Nutrition and Wool Production | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Nutrition and Wool Production 

Overview of Wool Production in Sheep: 

• Wool production in sheep is primarily a protein output.
• The growth of wool relies on the availability of S-amino acids and total amino acids in the blood supply to the wool follicle.
• Approximately half of the cysteine derived from intestinal absorption in sheep is converted into wool.

Possibilities for Increasing S-Amino Acids Availability: 

• Manipulating the microbial fermentation digestive system of sheep to enhance microbial growth efficiency.
• Manipulating rumen microbes to improve the utilization of dietary protein that escapes rumen fermentation.
• Using recombinant DNA processes to develop animals capable of synthesizing S-amino acids crucial for wool growth.

Manipulation of Rumen Microbial Digestive System:

• To boost wool production, efforts should focus on increasing the availability of essential amino acids.
• Strategies include enhancing microbial growth efficiency, increasing digestibility of dietary protein, and improving fibrous feed digestion in the rumen.
• Creating bacteria through recombinant methods that synthesize proteins rich in S-amino acids.
• Decreasing amino acid usage for other metabolic functions to support wool growth.

Enhancing Wool Growth Through Additional Amino Acids:

• Increasing fermentative digestion rate by treating forage with ammonia and adding digestible fiber.
• Maintaining a protozoa-free rumen and balancing microbial nutrients to optimize nutrient availability.
• Inserting ruminant DNA material into sheep embryos to introduce beneficial genetic traits.
• Efforts to introduce bacterial DNA fragments into sheep ova for enhanced cysteine synthesis.

Cysteine Synthesis Pathway and Nutrient Considerations:

• The biosynthetic pathway for cysteine synthesis involves several enzymatic steps.
• H₂S generated in the rumen contributes to cysteine production in transgenic animals.
• Inadequate intake of bypass protein and glucogenic precursors may hinder wool growth.
• Serine deficiency due to increased cysteine synthesis may necessitate enhanced serine production.