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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391224
Research Project: Sustainable Small Farm and Organic Grass and Forage Production Systems for Livestock and Agroforestry

Location: Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

Title: Quantification of environmental management systems for U.S. katahdin sheep producers

Author
item ARISMAN, BRIAN - University Of Nebraska
item Burke, Joan
item MORGAN, JAMES - Round Mountain Consulting
item LEWIS, RON - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2022
Publication Date: 2/1/2023
Citation: Arisman, B.C., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L., Lewis, R.M. 2023. Quantification of environmental management systems for U.S. katahdin sheep producers. Meeting Abstract. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-940-4_156.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-940-4_156

Interpretive Summary: Gastrointestinal nematodes can lead to detrimental health issues in sheep and can be genetically selected against in flocks using estimated breeding values generated by the National Sheep Improvement Program leading to greater resistance. It is important to understand how climate, environment and management affects genetic resistance. Scientists from Agricultural Research Service - Booneville, AR, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Round Mountain Katahdin, AR, determined that milder, drier, low management input clusters (or flocks) had higher parasite infections. Through formation of ecomanagement clusters, an environmental variable can be specified to study interactions or sensitivities of genotypes to their environment, potentially useful for identifying parasite-resistant sheep. This information is important to sheep producers, geneticists, breeders, scientists, veterinarians, and extension specialists aiming to minimize parasite problems in sheep.

Technical Abstract: Gastrointestinal nematodes negatively affect the performance and wellbeing of sheep, encouraging producers to choose breeds that are naturally resistant. An example is Katahdin sheep. Katahdin are raised in various climates and management systems in the U.S., which can be combined into ecomanagement clusters. We hypothesized that gastrointestinal nematode challenge varies predictably based on the characteristics of the ecomanagement cluster. Katahdin producers from across the country were surveyed for management information. Body weights and faecal egg counts (FEC) also were collected. Management and climate data were combined using a Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data approach to visualize ecomanagement clusters. The milder, drier, low input clusters had higher FEC while the colder, wetter, low input, clusters had a lower FEC (P < 0.05). Through formation of ecomanagement clusters, an environmental variable can be specified for study of interactions or sensitivities of genotypes to their environment, potentially useful for identifying parasite-resistant sheep.