@conference {40280,
	title = {The sexual behaviour of alpacas imported to New Zealand from Chile},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {51},
	year = {1991},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {43-46},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {FSH concentrations were examined in 6 FecB FecB (BB) ewe, 3 BB  ram and 5 Fec+Fec+ (++) ram full-sibling pairs of Booroola Merino x  Romney lambs between 2 and 20 weeks of age. The purpose of this study  was to compare variation in FSH profiles within and between prepubertal  full-sibling pairs of Booroola ewe and ram lambs, to evaluate their  usefulness as control-treatment pairs in endocrinological studies.   In ewe lambs, FSH concentrations increased with liveweight and age to  reach distinct peaks at 7-12 kg liveweight and at 3-9 weeks of age.  Variation between pairs was significantly greater than within pairs for  liveweight at all ages, FSH concentrations up to 9 weeks of age, and  maximum FSH concentration, but not for age or liveweight at peak FSH.   In ram lambs, FSH concentrations were lower than in ewes but followed a  similar pattern, with FSH peaks at 12-17 kg liveweight and 5-10 weeks of  age. The geometric mean maximum FSH concentrations were 1.44 and 0.81  (LSR 1.78) ng/ml for BB and ++ groups respectively (P<0.05). Between-  pair variation was significantly greater than within-pair variation for  birth weight, liveweight to 7 weeks of age, peak FSH, and age at peak  FSH.   Mean FSH concentration and liveweight showed no relationship within or  between ram pairs, or between ewe pairs, but the heavier sibling within  all six ewe pairs had the higher FSH concentration (P<0.05) most samples  up to 7 weeks of age, but not thereafter. The reduced variation in  gonadotrophin concentrations within compared with between full-sibling  pairs suggests they have considerable value as control-treatment animals  in endocrine studies on prepubertal developments.  },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Pollard JC and Moore GH and Littlejohn RP}
}
