@conference {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Hot years in history and facial eczema}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {77}, year = {2017}, month = {06/2017}, pages = {107-109}, address = {Rotorua}, abstract = {

Facial Eczema (FE) is caused by grazing animals ingesting the toxin sporidesmin which is produced by spores of the fungus Pithomyces chartarum. In order for the fungus to sporulate, a series of weather and environmental events must occur, with warm, moist, humid conditions and leaf dead-matter at the pasture base required (Brook 1969). In New Zealand, the combination of required conditions has historically been confined to summer and autumn months in temperate parts of New Zealand as illustrated in a map published by di Menna et al. (2009).

There is a large body of research that concludes that the world is in a period of climate change, characterised by increasing temperatures and extreme weather events (Ministry of Environment NZ, 2008) with the temperature increases predicted to incrementally increase into the future. Using climate change predictions, modelling work reported by di Menna et al. (2009) and Dennis et al. (2014) demonstrated that into the future the geographical regions in New Zealand affected by FE would increase, as temperature increases would result in more areas achieving the minimum temperatures required for sporulation.

Through using published literature and media articles prior to 2016, the worst years for FE in New Zealands history were 1938 and 1999. Indeed the outbreak in 1938 was what led to the establishment of the Ruakura Research Centre (now AgResearch) in an attempt to understand the cause and control of the then-unknown disease that had resulted in photosensitivity, liver damage, production losses and death in affected animals (di Menna et al. 2009).

The purpose of this paper is to report on the FE outbreak of 2016 and to draw temperature parallels to the outbreaks of 1938 and 1999 using weather data from the Ruakura Weather Station.

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {PL Johnson and Cameron CA and Henderson HV and Cullen NG} } @conference {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Reduced reproductive outcomes in ewes susceptible to facial eczema}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {77}, year = {2017}, month = {06/2017}, pages = {197-199}, address = {Rotorua}, abstract = {There are both clinical and sub-clinical effects on grazing ruminants that ingest the toxin sporidesmin produced by the fungus Pithomyces chartarum, with the clinical effects of the toxin giving rise to the colloquial name of the disease {\textquotedblleft}facial eczema{\textquotedblright}. The sub-clinical effects of Facial Eczema (FE) have been documented and impact on most aspects of production from fertility through to growth. Data used to estimate the effects of the sporidesmin ingestion have ranged from natural exposure to high levels of sporidesmin in the outbreak in 1981 (Moore et al. 1990) through to differences in genetic selection lines and in trials where animals are artificially dosed with sporidesmin (Morris et al. 1991). Whilst the size of the impact does vary between studies, their overall conclusions are consistent, with decreased ewe fertility observed. In all studies, how the animal has tolerated (or not) the sporidesmin that it has been exposed to, is estimated through measuring serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels which have been shown to be a strong indicator of liver damage, the body organ most directly affected by the toxin (Towers \& Stratton, 1978)...}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {PL Johnson and Henderson HV and Proffit R and Cullen NG} } @conference {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: An update on genetic parameters for facial eczema tolerance in sheep}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {43-45}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Facial Eczema (FE) is a metabolic disease resulting from liver and bile-duct damage, caused by ingestion of the mycotoxin sporidesmin A, found in the spores of the fungus Pithomyces chartarum. Risk of FE is associated with temperature, humidity and dead leaf matter (Mitchell et al. 1959; Brook 1963; Di Menna \& Bailey 1973). While FE is predominantly prevalent in the North Island of New Zealand, climatic change projections indicate that there will be an increase in the geographical spread of the fungus and associated sporidesmin, resulting in FE spreading to regions that are currently unaffected (Dennis et al. 2014). Clinical FE is characterised by photosensitisation due to liver injury; however, reduced production (Smith 2000) and reproduction (Moore et al. 1983; Mcmillan et al. 1988; Morris et al. 1991) is also observed in both clinically and sub-clinically affected animals. The heritability of liver damage at slaughter post-sporidesmin challenge was estimated to be 0.42 {\textpm} 0.09 (Campbell et al. 1981). In the live animal, serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) collected 2 to 3 weeks after sporidesmin challenge can be used as a measure of liver damage (Towers \& Stratton 1978). Romney FE selection lines, initially selected for resistance or susceptibility on the basis of liver damage, were established in 1975...}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Mcrae KM and Cullen NG and Amyes NC and PL Johnson} } @conference {3678, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Reducing the risk of photosensitisation in dairy cattle undergoing a facial eczema challenge}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {74}, year = {2014}, month = {06/2014}, pages = {158-160}, address = {Napier}, abstract = {Facial eczema (FE) is primarily a liver disease of ruminants that is caused by the ingestion of the toxin sporidesmin which is produced by spores of the fungus, Pithomyces chartarum. The liver and bile-duct injury may be monitored with a non-specific indicator, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT; Morris et al. (1990)). Dairy cattle may be assessed for their tolerance/susceptibility to sporidesmin by measuring their GGT activities in blood, about three weeks after a sporidesmin challenge. Under these conditions, logeGGT is heritable (0.34 {\textpm} 0.02), according to Cullen et al. (2011)...}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Beatson PR and Lee RSF and Dobbie PM and Morris CA} } @conference {78986, title = {Variation of milk composition traits among Holstein-Friesian-sired cows}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {72}, year = {2012}, month = {Jan}, pages = {58-62}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Christchurch}, abstract = {

A pooled afternoon and morning milk sample was obtained from each of 3,789 cows of known pedigree during a standard herd-test carried out in 21 North Island spring-calving herds between November and February. The cows were all sired by one of 11 Holstein-Friesian bulls, in a sampling design intended to sample milk from many daughters per sire, for segregation studies. Routine herd-test data consisted of 24 hour milk yield, protein \%, fat \% and somatic cell count. Samples were measured at Ruakura for fatty acid composition, fat melting point, and the concentrations of the following components, lactoferrin, β-lactoglobulin, β-casein, κ-casein, and total carotenoids. After liaison between AgResearch Ruakura staff and each dairy farmer a variate describing the current grazing groups of cows were included in analyses. Coefficients of variation were calculated for each milk component, and ranged from 0.04 to 0.35. Phenotypic correlations among components were estimated. The correlations were negative between the percentage of mono-unsaturated fatty acids present in milkfat and both the protein \% (-0.26 {\textpm} 0.03 (standard error)) and fat \% (-0.38 {\textpm} 0.02) of the milk. Some implications of selection mainly for yield from cows at pasture are discussed in terms of likely effects on milk composition.

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Hickey SM and Morris CA} } @conference {75886, title = {An update on genetic parameters for facial eczema susceptibility in New Zealand dairy cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {71}, year = {2011}, month = {Jan}, pages = {117-121}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Invercargill}, abstract = {Resistance/tolerance to facial eczema (FE) is a heritable trait in New Zealand dairy cattle, as measured by genetic variation in liver enzyme levels. AgResearch has been collecting data from herds clinically affected by FE, by blood-sampling all cows in these herds, as a low cost method of phenotyping large numbers of animals. Over the past seven autumns, 66 herds and 14,799 cows were sampled. Breeding values for FE resistance were calculated for 238 sires. One complicating factor was the level of FE-protection provided by zinc sulphate administered through the farm water supply. Variable levels of serum zinc in cows were found, due to factors including water intakes and weather conditions. In zinc-treated herds there were three classes of cows: those still affected by FE, and others seemingly FE-tolerant either through genetics or having enough circulating zinc to provide protection. The zinc status of each herd was recorded at the time of blood sampling after a clinical outbreak. Data were analysed within zinc-treated and not zinc-treated herds to provide genetic parameters for each. Heritabilities in herds according to zinc status were very similar, regardless of zinc status.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Morris CA and Hickey SM and Henderson HV} } @conference {69502, title = {Crossing Angus cattle with Limousin as a method of increasing meat yield}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {70}, year = {2010}, month = {Jun}, pages = {189-193}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Palmerston North}, abstract = {The myostatin mutation in Limousin cattle affects both dressing percent and meat yield, without a negative impact on calving difficulty. A trial was designed to introgress this mutation into Angus cattle, using double-copy Limousin bulls to produce F1 Limousin x Angus. Crossing the F1 individuals would produce F2 individuals with a quarter carrying two copies of the mutation. A pure-bred Angus herd was maintained as a Control, for breed and genotype comparisons. A total of 269 F1, 34 F2 and 129 Angus calves were born in the first four years of this trial, before a lack of funding led to early closure. A total of 112 surplus bulls were slaughtered, and measurements taken over three years, including a {\textquotedblleft}butchers{\textquoteright} dissection{\textquotedblright} into saleable meat, fat and bone of one hind-quarter per animal. Limousin crosses were 9\% heavier as yearlings, 7\% heavier at slaughter and had 2.3\% higher dressing percent (55.3\% vs. 53.0\%) than Angus. Hindquarters from Limousin crosses were 14\% heavier than from Angus, and their meat yields were greater by 1.8\% (77.0\% vs.75.2\%), due mainly to breed differences in bone weight. Overall, the Limousin-cross advantage was 6.5 kg (17\%) of saleable meat per hind-quarter, with most of the extra meat in high-value cuts.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Morris CA and Taukiri KR and Hill SW} } @conference {41813, title = {Effects of facial eczema on skatole detoxification efficiency in dairy cows}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {68}, year = {2008}, month = {Jan}, pages = {134-137}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Brisbane, Australia}, abstract = {Facial eczema (FE) is a disease caused by the fungal toxin sporidesmin, which upon ingestion by dairy cows can cause liver damage in susceptible animals. Skatole is formed in the rumen by the breakdown of dietary protein, absorbed into blood and is cleared by metabolism in the liver to 3-methyloxindole (MOI) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole (HMOI) and products of further oxidation and conjugation. In this study we have determined the concentrations of skatole, MOI and HMOI in the blood of dairy cows selected for their "high" gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and "low" GGT in autumn and spring. Significant differences in skatole and MOI median concentrations were found in the autumn blood between the high and low GGT groups (skatole: 11.9 and 1.1 ng/mL respectively, P <0.001; MOI: 23.9 and 11.9 ng/mL respectively, P <0.05) although there was no difference in blood HMOI levels. Similar trends were observed for animals with high GGT in both autumn and spring when compared to low autumn and spring GGT. Animals with high autumn GGT and low spring GGT also contained increased median concentrations of skatole and MOI in the spring blood compared to the low autumn and spring GGT group, suggesting a lingering effect of FE damage on liver detoxification efficiency not detected by measuring spring GGT levels. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Fraser K and Lane GA and Yu M and Morris CA and Cullen NG} } @conference {42057, title = {Testing for quantitative trait loci for lactation persistency in dairy cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {68}, year = {2008}, month = {Jan}, pages = {107-110}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Brisbane, Australia}, abstract = {Lactational persistency has not been selected for in New Zealand dairy populations. Existing milk production data and pedigrees from New Zealand Holstein-Friesian cattle at pasture, recorded in the Livestock Improvement Corporation database were utilized with a grand-daughter design, for a genome-wide search for a quantitative trait locus for persistency of lactation. Persistency was defined as a weighted sum of test-day yields. A significant region was identified in one grandsire family on Chromosome 3 at microsatellite marker position AGLA247 (chromosomal position 67cM; P <0.05). To verify this result, data from a research dairy herd defining persistency as the mean of three weekly tests of daily yield in March (late lactation) divided by the equivalent daily yields in October (early lactation)) for three seasons beginning in 1997/98 were used in a phenotypic association study on Chromosome 3 only. One allele of marker HUJ246, close to the original region appeared to show an additive effect. The maximal difference between this genotype and the others at this marker locus was 12.3 {\textpm} 4.4\% of the mean persistency. The potential use of this marker in the New Zealand dairy cattle population depends on the current allele frequencies in the industry. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Spelman RJ and Henderson HV and Cullen NG and Hyndman DL and Miller FM and Johnson DL and Molenaar AJ and Grigor MR and Davis SR} } @conference {41719, title = {Current status of QTL and association studies in New Zealand cattle , sheep and deer}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {67}, year = {2007}, month = {Jan}, pages = {153-159}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Wanaka}, abstract = {In the last 15 years, a series of experiments has beencarried out to search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in New Zealand cattle, sheepand deer. A QTL represents the position on a chromosome where there is a statistically significant genetic effecton a measured trait. This paper reviews data published so far from these QTL trials and from various association studies. Although the measurement of traits (or {\textquoteleft}phenotypes{\textquoteright}) and the sampling of tissue or fluid for DNA may be complete, the genotyping of DNA isstill incomplete in most studies; further work may be expected as new DNA genotyping techniques and new genomic data become available, and as funds allow. In cattle, we describe the current status of research for carcass composition, meat quality, pubertal traits, milk yield and milk composition traits, and resistance to facial eczema and bloat. In sheep, we include QTL searches for disease traits (resistance to nematode parasites, facial eczema, ryegrass staggers, and footrot), muscling and carcass composition, reproductive traits, wool traits, and lamb survival. In deer, QTL searches have been carried out for live weights, seasonality and pubertal traits, using measurements from an interspecific hybrid. Generally, significant results have been followed further by finemapping and independent validation, before release to industry. Some of the mapping techniques will be described, with examples. So far, QTLs under study in New Zealand have led to the identification and use of gene-tests or marker-tests for meat tenderness and carcass composition in beef cattle, milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle, and meat yield \%, muscling and litter size genes in sheep.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Campbell AW and Cullen NG and Davis GH and Everett-Hincks JM and Hall RJ and Henry HM and PL Johnson and McEwan JC and Phua SH and Wilson T} } @conference {41724, title = {Effect of divergent selection for wool bulk on live weight and wool characteristics in Perendale sheep}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {67}, year = {2007}, month = {Jan}, pages = {180-186}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Wanaka}, abstract = {A sixteen year selection trial in a flock of Perendale sheep selected for either increased (H line) or decreased (L line) wool bulk at yearling (hogget) shearing, was undertaken at Whatawhata, and later Winchmore Research Stations. A total of 2,620 progeny sired by 172 rams joined in single sire matings were measured, with data from an additional 664 fleeces providing direct information on base flock characteristics. A restricted maximum likelihood (REML) animal model adjusting for fixed effects of year, sex, birth date and birth/weaning rank was fitted to the data. Heritability estimates {\textpm} standard errors for each of the measured characteristics were; core wool bulk (0.57 {\textpm} 0.03), pre-shear live weight (0.35 {\textpm} 0.04), greasy fleece weight (0.44 {\textpm} 0.04), washing yield (0.42 {\textpm} 0.03), clean fleece weight (0.45 {\textpm} 0.03), staple length (0.54 {\textpm} 0.03), total crimps (0.38 {\textpm} 0.03), crimp frequency (0.46 {\textpm} 0.03), mean fibre diameter (0.62 {\textpm} 0.04), fibre diameter variation (0.58 {\textpm} 0.04) and mean fibre curvature (0.67 {\textpm} 0.04). At the end of the trial, line divergence (H {\textendash} L) in core wool bulk and fibre curvature amounted to 2.5 phenotypic standard deviation units. It was associated with a positive divergence in crimp frequency and a negative divergence in staple length, washing yield and clean fleece weight of +2.1, -1.7, -1.4 and {\textendash}0.8 standard deviation units respectively, and lesser changes in other traits.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Sumner RMW and Clarke JN and Cullen NG} } @conference {42009, title = {Testing glutathione-S-transferase for an association with facial eczema resistance in cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {67}, year = {2007}, month = {Jan}, pages = {361-364}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Wanaka}, abstract = {Resistance to facial eczema (FE) in cattle is known to be a heritable trait. The commonly used indicators of susceptibility in affected groups of animals are gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which indicate the severity of the liver injury associated with FE. Published research using mouse models suggests that glutathione-S-transferase (GST) may be a downstream indicator of variation in FE susceptibility, and a study was carried outin calves to test this. Friesian-sired and Jerseysired bull calves were purchased from dairy herds in spring 2004, artificially reared from about four days of age, weaned at 75-80 kg, monitored for base-line GGT activity in blood, and then dosed orally with sporidesmin. At 14 and 21 days after dosing, blood samples were taken to measure the activities of both GDH and GGT. A sample of 45 Friesian calves and 45 Jersey calves from the high and low outliers (using GDH activity within breed, 14 days after dosing) wereblood-sampled 15 or 16 days after dosing and measured for GST activity, with 20-25 animals sampled each day, in balanced groups. There were significant differences in GST activity between high and low GDH groups (P < 0.01), and the pooled within-analysisday regression of GST activity on logGGT activity (day21) was negative (P < 0.05). Results confirmed that low erythrocytic GST activity is an indicator of FEsusceptibility, although the differences seen between resistant and susceptible animals are insufficient for use as a predictive tool.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Cullen NG and Munday R} } @conference {41894, title = {Effect on fleece weight of combining genes from four flocks independently selected for increased fleece weight}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {66}, year = {2006}, month = {Jan}, pages = {195-199}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Napier}, abstract = {This study investigated whether heterosis was present when crossing sheep from four closed Romney flocks selected for increased fleece weight. Three of the flocks had been developed by AgResearch (C, W and H) and one by Massey University (M). Each ewe was joined with a single ram according to a diallel design to generate single-line, two-line and four-line cross progeny. The trial ran from 1988 to 1996 with 599 records available for analysis. In rank order, the mean ({\textpm} standard error of mean) greasy yearling fleece weight (kg), adjusted for year, sex, pre-shearing live weight and days of wool growth was W (3.41 {\textpm} 0.08), H (3.39 {\textpm} 0.12), C (3.31 {\textpm} 0.10), M (3.10 {\textpm} 0.15) for the "single-line" groups, WC (3.40 {\textpm} 0.09), MW (3.36 {\textpm} 0.10), CH (3.24 {\textpm} 0.08), WH (3.16 {\textpm} 0.11), MH (3.14 {\textpm} 0.11), MC (3.14 {\textpm} 0.10) for the "two-line" crosses and 3.26 {\textpm} 0.06 for the four-line cross. Combining sheep from two or more flocks independently selected for increased fleece weight resulted, on average, in no heterosis in wool production among resultant progeny. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Sumner RMW and Clarke JN and Blair HT and Cullen NG and Henderson HV} } @conference {41918, title = {Effects of facial eczema on indole flavour compounds in dairy cows}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {66}, year = {2006}, month = {Jan}, pages = {315-319}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Napier}, abstract = {The flavour compounds indole and skatole (3-methylindole) are characteristic of products of pasture based production systems. The formation of these indoles by metabolism of the amino acid tryptophan in the rumen is favoured by high levels of readily-digestible protein in forage diets. However liver function is also a very important factor as indoles taken up into the animal are cleared by metabolism in the liver. An investigation of a persistent flavour taint from a dairy farm suggested a link between high milk indoles and facial eczema. As part of a genetic study, 1223 dairy cows in 4 herds in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty were screened for liver damage associated with facial eczema by measuring levels of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the blood. We examined levels of skatole in plasma from cows selected for high GGT (> 400 i.u. l-1, 47 cows) or low GGT (< 100 i.u. l-1, 43 cows) sampled from these herds. Blood indole and skatole levels overall were higher for the {\textquoteleft}high GGT{\textquoteright} cows compared to the {\textquoteleft}low GGT{\textquoteleft} cows (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test). The levels of indoles in milk collected from the same cows 4 days after blood sampling on one farm showed a highly significant (P < 0.001) non-linear relationship between levels in milk and blood, with milk fat skatole reaching extremely high levels (> 2000 ng g-1) in animals with very high blood skatole (> 20 ng ml-1). As the presence of relatively few animals with such extremely high levels of indole flavour compounds in milk is likely to raise the herd mean concentration to unacceptable levels, these findings suggest that facial eczema may have significant adverse effects on milk quality as well as on production. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Fraser K and Lane GA and Morris CA and Cullen NG} } @conference {41917, title = {Genetic parameters for resistance to facial eczema in dairy cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {66}, year = {2006}, month = {Jan}, pages = {310-314}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Napier}, abstract = {A project was designed to progeny-test dairy industry sires for their resistance to facial eczema (FE), as a preliminary step towards identifying DNA markers or genes for FE resistance. The FE disease is caused by the toxin, sporidesmin, produced by spores of a fungus, Pithomyces chartarum, found on many pastures in summer and autumn in the North Island of New Zealand. In susceptible animals, sporidesmin causes liver injury, and the cost of FE to the dairy industry is measured in tens of millions of dollars in years with serious outbreaks ($3.6 to 66.2M per annum). Earlier studies in New Zealand have established that resistance to FE in cattle is a heritable trait, with resistance measured by variation in activity in blood of liver-derived enzymes, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and the associated glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Widely used Friesian and Jersey sires were progeny-tested via 572 specially-reared sons (born in 2002-04 and dosed with sporidesmin), and also via 3761 daughters in autumns 2004 and 2005 in 17 herds with 3-22\% clinical cases of FE per herd. The data were combined from all sources, including four earlier years of GGT records (1173 animals born in the 1986, 1989, 1990 and 1992 birth years), and standardisation was applied to each contemporary group. Heritabilities were estimated for Friesians (0.47 {\textpm} 0.07 for log GGT; 0.32 {\textpm} 0.08 for log GDH) and for Jerseys (0.37 {\textpm} 0.06 and 0.39 {\textpm} 0.09, respectively), and there was a very high genetic correlation between activities of the two enzymes (0.93 {\textpm} 0.03). Sixty-eight sires had reliabilities of >0.70 for log GGT Breeding Value and 71 others had reliabilities between 0.60 and 0.70. The sires progeny-tested in this way generally were already proven for dairy traits and had been widely used, so that FE selection among these sires would be an additional trait when they were already old. Alternative approaches would be to performance-test young bulls for FE resistance, or to use sire and progeny data and their DNA to identify DNA markers or genes for FE resistance. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Morris CA and Hickey SM} } @conference {41832, title = {Further testing of the effect of a calpain-1 variant on meat tenderness in cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {65}, year = {2005}, month = {Jan}, pages = {266-270}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Christchurch}, abstract = {We have previously reported that a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the large subunit of micro-calpain (the calcium-activated neutral protease-1 gene) is associated with differences in tenderness, as measured in cooked steaks from the longissimus dorsi of animals from the AgResearch Jersey-Limousin Beef DNA-marker trial. The effect was significant at the intermediate stages of the tenderising process and had little effect on initial or ultimate tenderness, so that tenderising was accelerated in animals having one or two copies of the favourable variant. We have now analysed tenderness and genotype data from 310 additional animals, comprising Hereford-cross and pure Angus breeds slaughtered under varying conditions of electrical stimulation and aged at a range of temperatures. Results in all cases support the original finding: animals with two copies of the {\textquoteleft}C{\textquoteleft} allele (the SNP on Exon-9 encoding alanine at amino acid number 316) have more tender meat (decreased shear force) at the intermediate stages than animals with two copies of the {\textquoteleft}G{\textquoteleft} allele (encoding glycine). Combining measurements from three intermediate cook times, mean shear forces from {\textquoteleft}CG{\textquoteleft} were less than from {\textquoteleft}GG{\textquoteleft} genotypes by 0.80 {\textpm} 0.29 kg (P < 0.01), and mean shear forces from {\textquoteleft}CC{\textquoteleft} were less than from {\textquoteleft}CG{\textquoteleft} genotypes by 1.19 {\textpm} 0.36 kg (P < 0.001). These results show that a genotype substitution from {\textquoteleft}GG{\textquoteleft} to {\textquoteleft}CC{\textquoteleft} is associated with a difference in shear force in longissimus dorsi steaks of approximately 20\% at intermediate aging times. KEYWORDS: cattle; meat; tenderness; micro-calpain; SNP. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Morris CA and Veenvliet BA and Hickey SM and Dobbie PM and Wilson T} } @conference {41404, title = {A single-nucleotide polymorphism on Calpain-1 is associated with meat tenderness in cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {63}, year = {2003}, month = {Jan}, pages = {53-56}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Queenstown}, abstract = {Variability in tenderness remains a major concern to the meat industry, and our objective was to identify genetic effects on beef meat tenderness, in animals treated alike, and under similar post-mortem processing conditions. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) for beef tenderness has been located on the same region of chromosome 29 in a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study and in our research. Micro-calpain, or calcium-activated neutral protease (CAPN1), has been identified as a candidate gene. The calpain/calpastatin system is involved in the change of tenderness with time, by regulating post-mortem proteolysis. The CAPN1 gene was sequenced by USDA workers who identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two exons. These results were followed up as part of the AgResearch Jersey-Limousin Beef QTL trial, where steak samples were obtained from the longissimus dorsi of 416 animals slaughtered at about two years of age. The segregating USDA and NZ families were both heterozygous for one of these SNPs, on exon 9, and this region was predicted to alter the protein sequence by the substitution of alanine for glycine in Domain II. Both families were genotyped for these two SNPs, as well as for six intronic polymorphisms, to define haplotypes. Analysis of tenderness measurements in the NZ data (n=81 animals) showed a difference between paternal CAPN1 haplotypes, with the SNP encoding alanine at amino acid number 316 being associated with more tender meat (decreased shear force) relative to the SNP encoding glycine (P<0.00001). The association of the maternal haplotypes with meat tenderness phenotypes (P<0.01) was also consistent with the hypothesis of CAPN1 as the gene underlying the QTL effect. The sire and dam effects together accounted for over 30\% of the residual variance in tenderness. Our results show that a single SNP test in the laboratory can distinguish genetically tender and genetically tough animals at any age. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Cullen NG and Page BT and Morris CA and Hickey SM and Dobbie PM} } @conference {41261, title = {Correlations among beef carcass composition and meat quality traits from a genetic marker trial}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {61}, year = {2001}, month = {Jan}, pages = {96-99}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Christchurch}, abstract = {A collaborative beef cattle project between AgResearch and Adelaide University is described, which had the aim of identifying genetic markers (DNA markers) for carcass composition and meat quality traits. Two extreme breeds were used, the Jersey and Limousin, and first-cross Jersey x Limousin bulls were mated to cows of both breeds to produce experimental animals in two herds, in New Zealand and Australia. The present paper provides information on relationships among some traits recorded in the New Zealand herd, with a total of 416 back-cross cattle of both sexes slaughtered as 2-year-olds at Ruakura in the springs of 1998 and 1999. The recorded data included hot carcass weight and the butcher-dissected weights of meat, fat and bone in the right side, expressed as percentages of side weight (MP, FP and BP respectively). The pH decline in the right striploin, removed from the carcass after dressing and maintained at a constant 15{\textdegree}C, was monitored to derive the initial (pH1), ultimate (pHu), and the rate of fall of pH. Average shear force (SAVG) and the half-life of the ageing rate (SHLF) were measured in striploin steaks cooked immediately after rigor and then at intervals until ultimate tenderness. Percentage weight loss (PWL) during cooking was recorded. Also measured in the striploin were the concentrations of three metabolic enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and 3-hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HAD), and the proteolytic enzymes m- and milli-calpain, and their inhibitor calpastatin (CAST). Glycogen concentration in the muscle at slaughter, expressed as the glycolytic potential (GLYP), was estimated from the sum of the concentrations at rigor of glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, lactate and residual glycogen. The range of pHu values was small, probably because all animals were regularly handled. Correlations, after adjustment for breed group, sire and slaughter group, included: MP with FP, -0.82; PWL with MP, 0.20; PWL with FP, -0.29; MP with enzymes LDH, ICDH and HAD, 0.22, -0.21, -0.03; FP with ICDH, 0.16; SAVG with SHLF, 0.48; SHLF with CAST, m-and milli-calpain, 0.28, -0.14, 0.03; CAST with m- and milli-calpain, 0.26, 0.38; GLYP with pH1 and pHu -0.01 and -0.17. Overall, HCW, MW and composition traits were not correlated with pH traits or SAVG, or m- or milli-calpain concentrations; HCW and MW were positively correlated with LDH and GLYP. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Daly CC and Cullen NG and Hickey SM} } @conference {41173, title = {Preliminary beef carcass composition data from breed-crosses in a genetic marker trial}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {60}, year = {2000}, month = {Jan}, pages = {113-114}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Hamilton}, abstract = {A collaborative project has been established in AgResearch and at the University of Adelaide to identify genetic markersfor carcass composition and meat quality traits in beef cattle. Two extreme breeds were used, Jersey (J) and Limousin (L).First-cross Jersey x Limousin bulls (X) were mated to cows of both breeds to produce three-quarter Jersey (XJ) and threequarter Limousin (XL) animals. A total of 261 and 155 back-cross cattle of both sexes were slaughtered as 2-year-olds atRuakura in the springs of 1998 and 1999, respectively. A further 400 cattle of the same back-crosses are under evaluationin Australia. Relative to the mean off-pasture weight and hot carcass weight of the XJ cattle slaughtered at Ruakura in1998 (404 and 202 kg), the corresponding XL means were 472 and 262 kg respectively, 1.8 and 2.6 phenotypic standarddeviations (s.d.) heavier. A series of carcass composition traits was obtained from the weights of saleable meat, trimmedfat and bone from individual joints on the right side of each animal, after 24 h in the chiller. Over all joints, the weights ofmeat, fat and bone (as a \% of their total) were 66.6, 9.6 and 23.8 for XJ and 71.7, 7.1 and 21.2 for XL, representingdifferences of 2.8, 1.4 and 2.2 s.d. units respectively. Weights of high value cuts (\% of side weight) were 50.4 for XJ and52.7 for XL, a 2.3 s.d. difference. Ratios of meat to bone were 2.80 for XJ and 3.93 for XL, a 5.5 s.d. difference. Standarderrors of all the above differences in s.d. units were 0.16. The largest differences between the two breed crosses for theabove traits were 2.8 and 5.5 s.d, for meat percent in the side, and for meat to bone ratio, providing good opportunities forgenetic marker studies. In the AgResearch animals, consisting of progeny from three sire groups, markers from over halfof the genome have been analysed so far. A significant marker has been identified for meat percent in the side. The twoinformative sires had the same genotype for this marker, and the difference between sire-derived alleles in their effect onmeat percent averaged 0.99 s.d. (F statistic for each sire, 45.47 and 8.84).}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Cullen NG and Bottema CDK and Crawford AM and Hyndman DL and Pitchford WS} } @conference {41060, title = {Genetic effects in GrowBulk sheep}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {59}, year = {1999}, month = {Jan}, pages = {14-16}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {GrowBulk sheep are a strain of long-wool type sheep growing high bulk wool developed by introgressing high-bulk genes from Texel and Dorset rams into Romney ewes. Progeny selection was planned to minimise decreases in clean fleece weight. Rams have been released to four multiplier flocks. Genetic effects were evaluated in the nucleus and multiplier flocks using a restricted maximum likelihood animal model. Heritability estimates were 0.46{\textpm}0.05 for bulk and 0.30{\textpm}0.05 for clean fleece weight with a genetic correlation of -0.48{\textpm}0.09. The crossbred genotypes represented in the nucleus flock showed a range in average breeding merit for bulk of 27 to 31 cm{\textthreesuperior}/g, their weighted mean genetic superiority over contemporaneous Romneys being 5.3 cm{\textthreesuperior} /g. The first crop of commercial progeny by rams from this flock showed an average genetic superiority in bulk over their dams of approximately 4 cm{\textthreesuperior}/g. Genetic trends indicate that selection has been able to maintain the bulk advantage of the crossbreds while at the same time improving their fleece weight. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Clarke JN and Sumner RMW and Cullen NG} } @conference {41032, title = {Calpain and tenderness comparisons in M. longissimus dorsi samples from weight-selected and control Angus cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {58}, year = {1998}, month = {Jan}, pages = {214-217}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {Meat samples (M. longissimus dorsi) from a control Angus herd (ACO) and associated selection herd (AS1) were compared for calpain/calpastatin concentrations and shear-force tenderness, after the herds had been subjected to 22 to 24 years of random replacement or selection for increased adjusted yearling weight. The objective was to monitor changes in meat tenderness at fixed slaughter date resulting from genetic selection, and associated changes in muscle calpain or calpastatin concentrations. Bull calves (n=94), from 3 successive calf crops raised on pasture, were slaughtered immediately after arrival at the abattoir at about 20 months of age on one day each year (May 1995, 1996 and 1997). Carcasses were electrically stimulated, weighed and hot boned. Meat samples for calpain/calpastatin analysis were taken within 30 minutes of slaughter from the M. longissimus dorsi, with further samples after 24 hr of ageing at 10{\textdegree}C. Shear-force tenderness was assessed on the same muscle at intervals from 24 hr until one month of ageing at -1{\textdegree}C. Calpastatin, milli- and micro-calpain activities were assayed using casein as a substrate. Yearling live weights, hot carcass weights and muscle weights were respectively 19.0\%, 16.5\% and 17.3\% greater in the AS1 than the ACO herd (all P<0.001). The AS1 samples were on average 8 to 16\% more tender than ACO samples (P<0.05) on days 1 and 3 post mortem, but there were no significant herd differences in tenderness at later ageing times. The between-animal repeatability of shear-force tenderness from days 1 to 28 was 0.44{\textpm}0.07. Millicalpain concentrations were significantly lower in the AS1 than ACO samples by an average of 13\% (P<0.001), and there were smaller differences in microcalpain and calpastatin between herds in the same direction. These results show that early post mortem tenderness, millicalpain and possibly microcalpain and calpastatin concentrations were associated with genetic differences in growth. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Speck PA and Cullen NG and Dobbie PM} } @conference {40876, title = {Genetic studies of bloat susceptibility in cattle.}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {57}, year = {1997}, month = {Jan}, pages = {19-21}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {Bloat costs the dairy industry about $50 million per year and one of the possible long- term solutions is to breed cattle for reduced susceptibility. Studies on two herds established at Ruakura in 1972/73, and selected divergently for high susceptibility (HS) or low susceptibility (LS) to bloat, have shown that: (1) bloat score on any single day of serious challenge has a heritability of 0.19{\textpm}0.04; (2) the within-animal repeatability of scores across days is 0.44{\textpm}0.02; (3) divergence of bloat score between herds has now reached 2.4 genetic standard deviations; (4) the recent response rate in the HS herd has been approximately linear whilst the LS response has plateaued; (5) 75\% of the HS herd and 2\% of the LS herd are at risk of death from bloat if left untreated. Alternative definitions of the bloat syndrome have been investigated; one of these (maximal bloat score) has a heritability of 0.30{\textpm}0.06. Using this definition, a mixed-inheritance segregation analysis was undertaken, which led us to the conclusion that a major gene for susceptibility was segregating as an autosomal recessive. The implication is that the use of non-carrier AI sires in industry could minimise the bloat problem in one generation, by avoiding production of all homozygous double-recessive progeny. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CW and Cullen NG} } @conference {40681, title = {Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in yearling Angus cattle}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {55}, year = {1995}, month = {Jan}, pages = {101-103}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {The Stockpol model was designed for decision support on New Zealand sheep and beef cattle farms. It indicates the biological feasibility of a livestock system and provides the opportunity for users to test alternative livestock policies. An evaluation of the Stockpol model was made using 44 data sets from farmlet trials at Gore, Ballantrae, and Whatawhata Research Centres and data from Massey University{\textquoteright}s Riverside farmin the Waiarapa. These data covered a range of sheep and beef finishing systems. The main test compared the measured pasture growth rate with that required by Stockpol to predict the monthly pasture cover recorded in the data. Measured and required pasture growth rates differed significantly (<0.01) in July, August and September. The model was conservative and required an average of 5.1 kgDM/ha/day more growth over these months than was measured. In other months the differences were small and non significant. When animal demand was adjusted to mimic pasture cover, adjustments of minus 22\% from July to September were required. Overall it was considered tha Stockpol can be used with confidence for analysing options for farmer decision making. Areas for further improvement of Stockpol have been defined as the pasture growth model in early spring. Aspects of the animal demand in early spring also need to be tested more vigorously. The evaluation emphasised the importance of consistent input data for use in models. For example, the pasture measurement technique was different at each of the four sites studied. This may explain some of the variation between predicted and measured data.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Cullen NG and Upreti GC} } @conference {40580, title = {Relationships between major milk whey proteins in blood plasma and milk yield in dairy cattle.}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {121-124}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {We have examined the ability of co-cultured mouse mammary fat pad (MFP) to modulate the response of mouse mammary epithelial cells to a number of mitogens in vitro. In a series of 4 experiments, COMMA-1D cells were cultured with or without epithelium-free MFP obtained from the abdominal mammary glands of 23-day old virgin, female BALB/c mice. Final cell number was quantified as total DNA after 7 days. The main effect of MFP was significant in all experiments, MFP alone inducing a 6.1 to 8.2-fold increase in cell number relative to basal medium (BM) controls (P<0.001). Furthermore, this stimulatory effect of MFP synergised (P<0.02) with the mitogenic effect of 10\% foetal calf serum (FCS). Examination of the response to several mammogenic hormones indicated that insulin (10 ug/ml) alone did not increase cell number (P>0.05), and interacted with the effect of MFP (P<0.001). There was no effect of prolactin (2.5 ug/ml) either alone or with MFP, whereas hydrocortisone (2.5 ug/ml) attenuated the response to MFP (P<0.001). In the absence of MFP, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; 75 ng/ml) did not increase cell number (P>0.05), whilst epidermal growth factor (EGF; 25 ng/ml) significantly increased cell number 3.7-fold. Both of these growth factors markedly interacted with the effect of MFP (P<0.001). When cultured with the combination of these growth factors and MFP, the final cell number was 29.2 times that of BM alone (25.14 {\textpm} 0.84 vs 0.86 {\textpm} 0.12 ug DNA/well). There was no effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; 0.5 ug/ml) or indomethacin (5 mg/ml), an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, in the absence or presence of MFP. These findings demonstrate that a diffusible factor(s) from the MFP interacts with several regulators of mammary growth to markedly stimulate epithelial proliferation in vitro. Such a factor appears distinct from a number of classical mitogens, and may be involved in the regulation of mammary development in vivo. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Davis SR and Eichler SJ and Cullen NG} } @conference {39968, title = {Differences among and within crossbred beef cow groups in body condition and live weight}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {45}, year = {1985}, month = {Jan}, pages = {167-170}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {In April and May 1983 60 Merino x Romney ewes of known Booroola genotype (30 F+, 30++) were immunised against androstenedione. An equal number of contemporary ewes of the same breed type and Booroola genotype were run together as an untreated control. Ewes were joined with vasectomised rams and ovulation rates were measure 4 weeks after the booster injection and thereafter at 3 successive 17-day intervals. The immunised F+ ewes showed an initial ovulation rate response of 1.62 compared with F+ controls and the response had decreased to 0.17 at the fourth observation 51 days later. The immunised ++ ewes showed an initial response in ovulation rate of 0.29 which increased to 0.61 at the second observation and decreased to 0.12 at the fourth observation. The experiment was repeated with the same sheep in 1984. Half of the ewes immunised in 1983 were given a booster injection in December 1983 (early group) and the other half were boosted in May 1984 (late group). Control ewes remained untreated. The early F+ immunised ewes had an ovulation rate response of 1.93 in February and 6 months later in August the response was still 0.90. The early ++ immunised had an initial response of 0.33 which increased to 0.40 at the second observation and decreased to 0.9 in August. Late F+ and ++ immunised ewes had initial responses of 0.71 and 0.38 which declined to 0.52 and 0.05 respectively 51 days later. These results all show a consistently higher response to immunisation in F+ ewes. The F+ ewes immunised in December before the onset of the breeding season showed the highest initial response and 8 months after the booster vaccination a significant response was still evident. F+ ewes immunised during the breeding season (booster injection in May) showed a lower initial response and a lower subsequent response than F+ ewes immunised before the breeding season. The duration of the response could not be determined in these ewes because of the short period from boosting until the end of the season.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Morris CA and Cullen NG and Carson PA and Morley GA} }