The Genetic resistence to Coccidia in Appenninica sheep

The study was conducted on a single herd of Appenninica sheep breed situated in Tuscany (Italy) from April to November 2004 on 108 sheep with the aim to identify the most resistant subjects to Coccidia. Moreover, the presence of gastro-intestinal Strongylids, Dicrocoelium sp. Moniezia spp.Strongyloides sp. and Trichuris sp. was also evaluated. Sheep selection may be based on OPG in adults animals, as it appears to be an indicator of sheep resistance to Coccidia. Before incorporating the parameter into breeding programmes, however, it is necessary to better appraise the degree of infestation of the other parasites as it may be difficult to select simultaneously for resistance to Coccidia and Strongylids unless the genetic correlation between these two traits is calculated and a selection index approach is used.