Francisco Javier Navas González

University of Cordoba (Spain) | UCO · Department of Genetics

Selection for zoometrics defines individuals' productive longevity, endurance, enhanced productive abilities and consequently, their long-term profitability. When zoometric analysis is aimed at large highly selected populations or in those at different levels of selection, linear appraisal systems (LAS) provide a timely response. This study estimat...

Up to the present day, studies on the therapeutic properties of camel (Camelus spp.) urine and the detailed characterization of its metabolomic profile are scarce and often unrelated. Information on inter individual variability is noticeably limited, and there is a wide divergence across studies regarding the methods for sample storage, pre-process...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of non-genetic factors on the variability of milk production and composition using Bayesian linear regression. We analyzed 2594 milk records from 159 dairy goats from the breeding nucleus of the Murciano-Granadina breed. Bayesian linear regression was used to determine the effects of non-genetic fact...

Objective The main objective of this study was to develop a pipeline to detect phenogenomic introgression across different multivariety breeds and to validate such classification focusing on external egg and hatchability-related traits using a discriminant canonical analysis approach. Methods For this, 1368 eggs belonging a flock of 94 endangered S...

The present research aims to develop a carcass quality characterization methodology for minority chicken populations. The clustering patterns described across local chicken genotypes by the meat cuts from the carcass were evaluated via a comprehensive meta-analysis of ninety-one research documents published over the last 20 years. These documents c...

The COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges to both students and faculty. The push to keep students engaged and facilitate stimulating learning environments in absence of valuable in-person interaction spurred faculty to incorporate novel pedagogical and examination methods into their curricula. It was necessary for instructors to change how stu...

Despite the wide biodiversity of avian species of zootechnical interest in Spain, projects aimed at characterizing these genotypes and their products are necessary. External and internal egg quality traits were measured in 819 eggs laid by hens of 10 different genotypes: White, Franciscan, Black and Partridge varieties of Utrerana, Blue Andalusian,...

This study evaluates a method to accurately, repeatably, and reliably extract camel zoo-metric data (linear and tridimensional) from 2D digital images. Thirty zoometric measures, including linear and tridimensional (perimeters and girths) variables, were collected on-field with a non-elastic measuring tape. A scaled reference was used to extract me...

The widespread ethnomedical practice of dromedary urinotherapy as a remedy against various illnesses is well recognized in traditional dromedary countries, and multiple researchers tried to unravel its bioactive potential and provide scientific evidence through in vivo and in vitro experiments. None of these studies (i) measured urine osmolarity pr...

Early sex determination methods are not only crucial in the worldwide massive poultry industry, but also for small-holder producers. The profitability of sexing techniques must be accounted for when aiming to boost management, nutrition, and conservation practices in endangered poultry breeds. This becomes pivotal when the local breed dealt with be...

Linear appraisal systems (LAS) are effective strategies to systematically collect zoometric information from animal populations. Traditionally applied LAS in goats was developed considering the variability and scales found in highly selected breeds. As a result, traditional LAS may no longer cover the different contexts of goat breeds widespread th...

The present research aimed to determine the differential clustering patterns of carcass and meat quality traits in local chicken breeds from around the world and to develop a method to productively characterize minority bird populations. For this, a comprehensive meta-analysis of 91 research documents that dealt with the study of chicken local bree...

The development of new commercial lineages of laying hens has promoted the regression of native breeds to a second place. Therefore, it is essential to develop new lines of research that enable the development of production models adapted to these breeds and look for new markets in which their products are valued which may guarantee the conservatio...

The ancestors of wild turkeys are known to have occupied North and Center America since the last Ice Age. Wild turkey subspecies differ in size, plumage and geographic distribution. Seven subspecies of wild turkeys were already described long time before settlers reached America for the first time. Among them, the Mexican subspecies (M. g. gallopav...

The Andalusian turkey is a native breed originating in Andalusia, which has been subjected to great genetic erosion, as a result of the development of new and more productive lines. The reproductive characterization is essential for breed recognition and its conservation. Therefore, the objective of this work was to perform a preliminary evaluation...

Despite their pivotal position as relevant sources for high-quality proteins in particularly hard environmental contexts, the domestic goat has not benefited from the advances made in ge-nomics compared to other livestock species. Genetic analysis based on the study of candidate genes is considered an appropriate approach to elucidate the physiolog...

Scholars have remarked the opportunities that animal-based tourism provides as the channel to boost local communities’ economy and progress while promoting nature conservation efforts. Consumer characteristics and value creation in camel riding tours’ target audience are however underdealt topics in literature. Given the survival of certain local c...

Genetic diversity and demographic parameters were computed to evaluate the historic effects of coat colour segregation in the process of configuration of the Hispano-Arabian horse (Há). Pedigree records from 207,100 individuals born between 1884 and 2019 were used. Although coat colour is not a determinant for the admission of Hispano-Arabian indiv...

Es fundamental que el personal dedicado a la crianza y manejo de especies ganaderas esté debidamente capacitado para el desarrollo de estas tareas basándose en la etología animal y bajo premisas de bienestar animal y seguridad laboral. Por medio de una regresión logística ordinal, se identificaron aquellas variables dependientes del animal con mayo...

This study analyzes the evolution of the population structure and genetic diversity of Bra-ford cattle in South America from 1949 to 2019 to suggest effective strategies for breeding in the future. The percentage of bulls historically increased. The average generational interval decreased to 11.78 years for the current population. Average inbreedin...

Archivos de Zootecnia reached its 272 issue during 2021. In the present editorial report, we address the facts and figures derived from the editorial process during the past yearly editorial cycle. During 2021, the journal reached an index of 0.8 in Scopus and an index of 0.181 in SJR, which placed it among Q4 journals. A total of 50 manuscripts co...

En Chimborazo-Ecuador se estudió las correlaciones entre PTA (habilidad de transmisión predicha) de toros Hosltein con valores genéticos disponibles en Ecuador: Producción-Tipo lineal–Reproducción, mediante el uso de banco de datos de toros Hosltein utilizados en EEUU, que son comercializados en Ecuador; de los cuales se seleccionó 25 toros, los da...

Archivos de Zootecnia alcanzó su número 272 en 2021. En el presente Informe Editorial se recogen los hechos y cifras derivadas del proceso editorial durante el pasado ciclo editorial anual. Durante 2021, la revista alcanzó un índice de 0.8 en Scopus y un índice de 181 en SJR lo que la emplazó entre las revistas indexadas en Q4. Un total de 50 artíc...

The individuals engaged in predation interactions modify their adaptation strategies to improve their efficiency to reach success in the fight for survival. This success is linked to either capturing prey (predator) or escaping (prey). Based on the graphic material available on digital platforms both of public and private access, this research aime...

Se analizó la diversidad genética y la estructura de la población a partir de la información genealógica de las razas equinas (Pura Raza Árabe (PRá), Pura Raza Española (PRE) e Hispano-árabe (Há)). Para ello, se calcularon los parámetros de diversidad genética y se utilizó un análisis discriminante canónico para determinar la contribución de las ra...

This study aimed to compare the egg laying performance of the four varieties (white, franciscan, black, and partridge) of a Spanish endangered Utrerana hen breed. A flock of 60 Utrerana hens (15 hen/variety) were individually housed to enable daily egg traceability. Compartmental, Gamma, linear hyperbolic, logistic curvilinear, McNally, Narushin-Ta...

Egyptian Baladi cattle is one of the few native taurine breeds which remain in the original domestication area of Bos taurus, the Nile Valley (Upper Egypt). Apart from its evolutive relevance, the breed is well-adapted and integrated into the traditional family farming systems, with great potentialities for local sustainable rural development. The...

In endangered donkey populations, reproductive performance is one the most important areas to study, provided its connection with conservation opportunities. Among reproductive traits, testicular dimensions, their relationship with body weight and seminal qualitative and quantitative parameters is particularly notable. The aim of the present study...

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el progreso de la heredabilidad para los caracteres considerados dentro del sistema de calificación lineal en la raza Murciano-Granadina durante la década completa desde diciembre de 2011 hasta diciembre de 2021. Los valores estimados para la heredabilidad fueron obtenidos a partir de análisis multivariados u...

Psychometric studies reveal a variability that ranges between 30 and 75 % for different cognitive processes, both in humans and non-human animals. This variability has been ascribed to a “general intelligence” factor (g). Current studies implemented in non-human animals to identify individual differences in cognitive skills are still far from those...

Several idiosyncratic and genetically correlated traits are known to extensively influence leadership in both domestic and wild species. For minor livestock such as camels, however, this type of behavior remains loosely defined and approached only for sex-mixed herds. The interest in knowing those animal-dependent variables that make an individual...

Camel urine has been consumed as a remedy against common illnesses since ancient times, mainly in countries of Muslim tradition. The medicinal value of this organic substrate has sparked growing interest within the scientific community, especially regarding its potential application in anticancer treatments. However, information on the bioactive co...

Expectation-related bias may configure individuals’ perception of their surrounding environment and of the elements present in it. This study aimed to determine the repercussions of environmental (weather elements) or subject-inherent factors (sex, age, or personality features) on judgment bias. A cognitive bias test was performed in eight Miniatur...

Lo scopo del presente studio era quello di eseguire un'analisi preliminare sui fattori di condizionamento della produzione di latte delle cammelle algerine. Lo studio è stato condotto da marzo 2018 a giugno 2019 per un totale di quindici mesi durante i quali sono stati effettuati controlli giornalieri della resa lattiera mattutina e pomeridiana su...

A review of the scientific advances in the study of the growth and performance in native chicken breeds and varieties over the past 20 years was performed. Understanding the growth patterns of native breeds can only be achieved if the constraints characterizing these populations are considered and treated accordingly. Contextually, the determinatio...

Livestock selection for desirable temperament traits still remains disregarded for minor productive species, such as camels. Despite dromedary camels from Canary Islands were at once polyvalent, current major functionality for this unique European recognised breed is limited to tourism-oriented interactive experiences. The conservation of this ende...

This study aimed to develop a tool to perform the morphological characterization of Sureña and Utrerana breeds, two endangered autochthonous breeds ascribed to the Mediterranean trunk of Spanish autochthonous hens and their varieties (n = 608; 473 females and 135 males). Krus-kal-Wallis H test reported sex dimorphism pieces of evidence (p < 0.05 at...

Selection for zoometrics defines individuals' productive longevity, endurance, enhanced productive abilities and consequently, its long-term profitability. When zoometrics analysis is aimed at in large selected or in terms of selection populations, linear appraisal systems (LAS) provide a timely response. The particular analysis of each variable pe...

In endangered donkey populations, reproductive performance is one the most important areas to study, provided its connection with conservation opportunities. Among reproductive traits, the knowledge on the evolution of seminal qualitative and quantitative parameters may achieve a particular relevance given its implication with improved or more effi...

The present study evaluates the effect of olive oil-derived antioxidants, hydroxytyrosol (HT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), on cryopreserved caprine sperm using Bayesian inference of ANOVA. For this proposal, sperm was collected, pooled and diluted in freezing media supplemented with different concentrations of HT, DHPG and the mixture (MIX...

Seven non-linear growth models were compared in the Andalusian turkey, an endangered native breed. To this aim, turkeys were weekly weighted until they reached 35 weeks. The goodness-of-fit and flexibility criteria of Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Verhulst, Logistic, Gompertz, Richards, and Sinusoidal growth models were evaluated to quantify their abilit...

The increase in donkeys treated by practitioners in recent years has led to an increased interest in finding more information on basic biochemical preliminary reference values. The aims of this study were to measure Se and Vit E levels in plasma from Miranda jennies peripartum and postpartum and in their foals to compare blood profiles of the jenny...

The aim of this study is to model the growth samples of four varieties (White, Black, Partridge, Franciscan) of Spanish Utrerana hen breed, which is endangered, by using Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Verhulst, Logistic and Gompertz models. For this purpose, a total of 16,235 weight data observations from 2004 animals reared in free range system were coll...

Se caracterizó morfológicamente al cerdo criollo del cantón Guamote situado a 44 Km de la Ciudad de Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo. La investigación tuvo una duración de 60 días, se utilizó una muestra poblacional de 72 animales determinados mediante una ecuación de muestra finita; se caracterizaron 14 medidas zoométricas, 7 variables faneróptic...

This study aimed to develop a tool to validate multivariety breed egg quality classification depending on quality-related internal and external traits using a discriminant canonical analysis approach. A flock of 60 Utrerana hens (Franciscan, White, Black, and Partridge) and a control group of 10 Leghorn hens were placed in individual cages to follo...

Archivos de Zootecnia reached its 268 issue during 2020. In the present editorial report, we address the facts and figures derived from the editorial process during the past yearly editorial cycle. Archivos de Zootecnia would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Section Editors involved in the editorial process as well as the Reviewers with...

Genetic diversity and population structure were analyzed using the historical and current pedigree information of the Arabian (PRá), Spanish Purebred (PRE), and Hispano-Arabian (Há) horse breeds. Genetic diversity parameters were computed and a canonical discriminant analysis was used to determine the contributions of ancestor breeds to the genetic...

The aim of the present study is to define and compare the predictive power of two different Bayesian models for donkey sperm quality after the evaluation of linear and combined testicular biometry indices and their relationship with age and body weight (BW). Testicular morphometry was ultrasonographically obtained from 23 donkeys (six juveniles and...

The success and viability of an ex-situ conservation program lie in the establishment and potential maintenance of a demographically and genetically viable insurance population. Such population reserve may support reintroduction and reinforcement activities of wild populations. White-naped mangabeys are endangered restricted-range African primates...

Eggshell, white and yolk chemical composition was compared across Utrerana breed varieties (black, partridge and franciscan) and Leghorn Lohmann LSL-Classic lineage. An Utrerana hens flock (n = 51) and a control group of Leghorn hens (n = 17) were housed individually allowing egg identification and quality characteristics assessment. Eggshell, yolk...

Los criterios de selección comunes de una población pueden condicionar el incremento o la reducción de la relación entre las explotaciones participantes de un programa de cría. En nuestro estudio se evaluaron las políticas de conexión entre explotaciones propietarias de caballos de raza hispanoárabe. Ninguna explotación actúa como el núcleo de la p...

Para que una población disfrute de una estructura genética saludable, es imprescindible disponer de una adecuada conexión genética de las ganaderías que la conservan. Las distancias genéticas de Nei aportan una medida del grado de conexión y proximidad o lejanía genética entre ganaderías. Se consideró un total de 3740 ganaderías registradas históri...

La usual relación del camello con áreas geográficas en vías de desarrollo ha sido uno de los principales condicionantes de la subestimación de su potencialidad productiva así como de la escasez de esfuerzos académicos y políticas de desarrollo para su revalorización y selección mejorada. Afortunadamente, la creciente preocupación social por definir...

Estrategias contemporáneas de marketing turístico ofrecen oportunidades únicas de contemplación y disfrute de la naturaleza. En entornos notablemente domésticos, la interacción directa hombre-animal en condiciones controladas supone un refuerzo positivo del bienestar general de ambas partes y denota un incentivo en la satisfacción general del turis...

El éxito de cualquier ente económico reside, entre otros atributos, en la calidad del servicio prestado. En efecto, este puede tomar la condición de producto tangible que es evaluado a partir de las aptitudes y actitudes para con el cliente del factor humano implicado. En el contexto de la industria turística y, en concreto, los paseos turísticos e...

La raza Camello Canario, cuyo nicho productivo mayoritario es el ocio turístico, está oficialmente reconocida como raza autóctona en peligro de extinción. Con ánimo de constituir un programa de turismo activo y participativo que ayude a la conservación sostenible de esta raza camellar, se han identificado, a partir de encuestas de satisfacción, las...

Acompañando a las primeras expediciones durante el proceso de colonización europea de Islas Canarias, el camello llegó al archipiélago hacia el año 1405 desde la cercana costa africana. Durante siglos constituyó una herramienta fundamental para el desempeño local de variadas labores agrícolas así como el transporte de mercancías. Desafortunadamente...

The COVID 19 pandemic has challenged professors and students of all disciplines to adjust quickly to remote online teaching and education platforms. In this new era of remote teaching a greater challenge has been presented in the field of Equine Science; how to effectively share knowledge that is most often demonstrated by providing students access...

A total of 137,927 controls of 22,932 Murciano-Granadina first lactation goats (measured between 1996-2016) were evaluated to determine the influence of the number of kids, season, year and farm on total milk yield, daily milk yield, lactation length, total production of fat and protein and percentages of fat and protein. All factors analyzed had a...

Despite the undefinition of the origins of Ca de Rater (CR) and Ca de Bestiar (CB) dogs, references to these endangered autochthonous breeds highlighted their ratting/pet and shepherding/guard skills for centuries. Genealogical historical records were traced back to founders. Founder number in the reference population (146 and 53 for CR and CB, res...

Considering casein haplotype variants rather than SNPs may maximize the understanding of heritable mechanisms and their implication on the expression of functional traits related to milk production. Effects of casein complex haplotypes on milk yield, milk composition, and curve shape parameters were used using a Bayesian inference for ANOVA. We ide...

Camels are exotic elements, which can be comprised within adventure travel companies promoting ecotourism activities. Such recreations contribute to sustainable livelihoods for local communities and educational empowerment towards nature and its conservation. At present, some local camel breeds’ survival reduces to this animal-based leisure industr...

SPSS syntax was described to evaluate the individual performance of 49 linear and non-linear models to fit the milk component evolution curve of 159 Murciano-Granadina does selected for genotyping analyses. Peak and persistence for protein, fat, dry matter, lactose, and somatic cell counts were evaluated using 3107 controls (3.91 ± 2.01 average lac...

SPSS model syntax was defined and used to evaluate the individual performance of 49 linear and non-linear models to fit the lactation curve of 159 Murciano-Granadina does selected for genotyping analyses. Lactation curve shape, peak and persistence were evaluated for each model using 3107 milk yield controls with an average of 3.78 ± 2.05 lactation...

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of non-genetic factors on milk yield, its composition (fat, protein, dry matter and lactose) and the count of somatic cells in Murciano-Granadina goat breed, through the application of alternative nonparametric tests to routine parametric tests to explain the variability found in the populati...

The objectives of this study were to establish a donkey ethogram, followed by a donkey grimace scale to be applied to donkeys pre- and post-castration and to test if there was a notable difference in scores based on observer knowledge, gender, and experience, which could reveal possible discomfort/pain. Nine healthy male adult donkeys were surgical...

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate genetic diversity within and among Ecuadorian bovine breeds using microsatellite markers. The genetic identity and the exotic influences from taurine or zebuine cosmopolitan breeds on Macabea, Loja, Santa Elena, Manabí and Isla de Puná breeds were evaluated. Twenty-eight microsatellite markers were teste...