bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs using single-space or multi-space feeders
Authors: Kay R.M. , Armsby A.W. , Lightfoot A.L.
Published: June 2019

Good husbandry practices for ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs have traditionally provided between 50-75 mm trough space per pig. However, following the success of commercial pig producers in Denmark and The Netherlands in using single-space feeders, these feeders are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If pig performance is unimpaired, the saving in floor area required for feeders may provide an opportunity to increase stocking rate per pen.

Two hundred and sixteen entire male and female pigs of about 30 kg liveweight at 12 weeks of age were blocked by sex and weight to groups of 12 and allocated at random to one of 3 treatments:

1. Ad libitum feeding with one single-space feeder (occupying 0.326 m2 floor area).

2. Ad libitum feeding with 2 single-space feeders (occupying 0.652 m2 floor area).

3. Ad libitum feeding with one multi-space feeder (occupying 0.439 m2 floor area).

Pigs were housed in an environment controlled house managed on a fully-slatted slurry system with no bedding used. The single-space feeders (QE Fivestar c) incorporate a 5 starred wheel which pigs operate with their snouts to drive an auger which dispenses a metered amount of feed from a bulk hopper.
Evaluation of the performance of british landrace pigs under tropical conditions of zimbabwe
Authors: Pathiraja N. , Mandisodza K. T. , Nyabako L.
Published: June 2019

British Landrace (BL) is used widely as a dam breed in producing crossbred sows for commercial pig production in Zimbabwe. This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of BL under current level of management in Zimbabwe and to make recommendation for improvement of productivity.

The records for this study were obtained from a nucleus/multiplier farm. The data included 720 litters from BL sows over the five year period 1983 - 1987. The reproductive traits analysed, number born alive (NBA), number weaned (NW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB) kg, at weaning (TLWW), age at first litter (AFL) days, days weaning to effective service (DWES) and farrowing interval (FI) days, were from both pure and crossbred matings. The performance data, daily gain (DG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) between 35 - 86 kg and k backfat thickness (BF) at 86 kg, were from 620 performance tested BL pigs. The data were analysed by least-squares procedures. The fixed effect included in the analysis of reproductive traits were the sire breed of the litter, the dam parity and the year and season of birth of litter. The effects considered for the performance data were the year and season of performance test and the sex. The season according to month of birth of litter, farrowing, rebreedlng or performance test was classified as cold (April - July), dry (August - November) or rainy (December - March). For all the traits, typical model included the above fixed effects and two-way Interactions.
Degree of enclosure preferred by sows around farrowing
Authors: Hunt K , Petchey A M
Published: June 2019

Farrowing accommodation is currently provided by different variants, or designs, of the farrowing crate. The farrowing crate, which is intended to reduce piglet mortality and give the piglets good access to the sow, severely restricts her movement and activity. The welfare codes (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1983) recommend that pigs should have ‘freedom of movement’ and ‘opportunity to exercise most normal patterns of behaviour’. There is, therefore, a need to develop farrowing facilities which allow the sows freedom of movement and permit greater activity but which also maintain or improve economic performance.

A sow which is permitted greater freedom of movement in the late stages of pregnancy would, within the pen, determine her own farrowing site. This benign approach cannot easily be reconciled to the production process which seeks to reduce uncertainty and maximise the use of resources. In this instance, the provision (creep, heat source) made for the litter. Thus it is important to be able to identify the sows’ preference for such a site and to identify features which attract the sow. This study examined some of the structural and environmental preferences for a farrowing site of sows and gilts, and examined behaviour at their chosen site.
Further quantification of pigs needs for food using operant conditioning
Authors: Lawrence A.B. , Illius A.W.
Published: June 2019

The study of motivational states underlying behaviour is seen as critical to understanding the implications of restricted husbandry conditions on animal welfare. Yet the measurement of the strength of motivation remains a perennial problem in welfare studies. Previous work at Edinburgh using operant conditioning identified an apparently high level of feeding motivation throughout the day in pigs fed [ARC, 1981] recommended levels for sows and boars [Lawrence et al. 1988]. Pigs trained to press a panel consistently 10 times for a food reward (fixed ratio or FR responding) maintained high levels of panel pressing across the day when offered 0.6 of their ad libitum intake approximating to ARC (1981) recommended feeding levels. However, as the level of operant responding required was not great, it is arguable to what extend these results demonstrate a strong need for food by pigs on restricted feeding. The present paper reports on an experiment to test more accutely the strength of feeding motivation in relation to food restriction by comparing responding on FR with that on a progressive ratio (PR) where the animal has to work progressively harder for successive rewards. It was hoped that PR. reputedly a sensitive measure of motivation, would indicate with greater certainty restrict fed pigs need for food.
The Effect of pattern of food supply on intake, growth and body components in beulah and welsh mountain lambs
Authors: Mantecon A.R. , Iason G.R. , Milne J.A. , Smith A.D.M. , White I.R. , Sim D.A.
Published: June 2019

The use of overwinter food restriction of lambs produced on hill and upland farms followed by a period of rapid spring growth may be used to achieve a more even spread of lambs onto the market. However, pattern of feeding and growth may affect performance and body composition of the lambs.
Effects on lambs of ingestion of soil treated with sevage sludge
Authors: Hall J E , Stark B A
Published: June 2019

Sewage sludge contains a range of essential and non-essential elements for livestock nutrition, many of which are toxic at elevated levels. Where sludge is applied to the surface of pasture regularly, contaminants principally heavy metals will accumulate in the surface layer (Davis et al 1988), and may represent a potential health hazard for grazing animals through the direct ingestion of contaminated soil much greater than that from plant uptake. Whilst it is known that soil ingestion can supplement mineral intake with benefits to grazing animals in some situations, the potentially toxic effects of ingesting soil from heavily sludged pastures are of principal concern (Stark 1988). Bearing in mind the strategic importance of grassland for sludge disposal, it must be demonstrated whether existing soil metals limits (DoE 1988) will adequately protect grazing animals. The principal objective of the trial was to study animal growth performance as well as mineral balance from a diet with elevated copper levels derived from a sludge treated soil. Lambs were used for their greater sensitivity to copper than cattle, and the length of the trial simulated the normal finishing period of five months for lambs on pasture.
Feeding maize silage to pregnant ewes
Authors: Brown D.C. , Thomas E.M.
Published: June 2019

New cultivars of forage maize have recently been introduced into this country which make maize silage an attractive alternative crop to grass silage. Little advice is available on feeding maize silage to pregnant ewes in the United Kingdom. This experiment compares in physical and financial terms, the feeding of maize silage with grass silage, when offered to pregnant housed ewes.
Effects of intraruminal infusions of sodium salts on the selection of hay and concentrate diets by sheep
Authors: Engku Azahan A.E. , Forbes J.M.
Published: June 2019

There has been a great deal of work carried out on the control of voluntary intake by sheep but little on the selection of foods. In view of the fact that grazing ruminants usually have a choice of plant materials there is a need to understand what controls their selection. Introduction of salts of short chain fatty acids into the rumen depresses intake of a single feed (Balle and Forbes, 1974; Forbes, 1986); sodium chloride has also been shown to depress food intake (Ternouth and Beattle, 1971; Carter and Grovum, 1988; Grovum and Blgnell, 1989) and it is now clear that the osmolality of rumen contents has a marked effect on intake. There have been several observations on food selection by sheep (e.g. Cropper et al. 1985; Gllmp, 1971; Gordon and Tribe, 1951) but none of these have Involved manipulations of short chain fatty acids or osmolality in the rumen.
The efficacy of an anthelmintic (mebendazole) under different dosing strategies in controlling nematode parasite infection in sheep and pasture contamination
Authors: Lawton Tina E. , Speedy A.W.
Published: June 2019

Control of parasitic nematode infection is the first priority in intensive lowland lamb production. The most effective method has been the ‘clean grazing system’ of Rutter (1983) but this depends on the integration of cattle and sheep. Clarkson (1987) has proposed repeated early dosing with anthelmintic as an alternative in an ‘all sheep’ system. An experiment is decribed here in which the efficacy of the anthelmintic. Mebendazole (Janssen Pharmaceuticals Ltd), was examined using different dosing regimes on contaminated pasture and compared with clean pasture.

The study was conducted with a flock of 520 mule (Bluefaced Leicester x Swaledale) ewes and Suffolk x lambs at Home Farm, Wytham, near Oxford. Four x 8 hectare fields were used.
The use of fecundin® with or without pmsg In late-lambing mule ewes synchronized with Progestagen sponges
Authors: Sadeghi Namaghi G.H. , Webster G.M.
Published: June 2019

There is increasing interest in the development of systems in which crossbred ewes are lambed later in the spring so that the ewes’ nutritional needs are matched more closely with grass growth (Stone, 1988). Lambs may then be sold as stores in the autumn or finished indoors on silage-based diets through the winter (Povey and Webster, 1987). However, ovulation rate tends to be declining at the time of mating in such a system. These experiments were designed to investigate the benefits of using Fecundin, either alone or in conjunction with pregnant mares’ serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) in synchronized ewes lambing in April/May.

Two groups of 30 Mule (Bluefaced Leicester x Swaledale) ewes matched for age, weight and condition score were allocated to the experiment. Treated ewes were given 2 x 2 ml intramuscular (i.m.) injections of Fecundin®(Coopers Animal Health) four weeks apart while control ewes received no Fecundin treatment. Unfortunately a ram escaped into the flock prior to the planned mating date. All ewes were therefore injected i.m. with 1.5 ml Lutalyse®(Upjohn) 12-16 days after suspected mating. However, it would appear that the dose used was insufficient to cause abortion and only those ewes marked subsequently by a raddled vasectomized ram remained in the experiment. All these ewes (n = 17 per group) were treated with progestagen-impregnated intravaginal sponges (Veramix® Upjohn) left in situ for 12 days. Rams were introduced on 18th December 1986, two days after sponge withdrawal and four weeks after the second injection of Fecundin. The ewes were shorn and housed prior to ram introduction and given a diet of hay ad libitum with up to 1 kg concentrates by the time of lambing in May 1987.
The effect of shearing on housed autumn store lambs
Authors: Kirk J.A. , Alsop S.E.
Published: June 2019

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the housing of sheep in the United Kingdom. This has taken place primarily pre-lambing and to a lesser extent for the finishing of lambs.

Drinan and Ferguson (1981) found significantly faster growth rates and heavier carcass weights from lambs shorn 10-12 weeks prior to slaughter. Younis et al. (1977) and Salmon and Owen (1981) found increases in voluntary feed intakes and improved rates of liveweight gain in shorn as compared to unshorn lambs. Food conversion ratios have been found to improve in some trials but not others.

The effects of shearing store lambs that were being finished indoors was investigated using 24 April born Suffolk X Mule lambs housed in individual pens from the 17 October 1985. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of three treatments. Group A and B were shorn at housing; Group C was left fully fleeced. Five weeks after the start of the trial Group B was shorn for a second time. The lambs were fed ad-libitum on a silage-based complete ration containing 6.1 MJ NE/kg. of Dry Matter.
The finishing of zebu bulls on steam-hydrolysed sugar cane bagasse with different supplements
Authors: Osorio H. , Preston T. R. , Speedy A. W.
Published: June 2019

The fibrous residue remaining after juice extraction from the sugar cane stalk is commonly referred to as bagasse. It consists mainly of the ligno-cellulosic polymer matrix and small amounts of ash and water soluble solids which are mostly sucrose. In sugar industry mills, most of the bagasse is used as fuel, and although figures vary within each factory, energy efficient units can have 2 tonnes of surplus bagasse (dry basis) per 100 tonnes of fresh cane processed (Rolz et al). The bagasse can be supplemented with urea and legume protein in cattle diets. Research in Mauritius (Wong et al. 1974) showed that high pressure steam treatment (200°C) for 2-5 minutes raised rumen “in situ” digestibility from 30 to 60%. Subsequent work (Naidoo et al.1977) emphasised the critical role of supplements providing bypass nutrients (protein and glucose precursors) , in addition to urea-N and minerals for rumen microbes. In Colombia this technology is now being applied commercially for cattle fattening, using the foliage from the legume tree, Gliricidia sepium as the main source of bypass protein.
Efficacy of a controlled release intraruminal device containing Albendazole against helminth infections in cattle
Authors: S.L. Bell  , K.W. Perry  , P. Rowlinson
Published: June 2019

The importance of subclinical parasitic gastroenteritis (PCE) in terms of reduced productivity has recently been recognised, and this has caused attention to be focussed on prevention of infection as opposed to cure. The process of strategic treatment with anthelmintics and movement to fresh grazing proposed by Michel (1969), has been superseded by the need for preventative measures based solely upon anthelmintic control, rather than strict grazing rotation, and in response to this demand several systems have been developed.

In this trial the efficacy of a controlled release bolus containing albendazole, Captec, (Smith Kline Animal Health, Ltd., CSIRO) against gastro-intestinal nematode infections in first season calves was evaluated, the nematode challenge being monitored using untreated control calves.

2 groups of 20 heifer calves of approximately 9 months of age at turnout, were grazed from May to October on separate, adjacent paddocks obtained by splitting a single field which had been grazed by cattle the previous autumn. The allocation of calves to each group was such that the mean liveweight and range of liveweights within each group were similar. At turnout each calf in group A received a Captec bolus, group B being untreated controls. Total numbers and species of infective larvae present on the pasture were monitored throughout the grazing period. The calves were weighed and samples were regularly collected for the determination of faecal egg output, serum pepsinogen and plasma gastrin concentration. Post mortem worm burdens were assessed in 7 calves per group on day 100 after turnout, and again in 3 calves per group 1 week after housing.
Ovarian follicular populations, steroidogenic capacity and physiological status in post-partum suckling beef cows in high and low body condition
Authors: Prado R. , Rhind S.M. , Wright I.A. , Russel A.J.F. , McMillen S.M. , Smith A.I. , McNeilly A.S.
Published: June 2019

Recent evidence indicates that body condition at calving has an important effect on the length of the post-partum anoestrous period in beef cows being longer in cows calving in low body condition (Richards et al, 1986, Wright et al, 1987). It is known that body condition affects baseline concentrations of LH (Rutter and Randel, 1984) and LH pulse frequency (Wright et al, 1987). However, the effect of body condition on ovarian follicles has not been studied.

An experiment was designed to examine the effect of body condition score (BCS) at calving on follicle populations, follicular steroidogenic capacity, follicular histology and patterns of gonadotropin release at two different stages of the post-partum period (5 and 9 weeks after calving) in suckling beef cows.

Thirty-eight suckling Blue-Grey cows with a mean live-weight of 567 ± 9.4 kg and mean BCS of 3.0 ± 0.05 at 110 days before calving to a synchronized insemination were differentially fed so that they achieved BCS of 2.83 ± 0.05 and 2.30 ± 0.05 for cows on a high (H) and low (L) plane of nutrition, respectively. After calving cows were fed a live-weight maintenance ration according to individual requirements. Cows of each BCS were ovariectomized at either 5 (w5) or 9 (w9) weeks after calving and follicles > 3mm in diameter were dissected from the ovaries and incubated for 2 h in culture medium (Medium 199) at 37°C. Follicles were then kept in Bouin's solution until histological examination. Follicle incubates were assayed for progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol. Blood samples were taken 2 days before ovariectomy for 10 h every 15 minutes and were later assayed for LH (all the samples) and FSH (every third sample).
The effect of a high rate of application of formic acid during ensilage of ryegrass on silage dry matter intake of sheep and cattle
Authors: Henderson A R , Anderson D H , Neilson D , Hunter E A , Phillips P
Published: June 2019

A study of the intake potential of a range of well-preserved silages offered to lambs over several years showed that, of the many parameters considered, those with the greatest positive effect on DM intake were sugars in the grass as ensiled, residual sugars and protein nitrogen in the silage, with ethanol concentration in the silage having a negative effect (Henderson, Anderson and Phillips, 1984). In the experiments reported here ADD-F (85 per cent formic acid) from BP Chemicals International was applied to ryegrass at a rate sufficient to conserve much of the sugar (WSC) in the silage by inhibiting the growth of the micro-organisms on the grass. The initial lowering of the pH should also inhibit the activity of the plant enzymes, conserve protein nitrogen (PN) in the silage and prevent extensive deamination.

In 1986 first-cut perennial ryegrass, and in 1987 Italian/perennial ryegrass, was ensiled direct-cut, untreated or treated with 5 1 ADD-F/t grass in 100t capacity clamp silos. The grass was cut with a mower and lifted with a precision-chop forage harvester. The acid was pumped onto the grass through a dribble bar sited over the pick-up drum.
Effect of ensilage method on storage dry matter loss and feeding value of malt distillers grains (draff)
Authors: Hyslop J J , Offer N W , Barber G D
Published: June 2019

Operation of whisky distilling plants throughout the year produces considerable quantities of by-products malt distillers grains (draff) during the summer months. Draff is traditionally used as a ruminant feedstuff with the greatest demand being in winter. Competitive prices during summer make draff a very attractive buy and summer purchase, with subsequent storage on the farm for winter feeding is now a widely accepted, practice. However,, there is little information about the consequencies of long term draff storage or a detailed evaluation of different ensilage methods. This investigation examined the effects of three different storage methods on dry matter losses in the silo, and evaluated the recovered feedstuff using young steers.

Storage methods - Each storage method was examined in duplicated sleeper walled silos, each containing approximately 6 tonnes of draff. The silos were roofed and had individual effluent tanks. For method 1 draff was tipped into the pits and a top sheet was held in place by an incomplete surface covering of sandbags.
Effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract (Amaferm) on fermentation in the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec)
Authors: Frumholtz P. P. , Newbold C. J. , Wallace R. J.
Published: June 2019

Probiotics (microbial preparations and their growth media) are of increasing interest as feed additives for both ruminant and non-ruminant livestock. Amaferm is a fermentation extract prepared from cultures of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae which, when included in the diet of dairy cows, increases the yield of milk and buttermilk (Harris et al. , 1983). These improvements have been associated with changes in rumen fermentation (Weidmeier et al., 1987). The present study describes the use of the rumen simulation technique Rusitec (Czerkawski and Breckenridge, 1977) to investigate the effects of increasing doses of Amaferm on the stoichiometry of rumen fermentation in vitro.

Amaferm was added at 0, 25 and 250 mg/d to duplicate Rusitec vessels and at 1 g/d to a single vessel, receiving 10 g/d of a mixed diet of hay, barley, molasses, fishmeal and vitamins/minerals (500, 299-5, 100, 91 and 9.5 g/kg DM respectively). Vessels were initially inoculated from animals receiving the same diet. Artificial saliva was continuously infused into the vessels (total volume 850 ml, dilution rate 0.88/d) and feed bags were changed daily such that each bag was incubated for 48 h. Samples were taken at the time of feeding after 15 d adaptation to Amaferm.

Amaferm had no influence on total VFA concentrations but there was a shift towards an increased proportion of butyrate as the level of addition increased. Ammonia production was also stimulated by the addition of Amaferm, with the concentration in the vessel receiving 1 g/d being almost twice that found in the control vessels. There was no effect on dry matter disappearance after 48 h. The concentration of methane in the gas collected from the head space of the vessels was decreased by Amaferm, with the maximum decrease (17%) being seen at the level of 250 mg/d.
Rumen Probiosis: effects of addition of yeast culture (viable yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) plus growth medium) on patterns of rumen fermentation
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Innes G. M.
Published: June 2019

The use of brewery by-products which contain varying quantities of live and dead yeast cells as nitrogen supplements in diets for ruminants is well documented.

There have been several recent reports of micro-organisms, previously considered as being totally aerobic, multiplying and exhibiting growth in the rumen and in rumen simulators and conferring beneficial effects on cellulolysis and growth or productive capacity of the animal. Dawson (1987) reported that certain strains of yeast (Saccharomyces cerivisae) multiplied when introduced into the rumen. Although at some point extensive lysis occurs with extrusion of the cell contents (Bruning and Yokoyama, 1988). The present experiment was carried out to assess the effects of including yeast culture (YS) (Saccharomyces cerevisae, plus growth medium: 5x106 organisms/g) in diets for ruminants. The responses in terms of effects on rumen metabolism were monitored in three cannulated steers.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effects on the rumen metabolism and the degradability of a forage using the nylon bag technique (Ørskov and McDonald, 1970) when yeast culture was added to two contrasting diets and given to young steers. The diets were either a high forage diet of hay or a mixture of forage plus concentrate given in such a manner as to induce a negative associative effect.
Influence of dietary tetronasin on microbial nitrogen metabolism in rumen fluid from cattle
Authors: J. Newbold C. , J. Wallace R. , McKain N.
Published: June 2019

Tetronasin (ICI 139603) is an ionophore which improves feed efficiency in ruminants (Bartle et al., 1988). Its nutritional effects are at least partly derived from its influence on nitrogen and energy metabolism in the rumen. The mode of action of tetronasin is therefore similar to monensin and although it is more potent than monensin, it has a similar spectrum of antimicrobial activity (Newbold et al., 1988). The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the inclusion of tetronasin in the diet on the ability of the resultant microbial population in the rumen to degrade casein, peptides and amino acids.

Thirty castrate Friesian & Hereford crosses were fed a diet of barley, ammonia treated straw, soya bean meal, molasses and mineral/vitamin mix (62.5, 20, 12.5, 2.5 and 2.5% of dry matter respectively) ad lib, with the animals being split into three treatment groups, each of ten animals, receiving 0, 6, and 10 mg tetronasin/kg of total diet. Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube from all animals 42 and 84 d after the start of the trial. Samples were strained through two layers of muslin before use.
Nitrogen retention in growing lambs fed pelleted diets diluted with cereal straw
Authors: Castrillo C. , Balcells J. , Guada J.A. , Fondevilla M.
Published: June 2019

There is evidence that in growing lambs, net nitrogen requirements are affected by breed, sex, weight and level of feeding but little is known about the effect of dietary concentration. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effect of feeding straw diluted diets on nitrogen retention in Rasa Aragonesa lambs from weaning to slaughter.

Eight male lambs, 40-45 days old and 12.3 ± 0.47 kg live weight, were allocated to one of two pelleted diets containing 6 (C) or 23 (D) percent of barley straw and barley, soya bean meal and fish meal to give a crude protein content of 193 (C) and 186 (D) g/ kg dry matter. Both diets were fed ad libitum and nitrogen balances were carried out at 14, 21 and 29 kg live weight. For diet C at the last weight only the balance of two lambs was recorded.

The results are shown in table 1. Although the digestible organic matter (DOM) content was higher (P ≤ 0.005) for diet C (690 g/kg DM) than for diet D (606 g/kg DM), DOM intake was not significantly affected by dietary dilution. Nitrogen retention was higher at the lowest live weight for both diets and decreased at each live weight with dietary dilution (P ≤ 0.005). No significant period x diet interaction was found.
The effect of system of harvesting grass for silage on in-field and in-silo losses and milk output per hectare
Authors: Small J. , Gordon F.J.
Published: June 2019

There has been considerable research into individual components of harvesting systems in terms of their effects on nutritive value and animal performance. However few studies have examined total harvesting systems, involving in-field and in-silo losses, nutritive value of the product and the effects on animal output per hectare. The present study was set up to examine these effects.

Four systems of harvesting grass for silage were compared over each of 3 harvests during 1984. The systems were: single chop flail harvester direct cutting (SCD); double chop flail harvester direct cutting (DCD); mown with a rotary mower and picked up with a precision chop harvester either immediately (PCD) or after wilting until the dry matter concentration had increased by approximately 100 g kg-1 (PCW). The field wilting periods for PCW were 48, 48 and 24 hrs for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd harvests respectively.
The response of January/February calving british friesian cows to level of protein supplementation
Authors: Reeve A , Baker R D , Hodson R G
Published: June 2019

There has been much recent debate about the protein requirements of lactatinq dairy cows, and this issue has been heightened by a general reduction in concentrate feeding in response to the imposition of milk quotas. Furthermore, the value of silage as a source of protein has been questioned widely. The objective of the present trial was to determine the effect of increasing supplementary protein on the performance of cows with ad libitum access to high quality grass silage.

The trial, using January/February calving British Frieslan cows in second or subsequent lactations, was performed at Ravenscroft Hall Farm, Middlewich, Cheshire. Four groups of 15 cows were offered either 3 or 6 kg/head/day of cereal/soya/fishmeal based compound feeds containing either 214 (L) or 403 (H) g CP/kg DM, and high quality grass silage ad libitum.
The effect of fish meal and soyabean meal supplements on milk production of autumn calving cows given ad libitum access to ryegrass silage
Authors: Rae R C , Golightly A J , Marshall D R , Thomas C
Published: June 2019

When grass silage is available ad libitum, compound feeds depress the intake of silage by cattle. Castle and Watson (1976) and Gill and England (1984) reported that silage intake was not depressed when protein supplements rather than cereals were given to dairy and beef cattle, respectively. The aim of the present trial was to examine protein supplements as alternatives to cereal based compounds to increase the milk yield of dairy cows without reducing silage intake.
The Comparative Effectiveness of Urea and Ammonia For Improving The Nutritive Value of Straw
Authors: Sherwood R.P. , Owen E.
Published: June 2019

Treatment of straw with sodium hydroxide or ammonia to improve its nutritive value to ruminants is now well established. However, these chemicals are corrosive and not ideal for use on farms. Urea has been proposed in recent years as an ammonia precursor for the treatment of straw. Urea is a safe (non-corrosive) chemical to handle in both the solid and aqueous form, and could be applied to straw by the farmer himself without the need for specialized contractors. The aim of the work reported was to determine whether urea is an effective alternative to ammonia for the treatment of straw.

In two preliminary trials treated straws were evaluated by determining digestibility in vitro (Tilley and Terry 1963). The first trial showed that for optimum improvement in digestibility, at least 70g urea/kg straw dry matter (DM), and a moisture content of approximately 500g/kg, were required.
Fat young pigs: their performance on feeds with high protein:energy ratios
Authors: Stamataris C.P. , Emmans G.C. , Hillyer G.M. , Whittemore C.T.
Published: June 2019

The fatness (lipid weight at a given liveweight) of a given kind of pig can be varied by feeding. An energy restriction will reduce fatness and a feed of low protein:energy ratio will increase it. Pigs made thin by an energy restriction show “compensatory fattening” when returned to ad libitum feeding. The experiment described here had two purposes: (i) to test if pigs made fat would subsequently show “compensatory thinning” when given a feed of high proteimenergy ratio; it was expected that they would, (ii) To test if pigs would show compensatory protein growth following a period of low protein intake; it was expected that they would not.
Effect of pattern of energy intake during pregnancy and lactation on sow performance and productivity
Authors: Lee Pauline A. , Close W.H.
Published: June 2019

There is now sufficient evidence to suggest that the ARC (1981) factorial estimates of the energy requirements of the sow during pregnancy are too high, due, possibly, to an over-estimation of the maintenance energy component (MEm). Revised values, based on an MEm value of 439 KJ ME/kg0.75, have therefore been calculated and the present experiment was designed to test these new estimates. An additional feature of the experiment is to determine whether variations in feed intake during lactation have an effect on the utilization of energy in subsequent pregnancies for maternal body weight gain. Since the experiment will be conducted over 4 parities it will be interesting to determine whether variations in feed intake during both pregnancy and lactation influence short- and long-term sow performance.
Effects of protein supplementation of silage-based diets on the intake, performance and carcass composition of finishing beef cattle
Authors: Steen R. W. J.
Published: June 2019

A series of five randomised-block experiments, involving 232 finishing beef steers., have been carried out to examine the effects of supplementing grass silage-based diets with extracted soyabean meal (SBM) or fish meal (FM). Eight formic-acid treated, precision chopped, silages which were made from the primary growth and first and second regrowths of perennial ryegrass swards, were used. The chemical compositions of the silages are given in Table 1. They were offered ad libitum and those used in experiments 1 to 3 and the early-cut silages used in experiments 4 and 5 were supplemented with 2.5 to 2.7 kg concentrates per head daily while the late-cut silages used in experiments 4 and 5 were supplemented with 4.5 kg concentrates per head daily. The control concentrates used in each of the experiments were based on barley and had crude protein concentrations of 95 to 108 g/kg dry matter. The high protein concentrates were similar but with a proportion of the barley replaced by SBM or FM.
Carcass compositional changes in beef cattle during the grazing season
Authors: Hinks C E , Hunter E A , Lowman B G , Neilson D R
Published: June 2019

Information relating to the carcass composition of grass-fattened beef cattle in the UK is not only limited in extent, but is also frequently uni-dimensional, in that the quantitative changes in carcass composition with time cannot be readily assessed. Furthermore, the methods used in selecting animals for slaughter (the visual appraisal of condition) introduces a source of non-random variation that cannot be removed with statistical confidence.

The primary objective of the analysis reported here, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of time on carcass composition and thereby provide information upon which objective production strategies could be based.

48 fattening steers and heifers (16-19 months old and 355 kg liveweight) of two contrasting breed types (Charolais x Hereford x Friesian and Hereford x Friesian) were summer grazed at a stocking rate of 5 animals per hectare. The animals were randomly allocated (at the start of the grazing season) to three slaughter points covering a 12 week period from early July to early October. The commercial saleable meat yield of the left side of each animal was measured together with compositional data from rib sample joints.
Growth and Carcass Composition of Implanted and Non-Implanted Heifers and Steers Reared Together
Authors: Keane M. G. , Drennan M. J.
Published: June 2019

The national cow herd consists of 1.64m dairy and 0.43m beef cows. They produce a total of 1.76m reared calves annually. Of these 0.42m heifers go as herd replacements, leaving 0.46m heifers and 0.88m males available for beef production. There is a 2:l ratio of males to femaies in the population of calves available for beef production. Also, there are few straightbred dairy heifer calves available and the mean birth date of heifer calves for beef production is later than that cf males. The objectives of the present experiment were (i) to compare the performance and carcass composition of non-implanted and implanted heifers and steers and (ii) to compare the carcass composition of serially slaughtered non-implanted and implanted heifers.

Sixty tour (48 female and 16 male) Spring born Hereford x Friesian calves (initial live-weight 45 kg) were purchased and reared on milk replacer and concentrates. After 81 days they were blocked on weight and assigned from within sex type to 8 treatment groups.
Effect of oestradiol -17β implantation on responses of Frieslan steers to dietary UDP concentration
Authors: Newbold J.R. , Buttery P.J. , Cole O.J.A. , Garnsworthy P.C. , Haresign W.
Published: June 2019

An experiment was designed to assess the effect of altered growth potential (oestradiol status) on the response of intensively-reared steers to variations in UDP concentration. Observed growth responses were compared with those predicted by current protein evaluation schemes (ARC, 1980, 1984).

Nine steers implanted with oestradiol -17β (‘Compudose 365’, Elanco Ltd) and nine non-implanted steers were fed on each of four diets from approximately 130 to 300 kg liveweight. The all-concentrate, iso-energetic diets used supplied a constant level of RDP slightly above that recommended by ARC (1980) and levels of UDP both above and below ARC (1980) recommendations (Table 1).

Dry matter intake was recorded daily and liveweight weekly. The metabolisable energy system (MAFF, 1984) and the ARC (1980, 1984) protein evaluation system were applied to the feed intake and diet composition results recorded during the experiment in order to generate predictions of growth rate for each treatment which could then be compared with the observed growth rate.
Estimated halothane gene frequency in eight British pig breeding companies
Authors: Southwood O.I. , Curran M.K. , Simpson S.P. , Webb A.J.
Published: June 2019

Eight breeding companies contributed foundation stock for a joint experiment on lean growth at the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO) and Wye College. All animals were test-mated to halothane positive (HP) reactors and incidences of HP reaction among progeny were used to estimate the frequency of the halothane gene (n) in the original herds. Estimated incidences of HP were compared with those observed in an earlier 1979 survey.

260 British Landrace (LR) were test-mated to HP (expected nn) LR at Wye, and 186 Large White (LW), including 18 boars standing at national AI centres, were test-mated to HP LR, Pietrain-Hampshire or LR x (LW x Norwegian Landrace) at ABRO.

Offspring were given a 4-minute halothane test at an average age of 50 days in LW and 76 days in LR. Numbers tested and incidences of reaction are shown in Table 1. Herds are coded ‘A’ to ‘I’ for anonymity. Purebred LR in herds A, C, D, E, H and I were halothane testec in advance and only halothane negatives (HN) were supplied for test-mating.
The evaluation of selection in a crossing ram breed to improve litter size in sheep.
Authors: Hoste S. , Smith C.
Published: June 2019

Five genotypes were compared as sires of crossbred ewes from Scottish Blackface dams. These included Border Leicester (BL), New Zealand Romney (R) (from two group breeding schemes where selection had emphasized litter size), and three lines from the composite A.B.R.O. Damline (DL). Selection of the male and female lambs in the purebred DL flock was:

a)

for an average of 5.5 years on a Ewe Index of eight week litter weight (Martin and Smith, 1980).

b)

for an average of 3.5 years on a Testis index, combining testis size (adjusted for body weight) and Ewe Index of eight week litter weight both components receiving approximately equal weight and

c)

a random bred control.

These five genotypes (two rams per genotype per year for five years) were group mated (sires of individual ewes were not known) with Scottish Blackface ewes on an upland farm in Ayrshire.
Genetic assessment of the romney sheep group breeding scheme
Authors: Anderson S. , Curran M. K.
Published: June 2019

The Romney sheep group breeding scheme was initiated in 1979. Twelve pedigree breeders formed a Nucleus flock (N), at Wye College, each contributing ten “elite” ewes identified as prolific. The minimum entry requirement was that each ewe should have given at least twins at the previous lambing. The elite ewes were then performance tested in a common environment and those failing to give a multiple litter were replaced by other candidates from the flock of origin. The performance test was discontinued in 1982 when N was closed. Male and female replacements were chosen from the N-bred progeny. Replacements were selected on the basis of dam and sire's dam prolificacy record (live lambs born/ewe joined LLB/EJ)); ten ram lambs were chosen each year and thirty to forty ewe lambs. Ram lambs were used once as sires. Selection was for prolificacy with independent culling levels for tendency to prolapse, udder shape and breed type. A control flock (C) was set-up in 1982 by sampling at random within flock and age the twelve scheme member's flocks. Fifty pregnant ewes were assembled prior to the 1982 lambing. N and C were managed together apart from mating. No selection was applied to C.
Response to selection in welsh mountain sheep
Authors: Guy D R , Croston D , Jones D- W , Williams G L , Cameron N D
Published: June 2019

In 1976, ten members of the Welsh Mountain Breed Society, established Camda Cynwyd Ltd as a co-operative society. The stated aim is to breed slightly bigger Welsh Mountain ewes that lamb easily and rear heavier lambs whilst retaining the hardiness and other beneficial traits of the breed.

A nucleus flock of 150 ewes was created in 1976 with the more productive ewes out of each member's MLC recorded flock. Camda hired facilities for keeping and recording the nucleus flock at the ABRO hill farm, Rhydglafes, North Wales for six years. Anticipating the disposal of the ABRO farm by the AFRC in 1984, a lease was obtained on a 340 acre hill farm at Cernioge Mawr, Pentrefoeias, and the flock transferred there during the summer and autumn of 1982. Each year, fifty high performance, mature ewes (immigrants) were introduced to the nucleus from members flocks, until 1984 when it was closed.
Lambing Response in Lowland Ewes on Commercial Farms to Active Immunisation Against Androstenedione
Authors: Vipond J. E. , Keeling Beverley , Hunter E. A.
Published: June 2019

Field trials were run to evaluate the commercially available preparation Fecundin (Cooper/Glaxo) which is a hormone immunoneutralization technique for boosting lambing percentage. Fecundin is a vaccine produced by linking androstenedione with a protein to form a conjugate which when formulated with an adjuvant stimulates an active immune response within the ewe. Antibodies produced against the vaccine bind with naturally occurring androstenedione present in the blood leading to a moderation of feedback mechanisms which suppress follicular development. The result is higher ovulation rate leading to production of more lambs. Fecundin was developed and widely tested in Australia and New Zealand. The objective of these trials was to evaluate the levels of response obtained in a range of common U.K. sheep breeds under farm conditions, to monitor the effects of weight changes around mating on this response and to make an economic assessment of this technique of increasing lambing percentage.
Active immunisation against androstenedione in a synchronised early lambing flock
Authors: Keeling Beverley J. , King Margaret E. , Gunn G.J.
Published: June 2019

Active immunisation against androstenedione (Fecundin, Coopers Animal Health) increases ovulation and lambing rates. A study undertaken during the 1984-85 breeding season in randomly cycling ewes mated during October and November showed an increase in lambing rate of 24 lambs/100 ewes mated amongst ewes treated with Fecundin (Vipond, Keeling and Hunter, 1986). Fecundin increased the Incidence of triplet and quad births, suggesting that the greater benefit from the product would be derived in a situation where management could ensure the survival of additional lambs. The early lambing flock is such a case. Ovulation rates tend to be lower than later on in the breeding season, so fewer triplets might be expected amongst treated ewes. Management tends to be of a high standard, and the value of the early finished lamb is high.
The effect of supplementation on the reproductive performance of ewes grazing perennial ryegrass swards in the autumn
Authors: Milne J.A. , Gunn R.G. , Sibbald Angela M.
Published: June 2019

Although there is some understanding of the effects of immediate levels of nutrition on ovulation rate and embryo wastage, it is not yet possible to predict the reproductive performance of ewes at pasture in the autumn. In many situations sward height declines over the pre- and post-mating period but herbage intake and reproductive performance under these circumstances have not been described. Furthermore, responses in reproductive performance to supplementary feeding at pasture in the autumn have been variable. It may he possible to explain some of this variation in terms of sward height and the substitution rate of herbage by the supplement. This paper reports 2 experiments which were conducted to describe (1) the herbage intake by ewes grazing swards at different heights and when supplements were offered, and (2) the reproductive performance of ewes given supplements as sward height declined.
Producing firm yet thin bacon fat
Authors: Brown A J , Wood J D , Chambers J
Published: June 2019

The firmness of backfat in pigs is an important aspect of meat quality which is influenced by the chemical composition of the fat tissue. This is affected by the amount (thickness) of fat and by diet. Thin backfat Is relatively soft but nutritional manipulation can potentially overcome this problem.

This work compared fat thickness in pigs on a commercial farm fed a concentrate diet (CD) or a skimmed milk - balancer diet (SM). The low level of oil in SM was likely to be a key factor in increasing firmness.
The use of vaginally administered melatonin in the manipulation of the breeding season in ewes
Authors: Rodway R.G. , Rajkumar R.R. , Nowak R. , Ward S.J. , Argo C.M.
Published: June 2019

Melatonin has been shown to be effective in advancing the breeding season of the ewe when given either orally or by subcutaneous implantation. We have demonstrated that it is also effective when given as an intravaginal implant containing melatonin in silastic tubing. Such implants have the advantage that they are much easier to insert and remove than subcutaneous implants. Rate of implant loss is extremely low. The present abstract summarises the result of several experiments which have examined the effectiveness of melatonin implants when given at different times of year. Animals used were either Mule ewes or their Suffolk cross offspring. All were kept outside under normal management conditions. Groups of in ewes were given implants on either 12 April, 13 May, 18 July, or 21 December. Control ewes received empty implants. Blood samples were taken twice Weekkly for progesterone analysis to estimate the tire of onset of ovarian activity.
The effect of the oral administration of melatonin at two times of the year on ovarian activity in ewes
Authors: Wigzell S. , Robinson J. J. , Aitken R. P. , McKelvey W. A. C.
Published: June 2019

It has previously been shown (Robinson et al., 1985) that the normal breeding season of Greyface and Scottish Blackface ewes can be advanced by the daily administration of the indoleamine melatonin; the administration of the melatonin beginning midway during the anoestrous period. If melatonin is administered towards the end of the normal breeding season, oestrous activity can be extended, but only for a period of about six weeks until the ewe becomes refractory to the melatonin treatment (Nett and Niswender, 1981). There is no information on the administration of melatonin at the beginning of the anoestrous period.

In the following experiments we report results for the influence on the subsequent breeding activity of Greyface ewes of the oral administration of melatonin at the beginning of their normal period of anoestrus. We also report the results of an investigation on the effects of melatonin in advancing the breeding season of Scottish Blackface ewes maintained on either a high or low plane of nutrition. The experiments were carried out under natural daylength conditions at 57°N.