Tag: disease resistance
Genes influence risk for bovine digital dermatitis
Two mutations in the genome of cattle likely cause some animals to be significantly more susceptible to digital dermatitis. The two candidate genes were discovered by an international team of researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the University of Göttingen and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The findings, published in Frontiers in Genetics, could help […]
Study of PRRS in pigs shows the value of breeding for disease resilience
Emerging technologies and new statistical methods offer novel approaches to breed livestock that are resilient to disease, with potential significant cost savings to industry, according to a study published in Genetics Selection Evolution. Improved statistical methods to quantify how animals respond to infection, and to what extent this is controlled by genes that give rise […]
Markers for key health and productivity traits identified in Ethiopian chickens
A study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of Liverpool, the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and partners of the Centre of Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), has found that birds from two distinct indigenous chicken populations (ecotypes) in Ethiopia share several genetic regions linked to important productivity and disease resistance traits. This […]
Genome study will be used to breed more productive and resilient African cattle
Scientists have discovered a set of detailed genetic markers in African cattle that are associated with valuable traits such as heat and drought-tolerance, the capacity to control inflammation and tick infestations, and resistance to trypanosomiasis. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, emerged from a collaborative effort to sequence the genomes of 172 indigenous cattle by […]
Study identifies potential candidate genes for resistance to Marek’s disease
Scientists have identified genes strongly associated with resistance to Marek’s disease in chickens, providing a large number of potential targets for future therapies or techniques to manage the disease. Findings from the analysis also reveal details about the biology behind susceptibility to Marek’s disease virus (MDV), which could lead to more precise selective breeding strategies. […]
Breed-dependent immune responses to Newcastle disease virus identified
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, have identified genes they hope could help create chickens more resilient to Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The researchers used a chick embryo model to study innate immune responses of inbred sublines of Fayoumi and Leghorn breeds, known to differ in susceptibility to NDV. […]
Project aims to boost productivity and health of village chickens
Adopting a more local and flexible approach to sustainable development could be key to improving the productivity of small-scale chicken farms in Ethiopia, according to a study published in Nature Sustainability. The research was led by the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, University of Nottingham, the Royal Veterinary College, Wageningen […]