletadas amostras de sangue, analisadas posteriormente no Laborat?rio de Gen?tica do Instituto de Zootecnia do Estado de S?o Paulo. As amostras individuais de leite foram coletadas segundo os padr?es estabelecidos pelo laborat?rio do Programa de Gerenciamento de Rebanhos Leiteiros do Nordeste (PROGENE), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE) para as an?lises de composi??o e qualidade do leite. A caracteriza??o dos gen?tipos foi realizada atrav?s da t?cnica de PCR-RFLP, em que foram utilizados primers espec?ficos para cada gene estudado e enzimas de restri??o Kpn2I, HaeIII e HinfI, promotoras de cortes nos genes leptina, &#946;- lactoglobulina e PIT1, respectivamente. A freq??ncia genot?pica estimada da leptina foi CC 0,112 , TT 0,225 e CT 0,661, da &#946;-lactoglobulina foi AA 0,136, BB 0,323 e AB 0,539 e PIT1 ++ 0,655, -- 0,311 e +- 0,032. Os resultados mostram que a popula??o se encontra em desequil?brio de Hardy-Weinberg para a leptina, &#946;-lactoglobulina e PIT1 devido ao excesso de heterozigotos presentes na popula??o, entretanto, como estes genes est?o associados ? produ??o de leite, considera-se que os animais t?m potencial gen?tico para a produ??o leiteira nas condi??es do semi?rido brasileiro. Atrav?s da caracteriza??o do rebanho estudado n?o foram encontradas implica??es referentes ao polimorfismo da leptina, &#946; lactoglobulina e PIT1 na composi??o e qualidade do leite de vacas nos grupos gen?ticos 1/2, 3/4 e 7/8 Holand?s x Guzer?