Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 065
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| Year | 1940 |
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118 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN SCOTLAND iN 1939. A split penis is a fairly frequent cause of sterility in male rabbits, and as it is especially common in Certain breeds and strains it is suggestive that a tendency for the condition is inherited as a recessive character. Breeding experiments are being undertaken to investigate this suggestion. The factors influencing the bright yellow shade found in the Tan and some other varieties of rabbits is now being studied, as also is the Silvering of Argentes and the Silver Breeds. Preliminary breeding has been satisfactory in regard to these two matters. TWO strains of rabbits have been fixed after several years’ selection, which show a marked degree of variation in the, duration of the inoulting period. These will now form a valuable material for the study of the inheritance of rapid or prolonged moulting periods. Other studies referred to in previous reports are being continued. A number of lectures have been given during the past year, and demonstrations of an educational and scientific nature have been arranged at several Conferences, as well as at the International Congress of Genetics. Close contact continues to be kept with the breeders through the British Rabbit Council, and personal attendance has been possible at a number of rabbit shows and meetings during the period under review. In addition to the usual large number of inquiries for advice of a scientific nature, since the outbreak of hostilities many hundreds of inquiries from potential rabbit- keepers have been dealt with. These have in all cases been supplied with as much assistance as possible, advice regarding the most suitable breeds and crosses being the most frequently desired information. ANIMAL DISEASES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. MOREDUN INSTITUTE, GILMERTON, MID-LOTHIAN. Louping-Ill.—During the past year there was carried out a large-scale field experiment for the purpose of testing the comparative efficiency of vaccine prepared from virus obtained by artificial culture in the laboratory and of that derived from sheep affected with the disease. It was found that the ‘new type’ vaccine is capable of affording a degree of protection equal to that of the ‘ old type.’ For the purpose of assessing the value of hyper-immune serum in the prevention of louping-ill in lambs an extensive controlled experiment was also carried out in the ’field. It was shown that by the use of hyper-immune serum the AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN SCOTLAND IN 1939. 119 mortality in young lambs could be markedly reduized. Tth serum is, however, expenswe and difficult to pfrmuceb‘g ih iarge scale; further experiments, therefore, irehnwfll be progress for the purpose of evolving a vaccinebw it at once safe and effective for use in young lam s. ' - —— x vaccine has been issued for several years asBaiaZLis/ingisemdoyse vaccine,’ and-continues to prove highg ffeetive as a means of controlling the disease. It 'shou fie noted, however, that on farms on which braxyti: pa; ticularly virulent the vaccination may With advan age repeated after an interval of fourteen days. White Scour in Calves—The investigations c$rried fag: during the past three years have afforded 'ev113 encetainin calves born from cows whose colostrum 1s deficieln in VleiVina A are predisposed to white Scour; whereas ca ves richle t3 colostrum rich in vitamin are relatively insuspepdi . fled the disease. There are now in progress experimen st esig A to test the effect of feeding. substances rich in v1 ammans, such as cod liver oil, grass s11age, and dried gras: as. In: in of maintaining in stall-fed cows a high level of VI amm i the colostrum. ic.—Since there has been obtained ev1dence that scriziipis due to an infective agent, an. experimental hirse; has been purchased and is being maintained for the purposf, of studying the cause and nature of the disease. Becausfi. o the prolonged incubative period of scrapie the investiga ion must be a lengthy one. ' —— has now been definitely established that in cefgéfi' diJsttricts pine can be both prevented and curedr by the administration of cobalt. There are now in progrtelss further experiments designed to determine whether the application to pasture of cobalt-rich manures W111. raise e cobalt content of the herbage and so prevent the disease. Pul i Kidne Disease in Lambs—Severe losses are each year fgperiencezzl from pulpy kidney disease. This Effecgloil attacks lambs during the first few weeks after bll‘t. aili its) due to a micro-organism closely related to that causmg amf dysentery. Experiments are.in progress for_the pulrpoie 1;) evolving a means of preventing the disease in the am y the vaccination of the pregnant ewe. ' ' — ' ' tion of 0'rass G 83 Swlmess m Horses. The investiga g sickiiiss continues to be one of the leading research problems. During 1939 the pasture from thirty ‘ affected. ’ fields was the |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 065 |
