Francisco Javier Navas González

University of Córdoba | UCO · Department of Genetics

The increasing presence of camels in domestic settings has facilitated the implementation of camel-assisted services (treatment, education and support programmes) with satisfactory outcomes. However, their specific use for interventions that benefit human physical and psychosocial health requires further empirical investigation. This work reviews t...

The objective was to evaluate the evolution of the population structure, reproductive performance, inbreeding, and genetic diversity in Charolais cattle. Official genealogical information from the Ecuadorian Charolais Association was divided into five populations: (a) historical (total), (b) 2008–2012 (natural mating period), (c) 2013–2017 (natural...

This study is aimed to define the effect of season on internal turkey eggs produced in backyard systems. To this goal, a total of 197 turkey eggs from Andalusian hens were continuously collected throughout 15 months to study internal quality attributes. A discriminant canonical analysis was performed considering season as the dependent variable and...

Our study investigates the influence of genetic parameters related to inbreeding in the Hispano-Arabian horse, focusing on coat color patterns. A total of 11,010 horses born between 1900 and 2019 were analyzed. Fourteen coat colors were studied: Chestnut/Sorrel, Black, Bay, Dun, Grey, Isabelline, Overo, Palomino, Cremello, Pearl, Piebald, Roan, Smo...

The standardization of the semen cryopreservation technique could be an effective tool in poultry for the conservation of genetic resources. During this process, the production of reactive oxygen species increases, leading to oxidative stress that causes damage to the spermatozoa. To reduce this effect, the addition of exogenous antioxidants in the...

Trichinellosis is a major foodborne zoonotic disease responsible for 41 human cases, according to the European Union One Health Zoonoses Report. In southern Spain, a quality management system (QMS) was applied to satellite laboratories (SLs) that conduct meat inspections of Trichinella spp. ensuring excellence practices. This study aimed to determi...

In the realm of animal breeding for sustainability, domestic camels have traditionally been valued for their milk and meat production. However, key aspects such as zoometrics, biomechanics, and behavior have often been overlooked in terms of their genetic foundations. Recognizing this gap, the present study perfomed genome-wide association analyses...

The widespread practice of dromedary urinotherapy as a remedy for various illnesses, including cancer, is well-established in traditional dromedary countries. Researchers attempted to demonstrate anticancer properties of camel urine through in vitro experiments with debated outcomes. Notably, two critical aspects remained unexplored in those assays...

Sperm cryopreservation is a fundamental tool for the conservation of avian genetic resources ; however, avian spermatozoa are susceptible to this process. To cope with the high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the addition of exogenous antioxidants is beneficial. Pectoliv30 is a substance derived from alperujo, and in this study, its ef...

The present research aims to describe how turkey meat and carcass quality traits define the interest of the scientific community through the quality standards of journals in which studies are published. To this end, an analysis of 92 research documents addressing the study of turkey carcass and meat quality over the last 57 years was performed. Mea...

The variability of camel hair fibers physical-mechanical properties across sampling body areas and phaneroptics continue to be relatively unexplored topics in scientific literature. With the aim to valorize camel hair fibers, the present investigation has examined, through discriminant canonical analysis, fiber properties of Canarian camel hair reg...

Introduction Various climatological and lunar cycle parameters have a direct impact on animal reproduction, and in the case of the avian species, spermatozoa are extremely sensitive to heat stress. These parameters could influence sperm freezability, which will ultimately affect post-thawing semen quality, being sperm motility in roosters a relevan...

This comprehensive study on the Andalusian Black cattle breed reveals a substantial population decline, with the average herd size decreasing significantly from 305.54 to 88.28 animals per herd. This decline is primarily attributed to agricultural changes and the introduction of foreign meat-focused breeds. The male-to-female ratio shift is notewor...

The applicability of camel hair is still conditioned by a gap in the knowledge about this raw material, which in turn hinders its supply chain, commercial possibilities, and the value that the product reaches in the market. The present research compares the physical-mechanical properties of Canarian camel hair versus Merino sheep wool, the world’s...

Extant diversity for phenotypic traits is an essential criterion to be considered when ordering priorities for conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources. Concretely, the characterisation of the distinctive body morphometry of a particular group of animals can aid in the design of selective breeding programs, given the strong correlat...

During the poultry sperm cryopreservation process, an excess of reactive oxygen species is generated resulting in oxidative stress which harms the quality of avian spermatozoa. To counteract this effect, the addition of exogenous antioxidants, such as Pectoliv-80A (a by-product of olive oil), to the cryopreservation diluent is interesting. For this...

The genetic diversity analysis of six dog breeds, including Ca de Bestiar (CB), Ca de Bou (CBOU), Podenco Ibicenco (PI), Ca Rater (CR), Ca Mè (CM), and Ca de Conills (CC), reveals insightful findings. CB showcases the highest mean number of alleles (6.17) and heterozygosity values, with significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) o...

The historical increase in the occurrence of extreme weather events in Spain during the last thirty years makes it a perfect location for the evaluation of climate change. Modeling the effects of climate change on domestic animals’ genetic diversity may help to anticipate challenging situations. However, animal populations’ short life cycle and pat...

This study delves into the complex relationships between indigenous dog breeds in the Balearic Isles and their human counterparts, specifically breeders and owners. Using Canonical Correlation Analysis, the research examines variables such as breed registries and the number of breeders/owners, uncovering significant correlations within registries....

The present study aims to develop a statistical tool for turkey breed traceability testing based on meat and carcass quality characteristics. To this end, a comprehensive meta-analysis was performed, collecting data from a total of 75 studies approaching meat and carcass attributes of 37 turkey strains and landraces since the late 1960s. A total of...

Domestic animals use a varied set of strategies (behavioural- and physiological-type) to cope with aversive situations at rearing systems. Camels, although widely used as an animal model for the study of strategies to cope with heat stress and dehydration in desert-type natural habitats, remain disregarded for their coping styles in response to soc...

To date, the biomechanical dynamics in camelids have not been addressed, although it might be a factor that can affect selection and breeding in this species. Therefore, the aim of this article is to conduct curve fitting and discriminant canonical analysis to identify the mathematical function that best captures the dynamics of camel locomotion an...

Cavia porcellus. Índices productivos. Inmunocastración. INNOSURE. Rendimiento a la canal. RESUMEN El trabajo de investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de la dosis de un inmunocastrador en hembras Cavia Porcellus sobre los índices productivos, el experimento se lo realizó en la Granja PRODUCUY en el Cantón Salcedo, se utilizaron tres tra...

This study investigates the temporal dynamics of autochthonous dog breed recognition in the Balearic Islands, revealing a complex interplay of relationships across various stages. The analysis, depicted through a heatmap and correlation matrix, highlights the significance of early breed recognition by showing strong negative correlations with subse...

This study intricately explores the transition of autochthonous dog breeds from their historical roles as working dogs to becoming companion pets, with a keen focus on the risks associated with this evolution. Particularly, our findings reveal a significant risk disparity between breeds historically used for hunting/ratting and those engaged in gua...

Despite the relatively wide knowledge of camel biomechanics, research into the immediate functional response that accompanies the execution of physical exercise remains unapproached. Therefore, selective breeding programs lack an empirical basis to achieve genetic improvement of physical stress tolerance traits and monitor camel welfare in this reg...

Trichinellosis is a parasitic foodborne zoonotic disease transmitted by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing the first larval stage (L1) of the nematode. To ensure the quality and safety of food intended for human consumption, meat inspection for detection of Trichinella spp. larvae is a mandatory procedure according to EU regulations. T...

The present research aimed to determine the main differences in meat and carcass quality traits among turkey genotypes worldwide and describe the clustering patterns through the use of a discriminant canonical analysis (DCA). To achieve this goal, a comprehensive meta-analysis of 75 documents discussing carcass and meat characteristics in the turke...

In this comprehensive exploration of precision in defining dog breed standards, the article employs advanced analytical tools—Spearman’s correlations and Procrustes residuals—to assess relationships among zoometric, phaneroptic, and behavioral variables. Spearman’s correlations quantify associations between traits, guiding the prioritization of ele...

This study seeks to evaluate the relationships within the studbook registries of endangered autochthonous canine breeds in the Balearic Islands. Employing Pearson's Product Moment Correlations and operating within the legal framework of Royal Decree 558/2001 aligned with EU standards for recognizing purebred dog breeders in Spain, patterns within t...

This study explores the genetic differentiation of autochthonous Balearic dog breeds through the fine-tuning of microsatellite marker panels. Microsatellite markers are utilized to unravel the genetic intricacies within populations, with each marker offering a unique molecular signature. The study investigates the efficacy of these markers in delin...

Simple Summary For the conservation of genetic resources in avian species, semen freezing is very helpful. The disadvantage of this process is that spermatozoa suffer different types of damage. Exogenous antioxidants can be added to the cryopreservation extender to mitigate this damage. This study aimed to test whether the addition of different hyd...

The aim of the present study was to carry out an evaluation on the growth curves in the Blue Andalusian avian breed, which is endangered, and has its population concentrated in Andalusia. Although it has currently raised as an ornamental breed, its production can be considered when developing alternative production systems, and the egg, which is th...

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), that is an antioxidant derived from the olive tree (Olea europea), to the cryopreservation extender on post-thaw sperm quality in roosters. For this, 6 replicas of a semen pool which were obtained from 16 Utrerana breed roosters were cryopreserved. From each...

Genomic tools have shown promising results in maximizing breeding outcomes, but their impact has not yet been explored. This study aimed to outline the effect of the individual haplotypes of each component of the casein complex (αS1, β, αS2, and κ-casein) on zoometric/linear appraisal breeding values. A discriminant canonical analysis was performed...

Recent approval of transdermal flunixin meglumine (FM) (Banamine®) in cattle has opened the door for the drug’s potential application in other species. Transdermal FM could provide a safe and effective form of pain relief in donkeys. In order to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and effects of FM on anti-inflammatory biomarkers in donkeys, a three-way...

Given energy costs for gestating and caring for male offspring are higher than those of female newborns, external environmental conditions might be regarded as likely to affect the timing of delivery processes differentially depending on the sex of the newborn calf to be delivered. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the association between...

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...

Predicción del inicio del trabajo de parto en dromedarios según el sexo de la descendencia en función de variables ambientales (ciclo lunar y climatología)

The present study is intended to optimize a protocol implemented for the linear appraisal of dromedary camels (n=130) that are reared in single-sex herds for different functional purposes (milk production and leisure riding). Further, the replicability of the linear trait data as their potential to predict for physical fitness-related zoometric var...

The aim of this work is the assessment of dromedary urine antiproliferative effects in different in-vitro-setups. The widespread ethnomedical practice of dromedary urinotherapy as a remedy against various illnesses is well recognized in traditional dromedary countries. Several studies tried to unravel urines’ therapeutic potential, but they often o...

The present research is aimed at the identification of the curve, or mathematical function, that has the best fit to a series of data points obtained from the analysis of different gaits (walk, pace and galloping) in dromedary camels (n=190). Such curve fitting solves the need for stakeholders and breeders of developing a model to describe the dyna...

SUMMARY The evaluation of genetic diversity and gene flow through genealogical information of a population is necessary in genetic selection programs. Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of the Charolais population in Ecuador. Three sets of data were used, the historical population, current popu...

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...

Lojeña is considered an endangered Spanish local breed. To contribute to its conservation and valuation the aim of this work was the wool characterization of this breed. For this, 28 samples of wool, 16 of white and 12 of black color, randomly selected from the piles generated after shearing, were used. The wool parameters analyzed were: fiber diam...

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...