Mohammad hadi Khabbazan; Abdollah Rezagholivand Lahrud; Saeed mokhtarzadeh; Hojatollah Moosapour
Volume 24, Issue 4 , December 2022, , Pages 395-401
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare growth performance, birth and weaning body weights, and survivability between purebred Balouchi (n=53) and crossbred Balouchi×Romanov (n=114) lambs. In addition, carcass characteristics (n=24) were determined. Balouchi ewes were inseminated with Romanov ...
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The objective of this study was to compare growth performance, birth and weaning body weights, and survivability between purebred Balouchi (n=53) and crossbred Balouchi×Romanov (n=114) lambs. In addition, carcass characteristics (n=24) were determined. Balouchi ewes were inseminated with Romanov semen to produce crossbred lambs. All experimental lambs were weaned at 77 d of age and slaughtered at 10 months of age. Birth body weight of the purebred Balouchi lambs was significantly greater than for the crossbred lambs (3.75 vs. 3.56 kg, P<0.01). However, weaning body weight and average daily gain from birth until weaning and slaughter were greater (P<0.05) for the crossbred lambs than for the purebred lambs. Slaughter body weight at 10-month age were not different brtween the tow groups (P=0.08). Litter size was also increased by crossbreeding and using hormone (1.13 vs. 1.00), but lamb survivability was not different between the two groups. The fat yield decreased with crossbreeding. Crossbreeding increased (P<0.05) the weights of testis, liver, heart, and lung. It is concluded that crossbreeding Balouchi ewes with Romanov semen resulted in improved litter size, weaning and slaughter body weights, average daily gains from birth until weaning and slaughter, and carcass characteristics without affecting lamb survivability. Therefore, crossbreeding can be a profitable strategy to increase lamb (meat) production in Balouchi sheep.
Esameel Rouzrokh; Armin Towhidi; saeed zaeinoaldini; Mojtaba Emamverdi
Volume 24, Issue 4 , December 2022, , Pages 501-509
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare sponge and cider with two different brands in estrous synchronicity, vaginal health and off-breeding performance in Moghani ewes. For this purpose, 120 ewes of Moghani breed were selected and randomly divided into four experimental groups. Ewes in the first ...
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The aim of the present study was to compare sponge and cider with two different brands in estrous synchronicity, vaginal health and off-breeding performance in Moghani ewes. For this purpose, 120 ewes of Moghani breed were selected and randomly divided into four experimental groups. Ewes in the first and second groups, using sponge Sponjavet and CIDER Eazi breed (as valid and common brands) for 12 days, respectively, and the third and fourth groups, respectively, using sponge Fluorojest and CIDER Progest (as New brands made jointly by Iran and China) were treated for 12 days. Ewes in all groups received 400 IU units of eCG at the time of sponge and cider harvest. The rate of vaginal mucosal discharge and adhesion in sponge was higher than cider (P< 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between reproduction and progesterone concentrations between CIDER and sponge as well as brands of these two tools.Therefore, due to lower price and similar efficiency, Sponge Fluorojest and CIDER Progest can be considered as an appropriate alternative to common commercial sponge and CIDER..
amir hossein khaltabadi farahani; hossein mohammadi; hossein moradi
Volume 22, Issue 3 , September 2020, , Pages 325-335
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the molecular pathways related to litter size in sheep using gene set enrichment analysis. For this purpose, information of high prolificacy sheep breeds including Wadi, Hu, Icelandic, Finnsheep, and Romanov and low prolificacy including Texel and Rahmani ...
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The aim of this study was to identify the molecular pathways related to litter size in sheep using gene set enrichment analysis. For this purpose, information of high prolificacy sheep breeds including Wadi, Hu, Icelandic, Finnsheep, and Romanov and low prolificacy including Texel and Rahmani were used for genome wide association studies and gene set enrichment analysis. Genome-wide association study was conducted using GenABEL package of R program. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed with the goseq R package to identify the biological pathways associated with candidate genes. We identified different sets of candidate genes related to litter size: BMP5, DHCR24, BMPR1B, ESR1, ESR2 andPLCB1 in Wadi and Romanov; SMAD1, SMAD2, INSR and PTGS2 in Finnsheep and Hu; BMP7, NCOA1 and ERBB4 in Icelandic; BMP4, MSRB and SPP1 in Texel; BMP7, EGFR and KCNMA1 in Rahmani. According to pathway analysis, 30 pathways were associated with the litter size trait. Among biological pathways, the TGF-β signaling, Oxytocin signaling, Estrogen signaling, Prolactin signaling, and Insulin signaling pathways have significant association with ovulation rate and litter size trait. Overall, this study supported previous results from GWAS for litter size, also revealed additional regions in the sheep genome associated with litter size in sheep. These findings could potentially be useful for selective breeding for more litter size in sheep.
Fatemeh Yarahmadi; Ali Kiani; Raziye Dekami; Hamidreza Sahraie; Ayoub Azizi; Alireza Rocky
Volume 22, Issue 1 , March 2020, , Pages 37-45
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on circulating homocysteine, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in pregnant Sanjabi ewes. Twenty multiparous pregnant ewes (3-5 years old) were fed either a basal diet (Control: 71.2±3.6 kg BW) or the ...
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The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on circulating homocysteine, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in pregnant Sanjabi ewes. Twenty multiparous pregnant ewes (3-5 years old) were fed either a basal diet (Control: 71.2±3.6 kg BW) or the basal diet supplemented with five g per kg dry matter betaine (Betaine: 71.6±3.8 kg BW) during the last five weeks of gestation in a completely random design. Feed intake, body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were weekly recorded. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at 28, 14, seven, and one-day pre-partum. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and blood concentration of homocysteine, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Dry matter intake, BCS, and BW of ewes were not affected by betaine consumption. In both groups, the activity of GPx increased (P<0.05), while CAT and MDA decreased (P<0.05) as gestation progressed. The activity of GPx and CAT remained unchanged by betaine. Ewes receiving betaine showed greater (P<0.05) blood homocysteine, but lower (P<0.05) MDA as compared to the control ewes. The birth weight of lambs in Betaine ewes was heavier (P=0.06) than those of control ewes. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of betaine was beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress and improving lambs' birth weight in Sanjabi ewes.
Cyrus Ferasati
Volume 21, Issue 4 , January 2020, , Pages 557-568
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to identify the ovarian activity throughout the year and determine the length of estrus cycles of Sanjabi sheep. Accordingly, blood serum samples were collected weekly and daily (12th of September to 11th of November) from 14 non-pregnant Sanjabi ewes at Mehregan ...
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This experiment was conducted to identify the ovarian activity throughout the year and determine the length of estrus cycles of Sanjabi sheep. Accordingly, blood serum samples were collected weekly and daily (12th of September to 11th of November) from 14 non-pregnant Sanjabi ewes at Mehregan livestock research station in Kermanshah for one year and the progesterone concentration was measured using the radioimmunoassay. The daily evaluation of progesterone secretion proceeding showed that there were four estrus cycles during the period from September 11 to November 12. The average length of the first to fourth estrus cycles was 6.30±2.41, 8.33±1.90, 9.17±2.50, and 16.08±3.11 days, respectively, and the mean time interval between estrus cycles was 6.47±2.46 days. The highest progesterone concentration mean in 61.54 percent of ewes was observed in November and in 38.46 percent of ewes was observed in spring, especially in April. In total, 78.57, 78.57, 71.43 and 78.57 percent of the ewes in June, July, February, and March, respectively, were in perfect anestrus conditions, but all of the ewes had the active ovarian cycle in November. The average length of ovarian activities and in contrast perfect anestrus were estimated 215 ± 38 and 150 ± 48 days per year, respectively. The results showed that Sanjabi ewes had an active ovarian cycle about 60 percent of the time of the year; so, there is naturally applicable of a three-time lambing program in two years in this sheep.
Sayedeh Forough Hosseini Vardanjani; Javad Rezaei; said dehkordi; Yousef Rouzbehan
Volume 20, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 539-551
Abstract
In this study, the effect of different levels of ZnO, nano-ZnO and Zn-methionine, in pre- and post-partum diets, on feed intake, Zn absorption, microbial protein, as well as metabolites and IgG, IgM and IgA in the blood and colostrum of ewes and suckling lambs were investigated. Experiment was conducted ...
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In this study, the effect of different levels of ZnO, nano-ZnO and Zn-methionine, in pre- and post-partum diets, on feed intake, Zn absorption, microbial protein, as well as metabolites and IgG, IgM and IgA in the blood and colostrum of ewes and suckling lambs were investigated. Experiment was conducted from 50 days before to 30 days after lambing. Sixty pregnant Khorasan-Kurdish ewes were divided into six experimental groups (10 replicates) in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets contained ZnO, nano-ZnO and Zn-methionine to meet NRC recommendation, or higher than NRC-recommended level. Replacing ZnO with nano-ZnO or Zn-methionine had no effect on different variables in ewes, but increasing Zn level in the diet of ewes resulted in an increment of daily Zn intake, a decline of Zn absorption coefficient and an increase of fecal Zn excretion (P<0.05). Feeding mother ewes with different Zn sources had no effect on blood metabolites and immunoglobulins of the suckling lambs. Overall, nano-ZnO had no positive or negative effects on ewes and suckling lambs and using Zn-methionine instead of ZnO did not improve the metabolic condition of the animals. On the other hand, the increasing dietary Zn concentration increased zinc excretion in the environment. In practice, using the conventional ZnO at the NRC recommendation level is sufficient to provide the requirement, and to maintain the immunity of pre- and post-partum ewes and there is no need for additional Zn from other sources.
nader papi
Volume 20, Issue 2 , August 2018, , Pages 257-268
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary substitution of different levels of Maize silage (MS) with Jerusalem artichoke aerials part silage (JAAPS) on feed intake, digestibility and microbial protein syntheses in twenty Chall male sheep (live body weight of 65.3±2.3 kg). Four ...
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This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary substitution of different levels of Maize silage (MS) with Jerusalem artichoke aerials part silage (JAAPS) on feed intake, digestibility and microbial protein syntheses in twenty Chall male sheep (live body weight of 65.3±2.3 kg). Four iso-energetics and iso-nitrogenus diets (forage-to-concentrate ratios; 64:36) were formulated in which MS was replaced by different levels (0, 180, 360, or 540 g/kg dietary DM) of JAAPS. The diets were fed to four experimental animals groups in a completely randomized design for a 31-days period. Dry matter intake and dry matter digestibility were 2139 and 699 in control diet and 2095 g/day and 697 g/kg DM in diet contains 540 g/kg DM JAAPS respectively. The replacement of MS by JAAPS did not affect dry matter intake and nutrients intake. Digestibility of dietary nutrients was not affected by experimental diets. By replacing the JAAPS instead of MS, there was no significant statistical change in the microbial protein synthesis. It is concluded that the partial substitution of MS for JAAPS, up to 540 g/kg DM, in diet of sheep has no adverse effect on feed intake and diet digestibility. So the Jerusalem artichoke aerial parts could be used as a silage in sheep diets.
Alireza Talebian Masoudi; Hamidreza Ansari-Renani; Ramezanali Azizi; Azadeh Mirshamsolahi
Volume 20, Issue 1 , May 2018, , Pages 83-94
Abstract
In order to survey slow release mineral-vitamin boluses effects on reproductive performance, wool and follicle structure characteristics of Farahani sheep, 60 head ewes were divided into two control and treatment groups. Control group didn't receive any mineral - vitamin supplement. The treatment group ...
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In order to survey slow release mineral-vitamin boluses effects on reproductive performance, wool and follicle structure characteristics of Farahani sheep, 60 head ewes were divided into two control and treatment groups. Control group didn't receive any mineral - vitamin supplement. The treatment group received slow release mineral-vitamin boluses 15 days before mating. The reproductive performance includes pregnancy rate, lambing rate, abortion rate, weaned rate and means values of fleece weight, staple length, fiber diameter and tenacity of two groups of ewes and secondary to primary follicle ratio(S/P) in treating ewes and their lambs in relation to the control group were evaluated and statistical differences between them were estimated. The result indicated that the slow release mineral-vitamin boluse hadn't significant effect (p
Ali Kiani
Volume 19, Issue 3 , November 2017, , Pages 557-567
Abstract
In this study, effect of lycopene and corn supplementation on quantity of colostrum and concentrations of IgG in blood and colostrum in pregnant ewes was investigated.A total of 40 multiparous single-bearing ewes (body weight 68 ±8.4 kg) during last month of gestation were fed with one of the ...
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In this study, effect of lycopene and corn supplementation on quantity of colostrum and concentrations of IgG in blood and colostrum in pregnant ewes was investigated.A total of 40 multiparous single-bearing ewes (body weight 68 ±8.4 kg) during last month of gestation were fed with one of the four experimental diets including; basal diet (CON), basal diet plus 1 g/d lycopen (LYC), 300 g/d corn (COR), 1 g/d lycopen plus 300 g/d corn (LYC + COR). Quantity of colostrum production was determined at 6 h post-partum using oxytocin injection method.The IgG concentration in colostrum at 6 and 12 h post-partum as well as at 14 and one day pre-partum was determined. Quantity of colostrum at 6 h post-partum in COR, and LYC + COR was higher (P<0.05) than that in CON and LYC. Blood IgG concentration in CON was significantly lower than COR, LYC, and LYC + CORN. Ewes in LYC+COR had higher (P<0.05) colostrum IgG concentration than ewes in CON. In conclusion, lycopene and corn supplementation during late gestation increased serum IgG concentrations and improved colostrum quantity and quality in pregnant ewes.
Shahab payandeh
Volume 19, Issue 3 , November 2017, , Pages 585-599
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effect of commercial bacterial probiotic on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites andenzyme activities in lactating ewes based on a completely randomized design (two treatments and eight replicateseach). The ewes were kept in the individual pens and fed ...
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This study was conducted to determine the effect of commercial bacterial probiotic on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites andenzyme activities in lactating ewes based on a completely randomized design (two treatments and eight replicateseach). The ewes were kept in the individual pens and fed a diet based on alfalfa hay (60%) and concentrates (40%) with or without probiotic. Milk production of the individual ewes was measured and sampled weekly for 12 weeks and blood samples were obtained at four, eight and 12 weeks of lactation before and six hours after feeding. Data were analyzed by repeated measurements procedure. No significant differences were observed due to the addition of probiotic in milk production and chemical composition, but it was changed pattern of milk production during lactation period. The probiotic increased (P<0.01) alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities both before and after feeding at four, eight and eight, 12 weeks, respectively. Aspartate transaminase activity was also higher before feeding at eight week (P<0.05) and before and after feeding at 12 week (P<0.01) in experimental treatment. Overall, the probiotic has no significant effect on the production and chemical composition of milk of ewes, but could change the pattern of milk production and some parameters of blood plasma in Mehraban ewes during lactation period.
Maryam Nosrati
Volume 19, Issue 1 , May 2017, , Pages 47-58
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare copy number variation (CNV) in some Italian sheep breeds with Holstein cows. Blood samples were collected form 580 Holstein bulls and 360 different Italian sheep breeds and then DNA was extracted. The SNPs genotypes across the genome were determined by ovine and bovine ...
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The aim of this study was to compare copy number variation (CNV) in some Italian sheep breeds with Holstein cows. Blood samples were collected form 580 Holstein bulls and 360 different Italian sheep breeds and then DNA was extracted. The SNPs genotypes across the genome were determined by ovine and bovine 50K BeadChip in both species. By PennCNV, the 904 CNV with mean and median size of 154.7 kb and 103.7 kb in sheep and 744 CNV with mean and median of 213.7 kb and 124.5 kb in Holstein were detected, respectively. A total length of this variation were 8.5 Mb in sheep and was 80 Mb in cattle. After merging similar regions, the 35 and 141 non- unique copy number variation regions (CNVR) were detected in sheep and cows, respectively which 20% of sheep’s CNVRs overlapped with cattle’s CNVRs. In addition to, these regions in Sheep genome were partially or completely overlapped with 40 RefGen & 62 QTL in cattle and 110 RefGen in Human. CNVRs distribution in both species was more in subtelomeric and pericentromeric regions. According to these results, it could be possible to use bovine CNVRs which were closely linked to genes for characterizing functional genes and QTLs in sheep, however more studies are need in this regards.
Seyyed Saeid Mousavi; Hamid Amanlou; Ali Nikkhah; Hamid Reza Mirzaei Alamouti; Ali Moustafa Tehrani
Volume 18, Issue 3 , October 2016, , Pages 413-430
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different metabolizable protein levels in diet during the peri parturition on performance and blood parameters of Afshari ewes and lambs. Thirty two once lambing ewes in the last six weeks of pregnancy and the first six weeks of lactation with diets ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different metabolizable protein levels in diet during the peri parturition on performance and blood parameters of Afshari ewes and lambs. Thirty two once lambing ewes in the last six weeks of pregnancy and the first six weeks of lactation with diets before and after parturition containing rates of NRC recommended and 20% higher one as low and high amount of metabolizable protein respectively requirements of ewe with two lambs as Factorial experiment in a completely randomized design were fed. Dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score ewes and their changes, weight lamb in the first and third weeks, and daily weight gain of lambs were not affected by treatments. Amount and composition of the colostrum were not affected by the treatments, but milk yield increasing was observed at low metabolizable protein before and after lambing treatment(p=0.007) as compared to other treatments. Urea (P = 0.0001) and cholesterol (P = 0.02) of plasma were significantly higher in high metabolizable protein than the low metabolizable protein in late gestation. Reducing insulin resistance (P = 0.03) and increasing insulin sensitivity (P = 0. 01) were observed in the treatment low metabolizable protein before and after lambing. No significant difference was observed on the numbers of white blood cells, red blood cells and other blood cells between the treatments. The results of this study, the percentage of metabolizable protein by the NRC for Afshari ewes during late gestation and early lactation is advisable.
Hamed Kermani Moakhar; Armin Towhidi; Saeed Zeinoldini; Hamid Kohram
Volume 18, Issue 1 , April 2016, , Pages 191-200
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glycogenic diets supplemented with different poly unsaturated fatty acids on reproductive performance of Iran Black ewes in two different managing programs. Ewes were allocated in two different groups; group A (n = 75) and group B (n = 25). Ewes from ...
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glycogenic diets supplemented with different poly unsaturated fatty acids on reproductive performance of Iran Black ewes in two different managing programs. Ewes were allocated in two different groups; group A (n = 75) and group B (n = 25). Ewes from group A were stopped from suckling followed by introducing to the rams on days 80 and 90, respectively. Melatonin implant was laid under the skins ear of these ewes 40 days before introducing them to the rams. Animals from group A were divided into three groups (25 ewes/sub-group) and were fed by high starch diets supplemented with saturated fatty acids (control diet), extruded linseed (omega 3 diet), and full fat soybean (omega 6 diet). Ewes from group B were stopped from suckling on day 120, introduced to the rams on day 180 after parturition and fed as described for the control diet. Data for the rates of Estrus cycle, ovulation, lambing and twining were recorded for each group. The weight of lambs was measured at the birth time of birth, and also at 3 and 4 months of age. The lambing and twining rates were higher in omega 3 and omega 6 diets as compared with the control diet and group B. Animals in group B indicated a higher lamb weight at 3 and 4 months of age compared to all treatments in group A. In conclusion, data from current study suggested that using management program of group A along with feeding omega 3 and 6 could improve the reproductive performance of Iran Black ewes.
Hassan Fazaeli; Esmaiel Ismaily Rad; Mohammad Babaie
Volume 13, Issue 2 , March 2012, , Pages 11-18
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to improve the nutritive value of barley stubble for two consecutive years. After harvesting crop, at first year, a completely randomized design, with a 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted in which 27 plots were divided into nine treatments. The treatments including ...
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This experiment was conducted to improve the nutritive value of barley stubble for two consecutive years. After harvesting crop, at first year, a completely randomized design, with a 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted in which 27 plots were divided into nine treatments. The treatments including zero, 2.5 and five percent urea each with zero, three and six percent molasses were mixed with water and sprayed on the stubble (three plots per treatment). During five periods, all plots were sampled before and after spraying with 10 days intervals for the chemical analyses. The crude protein (CP) was increased but crude fiber (CF) decreased in urea-molasses treatments (P< 0.05). The Ash content was increased (P< 0.05) only in the treatments contained 6 percent molasses. At the second year, after harvesting the barley crop, four hectares of stubble was divided in four parts and sprayed with four treatments of urea-molasses liquor including: 1) 2.5 percent urea, 2) 2.5 percent urea +3 percent molasses, 3) 5 percent urea, 4) 5 percent urea +3 percent molasses. Forty eight Shal ewes were divided among the treatments and grazed for 50 days. All ewes showed body weight gain, during the experiment but the body weight changes were not different between the treatments. As a result of twining, the lambing rate was increased about 25 percent for the animals received five percent urea +3 percent molasses comparing to the other treatments.
F. Pourbayramian; M. Ghaderzadeh; H. A. Deljoo Isaloo; P. Biabani; M. B. Shams Borhan; P. Barenj Foroush
Volume 14, Issue 2 , January 2012, , Pages 21-30
Abstract
The current study was designed to estimate the frequency of IGF-I gene 1 polymorphism and investigate if their polymorphisms have association with biometric traits in Moghani sheep by PCR-SSCP method. For this purpose, a number of 100 sheep were randomly chosen from Moghani sheep Jafarabad, Moghan breeding ...
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The current study was designed to estimate the frequency of IGF-I gene 1 polymorphism and investigate if their polymorphisms have association with biometric traits in Moghani sheep by PCR-SSCP method. For this purpose, a number of 100 sheep were randomly chosen from Moghani sheep Jafarabad, Moghan breeding station that located in Ardabil state and blood samples were collected from the left jugular vein using vacuum tubes. DNA were extracted from blood samples that using the salting-out procedure and amplified a fragment of 279 bp in size from IGF-I gene exon 1. The Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) method was used for genotyping. Electrophoresis of PCR products were done on acrylamide gel that observed the polymorphic in this region. Based on SSCP patterns, three genotypes BC, BD and BB obtained with frequencies of 65, 26 and nine percent, respectively. The genotypes in this locus deviated from HWE. The traits data were analyzed using the SAS program. The BB genotype were associated with Leg girth but no association of the other genotypes with the withers height, back height, body length, breast girth other examined biometric traits were found (P< 0.05).