The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of breed and production system on quantity and quality of milk in goats. The data obtained from two groups of Markhoz goats reared in two different regions (MS and ME), and one group of Kurdish hairy goats distributed in one region (KE) were analyzed. Environmental factors and management system for MS and ME goats were different, but ME and KE goats were

The data pertaining to 6874 lambs born to a total of 145 sires spanning over a period of 49 years (1969–2017) were collected from Mountain Sheep and Goat Research Station, SKUAST-K, Shuhama, Kashmir for a comprehensive evaluation of the growth performance of Corriedale sheep under Indian (temperate) conditions to assess the random effect of sire and fixed effects of period, sex, and type of birth on

Romerillo (Chiliotrichum diffusum) is an unpalatable and invasive shrub occurring in over 1 M ha of Magellan rangelands, which constraints livestock operations and reduces biodiversity. Low nutrient content and the presence hydrolizable tannins (HT) explain the low palatability of the shrub. We determined whether supplemental macronutrients (Exp. 1) or polyethylene glycol (PEG; Exp. 2), a compound

This review aims to describe the nutritional and non-nutritional factors that may affect parturition and dystocia in sheep. Dystocia is associated with fetopelvic disproportion, uterine inertia, failure of the cervix to fully dilate, malpresentation and disease or congenital defects in lambs. Dystocia can result in lambs that are born dead, or lambs that survive parturition but sustain birth injury

This study investigated the hypothesis that the use short-term synchronisation protocol following single fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) with extended cooled semen and natural mating in fertility management of dairy goats could be as good as or better than traditional long-term protocol. This was tested by designing an experiment using Toggenburg dairy goats raised under semi-intensive production

Goats show high flexibility when faced with changing foraging and environmental conditions, as well as dynamic social settings. Their origins in complex natural environments have equipped them with a sophisticated behavioural repertoire grounded in a series of cognitive capacities. We outline examples of how goats navigate feeding, spatial and social contexts, by recognizing and remembering patterns

In this study, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) within the full length of the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene in Hu sheep were detected and the functional SNPs associated with growth traits of Hu sheep were screened. Using a total of 202 female Hu sheep samples, this study investigated the genetic structure and genetic diversity of the Hu sheep population using PCR amplification, sequencing

In Mediterranean countries, large quantities of by-products are generated from artichoke and broccoli crops, as well as large masses of common reed due to the cleaning of riverbeds. They have traditionally been applied directly in animal feed, especially for small ruminants, without undergoing any preservation process. Their inclusion in diets would allow three benefits: feeding animals with materials

In Brazil, much of the sheep farming is practiced with native breeds or crossbred with specialized breeds. The market is growing and to serve consumers it is necessary to regularly provide quality meat. Rearing these animals with lower production costs can be achieved using feed efficiency and growth information, useful to define the most appropriate crossbreed for both farm structures and breeder’s

Mastitis causes significant economic losses in sheep flocks. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common microorganism isolated in ovine clinical mastitis. To characterize S. aureus causing sheep mastitis in Algeria, 252 samples of clinical mastitis cases were collected and subjected to Staphylococcus aureus isolation, isolates were identified by PCR-RFLP and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by

The aim of this study was to evaluate the history of a population of Saanen goats based on the population structure and the effect of inbreeding on accumulated 305-d milk yield (MY305) and lactation length (LL). Pedigree records of 7640 individuals born between 1997 and 2014 were analyzed and population parameters were estimated based on the probability of gene origin, effective population size (Ne)

The present study was carried out to identify single nucleotide variations in inhibin alpha (INHA)geneto evaluate its association with production traits in Malabari goats. A total of 251 Malabari adult goats were screened for polymorphism using PCR-SSCP.Representative samples of each SSCP pattern were sequenced to ascertain the genotypes. Five fragments, 274 bp, 220 bp, 160 bp, 287 bp and 253 bp covering

Assessing the status of genetic variability of native sheep breeds could provide important clues for research and policy makers to devise better strategies for the conservation and management of genetic resources. In this study, a genetic investigation of Tunisian sheep breeds using a genome-wide scan of approximately 50,000 SNPs was performed. To reconstruct genetic structure and relationships among

Our objective was to classify and characterize dairy goat farms on the basis of some socio-economic aspects in two Mediterranean countries, Italy and Turkey. Random samples of 11 farms from the north-eastern part of Italy and of 18 farms from Çanakkale province in the west region of Turkey have been used. Farmers were interviewed using 44 indicators related to general farm characteristics based on

Age at first lambing and lambing interval are two important reproductive traits affecting the longevity of sheep as well as the production yield in the lifetime. Thus, to identify the genomic regions associated with these traits, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed in Baluchi sheep by using the Illumina Ovine SNP50 K chip. The GWAS analysis was conducted in the fixed linear model by

The study was designed as a blinded, randomized, prospective, clinical trial to compare the use of 1% and 2% lignocaine hydrochloride for distal paravertebral nerve block in sheep undergoing Caesarian section. Full-term ewes (n = 18) with dystocia requiring laparohysterotomy were randomly and equally allotted to two groups (I and II). They were administered ceftriaxone (10 mg kg−1) and meloxicam (0

Mineral oil (MO) as a barrier can minimize temperature, osmolality and pH fluctuation in the oocyte/embryo culture medium. Regardless of these advantages, MO acts as a potential source of embryo-toxic compounds which can affect embryo viability. This study was conducted to assess the signs and effects of the four-well culture dish (FW) and microdrop culture systems (MD) on reducing the harmful effects

Genetic parameters for South African Angora goats were estimated from body weight, mohair production and reproduction data collected from birth on ram and ewe kids, as well as on the adult ewes in three herds from 2000 to 2015. Medium heritabilities were estimated for body weight from birth until 12-month of age and adult body weight, while a high heritability was estimated for 16-month body weight

The objective of this study was to establish mathematical models to predict the chemical constituents of the empty body and carcass from the rib section. The database was composed of five independent experiments, comprising a total of 171 experimental units consisting of 133 noncastrated males, 26 castrated males, and 12 females. The most representative breeds in the database were Santa Ines (n = 58)

Whereas that acute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARLA) can cause secondary metabolic disorders and some degree of cardiovascular damage, the present study aimed to evaluate the hemogasometry, concentrations of the creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and blood variables in goats with experimental ARLA. The disease was induced in five goats through intraruminal supply of 15 g sucrose/Kg

The objective of this study was to carry out a morphometric characterization of white Morada Nova sheep using the mean of sixteen (16) morphological traits and thirteen (13) zoometric indices. A total of 115 animals of seven (7) flocks in three states of the Northeast from Brazil were evaluated. Flock differences for quantitative variables were evaluated through analysis of variance, while the chi-squared

The present study was designed to describe the Doppler measurements of hepatic venous blood flow in camels (Camelus dromedarius). A total number of 9 adult healthy camels underwent hepatic Doppler examinations on the right side between the 11th and 9th intercostal spaces. The splenic and cranial mesenteric veins showed turbulent blood flows at their fusion to form the main portal trunk. At porta hepatis

Organic chromium and yucca extract (main components saponins) have functional properties that can stimulate desirable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses and consequently enhance the weight gain. Thus, the effects of supplementation with organic chromium and yucca extract (alone or in combination) on growth and health in lactating lambs were measured. Sixty-four Lacaune lambs aged 18 ± 2.5

The Dormer is a composite breed and constitutes the most numerous terminal sire breed in South Africa. The Elsenburg Dormer flock is the foundation flock of the breed and is still being maintained at the Elsenburg research farm in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Data from 1943 to 2019 were used to investigate genetic and environmental parameters and trends for early growth traits and lamb

Romerillo (Chiliotrichum diffusum) is an unpalatable and invasive shrub that reduces biodiversity and constraints livestock operations in the Magellan rangelands of southern Chile. Nutrient and energy inputs may enhance romerillo use by sheep, reducing its competitive capacity and restore biodiversity loss. In Exp. 1, 32 ewes were penned individually and randomly assigned to 4 groups (8 ewes/group)

Thirty-nine pregnant Sohagi ewes were divided into three equal groups to investigate the effects of an active dry yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae- SC, 2.44 × 1011 CFU/g yeast product) on lactation curve, milk composition, blood components and growth performance of newborn lambs. Ewes in the control group were fed a basal diet without yeast supplementation (SC0), the second (SC5) and third (SC10) groups

The ewe’s colostrum is an essential food for newborns because it helps them to improve their immune system in addition to providing nutrients for a few days after birth. It also increases the survival of the newborn in the first weeks of life, given that the ovine has a higher mortality rate in the initial 15 days of life. The rate of mortality can be reduced by providing sufficient good-quality colostrum

In this study, hair follicle density (HFD) was compared among different body sites in Inner Mongolia cashmere goat (Capra hirus). Skin samples from 14 different body sites of 11 Inner Mongolia cashmere goats were collected. A total of 154 skin samples were processed for paraffin embedment, sectioning and H&E staining. Images of 9.26 mm2 were captured by a microscope camera, and primary hair follicle

The social behaviour of farm animals is capable of influencing their welfare and production results (e.g. milk yield), and thus is very important, both for animals and farmers. The aim of the present study was to investigate dominance hierarchy, milking order, and neighbour preference in domestic goats. Animals were kept under semi-extensive management. In total, 72 milked goats (Saanen goat × German

The present study evaluated the effects of maternal undernutrition induced by a lower natural pasture allowance from 23 days before conception on the distribution and morphometry of muscle precursor cells and the expression of PCNA, Myogenin and Pax 7 in muscles Psoas major, Longissimus lumborum, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, Gluteobiceps and Gluteus medius of 70-day old sheep fetuses. Ewes were

Coxiella burnetii is an important pathogen because of its wide host range, low infectious dose, stability in the environment, and capability for aerosol dispersion. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential role of hard ticks found on camels in transmitting Coxiella burnetii. A total number of adult hard ticks (n.370) were collected from 181 imported camels brought for slaughter in Cairo

The objective of this study was to use pedigree analysis to evaluate the population structure and retention of genetic diversity in a flock of Muzaffarnagari sheep in India. Pedigrees of 5955 animals born between 1974 and 2003 was used to estimate the generation interval, pedigree completeness, and rate and level of inbreeding. Effective population size and parameters characterizing probabilities of

The diagnosis of Johne’s Disease by isolating Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from feces requires 6 months and high-cost reagents, and therefore an indirect technique like ELISA, is often being used to avoid these obstacles. The aim of this work was the production of a rabbit anti-deer polyclonal antibody (anti-deer pAb) for use in an in-house ELISA, applying protoplasmic antigen paratuberculosis

The aim of this study was to investigate a) the effect of equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG), in the dosage used for oestrus synchronization or for superovulation, on the activity of α-mannosidase (α-MAN) and β-N-acetyloglucosaminidase (β-NAGASE) in the genital tract of ewes before maternal recognition of pregnancy and b) the possible relationships among ovarian steroid concentration, glycosidase

USDA National Animal Germplasm Program is responsible for collecting germplasm from agriculturally relevant species in the US and developing methods for its efficient and effective storage and utilization. Lack of low cost and effective use of assisted reproductive technologies in sheep has been problematic and impacts the effective use of germplasm. While ram semen can be cryopreserved, methods for

This study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary supplementation of nano Zn oxide (nZnO), compared to Zn oxide (ZnO), on performance, rumen fermentation, leukocytes, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), blood serum enzymes and minerals in the ewes. Thirty pregnant Khorasan-Kurdish ewes were assigned to one of the 3 experimental groups (10 replicates) in a randomised complete block design. The

Pakistan is among the largest goat producing countries in the world exhibiting rich diversity between and within goat breeds. The implementation of any genetic improvement intervention for such a diverse goat population requires a clear definition of breeding objectives and selection criteria, tailored to the needs of goat farming community. Appreciating the importance and diversity of the Beetal goats

The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of genomic predictions in two purebreds using three different ways for the reference population formation: (1) a separate purebred reference population (SI), (2) a combined reference population from two breeds (CO), and (3) use of crossbred data (CR). The effects of different reference population structure were compared under different

Parasitic gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) are a serious challenge to sustainable small ruminant health and performance on pasture. Management practices including protein supplementation can help mitigate the deleterious effects of GIN and sustain livestock performance. We postulated that a combination of protein supplementation and grazing management would suppress GIN infection and contribute to

The Moxotó was the first local breed officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture; it is under serious threat as well as other locally adapted goat breeds. To be inserted into conservation programs, it is necessary to characterize their phenotype profile. Many statistical tools are available to assess the phenotypic profile of endangered breeds, and, in this context, multivariate

In the final third of gestation and during early lactation, sheep require a large supply of nutrients to support fetal growth, mammary gland development, and milk production. Nevertheless, during this period, the pregnant ewe consumes less feed in the context of increased energy expenditure and hepatic overload. For these reasons, natural products have been used as supplements to minimize the negative

This study was aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of reduced glutathione antioxidant in soybean lecithin-based cryopreservation medium on fertility and quality parameters of ram semen. In experiment 1, semen samples were collected from five rams and diluted in the freezing extender contained various concentrations of glutathione as follows: extender without glutathione (G0), extender containing

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary rumen undegradable protein (RUP) level and supplemental rumen protected conjugated linoleic acid (rpCLA) on performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, urinary purine derivatives and plasma metabolites in growing kids. Thirty-two Kurdish kids (13.06 ± 1.08 kg BW) were fed diets differing in RUP level (low = 250 vs. high = 350 g/kg

This study set out to define the energy and protein requirements for maintenance and lactation of Dorper☓Hu crossbred lactating ewes. Eighteen ewes of similar weight (53.37 ± 1.18 kg) were randomly divided into three groups after parturition: ad libitum (AL), IR70% (intake restricted to 70% of AL), and IR50% groups (intake restricted to 50% of AL). Energy, nitrogen, and carbon balance were calculated

The present study aimed to determine genetic variability and population structure of native Turkish goats including Hair, Kabakulak, Honamli and Norduz. A total of 255 different alleles and 16 private alleles were detected across 20 microsatellite loci. Number of alleles ranged from 8.30 (Norduz) to 11.70 (Hair), whereas number of effective alleles varied from 5.20 (Norduz) to 7.21 (Hair). Observed

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of lupin grain (Lupinus angustifolius; LUP) on milk characteristics of Awassi ewes, nutrient intake and digestibility and body weight of suckling lambs. Same diets were offered to the different groups of animals in both experiments. Dietary treatments contained no LUP (CON) or 200 g/kg LUP (LUP200) of dietary dry matter (DM) in substitution part of

Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) produce a high-value fibre and leather that is increasingly sought after for the production of luxury goods. Although several studies have addressed the genetics and gene expression of alpaca skin, particularly those associated with colour, little is known about the structural and molecular compositions of alpaca skin. In this study, alpaca skin was analysed using small angle

Research on Soay Island sheep showed a positive association of serum 25(OH)D concentration and fecundity, while similar research on Scottish sheep didn’t show an association with fecundity but did show an association with weaned lamb weight. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations of ewes at mating, on a commercial sheep farm, was associated

This study was carried to evaluate the effects of essential oils (EO) supplementation to sheep diets on their performance and ruminal fermentation characteristics through meta-analysis. Twenty-one peer-reviewed publications with 50 treatment means were included in the data set. The effects of EO as an additive in sheep diets were evaluated using random-effect models to examine the raw mean difference

The ability to identify ewes that can outperform their contemporaries, in terms of how long they remain productive in the flock, will help towards improving flock efficiency and profitability. The main objectives of this study were to: (1) identify the main reasons for mortality or culling within diverse sheep production systems in Ireland, Norway and UK; (2) investigate the influence of early life

Summer heat stress (HS) in warm climates decreases feedlot performance and, in extreme cases, causes death in fattening lambs. A traditional strategy to mitigate effects of HS has been the installation of galvanized sheet metal shades that partially or totally cover the corrals; however, the impact of total shading on thermoregulation and growth in hair lambs has been little studied. Twenty Dorper × Pelibuey

Knowledge of associations between skin follicle development in Angora goats and development of mohair fleeces is limited. These associations were investigated using data from a controlled nutrition experiment which had 3 levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN) × 2 levels of postnatal nutrition during lactation (PNN), with single and twin litters. Skin biopsies were taken (birth, 114, 180, 420 days

Modulation of fatty acid content in meat is thought to be a primary approach to increase human consumption of healthy fatty acids, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Recently, curcumin has been used to enhance PUFA content, as well as to reduce the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in egg yolk and milk; nevertheless, its effects on meat remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this

Avikalin sheep has been developed for higher growth rate and wool yield, however, wool has lost its market value over time. The aim of the study was to know the genetic potential of Avikalin for growth and also to suggest a selection criterion for higher growth with feed conversion efficiency. A total of 6296 animals descended from 2048 dams and 390 sires spread over a period of 41 years (1976-2016)

There is little information available on the nutrient requirements of suckling Angora kids weighing less than 10 kg which has resulted in nutrition recommendations being based on older, heavier and weaned goats. This experiment determined the energy intake of suckling Angora kids to estimate maintenance ME requirement (MEm) and ME required for growth (MEg) for 8 and 21 day old kids. Does were housed

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) supplementation on sperm motility, kinematics, mitochondrial activity and the abundance of sperm hexose transporters during liquid storage of ram semen at 5 ℃. Semen samples from eight rams were pooled and diluted with Tris-egg yolk extender supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 100 and 200 mM GSH, and they were assessed

Sheep were domesticated around 9000 BC in the Middle East, and since then milk from sheep gradually became very popular, not only for drinking but also for making cheeses and other dairy products. Nowadays, these dairy products are also important for people with an allergy to cow milk, and these products are an essential part of the local daily diet in regions of the world that are not suitable for

The genetic diversity and structure of Bolivian alpaca populations, and genetic relationship between alpacas, llamas and vicunas has been assessed using microsatellite markers. Overall alpaca and llama populations present higher genetic diversity (He = 0,73) than vicunas (He = 0,59). Genetic analysis and population structure have shown a closer relationship between alpacas and llamas, suggesting admixture

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hormonal and biochemical profile of dromedary she-camels with multiple ovarian cysts (MOC). Seventeen she-camels suffering from MOC and 10 control animals were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from all animals. Progesterone (P4), estradiol 17-β (E2), Testosterone, tri-iodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), glucose, total protein

Aimed at understanding how lamb production systems can affect sward structure in tropical grass pastures, the productive, structural and morphological characteristics of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) pasture were evaluated in four systems: non-weaned and non-supplemented lambs (NW); non-weaned lambs receiving concentrate supplementation in creep feeding (CF); early-weaned lambs not supplemented (W); and