牛至油对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能及免疫器官指数的影响

试验旨在研究牛至油对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能及免疫器官指数的影响。选取400只体重相近的1日龄AA肉仔鸡,随机分为4组。对照组饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中分别添加10 mg/kg维吉尼亚霉素、200、300 mg/kg牛至油产品,试验期42 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,牛至油各组能显著提高肉仔鸡的平均日采食量(P0.05),并显著改善前期的饲料增重比(P0.05);200、300 mg/kg牛至油能显著提高半净膛率(P0.05),并显著降低腹脂率(P0.05),而且300 mg/kg牛至油还能显著提高屠宰率和全净膛率(P0.05);各试验组能显著提高胸腺指数(P0.05),维吉尼亚霉素和300 mg/kg牛至油能显著提高法氏囊指数(P0.05)。与维吉尼亚霉素相比,牛至油能显著提高胸腺指数(P0.05)。结果提示日粮中添加牛至油能改善肉仔鸡的生长性能和屠宰性能,并提高免疫器官指数,其中以300 mg/kg的添加水平效果更佳。     

2种复方中草药添加剂对肉仔鸡生长和屠宰性能、免疫性能和组织病理学的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮添加不同水平的2种复方中草药添加剂(加曼-100和料磺1号)对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、免疫性能和组织病理学的影响,以评价2种复方中草药添加剂的效果和适宜添加量。试验一、二各选用432只1日龄AA肉仔鸡,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复18只鸡。试验一中4个处理组分别在基础日粮中添加0(对照组)、500、1 000、1 500 mg/kg加曼-100;试验二中4个处理组分别在基础日粮中添加0(对照组)、1 500、2 000、2 500 mg/kg料磺1号,试验分前后两期(0~21 d、22~42 d)共42 d。结果表明:试验一中后期及全期时,与对照组相比,日粮添加加曼-100可提高肉仔鸡的平均日增重(P<0.01)并降低耗料增重比(P<0.01);1 000 mg/kg加曼-100组提高了肉仔鸡屠宰率、全净膛率、腿肌率(P<0.01)和半净膛率(P<0.05),降低了腹脂率(P<0.01)。试验二中,与对照组相比,日粮添加2 000 mg/kg料磺1号可提高肉仔鸡后期及全期的平均日增重(P<0.05)并降低全期的耗料增重比(P<0.05);同时提高肉仔鸡屠宰率、半净膛率、全净膛率(P<0.01)和腿肌率(P<0.05)。日粮添加加曼-100或料磺1号均提高了肉仔鸡血清免疫球蛋白水平(P<0.01),且各组间免疫器官指数均无显著差异,组织病理观察均无不良影响。综上,2种复方中草药添加剂可提高肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能及免疫性能,加曼-100最适添加量为1 000mg/kg,料磺1号最适添加量为2 000 mg/kg。     

单宁酸和牛至油组合对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质和抗氧化指标的影响

试验旨在研究单宁酸和牛至油混合饲喂对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质和抗氧化指标的影响。选取240只体重相近的1日龄肉仔鸡随机分成4组,每组4个重复,每个重复15只鸡。对照组肉仔鸡饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组肉仔鸡饲喂基础日粮+1 500 mg/kg的单宁酸,试验Ⅱ组肉仔鸡饲喂基础日粮+1 500 mg/kg的单宁酸+300 mg/kg牛至油,试验Ⅲ组肉仔鸡饲喂基础日粮+1 500 mg/kg单宁酸+500 mg/kg牛至油。预试期7 d,正式试验期21 d。结果显示：与对照组相比,试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组肉仔鸡的末重、平均日增重显著提高(P<0.05),各试验组肉仔鸡料重比均显著降低(P<0.05);各试验组肉仔鸡的全净膛率均显著升高(P<0.05),试验Ⅲ组肉仔鸡的半净膛率显著升高(P<0.05);各试验组肉仔鸡的腿肌和胸肌的pH_{45 min}值均显著提高(P<0.05),试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组肉仔鸡的胸肌pH_{24 h}值显著升高(P<0.05);试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组肉仔鸡的剪切力显著降低(P<0.05)。与对照组相比...     

茶多酚对肉仔鸡生产性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响

试验选用2周龄艾维茵商品代肉仔鸡378只，设7个处理组，每个处理设5个重复，每个重复18只，进行饲养试验，预饲3 d，试验期为28 d。对照组饲喂基础日粮，试验1、2、3、4、5、6组在相同基础日粮中分别添加茶多酚70 mg/kg、140 mg/kg、210 mg/kg、630 mg/kg、1050 mg/kg 及1400 mg/kg。试验结束时空腹称重，同时每个重复随机选3只鸡做屠宰试验，分析茶多酚对肉仔鸡的生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响。试验结果表明：①试验各组增重与对照组相比，试验1、2、3组增重均高于对照组，且差异显著(P＜0.05)；试验1、2、3组料重比均低于对照组，但差异不显著(P＜0.05)，试验6组与对照组差异显著(P＜0.05)；②试验各组的屠宰率、全净膛率、半净膛率与对照组之间差异显著(P＜0.05)；③试验2、4、5、6组能够显著地降低肌肉的滴水损失(P＜0.05)，其中试验3组达到极显著的水平(P＜0.01)。结果证明：在日粮中添加茶多酚对肉仔鸡的全期增重和饲料转化率有一定作用但效果不太明显，在日粮中添加茶多酚可改善肉鸡的屠宰性能和肌肉品质。     

纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响

本试验旨在研究纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响.选用1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡192只,随机分为4个组,每个组4个重复,每个重复12只鸡.以添加硫酸锌(含锌80 mg/kg)的口粮为对照组,即A组,添加含锌40、80、120 mg/kg的3个纳米氧化锌水平组为试验组,即B、C、D组,试验期6周.试验结果表明:40 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够显著提高(21、42 d)肉仔鸡血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21、42 d)血清中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.01、P<0.01),减少(21 d)血清中一氧化氮(NO)生成(P<0.05).80 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够极显著提高(42 d)肉仔鸡血清中GSH-Px活性(P<0.01),显著提高(42 d)肝组织中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和T-AOC活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21 d)血清中T-AOC(P<0.01),减少(21、42 d)血清中NO生成(P<0.05、P<0.01),并能提高(42 d)血清抑制羟自由基能力(P<0.05),提高(21 d)肝组织中抗超氧阴离子自由基活性(P<0.05).由此可知,日粮添加纳米氧化锌可在一定程度上提高肉仔鸡机体的抗氧化性能,增强抗氧化酶活性,降低自由基的产生,以40、80 mg/kg添加量效果较佳.     

壳寡糖和丁酸梭菌对肉仔鸡生长性能、血清生化指标及内脏器官相对重的影响

试验旨在研究壳寡糖和丁酸梭菌对AA肉仔鸡生长性能、血清生化指标以及内脏器官相对重的影响。采用2×2双因子试验设计,选取360只1日龄健康AA肉鸡公雏,随机分成4组,每组6个重复,每个重复15只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,壳寡糖组饲喂基础饲粮+150 mg/kg壳寡糖,丁酸梭菌组饲喂基础饲粮+5×10~8cfu/kg丁酸梭菌,复合组饲喂基础饲粮+150 mg/kg壳寡糖+5×10~8cfu/kg丁酸梭菌。试验期为42 d。结果表明:饲粮单独添加壳寡糖或丁酸梭菌或壳寡糖和丁酸梭菌联合使用均显著降低了1～21日龄肉仔鸡的料重比(P0.05);试验组肉仔鸡血清中碱性磷酸酶含量极显著低于对照组(P0.01);与对照组相比,饲粮单独添加壳寡糖或丁酸梭菌均显著降低了肉仔鸡空肠相对重(P0.05)。综上所述,饲粮添加壳寡糖或丁酸梭菌能够促进肉仔鸡的生长发育,但二者联合使用效果不优于二者单独使用效果。     

早期能量限饲对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、内脏器官和胫骨生长的影响

本试验旨在研究8~14日龄能量限饲对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、内脏器官和胫骨生长的影响。选择同一批出雏、健康、体重相近的1日龄AA公雏300只,随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复15只。基础日粮在8~14日龄分别限饲能量0、5%、10%和15%,其余营养水平均满足肉仔鸡生长需求,14、42日龄从各重复中选取1只接近该重复平均体重的鸡屠宰进行测定。结果表明:①从生长性能上看,肉仔鸡8~14日龄限饲能量10%组采食量显著大于其他组(P<0.05),14日龄体重显著大于对照组(P<0.05),限饲能量15%组料重比显著大于其他组(P<0.05),限饲能量10%组15~42日龄采食量显著大于其他组(P<0.05),42日龄体重显著大于其他组(P<0.05);②从屠宰性能上看,8~14日龄能量限饲对肉仔鸡42日龄屠宰性能无显著影响(P>0.05);③从内脏器官上看,早期能量限饲有利于增加肉仔鸡限饲期心脏重量,限饲能量10%组心脏重量显著大于对照组(P<0.05),限饲组腺胃重均显著大于对照组(P<0.05),限饲能量10%组42日龄肌胃重显著大于其他组(P<0.05);④从胫骨生长上看,限饲能量5%组胫骨密度显著大于对照组(P<0.05),其他指标与对照组相比均无显著差异(P>0.05)。提示,肉仔鸡8~14日龄日粮能量适宜限饲水平为10%。     

壳寡糖替代金霉素对肉仔鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响

为了研究壳寡糖替代金霉素对肉仔鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响,本试验选用420只1日龄AA健康肉公雏,平均初始体重为42.9±0.3g。完全随机分为3个处理,每个处理14个重复,每个重复10只鸡。处理组分别为:试验1组为金霉素组,前期添加量为80mg/kg,后期添加量为50mg/kg;试验2组为壳寡糖150组,前后期添加量均为150mg/kg;试验3组为壳寡糖100组,前后期添加量均为100mg/kg。试验日粮采用玉米-豆粕-鱼粉型基础日粮,参照NRC(1998)肉鸡营养标准配制,3个处理基础日粮的能量和蛋白质均保持在同一水平。试验总计42d,分1～3周为试验前期,4～6周为试验后期。分别在21日龄和42日龄时计算肉仔鸡的平均日增重,平均日采食量和饲料利用率。并且每重复随机抽取1只鸡共屠宰42只,测定免疫器官指数、吞噬指数和淋巴细胞转化率。结果表明,壳寡糖在肉仔鸡生长性能方面,0～3周龄时,3个处理组未表现出差异。4～6周龄时,3个处理组肉仔鸡的日增重组间差异显著(P<0.05),日采食量差异趋于显著(P=0.07),而饲料利用率差异并不显著。其中壳寡糖150组和壳寡糖100组肉仔鸡的日增重均比金霉素组高出12.5%,饲料利用率则分别改善了9.4%和6.1%,日采食量也分别比金霉素组提高4.3%和6.83%。在免疫性能方面发现,21日龄时,3个处理组的脾脏指数、法氏囊指数和胸腺指数均差异不显著;42日龄时,3个处理组的脾脏指数差异显著(P<0.05),胸腺指数差异极显著(P<0.01),其中壳寡糖100组的3个免疫器官指数均高于其它2个处理组。通过本试验初步判断,壳寡糖具有与金霉素相似的促生长作用并提高免疫功能,其适宜添加剂量为100mg/kg。     

乳酸菌和酵母菌复合制剂对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能和肠道健康的影响

本试验旨在研究乳酸菌和酵母菌复合制剂(LS)及其与维吉尼亚霉素(VM)联用对爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能和肠道健康的影响。选取1日龄健康AA肉鸡公雏400只,据体重相近原则分为4组,每组5个重复,每重复20只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加30 mg/kg VM(VM组)、15 mg/kg VM+1 000 mg/kg LS(VM+LS组)和1 000 mg/kg LS(LS组)的试验饲粮。试验期42 d。结果表明:1)VM、VM+LS和LS组的42日龄肉仔鸡体重显著高于对照组(P0.05);VM+LS和LS组的22~42和1~42日龄肉仔鸡平均日增重和料重比显著优于对照组(P0.05)。2)VM+LS组的42日龄胸肌率和全净膛率显著高于对照组(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,LS组21日龄空肠黏膜形态显著改善(P0.05),十二指肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度值显著提高(P0.05);VM+LS和LS组42日龄十二指肠和空肠绒毛高度及绒毛高度/隐窝深度值显著提高(P0.05)。4)VM+LS和LS组的42日龄盲肠大肠杆菌数量和大肠杆菌/乳酸杆菌值显著低于对照组(P0.05)。综上,LS及其与VM联合使用均能改善肠道健康,促进肉仔鸡生长。     

不同剂型植酸酶对肉仔鸡生长性能和钙、磷利用率的影响

选用160只1日龄肉仔鸡随机分为4组,每组设4个重复,以正常磷日粮为对照,研究在低磷日粮中分别添加相同剂量(100 g/t)不同剂型植酸酶(粉状、液体状、包被颗粒状)对肉仔鸡生长性能及钙、磷利用率的影响。结果表明:(1)低磷日粮中添加不同剂型植酸酶均可提高肉仔鸡的平均日增重和饲料利用率,包被颗粒状植酸酶添加效果最好;(2)各组胫骨的各项指标差异均不显著(P>0.05);(3)各组血清磷、血清钙、血清碱性磷酸酶差异不显著(P>0.05);(4)与对照组比较,各试验组的总磷表观消化率显著提高(P<0.05),钙、粗蛋白质、干物质表观消化率也均有提高;(5)与对照组比较,各试验组肉仔鸡磷排出量(g/kg采食日粮)分别降低了28.28%、28.97%和32.41%(P<0.05)。由结果可知:在42 d的试验中,包被颗粒状植酸酶对肉仔鸡生长性能及钙磷利用率的作用效果最好,其次是液体状植酸酶,粉状植酸酶的作用效果要次于前两者。     

Concentrations of strontium,barium, cadmium,copper, zinc,manganese, chromium,antimony, selenium,and lead in the liver and kidneys of dogs according to age,gender, and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease

This study was conducted to measure the concentrations of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) in canine liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla, and the association of these concentrations with age, gender, and occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tissues from 50 dogs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cu, Zn, and Mn levels were highest in the liver followed by the renal cortex and renal medulla. The highest Sr, Cd, and Se concentrations were measured in the renal cortex while lower levels were found in the renal medulla and liver. Female dogs had higher tissue concentrations of Sr (liver and renal medulla), Cd (liver), Zn (liver and renal cortex), Cr (liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla), and Pb (liver) than male animals. Except for Mn and Sb, age-dependent variations were observed for all element concentrations in the canine tissues. Hepatic Cd and Cr concentrations were higher in dogs with CKD. In conclusion, the present results provide new knowledge about the storage of specific elements in canine liver and kidneys, and can be considered important reference data for diagnostic methods and further investigations.     

Antibacterial action of combinations of oxytetracycline, dimethyl sulfoxide, and EDTA-tromethamine on Proteus, Salmonella, and Aeromonas

Antibacterial effects against Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Aeromonas hydrophila were obtained with subminimal inhibitory concentrations of oxytetracycline and EDTA-tromethamine. Antibacterial effects were not observed with subminimal inhibitory concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide plus oxytetracycline or with dimethyl sulfoxide plus EDTA-tromethamine. Using a 2-dimensional Microtiter checkerboard technique, inhibitory activities of the various combinations of solutions were studied, and isobolograms were plotted. A synergistic effect was seen with combinations of oxytetracycline and EDTA-tromethamine. The greatest synergistic effect was observed when the mixture was caused to react with P mirabilis. These findings were confirmed by kinetic studies of microbial death, using one-fourth minimal inhibitory concentrations of these preparations.     

Comparative cardiovascular, analgesic, and sedative effects of medetomidine, medetomidine-hydromorphone, and medetomidine-butorphanol in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare sedative, analgesic, and cardiopulmonary effects after IV administration of medetomidine (20 microg/kg), medetomidine-hydromorphone (20 microg of medetomidine/kg and 0.1 mg of hydromorphone/kg), and medetomidine-butorphanol (20 microg of medetomidine/kg and 0.2 mg of butorphanol tartrate/kg) in dogs. ANIMALS: 6 dogs healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURE: Instruments were surgically inserted, and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), central venous pressure (CVP), core body temperature, and cardiac output (CO) were measured 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after injection. Cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were calculated. Arterial samples for blood gas analysis were collected 0, 15, and 45 minutes after injection. Intensity of analgesia, degree of sedation, and degree of muscle relaxation were evaluated at aforementioned time points and 75, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 minutes after injection. RESULTS: Administration of medetomidine, medetomidine-hydromorphone, and medetomidine-butorphanol was associated with increases in SAP, MAP, DAP, MPAP, PCWP, CVP, SVR, PVR, core body temperature, and PaCO2 and decreases in HR, CO, CI, SV, SI, RR, pH, and PaO2. Clinically important differences were not detected among treatments. Medetomidine-hydromorphone and medetomidine-butorphanol provided a longer duration of sedation and better quality of analgesia, compared with medetomidine alone. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Medetomidine-hydromorphone or medetomidine-butorphanol is associated with improved analgesia and sedation but has cardiopulmonary effects comparable to those for medetomidine alone.     

Toxicology of selected pesticides, drugs, and chemicals. Anticoagulant, cholecalciferol, and bromethalin-based rodenticides

The control of rodent pests is a continuing goal of mankind. To this end, a multitude of rodenticides have been produced, each designed to kill rodents by exerting their toxic effects on various body systems. As examples, veterinarians have had to manage companion animal poisonings due to anticoagulant, sodium fluoroacetate (compound 1080), thallium, barium carbonate, and zinc phosphide-based rodenticides. Many of these rodenticides were introduced because of their anticipated safety in relation to nontarget species; unfortunately, this has not been the case. Veterinarians must attempt to identify the specific rodenticide involved in poisoning cases. Therapeutic success in these poisonings is often more dependent upon symptomatic and supportive care rather than the use of antidotal therapy.     

Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and radiography of cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and hyperthyroidism

The echocardiographic, ECG, and radiographic findings of sequentially examined cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 7), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8), and hyperthyroidism (HT, n = 20) were compared with those of healthy control cats (n = 11). Cats with DCM were easily differentiated from healthy cats by echocardiography and from cats with HCM and HT by a dilated left ventricle at end-diastole with a mean +/- SD of 2.20 +/- 0.36 cm, reduced fractional shortening (2.9% +/- 3.7%), reduced aortic amplitude (0.07 +/- 0.05 cm), reduced left ventricular wall amplitude (0.09 +/- 0.09 cm), and increased E-point septal separation (0.83 +/- 0.29 cm). The cats with HCM were most consistently recognized echocardiographically by increased left ventricular wall thickness at end-diastole (0.75 +/- 0.12 cm). Some cats with HT had abnormal echocardiograms with left ventricular wall hypertrophy. These cats could usually be differentiated from the cats with HCM because of normal or increased ventricular wall amplitude, aortic amplitude, or percentage of thickening of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum. Left atrial enlargement (left atrial diameter greater than 1.57 cm or left atrium/aorta greater than 1.75) was commonly detected by the echocardiogram in cats with DCM, HCM, or HT. The echocardiogram was helpful in differentiating the type of cardiomyopathy (DCM, HCM, or HT) when plain thoracic radiographs indicated that cardiomegaly existed. The ECG may have indicated incorrectly that there was left ventricular enlargement in some cats with HT, and it did not indicate consistently that left ventricular enlargement existed when present in cats with DCM or HCM. The ECG was a poor indicator of left atrial enlargement in all cats.     

Comparisons of Angus, Charolais, Galloway, Hereford, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, Salers, and Shorthorn breeds for weight, weight adjusted for condition score, height, and condition score of cows

Breed differences for weight (CW), height (CH), and condition score (CS) were estimated from records (n = 12,188) of 2- to 6-yr-old cows (n = 744) from Cycle IV of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center's Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program. Cows were produced from mating Angus and Hereford dams to Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Galloway, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, and Salers sires. Samples of Angus and Hereford sires were 1) reference sires born from 1962 through 1970 and 2) 1980s sires born in 1980 through 1987. The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breedgroup as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as a linear covariate. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects associated with the cow. Differences among breed groups were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits and were maintained through maturity with few interchanges in ranking. The order of F1 cows for weight was as follows: Charolais (506 to 635 kg for different ages), Shorthorn and Salers, reciprocal Hereford-Angus (HA) with 1980s sires, Nellore, HA with reference sires, Galloway, Piedmontese, and Longhorn (412 to 525 kg for different ages). Order for height was as follows: Nellore (136 to 140 cm), Charolais, Shorthorn, Salers, HA with 1980s sires, Piedmontese, Longhorn, Galloway and HA with reference sires (126 to 128 cm). Hereford and Angus cows with reference sires were generally lighter than those with 1980s sires. In general, breed differences for height followed those for weight except that F1 Nellore cows were tallest, which may in part be due to Bos taurus-Bos indicus heterosis for size.     

Genetic parameters among weight, prolificacy, and wool traits of Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep

Genetic parameters for Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep were estimated using REML with animal models for prolificacy, weight, and wool traits. All bivariate analyses included a covariance between additive genetic effects for the two traits plus appropriate additional covariances. Number of observations by breed ranged from 5,140 to 7,095 for prolificacy traits, from 7,750 to 9,530 for weight traits, and from 4,603 to 34,746 for wool traits. Heritability estimates ranged from .03 to .11 for prolificacy traits (litter size at birth and litter size at weaning), from .09 to .26 for weight traits (birth weight and average daily gain), and from .25 to .53 for wool traits (fleece weight, fleece grade and staple length). Estimates of direct genetic correlations among prolificacy and among weight traits were positive and ranged from .58 to 1.00 and .18 to 1.00, respectively. Estimates of direct genetic correlation between fleece weight and staple length were positive (.50 to .70) but were negative between fleece weight and fleece grade (-.60 to -.34) and between staple length and fleece grade (-.72 and -.40). Prolificacy and wool traits were essentially uncorrelated. Weight and prolificacy traits were slightly positively correlated. Weight traits had a moderate positive direct genetic correlation with fleece weight and staple length, but were uncorrelated with fleece grade. These estimates of genetic parameters between prolificacy, weight, and wool traits can be used to construct multiple-trait selection indexes for dual-purpose sheep.