The Qira black sheep and the Hetian sheep are two local breeds in the Northwest of China, which are characterized by high-fecundity and low-fecundity breed respectively. The elucidation of mRNA expression profiles in the ovaries among different sheep breeds representing fecundity extremes will helpful for identification and utilization of major prolificacy genes in sheep. In the present study, ...

Background: One of the adulterant practice in dairy industry is the use of a less costly type of milk such as cow and goat milk instead of more expensive ones especially sheep milk. The aim of the present study was to assess fraud identification of undeclared milk species in composition of sheep yogurt and cheese offered as “pure sheep” in Iranian local markets. Methods: Samples ...

background and aims: akabane disease causes epidemics of abortions, stillbirths and congenital malformations manifested as arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly or microanencephaly in sheep, goats and cattle. akabane virus replicates in arthropods and is transmitted by either mosquitoes or midges. outbreaks of the akabane virus have been reported from many countries in southeast asia, middle east,...

This study estimated the magnitude of sexual dimorphism in a relict sheep from Catalunya (NE Spain), called Fardasca,using geometric morphometric techniques. For these analyses, a total of 18 skull specimens (2 adult males and 16 females) were studied. Our results suggest that the breed is not cranially dimorphic, so sex determination using landmarks described here as criteria is likely to yiel...

Background: Respiratory tract infections caused by some viruses with cattle origin have been demonstrated in sheep and goats. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this study was to determine Bovine Herpes virus type 1 BHV1antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissue of pneumonic sheep, using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. METHODS: For this purpose, the lungs of 4079 sheep, which...

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the morphometric differences of the skull in male and female Zell sheep. Methods: For this purpose, 30 heads (15 adult males and 15 adult female) of Zell sheep breed were collected from the local slaughter-house. The skulls were prepared using the boiling maceration according to the usual techniques, and the mandible was dissociated fr...

The ability of a single administration of a high, medium and low potency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to decrease or inhibit local virus replication and excretion in the oropharynx of sheep following aerosol challenge with homologous live virus 14 days later was examined. Unvaccinated sheep showed signs of clinical FMD, whereas all of the vaccinated sheep, regardless of antigen payload,...

In order to identify the appropriate strains to use in vaccination trials against heartwater in Burkina Faso, the protective effect of Gardel and Welgevonden strains was assessed against local strains on sheep vaccinated by infection-and-treatment method: Gardel protected significantly against Burkina Faso strains tested (survival rate 59% for immunised sheep vs 13% for control sheep) while Wel...

In reviewing the Vicroria County History’s latest Wiltshire venture, John Chandler’s Codford, wool and war in Wiltshire, Pamela Slocombe takes a view that some of the references to sheep appear to be contradictory. I could not possibly comment on a disagreement between such local titans. But in devoting some attention in recent years to topics that involve sheep and cloth – floated water meadow...

This study was initiated to characterize urban and peri-urban sheep production systems and their economic importance in and around the towns of Debre Berhan and Dessie, Ethiopia. The study was undertaken using group discussions, structured questionnaire and personal observations. In both locations the majority of sheep producers were male household heads and predominantly traders in urban and f...