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A successful business needs to generate enough cash to cover expenses, current debt, and family living expenses, pay interest on owned and borrowed capital, maintain productivity, and earn a reasonable return for the operator. Income from sheep production is generally only part of a total farm and nonfarm income. Thus options, opportunity costs, and decisions regarding the sheep production enterprise are not isolated; they affect other agricultural enterprises. Sheep production consistently returns profits to producers, which makes it an enticing agricultural enterprise. There are advantages in raising sheep in Virginia, such as abundant, high-quality forage, moderate climate, pasture improvement, and good access to markets with high demand for lamb. The disadvantages to sheep production are unavailable and inexperienced labor and operators, predators, and inconsistent market demand and supply. Sheep producers have the opportunity to choose which lambing system fits their existing operations and lifestyle. The use of economic analysis enables operator to make sound business management decisions. To compare different lambing systems (spring, fall with winter clean-up, and high-fertility fall) in a systematic way, a simulation model was constructed with a fixed forage resource of 50 acres of pasture including typical Virginia mountain pasture plus various amounts of fescue for stockpiling. The simulation included a production calendar; nutritional requirements for ewes, lambs, and artificially reared triplets; growth rates for lambs; lambing distributions; forage growth; and enterprise budgets including income, costs, and returns. A economic analysis was performed for each lambing system with average prices or with plus or minus one standard deviation for prices of corn, SBOM, and market lambs, and price differentials for market lambs across lambing seasons. Comparisons of each lambing systems produced various results. In spring lambing, only 78 ewes could be maintained on the fixed forage resource, while the fall with winter clean-up and high-fertility fall lambing system each had 115 ewes. This result occurred because of limited forage in July and August and higher nutrient requirements for spring lambing in those months. The overall nutrient requirements were higher in the fall with winter clean-up and high-fertility fall lambing than in spring lambing as a result of the increased ewe and lamb numbers. Concentrate consumption by lambs was also greater for fall with winter clean-up and high-fertility fall lambing than for spring lambing because of the increased numbers of lambs. Because of the low number of ewes and lambs, spring system produced the most hay. Labor costs were highest in fall with winter clean-up lambing because of the two lambing seasons. In the economic analysis system, each lambing was compared. With 10-year average prices for market lambs, corn, and SBOM, high-fertility fall lambing had the greatest income ($17,467), followed by fall with winter clean-up lambing ($14,695), and spring lambing ($10,358). This result occurred because high-fertility fall and fall with winter clean-up lambing had more lambs sold at higher market lambs prices than spring lambing. With 10-year average prices for market lambs, corn, and SBOM, high-fertility fall lambing had the highest cost ($7,935), followed by fall with winter clean-up lambing ($7,360), and spring lambing ($6,084). This was the result of increased ewe and lamb numbers in high-fertility fall and fall with winter clean-up lambing than spring lambing. High-fertility fall lambing had the greatest returns ($6,210), followed by fall with winter clean-up lambing ($4,025), and spring lambing ($2,028). On a fixed forage resource, increasing fertility in fall lambing clearly results in increased returns. In this model, forage availability controlled the number of ewes that a lambing system can have because of limited summer growth and had a major impact on profits. Conclusions of Tolman (1993) differed from those found within this thesis. On a per ewe basis, she found that spring lambing to yielded the highest returns whereas this thesis found that high-fertility fall lambing yielded the highest returns. A key difference between this study and that of Tolman (1993) was after weaning this thesis feed fall lambs stockpiled fescue and she feed fall lambs feed in dry lot. / Master of Science

Most research to date has focused on non-pregnant sheep grazing saltbush to fill the summer/autumn feed gap in temperate regions of southern Australia. However, the summer/autumn period coincides with late pregnancy for autumn- or winter-lambing ewes, and feeding saltbush may reduce the amount and cost of supplementary feed that is required to meet the energy demands of late pregnancy. The challenge of dealing with a high-salt diet may be exacerbated during pregnancy since pregnancy is a salt-retaining physiological state, yet a high-salt intake requires an increase in mechanisms to excrete salt. The effect of high dietary salt on the developing foetus(es) has been studied in rodent models, but less so in sheep. Hence the aims of this thesis were to determine whether pregnant ewes can manage a high dietary salt content resembling that found in saltbush, and whether there are consequences to the offspring’s physiological responses to ingested salt. Merino ewes were synchronized for ovulation and artificially inseminated. To mimic the concentration of salt in animals grazing saltbush-based pastures in summer and autumn, a diet of 13% NaCl was fed from insemination through to parturition. It was found that pregnant ewes can be fed a 13% NaCl diet and manage the physiological conflict of high salt and pregnancy by decreasing their aldosterone concentrations and increasing their water consumption. There was no effect of high dietary salt on pregnancy rates, lamb birth weights, lamb survival or milk composition (fat and protein percentages). A series of experiments were conducted to test if the high-salt intake of ewes during pregnancy was associated with a change in the dietary preference for salt and/or changes in physiological responses to ingested salt in the offspring (‘S lambs’ vs. control, ‘C lambs’). C lambs and S lambs were exposed to short- and long-term preference testing to determine if there were differences in their voluntary selection for salt in their diet. There were no significant differences in dietary salt preference between C and S lambs. The lambs were subjected to salt 'challenges' (oral dose of 40 g NaCl in 25% w/v solution) from 3-10 months of age and their water intake, urinary output, sodium excretion and hormone concentrations were measured over the ensuing 23 hours, and compared against counterparts dosed with an equal volume of water without salt. Following the initial salt challenge further experiments were conducted with slight alterations; water intake was manipulated immediately following the salt challenge; two consecutive salt challenges, 8 hours apart, were administered; and C and S lambs were offered salty water (1.5% NaCl) over a period of two days. The results of these salt challenge experiments showed that C and S lambs excreted a salt load at a similar rate, but they differed in the magnitude of changes in water intake and hormone concentrations required to achieve sodium homeostasis. S lambs were able excrete sodium at the same rate as C lambs but without decreasing aldosterone concentrations to the same extent and whilst consuming 400 mL less water in the first two hours post challenge. The aldosterone results suggested a lowered responsiveness to aldosterone and the lower water consumption suggested an altered thirst threshold. The experiment in which water consumption was manipulated suggested that when the supply or access to fresh water is limited, the capacity to remove a salt load is likely to be less impaired in S lambs than C lambs; S lambs were able to excrete the salt load faster than the C lambs when the availability of drinking water was limited. From the experiment in which lambs were treated with two consecutive salt challenges, the rate of sodium excretion increased after the second dose, but there remained no difference in the rate of excretion between C and S lambs; all animals were able to excrete 95% of the administered dose of sodium within 23 hours. The final experiment in which animals were given salty water (1.5% NaCl) for a period of two days showed consistent results with the previous experiments for water consumption and aldosterone concentrations between C and S lambs. There was no difference in sodium excretion between C and S lambs. A novel finding was a markedly lower voluntary feed intake in S lambs than C lambs. Although mechanisms for this are unknown, it may have profound effects on the productivity of the animals. The experiments reported in this thesis provide new information of relevance to pregnant ewes grazing halophytic forages. It is apparent that they can withstand a high NaCl content typical, of a saltbush-based pasture. Further work is warranted to conclude whether high salt during pregnancy is (i) beneficial to the offspring in regards to a higher capacity to deal with excess salt under farming conditions and (ii) consistently associated with a lower voluntary feed intake of the offspring. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1290752 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007.

The objectives of this dissertation were to evaluate genetic influences on ewe productivity, its growth and reproductive components, and measures indicative of accelerated lambing performance. Genetic parameters were estimated for total weight of litter weaned per ewe lambing (TW) and its components, number of lambs born (NB), number of lambs weaned (NW) and average weight of lambs weaned (AW), measured as traits of the ewe, and lamb survival (LS) and weaning weight (WW), measured as traits of the lamb, in Katahdin sheep. Heritabilities of TW, NB, NW, and AW, were 0.12, 0.12, 0.09, and 0.13, respectively. Heritability of WW was 0.15 to 0.20. Genetic effects on LS were negligible. Genetic correlation of TW with NB, NW, and AW averaged 0.30, 0.90, and 0.74, respectively, those of NB with NW and AW averaged 0.72 and 0.01, respectively, and that between NW and AW averaged 0.50. Direct genetic effects on WW were independent of NB and NW, but correlation between maternal genetic effects on WW and animal genetic effects on NW averaged 0.35. Ewe fertility, NB, LS, and WW were modeled using stochastic simulation and used to derive NW, AW, and TW to test alternative predictors of genetic merit for TW. A random 8% of WW observations were set to missing values and AW and TW were recalculated to evaluate the effects of data reporting inconsistencies on efficacy of different prediction strategies. Four alternative predictors of estimated breeding values (EBV) for TW involved direct univariate prediction (TW1), an index of EBV for NW and AW (TW2), indirect prediction using data for NW and AW and genetic correlations among NW, AW and TW (TW3), and indirect prediction augmenting TW3 with data and genetic correlations involving NB (TW4). To validate efficacy of predictors, daughter data sets were generated from the original ewes and their realized TW were regressed on alternative predictors. Regression coefficients from TW1, TW3, and TW4 were close to the expected value of 0.50 whereas those from TW2 were less than 0.50. Model Rsquare statistics were similar among predictors when there were no missing WW data but regressions involving TW1 had lowest model R-square when some WW data was missing. Ewe lamb fertility (ELF), ages at first, second, and third lambings (AGE1 to AGE3), first and second lambing intervals (INT1 and INT2), and number of lambings by 38 mo of age (LAMB3) were evaluated for an accelerated lambing Polypay flock. Relationships among these traits and NB and WW were estimated. Heritability of ELF, AGE1, AGE2, AGE3, INT1, INT2, and LAMB3 were 0.14, 0.39, 0.28, 0.36, 0.00, 0.09, and 0.27, respectively. Heritability of AGE2 and AGE3 were negligible after accounting for variation in AGE1. Genetic correlations of ELF with AGE1 and AGE2 were -0.89, -0.91, respectively, and that with LAMB3 was 0.89. Genetic correlations of LAMB3 with AGE1 and AGE2 were -0.49 and -1.00, respectively. Genetic correlations of ELF and LAMB3 with direct genetic effects on WW were close to -0.70, but correlations with maternal genetic effects on WW were 0.88 and 0.58, respectively. Prolificacy was independent of ELF and LAMB3. / Ph. D.

The objective of this study was to evaluate ewe and lamb performance in an accelerated lamb production system, and to compare the performance and lamb output between a conventional and an accelerated lamb production system. In the “Conventional” system, ewes were bred in March to lamb in August. The “Accelerated” system was based on the “STAR” system (Lewis et al., 1996), in which there were five breeding periods within each year. In the current experiment these were 14th January, 28th March, 9th June, 21st August and 2nd November. Progesterone was used to synchronise the breeding periods and during the non-breeding season, eCG was used to induce reproductive activity. Lambing began on each of these dates and weaning was 73 days later, coinciding with the next breeding period. The experiment ran over a three-year period beginning with breeding in March 2003 and was complete with the weaning of lambs from the January 2006-bred ewes. This resulted in 15 lambing and breeding periods over the three years in the Accelerated system and three lambing and breeding periods in the Conventional system. Average pregnancy rates were lower in the Accelerated system than in the Conventional system. Lamb growth rates were similar between the two systems, although lamb live weights at weaning were lower in the Accelerated system due to the age of the lambs at weaning (average = 69 vs 96 days). More lambs were born and weaned, resulting in more kilograms of lamb weaned in the Accelerated system relative to the Conventional system over the experimental period (26,200 vs 24,300 kg). Labour input was 35% higher in the Accelerated system, or 13% higher per lamb weaned. Average annual ewe energy requirements were 6% higher in the Accelerated system. Ewe energy requirements per kilogram of lamb weaned was lower (6%) in the Accelerated system due to more breeding and lambing periods per ewe per year. Laparoscopic observation of ewes’ ovaries at each breeding period revealed that most ewes had active ovaries and were therefore capable of successfully producing a viable foetus. In a subsequent experiment, blood samples were collected for analysis of progesterone concentrations from ewes bred during the spring and autumn breeding periods. Observations of data indicated that a small number of ewes conceived and lost their conceptus, or had abnormal corpora lutea. Results suggested that pregnancies were failing due to a lack of an appropriate signal from the embryo to the dam/uterus. Exposing Romney ewes to an artificial lighting regimen was unsuccessful for inducing reproductive activity during spring. In another experiment, melatonin implants administered to Romney ewes in spring and used in conjunction with eCG and progesterone, resulted in 61% more lambs born per ewe treated, compared to eCG and progesterone alone. This result indicated that melatonin implants, used with eCG and progesterone may be a suitable method for improving reproductive performance in sheep bred out of season in New Zealand. Delaying weaning of lambs and breeding lactating ewes can be used to obtain heavier lamb weaning weights in the Accelerated system. Spring-bred ewes had lambs weaned at either 69 days post partum or 90 days post partum. Reproductive performance was similar between the two groups of ewes, and lamb live weights in the later weaned group were heavier when lambs were 90 and 120 days of age. This research has shown that accelerated or out-of-season lamb production is an option for some New Zealand sheep farmers. However, the mechanisms associated with reproductive seasonality and methods of successfully circumventing this seasonality require further attention in order to achieve optimum reproductive performance.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram estimar parâmetros genéticos, com os modelos mistos reprodutor e animal, para características reprodutivas contínuas e discretas, bem como, predizer os valores genéticos dos reprodutores para características reprodutivas contínuas e discretas em ovinos da raça Santa Inês. Foram analisadas as características reprodutivas intervalo de partos (IDP, N=1.066), fertilidade ao parto (FP, N=1.006) e número de cordeiros ao parto (NCP, N=3.593) de ovinos com partos ocorridos entre os anos de 1998 a 2005. A característica FP foi expressa na forma de fêmeas paridas em relação às fêmeas cobertas, sendo codificada como \"1\" se pariu e \"0\", caso contrário e NCP, representou o número de crias nascidas por ovelha parida, codificada como \"1\" (simples) e 2 (múltiplos). O modelo reprodutor apresentou a característica de superestimar as herdabilidades para as características reprodutivas em relação ao modelo animal. As estimativas de herdabilidades, obtidas por modelo animal linear, foram 0,12, 0,23 e 0,16 para NCP, FP e IDP, respectivamente. As estimativas de herdabilidades, obtidas por modelo animal de limiar, foram 0,16, 0,15 e 0,10 para NCP, FP e IDP, respectivamente. As estimativas das correlações genéticas pelo uso de modelo animal linear, foram 0,13 (entre NCP e FP) e -0,21 (entre NCP e IDP). Já as estimativas das correlações genéticas, quando utilizado modelo animal de limiar, foram 0,81 (entre NCP e FP) e -0,52 (entre NCP e IDP). As correlações entre os valores genéticos preditos para 258 reprodutores avaliados variaram de 0,4835 a 0,8561 entre os modelos reprodutor e animal obtidos por metodologia linear e de limiar. Este fato sugere a existência de alterações significativas nas classificações dos valores genéticos preditos dos reprodutores em função do tipo de modelo e da metodologia utilizada na avaliação genética. / The aims of this study were evaluated genetic parameters with sire and animal mixed models, to continuous and discreet reproductive traits, as well as predict sires breeding values to continuous and discreet reproductive traits in Santa Inês ewes breed. The traits analyzed in this study were lambing interval (LI, N = 1,066), fertility (FR, N = 1,006) and number of lambs born (NLB, N = 3,593) of ewes with birth occurred among 1998 to 2005. The FR trait was expressed in form of delivered females in respect to sheltered females, been codified as \"1\" delivered and \"0\" otherwise. The NLB trait represented the number of fully formed lambs born per ewe lambing, codified as \"1\" (simple) and \"2\" (multiples). The sire model showed super estimate comportment in respect to animal model for reproductive traits heritabilities. The estimates of heritability obtained by linear animal model were 0.12, 0.23 and 0.16 for NLB, FR and LI, respectively. The estimates of heritability obtained by threshold animal model were 0.16, 0.15 and 0.10 for NLB, FR and LI, respectively. The estimates of genetic correlations using linear animal model were 0.13 (between NLB and FR) and -0,21 (between NLB and LI). However, the estimates of genetics correlations using threshold animal model were 0.81 (between NLB and FR) and -0,52 (between NLB and LI). The Pearson correlations between predicted breeding values for 258 sires varying by 0.4835 to 0.8561 between sire and animal models obtained by linear and threshold methodology. This fact suggest the existence of significative changes on sires predicted breeding values classifications by virtue of model type and used methodology on genetic evaluation.

This thesis was conducted to evaluate important epidemiological features of Gastro-Intestinal Nematode (GIN) infections in Ontario sheep flocks; namely, the PeriParturient Egg Rise (PPER), overwintering of GIN free-living stages on pasture, and Anthelmintic Resistance (AR). Three main studies were carried out: a longitudinal study was conducted on six sheep farms to evaluate the PPER in ewes lambing in different seasons and to determine whether total plasma protein (TPP) levels and packed cell volume (PCV) were associated with increased fecal GIN-egg shedding. Secondly, a pilot-study was conducted on three farms to describe pasture-level environmental conditions and over-wintering survival and infectivity of free-living GIN larvae, especially Haemonchus contortus. Lastly, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 47 sheep farms in Ontario, to evaluate the frequency of AR, compare different diagnostic tests for AR, and evaluate management practices associated with AR. In the longitudinal study, the PPER was observed in winter, spring and autumn lambing ewes, though the magnitude and distribution of the PPER varied with season. Lower TPP and PCV values were associated with increased fecal GIN-egg counts. The pilot-study suggested that H. contortus larvae did not overwinter successfully on pasture, while other GINs, such as Teladorsagia sp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Nematodirus spp., were able to overwinter on pasture, and were infective the following spring. Resistance to ivermectin, fenbendazole and levamisole was demonstrated on 97% (28/29), 95% (19/20) and 6% (1/17) respectively of the farms tested; most of the resistance observed was found in Haemonchus sp. The Fecal Egg Count Reduction percentage following treatment was influenced by which mean (i.e. arithmetic vs. geometric) was used in the formula; use of pre-treatment in addition to post-treatment faecal egg counts was not influential. Both the fecal egg count reduction test and the larval development assay diagnosed resistance, but there was poor agreement between the two tests, as indicated by the Kappa test. The prior use of benzimidazoles on farms was associated with higher levels of fenbendazole resistance. The information generated in this thesis will be used to develop a parasite control program for sheep flocks in Ontario and to guide future research on GIN parasitism. / New Directions - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency; Ontario Agriculture Centre Canada; Merial; Animal Health Strategic Initiative - University of Guelph Partnership; Undergraduate Research Assistantship; Gartshore Memorial Sheep Scholarship;

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram estimar parâmetros genéticos, com os modelos mistos reprodutor e animal, para características reprodutivas contínuas e discretas, bem como, predizer os valores genéticos dos reprodutores para características reprodutivas contínuas e discretas em ovinos da raça Santa Inês. Foram analisadas as características reprodutivas intervalo de partos (IDP, N=1.066), fertilidade ao parto (FP, N=1.006) e número de cordeiros ao parto (NCP, N=3.593) de ovinos com partos ocorridos entre os anos de 1998 a 2005. A característica FP foi expressa na forma de fêmeas paridas em relação às fêmeas cobertas, sendo codificada como \"1\" se pariu e \"0\", caso contrário e NCP, representou o número de crias nascidas por ovelha parida, codificada como \"1\" (simples) e 2 (múltiplos). O modelo reprodutor apresentou a característica de superestimar as herdabilidades para as características reprodutivas em relação ao modelo animal. As estimativas de herdabilidades, obtidas por modelo animal linear, foram 0,12, 0,23 e 0,16 para NCP, FP e IDP, respectivamente. As estimativas de herdabilidades, obtidas por modelo animal de limiar, foram 0,16, 0,15 e 0,10 para NCP, FP e IDP, respectivamente. As estimativas das correlações genéticas pelo uso de modelo animal linear, foram 0,13 (entre NCP e FP) e -0,21 (entre NCP e IDP). Já as estimativas das correlações genéticas, quando utilizado modelo animal de limiar, foram 0,81 (entre NCP e FP) e -0,52 (entre NCP e IDP). As correlações entre os valores genéticos preditos para 258 reprodutores avaliados variaram de 0,4835 a 0,8561 entre os modelos reprodutor e animal obtidos por metodologia linear e de limiar. Este fato sugere a existência de alterações significativas nas classificações dos valores genéticos preditos dos reprodutores em função do tipo de modelo e da metodologia utilizada na avaliação genética. / The aims of this study were evaluated genetic parameters with sire and animal mixed models, to continuous and discreet reproductive traits, as well as predict sires breeding values to continuous and discreet reproductive traits in Santa Inês ewes breed. The traits analyzed in this study were lambing interval (LI, N = 1,066), fertility (FR, N = 1,006) and number of lambs born (NLB, N = 3,593) of ewes with birth occurred among 1998 to 2005. The FR trait was expressed in form of delivered females in respect to sheltered females, been codified as \"1\" delivered and \"0\" otherwise. The NLB trait represented the number of fully formed lambs born per ewe lambing, codified as \"1\" (simple) and \"2\" (multiples). The sire model showed super estimate comportment in respect to animal model for reproductive traits heritabilities. The estimates of heritability obtained by linear animal model were 0.12, 0.23 and 0.16 for NLB, FR and LI, respectively. The estimates of heritability obtained by threshold animal model were 0.16, 0.15 and 0.10 for NLB, FR and LI, respectively. The estimates of genetic correlations using linear animal model were 0.13 (between NLB and FR) and -0,21 (between NLB and LI). However, the estimates of genetics correlations using threshold animal model were 0.81 (between NLB and FR) and -0,52 (between NLB and LI). The Pearson correlations between predicted breeding values for 258 sires varying by 0.4835 to 0.8561 between sire and animal models obtained by linear and threshold methodology. This fact suggest the existence of significative changes on sires predicted breeding values classifications by virtue of model type and used methodology on genetic evaluation.

Orientador: Marcus Antônio Rossi Feliciano / Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar e descrever as características ultrassonográficas (modo B, Doppler e elastrográfica) de tecidos materno-fetais (pulmão, fígado, rins, placentônio e cérvix) em ovelhas gestantes de parto natural ou prematuro induzido; verificar diferenças de achados entre os tipos de parto e, correlacionar com os valores obtidos dos sinais específicos do parto e impedância do muco vaginal, visando predizer a proximidade do processo de parturição. Trinta ovelhas Santa Inês adultas foram selecionadas e divididas em dois grupos: Parto Normal-GPN (n=15); e Parto Prematuro Induzido-GPPI (n=15). Os animais foram avaliados a cada 12 horas até o momento da parturição (última semana gestacional), as ovelhas pertencentes ao GPN a partir do 143º dia de gestação e as do GPPI, a partir do 135º dia de gestação (dia correspondente à indução do parto com betametasona e antiprogestágeno aglepristona). Foram avaliadas as estruturas pulmonares, renais e hepática dos conceptos, placêntonio e cérvix, obtendo-se as caraterísticas ultrassonográficas convencional e Doppler (placentônio e artéria uterina), elastografia quantativa (velocidade de cisalhamento – m/s), além dos batimentos cardíacos fetais, impedância do muco vaginal e, presença de sinais específicos e comportamentais do parto (edema vulvar, isolamento, ingurgitamento de úbere e temperatura vulvar). O nível de significância utilizado foi de 5% (p < 0,05) para todos os testes estatísticos realizados. A temperatura vulvar média foi maior... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate and describe the ultrasonographic characteristics (B mode, Doppler and elastographic) of maternal-fetal tissues (lung, liver, kidneys, placentonium and cervix) in pregnant ewes with normal and induced preterm parturition; to verify differences of findings between the types of lambing and to correlate with the values obtained from specific signs of lambing and impedance of vaginal mucus, aiming to predict the proximity of the parturition process. Thirty adult Santa Inês sheep were selected and divided into two groups: Parturition at term-GPN (n=15); and Induced pre-term parturition-GPPI (n=15). The animals were evaluated every 12 hours until the moment of parturition (last gestational week), the ewes belonging to the GPN from the 143rd day of gestation and those of the GPPI from the 135th day of gestation (day corresponding to the induction of lambing with betamethasone and antiprogestin aglepristone). Pulmonary, renal and hepatic structures of the concepts,, placentonium and cervix were evaluated, obtaining the conventional ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound characteristics (placentonium and uterine artery), quantitative elastography (shear velocity - m / s), in addition to fetal heart rate, impedance of vaginal mucus and presence of specific and behavioral signs of lambing (vulvar edema, isolation, udder engorgement and vulvar temperature). The significance level used was 5% (p <0.05) for all statistical tests performed. Mean vulvar tempe... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor