bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceptus development following blastocyst transfer to ewes induced to ovulate at 28 days post-partum
Authors: Wallace J.M. , Aitken R.P. , Cheyne M.A.
Published: June 2019

The use of laparoscopic intrauterine insemination to deposit semen directly into the tip of the uterine horn thus bypassing the involuting uterus ensures fertilization in ewes induced to ovulate at 3 to 5 weeks post-partum. Acceptable pregnancy rates are achieved if embryos from post-partum donors are transferred to a normal uterine environment (60%; Wallace, Robinson & Aitken, 1989a) but embryos rarely survive when transferred or returned to a post-partum uterus (0-25%; Wallace, Robinson & Aitken, 1989b; McKelvey, Wallace, Robinson & Aitken, 1989). Furthermore, when conceptus development was assessed at Day 16 after insemination only a small sub-set of post-partum ewes remained pregnant, suggesting that any defect in the maternal/embryonic dialogue which may inhibit the re-establishment of pregnancy in post-partum ewes occurs prior to this stage (Wallace, Ashworth, Aitken & Cheyne, 1991).

In the current study a novel blastocyst transfer procedure was developed to test whether the post-partum uterus can support conceptus development during the period of rapid growth coincident with the maternal recognition of pregnancy.
Divergent selection for ovulation rate in sheep : effect on embryo survival
Authors: Hanrahan J.P.
Published: June 2019

The relative importance of genetic variation in ovulation rate and in embryo survival together with the genetic relationship between these traits are important issues in terms of manipulating prolificacy in all multitocous mammalian species. Evidence in sheep, primarily from study of breed differences but also based on results of selection for litter size, shows that genetic variation in litter size is essentially attributable to differences in ovulation rate although genetic differences in embryo survival have been identified. Results from selection on litter size also suggest that genetic variation in ovulation rate is independent of any variation in embryo survival. The evaluation of the relationship between these traits in sheep is somewhat problematical in most populations due to the low level of ovulation and particularly the associated high proportion of ewes which shed a single ovum. The objective of the present study was to use lines of Finn Sheep, a breed with a high ovulation rate and in which single ovulations are rare, which have been developed by divergent selection on ovulation rate to evaluate the genetic association between ovulation rate and embryo survival.
Embryo mortality in maiden hereford x friesian heifers following embryo transfer
Authors: Pullar D. , Brown K F D , Wrathall A E
Published: June 2019

Early embryo mortality results in significant inefficiency in cattle breeding. A pregnancy rate of 65-70% to a single service, AI or transfer of fresh embryos is considered to be very good indeed. A pregnancy rate of 55-60% using frozen embryos would also be considered very good. Of the 30%, or so, of cattle which do not become pregnant to a single service, approximately one quarter are accounted for by fertilisation failure (Diskin and Sreenan, 1980; Roche et al, 1981) and another quarter by cytogenetic abnormalities in the embryos, which usually occur within the first few days after fertilisation (Hare et al. 1980; Gayerie de Abreu et al, 1984). Failure in the communication between embryo and uterus probably accounts for the remaining 50% of pregnancy loss. Fertilisation failure and early deaths due to cytogenetic abnormalities are by-passed by embryo transfer (ET) so that other causes of loss become rather more significant.
Effects of stocking density on growth and feed efficiency of farmed rainbow trout
Authors: McCavana K. , McCracken K.J.
Published: June 2019

The efficient production of farmed fish depends on a large number of variables such as water temperature, oxygen concentration, feeding level, diet composition and stocking density. These interactions also have important effects on water quality. As part of a series of experiments to establish an effective management system on a fresh water farm producing rainbow trout, two studies were conducted to establish the effects of stocking density on growth and feed efficiency, one under winter and the other under summer conditions of temperature and oxygen tension.
The effects of seasonal alterations in ration on fecundity and maturation in rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Bromage N. , Jones J.
Published: June 2019

Feeding different groups of 1 year-old prepubertal female rainbow trout for 0, 4, 8 or 12 months on either high (1.0% body weight day-1) or low (0.4%) rations produced significant changes in fecundity, total egg volume and in the percentages of fish which spawned. Fish fed high ration for the first 4 or 8 months of the year-long cycle had up to 56% higher fecundities even after weight influences had been partitioned by covariance analysis. Groups of fish fed high ration for the first 4 months of the cycle included the highest percentages of spawning fish. By optimising feeding regimes commercial hatcheries could produce up to 3x more eggs from existing stocks.
The effect of two feeding patterns on performance of bred doe kids in late pregnancy
Authors: Scanlan S , Roger L C
Published: June 2019

Breeding does at an early age can accelerate genetic progress in a breeding programme. However there is little information on the management and nutrition of bred doe kids. This trial investigated flat rate and stepped rate allocations of energy during the last 9 weeks pre-kidding and the effects of these treatments on the subsequent performance of both does and kids.

In December 1990 42 first and second cross cashmere doe kids were selected for breeding on the basis of liveweight (minimum 18.5 kg) and housed until kidding in early May. Two 3 year old New Zealand bucks were run with them for 4 weeks. A complete diet, consisting of grass nuts and maize gluten was fed during the housing period.
Body composition and performance of autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian dairy cows during lactation: chemical composition of the body
Authors: Gibb M.J. , Ivings W.E. , Sutton J.D.
Published: June 2019

One of the major limitations in nutritional studies of lactation in dairy cows is the unknown contribution of body tissues to the energy status of the animal. Both fat and protein are thought to be mobilised in early lactation (Bauman and Elliot, 1983) when nutrient intake is insufficient to meet the demands for energy and amino acids. The present experiment investigates the effects of diet on changes in weights of chemically determined fat and crude protein (CP) in the carcass and non-carcass fractions over the first 29 weeks of lactation.

Body composition was measured by serial slaughter of autumn-calving dairy cows offered grass silage (206 g CP and 18.56 MJ GE per kg DM)ad libitumand 3(L), 6(M) or 9(H) kg DM/day of concentrate (206 g CP/kg DM)(Sutton, Aston, Beever and Fisher, 1992). Cows with post-calving live weights between 500 and 700 kg and previous lactation yields between 5000 and 7000 litres were used, and were blocked for parity and expected calving date before allocation across treatments and slaughter times. Six cows were slaughtered at 2 to 4 dayspost partum(week 0), and two from each treatment (one 2nd, and one 3rd or 4th parity) at 2, 5, 8, 11,14,19, 24 or 29weeks post partum.After slaughter the right half carcass and all other non-carcass components were frozen and minced before chemical analysis for fat, CP, ash and water. All weights were adjusted by covariance for live weightpost partumand parity. Energy content was calculated assuming values of 39.19 and 23.23 MJ/kg for fat and CP respectively.
Relationship between cisternal storage capacity and tolerance of once-daily milking in dairy cows
Authors: Knight Christopher H. , Dewhurst Richard J.
Published: June 2019

Once-daily milking reduces fixed costs, may be used strategically as a quota-management tool and could become the production system of choice in a programme of extensification. However, milk secretion is reduced during once-daily milking, through the action of an autocrine feedback inhibitor. This natural milk protein is active in milk stored within the secretory tissue, but not in cisternal milk (since it is then remote from its site of action). Consequently, large-cisterned cows should tolerate infrequent milking better than those with small cisterns, by virtue of storing a greater proportion of their milk in a site where the inhibitor is inactive. The aim of this experiment was to test this hypothesis.

A group of 9 multiparous and 2 primiparous Friesian-Holstein cows from the Hannah herd calving in March and April 1991 were selected for study. All had been free of clinical mastitis during the current lactation. Throughout the experiment the group were managed routinely at grass as part of the main herd, and were fed a flat rate of 2.4 kg/d of an 18% protein concentrate feed. Normal milking was twice daily at 15:9 h intervals, and yield was recorded at each milking.
The fat soluble vitamin and fatty acid composition of colostrum, milk and fatty composition of erythrocyte membranes in calves supplemented with vitamin E and linoleic acid
Authors: Scaife J R , Khombe Mabel , Paton Fiona , Acamovic T , MacDonald D C
Published: June 2019

Colostrum and milk contain a number of important components such as immunoglobulins, fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids which have a marked influence on the health and welfare of the neonatal calf. The requirement of the neonatal calf for vitamin E is partly dependent on the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Harris and Embree (1963) recommended that the ratio of vitamin E to linoleic acid (mg/g) should be between 1.5 to 2.5. Vitamin E is required to provide protection against peroxidative damage to the unsaturated fatty acids of plasma and membrane lipids and has been shown to play an important role in the development and maintenance of the immune system (Machlin and Bendich, 1987; Bendich, 1989). A study was conducted to examine the ratio of vit E to C18:2 in colostrum and milk and to investigate the effects of different dietary ratios of vit E to C18:2 erythrocyte membrane lipid composition.

Twelve Hereford x Friesian cows were used in this experiment. Seventeen calves born to these cows, five sets of twins and seven singles, were randomly allocated to four treatment groups as follows. Group A -untreated controls; groups B and C - supplemented with different levels of vitamin E; group D -supplemented with vitamin E and C18:2.
Standard values for dairy herd fertility parameters
Authors: Esslemont R. J. , Schutte R. , Chamberlain A. T.
Published: June 2019

Performance recording is generally necessary for the efficient management of dairy herds. There is a variety of recording systems currently available but interpretation of the results is hampered by an imprecise knowldege of attainable levels of performance and the magnitude of the shortfall that warrants interference. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated to provide standards for the assessment of other herds. Data were obtained for 6636 cows calving in one season in 50 herds (herd size ± s.d., 132.7 ± 44.5). Target values were considered to be the 75th percentile and interference levels the 25th percentile (Table 1).
A new technique for use in the study of lameness in dairy cows
Authors: Logue D N , Offer Jill E , Kempson Susan A , Bax J A
Published: June 2019

Lameness in dairy cattle is a major cause of suffering and financial loss with an estimated cost to the dairy sector of £44 million in 1989 (Booth 1989). Surveys have shown that the most common forms of lameness in the dairy cow originate from lesions of the hoof. A variety of predisposing factors including stage of lactation, time of year, housing and nutritional management, and age of the cow and its genetics have been implicated. Although it is evident that solear haemorrhages which are often observed after calving generally precede the appearance of lesions which cause lameness, (Greenough & Vermunt 1991) there is still relatively little known of the patho-physiological factors which underly hoof lesion development. Greenough & Vermunt examined the feet of heifers in a herd with severe lameness problems and noted considerable solear haemorrhage up to four months before first calving. They associated this with mixing the heifers with dry cows as soon as they were diagnosed pregnant. However similar lesions have been seen in heifers in other problem herds where no such mixing took place (Bazeley & Pinsent 1984, Bradley, Shannon & Neilsen 1989). There is little knowledge of the development of hoof lesions in herds with little or no lameness, although this vital background information is essential to understanding the aetiology of these lesions and the development of lameness.
Variations in dairy cattle somatic cell counts during lactation
Authors: Mohammedi E. , Sword A. , Roberts D. J.
Published: June 2019

Somatic cell count of milk is a well established test of monitoring udder subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. Its diurnal variation has been known for decades, (SMITH and SHULTZE 1967). However the association of somatic cell count to time of sampling has been poorly investigated (AOKI et al 1990), and little emphasis has been given to the representativity of samples for a period of 24h. By concentrating on the study of differences between morning and evening milkings throughout lactation, the objective of the current study was to stress the need for a standard representative sampling time, to avoid possible bias in the interpretation of somatic cell count data, whether for research purposes or routine health surveys.
The Effect of Lameness on Milk Production in Friesian-Holstein Cows
Authors: Merritt J.B. , Manson F.J. , Russell W.B. , Downham D.Y.
Published: June 2019

In a recent study carried out over three years, on a commercial Cheshire dairy herd, 86% of animals were found to be lame at some time. This level of disease is considerably higher than has been reported, (Rowlands, Russell and Williams, 1983; Dohoo, Martin, Meek and Sandals, 1983) and may have important economic implications.

Lameness has been associated with reduced 305 day yields (Rowlands and Lucey, 1986), lower than average lifetime yield (Cobo Abreu, Martin, Wiiloughby and Stone, 1979), lower yields in early lactation (Enevoldson and Grohn, 1991), and a reduction in percentage milk protein (Bigras-Poulin, Meek and Martin, 1990).
Computing connectedness among management groups under an animal model
Authors: Mrode R.A. , Swanson G.J.T.
Published: June 2019

In any genetic evaluation procedure connectedness among animals in different management groups (herds) is important in order to account for genetic differences among management groups. Kennedy and Trus (1991) mentioned that under an animal model (IAM), connections occur through the relationship matrix (A). They showed that connectedness can be measured in terms of the proportionate contribution of genes from one herd to the other. This is achieved by computing X1ZTQ, where X and Z are matrices that assign records to herds and animals respectively, Q a matrix that assigns ancestors of animals with records to a single genetic group and T is a lower triangular matrix derived from A, such that A = TDT1, with D a diagonal matrix. In practice the calculation of T may not be feasible with large number of animals because of memory requirements.
From where do dairy farmers get their information?
Authors: Shimoda T. , Heine M.H. , Woodhouse R.C. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

Dairy Farmers receive information from the whole range of the sector relating to the dairying industry, whether they actively seek information or not. The survey carried out attempted to identify British farmers’ perception of the information sources of greatest value to them. This survey was limited to a sample of dairy farmers in England and Wales.

A postal survey was conducted with questionnaires being sent to 306 dairy farmers selected from the Public Register of the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales. The sample size was 1.0% of registered dairy farmers from each of the eleven MMB regions. The questionnaire was in six parts. The first contained three questions on the farm itself (i.e. the MMB region, breed of cow, herd size). The remaining parts concerned five categories of potential information sources. These were: (1) hard copy (i.e. printed) publications from official or semi-official bodies, firms which provided agrochemicals, feedstuffs, machinery etc and their sales agencies, and the farming press; (2) broadcasting services on the radio and TV; (3) databases services from database producers or viewdata/teletext; (4) individual contacts which were precoded as MAFF/ADAS advisers, the MMB/Genus consultants, private consultants, other farmers, agrochemicals/fertilsers suppliers, feedstuffs suppliers, pharmaceutical suppliers, machinery suppliers and veterinary surgeons; and (5) other institutions which identified such remaining sources as educational institutes, research institutes, information centres, public libraries, and farming organisations.
Estimation of genetic parameters for conformation traits assessed on a linear scale in ayrshire cattle
Authors: Bellamy HJ. , Mrode R.A. , Swanson G.J.T.
Published: June 2019

Information on the conformation of Ayrshire cattle has been collected by the Ayrshire Cattle Society (ACS) since 1985. Seventeen traits are recorded on a scale of 1 to 9 where 1 and 9 represent the biological extremes of the population. Approximately 2000 records are collected annually and analysed by the Milk Marketing Board using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction to provide sire evaluations on Ayrshire bulls, fitting a sire model. In the past there have been insufficient records to produce reasonable estimates of heritabilities for the traits and those from the Holstein/Friesian population have been used. The purpose of this study was to produce heritability estimates for each trait for use in future analyses.
Automated wet feeding of weaner pigs versus conventional dry diet feeding -effects on growth rate and feed consumption
Authors: G.G. Partridge , J. Fisher , H Gregory , S.G Prior
Published: June 2019

Poor feed intake of conventional dry diets in the immediate post-weaning period can be a major factor limiting potential growth rate in the young pig. Feeding systems based on the automatic dispensing of liquid milk -substitute have been developed over the last 10-15 years but they have not achieved widespread usage within the U.K. industry for various reasons. Several studies have shown, however, the potential benefit of offering liquid or slurry diets over this critical period around weaning (eg. English, Maclean and MacPherson 1988; Anon 1991). Deprez et a] (1987) also demonstrated its beneficial effects on the morphology of the small intestine post-weaning. The present study examined the use of an experimental automated feeder (‘Autofeeder’, patent applied for) which could dispense a conventional pelleted starter diet plus water (1:1 ratio) 6, 8, 12 or 24 times throughout the day in varying quantities. It was compared against a conventional dry hopper (control) with ad libitum feeding.
The influence of a barrier on the behaviour and growth of early-weaned piglets
Authors: Waran N.K. , Broom D.M.
Published: June 2019

The Codes of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock : Pigs (1991) suggest that the minimum total floor space for pigs growing to 20 kg should be 0.15 m2 per pig. This space allowance should be adequate for sleeping, feeding, dunging and exercise. However, no allowance has been made for the space the pig needs to signal submission during an aggressive interaction, and it may be that this is one of the reasons why weaning is associated with such a high level of aggression and a reduction in growth rate. The objective of this experiment was to try to reduce aggression and belly-nosing and to improve weight gain by building a hide area (using a barrier) into conventional weaner pens. The steel-framed barriers that were used took up very little space in the pens. Three trials involving 120 Large White X Landrace piglets were carried out. In each trial, piglets were weaned at 24 days and were assigned at random to one of four treatments; straw pen with a barrier, straw pen with no barrier, flatdeck cage with a barrier, flatdeck cage with no barrier, each group contained ten piglets.
Growth and rumen fermentation in cattle fed silages made using organic acids
Authors: O'Kiely P. , Moloney A.P.
Published: June 2019

The nutritive value of ensiled grass can be modified by the fermentation process. Compared to industrial fermentation, silage fermentation is still a relatively uncontrolled process. Consequently, considerable variation in the pattern of silage fermentation occurs on farms (Wilson and O'Kiely, 1990). This makes animal performance difficult to predict accurately and may alter the composition of the most appropriate concentrate to be fed with the silage. The objectives of the present experiment were (1) to compare the growth and rumen fermentation in cattle fed silage, where silage fermentation was altered using organic acids and (2) to determine the relative effects on growth when the silages were supplemented with two forms of concentrate.
The effect of formaldehyde and formic acid as silage additives on the ruminal degradation of a grass-legume silage
Authors: Lopez S. , Carro M.D. , Carpintero C. , Gonzalez J.S.
Published: June 2019

One of the main problem of preserving forages by ensiling is the high proportion of non-protein N of the silage as a consequence of the proteolitic action of plant enzymes and the consequent poor utilization of N by the ruminant.

Several procedures have been developed with the aim of reduce this protein breakdown but these methods could reduce the ammount of N available for tie rumen microbes and the N digestibility in the post-runinal tract. This study was set up to determine the rumen degradation characteristics of silages treated wit different additives.

Three silages were lade from the 3rd cut of a grass-legune mixture sward in 1 t capacity silos. The herbages were treated with either no additive (C), formic acid (4 1 of a solution of 85% foric acid/t of grass) (F) or fonaldehyde (4.9 g fonaldehyde/100 g grass CP) (FA).
The effect of an additive on the aerobic stability and subsequent intake of grass silages
Authors: Davies O D
Published: June 2019

A major difficulty in producing detailed rations for ruminants, where grass silage is offered ad libitum lies in the accurate prediction of silage intake. It is well documented that ammonia and increased levels of acetic, butyric, caproic and valeric acids in grass silages have negative effects on intake, whilst increased organic matter digestibility has a positive effect. (Gill, Book and Thiago, 1988). A laboratory assessment of silage fermentation characteristics is usually determined from freshly cored samples. Depending on the stability of the silage, and the feeding method, results of such assessments may not be indicative of the silage on offer to stock.

A laboratory method of determining the aerobic stability of silage has been developed by ADAS at Slough Laboratories between 1988 and 1990, (Brooks 1990).
Measurement of ‘reach’ in stall-fed sheep and goats
Authors: Muhikambele V.R.M. , Owen E. , Owen J.E.
Published: June 2019

Future human population increases will require more land being devoted to cereal production. This will demand that ruminants be increasingly reliant on crop by-products for feed. The greater integration of crop and animal production will require more reliance on stall feeding systems. There is little published information on stall feeding systems for sheep and goats. Furthermore there is little information on the design of stall feeders for these animals. This paper reports an experiment designed to measure the reach capacity of sheep and goats in order to provide base line data which will be required when designing feeders for them.
Evaluation of pasture sampling procedures for the estimation of herbage n-alkanes
Authors: Vulich S.A. , Hanrahan J.P. , O’Riordan E.G.
Published: June 2019

The assessment of herbage intake using the n-alkane technique requires estimates of the n-alkane concentrations in the diet. The objective of the present study was a) to assess the magnitude of sampling variation in n-alkane concentrations among herbage samples taken from individual oesophageal fistulated wethers, b) compare n-alkane concentrations determined from oesophageal extrusa, hand plucked, and mechanically clipped herbage samples and c) assess the effect of errors in the estimates of herbage n-alkane concentrations on the accuracy of intake estimates.
The effect of haulage distance oh the performance and welfare of beef bulls and the eating quality of beef
Authors: Sinclair K D , Jessiman C , Clark A M
Published: June 2019

Previous studies in this area have tended to concentrate on the effects of short haulage distances on the behavioural patterns of bulls (Kenny and Tarrant, 1987) and the incidence of dark cutting beef following pre slaughter mixing (Price and Tennessen, 1981). To date, the current authors are unaware of any study which has been conducted to evaluate the effects of haulage distance and sex on the welfare of beef cattle and the eating quality of beef. As part of a much larger recording scheme such a study was conducted with 96 young continental cross beef bulls and 8 continental cross beef steers.

50 beef bulls and 8 beef steers from similar farms were subjected to a road journey of some 250 miles lasting about 480 minutes to an abattoir near Aberdeen. A further 46 beef bulls, which had originally come from similar farms to those outlined above, were subjected to an average road journey of 10 miles to the same abattoir, this journey lasting approximately 20 minutes.
The feeding of treated straw and grass silage in combination to growing beef cattle
Authors: Rowlinson P. , Raza S. H.
Published: June 2019

Straw (barley or wheat) is an important component of the diet of ruminants in developing countries but straw has a poor nutritive value due to the extensive lignification. The nutritive value of straw can be improved by several types of treatment (chemical, physical etc.). A number of workers have investigated different techniques of chemical treatment to improve the nutritional value and dry matter intake of straw (e.g. Homb, 1984, Rexan and Knudsen, 1984). Most of the workers have studied the nutritional improvement of treated straw in vitro but relatively few have investigated the potential of this feed, of improved nutritional value and high pH as a complement and buffer to acidic grass silage.This study was planned to investigate the optimum dietary inclusion level of alkali (NaOH) treated straw without affecting adversely animal performance and the economics of feeding.
Respiratory problems and performances in growing fattening bulls
Authors: Korsak N. , Istasse L. , Baldwin P. , Clinquart A. , Diez M. , Bienfait J.M.
Published: June 2019

Beef meat, in Belgium, is produced mainly from growing fattening bulls (38%) and culled cows from both dairy and beef breeds (38%). Meat from steers and veal calves is a smaller proportion (24%) of the total meat. Most of the beef meat is produced by specialized farmers in commercial units of large size with hundreds of animals slaughtered per year. The remaining production is done, at little scale, by some of the breeders. The success of beef production is associated with different factors such as genetic, housing conditions, diet and management. Nearly all the bulls which are slaughtered are from the Belgian Blue breed double muscled type. Belgian Blue is a breed of large size selected for meat production. The mam characteristics are high live weight gain, low feed conversion ratio, high dressing percentage and lean carcass (Hanset et al., 1989; Istasse et al., 1990).
Effect of GnRH pulse infusion on LH profiles and ovarian follicle populations at 7 weeks post-partum in beef cows in different body conditions
Authors: Pinto Andrade L. , Rhind S.M. , Wright L.A. , McMillen S.R. , Whyte T.K.
Published: June 2019

Previous studies have indicated that low body condition (LBC) at calving increases the duration of the postpartum anoestrous period in suckling beef cows (Henricks et al 1986; Wright et al 1987). The results of recent experiments also suggest that animals in LBC have a reduced incidence of LH pulses (Wright et al 1990) which is associated with a reduction in the incidence of large, oestrogenic, potentially ovulatory ovarian follicles (Prado et al 1990).

An experiment was designed to determine a) whether or not the normal process of follicular development can be accelerated in LBC cows by infusion of pulses of GnRH, so that their postpartum anoestrous period was as short as that of cows in HBC and b) the effect of GnRH pulse infusions on associated gonadotropin profiles.
Methane production by sheep when fed either untreated, ammonia treated or sodium hydroxide treated straw
Authors: Moss A R , Givens D I
Published: June 2019

In recent years considerable attention has been given to Improving the feeding value of low-quality roughages through physiological, biological and chemical processes (Jackson, 1978). Many reviews of chemical treatment methods on the effect of digestibility have previously been undertaken by Homb (1984), Sundstøl (1984) and Wanapat et al (1985), but few have studied the effect on methane production. The values available are very variable. Since the importance of chemically upgrading low-quality forages is also increasing in developing countries, it is essential to investigate further the effect chemical upgrading has on methane production, in order to estimate its impact on global warming.
Effect of urea on the rumen digestion in sheep of straw and grain fractions from whole crop wheat
Authors: Givens D I , Moss A R , Adamson A H , Reeve A
Published: June 2019

There has been Increased Interest 1n the making and feeding of whole-crop wheat (WCW) 1n recent years. WCW provides an alternative source of forage to grass silage, higher dry matter (DM) yields than grass and an alternative means of straw disposal. Conservation is often based on the Incorporation of urea which is hydrolysed to ammonia which preserves the crop without the losses associated with fermentation. Ørskov et al (19B3) have shown that urea applied to whole crop barley and oats at 60gkg-1 DM produced adequate crop preservation.

Since WCW is essentially a two component diet consisting of cell wall-rich straw and starch-rich grains, it is essential to understand the digestion characteristics of each. In addition, since urea has been extensively used to upgrade straws (eg Jayasurlya and Pearce, 1983; Williams et al, 1984) any upgrading effect of urea on WCW needs confirming.
The effect of yeast and distillery by-products on the fermentation in the rumen simulation technique (rusitec)
Authors: Newbold C.J. , Wallace R.J.
Published: June 2019

The practice of adding low levels of non-commensal yeast and fungi to ruminant diets is increasingly gaining acceptance as a means of manipulating rumen fermentation to benefit production. Reported benefits include an increased degradability of forages in the rumen and an improved flow of microbial protein from the rumen (Williams and Newbold, 1990).

Distillery by-products, such as pot ale syrup, are commonly included in ruminant diets as an energy source. However, pot ale syrup contains a substantial number of yeast cells. The aim of the present study was to establish if different yeasts and yeast-containing by-products had similar effects on rumen fermentation to those found with a commercial yeast culture feed additive.

Two commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae preparations (Alkosel, Alko Biotechnology, Finland and Yea-sacc, Alltech, UK), active dried baker's yeast (United Distillers, UK) and two pot ale syrups from the Inchgower and Dailuaine distilleries were compared for their effects on the fermentation in the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec).
Effects of yeast culture on rumen fermentation and liveweight gain in bulls fed isonitrogenous diets of barley/urea or barley/soya
Authors: Elhassan S.M. , Wallace R.J. , Newbold C.J. , Chen X.B. , Edwards I.E. , Topps J.H.
Published: June 2019

Yeast culture (YC) based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae is gaining increasing acceptance as a feed additive for ruminants. Production responses to YC have been reported in growing and lactating animals. It has been suggested that these responses are at least partly due to enhanced microbial growth in and microbial nitrogen flow from the rumen (Williams and Newbold, 1990). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of YC on rumen fermentation, microbial growth and liveweight gain in bulls fed isonitrogenous diets containing either urea or soya.

Thirty two Limousin cross Friesian bulls (liveweight 344 kg) were allocated to treatments on the basis of previous growth rate and initial liveweight. Animals received mixed diets of barley/urea (92% rolled barley, 5% cane molasses, 1.5% urea and 1.5% minerals/vitamin mix) or barley/soya (86.75% rolled barley, 5% cane molasses, 0.75% urea, 6% soyabean meal and 1.5% minerals/vitamin mix) plus or minus 1.5 kg/ tonne YC (Yea-sacc1026 , Alltech, UK) (Table 1). YC was added to the diet prior to mixing. All rations were offered ad libitum twice daily until slaughter (460 kg). Rumen fluid samples were withdrawn by stomach tube 5 and 10 weeks after the beginning of the trial. The outflow of microbial nitrogen from the rumen was estimated from the appearance of purine derivatives in the urine as described previously (Chen et al., 1990).
Rumen microbial protein supply to sheep given diets containing either urea or casein as the main N source
Authors: Chen X. B. , Gu C. X. , Zhang W. X. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: June 2019

The ability of rumen microbes to synthesize protein from ammonia-N enables the use of non-protein-N as a N source in ruminant diets. The strategy for feed formulation therefore would be to meet the microbial N requirement with a cheap N source (such as urea) and to increase the proportion of dietary protein for use directly by the host animal. There has been some indication that the efficiency of rumen microbial protein synthesis could be higher if protein N is provided (Stock, Klopfenstein, Brink, Britton and Harmon, 1986). The objective of this experiment was to compare the use of urea and casein as a source of rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN) for the production of microbial protein in sheep.

Five male Blackface x Suffolk lambs (33-42 kg live weight) fitted with rumen cannula were used. The animals were fed a restricted amount (721 g DM/day) of a low-N basal diet with or without supplementation with either urea or casein.
Effects of final cooking temperature on the eating quality of pork loin steaks
Authors: Wood J.D. , Nute G.R. , Fursey G.A.J. , Cuthbertson A.
Published: June 2019

Research conducted during the last few years shows that several factors affect the eating quality of pork and that it is possible to obtain good eating quality at low levels of fat in the carcass (ie. P2 ˂ 10mm). A Blueprint approach to meat quality improvement can be taken by combining appropriate genetic, nutritional, animal welfare and meat processing inputs.

It is widely believed that care taken during cooking is important if the full benefit of the improved practices is to be realised. However there is little objective research on which to base recommendations. This study set out to examine the effects of cooking temperature on grilled loin steaks, a popular product although vulnerable to cooking abuse.
Production comparisons between farrowing crates and community farrowing systems
Authors: Rudd A.R. , Simmins P.H. , Mendl M.T. , Malkin S.
Published: June 2019

The major welfare problems of farrowing accommodation concern piglet crushing, disease and weakness. The farrowing crate has been designed to prevent these piglet welfare problems. However, for the sow the restrictive nature of the farrowing crate may decrease her welfare. As studies of free-ranging pigs show, sows often choose to leave their young at intervals (Jensen et. al., 1991) and this is prevented in the conventional farrowing crate. The development of a less restrictive farrowing system might allow the sow to express behaviour similar to that seen in free-ranging conditions. The objective of this experiment was to compare the production performance of the farrowing crate with farrowing systems which allow the sow to leave her offspring.
Exploitation of the biodiversity within the rumen microbial ecosystem
Authors: Hazlewood Geoffrey P.
Published: June 2019

In ruminants, pregastric ruminal digestion of a diet consisting exclusively of plant biomass is effected by a mixed but relatively stable population of anaerobic microorganisms comprising bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Together these organisms produce the enzymes necessary to hydrolyse each component of the plant cell, including the cell wall polysaccharides, cellulose and hemicellulose, which account for more than 50% of plant biomass, and are among the least degradable fractions of the ruminant diet. Although research has probably not yet revealed the full extent of the biochemical and genetic diversity of the rumen microbial ecosystem, it is nevertheless already apparent that microorganisms which inhabit the rumen are not only essential for normal digestion, but they are also a rich potential source of enzymes with applications in the field of biotechnology. This paper will explore two principal routes for exploiting the biodiversity within the rumen microflora, both of which are made possible by the application of recombinant DNA techniques. The first concerns the use of rumen enzymes in processes which are relevant not only to agriculture, but also to the pulp and paper, textile and food industries. The second involves the modification or selective amplification of existing biochemical events in the rumen as a means of enhancing digestive efficiency.
A comparison of "bonus" and "quota" systems utilising the sry gene in beef cattle breeding
Authors: Bishop S.C. , Woolliams J.A.
Published: June 2019

The SRY gene controls the presence of testes (i.e. maleness) in mammals. This has been demonstrated by Koopman et al (1991), who bred transgenic XX mice with a copy of the SRY gene on an autosome which were phenotypically male, albeit infertile. A fertile XY male with a copy of the SRY gene on an autosome should, theoretically, produce a greater proportion of offspring which are phenotypically male. This would be advantageous in, for example, breeding Terminal beef sires, where male calves are more valuable than females calves on commercial farms. The possible use of beef cattle transgenic for the SRY gene was investigated by Bishop and Woolliams (1991) who found that there were small genetic advantages in breeding schemes using these bulls, compared to traditional breeding schemes, although there may be practical problems in running such schemes. Their findings pertained to a restricted mating strategy (the "quota" system) and a restricted time horizon (15 years), however. This paper investigates the possible application of the SRY gene considering different mating strategies and a flexible time horizon.
The effect of the energy amd protein content of a strawmix supplement on the milk production and bloat incidence of cows grazing a high clover pasture
Authors: Phillips C.J.C. , James N.L.
Published: June 2019

A mixed perennial ryegrass and white clover sward must be grazed to a short height to encourage clover growth. If high milk output is expected a supplement must be offered. A straw and concentrate mix (strawmix) utilizes surplus straw and enables nutrient intake to be controlled. Forage supplements also reduce the risk of bloat. In this experiment strawmix supplements of varying energy and protein content were compared.

Twenty Friesian dairy cows were allocated to a Latin Square design with five treatments: no supplement N, or pasture supplements of high or low energy (E and e) and high or low protein (P or p) in a factorial design (Table 1). Energy and protein contents were manipulated by changing the concentration of molasses and soyabean meal respectively.
Current pupil attitudes and perceptions and a framework for the future.
Authors: Reiss Michael J
Published: June 2019

The last ten years have seen a great deal of discussion about the use of animals in education. The aim of this paper will be to summarise current pupil attitudes and perceptions, and to provide an ethical framework within which the use of animals in education can be examined. In many countries the recent years have seen a considerable reduction in the use of animals in school science education (Reiss and Beaney, 1992). Whole animal dissection has become significantly less common within the last decade. It is, for example, now required by none of the Examining Boards in the UK, even for advanced level biology. Part of the reason for such changes has been a shift in the perceptions by many pupils and students, and some teachers, about the appropriateness of the use of animals in schools. Recent work by Roger Lock and Katherine Millett has shown how strong are pupil views against animal experimentation and the use of animals in schools (Lock and Millett, 1992; Millett and Lock, 1992). For instance the majority of 14-15 year-olds disagreed with the statement 'New medicines should be tested on animals before they are taken by humans'. Similarly, the majority of these pupils agreed with the statement 'I think that it is wrong to breed animals that will only be used for dissection'.
Factors Influencing the Robustness and Accuracy of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Calibrations for Ps5edicting the Digestibility of Grass Silages
Authors: Baker C W , Givens D I
Published: June 2019

Earlier studies showed the superiority of NIRS, over fibre measurements, for predicting organic matter digestibility (OMD) in vivo of grass silages. (Barber et al 1990). This system was put into routine use in ADAS in 1989 and after some initial doubts, due to the wider range of the predicted data seen, is now accepted as the best system available for routine use. However, occasional erroneous values were predicted for which there were no obvious explanations, and which resulted in occasional relatively poor repeatability. In common with all NIRS applications it was likely that the sources of the problems contributing to the errors were i) instrumental and environmental noise, ii) sample particle size effects and iii) variable moisture content of the samples. A course of investigation was undertaken with the objective of determining the effects of these on the predicted data.
Sequential feeding of whole grain wheat to broiler chickens
Authors: Rose S.P. , Fielden M. , Gardin P.
Published: June 2019

Broilers select an adequate diet when they are given a cycle of 8h free access to whole grain wheat followed by 8h access to a pelleted balancer feed (Foote and Rose 1991). This study had 3 feeding trials. Their objectives were to investigate whether the sequential feeding regimen allowed dietary self-selection by broilers and to compare the productive performance of the broilers with other feeding regimens.

The first trial used 144 broilers in 24 cages. Three balancer feeds were formulated by removing part of the wheat component of a complete feed formulation. Either 35%, 50% or 65% of the wheat was removed from the original formulation. A fourth sequential feeding treatment used the 50% balancer but with another sample of whole wheat as the alternate feed.
The Pre-Farrowing Behaviour Of Sows With Access To Straw And Space For Locomotion
Authors: Haskell M.J. , Hutson G.D.
Published: June 2019

The farrowing crate is one of the most confining forms of animal accommodation found in intensive animal rearing systems and so is subject to criticism from welfare lobby groups. To determine how the welfare of the sow might be affected by the crate, we need to gain an understanding of pre-farrowing behaviour, and the factors that affect its expression. Free-ranging domestic sows will leave the herd on the day before farrowing and walk up to 6.5 km, build a nest and farrow in it (Jensen, 1986). Crated sows are known to become very restless in the day or so before farrowing, and as farrowing approaches they bite at the crate and paw and root at the floor and fittings (e.g. Jones, 1966). It is possible that this behaviour is an expression of the motivation to perform locomotion and nest-building as shown by sows in the wild. To investigate this, three experiments were designed to investigate pre-farrowing behaviour in domestic sows and the influence of straw (a nest-building substrate) on its expression.
Pathophysiological observations from ascitic broiler chickens raised at sea-level
Authors: Maxwell M.H.
Published: June 2019

The ascites syndrome is a cardiopulmonary condition which affects young just-growing broiler chickens. It is identified by the accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity and birds die from chronic passive congestion and right ventricular heart failure. Many reports refer to its incidence among broilers maintained at altitudes greater than 3000 m. It is thought that hypoxia caused by decreased partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen (p02 results in a syndrome of cor pulmonale analogous to high mountain disease in cattle and is a major cause of ascites. From the mid 1980's, however, there have been more frequent reports that refer to the occurrence of spontaneous outbreaks of ascites in flocks maintained at moderate altitudes or even at sea level. At sea level, the increased frequency of this syndrome has still to be determined.

Because the pathology of this syndrome is characterised by marked ascites, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary congestion and oedema and hepatopathy, much of this talk will concentrate on morphological changes, both spontaneous and induced, that have been identified in altitude - and sea level-reared broiler chicks. Histo/ultracytochemical techniques have been used to investigate the possible role of tissue oxygen underutilisation in the broiler ascites syndrome at low altitude.
Teeth Clipping in Piglets
Authors: Brookes J.B. , Lean I.J.
Published: June 2019

Piglets are born with 8 very sharp ‘needle-teeth’ - 4 incisors and 4 canines. These pointed teeth grow outwards, two on either side in each jaw, leaving an open space in the front of the mouth. In intensively run units, the tips of these teeth are usually removed soon after birth, using a pair of side cutter pliers. This is said to reduce the severity of piglet face wounding, caused by natural competition for space at the udder and during play. Reducing injury by clipping teeth is also said to limit the sites of entry for micro-organisms. Blunt clippers and clipping teeth too close to the gum can shatter teeth, providing places of entry for microbes and leaving sharp edges which can lead to deep wounds in tongues and lips. The aim of this trial was to determine whether grinding teeth is a preferable alternative to clipping teeth