Lambs are more stressed at early weaning when housed with their twin.

The objective of this study was to compare the behavioural and immunological responses of twin lambs housed together with their siblings or not after weaning. The study was performed with seven multiparous Milchschaf ewes and their twin lambs (n = 14), which were weaned abruptly at 63 days of age and assigned to two experimental groups: (1) lambs that were housed together with their sibling after weaning (group GT, n = 6) and (2) lambs that were separated from their siblings and remained with other lambs from the same flock (group GS, n = 8). Before and after weaning, the distance between twins, the number of times in which the sibling was the closest lamb, the lambs' behaviours, and the average daily gain were recorded.

Seasonality of the stress response in goat bucks when there is use of electroejaculation for semen collection.

Electroejaculation (EE) is frequently used to collect semen, but this procedure is both stressful and painful. In seasonal-breeding species the sensitivity to stressors might vary with season of the year when semen collection occurs, therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the responses when imposing the EE procedure, stress response to EE and fresh semen characteristics in goat bucks throughout the year. Semen was collected using EE from goat bucks once in autumn (mid-breeding season), winter (transition to the non-breeding season), spring (non-breeding season), and summer (beginning of the breeding season).

Collagen, glycosaminoglycans and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 in the cervix of the ewe during prepubertal development.

The tortuous nature of the ovine cervix restricts the transcervical passage of the cannula, and many studies have aimed to understand the endocrine mechanism of the remodelling of cervical tissue in adult ewe. However, little is known about the remodelling of the cervical tissue during the prepubertal development of the lambs. To obtain histochemical and biochemical evidence about the nature of the prepubertal development of the cervix of the ewe, cervices of Corriedale lambs obtained at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 months of age (n = 5 to 6 in each) were processed.

Administration of cloprostenol and oxytocin before electroejaculation in goat bucks reduces the needed amount of electrical stimulation without affecting seminal quality.

Electroejaculation (EE) is a widely used semen collection technique; but, it is stressful and painful for the animals. Considering these concerns, it may be important to develop practices to decrease the negative implications of EE on animals. Oxytocin and prostaglandin-F2alpha (PGF2α) stimulate the contractions of the muscles of the male genital tract.

Collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in the ewe cervix during the estrous cycle.

The cervical collagen remodeling during the estrous cycle of the ewe was examined. The collagen concentration determined by a hydroxyproline assay and the area occupied by collagen fibers (%C), determined by van Gieson staining, were assessed in the cranial and caudal cervix of Corriedale ewes on Days 1 (n = 6), 6 (n = 5), or 13 (n = 6) after estrous detection (defined as Day 0). In addition, the gelatinase activity by in situ and SDS-PAGE gelatin zymographies and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively) expression by immunohistochemistry were determined.