Small Ruminant Research最新文献

Exploring the safe, cheap, and efficient gonadotropin to enhance reproductive performance of ewe is of worldwide demand. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of using human recombinant FSH (hrFSH) at the end of a short progesterone injection-based estrus synchronization program during the breeding season in ewe. Shal ewes (n=184) were assigned randomly into 4 groups using 2 (hrFSH or No-hrFSH) by 2 (Mating or Laparoscopic artificial insemination; LapAI) factorial design during the breeding season. On Day 0 of the experiment, ewes received progesterone (37.5 mg; sc) and GnRH analogue (7.5 µg Alarelin acetate; im). On Days 3 and 6, ewes received 25 and 12.5 mg progesterone (sc), respectively. All ewes received prostaglandin F₂α analogue (250 µg Cloprostenol; im) on Day 6. On Day 7, ewes were divided into two equal groups and received hrFSH (75 IU Follitropin alfa; sc) or didn’t receive any further treatment. Ewes displaying estrus in each group were assigned for mating for 5 days or LapAI at either 4–10 or 20–24 h after estrous detection. Data were analyzed using GLM and Genmod procedures. The tightness of estrus synchrony within 24 h was greater in hrFSH (89.4 %) than No-hrFSH (63.9 %) group (P<0.0001). The respective prolificacy and fecundity were greater in hrFSH (1.81 and 0.96) than No-hrFSH (1.26 and 0.68) group (P<0.05). The respective lambing rate and fecundity rate were greater for ewes mated (61.9 % and 0.96) compared to LapAI (45.5 % and 0.68; P<0.05). Ewes inseminated between 4 and 10 hours after estrous expression had greater sex ratio toward male offspring (1.89) compared to those inseminated between 20 and 24 hours (0.64, P<0.05). In conclusion, hrFSH could be considered as an effective gonadotropin for enhancing the tightness of estrus synchrony, prolificacy and fecundity in the progesterone injection-based estrus synchronization program in ewe.

The experiment was intended to explore the protecting effects of Nannochloropsis oculate on the induced cadmium reproductive toxicity in rams. Twenty mature Barki rams were randomly allocated into four groups, each containing five rams: group I (control), group II (received 3 % dietary N. oculate), group III (received 1 mg/Kg/day cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), and group IV (received 3 % dietary N. oculate and 1 mg/Kg/day CdCl₂). Semen ejaculates and blood samples were collected. Testicular volume and reaction time were assessed with every semen collection. Ejaculates were analyzed for semen criteria. Rams were subjected to a castration process to analyze the anti-oxidative status, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inflammatory markers in the testicular homogenate. Testicular histopathology was performed on testicular sections. Gene expression of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) was assessed. Alga-treated rams revealed significant improvement in semen criteria, testicular weight, and testosterone hormone as compared to other groups. The levels of testicular antioxidant markers and interleukin-10 elevated significantly in the alga group, while interleukin-12 increased in the CdCl₂ group. Alga+CdCl₂ rams showed significant amelioration in the previous parameters equated to the CdCl₂ group. CdCl₂ rams exhibited a significant fold upgrade in MAPK of compared with other groups. Testicular histopathology revealed marked alterations in the testicular architecture of CdCl_2, while administration of alga recovered the testicular architecture. In conclusion, administration of N. oculate ameliorated semen criteria, testicular antioxidant capacity as well as testicular histopathology that was declared by the expression of MAPK38.

This study evaluated the effects of the association of babassu oil (BAO) and sunflower oil (SO) in different proportion might modulates rumen biohydrogenation (RBH) without adverse effects on nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation. Thirty-five lambs (18 ± 3.9 kg of initial body weight and 122 ± 10 days of initial age) were distributed into five dietary treatments (as dry matter-DM basis): control diet (CON) with a 30:70 of forage to concentrate ratio, control diet supplemented with 45 g/kg of BAO (0SO), control diet supplemented with 30 g/kg of BAO + 15 g/kg of SO (15SO), control diet supplemented with 22.5 g/kg of BAO + 22.5 g/kg of SO blend (22SO), and control diet supplemented with 30 g/kg of BAO + 15 g/kg of SO blend (30SO). After 50 days in feedlot, sheep were slaughtered and a representative sample of abomasal content was collected, for fatty acid (FA) determination. BAO supplementation reduced feed intake (P < 0.05) and protozoa count, but did not change (P > 0.05) the nutrient digestibility. The dietary SO blend addition had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on nutrient intake and protozoa count, without change nutrient digestibility. Lipid supplementation slighly modified rumen fermentation. However, BAO reduced (P <0.001) the sum of branched-chain FAs (BCFA) compared to CONT and slighly increased the sum of cis-MUFA (P = 0.004) in abomasal content, while SO blend exerts a quadratic effect on c9,t11-CLA (P = 0.005) and 18:3n-3 RBH (P < 0.001). Feeding SO blend in combination with BAO had a minimum effect on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation. However, the addition up to 22.5 g/kg of sunflower oil blend modulated 18:3n-3 RBH, and increased the concentration of rumenic acid (c9,t11-CLA) and branched-chain fatty acid, which could improve the nutritional value of meat.

Dairy sheep farming is a dynamic economic activity in the Mediterranean region, with a crucial environmental and social role. The sustainability of this productive sector is a challenge as its profitability is threatened by several different factors. Health management is one of the key technical levers to respond to these challenges, by reducing the impairment of animal performance, permitting improved feed efficiency and reduced level of veterinary and medicine inputs. The promotion of knowledge, the implementation of best practices and innovation exchange between stakeholders to enhance the willingness of sheep farmers to adopt technical solutions and practices are very important for improving the profitability of flocks. This study presents the outcomes of an extended online survey carried out with different stakeholders of the dairy sheep sector in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The main health and management issues for adult ewes and lambs among production systems, stakeholders’ categories and countries, and the main sources of information used by stakeholders to cope with the previous mentioned challenges were included to the questionnaire. Mastitis of the adult ewes, neonatal diseases and sheep shed management were recognized as the most important issues by the participants. Furthermore, this work provides insights on how to improve the understanding between farmers, veterinarians, advisors, and researchers in the Mediterranean region. In addition, our findings highlight the gaps in knowledge and suggest new topics for research and cooperation.

Whole sesame seeds (WSS) are good source of linoleic acid (LA) and lignans the effect of which have not been studied on the expression of key- genes in monocytes of dairy goats. Twenty-four, F2 crossbred [Alpine × Local (Greek) breeds] dairy goats (BW = 44.9 ± 5.4 kg), age (3–4 years old),were divided into three homogenous subgroups; the control group (CON) in which no WSS included and the two treated groups in the concentrates of which WSS were included at 5 % (WSS5) and 10 % (WSS10) respectively, by partially substituting both soybean meal and corn grain. The findings indicated a significant increase in the expression level of the IRF3 gene in the monocytes of goats fed with WSS5 compared to the CON group, throughout the experimental period. Both dietary inclusion levels of WSS caused a numerical downregulation in the expression levels of TNFA, IFNG, CCL5, and IL8. Additionally, the WSS10 group exhibited a numerical decrease in the expression levels of TLR4, IL1A, and IL1B compared to the other groups. Consequently, this study revealed that the inclusion of WSS in the above levels in goats’ diets does not modify pro-inflammatory signaling pathways or the expression patterns of genes. The lignans of WSS ensure the safe administration of their linoleic acid when these included at 5 % (WSS5) and 10 % (WSS10) of the concentrates in goats’ diets.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of post-mating GnRH or TAK-683 (kisspeptin analog) treatment on serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations and fertility parameters of ewes during the non-breeding season. One hundred and twenty multiparous, lactating Awassi ewes were used. For estrus synchronization, vaginal sponges containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) were inserted into the vagina and kept there for nine days. On the day of sponge removal (day 0), 500 IU of eCG and 75 µg of d-cloprostenol were given intramuscularly. Rams were introduced in the flock 24 h after sponge removal and kept with the ewes for 26 days, allowing a second mating period after synchronized estrus. On the fourth day after mating (day 6) the ewes mated by the rams between the 24th and 72nd hours (n = 105) were randomly divided into three groups. Control group (n = 36) received 1 ml of saline solution subcutaneously; GnRH group (n = 34) received 4 μg of buserelin acetate intramuscularly; TAK-683 group (n = 35) received 5 μg of TAK-683 acetate subcutaneously. Blood samples were taken to measure serum P₄ concentrations (ng/ml) at sponge insertion and on the 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 19th, 35th, and 50th days after sponge removal. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted via serum P₄ concentration measurement on the 19th day and transrectal ultrasonography on days 35 and 50. The results showed that GnRH treatment (4.823 ± 0.238; 2.151 ± 0.272) increased (P<0.05) the mean P₄ concentration (ng/ml) in pregnant and non-pregnant ewes during the first mating period compared to Control (3.708 ± 0.207; 1.515 ± 0.164), while TAK-683 treatment (4.457 ± 0.181; 1.967 ± 0.213) was not different between groups. GnRH (58.82 %) and TAK-683 (42.10 %) treatments increased the pregnancy rate in the second mating period in comparison to the Control group (17.39 %) (P<0.05). Cumulative pregnancy and fecundity rates were higher in GnRH (79.41 %; 120.58 %) and TAK-683 (68.57 %; 100.0 %) groups than in the Control group (17.39 %; 58.33 %) (P<0.05). There was no difference in late embryonic loss rate among the groups (P>0.05), whereas early fetal loss rate tended to be lower in the TAK-683 (0 %) and GnRH (0 %) groups than in the Control group (15.38 %) (P=0.07). The total pregnancy loss rate (from day 19 to day 50 post-mating) was lower in GnRH (0 %) and TAK-683 (0 %) groups relative to the Control group (21.42 %) (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences among the groups in terms of the first mating period pregnancy rate, twinning rate, and litter size (P>0.05). As a result, treatment with GnRH and TAK-683 on the fourth day after mating increased fecundity in lactating ewes outside the breeding season by preventing total pregnancy losses (from day 19 to day 50) and increasing second mating pregnancy rates.

The present study aims to elucidate the transcriptomic changes occurring in the cardiac tissue of sheep breeds acclimated to highland versus lowland regions in India. The Changthangi sheep thrives in cold arid highlands of Ladakh in contrast to the Muzzafarnagri sheep which is native to the sub-tropical plains characterized by sweltering heat and high humidity. Four biological replicates of heart tissue from each breed were used to generate the RNA sequencing data. Both breeds exhibited high expression of genes related to crucial cardiac functions such as muscle contraction, hypertrophy and calcium ion homeostasis. Differential gene expression analysis identified distinct expression profiles associated with altitudinal adaptation, with enrichment of apoptotic signals in Changthangi and glycosaminoglycan metabolism in Muzzafarnagri sheep. Gene co-expression network highlighted the significance of apoptosis and EGFR pathway that may orchestrate adaptive responses to low oxygen levels in Changthangi sheep found in high altitude. The nodal genes identified in Muzzafarnagri sheep play essential roles in stress responses and MAPK signaling pathways, pivotal for cellular adaptation and survival under adverse conditions. The key genes identified within our study present compelling candidates for future studies in altitudinal adaptation in ovines. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of cardiac adaptation to altitude in sheep, shedding light on the molecular pathways involved in physiological adjustments to high-altitude environments.

The objective of this study was to assess the probiotic and technological properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from artisanal sheep milk cheeses for potential use in dairy products made from goat milk. Strains studied were Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LC6, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP48, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae LH69 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides LM99. The criteria studied were fermentative capacity, carbohydrate fermentation profile, β-galactosidase (lactase) activity, auto-aggregation capacity, hydrophobicity, antimicrobial activity, resistance to simulated gastric secretion, bile resistance, and resistance to different pH and salts concentrations, as well as growth and viability in goat milk. In general, the strains studied showed characteristics compatible with potential probiotic effects. However, according to criteria studied, L. plantarum LP498 best met the conditions; it was compatible with probiotic potential under all the conditions considered and showed noteworthy differences compared to the other micro-organisms studied, particularly in its capacity for self-aggregation and pH resistance. Therefore, L. plantarum LP48 could be adequate for the manufacture of artisanal goat milk products.

This study evaluated the effect of different orange essential oil (OEO) inclusion rates on live weight gain, eating behavior, carcass characteristics, morphology of the ruminal epithelium, and fatty acid profile in the meat of feedlot lambs. Forty uncastrated Dorper × Santa Inês ram lambs with an initial average body weight of 21.8 ± 4.7 kg and average age of 86 ± 15 days were allocated to one of five dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments consisted of a 90:10 concentrate-to-forage ratio total mixed ration supplemented as follows: 1. non-additive supplementation (Control), and 2. additive supplementation with 100, 500, and 1000 mg OEO/kg diet DM (OEO100, OEO500, and OEO1000) or with 25 mg sodium monensin/kg diet DM (MON). The feeding lasted 84 d. Supplementation with OEO increased linearly dry matter intake (DMI), growth rate and feed efficiency (FE). Because of the linear increases in growth rate and the efficiency of energy utilization of the diet, lambs receiving OEO exhibited a greater (increasing linear effect) hot carcass weight (HCW), Longissimus muscle area (LMA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), and body wall thickness (BWT) than lambs fed with Control. Lambs fed MON had lower DMI, growth rate and FE than Control and OEO. Compared to Control and OEO supplemented, lambs that received MON showed lower HCW, LMA, SFT, and BWT. Lambs fed with MON had lower oocyst counts than lambs fed with all other treatments. Lambs fed with MON spent more time eating and ruminating, with higher chewing rates than lambs fed all other diets. Rumen morphometry was unaffected by dietary treatment. The OEO supplementation increased the sum of monounsaturated fatty acids, improved the human health promotion index (HP index), and reduced the thrombogenicity index in the meat relative to lambs fed the MON treatment. Under the conditions in which the experiment was conducted, the inclusion of up to 1000 g/kg diet DM in high-energy finishing diets promotes DMI and improved growth performance and FE. Improvements in the carcass (HCW, LMA, and BTF) with OEO supplementation were mainly due to improvements in growth rate rather than effects on gain composition. Based on growth performance and carcass characteristics, OEO was a superior feed additive to sodium monensin. The OEO supplementation has a discreet effect on the fatty acid profile of the meat, but it is sufficient to improve the HP index. These findings highlight its potential as an effective additive for enhancing lamb productivity.