bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of two ultrasonic instruments for the prediction of carcass lean grade in growing pigs
Authors: Krieter J. , Kalm E.
Published: September 2010

Ultrasonic probe data were available on 199 crossbred pigs (98 females, 101 barrows). These animals were probed at approximately 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120 kg live weight with two probing instruments (Krautkramer USM2, Combison 310) at three sites along the back. The measurements were examined as predictors of the proportion of valuable cuts (part dissection) and estimated lean concentration (at 100 and 120 kg live weight).

The standard deviations for proportion of valuable cuts (after correcting for sex effects) were 24·8, 26·7, 23·4, 27·1 and 29·4 g/kg at 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120 kg. Residual s.d. for predicting proportion of valuable cuts from live weight and ultrasonic probes (Combison, quotient fat to muscle area) were 190, 20·9, 19·3, 213 and 19·6. For the USM2, the residual s.d.s were 19·2, 26·3, 19·9, 25·1 and 24·6. Thus the Combison probe provided a better prediction of proportion of valuable cuts. The standard deviations of estimated lean concentration as determined by a Fat-O-Meater reflectance probe were 28·9 and 39·3 at 100 and 120 kg live weight. The residual s.d.s from live weight and ultrasonic measurements were 15·4 and 19·2 for the Combison probe and 21·5 and 20·5 for the USM2 probe. If the estimated lean concentration is accepted as a selection objective the value of ultrasonic probes as criteria in selection indices will increase.
Growth and furring of mink (Mustela vison) given diets containing the β-adrenergic agonist, cimaterol
Authors: Slayden O. , Oldfield J. E. , Stormshak F.
Published: September 2010

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cimaterol, a β-adrenergic agonist, on growth, carcass characteristics and pelt quality of kit mink. The 40 standard dark and 40 sapphire mink kits were assigned to a control or to one of three treatment groups (five males and five females of each colour phase per group). Treatment consisted of the inclusion of 0·5, 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg (dry) of a standard ranch mink diet (control). All animals were weighed at the initiation of the experiment (24 July) and at 28-day intervals until 16 October. At slaughter (12 December) body weights were recorded and pelts measured for length and evaluated for fur colour and quality by experienced fur graders. Samples of fur from similar sites on each animal were removed for measurement of guard hair and underfur diameter. Frozen carcasses were analysed for protein and fat content. Mink final weight decreased with increasing concentrations of dietary cimaterol (P < 0·05). Pelt length, which was found to be highly correlated with body size, was also reduced by cimaterol treatment. Feeding 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg diet to male kits, and 5 mg/kg to female kits caused a significant reduction in the proportion of carcass fat and increased the proportion of carcass protein (P < 0·05). Fur fibre diameter for both guard hair and underfur was not significantly affected by dietary cimaterol. There was also no significant effect of cimaterol treatment on fur quality. Cimaterol treatment did not result in diversion of nutrients from body proteins to the synthesis of fur and pelt proteins. Results of this research indicate that oral administration of cimaterol to mink will be of little practical value in fur production.
A note on the response of store lambs to iso-nitrogenous diets containing rapeseed meal or fish meal
Authors: Tan P. V. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

Live-weight gain responses were investigated using 36 individually penned lambs (mean live weight 35·2 kg) given three sodium hydroxide treated straw-based diets: low-protein, low-rapeseed meal (control) diet; high protein, high-rapeseed meal (HR) diet; or high-protein, fish meal (FM) diet. The diets were formulated to provide 3 or 9 g undegradable nitrogen per kg dry matter (DM) respectively for the diets without or with fish meal. Diets were offered once a day in a 50: 50 forage-to-concentrate ratio in amounts calculated to support maintenance plus 150 g gain and were adjusted weekly according to live weight. Live-weight gain, measured for 7 weeks, was improved by the FM diet only (P < 0·05).

The three diets were given also to rumen-fistulated sheep. The FM diet maintained higher rumen ammonia concentrations during most of the day. The FM and HR diets reduced rumen solid particle outflow rate (P < 0·05) and increased the effective degradability of DM and acid-detergent fibre.
Predicting food intake in dairy heifers from early lactation records
Authors: Simm G. , Persaud P. , Neilson D. R. , Parkinson H. , McGuirk B. J.
Published: September 2010

Nucleus breeding schemes for dairy cattle give opportunities for selection on characteristics other than milk production, such as food intake or efficiency, and for the application of reproductive technologies such as embryo transfer. The emphasis in such schemes involving embryo transfer will be on early lactation measurements of production and food intake, to minimize generation intervals. The aim of this study was to examine the value of early lactation measurements of food intake and other characteristics in predicting longer-term food intake. Intakes of a complete diet, offered ad libitum, were available for 101 heifers up to week 38 of lactation, from the Edinburgh School of Agriculture's Langhill herd. Partial correlations between weekly dry-matter (DM) or metabolizable energy (ME) intakes in early lactation and cumulated intakes to week 38 of lactation, after fitting year and month of calving as fixed effects, and proportion of Holstein blood as a covariate, ranged from 0·27 for week 1, to 0·70 for week 12. Cumulated ME intakes, up to week 38, were regressed on shorter measures of ME intake, together with fat plus protein yield in weeks 1 to 10 of lactation. Other independent variables, such as point estimates of, or changes in, live weight, condition score and backfat depth did not further increase the precision of prediction. The means and standard deviations for milk yield, DM intake and ME intake up to week 38 of lactation were 5877 (s.d. 1087) kg, 4070 (s.d. 400) kg and 51579 (s.d. 4614) MJ respectively. For a fixed duration of intake recording, measurements taken later in lactation gave the most precise prediction of 38-week ME intake (e.g. residual s.d.s from models including 4-week cumulated ME intakes in weeks 1 to 4, 3 to 6 and 5 to 8 of lactation were 2865, 2636 and 2501 MJ respectively, with R2 values of 0·62, 0·67 and 0·71). Shorter periods of intake recording started in week 5 of lactation gave slightly more precise prediction than longer periods of recording started in weeks 1 to 4 (e.g. residual s.d.s from models including cumulative ME intakes in weeks 1 to 10, 3 to 10 and 5 to 10 were 2391, 2298 and 2277 respectively, with R2 values of 0·69, 0·75 and 0·76). These results have implications for the cost: benefit of food intake recording in breeding schemes.
Genetic and phenotypic parameters for yield, food intake and efficiency of dairy cows fed ad libitum 1. Estimates for ‘total’ lactation measures and their relationship with live-weight traits
Authors: Persaud P. , Simm G. , Hlll W. G.
Published: September 2010

Records on milk yield, fat plus protein yield, food intake, food efficiency, calving live weight and mean live weight, up to 26 and 38 weeks of lactation, were obtained from dairy cows, fed ad libitum, in the Edinburgh School of Agriculture's Langhill herd. The data were divided into first and later lactations and restricted maximum likelihood analyses carried out on heifer, cow and pooled data, fitting an animal model, with repeat lactations as an additional random effect. Univariate analyses were done after canonical transformation of heifer data and approximate canonical transformation of cow and pooled data. Heritability estimates for food efficiency and food intake, from pooled data, were 0·13 (s.e. 0·09) and 0·37 (s.e. 0·11) for 26-week and 0·13 (s.e. 0·12) and 0·52 (s.e. 0·14) for 38-week lactation periods, respectively. Over the same periods, estimates for milk yield were 0·20 (s.e. 0·08) and 0·20 (s.e. 0·11), respectively. Estimates from the analyses of cow and heifer data separately were higher, as were their standard errors. Genetic correlations between milk production traits and efficiency, from the pooled data analysis, ranged from 0·44 to 0·61 and those between milk production traits and food intake from 0·32 to 0·74. Genetic correlations between live-weight traits and efficiency ranged from −0·81 to −;0·99, and those between food intake and live-weight traits from 0·28 to 0·46. The results indicate that when selection is on yield, the correlated responses in efficiency may be smaller under ad libitum feeding, compared with published values where cows were given food according to yield. Including live weight in the selection criterion may give higher responses in efficiency compared with selection on yield alone. In MOET nucleus schemes it may be worthwhile to include food intake or efficiency directly in the selection criteria.
Correlated changes in growth patterns and overall production efficiency following selection for testis size adjusted for body weight in young male lambs
Authors: Lee G. J. , Haley C. S. , Land R. B.
Published: September 2010

Two divergent lines of sheep were produced by selection on an index of testis diameter adjusted for body weight at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. There were correlated changes in growth patterns, such that animals in the high and low lines were of a similar weight at birth, but thereafter, the low line became progressively heavier than the high line. After 11 years of selection there was a 7-kg difference between the mean body weight of females in the two lines at 1·5 years of age and a 12-kg difference at 2·5 years. There was little evidence of any accompanying changes in body shape or in carcass composition. High-line females of all reproductive ages had a significantly higher fertility. High-line lambs had a significantly lower mortality and, at the end of selection, had an estimated probability of survival to 210 days of 0·25, 013 and 003 higher than in lambs from the low line, in lambs from 1-, 2- and 3-year-old dams respectively. The estimated number of lambs alive at 210 days per ewe mated was 0·30, 0·38 and 0·34 higher in the high line for ewes of 1, 2 and 3 years of age, but low-line lambs were 3 kg heavier on average at 210 days. The combined impact of improved ewe performance and changes in growth patterns led to a predicted greater production efficiency in the high line. It was estimated that, after 11 years of selection on the index of weight adjusted testis diameter, 0·62, 0·71 and 0·74 kg of high-line ewe at 1, 2 and 3 years of age, respectively, would be needed to produce the same weight of lamb at 210 days as 1 kg of low-line ewe. Improved ewe performance had a much larger impact on the changes in comparative efficiency than changes in growth patterns, but the contribution of the latter increased with age of ewe. Further experimental verification of the line differences in reproduction and lamb survival and study of their causes are needed. Nevertheless, these results indicate the promise of using indices of body weight and testis size to increase the efficiency of lamb production.
Sources of variation in myofibre number within and between litters of pigs
Authors: Dwyer C. M. , Stickland N. C.
Published: September 2010

A study of the determinants of inter- and intra-litter variation in muscle fibre number was carried out on five litters of Large White piglets. Fresh frozen, whole mid-belly sections ofm. semitendinosuswere stained to demonstrate acid-stable myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity. From these sections it was possible to identify which fibres had developed as primary and which as secondary fibres. Estimations of total muscle fibre number, total primary fibre number and ratio of secondary fibres to primary fibres were made for each animal. Results demonstrated that primary fibre number varied between litters (P<0·01) and was responsible for the variation in total muscle fibre number (P < 005) between litters since there was no significant variation in secondary: primary ratio. Within-litter differences in total fibre number could be attributed to both the secondary: primary ratio and primary fibre number, in almost equal contributions. However, when only the largest and smallest extremes of the litters were compared, variation in fibre number was due to the significant difference in the secondary: primary ratio (P<0·01). Taken as a whole, the results appear to show that primary fibre number is responsible for all the variation in muscle fibre number between litters, and also makes a significant contribution, with secondary: primary fibre ratio, to the variation present within a litter. The factors responsible for variations in primary and secondary fibre numbers are discussed.
A note on the variation of protein fractions in the milk of indigenous Greek goats (Capra prisca) during the milking period
Authors: Zygoyiannis D. , Katsaounis N.
Published: September 2010

The variation of protein fractions in the milk of indigenous Greek goats fCapra prisca) during the milking period was studied. Total nitrogen (TN), non-casein or soluble nitrogen (SN), rennet whey nitrogen (WN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN) were determined and from these analyses crude protein (CP), true protein (TP), casein (Cas) rennet casein or coagulable protein (Coag P) were calculated. The NPN component is lost during the cheese process whereas Cas and Coag P are important constituents of the cheese itself. The ratios NPNICP, CaslTP and Coag PITP throughout milking, were for the groups A and B 0·0646 and 0·0648 (s.e.d. = 0·00025), 0·846 and 0·845 (s.e.d. = 0·0141) and 0·916 and 0·904 (s.e.d. = 0·0112), respectively, suggesting a high level of suitability for conversion of milk into cheese.
A note on the post-weaning performance of autumn-born suckled calves
Authors: Osoro K. , Wright I. A.
Published: September 2010

Thirty-nine Charolais × (Hereford × Friesian) autumn-born calves, whose dams had been given either 92 or 63 MJ metabolizable energy per day during winter and subsequently grazed at two sward heights, either 4-8 (short) or 7·6 (tall) cm from 6 May until weaning on 3 July in a factorially designed experiment, were used to examine the effect of pre-weaning performance on post-weaning growth rates. Following weaning the calves grazed as one group for a period of 76 days. There was no effect of winter treatment on postweaning performance. From weaning until 76 days later there was a significant (P < 0·01) effect of pre-weaning sward height on live-weight gain (0·94 and 0·69 kg/day for the calves from the short and tall swards respectively), so that the 41 kg liveweight difference at weaning was reduced to 22 kg (P > 0·05) with compensatory growth occurring independently of the height of the sward grazed.
A note on effects of lambing at one year and farm production level on the performance of prolific ewes
Authors: Omar I. , Jordan C. , Smith C.
Published: September 2010

Data from a large field trial comparing the performance of contemporary crossbred ewes from traditional and experimental prolific rams were used to study two factors, (1) the influence of lambing at 1 yr of age on subsequent ewe performance and (2) the effect of level of farm performance on the difference between the traditional and the prolific types. Neither effect was found to be important.
The nutrition of the veal calf 5. Comparison of two margarine fats
Authors: Roy J. H. B. , Stobo I. J. F. , Gaston Helen J. , Shotton Susan M. , Ganderton P.
Published: September 2010

1. Twenty newborn Ayrshire male calves were used in a comparison of milk substitute diets containing two different margarine fats. The liquid diets were offered in two feeds daily ad libitum and the calves were slaughtered at 118 kg live weight.

2. The two diets consisted of reconstituted spray-dried skim milk powder containing 200 g margarine fat/kg. One fat contained coconut and palm oils (CP) and the other coconut, palm and groundnut oils (CPG). The essential fatty acid content of margarine CP was less than half that of margarine CPG.

3. The incidence of diarrhoea and of a high rectal temperature, and the severity of lung lesions tended to be higher, the incidence of nasal discharge was higher and daily dry-matter intake and liveweight gain were lower for calves given margarine CPG.

4. Digestibility and balance trials were made at 1, 4 and 10 weeks of age. Nitrogen balance and apparent digestibility of the fat and other nutrients were not affected by the source of margarine, but the digestibility of dry matter and of fat was highest at 4 weeks of age, and of protein was lowest at 1 week of age. Apparent absorption of ash and calcium declined with age and absolute calcium retention was highest at 4 weeks. Total plasma lipids at 13 weeks of age did not differ between treatments.

5. Age at slaughter was greater for calves given margarine CPG but dressed-carcass weight, killing-out percentage, perirenal fat deposition and kidney weight did not differ between treatments. Skin weight tended to be lower for the calves given margarine CPG. 6. It is suggested that the apparent increased susceptibility to infection of calves given margarine CPG was associated with its higher unsaturated fatty acid content.
A note on the utilization of the energy of the short-chain fatty acids in the fattening sheep
Authors: Lawrence P. R. , Thomas P. C.
Published: September 2010

Complete C, N and energy balances were carried out on two mature sheep receiving a basal diet of pelleted hay plus continuous intraruminal infusions of either water or 400 kcal/day of propionic acid, butyric acid or a mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate, for periods of 1 to 5 weeks. The efficiency of utilization for maintenance plus fattening of the basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with acetate, propionate or butyrate was 20·7 ± 1·0%, 28·3 ± 1·5%, 30·2 ± 0·5% and 31·3 ± 0·2%, respectively. The calculated efficiency of utilization for fattening (kf) of the infused energy sources was 69·9 ± 8·4%, 84·0 ± 3·4% and 86·0±2·0% for acetate, propionate and butyrate, respectively. In most instances kf did not vary with the length of the period of infusion but in one sheep there was an adverse response to the infusion of the acetate mixture, and during the first week of infusion kt was only 29·3%. During the third and fifth weeks of the infusion the corresponding values were 76±3% and 72±5%.
A note on the performance, carcass and muscle quality characteristics of pigs sired by Poland China and Large White boars
Authors: Chadwick J. P. , Smith W. C.
Published: September 2010

Two Poland China boars were mated with 12 Large White females and two Large White boars were used on the same number of females of similar background. In the post-weaning period a trial was conducted to compare the performance of purebred and crossbred progeny given a grower's diet on an ad libitum scale of feeding over the live-weight range 28 to 66 kg. Breed of boar did not influence litter size nor total litter weight at either birth or weaning. Poland China crosses compared with Large Whites grew more slowly to slaughter (10 %) but with equal efficiency of live-weight gain. Cross-breds had higher carcass yields (4 %), shorter (3 %) and deeper (2 %) carcasses, lower depths of mid-line and internal fat (11 %) and larger eye-muscle areas (22%). Breed of boar had little influence on joint proportions and no effect on carcass cut-out value. The eye muscles of crossbred carcasses were paler in colour and had higher transmission values but drip loss from the meat was not different.
The effects of temperature and type of floor on metabolic rate and effective critical temperature in groups of growing pigs
Authors: Verstegen M. W. A. , Van Der Hel W.
Published: September 2010

1. Six experiments each with 2 groups of 9 pigs (9 castrated males and 9 females), 26 to 31 kg initial weight, were kept in a large indirect calorimeter equipped with two identical pig pens. In each pen nine animals were housed for periods of 6 to 8 weeks. The floors tested were: asphalt, straw bedding on asphalt (25 mm straw on asphalt), and concrete slats. Two experiments, each of four periods, were performed on each of the floors. The temperature in the calorimeter was changed in stepwise fashion by 2 to 3°C at intervals of 2 to 3 days. In periods 1 and 3 the temperature was decreased stepwise from 20·23°C to 5·8°C, and in periods 2 and 4 in the reverse order. Gaseous exchange was measured at each of the temperatures for 48 hr. Feeding level was kept constant at about 1160 kJ meta-bolizable energy/kg0·75.day.

2. Heat production and energy balance per unit of feed intake were similar on all floors in the zone of thermoneutrality and the derived maintenance requirements were also similar with a mean value 438 kJ/kg0·75.

3. The effective critical temperature of animals weighing 40 kg was 11*5 to 13°C on straw bedding, 14 to 15°C on asphalt and 19 to 20°C on concrete slats.

4. At temperatures below the critical temperature heat production was increased. The increase in extra thermoregulatory heat production was on average 8·9 kJ/kg0·75 per °C below the effective critical temperature. Between the various floor types differences in this increase were noticed, but were not significant.

5. Body-weight gains on asphalt and straw bedding were similar; on concrete slats the body-weight gain was significantly reduced.
The effect of different proportions of dried grass and concentrates in the diet on voluntary intake and performance of calves
Authors: McCullough T. A.
Published: September 2010

Complete diets each containing (1) 0%, (2) 20%, (3) 40%, (4) 60% high-quality, (5) 20% and (6) 40% low-quality dried grass were given ad libitum to 48 British Friesian calves.

The performance of the animals was studied over the stages of growth from 50 to 100 kg and 150 to 200 kg live weight. At each stage of growth the live-weight gain was similar on all treatments while the daily intake of dry matter was significantly affected by the treatments. Over the stage of growth from 50 to 100 kg live weight the intake of metabolizable energy was greatest on treatment 2 and lowest on treatment 4. The conversion ratio of metabolizable energy decreased with increasing levels and with both qualities of dried grass over the weight range 50 to 100 kg.

When the calves reached 100 kg live weight, digestibility and N balance studies were carried out. The metabolizable energy (ME) expressed as a percentage of the gross energy decreased with increasing levels and with the lower quality of dried grass. Nitrogen retention was not significantly affected by treatment differences.

The relationships of the voluntary intake of dry matter, ME intake and the conversion ratio of ME with the ME expressed as a percentage of gross energy over the lower live-weight range are also presented.
A note on the use of sarcomere length measurements as predictors of longitudinal growth in skeletal muscles
Authors: Hegarty P. V. J.
Published: September 2010

Sarcomere length and fibre diameter were measured in thebiceps brachiiandsternomastoideusmuscles from 35 male mice (5·3-38·0 g body weight). The fore-limbs of each animal were either folded or stretched maximally immediately post mortem and allowed to go into rigor mortis in that position. Unfixed isolated fibres were separated and the sarcomere length and fibre diameter measured. Sarcomere length remained unchanged with increasing body weight irrespective of whether the muscles were in the folded or stretched position. Sarcomere length was shorter in the foldedbiceps brachii(P< 0·01) andsternomastoideus(P< 0·05) than in the corresponding stretched muscles at all body weights. The results indicate that sarcomere length cannot be used as an indicator of the longitudinal growth of muscle, and that limb position during rigor development is a significant factor in altering sarcomere length.
The effect on sow productivity of oestrus suppression following a two-day lactation
Authors: Walker N. , Eddie S. M.
Published: September 2010

Sows which had lactated for 2 days were allocated either to a control group or to a group in which oestrus was delayed by the administration of 75 mg methallibure per day for 12 consecutive days, followed by an intramuscular injection of 1000 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin. All sows were mated whenever they were receptive to a boar. The mean time to first mating for the control group of 12 sows was 7·3 days but the mean time to conception was 22·3 days. The corresponding figures for the 9 treated sows were 17·0 and 22·2 days. The treated sows had significantly (P < 0·025) larger litters than the control sows (11·7 v. 8·5). For those sows which conceived at the first post-weaning service, the delayed oestrus treatment increased litter size on average by more than four pigs per litter.
A note on the effect on puberty in gilts of exposure to a boar between 140 and 160 days of age
Authors: Walton J. S.
Published: September 2010

Groups of five Yorkshire ♂ x Landrace ♀ gilts were either exposed (BE) or not exposed (NE) to a mature boar commencing at 140, 147, 154 or 161 days of age. Each group of BE gilts was slaughtered 10 days after initial boar exposure, for examination of the reproductive tract, with one of the four NE groups killed at a corresponding age.

NE gilts remained prepubertal throughout. Boar exposure induced ovulation in one gilt at 140 days, two gilts at 147 days, two gilts at 154 days and one gilt at 161 days. Boar exposure also increased uterine weight (P < 0·001). There were no effects of age either on the number of gilts ovulating or on uterine weight. There was a significant positive effect of body weight on uterine weight which was greater in BE gilts than in NE gilts. These results suggest that body weight may be a determinant of the response to boar exposure by gilts between 140 and 170 days of age.
Using goal programming in formulating rations for pregnant ewes
Authors: St C. Neal Heather D. , France J. , Treacher T. T.
Published: September 2010

Models are described which utilize goal programming to maximize hay intake in the formulation of rations for ewes in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. By treating the energy or protein allowances (or both) as goals rather than restrictions, rations in addition to the linear programming (LP) optimal solution are generated. The approach offers a flexible alternative to the standard LP approach by providing additional rations with known deviations from the allowances. A set of guidelines is given to determine which of these rations could be tolerated when the nutritional requirements cannot be satisfied.
Effects of some anabolic agents on the growth, carcass and tissue composition of barley-fed entire and castrated male Friesian cattle
Authors: Fisher A. V. , Wood J. D. , Tas M. V.
Published: September 2010

Thirty-eight barley-fed entire and castrated male Friesian calves were used to examine the effects of different implanted anabolic agents on growth and carcass and tissue composition. Entire males were implanted with trenbolone acetate plus hexoestrol alone or following an earlier implantation of zeranol, or with zeranol alone. Control bulls (no implant) and steers treated with trenbolone, acetate plus hexoestrol were also studied. The anabolic agents tended to increase growth rate in bulls, and caused an increase in fat deposition. Treated steers had more abdominal fat than all bulls, but did not have more carcass fat. However, the carcasses contained less saleable meat and had a lower retail value because of lower lean-to-bone ratio. There were no significant differences between any of the groups in the proportions of lipid and water in the lean tissue. Transporting the bulls resulted in a high pH and a dark colour in m. tongissimus. The results suggest that anabolic agents have small biological effects which directly modify the quantitative and qualitative meat production characteristics of bulls.
The response of store lambs to dietary supplements of fish meal 1. Effects of forage-to-concentrate ratio
Authors: Hassan S. A. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

Forty-eight individually-penned lambs (mean live weight 31-4 kg) were offered one of four diets, to investigate response to a supplement of fish meal (0 and 100 g dry matter (DM) per kg M) given with diets of either 60: 40 or 40: 60 forage-to-concentrate ratio. Nitrogen (N) degradability in the rumen and fractional outflow rates of protein supplements were determined. The diets were formulated such that the lambs received about 3 or 9 g undegradable rumen N per kg DM. The diets were given daily to provide sufficient metabolizable energy for maintenance and 150 g gain, and were adjusted according to live weight at weekly intervals.

Fish-meal supplementation improved daily growth over a 49-day period (P < 0·001) and enhanced N retention (P < 0·001). Live-weight gain was also marginally improved on the high-forage diets. (P < 0-05), but there was no protein supplement × forage-to-concentrate ratio interaction. Apparent digestibility of acid detergent fibre was improved by the fish-meal supplement on the high-concentrate diet.

The four diets were also given to rumen-fistulated sheep. The high-concentrate diet was associated with a higher molar proportion of propionate (P < 0·05) and a lower proportion of acetate (P < 0·001). Rumen concentrations of ammonia tended to be maintained at higher levels throughout the day by the fish-meal supplement.
The growth of individual muscles and bones in the red deer
Authors: Wenham G. , Pennie K.
Published: September 2010

Fourteen red deer, three hinds and 11 stags, ranging from birth (8·8 kg) to 10 years of age (143·4 kg), were slaughtered and the carcasses dissected into individual muscles and bones.

Regression equations relating the actual weight of each component or group of components to independent variables such as age, live weight, carcass weight, total muscle weight or total bone weight were fitted to the data, the majority of which satisfactorily conformed to simple allometric relationships. Twenty of the muscles and one muscle group exhibited a pattern of growth which was better described by the inclusion of a quadratic function. The description of the data using an additional term in the allometric equation was considered to be more biologically sound than the often-used practice of fitting different coefficients to the logarithmic form of the allometric equation for each stage of growth. The group of muscles surrounding the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and those of the abdominal wall were the fastest growing, both having a growth coefficient of 1·08 with standard errors (s.e.) of 0·013 and 0·017 respectively. The slowest growth was found in the distal forelimb group of muscles (growth coefficient = 0·84, s.e. 0015), no individual muscle in this group having a growth coefficient greater than 0·9.

The bones of the axial' skeleton increased in weight faster than those of the appendicular skeleton. The growth coefficients were, axial 1·13, forelimb 0·93 and hindlimb 0·92 (s.e. 0·025, 0013 and 0·015, respectively).

The muscles of the proximal hindlimb were slightly heavier in the hind, and those of the dorsal neck and shoulder heavier in the stag.

Only one minor anatomical variation was found which was related to the insertion of the m. rhomb oideus.
Reproductive performance over repeated parities of lines of mice selected for appetite, lean growth and fatness
Authors: Brien F. D. , Hill W. G.
Published: September 2010

Female reproductive performance over four parities was studied for lines of mice selected for one three criteria: appetite (A), total lean mass (P), or proportion of fat (F). Female mice were first bred 8 weeks of age, and thereafter at intervals of about 7 weeks until fourth parity when they were dissected in late pregnancy to measure components of litter size.

The high A lines had higher litter sizes at the first three parities and higher ovulation rates, numbers of implantation sites and live foetuses at the fourth parity than the low A lines. The high P lines were also higher than the low P lines for each of these traits. In contrast, litter sizes and ovulation rates differed little between the high and low F lines. Fitting body weight as a covariate removed the high-low differences in ovulation rate and litter size between the P lines, but not all the differences between the A lines.

Pre-implantation survival at the fourth parity was slightly lower in the high than in low A and in high than in low P lines. Differences in post-implantation survival were very small. No component of prenatal survival differed substantially at fourth parity between the high and low F lines.

Differences in fertility at each parity and the percentages of females surviving to the end of the study were small. At each litter, dams of the high A lines produced heavier total weights of litters at 12 and 21 days than dams of the low A lines and the corresponding high-low differences in the P lines were larger. There were only small differences in these traits between the F lines. When litter size, fertility and survival were summed over parities, the average total number of young produced per female was substantially higher in the high than in the low A lines (5·0 young born alive or dead) and the P lines (7·2), but the high-low difference was small in the F lines (2-0). For all lines, litter size at first parity gave a reliable indication of reproductive rate during a major portion of the reproductive lifespan.
A note on the effect of post-parturient fatty liver on clearance rate of exogenous progesterone from blood
Authors: Watson Elaine D.
Published: September 2010

Progesterone (6 mg) was injected intravenously into cows with mild (no. = 6) and severe (no. = 5) fatty infiltration of the liver. Clearance rates of progesterone from blood were similar in both groups of cows.
Systems of concentrate allocation for dairy cattle. 4. A comparison of two amounts and two patterns of allocation
Authors: Taylor W. , Leaver J. D.
Published: September 2010

For 25 weeks starting at week 3 post partum autumn-calving dairy cows were offered either a flat rate of concentrates in which all cows received the same daily amount throughout the experiment (F), or a variable rate based on their individual milk yield at 2 weeks post partum, and which was reduced at weeks 10, 15 and 20 of the experiment (V). Two mean amounts of concentrates were compared, 11 kg/day (11) and 7 kg/day (7) and grass silage was available ad libitum. For treatments 11F, 11V, 7F and 7V respectively, mean milk yields were 26·2, 24·5, 21·5 and 21·3 kg/day, mean live-weight changes were +0·18, +0·07, -0·09 and -0·05 kg/day, and mean silage dry-matter intakes were 8·0, 7·1, 9·4 and 9·0 kg/day. Differences between systems of allocation were not significant, but differences between amounts of concentrates offered were significant. Due to the greater milk yield and milk fat concentration of the F system of allocation, milk fat yield was significantly greater than for the V system. The substitution rate of concentrates for silage dry matter was significantly greater during the first 10 weeks of the experiment than during the succeeding 15 weeks. In the residual period (3 weeks indoors and 14 weeks grazing), there were no significant effects on performance. The mean 305-day milk yields for 11F, 11V, 7F and 7V respectively were 6957, 6388, 5862 and 5901 kg.
Growth performance and body composition of early weaned wether lambs treated with trenbolone acetate combined with oestradiol–17β
Authors: Sulieman A. H. , Galbraith H. , Topps J. H.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-eight Border Leicester ♂ × Scottish Blackface ♀ wether lambs aged 47 days and weighing 17 kg on average were allocated to be sham-implanted controls (group C) or implanted with trenbolone acetate (TBA) combined with oestradiol-17β (OE) as follows: 17·5 mg TBA + 2·5 mg OE (group TO1); 35 mg TBA + 5 mg OE (TO2); 52·5 mg TBA + 7·5 mg OE (TO3). The lambs were offered ad libitum a diet containing (per kg dry matter) an estimated 12·5 MJ metabolizable energy and 0·16 kg crude protein. They were slaughtered 60 days following implantation.

On average hormonal treatment resulted in significant increases in (a) live-weight gain, food intake and gut fill, (b) proportions of perinephric and retroperitoneal fat in empty body, (c) carcass lean proportion, and (d) proportion of lean in shoulder and rib joints. Variable changes in the weights of m. semitendinosus, m. gastrocnemius and m. supraspinatus were recorded.

Hormonal treatment, on average resulted in significant reductions in (a) killing-out proportion, (b) proportions of total fat and subcutaneous fat in carcass and (c) proportions of fat in the shoulder, rib and hind leg joints. Treated lambs had smaller thymus glands but larger accessory vesicular glands. Penile tissue was also increased in treated lambs. The proportional differences in live-weight gain and carcass fat content were 0·15 and 0·12 respectively.

Differences in dose level had little effect on growth and carcass characteristics.
Genetic parameters of growth of Ethiopian Boran cattle
Authors: Arnason Th. , Kassa-Mersha H.
Published: September 2010

Records on birth weight and pre-weaning growth of 3959 Boran calves, which were progeny of 51 sires and 979 dams, were analysed by least-squares analysis of variance. The variance components for sires, dams and maternal grandsires were estimated from the data. On the basis of assumed genetic correlations −0·44 and −0·55 between direct and maternal effects on birth weight and weaning weight, respectively, the maternal genetic component and the genetic covariance between direct and maternal effects were estimated. The heritabilities for direct effects on birth weight and weaning weight were 0·11 and 0·22, respectively, while the heritabilities of maternal effects were estimated as 0·02 and 0·11, respectively for the same traits. Selection indices for direct and maternal genetic components of weaning weight were constructed for practical use. These selection indices combined information on the individual, the parents and sibs.
Influence of bone growth on muscle growth and bone-muscle relationships in double-muscled and normal cattle
Authors: Shahin Karima A. , Berg R. T.
Published: September 2010

Eighteen bulls each of double-muscled (DM), Beef Synthetic (SY) and Hereford (HE) breed types, serially slaughtered from about 250 to 800 kg live weight, were used to examine muscle-bone relationships in double-muscled and normal cattle.

Relative to total side bone, DM animals differed significantly from the other breed types in relative growth rate of muscles in all regions which exhibited gross muscular hypertrophy. They showed generalized and regionally differentiated muscular hypertrophy. At equal bone weight in the given anatomical region, DM/HE and DM/SY muscle:bone ratios were respectively: proximal hindlimb 1·35 and 1·24; proximal forelimb 1·25 and 117; back and loin 1·20 and 1·10; and the expensive regions 1·30 and 1·20. In the limbs of DM animals, muscular hypertrophy in the proximal region was associated with bone hypotrophy while minimal muscular hypertrophy in the distal parts was associated with relatively heavier bones. Consequently, increased muscle:bone ratios were most pronounced in the proximal region, which suggests that muscles in these animals had increased in weight without proportionate increase of bones, i.e. muscle and bone growth were to some extent independent. Bone response in the distal limbs may have been influenced by a relative increase in weight support function.
The reproductive performance of ewe lambs in a controlled environment
Authors: Ainsworth L. , Shrestha J. N. B.
Published: September 2010

The effects of strain, season, type of birth, age and body weight at breeding on fertility and fecundity of ewe lambs raised in a controlled environment were evaluated. Data were derived from 2776 ewe lambs of a synthetic sire strain, two synthetic dam strains and two control strains (Suffolk and Finnish Landrace breeds) mated to 719 rams over 15 breeding periods during January, May or September over 9 years. The ewe lambs were exposed to rams at a synchronized and follow-up oestrus at 6·5 to 7·5 months of age. There were significant differences among strains. Fertility and fecundity were highest for lambs of the Finnish Landrace breed, intermediate for the two synthetic dam strains and lowest for the synthetic sire strain and the Suffolk breed. Although period of breeding and season had an effect on reproductive traits, the strain differences were not consistent. Type of birth did not affect performance of lambs at the synchronized oestrus. However, overall fertility and fecundity increased progressively as the type of birth of the lambs increased from singles to triplets and greater. Increased age and body weight at the synchronized oestrus had a significant and positive effect on fertility and fecundity.
A note on the reproductive performance of ewes of different genotypes following active immunization against androstenedione
Authors: Rhind S. M.
Published: September 2010

It has been demonstrated with Australian breeds and conditions that active immunization of ewes against androstenedione can induce increases in lambing rate of 20 or more lambs per 100 ewes mated (Cox, Wilson, Scaramuzzi, Hoskinson, George and Bindon, 1982; Geldard and Scaramuzzi, 1983). More recent work (Geldard, 1985) involving active immunization against androstenedione (Fecundin®, Coopers Animal Health, UK) has shown that similar results can also be achieved with some United Kingdom breeds. However, the successful application of this product in practice requires a knowledge of the patterns of reproductive response that can be obtained with a much wider range of genotypes and production systems.
A note on the effect of birth date on the performance of suckled red deer calves and their dams on low-ground pasture
Authors: Adam Clare L. , Moir Carol E.
Published: September 2010

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a seasonal breeder, mating mainly in October and calving in June. This timing is advantageous to wild deer on the hill in that the relatively high nutritional demands of lactation may be met from the abundance of summer vegetation. On low-ground pastures, however, there is an earlier start to the grazing season and the deer farmer may benefit from being able to advance calving dates. Recent research work has shown that exogenous hormone therapy can advance the breeding season in female red deer (Adam and Atkinson, 1984; Adam, Moir and Atkinson, 1985; Nowak, Elmhirst Webster and Barrell, conception and hence and Rodway, 1985; Webster; and Barrell, 1985) and that conception and hence calving dates can indeed also be advanced (Adam, 1985; Adam, Moir and Atkinson, 1986). This paper reports the effects of birth date on the performance of suckled calves and their dams under farm conditions.
A 2-year comparison of the production, health and fertility of dairy cows given concentrates either twice daily in the parlour or through out-of-parlour dispensers
Authors: Little W. , Treacher R. J. , Reid I. M.
Published: September 2010

Milk production, reproduction, blood composition and health were studied in two groups of British Friesian cows given food either twice daily in the parlour (IPF group) or through automatic out-of- parlour food dispensers (OOPF group) in the first 14 weeks of two consecutive lactations. The numbers of cows in the IPF and OOPF groups were 28 and 29 respectively in year 1 and 40 and 35 in year 2.

There were no differences in milk production or reproduction in year 1 but in year 2 the OOPF group had significant proportional increases in the yield of fat (+0·079) and protein (+0·072) and the median time from calving to conception was reduced by 43·5 days. In the IPF group body condition score was lower than in the OOPF group in year 1 (2·27v. 2·59;P< 0·001) and in year 2 (2·37v. 2·57;P< 0·01); as were serum total protein (75·8v. 77·5 g/l;P< 0·05) and (73·9v. 75·8 g/l;P< 0·01) and plasma glucose concentration (215v. 2·32 mmol/1;P< 0·001) (2·28v. 2·42 mmol/l;P< 0·01). In year 2 only, serum urea was lower (5·52v. 6·07 mmol/l;P< 0·001) and serum copper higher (131v. 11·9 μmol/l;P< 0·001) in the IPF group; the activities of aspartate amino transferase (1·66v. 1·62 logmi.u. per 1;P< 0·05) and of glutamate dehydrogenase (1·00v. 0·70 logmi.u. per 1;P< 0·001) were higher, despite no significant difference in fat deposition in the liver. The only significant difference in the incidence of disease was fewer cases of mastitis in the OOPF group in the second year (21v. 12 cases).

The similarity in concentrate intakes, together with higher concentrations of blood glucose and total protein and better condition score, indicate either a more efficient utilization of energy in the OOPF group or a lower consumption of forage in the IPF group. The increased activities of liver enzymes and the high serum copper coupled with the increased incidence of mastitis and poorer fertility may indicate the release of endotoxin following chronic lactic acidosis in the IPF group.
The effect of winter shearing of housed pregnant ewes on food intake and animal performance
Authors: Vipond J. E. , King Margaret E. , Inglis D. M. , Hunter E. A.
Published: September 2010

The effects of winter shearing on the food intake and performance of housed ewes was studied in a series of three experiments. Winter shearing resulted in a proportional increase of dry-matter intake in ewes of 0·16 and 0·43 on two silage-based diets, of 0·09 on swede-based diets, but of only 0·02 on a hay-based diet. Shearing increased intake by a greater amount in smaller ewes and a similar trend occurred on diets containing a greater proportion of barley. Shearing increased average lamb birth weight by about 600 g (4·65 kg v. 4·06 kg), apparently as an effect of shearing per se rather than as a result of the increased energy intake. An increase in gestation length of around 1·8 days accounted for one-fifth of this increased birth weight. The effect on gestation length of shearing was to increase the unnaturally short gestation of housed unshorn ewes, this short gestation being attributed to problems of heat stress in late pregnancy. Results indicated management advantages of winter shearing in favourable climatic environments.
Rumen degradation of straw 3. Botanical fractions of two rice straw varieties and effects of ammonia treatment
Authors: Walli T. K. , Ørskov E. R. , Bhargava P. K.
Published: September 2010

Two varieties of rice straw, long variety — no. 370 Basmati traditional (L) and short variety — no. PR106 hybrid (S) were separated into botanical fractions giving the proportion of leaf plus leaf sheath, internode, node and chaff (g/kg dry matter) as 633, 247, 83 and 37 for L and 680, 156, 76 and 88 for S, respectively. Samples of whole plants, leaves plus leaf sheaths and internodes were subjected to ammonia treatment. The chemical composition and the rumen degradability of dry matter and organic matter determined by the nylon bag technique were ascertained for treated and untreated samples of whole plants and botanical fractions of plants from both varieties. The ash and silica content were higher in leaf plus leaf sheath, 211 and 102 g/kg for the L and 190 and 67 g/kg for the S, than in internodes, 160 and 29 g/kg for L and 184 and 29 g/kg S, respectively.

The potential degradability (a + b) value from the formula p = a + b(−e−ct) for dry-matter loss (DML), organic-matter loss (OML) and degradability of organic matter in dry matter (DOMD) were significantly higher for the S being 622, 659 and 544 g/kg, than for the L being 561, 586 and 500 g/kg, respectively (P < 0·01). The degradation rate too was significantly higher for the S than for the L for DML, OML and DOMD (P < 0·01). The ammonia treatment significantly improved the potential degradability for DML, OML and DOMD for both the varieties and their fractions (P < 0·01).