Danubian Animal Genetic Resources

Bulgaria as a part of the world’s poultry genetic resources – Bulgarian chicken breeds

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Today, only a few major chicken breeds are used in industrial poultry farming, which leads to a considerable reduction in the genetic diversity of the domestic chicken in the world. This trend is also affecting rural poultry farming. On the other hand, there is exhibition and ornamental poultry breeding, where productivity is not so important. Amateur poultry breeders play an important role in maintaining genetic diversity in domestic birds, especially in domestic chickens. In Bulgaria there are 10 known chicken breeds, two of which are recognized by the state institutions (Black Shumen and Stara Zagora Red Chicken) and the others are recognized or in the process of recognition by the Union of Fanciers and Small Domestic Animal Breeders in Bulgaria, which is a part of the Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture (EE). Depending on the presence or absence of dwarfism, the breeds can be divided into standard (Black Shumen Chicken, Stara Zagora Red Chicken, Katunitsa Chicken, Struma Chicken, Rhodope Painted Chicken, Southwest Bulgarian Chicken, and Bulgarian Longcrower) and miniature (Bregovska Dzhinka, Struma Bantam, and Southwest Bulgarian Dzhinka) ones. The breeds with attractive appearance have higher populations compared to the productive breeds, which are at risk of extinction.

Results of an expedition survey on population of rare, aboriginal, local and endangered Brown Carpathian cows

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

From the expedition survey of the cow’s population, it appears that 7 breeds and genotypes of cattle are bred in Transcarpathia, part of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The materials presented in the work and their analysis show that during the years 1911-2023 there were changes in the breed composition and numbers. The state of distribution, the number of breeding stock of one of them - a rare, aboriginal, local and disappearing brown Carpathian breed is currently insufficiently studied. From a scientific point of view it represents a valuable object of preserving the biological diversity of cattle and establishing the history of the development of cattle breeding. From a practical point of view - with low-cost production technologies, it provides high-quality milk and meat to the local population, the stability of ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole. It provides also the sustainable development of the regional communities and international cooperation. In the current and future global warming and energy crisis, this breed is suitable for operation under the conditions of application of new "Green Architecture" technologies recommended by the European Commission, which fundamentally change traditional approaches in dairy farming. The results of our research will help clarify the status of the brown Carpathian breed, the number of cows and the breeding area as well as draw attention to the problems of implementation of the provided protection and conservation measures, their financing mechanisms.

Exploring the genetic diversity of sheep using mitochondrial DNA

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Under today's prevailing economic conditions, the keeping of world breeds predominates. These animals are capable of excellent performance and produce efficiently and profitably. The more these breeds spread, the more native breeds are pushed out of breeding and public awareness. In the latter case, in addition to the decline in the number of those, perhaps an even greater problem is that without appropriate mating plan, their allele diversity will also decline, and they will fall into risk. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-based investigation is playing an increasingly important role in the genetic conservation of endangered domestic breeds. The authors aim to give an overview of the possibilities offered by this, with a special focus on sheep. After a general description of the mtDNA and it genes and their functions the specificity of the maternal lineages is presented. In this way, they inform the practical breeders to the promising potential of mtDNA for controlling the genetic diversity of endangered livestock breeds. All this not only preserves an essential part of our culture and history, but also contributes to sustainability.

Cryopreserved Sperm Quality in Tsigai Sheep: Implications for Biodiversity Protection

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:17:36 +0000

The objective of our research was to conduct a comparative analysis of cryopreserved sperm quality parameters of Tsigai (TS) sheep breed. Ejaculates (n=12) from TS sheep rams (n = 2) were collected using electro-ejaculation. Samples were prepared from suitable ejaculates, ensuring at least 70% progressive motility. These samples were then equilibrated in Triladyl® diluent and subjected to automated freezing. Before freezing and after thawing, the sperm samples underwent assessments including motility (CASA), viability and apoptosis (DRAQ7/Yo-Pro-1), mitochondrial activity (MitoTracker), capacitation status (FLUO4), and acrosomal status (PNA). The results revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in total motility between fresh (91.25±0.80 %) and frozen/thawed (F/T) (41.14±12.04 %) samples, as well as progressive motility between fresh (89.83±1.85 %) and frozen/thawed (33.57±8.25 %) groups. Moreover, significant differences (P<0.05) were also observed in the proportion of apoptotic spermatozoa (2.26±0.60 %), dead (7.40±1.72 %), and mitochondrial active spermatozoa (84.52±5.60 %) in fresh samples compared to F/T samples (12.34±0.80 %, 46.59±2.82 %, 47.71±4.04 %). Our findings indicate that the selected cryopreservation protocol is relatively sufficient for the cryoconservation of sperm from Tsigai sheep breeds, since up to 50% of F/T sperm were motile and live. This has significant implications for biodiversity protection and simplifies the establishment of an animal genetic resources gene bank.

In memoriam Professor Emeritus Dr. Imre Bodó (1932-2023)

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:27:02 +0000