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Babesia ovis , commonly associated with ovine babesiosis, poses a significant threat to sheep health, often resulting in severe clinical manifestations and high mortality rates. However, the impact of B. ovis on goats has remained uncertain, prompting us to investigate its pathogenicity in caprine hosts. Experimental infections using B. ovis -infected blood inoculation and infected tick infestation, were conducted on spleen-intact (n=5) and splenectomized (n=5) goats. The experimental infection was performed using fresh blood obtained from a B. ovis -infected splenectomized sheep. One spleen-intact sheep served as a control for the experimental infection with B. ovis -infected Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. While all experimentally infected sheep (#501, #575) displayed severe clinical symptoms and high parasitemia, goats exhibited resistance, showing no significant clinical manifestations or sustained parasitemia. Notably, B. ovis was detected in two spleen-intact goats via nested PCR, prompting further investigation into their role as reservoirs for tick-borne transmission. These goats were then infested with Babesia spp.-free R. bursa larvae (0.1 gr) and adults (50 females and 50 males) for transstadial and transovarial transmission experiments respectively. Results indicated that chronically B. ovis -infected spleen-intact goats are not significant sources for maintaining the tick-borne transmission cycle of the parasite. These findings highlight the differential susceptibility of goats to B. ovis infection compared to sheep and their limited role as reservoirs for parasite transmission. Understanding the role of goats in B. ovis transmission and their resistance mechanisms can inform effective control measures and reduce economic losses in affected regions. Further research into caprine babesiosis and host immunological responses is essential to fully elucidate their possible role as reservoirs of the parasite, and underlying mechanisms of host susceptibility and parasite pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep behavior recognition helps to monitor the health status of sheep and prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. Aiming at the problems of low detection accuracy and slow speed due to the crowding of sheep in real farming scenarios, which can easily obscure each other, this study proposes a lightweight sheep behavior recognition model based on the YOLOv8n model. First, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is introduced and improved in the YOLOv8n model, and the channel attention module and spatial attention module are changed from serial to parallel to construct a novel attention mechanism, PCBAM, to enhance the network's attention to the sheep and eliminate redundant background information; second, the ordinary convolution in the backbone network is replaced with depth-separable convolution, which effectively reduces the number of parameters in the model and reduces the computational complexity. The study takes the housed breeding sheep as the test object, installs a camera diagonally above the sheep pen to collect images and makes a data set for testing, and in order to verify the superiority of the PD-YOLO model, compares it with a variety of target detection models. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) of the model proposed in this paper are 95.8%, 98.9%, and 96.2% for the three postures of sheep lying, feeding, and standing, respectively, which are 8.5%, 0.8%, and 0.8% higher than those of YOLOv8n, respectively, and the size of the model has been reduced by 13.3% and the amount of computation has been reduced by 12.1%. The inference speed reaches 52.1 FPS per second, which is better than other models in meeting the real-time detection requirement. To verify the practicality of this research method, the PD-YOLO model was deployed on the RK3399Pro development board for testing, and a high inference speed was achieved. It can provide effective technical support for sheep smart farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to study the potential effects of climatic conditions prevalent at the locations of sheep farms in the country. The specific objectives were to explore associations between climatic variables and the incidence of four clinical problems in sheep farms and, moreover, to compare these to the health management practices applied in the farms. Our hypothesis was that climatic factors may be associated with the prevalence of diseases in sheep farms; this will provide information regarding potential weather effects, to take into account in the efforts for control of the diseases. Data were obtained during a large cross-sectional investigation performed across Greece involving 325 sheep flocks. Climatic variables prevailing at the location of each farm were derived from 'The POWER Project'. The annual incidence rate for abortion was 2.0% (95% confidence intervals: 1.9–2.1%), for clinical mastitis 3.9% (3.8–4.0%), for lamb pneumonia 1.4% (1.3–1.4%) and for lamb diarrhoea 7.9% (7.8–8.1%). In multivariable analyses, climatic variables emerged as significant predictors for abortion—high annual precipitation at the farm location (p = 0.024)—and for lamb diarrhoea—high average annual temperature range at the farm location (p < 0.0001)—but not for clinical mastitis or lamb pneumonia. The potential effects of climatic variables were found to be more important in lambs than in adult animals. Future studies may focus on how variations in temperature and precipitation can be translated into on-farm metrics to understand the impacts on sheep health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The effects of Spanish alfalfa replacing American alfalfa on performance, serum biochemical indexes and rumen microflora of East Friesian and Hu sheep crossbreed first-generation dairy sheep (DHF1) were studied. [Method] Forty-eight DHF1 sheep (second parity and second lactation month) were randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates in each group and 4 sheep in each replicate. After 15 days of pre-feeding, the formal experiment was conducted for 45 days. During the trial period, the two groups of sheep were fed on silage corn and pellet feed (alfalfa, oat and concentrate) with the same ingredients except for different alfalfa types.The feed intake and residual feed were recorded every day, and milk yields by machine at 10:00 and 18:00 every day were measured during the experimental period. On days 15, 30 and 45 of the trial period, small amounts of milk samples were taken to determine routine nutritional components (milk fat, milk protein, lactose and non-fat solids). On day 45 of the trial period, 10 mL blood was taken from jugular vein to determine serum biochemical indexes (total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, blood sugar, malondialdehyde, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity). Rumen fluid of dairy sheep from each group was collected by rumen fluid collection tube on day 45 of the trial period, and rumen microflora was analyzed by 16S rDNA.Finally, economic benefits of the two experimental groups were analyzed. [Result] There was no significant difference in milk yield between the two groups on days 15, 30 and 45 (P>0.05). On day 30 of the trial period, the fat of dairy sheep in Spanish alfalfa group was significantly higher than that in American alfalfa group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among other indexes (P>0.05). The content of total protein in serum of Spanish alfalfa group was significantly higher than that of American alfalfa group (P<0.05). Chao1 index, Shannon index and Shannon/Simpson index of rumen microorganisms in Spanish alfalfa group were significantly higher than those in American alfalfa group (P<0.05), Simpson index was not significantly different from that in American alfalfa group (P>0.05), and coverage was significantly lower than that in American alfalfa group (P<0.05). The dominant bacteria in rumen of test sheep in the two groups were Firmicutes and Bacteroides, and the relative abunclance of Proteus in rumen of the American alfalfa group was significantly higher than that of the Spanish alfalfa group (P<0.01). At the genus level, there was no significant difference in the relative abundance of each genus in rumen between the two groups (P>0.05). The daily economic benefit of dairy sheep in Spanish alfalfa group was slightly higher than that in American alfalfa group. [Conclusion] Spanish alfalfa instead of American alfalfa has no negative effect on performance, serum biochemical indexes and rumen health of dairy sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus), a nematode with global prevalence, poses a major threat to the gastrointestinal health of sheep and goats. In an effort to combat this parasite, a nanovaccine was created using a recombinant ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) antigen encapsulated within poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of this nanovaccine in providing protection against H. contortus infection. Methods: Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups. The experimental group received two doses of the PLGA encapsulated rHcARF1 (rHcARF1-PLGA) nanovaccine on days 0 and 14. Fourteen days after the second immunization, both the experimental and positive control groups were challenged with 8000 infective larvae (L3) of H. contortus, while the negative control group remained unvaccinated and unchallenged. At the end of the experiment on the 63rd day, all animals were humanly euthanized. Results: The results showed that the experimental group had significantly higher levels of sera IgG, IgA, and IgE antibodies, as well as increased concentrations of cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-9, IL-17, and TGF-β, compared to the negative control group after immunization. Following the L3 challenge, the experimental group exhibited a 47.5% reduction in mean eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and a 55.7% reduction in worm burden as compared to the positive control group. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the nanovaccine expressing rHcARF1 offers significant protective efficacy against H. contortus infection in goats. The results also suggest the need for more precise optimization of the antigen dose or a reassessment of the vaccination regimen. Additionally, the small sample size limits the statistical rigor and the broader applicability of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to evaluate the impact of different ratios of fermented rice straw and peanut straw on the in vitro rumen fermentation of Hu sheep by the gas production method. The straw and peanut straw were combined in the following proportions for the fermentation test: 100∶0 (Group T0), 80∶20 (Group T20), 60∶40 (Group T40), 40∶60 (Group T60), 20∶80 (Group T80), and 0∶100 (Group T100). Five Hu sheep in good health with similar body weights were selected as rumen fluid donors. The experiment determined the in vitro fermentation parameters, including the degradation rate of conventional nutrients, gas production parameters, in vitro fermentation parameters, 72-hour degradation rate of conventional nutrients, single combination effect, and multiple combination effect. The results showed that Group T80 had the highest gas production at 72 hours, which was significantly higher than all other groups except for Group T100 (P<0.05). As the proportion of peanut straw increased, the concentration of NH3-N, total volatile fatty acids, propionic acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and isobutyric acid in the culture fluid of all groups showed an increasing and then decreasing trend. The multiple combination effect (MFAEI) of Group T80 was superior to other combinations. The study indicates that different ratios of fermented straw and peanut straw combinations can produce positive synergistic effects. Among them, the combination of fermented straw to peanut straw at a ratio of 20∶80 exhibits a better synergistic effect, which can improve the utilization rate of roughage by the Hu sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: California was the second largest sheep-producing state in the US, with an inventory of 533,000 head of sheep and lambs in 2022. Mastitis is a health and welfare concern for ewes and lambs. Mastitis is one of the top reasons for the removal of ewes from the flock and antibiotic use in ewes. In this study, California sheep producers were surveyed on the management of ewes. Seventy-one surveys were completed. Most respondents had flocks of ≥100 sheep (54%; 38/71). Twenty-three percent (16/70) of the respondents reported having >5% udder abnormalities in a flock per lactation. Further analysis showed two clusters among participating farms. Larger flock sizes, the use of breeding ewes for meat or wool production or contract grazing, and more extensive management practices were associated with >5% udder abnormalities and ≥5% orphan lambs. A subset of the respondents (20) participated in serological testing for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) in sheep. A total of 1106 ewes or ewe lambs were sampled. The ewe-level seroprevalence was 14.1% (183/1106), and the flock-level seroprevalence was 75% (15/20) of the sampled farms. Our results describe flock demographics, management practices, and producer-reported udder health abnormalities in California ewes. Larger flock sizes and extensive management practices could be risk factors for udder abnormalities in ewes. (1) Background: Information is lacking on small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) status, prevalence, risk factors, and control measures for mastitis in California ewes. The goal of this survey was to outline characteristics of the sheep industry in California related to udder health and mastitis management. (2) Methods: An online survey consisting of 48 questions was completed by respondents between April 2022 and February 2023. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared tests were conducted to evaluate associations between variables. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of general management practices, udder health management, and flock demographics was performed to assess clustering. A subset of respondents (20) participated in SRLV serology testing. (3) Results: Seventy-one completed surveys were submitted. The MCA showed two clusters. Larger flock sizes, the use of breeding ewes for meat or wool production or contract grazing, and extensive management practices were more closely related to >5% udder abnormalities per lactation and ≥5% orphan lambs. The flock-level seroprevalence of SRLV was 75% (15/20), and ewe-level seroprevalence was 14.1% (183/1106). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study highlight areas that need further research, such as exploring differences in mastitis and SRLV incidences among management systems, the efficacy of mastitis treatments, and education on critical timepoints for mastitis diagnosis and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 10.5 million tonnes of sheep milk are produced worldwide, and around 3.1 million tonnes in Europe. In Europe, sheep milk production has stagnated slightly in recent years and currently accounts for around 1/3 of the global production. Due to its high content of dry matter, milk fat, total protein and casein, sheep milk is an excellent raw material for cheese production. Milk processing and cheese making are not only economically important, but also part of the cultural heritage based on a long tradition, often taking place in rural and less developed areas. Milk production and quality are very complex and are influenced by numerous factors, the most important of which are breed, feeding and body condition, parity and stage of lactation, milking and udder health, and environmental factors. In addition, different types of stress such as heat stress, nutritional stress, weaning stress, shearing stress, stress of regrouping, etc. have a significant impact on the welfare and health of the sheep as well as on the quantity of milk produced, its chemical composition, processing characteristics and the economic efficiency of the flock. In recent years, due to climate change, there has been an increasing number of studies on the effects of heat stress on the reproductive and production characteristics of sheep, as well as on their welfare and health. In addition, heat stress is often associated to the feed and the lack of water. The effects of stress are particularly pronounced in extensive sheep farming and milk production, which are prevalent in sheep farming. The aim of this paper is to describe the effects of the main types of stress on the quantity and chemical composition of sheep milk and on animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Aluminum (Al) is a non-essential toxic (neurotoxic, immunotoxic, cardiotoxic, etc.) element, it is widely used in several industries (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, etc.). Al-containing vaccines, medicines, contaminated food, and polluted air are the main routes of exposure (inhalation, dermal or oral). Determination and monitoring of blood element concentrations is an important tool for the clinical diagnosis of toxicity in animal health and sheep is one of the indicator species for assessing environmental health status. Aluminum is highly (>80) bound to protein in blood. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a current analytical method with high potential to contribute to clinical diagnosis in the field of animal health, where elemental concentrations in biological samples can be measured at multiple and parts per trillion (ppt) concentrations. The aim of this study was to determine, statistically analyze, and compare Al concentrations in sheep (n=12) serum and plasma by ICP-MS. The concentrations (mean±SE) were 56.34±1.82 and 62.22±2.30 for serum and plasma, respectively. The mean plasma concentration was higher than the mean serum concentration, but the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.06). While toxic concentrations in the liver and kidney have been reported, there are no blood data for Al in sheep and the serum reference concentration is reported for humans only. Owing to the lack of information on Al toxicity in sheep, experimental acute toxic concentration studies of blood (whole blood, plasma, and serum) are required for Al in sheep. In conclusion, no statistical difference was found between serum and plasma concentrations, and no clinical signs were observed at these concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) is a parasite that infects both animals and humans. Understanding its distribution and genetic diversity is important for disease prevention and control. This study investigated the presence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in sheep and goats across five regions in Jiangsu Province, China. The research found that E. bieneusi was present in all tested regions, with infection rates varying from 23.65% to 42.81%. The overall infection rate was 36.51%. There was no significant difference in infection rates between sheep and goats or between animals of different ages, but health condition did affect infection rates. Six genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, all belonging to a non-zoonotic group. These findings contribute to the better understanding and management of E. bieneusi infections in Jiangsu. In order to investigate the infection status and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) in sheep and goats in Jiangsu Province, a total of 786 fresh fecal samples from 18 farms across five regions in Jiangsu were collected and examined for the presence of E. bieneusi, and the genotype of E. bieneusi was examined using nested-PCR and sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer. The results showed that E. bieneusi was detected in the fecal samples of sheep and goats in all regions, with infection rates ranging from 23.65% to 42.81%. The overall infection rate was 36.51% (287/786). The infection rate of E. bieneusi showed no significant difference between sheep and goats, as well as among different ages of animals (p > 0.05), but showed a significant difference in sheep and goats with different health conditions (p < 0.05). The positive products were amplified and cloned and subjected to sequenced analysis. Six genotypes, BEB6, CHG2, CHG3, CHC8, CHG14, and COS-I, were found. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the six genotypes belonged to Group 2, which had previously been described as a non-zoonotic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonella continues to pose a significant threat to public health, standing as the second leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the European Union. In instances of severe infection, the treatment of salmonellosis necessitates the use of antimicrobials, among other therapeutic interventions. The escalating resistance of Salmonella spp. to antibiotics in recent years, primarily attributed to inappropriate usage in livestock, has raised considerable concerns among health authorities. The findings indicate that the low prevalence of Salmonella spp. isolated from samples of cattle, sheep, and goats in slaughterhouses, coupled with their comparatively low-to-moderate resistance to key antibiotics used in the treatment of human salmonellosis, suggests that the consumption of beef, lamb, and goat meat does not pose a substantial threat to public health in relation to the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Salmonella spp. pose a global threat as a leading cause of foodborne illnesses, particularly prevalent in the European Union (EU), where it remains the second cause of foodborne outbreaks. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. has become a critical concern, complicating treatment strategies and escalating the risk of severe infections. The study focuses on large and small ruminants, identifying a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in slaughterhouses and revealing varied AMR rates across antimicrobial families throughout a meta-analysis. Also, comparison with AMR in human medicine was carried out by a systematic review. The results of the present meta-analysis displayed a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in large and small ruminants at slaughterhouses of 8.01% (8.31%, cattle; 7.04%, goats; 6.12%, sheep). According to the AMR of Salmonella spp., 20, 14, and 13 out of 62 antimicrobials studied were classified as low (<5%), high (>5% but <10%), and very high (>10%), respectively. Salmonella spp. did not display AMR against aztreonam, mezlocillin, ertapenem, meropenem, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, tilmicosin, linezolid, fosfomycin, furazolidone, quinupristin, trimethoprim and spectinomycin. In contrast, a prevalence of 100% of AMR has been described against ofloxacin, lincomycin, and cloxacillin. In the context of the main antibiotics used in the treatment of human salmonellosis, azithromycin was shown to have the highest resistance among Salmonella spp. isolates from humans. Regarding cephalosporins, which are also used for the treatment of salmonellosis in humans, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. resistance to this class of antibiotics was similar in both human and animal samples. Concerning quinolones, despite a heightened resistance profile in Salmonella spp. isolates from ruminant samples, there appears to be no discernible compromise to the efficacy of salmonellosis treatment in humans since lower prevalences of AMR in Salmonella spp. isolated from human specimens were observed. Although the resistance of Salmonella spp. indicates some degree of concern, most antibiotics are not used in veterinary medicine. Thus, the contribution of cattle, sheep and goats to the rise of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. and its potential impact on public health appears to be relatively insignificant, due to their low prevalence in carcasses and organs. Nevertheless, the observed low prevalence of Salmonella spp. in ruminants at slaughterhouse and the correspondingly low AMR rates of Salmonella spp. to key antibiotics employed in human medicine do not indicate that ruminant livestock poses a substantial public health risk concerning the transmission of AMR. Thus, the results observed in both the meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that AMR is not solely attributed to veterinary antibiotic use but is also influenced by factors such as animal health management (i.e., biosecurity measures, prophylactic schemes) and human medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ethiopia has a rapidly growing small ruminant sector, which faces low productivity due to husbandry practices and poor health condition of the animals. A study was conducted in Ethiopia's largest municipal abattoir with the objective to assess the health problems of sheep and goats presented for slaughter using standard ante-mortem and post-mortem methodology. Methods: A cross-sectional study using systematic random sampling was conducted on 384 sheep and 384 goats from January to July 2014. Results: Soiled skin (69.1%), poor body condition (24.3%), and nostril discharge (19.5%) were common among both species at ante-mortem examination. Gross lesions were frequent in livers (39.7%) and lungs (37.2%), while pneumonia (18.1%) and adhesions (13.8%) were frequent in the lungs of sheep and goats, indicating stress-related illness. Parasitic lesions, especially fasciolosis (19.3%) and hydatid cysts (8.1%) were significantly more common in sheep livers (p 0.05). The direct financial loss from lesions in both species was 1,077,015 ETB or 53,851 USD per year, most of which was estimated to occur from carcass bruising. Discussion: The findings indicate that reducing parasite burden and preventing carcass bruising through improved handling could significantly increase the profitability of the small ruminant meat sector in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Garlic skin (GAS) has been proven to improve the growth performance of fattening sheep. However, the mechanism by which GAS affects fattening sheep is not yet clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding GAS to feed on the growth performance, rumen and fecal microbiota, serum and urine metabolism, and transcriptomics of rumen epithelial cells in fattening sheep. Methods: GAS with 80 g/kg dry matter (DM) was added to the diet of fattening sheep to study the effects of GAS on gut microbiota, serum and urine metabolism, and transcriptome of rumen epithelial tissue in fattening sheep. Twelve Hu sheep (body weights; BW, 23.0 ± 2.3 kg and ages 120 ± 3.5 d) were randomly divided into two groups. The CON group was the basal diet, while the GAS group was supplemented with GAS in the basal diet. The trial period was 10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks being the pre-trial period. Results: The daily average weight gain of fattening sheep in the GAS group was significantly higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05), and the serum GSHPx of the GAS group fattening sheep was significantly increased, while MDA was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Based on the genus classification level, the addition of garlic peel in the diet changed the intestinal microbial composition, and the relative abundance was significantly upregulated by Metanobrevibater (p < 0.05), while significantly downregulated by Akkermansia, Parasutterella, and Guggenheimella (p < 0.05). Metabolomics analysis found that there were 166 significantly different metabolites in serum and 68 significantly different metabolites in urine between the GAS and CON groups (p < 0.05). GAS had an impact on amino acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, methane metabolism, riboflavin metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathways (p < 0.05). Transcriptome sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in immune regulatory function, improving the health of fattening sheep. Conclusion: Adding GAS can improve the energy metabolism and immune function of fattening sheep by altering gut microbiota, metabolome, and transcriptome, thereby improving the growth performance of fattening sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides derived from Alhagi camelorum Fisch possess diverse activities, making them a potential prebiotic candidates for enhancing lamb health. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Alhagi camelorum Fisch polysaccharides from Aksu (AK) and Shanshan (SS) regions on sheep lambs. The results showed that sheep lambs in the SS group exhibited significantly increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin (INS), IgA and IgM, and cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ compared to those in the control check (CK) group. Moreover, the SS treatment significantly increased the diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria, while concurrently diminishing the prevalence of harmful bacteria. Additionally, it modulated various metabolic pathways, promoted lamb growth, improved immunity, reduced the risk of gastrointestinal disease and improved the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota. In summary, our findings highlight the potential of SS treatment in enhancing gastrointestinal health of sheep lambs by improving intestinal function, immunity, and gut microbiome. Consequently, these results suggest that Alhagi camelorum Fisch polysaccharides derived from Shanshan regions holds promising potential as a valuable intervention for optimizing growth performance in sheep lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flock health planning has been advocated as part of a wider drive within livestock production for veterinarians and farmers to adopt a prevention‐focused approach to veterinary medicine. This approach has, at its core, a cyclical process of assessment, evaluation, action and re‐assessment, and is documented, at least in summary, in a health plan (HP). The HP has become a defining pillar of farm quality assurance schemes (QASs), introduced to address calls for greater transparency and accountability in food production. There is limited current information on the attitudes and behaviours surrounding flock HPs in the sheep sector and the barriers to greater involvement in an active process of continual improvement through reflective flock health planning. This study aims to address these issues with reference to the national flock in Northern Ireland. A mixed‐methods approach was used to explore farmers' and veterinarians' opinions and behaviours related to QASs and HP, with data obtained through an online scoping questionnaire, semi‐structured interviews with 27 farmers and 15 veterinarians, and discussion groups with farmers and veterinarians. No evidence of a positive association between a farm having a HP and implementation of 12 industry‐recommended flock health activities was identified using the Fisher's exact test. Farmers reported a reluctance to pay for veterinary advice while some veterinarians reported a lack of time to develop HPs for farmers, and sheep‐related work generally. Farmers predominantly saw the HP as a static, physical document, which had limited impact on their management practices, rather than a proactive, reflective and collaborative planning process. Veterinarians tasked with completing HPs felt restricted by limited knowledge of on‐farm practices, flock production data and a lack of confidence in the accuracy of on‐farm medicine records. This led some to believe that the HPs may fail to address critical issues. A new approach to engage farmers and veterinarians together in active flock health planning needs to be developed. This will need a sustainable delivery plan. Then the focus can be shifted towards ongoing reflective health planning to drive change for the betterment of sheep health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study investigates the association between plasma metabolites and body condition score (BCS) in Marwari sheep under cold stress. BCS is considered as an easy, rapid and non-invasive assessment method for determining an animal's state of health. Animals modify their body's metabolic state to adapt and combat cold ambient temperature conditions. Methods: The present study was conducted on apparently healthy Marwari sheep by screening 180 animals from marginal farmers in two different ambiences from in and around Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The study included 6 months to 6 years age group animals which were divided in to six different categories as 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. The technique outlined by Jefferies (1961) and Russel (1968) was used to determine the body condition score of the sheep. Blood samples were collected during moderate and extreme cold ambiences in the morning hours from the slaughter house and health status was monitored by recording rectal temperature, respiratory rate and body condition score. Estimated plasma metabolites were glucose, total proteins, urea, cholesterol and creatinine. Result: The plasma glucose concentration increased significantly in extreme cold environment compared to a moderate environment (increasing by 9.21%), Whereas total plasma protein concentrations decreased significantly under cold conditions by 7.66%. Similarly, plasma urea and cholesterol levels increased significantly (8.81% and 13.81% increase, respectively). The results suggest that a particular BCS is not sufficient to represent the health state of sheep. However, animals with a BCS of 2.5 to 3.5 demonstrated strong physiological adaptability to their surroundings, indicating that Marwari sheep exposed to cold may have an ideal BCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruminant production systems in the arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa confront severe challenges due to recurring droughts and the intensifying effects of climate change (CC). These systems grapple with numerous stress factors, including poor animal nutrition, water scarcity, gastrointestinal (GIT) parasite burdens, and heat stress, which contribute to below optimal animal productivity and a high environmental footprint. Addressing these issues urgently, by creating livestock systems resilient to CC that also promote better animal health, enhanced productivity, and reduced environmental impact, is paramount to safeguarding the livelihoods of the rural population. This 50-day study aimed to evaluate the effects of improved feeding and nutritional management in sheep, focusing on GIT parasite infections, feed intake and digestibility, liveweight (LW) gain, and enteric methane (CH4) emissions. We investigated the legume forage tree, Calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus), as a high-quality feed source because of its rich crude protein content and its potential as a remedy for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasite infections, attributed to its high condensed tannin (CT) content. Twenty-eight Dorper lambs underwent random allocation across four treatments, each consisting of seven lambs. These treatments combined either a trickle infection or no infection with Haemonchus contortus with a supplementation (40% of diet on a dry matter basis or lack thereof) of the basal diet (Rhodes grass hay) with dried Calliandra leaflets. The treatments were: UnHay (uninfected, fed on hay-only), InHay (infected, fed on hay-only), InHay+Cal (infected, fed on hay plus Calliandra), and InHay+Cal+PEG [infected, fed on hay, Calliandra, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)]. The latter was to evaluate the potential effects of Calliandra's condensed tannins. The results show that lambs in the InHay+Cal treatment exhibited a higher packed cell volume (PCV) and lower faecal egg counts (FEC) compared to the InHay group. No effects of infection on the other measured variables were observed in unsupplemented lambs. Calliandra supplementation increased total feed dry matter intake (DMI) by 20% (61.8 vs. 51.7 g DM/kg LW0.75) (InHay+Cal vs. InHay) and enhanced LW gain (7.2 g/d) in the InHay+Cal group, whereas the unsupplemented infected group (InHay) experienced LW loss (-26.6 g/d). Calliandra supplementation to infected lambs reduced daily CH4 emission by 15% (13.9 vs. 16.2 g/d) and CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) by 30% (18.7 vs. 26.5 g/kg DMI), compared to emissions from unsupplemented infected lambs. Nonetheless, Calliandra supplementation decreased the digestibility of crude protein and fibre and raised the faecal nitrogen (N) output to N intake (FN/NI) ratio. The effects of PEG supplementation on CT activity remained inconclusive. The study concludes that a 40% replacement of a protein-deficient basal diet with Calliandra may be excessive. However, the findings underscore the considerable advantages of integrating Calliandra into farming systems. Such nature-based solution control GIT parasite infections and their lifecycle, bolster the nutritional value of a deficient basal diet, improve animal productivity costeffectively, and mitigate enteric methane emissions both in absolute terms and intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The perceptions and practices of sheep farmers with regards to their knowledge of sheep health management on their farms can have a significant impact on the overall health, welfare, and production of their animals and on the economics of their farming enterprise. District veterinary services play an important role in providing technical services and support to the farmers. Survey studies were conducted to understand and compare the practices and perceptions of sheep famers and district veterinarians (DVs) in NSW, Australia, to sheep health and its management. The findings illustrated differences between the farmer and DV perception of sheep health and diseases of greatest concern and provided valuable insights into their different observations and practices. For example, sheep producers were most concerned with parasites whereas for DVs sheep husbandry advice was most concerning. However, both groups ranked nutrition advice as the second most concerning area related to sheep health. Of particular interest were the differences in the communication methods that they prefer which, if more closely aligned, may enable more effective communication. The findings of these studies provide some guidance and recommendations for improving the management of the health, welfare, and overall economic value of sheep farming in NSW. The study objectives were to understand the practices and perceptions of sheep farmers and district veterinarians (DVs) towards sheep health management and, the impact of disease at the farm level in addition to the availability, accessibility, and use of veterinary services. Data were collected using question-based surveys, distributed online and in-person to sheep farmers (45 respondents) and DVs (25 respondents). Most farmers were male, ≥51 years old, who placed a high priority on the health and welfare of their sheep. For disease prevention most farmers vaccinated their sheep (91%) and 86.7% had a farm biosecurity plan, although its components and their application varied, e.g., the isolation of new or sick sheep. Fencing costs were most frequently identified (70.5% respondents) as a financial concern for sheep farmers. Their most common sources of information about disease control and prevention were DVs (66.7%), private veterinarians (60.0%), the internet (42.9%), rural suppliers (35.7%), and farmers/neighbours (28.6%). Fifty-eight percent of farmers reported a long distance from veterinarian services. Farmers preferred to receive information via email (77.8%), whereas 56% of DVs preferred to share information via phone call. This discrepancy presents an opportunity to align these mechanisms more closely for effective dissemination of information and increased producer engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to study the impact of deficiency of certain macro and microelements on clinical, hematobiochemical and electrocardiographic changes in sheep. The survey study was carried out on a total of 300 sheep, of which 250 suffered from mineral deficiency and 50 apparent healthy were used as control. Clinical investigations of diseased sheep revealed change wool color, easily detached wool, alopecia, pale mucous membrane, and diarrhea. Clinical examination showed significant elevation (p< 0.05) of respiratory rate and heart rate. Hematological examination revealed significant (P<0.05) decrease in Hb, RBCs, WBCs and HCT, with increase in MCV, MCH. Biochemically, there was a statistically significant (P<0.05) decline in Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn, Se, Fe, TP and albumin, whereas ALT, ALP, LDH, cTnI, and creatinine levels increased significantly (P<0.05). Electrocardiographic examination showed different changes, including abnormal T-waves (wide and enlarged), premature ventricular depolarization and cardiac arrhythmia. It was concluded that macro-micro element deficiency is associated with clinical, biochemical, hematological and ECG alterations. In addition, they have been related to dysfunctions of internal organs including liver, heart and kidney. Therefore, it is recommended to prescribe a proper feeding management program containing the necessary macro- and micro elements for sheep flocks and do not rely only on the grazing as a main source of feed to maintain the health and production of sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal nematodes are common in grazing sheep, but the intensity of the infection is not easily appreciated by farmers. For decades, they have relied on anthelmintic treatments to control these gastrointestinal nematodes. This has led to anthelmintic resistance and poor control of infection in most regions of the world. Using face-to-face semidirective interviews with farmers, we recorded their views on gastrointestinal nematode infection and its control. Ten organic and nine conventional meat sheep farmers from central France and 20 milk sheep farmers from the Basque region were interviewed and the data were analysed using a health model based on the importance of the disease and the barriers to implementing control. It was found that gastrointestinal nematodes were not the main health concern, and therefore farmers were not willing to invest too much time and money in their control. The conventional farmers relied on their veterinarians (the experts) to organise and select the anthelmintics, although they complained about the limited investment of their veterinarians in this matter. Organic farmers complained about their lack of knowledge about complementary and alternative medicines. Farmers rarely used faecal egg counts to build control of gastrointestinal nematodes and were unaware of the intensity of their infection. Knowledge of anthelmintic resistance was general (it exists) but farmers did not know if it existed on their farm. Resistance was often considered to have come from elsewhere, so the farmer did not feel at fault and did not take measures to prevent resistance. There is a need for all stakeholders to use faecal egg counts to assess the intensity of infection as well as the level of anthelmintic resistance to establish individual farm control programmes rather than standard blanket treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is the first of its kind being reported for an indigenous sheep breed of Pakistan with objectives to (a) assess the diagnostic efficacy of a human‐based "serum hemolysis reference palette" for sheep serum, (b) deduce normal reference intervals (RIs) for hemoglobin (Hb) and bilirubin, and (c) devise a novel serum color chart for on‐field estimation of Hb and bilirubin through color matching of sheep serum. Apparently, healthy Sipli sheep (n = 130) were bled twice attaining whole blood and serum samples (n = 260). The study animals were grouped on the basis of gender, that is, males (n = 51) and females (n = 79) and age, that is, G1 (up till 1 year) (n = 41), G2 (from 1 to 2 years) (n = 46), and G3 (from 2 to 3 years) (n = 43). None of the 260 serum samples of the sheep matched the color given on the human‐based "hemolysis reference palette." The G1 animals revealed marked variation in their serum color. Hence, on the basis of RIs, the serum samples (n = 178) of adult sheep (G2 and G3) showing three main color bands were used in devising a novel serum Hb and bilirubin estimation chart for adult sheep serum. In conclusion, the human‐based serum hemolysis palette is not valid for sheep serum. The RIs attained in the study could provide a yardstick for assessment of health in indigenous sheep breeds whereas the serum color chart may be of value in estimating Hb and bilirubin in a quick, reliable, and cheaper way for the resource‐poor settings of the world. Research highlights: Human‐based serum color reference chart cannot be used for sheep serum.A sheep serum color chart for on‐field estimation of hemoglobin and bilirubin has been devised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental heat stress is implicated in various animal health issues in ruminants, including reproduction rates, mortality rates, and animal physical quality. During extremely hot weather, there is often no overnight equilibration of animal temperature with its cooling effect, and the accumulated heat load becomes an important factor in animal health for ruminants such as sheep. Using the heat load index (HLI), a heat load model is used as an indicator of heat stress on an hourly basis and annually, using downscaling models for temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed, in both spatial and temporal cases, across several example sites in regional Victoria. Analysis is provided on the performance of the downscaling models and various adaptation and mitigation options are discussed and tested. These options include using different tree planting patterns to modify solar radiation exposure and wind effects, with mixed results because adding shading structures may also diminish the effect of wind-based cooling. The modelling experiments indicated that (1) heat stress is likely to increase under future climate conditions and could represent a serious threat to the health of small ruminants; (2) adaptation measures by means of tree planting to provide shade may not be sufficient to alleviate projected heat stress; and (3) other adaptation measures will need to be considered. Indicative results for heat stress under potential future environments are provided for 2030, 2050, and 2070. Also discussed is the performance of wind speed modelling, and the effect of heat stress on animal growth and ram fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Every year, a significant amount of saffron petals remains as a by-product after harvesting and separating the thread-like parts of the flower (stigmas). The saffron stigma constitutes only 7.4% of the flower's weight and the remaining 92.6% is unused. This plant residue (petals) is a valuable source of plant bioactive compounds (phytobiotics), which based on previous studies, has useful effects on rumen fermentation, digestion and diet efficiency. However, there is no specific information about the effect of this by-product on ruminal microbial populations, enzymatic activity, antioxidant health, as well as the mechanism of effectiveness. In the present study, it was hypothesized that the use of low levels of saffron petals in the diet (as a natural additive) could improve microorganism populations, hydrolytic enzymes and antioxidant health of the rumen. Therefore, this research was carried out to investigate the mechanism of the positive effects of saffron petals on the energy and nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant health of the sheep rumen using the in vitro method. Materials and Methods: Experimental treatments included a diet without saffron petals (control) and diets containing 1, 2, and 3% of saffron petals (based on dry matter). The 24 and 72-h gas production tests were performed in 2 series (runs; in different weeks) and 3 replicates in each run (i.e., 6 observations per treatment at each incubation time). The gas production from the samples incubated in the 100-mL glass syringes was recorded. Then, the protozoa (using a hemocytometer and light microscope), cellulolytic and proteolytic bacteria (using liquid medium and Hungate tubes), hydrolytic enzymes (via chemical methods and photometry), methane (by injecting NaOH solution to absorb CO2) and antioxidant capacity (via ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) were measured. Truly degraded substrate was determined by boiling fermentation residues in the neutral detergent solution and weighing, ammonia-N by phenol-hypochlorite method, and the volatile fatty acids (VFA) using gas chromatography. Microbial biomass production, digestibility, metabolizable energy and partitioning factor were estimated using the equations. Data were analyzed using the Proc GLM of SAS 9.1 in a completely randomized design (6 observations per treatment). Results and Discussion: The inclusion of different levels of saffron petals in the diet decreased the in vitro ruminal protozoa population (P<0.05), due to its bioactive components, which damage the structure and function of the protozoa membrane, deactivate protozoa enzymes or deprive protozoa of the substrate and metal ions needed for their metabolism. Moreover, saffron petals increased the cellulolytic bacteria numbers and microbial biomass production (P<0.05). This was due to the reduction of protozoa, which leads to the reduction of the bacteria predation and thus improves the growth and population of the cellulolytics. The ruminal fibrolytic enzymes and amylase activity decreased with the use of saffron petals in the diet (P<0.05), because of the higher cellulolytic bacteria and microbial biomass, i.e., higher bacteria activity. These improvements resulted in more (P<0.05) diet digestibility, metabolizable energy, total VFA and truly degraded substrate in the saffron petals-containing groups. The inclusion of saffron petals in the diet resulted in decreasing in vitro ruminal methane release, ammonia-N production and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P<0.05). These changes were due to the decreased protozoa numbers leading to less hydrogen supply for methanogens and higher hydrogen shift toward propionate, as well as less deamination process and ruminal nitrogen recycling. Another reason was the increase of cellulolytic bacteria that consume ammonia as their main nitrogen source. Antioxidant capacity increased with the use of saffron petals in the diet (P<0.05), due to the bioactive compounds and antioxidants (such as flavonoids) present in this plant residue. The maximum truly degraded substrate was observed in the diet containing 3% of saffron petals. The lowest methane, protozoa and ammonia were in diets containing 2 and 3% of saffron petals. Moreover, adding 2 and 3% of saffron petals caused the highest antioxidant power. Conclusion: The results showed that the positive effect of saffron petals on the ruminal metabolism and antioxidative health of sheep, in vitro, was due to the beneficial changes that occurred in microbial populations (increase of cellulolytic bacteria and decrease of protozoa), hydrolytic enzymes (fibrolytic enzymes and amylase) and its antioxidants. Therefore, low levels (up to 3% of diet) of saffron petals can be used as a natural phytobiotic additive to improve rumen fermentation and reduce loss of energy and nitrogen resources, although it is better to confirm the results in vivo. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no potential conflict of interest related to the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the winter in northern China, the type of housing or outdoor management may affect the growth and health of sheep, especially if they are young. We compared growth performance, immune function and antioxidant status of female lambs housed there in an enclosed building, a polytunnel or kept outdoors for 28 days. Compared to lambs kept outdoors at −14 °C, those in the enclosed house and polytunnel had improved growth rates, immune function and antioxidant status. We conclude that the polytunnel is best for the sheep's welfare, followed by the enclosed house, with the outdoor treatment being the worst. Cold conditions in northern China during winter may reduce sheep growth and affect their health, especially if they are young, unless housing is provided. We allocated 45 two-month-old female lambs to be housed in an enclosed building, a polytunnel, or kept outdoors, for 28 days. The daily weight gain and scalp and ear skin temperature of outdoor lambs were less than those of lambs that were housed in either a house or polytunnel; however, rectal temperature was unaffected by treatment. There was a progressive change in blood composition over time, and by the end of the experiment, outdoor lambs had reduced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and increased malondialdehyde compared to those in the house or polytunnel. In relation to immune responses in the lambs' serum, in the polytunnel, immunoglobulin A (IgA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were higher and immunoglobulin G (IgG) lower compared with the concentrations in lambs that were outdoors. Over the course of the experiment, genes expressing heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzymes increased in lambs in the outdoor treatment, whereas they decreased in lambs in the indoor treatments. It is concluded that although there were no treatment effects on core body temperature, the trends for progressive changes in blood composition and gene expression indicate that the outdoor lambs were not physiologically stable; hence, they should not be kept outdoors in these environmental conditions for long periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of sheep health and productivity has become a global goal. An effective house must provide adequate space, shelter, and protection from climatic changes and stress. Some plants such as thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and celery (Apium graveolens) could alleviate stressors. Hence, this investigation was conducted to determine the role of thyme and celery seed mixture (TCM) in improving the behavior and performance of lactating Ossimi ewes at diverse housings during autumn and winter. Forty lactating ewes (2 years old and 48 ± 1.5 kg average body weight) were randomly equally distributed into two semi-shaded buildings (SSB) (20 ewes each). These were roofed with a concrete slab 40 cm thick and 5 m high which was covered with three rows of rice straw bales as thermal insulation. It had natural dirt areas to the north and south. Ten ewes were fed a basal diet, and the others received a basal diet containing TCM (10 gm thyme and 10 gm celery/head/day). Similarly, 20 ewes were treated in a fully-shaded building (FSB) which was roofed with a layer of tin 5 m high and had natural flooring to the west and east. These ewes were fed a basal diet + TCM for 1 month pre-lambing and 2 months post-lambing. Both behavior and weight were recorded bi-weekly. Blood samples were collected monthly to measure oxidative stress indicator reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde, total protein, glucose, gene expression of nuclear factor 2 linked to erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and interleukin 2. Cumulative feed intake was calculated, and milk samples were collected for 2 months after lambing until weaning to measure moisture, ash, total protein, lactose, non-solid fat (NSF), total solids, fat, and antioxidant capacity of milk (free radical and inhibition factor). The findings revealed that sheep exhibited better feeding behavior in the FSB and the oxidative stress indicator was lower than in the SSB. TCM enhanced feeding behavior and decreased the oxidative stress indicator (reduced GSH) in the SSB. Additionally, it increased total protein and dam body weight (at the 6th week) in the FSB and improved feed intake in both buildings. Thyme and celery have antioxidant capacities in milk. Hence, the present data suggest that adding TCM to the basal diet could reduce the stress of climatic changes on lactating ewes and improve animal behavior and immunity leading to enhanced production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Query fever (Q fever) or coxiellosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by Coxiella (C.) burnetii and affects various animals and humans. Clinically, Q fever ranges from various degrees of fever to abortion, either in infected animals or humans. Such infection is especially important in cattle and small ruminants industry, particularly sheep and goats. Thus, the current study aimed to recognize the prevalence of specific antibodies against C. burnetii in serum samples collected from sheep and goats in Sohag governorate, Upper Egypt, using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence was found against C. burnetii (25.6%; 56/219), subdivided as 22.8% (23/101) in sheep and 28% (33/118) in goats. Animals used for this study are representative of different small ruminants (sheep and goats), age (various ages), sexes (males and females), locations (different localities in Sohag governorate), physiological and pathological conditions, and many other factors related to animals, farm, and the environment. Female animals exhibited a higher rate of C. burnetii antibodies than males (p = 0.0637). Also, females in the dry period showed a higher seropositive rate than those pregnant females (p <0.0001). In addition, the breeding system was reported as a risk factor for infection because animals bred in smallholders demonstrated a lower prevalence rate than those reared in individual breeding (p = 0.010) and mass farming (p = 0.006). Clinical and biochemical variables were estimated to recognize the health impact of seropositivity. Seropositive animals exhibited marked alterations in the selected clinical parameters and alanine transaminase (ALT) compared to the seronegative ones. Determining the exact occurrence of Q fever in sheep and goats might assist in developing a control policy for this infection and thus improve the income of the small ruminants industry and protect humans from infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To determine the use of differential somatic cell count as an indicator of mammary health in sheep, the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis approach was used to find a threshold value that can be used to discriminate healthy animals from those with a probable intramammary infection. This threshold will enhance the precision of diagnosing mammary gland inflammation in dairy sheep. Differential somatic cell count (DSCC), the percentage of somatic cell count (SCC) due to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and lymphocytes (LYMs), is a promising effective diagnostic marker for dairy animals with infected mammary glands. Well-explored in dairy cows, DSCC is also potentially valid in sheep, where clinical and subclinical mastitis outbreaks are among the principal causes of culling. We pioneered the application of DSCC in dairy ewes by applying receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to define the most accurate thresholds to facilitate early discrimination of sheep with potential intramammary infection (IMI) from healthy animals. We tested four predefined SCC cut-offs established in previous research. Specifically, we applied SCC cut-offs of 265 × 103 cells/mL, 500 × 103 cells/mL, 645 × 103 cells/mL, and 1000 × 103 cells/mL. The performance of DSCC as a diagnostic test was assessed by examining sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under curve (AUC) analyses. The designated threshold value for DSCC in the detection of subclinical mastitis is established at 79.8%. This threshold exhibits Se and Sp of 0.84 and 0.81, accompanied by an AUC of 0.88. This study represents the inaugural exploration of the potential use of DSCC in sheep's milk as an early indicator of udder inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Monitoring rumination behavior holds great potential as an objective approach for assessing sheep health and well-being. This systematic review provides an overview of the use of sensors to detect rumination in sheep in peer-reviewed research articles published on PubMed, Web of Science, and Livivo databases between the years 2012 and 2023. Additionally, information on their commercial availability is provided. When applicable, the review lists the performance of these sensors in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and specificity for rumination detection. Furthermore, the challenges and areas for future research were summarized. Initially, 935 articles were retrieved, where only 17 articles fulfilled the predefined inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that sensor-based systems have been used to monitor and analyze rumination behavior in sheep, but research regarding the optimal sensor position and settings (e.g., epoch settings) is not yet conclusive. Notably, none of the commercially available sensors were specifically designed for sheep. There is a need for tailored sensor solutions for sheep. Utilizing such sensors can improve sheep welfare and enhance our understanding of their behavior in various contexts. The use of sensors to analyze behavior in sheep has gained increasing attention in scientific research. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the sensors developed and used to detect rumination behavior in sheep in scientific research. Moreover, this overview provides details of the sensors that are currently commercially available and describes their suitability for sheep based on the information provided in the literature found. Furthermore, this overview lists the best sensor performances in terms of achieved accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and specificity in rumination detection, detailing, when applicable, the sensor position and epoch settings that were used to achieve the best results. Challenges and areas for future research and development are also identified. A search strategy was implemented in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Livivo, yielding a total of 935 articles. After reviewing the summaries of 57 articles remaining following filtration (exclusion) of repeated and unsuitable articles, 17 articles fully met the pre-established criteria (peer-reviewed; published between 2012 and 2023 in English or German; with a particular focus on sensors detecting rumination in sheep) and were included in this review. The guidelines outlined in the PRISMA 2020 methodology were followed. The results indicate that sensor-based systems have been utilized to monitor and analyze rumination behavior, among other behaviors. Notably, none of the sensors identified in this review were specifically designed for sheep. In order to meet the specific needs of sheep, a customized sensor solution is necessary. Additionally, further investigation of the optimal sensor position and epoch settings is necessary. Implications: The utilization of such sensors has significant implications for improving sheep welfare and enhancing our knowledge of their behavior in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haemonchus contortus is a blood sucking parasite whose habitat is the abomasum of ruminants, which poses a significant threat to the health and production of sheep and goats in warm temperate and tropical regions. H. contortus leads to anemia, hypoproteinemia, reduced exercise tolerance and edema subcutaneous tissue that can result in the death of animals. In acute infection, animals suddenly become anemic and many are found dead. Even in the chronic phase, the condition is accompanied by a mild but persistent parasitic burden and is characterized by weight loss, widespread malaise and in some individuals, anemia. The objective of this study was to identify the anthelmintic activity of Croton tiglium seeds extract against Haemonchus contortus and comparison with some drugs used against internal and external parasites. Methods: A study was performed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the methanolic extract of Croton tiglium seeds against Haemonchus contortus using an adult worm motility test. Six graduated concentrations of extract (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg/ml), were tested at different periods and changes over time in the viability of worms were registered for 2, 4 and 6 hr. Normal RPMI-1640 medium and ivermectin 0.1% were used as negative and positive control, respectively. Also, a histological study was conducted on the the integumentary tissue of the H. contortus and the changes that occur in it were observed. Result: At 2 and 4 h post treatment, the concentrations of C. tiglium seeds extract (100, 125 and 150 mg/ml) have caused significantly higher mortality compared to the other concentrations, while, similar to ivermectin that caused death for nematodes within 6 h. The lower concentration (25 mg/ml) was significantly more lethal than the negative control (RPMI-1640 medium) at 2, 4 and 6 h of exposure. Each concentrations damages the cuticle and muscles of H. contortus. The increase in concentration is proportional to the increase in damage to the integumentary. The present study indicated that all concentrations of methanolic extract of C. tiglium seeds produced anthelmintic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Brucellosis occurs because of a complex multisector system involving the interplay between animal production and human behavior. A better understanding of transmission dynamics helps pinpoint the most effective interventions to reduce human and animal cases. Modeling methodologies have not been applied extensively to brucellosis. This study applies system dynamics modeling to identify the interplay between the different sectors that drive disease transmission and identify One Health interventions to control brucellosis. The study applies a quantitative system dynamics modeling methodology based on a qualitative in-depth analysis of the Brucella transmission system in Jordan. The data are analyzed manually to establish causal pathways to develop a stock and flow (SF) model. The structure is examined and reviewed by key informants. Several intervention scenarios to control Brucella transmission is assessed. Brucella transmission among sheep and between farms and markets are the main drivers of human incidence. Farmers' visits to veterinary clinics are a critical intervention point for control associated with access to vaccination. The vaccination of sheep and health education activities alone might not be an effective strategy. Testing and culling sheep is the most efficient individual control strategy for animal incidence and a combination of public and animal health strategies (One Health) is the most effective strategy to reduce human incidence. The synthesis of current knowledge through the system dynamics model enables better understanding, visualization, and interpretation of the sectors involved in Brucella transmission. There is a strong synergy between sectors; therefore, greater control might be provided by utilizing multi-sectoral relationships embedded in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentiviruses infect small ruminants and cause similar but different two significant diseases: Maedi-Visna in sheep and Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis in goats. In the current study, 91 of 413 adult sheep and goats from the Korça region tested positive for small ruminant lentiviruses. Furthermore, 11 of the 25 small ruminant herds have at least one positive animal for small ruminant lentiviruses. The overall observed herd prevalence was 44.0% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 29-59) for both diseases, 38.6% (95% CI: 18.6-55.1) for Maedi-Visna in sheep, and 66.7% (95% CI: 43.1-90.2) for Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis in goats. The average observed prevalence rate ranges from 20% to 82.9% (95% CI: 12-89.2) within positive goat's herds, while within sheep-positive herds, it varies from 23.1% to 57.1% (95% CI: 11.7-70.4). There was a positive correlation between seroprevalence rate and animal species; goats seem to have an odd 2.36 (Odds Ratio (OR) 95% CI: 1.48-3.76) higher than sheep to test positive in ELISA. Other risk factors, such as farm size, indoor versus outdoor rearing, and close farm biosecurity, may play a role in disease transmission between and within small ruminant animals' herds. This is the first study on the prevalence of Maedi-Visna infection in sheep and one of the few published Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis studies in Albania. These findings support the presence of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLV) in the Korça district and emphasize the need for monitoring and controlling SRLV infection in sheep and goats. According to the study's conclusions, a yearly monitoring program is essential and must be developed in the future to keep the disease under control. This initiative aims to help owners understand SRLV and the need to raise seronegative animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the challenges of managing internal parasites in grazing livestock and horses. The prevalence of parasite resistance to dewormers has limited the development of new products by pharmaceutical companies. The article highlights the immediate threat of parasite infection in small ruminants and the growing concern of anthelmintic resistance in cattle. It also explores sustainable strategies for worm control, such as selective treatment, genetic selection for resistance, and the use of nematode-trapping fungi. The article emphasizes the need for improved knowledge and recommendations from veterinarians and the adoption of alternative worm management strategies. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Cuba's subtropical climate favors the circulation of agents that cause gastroenteric parasitic diseases, a serious health problem in sheep raising. Aim. To determine the relationship between hematologic variables and the parasitic burden on different farms. Materials and methods: This research study took place between January and June 2021. A total of 294 adult Pelibuey sheep were included in the study, all of which had a coprological test, hemogram, and differential. One-way ANOVA was used to study the variables per production unit. HSDTukey multiple comparison test was used as well. Pearson correlation was performed to determine the relationship between the variables included; the hematological variables with the greatest impact on parasites were compared. Results: The animals were considered resilient, since their hematological values were within the normal ranges, despite the different parasitic burdens with Haemonchus contortus. The correlation analysis of highly parasitized animals showed a positive correlation between the corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mean (CHCM) and the hemoglobin concentration (r'=0.812**). The Hb concentration showed a positive correlation with the hematocrit (Ht) (r=0.775**), whereas the eggs per feces gram test was negative (r= -0.430**). Conclusions: The correlation coefficient for hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, lymphocytes, and neutrophils was more visible in the animals infested with a parasitic burden below 800 eggs per gram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Maedi-visna is a globally distributed, viral, and incurable chronic disease of small ruminants, challenging the health and welfare of sheep and jeopardizing the sustainability of farms. Currently, the scarcity of representative, updated, and epidemiological data hinders the implementation of successful eradication programs. The objective of our study is to prospectively study the seroepidemiology of maedi-visna in intensively reared dairy sheep. For this reason, a total of 407 purebred Chios and Lacaune ewes from four farms were studied for two successive years, and blood samples were semiannually collected and tested using the ELISA test. Prevalence and incidence rates were found to have increased in all the studied farms, highlighting the importance of horizontal transmission of the virus within the farms. Various serological patterns were observed in the studied animals, namely, constantly seronegative, constantly seropositive, seroconverted, seroreverted, or animals with an intermittent presence of antibodies. The last two categories indicate a special immune response of infected animals which needs to be further investigated and considered for the diagnosis of MV and when designing eradication programs. The objective of this study is to prospectively evaluate the seroepidemiology of maedi-visna (MV) infections in intensively reared dairy sheep. A total of 407 purebred Chios and Lacaune ewes from four farms were surveyed for two consecutive years and were serologically tested semiannually with an indirect ELISA at pre-mating and pre-lambing. The farms' structure and management practices were similar and animal traits (age, breed, and production stage) were recorded. Based on the serological status, morbidity frequency measures were estimated, and ewes were categorized as constantly seronegative, constantly seropositive, seroconverted, seroreverted, or as animals with an intermittent presence of antibodies. During the study, period seroprevalence, incidence rate, and cumulative incidence were 84.8%, 33.6 new cases per 100 sheep-semesters, and 64.2%. Point-seroprevalence ranged from 48.5% to 96.0% among the studied farms and sampling occasions, and they increased by age. Increased morbidity frequency measures indicate the significance of horizontal transmission in intensive dairy sheep farms. A remarkable percentage of infected animals seroreverted (8.1%) or presented an intermittent presence of antibodies (10.3%) during the study, confirming the risk of misdiagnosis in cross-sectional studies and in the currently implemented testing and elimination programs. The serological patterns observed in our study need to be considered when studying MV epidemiology and for the designing of efficient MV elimination programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science. It discusses the topic of nutrition regulation and stress in ruminants, specifically focusing on the negative impacts of stress on nutrient digestibility and health in ruminants. The editorial highlights the importance of mitigating animal stress through improved animal management procedures and the use of plant bioactive substances and alkaline mineral complex as dietary supplements. The document presents various studies that demonstrate the positive effects of these nutritional strategies on rumen health, immunity, and antioxidant function in ruminants. Overall, the editorial provides valuable insights into the topic of nutritional regulation of animal stress and its potential benefits for ruminant health. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • A concentration-dependent curve was determined using in vitro assays. • Copper chloride, copper sulfate, and nitroxynil were effective against nematodes. • A synergic effect was observed against Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. • Copper chloride had a better effect, even in combination, against nematode parasites. Infections caused by Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. are major health problems for sheep and cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of copper chloride (CuCl 2), and copper sulphate (CuSO 4) at 2.0, 7.0, 30.0, 125.0, 500.0, and 2000.0 µM formulations, and nitroxynil 34% (NTX) at 0.235 mM against gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) of ruminants. Hence, the in vitro egg hatch test (EHT), the larval development test (LDT), and the larval migration inhibition test (LMIT) were used. Haemonchus spp. (52%) and Trichostrongylus spp. (38%) were the most frequently found parasites. The data fitted a concentration-dependent shape with the highest efficacies of CuCl 2 and CuSO 4 at 95.2 and 97.3% for parasites collected from sheep, and 95.8 and 93.4% from cattle, respectively. The combination of the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of CuCl 2 and CuSO 4 and the IC 10 of NTX showed up to a 52% increase in efficacy above the expected additive results, demonstrating a synergic/drug enhancer interaction. NTX may retain Cu-II ions by complexation, in a hitchhiking mechanism carrying the salts across the parasite cell wall, causing oxidative stress as a consequence of free radical production and cell damage. Synergy data between NTX and CuCl 2 , and CuSO 4 represent a viable opportunity to develop new formulations for combating parasites of ruminants (i.e., Fasciola hepatica , Haemonchus spp., and Oesophagostomum spp.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the paper is to highlight the millennial tradition of large-scale sheep husbandry in Romania (transhumance practices from the past) by adapting technologies, to preserve this extensive system, even nowadays. The second aim of the paper is to identify the medicinal plants used by shepherds as part of extensive sheep farming. The phytogeographical resources underlying the development of the pastoral landscape are natural pastures and hayfields. Their floristic composition includes numerous plant species with a beneficial role for the health and wellbeing of sheep. The research was conducted in the "Mărginimea Sibiului" area (Sibiu County), Romania, in the period 2016-2020. The employed methodology is complex and it is based, on the one hand, on the study and analysis of bibliographic resources and, on the other hand, on site visits to representative pastoral villages and interviews with shepherds who practised transhumance in the past. Data was collected from local and national authorities. Classical or traditional transhumance represents the seasonal movement of shepherds with sheep herds from the mountains to the plains in the autumn (from the 1st of October to the 1st of April) and back, in the spring, until the end of summer. It involves the movement of large herds (generally between 500 and 2000 head) of Ţurcana breed sheep, over distances between 100 and 500 km. The commute between the mountains and the plains is necessary in order to make efficient use of all available forage resources. The findings include the following: the number of sheep in Romania varied from 18,000 thousand head in 1985, to 14,062 thousand head in 1990, with the lowest value in 2001 (7,251 thousand head). After Romania joined the EU, the number increased, reaching 10,281 thousand head in 2020 (16.8% of the EU population). The distribution of sheep breeds in the country is the consequence of the shepherds' long-term experience, being closely related to the landscape conditions and the pedoclimatic characteristics. In the areas with large herds of sheep, pastoral villages were formed, grouped into 4 main centres, as well as centres derived from them (in the south-eastern part of the country, namely Dobrogea, and in counties located in the western area). Regarding the use of medicinal plants from the spontaneous flora for animals, it can be stated that the literature cites 49 plant species identified in the area. Of these, only 33 plant species, belonging to 21 families, are used on sheep breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intracellular bacteria Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are tick-transmitted pathogens circulating in the southern German sheep population. Knowledge of interaction among Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV in sheep is lacking, but together they might promote and reinforce disease progression. The current study aimed to identify co-exposure of sheep to Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV. For this purpose, 1,406 serum samples from 36 sheep flocks located in both southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria, were analysed by ELISAs to determine the antibody levels of the three pathogens. Inconclusive and positive results from the TBEV ELISA were additionally confirmed by a serum neutralisation assay. The proportion of sheep with antibodies against Anaplasma spp. (47.2%), C. burnetii (3.7%) and TBEV (4.7%) differed significantly. Significantly more flocks with Anaplasma spp. seropositive sheep (91.7%) were detected than flocks with antibodies against TBEV (58.3%) and C. burnetii (41.7%), but there was no significant difference between the number of flocks which contained TBEV and C. burnetii seropositive sheep. Seropositivity against at least two pathogens was detected in 4.7% of sheep from 20 flocks. Most co-exposed sheep had antibodies against Anaplasma spp./TBEV (n = 36), followed by Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii (n = 27) and Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii/TBEV (n = 2). Only one sheep showed an immune response against C. burnetii and TBEV. Flocks with sheep being positive against more than one pathogen were widely distributed throughout southern Germany. The descriptive analysis revealed no association between the antibody response of the three pathogens at animal level. Taking the flocks as a cluster variable into account, the exposure to TBEV reduced the probability of identifying C. burnetii antibodies in sheep significantly (odds ratio 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.24–0.85), but the reason for this is unknown. The presence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies did not influence the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and TBEV. Studies under controlled conditions are necessary to evaluate any possible adverse impact of co-exposure to tick-borne pathogens on sheep health. This can help to clarify rare disease patterns. Research in this field may also support the One Health approach due to the zoonotic potential of Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Optimum trace mineral (TM) status in ruminants is essential for fertility and the survival of the offspring by preventing oxidative stress and improving immunity. The benefits of injectable TM (ITM) supplementation in the lead-up to high-demand periods, such as pregnancy and calving, have been demonstrated in cattle. However, scientific evidence of its benefits for sheep fertility and health is scarce. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effect of an ITM supplement containing Cu, Se, Zn and Mn pre-joining and pre-lambing to ewes on conception rates, ewe and lamb survival and farm profitability. This study demonstrated that supplementing ewes using ITM before joining and lambing can improve lamb survival, weight at weaning and farm profitability. These results help to understand TM supplementation for animal health, performance and farm profitability beyond the treatment of clinical deficiencies. This study was conducted on five commercial farms across Victoria, Australia, between September 2018 and November 2019, where the TM status of ewes was within normal ranges before joining. Mix breed ewes (n = 1484) were randomly allocated to receive either nil treatment (Control) or two injections of an ITM product containing zinc (40 mg/mL), manganese (10 mg/mL), selenium (3 mg/mL), and copper (10 mg/mL); 0.2 mL per 10 kg BW (Multimin® plus Copper for Sheep, Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd., Milperra, NSW, Australia) 30 days before the start of joining and 30 days before the start of lambing. Approximately 90 days after joining, pregnancy status and conception rate were determined by ultrasound. The marking rate was determined approximately four weeks after the end of lambing, and lamb weights were determined at weaning (12 weeks after the end of lambing). In all farms, ITM treatment did not affect the conception rate. The average conception rate was 156 ± 11.0% (p > 0.05). The marking rate of ITM ewes was 9% higher than control ewes (95% Confidence Interval 3–21%). Lambs born to ITM ewes were 2.31 kg heavier at weaning than lambs born to control ewes (p < 0.001). Although not significant, ewe mortality across farms was 1.3% lower in the ITM group than in the control group. On average, ewes treated with ITM pre-joining and pre-lambing produced more and heavier lambs that represent an extra AU$ 2338 per 100 ewes net benefit for the producer. These results help to understand strategic TM supplementation for animal health, performance and farm profitability beyond the treatment of clinical deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in food animals is a One Health concern, but sheep production has been overlooked. This study aimed to explore the dissemination of Escherichia coli resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) in feedlot lambs. Two pens were sampled on two occasions, and carcasses and other mammals living around were also tested. E. coli were recovered and antibiotic resistance determined. bla CTX-M/CMY genes and their genetic localization were characterized. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to confirm clonal relationship. The most prevalent ESC-resistance genes in the 108 E. coli isolates were bla CTX-M-55 (53.7 %), bla CTX-M-2 (14.8 %) and bla CMY-2 (13.9 %). Most bla CTX-M-55 genes were found on the chromosome, but IncA/C, IncHI1, IncHI2 and IncF plasmids were also identified. Genetic diversity was observed even though ST6448 was by far the most frequent ST. WGS analysis showed high similarity among isolates recovered from feedlot lambs, animals in the surroundings and lambs' carcasses, proving the clonal and plasmidic dissemination. • 10 %-37 % of lambs intended for human consumption carried ESC-resistant E. coli. • The ST6448-B1 clone was highly prevalent (50/108 isolates). • Plasmidic transfers were suspected for IncHI2-ST2/ bla CTX-M- and IncC-ST3/ bla CMY-2. • Identical isolates were identified in lambs, carcasses and surrounding animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conductedduring 2018-2019 (Approximately one year) at College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner, Rajasthanto access the heat ambience associated alterations in water-deficit markers in sheep from western Rajasthan. Appraisal of environmental elements was carried out on the basis of recording of heat load index during intervening, dryhot, humid-hot and cold Environmental Periods from Sri Ganganagar and Churu districts of Rajasthan. The mean values among EPs varied significantly (p≤0.05) for minimum, maximum and average Temperature Humidity Index (THI). During humid-hot EP, the % variation in the values of plasma bicarbonate, urine bicarbonate, Fractional Excretion of Bicarbonate ions (FEBicarb), plasma anion gap and urine anion gap were found to be maximum (+32.73%, +112.78%, +168.75%,-45.74% and +23.17, respectively. On the basis of study it was concluded that the humid hot was the most effective season among all ambiences. The female sheep were affected more than male sheep. Along with that it was also observed that 15–19 age group was affected the most among all 4 age groups. Among all ambiences, humid hot environmental condition becomes very significant for unorganized farm animals. In study of stress caused by hot environment bicarbonate ions appeared to be the most perceivable analyte representing fluid, electrolyte and acid-base status. It could also be concluded that environmental stress, disturbs the ionic balance so the nutritional and management remedies are required for better health and production of sheep under at unorganised farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to explore the effect of prenatal feeding of compound Chinese herbal medicine preparation on the abortion rate and lambing rate of Hu sheep. A total of 2 100 ewes in late pregnancy were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Test group consisted of 1 100 ewes with 11 replicates, 100 sheep in each replicate. Control group was consisted of 1 000 ewes with 10 replicates and 100 sheep in each replicate. The sheep in control group were fed with basic feed, and sheep in test group were fed with test feed supplemented with 5 mL/head compound Chinese herbal medicine preparation for 10 d. The results showed that compared the control group, the abortion rate in test group was significantly reduced ( P<0.05). Compared with control group, the weak lambing rate and paralyzed sheep rate in test group were significantly reduced ( P<0.05). Compared with control group, the lamb mortality of test group was significantly reduced ( P<0.05), and the cure rate was significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with control group, the single tire weight, twin weight and triple tire weight were significantly increased ( P<0.05). The study indicates that the addition of 5 mL/head compound Chinese herbal medicine preparation to feed can improve the number of abortions, weak sheep and paralyzed sheep of pregnant ewes, and increase the lambing rate and the cure rate of lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]