Flow cytometry has been shown to be a more accurate and sensitive method than the Kleihauer-Betke test for the measurement of feto-maternal haemorrhage in Rh(D) incompatibility. This report describes the successful use of flow cytometry to detect and monitor the management of a massive transplacental haemorrhage (105 ml) of fetal Rh(D) positive cells in a Rh(D) negative woman. The report highlights the accuracy and reproducibility of the test and the stability of a blood sample when transferred 596 kilometres to a central testing facility.

Oestrous activity was monitored at two locations (Invermay in Otago and Woodlands in Southland) in ewe flocks of similar age structure, synchronised at the beginning of the breeding season each year for 5 years . After an 11 -day CIDR treatment, interval to oestrus, duration of oestrus, and ovulation rate were measured. Age of ewe affected the mean interval to oestrus (32.4-41.0 h), with 2-tooths commencing up to 10 h later than older ewes (P < 0.05). There was a significant location effect in 1992 when oestrus commenced 8.6 h later at Woodlands than at Invermay (41.0 versus 32.4 h; P < 0.05). Duration of oestrus differed significantly between some years (P < 0.05) at Woodlands but not at Invermay. There was also a difference between locations whereby Woodlands animals had a longer oestrus (23.4-34.2 h), by 7.4-17.5 h (P < 0.001), than those at Invermay (15.0-18.1 h). This difference did not occur in 1995, when both flocks were located at Woodlands. Mean ovulation rate (1.9-2.2) was not significantly a Corresponding author A96056 different either within or between locations. These data suggest that even in the same flock, age of ewe, year, and location may influence oestrous activity in ewes treated to manipulate the oestrous cycle at the beginning of the breeding season.

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Feeding 100% forage rape to sheep consistently lowers methane emissions per unit of intake (CH4/DMI) compared to those fed 100% ryegrass pasture. However, forage rape is usually supplemented with other feeds, which might impact the mitigation potential provided by forage rape. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of substituting ryegrass with graded levels of forage rape in the diet of lambs on methane emissions and rumen fermentation characteristics. Seventy wether lambs (n=14/treatment) were fed a ryegrass-based pasture substituted with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of forage rape (Brassica napus; FR0, FR25, FR50, FR75, FR100, respectively) on a dry matter basis. Methane emissions and dry matter intake were measured for 48 h in respiration chambers and a rumen fluid sample was collected. CH4/DMI decreased (P &lt; 0.01) with increasing forage rape inclusion in the diet, so that sheep fed FR100 and FR75 emitted 34 % and 11% less, respectively, than those fed FR0. CH4/DMI differences for lambs fed FR25 and FR50 were much smaller (&lt; 6%) relative to FR0. The pH of rumen fluid decreased (P &lt; 0.01) at higher levels of forage rape inclusion in the diet (FR75 and FR100) compared to low levels of inclusion (FR0, F25 and F50). The proportion of ruminal acetate was least in FR100 (30%) followed by FR75 (10%), FR50 (8%) and FR25 (4%) compared with FR0 (P &lt; 0.001). The proportion of propionate plus succinate was greater for FR100 (+40%), FR75 (+28%) and FR50 (+29%) compared with FR0, with FR25 intermediate (P &lt; 0.001). The methanol concentration, and ethanol and propanol proportions in rumen fluid were greater for FR100 compared with any other treatment (P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, CH4/DMI decreased at high levels of forage rape inclusion in the diet and especially feeding FR100 was associated with a pronounced shift in rumen fermentation profile, with significant presence of succinate, ethanol, propanol, methanol, valerate and caproate.