Data from 19 feeding trials conducted on growing sheep from different institutes across India were subjected to regression analysis to derive requirements of TDN, CP and DCP for maintenance and body weight gain. Maintenance requirements for TDN, CP and DCP were 37.0, 6.68 and 4.43g/kg W0.75, respectively for the BW range of 7–15kg, and the corresponding maintenance requirements for the BW range of 15.1–30kg were 35.3, 6.98 and 4.49g. The corresponding requirements for 1g gain in BW were 0.91, 0.47, and 0.31g, for 7–15kg BW and 1.21, 0.43 and 0.30g, respectively for 15–30kg BW range. Regression equations had high R2 values (0.59–0.84) and the equations (F value) as well as coefficients were highly significant (P<0.001). Regressed values were used to develop feeding standards. Derived values matched well with the actual intake versus performance of animals under diverse feeding conditions. The new standards so derived predicted requirements and intake of nutrients for different production levels better than existing feeding standards; as these are based on a more thorough analysis of a larger database, the new feeding standards will be appropriate for wide use in India.

Breeding objectives were developed for meat sheep in smallholder production circumstances in the tropics. The traits considered were litter size, lambing frequency, pre-weaning, and post-weaning lamb survival to 12 months, ewe survival, lamb live weight at 12-month, mature ewe live weight, consumable meat, kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake. Three evaluation situations were considered: (i) base with constant number of ewes, (ii) fixed feed resource and (iii) setting feed costs to zero. Sensitivity analysis of economic values to price levels of inputs and meat production was carried out. The fixed feed resource situation appropriately describes smallholder production circumstances. In the base situation, meat production accounted for about 88% of revenue and manure the remaining 12%. Variable costs represented about 95% of the total cost. For the fixed feed resource situation, economic values (US$ per ewe per year) were 12.94 for litter size, 10.18 for lambing frequency, 0.19 for pre-weaning lamb survival, 0.24 for post-weaning lamb survival, 0.36 for ewe survival, 1.02 for 12-month lamb live weight, 0.14 for mature ewe live weight, 0.51 for consumable meat, 0.08 for kg of manure DM sold (per ewe per year) and -0.04 for residual DM feed intake. Litter size and lambing frequency were the most important traits in a breeding objective for smallholder production. Relative to the base situation, setting feed costs to zero had similar results as the situation with restricted feed resource but resulted in larger differences. Sensitivity analysis of economic weights to changes in prices and production circumstances indicated that future economic values for traits might change dependent on levels of output and prices. The exceptions, with regard to changes in meat price are kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake, and with regard to feed costs are consumable meat and kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year. Economic values for 12-month lamb live weight, mature ewe live weight, consumable meat, kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake were not sensitive to changes in management and marketing circumstances. Caution is recommended when the breeding objectives presented here are applied not to disadvantage smallholders in poor climatic years, when farmers are at their most vulnerable situation.

Spanish wether and doeling kids (4.5 months of age; 13.4kg initial BW) were used to determine influences of different quality diets consumed continuously or after a lower quality diet on characteristics of growth. The experiment consisted of two 9-week periods. Diets were low quality forage (L, prairie hay supplemented with soybean meal), high quality forage (H, dehydrated alfalfa pellets) and 70% concentrate (C). Kids on two treatments consumed L in Period 1, with half switched to C and half to H in Period 2 (LC and LH, respectively). The CC treatment entailed C consumption in both periods, and HH kids were fed H in both periods. For HC, H was fed in Period 1 followed by C in Period 2. DM intake ranked (P<0.05) LC and LH

The effects of dosage of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), vehicle and time of injection on ovulation rate and prolificacy were evaluated during the anestrous season. Ewes on four farms (n=445) were treated with a CIDR-G® device for 5 days and exposed to rams upon removal of the insert (CRRI, day 0). A 3×2×2 factorial arrangement tested effects of dosage of FSH (Folltropin®; 0, 42 or 68mg NIH-FSH-P1), vehicle (saline:propylene glycol 1:4, v/v [PGL], or 50% polyvinylpyrrolidone K 29–32 [PVP]) and time of injection (12 or 36h before CRRI). Follicular growth was monitored by ultrasonography in four ewes per treatment at injection of FSH, at CRRI, and on days 1–3 post-CRRI. All ewes were examined by ultrasonography on days 10–14 for ovulation rate, and on days 26–31 and 46–51 for pregnancy and number of embryos. The largest follicle (F1) increased in diameter (mm) between FSH injection (5.3±0.1) and day 1 (6.1±0.1; P<0.01). The F1 was larger at CRRI (P<=0.05) in ewes receiving 42 than 0mg FSH, and 68 than 42mg FSH. The F2 increased in diameter (P<0.05) from FSH injection (4.7±0.2) to CRRI (5.2±0.2) and to day 1 (5.8±0.2), but was not affected by treatment. Number of small follicles (<=4mm) did not differ with time or treatment. Number of medium follicles (5mm) declined (P<0.05) between FSH (1.5±0.2) and days 1 (0.8±0.2), 2 (0.9±0.2), and 3 (0.5±0.2). Number of large follicles (>=6mm) increased from FSH (0.6±0.3) to CRRI (1.4±0.3; P<0.05), and day 1 (2.3±0.3; P<0.05), then declined by day 3 (0.6±0.3; P<0.05). There were more large follicles at CRRI (P<0.05) with 68mg (2.1±0.3) or 42mg (1.6±0.2) than 0mg (0.5±0.4) FSH. Ovulation rate (mean 2.12±0.05) increased with FSH given 12h, but not 36h before CRRI (dosage × time, P<0.05). Estrous response, conception rate, percentage of ewes lambing or prolificacy did not differ. However, number of corpora lutea not represented by embryos increased with dosage of FSH (P<0.01; 0.25±0.14, 0.55±0.09, 0.71±0.09 for ewes treated with 0, 42, and 68mg FSH, respectively).

A two by two factorial design including natural helminth infections (dewormed ‘D’ or not dewormed ‘ND’) and different levels of diet (basal ‘B’ or basal diet plus supplement ‘S’) was used to assess the effect of helminth infections and plane of nutrition on health and productivity of F1 (West African Dwarf (WAD) × Sahelian) crosses. The pasture composed the basal diet and supplemented animals received cottonseed and rice bran. Feed composition analysis revealed that the pasture did not provide sufficient nutrients for reproduction requirements. Feed supplementation had a significant effect on weight gain of does during pregnancy and lactation, and milk off-take was significantly higher in supplemented does compared to non-supplemented ones (31.3±2.5l versus 17.7±2.5l respectively, P<0.01). A peri-parturient rise in strongyle egg output was noted, and diet supplementation tended to reduce faecal egg count and to increase packed cell volume (PCV), mainly during the dry season. Deworming had a significant effect on red blood cell (RBC) count, PCV and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mainly during the period of peak strongyle egg output (season × deworming: P<0.001 for RBC and PCV and P<0.05 for Hb). Helminth infections combined with a basal diet seriously affected weight gain but the interaction of deworming and diet was not significant. In groups receiving the basal diet, dewormed animals had a significantly higher milk yield than those that were not dewormed (23.5±3.3l versus 12.0±3.7l, respectively; interaction diet × deworming: P<0.05). The higher daily weight gains of offspring born from dewormed does might be explained by the fact that, in addition to the effect of deworming on milk yield in animals receiving basal diet, the kids were less exposed to helminth eggs, whereas does that were not dewormed constituted a greater source of helminth infection for their kids.

Eight yearling Boer×Spanish wether goats (36.6±2.3kg average initial BW) with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in an experiment with two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares to study effects of dietary level of CP, the ratio of ruminally degraded intake N or protein (DIP) to TDN and source of supplemental DIP on site of digestion with a high concentrate diet. Diets were formulated to be (DM basis) 9.2% CP, without inclusion of urea (U0) or soybean meal (SBM; S0); 11.3%, CP achieved with 0.73% urea (U1) or 4.48% SBM (S1); 13.3% CP, via use of 1.46% urea (U2) or 8.90% SBM (S2); or 15.2% CP, derived through use of 2.16% urea (U3) or 13.2% SBM (S3). The ratio of DIP:TDN was 0.073, 0.104, 0.136, 0.167, 0.073, 0.093, 0.113 and 0.132 for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively. Diets contained 30% cottonseed hulls and were corn-based and fed at 2% BW (DM basis). Apparent ruminal N digestibility increased quadratically as level of supplemental CP rose (-71.6, -39.9, -20.5, 8.5, -60.3, -12.5, -8.4 and -3.5% for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively; S.E.=6.6). Microbial OM and N flows to duodenum decreased linearly as CP level increased. Ruminal and total tract NDF digestibilities (e.g. total tract: 51.3, 57.6, 57.7, 57.4, 49.7, 52.3, 53.2 and 53.2% for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively) increased linearly and tended to change quadratically as CP level increased. In conclusion, a dietary CP concentration of 11–13% and DIP:TDN ratio of 0.10–0.11 were adequate for maximal total tract OM digestibility in meat goats consuming a corn-based, high concentrate diet, regardless of supplementation with a source of non-protein versus natural protein, although magnitudes of difference in digestibility with lower levels were not marked. A dietary CP concentration of 9–10% and ratio of DIP to TDN of 0.073 were sufficient for highest microbial protein production. With ample tissue N reserves, the ability of meat goats to recycle N may preclude realization of substantial benefits from supplementing high concentrate diets around 9% CP with additional DIP, and high concentrate diets appear to satisfy microbial needs for non-ammonia nitrogenous compounds.

Effect of supplementation with non-conventional agro-industrial by-products on rumen fermentation pattern and microbial nitrogen supply was studied in sheep fed grass hay for 9 days. Diets consisted of hay alone (control); hay supplemented with tela atella (traditional brewery residue); katikala atella (liquor residue); lentil hull; rough pea hull and field pea hull. Thirty indigenous rams weighing 22.6±0.97kg, were stratified into weight groups and randomly assigned to dietary treatments independently. Supplementation reduced (P<0.05) rumen pH, but improved (P<0.001) rumen ammonia, total VFA, microbial nitrogen supply (P<0.01) and microbial efficiency (P<0.05). Supplement types did not affect (P>0.05) rumen fermentation and microbial nitrogen supply, but showed difference (P<0.001) for propionate and butyrate concentrations. Type of atella supplements showed variation, whereby rumen pH was low (P<0.05), but rumen ammonia, VFA, molar proportions of acetate, propionate and butyrate were high (P<0.001) for katikala atella compared to tela atella. Lentil hull had higher (P<0.01) rumen ammonia concentration, microbial nitrogen supply and microbial efficiency than other pulse hull supplements. It was concluded that both atella and pulse hulls have potential as supplements for ruminants. More specifically lentil hull and katikala atella seemed to be superior in their diverse nutritive characteristics among the supplements studied.

The prevalence of Babesia infection was studied in sheep and goats in Mashhad area from 1998 to 2000. A total of 391 sheep and 385 goats from 77 flocks were clinically examined for the presence of Babesia blood smears and any tick species on the body of the animals. The study revealed that 26.1% of sheep and 14.8% of goats were infected with Babesia. The prevalence of Babesia ovis and Babesia motasi in sheep and goats were 23.5%, 0.5% and 14%, 0.5%, respectively. Double (mixed) infections occurred in 10 sheep (2.5%) and 1 goat (0.25%). The prevalence of Babesia infection between male and female and between different age groups of sheep and goats were statistically non-significant. Seasonally, the prevalence of Babesia infection in sheep reached highest level in August (56%), while a decrease was observed in September reaching the lowest level In February and March. The monthly prevalence of Babesia in goats was not significant. The clinical signs of Babesiosis were observed in 8% of infected sheep and 6.8% of infected goats. The percentage of infected sheep with higher parasitemia was more than infected goats. In this study, five ixodid species were collected from sheep and goats. The Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Hyalomma marginatum, were the most common species in sheep and goats. Other tick species encountered were Dermacentor daghestanicus in goats and Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum in sheep. The attachment sites of R. sanguineus and H. marginatum, H. anatolicum were around the anus, but D. daghestanicus was in the shoulder region.

Body growth, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of ram lambs (n=16) immunized against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) at 10 weeks of age with recombinant LHRH fusion proteins were investigated. Recombinant fusion proteins, ovalbumin–LHRH-7 and thioredoxin–LHRH-7 were produced using recombinant DNA technology. Animals were immunized (n=8) against LHRH with ovalbumin–LHRH-7 and thioredoxin–LHRH-7 recombinant protein mixture in the Freund’s complete adjuvant. The immunization group received two booster injections 4 and 8 weeks later, with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant. Animals in control group (n=8) were not treated. Animals were kept at relatively poor pasture until 27 weeks of age. This was followed by a 70 days finishing period that involved housing in groups and ad libitum feeding with concentrate. Carcasses were evaluated after chilling for 24h at +4°C. Live weights, finishing weight, weight gain and average daily weight gain were similar between groups (P>0.05). Carcass measurements, loin eye muscle area and back fat thickness were not affected from immunization. Immunization did not affect hot and cold carcass weights, dressing percentage, offal items and wholesale cuts weights. Immunized animals had smaller testis, chop and bone weights than control animals (P<0.05). It was concluded that immunological castration could be achieved at 10 weeks of age in ram lambs using new recombinant LHRH fusion proteins and used in finishing programs without adverse effect on growth rate, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these proteins should be further evaluated with more animals.

Antigen recognition patterns (Western blotting) and lymphoproliferative response (local and peripheral) have been determined in lambs immunised and partially protected against haemonchosis with p26/23, a purified somatic fraction of Haemonchus contortus. Immunoprotective response induced by p26/23 was accompanied by both specific lymphoproliferative response and serum anti-Haemonchus antibodies. Western blotting showed an extensive reactivity of sera from p26/23 vaccinated lambs with peptides from adult soluble extract of the parasite at 23–26, 34–55, 55 and 65kDa levels. Immunised lambs exhibited, after challenge, significantly higher lymphoproliferative responses (systemic and local) than all other animals groups (unvaccinated, adjuvant control animals, uninfected lambs). Challenge infection was accompanied by significant weight increases of abomasal lymph nodes; in addition specific peripheral and abomasal cell responses were correlated.

In an attempt to identify factor(s) that influence in vitro development of preantral follicles (PFs) in sheep, small (40–60μm in diameter) and large (61–100μm in diameter) PFs were cultured for 6 days in tissue culture medium (TCM 199) supplemented with transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), epidermal growth factor (EGF) or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Increase in follicle diameter, oocyte diameter, induction of new DNA synthesis in the follicular cells and increase in number of follicular cells per follicle were measured as the indicators of development. Only EGF supplemented medium increased the follicle diameter, number of follicular cells and also induced intense DNA synthesis in both small and large PFs. TGF-α, IGF-II and FSH on the other hand were able to stimulate intense DNA synthesis only in large PFs. None of the supplemented media caused an increase in oocyte diameter. It is proposed that EGF stimulates the development of preantral follicles of sheep up to 100μm in diameter.

Traditional rearing system based on pasture and hay supplementation was compared with rearing systems based on supplementation of barley based concentrate on Tuj lambs. Male Tuj lambs (n=18) were used in three groups with six lambs in each group. Group T was a control managed as a traditional system with grazing and hay as the main feed sources. In Group TC, lambs were separated from the main flock once a day and offered 500g concentrate per animal. Lambs in Group C were also separated from the main flock and fed 175g per day per animal hay and 1kg per day per animal concentrate. At the end of a 150 days experimental period, lambs were slaughtered and carcasses were evaluated. Liveweights of Groups T, TC and C were 36.4, 38.2 and 41.3kg, respectively, and cold carcass weights were 17.1, 18.1 and 19.7kg, respectively (P<0.05). The results suggest that liveweight and carcass weight can be improved by supplementary feeding of lambs. Economic aspects of concentrate usage were also evaluated. It was concluded that feeding animals with barley based concentrate instead of hay is profitable for breeders.

The purpose of this study was to examine developmental and dietary regulation of the potential for peptide transport via PepT1 and morphological changes in the gastrointestinal tract of lambs. A 2×4 factorial arrangement of treatments with four blocks was created based upon gender, birth type (single or twin), birth weight, birth date, and breeding with 32 cross-bred lambs. Lambs were randomly allotted at birth to receive or not to receive a creep diet and all lambs were allowed to nurse. Sampling times of 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks were randomly allotted to lambs. Samples for RNA extraction and histological evaluation were taken from the dorsal rumen, ventral rumen, omasum, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The DMI was similar for ewes nursing lambs that had or did not have access to creep feed (2,630 and 2, 574gh-1 per day, respectively). Lambs with access to creep feed consumed DM at the rate of 2, 22, 129, 219, and 227gh-1 per day, respectively when they were approximately 12, 13, 20, 38, and 52 days of age. Cumulative weight gain was similar for both groups of lambs and increased linearly (P<0.001) with age. Villi were about 7% shorter (P<0.09) in lambs receiving creep feed. Papillary height and width increased linearly (P<0.01) with age. In the stomach, total and keratinized epithelial cells decreased (P<0.03 and <0.01, respectively) with age and were fewer (P<0.01) in lambs receiving creep feed. Even with the modest intakes observed in this study, creep feeding appeared to slightly alter the mucosal structure of the small intestine and was advantageous in that it stimulated papillae growth, thus predisposing the rumen for the introduction of feed into the diet. A 2.8kb oPepT1 mRNA was present in all tissues studied by 2 weeks and age did not significantly influence the abundance of oPepT1 mRNA in the small intestine or stomach. Abundance of oPepT1 mRNA was greatest in the jejunum (P<0.01) of the small intestine and in the dorsal rumen (P<0.01) of the stomach. Lambs not receiving the creep diet had a greater (P<0.02) abundance of oPepT1 mRNA in the rumen, particularly the dorsal rumen. Because no dry feed and little or no milk entered the rumen when no creep was fed, it is possible that a stimulus for development from the non-luminal direction, possibly blood-borne, may be involved in the ontogenesis of oPepT1. That PepT1 mRNA was present indicates that peptide transport occurs in the young lamb and the rumen and omasum appear to be involved in this process.

Ovulation pattern (rate and time) of 35 adult (age: 2–3.5 years, average body weight: 25–36kg) normal cycling (nulliparous and parous) Jakhrana goats native to the semi-arid areas of India was investigated. Randomly selected goats (seven per group) were laparotomized 20, 28, 36, 48 and 54h following natural oestrus and were observed for the onset of ovulation, its sequence and rate. None of the goat ovulated 20h post-onset of natural oestrus. Ovulation occurred 28h post-onset of oestrus (towards the end of the oestrous period) in Jakhrana goats and reached to its peak at 36h of post-oestrus. No further increase in ovulation rate 48 to 54h post-oestrus was observed in this breed. Mean ovulation rate was 1.33±0.10 (range 1–2). Study concluded that Jakhrana goat ovulated towards the end of oestrus and ovulation was over 12h after the end of oestrous period. Ovulation rate in Jakhrana goats followed a similar trend to other large sized goat breeds of Indian origin.

Male kids (110) from six goat genotypes, i.e. Boer×Angora (BA), Boer×Feral (BF), Boer×Saanen (BS), Feral×Feral (FF), Saanen×Angora (SA) and Saanen×Feral (SF) and two slaughter weight groups, i.e. Capretto and Chevon (liveweight at slaughter 14–22 and 30–35kg, respectively) were compared for growth, carcass and meat quality characteristics. Due to their better growth rate, kids from BS and SF genotypes reached the required liveweight for slaughter earlier than kids from other genotypes used in the study. Chevon kids had a significantly (P<0.05) lower average daily gain (119g per day) compared to Capretto kids (171g per day). SA, SF and FF kids deposited more internal fat in comparison to kids from other genotypes. The dressing percentage of kids ranged from 51 to 54%, with significant differences between genotypes. BS and SF kids had longer carcasses, while BF kids had larger eye muscle area compared to other genotypes. Goat carcasses had a thin subcutaneous fat cover (1.6–2.2mm). Genotype had a significant (P<0.05) influence on cooking loss, pigment concentration and muscle colour parameters (CIE L*, a* and b* values). As denoted by the higher L* and fibre optic probe values and lower subjective muscle score, the longissimus muscle colour was lighter for BS kids than other genotypes. Cooked meat from the BF kids had lower shear force values and better sensory scores compared to other genotypes. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in muscle tenderness was observed from Capretto to Chevon carcasses, whereas cooked meat from these two slaughter weight groups was equally accepted (P>0.05) by the panellists.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate under field conditions, the role that right management and vaccination against Escherichia coli plays in the prevention of neonatal kid diarrhoea. To meet this objective, a goat farm of low management standards suffering from a neonatal diarrhoea problem caused by enteropathogenic strains of E. coli was selected. Three experimental groups of new-born kids with their mothers were formed: (a) the kids in Group I were raised under the management conditions already existing in the farm, and served as negative controls, (b) the kids in Group II were raised under improved conditions, including specially prepared warm and draft-free areas for kidding and nursing, and (c) the kids in Group III were raised under the improved conditions of Group II, but were born from does previously vaccinated for E. coli. The three groups were compared with regard to the incidence and duration of diarrhoea, and the mortality of kids. It was shown that, compared to the control group, neonatal morbidity and mortality were both reduced by a factor of 3 in Group II, and by factors of 9.5 and 12.5, respectively, in Group III (P<0.05). Also, the duration of diarrhoea was 3.7 and 12 times shorter in the kids of Groups II and III, respectively, when compared to the control animals (P<0.05). Samples of diarrhoeic faeces from kids in the control group resulted in the isolation of K88 and K99 strains of E. coli. It was concluded that specific vaccination of does followed by improvements in neonatal management may drastically reduce the development of E. coli scours in kids under field conditions.

Individual feed consumption, utilisation, digestion efficiency and growth of 32 Boer goat (BG) kids and 32 South African Mutton Merino (MM) lambs were investigated after weaning. Two pelleted diets (fed to 16 animals per species) with either a low (LE, 9.89MJkg-1 DM) or a high (HE, 12.11MJkg-1 DM) metabolisable energy level were fed individually, ad lib, for either 28 or 56 days. MM had significantly higher average daily gains (ADG) than BG. Within a diet there was no significant difference in feed conversion efficiency (FCE) between BG and MM and only the MM FCE differed between the LE- and HE-diets. BG fed LE digested DM, CP and energy more efficiently and had a higher energy retention than MM fed LE. Neither species, nor diet affected N retention. The average daily gain of the MM on the LE-diet for 28 days was significantly lower than for those on the HE-diet. However, there was no significant difference between the ADG of BG on the high or low energy diets. These trends were similar in the group of animals that were fed for 56 days. These results indicate that Boer goats may be finished on a diet with a lower ME-value than is usually formulated for sheep, without a reduction in performance. This may render the BG economically viable for feedlot finishing.

Eight species of forage, a cool-season perennial (tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)) and annual grass (winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)), four warm-season perennial grasses (caucasian (Bothriochloa caucasica), plains (B. ischaemum), old world bluestem, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)), a warm season annual (crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)) and a perennial legume (alfalfa (Medicago sativa)), were each cut at two or three maturities to provide a wide array of quality difference (n=20). Twenty wether goats (Capra hicus) were fed the hays in four different trials using an incomplete block design so that four different goats received each hay. Alfalfa produced the highest (25gkg-1 body weight (BW)) and wheat the lowest (13.6gkg-1 BW) organic matter (OM) intake. A number of the grasses provided less than 20gkg-1 BW OM intake. Digestion of OM was also highest for alfalfa (>715gkg-1) and lowest for bermudagrass (508gkg-1). All measures and expressions of intake and digestibility were better related to ruminating and retention time than to forage chemistry, with the exception of crude protein digestibility. The best equations for predicting intake included a combination of mean retention time and forage acid detergent fiber (ADF) content (reciprocal and quadratic); that for digestibility included permanganate lignin (reciprocal), and the quadratic for ruminating and retention time. Equations for predicting the constraint on intake and digestible organic matter intake produced higher r2 than those for either intake or digestibility. Digestibility of ADF and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were poorly predicted with either chemistry (r2<=0.20), or ruminating time (r2=0.43), but combinations of permanganate lignin content of NDF, retention and ruminating time produced reasonable equations.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate sunflower seed meal (SFM) as a substitute for soybean meal (SBOM) in rations of fattening Awassi lambs and milking ewes. In the first experiment, 12 Awassi lambs were assigned into four groups to measure the digestibility of the SFM and experimental rations. The control group ration (1) contained SBOM while in the other two rations, SFM replaced SBOM at a level of 50% (2) and 100% (3), respectively. The fourth group was fed only SFM. No significant differences were observed between lambs fed the experimental rations in digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, CF, NDF, ADF or N balance. NFE had a higher (P<0.05) digestibility for ration 1 than ration 2. In the second experiment, the voluntary feed intake was measured for the Awassi ewes during milking and dry period using 36 Awassi lactating ewes. For the two stages there were no significant differences between rations in voluntary intake. Milk yields (kg/herd per day), milk fat (%) and milk total solids (%) were not different among groups. In the third experiment, 42 lambs (males and females) were divided randomly into three treatment groups. Rations were the same experimental rations in the digestibility study. There were no significant differences in the average final BW, ADG and average feed conversion ratios (FCR) among the treatments. These experiments showed that SFM could replace SBOM as a protein source in rations of fattening Awassi lambs and milking Awassi ewes.

A total of 209 milk samples were collected from the udder halves of 178 native dairy ewes at 2 weeks after lambing until the 10th week postpartum. Those which were classified by bacterial culture and California Mastitis Test (CMT) as positive, were deemed to have glands with subclinical mastitis (SCM). The periodic prevalence rate of SCM was 39%. The most common bacterial isolates from SCM cases were coagulase negative staphylococci (41%), Bacillus cereus (33%), Staphylococcus aureus (22%) and Streptococcus spp. (4%). The mean activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were higher in milk from SCM udders than in milk from healthy udders (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in blood serum LDH, ALP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of healthy and subclinical mastitic ewes. The increment in LDH and ALP in milk of udders shows the presence of tissue damage provoked by SCM. Thus, these parameters might be suitable for use in the early diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in ewes.

Resistance to naturally acquired gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasite infections (predominantly Haemonchus) of 212 Jamunapari and 163 Barbari goats (does) were studied in different physiological stages, namely pregnant, dry and lactating stages in a semi-arid region of India. The faecal egg counts (FECs) for GI nematode infections were examined in different physiological stages in both the breeds in two periods, i.e. an early period (October–November) and a late period (February–March). Analysis was carried out on loge(FEC+100) transformed data, accounting for repeated records on does, during early and late periods. Breed had significant effect on FEC in early and late periods in pregnant, dry and lactating does. Breed by physiological interaction had significant effect on FEC in both the early and late periods. Jamunapari lactating goats had significantly higher FEC than that of dry and pregnant does but there was no peri-parturient rise in FEC in the resistant Barbari goats.