علیرضا نوشری

According to the characteristics of Iranian horse breeds and the demand for export, their identification, preservation and reproduction have become important. Kurdish horse is one of the native breeds of Iran, which is distinguished from other native breeds of Iran by having special characteristics.

In this research, single nucleotide markers (SNP chip) were used to investigate the genetic structure or assignment in a 72 Iranian Kurdish breed horses population. After extracting the DNA of the samples, the genotype was determined using the GGP Equine 70K SNP genomic chip. Quality control of genomic data was done using PLINK v1.07 software. After the quality control steps, PLINK v1.9 Admixture software was used to study the relationship and genetic differentiation between populations, principal component analysis (PCA), Admixture, and phylogenetic relationships. The results of PCA, admixture and phylogeny analyzes were displayed in Python (using Matplotlib library), R (in ggplot2 package) and FigTree environments, respectively. Recent and past effective population sizes were estimated using SNeP software, which uses average linkage disequilibrium between different SNP pairwise intervals. The linkage disequilibrium pattern of the entire Kurdish horse genome was calculated using the r2 statistic.

The results of genomic linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis indicated a relatively high reduction of the linkage pattern between 0-50 kb intervals (0.2 ≥ r2 ≥ 0.1) in this population. For the assignment test, SNPs with minimum allelic frequency (MAF) less than 50%, samples with more than 10% unhealthy genotype and SNPs out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (probability less than 10-6) were excluded.

Therefore, according to the pattern observed from the results of this study and according to the origin of different Iranian horse populations (with the exception of the Kurdish population), it is possible to divide the Iranian horse populations into two categories of horses on the eastern and southern coasts of the Mazandaran Sea. (Turkmen and Caspian) and the horses of southwest Iran (Asil and Dareh Shuri). Also, due to the decreasing trend in the effective size over the generations, it is necessary to design appropriate programs to protect the Kurdish horse breed.

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of ascorbic acid and methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) on performance and liver histology of broilers under heat stress conditions. To perform the experiment, 400 one-day-old male chickens of commercial Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five iterations (each iteration contained 20 chickens). The experimental treatments included: 1) base diet based on maize-soybean (the control), 2) base diet with 0.2% vitamin C, 3) base diet with 0.46, 0.36, and 0.32% MHA, in the starter, grower, and finisher periods, respectively, and 4) base diet with a mixture of 0.2% vitamin C and 0.46, 0.36, and 0.32% of MHA in the starter, grower, and finisher periods, respectively. During the growth period, feed consumption in the treatment containing MHA had a significant increase compared to the control group (P <0.05). In the final period, feed conversion ratio in treatments using a mixture of vitamin C and MHA had a significant improvement compared to the control group (P <0.05). Hepatocyte diameter and hepatocyte nucleus diameter were significantly reduced in chickens receiving vitamin C and a mixture of vitamin C and MHA compared to the control group (P <0.05). The results of this experiment revealed that the use of a mixture of vitamin C and MHA compared to their separate use in the diet could be effective in reducing the negative effects of heat stress.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of stressors on ewes during pregnancy and the physical characteristics of newborn lambs. To perform the experiment, 144 Zandi ewes with twin embryos were divided into 6 treatments and 6 replications (each replication containing 4 ewes) that were mid-pregnant. Experimental treatments include 1. Control, 2. Injection of cortisol in 10 times, 3. Isolation in 2 times (2 times isolation), 4. Isolation in 10 times (10 times isolation), 5. Simulated wool cut in 10 times and 6. Wool cut in mid-pregnancy. The results showed that the ewes treated with cut wool during lactation had a significant increase in weight compared to the ewes of the group 2 times isolated, 10 times isolated and the simulated cut wool (P <0.05). Sheared wool ewes had greater body condition compared to ewes in the simulated wool cut and cortisol group (P <0.05). Lambs born in the control and wool cut groups had longer body length compared to the lambs in the other groups (P <0.05). The amount of cortisol in ewes that received cortisol and also, wool was cut, there was a significant increase with the control (P <0.05). Lambs born from ewes that had their wool cut had a higher live weight (P <0.05). In general, the results showed that although stresses during pregnancy increase the concentration of glucocorticoids, but their concentration by wool cutting during pregnancy was such that it did not reduce the weight characteristics of ewes and lambs

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are very important in horse breeding according to relationship with immunity response and resistance or susceptibility to disease. The aim of this research is study of polymorphism possible in exon gene region and population genetics. To do this, 120 horses were selected randomly from Thoroughbred, Oldenburg, Caspian pony and Arab breeds. Genomic DNA was extracted via blood samples and polymerase chain reaction was done for a 309 bp MHC gene region. The PCR products were digested by RsaI restriction endonuclease for genotyping determination. Results show that there were three allele of A, B and C and six types of genotype of AA, AB, AC, BB, BC and CC with 0.3208, 0.3208 and 0.3584 allele frequency and 0.05, 0.25, 0.2917, 0.1333, 0.125 and 0.15 genotype frequency in all studied samples respectively. The most and least allele frequency in Thoroughbred, Oldenburg, Caspian pony and Arab are related to B, A, A, C and A, B, B, A alleles respectively. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium study by X2 and G2 tests shows the equilibrium situation in Oldenburg and Caspian pony breeds and non-equilibrium situation in Thoroughbred and Arab breeds. The overall results shows that the genetic diversity in studied samples can be used as a resource for horse breeding programs.

The present experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of feeding ewes with two different feeding levels during mid- and late pregnancy on the performance and behavior of ewes and lambs during 24 hours after birth.In order to test 112 ewes of Zandi singleton breed that were pregnant, they were randomly divided into 4 feeding levels in mid and late pregnancy in 4 treatments and 4 replications (7 repetitions per head).Experimental treatments include: 1- Feeding with 4 cm forage in mid-pregnancy and feeding with 4 cm forage in late pregnancy (4-4), 2- Feeding with 4 cm forage in mid-pregnancy and feeding with 2 cm forage in Late pregnancy (4-2), 3- Forage feeding 2 cm in mid-pregnancy and forage feeding 4 cm in late pregnancy (2-4), 4- Forage feeding 2 cm in mid-pregnancy and forage feeding Were 2 cm in late pregnancy (2-2).According to the results, the weight of ewes and the birth weight of their lambs that used 4 cm forage in mid and late pregnancy had a significant increase compared to other groups (p < 0.05).Lambs born from 4-4 group ewes moved less towards their mother to communicate (p < 0.05).In general, the results of the present experiment showed that feeding ewes in late gestation with four cm of forage could have better performance on ewes and lambs born.

The morphological traits are polygenic and are affected by environment and polygenes, at the sametime. In this study, the Myostatin gene polymorphism in promoter region (MSTN) and its association with some morphological traits were studied in 120 random selected horses of Oldenburg, Turkmen, Thoroughbred and Caspian pony. After extraction of genomic DNA, PCR was done for 204 bp region of MSTN. The PCR-RFLP method according by SscpI was done for sample genotyping. The results showed that there are two TT and CT genotypes and T and C alleles for MSTN promoter locus in research samples. The MSTN genotypes had no significant effect on none of the chest width, height, hip and neck length traits across all studied breeds. The neck circuit for Thoroughbred and Caspian pony were 114.26 and 87.59 cm in TT genotype and 109.87 and 81.38 cm in CT genotype, respectively and differences were significant. In Oldenburg and Turkmen the TT genotype showed better performances for neck circuit however differences were no significant. In conclusion, there was polymorphism in the studied promoter region in all studied breeds and the MSTN polymorphism, as a candidate gene, can be used to identify the gentic potential differences in horse breeds.

In this study 2000 records of egg quality belonging to 746 birds and body weight data from 17th generation of Fars Native Fowl Breeding Station were used to estimate genetic parameters for egg quality and body weight traits. Six univariate animal models with different random effects were fitted for each trait. A model with direct additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects was the most appropriate model for mature weight. For body weight in 12th week, the model with direct additive genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects was suitable. The model with direct additive genetic and maternal genetic effects was appropriate for albumen diameter, yolk weight and egg weight. For other traits, the simple animal model with direct animal additive genetic effect, was the best model. Estimates of heritability were ranged from 0.02 (yolk weight) to 0.23 (albumen index) for internal egg quality and were ranged from 0.01 (egg weight) to 0.43 (eggshell srength) for external egg quality traits. This parameter were estimated 0.03, 0.07 and 0.18 for mature weight, body weights at 8th and 12th weeks, respectively. Genetic correlations between egg quality and bodyweight traits ranged from -0.79 to 0.80. According to the results of this study, selection based on body weights at 8th and 12th weeks could lead to increase in egg weight, egg width and egg shape index. Selection for body weight in 12th week would increase the albumen weight and yolk diameter as well.

In the present research, molecular detection of Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD) and Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) in a population of Holstein cows have been done using milk somatic cells comparing with Blood cells. BLAD characterized by negative affecting on the haematopoietic system via reduced expression of the adhesion molecules on neutrophils. The molecular cause of BLAD is a single point mutation. CVM characterized by intra-uterine mortality with some disorders. The molecular cause of CVM is also a point mutation. This study has been done in order to prevention of intra-uterine mortality and comparing of DNA extraction by Milk or blood. In the first step of our research program, tank milk samples from 50 herds were collected. PCR-RFLP was performed to detect a point mutation of both CVM and BLAD genes. Then an affected herd with 120 cows was randomly selected for individual test using blood samples. We showed two cows out of 120 were identified as carriers of this gene. We have done 50 DNA extractions and molecular testes in order to detect existence of carriers in 50 herds with total of 10000 cows and we have done also 120 testes for detection of carriers in a herd with 120 cows. In these herds, we didn’t find any affected herd with the mutant allele of BLAD but we found the single point mutation of CVM in 17 different herds. In the present study we showed that, detection for all genetic defects using tank milk samples is more economic and easyer than the other methods. because if we assume the average of 200 dairy cows for each herd, in fact we have done 50 testes instead of 10000 in 50 herds. On the other hand, sampling with less stress for cows is always preferable for breeders to blood sampling for purposes like detection of genetic defects or viral diseases.

Eight Holstein dairy cows (4 primiparous and 4 multiparous) were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design with four 21-d periods to investigate effects of xylose-treated soybean meal (XSBM) as a source of ruminal undegradable protein in early lactation cows fed barley-based diets. Treatments were diets with XSBM ratios of (1) 0% (control), (2) 4.5%, (3) 9% and (4) 13.7%5, on a dry matter DM basis. Milk production, 4%FCM, milk energy, milk protein, lactose, solids-non-fat and total solids yield were increased by feeding XSBM. Milk fat, protein, lactose, solids-non-fat and total solids percent were not different among treatments. Intake of dry mater, crude protein and energy, blood glucose, albumin and total protein, rumen, fecal and urine pH and changes in body weight were not affected by treatments. Feed, crude protein and energy efficiency were improved by substitution XSBM for soybean meal but not by parity. Increasing dietary XSBM in the ration reduced blood urea N. Results of this study showed that increasing dietary XSBM ratio improved milk production in early lactation cows fed diets based on barley.

The aim of this study was take advantages of usefulness potential microsatellite markers in detect Persian partridge Genetic Structure and population variability for the first time. The chukar partridge population was collected from Semnan & Fars province that keeping in Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI). The number of 120 blood samples were collected and DNA was isolated using Optimized and Modified Salting-out method. eight microsatellite markers using in this study was Aru 1F114، Aru1E97، Aru1E102، Aru 1E66، Aru 1B3، Aru 1G4، Aru 1M127 & Aru 1J76. The elements and thermal cycle for each locus was optimized before done PCR reaction. After PCR amplification، microsatellite alleles were identified on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gels،followed by AgNO3 staining so partridges had been genotyped. Data analyses consist of several parameters of population genetics were done using GENEPOP 3. 1. All of locus tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by chi-square (X2) and likelihood ratio (G2). All loci except Aru1E102 were deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in population (P<0. 05). The entire loci were polymorphic. The most number of observed alleles were in Aru1E97 with 14 alleles and the lowest number of alleles were in Aru 1F114، Aru 1M127& Aru 1J76 with 4 alleles. The average observed number of alleles، Shannon’s Information index & Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) were 6. 3750، 1. 4568 and 0. 6567 respectively. The average observed heterozygosity was 0. 4522 and average expected heterozygosity was obtained 0. 7017. Results of Genetic variation in Persian partridge population as comparison with other exotic similar studies،detect suitable variation value in Persian native partridge population.

Genetic diversity of Red Jabal Barez red goat population was studied based on eight microsatellite markers consist BM1312, MAF64, ILSTS034, ILSTS059, OraFCB20, IL2RA, LSCV24 and LSCV11. Blood sample extracted of 100 Red Jabal Barez goats were randomly collected from 10 farms and DNA was isolated using the Diatom DNA PREP kit. The PCR reactions were successfully done and all loci showed suitable polymorphism with 7.62 alleles, on average. Five loci of LSCV11, ILSTS034, ILSTS059, OraFCB20, IL2RA were at Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (P<0.05). In this population, hetrozygosity varied from 0.7616 at IL2RA to 0.8743 at OraFCB20 locus and the same loci had the lowest and the highest diversity based on Shannon index and polymorphic information content (PIC), respectively. Number of observed and effective alleles and expected hetrozygosity were also calculated for each locus. Average hetrozygosity was estimated as 0.81 for this population. It can be concluded that Red Jabalbarez goat benefits from approximately high genetic variation. Therefore we can well use this potential in conservative and breeding programs for this population.

Leptin is a protein which is synthesized by adipose tissue. It has 16 kilo Dalton weight and its effect was proven on regulation of feed intake, energy balance, pregnancy and the function of immune system. There are some evidence about association of Leptin gene polymorphism and important economic traits. Uses of genetic markers in optimum selection index increase the accuracy and efficiency of selection in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of the Intron 2 of Leptin gene in Iranian Holstein proven bulls. Genomic DNA was extracted from frozen semen of 141 Iranian proven bulls and PCR-RFLP was used to detect the genotype of a part of Intron 2 of Leptin gene related to each animals. The AluI and Hinf I restriction enzymes didn’t show any polymorphic pattern in 422 base pair of the above locus but three genotypes AA, AB and BB with frequency equal to 0.823, 0.135 and 0.042 were distinguished respectively for this locus when it was digested by Sau3AI restriction enzyme. Also the C to T transition was detected in one of the Sau3AI restriction sites according to the PBR results. This locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p<0.01) and the frequency of allele B was low in Iranian Holstein proven bulls. Results showed that the expected heterozigosity of this locus was low. However, the association of Leptin gene and milk production related traits in Iranian Holstein cows will be one of the important subjects of the feature researches.