Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

The Highly Conserved Layer-3 Component Of The Hiv-1 Gp120 Inner Domain Is Critical For Cd4-Required Conformational Transitions, Anik Désormeaux, Mathieu Coutu, Halima Medjahed, Beatriz Pacheco, Alon Herschhorn, Christopher Gu, Shi-Hua Xiang, Youdong Mao, Joseph Sodroski, Andrés Finzi

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The trimeric envelope glycoprotein (Env) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mediates virus entry into host cells. CD4 engagement with the gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein subunit represents the first step during HIV-1 entry. CD4-induced conformational changes in the gp120 inner domain involve three potentially flexible topological layers (layers 1, 2, and 3). Structural rearrangements between layer 1 and layer 2 have been shown to facilitate the transition of the envelope glycoprotein trimer from the unliganded to the CD4-bound state and to stabilize gp120-CD4 interaction. However, our understanding of CD4-induced conformational changes in the gp120 inner domain remains incomplete. Here, …

Analysis Of Primary Resistance Mutations To Hiv-1 Entry Inhibitors In Therapy Naive Subtype C Hiv-1 Infected Mother– Infant Pairs From Zambia, Hongyan Guo, Chang Liu, Bin Liu, Charles Wood, Xiaohong Kong

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Background—Small molecular CCR5 inhibitors represent a new class of drugs for treating HIV-1 infection. The evaluation of the primary resistance mutations associated with entry inhibitors during HIV-1 perinatal transmission is required because they may have a profound impact on the clinical management in MTCT.

Objectives—To evaluate the primary resistance mutations to maraviroc and vicriviroc during perinatal transmission and analyze the sensitivity of Env derived from mother–infant pairs to maraviroc.

Study design—Nine MIPs infected by subtype C HIV-1 were recruited to analyze the prevalence and transmission of primary resistance mutations to maraviroc and vicriviroc. Moreover, Env derived from six MIPs were …

Early Childhood Infection Of Kaposi’S Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus In Zambian Households: A Molecular Analysis, Landon Olp, Danielle M. Shea, Maxine K. White, Clement Gondwe, Chipepo Kankasa, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Sub-Saharan Africa is endemic for Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and there is a high rate of early childhood infection; however, the transmission sources are not well characterized. We examined household members as potential KSHV transmission sources to young children in the KSHV-endemic country of Zambia. To this end, we enrolled and followed Zambian households with at least one KSHV-seropositive child and collected longitudinal buccal swab samples. KSHV burden was evaluated and K1 sequences from the children were determined and analyzed for differences to K1 sequences from household members. The K1 sequences were also analyzed for evolution over time. We generated …

Diversification Under Sexual Selection: The Relative Roles Of Mate Preference Strength And The Degree Of Divergence In Mate Preferences, Rafael L. Rodríguez, Janette W. Boughman, David A. Gray, Eileen A. Hebets, Gerlinde Höbel, Laurel B. Symes

Eileen Hebets Publications

The contribution of sexual selection to diversification remains poorly understood after decades of research. This may be in part because studies have focused predominantly on the strength of sexual selection, which offers an incomplete view of selection regimes. By contrast, students of natural selection focus on environmental differences that help compare selection regimes across populations. To ask how this disparity in focus may affect the conclusions of evolutionary research, we relate the amount of diversification in mating displays to quantitative descriptions of the strength and the amount of divergence in mate preferences across a diverse set of case studies of …

Impulsiveness Mediates The Association Between Gabra2 Snps And Lifetime Alcohol Problems, S. Villafuerte, V. Strumba, S. F. Stoltenberg, R. A. Zucker, M. Burmeister

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Genetic variants in GABRA2 have previously been shown to be associated with alcohol measures, electroencephalography (EEG) β waves and impulsiveness-related traits. Impulsiveness is a behavioral risk factor for alcohol and other substance abuse. Here, we tested association between 11 variants in GABRA2 with NEO-impulsiveness and problem drinking. Our sample of 295 unrelated adult subjects was from a community of families with at least one male with DSM-IV alcohol use diagnosis, and from a socioeconomically comparable control group. Ten GABRA2 SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) were associated with the NEO-impulsiveness (P < 0.03). The alleles associated with higher impulsiveness correspond to the minor alleles identified in previous alcohol dependence studies. All ten SNPs are in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with each other and represent one effect on impulsiveness. Four SNPs and the corresponding haplotype from intron 3 to intron 4 were also associated with Lifetime Alcohol Problems Score (LAPS, P < 0.03) (not corrected for multiple testing). Impulsiveness partially mediates (22.6% average) this relation between GABRA2 and LAPS. Our results suggest that GABRA2 variation in …

Intsormil- Centa’S New Bmr Sorghum Varieties Create A Surge In Dairy Production, René Clará Valencia

INTSORMIL Scientific Publications

Scientists from the INTSORMIL-CENTA project based at the National Center for Agricultural Technology and Forestry (CENTA) of El Salvador have worked for five years to develop varieties of sorghum for grain and forage that are highly nutritious to cattle. Using the gene bmr-12, received from Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University, they combined commercial varieties CENTA S-2, S-3 CENTA, CENTA RCV and VG 146 and were able to form new varieties containing this same gene. The first generation created 76 new varieties.

Genetic Diversity Of Neotropical Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) With An Emphasis On South American Species, Roxanne J. Larsen, Michelle C. Knapp, Hugh H. Genoways, Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan, Peter A. Larsen, Don E. Wilson, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Background: Cryptic morphological variation in the Chiropteran genus Myotis limits the understanding of species boundaries and species richness within the genus. Several authors have suggested that it is likely there are unrecognized species-level lineages of Myotis in the Neotropics. This study provides an assessment of the diversity in New World Myotis by analyzing cytochrome-b gene variation from an expansive sample ranging throughout North, Central, and South America. We provide baseline genetic data for researchers investigating phylogeographic and phylogenetic patterns of Myotis in these regions, with an emphasis on South America.

Methodology and Principal Findings: Cytochrome-b sequences were generated and …

Serotonin System Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Impulsivity In A Context Dependent Manner, Scott F. Stoltenberg, Christa C. Christ, Krista B. Highland

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Impulsivity is a risk factor for adverse outcomes and characterizes several psychiatric disorders and risk for suicide. There is strong evidence that genetic variation influences individual differences in impulsivity, but the details are not yet understood. There is growing interest in better understanding the context dependency of genetic effects that is reflected in studies examining gender specificity, gene × environment interaction and epistasis (gene-gene interaction). In a cross-sectional study we examined whether polymorphisms in six serotonin system candidate genes and the experience of early life trauma (age 0–12) were associated with individual differences in impulsivity in a nonclinical sample of …

Organellar Signaling Expands Plant Phenotypic Variation And Increases The Potential For Breeding The Epigenome, Roberto De La Rosa Santamaria

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

MUTS HOMOLOGUE 1 (MSH1) is a nuclear gene unique to plants that functions in mitochondria and plastids, where it confers genome stability. Phenotypic effects of MSH1 down- regulation were studied in sorghum inbreed line Tx430 and Arabidopsis ecotype Columbia-0, with the hypothesis that RNAi suppression of MSH1 triggers retrograde signaling from organelles to the nucleus, alters the epigenome, and derives heritable phenotypic variation suitable for artificial selection. An array of morphological traits and metabolic pathways was detected, including leaf variegation, male sterility and dwarfism, associated with altered gibberellic acid metabolism, higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreased synthesis …

Rosette Iron Deficiency Transcript And Microrna Profiling Reveals Links Between Copper And Iron Homeostasis In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Brian M. Waters, Samuel A. Mcinturf, Ricardo J. Stein

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Iron (Fe) is an essential plant micronutrient, and its deficiency limits plant growth and development on alkaline soils. Under Fe deficiency, plant responses include up-regulation of genes involved in Fe uptake from the soil. However, little is known about shoot responses to Fe deficiency. Using microarrays to probe gene expression in Kas-1 and Tsu-1 ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, and comparison with existing Col-0 data, revealed conserved rosette gene expression responses to Fe deficiency. Fe-regulated genes included known metal homeostasis-related genes, and a number of genes of unknown function. Several genes responded to Fe deficiency in both roots and rosettes. …

Mutations In Dmrt3 Affect Locomotion In Horses And Spinal Circuit Function In Mice, Lisa S. Andersson, Martin Larhammar, Fatima Memic, Hanna Wootz, Doreen Schwochow, Carl-Johan Rubin, Kalicharan Patra, Thorvaldur Arnason, Lisbeth Wellbring, Göran Hjälm, Freyja Imsland, Jessica Lynn Petersen, Molly E. Mccue, James R. Mickelson, Gus Cothran, Nadav Ahituv, Lars Roepstorff, Sofia Mikko, Anna Vallstedt, Gabriella Lindgren, Leif Andersson, Klas Kullander

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Locomotion in mammals relies on a central pattern-generating circuitry of spinal interneurons established during development that coordinates limb movement. These networks produce left–right alternation of limbs as well as coordinated activation of flexor and extensor muscles. Here we show that a premature stop codon in the DMRT3 gene has a major effect on the pattern of locomotion in horses. The mutation is permissive for the ability to perform alternate gaits and has a favorable effect on harness racing performance. Examination of wild-type and Dmrt3-null mice demonstrates that Dmrt3 is expressed in the dI6 subdivision of spinal cord neurons, takes …

Classification Of Genomic Sequences By Latent Semantic Analysis, Samuel F. Way

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Evolutionary distance measures provide a means of identifying and organizing related organisms by comparing their genomic sequences. As such, techniques that quantify the level of similarity between DNA sequences are essential in our efforts to decipher the genetic code in which they are written.

Traditional methods for estimating the evolutionary distance separating two genomic sequences often require that the sequences first be aligned before they are compared. Unfortunately, this preliminary step imposes great computational burden, making this class of techniques impractical for applications involving a large number of sequences. Instead, we desire new methods for differentiating genomic sequences that eliminate …

Composition Of The Adult Digestive Tract Bacterial Microbiome Based On Seven Mouth Surfaces, Tonsils, Throat And Stool Samples, Nicola Segata, Susan Kinder Haake, Peter Mannon, Katherine P. Lemon, Levi Waldron, Dirk Gevers, Curtis Huttenhower, Jacques Izard

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: To understand the relationship between our bacterial microbiome and health, it is essential to define the microbiome in the absence of disease. The digestive tract includes diverse habitats and hosts the human body’s greatest bacterial density. We describe the bacterial community composition of ten digestive tract sites from more than 200 normal adults enrolled in the Human Microbiome Project, and metagenomically determined metabolic potentials of four representative sites.

Results: The microbiota of these diverse habitats formed four groups based on similar community compositions: buccal mucosa, keratinized gingiva, hard palate; saliva, tongue, tonsils, throat; sub- and supra-gingival plaques; …

Metabolic Reconstruction For Metagenomic Data And Its Application To The Human Microbiome, Sahar Abubucker, Nicola Segata, Johannes Goll, Alyxandria M. Schubert, Jacques Izard, Brandi L. Cantarel, Beltran Rodriguez-Mueller, Jeremy Zucker, Mathangi Thiagarajan, Bernard Henrissat, Owen White, Scott T. Scott, Barbara Methé, Patrick D. Schloss, Dirk Gever, Makedonka Mitreva, Curtis Huttenhower

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Microbial communities carry out the majority of the biochemical activity on the planet, and they play integral roles in processes including metabolism and immune homeostasis in the human microbiome. Shotgun sequencing of such communities’ metagenomes provides information complementary to organismal abundances from taxonomic markers, but the resulting data typically comprise short reads from hundreds of different organisms and are at best challenging to assemble comparably to single-organism genomes. Here, we describe an alternative approach to infer the functional and metabolic potential of a microbial community metagenome. We determined the gene families and pathways present or absent within a community, as …

Developmental Programming In Response To Intrauterine Growth Restriction Impairs Myoblast Function And Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Dustin T. Yates, A.R. Macko, M. Nearing, X. Chen, R.P. Rhoads, Sean W. Limesand

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Fetal adaptations to placental insufficiency alter postnatal metabolic homeostasis in skeletal muscle by reducing glucose oxidation rates, impairing insulin action, and lowering the proportion of oxidative fibers. In animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), skeletalmuscle fibers have lessmyonuclei at birth. This means thatmyoblasts, the sole source formyonuclei accumulation in fibers, are compromised. Fetal hypoglycemia and hypoxemia are complications that result from placental insufficiency. Hypoxemia elevates circulating catecholamines, and chronic hypercatecholaminemia has been shown to reduce fetal muscle development and growth. We have found evidence for adaptations in adrenergic receptor expression profiles in myoblasts and skeletal muscle of IUGR sheep …

Escape From Preferential Retention Following Repeated Whole Genome Duplications In Plants, James C. Schnable, Xiaowu Wang, J. Chris Pires, Michael Freeling

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The well supported gene dosage hypothesis predicts that genes encoding proteins engaged in dose–sensitive interactions cannot be reduced back to single copies once all interacting partners are simultaneously duplicated in a whole genome duplication. The genomes of extant flowering plants are the result of many sequential rounds of whole genome duplication, yet the fraction of genomes devoted to encoding complex molecular machines does not increase as fast as expected through multiple rounds of whole genome duplications. Using parallel interspecies genomic comparisons in the grasses and crucifers, we demonstrate that genes retained as duplicates following a whole genome duplication have only …

Genetic Variation In Field And Laboratory Populations Of The Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus Maculiventris, Kathleen Kneeland, Thomas A. Coudron, Erica Lindroth, David Stanley, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The predatory spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is an economically important and highly valued biological control agent. There is substantial information on the biology, ecology, behavior, and rearing of this stink bug. However, virtually nothing is known of its genetic variation, in natural or domesticated populations. To address this lacuna, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to assess the genetic variability of field and laboratory populations. Four AFLP universal primer combinations yielded a total of 209 usable loci. The AFLP results showed greater genetic variability between populations from Missouri and Mississippi (both USA), and relatively low …

Characterization Of Species C Human Adenovirus Serotype 6 (Ad6), Eric A. Weaver, Reeti Khare, Mathew L. Hillestad, Donna Palmer, Philip Ng, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Adenovirus serotype (Ad5) is the most studied Ad. Ad1, 2, and 6 are also members of species C Ad and are presumed to have biologies similar to Ad5. In this work, we have compared the ability of Ad1, 2, 5, and 6 to infect liver and muscle after intravenous and intramuscular injection. We found that Ad6 was surprisingly the most potent at liver gene delivery and that Ad1 and Ad2 were markedly weaker than Ad5 and 6. To understand these differences, we sequenced the Ad6 genome. This revealed that the Ad6 fiber protein is surprisingly three shaft repeats shorter than …

Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulates The Immune Response To Influenza Virus Infection And Vaccination In Aged Mice, Nathan W. Cummins, Eric A. Weaver, Shannon M. May, Anthony J. Croatt, Oded Foreman, Richard B. Kennedy, Gregory A. Poland, Michael A. Barry, Karl A. Nath, Andrew D. Badley

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Underlying mechanisms of individual variation in severity of influenza infection and response to vaccination are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of reduced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression on vaccine response and outcome of influenza infection. HO-1-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice (kingdom, Animalia; phylum, Chordata; genus/species, Mus musculus) were infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 with or without prior vaccination with an adenoviral-based influenza vaccine. A genome-wide association study evaluated the expression of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HO-1 gene and the response to influenza vaccination in healthy humans. HO-1-deficient mice had decreased survival after influenza infection compared to WT mice (median …

Occurrence Of Hormonal Residues In Feedlot Cattle Waste, Terry L. Mader, Leslie J. Johnson, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, William Kranz, Charles Shapiro, Simon Van Donk, David P. Shelton, David Tarkalson, T. C. Zhang, Steve Ensley

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two identically designed studies were conducted in separate years at the UNL Haskell Agricultural Laboratory using 192 crossbred heifers (96/study). Within a study heifers (initial weight = 386kg) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (3 42.4 m × 14.6 m pens/group/year): 1) treatment (TRT) animals were administered synthetic hormones via subcutaneous implants [d 1, 36 mg zearalonal; d 35, 140 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA) and 14 mg of 17β-estradiol benzoate (Revalor-H)] and fed Melengesterol Acetate (MGA), and 2) control (CON) animals with no synthetic hormone provided. Throughout each study, feedlot pen surface samples were obtained from 4 equally-sized zones (5 …

Use Of A Complete-Feed Diet (Ramp) To Rapidly Transition Cattle To A Finishing Diet, C. J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk Burken, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A study evaluated transitioning cattle from RAMP to a finishing diet with fewer intermediate step diets and days fed during transition. Yearling crossbred steers (n = 390; BW = 341 ± 14 kg) were blocked and stratified by BW, and assigned randomly within strata to 40 feedlot pens, with 9 or 10 steers per pen. Treatments were different grain adaptation programs (27 or 28 d) involving blends of RAMP and finishing diet. A control adaptation program involved decreasing RAMP and increasing a 62.5% corn finishing diet (62.5% high moisture corn (HMC), 25% sweet bran, 7.5% alfalfa hay (AH), and 5% …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Finishing Cattle Manure With And Without Distillers Grains In The Diet., Andrea K. Watson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Samodha C. Fernando, Jana L. Harding, Adam L. Shreck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two treatments (cattle diet) were used in anaerobic digestion of finishing cattle manure. Diet 1 contained 82.5% dry rolled corn (DRC) (CONT) and diet 2 contained 40% wet distillers grains plus solubles (DM basis) replacing DRC (WDGS). Cattle were housed in stanchions for 3 d with complete manure collection in a cement pit. Manure (feces and urine) was sampled and analyzed for minerals, DM and OM. Manure collected was weighed into individual allotments based on DM and frozen. Continuously stirred anaerobic digesters (n = 7, 1 L capacity) were inoculated and maintained for 5 mo before the trial to ensure …

Use Of A Complete-Feed Diet (Ramp) In Grain Adaptation Programs Compared To Traditional Grain Adaptation Programs, C. J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Kelsey M. Rolfe Rolfe, William A. Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A study evaluated using RAMP to adapt cattle to a high grain finishing diet. Yearling crossbred steers (n = 229; BW = 397 ± 28.4 kg) were consecutively weighed over 2 d, stratified by BW, and assigned randomly within strata to 18 feedlot pens, with 12 or 13 steers per pen. Treatments were imposed during grain adaptation (22 d) by decreasing RAMP (100 to 0%) and increasing finishing diet (0 to 100%). RAMP was fed either as a blend in a 1-diet system which was delivered twice daily (RAMP-1RS) or as 2 daily diets where RAMP was delivered in one …

Spatial Genetic Variation Among Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Sampled From The United States, Puerto Rico, Panama, And Argentina, Difabachew K. Belay, Pete L. Clark, Steven R. Skoda, David J. Isenhour, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Claudia Gianni, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Spatial genetic variability of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was studied by collecting samples from 31 locations in the United States, Argentina, Panama, and Puerto Rico, and then using amplified fragment length polymorphism to detect genetic variation. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic variation in fall armyworm among all (28%) sample locations and individuals within (71%) sample locations; genetic variation of fall armyworm was minimal between sample locations grouped into regions. The pairwise fixation index (F_ST) comparisons showed significant genetic differentiation (0.288) among the 31 locations. However, dendrograms of results from cluster …

Vegfa Family Isoforms Regulate Spermatogonial Stem Cell Homeostasis In Vivo, Kyle C. Caires, Jeanene M. Clopton, Andrea S. Cupp, Derek J. Mclean

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of the present study was to investigate vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) isoform regulation of cell fate decisions of spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) in vivo. The expression pattern and cell-specific distribution of VEGF isoforms, receptors, and coreceptors during testis development postnatal d 1–180 suggest a nonvascular function for VEGF regulation of early germ cell homeostasis. Populations of undifferentiated spermatogonia present shortly after birth were positive for VEGF receptor activation as demonstrated by immunohistochemical analysis. Thus, we hypothesized that proangiogenic isoforms of VEGF (VEGFA₁₆₄) stimulate SSC self-renewal, whereas antiangiogenic isoforms of VEGF (VEGFA₁₆₅b) …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of Syntenic Gene Deletion In The Grasses, James C. Schnable, Michael Freeling, Eric Lyons

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The grasses, Poaceae, are one of the largest and most successful angiosperm families. Like many radiations of flowering plants, the divergence of the major grass lineages was preceded by a whole-genome duplication (WGD), although these events are not rare for flowering plants. By combining identification of syntenic gene blocks with measures of gene pair divergence and different frequencies of ancient gene loss, we have separated the two subgenomes present in modern grasses. Reciprocal loss of duplicated genes or genomic regions has been hypothesized to reproductively isolate populations and, thus, speciation. However, in contrast to previous studies in yeast and teleost …

Effects Of Feeding Field Peas In Combination With Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Finishing And Growing Diets On Cattle Performance And Carcass Characteristics, A. C. Pesta, A. H. Titlow, J. A. Hansen, A. L. Berger, S. A. Furman, Matt K. Luebbe, G. E. Erickson, K. H. Jenkins

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two studies were conducted to evaluate field peas and wet or dry corn distillers grains with solubles (WDGS and DDGS, respectively) in finishing and growing diets. In Exp. 1, British crossbred steers (n = 352, initial BW 356 ± 27 kg) were used in a randomized block design with factors being 0 or 20% field peas and 0 or 30% WDGS in dry-rolled corn (DRC) based finishing diets (DM basis). There was an interaction (P < 0.01) for DMI and G:F. Feeding WDGS increased ADG (P < 0.01), whereas peas had no effect on ADG (P = 0.33). Including WDGS increased G:F in diets without peas (P < 0.01), but had no impact (P = 0.12) in diets containing peas. Peas increased G:F (P = 0.04) in diets without WDGS, but decreased G:F (P = 0.03) with WDGS. Feeding WDGS increased HCW (P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, Continental crossbred heifers (yr. 1; n = 108, initial BW 338 ± 14 kg) and British crossbred steers (yr. 2; n = 90, initial BW 321 ± 10 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 9 pastures. Treatments were supplementation with loose DDGS meal on the ground (GROUND), in a bunk (BUNK) or a 25% field peas, 75% DDGS cube on the ground (CUBE) at equal CP. Final BW and ADG were less (P < 0.01) for GROUND than for CUBE and BUNK, which were similar. These data indicate up to 50% DRC could be replaced by peas and WDGS, and peas are an acceptable binder for DDGS range cubes.

A High Density Snp Array For The Domestic Horse And Extant Perissodactyla: Utility For Association Mapping, Genetic Diversity, And Phylogeny Studies, Molly E. Mccue, Danika L. Bannasch, Jessica Lynn Petersen, Jessica Gurr, Ernie Bailey, Matthew M. Binns, Ottmar Distl, Gérard Guérin, Telhisa Hasegawa, Emmeline W. Hill, Tosso Leeb, Gabriella Lindgren, M. Cecilia T. Penedo, Knut H. Røed, Oliver A. Ryder, June E. Swinburne, Teruaki Tozaki, Stephanie J. Valberg, Mark Vaudin, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Claire M. Wade, James R. Mickelson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An equine SNP genotyping array was developed and evaluated on a panel of samples representing 14 domestic horse breeds and 18 evolutionarily related species. More than 54,000 polymorphic SNPs provided an average inter-SNP spacing of ~43 kb. The mean minor allele frequency across domestic horse breeds was 0.23, and the number of polymorphic SNPs within breeds ranged from 43,287 to 52,085. Genome-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) in most breeds declined rapidly over the first 50–100 kb and reached background levels within 1–2 Mb. The extent of LD and the level of inbreeding were highest in the Thoroughbred and lowest in the …

Index Selection In Terminal Sires Improves Early Lamb Growth, G. C. Márquez, W. Haresign, M. H. Davies, G. C. Emmans, Rainer Roehe, L Bünger, G. Simm, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The use of terminal sires (TS) for crossbreeding is integral to the UK sheep industry where approximately 71% of market lambs are sired by TS rams. Early growth of these crossbred lambs affects profitability. The objectives of this study were i) to evaluate the effectiveness of index selection among TS on BW and ADG of their crossbred offspring; and ii) to compare the efficacy of that selection within TS breeds. The most widely used TS breeds in the United Kingdom are Charollais, Suffolk, and Texel. These participated in sire referencing schemes in which they were evaluated on a lean growth …

Dried Distillers Grains As A Substitute For Grazed Forage, L. A. Stalker, T. J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, J. D. Volesky

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A 2-yr study evaluated effects of feeding dried distillers grains (DDG) to yearlings grazing native range at greaterthan- recommended stocking rates on BW gain, grazed forage quality, and forage disappearance. Thirty-six paddocks were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control, stocked at a moderate stocking rate (1.48 animal unit months/ha in yr 1, 1.06 animal unit months/ha in yr 2) with no DDG; 2) double stocked, in which stocking rate was exactly twice the control with no DDG; and 3) double stocked with 2.27 kg/d (DM) of DDG per animal. Six paddocks per treatment replication were grazed in …