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Intelligent Multi-Modeling Reveals Biological Mechanisms and Adaptive Phenotypes in Hair Sheep Lambs from a Semi-Arid
Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira1,2, Fábio Augusto Ribeiro2, João Pedro Dos Santos2
1Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil.
Genes
|July 29, 2025
Summary
Lambs
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Genetics
- Physiology
Background:
- Heat stress poses significant challenges to small ruminants in semi-arid environments.
- Identifying thermotolerance traits is crucial for livestock adaptation and productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify phenotypic biomarkers for heat adaptation in lambs.
- To explore relationships between thermoregulatory responses and various traits.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of 20 lambs under natural heat stress conditions.
- Analysis of thermoregulatory, hematological, behavioral, morphometric, carcass, and meat traits.
- Application of exploratory factor analysis and Bayesian network modeling.
Main Results:
- Thermoregulatory variables significantly correlated with carcass, non-carcass, commercial meat cuts, and morphometric traits.
- Idleness duration, cold carcass weight, and specific organ weights were key phenotypic indicators.
- Bayesian networks revealed carcass traits influenced by morphometrics and thermoregulation, and non-carcass traits linked to feeding behavior.
Conclusions:
- Complex biological relationships underlie heat adaptation in lambs.
- Phenomic data combined with computational tools can aid genomic selection for climate-resilient livestock.
- Findings support breeding programs focused on animal welfare and climate adaptation.
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