?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Improved+welfare+in+sheep+production%3A+Preventive+measures%2C+disease+resistance+and+robustness+related+to+tick-borne+fever+in+sheep&rft.subject=+Sheep+and+goats&rft.subject=+Animal+husbandry&rft.subject=+Health+and+welfare&rft.subject=+Breeding+and+genetics&rft.description=The+greatest+welfare+challenges+for+sheep+during+grazing+are+tick-borne+fever+(TBF)%2C+blow-flies%2C+alveld+and+predators.+Production+losses+on+tick+infested+pastures+are+substantial%2C+and+it+is+expected+that+more+than+300+000+lambs%2Fsheep+are+affected+by+TBF.+In+sustainable+farming%2C+particularly+organic+farming%2C+the+focus+on+solving+these+challenges+should+be+on+preventive+measures.+The+dependence+on+drugs+implies+a+risk+for+developing+resistance.+It+is+therefore+of+general+interest+to+use+preventive+methods.+However%2C+few+efficient+preventive+measures+against+tick+infection+and+TBF+are+available.+Thus%2C+there+is+a+need+for+alternative+strategies.+The+focus+of+the+project+will+be+on+indirect+losses.+The+indirect+loss+caused+by+TBF+is+impaired+welfare%2C+growth+rate%2C+meat+quality+and+income.+National+data+will+provide+information+on+weight%2C+slaughter+quality+and+losses+of+animals+on+tick+infested+pastures+and+will+be+used+to+identify+and+quantify+indirect+losses.+Increased+knowledge+about+the+extent+of+indirect+losses+to+ticks+will+increase+awareness+and+motivation+for+implementing+preventive+measures.Turn+out+time+on+pasture+and+immunity%3A+Lambs+on+tick+infested+pasture+and+sheep+brought+to+tick+infested+pasture+for+the+first+time+are+at+highest+risk.+Animals+will+develop+immunity+after+the+first+infection.+The+effect+of+exposing+lambs+to+tick+infection+at+a+very+early+life+stage+will+be+tested+in+an+experiment+carried+out+at+five+farms+involving+300+lambs.+The+hypothesis+is+that+lambs+infected+early+will+handle+the+disease+better+and+will+not+become+seriously+ill.+Disease+resistance%3A+There+is+indication+of+individual+variance+in+susceptibility+against+TBF+in+sheep.+Many+factors+may+cause+variation+in+resistance+to+ticks+and+TBF+between+individuals.+Exploiting+a+possible+genetic+variance+between+breeds+and+individuals+within+breed+in+such+resistance+will+be+done+by+a+controlled+challenge+test+and+by+analysing+data+on+sheep+from+ram+circles+in+tick+infested+areas.&rft.type=Project+description&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.identifier=%7BProject%7D+SWATICK%3A+Improved+welfare+in+sheep+production%3A+Preventive+measures%2C+disease+resistance+and+robustness+related+to+tick-borne+fever+in+sheep.+Runs+2006+-+2010.+Project+Leader(s)%3A+Steinshamn%2C+H%C3%83%C2%A5vard%3B+Gr%C3%83%C2%B8va%2C+Lise%3B+Stuen%2C+Snorre+and+Olesen%2C+Ingrid%2C+Bioforsk+Norwegian+Institute+for+Agricultural+and+Environmental+Research.+More+information+online+at+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bioforsk.no%2FViewPPP.aspx%3Fview%3Dproject%26id%3D723%26ViewLanguage%3DNorwegianBokmaal+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bioforsk.no%2FViewPPP.aspx%3Fview%3Dproject%26id%3D723%26ViewLanguage%3DNorwegianBokmaal%3E%3E.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F13002%2F