White Sheep Research Articles

(In)effective communication about social responsibility? Examining large european businesses in the Czech Republic

Purpose – Businesses are expected to be socially responsible by engaging in Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and even the Creation of shared values (CSV). The aim of this contribution is to critically explore whether large European businesses operating in Czechia, recognized as social responsibility leaders, effectively communicate CSR as opposed to their competitors. Research methodology – A case study with three stages was conducted. First, 35 large European businesses were identified, which repeatedly ranked among the TOP 25 Czech companies with the highest social responsibility BpS synthetic index, and their 15 competitors. Second, an Internet search and content analysis of Websites of these 50 companies was performed to categorize and assess how they report about their socially responsible behaviors. Third, leading Czech disinformation websites were examined for evidence of tacit cooperation with the disinformation scene in the form of support via advertising. Findings – The study revealed that large European businesses, recognized as social responsibility leaders, communicate extensively about their social responsibility. However, the effectiveness of such communications is controversial. In addition, a significant part of these businesses were found to be tacitly associated with disinformation platforms, which are completely at odds with with basic social responsibility concepts. Research limitations – The qualitative nature of the case study does not allow direct generalizations. Practical implications – The visualization of the juxtaposed results via comparative and complementary tables leads to pioneering propositions about the interest and lack of maturity regarding social responsibility, very diverse degrees of effectiveness of the communications, and even several alleged leaders failing in their efforts. Originality/Value – It is the first study to compare CSR communications by alleged white sheep and black sheep, while having consistency tested by association with disinformation websites. The generated propositions call for further longitudinal and multi-jurisdiction studies to verify and enhance the awareness about efficient, effective, mature and consistent social responsibility in the EU.

Mechanistic insights into rumen function promotion through yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) metabolites using in vitro and in vivo models.

Yeast culture (YC) enhances ruminant performance, but its functional mechanism remains unclear because of the complex composition of YC and the uncertain substances affecting rumen fermentation. The objective of this study was to determine the composition of effective metabolites in YC by exploring its effects on rumen fermentation in vitro, growth and slaughter performance, serum index, rumen fermentation parameters, rumen microorganisms, and metabolites in lambs. In Trial 1, various YCs were successfully produced, providing raw materials for identifying effective metabolites. The experiment was divided into 5 treatment groups with 5 replicates in each group: the control group (basal diet without additives) and YC groups were supplemented with 0.625‰ of four different yeast cultures, respectively (groups A, B, C, and D). Rumen fermentation parameters were determined at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h in vitro. A univariate regression model multiple factor associative effects index (MFAEI; y) was established to correlate the most influential factors on in vitro rumen fermentation with YC metabolites (x). This identified the metabolites promoting rumen fermentation and optimal YC substance levels. In Trial 2, metabolites in YC not positively correlated with MFAEI were excluded, and effective substances were combined with pure chemicals (M group). This experiment validated the effectiveness of YC metabolites in lamb production based on their impact on growth, slaughter performance, serum indices, rumen parameters, microorganisms, and metabolites. Thirty cross-generation rams (Small tail Han-yang ♀ × Australian white sheep ♂) with good body condition and similar body weight were divided into three treatment groups with 10 replicates in each group: control group, YC group, pure chemicals combination group (M group). Growth performance and serum index were measured on days 30 and 60, and slaughter performance, rumen fermentation parameters, microorganisms, and metabolites were measured on day 60. The M group significantly increased the dressing percentage, and significantly decreased the GR values of lambs (p < 0.05). The concentration of growth hormone (GH), Cortisol, insulin (INS), and rumen VFA in the M group significantly increased (p < 0.05). These experiments confirmed that YC or its screened effective metabolites positively impact lamb slaughter performance, rumen fermentation, and microbial metabolism.

Comparative assessment of growth curves in Brazilian white Morada Nova hair sheep breed.

The Morada Nova sheep breed is essential for the economy of the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil, standing out for its adaptability, resistance to parasites and reproductive ability. However, the white variant is endangered, highlighting the importance of studies on its productivity to support conservation efforts. This study focuses on the growth curve of the Morada Nova sheep breed, using nonlinear models and analyzing flock profiles. Total of 764 observations of 165 animals from four farms in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, were analyzed. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was used for the exploratory analysis and four nonlinear models were used to study the growth curve. Weight from birth to 270days of age, absolute growth rate (AGR), and the impact of sex on growth curves were assessed. Sex and farm are significant discriminating variables (P < 0.05) for the studied effects (weight and age). Weight was the primary phenotypic biomarker that discriminated between the two indicators, while age was a discriminating indicator only for the core effect. The Gompertz model was the most efficient, presenting the lowest residuals and greatest convergence. The study reveals new information about the growth of Morada Nova sheep, the white variety, including weight differences between the sexes at all analyzed ages and an inflection point before 90days of age. These discoveries contribute to the understanding of the breed's growth and help in the formulation of conservation strategies.

Skin proteomic screening and functional analysis of differential proteins associated with coat color in sheep (Ovis aries).

Coat color is an important characteristic and economic trait in domestic sheep. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved in coat color regulation for sheep. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was used to catalog global protein expression profiles in skin of sheep with black versus white coat color. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression localization of differential protein. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. A total of 136 differential proteins were obtained in different coat colors, including 101 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated. Pigmentation function entries were enriched through gene ontology annotation. Tyrosine metabolism and platelet activation signaling pathway were extracted by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. Apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA1) and fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) were found to be critical differential proteins by the interaction of differential proteins in the direct-interaction network diagram. Strikingly, twenty candidate differential proteins were screened, from which beta-actin (ACTB) protein showed higher expression in white sheep skin, while albumin (ALB), APOA1, MAOA (amine oxidase) and FGA proteins showed higher expression in black sheep skin, which was validated by immunofluorescence, western blot, and qRT-PCR. This study identified several novel proteins that may be involved in the coat color formation of sheep. The white and black sheep skin proteome profiles obtained provide a valuable resource for future research to understand the network of protein expression controlling skin physiology and melanogenesis in sheep.

Comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs modified by m6A methylation in sheep skin.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent methylation of mRNA and plays crucial roles in various physiological processes, including pigmentation. Yet, the regulatory mechanisms, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) m6A methylation contributing to pigmentation in sheep skin remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify potential lncRNAs and the m6A methylation of lncRNAs associated with pigmentation. RNA-seq and MeRIP-seq were performed to study the expression of lncRNAs and the m6A methylation of lncRNAs in black and white sheep skin. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the consistency with the RNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data. We identified 168 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the two sheep skin colors. The differentially expressed lncRNAs enriched in the pathway of ECM-receptor interaction, Rap1 signaling pathway, and Non-homologous end-joining may play essential roles in pigmentation. We identified 577 m6A peaks and 617 m6A peaks in black and white sheep skin, respectively, among which 20 m6A peaks showed significant differences. The enriched motif in sheep skin was "GGACU", which aligned with the consensus motif "RRACH" (R = A or G, H = A, C or U). Differently methylated lncRNAs enriched in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway might participate in skin pigmentation. ENSOARG00020015168 was the unique lncRNA with high expression and methylation (Hyper-Up) in black sheep shin. A lncRNA-mRNA network was constructed, with pigmentation-related genes, such as PSEN2, CCND3, COL2A1, and ERCC3. The m6A modifications of lncRNAs in black and white colored sheep skin were analyzed comprehensively, providing new candidates for the regulation of pigmentation.

Genealogical structure and genetic variability: A step towards conservation of white Morada Nova sheep in semi-arid region

Morada Nova breed has a low effective herd, and its white variety is in risk of extinction in Brazilian semi-arid region. This study aimed to evaluate white Morada Nova sheep’s genetic variability and population structure in four flocks. These are the only flocks in the world. The assessed parameters of pedigree integrity and a genealogy record of 219 animals. 44.74 % did not have pedigree information on their mother or father, and 50.47 % did not have available information on their grandparents. 52.97 % had a pedigree in their first ancestry (obtained through the average of known parents), 23.74 % in the second, 13.58 % in the third, and 5.33 % in the fourth. The effective size was 10.7, considering the complete equivalent generation. The effective number of founding animals (fe) and ancestors (fa) was 10, indicating the effective participation of all founding animals in the population over the generations, reducing losses of genetic variability. Out of all the ancestors, only 3 explained 50 % of the population’s genetic variability, reflecting the low values of fa and fe. The population’s average inbreeding and kinship coefficients were 2.61 and 4.54. The F statistics of Wright, Fis, Fst, and Fit, were −0.012, 0.016, and 0.003. The genetic conservation index (GCI) had an average of 2.01 ± 1.29, with minimum and maximum values of 1.0 and 6.38, respectively. Approximately, 71 % of the population had GCI below 2.0, while only 5.9 % of sheep had an GCI bigger than 5.0. This indicates the absence of sub-structures inf the population. There is no population subdivision, considering the genealogical structure of the evaluated flocks. The inbreeding and kinship coefficient values are controlled and serve as a starting point for establishing a future management plan for the genetic variability of the flock. It is recommended to use strategies to increase the effective population size, to meet the minimum number recommended by FAO and to promote the conservation and genetic improvement of the breed.

Genetic variant of the sheep E2F8 gene and its associations with litter size

The economic efficiency of sheep breeding, aiming to enhance productivity, is a focal point for improvement of sheep breeding. Recent studies highlight the involvement of the Early Region 2 Binding Factor transcription factor 8 (E2F8) gene in female reproduction. Our group’s recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) emphasizes the potential impact of the E2F8 gene on prolificacy traits in Australian White sheep (AUW). Herein, the purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of the E2F8 gene with litter size in AUW sheep breed. This work encompassed 659 AUW sheep, subject to genotyping through PCR-based genotyping technology. Furthermore, the results of PCR-based genotyping showed significant associations between the P1-del-32bp bp InDel and the fourth and fifth parities litter size in AUW sheep; the litter size of those with genotype ID were superior compared to those with DD and II genotypes. Thus, these results indicate that the P1-del-32bp InDel within the E2F8 gene can be useful in marker-assisted selection (MAS) in sheep.

Production performance analysis of sheep MSTN gene C2361T locus

The myostatin (MSTN) gene exhibits significant nucleotide sequence variations in sheep, impacting growth characteristics and muscular traits of the body. However, its influence on specific growth traits in some sheep remains to be further elucidated. This study utilized single nucleotide polymorphism sequence analysis to investigate the role of the MSTN gene in meat production performance across four sheep breeds: Charolais sheep, Australian White sheep, crossbreeds of Australian White and Small-tailed Han, and crossbreeds of Charolais and Small-tailed Han. At a SNP locus of the MSTN gene, the C2361T site was identified, with three genotypes detected: CC, CT, and TT, among which CC predominated. Gene substitution effect analysis revealed that replacing C with T could elevate the phenotypic value. Comparative analysis of data from different genotypes within the same breed highlighted the superiority of CC and TT genotypes in phenotypic values, underscoring the significance of specific genotypes in influencing key traits. Contrasting the performance of different genotypes across breeds, Charolais sheep and Charolais Han hybrids demonstrated superiority across multiple indicators, offering valuable insights for breeding new sheep varieties. Analysis of gender effects on growth characteristics indicated that ewes exhibited significantly wider chest, waist, and hip widths compared to rams, while rams displayed better skeletal growth and muscle development. Additionally, the MSTN gene also exerted certain effects on lamb growth characteristics, with the CC genotype closely associated with weight. These findings not only contribute crucial insights for sheep breeding but also pave the way for future research exploring the interaction of this gene with others.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats of North West Province, South Africa

BackgroundThe protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic zoonotic diseases with significant economic and public health implications worldwide. Infection with the parasite has a significant adverse effect on sheep and goat production and can frequently go undetected in the herd, resulting in abortions and weak or dead offspring. Although there are few studies on seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infections in livestock in other provinces of South Africa, there is no data in the North West province. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and risk factors associated with exposure in sheep and goats of the North West province of South Africa. Sera from 439 livestock (164 sheep and 285 goats) were collected and analysed for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies using indirect ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). An assessment of potential risk factors in farms associated with seropositivity was also conducted using a structured questionnaire.ResultsOut of the 439 tested sheep and goats, 13.9% (61/439) were positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Sheep and goats had seroprevalences of 19.5% (32/164) and 10.5% (29/275) respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression model, the risk of acquiring T. gondii was significantly higher in the mixed breed [Odds ratio (OR) = 71.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 266.8-1893.1; p < 0.011)] animals than white dorper sheep and in farms that burn or bury aborted material (OR = 42.04; CI: 179.9-982.5; p = 0.020) compared to those that only burn aborted material. The risk was lower for the farms in Kagisano-Molopo (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-25.4; p = 0.015) and Mahikeng (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-4.9; p < 0.001) local municipalities than Greater Taung local municipality, and for the animals that drink water from dams (OR = 0.03; CI: 0.2–58.8; p = 0.021) than those that drink from boreholes.ConclusionThe seroprevalence and risk factors associated with transmission observed show that T. gondii infection is widespread in sheep and goats of the North West province.

Lipidomic profiling of cervical mucus reveals the potential role of pro-inflammatory derived metabolites on sperm transport across the ovine cervix

Internationally, cervical artificial insemination (AI) in sheep yields low pregnancy rates when frozen-thawed semen is used. An exception to this is in Norway where vaginal AI of frozen-thawed semen to a natural oestrus yields non-return rates in excess of 60%, which has been attributed to the ewe breed used in Norway. This study used both metabolomics and an RNA-sequencing approach to assess the lipid production and composition from cervical mucus and tissue of four European ewe breeds (n = 28–30 ewes per breed) with previously reported differences in pregnancy rates following cervical AI with frozen-thawed semen. These breeds included Suffolk (exhibiting low fertility), Belclare (medium fertility) as well as Norwegian White Sheep and Fur (both with high fertility and pregnancy rates > 60%) at both a synchronised and natural oestrous cycle. The aim was to explore the differences between ewe breeds in the lipidomic profile and to identify candidate biomarkers associated with an optimal environment for cervical sperm transport. The results revealed the identification of 255 lipids, of which 170, 102 and 83 were different between ewe breeds, types of cycle and affected by their interaction, respectively (P < 0.05). Reduced levels of lipids involved in the resolution of inflammation (i.e. 14-HDoHE,17-HDoHE, 15-HETE) were identified in the low-fertility Suffolk breed compared to high-fertility ewe breeds. However, there was an up-regulation of the COX pathway accompanied by increased levels of prostaglandins in the Suffolk breed. These findings indicated a sub-optimal and pro-inflammatory environment that could have a negative effect on cervical sperm transport.

Exploring the Sheep MAST4 Gene Variants and Their Associations with Litter Size.

The economic efficiency of sheep breeding can be improved by enhancing sheep productivity. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) unveiled the potential impact of the MAST4 gene on prolificacy traits in Australian White sheep (AUW)). Herein, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 26 different sheep breeds worldwide (n = 1507), including diverse meat, wool, milk, or dual-purpose sheep breed types from China, Europe, and Africa, were used. Moreover, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping of the MAST4 gene polymorphisms in (n = 566) Australian white sheep (AUW) was performed. The 3 identified polymorphisms were not homogeneously distributed across the 26 examined sheep breeds. Findings revealed prevalent polymorphisms (P3-ins-29 bp and P6-del-21 bp) with varying frequencies (0.02 to 0.97) across 26 breeds, while P5-del-24 bp was presented in 24 out of 26 breeds. Interestingly, the frequency of the P3-ins-29 bp variant was markedly higher in Chinese meat or dual-purpose sheep breeds, while the other two variants also showed moderate frequencies in meat breeds. Notably, association analysis indicated that all InDels were associated with AUW sheep litter size (p < 0.05). These results suggest that these InDels within the MAST4 gene could be useful in marker-assisted selection in sheep breeding.

Effects of yeast cultures on meat quality, flavor composition and rumen microbiota in lambs

Since the banning of antibiotics, the use of feed additives to improve meat quality to satisfy people's pursuit of high quality has become a research hotspot. Yeast culture (YC) is rich in proteins, mannan oligosaccharides, peptides, and yeast cell metabolites, etc., and its use as a feed additive has a positive impact on improving meat quality. So the study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for YC improving mutton flavor and quality by detecting and analyzing the effects of YC on muscle physicochemical properties, amino acids, fatty acids, flavor composition, expression of related genes, and rumen microbiota of lambs. A total of 20 crossbred F1 weaned lambs (Australian white sheep♂ × Hu sheep♀; average 23.38 ± 1.17 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the control group (CON) and the 1.0% YC supplemented group (YC) (n = 10), and were reared in separate pens. The experiment had a pre-feeding period of 10 d and a treatment period of 60 d. After the experiment, 6 lambs in each group were randomly selected for slaughtering. The results showed that dietary YC supplementation increased rumen total VFA and acetate concentrations (p < 0.05), and muscle carcass fat (GR), a∗ value, intramuscular fat (IMF), lysine (Lys), arginine (Arg), nonessential amino acid (NEAA), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), and eicosanoic acid (C20:1) contents were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while cooking loss and γ-linolenic acid (C18: 3n6) were decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that dietary YC improved the types of flavor compounds, and the key flavor substances such as hexanal, nonanal, styrene, benzaldehyde, p-xylene, and 1-octen-3-ol contents were changed (p < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of fat metabolism related genes PPARγ, FASN, and FABP4 were increased. Adding 1% YC to lamb diets increased profits by 47.70 CNY per sheep after 60 d of fattening. All of which indicated that YC could improve meat quality, especially flavor, which may be related to the regulation of the relative abundance of rumen microorganisms Bacteroidota, Prevotella_7, Succiniclasticum and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group.

Do sheep of different coat colors kept in an equatorial semi-arid environment use solar orientation behavior for thermoregulation?

Shade-seeking behavior and body posture adjustments are key thermoregulatory strategies used by free-ranging animals to minimize heat absorption. We observed these behaviors in grazing sheep, analyzing their orientation relative to solar radiation. Over seven days, we monitored six predominantly black and six white crossbred lambs. We found that shade-seeking behavior was less frequent on cloudy days (p < 0.05), with sheep spending more time grazing. Neither the black or the white sheep altered their body orientation to minimize heat absorption, regardless of sunny or rainy conditions. In conclusion, this preliminary investigation showed that body axis orientation seems not to be employed by black and white hair coat sheep as thermoregulatory strategy when exposed to solar radiation in an equatorial semi-arid environment.

Substrate Specificity of Bacillus megaterium UСM B-5710 Keratinase

The specifics of the processing of livestock and poultry products is that in the process of obtaining the main marketable products, about half the feedstock at various stages of the technological process turns into waste that pollutes the environment. These by-products contain large amounts of the hard-to-digest keratin protein. The use of specific enzymes capable of degrading this protein helps not only to reduce the negative anthropogenic impact on nature but also to obtain valuable hydrolysates that can be used as a fertilizer for plants or a feed additive. The aim of this work was to study the ability of Bacillus megaterium UCM B-5710 to split various keratin-containing substrates: black and white chicken feathers, white turkey feathers, parrot feathers of various colors, sheep wool, pig bristles, and baby hair and nails. Methods. The culture was grown under conditions of submerged cultivation at 40 °C, with a nutrient medium stirring rate of 201 rpm for 6 days. For growth, a basic nutrient medium containing 0.5% defatted chicken feathers or other keratin-containing substrates as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen were used. Keratinase activity was assessed by UV absorption at 280 nm of hydrolysis products of keratin-containing raw materials. Protein was determined by the Lowry method, caseinolytic (total proteolytic) activity was determined by the Anson method modified by Petrova, and amino acid content was determined by the ninhydrin method. The degree of hydrolysis of the substrates was evaluated by the ratio of the initial and final weight of the substrate. Results. It was shown that the synthesis of keratinase by the culture of B. megaterium UCM B-5710 begins from the 6th hour of cultivation. The level of protein and proteolytic activity and the content of amino acids increased throughout the entire period of culture growth. The supernatant of the culture liquid of B. megaterium UCM B-5710 was most effective in splitting white chicken’s and turkey’s feathers, a little slower — feathers of black chicken and blue parrots, as well as wool of white sheep. According to the degree of splitting, the substrates used can be arranged in the following order: white turkey feathers &gt; white chicken feathers &gt; black chicken feathers &gt; blue parrot feathers &gt; white sheep wool &gt; baby nails &gt; pig bristle &gt; baby hair. The study of the effect of feather color on the resistance to decomposition showed that black, blue, and red feathers are more resistant, which coincides with the literature data. Conclusions. B. megaterium UCM B-5710 produces keratinase capable of splitting both α- and β-keratins, however, with different efficiencies and rates.

The Hoof Color of Australian White Sheep Is Associated with Genetic Variation of the MITF Gene.

Studying the characteristics of mammalian hoof colors is important for genetic improvements in animals. A deeper black hoof color is the standard for breeding purebred Australian White (AUW) sheep and this phenotype could be used as a phenotypic marker of purebred animals. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis using restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) data from 577 Australian White sheep (black hoof color = 283, grey hoof color = 106, amber hoof color = 186) and performed association analysis utilizing the mixed linear model in EMMAX. The results of GWAS demonstrated that a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; g. 33097911G>A) in intron 14 of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) gene was significantly associated with the hoof color in AUW sheep (p = 9.40 × 10-36). The MITF gene plays a key role in the development, differentiation, and functional regulation of melanocytes. Furthermore, the association between this locus and hoof color was validated in a cohort of 212 individuals (black hoof color = 122, grey hoof color = 38, amber hoof color = 52). The results indicated that the hoof color of AUW sheep with GG, AG, and AA genotypes tended to be black, grey, and amber, respectively. This study provided novel insights into hoof color genetics in AUW sheep, enhancing our comprehension of the genetic mechanisms underlying the diverse range of hoof colors. Our results agree with previous studies and provide molecular markers for marker-assisted selection for hoof color in sheep.

Aspectos gerais do sistema de produção e manejo e sua relação com a infecção por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis e ocorrência de mastite de rebanhos da raça Morada Nova branca em região semiárida

This study aimed to characterize the production and management systems of white Morada Nova sheep herds and to present data on the occurrence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) and clinical mastitis (CM) in a population maintained in a semi-arid region. Blood samples were collected from adult females from herds of the Brazilian northeastern region. The first venous blood sample was used for a complete blood examination. The second blood sample was used to detect the presence of anti-C. pseudotuberculosis specific antibodies. The production and management systems of the herds were characterized using questionnaires, divided into three blocks of indicators: Facilities; Characterization of the production system; Health management. Body weight and hematological results were submitted to an analysis of variance, on which the fixed effect was clinical diagnosis, and the principal component analysis was performed to determine the main variables. For CLA, three herds stood out as having the highest rates of seropositivity (85.71, 79.41 and 60.45%). The same herds also had the highest occurrences of CM (9.30, 8.82 and 5.71%). The main variables that showed differences according the diagnosis of both diseases were blood granulocytes and lymphocytes. The study made it possible to observe the relationship between the best sanitary practices and the lowest occurrence rates of both CLA and CM. The diseases present considerable occurrence​ in sheep populations.

Insight into the differences of meat quality between Qinghai white Tibetan sheep and black Tibetan sheep from the perspective of metabolomics and rumen microbiota.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in meat quality between two local breeds of Tibetan sheep, the White Tibetan sheep and the Black Tibetan sheep in Qinghai, and to search for metabolic mechanisms that produce meat quality differences by analyzing differential metabolites and key rumen microorganisms. The meat quality results showed that one breed, SG73, was superior to the other (WG). Further investigation identified differences in the composition of muscle metabolites and rumen microorganisms between the two Tibetan sheep breeds. It also regulates muscle tenderness, water retention, fat content and the composition and content of AA and FA through two major metabolic pathways, AA metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. These findings could be beneficial for the development of breeding strategies for Tibetan sheep in Qinghai in the future.

Identification and functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins in high and low freezing tolerance sheep sperm

The purpose of this study was to identify proteins associated with differences in the freezing tolerance of sheep sperm and to analyze their functions. Qualified fresh semen from four breeds of rams, the Australian White, white-head Dorper, Black-head Dorper, and Hu sheep breeds, were selected for cryopreservation. The sperm freezing tolerance was investigated by evaluation of the overall vitality, progressive vitality, and rapidly advance vitality of the sperm. A differential model of sperm freezing tolerance was constructed for sheep breeds showing significant differences. Differentially expressed proteins associated with sperm freezing tolerance were identified using iTRAQ and the protein functions were analyzed. It was found that sperm freezing tolerance was best in Hu sheep and worst in white-head Dorper sheep. These two breeds were used for the construction of a model based on differences in freezing tolerance and the identification of sperm proteins expressed differentially before freezing and after thawing. A total of 128 differentially expressed proteins (88 up-regulated and 40 down-regulated) were identified before freezing and after thawing in Hu sheep sperm (fresh/frozen Hu sheep sperm referred to as HL vs. HF), while 219 differentially expressed proteins (106 up-regulated and 113 down-regulated) were identified in white-head Dorper sheep (fresh/frozen white-head Dorper sheep sperm referred to as WL vs. WF). A comparison of these differentially expressed proteins showed that 57 proteins overlapped between the two breeds while 71 were only expressed in Hu sheep and 162 were only expressed in white-head Dorper sheep. Functional annotation and enrichment analyses of differentially expressed proteins down-regulated in Hu sheep involved in phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases, regulation of GTPase activity and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis signaling pathway. Up-regulated proteins of Hu sheep participated in oxidoreductase activity and oxidative phosphorylation process of sperm freezing. Furthermore, down-regulated in white-head Dorper sheep involved in the metabolic regulation of carbohydrate and nuclear sugar metabolism. Up-regulated proteins of white-head Dorper sheep involved in the ferroptosis and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Collectively, These proteins were found to participate mainly in oxidative phosphorylation as well as phosphorylation and metabolic processes in the mitochondria to affect the freezing tolerance of sheep sperm.

Effects of sheep breed and grass silage quality on voluntary feed intake and enteric methane emissions in adult dry ewes

Forty adult dry ewes in early pregnancy participated in a 2 × 2 factorial design study to investigate the effects of two grass silage qualities (Early vs. Average; 7.12 vs 5.74 MJ of net energy lactation per kg dry matter (DM)) and two breeds (Norwegian White Sheep, NWS; Old Norwegian Spæl, ONS) on voluntary feed intake and enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Ewes of the two breeds were equally mixed in two groups and assigned to Early and Average silage quality for first part of the experiment and switched for the second part of the experiment. Each period of the experiment lasted for three weeks; one week of adaptation and two weeks of measurements. The ewes were housed in individual pens and fed silage ad libitum. Feed intake was continuously logged using the BioControl System. Enteric CH4 was measured for 10 weekdays in Portable Accumulation Chambers in each period. Average body weight (BW) for NWS and ONS were 91 and 60 kg, respectively. ONS had significantly (p < 0.0001) lower daily DM intake (DMI), DMI/kg BW, daily NDF intake, NDF/kg BW, g CH4/day and g CH4/kg BW, compared to the NWS. The Early grass silage (p < 0.0001) resulted in higher daily DMI (kg DMI/day, kg DMI/kg BW), and higher enteric CH4 emissions/kg BW when offered to the ewes, compared to the Average grass silage. Significant interactions (p < 0.05) between breed and grass silage quality were observed for both measures of feed intake and CH4 emission. The results show that breed differences in CH4 emission is strongly linked to DMI, however breed differences were still present after correcting for DMI, which indicated breed differences not explained by BW or DMI. Persistent breed differences after correcting for DMI may be related to contrasts in rumen passage rate, NDF digestibility, rumen microbiome, fermentation rate etc. We conclude that improved grass silage quality may be a potential mitigation option. However, to avoid weight gain in early pregnancy in an ad libitum feeding regime, the practical applicability may be limited to periods with higher feed requirements, such as in late pregnancy and early lactation. The breed differences in enteric CH4 emission need to be related to productivity (e.g., fecundity, lamb growth rate). Potential breed differences not explained by body size and/or DMI need to be further investigated.

Iodine intake and excretion from sheep supplemented with macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) by-product

Macroalgae, or seaweeds, have potential for use as feed ingredients and are currently unexploited despite their content of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Brown species can accumulate iodine from seawater and there are strict limits set by the European Food Safety Authority and the FDA regarding iodine content in animal feeds. Iodine can cause health problems for consumers if over or under-consumed and its presence in end food products is strictly regulated. The aim of the present experiment was to gain knowledge on intake, distribution, and excretion of iodine in sheep supplemented with Laminaria hyperborea by-product known to contain iodine. Twelve Norwegian White Sheep male lambs, four months of age, were blocked according to initial live weight (average 37.8 kg) and randomly allocated to two diet groups. Animals were fed gras silage and concentrate, without (CTR) and including the alga by-product at a 6% inclusion rate (HYP). The iodine concentrations were 4.1 and 476 mg/kg dry matter in the CTR and HYP concentrate, respectively. After 26 days of adaptation in a barn, animals were placed in metabolism crates for three consecutive days (Period 1) with collection of rumen fluid (via esophagus), grass silage, feces, urine, and blood for iodine content. After 5 weeks in the barn, animals returned to the metabolism crates for a subsequent three consecutive day sampling and iodine analyzes (Period 2). Data were analyzed via ANOVA using a repeated measure mixed model procedure. Dry matter intake (P = 0.001) and live weight (P = 0.001) increased from Period 1 to Period 2. Lambs fed CTR had higher daily growth rate than those fed HYP (P = 0.001). Iodine intake and excretion in feces and urine increased from Period 1 to Period 2 (P &amp;lt; 0.001, P = 0.010, P = 0.007, respectively). Iodine excreted in feces was 37% and 67% for lambs in fed the CTR and HYP diets, respectively. None of the animals showed signs of iodine poisoning during ten the experiment. We found that most of the iodine excreted from lambs fed the HYP diet was in feces.