bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative estimates of lamb carcass composition 2. Specific gravity determination
Authors: Timon V. M. , Bichard Maurice
Published: September 2010

Relationships between specific gravity and carcass tissue were studied in 83 purebred Clun Forest lambs slaughtered at approximately 80 lb. liveweight and ranging in carcass weight from 29 to 42 lb. Carcass specific gravity accounted for 86·1% and 78·1% of the respective variances in carcass fat percentage and muscle percentage. Specific gravity determinations on a single joint were also highly correlated with the carcass tissues. Correlation coefficients between loin specific gravity and carcass fat and muscle were −0·89 and 0·82 respectively; corresponding figures for best-neck specific gravity were −0·86 with carcass fat percentage, and 0·76 with carcass muscle percentage. In partial correlation analyses, muscle/bone ratio failed to have a significant effect on these relationships. The usefulness of estimates of carcass composition based on specific gravity determinations is discussed in relation to the maximum probable errors associated with predicted values and with reference to the accuracy of these estimates under different experimental conditions. The magnitude of the confidence limits (P = 0·05) on individual predictions varied from ±2·98% to ±3·48% for fat and muscle respectively and for group (n= 12) predictions, from ±0·88% to ±1·01% respectively. This suggests that little confidence can be placed in specific gravity determinations as a reflection of real individual differences or small treatment differences.
Intensive beef production 5. The effect of different sources of protein on nitrogen retention
Authors: Bowers H. B. , Preston T. R. , MacLeod N. A. , McDonald I. , Philip Euphemia B.
Published: September 2010

1. Nitrogen balance studies were made on 8 Friesian steers given allconcentrate diets containing fish meal, soya bean meal, groundnut meal or cottonseed meal.

2. There were no differences in nitrogen retention but voluntary feed intake was significantly lower on the fish meal diet.

3. Adjustment of nitrogen retention to constant dry matter intake resulted in significantly higher values for the diets containing fish meal and cottonseed meal than for the others.

4. Rumen pH, rumen ammonia and blood urea were all much lower on the fish meal diet.
The inter-relationships of various measurements, visual assessments and dissection results of pigs of 200 lb live weight
Authors: Cuthbertson A. , Pease A. H. R.
Published: September 2010

Means, standard deviations and phenotypic correlations among 28 performance and carcass variables are reported on 1042 barrows and gilts of two breeds selected at random from pigs tested by the Pig Industry Development Authority. In addition, multiple regressions predicting the lean content of the carcasses and some relationships between visual scores and other carcass variables are presented. The lean content of any one of four joints gave better estimates of overall leanness than the best combination of other measurements—that involving C, K and eye-muscle area.
An evaluation of the growth promoting effect of the lactoperoxidase system in newborn calves
Authors: Reiter B. , Fulford Rosemary J. , Marshall Valerie M. , Yarrow N. , Ducker M. J. , Knutsson Maud
Published: September 2010

Results are reported from four trials in which neonatal calves were given either whole milk or milk substitute containing the lactoperoxidase system.

Trial 1 was a pilot trial conducted in Sweden in which calves given whole milk with the lactoperoxidase system gained significantly more weight than controls (P< 0·05). Trials 2, 3 and 4 were carried out in successive years at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, using large numbers of newborn, female Friesian calves. In trial 2 a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system with whole milk on live-weight gain was established by 3 weeks of age (P< 0·05) and sustained until weaning at 5 weeks. There was no significant effect of the lactoperoxidase system for the milk substitute treatment. In trial 3 the whole milk comparison from trial 2 was repeated. There was a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system on the live-weight change after 2 weeks of age only (P< 0·05). In trial 4 two different methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system were compared for calves given whole milk. There was no effect of either method on the live-weight gain of the calves. However, as the levels of scouring were extremely low for all calves, a comparison of the two methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system was not justified. The combined results from trials 2, 3 and 4 confirmed that the lactoperoxidase system significantly increased the live-weight gain of calves given whole milk, despite the fact that the overall level of mortality and incidence of scouring was low in these trials.
The effect of β-carotene on the fertility of dairy heifers receiving maize silage
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Yarrow N. H. , Bloomfield Glenys A. , Edwards-Webb J. D.
Published: September 2010

One hundred and sixty Friesian heifers were divided into four groups on the basis of live weight and age. All four groups received a production ration of 15 kg maize silage, 0·5 kg straw and either 1·5 or 0·5 kg concentrates according to their mean live weight. This ration supplied only 38 mg (3-carotene per animal per day.

Two groups of heifers received a daily supplement of 300 mg β-carotene per head. The other two groups acted as controls and received a daily supplement of 60 000 i.u. vitamin A (18 mg retinol). All heifers received an adequate supply of vitamin A.

Supplementation with 300 mg β-carotene per day significantly increased mean plasma concentrations from 3·52 mg/1 at housing to 5·58 mg/1 at first insemination (P < 0·001). Mean plasma concentrations in the control heifers declined from 3·31 mg/1 at housing to 2·42 mg/1 at first insemination and to 2·13 mg/1 50 days later. Of the 40 smaller controls half had concentrations below 1·00 mg/1 50 days after first insemination.

Supplementation with β-carotene did not affect reproductive performance or growth rate in heifers receiving a ration based upon maize silage.
The performance of dairy cows with access to self-feed silage offered concentrates from a free-access dispenser
Authors: Chalmers J. S. , Moisey F. R. , Leaver J. D.
Published: September 2010

In two experiments cows with access to self-feed grass silage were offered concentrates either twice daily in the milking parlour at a fixed level (controls) or in addition given free-access to a concentrate dispenser sited in the self-feed area (dispenser). A time-lapse mechanism on the dispenser limited successive 1 kg feeds to a minimum of 10 min in experiment 1 and 5 min in experiment 2. The ‘dispenser’ cows had significantly greater total concentrate intakes than had the controls (10·4 v. 7·1 kg/day in experiment 1, 13·4 v. 7·3 kg/day in experiment 2), but there was a large variation in intake between individuals. Access to the dispenser increased milk yields only slightly, reduced milk fat concentration and increased milk protein concentration and live-weight gain. Following turnout to grass in the spring, there was evidence that the cows that had been on the dispenser treatment showed a faster rate of decline in milk yield than did the controls, and this was supported by lower lactation yields in the dispenser group.
Absorption of immunoglobulin from colostrum in newborn calves
Authors: Kruse V.
Published: September 2010

One hundred and forty-one calves, belonging to three different breeds, were each given one single feeding of a variable amount of colostrum from their dams at the age of 2, 6, 10, 14 or 20 hr, respectively.

The increase in serum Ig concentration during the first 24 hr after colostrum feeding (Δ Ig % 24) was a function of the mass of Ig fed to the calf, the age at colostrum feeding, and the birth weight of the calf. Among these three factors the mass of Ig and the age of the calf were the two predominant factors. The absorption coefficient, expressing the absorbed fraction of a given amount of Ig, was primarily determined by the age of the calf at first feeding. Thus the absorption coefficient was reduced linearly to about half by delaying the feeding from 2 to 20 hr. Except for a negative effect of increasing amounts of colostrum in one of the breeds, no other factors were detected as responsible for variation in the efficiency of Ig absorption. Thus, the absorption coefficient appeared to be unaffected by the Ig % in the colostrum and also by the quantity of Ig given to the calf.
Induced cryptorchidism in lambs: effects on growth rate, carcass and meat characteristics
Authors: Corbett J. L. , Furnival E. P. , Southcott W. H. , Park R. J. , Shorthose W. R.
Published: September 2010

Pushing the testes of lambs 1 to 2 weeks old into the body cavity and applying a rubber ring to cause atrophy of the empty scrotum, did not prevent most testes growing in a subcutaneous position. A modified technique used in a second experiment, which caused ablation of the tunica vaginalis as well as the scrotum, impeded more effectively the descent and growth of the testicles.

In the two experiments growth rates of the induced cryptorchids were, respectively, 15·3% and 6·0% (non-significant) greater than those of castrated males, dressing percentages were about 2 units lower, and fat depth over the eye muscle of 13th rib chops was 2·6 compared with 2·9 mm (non-significant) and 1·9 compared with 4·1 mm. Chops from the cryptorchids had a visual appeal similar to those from castrated male and from female lambs; differences in flavour detected by taste panel had no significant effect on overall flavour acceptability.

Tenderness did not differ significantly between sex groups, but age and Warner-Bratzler shear values were significantly and positively correlated as were ultimate pH of the meat and age at slaughter. Cryptorchidism induced by the modified technique probably permits the production of heavier carcasses with lower fat cover than on castrated males and avoids practical disadvantages that may be encountered in raising entire male lambs.
The effect of level of feeding of dried grass on milk production and the value of dried grass as a replacement for conventional dairy concentrates
Authors: Gordon F. J. , Kormos J.
Published: September 2010

An experiment designed to study the response in milk production to dried grass given as an addition to a basal roughage diet and to assess its value as a replacement for conventional dairy concentrates is described. A randomized block design with 34 lactating cows was used. The cows received supplements of either dried grass (dry-matter digestibility, 70%, 0·28, 0·39, 0·50 or 0·61 kg/kg milk) or a cereal-based dairy concentrate (0·39 kg/kg milk) in addition to silage offered in amounts to meet the maintenance energy requirements. Milk yield, milk energy output, live-weight gain and the fat, solids-not-fat and protein contents of the milk increased with level of addition of dried grass. Interrelationships between the level of feeding of dried grass and milk output and body-weight change are given. The derived relationships between dried grass input and animal output were used to predict the replacement value of dried grass for conventional dairy concentrates. These indicated that dried grass offered at 042 kg/kg milk would produce equivalent milk yield and body-weight changes to concentrate given at 0·39 kg/kg milk. Ration digestibility and nitrogen balance results are also given.
Evaluation of female reproductive performance of 28 one-way crosses produced from eight breeds of swine
Authors: Holtmann W. B. , Fahmy M. H. , MacIntyre T. M. , Moxley J. E.
Published: September 2010

The study included 1013 gilts representing 28 one-way crosses among Yorkshire (Y), Landrace (Ld), Lacombe (Lc), Hampshire (H), Duroc (D), Berkshire (B), Large Black (LB) and Tamworth (T) breeds of swine. The crosses were distributed among five cooperating stations and were mated to Poland China boars to evaluate sow reproductivity based on the performance of the first two litters. The traits studied were weight at 112 days of age, age at puberty, percentage farrowing, litter size and weight at farrowing and at 3 weeks. Significant differences between crosses were found for all traits except farrowing percentage. The most prolific crosses were LdxY, HxLd and D x Y which gave birth to 11·0, 11·0 and 10·8 pigs per litter respectively, compared to the overall mean of 9·7 Ld x Y, LB x Lc and H x Ld crosses weaned litters 7·4, 5·3 and 4·9 kg heavier than the 40·5 kg mean for all crosses. Using percentage farrowing multiplied by litter 3-week-weight for the two litters as a measure of sow productivity, Ld x Y and LB x Lc crosses ranked highest. The breeds that had the best combining abilities for 3-week litter weight were Ld, Y, LB and Lc, however their specific combining abilities are important and hence not all crosses between these breeds produced superior performing crossbred sows. Overall, the Ld x Y was the most precocious, farrowed and weaned the greatest number of pigs per litter and had the heaviest litters at 3 weeks post-farrowing.
A Comparison between rotational grazing and set stocking with ewes and lambs at three stocking rates
Authors: Young N. E. , Newton J. E.
Published: September 2010

In 1972 a comparison was made between rotational creep grazing (R—8 paddocks) and set stocking (S—2 paddocks) for ewes and their twin lambs at 3 stocking rates viz. 20 (H), 17 (M) and 14 (L) ewes/ha.

The herbage intakes/kg live weight of the R ewes were similar to those of the S ewes in period 1 (c. 7th week of lactation) but higher i n period 2 (c. 10th week of lactation). The intakes of the lambs were not affected by the grazing management in periods 3 or 5, but in period 4 the R lambs had a higher intake than those on S. The overall lamb growth rates were also higher on R compared with S. The carcass outputs (net of supplementary feed) were higher for any R treatment compared with any S treatment being 453, 451 and 427 for R and 419, 379 and 380 for S at the H, M and L stocking rates respectively.
A note on the metabolism of ca, P, Mg, Na and K by pigs growing at a high ambient temperature
Authors: Holmes C. W. , Grace N. D.
Published: September 2010

Two levels of feeding were offered at each of two air temperatures, 25° or 33°C, to pigs while they grew from 20 to 70 kg live weight; two pigs were subjected to each of the four treatments. Significant increases occurred in the urinary excretion of Ca and K by the two pigs fed on the higher level and exposed to 33°C. However these effects could not be related in an obvious way to the lameness which developed in the latter pigs.
The use of resources
Authors: Blaxter K. L.
Published: September 2010

It is proper, on the occasion of this lecture, to recall the man whose name it bears. John Hammond, the first president of our Society, was known to many of us, all of us have been influenced by his ideas, and the animal industries of this country, and indeed the world, have been transformed as a result of the work he and his small band of colleagues and students carried out at Cambridge, mostly before the Second World War. If anyone can be called the ‘onlie begetter’ of modern animal production it is John Hammond.
Reproductive performance of the West African Dwarf and the Nungua Black Head sheep of Ghana
Authors: Ngere L. O. , Aboagye G.
Published: September 2010

A study was made of some aspects of reproduction in the Nungua Black Head and the Ghanian variety of the West African Dwarf sheep. The gestation period of the two breeds was similar: 150 and 148 days respectively. Ewes mated in August and September tended to have slightly longer gestation periods than those mated in March. The mean birth weights were 2·2 kg in the Nungua Black Head and 13 kg in the West African Dwarf. Type of birth affected the weight of lambs at birth. The Nungua Black Head had no triplets, 0·132 twins and 0·868 singles. The West African Dwarf was more prolific: 0·402 singles, 0·557 twins and 0·041 triplets. The weight advantage of the Nungua Black Head lambs at birth was maintained to weaning and they also had better survival rates. The adjusted 12-week weaning weights averaged 9·8 and 5·8 kg respectively for the Nungua Black Head and West African Dwarf. What the West African Dwarf lost in individual weight it appeared to make up in numbers so that, when the breeds were compared in terms of kg of lamb weaned per ewe mated, there was no significant difference between them.
The Effects upon the intake and performance of store lambs of supplementing grass silage with barley, fish meal and rapeseed meal
Authors: Yilala K. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments are described in which individually-penned Suffolk × (Blue-faced Leicester × Swaledale) lambs were given complete diets based on grass silage, and voluntary intake, live-weight gain and nitrogen (N) retention were measured.

Experiment 1 investigated the effects of supplements of fish meal (0, 60 and 120 g/kg diet dry matter (DM)) and barley (0, 150 and 300 g/kg diet DM) in a 3 × 3 design using 72 lambs. The lambs averaged 35 kg live weight at the start of the 47-day experiment. Fish-meal supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM, silage DM and metabolizable energy (ME), and improved daily gains, carcass weights and N retention. Barley supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM and ME, but reduced silage DM intake; live-weight gain, carcass weight and N retention were all improved.

Experiment 2 investigated the effects of supplements of rapeseed meal (0 and 120 g/kg diet DM) in two forms (untreated and formaldehyde-treated) and barley (0 and 150 g/kg diet DM) in a 2 × 2 × 2 design with two missing treatments and using 48 lambs. The lambs averaged 39 kg live weight at the start of the 42-day experiment. Rapeseed meal supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM, silage DM and ME, and improved daily gains, carcass weights and N retention. Form of rapeseed meal had no effect. Barley increased diet DM and ME intakes and improved daily gains and carcass weights.
The effects of source population, feeding regimen, sex and day of slaughter on the muscle quality characteristics of British crossbred pigs
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Evans D. G. , Chadwick J. P.
Published: September 2010

Data for 15 487 pigs taken from the first 8 years (1973–81) of the Meat and Livestock Commission's Commercial Pig Evaluation were used to examine the effects of sex, feeding regimen, slaughter weight and day of slaughter on muscle quality characteristics in 20 populations (pigs from different commercial breeding companies and control populations). The characteristics examined included pH measurements both at 45 min post mortem (pH,) and after overnight cooling (pH2), in the m. longissimus and m. semimembranosus. Visual assessments of m. longissimus colour and condition were also made.

The overall mean for pH, in the m. longissimus was 6·34; 0·12 of pH, values were less than 6·0. The proportion of carcasses visually assessed as either pale or wet was 0·116, and 0·027 were assessed as both pale and wet.

The populations were compared separately within each of three time periods (covering the full 8 years) since significant population × time period interactions were recorded for several characteristics. Within each period the populations differed significantly for all characteristics examined (P < 0·05); but with the exception of two extreme populations, the differences were relatively unimportant.

The effects of sex, feeding regimen and slaughter weight were negligible but the effect of day of slaughter was very important: the s.d. of pH1 was reduced by 0·15 when calculated within day but by only 0·01 when adjusted for all other factors.

Muscle quality characteristics were poorly correlated with carcass characteristics: the highest correlation within day of slaughter was −0·23, recorded between pH, and ham conformation score.
Relationship of rumen degradability with microbial colonization, cell wall constituents and tannin levels in some tree leaves
Authors: Makkar H. P. S. , Singh B. , Negi S. S.
Published: September 2010

Rumen microbial attachment to food particles had a significant negative correlation with cell wall contents, cellulose and acid-detergent fibre (ADF) (P< 0·01) and a non-significant correlation with lignin, total phenolic content, condensed tannins and protein precipitation capacity. Microbial colonization was significantly positively correlated within saccodry-matter loss (DML) at 48 h of rumen incubation (P< 0·01). The cell wall contents and ADF were good predictors of DML. The relationship of DML (Y) with cell wall contents(X)and ADF(X')wereY= 1·012 – 0·0011Z,r= –0·89 (P< 0·01, no. = 10) andY= 0·977 – 0·0014X',r= –0·88 (P< 0·01, no. = 10), respectively.
Cold stress and post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets inoculated orally or by aerosol
Authors: Wathes C. M. , Miller B. G. , Bourne F. J.
Published: September 2010

Three-week old piglets were subjected to two levels of moderate, chronic cold stress immediately post-weaning and inoculated orally or by aerosol with an enterotoxigenic strain ofEscherichia coli. Oral challenge, as well as both piglet-produced and artificial aerosols ofE. coliwere capable of inducing infection. In infected animals, live-weight gain and food conversion efficiency were significantly worse at 15°C than at 20° or 30°C. The incidence and severity of diarrhoea was greatest at 15°C and least at 30°C, but only in those piglets fedad libitum. Piglets fed at a restricted level kept at 15°C did not become infected or suffer a check in growth after inoculation.

In the absence of other risk factors, piglets kept at thermoneutrality are unlikely to suffer post-weaning diarrhoea even in the presence of an enterotoxigenic strain ofE. coli. Diarrhoeic piglets did not exhibit the normal rise in food intake at temperatures below their thermoneutral zone. Traditionally, the design specification and control of the thermal environment in a piggery has been based on the performance of predominantly healthy pigs but the results of this study imply that the additional criterion of health can now be used.
A simple method of pedigree evaluation in dairy cattle
Authors: Robertson Alan
Published: September 2010

A simple but approximate method of pedigree evaluation is presented with particular reference to dairy cattle. It involves the expression of information available on any animal in the pedigree in terms of the equivalent number of ‘standard progeny records’. Formulae are given for the transfer of evidence from generation to generation within the pedigree. The application to one rather complex pedigree is illustrated and it is shown that the loss of information through the approximation is small.
The nutrition of the early-weaned calf. II. A comparison of commercial groundnut meal, heat-treated groundnut meal and fish meal as the major protein source in the diet
Authors: Whitelaw F. G. , Preston T. R. , Dawson G. S.
Published: September 2010

1. Nitrogen balance studies were conducted on 6 early-weaned calves fed three diets containing respectively commercial groundnut meal, heattreated groundnut meal and fish meal as the major protein sources.

2. Nitrogen retention and live-weight gain differed significantly between diets, being highest on the fish meal diet and least on the commercial groundnut diet.

3. Blood urea concentration was significantly lower on the fish meal diet than on either of the groundnut diets but differences between the groundnuts were not significant.

4. Differences between diets in nitrogen utilisation were due almost entirely to differential urinary nitrogen losses.
The feed intake of grazing cattle. II. The influence of size of animal on feed intake
Authors: Holmes W. , Jones J. G. W. , Drake-Brockman R. M.
Published: September 2010

1. Two experiments each with 3 dry cows, 3 heifers and 3 calves were carried out in 1959 and 1960 under uniform continuous grazing conditions on a ryegrass-white clover sward to measure individual feed intake by the chromic oxide-faecal nitrogen method.

2. Estimates of digestibility were high (70–82% in organic matter) and there was evidence that calves selected a diet of higher digestibility than cows.

3. Mean daily estimates of organic matter intake were for cows (1300 lb. live-weight) 23·5 lb., for heifers (790 lb. live-weight) 20·8 lb. and for calves (450 lb. live-weight) 14·3 lb. Corresponding digestible organic matter intakes were 17·4, 15·3 and 11·0 lb.

4. Relationships between digestible organic matter intake and liveweight were calculated and the merits of the exponents 0·62 and 0·73 of liveweight discussed.

5. The results were compared with accepted cow equivalent standards and, regardless of the exponent chosen, agreed with the system which adopts higher values for young grazing cattle.
Studies on the feeding of supplements to beef cattle on grass
Authors: Dodsworth T. L. , Ball C.
Published: September 2010

Four trials were carried out to determine the effect of feeding a supplement to stirks 6–9 months of age when turned out to grass. In two trials there was no response and in two there was a response to supplementary feeding.

No response was obtained in five trials when supplements were fed to store and fattening cattle. The feeding of undecorticated cotton cake did not have any apparent effect either on rate of live-weight gain or on scouring.

It is concluded that while the feeding of a supplement to young animals can bejustified when maximum live-weight gain is required, feeding of supplements to older cattle cannot be recommended so long as the animals are grazing good swards.
Variation in wool growth and of mitotic activity in follicle bulbs induced by nutritional changes
Authors: Schinckel P. G.
Published: September 2010

Wool growth on tattoo patches and mitotic activity in follicle bulbs were studied in a sheep on low and high levels of nutrient intake. The rate of wool growth on the high intake was 156% greater than that on the low intake while the rate of cell production from the follicle bulbs was 56% greater. The remainder of the increase in rate of fibre output was attributed to an increase of about 64 % in the volume of the individual cells of the fibres.
A note on the heritability of leg weakness scores in pigs
Authors: Smith Charles
Published: September 2010

During 1963, pigs tested at the five pig progeny testing stations in Britain were examined and scored by each station manager for leg weakness at the end of test. Some 19 individual items were scored, the score being 0 if satisfactory, 1 if a mild fault and 2 if a serious fault. In addition an overall legs and action score was given, scoring on a scale from 1 to 6 points; in this case the higher the score the better the leg condition. Data were available on 1,240 Landrace and 1,892 Large White pigs (2 females and 2 castrated males per litter)from 128 and 202 sires respectively. Sex differences in incidence were small,most of them being less than a tenth of a standard deviation unit, and so the analyses were performed ignoring sex. To avoid any effects of differences in incidence and in scoring among stations and to avoid the effects of any trends in the scoring pattern over the year, the analyses were performed within three-monthly periods within stations.
A comparison of the growth performance and blood composition of twin and singleton calves
Authors: Kay R. M. , Little W. , Kitchenham B. A.
Published: September 2010

1. The growth rate, feed-conversion ratio and blood composition of 14 twin calves were compared with those of 14 contemporary singletons.

2. The growth rate and feed-conversion ratio from weaning to 3 months were similar for twin and singleton calves.

3. The twin calves weighed significantly less at birth, weaning and 3 months of age but differences in weight were not significant at 1 year of age.

4. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) and the mean concentrations of blood glucose and haemoglobin, serum albumin, urea nitrogen, calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, iron and total iron binding capacity, at 11, 12 and 13 weeks of age were similar in the two groups. Concentrations of globulin were significantly lower in the serum of twin calves than those in the serum of singletons.

5. There was significantly less variation between twin calves than among offspring from different dams for PCV and concentrations of blood haemoglobin and serum potassium and calcium.

6. The results did not reveal any overall disadvantage in twins as compared with singletons.
Evaluation of pelleted dried grass as a supplement to grass silage for fattening steers
Authors: Drennan M. J. , Lawlor M. J.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were carried out using 130 Friesian-type castrated males (steers) to compare pelleted dried grass with rolled barley as supplements to high quality grass silage for fattening steers. There were six treatments in each experiment and, in addition, Experiment 1 had a pre-experimental slaughter group. The animals on each treatment were group-fed grass silage ad libitum for 98 and 112 days in Experiments 1 and 2 respectively. The treatments were (1) no supplement, (2) 1·5 kg dried grass, (3) 3·0 kg dried grass, (4) 4·5 kg dried grass, (5) 1·5 kg barley and (6) 3·0 kg barley per head daily. Each increase in the level of supplement depressed silage DM intake but there was no difference between dried grass and rolled barley. At each level of supplementation, live-weight and carcass-weight gain for animals fed dried grass and barley were similar. Responses in terms of live weight and carcass weight to increasing increments of supplementary feed declined as the level of supplementation was increased.
Some effects of handling reindeer during gatherings on the composition of their blood
Authors: Hyvärinen H. , Helle T. , Nieminen M. , Väyrynen P. , Väyrynen Raija
Published: September 2010

1. The effect of gathering reindeer on the composition of the blood was studied in female reindeer and their calves herded in northern Finland. Blood samples were taken in summer at three gathering places, under differing conditions and in autumn at the same places during gatherings which lasted for longer than 2 days. These were compared with samples taken from little-disturbed animals during winter.

2. Measurements were made of concentrations of glucose and lactate in whole blood and of urea, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium in serum, together with serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and glutamine oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activities.

3. Gatherings affected nearly all the blood parameters studied. In summer the temperature during separation seemed to influence glucose and lactate concentrations. The duration of the gathering and the distance the animals were driven clearly affected serum GOT and urea values.

4. During the long autumn gathering serum urea concentration increased about eight-fold in 2 days accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in serum calcium.

5. Serum CPK and GOT activities were higher during the summer and autumn than during the winter. Serum CPK and blood glucose concentrations were higher in young calves than in adult females.
Genetic and environmental factors affecting the incidence of difficult calving and perinatal calf mortality in Israeli-Friesian dairy herds
Authors: Bar-Anan R. , Soller M. , Bowman J. C.
Published: September 2010

Records of 178 593 monoparous births between 1964 and 1970 in Israeli-Friesian dairy cattle were analysed for information on environmental and genetic factors affecting calving difficulties and perinatal mortality. The incidence of difficult calvings (DC) and peri-natal calf mortality (PM) were 6·9 and 9·1% in heifer calvings, and 1·6 and 4·1% in cow calvings. Calving characters were not related t o heifer age nor cow parity, but there was a seasonal trend in heifer calvings, with both DC and PM being high in winter and low in summer calvings.

Heritability estimates for calf-genotype effects on PM were 0·042 in heifer calvings and 0·013 in cow calvings. Heritability estimates for dam-genotype effects on PM were 0·018 and 0·004 respectively. Heritability estimates for DC were similar t o those for PM. The genetic correlations between DC and PM in the same class of calvings ranged between 0·8 and 0·9, while the environmental correlations were considerably lower, about 0·3. The genetic correlations between the calf-genotype effects in heifer and cow calvings were about 0·5, indicating that different factors may affect heifer and cow calvings.

It is proposed that sires already proven for milk yield be tested for their calf effects in heifer calvings, using contemporary comparisons within herds and seasons. Results will be available when the sires are 6 to 6½ yr old. Sires causing fewest calving difficulties would be nominated for heifer matings, so that most heifer inseminations would be by sires proven for both yield and calving characters. Some long-term progress might be obtained if sires with a high incidence of difficulties in their heifer mates were not used to produce young sires.
The importance of physical contact with other pigs during rearing on the sexual behaviour of the male domestic pig
Authors: Hemsworth P. H. , Findlay J. K. , Beilharz R. G.
Published: September 2010

Five groups of four boars were reared from an early age under various social conditions. The sexual and social behaviour of these boars was studied from 32 to 52 weeks of age. Boars reared in a group from 3 weeks of age achieved a significantly greater (0·10 > P > 0·05 and P < 0·05) number of copulations and displayed significantly more (P < 0·05 and P < 0·05) courting behaviour than boars reared from 3 weeks of age in the absence of either physical contact or of both physical and visual contact with other pigs, respectively. On average, lack of physical contact with other pigs accounted for approximately 70% of the impairment in the copulatory performance of boars reared in the absence of visual and physical contact with other pigs. There were no significant differences between the copulatory performance of the boars reared in a group from 3 weeks and either those reared from 12 weeks of age in the absence of visual and physical contact with other pigs or those that were housed as a group during rearing and the testing period.
Development and characteristics of adipose deposits in male kids during growth from birth to weaning
Authors: Morand-Fehr P. , Bas P. , Rouzeau A. , Hervieu J.
Published: September 2010

The variation of weight, degree of lipid infiltration and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were studied in seven adipose tissues of Alpine and Saanen kids during five trials where animals were fed with milk replacer, were either weaned or unweaned, were either unfasted or fasted during 24 h and were slaughtered at 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 or 20 kg live weight.

At every live weight, kid carcasses were characterized by a relatively-high proportion of visceral adipose tissues: omental, mesenteric, perirenal and pericardic tissues (about half of total adipose tissues) and by a low deposition of external fat and a low lipogenic activity in the subcutaneous tissues. The intermuscular adipose tissue of the leg was the most rapidly developing tissue (coefficient of allometry 2·26) followed by omental (2·13), mesenteric (1·55), perirenal (1·48) and pericardic (1·38) tissues.

The perirenal, omental and inguinal tissues had the highest lipid content and LPL activity, and the sternal, caudal and mesenteric the lowest. There was a positive intertissue correlation (+0·80) between the lipid concentration and the LPL activity of adipose tissues, However, the lipid concentration of the omental tissue increased while its LPL activity per g tissue decreased with increasing live weight of the animal.

After a 24-h fast, a tendency to a proportional decrease in the weight of all adipose tissues by 0·20 to 0·35 and in the LPL activity by 0·36 to 0·88 was observed; the weight and LPL activity losses of the perirenal tissue were the greater.

Fourteen days after weaning the weight losses of adipose tissues remained high but the LPL activities increased again, showing an early recovery of lipogenic activity after weaning. However, they did not reach the values recorded during the pre-weaning period.

In kids, each adipose tissue had its own characteristics and played a specific role in lipid metabolism both during lipogenesis and lipolysis.
A comparison among equations to characterize lactation curves in beef cows
Authors: Hohenboken W. D. , Dudley A. , Moody D. E.
Published: September 2010

Monthly and fortnightly milk production records were analysed from 59 autumn-calving Angus and Angus × Holstein crossbred cows. Half the cows had been administered 10 mg thyroxine per day from day 60 to 120 of lactation and half were controls. Four published equations to characterize individual lactation curves were compared. These were: (1) log Y(n) = log –a1 + b1log n – c1n (Wood); (2) equation 1 with each log Y(n)2 weighted by Yin)2 (Wood weighted); (3) log [Y(n)/n7 = log l/a3 – k3n(Jenkins); and (4) log Y(n) = a4 – b4n‘(l + 25·5 n’) + c4n2 = d 4/ n (Morant), where Y(n) is milk yield on day n of lactation, n' is n–110 (the mid point of lactation), and the a, b, c, k and d parameters are estimated from solution of the equations. The lactation curve from the Jenkins equation projected peak milk yield to occur some 30 days later than estimates from the other equations. It underestimated production early and late in lactation and overestimated it during mid lactation. For several cows, the Morant equation projected that peak production occurred at the end of lactation. Also, analysis of variance of milk production variables was less sensitive when the traits were estimated by the Morant equation than when they were estimated by one of the others. The Wood weighted equation resulted in estimates of peak day of lactation and peak yield that were less variable and more realistic than estimates from the Wood equation. Collectively, therefore, the Wood weighted equation was deemed most suitable to characterize variability among and within these beef cows in milk production. All four equations, however, ranked the 59 cows similarly for estimated 220-day yield.
Supplementation of silage-based diets for finishing lambs
Authors: Chestnutt D. M. B.
Published: September 2010

In three experiments with 60, 72 and 72 housed Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface) and Suffolk × Greyface lambs on silage-based diets, a range of barley and fish-meal supplementation levels was compared. In experiment 1, six barley levels ranging from 0 to 625 glday were offered to lambs on flail-harvested and precision-chopped silages. In each of experiments 2 and 3, three levels of barley, 200, 400 and 600 g/day, were factorially arranged with four levels of fish meal, 0, 40, 80 and 120 g/day. The daily intake of flail-harvested silage was proportionately 0·76 of that of precision-chopped silage but because of a slower rate of gain the total requirement of silage dry matter (DM) per kg carcass gain was greater with flail-harvested than with precision-chopped silage. On average, over all barley supplemented diets in experiment 1, the requirement per kg carcass gain was 9·2 kg silage DM and 4·9 kg barley DM, with flail-harvested silage, compared with 8·2 kg silage DM and 3·4 kg barley DM with precision-chopped silage. Increasing barley supplementation in experiment 1 from 125 to 625 gl day reduced the silage DM requirement for carcass gain by 4·7 kg/kg increase in barley DM given. The corresponding figure over the range 200 to 600 g barley in experiments 2 and 3 was 2·6 kg silage DM per kg increase in barley DM given. The reduction in silage requirement with increasing barley was generally greater at low than at high levels of barley supplementation within the ranges examined. On silage-based diets optimum barley supplementation level was estimated to be in the region of 500 g/day.

Increasing fish-meal supplementation from 0 to 40 g/day, in experiments 2 and 3, reduced the requirement per kg carcass gain by 2·78 kg silage DM and 1·25 kg barley DM for an increase of 0·40 kg in input of fish meal DM. A further increase from 40 to 80 g/day fish meal reduced the silage DM requirement per kg carcass gain by 1·44 kg and the barley DM requirement by 0·50 kg, for an increase in input of 0·26 kg fish meal DM. A further increase to 120 g/day fish meal resulted in increases in both the silage and barley requirement per kg carcass gain. The optimum level of fish-meal supplementation was between 40 and 80 g/day and was not affected by the level of barley given.

There was evidence of an increase in carcass fat at the higher levels of gain achieved through increasing barley supplementation, but no evidence of increase in carcass fat at the higher levels of gain achieved through fish-meal supplementation.
Feed intake of grazing cattle. IV. A study with milk cows of the influence of pasture restriction combined with supplementary feeding on production per animal and per acre
Authors: Holmes W. , Jones J. G. W. , Adeline C.
Published: September 2010

The possibility that restriction of pasture and controlled supplementation of the diet of milking cows with concentrates might improve the efficiency of utilisation of grazing was examined in a double reversal grazing experiment with 9 Ayrshire cows per treatment which extended over 4 months.

Cows received either pasture alone allocated daily by electric fence (treatment B), or half the pasture area plus one-third of their expected DOM intake offered as concentrates (treatment A).

In the first two periods, treatment A resulted in closer defoliation of the pasture.

Over the whole experiment there was no significant difference in yield of fat-corrected milk between treatments, although treatment A depressed butterfat percentage and raised milk yield significantly. Treatments did not influence live-weight gain significantly and toth groups gained over the season.

Feed intake estimated by chromic oxide-faecal index methods was similar for both treatments except in period 1. Intake estimates by clipping methods or by faecal index methods were in close agreement in period 1 for treatment B and in reasonable agreement in periods 2 and 3.

The results are discussed particularly with a view to the possibilities of replacing some grazing with barley or other concentrated feeds. On the available evidence this is economically feasible only where very profitable uses of the grassland saved are possible.
The use of specific gravity and its reciprocal in predicting the carcass composition of pigs slaughtered at three weights
Authors: Adam J. L. , Smith W. C.
Published: September 2010

1. Carcass dissection data and specific gravity determinations from 76 pigs slaughtered at either 120 lb., 200 lb., or 260 lb. live-weight have been analysed to study the value of specific gravity and its reciprocal in predicting fat and lean in the carcass.

2. Possible effects that the bone content of the carcass might have on the accuracy of prediction have been investigated.

3. Specific gravity was highly correlated with percentage fat and lean in the half carcass. Correlation coefficients for the reciprocal were of similar magnitude but opposite in sign.

4. The residual standard errors in percentage lean and fat at constant specific gravity were 1·74% and 1·72% respectively.

5. The replacement of specific gravity by its reciprocal did not increase the accuracy of prediction for either lean or fat tissue expressed as a percentage of the trimmed half carcass.

6. The muscle/fat ratio exerted a markedly greater influence on specific gravity than did the muscle/bone ratio. However, the inclusion of the latter ratio in equations relating specific gravity and percentage lean in the carcass, reduced the residual variation.

7. Application of the pooled regression equations to independent data, obtained by the use of identical techniques, has given promising results.
The behaviour of dairy bulls kept in groups
Authors: Dalton D. C. , Pearson M. E. , Sheard M.
Published: September 2010

(1) Observations were made on a group of dairy bulls at pasture during the summer of 1964. The grazing behaviour of the bulls was similar to that of cows except that they were more sensitive to disturbance and the herd instinct as seen in cows was absent.

(2) Dairy bulls in a group formed a restless community. Apart from dis turbances within the group, the presence of men, dogs, vehicles and bulls from other groups could disturb the group equilibrium. The signs of disturbance were bellowing, pawing and horning the ground, fighting and outbursts of sexual activity.

(3) No clearly defined order of social dominance could be detected and the bulls retained their individuality at all times.
The quantitative effects of feed restriction in fattening pigs on weight gain, efficiency of feed utilisation and backfat thickness
Authors: Vanschoubroek F. , De Wilde R. , Lampo Ph.
Published: September 2010

From the published data summarised in Table 1, it was calculated that, at an average degree of feed restriction of 15·8 %, daily weight gain decreased by 12·50% (or 0·78% for each 1% restriction), feed conversion efficiency improved by 3·96% (or 0·31% for each 1% restriction) and backfat thickness diminished by 7·63% (or 0·53% for each 1% restriction).

Equations were calculated to show the degree to which daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and backfat thickness change with increasing feed restriction (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

As the degree of feed restriction increases, the decrease in daily weight gain becomes relatively greater and the decrease in backfat thickness relatively smaller. Efficiency of feed utilisation, however, improves at first, but eventually decreases as restriction becomes more severe.

It is thought that the equations found can be used, within certain limits, to calculate the average effects of feed restriction for different breeds of pigs, which when fed ad libitum consume 2·7 kg. meal ration (of normal composition) per day and have a growth rate of about 750 g. daily from 30 to 90 kg., and backfat thickness of about 37 mm. when kept under average environmental conditions.
Factors affecting voluntary feed intake in pigs. I. The effect of digestible energy content of the diet on the intake of castrated male pigs housed in holding pens and in metabolism crates
Authors: Cole D. J. A. , Duckworth J. E. , Holmes W.
Published: September 2010

1. The voluntary feed intakes of pigs fed on diets having calculated digestible energy contents of 2,970, 3,356, 3,630 and 3,910 kcal/kg. dry matter were measured over four periods from 38 to 105 kg. live-weight.

2. The pigs achieved similar daily digestible energy intakes regardless of the digestible energy content of the diet.

3. When housed in metabolism crates pigs ate less than when housed in holding pens and the difference was greater than would be expected solely from the reduced exercise of the pigs in crates.

4. Daily digestible energy intake was 575 kcal/kg. live-weight 0.675 when the pigs were in holding pens. The daily digestible energy intake of pigs in metabolism crates increased less with live-weight.

5. The use of metabolism crates to obtain digestibility coefficients and values for nitrogen retention to be applied to animals housed under other conditions is discussed in relation to the differences found in apparent digestibility coefficients, feed intake and growth rates between pigs in crates and in holding pens.