bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships Between Social Dominance and Feeding Behaviour in Lactating Heifers During Periods of Heavy Competition
Authors: Kenwright A.D. , Forbes J.M.
Published: June 2019

Previous research has shown that social dominance in dairy herds can be measured using replacements of one cow by another at feed stations (Rutter et al,1987). When there is competition for feed or space, the motivation to engage in physical and non-physical agonistic interactions will be stronger than if resources are freely available. When resources are limited, social dominance becomes very important and high ranking animals have priority.

This becomes especially important after cows are returned from milking and/or when fresh feed is added when the number of cows is far greater than the number of feeding spaces (Campling and Morgan, 1981). This experiment aimed to further investigate the way in which social interaction between cows affects the feeding behaviour, particularly at times of peak feeding activity.
The generation of non-ruminant transgenic animals with cellulolytic capacity.
Authors: Hall J. , Ali S. , Azim Surani M. , Hazlewood G.P. , Clark A.J. , Simons J.P. , Hirst B.H. , Gilbert H.J.
Published: June 2019

In non-ruminant livestock the energy which can be derived from dietary cellulose and xylan is limited by the inefficient microbial fermentation of these polymers in the hind-gut. Furthermore, in poultry, cereal-derived plant structural polysaccharides impair normal digestive function through the formation of gel-like structures that trap nutrients which are therefore unavailable to the animal. The nutrition of non-ruminant livestock could be significantly improved by the depolymerization of plant structural polysaccharides, through the introduction of cellulase activity in the small intestines of these animals. This report describes the generation of transgenic animals with the capacity to express and secrete a functional endoglucanase from the exocrine pancreas.

The gene encoding endoglucanase E (celE) from Clostridium thermocellum was fused to the exocrine pancreas specific enhancer of the elastase I gene and the (β-globin polyadenylation signal, and used to create 14 lines of transgenic mice. A range of tissues were assayed for cellulase activity, using β-glucan and 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-cellobioside as substrates. The pancreas was also subjected to immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.
Studies on sorted x and y enriched populations of bull spermatozoa
Authors: Miller N.G.A. , Howes E.A. , Cran D.G. , Johnson L.A.
Published: June 2019

There have been many attempts to separate X- and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa on the basis of surface charge or density (Schröder, 1941; Bhattacharya et at., 1966; Engelman et al., 1988; Blottner et al., 1992). These have not met with universally accepted success. More recently, sorting has been achieved using the flow cytometer (FACS) to discriminate between the very small differences (3-4%) in DNA content of X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa (Johnson et al., 1989; Cran et al., 1993). However, the spermatozoa must be ‘flat headed’ e.g. rabbit, chinchilla, horse, pig, cattle and sheep.

The flow cytometer (fitted with a U.V. laser) was adapted to accept a bevelled inlet tube. This gave us a ‘ribbon-like’ profile of the sample stream which forced the spermatozoa into a specific orientation.

Semen was collected from healthy bulls of proven fertility and within 1/2 hr. was diluted to 1 x 107 per ml. and stained with Hoechst 33342 (5-10/μm) for 1 hr. at 35°C. Only those spermatozoa emerging from the 70μ nozzle that were edge-on to the 90° detector were selected as X or Y by the 0° detector. Gated intact spermatozoa were positioned into individual drops and then charged positive or negative for later deflection and collection into tubes containing egg yolk medium.
Prospects for mapping bovine genes affecting disease and production.
Authors: Simpson SP , Williams JL
Published: June 2019

A map of the bovine genome will be an important tool for identifying genes causing congenital defects, and those controlling disease susceptibility and production traits in both beef and dairy cattle. Over 300 genes have already been mapped and a low resolution map should be available within two years. We are actively involved in the EC funded European Bovine Genome Mapping Group. To date our work has involved the development of markers and studies of experimental designs, two necessary precursors of a large scale bovine genome mapping project. In this article we briefly describe ongoing projects underpinning and improving the prospects for mapping bovine genes affecting disease and production.

For a linkage map of the bovine genome to be of use, the markers should display high levels of polymorphism. The most common markers on the map of the human genome are restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), however these are usually diallelic, often with one allele at high frequency. We have been concentrating our efforts on the production of a relatively new class of marker, the micro-satellite.
Effects of Yucca schidigera extract on Bacillus pasteurii urease activity.
Authors: Headon D.R. , Killeen G.
Published: June 2019

Yucca schidigera extracts have been reported to reduce noxious gases such as ammonia in animal rearing facilities when incorporated into the diet. Ammonia reduction effects have been hypothesised to be due to inhibition of microbial urease by the extract The effect of a commercial extract, (De-Odorase, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, Kentucky, U.S.A.), on the activity of urease enzyme from Bacillus pasteurii was determined by measuring the ammonia generated from the breakdown of urea using a modified Berthelot assay. The basis of this assay is the reaction of ammonia, hypochlorite and phenol to give phenolindophenol dye which can be measured colorimetrically. The use of trichloroacetic acid as a stopping reagent allowed addition of extract to controls and standards after enzyme reaction but before colour development. As ionic strength has been reported to affect the activity of certain ureases, it was fixed at 0.90 for all enzyme reactions. Subsaturating substrate concentrations (5 mM) were employed to mimic in vivo conditions. Reaction velocity was measured over the pH range 3.0 to 8.5 in 170 mM potassium citrate, potassium phosphate and potassium HEPES buffers in 0.4% extract (40 times typical dosage). Over the active pH range of the enzyme no significant differences between control and analytical urease activities were observed (P > 0.10). Phosphate strongly inhibited this particular urease, as has been reported for C.ensformis urease and was deemed unsuitable for such assays. We conclude that it is very unlikely that Y.schidigera extracts function as urease inhibitors either in vitro or in vivo.
Full-fat rapeseed and field beans in broiler diets
Authors: Mutalab Salah A. A. , Smithard Ron R.
Published: June 2019

Full-fat low glucosinolate rapeseed has been included safely in, broiler diets, at 10-20% (Leeson et al., 1978), and at 20% (Lee et al., 1991). Full-fat low glucosinolate rapeseed (21 % crude protein (N X 6.25) and 39% oil), milled with field bean (26% crude protein), produce a dietary component which has good physical handling qualities, high protein content (24% CP), with a reasonable balance of amino acids, and moderate oil content (21%). We conducted an experiment to study the ability of broiler chickens to utilize the milled mixture (1:1) of rapeseed and field beans (RB), included at different dietary levels. The study considered; bird performance, nitrogen and fat utilization, pancreas and liver weights, trypsin and a-amylase in jejunal digesta and the pancreas, and plasma thyroxine concentration.
The use of a novel in vitro technique for the assessment of the ruminal degradation of soya bean meal.
Authors: Chamberlain A T
Published: June 2019

The metabolisabie protein system (AFRC, 1992) requires the measurement of the dynamics of the degradation of protein in the rumen. However the recommended method, using fistulated animals, is slow, expensive and may be considered unacceptable by many in terms of animal welfare. The objective of this work was to develop an in vitro technique for the routine assessment of feed protein degradability.

A 101 vessel fitted with an automatic stirrer was filled with modified van Soest media and rumen liquor (pooled from two sheep) and maintained under anaerobic conditions at 39.5°C. Small artificial fibre bags (4.5x3cm, pore size 54 micro-m ±4) were filled with 0.4g of soya bean meal and incubated in the vessel for 3,6,10 and 24 hours using 3 replicates at each time. Bags were washed in running cold water for 30 mins immediately after removal. Four replicates of 3g samples in large Dacron bags (10x7cm, pore size 55 micro-m ±22) were also incubated in sacco in fistulated yearling wethers using a 4x4 Latin square design to assess the base line degradability. In sacco bags were rinsed and frozen after removal and washed in a domestic washing machine at the end of the experiment.
The effect of previous microbial experience on the gas production profiles in the Gas Pressure Transducer system.
Authors: Chamberlain A T
Published: June 2019

A technique involving the measurement of the gas production from the microbial fermentation of a specified substrate in sealed conditions has recently been proposed as a method of assessing the fermentation kinetics of tropical feeds (Theodorou et al, 1992). In this technique the feed under test is the sole source of nutrients to the microbes and therefore it is possible that the nutrient release profile may have an influence on the microbial population leading to a modified gas production profile. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of previous microbial experience on gas production.

One gram air dried feed samples were placed with 95 ml of modified van Soest media and 5 ml of strained rumen liquor in 150 ml serum bottles and sealed under anaerobic conditions. The rumen liquor was obtained from fistulated yearling wethers fed a maintenance diet of 0.9 good hay: 0.1 commercial 16% CP compound feed). Four replicates of fish meal (FM) and eight of spring barley grain (SPB) were set up together with control blanks.
Use of the rumen simulation technique (rusitec) to provide micro-organisms for assessing the rate of fermentation. in vitro, of forages.
Authors: Barbi J H T , Owen E , Theodorou M K
Published: June 2019

In vitro forage-digestion techniques, such as Tilley & Terry (1963) and the recent Pressure Transducer Technique (PTT) of Theodorou et al (1992), rely on rumen-fistulated animals to provide the microbial inoculum. The present study aimed to minimise reliance on rumen-fistulated animals by using the vessel or effluent fluids from the in vitro rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) of Czerkawski & Breckenridge (1977) as sources of inocula for assessing rate of fermentation of forages using the PTT. A previous study (Owen et al 1991) demonstrated the feasibility of using RUSITEC effluent as a source of micro-organisms for the Tilley and Terry (1963) technique.
The effect of increased absorption of ammonia and aroinine on splanchnic metabolism of beef steers
Authors: Maltby S A , Reynolds C K , Lomax M A , Beever D E
Published: June 2019

Cattle fed forage based diets often absorb a high proportion of dietary N as ammonia (NH3N) and this must be detoxified in the liver to urea. It has been suggested that this process utilises both energy and amino acids and may contribute to the lower efficiency of utilisation of dietary nitrogen and energy observed in forage fed ruminants (Fitch et al, 1989). However it is not known to what extent ammonia conversion to urea requires simultaneous deamination of amino acids. We report an experiment which examined hepatic nitrogen and energy metabolism at two different rates of NH3 arrival at the liver, in response an infusion of arginine to increase urea cycle flux. Arginine stimulates the hepatic synthesis of N-acetyl glutamate which is an activator of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, the rate limiting step of the urea cycle (Meijer et al, 1990).
Comparative study of rumen activity in churra and merino sheep
Authors: Carro M.D. , Giráldez F.J. , Ranilla M.J. , González J.S. , Mantecón A.R.
Published: June 2019

Some recent studies (Frutos et al., 1992) comparing Spanish sheep breeds have indicate possible differences between breeds in the digestive diet utilization. The aim of this experiment was to compare the activity of microbies in the rumens of Churra and Merino sheep which were kept in the same environment and received the same diets. The pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration in rumen liquor were also determined in all animals.

The experiment was conducted with 5 mature Churra sheep (47.2 ± 2.74 kg live weight (LW)) and 5 mature Merino sheep (45.0 ± 0.91 kg LW), which had been fitted with a rumen cannula of 35 mm diameter 4 months before the start of the experiment. All animals were housed in individual pens and had free access to water and mineral blocks. The animals received alfalfa hay at maintenance level through the experimental period, which was distributed in two equal amounts at 10:00 and 18:00 h.
The effect of yeast culture on rumen fermentation: Growth of the yeast in the rumen and the requirement for viable yeast cells
Authors: El Hassan S.M. , Newbold C.J. , Wallace R.J.
Published: June 2019

Yeast culture (YC) based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been reported to stimulate bacterial activity within the rumen, leading to increases in ruminal fibre digestion and microbial protein flow from the rumen (Wallace and Newbold, 1992). Dawson (1987) suggested that S. cerevisiae might grow in the rumen. Newbold et al (1990) found no evidence for the growth of S. cerevisiae in the rumen of sheep when the numbers of live yeast in the rumen were measured at various times after a diet contain YC had been consumed. The current experiment was designed to investigate further the possibility that S. cerevisiae grows in the rumen and to establish the importance of viable yeast cells in the action of YC in the rumen.
The Effect of Level of Available Carbohydrate, Offered as a Supplement to a Forage Based Diet, on Intake, Milk Yield and Milk Composition.
Authors: Mansbridge Rosemary
Published: June 2019

It has been reported (Castlejon and Leaver 1990, Hill and Leaver 1991) that when offered as the sole forage intakes of urea treated whole crop cereals (UWCC) were high. However energy output in milk and liveweight change was less than expected from calculations of energy intake.

The level of crude protein (CP) in UWCC is high, typically in the range 200-300 g CP/kg DM. It has been suggested that a non-synchronous supply of available energy and rapidly available nitrogen to the rumen microorganisms was responsible for the low efficiency of utilization reported.

The work described here was carried out to determine whether the utilization of diets containing UWCC could be improved by increasing the supply of readily available carbohydrates to the rumen micro-organisms.
Diet selection of Cockerels and the Feeding Value of Wheat
Authors: Rose S.P. , Abbas G.
Published: June 2019

Different wheat samples can cause variation of up to 15% in the growth rate of broilers (March and Biely 1973). There is a poor relationship between the chemical composition, or the determined ME of the wheat, and it's subsequent feeding value. The diet selections of cockerels change when they are given a choice between a different wheat sample and a balancer feed (Rose and Parker 1990). An objective of this study was to determine whether wheat variety changed diet selections. A second objective was to examine any relationship between selection of wheat by cockerels and it's feeding value for broiler chickens.

Six wheat varieties were grown in 1990 at sites in Yorkshire and Humberside. The samples were produced from randomized block experiments at each site. Diets that contained 70% of each of the 12 wheat samples were fed to 7-day old broilers for 14 days (Rose et al 1992). Excreta were collected for the last 4 days of the feeding trial.
Effect of field storage on quantity and quality of sorghum(sorghum bicolor moech) stover and lablab (lablab purpureus [L] sweet) haulm
Authors: Kitalyi Aichi J , Owen E , Mtenga L A
Published: June 2019

In situ grazing is the most common method of feeding crop residues in semi-arid tropical Africa. The prevailing method of storing is to leave the crop residues standing in the field until grazing. Although such field storage would be expected to result in reduced nutritive value (eg loss of leaf), costs of residue harvesting (eg baling) and storing using conventional forage conservation methods would probably be prohibitive to small-scale farmers (Mlay, 1987).

There is a dearth of information on quantitative and qualitative changes in crop residues left standing in fields after grain harvesting. A study was therefore carried out at Mpwapwa, Tanzania to measure the effects of varying the duration of field storage upon the quantity and quality of sorghum stover and lablab bean haulm.
The particle size distribution in colombian rice polishings and its effect on gas production by rumen micro-organisms in vitro
Authors: Cardenas Garcia D. , Galbraith H. , Newbold C.J. , Rooke J.A.
Published: June 2019

Rice polishings (RP) which are produced as a by-product during the pearling of hulled rice have been successfully used as a supplementary food for ruminants. However, information on the effects of feeding RP on rumen fermentation is contradictory. Valdez et al. (1977) found RP had little effect on rumen fermentation in bulls and suggested that the stimulation in growth rate observed, with RP may be mediated by the provision of nutrients postruminally. In contrast, Cardenas et al. (1992) reported that RP stimulated volatile fatty acid concentrations and microbial numbers when added to a rumen simulating fermentor (Rusitec). One reason for these differences might be that changes in the milling process, used to produce RP, have resulted in a by-product with different physical characteristics to that used in earlier studies. The experiment described here was designed to investigate the particle size distribution in Colombian rice polishings and the effect of these fractions on the rumen fermentation in vitro.
Milk production and rumen measurements in crossbred cattle fed napier grass ad libitum supplemented with two levels of leucaena and maize bran
Authors: Muinga R.U. , Rooke J.A. , Thorpe U. , Reynolds L. , Topps J.H.
Published: June 2019

Previous experiments (Muinga et al. 1992 a, b) have demonstrated that giving protein supplements such as copra cake or the legume Leucaena to cows fed Napier grass ad libitum did not depress Napier grass intake and increased milk production. However little additional response in milk production was obtained when 2 rather than 1 kg Leucaena dry matter (DM) was fed as a supplement. The experiment described here aimed to establish the effects of feeding an energy supplement, maize bran in addition to Leucaena on Napier grass intake and milk production and to measure the effects of the diets on rumen digestion.

Cross-bred cattle (Ayrshire x Sahiwal) were fed Napier grass ad libitum as the sole feed (N) or with the following feeds, 1 kg DM Leucaena (LL), 2 kg DM Leucaena (LH) or 2 kg DM Leucaena and 1 kg DM maize bran (LM). The composition of the feedingstuffs is given in Table 1. Feeds were offered twice daily at 06.00 and 18.00h to the cattle housed in roofed, open-sided stalls. Napier grass was chopped to 20mm lengths and Leucaena was offered after removal of stems thicker than 5mm.
The performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of two breeds of cattle taken to slaughter at three different levels of backfat thickness
Authors: Thomas S. , Demeke K.
Published: June 2019

Slaughtering cattle at lighter weights to produce leaner meat might be expected to improve efficiency of production. An earlier experiment with Hereford x Friesian steers (Thomas, Kay, Hamilton and Fisher, 1987) showed no significant effect on feed efficiency when cattle were slaughtered at three different EC fat classes. An experiment was subsequently carried out to examine the effect on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of two breeds of cattle slaughtered at three different levels of fatness. In this experiment backfat depth was used as the criterion for slaughter.

Thirty Hereford x Friesian/Holstein steers (initial weight 326 kg) and 30 Limousin x Holstein/Friesian steers (initial weight 340 kg) were used in the experiment.
Effects of feeding level, season of calving and body weight on performance and carcass traits of Friesian x native calves
Authors: Fahmy S T M , Hassan H A , el-Feel F M , Morsy N H A
Published: June 2019

Forty-two weaned calves( Friesian X Native) of 100 Kg body weight were used in this study to estimate the most appropriate feeding level for calves reared under the upper Egypt conditions. The experimental farm of Animal production department, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Minia University, Egypt, was the farm where this work was conducted. Calves (21 males and 21 females) were randomly alloted into three equal groups fed on concentrate mixture (44% wheat bran, 19% yellow maize, 12.5% cotton seed meal, 12.5% cotton seed hulls, 5% extracted rice bran, 4% molasses, 2% lime stone and 1% sodium chloride) and rice straw in quantities that meet 80 , 100 and 120% of the averaged feed standerds (Kellner, 1926; Morrison,1957; T'ommi,19S3; ARC, 1979 and NEC, 1984). Barseem (Trifolium Alexandrinum),the popular green clover was included in the diet to represent 50% of the roughage portion(1 % of the body weigi when it was available. The concentrate mixture was offered twice dail at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. while rice straw was introduced once daily at 8 a.m. . Water was freely available. The feeding period was extended til the males achieved 400 Kg body weight and slaughtered, while females were kept for breeding.
Effects on performance and meat characteristics of a diet supplemented with fat during the finishing period of growing fattening bolls.
Authors: Hollo V. , Marche C. , Dufrasne I. , Van Eenaeme C. , Istasse L.
Published: June 2019

Fat supplementation is commonly used in feedstufs for high yielding cows or ewes. The diet for growing-fattening bulls in Belgium are usually high in concentrate. The fat content.of such diets .is low at .about 2.51. Over the recent years, feed manufacturers have incorporated fat in diets for growing-fattening animals (Clmquart, Istasse, Dufrasne, Mayombo, Van Eenaeme, Bienfait, 1991). In most of the reported works the fat supplemented diets were offered during the whole fattening period according to Brandt, Anderson and Elliot (1988) and Zinn (1989), differences in performance could be expected when the fat supplement is offered only during the finishing period. An experimental was designed to compare the effects of fat supplementation during the last part of the fattening period on the performance and meat characteristics of fattening bulls.
Comparison of 2 growth patterns during the growing period in fattening bulls. 1. animal performances
Authors: Hornick J.L. , Van Eenaeme C. , Clinquart A. , Korsak N. , Istasse L.
Published: June 2019

Beef meat in Belgium is mainly produced from growing fattening bulls. In the usual technique, the average daily gain is about 1.0 kg/day during the growing period while it is about 1.4 to 1.5 kg/d during the fattening period (Clinquart et al., 1991). The aim of the present trial was to study another growth curve characterized by a low growth rate during the growing period and to assess the effects in terms of coipensatory growth during the fattening period.
Comparison of 2 growth patterns during the growing period in fattening bulls. 3. slaughter characteristics, carcass composition and meat quality
Authors: Clinquart A. , Van Eenaeme C. , Van Vooren T. , Van Hoof J. , Istasse L.
Published: June 2019

The degree to which growth patterns are modified after a period of food restriction affects the compositional changes of the carcasses(Carstens et al., 1992), furthermore, the growth rate has a direct effect on the physical properties of meat (Fishell et al., 1985). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of a severe food restriction at a early stage of maturity on the slaughter characteristics and meat quality of Belgian Blue bulls.

Twelve Belgian Blue bulls (dual purpose type) weighing 233 kg were offered two different planes of nutrition during the growing period. Six bulls (Group-) received a restricted diet so that their average daily gain was 0.34 kg/d (Group+) during 202 days. By contrast six other bulls were given a more conventional growing diet and their average daily gain was 1.13 kg/d. Both Groups were fattened with similar diet and slaughtered when the live weight was close to 600 kg. Carcass weight was measured and killing-out proportion calculated, the composition of the carcass was estimated after dissection of ribs 7, 8, 9 removed 48 h post-mortem.
Nest site choice by farrowing sows offered cubicles or parallel walls
Authors: Petchey A M
Published: June 2019

Freedom of movement and the opportunity to express normal behaviours are important requirements for any housing system which satisfies the welfare codes (MAFF, 1983). Intensive pig production systems generally house farrowing sows in crates to minimise the probability that piglets will be crushed. To satisfy the welfare codes there is, therefore, a need to develop a loose housing system which satisfies a multiplicity of conditions. It must give the sow unrestrained movement, allow nest building activities, provide physical protection and warm environmental conditions for the young piglets. In a previous choice trial sows sited their nests within cubicles rather than a corner or beside a straight wall (Hunt and Petchey, 1989). In another trial they were offered an arrangement of parallel walls spaced 0.55,0.95 or 1.35 m apart, most sows (0.44) chose to farrow between the 0.55 m spaced walls (Petchey, 1991). Sows making this choice (ie 0.55 m spacing) also exhibited more nest building behaviours and built significantly bigger nests (P<0.05). The trial reported here offers sows the preferred sites of the two previous trials.
The effects of dry sow housing conditions on responses to farrowing
Authors: Marchant J.N. , Broom D.M.
Published: June 2019

The majority of sows in the United Kingdom farrow in commercial ‘crates', irrespective of the housing system in which they were kept during gestation. Consumer demand is influencing current thinking on intensive husbandry systems and this, together with approaching legislation concerning the ban on stalls and tethers, is forcing the UK pig industry to move further towards group housing for gestating sows. More research needs to be carried out to assess the effects that the close confinement afforded by farrowing crates, have on sows which have previously gestated in an open environment. The objective of this study was to determine whether the housing conditions of gestating sows had effects on their responses to farrowing conditions.

The study was carried out on twenty - two Large White X Landrace sows ranging from 3rd to 6th parity. Eleven sows housed in stalls, and eleven sows loose-housed in a large group were each observed over two farrowings; once in an open pen and once in a conventional crate, giving eleven farrowings observed in each of four treatments. Five days before the predicted farrowing date, the sows were removed from the dry sow house, weighed, washed and moved to the farrowing house. Here they were recorded, using timelapse video, from entry until farrowing had occurred. Production figures were also noted. The number of posture changes were recorded, and the average duration and total duration per posture type calculated in three separate 24 hour periods.These periods were;1) the first 24 hours in the farrowing house,2) the period between 72-48 hours before farrowing.and 3) the 24 hours preceding farrowing. Not all sows farrowed on the fifth day after entry into the farrowing house, and where Period 1 overlapped with Period 2, the Period 2 results were omitted from the analysis. The postures recorded were; Standing, Sitting/Kneeling, Lying on Udder and Lying with Udder Exposed.
Comparison of methods to measure hierarchies dm group-housed sows and the interaction with feeding regime
Authors: Brouns F , Edwards S A , English P R
Published: June 2019

Dominance allows animals priority of access to resources when these are limited. It is common practice to feed dry sows once or twice daily a relatively small amount of food. This can lead to high competition for food, when there are no provisions for individual feeding of group housed sows. In contrast, competition for food should be low when offeredad libitum.This study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding regime on the measurement of hierarchies in group housed dry sows.

Four groups of 12 multiparous sows were housed in deep straw pens (3.1 m2/sow). Two groups were offered a high fibre dietad libitumfrom a three-space hopper (LC) and two groups were floor-fed 3 kg/sow of a standard diet once daily (HC). The diet composition is given in Brouns et al (1992).

Groups were allocated to treatment after service. After two months on treatment, the dominance of every sow in each pen was determined in a feed competition test between all possible dyads of sows. A more detailed description of this test is given in Brouns et al (1992). The results of this test indicated how many pen mates each sow dominated (DR). This was used to calculate an index of linearity for the hierarchy (Appleby, 1983) giving a value between 0 and 1, where 1 indicates a completely linear hierarchy.
A comparison of a straw-based and slatted floor housing system for the weaned pig
Authors: Britton M , Roden J A , MacPherson O , Willox G , English P R
Published: June 2019

Little objective information is available on the relative merits of straw based and slatted floored systems for the weaned pig in terms of performance and indices of welfare. A controlled experiment was conducted in an attempt to obtain relevant information.

The following 3 systems were compared: (1) straw bedded pens (SB), conventional flat decks (FD) and identical flat decks with environmental enrichment (FD+). The FD pens had fully perforated expanded metal floors with an ad lib feeder across the front of the pen and 2 nipple drinkers on the opposite wall. The enriched FD pens had a variety of ‘recreational’ objects added - a metal chain and tyre suspended from the ceiling within the pigs’ reach, a concrete block, a tyre and an assortment of rounded stones of different size placed on the pen floor. There were 3 pens per room but only 2 were used in the trial, one each for the FD and FD+ treatments. Temperature control was by means of 2 gas heaters and a fan assisted ventilation system which was thermostatically controlled. The straw pens were located in a large cattle court which had a concrete floor; within each pen there was a kennelled lying area and an open outrun. The whole floor surface was kept liberally covered with good quality dry barley straw. An identical ad lib feeder to that in the flat decks was provided in the outrun area and 2 nipple drinkers were provided adjacent to the feeder. In all treatments for the first 3 days of the trial a box drinker was placed in each pen to allow the pigs time to familiarise themselves with the nipple drinkers.
The Litter and Wire System of Housing for Laying Hens
Authors: Alvey D M , Tucker S A
Published: June 2019

The litter and wire system of housing for laying hens is a compromise between an all litter system (maximum stocking density 7 birds/m2) and the perchery system (maximum stocking density 25 birds/m2).The wire areas are usually constructed over a droppings pit.The current EC Egg Marketing Regulations allow a proportion of the wire area to be Included as perching area and this permits the stocking density to be increased to 11.7 birds/m2, as long as a minimum of 53% of the floor area is wire.

In 2 studies at Gleadthorpe between 1990-92 the laying performance, behaviour and welfare of laying hens in a litter and wire system were evaluated. The pen, with a floor area of 10.0m x 7.67m contained 3 areas of wood shavings litter. The litter areas were separated longitudinally by two, 250 mm high, raised platforms of wire mesh built over a droppings pit. The wire mesh covered 57% of the floor area. Chain feeder and nipple drinker lines were positioned over the wire area. Each bird had 95 mm of feeder space and nipple drinkers were provided at a ratio of 1 per 6 birds.Two tiers of “Astroturf” lined, rear roll-away nestboxes were provided, one per 5.9 birds along each of the longest sides of the unit. During the first month of lay, nest boxes were “managed” to discourage overnight roosting.
Assessment of the welfare of food restricted broiler breeder males with musculo-skeletal lesions
Authors: Hocking P.M.
Published: June 2019

Leg disorders in male turkey breeding stock are associated with pain during locomotion (Duncan et al 1990). Musculo-skeletal diseases are prevalent in broiler breeder males and the experiment was designed to evaluate birds of two ages for evidence of pain during movement. Two experiments were conducted, the first examined differences in sexual motivation and the second the rate of walking towards a food reward. At the end of the experiment the birds were killed and the legs dissected to establish the presence of musculoskeletal disease.

Commercial broiler breeder males were housed singly with 15 females in 4 rooms each containing 12 floor pens measuring 1.5 x 2.4 m. There were 24 males in each of two age groups (40 and 60 weeks at the start of the experiments). To determine sexual motivation, males were removed to an empty pen in a spare room. They were returned after 3-5 h and observed for 15 min. The time to make a sexual approach (AP) and to mount a female (MT), and the number of copulations were recorded on three different days. Subsequently, males were trained to walk through a 20 m long alley constructed of hardboard to receive their daily food allocation. During testing, the time taken to reach the food was recorded 3 times before the male was returned to its pen. The males in two rooms were used in a 2-period crossover experiment to evaluate the effects of naloxone (an opiate receptor antagonist) and three analgesics on walking speed (Table 1). All measurements of time were transformed to natural logarithms for analysis. A censored analysis was used for AP and MT. The total number of copulations observed (COP) was modelled using Poisson errors. The models included effects for age and day (where appropriate). The data were reanalysed with the lesion score as a fixed effect. The initial model for walking speed included period and carry over effects. Mixed model methods (REML) were used to assess the final model with birds as blocks and treatment and lesion as main effects.
Using blup to estimate responses est a sheep flock selected for litter size
Authors: Pollott G.E.
Published: June 2019

The reproductive performance of ewes is an important contributor to flock profitability in many different situations. Although the heritability of reproductive traits is low there is often enough phenotypic variance to make a consideration of selection a possibility for improvement in litter size. Genetic trends in selection experiments have traditionally been monitored using a control flock which should be kept as an unseletced group. The recent availability of user friedly BLUP programs have added an extra method for estimating genetic trends. This paper reports the use of BLUP to estimate the genetic trends in a sheep population selected for litter size.
Fulgentius of Ruspe on Baptism
Authors: John J. Gavigan O.S.A.
Published: June 2019

St. Fulgentius of Ruspe had so completely assimilated the teachings of St. Augustine that he was known to the Middle Ages as Augustinus breviatus. He was referred to by Bossuet in his Défense de la Tradition et des saints Pères as un grand docteur and dubbed le plus grand théologien et le plus saint évêque de son temps. This judgment has been accepted by modern authors also. But in spite of this recognition, studies upon the doctrinal content of his work are disappointingly few. Indeed, Fulbert Cayré felt compelled to complain against the frequently repeated view that the center of Fulgentius' theology was concerned with grace and predestination. As a matter of fact, the central point of Fulgentius' system revolved rather about the problems of the Holy Trinity and of Christology, whereas the subjects of grace and predestination were for him merely the consequence and the application of those primary points. Be that as it may, the sacramental system of Fulgentius has been greatly neglected. The present study aims to make a slight contribution concerning his doctrine on Baptism.
Hippocrates Latinus: Repertorium of Hippocratic Writings in the Latin Middle Ages (IV)
Authors: Kibre Pearl
Published: June 2019

The following pages continue the survey or Repertorium of Hippocratic writings in the Latin Middle Ages before 1500, begun in Traditio 31 (1975) 99–126 and continued in succeeding issues. This issue covers twelve tracts (including some fragments and spurious compilations): VIII. De Cancro, IX. Capsula Eburnea (De Carnibus), X. Chirurgia, XI. De Cibis or Diaeta, XII. De Comate, XIII. De Contemptu Mundi, XIV. Dies Critici, XV. Dies Egypliaci, XVI. Dinamidia, XVII. Dogma, XVIII. De elementis, and XIX. Epidemiol.
Numerology and Allegory in Boccaccio's Caccia di Diana
Authors: Kirkham Victoria
Published: June 2019

Boccaccio's first work, theCaccia di Diana, is generally considered a playful allegory of ‘courtly’ love. Although the poem's literal content cannot be reconciled with its allegedly amorous message, critics have cited the discrepancy as a characteristic example of the youthful author's failure to appreciate the importance of narrative unity. There is, however, reason to believe that we have been mistaken both in our understanding of theCaccia'smeaning and in our evaluation of its artistic merit. Like Dante'sCommedia, Vita nuova, and lostsirventese, Boccaccio's primary models for this early narrative, it is, in fact, a carefully planned numerical composition. The symbolic implications of the numbers hidden in the text suggest, moreover, that Diana's hunt and the miraculous triumph of her rival, Venus, form a fictional veil designed to conceal an emblematic victory of virtue over vice and an allegory of conversion from bestial lust to Christian love.
The ‘Parson's Tale’ and the Quitting of the ‘Canterbury Tales’
Authors: Patterson Lee W.
Published: June 2019

For most of Chaucer's readers theParson's Taleprovides a conclusion to theCanterbury Talesthat is at best drab, at worst a betrayal of all that is thought to be most Chaucerian. Even sympathetic readers find it something to argue away rather than interpret, a strategy that finds its logical fulfillment in the unsympathetic claim that Chaucer is not really responsible for the tale at all. Manly expressed this view with admirable forthrightness: ‘the Parson's Tale… was probably never composed by Chaucer, the two uncomposed fragments of penitential treatises found in our MSS under that designation being at best only loose materials, translated by Chaucer for future use, and copied by his literary executor as the Parson's Tale only because Chaucer's chest contained no other piece of prose that seemed appropriate to the Parson.’ While few contemporary critics would have the temerity to engage in these bibliographical speculations, many of Manly's assumptions are in fact still with us. On the question of originality and date, for instance, Professor Donaldson has recently described the tale as ‘apparently translated by Chaucer from the Latin of some manual directed at helping priests in the performance of their spiritual duties,’ and adds that 'scholars generally agree that the translation was made at an earlier stage in Chaucer's career. ‘ On the work's coherence — or lack of it — another recent commentator has approvingly quoted a remark first made in 1901 by Mark Liddell: ‘none of the Latin, English, or French treatises on this subject that I have seen (and I have examined a great number in the hope of finding the source of Chaucer's work) is so confused and disproportioned as Chaucer's is.’ Similarly, in commenting on ‘the disjointed nature of the links' between the part on penance and that on the sins, Morton Bloomfield speculates that this ‘indicates an early stage in the combining. Chaucer, who left theCanterbury Talesunfinished, would probably have provided the proper links, but he did not have time. ‘ While this view of theParson's Taleas journeyman's work completed early in the poet's career is not entirely unanimous, it is close to a consensus.
An Overlooked Story About Apollonius of Tyana in Anastasius Sinaita
Authors: Penella Robert J.
Published: June 2019

In his Quaestiones et responsiones (PG 89.524d–525b) Anastasius Sinaita tells a story about three magi, Apollonius of Tyana, Julianus, and Apuleius, a story which he says is found ἐν τοῖς τῶν ἐϱχαιοτέϱων ἐνδϱῶν διηγήμασι. When Rome was suffering from a plague, the emperor Domitian summoned the three magi to the city and asked for their help. Apuleius told the emperor that he could put an end to the plague in a third of the city within fifteen days. Apollonius claimed that he could perform the same feat in another third of the city within only ten days. But Julianus, objecting that the plague would destroy the city before fifteen days could pass, put an end to it immediately in the remaining third of the city. Domitian then asked Julianus to free the other two-thirds of Rome from the plague, and he quickly did so.
The ‘Sentences’-Commentary of Stukle: A New Source for Oxford Theology in the Fourteenth Century
Authors: Courtenay William J.
Published: June 2019

The recovery of the work of an author previously known only through citations and references in other manuscripts is always an exciting event. Although rare in any area of medieval studies, such finds broaden our knowledge of the intellectual development and open up new aspects for study. It was through a fortuitous paralleling of citations in Gregory of Rimini with an anonymous Sentences-commentary at the Franciscan convent in Fribourg that Damasus Trapp, a ground-breaker in fourteenth-century scholastic studies, discovered the Sentences-commentary of an English Benedictine still known only as Monachus Niger. More recently Jan Pinborg has connected the fourteenth-century citations to the Magister Abstractionum with a work otherwise known as the Sophismata of Richardus Sophista. The following discovery, although not at present of the same importance to the field, shares one thing in common with Trapp's discovery. It provides us with yet another text from the same period of Oxford thought and may in fact also be by a Benedictine, a group that was numerically strong at Oxford but from which we have had almost no extant work to study.
Notes regarding, and Model of, Mass of Manufactured Iron, bearing date 1807, found beside Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Rhone Valley
Authors: Milne James
Published: June 2019

Mr President and Gentlemen,—During the past summer I visited for two or three weeks a new summer and winter Alpine resort, called Hotel du Parc, built by M. Zufferey and a partner near the village of Montana, on the north side of the Rhone valley, above Sierre, which is situated on a curious park-like plateau, with a number of lake-like reservoirs and quantities of timber, at an elevation of 5000 to 6000 feet.

While enjoying to the full the beautiful walks and views and the superabundance of flowers, many of which are now getting comparatively scarce if not extinct in the older resorts, I pushed my way one day up to the Glacier de la Plaine Morte by a valley several miles to the eastward of the hotel. It is a stiff walk of about four hours from the hotel to the Glacier, first through thick pine woods and steep pasture, and latterly, as you penetrate the side valley, along very steep slides of debris composed of clayey slate and bottoms filled with very rough stones that have been carried from the cliffs above, the only vegetation being the numerous ranunculi, gentiana bavarica, and other Alpine flowers familiar to those who are accustomed to search for them at these high altitudes.
On the Relationship of the Liver to Fats
Authors: Paton D. Noël
Published: June 2019

The liver is on the direct channel of absorption of carbohydrates and proteids, and its connection with the metabolism of these substances has been fully demonstrated.

It is not on the channel of absorption of fats, and its relationship to the metabolism of fats has never been systematically investigated.

The object of the present research is to elucidate this question.

The first part of the paper is concerned with an investigation into the methods of estimating the fats. It is shown that after complete extraction with ether, by treating the residue with hydrochloric acid and heat, a further amount of material may be extracted by ether, but that it is impossible to say how far this is composed of the fatty acids previously combined with bases as soaps, and how far from the decomposition of nuclein bodies. The present research, therefore, is concerned simply with the fats extracted by ether.

It is next shown that the ether extract is no fair measure of the amount of fats present, since it contains on an average only 57 per cent. of fatty acids. In estimating the amount of fats, it is necessary to determine the fatty acids, and not merely the ether extract. The fatty acids amount to between 2 and 3 per cent. of the liver substance.

In the liver the proportion of palmitic and stearic acids to oleic acid is shown to be markedly higher than in the fats of the rest of the body. Hence the liver fat has a high melting-point.
On the Cause and Nature of the Chemical Changes occurring in Oceanic Deposits
Authors: Hartley W. N.
Published: June 2019

In Nature of January 24, 1895, appears an abstract of a paper read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh on March 7, 1892, by Dr John Murray and Mr Robert Irvine, and published in the Transactions of the Society, vol. xxxvii. part 2, No. 23, entitled “Chemical Changes between Sea-water and Oceanic Deposits.”

This is an account of a chemical examination of the sea-water salts in the water adhering to or retained in mud, with special reference to the formation of the deposit known as “Blue Mud.”

Dittmar's analysis of sea-water is quoted and compared with an analysis of mud-water. The chief points of difference between the two is the occurrence in mud-water salts of 0·206 per cent. of ammonium sulphate, 0·729 per cent. of magnesium carbonate, and 0·18 per cent. of manganous carbonate; also that the total salts are low in proportion to the chlorine they contain.

The occurrence of ammonium sulphate in this mud, and also of manganous carbonate, are facts of much interest; but there are some equations given to explain the chemical changes which the mud undergoes which are not strictly in accordance with facts. There are three points which I would desire to draw attention to: first, the reduction of the sulphates; second, the oxidation of sulphuretted hydrogen; and third, the formation of manganous carbonate.

The equations are written without reference to the part played by water in the chemical changes involved, but it may have been thought that the accuracy sacrificed was compensated by the simpler form of the equations.