J Vet Sci.  2018 Nov;19(6):858-861. 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.6.858.

Freemartinism in replacement ewe-lambs of the Ripollesa sheep breed

• Marí P
• Casellas J

• KMID: 2427037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2018.19.6.858

Abstract

The freemartinism syndrome affects almost all female calves born as co-twins to male calves, whereas little is known about this phenomenon in female sheep. Within this context, 1,185 ewe-lambs from the Ripollesa sheep breed were genotyped for the presence of oY1 polymorphism (a non-autosomal region of the Y chromosome). Neither ewe-lambs from single births (856) nor ewe-lambs from all-female multiple births (170) were revealed as freemartins, whereas five of 159 ewe-lambs from multiple births with male co-twins were freemartins (3.15 ± 1.38%). All freemartin ewe-lambs were confirmed by physical examination of external genitalia. The results confirm a low incidence of freemartinism from heterosexual twin pregnancies in Ripollesa sheep.

Keyword

Ripollesa breed; freemartin; sheep

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cattle
Female
Freemartinism*
Genitalia
Heterosexuality
Humans
Incidence
Male
Multiple Birth Offspring
Parturition
Physical Examination
Pregnancy, Twin
Sheep*

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