ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Orbital volume refers to the sum of bulbus oculi volume and orbital cavity volume. Scientists use orbital volume as a guide to diagnose, treat and prognose various eye diseases such as thyroid eye disease and enophthalmos. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the orbital volumes of sheep, goats and gazelles to demonstrate homotypic variations and interspecific differences between them. METHODS: Crania of six male tuj sheep, five male hair goats and five male gazelle were used in this study. The crania were scanned using a 64-detector multi-detector computed tomography with a slice thickness of 0.625 mm at 80 kV, 200 MA and 639 mGy. The cross-sectional images were stored in DICOM format and then transferred to MIMICS 20.1 software. Afterwards, models were made by establishing the orbital borders on the cross-sections. Volume values were calculated based on the models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No homotypic variation was found between the right and left volumes within the species (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in terms of interspecific right and left orbital volumes between sheep and gazelles (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the orbital parameters of the sheep, goats and gazelles in the same family help reveal their differences in the visual anatomy of these species and provide reference data for clinical diagnosis, treatment and the prognosis follow-up of ocular diseases in animals.
Subject(s)
Goats , Orbit , Animals , Goats/anatomy & histology , Male , Sheep , Orbit/diagnostic imaging , Orbit/anatomy & histology , Antelopes/anatomy & histology , Sheep, Domestic , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/veterinary , Organ Size , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis has a potent antimethanogenic effect, which has been proven both in vitro and in vivo. Vegetable oil immersions of this seaweed (hereafter Bromoil) help stabilise the bromoform (CHBr3) responsible for its antimethanogenic effect. We evaluate the effects of increasing the levels of CHBr3 in lamb diets on growth performance, methane (CH4) production, animal health and meat quality. Twenty-four Merino Branco ram lambs were fed a ground complete compound feed, supplemented with 50 mL/kg DM of sunflower oil with different CHBr3 content. The treatments were defined by the CHBr3 doses in the oil: 0 mg (control - B0), 15 mg (B15), 30 mg (B30) and 45 mg (B45) of CHBr3 per kg of feed DM. The feed was prepared daily by mixing Bromoil with the compound feed. At the end of the experiment, the lambs were sacrificed, the ruminal content was collected for in vitro fermentation to evaluate CH4 production and organic matter (OM) degradability, and the rumen mucosa was sampled for histological examination. Meat samples were collected for chemical composition and CHBr3 analysis. The half-life of CHBr3 in the air-exposed feed was 3.98 h making it very difficult to establish the practiced level of CHBr3 supplementation. Lambs-fed treatments B30 and B45 decreased DM intake by up to 28%. Average daily gain was also reduced due to CHBr3 supplementation, with B45 showing results 40% lower than B0. DM feed conversion ratio was similar for all treatments. The degradability of OM, the volume of total gas and of gas without CH4 were unaffected by the experimental treatments, evaluated by the in vitro method. However, the volume of CH4 decreased by up to 75% for treatments above 30 mg/kg DM, while the yield of CH4/g OM degraded was reduced by up to 78% with treatments above 30 mg/kg DM. Meat chemical composition was not affected by Bromoil supplementation and no traces of CHBr3 were found in meat samples. During this experiment, the animals presented normal health and behaviour. However, postslaughter examination of the rumen showed distinct lesions on the ventral region of the rumen mucosa of animals supplemented with Bromoil. These lesions were more severe in the animals receiving treatments B30 and B45. This research determined that although concentrations of CHBr3 in the diet above 30 mg/kg DM helped to reduce CH4 emissions, it negatively affected the performance and rumen wall.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Dietary Supplements , Methane , Rhodophyta , Rumen , Sunflower Oil , Animals , Male , Animal Feed/analysis , Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/drug effects , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Fermentation , Meat/analysis , Methane/metabolism , Rhodophyta/chemistry , Rumen/metabolism , Sheep , Sheep, Domestic , Sunflower Oil/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a hormone produced by growing preantral and antral follicles of the ovary. AMH is accepted as an important biomarker for fertility and superovulation parameters in livestock species. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum AMH level in the oestrous cycle, repeatability of AMH, the effect of age on serum AMH level and the effects of AMH on litter size in Romanov sheep. In the study, a total of 36 Romanov sheep were used as animal material. First blood samples (0th day) were collected from 36 ewes to evaluate AMH and progesterone levels. Second blood samples were collected randomly from 20 ewes 9 days after first sampling to compare AMH levels at two different periods of the oestrous cycle in Romanov ewes. The ewes were categorized into three groups as low, medium and high AMH based on their first AMH levels. Results indicated that serum AMH level did not change during the oestrous and dioestrous phases of the oestrous cycle and two random time points of the oestrous cycle (p > .05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that there is a high (r = .95) and significant (p < .001) correlation between AMH levels at the 0th (AMH-1) and 9th (AMH-2) days. The effect of AMH level on litter size was found to be significant. Litter size was significantly higher in the high AMH group than in the low AMH group (p < .05). In addition, the age of ewes did not affect serum AMH levels (p > .05). ROC analysis indicates that AMH cut-off value >320 pg/mL with 70% sensitivity and 100% specificity can be used for litter size in Romanov ewes. In conclusion, AMH is highly repeatable and its serum AMH level did not change during the oestrous cycle in Romanov sheep. In addition, AMH affects litter size and can be reliably used as a marker for litter size in Romanov sheep.
Subject(s)
Anti-Mullerian Hormone , Biomarkers , Litter Size , Progesterone , Animals , Anti-Mullerian Hormone/blood , Female , Biomarkers/blood , Progesterone/blood , Estrous Cycle/blood , Estrous Cycle/physiology , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Sheep/physiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of non-genetic factors on the estimation of genetic parameters of early growth traits in hybrid mutton sheep using ASReml software, in order to provide theoretical basis for screening the optimal hybriding combinations and accelerating the breeding process of new breeds of specialized housed-feeding mutton sheep. We selected the wellgrown hybrid Southhu (Southdown × Hu sheep) and Dorhu (Dorset × Hu sheep) sheep as the research objects, constructed weight correction formulae for SH and DH sheep at 60 and 180 days; and used ASReml software to investigate the effects of non-genetic factors on the estimation of genetic parameters of early growth traits in hybrid sheep. The results showed that the birth month and birth type were found significant for all traits (p < 0.001); the heritability of maternal effects ranged from 0.0709 to 0.1859. It was found that both SH and DH sheep emerged the potential for rapid early growth and development, early growth traits are significantly affected by maternal genetic effects, thereby the maternal effect should be taken into consideration for the purpose of improving accuracy in parameter estimations and therefore increasing the success of breeding programs.
Subject(s)
Breeding , Animals , Sheep/genetics , Female , Hybridization, Genetic/genetics , Software , Male , Body Weight/genetics , Sheep, Domestic/genetics , Sheep, Domestic/growth & development , Sheep, Domestic/physiologyABSTRACT
Yeast and fibrolytic enzymes serve as additives incorporated into the nutrition of ruminants to regulate rumen fermentation and increase the digestibility of fiber, thereby enhancing the efficiency of rumen fermentation. Two experiments were conducted to assess the impact of five diets: a control diet without additives, diets with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE), and diets with a blend of 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE or 0.7EFE + 0.3Yeast (based on recommended levels in g/kg of total DM). In the first experiment, 40 five-month-old Santa Ines lambs (mean weight 25.0 ± 1.3 kg) were distributed in a completely randomized design (5 treatments and 8 lambs) for 81 days to evaluate performance, ingestive behaviour, and serum metabolites. In the second experiment, 25 Santa Ines male lambs weighing 25.7 ± 4.1 kg were housed in metabolic cages, in a randomized design with 5 treatments and 5 lambs, evaluating digestibility, nitrogen balance, and rumen pH. EFE supplementation increased intakes of dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and apNDF (mean of 38.1, 5.26, and 27%, respectively) compared to yeast or the 0.7yeast-0.3EFE blend. Feed conversion was most efficient (mean of 27.1%) in lambs fed Yeast, 0.7EFE + 0.3yeast, and the control diet. Lambs fed 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE spent less time eating (mean of 16.5%) and more time idling (mean of 10.75%), whereas EFE-fed lambs spent more time eating (mean of 19.73%), and 0.7EFE + 0.3yeast-fed lambs spent more time ruminating (mean of 20.14%). Control group lambs chewed and ruminated less (means of 24.64 and 17.21%, respectively) compared to other treatments. Lambs on the 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE blend had higher eating and rumination efficiency rates for DM and apNDF (mean of 19.11 and 17.95%, respectively) compared to other additive treatments or individual additives. They also exhibited lower (means 7.59 g/d) urinary N excretion, with improved N retention (mean 3185 g/d) compared to the control group. There were significant effects on serum albumin and cholesterol concentrations, with the 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE blend showing higher albumin (mean 4.08 g/dL) levels, while diets without additives and yeast-EFE blends had higher cholesterol (mean of 62.51 g/dL) concentrations. Including Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast along with 0.7 yeast + 0.3 EFE blend is recommended when feeding similar lamb diets to those used herein because it improves the efficiency of intake, rumination of DM and NDF, and nitrogen utilization without affecting the lamb performance.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Digestion , Rumen , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Animals , Animal Feed/analysis , Male , Digestion/drug effects , Diet/veterinary , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Fermentation , Random Allocation , Dietary Fiber/analysis , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosageABSTRACT
This study evaluated the use of the GnRH agonist hormone, deslorelin, to control the follicular population before initiating multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) treatment. Twenty-four cross-bred Santa Inês ewes, aged between 2 and 4 years, were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 11) or a treated group (n = 13). All ewes received an intravaginal device containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate on day 0, and a new device on day 7, which remained in place until day 14. Additionally, the ewes were administered 125 µg of cloprostenol on day 7. The superovulatory treatment involved administering 200 mg of pFSH, divided into eight decreasing doses at 12-h intervals starting on day 12. On day 14, 300 IU of eCG was administered. In the deslorelin group, three doses of 100 µg of deslorelin were administered starting on day 3 after the insertion of the vaginal device, with subsequent doses given at 72-h and 144-h intervals. Natural mating was performed 36 h after the removal of the progesterone implant using males with proven fertility. Embryo collection took place on the 6th day after mating, and the recovered structures were quantified and evaluated for quality and developmental stage. Transrectal ultrasonography was conducted on days 12, 16 and 21 to evaluate the ovaries, specifically to assess the ovarian follicular population and the presence of the corpus luteum. Ewes in the control group had higher embryo recovery rates (p < .01) compared to the treated group (5.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.1 ± 0.8), with differences observed primarily in the number of morulae. The number of corpus luteum observed during the laparotomy on day 21 was significantly higher (p < .01) in the control group (10.44 vs. 4.5 corpus luteum per ewe). Yet, the treated group had a significantly higher number of follicles (p < .05) on the first day of pFSH application (5.5 vs. 3.0 follicles per ewe). In conclusion, although the inclusion of deslorelin in the superovulation protocol resulted in increased synchronization of oestrus and follicle number, it did not lead to an increase in the number of corpus luteum or harvested embryos.
Subject(s)
Embryo Transfer , Follicle Stimulating Hormone , Superovulation , Triptorelin Pamoate , Animals , Female , Triptorelin Pamoate/analogs & derivatives , Triptorelin Pamoate/pharmacology , Triptorelin Pamoate/administration & dosage , Superovulation/drug effects , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/administration & dosage , Embryo Transfer/veterinary , Cloprostenol/pharmacology , Cloprostenol/administration & dosage , Pregnancy , Ovary/drug effects , Ovarian Follicle/drug effects , Sheep, Domestic , Sheep/physiology , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/pharmacology , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/administration & dosage , Medroxyprogesterone Acetate/pharmacology , Medroxyprogesterone Acetate/administration & dosageABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Türkiye is a country in the world ranking in terms of sheep breeding. Hamdani crossbred sheep breed is one of the sheep breeds that can adapt to the difficult conditions in our country. In addition, the sentence may be corrected as 'Especially in the southeastern part of the Türkiye, crossbreeding is preferred by breeders to increase the yield characteristics of sheep'. OBJECTIVES: In our study, it was aimed to perform a pelvimetric analysis of Hamdani crossbred sheep fetuses in the second and third trimesters by three-dimensional modelling method. METHODS: For this purpose, a total of 40 second-trimester (10 females, 10 males) and third-trimester (10 females, 10 males) fetuses were used. The pelvises of the fetuses were imaged with CT and 3D models were created. Sixteen pelvimetric measurements were performed from the models. The results obtained were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The study found statistically significant differences between male and female fetuses in terms of vertical diameter (VD) and foramen obturatum width (FOW) measurement parameters in the second trimester. In the third trimester, there were statistically significant differences between genders in acetabulum (AC) (p < 0.01), medial ischial tuberosities (MIT), and ischiatic arch (IA) (p < 0.05) parameters. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was determined that the pelvis length (PL) measurement parameter was positively correlated with different parameters in varying degrees in both periods, while the IA parameter did not show significant correlations with the other parameter in the last two periods of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the data obtained will be useful in pelvimetric evaluations of human and animal fetuses, anatomy education, zooarchaeology and taxonomy studies.
Subject(s)
Pelvis , Sheep, Domestic , Animals , Female , Male , Pelvis/diagnostic imaging , Pelvis/embryology , Pelvis/anatomy & histology , Sheep, Domestic/embryology , Fetus/diagnostic imaging , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/veterinary , Pregnancy , Pelvimetry/veterinary , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/veterinary , Fetal Development/physiologyABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate forage production and ingestive behavior of Morada Nova sheep in an intensive system with capim-tamani grass in both monoculture and silvopastoral irrigated systems in the Semi-arid region. Eighteen adult sheep, approximately 3 years old, with an average body weight of 26.8 ± 4.3 kg, were allocated to treatments with capim-tamani grass cultivated in monoculture and in silvopastoral systems with Caatinga trees. The experiment followed a completely randomized complete block design with two plots and three replications. Forage production, consumption, and behavioral activities were the assessed variables. The animals remained in the pasture daily between 6 am and 6 pm. No effects of the monoculture and silvopastoral systems were observed on the structural and productive characteristics of the capim-tamani grass pasture. There were also no observed effects on body condition score, consumption, and disappearance rate of dry matter (DM) and other nutrients in both systems. However, there was an interaction between the time animals spent under shade in monoculture and silvopastoral systems. In general, the animals spent more time under shade where there were trees, except during the period between 2 pm and 4 pm, when the times were similar. On average, the animals spent approximately 15.6% (equivalent to 1.87 h) of their total time in the artificial shade available in the monoculture system, whereas in the silvopastoral system, they remained under natural shade for approximately 40% (five and a half hours) of their time spent in the pasture during the day. The grazing frequency in both systems was approximately 70% (8.4 h) in relation to the total time spent in the pasture. The capim-tamani grass pasture managed intensively with sheep in the silvopastoral system showed similar forage production and consumption compared to the monoculture system. There was a positive influence of trees on the duration of solar radiation exposure to the animals throughout the day. The results support the need to provide shade for sheep, as well as to promote these sustainable systems in semi-arid regions.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Animal Husbandry , Feeding Behavior , Poaceae , Animals , Animal Husbandry/methods , Animal Feed/analysis , Agricultural Irrigation , Sheep/physiology , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Male , FemaleABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic and financial viability of finishing of two sexes of Brazilian Somalis sheep in feedlot receiving diets with 0 and 15% reduction in the total digestible nutrients and crude protein contents. A completely randomized design was adopted, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with treatments consisting of two sexes (non-castrated males (21.13 ± 5.00 kg) and females (17.99 ± 3.79 kg) and two diets (0 and 15% reduction in the levels of total digestible nutrients and crude protein). Four simulations of productive scenarios were carried out: non-castrated males receiving the diet with 0% reduction; non-castrated males receiving the diet with 15% reduction; females receiving the diet with 0% reduction and females receiving the diet with 0% reduction, for a period of 70 days in feedlot. The highest costs of the system were with feeding and other costs, mainly the acquisition of animals. For both sexes, the 0% reduction diet showed the highest total cost, total revenue, break-even point. Non-castrated males fed a non-reduced diet and females fed a 15% reduction diet had higher net income, rate of return, total productivity, net present value, internal rate of return, profitability index and profitability rate. Less favorable situations were not profitable for any scenario. However, the increase in sales price favorability makes the activity viable. The reduction of total digestible nutrients and crude protein affects the economic and financial viability of Brazilian Somalis sheep. For non-castrated males it is recommended the diet without reduction and for females the diet with 15% reduction of nutrients.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Animal Husbandry , Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Diet , Animals , Male , Female , Brazil , Animal Feed/analysis , Animal Feed/economics , Animal Husbandry/economics , Animal Husbandry/methods , Diet/veterinary , Diet/economics , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Sheep, Domestic/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Guide Black-Fur sheep (GD) is a breed of Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) that lives in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau region at an altitude of over 4,000 m. However, a lack of genomic information has made it difficult to understand the high-altitude adaptation of these sheep. We sequenced and assembled the GD reference genome using PacBio, Hi-C, and Illumina sequencing technologies. The final assembled genome size was 2.73 Gb, with a contig N50 of 20.30 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 107.63 Mb. The genome is predicted to contain 20,759 protein-coding genes, of which 98.42 have functional annotations. Repeat elements account for approximately 52.2% of the genomic landscape. The completeness of the GD genome assembly is highlighted by a BUSCO score of 93.1%. This high-quality genome assembly provides a critical resource for future molecular breeding and genetic improvement of Tibetan sheep.
Subject(s)
Genome , Sheep, Domestic , Animals , Altitude , Chromosomes , Sheep/genetics , Sheep, Domestic/genetics , TibetABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous melatonin administration on transferable embryos by increasing total antioxidant status before superovulation in Assaf ewes. Selected ewes were randomly divided into two equal groups: melatonin (n = 9) and control (n = 9). In the melatonin group, a melatonin implant (18 mg melatonin, Regulin®, Ceva, Turkey) was placed under the skin of the ear 7 days prior to insertion of the progesterone-containing sponge. In the control group, a physiological saline solution was injected under the skin of the ear on the same day. The same superovulation protocol was used in both groups. In addition, blood samples for determination of Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant status and total oxidant status concentrations were collected on five different days, including the day of melatonin implant placement (Day-7), vaginal sponge insertion (Day 0), vaginal sponge removal (Day 11), mating (Day 12-13) and uterine flushing (Day 19). Embryos were collected by laparotomy on the 7th day after mating. Uterine flushing taken into petri dishes were scanned under a stereomicroscope, and the quality and developmental stages of the embryos were recorded. In the study, total corpus luteum count and total cell count were found to be higher in the control group than in the melatonin group (p < .05). When the results were evaluated in terms of oxidative stress index, a negative correlation was found between the total number of corpus luteum, number of cells obtained, count of transferable embryos and number of Grade 1 embryos on Day 0. There was also a positive correlation oxidative stress index and the number of unfertilized oocytes on Day-7. As a result, exogenous melatonin administration prior to superovulation during the breeding season is thought to have a negative effect on embryo yield and quality. Therefore, the use of exogenous melatonin in MOET studies during the breeding season is recommended to be investigated in new studies.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Embryo Transfer , Melatonin , Superovulation , Animals , Melatonin/pharmacology , Melatonin/administration & dosage , Female , Superovulation/drug effects , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Embryo Transfer/veterinary , Sheep, Domestic , Pregnancy , Corpus Luteum/drug effects , Sheep/embryologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effects of supplementation of vitamin D to the egg-yolk extender on characteristics of frozen-thawed ram semen. METHODS: Semen samples obtained from adult rams were pooled and divided into five equal volumes. It was reconstituted with extenders containing different concentrations of vitamin D: 0 (control), 12.5 (VITD 12.5), 25 (VITD 25), 50 (VITD 50), and 100 ng/mL (VITD 100), and then they were frozen. Sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane functional integrity, acrosomal integrity, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the groups were evaluated after sperm thawing. RESULTS: Total motility and progressive motility were higher in VITD 50 than in all other groups (p < 0.05). Higher sperm straightness, linearity, and wooble were higher in VITD 50 than in the control group (p < 0.05). A similar pattern of VITD 50 was observed for plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the study, it was observed that adding vitamin D to the extender had a beneficial effect on ram spermatological parameters. In addition, it was concluded that the use of the 50 ng/mL vitamin D in the extender provided more effective protection than the other doses.
Subject(s)
Cryopreservation , Semen Preservation , Vitamin D , Animals , Male , Semen Preservation/veterinary , Semen Preservation/methods , Vitamin D/pharmacology , Vitamin D/administration & dosage , Cryopreservation/veterinary , Sheep/physiology , Egg Yolk/chemistry , Semen/drug effects , Semen/physiology , Cryoprotective Agents/pharmacology , Sheep, DomesticABSTRACT
Introduction: The escalating occurrence of infectious disease outbreaks in humans and animals necessitates innovative, effective, and integrated research to better comprehend their transmission and dynamics. Viral infection in livestock has led to profound economic losses globally. Pneumonia is the prevalent cause of death in sheep. However, very few studies exist regarding virus-related pathogens in sheep. Metagenomics sequencing technologies in livestock research hold significant potential to elucidate these contingencies and enhance our understanding. Methods: Therefore, this study aims to characterize respiratory viromes in paired nasal swabs from Inner Mongolian feedlot sheep in China using metaviromic sequencing. Through deep sequencing, de novo assembly, and similarity searches using translated protein sequences, several previously uncharacterized and known viruses were identified in this study. Results: Among these discoveries, a novel Bovine Rhinitis B Virus (BRBV) (BRBV-sheep) strain was serendipitously detected in the nasal swabs of domestic sheep (Ovis aries). To facilitate further molecular epidemiological studies, the entire genome of BRBV-sheep was also determined. Owing to the unique sequence characteristics and phylogenetic position of BRBV-sheep, genetically distinct lineages of BRBV in sheep may exist. A TaqMan-based qRT-PCR assay targeting the 3D polymerase gene was developed and used to screen 592 clinical sheep specimens. The results showed that 44.59% of the samples (264/592) were positive. These findings suggest that BRBV sheep are widespread among Inner Mongolian herds. Conclusion: This discovery marks the initial identification of BRBV in sheep within Inner Mongolia, China. These findings contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology and genetic evolution of BRBV. Recognizing the presence of BRBV in sheep informs strategies for disease management and surveillance and the potential development of targeted interventions to control its spread.
Subject(s)
Phylogeny , Sheep Diseases , Animals , China/epidemiology , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/virology , Sheep Diseases/epidemiology , Sheep, Domestic , Nose/virology , Genome, Viral/genetics , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Metagenomics/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Papilloma DNA viruses are one of the viruses that cause skin lesions in ruminants. OBJECTIVES: The clinical, histopathological and molecular characteristics of cutaneous papilloma in ruminants in Iran are to be investigated in this study. METHODS: Samples were collected from 19 small ruminants (5 sheep and 14 goats) with various papillomatosis lesions. The samples taken were studied with histopathological and molecular techniques. RESULTS: In clinical terms, the lesions appeared in different sizes, ranging from 0.5 to 11 cm, and the cauliflower exophytic masses appeared in other parts of the animal's body. In the limbs, most papilloma lesions have been seen (42.1%). In histopathological examination, perinuclear vacuolation epidermal granule layer with various degrees of hypergranulosis, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, orthokeratosis and parakeratosis were seen. Moreover, all the suspected samples were positive for papillomavirus using the polymerase chain reaction technique. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of papillomaviruses in Iranian sheep and goats is low, it seems necessary to distinguish them from other viral skin diseases, such as cutaneous contagious ecthyma, using molecular techniques and histopathology.
Subject(s)
Goat Diseases , Goats , Papillomaviridae , Papillomavirus Infections , Sheep Diseases , Animals , Iran/epidemiology , Sheep Diseases/virology , Sheep Diseases/epidemiology , Sheep Diseases/pathology , Sheep , Goat Diseases/virology , Goat Diseases/pathology , Goat Diseases/epidemiology , Papillomaviridae/isolation & purification , Papillomaviridae/genetics , Papillomavirus Infections/veterinary , Papillomavirus Infections/virology , Papillomavirus Infections/pathology , Papillomavirus Infections/epidemiology , Papilloma/veterinary , Papilloma/virology , Papilloma/pathology , Papilloma/epidemiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Female , Prevalence , Male , Sheep, DomesticABSTRACT
While sheep can detect and discriminate human emotions through visual and vocal cues, their reaction to human body odors remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine whether sheep (Ovis aries) can detect human odors, olfactorily discriminate stressed from non-stressed individuals, and behave accordingly based on the emotional valence of the odors. Axillary secretions from 34 students were collected following an oral examination (stress odor) or a regular class (non-stress odor). Fourteen female and 15 male lambs were then exposed to these odors through a habituation-dishabituation procedure. The habituation stimulus was presented four times for one minute, followed by the dishabituation stimulus presented once for one minute. Behavioral variables included spatiality relative to target odors, approach/withdrawal, ear positioning, sniffing, ingestion, and vocalization. Both female and male lambs more often positioned their ears backwards/forwards, and asymmetrically when exposed to the dishabituation stimulus, but regardless of their stress or non-stress value. They also changed their approach behavior when exposed to the dishabituation stimuli. Lambs displayed some behavioral signs of discrimination between the habituation and dishabituation odors, but regardless of their relation to stress or non-stress of human donors. In sum, this exploratory study suggests that young sheep respond negatively to the odor of unfamiliar humans, without showing any specific emotional contagion related to the stress odor. This exploratory study suggests young ovines can detect human body odor, a further step toward understanding the human-sheep relationship.
Subject(s)
Emotions , Odorants , Animals , Male , Female , Humans , Habituation, Psychophysiologic , Smell , Olfactory Perception , Discrimination, Psychological , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Behavior, Animal , Sheep , Stress, Psychological , Young AdultABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate how ascorbic acid with dietary flaxseed oil affects the quality and fertility of cryopreserved ram sperm in South African indigenous rams. Treatment diets were supplemented 60 days before semen collection to afford proper spermatogenesis, adaptation to the feed formulated and fed throughout the study. Semen was collected with the use of artificial vagina following dietary supplementation with five treatment diets (neg. cont. - negative control, pos. cont. - positive control, FLO - 5% Flaxseed oil, ASA - 4% Ascorbic acid, and FLO + ASA). Semen was then extended using tris-based extender and cryopreserved using the programmable freezer (CBS Freezer 2100 series, Laboratory consumables & chemical suppliers, America). Ovaries were collected from a neighbouring slaughter house and conveyed to the lab in 0.9% saline at 37 °C. Data (sperm parameters and in vitro fertility) was then exposed to the GLM (General Linear Model) in Minitab 17. Pearson's correlation coefficient was utilized to investigate the relationship between cryopreserved sperm quality and in vitro fertility. The student Least Significant Difference Test was used to separate the treatment means, and differences were accepted when the p-value was less than 0.05. The FLO + ASA group had higher (p < 0.05) progressive (36.33 ± 1.87), total (88.24 ± 2.24), rapid motility (27.52 ± 1.74), intact plasma membrane (75.67 ± 2.08), total fertilization (65.98 ± 7.39), and total cleavage (66.19 ± 6.50) when compared to other treatment groups. Total fertilization rate had a medium significant (p < 0.001) medium correlation with the progressive motility (r2 = 0.435), total motility (r2 = 0.447) and rapid motility (r2 = 0.409). In conclusion, dietary flaxseed and ascorbic acid (FLO + ASA) improves cryopreserved semen quality, in vitro fertilization rate, and the total cleavage rate. Noteworthy, the progressive, total and rapid motility play a crucial in the in vitro fertilization rate.
Subject(s)
Ascorbic Acid , Cryopreservation , Dietary Supplements , Fertility , Linseed Oil , Semen Analysis , Semen Preservation , Cryopreservation/veterinary , Ascorbic Acid/pharmacology , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Ascorbic Acid/analysis , Male , Animals , Semen Preservation/veterinary , Linseed Oil/pharmacology , Linseed Oil/administration & dosage , Semen Analysis/veterinary , Fertility/drug effects , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Animal Feed/analysis , Diet/veterinary , Fertilization in Vitro/veterinary , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , South Africa , Sperm Motility/drug effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The study of growth traits is of interest to many animal scientists, regardless of specialization, due to the economic importance of growth rate, mature weight and other related traits. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare six non-linear models for describing the growth of Lori-Bakhtiari sheep. METHODS: In order to collect weight data, 85 lambs (41 males and 44 females) were reared from birth to 140 days of age, and their growth patterns were recorded by measuring their body weight at 10-day intervals. Various mathematical functions, including the negative exponential, Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Morgan-Mercer-Flodin (MMF) and Weibull, were used to model the relationship between body weight records and age. RESULTS: The results showed that the MMF and Gompertz models provided the best fit to the body weight data, whereas the negative exponential model exhibited the worst fit. In all models, the asymptotic weight of male lambs was higher than females. The research also revealed differences in growth patterns between male and female lambs. Overall, females had a lower absolute growth rate than males, but they reached their peak growth at an earlier period, and their growth rate declined faster. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in growth patterns between males and females indicate the importance of analysing male and female data separately when describing growth. As a result, Gompertz model can be recommended to Lori-Bakhtiari female and male lamb breeders to determine more accurate growth traits. In addition, it should be considered that feeding male and female lambs separately according to absolute growth rate values may increase growth performance.
Subject(s)
Sheep, Domestic , Animals , Female , Male , Sheep, Domestic/growth & development , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Nonlinear Dynamics , Models, Biological , Body Weight , Sheep/growth & development , Sheep/physiologyABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the effects of a flushing diet containing Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from Lemuru (Sardinella sp) fish oil on the reproductive performance parameters of Garut ewes. Forty (n = 40) primiparous Garut ewes aged 12-14 months with an average body weight of 28.92 ± 4.94 kg were assigned into four experimental treatment groups. The experimental diets contained roughage: concentrate (30:70%) designated as control concentrate (CNT), flushing concentrate with 6% palm oil (PO), flushing concentrate with 3% palm oil mixed with 3% lemuru oil as DHA and EPA sources (PFO), and flushing concentrate with the addition of 6% lemuru oil (FO). Treatment animals were fed two weeks before and after conception and parturition (8 weeks of total flushing treatment). The addition of fish oil at either 3% (PFO) or 6% (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance of ewes by increasing the litter size, as reflected by the birth of multiple kids (P < 0.05) compared to CNT and PO. Adding fish oil (PFO and FO) also maintains gestation, resulting in increased lamb yield, especially in the FO treatment, which yields the highest lamb yield (0% single lamb birth). The lamb male ratio was also higher with fish oil supplementation (PFO and PO) (P < 0.05). This research revealed a positive effect of 6% Lemuru oil on decreasing embryo loss and increasing the proportion of twin births. These findings thus support the hypothesis that ration flushing with double the required DHA and EPA from 6% Lemuru fish oil (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance in Garut sheep.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Docosahexaenoic Acids , Eicosapentaenoic Acid , Fish Oils , Animals , Female , Eicosapentaenoic Acid/administration & dosage , Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacology , Eicosapentaenoic Acid/analysis , Docosahexaenoic Acids/administration & dosage , Docosahexaenoic Acids/analysis , Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology , Fish Oils/administration & dosage , Animal Feed/analysis , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Reproduction/drug effects , Diet/veterinary , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , PregnancyABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of cocoa bran in the diet of lambs and its effect on reproductive parameters. For this, 40 lambs were randomly assigned to four treatments, and including 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels of cocoa bran in the concentrate. Blood was collected to measure cholesterol and testosterone and semen for physical and morphological evaluation; testicular biometry and morphometry were also evaluated. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in body weight and tubulosomatic index between the lambs in the control treatment and those in the 30% cocoa bran treatment. There was no difference in testicular biometry, physical and morphological parameters of fresh semen, testicular morphometry, and volumetric ratio between lambs in all the treatments (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no difference in plasma cholesterol or testosterone concentration (P > 0.05). Thus, it is possible to include up to 30% of cocoa bran in diet without affecting the reproductive parameters of lambs.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Cholesterol , Diet , Sheep, Domestic , Testis , Testosterone , Animals , Male , Animal Feed/analysis , Diet/veterinary , Testis/anatomy & histology , Sheep, Domestic/physiology , Testosterone/blood , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol/analysis , Cacao/chemistry , Reproduction , Semen/physiology , Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Random Allocation , Sheep/physiologyABSTRACT
The Morada Nova sheep breed is essential for the economy of the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil, standing out for its adaptability, resistance to parasites and reproductive ability. However, the white variant is endangered, highlighting the importance of studies on its productivity to support conservation efforts. This study focuses on the growth curve of the Morada Nova sheep breed, using nonlinear models and analyzing flock profiles. Total of 764 observations of 165 animals from four farms in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, were analyzed. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was used for the exploratory analysis and four nonlinear models were used to study the growth curve. Weight from birth to 270 days of age, absolute growth rate (AGR), and the impact of sex on growth curves were assessed. Sex and farm are significant discriminating variables (P < 0.05) for the studied effects (weight and age). Weight was the primary phenotypic biomarker that discriminated between the two indicators, while age was a discriminating indicator only for the core effect. The Gompertz model was the most efficient, presenting the lowest residuals and greatest convergence. The study reveals new information about the growth of Morada Nova sheep, the white variety, including weight differences between the sexes at all analyzed ages and an inflection point before 90 days of age. These discoveries contribute to the understanding of the breed's growth and help in the formulation of conservation strategies.