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Biology
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Reproductive Management of Goats and Sheep
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Reproductive Management of Goats and Sheep

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental and Reproductive Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 2001

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yongjie Wan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: animal breeding; follicle development; granular cell proliferation; apoptosis; oocyte maturation and early embryonic development; epigenetic modification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the reproductive management of goats and sheep, highlighting the latest research and advancements in this field. With a specific emphasis on the breeding, physiology, and production aspects, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the knowledge and practices related to the reproductive processes in these animals. Additionally, this Special Issue addresses animal welfare concerns and explores sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the overall productivity and well-being of goats and sheep. The journal encourages the submission of all research papers related to goats and sheep as long as they contribute knowledge to the reproduction and management of animal systems. The journal particularly encourages papers that demonstrate interactions between different methods to illustrate the comprehensive nature of biological systems.

"Reproductive Management of Goats and Sheep" is a must-read publication for all scientists, stakeholders, and decision-makers interested in the fields of biomedical science, animal science, veterinary science, and environmental science. These disciplines of science have anticipated impacts on animal performance and productivity, animal welfare, animal health, the environment, product quality, human health and nutrition, and the sustainability of animal agriculture and livestock systems. These impacts should be internationally relevant.

Dr. Yongjie Wan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • reproductive management
  • goats
  • sheep
  • breeding
  • physiology
  • production
  • biology
  • theriogenology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1774 KiB  
Article
Study on the Technology of Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Embryo Production in Chongming Goats
by Xiangli Wu, Dongxu Li, Ying Chen, Yangsheng Wu, Gulimire Abudureyimu, Wei Zhang, Kelu Deng, Zhen Huang, Jiapeng Lin and Liqin Wang
Biology 2024, 13(9), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090699 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 887
Abstract
The application of laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and in vitro production of embryos (IVEP) technologies has opened up a new path for purebred breeding and breed improvement in goats. However, due to the complexity of the procedures and multiple influencing factors, these technologies [...] Read more.
The application of laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and in vitro production of embryos (IVEP) technologies has opened up a new path for purebred breeding and breed improvement in goats. However, due to the complexity of the procedures and multiple influencing factors, these technologies have not been widely adopted in goat production. This study explores factors affecting the efficiency of LOPU in goats by comparing the use of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) for estrus synchronization, conventional FSH versus long-acting recombinant ovine FSH (R-FSH) for superovulation, and the timing of LOPU at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h of follicular development. The metrics evaluated included the recovery rate of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), the average number of ovarian follicles, the average number of COCs, and the average number of available COCs. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of LOPU was significantly higher with two doses of R-FSH compared to the conventional FSH superovulation protocol and the control group (p < 0.05), with two doses of R-FSH providing a higher LOPU efficiency than one dose (p < 0.05). Using CIDR for estrus synchronization showed no significant difference in LOPU efficiency compared to the non-CIDR group. Similarly, the efficiency of LOPU showed no significant difference between the hormone treatments at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h. By exploring and optimizing the factors influencing LOPU, we ultimately established a LOPU technology system for goats that meets the production needs of small ruminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Management of Goats and Sheep)
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17 pages, 657 KiB  
Article
Circular Economy, Dairy Cow Feed Leftovers, and Withania somnifera Supplementation: Effects on Black Belly Ram’s Libido, Sperm Quality, Sexual Behavior, and Hemogram Values
by Andrés J. Rodriguez-Sánchez, Cesar A. Meza-Herrera, Angeles De Santiago-Miramontes, Cayetano Navarrete-Molina, Francisco G. Veliz-Deras, Julieta Z. Ordoñez-Morales, Jessica M. Flores-Salas and Ruben I. Marin-Tinoco
Biology 2024, 13(9), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090656 - 24 Aug 2024
Viewed by 839
Abstract
Considering a circular economy perspective, this study evaluates the possible effect of targeted short-term supplementation with Withania somnifera L. (WS; Ashwagandha) on ram’s seminal quality, socio-sexual behaviors, and blood constituents. Black Belly rams (n = 20) received a basal diet comprising feed-leftovers from [...] Read more.
Considering a circular economy perspective, this study evaluates the possible effect of targeted short-term supplementation with Withania somnifera L. (WS; Ashwagandha) on ram’s seminal quality, socio-sexual behaviors, and blood constituents. Black Belly rams (n = 20) received a basal diet comprising feed-leftovers from dairy cows in the north-arid Mexico (i.e., Comarca Lagunera CL). The experimental units, with proven libido and fertility, were homogeneous in terms of age (3.41 ± 0.21 yr.), live weight (LW; 53.8 ± 3.3 kg), body condition (BC; 2.96 ± 0.01 units), initial sperm concentration (2387 ± 804 × 106), and viability (23.9 ± 15.6%). Rams were randomly assigned during the transition reproductive period (i.e., May to Jun; 25° NL) to three treatment groups: non-supplemented control group (CONT; n = 6), low WS-supplemented (LWS; i.e., 100 mg kg LW−1 d−1 × 40 d; n = 7), and high-WS-supplemented (HWS; i.e., 200 mg kg LW−1 d−1 × 40 d; n = 7). The basal leftover diet was offered twice daily (0700 and 1600 h); the experimental period (EP) lasted 47 d. No differences (p > 0.05) among treatments occurred regarding LW and BCS at the onset of the EP. Whereas the greater scrotal circumference (SCRC, cm) arose in the LWS and CONT rams, an increased ejaculated volume (VOLEJA, mL) occurred in the WS-rams. A total of 5/9 (i.e., 55%) appetitive and 3/3 (i.e., 100%) consummatory sexual behaviors favored (p < 0.05) the WS-rams, particularly the HWS rams, towards the final EP. The same was true (p < 0.05) regarding the hemogram variables white blood cell count (×109 cells L−1), hemoglobin concentration (g dL−1), and medium corpuscular volume (fL). This study, based on a rethink–reuse–reduce enquiry approach, enabled connectedness between two noteworthy animal systems in the CL: dairy cows and meat sheep schemes. Certainly, the use of dairy cow feed-leftovers aligned with the short-term supplementation with WS promoted enhanced testicular function, augmented seminal volume, and an increased sexual behavior in Black Belly rams in northern Mexico. Finally, while our research outcomes should enhance not only the resilience and sustainability of sheep production and the well-being of sheep-producers and their families, it may also embrace clinical translational applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Management of Goats and Sheep)
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