Studies of wool growth responses to 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid, Alimet, an analogue of methionine

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
RGA Stephenson ◽  
GR Suter ◽  
DA Pritchard ◽  
MDJ Martin
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Butanoic Acid ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Dry Seasons

An analogue of DL-methionine, Alimet, was evaluated for its commercial potential for increasing wool growth in Merino sheep in pen and grazing experiments. This was done by administering Alimet as a drench, in drinking water, or via rumen or abomasal fistula, and measuring wool growth rate and plasma methionine concentrations. In vivo data indicated that significant wool growth responses (23-35%) to Alimet as a drench or in drinking water occurred at low rates (estimated 5-6 g/sheep.day) of basal wool production when sheep were fed a lucerne diet to maintain liveweight. At higher rates of clean wool growth (10-12 g/sheep.day) when sheep were eating above-maintenance diets (lucerne ration or pasture), Alimet treatment was associated with variable and reduced response. A significant (P<0.05) negative correlation (r2 = 0.699, n = 11) between wool growth responses (x � s.d. = 0.11 � 0.067) to the 3 mL dose rate of Alimet and wool growth in control treatments (y �: s.d. = 0.70 � 0.202) confirmed the above trend. Four hours after administration of Alimet via either rumen or abomasal fistula, comparative plasma concentrations of methionine, 28 and 168 �mol/L respectively, suggest that Alimet is susceptible to degradation in the rumen. The corresponding values for DL-methionine, via either rumen or abomasal fistula, were 64 and 350 �mol/L, respectively. The small rises (40%) in plasma methionine values associated with significant increases in wool production indicate that a dose of 3 mL is as effective as 4 mL of Alimet when the basal nutritional regime is limiting. While administration of Alimet in drinking water during dry seasons is possible, the profitability of supplementation would need to be tested further.

The influence of dietary supplements of DL-methionine on the growth rate of wool

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
PR Bird
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth

Dietary supplements of DL-methionine (0, 1.9, 3.8, 7.7 and 15.4 g per day) were given to five groups of 15-month-old Merino sheep (five per group) over an 8-week period. The roughage ration given (c. 840 g dry matter per day) comprised oaten chaff (78%), lucerne chaff (20%) and minerals (2%). Significant wool growth responses were obtained (18% above controls) when 3.8 g supplemental methionine per day was given. Changes in the rate of wool growth were paralleled by changes in nitrogen retention. Nitrogen retention was significantly increased above controls when 3.8 g supplemental methionine per day was given. Supplemental methionine did not affect liveweight gains.

Seasonal fluctuations in wool growth in south Western Australia.

1961 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Stewart ◽  
RJ Moir ◽  
PG Schinckel
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Climatic Environment

The growth rate of wool was measured at monthly intervals for a period of two years in four groups totalling forty Merino sheep, maintained under typical farm conditions in a Mediterranean climatic environment. Marked seasonal fluctuation in wool growth was found in all sheep. The highest level of clean wool production, 85 attained in the spring months, was nearly three times that of the lowest level, which occurred in the autumn. The rate of wool growth fluctuated independently of body weight. Wool growth fell steep4 while bob weight was maintained; wool growth subsequently rose sharply while body weight increased relatively slowly. The factors responsible for the observed fluctuation in the rate of wool growth are discussed and the conclusion reached that lack of useful energy and protein, in the summer and autumn grazing is probably the principal cause of the decline in rate of wool growth in these months.

Supplementary feeding of Merino wethers grazing weed-free stubble pastures

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (110) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
LG Butler
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Wheat Stubble

A field trial was conducted in the Wimmera region of Victoria to investigate the effect of several supplements on 4-year-old Merino wethers grazing a weed-free wheat stubble for 3 months, The four treatments were: a control (no supplement), urea/molasses block, 100 g/head day-1 of lupin grain, and 2 g urea plus 0.5 g Na2SO4 l-1 in the drinking water. Twenty sheep per treatment were used, and liveweight change and wool growth were measured. Although all groups lost weight, the lupin group lost only 0.5 kg per head over the 3 months of the trial, and was 3.8 kg heavier (P <0.01) than the control group, while the urea/molasses group was 2.2 kg heavier (P <0.01) than the control group. There was no effect of the urea plus sulfur supplement in the drinking water on liveweight or wool production. The urea/molasses block did not affect wool production but lupin grain stimulated wool production by 0.08 kg (P <0.05). The sheep were weighed and shorn four and a half months after the trial (August), during which time all groups grazed together on green feed. The experimental liveweight differences had disappeared, apparently due to compensatory growth. In addition, a digestibility trial was conducted in an attempt to explain some of the field results. The treatments were designed to simulate those used in the field. Lupin grain stimulated intake by 129 g day-1 (P <0.05) but had no effect on apparent digestibility of straw. The treatment simulating the urea/ molasses block (urea plus sulfur plus sucrose in the drinking water) stimulated intake by 159 g day-l (P <0.05) and tended to increase digestibility (P > 0.05). It was concluded that supplementary feeding of Merino wethers grazing weed-free stubble is unlikely to be an economic farm practice.

Effects of defaunation of the rumen and supplementation with amino acids on the wool production of housed Saxon Merinos. 2. Methionine and protected methionine

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Previous Trial ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Protein Diets ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa

In experiment 1, 6 groups, each of 10 superfine Merino wethers, were individually penned indoors and hand-fed oats, wheat straw and whole lupins, either alone or with 2 g/day of DL-methionine or 6.6 g/day of fatty acid coated methionine (Ketionin) for 23 weeks. Following shearing the 6 groups were hand-fed lucerne-chopped hay in experiment 2 either alone or with hydroxymethyl-methionine (Mepron) or Ketionin for 23 weeks. In both experiments the rations were fed at maintenance level and were offered 3 times a week. Half of the sheep had no rumen ciliate protozoa following treatment in a previous trial. In experiment 1, defaunated sheep produced an additional 6.5%clean wool on the supplemented oats plus lupins rations. Inclusion of Ketionin in the ration of defaunated sheep resulted in an 11% increase in clean wool growth, without affecting wool quality. In experiment 2 defaunated sheep produced an additional 6% clean wool on the lucerne-chopped hay ration. No responses to defaunation occurred on the supplemented rations. Inclusion of both forms of protected methionine in the ration (providing 2 g methionine/sheep.day) resulted in 23% and 13% higher clean wool production in the faunated and defaunated sheep respectively. Fibre diameter of wool was increased by 0.7 pm in sheep receiving Mepron and 0-5 pm in sheep receiving Ketionin. The wool grown by suppiemented sheep remained suitable for the 'Sharlea' trade (< 17.5 �m). It is concluded that wool growth responds more to defaunation on high energy-low protein diets. Wool growth responses to supplementation with protected methionine were greater on 100% roughage diets than on high grain diets. Further study is needed before an optimal ration for superfine wool production is formulated.

Formaldehyde as a silage additive. II. The chemical composition and nutritive value of lucerne hay, lucerne silage, and formaldehyde and formic acid-treated lucerne silages

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 939 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Valentine ◽  
DC Brown
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Similar Degree ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Intake

Formaldehyde-treated silage, formic acid-treated silage, formaldehyde-formic acid-treated silage, untreated silage, and lucerne hay were made from a lucerne sward and offered to Merino wethers. The formaldehyde was applied at a rate of 0.9 % of the weight of the dry matter and formic acid at 0.5 % of the fresh weight of the lucerne. Formaldehyde-treated silage and formaldehyde-formic acid-treated silage had significantly lower concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and total and individual organic acids than untreated silage. Formic acid-treated silage had a similar degree of fermentation to untreated silage, but more acetic acid and less lactic acid were produced than in untreated silage. However, when formic acid was applied in combination with formaldehyde, the ensiling fermentation was inhibited more than when formaldehyde was applied alone. There was some apparent protection of protein by the formaldehyde treatment. Treatment with formic acid significantly increased the in vivo digestibility of both nitrogen and dry matter, but did not increase ad libitum intake or wool growth by sheep offered this silage. Compared to untreated silage, treatment with formaldehyde significantly reduced the in vivo digestibility of nitrogen, produced a non-significant increase in intake, and significantly increased wool growth. The treatment of lucerne with both formaldehyde and formic acid significantly increased in vivo digestibility of dry matter, ad libitum intake, and wool growth compared with untreated silage. The treatment of lucerne with a mixture of formaldehyde (0.9% of the dry matter) and formic acid (0.5% of the fresh weight) was a suitable method of controlling the ensiling fermentation in order to increase the ad libitum intake of lucerne silage by sheep and their subsequent wool production. However, the intake and wool production of sheep offered such silage was still significantly less than that of sheep offered lucerne hay.

The effects of pregnancy and lactation on wool production and liveweight in Polwarth ewes

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (90) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
RND Reid
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Fleece Weight

Groups of Polwarth ewes which 1. were barren, 2, were pregnant but aborted with prostaglandins in early pregnancy, 3. lambed and reared a single lamb and 4. lambed but had their single lamb removed soon after birth, were used to estimate the effects of pregnancy and lactation on wool and Iiveweight. Pregnancy plus lactation reduced liveweight (17 per cent), wool growth rate (9 per cent) and clean fleece weight (11 per cent) ; pregnancy alone reduced liveweight (10 per cent), wool growth rate (7 per cent) and clean fleece weight (10 per cent) and its effects were greater than those of lactation in each of the characters studied.

scholarly journals The Relation Between the Responses of Wool Growth and Body Weight to Changes in Feed Intake

1962 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 720 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Body Weight Change ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Growth

The wool growth responses to changes in feed intake are related to the changes produced in body weight. The relation is expressed by the equation W = Ei-kG, where W = wool growth rate, i = feed intake rate, G = rate of body weight change, and E and k are constants. The ratio of E to k in sheep of different productive efficiency was found to be constant.

scholarly journals Hypersecretion of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin in hypothyroid male rats as estimated with push-pull perfusion

1998 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Tohei ◽  
G Watanabe ◽  
K Taya
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Median Eminence ◽  
Arginine Vasopressin ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
In Vivo Release ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Acth Release

The relationship between hypothyroidism and disturbance of the hypothalamo-hypophysial-adrenal axis was investigated using adult male rats. Hypothyroidism was produced by administration of 4-methyl-2-thiouracil (thiouracil) in the drinking water for 2 weeks. Hypothyroidism decreased adrenal weights to 57% of controls and plasma concentrations of corticosterone to 48% of controls. The changes in the weight of adrenals recovered to control levels by administration of thyroxine. The pituitary responsiveness to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) for ACTH release markedly increased in hypothyroid rats as compared with euthyroid rats. In vivo release of CRH and AVP in median eminence significantly increased in hypothyroid rats as compared with euthyroid rats. There were no significant differences in hypothalamic concentrations of CRH and AVP. These results indicate that hypothyroidism causes adrenal dysfunction directly and results in hypersecretion of ACTH mediated by increases in synthesis of CRH and AVP in the hypothalamus.

Factors differentiating between high and low wool producing sheep in western Queensland

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1367
Author(s):  
DA Pritchard ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Linear Growth ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Unit Surface Area ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Commercial Flock

Four experiments were carried out to examine factors which may influence the phenotypic expression of wool growth. High wool producing sheep (HPS) and low wool producing sheep (LPS) were selected from a commercial flock and studied under grazing and controlled feeding conditions. Results are discussed in relation to management of HPS for increased wool production. In the paddock experiment, advantages to HPS in wool growth per unit surface area were least (7%) when pasture quality was low (11 g N/kg DM) and greatest (20%) when pasture quality was best (21 g N/kg DM). Despite the greater live weight of HPS compared with LPS (16%), the HPS produced 25% more clean wool per unit of live weight. Daily clean wool production was always greater in HPS than in LPS. Values ranged from 9.1 v. 7.5 g/day to 15.1 v. 11.6 g/day. During the period following the peak in nitrogen content of the pasture, HPS produced a greater volume of fibre than LPS (194 v. 167 8m3/dayx103), this difference being primarily associated with the greater fibre diameter of wool from HPS (25.4 v. 24.6 8m). In pen experiment 1, the efficiency of conversion of feed to wool was determined under controlled feeding conditions. Differences in wool growth between HPS and LPS at maintenance (M) and above maintenance (M+) were 21% and 49% respectively. Relative efficiency of conversion of feed to wool was 5% higher for HPS during the period immediately following the change in ration and greatest (38-48%) after sheep had made liveweight gains. Wool growth differences between HPS and LPS in pen experiment 2 could not be attributed to either differences in follicle density (66 v. 64 follicles/mm2) or the ratio of secondary to primary follicles (24 : 1 v. 22 : 1). The efficiency of retention of apparently absorbed nitrogen was similar (21.4 v. 20.8%) for HPS and LPS at below maintenance (M-) but differed at M-t (26.8 v. 11.7%). Rumen dry matter turnover time at M- was faster in HPS than in LPS (29.8 v. 38.4 h) but similar at M+ (30.4 v. 34.4 h). At M-, volumetric fibre production of HPS increased from 79 to 106 ,8m3/dayx 103 and from 59 to 75 ,8m3/day x103 for LPS following the subcutaneous administration of the sulfur containing amino acid methionine. These increases were associated with increases in both fibre diameter (1.5 8m) and fibre linear growth (42 8m/day) in HPS, but only linear growth (52 ,8m/day) in LPS. At M+, when basal wool growth was high, there was little increase in wool growth by either group following supplementary methionine. Wool growth responses to methionine were 25 and 19% for HPS and LPS respectively at M+ in pen experiment 3.

scholarly journals Nutritional Factors Involved in Wool Production By Merino Sheep II. The Influence of Copper Deficiency on the Rate of Wool Growth and on the Nature of the Fleece

1948 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedley R Marston ◽  
Hector J Lee
Keyword(s):  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Physiological Condition ◽  
Nutritional Factors ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Normal Physiological Condition

A range of nutritional states which varied in relatively small degrees from a normal physiological condition to one of acute copper deficiency was induced in a series of evenly matched groups of Merino sheep depastured on deficient terrain by providing them with supplements of copper which extended through suboptimum: amounts to quantities in excess of their full requirements.

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