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The aim of the present study was to estimate (co) variance components for birth weights of Karacabey Merino lambs. The model fitted included direct genetic, maternal genetic, and direct-maternal genetic covariance and maternal permanent environmental effects. Data and pedigree information of the Karacabey Merino sheep used in this study were collected at the Marmara Animal Breeding Research Institute from 1998 to 2002. Variance components for birth weights were estimated by the MTDFREML. A direct heritability estimate of 0.08 and a maternal heritability estimate of 0.05 were obtained for birth weight. The maternal permanent environmental effect was significant. The estimate of the direct-maternal genetic correlation was found high and negative. In conclusion, maternal effects on birth weight of Karacabey Merino lambs were significant and need to be considered in any selection program undertaken in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White muscle disease (WMD) is a world-wide nutritional disease of all animal species characterised by degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles. In the present study we determined the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in hearts of the lambs with WMD (n = 15). Eight clinically healthy lambs served as control. Creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were analysed for both groups. cTnI levels were measured by a commercially available ELISA kit. Mean cTnI (10.49 ± 0.25 ng/ml), CK (261.16 ± 38.61 U/l), CK-MB (214.16 ± 12.71 U/l), AST (125.83 ± 1.05), and LDH (228.77 ± 14.86 U/l) concentrations were higher in WMD cases. Immunohistochemistry revealed definitive loss of cTnI expression in all cases. None of the 8 controls showed loss of the cTnI expression. However, iNOS immunoreactivity was augmented in degenerated cardiac myocytes and macrophages infiltrating to the interstitium compared to controls. The results of the study suggested that cTnI antibody might successfully be used as a sensitive test in the diagnosis of myocardial injury. iNOS expression augments in cardiac myocytes in lambs with WMD, most likely through influencing the signalling pathways to iNOS induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the growth characteristics of Chios, Awassi, Akkaraman, and Dağlıç lambs in relation to milk yield of their dams under the same rearing conditions. Data were collected from 53 lactating ewes and their 77 lambs. Least squares weights of lambs at birth and on days 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 were found to be 3.1, 6.8, 8.7, 11.1, 13.4, 15.6, 17.2, 19.6, and 21.1 kg for Chios lambs; 4.2, 8.3, 10.9, 13.0, 15.4, 17.8, 22.3, 23.7, and 25.3 kg for Awassi lambs; 3.8, 7.5, 9.8, 12.7, 15.0, 17.2, 21.4, 23.1, and 24.8 kg for Akkaraman lambs; 2.8, 5.4, 7.4, 9.8, 11.5, 13.6, 15.9, 17.8, and 19.1 kg for Dağlıç lambs, respectively. Awassi and Akkaraman lambs were heavier than Chios and Dağlıç lambs in all ages; and differences among the breeds at all different growth periods were significant (P < 0.05). Lambs' sex and type of birth significantly affected the lambs' weights at different ages (P < 0.05). During the rearing period, Awassi and Chios breeds produced more milk (0.912 and 0.837 kg/day) than Akkaraman and Dağlıç (0.492 and 0.374 kg/day) breeds. However, high twin rates in Chios breed result in low lamb growth rates. Significant correlations were determined between dam milk yields and lamb growth rates as well as dam live weights and lamb growth rates (P < 0.05). Our results showed that Awassi and Akkaraman breeds performed better in terms of lamb growth rates. Therefore, they were found to be more suitable for lamb meat production in Central Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different slaughter weights on the fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of male Karayaka lambs at approximately 4 months of age. Thirty-six lambs, the initial liveweights of which were around 26.5 kg, were divided into 3 groups according to slaughter weight [(Group 1: 35 kg, n = 12), (Group 2: 40 kg, n = 12) and (Group 3: 45 kg, n = 12)] at the beginning of the fattening period. The average daily gain was 203.1, 214.5 and 195.0 g/day, feed conversion efficiency was 7.3, 8.6 and 8.8 kg, and the fattening period was 42.00, 64.67 and 95.08 day in Groups 1-3, respectively. There were significant differences among the groups for average feed conversion efficiency, metabolizable energy, crude protein, and the weight of the head, skin, feet, lung, liver, kidney, internal fat, gastro-intestinal tract and testes (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The lean, bone and fat weight, backfat thickness and musculus longissumus dorsi area in the carcass increased with increasing slaughter weight. In conclusion, the optimal slaughter weight is 40 kg for male Karayaka lambs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlations between the bacteriologic agent of lamb pneumonia and its pathologic characters were investigated in this study. Pneumonia was detected in 262 (35.41%) of 740 diseased or dead lambs. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 114 cases (14.96% of all lamb deaths and 43.51% of all pneumonias). Lung lesions were histopathologically described as acute-catarrhal (17.56%), catarrhal-purulent (14.50%), purulent-necrotic (9.54%), fibrinous (26.72%), fibrinous-necrotic (5.73%), interstitial (18.32%), or verminous pneumonia (7.63%). In bacteriological studies, Mannheimia haemolytica(56.14%), E. coli(24.56%), and Pasteurella multocida (10.52%) were detected as important bacterial agents that caused different pneumonic lesions in lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of defaunation, and the addition of urea and sulfur in the replacement of plant protein (PP) sources on concentrations of Na, K, Zn and Fe in the ruminal fluid, blood plasma and wool of lambs. Forty male Ramlic lambs, 2.70 ± 0.30 months of age, and weighing approximately 16.44 ± 0.41 kg, were used. Lambs were divided into 4 groups as follows: faunate + control diet (FC), defaunate + control diet (DC), faunate + experimental diet (FE), and defaunate + experimental diet (DE). The control diet contained plant protein as a N source, whereas the experimental diet was supplemented with urea and sulfur, both at 3% of BW per day. The forage portion of the diet was 350 g of alfalfa hay per lamb per day. Diets were fed twice daily in equal amounts. Defaunation, or feeding a diet supplemented with urea and sulfur in place of plant protein sources, had no effect on ruminal fluid Na concentrations but there was an interaction on Na concentration in the rumen fluid. Ruminal K concentration was lower (P < 0.021) in the experimental diet versus the control diet, while it was not affected by defaunation. There was an interaction effect on Zn concentration in rumen fluid. Plasma Na, K and Zn concentrations were not affected by treatments, whereas defaunation significantly decreased (P < 0.048) plasma Fe concentration. Defaunation or N source had no effect on Na, K, Zn and Fe concentrations in wool. We concluded that both defaunation and feeding a diet supplemented with urea and sulfur in place of plant protein sources did not affect blood plasma, except for Fe, and wool Na, K, Zn and Fe concentrations despite differences in their ruminal concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the growth characteristics of Kývýrcýk sheep and describe non-genetic factors influencing their expression. Data were collected from 6 flocks including a nucleus flock and 5 breeders’ flocks (2 in mountainous and 3 in lowland villages). Flocks raised in extensive conditions were kept in pastures throughout the year. The body weight of ewes at parturition and the birth and weaning weight of lambs were recorded during 2 lambing seasons (1999-2000 and 2000-2001). The least-squares mean of ewe body weight at parturition was 42.2 kg. Lambing season, flock and age of ewe were significant (P < 0.01) sources of variation for body weights of ewes at parturition. Mean birth weight of lambs was 3.56 kg. The means of flock, birth type and sex of lambs for birth weight were significantly different (P < 0.01); however, the effect of lambing season and age of dam on birth weight was not significant. Birth weight was also significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by dam body weight at parturition. Mean weaning weight of lambs weaned at an average age of 66.5 days was 18.5 kg. Weaning weight was influenced significantly by lambing season, flock, sex, birth weight and weaning age (P < 0.01) but not by birth type or age of dam. The results of this study indicated that Kývýrcýk lambs had a good growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the pathological findings of non-suppurative encephalomyelitis associated with a Sarcocystis-like protozoan in a 10-month-old ewe lamb showing neurological signs. The encephalomyelitis was characterized by mild to moderate multifocal perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrations, and randomly scattered glial foci, especially more severe in the thalamus, cerebellum, and pons. A few protozoan meronts were observed within the endothelium of small capillaries in the thalamus, and small numbers of mature tissue cysts, similar to muscle sarcocysts, in sections of the cerebrum and pons. All muscle samples of this lamb had also a severe mixed infection with sarcocysts of S. tenella and S. arieticanis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted between January and May 2003 in small-holder sheep farms in Konya. A total of 471 faecal specimens obtained from 1-60 - day-old lambs were examined for the oocysts and coproantigens of Cryptosporidium parvum by Modified Ziehl Neelsen (MZN) staining technique and ELISA. The oocysts and coproantigens of C. parvum were identified in 14 (2.97%) and 43 (9.13%) of the 471 lambs, respectively. The infected lambs examined in the study were asymptomatically infected with C. parvum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the behaviour responses of the crossbred lambs [F2 (German Black-Headed Mutton x Merino) x F1 (Chios x Kývýrcýk)] were compared with the Kývýrcýk lambs in intensive conditions and the effects of genotype, sex and observation period on the behaviours displayed were investigated. The data were collected from 10 (5 male + 5 female) Kývýrcýk and 10 (5 male + 5 female) crossbred lambs, which were weaned at the age of 2-2.5 months. The effect of genotype was found significant on the behaviours of feed consumption (P < 0.01), activities towards the bedding material (P < 0.05), rumination (P < 0.01), lying (P < 0.01), oral stereotypic behaviours (OSB) (P < 0.01) and behaviours towards animal (BTA) (P < 0.01). Behaviours towards other animals and oral stereotypic behaviours in the crossbred lambs were 50% and 27% more than the Kývýrcýk lambs, respectively. Significant differences in terms of the activities towards the bedding material (P < 0.05), rumination (P < 0.01) and lying (P < 0.01) behaviours were determined between the male and female lambs. It was seen that the male lambs were more active in the breeding area. The effects of observation period were found significant on feeding (P < 0.01), drinking (P < 0.01), rumination (P < 0.01), lying (P < 0.01), standing (P < 0.01), oral stereotypic behaviours (P < 0.01) and behaviours towards animals (P < 0.05). Although the crossbred lambs were more superior for fattening program in terms of live weight gains, they showed more abnormal behaviours (OSB and BTA), which are the signs of stress, in the limited breeding area, depend on the lessening of the area by the rise in their live weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sero-prevalence of contagious ecthyma (orf) in lambs and humans was studied in the Kars region of Turkey. For this purpose, serum samples were collected from 320 lambs from 5 different districts of the Kars region. Serum samples were also collected from 100 humans at risk of infection. The serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to orf virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that 52.81% and 5% of the serum samples collected from lambs and humans, respectively, were seropositive for orf virus. These results indicate that contagious ecthyma is a prevalent infection in lambs and that humans who are in regular contact with sheep are at risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify Eimeria species in lambs in Antakya province. For this purpose, 248 samples were collected from 34 randomly selected lamb herds in 6 different towns. In the laboratory examination of samples, 10 different Eimeria species were identified in Antakya province. These species were E. ahsata(11.29%), E. bakuensis(38.70%), E. crandallis(64.91%), E. faurei(11.29%), E. intricata( 9.27%), E. marsica(16.93%), E. ovinoidalis (55.24%), E. pallida (3.62%), E. parva (13.30%), and E. weybridgensis (30.24%). Among these species, E. weybridgensis, E. marsica and the varieties of E. crandallis (small and blue varieties) are reported for the first time in Antakya province. E. gilruthi, E. gonzalezi, E. granulosa and E. punctata were not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted from data from 3 years of research performed at the Türkgeldi State Farm in 1997-2000. A total of 1053 Türkgeldi Pro-type B1 Tahirova x Kƒvƒrcƒk sheep including mature and young individuals were used as the study material. Litter size and fecundity were 1.42 and 1.51, respectively. The averages of birth weights and weaning weights were 3.43 and 20.04 kg, respectively. The average lactation milk yield was 100.62 kg, and the lactation period was 174.90 days. The levels of milk fat, protein, dry matter, ash and casein were 7.36%, 5.28%, 18.72%, 0.98% and 4.37%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of some factors on litter size fertility and pregnancy period in Morkaraman sheep as well as birth weight and survival rate in Morkaraman, Dorset Down x Morkaraman (F1) crossbreed lambs. In the present study, 151 Morkaraman sheep of different ages, and 110 purebred and 46 crossbreed (Dorset Down x Morkaraman F1) lambs were used as the research material. The effect of the genotype and birth weight on pregnancy period were significant (P < 0.01). However, the effects of birth type, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep were not. The effects of birth type, genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on birth weight were significant (P < 0.01). The effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on the number of lambs per gestation were not significant. The effects of birth type on the survival rate of the lambs were significant (P < 0.01); on the other hand, the effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on survival rate were not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of cranial duplication (Dicephalus) was described in a newborn lamb. The radiographic and macroscopic examination was performed after the cesarean section. The lamb's heads were not completely separated. A complete nasopharynx, oropharynx, laringopharynx, and normal tongue were present in each head. The lamb died shortly after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated 30 lambs, 20 naturally infected with coccidia oocysts (infected group) and 10 healthy lambs (control group). Blood samples were collected from both groups for evaluation of ascorbic acid values in plasma and blood cells analysis. Mean plasma ascorbic acid values in the infected group were lower than those in the control group (0.76 ± 0.19 and 2.00 ± 0.58 mg/dl, respectively). A decrease in erythrocyte, haemoglobin and haematocrit values and an increase in leukocyte values were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]