Browsing by Author "Tariq, Muhammad"

Implementation of management recommendations for the Nili-Ravi buffalo in small-and medium scale commercial dairy production systems in Pakistan is hampered by difficulties to determine body weight (BW) of the animal. A workable and reliable method of predicting BW of this breed by using body measurements and body condition scoring (BCS) was therefore explored. Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n=211) were divided into three age groups (1-3 years = G1; >3-8 years = G2; >8 years = G3). Animals were weighed on a mechanical scale and their heart girth (HG), body length (BL) and shoulder height (SH) were measured. In addition, BCS was performed using a 5 point scale. Recorded data were subjected to simple and multiple linear regression analysis. The overall mean values of BW, HG, BL, SH and BCS were 359 +/- 160.9 kg, 170 +/- 30.1 cm, 130 +/- 19.2 cm, 125 +/- 14.5 cm and 3.8 +/- 0.77. With correlation coefficients (r) of 0.97 (HG), 0.94 (BL), 0.93 (SH) and 0.43 (BCS), the relationship between the individual independent variable with BW were significant (P<0.01) in all cases. The multiple linear regression between BW and HG, BL and BCS was highly significant (P<0.001) for each of the three groups (G1: r(2) = 0.95, G2: r(2) = 0.86, G3: r(2) = 0.83). Buffalo farmers who lack mechanical or electronic scales to regularly determine BW of their animals can thus combine simple morphometric body measurements (HG, BL) with BCS or just rely on HG in order to calculate feed requirements, monitor growth, determine breeding age, marketing weight and estimate the animals' cash value. (C) 2013 PVJ. All rights reserved

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is characterized by reduced head circumference, reduction in the size of the cerebral cortex with otherwise grossly normal brain structure and variable intellectual disability. MCPH is caused by mutations of 11 different genes which code for proteins implicated in cell division and cell cycle regulation. We studied a consanguineous eight-generation family from Pakistan with ten microcephalic children using homozygosity mapping and found a new MCPH locus at HSA 7q21.11-q21.3. Sanger sequencing of the most relevant candidate genes in this region revealed a homozygous single nucleotide substitution c.589G>A in CDK6, which encodes cyclin-dependent kinase 6. The mutation changes a highly conserved alanine at position 197 into threonine (p.Ala197Thr). Post hoc whole-exome sequencing corroborated this mutation's identification as the causal variant. CDK6 is an important protein for the control of the cell cycle and differentiation of various cell types. We show here for the first time that CDK6 associates with the centrosome during mitosis; however, this was not observed in patient fibroblasts. Moreover, the mutant primary fibroblasts exhibited supernumerary centrosomes, disorganized microtubules and mitotic spindles, an increased centrosome nucleus distance, reduced cell proliferation and impaired cell motility and polarity. Upon ectopic expression of the mutant protein and knockdown of CDK6 through shRNA, we noted similar effects. We propose that the identified CDK6 mutation leads to reduced cell proliferation and impairs the correct functioning of the centrosome in microtubule organization and its positioning near the nucleus which are key determinants during neurogenesis.

Dairy farming is an important activity for many urban dwellers in Asia who serves the rapidly increasing milk demand. The major influencing factor that affects animal health, milk production and reproduction and thus overall productivity attributes of dairy animals is efficient feeding and nutritional management. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate existing husbandry practices to optimize feeding and resources use efficiency. During 12 months, data on demographic events, amounts and quality of feeds offered, milk offtake and body weight changes was collected from 15 mixed buffalo and cattle dairy herds in Faisalabad. The 15 studied farms were classified as semi-commercial small-scale mixed (SSM), semi-commercial smallscale dairy (SSD) and commercial small-scale dairy (CSD) producers. The offer of feed dry matter (DM) and crude protein differed (P<0.05) between the three farm types and the four seasons of a year. Daily offtake of fat corrected milk averaged 13.5 and 8.1 liters per buffaloes and cattle, whereby seasonal variations were only observed in buffaloes. Input of feed DM per unit of milk produced was lowest on CSD followed by SSM farms with SSD farms showing least efficient feed use. Similarly, gross margin of selling milk and occasionally live animals was higher on SSM and CSD farms than on SSD farms. It was concluded that more efficient feed utilization and thus higher gross margin from milk production could be achieved by group feeding of buffaloes and cattle, respectively, according to their physiological and productive needs.

In a large consanguineous family of Turkish origin, genome-wide homozygosity mapping revealed a locus for recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment on chromosome 14q24.3-q34.12. Fine mapping with microsatellite markers defined the critical linkage interval to a 18.7 cM region flanked by markers D14S53 and D14S1015. This region partially overlapped with the DFNB35 locus. Mutation analysis of ESRRB, a candidate gene in the overlapping region, revealed a homozygous 7 bp duplication in exon 8 in all affected individuals. This duplication results in a frame shift and premature stop codon. Sequence analysis of the ESRRB gene in the affected individuals of the original DFNB35 family and in three other DFNB35-linked consanguineous families from Pakistan revealed four missense mutations. ESRRB encodes the estrogen-related receptor beta protein, and one of the substitutions (p.A110V) is located in the DNA-binding domain of ESRRB, whereas the other three are substitutions (p.L320P, p.V342L, and p.L347P) located within the ligand-binding domain. Molecular modeling of this nuclear receptor showed that the missense mutations are likely to affect the structure and stability of these domains. RNA in situ hybridization in mice revealed that Esrrb is expressed during inner-ear development, whereas immunohistochemical analysis showed that ESRRB is present postnatally in the cochlea. Our data indicate that ESRRB is essential for inner-ear development and function. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pathogenic mutations of an estrogen-related receptor gene.

Abstract Due to climate change, irrigated agriculture may become restricted in the mountain valleys in northern Pakistan in the future. Hence, the importance of yak (Bos grunniens) keeping in the mountain ranges as risk‐mitigating strategy for mountain dwellers will potentially increase. However, little is known about the current status of the domestic yak in this region. We therefore used phenotypic characteristics and 13 microsatellite loci to determine the phenotypic differences and the level of genetic differentiation between populations of six valleys. Larger body measures and partially different physical appearance were observed in Shimshal and Khaplu yaks, especially when compared with yaks in the Chapurson valley. Overall, the mean observed heterozygosity was similar to the mean expected heterozygosity. Average genetic diversity was highest in the Hopar population and lowest in the Haramosh population. A low FIS value indicated that individuals were less related than expected under a model of random mating. Three distinct genetic clusters were found for the six yak populations under study. Genetic distances were largest between Shimshal and Khaplu populations, and lowest between populations of Phandar and Hopar. It is concluded that yaks of Shimshal, Khaplu and Haramosh valleys were genetically distinct from yak populations in Chapurson, Hopar and Phandar valleys, indicating that the free‐range conditions and pastoral yak rearing system in the region have preserved the underlying genetic diversity of the yak populations.

Qualitative and semi-quantitative data from 139 interviews with farmers in Faisalabad, Pakistan, was subjected to cluster analysis to identify homogenous groups of farms regarding production strategies, milk yields and marketing. Four distinct production systems were identified. Semi-commercial smallholder-mixed systems (SSM; 31%) combined crop and livestock production, and fodder was primarily produced for own livestock. Semi-commercial smallholder dairy producers (SSD; 21.6%) had few buffaloes and cattle and low income. Commercial smallholder dairy producers (CSD; 37.4%) were mostly well-off and produced substantial quantities of milk year-round. Commercial large-holder dairy farms (CLD; 10%) showed the highest input and output levels. In all systems, most of the produced milk was sold in the increasing order of percentage (SSM: 69%, SSD: 69%, CSD: 87%; CLD: 94%). Negligence in breeding, wastage of high yielding buffaloes, high costs of feedstuffs, an unfavorable marketing system and lack of a diversified dairy value chain were the main constraints for all production systems. Improving efficiency of the resources usage; especially with respect to animal genetics and nutrition, should be encouraged in dairy farmers of Faisalabad as well as other major cities in Pakistan to produce milk upto the maximum potential of their animals. This could satisfy the need of milk production for sale, serving both the increasing urban demand for milk, as well as income generation for the farmers. To this end farmers' endeavors must be supported by initiatives from government and private bodies.

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of (urban) peri-urban production system in Faisalabad, third-largest city of Pakistan. Interviews with 145 milk-producing (urban) peri-urban households (HH) were carried out. Based on cluster analysis, four types of dairy farmers were identified, (i) semi-commercial smallholder mixed dairy-crop farmers (n=43), (ii) semi-commercial smallholder dairy farmers (n=30), (iii) smallholder commercial (n=53) and (iv) large-holder commercial dairy farmers (n=14). Of each type five HH were randomly selected for qualitative and quantitative on-farm monitoring of management of buffalo and cattle. Milking was done twice daily, exclusively by hand. Before milking intra-muscular injection of 2 ml oxytocin was practiced by 90% of the (urban) peri-urban dairy farmers to stimulate milk letdown in 61% of the monitored lactating buffaloes and 19% of the cattle whereas 36% buffalo and 48% cattle calves suckle their dams. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in use of oxytocin for buffalo and cattle among the four production systems. Oxytocin can be easily purchased for as little as 18-20 rupees/50 ml from local shops, even at village level. In general oxytocin was used for those animals whose calves had died, sold or were not accepted by dams. Some were injected once daily while most received oxytocin at both milkings. This study suggests that regular use of oxytocin for milk let down should be checked, should be prescribed on actual need and awareness should be created among farmers. Prolonged use of oxytocin interferes and inhibits the normal milk ejection reflex and causes fertility disorders such as poor estrus signs, low conception rate, high embryonic mortality, shortened lactation period, increased abortion, calf death and incidences of mastitis. These problems are currently being addressed in progeny-history interviews targeting each milking animal in the 20 monitored herds.