Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T16:36:59.929Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Genetics of fibre production and fleece characteristics in small ruminants, Angora rabbit and South American camelids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2010

D. Allain  and
C. Renieri
D. Allain*
Affiliation:
INRA, UR 631, Amélioration Génétique des Animaux, 31320 Castanet Tolosan, France
C. Renieri
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Science, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 95, 62024 Matelica, Italy
*
†E-mail: Daniel.allain@toulouse.inra.fr
Get access

Abstract

This paper reviews genetics of fibre production and fleece characteristics in small ruminants, Angora rabbit and South American camelids with a special distinction between single-coated (SC) and double-coated (DC) species. Considering the biology of fibre production, there are variations in coat composition and structure, fibre growth pattern and fibre structure and quality between these two main kinds of fibre-producing animals. In SC species, all fibres are nearly similar in dimensions and are produced from individual follicles that have a very long period, essentially permanent, of active growth without a synchronous phase of rest between follicles. In contrast, in DC species the fleece comprises a coarse outer coat and a fine inner coat with variations of coat composition and structure, and fibre growth pattern according to the season with a well-defined duration of fibre growth. Genetic basis of hair growth pattern, coat composition and fibre structure are different between species. In small ruminants, these coat characters are additive and because of several genes whereas in rabbit, several autosomal recessive genes determine fibre growth, coat composition and structure. In alpaca, the fleece type (Suri or Huacaya) is determined by a single dominant gene. This paper also reviews genetic parameters of fibre production traits in Angora goat, Angora rabbit and alpaca in which many aspects of the genetic basis of fibre production are analogous. There are many traits controlling both fibre quality and fibre quantity, and most of these traits tend to be moderately to strongly inherited so that a rapid genetic progress in any traits is possible and indeed has been achieved. However, there are differences in breeding programmes. In DC Angora rabbit, selection for one single trait, the easy measurable total fleece weight has general beneficial effects on fleece quality. However, because of antagonistic relations between qualitative and quantitative traits in SC species, achieving this goal requires a multi-trait selection index approach. Gene mapping studies have recently identified several putative quantitative trait loci and major genes affecting fibre and fleece characteristics in sheep, goat and rabbit are reviewed. The whole genome sequence of sheep and rabbit will be available in the near future and the use of high-density single nucleotide polymorphism chip will allow fine mapping and dissection of the genetic basis of many production traits including fibre production and fleece characteristics. The application of these techniques will thus contribute to improving the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of small ruminant and rabbit fibre production.

Keywords

hair fibre, genetics, sheep, goat, rabbit, South American camelids
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 4 , Issue 9 , September 2010 , pp. 1472 - 1481
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allain, D, Roguet, JM 2003. Genetic and non-genetic factors influencing mohair production traits within the national selection scheme of Angora goats in France. Livestock Production Science 82, 129–137.Google Scholar
Allain, D, Roguet, JM 2006. Genetic and non-genetic variability of OFDA-medullated fibre contents and other fleece traits in the French Angora goats. Small Ruminant Research 65, 217–222.Google Scholar
Allain, D, Thebault, RG, Rougeot, J, Martinet, L 1994. Biology of fibre growth in mammals producing fine fibre and fur in relation to control by daylength: relationship with other seasonal functions. In Hormonal control of fibre growth and shedding (ed. JP Laker and D Allain), pp. 23–40. European Fine Fibre Network, occasional publication no 2, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.Google Scholar
Allain, D, Lantier, I, Elsen, JM, François, D, Brunel, JC, Weisbecker, JL, Schibler, L, Vaiman, D, Cribiu, E, Gautier, A, Berthon, P, Lantier, F 1998. A design aiming at detecting QTL controlling wool traits and other traits in the Inra401 sheep line. 6th World Congress Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Armidale, NSW, Australia, pp. 51–54.Google Scholar
Allain, D, Rochambeau, Hd, Thebault, RG, Vrillon, JL 1999. The inheritance of wool quantity and live body weight in the French Angora rabbit. Animal Science 68, 441–447.Google Scholar
Allain, D, Schibler, L, Mura, L, Barillet, F, Sechi, T, Rupp, R, Casu, S, Cribiu, E, Carta, A 2006. QTL detection with DNA markers for wool traits in a sheep backcross Sarda X Lacaune resource population. 8th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, pp. 5–7. Retrieved August 18, 2006, from http://www.wcgalp8.org.br/wcgalp8/articles/paper/5_191-252.pdfGoogle Scholar
Antonini, M 2010. Hair follicle characteristics and fibre production in South American camelids. Animal 4, 1460–1471.Google Scholar
Antonini, M, Gonzales, M, Frank, E, Hick, M, Pierdominici, F, Catalano, S, Castrignano, F 2001. Cuticle cell mean scale frequency in different type of fleece of domestic South American camelids. Progress in South American Camelids Research EAAP Publication 105, 110–116. Wageningen Pers, Wageningen, NL.Google Scholar
Antonini, M, Gonzales, M, Valbonesi, A 2004. Relationship between age and postnatal skin follicular development in three types of South American domestic camelids. Livestock Production Science 90, 241–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Apaza, E, Fernandez, E 1990. Indice de herencia en alpaca. In X Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Veterinarias (ed. Asociacion Peruana de Ciencias Veterinarias), pp. 28–29. Cusco, Peru.Google Scholar
Bai, JY, Zhang, Q, Li, JQ, Dao, EJ, Jia, XP 2006. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic trends for production traits of Inner Mongolian white cashmere goat. Asian–Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 19, 13–18.Google Scholar
Baychelier, P 2000. Suri and Huacaya: two alleles or two genes? In: Proceedings of the 2000 Australian Alpaca Association National Conference, Canberra, Australia, pp. 79–85.Google Scholar
Baychelier, P 2002. What is a pure Suri? Alpacas Australia Magazine 39, 30–33.Google Scholar
Beraldi, D, McRae, AF, Gratten, J, Slate, J, Visscher, PM, Pemberton, JM 2006. Development of a linkage map and mapping of phenotypic polymorphisms in a free-living population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries). Genetics 173, 1521–1537.Google Scholar
Bidinost, F, Roldan, DL, Dodero, AM, Cano, EM, Taddeo, HR, Mueller, JP, Poli, MA 2008. Wool quantitative trait loci in Merino sheep. Small Ruminant Research 74, 113–118.Google Scholar
Blackwell, RL 1983. Evaluation and genetic improvement of sheep and goat in extensive management systems. Partners in Research: A Five Years Report of the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Program. University of California, Davis, USA, pp. 139–144.Google Scholar
Boucher, S, Thebault, RG, Plassiart, G, Vrillon, JL, Rochambeau, Hd 1996. Phenotypical description of hairless rabbits appeared in three different herds. In Proceedings of the 6th World Rabbit Congress, Toulouse, France, vol. 1, pp. 333–338.Google Scholar
Bravo, W, Velasco, J 1982. Indice de herencia del peso al nacimiento, destete y la primiera esquila en Alpacas. In Resumenes VII Congreso Nacional Ciencias Veterinarias, Ica, Peru.Google Scholar
Calle Escobar, R 1984. Animal Breeding and Production of American Camelids. Ron Hennig – Patience, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Cano, EM, Marrube, G, Roldan, DL, Bidinost, F, Abad, M, Allain, D, Vaiman, D, Taddeo, H, Poli, MA 2007. QTL affecting fleece traits in Angora goats. Small Ruminant Research 71, 158–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, HB 1943. Studies in the biology of the skin and fleece of sheep. 1. The development and general histology of the follicle group in the skin of the merinos. Bulletin (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Australia) 164, 215, 7–21.Google Scholar
Chantry-Darmon, C, Urien, C, Rochambeau, Hd, Allain, D, Pena, B, Hayes, H, Grohs, C, Cribiu, EP, Deretz-Picoulet, S, Larzul, C, Save, JC, Neau, A, Chardon, P, Rogel-Gaillard, C 2006. A first-generation microsatellite-based integrated genetic and cytogenetic map for the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and localization of Angora and albino. Animal Genetics 37, 335–341.Google Scholar
Chase, HB 1954. Growth of the hair. Physiological Reviews 34, 113–126.Google Scholar
Diribarne, M, Mata, X, Vaiman, A, Deretz, S, Auvinet, G, Cribiu, EC, Allain, D, Guérin, G 2009. Fine mapping of the “Rex” hair trait in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Plant & Animal Genomes XVII Conference, January 10–14, 2009, San Diego, CA, USA, p. P593 (Abstract). http://www.intl-pag.org/17/abstracts/P05r_PAGXVII_593.htmlGoogle Scholar
Finocchiaro, R, Portolano, B, Damiani, G, Caroli, A, Budelli, E, Bolla, P, Pagnacco, G 2003. The hairless (hr) gene is involved in the congenital hypotrichosis of Valle del Belice sheep. Genetics Selection Evolution 35, S147–S156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frank, EN, Hick, MHV, Pesarini, M, Hick, PML, Capelli, CI, Ahumada, MR 2001a. Classification of fibres of different types of fleeces in Argentine llamas. In Progress in South American camelids research (ed. M Gerken and C Renieri), pp. 251–259. EAAP Publication 105, Wageningen Pers, Wageningen, NL.Google Scholar
Frank, EN, Renieri, C, Hick, MHV, Gauna, CD, Vila Melo, JG 2001b. Segregation analysis on some coat colour phenotypes in Argentine llamas. In Progress in South American camelids research (ed. M Gerken and C Renieri), p. 43. EAAP Publication 105, Wageningen Pers, Wageningen, NL.Google Scholar
Frank, EN, Hick, MVH, Gauna, CD, Lamas, HE, Renieri, C, Antonini, M 2006. Phenotypic and genetic description of fibre traits in South American Domestic Camelids (Llamas y Alpacas). Small Ruminant Research 61, 113–129.Google Scholar
Fraser, AS 1953. A note on the growth of the rex and angora coats. Journal of Genetics 51, 237–242.Google Scholar
Galbraith, H 2010. Fundamental hair follicle biology and fine fibre production in animals. Animal 4, 1490–1509.Google Scholar
Gonzales Paredes, M, Renieri, C 1998. Propuesta de un plan de seleccion de la poblacion de alpacas en la provincia de Caylloma, Arequipa. In Actas del tercer Seminario de Camelidos Sudamericanos Domesticos y primer seminario Proyecto SUPREME (ed. E Frank E, C Renieri and JJ Lauvergne), pp. 27–38. Universidad Catolica de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina.Google Scholar
Gratten, J, Beraldi, D, Lowder, BV, McRae, AF, Visscher, PM, Pemberton, JM, Slate, J 2007. Compelling evidence that a single nucleotide substitution in TYRP1 is responsible for coat-colour polymorphism in a free-living population of Soay sheep. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274, 619–626.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hardy, MH, Lyne, AG 1956. The prenatal development of wool follicles in Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 9, 423–441.Google Scholar
Hebert, JM, Rosenquist, T, Götz, J, Martin, GR 1994. fgf5 as a regulator of the hair growth cycle: evidence from targeted and spontaneous mutations. Cell 78, 1017–1025.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hediger, R, Ansari, HA, Stranziger, GF 1991. Chromosome banding and gene localizations support extensive conservation of chromosome structure between cattle and sheep. Cytogenetic and Cell Genetic 57, 127–134; doi:10.1159/000133131Google Scholar
Henry, HM, Dodds, KG, Wuliji, T, Jenkins, ZA, Beattie, AE, Montgomery, GW 1998. A genome screen for QTL for wool traits in a merino x Romney backcross flock. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 46, 213–217.Google Scholar
Herrmann, S, Wortmann, FJ 1997. Opportunities for the simultaneous estimation of essential fleece parameters in raw cashmere fleeces. Livestock Production Science 48, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoffman, E, Fowler, ME 1995. The Alpaca book. Clay Press Inc., Herald, CA, USA.Google Scholar
Jacquin, M, Allain, D, Bouix, J, Foulquie, D, Autran, P, Bibe, B 2002. Lamb survival, coat surface temperature and growing performances in relation to birthcoat type among different genetic types raised outdoors. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Session 18, INRA, CIRAD, Montpellier, France.Google Scholar
Leon-Velarde, CU, Guerrero, J 2001. Improving quantity and quality of Alpaca fiber using a simulation model for breeding strategies. Retrieved October 4, 2005, from http://inrm.cip.cgiar.org/home/publicat/01cpb023.pdfGoogle Scholar
McDonald, BJ, Hoey, WA, Hopkins, PS 1987. Cyclical fleece growth in cashmere goats. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38, 597–609.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLaren, R, Rogers, G, Davies, K, Maddox, J, Montgomery, G 1997. Linkage mapping of wool keratin and keratin-associated protein genes in sheep. Mammalian Genome 8, 938–940.Google Scholar
Mamani, G 1991. Parametros geneticos del peso vivo y vellon en alpaca Wacaya de La Raya, Puno. (Genetic parameters of the live weight and fleece weight in Wacaya Alpacas from La Raya, Puno). In VII Convention Internationale de Especialistas en Camelidas Sudamericanes, Juyuy, Argentina.Google Scholar
Mamani, G 1995. Parametros geneticos del peso vivo y vellon en alpaca Wacaya de la puna humeda, Puno (Genetic parameters of the live weight and fleece weight in Wacaya Alpacas from dry Puna, Puno). In XVIII Reunion de Asociacion Peruana de Produccion Animal, Lambayeque, Peru, pp. 35–36.Google Scholar
Margolena, LA 1974. Mohair histogenesis, maturation and shedding in the Angora goat. Technical Bulletin 1495, United States Department of Agriculture.Google Scholar
Mulsant, P, Rochambeau, Hd, Thebault, RG 2004. A note on linkage between the Angora and fgf5 genes in rabbits. World Rabbit Science 12, 1–6.Google Scholar
Nixon, AJ, Gurnsey, MP, Betteridge, K, Mitchell, RJ, Welch, RAS 1991. Seasonal hair follicle activity and fibre growth in some New Zealand Cashmere-bearing goats (Caprus hircus). Journal of Zoology London 224, 589–598.Google Scholar
Norris, BJ, Whan, VA 2008. A gene duplication affecting expression of the ovine ASIP gene is responsible for white and black sheep. Genome Research 18, 1282–1293.Google Scholar
Novoa, C, Wilson, T 1992. The management of global animal genetic resources. FAO, Animal Production and Health 104, Rome, Italy, pp. 189–203.Google Scholar
Olarte, U, Zea, W 2001. Indices de seleccion para el mejoramiento genetico de la alpaca. Alpak’a 9, 15–24.Google Scholar
Parsons, YM, Cooper, DW, Piper, LR 1994. Evidence of linkage between high-glycine-tyrosine keratin gene loci and wool fiber diameter in a merino half-sib family. Animal Genetics 25, 105–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponz, R, Moreno, C, Allain, D, Elsen, JM, Lantier, F, Lantier, I, Brunel, JC, Pérez-Enciso, M 2001. Assessment of genetic variation explained by markers for wool traits in sheep via a segment mapping approach. Mammalian Genome 12, 569–572.Google Scholar
Ponzoni, RW, Hubbard, DJ, Kenyon, RV, Tuckwell, CD, McGregor, BA, Howse, A, Carmichael, I, Judson, GJ 1997. Phenotypes resulting from Huacaya, Suri by Huacaya and Suri by Suri alpaca crossings. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 136–139. Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetic, Dubbo, NSW, Australia. From http://www.aaabg.org/livestocklibrary/1997/AB97025.pdfGoogle Scholar
Ponzoni, RW, Grimson, RJ, Hill, JA, Hubbard, DJ, McGregor, BA, Howse, A, Carmichael, I, Judson, GJ 1999. The inheritance of and associations among some production traits in young Australian Alpacas. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 13, 468–471. Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetic, Mandurah, WA, Australia. From http://www.aaabg.org/livestocklibrary/1999/AB99111.pdfGoogle Scholar
Purvis, IW, Franklin, IR 2005. Major genes and QTL influencing wool production and quality: a review. Genetics Selection Evolution 37, S97–S107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quirita, C 1991. Estimacion de los parametros geneticos en alpaca (Lama pacos) Huacaya del Centro Experimental La Raya de la UNSAAC. Thesis, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Curso, Cusco, Peru.Google Scholar
Rafat, SA, Allain, D, Thébault, RG, Rochambeau, Hd 2007a. Divergent selection for fleece weight in French Angora rabbits: non-genetic effects, genetic parameters and response to selection. Livestock Science 106, 169–175.Google Scholar
Rafat, SA, Rochambeau, Hd, Brims, M, Thebault, RG, Deretz, S, Bonnet, M, Allain, D 2007b. Characteristics of Angora rabbit fiber using optical fiber diameter analyzer. Journal of Animal Science 85, 3116–3122. 10.2527/jas.2007-0109CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rafat, SA, Rochambeau, Hd, Thébault, RG, David, I, Deretz, S, Bonnet, M, Pena-Arnaud, B, Allain, D 2008. Divergent selection for total fleece weight in Angora rabbits: correlated responses in wool characteristics. Livestock Science 113, 8–13.Google Scholar
Renieri, C, Pacheco, C, Valbonesi, A, Frank, E, Antonini, M 2007. Programa de mejoramiento genetico en Camelidos domesticos. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Produccion Animal 15, 205–210.Google Scholar
Renieri, C, Valbonesi, A, La Manna, V, Antonini, M, Asparrin, M 2008a. Inheritance of Suri and Huacaya type of fleece in alpaca. Italian Journal of Animal Science 8, 83–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renieri, C, Valbonesi, A, La Manna, V, Antonini, M, Lauvergne, JJ 2008b. Inheritance of coat colour in Merino sheep. Small Ruminant Research 74, 23–29.Google Scholar
Robinson, R 1953. Segregation of the satin gene in the rabbit. Journal of Heredity 44, 95–96.Google Scholar
Rogers, GR, Hickford, JGH, Bickerstaffe, R 1994. Polymorphism in two genes for B2 sulphur proteins of wool. Animal Genetics 25, 407–415.Google Scholar
Roque, J, Carpio, M, Blackwell, RL 1985. Transmision hereditaria de peso vivo y longitud de mechas en alpacas (Abstract). In Resumenes V Convencion Internacional de Camelidos Sudamericanos. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Curso (UNSAAC), Cusco, Peru.Google Scholar
Rougeot, J 1961. Actions comparées des variations périodiques, annuelles et semestrielles, de la durée quotidienne de l’éclairement sur les cycles des follicules des jarres courts de la toison des brebis limousines. Relations avec leur cycle de reproduction. Annales de Biologie Animale Biochimie et Biophysique 1, 385–402.Google Scholar
Rougeot, J, Thebault, RG 1983. Variations saisonnières de la composition et la structure du pelage: exemple de la toison du lapin Angora. Annales de Zootechnie 32, 287–314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rougeot, J, Allain, D, Martinet, L 1984a. Photoperiodic and hormonal control of seasonal coat changes in mammals with special reference to sheep and mink. Acta Zoologica Fennica 171, 13–18.Google Scholar
Rougeot, J, Thebault, RG, Allain, D 1984b. The role of the compound hair follicle in seasonal adaptative pelage changes. Acta Zoologica Fennica 171, 19–21.Google Scholar
Ruiz De Castilla, M, Alagon Huallpa, G, Quirita Bejar, CR 1992. Estudio de parametros geneticos en Alpacas Huacaya. (Genetic parameter study in Alpacas Huacaya) In Informe de trabajos de investigacion en Alpacas y Llamas de color. Vol. II (genetica), pp. 1–28.Google Scholar
Ryder, ML 1973. The structure of the coat and growth cycles in wild Moufflon sheep (Ovis musimon) and their crosses. Research Veterinary Science 15, 186–196.Google Scholar
Ryder, ML 1978. Growth cycles in the coat of ruminants. International Journal of Chronobiology 5, 369–394.Google Scholar
Siva, SA, La Terza, A, Pediconi, D, Renieri, C 2008. Dominant white in Merino sheep: Mift, c-kit and Steel. 31st Conference of the International Society of Animal Genetics, July 20–24, Amsterdam, NL, Poster 2099.Google Scholar
Smit, MA, Shay, TL, Beever, JE, Notter, DR, Cockett, NE 2002. Identification of an agouti-like locus in sheep. Animal Genetics 33, 383–385.Google Scholar
Sponenberg, DP 1997. Genetics of colour and hair texture. In The Genetics of Sheep (ed. LR Piper and A Ruvinsky), pp. 51–86. CABI publishing, Wallingford, UK.Google Scholar
Sumner, RMW, Bigham, ML 1993. Biology of fibre growth and possible genetic and non-genetic means influencing fibre growth in sheep and goats: a review. Livestock Production Science 33, 1–29.Google Scholar
Taddeo, HR, Allain, D, Mueller, J, Rochambeau, Hd, Manfredi, E 1998. Genetic parameter estimates of production traits of Angora goats in Argentina. Small Ruminant Research 28, 217–223.Google Scholar
Teh, TH, Jia, ZH, Ogden, KD 1992. Comparison of cashmere down production during natural and artificial induced seasons (Abstract). In Pre Conference Proceedings Abstract of Contributory Papers (ed. RR Lokeshwar), vol.1, p. 441. BL Kansal for International Goat Association, March 2–8, New Dehli, India.Google Scholar
Vage, DI, Fleet, MR, Ponz, R, Olsen, RT, Monteagudo, LV, Tejedor, MT, Arruga, MV, Gagliardi, R, Postiglioni, A, Nattrass, GS, Klungland, H 2003. Mapping and characterization of the dominant black colour locus in sheep. Pigment Cell Research 6, 693–697.Google Scholar
Velasco, J 1980. Heredabilidades y correlaciones de peso corporal y peso del vellon en alpacas. (Heritabilities and correlations of live weight and fleece weight in Alpacas) (Abstract). In Anales de la III Reunion de Asociacion Peruana de Producion Animal (APPA). Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Woods, JL, Orwin, DFG 1988. Seasonal variations in the dimensions of individual Romney wool fibres determined by a rapid auto radiographic technique. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 311–323.Google Scholar
Wuliji, T, Davis, GH, Dodds, KG, Turner, RN, Andrews, RN, Bruce, GD 2000. Production performance, repeatability and heritability estimates for live weight, fleece weight and fiber characteristics of alpacas in New Zealand. Small Ruminant Research 37, 189–201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhou, HM, Allain, D, Li, JQ, Zhang, WG, Yu, XU 2002. Genetic parameters of production traits of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats in China. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 119, 385–390.Google Scholar