Search

Lamb survivability is an important trait from both an economic and animal welfare perspective. Five breeds at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station were evaluated for survival to weaning and included 74,448 records from 43 years. Objectives were to evaluate 1) the influence of lamb and littermate competition on lamb survivability to 3 d and 120 d (weaning); 2) the influence of within-litter competition on birth weight; 3) the relationship between within-litter birth weight deviation and lamb survivability, 4) the influence of ewe age on lamb survivability and birth weight, and 5) reasons for and timing of lamb loss. Sex of littermate(s) had an impact on lamb survivability, which was more pronounced for triplets than for twins. Although not significant, female birth weights were lighter in mixed-sex litters than all-female litters. Within-litter birth weight deviation had an impact on lamb survivability with lambs from below mean weight litters that were more than 1 kg lighter than the litter having less than a 50% chance of survival. Both young and old ewes had lower lamb survival than mid-age ewes. Reasons for lamb loss differed depending on the age of the lamb with weak and trauma categories resulting in early loss and predation resulting in later loss. This study provides insight into within-litter competition for use in future genetic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The relationships between technology use and farm and farmer characteristics in dairy sheep production were studied across 70 dairy sheep farms. Five factors were identified: F1, milk production (23.8%); F2, animal species in the flock (18.1%); F3, product transformation (cheese) (14.2%); F4, energy use (8.8%); and F5, hectares per animal (7.2%). Four different clusters were then identified: Semi-Extensive Dairy (SED), Semi-Intensive (SI), Semi-Extensive Cheese (SEC), and Intensive (I) Systems. The traditional classification of dairy sheep farms according to their dependence on natural resources can be complemented by the inclusion of other indicators that allow for a more complete differentiation of farms. It is necessary to study small-ruminant production systems in a spatial context, as different areas, depending on their natural, socioeconomic, and cultural context, will respond differently to the effects of such causal factors. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between technology use and farm and farmer characteristics in dairy sheep production by developing a farm typology using multivariate statistical analysis and comparing it with the multi-scale sustainability evaluation of the Natural Resource Management Systems (NRMS) method. Quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated and compared using the NRMS method and cluster analysis to identify groups of farms. Fourteen variables were considered for the analysis, resulting in four farm systems with the NRMS method, named Intensive, Semi-Intensive, Semi-Extensive, and Extensive; however, when analyzing the data by cluster analysis, the following clusters were used: Cluster 1, Semi-Extensive Dairy Systems (SEDSs); Cluster 2, Semi-Intensive Systems (SIDSs); Cluster 3, Semi-Extensive Cheese Systems (SECSs); and Cluster 4, Intensive Dairy Systems (IDSs). This study concludes that the traditional classification of dairy sheep farms based on their dependence on natural resources can be enriched by incorporating additional indicators that allow for a more comprehensive and accurate characterization of farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil biology encompasses a vast diversity of organisms contributing to soil processes and functions that underpin the delivery of soil ecosystem services. We review the response of soil biology to long-term phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertiliser application, focusing on trials conducted at Winchmore and Ballantrae Research Stations under sheep grazing. Application of P and N fertiliser increases soil fertility and pasture production and can have impacts on soil biology. Higher earthworm abundance was associated with increasing P, but not N fertiliser application. Microbial biomass or respiration tended to increase with P application but decrease with N application. Both P and N fertiliser decreased fungal biomass. The few microbial functional groups studied also appear responsive to fertilisation. A decline in soil pH may have driven some of these changes and could have been mitigated with lime. Other factors, such as plant composition, may also be important to the soil biology but have received limited attention in these studies. There are currently few indicators that can be used on-farm to assess soil biology. We discuss these as well as measures that can be used in a research context to inform the impacts of fertiliser use on soil biology and its functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ruminants while maintaining economic viability is critical for the sustainability of the livestock industry. We used a modelling approach to examine the effects of a reproductive technology on farm GHG emissions and economic farm surplus (EFS). The use of an androstenedione vaccine enhances ewe productivity (20% increase in lambing rate) and can potentially have a small direct impact on ewe methane production (5% reduction). Eight Beef + Lamb NZ Economic Service Monitor farms were modelled in FarmaxTM. As sole effects, a 5% reduction in methane emissions by breeding ewes resulted in a 2.0% reduction in GHG emissions, whereas a 20% increase in lambing rate increased GHG emissions by 5%. This declined to 3.9% when both effects were considered. Increasing lambing by 20% without and with ewe numbers adjusted to maintain similar intake to Baseline, increased EFS by 74% and 40%. However, without changing ewe numbers, feed supply did not meet demand. Both effects combined with ewe numbers adjusted to maintain Baseline EFS resulted in a 7% reduction in GHG emissions. The study highlights the importance of investing in technologies that lead to increases in productivity, while the search for mechanisms to reduce emissions continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this work were as follows: (i) the evaluation of the prevalence of detection of genetic material of Coxiella burnetii in the bulk tank milk of sheep and goat farms in Greece and (ii) the investigation of variables related to the management applied in farms as possible predictors for this. The presence of C. burnetii genetic material was studied in the bulk tank milk of 325 sheep and 119 goat farms throughout the country. For qualitative and quantitative identification of the genetic material of the pathogen, a commercially available real-time PCR was used. In total, 45 parameters were assessed for potential association with the detection of the pathogen: these referred to the management system, infrastructure, health management, animals, production characteristics, and human resources on the farms. Genetic material of the pathogen was detected in bulk tank milk samples from nine sheep (2.8%) and six goat (5.0%) farms. Genetic material was at significantly higher median concentrations in samples from goat farms than from sheep farms, 1,078,096 (min: 181,121, max: 2,331,386) versus 15,728 (min: 507, max: 505,852) GE mL−1, respectively. For sheep farms, the intensive or semi-intensive management system applied in farms (p = 0.003), and for goat farms, the intensive or semi-intensive management system applied in farms (p = 0.0007) and the smaller number of annual veterinary visits to farms (p = 0.044) emerged as significant predictors. Among sheep farms managed under the intensive or semi-intensive system, the lack of accessory barns on farms (p = 0.024) emerged as a significant predictor; no significant predictor could be found among goat farms under such management systems. There was no significant difference in production outcomes between farms in which C. burnetii was or was not detected in the bulk tank milk; also, there was no association between the detection of C. burnetii and the annual incidence rate of cases of abortion on the farms. The results suggest that the risk of transfer of C. burnetii to dairy products from sheep and goat milk appears to be small, but not negligible, which indicates that the pasteurization of milk from small ruminants must be carried out consistently and correctly to ensure the safety of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large proportion of the lowest annual farm profits in the United Kingdom in recent years comes from lowland and Less Favoured Area (LFA) beef and sheep farms. Benchmarking the performance of a business through routine data collection can provide the information needed to make changes to enterprise management and performance. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are globally recognised measures that can provide farmers with this capability. However, it is largely unknown if there are specific KPIs relating to livestock production that have a significant effect on financial performance. The aim of this study was to determine whether KPIs could be used as predictors of financial performance (gross margin, GM), on suckler beef and sheep farms in England and Wales. This was completed using data from the Farm Business Survey (FBS), which is the largest stratified financial survey of its kind in the UK. Following data extraction, multiple linear regression models were developed for four enterprise types: LFA suckler beef, lowland suckler beef, LFA ewe and lowland ewe. Several KPIs were significantly associated with gross margin per head in all enterprise types. KPIs that were positively associated with GM were measures of livestock productivity, which were lambs per breeding stock and calves per cow. The increased expenditure on concentrate feed had a significantly negative association within all enterprise types, except for LFA suckler beef enterprises, where cow mortality had the greatest significantly negative association. This is the first study to demonstrate the influence livestock production KPIs have on the financial performance of suckler beef and sheep enterprises in both England and Wales, highlighting the importance of routine data collection and benchmarking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The larvae of the Oestridae family parasitize the tissues, body cavities and gastrointestinal tract of mammalian hosts and thereby cause obligatory subcutaneous, nasopharyngeal and gastrointestinal myiasis, affecting wild and domestic mammals worldwide. The study aimed to present initial morphological and molecular findings regarding nasopharyngeal and subcutaneous myiasis in red deer and roe deer populations in Croatia. Larval specimens were obtained from 45 wild cervids during the timeframe spanning from 2015 to 2024. Subcutaneous larvae in both cervid species were identified as Hypoderma diana, while nasopharyngeal larvae were identified as Cephenemyia simulator in roe deer and Pharyngomyia picta in red deer. Our results provide a reference for similar investigations elsewhere in southeastern Europe, which are important for obtaining a complete understanding of botfly distribution throughout Europe as climate conditions become increasingly favorable to their growth. The infestation of ruminants by fly larvae of the Oestridae family can lead to nasopharyngeal or subcutaneous myiasis, which can harm animal welfare and productivity on sheep and cattle farms. The infestation of wild ruminants allows them to serve as reservoirs for subsequent transfer to domestic animals. The fly species most commonly responsible for myiasis have been well studied in many parts of the world, but less so in southeastern Europe. Here, we identified three botfly species among 197 subcutaneous larvae and 138 nasopharyngeal larvae from 36 wild roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 9 wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at 30 locations across Croatia. Instars were stored in 75% ethanol and their species and developmental stage were identified based on morphological and morphometric keys. Subcutaneous larvae in both cervid species were identified as Hypoderma diana, while nasopharyngeal larvae were identified as Cephenemyia simulator in roe deer and Pharyngomyia picta in red deer. Partial sequencing of the gene-encoding mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I confirmed the taxonomic classification of C. stimulator and P. picta but was unable to confirm that of H. diana for lack of previously published sequences. This study appears to be the first to combine the morphological and molecular characterization of myiasis-causing botflies in wild cervids in southeastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neonatal infectious arthritis (NIA) is a bacterial disease of lambs in the first month of life. NIA is associated with poor animal welfare, economic losses, and prophylactic antibiotic use. Farmers report problems with NIA despite following current guidance on prevention. The aim of this study was to estimate NIA UK incidence, describe current management practices for NIA control, and farm management risk factors associated with NIA. Methods: A cross-sectional, online questionnaire of UK sheep farmers was carried out between June and October 2020. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and multivariable risk factor analysis was undertaken. Results: Of the 322 respondents, 64% reported joint ill cases in the 2020 lambing period. The median within flock incidence was 1.4% (IQR 0.8–2.6%; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6). Seventeen percent of farmers estimated their current treatment efficacy for NIA was less than 50%. Eleven percent of farmers used prophylactic or metaphylactic antibiotics in all lambs to prevent NIA occurrence. Across all flocks, risk factor associated with NIA occurrence was the number of ewes lambed (301–600; OR, 3.9; 95% CI 1.9–8.0. >600; OR, 13.7; 95% CI, 5.4–34.4). In outdoor lambing flocks, increased risk of joint ill was associated with the number of ewes lambed (>600 ewes; OR, 34.7; 95% CI, 6.6–182.7), not providing outdoor shelter to lambing ewes (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.2–7.8), and not cleaning ear tags (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.5–21.4). Using antibiotics as a preventative measure was associated with a reduced risk of joint ill (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.01–0.4). In indoor lambing flocks, increased risk of joint ill was associated with upland flocks (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3–6.8), number of lambs born alive (501–1,000; OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6–10.7. >1,000; OR, 14.0; 95% CI, 4.0–48.9), and not washing hands (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.2–10.6). Conclusion: NIA was reported in indoor and outdoor lambing flocks. A pattern of risk factors associated with increasing intensity of lambing was observed. Prophylactic antibiotic use was associated with a reduced risk of NIA in outdoor flocks, however, NIA still occurred in flocks where this was practiced. More veterinary involvement is advised in the diagnosis, treatment protocols, and prevention of NIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The increased global population and improved socioeconomic conditions have led to a dramatic surge in the demand for animal-derived products. Cheese and yoghurt originating from ewe's milk are two of the most desirable dairy products around the world due to their exceptional nutritional and organoleptic properties. Artificial lamb rearing is a common practice in Mediterranean dairy sheep production systems to increase the quantity of marketable ovine milk. The results of the present study suggest that artificial rearing is a feasible strategy for lamb meat production in Greece since it has mild effects on endocrine and behavioral parameters, does not influence carcass traits and meat quality characteristics, and positively impacts meat oxidative stability. Artificial rearing (AR) of lambs is nowadays a common practice in Mediterranean dairy sheep production systems to enhance the milk available for cheese or yoghurt manufacturing. The sufficient growth of lambs in an AR system is vital for the economic success of dairy sheep farms. However, AR is often associated with negative impacts on the performance and physiology of lambs. Greece is one of the major producers of ovine milk; nevertheless, data concerning the effects of artificial rearing in lambs of Greek autochthonous breeds are not available. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the influence of artificial rearing on growth performance, thyroid hormone levels, locomotor activity, carcass traits and meat quality characteristics in lambs of the Chios breed, which is one of the most well-known Greek dairy sheep breeds. Twenty-one singleton male lambs were assigned into two feeding regimes; natural rearing NR (n = 11) and AR (n = 10). The lambs' behavior was continuously videotaped until weaning, and their standing percentage was recorded as an activity index. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of lambs on days 3, 10, 17 and 40 after birth to assess thyroid hormone levels. The body weight of lambs was also recorded weekly. At the age of 45 days, lambs were fasted for 12 h, weighed and slaughtered. The weights of the carcass and internal organs were measured, while samples of the longissimus dorsi muscle were used for the determination of meat pH, color, water holding capacity, shear force and oxidative stability values. As indicated, body weight (kg) at birth was greater in NR vs. AR group and this difference was maintained till day 35 (p < 0.05), although body gain (kg) was generally not significantly different between NR and AR lambs, with the exception of the first week, when NR showed a greater value compared with the AR lambs (p < 0.001). On day 42, no significant differences between lamb groups for body weight were observed. Levels for triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and the free form of T3 (FT3) were greater, whereas the standing percentage was lower in NR compared with AR lambs (p < 0.05). The feeding regime of lambs did not affect carcass traits, internal organ and fat tissue weights, except for cold carcass yield which was greater in AR vs. NR lambs. No significant differences were observed between the two lamb groups in meat quality characteristics, such as pH, color, water holding capacity and shear force values, although MDA content was decreased in AR lambs indicating an improved oxidative stability. In conclusion, artificial rearing appears to be a feasible strategy for Chios lamb meat production, since it does not negatively influence carcass traits and meat quality characteristics, while a positive effect in meat oxidative stability is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe the personal drivers, sources of information and gastro-intestinal parasite control methods used by a group of New Zealand sheep farmers identified as low users of anthelmintic (AHC), and their perception of the efficacy and impacts of this approach. Methods: A convenience sample of 13 sheep farmers farming with a policy of reduced AHC use (no pre-determined routine treatments of ewes >19 months old and/or lambs not routinely treated at pre-determined intervals from weaning through to late autumn) were identified. Semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding their farming philosophy, motivations for reducing AHC use, perceptions of the impacts of farming with reduced AHC use, and parasite control practices. Semi-quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics for demographic data and categorising participants' use of AHC and non-chemical control methods. Qualitative data regarding participants' motivations, approaches and rationale were analysed by systematic analysis of the transcripts and distillation of key concepts. Results: Participants had been operating with reduced AHC use for 3 to ≥20 years. Key motivators for reducing AHC use were a diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance (AR) or concerns about AR developing. Parasite management information came from a wide range of sources. All respondents expressed overall positive views regarding the impacts of reduced AHC use but detailed information was not available. All identified that regular monitoring, based primarily on subjective animal and non-animal factors was important for their parasite control strategy. Most used faecal egg counts (FEC), often in an ad hoc manner. Five never treated adult ewes, two routinely treated ewes prior to lambing with short-acting AHC and the remainder occasionally treated a small number in low body condition. Four routinely treated some or all lambs at 28–30-day intervals from weaning to late autumn while the remainder based their treatment decisions for lambs on monitored information. All placed heavy emphasis on feeding sheep well, ensuring high post-grazing residuals, and cross-grazing. Conclusions: AR was a key motivator for participants to reduce AHC use, and a range of information sources and decision-making processes were used. Key parasite management practices were monitoring, primarily using subjective assessments, emphasis on feeding stock well and cross-grazing. Clinical relevance: The rising prevalence of AR will likely result in increasing the motivation for sheep farmers to reduce their AHC use. Veterinarians will play a key role in providing advice and assistance to facilitate changes in parasite management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Mary Austin's exploration of the Owens Valley and the subsequent construction of the Los Angeles aqueduct in the early 20th century. It highlights the deceptive tactics used by Los Angeles officials to acquire water rights from valley residents, leading to protests and the beginning of the California Water Wars. The article also analyzes Austin's novel "The Ford," which reimagines the aqueduct controversy as an extractive infrastructure that disrupts hydrosocial relations in the region. While the novel offers insights into human-water relations, it fails to acknowledge the expertise and sovereignty of the Paiute and Shoshone people who lived in the Owens Valley. [Extracted from the article]

SARS-CoV-2 can cause clinical and inapparent disease and mortality in several animals cohabitating with humans, and sheep are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 due to virus–receptor interactions similar to those in humans. Hence, sheep have the potential to be infected, spread, and develop neutralising antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs in farm animals after natural exposure to the virus. Serum samples were collected from sheep in the Serra da Estrela region in Portugal, both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sera were tested by established SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus systems for multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants (early—Wuhan, mid—Delta, Omicron—BA.1, and late—Omicron XBB, BQ.1.1). Partial neutralisation activity in Pre-pandemic and Mid-pandemic samples was observed, while no NAb activity was observed in Late-pandemic samples tested. Different levels of NAbs were observed between Pre-pandemic samples and those collected during the Mid-pandemic and Late-pandemic periods (p ≤ 0.01). Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 cross-species transmission may have occurred through human–sheep contacts on sheep farms during the pandemic, and that farm animals could contribute to the One Health Approach in zoonotic virus surveillance and pandemic preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the negative environmental impact of production activities without (substantial) loss of production is a crucial challenge for the agricultural sector. Investigating farms' environmental and technical efficiency (TE) levels and drivers can contribute to addressing this issue. In this regard, based on recent theoretical developments on the appropriate handling of undesirable outputs in the modeling of production technologies, this paper introduces a multi‐equation stochastic frontier framework for technical and environmental efficiency (EE) analysis. This framework is applied to a sample of French suckler sheep farms. The results indicate that, on average, farms in the sample can increase their desirable output by 20% without using more inputs while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 24%. Findings also show that relatively high (low) levels of TE are associated with relatively low (high) levels of EE and that the likelihood for a farm to be both technically and environmentally efficient is relatively low. Only 32% of the farms in the sample have a high level of TE and EE. Drivers such as decoupled direct payments are positively associated with EE and negatively associated with TE, while no significant effect is found for green direct payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major cause of viral encephalitis in hu-mans, but research on its genotype prevalence in mosquitoes in Shanghai is limited. This study surveyed mosquito diversity and JEV prevalence in pig and sheep farms in Shanghai in 2022. A total of 24,073 mosquitoes from four genera and seven species were collected across five districts. Culex tritaeniorhynchus was the most common species (87.09%, 20,965/24,073) with the highest JEV detection rate. Six JEV strains were isolated, with five (SH22-M5, SH22-M9, SH22-M14, SH22-M41, and SH22-M52) classified as genotype I (GI) and one (SH22-M1) as genotype III (GIII). SH22-M9 and SH22-M14 showed high homology with SD-1 (99.87%) and SD12 (99.53%), respectively. SH22-M5, SH22-M41, and SH22-M52 shared 99.73–99.93% homology with the HEN07011 strain. SH22-M1 was most similar to SH18 (99.8%). This study also reports the first isolation of a GI JEV strain from mosquitoes in sheep farms. The findings underscore the need for enhanced JEV surveillance in livestock and mosquito monitoring to reduce the risk of human infections, recommending the separation of livestock and human habitation. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is regarded as an emerging and reemerging pathogen that is a primary cause of viral encephalitis in humans. However, there is a scarcity of research on the prevalence of JEV genotypes across the different mosquito species in Shanghai. In this study, the diversity of mosquito species and prevalence of JEV in pig and sheep farms in Shanghai were surveyed in 2022. A total of 24,073 mosquitoes, belonging to four genera and seven species, were collected from pig and sheep enclosures in the Chongming, Jiading, Pudong, Fengxian, and Jinshan Districts of Shanghai. Culex tritaeniorhynchus was identified as the predominant species (87.09%, 20,965/24,073) with the highest JEV detection rate. Six strains of JEV were isolated in this study, and genetic analysis revealed that five strains (SH22-M5, SH22-M9, SH22-M14, SH22-M41, and SH22-M52) belonged to genotype I (GI), while one strain (SH22-M1) was classified as genotype III (GIII). The sequence homology was highest between SH22-M9 and SD-1 (99.87%) and between SH22-M14 and SD12 (99.53%). SH22-M5, SH22-M41, and SH22-M52 shared the highest sequence homology with the HEN07011 strain (99.73–99.93%). SH22-M1 was most closely related to SH18, with a sequence homology of 99.8%. Additionally, for the first time, the GI JEV strain was isolated from mosquitoes in sheep sties in this study. The findings highlight the necessity of enhancing the surveillance of JEV in pigs and other livestock farms, including sheep, as well as monitoring the mosquitoes present in these environments. It is recommended that livestock farming areas be kept separate from human habitation to reduce the risk of JEV infections in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific objective of the present study was to develop computational models, by means of which predictions could be performed regarding the quality of the bulk-tank milk in dairy sheep and goat farms. Our hypothesis was that use of specific variables related to the health management applied in the farm can facilitate the development of predictions regarding values related to milk quality, specifically for fat content, protein content, fat and protein content combined, somatic cell counts, and total bacterial counts. Bulk-tank milk from 325 sheep and 119 goat farms was collected and evaluated by established techniques for analysis of fat and protein content, for somatic cell counting, and for total bacterial counting. Subsequently, computational models were constructed for the prediction of five target values: (a) fat content, (b) protein content, (c) fat and protein, (d) somatic cell counts, and (e) total bacterial counts, through the use of 21 independent variables related to factors prevalent in the farm. Five machine learning tools were employed: decision trees (18 different models evaluated), random forests (16 models), XGBoost (240 models), k-nearest neighbours (72 models), and neural networks (576 models) (in total, 9220 evaluations were performed). Tools found with the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between the five tools used to test predictions for each target value were selected. In sheep farms, for the prediction of protein content, k-nearest neighbours was selected (MAPE: 3.95%); for the prediction of fat and protein content combined, neural networks was selected (6.00%); and for the prediction of somatic cell counts, random forests and k-nearest neighbours were selected (6.55%); no tool provided useful predictions for fat content and for total bacterial counts. In goat farms, for the prediction of protein content, k-nearest neighbours was selected (MAPE: 6.17%); for the prediction of somatic cell counts, random forests and k-nearest neighbours were selected (4.93% and 5.00%); and for the prediction of total bacterial counts, neural networks was selected (8.33%); no tool provided useful prediction models for fat content and for fat and protein content combined. The results of the study will be of interest to farmers, as well as to professionals; the findings will also be useful to dairy processing factories. That way, it will be possible to obtain a distance-aware, rapid, quantitative estimation of the milk output from sheep and goat farms with sufficient data attributes. It will thus become easier to monitor and improve milk quality at the farm level as part of the dairy production chain. Moreover, the findings can support the setup of relevant and appropriate measures and interventions in dairy sheep and goat farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large proportion of agricultural production in Turkey is based on small farms, 38% of which produce both crop and livestock products. In this study, the effects of crop production on sheep production were investigated in farms whose main activity is dairy sheep production. For this purpose, 60 dairy sheep farms with similar production systems were selected in the Ezine district of Çanakkale. These farms were visited for two years at the beginning of gestation (September), parturition period (January) and weaned lamb marketing period (April) and descriptive information, area, flock size changes and biological parameters related to the flock were observed. While 21% of the farms were landless, the total area of the remaining farms was 327.7 ha and the average area was 7 ha. There were no significant differences between the two years in the number of ewes (NE), and the proportion of lambing ewes (LE) (P>0.05). The size of the farm has a negative effect on the amount of milk sold per ewe (P=0.0159). The presence of irrigated land has a negative effect on LE, but a positive effect on average live weight of lambs sold (ALWS), live weight of lambs sold per ewe (LWSE) and gross income per ewe (P=0.0397). The larger the forage production area, the higher the NE (P=0.05). The quantity of milk sold per ewe is negatively influenced by the presence of olive groves (P=0.0321). While LE is negatively influenced (P=0.0017), ALWS (P=0.0463) and LWSE (P=0.0843) are positively influenced by the size of cereal area. In Turkey, the proportion of landless farmers remains high, especially among small ruminant farmers. Although the farms can be defined as dairy sheep farms, the income from lamb production is higher than that from milk production. In this sense, dairy sheep production systems need to be analyzed in detail. Some crop production groups support the parameters for lamb production. Presumably, the fact that lamb income is higher than milk income causes breeders to focus on lamb production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transhumance has rarely been analyzed through LCA approaches, and there is little evidence about its emissions level when conducted under different practices (by truck or on foot) or compared to sedentary livestock systems. Moreover, mobile pastoralism is strongly linked to natural resources by its seasonal grazing patterns, thereby occupying the niche of wild herbivores. Considering natural emission baselines in these ecosystems could have relevant effects when estimating their carbon footprint. Materials and methods: Inventory data of 20 sheep farms was collected to estimate the carbon footprint (CF) of lamb meat produced. Farms were divided into three sub-groups representing typical management practices in the region: (1) sedentary (SED), (2) transhumance by truck (THT), and (3) transhumance on foot (THF). Livestock GHG emissions were modeled according to herd structure and IPCC guidelines. Off-farm emissions from external feeds and fuels were accounted based on existent LCA databases. A natural baseline of wild herbivores was established from the population of red deer reported in a hunting preserve, previously considered to be a reference for the natural carrying capacity in Mediterranean ecosystems. GHG emissions of wild herbivores were estimated through two methods based on (1) IPCC guidelines and (2) allometric regression equations. Results and discussion: Carbon footprint ranged from 16.5 up to 26.9 kgCO2-eq/kg of lamb liveweight (LW). Significant differences were identified among sedentary and transhumant farms, the latter consistently showing lower CF values (SED: 25.1 kg CO2-eq/kg LW, THT: 18.3 kg CO2-eq/kg LW, THF: 18.2 kg CO2-eq/kg LW). Sedentary farms resulted in higher GHG emissions (+ 27%) and higher CO2 and N2O, contributions derived from the consumption of additional feeds. Both methods applied to compute emissions for wild herbivores led to similar results (25.3–26.8 Mg CO2-eq/km2), comparatively lower than estimation for transhumant sheep (47.7 Mg CO2-eq/km2). When considering natural baseline emissions, the CF of transhumant lamb meat is reduced by almost 30%, reaching values quite below those reported for intensive lamb production systems in Spain. Conclusions: From our results, mobility of grazing livestock can be considered as a strategy promoting climate change mitigation. This is achieved mainly by reducing the need of external feeds, while maximizing the use of local forage resources that otherwise would be difficult to valorize. Further reductions in the CF result when considering natural baseline emissions. The application of this new GHG accounting perspective could have relevant implications when aiming at climate neutrality of grazing-based ruminant systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The increasing occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacterales, most commonly Escherichia coli, has become a serious problem. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria in dairy cattle, goat and sheep farms located in southern Türkiye. Methods: Samples (409 quarter milk samples and 110 fresh faecal samples from cattle, 75 bulk tank milk samples and 225 rectal swab samples from goats and sheep) were subjected to selective isolation on MacConkey agar with ceftazidime (2 µg/mL). Isolates were identified by MALDI-ToF MS. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates was determined by the broth microdilution method. To obtain a deeper insight into the genetic diversity of isolates substantially contributing to an efficient spread of their ESBL-determinants (23-MO00001: an E. coli from mastitis and 23-MO00002 Citrobacter freundii), the transmission potential and the genetic background of the plasmid carrying the blaCTX-M determinant was studied with whole genome analysis using Illumina sequencing. Results: Of the samples tested, 47 from the bovine faecal samples, 1 from the subclinical mastitis milk sample, 9 from the goat/sheep rectal swab samples and 5 from the goat/sheep bulk tank milk samples had ceftazidime-resistant Gram-negative strains with the ESBL phenotype. Of the 33 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, 66.6% were resistant to tetracycline, 57.6% to sulfamethoxazole, 48.9% to nalidixic acid, 42.4% to ciprofloxacin and 33.3% to trimethoprim. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results showed that the majority of E. coli isolates (16/33) and all Enterobacter spp. isolates (n = 5) were not clonally related (80% similarity cut value). The sequenced strains were observed to efficiently transfer their ceftazidime resistance to the recipient strain E. coli J53 at 37 °C (transfer rates: 101–102 transconjugants per donor cell). S1-PFGE showed that the transconjugants J53(p23MO01-T1) and J53(p23MO02-T1) had acquired plasmids of about 82 kb and 55 kb plasmids, respectively. According to WGS results, the E. coli isolate was assigned to ST162, while the C. freundii isolate was assigned to ST95. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that dairy animals are reservoirs of ESBL-producing bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe rates of and reasons for culling and mortality of ewes between breeding and mid-lactation on New Zealand sheep farms; to investigate associations of these variables with farm demographic variables; and to describe rates of and reasons for culling of ewes at weaning. Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of 34 farms from across New Zealand. Demographic data were initially collected for each farm via a questionnaire administered in-person to the flock owner or manager. During approximately 8 months from breeding to mid-lactation, ewe tally, culling and mortality data were collected and used to calculate various parameters related to flock performance and to investigate associations. During the main ewe-culling event at weaning, ewe-culling data were collected from 29/34 flocks participating in the study. Results: There was considerable variation between flocks, but the between-flock mean replacement percentage was 29.2 (SD 5.0)%. Overall, a between-flock mean of 10.5 (SD 4.6)% of ewes presented for breeding were culled or dead/missing by mid-lactation and thus did not rear any lambs. Additionally, from 27 flocks that reported data on ewes' success at rearing lambs, a between-flock mean of 3.9 (SD 2.5)% of ewes that remained alive at mid-lactation failed to rear any lambs, resulting in an overall between-flock mean loss of 23.1 (SD 6.3) potential lambs per 100 ewes. Two-thirds of ewe mortalities between breeding and mid-lactation occurred during the lambing period. Model results showed flocks with higher pregnancy scanning percentages had lower rates of culling and mortality between breeding and mid-lactation. However, apart from farm contour, from breeding to mid-lactation there were no associations for culling and mortality with farm size, flock size, number of ewes per labour unit, whether ewe hoggets (7–9 months of age) were presented for breeding, or duration of the breeding period. A between-flock mean of 16.5 (SD 8.3)% of ewes present at weaning were culled, and among mixed-age ewes, the most common reasons for culling at this time were age, incisor teeth defects and udder defects. Conclusions: To reduce unnecessary ewe culling and mortality, attention should be focused on maximising conception rates, ensuring judicious culling decisions, optimising body condition score, and identifying farm-specific causes of death over the lambing period to facilitate targeted intervention strategies. Clinical relevance: Identifying why and when ewes exit flocks, and comparing it with the data presented here, will facilitate the development of flock-specific interventions to reduce ewe culling and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a global zoonosis, mainly spread through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study investigated the presence of C. burnetii in two Sicilian sheep flocks that were affected by occasional reproductive disorders, as reported by the farmers. Blood, milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were sampled from both farms. Real-time and traditional PCRs were used to detect C. burnetii DNA, while anti-C. burnetii antibodies were analyzed using an ELISA. In both flocks, C. burnetii DNA was widely detected in blood (7.1% and 3.8% for Farm A and B, respectively), individual milk (20% and 39.4%), two bulk milk samples, swabs (66.6% and 100%), and in all tick pools. Anti-C. burnetii antibodies were found in sera (77.0% and 53.6% for Farm A and B, respectively), individual milk (92.5% and 73.2%), and bulk milk. The study showed widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination. Surveillance and control measures are recommended to mitigate public health risks associated with C. burnetii in dairy sheep farms. Q fever is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, primarily transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study aimed to detect C. burnetii in two Sicilian sheep flocks, with no better defined reproductive disorders reported by the farmers. Blood, individual and bulk milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were collected from both flocks (A and B). Real-time and traditional PCRs were carried out to detect C. burnetii DNA and anti-C. burnetii antibodies were searched using an ELISA. In terms of Farm A, C. burnetii DNA was detected in 7.1% of blood samples, 20% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 66.6% of conjunctival swabs, and in all the examined tick pools. Anti-C. burnetii antibodies were found in 77.0% of sera, 92.5% of individual milk samples, and bulk milk. In terms of Farm B, C. burnetii DNA was detected in 3.8% of blood samples, 39.4% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 100% of conjunctival swabs, and in all tick pools; anti-C. burnetii antibodies were present in 53.6% of sera, 73.2% of milk samples, and in bulk milk. Our results highlight the high diffusion of C. burnetii in the two outbreaks, with widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures in dairy sheep farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explored facets of gastrointestinal parasitism in dogs in small ruminant farms in Greece. Helminths were detected in faecal samples of the dogs in 73% of the farms. Hookworms and roundworms were found most frequently, specifically in the faecal samples of dogs in 69% and 51% of the farms. There was an association between the detection of these helminths in faecal samples from dogs and the presence of canid predators near a farm. A small proportion of farmers (16.0%) reported that they omitted the administration of anthelmintics to these animals. The variables found to be significant for this omission were the semi-extensive or extensive management system applied in the farm, the lower annual milk production per livestock animal and the lack of collaboration with veterinary practice. The objectives of the present work were the investigation of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in dogs in small ruminant farms in Greece, the elucidation of potential predictors for these infections and the description of practices related to administration of anthelmintics to dogs. This study was carried out in 444 small ruminant farms in Greece. Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of the dogs in the farms. The samples were processed by means of conventional parasitological techniques, specifically, a combined sedimentation flotation technique. There were dogs in 92.8% of the farms, with a median number of four dogs per farm. The following variables were associated with the presence of dogs in the farms: the presence of wild mammal predators near the farms, the increased daily period of farmers' presence at the farm, goats as the livestock species at the farm and the management system applied in the farm. Helminth eggs were detected in samples from 72.6% of the farms. The main helminth eggs detected were those of hookworms (Uncinaria/Ancylostoma) and Toxocara canis, in 68.6% and 51.3% of the farms, respectively. In our multivariable analyses, an association emerged between the presence of canid predators near a farm and the detection of these helminths in faecal samples: in 76% and 60% of the samples, respectively, versus in 58% and 39% of the samples from farms with no canid presence. Of farmers with dogs, 16.0% reported that they omitted the administration of anthelmintics to the animals. In multivariable analysis, the semi-extensive or extensive management system applied in the farm, the lower annual milk production per animal and the lack of collaboration with a veterinary practice were the significant predictors for the omission of anthelmintic administration to the farm dogs. There was also a clear association in the omission of anthelmintic administration to the dogs and to the livestock on the farm. The most frequently administered anthelmintic was praziquantel, which was used in 93.6% of the farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a human and animal pathogen that can cause severe mastitis in sheep. The severity of this disease is influenced by several factors, among which the presence of virulence genes in the bacterium. In the present study, 110 strains, isolated from the milk of sheep with clinical mastitis south of Tuscany, Italy, and with subclinical mastitis in a farm in the same region, were investigated for enterotoxin and hemolysin genes' presence through molecular analysis. The distribution of the profiles on this territory was analyzed. Twenty different profiles were found, but 43.64% of the tested strains showed the same profile. Considering the enterotoxin genes, four profiles were identified while using hemolysin genes' presence, 12 genes patterns were found. Several different strains were detected in the farm with subclinical mastitis. Spatial analysis of the overall isolated strains did not show a specific distribution. However, the study highlights the importance of identifying and analyzing virulence genes of this bacterium involved in dairy sheep mastitis, and the presence of different strains in the same farm. Staphylococcus aureus is well known to be the primary causal agent of clinical or subclinical mastitis in dairy sheep. The production of virulence factors allows S. aureus strains to cause mastitis. In the present study, 96 strains isolated from dairy sheep farms used for the production of autologous vaccines were tested for enterotoxin and hemolysin genes by PCR. In addition, 14 strains isolated from half udders of ewes with subclinical mastitis belonging to a single farm were also tested for the same genes. The phylogenetic trees were constructed, and spatial analysis was performed. Overall, 20 gene patterns were identified, but 43.64% of the tested strains showed the same profile (sec+, sel+, hla+, hld+, hlgAC+). Considering only the enterotoxin genes, four profiles were identified while the evaluation of the hemolysin genes revealed the presence of 12 gene patterns. In the farm with subclinical mastitis, six gene profiles were found. Spatial analysis of the isolated strains and their virulence genes did not show a specific pattern. The present study highlights the importance of identifying and analyzing virulence genes of S. aureus strains involved in dairy sheep mastitis, and the presence of different strains in the same farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep behavior recognition helps to monitor the health status of sheep and prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. Aiming at the problems of low detection accuracy and slow speed due to the crowding of sheep in real farming scenarios, which can easily obscure each other, this study proposes a lightweight sheep behavior recognition model based on the YOLOv8n model. First, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is introduced and improved in the YOLOv8n model, and the channel attention module and spatial attention module are changed from serial to parallel to construct a novel attention mechanism, PCBAM, to enhance the network's attention to the sheep and eliminate redundant background information; second, the ordinary convolution in the backbone network is replaced with depth-separable convolution, which effectively reduces the number of parameters in the model and reduces the computational complexity. The study takes the housed breeding sheep as the test object, installs a camera diagonally above the sheep pen to collect images and makes a data set for testing, and in order to verify the superiority of the PD-YOLO model, compares it with a variety of target detection models. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) of the model proposed in this paper are 95.8%, 98.9%, and 96.2% for the three postures of sheep lying, feeding, and standing, respectively, which are 8.5%, 0.8%, and 0.8% higher than those of YOLOv8n, respectively, and the size of the model has been reduced by 13.3% and the amount of computation has been reduced by 12.1%. The inference speed reaches 52.1 FPS per second, which is better than other models in meeting the real-time detection requirement. To verify the practicality of this research method, the PD-YOLO model was deployed on the RK3399Pro development board for testing, and a high inference speed was achieved. It can provide effective technical support for sheep smart farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Supplementary feeding may alter sheep enterprise production and profit margin, but use may vary across regions, sheep breeds and mating seasons. Supplementary feeding is a means of ensuring adequate nutrition but increases operating costs. Modelling has previously indicated the most profitable sheep enterprises optimise stocking rate and target lamb production, whereas those that minimise supplementary feeding incur the least financial risk. Aims. To explore the impact of increasing supplementary feed allowance on production, profit and financial risk. Methods. Seventytwo sheep farm enterprises were simulated across eight southern Australian locations, including three breeds and three mating seasons. For each enterprise a low grain allowance (LGA) of 30 kg/head.year (threshold used in previous modelling) was compared to a high grain allowance (HGA) of 35 kg/head.year and 42 kg/head.year for Merino and non-Merino ewes (current industry recommendations), respectively. The financial risk of each enterprise was determined via Conditional Value at Risk of gross margins over 30 years, exploring downside risk in the worst 20% of scenarios. Key results. AHGA increased production and profit in 32% of farm enterprises, but financial risk was often increased. Merino enterprises were generally the most profitable, least risky and consumed the greatest amount of supplementary feed, followed by Composite and then Maternal enterprises. Summer and autumn mating was often most profitable, but high supplement consumption in autumn-mated enterprises increased financial risk. Conclusions. Increasing supplementary feeding may improve production and profit but may also increase financial risk using the parameters examined. Implications. Producers may be able to improve the production, profit and financial risk of an enterprise through increased supplementary feeding, but this will be dependent on breed, input costs, commodity prices and location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine an extension of the latent class stochastic frontier model (LCSFM) to productivity estimation and the decomposition of productivity change into technical change, output-oriented technical efficiency change, and scale change. We base our productivity estimation on a Multi-class Grifell-Tatjé, Lovell & Orea Malmquist (GLOM) index. An advantage of this new productivity index is to account for classes' posterior probabilities to derive individual farm parameters. In addition, we extend our analysis to estimate a metafrontier GLOM productivity index to explore potentialities when all firms use the best available technologies. An empirical application to a sample of French sheep and goat farms observed between 2002 and 2021 confirms the necessity to account for technological heterogeneity when measuring productivity change. Among the two classes of farms identified by the LCSFM, the intensive class experiences TFP gains, while the extensive class sees its TFP worsening. However, the gap between intensive and extensive technologies seems to reduce over time. Finally, the multi-class GLOM reveals technical change as the primary driver of productivity for French goat and sheep farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to study the potential effects of climatic conditions prevalent at the locations of sheep farms in the country. The specific objectives were to explore associations between climatic variables and the incidence of four clinical problems in sheep farms and, moreover, to compare these to the health management practices applied in the farms. Our hypothesis was that climatic factors may be associated with the prevalence of diseases in sheep farms; this will provide information regarding potential weather effects, to take into account in the efforts for control of the diseases. Data were obtained during a large cross-sectional investigation performed across Greece involving 325 sheep flocks. Climatic variables prevailing at the location of each farm were derived from 'The POWER Project'. The annual incidence rate for abortion was 2.0% (95% confidence intervals: 1.9–2.1%), for clinical mastitis 3.9% (3.8–4.0%), for lamb pneumonia 1.4% (1.3–1.4%) and for lamb diarrhoea 7.9% (7.8–8.1%). In multivariable analyses, climatic variables emerged as significant predictors for abortion—high annual precipitation at the farm location (p = 0.024)—and for lamb diarrhoea—high average annual temperature range at the farm location (p < 0.0001)—but not for clinical mastitis or lamb pneumonia. The potential effects of climatic variables were found to be more important in lambs than in adult animals. Future studies may focus on how variations in temperature and precipitation can be translated into on-farm metrics to understand the impacts on sheep health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a global threat to grazing livestock farming. In Italy, anthelmintic efficacy remains high compared to other European countries, but many parts of the country haven't been investigated yet. Local veterinary practitioners from Trentino and Veneto regions reported suspected inefficacy towards anthelmintic drugs in some of their farms, prompting a study on AR in sheep and goat farms of northern Italy. The study aimed to assess anthelmintic effectiveness using genus-specific faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT), to detect differences in treatment response among nematode genera involved in the infection. Results: Twelve farms (6 sheep and 6 goat farms) were included based on clinical suspicion of AR. Treatments were carried out with either benzimidazoles (BZ) or macrocyclic lactones (ML) Treatment was effective in 3/6 goat trials, with reduced effectiveness to BZ in two farms and to ML the last one. In sheep farms (6/6), effectiveness was consistently and more severely insufficient. Ineffectiveness was particularly high towards Haemonchus contortus, while Oesophagostomum/Chabertia maintained susceptibility in nearly all trials. Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia exhibited intermediate results. Conclusions: This study reveals diminished efficacy of both BZ and ML in small ruminant farms in north-eastern Italy, an area previously lacking data on the topic, except for goats in South Tyrol. Variability in treatment responses among nematode genera support suspicions of AR, and further concerns are raised by the prevalence of treatment ineffectiveness against the highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus. This finding underscores the urgent need for comprehensive AR monitoring in the area and improved management practices to prevent further resistance development and protect livestock health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nowadays, many dairy sheep farms opt for milk replacers after birth. Weaning lambs from milk replacers is expected to be a stressful situation. Methods: With the aim of researching this practice on the animal behavior, body weight yields, and sanitary status of Lacaune lambs, 60 healthy animals from the same lambing house were employed. Lambs were housed in a pen and had ad libitum access to forage, compound feed, and milk replacers. During a 4  days preexperimental period in which all the animals were fed with milk replacers, behavior, hematologic parameters, body weight and seric and fecal stress indicators were recorded. Later, an experimental period took place in which 20  lambs remained in the same conditions. Another 20  lambs were kept in a separate pen in the same barn under the same conditions, but the artificial milk feeding was interrupted (weaning). The third 20  lambs were weaned and also rehoused in fattening pens. After 4  days, the variables previously recorded in the three groups during the pre-experimental period were recorded again. Results: Results showed that change of location and change of feed can have different and synergic effects on the behavior of the lambs. Change of feed had not specifically different effect on body weight than change of location. In the other hand, weaning had no significative effects on hematologic parameters and seric and fecal stress indicators. Discussion: Weaning from artificial milk had significative effects on lambs weight and behavior. More research is needed to improve this ethical aspect in ovine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This work investigated lameness on sheep and goat farms in Greece in an extensive study throughout the country. The prevalence of lameness was found to be low, specifically 1.9% among sheep farms and 2.6% among goat farms. Application of vaccination against foot-rot, increased precipitation at farm locations and longer annual grazing periods for sheep and increased precipitation at farm locations for goats emerged as significant predictors for the prevalence of lameness among the farms in the study. Antibiotic administration (mainly lincomycin or oxytetracycline) was the preferred method for treatment of the disorder. Lameness was considered to be an important health problem by 5.6% of farmers, whilst mastitis was ranked first, which reflects the dairy production type prevailing in small ruminant farms in Greece. The present study refers to an extensive investigation of lameness performed countrywide in Greece, on 325 sheep and 119 goat farms. The specific objectives of this work were to present data on the occurrence of lameness on sheep and goat farms and to identify variables (including variables related to climatic factors) associated with the disorder on the farms. Farms were visited and animals on the farm were assessed for the presence of lameness; further, an interview was carried out with the farmer to obtain information regarding practices applied on the farm. Climatic variables at the location of each farm were derived from NASA research. The within farm prevalence rate varied from 0.0% to 25.0% in sheep flocks and from 0.0% to 30.0% in goat herds. The mean ± standard error (median (interquartile range)) within farm prevalence rate among sheep farms was 1.9% ± 0.2 (0.0% (0.0%)); among goat farms, it was 2.6% ± 0.5% (0.0% (0.0%)). Multivariable analysis for within farm prevalence of lameness revealed three significant predictors in sheep farms: application of vaccination against foot-rot, increased precipitation at the farm location and longer annual grazing period for sheep, and one in goat farms: increased precipitation at the farm location. Treatment of lameness involved mostly administration of antibiotics (on 104 farms); the antibiotics administered most often were lincomycin (on 69 farms) and oxytetracycline (on 33 farms). There was a tendency for higher median within farm prevalence of lameness among farms where no antibiotic administration was practiced. Finally, 6.2% of sheep farmers and 4.2% of goat farmers considered lameness as an important health problem for the animals, specifically the third and fifth most important problem on the respective farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable livestock management plays a crucial role in food production, climate change mitigation, and cultural preservation. Our study aimed to identify and analyse the diversity of social–ecological conditions that characterize extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonia. We integrated data collected from interviews and secondary sources and analysed data using hierarchical cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling to identify distinct ranching types. A qualitative analysis of key informant interviews identified key social–ecological changes for each type. The results emphasize the impact of administration, production, and biophysical factors on shaping different livestock ranching schemes. Further, we identified three significant social–ecological changes driving the dynamics of these systems, including shifts from (1) sheep to cattle ranching, (2) domestic to feral cattle ranching, and (3) landowners to tenant land managers. These findings have implications for policymakers seeking to develop strategies tailored to diverse realities, ensuring the sustainability of livestock systems in Tierra del Fuego. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article fills a gap in the international academic literature, regarding security and safety at work in sheep farms, as well as the main health problems of workers in this type of farms in Romania. The issue of safety and physical and health of sheep farm workers has been little studied in general. The issue of health and safety at work on sheep farms is presented from a multi-actor perspective, promoted within the Safe Habitus project. To identify the main needs and work risks in sheep farms, as well as the causes of workers' illnesses, qualitative research was carried out based on observations, workshops, semi-structured interviews and visits to sheep farms. The main results refer to negative experiences from current activity in sheep farms; needs of the workers; the risks of worker injury and illness and the main health problems. In the current activity of sheep farms, workers (sheep owners or employed staff) face various negative experiences related to work in variable weather conditions, waking up in the morning, early involvement of children in the farm activity, a negative image of shepherds'children. Workers in this activity sector have a large series of specific needs: increased support for small farmers, the lack of labor force, especially the qualified one, lack of identity documents of temporary workers and refusal to work in a legal framework, the distribution of communal pastures in relation to the livestock owned by breeders, lack of school education on occupational safety. The workforce on sheep farms is prone to illness due to hard work and long hours, lack of protective equipment, handling chemicals, outdate equipment and animals, living conditions and poor hygiene. The identified health problems are closely related to lifestyle: alcoholism, rheumatism, digestive problems and diseases of the spine. National and international programs and regulations are needed that also consider the social aspects of sheep farm work, as well as the introduction of farm work safety education at all levels of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fitness traits include measures of reproductive efficiency of sheep. The improvement in reproductive efficiency has significant impact on overall economy of sheep. Methods: Data spanning over 21 years (1997-2017) were collected from two sheep breeding farm and analyzed with mixed model least-squares maximum likelihood (LSMLMW) computer (PC-2) programme designed by Harvey (1990) to estimate number of lambs born per ewe (NLBE), number of lambs weaned per ewe (NLWE), litter size (LS) and sex ratio (SR) of Kashmir Merino sheep. Result: Overall estimates of 3.56±0.11, 3.20±0.10, 48.32±0.04 and 1.06±0.01 for number of lambs born per ewe (NLBE), number of lambs weaned per ewe (NLWE), litter size (LS) and sex ratio (SR), respectively were observed in the present study. The period of birth had significant (p<0.05) effect on NLBE and NLEE. The effect of sire was highly significant on all the traits under study whereas effect of all the non-genetic factors considered had non-significant effect on LS and SR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IGKOJEI Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat is the property of Fakultas Peternakan Universitas Papua and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Farm roadway runoff is a high-risk source of pollution when connectivity with waters occurs. Nutrients in this runoff are dominated by fresh animal deposits, but recent dairy and beef farm studies showed that available phosphorus (P) accumulates in roadway surface material and can be lost in runoff. A current knowledge gap is to examine available P concentrations in unsealed roadway and trackway (non-maintained) network of a lowland sheep farm. The present study focused on a 45 ha farm stocked with 544 sheep in south-east Ireland. Ten locations were sampled along with the adjacent fields for available P (i.e., Morgan's P) and ancillary parameters (e.g., pH, total P and heavy metals) in December 2022. The first sampling location was on an aggregate roadway and the other nine were on trackways representing an older aggregate roadway network used by the flock but now covered with soil and grass. Results showed a distinct difference in surface material pH between roadway and trackway locations. Trackways had a pH that mimicked adjacent fields around the agronomic optimum for grassland of -6.2. All sampling locations had elevated available P concentrations, ranging from 26.3 to 111.0 mg L-1 (mean 62.8 mg L-1), similar to the spatial distribution for dairy farms but above those found at beef farms previously studied. The highest available P concentrations were found in roadway and trackway sections adjacent to the farmyard. Other elevated sampling areas were on trackways (87.3 or 97.7 mg P L-1) away from the farmyard where sheep are funnelled to pasture, stop to seek shade, urinate and defecate but do not graze. By contrast the average available P concentration for the surrounding fields was 8.4 mg L-1 with a range of 2.7--15.9 mg L-1. Two sampling areas combine to create a critical source area where a high available P source becomes visibly mobilised as runoff during rainfall, discharges into an open drainage ditch, which is then connected to a local stream. Breaking the pathway before runoff enters the open ditch could be a cheap and effective way of mitigating nutrient losses at these two locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of trees in pastures have emerged in recent years due to the benefits they generate towards livestock ecosystems. In the province of Chiloé, Chile, family farmers still maintain different designs that integrate the tree component and grasslands. The objective of this papper is to identify designs that integrate forestry components in livestock in the Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile, to know the functionality attributed to them by family sheep farmers, and to verify if the participation of farmers in agroecological networks influences their perception of the benefits of silvopastoral systems (SSP). The present work identified 5 types of traditional SSP, and 8 benefits were associated with them by sheep farmers. The forest patch system is the most widespread in farms. Sheep farms under agroecological management have had greater adoption of forest patch SSP in relation to those that are not agroecological. Shade is the benefit most cited by ranchers and native species predominate in their designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, poses a significant threat to sheep flocks, affecting reproductive performance and meat quality, and leading to economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in the serum and colostrum of naturally infected ewes and to assess passive immunity in newborn lambs. Blood and colostrum samples were collected from 162 ewes and 182 lambs across 20 sheep farms in Paraíba, Brazil. Samples were tested for anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora caninum IgG using indirect fluorescence antibody tests (IFATs), with titers ≥ 1:64 considered positive. Among the ewes, 45.1% tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG in serum, with titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:16,384. The colostrum from 94.6% of the ewes also tested positive, although 74% had higher titers in their serum than in their colostrum. Concordance between serum and colostrum was high, with a kappa coefficient of 0.950. Lamb serum showed a perfect agreement with maternal colostrum (kappa = 0.962), demonstrating effective passive transfer of antibodies. This study confirms that colostrum is a reliable matrix for detecting anti-T. gondii antibodies and assessing passive immunity in lambs. The high concordance between serum, colostrum, and lamb titers suggests that IFATs on colostrum can be a practical tool for monitoring maternal antibody transfer, contributing to the better management of T. gondii infections in sheep flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) causes significant economic losses in the livestock sector by causing a loss in the quantity and quality of animal products and a loss in the breeding value of animals. Although the primary agent in CLA's etiology is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, some other opportunistic microorganisms also play a role. Therefore, the control and treatment of CLA necessitates the identification of the relevant etiological agents. This study aimed to conduct an in vitro culture and molecular characterization (PCR analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing) of the bacteria involved in sheep CLA cases reported in the Çankırı province of Türkiye and determine the antibiotic susceptibility of the case isolates. In total, 82 (16.4%) of 500 sheep in five farms were diagnosed with CLA. Following the culture of the superficial abscesses samples, C. pseudotuberculosis was identified in 30 (36.59%) as a result of PCR, Pseudomonas spp. in 8 (9.76%), and Enterobacter cancerogenus in 1 (1.22%), as a result of 16S rRNA sequencing. These data revealed extensive heterogeneity among the Pseudomonas isolates, with hints of derivation from a common ancestry for some and phylogenetic similarity to isolates from Germany, Malaysia, and India. In contrast to the high susceptibility to cefoperazone and lincomycin, the high resistances of C. pseudotuberculosis and Pseudomonas spp. isolates to cephalothin, ceftiofur, cloxacillin, amoxicillin, and bacitracin were remarkable. Based on these findings, it was concluded that for an effective treatment and control of ovine CLA cases, there is a need to consider the possible involvement of opportunistic bacteria other than the primary causative agent, C. pseudotuberculosis. It also contributed to increasing the country-specific sequence data and establishing new taxa from a universal perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation from overgrazing of global arid rangelands is of significant concern for this widespread terrestrial ecosystem, and the people who rely on its sustainable use. Addressing this degradation requires a better understanding of how livestock removal and conservation management actions affect the rehabilitation of land condition. However, the dominant effect of climate and meteorological variability on arid vegetation makes isolating management‐induced change a difficult task.We present an analytically simple method for measuring relative land condition by assessing differences in remote‐sensing‐derived persistent fractional vegetation between adjacent stocked and destocked regions over time. The 22‐year observation period focusses on vegetation recovery at a long‐established sheep station after the removal of livestock and the introduction of conservation‐focussed management. The study region, in the southern Australian arid rangelands, comprises sparsely vegetated chenopod shrublands and acacia woodlands across low‐lying plains. Comparison is made to immediately surrounding stocked properties in a spatial design where climate and biogeographic variables remain consistent across the study area.We found an unequivocal relative increase in vegetation cover, and reduction of bare ground cover at the destocked property that became evident approximately 8 years after a reduction in grazing pressure. Distinctly higher persistent vegetation cover was maintained, even during periods of drought.Non‐photosynthetic vegetation cover was most indicative of long‐term change and increased by 1.1% relative to surrounding areas. Photosynthetic vegetation cover increased by 0.5%, while bare ground cover decreased by 2.1%.These cover changes, particularly in the non‐photosynthetic vegetation and bare ground components spatially coincide with the fenced boundary of the destocked property.Synthesis and applications: The ability to quantify management‐related impacts in land condition using freely available remote sensing data could support improved management by all stakeholders in these regions. The method leverages readily available satellite remote sensing data in a study design that is not dependent on large geospatial and climatic datasets that are not necessarily available in remote regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black‐footed cat, a small felid endemic to southern Africa, is particularly vulnerable to killing by larger carnivores while also being prone to developing renal diseases. Here, we investigated the effect of predator control on black‐footed cat populations by comparing adult annual survival between two sites, a nature reserve with little predator management and a sheep and game farm where jackals and caracals were lethally controlled. Although relatively low, survival rates were similar for both sites, suggesting that intraguild killing did not have an additive effect on black‐footed cat mortality. Disease was however prevalent and weakened individuals might have a reduced ability to evade predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep farming is an important branch of the animal husbandry sector in Europe. In 2023, Romania's sheep and goat herds ranked third in the European Union, with more than 10 million heads, contributing substantially to the production of meat, traditional cheeses, and wool. However, in the current climate context, with extreme weather events and especially long periods of drought, providing optimal fodder ratio becomes a challenge for farmers. As animal nutritionists provide valid alternatives, consistent with the nutritional requirements of the species, the present work aims to present some economically efficient fodder alternatives to use for milk production in sheep farms of different sizes. The study brings added value to research in the field of using fodder alternatives in animal nutrition through the economic aspects researched because profitability is pursued in any activity, thus completing the technical arguments of previous studies in the literature in the field. Several economic indicators were calculated, such as the total value by categories of expenses, the value of production, the level of profit, and the rate of gross and net return. The analysis demonstrated that regardless of their size, the sheep farms located in lowland areas can reach positive values of profitability indicators when using alternative fodder in animal feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep and goat farming is an important activity for farmers in Romania. This paper proposes an analysis of the economic perspectives and development directions of the sector, highlighting its traditional importance and significant contribution to the rural economy. The research results highlight Romania's leading position in European live sheep exports, primarily determined by strong partnerships with countries in the Middle East. The analysis includes historical trends, market dynamics, and trade practices, along with challenges such as market concentration and dependence on external partners. The conclusions emphasize the need for geographical diversification of exports, the development of the processing sector, and political support to stabilize production and maximize economic benefits for Romanian farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of past and present genetic diversity within a breed is critical for the design and optimization of breeding programs as well as the development of strategies for the conservation of genetic resources. The Polypay sheep breed was developed at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES) in 1968 with the goal of improving productivity in Western U.S. range flocks. It has since flourished in the more intensively managed production systems throughout the U.S. The genetic diversity of the breed has yet to be documented. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the genetic diversity and population structure of U.S. Polypay sheep using both pedigree- and genomic-based methods. Pedigree data from 193 Polypay flocks participating in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) were combined with pedigree records from USSES (n = 162,997), tracing back to the breed's origin. A subset of these pedigreed sheep from 32 flocks born from 2011 to 2023 were genotyped with the GGP Ovine 50K BeadChip containing 51,867 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Four subgroups were used for the pedigree-based analyses: 1) the current generation of animals born in 2020--2022 (n = 20,701), 2) the current generation with a minimum of four generations of known ancestors (n = 12,685), 3) only genotyped animals (n = 1,856), and 4) the sires of the current generation (n = 509). Pedigree-based inbreeding for the full population was 2.2%, with a rate of inbreeding of 0.22% per generation. Pedigree-based inbreeding, Wright's inbreeding, and genomic inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity were 2.9%, 1.3%, and 5.1%, respectively, for the genotyped population. The effective population size ranged from 41 to 249 for the pedigree-based methods and 118 for the genomic-based estimate. Expected and observed heterozygosity levels were 0.409 and 0.403, respectively. Population substructure was evident based on the fixation index (FST), principal component analysis, and model-based population structure. These analyses provided evidence of differentiation from the foundation flock (USSES). Overall, the Polypay breed exhibited substantial genetic diversity and the presence of a population substructure that provides a basis for the implementation of genomic selection in the breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We developed a computational model by employing machine learning methodologies in order to perform predictions regarding the level of prevalence of mastitis in dairy sheep farms. Data for the development of the model were obtained from the findings of a study performed countrywide in Greece in 111 sheep farms. Unsupervised learning methodology was applied for clustering data into two clusters, one with high and one with low prevalence of subclinical mastitis, and, subsequently, a computational model was obtained by means of Support vector machines. The model was verified by taking into account the findings of two subsequent studies in dairy sheep farms, which were performed independently of the initial study. The overall accuracy of the model for the estimation of the level of prevalence of the infection (<25.0%/≥25.0%) in dairy sheep farms was >96%. The findings of this study indicate that machine learning algorithms can be usefully employed in predicting the level of subclinical mastitis in dairy sheep farms, which will help farmers set up appropriate health management measures for controlling the infection. The objective of the study was to develop a computational model with which predictions regarding the level of prevalence of mastitis in dairy sheep farms could be performed. Data for the construction of the model were obtained from a large Greece-wide field study with 111 farms. Unsupervised learning methodology was applied for clustering data into two clusters based on 18 variables (17 independent variables related to health management practices applied in farms, climatological data at the locations of the farms, and the level of prevalence of subclinical mastitis as the target value). The K-means tool showed the highest significance for the classification of farms into two clusters for the construction of the computational model: median (interquartile range) prevalence of subclinical mastitis among farms was 20.0% (interquartile range: 15.8%) and 30.0% (16.0%) (p = 0.002). Supervised learning tools were subsequently used to predict the level of prevalence of the infection: decision trees, k-NN, neural networks, and Support vector machines. For each of these, combinations of hyperparameters were employed; 83 models were produced, and 4150 assessments were made in total. A computational model obtained by means of Support vector machines (kernel: 'linear', regularization parameter C = 3) was selected. Thereafter, the model was assessed through the results of the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in 373 records from sheep flocks unrelated to the ones employed for the selection of the model; the model was used for evaluation of the correct classification of the data in each of 373 sets, each of which included a test (prediction) subset with one record that referred to the farm under assessment. The median prevalence of the infection in farms classified by the model in each of the two categories was 10.4% (5.5%) and 36.3% (9.7%) (p < 0.0001). The overall accuracy of the model for the results presented by the K-means tool was 94.1%; for the estimation of the level of prevalence (<25.0%/≥25.0%) in the farms, it was 96.3%. The findings of this study indicate that machine learning algorithms can be usefully employed in predicting the level of subclinical mastitis in dairy sheep farms. This can facilitate setting up appropriate health management measures for interventions in the farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, a pregnant Rottweiler dog living on a sheep farm was diagnosed with clinical bluetongue (BT) infection. This study reports on the investigation of this farm where bluetongue virus (BTV) infection was diagnosed in this atypical host species. Samples were collected during farm visits 14, 28, 60, and 89 days after the onset of clinical signs in the pregnant Rottweiler. Blood was collected from all farm dogs (n = 6) and tested for BTV genome using a reverse‐transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) assay and BTV antibodies with the competitive ELISA (cELISA) and dogs positive by RT‐qPCR were further tested using virus neutralization (VN) serological testing. Blood was also collected from 16 sick sheep and tested using RT‐qPCR. Midges were trapped on the study farm using an Onderstepoort UV light trap placed above a sheep pen for 36 hr at the first farm (14 days) visit. Parous/gravid midges were tested by BTV RT‐qPCR in batches of up to 200 midges per species. Blood‐fed midges (n = 308) were tested using a PCR species probe (KAPA Multiplex Master Mix) to identify the host species on which the midge had fed. Three dogs (n = 3/6) had detectable BTV RNA with RT‐qPCR and high VN antibody titers to BTV. All RT‐qPCR‐positive dogs and one additional dog tested cELISA seropositive (n = 4/6). Bluetongue virus RNA was detected in 5/16 sheep tested. The most abundant midge species was Culicoides imicola (99.3%) and BTV was only detected in this species (n = 3/4 batches of 200 parous midges). Dog blood was not detected in any blood‐fed midges tested. The occurrence of natural BT viraemia in exposed dogs creates a potential risk of BTV entry into BT‐free countries through dog importation. It remains unclear whether BT viremia in dogs is capable of onward transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The parasitic protozoan Giardia duodenalis is an important cause of diarrheal disease in humans and animals that can be spread by fecal–oral transmission through water and the environment, posing a challenge to public health and animal husbandry. Little is known about its impact on large-scale sheep farms in China. In this study we investigated G. duodenalis infection of sheep and contamination of the environment in large-scale sheep farms in two regions of China, Henan and Ningxia. Methods: A total of 528 fecal samples, 402 environmental samples and 30 water samples were collected from seven large-scale sheep farms, and 88 fecal samples and 13 environmental samples were collected from 12 backyard farms. The presence of G. duodenalis was detected by targeting the β-giardin (bg) gene, and the assemblage and multilocus genotype of G. duodenalis were investigated by analyzing three genes: bg, glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triphosphate isomerase (tpi). Results: The overall G. duodenalis detection rate was 7.8%, 1.4% and 23.3% in fecal, environmental and water samples, respectively. On the large-scale sheep farms tested, the infection rate of sheep in Henan (13.8%) was found to be significantly higher than that of sheep in Ningxia (4.2%) (P < 0.05). However, the difference between the rates of environmental pollution in Henan (1.9%) and Ningxia (1.0%) was not significant (P > 0.05). Investigations of sheep at different physiological stages revealed that late pregnancy ewes showed the lowest infection rate (1.7%) and that young lambs exhibited the highest (18.8%). Genetic analysis identified G. duodenalis belonging to two assemblages, A and E, with assemblage E being dominant. A total of 27 multilocus genotypes were identified for members of assemblage E. Conclusions: The results suggest that G. duodenalis is prevalent on large-scale sheep farms in Henan and Ningxia, China, and that there is a risk of environmental contamination. This study is the first comprehensive examination of the presence of G. duodenalis on large-scale sheep farms in China. Challenges posed by G. duodenalis to sheep farms need to be addressed proactively to ensure public health safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]