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Background The unique pelage composition and developmental pattern endow hairy sheep with superior heat tolerance and minimized wool-shearing needs, compared with coarse-woolly sheep. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying pelage differentiation between these two sheep types remain incompletely understood to date, thereby limiting the development of molecular breeding strategies for cultivating climate-resilient and cost-effective sheep breeds in climate-changing era. Results Through integrated histomorphometric and transcriptomic analysis of Australian White Sheep (AWS, hairy phenotype) and Hu Sheep (HS, coarse-woolly phenotype), we identified three distinct evolutionarily conserved fiber types in AWS (heavily medullated kemp, medullated crimp hair, and non-medullated wool). In contrast, HS exhibited a bimodal fiber distribution without kemp fibers. Compared with AWS, HS had significantly longer hair fibers and markedly reduced subcutaneous adiposity. Transcriptomic profiling identified 370 differentially expressed genes (DEGs): genes enriched in AWS (e.g., DGAT2L6 , FOXO6 , CIDEA , ADIG ) were clustered in lipid metabolism pathways, while genes upregulated in HS (e.g., CSN2 , LOC101102413 , CSF3R , CXCR2 ) were significantly associated with immunomodulatory functions. Additionally, hair intermediate filament- and matrix-associated candidate genes (e.g., LOC114113348 / KAP20-2 , LOC101111178 / KRT6A ) and EDA2R exhibited breed-specific expression patterns, which were respectively linked to differences in fiber curvature and length. Conclusion Our integrated analysis identifies subcutaneous adiposity and immunoregulation as novel potential key modulators of pelage phenotype divergence between hairy and coarse-woolly sheep—with candidate genes (e.g., KAP20-2 , KRT6A , EDA2R ) linked to breed-specific fiber traits (e.g., curvature, length). The identified genetic signatures further offer potential actionable targets for precision breeding of climate-resilient and cost-effective sheep, addressing the gap in molecular strategies for pelage-related traits improvement.

Background Border disease (BD), caused by Border Disease Virus (BDV), leads to reproductive losses, congenital defects, and persistently infected (PI) lambs that maintain viral circulation. In Iran, existing reports are limited, confined to one area and breed, and rarely integrate clinical, pathological, virological, and genotypic data. This study investigates BD across Iranian sheep breeds, combining clinical observation, pathology, virus detection, and genotype analysis to clarify its epidemiology and support early recognition, targeted control measures, and improved small ruminant health and welfare management nationwide. From 2015 to 2025, a nationwide observational study was conducted in six provinces of Iran to investigate different sheep breeds. Animals showing clinical signs suggestive of BDV underwent thorough clinical examination, with all observations carefully documented, and blood and tissue samples were collected for diagnostic confirmation. Laboratory analyses included serology, molecular detection, virus isolation, genetic characterization (5′-UTR), and pathology. Results The collected findings were subsequently analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of BDV occurrence and characteristics in the studied flocks. Thorough clinical and laboratory examinations confirmed BDV in 234 sheep from various breeds across Iran, including Lacaune, Romanov, Romanov-Sangsari, Torki-Ghashghaei, Shall, and Kordi. Of these, 189 (80.77%) were PI and 45 (19.23%) acutely infected. Tremors (37.2%) were the most frequent sign, followed by brachygnathia (32.9%) and hairy fleece (17.1%), with breed- and region-specific patterns observed. Pigmentation changes occurred only in the Lacaune breed. PI animals showed more severe and diverse clinical signs, though some appeared clinically normal. Genetic analysis revealed clustering within the Konya-like pestiviruses clade ( Pestivirus I), closely related to recent Turkish strains (Iran’s western neighbor), suggesting regional circulation or shared sources. Conclusions This study, conducted for the first time on such a scale in Iran, provided critical insights into BD, emphasized the diversity of clinical manifestations across different breeds, and addressed the longstanding gap in BDV genotyping. The results offer a valuable foundation for enhancing diagnostic capacity and guiding effective control strategies in Iran and other West Asian countries. Importantly, the findings highlight the previously underrecognized role of BD in Iran and provide clinically relevant evidence that can be applied by veterinarians and researchers in Iran and in other regions with large small-ruminant populations.

Soil salinization is a serious threat to the ecological environment and sustainable agricultural development in the arid regions of northwest China. Optimal soil salinization amelioration methods were eagerly explored under different soil salinity levels. Sesbania and hairy vetch are salt-tolerant plants, and green manure improved the saline environment. In this study, two leguminous halophytic crops, sesbania (Sesbania cannabina) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), were planted under different salinity levels, combined with three saline soil improvement measures, namely gravel mulching, manure application, and straw returning. No improvement measures and no salinity treatment was set as the control (CK). This study was conducted to analyze the effects of soil salinization improvement measures on the growth and ion uptake of sesbania and hairy vetch as biological measures under different soil salinity levels. Sesbania under manure application absorbed the highest soil Na+ (2.71 g kg−1) and Cl− (2.66 g kg−1) amounts at a soil salinity of 3.2 g kg−1, which was 14.7% and 10.95% higher than under gravel mulching and straw returning, respectively. Na+ and Cl− absorption of hairy vetch under manure application reached the highest value of 1.39 g kg−1 and 1.38 g kg−1 at a soil salinity of 1.6 g kg−1, which was 24.46% and 22.31% higher than under gravel mulching and straw returning, respectively. Plant height and stem diameter as well as root growth and development of sesbania and hairy vetch were limited at soil salinities greater than 1.6 g kg−1 and 0.8 g kg−1. Overall, sesbania and hairy vetch effectively absorbed both soil Na+ and Cl− under manure application, thus regulating soil salinity and reducing soil salinization. However, soil salinity levels greater than 3.2 g kg−1 and 1.6 g kg−1 not only weakened the ionic absorption capacity but also inhibited the growth and development of sesbania and hairy vetch. This study provides evidence that soil salt ion absorption by sesbania and hairy vetch is promoted effectively, ameliorating soil salinity, under manure application as compared to under gravel mulching and straw returning.

Background Digital dermatitis (DD) is a multifactorial infectious disease affecting the skin on feet of cattle causing erosion and inflammation above the heel bulbs. Some cases of DD cause lameness and significantly impact animal welfare and productivity. While DD has emerged as a concern for the beef industry, key information regarding early detection and its impact on cattle behaviour is lacking. The primary objective of this study was to determine if an established DD experimental model for dairy calves could be used to induce DD lesions in beef calves. A secondary objective was to describe changes in behaviour and pain associated with induction of DD lesions. Eight beef calves acquired from a single cow-calf operator were enrolled in the study. Upon enrolment, calves were evaluated and determined to be free of foot lesions. Within the experimental environment, calves were housed in individual pens and assigned to two groups (mock-inoculated and inoculated). Both hind feet of each calf were enrolled. Within calf, inoculation protocol was consistent, and a 28-day experimental protocol was employed. Two days prior to inoculation, both hind feet of each calf were abraded (area above the heel bulbs and below the dewclaws), moistened, and wrapped to facilitate an anaerobic condition. Feet were inoculated with macerated DD lesion material or mock inoculum and remained wrapped until clinical signs of DD or protocol endpoint. Results After a period of 14 to 18 days post inoculation, three of five inoculated calves developed clinical signs (lameness), and upon close inspection, DD lesions were present on at least one hind foot. Two of five inoculated calves did not develop lesions within 28 days. Zero of three mock-inoculated calves developed DD. Treponema spp. were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from biopsies of induced lesions. Measurements of behaviour prior to disease induction were numerically different between DD affected and mock-inoculated calves. Conclusions An experimental infection model established for dairy cattle was used to successfully induce acute DD lesions in three of five inoculated beef calves. This model can provide a framework to study intervention protocols and to evaluate the impact of DD on behaviour and pain.

Border disease has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of Border disease to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of Border disease according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species concerned by Border disease. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, Border disease can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (c), (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The animal species to be listed for Border disease according to Article 8(3) criteria are mainly sheep and other species of the family Bovidae as susceptible and reservoirs.

To evaluate occupational exposures as risk factors for hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), a population-based case-control study on 121 male HCL patients and 484 controls matched for age and sex was conducted. Elevated odds ratio (OR) was found for exposure to farm animals in general: OR 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.2. The ORs were elevated for exposure to cattle, horse, hog, poultry and sheep. Exposure to herbicides (OR 2.9, CI 1.4-5.9), insecticides (OR 2.0, CI 1.1-3.5), fungicides (OR 3.8, CI 1.4-9.9) and impregnating agents (OR 2.4, CI 1.3-4.6) also showed increased risk. Certain findings suggested that recall bias may have affected the results for farm animals, herbicides and insecticides. Exposure to organic solvents yielded elevated risk (OR 1.5, CI 0.99-2.3), as did exposure to exhaust fumes (OR 2.1, CI 1.3-3.3). In an additional multivariate model, the ORs remained elevated for all these exposures with the exception of insecticides. We found a reduced risk for smokers with OR 0.6 (CI 0.4-1.1) because of an effect among non-farmers.