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In this study, we report the novel, complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf African antelope species: Raphicerus melanotis (Cape grysbok) and R. sharpei (Sharpe’s grysbok). The circular mitogenomes were 16,384 and 16,392 base pairs in length, respectively, and each contained the expected 37 genes typically found in mammalian mitogenomes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis placed R. sharpei as the sister lineage to R. campestris, known as steenbok, which is the only other member of the Raphicerus genus, with 83% bootstrap support, to the exclusion of R. melanotis (100% bootstrap support). This corroborated previous findings based on the cytochrome b gene only. The number of base differences per site between the coding regions of the mitogenomes of R. sharpei and R. campestris was 0.0519, while it was 0.0701 between R. sharpei and R. melanotis and 0.0709 between R. melanotis and R. campestris. The novel grysbok mitogenomes will be valuable resources in future phylogenetic analyses, and phylogeographic and conservation genetics studies.

In this study, we report the novel, complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf African antelope species: Raphicerus melanotis (Cape grysbok) and R. sharpei (Sharpe’s grysbok). The circular mitogenomes were 16,384 and 16,392 base pairs in length, respectively, and each contained the expected 37 genes typically found in mammalian mitogenomes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis placed R. sharpei as the sister lineage to R. campestris, known as steenbok, which is the only other member of the Raphicerus genus, with 83% bootstrap support, to the exclusion of R. melanotis (100% bootstrap support). This corroborated previous findings based on the cytochrome b gene only. The number of base differences per site between the coding regions of the mitogenomes of R. sharpei and R. campestris was 0.0519, while it was 0.0701 between R. sharpei and R. melanotis and 0.0709 between R. melanotis and R. campestris. The novel grysbok mitogenomes will be valuable resources in future phylogenetic analyses, and phylogeographic and conservation genetics studies.

Dietary traits in ungulates from Lazaret Cave were analysed for possible changes in ecological niches throughout the marine isotopic stage (MIS) 6 sequence of the site and to investigate the duration of the occupations corresponding to the accumulation of ungulate remains by human groups. The analysis revealed changes in dietary diversity throughout the sequence related to the climatic and environmental changes of the MIS 6. These changes affected the availability of vegetal resources, competition among species, and the distribution and movement of the ungulates in the territory. Human groups were also affected by these changes, as the archaeological record of Lazaret Cave in the duration of occupations at the different levels shows. The response of the large mammal communities to persistent climatic instability is reflected in differences between the sites of southern France of the MIS 6, where species show different dietary traits.

Assumptions about factors such as climate in shaping species' realized and potential distributions underlie much of conservation planning and wildlife management. Climate and climatic change lead to shifts in species distributions through both direct and indirect ecological pressures. Distributional shifts may be particularly important if range overlap is altered between interacting species, or between species and protected areas. The cattle family (Bovidae) represents a culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxon that occupies many of the world's rangelands. In contemporary North America, five wild bovid species inhabit deserts, prairies, mountains, and tundra from Mexico to Greenland. Here, we aim to understand how future climate change will modify environmental characteristics associated with North American bovid species relative to the distribution of extant protected areas. We fit species distribution models for each species to climate, topography, and land cover data using observations from a citizen science dataset. We then projected modeled distributions to the end of the 21st century for each bovid species under two scenarios of anticipated climate change. Modeling results suggest that suitable habitat will shift inconsistently across species and that such shifts will lead to species-specific variation in overlap between potential habitat and existing protected areas. Furthermore, projected overlap with protected areas was sensitive to the warming scenario under consideration, with diminished realized protected area under greater warming. Conservation priorities and designation of new protected areas should account for ecological consequences of climate change.

The Early Pleistocene site of Quibas, in Sierra de Quibas (Murcia, Spain) was discovered in 1994 and has since then provided abundant material of typical Epivillafranchian taxa. This biochron belongs to the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition (1.2 - 0.78 Ma), characterised by a change in orbital cyclicity from a 41 kyr cycle to 100 kyr that intensified the climate and culminated in the most important faunal turnover of the Pleistocene regarding large mam- mals. The Group of Palaeoanthropology of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC, Spain) and the Institut Catala de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolucio Social (IPHES-CERCA, Spain) carried out four field seasons from 2015 to 2018. Here we present the large herbivorous mammals recovered from the field, including the first citation of two taxa new to the locality: Stephanorhinus cf. etruscus and Bison cf. voigtstedtensis. We also provide the first description of previously mentioned taxa: Dama cf. vallonnetensis and Sus sp. Together with the remaining herbivores, the faunal community shows a strong European affinity with some regionalism. Compared with other Iberian localities, the site of Quibas stands out for the lack of hominin fossils or any evidence supporting their presence in the area, a peculiar scenario given that the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition broadly speaking sees the arrival of humans into Europe.

We report the results of a cross-species amplification test of 156 bovine, ovine and cervid microsatellite markers in a wild population of mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus, inhabiting Caw Ridge, Alberta, Canada. Twenty-nine markers were found to be low to moderately polymorphic with between two to nine alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.14 to 0.85 for a sample of 215 mountain goats. This set of markers will be used in parentage analyses to construct the pedigree of the long-term studied population and to investigate the effects of individual genetic variability on life-history traits.

Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is the second-largest member of the Hippotraginae (Bovidae), and is widely distributed across sub-Saharan mesic woodlands. Despite being listed as "Least Concern" across its African range, population numbers are decreasing with many regional Red List statuses varying between Endangered and Locally Extinct. Although the roan antelope has become an economically-important game species in Southern Africa, the vast majority of wild populations are found only in fragmented protected areas, which is of conservation concern. Genomic information is crucial in devising optimal management plans. To this end, we report here the first de novo assembly and annotation of the whole-genome sequence of a male roan antelope from a captive-breeding program. Additionally, we uncover single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) through re-sequencing of five wild individuals representing five of the six described subspecies. We used 10X Genomics Chromium chemistry to produce a draft genome of 2.56 Gb consisting of 16,880 scaffolds with N50 ¼ 8.42 Mb and a BUSCO completeness of 91.2%. The draft roan genome includes 1.1 Gbp (42.2%) repetitive sequences. De novo annotation identified 20,518 protein-coding genes. Genome synteny to the domestic cow showed an average identity of 92.7%. Re-sequencing of five wild individuals to an average sequencing depth of 9.8x resulted in the identification of a filtered set of 3.4x106 bi-allelic SNVs. The proportion of alternative homozygous SNVs for the individuals representing different subspecies, as well as differentiation as measured by PCA, were consistent with expected divergence from the reference genome and among samples. The roan antelope genome is a valuable resource for evolutionary and population genomic questions, as well as management and conservation actions.

Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is the second-largest member of the Hippotraginae (Bovidae), and is widely distributed across sub-Saharan mesic woodlands. Despite being listed as "Least Concern" across its African range, population numbers are decreasing with many regional Red List statuses varying between Endangered and Locally Extinct. Although the roan antelope has become an economically-important game species in Southern Africa, the vast majority of wild populations are found only in fragmented protected areas, which is of conservation concern. Genomic information is crucial in devising optimal management plans. To this end, we report here the first de novo assembly and annotation of the whole-genome sequence of a male roan antelope from a captive-breeding program. Additionally, we uncover single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) through re-sequencing of five wild individuals representing five of the six described subspecies. We used 10X Genomics Chromium chemistry to produce a draft genome of 2.56 Gb consisting of 16,880 scaffolds with N50 ¼ 8.42 Mb and a BUSCO completeness of 91.2%. The draft roan genome includes 1.1 Gbp (42.2%) repetitive sequences. De novo annotation identified 20,518 protein-coding genes. Genome synteny to the domestic cow showed an average identity of 92.7%. Re-sequencing of five wild individuals to an average sequencing depth of 9.8x resulted in the identification of a filtered set of 3.4x106 bi-allelic SNVs. The proportion of alternative homozygous SNVs for the individuals representing different subspecies, as well as differentiation as measured by PCA, were consistent with expected divergence from the reference genome and among samples. The roan antelope genome is a valuable resource for evolutionary and population genomic questions, as well as management and conservation actions.

La Trypanosomose Animale Africaine (TAA) est une maladie parasitaire (trypanosome) à transmission vectorielle (glossine). En Afrique sub-saharienne elle constitue un obstacle majeur au développement de l'élevage. Toutefois, il existe des races bovines taurines trypanotolérantes capables de tolérer la maladie. Les races européennes et indicines sont trypanosensibles et, sans traitement, meurent généralement de l'infection. Les objectifs de thèse sont d'améliorer les connaissances sur les interactions hôtes-parasites en identifiant les gènes, les réseaux de gènes, les voies métaboliques et les fonctions biologiques associés à la trypanotolérance. Cinq races bovines ouest-africaines ont été expérimentalement infectées par Trypanosoma congolense. Des banques RNA-seq ont été réalisées à partir des échantillons sanguins pour caractériser le métatranscriptome au cours de l'infection (bovin+parasite). Les principaux résultats révèlent que l'infection a eu un impact majeur sur le transcriptome des leucocytes bovins quelle que soit la race. Les résultats confirment globalement les données issues de la littérature notamment une activation précoce de la réponse immunitaire innée, suivie d'une activation de la réponse humorale et d'une inhibition des cellules T au stade chronique de l'infection. Des résultats nouveaux ont pu être mis en évidence comme une forte perturbation du métabolisme et de la production d'énergie chez l'hôte. La race N'Dama (trypanotolérante de référence) a présenté une réponse immunitaire plus précoce et plus intense associée à une forte activation de la production d'énergie par les cellules. La race Zébu (trypanosensible de référence) a présenté une forte perturbation du métabolisme des lipides, probablement due à une spoliation par le parasite ou en lien direct avec une dérégulation du métabolisme de l'hôte. En conclusion, j'ai pu mettre en évidence des différences subtiles dans certaines voies d'activation de la réponse immunitaire, et mis en exergue le

Om de prijs-kwaliteitverhouding van de beschikbare oormerken voor runderen, varkens, schapen, geiten en hertachtigen op regelmatige basis te toetsen, heeft DGZ een systematische monitoring opgezet. Deze monitoring vormt voor de veehouder een hulpmiddel bij de keuze van het juiste oormerk.

English: Colour variant game species have become a common sight on game farms and at auctions, as a result of their oddity and high monetary value. Currently there are more than 40 colour variants of African Bovidae. Even though these colour variants have become very sought after and profitable to farm with, it has been warned that colour variants do not contribute to conservation since colour variants normally do not survive in nature. Consequently the intentional breeding of colour variants is causing concern, as they may be a threat to conservation. The objective of this study was to collect data to facilitate decision making in the game ranching and conservation industry. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant behavioural differences between four springbok colour variants studied. Black springbok were less active and utilised much more shaded areas compared to other colour variants or normal coloured animals. The darker coloured animals presented less body surface area to the sun during the warmest times of the day than the white springbok. Springbok were also found to form herds based on phenotype, preferring to associate with homogenous individuals. This phenomenon was likely due to the odd-prey effect. Wildlife auction turnover grew from R62 million to over R1 billion in the last ten years. In conjunction with this growth, record prices for animals are being recorded every year. However in most cases colour variant game are reaching much higher prices than the normal coloured nonspecific's. Colour variants also achieve annual growth which is greater than inflation often providing better return on investment than stock market shares. Even though a normal Kalahari springbok ram set a new record at R1.2 million it was far exceeded by coffee coloured springbok that sold for R4 million. Financial gain then seems to be the main motivator behind the breeding of colour variants as they have become sought after by game ranchers. There is however conce, Afrikaans: Kleur variante van wildspesies het ‘n algemene gesig geword op wildplase en by wildveilings as gevolg van hul uniekheid en hoë geldlike waarde. Huidiglik is daar meer as 40 kleur variante van Afrika Bovidae. Ondanks die gesogdheid asook die winsgewendheid om met kleur variante te boer, word daar gewaarsku dat kleur variant diere nie ‘n bydrae maak to bewaring nie, aangesien hierdie diere nie normaalweg in die natuur oorleef nie. Gevolglik veroorsaak die opsetlike teel van hierdie diere bekommernis aangesien hulle ‘n bedreiging vir natuurbewaring kan wees. Die doel van hierdie studie was om data in te samel wat besluitneming vir bewaring en die wildbedryf sal vergemaklik. Statistiese analise het gewys dat daar beduidende verskille was ten op sigte van die gedrag van die vier springbok kleur variante wat bestudeer is. Swart springbokke was minder aktief en het meer skadu kolle benut vergeleke met ander kleur variante of normale kleur springbokke. Die donker gekleurde springbokke het ook kleiner oppervlaktes aan die son blootgestel gedurende die warmste deel van die dag as die wit springbokke. Springbokke is ook waargeneem om troppe te vorm gebaseer op fenotipe, waartydens hulle voorkeur getoon het om saam met homogene individue te bly. Hierdie verskynsel is toegeskryf aan die uitstaande prooi effek. Wildveiling omset het die afgelope tien jaar van R62 miljoen na meer as R1 biljoen gegroei. Gepaardgeaande met hierdie groei word rekordpryse ook elke jaar aangeteken. In meeste gevalle behaal wild kleur variante egter baie hoër pryse as die soortgelyke normale kleure. Kleur variante bereik ook groeikoerse wat beter is as inflasie en opbrengste wat beter is as aandele. Selfs al het ‘n normale Kalahari springbok onlangs ‘n rekordprys van R1.2 miljoen behaal word dit steeds ver oortref deur ‘n koffie-kleurige springbok wat teen R4 miljoen verkoop is. Finansiële gewin blyk dan die hoof aansporing te wees vir die handel in kleur variant wild wat gesog geraak het by, National Research Foundation (NRF)

Summary any pathogens infect multiple host species which can differ in their reservoir competence. Consequently the species richness and composition of the host community can considerably influence the dynamics of disease transmission. Recently, an increasing number of studies reported the existence of a dilution effect whereby high host species richness reduces the disease risk. However, the generality of the dilution effect and its mechanisms are still highly debated. In this thesis, I tested the existence of a dilution effect in bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and investigated the underlying mechanisms of the dilution effect. I detected a possible dilution effect in BTB, where higher mammal species richness reduced the probability of occurrence of BTB at a regional level in Africa, after correcting for cattle density (Chapter 2). This dilution effect might be caused by encounter reduction, i.e. the presence of non-competent mammal species might act as barriers to herd movement of cattle and reduce encounter rates among herds, which leads to a decreased probability of BTB outbreaks. Then I extended the study of the BTB dilution effect to the analysis of BTB persistence and recurrence (Chapter 3). The results showed that mammal species richness was also negatively correlated with the BTB persistence and recurrence. Besides, I demonstrated that the presence of African buffalo, as a maintenance host for Mycobacterium bovis (the causative agent of BTB), had a positive identity effect and increased the risk of BTB persistence and recurrence, whereas greater kudu distribution was not correlated with BTB persistence or recurrence. In addition, BTB persistence and recurrence were correlated with different sets of risk factors. In Chapter 4, I showed that interspecific variation in species’ reservoir competence could be partly explained by life-history traits in three vector borne diseases, namely Lyme disease, West Nile Encephalitis (WNE) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

This paper discusses the role of animal production systems in a sustainable society; sustainability problems within animal production systems; and four measures for the improvement of the contribution to societal sustainability from animal production. Substantial potentials for improvements are identified that were not previously known. The methodological basis is multi-criteria multi-level analysis within integrated assessment where elements in Impredicative Loop Analysis are integrated with management tools in Swedish agriculture and forestry developed during thousands of years, during which the well-being of the Swedish society and its economic and military power were functions of the land-use skill. The issue-the sustainability footprint of global animal production-is complex and available data are limited. The Swedish case is used as a starting point for an analysis of international relevance. Data from FAO and OECD support the relevance of extrapolating results from the Swedish case to level. The four measures are (i) decrease the consumption of chicken meat in developed nations with 2.6 kg per capita and year; (ii) develop the capacity of ruminants to produce high-quality food from otherwise marginal agroecosystems; (iii) improve milk production per cow with a factor four on global level; and (iv) increase feeding efficiency in milk production globally would substantially improve the societal contribution in terms of increased food supply and decreased pressure on land. The impact of measures (i), (iii) and (iv) on increased global food security was estimated to in total 1.8 billion people in terms of protein supply and a decreased pressure on agricultural land of 217 million ha, of which 41 relate to tropical forests. The 41 million ha of tropical land are due to a decreased demand on soymeal, where this represents more than a halving of total area now used for the production of soymeal. These impacts are of the character either or. The quality of the measur

Bovids are not so common in endemic insular faunas and are mainly recorded in Southeast Asia, Japan and some Mediterranean islands. In the Western Mediterranean, endemic bovids have been recorded during the late Miocene in the Tusco-Sardinian palaeobioprovince (Baccinello-Cinigiano basin, South Tuscany, and Fiume Santo, north-western Sardinia). In the latest Neogene and Quaternary, bovids showing highly endemic features were restricted to the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, while Bovini only slightly reduced in size were present on Pianosa, Malta and Sicily. On Sardinia, the richest bovid sample comes from Monte Tuttavista (Orosei), where at least three species have been identified: Asoletragus genthry, Nesogoral aff. N. melonii, and Nesogoral sp. 2. On Mallorca (Balearic Islands) six chronospecies belonging to the Myotragus endemic phylogenetic lineage have been described, spreading in age from the Early Pliocene to the Holocene. For decades, a close phylogenetic relationship between Nesogoral and Myotragus has been widely accepted by scholars. Morphological and biometrical differences shown by Balearic and Sardinian bovids have generally been regarded as the result of the evolution into two different island ecological systems, characterized by different inter and intra-guild selection pressures. Indeed, the more diversified environment of Sardinia, as well as the presence of other large mammals (similar-sized competitors belonging to the same guild and a running predator), increased the interspecific competition, forcing Sardinian bovids to exploit different resources and to occupy different niches, while Myotragus exploited under a monopoly regime the supply of resources available for large herbivores on the Eastern Balearic Islands. Nonetheless, new data suggest that Nesogoral and Myotragus possibly originated from different taxa. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS.

Previous studies have indicated that 15N enrichment of solid-associated bacteria (SAB) may be predicted from the same value in liquid-associated bacteria (LAB). The aims of this study were to confirm this and to measure the error in the nutrient supply from SAB, when LAB are used as the reference sample. For this purpose, the chemical and amino acid (AA) compositions of both the bacterial populations were studied in four experiments carried out on different groups of three rumen cannulated wethers. Diets (one in Experiments 1 and 4 and three in Experiments 2 and 3) had forage-to-concentrate ratios (dry matter (DM) basis) between 2 : 1 and 40 : 60, and were consumed at intake levels between 40 and 75 g DM/kg (BW) 0.75. The bacteria samples were isolated after continuous infusion of ( 15NH 4) 2SO 4 (40, 18, 30 and 25 mg 15N/day, in Experiments 1 to 4, respectively) for at least 14 days. In all experiments, SAB had consistently higher concentrations of organic matter (826 v. 716 g/kg DM, as average) and total lipids (192 v. 95 g/kg DM, as average) than LAB. Similar CP concentrations of both populations were observed, except a higher concentration in SAB than in LAB in Experiment 3. A consistent (in Experiment 4 only as tendency) higher AA-N/total N ratio (on average 17.5%) was observed in SAB than in LAB. The 15N enrichment in SAB was systematically lower than in LAB. On the basis of the results of all studies a close relationship was found between the 15N enrichment in SAB and LAB, which was shown irrespective of experiments. This relationship was established from Experiments 1 and 2 and the above cited previous results (n = 20; P < 0.001; R 2 = 0.996), and then confirmed from the results of Experiments 3 and 4. These relationships between SAB and LAB demonstrate that CP supply from SAB is underevaluated by, on average, 21.2% when LAB are used as the reference. This underevaluation was higher for true protein and even higher for the lipid supply (32.5% and 59.6%, resp

Previous studies have indicated that 15N enrichment of solid-associated bacteria (SAB) may be predicted from the same value in liquid-associated bacteria (LAB). The aims of this study were to confirm this and to measure the error in the nutrient supply from SAB, when LAB are used as the reference sample. For this purpose, the chemical and amino acid (AA) compositions of both the bacterial populations were studied in four experiments carried out on different groups of three rumen cannulated wethers. Diets (one in Experiments 1 and 4 and three in Experiments 2 and 3) had forage-to-concentrate ratios (dry matter (DM) basis) between 2 : 1 and 40 : 60, and were consumed at intake levels between 40 and 75 g DM/kg (BW) 0.75. The bacteria samples were isolated after continuous infusion of ( 15NH 4) 2SO 4 (40, 18, 30 and 25 mg 15N/day, in Experiments 1 to 4, respectively) for at least 14 days. In all experiments, SAB had consistently higher concentrations of organic matter (826 v. 716 g/kg DM, as average) and total lipids (192 v. 95 g/kg DM, as average) than LAB. Similar CP concentrations of both populations were observed, except a higher concentration in SAB than in LAB in Experiment 3. A consistent (in Experiment 4 only as tendency) higher AA-N/total N ratio (on average 17.5%) was observed in SAB than in LAB. The 15N enrichment in SAB was systematically lower than in LAB. On the basis of the results of all studies a close relationship was found between the 15N enrichment in SAB and LAB, which was shown irrespective of experiments. This relationship was established from Experiments 1 and 2 and the above cited previous results (n = 20; P < 0.001; R 2 = 0.996), and then confirmed from the results of Experiments 3 and 4. These relationships between SAB and LAB demonstrate that CP supply from SAB is underevaluated by, on average, 21.2% when LAB are used as the reference. This underevaluation was higher for true protein and even higher for the lipid supply (32.5% and 59.6%, resp

Au cours de la thèse, l'étude du transcriptome de souches Gardel et Senegal virulentes et atténuées d'E. ruminantium a été réalisée. Une analyse du transcriptome à différents stades de développement, a d'abord été effectuée pour la souche Gardel virulente. Au stade corps réticulé (forme intracellulaire non infectieuse), une surexpression des gènes codant pour des protéines impliquées dans le métabolisme, le transport et l'échange de nutriments et dans la résistance au stress oxydatif était observée. Il semblerait que E. ruminantium mette en place un panel de mécanismes pour sa survie et son développement à l'intérieur de la cellule hôte. Au stade corps élémentaire (forme extracellulaire infectieuse), le gène dksA codant pour un facteur de transcription était surexprimé. Ce gène a été montré comme étant impliqué dans la régulation de facteurs de virulence. Il semblerait donc, qu'au stade corps élémentaire, il y ait une induction de mécanismes de virulence. La comparaison de l'expression des gènes au stade corps élémentaire entre souches virulentes et atténuées a aussi été effectuée. Nos résultats ont montré une modification importante de la membrane pour les souches virulentes et atténuées. Pour les souches atténuées, il a été montré une surexpression des gènes impliqués dans la biogénèse membranaire et une sous-expression des protéines de la famille multigénique map. Ces résultats suggèrent que les protéines MAP jouent un rôle de leurre vis-à-vis de la réponse immunitaire protectrice. Des protéines membranaires hypothétiques sont surexprimées à la fois chez les souches virulentes et atténuées. Certaines d'entre elles surexprimées chez les souches atténuées semblent être de bons candidats vaccinaux et devraient être étudiées. Une surexpression des gènes impliqués dans le métabolisme a été montrée pour les souches atténuées suggérant une adaptation spécifique des bactéries à leur cellule hôte. Nous avons aussi établi un lien entre les modifications d'expression de cer

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides ''Small Colony'' (MmmSC) is responsible for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in bovidae, a notifiable disease to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Although its origin is not documented, the disease was known in Europe in 1773. It reached nearly world-wide distribution in the 19th century through the cattle trade and was eradicated from most continents by stamping-out policies. During the 20th century it persisted in Africa, and it reappeared sporadically in Southern Europe. Yet, classical epidemiology studies failed to explain the re-occurrence of the disease in Europe in the 1990s. The objectives of this study were to obtain a precise phylogeny of this pathogen, reconstruct its evolutionary history, estimate the date of its emergence, and determine the origin of the most recent European outbreaks. A large-scale genomic approach based on next-generation sequencing technologies was applied to construct a robust phylogeny of this extremely monomorphic pathogen by using 20 representative strains of various geographical origins. Sixty two polymorphic genes of the MmmSC core genome were selected, representing 83601 bp in total and resulting in 139 SNPs within the 20 strains. A robust phylogeny was obtained that identified a lineage specific to European strains; African strains were scattered in various branches. Bayesian analysis allowed dating the most recent common ancestor for MmmSC around 1700. The strains circulating in Sub-Saharan Africa today, however, were shown to descend from a strain that existed around 1810. MmmSC emerged recently, about 300 years ago, and was most probably exported from Europe to other continents, including Africa, during the 19th century. Its diversity is now greater in Africa, where CBPP is enzootic, than in Europe, where outbreaks occurred sporadically until 1999 and where CBPP may now be considered eradicated unless MmmSC remains undetected.

Au cours de la thèse, l'étude du transcriptome de souches Gardel et Senegal virulentes et atténuées d'E. ruminantium a été réalisée. Une analyse du transcriptome à différents stades de développement, a d'abord été effectuée pour la souche Gardel virulente. Au stade corps réticulé (forme intracellulaire non infectieuse), une surexpression des gènes codant pour des protéines impliquées dans le métabolisme, le transport et l'échange de nutriments et dans la résistance au stress oxydatif était observée. Il semblerait que E. ruminantium mette en place un panel de mécanismes pour sa survie et son développement à l'intérieur de la cellule hôte. Au stade corps élémentaire (forme extracellulaire infectieuse), le gène dksA codant pour un facteur de transcription était surexprimé. Ce gène a été montré comme étant impliqué dans la régulation de facteurs de virulence. Il semblerait donc, qu'au stade corps élémentaire, il y ait une induction de mécanismes de virulence. La comparaison de l'expression des gènes au stade corps élémentaire entre souches virulentes et atténuées a aussi été effectuée. Nos résultats ont montré une modification importante de la membrane pour les souches virulentes et atténuées. Pour les souches atténuées, il a été montré une surexpression des gènes impliqués dans la biogénèse membranaire et une sous-expression des protéines de la famille multigénique map. Ces résultats suggèrent que les protéines MAP jouent un rôle de leurre vis-à-vis de la réponse immunitaire protectrice. Des protéines membranaires hypothétiques sont surexprimées à la fois chez les souches virulentes et atténuées. Certaines d'entre elles surexprimées chez les souches atténuées semblent être de bons candidats vaccinaux et devraient être étudiées. Une surexpression des gènes impliqués dans le métabolisme a été montrée pour les souches atténuées suggérant une adaptation spécifique des bactéries à leur cellule hôte. Nous avons aussi établi un lien entre les modifications d'expression de cer

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides ''Small Colony'' (MmmSC) is responsible for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in bovidae, a notifiable disease to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Although its origin is not documented, the disease was known in Europe in 1773. It reached nearly world-wide distribution in the 19th century through the cattle trade and was eradicated from most continents by stamping-out policies. During the 20th century it persisted in Africa, and it reappeared sporadically in Southern Europe. Yet, classical epidemiology studies failed to explain the re-occurrence of the disease in Europe in the 1990s. The objectives of this study were to obtain a precise phylogeny of this pathogen, reconstruct its evolutionary history, estimate the date of its emergence, and determine the origin of the most recent European outbreaks. A large-scale genomic approach based on next-generation sequencing technologies was applied to construct a robust phylogeny of this extremely monomorphic pathogen by using 20 representative strains of various geographical origins. Sixty two polymorphic genes of the MmmSC core genome were selected, representing 83601 bp in total and resulting in 139 SNPs within the 20 strains. A robust phylogeny was obtained that identified a lineage specific to European strains; African strains were scattered in various branches. Bayesian analysis allowed dating the most recent common ancestor for MmmSC around 1700. The strains circulating in Sub-Saharan Africa today, however, were shown to descend from a strain that existed around 1810. MmmSC emerged recently, about 300 years ago, and was most probably exported from Europe to other continents, including Africa, during the 19th century. Its diversity is now greater in Africa, where CBPP is enzootic, than in Europe, where outbreaks occurred sporadically until 1999 and where CBPP may now be considered eradicated unless MmmSC remains undetected.

In recent decades, Mediterranean landscapes have been experiencing more rapid changes in land use than usual, which have affected the ecology of the species inhabiting this biodiversity hotspot. Some studies have assessed the effect of such changes on biodiversity, but most of these were diachronic studies of population dynamics, or synchronic studies of species habitat selection, whereas few studies have simultaneously taken into account temporal changes in habitat composition and changes in species distribution. This study analysed the effects of land-use changes on the distribution of wild ungulates (Capreolus capreolus, Capra pyrenaica, Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa). Using favourability function and Markov chain analysis combined with cellular automata, we addressed the following objectives: (i) to examine the environmental determinants of ungulate distribution in the past (1960s) and present (1990s), (ii) to model land use for 2040 to forecast future species distributions and (iii) to assess the biogeographical differences between the above-mentioned study periods (past-present and present-future). Species favourability was predicted to be more widely distributed in the present than in the past, but this increase varied across species. Areas predicted to be favourable in the present should remain stable in the future, but in addition there will be more new favourable areas not previously occupied by these species. The results are discussed from the perspective of the socio-economic relevance of wild ungulates in relation to some unfavourable areas of Mediterranean regions.

Kamerbrief over de stand en sterfte van heckrunderen, konikpaarden en edelherten in de Oostvaardersplassen van 2005 tot en met 2009. De minister heeft de Kamer deze cijfers toegezegd op 28 januari 2010

The Iberian ibex Capra pyrenaica is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and of the four subspecies originally recognized, recent extinctions mean that only two now persist. Recent genetic analyses have cast doubt on the generally accepted taxonomy of the species, where four subspecies were distinguished by coat colour and horn morphology, and propose the distinction of two subspecies based on their mitochondrial DNA sequence polymorphism. These analyses make clear the need for a comprehensive revision that integrates genetic and morphological approaches resulting in a definitive description and differentiation of the subspecies. Studies of ibex behavioural ecology and health status are scarce and generally descriptive. They should be implemented in an integrative way, taking into account the ecological requirements of the species, current population status, the presence of other sympatric wild and domestic ungulates, and the type of hunting regime and management in their distribution areas. A natural expansion of the species is currently taking place. Ibexes are present and well established in all the main mountain ranges of the Spanish Iberian Peninsula, and have recently expanded their range into the north of Portugal. Other authors estimated a total population of more than 50 000 individuals 10 years ago, distributed over more than 60 000 km2, with an average population density of 2.7 ibex/km2. However, these estimates were obtained prior to the species' recovery from recent epizootics of sarcoptic mange and should be updated. Survey methods, mainly direct count-based methods, should be adjusted to suit mountainous conditions, where it is difficult to estimate accurately the surveyed surface. A series of threats to ibex conservation have been identified, such as population overabundance, disease prevalence and potential competition with domestic livestock and invasive ungulates, along with negative effects of human disturbance through tourism and hunting. Applied ec

Hunting of wildlife in Central Africa is largely considered to be unsustainable. Several studies indicate that most mammal species should already have disappeared from many Central African forests but markets continue to be supplied with bushmeat, with no sign of large scale extinction of the most common species. Most studies of the sustainability of duiker (Cephalophus spp.) hunting in Central Africa are based on the same index of hunting. We illustrate how uncertainty is accumulated in these estimations of sustainability. We show that the results obtained in different sites are not comparable because a variety of methods have been used to calculate the parameters of the model and each of the methods has different sources of error. For the assessment of maximum sustainable harvest for duikers, the studies reviewed differ mainly in the value chosen for the hypothetical adjustment factor, and the method used to calculate the rate of maximum population increase and to estimate duiker population densities. For the assessment of annual hunting offtake the studies differ mainly in the scale at which they were conducted (village or regional), and sampling and extrapolation methods. Without evaluation of accuracy and standardization of methods for the estimation of maximum sustainable harvest and annual offtake, conclusions regarding harvesting based on biological indices should be treated with extreme caution. =

Hunting of wildlife in Central Africa is largely considered to be unsustainable. Several studies indicate that most mammal species should already have disappeared from many Central African forests but markets continue to be supplied with bushmeat, with no sign of large scale extinction of the most common species. Most studies of the sustainability of duiker (Cephalophus spp.) hunting in Central Africa are based on the same index of hunting. We illustrate how uncertainty is accumulated in these estimations of sustainability. We show that the results obtained in different sites are not comparable because a variety of methods have been used to calculate the parameters of the model and each of the methods has different sources of error. For the assessment of maximum sustainable harvest for duikers, the studies reviewed differ mainly in the value chosen for the hypothetical adjustment factor, and the method used to calculate the rate of maximum population increase and to estimate duiker population densities. For the assessment of annual hunting offtake the studies differ mainly in the scale at which they were conducted (village or regional), and sampling and extrapolation methods. Without evaluation of accuracy and standardization of methods for the estimation of maximum sustainable harvest and annual offtake, conclusions regarding harvesting based on biological indices should be treated with extreme caution. =

Landscape distribution of susceptible species is needed to model the spatial spread of infectious diseases. Our objective is to develop 2 individual species animal count maps - for African buffalo and domestic cattle susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Kruger National Park Region (KNPR) of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) - using retrospective census and land use data. The KNPR includes the Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. We applied dasymetric mapping methods to disaggregate animal population census data to a finer resolution using ancillary data. In this study, ancillary data used to define species distributions included stocking rate or carrying capacity and land suitability parameters, A geographical information system (GIS) was used to identify suitable land and vegetation locations (x,y coordinates) for each species. Covariate-specific animal counts were modelled using a Poisson distribution. The resulting animal count data was mapped and will be used to model FMD spread within the KNPR.

Landscape distribution of susceptible species is needed to model the spatial spread of infectious diseases. Our objective is to develop 2 individual species animal count maps - for African buffalo and domestic cattle susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Kruger National Park Region (KNPR) of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) - using retrospective census and land use data. The KNPR includes the Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. We applied dasymetric mapping methods to disaggregate animal population census data to a finer resolution using ancillary data. In this study, ancillary data used to define species distributions included stocking rate or carrying capacity and land suitability parameters, A geographical information system (GIS) was used to identify suitable land and vegetation locations (x,y coordinates) for each species. Covariate-specific animal counts were modelled using a Poisson distribution. The resulting animal count data was mapped and will be used to model FMD spread within the KNPR.

Livestock production has been identified as a major source of nitrogen (N) losses in agro-ecosystems. N excreted in dung and urine contributes to environmental N pollution either as ammonia and N oxides in air, or as nitrate in soil and ground water. Therefore, it is important to reduce N output through animal excretions by improving N utilisation by the animal. Bovine N utilisation can be increased substantially through changing the composition of the diet. In many parts of Europe, a large proportion of the bovine’s diet consists of grass taken up by grazing. Manipulating the nutritional composition of grazed grass poses a complex challenge, since it is hard to control the diet under grazing as this depends on grassland management and environmental factors. The objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of grassland management tools for manipulating herbage quality and to assess the subsequent effect on the N efficiency of grazing cows. In the literature review, three pathways were identified through which more efficient N utilisation by grazing bovines can be achieved by manipulation of the chemical composition of the grass forage: 1) matching protein supply to animal requirements, 2) balancing and synchronising carbohydrate and N supply in the rumen, and 3) increasing the proportion of rumen undegradable protein (RUP). Under grazing conditions, grassland management tools, such as the length of the regrowth period, defoliation height, fertiliser N application rate, and growing high-sugar grass cultivars, are the main tools to manipulate herbage quality and subsequent bovine N efficiency. A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of those grassland management tools on the chemical composition of lamina and sheath material. These results were used to design a model for predicting the efficacy of herbage management tools for affecting the quality of herbage ingested by cattle under strip-grazing management. This model was validated and co

The karstic cavern of Trlica, situated near the city of Pljevlja in Montenegro, has yielded a rich palaeontological assemblage of the Early Pleistocene age. Bovids remains are abundant and are represented by four species, two of them being new: Megalovis balcanicus sp. nov., Soergelia intermedia sp. nov., cf. Rupicaprini, Bison (Eobison) sp. nov. It is the first discovery of Ovibovini in Montenegro and the western part of the Balkan peninsula. The detailed analysis gives new information about the evolution of the genera Megalovis and Soergelia. The occurrence of a small bovid and a Bison distinct to the known bovids shows the complexity of the fauna from the Balkans and the Mediterranean area.

The karstic cavern of Trlica, situated near the city of Pljevlja in Montenegro, has yielded a rich palaeontological assemblage of the Early Pleistocene age. Bovids remains are abundant and are represented by four species, two of them being new: Megalovis balcanicus sp. nov., Soergelia intermedia sp. nov., cf. Rupicaprini, Bison (Eobison) sp. nov. It is the first discovery of Ovibovini in Montenegro and the western part of the Balkan peninsula. The detailed analysis gives new information about the evolution of the genera Megalovis and Soergelia. The occurrence of a small bovid and a Bison distinct to the known bovids shows the complexity of the fauna from the Balkans and the Mediterranean area.

[ES] The first palaeontological study of the locality of Quibas dates from the end of the 1990ties (Montoya et al., 1999), describing over 60 vertebrate taxa. One of these was a caprine assigned to Capra sp. aff. Capra alba. Recent excavations yielded new remains of this taxon, which permits a more profound study of its affinities and an assignation to Capra alba, without reservation. This assignation is based on the morphological and metrical comparison of the skulls, horn cores, dentition and metapodials from Quibas with those of Capra alba from Venta Micena (Orce Granada)., [EN] A finales de la década de los 90 se realizó el primer estudio paleontológico del yacimiento de la Sierra de Quibas (Montoya et al., 1999) en el que se describieron más de 60 taxones de vertebrados. Uno de ellos fue el de un caprino asignado como Capra sp. aff Capra alba. Las últimas campañas de excavación han librado nuevos restos de este taxón, lo que ha permitido poder estudiarlo con mayor profundidad y asignarlo a Capra alba. Esta atribución se basa en la comparación morfológica y métrica de los cráneos, núcleos óseos, dentición y metápodos con los ejemplares de C. alba de Venta Micena (Orce, Granada).

The first palaeontological study of the locality of Quibas dates from the end of the 1990s (Montoya et al., 1999), describing over 60 vertebrate taxa. One of these was a caprine assigned to Capra sp. aff. Capra alba. Recent excavations yielded new remains of this taxon, which permits a more profound study of its affinities and an assignation to Capra alba, without reservation. This assignation is based on the morphological and metrical comparison of the skulls, horn cores, dentition and metapodials from Quibas with those of Capra alba from Venta Micena (Orce Granada)., A finales de la década de los 90 se realizó el primer estudio paleontológico del yacimiento de la Sierra de Quibas (Montoya et al., 1999) en el que se describieron más de 60 taxones de vertebrados. Uno de ellos fue el de un caprino asignado como Capra sp. aff Capra alba. Las últimas campañas de excavación han librado nuevos restos de este taxón, lo que ha permitido poder estudiarlo con mayor profundidad y asignarlo a Capra alba. Esta atribución se basa en la comparación morfológica y métrica de los cráneos, núcleos óseos, dentición y metápodos con los ejemplares de C. alba de Venta Micena (Orce, Granada).

We report the results of a cross-species amplification test of 156 bovine, ovine and cervid microsatellite markers in a wild population of mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus, inhabiting Caw Ridge, Alberta, Canada. Twenty-nine markers were found to be low to moderately polymorphic with between two to nine alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.14 to 0.85 for a sample of 215 mountain goats. This set of markers will be used in parentage analyses to construct the pedigree of the long-term studied population and to investigate the effects of individual genetic variability on life-history traits.

A noncompetitive, time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TRIFMA) was developed using a selected pair of monoclonal antibodies (mab) raised against recombinant bovine GH, with the catching mab immobilized on microtiter plate wells and the detection mab labeled with Eu3+ as a tracer, arranged as a sandwich. Plates were coated, with mab1.15 (680 ng/well) using a phosphate buffer (pH 4.9), and then blocked with assay buffer containing 1% (wt/vol) BSA. The assay procedure involved incubation of 50 muL of sample (plasma or serum) and 200 muL of assay buffer containing 25 ng of mab1.2-Eu3+ conjugate for 4 h at 25degreesC. Plates were then washed six times, incubated for 5 to 10 min with 250 muL of enhancement solution, and fluorescence read with a time-resolved fluorometer. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1 ng/mL, and the working range was 0.2 to 200 ng/mL. Recovery of quantitative amounts of bovine GH added to plasma samples was close to 100%. Cross-reactivity with other bovine pituitary hormones or with GH from nonbovidae or cervidae species was not significant. Intra- and interassay CV during routine operation was 4.4 and 10.7%, respectively (mean = 3.54 ng/mL). Plasma concentrations of bovine GH determined by TRIFMA correlated closely (r(2) greater than or equal to 0.93) with RIA results, with a conversion ratio of 0.62 when the higher specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was taken into account. The TRIFMA is a reliable alternative to RIA methods because the assay employs no radiolabeled or hazardous chemicals, delivers results rapidly, and has little risk of down periods.

Wildlife habitats in Kenya are getting more fragmented and isolated due to increasing human activities within them. This has resulted in the establishment of several small nature reserves where wildlife is protected from human interference. Grazers contribute a large proportion of total herbivore biomass in these reserves, and their populations are likely to increase due to stoppage of migration and reduction in their home range sizes (for large home range holders) caused by fencing, human settlements or cultivation on the periphery of the reserves. This might lead to changes in dynamics of grass-grazer or grazer-grazer interactions, which are useful to understand for successful management of these populations to take place. It was in view of this, that I conducted a study with the following hypotheses: that a decline in a grazer species biomass in an isolated small reserve is due to an increase in biomass of other co-existing grazers, and that there is a high resource overlap among co-existing grazers in an isolated small reserve. I considered an isolated grazer assemblage comprising of ten co-existing grazers: defassa waterbuck ( Kobus defassa ), African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ), impala ( Aepyceros melampus ) , Grant's gazelle ( Gazella granti ), Thomson's gazelle ( Gazella thomsoni ), warthog ( Phacocoerus aethiopicus ), Burchell's zebra ( Equus burchelli ), eland ( Taurotragus oryx ), Chanler's reedbuck ( Redunca fulvorufula chanleri ), and Bohor reedbuck ( Redunca redunca ) in Lake Nakuru National Park. An analysis of the development of the assemblage over a 24-year period (1976-1999) showed that by 1999, its total biomass had reached 134 kg ha -1and that it was dominated by species above 300 kg (buffalo and eland). Population growth rate of waterbuck and warthog has declined, and Bohor reedbuck appears to have now disappeared from the system. The study shows that larger grazer species did not facilitate smaller ones despite having high habitat overlaps with

We evaluated seven years of light cattle grazing of dune valleys (Frisian island of Vlieland) as to management objectives and effects on vegetation, flora and fauna. We compared vegetation, flora and fauna from 1993 and 2000 in a BACI-design of 14 grazed and 14 ungrazed plots, of which 20 were randomly selected from the stratum `grass overgrown moist dune valleys', and 8 from `intact Empetrum vegetations. Development towards shrubland and woodland is tempered as a consequence of cattle browsing of twigs and leaves of Prunus avium, and Betula pubescens, which reduces height and the growth form of these species. Browsing of P. avium is surprising as this is expected to occur only under shortage of other food plants. The number of seedlings under 0.5 mheight, however, increased, even in the grazed plots. Cattle form bare patches and trails in the dense and high field layers of Calamagrostis epigejos, and Carex arenaria. Vegetation height of the `overgrown valleys' increases significantly in the ungrazed plots, whereas it increases (very) lightly in the grazed plots. Numbers of plant and invertebrate species increase, which could be related to a general change to moist conditions. Grazing has neutral to light positive effects on bio-diversity, even inthe invertebrates the species number of which mostly decrease under heavier grazing pressures., Onderzoek grote grazers, in samenwerking met: Stichting Bargerveen, Nijmegen

Het weerzien met een "ouwe getrouwe" de Glaner os, genaamd Max die met zijn begeleider aan het werk was, vormde de aanleiding tot nader onderzoek naar het voorkomen van Glaner trekossen in Limburg. De cultuur- en natuurhistorie zijn belicht

[ES] Se describen restos fósiles dentarios, craneales y postcraneales pertenecientes a la familia Bovidae del yacimiento de Tarazona de Aragón. Según las características morfológicas y métricas de la dentición y los núcleos óseos, existen dos formas en este yacimiento del Mioceno medio de la Cuenca del Ebro. Una ha sido atribuida al género Eotragus y clasificada como E, aff. sansaniensis, mostrando características más derivadas que el resto de las formas ibéricas del mismo género. La otra se clasifica, provisionalmente, como aff. Tethytragus, ya que guarda similitudes con la especie ibérica Tethytragus langai y diferencias evidentes con respecto a Eotragus. Los dos taxones se diferencian netamente respecto a la talla, hipsodoncia y morfología de la dentición; sobre todo, las diferencias de desarrollo y prominencia de los estilos/estílidos y costillas mismos son evidentes, [EN] In this paper cranial, dental and postcraneal fossil remains of the Bovidae family from Tarazana de Aragón are described. There are two forms in this Middle Miocene paleontological site of the Ebro Basin according to the metric and morphological characteristics of the dentition and hom cores. One form is referred to Eotragus and classified as E. aff. sansaniensis, showing more developed features than the other Iberian forms of the same genus. The other form is classified provisionally as aff. Tethytragus because it is quite similar to the Iberian Tethytragus langai and differs from Eotragus. The two bovids from Tarazana show differences in size, hypsodoncy and dental morphology, especially the differences of development and prominence of the styles/stylideds and ribs are obvious.

In opdracht van de Vereniging Natuurmonumenten heeft Alterra in de periode 1997-2000 onderzoek gedaan naar mogelijke interacties tussen runderen, edelherten en wilde zwijnen op grasland. Runderbegrazing differentieerde de gewashoogte, waardoor keuzemogelijkheden ontstonden voor edelhert en wild zwijn. Naast deze facilitatie van edelhert en wild zwijn door rund en mogelijk lokaal van wild zwijn door edelhert trad 's winters competitie op tussen rund en edelhert. Directe confrontaties werden niet waargenomen. De groei van de kudde runderen en uitbreiding van het begrazingsgebied leidde niet tot belangrijke verschuivingen in de verspreiding van edelherten op de Zuidoost-Veluwe.

Door vegetatie-opnamen is onderzocht of begrazing van runderen op de Gooise heide heeft geleid tot terugdringing van de vergrassing door Bochtige smele en Pijpestrootje en terugkeer van gewenste soorten uit het heide-ecosysteem. Grote herbivoren blijken het ideale transportmiddel voor de verspreiding van de heide-soorten te zijn

This paper examines possible indications of sexual dimorphism in the physical structure of the horn cores and certain cranial bone components of the extinct Pleistocene-Holocene ruminant Myotragus balearicus BATE, 1909 from the Cave of Muleta on the Balearic Island of Mallorca. Sexual differentiation in such components as the skull of Myotragus balearicus has been until the present impossible, especially as both male and female have similar horns and head shape, which by normal criteria are identical. The present paper proposes that certain visible structural differences can be seen in the vertical and longitudinal sectioning of horn cores as well as in the reinforcement of certain bones of the skull, as seen in cranial parasagittal sectioning.

Evaluatie van drie jaar ervaring met begrazing door Schotse Hooglanders van een deel van het Amsterdamse Bos: effecten op de natuurkwaliteit en ervaringen met en waardering door de bezoekers

Schotse Hooglanders en in het wild levende paarden dragen bij aan het omvormingsbeheer van natuurgebieden

Variables that may affect birth mass and adult body mass/length in captive Saharan arruis (aoudads), Ammotragus lervia, were analyzed. Whenever enough data were available, the following variables were considered: age, sex, type of parturition (singleton versus twins), birth mass, nursing status (single versus effective twinning), maternal age, and individual inbreeding coefficient. Previous considerations and strong sexual dimorphism made it advisable to perform separate analyses for males and females. As expected, there was a positive relationship between age and growth. As adults, singleton females were larger than females that had a littermate; also, females raised by older mothers were heavier at sexual maturity. Birth mass, maternal age, and individual inbreeding coefficient had no effect on adult phenotype. At birth there already appeared to be significant sexual dimorphism, and singletons were heavier than twins. High inbreeding coefficients yielded lighter calves. Finally, birth mass increased with maternal age but was not affected by season of birth.

RIVM rapport:Abstract niet beschikbaar, In this report the results of a toxicokinetic study of dioxins and furans in sheep and the transfer of these compounds from ewes to their lambs are given. Pregnant sheep were fed concentrate spiked with a mixture of PCDD/Fs (130 ng I-TEQ/animal/day) for eight consecutive days. To one group of the sheep the bete-agonist Clenbuterol was administered for eight weeks after delivery to influence the fat metabolism. Dioxins and furans were measured in fat and milk samples of the ewes and in their lambs at several time points after delivery.

niet beschikbaar, In this report the results of a toxicokinetic study of dioxins and furans in sheep and the transfer of these compounds from ewes to their lambs are given. Pregnant sheep were fed concentrate spiked with a mixture of PCDD/Fs (130 ng I-TEQ/animal/day) for eight consecutive days. To one group of the sheep the bete-agonist Clenbuterol was administered for eight weeks after delivery to influence the fat metabolism. Dioxins and furans were measured in fat and milk samples of the ewes and in their lambs at several time points after delivery.