Relationship between lamb vigour and ewe behaviour at parturition

1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. O'Connor ◽  
A. B. Lawrence

AbstractMaternal behaviour and lamb vigour are both considered major variables affecting lamb survival, but there are few data to describe their relative importance. To investigate the relationship between lamb vigour and maternal behaviour this study compared the behaviour of pure Scottish Blackface lambs with Mule (Bluefaced Leicester ♀. × Scottish Blackface ♂) lambs, all born indoors. Anecdotal accounts suggested a significant reduction in lamb vigour in Mule lambs, a matter also of significant practical importance given the current incease in Mule numbers. Observations on the grooming behaviour of 32 single or twin-bearing ewes, and on the general activity and udder-seeking behaviour of their lambs were made at parturition. In this study, neither ewe grooming behaviour nor general lamb activity were directly related to lamb sucking success. It was shown that, although Mule lambs had high birth weights and stood as quickly as Blackface lambs, they showed significantly fewer sucking attempts (P < 0·01) and took longer to suck successfully (28 min for Blackface v. 55 min for Mules). The inability of Mule lambs to suck successfully was due to their failure to show proper udder-directed behaviour. These results indicate the importance of considering the behaviour of both ewes and lambs as it would seem that it is not ‘poor’ maternal behaviour but inappropriate lamb behaviour that is a limiting factor in lamb survival in the Mule breed.

Author(s):  
C.E. O'Connor ◽  
A.B. Lawrence

High perinatal mortality in sheep flocks worldwide remains a major economic and welfare issue. Maternal behaviour and lamb vigour are both considered major variables affecting lamb survival, but there is little data to describe their relative importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lamb vigour and maternal behaviour at parturition. With the increase in hill ewes being crossed to longwool breeds there is an interest in the relative survivability of these lambs. This study compared the behaviour of Mule [Bluefaced Leicester x Blackface] lambs with purebred Scottish Blackface lambs.Data on 32 third parity single and twin-bearing Blackface ewes lambing indoors were collected by focal animal observations on the ewe's grooming behaviour. These observations included details of the time spent grooming specific areas of the lamb's body and also general activity and udder-seeking behaviour of the lambs. Observations lasted 10 minutes and were made at parturition and then at 30 and 90 minute intervals. The data was transformed by arcsin. for proportions, or log, for frequencies, and analysed by Analysis of Variance,


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 184-185
Author(s):  
Caleb M Shull

Abstract Swine producers in the U.S. face a significant challenge. On top of the ever-changing market dynamics that lead to wide swings in profitability or loss, is an underlying issue of pig mortality that the industry must address. While significant improvements in total piglets born per litter have been achieved over the last 10 years, pig mortality has seen no improvement or has worsened (Figure 1). When expressed as a percentage of piglets born (excluding mummies), a total of 7.9% were recorded as stillborn and 13.4% died prior to weaning in 2019. Assuming a typical mortality range of 7–10% from weaning to harvest, a typical U.S. producer could expect to lose around 27–30% of all piglets born. In addition, the average producer had around 12% annual sow mortality (Figure 1). Litter size and post-weaning growth rate and feed efficiency will always factor heavily into research priorities due to the economic impact associated with those traits; however, the opportunity to drive value through reduction in pig losses across the production cycle is staggering. In defense of the industry, improving pig survival is not an easy task for a number of reasons. The sample size (i.e., number of pigs) required to do mortality research correctly is often a limiting factor for many production systems. Furthermore, a cross-functional approach is likely required to make significant improvements in mortality. Specifically, the relationship between genetics, health, and management practices warrant consideration. Recent collaboration across the industry to improve mortality is a positive step forward and this collaboration should continue moving forward.


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin

This paper develops a monetary endogenous growth model with capital and skill heterogeneity to analyze the relationship among inflation, growth, and income inequality. In the model inflation, growth, and inequality are jointly determined. We show that an increase in the long-run money growth rate raises inflation and reduces growth, but its effect on income inequality depends on the relative importance of the two types of heterogeneity. Inequality shrinks with the rise of inflation when capital heterogeneity dominates and enlarges when skill heterogeneity dominates. Therefore, our model supports a negative (positive) inflation–inequality relationship and a positive (negative) growth–inequality relationship when capital (skill) heterogeneity dominates. In any event, inflation and growth are negatively related.


Author(s):  
Makiko Tachibana ◽  
Yoko Miyoshi ◽  
Miho Fukui ◽  
Shinsuke Onuma ◽  
Tomoya Fukuoka ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Iodine deficiency and excess both cause thyroid dysfunction. Few data describe the relationship between iodine status and outcomes of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in iodine-sufficient areas. We investigated urinary iodine (UI) concentration and its relationship with the clinical course of CH. Methods We reviewed and retrospectively analyzed patients with positive newborn screening (NBS) for CH from January 2012 to June 2019 in Japan, obtaining UI and UI-urine creatinine ratio (UI/Cr), serum TSH, free T4, free T3 and thyroglobulin (Tg) at the first visit, TSH at NBS, levothyroxine (LT4) dose, and subsequent doses. A UI value of 100–299 μg/L was considered adequate. Results Forty-eight patients were included. Median UI and UI/Cr were 325 μg/L and 3,930 µg/gCr, respectively. UI was high (≥300 μg/L) in 26 (54%) and low (≤99 μg/L) in 11 (23%). LT4 was administered to 34 patients. Iodine status was not related to the need for treatment. We found a U-shaped relationship between Tg and UI/Cr. Patients with high Tg (≥400 ng/mL) and abnormal UI levels required significantly lower LT4 doses (≤20 µg/day) at three years of age. Even if they showed severe hypothyroidism initially, they did not need subsequent dose increments. Conclusions Abnormal UI levels with Tg elevation were associated with lower LT4 dose requirements. The evaluation of iodine status and Tg concentrations were considered useful in patients suspected of CH.


Author(s):  
Abhishek Sharma

Work engagement is not only a "nice-to-have" but has been shown to be linked to various positive outcomes of work, including its proven financial and behavioural gains. The concern regarding employee engagement is increasing, and organizations of the 21st century are looking for every possible way to develop the culture of employee engagement deliberately. In this context, this research introduces employee engagement as a viable method to encourage organizational productivity and examines how perceptions of specific human resource (HR) practices and organizational identification relate to experiences of employee's work engagement. The study data was collected using standard psychometric tools from 75 mid-level managers working in various organizations. Statistical analysis was performed to answer research questions. The results conveyed the significance of applying encouraging human resource practices and demonstrated the positive effect of organization-al identification (OID) on work engagement. HR practices and OID were found instrumental in positively predicting the significant amount of work engagement. By discovering the relationship between HR practices (conditions that organizations can influence easily), organizational identification, and employee engagement, this study relates to the realistic implementation of measures to improve employee engagement and especially emphasises them. As most companies are searching for ways to promote employee engagement, the latest re-search results are of practical importance to HR executives.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 768-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Deniz Dalman ◽  
Kartikeya Puranam

Purpose Prior research in ingredient branding (IB) has identified several important decision variables consumers use when evaluating IB alliances. This exploratory research aims to investigate the relationship between these variables and consumers’ buying likelihood of the IB alliance and the relative importance of these variables for low- vs high-involvement product categories. Design/methodology/approach A study with the participation of 458 mTurkers was conducted and the data were analyzed using random forests. Findings Findings reveal relative importance of different variables for an IB alliance and that these differ for low- vs high-involvement categories. Research limitations/implications Being exploratory in nature, this research has several limitations, such as using only one high- and one low-involvement categories. Practical implications Results of this research will help brand managers as they make decisions entering an IB alliance as well as with investing their budget on different aspects of their brand, and tailoring their marketing activities for low- vs high-involvement product categories. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to discuss the relative importance of different decision variables in an IB context empirically.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malik L.M. Vazi ◽  
Robert A.C. Ruiter ◽  
Bart Van den Borne ◽  
Glynnis Martin ◽  
Kitty Dumont ◽  
...  

Orientation: Positive psychological and subjective wellbeing indicators have proven to be protective against certain physical illnesses but have been rarely assessed in teacher stress.Research purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between indicators of wellbeing and stress and to further assess the relative importance of these wellbeing indicators in explaining stress variance in a large sample of Eastern Cape primary and high school teachers in South Africa.Motivation for the study: The majority of teacher stress studies focus on the misfit between the individual’s resources and the environmental demands. There is a scarcity of studies reporting on protective factors in teaching and we know little about their possible role as possible protective factors against stress. This is important in developing stress prevention strategies.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional survey was used targeting public school teachers in the Eastern Cape. The sample size was 562 randomly selected teachers from both public primary and high schools.Main findings: The results revealed that stress is prevalent amongst teachers. Subjective and psychological wellbeing factors added significantly to the explained stress variance. Also, both negative affect and role problems had significant positive correlations with stress, whilst psychological wellbeing had a strong inverse relationship with stress.Practical/managerial implications: The results implied that interventions focusing on improving psychological wellbeing and reduction of negative affect can contribute to stress prevention.Contribution/value-add: The results contributed towards a better understanding of the relative importance of wellbeing constructs as protective factors against teacher stress.


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Marina de Oliveira Rodrigues Barbosa ◽  
Maria Eliza F. do Val de Paulo ◽  
Ana Leonor Abrahão Nencioni

Few data are available in the literature describing the long-term effects of envenoming in the perinatal period. In this study, the relationship between envenoming of lactating rats and possible behavioral changes in the mother and in her offspring were investigated. Lactating Wistar rats received a single dose of T. serrulatus crude venom on postnatal days 2 (V2), 10 (V10) or 16 (V16), and had their maternal behavior evaluated. The seizure threshold was evaluated in adulthood offspring. A decrease in maternal care during envenoming was observed in V2 and V10 groups. The retrieval behavior was absent in the V2 group, and a lower seizure threshold in the adult offspring of all groups was observed. During envenoming, mothers stayed away from their offspring for a relatively long time. Maternal deprivation during the early postnatal period is one of the most potent stressors for pups and could be responsible, at least in part, for the decrease in the convulsive threshold of the offspring since stress is pointed to as a risk factor for epileptogenesis. Furthermore, the scorpionic accident generates an intense immune response, and inflammation in neonates increases the susceptibility to seizures in adulthood. Therefore, maternal envenoming during lactation can have adverse effects on offspring in adulthood.


Author(s):  
Prue Hyman ◽  
Rosemary Novitz ◽  
Susan Shipley ◽  
David Smith ◽  
Nicola Swainson

Gender difference constitutes a major rigidity in labour market operation and dynamics – and this justifies and requires further detailed study. Major questions addressed include: What are the levels and changes in vertical and occupational segregation and earnings differences by sex? What is the nature and relative importance of constraints on change? What is the relationship between women’s unpaid work and their work in the paid labour force?


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