Roswitha Baumung - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Roswitha Baumung

Animal Genetics, Dec 14, 2015

Preservation of specific and inheritable phenotypes of current or potential future importance is ... more Preservation of specific and inheritable phenotypes of current or potential future importance is one of the main purposes of conservation of animal genetic resources. In this review, we investigate the issues behind the characterisation, utilisation and conservation of rare phenotypes, considering their multiple paths of relevance, variable levels of complexity and mode of inheritance. Accurately assessing the rarity of a given phenotype, especially a complex one, is not a simple task, because it requires the phenotypic and genetic characterisation of a large number of animals and populations and remains dependent of the scale of the study. Once characterised, specific phenotypes may contribute to various purposes (adaptedness, production, biological model, aesthetics, etc.) with adequate introgression programmes, which justifies the consideration of (real or potential) existence of such characteristics in in situ or ex situ conservation strategies. Recent biotechnological developments (genomic and genetic engineering) will undoubtedly bring important changes to the way phenotypes are characterised, introgressed and managed.

Livestock Science, Oct 1, 2007

The effects of litter and dam inbreeding on the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and on the ges... more The effects of litter and dam inbreeding on the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and on the gestation length (GL) were analyzed for 39,798 Hungarian Landrace (141,397 records) and 70,356 Hungarian Large White (246,961 records) sows. Bivariate repeatability animal models were used, applying a Bayesian approach. Differences in pedigree completeness (complete generation equivalents) were accounted for. Litter and dam inbreeding effects (per 10% inbreeding) on the NBA resulted in negative regression coefficients for Hungarian Landrace (−0.162 to −0.047 and −0.203 to −0.042) and Hungarian Large White (−0.231 to −0.100 and −0.282 to −0.111) populations. The litter inbreeding increased the GL for Hungarian Landrace and Hungarian Large White populations, but the magnitude of the effect was less then 0.01 days per 10% inbreeding. The effects of dam inbreeding on GL were negligible.

Biotechnology offers powerful tools for the management of livestock genetic diversity. Genomics, ... more Biotechnology offers powerful tools for the management of livestock genetic diversity. Genomics, bioinformatics, reproductive technologies and tools for cryopreservation of germplasm are particularly important. These biotechnologies have undergone notable advancements in recent years. Developing capacities and sharing expertise are two ways by which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports its member nations. For these reasons, FAO has drafted two new guidelines, on: (1) genomic characterization; and (2) cryoconservation. The guidelines update previous versions from the early 2010s by providing information on exploitation of relevant recent biotechnological developments. They were prepared in collaboration with: (1) members of the International Society for Animal Genetics; and (2) partners of the IMAGE research consortium, including NordGen. The guidelines were written by teams of scientific experts and reviewed by FAO Member Nations. Draft versions are already available online and the finalized guidelines will be released during 2022.

Journal of Animal Science, Dec 1, 2016

IntroductIon Animal genetic resources (AnGr) reflect the adaptation of agricultural production to... more IntroductIon Animal genetic resources (AnGr) reflect the adaptation of agricultural production to different environments and human needs. The diversity of these resources (breeds, species, genes, and alleles) allows livestock to provide a wide range of products and services, to offer opportunities to meet future market demands, and to ensure the capacity to adapt to changes in production environments (Oldenbroek, 2007). At the population

Journal of Animal Science, Apr 1, 2010

Demographic history, current status, and efficiency of the mating strategy were analyzed using th... more Demographic history, current status, and efficiency of the mating strategy were analyzed using the pedigree of Pannon White (PW) rabbits born between 1992 and 2007. Potential accumulation of detrimental effects and loss of genetic diversity were also considered. Calculations and estimates were done most often for rabbits born in 2007, whereas other reference populations (REFPOPXXXX) were specified explicitly. The pedigree contained 4,749 individuals and 580 founders, and its completeness was 82.1% up to 10 and 94.5% up to 5 generations, respectively. Generation intervals through different pathways averaged 1.2 yr. When adjusted to the pedigree completeness, the amount of inbreeding (F i) of rabbits was comparable (5.54%) with that of other livestock populations, whereas the 10 (30) founders contributing the most to inbreeding explained a large part of the population inbreeding [i.e., 42.24% (73.18%)]. The ancestral inbreeding coefficient of REF-POP2004 (10.67%) was one-half that of REFPOP2007 (20.66%), showing its strong dependence on pedigree length. Family variance, inbreeding, and realized effective population size were 84.18 (REFPOP2006; this variable could not be calculated for the last year examined), 37.19, and 91.08, respectively. The effective numbers of ancestors, founders, and founder genomes were 48, 26, and 7.33, respectively. Although the circular mating scheme applied was generally effective, the large accumulated reduction in genetic variability indicates the need to revise and improve the current breeding strategy.

Animal, 2019

Conservation of animal genetic resources requires regular monitoring and interventions to maintai... more Conservation of animal genetic resources requires regular monitoring and interventions to maintain population size and manage genetic variability. This study uses genealogical information to evaluate the impact of conservation measures in Europe, using (i) data from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) and (ii) a posteriori assessment of the impact of various conservation measures on the genetic variability of 17 at-risk breeds with a wide range of interventions. Analysis of data from DAD-IS showed that 68% of national breed populations reported to receive financial support showed increasing demographic trends, v. 51% for those that did not. The majority of the 17 at-risk breeds have increased their numbers of registered animals over the last 20 years, but the changes in genetic variability per breed have not always matched the trend in population size. These differences in trends observed in the different metrics might be explained by the tensions between inter...

Reproduction in Domestic Animals, Jan 18, 2011

Using pedigree data, the inbreeding coefficients of 715 Austrian dual-purpose Simmental (Fleckvie... more Using pedigree data, the inbreeding coefficients of 715 Austrian dual-purpose Simmental (Fleckvieh) bulls stationed in two artificial insemination (AI) centres in Upper and Lower Austria were calculated and incorporated in statistical models for the analysis of semen quality. Five semen quality parameters (volume, concentration, motility, number of spermatozoa per ejaculate and percentage of viable spermatozoa) of approximately 30,000 ejaculates, used in two separate data sets, were investigated. The mixed model included the fixed effects age class of the bull, bull handler, semen collector, month and year of collection, number of collection per bull and day, time interval since last collection, the linear continuous effect of the inbreeding coefficient of the bull, interactions between age class and month, and age class and interval since last collection, respectively, as well as the random effect of the bull and the random residual effect. Non-linear effects of inbreeding were significant for motility only. Despite the quite low inbreeding coefficients (mean 1.3%), all semen quality traits showed inbreeding depression, in four of the five traits significantly in at least one of the data sets. The magnitude of inbreeding depression was small, which might partly be caused by the low inbreeding levels and a potential pre-selection of the bulls in the AI centres. However, monitoring of inbreeding depression on fertility traits is recommended to avoid unrecognized deterioration of such traits.

Animal Welfare

The aim of this study was a comparison of Animal Needs Index (ANI) data, derived from annual insp... more The aim of this study was a comparison of Animal Needs Index (ANI) data, derived from annual inspections by a control agency, with data collected from 164 selected on-farm flocks concerning feather damage, injuries, egg production, mortality, bodyweight, foot pad dermatitis, keel bone deviations and reactions towards humans (eg flock showed marked avoidance when the observer walked through the hen-house [yes/no]).Analysis of data showed a low number of significant correlations with total ANI scores and category scores: 1) Locomotion, 2) Social interaction, 3) Flooring, 4) Light, air and noise and 5) Stockmanship. Correlations found were low and total ANI score showed only a positive correlation with egg production at week 52. Category 3 scores correlated positively with egg production at week 70 and negatively with the percentage of hens with featherless areas and total pecking injuries. Category 5 scores showed positive correlations with egg production at week 52 as well as week 70...

Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2015

Generally, all traits of economic importance should be included in the breeding goal of livestock... more Generally, all traits of economic importance should be included in the breeding goal of livestock breeding programmes. The main aim of this study was to examine economic values for a combination of dairy and meat traits of the dual purpose Bardhoka (BAR), Balusha (BAL), Sharri (SHA) and Kosova (KOS) sheep breeds in Kosovo. The underlying herd model is based on a deterministic approach considering a sheep flock with milk production, lamb fattening and replacement stock. In order to examine the economic impact for different sheep breeds, the production traits considered were milk (milk yield) and fattening (daily gain). For each lactation cycle among the breeds the main revenues resulted from selling milk (€ 61.82/46.03/26.37/27.22) and fattened lambs (€ 34.06/39.88/35.42/33.92) for BAR/BAL/ SHA/KOS, respectively. For BAR and BAL the economic value per average ewe place and year was € 37.7 for both breeds, while for SHA and KOS it was € 35.1 and € 32.5, respectively. For lamb fattening, daily gain was found to have the highest economic value at € 7.00 for BAL, SHA and KOS, while for BAR it was € 6.67. The relative economic values for milk yield and daily gain for BAR,

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 1997

Animal Reproduction Science, 2006

Twenty-one of the world's prolific sheep breeds and strains were tested for the presence of the F... more Twenty-one of the world's prolific sheep breeds and strains were tested for the presence of the FecB mutation of BMPR1B and the FecX I mutation of BMP15. The breeds studied were Romanov (2 strains), Finn (2 strains),

Genetic diversity, population structure and subdivision of local Balkan pig breeds in Austria,

Global Food Security, 2020

Importation of livestock genetic resources from industrialized countries for introgression of spe... more Importation of livestock genetic resources from industrialized countries for introgression of specific traits and other forms of crossbreeding is often indicative of a shift in production systems toward greater intensification and specialization. In developing countries, imported genetic resources are regarded as both a solution to improve the performance of local livestock and as one of the main threats to local populations. Using international databases, censuses and technical reports, we investigate ongoing trends and consequences of these two phenomena in 40 countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America. In these countries, the share of locally adapted breeds within species has decreased by an average of 0.76% per year over the last 20 years. The corresponding increase has been distributed between pure exotic breeds and crossbred animals, with differences across regions. In several countries, increased utilization of exotic cattle breeds and crossbreeding has been accompanied by a trend in increased milk yield per cow. The shift from local genetic resources to crossbred and exotic animals must be considered in the context of challenges such as food security, erosion of agrobiodiversity, interactions with other agricultural production, reduction of poverty and provision of ecosystem services, as well as resilience to and mitigation of climate change.

Conservation Genetics Resources, 2019

Different methods and formulae have been suggested to estimate effective population size based on... more Different methods and formulae have been suggested to estimate effective population size based on pedigree data. These methods vary in their sensitivity to various sources of bias related to heterogenous pedigree knowledge or pedigree structure. We propose here to adapt a pre-existing method estimating coancestry rate for the specific purpose of monitoring genetic variability within livestock and captive populations. Coancestry rate is computed by averaging coancestries between pairs of individuals corrected by their equivalent numbers of generations, while restricting pedigree information to a maximum number of generations. Simulation demonstrated that restricting the number of generations allows a much clearer observation of the impact of recent events on genetic variability. Restricting the number of generations for the calculation of coancestry also has less bias related to incomplete pedigree, although it may overestimate effective population size due to non-independence in family sizes across generations. This strategy was tested on the Norwegian Nordland Lyngen horse, the Colblood Trotter horse, the French Avranchin sheep, and Bresse chicken, illustrating the applications of the approach for the monitoring of genetic variability.

Livestock Science, 2017

The sustainability of activities related to animal genetic resources (AnGR) management depends la... more The sustainability of activities related to animal genetic resources (AnGR) management depends largely on the participation of a range of stakeholders, both public and private. In this study, we investigated factors explaining differences in stakeholder involvement in AnGR management across countries, based on an historical perspective and an analysis of the 128 official country reports provided during preparation of The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Results of principal component analyses indicated that countries differed in the involvement of stakeholders in AnGR management, generally with greater involvement of livestock breeders and their organizations in developed countries. Developing countries tended to be divided into two groups, those with little involvement by stakeholders and those with high involvement by government/research organizations. Depending on the country, the involvement of government/research organizations versus breeders/livestock keepers organizations and commercial companies also differed, which could be linked to some extent to their historical background. The level of involvement of breeders 'associations or cooperatives was positively correlated (r=0.68) to the general extent of AnGR activities within the country. Our results underline the importance of involving breeders and livestock keepers in the development of management activities, while public support is required as well, especially in the early stages of capacity development. In developing countries, development policies relative to AnGR management should therefore seek to promote coordination among livestock keepers through creation and empowerment of cooperatives, associations or community-based approaches.

Biodiversity, 2015

In September 2007, the international community adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genet... more In September 2007, the international community adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources to ensure that the world’s livestock biodiversity is utilised to enhance global food security and remains available to future generations. The Global Plan includes 23 strategic priorities for action grouped into four priority areas: characterisation and monitoring; sustainable use and development; conservation; and policies, institutions and capacity-building. The main responsibility for implementing the Global Plan lies with national governments. Progress in the implementation of the Global Plan is monitored using two types of indicators. Process indicators are used to describe the extent to which the actions set out in the Global Plan have been implemented. Resource indicators are used to describe the state of animal genetic diversity itself and therefore the impact of the Global Plan. The indicators contribute to the measurement of progress towards Aichi Biodiversity Targets 13 (maintenance of genetic diversity), 7 (sustainable management of agriculture, aquaculture and forestry) and 4 (sustainable production and consumption). Information on the implementation of the Global Plan is obtained regularly from a number of sources, namely: national governments; regional networks; and international governmental and non-governmental organisations; as well as from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). Information from countries, regions and international organisations is drawn together and reported to the governing bodies of the Food and Agriculture Organization. The paper describes the monitoring system, its contribution to the measurement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 13, 7 and 4 and the state of implementation of the Global Plan at international and regional levels.

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2010

Organic milk production aims at efficient use of home-grown feeds, especially forages, to minimis... more Organic milk production aims at efficient use of home-grown feeds, especially forages, to minimise the quantity of purchased feeds. In conventional agriculture, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is known for its high energy content and palatability, and the aim of the present study was to examine its suitability as feed for organic dairy cows. Therefore a feeding trial was conducted comparing a diet including 50% (of silage dry matter (DM)) of Italian ryegrass silage with a control diet based on grass/clover silage (a mixture of the second cut from permanent grassland and the second cut from a perennial clovergrass ley) alone. Inclusion of Italian ryegrass silage in the diet increased forage intake significantly (14.5 vs 13.4 kg DM in the control group) and concentrate intake did not differ, but milk yield was slightly lower (20.3 vs 21.0 kg) owing to the low energy and protein concentration of Italian ryegrass silage. Italian ryegrass was indeed found to be highly palatable, confirming in principle its suitability as feed for organic dairy cows. However, higher energy and protein concentrations in this forage would be necessary to translate the high intakes of Italian ryegrass silage into improved milk production as well.