Reproductive performance of three fat-tailed breeds of sheep mated to native,Corriedale and Targhee rams

Summary Reproduction and lamb production of three fat-tailed, carpet-wool Iranian breeds of sheep; Karakul (130 ewes), Mehraban (103) and Baluchi (119) were studied. The ewes were mated either as purebreds or with Corriedale or Targhee rams. The overall least-squares means for ewes mated (showed oestrus) or ewes exposed, ewes lambed or ewes mated, lambs born of ewes lambing (prolificacy), lambs born alive of total lambs born, lambs weaned of live lambs born, lambs weaned (75 days of age) of ewes mated, kg lamb weaned per ewe mated and kg lamb weaned per 100 kg ewe mated were 98.3%, 93.5%, 103.1%, 94.9%, 97.8%, 90.0%, 18.2 kg and 38.4 kg respectively. The native breeds were not different for any of the traits studied except for prolificacy which was higher in Mehraban than in Karakul. Purebred matings did not differ from the crossbred matings for any of the traits concerning the number of lambs but crossbreeding improved kg lamb weaned per ewe mated (9.2%, P=0.08) and kg lamb weaned per 100 kg ewe mated (10.0%, P<0.05). Among the three native breeds Karakul showed the largest improvement when crossed with the exotic rams for the traits concerning kg lambs weaned. Corriedale and Targhee rams had similar effects on all the traits studied. A lower percentage of virgin ewes showed oestrus, had a lower twinning rate and productivity compared with the mature ones. Sex was not a significant source of variation in lamb livability.

---

Desempeño Reproductivo De Tres Razas Cola Gruesa De Ovejas Apareadas Con Moruecos Nativos, Corridale Y Targhee

Resumen Se estudiaron la reproducción y producción de corderos iraníes de tres razas fat-tailed (Cola gruesa o grasosa) productores de lana para carpetas: Karakul (130 ovejas), Mehraban (103) y Baluchi (119). Las ovejas fueron apareadas como puras, o con moruecos Corridale o Targhee. Las medias mínimas cuadradas para ovejas apareadas (que mostraron estro) de ovejas expuestas, ovejas paridas de ovejas apareadas, corderos nacidos de ovejas paridas (prolificidad), corderos nacidos vivos del total de corderos nacidos, corderos destetados de corderos nacidos vivos, corderos destetados (75 días de edad) de ovejas apareadas, kg de cordero destetado por oveja apareada y kg de cordero destetado por 100 kg de oveja apareada, fueron: 98.3%, 93.5%, 103.1%, 94.9%, 97.8%, 90.0%, 18.2 kg y 38.4 kg respectivamente. Las razas nativas no fueron diferentes en ninguna de las características estudiadas, excepto por le prolificidad la cual fue mayor en Mehraban, que en Karakul. El apareamiento de razas puras, no difirió de los apareamientos cruzados para cualquiera de las características estudiadas concernientes con el número de corderos, pero el cruzamiento mejoró los kg. de cordero destetado por oveja apareada (9.2%,p<0.08) y kg de cordero destetado por 100 kg de oveja apareada (10.0%,P<0.05). De las tres razas nativas, la Karakul fue superior cuando se cruzó con las razas exóticas en lo concerniente a las características kg de cordero destetado. Las razas Corriedale y Targhee tuvieron efectos similares en todas las características estudiadas. Un bajo porcentaje de ovejas vírgenes ciclaron regularmente, tuvieron un porcentaje bajo de mellizos y productividad en general, comparada con las ovejas maduras. El sexo no fue una fuente significativa de variabilidad, en la supervivencia de los corderos.

---

Performances De Reproduction De Trois Races De Moutons À Queue Grasse Accouplées À Des Locales, Corriedale Et Targhee

Résumé La reproduction et la production d'agneaux de 3 races iranienes à queue grasse élevées pour la production de laine à tapis: karakul (130 brebis), Mehraban (103) et Baluchi (119) furent étudiées; Les brebis furent accouplées soit en race pure soit avec des béliers Corriedale ou Targhee; Les moyennes estimées par la méthode des moindres carrés de l'ensemble des brebis accouplées (oestrus visible) par rapport aux brebis exposées; des brebis agnelant par rapport aux brebis accouplées, des agneaux nés par rapport aux brebis agnelant (prolificité); des agneaux nés vivants sur les nés totaux, des agneaux sevrés sur les nés vivants, des agneaux sevrés par brebis accouplée, et du kg d'agneau sevré par 100 kg de brebis accouplées étaient 98,3%; 93,5%, 103,1%, 94,9%, 97,8%, 90,0%, 18; 2 kg et 38,4 kg respectivement. Les races natives n'étaient pas différentes pour les autres caractères étudiés excepté pour la prolificité qui était plus élevée en Mehraban qu'en Karakul. Les accouplements en race pure ne différaient pas des croisements pour tous les caractères concernant le nombre d'agneaux mais le croisement améliorait les kg d'agneaux sevrés par 100 kg de brebis accouplée (9,2%P=0,08) et les kg sevrés par 100 kg de brebis accouplée (10,0%P<0,05). Parmi les 3 races natives, la Karakul montrait l'amélioration la plus grande lorsque croisée avec les béliers exotiques pour les caractères concernant les kg d'agneaux sevrés. Les béliers Corriedale et Targhee avaient des effets similaires sur tous les caractères étudiés. Un plus faible pourcentage de brebis vierges à oestrus visible, avait un plus faible taux de jumeaux et de productivité comparé aux brebis matures. Le sexe n'était pas une source significative de variation dans la viabilité des agneaux.

     

Soil mixing in the East Anglian fens

Abstract. Experiments were started in 1967 to investigate the effects of soil mixing on fen peat soil. Peaty topsoil was mixed with mineral subsoil to a maximum depth of 80 cm at two sites, one with a clay subsoil, the other sand. Mixing was done on a commercial scale with a range of implements. After initial increases, yields of arable crops on both mixed soils were subsequently similar to those on unmixed soil. Residual herbicide activity was enhanced on mixed soils, and evidence of peat conservation was obtained at one site. The practice has not been taken up commercially because of the high capital cost of mixing and lack of serious problems which had been predicted following peat wastage.     

Cross protection studies on Bordetella bronchiseptica in mice using an intracerebral challenge model.

Protective activities of heat-inactivated (60 degrees C for 30 min) merthiolate preserved Bordetella bronchiseptica and B. pertussis bacterins were compared in intraperitoneally immunized mice challenged intracerebrally (i.p./i.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p./i.p.). In the i.p./i.c. assay (Kendrick test), a B. pertussis bacterin protected mice against challenge with B. pertussis 18-323, as well as against phase I cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic strains of B. bronchiseptica. A B. bronchiseptica bacterin, prepared from a phase I cytotoxic strain, gave protection against two phase I B. bronchiseptica strains, irrespective of their cytotoxin-production. A non-cytotoxic phase I strain of B. bronchiseptica elicited protection against the homologous strain only. Neither cytotoxic nor non-cytotoxic B. bronchiseptica strains protected mice challenged with B. pertussis 18-323. Vaccines prepared from phase III strains of B. bronchiseptica were not protective at all against any of the challenge strains. No such differences in the protective activities of the bacterins could be detected by the i.p./i.p. method. They seem to cross-protect equally well. The results indicate that the Kendrick test may be useful in testing potency of different B. bronchiseptica bacterins.     

Synchronization of estrus in dairy goats given norgestomet and estradiol valerate at various stages of the estrous cycle.

Dairy goats were given subcutaneous implants with 3 mg of norgestomet (NOR) and IM injections of 0.625 mg of estradiol valerate and 0.375 mg of norgestomet on day 0 of the estrous cycle (estrus; NOR 0, n = 18), on postestrus day 4 (NOR 4, n = 18), or on postestrus day 11 (NOR 11, n = 15). Ear implants were removed after 9 days. Mean (+/- SE) hours from removal of ear implants to onset of estrus and proportion of goats responding were 36 +/- 3.8 and 83%, 33 +/- 4.0 and 61%, and 36 +/- 2.7 and 93% for groups NOR 0, NOR 4, and NOR 11, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in time to onset of estrus. The percentage of goats in group NOR 11 that had signs of estrus was significantly greater than the percentage of goats in group NOR 4. Of the goats in groups NOR 0, NOR 4, and NOR 11 that had signs of estrus, 53, 55, and 86%, respectively, had onset of behavioral estrus between 24 and 48 hours after implant removal. All goats that had signs of estrus had onset of behavioral estrus between 12 and 72 hours after implant removal. Mean (+/- SE) hours from removal of ear implants to time of peak concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) were 49 +/- 4.1, 49 +/- 3.8, and 49 +/- 4.0 for groups NOR 0, NOR 4, NOR 11, respectively (not different). The percentage of goats in group NOR 11 that had LH peaks was significantly greater than the percentage of goats in group NOR 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)