Effects of gender, time of castration, genotype and feeding regimen on lamb growth and carcass fatness

Two concurrent trials were conducted to examine the effects of gender, time of castration, genotype and feeding regimen on lamb growth rate and carcass fatness. Trial 1 compared Polypay and Coopworth x Polypay male lambs either left intact or castrated early, mid or late in growth. Trial 2 compared Hampshire-sired lambs (females, early castrate wethers and late castrate wethers) from Suffolk x Coopworth dams and whiteface x Coopworth dams. Gender and time of castration significantly affected growth rate in Trial 1 but not in Trial 2. Rams were more efficient than wethers, but no other gender or time of castration effects on feed efficiency were observed. Delaying castration and pasture grazing both reduced fatness. Lambs grazed on irrigated pastures until they weighed 41 kg then finished in drylot had a lower dressing percentage than lambs fed in the drylot throughout, but USDA quality grades were similar. Substitution of Polypay genes by Coopworth genes in crossbred lambs did not significantly alter any of the fatness traits measured but increased ribeye area. Hampshire-sired lambs grew faster than whiteface lambs, particularly in drylot. They had a higher dressing percentage without increased fatness, apparently because of greater muscling in ribeye and leg.     

Performance of Polypay, Coopworth, and crossbred ewes: I. Reproduction and lamb production.

Six ewe genotypes, generated by mating Coopworth (C), Polypay (P), and Suffolk (S) rams to Polypay and Coopworth-type (Ct) ewes, were exposed to Hampshire rams for spring lambing from 1986 through 1990. Data from 1,092 exposures and 1,044 resultant lambings were used to analyze reproductive traits and lamb growth rates. Overall conception rate averaged 95% and ranged from 93% for S x Ct ewes to 97% for P x Ct ewes. Mean litter size at birth averaged 1.63 and ranged from 1.45 for C x C ewes to 1.75 for S x P ewes. Ewes from P dams had higher mean litter size (P less than .01) than those from Ct dams (1.73 vs 1.54), but differences between sire breeds were not significant. Incidence of lambing assistance was similar for ewes producing single or multiple lambs. Lamb birth weight influenced the level of assistance rendered to single-bearing but not to multiple-bearing ewes. Lambing assistance was not related to lamb survival, probably because the high surveillance level minimized trauma before assistance was rendered. Incidence of required assistance declined over subsequent parities. Lamb birth weights were affected by ewe genotype and increased with increasing ewe age. Survival of single-born lambs averaged 94% and was not affected by dam genotype. Survival of twins averaged 85%, ranging from 79% for lambs from S x Ct ewes to 89% for lambs from P x P ewes. Suffolk-sired ewes produced the heaviest mean birth and weaning weights for both singles and twins. Coopworth-sired ewes weaned heavier single lambs but lighter twins than P-sired ewes.     

Effect of zeranol implants in ram and wether lambs on performance traits, carcass characteristics, and subprimal cut yields and distribution.

In two separate 2 x 2 factorial arrangements, 69 male, crossbred lambs were allotted randomly to the following treatments: 1) nonimplanted (NI) rams, 2) implanted (I) rams, 3) NI wethers, and 4) I wethers. In Trial 1, 36 lambs were allotted to treatment groups at birth (n = 9) and I lambs were implanted with 12 mg of zeranol between 1 and 3 d of age and again at weaning (average age of 62 d). Lambs were slaughtered at three time-constant end points of 78, 93, and 107 d on feed postweaning (average age of 155 d). Rams grew faster postweaning, were more efficient in their feed conversion, were heavier at slaughter, and had lower numerical yield grades than did wethers (P less than .05). Implanted lambs tended (P = .08) to grow faster and were (P less than .05) more efficient in their feed conversion than NI lambs. Rams produced heavier (P less than .05) trimmed subprimal shoulders, loins, and legs and had (P less than .05) a higher percentage of their carcass weight in the subprimal shoulder than did wethers. During Trial 2, NI rams (n = 8), I rams (n = 8), NI wethers (n = 8), and I wethers (n = 9) were allotted to treatment groups, and I lambs were implanted at average ages of 14, 55, and 98 d. After weaning, lambs were weighed every 14 d and were slaughtered 7 d after reaching a minimum weight of 50 kg (average age of 148 d).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Body weight and tissue gain in lambs fed an all-concentrate diet and implanted with trenbolone acetate or grazed on alfalfa

Targhee x Hampshire lambs (average BW 23 +/- 1 kg) were used in two experiments to determine the effects of finishing on concentrate with an anabolic implant or forage grazing after concentrate feeding on growth, organ and viscera weights, and carcass tissue accretion. In Exp. 1 and 2 lambs were penned by sex and assigned for slaughter at initial (23 kg), intermediate (37 kg), or end BW (ewes, 47.7; wethers 50.4 kg). From 23 to 37 kg BW, lambs were fed all-concentrate diets in drylot (DL) or grazed on alfalfa (ALF). Experiment 1 was a 2 x 2 factorial with 28 lambs; factors were wether vs ewe lambs and unimplanted vs DL implanted with trenbolone acetate-estradiol benzoate. There were no differences in organ and viscera weights due to implant status. However, ADG (P < .03) and lean gain (P < .02) were greater for implanted than for unimplanted wethers (507 vs 357 g and 1,314 vs 656 g, respectively). Ewes did not respond to the implant. Fat accretion was not affected by implantation. Experiment 2 was a 2 x 3 factorial with 42 lambs; factors were wether vs ewe lambs and drylot during growing and finishing phases (DL-DL) vs drylot during growing and alfalfa grazing during finishing (DL-ALF) vs alfalfa grazing during growing and finishing phases (ALF-ALF). In Exp. 2, ADG of DL-DL lambs was greater (P < .01) than ADG of DL-ALF or ALF-ALF lambs. Lambs on ALF-ALF had smaller (P < .05) livers and rumen/reticulum weights but heavier (P < .04) kidney, omasum, small and large intestine, and cecum weights than those on DL. In Exp. 2, DL-ALF and ALF-ALF lambs had overall hindsaddle lean gain equal to those on DL-DL with less mesenteric fat and 100 g less separable fat. Finishing lambs on alfalfa reduced fat accretion without decreasing lean accretion, whereas trenbolone acetate implants for lambs fed concentrate increased BW gain and lean accretion without affecting fat accretion.     

Effects of corn processing and dietary fiber source on feedlot performance, visceral organ weight, diet digestibility, and nitrogen metabolism in lambs

In Exp. 1, early-weaned Targhee and Polypay crossbred lambs (60 ewes and 66 rams; initial BW 24 +/- 1.0 kg) were used in a 2 x 3 factorial experiment to determine the effects of corn processing (whole shelled corn [WSC] or ground and pelleted corn [GC]) in combination with supplemental fiber (none [control]; soybean hulls, SBH [highly digestible]; or peanut hulls, PH [highly indigestible]) on DMI, ADG, feed efficiency, and visceral organ weight. For the total trial, WSC resulted in a 4% increase (P < .01) in ADG vs GC, and supplemental fiber resulted in increased (P < .01) DMI and ADG vs the control diet. Experiment 2 was conducted using 12 Targhee and Polypay crossbred wether lambs (initial BW 25 +/- 7 kg) to determine the effects of corn processing and fiber source in high-concentrate diets on diet digestibility and N retention using the same diets as in Exp. 1. Lambs fed WSC had greater (P < .001) apparent N digestion, true N digestion, and N retention (P < .01) than those fed GC. The apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, and NDF were greater (P < .001) for WSC than for GC diets. Peanut hulls resulted in decreased (P < .01) DM, OM, and NDF apparent digestibilities compared with the control and SBH diets. Starch digestion was not affected (P > .10) by diet. Whole corn resulted in improved DM, OM, NDF, and N digestibility compared with GC. Overall, both the SBH and PH diets resulted in greater DMI and ADG than the control diet, which lacked supplemental fiber.     

Comparison of crossbred cows containing various proportions of Brahman in spring or fall calving systems: III. Productivity as three-, four-, and five-year olds

Productivity of 3-, 4-, and 5-yr-old crossbred cows containing various proportions (0, 1/4, or 1/2) of Brahman breeding out of Angus or Hereford dams was evaluated using 489 spring-calving and 427 fall-calving records collected over a 4-yr period. Cows were bred to Limousin sires for the first 3 yr and to Limousin and Salers sires the 4th yr. Interactions between crossbred cow group and season of calving were not significant. Percentage of cows exposed to breeding that weaned a calf increased (P less than .01) as proportion Brahman breeding increased, was higher (P less than .01) for cows out of Angus dams than for cows out of Hereford dams, and was higher (P less than .01) for spring-calving cows. As the proportion Brahman increased, the percentage requiring assistance at birth decreased, and cows out of Angus dams required less (P less than .05) assistance than those out of Hereford dams. Preweaning ADG, adjusted weaning weight, weaning conformation, weaning condition, and adjusted weaning hip height increased a proportion Brahman breeding increased. Spring-born calves gained .12 kg/d faster (P less than .01) than fall-born calves. However, weight at weaning was similar for the two groups; spring-born calves were weaned at an average age of 205 d, and fall-born calves were weaned at an average age of 240 d. Fall-calving cows were heavier (P less than .05) than spring-calving cows, and 0 and 1/2 Brahman cows were heavier (P less than .01) than 1/4 Brahman cows. These data indicate that Brahman-cross dams can be used to improve reproductive rate and increase preweaning growth rate, and thus weaning weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of genetic type, slaughter weight and sex on ovine muscle fiber and fat-cell development

Histological properties from the longissimus (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles of 51 wether and ewe lambs from Hampshire rams and two ewe genetic types (SR, 1/2 Suffolk and 1/2 Rambouillet, and FS, 1/2 Finnish Landrace and 1/2 Southdown) and three slaughter live weights (32, 41 and 50 kg) were compared. Fibers in both muscles were classified as beta R (red), alpha R (intermediate) or alpha W (white). All LD muscle fiber types from FS ewe lambs increased in diameter from 32 to 41 kg, but decreased in diameter from 41 to 50 kg. Also, this quadratic effect with slaughter weight was found in alpha R and alpha W fibers from the SM muscle of FS wether and ewe lambs. However, diameters of alpha R and alpha W fibers from SR wether and ewe lambs and beta R fibers from SR ewe lambs increased linearly in the SM muscle with increasing slaughter weight. As slaughter weight increased, the proportion of alpha R fibers decreased in both the LD and SM muscles for SR wether and FS wether and ewe lambs. Concurrent with the increase in slaughter weight and decrease in alpha R fiber percentage, the proportion of alpha W fibers increased in the LD muscle of SR wether lambs, the SM muscle of SR ewe lambs and both muscles of FS wether and ewe lambs. Genetic type and sex groups, except SR ewe lambs, support the theory of transformation of alpha R to alpha W fibers with increasing slaughter weights. Fat-cell diameters increased in both muscles of SR wether and FS ewe lambs with increasing slaughter weights. Increases in fat traits of lamb carcasses were related to increases in red-fiber size. Alpha red fiber numbers were inversely related (P less than .05) to alpha W fiber numbers in both the LD and SM muscles (r = -.83 and -.79). The proportion of alpha R to alpha W fibers might be used as an indicator of physiological maturity for lambs.     

Effects of mimosine on fiber shedding, follicle activity, and fiber regrowth in Spanish goats

Ten 2-yr-old Spanish wethers (58.2 +/- 7.21 kg BW) were used to determine effects of 2-d intravenous infusion of mimosine (beginning on January 8) on fiber shedding, follicle activity, and fiber regrowth. Primary and secondary follicle activity on d 0 were 43 +/- 6.2% and 96 +/- 1.7%, respectively. Five wethers were infused with mimosine at 120 mg/(kg BW x d) and the other five received saline. At 7 to 10 d after the start of infusion, all five goats infused with mimosine exhibited shedding, whereas shedding by controls was not observed. Cashmere fiber shedding score (5-point scale: 1 = no shedding, 5 = excessive shedding) on d 4 was greater for mimosine goats than for controls (1.2 vs 2.0; P < .001), and shedding score for wethers receiving mimosine was greater (P < .05) on d 12, 16, and 20 than on d 0 and 4 (4.1 to 4.6 vs 1.4 and 2.0). Guard hair shedding score for goats receiving mimosine was greatest (P < .01) among the days after infusion for d 12 and greater (P < .01) on d 16 than on d 0 and 4. Nonetheless, cashmere fiber yield from combed fleece of mimosine goats (average of 73%) was much greater than for a clipping of the uncombed side (average of 28%) when the cashmere fiber shedding score exceeded 4.0. Secondary follicle activity on d 12 was lower (P < .01) for mimosine than for control wethers (6.8 vs 67.7%), and secondary follicle activity for mimosine-infused goats on d 12 was lower (P < .01) than on d 0 (98.9%), 4 (98.3%), and 20 (99.5%). Mimosine infusion resulted in no detectable fiber regrowth in wk 4 to 7 after the start of infusion, but regrowth rate in the following two 4-wk periods was similar for mimosine and control wethers. In conclusion, 2-d intravenous infusion of mimosine at 120 mg/(kg BW x d) in the winter induced cashmere shedding but had less effect on guard hairs, suggesting future potential use of chemicals such as mimosine to remove cashmere fiber.     

Effects of age, castration, and season on difficulty of pelt removal in lambs

Sixty-four white-faced rams and wethers were dressed with the aid of a commercial pelt puller. The effects of age, castration, and season on difficulty of pelt removal and pelt damage were evaluated. Lambs were divided into two age groups (5 and 12 mo) within gender (ram and whether) and season (spring and fall). A greater force (P less than .05) was required to remove pelts from rams than from wethers in both 5- and 12-mo-old groups. Older lambs slaughtered in the fall required more force (P less than .05) to remove their pelts than did those slaughtered in the spring, but differences by season did not exist for 5-mo-old lambs. The difference between rams and wethers in percentage of live weight that was closely shorn pelt weight was not significant (P greater than .05). The area of grain crack in the flank expressed as a percentage of total area of the skin was lower (P less than .05) for skins from 5-mo-old lambs and ram lambs than it was for skins from 12-mo-old lambs and wether lambs, respectively. Factors involved in difficulty of pelt removal in ram lambs included crosscut shoulder weight, fat firmness, and carcass weight. Difficulty of pelt removal in wether lambs was best predicted by including crosscut shoulder weight and bodywall thickness in multiple regression equations.     

Postweaning growth, feed efficiency and chemical composition of sheep as affected by prenatal and postnatal testosterone

Data were collected from intact males, castrated males and ewe lambs to investigate the effect of presence or absence of testosterone prenatally and during the postweaning period on postweaning growth, feed intake and carcass chemical composition. Half the lambs from each sex were the progeny of dams that had received five injections of testosterone cyprionate from d 32 through d 87 of gestation. Linear contrasts were used to detect differences. Postweaning daily gain of intact males was greater (P less than .01) than that of male castrates. Ewe lambs from treated dams had approximately 12% greater rate of growth (P less than .04) than ewe lambs from control dams. Ewe lambs from dams that had been treated were 28% more efficient (P less than .01) in the conversion of food to weight than those from untreated dams. Ewe lambs from treated dams had heavier livers (P less than .07). Carcass protein for intact males was greater (P less than .11) than for castrates, and extractable fat was less (P less than .05). Masculinization of growth characteristics of ewe lambs affected the quantity of carcass fat relative to control ewes (7.59 vs 8.92 kg). These ewe lambs also had more water in the carcass than did the control ewes (13.93 vs 12.29 kg). Administration of exogenous testosterone to pregnant ewes over an interval of time approximating time of sexual differentiation in the fetus enhances postweaning growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and chemical composition of genetic females.     

Effects of implanting ram and wether lambs with zeranol at birth and weaning on palatability and muscle collagen characteristics.

Thirty-five zeranol-implanted (I) and nonimplanted (NI) ram and wether lambs representing four treatments (implanted rams [IR], nonimplanted rams [NIR], implanted wethers [IW], and nonimplanted wethers [NIW]) were evaluated for meat palatability and muscle collagen characteristics. Rib (longissimus muscle, LM) chops from I lambs were juicier (P less than .05) than rib chops from NI lambs. Chops from IR lambs had more (P less than .05) detectable connective tissue and lower myofibrillar and overall tenderness scores than chops from NIR, IW, or NIW lambs. Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) values tended to be higher (P = .06) for LM chops from rams than for those from wethers, but WBS values for Biceps femoris (BF) chops were similar (P greater than .05) for rams and wethers. Implanting did not affect (P greater than .05) WBS values. Rams had more (P less than .05) LM heat-labile (soluble, SC), nonheat-labile (insoluble, IC), and total collagen (TC) and a higher (P less than .05) percentage of SC (SC/TC) than did wethers. Soluble collagen, TC, and percentage of SC for the BF were higher (P less than .05) and IC tended (P = .09) to be higher in chops from rams than in those from wethers. Implanting did not affect (P greater than .05) collagen amount or solubility. Serum nonprotein hydroxyproline (NPHP) was higher (P less than .05) in rams than in wethers throughout the feeding period and tended (P = .05) to be higher at slaughter. Implanting did not affect (P greater than .05) serum NPHP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of the repartitioning agent cimaterol on growth, carcass and skeletal muscle characteristics in lambs

Ten crossbred (Suffolk X Rambouillet) whether lambs were randomly assigned to receive 0 or 10 ppm cimaterol (CIM) in a completely mixed high-concentrate diet for 8 wk. Total weight gain and feed efficiency were improved 29% (P less than .05) and 14%, respectively, in the CIM-fed group. CIM also improved (P less than .01) dressing percent by 4.9 percentage points and improved yield grade by one grade. CIM increased longissimus muscle (LD) area 38% (P less than .01) and the yield of four lean cuts 28% (P less than .01). No difference was found in the proportion of type I (slow-contracting, oxidative) and type II (fast-contracting, mixed glycolytic/oxidative) fibers in LD and semitendinosus (ST) muscles between control and CIM groups, indicating no change in fiber type. The cross-sectional area of type II fibers in LD and ST muscles of the CIM group was 2,081 and 1,951 micron 2 as compared with 1,391 and 1,296 micron2 of the control group, respectively. The increase was approximately 50% (P less than .01). No difference was found in cross-sectional area of type I fibers, indicating that the increase of muscle mass was due to hypertrophy of type II fibers only. DNA concentration (micrograms/g wet muscle or microgram/g protein) of CIM muscle was much lower (P less than .01) than that of control muscle, suggesting that the protein accretion in muscle was accomplished without additional incorporation of nuclei from satellite cells.     

Energy value of corn wet milling by-product feeds for finishing ruminants

Five trials were conducted to evaluate the energy value of corn wet milling by-products in finishing diets. In trials 1 (45 finishing lambs, 34 kg) and 2 (70 digestion wethers, 32 kg), Rambouillet X Suffolk lambs fed corn gained faster (P less than .10), more efficiently (P less than .10) and had higher (P less than .01) digestibilities of neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF, ADF) and starch than lambs fed dry corn gluten feed (DCGF). Lambs fed wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) consumed less feed (trial 1, P less than .05; trial 2, P less than .01), were more efficient (P less than .01) NDF and ADF digestibilities than lambs fed DCGF. Starch, NDF and ADF digestion were higher (P less than .01) for lambs fed WCGF vs wet corn bran (WCB). Lambs fed WCGF gained faster (P less than .10) and consumed more (trial 1, P = .12; trial 2, P less than .10) feed than lambs fed WCB. Dried corn bran increased (trial 1, P less than .05; trial 2, P less than .01) intake and increased (P less than .01) dry matter digestion (DMD) compared with WCB. In trial 3, rates of in vitro dry matter and NDF disappearance were similar among by-product feeds. In trial 4 (50 individually fed Shorthorn-Hereford-Angus steers, 316 kg), steers fed WCGF tended to consume more (P = .14) feed than steers fed DCGF. Corn gluten feed (CGF) replacing 0 to 46% corn decreased gain (linear, P less than .05) and DMD (linear, P less than .10), while starch digestion was highest for 23% CGF (quadratic, P less than .01). A level X CGF type interaction (P = .15) occurred for efficiency due to the lower gain of steers fed 46% DCGF. The efficiency of CGF utilization was 97% that of corn when WCGF replaced 23 or 46% corn or DCGF replaced 23% corn. Dry CGF replacing 46% corn had 87% the value of corn. In trial 5 (186 Hereford-Angus cattle, 310 kg), DCGF replacing 25 and 50% corn had 97 to 100% the efficiency of corn, while intake and gain were not affected. Dry CGF replacing 25 and 50% corn silage increased (linear, P less than .05) intake 11.3% and gain 13.8%. In ruminants, CGF is highly digestible and feed efficiency is similar to corn when WCGF is fed up to 50% of the grain component or when DCGF is fed up to 25% of the grain component.     

Influence of breed, number of suckling lambs, and stage of lactation on ewe milk production and lamb growth under range conditions

Milk production and lamb growth were characterized in 118 multiparous, 3- to 7-yr-old Rambouillet, Columbia, Polypay, and Suffolk ewes under spring sage range and high mountain meadow grazing from 28 to 98 d postpartum. Daily milk yield as measured by the lamb suckling weight differential technique did not differ (P greater than .05) among breeds, although milk production of Suffolk ewes tended to be higher than that of the other three breeds. Within the Rambouillet, Columbia, and Polypay breeds, total estimated yield of ewes with twins was 13 to 17% higher than that of ewes with singles, whereas in the Suffolk breed, suckling twins increased total milk yield 61% over that of ewes with singles. Twin lambs induced a larger differential in dam milk production in late lactation (70 to 98 d) than in earlier lactation (28 to 70 d). Number of lambs did not influence milk protein, Ca, or P content (P greater than .05). Fat levels in colostrum and 4-d milk were elevated 14 and 20%, respectively, in ewes suckling twins compared with ewes suckling singles. Under range conditions, Suffolk ewes suckling single or twin lambs lost more BW (12 and 21% of 4-d postpartum body weight, respectively) than Rambouillet (4 and 7%), Columbia (5 and 8%), or Polypay (8 and 8%) ewes. Correlation coefficients of milk production and lamb growth rate were positive and significant (P less than .05) up to 56 d of age. Growth rate was less closely associated with milk production for twin than for single lambs.     

Growth performance and carcass composition of lambs infused for 28 days with a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue.

A human growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, [DesNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF(1-29)NH2 (GRF-A), was infused s.c. into lambs for 28 d to determine its effects on growth performance and carcass composition. Twenty crossbred wethers weighing 47.0 +/- .5 kg were implanted with 7-d osmotic minipumps at weekly intervals. Minipumps contained either vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide:H2O, 1:1) or GRF-A, released at a rate of 208 pmol (or .7 micrograms).h-1.kg-1. During the infusion period, plasma GH levels were increased (P less than .01) in GRF-A-treated wethers compared with control wethers (15.0 vs 9.3 ng/ml) and were higher on days that closely followed minipump implantation. Plasma IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I RNA concentrations were similar in lambs of both groups. Analogue treatment improved feed conversion (4.9 vs 5.8 kg dry matter/kg gain, P less than .05), increased average daily gain (.35 vs .30 kg, P = .05) and had no effect on feed intake, wool growth and body, carcass, selected organ and pituitary weights. Carcasses from GRF-A-infused lambs had less adjusted fat depth, a lower percentage of fat and a higher percentage of protein (P less than .05) than carcasses from control lambs. Magnitude of most effects of GRF-A on carcass measurements were correlated with the mean GH level that a lamb had during the infusion period. In conclusion, s.c. infusion of GRF-A improved feed utilization and altered carcass composition of feeder lambs in a relatively short period of time (28 d).     

Voluntary feed intake, acid-base balance and partitioning of urinary nitrogen in lambs fed corn silage with added sodium bicarbonate or sodium sesquicarbonate

An experiment with growing lambs was designed to test the hypothesis that alterations in blood acid-base status would influence intake of corn silage. Six wethers (29 kg) were fed a diet of corn silage (36% DM, 8% CP) supplemented with 1.25% urea and .2% sulfur. At feeding time, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and sodium sesquicarbonate (NaSC) were added to the silage at levels of 0, 2% or 4% of diet DM. The treatments were arranged as a 2 x 3 factorial, and the study was conducted as a 6 x 4 incomplete latin square with four 17-d periods. Voluntary intake of OM was not different (P greater than .05) between NaHCO3 (1,008 g/d) and NaSC (1,041 g/d). There was no significant interaction between type of buffer (NaHCO3 or NaSC) and level of buffer on any of the variables measured. The progressive increase in buffer load did not alter feed intake (P greater than .05), although there was a quadratic response (P less than .05) in urine pH and a linear increase (P less than .01) in blood HCO3- 2 h after feeding. There was no evidence that lambs fed corn silage experienced metabolic acid stress. Urinary excretion of ammonia and urea were indicative of changes, although not pronounced, in ammoniuria and ureapoiesis in response to bicarbonate loading. This study implies that corn silage imposes no "acid stress" on lambs and, consequently, that there is no nutritional benefit in adding buffers to corn silage for sheep.     

Effects of differential ewe condition at mating and early postmating nutrition on embryo survival.

Ewes in two trials were given either a high (H) or a low (L) level of premating nutrition for 19 wk followed by 6 wk of either H or L postmating nutrition to examine effects on reproductive performance. Trial 1 ewes were 5- to 8-yr-old Polypays and Trial 2 ewes were 3-yr-old Polypay and Coopworth x Polypay crosses. Ewes given L nutrition premating were either immunized with androstenedione-7-carboxyethylthioether:human serum albumin (also known as ovandrotone or Fecundin) in (diethylamino)ethyl-dextran adjuvant (Trial 1) or flushed for 3 wk premating (Trials 1 and 2) to enhance ovulation rates. All ewes were synchronized for mating in both trials. Trial 1 premating treatments created a difference of 10 kg in BW and 1.1 in condition score units between H and L ewes preflushing; flushing halved the BW difference. Ovulation rates averaged 2.58 and were similar for H, L-flushed, and L-immunized (LI) ewes; however, both conception rate and litter size were lowest for immunized ewes. Among both twin and triple-ovulating ewes, highest mean litter size was produced by H ewes, followed in order by L and LI ewes. High postmating nutrition increased BW by 6 kg vs slight weight loss in L ewes, but postmating treatments did not affect litter size of either twin or triple ovulators. The H and L premating groups of Trial 2 differed by 18 kg and 2.2 condition score units preflushing. The H ewes exhibited higher ovulation rates (overall mean = 2.63) but lower conception than the L ewes to synchronized estrus. Litter size averaged 2.15 for H ewes vs 1.82 for L ewes. Among both twin and triple ovulators, L ewes produced fewer lambs than H ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relationships among intramuscular collagen, serum hydroxyproline and serum testosterone in growing rams and wethers

Concentration and maturation of collagen and serum concentrations of hydroxyproline and testosterone were determined in growing rams and wethers to characterize developmental changes in collagen associated with a representative testicular steroid. Groups of eight rams and eight wethers were slaughtered at 12, 18, 24 and 30 wk of age. Concentrations of collagen in longissimus, supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and serum hydroxyproline were greater (P less than .05) in rams than in wethers at all ages. Collagen stability, as measured by collagen solubility and thermal shrinkage temperature, was greater (P less than .05) in wethers than in rams. Differences in collagen stability and serum hydroxyproline concentration indicated that collagen synthesis and turnover were more rapid in rams than in wethers. Serum hydroxyproline decreased (P less than .05) and collagen solubility decreased (P less than .05) with age, indicating that collagen turnover was occurring most rapidly in 12-wk-old lambs and that collagen maturation was predominant in 24- to 30-wk old lambs. Testosterone parameters measured in rams were unrelated within groups to collagen characteristics, possibly reflecting the high variability in testosterone secretion and the slow development of collagen. However, rams as young as 12 wk of age were under the influence of testosterone, and differences in collagen between rams and wethers were apparent at that time.     

Performance of Polypay, Coopworth, and crossbred ewes: II. Survival and cumulative lamb and wool production over 4 years.

Six ewe genotypes, generated by mating Coopworth (C), Polypay (P), and Suffolk (S) rams to P and Coopworth-type (Ct) ewes, were exposed to Hampshire rams for spring lambing from 1987 through 1990. Data from 1,013 exposures and 973 resultant lambings were used to analyze reproductive traits and cumulative ewe productivity over 4 yr. Ewe body and fleece weights were also analyzed. Ewes from S sires weaned the heaviest lambs and ewes from P sires weaned the largest number of lambs, resulting in similar total weight of lamb weaned per ewe mated. Coopworth-sired ewes weaned the least total weight of lamb per ewe mated. Ewes weaning twins produced 54% more total litter weight per ewe than those weaning singles. Annual ewe survival averaged 95%, ranging from 93% for S x P and C x P ewes to 97% for P x Ct and C x Ct ewes. When cumulative number and weight of lamb produced was assessed on the basis of all ewes starting the trial, P-sired ewes were highest, followed in order by daughters of S and C sires. Suffolk-sired ewes (67 kg) were 13% heavier than daughters of P rams and 19% heavier than daughters of C rams. Adjustment of lamb production for ewe metabolic body size resulted in C-sired ewes being more efficient than the heavier S-sired ewes. Coopworth-sired ewes produced 32% more wool than ewes sired by the other two breeds. Differences in wool production between ewes weaning one or two lambs were small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The role of glucose infusion on the metabolism of nitrogen in ruminants

This work determined the time necessary to stabilize the decrease in urinary N excretion after initiating continuous i.v. glucose infusion and the quantity of glucose required to maximize N balance in growing wether lambs fed a high-protein diet (21.1% CP, DM basis). In the first experiment, six wethers (30 kg) were used in a 10-d crossover design comparing jugular infusion of glucose (600 kcal gross energy/d) plus saline with saline alone. The second infusion experiment was carried out with six wethers (31 kg) assigned to two 3 x 3 plus extra period latin squares, with glucose infusion rates of 0, 300 and 600, and 0, 450 and 900 kcal/d, respectively. Urinary N decreased (P less than .02) by d 2 of glucose infusion, remained stable to the end of the 10-d infusion period, and returned to the preinfusion level within 2 d after glucose infusion was discontinued. Urinary N decreased (P less than .01) and N balance increased (P less than .005) with an increasing level of glucose infusion through 600 kcal/d. Plasma glucose and insulin were elevated (P less than .05) only by infusion of 900 kcal/d of glucose. Glucose was present in the urine of wethers infused with 900 kcal/d of glucose. Glucose infusion had no effect on diet digestibility, hematocrit or plasma urea N. The level of glucose infused into growing wether lambs that maximized reduction of urinary N and was fully utilized for protein deposition without increasing plasma glucose and insulin was about 12 g.Wk-.75.d-1.