In five ovine fetuses 1-day-old and 2-day-old the cleavage line patterns of the skin were demonstrated for the entire body by a metal probe with a sharp conical point. Wounds were painted with Indian ink. Directionality of running of the cleavage lines was determined from their relationship to the long axis of each physical structure.
The cleavage lines in the skin of the head and face revealed a fixed pattern in all specimens. A transverse pattern was found on the skin of the neck, trunk (dorsum and flank), tail and free extremities of the appendages. A clear longitudinal arrangement was observed in the skin of following median parts ; the naso-upper and lower lips, the cranial half of the frontal region, the dorso-caudal one-third of the neck, the interscapular area, the sacral region, the gluteal region, the manubrium sterin, and the abdominal region. Cleavage lines showed a longitudinal pattern on the skin of the scrotum and the phalanges. Individual or sexual differences were found in the skin of the neck, the interscapulae, manubrium sterni, and abdomen.
A semicircular arrangement was observed on the skin of the prepuce and pudendum. Cleavage lines were annular in arrangement on the skin around the face, eyes, auricular root, umbilicus, and udder.
Some aspects of the skin tension were compared between the newborn sheep and kids or certain other animals.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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Sixteen Suffolk ewes, each carrying two lambs, were divided into three groups and individually offered each of three rice straws ad libitum throughout the last six weeks of pregnancy : untreated (RS), treated with anhydrous ammonia (3% of dry weight of straw) (ARS), and treated with ammonia after pressured steam (8 kg.cm^-2 for 10 min.) treatment (SARS). Ewes were offered 0.6% body weight of concentrate on the basis of dry matter.
Ammonia treatment of straw increased dry matter intake from 0.46 to 0.79 kg/day. Ammonia treatment after steam treatment of straw increased dry matter intake from 0.46 to 0.93 kg day. Total intake of crude protein and total digestible nutrients in ewes offered RS was lower than that offered ARS or SARS (P<0.01). Crude protein intake as a percentage of NRC requirements (1985) was 57, 85 and 96% in ewes offered RS, ARS and SARS, respectively. Total digestible nutrients intake as a percentage of NRC requirements was 46, 66 and 68% in ewes offered RS, ARS and SARS, respectively.
The daily gain of ewes offered RS (0.08 kg) was lower than for those offered ARS (0.22 kg) or SARS (0.24 kg) (P<0.01). However, there were no significant effects of late pregnancy treatments on lamb birth weights.
The concentration of serum free fatty acid in ewes offered RS was elevated relative to those offered ARS or SARS, indicating more mobilization from the body's fat stores.

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Variation in herd form, movement speed and degree of aggregating were examined using two herds each consisting of 18 Suffolk ewes. They grazed on two adjoining pastures within a meadow of about 0.5 a in area under the same grass growth conditions.
Change in herd shape form was approximately 47% on pastures I and II. Each herd moved within its pasture, herd form became circular, participating members being 46.3% in pastures I and 44.7% in pasture II.
Mean herd speed was faster in pasture II (1.01±0.75 m/min) than pasture I (0.61±0.53 m/min). During a period of 40 to 50 min, there was tendency for herd speed to be fast and then slow down. This was noted only on the first day in which the ewes were put in the pastures.
No significant correlation between herd form and movement speed could be found. The relation between herd form and movement speed appears to be a special feature of the herd.
The degree of aggregating was from 4.4 to 7.1 ewes in number per herd, with the passage of time, smaller groups of 3 to 4 members formed.
A time lag was observed in the correlation between herd form variation and movement speed, indicating herd movement not to occur until form had been decided on. One hour after the ewe herds had been put in the grazing pasture, the time lag in the cross-correlation coefficient was quite large, r = 0.97 in pasture I at 50 minutes and r = 0.92 in pasture II at 55 minutes. That the cumulative time lags of the subgroups contributed to increase in the total time lag of the herd was considered the reason for this.
Sensible temperature at the times of aggregating was 2° more than the dry bulb temperature at a relative humidity exceeding 80%. The temperature of the environment had greater influence on thermoregulatory than relative humidity. This was one of the reasons for aggregating.

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[in Japanese]

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This experiment was carried out to examine the effect of feeding of high concentrate ration supplemented propionate on the feed utilization and the characteristics of blood plasma by using eight castrated sheep. The ratio of concentrate to roughage (grass hay) was 8 : 2 on dry matter basis and propionic acid was supplemented 75% of physiological level. The experimental animals were kept for 6 months with feeding 37.5 g/body weight (kg) ^0.75/day of TDN.
Propionate supplement led to improve the feed utilization ; i.e. daily gain was more and feed conversion ratio was lower in propionate feeding than in control feeding. Insulin in blood plasma (μU/ml) increased suddenly from 14.5, pre-feeding to 64.9, at 30 minutes after feeding by propionate supplement. Glucose concentrations were not different between both treatments, though showing a direct decrease and a gradual increase during 6 hours after feeding in both treatments. FFA concentration changed lower level in propionate supplement than in control ration after feeding. It was thought to be related with insulin rise that propionic acid of blood plasma VFA increased rapidly till 1 hour after feeding in the case of propionate supplement.
In case of high concentrate ration, propionate supplementation would improve feed utilization because insulin secretion accelerate the assimilation in the body.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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