• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 2020

Objective: Minerals are one of the important nutrients for supporting the growth of sheep grazing in the highland, northwest of China. The experiment was conducted to investigate the relationship of both macro and micro minerals in sheep grazing in the highlands of six districts located in the Qilian Mountain of China. Methods: Samples of herbage (n = 240) and soil (n = 240) were collected at random in a "W" shape across the area designated for harvesting from 24 farms, where the sheep commonly graze in October (winter) for mineral analyses. In addition, serum samples were taken via jugular vein from 20 sheep per farm from 24 farms (n = 480 samples in total) for serum minerals analyses. Mean values of macro and micro minerals were statistically compared among districts and the correlations among soil-plant-animal were statistically analyzed and correlations were regressed, as well. Results: The results revealed that there were variations for both macro and micro minerals among districts. Statistical analysis of the correlation coefficients between herbage and sheep were significantly different for most of the minerals but not for P, Cu, and Se. Many correlation regression coefficients were found significantly different among minerals of herbage, soil, and sheep serum especially those of K, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn (between herbage and sheep serum), and Fe and Mn (between herbage and soil), Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn (between soil and sheep serum), respectively. The regression coefficient equations derived under this experiment for prediction of Ca (R² = 0.618), K (R² = 0.803), Mg (R² = 0.767), Na (R² = 0.670), Fe (R² = 0.865),Zn (R² = 0.950), Mn (R² = 0.936), and Se (R² = 0.630), resulted in significant R² values. Conclusion: It is inferred that the winter herbage minerals in all the districts were below the recommended levels for macro minerals which indicated there would be some mineral deficiencies in sheep grazing the herbage in these regions. Supplemental minerals may therefore play an important role in balancing the minerals available from the herbage in winter and would lead to increased productivity in sheep on the highland areas of China. These findings could be potentially applied to the other regions for improving the livestock productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.355-365
• /
• 2004

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) treatment (1% NaOH+1.5% $H_2O_2$; 1 AHPMS, 2% NaOH+1.5% $H_2O_2$; 2AHPMS) on rate and extent of degradation of mustard straw (MS) in sacco in sheep, and its in vivo digestion and ruminal fermentation characteristics when fed to sheep with concentrate (200 g per sheep daily). The treatment of straw with 1 and 2% AHP increased its sodium content by 148 and 296% to that of untreated straw (UMS). There was significant decrease in NDF and hemicellulose contents of AHP treated straw and increase in cellulose and lignin contents. Phenolic acids like ferrulic, $\rho$-coumaric and o-coumaric significantly (p<0.001) reduced by AHP treatment of mustard straw. In first experiment the in sacco degradation of DM, OM and NDF was significantly (p<0.01) greater for 2 AHPMS than for UMS at all incubation periods. The disappearance of nutrient from 1 AHPMS and 2 AHPMS treated straws continue to increase up to 96 h whereas in UMS the peak disappearance was found at 48 h. By using the equation {(y=a+b) ($1-e^{-ct}$)} the degradation rates (c) for DM, OM, and NDF were significantly higher for UMS than AHP treated straws. Level of alkali (1 and 2%) had significant effect on degradation characteristics (a, b, c and $P_{0.05}$) of DM and NDF fraction of MS. However, the effect was not pronounced on OM fraction of MS. In feeding experiment, the intake of nutrients for DM, OM, cell wall constituents and energy was higher on 2 AHPMS, whereas no effect on the digestibility of these nutrients was observed. The apparent nitrogen retention was higher (p<0.05) both in 1 and 2 AHPMS groups. Water intake by animals was significantly increased due to AHP treated mustard straw feeding. Rumen liquor pH was higher in 2 AHPMS fed animals. The $NH_3-N$ of rumen liquor was not affected by feeding of AHP treated MS based diets. Total VFA concentration was significantly (p<0.01) higher in UMS fed group. The fractional out flow rate of DM was higher (p<0.05) in animals fed on 2 AHPMS diets compared to UMS and lAHPMS fed groups. The population of large holotrichs was higher (p<0.05) on AHP treated MS fed diets compared to UMS. The study indicated that treatment of mustard straw with AHP changed its chemical composition towards a better feed. The nutritive value of 2% AHP treated mustard straw was better in terms of dry matter intake and apparent nitrogen retention. The higher in sacco DM, OM and NDF disappearance however, was not confirmed by in vivo data in this study.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.285-294
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out in the Chungnam National University grassland experimental field from October, 2007 to December, 2009 in order to find out the growth characteristics of the wildflowers, the seasonal anthesis distribution of the wildflowers, and the botanical composition of the wildflowers which were altogether composed of 70% sheep fescue and 30% wildflowers. The experimental species contained 34 species in total to which sheep fescue (fundamental turfgrass), 4 native wildflowers, and 29 introduced wildflowers belonged. At the time of the anthesis of the wildflowers, the average length was 29.9 cm one year later and 38.4 cm two years later. They bloomed out into nine colors, but into one or three colors during August, September, and October. The blooming season leant toward May and June and from August there was lots of difficulty in the wildflower blooming and the maintenance of their consistency. Especially, at the age of two (2009) the color, seasonal distribution, and consistency emerged as problems owing to the reduction of annual wildflowers after winterization. The annual ration of wildflowers, sheep fescue, and weeds came to 25%, 61%, and 14% each one year later (2008) and 22%, 65%, and 13% each two years later (2009). Based on this result, cultivating wildflower grassland in the ratio of 70% (sheep fescue) to 30% (wildflowers) is the proper method not only for maintaining green space by sheep fescue, but also for commanding a fine view of wild flowers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.277-280
• /
• 2011

Brucellosis is the most important bacterial disease of livestock in Bangladesh. The present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in goat and sheep in Mymensingh and Bogra districts of Bangladesh using slow agglutination test and Rose Bengal test as screening test and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay as confirmatory test. Questionnaire based data on age, gender, area, client's complaint, number of animals in herds, disease history, reproductive problems such as abnormal uterine discharge, abortion or previous abortion in sheep and goat and their reproductive diseases were recorded. A total of 200 sera samples were collected from 80 sheep and 120 goats. The prevalence of brucellosis in goat was 2.50% and 1.25% in sheep. Positive reactors were only detected in female of both goat and sheep. In this study, there existed a significant association among abortion and the prevalence of brucellosis (p < 0.01). The prevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goat in Bangladesh is not negligible, and it is therefore worth considering the adoption of preventive measures.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.1555-1559
• /
• 2003

The objective of the present study was to explore associations between five microsatellites linked to $Fec^B$ and $FecX^I$ genes and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. The polymorphisms of five microsatellite loci, OarAE101, BM1329, BMS2508, TGLA54 and TGLA68 were detected in 244 ewes of Small Tail Han sheep. Analysis of association between three microsatellite loci (BMS2508, BM1329 and OarAE101) located in the 10 cM region covering the $Fec^B$ gene (Booroola gene) and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep indicated that BMS2508 had significant effect on litter size in the second parity (p<0.05), but no significant effect on litter size in the first parity (p>0.05), while the other two microsatellite loci had no significant effect on litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep (p>0.05). At microsatellite locus BMS2508, least squares means in the second parity of genotypes 101/111 and 99/109 were significantly higher than those of genotypes 99/99, 99/101, 99/111 and 99/115 (p<0.05); least squares mean in the second parity of genotype 101/111 was significantly higher than that of genotypes 109/111 and 111/111 (p<0.05). Results of this study also indicated that two microsatellite loci (TGLA54 and TGLA68) that confined the 28.7 cM region covering the $FecX^I$ gene (Inverdale gene) did not affect litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep significantly (p>0.05). The information found in the present study is very important for improving the reproductive performance in sheep breeds by marker assisted selection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.9
• /
• pp.1229-1233
• /
• 2006

To find the candidate genes concerned with ovulation rate of sheep, Differential Display Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction was employed to find the differently expressed cDNA controlling ovulation in the Small Tail Han sheep of polyembryony and in Tan sheep of single birth. Twenty-four primer pairs of three anchored primers and eight arbitrary primers were assembled to amplify the specialized bands from these sheep. Positive cross tests were applied to optimize the ascertainable PCR conditions in which different special bands can be identified by silver strain in one PCR tube. After eliminating the false positive PCR products by Northern hybridization, 24 differential display bands were acquired from the ovary in the Small Tail Han sheep. These EST bands were sequenced and 18 different ESTs were found in which five ESTs had several copies and 13 ESTs had only one copy. Comparing these ESTs with homologous sequences by BLAST in the GenBank, there were six ESTs with known open reading frame (ORF) and function, three ESTs with known ORF and no function, and 9 ESTs without homologous sequence. These ESTs partly represent several genes such as NOS2, tensin, TCRA, CDKN1A, ESR1 and ACTB which express especially in Small Tail Han sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.1761-1769
• /
• 2007

This experiment was conducted to determine the extent to which susceptibility to cortisol-induced follicle shutdown is influenced by fleece phentotype. Twenty Finewool (10 sheep low fibre diameter, low coefficient of fibre diameter-LL and 10 low fibre diameter, high coefficient of variation of fibre diameter-LH) and twenty Strongwool (10 low fibre diameter, low coefficient of variation of fibre diameter-HL and 10 high fibre diameter and high coefficient of variation of fibre diameter-HH) sheep of 9 months of age were individually penned in an animal house and were injected intramuscularly with an aqueous suspension of hydrocortisone acetate at a rate of 1.42 mg/kg body weight for a period of two weeks. Fibre diameter was measured from clipped tattooed patch wool samples. Follicle activity was measured by histological changes in skin biopsies taken weekly. Blood samples were collected at two-week intervals and plasma cortisol measured. Increased plasma cortisol concentration significantly (p<0.05) reduced clean wool production and mean fibre diameter dropped to its lowest level four weeks after commencement and two weeks after the cessation of cortisol injection. Elevation of plasma cortisol concentration significantly (p<0.0001) increased the percentage of inactive follicles two weeks after injection started. High fibre diameter groups (Strongwool sheep; i.e. HL+HH) had significantly (p<0.0001) higher percentage of follicle shutdown than low fibre diameter groups (Finewool sheep; i.e. LL+LH). Average percentage of shutdown follicles for Finewool (LL+LH) and Strongwool (HL+HH) Merino sheep was $9.8{\pm}0.9$ and $13.5{\pm}0.9$ respectively. Shutdown of primary follicles was more pronounced in Finewool than Strongwool sheep. There was no significant effect of coefficient of variation of fibre diameter on propensity to follicle shutdown induced by exogenous cortisol. It is concluded that elevation in plasma cortisol concentration is inhibitory to the normal activity of follicles in Strongwool sheep but that variation in fibre diameter has little or no effect.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 1995

This study was conducted 1) to compare the nutrient content and mineral composition of the Philoppine indigenous sheep and goats diets when grazed in common pasture during rainy season, 2) to determine the influence of sampling methods on nutrient content and mineral composition of upland (UP) and lowland (LP) native pastures, and 3) to compare these two pasture types in terms of nutrient and mineral composition. Experiment 1 used sis esophageally fistulated animals, three each for sheep and goats. Weekly extrusa collection was done for a period of three months. Experiment 2 was conducted in UP and LP; these were sampled thrice by three methods, plucking, clipping and use of three esophageally fistulated sheep. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that the diets of sheep were greater in crude protein(CP; p < 0.01) and ether extract(EE; p < 0.05) but lower in crude fiber (CF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL; p < 0.05) than that of goat diets. All other nutrient fractions including mineral composition were not significantly different from each other. Significant findings of Experiment 2 were: CP content of UP was in the order fistulated > plucked > clipped (p < 0.05); CP content of LP was greater (p <0 .05) in fistulated and plucked samples; and ash content was greater (p < 0.05) in fistulated samples of both pastures. The CP of UP was different (p < 0.05) from each sampling method but the CP of LP and ADL of both pastures were greater (p < 0.05) in clipped samples. Most minerals either macro or microminerals were greater in fistulated samples of both pastures. Pooled data of the two pastures showed that LP had better nutrient characteristics and greater mineral composition. Based from this study, there were few differences between the diets of indigenous sheep and goats when grazed in common pasture. Also, sampling methods influenced the nutrient composition of indigenous sheep diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.1491-1495
• /
• 2004

Small Tail Han Sheep has significant characteristics of high prolificacy and non-seasonal ovulatory activity and is an excellent local sheep breed in P. R. China. Recently a novel member of the transforming growth factor $\beta$ (TGF$\beta$) superfamily termed bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) was shown to be specifically expressed in oocytes and to be essential for female fertility. Therefore, BMP15 is a candidate gene for reproductive performance of Small Tail Han Sheep. The whole genomic nucleotide sequence of BMP15 gene in Small Tail Han Sheep was searched for polymorphisms by PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing, and only one polymorphism was found. The polymorphism was a result of a 3 base pair deletion, which eliminated a single Leu codon (CTT). The allelic frequencies for A (without deletion) and B (with a codon deletion) are 0.73 and 0.27 respectively. The effects of BMP15 genotype on litter size were evaluated using the least squares model. This indicated that there was a significant association between litter size of Small Tail Han Sheep and a deletion in BMP15 gene (p=0.02<0.05). Small Tail Han Sheep ewes with AA and AB genotype produce on average 0.5 and 0.3 more lambs per litter than those ewes with BB genotype.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.507-514
• /
• 2001

Two experiments were carried out to investigate whether duckweed is useful as a dietary protein source for fine-wool Merino sheep and to evaluate its effects on wool yield and characteristics. In Experiment 1, the sheep were given one of three maintenance diets consisting of oaten chaff (520-700 g/d) supplemented with 16-32 g crude protein/d in the form of fresh (1 kg/d) or sun-dried (50-100 g/d) duckweed. Each ration was estimated to provide 5.4 MJ (1.3 Mcal)/d of metabolisable energy (ME). The sheep readily ingested the fresh or dried duckweed. None of the wool measures (yield, rate of fibre elongation, fibre diameter) differed (p>0.05) between dietary treatments. In Experiment 2, oaten-chaff-based diets (800 g/d) supplying 6.5-7.2 MJ (1.6-1.7 Mcal)/d of ME were supplemented with iso-nitrogenous amounts (4-5 g N) either of urea (8 g), cottonseed meal (60 g) or dried duckweed (100 g). In this experiment, the rate of wool fibre elongation, thought to be related to intestinal amino acid absorption, was lower (p<0.05) for sheep given the oaten chaff/urea diet than for those given either oaten chaff/cottonseed meal or oaten chaff/duckweed for which the rates did not differ (p>0.05). Fibre diameter, which ranged from 16.0-16.7 mm, did not differ (p>0.05) between diets, but tended to be lower on the oaten chaff/urea diet so that volume of wool produced was also significantly lower (p<0.05) on this diet than on the diets containing duckweed or cottonseed meal. Rumen ammonia concentrations at 4.5 and 7.5 h after feeding were higher (p<0.05) for sheep given the oaten chaff/urea diet than for those given the other two diets. A comparison of the rumen ammonia concentrations, wool growth rate and predicted flows of amino acids from the rumen of sheep supplemented with duckweed rather than cottonseed meal suggested that duckweed is a valuable source of 'escape protein' for ruminants.