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Morphological and physiological features in small ruminants: an adaptation strategy for survival under changing climatic conditions

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Abstract

Climate change due to natural human activity is a significant global phenomenon affecting the sustainability of most countries’ livestock industries. Climate change factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, direct and indirect sun radiation, and wind have significant consequences on feed, water, pasture availability, and the re-emergence of diseases in livestock. All these variables have a considerable impact on livestock production and welfare. However, animals’ ability to respond and adapt to changes in climate differs within species and breeds. Comparatively, small ruminants are more adaptive to the adverse effects of climate change than large ruminants in terms of reproduction performance, survival, production yield, and resistance to re-emerging diseases. This is mainly due to their morphological features against harsh climate effects. Tropical breeds are more adaptive to the adverse effects of climate change than small temperate ruminants. However, the difference in morphological characteristics towards adaptation to the impact of climate change will guide the development of suitable policies on the selection of breeding stock suitable for different regions in the world. The choice of breeds based on morphological features and traits is an essential strategy in mitigating and minimizing the effects of climate change on small ruminants’ production and welfare. This review highlights the adaptive morphological features within and among breeds of small ruminants toward adaptation to climate change.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Professor Dr Md Zuki Abubakar, Dr Hezmee Moh’d Noor Moh’d, and Dr Zubair Alhaji Jaji all the Universiti Putra Malaysia colleagues for editing and improving the manuscript with no funding link to this manuscript review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Koronivia Campus, P. O. Box 1544, Nausori, Suva, Fiji

    Abubakar Danmaigoro, Royford Bundi Magiri, Archibold Garikayi Bakare & Paul Ade Iji

  2. Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa, Niger State, Nigeria

    Mahmud Abdullahi Muhammad

  3. Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Kelantan Malaysia, Pengkalan Chepa 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Abubakar Danmaigoro

  4. Institut de Neurosciences des Systemes, Aix-Marselille Uneversite, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, Marseille, 13005, France

    Kabeer Abubakar

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Conceptualization by Danmaigoro A and Paul Ade Iji, writing - original draft preparation by Danmaigoro A; writing - review and editing by Royford Magiri, Kabeer Abubakar, Mahmud Abdullahi Mohammad, Archibold Garikayi Bakare; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Danmaigoro, A., Muhammad, M.A., Abubakar, K. et al. Morphological and physiological features in small ruminants: an adaptation strategy for survival under changing climatic conditions. Int J Biometeorol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02694-6

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