Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Effects of Environmental Factors on Animal Performance: A Focus on...
share announcement

Effects of Environmental Factors on Animal Performance: A Focus on the Occurrence of Genotype–Environment Interaction and Epigenetic Effects

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 2048

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mário Luiz Santana Júnior

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso 78736-900, Brazil
Interests: animal breeding and genetics; genetic evaluation; genotype by environment interaction; beef cattle; dairy cattle
Dr. Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso 78736-900, Brazil
Interests: animal breeding and genetics; genetic evaluation; beef cattle; dairy cattle
Dr. Annaiza Braga Bignardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso 78736-900, Brazil
Interests: animal breeding and genetics; genetic evaluation; beef cattle; dairy cattle

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global challenges such as climate change, limited nutritional sources, and diseases have been imposed on animal performance. To adequately deal with these challenges, selecting genetically suitable animals for production and reproduction in extreme environmental conditions is one of the most promising alternatives for breeders, genetic improvement programs, and industry to meet their demands. In this sense, better knowledge of the relationship between animal performance and the environment is essential for developing strategies to optimize production systems and ensure animal production in the present and future.

We encourage authors to submit their contributions on (but not limited to) the following topics: thermal stress, photoperiod, nutritional sources, diseases, parasites, production environment, geographic location, and any other environmental factors that provide background for the occurrence of genotype–environment interaction and epigenetic effects on traits of economic interest in domestic animals. Selection strategies, advanced approaches, field and experimental data analysis, and quantitative and/or genomic tools are welcome.

Dr. Mário Luiz Santana Júnior
Dr. Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira
Dr. Annaiza Braga Bignardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adaptation
  • epigenetics
  • genotype by environment interaction
  • geographic location
  • management practices
  • nutritional constraints
  • quantitative genomics
  • resilience
  • thermal stress

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 884 KiB  
Article
Small for Gestational Age Calves: Part I—Concept and Definition, Contributing Prenatal Factors and Neonatal Body Morphometrics in Holstein Friesian Calves
by Maya Meesters, Mieke Van Eetvelde, Karel Verdru, Jan Govaere and Geert Opsomer
Animals 2024, 14(14), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142125 (registering DOI) - 21 Jul 2024
Abstract
Low birth weight (BW) calves exhibit higher mortality rates, reduced body weights at parturition, lower first-lactation milk yields, and longer parturition to first insemination intervals. In human medicine, small for gestational age (SGA) births are associated with increased perinatal morbidity and long-term metabolic [...] Read more.
Low birth weight (BW) calves exhibit higher mortality rates, reduced body weights at parturition, lower first-lactation milk yields, and longer parturition to first insemination intervals. In human medicine, small for gestational age (SGA) births are associated with increased perinatal morbidity and long-term metabolic risks. This study aimed to define SGA in Holstein Friesian (HF) calves, evaluate their body measurements and proportions, and identify its prenatal risk factors. Four linear regression models were built with weight as a function for gestation length for bull and heifer calves born from nulli- or multiparous dams. Calves with a BW below the 10th percentile were classified as SGA. Differences in body measurements were analyzed using ANOVA, and logistic regression models identified prenatal risk factors to be born SGA. Gestation length, calf sex, and dam parity were crucial variables in defining SGA. SGA calves had significantly smaller body measurements (p < 0.001) and larger body proportions (p < 0.001) compared to average and large calves. For nulliparous dams, a higher 2nd trimester temperature–humidity index (p = 0.032) and older age at parturition (>26 months, p = 0.026) significantly increased the birth of SGA calves. For multiparous dams, both low (<5800 kg, p = 0.049) and high (6700–8600 kg, p = 0.027) milk yields during gestation lead to more SGA births, although very high-yielding dams (>8600 kg) did not birth more SGA calves. This study establishes SGA in HF calves, suggests SGA calves are asymmetrical with evidence of “brain sparing”, and highlights the impact of prenatal factors on calf size at birth. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of being born SGA on growth, reproductive performance, and productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Animal Performance: A Focus on the Occurrence of Genotype–Environment Interaction and Epigenetic Effects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3114 KiB  
Article
Genotype by Prenatal Environment Interaction for Postnatal Growth of Nelore Beef Cattle Raised under Tropical Grazing Conditions
by Mário L. Santana, Annaiza B. Bignardi, Rodrigo J. Pereira, Gerson A. Oliveira Junior, Anielly P. Freitas, Roberto Carvalheiro, Joanir P. Eler, José B. S. Ferraz, Joslaine N. S. G. Cyrillo and Maria E. Z. Mercadante
Animals 2023, 13(14), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142321 - 15 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1266
Abstract
The prenatal environment is recognized as crucial for the postnatal performance in cattle. In tropical regions, pregnant beef cows commonly experience nutritional restriction during the second half of the gestation period. Thus, the present study was designed to analyze the genotype by prenatal [...] Read more.
The prenatal environment is recognized as crucial for the postnatal performance in cattle. In tropical regions, pregnant beef cows commonly experience nutritional restriction during the second half of the gestation period. Thus, the present study was designed to analyze the genotype by prenatal environment interaction (G × Epn) and to identify genomic regions associated with the level and response in growth and reproduction-related traits of beef cattle to changes in the prenatal environment. A reaction norm model was applied to data from two Nelore herds using the solutions of contemporary groups for birth weight as a descriptor variable of the gestational environment quality. A better gestational environment favored weights until weaning, scrotal circumference at yearling, and days to first calving of the offspring. The G × Epn was strong enough to result in heterogeneity of variance components and genetic parameters in addition to reranking of estimated breeding values and SNPs effects. Several genomic regions associated with the level of performance and specific responses of the animals to variations in the gestational environment were revealed, which harbor QTLs and can be exploited for selection purposes. Therefore, genetic evaluation models considering G × Epn and special management and nutrition care for pregnant cows are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Animal Performance: A Focus on the Occurrence of Genotype–Environment Interaction and Epigenetic Effects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop