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The experiment was conducted to (i) determine the excretion pattern of an indigestible marker for sheep, (ii) compare three different techniques used to determine intake, (iii) determine the crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM) intake of wethers and reproducing ewes grazing medic pasture, and (iv) evaluate their production. The percentage of chromium excreted during the determination of the excretion pattern varied between 82,5 and 108,2 when expressed as percentages of representative grab samples taken throughout the day. The diurnal variation in the percentage of chromium excreted (y) was described by the equation, y = 310,9 - 30,44x + 1,03x2 (R2 = 0,67; n = 40), where x. represents the time of sampling. Intake of DOM estimated by the total collection of faeces was significantly (P ≤ 0,01) lower than values obtained by the total collection of chromium and 11h00 chromium grab samples, possibly due to losses of faeces from the bags. No significant difference occurred between the latter two techniques, which resulted in DOM intake results that were highly correlated (r = 0,80). Significant (P≤ 0,01) differences in DOM (variation between 370 and 716 g/d) and CP intake (variation between 55 and 227 g/d) by Merino wethers were observed between months, and a seasonal pattern was observed. The same trend was found with the reproducing South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) ewes; DOM intake varying between 445 and 1008 g/d, while CP intakes varied between 48 and 333 g/d. The live mass of the wethers (variation between 48 and 84 kg) and ewes (variation between 64 and 85 kg) differed significantly (P≤ 0,01) between months, generally following a seasonal trend corresponding to DOM and CP intakes. Wool production of the Merino wethers (6,5 sheep/ha) was 60,5 (1981) and 39,7 (1982) kg greasy wool/ha for two year periods, SAMM ewes (5,2 ewes/ha) produced 23,4 kg greasy woolf ha (1981), while meat production was 62,4 (1981) and 90,4 (1982) kg/ha. Lambs were weaned (ca. 100 days) at 31,8 (1981) and 33,8 (1982) kg, with average daily gains of 263 and 294 g/d in the respective years.Die eksperiment is uitgevoer om (i) die uitskeidingspatroon van 'n onverteerbare merker vir skape te bepaal, (ii) drie verskillende tegnieke van'innamebepaling te vergelyk, (iii) ruprote'ien(RP)- en verteerbare oganiese materiaal(VOM)- inname van Merinohamels asook van reproduserende Suid-Afrikaanse Vleismerino(SAVM)-ooie op medicweiding te bepaal, en (iv) hul gepaardgaande produksie te evalueer. Die persentasie chroom in die grypmonsters soos in die uitskeidingskurwe .bepaal, het tussen 82,5 en 108,2 gevarieer. Die persentasie chroom in die grypmonsters (y) is beskryf deur die vergelyking, y = 310,9 - 30,44x + 1,03x2 (R2 = 0,67; n = 40), waar x die tyd van monsterneming verteenwoordig. Die VOM-inname is betekenisvol (P≤0.01) laer deur die totale miskolleksietegniek beraam, moontlik as gevolg van verliese uit die missakke, Geen verskille het voorgekom tussen VOM-inname soos met die 11h00-chroomgrypmonsters en totale chroomkolleksie bepaal nie, met 'n hoogsbetekenisvol korrelasie tussen VOM-inname beraam volgens die metodes (r = 0,80). Betekenisvolle (P ≤ 0,01) verskille in YOM (variasie tussen 370 en 716 g/d)- en RP (variasie tussen 55 en 227 g/d)-inname by Merinohamels is tussen maande waargeneem, en inname het 'n tipiese seisoenale patroon gevolg. Dieselfde tendens het .by die SAVM-ooie voorgekom (VOM-inname het tussen 445 en 1008 g/d gevarieer terwyl RP-inname tussen 48 en 333 g/d gevarieer het). Liggaamsmassa van die hamels (48 tot 84 kg) en ooie (64 tot 85 kg) het betekenisvol (P≤0,01) tussen maande gevarieer, en dieselfde seisoenale tendens as inname gevolg. Rouwolproduksie van die hamels (veebelading van 6,5 skape/ha) was 60,5 (1981) en 39,7 (1982) kg/ha onderskeidelik vir twee jare, terwyl die ooie (5,2 ooie/ha) 23,4 kg rouwol/ha (1981) geproduseer het. Lamsvleisproduksie deur ooie het 62,4 (1981) en 90,4 (1982) kg/ha bedra. Die 100-dae-speenmassas van die lammers was 31,8 (1981) en 33,8 (1982) kg, terwyl die ooreenstemmende gemiddelde daaglikse toenames van die lammers 263 en 294 g /d vir die onderskele jare was.Kewords: Medicago spp, legume, medics, excretion pattern, chromium oxide, intake, sheep

Women may expect to spend more than a third of their lives after menopause. Beginning in the sixth decade, many chronic diseases will begin to emerge, which will affect both the quality and quantity of a woman's life. Thus, the onset of menopause heralds an opportunity for prevention strategies to improve the quality of life and enhance longevity. Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, cognitive decline, dementia and depression, and cancer are the major diseases of concern. Prevention strategies at menopause have to begin with screening and careful assessment for risk factors, which should also include molecular and genetic diagnostics, as these become available. Identification of certain risks will then allow directed therapy. Evidence-based prevention for the diseases noted above include lifestyle management, cessation of smoking, curtailing excessive alcohol consumption, a healthy diet and moderate exercise, as well as mentally stimula...

Until 2002, hormone [replacement] therapy (HT) was first-line therapy for prevention (and treatment) of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). It was thought that any risks associated with HT were far outweighed by potential long-term benefits (mainly cardiovascular protection). Although there were rumblings from some smaller studies at the turn of the millennium, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) results, published in 2002, changed the way in which we managed PMOP. In this large randomised study, there was now strong prospective evidence that HT did indeed decrease fracture risk at all major sites. However, the expected benefits in cardiovascular risk were not substantiated. Thereafter, the pendulum swung dramatically away from HT in PMOP; but newer evidence over the last 18 months is causing the pendulum to move back towards a central position. We now review the place of HT in postmenopausal osteoporosis in two parts: firstly, the accumulated evidence for bone protection and, secondly, the current benefits versus risk perspective, as well as up-to-date recommendations for its use.. JEMDSA Vol. 13 (1) 2008: pp. 8-12

Objective To compare the uterine effects of 60 mg of raloxifene with a continuous combined hormone replacement therapy, a preparation of 2 mg 17β-oestradiol (E2) and 1 mg norethisterone acetate for a duration of 12 months. Design A randomised, double-blind trial. Setting Multicentre: Europe, Israel, South Africa. Population Asymptomatic postmenopausal women with risk factors for osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease who had an endometrial thickness of less than 5 mm. One thousand and eight women were randomised for the six month core; of these 420 were invited to continue into a six month extension period. Methods Randomisation to either raloxifene or continuous combined hormone replacement therapy. Patients, recruiters and assessors were blinded to the treatment used. Main outcome measures The frequency of vaginal spotting/bleeding as recorded in a diary, endometrial thickness and uterine volume as measured by transvaginal ultrasonography at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Results After six months of therapy with raloxifene, the rate of women on raloxifene reporting vaginal bleeding and spotting (6.8%) was similar to the rate in the lead-in phase (8.3%) but increased from 7.0% to 55.1% in the continuous combined hormone replacement therapy group. Raloxifene treatment was not associated with a significant change from baseline to endpoint in mean endometrial thickness (P= 0.11), whereas continuous combined hormone replacement therapy treatment was associated with an increase in this value of mean (SD) of 1.2 (2.2) mm (P < 0.001). Compared with raloxifene, mean endometrial thickness for women on continuous combined hormone replacement therapy was significantly increased at endpoint [4.6 (2.1) mm vs 3.5 (1.7) mm; change from baseline P < 0.001]. In the raloxifene group, there was a trend towards a decrease from baseline in uterine volume [from 31.4 (20.3) to 30.3 (16.2) mm; P= 0.37]; in the continuous combined hormone replacement therapy group, there was a significant increase in uterine volume [from 31.3 (16.3) to 54.0 (36.1) mm; P < 0.001], and the difference in the effect of both compounds on change in uterine volume at endpoint reached statistical significance (P < 0.001). Statistically significant differences between the treatment groups were sustained for all parameters during the extension period. Early discontinuation rates, both overall and due to adverse events, were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the raloxifene group after 6 and 12 months. Conclusion Compared with continuous combined hormone replacement therapy, 6 and 12 months of raloxifene treatment do not lead to vaginal bleeding/spotting, are not associated with increased endometrial thickness or uterine volume and result in a significantly lower rate of early treatment discontinuations in asymptomatic women receiving treatment to prevent long term postmenopausal health risks.