Autochthonous Sheep Breeds Research Articles

Analysis of major fecundity genes in autochthonous Laticauda and Bagnolese sheep breeds

Aim of this work was to analyze the fecundity genes BMPRIB (FecB allele), BMP15 (exon 2) and GDF9 (both exons) in two autochthonous sheep breeds, Laticauda and Bagnolese, reared in Campania region and characterized by a high prolificacy rate. Both breeds have an economic relevance due to the production of meat and milk. The analyses of fecundity genes ruled out the presence of the main alleles (FecB, FecXG, FecXH, FecXI), reported earlier to be associated with a high prolificacy rate in other breeds. Eleven SNPs were found in GDF9 exon 2, five of these for the first time, in particular at nt 531, 953 and 1203 in Bagnolese sheep and at nt 617 and 1358 in Laticauda sheep. In Bagnolese breed the association analysis of these SNPs with prolificacy rate showed a significantly higher value of litter size of GG individuals at nt 750 when compared with GA ewes.

Short communication. Effect of concentrate supplementation and prolificacy on the productive and economic performance of autochthonous sheep breeds fed forage-based diets

Sheep farming systems in Spain are experiencing an intensification process, characterised by a general selection criteria of enhancing prolificacy in ewes, and by increasing indoor feeding with concentrates to the detriment of grazing. This study evaluated the effects of concentrate supplementation and prolificacy on productive and economic performance of a local sheep breed in different price scenarios. Ewes were fed forage hay ad libitum, without (in pre-partum period, PRE-HAY; and in post-partum period, POST-HAY) or with concentrates (300 g/d in pre-partum period, PRE-CON; and 750 g/d in post-partum period, POST-CON). The inclusion of concentrate during the pre-partum period (last 10 weeks of pregnancy) had no effect on the productive performance of the ewes. In contrast, the inclusion of concentrate in the post-partum period (6 weeks), resulted in greater milk yield (1009 vs. 1275 ± 89 g/d), lamb average daily gain (151±12 vs. 225±19 g/d) and lamb output (kg of lamb LW weaned). However, the greater productivity thanks to the use of concentrates did not always turn into greatest profitability, since the economic margin was highly influenced by the cost of the diet and extremely subjected to variability in price of concentrates. Hence, the inclusion of concentrates in sheep meat production was not always justified in economic terms. In conclusion, the use of concentrates should only be considered as long as prices of commodities remain low, and inadvisable when prices reach a certain threshold or are subject to certain volatility in markets.

Adaptations to climate-mediated selective pressures in sheep.

Following domestication, sheep (Ovis aries) have become essential farmed animals across the world through adaptation to a diverse range of environments and varied production systems. Climate-mediated selective pressure has shaped phenotypic variation and has left genetic “footprints” in the genome of breeds raised in different agroecological zones. Unlike numerous studies that have searched for evidence of selection using only population genetics data, here, we conducted an integrated coanalysis of environmental data with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation. By examining 49,034 SNPs from 32 old, autochthonous sheep breeds that are adapted to a spectrum of different regional climates, we identified 230 SNPs with evidence for selection that is likely due to climate-mediated pressure. Among them, 189 (82%) showed significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between allele frequency and climatic variables in a larger set of native populations from a worldwide range of geographic areas and climates. Gene ontology analysis of genes colocated with significant SNPs identified 17 candidates related to GTPase regulator and peptide receptor activities in the biological processes of energy metabolism and endocrine and autoimmune regulation. We also observed high linkage disequilibrium and significant extended haplotype homozygosity for the core haplotype TBC1D12-CH1 of TBC1D12. The global frequency distribution of the core haplotype and allele OAR22_18929579-A showed an apparent geographic pattern and significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlations with climatic variation. Our results imply that adaptations to local climates have shaped the spatial distribution of some variants that are candidates to underpin adaptive variation in sheep.

Phenotypic characterization and description of production systems of autochthonous sheep breeds in Kosovo

Considering about 13.9 percent of total surface under pastures and meadows and big demand for milk and meat, sheep are considered as an important livestock species in Kosovo. Hence, the overall objective of this study was to provide the characterization of autochthonous sheep breeds and sheep production systems in Kosovo. Breed characterization and proper economic management schemes, selection for most economically important traits and best animals in the flock will assist farmers in increasing the feeding efficiency, reproduction and productive traits and thus profit. Including Bardhoka (BAR), Balusha (BAL), Sharri (SHA) and Kosva (KOS) sheep breeds, for a period of 1 year (September 2009–August 2010) the study was concentrated in 20 sheep farms in different regions of Kosovo. The least-squares means show that for milk yield and milk content, breed differences were significant (P < 0.05). The highest average daily milk yield for BAR (0.63 kg) exceeded the milk yield of BAL, KOS and SHA with 0.09, 0.14 and 0.18 kg milk per day, respectively. For milk butterfat and protein SHA ewes obtained the highest rate compared with other three breeds for 9.4–19.9 percent. Milk dry matter among different breeds ranged between 18.4 and 19.3 percent. Voluntary disposal of ewes mainly occurred at lactation 4 and 5. Considering a standard yield at 1st lactation specific to the breeds, the highest production is reached at 3rd lactation.

Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe

Traditional mixed livestock cereal- and pasture-based sheep farming systems in Europe are threatened by intensification and specialisation processes. However, the intensification process does not always yield improved economic results or efficiency. This study involved a group of farmers that raised an autochthonous sheep breed (Ojinegra de Teruel) in an unfavourable area of North-East Spain. This study aimed to typify the farms and elucidate the existing links between economic performance and certain sustainability indicators (i.e. productivity, self-sufficiency and diversification). Information was obtained through direct interviews with 30 farms (73% of the farmers belonging to the breeders association). Interviews were conducted in 2009 and involved 32 indicators regarding farm structure, management and economic performance. With a principal component analysis, three factors were obtained explaining 77.9% of the original variance. This factors were named as inputs/self-sufficiency, which included the use of on-farm feeds, the amount of variable costs per ewe and economic performance; productivity, which included lamb productivity and economic autonomy; and productive orientation, which included the degree of specialisation in production. A cluster analysis identified the following four groups of farms: high-input intensive system; low-input self-sufficient system; specialised livestock system; and diversified crops-livestock system. In conclusion, despite the large variability between and within groups, the following factors that explain the economic profitability of farms were identified: (i) high feed self-sufficiency and low variable costs enhance the economic performance (per labour unit) of the farms; (ii) animal productivity reduces subsidy dependence, but does not necessarily imply better economic performance; and (iii) diversity of production enhances farm flexibility, but is not related to economic performance.

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION IN ALBANIA

Actually, 1853 thousand sheep (1378 thousand milked sheep) are farmed in Albania. About 28 % of the sheep population are the Tsygaia breed and its crossbreeds, 9.2 % are the Merino breed and its crossbreeds, 12 % are crossbreeds with other different imported breeds, local sheep named Rrecka present about 23 % of the total sheep population and other autochthonous sheep breeds, like Ruda, Bardhoke, Shkodrane, Baca – located in the North and North East/West, and Syka of Mati, Lara of Polisit in central regions of Albania consist of 27.5 %. The imported breeds like Il de France, Chios, Awasi constitute about 0.3 %. The annual sheep wool production evaluates about 3.8 thousand ton. The structure of wool quality is 15.7 % thin wool (merinos and their crosses), 27.1 % half thin wool (Ruda, Tsigaia and their crosses) and 57.2 % harsh wool (local breeds). The most part of wool produced by local sheep breeds is the coarse type. Only the wool of the Ruda sheep breed is of the half thin type, with 12-–14 cm hair length and 30– 33 micron diameter of hair. Most of the Albanian wool is sold for export very cheaply, direct after shearing (not graded, not washed), some is simply incinerated. The farmers get a smaller part of their own wool carded. Afterwards it is hand spun and used for weaving or knitting. The coarse wool is used for kelims and carpets. The finer wool is used for knitting. In Albania it is a tradition carding, dyeing, hand spinning, weaving and knitting the wool to be done in small enterprises and home conditions. The elder generation knows how to handle the wool, but it is a dwindling tradition. Only a small and decreasing market for traditional wool products, such as traditional Albanian hats, kelims and knotted carpets exists. The support of farmers community to build up a market for modern wool production as small or medium scale enterprises and home production, then selling the products from specialized shops in bigger towns, and especially for the bigger enterprises, to end up with export is one of the important objectives of the Albanian National Action Plan for conservation and sustainable economic use of FAnGR. According to the National Action Plan to develop wool processing into finished end-products for sale, is necessary to look into small issues as sheep breeding at a farm level, development of breeding strategies, training farmers in sheep husbandry practices, grading the wool, scouring the wool, support to SMEs working with wool processing, training men/women in wool processing, design of products, marketing and bookkeeping.

Biodiversity and traditional sheep grazing in the south Banat region

In this paper the capacity for reintroduction of traditional sheep breeds as key resources for biodiversity conservation systems in HNV farming system of the South Banat region was analyzed. Taking the vulnerability of the ecosystem into consideration when creating the optimal grazing system based on traditional rearing breeds, can contribute to the protection of biodiversity in the South Banat region. The representatives of Fabaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Apiaceae family were described. Basic nutritive components of pasture and mixed hay: crude moisture, crude ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude cellulose, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorous (P), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were measured. Botanical analysis has confirmed the presence of plant diversity, as well as the nutritive value of sheep pastures. Chemical analyses of samples pointed out that the levels of crude proteins, cellulose, fats, macro and trace elements are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of low input sheep farming system and therefore can be considered a solid base for reintroduction of autochthonous sheep breeds in the peripheral parts of the Deliblato Sands area.

AUTOCHTHONOUS SHEEP BREEDS IN HUNGARY

SUMMARYThe authors give information on the phenotypic characteristics and production, the history and present state of three autochthonous Hungarian sheep breeds : the Racka, the Tsigai and the Cikta.

ADAPTION OF HEIDSCHNUCKEN, MERINO AND BLACKHEAD SHEEP TO A FIBROUS ROUGHAGE DIET OF POOR QUALITY

Heidschnucken, an autochthonous sheep breed, were able to utilize a fibrous roughage diet of poor quality by increasing the volume of the reticulorumen and prolonging the retention time of particles. Under poor dietary conditions Merino Sheep, too, were able to supply the energy demands by increasing the volume of the fermentation chamber. Blackhead sheep showed no major ability of such an adaptation. Key words: Sheep, low quality, diets, rumen volume, retention time