bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of weaning and post-weaned steers fed partial or complete extruded diets
Authors: Serrano X. , Baucells M.D. , Puchal F.
Published: January 2018

Extrusion-cooking has become a well established industrial technology with a number of food and feed applications. In addition to the usual benefits of heat processing, extrusion offers the possibility of modifying the functional properties of feed ingredients and/or of giving them a different texture (Cheftel, 1986). During the last 10-15 years significant advances have been made in the application of extrusion technology to the animal feed manufacturing. However there is a lack of information on the use of extruded products in starter diets for steers. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects on the performance of weaning and post-weaned steers of the inclusion of several extruded ingredients in the diet.

Thirty nine 1 to 2 week-old male friesian steers (mean body weight of 54 kg) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments from outcome groups of similar initial weights.
Effect of Feeding Napier or Groundnut Hay as Supplements to Sheep Consuming Poor Quality Natural Pasture (Veld) Hay.
Authors: Manyuchi B. , Hovell F. D.DeB. , Ndlovu L. R. , Topps J. H. , Tigere A.
Published: January 2018

In the tropics, forage available to livestock for much of the year is of poor quality. With low nitrogen and high fibre content which limit their digestion and intake resulting in low productivity. In these studies sheep offered poor quality veld hay were given napier hay or groundnut hay as supplements.

EXPT 1. Five diets, veld hay (plus 1 % urea) alone (Control), or supplemented with 150 g or 300 g Napier or Groundnut hay (150Nap, 300Nap, 150Gnut & 300Gnut) were given to five mature rumen cannulated Dorper x Merino male sheep (about 65 kg live weight) for three week periods as a 5 x 5 latin square. All forages were chopped (about 1 cm). Veld hay was offered ad libitum, with supplements fed separately at 08.00h. At the end of each period, feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen retention, rumen ammonia and in sacco degradability of veld hay were measured.
Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy Following Blastocyst Transfer to Ewes Induced to Ovulate at 28 Days Post-Partum
Authors: Wallace J.M. , Aitken R.P. , Cheyne M.A.
Published: January 2018

In ewes that have recently lambed, the use of exogenous hormones to induce ovulation followed by laparoscopic intrauterine insemination to ensure fertilization, results in the production of viable oviductal-stage embryos. These embryos develop to term if transferred to a normal uterine environment on Day 3 of the cycle (Wallace et al., 1989a) but rarely survive beyond the duration of a normal oestrous cycle if returned to a post-partum uterus (Wallace et al., 1989b). In the ewe, the maternal recognition of pregnancy depends on adequate secretion of the conceptus interferon, ovine trophoblast protein 1 (oTP-1) into the uterine lumen. This protein interacts with its receptor on the maternal endometrium to locally suppress expression of the uterine oxytocin receptor. This in turn prevents establishment of a positive feedback loop between episodic ovarian oxytocin secretion and uterine prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) release which would normally induce luteal regression at the end of the oestrous cycle. The present study examined the nature of these phenomena in the early post-partum ewe.
The effects of excess rumen degradable protein in ewes on ovulation rate, fertilization and embryo survival in vivo and during in vitro culture.
Authors: Bishonga C. , Robinson J.J. , McEvoy T.G. , Aitken R.P. , Findlay P.A. , Robertson I.
Published: January 2018

In a review of the effects of protein nutrition on reproduction in dairy cattle, Ferguson and Chalupa (1989) expressed concern at the low conception rates to first insemination in high-producing dairy cows and suggested that a contributory factor may be an excess of rumen-degradable protein leading to toxic effects of ammonia and its metabolites on gametes and/or the embryo. More recently Elrod and Butler (1993) have provided data suggesting that degradable protein intakes which were 50% above the requirements for maximum microbial protein synthesis reduced embryo survival in dairy heifers. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect in ewes of varying the amount of rumen degradable protein during the pre-ovulatory progesterone priming phase and the first four days thereafter on ovulation, fertilization, early in vivo and subsequent in vitro ovum development.
Biotechnology and Ruminant Nutrition (Jerry Hughes Scholarship)
Authors: Chaudhry A. S.
Published: January 2018

Biotechnology is the application of biological procedures and processes to manufacture and service industries (Armstrong, 1988). Any processes which require microorganisms (natural or genetically modified) or biological extracts should be related to biotechnology. Biotechnology has played a vital role in the production of novel products using a variety of microbes. These products have immense potential in improving not only the nutritive quality of crops (Chaudhry and Miller, 1994) but also utilization of food by animals. One such product is recombinant DNA-derived bovine somatotrophin (BST) which has been widely used for years to stimulate milk yield in dairy cows. However, its prolonged use adversely affects health, reproduction and birth weight and skeletal size of the offspring (Dr. Robert Cook, personal communication). Other products of importance are microbial cultures and purified enzymes. The cultures or enzymes are generally mixed with diets to enhance digestive efficiency of livestock by altering microbial activities in the rumen or gastrointestinal tract. They are safe to handle and kind to animals and environment (Dawson, 1992). Whilst biotechnology has a wide range of applications for livestock industry its role in ruminant nutrition is particularly emphasized.
Prediction of Digestibility and Intake of Sheep Fed Leguminosae or GRAMINAE Hays: Comparison Between the in Vitro Digestibility, Kinetics of Gas Production or Dry Matter Degradation
Authors: Dentinho M.T. , Khazaal K. , Ribeiro J.M. , Ørskov E.R.
Published: January 2018

By using separated values of kinetics of in situ dry matter (DM) degradation or in vitro gas production (Menke and Steingass, 1988) of leguminosae hays, Khazaal et al, (1993) reported high correlation with intake (r= 0.88; r= 0.79) and in vivo DM digestibility (DMD) (r= 0.94; r= 0.88). The aim of the present study was to extend the range of samples used and compare the ability of the 2 stages in vitro digestibility (Tilley and Terry, 1963), the in situ DM degradation or the gas production techniques to predict daily intake (g DM/ kgW0.75) and in vivo DM digestibility (DMD) of 19 leguminous and graminaceous hays fed to sheep.

Three harvesting stages (early bloom EB, mid bloom MB or in seed IS) made from lucerne (Medicago sativa), sweet clover (Melilotus segetalis), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum), Rye (Secale cereale), Triticale (Triticale hexaploid), oat (Avena stativa) and a pre-bloom (PB) Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ). Each hay was fed ad libitum to 4 Merino male sheep and their intake and in vivo DMD recorded. Gas production (ml/ 200 mg DM) or in situ DM degradation (g/ 100 g DM) were determined as described by Khazaal et al, (1993) after 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h incubation. Measured gas production or DM degradation values were fitted to the equation p=a+b(l-e-ct)(McDonald, 1981) where p is gas production or DM degradation at time t and a, b and c are constants. For nylon bag the washing loss (soluble fraction) was defined as A, the insoluble but fermentable matter was defined as B=(a+b)-A, and c is the rate of fermentation or degradation (Ørskov and Ryle, 1990).
Glucose, α amino nitrogen and urea uptake by hind-limb in bulls offered different amounts of concentrate.
Authors: Hornick J.L , Clinquart A. , Van Eenaeme C. , Gauthier S. , Istasse L.
Published: January 2018

Aside from its function of contraction, the muscle is also a pool of mobilisable protein which may be released or stored according to the needs of the animal. An approach of this aspect can be theorically studied by measure of arterio-venous differences of plasma metabolites from blood in the muscle mass. The aim of this experiment was to study uptake of α amino-nitrogen, glucose and urea across the hind-limb of bulls from a breed with large muscle development.

Three bulls from the Belgian Blue breed-double muscled type-were used. They weighed about 300 kg when an ultrasonic flow probe (Transonic Systems, Inc.,Ithaca, NY) was implanted around the abdominal aorta, back to the renal vessels, in order to measure the blood flow in the hind-leg (Eisemann et al., 1987). After an one month recovery period, circumflex iliac artery and vein were implanted with catheters. During the periods of surgery, the bulls were offered hay only at a rate of three kg daily. Ten days after the second surgery, increasing amounts of concentrate were given with the hay so that the animals received one kg concentrate on day 1 (level 1), three kg concentrate on day 3 (level 3), five kg concentrate on day 5 (level 5).
Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (MRS) to Monitor Changes in the Composition of Rumen Fluid
Authors: Sanderson R. , Lister S.J. , Dhanoa M.S.
Published: January 2018

To obtain more information about rumen fluid composition, levels of different components are determined by a range of techniques which are often slow and cumbersome. This study was established to develop calibration equations for the rapid determination of the composition of rumen fluid with a view to monitoring changes in composition with time.

Forty-three strained rumen fluid samples, taken throughout a 7 h period from three lactating cows offered silage either alone or with fish meal or rapeseed meal/urea twice daily, were used. Immediately upon withdrawal from the rumen each sample was analysed for pH, then acidified using concentrated sulphuric acid before storing at -18°C. Following centrifugation at 11600 G concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen were determined in the supernatant by packed column gas chromatography and enzymatically using glutamic dehydrogenase respectively.
The effect of metabolism protein supply on milk nitrogen Capture in dairy cows.
Authors: Mansbridge R.J. , Blake J.S. , Newbold J.R. , Cottherill B.R.
Published: January 2018

There is increasing government and consumer pressure on agriculture to reduce nitrogen pollution of the environment and EC legislation is now in place to reduce nitrate levels in drinking water. Dairy cows excrete large amounts of nitrogen and use of the Metabolisable Protein (MP) system (AFRC, 1992) which defines the dietary nitrogen characteristics and animal requirements, may reduce environmental pollution by increasing the efficiency of nitrogen capture.
Effect of Metabolisable Protein on intake of grass silage and milk protein yield in dairy cows.
Authors: Newbold J.R. , Cottrill B.R. , Mansbridge R.M. , Blake J.S.
Published: January 2018

Few data are available to evaluate the Metabolisable Protein (MP) System (AFRC, 1992) as an aid to ration formulation for dairy cows. Responses of lactating dairy cows to MP were evaluated in two experiments.

In Experiment One, groups of 10 Holstein cows were offered grass silage ad libitum and 7kg DM/d of one of six (treatments 1-6) compound foods from 39d after calving, for eight weeks. All rations were isoenergetic, assuming silage intake of 11kg DM/d (typical for the herd). Ratios between MP supply (calculated from in situ protein degradability measurements) and requirement (calculated for a standard cow: 565kg live weight, 281 milk/d, 40g/kg butterfat, 33g/kg milk protein, liveweight change =0kg/d) were 1.00, 1.02, 1.06, 1.06, 1.1 and 1.17 for treatments 1-6, respectively.
Evaluation of a silage additive based on granular sulphuric acid
Authors: Breeze A H
Published: January 2018

Additives based on acids, have been widely used. Rather than encouraging latic acid fermentation, these act by partially, or completely, inhibiting microbial growth. With continuing concern over the safety aspects of these products, many farmers have tried inoculants, which encourage a lactic acid fermentation. However, in good silage making conditions, inoculants like other additives have not shown any consistent benefits in terms of silage fermentation or intakes. In poor silage making conditions, the industry still relies on tried and tested acid products to ensure adequate preservation of silage.

A new granular additive is now being evaluated. Its use is not to supress fermentation, but to supplement the natural fermentation by the addition of 1500 g/kg of sulphuric acid. This study was carried out to compare this additive with an untreated control and a positive control, formic acid.
Prediction of the Voluntary Intake of Grass Silages by Sheep from Rumen Degradation Characteristics measured by the Polyester Fibre Bag or by Gas Production
Authors: Morrin M.J. , Rooke J.A. , Offer N.W. , Hovell F.D.deB.
Published: January 2018

Various studies have reported that the voluntary intake (VFI) of hays (Hovell, Ngambi, Barber & Kyle. 1986, Khazaal, Dentinho, Ribeiro & 0rskov. 1993) and straws (Ørskov, Reid & Kay 1988, Blummel & Ørskov, 1993) is predicted better by rumen degradation characteristics than by whole tract digestibility. Prediction of grass silage VFI is in general poor but is related to both whole tract digestibility and silage fermentation characteristics. However no attempts have been made to relate silage VFI to rumen degradation characteristics. It was the purpose of this study to attempt to predict silage VFI from rumen degradation characteristics measured using either the polyester bag technique or the in vitro Menke gas production technique.
Effect of level of urea treatment of straw offered with grass silage on the performance of dairy cattle
Authors: Iqbal M. , Leaver J.D.
Published: January 2018

Crop by-products are used as ruminants feeds in many parts of the world, but their high content of lignocellulose and low content of protein limits their use in productive farming systems. The nutritive value and utilization of low quality roughage can be improved by treatment with alkali. Urea is a safe and more readily available chemical than caustic soda in many countries. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of level of urea treated wheat straw in combination with grass silage offered to dairy cattle.
Protein supplementation of different silages for growing steers
Authors: Sargeant A. , Daniel G. , McAllan A.B.
Published: January 2018

Supplementation of silage diets with fish meal (a low rumen degradable protein) has resulted in increased live-weight gains in steers (England & Gill, 1985). This response has been attributed to increased dietary protein escaping degradation in the rumen and being digested in the small intestine. Fish meal however is expensive in monetary terms. More recent work (Jacobs and McAllan, 1992) showed that rapeseed meal (a highly rumen degradable protein) supplementation of silage diets given to growing steers resulted in significant increases in live-weight gains similar to those obtained with fish meal supplements. The response to rapeseed meal was probably a result of enhanced microbial protein synthesis in the rumen as a result of synchrony of available energy and nitrogen nutrients, thus increasing microbial (and hence) total protein flow to the small intestines, producing a similar overall response to fish meal. The object of this experiment was to further evaluate the use of rapeseed meal as an alternative to fish meal

Two silages, 60D (low digestibility, L) and 70D (high digestibility, H) were prepared from minimum wilt first cut perennial ryegrass (mixed sward). The grass was cut with a disc mower and picked up with a precision chop harvester.
Influence of African Multipurpose Trees on Activity of Rumen Protozoa and Bacteria in Vitro
Authors: Newbold C. J. , El Hassan S. M. , Wallace R. J. , Chen X-B. , Goodchild A. V. , Arthaud L.
Published: January 2018

The engulfment and digestion of bacteria by ciliate protozoa leads to elevated ruminal ammonia concentrations and reduced microbial protein flow from the rumen. Thus it has been suggested that the removal of protozoa from the rumen (defaunation) may be beneficial in animals fed low protein diets (Bird and Leng, 1978). However, existing laboratory methods for defaunation are unsuitable for practical usage. Here we investigated the effects of leaves from various African multipurpose trees (MPT) on the activities of rumen bacteria and protozoa in the hope of identifying naturally occurring defaunating agents.

Protozoa are responsible for over 90% of the bacterial protein turnover in the rumen (Wallace and McPherson, 1987), thus the breakdown of bacterial protein was used as an assay of protozoal activity. [14CJ-Leucine-labelled Selenomonas ruminantium was incubated in vitro with rumen fluid taken from four rumen-fistulated sheep receiving a diet of hay, molasses, fishmeal and a mineral and vitamin mixture (500, 299.5,100,91 and 9.5 g/kg respectively). Wheat straw (40 mg/ml) or a 70:30 mixture of straw and MPT was added 2 h before the addition of labelled bacteria. Samples were removed hourly for up to 4 h to follow bacterial degradation. Unlabelled leucine (2.5 mM) was added to the rumen fluid to prevent reincorporation of [14C]-leucine.
Relationship Between Polyphenolics and the in Vitro Fermentability of Tropical Forage Legumes
Authors: Longland A.C. , Theodorou M.K. , Powell C , Gill M.
Published: January 2018

Forage legumes are a potentially important source of dietary energy and protein for ruminants in the tropics. However, the nutritive value of such legumes can be depressed by their polyphenolic content. The effects of these compounds include inhibition of fermentation in the rumen and complexing with enzymes, dietary protein and fibre.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the total polyphenolic (TP), total condensed tannin (TCT), bound condensed tannin (BCT) and soluble condensed tannin (SCT) contents of forage legumes and their fermentability in vitro.

Leaf samples from eleven species of tropical forage legume were collected from Colombia (six species) and Ethiopia (five species). Lyophilised, milled samples of each of the eleven species (1 g x 5 replicates) were placed in gas-tight culture bottles containing an anaerobic medium inoculated with bovine rumen fluid. The cultures were incubated under anaerobic conditions for a total of 7 d h at 39°C.
To determine the effect of feeding n ‘protected’ soyabean meal on milk production in high yielding dairy cows
Authors: Mansbridge R J
Published: January 2018

In the UK the majority of dairy cow diets are based on grass silage and tend to over supply effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP ) as defined by the Metabolisable Protein (MP) system. As a result the nutritionist is often required to make up a shortfall in digestible undegraded protein (DUP) supply, particularly in diets for high yielding cows. Sources of additional dietary DUP fall into two categories: - vegetable or animal in origin. The DUP content of fishmeal is significantly higher than any of the naturally occurring vegetable proteins and the industry has been searching for some time for ways of improving the DUP content of vegetable proteins.

In a novel treatment process soyabean meal is incubated at low temperature overnight in a solution of lignosulphonate. The treated meal undergoes a maillard reaction which reduces the extent of degradability in the rumen but does not affect digestibility in the small intestine.
The Effect of Level of Supplement Feeding and Source of Protein on Milk Production and Nutrient Flows of Dairy Cows
Authors: O'Mara F.P. , Murphy J.J. , Rath M.
Published: January 2018

Milk protein synthesis may be limited by amino acid (AA) flow to the duodenum. This can be increased by increasing the flow of microbial AA's or undegraded feed AA's. This experiment was carried out to determine the effect on milk production and nutrient flows at the duodenum of including fishmeal (120g/kg) in the supplement to grass silage at two levels of supplement feeding.

The treatments, arranged in a 2x2 factorial, were 1.) 3.5 kg/day of 0% fishmeal supplement (L-UDP), 2.) 7 kg/day of L-UDP, 3.) 3.5 kg/day of 12% fishmeal supplement (H-UDP), and 4.) 7 kg/day of H-UDP. Supplements were fed to 3 6 Friesian cows in a 4x4 multiple Latin-square trial with three week periods to determine production responses, and to four ruminally and duodenally cannulated cows to determine rumen fermentation and nutrient flows. Flows were determined by the dual marker technique of Faichney (1975) using cobalt-EDTA and ytterbium acetate as liquid and solid phase markers respectively. Purines were used as the bacterial marker (Zinn and Owens, 1986). Degradability of the feeds was measured in 3 other cows using the small bag technique described by De Boer et al. (1987).
Effects of Nutrition and Weaning on Immune Responses in Calves: Implications for Welfare Assessment
Authors: Mackenzie A. M. , Rowan T. G. , Carter S. D. , Dixon J. B. , Tebble J.
Published: January 2018

Calf rearing systems vary greatly in the quantity of milk substitute fed and in the age of the calf at weaning (Webster, 1986). Husbandry conditions can affect disease incidence and welfare of young, bucket-fed calves and Andrews (1979) has suggested a relationship between age at weaning and disease incidence. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of level of milk substitute powder fed and the age at weaning on the immune responses of bucket-reared calves compared with naturally suckled calves.

Two groups of 20 calves were kept at the Veterinary Field Station, University of Liverpool. All calves received pooled mixed-source colostrum at birth and were then randomly allocated to one of five treatment groups. After colostrum, bucket-reared calves were introduced to milk substitute (Volac Easi-Mix) which was reconstituted at 125g ADM per litre of water and fed twice daily. Calves were housed in individual pens arranged in four blocks with wood shavings as bedding. Suckled calves remained with their dams and were housed in the rear of the same building. These calves had access to a calf creep area. All calves were introduced to Keystart Quicklettes (BOCM Silcock) at 7 days of age and fedad libitum. Small quantities of water and silage were also provided from 7 days of age. Table 1 lists the treatment groups, level of milk substitute received (g ADM/day), age of the calf at weaning and at inoculation with antigen (KLH), and also the age of the calf when the skin sensitivity response was measured.
Intake and Digestibility of Silage by Pregnant Sows and Effects of Silage Treatment with Maxgrass Additive
Authors: Edwards S A , Weddell J , Fordyce C , Cadenhead A , Rooke J
Published: January 2018

Grass silage provides an alternative feed for extensively kept sows, but previous experiments have indicated very variable intake and utilisation, dependant on silage quality. ‘Maxgrass’ silage additive (BP Nutrition) is a blend of compounds including ammonium hexamethanoate, ammonium hexapropanoate and octanoic acid. It is designed to modify fermentation, so that the resulting silage retains a higher proportion of water soluble carbohydrates. This should improve the nutritive value for pigs.

The experiment comprised two parts: an intake/growth study and a separate digestibility study. The same two experimental silages, either treated with Maxgrass or an untreated control, were offered to groups of pregnant sows in a randomised block experimental design in each experiment. Second cut, mainly perennial ryegrass herbage was cut by mower conditioner and direct ensiled. Alternate loads were left untreated or treated with Maxgrass at a mean rate of 6.04 litres/tonne.
Effect of Different Lysine:Energy Ratios in the Diet on Performance and Rebreeding of Lactating Gilts
Authors: Peral P. , Edwards S.A. , Roden J.A. , Mora J. , Ortega A. , McPherson O , English P.R. , Davidson F.M. , Bamlett R.
Published: January 2018

Litter size and milk yield have been significantly increased in modern genotypes and gilts are now lactating at a stage when they still have the potential for substantial maternal lean tissue growth. Voluntary intakes are seldom adequate to meet the nutrient requirements for lactation, and catabolism of body tissue occurs. It is possible that higher ratios of ideal protein to energy are desirable in the first lactation to balance the energy contributed by fat catabolism. This possibility was tested in a controlled experiment.

The study was conducted in a large commercial herd with Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) first cross sows which had been mated to LW, LR, LW x LR and Duroc boars. Three lactation diets were formulated, one being close to current recommendations for modern, high producing sows (Diet A) while diets B and C had, respectively a 9 and 33 percent higher ratio of lysine to digestible energy. The diets were based mainly on cereals (barley and wheat), both extracted and full-fat rape seed meal, soya bean meal and biscuit meal. The calculated nutrient content of the diets is presented in Table 1.
Effect of the Inclusion of an Extruded Mixture in the Diets of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Baucells M.D. , Serrano X. , Puchal F.
Published: January 2018

For over 50 years extrusion has been used as a method for processing human food. However during the last 10-15 years significant advances have been made in the development and application of extrusion technology, particularly in the pet and fish food industries. Extrusion may become economically advantageous and thus an strategy to be considered by feed manufacturers which applies to several farm livestock (Partridge and Gill, 1993). Cereals and oilseeds extruded mixtures based diets for young pigs fall into this category even though currently they are not commonly used by swine producers.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects on the performance and apparent faecal digestibility of weaned piglets of a diet with or without inclusion of an extruded mixture of 2 cereals (maize and wheat) and full-fat soyabeans.
Nutritional limitations to growth in the post-weaned piglet
Authors: Dams G , Edwards B , Tibble S , Toplis P , Close W H
Published: January 2018

Weaning is a considerable challenge to the young piglet and represents the beginning of a critical period in its life. It is also the period which has a significant effect upon both short- and long-term growth and development. Rapid early growth results in higher and more efficient growth in the subsequent growing and finishing periods. Indeed, it is a common commercial experience that the ability to produce quality lean carcases from fast-growing modern genotypes is enhanced by rapid post-weaning growth. The objective of the current trial was to measure the performance and growth potential of modern pig genotypes in the 5-week post-weaning period, when offered non-limiting diets under commercial conditions.
Effect of Age at First Mating on Lifetime Performance of Sows Under two Weaning Regimes
Authors: Lynch P.B. , Hanrahan T.J. , Arkins S.
Published: January 2018

The effect of age at first mating on lifetime reproductive performance of sows has been examined by Brooks and Smith (1980). They concluded that early mating had no adverse effects on later fertility and resulted in greater overall efficiency of feed utilisation. This may not be true in modern intensive production systems where early weaning results in depressed litter size (Clark and Leman, 1986).

Gilts were reared in groups of eight under an ad libitum feeding system and isolated from male pigs from 30 kg live weight until boar exposure at 200, 220 or 240 days of age (= B200, B220 and B240). Groups were transferred intact to the breeding area at the appropriate age. A mature boar was penned in the house, allowed in the pen with the gilts for 1-2 hours daily for the first 3 days and later only under supervision to allow heat detection. Animals were mated at the first observed oestrus after boar exposure. Those not mated by 35 days after boar exposure were culled.
Tissue Deposition of Zinc from a Zinc Chelate and from Inorganic Zinc in Rats
Authors: Ronan Power  , Kevin Cashman  , Albert Flynn
Published: January 2018

Some reports have suggested differential tissue deposition of dietary trace minerals such as Zinc (Zn) when supplied to farm animals either chelated to amino acids or as inorganic salts. To test this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted to determine the ultimate tissue distribution of Zinc in rats fed either a radioactively-labeled 65Zn-chelate or 65ZnSO4. The 65Zn-chelate was prepared by heating a solution of 65ZnSO4 and an equimolar mixture of glycine and methionine for 5 minutes at 90°C. The resulting chelate was then separated from unincorporated 65ZnSO4 by gel filtration chromatography. Ten 25-d old male wistar rats (mean weight 34.5 g) were randomized by weight into two groups (n = 5/group), fasted for 18 hours and given 0.4 ml (8 μg Zn, 1 μCi65Zn) of one or other labelled solution by gavage. Four hours later, animals were returned to their normal diet for the duration of the experiment. The 65Zn activity of the animals was determined two hours after administration and daily thereafter for 7 days.
The behaviour of laying hens housed in the perchery system
Authors: Gebreyes A , Michie W , Petchey A M
Published: January 2018

The perchery (barn) design for laying hens utilises the vertical space within a building which is occupied by the perches, slatted sections with feeders and drinkers all at several levels. There are also dust bathing areas and roll-away nest boxes. This arrangement allows the stocking density to be increased to 17 birds/m2. Consequently, capital costs are reduced and optimum environmental temperatures can be achieved. These two considerations give this system a marked advantage when compared with a deep litter system. The perchery system also gives the hens freedom of movement and allows them to exhibit their natural behaviours, such as wing stretching, dust bathing and nesting. Thereby, overcoming the objections made to housing hens in battery cages. This study was done to determine the use of resources within the perchery by laying hens and to compare their body condition at the end of the laying period.
Effects of molassed sugar beet feed on pigmeat quality
Authors: Nute G.R. , Wood J.D. , Whittington F.M. , Kay R.M. , Perrott J.G.
Published: January 2018

It is now accepted that variations in the concentration of skatole in fat tissue are important for the odour and flavour characteristics of pigmeat. Higher values lead to more complaints of ‘off odours’ and taints. Certain husbandry systems and diets have been implicated as producing high skatole concentrations whereas a previous study showed that increasing the concentration of a highly fermentable fibre source such as sugar beet feed reduced skatole levels (Wood, Longland, Enser and Nute, 1993). This was a surprising finding based on the literature (Lundstrom, Malmfors, Malmfors, Stern, Petersson, Mortensen and Sorensen, 1988) and this study was done to provide confirmatory information.

Forty-eight pigs, equal numbers of males and females, were fed a concentrate diet (15.3 MJDE, 215g crude protein per kg) containing different proportions of molassed sugar beet feed (MSBF) between 25 and 85 kg live weight. The proportions were 0, 150, 200 and 250 g/kg MSDF and 12 pigs in each treatment were fed ad libitum.
Effects of pasture type and weaning on weight loss during cooking of roast lamb leg joints and grilled chops
Authors: Vipond J E , Marie S
Published: January 2018

Weight loss on cooking contributes to the perceived value for money of lamb sold as chops or joints. Information on this attribute was monitored in the course of eating quality assessments made on cooked meat. Several factors are known to affect the weight loss of meat during cooking, greater loss occurring with increased time spent cooking and with increase in surface fat (Burfoot, 1987). Studies have shown differences between cuts in weight loss on cooking but effects due to dietary treatments are not known.

Joints and chops from lambs reared on three pasture types and two weaning treatments were roasted or grilled and weight loss during cooking studied. Eight lambs were reared from birth to slaughter at 20 weeks (off mother) on either diploid perennial ryegrass (D), tetraploid perennial ryegrass (T) or tetraploid ryegrass/white clover (TC). Another group of 24 grazed for a further 8-9 weeks after weaning on the three pasture types and were then slaughtered (off pasture).
Effects of short-term high-level feeding of vitamin e on colour shelf life in beef
Authors: Vega L. , Taylor A.A. , Wood J.D. , Angold M.
Published: January 2018

When fresh beef discolours, retailers either offer it at a discount to encourage sales or transform it into a processed product, in both cases incurring a loss in value. The bright red colour of meat is associated with the presence on the surface of oxygenated myoglobin (oxymyoglobin). The less desirable brown discoloration which develops in meat is due to oxidative changes transforming oxymyoglobin into metmyoglobin.

Various attempts have been made to reduce pigment oxidation in beef including supplementation of the diet with vitamin E. This is absorbed and incorporated into the cellular membranes where performs its antioxidant function, slowing pigment oxidation. The results of these experiments demonstrate how vitamin E supplementation improves colour stability and extends colour shelf life.

Packing meat in modified atmospheres, combining high concentrations of oxygen with carbon dioxide (i.e. 0.7 O2 + 0.3 CO2) has been shown to be very effective in extending colour life. Metmyoglobin formation is minimised by the high level of O2 and the high CO2 concentration inhibits bacterial growth.
Eating quality of beef from different breeds
Authors: Lowe D B , Cuthbertson A , Homer D L M , McMenamin P
Published: January 2018

1.

Major changes have taken place in the beef industry over recent years - in particular, the introduction of several continental breeds which have the potential for producing larger and leaner carcases. The Canadian Holstein has also been used extensively in the dairy industry, replacing British Friesians, with the result that beef cross carcasses from the dairy herd have tended to be larger and have poorer conformation.

2.

As a consequence of these changes there is concern in the industry that beef of poorer eating quality is now being produced. For this reason, and to aid in the development of MLC's Blueprint for beef eating quality, this trial was set up in collaboration with Genus to evaluate the eating quality of two traditional British beef breeds and four continental breeds slaughtered at different fatness levels.

3.

All progeny included in the trial were from Holstein Friesian type dams. They were sired by the following breeds:- Limousin (LM), Charolais (CH), Belgian Blue (BB), Piemontese (PM), Aberdeen Angus (AA) or Hereford (HF) and were finished on an 18 month beef production system.
Characterisation of behavioural types in pigs: The relationship between behaviour in an open field situation and social rank
Authors: Spoolder H.A.M. , Burbidge J.A. , Lawrence A.B. , Simmins P.H. , Edwards S.A.
Published: January 2018

Abnormal behaviour can be caused by the animal's inability appropriately to express its “needs” (Hughes and Duncan, 1988) in modern husbandry circumstances. In pigs, close confinement and food restriction results in the development of abnormal stereotypies in some animals, but not in all. Individual temperament may influence the development of such behaviour and cause animals to cope differently with environmental stress (Terlouw et al., 1990). By determining an animal's temperament using individual behavioural characteristics, it may be possible to predict the response of a temperament “type” to certain conditions.

This study is part of a larger project concerned with the effects of housing and food level on the development of behaviours in group-housed sows. All the gilts entered a series of tests to measure individual characteristics prior to the main experiment. Two of the tests, one assessing an individual's response to a novel object and the other measuring social behaviour, are compared here.
Observations on dynamic groups of sows in semi-outdoor systems, effects of communal floor feeding versus individual voluntary stalls
Authors: Walker N.
Published: January 2018

A semi-outdoor system may provide low cost housing for non lactating sows in high rainfall regions where full outdoor systems are impossible. Two other means of minimising capital costs are dynamic grouping and communal floor feeding. These elements were incorporated into a pilot study using a dynamic group of 24 sows with a replacement rate of 5 sows every 2 weeks. One group of new entrants received so much aggression in the enclosed feeding arena that they subsequently refused to enter voluntarily and failed to integrate with residents in the straw-bedded house, preferring to nest as a sub group at the furthest end of the outdoor paddock. This failure may have been due to the enclosed feeding arrangements and/or to the size and replacement rate of the dynamic group. Experience with the pilot study lead to the experiment reported here in which two feeding systems were compared.
The effects of shepherding and nutritional inputs in an extensive hill sheep system
Authors: Pattinson S. E. , Waterhouse A. , Wyllie J.T.B.
Published: January 2018

There is increasing pressure on hill farmers to reduce stock numbers on the hills. With such a reduction in sheep numbers, farmers would have the option of either maintaining or reducing management and physical inputs. In general, current extensive hill sheep farming systems are characterised by low stocking densities, low inputs and high lamb mortality.

The trial was conducted as part of a work programme studying extensive systems. Compared to a system with very low inputs this trial examined the effects of increasing inputs, in terms of supplementary feeding in late pregnancy and shepherding at lambing.

Within an extensive hill fanning system (0.66 ewes/ha) two hundred ewes were allocated to one of two nutritional treatments in late pregnancy together with the provision or absence of shepherding at lambing in a 2x2 factorial design. All the ewes were of the Scottish Blackface breed and were mated on the open hill without access to improved grazing. Ewes remained on the hill until mid-pregnancy at which stage they were assigned to either Group H (supplementation with feedblocks, low forage availability) or Group L (minimal supplementation, high forage availability). Group L continued to graze on the open hill whilst Group H were confined to a hill park (approximately 45 ha).
Beans (vicia faba) as a finishing supplement for hill lambs under organic management
Authors: Murray W M , Keatinge R
Published: January 2018

Silage finishing systems have been developed for store lambs, the type and level of supplement required depending on the quality of forage available (Butler, 1985). Under the requirements laid down by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS), restrictions are made on both the total quantity of concentrates and the protein source fed. While some work has been carried out on alternative sources of protein in the diets of finishing lambs (Yilala and Bryant, 1985), little informantion is available on the use of beans under UK conditions.

The objective of this experiment was to assess the potential of beans as an alternative protein source for lambs fed to UKROFS standards on a basal ration of baled silage.

One hundred and forty four approximately six month old Scottish Blackface wether lambs (mean liveweight 33.6 kg, se = 0.23) were housed off silage aftermaths. Following an acclimatisation period of twelve days, these were randomly allocated in pens of 12 to one of four treatment groups depending on the type of concentrate fed - beans (B), 50/50 barley/beans (BB), barley/soya (BS) and barley/fishmeal (BF). A mineralised supplement of 400 g of concentrate was fed daily in each case. Moderate quality baled silage (dry matter (DM) 307 g/kg, metabolisable energy 9.4 MJ/kg DM, crude protein 129 g/kg DM) was available to appetite, with fresh material offered twice daily. The barley component of the rations was rolled: beans were fed whole.
In vitroFibre production and protein deposition in secondary hair follicles of the cashmere and angora goat
Authors: Lee D R , Galbraith H , Scaife J R
Published: January 2018

Hair fibre represents an important biological process to many feral and domesticated animals, both for environmental protection and as an aid to thermoregulation. Mohair which is the fine fibre produced by secondary hair follicles of the Angora goat grows essentially independent of season, with typical growth rates of 0.5-1 .0mm/day and annual yields typically 2-3kg. In contrast, down production from secondary hair follicles of double coated goats, classified as cashmere, is dependent on season. Fibre grows from around the summer to the winter solstice or later, with growth rates in this period of 0.3-0.7mm/day and annual yields maximally 600g but typically less than 100g. Questions arise as to how the seasonal stimuli affect fibre growth, and what determines the differences in fibre production between the two genotypes at the follicle level.

In the work described here, based on thein vitroisolation and culture technique developed for the Angora and Cashmere goats by Ibraheemet al(1993, 1992 repectively) we have compared fibre volume producedin vivoandin vitro, examined the DNA concentration and protein depositional capacities of mohair and cashmere secondary follicles. In addition the effects of the hormones prolactin and melatonin as mediators of photoperiodin vivo, onin vitroprotein deposition in mohair and cashmere secondary hair follicles are also examined.
Effects of Body Condition and Level of Nutrition Before Mating on Fertility of Awassi Ewes
Authors: Filo S , Goodchild A V , Treacher T T
Published: January 2018

Surveys of flocks in the Near East have shown that lambing percentages of Awassi ewes are rarely above 85% and often as low as 65%. This is a major cause of the low output of sheep systems in the region. The low fertility results from a combination of poor nutrition, poor management, disease and possibly the effects of high temperatures at mating, which generally occurs in mid-summer.

Studies by Kassem et al (1989) and Thomson and Bahhady (1988) indicated that the reproductive performance of Awassi ewes is affected by body condition at mating. Neither of these studies was specifically designed to investigate the effects of weight or body condition and level of nutrition before mating on reproduction in Awassi ewes. The experiment reported here is the second in a series specifically designed to investigate the effects of body condition at mating, and level of nutrition before and after mating, on the fertility of Awassi ewes.
The Effect of Concentrate Supplementation and Prolificacy on Hay Intake and Performance of Pregnant Manchega Ewes
Authors: Gasa J. , Prio P. , Ferret A. , Caja G.
Published: January 2018

Factors influencing voluntary forage intake in ewes during the last two months of gestation are not sufficiently documented. The effects of hay quality and level of concentrate were studied by Orr and Treacher (1984) but other factors such as prolificacy or level of body reserves are poorly understood (Theriez et al., 1987). Furthermore most of the results come from animals kept in individual pens abolishing the effect of behavioural interactions. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effect of the number of gestated lambs and level of concentrate on voluntary intake of hay by ewes kept in a group.

A flock of 120 multiparous Manchega dairy ewes were synchronised using intravaginal progestagen and injected with 400 IU of PMSG (Chronogest, Intervet). After ultrasonic pregnancy diagnosis at 60 d after mating (Toshiba Sonolayer, Mod.Sad-32B, 5.0 MHz), two groups of 30 twin or single pregnant ewes were selected and distributed in a factorial design 2x2x3. Factors were number of foetus (S = l, T=2) and level of concentrate (H=600 g/d, L=300 g/d) with 3 replicates of 5 ewes each.
Comparative Performance of Castrated Male Lambs from two Crossing-Sire Breeds
Authors: Merrell B G , Hedley B A
Published: January 2018

Finished lamb production in the UK is based upon the use of terminal sire breeds, selected for carcass characteristics, mated to crossbred ewes, chosen for maternal attributes. Previous experiments have shown that even where good quality terminal sires were used too high a proportion of finished lambs produced carcasses of moderate quality (Merrell, Webster and Ellis 1990; Merrell 1993). Ultimately, an improvement in the carcass attributes of crossbred ewes should help to alleviate this problem. A long term experiment which aims to compare the performance of crossbred ewes bred from two crossing-sire breeds was set up in 1989. During the first phase of this experiment (1989 - 1992) selected ewe lambs were retained to produce the two crossbred ewe flocks, surplus ewe lambs and all wether (castrated male) lambs were finished. Data are presented for finished wether lambs produced during this initial phase.
Assessment and Impact on BDS Positioning Performance Analysis of Recent BDS IGSO-6 Satellite
Authors: Lou Yidong , Li Xianjie , Zheng Fu , Liu Yang , Guo Hailin
Published: January 2018

The BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) has been providing a regional service in the Asia–Pacific area since 27 December 2012, and a new Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit (IGSO) satellite IGSO-6 joined the 14-satellite constellation in operation on 29 March 2016. In this paper, the signal and positioning performance of IGSO-6 are assessed. Compared with other IGSOs, the carrier-to-noise-density ratios of IGSO-6 show comparable performance for the B3 signal and a lower power level for the B2 signal, while the B1 signal is more powerful and has the lowest noise and multipath errors. The satellite-induced code bias of IGSO-6 was investigated and indicates that IGSO-6 has similar characteristics to other IGSOs. The different inter-frequency bias variations among IGSOs with daily periodicity are demonstrated. The BDS positioning performances with IGSO-6 were investigated in Single Point Positioning (SPP) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) modes at the 95% confidence level. For SPP, there was an improvement of about 4·9% and 3·6% in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively. The convergence time was improved by about 18·3% and 17·8% in the horizontal and vertical components for positioning accuracy to be better than 50 cm, respectively.