A 3-yr study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate Columbia, Suffolk, USMARCComposite (Composite), and Texel breeds as terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system. The objective was to estimate breed-of-ram effects on ewe fertility, prolifi cacy, and dystocia, and sire breed effects on lamb survival and growth until weaning at approximately 132 d of age. Data were from 22 Col...

A 3-yr study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate Columbia, Suffolk, USMARC-Composite (Composite), and Texel breeds as terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system. The objective was to estimate breed-of-ram effects on ewe fertility, prolificacy, and dystocia, and sire breed effects on lamb survival and growth until weaning at approximately 132 d of age. Data were from 22 Col...

Multiparous Suffolk and Suffolk-cross ewes were randomly allotted to treatments within breed and year to measure effects of ram exposure, during transition from anestrus to breeding activity, on reproductive performance. Treatments were: 1) ewes joined with two mature vasectomized Rambouillet rams for 15 d before breeding (DC), 2) ewes maintained across a net wire fence from two vasectomized ra...

A statistic to measure the level of connectedness achieved among flocks would help producers to assess the risk of comparing EBV of animals from different flocks. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the pattern of change over time in selected connectedness measures and to determine how effectively these measures quantify the level of risk due to potential bias in EBV comparisons ac...

Carcass composition, muscle fatty acids and eating quality of loin chops were examined in ram lambs from four diverse breed × production system groups: pure Welsh Mountain off upland flora, pure Soays off lowland grass, Suffolk crosses off lowland grass and Suffolk crosses off concentrates. The two Suffolk groups had heavier and better muscled carcasses than the others and Soays were particular...

The purpose of this study was to characterize testicular development in D'Man ram lambs, focusing primarily on androgen receptors (ARs) immunolocalization in the adenohypophysis and testis that is not still known in the D'Man ram lamb. Lambs (n = 12) were divided into four groups (three lambs per group). Adenohypophysis and testis were fixed and paraffin embedded; cross-section (3 μm) were stai...

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of milk replacer and rumen inert fat on growth, testicular development, puberty, semen production and sperm motion characteristics of ram lambs reared under intensive management in semi-arid climatic conditions. Seven-day-old male lambs of Malpura breed (n=20) were divided equally into two groups. Up to weaning, the lambs in G1 group (contro...

The study aimed at examining the hematological and biochemical profiles of Wonosobo sheep blood in various physiological conditions. There were 32 conditions, including 17 ewe lamb 1-2 months age, 5 pregnant female 12-48 age 3 pregnancy, second lactation period ram age. Each was put individual sheepfold given Pakchong-1 grass, dried kangkong, concentrate. Drinking water ad libitum. Blood sample...

E ACH year in the central valley of California, about 10% of the breeding ewes fail to lamb. In certain years the percentage of "dry ewes" in individual flocks may be higher. Available information indicates that the problem may be environmental in nature, because a high percentage of the nonlambing ewes produce lambs in subsequent years. Because ram fertility may influence breeding efficiency u...

The effects of photoperiod (8 hr light: 16 hr dark [8L:16D] or 16L:8D) on performance of growing-finishing lambs were evaluated in an experiment with 24 rams and 24 wethers. All lambs were caged in groups of two in a controlled environment and fed a pelleted diet ad libitum for the duration of the study (10 to 22 weeks of age). Performance and carcass data showed that both photoperiod and sex o...