A pedigree file of 4,628 records of Muzaffarnagari sheep, maintained at Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Makhdoom, was used to calculate the inbreeding coefficient of the flock. The flock had been closed for about 25 years (1978 to 2002). The investigation was aimed to study the effects of inbreeding on survivability of lambs. The cumulative survivability of lambs i.e., lambs survived up to 3, 7 and 15 days, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after birth was considered for the study. The average level of inbreeding of lambs was 1.60%, ranging from 0 to 26.4%. The average inbreeding coefficient of dam over the periods was 1.00% and it ranged from 0 to 25.0%. Significant (p<0.05) adverse effect of lamb's inbreeding was observed on survivability of lambs at all ages except up to 3 and 7 days after birth. On an average, 1% increase in individual inbreeding coefficient should reduce the 0.31, 0.34, 0.32, 0.31, 0.33, 0.44 and 0.49 percent lamb survival up to the age of 15 day and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Ewes inbreeding had non-significant effects on lamb survival at all ages.

A pedigree file of 4,738 records of a purebred flock of Muzaffarnagari sheep, maintained at Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Makhdoom, for a period of 24 years (1978 to 2001) was used to calculate inbreeding coefficients. The lamb traits studied were birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months weights as well as 6 and 12 months fleece yields. The lambs' and ewes' inbreeding coefficients ranged from 0 to 26.4% and 0 to 25%, respectively. The average inbreeding coefficient of lambs was higher than that of ewes in all periods as expected in a closed flock. Fluctuations in lamb and ewe inbreeding were observed in the periods under study. The percentages of animals in the higher inbred categories varied somewhat but generally were relatively constant. The mean rate of inbreeding was 0.63% per generation. The effective population size of the flock was 79.1. On average, an increase of 1% individual inbreeding significantly (p<0.05) reduced weights at birth by 0.010 kg, at 3 month by 0.048 kg, at 6 month by 0.075 kg, at 9 month by 0.129 kg and at 12 month by 0.112 kg. Ewes' inbreeding had non-significant effects on body weight at all ages. Effects of both lambs' and ewes' inbreeding had negative but non-significant effects on fleece weights at 6 and 12 months of age. Thus, inbreeding depression in lambs significantly reduced body weights from birth to 12 months of age but had a negligible effect on fleece yields.

The purpose of this work is to at first give a general overview of the state-of-the-art transportation system in India, outlining the related energy consumption for different modes of transport; trains, light trucks, heavy trucks, buses, three wheelers, two wheelers, cars and jeeps, with their consequent estimated emissions.These elements are essential for the preparation of high-level strategic transport planning for the issue of energy as a whole, to help India make the right choices for the most suitable transportation systems. A relevant consideration at the base of this work is the high urbanization and motorization level in Indian metropolises in the last years. In order to provide an appropriate analysis on energy consumption, that is fully satisfactory from a methodological viewpoint and related to all transport systems, the well-to-wheel WTW index was adopted, taking into account that, especially in the urban context, that shorter journeys would easily be addressed by electric traction, while this is not taken for granted at all, according to the overall energy chain consumption and specific considerations on energy available in India when compared to Europe, which are included.Pursuing a WTW global index for India, that takes into account both the energy and environmental aspects on a uniform basis, is an important aim. It allows the best choices to be made as well as enabling the comparison between some of the most important means of transport, powertrain and fuel options on the Indian market, mainly the urban one. In this paper we ascertain the quantity of energy consumed and the pollutants emitted by the different transportation modes (road, rail, air) carrying freight between Delhi and Mumbai, the two metropolitan cities of India.

Three breeds of sheep, Brazilian Somali, Morada Nova and Santa Inês which are indigenous to hot tropical semi-arid north-east Brazil were studied for their early growth. There were large breed differences in size at birth, at the 86th day and at 6 months. The Santa Inês was the largest and the Brazilian Somali the smallest. The type of birth (single vs. multiple) had a profound effect on weight at virtually all stages of growth which was similar for male and female lambs. Sex effects tended to become significant at around the 86th day, female lambs slightly outweighing males but marked sex differences appeared around 6 months when males outweighed females. The 7-day variation in age of lambs when the weights were taken around the 15th day had a marked effect on weight and correction for age would be necessary in future studies. However, the 7-day variation in age around the 86th day and thereafter did not affect the weights. The birth weight and weights at the 15th, 86th and 112 days and at 6 months were significantly correlated.