Sheep are natural hosts of the prion disease, scrapie. They are also susceptible to experimental challenge with various scrapie strains and with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which affects cattle and has been accidentally transmitted to a range of other species, including man. Incidence and incubation period of clinical disease in sheep following inoculation is controlled by the PRNP ...

Sumatera Composite (SC) sheep and Barbados Black Belly cross (BC) are two that have half the genetics of local (SL) sheep. Populations with partially same genetic composition sometimes difficult to distinguish. Based on female body size sheep, an analysis was carried out distinguish three breed relationship. The research conducted using SC, BC SL ewe measured in weight 8 sizes. Analysis varianc...

SUMMARY In this study, Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence was assessed for dairy and non-dairy sheep farm residents in The Netherlands for 2009-2010. Risk factors for seropositivity were identified for non-dairy sheep farm residents. Participants completed farm-based and individual questionnaires. In addition, participants were tested for IgG and IgM C. burnetii antibodies using immunofluorescent...

Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery is a rare condition in animals, and to our knowledge it has never been reported association with neoplasia. This report describes case an adult female sheep “Churra Galega Bragançana” breed aneurysm associated lung cancer (ovine adenocarcinoma).

In sheep, cervical artificial insemination (AI) involves depositing semen at the opening, as it is not possible to traverse cervix due its complex anatomy. However, internationally this method yields low pregnancy rates when frozen-thawed used. An exception in Norway, which vaginal deposition of a natural estrus around 70%. As and secretions are principal factors influencing sperm transport sit...

During the early days of the development of the Australian Merino sheep, selection of sheep was based on subjective classing, which is still in practice. Showing of stud animals was also based on subjective classing. With this method some characteristics become fashionable, because of the perceived positive associations with production and fitness. However, some can only be described as fancy t...

Massese is an Italian dairy sheep breed characterized by animals with black skin and horns and black or apparent grey hairs. Owing to the presence of these two coat colour types, this breed can be considered an interesting model to evaluate the effects of coat colour gene polymorphisms on this phenotypic trait. Two main loci have been already shown to affect coat colour in sheep: Agouti and Ext...

Biological control of parasitic nematodes of livestock is currently under development and represents another tool that may be integrated into helminth parasite control strategies. This paper presents a brief introduction to commercial sheep farming in South Africa and currently available nematode parasite control methods. These include the FAMACHA clinical assay, strategies of pasture managemen...

Variation in ovulation rate of ewes was studied with particular reference to the heterosis effect in a 3-breed (Dorset Horn, South Australian Merino, Corriedale) experimental sheep population. For the population as a whole, heterosis effect on the young (1 1/2 year-old) ewes (+0.17 k 0.06** ova, or 14.5%) was similar to that on the mature (5 1/2 year-old) ewes (+0.19 f 0.06** ova, or 12.5%), in...

Sheep of the Pantaneiro breed and seven other breeds, raised in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were genotyped using eight microsatellite loci. The aim of the present study was to determine the genetic variability, phylogenetic relationship, and patterns of gene introgression and miscegenation among the animals surveyed, to obtain information about the genetic structure of locally adap...