bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ensiled Distillers or Brewers Grains as the Sole Diet for Beef Cattle
Authors: Lewis M , Lowman B G
Published: June 2019

Malt distillers grains (MDG) and brewers grains (BG) are the fibrous residues remaining after the extraction of sugars from malted barley during the process of malt whisky and beer production, respectively. MDG and BG are popular supplements in beef finishing diets with up to 15kg/head/day being fed on Scottish farms (Lilwall, Smith and Wood, 1983). However, in some areas, close to distilleries and breweries, and particularly during the summer months, MDG and BG can be bought cheaply and ensiled, and could be fed to appetite as the sole or major part of the diet. This investigation explores this possibility.

Some unusual limitations of MDG and BG as a complete diet are that they are virtually devoid of soluble minerals such as Na and K and are low in some trace elements and vitamins. They also contain high levels of unsaturated fats which depress fibre digestion and voluntary dry matter intake (Miller et al., 1970). This effect can be partly overcome by supplementation with calcium carbonate (El Hag et al., 1972) probably by the formation of insoluble calcium soaps of fatty acids in the rumen. Based on these considerations a mineral/vitamin mix was designed specifically to supplement these materials.
Effect of carcass manipulation on muscle collagen
Authors: Dawson J. M. , Buttery P. J. , Gill M. , Beever D. E.
Published: June 2019

The amount of connective tissue in meat is believed to be one of several factors which affect meat tenderness. Collagen, the major protein component of connective tissue in muscle, exists as an aggregate of three polypeptide chains, stabilized by intra- and inter-molecular cross-links. The degree of cross-linking determines its solubility to heat and affects the amount which is reduced to gelatine on cooking. This factor is now believed to be an equally important determinant of meat tenderness.

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of three different methods of carcass manipulation on muscle composition in young steers with particular reference to their effects on muscle collagen.

Twenty four Friesian steers (12 weeks age, 113± 6 kg) were offered silage ad libitum either alone (12 animals) or supplemented with 150g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter (DM). Half of the animals offered fishmeal-supplemented silage were also ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β. Six animals offered silage alone were also administered the β-agonist cimaterol via subcutaneously implanted osmotic mlnipumps (0.06 mg cimaterol/kg liveweight/d).
Factors Affecting Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cows
Authors: Russel A.J.F. , Wright I.A. , Hunter E.A.
Published: June 2019

Successful and timely rebreeding is of major importance to the economics of suckler cow enterprises. Research into the causes of reprodutive failure and extended calving intervals can be difficult, not least because of the need for experiments involving large numbers of animals if statistically significant treatment effects are to be demonstrated. Useful information however, can be obtained from the analysis of data derived from a number of relatively small-scale experiments, not necessarily on reproduction per se, but in which records of reproductive performance are available.

This paper deals with the analysis of data on the reproductive performance of beef cows used in a number of experiments on the effects of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on components of production such as milk yield and composition, calf birth weight and early calf growth rate. The objective of the analysis was to identify the major factors affecting calving interval and to quantify the magnitude of the effects of these factors.
The use of a calcium soap to alleviate milk fat depression in dairy cows when turned out to grass
Authors: Garnsworthy P.C. , Taylor S.J.
Published: June 2019

When autumn-calving dairy cows are turred out to grass, the sudden change in diet composition, particularly the drop in fibre content, can frequently result in a depression in the fat content of milk. This depression can be minimised by feeding forages such as hay or silage to cows at grass but this will usually result in a decrease in the overall energy concentration of the ration, thus decreasing potential performance. In rations fed to dairy cows during the winter, milk fat content can be increased by the use of supplements containing fibrous sources of carbohydrate or fat. Feeding high levels of fat can be counter productive, due to its effect on fibre digestion, but calcium soaps have been found to have less effect on runen fermentation than free fatty acids.
Protein supplementation of rapidly digested energy sources in dairy cows
Authors: Hecheimi K. , Phillips C.J.C. , Reeve A. , Statham R.
Published: June 2019

When concentrates are rapidly digested in the rumen of the dairy cows, turnover rate will increase and protein degradability consequently decrease. This may reduce the need for low degradability protein supplements but the rapid post-prandial release of energy for microbial digestion could cause a deficit of rumen - degradable nitrogen and low rumen pH. In two experiments two rapidly-digested energy sources were examined, molasses and extruded barley, and three nitrogen supplements, urea, soyabean and fishmeal, as well as the use of sodium bicarbonate to stabilize rumen pH.
Comparison of rapeseed meal, sunflower and soyabean meals as protein sources in concentrates for milking cows
Authors: Vincent Isobel C. , R. Hill  , Campling R.C.
Published: June 2019

A compound feed that is designed to be given in equal amounts with cereals for milk production would contain about 30% crude protein, and if rapeseed meal were the major high protein supplement to be used along with cereal, about 60% would need to be included. No observations have been reported in which this high proportion of rapeseed meal has been used and the experiment described was planned to provide this information, using low glucosinolate rapeseed meal. The control diet contained soyabean meal in place of rapeseed meal, and a third compound was used containing sunflower meal seed as the major protein supplement.

Thirty-nine Friesian cattle were used in a randomised block design: the three treatments, compounds containing low glucosinolate rapeseed meal, sunflower seed meal and soyabean meal, were applied for 16 weeks. There were 21 cows and 18 heifers, the mean days in milk at the start of the experiment was 62 days and the mean yield over the previous two weeks was 26.9 kg.
Protein sources for monogastric and ruminant livestock in the cauca valley of colombia
Authors: Cruz M L , Preston T R , Speedy A W
Published: June 2019

Almost all attempts to improve animal production systems in developing countries have failed because they relied on the transfer of technologies from developed countries. Livestock production systems in industrialized conuntries have high rates of animal productivity, which at the same time require high quality feeds, rich in energy and protein. Most developed countries are located in temperate climates in which cereals and high quality feeds and grains can be readily grown and have the currency to provide all the fossil fuel inputs required.

In order for Third World countries, located mostly in tropical regions, to adapt these systems, they must import exotic livestock and provide the high level of feeding at high cost. The transferred system has led to a loss of interest in indigenous breeds and local resources.

It is clear that there is a great need for new rural development strategies that should take into account not only food production but also renewable energy resources, employment generation, self reliance and protection of the enviroment. This strategy includes selection of crops and cropping systems which maximize biomass production, nitrogen fixation and minimize the use of imported or expensive inputs.
Predicting the time of ovulation in dairy cows using milk progesterone kits
Authors: McLeod B.J. , Weller R.F. , Phipps R.H. , Foulkes J.A.
Published: June 2019

Poor reproductive performance of dairy herds is seldom attributable to a high incidence of embryonic loss or to long periods of anoestrus, but is generally due to the failure to inseminate cows that are cycling normally.

Even in the best managed herds, oestrus detection rates rarely exceed 70-80%, and often 10-20% of non-oestrous animals may be recorded as being on heat. These shortcomings in oestrus detection can be overcome by monitoring oestrous cycles in Individual animals, thus enabling the time of ovulation to be predicted. For example, when cows that failed to show oestrus, were inseminated on the basis of milk progesterone profiles, the conception rates achieved were similar to those in cows inseminated at observed oestrus (Ball and Jackson, 1979). In addition, in groups of animals inseminated at progesterone-timed rather than at observed oestrus, the number of cows served over a one-cycle period increased dramatically (98 v 71%), and days from calving to first service decreased (78 v 92 days), (Foulkes, Cookson and Sauer, 1982). In this study, the feasibility of using on-farm milk progesterone kits as a practical method of predicting ovulation, and its effects on herd reproductive performance were assessed.
The rumen solubility of a calcium soap of palm fatty acids
Authors: Givens D I , Everington Jeannie M , Shepperson N
Published: June 2019

Several experiments have shown (see Armstrong and Ross, 1968) that the addition of fats to ruminant diets can lead to a reduction in the digestibilities of forage cell walls due to adverse effects on the rumen microflora. Jenkins and Palmquist (1982) showed in vitro that the in situ formation of calcium soaps in the rumen could prevent this problem. Subsequently Jenkins and Palmquist (1984) have provided evidence that the feeding of preformed calcium soaps of tallow and soya oil fatty acids to dairy cows allowed normal rumen digestion of cell walls whereas non-saponified tallow fatty acids caused cell wall digestibility to be reduced.

Givens et al (1988) reported that a calcium soap of palm fatty acids (Protector, UFAC-UK Ltd) did not cause any reduction in the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) when fed to sheep at up to 152.4 gkg-1 of total diet dry matter (DM). Since it is believed that these beneficial effects of calcium soaps are due to their reduced rumen solubility, the present experiment has examined this aspect in further detail.
An evaluation of by-products from wheat distillation as feeds for ruminant livestock
Authors: Taylor Linda M , Parkins J J
Published: June 2019

During the distillation of wheat to produce whisky, two residual products are formed. These are the spent grains and a thick syrup resulting from evaporation of the liquor remaining after the whisky has been distilled off. These by-products may be combined to form undried dark grains (UDG) or further dried and pelleted to form wheat distillers dark grains (WDDG). UDG and WDDG were evaluated as feeds for ruminant livestock.

WDDG had the appearance of a typical concentrate pellet, dark brown in colour with a molasses like malty odour. UDG was lighter brown in colour but formed a dark brown surface crust on exposure to air. The bulk of the material had a granular putty-like texture and a smell akin to that of WDDG. Compositions of the two by-products and that of distillers dark grains derived from barley fernentation alone are given in Table 1.
Digestibility of diets differing in rumen degradability of protein as affected by sex and species
Authors: Topps J.H. , Nurul Islam Md , Broadbent P.J.
Published: June 2019

Insufficient information is available on Whether significant differences exist between digestive efficiency of pregnant cattle and sheep and that of the corresponding male castrates. The latter animals are invariably used to obtain digestibility values for foods or diets Which are applied to other ruminant animals including pregnant females. Three experiments have been undertaken in Which the digestibility of two diets fed at two levels Was compared in eWes and Wethers (two experiments) and steers and heifers (one experiment). For each species the females Were in the last trimester of pregnancy.

The diets were similar to those used in recent Work on pregnant cows and designed to contain a similar amount of RDP, but different amounts of UDP i.e. 0.17 (low) and 0.29 (high) of total crude protein. The low UDP diet contained (on dry matter basis) barley straw (0.39), barley grain (0.40), molassed meal (0.Z0) and urea (0.01). The high UDP diet contained (on DM basis) barley straw (0.38), barley grain (0.18), malt distillers dark grains (0.11) and special propietary cubes (0.33). The levels of feeding were 1.0 and 1.5 x maintenance.
Effect of naturally occurring and synthetic androgens on growth, body composition and muscle glucocorticoid receptors in wether lambs
Authors: Galbraith H. , Berry A.D. , Henderson G.D. , Jessiman C.S.
Published: June 2019

Naturally-occurring androgens such as testosterone are important in regulating growth in entire male animals (e.g. Galbraith & Topps, 1981). Synthetic steroids with androgenic properties when given exogenously are also known to alter growth of sheep and cattle. Knowledge on the effects of these androgens on body composition and on their mode of action is Inadequate. The major objective of this study was to compare their effects on growth performance and body composition and to relate the responses obtained to changes in certain characteristics of the endocrine system and glucocorticoid receptors in muscle. The steroids used were testosterone (naturally occurring), trenbolone acetate (TBA) (synthetic compound) and nandrolone (19 nor-testosterone - produced synthetically and considered not to occur naturally in castrate male sheep).
The effect of silage preference on the performance of dairy cows
Authors: Heller R.F. , Phipps R.H.
Published: June 2019

Numerous factors such as the digestibility value, fermentation characteristics and chop length of silage have all been shown to increase the intake and performance of dairy cows.

Although the effect of silage preference has been examined with young stock and dry cows there has only been a limited number of studies involving lactating cows.

The aim of the present trial was to determine the effect on intake and performance of lactating dairy cows offered either grass silage alone, a mixture of grass and maize silages blended in a ratio of 1:2 or a free choice of grass and maize silages.

Thirty-three British Friesians in weeks 17-24 of lactation were used in the study. All animals received 6 kg/d of a concentrate supplement containing 190 g/kg DM of crude protein and 12.8 MJ ME/kg CM and allowed ad libitum access to the silages.
The partition and utilisation of energy in the pregnant sow
Authors: Close W.H.
Published: June 2019

To determine the energy requirements for pregnancy it is necessary to know the animal's requirements for both maintenance (MEm) and tissue deposition. MEm represents the intake at which both metabolizable energy (ME) intake and heat loss are equal and therefore in energy equilibrium. The eneroy requirement for tissue deposition comprises energy retained as protein and fat in both the gravid uterus and maternal body, together with the energy associated with their deposition. There is little available information to show whether the requirements for maintenance and for tissue deposition change during pregnancy and the present experiments have been designed to provide this information for the sow.
Stereotypies and responsiveness as welfare indicators in stall-housed sows
Authors: Broom D.M.
Published: June 2019

Observations of the behaviour of confined sows provide information about how difficult it is for each individual to cope with the conditions in which it lives. Behaviour which has been described as occurring more frequently in confined sows than in sows with space to walk around includes stereotypies and apathetic behaviour. A stereotypy is a relatively invariate sequence of movements occurring so frequently in a particular context that it could not be considered to form part of one of the normal functional systems of the animal, feeding, body maintenance, reproduction, etc. (Broom 1983). The term apathetic behaviour has generally implied inactivity and lack of responsiveness. In this study, carried out at the Animal and Grassland Research Institute, the occurrence of stereotypies and the degree of responsiveness of stall-housed sows have been quantified.
A comparison of three sources of protein for yearling cattle offered silage-based diets
Authors: Steen R. W. J.
Published: June 2019

Two randomised block experiments, involving 64 British Friesian and Friesian cross steers, have been carried out to compare extracted soyabean, extracted sunflower and fish meals as protein supplements for yearling cattle offered grass silage ad libitum. Two formic acid-treated, precision chopped silages, each made from the primary growth and first regrowth of a perennial ryegrass sward, were used. The control concentrate consisted of (g/kg) 925 barley, 50 molasses, 25 minerals and vitamins. The three high protein concentrates were similar to the control but with 0.30, 0.54 and 0.20 of the barley replaced by soyabean, sunflower and fish meals respectively. The mean chemical compositions of the silages and concentrates used in the two experiments are given in Table 1. All animals received 1.3 kg concentrates per head daily. They were initially 11 months old and 334 kg live weight. The treatments were imposed for 126 days.
Design of multivariate selection experiments to estimate genetic parameters
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Thompson R.
Published: June 2019

Precise, unbiased estimates of genetic parameters, such as heritability and genetic covariance, are necessary to optimise breeding programs and to predict rates of change for various selection schemes. A classical method of estimation is to use high and low selection experiments. We consider two generation selection experiments when observations in the parental generation are only taken on one sex, resulting in half-sib family information. We consider cases of two standardised traits, with zero mean and unit variance, and assume that the traits are normally distributed. The genetic and phenotypic variance-covariance matrices for the traits are denoted by G and P respectively. The genetic variances and covariances of the standardised traits are then heritabilities and co-heritabilities.

The construction of other designs is examined, assuming the phenotypic correlation of rp between traits is known. For simplicity, comparisons of designs are developed by considering the variance of the genetic variances when the traits are uncorrelated both phenotypically and genetically.
Lamb production in mature scottish blackface ewes treated with fecundin ® and veramix sponges®
Authors: McClelland T.H. , Waterhouse A. , Logue D.N.
Published: June 2019

The availability of the vaccine Fecundin ® (Coopers Animal Health) could have far reaching effects on commercial lamb production in the UK. Immunisation with Fecundin is claimed to increase ovulation rate with a corresponding effect on subsequent lambing rate.

Trials in Australia, New Zealand and the UK have produced responses to immunisation in lambing percentage (lambs reared/100 ewes mated) ranging from −5% to +67%. The trial being reported set out to examine the effect of treatment with and without oestrus synchronisation in an upland flock of Scottish Blackface ewes being crossed with Texel rams and with a normal lambing percentage of around 130.

One hundred and sixty nine 1, 2 and 3 crop (2.5,3.5 and 4.5 year old) Scottish Blackface ewes were allocated in September 1984 between four treatments on the basis of age, liveweight and condition score.
The effect on fertility of fecundin used together with PMSG and progestagen in early lambing mule ewes
Authors: Logue D.N. , Gill A. , McClelland T.H.
Published: June 2019

Observations of the effect of the immunogen ovandrotone-albumin (Fecundin ® Coopers Animal Health) when used in ewes mated in their breeding season have shown that with a boost-tupping interval (BT) of 21 days for natural oestrus and 28 days for synchronised oestrus there was an increased fecundity but that treated ewes lambed a little later than controls.

While this latter effect was not dramatic it was felt advisable to investigate the use of Fecundin as a means of boosting lamb production in an early lambing flock in conjunction with progestagen and PMSG treatments.
Animal fats and health
Authors: James W. P. T.
Published: June 2019

The new concern in Britain which links diet to health is likely to have a major impact on the agricultural and food industries. Five years ago consumers were not interested in the health issue but now consumer groups are lobbying for change. Health has become the second most important factor considered by a housewife when shopping for her family, the first being whether the food is appetizing.

Both the DHSS and MAFF have accepted, the 1984 COMA panel's report on diet and cardiovascular disease which sets out a programme of preventive measures with recommendations to the general public, medical practitioners, health educators, food producers, manufacturers, distributors and caterers and to Government. Specific changes in the British diet are advocated for the first time with a suggested reduction in saturated fat intake of 25% and in total fat of 15%.
A Comparison of the Hennessy Lamb Probe, Ruler Probe and Visual Fat Scores for Use in Sheep Carcass Classification
Authors: Chadwick J P , Kempster A J , Homer D L M
Published: June 2019

1

Visual assessments of subcutaneous fat cover are used in the Meat and Livestock Commission's Sheep Carcass Classification Scheme to estimate meat yield. (Details of the scheme have been given by Meat and Livestock Commission, 1980.) The scheme is operated in over 100 abattoirs and covers approximately 0.25 of the GB kill. Objective measures of fatness may improve the precision of predicting carcass composition, aid standardisation and stimulate the uptake of the scheme by creating greater confidence.

2

Previous MLC trials with either a simple Ruler Probe or equipment developed for use in pig carcass classification such as optical or automatic-recording probes have indicated only moderate success with sheep carcasses. The precision achieved with probe measurements was no better than visual scores, but additional precision resulted from combining both techniques (Kempster, Chadwick, Cue, Grantley-Smith, 1986).
How well do bacon grade schedules reflect carcass composition?
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Monk A. S.
Published: June 2019

Most bacon carcasses in Britain are measured, within the national Pig Carcase Classification Scheme operated by the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC), for P2 fat thickness, shoulder and loin fat thicknesses and carcass length. Bacon curers use these measurements to define the grading schedules most appropriate to their buying requirements.

There is debate about the value of mid-line fat measurements and length as indicators of carcass quality. The scientific evidence indicates that mid-line measurements are less precise predictors of carcass lean content than P2, and that the mid-line loin measurement is superior to the mid-line shoulder measurement.However, it is argued that the mid-line measurements may have special regional value: eg as predictors of carcass lean content in individual joints. The analysis reported uses a computer model (PIGRADER) to examine overall lean in carcass, the composition of individual joints and joint proportions for alternative grading schedules.
Nitrogen cycling on the livestock farm
Authors: Unwin R J
Published: June 2019

The environmental or polluting aspects of nitrogen in relation to livestock farms are gaseous losses to the atmosphere, nitrate leaching into water supplies and the eutrophication of surface waters. Gaseous losses of ammonia by volatilisation from organic materials and denitrification losses from soil as nitrogen and nitrous oxide have been at various times implicated in acid rain, photochemical smogs and effects on the ozone layer although the latter is now largely discounted. Nitrate leached from soil may pass rapidly into surface waters where it can affect quality for drinking or encourage algal blooms. Over porous strata nitrate may take many years to percolate downwards so as to pollute groundwater supplies. Restrictions may face livestock farmers in the arable areas of eastern England to restrict nitrate leaching from their land.
Silage: pollution problems and their avoidance
Authors: Castle M.E.
Published: June 2019

Pollution problems caused by silage are mainly odour and effluent production.

Odour can be virtually eliminated by ensuring a satisfactory silage fermentation, i.e. a low pH and a low ammonia concentration in the total nitrogen. This can be achieved by following the basic rules of good silage making, including the correct use of an effective acid additive.

Effluent is the major problem, particularly when it enters drains and water courses. This is because a typical effluent will have a pH of approximately 4.0 and a high 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5) up to 90 000 mg O2, per 1. This compares with BOD5, values of 5000 and 500 mg O2 per 1 in cow slurry and untreated domestic sewage respectively. Thus silage effluent in water courses removes the dissolved oxygen and will kill fish and other aquatic fauna. Effluent from a silo containing 300 t of low dry matter (DM) silage is equivalent in BOD5 to the daily sewage from a town of 80 000 people.
Animal-based estimates of intake
Authors: Milne J A
Published: June 2019

The principal reasons for measuring herbage intake are (1) to understand the relationships between sward attributes such as structure or composition and herbage intake, and (2) to explain differences in animal performance associated with different grazing systems or management strategies. These two objectives may require the use of different techniques, as will be outlined below, but all techniques require to meet the criteria of having a precision suitable for the purpose of the measurement, producing minimal disturbance to grazing acitivity, giving unbiased results and being as undemanding of labour and thus as inexpensive as possible. Animal-based estimates have the advantage over other methods in that they allow an examination of between-animal variation.
Nutrient intake and metabolism in grazing ruminants
Authors: Beever D.E.
Published: June 2019

Research into the conversion of grazed forages to milk and meat by ruminants has concentrated on factors influencing crop growth and utilization, whilst knowledge regarding the nutritive value of grazed pasture and the processes involved in the conversion of ingested forage to animal products is limited. The purpose of this paper is to review recent research findings with respect to the utilization of ingested forage by ruminants, to identify how these may be affecting animal performance, and to offer possible means for improving the nutritive value of, and animal output from, grazed pasture.
Reproductive problems and targets in commercial pig breeding units
Authors: Riley J E
Published: June 2019

The objective of the commercial pig breeder is, normally, profit per sow place per annum. Pigs reared per sow place per annum must be optimised to cover the fixed and variable costs of the business and leave an acceptable financial surplus. “Optimising output” is emphasised because in the late 1970s and early 1980s conmercial pig breeders were often encouraged to maximise sow output at any cost. The efficiency parameter “pigs reared per sow place per annum” takes into account the fact that many units run below capacity increasing the costs both fixed and variable carried by the sows actually in the herd. In a herd producing 20 pigs per sow per annum each 5% shortfall in herd size is equivalent to a reduction of one pig per sow per annum.

Every producer should assess the resources at his disposal namely capital, labour, buildings, stock, etc. and then optimise sow output within the limitations imposed by those resources. Output from the breeding herd is dependent on pigs born alive per litter, piglet survival rate, the interval from weaning to successful service, lactation length and the ability to maintain herd size.
Growth of Lambs Offered a Fixed Amount of Roughage and Concentrate by Two Feeding Strategies
Authors: Wilkinson R. G. , Greenhalgh J. F. D.
Published: June 2019

Fixed amounts of roughage and concentrate can be allocated to growing ruminants in a number of different ways e.g. a) a mixed diet containing equal parts of roughage and concentrate b) split feeds, roughage being given alone until exhausted, then concentrate alone c) a mixture changing . progressively from all roughage to all concentrate d) half the animals given roughage and half concentrate. The results of these alternatives can be predicted from computer models based on current feeding standards. Recent evidence (Ørskov et al, 1981a; Williams et al, 1984) suggests that in cattle carcasses of similar weight and composition can be obtained by giving a fixed amount of roughage and concentrate as either a mixed diet, or as separate feeds, (i.e. alternatives (a) and (b), above)even though animals on (b) took significantly longer. (Ørskov et al (1981a) concluded that improved efficiency of energy utilisation in the split group could be accounted for by a decrease in the maintenance requirement of the animals, or an increase in the efficiency of energy utilisation during realimentation following a period of reduced nutrition. The results could also be explained by differences in carcass composition of the animals, since no measurement of the protein and fat content of the carcasses was made. Williams et al (1984) found no significant difference in carcass composition between the two groups, as determined by specific gravity measurements and concluded that associative effects caused a reduction in the energy available from straw when offered with barley in a mixed diet.
Effect of hoof trimming and protein level on lameness in dairy cows
Authors: Manson Felicity J , Leaver J D
Published: June 2019

Lameness in dairy cattle can result in significant economic loss. High protein levels in the diet have been implicated as a cause of lameness, whilst trimming has been advocated as an effective preventative measure. This trial examined the effects of these two factors on locomotion, hoof measurements and incidence of lameness.

Forty eight autumn calving cows in a continuous design experiment, lasting from weeks 3 to 26 of lactation were allocated to 4 treatments: LT (161 g/kg DM crude protein in the total diet, hooves trimmed); LUT (161 g/kg DM, untrimmed), HT (198 g/kg DM, trimmed) and HUT (198 g/kg DM, untrimmed). The protein levels in the complete diet were adjusted by substituting barley for soya. Daily ME intakes were maintained at the same level for all treatments by adjusting the high protein diet intake to that of the low protein, which was offered ad libitum. The cows feet were shaped and trimmed to a toe length of about 7 cm, 4 months before calving. Cows were scored for their locomotion weekly on a scale of 1 to 5 high scores indicate lameness. Hoof shape, growth, wear and hardness were recorded every 8 weeks on the right hind claw.
A Comparison of three energy levels in straw mixes used for partial storage feeding of dairy cows
Authors: Roberts D J
Published: June 2019

Partial storage feeding (grazing during the daytime and housing overnight) is becoming an established management system after turnout in the spring. Ad libitum grass silage is the most common overnight feed. However, some farmers do not have adequate silage available and a straw mix is a possible alternative feed. There is little information available concerning the optimum energy content of straw mixes (or other forages) used for partial storage feeding. In this experiment 3 straw mixes were fed with different energy contents.

In a continuous design experiment lasting 8 weeks (18 April to 12 June 1985) 60 autumn calving Friesian dairy cows and heifers were set stocked together during the daytime at 10 cows/ha. They were housed overnight and straw mixes, with low (L), medium (M) or high (H) metabolisable energy (ME) contents, were fed ad libitum each to 20 cows. In addition an average of 2.3 kg concentrates were offered daily. The grazing area was a perennial ryegrass ley which received 224 kg N, 13 kg P2O5 and 13 kg K2O/ha. The mean composition of the straw mixes, herbage and concentrate are given in Tables 1 and 2.
The effect of level of protein in the concentrates on hay intake and milk production by saanen goats
Authors: Badamana M.S. , Sutton J.D. , Mowlem A. , Oldham J.D.
Published: June 2019

Increasing the crude protein (CP) concentration of dairy concentrates in mixed diets has been found to increase milk yield and forage intake in lactating dairy cows. However relatively little is known about the response of lactating goats to such dietary changes. The purpose of the present experiment was to see if beneficial responses could be established in lactating goats given fixed amounts of concentrates with different protein concentrations and ad libitum hay.

Twenty-seven Saanen goats in their second or later lactation were offered 1.5 kg hay (98 g CP, 393 g acid-detergent fibre, 609 g neutral detergent fibe/kg dry matter (DM), and from 0.15 increasing to 0.45 kg concentrates (152 g CP/kg DM) daily in the 6 weeks before kidding. During the first 2 weeks after kidding, the concentrates were increased to 0.7 kg/day. Results for milk production in week 2 were used for covariance in subsequent calculations. At week 3 of lactation all goats were allocated to one of three groups and were offered hay ad libitum and 1 kg concentrates containing 117 (LP), 152 (MP) or 185 (HP) g CP/kg DM daily to week 15.
Breeding ewes - an evaluation of the use of Fecundin under field conditions
Authors: Maund Barbara A
Published: June 2019

Immunisation against ovarian steroids has been shown to improve the reproductive performance of ewes. Using this principle the drug Fecundin was developed by Glaxo Animal Health Ltd. and is marketed by Coopers Animal Health Ltd. who supplied the drug for this study. The response to Fecundin was evaluated in ewes lambing in the spring under a wide range of commercial conditions in an ADAS co-ordinated trial.

ADAS Sheep Specialists and Advisers co-operated in locating and collecting the data from suitable commercial flocks and 2 EHF's with a minimum of 150 but more usually 200 ewes and where accurate lambing records could be obtained. Potentially naturally prolific types of ewes eg. Mules and Finn crosses were excluded. Approximately eight weeks before the rams were introduced all the ewes were condition scored and randomised to treatment or control. Treated ewes were injected with Fecundin and again 21-28 days later. At lambing the number of lambs born alive and dead and barren ewes were recorded in all flocks. Lambing dates, lamb birthweights and lamb survival were available in a limited number of flocks.
An evaluation of four ultrasonic pregnancy detection methods currently used commercially for sheep
Authors: Hooper P.N. , Minter C.M.
Published: June 2019

A number of mechanical methods are available for the diagnosis of pregnancy and the determination of foetal numbers in sheep. The application of four ultrasonic systems currently used commercially was investigated.

The ‘scanning window’ in the ewe is apparent between approximately 45 to 100 days of pregnancy. Highly accurate pregnancy diagnosis and prediction of foetal numbers have been reported using the real time scanning technique. However, considerable variation in expertise can exist between operators while further discrepancies emanate from the different methods used to calculate predicted success rates. The estimation of operator accuracy from trial work is complex since errors may arise from both over- and under-estimation of foetal numbers resulting in confusion when pregnant ewes are subsequently grouped incorrectly. A true estimate of operator accuracy should reflect relative foetal numbers predicted.
Discrimination by sheep between swards of differing white clover content
Authors: Clark D A , Hodgson J
Published: June 2019

The effect of contrasting white clover contents on diet selection by grazing sheep provides an insight into grazing behaviour mechanisms. When sheep have a choice between ‘strips’ containing either 70% white clover or 100% grass they consistently choose to graze the former. When clover is intermingled with grass in normal sheep-grazed swards evidence for selective grazing is less clear. The objectives of this experiment were, firstly, to define the pattern of discrimination in response to variation in the contrast in clover content between alternative swards. And, secondly, to test whether the pattern is affected by the mean clover content about which the range is established.

The ‘base’ levels of clover content: 30 and 60% together with 7 ‘contrast’ levels from -30 to +30% of ‘base’ level were planned. Swards of equal content were included as controls. Thus the 30% base was contrasted with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60%; and the 60% base with 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90% white clover. Each combination of treatments was repeated at two nitrogen levels: C and 30 kg N/ha and the whole replicated twice. The experimental area was at Grasslands Division, Palmerston North, New Zealand. The pasture comprised well-established Ruanui ryegrass - Huia white clover with some weed species. Fifty-six plots (5.6 x 3.5 m), each containing 2 ‘contrast’ areas at 2.8 x 3.5 m were sprayed with different herbicides on 29 July 1983 to achieve the above contrasts.
The use of long-chain n-alkanes for estimating intake and digestibility of herbage in cattle
Authors: Mayes R.V. , Wright I.A. , Lamb C.S. , McBean Alison
Published: June 2019

Studies with sheep suggest that accurate estimates of herbage intake can be obtained by using the herbage alkane tritriacontane (C33) and dosed dotriacontane (C32) as markers, since the faecal recoveries of both alkanes have been shown to be very similar. To validate the technique for herbage intake estimation in grazing cattle there is a need to compare in cattle, the faecal recoveries of both herbage and dosed n-alkanes. It has been observed in sheep that the faecal recoveries of n-alkanes increase as their chain lengths increase, suggesting that the recovery of hexatriacontane (C36), an alkane absent from herbage but available commercially at low cost, should be complete. C36 may therefore have potential as a dosed marker for estimation of faecal output. Thus it may .30 be possible to obtain estimates of both herbage intake and diet digestibility in the same individual grazing animal using n-alkanes as markers. The purpose of the experiment described here was to determine the faecal recoveries in cattle of odd-chain n-alkanes from fresh herbage and of C32 and C36 dosed n-alkanes.
A comparison of two methods for the estimation of herbage intake by lactating dairy cows
Authors: Clements A.J. , Mayne C.S. , Woodcock S.C.F.
Published: June 2019

The herbage Intake of grazing dairy cows can be estimated either directly from measurements made through the animal or alternatively from sward measurements. Of the animal-based techniques, the most widely adopted method used to estimate herbage intake is the faecal output-indigestlbillty ratio technique. More recently, animal energy requirements have been used as a basis to predict herbage Intake. The objective of the present study was to compare the two animal-based techniques for estimating herbage intake.

Two experiments were carried out during 1984 and 1985. In Experiment 1 a total of 42 lactacing British Friesian cows were allocated to three grazing treatments. Herbage Intakes were estimated over three twelve-day periods during the experiment. In Experiment 2, 40 cows were allocated to three grazing treatments and Intakes were again estimated over three twelve-day periods. Two methods were used to estimate the herbage Intake of the cows. Method 1 involved the estimation of herbage intake from animal energy requirements using both observed liveweight changes (Method 1a) and liveweight changes calculated from a regression analysis of llvewelghts over the experitmental period (Method 1b). With Method 2 intakes were estimated by the faecal output-indigestibllity ratio technique.
A Study of consumer attitudes to fat in meat
Authors: Shearer J. , Burgess G. , English P. R.
Published: June 2019

There has been growing discussion on the association of dietary factors with human health and disease. One such association which has been highlighted is that between saturated fat and heart disease. It is vital that both food producers and food processors are sensitive to consumer requirements in this context, and that they modify their production processes in response to changing consumer demand. At this stage, however, there is much uncertainty regarding the current and long term demands of consumers and in the degree of variation in such demand, for example, between different locations, age and social groups. Thus, in order to inform farmers and food processors it is necessary to determine consumer beliefs and attitudes regarding aspects of diet in order to get some measure of factors affecting demand now and in the future. This project set out to measure certain aspects of consumer attitude to fat in meat. The ultimate objective was to obtain information for decision takers in the meat industry.
A further trial of the use of fishmeal together with reduced concentrate in a commercial dairy herd
Authors: Pike I.H. , Miller E.L.
Published: June 2019

This experiment was designed to evaluate whether milk yields could be maintained while reducing concentrate feed intake, and therefore placing greater reliance on forage intake, and including sugar beet pulp as a source of highly digestible but non-starchy concentrate, and fish meal as a source of high quality, undegraded dietary protein. It was undertaken on a commercial farm as the continuation of similar experiments on two other commercial farms reported earlier (Pike et al 1984).
Supplementary feeding of forages or concentrates to dairy cows at pasture
Authors: Kibon A. , Holmes W.
Published: June 2019

Two experiments have compared the effects of forages or concentrates offered to dairy cows, continuously stocked in late Summer at a low stocking rate in Experiment 1 or a higher stocking rate in Experiment 2.

In Experiment 1 (July - October 1984) 20 Spring calving British Friesian cows were allocated to a Latin square design with four, three week periods and four treatments, a control group, grazing only (TO), grazing with 5 kg dry matter fresh lucerne per day (TL), grazing with 5 kg dry matter hay per day (TH) and grazing with 4 kg DM concentrate per day (TC). In Experiment 2 (August -October 1985) 24 cows of similar calving dates were used in an incomplete Latin square design lasting eight weeks to compare treatments TO, TL, TS and TC where silage (TS) replaced hay. All supplements were offered for 1 hour after each of two milkings per day.
Development of behaviour in beef bulls: Sexual behaviour causes more problems than
aggression
Authors: Appleby Michael C , Wood-Gush D G M
Published: June 2019

Rearing entire male calves for beef is becoming more common, but there is concern that sexual behaviour among bulls may be economically damaging and that there may be aggression between bulls and against stockmen. Behaviour has only been studied in detail in mature bulls or under disturbed conditions.

To compare the development of behaviour in stable groups of Friesian-Holstein bulls and steers prior to sale at one year old, and to assess implications for management.

Twelve bulls and 12 steers were held in an open-sided house at 5 m2/calf, with2 ad libitum hay, concentrates and water. From 5 to 10 months old, each calf was observed for one hour each month and all sexual and aggressive interactions between calves were recorded. At 6½ months, the pen was divided into halves, separating bulls and steers. This reduced the frequency of all interactions. At 10 months, reaction to humans was assessed on a scale from 1 (approach strongly) to 5 (avoid strongly). Bulls and steers were compared on all measures by the Mann-Whitney non-parametric statistical test (* = P < 0.05, ** - P <0.01).
The use of whey and whey products in piglet creep rations
Authors: Davies O D
Published: June 2019

Dried skimmed milk (DSM) is a common constituent of piglet creep rations. Dried whey and whey products are however increasing in popularity, mainly due to their lower cost.

To compare these two milk products, twenty litters from Large White x Landrace sows, totalling 188 piglets, were offered one of two creep rations.
The effect of lucerne supplementation on the intake of straw and the digestion kinetics of straw and lucerne
Authors: Gonzalez-Vargas D , Lewis M , Wilson P N
Published: June 2019

Leguminous crops represent a potentially valuable source of protein and energy for the ruminant. They promote higher levels of microbial activity in the rumen than most other feeds (Agricultural Research Council, ARC, 1984), probably because of their content and rate of release of nutrients. Thus, they may be useful supplements for low quality roughages. Levels above 0.15 - 0.20 long or chopped legume hay included in low quality roughage based diets result in a reduction in the intake of the basal roughage (Lane, 1982; Minson and Milford, 1967; Mosi and Butterworth, 1985; Siebert and Kennedy, 1972). This substitution effect may be due to a rumen physical limitation and/or a limiting nutrient supply for the rumen micro-organisms. The objective of this work was to study the effect of supplementing straw with lucerne pellets on the digestion kinetics and intake of the dietary components.
Grape juice concentrate as a feed for beef cattle
Authors: Hemsley C.L. , Rowlinson P. , Ellis M.
Published: June 2019

Wine production within the EEC has been increasing continuously over the past decade,creating a surplus which has been handled either by storage as wine or concentrated grape Juice, or by the distillation of wine to higher strength alcohol. As a possible alternative outlet, it has been proposed that grape juice concentrate (GJC) be used as a component of animal feed systems.

The dry matter (DM) of GJC averages 630 g/kg, with a sugar content of 920 g/kg DM of which approximately equal proportions are fructose and glucose. The protein content averages only 10g/kgDM

To investigate the feasibility of utilising GJC in the diet of beef cattle a production trial tas planned, using information on voluntary intakes of GJC and total dry matter intakes (DMI) obtained in a preliminary cattle feeding study.
The effects of liveweight at weaning, date of weaning and winter nutrition on the subsequent performance of red deer
Authors: Milne J A , Sibbald Angela M
Published: June 2019

A desirable liveweight for red deer at 15 months of age is approximately 80 kg. This will provide a saleable carcase and a liveweight at which yearling hinds will successfully breed. Live-weight at 15 months will be influenced by a large number of factors including date of birth, birth-weight, liveweight gain to weaning, date of weaning, liveweight gain during the first winter and subsequent summer, and the interactions between weaning weight and subsequent levels of nutrition and between winter levels of nutrition and liveweight gain at pasture in the following summer. These latter two aspects were examined in two experiments and the effect of date of weaning on contemporary calf growth rates and on hind calving date in the following year were studied in a third experiment. The objective was to provide information which would allow the development of effective systems of deer meat production based on slaughter at 15 months of age.