[Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin on the secretion and composition of milk in Sardinian ewes]. / Effetto della bST ricombinante sulla secrezione e sulla composizione del latte nella pecora sarda.

To verify the effect on the milk yield, 5 Sardinian ewes at 45 days from lambing were given two subcutaneous administrations, in a sustained-release vehicle, of recombinant bST in the dose of 3 mg/Kg of live weight, at 28 day intervals. Other 5 ewes of the same age, weight, distance from lambing and milk yield, were kept untreated. The observations lasted 56 days. The individual milk yield was recorded daily while both the milk (dry matter, ash, fat and protein) and some blood parameters (glucose, triglycerides, albumin, total protein, urea nitrogen, phospholipids, total and HDL cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) were checked weekly for each subject, by standard analytical methodology. The rbST significantly influenced the milk yield (+9.75% for the treated group) as already found in cows. The milk composition and the checked blood parameters were unaffected by the treatment.

[Effect of the sudden removal of lambs on the blood levels of prolactin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine in ewes]. / Effetto dell'improvvisa sottrazione della prole sul livello ematico di prolattina, tri-iodotironina e tiroxina nella pecora.

The effect of the sudden removal of lambs, average age 42 days (36 to 54), on the blood level of PRL, T3 and T4 was checked, using a radioimmunological method, in 18 Sardinian ewes that had lambed in November (10 treated and 8 control). The two groups of animals, reared indoors in different sheep-folds, were subjected to the same management and feeding. Compared to day before the removal of the lambs, the blood PRL showed a sharp decrease which lasted 24 hours. After 4 days of observation, despite two daily milkings, the blood PRL had not returned to the initial levels. On the other hand, T3 and T4 showed an increase that lasted 48 hours, on the third day returning to the initial levels.

[The horses of Giara: variation of the thyroid activity and certain blood parameters between winter and summer]. / Il cavallino della Giara: variazioni dell'attività tiroidea e di alcune costanti ematiche tra l'inverno e l'estate.

The changes of some parameters in the blood serum of six Giara horses (3 males and 3 females) were checked weekly, in relation to the environmental temperature throughout a one winter and summer. T3, total lipids, triglycerides, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, beta and gamma globulin showed significant difference between winter and summer and, with the exception of triglycerides, urea nitrogen and total protein were correlated to the environmental temperature. T4, glucose, uric acid and alpha globulin showed no difference between the two seasons and no correlation with the temperature. The results indicate that the seasonal variations in thyroid activity affected the T3 only, and that the blood lipids were transported from the beta globulin and, perhaps, in a smaller quantity, from the albumin, while the alpha globulin was not affected.

[Hematologic and hematochemical characteristics of the herring gull (Larus argentatus) and the buzzard (Buteo buteo)]. / Caratteristiche ematologiche ed ematochimiche del gabbiano reale (Larus argentatus) e della poiana comune (Buteo Buteo).

Some hematological and hematochemical parameters in eight herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and in six buzzards (Buteo buteo) were checked. The buzzards were fed with ovine meat exclusively, while the herring gulls were fed with fish and ovine meat. Considerable differences between the two species were noted, particularly as far as the hematological and lipidic parameters are concerned. These differences are probably related to the aquatic life of the herring gull.

[Seasonal changes in blood testosterone in the Giara horse]. / Andamento stagionale del testosterone ematico nel cavallino della Giara.

The blood testosterone changes in three Giara stallions, average age 8 years old and average weight 183 Kgs, were checked weekly for a year using a radioimmunological method. The horses showed a highly seasonal hormonal activity concentrated in the first half of the year (winter and spring). In the second half of the year (summer and fall) the stallions showed low levels of testosterone. The highest level of the androgen hormone occurred in April, the lowest in October. The absolute levels of this hormone agreed substantially with the relative literature.

[Hematochemical parameters in calves before, during and after weaning to a regular diet]. / Parmetri ematochimici in vitelli prima, durante e dopa lo svezzamento al pascolo.

The Authors studied the changes of 17 blood parameters of calves before, during and after a traditional weaning. Concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and phosphorus were determined by an automated assay system; sodium, potassium and chloride by a flame photometer; calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Observed changes can be referred to: 1) the change of the digestion (glucose); 2) the age of the subjects (alkaline phosphatase); 3) the increase of weight (creatinine); 4) the type of feeding (phosphorus, copper and zinc). Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium did not change during the weaning.

[Hematochemical parameters in sheep and goats of Sardinian breeds. II) Total blood cholesterol]. / Parametri ematochimici in pecore e capre di razza sarda. II) Colesterolemia totale.

It has been studied the total plasma cholesterol rate in lactating or dry sheep and goats of Sardinian breed. The values obtained for the four different groups of subjects have been compared with the "t of Student". While the difference between the sheep groups has seemed very accentuated, it has appeared hardly significant between the goat groups. Highly significant difference has also been found between lactating sheep and goats whereas there was no significant difference among the groups of dry subjects.

[Hematochemical parameters in sheep and goats of Sardinian breeds. I) Electrophoretic picture of plasma proteins]. / Parametri ematochimici in pecore e capre di razza sarda. I) Quadro elettroforetico delle proteine plasmatiche.

It has been studied the electrophoretic picture of plasma proteins of lactating and dry sheep and goats of Sardinian-breed. The values of the single fractions obtained for the four different groups of subjects have been compared with the "t of Student". The statistically significant differences between values of albumin and gammaglobulin fractions obtained comparing sheep and goats can probably derive from genetic factors. In general significant differences in values of several fractions associated with lactation have not been noticed.