bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A note on the digestibility of hard and soft wheat offals in growing pigs
Authors: Frape D. L. , Wilkinson J. , Chubb L. G.
Published: September 2010

Three trials have been made with growing pigs to measure the digestibility of four samples of wheat offal. Two samples were measured at the levels of 0, 20, 40 and 60% of the diet and two samples were measured at the levels of 0 and 60% of the diet. The offal replaced equal quantities of glucose in the diets and no attempt was made to equalize nutrient levels between diets.

Apparent digestibility coefficients of the diets declined with increasing dietary wheat offal content, but the digestibility of wheat offal did not change with level of inclusion. No differences in digestibility occurred between offals from hard and soft wheats, apart from a low N digestibility in one sample of soft wheat offal. The average digestible energy and TDN contents were 2810 kcal/kg and 63·1 for samples of offal containing 12·5% moisture.
Lactogenesis in ewes exposed to neutral and cold environmental temperatures during the last week of gestation
Authors: Thompson G. E. , Goode Jane A.
Published: September 2010

Five ewes, with a wool depth of approximately 5 mm, were placed in a neutral (20 + 2°C) environmental temperature on day 139 of pregnancy, and five similar ewes were placed in a cold (0±2°C) temperature. They remained in these environments until their lambs were 8 days old. Samples of udder secretions, when present, and right-atrial blood were taken from the ewes at 12-h intervals.

Milk from ewes in the neutral environment had a high fat concentration for a brief period after parturition, before the full development of lactose secretion occurred.

In ewes exposed to the cold environment, plasma cortisol concentration was increased during the 2 days before parturition. Cold exposure had no effect on the onset of milk lactose secretion but increased the concentration of fatty acids in milk during the period −0·5 to +4·5 days relative to parturition.
The influence of nutrition on reproduction in the ewe 2. Effects of undernutrition on pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation
Authors: Haresign W.
Published: September 2010

Two groups of ewes in good body condition at the start of the breeding season were given either sufficient feed to maintain their body weight or 500 g/kg of a maintenance ration such that they showed a continuous fall in body weight. On three separate occasions after introducing the nutritional regimens, all ewes were challenged on day 12 of the oestrous cycle with 150 μg luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Prolonged chronic undernutrition resulted in a significant increase in luteinizing hormone release in response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone injection (P < 0·05), whereas the mean pre-injection luteinizing hormone concentrations were significantly reduced by undernutrition (P < 0·01).
Lactational oestrus in the sow 1. The effect of the interval between farrowing and grouping on the incidence and timing of lactational oestrus in sows
Authors: Rowlinson P. , Bryant M. J.
Published: September 2010

In an experiment on the occurrence of lactational oestrus, 92 multiparous Camborough sows and their litters were grouped in multi-accommodation pens at either 10, 15, 20 or 25 days post partum. The sows were fed ad libitum on a proprietary diet containing 160g crude protein per kg. A boar was introduced to the group the day following grouping. Weaning took place at 42 days post partum.

All sows except one showed oestrus in the period from grouping to weaning. Lactational oestrus occurred on average 10·9, 9·2, 12·2 and 7·3 (s.e. of difference 1·3) days after grouping (P < 0·05), and 21·0, 24·6, 32·2 and 32·8 (s.e. of difference 1·4) days following farrowing (P < 0·001) for the grouping treatments at 10, 15, 20 and 25 days. Subsequent farrowing rates were 48, 61, 78 and 45% and the number of pigs born 9·2, 9·5, 12·2 and 10·6 (s.e. of difference 1·3), respectively.

Piglet mortality in the suckling litters was higher on the day 10 treatment than either the day 20 or day 25 treatment. This led to a significantly lower litter weight for the day 10 treatment compared with any of the other treatments.
A note on the response of wether lambs to treatment with trenbolone acetate combined with oestradiol-17β or zeranol
Authors: Yasin A. R. M. , Galbraith H.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-five Greyface wether lambs were allocated at approximately 40 kg live weight to be slaughtered, to be untreated controls, or to be implanted with 57·5 mg trenbolone acetate plus 8·1 mg oestradiol-17β (treatment To8), 60mg trenbolone acetate plus lOmg oestradiol-17β (treatment To10) or 70mg trenbolone acetate plus 12 mg zeranol (treatment TZ). The control and treated lambs were slaughtered after 63 days. Effects on live-weight gain were small and not significant. On average, hormonal treatments resulted in: (a) significant increases in dressing percentage, gain in carcass weight and carcass protein, kidney weight (g/kg live weight), depth of thorax and in the activity of liver tyrosine amino transferase; and (b) variable reductions in hind leg length, concentration of plasma urea and (g/kg live weight) kidney fat, mesenteric fat and fleece. Significant differences recorded between treatments included the conversion of food into carcass protein (treatments To8 and TO10 v. TZ) and mesenteric fat (g/kg live weight) and fat cover at the 12th rib (treatment To8v To10).
The influence of dietary protein and level of feeding on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of entire and castrated male pigs
Authors: Campbell R. G. , King R. H.
Published: September 2010

1. Three isocaloric diets containing 170, 210 or 231 g crude protein per kg were given at two levels, and offered ad libitum to entire and castrated male pigs growing from 20 to 70 kg live weight.

2. Between 20 and 45 kg, growth rate improved with each increase in level of feeding (P < 005) and, on the ad libitum treatment the food intake and growth performance of both entire and castrated pigs were similar. On the restricted feeding treatments the growth performance of entire, but not of castrated pigs, improved when dietary protein was raised from 170 to 210g/kg (P < 005).

3. During the live-weight periods 45 to 70 and 20 to 70kg, raising food intake improved growth rate (P < 005) but increased the food conversion ratio and carcass fat measurements at 70 kg (P < 0·05). However, food conversion ratio and the majority of carcass characteristics of entire pigs fed ad libitum were equivalent to those of castrated pigs fed at the lowest level.

4. Dietary protein level had no significant effect on growth performance from 20 to 70 kg or on carcass fat measurements at the latter weight. However, each increase in dietary protein in the live-weight period 45 to 70 kg depressed the performance of castrated pigs (P < 0·05) while that of entire pigs was reduced when the protein level of the diet was raised from 210 to 231 g/kg.
Wheat starch in the diet of pigs between 7 and 28 days of age
Authors: Leibholz Jane
Published: September 2010

Sixty-four pigs were given diets containing lactose or starch as the major source of carbohydrate in two separate experiments conducted between 7 and 28 days of age.

In the first experiment, pigs were offered lactose, wheat starch, wheat or extruded wheat. Performance over the whole experimental period, of pigs given lactose or wheat, was similar, but greater than that of pigs given wheat starch. Apparent digestion of wheat diets was less than that of the other diets. In the second experiment, performance of pigs given lactose or wheat was also similar over the whole experiment. However, between 7 and 14 days of age in both experiments, weight gains and food conversion ratios of pigs given wheat were less than those of pigs given lactose.

The activity of maltase and amylase in the intestinal mucosa, and amylase in the pancreas, increased between 7 and 28 days of age. The maltase and amylase activity in the intestinal mucosa and pancreas of the pigs given wheat was greater than that of the pigs given lactose, while the activity of lactase in the intestinal mucosa was greater in the pigs given diets containing lactose than in those pigs given wheat.

In a third experiment, it was found that most of the hydrolysis and absorption of starch occurred in the duodenum and jejunum of the pigs, and had been completed before the ileum.
Fattening performance of halfbred and three-breed crossbred ram lambs in an intensive-feeding system
Authors: Goot H. , Eyal E. , Folman Y. , Foote W. C.
Published: September 2010

Results of two fattening trials, with 49 crossbred ram lambs fattened on an all-concentrate diet given ad libitum with toasted soya bean meal as the main protein source, are presented.

In the first 84-day trial (January to March 1979) there were 32 twin- and triplet-born ram lambs of five genotypes, i.e. Finn-Awassi F2 (FAF 2), Romanov-Awassi F2 (RAF2), Assaf × Finn-Mutton Merino (AsFMM), Suffolk × Finn-Awassi (SuFA) and Suffolk × Finn-Mutton Merino (SuFMM). The overall means ( + s.d.) of the parameters investigated were: initial age, 64·6( + 4·5) days; initial weight, 17·6(±3·0)kg; final weight, 52·2(±4-l)kg; daily gain, 411( + 38)g; food intake, 1·5(±0·3)kg dry matter per day; and food conversion, 3·6( + 0·8)kg dry matter per kg gain.

In the second 56-day trial (August to September 1979) there were 17 single-, twin- and triplet-born FAF2 and Assaf × Finn-Awassi (AsFA) ram lambs. The overall means (±s.d. ) of the parameters investigated were: initial age, 64·1(±8·7) days; initial weight, 24·3(+ 3·6)kg; final weight, 48·5(±5·6)kg; daily gain, 431(±24)g; food intake, l-5(±0·3)kg dry matter per day; and food conversion, 3·5( + 0·7)kg dry matter per kg gain.

In both trials the differences between genotypes in daily gain, food intake and food conversion were not statistically significant and the performance of the progeny of Australian Suffolk and Assaf rams was similar to that of the progeny sired by Finn-Awassi and Romanov-Awassi rams.

Food intake and food conversion were highly correlated with weight of lambs, i.e. r = 0·8864 and r = 0·8857 (d.f. 36), respectively.

In both trials the relationships between daily gain and the pre-fattening performance of the lambs (birth weight, type of birth, weaning age and weight, rates of growth to weaning and from weaning to the start of the trials, as well as the initial age and weight) were not statistically significant.
A note on the response of British Friesian steers to trenbolone acetate and hexoestrol, and to alternation in dietary energy intake
Authors: Galbraith H. , Geraghty K. J.
Published: September 2010

Four steers from a group of eight British Friesian steers were implanted with 300 mg trenbolone acetate and 30 mg hexoestrol at the beginning of a 90-day trial period. The remainder were untreated. They were offered diets that varied in estimated content of metabolizable energy as follows (MJ/day): day 0 to 34 (period A), 100; day 35 to 60 (period B), 50; and day 61 to 90 (period C), 75 increasing to 110. Implanted steers gained significantly more live weight in periods A and C, and lost less in period B, than controls. Implanted steers had significantly elevated concentrations of plasma glucose in period A, and lower values for plasma urea and serum albumin throughout. Differences between control and implanted steers for the other blood constituents studied, including growth hormone, insulin and prolactin, were small and not significant. The main effects of changes in dietary energy intake on blood composition included significant increases in both groups of animals in the concentration of free fatty acids and growth hormone during underfeeding (period B). These concentrations decreased in period C, concomitant with significant increases in the concentrations of insulin and prolactin.
The effect of different durations and times of high- level feeding prior to mating on the reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Doney J. M. , Smith W. F.
Published: September 2010

One hundred and sixty-four Scottish Blackface ewes from two different farm sources were brought into a uniform moderately-poor level of body condition by early November. Five groups of approximately 33 ewes were then fed different amounts of pelleted dried grass and hay on pasture to achieve either high (H) or live-weight maintenance (M) levels of intake for different durations and at different times in the 36 days prior to mating at a synchronized oestrus. One group of ewes was fed the M level throughout, two groups were fed the H level for 18 days either preceded or followed by 18 days of the M level and two groups were fed the H level for 27 days either preceded or followed by 9 days of the M level. After mating, all ewes were fed the M level until slaughtered on return to service or at 28 (± 8) days after mating for counts of corpora lutea and viable embryos relating to first mating.

The gain in body condition and live weight after 18 days of H feeding was about half that achieved after 27 days. Time of H feeding had no differential effect on gain in condition or live weight. H feeding increased ovulation rate only if fed immediately prior to mating. When a period of M feeding preceded mating, most of the advantage was lost, particularly with 18 days of M feeding after 18 days of H feeding. Embryo mortality measured as ova loss was not significantly affected by either the duration or time of H feeding, although there was a trend for loss to decrease with increasing duration. Potential lambing rate to first mating was therefore significantly increased by H feeding for 27 days even when followed by 9 days of M feeding prior to mating but was not significantly increased by H feeding for only 18 days even when fed immediately prior to mating.

Differences in response were obtained from the ewes from the two sources. H feeding only produced a significant improvement in reproductive performance when potential was high and this was partly related to greater size. In populations with low potential, the provision of H feeding in the pre-mating period is therefore of doubtful economic advantage.
A note on analyses involving beef shape score sire evaluations of Friesian/Holstein bulls
Authors: Swanson G. J. T.
Published: September 2010

The proportion of Holstein blood for each of 725 bulls progeny tested by the Milk Marketing Board, was obtained from a three generation pedigree. The bulls were grouped according to the proportion of Holstein blood and the means and standard deviations for their progeny tests for Beef Shape Score calculated. Only bulls with Beef Shape Scores based on an effective number of daughters of at least 20 were included. The mean Beef Shape Score decreased from 99·6 in pure Friesian bulls to 88·5 in pure Holsteins. Only four bulls within the pure or three-quarter (0·75) Holstein groups had a Beef Shape Score above the overall mean of 98·6 with the maximum being 102. The range of Beef Shape Scores for all bulls was 76 to 116.

The product moment correlations between Beef Shape Score and milk, fat and protein yields were −0·36, −0·35 and −0·32 respectively. These values were significantly different from zero (P < 0·01).
Multibreed comparisons of British cattle. Variation in relative growth rate, relative food intake and food conversion efficiency
Authors: Thiessen R. B. , Taylor C. S. , Murray J.
Published: September 2010

In a multibreed experiment in which 292 heifers from 25 breeds were given a single complete pelleted diet ad libitum, body weight and food intake were recorded every 2 weeks. Relative growth rate, relative food intake and food conversion efficiency were calculated as the ratio of weight gain to body weight, food intake to body weight and weight gain to food intake respectively. The traits were measured over 12-week intervals from 12 to 72 weeks of age, and also over longer intervals of 24, 36, 48 and 60 weeks, each beginning at 12 weeks of age. Relative growth rate and food conversion efficiency declined continuously with increasing age, whereas relative food intake increased to a maximum in the 24- to 36-week period and then declined continuously.

The between-breed genetic coefficient of variation (CVb) for relative food intake was very stable at about 0·04 whether measured over 12-week or longer intervals, whereas the CVVs for relative growth rate and food conversion efficiency were usually higher when measured over 12-week intervals compared with longer intervals. For the entire period from 12 to 72 weeks, the CVb was estimated as 0·029 for relative growth rate, 0·040 for relative food intake and 0·034 for food conversion efficiency. The corresponding intraclass correlations (t2) measuring the between-breed variation as a proportion of the total variation were estimated as 0·08, 0·18 and 0·15. Within-breed variation was thus much greater than between-breed variation for all three traits. Using published estimates of within-breed heritabilities, the parameters g21 measuring the between-breed genetic variation as a proportion of the total genetic variation, and g22, measuring the between-breed genetic variation as a proportion of the immediately selectable genetic variation, were estimated as 0·28 and 0·61 for food conversion efficiency and 0·25 and 0·57 for relative growth rate. Thus, for all three traits, despite their low CVb and t2 values, between-breed selection would be useful prior to within-breed selection.
Pre-weaning mortality and productivity indices for goats and sheep on a Masai group ranch in south-central Kenya
Authors: Wilson R. T. , Peacock C. P. , Sayers A. R.
Published: September 2010

In an examination of the productivity of goats and sheep on a Masai group ranch in Kenya, estimated least-squares means for pre-weaning mortality were 28·6% for goats and 32·1% for sheep. Three productivity indices based on total live weight of young produced per female per year, per kg female per year and per kg metabolic weight per year gave values of 11·1 kg, 410 g and 0·99 kg for goats and 14·1 kg, 473 g and 1·18 kg for sheep. The effects of environmental variables on these indices, the comparative advantage accruing to the variables, mortality, reproductive success and weight gain were used to construct a proposed set of interventions for the improvement of small ruminant production in south-central Kenya.
Approximations in the variable net energy system for ruminants
Authors: Glen J. J.
Published: September 2010

The variable net energy system for ruminants was developed to allow rations to be formulated in an additive manner. It is demonstrated that the variable net energy system is based on approximations which can cause errors in ration formulation. The extent of these errors is examined for cattle rations, and it is shown that the errors can be significant.
A note on the effect of olaquindox as a food additive in diets with or without a high-copper supplement for pigs weaned at 21 days
Authors: Patterson D. C.
Published: September 2010

In a study involving 240 pigs, starter and grower diets containing copper at a high level (180 mg/kg) or olaquindox (110 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg in starter and grower diets respectively) or both were compared with a control diet containing 15 mg Cu per kg. The pigs were weaned at 21 days and given the starter diets until they reached a mean live weight of 10·2 kg, followed by grower diets for 28 days.

In both the starter and grower periods, the effects of the high Cu supplement were not significant. In the starter period, olaquindox significantly improved daily gain (by 25 g) and food conversion efficiency proportionately by 0·07 (P < 0·01). In the grower period, olaquindox did not significantly affect performance.
Biochemical and physiological responses to metabolic stimuli in Friesian calves of differing genetic merit for milk production
Authors: Sinnett-Smith P. A. , Slee J. , Woolliams J. A.
Published: September 2010

Changes in blood metabolite and insulin concentrations in response to metabolic stimuli were evaluated as potential predictors of dairy merit. Calves of high or low genetic merit for milk production were subjected to the stress of: simulated feeds by injection of sodium propionate (0·5 mmol/kg body weight), a short fast and short-term cold exposure. Responses of insulin, free fatty acids, urea, glucose and D-β-hydroxybutyrate were determined by serial blood sampling.

Injections of sodium propionate did not greatly affect blood metabolite concentrations but did sharply increase insulin concentrations; no difference in response between high and low lines was observed. During fasting serum free fatty acid and D-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greatly increased but no variation due to line was observed. Urea concentrations were also greatly increased during fasting and in this case animals of high dairy merit showed a considerably smaller increase than animals of low dairy merit. Heart rates decreased by one-third during the fast but no variation due to line was apparent;during refeeding high dairy-merit animals had lower heart rates than low-merit animals.

Short-term cold exposure did not significantly alter plasma insulin or metabolite concentrations.

These results are discussed in relation to previous findings and it is concluded that serum urea concentrations during a fast may provide the basis for a useful and robust predictor of dairy merit in young animals.
Policy of selecting bulls to breed bulls
Authors: Goddard M. E.
Published: September 2010

In the breeding of dairy cattle the selection of bulls to breed young bulls for progeny testing is a crucial process. This paper compares several policies for making this selection based on the criteria-selection response, inbreeding depression, loss of genetic variance and variability of response. A number called the ‘effective number of new bulls to breed bulls selected each year’ (NBBe) is defined which is closely related to the last three of these criteria. Past studies of the design of dairy cattle breeding programmes have assumed that selection is within a group of bulls progeny tested in the same year (policy I). However, modern sire evaluation methods allow comparison of sires tested in different years. To evaluate the effect of selecting bulls to breed bulls from all available bulls (policy II) a computer simulation program was used. Policy II results in an increase in the response to selection but a substantial decrease in NBBe. When compared at the same NBBe, policy II results in a smaller selection response than policy I. A policy which allows the best bulls to be used for more than 1 year but which limits the maximum number of years for which they can be used, results in the best compromise. If bulls are to be used for several years there is little advantage to be gained from making more matings within each year to more high-rated bulls or to older, more reliably evaluated bulls.
Inter-breed relationships of birth weight and maternal and paternal weight in cattle
Authors: Taylor C. S. , Murray J.
Published: September 2010

The inter-breed relationship of birth weight and maternal and paternal weight in cattle was examined using published data on over 200 different breeds from a total of over 500 experiments. This collection of data was far from optimal for estimating genetic between-breed regressions and should have contained fewer breeds and more experiments on the same breed. Nevertheless, it was established that the mean mature weights of bulls and cows maintained a constant ratio throughout the range of breed size but mean calf weight declined relative to mean sire and mean dam weight as breed size increased.

When considered in conjunction with other results on litter weight at birth, the best relationship to use appeared to be that of proportionality to dam weight to the power 0·83, which could uniformly be applied to both breeds and species. The constant of proportionality found for cattle was 0·197 which can be compared with estimates of 0·183 for sheep, 0·185 for dogs and 0·165 on average for mammalian species.
Muscle growth and distribution of muscle weight in Clun and Southdown sheep
Authors: Butler-Hogg B. W. , Whelehan O. P.
Published: September 2010

A total of 56 sheep, 28 Clun and 28 Southdown were slaughtered, five of each breed, at birth, 50, 100, 150 and 200 days and three of each breed at 415 days of age. The left half of each carcass was separated anatomically into individual muscles, bones and fat depots. For the purposes of analysis, individual muscles were assigned to one of eight muscle groups, depending upon their anatomical location.

The relative growth of some individual muscles was found to change over this age range, as indicated by a significant squared term in the quadratic allometric equation: this was true for proportionately 0·33 of the muscles in Clun and for proportionately 0·44 of those in Southdown, accounting for proportionately 0·33 and 0·47 of total muscle weight in Clun and Southdown respectively.

Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to derive the multivariate analogue of the quadratic part of quadratic allometry: the sign of the loading on the second principal component had the same sign as the change observed in bq, the quadratic relative growth coefficient. Thus, PCA offers the potential to identify simultaneously, and independently of shape or conformation, all those muscles whose relative growth coefficients change over the period examined. It could be applied successfully to breed comparisons of conformation.

The cumulative effects of changing relative growth rates of muscles were small. Muscle weight distribution appears to be almost fixed within the first few weeks after birth. Despite their differences in conformation and mature size, Clun and Southdown lambs had similar distributions of muscle weight at the same age; the high valued muscles constituted 513·8 g/kg total muscle in Clun and 514·7 g/kg total muscle in Southdown lambs at 200 days of age.
Cold exposure of Southdown and Welsh Mountain sheep. 4. Changes in concentrations of free fatty acids, glucose, acetone, protein-bound iodine, protein and antibody in the blood
Authors: Halliday R. , Sykes A. R. , Slee J. , Field A. C. , Russel A. J. F.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-four Southdown and 24 Welsh Mountain year-old female sheep, half on high-plane and half on low-plane nutrition, were shorn and given two acute cold exposures in climate chambers. For 2 weeks before and 2 weeks between exposures the sheep were kept in a subcritical (+ 8°C) or a thermoneutral (+30°C) environment. Before the temperature treatment each sheep received an injection of Brucella abortus vaccine. Blood samples were taken during exposure to + 8°C and + 30°C and during the acute cold exposures for estimation of free fatty acid (FFA), protein-bound iodine (PBI), glucose, acetone, serum protein and antibody levels. FFA and glucose levels alone were measured in 32 similarly treated Scottish Blackface sheep.

1. Low plane sheep had higher PBI levels at all temperatures, and higher glucose levels during acute cold exposure than high plane sheep. Otherwise most major effects were attributable to ambient temperature.

2. At +8°C the PBI, FFA, glucose, serum protein and acetone levels were higher than at + 30°C.

3. Blackface sheep had lower FFA and glucose levels than Southdown and Welsh sheep at both temperatures.

4. During acute cold exposure, PBI, acetone and FFA levels increased further. PBI levels were highest in sheep previously at + 30°C, and acetone highest in sheep previously at + 8°C. Very high FFA levels were recorded, especially in sheep not previously cold-acclimatized.

5. Glucose levels increased initially, but fell towards the end of acute exposure, suggesting that relatively less carbohydrate and more fat was utilized for energy metabolism during this period.

6. Serum protein levels fell during acute exposure, possibly because protein catabolism increased. The proportions of albumin and γ-globulin increased and decreased respectively.

7. No effects of temperature on antibody levels were detected.
Single cereal diets for bacon pigs: 2. The effect of methods of storage and preparation of barley on performance and carcass quality
Authors: Cole D. J. A. , Dean G. W. , Luscombe J. R.
Published: September 2010

Barley which had been stored after treatment with 0·8 % propionic acid was incorporated into pig diets in either the milled or the rolled form and its feeding value compared with that of barley stored dry and then ground, and of moist barley stored anaerobically and then rolled. The pigs were fed from 50 to 200 lb live weight on the four diets. Their performance was not affected by the method of storage of the barley, but those given rolled barley required 11% more dry matter per unit of live-weight gain than those given milled barley. There were no significant differences between the treatments in carcass measurements, or in apparent digestibility coefficients as measured by the chromic-oxide method.
Dental occlusion in young bulls of different breeds
Authors: Wiener Gerald , Gardner W. J. F.
Published: September 2010

The position of the incisor teeth in relation to the maxillary pad was examined in bulls (at approximately 10 months old). Visual gradings grouped into five classes were made on 5582 bulls of eight breeds in the course of inspection for licensing. In addition, measurements of the tooth positions (grouped into 11 classes) were made on separate samples of 1163 Galloway and 191 Ayrshire bulls.

Among the beef breeds 84·0% of all tooth positions were classed as being normal and 96·6% of those among the dairy breeds. The proportion of mouths with incisor teeth forward of the maxillary pad was higher among the beef breeds. Individual breeds within the beef and dairy types also differed significantly.

Herds of the Galloway and of the Ayrshire breeds, judged on the bulls submitted for licensing, differed in the distributions of the position at which the incisor teeth met the pad. Herds also differed when judged on the occlusion of the sons of their bulls.

Heritability was calculated for Galloways by half-sib correlation and sire-son regression, yielding estimates from 0·31 to 1·28, suggesting that at least some of the variation is inherited. The undershot and overshot conditions were found together only rarely among the male offspring of any one bull.
The nutritive value of separated milk for pigs: II. The effects of different amounts on performance to 90 kg live weight
Authors: Chamberlain A. G. , Cooke B. C.
Published: September 2010

Each of seven diets containing different proportions of separated milk and barley meal, supplemented with minerals and vitamins, was given to five groups of four pigs. The ratios of barley to milk solids were such that the crude protein of the dry matter given to pigs of 20 to 40 kg live weight ranged from approximately 15 to 21%. Within each treatment, the proportion of milk was gradually adjusted so that the crude protein level was reduced by 3% over the live-weight range 40 to 91 kg. Daily energy allowances of all pigs were governed by the same scale.

The total dry matter consumed by the pigs had mean total lysine levels of from 0·52 to 1·18% (approximately 0·1% lysine between successive treatments).

Pigs on the lowest level of milk grew more slowly and had poorer feed conversion than other animals.

Percentage dissectable lean in the trimmed side was highly correlated with lysine level. Within the range studied, each 0·1% increase in lysine increased lean by 0·69% and caused decreases in fat thickness. The performance of the milk-fed pigs was compared to controls given a standard all-meal diet.

Nitrogen metabolism trials were carried out on the milk diets. Beneficial responses in terms of nitrogen retention were found up to the highest level of milk given to pigs between 16 and 90 kg live weight.
A note on mating preferences of Clun Forest ewes
Authors: Lees J. L. , Weatherhead M.
Published: September 2010

Groups of Clun Forest ewes, in which oestrus had been synchronized following the removal of progestogen-impregnated pessaries, were introduced into a small enclosure containing tethered Hampshire, Suffolk and Clun rams. The ewes exhibited a clear preference for the ram of their own breed. The Suffolk ram appeared to be a very poor second choice. When the Clun ram was replaced by a Kerry more ewes went to the Suffolk than to either the Hampshire or the Kerry. When Clun ewes were introduced to 3 tethered Clun rams there was no obvious preference for an individual ram.
The biological efficiency of meat production in sheep
Authors: Large R. V.
Published: September 2010

The biological efficiency of meat production (E) is defined as the weight of carcass produced per 100 units of digestible organic matter (DOM) consumed. The factors affecting this relationship, for ewes and lambs, are discussed and the results of experiments are used to demonstrate the effect of number of lambs per year and size of ewe on the value of E. Calculations are made to show the effect on E of other factors such as the growth rate of the lambs and the weight at which the lambs are slaughtered. The general conclusions are that the highest values for E will be obtained from small breeds of ewes producing large litters and crossed with a large breed of ram, leading to a high growth rate and final size in the lamb. A relatively small increase in litter size in the small breeds of ewe (i.e. from one to two lambs) may result in a level of efficiency as high as that achieved by a larger breed with a large litter size (i.e. three to four lambs) without having to resort to techniques such as the artificial rearing of lambs.
Intensive beef production. II. Replacement of cereals with ground straw
Authors: Kay M. , Macdearmid A. , Massie R.
Published: September 2010

1. A growth trial was carried out with 21 Friesian steers given diets containing either 0%, 30% or 50% ground straw, and concentrates up to 100%.

2. Steers offered the diet containing 0% straw consumed less dry matter per day than steers on the other two treatments.

3. Rates of live-weight gain were 1·20, 1·04 and 0·87 kg/day for the three treatments respectively, and carcass gains were 690, 550 and 440 g/day.

4. Killing-out percentage dropped and alimentary-tract fill increased as the proportion of straw in the diet increased.

5. The dry-matter digestibility coefficients for the three diets, determined at maximal intake, were 79·1%, 62·3% and 56·6%, respectively.
Performance testing for beef: inter-relationships among traits in bulls tested from an early age
Authors: Willis M. B. , Preston T. R.
Published: September 2010

1. Performance tests were made on 221 bulls of eight breeds or crosses from 90 days of age (weaning) up to 400 kg live weight. Feeding was in individual pens on a high-energy complete diet.

2. Pre-weaning gain was not significantly related to gain on test (r = 0·11) nor was 90-day weight to gain on test (r = 0·26) or feed conversion (r = −0·15). Weight for age at 200 and 300 kg was highly correlated with final weight for age (r = 0·72 and 0·89 respectively) while gain on test and final weight for age had a pooled correlation (across breeds) of r = 0·95. The correlation of feed conversion with gain on test was highly significant in all breeds. The range of values (−0·72 to −0·86) is higher than any previously reported estimates possibly due to an absence of initial weight effects, a reduction in the proportion of feed used for maintainenance and the use of complete diets.

3. It is suggested that with this testing system at least 50% of bulls could be culled at 300 kg without affecting selection of the best 20% of all bulls starting the test.
Some thermal effects on the pig of the ingestion of liquid feed at various temperatures
Authors: Holmes C. W.
Published: September 2010

1. Experiments have been performed to determine the thermal effects, on pigs, of the ingestion of whey at various temperatures while housed at various air temperatures.

2. Measurements of carotid artery and rectal temperatures showed that a general cooling of deep-body tissues occurred after the ingestion of cool whey.

3. Measurements of rectal and skin temperatures, and observations of respiratory rate and shivering activity, indicated that thermo-regulatory responses were induced by the ingestion of cool whey; the nature of the responses was dependent on the air temperature.

4. The results indicate that the temperature of liquid food offered to animals is a significant parameter in their climatic environment.
A note on patterns of behaviour and grazing in hill sheep
Authors: Griffiths J. G.
Published: September 2010

Studies of the social behaviour of a hill flock of sheep confirmed the existence of home range groups with each group having a definable territory. The groupings were not broken by a period of individual penning of the sheep.
A note on the voluntary feed intake and growth of pigs given diets containing an extremely bitter compound
Authors: Blair R. , Fitzsimons J.
Published: September 2010

In two trials 20 female pigs were given diets containing up to 50 p.p.m. ‘Bitrex’ during their growth from 100 to 200 lb live weight. Voluntary feed intake, daily live-weight gain and carcass quality were not influenced significantly.
A note on the weights and weight gains of some Charolais and contemporary calves of other breeds in Northern Ireland
Authors: McNally D. H.
Published: September 2010

Data on calves sired by Charolais bulls and their contemporaries in 22 commercial herds in Northern Ireland indicate that the Charolais calves were significantly heavier than their contemporaries at weaning as well as at birth. Although the weight of dam was also significantly greater for the Charolais calves, all the evidence indicated that this was not associated with calf weight and did not, therefore, invalidate the conclusion on calf weights.

The present results suggest that although interaction between breed of sire and sex is not statistically significant for calf weights neverthe-less the superiority of Charolais sires was much greater for males than for females. The interaction was significant for daily gain to weaning. Separate analyses for the two sexes indicated that the Charolais-cross males gained significantly better than their contemporaries whereas no significant difference in gain could be detected in the females.
Performance test procedures for meat production amongst dairy bulls used in AI
Authors: Hinks C. J. M.
Published: September 2010

The potential benefits to be obtained from the adoption of performance testing for meat production in a dual-purpose breed have been examined and contrasted with those obtainable from improvements in dairy progeny test procedures.

It was concluded that capital investments in performance testing are likely to prove profitable, but less profitable than similar investments in the improvement of the dairy progeny test. Where performance testing is practised, there appears to be little advantage to be gained from the application of selection rates in excess of 1 in 3.
A note on the fertility of hill ewes mated to Finnish Landrace and Border Leicester rams
Authors: Barker J. D. , Land R. B.
Published: September 2010

The litter size and lambing rate of 1531 ewes of British hill breeds which had been mated to Finnish Landrace or Border Leicester rams was found to be independent of breed of ram. It was concluded that Finnish Landrace rams do not have a particular effect on the reproductive performance of ewes to which they are mated.
Adaptation of growing pigs to changes in environmental temperature
Authors: Morrison S. R. , Mount L. E.
Published: September 2010

Pigs fed ad libitum were exposed to changes from 22 to 33°C and from 33 to 20°C. Responses were investigated in two groups of animals kept for three successive periods of four weeks at 22°, 33° and finally 20°C.

Twenty-four hr after the first change, from 22 to 33°C, there was a decline in body weight; after the second change, from 33 to 20°C, there was a large increase. After the change to 33°C, feed intake by the second day and growth rate for the first week were about the same as at the end of the four weeks, but about 12 days were required for water intake, rectal temperature and respiratory rate to reach steady values.

After the change from 33 to 20°C, steady values for respiratory rate and rectal temperature were reached in one and 12 days respectively. The rate of gain in weight increased to reach a peak nine days following the temperature change and then declined.
A note on the effect of docking on fat deposition in fat-tailed sheep
Authors: Joubert D. M. , Ueckermann L.
Published: September 2010

The deposition of body and subcutaneous fat was compared in two groups of fat-tailed sheep, the one group docked shortly after birth and the tails of the other left intact. The slightly heavier live and carcass weights of the latter animals could be accounted for almost entirely by their significantly heavier weights of caudal fat, there being no firm evidence in support of increased internal or subcutaneous fatty deposition following amputation of the cauda.
A note on the relations between scrotal wool cover, face cover, and cover on points in Merino rams
Authors: Rathore Ashok K.
Published: September 2010

In Merino rams studied over three seasons in New South Wales scrotal cover was correlated with face cover (0·29) and cover on points (0·16). Scrotal length was positively correlated with scrotal wool cover (0·17) and cover on points (0·28).
Diet supplementation of growing pigs raised in Coastal Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pasture lots
Authors: Pond W. G. , Maner J. H. , Gallo J. T. , Henao A. , Portela R.
Published: September 2010

Seventy Duroc × Landrace weanling pigs (initial weight 20 kg) were used in a 91-day experiment in a semi-tropical environment, to determine the effects of deletion of the vitamin-antibiotic or mineral supplement to a corn-sucrose-soya bean meal diet on performance of pigs in Coastal Bermuda grass pasture lots. Pigs fed the complete diet in confinement in concrete-floor pens had significantly faster body-weight gain than pigs fed the same diet on pasture. Pigs fed the complete diet on pasture gained weight significantly faster than those given the same diet but without a vitamin-antibiotic premix. Those fed the complete diet without a Ca-P-trace mineral supplement on pasture gained weight significantly more slowly than all other groups, and showed lameness and femur and rib fractures (2 animals) indicative of Ca deficiency rickets.
The metabolic rates of newborn pigs in relation to floor insulation and ambient temperature
Authors: Stephens D. B.
Published: September 2010

1. The metabolic rates of 58 individual piglets kept either on a straw or on a concrete floor at ambient temperatures near to 10°, 20° or 30°C have been measured with ages ranging from newborn to 9 days, and body weight from 1·0 to 3·2 kg. The oxygen consumption was measured on each floor material at the chosen ambient temperature thus allowing paired comparisons for each animal.

2. In comparison with the concrete floor, oxygen consumption on straw was reduced by 18% at 10°C, 27% at 20°C and by 12% at 30°C for pigs 2 to 9 days old. The regression coefficients of mean log (oxygen consumption) on log (body weight) were around 0·66 at 10° and 20°C. At 30°C the value was 0·99 ± 0·14. The regression coefficients were not significantly affected by the presence of a straw floor showing that its effect did not vary with body weight. Corresponding values foi piglets below 24 hours of age were 17% at 10°C, 27% at 20°C and 22% at 30°C ambient temperature.

3. Moving a piglet on to a straw floor at 10°C had the same thermal effect as raising the ambient temperature to 18°C. Similar treatment at 30°C was equivalent to raising the ambient temperature to 32°C.

4. Lowering ambient temperature to increase the temperature gradient between the homeothermic body of the piglet and the environment progressively increased heat loss in all cases. There was a concomitant decrease in the calculated conductance between core and environment which was more pronounced for the piglets lying on the concrete floor.
Control of nutritional muscular dystrophy in lambs by selenium implantation
Authors: Hidiroglou M. , Hoffman I. , Jenkins K. J. , MacKay R. R.
Published: September 2010

An implantation technique utilizing slow-release selenium pellets was evaluated as a means of controlling nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) in sheep. Sixty ewes were fed a dystrophy-producing hay and implantations were made at mid-pregnancy (14 animals) and in late pregnancy (15 animals); the remainder were kept as controls. Selenium was determined at intervals on milk and blood samples from the ewes and on blood samples from the lambs. Various muscles were examined histologically for NMD lesions.

Selenium levels in the milk of implanted ewes were higher than controls up to the 60th day of lactation and levels in the blood of both ewes and lambs were higher than controls during nursing. Selenium implantation at mid-pregnancy resulted in higher selenium concentrations in lamb's blood at birth than implantation in late pregnancy. However, by 30 days of age and thereafter, this difference was reversed. Large variability was encountered in the blood values for implanted ewes and their lambs. While complete protection against NMD was not achieved, implantation reduced the incidence and severity of the disease. The earlier implantation gave slightly fewer deaths from NMD, but the numbers were too small to make critical comparisons.
A note on the relationship between the rate of machine-milking and milk production of Ayrshire heifers
Authors: Castle M. E. , Henderson R.
Published: September 2010

Records of milking rate, milk yield and milk composition were collected over 12 yr from 123 Ayrshire heifers in their first lactation in one herd. Three direct measures of milking rate, i.e. peak flow rate, machine rate and overall rate were closely correlated and each was also correlated with total lactation yield of milk. Milking rate accounted for only a very small part of the variation in fat and total solids percentages. The mean yield of milk per milking in early lactation was a better predictor of total lactation yield than was milking rate but, among animals giving the same early lactation yield of milk, the faster milkers gave higher lactation yields than the slower milkers.
The production of beef from pre-ruminant Friesian steers
Authors: Roy J. H. B. , Stobo I. J. F. , Ganderton P. , Shotton Susan M.
Published: September 2010

1. Four British Friesian steers were reared to a live weight of 340 kg as pre-ruminant animals, by the use of milk substitutes based on liquid skim milk, spray-dried whey powder and an ultra-high-fat (68%) milk powder.

2. Except for one case of hypomagnesaemia, the steers remained healthy. Live-weight gain/day, age at slaughter and feed conversion ratio were 1·23 kg, 253 days and 2·31 kg dry matter/kg weight gain respectively.

3. No marked development of the rumen had occurred; gut fill in relation to fasted live weight was 3·4% and killing-out percentage was 61·2.
The relative performance and carcass characteristics of pigs sired by Hampshire and Large White boars
Authors: Smith W. C. , Barkes J. N. , Tonks H. M.
Published: September 2010

Hampshire and Large White crosses were compared with purebred Large White pigs for litterproduction and post-weaning performance. Crossbreeding did not influence either litter size or total litter weight at birth but crossbred litters had 14 % more pigs at weaning than purebred litters. Total litter weight at weaning was 13 % greater i n crossbred litters. In two post-weaning trials (23 to 90 kg live weight), where feeding was either ad libitum or restricted according to live weight, Hampshire crosses had advantages over Large Whites in rate and efficiency of gain and killing-out percentage. The cross-breds had shorter carcasses but a greater eye-muscle area due primarily to a greater depth of lean in the muscle. All fat depth measurements indicated that the crossbreds were not significantly leaner than the purebreds and this was confirmed in the restricted trial when the carcasses were subjected to physical and chemical dissection. Hampshire carcasses did have a lower bone content than those of the purebreds, but crossbreeding did not influence joint proportions or lean distribution in the carcass.