Mutton Production Research Articles

Productive traits of sheep of Prikatun breeding type under the conditions of the Altai Republic

The main number of sheep in the Russian Federation is currently concentrated in peasant (farmer) and personal farms, where the level of breeding work is often very low. Despite this, there is a huge reserve of mutton production in these categories of farms. The purpose of the work was to study the productive traits of sheep of Prikatun breeding type of Mountain Altai breed under the conditions of peasant (farmer) farms in the Altai Republic. The experimental part of the research was carried out on the basis of the farm “Usoltseva N. A.” in the Ust-Kansky area in the Altai Republic. The object of the study were the mature ewes sheep of Prikatun breeding type of Mountain Altai breed, their off spring aged from birth, 4 and 6 months, before slaughter, as well as carcasses obtained during slaughter. Under the conditions of the Altai Republic with year-round pasture content in sheep of Prikatun breeding type of Mountain Altai breed a complex study of milk productivity and the chemical composition of sheep’s milk was carried out. New data on the eff ect of age, live weight, prolifi cacy, polymastia, off spring sex and morphometric measurements of the udder on the milk production of sheep have been obtained. The infl uence of the level of milk content of sheep of Prikatun breeding type of Mountain Altai breed on the growth, development and meat productivity of lambs has been studied. It was found that lambs received from mothers with high milk capacity had a higher growth rate in all the studied age periods. The young animals of this group were characterized by better meat productivity and as a result had a higher level of profi tability, which amounted to 53,35 %. Taking into account the infl uence of the level of milk production of ewes of Prikatun breeding type on the growth and development of lambs, we recommend that peasant (farmer) farms of the Altai Republic, in order to increase the production of mutton, select ewes for the fi rst 20 days of lactation with a milk yield of at least 21 kg of milk.

Перспективы развития, конкурентные преимущества и интеграция развития овцеводства Забайкальского края и Республики Бурятия в Дальневосточном Федеральном округе

The article shows the prospects and great potential opportunities for the development of sheep breeding in the Trans- Baikal Territory and Republic of Buryatia in the Far Eastern Federal District (Far Eastern Federal District), the leading position of these regions in the presence of sheep. In the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Republic Buryatia is concentrated, respectively, 57% and 36% (93% in total) of the sheep population. Thus, there are significant competitive advantages in the development of the industry, the production of mutton and wool within the Far Eastern Federal District. The necessity of integration and joint actions of the above-mentioned regions is substantiated, proposals are formulated and made in The Ministry of Agriculture in the Russian Federation, to other executive and legislative au‑ thorities for the development of sheep breeding.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of GH, LEP, MSTN genes with growth characteristics in meat-wool and wool sheep

The main trend in the development of sheep breeding in the last decade all over the world has become a constant increase in the production of mutton. This study was designed to study polymorphisms of genes GH, LEP, MSTN in two breeds of North Caucasian Meat-Wool and Soviet Merino sheep in Russia, as well as to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with growth traits to improve the genetic potential of sheep. Parts of the GH, LEP, MSTN genes were amplified in North Caucasian Meat-Wool and Soviet Merino sheep to identify SNPs by Sanger sequencing and using a polymerase chain reaction protocol. These genotypes were correlated with meat traits such as birth weight, growth rate, weaning weight. Genetic and variance analysis of the data obtained was also carried out. Sheep age and parity had a significant effect (p <0.05) on birth weight, growth rate and weaning weight. Sequencing revealed missense mutations in the somatotropin, leptin and myostatin genes in the structure of the sheep genome of the studied breeds. Missense mutations of the GH gene (c.476G> A) and the LEP gene (c.541G> T), as well as a synonymous replacement of the MSTN gene (c. 212C> A), were revealed. According to the results of studies in the North Caucasian Meat-Wool sheep, three GHCC, GHCT, GHTT genotypes for the GH gene and three LEPGG, LEPGT, LEP?? genotypes for LEP were identified. The studied region of the MSTN gene in sheep of the North Caucasian meat and wool breed turned out to be monomorphic. According to the results of studies in Soviet Merino sheep, three genotypes GHCC, GHCT, GHTT for the GH gene, three genotypes MSTN??, MSTN??, MSTN?? for the MSTN gene, two genotypes LEPGG, LEPGT for the LEP gene were established. The analysis of associations showed a significant effect (p <0.05) of the GH?? and LEPGT genotypes on the signs of sheep growth. Interestingly, the presence of the T-allele in sheep of the North Caucasian Meat-Wool breed tended to increase in weight during weaning (+2.2 kg) both for the GH gene and for the LEP gene (+ 1.6 kg). Interestingly, similar results were observed in sheep of the Soviet Merino breed, where the missense mutation led to an increase in weaning weight (+ 1.2 kg) for the GH gene and for the LEP gene (+1.3 kg). A synonymous MSTN gene substitution does not lead to a substitution of the coding amino acid, but may further lead to gene expression. The GH, LEP, and MSTN genes are proposed markers for improving growth traits in meat-wool and wool sheep, which will increase the ability to understand the genetic architecture of the genes underlying SNPs that influence such traits.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПЕРЕРАБОТКИ БАРАНИНЫ

Modern animal husbandry imposes increasingly stringent requirements for assessing the productivity of animals, therefore, an urgent task is to increase the indicators of meat productivity. The study of the economic and biological characteristics of sheep and the rational use of their genetic potential in the production of competitive mutton and its processed products is characterized by relevance and requires extensive study and scientific and industrial justification. The development of functional food products of a new generation is an innovative direction in the food industry, which is of extremely important practical importance and social efficiency. An increase in the degree of adequacy and balance of the composition of food products can be achieved only due to their multicomponence. On the basis of theoretical generalizations and experimental studies in the laboratory of molecular genetic expertise and at the Department of Food Technologies of the Don State Agrarian University, technological aspects of improving the efficiency of processing lamb meat have been developed, allowing for a scientifically sound way to carry out the process of regulating the composition and properties of functional food products in the process of their production. The evaluation of slaughter indicators, the analysis of functional and technological properties of sheep meat of the Soviet Merino breed was carried out. The dose of introducing the protein module to the level of VUS and ZHUS of model minced meat was determined, and subsequently a recipe for cutlets with the introduction of a protein module was developed. An organoleptic evaluation of the control and test sample was carried out, and the content of amino acids was also studied. The objects of the study were minced meat systems based on minced lamb of the Soviet merino breed of the Hashun type, as well as chopped semi-finished products with the introduction of a multicomponent protein mixture into the formulation. Thus, the formulation and characteristics of the nutritional value of chopped semi-finished products based on lamb, with a multicomponent protein mixture for functional nutrition, have been developed.

МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ СОСТАВ И СООТНОШЕНИЕ ТКАНЕЙ В ТУШЕ БАРАНЧИКОВ РОМАНОВСКОЙ ПОРОДЫ И ЕЕ ПОМЕСЕЙ С ЭДИЛЬБАЕВСКОЙ ПОРОДОЙ

The article presents the results of crossing Romanov sheep with Edilbaev sheep in the production of young mutton. It was found that due to the eff ect of crossing, the crossbreeds of the fi rst generation (½ Romanovskaya × ½ edilbai) and the second generation (¼ Romanovskaya × ¾ edilbai) were distinguished by a higher yield of the edible part of the carcass, the meat content coeffi cient, the yield of carcass pulp per 1 kg of pre-slaughter live weight, a better ratio of edible and inedible parts and a muscle-fat ratio in compared with purebred youngsters of the Romanov breed.

ҚАЗАҚТЫҢ ҚҰЙРЫҚТЫ ҚОЙ ТҰҚЫМЫНЫҢ ӨНІМДІЛІК БЕЛГІЛЕРІМЕН БАЙЛАНЫСҚАН КАНДИДАТ-ГЕНДЕРДІҢ АЛЛЕЛЬДІК ПОЛИМОРФИЗМІ

In recent years, research aimed at developing breeding methods based on the use of DNA markers associated with the level of productivity has become particularly important. The introduction of this technology into the domestic production of mutton is on urgent task of great practical importance for the development of this industry. In this regard, the goal was set to study the polymorphism of the alleles of growth hormone (GH2), insulin-like growth factor (IGF1), myostatin (MSTN), and fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) genes associated with the productivity of Kazakh fat-tailed sheep. Blood samples were used to study animal DNA. The analysis of polymorphism in genes was carried out with the help of test systems that were specially designed to carry out research work in the laboratory of Molecular Bases of Breeding of the All-Russian institute of Animal Husbandry named after L.K. Ernst (Russia). During the study of polymorphic sistems of blood proteins, the degree of differentiation of the genetic structures of the Kazakh fat-tailed breed by alleles and genotypes of polymorphic proteins was determined. As a result of testing, it was revealed that in the population of Kazakh fat-tailed sheep, the GH2 and IGF1 genes are polymorphic and the MSTN and FABP4 genes are monomorphic. Identification of candidate genes associated with signs of meat productivity of the Kazakh fat-tailed breed can be used to develop marker breeding programs, the use of which in practice can significantly improve the efficiency of breeding work.

Increasing the meat productivity of young sheep based on the use of the gene pool of the Dorper and Hissar breeds.

In the pursuit of enhanced mutton production, improving the genetic reservoir of sheep with early maturation and high meat productivity is imperative. This study aims to assess the efficacy of integrating Dorper and Hissar rams into the breeding program of Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-haired ewes for generating young mutton. The research involved forming three groups, each comprising 40 ewes of the Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-haired breed, based on analog pairs. Ewes in Group I were inseminated with Dorper ram semen, those in Group II were inseminated with Hissar ram semen, and Group III served as a control with purebred Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-haired sheep breeding. Results revealed that crossbred rams in Group II achieved a significantly higher live weight of 45.2 kg at 120 days of age, surpassing the other groups by 9.7 kg and 10.6 kg. Crossbred gimmers in Group II reached a live weight of 42.0 kg by 4 months, outpacing the other groups by 12.2 kg. The crossbred lambs exhibited an expansive, deep, and sturdy physique, indicative of elevated meat productivity. Physique index analysis displayed that crossbred rams exhibited elongated limbs, bulkiness, and massiveness compared to purebred Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-haired lambs. In the 4.0-4.5-month age range, crossbred rams demonstrated a higher carcass muscle yield than their purebred counterparts, albeit the latter exhibited a 0.18% greater bone yield. Moreover, the meat of groups I and II sheep contained 19.6% and 20.1% protein content, respectively, surpassing the local Kazakh fat-tailed sheep population by 0.7% and 1.2% in absolute terms.

Effects of Sheep Sires on Muscle Fiber Characteristics, Fatty Acid Composition and Volatile Flavor Compounds in F1 Crossbred Lambs.

Crossbreeding significantly improves meat production performance in sheep; however, whether hybridization changes the meat quality characteristics of lambs is uncertain. We analyzed the effects of three different hybrid sires on muscle fiber characteristics (MFCs), fatty acid composition (FAC), and volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) in lambs under identical feeding conditions. Compared with those of purebred lambs, the muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional areas of the crossbred lambs were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and the collagen fiber content was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The numbers and area ratios of the fast and slow muscle fibers did not significantly differ between the purebred and crossbred lambs, but the expressions of four MyHC gene types differed significantly (p < 0.05). Twenty-three fatty acids were identified in both the purebred and crossbred lambs, of which thirteen were differentially expressed (p < 0.05). Saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents in the crossbred lambs were significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas the monounsaturated fatty acid content was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Polyunsaturated fatty acid/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios were significantly lower in the crossbred lambs than in the purebred lambs (p < 0.05). Twenty-five VFCs were identified among the three hybrids, and aldehydes were the main VFCs. Eleven VFCs were differentially expressed in the crossbred lambs (p < 0.05). Hybrid sires affected the MFCs, FAC, and VFCs of the F1 lambs, thus providing a reference for high-quality mutton production.

Non-genetic factors affecting the meat quality and flavor of Inner Mongolian lambs: A review.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ranks first among the five major pastoral areas in terms of lamb breeding of China. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has a vast territory, with many famous grasslands and thousands of forage plants and multiple local high-quality lamb breeds. After hundreds of years of artificial breeding and improvement, Mongolian sheep have developed many varieties. Different diets, feeding and treatment methods have effects on the production performance, lipid deposition and flavor composition of mutton sheep. Therefore, understanding the relationship among Inner Mongolian lamb, meat quality, and flavor will improve the production of high-quality mutton. The regulation of meat quality and flavor will have a profound impact on the deep processing and income-generating capabilities of mutton. Non-genetic factors affect the quality and flavor of mutton, which are more intuitive than genetic factors. In this review, we cover the contributions made by scientists to explore and improve the quality and flavor of Inner Mongolia lambs through non-genetic means, compare the differences between grazing and drylot-feeding in detail, and summarize some feed additives. We hope that based on our review, we can provide some inspiration to improve the meat quality of Mongolian sheep.

Applications of lipidomics in goat meat products: Biomarkers, structure, nutrition interface and future perspectives

Goat meat, as a superior product including low lipids, low cholesterol contents and high-quality proteins, becomes the superior food for the national market. With the increasing demand for goat meat, the production, sensory quality and physicochemical properties of goat meat are also widely observed. Following significant discoveries on the mechanism determining goat meat quality, further research on complex and interactive factors leading to changes of goat meat quality is increasingly based on data-driven “omics” methods, such as lipidomics, which can rapidly identify and quantify >1000 lipid species at same time facilitating comprehensive analyses of lipids in tissues. Molecular mechanism and biomarkers indicating the changes of goat meat quality, authentication, meat analogue, nutrition and health by lipidomics are feasible. According to the analysis results of the classes and of different biomarkers lipids of goat meat quality, the main processes involved the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, associations with lipids and proteins, lipid oxidation, lipid hydrolysis, lipid degradation, lipid deposition and lipid denaturation, which have been translated into advanced technologies for identifying the goat meat adulteration and faux meat rapidly and accurately. SignificanceIn this review, the research of lipidomics technology, past applications, recent findings and common on the recent advances of lipidomics in the quality assessment of mutton products by lipidomics with MS approaches have been summarized. The information reported in review can serve as a reference to characterize the lipids found in mutton, clarify the application of lipidomics to the field of mutton products and provide new perspectives in producing superior quality mutton products.

Detection and Quantification of Adulterated Beef and Mutton Products by Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR.

In order to seek high profit, businesses mix beef and mutton with cheap meat, such as duck, pork, and chicken. Five pairs of primers were designed for quintuple droplet digital PCR (qddPCR) of specific genomic regions from five selected species and specificity and amplification efficiency were determined. The mixed DNA template with an equal copy number was used for detecting the accuracy and limit of multiplex PCR. The results showed that the primers and probes of the five selected species had good specificity with the minimum number of detection copies: 0.15 copies/µL beef (Bos taurus), 0.28 copies/μL duck (Anas platyrhynchos), 0.37 copies/μL pork (Sus scrofa), 0.39 copies/μL chicken (Gallus gallus), and 0.41 copies/μL mutton (Ovis aries), respectively. The five sets of primers and probes could quickly judge whether the specified meat components existed in the food commodities.

Molecular detection and identification of three intracellular parasites of retail mutton products in Beijing, China.

Sarcocystis spp., Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are globally ubiquitous pathogens, and domestic sheep are considered to be one of the intermediate hosts. 83 myocardial samples of sheep were collected from 12 retail stores in Beijing, China. Sarcocystis spp., N. caninum and T. gondii were identified by PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene, Nc-5 gene and 529bp DNA fragment with a prevalence of 86.7% (95% CI: 77.5–93.2) and 43.4% (95% CI: 32.5–54.7) for Sarcocystis spp. and N. caninum infections, respectively, and no T. gondii was detected. The co-infection prevalence of Sarcocystis and N. caninum was 38.6% (95% CI: 28.1–49.9). Two Sarcocystis species were subtyped by analyzing 18SrRNA sequences and were identified as Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis arieticanis. The prevalence of S. tenella and S. arieticanis infections was 84.3% (95% CI: 74.7–91.4) and 56.6% (95% CI: 45.3–67.5), respectively. This study shows that sheep have a high risk of infection with Sarcocystis and N. caninum, suggests that effective prevention measures are needed to avoid the spread of these parasites in sheep. Toxoplasmosis in sheep poses a threat to human and animal health and requires monitoring and preventing continuously.

Association between rumen microbiota and marbling grade in Hu sheep.

The marbling fat regulates the flavor of mutton and measures the fat density in the loin eye and is the most important parameter of carcass grading. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship of rumen microbiota and mutton marbling grade. One hundred and eighty-seven feedlot-finished Hu male lambs (Age: 180 day; Final BW: 46.32 ± 6.03 kg) were slaughtered, and ruminal contents and marbling grade were collected. Ruminal microbial DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to investigate microbial composition and to predict microbial metabolic pathways. The animal cohort was then grouped based on marbling grades [low marbling (LM), marbling grade ≤ 1; Medium marbling (MM), 1 < marbling grade ≤ 3; High Marbling (HM), 3 < marbling grade ≤ 5] and intramuscular fat-associated microorganisms were pinpointed using LEfSe and random forest classification model. Intramuscular fat content had significantly differences among the three groups (P < 0.05), and was significantly correlated with VFAs profiling. HM sheep showed a higher abundance of one bacterial taxon (Kandleria), and two taxa were overrepresented in the MM sheep (Pseudobutyrivibrio and Monoglobus), respectively. In addition, the main intramuscular fat deposition pathway was found to involve peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) fatty acid synthesis. By studying the effect of the ruminal microbiome on the marbling of sheep, the present study provides insights into the production of high-quality mutton.

Metabolomics approach reveals high energy diet improves the quality and enhances the flavor of black Tibetan sheep meat by altering the composition of rumen microbiota.

This study aims to determine the impact of dietary energy levels on rumen microbial composition and its relationship to the quality of Black Tibetan sheep meat by applying metabolomics and Pearson's correlation analyses. For this purpose, UHPLC-QTOF-MS was used to identify the metabolome, whereas 16S rDNA sequencing was used to detect the rumen microbiota. Eventually, we observed that the high energy diet group (HS) improved the carcass quality of Black Tibetan sheep and fat deposition in the longissimus lumborum (LL) compared to the medium energy diet group (MS). However, HS considerably increased the texture, water holding capacity (WHC), and volatile flavor of the LL when compared to that of MS and the low energy diet group (LS). Metabolomics and correlation analyses revealed that dietary energy levels mainly affected the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids of the LL, which consequently influenced the content of volatile flavor compounds (VOCs) and fats. Furthermore, HS increased the abundance of Quinella, Ruminococcus 2, (Eubacterium) coprostanoligenes, and Succinivibrionaceae UCG-001, all of which participate in the carbohydrate metabolism in rumen and thus influence the metabolite levels (stachyose, isomaltose, etc.) in the LL. Overall, a high-energy diet is desirable for the production of Black Tibetan sheep mutton because it improves the mouthfeel and flavor of meat by altering the composition of rumen microbiota, which influences the metabolism in the LL.

Association of GH gene polymorphism with meat quality traits in meat and wool sheep

Increasing the productivity and effi ciency of lamb production is a key factor in the competitiveness of the meat sheep industry. Therefore, in order to conduct sheep breeding more effectively it is necessary to apply new approaches to increase and improve the quality of products.Considerable interest are modern technologies involving the use of DNA markers, which are widely used in national breeding programs of a number of countries with developed animal husbandry and have a signifi cant impact on improving productivity indicators. A significant number of genes associated with meat productivity and meat quality have been identifi ed. However, in sheep breeding, information about the main genes or loci that affect the growth characteristics and productive traits of sheep is relatively limited. Due to the growing interest in the production of young mutton and lamb, priority is given to the study of genes that control meat productivity. The greatest interests are studies on the evaluation of the polymorphism of the growth hormone (GH) gene, which controls growth and development, as well as infl uencing the meat productivity of sheep. In this regard, the purpose of this work was research aimed at fi nding associations between polymorphic variants of the growth hormone gene and the qualitative characteristics of meat in meat and wool sheep of the genotype ½ Poll Dorset × ½ North Caucasian Meat and Wool breed bred in the Stavropol Territory. The data obtained when studying the histostructure of the m. Longissimus dorsi, depending on the genotypes of GH gene, indicate that the muscle tissue in individuals with AB and BB genotypes was characterized by a large number of muscle fi bers by 5,7 and 6,4 %, their smaller diameter by 7,6 and 9,2 %, and a lower content of connective tissue compared to animals with the genotype AA of GH gene.

Dietary and Food Consumption Patterns and Their Associated Factors in the Tibetan Plateau Population: Results from 73 Counties with Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Tibet, China.

Dietary imbalances are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, both in China and globally. Abnormal element content in the natural environment and the unbalanced dietary structure of populations coexist in the Tibetan Plateau. This study analyzed the dietary and food consumption patterns of 617 Tibetan residents and their associated factors. Cluster analysis revealed three modes of dietary pattern; the food consumption scores (FCSs) of subjects in modes with relatively high consumption frequency of staple food and relatively singular dietary structure were the lowest. Although the FCSs of most subjects were acceptable (FCS > 35), subjects with relatively low FCSs were more dependent on locally cultivated highland barley that is probably low in selenium. Hierarchical linear models revealed both individual–family and regional factors were significantly related (p values < 0.05) with the food consumption of subjects as follows: age, travel time from township to county, and cultivation area of highland barley were negatively related; numbers of individuals aged 40–60 years and pork, beef, and mutton production were positively related. Individuals with secondary or higher education had higher FCSs. A single indicator may be incomprehensive in dietary and food consumption studies. For people with a relatively unbalanced diet, an analysis of the main foods they consume is critical. Dietary and food consumption patterns might have relatively large inter-regional and intra-regional variations; therefore, factors that influence it might be multi-level and multi-scale.

Genetic Basis of Dorper Sheep (Ovis aries) Revealed by Long-Read De Novo Genome Assembly.

Dorper sheep (Ovis aries) (DPS), developed in the 1930s by crossing Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian sheep in South Africa, is a world-famous composite breed for mutton production. The genetic basis underlying this breed is yet to be elucidated. Here, we report the sequencing and assembly of a highly contiguous Dorper sheep genome via integration of Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing and Hi-C (chromatin conformation capture) approaches. The assembled genome was around 2.64 Gb with a contig N50 of 73.33 Mb and 140 contigs in total. More than 99.5% of the assembled sequences could be anchored to 27 chromosomes and they were annotated with 20,450 protein-coding genes. Allele-specific expression (ASE) genes of Dorper sheep were revealed through ASE analysis and they were involved in the immune system, lipid metabolism, and environmental adaptation. A total of 5,701 and 456 allelic sites were observed in the SNP and indels loci identified from relevant whole-genome resequencing data. These allelic SNP and INDEL sites were annotated in 1,002 and 294 genes, respectively. Moreover, we calculated the number of variant sites and related genes derived from the maternal and paternal ancestors, revealing the genetic basis of outstanding phenotypic performance of Dorper sheep. In conclusion, this study reports the first reference genome of Dorper sheep and reveals its genetic basis through ASE. This study also provides a pipeline for mining genetic information of composite breeds, which has an implication for future hybrid-breeding practices.

Application of Environmentally Safe Bioelectrical Parameterization for the Assessment of Potential Multiple Pregnancy of Sheep and Offspring Growing Capacity

Functional state of the reproductive system of ewes, which determines their multiple pregnancy, is closely related to homeostatic processes, which can be assessed by the level of bioelectric potential of superficially localized biologically active centers (LBP of SLBACs). The purpose of the work is to develop a method for early diagnostics of multiple pregnancies in ewes, by studying the LBP of the SLBACs of ewes and their reproduction rate - multiple pregnancies, as well as studying the growing capacity of offsprings of young animals obtained from experienced ewes. The object of the study was ewes of the Romanov breed.As a result of the research and analysis of the data obtained, a straight-line relationship between the LBP of the SLBACs of ewes and their multiple pregnancies was established.The results of the control young sheep breeding of the Romanov breed obtained from the ewes with different LBP of SLBACs showed that the lambs obtained from the ewes with a low LBP of the SLBACs had the highest growing capacity. However, the ewes with a high biopotential level produce significantly more offspring, which allows increasing the level of mutton production and the profitability of the industry.On the basis of the data obtained, a method for early diagnosis of multiple pregnancies in sheep according to the LBP of the SLBACs of ewes before the mating campaign was developed.

Application of family-specific primers in multiplex real-time PCR for meat categories screening

Meat adulteration has been a quality issue in entire meat supply chain, which can harm consumers’ economic and health interests seriously. In order to prevent adulteration of mutton and reduce the cost of testing, three family-specific primers were designed and then a triplex real-time PCR method with melting curve analysis was developed, which could identify three meat categories simultaneously. The primers were designed from mitochondrial gene including 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA. The primer CMRC-Ovis/Capra3 can only recognize Ovis category including sheep and goat without recognizing other species. Similarly, primer CMRC-Canidae2 can only identify Canidae category including dog, fox and racoon-dog; and CMRC-Poultry3 can only identify poultry category including chicken, duck and goose respectively. The amplicons’ melting temperature of three categories were 72.45∼75.91 °C, 77.25∼78.76 °C and 84.58∼87.40 °C, respectively. The specificity, universality, detection limit and practicability were validated and the results showed that all family-specific primers have good specificity and universality. This method has low detection limit (0.001∼0.1 ng DNA), strong reproducibility, and good practicability, which indicated a good application prospect in the screening of adulterated species in mutton products.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПРИЕМЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРОИЗВОДСТВА БАРАНИНЫ НА ОСНОВЕ БИОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ МЕТОДОВ

The article presents and scientifically substantiates new approaches to the production of livestock raw materials and increasing the biological value of socially significant products based on modern biotechnological and molecular genetic methods, and proposed technologies for the production of functional foods. In order to increase the production volumes of the sheep breeding industry, it is necessary to use the genetic potential of breeds of domestic and foreign breeding, which affects the economic and biological characteristics and the level of animal productivity, to the maximum. We have studied the productive features of sheep of different genetic potential in the production of competitive mutton and products of its processing. According to the concept of the national technology initiative, the food industry until 2035 is tasked with the creation, production and sale of personalized and general, based on traditional raw materials and its substitutes, food products, using health-saving technologies, taking into account diseases, food allergies, types of professional activities, national traditions, thus increasing the production of meat products, expanding the range, increasing their biological value, as well as creating a new generation of products that meet the requirements of a healthy diet, are the actual tasks of the meat industry. The study was conducted at the Department of Food Technologies and Commodity Science of the Don State Agrarian University. Experimental samples were made containing different amounts of plant ingredients, the dose of germinated grain of legumes was established in the product, and the organoleptic evaluation was determined. On the basis of organoleptic and physico-chemical studies, a rational formulation of the product is proposed. The use of advanced technologies and developed recipes by meat industry enterprises will significantly expand the range of specialized functional food products and reduce their cost.