Animal Sciences Commons^™

Adding Parasite Resistance To A Hair Sheep Breeding Objective, Robert M. Forbes

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The United States Hair Sheep Index was designed to increase total weight of lamb weaned per ewe lambing (TW) using estimated breeding values (EBV) for direct (DWWT) and maternal (MWWT) weaning weight, and number of lambs born (NLB) and weaned (NLW), as selection criteria. Producers are interested in adding post-weaning fecal egg count EBV (PFEC), an indicator of parasite resistance, to the index to achieve genetic change in both TW and PFEC.

First, the effects of adding PFEC alongside TW to the breeding objective of indexes that used either phenotypes or EBV as selection criteria were studied. Since MWWT …

Greenfeed Methane Measuring Machine, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) now has the cutting-edge GreenFeed machine which measures emissions from individual cows and sheep, allowing us to determine Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions more accurately in the paddock.

Estradiol’S Role In Timely Puberty Onset In The Ewe, Eliana Gerardine Aerts

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In female sheep, the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus triggers luteinizing hormone (LH) to be released from the pituitary. Luteinizing hormone, in turn, acts on the ovaries to elicit estradiol (E₂) release. E₂ acts in a negative feedback manner to control the amount of LH released. The increase in LH release that drives puberty onset results from a decrease in sensitivity to E₂ as the animal ages. However, the neural mechanisms mediating this change in sensitivity are not known, as is where in the hypothalamus E₂-negative feedback occurs. In the arcuate …

Molecular Characterization Of Fecundity-Related Gene Regions In Some Of Türkiye’S Native Sheep Breeds, Ramazan Aymaz, Fulya Özdi̇l, Yalçın Yaman

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the BMP15 and GDF9 gene regions were examined through DNA sequencing in some native sheep breeds of Türkiye (Kıvırcık, Karacabey Merino, Chios, Gökçeada, Çine Çaparı, Awassi, and Karakacan). In the BMP15 exon 2 region, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified: one synonymous SNP, P248P (proline/proline), and one nonsynonymous SNP, L251P (leucine/proline), resulting in a missense mutation. In the GDF9 exon 1 region, only a nonsynonymous SNP, R87H (histidine/ arginine), was found. In the GDF9 exon 2 region, four SNPs were identified: two nonsynonymous SNPs, E241K (glutamate/lysine) and V332I (valine/isoleucine), and two synonymous SNPs, L159L (leucine/leucine) and …

Isolation Of The Toxic Principle Of Senecio Latifolius By Means Of The Sensory Receptors Of Sheep, Leendert D. Snyman

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

The aversive substance of Senecio latifolius was isolated by means of the sensory receptors of sheep averted to S. latifolius. Chemical fractions refused due to the presence of the aversive substance sensed by the sheep were fractionated until a purified substance had been isolated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the purified substance showed it to be sceleratine nitrogen oxide, the toxic principle of S. latifolius.

Tame The Flame: Inflammation Is A Targetable Physiological Mechanism Underlying Poor Outcomes Of Heat Stress In Finishing Sheep, Pablo C. Grijalva

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research focused on health management through the identification of suitable interventions in stressed livestock. For this investigation, we conducted two experiments. First, we determined whether administration of dexamethasone or fish oil to heat-stressed livestock to reduce systemic inflammation would mitigate metabolic deficits, enhance nutrient utilization, and improve health. We found that these interventions helped to reduce circulating inflammatory cytokines and improve respiration, muscle glucose metabolism, lipid homeostasis, cardiovascular function, and organ pathology in lambs exposed to 30 days of heat stress. In our second experiment, we performed transcriptomic analyses to identify the underlying mechanisms affecting young offspring following prenatal …

Western Australian Sheep Producer Survey 2022, Janet Conte, Katherine Davies

Animal production and livestock published reports

The Western Australian Sheep Producer Survey is conducted to gather information on sheep enterprises and producer practices. It has now been conducted four times, in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022 with large random samples of sheep producers in the Medium Rainfall Zone (MRZ) and Cereal Sheep Zone (CSZ).

Some questions were included in all four surveys providing a chance to examine trends over time. Many of the results have remained stable over time giving some confidence that significant changes in survey responses are reflecting trends in the broader population of WA sheep producers.

Katanning Research Station Showcase: Projects And Initiatives, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock research reports

An overview of current projects run from Katanning Research Station.

Katanning Research Station is a sheep, pasture and cropping research hub. The digital agriculture technologies and management systems are designed to lift productivity and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The research includes the:

• genetics (breeding values) of feed intake efficiency in sheep
• impact of feed supplements and forage combinations on methane production of sheep
• evaluation of novel pasture species to develop livestock systems of green feed year round
• saltland rehabilitation program that aims to halt and reverse salinity (surface water management and groundwater drainage), and provide out-of-season feed (the planting of …

Mirna Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Maslyn Greene

All Dissertations

Muscle tissue is vital to animal survival and economically essential to livestock producers. Reduced muscle growth can occur from various reasons, including genetics, nutrition, and the pre and postnatal environment. Understanding the mechanisms behind muscle growth can aid in developing strategies to increase muscle mass. Several methods to increase muscle mass in livestock animals are currently being pursued, including nutrition, hormonal therapy, and genetic selection. One newly developing avenue is using miRNA technologies to change the expression of protein-coding genes. miRNA are a type of RNA that regulate over half of protein-coding gene expression. Here we evaluate muscle characteristics such …

Genotype By Environment Interaction And Heteroscedasticity Influence The Expression Of Parasite Resistance In Katahdin Sheep, Brian C. Arisman, Joan M. Burke, James L. M. Morgan, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Increasingly, sheep producers are choosing breeds that express resistance to gastrointestinal parasites due to reduced efficacy of anthelminthic drugs. One such breed is Katahdin. Katahdins are raised in various climates and management systems in the United States, which can be combined into eco-management clusters to describe production environments more holistically. The objectives of this study were to determine if genotype by environment interaction (G × E) and heteroscedasticity existed across these eco-management clusters for traits indicative of parasite resistance. Body weights (BW), FAMACHA scores (FAM), and fecal egg counts (FEC) were collected at around 90 d in 3,527 Katahdin lambs …

Sheep Worms – Sustainable Summer-Autumn Worm Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

A summer drenching program for sheep worm control is now recognised as a key cause of drench resistance in Western Australia. However, some small changes can increase the sustainability of pre-emptive control programs. Drenches in summer should always be given to younger, growing sheep (current and previous year’s age groups), whereas adult sheep should be drenched in autumn, or if drenched in summer, some should be left untreated (if drenching at all). Research shows that this reduces the chance of developing drench resistance but still provides effective worm control.

Biomorphic Study Of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) Under Laboratory Conditions, Habib Ullah, Atta Ur Rehman, Naimat Ullah, Muhammad Tariq, Umer Farooq, Sonia Bibi, Anila Khan, Muhammad Jamil, Faiqah Ramzan, Muhammad Ayub

Journal of Bioresource Management

Rhipicephalus sanguineus can complete up to four generations per year, depending on factors such as climate and host availability. Biomorphic studies of R. sanguineus were conducted under laboratory conditions. The larval, nymphal and adult ticks were fed on sheep at 25⁰C, 60 % relative humidity (RH) and exposed to daylight. The incubation period was lasted 35 days. The average mean of premoulting and moulting period of larvae was 70 ± 0.91 and 7.4 ± 0.6 days, respectively. The time durations of premoulting and moulting of nymphs were 62 ± 1.66 and 13 ± 6.4 days, respectively. The …

Clustering Climate And Management Practices To Define Environmental Challenges Affecting Gastrointestinal Parasitism In Katahdin Sheep, Brian C. Arisman, Joan M. Burke, James L. M. Morgan, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) negatively affect the performance and well-being of sheep. Due to anthelmintic resistance, GIN are difficult to control leading producers to choose breeds that can exhibit resistance to parasitism. An example is Katahdin sheep. Katahdins are raised in various climates and management systems in the United States. These environmental factors can be combined to form eco-management groupings or clusters. We hypothesized that GIN challenge varies predictably based on the characteristics of these environmental clusters. Forty Katahdin producers from across the United States were surveyed for management information, with body weights (BW), fecal egg counts (FEC), and FAMACHA scores …

The Effect Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae As A Probiotic On The Nutrient Degradability Of Some Commonly Feedstuffs Used In Turkey, Muslimo Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic on in situ ruminal DM, OM, CP and starch degradability values in some energy and protein sources commonly used in ruminant nutrition. In this study, the in situ degradation kinetics and fractions of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and starch of 6 different feedstuffs (barley, wheat, corn, sunflower seed meal, cottonseed meal and soybean meal) commonly used in animal nutrition were determined. Three ruminally cannulated Bafra sheep were used in the experiment. The experiment was designed as carryover experimental design with two periods. …

Anthelmintic Resistance In Sheep Across Ireland And The Uk: A Literature Review Of The In Vivo Versus In Vitro Methods, Megan Tumulty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Background: The animal welfare and production consequences of gastrointestinal nematode infections, namely Nematodirus battus, on sheep are compelling. The control of gastrointestinal infections has been heavily reliant on the administration of anthelmintics since their introduction into mainstream use in 1960. However, their frequent and often excessive use has resulted in anthelmintic resistance being reported extensively in several gastrointestinal nematode species. The prevalence of anthelmintic resistance as well as the increase in the number of cases of multiple-drug resistance in nematode populations now poses substantial hindrance on the viability of sheep production systems. However, despite the threat N. battus poses …

Managing Non-Mulesed Sheep, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been involved in a variety of research projects to help producers manage non mulesed sheep. Research has shown that it is possible to successfully manage non-mulesed sheep with little extra time or cost.

Environmental Determination Of Gastrointestinal Parasitism In Katahdin Sheep, Brian Arisman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) negatively affect the performance and wellbeing of sheep and are difficult to control due to anthelmintic resistance. Producers are therefore choosing breeds naturally resistant to GIN infection, such as the Katahdin. Katahdin are raised in various climates and management systems in the U.S., and those environmental factors can be combined into eco-management clusters. We hypothesized that GIN challenge varies predictably based on the characteristics of these clusters. Katahdin producers from across the U.S. were surveyed for management information. Body weights (BW), fecal egg counts (FEC) and FAMACHA scores (FAM) were collected on 3,527 Katahdin lambs around 90 …

Using Condensed Tannin To Mitigate Tall Fescue Toxicosis, Ally Jo Grote

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Endophyte-infected (Neotyphodium coenophialum) tall fescue, [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Shreb.)] produces ergot alkaloids. Condensed tannins could bind to ergot alkaloids and render them ineffective. The first objective was to improve the health of sheep offered endophyte-infected tall fescue by binding toxins in the rumen with condensed tannins. Non-toxic novel-endophyte infected tall fescue (NE) or toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue forage was harvested, baled at targeted moisture of 55%, wrapped within 8 hours of baling with 2 layers of net wrap and 20 layers of plastic, and ensiled for at least 60 days. Prior to feeding, forages were chopped and packed into plastic trash …

Validation Of The Irish National Sheep Genetic Evaluations, Niamh Barry

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background: In Ireland, national sheep genetic evaluations have been implemented since 2009, however, to date no large scale study has been undertaken to investigate the accuracy of genetic evaluations in a large multi-breed population. The aim of this study was to validate the estimated breeding values (EBV) on a range of traits, using national data comprising 203,469 records across a range of phenotypic traits from 9,377 flocks.

Methods: The association between direct and maternal EBV on a range of lamb growth traits was quantified using a fixed effects model. For the lambing traits the association between direct and maternal EBV …

The Effects Of Poor Maternal Nutrition During Gestation In Sheep On The Reproductive Efficiency Of The Offspring, Morgan Dougherty

Honors Scholar Theses

Poor maternal nutrition during gestation negatively impacts fetal programming and the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in the offspring. Reproductive health of ewes can be characterized by concentrations of reproductive hormones including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone, particularly during the estrous cycle. We hypothesized that ewes born to dams that experienced poor maternal nutrition during gestation would have reduced reproductive capability and efficiency. This means that they would take longer to become pregnant and have reduced concentrations of reproductive hormones compared with those born to mothers fed the control diet. Pregnant dams (F0) were fed one …

Oestrogenic Subterranean Clover Guide. Identification And Remediation, Kevin J. Foster, Megan H. Ryan, Daniel R. Kidd

Bulletins 4000 -

Subterranean clover (subclover, Trifolium subterraneum L.) is an annual pasture legume that provides high quality feed for livestock. It is estimated to be sown over 30 million hectares across southern Australia, with cultivars developed for the low, medium and high rainfall zones. Unfortunately, some older cultivars contain high levels of phytoestrogen which can affect the reproductive system of sheep and cause other health issues. This became a significant issue for sheep producers from the 1940s as new land was cleared and sheep grazed subclover-dominant pastures. There was a collection of livestock issues observed and these were grouped together under the …

Effects Of Increasing Dietary Zinc Sulfate Fed To Gestating Ewes: Ii. Milk Somatic Cell Count, Microbial Populations, And Fatty Acid Composition, C. M. Page, R. M. Knuth, T. W. Murphy, D. C. Rule, B. Bisha, J. B. Taylor, W. C. Stewart

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Objective: The objective of the research was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary Zn sulfate concentration for primiparous gestating ewes on subsequent milk SCC, intramammary microbial identifications, and fatty acid composition.

Materials and Methods: Commercial white-face (WF; n = 27) and black-face (BF; n = 24) ewes (age ≈18 mo; BW = 87.48 ± 8.37 kg) were sorted into breed-type groups and within groups ranked by BW, and then, they were randomly divided into 3 dietary supplement treatment groups: CON (n = 13; 40 mg/kg Zn; ≈1 × NASEM recommendations), Zn500 (n = 21; 500 mg/kg Zn; …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme Annual Report 2020/2021, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) has been operating since 2010 to address biosecurity threats relevant to the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry. The Scheme was established by regulation under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 to enable sheep and goat producers to identify pest and disease priorities at a whole-of-industry level and raise funds for activities to address these priorities.

There are currently three Industry Funding Schemes in operation. In addition to the Sheep and Goat IFS, there is a Cattle IFS and a Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS. The three IFSs operate in …

Some Hematological Parameters And Enzyme Histochemistry Of Peripheral Bloodleukocytes In Kivircik Sheep, Mehmet Faruk Aydin, İhsan Kisadere

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of the present study was to determine some hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, HCT, HGB, MCH, MCHC, MCV, and PLT), the presence and percentages of ANAE and AcP-ase positivities in leukocytes and the differential leukocyte count in Kivircik sheep. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 40 (rams = 20; ewes= 20) healthy, 1-year-old sheep. MCH and MCHC values were found statistically higher in rams than ewes (p < 0.05). Mean percentages of ANAE-positive PBL were defined as 74.16 ± 11.94% in ewes and 70.33 ± 8.39% in rams. It was not determined any significant changes according to sex. On the other hand, the percentages of ACP were determined as 67.12 ± 6.54% in ewes and 66.71 ± 6.58% in rams. It was not found any significant differences according to sex. For ANAE enzyme activity, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophilic granulocytes showed a positive reaction. For ACP enzyme activity, although lymphocytes presented positivity, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils were negative. The ratio of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophile, eosinophile, and basophile of Kivircik ewes and rams were found as 64.35 ± 5.74%, 60.64 ± 8.85%; 3.41 ± 1.27%, 3.82 ± 1.42%; 27.58 ± 5.46%, 30.94 ± 8.71%; 2.41 ± 0.93%, 2.88 ± 1.45%; 1.76 ± 0.75%, 1.29 ± 0.58%, respectively. The difference between mean values was not found significant according to sex (p > 0.05). In conclusion, our study showed that enzyme histochemical methods can be used for identifying peripheral blood cells and can provide facilitates for early diagnosis of immune system-related disorders …

Relationships Between Famacha Scores And Some Blood Values In Sheep And Goats, Özcan Şahi̇n, İbrahi̇m Ayteki̇n, Sai̇m Boztepe, İsmai̇l Keski̇n, Ali̇ Karabacak, Yasi̇n Altay, Mervan Bayraktar

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, Akkaraman sheep and Hair goats raised extensively on the same farm were scored with the FAMACHA card. Score 1 was not present in both sheep and goats, whereas scores 5 and 2 were not detected in sheep and goats, respectively. While the number of animals with scores of 2, 3, and 4 was 9, 46, and 55 in sheep, the number of animals with 3, 4, and 5 scores in goats was 6, 55, and 41, respectively. In the study, the differences in the amount of RBC, Hct, and Hb in goats according to these score groups …

Anatomical And Histological Structures Of Eye And Lacrimal Gland In Norduz Andmorkaraman Sheep, Semi̇ne Dalga, Serap İlhan Aksu, Kadi̇r Aslan, Turgay Deprem, Reşi̇t Uğran

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The current study was conducted to determine the morphological, morphometric, and histological characteristics of bulbus oculi and lacrimal gland in sheep. For this purpose, 28 pairs (n = 7 males and n = 7 females) of bulbus oculi from Morkaraman and (n = 7 males and n = 7 females) Norduz sheep were analyzed. The bulbus oculi in the skulls were dissected from the orbit and removed. The morphometric data such as distance between endpoints of the dissected bulbus oculi in temporal, nasal, and dorsal directions, the length between endpoints of the pupil in dorsal and ventral directions, and as …

Nutritional And Physiological Constraints Contributing To Limitations In Small Intestinal Starch Digestion And Glucose Absorption In Ruminants, Ronald J. Trotta, David L. Harmon, James C. Matthews, Kendall C. Swanson

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Increased efficiency of nutrient utilization can potentially be gained with increased starch digestion in the small intestine in ruminants. However, ruminants have quantitative limits in the extent of starch disappearance in the small intestine. The objective is to explore the nutritional and physiological constraints that contribute to limitations of carbohydrate assimilation in the ruminant small intestine. Altered digesta composition and passage rate in the small intestine, insufficient pancreatic α-amylase and/or small intestinal carbohydrase activity, and reduced glucose absorption could all be potentially limiting factors of intestinal starch assimilation. The absence of intestinal sucrase activity in ruminants may be related to …

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Desmotomies In Sheep Resulting In Peroneus Tertius Injury, Peter J. Welsh, Crystal G. Collier, Holly M. Clement, Michael N. Vakula, Jeffrey B. Mason

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Surgical destabilization of the stifle joint via cranial cruciate ligament desmotomy (CCLD) is a routine procedure for the study of osteoarthritis (OA). Traditionally performed in rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs, CCLD in sheep provides an opportunity to study the pathology and treatment of joint instability in a species whose stifle better represents the equivalent human femorotibial joint. The surgical approaches for CCLD in sheep are variable and can result in inconsistent outcomes. Eight sheep underwent CCLD for use in a gene therapy study. We report this case in which six of the eight sheep were clinically diagnosed by pathognomonic signs …

Invited Review: Mineral Nutrition Considerations For Extensive Sheep Production Systems, W. C. Stewart, J. D. Scasta, J. B. Taylor, T. W. Murphy, A. A.M. Julian

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Purpose: Our purpose is to discuss contemporary and pertinent considerations related to mineral-supplementation strategies for sheep grazing marginal rangelands in extensively managed production systems. Sources: Grey literature, peer-reviewed literature, and data (published and unpublished) from co-authors were used. Synthesis: Precision trace-mineral nutrition of sheep that are grazing extensive production systems requires a comprehensive understanding of the sheep and the grazing environment. Generally, extensive sheep production systems are found in remote geographical regions composed of marginal rangelands not suitable for cultivated crop farming or improved forages. Sheep production is subject to the accessibility and availability of grazable forage, which may vary …

The Effects Of Poor Maternal Nutrition During Gestation On Colostrum And Milk Quality And Immunoglobulin G Concentrations In Sheep, Alexandra Bettencourt

Honors Scholar Theses

Maternal over- and under-nutrition have negative effects on the growth and development of offspring. Colostrum and milk are critical to neonatal development, and composition and quality of colostrum and milk may be influenced by maternal factors, including diet. In this study, 46 pregnant ewes received one of three diets, 60% (RES), 100% (CON), or 140% (OVER) of National Research Council (NRC) nutrition requirements for total digestible nutrients from d 30 of gestation until parturition. Colostrum samples were collected within 24 hours of parturition. Milk samples were collected on d 3 and d 21 postpartum. Total solid concentrations of samples were …