<div>Background: The corriedale sheep breed was imported into J and K during sixties for use in improvement of local sheep and are maintained at Mountain Research Station of Sheep and Goat, SKUAST- K. The animals over the years were allowed to mate within the selected animals of the flock as there was hardy any fresh importation of exotic animals from last 49 years due to which closed flock population was established within the farm. This has led to apprehensions over the loss of genetic diversity through years. 
 
Methods: The present study was to undertaken to evaluate the performance of Corriedale sheep under temperate climate and to estimate the inbreeding coefficient and its effect on growth and fitness traits of Corriedale sheep maintained at Mountain Research Centre for Sheep and Goat (MRCSG), F.V.Sc and A.H, SKUAST-K Shuhama, Kashmir. The information on performance and pedigree spanning over a period of 49 years (1969-2017) was collected and utilized for the study. The traits studied were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6 months weight (6MW), 9 months weight (9MW) and 12 months weight (12MW) age at first lambing (AFL), litter size (LS), total lambs born per ewe (TLB) and survival rate (SR).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The averages estimates for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW, 12MW, AFL, LS, TLB and SR were 3.72&plusmn;0.01 kg, 13.31&plusmn;0.07 kg, 18.65&plusmn;0.05kg, 22.15&plusmn;0.04 kg, 25.84&plusmn;0.06 kg 807.20&plusmn;4.34 days, 1.08&plusmn;0.00, 4.83&plusmn;0.03 and 80.76&plusmn;1.98, respectively. The overall inbreeding coefficient (F) and proportion of population inbred (per cent) for Corriedale sheep were 18.3 and 43.3, respectively. The increased inbreeding coefficient had negative impact and highly significant (p&lt;0.01) on all the traits under study except LS. The increased inbreeding coefficient (F) also had a negative impact on all the traits under study. With increase in the level of inbreeding there was a decrease in total body weight traits, lambs born per ewe and survival rate where as age at first lambing was increasing with the increase. he results indicated as decrease of 0.25 kg, 1.45 kg, 5.04 kg, 5.53 kg and 5.48 kg in body weight of the animals at birth, weaning weight, six months, nine months and twelve months from 1969-2017. To overcome the negative impact of inbreeding coefficient in the flock introduction of genetic variability through importation of Corriedale germplasm into the farm is highly recommended.</div>

Effect of Inbreeding Coefficient on Growth and Fitness Traits in a Closed Flock of Corriedale Sheep

Background: For effective breeding programs and farm management, it is essential to understand and account for these non-genetic influences.&nbsp;This study focuses on impact of period and season of birth, sex of lamb and parity of dam on growth traits of Corriedale sheep under agro climatic condition of Kashmir. 
 
Methods: The data on growth traits of 5492 corriedale sheep under MRCSG (Mountain Research Centre for Sheep and Goat) at SKUAST-K (India) during 37 years (1988-2024) were analysed using fixed linear model via emmeans package in R. The data was organized into several sub-classes based on period of birth, season of birth, parity and sex of animal. 
 
Result: The overall least-squares means for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six-month weight(6M), nine-month weight and yearling weight (12M) was estimated as 3.55&plusmn;0.04, 11.31&plusmn;0.27, 17.76&plusmn;0.30, 18.88&plusmn;0.17 and 22.97&plusmn;0.34 respectively. Period, season of birth, sex and parity had significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on growth traits under study. Post weaning body weights exhibited consistent improvement over the periods indicating better management practices. Male lambs and winter-born lambs showed superior growth. Ewes in 4th&nbsp;to 5th&nbsp;parity gave birth to heavy lambs as compared to other parities. The study underlines the importance of accounting for these non-genetic factors in the efficient management and selection decisions at the farm. 
&nbsp;

Impact of Non-genetic Factors on Growth Traits in Corriedale Sheep under Agro Climatic Condition of Kashmir

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate variance and covariance components of birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six month weight (6M), nine month weight (9M) and twelve month weight (12M) body weights in Corriedale sheep reared at MRCS&amp;G farm, SKUAST-Kashmir. 
 
Methods: A total of 5492 body weight records from 1988 to 2024 were analyzed by the random regression model (RRM). Legendre polynomials (LP) fit of second to fourth order (k) were compared to choose the most appropriate RRM. 
 
Result: The Likelihood ratio test, Bayesian information and Akaike information criteria suggested R4334 as the optimal RRM with 4th&nbsp;order fit for animal direct (h2) and animal permanent environmental (I2pe), order 3 for maternal genetic (m2a) and maternal permanent environment effects (m2pe) with 5 different levels of heterogeneous residual variance components. The first Eigen function trajectory indicated positive and increasing trends with advances in age, accounting for 91% of the additive genetic variation. The best model (R4334)&nbsp;showed ascending heritability pattern estimates of 0.22&plusmn;0.03 for BW, 0.21&plusmn;0.03 for WW, 0.18&plusmn;0.02 for 6M, reached peak at 9M (0.32&plusmn;0.03) and for 12M (0.28&plusmn;0.03). The results suggested that genetic selection for growth in Corriedale sheep would be most efficient at around nine months of age. 
&nbsp;

Genetic Analysis of Growth Trajectory in Corriedale Sheep using a Random Regression Model

<div>Background:&nbsp;Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed loop structures, play important role in mammalian growth and development by regulating gene expression and participating in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify the expression profiles of circRNAs in the ovaries of Hu sheep and local Fat-tailed sheep during the luteal phase to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of circRNAs on reproduction and follicular development in sheep. 
 
Methods: To identify the differentially expressed circRNAs expressed in luteal phase conditions in Hu sheep and fat-tailed sheep, ovarian samples collected during the luteal phase were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and subsequent transcriptomic approaches and bioinformatics analysis. 
 
Result:&nbsp;A total of 2,875 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by high-through sequencing. Gene Ontology terminology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that the host genes were mainly involved in the secretion and metabolism of the various pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to validate the results of expression profiling. These results contributed to an improved understanding of circRNA and the biological mechanisms of ovarian reproduction in sheep.</div>

Identification of Circular RNAs in the Ovaries of Hu Sheep and Local Fat-tailed Sheep during the Luteal Phase

<div>Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are active regulators of numerous biological and physiological processes and play an important role in the regulation of animal ovaries and other reproductive related organs. To understand the molecular mechanisms of miR-10 family, we investigated the molecular characteristics and the relative expression of sheep miR-10a and miR-10b (miR-10a/b) and conducted bioinformatics analysis. 
 
Methods: During the period 2018-2019 total of 20 samples including blood and tissues such as hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary were collected from the Hu sheep raised in the National Meat Sheep Experimental Station of China (Luoyang City, Henan Province, China). Blood was collected from jugular vein by vacuum and anticoagulation blood collection tube and stored in refrigerator at -20&deg;C. The tissues were placed into the cryopreservation tube treated with Diethy pyrocarbonate (DEPC) water and stored in liquid nitrogen. All the samples were processed for isolation and confirmed with biochemical analysis and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. 
 
Result: The target genes were predicted by three kinds of target gene predicting software. The function of target genes and their involved pathways were obtained by gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The relative expression of miR-10a/b in sheep ovary was extremely significantly higher than that in hypothalamus and pituitary gland (P &lt; 0.01). The relative expression of miR-10b in ovary or pituitary was extremely significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P &lt; 0.01) and the relative expression of miR-10b in hypothalamus was significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P &lt; 0.05). These results serve as a foundation for further study on the Sheep miR-10 family.</div>

<div>Cloning, Characterization and Bioinformatics Analysis of the Sequences of miR-10a and miR-10b in Sheep (Hu sheep)</div>

20 male Corriedale sheep (3 months of age) were divided into 5 equal groups viz, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 and fed on measured quantity of concentrate mixture containing 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24% azolla replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% linseed cake respectively. Measured quantity of good quality oat hay was offered to all the groups as per their body weight to meet their requirement. Highest body weight was observed in T1 group and it had no significant difference with T2 group, but it had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 groups. T2 group had significant difference with T5 group, but with other groups it had no significant difference in final body weight. Lowest body weight was observed in T5 group but it had no significant difference with T3 and T4 groups. Highest DM digestibility was observed in T2 group and lowest DM digestibility was observed in T5. But no significant difference was observed in DM digestibility among the groups. Lowest FCR was observed in T1 (control) followed by T2 group and they had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 group, but no significant difference was observed between T1 and T2 group. Lowest cost of feeding per kg of gain was observed in T2 group and it had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 group but not with T1 group (control). No significant difference was also observed among T3, T4 and T5 group but significantly higher cost of feeding per kg of gain than T1 (control) group was observed in T3, T4 and T5 group. It was concluded that azolla can be added in the diet of growing sheep at 6% level replacing linseed cake without any adverse effect on the performance of the animals.

Performance of growing sheep on Azolla based diets

<div>Background: The study of the homology of loci between different species has allowed the improvement of specific genetic knowledge and the development of several fundamental concepts. Thanks to this method, Wright discovered the correspondence between a gene and an enzyme (Wright, 1917). In ruminants, this correspondence between loci of different species has been demonstrated for a very long time (Lauvergne, 1979). In fact, the objective of this work was, initially, to use microsatellites recommended for sheep (FAO, 2011) for the amplification of bovine DNA to show that these loci are homologous and, then, to study the genetic diversity and population structure of three groups of each of the two species in Tunisia. 
 
Methods: In this study, we used three microsatellite markers (OarFCB304, OarFCB193 and MAF209) to verify whether they can be amplified in both sheep and cattle. For that, we considered 28 samples of sheep species from 3 different populations and 17 samples of cattle belonging to three breeds. The data obtained were also used to study their genetic diversity and population structure.&nbsp; 
 
Result: We have demonstrated the existence of microsatellite regions common to sheep and cattle. Regarding genetic diversity, we observed a heterozygous deficiency in all the studied breeds. Nei&rsquo;s genetic distances were greater between breeds of cattle than between breeds of sheep.</div>

Detection of Homologous Loci in Sheep and Cattle

<div>Background: Hassan sheep is the third most populous breed of the five registered sheep breeds from Karnataka with limited studies on its morphological and carcass characteristics. Hence, the study was undertaken to know the present status of morphological and carcass characteristics of this breed. 
 
Methods: A total of 34 randomly selected flocks were surveyed and the data on various parameters were collected. The morphometrical data was collected on 344 sheep belonging to eight flocks from the breeding tract. The carcass characteristics were documented by slaughtering six male lambs (between nine to twelve months of age). 
 
Result: These sheep had varied coat colours viz. complete white (23.3%), white with light brown patches (58.1%) and white with black patches (18.6%) on head and neck region. It was observed that 40.4 per cent of males and only 1.4 per cent of females were horned. Atrophied ears were noticed in 2.3 per cent of these sheep. The average adult body length (cm), height at wither (cm), chest girth (cm), paunch (cm), ear length (cm), tail length (cm) and average adult body weight (kg) were 66.4&plusmn;0.62, 65.03&plusmn;1.45, 75.2&plusmn;1.02, 76.5&plusmn;1.38, 15.2&plusmn;0.07, 11.5&plusmn;0.07 and 32.7&plusmn;2.03 in males and 63.8&plusmn;0.85, 61.7&plusmn;1.38, 71.8&plusmn;2.32, 74.5&plusmn;2.60, 15.0&plusmn;0.34, 11.3&plusmn;0.08 and 27.8&plusmn;1.21 in females, respectively. The difference in body weight between males and females increased significantly over the age. The pre-slaughter weight (PSW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage recorded were 20.3&plusmn;1.42 Kg, 9.5&plusmn;0.23 kg and 46.80 per cent, respectively.</div>

Phenotypic and Carcass Characterization of Hassan Sheep

<div style="text-align: justify;">This study has aimed to investigate the differences between the levels of trace elements in sheep with the diagnosis of ecthyma, and in healthy sheep. For this purpose, Be,Bi,Pb,Cd,Na,K,Ca,Mg,Fe,Cu,Zn,Se,Ni and Mn,Co,Cr,Li elements in the plasma of sheep with Contagious ecthyma detected with PCR and in sheep in the control group were analyzed with ICP-OES.In this study, the levels of Fe,Cu,Zn,Se and Pb trace elements were found to be statistically different between the sheep infected with parapoxvirus.The Na element of the macro elements was observed to be statistically different in sheep with ecthyma, to the control group(P&lt;0.05).When there are low levels of metal concentration in sheep with ecthyma, their immune system can be considered to be weakened.Further studies can be carried out on the increase in the risk of developing the disease as a result of, in particular, a decrease in the Fe,Cu,Zn and Se concentrations in sheep infected with the virus.</div>

The changes in the levels of elements in sheep with Contagious Ecthyma &nbsp;

<div>Background: The mutations in POU1F1 gene result in deficiency of GH, PRL and TSH-&acirc; expression and thus have an indirect effect on development and reproduction. The present study was conducted to determine and compare the polymorphism of POU1F1 gene in Mandya and NARI-Suwarna Sheep.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;Blood samples were collected from 50 each of Mandya and NARI-Suwarna sheep and genomic DNA was isolated following Miller&rsquo;s high salt method. PCR-RFLP analysis was performed for exon 3 and exon 4 regions of POU1F1 gene, whereas, PCR-SSCP analysis was performed for exon 6 region of POU1F1 gene.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The PCR products of sizes 365 bp, 508 bp and 501 bp for exon 3, exon 4 and exon 6 regions of POU1F1 gene, respectively were successfully amplified. PCR-RFLP analysis of exon 3 and exon 4 regions of POU1F1 gene with AluI and EcoRI restriction enzymes, respectively revealed monomorphism in both Mandya and NARI-Suwarna sheep. The PCR-SSCP analysis of exon 6 region of POU1F1 gene revealed two patterns, P1 and P2 with frequencies of 98 and 2 per cent, respectively in Mandya sheep and 90 and 10 per cent, respectively in NARI-Suwarna sheep. The alignment of P1 and P2 pattern sequences revealed two SNPs (109 G&gt;C and 112 T&gt;A) in Mandya sheep, whereas 3 SNPs (218 T&gt;G, 225 G&gt;A and 264 T&gt;A) were revealed in NARI-Suwarna sheep. Polymorphism was successfully established at exon 6 region of POU1F1 gene.&nbsp;</div>