Genetic parameters of serum vitamin A and total cholesterol concentrations and the genetic relationships with carcass traits in an F1 cross between Japanese Black sires and Holstein dams

Abstract

Blood sample and carcass trait data were collected from 841 and 3,219 fattening animals of an F(1) cross between Japanese Black sires and Holstein dams, respectively. Data on serum vitamin A and total cholesterol concentrations containing 582 to 739 records at 4 stages of beef-fattening production were used to estimate variance components and heritabilities for the 2 traits, based on fattening periods: less than 13 mo of age (stage 1), 14 to 18 mo of age (stage 2), 19 to 21 mo of age (stage 3), and greater than 22 mo of age (stage 4). Furthermore, the genetic correlations of serum vitamin A and total cholesterol concentrations with beef marbling standards, carcass weight, ribeye area, rib thickness, and subcutaneous fat thickness were estimated. The heritability estimates of serum vitamin A concentration were consistently and drastically decreased from 0.37 ± 0.15 to 0.07 ± 0.07 from stages 1 to 4 because of considerable decreases in sire variances, whereas the residual variances remained large and stable throughout all 4 stages. Serum total cholesterol concentration was moderately heritable (approximately 0.35 to 0.64) throughout all 4 stages. The genetic correlations among serum vitamin A concentrations and beef marbling standards were high and negative (-0.94) in stage 4. The genetic correlations between serum vitamin A concentration and carcass weight in stages 3 and 4 were moderate and positive (approximately 0.26 to 0.36). Moderate to high positive genetic correlations between serum vitamin A concentration and subcutaneous fat thickness were obtained throughout the stages (approximately 0.40 to 0.75). Genetic correlations of serum total cholesterol concentration with carcass weight and rib thickness were moderate and positive (approximately 0.29 to 0.46) in stages 2, 3, and 4. These results indicate serum vitamin A and total cholesterol concentrations could be effective physiological indicators for improving carcass traits.

Retinoic acids change gene expression profiles of bovine intramuscular adipocyte differentiation, based on microarray analysis

“…Other studies have also reported that the subcutaneous fat thickness in bovines is positively correlated with the serum VA level (Kato et al . ). Moreover, Nade et al .…”

“…; Kato et al . ). In the present study, we found that the expression levels of genes related to muscle development were decreased by VA.…”

“…The BIP cell line, which exhibits a fibroblastic appearance, was established from the intramuscular white adipose tissue of the Longissimus thoracis muscle of Japanese Black cattle (Aso et al 1995). In vivo, many studies have reported that low serum VA concentrations increase beef marbling standards (Oka et al 1997;Adachi et al 1999;Kato et al 2011), but they did not increase subcutaneus fat thickness (Nade et al 2002;Kato et al 2011). Studies on BIP cell lines have confirmed that liquid droplet cell content increases with time during adipogenisis; this was recently confirmed by Oil red O staining (Mizoguchi et al 2014).…”

“…; Kato et al . ). Studies on BIP cell lines have confirmed that liquid droplet cell content increases with time during adipogenisis; this was recently confirmed by Oil red O staining (Mizoguchi et al .…”

Effects of dietary trans-9 octadecenoic acid, trans-11 vaccenic acid and cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid in mice

“…Previously, it was used to measure physiological characteristics for selection programs designed to improve animal production traits (18). In the present study, 10 blood metabolites were analyzed to determine if any of these factors were correlated with the consumption of pure EA, TVA or CLA.…”