Sheep In Ireland Research Articles

The Potential for Hydrolysed Sheep Wool as a Sustainable Source of Fertiliser for Irish Agriculture

Suppressed wool prices in Ireland over the last number of years has led to situations where the cost of shearing animals is greater than the wools’ value, leading to net losses per animal for farmers. Populations of sheep in Ireland and nutrient values of wool from literature sources were used to determine the quantity of nutrients that could be produced on an annual basis using hydrolysis techniques. Results of this study suggest that up to 15.8% of the nitrogen required to produce Ireland’s cereal crops can be met annually using hydrolysed sheep wool in an economically feasible manner along with considerable amounts of sulphur, zinc, and copper. Most of the cost associated with the process is the purchasing of wool from farmers at an economically favourable level for farmers. Based on the spatial distribution of these animals, the town of Athlone is the most suitable location for a processing facility.

S0116 Genomic evaluations in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep in Ireland

S0116 Genomic evaluations in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep in Ireland

Rumen fluke in Irish sheep: prevalence, risk factors and molecular identification of two paramphistome species.

BackgroundRumen flukes are trematode parasites found globally; in tropical and sub-tropical climates, infection can result in paramphistomosis, which can have a deleterious impact on livestock. In Europe, rumen fluke is not regarded as a clinically significant parasite, recently however, the prevalence of rumen fluke has sharply increased and several outbreaks of clinical paramphistomosis have been reported. Gaining a better understanding of rumen fluke transmission and identification of risk factors is crucial to improve the control of this parasitic disease. In this regard, a national prevalence study of rumen fluke infection and an investigation of associated risk factors were conducted in Irish sheep flocks between November 2014 and January 2015. In addition, a molecular identification of the rumen fluke species present in Ireland was carried out using an isolation method of individual eggs from faecal material coupled with a PCR. After the DNA extraction of 54 individual eggs, the nuclear fragment ITS-2 was amplified and sequenced using the same primers.ResultsAn apparent herd prevalence of 77.3 % was determined. Several risk factors were identified including type of pasture grazed, regional variation, and sharing of the paddocks with other livestock species. A novel relationship between the Suffolk breed and higher FEC was reported for the first time. The predominant rumen fluke species found was C. daubneyi. Nevertheless, P. leydeni was unexpectedly identified infecting sheep in Ireland for the first time.ConclusionsAn exceptionally high prevalence of rumen fluke among Irish sheep flocks has been highlighted in this study and a more thorough investigation is necessary to analyse its economic impact. The isolation of individual eggs coupled with the PCR technique used here has proven a reliable tool for discrimination of Paramphistomum spp. This technique may facilitate forthcoming studies of the effects of paramphistomosis on livestock production. The most noteworthy finding was the identification of P. leydeni affecting sheep in Ireland, however further studies are required to clarify its implications. Also, a significant relationship between Suffolk breed and a heavier infection was found, which can be used as a starting point for future research on control strategies of rumen fluke infection.

Profiling oral and digital lesions in sheep in Ireland.

BackgroundDuring the FMD outbreak in Ireland and the UK in 2001, there was significant uncertainty amongstveterinary practitioners and government veterinary inspectors surrounding the clinical diagnosis of FMD insheep. This situation was complicated by reports of idiopathic oral ulcers that closely resembled FMD ongross appearance which at that time were referred to as ovine mouth and gum obscure disease.MethodsA field and abattoir study was carried out to determine the frequency, appearance and significance of oraland digital lesions in sheep in Ireland. A total of 3, 263 sheep were examined in 22 flocks, including 1, 969lambs and 1, 294 adults. A further 2,403 animals were examined by abattoir inspections. Animals bearing lesions of interest were identified, samples of the lesions were taken and subsequently examined by bacteriology, electron microscopy, serology, immunohistochemistry and histopathology.ResultsForty four oral and 20 digital lesions were identified and characterised. Oral lesions were recorded mostfrequently in lambs, where the most common cause was orf virus infection. The majority of the oral lesions recorded in the adults was idiopathic and consistent with a diagnosis of idiopathic oral ulceration. A variety of digital lesions was observed, consistent with scald, foot-rot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). All of the animals with lesions were seronegative to FMD virus (FMDV).ConclusionsThere was no difficulty in differentiating these lesions from those caused by FMDV on the basis of flockhistory and careful clinical examination.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13620-015-0055-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mapping trace element deficiency by cokriging from regional geochemical soil data: A case study on cobalt for grazing sheep in Ireland

Deficiency or excess of certain trace elements in the soil causes problems for agriculture, including disorders of grazing ruminants. Geostatistics has been used to map the probability that trace element concentrations in soil exceed or fall below particular thresholds. However, deficiency or toxicity problems may depend on interactions between elements in the soil. Here we show how cokriging from a regional survey of topsoil geochemistry can be used to map the risk of deficiency, and the best management intervention, where both depend on the interaction between two elements. Our case study is on cobalt. Farmers and their advisors in Ireland use index values for the concentration of total soil cobalt and manganese to identify where grazing sheep are at risk of cobalt deficiency. We use topsoil data from a regional geochemical survey across six counties of Ireland to form local cokriging predictions of cobalt and manganese concentrations with an attendant distribution which reflects the joint uncertainty of these predictions. From this distribution we then compute conditional probabilities for different combinations of cobalt and manganese index values, and so for the corresponding inferred risk to sheep of cobalt deficiency and the appropriateness of different management interventions. We represent these results as maps, using a verbal scale for the communication of uncertain information. This scale is based on one used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, modified in light of some recent research on its effectiveness.

A preference-based approach to deriving breeding objectives: applied to sheep breeding

Using internet-based software known as 1000Minds, choice-experiment surveys were administered to experts and farmers from the Irish sheep industry to capture their preferences with respect to the relative importance – represented by part-worth utilities – of target traits in the definition of a breeding objective for sheep in Ireland. Sheep production in Ireland can be broadly separated into lowland and hill farming systems; therefore, each expert was asked to answer the survey first as if he or she were a lowland farmer and second as a hill farmer. In addition to the experts, a group of lowland and a group of hill farmers were surveyed to assess whether, and to what extent, the groups’ preferences differ from the experts’ preferences. The part-worth utilities obtained from the surveys were converted into relative economic value terms per unit change in each trait. These measures – referred to as ‘preference economic values’ (pEVs) – were compared with economic values for the traits obtained from bio-economic models. The traits ‘value per lamb at the meat processor’ and ‘lamb survival to slaughter’ were revealed as being the two most important traits for the surveyed experts responding as lowland and hill farmers, respectively. In contrast, ‘number of foot baths per year for ewes’ and ‘number of anthelmintic treatments per year for ewes’ were the two least important traits. With the exception of ‘carcase fat class’ (P < 0.05), there were no statistically significant differences in the mean pEVs obtained from the surveyed experts under both the lowland and hill farming scenarios. Compared with the economic values obtained from bio-economic models, the pEVs for ‘lambing difficulty’ when the experts responded as lowland farmers were higher (P < 0.001); and they were lower (P < 0.001) for ‘carcase conformation class’, ‘carcase fat class’ (less negative) and ‘ewe mature weight’ (less negative) under both scenarios. Compared with surveyed experts, pEVs from lowland farmers differed significantly for ‘lambing difficulty’, ‘lamb survival to slaughter’, ‘average days to slaughter of lambs’, ‘number of foot baths per year for ewes’, ‘number of anthelmintic treatments per year for ewes’ and ‘ewe mature weight’. Compared with surveyed experts, pEVs from hill farmers differed significantly for ‘lambing difficulty’, ‘average days to slaughter of lambs’ and ‘number of foot baths per year for ewes’. This study indicates that preference-based tools have the potential to contribute to the definition of breeding objectives where production and price data are not available.

Breeding objectives for sheep in Ireland: A bio-economic approach

Breeding objectives for meat sheep in Ireland have been defined and used in the development of selection sub-indices to provide commercial producers with an economic comparison of animals for specific performance trait groups. Using trait-by-trait bio-economic models and a range of methodologies, economic weights (in € per lamb born per genetic standard deviation in the trait) have been calculated for maternal and terminal sire performance traits as follows: production traits; −€1.41 for days to slaughter, €0.35 for carcase conformation class, −€0.52 for carcase fat class, lambing traits; −€0.69 for lambing difficulty for single-bearing ewes, −€0.37 for lambing difficulty for multiple-bearing ewes, €1.15 for lamb survival, maternal traits; €0.83 for number of lambs born, −€1.49 for ewe mature weight, health traits; −€0.09 for lamb foot rot, and −€0.82 for ewe foot rot. Results indicate the significant value of improving the ability of lambs to survive to weaning, without increasing number of lambs born. The highly negative economic weight for both days to slaughter and mature size represents a powerful unfavourable relationship between the two traits. Economic values for lambing difficulty and foot rot represent the significant costs these traits have in the Irish sheep production system. In the early stages of the development of the genetic improvement program for sheep in Ireland the breeding objective defined in this paper provides directed emphasis for trait recording, selection strategies, and mating systems. In addition the economic weights provide indications as to how much genetic improvement in a specific trait would be worth paying for. The proposed formulation of the total economic index as sub-indices provides the ability for commercial farmers to adjust breeding emphasis towards specific market outcomes or address key production aspects in their particular farming system.

A survey of antibodies to pestivirus in sheep in the Republic of Ireland

Sera from 1,448 adult ewes in 91 flocks, representing all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland, were examined for pestivirus antibodies using a commercially available ELISA which detected IgG1 antibody to border disease virus. Eighty-one sheep (5.6%) in 42 flocks (46.0%) were antibody-positive. Within infected flocks, the mean seroprevalence level was 11.4% with a range of 6.3% to 30.0%. The highest antibody prevalence was detected in sheep from central lowland counties of Ireland. Comparative neutralisation testing of 42 ELISA-positive sera detected geometric mean antibody titres of 136 to the NADL strain of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), 92 to the Moredun strain of border disease virus and 21 to the 137/4 strain of border disease virus. These results suggest that BVDV may be the major ruminant pestivirus infecting sheep in Ireland. Although there are high numbers of infected flocks, many sheep within such flocks remain antibody-negative and are at risk of giving birth to lambs with congenital border disease.

Prion protein gene polymorphisms in pedigree sheep in Ireland

The development of clinical signs of scrapie in sheep has been linked to polymorphisms in the prion protein (PrP) gene. The most important polymorphisms appear to be at codons 136, 154 and 171. The objective of this study was to investigate polymorphisms at these codons in five native (Belclare, Galway, Wicklow Cheviot, Donegal Blackface Mountain and Mayo Blackface Mountain) and five imported (Texel, Bleu du Maine, Rouge de l’Ouest, Vendéen and Charollais) sheep breeds in Ireland. A total of 13 genotypes were found. The percentage of the most resistant genotypeAA136RR154RR171 varied from 1.8 per cent in the Vendéen breed, 3.1 per cent in Donegal Blackface Mountain, 10.0 per cent in Texel, 11.1 per cent in Wicklow Cheviot, 12.9 per cent in Belclare, 22.0 per cent in Charollais, 25.6 per cent in Mayo Blackface Mountain, 33.3 per cent in Galway, 46.4 per cent in Bleu du Maine to 62.5 per cent in Rouge de l’Ouest. The results indicate that a significant amount of variation exists between the breeds analysed in this study.

A strategic dosing scheme for the control of fasciolosis in cattle and sheep in Ireland

This study examined the effectiveness of a strategic dosing scheme in lowering the incidence of fasciolosis on a mixed dry-stock farm and in maintaining the reduced incidence following a reduction in dosing intensity. Two neighbouring farms with a history of chronic fluke disease were selected, the strategic dosing scheme being implemented on one (the trial farm) while the other (the control farm) continued to treat according to its normal practice. The strategic dosing scheme was designed to suppress the faecal egg output of Fasciola hepatica at critical times of the year in order to limit infection of the intermediate host snail population and thus reduce the subsequent contamination of the pasture with metacercariae. On the trial farm cattle and sheep were treated three times per year for the first 2 years at approximately 8 week intervals, starting in March of each year. A fourth treatment was given when the cattle were housed and out-wintered sheep received an additional treatment in January. In Years 3 and 4 the dosing intensity was reduced. By the end of Year 2, data from faecal egg counts, tracer-sheep fluke burdens and snail infection levels indicated that the treatment strategy had succeeded in suppressing the fluke population and eliminating the occurrence of clinical fasciolosis. The decrease in dosing intensity in Years 3 and 4 maintained both stock and snail infections at low levels and there was no re-emergence of the disease.

Outbreak of acute coenuriasis in adult sheep in Ireland.

Outbreak of acute coenuriasis in adult sheep in Ireland.

Natural and induced ovulation rate in prolific and non-prolific breeds of sheep in Ireland, Morocco and New Zealand

Ovulation rate, in mixed-age groups of prolific and non-prolific ewe breed types, after administration of a range of doses of PMSG (0, 375, 750 and 1500 i.u.) during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle, were compared in Ireland, Morocco and New Zealand. The ewes in Ireland and Morocco were from the Finnish Landrace and Galway, and D'Man and Timhadite breeds, respectively. In New Zealand Booroola Merino x Romney ewes which had been previously identified as heterozygous carriers (F+) of the Booroola high fecundity gene and purebred Romneys were used to represent the prolific and non-prolific genotypes respectively; in addition a group of Booroola Merino x Romney non-carriers (++) of the major gene were also included for comparison. Ovulation rate at the oestrus which preceded stimulation with PMSG was also measured in all animals. In all 3 locations the ewes of the prolific genotype had a greater ovulation rate after PMSG stimulation than did the non-prolific controls. However, this association between prolificacy and response to PMSG was removed when ovulation rate after PMSG was transformed by dividing by the ovulation rate observed before PMSG administration. Despite the differences in the genetic basis of their high prolificacy the pattern of response to PMSG over the range of dosages used was similar in Finnish Landrace, D'Man and Booroola Merino x Romney (F+) ewes and all breeds had means of about 10 ovulations in response to 1500 i.u. PMSG. Amongst the non-prolific breeds, the Timhadite was the most responsive to PMSG although it had the lowest natural ovulation rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An outbreak of ringworm in sheep in Ireland caused by Trichophyton verrucosum.

An outbreak of ringworm in sheep in Ireland caused by Trichophyton verrucosum is described. The flock consisted of 110 sheep and two separate groups within the flock were affected. Eleven of the first group of 23 sheep and five of the second group of 25 sheep showed lesions. Contact with infected cattle and fomites contaminated by the cattle are believed to have caused the outbreak. An excellent response was obtained in both infected groups by treatment with griseofulvin at a dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg daily for seven days.

Effect of dose of Gronolone in intravaginal sponges on lambing outcome to fixed-time artificial insemination

Research has shown that it is now possible to control the oestrous cycle of ewes with a high degree of precision (Robinson et al. 1967; Gordon, 1975; Boland, Kelleher &amp; Gordon, 1978). There is general agreement that a high concentration of progestagen, followed by rapid withdrawal and adequate ovarian stimulation is necessary for acceptable fertility (Robinson et al. 1967; Gordon, 1975; Colas, 1975). Application of artificial insemination in France has involved the use of a 40–45 mg Cronolone sponge (Cognie, Mariana &amp; Thimonier, 1970; Colas et al. 1973) while controlled breeding in sheep in Ireland has been used in conjunction with a 30 mg Cronolone pessary (Gordon, 1975; Smith, Boland &amp; Gordon, 1978, 1981). The present experiment was designed to compare the relative effectiveness of two doses of Cronolone (30 or 45 mg) when administered in conjunction with two quantities(375 or 750 i.u.) of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), given by intramuscular injection.