Follistatin (FST) is involved in hair follicle morphogenesis. However, its effects on hair traits are not clear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of FST gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on wool quality traits in Chinese Merino sheep (Junken Type). We performed gene expression analysis, SNP detection, and association analysis of FST gene with sheep wool quality traits...

Wool and meat contribute to profit in sheep enterprises and both need to be considered in breeding programs. The relative responses expected from selection for a range of traits are presented and the realised responses that have been achieved in Merinos and variation in maternal breeds are illustrated. Knowledge of genetic parameters is required for the development of complex breeding objective...

Methionine synthase (MTR) plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of intracellular methionine, folate, and homocysteine, and its activity correlates with DNA methylation in many mammalian tissues. Our previous genomewide association study identified that 1 SNP located in the gene was associated with several wool production and quality traits in Chinese Merino. To confirm the potential i...

An outbreak of sheep pox occurred in December 2001 on a sheep breeding farm in Jammu, India. The farm maintains three exotic breeds of sheep, i.e. American Merino, Rambouillet and Australian cross. The disease agent was confirmed as sheep pox virus by clinical and post-mortem examination as well as laboratory testing. Typical pock lesions were dispersed over the body of the affected animals wit...

BACKGROUND Fleece rot (FR) and body-strike of Merino sheep by the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina are major problems for the Australian wool industry, causing significant losses as a result of increased management costs coupled with reduced wool productivity and quality. In addition to direct effects on fleece quality, fleece rot is a major predisposing factor to blowfly strike on the body of she...

The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of application site and sheep breed on the efficacy of a flumethrin (1% m/v) solution for the control of 'bont'-legged (Hyalomma spp.) and red-legged ticks (Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi). This study was conducted from November 1996 to February 1997 on 3 farms in the southwestern Free State Province. Two trials were conducted on Dorpe...

The article presents the dynamics of changes in live weight for a year, measurements, body build indices and productivity one-year-old pure-bred Kazakh fine-wool female lambs crossbreeds different bloods with German meat merino, when creating sheep breed south-east Kazakhstan - “Etti merino”. resulting crossbred offspring are characterized as large animals, high good forms.

Occurrence of the αS1-casein D allele (formerly "welsh" variant) in sheep breeds Tsigai, Improved Valachian and Slovak Merino was investigated by means of isoelectric focusing in ultra thin polyacrylamide gel. This variant in herds of the above mentioned breeds was observed as follows: Improved Valachian 3.64%; Tsigai 5.57%; Slovak Merino 12.45%. In the last mentioned breed in a single animal α...

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 ...