ENHANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY OF SHEEP ENTERPRISES IN WYOMING AND THE SHEEP PRODUCING WESTERN STATES.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1002574
• Project No.: WYO-516-14
• Project Start Date: Mar 6, 2014
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018

Project Director
Alexander, BR, M..

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000

Performing Department
Animal Science

Non Technical Summary
Extensive range production systems typical of Wyoming agriculture are particularly suited for sheep production, and sheep production remains a vital component of Wyoming livestock production contributing over $3 million to the state's economy. With prices for lamb and wool at historic highs, the sheep industry is poised to grow. The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) recently unveiled a campaign to increase sheep numbers. For the sheep industry to remain sustainable, efficiency of production must be maximized. The work outlined in this proposal is designed to address production and reproduction efficiency. With feed costs contributing from 50 - 70% of total production costs, selecting seed flock based on residual feed intake (RFI) is compelling. These studies are aimed to determine the value of RFI and determine the tools necessary to select sheep on feed efficiency. Ram selection rarely includes a measure of reproductive behavior even though the identification of and desire to mate ewes in estrus is necessary for the incorporation of genetics into any flock. With 23% of rams exhibiting poor reproductive behavior, determining the physiological basis of this behavior is necessary to identify tools that can facilitate ram selection. Increased flock numbers can be accomplished by increasing ewe life time productivity. Determining the influence of the co-twin on ewe life-time productivity will give producers an easily adoptable management tool to increase ewe productivity. The overall goal of this project is to add to the knowledge base of sheep production efficiency and develop tools that if adopted by producers will increase efficiency and therefore, the sustainability of the sheep industry.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

60%

Applied

30%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
303	3610	1080	100%

Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3610 - Sheep, live animal;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

residual feed intake

feed efficiency

ram behavior

ewe productivity

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to add to the knowledge base of sheep production efficiency and develop tools that if adopted by producers will increase efficiency and therefore, the sustainability of the sheep industry.This project encompasses many different objectives which will are necessary to fulfill the overall objective.Determine relationships between RFI and other traits of economic importance in sheepDetermine potential selection tools to improve feed efficiency in sheepDetermine the neural basis for sexual inactivity in ramsIncreasing lambing rate and productivity by altering selection of ewe lamb replacements

Project Methods
Characterization of RFI and Identification of Genetic Markers for Feed Efficiency (e.g., RFI) in Sheep. Whitefaced and blackfaced rams (n = ~ 100 per test max; two annual tests), submitted by Wyoming producers and the University of Wyoming, will undergo the annual Ram Test using the GrowSafe system (~14 d adaptation + 60 d feed intake trial) at the University of Wyoming Experimental Farm; RFI and other relevant performance data will be obtained on those animals to further determine trait associations.Blood samples are routinely collected for scrapie genotyping as part of the ram test. We will obtain a duplicate blood sample at that time for DNA extraction and storage. Blood samples for scrapie testing are collected by venipuncture (~7.5 mL) using an 18-gauge needle and 10 mL EDTA-lined tubes; we simply collect a second sample at that time (no additional venipuncture).Ram Sexual Behavior. At the onset of the breeding season (September), sexually experienced flock sires (n = 10) will be exposed in random order to five different sensory paradigms. These paradigms include:1. Control. Control stimulus (rams will be held in a small 2.5 m x 2.5 m pen within their home pen) no ewes will be within 200 m.2. Olfactory. Rams will be exposed to sexually evocative olfactory stimuli. Rams will be exposed to urine collected from ewes in estrus in a fabric cone which covers their nose and mouth. Urine (approx. 6 ml) will be soaked onto a cotton pad and presented in the bottom of the cone.3. Visual. Rams will receive only visual stimulation. Rams will be exposed to ewes separated by a fence-line (within 1 m). Ewes will be restrained by a head catch. Although rams will technically be able to smell the ewes, the ewes will be assumed to be sexually unattractive outside of the ovulatory phase of their cycle with high circulating concentrations of progesterone.4. Olfactory + Visual. Rams will have both visual and olfactory stimulation (rams will be exposed to urine collected from ewes in estrus while also being visually presented with restrained ewes). Similar to visual contact, rams will be exposed to ewes separated by a fence-line (within 1 m). Restrained ewes with high circulating concentrations of progesterone will be used as the visual stimulus.5. Plus Tactile. Rams will be exposed to ewes in estrus and given time to freely interact with three ewes in estrus where they would receive olfactory/gustatory and visual cues while also receiving tactile stimulation by freely mounting the ewes. This study is designed to study sexual interest only; therefore, rams will be precluded from intromission by wearing an apron preventing vaginal penetration. Exposure to stimuli will occur one exposure per day for each ram with a minimum of one day between exposures. Each exposure will last for 20 minutes. Blood samples [jugular sample (< 10 ml) collected by manual vein occlusion with a syringe and 18 ga needle] will be collected prior to exposure from each ram (time 0), immediately following exposure (20 min) and at 40 and 60 min (4 samples total from each ram).Luteinizing hormone is expected to rise within 15 minutes following sexually evocative stimuli. This would be expected to translate into an increase in testosterone by 1 hr following stimuli.Effect of co-twin will be determined through analysis of lambing and production records at the University of Wyoming.

Progress 03/06/14 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:This project increases knowledge for the scientific community as well as providing new information to extension specialists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Manuscripts have been published and are available to the scientific community. Presentations made at scientific conferences are attended by extension specialists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? At the University of Wyoming, most progress was made on understanding the neural basis of sexual inactivity in rams. Although neural signalling of putative sexually evocative odors appears to be similar among high and low performing rams (Mirto et al., 2017), low performing rams seem to have reduced dopamine tone in their brains which would result in a decreased reward.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Alexander, B. M. 2018. Male reproductive behavior: sensory signaling in the brain of low-performing domestic rams. Journal of Animal Science. 96:3003-3008. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky117
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2019 Citation: Sutton, C. S. and B. M. Alexander. 2018. Ewes express increased proceptive behavior toward high-sexually active rams. Applied Animal Behavior. In review.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is sheep producers and the extension specialists who work with sheep producers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There have been three graduate students trained during this project. Scientist have attended professional meetings and regional conferences for professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been presented at professional conferences through publication ofscientific manuscripts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? K. Cammack and S. Lake are making strides to understand feed efficiency. They have identified rumen microbes associated with high feed efficient animals and have transplanted those microbes into less efficient animals to determine if RFI can be altered. B. Alexander has determined rams with low sexual interest have a less active reward pathway in their brains. This manuscript will be submitted for publication in the coming weeks. Ewes born co-twin with males were shown to have a lower life time productivity in the University of Wyoming flock. This was not duplicated when flocks from Montana State University and New Mexico State University were analyzed.

Publications

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is sheep producers and extension specialists who work with sheep producers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Results willwill be submitted for peer-review publication. Presentation on ram reproductive behavior will be presented at the joint meeting of SSR and ASAS in June 2017.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Results indicate sexual inactivity in ramsis not a result of increased stress, but may be partially a result of decreased tyrosine hydroxylase and hence dopamine synthesis in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and/or decreased expression of the D2 receptor in the forebrain of low-sexually performing rams.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: 5. Mirto, A.J., K.J. Austin, V.A. Uthlaut, C.E. Roselli, B.M. Alexander, 2015. Fos Expression in the Olfactory Pathway of High- and Low-Sexually Performing Rams Exposed to Urine from Estrous or Ovariectomized Ewes. Applied Animal Behavior. Available online. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2015.09.001. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159115002427
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kramer, Avery C., Kathleen J. Austin, Brenda M. Alexander. 2015. Dopamine Synthesis in the Ventral Tegmental Area in Rams with High or Low Libido. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Pacific Grove, CA and Rocky Mountain Reproductive Sciences Symposium, Ft. Collins, CO.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Outreach to other scientists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student is on this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Data has been presented at WSASAS to other scientists and extension specialists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project will be rewritten and submitted for review.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Data is being collected to determine the influence of a male co-twin on the pattern and attainment of puberty.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wyatt, J. L., K. J. Austin, K. C. Otto, B. M. Alexander. 2015. Ram reproductive behavior and serum Testosterone of white faced rams during the early and mid-breeding season and out of season. Proc. West Sec. Anim. Sci. 66.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: D. J. Burton, P. A. Ludden, R. H. Stobart, B.M. Alexander. 2015. Fifty years of the Wyoming Ram Test: How sheep have changed. Journal of Animal Science. J Anim Sci. Mar;93(3):1327-31

Progress 03/06/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is sheep producers as well as fellow animal scientists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Alexander participates in the regional research project W2112 and this provides professional development opportunities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Conference presentations have shared selection for RFI to other researchers. There have been outreach efforts to 4H projects and producers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research is continuing in all aspects of this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Great strides have been made in understanding feed efficiency. Selection tools for a more efficient animal are closer to a reality. How sexual stimuli is processed in the brain of sexually active and inactive sheep is further understood and how neural reward plays into sexually inactive rams being actively investigated.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Pickering, N., Oddy, H., Basarab, J., Cammack, K., Hayes, B., Hegarty, R., Lassen, J., McEwan, J., Miller, S., Pinares-Patino, C., and de Haas, Y. 2015. Invited review: Genetic possibilities to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants. Animal. In press.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Taxis, T.M., M.J. Ellison, K.M. Cammack, G.C. Conant, and W.R. Lamberson. 2014. Variations of the microbiome among sheep breeds on two different diets. Symp. Gut Health.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Oddy, V.H., de Haas, Y., Basarab, J., Cammack, K., Hayes, B., Hegarty, R.S., Lassen, J., McEwan, J.C., Miller, S., Pinares-Patino, C.S., Shackell, G., Vercoe, P., and N.K. Pickering. 2014. Breeding ruminants that emit less methane  the role of international collaboration. 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Proc. 041.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ellison, M.J., G. Conant, W.R. Lamberson, R.R. Cockrum, K.J. Austin, and K.M. Cammack. 2014. Rumen microbial species associated with feed efficiency in sheep fed a forage-based diet. ASAS Natl. Meeting.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Conant, G., M.J. Ellison, R.R. Cockrum, K.J. Austin, H. Truong, M. Becchi, W.R. Lamberson, K.M. Cammack. 2014. Combining bioinformatics and statistical modeling to understand the ecology of the rumen microbial ecosystem in sheep. Plant & Animal Genomes XXII Conference. W158. Invited Symposium Speaker.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cockrum, R.R., K.J. Austin, R.H. Stobart, N.K. Pickering, M. Thomas, J.C. McEwan, and K.M. Cammack. 2014. Genotypes within cellular growth and cell cycle processes associated with feed efficiency in sheep. Plant & Animal Genomes XXII Conference. W151. Invited Symposium Speaker.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ellison, M.J., G. Conant, W.R. Lamberson, R.R. Cockrum, K.J. Austin, and K.M. Cammack. 2014. Effects of diet and feed efficiency status on rumen microbial profiles in sheep. Plant & Animal Genomes XXII Conference. P615.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cammack, K.M., M.J. Ellison, G. Conant, W.R. Lamberson, and K.J. Austin. 2014. Rumen microbial species and by-products associated with feed efficiency in sheep. 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Proc. 579.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Speiser, L.E., K.J. Austin, R.R. Cockrum, and K.M. Cammack. 2014. Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with feed efficiency in sheep. Plant & Animal Genomes XXII Conference. P616.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: D. J. Burton, P. A. Ludden, R. H. Stobart, B.M. Alexander. 2015. Fifty years of the Wyoming Ram Test: How sheep have changed. Journal of Animal Science. J Anim Sci. Mar;93(3):1327-31.