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Aim. The effectiveness of the use of the mineral feed additive bischofit in the diets of young sheep in the South of Russia at various doses and its impact on the productive qualities of young sheep. Materials and Methods. The material for conducting the experiment in this household was the livestock of sheep of the Grozny breed on fattening. The sheep of the control group received a basic household diet, the I experimental group received 5 ml of bischofite per head per day in addition to the main diet, the II experimental group received 8 ml of feed additive. Classical zootechnical methods were used in the process of work, including wool yield and physical and technological properties were studied individually in 3 experimental animals from each group according to the VNIIOK method. The research materials were processed by the methods of variation statistics using the Microsoft Office software package. Results. Young sheep from the I experimental group, who received bischofite at 5 ml / head per day, were 9.4% more in live weight than in the control group. Young sheep that received 5 ml of feed additive had the best meat index, and exceeded the control group in terms of pulp yield by 12.5%. The maximum deviation from the average value of the cut of pure wool in the upward direction (110.6%) was observed in I experimental group. The most durable wool of 7.24 sN / tex is found in the group that received the bischofit feed additive as part of the main diet. Conclusion. To compensate for the lack of mineral substances of the natural and environmentally safe feed additive bischofit at a dose of 5 ml / head per day, it changes the metabolic reactions in the body in a positive way, which is confirmed by an increase in the growth of live weight and wool productivity.

This publication presents the results on the growth, development, live weight, body indices in ram lambs and ewe lambs of three-breed crossbreeds ♀ (♀Karakul 18.7% x ♂Avassi 31.3%) x ♂Assaf 50.0% and purebred Assaf, as well as the dynamics of the live weight gain of lambs from birth to 4–4.5 months of age. Crossbreed lambs are developed better than purebred lambs. The absolute weight gain in the ram lambs ♀ (♀Karakul 18.7% x ♂ Avassi 31.3%) x ♂Assaf50.0% was 4.8 kg, which is by 0.32 kg (7.1%) higher in relation to the ram lambs of the Assaf breed, the average daily weight is also higher by 5.4 g. According to the same trend, crossbred ewe lambs had a gross weight gain of 3.72 kg or by 0.22 kg (6.3%) more than in purebred ones and the average daily weight are also higher by 3.2 g. Of the eight body indices, crossbred ram lambs and ewe lambs have five indices that exceed the obtained indicators in purebred animals, and in purebred lambs only three body indices are superior. In ram lambs of the Assaf breed, the indicators for three indices are higher in comparison to crossbreeds: transverse by 0.78%, chest by 0.5% and robustness by 4.65%, and for three-breed crossbreeds they are higher in relation to purebred ones according to the following 5 indices: body format by 4.33%, massiveness by 1.28%, bones by 0.58%, forehead width by 3.74% and head length by 1.42%. The indices of body format, bones and head length are also higher in the purebred ewe lambs by 0.12%, 0.46% and 1.36%, and in the crossbreeds the indices of transverse, massiveness, chest, and head width are higher by 1.21%, 1.35%, 2.02%, 0.29% and 2.97%. The slaughter qualities of crossbreeds are higher for the most indicators taken into account, with the exception of the area of sheepskins. The slaughter weight of crossbred ram lambs is higher by 1.62 kg (13.2%) compared to purebred ram lambs, and the slaughter yield of carcasses is also higher by 2.88%. After deboning chilled half-carcasses, the mass of meat was higher in crossbred animals in comparison to purebred animals by 0.59 kg or 14.8%. All this denoted an higher meat ratio characterizing the relative development of bones and muscle tissues in crossbred animals with made up 2.51 vis-a-vis 2.34 in purebred ones. The highest weight of sheepskins was in crossbred ram lambs and amounted to 3.76 kg, which is by 0.65 kg or by 20.9% more than in peers. At the same time, purebred ram lambs had the largest sheepskins area of 80.3 dm2, which are by 5.52 dm2 (8.51%) more than in crossbreeds. The interior parameters of the internal organs, the development of the digestive organs are closely related to the constitutionally productive characteristics of sheep. The internal organs of crossbred ram lambs, which also have the greatest pre-slaughter live weight, are somewhat better developed. At the same time, they surpassed their purebred peers in the mass of the lungs, spleen and kidneys. The weight of the lungs indicates the volume of respiration and the redox processes occurring in it, on which depend the health and endurance of animals. There were no significant differences in the absolute weight of the lungs in both groups of animals and they were almost the same and ranged from 0.550 g to 0.555 g. Thus, our results indicate that there is a positive relationship between the productivity of ram lambs and the development of their internal organs. The digestive organs and their development ensure the future productivity of the animal. Crossbreed lambs by weight of the stomach without the contents of 973.2 g exceed they peers by 1.4%. The total length of the intestine also for this group of ram lambs is 36.38 meters or more than by 2.36%. In total, all this can lead to better use of the feed, increasing its digestibility. At the ends of the slaughter were taken from each carcass their measurements and the indices were calculated. In crossbred three-breed ram lambs, all carcass evaluation indices are higher in comparison with purebred ones, with the exception of the chest depth index. The lamb leg development index in crossbreeds is significantly higher by 22.52% (P

The article is devoted to preventive measures to eliminate the problem of dysmicroelementosis in order to increase the productivity of young sheep. The article presents the results of studies of the influence of feeding rations on the growth and development of young sheep of the Edilbaev breed, on the level of their meat productivity and the qualitative characteristics of biologically fortified lamb. Feed additives based on Yoddar-Zn and DAFS-25 were added to the main ration of lambs at the age of four months, once a day, being added into a fodder mixture with concentrates. For the experiment the herd of lambs was divided to four groups of 25 heads each.The changes in live weight at the age of four, five, six and seven months were analyzed, and it was found that at the age of seven months, the absolute average weight gain in the experimental groups varied from 3.45 kg to 4.49 kg, in the control group it was 3.1 kg, while the largest live weight gain was recorded in group III which received both feed additives based on Yoddar-Zn and DAFS-25.There were no significant differences in the parameters of body measurements, with the exception of group III, where the chest circumference increased by 7.2%, and the height of a lamb at the withers increased in average by 8.1%. It was found that group III had the highest meat density coefficient, equal to 3.9, and the cross-sectional area of m. Longissimus dorsi was equal to 13.61 cm2. It was noted that the amount of free amino acids of the lamb group III is 18.8% higher than the meat of the control group. The lamb obtained from the animals of the experimental groups showed a higher protein content and less fat. The ratio of water to protein in all samples was slightly higher than 3.7, which corresponds to the Federa number for meat raw materials. Enriching the rations of the Edilbaevskoy sheep with feed additives Yoddar-Zn and DAFS-25 promotes the stimulation of growth and development of animals, increases the productivity and nutritional value of lamb.

Aim. Study the effect of low-intensity laser radiation on the genotype's young sheep (poll Dorset x North Caucasian meat-wool) and their exterior. Material and Methods. Zootechnical, biophysical, statistical and other methods were used in research. Experimental animals were exposed to an STP laser apparatus, the action of which is based on the use of low-intensity laser radiation in the infrared region of the spectrum. The study of measurements of animals at the age of 5 and 7 months was carried out and physique indices were calculated. Results. Comparing measurements in the studied animals at 5 months of age revealed the advantage of lambs of groups II and III over the control, in almost all main parameters. However, the experimental groups' young animals were characterized by higher rates of breast measurements. Thus, the superiority of lambs of groups II and III over animals of the control group were: in chest depth 2.1-3.3%, width – 4.4-7.1%, girth – 1.2-4.1% (P < 0.001). A similar trend was established due to measurements of the studied animals' physique at the age of 7 months. At the same time, a clear advantage in terms of measurements characterizing breast development was found in young animals of the second and, especially, in the third group: in chest depth by 3.8-7.4%, width by 4.8-9.1%, girth – 3,7-9.0%, with a significant difference (P < 0.05; P < 0.001). It was also found that the greatest value of the breast index at 5 months of age was typical for animals of groups II and III (77.6-78.6%), which is 1.8-2.8 abs. percent (P < 0.001). However, with age, the difference in the value of this indicator between the groups decreased. Therefore, at the age of 7 months, young animals of groups II and III surpassed animals of group I in this indicator by 0.8-1.5 abs. percent. Conclusion. Thus, it was found that the best ratio of most body articles and body build indices, characterizing them as animals with well-pronounced meat forms, were animal groups II and III.

The purpose of the research is analysis of infection with intestinal cestodosis of young sheep in the plain and mountainous zones of the Republic of Dagestan.Materials and methods. For a number of years, on the basis of the Caspian Zonal Scientific Research Veterinary Institute – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the Republic of Dagestan”, of the laboratory for the study of infective diseases of livestock and birds, we carried out studies of sheep fecal specimens from various regions of the Republic of Dagestan and tested various antiparasitic drugs.Results and discussion. It has been established that sheep cestodosis are ubiquitous in the Republic, although there are effective antiparasitic drugs, including those of domestic production. The infection extensity by Moniezia sp. in 2015 was 67.8%, Thysaniezia sp. – 12.5%, and Avitellina sp. – 6.2%. In 2016, infections continued to be recorded at a high level. In 2017, monieziosis of lambs was recorded with the infection extensity of 24.0–30.0% and with the infection intensity value of 1.5–6.4 sp. per animal. Avitellinosis was noted in 17.0–23.6 % of sheep with an infection intensity value of 1.0–4.8 sp. per animal. Cestodosis in sheep in 2019 are also found, but less frequently.

The article presents the results of studies on the use of synbiotic feed additives based on live spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus, lysates of lactic acid bacteria and yeast to lambs of 10-day-old Volgograd breed in various doses. The use of the feed additive did not have a negative effect on the morphological parameters of the lambs ' blood. Physiological parameters for the entire observation period were within the reference values characteristic of this animal species. The positive effect of synbiotic feed additive was manifested by higher growth rates – an increase in the live weight of the lambs of the experimental groups compared to the control group.

The paper presents materials characterizing the adaptive properties and natural resistance of young sheep of the Kuban factory type of the Lincoln and southern meat breeds, based on the study of the morphological composition of blood and indicators of mmunobiological resistance.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the fatty acid composition of the lipids of the muscle tissue of sheep of diff erent genotypes of the Stavropol breed at the age of 8 months. The polymorphism of the calpastatin CAST gene was determined using PCR-PDRF.

This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of sheep slaughtered in Keffi main abattoir conducted from June to July 2019. One hundred and fifty (150) fecal samples comprising of 60 Yankasa, 18 West African dwarf (WAD), 33 Balami and 39 Uda breed were collected from the abattoir. The samples were taken to the Laboratory to examine the intestinal helminthes eggs and protozoan oocysts using sodium chloride floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of 150 samples examined, 84(56.0%) had gastrointestinal parasites. The Yankasa breed had the highest prevalence of 32(38.1%), while the WAD breed had the lowest prevalence of 12(14.3%). Female had the highest prevalence of 54(64.3) than male which have 30(35.7%). Young sheep had the highest prevalence of 52(61.9%) than adults which had prevalence of 32(38.1%) respectively. The gastrointestinal parasites encountered were Strongyles edentates sp., Coccidian spp., Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongyles spp and Fasciola spp. Trichostrongyles spp., had the highest prevalence of 23(27.3%) while coccidian had the lowest prevalence of 4(4.7%). Chi-square statistical analysis revealed no significant difference (p>0.05) among the breed, age, and sex of the sheep. The result of the study shows that high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among the sheep breed, therefore with good management practice, prompt diagnosis, treatment with antihelminthes drugs and mass education of farmers on the importance of hygiene and sanitation will reduce the risk of the disease and increase productivity.

The feeding factor is an important condition in ensuring the normal life of the sheep. Any external abnormalities cause metabolic stress, the parameters of the biochemical profile change, and the analysis of the development of internal organs in sheep in the post-embryonic period is of great scientific interest, since the absolute mass of organs increases during ontogenesis. Any external abnormalities cause metabolic stress. The parameters of the blood's biochemical profile change. Analysis of the development of internal organs in sheep in the post-embryonic period is of great scientific interest. This is because the mass of organs increases during ontogenesis. Purpose of research. To study the results of the influence of biochemical parameters of blood serum in young sheep on the formation of internal organs against the background of liposomal form of antioxidants with the inclusion of iodine. The research methods. The control group of young animal (rams) received the basic diet (BD). The experimental group received the BD with the addition of antioxidants in liposomal form with organic iodine content at the rate of 5 grams per head. The biochemical parameters of blood serum, the development of internal organs of young sheep and the correlation relationship of the obtained indicators were determined. Results research. Liver and pancreatic enzymes have a significant advantage in animals of the experimental group by 11.5–25.1 % (p ≤ 0.01). The significant advantages for renal enzymes were observed in experimental animals by 10.7 % (p ≤ 0.05) was stated. The total thyroxine content in young animals of the experimental group increases by 5.3 % (p ≤ 0.05). Organs of the gastrointestinal tract were characterized by increased weight. The relationship between the development of internal organs and serum enzymes were enhanced between hepatic and renal enzymes in connection with the development of digestive organs in young animals of experimental groups. The novelty. The liposomal form of antioxidants allows selective delivery of vital compounds to tissues in optimal concentrations. The effectiveness of its use in sheep farming has not been studied, and in connection with the prospect of increasing the production of lamb in the Republic of Crimea, the issue of obtaining environmentally friendly products with minimal use of veterinary drugs and chemical-based feed additives becomes urgent. Thus, the use of antioxidants in liposomal form is a significant step towards achieving this mission.

Feces from 184 sheep from Dakahlia governorate, Egypt were tested for Eimeria species oocysts by using the standard floatation technique; oocysts were detected in 126 (68.4%). The prevalence was significantly higher in young sheep than adults. Eleven Eimeria species were identified: Eimeria ahsata, Eimeria bakuensis, Eimeria crandallis, Eimeria faurei, Eimeria granulosa, Eimeria intricata, Eimeria marsica, Eimeria ovinoidalis, Eimeria pallida, Eimeria parva and Eimeria webybridgensis. Oocysts of the most pathogenic ovine species, E. ovinoidalis, were detected in 27 (14.6%) sheep. This is the first report of E. webybridgensis in sheep from Egypt, possibly due to close similarity of their oocysts to those of E. crandallis which stated in the earlier reports. Worldwide reports on epidemiology of Eimeria spp. infections in sheep are tabulated.

The method of electrocardiography was used to study the electrical activity of the heart of purebred and crossbred young sheep of the Pechora Experimental Station at the age of 70-90 days. Statistically significant differences between groups of young sheep of different genotypes which were probably related to the constitutional features of animals were found in the amplitude of the R-wave and T-wave on the ECG in the III sagittal lead as well as in the position of the electrical axis of the heart. The results of the studies should be considered when assessing the functional state of the cardiovascular system of the offspring of sheep received from parents with different genetically determined constitutional productive qualities.

The purpose of the research is studying the effect of mechanochemical technology on anthelmintic efficacy of supramolecular complexes of fenbendazole with licorice extract. Materials and methods. Tests of the supramolecular complexes of fenbendazole (SMCF) with licorice extract (LE) were carried out on 127 heads of young sheep spontaneously infected by Nematodirus sp. and other types of gastrointestinal strongylates. For each helminthosis, animals of different groups of 8–11 animals each were given single oral administration of SMCF with LE in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg in AD in the form of 10 and 17 % powders and 2.4 and 4.5% suspensions in comparison with the basic drug – fenbendazole (FBZ) in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg. SMCF with LE was developed according to mechanochemical technology for 2 hours. The baseline was a group of sheep that did not receive the drug. The anthelmintic efficacy of the preparations was taken into account according to the results of coproovoscopic studies of sheep by flotation before and 16 days after the preparations were used. Accounting for the effectiveness of drugs was carried out according to the "control test" type. Results and discussion. SMСF with LE in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg by AD in the form of 10 and 17% powders and 2.4 and 4.5% suspensions showed respectively 89.2; 83.12; 82.09 and 83.59% effectiveness against Nematodirus spp. and 88.73; 67.3; 83.87 and 86.38% activity against other types of Strongylata when receiving 22.7 and 21.9% effect of the base drug – FBZ.

Meat quality and slaughter indices of sheep depend primarily on breed peculiarities and are connected with age, fatness, sex, feeding and keeping conditions. According to the pre-slaughter mass, slaughter mass and mass of paired carcass, crossbred animals exceed their pure-bred counterparts. Experimental work was сonducted at Terra Rich LLC in the Pologivskyi district of Zaporizhia region. Tupping rams (Rom) and Hisar (H) were used on ewes of the Romanivska breed. Two groups of cowslip were formed: a control from purebred animals of the Romanivska breed (Rm × Rm) and experimental crossbreed with Hisar (Rm × H). Control slaughter of young rams was performed in accordance with the method of estimating the slaughtering performance (meet productivity) of sheep at 8 months of age. The morphological composition of the carcasses was determined by the results of the deboned half-carcass after 24-hour cooling to determine the dressing percentage of pulp, bones and fat. The chemical composition was determined in the average meat sample, in the longest muscle of the back (mus. longissimus dorsi) the amount of intramuscular fat was determined with the subsequent caloricity count of the meat. Crossbreed animals had higher indices of productivity than the pure-bred born in the same year of the Romanivska breed. The pre-slaughter live weight of crossbreed animals was greater by 29.2 %; slaughter weight – by39.7 %. Dressing percentage of the crossbreed animals was 47.4 %, and in pure-breds – 43.8 %. The crossbreed animals had absolute preference of varietal cuts: meat of the first сlass – 94.57 %, of the second – 5.43 %, in purebreds – 91.60 and 8.40 %, respectively. The preference for purebred Romanivska sheep on the caloricity of the muscle tissue was 8.7 %. In carcasses of crossbreed young animals, the relative mass of muscle tissue was 78.8 %, bones – 21.2%, versus 73.3% and 26.7 %, respectively, in purebred counterparts. The pulpiness ratio for crossbreed young rams was 3.7 and for purebred young rams was only 2.7. The positive effect of crossbreeding on the meat productivity of young animals has been established. Crossing the ewes of the Romanivska breed with the tupping rams of the Hisar breed can be successfully used in commercial sheep raisings.

The article presents data on the effi ciency of production of young lamb when feeding and fattening young sheep of the Kalmyk kurdyuchnaya breed and crossbreeds Kalmyk kurdyuchnaya × dorper

Flystrike remains a serious financial and animal welfare issue for the sheep industry in Australia despite many years of research into control methods. The present paper provides an extensive review of past research on flystrike, and highlights areas that hold promise for providing long-term control options. We describe areas where the application of modern scientific advances may provide increased impetus to some novel, as well as some previously explored, control methods. We provide recommendations for research activities: insecticide resistance management, novel delivery methods for therapeutics, improved breeding indices for flystrike-related traits, mechanism of nematode-induced scouring in mature animals. We also identify areas where advances can be made in flystrike control through the greater adoption of well-recognised existing management approaches: optimal insecticide-use patterns, increased use of flystrike-related Australian Sheep Breeding Values, and management practices to prevent scouring in young sheep. We indicate that breeding efforts should be primarily focussed on the adoption and improvement of currently available breeding tools and towards the future integration of genomic selection methods. We describe factors that will impact on the ongoing availability of insecticides for flystrike control and on the feasibility of vaccination. We also describe areas where the blowfly genome may be useful in providing impetus to some flystrike control strategies, such as area-wide approaches that seek to directly suppress or eradicate sheep blowfly populations. However, we also highlight the fact that commercial and feasibility considerations will act to temper the potential for the genome to act as the basis for providing some control options.

Monitoring activity patterns of animals offers the opportunity to assess individual health and welfare in support of precision livestock farming. The purpose of this study was to use a triaxial accelerometer sensor to determine the diel activity of sheep on pasture. Six Perendale ewe lambs, each fitted with a neck collar mounting a triaxial accelerometer, were filmed during targeted periods of sheep activities: grazing, lying, walking, and standing. The corresponding acceleration data were fitted using a Random Forest algorithm to classify activity (=classifier). This classifier was then applied to accelerometer data from an additional 10 ewe lambs to determine their activity budgets. Each of these was fitted with a neck collar mounting an accelerometer as well as two additional accelerometers placed on a head halter and a body harness over the shoulders of the animal. These were monitored continuously for three days. A classification accuracy of 89.6% was achieved for the grazing, walking and resting activities (i.e., a new class combining lying and standing activity). Triaxial accelerometer data showed that sheep spent 64% (95% CI 55% to 74%) of daylight time grazing, with grazing at night reduced to 14% (95% CI 8% to 20%). Similar activity budgets were achieved from the halter mounted sensors, but not those on a body harness. These results are consistent with previous studies directly observing daily activity of pasture-based sheep and can be applied in a variety of contexts to investigate animal health and welfare metrics e.g., to better understand the impact that young sheep can suffer when carrying even modest burdens of parasitic nematodes.

The article presents the results of varietal cutting according to the trade classifi cation of carcasses of rams, yarochek and yarushkov of the South Ural breed, depending on gender and age.

Here is presented the analysis of sheep meat productivity of the Russian meat Merino breed and the effectiveness of selection for large size of animals, the severity of meat forms, and their higher precocity is shown. The selection differential for live weight in animals of different gender and age groups was determined, which is 5.0-26.0 kg, or 10.0-32.5%. The number of Russian meat Merino sheep (n=1045) is characterized by the severity of meat forms (T5) and has a desirable type of physique, exterior and meat productivity (100%), which confirms the consolidation of the herd on this basis. It was found that the genetic resources of the herd allow young sheep to receive a high average daily increase in live weight (170.4 g) from birth to 4.5 months. It is experimentally proved that the offspring of the PMM breed with intensive feeding is characterized by a higher growth energy. It is noted that the descendants of meat Merino have a large carcass mass of 12.4%, a slaughter yield of 2.2 abs. percent and a meat content coefficient of 21.3%, compared to the Stavropol sheep breed of wool productivity. Experimental data confirm that the sheep’s meat of the Russian meat Merino breed is " marbled, has high quality and consumer properties.

Chronic nonprogressive pneumonia is a prevalent disease that infects many young sheep. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae was isolated from the lungs of sheep with chronic nonprogressive pneumonia. Evidences showed that it might associate with the development and duration of chronic pneumonia, moreover, sheep infected with M. ovipneumoniae are easily infected by other organisms, suggesting that M. ovipneumoniae may play an immunosuppressive role during infection. However, the mechanism is still poorly understood. The infection occurs in the airway, where resident alveolar macrophages first encounter M. ovipneumoniae. Therefore, primary alveolar macrophages (AMs) were collected from the lungs of healthy adult sheep, and the (iTRAQ) protein assay was used to investigate the immunosuppressive effects of M. ovipneumoniae on sheep AMs. The RAW264.7 cells were used to confirm the findings. The results showed that M. ovipneumoniae promoted higher expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and lower expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the infected AMs. Moreover, the number of infected AMs increased. However, M. ovipneumoniae reduced ATP levels in AMs and impaired late endosome maturation and phagolysosome fusion. Furthermore, M. ovipneumoniae inhibited the autophagy pathway via the Akt-mTOR axis in AMs. These findings indicated that M. ovipneumoniae had distinctive strategies to evade elimination caused by the AMs. The findings might explain the chronic infection and co-infection in sheep infected by M. ovipneumoniae.

Traditional methods for estimating age-at-death of caprines are based on dental and epiphyseal fusion data and known to produce rather wide age intervals. In order to better interpret prenatal to early infantile mortality of sheep in prehistoric assemblages more precise age predictions are needed. We address this issue using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) developed on humerus measurements of unborn and very young sheep of known age housed in modern collections. We then verify the resulting prediction model with the aid of a pregnant ewe and her foetus (Ovis aries) excavated in the Ptolemaic-Roman animal cemetery at Syene (modern Aswan, Egypt). Her condition illustrates that both the mother and her mature foetus must have died during birthing. Subsequently, we apply the model to humeri of very young archaeological sheep (Ovis orientalis/O. aries) unearthed at early Neolithic Aşıklı Höyük (Central Turkey). Both study cases underscore the practicality of our approach whilst illustrating the cultural and historical importance of precise age determinations in foetal, newborn and infantile sheep. Finally, we discuss the possible causes for foetal and neonatal mortality in sheep at Aşıklı Höyük., We most gratefully acknowledge funding in the frame of the DFG long-term project, ‘The Prehistoric Societies of Upper Mesopotamia and their Subsistence’ by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under Grants PE 424/10-1,2,3,4 (J. P.) and of the DFG project ‘Die Tempelherde und ihr Bestattungsplatz im ptolemäisch-römischen Syene aus archäozoologischer, archäologischer und religionshistorischer Perspektive’ under Grant PE424/14-1 (J. P.). Research at Aşıklı Höyük would not have been possible without the support of the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, and the Aksaray Museum.

The article presents the results of studying the growth and development of the shoulder girdle muscles of the axial section of young sheep of the qigai breed, depending on the gender and physiological state.

The article presents the results of studies of wool productivity and the main technological indicators (length, wool finess, output of washed fiber, the area of contamination)of sheep of a new intrabreed type of Caucasian breed. It is shown that the technological properties of the wool of a new type of sheep are of fairly high quality and meet the requirements of the domestic textile industry.

International audience; Plant secondary metabolites (PSM) are one of the promising options to control gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to assess the abilities of sheep and goats to self-medicate with tannin-rich sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) (SF) when infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, using a cafeteria and an operant conditioning trial. Hypotheses were that parasitized (P) lambs and goat kids would show greater intake and preference for SF than their non-parasitized (NP) counterparts, that kids would eat more SF than lambs (due to their lower resistance against parasites and their greater ability to consume PSM), and that SF intake would increase over time for P animals. We used 20 female kids and 20 ewe lambs aged 3 months. Half of the animals per species (n = 10) were experimentally infected with 170 L3 larvae of Haemonchus contortus/kg of BW (P). The other half were free from parasites throughout the study (NP). Five weeks after infection, animals were exposed to a 24-day cafeteria trial (three 8-day periods) offering a free choice between two legume pellets: SF (3.8% condensed tannins) and alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa; no tannin). Subsequently, animals were involved in an operant conditioning trial of two 4-day long sessions, to assess in short-term tests their motivation to walk for a SF reward when offered in choice with freely available ALF. In the cafeteria trial, SF preference was greater in kids than in lambs, particularly in the first two periods. We did not observe a greater preference for SF in P animals, which was even greater in NP animals for periods 1 and 2. Sainfoin intake increased through periods for P animals, which led to similar SF preferences for all groups during period 3. In the operant-conditioning trial, motivation to get the SF reward was similar between P and NP animals. These results support the hypotheses that goats are more willing to consume tanniferous feeds than sheep, and that P animals increased SF intake through time. However, the emergence of a curative self-medicative behaviour was not supported, as P individuals did not show greater SF intake, preference, nor a greater motivation to get SF than NP animals, regardless of animal species. These findings are discussed with previous results and some explanations are presented.

The article presents the results of studies of the indicators of live weight and the internal organs weight of purebred Khalkha and crossbreed Khalkha-Suffolk rams, depending on the method of their fattening. Experimental studies were conducted in the Selenga aimak of Mongolia and in the laboratories of the Mongolian University of Natural Sciences. According to the results of the research, it was revealed that purebred Khalkha rams were inferior to Khalkha-Suffolk crossbreed rams in terms of live weight at birth and at the age of 8 months. When fed with rapeseed cake, purebred Khalkha rams had an advantage over half-breeds in terms of absolute heart weight by 0.04 kg and digestive system weight by 0.06 kg, and in terms of pre-slaughter weight by 0.22 and 1.29%, respectively. At the same time, Khalkha-Suffolk crossbreed rams outperformed purebred animals in terms of absolute lung weight by 0.19 kg and relative weight by 0.19%.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of dried distillery grains (DDGS) as a replacement for soybean meal in the diet of lambs in feedlot and to evaluate the performance, yield characteristics, and meat quality. Three diets with different DDGS levels were provided: diet with soybean meal (control); diet with 50% replacement of soybean meal by DDGS; diet with 100% replacement of soybean meal with DDGS. The average feed intake of the animals and the difference between the leftovers showed no difference among the treatments. No differences of average daily weight gain, body score and feed conversion index were observed among treatments. The same was observed for biometric measurements. However, warm carcass weight and chest perimeter were higher without the use of DDGS. The final weight, muscle, bone, intermuscular, subcutaneous and total fat weight did not differ among treatments. No difference was also found for tissues color. The kilogram of the concentrate mixture that uses soybean meal as the main source of protein (control) was approximately 12% more expensive than the mixture using DDGS (100%). The use of DDGS as an alternative source in confined lamb feeding may be recommended in up to 24% replacement in dietary dry matter. O Objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de grão seco de destilaria com solúveis (DDGS) como substituto a farelo de soja na dieta de cordeiros em confinamento. E avaliar a influência dessa inclusão sobre as características de desempenho, rendimento e qualidade de carne. Foram usados 30 animais, sendo 15 machos e 15 fêmeas, distribuídos em três tratamentos. Foram elaboradas dietas com três níveis de inclusão de DDGS, sendo: Tratamento 1 - dieta com farelo de soja (controle, 0% de inclusão de DDGS); Tratamento 2 - dieta com 50% de substituição do farelo de soja por DDGS; e Tratamento 3 - dieta com 100% de substituição do farelo de soja por DDGS. Foi avaliado o consumo médio dos animais, suas medidas biométricas, além de parâmetros de qualidade de carne e custo das dietas. A avaliação do consumo e a diferença entre as sobras não mostraram diferença entre os tratamentos. Também não foram observadas diferenças entre os ganhos de peso médio diário, ganho de peso total, escore corporal, índice de conversão alimentar e eficiência alimentar entre os tratamentos. O mesmo foi observado para as medidas biométricas. Não houve diferenças para a circunferência externa e interna, conformação, musculatura e largura da garupa e do tórax. No entanto, o peso da carcaça quente e o perímetro torácico foram maiores no tratamento sem o uso de DDGS. O peso final, peso dos músculos, peso ósseo, peso de gordura intermuscular, peso de gordura subcutânea, peso total de gordura também não diferiram entre os tratamentos. Nenhuma diferença foi encontrada para cor do músculo ou da gordura intermuscular e subcutânea. O valor gasto no custo do quilograma da mistura de concentrado que utilizava farelo de soja como principal fonte de proteína (controle) foi aproximadamente 12% mais caro que a mistura usando DDGS (100%), o que permitiu concluir que o uso de DDGS como fonte alternativa na alimentação de cordeiros confinados pode ser recomendado em até 24% de substituição na matéria seca da dieta.

The effect of the liposomal form of antioxidants with the inclusion of organic iodine on the growth of young Tsigai sheep was described in the article. The liposomal form allowed increasing average daily gain of young animals by 11.9 % and live weight by 10.8 % compared to the control one-year age group. The animals of the experimental group were characterized by more embodied meat forms according to the analysis of their exterior. Interior indicators were represented by the increased content of RBC that reached 1.8×1012 cells per liter or 25.7 % (p≤0.001), and WBC – 1.80×10⁹ cells per liter or 20.0 % (p≤0.01) at 7-months age; 1.9×1012 cells per liter (p≤0.001) and 1.74×10⁹ cells per liter (p≤0.05) at 12 months, respectively. This fact was due to the increased content of monocytes and neutrophils: the difference between the control and experimental groups of animals was within 1.1% and 0.6% at the age of 12 months.

The ked Melophagus ovinus (L.), one of the most common obligate external parasites in sheep, is a recurrent problem in temperate sheep production areas worldwide. Modeling of its annual dynamics, which is lacking, can contribute to delineate integrated management strategies. We sampled ked density along a one-year period in two sheep farms of Northwest Patagonia, Argentina. In one farm with semi-intensive sheep management, we sampled 20 lambs and 10 adult Corriedale-cross sheep naturally parasitized prior to our study. In a second farm with extensive management, we sampled 10 Merino lambs, which we artificially infested in early autumn. We fitted bell-shaped curves to describe the annual ked population dynamics in each animal group and used global fitting to compare the models. In the two-cohort flock, the peak ked density in lambs was almost two-fold higher (Nmax = 186 vs. 86) and occurred 1.5 months earlier (early August) than that in adult sheep; time span parameter was equal in both curves (SD ≈ 64 days). In the artificially parasitized lambs, the ked population showed a ca. five-month lag period, after which density increased sharply to a peak of Nmax = 155, reached well into spring (late October); the span of the model was SD = 38 days. Based on the ked annual cycles modeled and considering the traditional sheep management practices, we suggest monitoring flocks at least twice a year: at pre-mating in mid-autumn and at the annual shearing in spring (pre-lambing shearing or traditional shearing). Ked detection and treatment at pre-mating can prevent keds from entering the exponential phase and the consequent sanitary and economic impacts. In case keds are detected, treatment after pre-lambing shearing may prevent infestation of newborn lambs. Monitoring at traditional shearing is also an opportunity for ked detection, although it could be hard since ked populations will be in a phase of advanced decline in both adult and young sheep. Future works that statistically model the annual population dynamics of keds, under well-defined conditions, may allow meta-analyses of the behavior of this widely distributed plague, especially under the accelerating climate and agricultural changes worldwide.