Hümmelchen Hannah, Wagner Henrik, Brügemann Kerstin, König Sven, Wehrend Axel
Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.
Institute for Animal Breeding and Domestic Animal Genetics, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.
Vet Med Sci. 2025 Jan;11(1):e70138. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70138.
Sheep's tail docking is a widespread practice, which is banned or critically discussed in some countries to improve animal welfare.
The aim was to determine the influence of breeding for short-tailedness (ST) or long-tailedness (LT) in sheep on the development of reproduction parameters and lamb performance.
One hundred forty-nine ewes were mated with four rams according to tail length. Pregnancy and pregnancy loss rates were calculated. During pregnancy, the progesterone levels (P4) of the ewes were measured. The weight and length of the 254 lambs were recorded up to 14 weeks of life. Litter size, placenta weight, sex, stillbirths, vitality, morbidity and mortality of the lambs were also documented.
No significant differences were found for P4 and placental weight for the two mating groups (ST and LT). Although the pregnancy rate for ST was slightly lower (75.71%) than for LT (87.34%), there was only a low significant difference (p = 0.07). The sex distribution was 61 (48.80%) male and 64 (51.20%) female lambs in the ST group and 67 (51.94%) male and 62 (48.06%) female lambs in the LT group. The twinning rate was not significantly different (ST 75.20%; LT 75.97%), and no significant difference was found in the average body length and vitality of the lambs. However, LT lambs showed better weight gains that were marginally significant (p = 0.09).
This study found no evidence that reproductive parameters or lamb performance were affected by selective breeding based on tail length.
绵羊断尾是一种普遍的做法，在一些国家被禁止或受到严格讨论，以改善动物福利。
目的是确定绵羊短尾（ST）或长尾（LT）育种对繁殖参数发育和羔羊性能的影响。
根据尾巴长度将149只母羊与4只公羊进行交配。计算怀孕率和流产率。在怀孕期间，测量母羊的孕酮水平（P4）。记录254只羔羊在14周龄前的体重和体长。还记录了羔羊的产仔数、胎盘重量、性别、死产、活力、发病率和死亡率。
两个交配组（ST和LT）的P4和胎盘重量没有显著差异。虽然ST组的怀孕率（75.71%）略低于LT组（87.34%），但只有低显著性差异（p = 0.07）。ST组有61只（48.80%）雄性羔羊和64只（51.20%）雌性羔羊，LT组有67只（51.94%）雄性羔羊和62只（48.06%）雌性羔羊。双羔率没有显著差异（ST为75.20%；LT为75.97%），羔羊的平均体长和活力也没有显著差异。然而，LT组羔羊的体重增加更好，具有微弱的显著性（p = 0.09）。
本研究没有发现证据表明基于尾巴长度的选择性育种会影响繁殖参数或羔羊性能。
