The Rural Voice, 2000-11, Page 14Scrap Book
DNA researchers seek heritage of rare horses
In case modern horses ever need a
quick dose of genetic variability,
researchers at University of Guelph
are using DNA technology to
investigate the genetic backgrounds of
Canadian horse breeds and track down
some of their distant ancestors.
Researcher Anouk Behara, working
with Prof. John Gibson, Centre for
Genetic Improvement of Livestock
and Dave Coiling of Maxxam Equitest
Inc., has begun to investigate a few of
Canada's horse breeds: the cheval
(known as the "Canadian"), and two
ponies, the Newfoundland, a sturdy
all-purpose breed and the Lac
LaCroix, used originally for riding by
some aboriginal Canadians. The
Canadian had dwindled until there
were only about 400 Left in the 1970s
but numbers have since increased to
3,000. There are still only about 200
Newfoundland and 32 Lac LaCroix
today. As genetic variation decreases,
it becomes increasingly likely that
heritable diseases will increase within
the population.
By looking at DNA samples from
these horses and comparing their
variability to those of 11 common
North American breeds such as the
Quarterhorse and the Thoroughbred,
Behara found that the Canadian and
Newfoundland have healthy and
acceptable levels of genetic variation.
The Lac LaCroix pony, however,
seems to have a more limited genetic
basis, although inbreeding is not yet a
major problem.
If a problem ever does arise,
Behara has proposed a strategy: find
the breeds that are most closely related
to the endangered group, minimize the
genetic severity of the combination,
and hopefully make as small a change
in the new generation as possible.
To this end, Behara compared the
DNA of the Canadian to those of other
breeds, including both North
American and European descent. She
discovered that a French breed, the
Trotteur Francais, is the closest
relative. One North American breed
— the Morgan — also stood out as a
close cousin. Although the Canadian
is presently thriving on its own, these
two related breeds seem to be the best
choice for cross breeding purposes if a
"genetic emergency" should ever
arise.°
—Source: Centre for Genetic
Improvement in Livestock
Update 2000
New meat probe helps improve quality
The odds of choosing tasty meats at the grocery store could soon be improved
thanks to a connective tissue (CT) probe that will be able to predict meat quality
for tenderness and flavour.
Previously, the probe determined only the toughness level of meat by
measuring connective tissue content — the protein matrix of meat that gives it its
structure, holds moisture and influences toughness. Now the probe is getting a
new use.
"There are many attributes that affect the tenderness of meat, so concentrating
on connective tissue isn't enough," says animal scientist Bethany Uttaro who is
refining the device with its inventor Howard Swatland of the University of
Guelph's Animal and Poultry Science program.
"Once the CT probe can determine other meat properties, its role in the meat
industry will be crucial," Uttaro said.
The potential use for the CT probe is to relate tenderness, juiciness, flavour
and meat colour characteristics. Stress before slaughter causes meat to become
light and tough when cooked; exhaustion causes it to be tough and dark. Uttaro's
goal is to measure carcass colouring to estimate meat toughness and flavour.
This could also contribute to lessening variation within grading categories.
The probe works by shining a stream of ultraviolent light onto a meat sample
to make the connective tissue fluoresce. Reading the amount of fluorescence
allows researchers to analyze the number and structure of tissues and predict its
toughness, grade and market destination.°
— Source: University of Guelph Research magazine
10 THE RURAL VOICE
Alberta study says
earthen lagoons
safer than concrete
In a study that would be sure to
open a can of worms here in
Ontario, an Alberta researcher
claims manure is less likely to seep
out of earthen lagoons than
concrete tanks.
"Earthen storages are a viable
alternative as a liquid manure
storage method," said Bill
MacMillan, the lead researcher on
an Alberta Agriculture study. His
team investigated 35 hog manure
storage ponds in Alberta with a
special tool that indicates seepage.
It found four with small leaks.
While all were seeping, MacMillan
emphasized that the seepage was
minimal. The small amounts of
seepage resulted partially from
layers of sand within the soil mass.
MacMillan said earthen storage
is the best way to go.
"But they should undergo a site
investigation by a professional,
either a geologist or engineer," he
said.
Because of the inability to
completely characterize the sub-
surface of the ground, all earthen
storages should probably be lined
with clay or a synthetic,
MacMillan said.
Robert Borg, an agricultural
engineer with the Alberta
government worked with
MacMillan on the study. Farmers
might think the natural sealing
action of manure would be good
enough protection, he said, but
"We cannot rely on the natural
sealing action. We should rely on
good site selection and good
lagoon design."
"The big question that people
have right now, is how safe in the
long-term is earthen manure
storage protecting the ground
water?" Borg said. Ground water
contamination can be avoided with
proper site selection, good
engineering design and proper use
of clay several feet deep, he
claimed.°
— Source: Western Producer
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