Sheep Meat Research Articles

Pellets enriched with healthy hay and quebracho are not sufficient to control gastrointestinal nematodes in meat sheep commercial flocks.

Pellets enriched with healthy hay and quebracho are not sufficient to control gastrointestinal nematodes in meat sheep commercial flocks.

Comprehensive evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep intended for human consumption in Brazil: seroprevalence, isolation, and genotyping.

Ovine toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic disease responsible for triggering reproductive problems in sheep with great public health impact. The zoonotic risk for humans occurs through the ingestion of meat contaminated with bradyzoites, water and vegetables contaminated with oocysts, or by ingesting unprocessed sheep milk contaminated with tachyzoites. The study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, isolate, and genetically characterize T. gondii from sheep in northeastern Brazil. Blood and tissue samples, including the liver, heart, brain, lung, and diaphragm, were collected from 256 sheep in slaughterhouses. The presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was assessed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and sera with titers ≥ 1: 64 were considered positive. Tissue samples from seropositive sheep were digested in acidic pepsin solution and inoculated into two Swiss mice for T. gondii isolation and further characterized by molecular methods. The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in sheep was 31.64% and the isolation rate was 40.7%. Sixteen out of 33 isolates were submitted to mnRFLP-PCR using ten genetic markers. Four isolates were fully genotyped, and four isolates were amplified at least in one marker. All isolates were characterized as atypical genotypes, and ToxoDB #57 (n = 3) and #143 (n = 1) were identified. The detection of viable T. gondii in sheep from slaughterhouses in Brazil highlights the risk of human exposure. There is the need for proactive control and prevention measures to mitigate the risk of human exposure, considering the importance of sheep meat as a source of protein to humans.

Inbreeding Depression and Purging in Fertility and Longevity Traits in Sheep Breeds from Germany

In the present study, we analysed fertility and longevity traits of 22 sheep breeds from Germany with a suitable quantity of data in the national database OviCap. The data comprised merino, meat, country and milk sheep breeds with 62,198 ewes and about 173,000 lambing records, until the fifth lambing. Across-breed means of heritabilities reached estimates of 0.13, 0.17 and 0.18 for number of lambings, average number of lambs born per lambing and number of lambs per lifetime, respectively. For age at first lambing, length of lifetime and productive life, mean heritabilities over breeds were 0.34, 0.17 and 0.32, respectively. The across-breed means of the individual rate of inbreeding were significantly negative for the average number of lambs born per lambing and number of lambs born per lifetime, and for number of lambings it was close to the significance threshold. We found declining slopes for inbreeding depression for the average number of lambs born per lambing and number of lambs born per lifetime in 16 breeds, and significantly negative slopes in five and seven breeds. For lifetime and productive life, 9/22 and 8/22 breeds showed significant inbreeding depression, while for age at first lambing, only 1/22 breeds showed significant inbreeding depression. A significant reduction in inbreeding depression due to purging effects was found for eight breeds. Fitness traits may be subject to forced directional selection. Therefore, sheep breeding programmes should give special consideration to fertility and longevity traits. Fitness related traits seem to be essential in conservation of genetic diversity within sheep breeds.

Accreditation of in-abattoir Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scanning apparatus to predict lamb carcass composition in Australia

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanners operating at abattoir processing speeds are currently installed in six sheep meat abattoirs around Australia, predicting carcass composition as estimates of computed tomography (CT) determined fat %, lean %, and bone %. This study tested an updated bone-detection algorithm for these DXA scanners. This algorithm improved the precision of prediction for carcass fat% and lean%, but most notably for bone % (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 0.61 %), compared to the previous algorithm (R2 = 0.51, RMSE = 1.57 %). This was due to improved allocation of bone-containing pixels, resulting from the inclusion of tissue thickness in the bone-detection equation. In a second experiment, the predictions from this new algorithm, along with an automated phantom calibration technique, were assessed relative to their ability to meet the AUS-MEAT accreditation accuracy standards required for predicting CT determined carcass fat%, lean%, and bone%. The DXA met these standards for predicting fat % (range 10.9 % - 37.1 %), lean % (range 49.0 % - 66.2 %), and bone % (range 11.6 % - 25.0 %), across three weight bands of light carcasses (<22 kg), mid-weight carcasses (22-28 kg), and heavy carcasses (>28 kg). This work allowed for the accreditation of DXA, enabling its predictions of carcass composition to be used for trading sheep carcasses in Australia. The accuracy of these predictions far exceed those provided by the historical industry measure of GR tissue depth, and hot carcass weight.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 causing severe mastitis in a meat sheep herd in the United States.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 causing severe mastitis in a meat sheep herd in the United States.

How Food Consumption Trends Change the Direction of Sheep Breeding in China.

This paper discusses how food consumption trends have influenced the direction of sheep and goat breeding, particularly concerning the shift in sheep and goat farming and the development of the Hu sheep industry in China. Historically, sheep have been bred primarily for wool production, but with the increased demand for meat, the breeding direction has begun to shift toward meat use. As a major producer and consumer of mutton and goat meat, there is room for development of the meat sheep industry in China. In this paper, we review the development of China's sheep breeding industry before and after the reform and the change in breeding objectives through examples, summarize the factors causing breeding changes in China's sheep breeding industry, introduce the breeding achievements of the Hu sheep after its shift to meat use, analyze the reasons as to why this breed was selected by a vast number of farmers, and reveal the current decisive traits in the development of the meat sheep industry. This article also shows the improvement in Chinese people's consumption abilities and the change from sheep breeding to consumption, providing China's development experience as an example for today's regions lagging in the global livestock industry. Breeding to respond positively to changes in the economy can better cater to the consumer food market.

Conventionally Reared Wallon Meat Lambs Carry Transiently Multi-Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli with Reduced Sensitivity to Colistin Before Slaughter.

Major efforts have been made to reduce the use of colistin in livestock since the discovery of the plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene in E. coli a decade ago, to curb the burden of its potential transmission to other bacterial species, spread between animals, humans and the environment. This study explored the longitudinal prevalence and characteristics of colistin-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) E. coli via in vivo fecal and ex vivo carcass swabs from two batches of conventional indoor and organic outdoor Wallon meat sheep from birth to slaughter in 2020 and 2021. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing via broth microdilution revealed that n = 16/109 (15%) E. coli isolates from conventional meat lamb fecal samples had a reduced colistin sensitivity (MIC = 0.5 μg/mL) and thereof, n = 9/109 (8%) were multi-drug-resistant E. coli, while no resistant isolates were recovered from their carcasses. Sequencing revealed causative pmrB genes, indicating that the reduced sensitivity to colistin was not plasmid-borne. While the sample size was small (n = 32), no colistin-resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from the organic meat sheep and their carcasses, potentially due to the different husbandry conditions. Prudent and judicious antimicrobial use and strict slaughter hygiene remain imperative for effective risk management to protect consumers in a sustainable One Health approach.

The correlation between Smac, IAPs and mitochondrial apoptosis, muscle tenderness during postmortem aging of Oula Tibetan sheep meat

Oula Tibetan sheep meat has rich nutritional value but relatively poor tenderness. Recently, apoptosis of muscle cells has gradually become a research hotspot for improving meat tenderness during postmortem aging. Smac can promote the decrease of IAPs expression in tumor cells, thereby inducing mitochondrial apoptosis. However, the relationship between Smac, IAPs and mitochondrial apoptosis, muscle tenderness during postmortem meat aging is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this work was to explore the relationship between Smac, IAPs and mitochondrial apoptosis as well as muscle tenderness during postmortem meat aging. Smac concentration, IAPs concentration, pH value, ATP content, SDH activity, MPTP opening degree, MMP, caspase-3/9 activity, apoptotic rate, MFI and shear force value of Oula Tibetan sheep meat were measured at different aging times and correlation analysis was performed. Correlation analysis revealed that Smac, IAPs were markedly related to mitochondrial apoptosis and muscle tenderness during postmortem aging of Tibetan sheep meat. The results suggest that Smac may regulate IAPs to promote mitochondrial apoptosis and muscle tenderization in Oula Tibetan sheep meat during postmortem aging.

FS900284 Survey of the Microbiological Contamination of Cull Ewes and Prime Lamb at Slaughter in England and Wales

The aim of this FSA-funded survey was to determine microbial contamination on sheep carcases in abattoirs in England and Wales as the last survey of healthy sheep at slaughter in England and Wales was undertaken 20 years ago. This project was run in conjunction with surveys funded by Defra and the PATH-SAFE research programme aimed at determining prevalence of caecal carriage of pathogens and levels of antimicrobial resistance in sheep at slaughter. Twelve out of 132 abattoirs in England and Wales were recruited, covering 28% of the annual national sheep slaughterhouse throughput. In total,1282 carcase swab samples were collected over a 12-month period from February 2023 to January 2024. All samples were tested for the isolation and quantification of Salmonella, 366 were tested for Campylobacter and 103 were tested for Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli. Salmonella was only detected in 7 (0.55%) of carcase swabs. Five isolates were confirmed as S. enterica subsp. diarizonae serotype 61:k:1:5, a sheep-adapted type with no confirmed association with human disease. The other two isolates were confirmed as S. Typhimurium. Campylobacter contamination was detected on 76 (20.8%) of carcases tested. Prevalence of E. coli (88.4%) and Enterobacteriaceae (75%) was as expected in freshly slaughtered meat, with 81.6% and 84.5% of these samples, respectively, presenting low levels of contamination The contamination detected on sheep carcases was significantly lower than that found in caecal samples examined in the Defra study suggesting that slaughtering processes are effective in reducing carcases being contaminated with pathogens. Correct cooking and hygienic handling and preparation of sheep meat will reduce/eliminate surface microbiological contamination further and reduce the risk to consumers. These results provide valuable baseline data that will help inform risk assessments and risk modelling and will inform future decisions by Government and the meat industry.

A comparison of animal and plant-based proteins from an economic, environmental, and nutritional perspective in the Republic of Ireland

CONTEXTProtein is a central component of health and nutrition. The current protein production system is unlikely to sustainably meet the growing global demand for protein. Therefore, alternative sources of protein must be considered. OBJECTIVEThis study uniquely compares animal-based (milk, beef meat, sheep meat) and plant-based (cereals and legumes) protein production in terms of land usage. The comparison is carried out across a suite of economic, environmental, and nutritional metrics. As land use decisions are taken at the farm level, the analysis adopts a farm gate approach. Focusing on the supply side, consumption is not considered in the analysis. METHODSEconomic performance is measured through the gross and net margins. Environmental performance is evaluated through farm-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) balances. Nutritional performance is measured through the gross protein yield, the protein yield corrected for digestibility and land-use efficiency, i.e., the land needed to generate one kg of (digestible) protein. Results are expressed per hectare and per 100 g of gross and digestible protein to allow for a holistic comparison. The analysis focuses on the Republic of Ireland, a relevant country given the importance of the strong agricultural export focus, the dominance of the livestock sector and the country's ambitious environmental emission reduction targets. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSFindings indicate that, on a per hectare basis, milk production on dairy farms has the strongest economic performance and highest GHG emissions amongst the products considered. Crops' gross and net margins are less than half that of dairy farms, but they also show the strongest environmental performance generally. Cereals and legumes have the best nutritional performance, from a protein perspective, whereas sheep meat production returned the lowest gross and digestible protein yields per hectare. Arable crops also show the lowest GHG emissions and nutrient balances on a per unit of protein basis. SIGNIFICANCELand-use policies need to be designed holistically, given the complexity of the agricultural sector. Agricultural policy design currently focuses on income support and on the environmental impact of the agricultural sector, but farmers' livelihood and food and protein security need to be safeguarded. Diversifying agricultural production and increasing plant-based protein production in Ireland, a country with a livestock-focused agricultural sector, could contribute to achieving the climate change targets of the country, provided the necessary policy levers are in place.

Molecular Identification of Normal and Adulterated Meat Samples of Local Markets and Restaurants in Kerbala Province

Background: Species specification of the meat is a highly important field of quality control management in meat consumption and industry. Meat forgery with undeclared sources has become a crucial trouble in many countries as well as in Iraq. It means that raw consumed meat or meat derivatives may include different meat genus; so, the components of meat are not regular like the known marker. The diet has sever effect on public health, religious factor, food safety principles, fair-trades and consumers desire. Aim of the study: The current study was aimed to analysis the species of adulterated meat using molecular technique that targets Mitochondrial Cytochrome cyt b gene by Multiplex PCR for detection of meat species and authentication that provide many forensic and judicial applications for several populations throughout the world. Materials and Methods: The following seventy (70) typical meat and meat derivatives were gathered from neighborhood super markets and eateries in the province of Kerbala: 25 cow, 10 buffalo, 25 sheep, and 10 goats. For meat samples, DNA extraction was done. Next, using species-specific primers of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome cyt b gene for cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo, the collected DNA was amplified using the Multiplex PCR method. Additionally, the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, one of the microorganisms most commonly linked to food illness, was typically examined in all of the meat samples. Results: Multiplex PCR technique resulting in species-specific products of the amplicon sizes for the DNA prepared samples with the lengths 472bp., 124bp., 585bp., and 330bp. for the flesh of cow, buffalo, sheep, and goats, in that order. In addition to this analysis technique indicated that8 (44.4) % of examined cattle meat samples were mixed with buffalo meat and10 (55.6) % of examined sheep meat samples were mixed with goat meat. As well as, most of examined (normal and mixed) meat samples were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Discussion: It has been demonstrated that the highly conserved Mitochondrial Cytochrome cyt b gene primers, when used in the multiplex PCR methodology, provide a sensitive, straightforward, adaptable, and dependable method for the investigation of meat samples and meat products. Conclusions: The current study's conclusions state that the “mitochondrial cytochrome cyt b gene” is a useful marker for differentiating between normal and adulterated meat. It also states that Staphylococcus aureus was found in 16/52 (30.76%) of the normal meat samples and 12/18 (66.7%) of the adulterated meat samples, with a significant importance of P=0.046.

Dosing in Three Levels of Apricot Seed Oil and Its Affects on Some Fresh and Frozen Sheep Meat Traits

Its impact on some characteristics of frozen meat from Iraqi sheep. The experiment was carried out at the Animal Production Field of the College of Agriculture, Tikrit University, from August 22, 2023, to December 2, 2023. Fifteen lambs were used, divided into three groups (five lambs per group) with similar average weights (24.40 kg). The treatments were randomly assigned, and a collective feeding system was employed using a single formula of concentrated feed at 3% of the live animal's weight. The results indicated a significant difference (P≤0.05) in the moisture content favoring the first treatment over the second and third treatments. Conversely, the third treatment showed a significant increase (P≤0.05) in fat percentage, ash content, and protein content compared to the first treatment. The administration of apricot oil at 0.0020% of the live animal's weight led to a reduction in lipid peroxidation and post-thaw loss after two months of freezing. The results also showed significant differences in the free fatty acid profiles (Palmitic, Stearic, Oleic, Linolenic, Linoleic, and Myristic) in the frozen meat samples, with the third group of animals showing significant superiority (P≤0.05) over the other groups after two months of freezing.

SNP Markers: Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Identification of Genomic Regions in Pantaneiro Sheep and Texel Sheep Under Natural Selection.

Sheep farming is growing substantially in Brazil, driven by the increasing demand for sheep meat. This rising demand has heightened the focus on sheep, making them the subject of numerous studies, including those centered on genetic analysis. A notable research area involves Pantaneiro sheep, which are indigenous to the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul and other locations. These sheep are of particular interest due to their adaptation to the unique environmental conditions of the Pantanal, a floodplain characterized by its distinctive climatic and ecological features. This study primarily aimed to conduct a comprehensive genomic analysis of Pantanal sheep subjected to natural selection within the Pantanal region and compare different sample herds using methodological approaches. Genomic analysis was performed to examine genetic diversity and structure via GGP50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. A sample of 192 adult sheep over 4 years old was categorized into seven populations based on location: Six populations comprised Pantaneiro sheep with one Texel sheep population. Outlier SNPs were assessed to pinpoint regions under natural selection, with comparisons between the Pantaneiro and the commercial Texel breeds. All data analyses were conducted using the R programming language, employing specialized genetic analysis packages. These outlier SNPs were detected using three methodologies, PCAdapt, OutFLANK, and FDIST2/fsthet, with false discovery rate (FDR) corrections applied to ensure result accuracy. Each method was evaluated, and the genes associated with the identified SNPs were cross-referenced with the most recent sheep genome database, focusing specifically on genes with known phenotypic traits. Analysis of a sample comprising 192 adult individuals revealed greater genetic variability within the Pantaneiro breed than the Texel breed, highlighting the adaptation of the Pantaneiro breed to the unique Pantanal environment. Conversely, the Texel breed exhibited significantly higher levels of inbreeding, attributed to its controlled breeding practices. Outlier SNPs were detected with notable variation across different methodologies, underscoring the importance of FDR correction in ensuring the reliability and concentration of identified outliers. These outlier SNPs facilitated the identification of genes associated with key phenotypic traits, including hair growth, tissue regeneration, pigmentation regulation, and muscle capacity. The integrated analysis of methodologies demonstrated significant efficiency in elucidating the genomic landscape of Pantanal sheep, highlighting the genetic richness inherent in sheep from the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul. The techniques employed effectively identified outlier SNPs associated with phenotypically relevant genes. These findings, which reveal greater genetic variability and adaptability, underscore the potential of these animals for future research and their significance within Brazilian sheep farming. The Texel breed served as a valuable comparative group, illustrating the limited genetic variability in highly controlled breeding environments.

Grazing intensity by sheep affects spatial diversity in botanical composition of Inner Mongolian grassland

Overgrazing by sheep causes degradation of grasslands in the Inner Mongolian steppe, yet our understanding of its impact on grassland plant communities is limited by lack of observations at high spatial resolution. Employing a nested experimental design in a long-term grazing experiment provides insights into effects of increasing sheep grazing intensity on community composition, diversity, and spatial patterns in the grassland vegetation. Effects of observed changes in the plant community are discussed based on monthly weight gain of sheep during grazing. The design of the long-term experiment included four triplicated grazing intensities applied during an 8-year period. At the end of that period, we evaluated vegetation coverage, categorized plant species by functional groups, and analyzed the data using a mixed linear model. Moreover, spatial autocorrelation methods were employed to investigate spatial patterns, visualized via a kriging model. We found that the plant community composition differed among grazing treatments, with high grazing intensity showing higher plant species richness and stronger clustering of plants at our fine scale of observation. These fine-grained spatial scale observations are usually not recorded in larger spatial scale analyses of grassland responses to overgrazing. While the grazing intensities used in our study did not influence individual sheep weight gain, total sheep weight gain per hectare increased with an increase in grazing intensity. Our study shows that in a sheep grazing intensity experiment in Inner Mongolia grasslands total sheep weight gain may increase at the expense of fine-scale species composition and spatial dynamics of the grassland vegetation. These insights may be used for determining trade-offs of sheep meat production with original composition and structure of grassland plant communities. Effects on other ecosystem properties and functions, such as on belowground biodiversity, remain to be assessed.

Effects of Feeding Systems on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality in Sheep: A Meta-Analysis.

Meat quality is important in the meat-production chain. Conflicting reports of the effects of feeding systems on sheep growth performance and meat quality exist. By way of meta-analysis, we reviewed the literature on the growth and slaughter performance, and meat quality of lambs that grazed solely on pasture, those that grazed on pasture but received a dietary supplement, and those were exclusively fed indoors. The relevant literature comprised 28 papers, from which response variables of interest were obtained. Compared with stall-fed sheep, pasture-grazing led to significantly (p < 0.05) lower average daily gain, slaughter live weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, and similar dressing percentage, but pasture-grazed sheep fed a supplement had similar (p > 0.05) values for each of these attributes to stall-fed sheep. The quality of the longissimus muscle from lambs that grazed either exclusively on pasture or pasture with a supplement had significantly (p < 0.05) lower lightness and intramuscular fat content, and significantly (p < 0.05) higher yellowness, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and protein content than meat from stall-fed sheep. We conclude that sheep that have fed exclusively on pasture have lower carcass yield and meat edibility, but improved meat quality, and that pasture-fed sheep that received a supplement had comparable carcass attributes, but greater meat color and health quality than stall-fed sheep.

503 Selection signatures in a prolific meat sheep breed

Abstract In sheep meat production, prolificity is one of the main factors influencing economic profitability of a farm. Belclare sheep are used for meat production and have passed through intense selection pressure to high prolificity, leading them to have large litter sizes. This study aimed to identify selection signature regions and carry out functional analyses related to reproduction traits in the Belclare breed in contrast to a group of non-prolific meat breeds. A total of 50,166 biallelic SNPs from the Illumina OvineSNP50 genotyped in the Belclare breed (n = 2,377) and four meat breeds (Beltex, n = 146; Charollais, n = 1,477; Suffolk, n = 1,231 and Texel, n = 3,330). SNP filtering and quality control were performed within each breed using PLINK v1.9. Only SNPs on autosomal chromosomes with defined positions according to the sheep (Ovis aries) genome assembly OAR3.1 were analyzed. Samples and SNPs with a call rate below 95% were discarded, as well as SNPs with MAF below 1% and deviation of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with P-value ≤ 10-6. Imputation of missing genotypes and haplotype phasing were performed using BEAGLE v.3.3.2. After quality control, an average of 30,249 SNPs were further analyzed. Selection signature detection was performed by Cross-Population Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (XP-EHH) and Ratio of Site-specific Extended Haplotype Homozygosity between populations (Rsb), with the REHH v.3.2.2 software in R, using 100 kb non-overlapping windows with at least two markers per window. The top 1% windows with the greatest average values were considered regions under positive selection. Gene and QTL annotation were conducted with the GALLO R package. Gene and metabolic pathways enrichment (FDR&amp;lt; 0.10) were performed with gprofiler2 software. A total of 67 genomic regions co-localized with 76 candidate genes and 65 QTLs were identified. The genes were enriched for 12 molecular function terms. Among the annotated genes, FSHR, INSL6, HSD17B12, and SGK1 were previously found to be related to reproduction traits. The enriched term follicle-stimulating hormone receptor activity was related to the FSHR gene. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has an important role in follicular development, and their concentrations are regulated by the FSH receptor (FSHR), which suggests that FSHR is also involved in prolificity of the ewe. The testes weight trait was detected in the reproductive QTL class, but no gene related to fertility was identified. The gene INSL6 is associated with spermatogenesis and sperm motility and, as Belclare rams are used to produce prolific replacements, it may have an important role in semen quality and prolificity, as increased semen quality might increase the chance of a successful fecundation. The identification of selection signatures highlights that the selection pressure left footprints in the Belclare breed genome related to reproduction, which may affect the litter sizes.

Lipidomics analysis reveals the effects of Schizochytrium sp. supplementation on the lipid composition of Tan sheep meat

Schizochytrium sp. (SZ) can potentially be employed in nutritional strategies for producing high-quality sheep meat. However, the effects of SZ on the lipid composition of sheep meat are insufficiently understood. In this study, the effects of SZ supplementation on the lipid profile of Tan sheep meat were evaluated using non-targeted lipidomic techniques. Lipidomics analysis revealed 383 differential lipids (DLs) between the SZ and control groups, and there were six metabolic pathways associated with lipids, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism (P < 0.05). Glycerophospholipid metabolism was the core pathway of DLs; we found that phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and lysophosphatidylcholine were the crucial lipid metabolites of this pathway. Dietary supplementation with SZ increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), C22:6n-3, and C20:5n-3 (P < 0.05), while it decreased C18:0, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and SFA/PUFA (P < 0.05). These results indicate that SZ supplementation induces positive alterations in the lipid profile of Tan sheep meat, which is beneficial to meat quality and sheds valuable insights into the future development of functional lipids in sheep meat.

Circular Economy, Dairy Cow Feed Leftovers, and Withania somnifera Supplementation: Effects on Black Belly Ram's Libido, Sperm Quality, Sexual Behavior, and Hemogram Values.

Considering a circular economy perspective, this study evaluates the possible effect of targeted short-term supplementation with Withania somnifera L. (WS; Ashwagandha) on ram's seminal quality, socio-sexual behaviors, and blood constituents. Black Belly rams (n = 20) received a basal diet comprising feed-leftovers from dairy cows in the north-arid Mexico (i.e., Comarca Lagunera CL). The experimental units, with proven libido and fertility, were homogeneous in terms of age (3.41 ± 0.21 yr.), live weight (LW; 53.8 ± 3.3 kg), body condition (BC; 2.96 ± 0.01 units), initial sperm concentration (2387 ± 804 × 106), and viability (23.9 ± 15.6%). Rams were randomly assigned during the transition reproductive period (i.e., May to Jun; 25° NL) to three treatment groups: non-supplemented control group (CONT; n = 6), low WS-supplemented (LWS; i.e., 100 mg kg LW-1 d-1 × 40 d; n = 7), and high-WS-supplemented (HWS; i.e., 200 mg kg LW-1 d-1 × 40 d; n = 7). The basal leftover diet was offered twice daily (0700 and 1600 h); the experimental period (EP) lasted 47 d. No differences (p > 0.05) among treatments occurred regarding LW and BCS at the onset of the EP. Whereas the greater scrotal circumference (SCRC, cm) arose in the LWS and CONT rams, an increased ejaculated volume (VOLEJA, mL) occurred in the WS-rams. A total of 5/9 (i.e., 55%) appetitive and 3/3 (i.e., 100%) consummatory sexual behaviors favored (p < 0.05) the WS-rams, particularly the HWS rams, towards the final EP. The same was true (p < 0.05) regarding the hemogram variables white blood cell count (×109 cells L-1), hemoglobin concentration (g dL-1), and medium corpuscular volume (fL). This study, based on a rethink-reuse-reduce enquiry approach, enabled connectedness between two noteworthy animal systems in the CL: dairy cows and meat sheep schemes. Certainly, the use of dairy cow feed-leftovers aligned with the short-term supplementation with WS promoted enhanced testicular function, augmented seminal volume, and an increased sexual behavior in Black Belly rams in northern Mexico. Finally, while our research outcomes should enhance not only the resilience and sustainability of sheep production and the well-being of sheep-producers and their families, it may also embrace clinical translational applications.

Characterization of Flavor Compounds in Chinese Indigenous Sheep Breeds Using Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Chemometrics.

This study analyzed the flavor compounds in the meat of four indigenous breeds of Chinese sheep through the use of gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). GC-IMS provided information on the characteristics and strength of 71 volatile flavor compounds (monomers and dimers), with aldehydes, alcohols and ketones being the most abundant in all types of sheep meat. The compounds with higher intensity peaks in the sheep meat were aldehydes (n-nonanal, octanal, heptanal, 3-methylbutanal, and hexanal), alcohols (1-octen-3-ol, hexanol, and pentanol), ketones (3-hydroxy-2-butanon, 2-butanone, and 2-propanone), esters (methyl benzoate), and thiazole (trimethylthiazole). The volatile flavor components in the meat of the different breeds of sheep obtained via GC-IMS were further differentiated using principal component analysis. In addition, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and variable importance on projection (VIP) were used to determine the characteristic flavor compounds in the meats of different breeds of sheep, and 21 differentially volatile components were screened out based on having a VIP above 1. These results indicate that GC-IMS combined with multivariate analysis is a convenient and powerful method for characterizing and discriminating sheep meat.

Changing Australia's trading language has enhanced the implementation of objective carcase measurement technologies

In 2016 an Australian project, the Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies project (ALMTech), was initiated to accelerate the development and implementation of technologies that measure lean meat yield and eating quality. This led to the commercial testing, and implementation of a range of new technologies in the lamb, beef, and pork industries. For measuring lean meat yield %, these technologies included dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, hand-held microwave systems, and 3-D imaging systems. For measuring beef rib-eye traits and intramuscular fat %, both pre- and post-chilling technologies were developed. Post-chilling, a range of camera systems and near infrared spectrophotometers were developed. While pre-chilling, technologies included insertable needle probes, nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray systems. Initially these technologies were trained to predict the pre-existing traits already traded upon within industry. However, this approach was limiting because the technologies could measure attributes that were either non-existent in the trading language, were superior as calibrating standards, or more accurately reflected value than the pre-existing trait. Therefore, we introduced IMF% into the trading language for both beef and sheep meat, and carcase lean%, fat%, and bone% for sheep meat. These new technologies and the traits that they predict have delivered multiple benefits. Technology provider-companies are instilled with the confidence to commercialise due to the provision of achievable accreditation standards. Processors have the confidence to invest in these technologies and establish payment grids based upon their measurements. And lastly, it has enhanced data flow into genetic databases, industry data systems (MSA), and as feedback to producers.