HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gregory, P. W. Articles by Rollins, W. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Gregory, P. W. Articles by Rollins, W. C.

Further Studies concerning Sex-Limited Genetic Infertility in Cattle^{1, 2,}

University of California, Davis³

ABSTRACT

Data from additional mating tests support earlier evidence that the type of female sterility in the California Experiment Station Jersey Herd is conditioned by an autosomal recessive gene. Additional data also support an earlier conclusion that the gene conditioning the sterility is of relatively high frequency in certain lines in the Jersey breed. While more extensive studies are needed, a sample of the sterile females investigated manifest estrous cycles that, in general, appear to be in the normal range. The cause of failure in the reproductive mechanism was not determined. Some of the eggs are capable of being fertilized and undergo cleavage. Thus, normal oogenesis meiosis and fertilization are indicated, as is zygote abortion in the late cleavage or early blastoeyst stage.

A small group of related Holstein bulls manifesting abundant libido but with greatly impaired fertility was studied. The chief characteristic of the semen I was a low concentration of spermatozoa, a high, percentage of which were malformed. The conception rate per mating of five of the bulls varied from less than 1 to less than 10 per cent; other tests indicate that the upper limit of fertility may be as high as 30 per cent. A pedigree analysis suggests that the male infertility may be conditioned by a recessive autosomal gene. The data also suggests that different genes condition the male and female infertility.

¹ This study was supported by the Kellogg Fund of the University of California for the application of genetics to farm mammals.

² The illustrations used in this report were paid for by a grant from C. M. Goethe.

³ This study is cooperative between California Agricultural Experiment Station Projects 716 and 1451. Project 1451 is in cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry, U.S.D.A. and the state experiment stations under Western Regional Project W-1 concerning Beef Cattle Breeding research.