bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency and performance of genetically high and low milk-producing British Friesian and Jersey cattle
Authors: Gibson J. P.
Published: September 2010

Genetic lines for high and low liquid milk production were established within the British Friesian and British Jersey breeds by random matings of experimental dams to the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ nationally available progeny-tested sires. Some Friesian dams could also be classified as either high or low for genetic potential for milk yield on the basis of previous, but less rigorously controlled, matings to high-or low-production sires. The dams and their high and low potential-production female progeny were reared indoors, and given a single complete pelleted diet ad libitum from weaning until leaving the experiment after their third calving. Height at withers and width at hooks were recorded monthly, cumulate food intake and body weight fortnightly and milk yield, fat and protein concentration weekly, throughout life in the experiment. Measures of lactation production, food intake and efficiency of conversion of food to milk product during the whole calving-to-calving interval were obtained. Yields were about 0-8 times national average yields. Differences between high and low genetic lines appeared similar for the two breeds. High potential-production progeny produced more liquid milk, fat and protein but at a lower fat and protein concentration than did low-potential progeny. High-potential progeny consumed more food from calving to calving and had higher food conversion efficiencies to liquid milk, fat and protein. The response in efficiency accompanying a given change in production was close to that predicted by phenotypic regression of efficiency on yield with a 0-75% increase in efficiency for every 1% increase in yield. The likelihood of smaller returns in efficiency at higher yields is discussed. High potential-production progeny lost more body weight than did low during lactation, suggesting a greater withdrawal of energy from body reserves. High-potential progeny were neither heavier nor taller but were marginally narrower at the hooks than were low-potential progeny, suggesting the possibility of increased calving difficulties as selection for increased yield continues.

Friesians produced 50% more liquid milk, 13% more milk fat and 29% more milk protein and consumed 22% more food from calving to calving than did Jerseys. As a consequence Friesians were markedly more efficient at producing liquid milk (+23%) but essentially no more efficient at producing milk energy (+2%) than were Jerseys. In terms of both biological and commercial application of the results, any biases in the experiment probably operated against the Jersey relative to the Friesian.

Predictions of food intake using accepted feeding standards underestimated observed total food intake during lactation by a factor of 0-8. Linear regression indicated underestimation of maintenance requirement as a likely explanation.
The response of store lambs to dietary supplements of fish meal 2. effects of level of feeding
Authors: Hassan S. A. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

Forty-eight, individually-penned lambs (mean live weight 31·4 kg) were given diets with or without fish meal (0 and 90 g intake daily) in sufficient quantities to provide energy for maintenance and either 100, 150 or 200 g daily gain. Nitrogen (N) degradability in the rumen and fractional outflow rates of protein supplements were determined and the diets formulated such that the lambs received about 2·2 and 6·7 g undegradable rumen N daily on all three feeding levels.

Live-weight gains were generally greater during the first 3 weeks than during the final 4 weeks of the experiment. Lambs given fish meal had greater gains (P < 0·001) throughout the experiment, but there was a feeding level x protein interaction (P < 0·05) during the first 3 weeks, such that the difference between diets with or without fish meal was greater at the highest feeding level.

Retention of N increased with feeding level (P < 0·001) and was greatest when fish meal was given (P < 0·001). There was a feeding level x protein interaction (P < 0·05) for g N retained per 100 g N digested; N retention increased with feeding level only when fish meal was given.
A note on the effect of molasses inclusion in sugar beet pulp on the yield and composition of the milk of dairy cows
Authors: Hemingway R. G. , Parkins J. J. , Fraser J.
Published: September 2010

Dried molassed sugar-beet pulp in Great Britain has for many years contained about 400 g molasses per kg dry matter (DM). Whilst this high concentration of molasses might help to maximize palatability, in many places outside Great Britain considerably lower amounts of molasses (100 to 300 g/kg) are normally added to sugar beet. The relative costs depend on year-to-year fluctuations.
The effect on the performance of dairy cattle of plant protein concentration and of urea or urea-phosphate supplementation in the diet
Authors: Bruckental I. , Tagari H. , Amir S. , Kennit Hanna , Zamwell S.
Published: September 2010

Sixty Israeli-Friesian cows were allocated, after calving, to five treatment groups of 12 cows per group according to the concentration and source of crude protein (CP) in the concentrate. Three groups received all their protein from plant sources: a basal control group (BP) was given concentrate containing 92 g CP per kg dry matter (DM), a medium-protein group (MP) was given a diet with soya-bean meal (SBM) added to give a CP concentration of 143 g/kg DM, and a high-protein group (HP) was given a diet with SBM added to give a concentration of 180 g/kg DM. Two groups were given the basal concentrate supplemented with urea (MU) or urea phosphate (MUP) up to approximately the same CP level as the MP group. The only roughage used was vetch-oats hay at a level of 350 g/kg total DM intake. The cows were given the experimental diets ad libitum throughout lactation.

No difference was found between treatments in DM intake (kg/day), mean milk and fat-corrected milk (FCM; 40 g fat per kg) yields (kg/day), milk protein concentration, days from calving to conception or services per conception, during the entire lactation period. However, FCM yields during 60 days after calving were significantly higher for cows given the CP-supplemented diets than for the BP group. The FCM yield of the cows given the HP concentrate was higher than for those given the other concentrate mixtures only during the first 15 days after calving. Milk fat concentration was higher in cows given the BP and HP concentrates than in those given the MP ration, but only a trend in this respect was observed when part of the plant protein was replaced by urea or urea phosphate.

The rate of body-weight loss after calving tended to increase with increase in amount of plant protein in the diet but was highest for the cows given the diets supplemented with non-protein nitrogen. Later in lactation, the body-weights of cows given the MP, HP and MUP diets increased immediately after they reached their lowest weight whilst cows given the BP and MU diets started gaining weight 165 and 120 days after calving, respectively.

Rumen ammonia-N and blood urea-N concentrations (mg/1) for treatments BP, MP, HP, MU and MUP were: 56 and 101; 120 and 226; 143 and 269; 191 and 227; and 179 and 212, respectively. The relationship between rumen ammonia concentrations, blood urea concentrations and CP utilization for the different treatments is discussed. Supplying urea as urea phosphate tended to improve performance by an increase in annual milk and milk protein yields as well as in live-weight gain.
The effects of different fats and their inclusion level in diets for growing rabbits
Authors: Santomá G. , de Blas J. C. , Carabaño R. M. , Fraga M. J.
Published: September 2010

Three hundred and sixty male and female Californian ♂ × New Zealand White ♀ growing rabbits were used to study the influence of nine types of fat at 30 or 60 g/kg diet on growth and apparent digestibility. The fats used were: beef tallow (T), pork lard (L), sunflower oil (SO), two by-products from the oil-refining industry, sunflower oleins (O) and soya-bean lecithin (S), and 2: 1 (w/w) mixtures of T + S, L + S, O + S and T + O. All diets, including a diet without added fat, were formulated to a 190 g/kg acid-detergent fibre (ADF) level and to a 100 kJ digestible energy per g digestible protein ratio.

As O level in the diet increased, growth was significantly impaired (P < 0·001) but the other fats had no significant effect on this variable (P > 0·05). A maximum oleins concentration in the diet of 10 g/kg is suggested. Excluding diets with more than 10 g oleins per kg, a significant improvement in food conversion ratio was recorded for diets containing 60 g added fat per kg (P < 0·05). This improvement was related not only to a higher gross energy concentration of added-fat diets but also to a significantly (P < 0·001) higher energy digestibility (0·653 v. 0·602 for 60 g/kg added-fat diets and control diet respectively). Fat addition both at 60 and 30 g/kg also improved significantly (P < 0·001) dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract (EED) digestibilities. As a result, the use of ether extract in addition to ADF for estimating the energy value of diets including added fat, is proposed.

An increase in the degree of unsaturation of dietary ether extract increased significantly EED (P < 0·001), but did not affect other variables studied.
Effects on animal performance and fat composition of two fat concentrates in diets for growing-fattening bulls
Authors: Clinquart A. , Istasse L. , Dufrasne I. , Mayombo A. , van Eenaeme C. , Bienfait J. M.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were carried out with growing-fattening bulls, offered a fattening diet based on concentrate and supplemented with soya oil or steam-flaked linseed. Soya oil (200 g/kg) was mixed with middlings (800 g/kg). Linseed (500 g/kg) and whole barley (500 g/kg) were steam flaked. The fat incorporation resulted in an increase of the ether extract content from 26·5 g/kg dry matter to about 45 g/kg. The incorporation of soya oil increased the average daily gain (P> 0·05). The saturated: unsaturated fatty acid ratio was reduced in perirenal fat due to an increase of oleic acid and a reduction of stearic acid. The inclusion of steam-treated linseed resulted in a lower slaughter weight (P< 0·05) and a shorter fattening period (P> 0·05). The fatty acid composition of perirenal fat was affected significantly: the concentrations of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid were increased and the concentrations of myristic, palmitic and stearic acids were reduced. This resulted in a reduced saturated: unsaturated fatty acid ratio.

In a third experiment, samples of the two fat concentrates were incubated in nylon bags in the rumen. The ether extract disappearance was high with both concentrates. Furthermore, the fatty acid composition was altered to a large extent for soya oil while large proportions of unsaturated fatty acids were still present with steam-flaked linseed.
The effect of different housing systems and feeding regimes on the performance and rectal temperature of sheep
Authors: Bøe K. , Nedkvitne J. J. , Austbø D.
Published: September 2010

The effect of insulated (IN) and uninsulated (UN) buildings on food intake, performance and body temperature of sheep was studied over 4 years. The lowest average monthly temperature was -13·1°C. In the UN the temperature was on average 6-6°C higher than outside but the temperature in the IN remained fairly constant and was close to 10°C. Summarized for all 4 years the roughage intake was proportionately 0·02 higher in the UN than in IN (P > 0·05). There was no effect of treatment on weight gain, but the weight of the fleece was higher in IN than in UN (1·74 kg v. 1·66 kg per sheep). The mean age at first oestrus was 222 days. There was no difference in the length of pregnancy and lambing percentage was 185% in both treatments. The average birth weight was higher for lambs born in UN than IN (5·10 v. 4·95 kg), but the weight at weaning was the same. On only one occasion was the rectal temperature lower for ewes in UN than IN before shearing (38·7°C v. 39·2°C). After shearing no effect of treatment was found except for the 1st year, but in year 2 there was an interaction between plane of nutrition and housing. Results clearly indicated that uninsulated buildings are well suited for sheep.
The effect of supplementing straw with barley or unmolassed sugar-beet pulp on microbial protein supply in sheep estimated from urinary purine derivative excretion
Authors: Chen X. B. , Abdulrazak S. A. , Shand W. J. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: September 2010

Four sheep (live weight 39 to 42 kg) fitted with rumen cannulas were offered ammonia-treated barley straw alone (control) or supplemented with unmolassed sugar-beet pulp or rolled barley at 0·20 or 0·40 of the total diet on a fresh weight basis (SBP20, SBP40, B20 and B40, respectively) using a 4 × 5 randomized block design. Total diet intakes were 710, 873, 1054, 843 and 1021 g dry matter per day for control, SBP20, SBP40, B20 and B40 respectively. The intake of straw was depressed significantly with SBP40 and B40 (P < 0·05). Rumen pH and ammonia concentration decreased, and total volatile fatty acid concentrations increased (P < 0·05) with increasing level of supplementation for both supplements. Rumen liquid outflow rate was affected little by the supplementation although this measurement for B40 was significantly higher than that for the other treatments. Microbial protein supply, estimated from urinary excretion of purine derivatives, increased significantly with the increasing amounts of supplements (4·5, 6·7, 8·5, 7·1 and 9·0 (s.e.d. 0·73) g N per day for control, SBP20, SBP40, B20 and B40 respectively) (P < 0·05). The calculated efficiency of microbial protein production was 12·8, 14·2, 14·3, 15·7 and 14·5 (s.e.d. 1·45) g N per kg digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) for the five treatments. Although this value was lowest with the control, differences between treatments were not significant (P > 0·05). It seems that microbial protein yield per unit DOMI for a diet based on ammonia-treated straw could not be improved substantially by supplementation with sugar-beet pulp or barley.
A comparison of growth rate in twin cattle of eight breeds and crosses
Authors: Gibson D. , Watson J. H.
Published: September 2010

1. Rates of live-weight gain from 2 to 96 weeks of age are compared in twin cattle of 8 breeds and crosses. The 258 animals in the trial consisted of 77 pairs of one-egg (MZ) and 52 pairs of two-egg (DZ) twins. All were females.

2. Between collection during the first week after birth, and 36 weeks of age, treatment of animals was uniform. After this some animals were grazed and others remained housed, depending on their date of birth. Members of each twin pair were, however, always treated alike. Between 36 and 96 weeks of age grazed stock gained 62 lb. more weight than housed stock. This difference was allowed for in making breed comparisons.

3. The trial period was divided into six stages. The most rapid gains were made between 24 and 36 weeks of age (1·43 lb. per day) and between 36 and 52 weeks (1·48 lb. per day). Earlier and later growth rates were about 30% less than these.

4. Rates of gain varied from 1·10 lb. per day in Ayrshires to 1·38 lb. per day in Friesian × Shorthorn crosses. The Friesian and its crosses with Shorthorn generally made fastest gains throughout the trial. The Ayrshire was slower than the rest. The Shorthorn and its crosses with Hereford and Ayrshire were intermediate in performance.

5. Ratios of within-pair variance in MZ and DZ twins indicate that differences in performance are most strongly dependent on genetic differences-at 12 to 24 and 52 to 72 weeks of age.
The plane of nutrition and compensatory growth in pigs
Authors: Robinson D. W.
Published: September 2010

1. An experiment was carried out with forty individually-fed Large White × Wessex pigs to examine the growth rates of females (gilts) and castrated males after varying periods of time on a restricted plane of nutrition.

2. Compensatory growth was made by pigs in all treatments when some restriction in the plane of nutrition had been previously imposed.

3. The immediate growth response after the restriction ceased was directly related to the duration of the period of restriction.

4. In pigs on a restricted scale of feeding to 80 lb. live-weight, no compensatory growth was observed until a later stage in growth, whereas pigs on a restricted scale for a much longer period to 160 lb. live-weight showed immediate and significant compensatory growth.

5. In the periods immediately after the food restriction was lifted, gilts responded more than castrated males on all treatments.

6. The effect on the overall growth rate from 45 to 200 lb. live-weight became progressively worse as the period of restriction was prolonged and in no case did the compensatory growth fully compensate for the setback suffered during restriction.

7. There were no significant differences in overall food conversion efficiency and it appears that pigs with an even rate of gain and an interrupted growth rate may be equally efficient.

8. There were no significant differences in carcass length or dressing-out percentage although a moderate degree of restriction up to 120 lb. live-weight improved grading results, these being related, to non-significant improvements i n food conversion and therefore possibly to a lower carcass fat content.
Social behaviour of domestic animals. V. A note on sucking behaviour in young pigs
Authors: Wyeth G. S. F. , McBride G.
Published: September 2010

The teat preference system of sucking behaviour in young pigs has been described by Donald (1937), Braude (1948) and McBride (1963). Briefly, the piglets develop a preference for particular teats during the first few hours of life. Though they may change their teat, particularly during the first two days, they then drink from the same teat or teats until weaning. It is the aim of this note to record some information on this teat preference system collected on litters farrowed at the Queensland Agricultural College at Gatton.
The performance of crosses of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle for milk production in the coastal region of Tanganyika
Authors: Mahadevan P. , Hutchison H. G.
Published: September 2010

A study has been made of the performance of crosses and backcrosses of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle using records covering a period of 15 years from the Experimental Station, Tanga. The gene combinations found in ½-bred animals were the most productive in this environment, and ¼-bred Bos taurus animals gave higher average daily yields of milk between calvings than those with ¾ taurus blood.
The effect of weaning treatment on the development of solid food intake in calves
Authors: Hodgson J.
Published: September 2010

Groups of Friesian bull calves were reared on a high intake of milk substitute for either 21 or 28 days, and were then weaned over 7 or 14 days. Dried grass cubes were offered, as the only source of solid food, for 6 weeks from the start of weaning.

The rate of increase of solid food intake of calves weaned from 28 days was considerably greater than that of calves weaned from 21 days, and the later weaned groups were less severely affected by weaning. There was little difference in either the development of solid food intake, or in the severity of the weaning check, between groups weaned at different rates, though the slower rate of weaning tended to delay the intake of solid food temporarily.

The severity of the post-weaning check was inversely related to age at weaning, but was not affected by weaning weight. Growth after weaning was not related to either weight or age at weaning.

There were significant correlations between weight or age at weaning and solid food intake 5 weeks later, and a close correlation between the level of liquid intake established before weaning, and subsequent solid food intake. It was not possible to evaluate the effect of each of these variables, in isolation, on food intake after weaning.
Performance of Charbray and Hereford cattle and crosses between them
Authors: Carroll F. D. , Rollins W. C.
Published: September 2010

This experiment was designed to compare the average performance of Charollais-Hereford and Hereford-Charbray calves with the average performance of purebred Hereford and Charbray calves as a measure of hybrid vigour in various traits of economic importance.

The ratio of lumbar length to carcass length was larger in the crossbreds. With this exception there was no significant difference between purebreds and crossbreds in any of the measurements that characterise performance of the live animal or the carcass. However, the trend of the carcass measurements possibly indicated that the purebreds were fatter and higher in carcass grade than the crossbreds.

Studies on three cuts of meat from each carcass indicated larger cooking losses (percentage drip loss) in steaks from purebreds and larger ‘shear’ values for steaks from crossbreds. The panel of judges found no significant differences in tenderness, flavour or juiciness. There were no significant differences in colour of lean meat from crossbred and purebred animals.

Meat from the purebred Herefords appeared fatter and more tender than that from the Charbray cattle, but this comparison may be biased due to sire differences.
Further studies on the energy and protein metabolism of pigs growing at a high ambient temperature, including measurements with fasting pigs
Authors: Holmes C. W.
Published: September 2010

1. The experiment was designed to compare the protein and energy metabolism of pigs growing at 25°c or 34°C. The pigs were given two levels of feeding while growing between 25 and 75 kg live weight.

2. The high temperature was associated with increases in rectal temperature of 1·2 to 20°C. Both pigs on the higher level of feeding at 34°C became lame in their hind legs.

3. The high temperature was also associated with increases in heat production and in urinary nitrogen and energy losses for pigs fed at the higher level of feeding only; however fasting heat production was not affected significantly by temperature. The high temperature had no effect on the apparent digestibility of the diet.

4. It was calculated from data for pigs at both levels of feeding kept at 25°C, that efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy (ME) above maintenance was 71%, and the maintenance requirement for ME was 100 kcal/kg0·75 day. Energy retention was reduced at 34°C in pigs fed on the higher level of feeding.
Progeny test results on Hereford bulls weight-recorded on the farm
Authors: Smith C. , Steane D. E. , Jordan C.
Published: September 2010

Regressions of progeny growth rate and slaughter age on bull weight for age (400-day) record were estimated from data on 63 Hereford bulls. The bulls had been weight-recorded by the Meat and Livestock Commission and subsequently progeny-tested by the Milk Marketing Board on 1300 crossbred British Friesian steers. Interpretation of the regressions led to estimates of 16 to 35% (± 9 to 17%) for the ‘effective’ heritability of400-day weight. These are lower than the average in the literature and may indicate that farm records with natural rearing of bulls are less reliable than tests with uniform rearing and feeding conditions.
The effect of energy intake during late pregnancy on the production from two genotypes of suckler cow
Authors: Russel A. J. F. , Peart J. N. , Eadie J. , Macdonald A. J. , White I. R.
Published: September 2010

The effect of energy intake during the final 12 weeks of pregnancy on the production of 59 Blue Grey (Shorthorn × Galloway) (BG) and 56 Hereford × Friesian (HF) cows inseminated with Hereford semen was studied over 2 years.

Energy intakes ranged from 34·3 to 78·2 and from 30·3 to 58·2 MJ ME/day for a 500 kg cow in the 2 years respectively. The cows were fed ad libitum for 22 weeks after calving.

Plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in late pregnancy were closely and inversely related to energy intake.

In the first year there was a curvilinear relationship between calf birth weight and pre partum energy intake, maximum birth weights occurring at an intake of about 58 MJ ME/day. Over the lower range of intakes in the second year the relationship was linear and positive; the difference in calf birth weights between extreme levels of intake was 15%.

Pre partum energy intake had a small inverse effect on voluntary food intake some 16 to 20 weeks after calving, and a large inverse effect on cow live-weight change throughout lactation, but had no measurable effect on milk production or calf growth rate.

HF cows gave birth to heavier calves which grew more quickly in the 2nd year, had higher voluntary food intakes during lactation, and produced more milk than did the BG cows.
Monensin supplementation of young Israeli Friesian male cattle
Authors: Levy D. , Holzer Z. , Ilan D.
Published: September 2010

Four groups of 14 3-month-old Israeli Friesian male cattle were each given monensin supplement in their concentrates at the following rates: between 3 and 6 months of age, 0, 0, 25 and 35 p.p.m.; and between 6 months and slaughter, 0, 35, 35 and 35 p.p.m. They were offered hay at approximately 0·3 % of their live weight and concentrates ad libitum.

Daily gain between 3 and 6 months was 1·36, 1·40, 1·50 and 1·57 kg/day, respectively; between 6 months and slaughter it was 1·22, 1·32, 1·33 and 1·24 kg/day, respectively. Differences in intake of concentrates were small. There were no significant differences in slaughter data.

Daily carcass gain throughout the experiment was 0·71, 0·74, 0·77 and 0·76 kg/day, respectively.

Monensin-supplemented animals were approximately 9% more efficient in the conversion of metabolizable energy into live weight or carcass weight than the control animals.

Production of propionate in the rumen was significantly increased in response to monensin supplementation, and the acetate to propionate ratio was significantly reduced.
A model for the effects of energy nutrition on the pregnant ewe
Authors: Geisler Pamela A , Neal Heather
Published: September 2010

A computer-based model of the response of the ewe to energy nutrition during pregnancy is described, based on a previous analysis of energy requirements. A ewe of specified weight and body condition 30 days from conception, carrying a known number of lambs, is predicted to grow them to an optimal weight if the nutritional regime allows. Daily energy requirements of the ewe-foetus system are calculated as the sum of requirements for maintenance and for growth and are compared with the daily energy supplied.If the feed provides energy surplus to requirements, the ewe herself gains weight; otherwise, the ewe mobilizes her own reserves, within limits, to protect the foetus. If this does not produce the energy required for optimal growth, foetal growth is reduced.

Published experimental results are compared with predictions of the model when run under similar conditions; in general, predictions of total maternal weight at the end of pregnancy are within 5 % of those observed in the experiments. Model predictions of the effects of some particular nutritional regimes during pregnancy are presented and the sensitivity of the predictions of the model to certain of the assumptions made in its construction are discussed.
A note concerning the effects of ewe nutrition and colostrum deprivation on young lambs
Authors: Khalaf A. M. , Doxey D. L. , Baxter J. T. , Black W. J. M. , FitzSimons J.
Published: September 2010

Twin Scottish Half bred × Suffolk lambs born to well-nourished ewes suffered no ill effects, in terms of growth rate or serum immunoglobulin levels, when deprived of colostrum for periods of up to 9 h after birth provided they received adequate colostrum after the deprivation period was completed.

Poor ewe nutrition during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, when combined with 9-h periods of colostrum deprivation, adversely affected serum immunoglobulin levels and appeared to increase mortality.
A note on some factors influencing post-weaning performance of purebred and crossbred lambs
Authors: Mavrogenis A. P. , Louca A.
Published: September 2010

Live weights at weaning, and 10, 15 and 20 weeks of age, and postweaning gains of 738 lambs (390 males and 348 females) obtained from purebred and crossbred lambs were studied. The main breeds involved were the Cyprus fat-tailed, Chios and Awassi. Male lambswere heavier (P< 0·01) and grew faster (P< 0·01) than female lambs. Singles were heavier (P< 0·01) than other multiples at all ages, which probably reflects differences in initial weight, since no differences were found in growth rate. Crossbred lambs were heavier at 20 weeks of age and had a faster growth rate than purebred lambs. Ewe lactation number significantly affected lamb weaning weights, the heaviest lambs being those from 3- to 5-year-old dams (third and fourth lactation).
A comparison of a dairy cow compound feed with and without cassava given with grass silage
Authors: Brigstocke T. D. A. , Cuthbert N. H. , Thickett W. S. , Lindeman M. A. , Wilson P. N.
Published: September 2010

Cassava is increasingly available in the United Kingdom for use in compound feeds. The trial reported here was a 2 × 4 factorial and compared dairy cow compound feeds containing nil or 400 g of cassava per kg, and crude protein levels of 100, 120, 140 and 160 g/kg, given in conjunction with grass silage.

Forty-eight Friesian cows were used in a change-over design with four periods each of 4 weeks. The trial, therefore, compared six blocks of four cows on each of the non-cassava and cassava treatments, with each cow in a block receiving a different protein level. Compound feeds without cassava had a mean barley content of 600g/kg whereas feeds with cassava had a mean barley content of 103g/kg.

There were no significant differences in milk yield (21 14 and 22·27 kg/day) or milk fat level (41·4 and 40·4g/kg milk) on the non-cassava and cassava treatments respectively (P ≤ 0·05). Differences in solids-not-fat concentration were also not significant.

Average intakes of silage were similar on each type of diet. Daily intakes of the compound feed per cow varied from 6·95kg on the non-cassava treatment to 7·08kg on the cassava treatment. This difference in compound intake was not significant. The results indicated that compound feed containing 400 g of cassava per kg perform as well as cereal-based feeds and, therefore, cassava can be considered as a satisfactory replacement for cereals up to a level of 400 g/kg in compound feeds for dairy cows.
Effect of dietary carotene on fertility of high-yielding dairy cows
Authors: Ascarelli I. , Edelman Z. , Rosenberg Miriam , Folman Y.
Published: September 2010

Multiparous dairy cows were allotted at the beginning of the dry period to two groups, each of about 75 cows. In addition to a basal diet containing a very low concentration of carotene and a normal concentration of retinyl ester, the carotene group was given a daily supplement of 500 mg carotene during the dry period and 750 mg carotene during lactation, and the retinol group was given an equivalent amount of retinyl ester. Plasma carotene concentrations were much higher in the carotene group (ca. 4·2 mg/1v. ca.. 0·35 mg/1), but plasma retinol did not differ. Neither peripheral plasma progesterone concentration nor the interval between calving and first insemination were affected by carotene supplementation. Conception rate was greatly improved by carotene supplementation in the younger cows (second and third lactation) during the first part of the experiment (cows calving in September to December): conception rates at first insemination were 0·70v.0·33 (P < 0·05); for all inseminations, conception rates were 0·71v.0·38 (P < 0·01). However during the second part of the experiment (cows calving in January to April) no significant differences were found between the two groups.

Plasma tocopherol concentration in cows given carotene was significantly higher during the dry period and the 1st weeks of lactation, but these differences disappeared in the later stages of lactation. Plasma cholesterol concentration in the carotene group was highly correlated with plasma carotene concentration (r = 0·52 to 0·59,P< 0·001); however even higher correlation coefficients were found between plasma cholesterol and plasma tocopherol in both the carotene and the retinol groups (r = 0·61 to 0·80,P< 0·001). Plasma concentrations of triglycerides, glucose, urea and aspartate aminotransferase were not affected by the treatment.

A high plasma carotene concentration is not a prerequisite for conception; however, under certain conditions which need defining, the carotene concentration appears to be a limiting factor.
The effect of mechanical treatment of silage on intake and production of sheep
Authors: Apolant S. M. , Chestnutt D. M. B.
Published: September 2010

Over a period of 3 years, silages subjected to various mechanical treatments by the use of conventional silage harvesters were offered ad libitum to pregnant ewes and to castrated male lambs and the effects on intake and productivity were measured. The intake of silage made from grass harvested with a precision-chop harvester was substantially greater than the intake of silage made with other types of harvester (especially, a flail harvester), causing a lower degree of comminution.

Mean daily silage dry-matter intake of ewes was 0·99 kg and 1·28 kg in mid-pregnancy, and 0·85 kg and 1·10 kg in late pregnancy with flail-harvested and precision-chop silages respectively. Silage was supplemented with various levels of concentrate in late pregnancy and an increasing level of concentrates did not reduce silage intake. In early lactation, when 800 g concentrate was given daily, ewes consumed 1·00 kg flail-harvested silage and 1·39 kg precision-chop silage. Compared with flail-harvested silage, precision-chop silage increased ewe body weight immediately post lambing by 5·1 kg, lamb birth weight by 0·27 kg and lamb growth rate by 58 g/day. Increases in intake of precision-chop silages by hoggets were on average greater, though more variable, than by ewes and were reflected in increased carcass weight.

The reason for the increased intake of the finely-chopped silage was examined. It would appear that the major factor is the physical size of particle involved though there was some evidence that improved fermentation resulting from finer chopping may have been partly responsible for increased intake.
A note on relations between carcass characteristics of bacon pigs and weaning weight, rate of gain and length
Authors: Bowland J. P. , Braude R. , Rowell J. G.
Published: September 2010

This note describes the results of various analyses which were carried out to study relations between measurements indicative of the amount of fat and lean in the carcasses of bacon pigs and their weaning weights, rates of gain between weaning and slaughter, and the lengths of the carcasses. The data involved were taken from a series of experiments, the original purpose of which was to compare various feeding treatments used between weaning and slaughter (205 lb.). The interpretation of these analyses presents some difficulty because of the many ways in which variations in weaning weight, for example, may occur; such variations arise naturally (because of variations in genotype, mothering ability of the sow, etc.) or may be induced by changing methods of management (systems of feeding, housing conditions, etc.). Considerable caution should therefore be exercised in attempting to extend the relations discussed here to conditions outside their own context. The difficulties are emphasised by the variety of different results which other workers have reported on the effect of weaning weight on subsequent development (reviewed by Braude, 1964).
A note on the use of skim-milk in the feeding of store-lambs
Authors: Cresswell E. , Gill J. C. , Fraser C.
Published: September 2010

From time to time in the United Kingdom and other countries skim-milk is locally in plentiful supply and very moderately priced. It is of course successfully utilised in the fattening of pigs, but it seemed to us that it might also be a useful feed for store sheep. Two feasibility studies were therefore carried out in 1964.
Serum γ-globulin levels in dead lambs from hill flocks
Authors: Halliday R.
Published: September 2010

Blood samples were taken from 472 dead lambs on hill farms in Peeblesshire and their serum proteins fractionated by paper electrophoresis. No y-globulin was detected in 84% of the lambs dying on the day of birth, or in 43% of all other lambs aged 9 days or less. Most of these lambs had not fed. But a substantial minority, including 24·5% of all lambs dying, after walking, on the first or second days, i.e. when the gut is normally permeable to protein, had not absorbed γ-globulin despite having food in the gut. This could be due to a failure of colostral proteins to pass from the stomach into the small intestine, γ-globulin being detected relatively more often in lambs with food in their intestines than in lambs with food only in their stomachs; insufficient time between the arrival of food in the small intestine and death; or a premature loss of gut permeability.

The mean γ-globulin levels in lambs aged up to 6 days, excluding those with none, were significantly lower than in live lambs. Differences between older lambs were slight. Lambs aged up to 9 days and recorded as dying of starvation because they had no visceral fat, had significantly lower levels than lambs dying from other causes. The levels in older lambs were not correlated with the reasons for death.
Some effects of compulsory exposure over winter on in-lamb Welsh Mountain ewes
Authors: Winfield C. J. , Brown W. , Lucas I. A. M.
Published: September 2010

1. Experiments were carried out during two winters on the effects of exposure, partial outdoor shelter and complete indoor shelter on individually penned pregnant Welsh Mountain ewes at an altitude of approximately 275 m. A single pelleted diet was given at several levels of intake.

2. In Experiment 1 ewes fed at an approximately maintenance level indoors had post partum live weights 0·9 and 1·4 kg greater than those fed at the same level in the partially sheltered and exposed pens.

3. The daily voluntary feed intake of ewes fed to appetite was 20% greater in the exposed and partially sheltered pens than in the indoor pens. But there were no consequent differences between post partum live weights, which were all higher than for ewes kept at maintenance intake.

4. In Experiment 2, when the weather was milder, the effects of exposure and shelter on ewes fed at the maintenance level were smaller and not statistically significant. Raising intake by 5 or 10% caused only small and not statistically significant increases in post partum weight.

5. Neither changes in food intake nor in environment affected lamb birth weights.

6. Ewes fed to appetite had a significantly greater wool production than those at the maintenance level. Environment had no effect on the weight of clean wool produced but penning indoors increased the weight of suint.
The effect of frequency of harvesting grass for silage and level of concentrate supplementation on the intake and performance of beef cattle
Authors: Steen R. W. J. , McIlmoyle W. A.
Published: September 2010

A randomized-block experiment has been carried out over 2 consecutive years to examine the effects of frequency of harvesting grass for silage, and level of concentrate supplementation, on the intake and performance of beef cattle. Swards of S24 perennial ryegrass were harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals throughout the growing season, commencing on 14 May, 4 June and 25 June respectively. The three silages were offered ad libitum with 0, 1, 2 or 3 kg per head per day of cereal-based concentrates to 84 Hereford-cross suckled calves (mean initial live weight 313 kg) in a 3 × 4 factorial design experiment in each year. The treatments were imposed for a mean period of 100 days. The digestible organic matter in the dry-matter values of the silages harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals were 0·684, 0·646 and 0·607 respectively. The mean silage dry-matter intakes and live-weight gains for the silages harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals were 4·75, 4·70 and 4·74 (s.e. 0·08) kg/day, and 0·75, 0·67 and 0·52 (s.e. 0·020) kg/day, respectively. The mean silage dry-matter intakes and live-weight gains for the supplement at 0, 1, 2 and 3kg/day were 5·23, 4·79, 4·72 and 4·17 (s.e. 009)kg/day, and 0·38, 0·57, 0·75 and 0·88 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day, respectively. There was a significant interaction between cutting interval and level of supplementation for live-weight gain, the response to supplementation declining as silage digestibility increased.
Induction of parturition in cattle
Authors: Prakash B. S. , Madan M. L.
Published: September 2010

Ten crossbred (Karan Swiss) cows were induced to calve about 1 month prior to expected term using either 25 mg dexamethasone alone (Group B) or 25 mg dexamethasone in combination with 25 mg vetoestrol (Group C). Another five animals served as controls (Group A). The average time interval from injection to calving was not significantly influenced by the two treatments used, and was 52·2 ± 4·07 h and 49·0 ± 1·55 h for groups B and C respectively. The mean gestation lengths for animals in groups A, B and C were 283·60 ± 2·77, 255·20 ± 1·93 and 255·20 ± 2·3 days respectively. The calves born from cows induced to calve early were significantly lighter at birth compared to controls (P < 0·05). The average live-weight gain over the first 12 weeks among calves was not significantly influenced by treatment averaging 2·58 ± 0·07, 2·81 ± 0·16 and 2·20 ± 0·16 kg/week for groups A, B and C respectively. Foetal membranes had not been voided by 24 h in the animals induced to calve early and hence required manual intervention. The length of the service period, number of services per conception and the milk yield of the cows induced to calve was not significantly different from their previous records (P > 0·05).
A note on induced cryptorchidism in male cattle
Authors: Rees E. D. , Lucas I. A. M.
Published: September 2010

The induction of cryptorchidism in dairy-bred male calves during the 1st week after birth severely restricted testicular growth and the semen of cryptorchids was practically sterile. Their lifetime performance in a semi-intensive beef system was similar to that of bulls and significantly superior to that of steers. Similar differences were found in carcass characteristics. The grazing behaviour of cryptorchids was similar to that of bulls.
Crossbreeding beef cattle in Western Uganda 4. Calving percentage and mothering ability
Authors: Sacker G. D. , Trail J. C. M. , Fisher I. L.
Published: September 2010

The female progeny of Angus, Boran and Red Poll bulls mated to Ankole, Boran and Zebu cows were compared. Heifers by Angus and Red Poll sires out of Boran and Zebu cows could be mated at an average age of 23 months with excellent calving percentages, whereas Boran-sired heifers and heifers from Ankole cows were not ready for service at this age. Lactation stress caused heifers suckling calves to lose 4% of body weight over a 7½ month suckling period, while heifers not suckling calves gained 14% in body weight. Heifers by Red Poll sires did not provide more milk for their calves, as measured by early growth rate, than heifers by Angus or Boran sires. The effect of hybrid vigour on mothering ability of F1 dams was at least as great as it was on the early growth of the F1 crossbreds themselves.
Crossbreeding beef cattle in Western Uganda 5. Growth and carcass evaluation of castrated males
Authors: Trail J. C. M. , Sacker G. D. , Marples H. J. S.
Published: September 2010

Growth from two years to three years and carcass yield and composition were evaluated in nine types of steers produced by mating Angus, Boran and Red Poll bulls to Ankole, Boran and local Zebu cows. One hundred and nine steers were slaughtered at the average age of 3 years and 1 month.

At three years of age, steers by Angus and Red Poll sires were 7% heavier than steers by Boran sires, while progeny of Boran and Ankole dams were 14% heavier than progeny of Zebu dams. Significant hybrid vigour effects on weight-for-age were found.

After adjustment for weight and age at slaughter, linear carcass measurements supported the impression that steers by Angus sires were more compact and blocky than steers by Red Poll and Boran sires and that progeny of Ankole dams were longer in the leg and body than progeny of Boran and Zebu dams. Steers by Red Poll sires appeared to have a higher fat content than steers by Angus and Boran sires on the basis of dissection of a tenth rib sample joint. Progeny of Boran dams had a higher dressing percentage than progeny of Ankole and Zebu dams. Hybrid vigour appeared to have little effect on carcass traits.
A note on the utilization of urea by Sudan desert sheep
Authors: Hassan H. M. , Mukhtar A. M. S.
Published: September 2010

Sixty-four young male Sudan desert lambs were group-fed for 87 days on four diets, all containing approximately 10% crude protein. The four diets contained 0, 1·3, 1·7 and 2·7% urea, respectively.

Average daily gains were 0·15, 0·14, 0·14 and 0·13 kg; feed conversion ratios (kg of feed required to produce 1 kg live-weight gain) were 7·26, 8·14, 8·92 and 7·92; dressing percentages were 43·6, 42·1, 44·1 and 42·3.

Digestibility trials with lambs fed on diets with 0 or 2·7% urea gave higher digestibility coefficients for crude fibre and nitrogen-free extract for the urea-supplemented lambs. Crude protein digestibility and nitrogen retention values were lower for urea-supplemented lambs.
An evaluation of the micronization process for preparing cereals for the growing pig. 2. Effects on growth rate, food conversion efficiency and carcass characteristics
Authors: Lawrence T. L. J.
Published: September 2010

1. In each of two 2 × 3 factorially designed experiments 72 pigs were individually- and scale-fed diets containing 86·5% of maize, wheat or barley in ground or micronized, flaked and ground (micronized) forms.

2. In both experiments, the first between 17 and 20 kg and the second between 22 and 90 kg live weight, pigs offered the micronized maize and barley diets grew significantly faster and converted the dry matter of their diets significantly more efficiently than did pigs offered the ground maize and barley diets. There were no significant differences between the micronized and ground wheat diets in the first experiment but in the second experiment the micronized diet gave significantly inferior results.

3. In pigs slaughtered at 90 kg live weight those fed all the micronizedbased diets had significantly higher killing-out percentages than those fed the diets based on the ground cereals. Other within-cereal significant differences were those of increased carcass length in pigs given micronized maize and increased fat deposition in pigs given micronized wheat.
A note on the effect of cyclical changes in energy intake on lactating dairy cows
Authors: Scrimgeour D. S. , Thompson J. K.
Published: September 2010

Twelve Ayrshire cows which had reached or just passed peak lactation were selected and divided into two balanced groups. One group was fed strictly according to yield. The other was fed overall according to yield, but was subjected to a 4-day cycle of energy intake. For 2 days energy intake was 12·2% above calculated requirements and for the next 2 days intake was 12·2% below calculated requirements. The treatment was imposed for 10 weeks and milk yield and composition, body weight and blood composition were measured in both groups of cows. A significant variation in daily milk yield and daily solids-not-fat yield was found to follow the feed cycle. Blood composition showed no significant variation.