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Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this paper was the successive description of the methodology of the complex evaluation of the breeding value of Karakul sheep, which finally allowed the development of fundamentally new Instructions for the complex rating of Moldavian Karakul sheep. The scientific research was carried out on the biological material of pure-breed Karakul sheep, imported from Central Asian countries, as well as cross-breed sheep (Tușca x Karakul) of different generations, obtained from crosses, within the research programs of the National Institute of Animal Husbandry and Medicine Veterinary, approved by order of the State in the period 1979-2005. On the basis of multiple scientific researches in the Republic of Moldova, official instructions (approved by the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry) have been developed, for rating with principles of genetic amelioration of Moldavian Karakul sheep, which represent a normative act in the field that must be implemented by breeding farm owners from this sheep race. In the respective normative act, the methodological procedures for the complex rating of Moldavian Karakul sheep are described according to the three particular characters (pelt quality, body mass and milk production) and the deduction of the general class of the sheep, which reflects the complex value of the animal. In order to objectively evaluate the level of development of the selected morphoproductive characters, for each particular character (pelt quality, body mass, milk production) the minimum standards of inclusion in the respective value categories (classes) were elaborated. The mandatory implementation of complex rating sheep in all breeding farms and, optionally, in some production farms, contributes to the genetic amelioration of the Moldavian Karakul sheep populations in the country and the increase of their productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of conducting milk production control is to identify high-performing milkproducing ewes that can serve as the foundation for future selection nuclei, aiming to obtain offspring with superior productivity potential. The practical importance of establishing elite nuclei is also ensured by the fact that future ram dams will be selected only from the females forming this elite group. The research was conducted on two batches of lactating females (L1 and L2). In order to evaluate their milk production potential as objectively as possible, control works were carried out both during the suckling period of the lambs and during the exclusive milking period of the ewes. Accepted working methods were used for both periods, and the two groups benefited from identical conditions. Statistical analysis of the data for the suckling period indicates the existence of differences between the groups (P < 0.01). Regarding the total milk production obtained in the respective lactation, it was observed that the highest quantity was obtained from L2, which provided a superior production by 28.75% compared to L1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the status of energy balance during mating, pregnancy and after lambing and its relationship with reproductive outcomes in Gray Shirazi sheep. Thirty healthy Gray Shirazi ewes that were kept in industrial conditions were randomly selected. During lambing, the ewes were examined for the rate of multiplication as well as abortions and the weight of lambs at birth. Blood sampling was performed during mating, on the last two to four weeks of pregnancy, and on one to two weeks after delivery. Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and progesterone were assessed. There was a significant rise in IGF-1 level in late pregnancy compared to that in early lactation. In addition, the concentration of BHBA was significantly increased during pregnancy and postpartum compared to the mating time. Maximum BHBA and NEFA concentrations at the end of pregnancy and postpartum were in twin and singleton pregnancies, respectively. In addition, the highest BHBA concentrations were accompanied by the lowest BCS of ewes. Moreover, there was a significant direct correlation between lamb weight and NEFA, BHBA, and progesterone. In conclusion, serum indicators of energy balance, particularly insulin and BHBA, are largely influenced by reproductive stages, especially pregnancy and the number of lambs in Gray Shirazi ewes. Accurate identification of these changes is essential in diagnosing abnormal conditions and metabolic and nutritional disorders in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on relationship between milk score near udder score and parturition near weaning and effects on Targhee, Polypay, and Rambouillet ewe productivity. Topics discussed include recording of ewe milk production near parturition on subjective scale in flock, heritability of milk score along with genetic correlation with ewe productivity and relationships between milk yield and udder conformation.

The purpose of this scientific paper was to reveal the veritable biological particularities of the lactation curve to the Karakul ewes in similar feeding conditions, during the sensitive period of the first 3 months after calving. The research was carried out on Karakul ewes flocks of the "Kotovskii" sovkhoz, Causeni district, Republic of Moldova. Research has shown that the daily milk production of ewes, calved in January and maintained in the stable in relatively good feeding conditions, in the first 20 days after calving, was sufficient (0.98-0.96 kg/day), for the Karakul race. The increase in the body mass of a lamb in 20 days was 3.78-3.90 kg, or 189-195 g/day. The specific milk consumption at the formation of 1 kg of live mass increase of lambs in the first 20 days after birth was 5.18-4.92 kg. To the Karakul sheep, the daily milk production decreases, even from the first 10 days after calving, by 0.14 kg (from 1.05 kg every 10 days to 0.91 kg every 20 days), or by 13.3% (td = 2.8; P <0.01). With the aging of lambs after birth from 20 to 60 days, there is a sudden drop in the daily quantity of milk of ewes (from 0.96 to 0.39 kg), the daily increase in body mass of the lamb (from 195 to 112 g/day), as well as the specific consumption of milk at the formation of 1 kg of live mass increase of lamb (from 4.92 to 3.50 kg). The biological curve of lactation of Karakul ewes represents a slightly downward line (from 1.05 to 0.96 kg/day) in the first 20 days after calving, with a sudden drop (from 0.96 to 0.39 kg/day) at the 60-day interval and a slow decrease (from 0.390 to 0.209 kg/day) at the 139-day interval and until the end of lactation. The Asian Karakul sheep race is an aboriginal, rustic and highly conserved one from the physiological (genetic) point of view of the rather limited lactogenic potential. Between the quantity of milk sucked/milked on the control day and the quantity of milk, produced by Karakul ewes throughout lactation, there is a fairly close correlation at all control intervals (rxy = 0.624 - 0.778). Based on the elucidated correlations, the sonication coefficients were deduced, which can be used to determine by rapid method the milk production of Karakul ewes, calved in the last decade of January. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production and composition, lamb growth, blood hematological profile and relevant blood metabolites were assayed in Sanjabi ewes and lambs as affected by supplementing basal diet by either thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) (THY) or Peppermint (PEP). Twenty-one pregnant Sanjabi ewes of similar weight (BW around 50 Kg) and age (45-48 months) were equally divided into three dietary treatments. Group (1) served as a control group received a basal diet (BD) with no feed supplement. Groups (2) THY and (3) PEP received 10 g/ewe/day THY or PEP, respectively. Lactation period and milk yield were higher (P<0.05) in ewes of THY supplement followed by that of PEP supplement than that of basal diet only, respectively. Whereas, weaning weight (WW) and average daily gain (ADG) of lambs were improved (P<0.05) by the addition of THY or PEP to the basal diet. The addition of THY and PEP increased (P<0.05) WBC's and lymphocytes counts of these lactating ewes, while, monocytes count was higher (P<0.05) in ewes fed basal diet only. No significant effects were noticed on eosinophils, RBC's count and Hb concentration in ewes fed the supplemented diets. RBC's, WBC's, lymphocytes counts and Hb concentration of suckling lambs were improved (P<0.05) by adding THY or PEP to the basal diet of ewes. The addition of THY or PEP to the basal diet increased (P<0.05) blood serum; total protein and globulin concentration of these ewes compared to those of the control group. However, no significant differences were observed in albumin, glucose, triglycerides and urea concentrations. Total serum cholesterol was decreased (P<0.05) by the addition of THY and PEP. Concerning suckling lambs, the addition of THY or PEP to the basal diet increased (P<0.05) total protein and globulin concentration, while, it decreased albumin: globulin ratio. No significant effects were noticed in albumin, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol of suckling lambs blood serum. It is concluded that THY and PEP diet supplements could be used as natural growth promoters in ewe diets to improve milk yield and composition and lamb growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic evaluation of milk lactate dehydrogenase (mLDH) and alkaline phosphatase (mALP) activities by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis curve in early lactation of ewes with subclinical mastitis (SCM) and determine the correlation between number of somatic cell count (SCC) and mLDH and mALP activities. A total of 196 udder half milk samples were collected within the first 6 weeks of lambing. The SCM was determined by positive milk bacterial culture and positive California mastitis test (CMT); SCC was determined by fossomatic method and enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically. The mLDH and mALP of SCM cases were positively correlated with SCC values. Values of mLDH, mALP and SCC were significantly higher in SCM than non-SCM udder halves. The optimum cut-off points of mLDH and mALP activities for SCM diagnosis were determined at 203.61 (U L-1) and 329.84 (U L-1), respectively. In conclusion, SCC has positive correlation with mALP and mLDH activities in SCM ewes and mLDH and mALP activities could be considered as reliable indicators for intramammary inflammation diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-nine ewe-lamb pairs were used to evaluate the effects of the diet of lactating ewes, the type of forage (pasture vs hay) and the inclusion of 10% quebracho in the concentrate on the fatty acid (FA) profile of their milk and the meat of their suckling lambs. The estimated forage–concentrate ratio was 80 : 20. Milk from pasture ewes had a higher percentage of saturated FAs (SFAs; 62.3 vs 56.5), lower percentages of monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs; 30.4 vs 36.6) and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs, and a lower n-6 : n-3 ratio (1.9 vs 2.3) than did that of hay ewes (P < 0.001). Meat of pasture lambs had higher percentages of total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs; 23.0 vs 20.4; P < 0.05) and n-3 (7.0 vs 5.0; P < 0.001) and lower percentages of MUFAs (37.9 vs 41.8; P < 0.001) and n-6:n-3 (2.0 vs 2.8; P < 0.001) than did that of hay lambs. The inclusion of quebracho increased MUFAs in milk (P < 0.05) and decreased SFAs in meat (P < 0.05). Ewes were correctly classified to the different treatments by using the FA profile of milk (100% score outcome), and to a lesser extend by using the FA profile of lamb (82–100% score outcome); de novo synthesis of FAs in lamb muscle might have reduced the classification accuracy. In conclusion, forage type had a greater effect on the FA profiles of ewe milk and the meat of suckling lambs than did the inclusion of quebracho in the concentrate. To improve the classification of meat of suckling lamb, other biomarkers should be examined. These results are relevant for ewes farmed for the production of milk as well as lambs. Consumers demand animal products from grazing animals and that such products are guaranteed. The effects of the type of forage and the inclusion of quebracho, as a natural additive, in the concentrate during the lactation period on the FA profiles of milk and the meat of suckling lamb were evaluated. The FA profile of milk was mainly affected by the type of forage and can be used to trace ewe diet more accurately than can the FA profile of the meat of suckling lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Prevalence of subclinical mastitis in 111 sheep flocks in Greece was 0.260. • Main aetiological agents were staphylococci: 0.699 of all isolates. • Min. temperature of coldest month and mean temperature 30 days before sampling were associated with subclinical mastitis. Abstract Objectives of the work presented herewith were to investigate association of prevalence of subclinical mastitis with environmental (climatic and topographic) factors and to identify factors potentially predisposing ewes to the disease. Milk samples were collected from 2198 sheep in 111 farms, in all 13 administrative regions of Greece, for bacteriological and cytological examination. Data on farm location were collected in the field using hand-held Global Positioning System Garmin units. The geo-references were resolved to specific farm level. Prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 0.260. Main aetiological agents were staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative species), which accounted for 0.699 of all isolates recovered. In a multivariable mixed-effects analysis, the two environmental variables found to be associated with increased prevalence of subclinical mastitis were the minimum temperature of coldest month (coefficient: -0.084 ± 0.033, P = 0.014) and the mean temperature for 30 days prior to sampling date (coefficient: 0.031±0.014, P = 0.029). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of monthly air temperature and rainfall variations on the reproductive performance and lambing distribution of the Jezersko-Solčava breed in northwestern Croatia during 7 years period from 2010 until 2016. At 11 medium-scale sheep farms, the sheep were kept on a pasture in a semi-intensive environment with access to the stables. The anomalies of rainfall observed on a monthly basis during monitoring were statistically significant. Non-parametric test showed that the percentages of lambing differ among the months during the year (P = 0.0001). By using regression analysis, it was found that the percentages of pregnant sheep were linearly associated with the sequential number of the month. The seasonal distribution of lambings were 53.85% of ewes delivered in winter (n = 1296), 21.13% in spring (n = 509), 8.91% in summer (n = 215) and 16.11% in autumn (n = 387). Sexual activity was lowest during spring and early summer (from March to May) with a peak from the end of July to October. The conception rate during year 2011 was significantly lower (89.74%), and the litter size was the lowest (1.05) than in other years of the observation. Average conception rate was 92.85% and average litter size 1.21. Despite being a seasonally polyoestrous, the distribution of matings and lambings of this breed of sheep was not uniform throughout the seasons. There were established a positive or negative correlations between the air temperature and rainfall precipitation variations with tested reproductive performances of Jezersko-Solčava breed sheep in the Northwestern part of Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is the main cause of antibiotic use in dairy sheep. Post-milking teat disinfection is adopted to prevent intra-mammary infections. Use of chemical disinfectants is associated with biocide and antibiotic resistance. Terpinen-4-ol (T-4-ol), component of the Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil, shows antibacterial properties without inducing resistance. Aim of the trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a T-4-ol post-dipping compound in preventing bacterial mastitis in dairy sheep. In two different farms, two groups of 35 ewes were recruited as experimental and control arm (exposed to chlorhexidine-based disinfectant). No differences were observed during the follow-up. In one livestock, during the first year, 30-day incidence of mastitis was significantly lower in the T-4-ol group. Post-milking teat disinfection with T-4-ol showed equivalent efficacy in terms of mastitis incidence. Disinfectants based on natural compounds for mastitis prevention could potentially reduce environmental pollution, avoid drug residues in milk and decrease the antimicrobial resistance development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The plantain-chicory sward has a high nutritional quality. • A plantain-chicory mix can maintain sheep milk production. • Grazing a plantain-chicory mix reduces fat and increases protein in the ewe´s milk. • The plantain-chicory mix improved efficiency of protein utilization. Abstract Fat lamb production systems in humid-temperate regions rely heavily on grass-based permanent swards with a seasonal growth pattern: scarce in winter, copious in spring and slow or nil growth in dry summers. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) are summer-active, tolerate water deficit and present a high nutritional quality. They start to grow in late winter (especially plantain) and can be grazed in mid-lactation by ewes suckling their lambs. This work compared milk production and quality of suckling ewes grazing a mixture of plantain-chicory (PCH) or a grass-based permanent sward (GBS) by early spring in two consecutive years. Nine Austral ewes (a local meat breed) in their 8th week post-partum were allocated to PCH and GBS treatments with three replications in two consecutive years. After a pre-experimental period, milk production was determined by the oxytocin method. Milk samples were obtained in the second year and analysed for fat, protein, total solids and urea. Pastures were sampled and analysed for nutritional composition. No effects of treatments were detected for milk production (average 1.43 L/d). PCH milk had lower total solids than GBS milk (19.57 vs. 21.80%, P < 0.01), lower fat (6.97 vs. 9.60%, P < 0.01) and lower urea (47.00 vs, 58.22 mg/100 g, P < 0.05), but protein concentration was higher for PCH than GBS milk (5.71 vs 5.18%, P < 0.05). In forage, total ash was higher (P < 0.05) in PCH than GBS (125.8 vs. 89.9 g/kg dry matter, DM), but lower in year 2016 than 2015 (97.9 vs. 117.7 g/kg DM, respectively). Differences (P < 0.05) were found between swards for NDF (PCH: 245.6; GBS: 394.1 g/kg DM) and years (2015: 372.3; 2016: 267.3 g/kg DM). Apparent DM intake was similar (P > 0.05) between years and swards, averaging 2.15 and 1.78 kg/d for PCH and GBS, respectively. It is concluded that plantain and chicory can be grazed by suckling ewes in mid-lactation without detrimental effects on their milk production or composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Colostrum is essential to guarantee normal and healthy feeding in newborn ruminants during the first hours. In the present work, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), as a spectrochemical analytical technique, and principal component analysis (PCA) as a multivariate analysis method were used to evaluate colostrum compared to mature milk of sheep to plan the nutritional strategies for newly born lambs. Samples of colostrum have been collected from thirty-three Barki ewes. The sheep were milked every 12 h three times after birth, the fourth sample of mature milk is taken from milking in the 7th day postpartum. The spectrochemical analytical results depicted that the intensities of CN and C 2 spectral bands, and C 247.86 nm atomic line (as an indicator for protein content in LIBS spectra) are higher in colostrum than that in milk. This relationship has been confirmed by measuring the total protein in the same samples conventionally. The relation between calcium and protein percentage has also been demonstrated. Moreover, it has been shown that the higher is the CN bands' intensity the lower is the bacteria count in colostrum samples, owing to the high levels of lactoferrin with its antibacterial effect. The qualitative analysis of LIBS data using PCA led to a pronounced discrimination between colostrum and mature milk. The present study demonstrates that it is, in principle, possible to make use of the analytical and chemometric results in dairy farms to evaluate sheep colostrum to manage the nutritional strategies for the lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to quantify the concentration of milk and blood progesterone (P4) from lactating ewes under different physiological states and the possible harmlessness of their milk in human consumption. Progesterone concentration was determined in ovariectomized and intact ewes during the oestrous cycle, while implanted with a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) containing 0.3 g of natural P4 (OxCIDR; ICIDR) or not (Ox; I), and during pregnancy (G). Mean P4 concentration was found to be significantly greater in blood (P > 0.0001) than in milk sources. Concentrations also varied according to treatments (P < 0.0001). As expected, P4 concentration from Ox ewes was the lowest compared to the rest of the treatments (0.31 ± 0.22 ng ml−1; P < 0.0001). Ewes with CIDR showed greater P4 concentration than the respective group without implant (OxCIDR vs. Ox; P < 0.0001, and ICIDR vs. I; P < 0.01). In addition, G ewes showed the highest P4 concentration when compared with the rest of the treatments (P < 0.03). There was an interaction between P4 source and treatment (P < 0.0001). It was concluded that as milk of cycling and G animals is considered safe for human consumption, then the milk of CIDR-treated ewes should also be considered safe, based on P4 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food & Dairy Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effects of the intra-ruminal dosing of a glucogenic mixture including 70% glycerol, 20% propylene glycol and 10% water was studied on thirty late lactation dairy ewes of Sarda breed. The animals were divided in two homogeneous groups receiving by gavage either 200 mL of water (CTR group; body weight 40.9 ± 1.5 kg) or 200 mL of the above mixture (GLY group; body weight 39.4 ± 1.3 kg) twice daily from d 16 to d 19 of the oestrus cycle, synchronised by “ram effect”. The ewes were then mated and their reproductive responses to the synchronised mating evaluated by scanning on d 50 and at lambing. During the treatment, the ewes were housed in an open hut, machine milked twice daily and fed concentrate and hay to meet their nutrient requirements. During the treatment, concentrate intake was markedly reduced in GLY when compared with CTR (P < 0.001), without any effect on ewe body weight or body condition. The administration of the glucogenic mixture increased plasma osmolarity and blood volume as estimated by serum total protein concentration. Moreover, it increased plasma content of glycerol, glucose (P < 0.001) and insulin (P < 0.01) while decreasing plasma level of NEFA (P < 0.001) and urea (P < 0.05). Milk yield (P < 0.01) and milk lactose content (P < 0.001) were decreased by the glucogenic treatment, whereas milk protein and casein contents were increased (P < 0.001). As for reproductive performance, the glucogenic treatment numerically increased ewe’s conception rate, but the difference was not statistically significant. Prolificacy did not change between groups. In conclusion, the administration of a glucogenic mixture to late lactation dairy ewes caused significant changes both in plasma and in milk composition during the treatment. However, reproductive performances were unaffected by the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review synthesizes a range of research findings regarding behavioral and production responses to health disorders and subsequent illness detection for herds using automatic (robotic) milking systems (AMS). We discuss the effects of health disorders on cow behavior and production, specifically those variables that are routinely recorded by AMS and associated technologies. This information is used to inform the resultant use of behavior and production variables and to summarize and critique current illness detection studies. For conventional and AMS herds separately, we examined research from the past 20 yr and those variables recorded automatically on-farm that may respond to development of illness and lameness. The main variables identified were milk yield, rumination time, activity, and body weight, in addition to frequency of successful, refused, and fetched (involuntary) milkings in AMS herds. Whether making comparisons within cow or between sick and healthy cows, consistent reductions in activity, rumination time, and milk yield are observed. Lameness, however, had obvious negative effects on milk yield but not necessarily on rumination time or activity. Finally, we discuss detection models for identifying lameness and other health disorders using routinely collected data in AMS, specifically focusing on their scientific validation and any study limitations that create a need for further research. Of the current studies that have worked toward disease detection, many data have been excluded or separated for isolated models (i.e., fresh cows, certain lactation groups, and cows with multiple illnesses or moderate cases). Thus, future studies should (1) incorporate the entire lactating herd while accounting for stage of lactation and parity of each animal; (2) evaluate the deviations that cows exhibit from their own baseline trajectories and relative to healthy contemporaries; (3) combine the use of several variables into health alerts; and (4) differentiate the probable type of health disorder. Most importantly, no model or software currently exists to integrate data and directly support decision-making, which requires further research to bridge the gap between technology and herd health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted using 80 multiparous Awassi ewes during the breeding season to compare the effects of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) treatment durations on ewe reproductive performance, hormone profiles, and economic production measures. Ewes were evenly allotted to one of various CIDR treatment durations (3, 6, 9, or 12 d) in four groups (CIDR3, CIDR6, CIDR9, and CIDR12 (control), respectively). The ewes in all groups were injected with 300 IU of equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) at the time of withdrawal. Blood samples were collected at the time of CIDR insertion and withdrawal, as well as at the time of insemination to measure serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations. Timed insemination was performed at 48 h post CIDR withdrawal. The heat detection rate was significantly (P < 0.05) highest in CIDR12 and CIDR9 (100% and 84.21%, respectively). The total pregnancy rate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in CIDR9 and CIDR6 (68.4% and 60%, respectively) than in CIDR3. Additionally, fecundity was significantly (P < 0.05) lowest in CIDR3. At insemination, the P4 level was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in CIDR9 and CIDR12 than in the other groups. At insemination, the E2 level was higher (P < 0.05) in CIDR6 followed by that in CIDR3 and CIDR9, and then in CIDR12. The total variable cost, total cost, the return and net profit were higher in CIDR6 than in other groups. In conclusion, although use of CIDR for 6, 9, and 12 d is efficient to synchronize estrus in ewes with similar reproductive performance, CIDR use for 6 d provided higher return and net profit than that for 9 or 12 d. CIDR use for 3 d is inefficient for estrus synchronization in ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing interest in once-a-day milking (ODM) in recent years. Despite the loss in milk production due to the reduction in milking frequency, ODM has several advantages for farm management, particularly labour savings. It has already been demonstrated that adapting management can compensate for the reduction in milk production, especially on dairy cow farms based on extensive grazing systems. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the impact of management adaptations associated with a switch to ODM in a diverse range of dairy ewe farms in the ‘Rayon de Roquefort’, France, at the farm level. For that purpose, a model was developed to evaluate the ability of three flock management adaptations to compensate for losses due to the transition to ODM: (i) increasing the flock size, (ii) increasing the milking period and (iii) increasing grazing in the ewes’ diet. The model results show that depending on the farm, a transition to ODM on the first day of milking reduces the milk yield of the whole flock by 18–19% and causes an 8–16% decrease in household income. When the transition occurs around the turnout date, the impact on the performance of the flock is reduced, but so is the time spent on routine work. In the short term, it is possible to make adaptions to limit losses both in milk production and in household income by lengthening the milking period and/or by making better use of pasture. Conversely, increasing the number of milked ewes does not compensate for the loss of income. For each farm, a scenario was designed to provide a satisfactory trade-off between household income, milk delivery and routine workload. However, although the management adaptations are the same, their modalities of implementation depend on the farm concerned, which have different amounts of leeway. For the diverse range of farms tested, ODM represents a good compromise between flexible workload management and the performance of dairy sheep farms. ODM, during the whole or part of the milking period, is a useful farm management tool to manage both labour and grazing during strategic periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyse milk traits (milk yield from morning milking, and fat, protein and lactose contents) and somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy sheep breeds in Slovakia: Tsigai (TS), Improved Valachian (IV) and Lacaune (LC), and their crosses (IV × LC and TS × LC). Milk performance testing was performed between 2010 and 2013. Mixed model for milk traits included fixed factors: SCC class (low, medium high), lactation number, month in milk, year-month of measurement, genotype, lactation number × month in milk interaction, lactation number × SCC class interaction, and random effects of ewe and residual error. Mixed model for log10SCC (decadic logarithm of SCC) included the same factors except for SCC class and lactation number × SCC class interaction. Instead, covariates of milk yield and milk components were considered. Milk yield and lactose content decreased (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01, respectively), whereas fat and protein contents increased (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01, respectively) with increasing SCC. Similar trends were revealed when relationships between log10SCC and milk yield and milk components were investigated through linear regressions and correlations (however, not all regressions were statistically significant, also correlations between log10SCC and milk yield and between log10SCC and fat content were very weak). To ensure the effectiveness of mastitis control programmes, further research is needed to understand an importance of somatic cells function as an indicator of health status which may affect ewe udder, milk yield and milk components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the physical and chemical composition of goat milk produced by eight local farms located in the central region of Malaysia. Farms 1 to 4 (F1-SC, F2-SP, F3-SP, F4-SBC) reared Saanen-type goats while farms 5 to 8 (F5-JK, F6-JPEC, F7-JTC, F8-JC), Jamnapari-type goats. The common feedstuffs used in all farms comprised of fresh or silage from Napier grass, feed pellets, and brans while two farms, F5-JK and F6-JPEC supplemented the feeds with soybean-based product. The total solid content, dry matter, and proximate composition of goat milk and feedstuffs from the different farms were determined and the results analysed using principal component analysis. Total solid content of goat milk from the Jamnapari crossbreed had the highest solid content ranging from 11.81% to 17.54% compared to milk from farms with Saanen and Saanen crossbreed (10.95% to 14.63%). Jamnapari-type goats from F5-JK, F6-JPEC, and F8-JC had significantly higher (p < 0.05) milk fat and protein contents (7.36%, 7.14%, and 6.59% fat; 5.08%, 6.19%, and 4.23% protein, respectively) than milk from other farms but, milk produced by Saanen-type goats from F4-SBC contained similar protein content (4.34%) to that from F8-JC. Total ash and carbohydrate contents in milk ranged between 0.67% to 0.86% and 3.26% to 4.71%, respectively, regardless of goat breed. Feeding soybean-based products appear to have a positive influence on milk fat and protein content in Jamnaparitype goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of milk replacer feeding to lambs was assessed on pre-weaning growth and nutrient utilization. Seven day old Malpura lambs (45) were divided into three groups of fifteen lambs in each group and were fed ad lib. creep mixture and roughage (C-0; Control) along with free suckling of dam. Unlike control (C-0), the lambs in two treatment groups were additionally fed with gelatinized (MR-G) and non-gelatinized (MR-Ng) milk replacer with limited suckling from their dam, which were manually milked once in the afternoon (4.00 PM). The MR was fed at 100 ml/lamb/day for first fifteen days and thereafter at 250 ml/lamb/day. The experimental feeding including a digestibility trial was continued until weaning at 3 months of age. Weaning weight, total gain and ADG was higher in MR-G compared to MR-Ng and control and there was 15.25% improvement in MR-G than the control. A lower value of FCR indicated 10.5% improvement in MR-G than the control. The plane of nutrition and digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, hemicellulose was similar in all the three groups. The total milk collected/ewe in MR-G and MR-Ng group was 9.0 kg each that fetched ₹ 360 and it reduced the production cost to ₹ 51.0 in MR-G, 53.1 in MRNg compared to ₹ 68.1 in C-0. One time milking of ewes and replenishment with additional milk replacer to lambs promises higher gain and introduction of the gelatinization procedure ensures further improvement in FCR and ease in delivery to lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested the hypotheses that machine milked dairy sheep have a high prevalence of teat-end hyperkeratosis (TEH), which contributes to udder health problems. A random sample of 1360 milking ewes from 28 dairy sheep farms was monitored. Milking procedures, milking parlour characteristics and maintenance were recorded during a designated on farm audit; records were obtained through observations and interviews with farmers. Number of ewes/milker, ewes/milking unit and milkings/milking unit were calculated. Vacuum level, pulsation rate and ratio were measured. Four combinations of vacuum level and pulsation rate were defined; <40 kPa and <150 cycles/min (VP1), <40 kPa and ≥150 cycles/min (VP2), ≥40 kPa and <150 cycles/min (VP3), ≥40 kPa and ≥150 cycles/min (VP4). California Mastitis Test (CMT; scores 0-4) was done on all ewes. Then the udder of each ewe was assessed for TEH (scores 1-4) and ewes were assigned into three groups according to TEH severity (no or mild, medium and severe TEH). Severe TEH (scores 3 and 4) prevalence at teat-level was ca. 13%. TEH severity was associated with the combination of vacuum level and pulsation rate; ewes milked with VP4 combination were more likely to have a one-level increase on TEH severity compared to ewes milked with VP2 and VP3 combinations. More ewes/milker and less ewes/milking unit increased the likelihood of a one-level increase on TEH severity. Finally, ewes with severe TEH were more likely to have a one-level increase on CMT score. Therefore, our hypotheses that TEH is prevalent in dairy ewes and contributes to udder health problems were confirmed. Additionally, farmers can reduce TEH prevalence by optimising the way they milk and their milking parlour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives in this experiment were to compare the effects of castor oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil on lactation performance, milk composition, and milk fatty acid (FA) profile in Santa Inês ewes and on growth of lambs. Forty-four ewes (66.9 ± 4.7 kg of initial BW, mean ± SD) were penned individually with their lambs and used in a randomized complete block design with 11 blocks and four diets. The experimental diets were as follows: 1) basal diet without added oil (control), 2) 30 g FA/kg DM of canola oil (CAN), 3) 30 g FA/kg DM of sunflower oil (SUN), and 4) 30 g FA/kg DM of castor oil (CAS). The oils were added to a basal diet containing 50% of roughage. Once a week, from the 2nd to 8th wk of lactation, ewes were separated from their lambs, injected with oxytocin, and mechanically milked to empty the udder. After 3 h, using the same procedure, milk production was recorded, and milk was sampled for composition and FA profile determination. The growth of the lambs was monitored weekly. Ewes fed the control diet had greater (P < 0.05) dry matter intake (DMI) than those fed the oil-supplemented diets. No effect was observed on milk yield and on final BW of lambs. Milk fat and milk total solid concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) with the supply of CAS. Supplementation with CAN and SUN, but not with CAS, reduced (P < 0.05) the sum of FA with 14 or less carbon chains and increased (P < 0.05) the c9-18:1, 18:0 and most of the biohydrogenation intermediates, including the t10-18:1, t11-18:1, and c9,t11-18:2. All oil-supplemented diets reduced (P < 0.05) the content of 16:0 when compared with the control. Milk from ewes fed CAS presented only small proportion of 12-OH,c9-18:1 (0.31% of total FA) but much larger proportions of 12-OH-18:0 (1.58% of total FA) and particularly of 12-oxo-18:0 (2.95 % of total FA), which suggests that 12-OH,c9-18:1 was extensively metabolized in the rumen. Concluding, CAS increased milk fat and modified the milk FA composition by increasing the hydroxy- and oxo-FA. The potential health promoting proprieties and technological advantages of milk enriched with hydroxy- and oxo-FA are not know at present but deserve to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of selected essential elements and toxic metals in feed and sheep’s milk from areas with different parts of Slovak Republic was analyzed. Region of Novoť (undisturbed environment; North Slovakia) and region of Klátova Nová Ves (widely disturbed environment; Western Slovakia) were under investigation. Eleven metals have been analyzed (essential elements - calcium, zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, copper; toxic elements – arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel). Samples of feeds and milk were collected five-times during the year (spring and autumn season). Analyses of samples were performed by certified testing laboratory Eurofins Bel/Novamann (Nové Zámky, Slovak Republic). Analyses were performed by routine methods, according to the valid methodologies. The results showed significantly higher content of selected essential elements in feed in spring season from area with widely disturbed environment (Klátova Nová Ves). Significantly higher content of essential elements in milk was on farm of Novoť (undisturbed environment). Occurrence of toxic metals in feed from area with widely disturbed environment in spring season did not affect their content in milk. It can be concluded, that the use of milk of sheep from these areas for direct use or for dairy products processing is appropriate, safe and poses no health risk for the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work sheep colostrum and milk at different milking times postpartum were qualitatively evaluated using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). First and second milking samples showed higher fluorescence intensity compared with the subsequent milking samples. Such increase in the fluorescence intensity in first and second milking samples can be interpreted in view of the presence of high levels of immunoglobulins (IgG) and lactoferrin in the colostrum. The LIF results have been confirmed by the quantitative evaluation of the IgG in the same samples adopting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as validation technique and a very good agreement has been obtained. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the obtained data led to the conclusion that the fluorescence band from 475 nm to 560 nm is strongly connected to changes during milking time from colostrum to milk. The fluorescence band is linked to changes in the concentration of proteins (IgG, lactoferrin) from colostrum to milk. According to the presented results, LIF spectroscopy can be used as a reliable, accurate, and fast method for real time and in situ evaluation of sheep colostrum. LIF coupled with the chemometric analysis of the data can be utilized in designing feeding strategies for newly born lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Antagonistic relationship between milk yield and reproduction is reported in several livestock species. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic merit for milk production in dairy sheep affects responses to superovulation, embryo yield and quality. A total of 21 cross-bred Sarda x Lacaune ewes homogeneous for age, parity and stage of lactation were included. The ewes were stratified as high-producing or low-producing based on their genetic merit for milk production estimated by a pentatrait repeatability animal model. Oestrus was synchronized using an intravaginal progesterone pessary inserted on Day 0 and removed on Day 14. Superovulatory treatment consisted of 350 I.U. of porcine FSH administered in eight decreasing intramuscular doses every 12 hr with a total dose of 10 ml of solution starting 12 days after insertion of sponges. Laparoscopic artificial insemination ( AI) was performed 48 hr after pessary removal. Surgical embryo recovery was performed at Day 8 after pessary removal. Correlation between breeding value for milk production and the number of corpora lutea ( CL) was significantly different from zero (−0.49). High-producing ewes had a lower number of CL than low-producing counterparts (7.6 ± 2.50 vs 12.1 ± 5.16 respectively; p < .02). Furthermore, there was a tendency for high-producing ewes to yield fewer embryos than low-producing females (5.3 ± 3.46 vs 9.18 ± 5.11; p = .09). No differences were observed between ewes in both genetic groups with regard to the number of embryos of grades 1, 2 and 3. To our knowledge, this is the first report highlighting an antagonism between genetic merit for milk production and the ability to produce embryos in sheep. These results deserve to be considered in sheep breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to evaluate the increasing levels of ration energy, with fat-rich unsaturated fatty acids from sunflower oil on the nutrient intake, rumen fermentability and performance of ewes. The experiment used fifteen ewes of 1.5 years old, primiparous, caged individually with their lambs and conducted three treatments and five replications from a completely randomized designed. Those treatments included R1= ration with 0% sunflower oil addition, R2= ration with 4% sunflower oil addition, R3= ration with 6% sunflower oil addition. The variables consisted of dry matter intake, nutrients, ewes performances (birth weight, weaning weight, decreased of body weight), total and partial VFA, the ratio of acetate: propionate, methane production, protozoa and bacterial population. Data were analyzed statistically and descriptively. The results showed that the treatments did not influence dry matter intake and nutrients,. rumen fermentability and ewes performances. Although the treatments increased (P<0.01) fat consumption and reduced shrinkage of body weight. It can be concluded that the adding sunflower oil as the resource of unsaturated fatty acids up to 6% of the ration was not negatively affected the fermentability of rumen, moreover can improve ewes body condition and, accelerated body weight recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of moxidectin in the plasma and milk of lactating ewes and in the plasma of their nursing lamb. Four, single lamb bearing Border Leister x Dorset ewes were administered a single oral dose of moxidectin (0.2 mg/kg). Plasma and milk samples were collected nine times within the first 72 h and at 30 and 60 d post anthelmintic administration. Samples were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. A pharmacokinetic analysis of moxidectin was conducted on ewe plasma and resulted in a C MAX of 13.1 ng/mL at 8.2 h (T MAX ). Ewe milk and lamb plasma samples were reported descriptively. Three of the four ewes on trial demonstrated quantifiable levels of moxidectin in milk at baseline sampling. Ewe milk samples reached an average peak concentration of 151.1 ng/mL 12 h post administration. Moxidectin levels were detected up to 60 d in all milk samples. Lamb plasma samples reached an average peak concentration of 2.8 ng/mL 24 h post administration to the ewe. Results from the current study demonstrate that orally administrated moxidectin is carried over into the milk and evident in the plasma of nursing lambs. Further research is needed in order to understand how moxidectin concentrations and exposure time influences the fetus and nursing lamb in regards to the development of anthelmintic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis in ewes is responsible for massive economic expenses. Other than the loss of ewes due to clinical mastitis, when subclinical mastitis occurs, because it is not readily detected, the milk with the causative pathogens is used to make dairy products. This fact is disadvantageous both for the technological process and for the consumer security. The knowledge of prevalence and aetiological agents of mastitis is of outmost importance to carry out an effective control of mastitis in sheep. The aim of this work is to bring out ovine mastitis information in Portugal. We conducted a study focused on 18 milking producing sheep flocks to determine the prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis and to assess the aetiology of mastitis in sheep. Four hundred and fourteen milk samples randomly collected from sheep with subclinical mastitis and 27 milk samples from animals with clinical mastitis were bacteriological analysed according to an adaptation of the National Mastitis Council methodology. Anaerobic bacteria were also assessed. The identification was processed based on biochemical characterization, using the API system, API Staph, API 20 Strep, API 20 E, API 20 NE and API Coryne (BioMérieux). The results revealed high subclinical mastitis (SCM) prevalence (32.2%) and low clinical mastitis (CM) prevalence (1.7%). There was a higher prevalence in mechanically milked sheep than in hand milked animals. Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) were in account of 42.9% of the CM events. S taphylococcus epidermidis represented 25% of all CM causative agents. Regarding subclinical mastitis, 70.1% of aetiological agents were identified as CNS species. From these, 43.4% were identified as S taphylococcus epidermidis accounting for 30.4% of total aetiological agents of SCM. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 22 specimens (6.2%) from SCM cases, which is of outmost importance in terms of public health, and Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated 15 times (4.2%) and showed to be in account of subclinical outbreaks with high prevalence rates. The fact that the majority of mastitis events were due to coagulate negative staphylococci out stresses the need for a proper management and rigorous hygienic milking procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of restricted access time to pasture (2, 4 or 6 h d−1; 2H, 4H or 6H) on ingestive behaviour and performance were assessed on four occasions per target grazing day (D1, initial day; D4, intermediate day; and D7, final day) in dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover with a 7-day grazing period and a 21-day recovery period. A randomized block design with two replicates per treatment was used. All ewes were supplemented daily with 700 g per head of concentrates and 700 g per head of ryegrass-based hay. Pasture subplot and animal group data were analysed by a factorial model including access time ( AT), grazing day (D) and their interaction as fixed factors. Sward height decreased from D1 ( P < 0·001) and green leaf mass from D4 ( P < 0·001) onwards during the grazing period. Grazing time as a proportion of AT was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes on D1 and D4 but not on D7 ( P < 0·05 for AT × D). Herbage intake rate was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes ( P < 0·001). Herbage and total intakes were higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes ( P < 0·001), with herbage intake varying non-linearly during the grazing period ( P < 0·05). Milk yield was higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes ( P < 0·01). To conclude, despite the evidence of compensatory behaviour, restricting access time to 2 h d−1 constrained intake and performance of dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk fat depression (MFD) caused by trans-10,cis-12 18:2 is known to be mediated in cows and ewes by downregulation of mammary lipogenic genes. However, transcriptional mechanisms underlying marine lipidinduced MFD have not been well defined yet and the few available studies in ovine are not consistent. This trial was conducted to directly compare changes in animal performance, milk fatty acid composition, and particularly mammary mRNA abundance of candidate lipogenic genes and transcription factors in response to the inclusion of fish oil or trans-10,cis-12 18:2 in the dairy sheep diet. To meet this objective, 12 lactating Assaf ewes (on average, 64 days in milk, producing 1.72 kg of milk/d with 5.17% of fat) were divided into 3 groups and offered a total mixed ration without supplementation (control) or supplemented with 2.4% dry matter of fish oil (FO treatment) or 1% dry matter of a commercial product rich in trans-10,cis-12 18:2 (CLA treatment) for 39 d. Measurements and samplings were conducted before starting the treatments and at the end of the trial. Milk samples were used for RNA extraction from somatic cells. Feed intake was not affected by lipid supplements, and as designed, reductions in milk fat concentration (-31%) were similar in the 2 treatments, although the unpredicted increase in milk production with FO counteracted the anticipated reduction in milk fat yield. Nevertheless, this did not preclude the detection of FO-induced decreases in the mRNA abundance of candidate lipogenic genes [e.g., acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and lipin 1 (LPIN1)], thus supporting the hypothesis that transcriptional regulation would be a relevant component of this type of MFD in sheep. Expected CLA-induced downregulation of some genes, such as FASN or sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), could not be detected in our samples, which might be related, at least in part, to high inter-individual variation and relatively advanced lactation stage (on average 102-103 d in milk on d 38 and 39). Overall, direct comparison of the effects of dietary FO and CLA on transcript abundance of candidate lipogenic genes and transcription factors suggest that there might be relevant differences in the transcriptional control mechanisms underlying the MFD induced by each kind of supplement (i.e., fish oil or CLA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of early lactation on leptin and growth hormone (GH) during bathyphase. Forty lactating Sarda ewes were divided into two equal groups on the basis of their milk production levels: HIGH (>1100 g/day) and LOW (<900 g/day). From the 5th to the 110th day after lambing, every 15 days, body condition score (BCS) was recorded and milk samples were collected. At the same data point, blood sampling was performed and leptin, GH and, Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA) were assessed. On milk, fat and proteins were determined. Statistical differences were observed in BCS, leptin, GH, NEFA and fat concentration in milk between the two groups. BCS was lower in high group and decreased from the 20th to the 90th day of lactation. Leptin was higher in low group and increased from the 50th and the 65th day of lactation, in low and high groups, respectively. GH and NEFA were higher in high group and decreased from the mild lactation. In high group, BCS and milk yield were negatively correlated and leptin was negatively correlated with GH and NEFA. In low group, leptin was positively correlated with BCS and negatively correlated with the all studied parameters. GH and NEFA were positively correlated with both groups. In conclusion, milk yield had an effect on the leptin and GH plasma values recorded during their bathyphase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of milking frequency reduction from twice (TDM) to once (ODM) daily on mammary physiology, activities of all milk enzymes implicated in the plasminogen activating cascade and animal welfare in dairy ewes. Thirty-eight dairy ewes (Chios, n = 22; Karagouniko, n = 16) under the same dietary and management conditions were used in a 14-wk experiment lasting from the 92nd to the 188th day of lactation period. The ewes were distributed in two equal groups of animals per breed. The first 14 days served as an acclimatization period and once per day milking started at the 106th day following parturition and lasted 12 weeks. A significant decline in milk production of ODM ewes was observed compared to that of TDM ewes (−29.2%, P < 0.001 ). Enzymatic activities of plasmin (PL), plasminogen-derived (PG) and plasminogen activator (PA) were significantly increased in the milk of ODM ewes compared to that of TDM. Furthermore, the sum of PL + PG activities was increased in ewes milked once daily and this indicates possible enhanced entrance of plasminogen towards milk. Increased blood lactose was observed in the ODM ewes at the 108th d following parturition, 2 days after the milking frequency reduction was started, a finding indicating that the permeability of the tight junctions was compromised, although the leakiness of tight junctions was a transient phenomenon. Finally, no significant signs of distress were observed in ODM ewes. Thus, ODM treatment does not affect negatively the welfare of dairy ewes. Overall, the adaptation of the ODM practice is not recommended for the Greek farmers despite the apparent improvement of their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to compare four methods for estimating the breeding value of sheep, for the milk production. The research was conducted at the National Institute of Research and Development for Biology and Animal Nutrition Balotesti, Ilfov. The biological material is represented by a flock of Palas Milk line, consisting of 805 animals: 344 downward, 121 rams and 340 sheep. The character analyzed was the amount of milk in the weaning lamb period to the end of the lactation. Lactation length was between 51 and 230 days. To estimate heritability (h2) and breeding value, BLUP methodology applied to an animal model was used. The heritability value was estimated by the method of single factor analysis of variance, and was 0.73. By the animal model, the heritability was stabilized at 19 1iterations, the value being 0.235. The breeding value was estimated in four ways: a) Performance (PP); b) Average performance of paternal half-sisters (PSS); c) LUSHIndex(IL); d) Individual Animal model (IAM). The best work option was comparatively analyzed through Spearman rank correlation and selection accuracy. The highest rank correlation was obtained with the combination IL -IAM, 0.82 respectively, due to the fact that the methods used commonly a high sources and amount of information. The opposite is the combination of IAM-PSS, where rank correlation is -0.0071. In terms of selection accuracy, the highest value was recorded for the IAM (0.52) and the lowest inbreeding value estimation based on PP (0.48), which indicates a superiority of IAM of 8.33%. In conclusion, to achieve a more precise evaluation of animal breeding, all available sources of information should be use in calculations. Also, the combination of these sources is recommended to be performed by using BLUP methodology, applied to an animal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to produce fermented ewe’s milk with an increased ratio of native whey proteins and to characterize selected properties (metabolic activity, mono- and disaccharides, lactic acid and ethanol content, aroma profile, texture, color and sensory properties) of experimental milk and final product. Increasing the ratio of whey proteins to caseins in experimental milk resulted in higher activity of microorganisms belonging to the starter culture used in fermentation and higher content of volatile ketones in total volatile compounds identified during experiment. Increase in the lactic acid content and brightness parameter in fermented milk was observed in product made from experimental milk with modified ratio of whey proteins to caseins. It was concluded that changing the ratio of the main protein fractions in experimental milk differences in the physical and chemical properties of the final product, but these changes did not have a negative influence on sensory properties and product desirability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to highlight the toxic effects after lead and lead-cadmium repeated oral exposure for nine weeks in ewes. An experiment was conducted using "OuledDjellal" ewes during two periods: before exposure where ewes are considered as controls and during exposure. Ten ewes were randomly divided in two groups of five; the lead group received lead nitrate at 2.5 mg.Pb/kg/day and the lead-cadmium group received lead nitrate at 2.5 mg.Pb/kg/day + cadmium chloride at 2 mg Cd/kg/day orally during 63 days. Both groups were tested for their blood lead levels and hematological and biochemical parameters before and after receiving the treatment. Before exposure, blood lead levels were below the detection limit of 4 µg/l. Blood levels of lead during 9 weeks of exposure varied from 135±57µg/l to 356±147µg/l for the lead group and from 192±75µg/l to 445±294µg/l for the co-exposed group. Mean blood lead levels of lead-cadmium group were more elevated than the ones of the lead group. The transaminases (ALT, AST) are high for the Pb-Cd group during the two last weeks of exposure. The rates of hematocrit and hemoglobin decreased for the Pb-Cd group to reach a value of 28% and 8.9±0.6mg/100ml, respectively. The co-administration of Pb and Cd resulted in a significant reduction in zinc and copper plasma contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare milk yield and composition, blood parameters and enzyme activities between two fat-tailed Iranian breeds of sheep (Mehraban and Sanjabi). Two groups of eight ewes per breed were kept indoors and fed a diet based on alfalfa hay (60%) and concentrates (40%). Milk production of the individual ewes was measured and sampled weekly for 11 weeks and blood samples were obtained at 28, 56 and 77 days of lactation. No significant differences between the breeds were evident in average daily milk production and fat and lactose contents, but average milk protein content tended to be higher (P = 0.05) in Mehraban than in Sanjabi ewes. However, milk and protein yields were higher (P < 0.05) in Mehraban ewes in the last two-thirds of lactation. Plasma lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol) was not different between the two breeds at any time of study. At the end of lactation, plasma urea contents and alanine amino transferase activities were higher (P < 0.05) either before or after feeding in Mehraban than in Sanjabi ewes, which suggests a more intense metabolic activity in the former probably related to their higher milk and protein production at that stage of lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in Al-Qadisiya Governorate during the period from December , 2012 to March , 2013. Involving five regions with different geographical locations (Diwania city center , Saniya District , Shafeia District, Daghara District and Al-Hamza District ) to determine the residues of nickel , arsenic and mercury in raw milk of cows , sheep and goats . A total of 150 raw milk samples were collected from 150 animals belong to the three species, involved 50 samples for cows, 50 samples for sheep and 50 samples for goats (10 samples / region) selected randomly. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine the concentration of nickel (NI) , arsenic (AS) and mercury (Hg) . The results showed that a significant differences (p0.05) in the concentrations of nickel , arsenic and mercury among milk of cows , sheep and goats . Sheep milk had a higher concentration of nickel 0.563mg / l , arsenic 0.283 mg / l and mercury 0.124 mg / L -1 and lower concentration pattern of these metal in cow's milk ( 0.221 , 0.122 and 0.037 mg / L -1 ) respectively . The results also revealed a significant differences (p0.05) among studied regions . The higher concentrations of these metal were in Al-Hamza District for nickel 0.494 mg / L -1 ,for arsenic 0.246 mg / L -1 and for mercury 0.119 mg / L -1 . While the lower level of contamination were in Daghara District . The results of the present study showed an increase in concentrations of nickel and mercury in March month . It could be concluded that high concentration of studied heavy metals in Al-Hamza District may be due to getting rid of the residues of industrial activities in Al-Diwania river without treatment, while in the other locations may be due to using sewage water for agricultural irrigation . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of the feeding system (indoor or part-time grazing) of ewes and dietary supplementation with hemp seed (non-drug varieties of Cannabis sativa L.) on milk production and the composition of milk fatty acids (FAs). The experimental diets were constituted as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of feeding system (I: indoors and receiving 1400 g dry matter (DM) grass hay/d or pasture grazing (PG)-4 h/day + 700 g DM grass hay/d), and with or without hemp seed (Hs) supplementation (-Hs = no hemp seed vs. +Hs = 175 g/d hemp seed). All animals received 700 g DM/day of a concentrate for lactation. Feeding the PG diets increased raw milk production and yields of fat, protein and lactose. Feeding +Hs increased fat-corrected milk, milk fat content and fat yield significantly while the combination of +Hs and PG increased fat-corrected milk and fat yield significantly. Milk protein content was not affected by dietary factors. Feeding the I diets increased the proportion of short-chain FAs (C4:0 - C10:0), at the expense of medium-chain FAs (12 to 17 C units). Feeding +Hs decreased the proportion of short-chain FAs, medium-chain FAs and hypercholesterolaemic FA (sum of C12:0, C14:0, C16:0) and increased the trans-vaccenic acid (C18:1 t11, VA), α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3, ALA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in milk fat significantly. The combination of hemp seed and part-time grazing produced the highest proportion of c9,t11 CLA, t10,c12 CLA and n-3 FA (sum of ALA, EPA, DHA) in milk fat. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratios in the milk from ewes grazing part time were significantly higher, whereas the atherogenicity index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI) and linoleic acid (LA)/ALA ratio were significantly lower compared with the milk of indoor-fed ewes. Supplementing with +Hs has a similar effect of increasing the PUFA/SFA ratio and lowering of the AI, TI and LA/ALA ratio. It was concluded that pasture grazing combined with hemp seed had a synergistic effect on milk production and fat yield without altering the milk protein content in ewes. This combination has favourable effects on milk FA profile from the human consumer's point of view by increasing the nutritional quality of milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most raw milk Ossau-Iraty cheeses are currently manufactured on-farm using the same commercial streptococcal-lactococcal starter (S1). One way to enhance the microbial diversity that gives raw milk its advantages for cheese-making is to formulate new starters combining diverse, characterized strains. A new starter (OI) combining 6 raw milk strains of lactococci, recently isolated and characterized, was tested in parallel with the current starter by making 12 Ossau-Iraty raw milk cheeses at 3 farmhouses under the conditions prevailing at each farm. Compliance of the sensory characteristics with those expected by the Ossau-Iraty professionals, physicochemical parameters and coliforms were quantified at key manufacturing steps. The new starter OI gave cheeses having proper compliance but having lower compliance than the S1 cheeses under most manufacturing conditions, while managing coliform levels equally well as starter S1. This lower compliance relied more on the absence of Streptococcus thermophilus in starter OI, than on the nature of the lactoccocal strains present in starter OI. The study also shows that variations in 5 technological parameters during the first day of manufacture, within the range of values applied in the 3 farmhouses, are powerful tools for diversifying the scores for the sensory characteristics investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two dietary metabolizable protein (MP) concentrations on the performance and health status of Afshari ewes and survival and growth of their lambs during late pregnancy. For 6 weeks prior to lambing, 32 Afshari ewes were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, containing low (LMP) or high (HMP) MP concentrations. The ewes in LMP (n=16) and in the HMP (n=16) were individually fed with isoenergetic (2.39 Mcal ME/kg DM) diets that contained 99.4 and 116.5 g crude protein (CP) and 70.5 g and 84.6 g MP/kg dry matter (DM) respectively. The concentration of MP in the late pregnancy diet did not affect changes in body weight and body condition score of ewes as well as blood glucose, total protein, non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxy butyrate (βHBA), insulin concentrations, insulin sensitivity and total number of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and other blood cells. Similarly, the amounts and composition of colostrum obtained during the first 24 h after lambing were not affected by MP level. It was concluded that increasing the MP content of the diet for 6 weeks prior to lambing above the standard requirements resulted in no benefit in terms of the productive performance and health indices of twin-bearing ewes and their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aim of this study was to investigate the effect of milk type, pasteurization and packaging material type on free fatty acid (FFA) content, physicochemical and sensory properties of Tulum cheese. Thus, cheese samples manufactured from pasteurized ewes' and cows' milk and ripened different material (plastic barrel, cellulose casing, cloth bag, naturel bowel) were compared with traditional Erzincan Tulum cheese during 90 days of storage. Results indicated that the ewes' milk cheeses had higher concentration of C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C18:2, and C18:3 fatty acids (P<0.01). Type of packaging materials did not influence the concentrations of FFA in cheese samples. Flowever, pasteurization significantly (P<0.01) affected the levels of C6:0-C14:0 FFA. Results of a sensory panel showed that packaging materials remarkably (P<0.01) influenced the acceptability of cheese samples produced by pasteurization. Panelists' preferred experimental cheese made with ewes' milk and ripened in cellulose based packaging material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) Fiore Sardo (FS), Pecorino Siciliano (PS) and Pecorino Toscano (PT) ewes’ milk cheeses were chosen as hard cheese model systems to investigate the spatial distribution of the metabolically active microbiota and the related effects on proteolysis and synthesis of volatile components (VOC). Cheese slices were divided in nine sub-blocks, each one separately subjected to analysis and compared to whole cheese slice (control). Gradients for moisture, and concentrations of salt, fat and protein distinguished sub-blocks, while the cell density of the main microbial groups did not differ. Secondary proteolysis differed between sub-blocks of each cheese, especially when the number and area of hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptide peaks were assessed. The concentration of free amino acids (FAA) agreed with these data. As determined through Purge and Trap (PT) coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (PT-GC/MS), and regardless of the cheese variety, the profile with the lowest level of VOC was restricted to the region identified by the letter E defined as core. As shown through pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA targeting RNA, the spatial distribution of the metabolically active microbiota agreed with the VOC distribution. Differences were highlighted between core and the rest of the cheese. Top and bottom under rind sub-blocks of all three cheeses harbored the widest biodiversity. The cheese sub-block analysis revealed the presence of a microbiota statistically correlated with secondary proteolysis events and/or synthesis of VOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by psychosocial stress is attenuated during lactation. We tested the hypothesis that lactating ewes will have attenuated HPA axis responses to isolation and restraint but will have greater responses to predator stress in the form of barking dogs. We imposed two 4 h stressors: psychosocial stress (isolation and restraint of ewes) and predator stress (barking dogs). Blood was collected intravenous every 10 min from nonlactating ewes (n = 6), lactating ewes with lambs present but not able to be suckled (n = 6), and lactating ewes with lambs present and able to be suckled (n = 6). Plasma cortisol and oxytocin were measured. For nonlactating ewes, cortisol increased ( P < 0.01) in response to both stressors, and these increases were greater ( P < 0.01) than that in the lactating animals. For lactating ewes with lambs present but unable to be suckled, cortisol increased ( P < 0.05) in response to both stressors with a greater response to barking dogs ( P < 0.05). For lactating ewes with lambs present and able to be suckled, cortisol increased ( P < 0.01) in response to barking dogs only. Plasma oxytocin was greater ( P < 0.01) in lactating ewes than in nonlactating ewes and did not change in response to the stressors. In conclusion, lactating ewes are likely to have a greater HPA axis response to a stressor that may be perceived to threaten the welfare of themselves and/or their offspring. The role of oxytocin in attenuation of the HPA axis to stress in sheep is unclear from the current research and requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profitability of a sheep enterprise is greatly influenced by the ability of the ewe to produce a lamb annually. This paper examines the between- and within-breed association between the liveweight and fat score of the adult ewe and key fleece, reproduction and milk production traits. The study analysed the performance of 2846 first-cross Merino and Corriedale ewes from the maternal central progeny test (MCPT) over their first three production cycles. Breed (9 sire breeds) and within-breed (91 sires) correlations were calculated from bivariate correlations of adult liveweight and fat score with fleece, reproduction and milk production traits. The mean liveweight and fatness of the breeds were low to moderately negatively correlated with greasy fleece weight (-0.55 and -0.25, respectively) and moderate to strongly positively correlated with fibre diameter (0.88 and 0.41, respectively). However, the within-breed correlations were generally low to negligible. The genetic relationships between ewe fat score and reproductive traits at the breed and within-breed level was generally low to negligible and, in some cases, negative under production conditions where the ewes were well managed and averaged a fat score of 3.5 pre-joining and became too fat across the production cycle. Strong breed correlations between ewe fat score and milk fat concentration (0.88) suggest that selection of fatter sire breeds will lead to increased fat in their progenies' milk, which was associated with larger lambs. The potential advantages of selecting for more fat to improve the maternal performance of the ewe seem to be limited in enterprises where the production system can easily be adjusted to restrict the influence of temporary and long-term feed deficiencies, as was achieved within the MCPT research flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual purpose Tsigai sheep breed with its high overall mixed operating capacity confer farmers a major advantage for an efficient capitalization of the meat and milk production. The aim of the present paper is to highlight in a comparative manner the differences between conformation traits, body mass and wool production for the breed two varieties, the black face and the red face variety respectively. The studied animals originated from a Tsigai stock from Cluj County. In respect of the most measurements of conformation there was observed superiority in favor of the black face variety, without statistical differences. The same significant differences are found in the body weight of lambs at birth and weaning. In contrast the ewe lambs at the age of six months and the breeding sheep category show very significant differences in the favor of the black face variety. Analyzing the wool production of the two varieties, there is no statistically significant differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]