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End date: 1969Subject: search.filters.subject.Sheep

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    A study of the Romney fat lamb ewe, with particular reference to milk secretion and its effect on fat lamb production : thesis submitted by "392" [Alan Graham Logan] for the M. Agr. Sc. degree at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1946) Logan, Alan Graham
    One of the distinguishing characteristics of mammals, is the dependance of the young, during early post-natal life, on nourish­ment secreted by the mammary gland of the mother. Hence milk secretion is of fundamental importance in all our farm animals with the exception of poultry. The essential attributes of milk (viz., high water content and liquid state, high digestibility, high protein content of excellent biological value, high calcium and phosphorus and the presence of most of the necessary vitamins) are specially suited to the needs of young rapidly growing animals. In dairy cattle extensive study has been made of milk­ producing ability and conscious effort made to improve this by breeding, and nutrition. Comparison of the characteristics of modern dairy cattle (highly developed milking qualities but inferior meat carcasses) and of beef cattle (early-maturing and good carcass quality but often poor milk yield) clearly indicate the extent of improvement from the wild form and the variation in productive efficiency of different types. Valuable work on the milk-producing ability of other species, and its relationship to the welfare of the young has been carried out by Bonsma and Oosthuizen (1) and Donald (7) with Sows; and Ritzman (30), Fuller and Kleinhanz (10), Neidig and Iddings (24), Bonsma (2,3), 30a, Pierce (27,28) with ewes of non-milking breeds, and by several workers with specialised milking sheep, Scheingraber (31), Muhlberg (23), Maule (17). [From Introduction]
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    A study of the effects of plane of nutrition on milk secretion and lamb growth in Romney sheep, and the effect of weaning date on the growth of Romney lambs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Agricultural Science of the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1952) Murray, Paul Frederick
    The productivity of an animal depends on two factors, its potentiality, which is governed by its hereditary make-up, and the extent to which that potentiality is allowed to develop, this being regulated by the environment that characterises the habitat. The effects of genotype are obviously shown by the differences between breeds of stock in the amount and quality of meat, wool and milk they produce; but within breeds these effects are not so apparent though they have been conclusively demonstrated, e.g. yield and quality between flocks of Romney sheep. Environmental influence on productivity is limited at the maximum level by the genotype, i.e. no matter how good the environment, the animal cannot produce more than the maximum ordained by the genes it possesses. Conversely, below the genotypic maximum, the environment can regulate the coiling level of production. This interplay of factors is well illustrated by the adaptability of different breeds of sheep to different habitats, e, g. the Romney is predominant in the North Island hill country while in the South the Merino and its crosses assume a greater importance. Within a population with approximately common genotype, e.g. a single flock of uniform breed, the effects of environment below the threshold set by the genotype can be widely varied, e.g. the growth of lambs in a drought can be severely set back. It is with the effects of a particular factor of environment, i.e. nutrition, on the milk production and lamb growth of such a population that this investigation is concerned.
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    Some aspects of the bone-muscle relationships in New Zealand lamb and mutton carcasses : a thesis presented at Massey Agricultural College in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1961) Russel, A. J. F.
    The three main constituents of a meat carcass are bone, musele, and fat, and of these the lean meat or muscle is of greatest interest and importance to the consumer. Bone represents an almost total waste and is hence considered as undesizable and as something which must be accepted with the desirable muscular tissue. In the words of Robert Bakewell, "You can't eat bone, therefore give the public something to eat." (Dawson, 1957). The Physical properties of muscle and bone are markedly different. Muscular tissue is compressible and hence difficult to ensure with accuracy on a linear scale. The intimate association of skeletal muscle with other tissues makes its complete removal for accurate weight estimation both difficult and tedious. Bony tissue, on the other hand, lends itself more readily to the measurement of linear dimensions and weight.
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    A study of pasture pattern in relation to microtopography : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1966) Rumball, Peter John
    An important aspect of the science of plant ecology is the determination of the nature and causes of variation in vegetation. Reflecting the controlling influence of the physical environment, this variation is continuous both in space and in time. The most rewarding means of unravelling the intricate relationships between vegetation and habitat is through the detection and analysis of pattern. In an ecological context, pattern may be defined as the non-random distribution of vegetation units within a defined area. This means in effect, that the distribution is either more contagious or more regular than could be expected, if chance was the only factor which influenced the distribution. Greig-Smith (1964) described a random distribution as one in which the presence of one individual (unit) does not either raise or lower the probability of another occurring nearby. The existence of pattern in vegetation is apparently a universal phenomenom. It may be manifest on a very wide range of scales and intensities; from broad global-wide belts of vegetation, down to the variable performance of a single species over a small are.. Causes of pattern may be either intrinsic, (e.g. method of dispersion, competitive ability) or extrinsic, (e.g. variations in the effective physical environment). [From Introduction]
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    The segmental sensory innervation of the skin of the sheep : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science from Massey University
    (Massey University, 1967) Kirk, Edwin James
    The interest in the segmental basis of cutaneous sensory innervation evinced by the ancient Greeks was developed into a major contribution to experimental biology by the studies in man and animals by Sherrington, Head and Foerster. The present study is one of a number of more recent investigations of the dermatomes in animals from which a great deal of comparative information has been obtained. The particular significance of a study of the functional anatomy of the sheep in relation to veterinary medicine has been discussed. The experimental work described in this thesis involved particular consideration of the following 1. The features of the topographical anatomy of the vertebral column of the sheep which were found to be of importance in the experimental procedures. 2. The value of the "remaining sensibility" technique as a means of defining the dermatomes of the sheep. 3. The use of figurines and photographs in the schematic representation of the experimental results. 4. The justification for basing the definition of the dermatomes largely on the responses to pinch stimuli. 5. A discussion of the features of the dermatomes of the sheep in relation to embryological development and the observations which have been made in other species. 6. The changes in muscle tonus in the limbs which followed section of the dorsal spinal nerve roots or damage to the spinal cord. 7. The aberrations in feeding, defecation, micturition and respiration produced by various dorsal root sections. 8. The major pathways in the spinal cord followed by the primary afferent fibres, as revealed by the Marchi technique. 9. A general consideration of the significance of studies such as the present, and their possible extension to include deeper somatic or visceral structures. Details of the dorsal root sections undertaken have been provided in an appendix.
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    Cannon bones : some dimensions, heritabilities and relationships to carcass quality in Romney wether lambs : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agr. Sc.
    (Massey University, 1957) Hughes, Alan Herbert
    In the past and to a certain extent at the present time sheep breeders have paid considerable attention to the dimensions of the cannon bones of their animals in the belief that this bone serves as a good indicator of the quality of the conformation and constitution of their animals. Scientific workers interested in meat and carcass quality have also attached considerable importance to the cannon bone as an index of carcass composition and hence of carcass quality. The origin of the sheep breeders beliefs is no doubt due to years of farmer observation supported to some extent by the findings of the scientific workers, who of necessity, using relatively small numbers of animals, have established relationships between the dimensions of the cannon bone and other characters of' economic importance. The existence at Massey Agricultural College of complete records, concerning cannon bone dimensions and carcass quality, collected from a relatively large number of animals, prompted this present study which was intended to yield more accurate results than those previously reported. At the same time this study was designed to yield estimates of the heritability of cannon bone dimensions and their relationship to carcass quality thus providing a basis on which breeders might decide whether or not they could continue to place the present amount of emphasis on the cannon bone in their selection practices .
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    Some aspects of gene dosage effects in N-type sheep : a thesis submitted in part fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science, Massey Agricultural College
    (Massey University, 1952) Stephenson, S K
    A study of gene dosage effects in N-type sheep has been made using the fibre type array method and the medullometer method developed by Elphick and McMahon. As the position was complicated by gradients occuring in the fibre type arrays and total fleece medullation over the body, the study on each sheep was made in the seven positions: back, withers, side, shoulder, shoulder patch, neck and britch, this being to see what gradients were present and how these changed with increasing N-gene dosage.
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    A study of the linear growth of Cooperia curticei in lambs : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agr. Sc.
    (Massey University, 1950) Sommerville, Raymond Ian
    The trend in agricultural parasitology in the past two decades has been to emphasise the importance of studies on the cycles of nematode parasitism in farm animals. However, singularly little work has been directed towards and elucidation of those factors in the environment of the host and free living larval parasites which are important in the acquisition of parasitic infestations. The object of this investigation is to study the growth of a common nematode parasite of sheep in an attempt to determine the 'age' of a population. The term 'age', as used here, denotes the time from infestation to the death of the worm. [From introduction.]
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    Some aspects of protein nutrition and its relation to wool growth and body weight changes in the sheep : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1969) Carrico, Robert G
    Early studies involving dietary protein level effects on wool growth (Fraser and Roberts, 1933; Slen and Whiting, 1952; Ferguson, 1959) noted that over a wide range, dietary protein level remains relatively independent of wool growth rate. These observations led to the conclusion that once minimum protein levels were met, dietary protein was no longer a major factor limiting wool growth (Ferguson, 1959). For some time dietary protein has been known to be involved in a complex series of biochemical reactions within the rumen (reviewed by Barnett and Reid, 1961). Host notable of the reactions related to this study are those involved with deacination and fermentation of protein by the rumen microorganisns. After considering results of protein level experiments, knowledge of rumen microbial action on protein, and work with sheep indicating that nitrogen retention was increased by abomasal or duodenal protein infusions (Cuthbertson and Chalmers, 1950), Reis and Schinckel (1961) decided to by-pass rumen action by administering casein supplements through an abomasal cannula. The effect of "by-passed" protein supplements on wool growth rate was then assessed. Following supplementation, wool growth rate increased by 41 to 77%. These results suggested that protein nutrition is a major factor limiting wool growth.
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    Some effects of pastures species and stocking rate on sheep and pasture production : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1969) Bublath, A G
    Agriculture in New Zealand as in other temperate regions of they World is dependent on the utilisation of pastures by the grazing animal. Species such as perennial rye grass (Lolum perenne L.) cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) together, represent a large proportion of the feed available to sheep on the more improved pasture land of New Zealand. Considerable research has been done on the selection, establishment, and the productivity of these species for livestock. But this research has been predominantly concerned with pastures or with livestock as separate entities. Only occasionally have these two entities been studied in association. In general, pasture species have been extensively evaluated in terms of their dry matter yield and botanical characteristics under different systems of cutting but comparatively few pastures trials have been reported in which the evaluation has been made in terms of animal products. Higher growth rates of young sheep grazing white clover dominant pastures or grasses plus clover pastures as compared with pure grasses pastures were reported in New Zealand (Rae, Brougham, Glanday and Butler, 1963; Rae, Brougham and Barton, 1964; McLean, Thomson, Jagusch and Lawson, 1965; Hight and Sinclair, 1965, 1967) and in Australia (Gallagher, Watkin and Grimes, 1966; Wilson, 1966). Also differences were found in the growth rates of sheep grazing different types of grasses (Rae et al, 1964, McLean et al, 1965; Gallagher et al, 1966).