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The Effect of Active Immunization of Ewes against Androstenedione on Lambing Rate and Production

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 30, pages 431–435 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

Active immunization of sheep of the Dala breed against androstenedione caused a mean increase in number of lambs born (live-born and stillborn) of 0.29 (p < 0.01). In yearlings the difference was 0.43 lambs (p < 0.01) and in older ewes 0.23 lambs (p < 0.1). Five of the older immunized ewes gave birth to quadruplets while none in the control group gave birth to more than 3 lambs. In older ewes there was an increase in the number of stillborn lambs. In young immunized ewes the mean ewe production, registered as total live weight of lambs in the autumn, was 11.3 kg higher than in control animals. This difference was however not significant (p <0.1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproduction and Forensic Medicine, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Post Box. 8146 Dep., N-0033, Oslo 1, Norway

    K. Sivesindtajet, Ø. Andresen & K. Karlberg

Authors
  1. K. Sivesindtajet
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  2. Ø. Andresen
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  3. K. Karlberg
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Sivesindtajet, K., Andresen, Ø. & Karlberg, K. The Effect of Active Immunization of Ewes against Androstenedione on Lambing Rate and Production. Acta Vet Scand 30, 431–435 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548019

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548019

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147