Progress 05/01/11 to 04/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences are animal agriculture sectors including sheep and goat producers' associations,animal production societies, underserved farming communities, and individuals including farmers, agriculture students, researcher, veterinary professionals and extension specialists. Education and outreach activities for the major target audiences were reached by several means including on farm visitation, field inspection of disease outbreaks, one on one consultation and website internet communications. Research and technical information were disseminated via such as producer's training workshop, field & farm science open day, student internship training classes, mentoring graduate student research projects, and local, regional national scientific meeting and conference presentation, and publications. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One Ph.D. dissertation was submitted and conferred for a doctorate degree based on the research project protocol.Nine undergraduate researchers were trained and involved (three interns per year) during the project span. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Five conference papers and abstracts were published for the project in 2013/2014 (2 at ASAS/ADSA, 2 at 10th WCGALP and 17Th Inter. Sym. Lameness in Ruminants, 1 at Anaerobe Society Conference). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Breeding ewes, rams and progeny lambs were screened for DQA2 gene markers over three years, which indicate high, moderate to low resistance to footrot infections. Footrot marker gene screening results showed that a large ratio of selection flock and progeny possessing genetic resistance to footrot disease. The footrot gene-marker test reports five basic footrot scores (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) corresponding to alleles of the MHC DQA2 and DQA2-like loci. This gives 15 possible score combinations (1,1; 1,2; ... 4,5; 5,5), where 1,1 is claimed to have the highest resistance and 5,5 the lowest resistance to footrot infection. Blood samples were collected on FTA blood DNA collection paper cards from 600 Katahdin sheep and it's crossbreds from Lincoln University farm. DNA extraction and the gene marker test were performed at Lincoln University Gene Marker Laboratory, NZ. There were 583 sheep blood samples with gene marker test results analyzed. A chi-square test was used to test difference in variant alleles, animal genotypes, and score group distribution frequency. As footrot tolerance genes are assumed to exert a dominant effect, an expressed value for a pair of alleles was derived and animals were grouped into five categorical groups (1 to 5). Variant allelic distributions in 5 score groups were 10.0%, 21.2%, 45.3%, 17.6%, and 5.9% respectively. Whereas, animals classed into five gene marker score groups, are 18.5, 33.3, 42.0, 5.8, and 0.3% respectively. Both allelic distribution and genotypic distributions were significantly (P < 0.01) different among the five gene marker score groups. The ratio of animals in the footrot tolerance score groups (1 and 2) combined to be at 52%, and animals with the moderate score of 3 were 42%, whereas, animals with scores of 4 and 5 were 6%. Therefore, by using the footrot marker screening, a high resistant flock can be selected within three to five breeding seasons.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
T. Wuliji, W. Lamberson, S. Azarpajouh, J. Hickford, B. Shanks and J. Caldwell 2014. Screening for Footrot Resistant Gene Markers and White Blood Cell Types in Katahdin and Katahdin Crossbred Sheep. Proceedings (online publication: https://asas.org/wcgalp-proceedings) of 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (Vancouver, Canada).
Tumen Wuliji, Jonathan GH Hickford, William R. Lamberson, Bruce C. Shanks and Samaneh Azarpajouh 2014. Ovine footrot gene marker screening in a Katahdin sheep flock. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 92 E-Suppl. 2/J. P.933.
S. Azarpajouh, T. Wuliji and A. Bax. 2014. Comparison of white blood cell phagocytic efficiency in two genotypes of Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 92 E-Suppl. 2/J. P.366.
Wuliji, T., Azarpajouh, S., Fales W. 2014. Anaerobic bacteria isolates from footort lesions of sheep and goats. Proceedings of Anaerobe Society Biennial Conference, Chicago. P.152.
Wuliji, T., Azarpajouh, S., Lamberson, W., Caldwell, J., Shanks, B., Bax, A. 2013. Observation of footrot incidence in a controlled challenge experiment with Katahdin and F1 crossbred rams. (Invited oral presentation). In Lameness in Ruminants (Ed. B. Whay and J. Hockenhull; www.ruminantlameness.org) Bristol, UK. P. 46-47.
Wuliji, T., Lamberson, W., Shanks, B., Caldwell, J., Clifford-Rathert, C., Pennington, J., Swartz, H., Azarpajouh, S. 2013. Genetic marker assisted selection for footrot disease resistance in sheep flocks. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 91, E-Suppl. 2. P. 606-607.
Wuliji, T., Hickford, JGH., Shanks, B., Lamberson, W., Zhou, H., Azarpajouh, S. 2013. Establishing a footrot resistant sheep flock by footrot gene marker test screening. In Lameness in Ruminants (Ed. Becky Whay and Jo Hockenhull), Bristol, UK. P. 72-73.
Azarpajouh, S., Wuliji, T., Fales, W., and Bax. A. 2013. Isolation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from footorot infections in sheep and goats. Proceedings of Assoc of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. P.161-162.
Wuliji, T., Lamberson, W., Shanks, B., Caldwell, J., Clifford-Rathert, C., Pennington, J., Swartz, H., Azarpajouh, S., Bax, A. and Sommerer, D. 2013. Genetic marker assisted selection for footrot disease resistance in sheep flocks. Proceedings of Assoc of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. P.161-162.
Wuliji, T., Lamberson, W., Shanks, B., Caldwell, J., Clifford-Rathert, C., Pennington, J., Swartz, H., Azarpajouh, S. Bax, A. 2013. Marker assisted selection for footrot disease resistance in sheep. Missouri Academy of Science, School of Ozarks, Missouri.
Azarpajouh, S., Wuliji, T., Fales, W., Bax, A. Isolation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from footrot infections in sheep and goats. 2013. Missouri Academy of Science, School of Ozarks, Missouri.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences are animal agriculture sectors, sheep and goat breed societies, the underserved small farm communities, and individuals including small ruminant producers, research and extension workers, veterinary and animal care takers, and agriculture students. The outcome of study will provide valuable scientific data on disease resistant selection, disease control and prevention, and developing on-farm bio-security program. New information, technology and knowledge derived from the study will be disseminated via on farm consultation, local meeting and workshop presentation, student internship and training, and scientific publication. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Collaborated with other faculty (Bruce Shanks, James Caldwell) and extension specialist (Jodie Pennington), and MU scientist (Dr. Bill Lamberson) on research, teaching and extension activities. Four undergraduate and one graduate students were trained and participated in the project by sheep hoof trimming, blood sampling, culture media preparation, Elisa assays, and bacteria swab culturing in laboratory. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Meantime, as collaboration, 20 sheep and goat producers have participated in our footrot surveillance and prevalence survey in 2012/2013 footrot infection seasons. We have inspected sheep or goat flocks of these producers and collected 180 swabs for any casual bacteria strains and identification. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We'll complete this project and submit a final report.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project has been conducted to evaluate selection response for footrot resistant sheep using DNA marker (DQA2) test screening in Katahdin ewes and Katahdin crossbred offspring. The DQA2 gene marker tests were interpreted and reported as footrot resistant marker test (FRMT) scores, which is graded from 1,1 as the highest resistant to 5,5 as the lowest resistant to footrot infection. The FRMT score can have 15 possible combination pairs (1,2; 3,3; 4,5 etc), however, a lower of scores is assumed to have a dominant effect. Two flocks, namely, Katahdin breeding and a crossbred flock were maintained and recorded in 2011, 2012 and 2013 fall breeding seasons. Blood samples from 600 Katahdin and crossbred sheep were screened for FRMT in these breeding flocks (2011-2013). The results are 583 of 600 animals tested for FRMT scores. The FRMT variant score distribution in single score categorical groups (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) are 10.0, 21.2, 43.3, 17.6 and 5.9%. Whereas, animals classed in a range of resistance to susceptible groups were 18.5, 33.3, 42.0, 5.8 and 0.3%, which showed only 6.1% were in the highly footrot susceptible category. Whereas, score 1 and 2 combined to be 52% of the flock and 4 and 5 combined 23.6%, which can be considered as ‘culling scores’. For comparison with Katahdin breeding flock, a cross-breeding flock will be made up by the following crosses: Dorper x Katahdin (DK), Texel x Katahdin (TK), Texel x DK, and Dorper x TK. In fall 2013 breeding season (December), 70 Katahdin ewes were bred to 3 Katahdin rams, 35 TK ewes were bred to 2 Dorper rams, and 35 DK ewes to 2 Texel rams to complete the crossbred comparisons. Lambing will be expected to be completed in May, weaning in August and marker test for new animals (new born lambs and replacements) will be completed by December, 2014. Selected animals (born 2011) of high (n = 35) vs. low resistant (n = 35) FRMT were subjected for a preplanned footrot challenge experiment in an isolation facility at the Carver Farm. Clinical diagnostic, pathogenic, and immunological analysis is in progress. Project outcomes, technical information and new findings will be disseminated continually through various channels, such as on farm consultation, seminar presentation, sheep and goat workshops, and meetings. Three abstracts were published and two papers were presented at international conferences.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
T Wuliji., S Azarpajouh., W Lamberson., J Caldwell., B Shanks., A Bax. Observation of footrot incidence in a controlled challenge experiment with Katahdin and F1 crossbred rams. p. 46-47. The Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Lameness in Ruminants. August 2013. Bristol, UK.
T Wuliji., JGH Hickford., B Shanks., W Lamberson., H Zhou., S Azarpajouh. Establishing a footrot resistant sheep flock by footrot gene marker test screening. The Proceedings of 9th International Conference on Lameness in Ruminants. p. 72-73. August 2013. Bristol, UK.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We conducted the project Establishing a foot rot resistant Katahdin sheep flock by genetic marker assisted selection continuously. During the current reporting period we assessed and recorded footrot scores on 180 sheep and monitored their foot health status throughout each season. Meanwhile, we have conducted DNA footrot marker testing for 550 sheep (192 sheep in Dec 2011 and 360 sheep in May 2012) to establish footrot resistant genotypes. Those sheep tested included the sheep flock on the Lincoln University farm, progeny lambs, and some private producer's sheep flocks. The footrot resistant genotype markers were scored for high resistance (F1) to low resistance (F5) to footrot disease. The available number of F1 and F4 progeny will be selected for genotype breeding groups in fall 2012. As an outreach objective, we've inspected 24 footrot outbreak incidents in MO and several other states; collecting 120 footrot swabs, and 28 tissue biopsies on private farms. Those samples were cultured, morphologically examined, microbiologically typed with over 500 specimens. Further, 20 tissue specimens and 18 bacteria isolates were prepared and examined with a Scanning Electron Microscope for the morphological characteristics that change the hoof tissue integrity by bacteria infection. We also have established small animal science and bacteriology labs over last 12 months, installed instruments, set up a safety cabinet, an anaerobic chamber and culture procedures, fluorescent microscope measurement, and SEM image analysis. During this reporting period, one Ph. D graduate student, Miss Samaneh Azarpajouh has focused on footrot bacteria species identification and footrot resistance as research thesis topic. Three undergraduate students were trained and participated in the project through hoof trimming, blood sampling, culture media preparing, and bacteria swab culturing in the laboratory during the spring, summer or fall semester. A new technician, Ms. Amy Bax joined the project in January 2012 and was trained for laboratory operations and bacteriology. She also participated in further training in Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory procedures for 1 week at MU VMDL. Dr. Tumen Wuliji has attended SASA meeting and presented one poster paper and prepared 2 abstracts to present at ARD (17th Biennial Research Symposium, FL) in April 2013. Project outcomes, technical information and new findings will be disseminated through various channels, such as one-on-one on farm visit, seminar presentation, sheep and goat workshops. PARTICIPANTS: The project collaborated with other faculty (Drs. Bruce Shanks, James Caldwell) and extension specialists (Drs. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, Jodie Pennington), and MU scientists (Drs. Bill Lamberson and William Fales), and many farmer participants on collaborative research and outreach projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is the animal agriculture sector, sheep and goat breed societies, the underserved small farm community, and individuals including small ruminant producers, research and extension workers, veterinary and animal care taker, and agriculture students. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The outcome of the study will provide valuable scientific data on disease resistant selection, disease control and prevention, and developing an on-farm bio-security program. Footrot resistant selection in sheep will promote a wider vigilance against foot and hoof disease in ovine, caprine, bovine, equine, cervids, camelids, and wildlife. New information, technology and knowledge derived from the study will be disseminated via on farm consultation, local meeting and workshop presentation, student internship and training, and scientific publication.
Publications
- T. Wuliji. 2012. Increased lamb production by implanting melatonin to induce out of season breeding. P.365. J. Anim. Sci. vol 90 suppl.3 / J. Dairy Sci. Vol 95 suppl. 2.
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Progress 05/01/11 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project has been initiated for genetic searching, phenotypic screening and selection of foot rot resistant genotypes within hair sheep breeds. Four Katahdin rams, four Dorper Rams, and 120 Katahdin ewes were acquired for 2011 fall breeding. Animals were hoof trimmed, examined for foot rot scoring, and blood sampled for foot rot resistant DNA marker test. Laboratory procedures, anaerobic chamber, bio-safety cabinet, inverted microscope and other conventional instruments were set up for routine operation for foot rot inspection and foot rot swab cultures during outbreak seasons. Fresh hoof trimmings (hoof tissues) from the flock were collected, sub-sampled (n=64), and bacteria cultured aerobic and anaerobically to examine potential foot rot causing bacterium species in the flock. In collaboration with sheep and goat producers, we have inspected 16 sheep and goat farms during summer and fall for foot rot infection, and collected foot rot wound swabs, and subsequently bacteria culture and identification. Three undergraduate students were trained and participated in the project by sheep hoof trimming, blood sampling, culture media preparation, and bacteria swab culturing in laboratory. Project outcomes, technical information and new findings will be disseminated through various channels, such as one-on-one on farm consultation, seminar presentation, sheep and goat workshops, and meetings. Three abstracts were published. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are animal agriculture sector, sheep and goat breed society, the underserved small farm community, and individuals including small ruminant producer, research and extension worker, veterinary and animal care taker, and agriculture student. The outcome of study will provide valuable scientific data on disease resistant selection, disease control and prevention, and developing on-farm bio-security program. New information, technology and knowledge derived from the study will be disseminated via on farm consultation, local meeting and workshop presentation, student internship and training, and scientific publication. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Establishment of a DNA marker assisted selection system for foot rot resistance in sheep would improve the selection efficiency and genetic gain in small ruminants. Research and extension impacts are expected to provide scientific information on the pathogenic bacteria causing foot rot outbreaks in sheep flocks, determining foot rot resistance genotype segregation within sheep breeds and selection population, and developing on farm biosecurity. Foot rot resistant selection in sheep will promote a wider vigilance against foot and hoof disease in ovine, caprine, bovine, equine, cervids, camelids, and wildlife.
Publications
- Wuliji, T., Clifford-Rathert, C. 2011. Managing seasonal outbreak of foot rot in sheep flocks. Proceedings of ASAS and ADS joint meeting. Abstr. T387. J.A.S. Vol. 89 E Suppl. 2. Wuliji, T. 2011. Fiber production and fiber characteristics of alpacas farmed in United States. Proceedings of ASAS and ADS joint meeting. Abstr. M107. J.A.S. Vol. 89 E Suppl. 2. Wuliji, T., Clifford-Rathert, C. 2011. Foot rot Induced Lameness Case Study In Small Dorset Sheep Flock. Abstr. Proceedings of 'Lameness in Ruminants Conference 2011' Website : www.lamenessinruminants.org.
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