Sheep breeds

The grazing behaviour and diet selection by Dorper sheep, as well as other related aspects (pasture intake, walking habits and trampling) is reviewed. It was clear that Dorper sheep are less-selective grazers, compared to Merino-type breeds. Dorpers utilised shrubs and bushes to a greater extent, but grass to a lesser extent in relation to Merino sheep. The Dorper also utilised a larger number of different plant species than Merinos. Dorpers walked less to select food, or a suitable spot to graze, which consequently led to a shorter grazing time and less separate grazing periods. Dorpers consumed less herbage per metabolic size compared to Merino-type sheep. No uniform pattern in the walking distance of Dorpers was observed when compared to other sheep breeds. The relative trampling factor for Dorper sheep was less than that of evaluated Merino-type sheep. The review revealed a lack on information on the grazing behaviour and diet selection of Dorper sheep under more intensive grazi...

Sheep fattening in Burkina Faso: biological performances and profitability. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the economical and biological performances of lamb fattening operations in rural area. This study was conducted in Oubritenga province in Burkina Faso. Eighty-three rams supplied by 24 producers were involved in the test. Two rations were dispensed during fifty days. Body weight changes and financial operations were monitored. A weight gain model was built to explore growth determinants. Then, cost-benefit ratios were analysed to identify financial efficiency factors. Results show that growth performance depends on the combination of diet and sheep breeds rather than on feed only. Output markets and input marketing policy influence negatively financial cost-effectiveness. This implies firstly, that feed mixes proposed to producers must take species characteristics into account. Secondly, marketing policies enforced on livestock inputs which focu...

Genotypic effects of β-casein (CSN2), κ-casein (CSN3) and β-lactoglobulin (LGB) on milk yield, and fat, and protein percentages were estimated in Merino breed ewes by using an animal model. Casein genotype effects were estimated separately and then combined as a composite β–κ–CN genotype. The CSN2 gene was polymorphic (alleles A and G) in the exon VII in the Merino population

Determination of the temporal relationships between climate and epidemics of Culicoides-borne viral disease may lead to control measures and surveillance being implemented earlier and more efficiently. Although Israel has reported few cases of bluetongue (BT) during the recent Mediterranean epidemic, outbreaks have occurred almost annually since the disease was first confirmed there (1950) with severe episodes occurring periodically. The south Mediterranean location and intensive farming of BT-susceptible European sheep breeds make the area ideal for investigation of the effect or role of climatic factors versus other potential host or virus factors in governing the timing of severe BT episodes. The authors present regression analyses of 20-year time-series of BT outbreaks versus four remotely sensed climatic variables. Low temperatures and high moisture levels (relative to average levels) in the preceding autumn coincident with the seasonal peak of vector abundance and outbreaks ha...

This paper aims to search genetic structures of purebred Kivircik sheep raised in Turkey based on erythrocyte potassium and glutathione types and also to determine the relationship between these components and some blood parameters. The phenotypic frequencies were 68% ...

Prion protein (PrP) gene of 308 sheep was genotyped to investigate polymorphisms at scrapie-associated codons 136, 154 and 171 to assess the resistance of nine different Pakistani sheep breeds to natural/typical scrapie. As a result six genotypes were established on the ...

ABSTRACT La race ovine Florina (Pellagonia), à l'origine de races rustiques, est menacée d'extinction. Un petit nombre d'animaux se trouvent dans la région Ouest de la Macédoine. Cette race est bien adaptée aux conditions climatiques rudes et elle est résistante aux maladies. Des troupeaux contrôllés se trouvent dans la Station de Recherche d'Agronomie à Koila, Kozani, au T.E.I. à Florina, à l'Institut de l'élevage à Gianitsa et à la Station de Recherche d'Agronomie à Komotini. La production laitière moyenne est de 96±38.6 kg et la taille de portée de 1.4±0.52.

Improvement programmes for small ruminants in the tropics face several constraints that have hampered the establishment and sustainability of such programmes. One major shortfall has been weak planning, particularly poor involvement of livestock owners and other stakeholders in the design and implementation of the programmes. In sub-Saharan Africa, low productivity, high density of animals in relation to grazing capacity, unreliable rainfall, increasing human population, small landholding, and declining land productivity are all major concerns. Studies in Ethiopia show substantial within and between breed variations, and hence genetic improvement is feasible among indigenous sheep breeds. Different breeding alternatives to maximise production (e.g. lamb growth and survival) per animal while culling less productive animals to reduce flock sizes, and re-allocating of resources (e.g. feed and health management) as a means of upgrading management levels for the genetically superior floc...

Mitochondrial DNA diversity was analysed in 19 Iberian and six foreign sheep breeds. Three mtDNA lineages (B, A and C) were found in the Iberian sheep, with type B clearly predominating over the others. The results were analysed for each of the morphologically determined breed groups in Iberian sheep: Merino, Entrefino, Churro and Iberian trunks. MtDNA lineage C was found

Canaria Hair Breed (CHB) sheep are more resistant than Canaria sheep (CS) to experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. Protective responses appear effective against the adult stage of the parasite, not as commonly reported in other breeds against ...

Tissue and chemical composition between shoulder and leg of castrated and non-castrated Corriedale lambs, slaughtered at 3 different ages, were evaluated. Sixty animals were used (30 non- castrated and 30 castrated at the age of 30 days), weaned at 60 days and raised in native pasture. Twenty (20) animals were slaughtered, at 120 days, 20 at 210 days and 20

Scrapie is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats, which is strongly believed to be caused by the accu-mulation of improperly folded forms of host-encoded cellu-lar prion protein (PrPc) in the central nervous system (CNS). The different genotypes of prion ...

Scrapie is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats, which is strongly believed to be caused by the accu-mulation of improperly folded forms of host-encoded cellu-lar prion protein (PrPc) in the central nervous system (CNS). The different genotypes of prion ...

Within seven years (1997 - 2003) three German breeds of sheep were grazed in a Hessian low mountain region under extensive conditions. The chosen breeds were Merinolandschaf (German Merino, ML), Rhönschaf (Rhönsheep, RS) and Graue Gehörnte Heidschnucke (German Grey Heath, GGH). They represented different levels of grazing and environmental requirements. In order to stock the same metabolic life weight of

Large-scale evaluations of genetic diversity in domestic livestock populations are necessary so that region-specific conservation measures can be implemented. We performed the first such survey in European sheep by analysing 820 individuals from 29 geographically and phenotypically diverse breeds and a closely related wild species at 23 microsatellite loci. In contrast to most other domestic species, we found evidence of widespread heterozygote deficit within breeds, even after removing loci with potentially ...

Sheep fattening in Burkina Faso: biological performances and profitability. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the economical and biological performances of lamb fattening operations in rural area. This study was conducted in Oubritenga province in Burkina Faso. Eighty-three rams supplied by 24 producers were involved in the test. Two rations were dispensed during fifty days. Body weight changes and financial operations were monitored. A weight gain model was built to explore growth determinants. Then, cost-benefit ratios were analysed to identify financial efficiency factors. Results show that growth performance depends on the combination of diet and sheep breeds rather than on feed only. Output markets and input marketing policy influence negatively financial cost-effectiveness. This implies firstly, that feed mixes proposed to producers must take species characteristics into account. Secondly, marketing policies enforced on livestock inputs which focu...

In the present study we studied the genetic structure of five Chinese sheep populations of Hu sheep, Tong sheep, Small-tailed Han sheep, Tan sheep, and Wadi (WD) sheep using 15 microsatelhte loci. The results showed that the FIT, FST, and FIS statistics computed for the complete dataset had the following values, 0.523±0.140, 0.363±0.131 and 0.263±0.092, respectively. All loci were significantly

In the present study we studied the genetic structure of five Chinese sheep populations of Hu sheep, Tong sheep, Small-tailed Han sheep, Tan sheep, and Wadi (WD) sheep using 15 microsatelhte loci. The results showed that the FIT, FST, and FIS statistics computed for the complete dataset had the following values, 0.523±0.140, 0.363±0.131 and 0.263±0.092, respectively. All loci were significantly

RESUMO - Sessenta e nove cordeiros filhos de ovelhas das raças Ideal ou Corriedale cobertas com machos das raças Suffolk, Ile de France, ou da mesma raça materna, foram usados para avaliar o seu desempenho e as características de carcaça. Os animais permaneceram em pastagem até o desmame (60 dias), foram confinados por 90 dias e alimentados com ração à base de silagem de milho e concentrado. Foi usado delineamento completamente casualizado em esquema fatorial. O uso de machos de corte sobre fêmeas lanígeras não causou efeito sobre o peso ao nascer e ao desmame das crias, porém aumentou o peso e a compacidade das carcaças, sem alterar as proporções de traseiro e costilhar. A espessura de gordura subcutânea não foi influenciada pelo genótipo, apresentando-se maior para fêmeas. A área de olho de lombo não apresentou diferença entre genótipos. As medidas de carcaça mostraram diferença entre genótipos, sendo as do cruzamento com Suffolk mais compridas, seguidas pelos mestiços de Ile de F...