• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.29-35
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• 1995

A selection experiment with Romney Marsh sheep was used to evaluate correlated responses to selection. The selected flock was formed in 1979 by the Romney Group Breeders where selection was for prolificacy, defined as the number of live lambs born per ewe joined per year and a randomly selected control flock was established in 1982. Selection for prolificacy resulted in (i) increased ewe fertility, (ii) increased ewe ovulation rate, (iii) increased ewe litter size, (iv) decreased ewe body weight, (v) decreased lamb birth weight and (vi) decreased lamb 8-week weight. The rates of correlated responses per year respectively for ewe fertility, ewe ovulation rate, ewe litter size, ewe body weight, lamb birth weight and lamb 8-week weight were 0.033(0.002), 0.043(0.016), 0.019(0.005), -0.017(0.066), -0.055(0.025) and -0.150(0.057).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.408-415
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• 1997

Data from 5,311 ewes and 13,076 lambing from 1977 through 1994 were used to analyse both annual and cumulative outputs in terms on total number of lambs born, total lamb weight weaned and total wool produced per ewe for ewe longevity 1 to 8 depending on their productive life in the flock. Ewes at Khushab produced 0.08 more lambs per parturition than ewes at Khizerabad; however, 0.39 less lambs were weaned at Khushab than at Khizerabad. Similarly, cumulative number of lambs born was more at Khushab flock than Khizerabad flock (p < .01). However, total weight of lambs weaned was greater at Khizerabad than Khushab flock (p < .01) for each ewe longevity. Most ewes (35%) were sold/replaced just after their first parturition (i. e. ewe longevity 1). The overall mean for annual sale/replacement was 32 and 23% at Khushab and Khizerabad, respectively. Distribution of growth and reproductive traits from 1977-94 did not show upward or downward trend inspite of heavy sale/replacement except yearly variation. Lack of any genetic progress over the year suggested that random breeding was employed without any scientific selection programme. Annual means for lambs born, lambs weaned and weight of lambs weaned per ewe present in the flock were the highest for ewe longevity 2 compared with other ewe longevity groups. Relative efficiency in terms of net income was highest for ewe longevity 5 followed by ewe longevity 4 and 6 in both flocks.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.858-861
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• 2018

The freemartinism syndrome affects almost all female calves born as co-twins to male calves, whereas little is known about this phenomenon in female sheep. Within this context, 1,185 ewe-lambs from the Ripollesa sheep breed were genotyped for the presence of oY1 polymorphism (a non-autosomal region of the Y chromosome). Neither ewe-lambs from single births (856) nor ewe-lambs from all-female multiple births (170) were revealed as freemartins, whereas five of 159 ewe-lambs from multiple births with male co-twins were freemartins ($3.15{\pm}1.38%$). All freemartin ewe-lambs were confirmed by physical examination of external genitalia. The results confirm a low incidence of freemartinism from heterosexual twin pregnancies in Ripollesa sheep.

• 약학회지
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.666-670
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• 1995

The plasmin activity of euglobulin fraction treated with earthworm extract(EWE) increased concentration dependently when EWE(0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg each) were added to normal plasma. It was shown that lumbrokinase in EWE may be moved to euglobulin fraction and activated plasminogen. Also anticoagulation and fibbrinolysis were studied when EWE(7.5, 30 and 120 mg/kg) were added to rat model. Prothrombin time (PT) were 19.7${\pm}$ 3.8, 22.5${\pm}$ 2.5 and 24.5${\pm}$ 5.0sec. activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were 25.7${\pm}$ 5.9, 28.7${\pm}$ 5.2 and 36.5${\pm}$ 19.1 sec. After 15 days, the production of D-dimer were 242.3${\pm}$ 47.4, 250.0${\pm}$ 11.9 and 205.8${\pm}$ 12.2mg/ml plasma, respectively. These data showed that EWE acted on the coagulation factor of intrinsic and extrinsic system.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.19-28
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• 2018

Objectives : Epimedii Herba has been frequently used in Korean Traditional Medicine to treat impotence, spermatorrhoea, exophthalmos, and forgetfulness. Present study investigated anti-inflammatory effects of Epimedii Herba water extract (EWE) and attempted to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved. Methods : To explore anti-inflammatory effects of EWE, RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were pretreated with $10-100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of EWE, and then subsequently exposed to $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were monitored in the medium. Expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 were determined by immunoblot and real-time PCR analyses. Signaling pathways related with nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinases were monitored to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved. Finally, the role of three flavonoid compounds in EWE on LPS-mediated NO production were investigated. Results : In conditioned medium, pretreatment of EWE ($100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In addition, EWE attenuated the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 by LPS. EWE prevented the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$, nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and DNA binding of $NF-{\kappa}B$, while EWE did not change the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by LPS. Moreover, icariin, icaritin, and quercetin partly, but significantly, inhibited the LPS-stimulated NO production. Conclusions : These results suggest that EWE has an ability to prevent inflammation in macrophages through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.11-14
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• 2003

To evaluate the ewe reproductive performances of three Iranian local sheep breeds, namely Moghani, Chal and Zel, 27 rams and 473 ewes were used as the foundation flock in a crossbreeding program. The three breeds were crossed amongst themselves reciprocally. Ram breed and ewe breed showed a two-way interaction on apparent fertility. The Zel ewes showed higher fertility than the Chal and Moghani ewes (94.4 vs 77.3 and 84.6%). Prolificacy among main and individual mating groups were not significantly different (p>0.05). Zel ewes were 22.3 and 14.8% more reproductive (p<0.05) than Chal and Moghani ewes, respectively. Zel and Moghani ewes showed higher (p<0.05) ewe productivity than Chal ewes. Ram breed had a significant (p<0.05) effect on ewe efficiency. The Zel rams were not completely successful to mate with Chal ewes, this caused a to way-interaction between ram and ewe breeds. The Zel ewes mated with Chal and Moghani rams showed 26.1 and 28.5% more efficiency than those mated with Zel rams. This observation strongly supports the use of crossbreeding to improve the efficiency of the Zel ewes. With decreasing lamb mortality, through supplemented feeding of lambs in pre-weaning period, and increasing litter weight, through crossbreeding, it should be possible to improve the efficiency of Zel ewes even better than Chal and Moghani ewes. Small body size of Zel ewes that needs the lower maintenance requirements would be a well advantageous to using Zel ewes as the dam herd to produce commercial lambs in north area of Iran.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.463-469
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• 2005

An attempt was made to analyze the factors affecting mating performance of rams in pen mating systems. Due to many types of social interactions, mating performance of rams may decrease or increase. Six intact Muzaffarnagari rams were used and divided into three dominant subordinate pairs by food and ewe competition test. For dominant rams subordinate ram became competitor and vice versa. In the first experiment, ram was exposed to ewe but the competitor ram was kept outside the pen with the facility of visibility only. In the second experiment each ram was exposed to ewe along with the competitor ram and in third experiment ram was exposed to ewes (two) along with competitor ram in observation pen. Recordings of different mating and agonistic behaviour were done in all the experiments. It was found that subordinate ram's mating behaviour was inhibited by mere presence of a dominant ram out side without physical contact. However, when ram exposed to oestrus ewe(s) along with competitor ram, both dominant and subordinate rams spent much of their time in guarding activities instead of mating. In addition dominant ram tried to curtail the subordinate ram mating by agonistic interaction like fight and butting. Different guarding activities were observed either as active or passive type depending on level of dominanace. It was concluded that in a limited space the interaction of two or more rams might affect the number of services adversely.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.112-118
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• 2007

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 to single oestrus ewe and audience ram, ram exposed to multiple oestrus ewes, ram exposed to single oestrus ewe with competitor ram and ram exposed to multiple oestrus ewes with competitor ram. Mean intensity of the mating activities during the 1 h mating session under five social conditions was compared. Either vocalization or leg kicking was found to be the predominant teasing activity under all five conditions. Sniffing differed significantly (p<0.05) between different social conditions. Vocalization, leg kicking, and leg kicking with vocalization did not differ significantly (p<0.05) between different social conditions. Mounts/h in the multiple oestrus ewe condition was higher and differed significantly (p<0.05) from other social conditions. Ejaculations/h for the experimental ram was higher when exposed to multiple oestrus ewes in comparison to other social conditions. Mounts/ejaculation was low in the audience ram condition in comparison to the other four social conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.61-67
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• 1999

Data from 22837 lambings of Lohi and Kajli ewes from 1962 through 1994 were used to analyse productive and reproductive traits and wool production, Overall litter size at birth averaged 1.33 being 1.45 for Lohi and 1.21 for Kajli ewes. The corresponding values at weaning were 1.23, 1.32 and 1.14, respectively. Litter size was consistently lowest for one year old, with a substantial increase at two, three and four years of ewe age and marginal increase thereafter, Ewes lambing in spring weaned 0.08 more lambs per parturition than ewes lambed in Autumn (p<0,01). Lamb birth weights were affected by ewe breed (p<0.01) and increased with ewe age. Overall lamb weaning weight (120 d) of 17993 lambs was 20.3 kg. Weaning weight was affected by breed, sire, year of birth, sex, rearing rank and weaning age (p<0.01). The highest mean weaning weight was 21.9 kg for Lohi lambs followed by Kajli lambs (18.8 kg), Lambs from Kajli ewes were 9% heavier at birth but 14% lighter at weaning. Twin born lambs were 18% lighter at birth and 13% at weaning than single born lambs. Male lambs were 3% heavier at birth and 4.5% heavier at weaning than female lambs. Overall annual mean wool production was 2,64 kg, Kajli ewes were heavier at breeding than Lohi ewes (i.e. 46.2 vs 44.8 kg). Lohi ewes being 3% less body weight produced 38% more wool and 18% more litter weaning weight than Kajli ewes, When average weight of lamb weaned per ewe weaning lambs was adjusted for ewe average metabolic body size, Lohi ewes were most efficient (i.e. arbitrary assigned value of 100) compared to Kajli ewes achieving only 83% of Lohi level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.197-204
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• 2010

Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of replacing 30% (% in diet DM) of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) hay with citrus pulp in Merino ewe diets: i) an in vitro study which measured ruminal fermentation; and ii) an in vivo study in which twelve Merino ewes pre- and post-lambing were fed experimental diets in a cross-over design over 120 days to evaluate effects on ewe performance (i.e. DM intake, average daily gain (ADG) and wool growth). In both the in vitro and in vivo studies, the control treatment consisted of lucerne (91.3% in diet DM), lupins (8.3% in diet DM) and phosphate (0.42% in diet DM), while the citrus pulp treatment consisted of lucerne (57.7% in diet DM), lupins (9.5% in diet DM), phosphate (0.48% in diet DM) and fresh citrus pulp (32.3% in diet DM). Data were analysed using the mixed model procedure of SAS. In the in vitro study, gas production, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) yield, proportion of propionic acid to total VFA and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were higher (p<0.02) in the citrus pulp treatment compared to the control treatment. In contrast, in vitro ammonia production, pH and the acetate to propionate ratio were lower (p<0.03) for the citrus pulp treatment compared to the control treatment. In the in vivo study, DM intake of ewes fed the citrus pulp diet was lower than their control ewe counterparts throughout both the pre- and post-lambing periods (928.9 vs. 1,115.0 g/d pre-; 1,285.0 vs. 1,620.3 g/d post-lambing, p<0.01), however ADG was similar (p = 0.12). Wool growth parameters and lamb performance did not differ (p>0.32) between treatments. In summary, the in vitro study demonstrated that the replacement of 30% of a lucerne diet with fresh citrus pulp improved total VFA yield, increased total gas production and improved IVDMD, while decreasing the production of ammonia, acetic acid and rumen pH. In addition, the in vivo study demonstrated that the replacement of 30% of a lucerne diet with fresh citrus pulp pre- and post-lambing decreased intake but did not affect ewe performance in terms of ADG and wool growth. These findings, of course, would be of significant interest to sheep producers endeavouring to control cost of feed ingredients whilst maintaining productivity.