markhoz goats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of oak Acorn on the biodiversity of rumen epimural bacterial population using PCR-SSCP molecular technique in Merkhoz goats. A total of 24 Markhoz goats with a mean BW of 16.93±1.25 kg and an average age of 4–5 months were tested in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 6 replications for 105 days. Experimental treatments included 1) control diet, 2) diet containing 8% oak acorn, 3) diet containing 17% oak acorn and 4) diet containing 25% oak acorn. The results showed that the effect of diet on biodiversity of rumen bacterial epimural community was significant (P <0.001). There was no significant difference between other experimental treatments (P> 0.05), although treatments containing 8% and 17% oak had more variety than treatments containing 25% oak. Sampling site had no effect on biodiversity of rumen bacterial epimural community (P> 0.05). The highest value of Shannon index was related to ventral ruminal site and the lowest was related to reticulum. The interaction effect of diet and sampling position on biodiversity of rumen bacterial epimural community was significant (P> 0.05). The results showed that the use of oak acorn up to 17% in the diet increased the biodiversity of the of rumen bacterial epimural community, while the use of 25% oak in the diet decreased the biodiversity of the rumen bacterial epimural community.

Oak Acorn contains significant amounts of biologically active compounds including tannins. Tannins are plant polyphenolic compounds that affect the rumen microorganism. The effect of tannins depends on the species of microorganism or the source of dietary tannins. Although research has been done on the effect of tannin on the ruminal bacterial population, the effect of oak nutrition on the ruminal bacterial population needs to be investigated. Evaluation of the effects of different levels of oak Acorn on the biodiversity of rumen content bacterial populations was investigated using PCR-SSCP molecular technique in Markhoz goats.

24 Markhz goats (mean weight 16.93 ± 1.25 and mean age 4 to 5 months) were allocated to four diets in a completely randomized design. The duration of feeding with experimental diets was 105 days. Experimental treatments included 1) control diet, 2) diet containing 8% oak acorn, 3) diet containing 17% oak acorn and 4) diet containing 25% oak acorn.

The results obtained from this experiment showed that the use of different levels of oak in the diet of livestock significantly affects the population diversity of rumen microorganisms. The use of oak Acorn in comparison with the control diet increased the diversity of bacterial population containing rumen, but with increasing the level of oak Acorn in the diet, the diversity of bacterial population containing rumen was significantly reduced. The effect of diet on biodiversity of ruminal bacterial population was significant (P <0.001). The lowest value of Shannon index was related to the control treatment which was significantly different from other treatments (P <0.05). The highest value of Shannon index was related to 8% oak treatment which was significantly different from 25% oak treatment and control treatment (P <0.05). Sampling location had a significant effect on biodiversity of ruminal bacterial population (P <0.001). The highest value of Shannon index was related to ventral and ruminal position and the lowest value of Shannon index was related to dorsal ruminal position, which showed a significant difference (P <0.05). No significant difference was observed between other sites (P> 0.05).

The results showed that the use of oak acorn up to 17% in the diet increased the biodiversity of the rumen content bacterial populations, while the use of 25% oak fruit in the diet decreased the biodiversity of the rumen content bacterial populations. Sampling location had a significant effect on biodiversity of ruminal bacterial population. The highest value of Shannon index was related to ventral and ruminal position and the lowest value of Shannon index was related to dorsal ruminal position, which showed a significant difference.

Toxoplasma gondii is a meat-borne zoonotic parasitic protozoan that causes congenital infection, miscarriage, and stillbirth in the human and animals. Goat is an important resource of meat production in Kurdistan Province, and the consumption of its raw or half-cooked meat is a major risk factor for infection with Toxoplasma. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Markhoz goats of Saqqez City of Kurdistan province in western Iran.

In a cross-sectional study, we utilized 188 serum specimens ( 144 serum samples belonging to goats with a history of abortion and 44 samples belonging to goats without a history of abortion ) for the evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by ELISA. 38 samples out of 188 serum specimens in the study were positive for Toxoplasma gondii using ELISA, and the infection rate of the goats was 20.2%.

Two (3.57%) out of 56 Markhoz goats under 2 years of age were positive for Toxoplasma infection and 36 (27.27%) out of 132 Markhoz goats over two years of age were positive for the infection. The statistical examination indicated significant relationships between the pollution and age groups (p<0.05). 36 (25%) out of 144 Markhoz goats with a history of abortion were positive for Toxoplasma infection, and 2 (4.54%) out of 44 goats without a history of abortion were positive for the infection. The statistical studies indicated a significant correlation between the rates of infection and abortion (p<0.05).

Given the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Markhoz goats, we suggest providing information about prevention and control, refraining from eating uncooked or undercooked meat, and performing molecular studies.

This study was conducted for genetic analysis of Markhoz goats for autosomal and X chromosomes for average daily gain traits from birth to yearling. The data set contained 3837 average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG1), 3467 average daily gain from weaning to 6-month (ADG2), 3133 average daily gain from 6-month to 9-month (ADG3) and 2726 average daily gain from 9-month to 12-month (ADG4) collected during 1992-2014 in Markhoz Goat Breeding Center of Sanandaj. Fixed effects affecting the studied traits were determined using Proc GLM of the SAS 8.2 software and variance components and genetic parameters were estimated by Average Information algorithm of Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AI-REML) using Wombat software. The most appropriate model for each trait was determined by Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) test. Direct autosomal heritability estimates for ADG1, ADG2, ADG3 and ADG4 were 0.14±0.03, 0.00±0.02, 0.14±0.04 and 0.06±0.03, respectively. X-linked direct heritability estimates for these traits were negligible values of 0.00±0.02, 0.08±0.02, 0.06±0.02 and 0.04±0.02, respectively. Maternal heritability for ADG1 and ADG3 were 0.06±0.02 and 0.04±0.03, respectively. Maternal permanent environmental variance for ADG3 and ADG4 were 0.03±0.02. The low estimations of direct heritabilities for autosomal and sexual chromosomes were obtained in the current study, therefore direct selection for these traits would be generate a relatively slow genetic progress.

The aim of this study was to map body weight QTLs with some microsatellite markers on chromosome 2 of Markhoz goats. For this purpose a total of 255 offspring including 129 male and 126 female from 8 half-sib sire families were genotyped for 6 microsatellite markers on chromosomes 2. Quantitative traits were included weights at birth, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. Significant QTL effect was tested using the least squared regression approach using GridQTL (V3.3.0) software. In this study, one putative QTL were detected for weaning weight at 153 cM on chromosome 2 (P

Twinning is one of the most important economic traits in goat production, which is influenced by either small or major gene effects. In recent decades, it has been recognized that two members of growth factors originated from oocytes namely GDF9 and BMP15 are essential for follicular development and ovulation. The aim of the current study was to survey the polymorphism of two GDF9 and BMP15 genes and their genotype patterns association with twining rate in Markhoz goat. Blood samples were randomly taken from 50 Markhoz goats and DNA extraction was performed by a salting-out modified method. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were employed to amplify a fragment with 862 base pairs from exon 2 of BMP15 gene and 995 base pairs fragment from exon 2 of GDF9 gene. The PCR products after digestion by Hinf1 enzyme were electrophoresed on 3% agarose gel and the animal's genotypes were determined by banding patterns. In the BMP15 gene, the frequencies of B and b alleles were 0.96 and 0.04, respectively; and the frequencies of BB, Bb and bb genotypes were 0.94, 0.04 and 0.02, respectively. Also, the frequencies of A and a alleles in GDF9 gene were 0.68 and 0.32, respectively; and the frequencies of AA, Aa and aa genotypes were 0.60, 0.16 and 0.24, respectively. The Nei’s index, Polymorphism information content and expected heterozygosity in the BMP15 gene were 0.47, 0.077 and 0.08, respectively; and corresponding values in the GDF9 gene were 0.34, 0.4 and 0.43, respectively. The results showed that the effects of BMP15, GDF9 and interaction of two loci genotypes on twinning trait were significant indicating that although the GDF9 and BMP15 genes in Markhoz goats have low to moderate polymorphism, they play an important role in twining rate. The present information may be useful in breeding programs of Markhoz goats and could be used in selection strategies.

The litter size is a threshold trait that is controlled by many genes. Due to the low heritability (0.10), of litter size, classical breeding methods lead to slow genetic progress. Hence it is essential to use new technology to improve this trait. Length of chromosome 1 in goat is approximately 186 cM. Based on previously published data in addition to a high genetic homology between goat and cattle choromosome 1, a region between 16 to 169 cM of chromosome 1 was selected for QTL detection of litter size in the Markhoz goat breed. Sample population included 8 paternal half-sib families. The numbers of half-sib offspring per buck ranged from 30 to 40. All individuals were genotyped by six microsatellites specific to chromosome 1. QTL analyses were performedusing multiple regression method under a half-sib model. Our study indicated that a QTL in position 165 cM on chromosome 1 affect litter size rate in Markhoz goats. Its location was near to CSSM19 marker and was able to explaining 2.20 percent of the genetic variance of litter size. The QTL detected in this research could be related with POU1F1 gene. Hence this gene could be a candidate for the associated QTL on goat chromosomes 1.