Failure of Sheep X Goat Hybrid Foetuses to Survive in Goats Treated With Sheep's Blood

Abstract

The survival of sheep X goat hybrid foetuses in goats was adversely affected by twice-weekly intramuscular injections of 15 ml of sheep's blood into the mother. This procedure had been reported by others to result in the birth of living hybrids. High titres of anti-sheep haemolysins appeared in the maternal serum soon after the injection of blood, and it is suggested that these antibodies hastened foetal death. The maintenance of a low level of passive immunity in the maternal goat by injection of antisera appeared to delay foetal death.