bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The contribution of fat mobilization to the regulation of fat deposition in growing Large White and Piétrain pigs
Authors: Metz S. H. M. , Dekker R. A.
Published: September 2010

The contribution of fat mobilization to the regulation of fat deposition was investigated in intensively fed, rapidly growing pigs of the breeds Large White and Pietrain. The results indicate that no quantitative differences in fat mobilization parameters existed between the breeds. In both breeds the concentration of non-esterified fatty acids i n blood serum, measured 8h after a meal, was very low, and the fatty acid composition of the non-esterified fatty acids did not reflect the variation in fatty acid composition of the body fat that existed between groups of pigs within each breed. Additionally, the fraction of body fat that was mobilized per day was calculated to be zero for both breeds. It is concluded from these results that the observed differences in fat deposition between Large White (195g/day) and Pietrain (130g/day) were definitely not the consequence of fat mobilization.
The effect of copper glycine injections on the live-weight gains of suckling beef calves
Authors: Morgan D. E. , Clegg A. , Brooksbank N. H. , McCrea C. T.
Published: September 2010

(1) Two trials on the effect of copper glycine injections on the live-weight gains of suckling beef calves under commercial conditions are described.

(2) One injection supplying 120 mg. of copper increased live-weight gains by approximately 10% during the suckling and grazing period. A second injection given two months after the first gave a further positive but not statistically significant response.
Some optimum age structures and selection methods in open nucleus breeding schemes with overlapping generations
Authors: Hopkins I. R.
Published: September 2010

Designs of open nucleus breeding schemes, which comprise a nucleus having the best males and females and a base comprising the remainder, with some base-born individuals used in the nucleus and vice versa, are studied.

Steady-state genetic responses, optimum transfer rates between nucleus and base in both sexes, and genetic differences between nucleus and base are estimated for a range of age structures, selection either within or among age groups (selection methods), nucleus sizes, mating ratios, fertility rates and survival rates appropriate to sheep and cattle populations. With optimum transfer rates between layers maximum or near maximum genetic responses are obtained with nucleus sizes varying from 2 to 15% of the population. Optimum transfer rates are fairly stable for nucleus sizes larger than about 5% and where the same selection procedures are used in both layers. However, a small nucleus with more efficient age structures and selection procedures and more accurate selection than in the base is economically desirable, and then almost no base-born females should be selected as nucleus replacements and up to 70% of male replacements for the base should come from the base. Optimum age structures differed markedly between selection methods.

Although few ‘rules of thumb’ about optimum age structures and transfer rates are sufficiently robust to be widely recommended in commercial situations, the nucleus breeding system behaves according to a few basic principles that can be used to predict the direction if not the magnitude of effects of changes in structure.
A note on forage evaluation for buffalo by various techniques
Authors: Kishan J. , Singh U. B.
Published: September 2010

The relative efficiency of voluntary consumption, chemical composition, digestibility in vitro and in vivo, was tested for predicting the nutritive value of five forages: berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum); green oat (Avena sativa); oat hay; cow pea (Vigna spp.) and maize (Zea mays). The digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein, acid-detergent lignin and energy were significantly correlated with DM intake. Digestibilities in vitro of DM and cellulose after 12-h incubation were significantly related to digestibilities in vivo of DM and energy. The values for cellulose digestibility in vitro at 24 h were similar to those for digestibility of energy in vivo. Significant correlations were obtained between the crude protein content of forages and the voluntary DM intake and digestibility of nutrients. Increased cellulose and acid-detergent fibre contents were each related with decreased DM intake and digestibility of nutrients.
Studies in sow reproduction. 3. The effect of nutrition between weaning and remating on the reproductive performance of multiparous sows
Authors: Brooks P. H. , Cole D. J. A. , Rowlinson P. , Croxson V. J. , Luscombe J. R.
Published: September 2010

An experiment was conducted using 176 sows at three centres to investigate the effect of post-weaning feed level on reproductive performance. At two centres sows weaned 35 to 56 days after farrowing received 1·8, 2·3, 3·6 or 4·5 kg food/day from the day following weaning until the day following the last mating at the post-weaning oestrus.

At the third centre sows were rationed to 1·8, 2·3 or 3·6 kg food/day or given all they would consume in a single 1-hr feeding period each day. Reproductive performance of the sows was not significantly affected by post-weaning feed level.
A note on the straw intake of sheep given supplements of urea-molasses, soya bean meal, barley-urea or barley
Authors: Hadjipanayiotou M. , Louca A. , Lawlor M. J.
Published: September 2010

In the first of two trials, groups of 10 Chios lambs were fed on long or chopped straw for 13 weeks. They ate 0·61 and 0·65 kg per day, and lost a total of 7·6 and 8·5 kg body weight, respectively. Over the next 20 weeks, the supplementation of chopped straw with either 150 g of soya bean meal or a molasses-urea mixture given ad libitum increased straw intake. The decline in body weight was reversed and the lambs gained 0·04 kg/day on both treatments.

In Trial 2, the intakes of straw by non-lactating ewes were 0·78, 0·78 and 0·70 kg/day with supplements of molasses-urea, barley-urea and barley only, respectively. Ewes on the barley and the barley-urea supplements gained 5·3 and 4·6 kg respectively over the 16-week period whereas those given the molasses-urea supplement lost 2·6 kg.
A case-study of fattening pigs in Belgian contract farming. Mortality, efficiency of food utilization and carcass value of growing pigs, in relation to environmental engineering and control
Authors: Geers R. , Berckmans D. , Goedseels V. , Wijnhoven J. , Maes F.
Published: September 2010

Mortality, efficiency of food utilization and carcass value of growing pigs were investigated in relation to engineering and control of the house environment. Data originated from contract farms and were made available by the Belgian Farmers' Association. The following parameters were investigated by means of analysis of variance and covariance: food conversion ratio, mortality, emergency slaughter rate and carcass values. Data were classified according to characteristics of the heating, air inlet and air outlet systems of the pig houses.

Within the limitations of our project, the expected favourable effect of heating on mortality and efficiency of food utilization of growing pigs depended on the construction and the functioning of the air inlet and outlet systems. Pigs fattened in houses with mechanical ventilation had a higher proportion of carcasses in the higher carcass grades. Seasonal effects were observed with respect to mortality rate, emergency slaughter rate and efficiency of food utilization. Differences between food conversion ratio with respect to heating and no-heating were comparable with those between summer and winter conditions. Hence the seasonal influence was not completely buffered by the housing conditions.
A note on the preference of sheep for whole or crushed grains and seeds
Authors: Hutson G. D. , Wilson P. N.
Published: September 2010

An operant conditioning technique was used to determine whether the reinforcement value of grains and seeds preferred by sheep could be increased by crushing the food. Five sheep were trained to press a plate to receive a food reward. The rate of pressing on a progressive fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement was used as a measure of reinforcement value. Five foods were tested: barley, wheat, oats, lupins and peas. Crushing the foods had no effect on rate of pressing, whereas there was a great deal of variation between sheep and between foods. The preferred foods were wheat and barley.
A model of the energy system of lactating and pregnant cows
Authors: Bruce J. M. , Broadbent P. J. , Topps J. H.
Published: September 2010

1. A deterministic model and computer program of the energy system of lactating and pregnant cows have been developed.

2. Input data for cow, nutritional, management and environmental factors are required.

3. The output of milk production, live weight and heat production is a time series, with a weekly time-step.

4. Suckler and dairy cow examples are given to illustrate the use of the model to evaluate the effects of quality, quantity and pattern of food intake, and shelter.
Effects of trenbolone acetate and hexoestrol on live-weight gain, and serum hormone and metabolite concentrations, in steers
Authors: Peters A. R. , Evans D. G. , Read D. J. , Beeby Janet M. , Haresign W.
Published: September 2010

Yearling steers, 39 Friesians on an 18-month beef production system (group 1) and 38 Hereford × Friesians on a 20-month beef production system (group 2), were weighed, blood sampled and then half of them were implanted subcutaneously with 300 mg trenbolone acetate and 30 mg hexoestrol. All steers were then weighed and blood sampled at 1-month intervals for a further 3 (group 1) or 4 (group 2) months. Serum was assayed for prolactin, insulin, growth hormone, glucose and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Steroid treatment increased daily live-weight gain by 28 to 37% over the experimental period and the proportional response appeared to be correlated with the plane of nutrition. Neither prolactin nor glucose concentrations were affected by the treatment. However, in both groups 1 and 2, growth hormone concentrations were significantly higher in implanted steers, whilst urea-nitrogen concentrations were significantly lower. Insulin concentrations were consistently, although not significantly, lower in implanted than in control steers.
Effect of season of birth and sex on heart weight and body weight and their interrelationship in pigs reared in the tropics
Authors: Alaku O. , Steinbach J. , Avery P. J.
Published: September 2010

A total of 142 pigs, born at four different times of the year, were slaughtered between 1 and 9 months of age to study the effects of season of birth and sex on heart weight and body weight in the equatorial climate of southern Nigeria.

Analysis of loge heart or body weight showed that season of birth influenced heart and body growth (P < 0·001). The differences occurred largely during the phase of rapid growth, with smaller differences at weaning and at 9 months. Pigs born during the high-rainfall period (May to September) showed stunted body and heart growth during the subsequent dry and warmer seasons. Those born during the dry seasons (November to March), but which passed their rapid-growth phase through the rainy, cooler seasons, were attaining market weights and adult heart weights earlier in life. However, all pigs with early growth reductions recovered, at least partially, later in life. The males had larger hearts at later ages than the females although the differences were not significant (P > 0·05). Allometric regression analyses for heart and body weight showed no seasonal effects but there was a small but significant sex effect (P < 0·001). The males had a smaller intercept and a larger slope when log, heart weight was fitted to log, body weight.

Pigs reared in this equatorial climate appeared to have higher heart weights relative to body weights than those reared in temperate regions. The highest recorded proportional value of 0·0032 is outside the range of 0·0023 to 00028 recorded in temperate regions. This suggests a probable physiological adaptation to increased work load on the heart under warm tropical conditions.
Body composition of British and zebu × British cattle in northern Australia 1. Breed and growth rate effects on yield of carcass, dressed carcass composition and offal composition
Authors: Seebeck R. M.
Published: September 2010

Comparative slaughter was used to assess the body composition of Shorthorn-Hereford (SH), Africander cross (A×), Brahman cross (B×), and late castrated Brahman cross (B×(late)) steers of the F, generation with respect to their yield of carcass, gross carcass composition and offal composition. Animals were slaughtered at pre-determined weights of 315, 355, 399, 449 and 505 kg.

The B× animals had the highest carcass yield (expressed either as dressed carcass weight at the same fasted body weight or at the same empty body weight), while the A×, B×(late) and SH animals had similar carcass yield. Within a breed, rate of growth affected carcass yield, with faster growing animals having the lower carcass yield, particularly with respect to fasted body weight.

The breeds were different in carcass composition but this was dependent on both size and growth rate. Brahman cross animals had a lower proportion of bone than A× and SH animals, particularly at the higher body weights. Faster growing animals tended to contain more muscle and bone and less fat, with the exception of the SH animals.

The breeds were also significantly different in the composition of the offal components. A× were notable for high head weights and low tail weights, B× having high blood weights and low total gut tissue weights, and Bx(late) having high hide weights and low abdominal fat weights.

Rate of growth had some effect on offal composition, the general trend being that the faster growing animals were characterized by a lower proportion of heart, blood and pancreas. However there was also evidence that the rate of growth differentially affected the offal composition with respect to breeds. This effect mainly arose because the faster growing B×(late) animals had lower weights of abdominal fat. Within the other breeds, the opposite trend was observed.
Comparison of crossbred ewes from five crossing sire breeds
Authors: Mann T. J. L. , Smith C. , King J. W. B. , Nicholson D. , Sales D. I.
Published: September 2010

A contemporary comparison of crossbred ewes from five crossing sire breeds was made on a research farm from 1976 to 1981. The breeds involved were the traditional Border Leicester, three imported breeds — the East Friesian, the Oldenburg and the Texel, and a new prolific composite breed — the Cambridge. Rams from these breeds were group mated (2 to 3 rams per breed per year) to Scottish Blackface ewes on an upland farm in Scotland. Crossbred ewes derived from these matings were compared over three lamb crops on a lowland farm in England. The ewes were run together with the same husbandry conditions for all types. Results were available on some 120 to 150 ewes (300 to 450 lambings) per crossbred type. The Oldenburg and Texel crossbred ewes were appreciably poorer in most aspects of lowland lamb production. The Cambridge crosses were prolific but had high lamb mortality and lower litter weights at weaning than the traditional Border Leicester crosses. The East Friesian crosses were appreciably superior in several production traits. These results were combined with those from three other trials, involving crosses from the Bluefaced Leicester and Animal Breeding Research Organisation Damline to provide a ranking for UK crossing sire breeds.
Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity of Australian Dorset Horn rams and wethers. 2. Individual muscles and muscle groups
Authors: Butterfield R. M. , Reddacliff K. J. , Thompson J. M. , Zamora J. , Williams Jean
Published: September 2010

Maturity patterns have been established for 93 individual carcass muscles and nine standard muscle groups using dissection data from 20 Dorset Horn rams and 20 Dorset Horn wethers. A very high proportion, 81/93, of the individual muscles and all the muscle groups had maturity patterns which were not different for the rams and wethers.

Maturity patterns of some muscle groups varied from those previously demonstrated in Merino rams, in that the abdominal wall group was later maturing and the neck to forelimb and neck and thorax groups were earlier maturing in the Dorset Horns.

Comparison of the distribution of muscle weight of the Dorset Horn rams and wethers at the mean total muscle weight resulted in different conclusions to comparison at the mean proportion of maturity. It is concluded that comparisons of muscle weight distribution of entire and castrated male sheep, in which mature muscle weight varies, will be most meaningful if carried out at the same proportion of maturity, since comparisons at the same weight of total muscle will embrace components of difference due to stage of maturity.
The intensive rearing of lambs 1. Some factors affecting performance in the liquid feeding period
Authors: Davies D. A. R. , Owen J. B.
Published: September 2010

1. Investigations into possible ways of rearing artificially the lambs surplus to the ewe's capacity are described and the results discussed.

2. A ewe-milk replacer with a high fat content was used from 2 days of age until weaning at 11.4 kg live weight. Two levels of milk feeding, restricted and ad libitum, were given in the second year. Significant differences were observed in live weight gain per day, milk consumption per kg live weight gain and solid food intake prior to weaning. Live weight gain and solid food intake in the period immediately after weaning also differed markedly. Sex and birth weight had little effect on performance.

3. Food costs were lower on the restricted level of milk feeding than on the ad libitum level.
Influence of social behaviour on utilization of supplemental feedblocks by Scottish hill sheep
Authors: Lawrence A. B. , Wood-Gush D. G. M.
Published: September 2010

Observations were made of the behaviour of a home-range group of Scottish Blackface ewes. The group, including replacement ewe lambs, remained on the hill throughout winter and was offered supplemental feedblocks from December to April. Sheep were individually identified and data collected on ranging behaviour between 06.00 and 18.00 h GMT in autumn and winter. Additionally in winter, records were made of time spent eating from the feedblock or standing within 3 m of it.

Age was found to have a strong effect on time spent eating from the feedblock, with older ewes (4 years and over) eating more than younger animals. This was partly attributable to the ewe lambs forming peer groups in winter that were uninfluenced by the movements of mature ewes to the feedblock. Consequently, the majority (0·82) of ewe lambs did not eat feedblock in their first winter. Two- and 3-year-old ewes, although not eating significantly more often from the feedblock than ewe lambs, spent significantly more time standing within 3 m of it and were prevented from eating from it by the competitive behaviour of older ewes. The increased gregariousness of hill sheep in winter appears to be an important factor in preventing the younger ewes taking advantage of the continuous availability of feedblocks. The feedblocks were also found to reduce significantly the size of ewes' home ranges.

The results indicate that the social behaviour of hill sheep limits the use of feedblocks to the older and stronger animals in the group. In addition, feedblocks may reduce the utilization by sheep of available winter forage. Alternative strategies for more effective deployment of feedblocks are discussed.
A comparison of inbred and outbred sheep on two planes of nutrition 1. Growth, food intake and wool growth
Authors: Wiener G. , Woolliams Carol , Slee J.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-eight inbred (I, inbreeding coefficient 0-375 and 0-5) and 28 matching outbred (O) sheep, aged 26 weeks, were housed and allocated in equal number to two planes of nutrition, a high plane (H), involving ad libitum feeding on a pelleted diet, the other a low plane (L), restricted to an amount of the same diet which would maintain live weight. Food consumption, live weight, linear body dimensions and wool growth were recorded for 19 weeks, and for 4 weeks later in the experiment when L as well H animals received ad libitum feeding. Observations were also made for a final 9 weeks when the sheep were at grass.

The I sheep were substantially smaller in weight and body dimensions than the O sheep throughout the experiment. On ad libitum feeding, the I and O lambs grew in parallel and by the same amount per unit of food consumed. There was also no difference between I and O sheep in the amount of food per kg metabolic live weight (M0·73) required to maintain the live weight of the sheep on the restricted intake. The two types of sheep were therefore similar in efficiency.

During the 4-week period when L sheep were fed ad libitum they showed some compensatory growth relative to the H group, but I and O groups behaved similarly. At grass, a tendency for slightly faster growth continued for the O group formerly on a low plane, but there were no significant interactions between plane of nutrition (as originally allocated) and inbreeding.

Wool growth mirrored the results on body growth, with substantial effects of plane of nutrition, but wool growth per unit area of skin did not differ between I and O groups.
A comparison of inbred and outbred sheep on two planes of nutrition 2. Responses to acute cold and heat exposure
Authors: Slee J. , Wiener G. , Woolliams Carol
Published: September 2010

Four groups each of 14 sheep aged 11 to 13 months comprising outbred (O) and inbred (I, inbreeding coefficient 0·37 or 0·5) sheep reared on either a low plane (L, maintenance) or on a high plane (H, ad libitum) of nutrition from the age of 6 months were exposed first to acute cold and 1 week later to heat. Exposures in climate chambers ended for each sheep when rectal temperature decreased to 36°C (in the cold) or increased to 42·5°C (in the heat) subject to a limit of 8 h. Throughout the experiment, sheep were kept in matched quartets comprising one sheep of each type.

The average cold resistance times (min) were 161, 267, 348 and 381 for the LI, LO, HI and HO groups respectively, showing a significant effect of both inbreeding and plane of nutrition (P < 0·01). Five sheep in the HO group lasted the full 8 h in the cold chamber with little or no reduction in rectal temperature. Skin temperature at the mid side was significantly higher in L than in H sheep throughout cold exposure, but there was no effect of inbreeding.

Respiration rates were much higher before and during cold exposure in the H sheep, but there was no effect of inbreeding.

The residual correlation of cold resistance with live weight was 0·58, but differences in live weight do not explain all the differences in cold resistance and particularly do not explain the rapid decrease in rectal temperature of the LI sheep. It was concluded that under cold exposure a high level of nutrition was able to compensate partly for the disadvantages of inbreeding, and that outbreeding was able to compensate partly for the adverse effects of poor nutrition.

With heat exposure, there were no significant differences among the four groups in heat tolerance time, but within the 1st h, H sheep had slightly higher rectal temperatures and much higher respiration rates than L sheep. Inbreeding affected only the time taken to reach a respiration rate > 200 per min, which was longer in I (131 min) than in O sheep (113 min) and longer in L (149 min) than in H animals (96 min).
The effect of protein source on the performance of suckling Chios ewes and Damascus goats
Authors: Hadjipanayiotou M. , Georghiades E. , Koumas A.
Published: September 2010

Two trials, one with 36 twin-suckling Chios ewes and the other with 32 twin-suckling Damascus goats, were conducted to study the effect of protein source (fish meal v. soya-bean meal) on the pre-weaning milk yield of the dams, and the growth performance of their offspring. The control (C) concentrate mixture was similar in both trials, using soya-bean meal (SBM) (195 kg/t) as a source of supplemental protein. In the experimental diet (FME) of the ewe trial, SBM was replaced completely by fish meal (FM) whereas in the goat trial (FMG) 83 kg of SBM were replaced by 50 kg FM. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradation of the three isonitrogenous mixtures were measured using nylon bags incubated in the rumens (2, 6, 16, 24 and 32 h) of three Damascus goats. There were no significant differences between mixtures for DM and CP effective degradability at 005 per h outflow rate. At 0·08 per h outflow rate however, lower degradability values were obtained with the FME than with the C diet. There were differences in the effective CP degradability of SBM and FM used in the ewe trial, but the FM used in the goat trial was of higher CP degradability and similar to that of SBM. Ewes on FM produced more milk than those on the control diet (C 3·44 v. FME 3·84 kg/day), whereas milk yield of goats was similar in the two treatments (C 3·87 v. FMG 3·82 kg/day). There were no differences between treatments for ewe milk fat (C 44 v. FME 43 g/kg) or protein concentration (C 54 v. FME 53 g/kg). Goats on fish meal (FMG) produced milk of higher protein (C 37 v. FMG 40 g/kg), but of similar fat (C 42 v. FMG 43 g/kg) concentration to those on the SBM (C) diet. With the exception of the better conversion (milk: gain ratio) efficiency (C 5·17 v. FME 4·44) of male lambs sucking ewes on the FM diet, no other differences were observed in the performance of lambs or kids. Lambs consumed less milk than kids (lambs: males 4·69, females 5·13; kids: males 6·63, females 6·98) per unit of weight gain.
The effect of deviations from steady-state selection responses when generations overlap
Authors: Hopkins I. R. , James J. W.
Published: September 2010

In populations where generations overlap and initial genetic differences between age groups differ from steady-state values, genetic responses fluctuate in the early years of a selection programme. The degree of deviation of these selection responses from steady-state responses indicates the usefulness of estimates of economic returns calculated more simply using the steady-state value. Here these deviations and their effect on sums of discounted returns are first defined and the models derived then used in numerical analysis. Some problems of definition of these deviations are discussed.

The results showed that deviations from sums of discounted returns calculated using steady-state responses varied from about −1% when starting conditions were similar to steady-state conditions to more than 20% when initial genetic differences between age groups were taken as zero. Increases in discount rate increased the effect of the deviations from uniform response while the effect of changing age structure was unpredictable. As initial genetic differences between age groups increased, deviations were increasingly positive among selection methods which made better use of those differences.
Effect of formic acid and a formalin and sulphuric acid mixture on the intake and digestibility of grass silage
Authors: McIlmoyle W. A. , Murdoch J. C.
Published: September 2010

In two experiments of Latin square design the effect of additives on the ad libitum intake of direct-cut perennial ryegrass silage and its digestibility by steers was determined. The diets were offered to British Friesian castrated male cattle, mean initial live weights 386 and 368 kg for Experiments 1 and 2 respectively. In Experiment 1, untreated silage was compared with silage treated with either formic acid (‘Add-F’) or a formalin and sulphuric acid mixture (‘Sylade’) each applied at the rate of 4·5 1/tonne of fresh herbage. The silages were offered either with or without 5 kg of supplement per day. In Experiment 2, silages treated with 4·5 and 9·0 1/tonne of the formalin and sulphuric acid mixture were compared. Silage treated with 4·5 1/tonne was offered either with or without 5 kg supplement/day. In Experiment 1, the application of an additive had no significant effect on silage digestibility. Although differences were not significant, the intake of silage dry matter was higher from additive-treated silage (91·2 and 80·6 g/kg W0·73 for the formalin and sulphuric acid mixture and the formic acid respectively) than from untreated silage (78·0 g/kg W0·73). Supplementation significantly reduced (P<0·05) silage dry-matter intake and crude fibre digestibility and significantly increased (P<0·05) total dry matter and digestible energy intake. Digestible energy intake from the formalin and sulphuric acid treated silage was significantly higher (P<0·05) than that from untreated silage but differences between the additive-treated silages were not significant.

In Experiment 2, neither rate of application of the formalin and sulphuric acid mixture nor supplementation had any significant effect on intake.
Response of Welsh Mountain ewes to flushing and to housing for all or part of the winter
Authors: Alliston J. C. , Lucas I. A. M.
Published: September 2010

There was no evidence from three experiments with 60, 600 and 400 Welsh Mountain ewes producing mostly single lambs that housing, tested as an extreme form of shelter, was of benefit to reproductive performance. This was so when the ewes were kept indoors throughout the whole of the winter, or only at mating or during late pregnancy. Also, housing during early lactation did not lead to improved lamb growth rate.

Housing at lambing was associated in two experiments with reductions in perinatal lamb mortality from 5·1% to 3·1% and from 7·2% to 5·9%, though the differences were not significant.

Flushing had no significant effect on conception rate or reproductive performance, but the data were in accord with the view that when applied to ewes in moderately thin condition it leads to reduced barrenness and some increase in twinning.
The Parkers of Heytesbury: Archaeological Pioneers
Authors: Everill Paul
Published: September 2010

This paper uses original documentary evidence held in the archives of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in Devizes to reassess the work of William Cunnington, FSA, carried out on behalf of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, and the contribution of his two principal excavators, Stephen and John Parker, of Heytesbury, in Wiltshire. Previously the Parkers have been regarded as little more than regular labourers on Cunnington’s pioneering excavations; the evidence now suggests that they (and in particular John) were, in fact, key to the success of Cunnington’s work. By the time of Cunnington’s death in 1810, John Parker was identifying new sites on the Wiltshire Downs and, on occasion, taking sole responsibility for excavating and interpreting them. After 1810 Hoare sponsored few further excavations and, though John was employed on at least one occasion, in 1814, the Parkers dropped back into obscurity and poverty without the regular employment, and perhaps protection, provided by Cunnington. Although John’s obituary in 1867 described him as Cunnington’s ‘principal pioneer’, no research has previously been undertaken that specifically considers the contribution of the Parkers in those early British excavations. This paper seeks to redress that oversight.
The ‘Staffordshire Hoard’: the Fieldwork
Authors: Dean Stephen , Hooke Della , Jones Alex
Published: September 2010

The Staffordshire Hoard was found by a metal detectorist on arable land in the parish of Ogley Hay in south Staffordshire in July 2009, and was recovered by archaeologists from Staffordshire County Council and Birmingham Archaeology. More than 3,940 pieces were retrieved, mostly of gold or silver alloy and mostly representing what appear to be martial battle goods. The date of the material has yet to be ascertained but the artefacts appear to range from the late sixth to the early eighth centuries AD. The reasons for burial remain, as yet, largely unknown. The choice of location, on the north-western spur of a prominent ridge, could have been intended to facilitate its rediscovery, unless the locale held a symbolic significance within the wider landscape. The second stage of fieldwork, in March 2010, identified a number of undated field boundaries and undated palisade trenches perhaps associated with a small farmstead of pre- or post-Roman date, unlikely to be associated with the hoard.
Deer, Land, Knives and Halls: Social Change in Early Medieval England
Authors: Sykes Naomi
Published: September 2010

It is well known that Anglo-Saxon England witnessed dramatic changes in landscape organization, economy and social structure but this paper aims to demonstrate how a more nuanced appreciation of these transformations can be gained by weaving together different (and superficially incompatible) strands of information. Here zooarchaeological data relating to the distribution and consumption of venison are combined with evidence from studies of weapons, landscape, Old English texts and anthropology. It is argued that, between the fifth and eleventh centuries, Anglo-Saxon society moved from being a culture centred on redistribution, in which the concept of cutting up and sharing permeated every facet of life, to one of closure and privatization, as the elite attempted to distance themselves from the lower classes.
Nonlinear electromagnetic wave interactions in Hall–MHD plasmas
Authors: SHAIKH DASTGEER , SHUKŁA P. K.
Published: September 2010

We have developed a massively parallelized fully three-dimensional (3D) compressible Hall–magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code to investigate inertial range electromagnetic wave cascades and dissipative processes in the regime, where characteristic length scales associated with plasma fluctuations are smaller than ion gyroradii. Such regime is ubiquitously present in the solar wind and many other collisionless space plasmas. Particularly, in the solar wind, the high time resolution databases depict a spectral break near the end of the 5/3 spectrum that corresponds to a high-frequency regime where the electromagnetic turbulent cascades cannot be explained by the usual MHD models. This refers to a second inertial range, where turbulent cascades follow a k−7/3 (where k is a wavenumber) spectrum in which the characteristic electromagnetic fluctuations evolve typically on kinetic Alfvén time scales. In this paper, we describe results from our 3D compressible Hall–MHD simulations that explain the observed k−7/3 spectrum in the solar wind plasma, energy cascade, anisotropy, and other spectral features.
Is there reduced susceptibility to praziquantel in Schistosoma japonicum? Evidence from China
Authors: WANG WEI , DAI JIAN-RONG , LI HONG-JUN , SHEN XUE-HUI , LIANG YOU-SHENG
Published: September 2010

Praziquantel is widely used for the treatment of human schistosomiasis. However, in recent years, there has been increasing concern about the resistance of Schistosoma species to praziquantel. The study described here was designed to evaluate the current susceptibility to praziquantel in S. japonicum in China. During the non-transmission period of schistosomiasis, a random sample of 4760 subjects from the main endemic foci of China were examined using parasitological stool examination. In total, 584 subjects were identified as being infected with S. japonicum, with a prevalence rate of 12 27%. Among them, 565 stool-egg-positive subjects were treated with praziquantel in a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg. Six weeks post-treatment, among the 505 villagers re-examined, 480 (95 05%) had no detectable S. japonicum eggs. Twenty-one subjects still excreting eggs after the first treatment were treated with praziquantel for the second time. All stool samples, including those from those participants with second treatment were re-examined 6 weeks after the second treatment, and no stool-egg-positives were found. The results indicate that the current efficacy of praziquantel against S. japonicum is still high and has not changed after more than 2 decades of repeated, expanded chemotherapy in the main endemic areas of China. It is suggested that no evidence of tolerance or resistance to praziquantel in S. japonicum was detected in China.
Role-playing and identity affirmation in international politics: Britain's reinvasion of the Falklands, 1982
Authors: McCOURT DAVID M.
Published: September 2010

Did Britain reinvade the Falklands because of its ‘identity’? Or was reinvasion instead required by its ‘role’ in international politics? In this article I show that a complete constructivist explanation of Britain's response must consider both its identity affirmation, which constructivist International Relations (IR) theory would certainly draw attention to, but also the role it played on the world stage at the beginning of the 1980s, which would very likely be overlooked. I show that a solely identity-based explanation is incomplete and ultimately unpersuasive since identities are affirmed by playing social roles, which give identity meaning. In 1982, a number of roles could have fulfilled this function for Britain; it is important then that Britain chose and was able to play the role of astatus quooriented power rather than that of a colonial power. Beyond offering a more complete interpretation of the events, the article clarifies the links between roles, identity, and action in international politics, and the type of theory appropriate to such analysis.
Does democracy need sovereignty?
Authors: TANSEY OISÍN
Published: September 2010

Non-state entities that aspire to statehood are increasingly developing democratic norms and practices, in part to enhance their claims for independence. However, the prospects for democracy in cases of ‘problematic sovereignty’ are little understood. This article seeks to explore the important but under-explored relationship between sovereignty and democracy, and in particular to assess the extent to which sovereignty is, or is not, a prerequisite for democracy. The article advances two arguments. First, it argues that there is no clear-cut relationship between sovereignty and democracy, as sovereignty is a complex concept that is comprised of several important, and distinct, constituent elements. Second, the article argues that the legal recognition of statehood (international legal sovereignty) is of marginal importance in this area, and should not be seen as a necessary condition for democratic rule. The article examines the process of democratic transition in the non-state entity of Somaliland to provide empirical support.
Decomposing locally compact groups into simple pieces
Authors: CAPRACE PIERRE-EMMANUEL , MONOD NICOLAS
Published: September 2010

We present a contribution to the structure theory of locally compact groups. The emphasis is on compactly generated locally compact groups which admit no infinite discrete quotient. It is shown that such a group possesses a characteristic cocompact subgroup which is either connected or admits a non-compact non-discrete topologically simple quotient. We also provide a description of characteristically simple groups and of groups all of whose proper quotients are compact. We show that Noetherian locally compact groups without infinite discrete quotient admit a subnormal series with all subquotients compact, compactly generated Abelian, or compactly generated topologically simple.

Two appendices introduce results and examples around the concept of quasi-product.
Problems of nutrition and management of early-weaned piglets
Authors: Jones A. S.
Published: September 2010

The potential advantages of early weaning have been listed by Dr Braude in his introduction. In practice, however, piglet mortality can reduce or eliminate these potential improvements in number of piglets per sow per year, and in overall efficiency of feed energy utilization for piglet production (Table 1).
General Discussion on Symposium: Concluding Remarks
Authors: Elsley F. W. H.
Published: September 2010

I think it is extremely important that when we are making comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages of artificial rearing, as compared with other systems of rearing, that the comparisons should be made on a valid basis.

There are three ways in which the systems can be compared: firstly, they can be compared on a basis of the biological targets of the system. These represent a limit to production in the appropriate systems. Secondly, they can be compared on a basis of maximum performance under laboratory conditions, or in those situations in which scientific personnel have clear control over the system being undertaken. Thirdly, systems can be compared on the basis of the best performance achieved under purely practical conditions. This point can be illustrated by three examples:

1. Number of pigs born per sow per year

Since gestation length cannot be affected, the important factors involved in the number of pigs born per sow per year are: number of pigs born, length of lactation period and the interval between weaning and service.
Beef from grass
Authors: McGuckian Alastair
Published: September 2010

The factors involved in meeting the beef requirements of our expanding population range from biological and economic to social in nature. It was decided to restrict this paper to those biological and economic factors which are directly involved in achieving the targets of beef production within low cost systems.
Grass conservation
Authors: Murdoch J. C.
Published: September 2010

Artificial drying is undoubtedly the most efficient method of grass conservation. The nutrient losses incurred in the drying process are low and, in contrast to other conservation techniques, grass drying is consistently efficient throughout the season and between seasons. However, both capital and running costs of a drying plant are high and inevitably the cost of production of dried grass is also high. Where there is a large proportion of small farms, as is the case in Northern Ireland, it appears to be out of the question for a farm unit to have a grass dryer because of costs. It is more than likely that under these conditions grass drying will be either undertaken on a cooperative or commercial basis, in the latter case the grass so used being a cash crop.
A procedure for preparation of pig carcasses for chemical analysis with special reference to micro-analysis
Authors: Florence E. , Mitchell K. G.
Published: September 2010

The potential value of carcass chemical analysis in a variety of animal research studies is not only in the specific information it alone can provide, but in particular as a means of substantiating and augmenting data obtained from other experimental approaches. For example, it may be used in conjunction with in vivo nutrient balance studies and with physical dissection in carcass quality assessment studies. Realization of the full potential value of carcass chemical analysis depends entirely, however, on the ability to produce, from the initial highly heterogeneous carcass material, a fully representative sample that is sufficiently homogeneous to enable valid analyses to be made using the desired analytical techniques. Macro-analytical techniques may be acceptable when the numbers of samples involved are relatively small and /or when the analytical resources available are not critical. Under such conditions a lower degree of homogeneity will be acceptable in the material to be analysed than that required when micro-analytical techniques are used.
Commercial cutting
Authors: Caroll M. A.
Published: September 2010

For the purpose of the present discussion I will define commercial cutting as the cutting of carcasses into commercial wholesale or retail cuts, and the trimming of some fatty tissue and bone from these to commercial specifications. I assume that this will be done by a commercially trained butcher. I also assume that the cutting and trimming will be done in commercial premises.
Discussion
Authors: Bowman J. C.
Published: September 2010

Discussion of this topic requires clear definition of terms. For instance, because size can be such an ambiguous word, it is essential at all times to state the units of measurement of size of the animal. The units may referto height, weight, skeletal size, metabolic body weight or to some component of body composition. Most frequently the subject is discussed in terms of body weight, or some function of it representing metabolic body size, and little cognisance is taken of possible differences in body composition. I consider this to be a serious omission, because it seems highly unlikely that weight of the animal will have the same relationship to productivity irrespective of the composition of the weight.
Developments in sheep production and their implications for the maintenance of health
Authors: Saunders R. W.
Published: September 2010

Professor Bunting of the Faculty of Agriculture at Reading University, said, when speaking to an International Seminar on Change in Agriculture (Bunting, 1969), ‘the traditional division between veterinary medicine and animal production is wider in many countries than the interests of the producer and the consumer require’. The BSAP has made a step towards bridging the gap by holding this meeting. As a veterinarian I am sure I speak for all my colleagues when I express our appreciation of the interest members of the Society have shown in improving this relationship.
The end of an era in animal production
Authors: Donald H. P.
Published: September 2010

Your Committee invited me to talk to you and confirm that the era of animal breeding was over. Ten years ago that subject might have been mildly interesting, but meanwhile nutrition, pathology and even physiology have also lost their independent existence in the field of animal production. This, I assume, you will take for granted. On a superficial view, therefore, one might say that the era during which all these subjects made their separate approaches to animal production problems was over. But there is a wider sense in which our traditional thinking has become obsolete.
Hormonal control of reproduction in sheep
Authors: Gordon I.
Published: September 2010

In summer 1973, the sheep farmer in most parts of the Irish Republic could telephone his local cattle Artificial Insemination (AI) station and ask for a technician to treat his ewes for ‘early-lamb’ (December/January) production with intravaginal sponges and pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). The 60 p per ewe service, which first became available at that time, covered two visits by the technician: the first to insert sponges; the second, 14 days later, to withdraw them and administer the gonadotrophin. On the basis of considerable experimental evidence, the farmer could expect about 60 to 70% of ewes treated to conceive to first services and lamb within a short period of each other, and some 80% to produce offspring to the combined first and second services. The scheme, based on natural service, was used by several hundred farmers in that first year of operation, and was made available on a similar basis again in 1974. The introduction of this cheap, effective and simple technique for the hormonal control of reproduction in sheep was the result of considerable activity over the years by Dr Sean Crowley and his staff in An Foras Taluntais and various workers in University College, Dublin (UCD). Due credit must be given, however, to the Irish Department of Agriculture, which sponsored extensive field testing of controlled breeding techniques in 197/172, and subsequently arranged with cattle AI stations to provide countrywide coverage on a fee per ewe basis from 1973.