The relationships between genotype and placental traits, parity and litter weight (LW), and factors affecting these characteristics were investigated in this study. In total, 112 ewes (Romanov crossbred and local breeds) were utilized. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical comparison, and a Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationships between the variables. Significant differenc...

Heritability for incidence of entropion was estimated in an experimental flock of purebred (Columbia (C), Polypay (P), Rambouillet (R), Suffolk (S), and Targhee (T)) and crossbred (from matings of Finnsheep rams with C, R and T ewes, from Merino X R matings, and from miscellaneous other matings) lambs. Data from 1986 to 1994 which included 39 440 records were analyzed using a multiple trait REM...

The effects of (i) herbage allowance, (ii) frequency of allocation and (iii) grass silage feed value on ewe and lamb performance were studied in mid-gestation ewes. Furthermore, the effects of (i) herbage allowance, (ii) frequency of allocation and (iii) grazing date and their interactions on subsequent herbage yield and feed value were also evaluated. Swards, which had a cut of silage removed ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Spirulina supplementation, sire breed and sex on the wool characteristics of purebred and crossbred Merino weaned lambs under a single pasture-based management system. Lambs sired by Merino, White Suffolk, Dorset, Black Suffolk breeds were randomly allocated into 3 treatments – the control group grazing without Spirulina (0 mL), low (100...

The sources of variation of health claimable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA+docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) in 2000 Australian lambs were investigated using 98 sires (Merino, maternal or terminal breeds) that were mated to about 5000 Merino or crossbred (Border Leicester×Merino) ewes. Pasture was supplemented with feedlot pellets, grains or hay as necessary, when the...

A Texel muscling quantitative trait locus (TM-QTL) has been identified on chromosome 18, which increases loin muscling, but may also have a negative impact on mechanically-measured loin tenderness in crossbred lambs, depending on conditioning time. This study investigated the influence of a range of conditioning times (3, 5, 7 or 9 days) on the effect of TM-QTL on loin muscle tenderness. Using ...

Large offspring syndrome (LOS) may be initiated in ovine embryos after exposure to in vitro conditions. The objective of this study was to compare various parameters of the gravid uterus on day 140 after fertilization: (i) in ewes (n=4) bred naturally, and in ewes (n=18) after transfer of embryos produced in vitro, and (ii) in single, twin and triplet pregnancies after transfer of in vitro prod...