Mature Suffolk ewes were either actively or passively immunized against the synthetic fragment of porcine inhibin alpha, pI alpha(1-30), to determine the effects on gonadotrophin secretion and ovulation rate. Thirteen control ewes were immunized against human serum albumin, 12 ewes were actively immunized against pI alpha(1-30) and 36 ewes were passively immunized with pI alpha(1-30) antiserum....

Yearling ewes (n = 32) were used in a 2x2x2 factorial experiment to determine effects of breed (Targhee vs. Suffolk), energy intake (1x vs. 3x NEm requirements, and physiological status (nonpregnant, nonlactating vs. lactating) on serum GH, insulin, NEFA, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations. Blood collections were made in two periods that began 21 and 32 d after ewes lambed. L...

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) increases ovine interferon-tau (oIFNtau) secretion by ovine conceptuses, but endometrial production of GM-CSF has not been characterized. Endometrial GM-CSF expression was evaluated in ovariectomized ewes implanted with estradiol-17beta (E(2)) and/or progesterone (P(4)) for 14 days, in day 14 cyclic and day 14 pregnant ewes. Relative lev...

Wool grown by ewes with chronic lupinosis, induced by injections of phomopsins, was compared to that grown by control ewes and by ewes pair-fed to the feed intake of the phomopsin-treated ewes, during and after the period of phomopsin administration. Wool growth was not different between the groups during treatment. Fibre diameter and length of wool grown by the phomopsin-treated ewes were redu...

For Border Leicester x Merino ewes joined in October in their normal anoestrous period at 5 and 8 weeks post partum, the percentages raddled by rams within seven days after sponge removal were 78 and 82. The percentages of ewes with fertilised eggs (of raddled ewes yielding eggs) were 27 and 70. In Merino ewes joined at 4 and 8 weeks post partum, in July, the percentages of raddled ewes were 97...

Two trials were conducted to determine whether feeding excess degradable intake protein (DIP) during a synchronized estrous cycle and the first 5 d after breeding alters early embryonic development, ovarian steroids, or BUN concentrations in ewes. Ewes were group-fed in Trial 1 (T1) and individually fed in Trial 2 (T2) either 100 (control; T1, n = 15; T2, n = 12) or 200% (high-protein; T1, n = ...

This study included 6 groups of pregnant ewes with a change-over design. In period 1 group 1, 2 and 3 had access to the water nipples 4, 5 bowls vice versa in 2. all six both types dispensers. The ewes’ intake was significantly higher when drinking only from (3.27 ± 0.29 l/ewe day) than (2.04 0.22 (F = 78.28, P < 0.001). wastage for 36% usage negligible bowls. When offered dispensers ewes' tend...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify values for net acid base excretion (NABE) which are significant indicators of the acid-base equilibrium in pregnant and young ewes and to show its relationship with other parameters (base, acid, ammonium [NH4], base-acid quotient, sodium [Na], potassium [K], calcium [Ca]) in ovine urine. In contrast to dairy cows, data are rare on these parame...

Cumulative lifetime (five lamb crops) lamb production and wool production of 681 ewes were evaluated in this study. Lamb production and wool production from each ewe at the end of age 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 yr were added to the previous year's production and analyzed within age of ewe. If a ewe failed to lamb, died, or was culled, it received a zero for that year and subsequent years. Main effects i...

Abrupt weaning, a usual management in sheep productive systems, may provoke behavioural and physiological responses indicative of stress in ewes and lambs. Progesterone (P4) has anxiolytic and sedative effects through the union of its metabolites that contain 3α-hydroxyl group to the γ-aminobutyricacidA receptor. Our first aim was to determine whether P4 administration reduces the behavioural a...