bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brief self-affirmation intervention for adults with psoriasis for reducing anxiety and depression and boosting well-being: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Łakuta Patryk
Published: November 2021

Background

There are relatively few studies to address mental health implications of self-affirming, especially across groups experiencing a chronic health condition. In this study, short- and longer-term effects of a brief self-affirmation intervention framed in terms of implementation intentions (if-then plans with self-affirming cognitions; S-AII) were evaluated against an active control group (non-affirming implementation intentions; N-AII), matched to the target condition, and mere goal intention condition (a non-active control) in adults with psoriasis. The three pre-registered primary outcomes captured depression, anxiety, and well-being.

Methods

Adults with psoriasis (N = 175; Mage = 36.53, s.d. = 11.52) were randomized into S-AII, N-AII, or control. Participants' mental health outcomes were assessed prior to randomization (at baseline), at week 2 (post-intervention), and at a 1-month follow-up.

Results

Linear mixed models were used and results were reported on the intention-to-treat principle. Analyses revealed that S-AII exerted significantly more improvement in the course of well-being (ds > 0.25), depressive symptoms (ds > −0.40), and anxiety (ds > −0.45) than the N-AII and control group at 2-week post-intervention. Though the differences between groups faded at 1-month follow-up, the within-group changes over time for S-AII in all mental health outcomes remained significant.

Conclusions

Brief and low-intensity S-AII intervention exerted in the short-term a considerable impact on mental health outcomes. The S-AII shows promising results as a relevant public mental health strategy for enhancing well-being and reducing psychological distress. Future studies could consider whether these effects can be further enhanced with booster interventions.
Does interatrial communication affect post-operative course of children undergoing tetralogy of Fallot repair? Single centre retrospective cohort study: propensity score matching
Authors: Kabbani Mohamed S. , Jijeh Abdulraouf , Diraneyya Obayda M. , Basakran Fatimah A. , Bin Sabbar Najla S. , Fatima Anis , AlEraij Sheikah M. , Alshahrani Wafa A. , Ardah Husam I. , Shaath Ghassan A.
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

During tetralogy of Fallot repair, leaving or even create an interatrial communication may facilitate post-operative course particularly with right ventricle restrictive physiology. The aim of our study is to assess the influence of atrial communication on post-operative course of tetralogy of Fallot repair.

Methods:

Retrospectively, we studied all children who had tetralogy of Fallot repair (2003–2018). We divided them into two groups: tetralogy of Fallot repair with interatrial communication (TOFASD) group and tetralogy of Fallot repair with intact atrial septum (TOFIAS) group. We performed propensity match score for specific pre- or intra-operative variables and compared groups for post-operative outcome variables. Secondarily, we looked for right ventricle restrictive physiology incidence and influence of early repair performed before 3 months of age on post-operative course.

Results:

One hundred and sixty children underwent tetralogy of Fallot repair including (93) cases of TOFIAS (58%) and (67) cases of TOFASD (42%). With propensity matching score, 52 patients from each group were compared. Post-operative course was indifferent in term of positive pressure ventilation time, vasoactive inotropic score, creatinine and lactic acid levels, duration and amount of chest drainage and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay. Right ventricle restrictive physiology occurred in 38% of patients with no effects on outcome. 12/104 patients (12%) with early repair needed longer pressure ventilation time (p = 0.003) and intensive care unit stay (p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

Leaving interatrial communication in tetralogy of Fallot repair did not affect post-operative course. As well, right ventricle restrictive physiology did not affect post-operative course. Infants undergoing early tetralogy of Fallot repair may require longer duration of positive pressure ventilation time and intensive care unit stay.
The influence of source of starch in concentrates on the performance of dairy cows
Authors: Assad M. A. , Rowlinson P. , Marsden S.
Published: November 2021

The study was conducted to examine the response of dairy cows to changes in sources of dietary starch and to investigate whether ‘root’ starch sources are comparable to cereal starch sources in terms of the performance of lactating dairy cows.

Thirty multiparous British Friesian/Holstein lactating diary cows, in a randomised block experiment, were allocated to one of five dietary treatments containing different proportions (1.00:0.00, 0.75:0.25, 0.50:0.50, 0.25:0.75 and 0.00:1.00), respectively, of two dairy concentrates (C or R) which were formulated to the same crude protein (180 g/Kg), ME (11.5 MJ/Kg FM) and starch (300 g/Kg) levels but differing only in the principal sources of starch. Barley and wheat were the principal sources of starch in the ‘cereal’ starch source concentrate (concentrate ‘C’) whilst cassava was the main ingredient in the ‘ root ’ starch source concentrate (concentrate ‘ R ’). All cows were offered the concentrate diet on a flat rate (10 Kg FM/day) with grass silage fed to appetite.
Control of ovarian function in cattle
Authors: Webb R. , Gong J.G. , Gutierrez C.G. , Armstrong D.G. , Campbell B.K.
Published: November 2021

The control of ovarian function in cattle involves the complex interaction of local and systemic feedback mechanisms. This control system ensures that in greater than 96% of cows only one follicle will ovulate each oestrous cycle. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved should lead to improved synchronisation of oestrus in herds, thereby increasing the success rate of artificial insemination, improve the effectiveness of superovulation regimes and provide opportunities for the induction of twinning. It has been estimated that modest improvements in these areas would benefit the UK cattle industry by at least Â£200 million per year.

Follicular growth in cattle occurs in a wave-like pattern with usually three waves, sometimes two waves but rarely four waves, of follicles growing and regressing each oestrous cycle. This follicle wave pattern is also present during periods of anoestrus. Each follicle wave, which is usually preceeded by a rise in peripheral FSH concentrations, is characterized by the emergence, from the pool of growing follicles, of a large ‘dominant’ follicle.
Stress and ovarian function in cattle
Authors: Dobson Hilary
Published: November 2021

Everyone “knows” that stressors have a deleterious effect on fertility. The aim of our work has been to provide definitive evidence for such a statement, and examine the endocrine mechanisms involved. For example, the chronic stressors of periparturient diseases or lameness increase,the intervals from calving to first service or conception, and the number of inseminations required per conception (Table 1).
Determination of fatty acid composition of pig fat by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Redshaw M S , Wiseman J , Probert L , Cole D J A
Published: November 2021

Near infrared spectroscopy has been used in a wide range of agricultural sciences as an analytical tool to replace traditional wet chemistry. The current study was designed to investigate its possibilities for use as a technique in determining fatty acid profiles of pig fat.

This study was carried out as part of a larger study examining influences of dietary fat sources on pig carcass and meat quality. Samples of the outer layer of pig fat from 52 animals was freeze dried then extracted with petroleum ether (40-60) for eight hours in a Soxhlet apparatus. This known quantity of fat was dissolved in 50 ml chloroform and a sub sample scanned in to the NIRS (Figure 1 shows a typical spectra). A sample of this chloroform solution was also methylated and the fatty acid profile determined by gas liquid chromatography. Values for each sample were determined for; total weight of fat, weight of: myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, as well as the total weight of saturated fatty acids (myristic + palmitic + stearic), total weight of monounsaturated fat (palmitoleic + oleic) and total weight of polyunsaturated fat (linoleic + linolenic).
The effects of food level on general activity and aggression in dynamic groups of 30 sows
Authors: Spoolder H.A.M. , Burbidge J.A. , Lawrence A.B. , Simmins P.H. , Edwards S.A.
Published: November 2021

Aggression in group housed sows is often related to competition over food. Sequential feeding avoids the confrontations at the trough, but puts them at the feeder entrance. Studies of large groups of dry sows using computerised feeding systems showed that vulva biting was most frequent after visits when only a small amount of food had been dispensed (BurÃ©, 1991). This suggests that frustrated feeding motivation may cause increased aggression. A Swedish survey into group housed sows found a link between sow condition and mean injury scores: farms averaging a high injury score had a larger proportion of thin sows (Svendsen et al., 1990). The present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that in large dynamic groups of sows a high food level results in lower levels of aggression and associated skin lesions.
The effect of altering dietary cystine and methionine levels at similar ratios to lysine on the requirements for sulphur amino acids in weaner pigs
Authors: Simmins P.H. , Bodin J.C. , Kies A. , Williams P.E.V.
Published: November 2021

The efficient production of the weaner pig requires accurate knowledge of its amino acid requirements. This is particularly relevant today as it is increasingly important to reduce nitrogenous waste from pigs. During the past decade formulations for feeds were based on the ideal protein profile of the lean tissue of pigs in which the sulphur amino acid requirements were assessed as the combination of total sulphur amino acids rather than through their individual amino acids, methionine and cystine (Agricultural Research Council, 1981). Today, this concept is challenged. The effect of the changing cystine demand in the weaner pig on the total ileal digestible sulphur amino acid (IDSAA) requirements and hence methionine levels requires study. The objective of this experiment was to understand the requirements and relationship between true ileal digestible cystine and methionine to lysine ratio in the ideal protein content of food to achieve efficient production in the young pig.
Phosphorus equivalence of aspergillus niger phytase for growing pigs
Authors: Khan Naheeda , Cole D.J.A.
Published: November 2021

Inconsistencies in the estimated phosphorus requirements of growing pigs have come to light in recent years due to environmental constraints being imposed on the livestock production sector. Values of a net requirement estimated by the ARC (1981) extend from 4.6 g/day for 25kg liveweight to 5.2 g/day for 45kg pigs, but current literature suggesting that the actual requirement may be lower (eg Jongbloed and Everts, 1991) calls for a revision of previous recommendations.

Around two thirds of the total phosphorus in cereals exists in the form of insoluble phytates which must be degraded before the phosphorus can be absorbed in the intestine. Under experimental conditions, the use of phytase in pig diets has demonstrated consistent improvements in phosphorus digestibility. The enzyme hydrolyses phytate by stepwise removal of orthophosphates, which become available for absorption in the gut. Although quantification of phytase/phosphorus substitution is as yet undetermined, digestibility results so far indicate that if used correctly the enzyme could largely replace inorganic phosphates, particularly in regions where soil phosphate levels are of concern.
Variation in progeny performance of prolific ewes of extreme phenotype
Authors: Ap Dewi I. , Owen J.B. , Axford R.F.E. , Hanrahan J.P.
Published: November 2021

The presence of a major gene influencing prolificacy has been proposed for the Cambridge breed. Cambridge ewes of extreme phenotype were identified by ovulation rate (OR) and litter size (LS) recorded in a single flock from 1976-1994. Means (sd) for all observations for OR (n=2062) and LS (n=2480) were 3.0 (1.69) and 2.5 (1.02). Extreme ewes were identified by three criteria: (a) High prolificacy had at least one OR observation ≥6; (b) Low prolificacy had records in at least three years with no OR or LS record >3; (c) Ewes had progeny with records in at least three years. On the basis of these criteria 27 High and 67 Low ewes were identified with 1.6 and 1.5 progeny per ewe, 2.1 and 2.5 OR records per progeny, and 3.7 and 1.7 LS records per progeny. The OR and LS results for ewes and their progeny are shown in Table 1. The maximum observed OR of High ewes ranged from 6-13 and both the OR and LS of Low ewes had a mean of 2.2 and ranged from 1-3. Means (se) of the progeny of the High and Low groups (determined in a model that included dam group, progeny within group, year and progeny age) were 3.9 (0.19) and 3.0 (0.13) for OR (P=0.003), and 2.6 (0.12) and 2.4 (0.11) for LS (P=0.055).
Effects of high levels of vitamin e supplementation in heat stressed laying hens
Authors: Bollengier Sandy , Uzu G. , Williams P.E.V. , Whitehead C.C.
Published: November 2021

It was investigated in a small-scale study using a climate-controlled room at IAPGR, Roslin, that the effects of feeding a high level of supplemental vitamin E (500 mg/kg) on egg production and plasma concentrations of egg-associated metabolites in laying hens subjected to a short exposure (7 days) to a moderate heat stress (temperature of 32Â°C). The study showed, on small group sizes (12 birds / group), that in control birds (fed 30 mg supplemental vitamin E/kg), this degree of heat stress depressed egg production by about 30%. In the birds receiving the high level of vitamin E, egg production was maintained at levels very close to those prior to the heat stress. The objective of this experiment was to confirm in a larger scale the effects of high levels of dietary vitamin E on egg production of hens exposed to a chronic heat stress and during a period of recovery at thermoneutral temperatures.
The effect of castration and ewe proximity on the behaviour, performance and meat quality of housed male lambs
Authors: Anderson J. M. L. , Webster G. M.
Published: November 2021

This trial sought to increase the knowledge of the changes in the endocrine status of male sheep as they mature and to link this with their sexual and agonistic behaviour when reared in the presence or absence of females; the influence of female lambs could significantly alter the behaviour, growth, performance, carcass composition and meat quality of entire and castrated male lambs. Therefore, this project could lead to improvements in the efficiency of sheep production by providing the background physiology necessary to understand sexual behaviour. This may lead to improved practices for the management of growing sheep, which may reduce the necessity to routinely castrate all male lambs.
Anthelmintic unresponsive diarrhoea in ewes and hoggs
Authors: Suttle N F , McLean K
Published: November 2021

Lambs from a Finnish Landrace flock at Moredun Research Institute are frequently affected by a diarrhoea which does not respond to anthelmintic. Three different drugs have been used (levamisole, albendazole and ivermectin) and there is no history of drug resistance at the site. By the normal rules of differential diagnosis, nematodiasis would be ruled out as a cause of the diarrhoea. However, seasonal, year-to-year and apparent breed differences in incidence led to the suggestion that outbreaks in autumn were caused by hypersensitive immune responses to the continuous ingestion of infective nematode larvae (Suttle, 1994). To maintain the nematode connection and distinguish the condition from those associated with anthelmintic resistance, it was described as an anthelmintic unresponsive diarrhoea (AUD). If the proposed aetiology is correct, one would expect hoggs to be affected in their second year of exposure to nematodes while lactating ewes with relaxed immunity might be less vulnerable. Furthermore, administration of anthelmintic in a slow release bolus might control AUD where monthly drenching failed.
Effect of dietary energy concentrations during the peri-ovulatory period on the in vivo and in vitro development of fertilized sheep ova
Authors: Al-Khozam N.M. , Robinson J.J. , McEvoy T.G. , Aitken R.P. , Findlay P.A. , Robertson I.S.
Published: November 2021

Results from a series of recent experiments involving superovulated ewes demonstrate the important influence of nutritionally-induced alterations in preovulatory progesterone concentrations on the subsequent in vivo and in vitro development of their fertilized ova (McEvoy et al, 1993 and 1995; Creed et al, 1994). In essence, these show that high-plane feeding can suppress preovulatory progesterone concentrations to such an extent that the subsequent development of the ova is impaired both in vivo and during in vitro culture. An important practical question however remains unanswered in that no attempt has been made to study the effects of dietary energy concentrations, as opposed to plane-of-nutrition, on progesterone concentrations and ovum development. As a result, recommendations regarding which energy sources should be used as supplements to pasture around mating time are a matter of conjecture. Furthermore, in arid environments, roughage feeds are often in short supply and therefore command a much higher price per unit of energy than concentrate diets. Under these conditions it is not unusual to feed all-concentrate diets at mating, yet there are no published data for their effects on ovum development and embryo survival.
The performance of pregnant ewes and their progeny when fed grass, maize or super pressed pulp silages in late pregnancy
Authors: Maher P.F. , O'Doherty J.V. , Quinn P.J. , Crosby T.F.
Published: November 2021

While the benefits of using maize silage and ensiled super pressed pulp in the diets of lactating cows has been well researched, little work has been done on the inclusion of these feeds in the diets of pregnant ewes. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of the nutritive value of grass silage, maize silage and a maize silage/ensiled super pressed pulp (60:40) mixture, when offered to mature twin bearing ewes in late pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance.
Modelling responses to selection for resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in sheep
Authors: Bishop S.C. , Campbell A.D.
Published: November 2021

Gastrointestinal parasitism presents a major constraint on livestock production, resulting in reduced animal performance and welfare. Resistance to gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep, as measured by faecal egg count, is heritable suggesting that selection for increased resistance may be used as a longterm control measure, in addition to existing management strategies. Predicting likely responses to selection for resistance gastrointestinal parasites is a challenging problem, however, because (i) interactions between animals affect the expression of disease resistance traits, and this contravenes the assumptions normally made when predicting responses to selection and (ii) disease severity within a population is rarely shows a Normal distribution, and in the case of gastrointestinal parasitism typically shows a negative binomial distribution. This paper outlines a model which may be used to describe likely responses to selection for resistance to gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep, and presents results obtained from this model.
The effect of nutrition on fibre characteristics and production in the alpaca
Authors: Russel A.J.F. , Redden H. , Kay J.W.
Published: November 2021

In single-coated animal species selected for fibre production, such as sheep and Angora goats, nutrition is known to have a positive effect on fibre length and diameter, and hence on the weight of fibre produced, while in double-coated species, such as the cashmere goat, the fibre characteristics of the undercoat appear relatively insensitive to nutritional influence. Recent studies on the relationship between nutrition and fibre production in the llama, a double-coated species, indicate that it conforms to the above generalisation in that the growth rate and diameter of its fibre are not amenable to nutritional manipulation (Russel and Redden, 1994). There is a lack of information on the effects of nutrition on fibre characteristics and production in the other domesticated species of South American camelid, the single-coated alpaca. The experiment reported here was designed to provide such information.
Fattening performance of dromedary camels fed a finishing diet containing molassed dates supplemented with 0. 0.5 or 1.0% urea
Authors: Aboul-Ela M.B. , Al-Hadrami G. , McClelland D.J. , Nigm A.A. , El-Dehnah A. , Hovell F.D.DeB.
Published: November 2021

The camel is important in many of the arid zones of the world where its ability to continue to produce and reproduce offers considerable potential. It is able to forage at greater distances from water sources than cattle, goats or sheep; increasing the area which can be grazed and browsed, and thus easing grazing pressure on vegetation close to water sources. These factors commend it as a primary source of transport, power, meat, milk and hides in arid areas. Both the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius), and the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) have long been utilised by the peoples of areas where these camels are indigenous, and there has increasingly been a more general awareness of the potential of the species. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is among countries where camels have considerable cultural importance. Recently attention has focused on the potential of the camel to supply meat, and Wardeh (1992) estimated world annual camel meat production to be 538,000 tons. The number of camels in the UAE increased from 57,000 in 1979 to 100,000 in 1989, and Wilson (1984) reported that camels account for 58% of the domestic herbivore biomass. However little is known about the constraints to camel production (Schwartz et al 1983). A factor limiting production is the availability of feeds. Currently heavily subsidised feed concentrates are imported, and investigations have focused on the better use of local resources. The UAE is one of the largest producers of dates with over 19 million palms. By-products have not been well utilized, but feeding trials with pits (Al-Yousef et al, 1987); and fruits (El-Gasim et al, (1987) and Kohnke and Cluer (1992) have been reported. Dates are low in nitrogen, and no reports on the use of urea in camel diets could be found.
The use of dairy cow faeces rather than rumen liquor in the gas pressure transducer technique for assessing digestion kinetics in vitro
Authors: Harris D M , Barlet A , Chamberlain A T
Published: November 2021

The pressure transducer technique has been proposed as a method of evaluating feed degradation characteristics (Theodorou, 1993) and it has been shown to predict the in vivo and in sacco degradability of forages (Blummel and Orskov, 1993). However the original technique requires rumen liquor and hence access to surgically prepared animals. Faecal material is generally easier to obtain and this work assessed it's suitability as an alternative source of microbes.

Rumen liquor (R) and faeces (F) were collected simultaneously from a rumenally fistulated lactating dairy cow. R was mixed 1:1 with modified van Soest medium and F 1:2 to obtain similar dry matter contents. Homogenised strained 20 ml aliquats were inoculated into vented 250 ml bottles containing 180 ml of modified van Soest medium and 1.5g DM of a 7:3 mixture of milled air dried grass silage and 180 g CP / kg DM concentrates. The 7:3 ratio of silage and concentrates was chosen to reflect the diet the donor cow was consuming.
Contribution of dietary purine bases to duodenal digesta: effect of forage/concentrate ratio
Authors: PÃ©rez J.F. , Balcells J. , Guada J.A. , Surra J.C.
Published: November 2021

The use of either purine bases (PB) in duodenal digesta or the urinary excretion of purine derivatives as an index of the ruminal microbial supply is based on the assumption that only a negligible amount of dietary nucleic acids (NA) reaches the duodenum. Such assumption is based on a rapid degradation of free NA incubated with rumen content and a constant RNA/DNA ratio in rumen digesta similar to values obtained in mixed rumen bacterial samples, indepent of feed ratio (McAllan & Smith, 1973). However it is generally accepted mat NA tend to overestimate rumen microbial synthesis due to dietary contamination of the microbial marker in the duodenum (Smith et al. 1978). This experiment aimed to determine the duodenal contribution of non-microbial NA by using 15N incorporation in PB, and the degradation rate of dietary PB by the “in situ” method.
Genetic parameters for somatic cell count for three dairy breeds in the united kingdom (uk)
Authors: Mrode R A , Swanson G J T , Winters M S
Published: November 2021

Mastitis constitutes a major source of economic loss in the national dairy herd. Although good management practices can produce a major reduction in mastitis, there is considerable interest in the reduction of mastitis through breeding. Somatic cell counts (SCC) have been used as a way of indirectly measuring sub-clinical mastitis within a herd. Since 1991, average cell count is obtained for all herds and this is used to adjust milk payments.

Milk recording organisations introduced a cow cell count service in 1990. The data are now available for the preliminary analysis of the usefulness of somatic cell counts. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for SCC for three major breeds in the UK.
Genetic progress in the lleyn group breeding scheme using a multitrait selection index
Authors: Pollott G.E. , Guy D.R. , Croston D.
Published: November 2021

Group breeding schemes were introduced into Britain in the 1970s as a means of increasing the rate of genetic improvement in sheep and providing a vehicle for breeders to cooperate and pool resources. The Lleyn Group Breeding Scheme was set up in 1978 with the aim of improving several maternal traits in a breed known for its prolificacy. Although the breed originates from North Wales members of the group were drawn from different parts of Britain. Flocks in the scheme were all recorded by MLC and sheep had the possibility of being selected using MLC's selection index, appropriately weighted for the traits of interest to group members.

This analysis was designed to investigate the genetic progress made in the scheme between 1979 and 1993. Three traits were analysed; adjusted early lamb weight (LW) (at eight weeks of age), mature weight (MW) (at 18-months) and litter size (LS) in the form Number of lambs born per ewe lambing (NLBEL). These three traits were investigated in ten flocks which participated in the scheme, at varying levels, during the 14-year period 1979-1993. However, only genetic progress in the nucleus flock is reported in this paper.
Inheritance and correlation of locomotion and linear type traits in hf cattle
Authors: Boelling D. , Pollott G.E.
Published: November 2021

As it is essential for breeding societies to have their registered livestock classified objectively, linear trait assessment of Holstein Friesian cows was introduced in Great Britain in 1982. Currently, 15 traits describing the body, legs and feet, the udder, and teats are scored visually according to an underlying linear scale. For example the two legs and feet traits Rear Leg Side View (RLSV) and Foot Angle are scored from “straight” to “sickled” and from “low” to “steep”, respectively. In 1993, the Holstein Friesian Society of Great Britain and Ireland (HFS) decided to add a new trait “Locomotion” on an experimental basis to the list as an indicator of lameness, as it is felt that the existing data do not provide enough information for this specific area. Locomotion is scored according to Manson and Leaver's Locomotion Scoring System.
Dietary preference of heifers for grass or clover, with and without romensin slow-release anti-bloat boluses
Authors: Penning P.D. , Parsons A.J. , Orr R.J. , Harvey A. , Yarrow N.H.
Published: November 2021

To develop sustainable grazing systems based on mixtures of plant species and animal species, it is important to understand how much, and from which plant species animals eat. A prerequisite in the development of this understanding is a knowledge of dietary preference. Sheep have been shown to have a preference for about 70% clover in their diet (Parsons et al., 1994), but similar information is not available for cattle. It has been observed that grass/clover swards grazed by cattle often contain more clover than those grazed by sheep. This has been interpreted to imply that cattle have a lower preference for clover than do sheep. However, cattle are alleged to graze less selectively than sheep (Phillips, 1993) because of their mouth size and structure and so, the greater proportion of clover observed in swards grazed by cattle, may not reflect dietary preference but their relative inability to select. The preference for clover by cattle was tested by offering a choice of grazing from adjacent monocultures of grass and clover. It was anticipated that diets containing high proportions of clover might predispose cattle to bloat, and so half the animals received an anti-bloat prophylactic, to test whether this prevented bloat and modified preference.
Effect of level of concentrate feeding on udder volume and secretory efficiency in holstein-friesian heifers
Authors: Dewhurst R.J. , Evans R.T. , Theobald V.J. , Sharpe S. , McAllan A.B.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this work is to develop non-destructive techniques for assessing the mammary secretory mass of dairy cows. The nutritional responses of dairy cows depend on characteristics of both the feed and the cow and the latter has received insufficient attention. Experimental animals have generally been described in terms of their liveweight and condition score which gives only a rough indication of the masses of fat and protein. These studies are developing a description of dairy cows which has 3 major components whereby nutritional effects can carry forward within (a) body fat, (b) body protein or (c) mammary secretory mass. Milk yields are closely related to mammary secretory mass across a wide range of species although there is sufficient variation in mammary secretory efficiency (milk yield per unit mammary secretory mass) within a species to encourage selection for increased efficiency. Studies of this kind have been limited by the lack of a non-destructive technique for assessing udder volume; serial slaughter studies of mammary mass are particularly affected by large between-animal variation (e.g. Gibb et al, 1992). Recently, a technique utilising polyurethane foam to prepare casts from oxytocin-milked udders has been developed (Knight and Dewhurst, 1994; Dewhurst et al, 1993) and can be used for repeated measurements within-cow. The technique has been used to investigate changes in mammary secretory mass and efficiency in first-lactation Holstein-Friesians.
Evaluation of maize silage in the diet of finishing steers
Authors: McCabe N. H. , O' Mara F. P. , Caffery P. J.
Published: November 2021

Interest in the production of maize silage in Ireland has increased in the last few years. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the performance of steers when fed maize or grass silage based diets ad libitum and supplemented with varying levels of concentrates.

Sixty continental cross steers were blocked on the basis of live weight (av. initial weight = 617 kg) and breed (Charolais, Limousin and Simmental) and were allocated to one of the following six dietary treatments with 10 animals per treatment: A) maize silage-1 (sown under polythene) plus 2 kg concentrates (22% CP); B) 50:50 mixture of maize silage-2 (grown without the use of polythene):grass silage plus 4 kg concentrates (16% CP); C) maize silage-2 plus 4 kg concentrates (16% CP); D) maize silage-3 (as for silage-2 but with additive applied to control aerobic deterioration) plus 4 kg concentrates (16% CP); E) grass silage plus 4 kg concentrates (16% CP); F) grass silage plus 6 kg concentrates (14% CP). The steers were fed for 105 days during which live weight gains and group intakes were measured. After slaughter carcass gains were calculated (using an initial kill-out of 53%), kidney knob and channel fat weights were measured and carcass conformation and fat scores were taken.
A comparison of supplements to grass silage for beef cattle
Authors: Steen R W J
Published: November 2021

Silage forms the basal diet during the winter months for the vast majority of beef cattle in the British Isles. There is currently a wide range of feedstuffs available as supplements to grass silage for beef cattle, many of these being by-products of the production of food for human consumption. The relative value of alternative feedstuffs as supplements to grass silage is dependent on the nature of the associative effects between each of the feedstuffs and the silage portion of the ration. Two experiments have been carried out to evaluate a range of by-product feedstuffs including maize gluten feed, citrus pulp, dark maize distillers grains and maize germ meal as supplements to grass silage and to compare their feeding values with those of barley and soyabean meal. As feeds such as maize gluten feed and citrus pulp have low tabulated metabolisable energy contents, the effects of adding protected fat to a low energy by-product feed to increase the energy content of the supplement was also examined.
The effect of changing the carbohydrate composition of the concentrate component of the diet of grass silage fed cows on milk yield and composition
Authors: Smoler E , Beever D E , Lomax M A , Humphries D J , Perrott G , Waters J
Published: November 2021

With the current production targets and pricing structures prevailing within the UK dairy industry, the incentives for the dairy farmer are to maximise milk protein content whilst controlling the yield of milk and milk fat widiin individual farm quotas. Manipulation of milk fat content by nutritional means is relatively easy, but increasing die protein content of milk by similar means is more difficult and certainly less predictable. Increasing the crude protein content of the diet will invariably stimulate the synthesis of milk protein, but tiiese changes are often associated with a parallel increase in milk volume, such mat milk protein content shows little change. In contrast, several studies have shown mat changing the nature and amount of carbohydrate in the diet can substantially improve milk protein content; Krohn et al., (1985), Roberts & Martindale, (1990), Yan & Roberts (1992, 1993) and Phipps et al (1993). At the same time, the increased use of caustic treated wheat (soda grain) on U.K dairy farms has in part been associated with consistent improvements which have been observed in milk protein content. The primary aim of this study was to consider the effect of replacing part or all of the concentrate portion of grass silage fed cows with alternative carbohydrate rich feeds on me yield of milk and milk constituents. The second objective was to compare the use of soda grain with a 50:50 mixture of rolled wheat and sugarbeet feed on dairy cow performance.
Effect of space allowance during transport on the behavioural and physiological responses of sheep
Authors: Cockram M.S. , Kent J.E. , Waran N.K. , Jackson R.E. , Muwanga G.M. , Prytherch S. , Goddard P.J.
Published: November 2021

When farm animals are transported over long distances there is concern about their welfare. This has resulted in consumer pressure and additional legislation to control the transport of animals. However, information on the behavioural and physiological responses of sheep to transport is required to assess which aspects of transport can cause welfare problems. An optimal space allowance for long distance transport of sheep should ideally provide stability; allow normal posture (during standing and lying), and postural adjustments, without causing an increased risk of injury and psychological ‘stress’. Direct behavioural observations of potentially traumatic events related to vehicle movement and behavioural interactions (riding and trampling) were recorded during transport. Postures, orientation, rumination and eating were recorded to determine whether there was sufficient space to lie down during transport and to assess the relative priorities for resting and eating post-transport. Measurements of ‘stress’ (heart rate and plasma concentrations of Cortisol); injury (plasma activities of creatinine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase, and acceleration sensors), and dehydration (packed cell volume, plasma osmolality, plasma concentrations of total protein, vasopressin and sodium, water intake and live-weight change) were also made.
Urinary mercapturic acids as markers for the estimation of isothiocyanate release in the digestive tract of rats following oral adminstration of glucosinolates
Authors: Duncan A.J. , Acamovic T. , Onaga I.I.
Published: November 2021

Glucosinolates are a group of plant thioglucosides, found in a range of plant genera, notably the Brassicae. Glucosinolates assume agricultural importance because of their presence in rapeseed meal and forage brassica crops whose nutritional value they may limit. Glucosinolates are hydrolysed under the action of plant or microbial myrosinase to release a range of toxic metabolites (see Duncan, 1991). For example, sinigrin, a commonly found glucosinolate, breaks down to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and allyl cyanide as well as a number of lesser components. The course of hydrolysis is influenced by characteristics of the hydrolysis environment such as pH and the presence of metallic ions and enzymic co-factors. Because of the varied nature of the effects of different glucosinolate metabolites, the course of hydrolysis is a key influence on the ultimate toxicity of glucosinolates. Little is known, however, of the identity of metabolites arising in the digestive tract of livestock under different dietary circumstances. This is due, in part, to the technical difficulties associated with measuring concentrations of the compounds in the digestive tract. An alternative approach to the study of glucosinolate hydrolysis in vivo is to measure concentrations of ultimate excretory products and relate this to events earlier in the catabolic pathway. For example, isothiocyanates are excreted as their mercapturic acid derivatives in rats and thus provide potentially useful markers for estimating rates of release of isothiocyanates from sinigrin in vivo (Mennicke et al. 1983). In the experiment reported here, this approach was validated in rats and used to measure rates of release of AITC from sinigrin in animals consuming diets with or without added myrosinase.
Association between birth order, blood pc02 and β-endorphin concentration in newborn piglets
Authors: Chiang F. L. , Rodway R. G.
Published: November 2021

Parturition and delivery are stressful situations for the mother as well as the neonate. In newborn human babies and lambs, high plasma β-endorphin (β-EP) concentrations have been found, especially in conjunction with foetal distress. Foetal anoxia during parturition causes decreased blood pH, increased pC02, decreased piglet viability and stillbirth. Since high opioid levels can cause respiratory and circulatory difficulties. Piglets born later in the litter during prolonged parturition are more likely to suffer from these problems. It was, therefore, of interest to us to investigate whether late birth order and anoxia were associated with elevated plasma β-EP concentrations in newborn piglets.
Human-animal interactions in early life in female pigs and the effects on subsequent behaviour, physiology and reproductive performance
Authors: Varley M A , Stedman R C
Published: November 2021

Fear inducing stimuli are common in modern intensive husbandry systems. It is probable that a principal source of fear is the humans who work with the animals and who, by necessity, have close contact with the animals when carrying out routine husbandry practices.

Signals generated by the stockman, either intentionally or unintentionally, may be perceived by the pig as threatening. There is growing evidence that the complex behavioural relationships between stockmen and their charges can profoundly influence productivity. Seabrook, (1985) found that the personality of the stockman influenced the behaviour and performance of dairy cows. Similarly, Hemsworth et al., (1981) found that on those farms where sows displayed increased avoidance behaviour to the experimenter, the number of piglets born per sow was depressed. In a subsequent study it was found that those pigs which were highly fearful of humans as a result of being aversively handled, exhibited impaired reproductive performance and elevated basal Cortisol levels.
Increased µ-opioid receptors in sheep brain after transport
Authors: Azaga E.A. , Rodway R.G.
Published: November 2021

The long distance transport of sheep before slaughter is at present a very important topic in animal welfare. However, Modulation of opioid receptors can be influenced by chronic treatment with opioid agonists and antagonists (Blanchard, and Chang, 1988). Similarly, opioid receptors can be up or down-regulated by stressful stimuli such as restraint, electric footshock or social isolation and housing (Zeman et al., 1988 and Zanella et al., 1991). The present study was carried out to assess the effects of transport stress on the properties of one class of opioid peptide receptor in the brain of sheep after transport stress. Opioid peptides such as β-endorphin are released by the central nervous system during application of stresses such as transport. They are believed to exert analgesic properties and their effectiveness depends partly on the concentration (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of their receptors. µ-Opioid receptors are found in various brain regions and are selective for endorphins and similar peptides.
The effect of fibrous diet on abnormal oral behaviour in stall housed lambs
Authors: Cooper Jonathan , McCullam Jennifer , Shanks Maureen
Published: November 2021

Experimental sheep in nutrition trials are commonly housed individually in slatted, unbedded pens and receive a concentrated, pelleted ration. Under these conditions a number of abnormal oral activities are performed including bar-biting, slat-chewing and wool-eating (Marsden and Wood-Gush 1986, Cooper et al 1994). These have been described as a functionless, stereotypic response to a restrictive or frustrating environment. They may, however, be the redirection of feeding motivation to apparently inappropriate substrates, when presented with a diet which does not satisfy all the sheep's nutritional needs. In this experiment the effect of a fibrous diet, which provides a substrate for chewing and/or rumination, on the performance of abnormal oral activities was examined, since pellated rations are usually low in effective fibre.
Effects of dry period diet on feed intake, body composition and subsequent lactational performance of dairy cows
Authors: Dewhurst R.J. , Davies D.W.R. , Fisher W.J. , Aston K.
Published: November 2021

Previous studies (Moorby et al, 1994) have shown that supplementing grass silage with undegradable protein (UDP) during the dry period can lead to increased yields of milk protein and lactose. These studies have often involved restriction of forage intake through limitation of access time and the feeding of straw. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of UDP supplementation with ad libitum access to grass silage as well as the effects of restricting forage intakes by including straw in the diets of dry cows.
The effects of foods of different water-holding-capacity on the level of feeding motivation in growing pigs.
Authors: Day J. E. L. , Kyriazakis I. , Lawrence A. B.
Published: November 2021

Pigs exhibit a range of abnormal behaviours (e.g. stereotypies or tail-biting) which may, at least in part, be linked to feeding regimes which produce high levels of feeding motivation. Therefore, a welfare dilemma exists because the quantitative food restriction of sows and boars remains an essential husbandry practice to reduce excessive weight-gain and maintain breeding efficiency. However, it has recently been proposed that underlying levels of feeding motivation may be reduced through the ingestion of foods of high bulk (e.g. Brouns et al .,1994). These foods may serve to reduce feeding motivation through gastro-intestinal distension rather than by increased nutrient supply. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate whether iso-energetic foods with different bulk characteristics (water-holding-capacity - WHC) affect the level of feeding motivation, and if so, the duration of their effect.
Environmental effects of low intensity systems of animal production on the hills and uplands
Authors: Milne J.A.
Published: November 2021

Low intensity systems of animal production on the hills and uplands of the UK involve mainly the production of meat and animal fibre from ruminant species. Beef cattle and sheep are the predominant species but diversification opportunities exist with species such as goats, red deer and pigs. The future role of diversification depends upon the extent to which EU and UK government support is restricted to beef cattle and sheep. An increasing proportion of beef cattle and sheep systems are found within Environmentally Sensitive Areas or are associated with environmental management schemes such that they require to have a multi-objective function, not only producing animal products but also providing environmental and social benefits. The extent to which environmental benefits can be provided by systems of animal production in die uplands of the UK is the subject of this paper.
Investigation of the relationship between farrowing environment, sex steroid concentrations and maternal aggression in gilts
Authors: McLean K.A. , Lawrence A.B. , Petherick J.C. , Deans L. , Chirnside J. , Vaughan A. , Nielsen B.L. , Webb R.
Published: November 2021

Maternal oestrogen and progesterone have been shown to be important in the initiation of maternal behaviour (e.g. Shipka and Ford, 1991). It has also been suggested by Csermely and Nicosia (1991) that there is an association between social rank and the performance of maternal behaviour. This study investigated the relationships between social behaviour during pregnancy, levels of sex steroids around parturition and the level of maternal care shown by gilts. Sows and gilts are generally housed in farrowing crates during parturition and lactation. This study also ascertained whether or not the farrowing environment affected sex steroid concentrations.
Digestibility of diets of grass silage and whole crop wheat in the rumen of lactating cows
Authors: Abdalla A.L. , Sutton J.D. , Humphries D.J. , Phipps R.H.
Published: November 2021

Forage mixtures containing urea-treated whole crop wheat (WCW) have been shown to be used less efficiently than expected by dairy cows due to low digestibility, particularly of the starch. The purpose of the present experiment was to measure the contribution of the rumen to the digestibility of diets based on grass silage or mixtures of grass silage and urea-treated WCW.