Dieldrin toxicity in housed Merino sheep

An outbreak of nervous disease with deaths and reproductive failure was investigated in a fully housed flock of 640 super fine wool (Sharlea) Merino sheep. During the 4 months after the flock was dipped in dieldrin, 70 adult sheep died and no live lambs were produced by the ewes. The diagnosis of poisoning with dieldrin was based upon the presence of characteristic clinical signs, pathological findings and the detection of residues of dieldrin in tissues. Deficiency of vitamin A was confirmed in 2 sheep and may have contributed to the reproductive failure.     

The reproductive performance of Finn × German Mutton Merino and purebred German Mutton Merino Ewes

The sexual season, i.e. the sexual cycle activity, of Finn × German Mutton Merino (Finn × GMM) ewes was found to extend from August to March. In a group of purebred German Mutton Merino (GMM) ewes the sexual season extended from June to January.After July–August and October–November lambings, 90–95% of the Finn × GMM crosses renewed postpartum sexual activity within 90 and 75 days, respectively. Only 40% of the November lambing purebred GMM ewes started new cycles within 105 days postpartum.The responsiveness of the Finn × GMM ewes to hormonal treatment was high (90–100%) during different months of the year. The fertility at the synchronized or induced oestrus was 60–75% throughout the year, with a mean litter size of 2.0 lambs per lambing.     

Genetic parameters for resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Merino sheep in South Africa

Resistance to natural infections of Haemonchus contortus (wireworm) was studied in Merino sheep. From February 1995 to July 1996 data were collected from the OTK Merino Stud on the farm Wildebeesfontein near Hendrina in Mpumalanga province. From March 1998 to January 2000 another Merino flock at Irene in Gauteng province was included in the study. In both cases, 50 randomly-chosen animals from each group of lambs weaned were sampled weekly for faecal egg count (FEC) until a mean of 2500 eggs per gram faeces (epg) was reached. At this stage, all lambs in the group were sampled for FEC, packed cell volume (PCV) and live mass in the case of the Wildebeesfontein flock. Animals were monitored from weaning to about 1 year of age. Data from 5 different groups of lambs (583 animals and 1722 records in total) with genetic links were accumulated and analysed. Variance components and resulting heritabilities for logFEC and PCV were estimated using a bivariate animal model with repeated records. The estimated heritabilities were 0.24 +/- 0.02 for logFEC and 0.14 +/- 0.02 for PCV. A strong negative correlation (-0.84 +/- 0.06) existed between the 2 traits. The genetic correlation between PCV and live mass for the Wildebeesfontein flock was low (0.28 +/- 0.09), while that between logFEC and live mass was negative, although not significantly different from zero (-0.13 +/- 0.09). These results suggest that FEC can be used as a selection criterion for resistance to H. contortus infections in Merino sheep.     

A vertically transmitted cystic renal dysplasia of lambs

A new form of bilateral renal dysplasia in lambs appeared in a commercial sheep flock in 1982. The nature of the problem, the field investigations and the laboratory examinations carried out over three lambing seasons are described. It was concluded that the condition was vertically transmitted and genetic in origin. During the two years that accurate records were kept approximately 30 per cent of the suspected ram's progeny died with lesions of renal dysplasia. The condition recurred during a breeding trial in progeny from one of the two commercial rams originally used on the farm. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance is suggested. The incidence illustrates the importance of keeping breeding records, especially when several rams are maintained in a flock, and the value of examining a large number of lambs post mortem.     

Hemimelia and low marking percentage in a flock of Merino ewes and lambs

Hemimelia at a prevalence of 11% of lambs marked, and low marking percentage (51%) was observed in a flock of mixed age Merino ewes and their lambs. Hemimelia occurred in one or 2 limbs of affected lambs. Lambs from other flocks on the farm were unaffected, and the condition was not reported from other farms. The condition had not occurred in the past, and has not recurred. No infectious or hereditary factors were implicated in the aetiology of the condition. Grazing Western Australian Blue Lupin stubble by the affected flock during and after joining was the only known difference between this flock and others on the farm.     

The extent and cause of perinatal lamb mortality in 3 flocks of Merino sheep

Autopsies were performed on lamb carcases from 2 groups of Merino ewes lambing in paddocks in spring 1978 and from 1 group lambing in pens in 1980 in southwest Queensland. These showed that the main causes of death were starvation due to failure of the lamb to obtain milk, problems at parturition causing death during or shortly after birth and, in some cases, predation. The majority of lambs died within 1 week of birth with the highest mortalities occurring in the lighter lambs. In the pen study, mean birth weight of lambs that died was 3.0 (s.d. = +/- 0.5) kg. The mean daily weight loss of lambs that died of starvation in the pens was 0.22 kg and the mean loss to autopsy was 0.35 kg. In the pen study, there were more lamb deaths, deaths from starvation, mismothering and desertion in each of 2 groups fed a below maintenance ration than in an above maintenance group. More lambs died and more lamb deaths were due to starvation in a group with unsound udders than in a sound udder group. The results are similar to those found by workers investigating perinatal lamb mortality in other areas. Their significance is discussed in relation to Merino sheep flocks in southwestern Queensland.     

Random regression model of growth during the first three months of age in Spanish Merino sheep

A total of 88,727 individual BW records of Spanish Merino lambs, obtained from 30,214 animals between 2 and 92 d of age, were analyzed using a random regression model (RRM). These animals were progeny of 546 rams and 15,586 ewes raised in 30 flocks, between 1992 and 2002, with a total of 45,941 animals in the pedigree. The contemporary groups (animals of the same flock, year, and season, with 452 levels), the lambing number (11 levels), the combination sex of lambs with type of litter (4 levels), and a fixed regression coefficient of age on BW were included as fixed effects. A total of 7 RRM were compared, and the best fit was obtained for a model of order 3 for the direct and maternal genetic effects and for the individual permanent environmental effect. For the maternal permanent environmental effect the best model had an order 2. The residual variance was assumed to be heterogeneous with 10 age classes; the covariance between both genetic effects was included. According to the results of the selected RRM, the heritability for both genetic effects (h(a)2 and h(m)2) increased with age, with estimates of 0.123 to 0.186 for h(a)2 and of 0.059 to 0.108 for h(m)2. The correlations between direct and genetic maternal effects were -0.619 to -0.387 during the first 45 d of age and decreased as age increased, until reaching values from -0.366 to -0.275 between 45 to 75 d of age. Important changes in ranking of the animals were found based on the breeding value estimation with the current method and with the random regression procedure. The use of RRM to analyze the genetic trajectory of growth in this population of Merino sheep is highly recommended.     

多胎基因FecB对德×寒×细三元杂交羊产羔性能的影响

为了研究FecB基因在德×寒×细三元杂交羊群体中的多态性分布及与产羔性能指标的相关性,该试验将以德国肉用美利奴羊（以下简称德肉美）为父本,以小尾寒羊公羊与东北细毛羊母羊级进杂交生产的F₂代羊为母本（以下简称寒×细F₂母羊）,生产的三元杂交后代羊（以下简称德×寒×细三元杂交羊）作为研究对象,采用KASP方法分析FecB基因型并计算基因频率和基因型频率,分析FecB基因频率与德×寒×细三元杂交羊群体产羔性能的相关性。结果发现,德肉美并不含有FecB基因,德×寒×细三元杂交羊B等位基因频率增加明显且处于Hardy-weinberg不平衡状态,提示人工选择对杂交羊群体FecB基因富集影响较大。对寒×细F₂代母羊和德×寒×细三元杂交羊群体不同基因型个体产羔数进行秩和检验分析发现,P值均小于0.01,平均产羔率均表现为++基因型小于B+和BB基因型（P<0.05）,说明B等位基因对德×寒×细三元杂交羊群体产羔性能的提升发挥重要作用。该试验为利用FecB基因提升德×寒×细三元杂交羊群体产羔性能提供参考。     

Lamb coccidiosis dynamics in different dairy production systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the spread of infection and population dynamics of ovine coccidosis under dairy sheep production systems in the Mediterranean area, taking into account differences between management systems, lambing season and climatic conditions. Data were collected from six (intensive and semi-intensive) dairy sheep flocks located either in the North or the South of Greece, with groups of lambs born during two consecutive lambing periods (autumn, spring) from each flock. Faecal consistency and oocyst excretion were recorded from faecal samples taken from 220 lambs in total, starting at days 7-9 after lambing and subsequently every 6 days for 5 times. Eleven Eimeria species including the highly abundant pathogenic E. ovinoidalis and E. crandallis were isolated. The onset of excretion was noted from 13 to 33 days after birth with a peak at 19-21 days. The cumulative incidence of infection per flock until the end of the study ranged from 64.29% to 100% during both lambing periods. A significant tendency for animals to get infected earlier during spring lambing was observed. This trend was even higher for lambs from farms located in the South and is possibly related to the higher contamination level of the farms after lambing during that time. Predominantly subclinical cases of coccidiosis were observed during the course of the study with a relatively low proportion of diarrhoeic faeces which did not significantly differ between the two rounds. Considering the significance of dairy sheep production in the area and the economic losses that can be caused by eimeriosis, monitoring of infection levels in the farms, taking into account the lambing period and environmental conditions, is highly recommended.     

内蒙古鄂尔多斯市澳美型细毛羊冷冻胚胎移植技术应用效果

通过冷冻胚胎移植技术,2007年和2008年前后分2批在鄂尔多斯细毛羊种羊场实施纯种澳美型细毛羊冷冻胚胎移植,共有371只（2007年266只,2008年105只）受体羊做了冷冻胚胎移植,共生产澳美型细毛羊羔羊106只（2007年70只,2008年36只）。其中公羔60只,母羔46只;受胎率分别为26.32%和37.14%;羔羊初生重为公羔（4.73±0.41）kg/只、母羔（4.54±0.43）kg/只和公羔（4.60±0.68）kg/只、母羔（4.45±0.55）kg/只。经过调查鉴定,用冷冻胚移植技术获得羔羊106只,经培养共获得纯种澳美型细毛羊106只,补充了优质澳美型细毛羊种羊的数量,大大增加了纯种澳美型细毛羊的种源数量、节省了引种费用、缩短了鄂尔多斯细毛羊改良世代间隔和选育提高周期,起到了加速优良种畜繁殖速度、迅速扩大种源的科技效应。     

Familial episodic ataxia in lambs

Abstract

HISTORY: A similar episodic neurological disorder occurred in new born lambs on two unrelated properties involving disparate breeds of sheep. Because of the number of lambs born, cross-breeding and the fact it occurred in some mating groups and not others, a dominant mode of inheritance was, initially and separately, suspected in each case. The sires of affected lambs were apparently normal. Whereas one was New Zealand Romney, the other was a composite breed with East Friesian genetics, but both rams originated from the same source property. To investigate the pathogenesis of the disorder these two rams were acquired and mated with unrelated sheep, under experimental conditions in a more controlled environment.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: A proportion of lambs born to both sires exhibited a similar neurological disorder. Some lambs were noted to be abnormal at birth, both on home properties and in the experimental flock. They tended to adopt a head and neck extended posture and were slow to get to their feet and suckle when they then became more or less normal. When forced to move, they and other more robust lambs elicited an asymmetric gait, base-wide extensor hypertonia (hypometria) of thoracic limbs and flexor hypertonia (hypermetria) of pelvic limbs. In some there was nystagmus. After several metres of asymmetric ataxic gait they would fall to one side, sometimes adopting a sitting position. Recovery usually occurred in one to several minutes. As lambs aged, it became more difficult to elicit the episodes of dysfunction and by 6 months of age they appeared normal.

DIAGNOSIS: The disorder was diagnosed as a dominant familial episodic cerebellovestibular ataxia inherited as a dominant trait, with incomplete penetration of observed clinical signs and variable expressivity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A proportion of affected lambs are likely to die in the neonatal period so the specific nature of the disorder may go unrecognised. Because of incomplete penetrance and varying expressivity, many of the lambs carrying this mutation will survive without showing clinical signs and may enter breeding flocks, where the disorder may be perpetuated and contribute to neonatal deaths.     

Reproduction rate and viability of Merino,Nilagiri and halfbred Merino. II. Age specific replacement rate and net reproduction rate

Summary Age specific replacement rate, net reproduction rate and intrinsic rate of population increase were estimated from records over a period of 11 years of Merino, Nilagiri and halfbreds. On an average for every 1000 ewes mated 830 ewes lambed, 917 lambs were born, 898 lambs were weaned and 422 ewe lambs survived to joining age (one and a half years) in Nilagiri sheep. The corresponding figures were 665, 685, 590 and 228 in Merino and 664, 709, 691 and 341 in halfbreds. Nilagiri ewes in intermediate ages had more multiple births and older ewes weaned more lambs. The flock strength was not maintained unless the ewes were kept till the fifth lambing in Merino, third lambing in Nilagiri and fourth lambing in halfbred Merino. These results along with the culling levels indicated that the low reproductive efficiency in halfbreds may not be critical enough to avoid introduction of Merino for improvement in productivity. However, the poor reproductive efficiency of the Merino in this country may necessitate repeat importations of Merino rams for production of halfbreds.

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Resumen Se estimó la tasa específica de edad de reemplazo, la tasa neta de reproducción y la tasa intrínsica de incremènto poblacional, a partir de registros tomados a través de II a?os, de ovejas de las razas Merino, Nilagiri y Merino media sangre. En promedio, por cada 1000 ovejas apareadas, 830 parieron, 917 corderos nacieron, 898 corderos se destetaron y 422 alcanzaron la edad de apareamiento (1 1/2 a?os), en ovejas Nilagiri. Los promedios correspondientes en Merino, fueron 665, 685, 590 y 228, y en Merino media sangre 664, 709, 691 y 341. Las ovejas Nilagiri en edad intermedia, tuvieron más mellizos y las ovejas más viejas, destetaron más corderos. La vitalidad del reba?o no se pudo mantener, a memos que las ovejas se dejaran hasta el quinto parto en Merino, tercero en Nilagiri y cuarto parto en media sangre. Estos resultados junto con los niveles de descarte, indicaron, que la baja eficiencia reproductiva de las media sangre, posiblemente no es suficientemente crítica, para evitar la introducción de sangre Merino, tendiente al mejoramiento de la productividad. Sin embargo, la pobre eficiencia reproductiva de la raza Merino observada en el país, solo podría superarse mediante la importación contínua de machos, para la producción de media sangre.

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Résumé Le taux de renouvellement, le taux net de reproduction et le taux intrinsèque d’augmentation de la population ont été enregistrés pendant une période de onze ans pour les races Mérinos, Nilagiri et demi-sang. En moyenne, on a eu 917 agneaux nés pour 1000 brebis accouplées/830 brebis agnelantes; 898 agneaux ont été sevrés et 422 jeunes brebis ont survécu jusqu’à l’age de la lutte (un an et demi) dans la race Nilagiri. Pour les Mérinos, les chiffres correspondant sont: 665, 685, 590 et 228, et pour les demi-sang: 664, 709, 691 et 341. Les brebis Nilagiri d’age intermédiaire ont eu plus de naissances multiples et les plus vielles brebis donnent naissance à plus d’agneaux. Pour que l’effectif du troupeau se maintienne, les brebis doivent être conservées jusqu’au cinquième agnelage chez les Mérinos, au troisième chez les Nilagiri et au quatrième chez les croisés Mérinos. Ces résultats, ainsi que les niveaux de réforme, indiquent que le bas rendement en reproduction des demi-sang n’est pas suffisamment crucial pour éviter l’introduction de Mérinos dans le but d’augmenter la productivité. Toutefois les maigres performances de reproduction du Mérinos dans le pays obligent à des importations répétées de béliers Mérinos pour la production des demi-sang.

     

An outbreak of severe iodine-deficiency goitre in a sheep flock in north-east Victoria

Background Several outbreaks of goitre, considered to be related to iodine deficiency, occurred in sheep flocks throughout Victoria in 2010. Objective We describe one outbreak in Merino–Border Leicester‐cross ewes and their lambs in north‐east Victoria that appeared to be associated with increased rainfall and pasture growth, particularly during the preceding summer and autumn. Results The outbreak was characterised by a four‐fold increase in neonatal lamb deaths and goitre, alopecia and poor skeletal development in the lambs. Most cases occurred in lambs born to 2‐year‐old crossbred ewes that had grazed long, lush perennial pastures throughout their entire pregnancy, whereas few cases occurred in mature crossbred or Merino ewes that had grazed shorter, annual pastures on hill country for 3 weeks in late pregnancy but were otherwise managed similarly. Conclusion Existing recommendations for south‐eastern Australia are that only spring‐lambing ewes in iodine‐deficient areas require iodine supplementation to prevent goitre in years with high autumn–winter rainfall. Aspects of this outbreak suggest that ewes lambing at other times of the year and grazing abundant pasture for prolonged periods may also require supplementation to prevent goitre, even if autumn–winter rainfall does not exceed previously established thresholds.     

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Merino sheep

OBJECTIVE: To characterise neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) in Merino sheep. DESIGN: A prospective clinical, pathological, biochemical and genetic study. PROCEDURE: NCL cases were studied from a medium-wool Merino flock, the stud of origin of its replacement rams, and an experimental flock established at the University of Sydney. RESULTS: Behavioural changes and visual impairment were first detected at 7 to 12 months of age and progressed, with associated motor disturbances and at later stages seizures, to premature death by 27 months of age. At necropsy there was severe cerebrocortical atrophy associated with neuronal loss, astrocytosis and the presence in neurons of eosinophilic intracytoplasmic storage bodies with the characteristics of a lipopigment. In the retina there was progressive loss of photoreceptor cells. Storage bodies isolated from fresh brain, liver and pancreas formed electron-dense aggregates and coarse multilamellar and fine fingerprint profiles ultrastructurally, and consisted mainly of the hydrophobic protein, subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. A homozygosity mapping approach localised the gene causing the disease in Merino sheep to the chromosomal region (OAR7q13-15) associated with NCL in South Hampshire sheep. CONCLUSION: NCL in Merino sheep is a subunit c-storing disease, clinically and pathologically similar to NCL in South Hampshire sheep. We propose that the disease in both breeds represents mutation at the same gene locus in chromosomal region OAR7q13-15.     

高山美利奴羊羔羊管理应对策略

高山美利奴羊对干旱寒冷气候条件有独特的适应性,是在地处高寒牧区的甘肃省肃南县皇城镇境内的甘肃省绵羊繁育技术推广站培育而成,是甘肃省第一个国家级细毛羊培育品种。高山美利奴羊各个阶段的饲养管理,对其一生发展都有及其重要的意义,直接影响羊的生产性能和繁殖性能,尤其是高山美利奴羊羔羊管理阶段显得更为重要,如果在此阶段饲养管理不善,各个环节不到位,一定会给广大农牧户和养殖企业造成较大的经济损失。笔者通过多年的饲养管理,总结出了高山美利奴羊羔羊饲养管理中的一此经验和作法,并取得了一定的成绩,供广大牧户和养殖企业参考。     

Barium selenate: a long-acting selenium preparation for subcutaneous injection

Three flocks of sheep in typical selenium-deficient areas were injected with 2 ml Deposel® (100 mg selenium as barium selenate) in the autumn of 1982 and/or 1983. The selenium status in 10 ewes from each flock, and their offspring, was monitored by selenium analyses of blood samples. The injection induced an adequate increase in blood selenium within 8 weeks. Adequate selenium levels were maintained throughout the lambing season and the following summer. The selenium status in lambs from treated ewes was adequate until they were put out to pasture. Elevated selenium levels were maintained even throughout the next lambing season, and the second injection gave significantly higher blood selenium as compared to the first. The present preparation seems to be suitable and safe for protecting sheep against selenium deficiency. The dosage used seems sufficient to maintain an adequate selenium status for as long as 2 consecutive lambing seasons.     

Persistence of granulocytic Ehrlichia infection during wintertime in two sheep flocks in Norway

Granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in sheep is common in Norway in areas with Ixodes ricinus. In this study, 2 sheep flocks that had been grazing on I. ricinus infested pastures the previous season, were blood sampled after being housed indoors for nearly 6 months during wintertime. Thirty animals from each flock were examined for granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in the peripheral blood by blood inoculation studies, stained blood smear evaluation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and serology (IFA-antibodies). The animals were sampled twice within a three-week period, the first time before and the second time after lambing. Two sheep in one flock were found Ehrlichia positive by both blood smear evaluation and PCR before lambing, and 3 sheep were found positive after lambing; 2 by blood smear examination and 3 by PCR. In the other flock, no sheep was found infected before lambing, but 2 ewes were found positive after lambing by both blood smear evaluation and PCR. In the first flock, 87% of the animals were found seropositive before lambing, and the mean antibody titre (log10 +/- SD) to E. equi was 2.45 +/- 0.401. In the second flock, 40% were found seropositive before lambing, and the mean antibody titre was 1.93 +/- 0.260. Seroprevalence and mean antibody titre in these 2 flocks were significantly different (p < 0.001). The present study indicates that sheep may be a reservoir host for granulocytic Ehrlichia infection from one grazing season to the next under natural conditions in Norway.     

Longitudinal investigation of protozoan parasites in meat lamb farms in southern Western Australia

In this study, 96 faecal samples were collected from pregnant Merino ewes, at two broad-acre, commercial sheep farms in southern Western Australia, on two separate occasions (16 and 2 weeks prior to lambing). Following lambing, 111 (Farm A) and 124 (Farm B) female crossbred lambs (2-6 weeks old), were individually identified using ear tags (a numbered tag and a radio-frequency tag). A total of 1155 faecal samples were collected only from these individually identified lambs on five separate sampling occasions. All samples were screened using PCR to detect Cryptosporidium (18S rRNA and actin loci) and Giardia duodenalis (glutamate dehydrogenase and triosephosphate isomerise loci). The overall prevalences (lambs positive for a parasite on at least one of the five samplings) at Farm A and B were 81.3% and 71.4%, respectively for Cryptosporidium and similarly 67.3% and 60.5% for Giardia, respectively. Cryptosporidium and Giardia prevalences at individual samplings ranged between 18.5 and 42.6% in lambs and were <10% in the ewes. Cryptosporidium xiaoi was the most prevalent species detected at all five samplings and was also isolated from lamb dam water on Farm B. Cryptosporidium ubiquitum was most commonly detected in younger lambs and Cryptosporidium parvum was detected in lambs at all five samplings, typically in older lambs and as part of a mixed species infection with C. xiaoi. A novel, possibly new genotype (sheep genotype I), was identified in six Cryptosporidium isolates from Farm B. Giardia duodenalis assemblage E was the most common genotype detected at all five samplings, with greater proportions of assemblage A and mixed assemblage A and E infections identified in older lambs. This longitudinal study identified high overall prevalences of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in lambs grazed extensively on pastures, while reinforcing that sampling a random selection of animals from a flock/herd on one occasion (point prevalence), underestimates the overall prevalence of these parasites in the flock/herd across an extended time period. Based on these findings, grazing lambs were identified as a low risk source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia species/genotypes, with these protozoa detected at all five samplings in some lambs, indicating that these individuals were either unable to clear the naturally acquired protozoan infections or were repeatedly re-infected from their environment or other flock members.     

THE EFFECT OF ANTHELMINTIC TREATMENT AND OTHER MANAGEMENT FACTORS ON THE INCIDENCE OF BREECH STRIKE IN MERINO SHEEP

SUMMARY Repeated scouring and soiling of the breech region with faeces rendered mulesed, Merino sheep susceptible to breech strike. Anthelmintic treatment of ewes before and after lambing and of lambs 6 to 8 weeks old reduced intestinal trichostrongylosis, scouring and consequent breech strike. Wether lambs tended to be more susceptible than ewe lambs and sheep grazing long pastures were struck more frequently than those on short pastures.