• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.481-485
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• 1992

In order to upgrade native sheep, Rambouillet (R) rams were mated to Kaghani (K) ewes to generate F1 ($R{\times}K$) crossbred ewes. Crossbred ewes were backcrossed to Rambouillet rams to produce B1 ($R{\times}F1$), B2 ($R{\times}B1$) and B3 ($R{\times}B2$) genotypes. Weaning weight of 2605 lambs and wool weight of 2378 mature ewe records, representing R, K, F1, B1, B2 and B3 genotypes, were analyzed to compare genetic variation among genotypes produced during upgrading process and identify genotypes of the highest performance. Performance of Rambouillets was also evaluated under semi-temperate climate. Data were adjusted for yearly variation considering Rambouillet as a control. Genotypes influenced lambs weaning weight (p<.01). B1 lambs were heaviest (18.4 kg) followed in order by B2, F1, B3, R and K lambs (18.3, 17.9, 16.9, 16.8 and 13.2 kg, respectively). The highest wool production was 2.5 kg from R ewes followed by B2 (2.3), B3 (2.3), F1 (2.0) and K (1.2) ewes (p < .01). Ewe mating weight, reproduction, growth and wool production of Rambouillets deteriorated significantly after the first decade of their importation. Compared with the first phase (1959-1971), ewe mating weight, litter size, birth weight, lamb weaning weight and wool production declined by 20, 23, 32 and 36%, respectively, in the second phase (1972-1988).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 1992

Secretory patterns of serum tri-iodothyronine, thyroxin and testosterone were analysed by specific radioimmunoassay in Kaghani (n = 42), Rambouilet (n = 42) and Kaghani ${\times}$ Rambouillet (n = 42) male sheep to determine age and breed related changes. Animals were examined at 1-2 wk, 8, 10, 12, 20, 22 and 24 months of age (n = 6/age group). All animals were maintained under standard conditions of feeding and management. $T_3$ and $T_4$ concentrations were maximal (p < 0.01) in 1-2 wk old lambs of all breeds studied ($207.4{\pm}14.9-276.8{\pm}20.4ng/dl$ and $5.76{\pm}0.3-7.23{\pm}0.9{\mu}g/dl$, respectively). For all the breeds, concentrations of $T_3$ declined markedly (p < 0.01) at 8 month of age and then varied in a narrow range ($44.5{\pm}14.0-87.0{\pm}4.8ng/dl$) up to the age of 24 month. While, serum $T_4$ concentrations decreased (p < 0.01) to nadir ($0.97{\pm}0.1-1.43{\pm}0.3{\mu}g/dl$) at 10 months of age in all the 3 breeds. Afterwards, $T_4$ levels increased gradually and attained a small peak at 20 months before declining again at 22 and 24 months of age. Serum $T_3$ and $T_4$ concentrations were correlated significantly (p < 0.05) and their ratio was constant at all ages in the different breeds. Age significantly (p < 0.01) influenced the secretion of testosterone in the breeds examined but the breed differences were comparable. Mean serum concentrations of testosterone were low from 1-2 wk to 10 months of age in the Kaghani, Rambouillet and Kaghani ${\times}$ Rambouillet animals. Peak testosterone levels were noted in the 12 months old Kaghani ($1.75{\pm}0.4ng/ml$), Rambouillet ($1.30{\pm}0.2ng/ml$) and their $T_3$ cross animals ($1.16{\pm}0.08ng/ml$). Mean testosterone levels, thereafter, decreased at 20 months and then at 22 and 24 months remained variable but higher than observed at 1-2 wk -10 months of age. The findings of the present study indicate a significant influence of age but not of breed on the peripheral concentrations of thyroid hormones and testosterone. Serum concentrations of $T_3$ and $T_4$ were not related to testosterone levels. High thyroid secretory activity observed at prenatal phase of development may play an important role in preparing the lambs to extrauterine environments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1425-1434
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• 2008

The study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of feed additives on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and performance of lambs fed diets containing 60% wet brewers grains (WBG). In Experiment 1, two simultaneous trials were conducted. Fifty intact ($20.2{\pm}0.8kg\;BW$) lambs were used in a feedlot trial and 10 (rumen cannulated; $32{\pm}1kg\;BW$) in a digestion trial. The pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia-N in lambs were also estimated. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of five diets: i) without additives (Con), ii) with 1% bicarbonate (Bic), iii) with 1% bentonite (Ben), iv) with 33 mg/kg monensin (Mon) and v) with 200 mg/kg fibrolityc enzymes (Enz). In Experiment 2, 120 RambouilletPelibuey intact male lambs ($19.5{\pm}1.5kg\;BW$) were used in a feedlot trial and randomly assigned to four diets: i) without additives (control), ii) with 1% Bic, iii) with 33 mg/kg Mon and iv) with 1% Bic and 33 mg/kg Mon. In Experiment 1, lambs fed diets containing Bic or Mon had significantly higher final weight, DMI, ADG than other lambs. However, apparent DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities and ruminal individual VFA content were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. Conversely, treatmentcollection period interaction was significant for ruminal pH and NH3. In Experiment 2, lambs fed diets containing a Bic and Mon combination had significantly higher final weight, DMI and ADG. It is concluded lambs fed Bic or Mon or Bic and Mon combination had better performance characteristics than lambs on Ben or Enz.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.161-164
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• 1990

Ninety six Rambouillet ${\times}$ Kaghani intact male lambs of 18 months of age were divided into 6 groups of 16 lambs each, groups being G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5 and G-6. Average liveweight of animals on different treatments at day 0 of the experiment was G-1 (24.68 S.D 3.35), G-2 (24.56 S.D 2.55), G-3 (24.53 S.D 2.90), G-4 (24.51 S.D 3.38), G-5 (24.58 S.D 3.58) and G-6 (24.81 S.D 3.43). Animals on treatment G-1 were fed only maize silage ad libitum, G-2 had been offered maize silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of commercial concentrate (Sona Vanda) per group, G-3 maize silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of crushed maize grain per group. G-4 lambs were fed oat silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of crushed maize per group, G-5 oat silage plus 4.8 kg of commercial concentrate per group and G-6 only oat silage ad libitum. The results showed highly significant differences (p<0.01) among treatment groups in silage intake throughout the feeding trial. G-2 group showed the highest silage intake while treatment G-4 showed the lowest silage intake for the first two months and treatment G-6 for the last two months. The results of growth rates (g/d/animal) showed that treatments G-1 and G-6, where no supplementation was given, had a weight loss throughout the feeding trial. However, weight loss in treatment G-6 was more severe than treatment G-1. Treatments G-2, G-3, G-4 and G-5 all showed weight gain however, treatment G-2 had the most gain. G-2 group also showed the highest wool production while G-6 the lowest. These results indicated that silage when made from full bloom crops of oats and silage fed alone without any supplementation causes weight loss in sheep. Supplementation with concentrates having 19% CP is far better than the crushed maize grain and maize silage is better than oats silage. Maize silage is superior than oat silage however, better performance could be expected if silages were made at the early bloom (dough) stage of plant maturity. The results indicate that treatment G-2 shows highest response while treatment G-6 the lowest. So the response of different treatments on both the parameters of weight gain and wool production is almost similar.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2023

Objective: In this study, we aimed to position the Hungarian Merino among other Merinoderived sheep breeds, explore the characteristics of our sampled animals' genetic similarity network within the breed, and highlight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with daily weight-gain. Methods: Hungarian Merino (n = 138) was genotyped on Ovine SNP50 Bead Chip (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) and positioned among 30 Merino and Merino-derived breeds (n = 555). Population characteristics were obtained via PLINK, SVS, Admixture, and Treemix software, within-breed network was analysed with python networkx 2.3 library. Daily weight gain of Hungarian Merino was standardised to 60 days and was collected from the database of the Association of Hungarian Sheep and Goat Breeders. For the identification of loci associated with daily weight gain, a multi-locus mixed-model was used. Results: Supporting the breed's written history, the closest breeds to Hungarian Merino were Estremadura and Rambouillet (pairwise F_ST values are 0.035 and 0.036, respectively). Among Hungarian Merino, a highly centralised connectedness has been revealed by network analysis of pairwise values of identity-by-state, where the animal in the central node had a betweenness centrality value equal to 0.936. Probing of daily weight gain against the SNP data of Hungarian Merinos revealed five associated loci. Two of them, OAR8_17854216.1 and s42441.1 on chromosome 8 and 9 (-log₁₀P>22, false discovery rate<5.5e-20) and one locus on chromosome 20, s28948.1 (-log₁₀P = 13.46, false discovery rate = 4.1e-11), were close to the markers reported in other breeds concerning daily weight gain, six-month weight, and post-weaning gain. Conclusion: The position of Hungarian Merino among other Merino breeds has been determined. We have described the similarity network of the individuals to be applied in breeding practices and highlighted several markers useful for elevating the daily weight gain of Hungarian Merino.