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Prevalencia e inserciĆ³n del gen de fecundidad FecB (Booroola) para el mejoramiento de la productividad de ovinos criollos en Puerto Rico

Cordero Arbelo, GĆ©nesis
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Abstract
In sheep, prolificacy is determined by lambs per lambing, which is directly related to the ovulation rate. In Puerto Rico, criollo ewes commonly produce single parturitions which is a valid reason to introduce fecundity genes such as the FecB (Booroola) to improve the sustainability of the ovine industry. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the presence of the Booroola gene in the local flocks and to introduce the gene in the criollo flocks. Blood samples (279 criollos, 123 Katahdin, 58 Dorper, 24 Royal White, 2 Pelibuey and 1 Barbados Blackbelly) were collected from ewes in 15 local flocks (6 agricultural regions and 10 municipalities) to determine the presence of the gene. Samples were shipped to a commercial laboratory in the US (Gene Check, Colorado, USA) to identify the following genotypes: homozygote (BB), heterozygote (B+) or wild type (++), by PCR-RFLP. Flocks sampled around the island were all wild type. Two known FecB (B+) carrier rams (Dorset x Ile de France) were acquired from a commercial farm (Tamarack Lamb & Wool, Minnesota, USA) for the second phase of the experiment. Two breeding seasons were designed, the first with a group of 20 non-carrier criollo ewes (criollo x Dorper) with one of the FecB carrier rams (0051C), in a 54-day season. Attached to the chest of the ram was a harness with a crayon to mark when they served the ewes. The number of ewes served, and pregnancy rates were 80% (N = 16) and 44% (N = 7), respectively, and 71% of the lambingā€™s were twins (N = 5). Blood samples showed that 70% of the lambs (N = 7) were heterozygous carriers of the FecB gene (B+) and 30% were non-carriers (N = 3). Thirty (30) criollo ewes were used for the second breeding trial, in a 34-day breeding season, with the two carrier rams (0020M & 0051C), for a total of 15 ewes per ram. The rams mated 100% of the ewes, and the pregnancy rates were 87% (N = 13) for the 0020M and 93% (N = 14) for the 0051C. There were two cases of abortion, one for each group. After the lambing season, blood samples showed that the offspring of 0020M (N = 12) were 50% heterozygous carriers (N = 6) and the ones from 0051C (N = 19) 42.1% were heterozygous carriers (N = 8). This breeding trial (0051C) produced 6 twin lambingā€™s (46.1%). The results of this experiment demonstrate a positive effect of introducing the FecB gene as shown by the incidence of twins in the local criollo non-carrier ewes and the high incidence of the gene in the progeny. The high heritability of the gene in these trials is a potential tool for the improvement of reproductive performance on the local flocks and motivates continued research with the FecB gene. Also, the resulting offspring (F1) can be further studied to observe additive effects on the ovulation rate and litter size with breeding seasons where both parentals are known carriers of the gene.
La prolificidad en ovinos es mayormente determinada por la cantidad de crĆ­as al nacer, lo cual, en parte, es el resultado de la tasa de ovulaciĆ³n. En Puerto Rico, las ovejas criollas tienen mayormente partos simples; por lo que, la inserciĆ³n de genes ligados o con efecto en la prolificidad, como el gen de fecundidad FecB (Booroola), es vital para mejorar la sustentabilidad de la industria ovina local. Los objetivos de este experimento fueron determinar la prevalencia del gen de Booroola en los rebaƱos ovinos de la isla e introducir el gen en ovinos criollos. Para determinar la prevalencia del gen se muestrearon 487 ovinos (criollos = 279, Katahdin = 123, Dorper = 58, Royal White = 24, Pelibuey = 2 y Barbados Blackbelly = 1) en 15 fincas localizadas en 6 regiones agrĆ­colas y 10 municipios de la isla. Se recolectaron muestras de sangre de cada animal para identificar su genotipo [homocigotos (BB) o heterocigotos (B+) o no portadores (++)] mediante la secuenciaciĆ³n del ADN en un laboratorio comercial (Gene Check en Colorado, Estados Unidos). No se identificaron ovinos portadores del gen en todos los ejemplares muestreados en Puerto Rico. Por tal razĆ³n, se importaron dos carneros (cruce Dorset con Ile de France) portadores heterocigotos conocidos de la mutaciĆ³n adquiridos en una finca comercial (Tamarack Lamb & Wool en Minnesota, Estados Unidos). Para la inserciĆ³n del gen Booroola en rebaƱos locales, se empadronĆ³ un grupo de 20 ovejas criollas mejoradas (criollo x Dorper) con uno de los carneros importados portador conocido heterocigoto del gen. Se utilizĆ³ una Ć©poca de empadronamiento de 54 dĆ­as, donde se obtuvo un 80% de monta (N = 16) y 44% de preƱez (N = 7). El 71% de los partos fueron gemelos (N = 5). Luego del procesamiento y anĆ”lisis de las pruebas de sangre se obtuvo un 70% de corderos portadores heterocigotos de la mutaciĆ³n (N = 7) y un 30% no portador (N = 3). Para el segundo experimento, se utilizaron 30 hembras criollas con los dos carneros (0020M y 0051C), divididas 15 hembras por carnero en una Ć©poca de empadronamiento de 34 dĆ­as. Se obtuvo un 100% de monta para cada padrote, y una preƱez de 87% (N = 13) y 93% (N = 14), para 0020M y 0051C, respectivamente, donde solo surgiĆ³ un caso de aborto para cada uno de los padrotes. Las crĆ­as F1 del carnero 0020M (N = 12) resultaron en un 50% portadores heterocigotos (N = 6), mientras que las del segundo carnero 0051C (N = 19), el 42.1% de las crĆ­as heredaron de forma heterocigota el gen FecB (N = 8). El 46.1% de los partos del carnero 0051C fueron gemelos (N = 6) y el restante, partos simples. Los resultados de este estudio han demostrado el efecto positivo de la inserciĆ³n de este gen sobre la incidencia de gemelos en la oveja criolla local y su inserciĆ³n de forma natural en corderos. Se ha podido demostrar la alta heredabilidad del gen en los cruces estudiados y aportan un ambiente propicio para continuar el estudio sobre su efecto en la prolificidad ovina en la industria local. AdemĆ”s, a partir de esta progenie se podrĆ”n observar los efectos aditivos del gen en cuanto a la tasa ovulatoria y al promedio de crĆ­as por parto al cruzar ambos parentales portadores heterocigotos de FecB con la progenie F1 portadores del gen.
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2023-05-11
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Keywords
Booroola, Reproduction, Sheep, Ovinos, Mejoramiento genƩtico
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