Productivity of young sheep of Romanov breed at diff erent level of feeding

The purpose of the research was a comparative study of the efficiency of feed use and the productivity of young sheep at different feeding levels, as well as clarifying the norms of metabolic energy and raw protein for growing young rams of Romanov breed with intensive rearing and fattening at the age of 3 to 10 months. Scientifi c and economic experiment has been carried out in the sheep breeding complex of the breeding farm in the OOO Farm “Pokrov” in the Zubtsovsky area in the Tver region. After weaning of sheep at the age of 3 months, 2 groups of young rams and 2 groups of young ewes have been formed, from twin litters per 15 heads in each. It has been found that the intensity of the growth of young rams was higher at both levels of rearing and fattening. The young rams of the 1st control group grew by 16,61 kg during the experimental feeding period, and the young ewes by 9,62 kg. In animals of the 2nd experimental group, the difference was 5,52 kg or 32,8 % in favor of the young rams. All indicators of the slaughter of young rams, depending on the level of feeding diff ered significantly. Thus, the difference in removable weight was 5,77 kg or 17,7 % in favor of animals of the 2nd experimental group. The difference between the groups by pre-slaughter weight was 5,74 kg or 19,2 % (P ≤ 0,001). By weight of the hot carcass, the sheep of the 2nd experimental group significantly exceeded the 1st control group by 2,82 kg or 21,3 % (P ≤ 0,01), by slaughter weight the difference was 3,97 kg or 29,0 % (P ≤ 0,01). The slaughter yield increased from 45,7 to 49,5 % or 3,8 abs.%. Age affects the efficiency of mutton production. Thus, the cost of 1 kg of mutton did not diff er from 7-month-old and 10–month-old rams, and feed expenditures increased significantly, therefore the prime-cost of mutton in older animals also increased, and the profitability of production decreased. Therefore, the slaughter of animals and the sale of mutton under intensive rearing is more effective at the age of 7 months.

Use of the “Gifts” of the Animal World by the Population of the Northern Part of Bukovina in the 8th—13th Centuries

The article examines the ways of development and specialization of animal husbandry in a particular region, namely the northern part of Bukovina, over a fairly long period from the formation of East Slavic tribal reigns to the Ancient Rus state and the Mongol-Tatar invasion. The development of animal husbandry, the species composition of the herd of domestic animals, depending on the influence of the physical-geographical, natural-climatic and socio-economic conditions of the region is analyzed based on osteoarchaeological material. Such material from the settlements of the study area makes it possible to state the presence of several types of economic specialization of animal husbandry and conclude their quantitative ratio in the study area. So in the Middle Dniester, pig breeding prevailed, followed by sheep breeding and raising cattle (the first type of animal husbandry). On the left bank of the Prut River, with its turf-podzolic loams, preference was given to the breeding of big cattle — small ruminants — pigs (the second species). The third species is presented in the following sequence: cattle — pig breeding — sheep breeding. Hunting products played an important role in the diet of the local population. The species composition of wild game animals, hunting methods, and tools used in this process are analyzed. The study showed a fairly high level of development of animal husbandry and hunting among the local population.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in <i>FLT3</i>, <i>NLRP5</i>, and <i>TGIF1</i> are associated with litter size in Small-tailed Han sheep

Previous studies have indicated that FLT3, NLRP5, and TGIF1 play a pivotal role in sheep fecundity. Nevertheless, little is known about the association of the polymorphisms of these genes with litter size (LS). In this study, the selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using a Sequenom MassARRAY® platform, and the distribution of different genotypes of the SNPs in the seven sheep breeds (Small-tailed Han, Hu, Cele Black, Suffolk, Tan, Prairie Tibetan, and Sunite sheep) were analyzed. The reliability of the estimated allele frequency for all seven SNPs was at least 0.9545. Given the association of the TGIF1 g.37866222C > T polymorphism with LS in Small-tailed Han sheep (p<0.05), fecundity differences might be caused by the change in amino acid from proline (Pro) to serine (Ser), which has an impact on secondary, tertiary protein structures with concomitant TGIF1 functionality changes. The FLT3 rs421947730 locus has a great effect on the LS (p<0.05), indicating that the locus of FLT3 in synergy with KILTG is likely to facilitate ovarian follicle maturation and ovulation. Moreover, NLRP5 rs426897754 is associated with the LS of the second and third parities (p<0.05). We speculate that a synonymous variant of NLRP5 may be involved in folliculogenesis accompanied by BMP15, FSHR, BMPR1B, AMH, and GDF9, resulting in the different fecundity of Small-tailed Han sheep. Our studies provide valuable genetic markers for sheep breeding.

NONVOLANT MAMMALS IN A FRAGMENT OF ARBOREAL CAATINGA IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The state of Paraiba is one of those with the most degraded Caatinga that presents the large gap of knowledge concerning the mammal fauna. Mammals are among the taxa most affected by this. In this sense, we evaluated non-volant mammals’ richness and composition between March 2013 and February 2020 in a Caatinga fragment (121 ha). We used active search (336 hours) and camera traps (1,200 night traps). We recorded 20 species, including four threatened ones. Carnivora was the most representative order (7 species), followed by Rodentia (4 species). The richness of non-volant mammals found represents 35.6 % of the total number of such species in the Caatinga. This species richness is greater than that found in other studies in the state. The presence of these mammal species was mainly due to the recovering vegetation that resulted from the great planting effort and also due to cessation of hunt, cattle and sheep breeding that had existed on the farm for over thirty years. Our findings highlight the importance of this particular reserve due to the large number of species registered.

Monitoring of bacterial agents isolated from small cattle on the territory of certain regions of the Russian Federation

The paper presents the results of bacterial screening of goat and sheep breeding enterprises in certain regions of Russia (Tver, Moscow, Smolensk regions, as well as the Republic of Mari-El and Tatarstan), conducted in the period from 2018 to 2021. In the course of this work, 556 samples of sectional material (heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, kidneys, liver, lymph nodes, breast, flushes from the genitourinary system, as well as exudate from purulent lesions) were subjected to a comprehensive bacteriological study. As a result of the conducted studies, 1223 isolates belonging to 25 families (111 bacterial species) were isolated and identified (by the method of time-of-flight mass spectrometry MALDI-ToF). According to the data obtained, the incidence of Escherichia coli isolation was 10.95%, Trueperella pyogenes – 5.47%, Staphylococcus aureus – 5.31%, Proteus mirabilis – 4.08%, Mannheimia haemolytica – 4.00%, Enterococcus faecalis – 3.76%, Enterobacter cloacea and Staphylococcus haemolyticus – 3.59%, Streptococcus dysgalactiae – 3.51%, Pasteurella multocida – 3.27%, Acinetobacter lwoffii – 2.78%, Staphylococcus cohnii – 2.61%, Bibersteinia trehalosi – 2.29%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa – 2.12%, Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus – 1.96%, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus equorum – 1.88%, Aerococcus viridans – 1.80%, Corynebacterium xerosis – 1.72%, Clostridium perfringens, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus pyogenes – 1.39%, Staphylococcus chromogenes and Streptococcus entericus – 1.14%, respectively. The incidence of isolation of other types of microorganisms was below 1%. The data obtained indicate the circulation of a wide range of bacteria in goat and sheep breeding enterprises of the Russian Federation, some of which should be positioned as pathogenic flora (for example, Pasteurella multocida, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens, etc.), some as conditionally pathogenic (Trueperella pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bibersteinia trehalosi, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi, etc.), as well as the normal flora of the animal body. It is worth focusing on these data when conducting a survey of livestock enterprises in order to establish an objective epizootic situation, including taking into account the possibility of circulating pathogens of factor diseases.

IMPROVEMENT OF MEAT QUALITIES OF KAZAKH MEAT-WOOL SEMI-FINE SHEEP BY USING THE ROMNEY-MARSH BREED

This article presents the results of the first stage of research work on the use of the Romney March gene pool of sheep breed based on the laparascopic method of insemination of Kazakh meat-wool semi-fine sheep. The work was performed within the framework of scientific and technical program: "Development of effective methods of selection by branches of animal husbandry for 2018-2020", on task "Development of effective methods of selection in sheep breeding (application of genetics of Romney marsh breed).

Effect of Dams and Suckling Lamb Feeding Systems on the Fatty Acid Composition of Suckling Lamb Meat

The effects of the dams and suckling lamb feeding systems on the fatty acid (FA) profile of lamb meat are reviewed in this article. The suckling lamb can be considered a functional monogastric, and therefore, its meat FA composition is strongly influenced by the FA composition of maternal milk. The major source of variation for ewe milk FA composition is represented by pasture amount and type. In the traditional sheep breeding system of the Mediterranean area, the main lambing period occurs in late autumn–early winter, and ewes are able to exploit the seasonal availability of the natural pastures at their best. Therefore, lambs start suckling when maternal milk concentrations of vaccenic, rumenic, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA in maternal milk are the highest. When maternal diet is mainly based on hay and concentrates, the use of vegetable oils can be considered a good strategy to improve the meat FA profile of suckling lambs.

Mary Holderness. Notes relating to the Manners and Customs of the Crim Tatars (Written during the four years` residence among that people)

In her essay “Notes Relating to the Manners and Customs of the Crim Tartars (Written during four years of living among that people)”, the English traveler Mary Holderness describes the peculiarities of the Crimean Tatars’ way of life, their customs and traditions, pays attention to musical instruments , wrestling, children’s games, horse racing. The author has done a certain amount of work to study the natural resource potential of the peninsula, specialization and location of the Crimean agricultural sectors, taking into account the influence of climatic and geographical conditions. Agricultural methods, sheep breeding, the interior of the Crimean Tatar smithy, the work of mills are also presented by the author. The presence of a variety of horticultural crops not only in the region of residence of Holderness, but also on the entire peninsula, a variety of flora and fauna, medicinal plants, and the natural landscape of the peninsula are considered in her work. In conclusion, the author indicates the prices for food, goods and services of that period.