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The second generation (n = 227) of British Landrace pigs from selected halothane-positive parents (36 litters) were blood-typed for the S(A-O), H and Phi loci and subjected to four 5-minute halothane tests at 21, 35, 49 and 63 days of age. Cumulative scores based on severity and speed of reaction were analysed in relation to single-locus blood group genotypes and linkage group sequences at two and three loci. A highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.79) was found between severity and speed of reaction. Significant differences occurred between blood group genotypes and linkage groups in both severity and speed of reaction. Genotypes S s/s, H a/a or H a/- and Phi B/B and linkage groups involving these three types had the highest cumulative reaction score and the fastest reaction time, whereas genotypes Phi A/B, S S/S or S S/s and H a/cd and linkage groups with these types had the lowest and slowest reaction scores. Some differences between genotypes and linkage groups were attributed to phenotypically halothane-positive parents and offspring being genotypically Hal N/n. These effects could result from linkage with heterozygous types such as H a/cd and S S/s. The possible role of the H cd allele acting as a genetic marker for a suppressor gene to the halothane reaction is discussed.

Summary The frequencies of three co-dominant alleles TfA, TfB and Tfc controlling the serum transferrin locus in native and exotic breeds of pig in the United Kingdom are shown. Matings between different transferrin genotypes and segregation of the transferrin alleles in piglets from 131 litters are also recorded. In eleven litters from matings within a closely related group of animals heterozygous for the Tfc allele, no offspring of the Tfc/Tfc genotype were born. Matings between heterozygous related boars believed to be carrying a lethal factor linked to the Tf locus and heterozygous unrelated sows of the Saddleback breed, resulted in offspring of the Tfc/Tfc genotype being born. An excess of heterozygote genotypes was found in all litters from matings between animals heterozygous for the Tfc allele. In all these litters the average litter size was 0.5 piglets less per litter than the average for all other litters studied. For the eleven litters from matings involving closely related animals heterozygous for the Tfc allele, the average litter size was 1.4 piglets less per litter than the average for all other litters. The possibility of an early lethal factor being linked to the Tf locus in this family of pigs is discussed.

Summary Attempts were made to detect porcine thrombocyte antibodies by three techniques. No antibodies were detected by immunodiffusion; hetero-antibodies were detected by both the fluorescent antibody and thrombo-agglutination techniques; but iso-antibodies were only detected by thrombo-agglutination. With the latter, however, there were ill-defined end-points which made the interpretation of negative results difficult. It was therefore suitable only for positive reactions of strong avidity.

Frequency of blood group factors at the A-O and H loci were markedly altered within halothane positive (HP) and halothane negative (HN) composite synthetic Pietrain/Hampshire lines (PTH) over four generations of selection. Linkage studies on the litters from 45 double backcross and 20 mixed and intercross matings, involving the S(A-O), H, Phi and Hal loci, were made in the PTH line and halothane positive and negative selected British Landrace lines. Crossing-over frequencies of 0.05 +/- 0.04, 0.05 +/- 0.03 and 0.1 +/- 0.03 were established between Phi and Hal, H and Hal, and Phi and H respectively. An unequal crossing-over frequency between Phi and H was found when the alleles Ha and Hcd were compared. The difference in recombination frequency between the Ha and Hcd alleles amounted to 0.04 to 0.06. No cross-overs were observed between the S(A-O) and Phi, H or Hal loci in 15 families studied. The position of the S locus in relation to the other loci could not be established, but statistical evidence of association favours a haplotype sequence of Phi-Hal-S-H.

Two groups of five sheep (7 months of age) were moved and isolated in pens which did not allow visual and tactile contact with other sheep for 24 h. They were then moved back to their original pens where visual and tactile contact was possible. After 24 h the procedure was repeated seven times for one group (group 8-1) and thirteen times for the other group (group 14-1). One group (control) of five sheep remained in pens where visual and tactile contact was possible. When isolated the lambs spent more time standing still in an alert posture, less time eating and resting, and vocalized more than control lambs. The heart rate of the lambs increased when they were moved between pens and during isolation. The plasma concentration of cortisol was significantly increased after 1·5 h and 3 h of isolation. The plasma concentration of prolactin was increased after 1·5 h of isolation. After 3 h of isolation the number of neutrophils in the blood was increased and the numbers of T-lymphocytes (CD2), T-helper-lymphocytes (CD4) and yd-lymphocytes (T19) were decreased. After 24 h of isolation the lymphocyte blastogenic response to Con A was lower and the numbers of T-lymphocytes and T-helper-lymphocytes were still less than those in control lambs. Although there were still behavioural changes when the lambs were isolated for the seventh time, no cortisol, prolactin and leucocyte changes were found. These results suggest that stressors similar to isolation, which can occur during normal management practice, may elicit short-term leucocyte changes in lambs.

Changes in the blood leucocyte population in response to psychological stressors could increase susceptibility to disease and be useful in the assessment of animal welfare. This paper examines the effect of repeated lamb removal on the blood leucocyte population of ewes and quantifies the behavioural and endocrine responses to the stressor. Twelve ewes which had given birth to twins, were placed in separate pens with their lambs. After 13 days, the lambs (14–19 days old) from one group of six ewes (treatment group) were removed from the pens and placed in a pen 11 m from the nearest ewe. After 3 h the lambs were moved back to their dam. The lambs then remained with their dam for 3 h before being removed for a second period of 3 h. This procedure was repeated for 23 days. A control group of six ewes remained with their lambs continuously for the 24-day experimental period. The removal of lambs produced behavioural changes in the ewes. These included: orientation towards the lamb, vocalization, raised head, erect ears, and decreased lying and sleeping behaviours. Although these changes were present over the 24-day experimental period, there were signs of habituation after 3 days of the treatment. The endocrine responses to lamb removal were less marked. Some ewes showed a plasma cortisol and β-endorphin response on Day 1 of lamb removal, but the mean responses were not statistically different from the control group. There was no obvious plasma prolactin response to the treatment. On Day 10 of lamb removal, the blood concentration of neutrophils in the treatment ewes had increased and the proportion of CD2 lymphocytes and T19 lymphocytes had decreased compared with that of control ewes. There were no significant differences between the treatment and control ewes in either the delayed type hypersensitivity skin responses to Dinitroflurobenzene or the humoral antibody responses to ovalbumin. These results indicate that ewes can show behavioural responses to a stressor, such as repeated lamb removal. However, this stressor had no significant effect on the endocrine and immune measurements studied.

The normal behaviour of six geldings was recorded during a 6 week summer period. The animals grazed a 1.5 ha perennial ryegrass-dominated paddock yielding on average 6682 kg DM ha i. A scan sampling technique was used; the behaviour of each horse was recorded every 30 s for 15 min at 2-h intervals for a 24-h period each week. An image intensifier was used to observe the animals at night. Static ingestion, ambulatory ingestion, free movement, rest by standing, rest by lying, investigative and social behaviours were recorded. Time budgets were constructed and were very similar to those of horses on unrestricted grazings. The distribution of faecal deposits was recorded daily and faecal elimination was found to be random over long grass. Seasonal management of farmed red deer in Great Britain T.L. Alexander MAFF, Crosskill House, Mill Lane, Beverley, UK ABSTRACT A legal definition of a farmed deer is that it is enclosed, identified by marking and kept for business purposes. In the UK the Code of Recommendations for the welfare of farmed deer is intended to encourage the highest standards of husbandry, taking account of five basic animal needs. Management of deer on farms is still such that it broadly accommodates the natural seasonality of deer. When accustomed to the sight and sound of man deer can be tamed to a considerable degree with feeding. However, as their respect for mankind diminishes, man is increasingly subject to threats. Calving hinds tend to seek solitude and cover should be provided for this. Rubbing poles can be inserted into the ground. Some farmers create wallows, perceiving wallowing to be a behavioural need. All classes of deer can be housed in winter. Housing of calves involves weaning usually before the rut. On hill farms, stag calves are likely to be sold in October. This and other practices, such as single-sire mating, involve changing the normal social groups. Unlike free-living deer, mating of farmed deer can be independent of fighting prowess. As soon as the velvet has been cleaned and before rutting aggressionA legal definition of a farmed deer is that it is enclosed, identified by marking and kept for business purposes. In the UK the Code of Recommendations for the welfare of farmed deer is intended to encourage the highest standards of husbandry, taking account of five basic animal needs. Management of deer on farms is still such that it broadly accommodates the natural seasonality of deer. When accustomed to the sight and sound of man deer can be tamed to a considerable degree with feeding. However, as their respect for mankind diminishes, man is increasingly subject to threats. Calving hinds tend to seek solitude and cover should be provided for this. Rubbing poles can be inserted into the ground. Some farmers create wallows, perceiving wallowing to be a behavioural need. All classes of deer can be housed in winter. Housing of calves involves weaning usually before the rut. On hill farms, stag calves are likely to be sold in October. This and other practices, such as single-sire mating, involve changing the normal social groups. Unlike free-living deer, mating of farmed deer can be independent of fighting prowess. As soon as the velvet has been cleaned and before rutting aggression

(1978). The H Blood Group Locus and Meat Colour, and using Blood Groups to Predict Halothane Reactors. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica: Vol. 28, No. sup21, pp. 403-410.

Pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pigmeat is not common in the U.K. There is, therefore, no great pressure for the introduction of tests to identify potentially affected animals. Commercial and research organisations are, however, anxious to keep a watching brief and to evaluate the established and novel tests for predicting and monitoring porcine stress syndrome (PSS) and PSE in pig populations. Of these, serum enzyme measurements, halothane sensitivity, blood grouping and mitochondrial calcium efflux have received the greatest attention. Most of the tests examined readily predict the worst examples of the syndrome, but are not sufficiently precise to be able to identify tendencies towards it, which restricts their value in breeding programmes. There are no plans to incorporate any of the tests in the national (MLC) testing programme.

SUMMARY An experiment on two farms to verify a sire effect on piglet mortality is described. The maternal influence was standardized by using two different boars on the same sow at oestrus. On one of the farms a statistically significant sire effect was found.

The survival times from birth of 39 entire male Large White pigs with hereditary lymphosarcoma (L/S) were significantly shorter than those of 76 affected females. The survival times of 19 male castrates were for the most part intermediate between those for entire males and females. Analysis of the cause of death revealed that pigs with L/S (L/S-P) were more likely than pigs without L/S to die from colibacillosis, but this disease showed to sex predisposition. In uncomplicated deaths from L/S, weights of splanchnic lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus were greatest in females. The cell-mediated and humoral antibody responses of L/S-P were significantly poorer against 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) and sheep red blood cells, poorer against skin homografts, but better against bovine serum albumin than those of healthy littermates. Healthy females had stronger DNFB reactions than did healthy males or castrates. Castrated L/S-P responded to DNFB better than did females and significantly better than did entire males.

Prednisolone at doses of 0, 2, 4 and 6 mg/kg was given daily 5 days/week for 5 1 2 weeks to 4 pairs of normal Large White sibling pigs. One of each pair was then killed. Treatment caused a dose-related reduction in the size of the thymus with “overshoot” on recovery. A similar but less spectacular reduction, without “overshoot”, on recovery, occurred in the lymph nodes and blood lymphocyte counts. There was also a reduction in serum total globulin levels and a complementary increase in serum albumin during treatment. Treated pigs showed a reduced contact sensitivity to DNFB during the last week of treatment. No changes attributable to treatment were observed in blood neutrophil and platelet counts nor in the red cell pictures. It is concluded that the pig falls in the “corticosteroid-resistant” group of species which includes man.

The demonstration of a reagin-like antibody against Culicoides pulicaris extract in the serum of horses and ponies affected with recurrent seasonal dermatitis (sweet itch) is reported. This antibody can confer Prauznitz-Küstner (P-K) sensitivity on homologous skin for up to 5 days and, like human IgE, is thermolabile and susceptible to 2-mercaptoethanol reduction. It is eluted on diethylaminoethyl dextran-52 anion exchange chromatography independently of IgG, IgG(T) and IgM, and its elution characteristics indicate similarity in net molecular charge to human IgE. The P-K response observed in horse skin is biphasic, and is morphologically similar to the late cutaneous anaphylactic response in man. Both phases of the P-K response are dependent upon the reagin-like antibody, although other serum factors appear involved in the delayed phase of the response.

Pigs with hereditary lymphosarcoma were found to show an increase in serum gamma globulin levels from 0.24 to 2.04 g/dl during a period from the 10 th to the 24 th week of life. Compared to normal litter mates this increase was significant ( P P All cases in the later stages of the disease had an IgG heavy chain (γFc) and light chain (γL) component in their serum and urine. This component could not be found in the serum or urine of normal litter mates, but could be extracted from mesenteric lymph nodes of normal pigs and lymphosarcoma cases. The molecular size of the main component in serum and urine was approximately 50 to 60 × 10 3 . Other tumour cell products similar to foetal albumin, alpha 2 and beta globulin were also present in the serum of lymphosarcoma cases. With the exception of trace amounts of albumin foetal proteins were not present in the serum of normal litter mates.

The survival times from birth of 39 entire male Large White pigs with hereditary lymphosarcoma (L/S) were significantly shorter than those of 76 affected females. The survival times of 19 male castrates were for the most part intermediate between those for entire males and females. Analysis of the cause of death revealed that pigs with L/S (L/S-P) were more likely than pigs without L/S to die from colibacillosis, but this disease showed to sex predisposition. In uncomplicated deaths from L/S, weights of splanchnic lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus were greatest in females. The cell-mediated and humoral antibody responses of L/S-P were significantly poorer against 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) and sheep red blood cells, poorer against skin homografts, but better against bovine serum albumin than those of healthy littermates. Healthy females had stronger DNFB reactions than did healthy males or castrates. Castrated L/S-P responded to DNFB better than did females and significantly better than did entire males.

Two age-matched pairs of pigs with hereditary lymphoma were treated with prednisolone sodium phosphate in daily intramuscular doses of 4 mg/kg on 5 days/week for 5.5 weeks . One of each pair was then killed and autopsied, the other 5 weeks later. Treatment resulted in marked reductions in blood mononuclear cell count, serum globulin (chiefly gamma) levels and lymph node, thymus and adrenal size. Increases in PCV (haematocrit), platelet counts and in serum albumin and magnesium levels occurred. The red cell picture continued to improve until two weeks after treatment ceased. All these changes reversed rapidly during the post-treatment period. Neutrophilia occurred only during the fifth week of treatment. Serum Na, K, Ca , chloride and inorganic phosphate levels showed no treatment-related changes. The skin hypersensitivity reaction to DNFB, absent before treatment, became positive during and after prednisolone treatment but was never as marked as in sensitised normal pigs.

The second generation (n = 227) of British Landrace pigs from selected halothane-positive parents (36 litters) were blood-typed for the S(A-O), H and Phi loci and subjected to four 5-minute halothane tests at 21, 35, 49 and 63 days of age. Cumulative scores based on severity and speed of reaction were analysed in relation to single-locus blood group genotypes and linkage group sequences at two and three loci. A highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.79) was found between severity and speed of reaction. Significant differences occurred between blood group genotypes and linkage groups in both severity and speed of reaction. Genotypes S s/s, H a/a or H a/- and Phi B/B and linkage groups involving these three types had the highest cumulative reaction score and the fastest reaction time, whereas genotypes Phi A/B, S S/S or S S/s and H a/cd and linkage groups with these types had the lowest and slowest reaction scores. Some differences between genotypes and linkage groups were attributed to phenotypically halothane-positive parents and offspring being genotypically Hal N/n. These effects could result from linkage with heterozygous types such as H a/cd and S S/s. The possible role of the H cd allele acting as a genetic marker for a suppressor gene to the halothane reaction is discussed.

Summary Attempts were made to detect antibodies to porcine thrombocytes by two indirect techniques. Only hetero-antibodies were detected by complement fixation; iso-antibodies were detected by the antiglobulin consumption technique. The latter gave consistent reliable results, the difference between positive and negative results being clear-cut, but was found to be laborious. The problems of porcine thrombocyte serology are discussed.

Autosomal linkage between genes for red cell groups and other marker genes has been widely investigated in man. None of these investigations have revealed linkage between serum protein markers and genes for the red cell groups. Linnet-Jepson et al. (1958) showed independent segregation of the genes controlling haptoglobin, Gm groups and red cell blood groups: ABO., MNS., Rh., P, Lewis, Lutheran and Duffy. Smithies and Hiller (1959) also found independent segregation of genes at the transferrin and haptoglobin loci, and the red cell blood groups; ABO., MNS., P and Rh.

Qualitative and quantitative variation in pig serum alkaline phosphatase activity is demonstrated. Polymorphic-type patterns of alkaline phosphatase activity are detectable at 1 to 3 weeks of age by starch gel electrophoresis. The patterns seen are due to a variable fast component, which disappears after 3 weeks of age, and appears to be a feature of normal development. Alkaline phosphatase in pre-colostral serum samples exhibits a different electrophoretic mobility to that shown by samples taken after 4 days of age. The change in mobility is not related to colostrum uptake. Quantitative estimations of alkaline phosphatase activity in serum appears to be highest in pre-colostral samples, then rapidly decreases over a period of 4 weeks, and subsequently decreases gradually. In studies of serum alkaline phosphatase levels taken at weekly intervals from seventeen litters for a period of 9 weeks significant differences between litters can be detected.

BY means of chromatography and electrophoresis on starch gel, Morell and Scheinberg1 showed at least four different molecular components of ceruloplasmin in preparations from the plasma of 9,109 human donors. Then McAlister et al.2 presented evidence for multiple ceruloplasmin components in human sera. Using vertical starch-gel electrophoresis to resolve the ceruloplasmins combined with direct chemical and enzymatic analysis on the gel, they defined five distinct proteins having one or more characteristic properties of ceruloplasmin. The enzymatic analysis used by these workers was based on the work by Holmberg and Laurell3, who showed that ceruloplasmin could oxidize a number of substances, the best substrate being p-phenylenediamine (PPD). Using the PPD oxidase activity as a measure of the ceruloplasmin in sera of different species, it was shown by McCosker4 that pig sera has more than twice the activity of human sera and four times that of other domestic species.

Reaction to the muscle relaxant succinylcholine was investigated as a possible method of distinguishing the heterozygote from the normal homozygote at the halothane locus. Totals of 54 assumed heterozygotes and 67 assumed homozygotes received intravenous succinylcholine during halothane anaesthesia at 6 to 10 weeks of age. Three separate measures of the duration and severity of the muscular reaction to succinylcholine were all significantly increased in heterozygotes compared with homozygotes. The genotypic difference for one of the three reaction traits was significantly influenced by the day of testing. Due to overlapping distributions for the two genotypes, succinylcholine reactions did not offer a precise method of identifying individual heterozygotes. Although test mating to recessive homozygotes would still be required to be certain of eliminating the halothane gene, the gene frequency among prosepective parents for test mating could be substantially reduced by succinylcholine screening. Due to the expertise and time required, succinylcholine testing would probably only be worthwhile for the production of specialized homozygous lines at nucleus level.