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Midwives and general practice nurses are ideally positioned to provide nutrition education to pregnant women. However, it appears that they do not receive sufficient nutrition training to enable them to fulfil this role. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a suite of learning resources developed specifically for midwives, general practice nurses and student nurses. A four-module suite of learning resources was developed based on recommendations in the Australian Antenatal Care Clinical Guidelines as well as formative evaluation with stakeholders. The feasibility of these modules was tested using a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design with three arms using convenient sampling (face-to-face with midwives; online with student nurses; and online with midwives, nurses and practice nurses). Completion rates across the three study arms were poor (n=40 participants in total). For the combined data, there was a significant increase in knowledge scores across all modules from the pretest score (median (IQR): 3.46 (2.09–4.13)) to the post-test score (5.66 (4.66–6.00)) (p<0.001). Studies of high quality are required to determine if changing the nutrition knowledge and confidence in delivering nutrition care of health professionals results in sustainable changes to their clinical practice.

Genetic correlations were estimated between ewe milk production and composition traits and other production traits, including early growth, wool, worm resistance and reproduction, among 944 crossbred ewes. Daily milk production of the ewes was estimated using the 4-h machine milking test procedure at approximately 3, 4 and 12 weeks of lactation, with milk composition assessed by sampling for fat %, protein % and lactose % at each milking. The ewes were the progeny of 74 maternal breed sires and mainly Merino dams and 77% of the ewes were milked on their first lactation. The production traits included pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rate of the ewes, their yearling wool production, clean yield and fibre diameter and worm egg count. The ewes were joined naturally to meat rams over 3 years, resulting in 2432 reproduction records. Ewe reproduction traits included: litter size (LS), rearing ability (RA) or lamb survival, number of lambs weaned (NLW) and average lamb weaning weight in the litter (AWW). Genetic correlations were estimated by bivariate mixed models using ASREML. The genetic correlations between milk yield and growth rates of the ewes were moderate and positive (0.38–0.49) with standard errors of about 0.3. The genetic correlations between the milk composition traits and growth traits were variable and generally similar to or smaller than their standard errors, except for lactose% and post-weaning gain (0.58). Estimates of the genetic correlations between milk yield and the wool traits and worm resistance were generally low and smaller than their standard errors. Lactose% was moderately positively correlated with the wool traits (0.19–0.51). The phenotypic correlations between all the milk traits and the ewe growth, wool and worm resistance traits were close to zero. The genetic correlations between milk yield and LS and NLW were moderate and positive (0.50–0.59), with the genetic correlation between milk yield and AWW being slightly lower (0.44) and RA

Genetic correlations between reproductive and productivity traits of ewes and their early growth, wool production and worm resistance traits were estimated among 2460 crossbred ewes. The ewes were progeny of 74 maternal breed sires and mainly Merino dams. The ewes were born over 3 years and had three joinings with a total of 6824 ewe joining records. The reproductive and ewe productivity traits included: (i) fertility (ewes lambing per ewe joined); (ii) litter size (number of lambs born per ewe lambing); (iii) rearing ability or lamb survival (lambs weaned of lambs born for lambing ewes); (iv) number of lambs born (NLBj) per ewe joined; (v) number of lambs weaned (NLWj) per ewe joined; (vi) total litter weight weaned (TWWj) per ewe joined; and (vii) the component trait average lamb weaning weight in the litter (AWW). The growth traits included the weight of the ewe at birth (BWT), weaning (WWT) and postweaning (PWWT), as well as growth rate pre- and postweaning. The wool traits included greasy (GFW) and clean fleece weight (CFW), yield and average fibre diameter (FD) at their first adult shearing. Worm egg count (WEC) during their first year was also recorded. Bivariate mixed models analyses using ASReml procedures were used to estimate the genetic correlations. The genetic correlations between TWWj and growth traits were positive and moderate to high and ranged from 0.34 for BWT to 0.61 for PWWT. Those for the other composite reproductive traits were slightly lower and ranged from 0.27 to 0.54 for NLWj and from 0.07 to 0.46 for NLBj. The genetic correlations between the overall measures of reproduction (NLBj, NLWj and TWWj) and GFW, CFW and FD were negative and generally low to moderate (–0.21 to –0.52). The correlations were generally larger for NLBj than for NLWj and TWWj. The genetic correlations between the reproductive traits and WEC were close to zero, except between AWW and WEC (0.42). The phenotypic correlations between the reproductive traits and the growt

Genetic correlations were estimated between first cross ewe reproduction traits and growth and carcass traits of their second cross lamb progeny. The 2460 crossbred ewes were progeny of 74 maternal breed sires and mainly Merino dams. The ewes had 3 joinings to terminal sire rams with 6824 joining records resulting in 9002 lambs born and 7176 lambs slaughtered. The ewe reproduction traits included: fertility, litter size, ewe rearing ability or lamb survival, number of lambs born (NLBj) and weaned (NLWj) per ewe joined, with traits reflecting ewe productivity being total litter weight weaned (TWWj) per ewe joined and the component trait average lamb weaning weight in the litter (AWW). The lamb growth traits included weight of the lambs at birth (BWT), weaning (WWT) and post weaning (PWWT) as well as growth rate pre and post weaning. The lamb carcass traits included hot carcass weight (HCWT), dressing yield (DRESS%), fat depth (FatGR, FatC), eye muscle depth (EMD) and area (EMA) and meat quality traits (colour and pH). The genetic correlations were estimated by bivariate mixed models using ASReml. The genetic correlations between the composite reproduction traits of the ewes and the post-weaning growth rate of their lambs were high (0.67 for NLBj and 0.65 for NLWj). There were moderate positive correlations between NLWj and WWT (0.36), PWWT (0.49) and pre weaning growth (0.36) and NLBj with PWWT (0.31). BWT was negatively correlated with litter size (−0.34) and positively with ewe rearing ability (0.38). Most of the other genetic correlations were smaller than their standard errors which generally ranged from 0.2 to 0.3. The genetic correlations for HCWT with all the ewe reproduction traits were positive and moderate (0.29–0.53) and high with the ewe productivity traits that included weight of lambs (TWWj 0.98 and AWW 0.96). The genetic correlations among the other traits were variable and had high standard errors, generally ranging from 0.1 to 0.5. However there were

The study estimated heritability for lamb growth and carcass performance, hogget ewe wool production, and worm egg count among crossbred progeny of maternal breed sires, as well as the genetic and phenotypic correlations among the traits. The data were from crossbred progeny of 91 sires from maternal breeds including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester. The sires were mated to Merino ewes at 3 sites over 3 years (and also Corriedale ewes at one site), with 3 common sires used at each site and year to provide genetic links. These sheep comprised part of the national maternal sire central progeny test program (MCPT) to evaluate the genetic variation for economically important production traits in progeny of maternal and dual-purpose (meat and wool) sires and the scope for genetic improvement. The matings resulted in 7846 first-cross lambs born, with 2964 wether lambs slaughtered at an average age of 214 days, and wool data from 2795 hogget ewes. Data were analysed using univariate mixed models containing fixed effects for site, year, sex and type of birth and rearing, dam source and sire breed, and random terms for sire and dam effects. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated based on variances from progeny of 70 sires by fitting the same mixed models using a REML procedure in univariate and multivariate analyses. Estimates of heritability were low for lamb growth traits (0.07–0.29), meat colour and meat pH (0.10–0.23), and faecal worm egg count (0.10), moderate for carcass fat and muscle traits (0.32–0.47), and moderate to high for wool traits (0.36–0.55). Estimates of direct genetic correlations among liveweights at various ages were high and positive (0.41–0.77) and those between liveweights and most carcass and meat quality traits were small and varied in sign. Liveweights were moderately to highly positively correlated with most wool traits, except fibre diameter (–0.28–0.08). The

The age and liveweight at puberty were evaluated in 2155 crossbred ewe lambs at 2 sites over 3 years. A separate dataset examined the lambing performance of 1177 crossbred ewe lambs that were joined naturally at ~7 months of age at 2 sites over 3 years and also their lambing performances in the subsequent 2 years. The ewe lambs were the progeny of Merino dams and sires from several breeds including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester. Overall, 85% of the ewe lambs reached puberty (detected by teasers) in their first autumn at an average age of 248 days and liveweight of 42 kg. There was significant variation in age and weight at puberty (P < 0.01) among the site and year cohorts of ewes. Sire breed was significant for weight (P < 0.01) but not age at puberty. Of the crossbred ewe lambs joined at 7 months of age, 54% lambed with an average litter size of 1.31 and 49% of lambs were weaned from the ewes joined. There was a significant site effect for all reproduction traits (P < 0.01), with the higher performance at one site associated with higher liveweight at joining. Maternal sire breed was significant for all reproduction traits (P < 0.01) and there was considerable variation between sires within sire breeds. Ewes that reared lambs in their first year weaned 12% more lambs per year in their second and third years compared with ewes that failed to lamb or rear any lambs at 1 year of age. The results demonstrate that lamb weaning rates of 90% or more can be achieved from crossbred ewe lambs with optimal genetics and management. The opportunities for improving productivity by joining crossbred ewe lambs and the selection and management considerations required for successful joinings and lambings are reviewed and discussed.

The study evaluated post-weaning growth, carcass characteristics, and wool production of crossbred progeny of 91 sires from more than 7 maternal breeds (including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester). The sires were joined to Merino and Corriedale ewes at 3 sites over 3 years with 3 link sires in common at each site and year. Post-weaning weight at an average age of 200 days of 2841 ewes and 3027 wethers was analysed using mixed model procedures. The wethers were slaughtered at an average age of 214 days and carcass weight, fat, muscle, meat colour, and ultimate pH (24 h post-slaughter) were analysed. For ewes, hogget fleece weight, yield, fibre diameter, and faecal worm egg count (FEC) were analysed. Sire breed was significant (P < 0.01), with a range of 32.8–39.0 kg for post-weaning weight, 19.1–22.8 kg for hot carcass weight, and for carcass fat levels (11.1–17.2 mm at the GR site (FatGR) and 3.4–6.5 mm at the C site, adjusted to 22 kg carcass weight), with the East Friesian cross carcasses being very lean (FatGR 11.1 mm). Sire breed was significant for eye muscle area (P < 0.01) but not for eye muscle depth, meat colour L* (brightness), or ultimate pH. Sire breed was significant (P < 0.01) for greasy and clean fleece weight (CFW), yield, and fibre diameter (FD), with ranges of 0.9 kg (CFW) and 4.6 μm (FD). Sire breed was not significant for FEC. Type of birth and rearing classification was significant for most traits. National estimated breeding values for the sires that were entered by industry breeders indicated that they covered a range of genetic merit for most traits within their respective breeds and were generally representative of the maternal genetics available in the industry. Where there were large differences between the sire mean and breed mean breeding values the effects on crossbred progeny performance would be small and not expected to affect our conclusions about the breed diff

This is the first paper in a series that reports on a national maternal sire central progeny test program (MCPT) to evaluate the genetic variation for economically important production traits in first- and second-cross progeny of maternal and dual purpose (meat and wool) sires and the scope for genetic improvement. The MCPT program also provides direct linkages between breeds that will contribute information for across-breed genetic evaluation. Crossbred progeny by 91 sires from more than 7 maternal breeds (including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester) at 3 sites over 3 years with 3 link sires in common at each site and year were evaluated in this study. National estimated breeding values for the sires that were entered by industry breeders indicated that there was some selection for weight, but not other traits and the sires were generally representative of the maternal genetics available to the industry. There were 8377 base Merino and Corriedale ewes artificially inseminated with thawed-frozen semen from the 91 sires and 8193 crossbred lambs born and 6117 lambs weaned. Mixed model analyses of birth and weaning weight, lamb survival, and gestation length as well as fertility, litter size, and lamb weaning rate of the base ewes are reported. Sire breed was significant for birth weight (with a range of 4.0–4.4 kg at an average litter size of 1.8) and weaning weight (19.6–22.5 kg), as well as lamb survival (70–79%) and gestation length (147.1–150.3 days). Birth/rearing type was significant for all traits. Males were significantly heavier than females at birth and weaning, although there was no sex difference for lamb survival or gestation length when birthweight was included in the model. Pregnancy rate from the artificially inseminated base ewes varied from 40 to 84% at the 3 locations in the various years. Sire breed was significant for the number of lambs weaned per ewe lambing, but not for feta

Eight xanthates were synthesized to induce living free radical polymerization of vinyl acetate. Four compounds, methyl (4-methoxyphenoxy)carbonothioylsulfanyl acetate, methyl (methoxycarbonothioyl)sulfanyl acetate, methyl (ethoxycarbonothioyl)sulfanyl acetate and methyl (isopropoxycarbonothioyl)sulfanyl acetate were identified as suitable MADIX/RAFT agents, yielding low polydispersity (PDI < 1.2) poly(vinyl acetate) of molecular weights exceeding 5 x 104 g·mol-1. All suitable MADIX/RAFT agents exhibited extended periods of inhibition (0.3 h < tinh < 10 h) andmoderate rate retardation. The abitity of these compounds to control vinyl acetate polymerization can be correlated with the electron density on the central carbon atom of the xanthate. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis was performed to complete the investigation on the new MADIX/RAFT agents.

This paper discusses recent work by the authors which has investigated the nutritional regulation of glycogen concentration in skeletal muscle of sheep and cattle. Several experiments are summarized which show a clear relationship between the level of glycogen in muscle and the intake of metabolisable energy. This translates into strong seasonal effects on the level of muscle glycogen in pasture fed cattle that correlate with liveweight change. The clear message is that animals destined for slaughter should be on a high plane of nutrition as this will contribute to an increased level of muscle glycogen at slaughter and so help alleviate the problem of dark cutting meat. Acute regulation of glycogen is more problematical since the rate of glycogen repletion in skeletal muscle is relatively slow and the scope for rapid dietary change in ruminants is constrained by the need to allow rumen adaptation to high starch/sugar diets. However the sudden introduction of a high energy diet (based on cereal grain) in the presence of a 'rumen modifier' to reduce rumen acidosis can increase muscle glycogen concentration within 1 week of feeding. The ability to further modify glycogen level in skeletal muscle using carbohydrate and electrolyte products is discussed. In particular the possibility of using oral glycerol/propylene glycol as a means for increasing blood glucose and so glycogen synthesis is proposed. Experiments to examine the effectiveness of MgO as a means for reducing the stress response are also discussed.

This paper discusses recent work by the authors which has investigated the nutritional regulation of glycogen concentration in skeletal muscle of sheep and cattle. Several experiments are summarised which show a clear relationship between the level of glycogen in muscle and the intake of metabolisable energy. This translates into strong seasonal effects on muscle glycogen in pasture fed cattle. The clear message is that animals destined for slaughter should be on a high plane of nutrition as this will contribute to an increased muscle glycogen at slaughter and so help alleviate the problem of dark cutting meat. Short term regulation of glycogen is more problematical since the rate of glycogen repletion in skeletal muscle is relatively slow and the scope for rapid dietary change in ruminants is constrained by the need to allow rumen adaptation to high starch/sugar diets. However the sudden introduction of a high energy diet (based on cereal grain) in the presence of a rumen modifier to reduce ruminal acidosis can increase muscle glycogen concentration within one week of feeding. The ability to further modify glycogen level in skeletal muscle using carbohydrate and electrolyte products is discussed. In particular the possibility of using oral glycerol/propylene glycol as a meaning for increasing blood glucose and so glycogen synthesis is proposed. An experiment to examine the effectiveness of MgO as a means for reducing the stress response is also discussed.