Local Sheep Breeds Research Articles

The genetic profiles and maternal origin of local sheep breeds on Java Island (Indonesia) based on complete mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences.

Background and Aim:Java Island is one of the islands in Indonesia which has local sheep breeds with specific characteristics and native development geography in certain regions. This study aimed to determine the genetic profiles and maternal origin of six local sheep breeds on Java Island.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted by identifying the profiles of complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement loop (D-loop) region sequences on a total of 22 individual in six local sheep breeds on Java Island, including Javanese thin-tailed (JTT), Javanese Fat-Tailed (JFT), Batur (BTR), Wonosobo (WSB), Garut (GRT), and Priangan (PRG) sheep. The D-loop region was amplified using specific primers, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. The PCR products were purified and sequenced.Results:The mtDNA D-loop analysis identified 21 haplotypes in the analyzed 22 animals with 123 polymorphic sites (V) consisting of 60 singleton variable sites (S) and 63 parsimony informative sites (P). Within all breeds tested, the haplotype diversity, the average number of pairwise differences (K), and nucleotide diversity (Pi) were 0.99567, 25.36364, and 0.02153, respectively. The genetic distance (D) within groups and between groups was 0.001-0.006 and 0.004-0.036, respectively. The phylogeny resulted in the presence of two haplogroups (Hap), which are 5 Hap A and 16 Hap B. All JTT, JFT, BTR, and WSB breeds were in the same cluster in Hap B, whereas GRT and PRG breeds were in clusters in both Hap A and Hap B.Conclusion:The high genetic diversity in six local sheep breeds on Java Island suggests that they originated from different genetic sources. JTT sheep have closer genetic relationships to JFT, BTR, and WSB sheep, and they are close to European sheep, whereas GRT sheep have closer genetic relationships to PRG sheep. Both are closer to Asian sheep than to European sheep.

Histological and morphometrical study of the effect of season on layers and glands of skin in local Awassi sheep (Ovis ovis)

The study aimed to investigate the effect of season on the skin and cutaneous glands in local Awassi breed of sheep (Ovis ovis). The study was done on five healthy adult rams of Awassi breed in winter and summer at five anatomical regions (armpit, back, scrotum, ventral surface of fatty tail and dorsal surface of the fatty tail). The study explained that season had no significant effect on the histological structure of the sheep's skin, while there was a significant variation in the histological measurements of most structures of skin such as skin layers, sweat and sebaceous glands where the thickness of the corneal layer of the skin varied between the winter and summer seasons ,it was thicker in the winter than in the summer for most of the studied areas, the variation was higher and more significantly at scrotum , where the epidermis was thicker in winter than in summer for most of the few wool areas that included in the study, while in the dense wool areas the epidermis was thicker in summer than in winter. The study also showed that the season has a significant effect on the size of the sweat glands. The size of the sweat glands in the summer appeared to be greater than in the winter and for all areas of study, but the area of the scrotum and the skin of the ventral surface of fatty tail showed the opposite. the season had an effect on the depth of the sweat glands in the dermis. With the exception of the scrotum and the ventral surface of the fatty tail, the sweat glands were deeper in the summer than in the winter for the rest of the study areas. The lining of the sweat glands units was affected by the change of season. In the summer, the height of the cells of the sweat units was increased and for all regions of the study to reached 16.43 micrometers in the scrotum area for the summer while decreased in winter to reached 10.70 micrometers. So, we can say that the sweat glands of the study areas faced the warm climate not only by the increase in the size of the glands and their proximity to the surface in the summer but also by increased functional activity. The sebaceous glands in the area of the ventral surface of the fatty tail had a large difference between the winter and summer followed by the rest of the areas, either the armpit areas and the dorsal surface of the fatty tail did not show any significant difference between the two seasons. Finally, we found the season has been shown to play a significant role in influencing the histological measurements of skin and skin glands.

Shared Signatures of Selection Related to Adaptation and Acclimation in Local Cattle and Sheep Breeds from Russia

The aim of this study was to identify common candidate genes related to environmental adaptation including the cold climates in Russian native cattle and sheep breeds. We made use of our previously published data on candidate regions under selection in the genomes of nine Russian native cattle breeds and 15 Russian sheep breeds using two approaches: the hapFLK and DCMS. We choose one top gene per candidate region under selection for the present study. The total number of genes across all selected regions was 2143 for the cattle and 7706 for the sheep breeds (p-value < 0.05). Of these 1262 genes were shared between the two lists and potentially underwent positive selection in both species. Among them 31 genes were independently reported to be under selection in at least two species of cold-adapted Arctic mammals. Strikingly, the NEB gene, likely associated with heat production via shivering thermogenesis, was found in positively selected regions in the cattle, sheep, mammoth, polar bear, and whale genomes. The shared list of 1262 genes was enriched for genes that are expressed in the brain, uterus, and blood vessels. The latter group may be associated with adaptation to cold climates due to the known contribution of blood vessels to thermogenesis. Our analysis points to a list of shared genes which could be related to adaptation to cold climates in the Russian cattle and sheep breeds and animals from the Arctic region.

Differentiation of some Pramenka sheep breeds based on morphometric characteristics.

For the purpose of the morphometric characterization and differentiation of local sheep breeds that belong to the group of breeds called Pramenka or Zackel, two Slovenian (Bela Krajina and Istrian Pramenka) and four Montenegrin sheep breeds (Bardoka, Sjenička, Pivska Pramenka, and Zeta Žuja) were studied. The variation of morphometric measures and nine morphometric indices were analysed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied in order to provide an easier description of body size and shape. Regarding body size, the Sjenička breed was one of the largest breeds (body weight 76.4 kg, wither height 72.7 cm, chest circumference 100.3 cm), while Zeta Žuja had the smallest body size (37.1 kg, 64.8, and 81.9 cm). On the other hand, Slovenian Istrian Pramenka had the largest body length, chest depth, chest width, and rump width among all included breeds (79.4, 33.6, 22.7, and 21.2 cm). Bela Krajina, Istrian Pramenka, and the Sjenička breed, according to the index of body frame (IBF) value (107–114), have a rectangular body frame, Bardoka and Pivska Pramenka have a square body frame (99.3–100), and Zeta Žuja has a short body frame (91.8). The PCA of all morphometric parameters extracted three components accounting for 96.6 % of the cumulative variance. An unweighted pair–group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis by Euclidian distance shows diversity among the studied breeds, through it grouped Pivska Pramenka with Sjenička and Istrian with Bela Krajina Pramenka in two clusters, while Bardoka and Zeta Žuja were clustered separately.

Assessment of biomass nutritive value in the context of animal welfare and conservation of selected Natura 2000 habitats (4030, 6120 and 6210) in eastern Poland

The analyses were carried out between 2016 and 2017 in eastern Poland in three areas of high nature value: 4030 European dry heaths (Fig. 1), 6120 Xeric sand calcareous grasslands (Fig. 2) and 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (Fig. 3). These three habitats are dry grasslands threatened with extinction. They are semi-natural ecosystems dependent on some human intervention, which formerly grazed by livestock, mowed or burnt. However, due to the low production value, they were first excluded from use, which affected their disappearance. Investigations were performed to explore the vegetation, the yield and nutritional value of biomass in relation to the dietary welfare of sheep which can be used to prevent secondary succession in those habitats.The best grazing performance was identified in the case of local sheep breeds, e.g. the Świniarka Sheep. The maximum stocking density in the analysed sites – from the beginning of the season to the end of June – should not be higher than 1 LSU (Livestock Unit) per 1 ha of pasture. Excluding this grazing period, further use of the analysed sites required constant feed supplementation for the animals, with the time spent by them in the grazing site and their stocking density strictly monitored to avoid undernutrition and excessive damage to the vegetation. The species composition, yielding and nutritional value of the biomass indicate semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (6210 habitat) as the most propitious for grazing in the context of animal welfare.

High-density genotyping reveals signatures of selection related to acclimation and economically important traits in 15 local sheep breeds from Russia

BackgroundDomestication and centuries of selective breeding have changed genomes of sheep breeds to respond to environmental challenges and human needs. The genomes of local breeds, therefore, are valuable sources of genomic variants to be used to understand mechanisms of response to adaptation and artificial selection. As a step toward this we performed a high-density genotyping and comprehensive scans for signatures of selection in the genomes from 15 local sheep breeds reared across Russia.ResultsResults demonstrated that the genomes of Russian sheep breeds contain multiple regions under putative selection. More than 50% of these regions matched with intervals identified in previous scans for selective sweeps in sheep genomes. These regions contain well-known candidate genes related to morphology, adaptation, and domestication (e.g., KITLG, KIT, MITF, and MC1R), wool quality and quantity (e.g., DSG@, DSC@, and KRT@), growth and feed intake (e.g., HOXA@, HOXC@, LCORL, NCAPG, LAP3, and CCSER1), reproduction (e.g., CMTM6, HTRA1, GNAQ, UBQLN1, and IFT88), and milk-related traits (e.g., ABCG2, SPP1, ACSS1, and ACSS2). In addition, multiple genes that are putatively related to environmental adaptations were top-ranked in selected intervals (e.g., EGFR, HSPH1, NMUR1, EDNRB, PRL, TSHR, and ADAMTS5). Moreover, we observed that multiple key genes involved in human hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, and genetic disorders accompanied with an inability to feel pain and environmental temperatures, were top-ranked in multiple or individual sheep breeds from Russia pointing to a possible mechanism of adaptation to harsh climatic conditions.ConclusionsOur work represents the first comprehensive scan for signatures of selection in genomes of local sheep breeds from the Russian Federation of both European and Asian origins. We confirmed that the genomes of Russian sheep contain previously identified signatures of selection, demonstrating the robustness of our integrative approach. Multiple novel signatures of selection were found near genes which could be related to adaptation to the harsh environments of Russia. Our study forms a basis for future work on using Russian sheep genomes to spot specific genetic variants or haplotypes to be used in efforts on developing next-generation highly productive breeds, better suited to diverse Eurasian environments.

Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in 2-, 6-, and 12-month-old Small Tail Han Sheep ovaries reveals that oar-miR-432 downregulates RPS6KA1 expression

Small Tail Han Sheep are an excellent local sheep breed in China, and their outstanding reproductive performance is one of their very important biological characteristics. Clarifying the ovary development process of these ewes should provide a theoretical basis for improving their reproductive efficiency. In this study, we identified the differentially expressed (DE) microRNAs (miRNAs) in 2-, 6-, and 12-month-old small-tail Han sheep ovaries by constructing and analyzing the miRNA expression profiles. These findings clarify the molecular mechanisms regulating the excellent reproductive performance of small-tail Han ewes. We used RNA-Seq technology and bioinformatic to analyze these profiles. Eleven, 13, and 19 DE miRNAs were identified in the 2- vs 6-, 6- vs 12-, and 2- vs 12-month-old ovaries, respectively. In total, 54, 37, and 198 predicted target genes of these DE miRNAs were identified in these three groups, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed that in the 2- vs 6-month-old ovaries, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 102 GO terms and seven signaling pathways; in the 6- vs 12-month-old ovaries, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 52 GO terms and three signaling pathways; and in the 2- vs 12-month-old ovaries, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 88 GO terms and six signaling pathways. Three miRNA–target regulatory networks were constructed based on these DE miRNA–target interactions. Nine miRNAs were selected to confirm to the accuracy of the miRNA sequencing data with qRT-PCR. The site at which oar-miR-432 binds RPS6KA1 was determined with a dual-luciferase system. This is the first integrated analysis the expression profiles of miRNAs and their targets during ovarian development in small-tail Han sheep. These data clarify the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying sheep ovarian development and identify biomarkers that influence the reproductive performance of small-tail Han ewes.

Detecting selection signatures in three Iranian sheep breeds.

The objective of genome mapping is to achieve valuable insight into the connection between gene variants (genotype) and observed traits (phenotype). Part of that objective is to understand the selective forces that have operated on a population. Finding links between genotype-phenotype changes makes it possible to identify selective sweeps by patterns of genetic variation and linkage disequilibrium. Based on Illumina 50KSNP chip data, two approaches, XP-EHH (cross-population extend haplotype homozygosity) and FST (fixation index), were carried out in this research to identify selective sweeps in the genome of three Iranian local sheep breeds: Baluchi (n=86), Lori-Bakhtiari (n=45) and Zel (n=45). Using both methods, 93 candidate genomic regions were identified as harboring putative selective sweeps. Bioinformatics analysis of the genomic regions showed that signatures of selection related to multiple candidate genes, such as HOXB9, HOXB13, ACAN, NPR2, TRIL, AOX1, CSF2, GHR, TNS2, SPAG8, HINT2, ALS2, AAAS, RARG, SYCP2, CAV1, PPP1R3D, PLA2G7, TTLL7 and C20orf10, that play a role in skeletal system and tail, sugar and energy metabolisms, growth, reproduction, immune and nervous system traits. Our findings indicated diverse genomic selection during the domestication of Iranian sheep breeds.

Prevalence of Ovine Fasciolosis in Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Center, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Center (DBARC) to estimate the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis, and to assess the associated risk factors for the disease. Sedimentation technique was employed to detect fasciola eggs during the study period. A total of 121 faecal samples were examined, in which 85(70.2%) were found to be positive for fasciolosis. Breed wise study was conducted and 57.6%, 35.3%, and 7.1% prevalence’s were recorded for Local, Cross and Exotic sheep breeds, respectively. The difference in the prevalence of the disease among breeds was statistically significant (X2=32.277; df=2; p=0.000).

Dorper sheep cross breeding with Indigenous sheep breed in Ethiopia

The objective of this review paper was to review dorper sheep cross breeding with indigenous sheep breed in Ethiopia. The paper reviewed and discussed the history of dorper breed introduction, research and development efforts in crossbreeding and their performance under on-station and on-farm management. Formal survey on farmers perception on Dorper cross sheep indicated that the crossbred dorper sheep have non selective feed behavior and excellent in meat production under farmer`s management. On other study showed that dorper sheep was not meet farmer interest in breeding sheep aspect because of black coat color. The performance of indigenous sheep and their crosses with Dorper varied as per the location, management, farming conditions and percentage of exotic blood level inheritance. Different research output by team of researchers on farm and on station performance evaluation of dorper indicated that crossbreds often outperformed their local contemporaries. Under on farm condition, body weight at different ages was significantly higher in 50% Dorper crosses as compared to their 25% and75% counter parts.On station birth weight of Dorper (3.39 3.8 kg) better than crossbreed (3.0 3.24 ± 0.04 kg) and local sheep (2.36 2.77 kg), respectively.While the mean weaning weight (14 16 kg) and yearling weight (26.95 32.43 ± 0.46 kg) of 50% Dorper crossbreed was better than indigenous sheep breeds. However, crossbred ewes and local sheep breeds did not differ in litter size. Dorper crosses with Afar under on station is not economically important due to lower weight in all aspects. Crossbreeding programs of dorper with indigenous sheep require strong research and development support from public service and non-governmental institutions for sustainable design, optimization, and implementation in clearly defined production environments.

Current genetic diversity in eight local Chinese sheep populations.

China has numerous local domestic sheep breeds. In this study, the genetic diversity of eight sheep populations was estimated using 17 microsatellites. Knowledge of such diversity provides novel insight into the degree of breed protection needed and the prediction of hybrid advantage. In total, 17 microsatellites were genotyped in 186 individuals from eight populations. The mean number of alleles (± SD) ranged from 3.71 ± 1.36 in Zhaotong sheep to 11.94 ± 3.58 in small-tailed Han sheep. The observed heterozygote frequency (± SD) within a population ranged from 0.482 ± 0.025 in Zhaotong sheep to 0.664 ± 0.023 in Tibetan sheep. In addition, using pairwise difference (FST) analysis, the highest within-population diversity was observed in Tibetan sheep (πX = 12.8098) and small-tailed Han (πX = 12.67873), and the lowest diversity was observed in Zhaotong sheep (πX = 7.90337). The results for genetic divergence between populations indicated that the populations were significantly different (P < 0.05) based on the average number of pairwise differences between populations (πXY) and the corrected average pairwise differences. Both phylogenetic networks and structure analysis showed that these eight populations were separated into three clusters in accordance with their geographical habitat, except Tibetan and Hu sheep. In short, we genotyped eight local Chinese sheep populations using 17 microsatellites, and the results indicated that their current genetic diversity is decreasing and that new conservation strategies are needed. In addition, significant genetic differences between populations could be used in cross breeding.

PSVI-38 Whole-genome SNP study of Kyrgyz local sheep breeds reveals two different ancestry patterns.

PSVI-38 Whole-genome SNP study of Kyrgyz local sheep breeds reveals two different ancestry patterns.

Microsatellite-Based Genetic Structure and Diversity of Local Arabian Sheep Breeds.

The genetic diversity of the sheep breeds in the Arab countries might be considered to be a mirror of the ecology of the region. In this study, the genetic structure and diversity of sheep breeds from Saudi Arabia (Harri, Najdi, Naemi, Arb, and Rufidi) and Awassi sheep from Jordan as an out-group were investigated using 19 microsatellites. All the breeds had high intra-population genetic diversity expressed as allelic number (7.33) and richness (2.9) and, expected heterozygosity (0.77). Structure analysis revealed three main gene pools underlying the ancestral genetic diversity of the study populations. The first pool had Harri, Najdi, and Rufidi breeds; the second had Naemi and Awassi breeds, and the third had the Arb breed which was significantly differentiated from the other breeds. Factorial correspondence analysis lent further support to the presence of the three gene pools. Although the outgroup Awassi sheep was more clearly differentiated, it still genetically close to Naemi sheep. The differentiation of the Arb breed could have been resulted from geographic and reproductive isolation. On the other hand, the genetic structure of the other two gene pools could be the result of the past and recent gene flow between individuals reared in the region known to be the center for animal husbandry and trading until the current time.

Genetic diversity and population structure of local and exotic sheep breeds in Jordan using microsatellites markers.

Aim:This study was conducted to study the genetic and population structure of local (Awassi) and exotic (Romanov, Charollais, Assaf, Awassi, and Suffolk) sheep breeds in Jordan using eight microsatellite markers.Materials and Methods:A total of 125 sheep were used (25 from each breed) in the study. The number of alleles (A), the mean values of observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), fixation index as a measure of heterozygote deficiency or excess, and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were analyzed using PopGen and CERVUS softwares. Nei’s standard genetic distances among breeds and dendrogram of unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) were calculated and constructed using PopGen software.Results:A total of 40 alleles were detected with an average number of alleles of 5. The mean Ho value was higher than the mean He value for all breeds. Awassi breed showed the highest average PIC value while Romanov had the lowest. There was a significant (p<0.05) deviation from HWE at each locus within and between breeds. Deviations from HWE were found to be highly significant for all markers except OARFCP304 locus. The genetic distance estimates revealed a close relationship between Romanov and Charollais and between Awassi and Charollais. In the UPGMA dendrogram, Charollais, Romanov, and Awassi breeds were placed together in one main cluster while Assaf was in a different subcluster. Awassi was placed alone in a second main cluster.Conclusion:Results of this study offer insight toward the genetic conservation of the studied breeds and a base on which breeding plans can be made.

Population structure and genetic diversity of 25 Russian sheep breeds based on whole-genome genotyping

BackgroundRussia has a diverse variety of native and locally developed sheep breeds with coarse, fine, and semi-fine wool, which inhabit different climate zones and landscapes that range from hot deserts to harsh northern areas. To date, no genome-wide information has been used to investigate the history and genetic characteristics of the extant local Russian sheep populations. To infer the population structure and genome-wide diversity of Russian sheep, 25 local breeds were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip. Furthermore, to evaluate admixture contributions from foreign breeds in Russian sheep, a set of 58 worldwide breeds from publicly available genotypes was added to our data.ResultsWe recorded similar observed heterozygosity (0.354–0.395) and allelic richness (1.890–1.955) levels across the analyzed breeds and they are comparable with those observed in the worldwide breeds. Recent effective population sizes estimated from linkage disequilibrium five generations ago ranged from 65 to 543. Multi-dimensional scaling, admixture, and neighbor-net analyses consistently identified a two-step subdivision of the Russian local sheep breeds. A first split clustered the Russian sheep populations according to their wool type (fine wool, semi-fine wool and coarse wool). The Dagestan Mountain and Baikal fine-fleeced breeds differ from the other Merino-derived local breeds. The semi-fine wool cluster combined a breed of Romanian origin, Tsigai, with its derivative Altai Mountain, the two Romney-introgressed breeds Kuibyshev and North Caucasian, and the Lincoln-introgressed Russian longhaired breed. The coarse-wool group comprised the Nordic short-tailed Romanov, the long-fat-tailed outlier Kuchugur and two clusters of fat-tailed sheep: the Caucasian Mountain breeds and the Buubei, Karakul, Edilbai, Kalmyk and Tuva breeds. The Russian fat-tailed breeds shared co-ancestry with sheep from China and Southwestern Asia (Iran).ConclusionsIn this study, we derived the genetic characteristics of the major Russian local sheep breeds, which are moderately diverse and have a strong population structure. Pooling our data with a worldwide genotyping set gave deeper insight into the history and origin of the Russian sheep populations.

MiRNA-seq reveals that miR-124-3p inhibits adipogenic differentiation of the stromal vascular fraction in sheep via targeting C/EBPα

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding 20–25 nt RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by posttranscriptional repression of messenger RNA. There have been few investigations on the profiles and functions of miRNAs in ovine subcutaneous fat; their roles in the metabolism and deposition of subcutaneous fat also remain unclear. In this study, small RNA libraries were constructed for 2 important Chinese local sheep breeds, Small-tailed Han Sheep, and Shanxi Meat Sheep Dam Line, and used for high-throughput sequencing. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, revealing the effect of miR-124-3p on adipogenic differentiation by targeting C/EBPα. Our results provide both a comprehensive understanding of miRNA expression patterns in sheep subcutaneous fat and an insight into the specific roles of miRNAs in adipogenesis.

Genetic Characterization of Kazakh Native Sheep Breeds Using Mitochondrial DNA

In this study, we used mitochondrial (mt) DNA to reveal patterns of genetic diversity among six breeds of sheep native to Kazakhstan, including the Chu and Kalchengel types of Kazakh mutton-semifine-wool breed of sheep, Akzhayik, Edilbay, Kazakh fat-rumped semi-course-wool and South Kazakh Merino breeds. Mitochondrial DNA D-loop was studied in 64 samples to determine the genetic diversity of the local sheep breeds. The analysis identified 54 haplotypes and 113 polymorphic loci of mtDNA D-loop. For the studied breeds, haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.993±0.005 and 0.039±0.001, respectively. The results indicated higher level of nucleotide diversity in the South Kazakh Merino (SKM) breed (0.047), while the lowest diversity was observed in the Edilbay breed (0.029). In addition, the average number of nucleotide differences (Kxy) and the average number of nucleotide substitutions (Dxy) were determined among the studied breeds. The minimal value of genetic distance was observed between Akzhayik mutton-wool and Kazakh fat-rumped semi-course-wool breeds (Kxy: 16.956 and Dxy: 0.039), while the maximum value was observed between the Edilbay and SKM breeds (Kxy: 24.600 and Dxy: 0.040). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of three haplogroups, namely, A, B and C in the collected sample, while the haplogroups D and E were not found. The results indicated that 28 of 64 tested animals belong to haplogroup A (43.75%), whereas 25 of investigated animals were attributed to haplogroup B (39.06%) and 11 animals to haplogroup C (17.19%).

Seasonal Variation on the Fatty Acids Profile, Thrombogenic and Athrogenic Indices of Raw Milk Samples from Cow and Sheep Breeds from Kano State, Nigeria

This study was aimed to compare the fatty acids profile, thrombogenic and atherogenic health indices of the raw milk from local cow and sheep breeds raised among Fulani herdsmen managed under semi-intensive husbandry system in Challawa industrial area within Kano metropolitan of Kano State, North West Nigeria. Fatty acids were derivatized following the Official Methods of the American Oil Chemists’ Society with modifications. Raw milk of cow breeds contained higher percentage composition of C 14:0 and C 16:0 , while raw milk from sheep breed contained higher percentage composition of C 4:0 , C 18:0 , and C 18:3 . The percentage compositions were highest during rainy season (RS) in comparison to dry season (DS) in all the breeds. Raw milk of cow breeds showed that C 14:0 , C 16:0 and C 18:3 were significantly highest in Red Bororo cow (RBC) and lowest in White Fulani cow (WFC). However, C 4:0 , C 6:0 , C 10:0 , C 12:0 , C 18:0 , C 18:1 and C 18:2 were significantly highest in WFC and lowest in sokoto Gudali cow (SGC). Total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) was highest during RS (62.70 – 66.83%) and lowest during DS (59.59 – 63.55%). Result of the analysis of the percentage fatty acids composition of the raw milk of sheep breeds showed that C 4:0 , C 6:0 , C 8:0 , C 10:0 , C 12:0 , C 18:0 , C 18:1 , C 18:2 , and C 18:3 were significantly (P MUFA > PUFA. The ratio of n-6/n-3 of cow and sheep breeds were (1.31 – 2.19), (1.78 – 2.31) and (1.78 – 2.31), similarly the value of AI and TI for cow and sheep breeds in the present study were within the recommended level for health safety except for sheep breeds which is higher. Raw milk from WFC and BS had the highest percentage fatty acid composition and higher value of health indices which indicate that WFC and BS had higher risk of ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as coronary heart disease and cancer. Keywords : breeds, fatty acid, thrombogenity, atherogenity

Research Article Research Article Identification and phylogentic analysis of sheep pox during an outbreak of sheep in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Sheeppox virus (SPPV) is one of the listed and notifiable disease affect sheep production with major effect on the trade of new breed of sheep. This study was conducted to identify sheep pox by using cell culture, electron microscope (EM) and open reading frame (ORF) 103 gene during an outbreak of local breed of sheep occurred in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt in April 2017. Affected adult sheep showed typical skin pox lesion on face, the inner side of lips, inner aspect of the thigh and under the tail. The incidence rate of infection was 23.5% and the mortality rate in young lambs aged 3 to 6 months old was 8.2%. Forty-three scabs and tissue samples from clinically diseased adult sheep and dead lambs were collected and subjected to culture on Vero cell. The cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed within 3 to 7 days in 40 samples. A typical Poxvirus was a brick-like shape with round ends by negative staining of EM and ovoid like structure with dumb-bell shaped DNA core with concave bodies sides by positive staining of EM. By conventional PCR utilizing ORF103 gene and obtained bands of about 570 bp referred to SPPV. The sequence amplicon was analyzed by NCBI-BLAST and register in GeneBank under accession N. MG873537 and phylogentic tree was designed which revealed that the isolated strain of SPPV was resembled with other strains of SPPV isolated in Egypt, India, China, and USA. Finally, both EM and PCR are considered as sensitives, rapids, and powerful methods to identify SPPV from tissue and scab’s samples without the need of further culture in addition to the useful and easily use of ORF103 gene to differentiate SPPV from other Capripoxvirus.

The densities of fiber follicles in the Karakaç, Norduz, and Zom sheep and a comparative analysis

This study aimed to determine the densities of fiber follicles in the skin of the Karaka§, Norduz, and Zom sheep breeds and to carry out a comparative analysis between them. The study included a total of 36 animals aged 1-2 years and 3-4 years. Skin samples were obtained through biopsies taken from the right sides of the animals to determine the densities and ratios of the fleece follicles. Examination of these samples revealed that the primary follicle densities of the three sheep breeds (Karaka§, Norduz and Zom) were 3.11 ± 0.42, 3.14 ± 0.49 and 3.34 ± 0.59, while the secondary follicle densities were 8.42 ± 1.48, 8.51 ± 1.54 and 6.36 ± 1.44. The secondary to primary (S/P) follicle ratios of the sheep were 2.71 ± 0.70, 2.79 ± 0.69 and 1.85 ± 0.36, respectively. The primary follicle densities of the Karaka§, Norduz and Zom sheep were statistically similar for both age groups. The density of secondary follicles and S/P ratio decreased with age in both age groups. The similarity of the S/P ratios to those from other local sheep breeds suggest that Karaka§, Norduz, Zom sheep can be included in the sheep group that has coarse fleece.