Morphological analysis and subpopulation characterization of Ripollesa sheep breed

Esquivelzeta, Cecilia; Fina, Marta; Bach, R.; Madruga, C. R.; Caja, G.; Casellas, J.; Piedrafita, J.

doi:10.1017/s2078633611000063

Cited by 31 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This breed is a representative example of the meat-type sheep industry from the Mediterranean basin, the 'pascual'-type lamb being its typical commercial product (22 to 24 kg of live BW at slaughter). Ripollesa individuals have dark brown or black marks on the head and legs, and white semi-fine wool with closed fleece (Esquivelzeta et al, 2011). This research focused on the age at first lambing (AFL) defined as the number of days between the ewe's birth date and the date of its first lambing.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison between linear and proportional hazard models for the analysis of age at first lambing in the Ripollesa breed

Casellas

2016

Animal

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Age at first lambing (AFL) plays a key role on the reproductive performance of sheep flocks, although there are no genetic selection programs accounting for this trait in the sheep industry. This could be due to the non-Gaussian distribution pattern of AFL data, which must be properly accounted for by the analytical model. In this manuscript, two different parameterizations were implemented to analyze AFL in the Ripollesa sheep breed, that is, the skew-Gaussian mixed linear model (sGML) and the piecewise Weibull proportional hazards model (PWPH). Data were available from 10 235 ewes born between 1972 and 2013 in 14 purebred Ripollesa flocks located in the north-east region of Spain. On average, ewes gave their first lambing short after their first year and a half of life (590.9 days), and within-flock averages ranged between 523.4 days and 696.6 days. Model fit was compared using the deviance information criterion (DIC; the smaller the DIC statistic, the better the model fit). Model sGML was clearly penalized (DIC = 200 059), whereas model PWPH provided smaller estimates and reached the minimum DIC when one cut point was added to the initial Weibull model (DIC = 132 545). The pure Weibull baseline and parameterizations with two or more cut points were discarded due to larger DIC estimates (>134 200). The only systematic effect influencing AFL was the season of birth, where summer-and fall-born ewes showed a remarkable shortening of their AFL, whereas neither birth type nor birth weight had a relevant impact on this reproductive trait. On the other hand, heritability on the original scale derived from model PWPH was high, with a model estimate place at 0.114 and its highest posterior density region ranging from 0.079 and 0.143. As conclusion, Gaussian-related mixed linear models should be avoided when analyzing AFL, whereas model PWPH must be viewed as better alternative with superior goodness of fit; moreover, the additive genetic background underlying this reproductive trait supports its inclusion into current genetic selection programs given its economic importance.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison between linear and proportional hazard models for the analysis of age at first lambing in the Ripollesa breed

Casellas

2016

Animal

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“…Among the native sheep breeds in Spain, the Ripollesa is the most abundant breed in Catalonia (i.e., the northeastern region of Spain), producing pascual-type lambs that are slaughtered at ∼3 mo of age with a carcass weight of 13-16 kg. It is a rustic meat-type breed with convex profile, characteristic black or dark brown pigmentation on the head and legs, and white entrefino-type wool (Esquivelzeta et al 2011). The meat-type Lacaune is the most numerous sheep breed in France for producing lambs, with a census exceeding 300 000 ewes (Perret et al 1995).…”

Section: Animals and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carcass traits and meat fatty acid composition in Mediterranean light lambs

et al. 2017

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Lamb meat is an important source of different fatty acids with numerous health benefits for the consumer. The aim of this study was to characterize carcass and meat traits in 14 Lacaune, 77 Ripollesa, and 33 Lacaune × Ripollesa pascual-type lambs (carcass weight, 13-16 kg) by using ultrasound and direct measurements on carcasses and laboratory analyses on meat samples. More specifically, ultrasound images and direct carcass measurements of the Longissimus dorsi (LD) were taken between the 12th and 13th ribs and between the first and second lumbar vertebrae, characterizing skin thickness, subcutaneous back-fat thickness, and depth, width, and area of LD. After slaughter, standard commercial joints were weighted (i.e., leg, rack, shoulder/foreshank, and neck), whereas a sample of the LD muscle was analyzed for fatty acid composition. All of this information becomes essential for light lamb producers, a livestock product that has a high market demand in the Mediterranean basin. Résumé : La viande d'agneau est une source importante des différents acides gras avec de nombreux effets bénéfiques pour la santé des consommateurs. Le but de cette étude était de caractériser les traits de carcasse et de viande chez 14 agneaux Lacaune, 77 Ripollesa et 33 Lacaune × Ripollesa de type pascual (poids de carcasse : 13-16 kg) en utilisant des mesures ultrasons et directes sur les carcasses et des analyses de laboratoire sur des échantillons de viande. Plus particulièrement, des images ultrasons et des mesures directes de la carcasse du muscle Longissimus dorsi (LD) ont été effectuées entre les 12e et 13e côtes et entre les première et deuxième vertèbres lombaires, caractérisant l'épaisseur de la peau, l'épaisseur du gras dorsal sous-cutané ainsi que la profondeur, largeur et aire du muscle LD. Après abattage, les joints commerciaux standards ont été pesés (c.-à-d. cuisse, carré, épaule/jarret et cou), tandis qu'un échantillon du muscle LD a été analysé pour la composition en acides gras. Toute cette information devient essentielle pour les producteurs d'agneaux légers, un produit animal très populaire dans le marché du bassin de la Méditerranée. [Traduit par la Rédaction]Mots-clés : traits de carcasse, acides gras, agneau léger, composition de la viande, ultrasons.

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“…Males are generally larger than females for several morphometric traits of ovine breeds (Esquivelzeta et al (2011) and Mavule et al (2013)); however, females seem to be higher especially for rump width as can be observed in Esquivelzeta et al (2011) in Ripollesa breed. It is possible that after 240 days, more differences between the sexes will become evident, as Costa Júnior et al (2006) found sexual dimorphism in Santa Ines sheep for other traits.…”

Section: Morphometric Traitsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Performance of the Santa Ines breed raised on pasture in semiarid tropical regions and factors that explain trait variation

Jucá

Faveri

Filho

et al. 2014

Trop Anim Health Prod

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This study aimed to evaluate sex, the number of lambs per birth, and the family effects on production traits in the Santa Ines breed of sheep by estimating the least square means and coefficient of variance for those traits. A total of 484 lambs were evaluated for the following traits: weight at birth, at weaning, and at 240 days of age; weight gain during the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods; height, width, and length of different body regions; and rib eye area and fat thickness between the 12th and 13th ribs. We observed coefficients of variation higher than 10 % for several traits. Generally, males were larger than females (P < 0.05), while lambs from single and double births were larger than lambs from triple births (P < 0.05). Family effect was significant (P < 0.05) for most traits and explained the highest percentage of residual variance. The results showed good development of Santa Ines sheep, especially during the pre-weaning period but no in post-weaning. Our study also showed that there is an effect of sex, birth type, and family, which must be included in any statistical model for the estimation of least square means and residual variance in ANOVA.

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Morphological analysis and subpopulation characterization of Ripollesa sheep breed

Cited by 31 publications

References 9 publications

Comparison between linear and proportional hazard models for the analysis of age at first lambing in the Ripollesa breed

Comparison between linear and proportional hazard models for the analysis of age at first lambing in the Ripollesa breed

Carcass traits and meat fatty acid composition in Mediterranean light lambs

Performance of the Santa Ines breed raised on pasture in semiarid tropical regions and factors that explain trait variation

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