Browsing by Author "Sneddon N"
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- ItemA frameshift-deletion mutation in Reelin causes cerebellar hypoplasia in White Swiss Shepherd dogs(John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics, 2023-10) Littlejohn MD; Sneddon N; Dittmer K; Keehan M; Stephen M; Drögemüller M; Garrick DCerebellar hypoplasia is a heterogeneous neurological condition in which the cerebellum is smaller than usual or not completely developed. The condition can have genetic origins, with Mendelian-effect mutations described in several mammalian species. Here, we describe a genetic investigation of cerebellar hypoplasia in White Swiss Shepherd dogs, where two affected puppies were identified from a litter with a recent common ancestor on both sides of their pedigree. Whole genome sequencing was conducted for 10 dogs in this family, and filtering of these data based on a recessive transmission hypothesis highlighted five protein-altering candidate variants - including a frameshift-deletion of the Reelin (RELN) gene (p.Val947*). Given the status of RELN as a gene responsible for cerebellar hypoplasia in humans, sheep and mice, these data strongly suggest the loss-of-function variant as underlying these effects. This variant has not been found in other dog breeds nor in a cohort of European White Swiss Shepherds, suggesting a recent mutation event. This finding will support the genotyping of a more diverse sample of dogs, and should aid future management of the harmful allele through optimised mating schemes.
- ItemAccess to reticulated water in late-pregnancy: impacts on ewe productivity, drinking behaviour and some physiological indicators of dehydration(Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2025-03-02) Corner-Thomas R; Stafford K; Winchester N; Kenyon P; Sneddon NThere has been industry debate regarding sheep access to waterways, although there is little information available on the impact of access to water on sheep productivity. It is theoretically possible for actively growing pasture to provide sufficient moisture to meet the daily water intake requirements of sheep. A study was conducted in the Manawatu region during winter across two years with single- (n = 40) and twin-bearing ewes (n = 40) in late-pregnancy. Ewes were restricted from accessing a reticulated water source (no water) or given access (water). Herbage moisture was 81.5 ± 0.7% and 84.8 ± 0.4% in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Of the 40 water treatment ewes, 45% and 55% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, were never observed to drink water. Packed cell volume and total protein concentrations remained within the normal range throughout each study. Ewe liveweight and BCS increased (P < 0.05) throughout the study period but did not differ between treatments except among single-bearing ewes in 2018. The litter weight of single- and twin-bearing ewes in the water and no water treatments did not differ (P > 0.05). These results suggest that under the conditions of the current study, ewes in late pregnancy did not require access to reticulated water.
- ItemApplying equineRSU and seasonal livestock correction to wider equine stud farm types(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-09-12) Chin YY; Airey H; Horne DJ; Gee EK; Back PJ; Sclater J; Rogers CW; Sneddon NTo adjust for potential overestimations in the nitrogen excretion by horses within Overseer®, a revised stock unit system has been proposed (equineRSU). These equineRSU were generated and validated using a medium-sized equine farm as a model farm. The aim of this study was to test the application of the equineRSU and seasonal stock number adjustment on a more complex farming model. Livestock numbers and management data were captured prospectively for the base property (128.8 ha) of a large multi-property commercial breeding stud (3 support properties, 556 ha total area) between June 2022 and May 2023. The monthly on-farm metabolisable energy (ME) requirement and pasture demand were deterministically modelled with both a customised feed budget using livestock class and weight or using the equineRSU and monthly adjusted stock numbers. There were multiple complex movements of horses on and off the property in the different stock classes across the year, with stock management reflecting seasonal periods of high stocking density. There was good agreement (6% variance) between actual ME demand (complex feed budget) and estimated feed demand (simplistic equineRSU model) of 4,387,187 MJ vs 4,102,770 MJ. This suggests that the equineRSU could be used on complex equine farm systems within Overseer®.
- ItemDry matter yield, nutritive value and tiller density of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass swards under grazing(New Zealand Grassland Association, 31/12/2016) Hendricks S; Donaghy D; Matthew C; Bretherton M; Sneddon N; Cosgrove G; Christensen C; Kaufononga S; Howes J; Osborne M; Taylor P; Hedley MAlternative pasture species with the potential to supply quality forage during summer feed shortages, such as tall fescue (TF), are of interest to dairy farmers. A paddock scale study was undertaken to compare performance of TF managed on a shorter rotation similar to perennial ryegrass (RG) (TF-RG) with TF managed on a longer rotation more consistent with its morphology of 4 live leaves/tiller (TF-TF), and with RG (RG-RG). Accumulated dry matter (DM) yields were similar for the three treatments. Patch grazing was observed during the first spring, with more long patches in TFTF than in either TF-RG or RG-RG. Sown-species leaf area index (LAI) was greater in TF-TF compared with TF-RG and RG-RG (2.25, 1.56 and 0.90, respectively; P<0.05). The proportions of grass weeds were higher in the TF-RG (P<0.05) compared with TF-TF and RG-RG treatments (302, 207 and 164 g/kg DM, respectively). A soil fertility gradient with distance along the paddock away from the farm race was recorded, with Olsen P declining at 0.130 mg/kg/m with distance from the farm race. Tiller density, LAI and yield of sown species and total yield sampled were all positively correlated with Olsen P. Overall, this study highlights the importance of managing TF pastures according to its specific growth habits. However, attaining longer grazing rotations under field conditions whilst trying to maintain cow intakes, is likely to continue to prove elusive.
- ItemEffect of breed and stage of lactation on the solid fat content of milk from cows milked once a day or twice a day(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-11-12) Sanjayaranj I; López-Villalobos N; Blair HT; Janssen PWM; Holroyd SE; MacGibbon AKH; Corner-Thomas R; Handcock R; Sneddon NSolid fat content at 10°C (SFC10) is an important parameter of milk fat that influences the spreadability of butter. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of breed and stage of lactation on SFC10 of milk fat from cows milked once a day (OAD) or twice a day (TAD). Milk was collected from 39 Holstein-Friesian (F), 27 Jersey (J), and 34 Holstein-Friesian × Jersey (F × J) cows from a OAD herd and 104 F and 83 F × J cows from a TAD herd in early, mid and late lactation. The SFC10 was predicted using a regression model using milk fatty acid composition. The lower the SFC10, the higher the spreadability of butter. The SFC10 was lower (P < 0.05) for F cows compared with J cows milked OAD. The SFC10 was lower (P < 0.05) for F cows compared with F × J cows milked TAD. The SFC10 was lower in early lactation compared with mid- and late lactation in both milking frequencies. This study revealed that F cow milk and early lactation milk would be suitable for making more easily spreadable butter in OAD and TAD milking. These results could be applicable in the New Zealand dairy industry if consumer preference for more easily spreadable butter increases.
- ItemMethane emissions intensity in grazing dairy cows fed graded levels of concentrate pellets(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-05-03) Bosher T; Della Rosa MM; Khan MA; Sneddon N; Donaghy D; Jonker A; Corner-Thomas R; Handcock R; Sneddon NThe current New Zealand greenhouse gas inventory predictions assume that dairy cows consume pasture only, but the use of supplemental feeds, including concentrates, on New Zealand dairy farms has increased greatly in recent decades. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of concentrates on methane (CH4) emissions in lactating dairy cows within a pastoral system. Early lactation dairy cows (n = 72) were allocated (n = 18 per treatment) to receive 0, 2, 4 and 6 kg dry matter (DM) of treatment concentrates per day during milking. The cows grazed pasture ad libitum and CH4 emissions were measured in the paddocks using automated emissions monitoring systems called ‘GreenFeed’. Gross CH4 emissions (g/d) were similar for cows across the four dietary treatments, while CH4 emissions intensity (g/kg fat and protein corrected milk production (FPCM) and milk solids production) linearly decreased with increasing concentrate inclusion in the diet (P < 0.02). The CH4 intensity decreased linearly (r2 = 0.42) and quadratically (r2 = 0.53) with increasing FPCM production.
- ItemRegression of traits-other-than-production phenotypes for cows milked once a day on estimated breeding values obtained from cows milked twice a day(The New Zealand Society of Animal Production (Inc), 2019-06-17) Sneddon N; Lopez-Villalobos N; Garrick DJ; Rocha JF; Donaghy DThe use of traits other than production (TOP) to aid selection for conformation fit-for-purpose offspring becomes more important as once-a-day (OAD) milking for whole or part season becomes more common. In 2013 Massey University Dairy 1 farm transitioned their mixed-breed herd milked twice a day (TAD) to an OAD spring-calving system. All cows on the farm were scored for 14 inspector TOP traits and four farmer-scored traits for a total of 1,163 records over five seasons (168 to 254 cows per year). The scores were adjusted for age of the cow and season. The adjusted phenotypes for all cows for each trait were then regressed on their corresponding nationally-produced TAD estimated breeding values (EBV), which had been calculated without using these phenotypes. The four farmer-scored traits had the lowest relationships with EBV. Estimates of regression coefficients near one were observed for the udder traits (udder support, rear udder, front teats, udder overall), dairy conformation and body capacity. This supports the use of national EBVs in OAD herds derived mostly from records on daughters in TAD herds.
- ItemSurvey of functional Mendelian variants in New Zealand Huntaway and Heading dog breeds(John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics, 2025-10-01) Smith F; Lopdell T; Stephen M; Henry M; Dittmer K; Hunt H; Sneddon N; Williams L; Rolfe J; Garrick D; Littlejohn MDNew Zealand (NZ) Huntaway and Heading dogs are working breeds that play active roles on farms across NZ. While these breeds are common in NZ, they are not well-known elsewhere, and little is understood about their genetic make-up. Here, we used whole genome sequencing to provide a comprehensive genomic view of 249 working dogs. As first use of this resource, we report the allele frequencies of provisionally functional variants aggregated from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) database. Of 435 “probably causal” variants, 27 segregated in our sample. Notable examples of disease variants potentially actionable for selection include those in the CUBN, CLN8, SGSH, SOD1, VWF, and VPS13B genes. These findings will enable genetic testing and selection opportunities to help improve the health and performance of future generations of these unique breeds.
- ItemThe influence of the number of lambs present on the suckling behaviour of triplet-rearing ewes at pasture(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-01-01) Corner-Thomas RA; Shanks R; Beausoleil NJ; Sneddon NThis study examined the suckling behaviour of triplet-rearing ewes for three days post-parturition. Twenty-six ewes were enrolled with 11 being observed for the entire 3-days post-lambing. The behaviour of the ewe, number of lambs present at the end of the event and the behaviour that terminated the event were recorded for each suckling event. The mean suckling event duration increased when additional lambs were present at the end of the suckling event. Ewes that had observations across all three days showed no change in the number of suckling events over time, but suckling events tended to be shorter on day 3 than on days 1 or 2. On day 1 more suckling events were terminated by the ewe walking away from her lambs than on days 2 and 3. The odds of a ewe walking away to terminate the suckling event were greater when three lambs were present compared with two. Ewes showed more inactive behaviours when more lambs were present at the end of the suckling event. The results partially supported the hypothesis that the ewe would be more likely to terminate a suckling event when three lambs were attempting to suck compared with one or two lambs.
