A qualitative enzymeimmunoassay kit (Ovucheck cowside W ; Denka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd) for detecting progesterone in milk was adapted to determination of serum progesterone concentrations in ewes. Serum progesterone concentrations were judged to be one among three grades. Statistically significant correlation between these judgements by the qualitative assay and values determined by a quantitative enzymeimmunoassay using the same serum samples was demonstrated. Assay procedure of this kit was simple and convenient, and the result of assay was obtained within 1 hour after blood sampling. This qualitative assay kit was judged to be useful for monitoring serum progesterone concentrations during the oestrus cycle in ewes at a field

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Fifteen Suffolk ewes carrying twin fetuses were offered 0.6% live weight of concentrate at the basis of dry matter during last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Ewes were individually penned indoors on slatted wooden floors. All ewes gave birth to sound twin lambs. After lambing, seven ewes were offered 1.9%concentrate during first 8 weeks of lactation, and 0.9% concentrate during last 9 weeks of lactation (group HL). Eight ewes were offered 1.3% concentrate during the early lactation, and 1.5%concentrate during the last lactation (group MM). Ewes were offered ammoniated rice straw ad libitum from late pregnancy through into lactation. Lambs were offered starter from 2 weeks of age, and ammoniated rice straw from 8 weeks of age.
Dry matter intakes of ammoniated rice straw were 0.8, 1.2 and 1.5%of body weight during late pregnancy, early and last lactation respectively. During late pregnancy, there were no differences in total intakes of crude protein and total digestible nutrients between two groups. These nutrient intakes of the ewes were higher for group HL compared with group MM during early lactation, and were higher for group MM compared with group HL during last lactation. In both groups, 3-hydroxybutyrate concentration in the plasma increased during late pregnancy until lambing and then declined throughout lactation. The rate of live weight loss in ewes was greater for group MM during early lactation, and were greater for group HL during last lactation. Two groups of ewes had similar average live weight at 17 weeks post-partum. The lambs of group MM had higher daily gain during 9 to 17 weeks of age, but the lambs of group HL and MM had similar average live weight at 17 weeks of age (36.2 and 39.2kg respectively).
With the levels of concentrate used in this experiment, the change of concentrate level during lactation had no appreciable effect on the live weight of ewes and lambs at 17 weeks post-partum.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Examination was made of the response of sheep to pasturing, sheep locations and body sites from which blood samples were taken. The sheep were under the supervision of a caretaker to maintain herd form.
When moving from the pasture to sleep locations, supervision consisted in returning stray sheep to the herd rather than directing attention to each individual.
Prior to taking blood samples, the sheep were made to enter a small building to be quieted and calmed by the tapping of a stick on the floor or by body gestures of the caretaker. Sheep were made to stay close to the herd by the caretaker.

View full abstract