Thermal Stress Response Profiling Reveals Adaptive Advantages of Indigenous Hercegovačka and Dubska Pramenka Sheep
Simple Summary Climate change is becoming a serious threat to animal farming, making it important to find animals that can cope well with high and low temperatures. This study focused on two strains of indigenous Pramenka sheep from Bosnia and Herzegovina to determine how they respond to heat and cold. Researchers looked at the activity of specific genes that help animals deal with temperature stress using blood samples from 96 sheep collected in summer and winter across different regions. The results showed that one strain, Hercegovačka sheep, had much higher activity of a gene that protects cells from heat damage, especially during hot weather. Both strains showed strong abilities to control inflammation and protect themselves from harmful effects caused by heat, which helps them stay healthy in challenging climates. This study concluded that Hercegovačka sheep have better natural protection against temperature changes, but both strains have useful traits for surviving in a changing climate. These results can help farmers and scientists choose and protect sheep breeds that are more likely to thrive as weather conditions become more extreme, ensuring food production and supporting rural communities in the future.