Search results for "Sheep"
showing 10 items of 279 documents
Genetic diversity and population structure of Sicilian sheep breeds using microsatellite markers
2012
Abstract Genetic diversity studies in domestic animals aim at evaluating genetic variation within and across breeds mainly for conservation purposes. In Sicily, dairy sheep production represents an important resource for hilly and mountain areas economy. Their milk is used for the production of traditional raw milk cheeses, sometimes protected designation of origin (PDO) cheeses. In some cases, the quality of these products is linked to a specific breed, i.e. mono-breed labelled cheeses and it is therefore important to be able to distinguish the milk of a breed from that of others, in order to guarantee both the consumer and the breed itself. In order to investigate the genetic structure an…
A study of gene differences between some breeds of sheep
2009
Hemoprotozoa of domestic animals in France: Prevalence and molecular characterization
2008
Very limited information is available on epizootiology of haematozoan infections in French domestic animals. In an attempt to address this issue, prevalence of piroplasmida was studied in carnivores and ruminants, whereas prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. was only investigated in carnivores. In total, 383 animals were included in the survey (namely 116 cats, 108 dogs, 91 sheep and 68 cows). Parasite diagnosis was carried out using molecular methods such as PCR and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. In addition, ruminant samples were analyzed with the reverse line blotting technique (RLB). Results of RLB and PCR plus sequencing were in total agreement. In carnivores, haematozoan prevalence was clo…
Variation in somatic cell count, California mastitis test, and electrical conductivity among various fractions of ewe's milk.
1991
Abstract Variation of three estimates of udder inflammation (SCC, California mastitis test, and electrical conductivity) among the foremilk, machine milk, and hand stripping samples were studied. Foremilk and hand stripping milks were taken from each individual teat; machine milk was taken from the entire udder. For this experiment a total of 30 Manchega ewes were subjected to machine milking during the 9th wk of lactation. Samples were taken in duplicate during two milkings on consecutive mornings. Significant differences were observed in the SCC and electrical conductivity, but not in California mastitis test, between foremilk and stripping milk The stripping fraction had higher SCC (70 ±…
Genetic and environmental sources of variation for milk yield traits in Barbaresca siciliana breed
2001
Abstract Multi-trait animal model procedures were used to calculate variance for milk yield traits in the Barbaresca siciliana breed. The recorded data consisted of 14 791 lactations from 6678 ewes distributed among 44 herds from six provinces in Italy. The data-set with pedigree information used for the estimation of genetic parameters and correlation, included 6678 ewes with records, 757 dams, 4 paternal grandams, 28 maternal grandam and 2 maternal great-grandams, all without records, and additionally 301 sires, 3 paternal grandsires, 11 maternal grandsires and 1 maternal great-grandsires. The variables considered in the present study were the milk yield at 100 days (MY-100), 120 days (MY…
Relationship between beta lactoglobulin and subclinical mastitis in Valle del Belice sheep breed
2010
The objective of the following research was to determine the effect of LGB genotypes on subclinical mastitis in Valle del Belice dairy sheep. Ewes were classified as affected or not by subclinical mastitis within a lactation based on i) a positive culture in one of the test-days and ii) more than 750,000 somatic cells. Generalized linear mixed models were fitted to assess the significance of LGB genotypes on MTB and MTC. The LGB genotypes significantly affected MTB (p=0.0387), and showed a tendency on MTC (p=0.1104). Least square means showed that in the analysis for MTB, individuals with genotypes BB and AB had a higher frequency of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, the least square differen…
Effect of somatic cell count level on functional longevity in Valle del Belice dairy sheep assessed using survival analysis.
2009
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) on functional longevity and to estimate the heritability of functional longevity using survival analysis in Valle del Belice dairy sheep. A total of 4,880 lactations of 2,190 ewes from 11 flocks were used. In this study, SCC was considered as an indication of subclinical mastitis. In case of clinical cases, identified by the technicians at milking time, test-day weights and milk samples of those ewes were not considered. Somatic cells were analyzed as counts, without any transformation, and were grouped in 3 classes based on the observed SCC maximum (mxSCC). The mxSCC classes, expressed as 103 cells/mL, wer…
Time-to-event analysis of mastitis at first-lactation in Valle del Belice ewes
2007
A time-to-event study for mastitis at first-lactation in Valle del Belice ewes was conducted, using survival analysis with an animal model. The goals were to evaluate the effect of lambing season and level of milk production on the time from lambing to the day when a ewe experienced a test-day with a recorded SCC greater than or equal to 750,000 cells/ml, and to estimate, for this trait, its heritability and the percentage of variation explained by the flock-year of lambing effect. A dataset with 2468 first-lactation records, collected from 1998 to 2003 in Valle del Belice ewes allocated in 17 flocks, was used. The Cox model used included lambing season and total milk yield adjusted for lac…
Determination of cow’s milk in non-bovine and mixed cheeses by capillary electrophoresis of whey proteins in acidic isoelectric buffers
2000
An improved method for the determination of cow's milk in non-bovine cheese is reported: electrophoresis of whey proteins in acidic, isoelectric buffers. Two background electrolytes (BGEs) have been tested: (i) 50 mM iminodiacetic acid (pH=isoelectric point=2.30 at 25 degrees C), 0.5% hydroxyethylcellulose, 0.1% Tween 20 and 6 M urea (apparent pH 3.1), E=300 V/cm, for the separation of alpha-lactalbumins (alpha-LAs); (ii) a BGE with the same composition, but supplemented with 10% Tween 20, E=450 V/cm, for the fractionation of beta-lactoglobulins (beta-LGs). Surfactants have a discriminating effect on the retention behaviour of the bovine alpha-LA and beta-LG proteins, owing to the different…