Sheep and goats constitute an important livestock resource in most developing countries and are essential for the livelihood of tens of millions of smallholder farmers. Unfortunately, gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) impose severe constraints on animal production in pastoral systems worldwide. Losses occur through death of animals, reduced production and costs associated with parasite control. Widespread and indiscriminate use of anthelmintic drugs has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant parasites. Further, chemical anthelmintic leaves residues in meat milk, and pasture, causing public health threats. In response to requests from Member States, the Joint FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Sub-programme aimed to develop, validate and transfer tools and technologies to Member States for the genetic selection and breeding of sheep and goats to improve productivity while enhancing their resistance to GIP.
The most important result of this Coordinated Research Project (CRP) is the whole genome sequencing of a goat for the first time ever by the research contract holder from China. The results were published in Nature Biotechnology (Yang Dong, et al. 2013. Nat Biotechnol 31: 135-141). For this, a radiation hybrid (RH) panel for the goat was constructed by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division as a resource for rapid and large-scale physical mapping of the goat genome to facilitate the resolution of the genetic and physical distances prior to designing strategies for positional candidate cloning of the gene(s) involved in economically important traits. This nuclear technology provided the tool for identifying genetic markers for resistance/susceptibility of small ruminants to GIP – a step forward towards implementing marker assisted breeding to enhance animal resistance to infectious disease.
In the CRP, 4416 sheep and 1938 goats were phenotypically characterised through faecal egg count, packed cell volume, body weight, and FAMACHA scores as animal traits for resistance to parasites. In addition, 320 novel sheep and goat markers (single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP]) were developed and information was provided to Member States for genomic characterisation of sheep and goats. In addition, nine out of 10 research contract holders reported individual variations in resistance to GIP infections among sheep and goats, which means that a genetic evaluation and breeding programme is likely to benefit farmers identifying resistant animals for breeding. Researchers from six countries identified sheep and goat breeds or populations in their countries which are more resistance than the others.
Protocols and guidelines were developed for animal identification and collection of data and samples and analysis of DNA. A database application called Genetic Laboratory Data Management System (GLIDMaS) was developed and is being distributed among scientists in Member States.
The results of the CRP are being incorporated in 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries through a Regional Technical Cooperation Project (RLA5071) to increase small ruminant resistance to parasites and enhance productivity.
Researchers from Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, ILRI, Iran, Italy, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, the UK and the USA participated in this CRP.
For more information, please see the CRP description:
http://www.dgdingfa.net/projects/crp/d31026
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