A rapid and accurate method to identify bovine and ewe milk adulteration of fresh water buffalo mozzarella cheese by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) is described. The differentiation among mozzarella made from water buffalo milk and from mixtures of less expensive bovine and, more recently, ewe milk with water buffalo milk is achi...

Effects of environmental factors such as ewe age, season of exposure, and time from lambing to exposure on fertility were evaluated using records on 1,084 Dorset ewes in the STAR accelerated lambing system. The STAR program consisted of five 30-d concurrent breeding and lambing periods per year beginning on January 1, March 15, May 27, August 8, and October 20. Fertility in the flock changed in...

In many sheep production operations in the Midwestern and Eastern U.S., lambs are managed for maximum body weight gain and fed high-energy diets continuously from shortly after birth until they are marketed as slaughter lambs. Flock owners will replace 20 to 25% of the ewes in their flock each year with ewe lambs raised in their flock or purchased from other producers. Since all lambs in a floc...

Two experiments were conducted to examine effects of d-á-tocopherol (vitamin E) on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers and preweaning lamb performance. Trial 1 consisted of 86 Suffolk ewes receiving either no vitamin E (control) or 1500 IU vitamin E on d-28 prepartum. From the 86 ewes, a subset of 25 ewes was randomly chosen for an intensive analysis of ewe serum and colostrum IgG and lamb ...

Abstract United States seedstock sheep producers have selected for higher weaning and post-weaning weights using estimated breeding values approximately forty years. Despite this, little work has investigated if the increased performance inadvertently resulted in feed intakes, increasing total costs producer. Eighty range-breed ewe lambs (forty Targhee Rambouillet) were enrolled a residual inta...

Ewe deaths affect the productivity and profitability in sheep farming systems have potential animal welfare market perception implications. Internationally, there is scant data on timing causes of ewe extensive grazing systems. There no published literature incidence risk factors associated with casting (ewe late gestation accidentally immobilised, often dorsal recumbency). This study, undertak...

The present study was conducted to investigate the attributes of ram sexual behaviour under different social conditions. Six intact rams and eight overiectomized ewes were used in this experiment. Ewes were artificially brought into oestrus. All mating traits were recorded every 10 sec during a 1 h mating session under five social conditions viz., ram exposed to single oestrus ewe, ram exposed ...

Introduction: Gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) has been known as a key inhibitor of the secretion of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Ewe has estrous cycles comprising of follicular and luteal phases. Follicular phase is in turn divided into proestrous and estrous phases. Blood level of LH increases in follicular and decreases in luteal phases. The aim of the present study was to...