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BackgroundCommercial dairy establishments are relatively young in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and as a result, there is lack of epidemiological data on mastitis in dairy farms.MethodsA retrospective data of seven years (2015–2021) were used to estimate the cumulative average monthly incidence rate of bovine clinical mastitis and evaluate associated milk loss at the National Dairy Farm. Data were extracted from the records of lactating dairy cows (n = 1300–1450) and analyzed using repeated measure and one-way ANOVA, non-parametric Spearman correlation, paired and unpaired t tests.ResultsThe highest average cumulative monthly incidence rate was 49 cases per 1000 cows-year that was recorded in 2019 while the lowest was 19 cases per 1000 cows-year in 2021. The cumulative average monthly incidence rate of clinical mastitis significantly (p < 0.001) varied among the seven years. The cumulative average monthly incidence rate was associated with average monthly humidity (p < 0.01) and average monthly rainfall (p < 0.05); however, it was not associated with the average monthly temperature (p > 0.05). The average daily milk yield of cows with clinical mastitis (Mean ± SEM; 18.6 ± 0.54 kg) was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the average daily milk yield of clinical mastitis free cows (40.5 ± 0.29 kg). The largest average monthly milk loss due to clinical mastitis was 5% of the average total monthly milk production in 2019 while the lowest was 2% of the average total monthly milk production in 2021.ConclusionThe result of the study indicated the direct influence of weather conditions such as increased rainfall and humidity, which caused an upsurge in the incidence rate of clinical mastitis, leading to an increased loss in milk and hence the economy of the dairy farm. Proactive preventive measures along with good dairy farm practices that help mitigate the impacts of harsh weather conditions are recommended.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is widely distributed in Sudan where outbreaks occur on an annual basis especially during the winter months (December-February). This study aimed to increase our understanding of the epidemiological patterns of FMD in Sudan and connections to neighbouring countries by characterizing the genetic sequences of FMD viruses (FMDV) collected from samples collected in 10 Sudanese states over a 10-year period (between 2009 and 2018). FMDV was detected in 91 of the 265 samples using an antigen-detection ELISA. Three serotypes were detected: O (46.2%), A (34.0%), and SAT 2 (19.8%). Fifty-two of these samples were submitted for sequence analyses, generating sequences that were characterized as belonging to O/EA-3 (n = 17), A/AFRICA/G-IV (n = 23) and SAT 2/VII/Alx-12 (n = 12) viral lineages. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence that FMDV lineages were maintained within Sudan, and also highlighted epidemiological connections to FMD outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries in East and North Africa (such as Ethiopia and Egypt). This study motivates continued FMD surveillance in Sudan to monitor the circulating viral lineages and broader initiatives to improve our understanding of the epidemiological risks in the region.

We evaluated growth, milk production and composition of Awassi genotypes based on 9 years data collected from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) flock kept in Tal Hadya station, Syria (now moved to Terbol station, Lebanon). Performances of the pure genotypes (Syrian and Turkish Awassi) and the resulting crosses were compared. Growth performances did not differ among the genetic groups except for weaning weight, for which the Turkish Awassi was lighter than the Syrian Awassi and all its crosses; the 75% Syrian genotype being the heaviest (19.54±0.43 kg). Genetic groups did not differ (p>0.05) for both lactation length (overall mean 100.39±1.20 days) and lactation milk yield (overall mean 91.2±2.50 kg). Lactation yields of milk constituents (fat, protein, lactose, total solids and solids-not-fat) were, however, higher for the 75% Syrian crosses compared to the other crosses as well as to the pure Awassi sheep, except for lactation protein yield. The performances of Turkish Awassi were not superior to those of the Syrian genotype for all the traits considered under the environmental conditions of Syria. It is concluded that the Turkish Awassi should not be used as an improver breed for the Syrian genotype. The performance of the ICARDA maintained Awassi flock has on average been better compared to those of other farms in the region. Improved rams produced from the breeding program could therefore serve as improver for flocks maintained in countries of the region, necessitating the development of appropriate delivery systems of improved genetics.

A three-year longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate effects of strategic anthelmintic treatment regimes on age at first lambing (AFL), weight at first lambing (WFL) and lambing interval (LI) of 356 communally grazed ewes and 675 lambs owned by 10 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The ewes were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to three treatment groups as untreated control (TG1), twice-dosed per year (TG2) for both nematodes and trematodes in mid-January and mid-June and four-time-dosed per year (TG3) in June for nematodes, in August–September for nematodes and adult Fasciola, in November–December and January–February for immature flukes. The fixed effect of anthelmintic treatments, parity, season and year of lambing on AFL and LI was evaluated. Mean ± standard error (SE) of lambing interval was 292 ± 3 days. Both anthelmintic treatments (TG2 and TG3) shortened (P 0.05). Birth and lambing seasons of the ewe lamb had significant (P

This review summarizes available information on genetics of adaptation in major livestock species focusing on small ruminants. Adaptation to humans and consequences of domestication on predator aversion, mechanisms of adaptation to available feed and water resources, severe climates and genetic evidence of disease tolerance or resistance have been presented. The latter focuses on gastrointestinal parasites and bacterial diseases. The resource allocation by the animal to production and fitness traits under both optimal and sub-optimal conditions has a genetic background. Such information would help in identifying the most appropriate and adapted genotypes capable of coping with the environmental challenges posed by the production systems or, wherever possible, in adapting the environments to the requirements of the animals.

The effect of subclinical artificial nematode parasite infection on dry matter intake (DMI), apparent digestibility (AD), efficiency of feed utilisation (EFU), plasma protein (PPC) and albumin concentrations (AC) was examined in lambs of the Horro and Menz breeds. The factorial experimental design involved two breeds, two infection treatments (infected vs. noninfected) and three nutrition treatments [hay plus wheat bran (basal diet), hay plus molasses urea block (MUB), hay plus cotton seed cake (CSC)]. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric but with varying protein and/or nitrogen sources. At the start of the study, 152 lambs (103 Menz and 49 Horro) were assigned to the 12 treatment combinations each in a separate pen, with an average of about 13 animals per pen. Challenge with endoparasites involved three infection periods each separated by an anthelmintic treatment. The first two infections were with Haemonchus contortus while the third infection was with a mixed infection of H. contortus , Longistrongylus elongata and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Infected lambs had lower total DMI, EFU (not significant in third infection), AD (significant only in third infection) and total PPC and AC than noninfected lambs. Horro lambs had higher DMI and EFU but lower AD than Menz lambs. PPC was significantly higher in lambs supplemented with CSC compared to those on the basal diet or supplemented with MUB in the primary and secondary infections; but during the tertiary infection, no significant differences were found. AC was significantly greater in CSC-supplemented lambs than those on the basal diet or supplemented with MUB. It was concluded that subclinical nematode infection had an adverse effect on feed intake, efficiency of feed utilisation and apparent digestibility. Infection was also found to cause hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Protein supplementation would help mitigate the effects of infection on total plasma protein and albumin concentrations, especially in the low-input systems typified by the Ethiopian highlands.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 6718 sheep of two breeds (2772 Horro and 3946 Menz) on risk factors for mortality associated with respiratory disease (MARD) in Ethiopia, based on data collected between October 1993 and December 1997. Potential risk factors examined were breed, gender, age, month, and air temperatures.Fifty-four per cent of total deaths in the flock could be attributed to respiratory disease and the annual MARD rate ranged between 6.3 and 19.0%. There was significant breed (P0.0001) and gender (P0.0001) difference in MARD. The Horro breed had a higher (P0.0001) annual MARD than the Menz breed (16.5+/-0.18 vs. 12.4+/-0.15%). A higher (P0.0001) proportion of males suffered than females (15.1+/-0.23% vs. 13.8+/-0.13%). Age was also an important risk factor for MARD: there was a strong polynomial relationship (R(2)=0.91, P0.0001) between MARD and age; the risk of being young if a sheep was a MARD case was high. MARD was high between October and March but relatively low between the months of April and September. There was a significant (P0.05) negative cubic relationship (R(2)=0.49) between monthly MARD and monthly average minimum air temperatures. There was also a significant (P0.01) positive exponential relationship (R(2)=0.61) between monthly MARD and average monthly daily deviation between maximum and minimum air temperatures. Timely health and management interventions focusing on these factors are necessary to alleviate losses from MARD. Understanding variations in MARD risk within a population can enhance early response to potential outbreaks, reducing losses.

1998). Since lentivirus infections arepersistent, antibody detection is a valuable tool foridentifying virus carriers. The two assays commonlyused are the agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID)and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Two MV viral antigens are of majorimportance in routine serology, a viral envelopeglycoprotein commonly referred to as gp135 and acore protein p28. The predominant precipitatingantibody response detected routinely is directedagainst the gp135 antigen (OIE, 1996). There is a paucity of information regarding thepresence and significance of MV in Africa. In thehighlands of Ethiopia, a major sheep raising area,outbreaks of unidentified diseases often occur anda considerable number of sheep die with signs ofrespiratory embarrassment. The aim of this studywas to investigate the significance of MV in sheepin the central highlands where 75% of the coun-try’s sheep population are found. The work wascarried out at the ILRI Debre Berhan ResearchStation and adjacent village farms, 120 kmNortheast of Addis Ababa, at 2780 m altitude,9˚36′N and 39˚38′E (Mukasa-Mugerwa