Effect of melatonin treatment of pregnant Sarda ewes on lactation and lamb development.

Context Melatonin administration during pregnancy can influence fetal development and lactation. Aims This study aimed to verify whether melatonin treatment of pregnant Sarda ewes in spring improved lamb weight at birth, 7 and 21days of age, time to first colostrum intake, birth behavior and survival. Additionally, we examined melatonin's effect on milk yield and composition.

Discrepancies between Genetic and Visual Coat Color Assignment in Sarcidano Horse.

This study aimed to evaluate the discrepancies between genetic and visual coat color assignment in the Sarcidano Horse and to elucidate potential reasons. Individual DNA from 90 Sarcidano Horses was used for genetic assignment of coat color to explore the correspondence with individual forms containing phenotypical traits. The exon 1 and exon 3 have been genotyped and sequenced to obtain a picture of the coat color distribution in this breed.

Polymorphism of the Melatonin Receptor Gene in Goat Breeds of Northern Italy.

Melatonin receptor MT1, encoded by the gene, is the main one involved in the seasonal regulation of reproductive activity. A correlation between this gene polymorphism and reproductive performance has been demonstrated in sheep. To date, no data about gene polymorphism are available regarding Italian goat breeds other than the Sarda goat.

Reproductive Resumption in Winter and Spring Related to Gene Polymorphisms in Sarda Sheep.

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the association between the SNPs rs430181568 and rs407388227 located in the MTNR1A gene with the reproductive recovery of Sarda sheep in different months of ram introduction in the flock (February, March, April and May). In order to address this research gap, we selected two farms, each of which consisted of approximately 1000 animals; a total of 800 ewes (400 for each farm) were genotyped for the two single nucleotide polymorphisms rs430181568 and rs407388227 located in the exon 2 of the MTNR1A. These SNPs are completely linked; thus, each genotype of rs430181568 corresponded to the same genotype for rs407388227.

Characterization of the Sarcidano Horse Coat Color Genes.

The goal of this study was to contribute to the general knowledge of the Sarcidano Horse, both by the identification of the genetic basis of the coat color and by updating the exact locations of the genotyping sites, based on the current EquCab3.0 genome assembly version. One-hundred Sarcidano Horses, living in semi-feral condition, have been captured to perform health and biometric checks.