Divergent selection for total fleece weight in Angora rabbits: Correlated responses in wool characteristics

Rafat, S. A.; Rochambeau, Hubert de; Thébault, R. G.; David, Ingrid; Deretz, Séverine; Bonnet, Muriel; Pena-Arnaud, B.; Allain, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.02.012

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In a previous paper, observations from a divergent selection experiment on total fleece weight (TFW) in Angora rabbits were described without explaining the reasons of variations in genetic progress (Rafat et al. 2007, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was shown in this study that selection for high and low TFW was successfully performed and a divergence of three genetic SD was observed between the high and low lines after 8 years of selection. Moreover, selection for TFW had significant positive effects on fleece characteristics such as bristle length, hair follicle density and fibre diameter (Rafat et al. 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic description of a divergent selection experiment in Angora rabbits with overlapping generations

Rafat¹,

Allain²,

Rochambeau³

2009

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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The chief aims of this paper were the following: (i) to describe the demography and genetic structure in two divergent selected lines for total fleece weight (TFW) of French Angora rabbits with overlapping generations; (ii) to describe the effects of inbreeding during an experiment of divergent selection. A study of longevity with the survival kit showed that there was no significant difference in the risk of death or culling between the low line (LL) and high line (HL). A significant effect of inbreeding (p < 0.05) was observed with a 30% higher risk factor in the highest class of inbreeding coefficient compared with the other classes. The means of generation interval were 562 and 601 days in LL and HL, respectively. The numbers of generations for LL and HL were 3.90 and 3.64, respectively. Generation intervals decreased significantly from 1995 to 2000 (p < 0.05). The number of daughters in HL was very variable. The number of animals per generation was higher in HL than in LL. Each buck left nearly three daughters to the next generation (2.52 in LL, 3.24 in HL). In both lines, the effective number of ancestor genomes still present in the genetic pool of the generation was around eight from the reference population of 1995 to that of 2001. Inbreeding in HL was always higher than in LL. The effect of inbreeding was also significant (p < 0.05) on TFW and live weight. The animals with the lowest inbreeding category produced a higher TFW (p < 0.05) than the others. The observed selection differentials were lower than that expected owing to the breeding animal management rules in order to control inbreeding increase.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic description of a divergent selection experiment in Angora rabbits with overlapping generations

Rafat¹,

Allain²,

Rochambeau³

2009

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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“…This could have introduced a bias, which could explain such large variations in heritability estimates. In Angora rabbit, a higher heritability estimate of fleece weight was observed, whereas heritability estimates of fibre dimensions (length and diameter) were lower than in Angora goat (Allain and Roguet, 2006;Rafat et al, 2008).…”

Section: Fibre Growth Patternmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Genetic parameters and direct response to selection on fleece weight were studied as well as correlated response in Angora fleece characteristics such as fibre dimensions of each kind of fibre composing the fleece, fleece composition and hair follicle population. Animal management conditions, selection procedure and fleece measurements were described by Allain et al (1999) and Rafat et al (2007aRafat et al ( , 2007bRafat et al ( and 2008.…”

Section: Fibre Growth Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are large differences in fibre diameter between primary and secondary fibres of the Angora rabbit. A useful indirect estimation of S/P ratio, based on the high genetic correlation observed between S/P ratio and comfort factor (Rafat et al, 2008), may be determined by measurement of comfort factor (content of fibres having a diameter higher than 30 mm) through OFDA measurement of mean fibre diameter. Similarly in cashmere goats, another DC species, the yield of cashmere down as fibres produced by secondary hair follicles and thus S/P ratio, is determined through OFDA methodology (Herrmann and Wortmann, 1997).…”

Section: Fibre Growth Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetics of fibre production and fleece characteristics in small ruminants, Angora rabbit and South American camelids

Allain

Renieri

2010

Animal

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This paper reviews genetics of fibre production and fleece characteristics in small ruminants, Angora rabbit and South American camelids with a special distinction between single-coated (SC) and double-coated (DC) species. Considering the biology of fibre production, there are variations in coat composition and structure, fibre growth pattern and fibre structure and quality between these two main kinds of fibre-producing animals. In SC species, all fibres are nearly similar in dimensions and are produced from individual follicles that have a very long period, essentially permanent, of active growth without a synchronous phase of rest between follicles. In contrast, in DC species the fleece comprises a coarse outer coat and a fine inner coat with variations of coat composition and structure, and fibre growth pattern according to the season with a well-defined duration of fibre growth. Genetic basis of hair growth pattern, coat composition and fibre structure are different between species. In small ruminants, these coat characters are additive and because of several genes whereas in rabbit, several autosomal recessive genes determine fibre growth, coat composition and structure. In alpaca, the fleece type (Suri or Huacaya) is determined by a single dominant gene. This paper also reviews genetic parameters of fibre production traits in Angora goat, Angora rabbit and alpaca in which many aspects of the genetic basis of fibre production are analogous. There are many traits controlling both fibre quality and fibre quantity, and most of these traits tend to be moderately to strongly inherited so that a rapid genetic progress in any traits is possible and indeed has been achieved. However, there are differences in breeding programmes. In DC Angora rabbit, selection for one single trait, the easy measurable total fleece weight has general beneficial effects on fleece quality. However, because of antagonistic relations between qualitative and quantitative traits in SC species, achieving this goal requires a multi-trait selection index approach. Gene mapping studies have recently identified several putative quantitative trait loci and major genes affecting fibre and fleece characteristics in sheep, goat and rabbit are reviewed. The whole genome sequence of sheep and rabbit will be available in the near future and the use of high-density single nucleotide polymorphism chip will allow fine mapping and dissection of the genetic basis of many production traits including fibre production and fleece characteristics. The application of these techniques will thus contribute to improving the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of small ruminant and rabbit fibre production.

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Spinning Angora Rabbit Wool‐Like Porous Fibers from a Non‐Equilibrated Gelatin/Water/2‐Propanol Mixture

Stoessel

Grass

Sánchez‐Ferrer

et al. 2013

Adv Funct Materials

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Due to their porous structure, angora rabbit fibers make for some of the highest quality wool. The application of these fibers on a technical scale is not feasible due to their limited availability and high price. Here, a robust fiber preparation method is reported based on an unusual spinning process, where a non‐equilibrated, ternary system of protein, solvent, and non‐solvent is continuously processed into strong fibers with minimal energy input and harmless solvents. Gelatin—the degradation product of collagen—is chosen as the protein component because of its immense availability from slaughterhouse waste. Due to the sponge‐like structure of the ternary gelatin/water/2‐propanol spinning mixture, fibers with internal cavities are produced. The porous nature of these fibers resembles the morphology of angora rabbit fibers. Despite their high porosity, the here‐obtained gelatin fibers show clear re‐orientation of the fibrous protein and attain a mechanical performance similar to other bio‐ (e.g., wool, tendon collagen) and synthetic polymers (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide 6). These promising results motivate for broader investigations on the spinning of non‐equilibrium protein mixtures and suggest the use of porous gelatin fibers in textiles.

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Divergent selection for total fleece weight in Angora rabbits: Correlated responses in wool characteristics

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Genetic description of a divergent selection experiment in Angora rabbits with overlapping generations

Genetic description of a divergent selection experiment in Angora rabbits with overlapping generations

Genetics of fibre production and fleece characteristics in small ruminants, Angora rabbit and South American camelids

Spinning Angora Rabbit Wool‐Like Porous Fibers from a Non‐Equilibrated Gelatin/Water/2‐Propanol Mixture

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