11,075 research outputs found
Jointly selecting for fibre diameter and fleece weight: A market-level assessment of the QPLU$ Merino breeding project
No full textThe QPLU$ Merino breeding project began in the early 1990s. The aim of the project was to demonstrate the efficiency of using a selection index to achieve breeding objectives. A number of selection lines were created from three strains of Merino sheep. During the ten-year course of the project, selection of each line was undertaken using an index based on measurements of fleece weight and fibre diameter. Different emphases were placed on each trait in each selected line. This paper estimates the potential aggregate returns of the project to the Australian sheep and wool industries using an equilibrium displacement model.Australian sheep and wool industries, equilibrium displacement model, cross-commodity relationships, R&D evaluation, Livestock Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
Selection for growth, muscling and fatness alters the maternal performance and intermediary metabolism of Merino ewes
No full textThere is growing interest in selectively breeding Merinos with higher growth and muscling and lower fatness. The effects of selection for these traits on ewe intermediary metabolism, body composition, reproduction and milk production and on lamb birthweight, survival and growth were studied in a series of experiments and analyses.
Ewes with higher genetic propensity for early growth had higher mature weight, reproductive rate, lamb birthweight, ewe milk production and lamb growth rate. Ewes with higher growth also had a higher circulating level of growth hormone during lactation.
Ewes with higher genetic propensity for muscling had a higher reproductive rate and produced lambs that were lighter at birth, but this did not result in lower lamb survival. Ewes with higher muscling maintained a higher condition score which may be at least partly attributed to a lower response to adrenaline at the level of the muscle in these higher muscled ewes. Similarly higher muscled ewes had lower growth hormone concentration in lactation which would result in lower mobilisation of tissues. In addition peripheral tissues were less responsive to insulin in high muscled ewes and blood glucose levels were also higher during the non-breeding state in high muscled ewes.
The genetic fatness of ewes was positively associated with lamb birthweight but only when nutrition was restricted suggesting that ewes with a higher genetic propensity for fatness can buffer lamb birthweight under periods of poor nutrition. Ewes with higher genetic fatness had lower circulating growth hormone and a greater response to insulin providing potential mechanisms for the observed higher fatness. Furthermore, response to adrenaline at the level of liver was greater in ewes with higher fatness suggestive of a higher capacity for gluconeogenesis. The combined results of this work suggest that actively selecting Merino ewes to have higher growth, muscling and fatness is likely to have positive reproduction and therefore economic outcomes
Wool production in Dohne Merino, Dormer, Merino and South African Mutton Merino lambs
No full textIn this study, the wool growth of Dohne Merino, Dormer, Merino and South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) lambs reared on a feedlot diet (10.62 MJ ME/ kg feed, 20.7% crude protein) was monitored from about two months old until the lambs were shorn as yearlings. The 100 cm2 patches on the left sides of the lambs were sheared monthly and the clippings were weighed to determine the wool growth rate. At approximately one year old, the lambs were shorn and the fleeces were weighed. A mid rib fleece sample was also retrieved from each lamb for quality analysis. Merino lambs presented the highest wool growth rates (12.943 g/day) and fleece weights (6.140 kg), whereas Dormer lambs exhibited the lowest values for these traits (8.487 g/day and 3.330 kg, respectively (P <0.05)). The lack of differences between Dohne Merino (9.720 g/day and 4.671 kg) and SAMM (10.553 g/day and 4.158 kg) lambs for these wool growth rate and fleece weight traits was attributed to disparities in live weight (86.8 kg and 105.2 kg, respectively (P <0.05), with heavier SAMM lambs offsetting the expected variations in fleece weight. Wool from Dohne Merino and Merino sheep had the finest fibre diameters (<21 μm), followed by SAMM wool (22–23 μm), with Dormers producing coarse wool (>27 μm). These results could be used as guidelines in sheep production to predict the income contribution of wool from these breeds
An archaeological perspective on the nineteenth century development of land, landscape and sheep farming in the Karoo
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.The nineteenth century was one of considerable change within the Cape Colony. There was the change from Dutch VOC control to a British government early in the nineteenth century which exposed small scale Trekboer sheep farmers of the Karoo to a wider mercantile capitalism, especially with the adoption of Merino sheep for the global export market. This thesis charts the early nineteenth century history of colonial Trekboer society into the Karoo with a specific focus on the region to the north of the Roggeveld Mountains and west of the Nieuweveld Mountains. Of particular importance in this history is the change in land rights whereby title deeds and ownership were introduced by the British early in the nineteenth century. The distribution and chronology of title deeds are explored in this area of the Karoo using GIS to map and determine the chronological spread of deeded farms and possible links with environmental and ecological variability. While some correlations can be made under the assumption that better areas were claimed earlier in the nineteenth century other factors were also important. In particular the spread of Merino sheep, for wool production, from the Eastern Cape accounts for some of the geographic emphasis in title deed chronology, while technological innovations may underpin others. Furthermore, the thesis also examines the relationship between the title deeds and the distribution of corbelled buildings, a unique nineteenth century vernacular architecture associated with the Trekboer farmer
La transferibilidad de los permisos de maternidad y paternidad en la encrucijada. Entrevista con Patricia Merino
No full textWe present a dialogue held in the fall of 2019 with Patricia Merino, master`s degree in feminist studies from the Complutense University of Madrid, is the author of the essay Maternidad, igualdad y fraternidad: las madres como sujeto político en las sociedades postlaborales and, is the spokeswoman for the Platform of Feminist Mothers for the Expansion of Transferable Permits too. We talked with her about feminism and PETRA's trajectory and its political goals, about the mothers as a political subject as well as of the need for more support for parenting and childhood. We address, especially, the critical stance that PETRA supports against the approval of Royal Decree-Law 6/2019, which extended to 4 months the non-transferable paternity rights in the Spain.Presentamos un diálogo realizado en el otoño de 2019 con Patricia Merino, Máster en Estudios Feministas por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, autora del ensayo Maternidad, igualdad y fraternidad: las madres como sujeto político en las sociedades postlaborales y portavoz de la Plataforma de Madres Feministas por la Ampliación de los Permisos Transferibles. Hablamos de feminismo, de la trayectoria de la PETRA y sus objetivos políticos, de las madres como sujeto político, así como de la necesidad de más ayudas a la crianza y a la infancia. Abordamos, especialmente, la postura crítica que sostiene la plataforma PETRA frente a la aprobación del Real Decreto-ley 6/2019, que ampliará progresivamente hasta los 4 meses los derechos de paternidad intransferibles en España
A comprehensive analysis of the genetic diversity and environmental adaptability in worldwide Merino and Merino-derived sheep breeds
No full textBACKGROUND: To enhance and extend the knowledge about the global historical and phylogenetic relationships between Merino and Merino-derived breeds, 19 populations were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip specifically for this study, while an additional 23 populations from the publicly available genotypes were retrieved. Three complementary statistical tests, Rsb (extended haplotype homozygosity between-populations), XP-EHH (cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity), and runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands were applied to identify genomic variants with potential impact on the adaptability of Merino genetic type in two contrasting climate zones. RESULTS: The results indicate that a large part of the Merino's genetic relatedness and admixture patterns are explained by their genetic background and/or geographic origin, followed by local admixture. Multi-dimensional scaling, Neighbor-Net, Admixture, and TREEMIX analyses consistently provided evidence of the role of Australian, Rambouillet and German strains in the extensive gene introgression into the other Merino and Merino-derived breeds. The close relationship between Iberian Merinos and other South-western European breeds is consistent with the Iberian origin of the Merino genetic type, with traces from previous contributions of other Mediterranean stocks. Using Rsb and XP-EHH approaches, signatures of selection were detected spanning four genomic regions located on Ovis aries chromosomes (OAR) 1, 6 and 16, whereas two genomic regions on OAR6, that partially overlapped with the previous ones, were highlighted by ROH islands. Overall, the three approaches identified 106 candidate genes putatively under selection. Among them, genes related to immune response were identified via the gene interaction network. In addition, several candidate genes were found, such as LEKR1, LCORL, GHR, RBPJ, BMPR1B, PPARGC1A, and PRKAA1, related to morphological, growth and reproductive traits, adaptive thermogenesis, and hypoxia responses. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive dataset that includes most of the Merino and Merino-derived sheep breeds raised in different regions of the world. The results provide an in-depth picture of the genetic makeup of the current Merino and Merino-derived breeds, highlighting the possible selection pressures associated with the combined effect of anthropic and environmental factors. The study underlines the importance of Merino genetic types as invaluable resources of possible adaptive diversity in the context of the occurring climate changes
The effect of temperament on weight gain of Hungarian Merino, German Merino and German Blackhead lambs
No full textAbstract. We evaluated temperament of sheep using two temperament tests: temperament score test and flight test. Temperament score test: behaviour of animals was assessed in a 5-score system while weighing, spending 30 s on the scale. Flight time test: the time taken by an animal to move a set distance (1.7 m) after exiting a weighing scale into an open yard. 10 rams, 22 ewes Hungarian Merino, 13 rams, 19 ewes German Merino and 12 rams, 16 ewes German Blackhead lambs were lot-fed on 49 days, after weaning. The temperament score test was not related to the weight at weaning, therefore the measurement of the temperament was not affected by the weaning process (P>0.10). The gender not affected the temperament scores in either of observations or genotypes. In this investigation German Blackhead lambs were calmer, than Hungarian Merino lambs. The evaluation of the effects of temperament (temperament score test [TS] and flight time test [FT]) on body weight showed that lambs with calm temperament had higher weight at the end of fattening (TS: 44.88 kg and FT: 42.37 kg) and higher average daily weight gain as well (TS: 492.18 g/day and FT: 430.03 g/day), compared to nervous animals (TS: 36.20 kg and 330.08 g/day, P<0.001; FT: 36.73 kg and 345.77 g/day, P<0.05). The lambs with good temperament had better fattening performance (higher weight at end of fattening, faster weight gain) than nervous lambs.
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Impact of sea transport on animal welfare: Assessing the welfare and feeding behaviour of horned and polled sheep and cattle during export
No full textThe social and feeding behaviours of sheep and cattle segregated according to whether they had horns were investigated during live shipment, to determine the effects of mixing animals with and without horns within specification. Two voyages, one each of Merino sheep and Bos indicus-cross cattle, were monitored using video surveillance and retrospective analysis of footage from specific times to determine the number of behavioural interactions and feeding events within two pens each of polled, horned (up to one full curl in sheep or 12cm in cattle), and mixed polled and horned animals. Concurrently, shipboard personnel recorded behaviour, daily feed intake, daily injury, death and disease of these animals. There was no evidence from the video footage that mixing polled and horned animals within specification resulted in negative health or behaviour outcomes for these animals. This was also the conclusion from the real-time observations made by shipboard personnel, although there were some differences in absolute number of interactions recorded by the two methods. Further observational studies of similar design were conducted on 15 short haul cattle voyages with shipboard personnel recording behaviour, daily feed intake, injury and death of animals in the experimental pens. Eleven of these voyages yielded usable data for analysis, and there was no indication from the records of any difference between experimental pens
Signos de Rénovatión. Recopilacion de documentes post-conciliares de la Iglesia en América latina. Prologue de G. Gutierrez Merino, 1969
No full textSchooyans Michel. Signos de Rénovatión. Recopilacion de documentes post-conciliares de la Iglesia en América latina. Prologue de G. Gutierrez Merino, 1969. In: Revue théologique de Louvain, 1ᵉ année, fasc. 2, 1970. pp. 211-212
Mineral and Vitamin B Contents of Sapudi and Merino-cross Meat
No full textLamb is important in providing balanced and healthy nutrition as a source of protein, fat, and essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B complex. The mineral and vitamin content of meat from local breeds needs to be evaluated as a portrait of the genetic quality data of sheep and as a reference for developing sheep that produce healthy and high-quality meat. This study aimed to analyze the mineral and vitamin B contents of Sapudi sheep and Merino cross sheep meat from the longissimus dorsi area to invent genetic quality data for the meat of these two sheep. Three Sapudi and three Merino cross sheep were kept under similar conditions for two months. Meat collection from the longissimus dorsi muscle was carried out to analyze vitamin B and mineral content. A t-test was then performed to determine meat quality. The results showed that the mineral content of Mn and Cu in Sapudi sheep meat was lower than that in Merino cross meat. The vitamin B2 content in Sapudi sheep (0.11 mg/100 g) is lower than that of Merino cross (0.20 mg/100 g). In comparison, the vitamin B3 content of Sapudi sheep meat was higher (0.51 mg/100 g) than Cross-merino (0.40 mg/100 g). This research concludes that breeding influences nutrient content, and Merino crossbreed sheep are superior to Sapudi sheep in terms of vitamin B and mineral content.
Keywords: genetic resource, Indonesian local lamb, meat quality, mineral, vitami
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