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The grazing grassland ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is highly impacted by seasonal temperature variations. During the long cold season, the biomass and nutrient contents of forage grass do not meet the nutritional needs of grazing livestock and seriously affect growth performance and livestock products. This study investigated different feeding strategies on growth performance, meat quality and rumen fungal community of Tibetan sheep in the winter. Twelve one-year-old healthy castrated Tibetan sheep with similar initial body weights were randomly grouped into traditional grazing (TG) and barn feeding (BF) groups. The TG sheep were labelled and grazed on the local cool-season pasture without feed supplementing, while BF sheep were fed a mixed diet in feeding shed. Compared with the TG group, significantly increased body weight and average daily weight gain (ADG) were observed in the BF group (p < 0.001), which resulted in a significant increase in the hot carcase weight, net meat weight, carcase rate and net meat rate (p < 0.01). Moreover, the longissimus dorsi muscle of the BF group showed significantly increased muscle fibre diameter, perimeter, and area and increased crude protein and ether extract contents (p < 0.01), while the meat tenderness and amino acid content were reduced. ITS high-throughput sequencing showed that Ascomycota was the predominant fungal phylum in the rumen of Tibetan sheep. At the genus level, the rumen of TG sheep presented higher proportions of Preussia, Anaeromyces and Pilidium, while the most abundant genera in the BF sheep were Penicillium, Acaulium and Vishniacozyma. In summary, BF strategy enhanced the relative abundance of several dominant fungal genera related to the nutrient absorption and metabolism capacity, and effectively improves the growth and slaughter performance and affects meat quality of Tibetan sheep in the winter. Growth and slaughter performance effectively improved under the barn feeding (BF) strategy. The mutton of BF group had higher crude protein and ether extract contents, and lower amino acid content. Barn feeding strategy enhanced the rumen nutrient absorption and metabolism capacity by altering the relative abundance of several dominant fungal genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MTNR1A and MTNR1B, two high-affinity MT membrane receptors found in mammals, mediate the activity of MT on the HPGA to regulate animal reproduction. Nevertheless, the expression patterns and function of the MTNR1A and MTNR1B genes in the HPTA of seasonal estrus sheep and perennial estrus sheep have not been elucidated. We studied the expression of MTNR1A and MTNR1B in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) of Tibetan sheep at different reproductive stages using histochemistry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELSIA), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blot (WB), and analyzed the relationship between their expression and reproductive hormone receptors. We also compared relevant characteristics between seasonal Tibetan sheep and non-seasonal Small Tail Han sheep in the same pastoral area. The results showed that MTNR1A and MTNR1B were expressed in all tissues of the Tibetan sheep HPTA, and both were co-expressed in the cytoplasm of epididymis basal and halo cells located at common sites of the epididymis basement membrane, forming an immune barrier. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that not only MTNR1A but also N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), hydroxyindole-oxygen- methyltransferase (HIOMT), androgen receptor (AR), and estrogen receptor α (ERα) mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in the testis and epididymis of Tibetan sheep during the breeding season, whereas no clear upregulation of these genes was observed in the tissues of Small Tail Han sheep. MTNR1A and MTNR1B are important regulators of the HPTA in sheep. MTNR1A mediates seasonal estrus regulation in Tibetan sheep. Both MTNR1A and MTNR1B may play important roles in formation of the blood-epididymal barrier. The results of this study should help advance research on the mechanism of reproductive regulation of the HPTA in male animals and provide reference data for improving the reproductive rate of seasonal breeding animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For its role in the mediation of myoblast proliferation, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) was considered a functional candidate gene for growth performance in Tibetan sheep. Via the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP) approach, four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including g.14752C > T (intron 1), g.45361A > G (intron 7), g.49400A > G (3'UTR region) and g.49587A > T (3'UTR region), were identified in 422 ewes. The association analysis demonstrated that individuals carrying the AA genotype of g.49400A > G had significantly greater withers height, length than those with GG genotype (p < 0.05). Individuals with genotype AA of g.49587A > T had significantly greater weight and chest circumference than those with genotype TT (p < 0.01). Additionally, the individuals with Hap1/1 diplotypes (CAAA-CAAA) were highly significantly associated with weight and chest circumference than Hap1/2 diplotypes (CAAA-CAAT) (p < 0.05). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that the FGFR1 was detectable expressed in muscle tissues within three different age stage. Remarkably higher mRNA expression was detected at fetal lamb stage as compared with adult ewes (p < 0.01). The outcome of this research confirmed that both g.49400A > G and g.49587A > T of FGFR1 were involved in growth-related traits, which may be considered to be genetic markers for improving the growth traits of Tibetan sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transhumance pastoralism is a traditional sheep management strategy adopted by the herders in the Himalayas to address environmental stress. The changes in haematological parameters in the transhumant sheep may well give insights of changes in physiological changes at pasture sites of various elevations in the transhumance cycle. For that purpose, 32 healthy Baruwal sheep were selected and divided into four groups: male (8) below 1 year, male (8) greater than 1 year, female (8) below 1 year, and female (8) greater than 1 year; the animals were selected based on similarity on body weight within the groups. The herd was clinically inspected for the presence of any infection. Adaptation period was set for 3 weeks at each pasture site. The blood samples were taken from designated groups at both grazing sites, i.e. from low (2431 m.a.s.l) to high stopover (3885 m.a.s.l) at the seventh day of the experimental period. Climatic data were recorded at both altitudes over the period of measurements from manually installed weather stations. Later, the herbage species were collected based on the visual sign of grazing at both sites and subjected to chemical composition analysis. The research results revealed that RBC (red blood cell), Hb (Haemoglobin), and PCV (packed cell volume) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) at high altitude, while MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and MCHC (Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) were higher at low altitude. Sex and age had a similar effect (p > 0.05) on haematologic parameters, except for PCV and MCH. The altitude had a big impact on leucocyte (p < 0.05), being greater at low altitude than high, which could be an indicator of the increased immunologic response at low altitude irrespective of age and sex. The research result revealed the changing haematological responses of Baruwal sheep to changing pasture sites at different altitudes in the transhumance movement. The results further gave a hint of the nutritional stress at low altitude when the herd arrives in the winter season. It is rather difficult to draw an immediate conclusion that pasture quality might be the contributory issue for a decline in the nutritional status of grazing sheep when the herbage species vary by altitude. The measurement of blood metabolic stressors could further facilitate description of the nutritional stress alongside the transhumance when the grazing species and quality are different. Strategic feed supplementation for a much better performance of Baruwal sheep is needed at low altitude to deal with the declined herbaceous quality during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Appropriate level of bio-components in blood plasma of animals is associated with their concentration in soil and in green fodder. Cycling of elements in nature and their adequate level in animal organisms result in proper functioning of an organism as a whole (Khan et al. 68:279–284, 2007). Therefore, it is important to analyse soil and green fodder for these components. If some deficits are found, it is important to supplement components responsible for e.g. proper growth and development of a young organism, proper reproduction and, consequently, good quality of obtained product, which may affect human health (Minzanova et al. 134:524–533, 2015). The aim of the presented study was to demonstrate the effect of extensive grazing by sheep on vegetation and soil and to analyse the cycling of some elements important for animal health. The effects of vegetation season on the concentration of potassium in soil and differences in the concentration of some elements in soil, green fodder and animal blood were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoralists on the Tibetan alpine rangeland suffered great economic loss in cold season, due to serious live-weight loss of domestic livestock under traditional grazing management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary types (crude protein levels) on feed intakes, growth performance and economic returns of local Tibetan sheep and yaks during cold season. Twenty-four yearling Tibetan sheep (25.29±3.95 kg LW) and twenty two-year-old yaks (100.62±4.55 kg LW) with familiar body conditions were randomly assigned to four groups, fed oats hay (OH), oats silage (OS), total mixed ration (TMR) and traditionally grazed on the local cool-season pasture (TG), respectively, over a 135-day experiment. Daily dry matter intake was determined; all animals were weighed at the beginning and every 15 days of the 135-day experiment. Then, the total live-weight gain, average daily live-weight gain, gain rate, feed efficiency and net economic benefit were calculated. Results indicated that feed and nutrient intakes (DMI, DMI/kg LW, DMI/kg LW0.75 and CPI) of TMR, OH and OS were higher than TG (P < 0.05). Grazing animals suffered serious live-weight loss, while TMR, OS and OH significantly (P < 0.05) improved total live-weight gain and gain rate in both Tibetan sheep and yaks during the entire experiment. TMR worked better in animal performance and feed efficiency, obtained the highest breeding profit in both Tibetan sheep and yaks among four treatments (P < 0.05). When expressed on net economic benefit, TMR shared the highest net economic benefit in Tibetan sheep, OH shared the highest net economic benefit in yaks, but, no significant difference of net economic benefit in yaks fed TMR and OH diets was determined (P > 0.05). Results indicated that TMR was a reasonable diet in promoting feed intakes, animal performance, feed efficiency and economic returns in domestic livestock, which should be considered by local herdsmen to increase their breeding profit during cold season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentration of calcium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, in sheep and goats, during 12 months. The experimental subjects were six female sheep (Valle del Belice breed; aged 4 ± 1 years; mean weight, 68 ± 6 kg) and six female goats (Maltese breed; aged 3 ± 1 years; mean weight, 45 ± 3 kg). All subjects were clinically healthy and not pregnant nor lactating before and during the study. Blood samples were collected every 30 days at the same time (09:00) for 1 year (12 months). On the obtained sera, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, and magnesium were assessed by means of UV spectrophotometry; sodium and potassium were assessed by means of semiautomatic flame photometry. The application of the periodic model and statistical analysis of the cosinor procedure demonstrated seasonal rhythms of calcium, chloride, and sodium only in goats. Calcium showed the acrophase during the spring season, whereas the sodium and chloride serum values showed a seasonal rhythm with the acrophase in early summer. Our study sheds light on the seasonal difference existing between sheep and goats and provides useful information in livestock productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]