Substitution of amino acids due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pattern recognition receptors leads to altered innate immunity to diseases. The present study shows extensive polymorphisms in coding sequences of TLR (TLR3, TLR1LA) and NLR (NOD1) genes compared to the RLR (MDA5, LGP2) gene. SNPs were higher in Indian chicken breeds (Ghagus and Nicobari) compared to the WLH breed. A computer simulation study revealed a neutral effect of most non-synonymous SNPs on protein function.

Genetic markers are important tools for beef cattle breeding. Our work suggests that CAPN1 genetic markers have a positive effect on meat tenderness and marbling traits, the most important meat quality traits for consumers. The associations between the genotyped SNPs in this research and meat quality traits are of potential interest to the beef industry and could lay an important foundation for the expanding panel of functional variation relevant to meat quality.

The objective of this study was to predict dairy cows' body weight from body size measurements. Body weight is an important trait for both management and breeding. Data were derived from 167 commercial Austrian dairy farms. To ensure high prediction accuracy, the use of a combination of both heart girth and belly girth is recommended if the use of scales is impossible. The large and heterogeneous data set supported a valid prediction.

Heat stress (HS) and high stocking density (HSD) can lower blood homeostasis and negatively influence the behavioral traits of animals. The objective of this study was to explore the influence of different stocking densities on the behavioral traits, blood parameters, immune responses, and stress hormones of meat ducks (Cherry valley, Anas platyrhynchos) exposed to HS. It was found that HS and HSD conditions negatively affected the behavioral traits and blood parameters of the animals.

The micronucleus (MN) test is a common tool used to evaluate cellular genetic instability at the chromosomal level. To evaluate genetic material stability in selected Canidae species, the MN test was performed. The interspecific hybrids differed from the other fox species in MN percentage. The chromosome polymorphism had little effect on genetic material stability in the blue and silver fox cells and significantly increases chromosomal damages in interspecific hybrids somatic cells.