The worldwide production of sheep milk was 9,246,922 tonnes in 2009, whereas dairy cows produced 583,401,740 tonnes (FAOSTAT, at http://faostat.fao.org; accessed July 2011). The dairy sheep production is based on the utilization of local breeds of small or moderate effective and well adapted to local conditions in the different Mediterranean countries. This peculiarity contrasts with the "Holst...

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) belong to the superfamily of transforming growth factor β that is highly expressed in growing ovarian follicles of oocyte, and it has been strongly related to fecundity traits in sheep. Therefore, the GDF9 gene could serve as a genetic marker for improvement of reproductive performance in sheep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to invest...

About the authors Dr John Karlsson is a researcher and farmer interested in improving animal production and sustainability via genetic selection. Over the last 30+ years his work has predominantly revolved around optimum production and developing Merino Sheep fit for the local environment including breeding for parasite resistance. Until his recent retirement he was a Senior Veterinary Officer ...

The detailed anatomy of TMJ of sheep was explored so that it could be used as an experimental animal for study of condylar growth. The experimental animal was a 3-month-old sheep, head of which was procured from a local abettor. The results showed that the sheep is an excellent experimental model for the study of condylar growth, with and without the use of functional appliances, because of sim...

Abstract 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...

Long-term livestock grazing has shaped landscapes, biodiversity, societies, cultures, and economies in the North Atlantic over time. However, overgrazing become a major environmental sustainability challenge for this region, covering Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Scotland. The objective of study was to elicit narratives spatial patterns local people’s management preferences sheep I...

Sumatera Composite (SC) sheep and Barbados Black Belly cross (BC) are two that have half the genetics of local (SL) sheep. Populations with partially same genetic composition sometimes difficult to distinguish. Based on female body size sheep, an analysis was carried out distinguish three breed relationship. The research conducted using SC, BC SL ewe measured in weight 8 sizes. Analysis varianc...

The Nordic and Baltic countries and North-western Russia have >20 old native sheep breeds. These together with recently synthesized breeds and local populations of international breeds make up the northern European sheep diversity. Changes in agriculture threaten to erode genetic diversity in sheep. Molecular genetic variation was assessed to understand genetic diversity in northern European sh...