BACKGROUND Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases of several mammalian species, including humans. In Italy, the active surveillance through rapid tests on brain stem from small ruminants started in 2002 on randomly selected samples of healthy slaughtered animals. Sampling number was proportionally related to the regional small ruminant population. O...

the number of lambs sold per ewe mated in the breeding flock has a considerable impact on sheep operation profitability. this depends primarily on fertility, prolificacy (# of lambs), and lamb survival, mothering ability, milk production of the ewe and lamb growth rate. optimal reproduction does vary by environment and management system – some sheep operations don’t want a lambing rate over 200...

As China's meat production is growing, the quality safety of meat food as an important human food sources has increasingly become a major issue which related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Using early warning technique, tracking and tracing techniques and so on in the key link of meat food production in order to fulfill quality control is an important method which can effectiv...

A study was conducted in Northern Ethiopia to assess the sheep production system and factors affecting live sheep supply for quality meat. The survey was done in selected districts known for their high density of sheep population. The flock structure seems to be affected by the demand, requirement of breeding female, feed availability and the occurrence of disease and natural calamities. Farmer...

Breeding for disease resistance in Merino sheep in Australia has attracted considerable research and development attention. Increased labour costs, the reduced efficacy of common anthelmintics and insecticides, consumer demand for products which are free of chemicals and the poor prognosis of alternative long-term control strategies are all forcing sheep breeders to contemplate the best animal ...