Small Ruminant Research最新文献

{"title":"Optimizing ruminal and cecal fermentation in feedlot lambs: The role of orange essential oil and monensin","authors":"Jennifer Mayara Gasparina ,&nbsp;Paulo César Gonzales Dias Junior ,&nbsp;Isabela Jorge dos Santos ,&nbsp;Natália Bandoria ,&nbsp;Brenda Luciana Alves da Silva ,&nbsp;Letícia Carolina Bortolanza Soares ,&nbsp;Janaina Socolovsk Biava ,&nbsp;Daniel Montanher Polizel ,&nbsp;Evandro Maia Ferreira","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of including doses of orange essential oil (OEO) and sodium monensin on the ruminal and cecal fermentation parameters of feedlot lambs. The experimental treatments were: 1) control diet without feed additives; 2) 700 mg of OEO/kg of DM; 3) 1400 mg of OEO/kg of DM; 4) 2100 mg of OEO/kg of DM and 5) 12.5 mg of monensin/kg of DM. Regarding ruminal fermentation parameters, the doses of OEO resulted in a quadratic effect for acetate (<em>P</em> = 0.05) and acetate:propionate ratio (ac:prop, <em>P</em> = 0.05). The inclusion of monensin increased the molar proportion of propionate (<em>P</em> = 0.02) and reduced the ac:prop (<em>P</em> = 0.04) and acetate-plus-butyrate-to-propionate (Ac+But:Prop, <em>P</em> = 0.04) ratios when compared to the control treatment. In contrast, monensin reduced acetate (<em>P</em> = 0.05), increased propionate (<em>P</em> = 0.02), isobutyrate (<em>P</em> = 0.04), and isovalerate (<em>P</em> = 0.04), while also decreasing the Ac:Prop (<em>P</em> = 0.05) and Ac+But:Prop (<em>P</em> = 0.04) ratios compared to the control. Additionally, monensin increased propionate relative to the OEO treatments. In conclusion, both OEO and monensin were effective in optimizing ruminal fermentation in lambs fed high-starch diets; however, only monensin improved cecal fermentation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107619"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145105357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary supplementation of ewes with Astragalus membranaceus root extract enhanced the feto-maternal hemodynamics, fetoplacental development, and lambs’ growth rate","authors":"Hossam R. El-Sherbiny ,&nbsp;Fady Sayed Youssef ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hamed Eldawy ,&nbsp;Ismail Abdelraouf Elnady ,&nbsp;Emad Mohammed Elken ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hamdy Farouk ,&nbsp;Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed ,&nbsp;Maha Abdullah Momenah ,&nbsp;Ramya Ahmad Sindi ,&nbsp;Seham Samir Soliman ,&nbsp;Haney Samir","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107586","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Gestation faces oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation challenges that could negatively affect uteroplacental blood flow and fetal development. &lt;em&gt;Astragalus membranaceus&lt;/em&gt; root extract (AMRE) primarily comprises flavonoids and phenolics that possess potent antioxidant efficacy. Preliminary investigations using the phytochemical screening tests showed that AMRE contained alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, Tannins, and saponins in the absence of resin. This study examined the consequences of AMRE dietary supplementation on uteroplacental blood flow and fetoplacental development in mid to late pregnancy in ewes. Twenty multiparous synchronized 80–83-day gestating Ossimi ewes (weighed 52.4 ± 3.2 kg and aged 3.55 ± 0.62 years of age) were enrolled in this study. They were randomly allocated into two equal cohorts to receive the basal diet plus either AMRE (n = 10; 1 % / dry matter; AMRE) or nothing (n = 10; CON) daily for eight consecutive weeks. Ewes were examined for umbilical (UmA) and uterine (UtA) arteries’ blood flow [resistance index (RI), pulsation index (PI), and systolic-diastolic ratio (S/D) using color-spectral Doppler ultrasonography. In addition, placentome diameter (PD), uteroplacental thickness (UPT), fetal biparietal (BPD), and chest diameter (CD) were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Examination timings were measured just before AMRE supplementation (W0) and each week until the end of supplementation (W2, W4, W6, and W8). Pregnant ewes were monitored until the due time (lambing), and the body weight of lambs (kg) at birth and on days 15, 30, and 45 after lambing were recorded. Additionally, we tested the effect of AMRE supplementation on some biochemical parameters [albumin, globulin, total protein, immunoglobulin A (IGA), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), and total antioxidant capacity] in the serum of ewes and lambs. Fetoplacental morphometry revealed higher (P &lt; 0.05) means in PD (W2-W8), UPT (W2), and CD (W8) in AMRE versus CON ewes. Recorded blood flow parameters (RI, PI, S/D) of UmA were lower (P &lt; 0.05) in AMRE than CON ewes on W4-W8 post-supplementation. From W2 to W8 post-AMRE supplementation, UtA’s hemodynamic indices (RI, PI, S/D) were lower in AMRE ewes than their counterparts in CON ewes (P &lt; 0.05). Most biochemical parameters showed significant (P ˂ 0.05) increases in the AMRE group compared to those in the control one. One-week-old lambs had high (P ˂ 0.05) levels of globulin (g/dl), total protein (g/dl), IGA (ng/ml), Gpx (U/ml), and total antioxidant capacity (mM/L) in the AMRE-supplemented ewes compared to those in the CON group. Except at birth, AMRE-supplemented ewes gave lambs with heavier body weights on days 15, 30, and 45 after parturition compared to those in the CON group. In conclusion, AMRE supplementation at a concentration of 1 %/dry matter enhanced uteroplacental blood flow and fetoplacental development in mid to late-gestating ewes. Additionally, it enhanced the growth rate of ne","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107586"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144827811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What strategies would sheep farmers implement to respond to climate change? A cross-national comparison of sheep farming systems in the Mediterranean","authors":"D. Martin-Collado ,&nbsp;A. Tenza-Peral ,&nbsp;I. Casasús ,&nbsp;M. Joy ,&nbsp;F. Stark ,&nbsp;A. Lurette ,&nbsp;A. Mohamed-Brahmi ,&nbsp;M. Ameur ,&nbsp;A. Aboulnaga ,&nbsp;M. Elshafie ,&nbsp;S. Lobón","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How livestock systems respond to climate change (CC) will shape global food security and rural livelihoods. The Mediterranean region, a climate risk hotspot, hosts diverse livestock systems, including extensive meat sheep farming, where adaptation is critical to prevent economic and social decline. However, response measures are often identified through top-down approaches that overlook local conditions and farmers' perspectives. This study conducted 216 face-to-face surveys with farmers across 11 meat sheep systems in Egypt, France, Spain, and Tunisia to examine their beliefs about CC, perceived farm impacts, and preferred strategies to cope CC. Cluster analysis identified five strategies: i) infrastructure improvement, ii) feed intensification, iii) feed optimization, iv) diversified adjustments, and v) flock management with feed intensification. These strategies were present across all countries and systems. Farmers widely recognize CC and its effects but most attribute its causes a combination of natural and human factors or to natural processes, rather than exclusively to human activity. Their primary concern is feed security, addressed through grazing, indoor feeding, or both, with increased feed purchases playing a central role. Conversely, breed substitution and reproductive management changes are rarely considered. The emphasis on farm infrastructure improvement and feed intensification suggests farmers prioritize reducing exposure to CC impacts by decoupling their farms from local environmental conditions. This aligns with a ‘sustainable intensification’ approach, which presents socio-economic and environmental challenges, requiring greater technical support for farmers to implement effective responses to CC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107576"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144749486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using GC-MS to investigate the effects of post-mortem aging on volatile metabolites in Hu sheep meat","authors":"Qiutong Mao,&nbsp;Jie Xu,&nbsp;Menghuan Bao,&nbsp;Yimeng Wang,&nbsp;Huining Wang,&nbsp;Miaomiao Li,&nbsp;Xiaomei Sun,&nbsp;Yongjun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107589","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107589","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lamb is highly regarded worldwide for its unique flavor, rich nutritional value, and diverse cooking adaptability. This study aimed to characterize the dynamic changes in volatile metabolites during post-mortem maturation of Hu sheep meat. Volatile metabolites in the longissimus thoracis muscles of eight 8-month-old male Hu sheep were profiled at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-slaughter using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results revealed that 198 volatile metabolites were identified in muscle samples of Hu sheep meat at different time points during post-mortem maturation. A total of 36 key volatile metabolites were screened based on the criteria of Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) &gt; 1, P &lt; 0.05, and Fold Change (FC) &gt; 2 or &lt; 0.5. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed significant alterations in volatile metabolites at 48 h post-slaughter during the post-mortem maturation of Hu sheep meat. Furthermore, key metabolic pathways were identified from The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, including arginine and proline metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and nitrogen metabolism, which were found to play critical roles in shaping the flavor profile of lamb during post-slaughter maturation. These findings offer novel insights into the meat quality changes of Hu sheep meat throughout post-mortem maturation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107589"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144826944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meta-analysis of direct and genomic imprinting heritabilities for growth traits in small ruminants","authors":"Jamshid Ehsaninia","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107615","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to pool published estimates of maternal and paternal genomic imprinting heritability (&lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;mi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; and &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;pi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt;) for economically important traits in small ruminants. Ten scientific articles (2017–2024) yielded 96 estimates of maternal and paternal genomic imprinting heritability. Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic were used to assess the heterogeneity of the studies, while Egger’s test was used to evaluate publication bias. A Baujat plot was generated to quantify each study's contribution to overall heterogeneity (OHT) and the weighted parental genomic imprinting heritability estimates (WHE) for each trait. The weighted coefficients of variation varied from 9.51 % for the Kleiber ratio (KR) to 23.57 % for the average daily gain (ADG). The weighted average &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;mi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; ranged between 0.015 for KR and 0.111 for birth weight (BWT), while the mean &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;pi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; ranged from 0.015 for ADG to 0.049 for weaning weight (WWT). Additionally, the &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;mi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; estimates for BWT and six-month weight (SMWT) as well as the &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;pi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; estimates for BWT and KR displayed significant heterogeneity (P &lt; 0.05). The incorporation of genomic imprinting effects into genetic models increased the direct heritability (h&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) of BWT by 4.72 %. However, the h&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; values for the other traits decreased significantly, with a reduction of 33 % for SMWT and up to 93 % for yearling weight (YWT). The I² index revealed high heterogeneity for the &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;mi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; estimate of BWT (86.30 %), but moderate heterogeneity for KR (41.5 %) and SMWT (58.10 %). For &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;pi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, significant heterogeneity was found in BWT (70.90 %) and KR (61.32 %), whereas SMWT showed moderate heterogeneity (36.47 %). The Baujat plot revealed that the estimate of 0.120 ± 0.023 (Ghafouri-Kesbi et al., 2022b_Data set1) significantly contributed to the OHT of weighted &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;mi&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/span&gt; for BWT, WWT, YWT, and ADG, while it had a significant effect on both WHE and OHT concerning the mean value of &lt;span&gt;&lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;h&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107615"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and characterization of novel PRNP haplotypes in the Assaf sheep breed from Palestine","authors":"Muayad Salman ,&nbsp;Ikram Ben Souf ,&nbsp;Samia Khnissi ,&nbsp;Angham Bani Odeh ,&nbsp;Wael Halawa ,&nbsp;Naceur M’Hamdi","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scrapie is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting sheep and goats, strongly influenced by genetic variations in the prion protein gene (PRNP). This study aimed to identify and characterize PRNP polymorphism in the Assaf sheep breed from Palestine, an important dairy breed not previously studied for scrapie-related genetic diversity. Genomic DNA was extracted from 257 Assaf sheep, and the PRNP coding region (specifically exon 3 encompassing the open reading frame with focus on codons 136 (A/V), 154 (R/H), and 171 (R/Q/H/K) was sequenced to identify polymorphisms linked to scrapie susceptibility. Results revealed several known and novel haplotypes (ARK: 1.4 %, AHH: 0.4 %). The intermediate susceptibility being the most common (58 %), followed by ARR (resistance, 16.7 %), ARH (15.6 %), AHQ (7.8 %), and rare variants including VRQ (0.2 %). The majority of sheep belonged to the R3 resistance group (68.1 %), indicating intermediate susceptibility, while highly susceptible genotypes (R4/R5) were nearly absent. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium suggested the presence of selection pressures or population substructure. Three uncharacterized genotypes (ARH/AHH, ARR/ARK, and ARQ/ARK) were identified, with ARH/AHH representing a novel finding. All three were assigned to the ‘unknown risk’ category due to insufficient data on their phenotypic effects, underscoring the distinctive genetic diversity of this population. These findings provide a foundation for marker-assisted breeding strategies to enhance scrapie resistance while preserving genetic diversity in Palestinian Assaf sheep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107618"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145105358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide selective sweep analysis of plateau-type Tibetan and Zhashijia Sheep: Insights into adaptation, growth, and meat production traits","authors":"Dehui Liu ,&nbsp;Xue Li ,&nbsp;Jincai Zhao ,&nbsp;Lei Wang ,&nbsp;Quanbang Pei ,&nbsp;De Sun ,&nbsp;Qianben Ren ,&nbsp;Guoxiang Bao ,&nbsp;Buying Han ,&nbsp;Wenkui Zhang ,&nbsp;Song Wang ,&nbsp;Fei Tian ,&nbsp;Sijia Liu ,&nbsp;Kai Zhao ,&nbsp;Dehong Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Qinghai is renowned as “China’s capital of Tibetan sheep,” with plateau-type Tibetan sheep and Zhashijia sheep being exceptional breeds in the province. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the genetic characteristics or variations underlying their economically essential traits. Therefore, the present study was carried out on plateau-type Tibetan and Zhashijia sheep and aimed to identify the candidate genes regulating the differences in production performance between them by genome-wide selective sweep analysis and, ultimately, by combined analyses of two methods (Fst and Pi, Pi and Tajima’s D). This study identified genes associated with plateau acclimatization, growth and development, body size, and meat quality through Fst, Pi, and Tajima’s D. These genes include <em>HBB</em>, <em>HBE1</em>, <em>GPX1</em>, the <em>HOX</em> gene family, <em>SIRT3</em>, <em>MRAP2</em>, <em>MMAB</em>, <em>BMP4</em>, <em>NCAM2</em>, <em>PCCA</em>, <em>MRPS6</em>, <em>P4HTM</em>, and <em>PLAAT3.</em> Enrichment analyses indicated significant enrichment in key pathways, including amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, Carbon metabolism, and ribosome function. The findings provided valuable insights for breeding programs to improve growth performance in Tibetan sheep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107581"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144781235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of carprofen administration post-mating on conception rate in lactating Assaf ewes","authors":"Omer Faruk Yesilkaya ,&nbsp;Berrak Isık Soyturk ,&nbsp;Yunus Emre Deniz ,&nbsp;Bahar Eda Goren ,&nbsp;Fatma Satilmis ,&nbsp;Huseyin Erdem","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to reduce embryonic loss and improve conception rates in lactating ewes during transition to breeding season through post-mating administration of carprofen. An intravaginal sponge containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (Esponjavet®, Hipra, Turkey), was administered in all Assaf ewes (n = 126) for a period of seven days. The vaginal sponge was then removed and 450 IU of eCG and 10 mg/ewe of PGF_2α were injected intramuscularly. The rams were introduced to the flock at a ratio of 1:6 (i.e. 1 ram per 6 ewes) for a 5-day mating period. After the withdrawal of the rams, the ewes were randomly divided into two groups: the carprofen group (n = 55) and the control group (n = 71). The ewes of carprofen group received a dose of carprofen (1.4 mg/Kg s.c.), whereas those of control group received saline (1 mL) on day 6 after the end of estrus synchronization. The diagnosis of pregnancy was performed on day 35 following the removal of the ram using real-time ultrasonography. The results indicated that the conception rate was significantly higher in the carprofen group (65 %, 36/55) than in the control group (47 %, 34/71) (P &lt; 0.05). The rate of multiple pregnancies was 30 % (11/36) in the carprofen group and 12 % (4/34) in the control group, while the mean number of fetuses per pregnancy was recorded as 1.30 and 1.11, respectively (P &gt; 0.05). In conclusion, the post-mating administration of carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a prolonged half-life, has been found to improve conception rates in ewes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107577"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into milk production, growth, and adaptation traits in Jamunapari goats through whole-genome re-sequencing","authors":"Ram Parsad ,&nbsp;Sonika Ahlawat ,&nbsp;Pooja Chhabra ,&nbsp;Upasna Sharma ,&nbsp;Reena Arora ,&nbsp;Rekha Sharma ,&nbsp;Ritika Gera ,&nbsp;Meena Bagiyal","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Jamunapari goat, a prominent indigenous breed of the Indian subcontinent, is highly valued for its superior milk yield, growth performance, and adaptability, playing a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods. This study investigated the genomic underpinnings of these economically important traits through whole-genome re-sequencing of 15 unrelated Jamunapari goats from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Blood-derived DNA samples were sequenced, aligned to the ARS1 goat reference genome, and analyzed, resulting in the identification of 22,175,381 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Selection signatures were detected using intra-population approaches, including nucleotide diversity (π), Composite Likelihood Ratio (CLR), and Runs of Homozygosity (ROH), leading to the identification of 892 candidate genes. Key genes such as <em>VPS13C</em>, <em>COPS3</em>, <em>ABI2</em>, <em>STIM1</em>, <em>GPX1</em>, <em>EP300</em>, <em>CDK4</em>, and <em>RHOA</em> were associated with lactation, growth, and thermotolerance. Functional enrichment analysis using DAVID and KEGG pathways revealed the involvement of critical biological pathways, including Thyroid Hormone, Hippo, and Rap1 signaling, linked to metabolism, tissue development, and environmental resilience. Protein-protein interaction network analysis conducted via STRING and Cytoscape identified 15 hub genes, notably <em>POLR2A</em>, <em>EP300</em>, and <em>CDK4</em>, suggesting their central roles in regulatory networks of adaptation. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary selection and breeding history of the Jamunapari goat, offering a genomic foundation for targeted breeding programs aimed at enhancing productivity and resilience under challenging agro-climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107600"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of APOD and FABP7 genes polymorphisms and their association with feed efficiency in Hu sheep","authors":"Ziyue Xiao ,&nbsp;Deyin Zhang ,&nbsp;YuKun Zhang ,&nbsp;Dan Xu ,&nbsp;Zongwu Ma ,&nbsp;Kunchao Han ,&nbsp;Lijuan He ,&nbsp;Chengqi Yan ,&nbsp;Qi Zhang ,&nbsp;Lianjun Feng ,&nbsp;Mengru Pu ,&nbsp;Lei Gao ,&nbsp;Peiliang Cao ,&nbsp;Guoxing Jia ,&nbsp;Dewen Kong ,&nbsp;Linting Li ,&nbsp;Jian Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongjian Li ,&nbsp;Jianlin Wang ,&nbsp;Fadi Li ,&nbsp;Huibin Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feed efficiency is a critical determinant of feeding costs in sheep production, and its improvement can significantly enhance economic returns, and fat deposition is an important factor affecting feed efficiency. The Apolipoprotein D (<em>APOD</em>) gene influences fat formation and regulates lipid metabolism. The Fatty Acid Binding Proteins 7 (<em>FABP7</em>) gene is associated with fatty acid synthesis and transport. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns and polymorphisms of the <em>APOD</em> and <em>FABP7</em> genes in Hu sheep and their associations with feed efficiency traits, thereby identifying novel candidate molecular markers for selective breeding. A population of 1010 Hu sheep was used to determine the expression levels of <em>APOD</em> and <em>FABP7</em> genes in 10 tissues using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). SNP loci were identified via Sanger sequencing, followed by genotyping through an Allele-Specific Quantitative PCR based genotyping assay (AQP). The associations between these genotypes and feed efficiency traits were subsequently analyzed. The results indicated that the <em>APOD</em> gene had the highest expression level in tail fat, while the lowest expression level in spleen; The <em>FABP7</em> gene was highly expressed in rumen, and the lowest expression level in muscle. Synonymous mutation was found in exons at <em>APOD</em> SNP (Chr1:192889132 T &gt; C) and intron mutation was found at <em>FABP7</em> SNP (Chr8:15690488 A&gt;G). The association analysis indicated that both <em>APOD</em> SNP (Chr1:192889132 T &gt; C) and <em>FABP7</em> SNP (Chr8:15690488 A&gt;G) were significantly associated with average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) of the Hu sheep in the 120–180 d growth phase. Furthermore, in the combined genotype association analysis, these loci also showed a significant association with the FCR (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). These findings suggest that polymorphisms in the <em>APOD</em> and <em>FABP7</em> loci may be useful as molecular markers to enhance feed efficiency in Hu sheep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 107601"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}