Sheep In Scotland Research Articles

The effects of challenge with homologous and heterologous strains of Border disease virus on ewes with previous experience of the disease

Twenty four ewes from a field outbreak of Border disease (BD) in Mule sheep in Scotland and 22 Blackface ewes which the previous year had borne BD affected lambs after infection with II B pool (Moredun BD virus) were examined serologically. Both groups had neutralizing antibody to NADL strain of bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVD) and to a cytopathic BD virus isolated from the II B pool. The Mule sheep had higher titres to BVD than to BD and this situation was reversed in the Blackface. In their next pregnancy each group was sub-divided and challenged with the homologous or heterologous strain of virus. Ewes resisted challenge with the homologous strain but 92 and 50 per cent were susceptible to challenge with the heterologous strain. The findings may explain some of the conflicting results encountered in the literature on immunity to BD.

A possible genetic interpretation of the colour variants in the fleece of the Gotland and Goth sheep

Summary The paper describes colours of 79 adults and 1 lambs in 6 flocks of the ancient Swedish short-tailed, horned Goth breed of sheep. Of the adults, 3were grey and 43 of a near-white colour, while 8 of the lambs were grey and 99 light-coloured. The light coloured lambs with limited amount of white markings showed two colour patterns, one a lightgrey with white belly, termed a grey mouflon », and the other a mixture of light steel grey and tan, termed a agouti ». White markings were common in all flocks, and extensive white markings interfered with the classification of the main colours in some of the flocks. On the basis of the observations, on the Goth sheep which contained some pedigree information, and on available observations from crosses of improved grey Gotland sheep and Shetland sheep in Scotland, together with a review of the literature, the suggestion is put forward that the grey colour in the ancient Goth sheep and in the improved Gotland sheep is caused by a new allele at the Agouti locus, A(Gotland grey), if not Ao (icelandic grey). The « grey mouflon » colour of the Goth sheep is caused by another, previously unknown allele, A i(lg for light grey) at the A gouti locus. Some white animals may be A or even carry the !4 ’ gene for tan or white.

Antibodies to ovine adenoviruses in sheep in Scotland.

Antibodies to ovine adenoviruses in sheep in Scotland.

A survey of rotaviruses in sheep in Scotland.

A survey of rotaviruses in sheep in Scotland.

LIVESTOCK MARKETS IN SCOTLAND

ABSTRACT The distribution and seasonality of supplies of animals transportation networks and modes, the location and size of urban centers, competition and specialization arising from private ownership of markets, and farm size explain the distribution of markets for store cattle and sheep in Scotland, and the size, shape, and overlap of their hinterlands. These factors operate in different ways upon regular and seasonal markets.

The influence of seasonal variation on fertility and early body growth in sheep

SUMMARYThe effect of the time of mating on ewe fertility and subsequent lamb growth was examined in Clun sheep in Scotland. The flock of 249 females was divided into six mating groups, the first was put to a fertile ram on 12 October 1962, the remainder being added at two weekly intervals.There was a marked decline in the average number of lambs born per female lambing as the time of mating moved from October to December (b = −0·007 per female per day). Other components of fertility were not affected.The mean birth weight was slightly greater in the later mating groups; however, by the time the lambs were 9 weeks of age, the trend was reversed, the regression of 9-week weight on day of mating being −0·063 lb per day.

Studies on parasitic worms of sheep in Scotland

Laboratory studies on the embryonic and larval development of Haemonchus contortus under constant temperatures of 0·0°, 7·2°, 11°, 14·4°, 21·7° and 37° C., and varying moisture conditions were carried out. Reports of preliminary studies on Ostertagia spp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum venulosum are included.Observations showed that eggs in the same culture may behave in several ways: (1) eggs may develop at different rates; (2) eggs may exhibit intermittent stages of active and inhibited development; and (3) eggs may fail to develop and die at any stage from unknown causes.

Sheep Farming In Southern Scotland

Scotland is a mountainous country, the area of mountain and heath land being very much larger than that of arable land. It is this immense area of poor quality, exposed, rugged land that provides the breeding ground for our great sheep industry.The total number of sheep in Scotland in 1949, according to the June returns, was 7,102,873. In 1939 there were eight million. About two-thirds of the breeding ewes belong to the Scottish Blackface breed ; the others are Cheviots, Border Leicesters and crossbreds.

Actinobacillosis in sheep

Summary 1. B. purifaciens is identical with A. lignieresi culturally, biochemically, and in its effect when inoculated into laboratory animals and sheep; serologically they are closely related but individual strains of both organisms may be subject to considerable antigenic variation; the former designation should therefore be discarded. 2. Actinobacillosis is widespread among sheep in Scotland, but the incidence in individual flocks is commonly low. The characteristics of the disease are described.

The Incidence of Coccidiosis of Sheep in Scotland

The Incidence of Coccidiosis of Sheep in Scotland

University Events

ABERDEEN.—The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on Dr. E. J. Butler, secretary to the Agricultural Research Council, and on Dr. G. Dahl-berg, director of the Institute of Medical Genetics, Uppsala, among others, on March 30. The ordinary degree of D.Sc. was conferred on Dr. D. Robertson, for a thesis entitled "Studies on the Internal Parasites of Sheep in Scotland and the Importance of Nutrition in Regard to their Control."

On Sarcosporidiosis (Sarcocystis Tenella) in Sheep in Scotland.

On Sarcosporidiosis (Sarcocystis Tenella) in Sheep in Scotland.

Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia in the Sheep in Scotland.

Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia in the Sheep in Scotland.

Four-horned Sheep in Scotland

So little seems to be known regarding the early occurrence of Scottish four-horned sheep that the following record will bear repetition. It occurs, almost as an aside, in the account of the parish of Moffat, in the lowland counties of Dumfries and Lanark, published in Sir John Sinclair's “Statistical Account of Scotland,” vol. ii., p. 292, 1792. The writer of the account, Rev. Mr. Alex. Brown, says:—“It is not long since the sheep in this part of the country, were of the four-horned kind; a few of which, it is said, remain still in some parts of Nithsdale. Their body is smaller, but their wool finer than those of the present breed. Their want of weight for the butcher, and greater difficulty and danger in lambing have banished them from this place.”