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Cloete SWP, Greeff JC, Nel CL, Scholtz AJ. Breeds and lines of sheep suitable for production in challenging environments. Anim Front 2023; 13:33-42. [PMID: 37841763 PMCID: PMC10575318 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Schalk W P Cloete
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- Department of Agriculture, Western Cape, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa
| | - Johan C Greeff
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
- Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Cornelius L Nel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- Department of Agriculture, Western Cape, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa
| | - Ansie J Scholtz
- Department of Agriculture, Western Cape, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa
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Vouraki S, Gelasakis AI, Fotiadou V, Banos G, Arsenos G. Repeatability of Health and Welfare Traits and Correlation with Performance Traits in Dairy Goats Reared under Low-Input Farming Systems. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9060289. [PMID: 35737341 PMCID: PMC9231351 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9060289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of the study were to estimate the repeatability of health and welfare traits and investigate their association with performance in three breeds of dairy goats reared under low-input farming systems in Greece. A total of 1210 goats of Eghoria (n = 418), Skopelos (n = 429), and Damascus (n = 363) breeds were assessed. Udder health, parasitic resistance, welfare, milk yield and quality, and body condition score were recorded monthly for two milking periods. Udder health records included somatic cell count (SCC) and total viable count (TVC). Based on combinations of SCC and TVC and thresholds set at >106 cells/mL and >2 × 104 cfu/mL, respectively, additional udder health phenotypes were defined. Parasitism included myiasis, tick infestation, gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) and cestode faecal egg count (FEC), and lungworm faecal larval count (FLC). Infection with each of the endoparasites was defined based on FEC/FLC. Welfare assessment parameters included the presence of ear and horn injuries, ocular and nasal discharge, body and udder abscesses, injury and lesions on the skin of different regions, diarrhoea, hernias, overgrown hooves, arthritis, lameness, and udder asymmetry. Trait repeatability and animal correlations were estimated. Significant (p < 0.05) repeatability was reported for all udder health and most welfare traits in all breeds, GIN and cestode FEC, and GIN and lungworm infection in Eghoria, and myiasis in Skopelos. Correlations of health and most of welfare traits with performance were non-significant or favourable. Overall, results demonstrate potential to improve health and welfare of the studied breeds without compromising performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotiria Vouraki
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.F.); or (G.B.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2310999977
| | - Athanasios I. Gelasakis
- Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Vasileia Fotiadou
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.F.); or (G.B.); (G.A.)
| | - Georgios Banos
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.F.); or (G.B.); (G.A.)
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Georgios Arsenos
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.F.); or (G.B.); (G.A.)
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Malatji DP. Breeding of African sheep reared under low-input/output smallholder production systems for trypanotolerance. Vet World 2022; 15:1031-1043. [PMID: 35698514 PMCID: PMC9178589 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1031-1043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by unicellular protozoan parasites. Small ruminants succumb to trypanosomiasis in areas of high tsetse fly challenge, resulting in serious economic loss often to farmers in low-input smallholder systems. At present, trypanosomiasis is treated with trypanocidal drugs, but access to these can be limited, and increasing parasite resistance raises questions about their efficacy. The development of trypanotolerance in small ruminant flocks through targeted breeding strategies is considered a sustainable and economical option for controlling African trypanosomiasis. Recently, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with trypanotolerance traits in sheep have been reported. The results of these studies form the basis for more studies to identify QTLs associated with trypanosomiasis resistance, particularly in African livestock species. For example, signatures of positive selection for trypanotolerance have been identified using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data. However, there are several challenges in performing genetic analyses using data from low-input smallholder systems, including a lack of recorded pedigree and production records and the need for large sample sizes when flock sizes are often fewer than 50 animals. Breeding strategies to improve trypanotolerance should also preserve existing genetic diversity as well as minimize excessive genetic introgression by trypanosusceptible breeds. This review discusses the possibilities of breeding for trypanosome tolerance/resistance in low-input/low-output small ruminant production systems. Potential challenges are outlined, and potential available genetic resources are described as a foundation for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dikeledi P. Malatji
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
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Kao M, Van Wyk J, Scholtz A, Cloete J, Matebesi P, Cloete S. Breed and crossbreeding effects on growth, fitness and reproduction of commercial sheep in South Africa. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Tick Infestation and Piroplasm Infection in Barbarine and Queue Fine de l'Ouest Autochthonous Sheep Breeds in Tunisia, North Africa. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030839. [PMID: 33809606 PMCID: PMC8001609 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As ticks and tick-borne pathogens affect the productivity of livestock, searching for genetically resistant breeds to infestation by ticks may represent an alternative to the overuse of chemical drugs. The aim of this study was to assess if there is a difference in tick infestation among the main sheep breeds in Tunisia. The study was carried out between April 2018 and January 2020 in 17 small to middle-sized sheep flocks from 3 regions across Tunisia. Four hundred and thirty-nine ear-tagged ewes from Barbarine (n = 288, 65.6%) and Queue Fine de l'Ouest (QFO) (n = 151, 34.4%) breeds were examined and sampled each trimester. Ticks were identified to the species level, and piroplasms were detected using PCR that targets a common sequence ARNr18S to both Babesia and Theileria genera using catch-all primers. Totally, 707 adult ticks were collected from animals; 91.4% (646/707) of them were Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Queue Fine de l'Ouest animals were markedly less infested by ticks, and no one of them was infected by piroplasms compared to the Barbarine breed. Indeed, during the first four seasons, 21 animals, all from the Barbarine breed, were detected positive for piroplasms. This is the first study in Tunisia about the low susceptibility of QFO ewes to infestation by ticks and to infection by piroplasms. The QFO sheep breed could be raised preferably at high-risk areas of tick occurrence and could be considered in concrete control strategies, including a breeding program.
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Cloete SWP, Thutwa K, Scholtz AJ, Cloete JJE, Dzama K, Gilmour AR, van Wyk JB. Breed effects and heterosis for weight traits and tick count in a cross between an indigenous fat-tailed and a commercial sheep breed. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:165. [PMID: 33590352 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02612-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Ticks can compromise productivity and welfare in free-ranging sheep. Chemical tick control may not be sustainable in the long term. Alternative control measures must be sought for an integrated control programme. Birth and weaning weights as well as log transformed overall tick count of indigenous fat-tailed Namaqua Afrikaner (NA), commercial Dorper and NA x Dorper cross lambs were studied under extensive conditions. Relative to NA lambs, Dorper lambs were 22.2% heavier at weaning (P < 0.05). Geometric means for total tick count on Dorper lambs exceeded those of their Namaqua Afrikaner contemporaries by more than twofold (P < 0.05). Relative to the pure-breed midparent value, the mean performance of NA x Dorper lambs was 7.9% more for birth weight, 11.2% more for weaning weight and 26.2% less for the back transformed means for total tick count (P < 0.05). Heterosis for total tick count was slightly greater at -29.3% when data were adjusted for the larger size of NA x Dorper lambs. Crossing commercial Dorper sheep with a hardy, indigenous breed therefore resulted in lower levels of tick infestation without compromising live weight in progeny so derived. Hardy, indigenous genetic resources like the NA should be conserved and used in further studies of ovine genetics of resistance to ticks in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- S W P Cloete
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa. .,Directorate Animal Sciences: Elsenburg, Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa.
| | - K Thutwa
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.,Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag, 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - A J Scholtz
- Directorate Animal Sciences: Elsenburg, Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa
| | - J J E Cloete
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.,Cape Institute for Agricultural Training, Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa
| | - K Dzama
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | | | - J B van Wyk
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
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Thutwa K, van Wyk JB, Dzama K, Scholtz AJ, Cloete SWP. Expression of cytokine genes at tick attachment and control sites of Namaqua Afrikaner, Dorper and South African Mutton Merino sheep. Vet Parasitol 2021; 291:109384. [PMID: 33657515 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines are immune response components important in innate immunity and inflammatory response. They are harnessed as part of local immunological responses by animals to combat local infections and/or infestations. This study investigated expression of four selected cytokine genes, namely, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), chemokine C-C ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine C-C ligand 26 (CCL26) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), at tick attachment and control sites in a South African indigenous sheep breed the Namaqua Afrikaner (NA) and two commercial breeds, the Dorper and South African Mutton Merino (SAMM). The NA was previously shown to be more resistant to infestation by ticks than the two commercial breeds. NA ewes expressed IL-1β more at tick attachment sites compared to Dorpers. The NA breed was also more likely to upregulate the expression of the CCL2, CCL26 and IL-8 genes at tick attachment sites compared to control sites than the other breeds. The results of this study gave an indication that cytokines are involved in immune responses to tick challenge and laid a foundation for further studies under controlled challenge conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketshephaone Thutwa
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Department of Animal Science, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Jacob B van Wyk
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Kennedy Dzama
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Anna J Scholtz
- Directorate Animal Sciences: Elsenburg, Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Government, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg, 7609, South Africa
| | - Schalk W P Cloete
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Directorate Animal Sciences: Elsenburg, Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Government, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg, 7609, South Africa.
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Behavioural reactivity of two lines of South African Merino sheep divergently selected for reproductive potential. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions against unfed tick larval extract of Rhipicephalus evertsi in South African Mutton Merino, Namaqua Afrikaner and Dorper sheep. Small Rumin Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Elati K, Hamdi D, Jdidi M, Rekik M, Gharbi M. Differences in tick infestation of Tunisian sheep breeds. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 13:50-54. [PMID: 31014889 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Different infestation patterns by ixodid ticks were studied in three sheep breeds in Tunisia: Barbarine, Queue Fine de l'Ouest and their cross-bred animals. During one year, 700 sheep were monitored and examined for tick infestation. A total of 722 ticks were collected from sheep ears. The most frequent tick species was by far Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (99%) and there were few specimens of Rhipicephalus bursa (1%) (p < 0.001). Overall infestation prevalence was estimated at 10.4%. The lowest infestation prevalence was in Barbarine sheep (7.3%), followed by Queue Fine de l'Ouest (16.7%) and the highest prevalence was in cross-bred sheep (19.1%) (p < 0.001). Mean overall infestation intensity was 1.6 ticks/sheep: lowest in Barbarine (1.4), followed by Queue Fine de l'Ouest (1.7) and cross-bred sheep (1.8). Similarly, abundance was lowest in Barbarine sheep (0.1), and was 0.3 in Queue Fine de l'Ouest and cross-bred animals. The results demonstrated a reduced infestation, possibly due to reduced attractiveness and/or increased resistance to tick infestation, of the Barbarine breed compared with the other two breeds. Further behavioural, genetic and molecular studies are needed to explain the mechanisms for the lower infestation indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khawla Elati
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Dhia Hamdi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Jdidi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Rekik
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 950764, Amman 11195, Jordan
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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Genetic Traits of Relevance to Sustainability of Smallholder Sheep Farming Systems in South Africa. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9081225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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