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Sexual segregation is observed widely among ruminants, but remains poorly understood in argali. Since sexual segregation is affected by habitat, and in different environments may differ among species and subspecies, we studied this behavioral pattern in Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) in their natural habitat at high elevations of the Pamir Plateau using three distinct measurements. We found that, similar to other wild sheep, female and male Marco Polo sheep were highly segregated most of the year and gathered into mixed-sex groups mostly during the rut, which occurred later and for a shorter time than in other argali subspecies experiencing milder climates. This phenomenon was related to the severe environmental conditions of the Pamir Plateau that provided a very short period of favorable weather for birthing and rearing young; correspondingly, aggregation into mixed-sex groups during the rut also occurred later and for a shorter period of time than in other argali populations at lower elevations. Moreover, the degree of segregation between females and males increased with the males’ age. Subadult males switched between male and female groups, staying more with males during lambing and with females during the rut. The timing and duration of sexual segregation and aggregation of Marco Polo sheep were a result of adaption to their local environment.

The mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is the largest wild terrestrial mammal of Cyprus. Regarded as the local flagship species, its population range is limited to the mountainous Paphos Forest and adjacent areas including part of Troodos National Forest Park (> 700 Km2). This species, protected by both national and international legislation, is classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with livestock intrusion, poaching and habitat loss as the main threatening factors. We determined the spatial genetic structure by investigating sexes separately and shed further light on the Cyprus mouflon placement among Ovis haplogroups (HGs) to enforce its protection within an adaptive conservation framework. We genotyped 108 samples collected across the entire species’ range at both14 loci of the microsatellite DNA and the mitochondrial DNA Control Region (CR). Microsatellite genotyping indicated that the wild population retained low genetic variability, which, however, was not associated with a level of inbreeding raising particular concern (FIS = 0.12). An overall weak spatial genetic structure was disclosed, consistently with the limited extension of the mouflon range, the lack of significant physical barriers to dispersal and the intense gene flow mostly occurring along a northeast-southwest axis across the forest. Nevertheless, evidences of structure were found for females in compliance with their philopatric behaviour. The disclosure of unique features compared to Mediterranean and Near East conspecifics, such as the occurrence of a six-fold 76 bp-long repeated motif in the Cyprus mouflon CR, along with the outcome of a phylogenetic reconstruction (based on a far higher number of Ovis GenBank records and Cyprus haplotypes than in previous studies) inspired the proposal of a new haplogroup (HGC2) which included the Anatolian mouflon (O. g. anatolica, former HGX) as sister taxon. While both high habitat heterogeneity and low human disturbance were the main drivers in determining the overall spatial structure, future conservation efforts to preserve this valuable genetic resource should focus on avoiding possible introgressive hybridisation with co-grazing livestock to the edge of its range.

The maximum entropy (Maxent) model was used to predict the distribution of Persian leopards and wild sheep in the Tang-e-Sayad protected area in Iran. For this purpose, eight variables, as well as 30 occurrence points of leopard and 98 points of wild sheep, were used. Two techniques, density-based occurrence points thinning and performance-based predictor variables selection were used to improve the results of the model. The model results were analyzed based on four threshold limit-based statistics (sensitivity, specificity, kappa and true skill statistics) and area under the curve (AUC), followed by determining the relative importance of variables based on the jackknife procedure. The results of threshold limit-based statistics revealed that the success of the model for distribution prediction of leopard and wild sheep were good and relatively good, respectively. According to the jackknife procedure, for wild sheep and for leopard, slope and distance to road, respectively, were the most important predictor variables. The results also indicated that the efficiency of the model did not improve by reducing the density of occurrence points for the wild sheep (AUC=0.784–0.773). However, the selection of predictor variables slightly improved the performance of the model (AUC=0.794–0.819). The results of the study also showed overlapping habitat for two species due to both human and ecological reasons for which we proposed some conservation actions such as excluding domestic grazing, controlling illegal poaching and restoration of old migratory corridors.

This article advances the hypotheses that sheep (Ovis aries Linnaeus, 1758) and goats (Capra hircus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Neolithic Middle East were employed regularly as pack animals and were domesticated to serve as pack animals. The employment of pack ovicaprines, especially pack goats, can explain how obsidian and other goods that circulated in exchange networks were transported across long distances and mountainous terrain. A pack goat can carry 30% of its weight over 24 km of mountainous terrain daily. A lactating dam can provide milk for human consumption on the trail. Compared to pack sheep and pack cattle, pack goats are more agile and adaptable to a greater variety of environments. Training a goat to pack is not difficult, and research on caprines' social preferences suggests that the wild sheep (Ovis orientalis Gmelin, 1774) and wild goat (Capra aegagrus Erxleben, 1777), if born in human captivity, could be trained to pack. Findings support the hypothesis that dairying originated from the training and use of pack goats in the Neolithic. Goats usually don't sustain bone pathology from bearing pack loads, and bone pathology and increased bone robustness from pack-bearing, especially of goats, may be impossible to discern from the faunal record. Neolithic figurative evidence of pack ovicaprines is highlighted.

The Laristan mouflon ( Ovis orientalis laristanica ) is considered as the smallest wild sheep in the world and a vulnerable species. This study analysed the mating behaviour of 30 individuals including nine rams, 13 ewes and eight lambs in captivity in the Chitgar woodland Tehran, Iran. In general, the main behaviours comprised ewe-ram and ram-ram positive and negative interactions, consisting of ram fighting and ewe's stimulation. Moreover, ewe-ewe interaction, ranking and defining the territory was recorded for further researches. The study also focused on weather conditions and its connection to the harshness of the mating behaviour.

Keeping and breeding Dall's Sheep ( Ovis dalli ) in Leipzig Zoo between 1982 and 2009 are reflected and analysed. Seven animals were brought into the collection. 60 specimens were kept so far. The species hast turned out to be difficult in Middle-Europe‘s climate but nevertheless is manageable and reproductive. The rearing rate (animals have reached at least the age of 1 year) is 40%. Remarkable veterinarian treatments for keeping the stock healthy and especially for ensuring the breeding are described. For sure, deep engagement of keepers, veterinarians and curators is needed to keep this species successfully. Hopefully a lot of colleagues will take this as a challenge to increase numbers in Europe by joining the group of holders of this splendid wild sheep.

Sexual segregation, a widely observed phenomenon in vertebrates, is commonly categorized into habitat and social segregation. A universal explanation for sexual segregation is, however, lacking and debated. Causes of segregation and their division into proximate and ultimate causes is also highly debated, and the relative contributions of habitat and social factors to segregation are also seldom quantified. We studied the Eurasian wild sheep in trans-Himalayan rangelands to identify these causes and estimate the contributions of habitat and social components to sexual segregation. We observed male, lactating, and nonlactating female groups feeding during 3 springs and summers. The 3 groups strongly segregated and differed in their activity budgets, partly because of antipredation risks, with lactating females being the most vigilant (40% of the time). At the feeding habitat scale, males selected the patches of highest quality. We found that the social component contributed the most to segregation (70%) as compared with habitat segregation (30%). This is the first study that quantifies the contribution of habitat and social components to sexual segregation. We emphasize the role of antipredator behavior of lactating females on activity budgets and selection of relatively poor-quality sites as compared with other groups and illustrate that the usual division into proximal and ultimate causes of sexual segregation is not as clear-cut as usually presented. Key words: activity budget, habitat, Ovis, predation risk, social segregation. [Behav Ecol]

As a species traditionally managed extensively, at least for some of the year, sheep have received relatively little attention from a welfare perspective. Although extensively managed animals have greater behavioural freedom than those managed intensively, they are still vulnerable to other welfare challenges. Welfare can be considered from the perspective of the animals biological functioning, the naturalness of the way in which they are kept, or their feelings (negative or positive). These different domains can be integrated by considering the animal (and the adaptations it possesses) and the environment (made up of the challenges the animal experiences). In this schema, the extensively managed animal may experience poor welfare if the environmental challenges overwhelm its evolved coping strategies (for example, in high temperatures if behavioural and physiological adaptations cannot dissipate heat sufficiently) or if it has adaptations (such as behavioural anti-predator responses) that are no longer required. To assess welfare of sheep, therefore, we need to know when the animal may begin to suffer if its adaptations do not meet the challenges presented by the environment or when the cost of meeting those challenges is too great. In addition, the adaptations the sheep possess will affect how well it copes, e.g. breed differences in maternal behaviour and responses to predators will influence lamb survival and predation risk in extensive environments, respectively. How well the extensive environment can meet the behavioural needs of sheep has never been tested. However, consideration of the behaviour and habitat of wild sheep suggests that some preferred environmental features, such as escape terrain or specific birth sites, may not be present in farmed environments. How this affects sheep welfare is still to be determined. Sheep welfare is also affected by the quality of the stockperson caring for them. Interactions with people for extensively managed sheep are infrequent, but nearly always aversive, and whether the nature of interactions can be affected by stockperson attitude and behaviour, as seen in intensively managed species, remains to be seen. There is evidence, however, that farmers may under-estimate the negative impact that themselves and their sheepdogs can have on their sheep. Farmer attitude can also affect management decisions which may have an indirect impact on the welfare of their sheep. For example, farmer attitudes towards lameness are related to treatment decisions. The extensive environment thus provides particular challenges to welfare that differ markedly from those in intensive systems, and still need further investigation.

Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) are the world's largest wild sheep and are threatened throughout their range in Mongolia. Little is known about the ecology of this highly cursorial species. This project was initiated to develop safe capture techniques in order to learn more about the ecology of argali in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluun Nature Reserve in southeastern Mongolia by using radiotelemetry. To our knowledge no one had ever successfully live-caught a free-ranging argali. We developed three techniques for capturing argali. From 2003 to 2007 we hand captured 65 argali lambs, losing one (our first capture) to maternal neglect because we stayed too long in the area and a second that was euthanized after being accidentally injured by a horse. Between 2000 and 2003 we captured six argali by darting, losing one ewe to an abdominal infection after a misplaced dart. Finally, between 2002 and 2007 we captured 32 argali by drive-netting. We lost one ewe to over-exertion after a long drive. The remaining 31 animals captured by drive-netting did not appear to suffer any immediate effects (still alive in 30 days). This report will discuss the strengths and weaknesses for each of these capture techniques. Zoo Biol 27:137-144, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Valen-ciennes, 1856. Originally this type of sheep wasdistributed in the Bulgar Dagh Mountains, CilicianTaurus and Asia Minor (Ellerman & Morrison-Scott 1965). The name “Konya” is a recent commonname that has been ascribed to the sheep becauseof its present location. The Konya sheep is aMoufloniform and its taxonomic classification isuncertain; should it be classified as

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Barbary sheep Ammotragus lervia was still present throughout the whole of Egypt except for the Sinai region. However, by the beginning of the 20th century it had disappeared from the Nile Delta region and from the Faiyum Oasis. In 1950 it was still present in the extreme south-east and in a small stretch of land in the Eastern Desert, and in half of the Western Desert. Today it is found only in the extreme south-east (Gebel Elba) and the extreme south-west (Gebel Uweinat and/or Gilf El Kebir) of the country. This sharp decrease in the distribution area of Ammotragus lervia is the result of intensive hunting by humans. The Barbary sheep of Gebel Elba now live in a region that has been designated a national park, which offers some protection. The Barbary sheep populations in the Uweinat/Gilf El Kebir area is in rapid decline, and it is now urgent that the Egyptian government enforce effective conservation measures to safeguard the last wild populations of Barbary sheep still present in its territory.

Les relations phylogenetiques de plusieurs sous-especes d'Ovis ammon ont ete analysees en comparant les sequences d'ADN de la D-loop. Cinq sous-especes probables d'O. ammon (dalai-lamae, darwini, hodgsoni, sairensis et adametzi) ont ete echantillonnees de quatre provinces de Chine: Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu et Xizang (Tibet), et deux (servertzovi et nigrimontana) d'Ouzbekistan. Les argalis analyses representent la plupart des sous-especes actuellement reconnues d'argalis. L'analyse des sequences de mtDNA a revele la haute variabilite intraspecifique (7.7%), et specifique (2.4 a 11.5%). L'analyse en parcimonie a indique une premiere divergence de nigrimontana d'Ouzbekistan, suivie par severtzovi d'Ouzbekistan. La dispersion des argalis dans la Chine a engendre trois clades, ce qui suggere que les argalis seraient originaires de l'ouest de l'Asie et qu'ils se seraient disperses rapidement a travers les montagnes d'Asie centrale vers le sud-est. Entre les argalis chinois, l'analyse de mtDNA place la sous espece dalai-lamae plus pres d'hodgsoni que de darwini. Severtzovi et nigrimontana sont deux sous-especes genetiquement distinctes, separees genetiquement des argalis chinois.

I examined prevalence of mandibular oligodonty in wild sheep (Ovis) and related it to evolutionary theory and classification. Inspection of 5,300 mandibles that included most subspecies of sheep revealed that this anomaly was widespread in New World sheep (subgenus Pachyceros) but was rare in Old World sheep (subgenus Ovis). Among the pachyceriform sheep, Siberian snow sheep (O. nivicola) had the highest prevalence of mandibular oligodonty (60.3%), followed by Dall’s sheep ( O. dalli, 23.0%), and bighorn sheep (O. canadensis, 10.1%). In Old World sheep, occurrence averaged 1.7% for argalis (O. ammon), 1.0% for urials (O. vignei), and 1.7% for mouflons ( O. gmelini). Prevalence in domestic sheep was 4.3%. Overall, more recently evolved types exhibited the anomaly to a greater degree than did more primitive ones.

Data used in recreation demand modeling are characterized by the facts that trip frequencies are non-negative integers and that consumers are often faced with alternative destinations. This paper considers these features by estimating a multivariate recreation demand model that accounts for trip frequency and choice among alternative recreation sites using a mixed multinomial-Poisson hurdle distribution. The specification of the Poisson hurdle distribution at the aggregate level accounts for participation and trip frequency, and avoids the restrictive mean-variance property of the basic Poisson model. The model is estimated using data from Bighorn sheep hunters in Alberta, Canada. Simulation results suggest that changing price and quality variables cause substitution among sites. The welfare implications of changes in these variables are also examined. Les donnees utilisees dans la modelisation de la demande de loisirs sont caracterisees par le fait que les frequences des voyages sont des entiers non negatifs et que les consommateurs sont souvent confrontes a plusieurs possibilites de destinations. Cet article considere ces caracteristiques en estimant un modele de demande de loisirs a plusieurs variables qui rend compte de la frequence des voyages et du choix des lieux de loisirs en utilisant une combinaison de la distribution multinomiale et de la distribution de Poisson avec barriere. La specification de la distribution de Poisson avec barriere au niveau agrege rend compte de la participation et de la frequence des voyages, et contourne la propriete restrictive de la moyenne-variance du modele de Poisson de base. Le modele a ete estime en utilisant des donnees collectees a Alberta, Canada, aupres de chasseurs de mouflons. Les resultats de la simulation suggerent que des variations des variables de prix et de qualite entrainent des substitutions parmi les destinations. Sont aussi examinees les implications que des variations de ces variables ont sur le bien-etre.

The seasonal variations in grouping patterns of the forest-dwelling Cyprus mouflon were examined over the annual cycle. Most of the trends observed in the size and composition of groupings agree with previous work on open-country living sheep. The main difference between Cyprus mouflon, which live in forest, and wild sheep living in open country, was in the overall group size, which is smaller in Cyprus mouflon. In fact, in their overall group size, Cyprus mouflon seem to follow the pattern of other forest-dwelling ungulates.

This study examines the patterns of melatonin secretion during postnatal development in wild (mouflon; n = 7) and domestic (Spanish Merino; n = 6) female lambs under their natural photoperiod conditions. The aim was to determine whether these types of sheep which differ in the timing of puberty, also differ in the establishment of daily melatonin secretory rhythms and/or in the nocturnal plasma melatonin secretion. In addition, the time when the lambs first reached nocturnal levels of melatonin similar to adults was also evaluated. For this purpose, the melatonin secretion in lambs was compared with those of their mothers. A day/night (D/N) difference in plasma melatonin concentration was noticed as early as 1 day after birth in the Merino female lambs (D: 5.9 +/- 1.0 pg/ml compared to N: 22.0 +/- 3.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05), and by 1 week after birth in the mouflon female lambs (D: 4.9 +/- 0.3 pg/ml compared to N: 56.9 +/- 15.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05). An effect of the genotype (p < 0.05) and age (p < 0.01) was detected on mean nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations, which were lower in the Merino than in the mouflon lambs. Night-time plasma concentration of melatonin was also high in mouflon than in Merino mothers (p < 0.05). No differences were detected between the wild genotype and the domestic one in the time when the lambs first reached nocturnal levels of melatonin similar to those of their mothers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This study was conducted during the rut in a protected valley (Vialais) inhabited by one permanent population of ewes. This valley formes part of a larger hunted area. Rams which segregate from ewes entered the Vialais during the pre-rut, first young rams while the oldest rams arrived later. These latter stay in the company of ewes only when most lambs are conceived. The removal of old males shifted the male population structure, favoring young males. Old males tended a low proportion of ewes in mating groups which was used as an index of the male mating success. A larger proportion of young males successfully tended estrous ewes than in protected populations of wild sheep. Despite that, the population is highly productive which contradicts the arguments that precocious involment of young males in reproduction may be detrimental to population productivity.

Female bighorn sheep were studied over a 27-month period to quantify linearity and stability of social rank; expression of behaviour as a function of rank; development of rank relationships; and reproductive correlates of rank. Females exhibited a stable, non-linear hierarchy that correlated strongly with age. Dominant females used proportionally more threats, whereas subordinates used more subordinance patterns. Females integrated into the hierarchy at1–2 years of age and then fought their way to high social status. Dominant and subordinate females did not differ in pre-natal maternal investment, but dominant females nursed lambs at higher rates, and were more likely than subordinates to nurse alien lambs after their own lamb died.

Intersexuality in sheep is rare, with the freemartin anomaly being the most common. We describe here a true hermaphrodite in a wild sheep. An F(1) wild sheep ewe of Argali-mouflon X Mexican desert bighorn breeding was bred to an F(1) ram of the same breeding. A single lamb was born with the external appearance of a normal female. The lamb grew faster than its female cohorts, and by 6 months of age exhibited the aggressive behavior, size, coloration and horn development associated with males. Phenotypically, the intersex had female external genitalia with an enlarged clitoris. A human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) response test was performed when the intersex was 1-year-old and serum testosterone, progesterone and estradiol levels were compared to the response of a normal female and male of similar age and breeding. An exploratory celiotomy revealed two gonadal-like structures associated with a female reproductive tract. Histopathology of the structures revealed spermatogenically inactive testicular vessels and ovarian tissue with primary follicles. The reproductive tract was complete with two uterine horns and a cervix. The intersexuality is attributed to an XX/XXY mosaic.

The mating behavior of an insular Armenian wild sheep population ( Ovis orientalis gmelini ) and a Transcaspian urial ( Ovis orientalis arkal ) population was quantified during the rutting season in December 1972, and November and December 1973, respectively. Males were grouped into two age classes; Class I (≤ 4 years) and Class II (≥ 5 years). Typically, older rams prevent younger rams from participating in the rut through threatening gestures; subadult rams will not ordinarily challenge adult rams as was the case in the Transcaspian population. In the Armenian population, subadult rams hurriedly approached ewes and chased and mounted ewes. Subadult Armenian rams disrupted the social stability of the population resulting in wasted energy, particularly in ewes, at a critical time of the year. Wildlife managers should monitor wild ungulate populations to determine if such disruptions are occurring and develop preventative management strategies.

Von einem zu Untersuchungsbeginn vierjahrigen Mufflonwidder wurden im Verlauf eines Jahres 101 Spermaproben analysiert. Neben der Einschatzung des Allgemeinbefindens, der Bewertung der Geschlechtsorgane sowie des Paarungsverhaltens sind Ejakulatvolumen, Farbe und Konsistenz der Spermaproben erfast worden. Des weiteren wurden Motilitat der Spermien, Spermienkonzentration und Anteil anomaler Samenzellen untersucht. Auserdem wurden der unspezifische Keimgehalt und die Wasserstoffionenkonzentration der Spermaproben ermittelt. Die Absamung erfolgte in eine kunstliche Vagina. Bei der Spermagewinnung zeigte der Widder ein ungestortes Paarungsverhalten. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schlus zu, das der untersuchte Muffelwidder von Anfang Februar bis Ende April einer physiologischen Ruhephase nach der Brunft unterliegt. Die in dieser Zeit erhobenen Werte schliesen ein Befruchtungsvermogen des Widders nicht aus, wenngleich hierzu keine tragenden Mutterschafe als Beweis zur Verfugung stehen.

Um die biochemisch-genetische Variabilitat beim Mufflon(Ovis ammon musimon) zu ermitteln, wurden bei insgesamt 34 Tieren aus 4 verschiedenen Bestanden 31 Isoenzymsysteme mittels horizontaler Starkegelelektrophorese und enzymspezifischer Nachweismethoden untersucht. Von 46 auswertbaren Genloci zeigte sich nur an einem(Es-2) ein genetischer Polymorphismus. Mit einer durchschnittlichen Polymorphierate von 2,2 % und einer durchschnittlichen Heterozygotierate von 1,1 % gehort das Muffelwild unter den bisher untersuchten Grossaugern zu den Arten mit der geringsten biochemisch-genetischen Variabilitat. Als wahrscheinlichste Ursache fur diesen Befund wird die von geringen Individuenzahlen ausgehende Einburgerung dieses Wildschafes auf dem europaischen Festland vermutet; es werden jedoch auch andere mogliche Einflusgrosen, wie die prahistorische Bestandesgeschichte der Art und die Kladogenese der Caprini diskutiert.

Serial transrectal ultrasonographies were performed measuring different structures of mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) fetuses to establish their gestational age. Data were obtained from 14 mouflon ewes that became pregnant after estrous synchronization. From day 25 of gestation onward, the crown-rump length and the trunk diameter of the embryo were estimated. Later, when the fetal organs and structures could be distinguished, several measurements were done in the skull (occipito-snout length and biparietal and orbit diameters), the trunk (thoracic diameter and width of vertebrae), and the abdominal cavity (stomach and kidney longitudinal diameters); femur length was also determined. All fetal measurements were correlated with gestational age (P < 0.001), but the parameters showing the highest correlation with time (R2 up to 0.94) were the crown-rump and occipito-snout lengths and the thoracic and biparietal diameters. No significant differences were observed in pregnancies with one or two fetuses in the period studied. Copyright 2005 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

329 Serumproben von einheimischem Schalenwild wurden mittels Komplementbindungsreaktion auf das Vorliegen von Antikorpern gegen den Erreger der Paratuberkulose (Johnesche Krankheit) untersucht. In 7,3 % der 96 Seren von Rotwild(Cervus elaphus), in 6,9 % der 29 Seren von Muffelwild(Ovis ammon) und in 3,6 % der 169 Seren von Rehwild(Capreolus capreolus) wurden komplementbindende Antikorper gegenMycobacterium paratuberculosis nachgewiesen. In 35 Serumproben von Damwild(Cervus dama) wurden keine Antikorper gefunden. Bis auf eine Ausnahme stammten alle positiven Reagenten aus einem Jagdriever. Mogliche Ansteckungsquellen fur das Schalenwild werden diskutiert.

Centre national de Recherches zootechniques, LN.R.A. 78350. Jouy-en-Josas Summary The hemoglobin A allele was identified in the Corsico-Sardinian (l;uropean) mouflon by starch-gel electrophoresis. Since no other form of wild sheep have been identified as maintaining the A allele in its gene pool, and since HbA has been associated with the advent of domestication, two theories are proposed on the origin of the A allele in the European mouflon. Hemoglobin A arose either by a mutation after isolation of islandic wild sheep, or, the European mouflon arose by feralization from archaic domestic strains which maintained the Hb A allele. The means, time of arrival and origin of the European mouflon to Corsica and Sardinia are discussed.

Data presented in this report are concerned with the results of blood typing of 7 aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), 20 european mouflons (Ovis musimon) and 260 domestic goats (Capra hircus). The blood samples were tested with 31 different sheep blood typing reagents to see if sheep-like blood-group antigens existed in the red cells of the three species. The polymorphism of serum transferrin and hemoglobin was analyzed by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Evidence is presented for the existence in european mouflon of blood-group antigens similar to or identical with those recognized in the eight blood group systems of deomstic sheep (i.e., the sheep blood-group systems A, B, C, D, M, R, F30 and F41 The electrophoretic pattern of the mouflon transferrin is also identical with that of domestic sheep homozygous for the transferrin D allele. Likewise, the two hemoglobin variants observed in mouflon are indistinguishable from the hemoglobins A and B of domestic sheep. On the basis of such extensive similarity in antigenic structures in the red cells and in the electrophoretic mobility of transferrins and hemoglobins, domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and european mouflon (Ovis musimon) may have close evolutionary affinity to each other. The present data also indicate that both aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and domestic goat (Cap Hircus) have blood-group antigens related to those of the B, C, M, R, and F30 systems of sheep. With respect to serological reactions in the M and R systems, Ammotragus resembles Capra much more closely than Ovis. With respect to the A system, however, Ammotragus appears to be more closely related to Ovis than to Capra; the latter, unlike Ammotragus, apparently does not have blood-group antigens related to those recognized in the A system of sheep. On the other hand, the three genera seem to be quite distinct from each other on the basis of differences in the electrophoretic mobility of their major variants of transferrin and hemoglobin. These observations, in conjunction with those reported earlier and mentioned in the introductory remarks of this report, suggest that Ammotragus is intermediate between Capra and Ovis. But, on the basis of the data presently available, it is not possible to establish more precisely the evolutionary relationships among the three genera., Les antigènes érythrocytaires de mouflons à manchettes (Ammotragus Lervia), de 20 mouflons d’Europe (Ovis musimon) et de 260 chèvres (Capra Hircus) ont été examinés à l’aide de 31 réactifs préparés pour la détermination des groupes sanguins du mouton (Ovis aries). Le polymorphisme de la transferrine sérique et de l’hémoglobine de ces différentes espèces a été analysé par la technique d’électrophorèse en gel d’amidon. Les résultats de ces examens sérologiques ont montré que le mouflon d’Europe possède des antigènes de groupes sanguins similaires ou identiques à ceux qui font partie de 8 systèmes de groupes sanguins définis chez le mouton (systèmes A, B, C, D, M, R, F30 et F41. Ces 2 espèces du genre Ovis ne peuvent, d’ailleurs, être distinguées l’une à l’autre, sur la base de la mobilité électrophorétique de leur transferrine et de leur hémoglobine. Cette très grande ressemblance, tout au moins en ce qui concerne les caractères sanguins considérés, indique clairement que le mouflon d’Europe (Ovis musimon) et le mouton (Ovis aries) sont très proches l’un de l’autre sur l’échelle zoologique des espèces et que leur séparation doit donc être récente. Les résultats de cette comparaison ont révélé, en outre, que le mouflon à manchettes (Ammotragus) et la chèvre (Capra) possèdent également des antigènes de groupes sanguins similaires à ceux qui sont reconnus dans les systèmes B, C, M, R et F30 du mouton. Cependant, si les réactions sérologiques observées dans les systèmes M et R suggèrent que l’Ammotragus se rapproche plus du genre Capra que du genre Ovis, les données concernant le système A indiquent que l’Ammotragus paraît être plus proche du genre Ovis que du genre Capra. D’autre part, ces 3 genres semblent se différencier nettement entre eux, sur la base de la mobilité électrophorétique de leur transferrine et de leur hémoglobine. Ces observations, ainsi que celles rapportées dans la littérature et mentionnées dans ce rapport, permettent de penser que, sur l’échelle évolutive des espèces, l’Ammotragus occupe une position intermédiaire entre les genres Caprai et Ovis. Dans l’état actuel des connaissances, il n’est pas possible d’établir, avec plus de précision, les relations évolutives entre les 3 genres Capra, Ovis et Ammotragus

A study has been made of the high-sulphur protein components of wools from goats and a variety of sheep using electrophoresis in starch gels at pH 2�4 and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose at pH 4�5 as methods for characterization. The high-sulphur proteins prepared from ovine wools, from domestic (10 breeds and strains), feral (Soay and Shetland), or wild (Bighorn, O. canadensis; Mouflon, O. mU8'imon) sheep are very heterogeneous. Of the two methods gel electrophoresis gives the better resolution with a characteristic pattern in which upwards of 20 components can be seen and 12 are sufficiently well separated to be readily identifiable. This pattern is unaffected by the diet or by the age of the sheep (up to 5 yr) and would seem to be characteristic for ovine wools. One or other of two of these bands may be missing from the wool of some individuals, particularly of wild sheep.

Strontium-90 and cesium-137 were determined in 40 samples of human milk obtained from 21 different communities in Alaska, as well as in polar bear, dall sheep, and harp seal milk. The average cesium-137 content (pCi per gram of ash) of all samples of human milk collected in Alaska in 1968 was only 3.3% of the average value for all samples of human milk collected in the Northwest Territories in 1967. The average strontium-90 content of the same Alaskan milks was about 10% higher than that of the human milk collected in the Northwest Territories.

The recorded behaviour of wild species of Ovis at the beginning of the breeding season supports the proposal that mating is synchronized by the 'ram effect', a phenomenon already described in domestic sheep. Animals separate into exclusive male flocks, and flocks of females and young animals for most of the year. They reunite just before the rutting season. At lambing there appear to be behavioural mechanisms that ensure that ewes lamb in close proximity to one another. It is hypothesized that these behavioural characteristics of wild sheep help protect the newborn and that much of the reproductive and maternal behaviour of domestic sheep may be traced to comparable behaviour in wild species.