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article

10 October 2024

By: INRAE

Data science for cattle health: innovative method reveals 33 previously invisible genetic anomalies

French cattle breeding faces a major challenge: the management of inbreeding and its corollary, the appearance of recessive genetic anomalies affecting the health and sustainability of herds. A proof-of-concept study conducted by INRAE geneticists, in partnership with the Institut de l'élevage (IDELE), ELIANCE, the 4 French veterinary schools (ENVF) and the main French breeding organizations and companies, proposes a new approach to identifying and countering these anomalies. Taking advantage of the large databases generated for cattle breeding, this method called HHED (Homozygous Haplotype Enrichment/Depletion) has been published in Genome Biology. By analyzing genomic data and the life histories of millions of cattle, the HHED method was able to detect 33 new genome regions associated with an increased risk of juvenile death and/or reduced productive life in homozygous females. One of the major discoveries was the identification of a genetic mutation in the Holstein breed responsible for the BLIRD syndrome. This syndrome, undetected for over 40 years, causes growth retardation and affects intestinal immunity. These advances offer promising prospects for improving the health and sustainability of cattle farms.
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article

10 October 2024

By: INRAE

Understanding embryo development in farmed mammals: an asset for selecting tomorrow's animals

The selection of farm animals is mainly based on so-called “reference” populations, in which we know the genetic information contained in the DNA of each animal (the genotype), as well as numerous measures of its characteristics (the phenotype). Quantifying the association between genetic and phenotypic data within reference populations then enables us to better select young animals for which we only have the genetic information.
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article

10 October 2024

By: GABI

A major article on the origin and precise dating of the domestication of Equus caballus 4200 years ago in the Don Valley.

All of the world's domesticated horses, whether racing champions or equestrian club mates, have their origins in the Don Valley in southwest Russia, but the exact chronology of their widespread integration into human societies still divides the scientific community. A study published on June 6 in the journal Nature shows that the rise of domesticated horses only began around 4,200 years ago. This date marks a new era in human history when horses revolutionized the speed of travel and exchanges between peoples. This research was coordinated by a team from the CNRS and the Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, led by Ludovic Orlando at the Centre d'anthropobiologie et de génomique de Toulouse1 , and involved 133 scientists from 113 institutions around the world.
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article

05 July 2024

By: INRAE

We inherit part of our intestinal microbiota, as demonstrated by pigs

The intestinal microbiota is a collection of billions of microorganisms that forms after birth in humans and animals. While we know that the environment, and in particular diet, has a major influence on the formation and composition of the microbiota, the influence of genetics is still debated. For the first time, scientists at INRAE have demonstrated experimentally, in pigs, that the formation of intestinal microbiota is partly heritable. They selected 2 lines of pigs for 2 types of intestinal microbiota characterized by their bacterial composition. The results, published in the journal Microbiome, show that the frequency of each type of microbiota increases from generation to generation in each line. Another finding is that, for one type of microbiota, selection favors faster growth in piglets. These results open up new prospects for taking intestinal microbiota into account in animal selection schemes for more sustainable and resilient breeding.
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article

10 October 2024

By: INRAE

Bees at the heart of transitions

Wild bees and honeybees are seeing their populations eroded by the many pressures they face. Scientists are continuing their analysis of these multiple pressures, while developing applied research to meet the need for operational solutions. New research questions emerge! Work carried out within the GABI unit shows that selection for classic beekeeping production traits and colony resilience traits is feasible under rearing conditions, and would be effective.
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Pixabay
article

07 June 2024

By: INRAE

Feed efficiency in laying hens: a helping hand from the gut microbiota?

The intestinal microbiota influences the characteristics of its host in a wide variety of ways. One of the most important roles played by the microbiota is its ability to break down feed that cannot be digested by the host itself, thus facilitating its utilization. This raises the question of the microbiota's influence on the feed efficiency (1) of farm animals. INRAE researchers have published a study in the journal Scientific Reports showing the existence of a relationship between the composition and function of this microbiota and the feed efficiency of laying hens.
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article

06 June 2024

By: GABI

14th International Havemeyer Foundation Horse Genome Workshop a great success

The 14th Havemeyer Horse Genome Workshop was held from May 12 to 15, 2024 at the University of Caen, bringing together an international community of 110 people to share scientific results on the horse genome. A resounding success that will undoubtedly raise the international profile of INRAE, the GABI unit, LABÉO, the city of Caen and the Normandy region.
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INRAE Médiathèque C. Maître
article

30 April 2024

By: INRAE

Animal health and welfare: a new European research partnership targets unprecedented societal, economic and political impact

The European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW) is by far the most ambitious research and innovation initiative funded by the European Commission to control infectious animal diseases and promote animal welfare.
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C. Pichoux (Workflow des différentes étapes nécessaires à la mise en œuvre de la CLEM)
article

19 April 2024

By: GABI

Development of a new approach to correlated optical and electron microscopy

The MIMA2 platform's Cellular Ultrastructure Unit (CUP) has specifically developed a method for preserving animal tissue and arterial cell morphology, as well as signal preservation.
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article

16 April 2024

By: GABI

SOCS2 mutation induces structural and functional changes in mammary gland development.

Lactation is an essential process for mammals. In sheep, the R96C mutation in the SOCS2 (Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 2) protein is associated with higher milk production and increased susceptibility to mastitis. To understand the involvement of the R96C mutation in mammary gland development and lactation, we developed a mouse model carrying this mutation (SOCS2KI/KI).
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Photothèque INRAE porcelet
article

16 April 2024

By: GABI

Effects of genetic variants on gene regulation in pigs

Understanding the molecular bases controlling complex traits in livestock is essential for optimizing genetic selection methods and thus improving breeding.
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@INRAE Mathilde Dupont-Nivet (Truites arc-en-ciel)
article

08 March 2024

By: GABI

Selection and dynamics of genetic diversity in rainbow trout

Any animal or plant population, wild or domesticated, evolves through continuous and cumulative changes over time, based on various evolutionary forces, namely selection, genetic drift, mutation and migration, with relative effects that depend on population history and structure. The footprints left along the genome by these evolutionary processes may correspond to positive selection of favorable alleles, resulting in highly homozygous regions with low genetic diversity, or, on the contrary, to balancing selection phenomena enabling regions to be maintained in a heterozygous state and thus with high genetic diversity.
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@INRAE M. Dupont-Nivet
article

22 March 2024

By: INRAE

Select trout that are more resistant to heat waves

Climate change is already causing, and will continue to cause, more and more heat waves. These heat waves have a negative effect on water quality in aquaculture farms: higher temperatures and lower levels of available oxygen in the water. Technical solutions are available to limit these sometimes rapid and severe variations in temperature and oxygenation in trout farms, but they are often costly. Selecting animals that can withstand these heat waves is therefore a promising way of coping with the impact of climate change. Scientists at INRAE, in collaboration with SYSAAF (the French poultry and aquaculture breeders' association) and two French trout breeding companies, have studied the feasibility of breeding for resistance to hyperthermia (exposure to high temperatures) and/or hypoxia (exposure to reduced oxygen levels).
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article

26 February 2024

By: INRAE

Prestigious AAAS award for the study of ancient DNA in Native American horses

The prestigious Newcomb Cleveland 2024 prize awarded for a publication on the ancient DNA of horses bred and used by indigenous peoples of the North American plains, published in the journal Science in 2023. An interdisciplinary team of American Indian and Western scientists, coordinated by Ludovic Orlando (CNRS Toulouse) and William Timothy Treal Taylor (University of Colorado), has been selected to receive the Newcomb Cleveland 2024 Award (AAAS) for their work on the genetic origins of the first horses bred and used by the indigenous peoples of the North American plains.
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article

12 February 2024

By: CRB-Anim

Exploring genetic diversity: New indicators proposed for animal cryobanks

This study, published in the Animal Science section of the Peer Community Journal, proposes an analytical framework and indicators for the evaluation of cryopreserved animal collections for the conservation of genetic diversity. These indicators can be calculated at regular intervals to help plan and manage these collections at national and international levels, and to help population managers exploit the resources currently available. This analytical framework has been applied to the French national cryobank.
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article

05 February 2024

By: INRAE

INRAE researchers competition: two positions open at GABI

Would you like to use your motivation and skills to answer ambitious research questions in animal genetics? Then join us!
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article

25 January 2024

By: PH

Understanding pig embryo development: an asset for breeding tomorrow's animals

In a study published in Genomics, scientists from the UMR Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative - GABI (INRAE/AgroParisTech/UPSaclay, Jouy-en-Josas) have characterized the transcriptome of 35,000 embryonic cells derived from pig embryos between 5 and 11 days after fertilization. They were able to identify new sub-populations of embryonic cells, both for the secretion of molecules required for implantation, such as those expressing interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), and a population of stem cells expressing LRP2, which will subsequently contribute to the development of the embryonic placenta.
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@INRAE
article

15 December 2023

By: INRAE

Evaluating functional longevity in dairy cows

Among the traits selected for dairy cows, functional longevity - i.e. the cumulative length of time a cow produces milk - occupies a special place: it reflects her contribution to the profitability of the herd, as well as her well-being. Of course, this is only known at the end of a cow's career. But longevity can be partially predicted from the traits that impact it, such as fertility or mammal health and morphology.
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race bovine Charolaise
article

08 December 2023

By: INRAE

International collaboration identifies new genes influencing beef production

Beef currently accounts for 21% of the world's meat consumption, ranking third after poultry and pork. It therefore plays a crucial role in the global food system, with great economic and cultural importance in many countries. However, its production has a high environmental impact, mainly due to greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. To reconcile the growing demand for meat with the need to reduce its ecological footprint, it is imperative to adopt more sustainable practices.
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article

08 December 2023

By: INRAE

M2 PRIAM: a joint INRAE-AgroParisTech dynamic

Researchers and teacher-researchers from the GABI unit run the Master 2 Predictive and Integrative Animal Biology (PRIAM) program. Over the next few years, their ambition is to make the necessary thematic adaptations to ensure that the training offered remains as close as possible to the expectations and challenges of animal genetics research and its applications in the context of the agroecological transition of livestock farming and adaptation to climate change.
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article

01 December 2023

By: PH

A new method for detecting and quantifying the transgenerational transmission of environmental effects to help animals adapt to tomorrow's farming conditions

In a study published in Genetic Selection Evolution, researchers from the BIGE team (Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative - GABI, INRAE/AgroParisTech/UPSaclay, Jouy-en-Josas) have proposed a new model identifying the transmission of environmental effects based on the analysis of phenotypes and pedigrees.
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