@conference {41019,
	title = {The role of milk production in dryland lamb production systems},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {170-174},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {A farmlet study was carried out over 2 years to examine the role of milk production in dryland lamb production systems. Poll Dorset and Romney ewes were used to represent high and low levels of milk production and mated to produce reciprocal cross lambs. High and low fecundity treatments were included in replicated farmlets of 2.9 ha and stocked at 15 ewes/ha. Mean lambing dates were 5th and 8th August with lambs drafted for slaughter from mid October. In Year 1, Poll Dorset ewes produced 44\% (singles) and 88\% (twins) more milk in peak lactation than their Romney counterparts. In late lactation, Poll Dorsets produced 41\% (singles) and 169\% (twins) more milk. In Year 2, the advantages were 19\% (singles) and 18\% (twins) in peak lactation and 78\% (singles) and 67\% (twins) in late lactation. Increased milk production had small effects on lamb growth rates in the low fecundity treatments (Year 1: 338 vs 328 g/d; Year 2: 317 vs 300 g/d for the respective high and low milk treatments). In the high fecundity farmlets, dam breed differences were larger (Year 1 :280 vs 244g/d ; Year 2: 307 vs 283 g/d, respectively). Number of lambs drafted by the 2nd December were also similar in low fecundity groups (Year 1: 93\% vs 95\%; Year 2: 90\% vs 93\%, respectively). Greater numbers of lambs were drafted off high fecundity Poll Dorsets than Romney dams (56\% vs 23\%) in Year 1 but not in Year 2 (85\% vs 81\%). The greater effect of milk on lamb growth in high fecundity treatments in Year 1 was attributed to poor spring feed conditions and the buffering ability of high milk producing ewes. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Wallace GJ and McCall DG and Dodd CJ}
}
@conference {39947,
	title = {The application of a lean growth index in ram breeding flocks},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {45},
	year = {1985},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {77-80},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Carcass composition is determined by the relative partitioning of metabolisable energy intake among protein, fat and heat. Protein deposition is the net difference between rates of protein synthesis and protein degradation in tissues; synthesis and degradation proceeding at rates several times that of deposition. Relatively small changes in rates of protein synthesis or degradation may result in relatively large changes in deposition. The energy cost of protein synthesis may reduce energy available for fat deposition. The manipulation of carcass fat content may be more readily achieved by increasing lean growth than reducing fat deposition. Development of accurate methods for measuring protein synthesis should facilitate understanding of the mechanisms by which lean animals are grown and the selection of growth promotants useful in the production of leaner carcasses.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Dodd CJ and Bennett GL and Purchas RW}
}
@conference {39946,
	title = {The calculation of a simple lean-growth index for young sheep},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {45},
	year = {1985},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {73-76},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Display life of frozen lamb chops was unaffected by breed or sex. Chops shrink-wrapped in oxygen permeable film had a longer display life than those vacuum packaged in a film of low oxygen permeability. Chops cut from frozen loins, then packaged had a significantly longer display life than chops cut from chilled loins, packaged, and then frozen. Ram lamb chops had significantly higher pH values than those from wethers and ewes. Chops from Romney-cross lambs had lower pH values than those from Coopworth-cross and Perendale-cross lambs. Meat pH decreased slightly but significantly during storage.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Purchas RW and Bennett GL and Dodd CJ}
}
@conference {39945,
	title = {Improved feedback of carcass information from freezing works to farms},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {45},
	year = {1985},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {67-72},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {A Sheeplan supplementary lean lamb option has been developed to assist in the selection of sheep for meat production. Output information includes a breeding value for fat-depth measurement "C" over the {\textquoteright}eye muscle{\textquoteright} and a lean growth index (LGI), combing leanness with growth performance. Performance records, including live animal ultrasonic fat depth measurements and subjective assessments of fatness by lamb drafters were analysed on 1970 ram hoggets from 25 ram breeding flocks. The average mob live weight at assessment was 47.9 kg (range 34.2 to 60.3) associated with an average fat depth C of 3.3 mm (range 1.7 to 5.6). The subjective assessment of live-animal fat depth has the advantages of speed and simplicity but further work is required to develop the most appropriate calibration techniques. The extent of within-flock variability in the animal records was examined and comparisons made between 2 methods of adjusting fat depth for live weight within each flock. The calculation of within-flock fat- weight relationships for this adjustment was adopted for use in larger flocks, but a constant exponent method is preferred when flock size is small. The wide variation in the LGI within flocks suggests considerable opportunity exists to make worthwhile genetic progress in lean growth rates.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Dodd CJ and Pownall MJ}
}
@conference {39857,
	title = {Selection efficiency in ram breeding flocks},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {43},
	year = {1983},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {193-196},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Genetic variation in ovulation rate, both within and between breeds, is recognised as a major source of variation in litter size, while breed differences in embryonic survival are generally assumed to be unimportant. Results reported here for several trials, years and locations and involving large numbers of naturally multiple ovulating ewes show significant and consistent genetic differences in the proportion of ewes producing 2 lambs following conception to twin ovulations (uterine efficiency). Compared to contemporary Romneys (uterine efficiency = 0.59), 4 to 34\% more ewes of 5 other genotypes produced twin lambs following conception to twin ovulations. At the extreme, Border Leicester x Romneys ranged from 24 to 52\% superior in 3 comparisons. At ovulation rates higher than 2, inter-ovarian ovulation pattern was also found to influence litter size. Increasing disproportionality of ovulation rate between ovaries resulted in lower litter size. This may be due to uneven distribution of implantation sites and increased losses due to crowding.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Dodd CJ and Delahunty JR}
}
