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Adaptation Mechanisms of Small Ruminants to Environmental Heat Stress.
Haile Berihulay1,2, Adam Abied3,4, Xiaohong He5,6
1Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China. haile.berihulay@yahoo.com.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|March 3, 2019
Summary
Small ruminants are vital for rural livelihoods but face challenges from heat stress. This review explores their adaptive traits and genetic factors for surviving extreme heat.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Environmental Physiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Small ruminants are crucial for rural economies, providing meat, milk, and fiber.
- Heat stress significantly impairs animal growth, reproduction, and immunity, posing a threat to livestock production.
- Despite challenges, small ruminants exhibit remarkable adaptation to heat through behavioral, physiological, and genetic mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an integrated overview of small ruminant adaptation to heat stress.
- To identify candidate genes involved in thermal adaptation in small ruminants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing research on small ruminant heat stress.
- Analysis of adaptive strategies including behavioral, morphological, and physiological traits.
- Exploration of genetic underpinnings of heat tolerance.
Main Results:
- Small ruminants possess diverse adaptive mechanisms to cope with high temperatures.
- Behavioral, morphological, and physiological traits contribute to heat tolerance.
- Specific candidate genes are implicated in the genetic basis of heat adaptation.
Conclusions:
- Understanding small ruminant adaptation to heat stress is vital for sustainable livestock systems.
- Genetic insights can inform breeding strategies to enhance heat tolerance in small ruminants.
- Further research into candidate genes will aid in developing climate-resilient livestock.
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