Identification of molecular markers of reproductive and productive precocity in Angus breed cattle

• Grant number: 17/22240-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcilio Nichi
• Grantee: Mônica Degraf Cavallin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The economic activity of livestock depends on parameters such as reproductive precocity to achieve better productivity rates. In this context, the recent advance of molecular techniques in the genotypic identification of the herds can help in the early prediction of the future precocity and fertility of these animals. In the finishing phase in confinement, although there is a batch standardization at the animals entrance, there is a great variation in the period of time in which animals remain confined to reach the desired weight at slaughter. Based on these difference in the length of time for the finishing generate, the animals are classified into three categories: Super precocious steers - slaughter up to 14 months of age; Precocious steers - slaughter between 15-18 months of age; and Normal steers - slaughter between 19-24 months of age. Based on the fact that information at the DNA/RNA levels may lead to a faster genetic gain than that obtained based only on phenotypic data, it was proposed in the present project to identify molecular markers related to productive and reproductive precocity in Angus cattle. For this purpose, the following analyzes will be performed: (1) Evaluation of reproductive parameters (functionality, morphology and sperm concentration); (2) Serum hormonal dosages; (3) Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (4) Analysis of gene differences from the transcriptome followed by validation of selected genes in the prediction of precocity. With the development of this project, we intend to advance the knowledge regarding genetic improvement and animal selection, differentiating in the initial stages of production the animals that genetically present the most favorable characteristics, thus enabling the reduction of breeding costs.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CAVALLIN, Mônica Degraf. Identification of molecular markers of reproductive and productive precocity in Angus breed cattle. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.