Chios Lambs Research Articles

Effect of weaning and feed provision times on the performance and several behavioural traits of post-weaning lambs.

The aim of the present study was to assess if weaning time (morning or evening) and feed provision (immediate or 4h delayed) can influence growth performance and expression of juvenile lamb behaviour immediately after and at the age of 50-125days old. Forty lambs were randomly assigned to 4 groups: E1 (evening + immediate), E2 (evening + delayed), M1 (morning + immediate) and M2 (morning + delayed). All lambs were especially active during the first hour after weaning. However, their activity within the first 24h after weaning was mainly affected by their circadian rhythms, since lambs were more active during the day compared to night. On the other hand, no effect of alfalfa hay provision on lamb activity during these first 24h was observed. At the age of 50-125days old, body weight was measured, and an isolation and flight distance test was implemented. There were no significant differences among lambs in body weight, number of jumps and heart rates assessed during isolation test and flight distance. However, the number of vocalizations was lower (65-110th day, P < 0.05) for the E2 compared to E1 lambs. Breed also slightly affected (95th day, P < 0.05) the average heart rate of lambs, with greater values for Karagouniko compared to Chios lambs. It is concluded that no discernible effects of weaning or feeding time were observed on growth performance and the display of stress-induced behavioural components of juvenile lambs till the age of 125days old.

107. Substitution of soybean meal with canola meal increases growth rate and heavy carcass weight in Chios lambs

107. Substitution of soybean meal with canola meal increases growth rate and heavy carcass weight in Chios lambs

Antioxidant status, meat oxidative stability and quality characteristics of lambs fed with hesperidin, naringin or α-tocopheryl acetate supplemented diets.

Dietary supplementation of sheep with bioactive compounds such as citrus flavonoids appears as a great alternative for improving meat antioxidant capacity and could also have beneficial effects on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality characteristics. An experiment was therefore conducted to examine the effects of hesperidin or naringin dietary supplementation on lambs' growth performance, antioxidant status and meat quality characteristics. Forty-four male 3-month-old Chios lambs were randomly assigned to four groups: C, fed with a basal diet, or H or N or VE offered the same diet further supplemented with hesperidin at 2500 mg or naringin at 2500 mg or α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) at 200 mg kg-1 feed respectively. At the end of the experiment (day 35), samples of longissimus thoracis muscle were collected for meat quality evaluation. Both flavonoids and vitamin E dietary supplementation reduced plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels on day 35 (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in performance traits and meat quality characteristics among the experimental groups (P>0.05). Hesperidin and naringin also reduced MDA levels in meat stored at 4 °C for up to 8 days (P<0.05), although to a lesser extent than α-tocopheryl acetate. Incorporation of flavonoids in sheep diets resulted in an improvement of plasma and meat antioxidant capacity. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The effects of rearing diet, sex and age on the fatty acid profile of Chios lambs

A total of 40 lambs of Chios breed were used to determine the effect of rearing system, sex and age on the fatty acid (FA) profile of M. semimembranosus proprius (SP), M. longissimus dorsii (LD) and M. triceps brachii (TB). The lambs were assigned into two groups balanced for bodyweight and sex. The first group (n = 20) underwent natural rearing (natural) and received only maternal milk until weaning. The second group (n = 20) weaned at birth and subjected to artificial suckling (artificial) with a commercial milk replacer. At 35 days of age, 10 animals from each group were weighed and slaughtered. The remaining lambs of both groups, after weaning were fed daily 100 g barley hay per animal and a commercial concentrate diet ad libitum up to 90 days of age, where they were also weighed and slaughtered. The results showed that the FA profile of lamb muscles was related with that of suckled milk (natural or artificial). Sex did not affect the FA profile, whereas the increase in the slaughtered age lead to changes in the FA profile of lamb muscles (SP, LD, TB). In conclusion, both rearing system and age change the FA profile of lamb muscles, but not in the same manner in all of them (SP, LD, TB).

Effect of breed and litter size on the display of maternal perinatal and offspring postnatal behavior in dairy sheep

Abstract A preliminary study was conducted to examine the effects of breed and litter size on the expression of ewes' maternal and lambs' neonatal behavior in 3 Greek dairy breeds. Animal observations were carried out on 7 Karagouniko (3 single- and 4 twin-bearing ewes), 7 Chios (4 single- and 3 twin-bearing ewes), and 7 Orini Epirus (4 single- and 3 twin-bearing ewes) multiparous ewes during 12 hours before and after parturition of each lamb. Overall, labor was not significantly different among the 3 breeds, although was shorter for first-born twin lambs compared to singletons ( P P P P P P = 0.120). The time standing during the first hour after birth was significantly higher in Karagouniko compared with Chios lambs ( P

Electrocardiographic indices of clinically healthy Chios sheep

Information regarding normal electrocardiographic features of different breeds of animals can help veterinarians to detect any abnormalities in cardiac electrical activities. The current research was conducted to present the normal electrocardiographic indices of clinically healthy Chios ewes and lambs. The electrocardiograms were recorded from clinically healthy Chios ewes (n=27; 2-3 years old) and lambs (n=20; 4-6 months old) by using base apex lead system. T and QRS-duration in lambs were significantly lower than adult Chios ewes. The electrocardiographic amplitudes in lambs were lower than ewes, non-significantly. P-R, R-R, Q-T and S-T intervals in Chios lambs were significantly lower than ewes. No normal sinus rhythm was detected in Chios lambs. The proportion of sinus arrhythmia and sinus tachycardia in lambs was significantly more than ewes. Sino-atrial block was also detected in lambs. Based on the presented data it could be stated that aging can affect electrocardiographic findings of Chios sheep. Finally, our results will provide a good basis for judging the electrocardiograms in base apex lead system of Chios lambs and ewes.

Meat Quality and Fatty Acid Composition of Chios Male Lambs Fed Under Traditional and Intensive Conditions

The study was conducted to compare the chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics, texture profile analysis (TPA) parameters and fatty acid composition of the meat of Chios male lambs fed under traditional and intensive conditions. A total of 34 lambs at the age of 3 months were used. The animals were randomly separated into traditional (T) and intensive (I) groups in equal numbers. The lambs in group T were fed on ration prepared in local style and grazed in olive grove for 8 h/day, while those in group I received 255 g alfalfa hay per animal and ad libitum mixed feed. The animals were slaughtered at 5 months of age. Significant differences were not found for chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics, and TPA parameters. Fatty acids such as C17: 0, C18: 0, C18: 1 Cc11, C18: 1 c9, C18: 2 c9c12, C18: 2 c9t11 and the total conjugated linoleic fatty acids in muscle differed significantly between the two groups. As a results of the study, it was found that Chios lambs fed intensively had particularly tender, vivid and bright meat however the contents of C18 fatty acid group and CLA were higher in lambs fed under traditional conditions.

Effect of pre-weaning temporary isolation within different age periods on the early post-weaning behaviour of juvenile lambs

Temporary maternal separation is a stressful situation typical under modern husbandry practices and may have an undesirable impact on lamb welfare. However, at present there is insufficient evidence on temporary maternal separation effects on the behaviour of juvenile lambs. The aim of the present study was to assess if and how partial isolation during different periods at the early age can induce differences in the expression of juvenile lamb behaviour at the age of 2 and 3 months old. Twenty-seven male Chios lambs were assigned to 3 experimental groups: C (control), S1 (lamb daily isolation for 1h between the 13th and 20th day of age) and S2 (lamb daily isolation for 1h between the 20th and 27th day of age).At the age of 2 and 3 months old, the behaviour of lambs was tested by the implementation of 2 types of test: isolation and novel object (Y-test). There were no statistical differences between lamb treatments in the number of jumps, vocalizations and heart rates during isolation test and the latency to approach a novel or a familiar object in the novel object test conducted at 2 and 3 months of age. However, lambs showed a tendency of turning to the right-hand side of the test pen, irrespective of treatment group, at the age of 2 and 3 months old during the implementation of novel object test.It is concluded that no discernible effects of maternal temporary deprivation on the display of stress induced behavioural components of juvenile lambs at the age of 2 and 3 months old were found.

Fattening performance and carcass traits of Chios male lambs fed under traditional and intensive feeding conditions

This study was carried out to compare the fattening performance and carcass traits of Chios male lambs fed under traditional and intensive feeding conditions. In the study, a total of 34 lambs were randomly separated into traditional (T) and intensive (I) groups in equal numbers. Lambs in group T were fed on ration prepared in local style and grazed in olive grove for 8 h/day. On the other hand, lambs in group I were fed on 255 g alfalfa hay animal(-1) day(-1) and ad libitum mixed feed. After a period of 8 weeks, lambs were transported to the slaughterhouse. The results showed that Chios lambs fed under intensive conditions has better performance and produced heavier carcass compared to those fed under traditional conditions. However, consumption of concentrate feed mixture was about twice as much in group I as in group T. Total feed consumption and feed conversion ratio was similar in each group. The values of carcass traits of lambs in group I were found to be significantly higher than those of group T. On the other hand, carcass fat thickness was slightly lower in group T. Traditional condition is considered to respond to better to consumer demands for lean lamb carcass.

Growing Farafra and Chios Lambs Fed Rations Containing Various Hay Levels

Growing Farafra and Chios Lambs Fed Rations Containing Various Hay Levels

Carcass traits of improved and indigenous lamb breeds of North-Western Turkey under an intensive production system

The aim of study was to investigate the carcass quality of Turkish Merino, Ramlic, Kivircik, Chios and Imroz breeds in north-western Turkey under an intensive production system. After weaning at approximately 85 days of age, 46 lambs from Turkish Merino, Ramlic, Kivircik, Chios and Imroz breeds were fattened for 56 days. Slaughter weights were 47.39, 45.68, 47.27, 31.08 and 29.82 kg and chilled carcass weights were 23.35, 22.33, 23.51, 14.33 and 13.75 kg, respectively (P<0.001). Improved Turkish Merino and Ramlic and indigenous Kivircik lambs had higher carcass measurements than indigenous Chios and Imroz lambs. Chios lamb carcasses had the highest tail root fat yellowness and tail percentage while having the lowest fatness score, omental and mesenteric fat percentage and kidney knob and channel fat percentage. Turkish Merino lambs had higher shoulder percentage, lean percentage and lean/total fat ratio in the hind leg and produced less total fat in the hind leg than Ramlic and Kivircik lambs. These results indicate that improved Turkish Merino might be used to produce high quality lamb carcasses in north-western Turkey. Among indigenous breeds Kivircik showed an outstanding carcass production performance.

Effect of dietary oregano oil supplementation on lamb meat characteristics

The effect of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on lamb meat characteristics was investigated. Eight male and eight female Chios lambs were divided into two equal groups. The first group was fed with the control diet consisting of concentrated feed and alfalfa hay, whereas the second group consumed the same diet, the only difference being that the concentrated feed was uniformly sprayed with oregano essential oil (1 ml/kg). Duration of the experimental period was two months. No differences were observed after oregano essential oil supplementation in final body weight (kg), body weight gain (g) and carcass yield (%). Tenderness of longissimus thoracis muscle, expressed as sarcomere length and shear force value, was not influenced by the treatment, whereas pH and colour parameters (yellowness–redness) appeared to increase ( P < 0.05). Moreover, results showed that dietary incorporation of oregano essential oil exerted strong antioxidant effects retarding lipid oxidation (MDA formation) in meat during refrigerated and long-term frozen storage ( P < 0.001).

Effect of dietary dried oregano leaves supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics of growing lambs

In an experiment with 45 male growing Chios lambs, the effect of dietary dried oregano ( Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) leaves supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics was determined. In the 10 wk experiment, lambs were allocated to 1 of 3 treatments (OR0, OR144, and OR288) of 15 lambs each. Lambs had an initial body weight (BW) of 17.5 ± 1.8 kg, and were fed a concentrate mixture ad libitum and alfalfa hay at 0.4 kg/(lamb d). The concentrate mixture for treatment OR0 was not supplemented with dried oregano leaves (control), while dried oregano leaves were incorporated into the concentrate mixture of treatments OR144 and OR288 at levels of 4 and 8 kg/t, respectively, to provide oregano essential oil at levels of 144 and 288 mg/kg of concentrate, respectively. No differences were observed among dried oregano leaves inclusion treatments in final BW (36.7 kg), BW gain (BWG, 275 g/d), dry matter intake (DMI, 1.09 kg/d), and feed conversion ratio (3.98 kg DMI/kg BWG). All carcass yield traits as kg/100 kg of BW were unaffected by treatment. Dried oregano leaves supplementation in isonitrogenous and iso (net energy) energetic diets for growing lambs did not affect their performance and carcass characteristics.

Replacement of soybean meal and barley grain by chickpeas in lamb and kid fattening diets

In two trials, with 42 early-weaned male Chios lambs and 42 early-weaned Damascus kids, the effect of partial replacement of soybean meal and barley grain with chickpeas on weight changes and feed efficiency was studied. Within trial, animals were divided on the basis of age and liveweight into three groups that were randomly allocated to the concentrate mixtures containing three levels (kg as fed basis/t) of chickpeas (CHPEA 0, CHPEA 136, CHPEA 329). In situ degradation of soybean meal and chickpeas was also measured using three mature rumen fistulated Chios ewes. Apparent digestion coefficients and CP-retained were measured using four lambs per concentrate mixture. Lambs grew faster than kids. In both trials, there were no differences among diets in liveweight gain. Digestion coefficients of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and CP in the diets containing chickpeas were higher than those on the soybean meal control diet. The effective ruminal degradability of CP was higher in chickpeas than soybean meal. Fast growing lambs and kids consuming chickpeas (up to 329 kg/t) in substitution for barley grain and soybean meal performed as well as those on the control diet.

Investigation of direct and maternal genetic effects on birth and weaning weight of Chios lambs

Direct additive and maternal genetic effects on birth and weaning weight of Chios lambs were investigated. The data originated from the Agricultural Research Station of Chalkidiki and comprised 7318 lambs, raised over the period from 1977 to 1992. Variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood, fitting six different animal models, by including or excluding maternal effects. The direct heritability ( h 2 d ) for birth weight decreased from 0.38 to 0.13 when maternal genetic effects were included in the model, while h 2 d for weaning weight decreased from 0.29 to 0.15. The maternal heritability ( m 2) for birth weight was 0.33 when only maternal genetic effects were included in the model and ranged from 0.13 to 0.19 when the permanent environment of the dam ( c 2) was added. The respective values of m 2 for weaning weight ranged from 0.14 to 0.16 and 0.05 to 0.07. The permanent environmental effect of the dam was significant for both traits. Negative genetic covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects ( σ am ) was observed, which was significant only for birth weight.

Effects of lasalocid and protein levels on feed intake and growth rate of Awassi lambs

Lasalocid is a polyether antibiotic derived from the fermentation of streptomyces lasaliensis used as a coccidiostat in sheep. There are varying literature reports on lamb growth rate and feed intake when lasalocid is included in the diet of feedlot lambs. While some reports have shown that lasalocid enhances feed efficiency in ruminants by decreasing feed intake and either maintaining or improving rate of gain others indicate that lasalocid did not have any effect on lamb growth rates or feed efficiency (Stobart et al., 1987). Also, when lasalocid was fed to Chios lambs, growth rate was increased but there was no improvement in feed conversion efficiency (Hadjipanayiotou et al., 1988). There are no published data in the literature relating to the use of lasalocid as a growth promoter in the Awassi breed of sheep fed complete diets and the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lasalocid with two levels of protein on the growth rate and feed efficiency of weaned male and female Awassi lambs.

Feeding dairy ewes and goats and growing lambs and kids mixtures of protein supplements

In two trials, with 86 lactating Chios ewes and with 66 Damascus goats, the effect of protein source (soybean (SB) or mixture of SB and meat meal (MM)) on pre- and post-weaning lactation performance and the pre-weaning growth rate of their offspring was studied. In another three trials with early weaned Damascus kids (50 ± 3 days of age) and Chios lambs (42 ± 3 days of age) the effect of level of inclusion of soybean meal (SB) and of partial replacement of SB with either fish meal (FM) or MM on their performance was studied. The diets in Trial 1 with a total of 81 kids were SBH (high level of SB), SBL (low level of SB) and FM (partial replacement of the low level SB with fish meal); the diets in Trials 2 (112 Damascus kids) and 3 (165 Chios lambs) were SBH (high level of SB), SBL (low level of SB), MMH (partial replacement of high level SB with MM) and MML (partial replacement of low level SB with MM). Total milk yield, milk suckled, milk sold, BW changes of ewes and goats on the two diets and growth rate of their offspring until weaning did not differ between supplements ( P > 0.1). During the post-weaning period, there were no differences ( P > 0.1) between diets in either milk yield or milk composition. Kids fed the SBH diet grew faster ( P < 0.02) than those fed the SBL diet (Trial 1). In contrast, there were no differences between SBH and FM and/or SBL and FM diets. Kids fed the MMH (Trial 2) diet gained more BW ( P < 0.012) than those on the SBH and SBL diets; there were no differences between MMH and MML diets and/or among diets MML, SBH and SBL. In Trial 3 with lambs, no differences were noted among diets ( P > 0.1). In all three trials, males were heavier than females at the commencement and at the end of the trial. We conclude that partial replacement of SB by MM will not increase milk yield of ewes and goats. However, meat and soybean meals can replace each other. With regard to fattening offspring it is concluded that (1) MM and FM can successfully replace SB, (2) their inclusion may improve animal performance and (3) combination of SB with either MM or FM will result in satisfactory growth even at lower levels of dietary CP. The selection among the protein supplements used can be made on the basis of cost per unit of protein.

Environmental and genetic factors influencing milk and growth traits of Awassi sheep in Cyprus. Heterosis and maternal effects

Data on 5234 purebred and crossbred ewes and 6457 purebred and crossbred lambs of both sexes, born from 1978 until 1986 at two government farms (Athalassa and Orites) were used to study some environmental and genetic factors that affect ewe productivity, milk production and lamb growth. Breed and heterosis effects (individual and maternal) were also estimated. Most of the environmental factors examined were significant sources of variation for the reproductive and production traits of the ewes and the growth traits of the lambs. Chios ewes were significantly more prolific than Awassi and crossbred ewes. Chios also produced heavier litters at birth and at weaning than Awassi ewes. On the other hand, Awassi ewes had a higher milk production compared with all other breed groups. Awassi lambs were heavier at birth, at weaning and at 105 days of age and had a faster growth rate than Chios lambs. Crossbred lambs were mostly heavier and faster growing, both before and after weaning than either purebred group. All estimates of individual heterosis for ewe reproductive and production traits were negative except for total lamb weight at weaning. On the other hand, estimates for maternal heterosis were positive, although those for milk production were close to zero. All lamb traits exhibited positive heterosis effects of crossbreeding. In addition, individual heterosis was more important than maternal heterosis.

Fractional outflow of soybean meal from the rumen, water intake and ruminal fermentation pattern in sheep and goats at different seasons and age groups

The effect of age (5 or 8 months old) on the fractional outflow rate (FOR) of chromium (Cr)-treated soya from the rumen of Chios lambs and Damascus kids (five animals per age group per species) was studied in Trial 1. The effect of season (spring, summer, winter) on the FOR of Cr-treated soybean meal (SBM) from the rumen, water consumption and ruminal fermentation pattern was determined in Trial 2 using four dry, mature, rumen fistulated Chios ewes and four Damascus goats per season. There was no difference in feed dry matter (DM) intake per kg 0.75 body weight (BW) between species in both trials. In Trial 1, neither animal species ( ) nor age ( ) affected FOR of Cr-treated SBM from the rumen. Moreover, there was no effect ( P > 0.1) of animal species and season on ruminal pH, NH 3-N and acetate molar proportion (Trial 2). Season affected propionate ( P < 0.007) and butyrate ( p < 0.005) molar proportions and water consumption. Water consumption was greater ( p < 0.001) in summer than in winter and spring, but not different between spring and winter. Ewes consumed more water ( p < 0.05) and had greater butyrate molar proportion ( p < 0.005) and total volatile fatty acid concentration ( P < 0.003) than goats. DM degradability of straw incubated in the rumen for 48 h was similar in ewes and goats, and was not affected by season. The FOR of Cr-treated SBM from the rumen was faster ( P < 0.022) in goats than in ewes. Season had only a small and non-significant ( P > 0.1) effect on FOR. Due to differences of results among trials, it does not seem advisable to propose, at least at present, different FOR for sheep and goats, and for different seasons of the year and/or between growing lambs and kids of varying age.

Carcass characteristics of equally mature Chios lambs and Damascus kids

Body components, carcass joints based on five anatomical regions, meat qualities and other carcass characteristics were measured on male Chios lambs and male Damascus kids. Kids required a longer time to reach slaughter weight. There were no differences between lambs and kids in dressing percentage, weight of head, kidneys, empty digestive tract and liver. Lambs, however, had less kidney fat, intestinal fat, full digestive tract and feet, but they hed heavier skin and sweet breads than kids. Kids had more dissected meat, moisture, crude protein and ash, but less dissected and chemically determined fat. There were no significant differences between species in carcass length, rib-eye area and meat-to-bone ratio of the whole carcass. Lambs had heavier long leg and lighter shoulder than kids. Meat-to-bone ratio of long leg, shoulder and flank was significantly greater than that of ribs and neck for lambs and kids. In both species, flank had the highest fat, but the lowest protein, moisture and ash, followed by ribs. In kids, neck had the highest CP content followed by long leg, shoulder, ribs and flank: the ranking in lambs was shoulder, long leg, neck, ribs and flank. The best carcass joint for estimating total carcass CP, fat, and ash content was long leg and for moisture content shoulder. Carcass moisture was negatively correlated with fat but positively with CP and ash contents. It is concluded that Damascus kid meat is leaner than that of Chios lamb meat but the latter deposits its fat in a way that it may be accepted by the consumer. Dissection and/or chemical analyses in one carcass joint gives a good indication for the whole carcass. Neck, a region comprising a small proportion in the whole carcass and of second quality, can be used for predicting the CP, ash and fat content in the whole carcass.