bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The intakes and growth rates of grazing border Leicester × Merino lambs weaned at 21, 49 and 77 days
Authors: Langlands J. P. , Donald G. E.
Published: September 2010

Weaning increased forage intake and depressed live weight; differences in intakes and growth rates of lambs born to South Australian and Fine wool Merinos were small. At 21 days, sucking lambs received less than 2% of their digestible organic matter from pasture and half the lambs weaned at this age died but the survivors consumed twice as much forage as unweaned sheep in the 14 days following weaning. At 49 days, unweaned lambs obtained approximately 41% of their digestible organic matter from pasture, and weaning resulted in less mortality and a proportionally smaller increase in forage consumption.
Evaluation of performance at slaughter of twenty combinations of three-breed crosses of pigs
Authors: Fahmy M. H. , Holtmann W. B. , MacIntyre T. M.
Published: September 2010

Two castrated male pigs from each of 620 litters were fed ad libitum to 90 kg market weight at three stations. The pigs represented 20 three-breed crosses produced by mating Yorkshire, Landrace, Lacombe, Hampshire and Duroc sires to Landrace-Yorkshire, Hampshire-Landrace, Large Black-Lacombe, Large Black-Landrace, Duroc-Lacombe and Duroc-Yorkshire dams. The data on feed conversion, average daily gain, age at slaughter, backfat thickness and area of loin eye muscle were analysed by least-squares.

Within breed cross of dam, pigs sired by Hampshire were consistently superior in feed conversion, carcass quality and in 3 crosses out of 5 had the fastest growth rate during the fattening period. They were, however, the oldest at 90 kg live weight. Pigs sired by Duroc ranked second in carcass quality and growth rate, whereas those sired by Landrace had the slowest growth rate. The pigs produced by Hampshire-Landrace sows were superior in carcass quality but inferior in feed conversion and growth to those from sows of the other five crosses.

In descending order, the four highest ranking crosses based on an index combining average daily gain, backfat thickness and feed efficiency were Hampshire × (Landrace-Yorkshire), Hampshire × (Duroc-Lacombe), Duroc × (Landrace-Yorkshire) and Hampshire × (Large Black-Landrace).
A note on teat order and metabolic rate in piglets up to 57 days old
Authors: Meese G. B.
Published: September 2010

An investigation was carried out to determine whether teat order has any effect on metabolic rate in young pigs as determined by oxygen consumption in the thermoneutral zone. A total of six sows and their litters was examined. Metabolic rate was determined at 1 day old and thereafter at 7-day intervals up to 57 days of age. Teat order was determined by regular observations of the piglets suckling. There was considerable variation in metabolic rate both within and between litters but there was no detectable effect of teat order on metabolic rate expressed as ml O2/W0·75 per min.
A note on the pattern of concentrate feeding to ewes in late pregnancy
Authors: Rutter W. , Broadbent P. J. , Laird T. R.
Published: September 2010

Eighty pregnant ewes were housed in December in each of 2 yr approximately 14 weeks before lambing and offered grass silage. Four nutritional regimes were imposed during the final 7 weeks of pregnancy. They were (a) no concentrates given, and three other treatments each aiming to provide 25 kg concentrates on (b) a weekly ascending scale, (c) a level scale, or (d) a weekly descending scale. Concentrate feeding caused the anticipated improvement in performance particularly with respect to ewe live-weight loss and the live weight of multiple litters, but pattern of concentrate feeding appeared to have no significant effect on any performance parameter. It is concluded that a level pattern of concentrate feeding would be simpler and provide a more even distribution of feed among housed pregnant ewes, which vary in expected date of lambing, than the currently recommended ascending pattern of concentrate feeding.
A note on immunoglobulin concentrations in Scottish Blackface lambs born to 1- or 2-yr-old ewes
Authors: Halliday R.
Published: September 2010

The concentrations of maternal immunoglobulin in 2-day-old lambs born to Scottish Blackface ewes which had been mated when 6 to 7 mo old were significantly lower than in lambs born to these ewes a year later. But the mortality rates were almost identical. The concentrations in lambs born to the same ewes in successive years were significantly more highly correlated than the concentrations in lambs born to older females in successive years, examined in a previous study.
The effect of nutrient density of the diet and of a change in nutrient density on the performance of pigs fed ad libitum for bacon
Authors: Patterson D. C.
Published: September 2010

A total of 56 individually-penned pigs, with equal numbers of boars and gilts, were fed ad libitum in an investigation of the effects of nutrient density in growing (17 to 35 kg) and finishing (35 to 82 kg) periods.

Diets of high (H) and medium (M) nutrient density, with 13·8 or 12·6 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg and 10·0 or 9·1 g lysine per kg, were used.

In the growing period, diet H proportionately increased the rates of DE intake and live-weight gain by 0·17 (P < 0·001) and 0·24 (P < 0·001) respectively. While the nutrient density of the diets given in the growing period did not significantly affect the mean performance over the finishing period, carry-over effects were observed for about 4 weeks following the change with evidence of compensation in energy intake.

In the finishing period, diet H proportionately increased the rates of consumption of DE and live-weight gain by 0·06 (P < 0·05) and 0·04 (P = 0·18) respectively. The consumption of energy was virtually identical for the two sexes.

It is concluded that the change in nutrient density had only transitory effects on energy intake and growth rate and did not affect overall performance in the finishing period.
Effects of omitting lysine from diets conforming to Agricultural Research Council (1981) standards for pigs
Authors: Fuller M. F. , Cadenhead A. , Pennie K.
Published: September 2010

Eight diets based on barley and soya bean meal were formulated. Two basal diets, one of which included fish meal, were formulated to conform to the recommendations of the Agricultural Research Council (1981) for all amino acids except lysine. Four further diets were made by adding L-lysine to these diets, in two increments; the highest concentrations of lysine were also supplied in two further diets by the inclusion of a higher proportion of soya bean meal. Each diet was given ad libitum to 10 growing pigs, five castrated males and five females, which were housed and fed individually.

Measurements of performance were made over the weight range 22 to 55 kg. Carcasses were appraised after slaughter at a mean weight of 75 kg.

Addition of lysine, but not of soya bean meal, significantly increased daily food intake and carcass fatness. Daily growth and food conversion efficiency were not significantly affected. Because of the high food intake the daily lysine intakes on the basal diets greatly exceeded the suggested daily requirement and the results indicate that in such circumstances the response to the amino acid supplementation of an apparently inadequate protein may be negligible.
Cumulative selection differentials and realized heritabilities
Authors: Thompson R. , Juga J.
Published: September 2010

Two alternative ways of estimating cumulative selection differentials are compared. An alternative method is developed that includes the advantages of both methods. This alternative method is shown to give rise to less biased estimates of realized heritability
The effect of method of breeding on reproductive performance in indigenous goats (Capra prisca) mated at the beginning of the breeding season
Authors: Zygoyiannis D. , Katsaounis N. , Karatzas G.
Published: September 2010

Ninety-nine indigenous Greek goats (Capra prisca) on natural pasture were used to study reproductive performance as affected by method of breeding. At the beginning of the breeding season oestrus was induced with 45 mg fluorogestone acetate-impregnated vaginal sponges and 300 to 500 i.u. PMSG, given on day 15. The animals were separated into groups of 33 for mating: (i) by natural service (natural mating); (2) by artificial insemination with fresh semen (AI fresh); and (3) by insemination with frozen semen (AI frozen). Alpine bucks and Alpine semen were used for natural mating and AI of does.

No effect of method of breeding was found on gestation length and sex ratio. Reproductive performance was significantly affected by method of breeding; at 21 days after insemination, fertility of does bred with fresh semen (69·7%) was comparable with that obtained with natural mating (72·7%) but the fertility of does bred with frozen semen (48·5%) was much lower. This difference was statistically significant at kidding (P < 0·05). Litter size was 2·14 and 1·86 (P < 0·05) for the AI fresh and AI frozen groups, respectively, and was 1·96 for the natural mating group. More multiple litters were obtained with the AI fresh group (P < 0·05). It is concluded that, induction and synchronization of oestrus and ovulation at the beginning of the breeding season gave reproductive performance with fresh semen comparable to that obtained with natural service, but use of frozen semen gave unsatisfactory results.
Effect of growth rate on mineral retention and body composition of growing lambs
Authors: Wan Zahari M. , Thompson J. K. , Scott D. , Topps J. H. , Buchan W. , Pennie K.
Published: September 2010

Groups of wether lambs were grown at different rates from about 24 kg live weight to 50 kg, by feeding them different amounts of the same concentrate diet. The slow growing lambs had higher contents of protein, ash, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), and less fat and magnesium (Mg) than other groups. Differences in composition were significant between slow (120 g/day) and fast growth (230 g/day; P < 0-05) but not always between intermediate (160 g/day) and other growth rates. The differences became small and insignificant when data were expressed on a fat-free basis except for Mg which decreased with slow growth. Ash, for example, increased from 47 g/kg fat-free gain with fast growing animals to 54 g/kg with slow growth. Mg decreased from 0·44 g/kg fat-free gain with fast growth to 0·24 g/kg with slow growth. The data support the view that the ratio of ash to fat-free empty-body increases only slightly with age.

The basic diet contained 3·9 g Ca per kg dry matter and the effect of a substantial supplement of calcium carbonate on lambs growing at the fast rate was to increase their retentions of ash, Ca and P by a factor greater than 1·25. There are alternative explanations for this finding. One possibility is that the availability of Ca in the basic diet had been reduced by unknown factors. It is also possible that the supplementary carbonate altered the acid/base status of the animals and resulted in conditions which favoured skeletal mineralization.
A note on the effect of feeding regime on the performance of sows housed in a novel group-housing system
Authors: Petherick J. Carol , Blackshaw Judith K.
Published: September 2010

The effects on sow reproductive performance of three feeding regimes (ration (R), ad libitum (A) and ration + straw (R + S)), in conjunction with partial barriers placed along the food trough, were investigated. Three groups of four sows were put on the regimes, in a group-housing system, over three consecutive gestations. Each trial lasted 13 days and took place during the first half of the gestation period. Sows on A ate about three times the amount of food that was allocated to them on R and R + S (2 kg per sow per day). Feeding regime did not affect any of the measures of reproductive performance (numbers of piglets liveborn, stillborn, weaned, birth and weaning weights). Sows of parity 7 and over had significantly fewer liveborn and more stillborn piglets compared with parities 2 to 6 (P < 0·05). It is probable that no adverse effects of the feeding regimes were found due to the short time that the sows were on them and because multiparous animals were used. It is suggested that the welfare of ration-fed sows, whose appetite is not satiated, is jeopardized and that this problem may be solved by the provision of fibrous foodstuffs.
The effect of chlortetracycline on growth of early-weaned calves
Authors: Preston T. R. , McLeod N. A. , Dinda P. K.
Published: September 2010

1. Twenty-eight calves fed reconstituted buttermilk for 20 days and then concentrates, hay and water were allocated to 4 treatments consisting of the addition of chlortetracycline to both the buttermilk and the concentrate mixture, to the buttermilk alone, to the concentrates alone, or to neither.

2. Live-weight gains from 3 to 28 days and the incidence of scouring were not affected significantly by any of the treatments.

3. The addition of chlortetracycline to the concentrate mixture increased significantly: (a) rate of live-weight gain from 28 to 56 days and from 56 o t 84 days: (b) skeletal growth from 3 to 84 days: (c) the consumption of concentrates from 14 to 56 and from 14 to 84 days; and (d) the concentrate conversion rate.

4. The addition of chlortetracycline to the buttermilk had no significant effect on any of the above measurements neither did it make any significant difference to the effect of adding chlortetracycline to the concentrate mixture.

5. There was a direct relationship between quantity of concentrates consumed on the one hand, and rate of live-weight gain and efficiency of conversion of the concentrate, on the other. None of the treatment effects was significant after the data were corrected for differences in the quantities of concentrates consumed.

6. From the results of this experiment and from evidence in the literature it is postulated that one of the effects of feeding antibiotics to calves is to reduce the fermentative activity of rumen bacteria and consequently the amount of gas produced in the rumen, the net result being that the antibiotic-fed animal eats more food and hence grows more quickly.
A note on the effect of level of husbandry at lambing on lamb viability and subsequent performance
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Fraser J.
Published: September 2010

Three trials involving 68 Greyface and 31 Dorset Horn ewes were carried out to investigate the effect of intensity of husbandry at lambing time on the viability and subsequent performance of lambs. The results showed that the level of husbandry at lambing could have a large effect on the quantity of immune globulin absorbed by lambs. There was an indication that the quantity of immune globulin absorbed was related to the susceptibility of lambs to neonatal disease. A low level of husbandry at lambing appeared to have increased lamb mortality.
Pelleted dried grass and rolled barley diets for lactating dairy cows
Authors: Khalifa H. A. A. , Prescott J. H. D. , Armstrong D. G.
Published: September 2010

1. Pelleted grass and a concentrate containing 90% rolled barley and 10% soya bean meal were offered to cows in three combinations, 25: 75, 50: 50 and 75: 25 respectively, together with a constant low level of coarse roughage.

2. The experiment was carried out in two stages, in early lactation as a randomized block design involving 18 Jersey cows fed to appetite and in mid-lactation as a 3 × 3 Latin square change-over design involving 12 cows, rationed according to milk yield.

3. There were no significant between-treatment differences in either milk yield or milk fat content in either stage of the experiment.
An evaluation of performance-testing of rams using artificial rearing
Authors: Owen J. B. , Brook Lesley E. , Read J. L. , Steane D. E. , Hill W. G.
Published: September 2010

In two trials, male Suffolk sheep were weaned at birth and reared artificially. Animals were ranked on weight at about 90 days and groups comprising the fastest- and slowest-growing animals were selected. The selected rams were subsequently progeny-tested to the same age, with some progeny reared with their dams in normal field conditions and others reared artificially.

In Trial I, performance tests were obtained on 35 rams and progeny tests of seven of these (three low and four high), with records on 34 artificially reared and 144 naturally reared progeny on one farm. The regressions of progeny on sire 90-day weight were 0·29 ± 0·12 and 0·19±0·09, respectively.

In Trial II, performance tests were obtained on 86 rams, sampled from five source flocks. Rams were selected in pairs of high and low performance from each source, and both members of the pair sent to the same one of seven farms for progeny testing. Ten pairs had progeny tests, comprising 62 artificially reared and 567 naturally reared progeny. The regressions of progeny on sire weight were, respectively, 0·05 ± 0·06 and 0·13 ± 0·03 if source of sire was fitted in the model, and little different, 0·06 ±0·05 and 0·14 ± 0·03 if source of sire was ignored. Progeny from a 2nd year from some sires in Trial II gave rather smaller regression coefficients: 0·06 or 0·09, with source of sire fitted or ignored, respectively.

Taking the two main trials together the pooled estimates (ignoring source of sire) of doubled progeny-on-sire regression for 90-day weight were 0·20 ± 0·10 for artificial rearing (a heritability estimate) and 0·30 ± 0·06 for natural rearing. These results suggest that early weaning is an effective method of selecting sires for growth rate.
A note on the effect of management unit on litter size of crossbred British Saddleback pigs
Authors: Morton J. R.
Published: September 2010

Analysis of data from British Saddleback females mated to Landrace males on 18 multiplying units for a commercial breeding company shows that the important herd effects known to affect litter size in pigs are truly environmental in origin.
Comparative methods for inducing and measuring non-shivering thermogenesis in newborn lambs
Authors: Slee J. , Simpson S. P. , Wilson S. B.
Published: September 2010

Thirty-one newborn lambs were allocated to four treatments involving subcutaneous or slowly administered intravenous injections of noradrenaline (a natural predominantly a-agonist) or isoprenaline (a synthetic pure ($-agonist). The thermogenic effect of these treatments, attributed to brown adipose tissue, was assessed by changes in metabolic rate and rectal temperature. The objective was to define the optimum treatment for studying genetic variation between lambs in the thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue. After all treatments, metabolic rate increased significantly by about 7 W/kg to a peak averaging 2·3 times the resting metabolic rate. Rectal temperature increased significantly by about 1°C. Both drugs administered at 150 [ig/kg were similar in potency with noradrenaline producing slightly, but not significantly, greater responses; subcutaneous injections gave significantly larger and more prolonged responses than intravenous injections. Subcutaneous isoprenaline produced the longest sustained response with peak metabolism difficult to define. Subcutaneous noradrenaline injections provided the simplest satisfactory treatment for large scale experiments.
Effect of shearing and level of concentrate feeding on the performance of finishing lambs
Authors: Black H. J. , Chestnutt D. M. B.
Published: September 2010

The response of finishing Blackface lambs (mean initial live weight 29·6 kg) to shearing and level of concentrate supplementation on a silage-based diet was examined in two experiments. Silage intake decreased as concentrate level increased at mean rate of 0·13 and 0·26 g silage dry matter (DM) per g concentrate DM, in experiments 1 and 2 respectively, with no significant differences between unshorn and shorn lambs. Lambs gained 36, 97, 135, 193 and 224 g/day (s.e. 9·1; P < 0·001) in experiment 1 and 97,133,170,185 and 222 g/day (s.e. 9·9; P < 0·001) in experiment 2 when 0, 200, 400, 600 g/day and concentrate ad libitum were offered respectively. Shearing increased silage DM intake from a mean of 0·50 to 0·56 kg/day (s.e. 0·016; P < 0·05) in experiment 1, and from 0·80 to 0·90 kg/day (s.e. 0·013; P < 0·001) in experiment 2. There was no interaction between shearing and the level of concentrate offered. Despite higher DM intakes by shorn lambs, their live-weight gains were lower than those of unshorn lambs. Gains of unshorn and shorn lambs averaged 153 and 120 g/day (s.e. 5·8; P < 0·001) in experiment 1 and 162 and 161 g/day (s.e. 5·7; P > 0·05) in experiment 2 respectively. This appears to have resulted because shorn lambs could not fully compensate for their increased energy requirements after shearing, by increasing their DM intake. Shearing did not significantly influence carcass characteristics.

It was calculated that with lambs gaining 150 g/day, concentrate requirement was increased from 286 to 335 g/day and total DM intake from 965 to 1107 g/day as a result of shearing.
The effect of pattern of food supply on performance, compensatory growth and carcass composition of Beulah and Welsh Mountain lambs
Authors: Iason G. R. , Mantecon A. R. , Milne J. A. , Sim D. A. , Smith A. D. M. , White I. R.
Published: September 2010

Seventy-eight Beulah (BH) and 78 Welsh Mountain (WM) wether lambs (mature live weights (MLW) 60 and 70 kg respectively), were used to investigate genotypic differences in performance and compensatory growth during the post-weaning period. After an initial slaughter of 12 of each breed, a complete straw-based pelleted diet (122 g crude protein and 10·4 Mj metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM)) was offered ad libitum to a further 29 of each which were slaughtered at a range of live weights between proportionately 0·35 andl -00 of ML W. As well as these groups undergoing normal growth (NG), the remaining lambs were given the same diet at a level sufficient to maintain constant live weight (LW) for 3 months. Eight of each breed were then slaughtered and the remaining 29 of each offered the diet ad libitum for a period of post-restricted growth (PRG); these 29 were also slaughtered between 0·35 and 1·00 of MLW. During the periods of ad libitum food supply, voluntary food intake was greater in BH than WM lambs (BH: 38·3, WM: 35·3 g DM per kg LW, P < 0·01) and during PRG as compared with NG although this result was due to a response only in WM lambs (NG - BH: 38·0, PRG-BH: 38·5, NG - WM: 33·3, PRG - WM: 37·2 g DM per kg LW, breed × pattern of food supply interaction, P < 0·05). Daily live-weight gain (LWG) was greater during PRG than NG in both breeds (NG: 3·15, PRG: 4·80 g/kg LWper day, P < 0·05). This effect was greatest in the first 8 weeks of growth but persisted into the period 16 weeks to maturity. WM lambs had overall slightly leaner carcasses and a lower proportion of protein in the fleece-free empty body than BH when compared at the same proportion of MLW; particularly during PRG. The protein in the carcass-weight gain (CWG) was greater in WM lambs during PRG than during NG (NG: 98, PRG: 123 g/kg, P < 0·05), but did not differ significantly in BH (NG: 106, PRG: 118 g/kg). The proportion of fat in CWG was concomitantly smaller during PRG. There are thus breed differences in the performance and carcass composition of lambs during compensatory growth. Genotypes to be finished by continuous feeding or a regimen incorporating food restriction should be carefully chosen for date offinishing in relation to desired carcass composition.
A note on the feeding value of Persian clover grazed by dairy cows in mid lactation
Authors: Stockdale C. R.
Published: September 2010

An experiment was carried out for 4 weeks in early spring with 20 Friesian cows in their 6th month of lactation. Treatments were associated with grazing intensity of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) such that daily pasture intakes ranged from 10·0 to 19·5 kg dry matter (DM) per cow. The marginal return to extra feeding obtained over the whole range of grazing treatments averaged only 0·4 kg milk for each additional kg DM of Persian clover eaten. This was very low considering the quality of the diet on offer (0·73 digestibility in vitro). It is suggested that a leaf fungal disease may have been implicated; this is discussed.
Rearing twin and triplet lambs on the ewe
Authors: Gallo C. B. , Davies D. A. R.
Published: September 2010

The performance of 32 Cambridge (C) and Suffolk × Cambridge (S × C) twin and triplet rearing ewes and their progeny was investigated from lambing until the lambs reached slaughter weight. The ewes and lambs were housed and penned in individual family groups until 35 days after lambing. From 7 to 35 days the effect of rearing type was studied in combination with feeding the ewes a complete diet containing either 250 (diet 250) or 400 (diet 400) g milled hay per kg. After 35 days ewes and lambs grazed pasture. Ewes suckling triplets produced slightly more milk at 20 days 4·3 v. 4·1 (s.e.d. 0·20) kg/day and significantly more at 30 days 4·1 v. 3·7 (s.e.d. 0·18) kg/day, but consumed similar amounts of dry matter (3·9 kg/day) and so tended to lose more body condition. The latter was also a feature of ewes given diet 400 which produced similar milk yields but had lower complete diet intakes than those on diet 250. S × C had higher yields than C ewes.

Triplet lambs grew faster than twins 361 v. 290 (s.e.d. 9·0) g/day to 35 days but during the outdoor period triplet males but not females grew as fast as their twin counterparts 337 v. 317 for males and 269 v. 302 for females (s.e.d. 12·7) g/day. A selection of male twin and triplet lambs was slaughtered within the range 39 to 42 kg when 102 and 105 days old respectively. Triplet lambs had a lower killing-out proportion 0·458 v. 0·477 (s.e.d. 0·0085) and hence carcass weight but all carcasses qualified for Meat and Livestock Commission certification.
Effects of fish-meal supplementation and shearing in store/finishing systems for lambs
Authors: Vipond J. E. , FitzSimons J. , Robb J. , Horgan G.
Published: September 2010

Development of new systems of lamb finishing for the late winter/spring market involving an extended housed store period on a predominantly straw diet are constrained by unacceptable reduction in muscle mass arising from inadequate protein supply during dietary adaptation from grass to straw. Problems with subsequent finishing on forage brassicas fedin situ arise from carcass contamination due to soiled wool of crossbred lambs which grow long fleeces over the extended store I finishing period. In order to study the effect of fish-meal supplementation on dietary change over from grass to straw 116 Mule wether lambs were allocated to four treatments, three of which received a supplement of 100 glday fish meal for 28 days from housing and introduction of a diet of straw ad libitum and 225 glday grain distillers' dark grains, the fourth group received no fish meal and was unshorn (No F/US). Shearing treatments of shorn (F/S), unshorn (F/US) and crutched (F/C) were applied to fish-meal supplemented group's. After 112 days, the housed lambs were grazed outside on swedes (Brassica napus) and effects of treatments on performance and bacterial contamination of carcasses (shearing treatments only) were studied. Fish-meal supplementation significantly reduced weight loss on dietary change by 2·2 kg after 45 days (P< 0·001). Of fishmeal supplemented lambs 83% eventually ‘finished’ (defined as Meat and Livestock Commission fat class 3LI3H) v. 34% of unsupplemented lambs. Shearing or crutching had little effect on store or finishing performance indicating adequate fleece regrowth for insulation purposes after turn-out. Shorn and crutched lambs had lower levels of bacterial carcass contamination with reductions of 0·06, 0·42 and 0·40 in counts for colony forming units per cm2, coliforms and Escherichia coli on leg sites (P < 0·05). Economic evaluation indicated financial advantage from fish-meal supplementation with an increase in margin over food costs of €3·50 as a result of heavier carcass weight and a reduced need for remedial concentrate feeding in the store period.
A growth model to estimate economic values for food intake capacity in pigs
Authors: de Vries A. G. , Kanis E.
Published: September 2010

A biological growth model was developed to study economic values for averagead libitumfood intake capacity (FIC) in growing pigs. The model was based on the linear/plateau relationship between protein deposition and food intake. Input variables were: minimum fat to protein deposition ratio (R), maximum protein deposition rate (Pdmax)and food intake (FI). Output variables were production traits and production costs.

Economic values (under commercial conditions withad libitumfeeding) were derived with the growth model for each of the traits FIC, R, and Pdmax keeping the other two traits constant, for three alternative levels of FIC. If FIC was too low to realize Pdmax, FIC had a positive economic value, R had a negative economic value and the value of Pdmaxwas zero. If FIC was higher than necessary to realize Pdmax, economic values were negative, zero and positive for FIC, R, and Pdmaxrespectively. If FIC was just sufficient to realise Pdmax, the lowest production costs occurred. Now, R had a negative economic value and Pdmax had a positive economic value.

With a restricted feeding regimen under commercial conditions a daily food supply just sufficient to realize Pdmaxshould be pursued. It was concluded that use of a biological growth model to estimate economic values for FIC would give more insight into correct selection strategies than would the use of an economic model.
Use of two vegetable by-products as protein sources in rainbow trout feeding
Authors: Moyano F. J. , Cardenete G. , de la Higuera M.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were designed to test the possibility of partially replacing fish-meal protein in rainbow trout either with maize-gluten meal (MGM) (experiment 1) or potato protein concentrate (PPC) (experiment 2). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 30 g initial average weight were given diets containing different levels of MGM or PPC proteins ranging from 0 to 0·4 or to 0·6 of dietary protein, respectively. Substitutions of fish meal either by MGM or PPC were carried out establishing two different total dietary protein levels; 350 and 450 g/kg. Results showed that the MGM diets were acceptable and gave a significant enhancement (over 0·37 in the better case) in nutrient utilization when compared with those including only fish meal. On the contrary, diets including PPC were poorly accepted, and the growth offish and nutrient utilization were negatively correlated with dietary levels of PPC. It is concluded that levels of MGM representing around 400 g/kg diet can be used in foods for rainbow trout, whereas PPC appears not to be a suitable protein source for those fish.
Transferrin polymorphism of indigenous cattle in Rhodesia and Zambia
Authors: Carr W. R. , Condy J. B. , Burrows P. M.
Published: September 2010

1. Two-thousand and sixty serum samples from indigenous cattle in Central Africa were examined for serum transferrin type. The breeds studied were Manguni, Mashona, Tuli, Angoni and Afrikander.

2. The variation in gene frequencies from breed to breed is presented. With the exception of one Angoni herd, the remaining herds fall into distinct breed groups.

3. The Mendelian hypothesis was tested on eight herds including at least one herd of each breed. With two exceptions good agreement with this hypothesis was obtained. The two exceptions were traced to two bulls, a Mashona (TfB/TfD) and a Tuli (TfD/TfF), both of which contributed TfD to their progeny at a rate in excess of Mendelian expectation.

4. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium hypothesis was tested for thirteen herds and good agreement was obtained in all cases.

5. In Angoni cattle no evidence was found to reject the hypothesis of independent segregation at the haemoglobin and transferrin loci.
The effect of Norbolethone, an anabolic steroid, on the performance and body composition of castrate pigs
Authors: Robinson D. W. , Singleton A. G.
Published: September 2010

1. An experiment was carried out with 24 individually fed castrated male, Large White pigs, to examine the effects upon growth and body composition of an anabolic steroid included in finishing diets of two protein levels.

2. There was a significant interaction between steroid and dietary protein level on the growth rate and food conversion efficiency. On the low protein diet growth rate and efficiency were improved by steroid treatment while with high protein intake the steroid significantly depressed growth. Analysis of the main effects showed no significant differences between steroid and protein means for food conversion efficiency and no significant difference between protein means for growth. There was a significant difference (P<0·05) for rate of growth in favour of the animals not receiving the steroid.

3. Steroid significantly improved the percentage of lean and the eye muscle area, but decreased the length of pigs. High protein feeding also improved the percentage of lean and the eye muscle area and also increased the length.

4. The results are discussed in relation to the use of steroids in other species, optimum time of application and the problem of ascertaining accurate physiological doses.
Conversion of energy and the chemical composition of gain in bacon pigs
Authors: Kielanowski Jan
Published: September 2010

Relationships between the intake of energy and the rate of gain on the one hand, and the chemical composition of gain on the other were studied in bacon pigs, assuming that: (1) the only important determinants of the energy balance are the expenditures of energy in maintenance, in protein deposition and in fat deposition; (2) the net energy cost of fat or of protein deposition remains constant in pigs of all ages and live-weights, whatever the level of nutrition; (3) the average maintenance requirements of pigs growing over the same live-weight range and kept under similar conditions are constant, irrespective of their daily gains; (4) the ratio of non-fat components to protein in the gains of pigs over a similar live-weight range is virtually constant. Deductions based on these assumptions enabled the expression of the feed conversion ratio as a function of the average daily protein deposition, the average daily maintenance requirements and the average daily intake of energy to be made. The dependence of the feed conversion ratio on each of these three factors was demonstrated.

After the substitution of plausible values for the energy costs of protein and of fat deposition, as well as for the average maintenance requirements, equations were derived for the estimation of the content of protein and of fat in the live-weight gain, when the total feed consumption and the number of days on test (20 to 90 kg.) were known. Using these equations, the average gain of fat and of protein in each year were estimated for the Danish Progeny Testing Stations during the period from 1926–7 to 1962–3. It was found that the decrease of the feed conversion ratio and consequent reduction in fat deposition which were achieved during this period, were accounted for mainly by an increase in daily protein deposition.
A note on hill ewe mortality
Authors: Gunn R. G.
Published: September 2010

There is little published information on the seasonal distribution of ewe mortality in hill flocks. This note presents records relating to some 1,500 Blackface and 1,000 Cheviot breeding ewes on three hill farms over a 10-year period from 1955 to 1965. The farms are Sourhope, Roxburghshire, in the Cheviot Hills, with 1,000 Cheviot and 350 Blackface ewes on predominantly Festuca-Agrostis, Nardus and Molinia pastures, subject to intermittent snow cover; Glensaugh in the East Grampians in Kincardineshire, with 550 Blackface ewes on predominantly heather (Calluna) pasture on free draining ground, subject to prolonged periods of snow which necessitate regular supplementary feeding; Lephinmore on Loch Fyne in Argyll, with over 600 Blackface ewes on mixed pastures mostly overlying peat, not liable to prolonged periods of snow. Further details are given in the H.F.R.O. report (1958).
A comparison of ‘on-farm’ and station testing in pigs
Authors: Bampton P. R. , Curran M. K. , Kempson R. E.
Published: September 2010

Data from 14 074 gilts, performance-tested on 66 farms, were matched with those from 3835 station-tested boar sibs, the whole comprising progeny test results on 456 sires. Both groups of data were adjusted independently for effect of month of test and the farm data further adjusted to a constant weight of 91 kg. Analysis of variance and covariance was carried out within herds using weighted sire progeny means. Phenotypic correlations between the same traits recorded ‘on-farm’ and in station, ranged from 0·12* (weight/age) to 0·25** (‘C’ + ‘K’ fat depth) while genetic correlations, computed using the estimated accuracy of each test, ranged from 0·23* (weight/age) to 0·49** (simple performance test index). Correlations were generally higher in Large White than in Landrace pigs.
Anhydrous ammonia-treated whole-crop barley for beef steers
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Macdearmid A. , Innes G. M.
Published: September 2010

Whole-crop barley (cv. Midas) was harvested when the grain dry matter (DM) reached 640 g/kg and was treated with either anhydrous ammonia at 40 g/kg DM or propionic acid (30 g/kg DM) and stored in polythene-lined tower silos. Anhydrous ammonia and propionic acid preserved the early harvested barley whole crop but distribution of ammonia through the silos was not uniform. Coefficients of DM and starch losses from whole grains separated from the ammonia- or propionic acid-treated whole crops or from rolled barley grains and suspended in the rumen of steers in nylon bags weqe, after 42 h incubation 0.73,0.85,0.26,0.21 and 0.78,0.96 respectively. Coefficients of digestibility of the ammonia-treated (AWC), of the propionic acid-treated (PWC) whole crops and of a diet of rolled barley and ammonia-treated straw (RB) with the same grain to straw DM proportion as that in the whole crops were 0·62 (AWC), 0·55 (PWC) and 0K57 (RB). Daily live-weight gains (kg/day) of 350 kg Hereford × Friesian steers offered the diets for up to 100 days were 0·33 (AWC), ·0·61 (PWC) and 0·74 (RB) and DM feed intakes (kg/day) were 4·7,3·4 and 7·6 respectively.
Thyroid hormones, blood plasma metabolites and haematological parameters in relationship to milk yield in dairy cows
Authors: Blum J. W. , Kunz P. , Leuenberger H. , Gautschi K. , Keller M.
Published: September 2010

To study their relationship to milk yield, the concentrations, in jugular venous blood, of thyroxine iodine (T4I), thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-tri-iodothyronine (T3), glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, urea, haemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) have been measured in 36 cows (Simmental, Swiss Brown, Holstein and Simmental × Holstein) of different ages during a full lactation, pregnancy, dry period, parturition and 150 days of the ensuing lactation. Thyroid hormones and triglycerides were negatively, and total protein, globulin, cholesterol and phospholipids were positively, correlated with uncorrected or corrected milk yield during several periods of lactation, whereas glucose, NEFA, albumin, urea, haemoglobin and packed cell volume were not correlated with milk yield. The 10 animals with the highest milk yield (18·9 to 23·5 kg/day) exhibited significantly lower values of T4I, T4, T3and glucose, significantly higher levels of total protein and globulin and tended to have higher levels of NEFA than the 10 cows with the lowest milk yield (10·9 to 14·3 kg/day) throughout or during certain periods of lactation, whereas concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, albumin, haemoglobin and PCV did not differ. Changes in T4I, T4, T3, glucose and total protein during lactation were also influenced by age, presumably associated with an increase in milk production with age. T3was consistently lowest and cholesterol and phospholipids, during later stages of lactation, were highest in Holsteins, which had the highest milk yields of all breeds. Changes of blood parameters were mainly caused by shifts in energy and protein metabolism in association with level of milk production
A note on an effect of sodium monensinate supplements on the level of some chemical elements in the organs and muscle of feedlot steers
Authors: Mašek J. , Gilka J. , Dočekalovà H.
Published: September 2010

In muscle and livers of steers given a diet with sodium monensinate a significant decrease in cadmium content was observed. The concentration of manganese, copper, zinc, lead and iron in the analysed organs varied inconsistently. It seems from the results that, in tissues, monensinate influences the metabolism not only of monovalent cations but of polyvalent cations as well.
Puberty attainment in oestradiol-treated gilts given allyl-trenbolone and gonadotrophins
Authors: Varley M. A. , Yang H. , Rodway R. G.
Published: September 2010

Sixty Large White ♂ × (Large White ♂ × Landrace ♀) pre-pubertal gilts were allocated at random to one of five treatments. Gilts on treatment A were given oestradiol benzoate (OB) at 160 days of age. They were also given allyl-trenbolone (AT) at 166 days of age for 18 days followed by an injection of gonadotrophins (Gn) at 184 days of age. Gilts on treatment B were given OB and AT, but not Gn. Gilts on treatment C were given OB and Gn, but not AT. Gilts on treatment D were given OB only and gilts on treatment E were given Gn only. Gilts which were in heat after 183 days of age were artificially inseminated twice during the first 2 days of oestrus. All gilts were slaughtered either 20 days after insemination or at 220 days of age if they were still anoestrus.

The percentages of gilts ovulating after Gn injection were 36% (4/11), 91·7% (11/12) and 91·7% (11/12) for treatment groups A, C and E respectively (P < 0·01). Gilts on treatments A, C and E were inseminated at a significantly younger age than those on treatments B and D (P < 0·05). No significant differences were found in ovulation rate or embryo survival between treatments.

The results indicated that the administration of AT prior to Gn injection had an adverse effect on both the percentage of gilts ovulating and the development of embryos.
The development of sexual activity and semen production in ram lambs of two prolific breeds: Romanov and Finnish Landrace
Authors: Louda F. , Doney J. M. , Štolc L. , Křížek J. , Šmerha J.
Published: September 2010

The development of sexual activity, sperm production, semen characteristics, testis growth and body size was studies in 10 male sheep (ram lambs) of the Romanov breed and 11 of the Finnish Landrace breed between the ages of 4 and 15 months.

The sexual responses, observed daily for 40 days from the age of 4 months, developed earlier and more intensively in the Romanov than in the Finnish ram lambs, being fully developed in the former breed after 4 days as compared with 14 days in the latter breed. All lambs of both breeds, however, were considered capable of impregnating females by 5 months of age.

In both breeds there was a considerable delay between the onset of sexual maturity and the time at which it became possible to collect semen by means of an artificial vagina. Successful collection was not achieved until the age of 11 months, there being no difference between breeds in this respect.

Subsequent semen production increased to the 14th month of age, with little difference between breeds. Respectively for Romanov and Finnish rams at this age (±s.e.), the mean ejaculate volume was 0·85 + 0·062 and 0·77±0·052ml; motility 64·6 ± 1·62 and 59·7±l·66%; sperm concentration 4·75±0·198 and 4·7 ± 0·197 ×1012perl; number of sperm per ejaculate 4 09±0·338 and 3·63 ±0·259 × 109; and fructose concentration 6·84 × 0·2606 and 4·87 ± 0·2707g/1. In the 15th month there was a tendency for these values to decline except in the case of sperm concentration and, hence, total sperm number.

Mean live weight and size increased until the 14th month and there was no difference between breeds, but testis length and diameter were greater in the Romanov rams at this age.
Starling damage and its prevention at an openfronted calf yard
Authors: Feare C. J. , Swannack K. P.
Published: September 2010

Starlings had free access to cattle food placed in open troughs in a calf yard. During the winters 1974/75, 1975/76 and 1976/77 birds took 1·49, 1·70 and 1·991 of calf food respectively, this ranging from 6·4 to 12·4% of the food given to the calves. These losses were eliminated using enclosures made of Terylene netting or PVC strips. Both enclosures kept starlings out of the yard: the latter was more manageable to farm staff, and calves within grew significantly faster than controls, probably due to a combination of the absence of bird competition for food and the elevated temperature within the enclosed area.
The response of pigs weaned at 5 weeks of age to digestible energy and lysine concentrations in the diet
Authors: O'Grady J. F.
Published: September 2010

Eight-hundred-and-fifty-two pigs were weaned at 5 weeks of age, and at an average weight of 8·5 kg were allocated in pens of 14 or 15 to diets having 13·6 or 14·6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg combined with 11·0 or 11·8 g lysine per kg.

Over a 5-week experimental period, pigs receiving the diet with the higher DE content had a lower daily feed intake, improved feed conversion efficiency (FCE) but a similar rate of gain to those getting less DE/kg. Efficiency of utilization of energy was poorer when DE content was higher.

Increasing lysine level increased daily feed intake and rate of gain while improving FCE. There were significant energy x lysine interactions. At the lower energy density, increasing the lysine level resulted in increased daily feed intakes whereas the reverse was the case at the higher energy density. Daily gain increased when lysine level was increased at the lower energy density but was unaffected at the higher density. Efficiency of energy utilization was improved by increasing lysine at the higher but not at the lower energy level.
A note on the effect of contact with male goats on occurrence of puberty in female goat kids
Authors: Amoah E. A. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

Twelve British Saanen female kids were exposed to male goats for 1 h daily on 29 July (Ml), 12 on 12 August (M2) and 12 on 27 October (M3), when the kids were, on average, (± s.d.) 136·4 (± 12·2), 150·2 (± 12·8) and 225·4 (± 3·5) days of age, respectively. Blood samples were collected to determine plasma progesterone concentrations from 17 July onwards. By 27 October, 11 and 12 kids from treatments Ml and M2 had attained puberty, compared with no kids from treatment M3. Ten kids from treatment M3 attained puberty after male introduction. The mean ages and dates at puberty for treatments Ml, M2 and M3, respectively, were as follows: 205·5, 215·3 and 233·0 days (P < 0·001); and 7 October, 17 October and 3 November (P < 0·001). The mean reaction interval to male introduction for treatments Ml, M2 and M3 was 69, 66 and 7 days (P < 0·001), respectively. The variances for the date of attainment of puberty showed differences in the degree of synchronization of the event between all three treatments.