• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1673-1685
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of treatments based on gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH-prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$ ($PGF2{\alpha}$), and/or intense exposure to novel rams to induce fertile estrus without the use of steroid hormones in seasonally anestrous Suffolk ewes. Methods: In the first experiment, ewes were treated with one injection of GnRH, two injections of GnRH administered 7 days apart, or a sequence of GnRH-$PGF2{\alpha}$-GnRH (GPG). In the second experiment anestrous ewes were exposed, for 36 days starting on the day of weaning, to groups of four rams of three different breeds that were alternated every day. Besides exposure to the male effect (ME), the ewes were injected with saline solution (ME group, n = 20), with GnRH (ME-GnRH group, n = 20) or with a sequence of GnRH-$PGF2{\alpha}$-GnRH (ME-GPG group, n = 20). The rams used for male-effect were fitted with aprons to prevent mating, and ewes detected in estrus were bred to selected fertile rams. Ovarian activity was monitored by progesterone determinations in both experiments. Results: In the first experiment sustained induction of ovarian activity was not achieved and no ewe was detected in estrus. In the second experiment induction of sustained ovarian activity was achieved in all groups. Most of the ewes were detected in estrus, 76.7% of the ewes were mated during a 36-d breeding period and 71.7% of all the ewes became pregnant during that period. No significant differences between groups were found for any of these variables. However, estrus detection efficiency was higher in the ME-GnRH group than in the ME group (p<0.05). Conclusion: An intense male-effect, that included the continuous presence and frequent alternation of several rams of different breeds, was sufficient to induce ovarian activity and fertile estrus in Suffolk ewes during the period of deep anestrus without the use of hormones, although addition of GnRH improved the efficiency of estrus detection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.515-518
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• 2003

Six mature purebred Angus cows ($3.5{\pm}1.5$ years of age, $631.36{\pm}8.63kg$), three pregnant ($250{\pm}7$ days pregnant) and three non-pregnant and eight mature Suffolk ewes ($5{\pm}1.2$ years of age, $68.18{\pm}2.3kg$) four pregnant $115{\pm}5$ days pregnant) and four nonpregnant were utilized in a five-day metabolic trial to determine the effects of gestational status (pregnant vs. non-pregnant) on apparent absorption and retention of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Animals were selected based on body weight, age, and gestational status, and randomly assigned to metabolic crates for total fecal and urine collection. Animals were allowed to acclimate to their new environment for seven days. Pregnant and non-pregnant cows and ewes were then paired (within a species) by body weight and pair-fed throughout the 5 day collection period. Copper and Zn intakes were similar for pregnant and non-pregnant animals within a species. Apparent absorption of Cu (p<0.06) and Zn (p<0.04) were higher in pregnant cows relative to non-pregnant cows. Pregnant cows also had a higher apparent retention of Cu (p<0.05) and Zn (p<0.06) relative to non-pregnant cows. Pregnant ewes had a higher (p<0.01) apparent absorption and retention of Zn compared to non-pregnant ewes. However, apparent absorption and retention of Cu were similar for pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. These data indicate that certain physiological and/or metabolic parameters are altered in pregnant cows and ewes consuming an alfalfa-based diet that enhance the apparent absorption and retention of certain trace minerals.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.17.1-17.13
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• 2017

Background: Omega-3 long-chain (${\geq}C_{20}$) polyunsaturated fatty acids (${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA) confer important attributes to health-conscious meat consumers due to the significant role they play in brain development, prevention of coronary heart disease, obesity and hypertension. In this study, the ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA content of raw and cooked Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle from genetically divergent Australian prime lambs supplemented with dietary degummed crude canola oil (DCCO) was evaluated. Methods: Samples of LTL muscle were sourced from 24 first cross ewe and wether lambs sired by Dorset, White Suffolk and Merino rams joined to Merino dams that were assigned to supplemental regimes of degummed crude canola oil (DCCO): a control diet at 0 mL/kg DM of DCCO (DCCOC); 25 mL/kg DM of DCCO (DCCOM) and 50 mL/kg DCCO (DCCOH). Lambs were individually housed and offered 1 kg/day/head for 42 days before being slaughtered. Samples for cooked analysis were prepared to a core temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ using conductive dry-heat. Results: Within raw meats: DCCOH supplemented lambs had significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of eicosapentaenoic (EPA, $20:5{\omega}3$) and EPA + docosahexaenoic (DHA, $22:6{\omega}3$) acids than those supplemented with DCCOM or DCCOC; Dorset sired lambs contained significantly (P < 0.05) more EPA and EPA + DHA than other sire breeds; diet and sire breed interactions were significant (P < 0.05) in affecting EPA and EPA + DHA concentrations. In cooked meat, ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA concentrations in DCCOM (32 mg/100 g), DCCOH (38 mg/100 g), Dorset (36 mg/100 g), White Suffolk (32 mg/100 g), ewes (32 mg/100 g) and wethers (33 mg/100 g), all exceeded the minimum content of 30 mg/100 g of edible cooked portion of EPA + DHA for Australian defined 'source' level ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA classification. Conclusion: These results present that combinations of dietary degummed crude canola oil, sheep genetics and culinary preparation method can be used as effective management tools to deliver nutritionally improved ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA lamb to meat consumers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.10
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• pp.36.1-36.9
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• 2015

Background: This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with rice bran, sire breed and gender on live animal performance and carcass characteristics in Australian crossbred and purebred Merino lambs. Methods: Forty-eight lambs balanced by sire breed (Dorset, White Suffolk, Merino) and gender (ewe, wether) were randomly allocated into three dietary supplementation groups (Control- 24 lambs fed wheat/barley-based pellets, Low- 12 animals fed a 50/50 ratio of wheat-based/rice bran pellets, and High- 12 lambs fed rice bran pellets). The Rice bran pellets replaced 19 % of the barley component of the feed. Animals were group-fed at the rate of 1000 g of the supplement per head per day with ad libitum access to lucerne hay as the basal diet and water. The duration of the feeding trial was 49 days with an initial 21-day adjustment period. Results: Sire breed differences were evident for initial (p < 0.0002) and final (p < 0.0016) liveweights, hot carcass (p < 0.0030) and cold carcass (p < 0.0031) weights, as well as dressing percentage (p < 0.0078), fat thickness (p < 0.0467), yield grade (p < 0.0470) and rib eye area (p < 0.0022) with purebred Merino under-performing compared to the crossbreds. Concentrate feed conversion efficiency, costs per unit of liveweight gain and over the hooks income were comparable between treatments regardless of the observed trend where the high supplementation group tended to show lower feed intake (745.8 g/day) compared to both the control (939.9 g/day) and low supplementation groups (909.6 g/day). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between treatments for live animal performance, carcass characteristics, gender and their second-order interactions. Conclusions: Results indicate that Rice bran can be utilised as a cost-effective supplementary feed source in genetically divergent sheep over a 49-day feeding period without detrimental effects on overall live animal performance or carcass characteristics.