Abstract: Blood samples obtained 24 and 36 hr postparturition from 187 calves in 2 years were analyzed for serum concentration of immunoglobulins G1 (IgG1) and M (IgM). Serum and colostrum samples also were obtained from their dams, and corresponding immunoglobulin levels were determined. Calves were evaluated for their ability to acquire and absorb immunoglobulins and cows for their ability to produce immunoglobulins. Mathematical models included sources of variation for breed of sire, sire within breed, breed of dam, age of dam and sex of calf. Of these factors, breed of sire, breed of dam and age of dam were the most important. Simmental- and Pinzgauer-sired calves tended (p = .07) to have lower IgG1 and IgM levels than calves sired by Hereford, Hereford X Angus and Tarentaise bulls. Calves of Hereford X Angus dams had consistently higher immunoglobulin concentrations than calves of Hereford dams. Hereford X Angus cows tended to have higher colostrum concentrations and lower serum concentrations of the two immunoglobulins than Hereford cows. A fetal sire effect was demonstrated for serum IgM concentrations in that cows mated to Simmental bulls had lower (P = .05) concentrations than cows mated to bulls of other breeds. Advancing age of dam was associated with higher concentrations of immunoglobulins, except for serum IgM in the calf and in the cow. Correlations between serum and colostrum concentrations of both immunoglobulins in the dam were low, as were correlations between cow colostrum concentration and calf serum concentration of IgG1. IgM in the colostrum was positively associated with IgM in calf serum, however. Heritability estimates for calf serum IgG1 concentration were high (.52 +/- .28 and .69 +/- 30 at 24 and 36 hr, respectively), while estimates for heritability of IgM concentrations were intermediate (.30 +/- .26 and .35 +/- .26 at 24 and 36 hr, respectively). There was no evidence that sires within breeds influenced, through the fetus, immunoglobulin concentrations in serum or colostrum of their mates. Relatively high repeatabilities for all traits imply that observed differences among cows were due in part to genetic and (or) permanent environmental differences.

Abstract: Domestic cattle have paradoxical tendencies both to approach and to avoid humans Approach (investigating a person lying on the ground) and avoidance (flight distance) were studied in 21 herds of 12Bos taurus, B indicus, andB taurus x B indicus breeds located in a homogeneous, Brazilian environment Seven herds were compared in their investigatory responses to a human and a ball Breed differences were evident for approach and avoidance behavior, which had little relationship with one another When reactions to the person and ball were compared, the responses were also breed specific but negatively correlated Age took precedence over breed affiliation in investigating the human The results were interpreted in a predator-prey context

Abstract: Data were available on crossbred meat lambs for 10 live-weight and growth traits (2585 lambs), 5 carcass traits (1884 lambs) and 10 dissection traits (944 lambs). These were the progeny born on an experimental farm over 5 years, from 102, 79 and 65 sires respectively for the three groups of traits. Genetic parameters were estimated from the sire components in a nested analysis of variance within breed of sire and year subclass, adjusting for sex, dam age, rearing type and other factors.The heritabilities of the live-weight and growth traits were all low, the highest being average daily gain to slaughter (0·10, s.e. 0·06), and none was statistically significant. The heritabilities of the traits of carcass composition were much higher: percentage lean (0·41, s.e. 0·13), percentage fat (0·37, s.e. 0·13) and percentage bone (0·16, s.e. 0·10). Intermediate values were found for most other traits: killing-out percentage (0·16, s.e. 0·07), fat depth (0·21, s.e. 0·11), eye-muscle area (0·14, s.e. 0·10) and lean/bone ratio (0·13, s.e. 0·09).Phenotypic and genetic correlations among the traits were also estimated. No major incompatibilities were found among the traits. The results are discussed in relation to the genetic improvement of lean meat production in sheep.

Abstract: Fiber type numbers, percentages and diameter were evaluated in two experiments. Experiment 1 contained Angus and Angus cross cattle consisting of 48 steers and 48 heifers with half of each sex fed grain while the other half were fed grain-on-grass. Experiment 2 contained 12 Angus and 12 Simmental cross steers slaughtered at four feeding system endpoints. Steers tended to have a higher percentage of βR and a lower percentage of αW fibers than heifers; The percentage of βR fibers increased in the longissimus and semi-membranosus, while the αW fibers decreased. The percentage of αW fibers in the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles increased over the longer feeding period while the percentage βR tended to decrease. Breed appeared to have little effect on histological traits in the longissimus and semimembranosus muscles. Bundle size had no effect on fiber type diameter; however, in all muscles there was a tendency for the βR population to increase as bundle size increased.

Abstract: Breed and heterosis effects for maternal and calf components for weaning traits were measured in the progeny of Angus (A), Brahman (B) and Charolais (C) sires mated to A, B, C and reciprocal AB, AC and BC dams. Additive breed effects for the calf component for weaning weight were -3.0 +/- 3.2, -26.6 +/- 3.1 and 29.6 +/- 3.3 kg for A, B and C, respectively. Corresponding maternal breed effects were -1.7 +/- 2.4, 7.8 +/- 2.3 and -6.1 +/- 2.6 kilograms. Heterosis effects on weaning weight for the calf component were 21.2 +/- 3.6 for AB, 1.4 +/- 3.7 for AC and 16.5 +/- 3.4 for BC crosses, while heterosis levels for the maternal component were 28.9 +/- 2.7 for AB, 16.5 +/- 3.2 for AC and 18.7 +/- 2.9 kg for BC dams. The corresponding estimates for condition scores tended to parallel those for weaning weight. Approximate relative production efficiency rates were computed for the different mating groups as (calf weight divided by cow weight) x weaning rate. These values were .34 for purebred matings, .36 for purebred dams raising F1 calves, .40 for F1 cows raising backcross calves and .43 for F1 dams raising three breed crossbred calves.

Abstract: Eighty-eight multiparous sows of four breeds -British Landrace (BL), Chester White (CW), Large White (LW) and Yorkshire(Y)-were mated to boars of their own breed or another breed-BL, Hampshire (H) or Y-to form eight breed groups. All sows were fed daily 1,8 kg of a standard 14% protein gestation diet based on corn-soybean meal through day 100 of pregnancy (6,000 kcal digestible energy/day). From day 100 of gestation to parturition, each sow received either the basal diet (6,000 kcal digestible energy/day) or the basal diet plus 1.82 kg corn starch (12,000 kcal digestible energy/day). All sows were fed a 16% protein corn-soybean meal-based diet ad libitum from day 1 to day 28 of lactation. Energy intake during gestation had no effect on individual pig birth weight, percentage survival or 28-day body weight. There were differences among breeds in pig birth weight (P less than .01) and 28-day weight (P less than .01), and a breed X gestation energy level interaction (P less than .05) was found, but the biological significance is questionable because of the small sample size. Pigs that nursed before blood samples were taken had lower (P less than .01) hematocrit than pigs not allowed to nurse before blood sampling. Energy intake of the dam had no effect on the magnitude of the difference between nursed and nonnursed pigs. We conclude than the normal pregnant dam maintains blood glucose homeostasis during hyperalimentation, thereby rendering ineffective this approach to increasing neonatal growth and survival.

Abstract: Summary An experiment that utilized the Suffolk breed as a standard of comparison was de- signed to evaluate the Columbia breed as a potential terminal sire breed. Lambs were born in 1978 to 333 Finncross ewes bred to Colum- bia (18) or Suffolk (10) rams. Breed of sire did not significantly affect ewe prolificacy, litter viability, number of lambs weaned per ewe lambing or litter weaning weight at 49 days of age. Litters sired by Columbia rams were lighter (P<.10) at birth than Suffolk-sired litters. Suffolk-sired lambs had higher (P< .05) birth weights, preweaning daily gains and wean- ing weights than lambs sired by Columbia rams. Sire breed effects on postweaning daily gain and 154-day weight were not significant but favored progeny of Suffolk rams by 4 and 2%, respectively. Columbia-sired lambs had lower leg conformation scores (P<.01), less fat depth (P<.05) and less percentage kidney fat (P<.10) than Iambs sired by Suffolk rams. Progeny of Columbia rams tended to have a greater esti- mated percentage of trimmed retail cuts (P< .10) and less carcass weight per day of age (P<.10) than Suffolk-sired lambs, while produc- tion of retail cuts per day of age was compara- ble for the two breed groups. Lambs sired by Suffolk rams had higher carcass conformation scores (P<.10), maturity scores (P<.05) and flank firmness scores (P<.10) than progeny of Columbia rams. Sire breed effects on carcass quality grade were not significant. We conclu- ded that Columbia rams produced progeny comparable in lean growth rate and carcass quality to progeny sired by Suffolk rams and Cooperation of the Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Nebraska at Lincoln, is gratefully acknowl- edged. 2 Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Cen- ter, AR, SEA. a Present address: Anim. Sei. Dept., Texas A&M Univ., College Station 77843. that the Columbia breed may serve effectively as a terminal sire breed. (Key Words-. Sheep, Ewe Productivity, Growth, Carcass Composition, Quality Grade.)

Abstract: In the first phase of the Meat and Livestock Commission's beef breed evaluation programme, cattle were slaughtered at a fixed subcutaneous fat percentage in carcass. Slaughter point was determined from fat areas measured over the m. longissimus at the 10th and 13th ribs by the Scanogram ultrasonic machine.The accuracy of the slaughter procedure was examined using data for 1367 cattle from the first 3 years of the programme. Subcutaneous fat percentage predicted from the ultrasonic measurements was compared with the percentage estimated by visual assessment of carcass fat cover. The s.d. of the difference between the two was 1·65.Data for a subset of 313 cattle were used to examine the relationships between the ultrasonically measured fat areas and actual subcutaneous fat percentage obtained by dissection. The residual s.d. for the prediction of subcutaneous fat within breed and production system was 1-18.The level of accuracy achieved was considered to be satisfactory within the context of the beef breed evaluation programme.

Abstract: The Mute Swan Cygnus olor population of the Fleet and Radipole Lake, Dorset, have been studied since 1968. The majority of the breeding pairs are in a colony at Abbotsbury on the Fleet. A proportion of their cygnets are reared artificially; few others survive. Regular counts show an influx of birds coming to moult and to winter; their origin is not yet known. Long-term counts show only moderate fluctuations in numbers, the peak having varied from 733 to 1,238 in the course of the study, while the number of breeding pairs has varied from 18-100 at Abbotsbury, and 15-35 at Radipole Lake. The breeding season starts later and the clutch size averages smaller than the Mute Swans elsewhere in southern Britain. Survival of adult birds is higher than elsewhere in Britain, and that of the reared cygnets can be very high. The latter show a correlation between weight and survival. Females start to breed earlier than males, but significant proportions of both sexes do not breed every year despite having achieved breeding status. Comparisons are drawn with colonially breeding swans in Denmark and with populations of territorial birds elsewhere in Britain.

Abstract: A population of 1150 first-cross females representing the Hereford-Angus (control) and nine crosses produced by mating bulls of the Charolais (C), Simmental (S), and Limousin (L) breeds with cows of Hereford (H), Angus (A) and Shorthorn (N) breeding provided the data base for breed-cross comparisons of lifetime reproductive performance under two contrasting environments. These data comprised 6022 mating opportunities and 5053 pregnancies recorded during a period that commenced with the breeding season of 1971 and terminated at weaning in the fall of 1979.There were substantial location differences in all performance criteria with the relatively stringent range environment (Manyberries, Alberta) resulting in greater cow losses, lower conception and weaning rates, and less weight of calf weaned than occurred under semi-intensive pasture management (Brandon, Manitoba). Barren culls comprised the largest proportion of cow losses with sire breed ranking C < S < L and dam breed ranking A < H < N for the exotic ...

Abstract: A mixed breed flock of lambs, consisting of Suffolks, Hampshires, Columbias and Finnish breeds, were vaccinated with binary ethylenimine inactivated bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes 11, 17 and a mixture of 11 and 17 in aluminum hydroxide. Agar gel precipitin antibodies were used as an indicator of immunity. Sero-conversion of Hampshires and Suffolk lambs was poor at 43% as compared to 84% in the Columbia and Finn lambs. These results indicate a breed difference in immunological response to inactivated BTV vaccine.

Abstract: Body composition of 324 steers from Angus dams by ten different sire breeds was compared at constant age. Progeny of the large European breeds and the Friesian attained heavier fasted live weights and carcass weights than the local Angus and Hereford breeds. Friesian cross-breds had the lowest dressing percentage. The Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin crosses had the lightest bone weights and this was reflected in high meat yields. The European breeds had the leanest carcasses, the traditional beef breeds the heaviest subcutaneous fat weights and the dairy breeds the heaviest internal fat weights. The results are discussed in relation to overseas findings.

Abstract: Single and twin purebred Scottish Blackface lambs born to Blackface ewes, and Suffolk cross lambs born to East Friesland × Blackface ewes, were removed from their dams at birth and cross-fostered to give all combinations of breed of ewe, breed of lamb and number of lambs suckled, with no ewe rearing her own lamb.Milk production was measured on 1 day/week for 14 weeks. The effect of ewe breed was significant in all weeks, with the East Friesland cross ewes having a higher peak and a more sustained level of production than the Blackface ewes. Ewes suckling twins produced more milk than those suckling singles. Breed-of-lamb effect was significant during the first 5 to 6 weeks of lactation, with crossbred lambs inducing a higher milk output than Blackface lambs, irrespective of the breed of ewe suckled. Beyond this stage, lactation potential of the ewe replaced demand by the lamb as the first limiting factor.Food intake by ewes during the first 6 weeks differed slightly with both ewe and lamb breed but there were larger differences associated with number of lambs suckled.The data suggest that lambs on higher milk intake consume a smaller proportion of solid feed but that, in all groups, live weight at 14 weeks of age was closely related to milk intake.

Abstract: The effect of three different stocking rates and two grazing methods (3 x 2 factorial experiment) on grass production, grass availability, grazing behaviour, herbage intake, larval infection and weight gain was studied in 36 female calves of the Red Danish Milk breed. The age and the weight at the start of the trial were 6.2 months and 170 kg, respectively.

Abstract: Methods for estimating genetic and maternal effects in crossbred populations were extended and generalized to allow estimation of optimal breed combinations. Coefficients of the effects were expressed in terms of the probabilities of obtaining genes from a given parental breed through the sire (PiS), dam (PiD) and maternal grandsire (piS). The formulas are applicable to crosses involving any number of breeds. For purposes of graphic presentation, available genetic and maternal parameters for 205-day weight derived from data involving the Angus (A), Charolais (C) and Hereford (H) breeds were used to develop response surfaces for all two-breed combinations of the A, C and H breeds. PiS, PiD and PiS ranged from 0 to 1. In crosses involving varying proportions of the A and C or the H and C breeds, an increased proportion of C genes resulted in increased 205-day weight, and the shape of the performance surface was largely determined by the breed additive effects of the C breed. Individual and maternal heterosis effects influenced the shape of the performance surface of crosses involving varying proportions of A and H. Application of results to the formation of synthetic breeds is discussed.

Abstract: A study of West African Dwarf goats over a 5 year period indicated that these animals are not seasonal breeders but kid throughout the year. Sixty-five per cent of does kidded twice a year and multiple births accounted for 59% of all births. Seventy-two per cent of all deaths were of kids under 3 months of age. Pneumonia and starvation were the main causes of death. It is suggested that this is potentially a prolific breed which with proper husbandry and selection could help to meet the need for animal protein in sub-Saharan West Africa.

Abstract: Inbreeding with concurrent selection was used to develop 26 Rambouillet, 20 Targhee and 10 Columbia inbred lines of sheep. Inbreeding coefficients averaged 30, 29 and 30% for the three breeds, respectively, at the conclusion of the study. A selected noninbred control group and a randomly bred unselected control group were maintained for each breed. Yearling traits were evaluated for 545 Rambouillet, 572 Targhee and 411 Columbia yearling ewes, each belonging to one of the inbred lines or control groups. In each breed, the selected controls were generally of greatest overall merit, the unselected controls intermediate and the inbred lines of least merit. Only a few yearling traits of only a few inbred lines were superior (P less than .05) to those of their appropriate selected control groups. Selection within inbred lines was generally ineffective in offsetting inbreeding depression. However, single trait selection for traits of high heritability, notably yearling weight, clean fleece weight and staple length, appeared to compensate for inbreeding effects on those traits. Deleterious consequences of inbreeding were particularly apparent in yearling weight, average daily gain, type and condition scores, grease and clean fleece weights and index of overall merit. Inbreeding also resulted in fewer neck folds among inbreds of all three breeds. Correlations between the rankings of inbred lines at weaning and yearling ages were high for traits of higher heritability. Superiority of the selected controls in most traits was of about the same magnitude at weaning and yearling ages. In no case did the final overall merit (index value) of an inbred line of any of the three breeds significantly exceed the overall merit of its respective selected control group.

Abstract: The effect of sire breed on the growth and development of carcass characteristics was examined in 104 steer carcasses, over the weight range of c. 300 to 600 kg liveweight. The carcasses were obtained from 28 straightbred Hereford, 27 Brahman x Hereford, 23 Simmental x Hereford and 26 Friesian x Hereford steers, which were grown on pasture and slaughtered in four groups when the Herefords weighed c. 270, 370, 470 and 570 kg liveweight. Changes in carcass characteristics with weight were examined by using the linear form of the allometric equation (log10Y = log10A+blog10X). As liveweight increased, the proportion of carcass in the body increased (b = 1.152). At the same liveweight, Brahman cross steers had heavier carcasses than the Hereford steers, which were heavier than either the Simmental or Friesian cross steers (P 0.05). C:rcass length and eye muscle area increased at a proportionally slower rate than carcass weight (b = 0.268 and 0.466 respectively). At the same carcass weight, Friesian cross carcasses were longer, and Simmental cross carcasses had a larger eye muscle area than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). As total side weight increased, the proportions of subcutaneous and intermuscular fatAincreased (b = 1.554 and 1.535 respectively), and the proportions of muscle and bone decreased (b = 0.938 and 0.676 respectively). At the same side weight, the Hereford and Brahman cross carcasses had more subcutaneous fat than the Simmental and Friesian cross carcasses (P < 0.05). The Hereford carcasses had more intermuscular fat than the Simmental cross carcasses, which had more muscle than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). Friesian cross carcasses had more bone than the Simmental crosses, with Brahman cross and Hereford carcasses having the least bone (P < 0.05). Brahman cross carcasses had a higher conformation score than the Simmental cross and Hereford carcasses, the Friesian cross carcasses having the lowest (P < 0.05). Samples of the M. longissimus from Brahman cross carcasses had a higher Warner-Bratzler shear force than samples from the other breed crosses (P < 0.05).

Abstract: Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire boars were mated with crossbred gilts of Duroc-Hampshire, Duroc-Yorkshire and Hampshire-Yorkshire breeding to produce 133 three-breed and 259 backcross litters that were farrowed during four seasons beginning in the fall of 1975. Three-breed cross litters were .31 +/- .27, .57 +/- .24 and .50 +/- .24 pigs larger than backcross litters at birth, 21 and 42 days, respectively, and .6 +/- .34, 2.3 +/- 1.2 and 5.4 +/- 2.4 kg heavier at these ages. The differences in average pig weight and survival percentage were small. Three-breed cross litters gained faster (.024 +/- .007 kg/day) and were younger (-4.7 +/- 1.5 days) at 100 kilograms. Three-breed cross pigs were about 3% more efficient than backcross pigs. The differences in average backfat probe and average daily feed intake were small and not significant. Breed of sire contrasts for litter traits were small and not significant. However, significant differences between sire breeds existed for postweaning performance. Also, few differences between crossbred dam groups were significant for litter size or litter weight, but significant differences in postweaning performance existed between progeny of crossbred dam groups. In general, pigs with Duroc breeding had the fastest growth rate and those with Hampshire breeding were the leanest.

Abstract: わが国において飼養されている日本ザーネン種山羊7地域集団,合計245個体より採取した血液試料中の酵素および非酵素蛋白25種類の構造を支配する27の遺伝子座位について,澱粉ゲル電気泳動法により蛋白多型の検索を行なった.その結果,hemoglobin-β,transferrin, plasma non-specificesterase, alkaline phosphatase, prealbumin-3, amylase, cell esterase D, phosphohexose isomerase(PHI), cell esterase-1, adenylate kinaseおよびpeptidase Bの合計11遺伝子座位において遺伝支配によると推定される蛋白多型が検出された.この内,PHI座位において欠失個体3例が発見された.各地域集団内の多型座位の割合(Ppoly)は11.1～29.6%,平均ヘテロ合体率(H)は3.3～6.2%,日本ザ-ネン種全体では,Ppoly25.9%,H5.0%であった.また各地域集団間の遺伝的距離(D)は群馬県農家と福岡県農家との間で最小の値0.0004を,岐阜大学附属農場と沖縄県農家との間で最大の値0.0065を示した.これらの値より日本ザーネン種の各地域集団間の遺伝子構成は均一であり,その遺伝的変異性は他家畜集団のそれと比較して低い値をとることが認められた.

Abstract: Beef bulls are not infrequently raised from birth on a diet that ensures maximum growth for exhibition in the show ring. Moreover, many breed societies advocate management in order to promote this practice (Hereford Breed Handbook, 1957). Such bulls tend to be excessively fat and, not infrequently, show ring champions have proved to be temporarily or permanently infertile. Attention has been focused on the Hereford breed (Williams, 1965) as the semen from eight bulls of low fertility was found to contain a very high percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. However, other breeds when fattened have shown similar tendencies (J. D. Skinner, unpublished). It has been suggested (Williams, 1965) that the reasons for these findings could have been hereditary, but some of the abnormalities were similar to those produced under conditions of heat stress (Austin, Hupp and Murphree, 1961a; Skinner and Louw, 1966). It is possible that the lowered fertility of show bulls results from excessive fat deposition above and around the testes in the scrotum, thereby insulating them and preventing heat exchange mechanisms from functioning efficiently. The results reported here are part of a study designed to examine. what happens to reproductive development and semen production in bulls on normal and very high planes of growth.

Abstract: Birth and weaning weights were studied for purebred Finnsheep, Suffolk, Targhee and Minnesota 100; F1 Finnsheep crosses; F2: and standard breed and Finnsheep backcrosses Finnsheep lambs were the smallest of all lambs at birth, but ranked second among purebreds in 70-day weaning weight (Suffolks, 210 kg vs Finnsheep, 176 kg) Ewe body weight, grease fleece production and total adjusted weight of weaned lamb were compared among purebreds and crossbreds The Finnsheep was the smallest pure breed, yielded the lightest fleeces, but produced the heaviest total weight of weaned lamb The F1 ewes were all heavier and produced more wool than the midparent mean of their respective breeds They also produced markedly more weaned lamb than did the parental standard breeds Body weight, wool and lamb production were all lower in the F2 than in the F1 groups Ewe index was calculated as the total adjusted (male, 70-day equivalent) weight of weaned lamb plus three times the grease fleece weight The ranking of purebreds was Finnsheep, Targhee, Suffolk and Minnesota 100 Average ewe index values for F1 ewes were greater than those for respective parental and standard breeds F2 and standard breed backcross ewes had lower index values than did F1 or Finnsheep backcross ewes Ewe index per unit of ewe body weight was also evaluated Finnsheep ranked highest, followed by the 3/4 Finnsheep The Targhee was the best of the standard breeds for this index