Kerry cattle are an endangered landrace heritage breed of cultural importance to Ireland. In the ... more Kerry cattle are an endangered landrace heritage breed of cultural importance to Ireland. In the present study we have used genome-wide SNP array data to evaluate genomic diversity within the Kerry population and between Kerry cattle and other European breeds. Patterns of genetic differentiation and gene flow among breeds using phylogenetic trees with ancestry graphs highlighted historical gene flow from the British Shorthorn breed into the ancestral population of modern Kerry cattle. Principal component analysis (PCA) and genetic clustering emphasised the genetic distinctiveness of Kerry cattle relative to comparator British and European cattle breeds. Modelling of genetic effective population size () revealed a demographic trend of diminishing over time and that recent estimated values for the Kerry breed may be less than the threshold for sustainable genetic conservation. In addition, analysis of genome-wide autozygosity () showed that genomic inbreeding has increased significant...
Greater consumption of oily fish, and elevated plasma levels of the long-chain marine-derived ome... more Greater consumption of oily fish, and elevated plasma levels of the long-chain marine-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have been strongly and consistently associated with a reduced incidence of heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and cancers. Despite international guidelines recommending eating oily fish at least once per week (> 250mg/day DHA and EPA), many people do not eat fish, and only a small minority of the world's population have optimal omega-3-PUFA plasma and tissue levels. Hence, in this project, we studied the bioavailability and blood pressure lowering effects of recently developed alternatives to oily fish, namely chicken-meat and eggs naturally enriched with algae-sourced omega-3-PUFAs.This was a double-blinded, controlled, randomised trial. Using a 2X2 factorial design, 161 healthy participants were randomized to eat at least 3 portions/week of omega-...
We have previously demonstrated the importance of progesterone (P4) synthesis by cumulus cells du... more We have previously demonstrated the importance of progesterone (P4) synthesis by cumulus cells during oocyte maturation in vitro (IVM) for bovine oocyte acquisition of developmental competence and subsequent embryo development (Aparicio et al. 2011 Biol. Reprod. 84). The aim of this study was to identify key processes that may be deregulated by the inhibition of P4 signalling in the cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) during IVM. To this end, good quality immature COC were placed in IVM medium [TCM-199 supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) FCS and 10 ng mL–1 epidermal growth factor] and cultured at 39°C for 22 h in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2, in the presence or absence of 10 μM trilostane (which blocks P4 synthesis by inhibiting 3 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; Stegram Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Surrey, UK). Matured COC were washed and placed in 250 μL of fertilization medium (25 mM bicarbonate, 22 mM Na-lactate, 1 mM Na-pyruvate, 6 mg mL–1 fatty acid-free BSA, and 10 mg mL–1 heparin)...
Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information conc... more Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information concerning cow diet and health. Under current milk payment schemes in Ireland farmer income is directly linked to milk fat production. A descriptive analysis of milk fat depression (MFD) as calculated from test day milk recording data across all milk recording herds from 2004 to 2014 was undertaken. A dataset of 17 million test day records was used to calculate the prevalence of MFD in Irish milk recorded herds and to create a graphical description of the major descriptive epidemiological trends in milk fat depression in time and space in Ireland. The bulk tank equivalent (BTE) for test day milk fat was calculated for each herd and for cohorts of cows within herds using the formula; BTE milk fat = sum test day fat kg/sum test day milk kg. Milk fat depression was defined as BTE <3.3% milk fat and BTE > 3.2% milk protein. The annual prevalence of MFD decreased significantly over time in ...
Abstract Text: The object of this study was to determine if supplementing Holstein-Friesian cows ... more Abstract Text: The object of this study was to determine if supplementing Holstein-Friesian cows with hydrolyzed yeast product (Progut™Rumen) had an effect on milk production and somatic cell score (SCS). Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 248) were balanced for DIM, pre-experimental milk yield, and milk composition and assigned to either a control (n =127) or hydrolyzed yeast (Progut, n = 121) treatment. Cows were put into two large pens and after each milking the cows were rotated into a new pen to account for environmental effects in the shed. Cows were individually fed the Control and Progut Rumen(10g/cow/day) treatments in the milking parlour during the morning milking. Therefore the cow was considered the experimental unit. The trial was carried out over two seasons (for a 10 wk period and a 8 wk period) and on weekly intervals milk yield was recorded and milk composition (fat yield and %, protein yield and %, lactose yield and %) and somatic cell score was determined. The data...
Kerry cattle are an endangered landrace heritage breed of cultural importance to Ireland. In the ... more Kerry cattle are an endangered landrace heritage breed of cultural importance to Ireland. In the present study we have used genome-wide SNP array data to evaluate genomic diversity within the Kerry population and between Kerry cattle and other European breeds. Patterns of genetic differentiation and gene flow among breeds using phylogenetic trees with ancestry graphs highlighted historical gene flow from the British Shorthorn breed into the ancestral population of modern Kerry cattle. Principal component analysis (PCA) and genetic clustering emphasised the genetic distinctiveness of Kerry cattle relative to comparator British and European cattle breeds. Modelling of genetic effective population size () revealed a demographic trend of diminishing over time and that recent estimated values for the Kerry breed may be less than the threshold for sustainable genetic conservation. In addition, analysis of genome-wide autozygosity () showed that genomic inbreeding has increased significant...
Greater consumption of oily fish, and elevated plasma levels of the long-chain marine-derived ome... more Greater consumption of oily fish, and elevated plasma levels of the long-chain marine-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have been strongly and consistently associated with a reduced incidence of heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and cancers. Despite international guidelines recommending eating oily fish at least once per week (> 250mg/day DHA and EPA), many people do not eat fish, and only a small minority of the world's population have optimal omega-3-PUFA plasma and tissue levels. Hence, in this project, we studied the bioavailability and blood pressure lowering effects of recently developed alternatives to oily fish, namely chicken-meat and eggs naturally enriched with algae-sourced omega-3-PUFAs.This was a double-blinded, controlled, randomised trial. Using a 2X2 factorial design, 161 healthy participants were randomized to eat at least 3 portions/week of omega-...
We have previously demonstrated the importance of progesterone (P4) synthesis by cumulus cells du... more We have previously demonstrated the importance of progesterone (P4) synthesis by cumulus cells during oocyte maturation in vitro (IVM) for bovine oocyte acquisition of developmental competence and subsequent embryo development (Aparicio et al. 2011 Biol. Reprod. 84). The aim of this study was to identify key processes that may be deregulated by the inhibition of P4 signalling in the cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) during IVM. To this end, good quality immature COC were placed in IVM medium [TCM-199 supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) FCS and 10 ng mL–1 epidermal growth factor] and cultured at 39°C for 22 h in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2, in the presence or absence of 10 μM trilostane (which blocks P4 synthesis by inhibiting 3 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; Stegram Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Surrey, UK). Matured COC were washed and placed in 250 μL of fertilization medium (25 mM bicarbonate, 22 mM Na-lactate, 1 mM Na-pyruvate, 6 mg mL–1 fatty acid-free BSA, and 10 mg mL–1 heparin)...
Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information conc... more Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information concerning cow diet and health. Under current milk payment schemes in Ireland farmer income is directly linked to milk fat production. A descriptive analysis of milk fat depression (MFD) as calculated from test day milk recording data across all milk recording herds from 2004 to 2014 was undertaken. A dataset of 17 million test day records was used to calculate the prevalence of MFD in Irish milk recorded herds and to create a graphical description of the major descriptive epidemiological trends in milk fat depression in time and space in Ireland. The bulk tank equivalent (BTE) for test day milk fat was calculated for each herd and for cohorts of cows within herds using the formula; BTE milk fat = sum test day fat kg/sum test day milk kg. Milk fat depression was defined as BTE <3.3% milk fat and BTE > 3.2% milk protein. The annual prevalence of MFD decreased significantly over time in ...
Abstract Text: The object of this study was to determine if supplementing Holstein-Friesian cows ... more Abstract Text: The object of this study was to determine if supplementing Holstein-Friesian cows with hydrolyzed yeast product (Progut™Rumen) had an effect on milk production and somatic cell score (SCS). Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 248) were balanced for DIM, pre-experimental milk yield, and milk composition and assigned to either a control (n =127) or hydrolyzed yeast (Progut, n = 121) treatment. Cows were put into two large pens and after each milking the cows were rotated into a new pen to account for environmental effects in the shed. Cows were individually fed the Control and Progut Rumen(10g/cow/day) treatments in the milking parlour during the morning milking. Therefore the cow was considered the experimental unit. The trial was carried out over two seasons (for a 10 wk period and a 8 wk period) and on weekly intervals milk yield was recorded and milk composition (fat yield and %, protein yield and %, lactose yield and %) and somatic cell score was determined. The data...
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