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Full-Text Articles in Sheep and Goat Science
Effect Of Sire Breed On Grass-Based Lamb Production, Camren L. Maierle
Effect Of Sire Breed On Grass-Based Lamb Production, Camren L. Maierle
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Improvement of lamb performance in low-input operations may prove vital for the sustainability of eastern US sheep production. Maintaining growth while improving carcass conformation using terminal sire crossbreeding systems may increase value in a pasture-based system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare effects of terminal sire breed on parasitism, growth, marketability of grazing lambs. Suffolk (SU; n = 2) and Texel (TX; n = 2) sires were mated to commercial ewes at the WVU Organic Farm. April-born lambs were managed on pasture as one group until weaning (mid-June), then were separated into 3 replicates per sire breed. …
Impact Of Sire Selection And Breed On Parasite Resistance In Sheep, Andrew Ryan Weaver
Impact Of Sire Selection And Breed On Parasite Resistance In Sheep, Andrew Ryan Weaver
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Selection within and among breeds are strategies to mitigate the impact of parasitism given failing chemotherapeutics. While Texels have improved marketability compared to other parasite-resistant breeds, the mechanism by which Texels reduce fecal egg count (FEC) is unclear. The immune response to Haemonchus contortus (Hc) was compared in Texel, parasite-resistant St. Croix, and parasite-susceptible Suffolk sheep. Adult worms exposed to St. Croix- and Texel-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum in vitro had greater binding around the reproductive structures than Suffolk and worm egg release tended to be affected by breed (P = 0.09). Resistance in Texels …