scholarly journals Effect of inbreeding on fertility traits in five dog breeds

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 118-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kania-Gierdziewicz ◽  
Sylwia Pałka
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
German Shepherd ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Litter Traits ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Inbreeding Level ◽  
Fertility Traits

The aim of the study was to analyze retrospectively the influence of inbreeding on fertility traits in five dog breeds: German Shepherd dog (GSD), Golden (GR) and Labrador (LR) Retrievers, Beagle and the Tatra Shepherd dog (TSD). The data were 436 litters, with the total of 2560 puppies: 1307 males and 1206 females. The parents of the litters were 163 dogs and 228 bitches. For each litter the litter size, number of male and female puppies, sex ratio, and sex difference were calculated. The fixed effects of breed, of litter birth year and linear regression coefficients on litter and parents’ inbreeding were included in the linear model for litter traits. The correlations between litter traits and litter parents’ inbreeding were also estimated. The average litter size was 5.87 (± 2.53) for all breeds. GSD had the smallest average litter size differences in years and the lowest fluctuations of sex ratio with litter size. In other dog breeds those differences were much bigger. The difference between the number of male and female offspring in a litter depended on the breed. The lowest percentage of inbred parents was found for LR, and the highest for TSD. Mating non-inbred animals, in most cases also unrelated, was frequent in all breeds. The inbreeding level of parents had significant influence on the litter traits only for TSD. For the Beagles low, positive and significant correlation between the number of female offspring in a litter and the dam’s inbreeding level and the sex ratio below 0.5 suggests sex ratio disturbance. The correlation coefficients between litter inbreeding and litter size for majority of examined dog breeds were positive but not significant. The conclusion is that in Poland at first obligatory monitoring of the inbreeding level for all breeds should be applied.

scholarly journals Reproductive potential and nesting effects of Osmia rufa (syn. bicornis) female (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Giejdasz ◽  
Monika Fliszkiewicz ◽  
Andrea Bednárová ◽  
Natraj Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Nesting Behavior ◽  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Individual Female ◽  
The Family ◽  
Number Of Cells

Abstract The red mason bee Osmia rufa is a solitary bee belonging to the family Megachilidae, and is prone to nest in aggregations. Each female builds a nest separately in pre-existing cavities such as holes in wood and walls or empty plant stems. This is done by successively setting the cells in a linear series. In this study, we elucidate the nesting behavior and the reproductive potential of a single O. rufa female. The reproductive potential of nesting females was evaluated after the offspring finished development. We observed that an individual female may colonize up to five nest tubes and build 5-34 cells in them (16 on an average). During the nesting time the number of cells decreased with the sequence of nest tubes colonized by one female, which built a maximum of 11 cells in the first occupied nest and 5 cells in the last (fifth nest). Our observations indicated that 40% of nesting females colonized one nest tube as compared to 7% colonizing five nest tubes. Furthermore, in subsequent nest tubes the number of cells with freshly emerged females gradually decreased which was the reverse with males. Thus, the sex ratio (proportion of male and female offspring) may change during the nesting period. The female offspring predominated in the first two nesting tubes, while in the subsequent three tubes male offspring dominated. We also cataloged different causes of reduction in abundance of offspring in O. rufa females such as parasitization or problem associated with moulting.

scholarly journals Feeding and breeding of laboratory animals

1947 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Green Food ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Good For ◽  
Pelleted Diet ◽  
Size At Birth

1. Breeding records are given of fourteen female Dutch rabbits reared and maintained without green food, and of twelve of their female offspring.2. Fertility, average litter size at birth, and the percentage of young weaned, were good for the breed.3. No difference in growth rate was found between the first and second generations of young.4. With the dry pelleted diet, supplemented by drinking water, fresh green food is unnecessary for breeding rabbits, as it has already been shown to be unnecessary for growing animals (Bruce & Parkes, 1946).I should like to thank Dr A. S. Parkes, F.R.S., for his help in the preparation of the manuscript.

Parental behaviour of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (M. pennsylvanicus) in relation to sex of offspring

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty McGuire ◽  
William E. Bemis ◽  
Francoise Vermeylen
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Offspring Sex

Monogamous parents are predicted to invest equally in male and female offspring whereas polygynous parents in good condition are predicted to invest more in male than female offspring. Sex-biased parental investment can occur in three ways: (1) mothers and fathers invest different amounts of care in their offspring (effect of parent sex); (2) parents invest different amounts of care in male and female offspring (effect of offspring sex); and (3) one parent, but not the other, invests different amounts of care in male and female offspring (interaction between parent sex and offspring sex). Studies of parent–offspring interactions in rodents have focused on either effect of parent sex or effect of offspring sex, but not the interaction between parent sex and offspring sex, and most studies have examined only one species. We studied prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), a monogamous species, and meadow voles (M. pennsylvanicus), a polygynous (or promiscuous) species, under laboratory conditions designed to simulate field conditions. For each species, we recorded the frequency and duration with which mothers and fathers licked their male and female offspring. We found that meadow vole fathers licked male offspring for longer durations than female offspring. However, prairie vole fathers, prairie vole mothers, and meadow vole mothers did not lick male and female pups for different durations. From the standpoint of the pups, male prairie vole pups, female prairie vole pups, and female meadow vole pups were licked for longer durations by their mothers than by their fathers. In contrast, for male meadow vole pups there was no difference in the duration with which they were licked by mothers and fathers. We also detected effects of litter size: as litter size increased, the frequency and duration of pup licking decreased for mothers and increased for fathers. For duration (but not frequency) of pup licking, these changes were more dramatic in meadow voles than in prairie voles. Our data are generally consistent with predictions that monogamous parents, such as prairie voles, should invest equally in male and female offspring whereas polygynous (or promiscuous) parents, such as meadow voles, should invest more in male offspring when conditions are favourable. Our data also highlight the complexity of parent–offspring interactions in rodents and emphasize the need to examine whether male and female offspring within a species differ in their behaviour or ability to obtain parental care.

The Fertilisation of Rabbit Ova in Relation to Time

1934 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-161
Author(s):  
JOHN HAMMOND
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Metabolic Product ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Fallopian Tubes ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Constant Increase ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Constant Rate ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Duration Of Pregnancy

1. By matings with fertile bucks at different intervals of time after a mating with a vasectomised buck (to induce ovulation) the time of insemination in the rabbit can be moved successively nearer to, at, and after the time of ovulation. 2. From inseminations 5 hours before to 2 hours after ovulation the percentage of matings which are fertile, the average litter size, and average number of young permating fall gradually and at a constant rate until absolute sterility is obtained. Does which produce large litters when mated normally (10 hours before ovulation) may be made to produce small litters by mating shortly before or after the time of ovulation. 3. The ova are only capable of fertilisation while they are in, or as they leave, the plug at the top of the Fallopian tubes, i.e. up to about 6 hours after ovulation. They are incapable of fertilisation as they begin to move down the tube and acquire a layer of albumen around them. 4. As a result of a mating made about the time of ovulation the apex of the "sperm swarm" arrives at the top of the tube in time to fertilise only those ova which still remain in the plug. The apex of the "sperm swarm" contains relatively few spermatozoa, and so small litters are produced. 5. By "double matings," of dominant and recessive coloured bucks on recessive coloured does, with a time interval between them, it is possible to measure the relative sizes of the "sperm swarms" at the tops of the tubes at different intervals of time after mating. 6. The size of the "sperm swarm," and so the interval of time over which it is possible to obtain fertilisation as a result of mating later than normal in relation to the time of ovulation, varies considerably in different males. 7. The speed at which the sperms ascend the female tract is apparently not affected by the presence in them of male and female sex-determining elements. 8. The duration of pregnancy is prolonged by reducing the size of the litter. With the prolongation of pregnancy the proportion of young born dead increases. Various possible causes for these facts are discussed. 9. While there is but little constant increase in the weight of the individual young due to the prolongation of pregnancy from 31 to 34 days, there is a large increase in the individual weight due to reduction in the number of young in the litter. 10. It is probable that the size of individual young is limited by the amount of some internal secretion or metabolic product of the mother.

Ecology of the western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville) (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) on Dorre and Bernier Islands, Western Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Short ◽  
J. D. Richards ◽  
Bruce Turner
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Female Dominance ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Median Distance ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
System Body

Population structure, reproduction, condition, movements and habitat preference were assessed for western barred bandicoots (Perameles bougainville) on Dorre and Bernier Islands over seven trapping sessions between 1988 and 1995. Data comes from 372 captures of bandicoots in 2535 trap-nights (an average of 14·7 captures per 100 trap-nights). Trap success was 5.7–25.8% on Dorre and 5.7–7.6% on Bernier. Recaptures within a trip made up 29% of bandicoot captures. The overall sex ratio (excluding recaptures) was skewed heavily towards males at 1.7: 1 for trapped animals, but varied between male and female dominance at any time according to reproductive status of females. Sex ratio of pouch young was 1.2: 1. Production of young was concentrated in the wetter winter months. The smallest western barred bandicoot with pouch young weighed 175 g. Bandicoots showed a pattern of increasing litter size with size of mother. Females with young had an average litter size of 1.8, with young reaching independence at about 100 g body weight. Large testes size relative to body size in males suggested a promiscuous mating system. Body condition could be predicted by sex (females were typically in better condition than males) and by rainfall over the previous 2 months. Some sexual dimorphism was evident, with females having longer heads and typically being heavier than males. There was no detected dimorphism between island populations. Movements of bandicoots appeared limited, with the median distance moved by animals captured more than once within a 9–11-day trapping session being 154 m. There was no significant difference in movements between the sexes, with males moving a median distance of 160 m and females 138 m within trapping sessions. The greatest movement by a male was 1020 m while the greatest distance moved by a female was 490 m. Only 13% of recorded movements were greater than 400 m. Home ranges overlapped, with 51% of traps catching more than one individual and as many as five males being caught at the same trap site. Bandicoots were widely dispersed through all habitats surveyed. Bandicoots appeared to suffer a substantial reduction in numbers on Dorre Island in a prolonged drought extending from October 1986 to April 1989, reducing overall trap success to less than 6% in the 1988 survey.

scholarly journals Intensive Breeding of Rats 1. Crossfostering

1968 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Lane-Petter ◽  
Marjorie E. Lane-Petter ◽  
C. Wendy Bowtell
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Intensive Breeding ◽  
Weight For Age

The sex ratio of CFE rats as born is approximately 1:1, but the demand is usually for many more males than females. Litter size as born is variable, with resulting variation in weight for age at weaning and subsequently. The average litter size born is lower than that which the dams are capable of rearing. By a system of crossfostering pups at about two days of age, and killing surplus female pups at this age, litter size may be standardized, the sex ratio of animals raised can be adjusted to the demand, and larger litters can be reared.

scholarly journals Studies on the Sex-Ratio and Related Phenomena

1926 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104
Author(s):  
A. S. PARKES
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Average Size

(1) 1872 normal mice bred during November 1922-October 1925 had an average litter-size of 6.18, and a male percentage of 51.7 ± .77, both of which figures are lower than the corresponding ones found for 1921-2. (2) The annual variation in the sex-ratio is, however, not very appreciable, the figures for the four years running 54.2 ± 1.04, 50.4 ± 3.22, 52.2 ± 1.18, 51.4 ± 1.09. The average size of litter during these four periods ranged from 6.65 to 5.93. (3) Considerable seasonal variation in both fertility and sex-ratio occurred, the highest figures being fertility 6.46 and male percentage 55.9 ± 1.83 in the October-December quarter, and the lowest being fertility 5.82 and male percentage 48.2 ± 1.46 in the April-June period. (4) Litter-size appeared to be uncorrelated with any sort of definite variation in the sex-ratio. (5) Recent work on the mouse is discussed.

scholarly journals OPTIMAL RATIO OF MALE AND SEXUAL FEMALE IN THE MATING OF MOINA MACROCOPA (CRUSTACEA, MONIDAE)

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-478
Author(s):  
A. S. Mubarak ◽  
D. Jusadi ◽  
M. Z. Junior ◽  
M. A. Suprayudi
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Feed Concentration ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Moina Macrocopa ◽  
Number Of Males ◽  
Sexual Offspring

Moina  macrocopa is a natural feed that can be cultured to producing ephippia as a bioproduct for fish and shrimp larvae feed. The number of males in the population affects the quality and quantity of ephippia produced.  This study was conducted with the purpose of examining the female age in M. macrocopa mating and examining the ratio male-female M. macrocopa in the mating on the quantity and quality of ephippia produced.  The treatment in this research was the ratio male-female sex of   1:30,   3:30,  5:30,  7: 30. 9:30., 12:30,  15: 30.   Male and female sexual offspring  M macrocopa were produced from cultured using a combination of induction factors such as density, feed concentration, kairomones and dissolved oxygen. male and female offspring produced were cultured with a density of 1000 ind/ L.  This mating culture was using a container with a volume of water of 2 ml per individual. The results of this study were indicated that mating M. macrocopa using 70-hour old sexual females resulted in the highest ephippia production.  Mating M. macrocopa with a sex ratio of  9:30  (male and female sexual)  ware resulted in ephippia containing two eggs of 100%, with ephippia hatching degree of 35.4- 38.3%.

scholarly journals RESPONSE TO DIVERGENT SELECTION FOR NESTING BEHAVIOR IN MUS MUSCULUS

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 757-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Becker Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Family Selection ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Entire Experiment ◽  
Building Behavior ◽  
Bidirectional Selection ◽  
Fertility Traits ◽  
Average Body

ABSTRACT Replicated bidirectional selection (with control lines) for nest-building behavior in Mus musculus, where nesting scores consisted of the total weight of cotton pulled through the cage lid during four days of testing, yielded an eight-fold difference between high and low lines after 15 generations of selection. The overall realized heritability pooled across lines and replicates was 0.18 ± 0.02 (0.15 ± 0.03 for high nesting scores and 0.23 ± 0.04 for low nesting scores), or 0.28 ± 0.05 when adjusted for within-family selection. Across the 15 generations and the entire experiment, average body weight and number of infertile matings increased, while average litter size decreased, although these changes were not consistent across lines. Inbreeding could account for average decreases in the fertility traits, but there was also a correlated response to selection, since both high lines showed increased litter size and decreased infertile matings.

scholarly journals Relationships between litter size, sex ratio and within-litter birth weight variation in a sow herd and consequences on weaning performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Titus J Zindove ◽  
Tonderai Mutibvu ◽  
Andrew C Shoniwa ◽  
Erica L Takaendesa
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Regression Procedure ◽  
Weight Variation ◽  
Selection For

Abstract Routine selection for litter size has resulted in increase in the proportion of lightweight piglets. There is a need to balance prolificacy with litter uniformity in order to maximise profit. A total of 3 465 piglets from 310 litter records obtained from 2016 until 2019 at the Pig Industry Board research unit, Arcturus, Zimbabwe, were used to determine the relationships between litter size, sex ratio and within-litter birth weight variation in the sow herd and consequences on performance at weaning. The regression procedure of SAS was used to determine the relationships between litter size, sex ratio and within-litter birth weight variation. The regression procedure was also used to determine the relationships between number born alive, within-litter birth weight variation, and sex ratio, and litter performance traits at weaning. Parity of sow, year and month of farrowing did not affect sex ratio (P > 0.05). The number born alive and number of piglets born had no relationship with sex ratio (P > 0.05). As the sex ratio increased, percent survival of piglets at weaning also increased linearly (P < 0.05). As the proportion of males in litters increased, within-litter birth weight variation and within-litter weaning weight variation increased reaching maximum as the proportion of males in litters approached 0.5 and then decreased onwards. As the proportion of males in litters approached 1, within-litter birth weight variation and within-litter weaning weight variation reached their least values. In conclusion, within-litter sex ratio does not vary with parity, year and month of farrowing. Within-litter weight variation is highest in litters with equal number of male and female piglets and lowest in unisex litters. This implies that production of unisex litters can help to reduce the variation in the weight of pigs at birth, weaning, and marketing which is one of the biggest economic challenges faced by pork producers.

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