bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of oestrous synchronization with prostaglandin F2α in Ethiopian highland zebu (Bos indicus) cows
Authors: Mukasa-Mugerwa E. , Tegegne Azage , Mattoni M. , Cecchini G.
Published: September 2010

The length of the oestrous cycle and plasma progesterone concentration in Ethiopian Highland zebu cows were monitored after treatment with prostaglandin F2α (PGF) (25 mg Lutalyse®) 12 days after spontaneous oestrus. PGF induced luteolysis followed by a significant drop in progesterone values to proportionately 0·11, 0·04 and 0·03 of the pre-treatment values (range 6·3 to 11·4 μg/l) within 24, 48 and 72 h of PGF injection, respectively (P < 0·001). PGF treatment resulted in oestrus within 72 to 120 h and did not influence the length of the subsequent oestrous cycle (P > 0·05). Mean oestrous cycle length was 19·4 (s.d. 1·3) days. There was good correlation (r = 0·72) between the length of consecutive cycles in the same cow and the amount of progesterone the cow produced on the same day in the cycles (r = 0·69 to 0·95). As a result, a close relationship (r = 0·74) existed in the total amount of progesterone produced in consecutive cycles. These data suggest that events following PGF treatment in Ethiopian Highland zebu cows closely parallel those observed in natural cycles. Two-thirds of the spontaneous heats exhibited elevated progesterone values 2 days prior to oestrus onset.
Melatonin advances and condenses the onset of seasonal breeding in Greek dairy ewes
Authors: Kouimtzis S. A. , Belibasaki Sofia , Doney J. M.
Published: September 2010

The effects of melatonin, administered during anoestrus, on the time of onset of oestrus and on conception rate were investigated in two trials carried out on mature ewes of three indigenous and one imported breed. The ewes lambed between December and February, their lambs were weaned in March and they were hand milked twice daily until September.

In the first trial, 12 Chios and 12 Serres ewes were dosed, orally, for 60 days from 19 April with 3 mg melatonin (M) in 10 ml ethanol and water (1: 4 v/v). A similar number of Chios and Serres type ewes in the same flock were nominated as untreated controls (C). Vasectomized rams were used to detect oestrus from 1 May and detected ewes were immediately mated to entire rams of their own breed. The mean dates of first oestrus in Chios ewes were 4 July (s.e. 1·7 days) and 23 July (s.e. 5·4 days) (P < 0·01) for treated and control ewes respectively. Spread of first oestrus was 19 and 61 days, respectively (P < 0·01). Conception rate and ovulation rate were both higher in M (0·90 and 2·3, respectively) than in C (0·55 and 1·8, respectively) but the differences were not statistically significant. The corresponding results in the Serres ewes were 8 July (s.e. 1·6 days) and 31 July (s.e. 6·8 days) (P < 0·01) for date of first oestrus, 19 and 69 days (P < 0·01) for spread of first oestrus, 0·75 and 0·50 (P > 0·05) for conception rate and 1·8 and 1·2 ( P > 0·05) for ovulation rate.

In the second trial, 12 Karagouniko and 12 East Friesland ewes received a single subcutaneous implant of melatonin (Regulin®) on 5 June and a further 12 ewes of each breed were untreated controls. The procedure was as given for trial 1. The mean date of first oestrus was advanced by melatonin in both Karagouniko ewes (25 July (s.e. 3·91 days) v. 11 August (s.e. 6·7 days); P < 0·05) and Friesland ewes (28 July (s.e. 3·2 days) v. 24 August (s.e. 7·3 days); P < 0·01). Spread of oestrus was reduced (43 v. 68 days in Karagouniko, P < 0·05 and 22 v. 87 days in Friesland ewes, P < 0·01). Conception rate of melatonin-treated ewes was higher (0·60 v. 0·45; P > 0·05) in both breeds. Ovulation rate was higher in melatonin-treated Karagouniko ewes (1·8 v. 1·3; P > 0·05 but, in the Friesland breed melatonin-treated ewes had a lower ovulation rate (2·8 v. 3·7; P > 0·05).

In both trials, melatonin treatment significantly advanced and condensed the dates of first oestrus. Conception rate was consistently increased over all groups (P < 0·05) and there was a tendency towards a higher ovulation rate.
A note on the effect of the direction of live-weight change about the time of mating on reproductive performance of Greyface ewes
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Maxwell T. J.
Published: September 2010

Over 3 years, in Greyface ewes stocked at 10 or 15 per ha and mated in October (early) or November (late), lamb production at birth was related to the pattern of live-weight change of the individual ewe about mating. Based on weighings at 1·5- to 3-week intervals, ewes were grouped according to whether they were gaining (114 ewes), losing (221) or apparently maintaining weight (339) at the time of mating. Ewes losing weight produced significantly fewer lambs (1·58) than did ewes maintaining weight (1·78) while both produced significantly fewer lambs than did ewes gaining weight (1·96). Differences in lamb production between years (year 1 = 1·84, year 2 = 1·71, year 3 = 1·70) and times of mating (early = 1·82, late = 1·67) can be explained in terms of live weight at mating and the different proportions of ewes gaining, maintaining and losing weight. On the basis of earlier studies, it is suggested that the effect of direction of live-weight change operated on failure to conceive or on total loss of multiple-shed ova and was more important pre-mating than post mating.
A note on the effect of stocking density and temperature on meat quality in pigs
Authors: Guise H. J. , Warriss P. D.
Published: September 2010

One hundred and eighty-four Large White × Landrace pigs were transported 192 km to slaughter at stocking densities of either 0·3 or 0·4 m2 per 100 kg live weight and at ambient temperatures of >14°C or <10°C. After holding for 3 h in lairage and slaughter by normal practices, samples of m. semimembranosus were removed 45 min after exsanguination. Overall, pigs transported under cold conditions had a slightly lower mean pH45 (0·12 difference, P < 0·05) in the muscle but there were no effects of treatment on ultimate pH or R-value, a measure of the ratio of high energy phosphate compounds to their metabolites. Over 11% of the pigs had ultimate pH values 5·9. This may imply that the pre-slaughter handling had led to some material glycogen depletion. In view of the lack of major effects of stocking density or temperature during transport, it is likely that factors other than the treatments were contributors to this condition and were more important in determining subsequent meat quality.
A field trial of Finnish Landrace rams as sires of crossbred ewes
Authors: Barker J. D.
Published: September 2010

The relative performances of crossbred ewes sired by Finnish Landrace or by non-Finnish rams were measured in trials at 18 farms which yielded a total of about 2600 ewe lambing records. The dams of the crossbred ewes were Hill breeds (40%), Upland (22%), Long-wool x Hill (20%) and other breed types (18%). The non-Finnish sires were Longwool breeds (35 %), Down and Down crosses (33 %), Upland (22%) and other breeds (10%).

Finnish crossbred ewes were lighter at mating than the average of non-Finnish crossbreds by 10% at 7 months, increasing to 24% at 31 and 43 months, with an average difference of 18% for the first 4 years of life. Over the same period of 4 years Finnish crossbreds had a 27 % higher lambing percentage and 21 % higher weaning percentage than non-Finnish crossbreds.

Lambs born to Finnish crossbreds were, over the 4-year period, 16% lighter for singles and 20 % lighter for multiples at birth, and 11 % for single born and 12% for multiple born at 10 weeks, than those born to non-Finnish crossbreds. But the total litter weight of lamb reared to 10 weeks per 50-kg metabolic ewe weight (at mating) was 16% more for Finnish crossbreds than for non-Finnish crossbreds.
A note on the repeatability of ultrasonic backfat measurements in pigs
Authors: Webb A. J.
Published: September 2010

The repeatability of ultrasonic backfat readings under field conditions was measured in a sample of 57 adult male (boars) and 77 young adult female (gilts) pigs. Repeatabilities of individual fat depths 6·5 cm off the mid-line at the shoulder, mid-back and loin ranged from 0·74 to 0·90. The repeatability of average backfat thickness was 0·92.
Design and evaluation of progeny testing in open-nucleus breeding systems
Authors: Mueller J. P. , James J. W.
Published: September 2010

When comparing progeny-testing schemes with individual performance selection, one should use equivalent selection intensities and population structures in the two systems. Adapting formulae from open-nucleus theory, the relative efficiency of progeny testing has been tested for a range of heritabilities, fertility levels, upward gene-transfer rates, mating ratios and numbers of sires selected. In sheep and beef cattle breeding, the heritability of the trait under consideration has usually to be very low to make progeny testing worth-while. High fertility increases genetic gains but does not change the relative efficiency of progeny testing. Opening the nucleus to females from the base increases genetic gains and reduces relative efficiency of progeny testing, both effects being of small magnitude. For fixed mating ratios, only a small fraction of females should be in the nucleus, but for fixed sire numbers approximately one-third of the population should be mated to proven sires. In these analyses, variances were adjusted for the effects of repeated selection and for the effects due to mixing groups with different means. This adjustment did reduce absolute genetic gains, but did not change conclusions on progeny testing efficiency and optimum design.
Partition of fat, body composition and body condition score in mature cows
Authors: Wright I. A. , Russel A. J. F.
Published: September 2010

Body condition score, assessed subjectively on the live animal, was related to the directly determined body composition of 73 mature, non-pregnant, non-lactating cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, Galloway, Luing and British Friesian genotypes. Relationships between condition score and chemically determined body fat were all very highly significant, and considered to be of value for predictive purposes. Differences between genotypes in the proportion of fat stored in the main depots of the body resulted in differences in the relationship between condition score and body fat. British Friesian cows had a higher proportion of their fat in the intra-abdominal depots and the lowest proportion of subcutaneous fat, resulting in their being fatter at any given condition score. Hereford × Friesian cows had the highest proportion of subcutaneous fat and were thus the least fat at any condition score. One unit change in condition score was associated with a change of 2242 (s.e. 103) MJ of body tissue energy in Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, Galloway and Luing cows and 3478 (s.e. 392) MJ in British Friesian cows. These figures may be used to bring a greater degree of precision to the nutritional management of beef and dairy cows.
Factors affecting the outflow of protein supplements from the rumen. 1. Feeding level
Authors: Eliman M. E. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: September 2010

1. Two experiments were conducted with four sheep and four lactating Friesian cows to investigate the effect of food intake on the outflow of protein supplements from the rumen. Protein supplements treated with sodium dichromate were used.

2. Dichromate treatment had little or no effect on particle size distribution or density of the protein supplements. The dichromate-treated proteins were rendered completely undegradable in the rumen and the rate of outflow of chromium-treated protein from the rumen was estimated from the concentrations of chromium recovered in the faeces.

3. There were highly significant linear effects of feeding level on fractional outflow rate per h of chromium-treated protein supplements from the rumen of sheep and cows. Fractional outflow rates of chromium-treated fish meal and soya-bean meal, respectively, from the rumen of sheep were 0·0080 and 0·0076; 0·0182 and 0·0259; 0·0319 and 0·0335; and 0·0383 and 0·0385 per h at 0·2, 1·0, 1·5 and 2·0 times the energy requirements for maintenance, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two tested chromium-treated protein supplements in fractional outflow rates per h when the particle size was similar, nor any difference in particle size or density. Soya-bean meal was ground to achieve a particle size distribution similar to that of fish meal. For the dairy cows, the fractional outflow rates of fish meal from the rumen were 0·065, 0·072, 0·091 and 0·088 per h, at 1·5, 2·0, 2·5 and 3·0 times the energy requirements for maintenance.

4. There were significant differences between sheep in fractional outflow rates per h of protein supplements from the rumen due to the considerably higher values obtained for one animal.
The effects of level of nutrition before and after 8 months of age on subsequent milk and calf production of beef heifers over three lactations
Authors: Johnsson I. D. , Obst J. M.
Published: September 2010

One hundred and five Hereford heifers were reared on varying amounts of the same diet of grain and hay to grow at either high (H: 0·91 kg/day), medium (M: 0·67 kg/day) or low (L: 0·55 kg/day) rates between 2 and 8 months of age. Between 8 and 14 months, intake was restricted for half of the H heifers (HL: 0·14 kg gain per day), ad libitum for half of the L heifers (LH: 0·97 kg gain per day) and moderate for all other heifers (HM: 0·57; MM: 0·58; LM: 0·55 kg gain per day). These treatments resulted in a range of live weights at 8 (weaning) and 14 (premating) months commonly seen in commercial production. Heifers were mated with Hereford bulls at 14 months of age and subsequently grazed at pasture. Milk yields (I/day) at 30 days post partum and the 240·day sex-adjusted calf weaning weights (kg) for HM, HL, MM, LH and LM heifers in the first lactation were 4·1, 218; 4·9, 236; 4·3, 221; 5·7, 241; and 6·3, 259 respectively (P < 0·01). Calves from HM and MM cows were significantly smaller and leaner than those weaned by LM cows. Milk yields 30 days post partum and 200·day sex-adjusted calf weaning weights for the second lactation averaged: HM, 5·2 and 202; HL, 6·8 and 217; MM, 7·0 and 222; LH, 6·6 and 219; and LM, 7·0 and 229, respectively; and for the third lactation: 5·1 and 211; 6·5 and 225; 7·2 and 223; 7·4 and 230; and 7·6 and 237, respectively. The continued lower milk yield of HM cows (P < 0·05) was offset by a trend (NS) to higher fertility and lower calfmortality, particularly in the 1st and 2nd years of production. Over the three lactations studied, the number of calves weaned per opportunity and the total actual weight (kg) of calves weaned per cow kept averaged: HM, 0·86 and 573; HL, 0·66 and 465; MM, 0·68 and 466; LH, 0·70 and 512; and LM, 0·67 and 507, respectively.

The high growth rates commonly achieved by autumn-born Hereford heifers under commercial grazing conditions may reduce their subsequent milk-yield potential. This potential appears to be more sensitive to level of nutrition before 8 months of age than between 8 and 14 months.
Reproductive performance of gilts induced into puberty with oestradiol benzoate or a combination of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin
Authors: Paterson A. M. , Pearce G. P. , Foxcroft G. R. , Reed H. C. B.
Published: September 2010

The efficacy of a single injection of oestradiol benzoate, or a combination of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), for the induction of a fertile oestrus and ovulation in the prepubertal pig was investigated in two experiments.

In the first experiment, 1·2 mg of oestradiol benzoate induced 21/23 gilts to ovulate, and 22/23 gilts showed oestrus and were inseminated on day 4 or 5 after treatment. At 28 days after insemination, 12 gilts were pregnant and carrying a mean of 7·1 (s.d. 3·3) live embryos, giving an embryonic survival rate of 0·703. All the 22 gilts treated with 400 international units PMSG plus 200 international units HCG as a single injection ovulated but only 10 showed oestrus and were inseminated. At 28 days after insemination, six gilts were pregnant with a mean of 13·0 (s.d. 5·8) live embryos, giving an embryonic survival rate of 0·583.

In the second experiment, 9/11 oestradiol benzoate and 10/10 PMSG/HCG gilts ovulated in response to treatment. Oestrous detection and insemination were delayed until the expected time of the second oestrus, 20 to 30 days after treatment. Nine gilts (3 oestradiol benzoate, 6 PMSG/HCG) showed oestrus in this period and eight were inseminated. Five gilts were pregnant 28 days after insemination with a mean of 11·4 (s.d. 1·1) live embryos, giving an embryonic survival rate of 0·860.
Effect of housing and temperature on metabolic rate of pregnant sows
Authors: Geuyen T. P. A. , Verhagen J. M. F. , Verstegen M. W. A.
Published: September 2010

Twelve pregnant sows, 35 to 52 days pregnant initially and 89 to 103 days pregnant at the end of the experiment, were used to study the effect of ambient temperature on metabolic rate. Six sows were group-housed in two groups of three sows per group in one calorimeter and six sows were tethered individually in another calorimeter. Temperatures were changed by 3°C every 3 days in a stepwise fashion from 20 to 8°C and from 8 to 20°C. Sows were given a constant amount of food, which gave 540 kJ metabolic energy per kg live weight0·75per day and which covered estimated needs that were proportionately 0·20 above maintenance.

Average daily live-weight gain was 531 g for the group-housed sows and 402 g for those housed individually. Heat loss increased below 14°C in group-housed and below 20°C in individually-housed sows. Extra daily thermoregulatory demand was 7·5 kJ/°C in group- and 13·7 kJ/°C in individually-housed sows.
A note on methionine supplementation of pig grower diets containing lupin-seed meal
Authors: Leibholz Jane
Published: September 2010

Forty entire male pigs, between 63 and 147 days of age, and weighing initially 21 kg, were given a basal diet containing 1·8 g methionine per kg, and based on wheat, sorghum and lupin-seed meal (Lupinus augustifolius cultivar Unicrop), supplemented with 0, 0·2, 0·4 or 0·6 g methionine per kg.

Supplementing each kg of the basal diet with 0·2 g methionine per kg significantly increased growth rate by 105 g/day and improved efficiency of food conversion between 21 and 35 kg live weight. Increasing the supplementation of methionine to 0·6 g methionine per kg diet increased growth rate between 21 and 35 kg live weight by a further 26 g/day but did not affect efficiency of food conversion. Between 35 and 71 kg live weight, performance was not improved by supplementation of the basal diet with methionine.
Genetic and environmental effects on milk yield of Pitangueiras cattle
Authors: Lôbo R. B. , Duarte F. A. M. , Gonçalves A. A. M. , Oliveira J. A. , Wilcox C. J.
Published: September 2010

Data from 5270 lactation records of 1380 cows sired by 132 bulls and recorded from 1962 to 1977 were analysed. Statistical analyses, using least squares and maximum likelihood methods, showed significant effects for genetic group, age of cow, month and year of calving, and lactation length. Overall mean milk yield was 2780 kg (CV = 0·31) with mean lactation length of 281 days. Maximum production occurred in the fifth lactation (104 or 105 months of age at calving) with a yield of 1·3 times that of the first lactation. Repeatability estimated by intraclass correlation was 0·40 (s.e. 0·03). Heritability estimated from paternal half-sib correlation was 0·16 (s.e. 0·06). Overall results were very similar to those obtained from research with European breeds in temperate areas.
The effect of level of pre-mating nutrition on ovulation rate in Scottish Blackface ewes in different body conditions at mating
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Doney J. M. , Smith W. F.
Published: September 2010

In two experiments over 2 years, 181 Scottish Blackface ewes were differentially group-fed indoors to achieve moderately-good (score 2·5), moderate (score 2) or poor (score 1·5) body condition. Over 5 weeks prior to mating, ewes in moderately-good condition were either maintained or brought down to moderate condition by restricted feeding and ewes in moderate and poor condition were raised, respectively, to moderately-good and moderate condition by a high level of feeding. After mating, ewes were maintained in condition until slaughtered for a count of corpora lutea relating to first service. Ovulation rate was positively and significantly related to the level of pre-mating food intake at the moderate level of condition but not significantly so at the moderately-good level. It is postulated that ewes of this breed are more sensitive to the level of pre-mating food intake when in moderate condition at mating than they are when condition has risen to a moderately-good level.
Further studies on the heat production and effective lower critical temperature of early-weaned pigs under commercial conditions of feeding and management
Authors: McCracken K. J. , Gray R.
Published: September 2010

In two separate experiments pigs were weaned at 14 or 28 days and heat production was determined in an open-circuit respiration chamber at temperatures above and below the lower critical temperature (Tcl) at intervals during the post-weaning period.

With 14-day weaned pigs the mean 24 h heat production above Tc1 averaged 267, 328, 474 and 554 kJ/h per m2 at 3, 9, 15 and 21 days post weaning respectively. The mean thermal conductance (H/AT, kJ/h per m2 per °ΔT, where H is total heat production, m2 is the surface area calculated as 0·097 M kg0·633 and °Δ is the difference between rectal temperature, taken at 39°, and air temperature) below TC1 was calculated as 20·5, 20·1, 23·1 and 24·2 at 17, 23, 29 and 35 days of age respectively and the corresponding values for Tc1 were 25·9, 23·0, 18·4 and 16·0°C.

With 28-day weaned pigs the mean 24 h heat production above Tc1 averaged 280, 361 and 445 kJ/h per m2 at 3, 9 and 15 days post weaning. The calculated values for H/ΔT were 19·7, 20·8 and 21·6 and the corresponding values of Tcl were 24·8, 21·7, and 18·8°C at 31, 37 and 43 days of age respectively.

The results are discussed in relation to previous studies on 10-day and 28-day weaned pigs and in relation to the practical implications for pigs weaned into controlled-environment accommodation.
A note on the effects of pre-slaughter housing, diet and sex on responses to post-mortem electrical stimulation in cattle
Authors: Jedlička J. , Mojto J. , Foltys V. , Lichtner J. , Szakáczová D. , Páleník Š.
Published: September 2010

Effects of the period of pre-slaughter lairage and diet on responses to post-mortem electrical stimulation (ES) were observed in 113 bulls and 18 cows. The efficiency of ES was assessed by the rate of the decrease of muscle pH. Stimulation was made at 80 V for 45 s. ES significantly decreased pH values at 1 h after slaughter. The effect was greater for animals on a normal diet than for those on a reduced diet. ES was also more effective for animals killed within 2 h after transportation to the meat processing plant than for animals slaughtered 24 h after transportation. There were no significant differences in the effect of ES between sexes. The basic requirement for effective ES is a good condition of animals at slaughter.
Lactation performance of goats and growth rates of kids under different milking and rearing methods in Kenya
Authors: Ruvuna F. , Cartwright T. C. , Blackburn H. , Okeyo M. , Chema S.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were conducted to test different milking procedures for dual-purpose goats that would be suitable for smallholder farmers. In experiment 1, 105 East African and Galla does that kidded to singles were randomly assigned to three treatments: (a) milking in absence of kid and kid sucking residual; (b) milking in presence of kid and kid sucking residual; and (c) milking once a week and kid sucking all milk 6 days of the week. In experiment 2, 45 Galla does that kidded to singles were randomly assigned to three treatments: (a) weigh-suckle-weigh; (b) milking half udder while kid sucking other half and (c) kid sucking all milk in the evening and milking mornings. Measurements of milk yield, milk sucked and weights of kids were taken for 12 weeks of lactation.

Results were analysed using least-squares techniques for unequal subclass numbers. Milking in the presence of kids increased does' milk yield. This increase was attributed to the stimulation of milk let-down by the presence of kids. Although this method potentially provided most milk for dairy use, less residual milk was left to sustain growth of kids. Estimates of total milk yield by milking once a week underestimated milk yield potential of the East African and Galla breeds. Results indicated an appropriate method for estimating milk potential should combine both milked and sucked milk measurements. Restricting milk available to the kids reduced their growth rates and thus indirectly affected their maturing rates. No milking procedure proved to be superior all-around for the smallholder for milking goats. To resolve this dilemma, use of an optimizing technique including socio-economic weighting of milk for family use relative to milk for kids was proposed.
Road transport of pigs over a long distance: some aspects of behaviour, temperature and humidity during transport and some effects of the last two factors
Authors: Lambooy E.
Published: September 2010

During the transportation of pigs over a long distance, the environment in individual compartments may be related to the climate outside the trailer and may affect the animals. During three international and six experimental transport trials over long distances the relationships between outside and inside temperature and humidity were determined. During the experimental journey pig behaviour was studied and the effect of the environment on meat quality was also measured subsequently.

During the three international journeys the correlation coefficients between the outside and inside temperatures of the trailer were 0·88, 0·81 and 0·54, respectively, whereas there were low positive or negative correlations for relative humidity. The live-weight losses were 60, 80 and 60 g/kg, respectively, and the mortality averaged 0·3%.

The live-weight loss averaged 40 (s.d. 6) g/kg during each 25-h experimental journey, while the mortality was 1·4%. During the course of the journey, a majority of pigs was sitting or lying. During the night and at stops in transit most pigs were lying down.

The correlation coefficients between the outside and inside temperature averaged 0·94 in the artificially, and 0·95 in the naturally, ventilated compartments, while the coefficients for the humidity were 0·66 and 0·77, respectively. Pigs ventilated artificially showed a lower rigor mortis and lower temperatures of the m. longissimus dorsi (LD) and m. semimembranosus (SM) muscles post mortem compared with those ventilated naturally.

A higher temperature in the compartment was related to a lower temperature in the LD and SM muscles at 24 h (P ≤ 0·05) and a higher pH of the SM muscle in the carcass (P ≤ 0·05). However this was also affected by the location of the compartment on the vehicle. A major temperature fluctuation was related to a lower rigor value (P ≤ 0·05).

I t may be concluded from these experiments that the environmental conditions during transport over a long distance may change markedly. High temperatures in the compartment may increase stress, while correct artificial ventilation may decrease stress.
Index selection for improved growth and carcass characteristics in a population of Large White pigs
Authors: Ellis M. , Chadwick J. P. , Smith W. C. , Laird R.
Published: September 2010

An experiment was carried out over 11 years to investigate selection for economy of production and carcass lean content under ad libitum feeding in Large White pigs. Two lines, a selection (S) and a control (C) line, were involved in the study. The S line comprised 80 females and 10 males and was based at two centres. Boars were performance tested centrally at one of the centres and gilts were on-farm tested. Testing was carried out in groups of two or three full-sibs over the live-weight range 27 o t 87 kg. Selection was based on an index (I) incorporating individual daily live-weight gain (DLWG) and ultrasonically measured backfat thickness (USBF) and a group food conversion ratio (FCR) and generations were overlapping. The C line (32 females and 16 males) was maintained at one centre and males were performance tested alongside S boars to monitor genetic progress. Cumulative realized selection differentials over years 1 to 10 were equivalent to 5·5, 51, 7·0 and 9·4 phenotypic standard deviations for DLWG, USBF, FCR and I respectively and generation intervals averaged 17·0 months. There was little genetic change in DLWG, however, USBF, FCR and I showed substantial improvements with cumulative responses in year 11 of —12·3 mm, —0·22 kg/kg and +45·2 points respectively. The reduction in USBF occurred in the first half of the study with no further improvements being achieved after year 6. This study illustrates the effectiveness of index selection for a limited number of economically important traits but highlights limitations to this approach.
A note on the feeding of fodder beet to dairy youngstock
Authors: Roberts D. J. , Bax J. A.
Published: September 2010

Friesian/Holstein dairy heifers require an average daily live-weight gain of about 0·68 kg/day from birth to calving if they are o t reach a target live weight of 540 kg before first calving at 2 years of age. For autumn- born cattle the diet during their second winter is usually based on silage, hay or straw and the level of supplementation depends on the forage quality. When supplementation is necessary the aim should be to feed a least-cost diet. One possible supplementary food is fodder beet which, if grown without the use of purchased fertilizer (West of Scotland Agricultural College, 1984), can be a relatively cheap source of energy and compares favourably with other crops in yield per ha. In the two experiments reported here fodder beet was used for feeding dairy youngstock. The objective of experiment 1 was to evaluate the substitution of barley by fodder beet in straw-based diets. In experiment 2, fodder beet was fed as a partial substitute for silage.
The effect of protein content of the supplement for dairy cows with accessad libitumto high digestibility, wilted grass silage
Authors: Gordon F. J.
Published: September 2010

Grass silage with a dry-matter (DM) content of 253 g/kg and containing 142 g crude protein and 670 g digestible organic matter/kg DM was offeredad libitumto 56 first- and second-lactation British Friesian cows during the first 75 days post-calving. In addition the animals received supplementary concentrates containing either 95 (T1), 137 (T2), 174 (T3) or 209 (T4) g crude protein per kg fresh weight, with extracted soya bean meal being used as the protein source. All concentrates were offered at equal levels across treatments, the amounts being 8 kg for first- and 10 kg per day for second-lactation animals. The silage DM intakes recorded over the period were 514, 524, 548 and 545 ± 19·9 kg and milk outputs were 1349, 1451, 1533 and 1628 ±40·2 kg for treatments Tl to T4 respectively. The rate of live-weight change and the milk fat, solids-not-fat, protein, lactose and ash contents of the milk were not affected significantly by any of the treatments. Diet digestibilities were determined using three animals per treatment. The digestibility coefficients were for DM 0·738, 0·746, 0·776 and 0·772 ± 0·0088 and nitrogen 0·597, 0·641, 0·707 and 0·727 ±0·0126 for treatments T1 to T4 respectively.
Analysis of some factors which affect the productivity of beef cows and of their calves in a marginal rainfall area of Rhodesia 3. Factors affecting calf birth weight, growth to 240 days and use of concentrates by cows and their calves
Authors: Richardson F. D. , Oliver J. , Clarke G. P. Y.
Published: September 2010

The birth weight and growth rate of sucking calves reared by three groups of cows grazing on veld and receiving different amounts of concentrates during winter and the first 8 weeks of lactation were studied over four successive calving seasons. Calves were weaned at either 150 or 240 days. The efficiency of use of concentrates for weaned calf production was calculated.

Calves from cows given most concentrates were heavier (P<0·01) than othei calves at birth, 150 days and 240 days. Milk consumption during the first 98 days of life accounted for most of the variation in pre-weaning growth. Time of weaning had little effect (P<0·05) on birth weight of the next year's calf and although cows in the early- weaning groups produced calves which were the heaviest at 150 days (P>0·05) these calves weighed less than other calves at 240 days (P<0·001). Simple and multiple regression analyses were used to show that birth weight was affected significantly by cow-weight change during winter and these differences were in part independent of treatment and year. Calf birth weight increased as age of dam increased but this was due to increase in weight of cow with age. Within classes, calf birth weight had a significant and positive effect on weight gain after accounting for milk consumption and this was shown to be an effect of sex. Cows given concentrates produced more weight of 240-days-old weaned calf per year than those given none (P<0·01), and late weaning led to the production of more weaned calf per annum than early weaning (P< 0·001) even when allowance was made for differences in concentrate consumption.
Analysis of some factors which affect the productivity of beef cows and of their calves in a marginal rainfall area of Rhodesia. 4. The growth and efficiency of live-weight gain of weaned and sucking calves at different ages
Authors: Richardson F. D.
Published: September 2010

The growth and efficiency of live-weight gain of 36 calves confined in pens was studied between 30 and 210 days of age. They were weaned individually at 30, 90 or 150 days old and offered one of three solid foods which contained 200, 300 or 400 g milled roughage/kg both before and after weaning. From 30 to 90 days and from 90 to 150 days weaned calves consumed more (P<0·001) solid food than sucking calves. During both these periods sucking calves consumed more (P< 0·001 and P<0·05 during the first and second periods respectively) metabolizable energy (ME), gained more (P<0·01) body weight and also gained more body weight/MJ ME consumed than weaned calves. Composition of solid food had little effect on calf performance.

The combined efficiency (kg calf weight gain/MJ ME consumed by cow and calf unit) was higher (P<0·001) for suckling cows and calves than for weaned cows and calves between 30 and 90 days. Between 90 and 150 days, weaning had no effect on combined efficiency.

Eight similar calves which were reared by their dams on veld until 210 days of age were heavier at 90 (P< 0·001) and 150 (P<0·05) days than penned calves which had been given concentrates ad libitum since weaning at 30 days. The body weights of these two groups were similar at 210 days.
‘A Noble Group of Barrows’: Bush Barrow and the Normanton Down Early Bronze Age Cemetery Two Centuries On
Authors: Needham Stuart , Lawson Andrew J , Woodward Ann
Published: September 2010

Two hundred years after William Cunnington and Sir Richard Colt Hoare’s excavations into Bronze Age barrows on Normanton Down, Wiltshire, we offer a fresh appraisal of this renowned cemetery, which lies within sight of Stonehenge. The paper focuses specifically on burial deposits of Early Bronze Age Period 3, seen as representing a dynastic succession that controlled access to Stonehenge for a while and presided over the ceremonies therein. Pre-eminent are the finds from the Bush Barrow grave group, now housed in the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, and still without close parallel. Long-held notions that the skeleton was extended are dispelled; instead, the grave assemblage is reconstructed around the universal crouched inhumation rite of the period, giving rise to important new implications. Special attention is also given to two probable female graves nearby; essentially contemporary, their accompaniments contrast in a number of respects, pointing to very distinct affiliations. Our capacity to reinterpret such burial complexes is a tribute to the records made by the pioneer excavators.
Mimetic adoption and norm diffusion: ‘Western’ security cooperation in Southeast Asia?
Authors: KATSUMATA HIRO
Published: September 2010

The members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been pursuing new cooperative security agendas – namely, confidence-building measures (CBMs), preventive diplomacy (PD), conflict resolution and a set of agendas associated with security communities. The ASEAN members' pursuit of these agendas should be seen as a set of instances of their mimetic adoption of external norms for the sake of legitimacy. They have mimetically been adopting a set of norms associated with the collective management of conflicts, which have been practiced by the participant states of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). They have been doing so, with the intention of securing their identities as legitimate members of the community of modern states, and of enhancing the status of ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as legitimate cooperative security institutions.
Cosmological sources of critical cosmopolitanism
Authors: PATOMÄKI HEIKKI
Published: September 2010

Critical cosmopolitan orientation has usually been embedded in a non-geocentric physical (NGP) cosmology that locates the human drama on the surface of planet Earth within wide scales of time and space. Although neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for critical cosmopolitanism, NGP cosmology provides a contrast to the underpinnings of centric cosmologies, such as those of Aristotle, which see the world as revolving around a particular observer, theorist and/or communal identity. NGP cosmology makes it plausible to envisage all humans as part of the same species. The connection works also through homology and analogy. An astronomic theory can be isomorphic with an ethico-political theory, that is, a structure-preserving mapping from one to the other is possible. Key cosmopolitan theorists have situated morality within a cosmic framework. However, the ethico-political implications of the NGP cosmology are ambiguous. Nietzsche was among the first to articulate its sceptical and nihilist implications. Various reactions have encouraged territorial nationalism and geopolitics. I suggest that critical cosmopolitical orientation should now be grounded on the notion of cosmic evolution, which is not only contextual, historical, pluralist and open-ended but also suggests that humanity is not a mere accident of the cosmos.
The limit set of discrete subgroups of PSL(3, ℂ)
Authors: BARRERA VARGAS WALDEMAR DEL JESÚS , CORDERO ANGEL CANO , CARRILLO JUAN PABLO NAVARRETE
Published: September 2010

If Γ is a discrete subgroup of PSL(3, ℂ), it is determined the equicontinuity region Eq(Γ) of the natural action of Γ on ℙ2ℂ. It is also proved that the action restricted to Eq(Γ) is discontinuous, and Eq(Γ) agrees with the discontinuity set in the sense of Kulkarni whenever the limit set of Γ in the sense of Kulkarni, Λ(Γ), contains at least three complex lines in general position. Under some additional hypothesis, it turns out to be the largest open set on which Γ acts discontinuously. Moreover, if Λ(Γ) contains at least four complex lines and Γ acts on ℙ2ℂ without fixed points nor invariant complex lines, then each connected component of Eq(Γ) is a holomorphy domain and a complete Kobayashi hyperbolic space.
The nutritive value of processed roughages for fattening cattle and sheep
Authors: Greenhalgh J. F. D. , Wainman F. W.
Published: September 2010

A roughage begins to be processed as soon as it is cut, receives further processing during preservation and possibly more after it has been preserved. At each stage, the processing has a potential or an actual effect on the nutritive value of the feed, but in this review we shall concern ourselves solely with processes applied after preservation has taken place. Roughages are processed mainly with the intention of increasing their energy value and their acceptability to the animal (although there may be other nutritional aims such as reducing the solubility of protein, or non-nutritional aims such as facilitating transportation or storage). Most of these processes are mechanical, but some—such as heat treatment—are better classified as physical and others —such as delignification with sodium hydroxide—are chemical.
Foreword
Authors: Walker-Love J.
Published: September 2010

Animal Production from Grassland was to have been the theme of the Summer Meeting in 1971 but, owing to circumstances prevailing in Northern Ireland at that time, most reluctantly the Society had to cancel the Meeting. However, because of the importance of the theme selected for that meeting, it was decided to invite the authors to present their papers at a Special Topic Session at the 1972 Winter Meeting. In introducing this group of papers, there are two points which should be made.
Milk from grass
Authors: Gordon F. J.
Published: September 2010

In general the energy supply is the main factor limiting the output of milk by the dairy cow from most food sources. Under Northern Ireland conditions grass produces a greater energy output per unit area than any of the other major crops grown there. Furthermore Lowe (1970) has estimated the relative production costs per unit of dry matter for cereals and root crops to be twice and eight times respectively those incurred with grass. Therefore it is apparent that both on a basis of energy output per unit area, and per unit cost input, grass must continue to provide the maximum possible proportion of the food supply for the dairy industry within Northern Ireland.
Problems in the disposal of animal excreta
Authors: McAllister J. S. V.
Published: September 2010

The traditional method of handling excreta from housed farm animals involved the provision of bedding material, normally straw, to absorb the urine and provide additional carbohydrate material for the composting process which took place during storage. Modern systems of housing generally provide for the collection and storage of the excreta in the form of slurry. This reduces labour costs and should ensure practically complete collection of both faeces and urine, thereby reducing risks of polluting water courses by drainage direct from the farmyard.
Tissue separation—to assess beef and lamb variation
Authors: Cuthbertson A. , Harrington G. , Smith R. J.
Published: September 2010

Since 1968, the Meat and Livestock Commission has been carrying out a considerable amount of tissue separation work on samples of cattle and sheep arising from its livestock improvement schemes. The purpose of this work has been to provide data on variation in carcass composition of these animals to relate to variation in production characteristics. From the point of view of the meat market, it is important when fast growing sires are selected for use, particularly by AI, that they should be known to be capable of producing offspring which, under normal feeding conditions, are no fatter than the mass market requires. The latter is known to favour the lean end of the fatness range, although there is still a market for fatter carcasses which are believed to have superior eating characteristics, but may require fat to be trimmed from them before and after they reach the plate. In order to describe market requirements more clearly than at present, the data being collected on variation in carcass composition and its prediction are being used to develop carcass classification schemes for cattle and sheep.
Techniques for the planning and control of animal production research and development
Authors: Rowlands D. G.
Published: September 2010

THE Management of Research and Development (R and D) is not a precise science and it would be foolish to pretend that it is so. For this reason Management Science is somewhat of a misnomer, but this does not mean that the art of management is not susceptible to analysis and study. On the contrary, it is possible to analyse how good managers work and to identify their strong points. When we do this we are struck by the systematic way in which good managers approach problems. This systematic approach is frequently not appreciated in a conscious way by the managers themselves, but it seems to be the key to their success. Since no manager can operate effectively in isolation, but must communicate with others, it is important for a successful manager to be able to communicate not only his decisions but also the reasoning behind his decisions. A systematic approach to decision making offers a framework for communications, and the larger the organizational unit involved the greater the necessity for information to be written down and passed on in a formal way.
Intensifying ewe productivity
Authors: Robinson J. J.
Published: September 2010

Calculations on the relative efficiencies of cattle, sheep and pigs as meat producers indicate that the main factor limiting the energetic efficiency of sheep meat production is the low average fecundity of the ewe (Blaxter, 1968). Nevertheless with an estimated ‘biological ceiling’ of five lambs per ewe per pregnancy, and a potential mean lambing interval of 6 months (Wilson, 1968), the sheep industry is much further from achieving its biological ceiling than any other form of domestic livestock production. Because these estimates are based on the performance of specific individuals one must question their attainment on a flock basis. Furthermore, even if the necessary technical information were available, its adoption on a commercial scale may be prohibitive on economic grounds. These uncertainties should not deter us from seeking a greater understanding of the basic factors controlling ewe productivity, nor from attempting to integrate this knowledge into existing production systems.
Protein requirements of the cow for lactation
Authors: Bines J. A. , Broster W. H.
Published: September 2010

Prices of protein-rich foods increased dramatically in the summer of 1973. This caused considerable concern amongst BSAP members and a meeting of 36 scientists involved in studies of protein or allied aspects of nutrition was convened by the BSAP and held at the NIRD. The objective was to provide a statement of present knowledge on the protein requirements of the dairy cow. The Chairman of the day-long meeting was Dr C. C. Balch. A vigorous and wide-spanning discussion took place and while a definitive statement of quantitative requirements for protein was not produced, in compensation for this the state of the present knowledge on protein was revealed, so that it may be hoped that further studies will be prompted by these findings. This paper and the following one present respectively the minutes and an interpretation of the discussion.
Meeting the protein requirements of the dairy cow
Authors: Broster W. H. , Bines J. A.
Published: September 2010

This paper provides a practical interpretation of the arguments advanced at the meeting, summarized in the previous paper, on the protein requirements of the lactating cow. The evidence is by no means sufficiently detailed that all issues can be comprehensively resolved. Personal interpretation becomes necessary at some points. Far more important than this is the attention the meeting focused on the scope and ramifications of the problem, ranging from the nutrition of the rumen microflora to the fertility of the cow, such has hitherto not been achieved. This survey has been completed here by reference to several issues not dealt with extensively in the meeting.