Reproduction Efficiency and Health Traits in Dorper, White Dorper, and Tsigai Sheep Breeds under Temperate European Conditions

Abstract

The objective of the current pilot study was to evaluate the reproductive performance and health indicators in Dorper, White Dorper, and Tsigai breed ewes managed semi-intensively under European temperate conditions. A total of 544 ewe-year units were observed, with ewes (ranging from 1.5 to 8 years of age) managed under identical rearing conditions for a period of two consecutive production cycles (2012 through 2013 and 2013 through 2014). In general, significant (p≤0.001) genotype-related disparities were found in occurrence rates for all health parameters taken into study. Clinical mastitis incidence was significantly lower (p≤0.05) in Dorper (9.4%) and White Dorper (10.8%) breeds compared to that of Tsigai ewes (17.4%). Significant differences (p≤0.05) for lameness were found between Dorper and Tsigai breeds, with occurrence rates of 8.0% and 2.9%, respectively. Incidence for pneumonia and abortion was not influenced (p>0.05) by the ewes’ genotype. Litter size was significantly lower (p≤0.05) in White Dorper breed than for Dorper and Tsigai ewes, of 1.21, 1.40, and 1.45, respectively. Conception rates and lambs survival were not affected (p>0.05) by genotype. Results suggest that South African Dorper and White Dorper sheep breeds have adapted well to the specific rearing conditions.

Genetic polymorphism in European and African sheep breeds reared in Hungary based on 48 SNPs associated with resistance to gastrointestinal parasite infection using KASP-PCR technique

“…Due to its outstanding characteristics, such as the thermotolerance ability (Joy et al 2020 ), the Dorper has gained popularity in certain European regions, including Hungary (Gavojdian et al 2013 ). Since its introduction in 2007, the Dorper has been one of the most prolific breeds found in Hungary (Budai et al 2013 ), although the number of purebreds in Hungary is still limited, and the ram is mainly used as terminal sires for crossbreeding with indigenous maternal breeds to increase production traits (Gavojdian et al 2015a , b ). According to some authors, the drawback of this breed to European rearing conditions would be the lower resistance to diseases, as evidenced by previous findings by Guo et al ( 2016 ) and Estrada-Reyes et al ( 2019 ).…”

Validation of SNP markers for thermotolerance adaptation in Ovis aries adapted to different climatic regions using KASP-PCR technique

“…1b). This could be attributed to the fact that heat-tolerant breeds that are kept in the EU have become acclimated to the subtropical environment, in addition to the fact that genetic ad-mixture has occurred as a result of the widespread use of reproductive technologies, which has led to a less distinct genetic divergence between breeds, with previous studies reporting high levels of ad-mixture between different sheep breeds reared in Hungary and Romania, with the aim to increase the productivity [45][46][47][48][49] . We acknowledge that the cold breeds used in this study were not from year-around cold regions (e.g.…”

Digital gene expression analyses of mammary glands from meat ewes naturally infected with clinical mastitis

“…oestrous cycle and follicular development [4], conception rate [5], pregnancy rate [5,6], days to first insemination [7], etc. The incidence of clinical mastitis in sheep is generally less than 5% [8], but reached up to 9.4–17.4% in Gavojdian et al .’s [9] reports. There was a close correlation between the occurrence of ovine clinical mastitis and breed, parity and litter size [10].…”