Abstract
The climate is changing faster than the predictions, with expectations of more frequent warm spells, heat waves and heavy rainfall in the future. The magnitude of these will depend on the geographical features of that region. The extreme environmental conditions due to change in climate will impose various stresses on sheep and consequently will adversely affect their reproductive performance. Animals will experience heat stress due to high temperature and more solar radiation, and nutritional stress due to reduced quantity and quality of feed because of low rainfall, more droughts, poor crop yields and less pasture growth. Reproduction is a complex process that involves a timed sequence of physiological and psychological events governed by hormones, metabolites and environmental signals. In both the sexes, these events are very sensitive to high temperature and under-nutrition. Nearly all the reproductive processes such as gametogenesis, puberty, gamete transport, fertilization, early embryonic development, maternal recognition of pregnancy, gestation, parturition and post-partum recovery are influenced by environmental stresses either directly by affecting the functions of reproductive organs or by blocking the hormone-mediated cellular functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Sheep husbandry is the main activity of livelihood security of large populations in hot arid and semi-arid climates and is based on grazing. Sheep often have to walk long distances under hot solar radiation and they experience deprivation of feed for short or long periods. The potential effects of climate change on sheep reproduction would be increased incidence of reproductive disorders such as delayed puberty, fertilization failure, embryo mortality, retardation of foetal development and growth, abortion, and premature or still birth, culminating in low reproductive efficiency of animals. Further, climate change may affect seasonal breeding in sheep due to mismatch of nutrient availability with commencement of reproductive activities.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abecia JA, Rhind SM, Bramley TA, McMillen SR (1995) Steroid production and LH receptor concentrations of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea and associated rates of ova wastage in ewes given high and low levels of food intakes before and after mating. Anim Sci 61:57–62
Abecia JA, Forcada F, Lozano JM (1999) A preliminary report on the effect of dietary energy on prostaglandin F2 alpha production in vitro, interferon-tau synthesis by the conceptus, endometrial progesterone concentration on days 9 and 15 of pregnancy and associated rates of embryo wastage in ewes. Theriogenology 52:1203–1213
Abecia AJ, Sosa C, Forcada F, Meikle A (2006) The effect of undernutrition on the establishment of pregnancy in the ewe. Reprod Nutr Dev 46:367–378
Abi Saab S, Sleiman FT (1986) Reproductive performance of artificially inseminated Awassi, Finnlandrace, Texel sheep and their crosses. Leb Sci Bull 2:12–23
Abi Saab S, Sleiman FT, Kallassy N, Darweesh WY, Aad PY (2011) Effect of adaptation and heat stress on reproductive performances of fat tail Awassi rams in Eastern Mediterranean. Leb Sci J 12:31–44
Adams NR, Abrondi JA, Briegel JR, Sanders MR (1994) Effect of diet on the clearance of estradiol-17β in the ewe. Biol Reprod 51:668–674
Adams TE, Sakurai H, Adams BM (1999) Effect of stress like concentrations of cortisol on estradiol dependent expression of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor in orchidectomized sheep. Biol Reprod 60:164–168
Ali A, Hayder M (2008) Seasonal variation of reproductive performance, foetal development and progesterone concentration of sheep in the subtropics. Reprod Domest Anim 43:730–734
Arman C, Quintana Casares PI, Sanchez Partida LG, Setchell BP (2006) Ram sperm motility after intermittent scrotal insulation evaluated by manual and computer-assisted methods. Asian J Androl 8:411–418
Armstrong DG, Gong JG, Webb R (2003) Interactions between nutrition and ovarian activity in cattle: physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms. Reprod Suppl 61:403–414
Arroyo LJ, Gallegos Sanchez J, Villa Godoy A, Berrueco JM, Perera G, Valencia J (2007) Reproductive activity of Pelibuey and Suffolk ewes at 19° north latitude. Anim Reprod Sci 102:24–30
Banks EM (1964) Some aspects of sexual behavior in domestic sheep, Ovisaries. Behaviour 23:249
Bell AW, McBride BW, Slepetis R, Early RJ, Currie WB (1989) Chronic heat stress and prenatal development in sheep: I. Conceptus growth and maternal plasma hormones and metabolites. J Anim Sci 67:3289–3299
Bloomfield FH, Oliver MH, Hawkins P, Campbell M, Phillips DJ, Gluckman PD, Challis JR, Harding JE (2003) A periconceptional nutritional origin for non-infectious preterm birth. Science:300–606
Bloomfield FH, Oliver MH, Hawkins P, Holloway AC, Campbell M, Gluckman PD, Harding JE, Challis JR (2004) Periconceptional undernutrition in sheep accelerates maturation of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in late gestation. Endocrinology 145:4278–4285
Borowczyk E, Caton JS, Redmer DA, Bilski JJ, Weigl RM, Vonnahme KA, Borowicz PP, Kirsch JD, Kraft KC, Reynolds LP, Grazul-Bilska AT (2006) Effects of plane of nutrition on in vitro fertilisation and early embryonic development in sheep. J Anim Sci 84:1593–1599
Bunnell FL (1982) The lambing period of mountain sheep: synthesis, hypotheses, and tests. Can J Zool 60:1–14
Cleal JK, Poore KR, Newman JP, Noakes DE, Hanson MA, Green LR (2007) The effect of maternal undernutrition in early gestation on gestation length and fetal and postnatal growth in sheep. Pediatr Res 62:422–427
Comstock RE, Brady DE (1937) A study of characteristics of normal and abnormal semen of the sheep. Proc Am Soc Anim Sci 30:233–238
Curtis SE (1983) Environmental management in animal agriculture. Iowa State University Press, Ames
Daley CD, Sakurai H, Adams BM, Adams TE (1999) Effect of stress like concentrations of cortisol on gonadotroph function in orchidectomized sheep. Biol Reprod 60:158–163
Debus N, Blanc F, Bocquier F (2003) Effect of under-feeding on reproduction and plasma metabolites in the ewe: impact of FGA treatment. 54th annual meeting European Association for Animal Production: Rome, p. 246
Debus N, Chavatte-Palmer P, Viudesa G, Camous S, Rosefort A, Hassoun P (2012) Maternal periconceptional undernutrition in Merinos d’Arles sheep: 1. Effects on pregnancy and reproduction results of dams and offspring growth performances. Theriogenology 77:1453–1465
Degen AA, Shkolink A (1978) Thermoregulation in fat-tailed Awassi, a desert sheep, and in German Mutton Merino, a mesic sheep. Physiol Zool 51:333–339
Dobson H, Smith RF (2000) What is stress and how does it affect fertility? Anim Reprod Sci 60:743–752
Dutt RH (1963) Critical period for early embryo mortality in ewes exposed to high ambient temperature. J Anim Sci 22:713–719
Dutt RH (1964) Detrimental effects of high ambient temperature on fertility and early embryo survival in sheep. Int J Biometeorol 8:47–56
Dutt RH, Hamm PT (1957) Effect of exposure to high environmental temperature and shearing on semen production of rams in winter. J Anim Sci 16:328–334
Dutt RH, Simpson EC (1957) Environmental temperature and fertility of Southdown rams early in the breeding season. J Anim Sci 16:136–143
Easterling WE, Aggarwal PK, Batima P, Brander KM, Erda L, Howden SM, Kirilenko A, Morton J, Soussana JF, Schmidhuber J, Tubiello FN (2007) Food, fibre and forest products. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 273–313
Edwards LJ, McFarlane JR, Kauter KG, McMillen IC (2005) Impact of periconceptional nutrition on maternal and fetal leptin and fetal adiposity in singleton and twin pregnancies. Am J Phys 288:R39–R45
Ekpe G, Seamark RF, Sowerbutts SF, Setchell BP (1992) Effect of intermittent scrotal insulation on fertilizing ability of ram spermatozoa and the development of the embryos to blastocysts in vitro. Proc Aust Soc Reprod Biol 24:51
Ekpe G, Zupp JL, Seamark SF, Setchell BP (1993) Fertilising ability of spermatozoa from rams subjected to intermittent scrotal insulation and development of the resultant embryos in vitro. Proc Aust Soc Reprod Biol 25:88
El-Darawany AA (1999) Improving semen quality of heat stressed rams in Egypt. Ind J Anim Sci 69:1020–1023
Fleming JS, Yu F, McDonald RM, Meters SA, Montgomery GW, Smith JF, Nicholson HD (2004) Effects of scrotal heating on sperm surface protein PH-20 expression in sheep. Mol Reprod Dev 68:103–114
Forcada F, Abecia AJ (2006) The effect of nutrition on the seasonality of reproduction in ewes. Reprod Nutr Dev 46:355–365
Gomes WR, Butler WR, Johnson AD (1971) Effects of elevated ambient temperature on testis and blood levels and in vitro biosynthesis of testosterone in the ram. J Anim Sci 33:804–807
Gordon I (1997) Embryo transfer and associated techniques in sheep. In: Controlled reproduction in sheep and goat. CAB International, Oxon
Gougeon A (1996) Regulation of ovarian follicular development in primates: facts and hypotheses. Endocr Rev 17:121–155
Gunn RG, Sim DA, Hunter EA (1995) Effects of nutrition in utero and in early-life on the subsequent lifetime reproductive-performance of Scottish Blackface ewes in two management-systems. J Anim Sci 60:223–230
Hafez ESE (1968) Adaptation of domestic animals. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia
Hafez ESE (1987) Reproduction in farm animals, 5th edn. LEA & Febiger, Philadelphia
Hafez ESE, Baderldin AL, Darwish YH (1955) Seasonal variations in semen characteristics of sheep in subtropics. J Agric Sci 45:283–292
Hamudikuwanda H, Gallo G, Block IE, Downey BR (1996) Adipose tissue progesterone concentrations in dairy cows during late pregnancy and early lactation. Anim Reprod Sci 43:5–23
Hochereau-de Reviers MT, Locatelli A, Perreau C, Pisselet C, Setchell BP (1993) Effects of a single brief period of moderate heating of the testis on seminiferous tubules in hypophysectomized rams treated with pituitary extract. J Reprod Fertil 97:381–387
Indu S, Sejian V, Naqvi SMK (2014) Impact of simulated heat stress on growth, physiological adaptability, blood metabolites and endocrine responses in Malpura ewes under semiarid tropical environment. Anim Prod Sci 55(6):766. doi.org/10.1071/AN14085
Jansen HT, Jackson GL (1993) Circannual rhythms in the ewe: patterns of ovarian cycles and prolactin secretion under two different constant photoperiods. Biol Reprod 49:627–634
Jaquiery AL, Oliver MH, Bloomfield FH, Connor KL, Challis JRG, Harding JE (2006) Fetal exposure to excess glucocorticoid is unlikely to explain the effects of periconceptional undernutrition in sheep. J Physiol 572:109–118
Kiyma Z, Alexander BM, Van Kirk EA, Murdoch WJ, Hallford DM, Moss GE (2004) Effect of feed restriction on reproductive and metabolic hormones in ewes. J Anim Sci 82:2548–2557
Kumar D, Naqvi SMK, Kumar S (2012) Sperm motion characteristics of FecBBB and FecBB+Garole X Malpura rams during the non-breeding season under hot semi-arid environment. Livest Sci 150:337–341
Kumar D, Bhatt RS, Karim SA, Naqvi SMK (2014) Effect of Milk replacer feeding during pre weaning, and rumen bypass fat supplementation during post weaning on growth and reproduction of Malpura ram lambs. Animal 8:638–642
Kumar D, De K, Saxena VK, Naqvi SMK (2015) Effect of nutritional stress on seminal attributes and sexual behaviour of GMM rams evolved through introgression of FecB gene in semi-arid tropical environment. J Anim Feed Sci 24:107–112
Lamond RD, Gaddy GR, Kennedy WS (1972) Influence of season and nutrition on luteal plasma progesterone in Rambuillet Ewes. J Anim Sci 34:626–629
Lekatz LA, Caton JS, Taylor JB, Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, Vonnahme KA (2010) Maternal selenium supplementation and timing of nutrient restriction in pregnant sheep: effects on maternal endocrine status and placental characteristics. J Anim Sci 88:955–971
Lozano JM, Albecia JA, Forcada F, Zarazaga L, Alfaro B (1998) Effect of under nutrition on the distribution of progesterone in the uterus of ewes during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Theriogenology 49:536–546
Lue YH, Sinha Hikim AP, Swerdloff RS, Im P, Taing KS (1999) Single exposure to heat induces stage specific germ cell apoptosis in rats: role of intratesticular testosterone on stage specificity. Endocrinology 140:1709–1717
Lue YH, Sinha Hikim AP, Wang C, Im M, Leung A, Swerdloff RS (2000) Testicular heat exposure enhances the suppression of spermatogenesis by testosterone in rats: the “two-hit” approach to male contraceptive development. Endocrinology 141:1414–1424
Lue YH, Lasley BL, Laughlin LS, Swerdloff RS, Sinha Hikim AP, Leung A (2002) Mild testicular hyperthermia induces profound transitorialspermatogenic suppression through increased germ cellapoptosis in adult Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macacafascicularis). J Androl 23:799–805
Lynch JJ, Hinch GN, Adams DB (1992) The behaviour of sheep: biological principles and implications for production. C.A.B. International/CSIRO, Wallingford/Oxon
MacLaughlin SM, Walker SK, Roberts CT, Kleemann DO, McMillen IC (2005) Periconceptional nutrition and the relationship between maternal body weight changes in the periconceptional period and feto-placental growth in the sheep. J Physiol 565:111–124
Malpaux B, Tricoire H, Maillet F, Daveau A, Migaud M, Skinner CC, Petetier J, Chemineau P (2002) Melatonin and seasonal reproduction: understanding the neuroendocrine mechanisms using the sheep as a model. Reprod Suppl 59:167–179
Marai IFM, El-Darawany AA, El-Sayed AFI, Abdel-Hafez MAM (2006) Tunica dartos index as a parameter for measurement of adaptability of rams to subtropical conditions of Egypt. Anim Sci J 77:487–494
Martin GB, Hotzel MJ, Blache D, Walkden-Brown SW, Blackberry MA, Rachid Boukhliq R, Fisher JS, Miller DW (2002) Determinants of the annual pattern of reproduction in mature male Merino and Suffolk sheep: modification of responses to photoperiod by an annual cycle in food supply. Reprod Fertil Dev 14:165–175
Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK, Mittal JP (2004) Effect of dietary energy level on physiological responses and reproductive performance of Malpura sheep in the hot semi-arid regions of India. Small Rumin Res 55:117–122
Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK, Gulyani R, Joshi A, Mittal JP (2005) Effect of thermal stress on sexual behaviour of superovulated Bharat Merino ewes. Asian-Aust J Anim Sci 18:1403–1406
Maurya VP, Kumar S, Kumar D, Gulyani R, Joshi A, Naqvi SMK, Arora AL, Singh VK (2009) Effect of body condition score on reproductive performance of Chokla ewes. Indian J Anim Sci 79:1136–1138
Maurya VP, Prince LLL, Sejian V, Kumar D, Joshi A, Naqvi SMK (2010a) Relationship of body condition score with- productive and reproductive efficiency of Avikalin ewes. Indian Vet J 87:189–190
Maurya VP, Sejian V, Kumar D, Naqvi SMK (2010b) Effect of induced body condition score differences on sexual behavior, scrotal measurements, semen attributes and endocrine responses in Malpura rams under hot semi-arid environment. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 94:308–317
Maurya VP, Sejian V, Kumar D, Naqvi SMK (2016) Impact of heat stress, nutritional restriction and combined stresses (heat and nutritional) on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura rams under semi-arid tropical environment. J Anim Physiol Nutr 100(5):938–946. doi:10.1111/jpn.12443
McEvoy TG, Robinson JJ, Aitken RP, Findlay PA, Palmer RM, Robertson IS (1995) Dietary-induced suppression of pre-ovulatory progesterone concentrations in superovulated ewes impairs the subsequent in vivo and in vitro development of their ova. Anim Reprod Sci 39:89–107
McWilliam EL, Barry TN, Lopez-Villalobos N, Cameron PN, Kemp PD (2004) The effect of different levels of poplar (Populus) supplementation on the reproductive performance of ewes grazing low quality drought pasture during mating. Anim Feed Sci Technol 115:1–18
Mieusset R, Quintana Casares P, Sanchez Partida LG, Sowerbutts SF, Zupp JL, Setchell BP (1992) The effects of heating the testes and epididymides of rams by scrotal insulation on fertility and embryonic mortality in ewes inseminated with frozen semen. J Reprod Fertil 94:337–343
Mittal JP, Ghosh PK (1980) A note on annual reproductive rhythm in Marwari sheep of the Rajasthan Desert in India. Anim Prod 30:153–156
Moberg GP (2000) Biological responses to stress. Implications for animal welfare. In: Moberg GP, Mench JP (eds) Biology of animal stress. CAB International, Wallingford
Moule GR, Waites GMH (1963) Seminal degeneration in the ram and its relation to the temperature of the scrotum. J Reprod Fertil 5:43–446
Mukasa-Mugerwa E, Ezaz Z (1992) Relationship of testicular growth and size to age, body weight and onset of puberty in Menz ram lambs. Theriogenology 38:979–988
Mysterud A, Stenseth NC, Yoccoz NG, Langvatn R, Steinheim G (2001) Nonlinear effects of large-scale climatic variability on wild and domestic herbivores. Nature 410:1096–1099
Naqvi SMK, Maurya VP, Gulyani R, Joshi A, Mittal JP (2004) The effect of heat stress on superovulatory response and embryo production in Bharat Merino ewes. Small Rumin Res 55:57–63
Naqvi SMK, Kumar D, Pareek SR (2010) Testicular development of Malpura ram lambs under extensive and intensive feeding regimen. Ind J Small Rum 16:34–38
Naqvi SMK, Soren NM, Karim SA (2011) Effect of concentrate supplementation on performance, ovarian response, and some biochemical profile of Malpura ewes. Trop Anim Health Prod 43:905–913
Nielsen A, Steinheim G, Mysterud A (2013) Do different sheep breeds show equal responses to climate fluctuations? Basic Appl Ecol 14:137–145
Niggol Seo S (2010) Is an integrated farm more resilient against climate change? A microeconometric analysis of portfolio diversification in African agriculture. Food Policy 35:32–40
O’Callaghan D, Yaakub H, Hyttel P, Spicer LJ, Boland MP (2000) Effect of nutrition and superovulation on oocyte morphology, follicular fluid composition and systemic hormone concentrations in ewes. J Reprod Fertil 18:303–313
Oldham CM, Adams NR, Gherardi PB, Lindsay DR, Mackintosh JB (1978) The influence of level of feed intake on sperm producing capacity of testicular tissue of rams. Aust J Agric Res 29:173–179
Ortavant R, Bocquier F, Pelletier J, Ravault JP, Thimonier J, Volland-Nail P (1988) Seasonality of reproduction in sheep and its control by photoperiod. Aust J Biol Sci 41:69–85
Paim TP, Borges BO, Lima PMT, Gomes EF, Dallago BSL, Fadel R, Menezes AM, Louvandini H, Canozzi MEA, Barcellos JOJ, McManus C (2013) Thermographic evaluation of climatic conditions on lambs from different genetic groups. Int J Biometeorol 57:59–66
Papadopoulos S, Lonergan P, Gath V, Quinn KM, Evans AC, O’Callaghan D, Boland MP (2001) Effect of diet quantity and urea supplementation on oocyte and embryo quality in sheep. Theriogenology 55:1059–1069
Parker GV, Thwaites CJ (1972) The effects of undernutrition on libido and semen quality in adult Merino rams. Aust J Agricul Res 23:109–1155
Parr RA (1992) Nutrition-progesterone interactions during early pregnancy in sheep. Reprod Fertil Dev 4:297–300
Parr RA, Davis IF, Miles MA, Squires TJ (1993a) Feed intake affects metabolic clearance rate of progesterone in sheep. Res Vet Sci 55:306–310
Parr RA, Davis IF, Miles MA, Squires TJ (1993b) Liver blood flow and metabolic clearance rate of progesterone in sheep. Res Vet Sci 55:311–316
Perez-Crespo M, Pintado B, Gutierrez-Adan A (2008) Scrotal heat stress effects on sperm viability, sperm DNA integrity, and the offspring sex ratio in mice. Mol Reprod Dev 75:40–47
Pisani LF, Antonini S, Pocar P, Ferrari S, Brevini TA, Rhind SM, Gandolfi F (2008) Effects of pre-mating nutrition on mRNA levels of developmentally relevant genes in sheep oocytes and granulosa cells. Reproduction 136:303–312
Pitta DW, Barry TN, Lopez-Villalobos N, Kemp PD (2005) Effects on ewe reproduction of grazing willow fodder blocks during drought. Anim Feed Sci Technol 120:217–234
Polkowska J (1996) Stress and nutritional influences on GnRH and somatostatin neuronal systems in the ewe. Acta Neurobiol Exp 56:797–806
Rae MT, Palassio S, Kyle CE, Brooks AN, Lea RG, Miller DW, Rhind SM (2001) Effect of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy on early ovarian development and subsequent follicular development in sheep fetuses. Reproduction 122:915–922
Rahmstorf S, Cazenave A, Church JA, Hansen JE, Keeling RF, Parker DE, Somerville RCJ (2007) Recent climate observations compared to projections. Science 316:709
Rasooli A, Jalali MT, Nouri M, Mohammadian B, Barati F (2010) Effects of chronic heat stress on testicular structures, serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations in developing lambs. Anim Reprod Sci 117:55–59
Rhind SM, McKelvey WAC, McMillen SR, Gunn RG, Elston DA (1989) Effect of restricted food intake, before and/or after mating, on the reproductive performance of Greyface ewes. Anim Prod 48:149–155
Robinson JJ (1996) Nutrition and reproduction. Anim Reprod Sci 42:25–34
Robinson JJ, Rooke JA, McEvoy TG (2002) Nutrition for conception and pregnancy. In: Freer M, Dove H (eds) Sheep nutrition. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 189–211
Robinson JJ, Ashworth CJ, Rooke JA, Mitchell LM, McEvoy TG (2006) Nutrition and fertility in ruminant livestock. Anim Feed Sci Technol 126:259–276
Sawyer GJ (1979) The influence to radiant heat load in Merino ewes. II. The relative effects of heating before and after insemination. Aust J Agric Res 30:1143–1149
Scaramuzzi RJ, Cambel BK, Downing JA, Kendall NR, Khalid M, Gutierrez M, Somchit A (2006) A review of the effect of supplementary nutrition in the ewe on the concentration of reproductive and metabolic hormones and the mechanism that regulate folliculogenesis and ovulation rate. Reprod Nutr Dev 46:339–354
Schmidt S, Hommel A, Gawlik V, Augustin R, Junicke N, Florian S, Richter M, Walther DJ, Montag D, Joost HG, Schürmann A (2009) Essential role of glucose transporter GLUT3 for post-implantation embryonic development. J Endocrinol 200:23–33
Schneider JE (2004) Energy balance and reproduction. Physiol Behav 81:289–317
Schoeman SJ, Combrink GC (1987) Thein¯uence of dietary supplementation on testicular growth rate in adult merino rams. S Afr J Anim Sci 17:43–44
Sejian V, Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK, Kumar D, Joshi A (2010) Effect of induced body condition score differences on physiological response, productive and reproductive performance of Malpura ewes kept in a hot, semi-arid environment. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 94:154–161
Sejian V, Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK (2011) Effect of heat, nutritional and combined (heat and nutritional) stresses on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura ewes under semi-arid tropical environment. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 95:252–258
Sejian V, Maurya VP, Kumar K, Naqvi SMK (2012) Effect of multiple stresses (thermal, nutritional, and walking stress) on the reproductive performance of Malpura ewes. Vet Med Int 2012:1–5. doi:10.1155/2012/471760
Sejian V, Indu S, Naqvi SMK (2013) Impact of short term exposure to different environmental temperature on the blood biochemical and endocrine responses of Malpura ewes under semi-arid tropical environment. Indian J Anim Sci 83:1155–1160
Sejian V, Bahadur S, Naqvi SMK (2014) Effect of nutritional restriction on growth, adaptation physiology and estrous responses in Malpura ewes. Anim Biol 64:189–205
Sejian V, Maurya VP, Prince LLL, Kumar D, Naqvi SMK (2015) Effect of body condition score on the allometric measurements and reproductive performance of Garole X Malpura ewes under hot semi-arid environment. J Dairy Vet Anim Res 3:00061
Setchell BP, Waites GMH, Lindner HR (1965) Effect of undemutrition on testicular blood flow and metabolism and the output of testosterone in the ram. J Reprod Fertil 9:149–162
Setchell BP, Locatelli A, Perreau C, Pisselet C, Fontaine I, Kuntz C, Saumande J, Fontaine J, Hochereau-de Reviers MT (1991) The form and function of the Leydig cells in hypophysectomized rams treated with pituitary extract when spermatogenesis is disrupted by heating the testes. J Endocrinol 13:1101–1112
Smith JF (1971) The effect of temperature on characteristics of semen in rams. Aust J Agricul Res 22:481–490
Smith JF, Knight TW (1998) Reproductive management of sheep. In: Fielden ED, Smith JF (eds) Reproductive management of grazing ruminants in New Zealand. New Zealand SocAnim Prod. Occasional Publication 12, Hamilton, pp 113–144
Solomon SD, Manning QM, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (2007) Climate change 2007 – The physical science basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Sosa C, Albecia JA, Forcada F, Vinoles C, Tasende C, Valares JA, Palacin I, Martin GB, Meikle A (2006) Effect of under nutrition on uterine progesterone and oestrogen receptors and on endocrine profiles during the ovine oestrous cycle. Reprod Fertil Dev 18:447–458
Thwaites CJ (1971) Short term heat stress and embryo mortality in sheep. Aust J Exp Agricul Anim Hus 11:265–267
Vinoles C, Forsberg M, Martin GB, Cajarville C, Repetto J, Meikle A (2005) Short term nutritional supplementation of ewes in low condition affects follicle development due to an increase in glucose and metabolic hormones. Reproduction 129:299–309
Wade GN, Jones JE (2004) Neuroendocrinology of nutritional infertility. Am J Phys Regul Integr Comp Phys 287:R1277–R1296
Wallace JM, Da Silva P, Aitken RP, Cruickshank MA (1997) Maternal endocrine status in relation to pregnancy outcome in rapidly growing adolescent sheep. J Endocrinol 155:359–368
Webb RJ, Bains H, Cruttwell C, Carroll J (2002) Gap-junctional communication in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes: implications for the mechanism of meiotic maturation. Reproduction 123:41–52
Webb R, Garnsworthy PC, Gong JG, Armstrong DG (2004) Control of follicular growth: local interactions and nutritional influences. J Anim Sci 82:E63–E74
Woodfill CJ, Wayne IM, Moenter SM, Karsch FI (1994) Photoperiodic synchronization of a circannual reproductive rhythm in the sheep: identification of season specific cues. Biol Reprod 50:965–967
Yaakub H, O΄Callaghan D, O΄Doherty JV, Hyttel P (1997) Effect of dietary intake on follicle numbers and oocyte morphology in unsuperovulated and superovulated ewes. Theriogenology 47:182
Yin Y, Hawkins KL, Dewolf WC, Morgentaler A (1997) Heat stress causes testicular germ cell apoptosis in adult mice. J Androl 8:159–165
Zhang C, Bosch MA, Levine JE, Ronnckleiv OK, Kelly MJ (2007) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons express KATP channels that are regulated by estrogen and responsive to glucose and metabolic inhibition. J Neurosci 27:10153–10164
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kumar, D., De, K., Sejian, V., Naqvi, S.M.K. (2017). Impact of Climate Change on Sheep Reproduction. In: Sejian, V., Bhatta, R., Gaughan, J., Malik, P., Naqvi, S., Lal, R. (eds) Sheep Production Adapting to Climate Change. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4714-5_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4714-5_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4713-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4714-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)