• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.547-553
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• 2007

Many motifs along the 1.2 kb myostatin promoter (MSTNpro) in sheep have been found by the MatInspecter program in our recent study. To further verify the role of the motifs and better understand the transcriptional regulation mechanism of the myostatin gene in sheep, the reporter gene EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) was selected and the wild-type (W) vector MSTNPro$^W$-EGFP or motif-mutational (M) vector MSTNPro$^M$-EGFP were constructed. The transcriptional regulation activities were analyzed by detecting the fluorescence strength of EGFP in C2C12 myoblasts transfected with the vectors. The results showed that E-box (E) 3, E4, E5 and E7, particularly E3, E5 and E7, had important effects on the activity of the 1.2 kb sheep myostatin promoter. In addition, we also detected several other important motifs such as MTBF (muscle-specific Mt binding factor), MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2), GRE (glucocorticoid response elements) and PRE (progesterone response elements) along the sheep myostatin promoter by the mutational analysis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.21.1-21.8
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• 2016

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of feeding trace mineralsfortified mixed microbial culture (TMC) on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, blood electrolyte status, nitrogen balance, and trace mineral balance in sheep. Methods: Mixed microbes [0.6 % (v/w) of Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Saccharomyces sp.] were cultured with 99 % feedstuffs and 0.4 % trace minerals including zinc and copper for ensiling. Six sheep (a mean body weight of $46.5{\pm}1.2kg$) were fed two diets: a control diet (concentrate mix and rye straw) and an experimental diet (a control diet + 3.1 % TMC). Results: TMC feeding did not induce negative effects on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, blood electrolytes, and nitrogen balance in sheep. Feeding with TMC increased the intake of trace minerals (p < 0.05) and did not affect absorption of trace minerals in the whole digestive tract. Feeding with TMC increased fecal excretion and absorbable intake, and retention of zinc and copper (p < 0.05) by 71 % and 77 %, respectively. Conclusion: Feeding with TMC resulted in higher zinc and copper bioavailability and retention without any adverse effects on sheep performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.625-629
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• 2000

Six yearling Suffolk ewes were used to study the effect of different roughage proportion diets (30%=LR, and 70%=HR) and intake levels (0.7 M and 1.3 M) on heat production and thermoregulatory responses in sheep exposed to different ambient temperatures (20 and $30^{\circ}C$). Sheep fed HR had higher heat production (HP) and time spent eating (TSE) and lower time spent standing (TSS) than those fed LR. But effect of roughage proportion on vaginal temperature (Tv) was obvious only at high intake and at $30^{\circ}C$. Sheep fed high intake had higher Tv, HP, TSS, and TSE than those fed low intake. Roughage proportion and intake level did not have an effect on respiration rate (RR), but ambient temperature did. Ambient temperature did not have an effect on HP, TSS and TSE. At $30^{\circ}C$ sheep had higher Tv and RR than those at $20^{\circ}C$. There were interactions between intake level and ambient temperature in TSS, between intake level and roughage proportion in TSE, and between roughage proportion and ambient temperature in HP. Results indicate that high roughage diet imposes a greater potential heat load on animals than low roughage diet when given at high ambient temperature, but not at low ambient temperature. And the effects is more pronounced at high intake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.477-480
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• 1995

The effects of formic acid and formaldehyde treatment and methionine supplementation to ladino clover fibrous residue silage on eating and rumination behaviour were studied in sheep. From the ladino clover fibrous residue, two silage were prepared, either untreated or treated with formic acid and formaldehyde. Four experimental diets: untreated silage, treated silage, untreated silage with supplementation of methionine and treated silage with supplementation of methionine, were offered to four sheep at a restricted level of DM intake (2% of BW/d) twice daily in a two-way layout design. Methionine supplementation with the treated silage significantly (p < 0.05) reduced daily time spent eating, and consequently, markedly increased rate of eating. However, there was little effect of methionine supplementation on the daily time spent eating and eating rate for sheep offered untreated silage. Methionine supplementation with the treated silage reduced daily time spent ruminating, although the same effect was not observed for untreated silage. The rumination index (time spent ruminating/100 g DM eaten) was remarkably smaller (p < 0.05) with methionine supplement in feeding treated silage, although it did not differ for sheep offered untreated silage. There were no clear effect of methionine supplementation on the rumination efficiency (i.e. number of chews/bolus, bolus time and rumination chewing rate) both feeding untreated silage and treated silage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.834-837
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• 2002

The effect of undecorticated sunflower cake (USFC) as critical protein supplement was assessed and compared with deoiled groundnut cake (DGNC) in adult goats and sheep. The animals were fed a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and supplemented with either USFC or DGNC to meet their protein requirement for maintenance. Total dry-matter intake by sheep and goats (g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) on USFC was similar to their counterparts on DGNC supplemented group. However, while intake of cake moiety was significantly (p<0.05) higher in USFC, the intake of wheat straw was significantly (p<0.05) higher by animals on DGNC. Digestibility of various nutrients, except lower crude protein digestibility by goats in USFC group, did not differ significantly between animals given DGNC or USFC. DCP and TDN concentration (% DM) was comparable in sheep and goats irrespective of dietary supplement. Similarly, the intake (g/kg $W^{0.75}$) of DCP, DDM, DOM, and TDN was similar between DGNC and USFC in both sheep and goats. It may be concluded that undecorticated sunflower cake is comparable to deoiled groundnut cake as a critical protein supplement to the roughage based diet of small ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1173-1177
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• 2011

In this study wool follicle characteristics of Iranian sheep breeds were investigated. A total of 242 male and female sheep of different age from 5 breeds were studied. Samples of skin were taken from the right midside to determine follicle characteristics. Overall averages for males and females were $3.7{\pm}0.1$ and $3.5{\pm}0.1$ for S/P ratio; $3.2{\pm}0.1$ and $3.6{\pm}0.1$ for primary follicle density; $12.1{\pm}0.7$ and $13.8{\pm}0.4$ for secondary follicle density; $15.3{\pm}0.7$ and $17.4{\pm}0.4$ for total primary plus secondary follicle density; $2.3{\pm}0.2$ and $3.5{\pm}0.3$ for percentage of inactive secondary follicles. Significant differences were found in some follicle characteristics between sheep breeds. Results of this study showed that sheep breeds raised in different parts of Iran characterized by a low S/P ratio and follicle density could be classed as carpet wool breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.800-805
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to compare digestibility of 12 diets in sheep, red and fallow deer. No differences (p>0.05) between sheep, red and fallow deer in digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and digestible energy content for all diets were found except for the sorghum diet and medic hay. Sheep and fallow deer digested the sorghum diet better than red deer. An in vitro study showed that sheep had a lower in vitro dry matter digestibility and digestible energy content than both red and fallow deer, with a significant interaction between animal species and feed ingredient. Deer digested straws and hays better (p<0.05) than sheep. In vitro digestibility was lower (p<0.05) than in vivo digestibility, but significantly correlated with in vivo digestibility for red and fallow deer. The in vitro method for digestibility estimation has potential as a rapid feed evaluation system for deer, but needs further validation.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.76-86
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• 2016

In this research, the dyeing properies of Amur cork tree on sheep leathers were evaluated. The proper dyeing conditions were identified with K/S values depending on the colorant concentration, dyeing time, dyeing temperature and dye bath pH. For the proper conditions, the changes of color for different mordants(Al, Cu and Fe) were observed as $L^*a^*b^*$ coordinates and H V/C values. The color fastnesses were also examined, and the antimicrobial properties were examined. The results were as follows: For the sheep leather, the optimized dyeing conditions were 300% o.w.f., 40 min., $40^{\circ}C$, and pH 5. The leather color was yellow in the dyeing and mordanting. Although the $L^*a^*b^*$ changed with the mordants and mordanting methods, the overall hue was yellow. The colorfastness to light was reduced compared to original(untreated) sheep leather. The rubbing fastness was generallry satisfactory as 4-5 rating. The dry-cleaning fastness(stain) of leathers were generally at the 4-5 level, but dry-cleaning fastness(fade) was a little reduced compared to original sheep leather. The dyed and pre-mordanted and dyed sheep leather showed excellent antimicrobial properties.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2019

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep is a hazardous zoonotic parasitic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). At present, serological test is an important diagnostic method for Eg infection in domestic animals. Here, a fusion protein Eg mefAg-1 harboring 8 dominant B-cell epitopes of Eg such as antigen B, tetraspanin 1, tetraspanin 6, reticulon and Eg95 was produced in E. coli and evaluated for CE in sheep by indirect ELISA. Eg mefAg-1 showed in ELISA a high sensitivity (93.41%) and specificity (99.31%), with a coincidence rate of 97.02%. Overall, it is suggested that the Eg mefAg-1 could be a potential antigen candidate for CE serodiagnosis in sheep.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.226-230
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• 2022

The sheep can be reproduced by natural mating as well as applied reproductive biotechnology, embryo transfer (ET). However, this method in sheep is influenced by several factors such as season, photoperiod, latitude, temperature, nutrition, and breed. In addition, there is still less research on assisted reproductive technologies in small ruminants, compared to other livestock species such as cattle and pigs. Because there has been a need for an optimization and a continuous improvement of ET techniques in small ruminants. the main objective of this study was to evaluate the conception rate obtained after ET in Mongolian sheep (Dorper breed). After embryo recover, code 1 and 2 embryos (morula or blastocyst stage) for ET in the present study were 63% (63/100) and 24% (24/100), respectively. Then Each single embryo was transferred to a synchronized recipient who prepared by estrous synchronization protocol with fluorogestone acetate-cloprostenol sodium. The results demonstrated that an average conception rate and lambing rate was 35.6% (31/87) and 33.3% (29/87), respectively. Further study is still necessary, but these results indicated that single embryo of Mongolian sheep with the present protocol was enough to conducting ET when the genetically superior sheep were necessary to be expanded.