1. Fifty buffalo-cows were used for studying the pH of the vaginal secretion at different stages of the sex cycle.

2. Highly significant differences were found in the pH value of the vaginal secretions during the different stages of the sex cycle. The average was 7·3 during oestrus, 8·1 during dioestrus and 8·3 during pregnancy.

Estimates of inbreeding effects in a landrace are necessary in order to acquire information on the presence of different types of gene action for important traits. Twelve lines with different levels of inbreeding coefficients (F=0, 0·25, 0·50 or 0·75) were developed from three phenotypically selected families of a winter squash landrace (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) between 2000 and 2002 in the area of Thermi-Thessaloniki, Greece. During 2003, a field experiment was established at this location to evaluate the lines. The agronomical characters measured were: the number and weight of total commercial fruits, days to first female blossom, seed weight, size of pollen grains and water-stress tolerance. Comparisons were also made of morphological characters, the dry matter, the total soluble solids and the pH of fruits. Lines with inbreeding coefficient F=0·50 were found to have the highest values for most of the measured characteristics. Significant family×inbreeding interactions were found, revealing different trends for the linear, quadratic and cubic components of each family with inbreeding coefficients. Three F=0·50 lines selected from within each representative family were evaluated along with four winter squash landraces from the C. moschata collection of the Greek Gene Bank, during 2004 in the area of Thermi. These F=0·50 lines showed a superior performance of three components contributing to yield, indicating that one generation of selfing improved the agronomic performance maintaining concurrently the substantial characteristics of the landrace.

The United Kingdom produces enough barley grain to meet its needs for animal feed and brewing. The Scottish grain whisky trade, however, imports large quantities of high-diastase barley from Canada (Hayter & Allison, 1975). The breeding of highdiastase cultivars which could be grown in Scotland and so replace these imports has been pursued at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI).

Hindlimbs of pigs were dissected at 4-week intervals from 9 to 29 weeks after birth. Allometric growth ratios of the gluteal muscles, biceps femoris and semitendinosus were calculated relative to gastrocnemius. Relative growth in weight of the proximal limb muscles was greater than that of the distal muscle, gastrocnemius. The greater relative growth of proximal muscles was not due to greater relative growth of muscle fibre diameters, nor to greater relative growth of muscle cross-sectional areas. In biceps femoris and gluteal muscles, growth in the area of musole cross sections did not keep pace with the radial growth of muscle fibres. The relative longitudinal growth of proximal limb bones exceeded that of distal bones, and the relative longitudinal growth of biceps femoris and semitendinosus exceeded that of any of the limb bones. New sarcomeres were added to muscle length at a faster rate in biceps femoris and semitendinosus than in the peroneus longus located distally in the limb.

Stem-rot, caused by Magnaporthe salvinii (Catt.) Krause & Webster, is a major rice disease in the Punjab. Varieties of the ‘Basmati’ group, especially Basmati-370, widely grown for its quality, have long been reported resistant to stem-rot (Paracer & Luthra, 1944; Srivastava, Maheshwari & Saini, 1971). Its cultivation in stem-rot-prone areas have been recommended (Grewal, 1975). Recently, however, the authors observed severe stem-rot on Basmati-370 and recorded the variety susceptible (Rattan & Mayee, 1975). Investigation into the causes of breakdown revealed that, wherever the variety had node infection by Pyricularia oryzae Cav., to which it is known to be susceptible, stemrot damage was exaggerated. In the present note, the analysis of breakdown is described.

Multivariate cluster and canonical variate analyses were undertaken for 10 genotypes of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) that were tested in a four-times replicated randomized block design across 18 environments (six localities by 3 years) of Ethiopia. The main aims of this study were to determine the similarities and differences of the genotypes and their testing environments, and to compare applicability of the two statistical methods. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into five classes in accordance with their original sources. The six locations and 18 environments were stratified into four and seven clusters, respectively. Three sites (Bekoji, Kulumsa and Sinana) were separately stratified, while three other ones (Holetta, Asasa and Adet) showed closer similarity. Canonical variate analysis indicated that ‘D33C’ and ‘D24C’ were distinguished from the other genotypes by their high oil contents. ‘N10D’ and ‘Norlin’ had closer values and were thus preferred for their good seed yield and earliness. Days to flowering and maturity, oil contents and lodging per cent played major roles in discriminating the genotypes. Comparison of the two methods showed clearer differentiation by cluster analysis than canonical variate analysis. Canonical variate analysis also contributed information on how each variable discriminated the genotypes and their test environments. Thus, both methods complement each other in providing useful information for more efficient variety development programmes.

The present investigation was intended to furnish information concerning:

(1) The movement of water-soluble and exchangeable potassium in the soil profile after successive fertilizer applications.

(2) The form of potassium—exchangeable, soluble, or non-exchangeable—into which added potassium fertilizer is converted in the soil.

(3) The effect of doubling the fertilizer ration on the absorption of potassium by the soil; and the effect of doubling the ration of irrigation water on the absorption and accumulation of potassium in the soil.

(4) The effect of frequent successive summer irrigation following fertilizer application on the distribution of the three forms of soil potassium.

(5) The effect of fertilization followed by irrigation on soil pH. value.

The effects of heat treatment, as measured by undenatured non-casein nitrogen (NCN gN/100 g total N), and of protein: energy ratio on the digestibility coefficients and utilization of milk substitutes by lambs were investigated.

Twenty-four Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn lambs (12 males and 12 females) were given milk substitute diets in which approximately 20 or 30% of the gross energy was supplied by protein (PE20 and PE30). NCN levels were approximately 7, 12, 18 and 5, 11, 16 for diets PE20 and PE30 respectively.

All lambs were offered a daily allowance of milk substitutes containing 7·95 MJ of gross energy from 3 to 25 days of age, when they were slaughtered and the chemical composition of the empty body was measured. Gains in the chemical components were measured using the comparative slaughter technique.

For each unit increase in NCN value there was an increase in the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter (D.M.), crude protein (CP) and ash of 0·13, 0·13 and 0·93 percentage units, respectively. The apparent digestibility coefficients of all the dietary components, except lactose increased by 0·24 (d.m.), 0·24 (CP), 0·63 (fat), 0·75 (ash) and 0·32 (energy) percentage units and the metabolizability by 0·24 units for each 1% increase in PE.

Live-weight and empty body-weight gains increased with increasing PE and NCN. Lambs receiving diets PE20 had a daily live-weight gain 42 g less than those on diets PE30; increasing NCN from 5 to 18 gN/100 g total nitrogen, increased live-weight gain by 33 g/day.

Increasing PE and NCN increased water gain and nitrogen retention; increasing PE also increased ash retention and decreased fat gain.

Lambs on diets PE20 contained more fat and less protein, at the same empty body weight, than those receiving diets PE30.

Efficiencies of conversion of dry matter and energy to live-weight gain, and energy and N utilization all increased with increasing NCN, but increasing PE did not affect energy utilization and decreased N utilization.

Female lambs had lower growth rates than males (—14·5 g/day) and had a higher total fat gain (128 g).

The objective of this study is to provide approaches to determine the mature weight of intact male hair sheep using body composition data. To estimate empty body weight (EBW) at maturity, we used information from eight independent studies comprising a total of 250 intact males in growing and finishing phases. The quantitative data used for each animal were body weight (BW), EBW, water-free EBW protein content, water-free EBW fat content, water-free EBW ash content and EBW water content. The water, protein, fat and ash contents in the EBW and water-free EBW were predicted by non-linear regressions. The best model was chosen considering the achievement of convergence and capacity for biological explanation. The standard deviation of the asymptotic EBW was computed using a simulation method based on a Monte Carlo approach. Among the non-linear evaluations, only the allometric function converged with the parameters within the expected biological limits. To estimate mature EBW, only protein and fat were suitable to predict estimates with the capacity to biological explanation. The water and protein contents in the EBW were closely associated. Animal maturity can be estimated mathematically using body composition. Maturity was reached at an EBW of 47.3 and 57.5 kg when protein and fat were used as a predictor, respectively. We conclude that protein is a good predictor of maturity for intact male hair sheep.

A total of 25 steer carcasses from a wide range of breeds and carcass weight and fatness were used to examine the relationship between a range of fat thickness measurements and the dissected fat content of beef carcasses. Fat thickness measurements included those on the hot carcass suitable for ‘commercial’ use and others on the cold carcass commonly used in research.

The mean of the measurements of fat thickness from the two sides of the hot carcass between the 12th and 13th ribs (12H) gave the most accurate prediction of carcass fat content (FPCT). The relationship was described by the equation FPCT = 14·61 + 1·85 (12H) (R2 = 0·92; S.E. of prediction of individual FPCT at the mean= ±2·17%).

The mean of four fat thickness measurements made on the quartered surface between the 10th and 11th ribs of the cold carcass was the next most accurate predictor (S.E. = 2·28%) of fat content. Fat thickness measurements made on the hot carcass between the 10th and 11th ribs were the least satisfactory.

Although the hot carcass measurements between the 12th and 13th ribs were made under commercial conditions and included a wide range of types of cattle the prediction of fat content from these measurements had a marginally lower standard error than the prediction based on measurements made under experimental conditions.

Available pasture, liveweight gain, milk yield and supplementary feeding of Awassi sheep were monitored for four seasons (1991/92 to 1994/95) on pasture fertilized with superphosphate between 1984 and 1990. The experimental plots received three rates of phosphate (0, 25 and 60 kg P2O5/ha) annually, but no application after September 1990. The experiment was grazed at low (1·1 sheep/ha per year) and high (2·3 sheep/ha per year) stocking rates. The experimental site was typical of communally owned grasslands within the cereal zone of west Asia, where cropping is not possible because of shallow, stony soil and steep slopes. Plots with residual phosphate contained significantly more herbage and supported heavier animal liveweights, especially in the first two seasons. Milk yield and lamb production were greater and the need for supplementary feeding was reduced due to increased herbage. The results suggest that benefits of residual phosphate on pasture and livestock production can be considerable and should be included when assessing the value of applying fertilizer to degraded marginal lands in west Asia. Provided that the stocking rates remain within the range tested in the study, the pasture would suffer no harm. However, the higher stocking rates now practiced in the spring under communal grazing might severely limit flowering and seed-set. The property right to own or use the grazing land is seen as a key factor, deserving attention from governments in west Asia in order to apply new technologies to improve degraded marginal lands.

A missing value technique for the analysis of data where repeated measurements are taken on each experimental unit is proposed. The method suggested, which is a natural multivariate analogue of the well-known technique for univariate analyses, fits those missing values which minimize the determinant of the sums of squares and products matrix and provides the necessary downward adjustment to the residual degrees of freedom. A simulation exercise provides evidence that the method is fairly reliable.

A field experiment was conducted in 1990 and 1991 under intermediate deepwater conditions (15–50 cm) at Cuttack, India with two rice cultivars - Banaprabha, a semi-tall (130 cm), short duration (95 days), upland cultivar and Gayatri, a photosensitive, semi-dwarf (100 cm), lowland cultivar of long duration (170 days). The cultivars were direct-sown either in pure stands using 400 seeds/m2 at 20 cm row spacing or in mixed stands composed of alternate rows sown with 200, 300 or 400 seeds/m2 each at 10, 15 or 20 cm inter-row spacing. Mixed-row cropping of Banaprabha and Gayatri produced 17–21% higher grain yield than a pure crop of Gayatri. Panicles/m2 increased with higher seed rate and decreased with wider row spacing but a reverse trend was observed in panicle weight. Maximum grain yield was obtained at a row spacing of 15 cm but the effect of varying seed rates at each row spacing was non-significant. Gayatri produced up to 82% of its pure crop yield and contributed up to 70% of the total yield in the mixed crop system. Therefore, the yield advantage under mixed cropping was due to the late maturing cultivar benefitting from the increased area available after the harvest of the early cultivar. A crop stand using 200–300 seeds/m2 of each cultivar at a 15 cm row spacing was found to achieve the optimum productivity from the mixed cropping system.

Stimulatory effects upon germination and growth were observed in a very wide range of dosages, upon exposing seeds and seedlings to the radiation from a radioactive mud of Hungarian origin. Emanation was not excluded, but interposed lead sheet practically abolished the significant differences. Stimulation was observed whether the seeds were placed directly in contact with, or at a little distance from, all but the largest amounts of mud. Treatment of seeds, before sowing, with the radiation from large amounts of mud for periods exceeding about 48 hours was harmful to germination and to growth; this harmful effect was more marked when the seeds were moistened.

The degree and the kind of stimulation varied with the kind of seed and its history. Wheat seeds treated with vital stains showed responses to irradiation which appeared to depend upon the stain.

It has been urged by Bouyoucos (l) and by Haines (2) that soil granulation is caused by the action of water on lumps of partially dried soil, and it is usually accepted that alternate dryings and wettings are largely responsible for the production of tilth. The work described in this article was undertaken to determine whether measurements of the time required for the complete disintegration by water of lumps of dry soil might furnish a reliable method of soil comparison in accordance with these ideas.

The present work was carried out on 24 coarse-wool Barki and ⅝ Merino–⅜ Barki ram lambs to study the effect of vitamin A supplementation on some skin and wool characteristics. Lambs, at the age of 6 months, were allotted to three groups receiving no vitamin A supplement, 50000 i.u. and 100000 i.u. of vitamin A/head monthly. Blood samples were taken monthly for the assessment of vitamin A in the plasma. It was found that vitamin A in the plasma ranged from 42·4 to 17·50 and from 41·67 to 50·03/ μg/100 ml in the control and treated groups respectively, from the start of the experiment till the end at the age of 17 months.

Vitamin A supplementation caused increments in external diameters, of primary and secondary follicles in Barki and primaries in ⅝ Merino, higher than those encountered in internal diameters. An increase in staple length and clean fleece weight of ⅝ Merino and a slight increase in Barki fibre diameter was observed in vitamin-A-supplemented animals.

(1) The results of experiments on the rate of horizontal flow, and on the rate of gain in mass, or kerosene and of water in fine and crumb fractions of certain West Indian colloidal soils, comprising three siliceous soils containing different amounts of calcium carbonate, and two lateritic soils, are described and tabulated.

(2) The methods of experimentation employed were those elaborated by Green and Ampt, whose equations were found, however, not to fit the values obtained, as is to be expected.

(3) The siliceous soils examined possess relatively high swelling coefficients, and their component particles, when wetted, cohere to a greater or lesser extent, depending on lime content. These properties appear to account for the relatively low rates of permeability to water in these soils. Lateritic soils, on the other hand, possess low swelling coefficients, and low cohesiveness; water percolates through them relatively very rapidly.