bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of sire genotype on the histochemical profile of theM. longissimus dorsiof pigs slaughtered at a heavy weight and its relationship with meat colour
Authors: Paściak P. , Migdał W. , Wojtysiak D. , Połtowicz K. , Pieszka M.
Published: June 2019

Over the last twenty years, pig breeding has been very successful in the selection for improved lean meat production and reduced fat level. In order to meet increasing pressure to reduce fatness and increase muscularity in fatteners different types of meat boars are used by pig producers instead of traditional sires (Landrace, Large White or Duroc). There is some concern that meat and eating quality have suffered as a result of this strong use of meat boars. According to Warriss (2000), specifically the presence of Pietrain genes in many meat-line boars could potentially make their offspring more prone to the production PSE meat. Colour is the major determinant of appearance of raw meat. It can be determined by two main factors – the first is the concentration of the haem pigments, myoglobin and haemoglobin - the second is the muscle microstructure. Heavier slaughter weights have become a feature of a number of markets. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the effect of sire genotype on the histochemical profile of theM. longissimus dorsifrom pigs slaughtered at a relatively heavy weight the 129.3 kg.
Grazing livestock interactions with upland and montane biodiversity
Authors: Dennis P.
Published: June 2019

Sheep and cattle interact with arthropods (e.g., insects and spiders) and small vertebrates (e.g., passerine birds and small mammals) directly and indirectly by the removal of vegetation during grazing, the trampling of vegetation and soil, and the deposition of excreta, associated with the redistribution of nutrients. The cold and wet upland and montane biotopes have low productivity, and grazing by free-ranging domestic livestock alters structure more than botanical composition of the vegetation in these biotopes over short periods (one to three years). In contrast to productive lowland or intensified upland pastures, upland and montane biotopes include patches of vegetation with a high proportion of leaf litter associated with plant species that are unpalatable or of poor nutritional value for grazers.
Predicting the effects of grazing management on moorland bird abundance
Authors: Gardner S. M. , Buchanan G. M. , Pearce-Higgins J. W. , Grant M. C.
Published: June 2019

Field studies of grazing management have frequently concluded that the magnitude and direction of vegetation response is dependent on initial vegetation condition. On upland heath, this dependence reflects the importance of small-scale ecological processes (e.g. plant competition), and local neighbourhood effects (e.g. spatial distribution of plant species), in driving the vegetation dynamics. These small-scale effects, together with variation in grazing patterns, increase the difficulty of deriving general rules about the effect of grazing on vegetation change from field studies. However, we need to determine the impacts of such grazing-related vegetation change upon biodiversity, (e.g. birds). For many bird species it is impractical to use experimental approaches due to low breeding densities, and the influence of other site and management effects (e.g. predator control). To predict the effect of management changes on them requires an accurate assessment of the large-scale effects of grazing management on the ecological landscape using data from small-scale field studies. This paper sets out an approach that integrates field studies with theoretical models to investigate the large-scale effects of grazing management on plant and bird communities on upland heath.
Tannins in animal nutrition and health – implications for temperate and tropical feeds
Authors: Mueller-Harvey I. , Mlambo V. , Smith T.
Published: June 2019

This review surveys the nutritional and veterinary effects of tannins on ruminants and provides comparisons with non-ruminants. Tannins are a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds with useful biological effects. However, currently there are difficulties in predicting which tannins produce what effects.
The effect of fatty acid oxidation products on lipid metabolism during in vitro batch culture
Authors: Lee M.R.F. , Tweed J.K.S. , Neville M.A. , Scollan N. D. , Dewhurst R.J.
Published: June 2019

Milk fat conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations are higher for milk produced from cows grazing fresh pastures than for milk when conserved forages are fed (Jahreis et al., 1997). This experiment investigated the hypothesis that this increased CLA production results from the action of volatile compounds (hydroperoxides, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones) released during the cutting of grass (De Gouw et al., 1999).These compounds have antimicrobial activities (Kubo et al., 1995) and may have an effect on rumen microbial populations.
Effects of washing procedure and dilution ratio on the size of non-washout, insoluble washout, and soluble washout fractions in concentrate ingredients
Authors: Azarfar A. , Tamminga S. , Boer H.
Published: June 2019

A widely adopted procedure to characterize degradation in the rumen is the in situ incubation technique (IS), that assumes the washout fraction of feeds (W) to be equal to the soluble (S) fraction and that both are rapidly and completely degraded which may not be the case. Because IS technique is unable to measure the rate at which the W fraction is actually degraded; therefore, alternative washing procedures need to be developed to recover and fractionate the W fraction. Recently, simple washing procedure have been developed at Lelystad (method M) (Melin et al, unpublished results) and at Wageningen (method AA, SM and Y) (Azarfar et al., 2004; Yang et al., unpublished results), by which the feeds can be fractionated in a non-washout (NWF), an insoluble washout (ISWF) and a soluble washout fraction (SWF). The aims of this study were: 1-To study the effect of different washing procedures on the size of NWF, ISWF and SWF in some concentrate ingredients. 2- To study the effect of different dilution ratios (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40) on the size of SWF, and soluble true protein (STP) in some concentrates ingredients.
Effect of enzyme addition on the availability for poultry of amino acids in rapeseed meal
Authors: Rymer C. , Givens D. I.
Published: June 2019

Rapeseed meal (RSM) is the richest source of commercially available home grown protein in the UK, but its inclusion in livestock diets is approximately half that of soyabean meal (SBM, DEFRA, 2004). RSM has a lower protein and available lysine content than SBM but increased nutrient digestibility was observed when pigs were fed RSM supplemented with non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes (Hoare et al., 2003). The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of adding different amounts of a cell wall degrading enzyme on the available amino acid content of RSM as estimated in poultry.
The effect of oil supplementation and method of application on the overall digestibility of diets for finishing pigs
Authors: McCann M. E. E. , Magowan E. , Beattie V. E. , McCracken K. J. , S. Smyth  , Mayne C. S.
Published: June 2019

By-product-based diets generally contain lower levels of energy than cereal-based diets due to higher levels of fibre (Bakker et al., 1995). Supplementation with oil is a common method of improving the digestible energy content of by-product-based diets and it has been reported that this practice may also improve energy digestibility. However, the results of McCann et al., (2004) suggested that the method of oil application to finishing pig diets may affect the digestibility of dietary nutrients. The aim of this experiment was to compare apparent digestibility coefficients determined in finishing pigs offered either by-product based diets or cereal-based diets, with and without vegetable oil blend supplementation applied using two different methods (either directly incorporated into the pellet (IN) or sprayed (SP) on after pelleting).
The effect of method of dietary oil application on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs
Authors: Magowan E. , M. E. E. McCann  , Beattie V. E. , McCracken K. J. , Bradford R. , Mayne C. S.
Published: June 2019

Oil supplementation of by-product based diets is a common method of increasing the energy content of pig diets to levels equivalent to those of cereal-based diets (Overland et al 1999). However, by-product based diets supplemented with oil have been reported to reduce feed intake and digestible energy intake when compared with cereal-based diets (Magowan et al 2004). It is not known whether this effect occurs as a result of the higher levels of fibre in by-product-based diets or as a result of a reduction in palatability arising from the inclusion of oil in the pellet. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of method of vegetable oil blend application (either incorporated directly into the pellet (IN), or sprayed on after pelleting (SP)) on the performance and carcass characteristics of commercially housed finishing pigs.
The effect of lactose inclusion in finishing diets on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, lactobacilli concentrations and ammonia emissions from boars
Authors: Pierce K. M. , Sweeney T. , Callan J. J. , Byrne C. , McCarthy P. , O’Doherty J. V.
Published: June 2019

There is growing interest in the manipulation of dietary ingredients a means of reducing nitrogen excretion (NE) and ammonia (NH3) losses from pig production. Significant quantities of lactose may reach the hindgut of the older pig undigested, yielding a substrate for bacteria (Kim et al., 1978). It is hypothesised that increasing concentrations of lactose in finishing pig diets will alter NE patterns and reduce NH3-N emission.
Is there a role for chicory in controlling internal parasitism in organic sheep?
Authors: Athanasiadou S. , Gray D. , Tzamaloukas O. , Zaralis K. , Lhuillier T. , Kyriazakis I. , Jackson F.
Published: June 2019

The potential antiparasitic effects of chicory (Cichorium intybus ) are currently investigated as an alternative means to control parasitism in organic sheep production systems. Previous studies showed that parasitised lambs grazing on parasite-clean chicory swards had improved growth and lower faecal egg counts (FEC) compared to those grazing on parasite-clean grass pastures (Athanasiadou et al, 2004). The objective of this experiment was to investigate whether chicory can have a role as a potential means to control parasitism in lactating ewes and their lambs grazing on previously parasite contaminated pastures.
Supplementation of ewe diets with algal biomass rich in Docosahexaenoic acid for different time periods before lambing affects measures of lamb viability
Authors: Pickard R. M. , Beard A. P. , Seal C. J. , Edwards S. A.
Published: June 2019

The improvement of neonatal viability by maternal nutrition during gestation has been widely studied in numerous species. Recent investigations have explored the role of long chain omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) in maternal diets during pregnancy. These are the major fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular, in brain and nervous tissue, with specific roles in neural development and cognitive function. Studies in monogastric species have shown that supplementing maternal gestation diets with EFAs positively influences neonatal survival and growth (Rookeet al., 2001), but work in ruminant species is scarce. Previous investigations have predominantly used fish oil as the source of omega-3 EFAs but alternative, more sustainable, sources are desirable. To date, the effect of period of inclusion of EFAs in gestation diets has not been thoroughly explored. The period of rapid brain growth in the ovine foetus occurs between 10 and 6 weeks prior to birth (Turleyet al., 1996). This study explored the effects of feeding an algal source of EFAs, with a high content of DHA, during different time periods on measures of lamb viability.
Estimation of protein fermentation in the colon of pigs with the gas production technique
Authors: Cone J.W. , Jongbloed A.W. , van Gelder A.H. , de Lange L.
Published: June 2019

Techniques to determine N availability and fermentation characteristics of protein in the hindgut of pigs are not available. The gas production technique (Cone et al., 1996) determines fermentation characteristics of OM and can also be used after pre-digestion of the samples with pepsin and pancreatic enzymes to determine fermentation characteristics of OM in the colon of pigs (Becker et al., 2003). The technique can be adapted to obtain gas production profiles reflecting the fermentation of protein (N availability). To achieve this, incubations have to be done with an excess of fast fermentable carbohydrates, in an N-free environment making N the limiting factor for microbial growth depending on the availability of N from the feed samples. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities to use the gas production technique to determine the fermentation characteristics of protein in the hindgut of pigs.
The interaction between threonine level and avilamycin inclusion on piglet performance and diet digestibility post weaning
Authors: O’Connell J. M. , Callan J. J. , O’Doherty J. V.
Published: June 2019

The increase in the prevalence of post weaning diarrhoea in pigs due to the progressive ban of antibiotic use has necessitated the use of alternative management and nutritional strategies (Le Bellego and Noblet, 2001). During immunological stress, amino acids are redistributed away from protein production towards tissues involved in inflammation and immune response. This can disturb normal body processes, which can in turn induce specific amino acid requirements. Threonine utilization by the gut is higher than that of any other amino acid because it is involved in the synthesis of intestinal mucin. Mucin plays a key role in the defence of the mucosa, however it is indigestible. Thus, when the positive effects of an antimicrobial growth promoter are removed, increased levels of dietary threonine may benefit piglets due to additional reserves of threonine being present to compensate for the portion of dietary threonine that becomes unavailable due to the increased synthesis of intestinal mucin. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the interaction between threonine level and avilamycin inclusion on piglet performance and diet digestibility post weaning.
Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation of sows and piglets on health and performance of piglets
Authors: Icely S. , Stewart A. H. , Blanchard P.J. , Mackenzie A. M.
Published: June 2019

Pigs are able to synthesise their own ascorbic acid (AA), however a number of studies have shown benefits of supplementation. It is thought that additional ascorbic acid may be required in pig diets during periods of stress, infection or due to the increased demands for growth. The neonatal pig has an immature immune system and is also under physiological stress due to the rapid development of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this trial was to investigate effects of AA supplementation of sows in late pregnancy and lactation and oral drenching of piglets from birth to weaning on piglet performance and health during the suckling period.
Effect of supplementing piglet diets with Rovimix® Stay C® 35 and/or iron on total iron biding capacity and total antioxidants
Authors: Muturi K. N. , Soriano O. , Struthers J. , McPherson O. , Scaife J. R.
Published: June 2019

The balance between cellular oxidants and antioxidants is important in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and functionality. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant with strong chelating properties, which enhances the absorption of ferric and non -heame iron from the gut (Fishman et al, 2000). However, vitamin C is unstable in the presence of alkali and is susceptible in the duodenum (Arrigoni, and De Tullio, 2002). This study tested the ability of a stable preparation of Vitamin C, Rovimix® Stay C® 35 (DSM Nutritional Products), to regulate iron uptake as measured by total iron binding capacity (T.I.B.C) and as an antioxidant as measured by total antioxidant status (TROLOX) in weaned piglets.
The effect of inclusion of Natupro in the grower pig diet on nitrogen utilisation, retention, excretion and digestibility
Authors: Casserly R. M. , Beattie V. E. , Callan J. J. , Henry R. W. , O’Doherty J. V.
Published: June 2019

With the ban on the use of mammalian protein in the EU and the implementation of restrictive use of fishmeal in animal diets coupled with the increased legislative pressures to reduce nitrogen output from animal production, there is an increased requirement for an alternative protein source, which is lower in overall crude protein percentage while still meeting the animal’s optimum amino acid requirement. Natupro is an alternative nutritionally enhanced GMO free vegetable protein, which carefully matches all of the above criteria, as it is low in crude protein (36%) with a controlled release of amino acid mechanism (Natupro amino acid analysis Table 2). Glucosamine is the inspiration behind Natupro, the combination of sugars and amine moites gave rise to the concept of a sugar carrier, which is the mechanism Natupro uses for the consistent controlled release of amino acids over time. The objective of this current experiment is to access the effect of inclusion of Natupro in the grower pigs diet on nitrogen retention, utilisation, excretion and digestibility.
The effect of addition of ß-carotene, vitamins C and E in feed mixture enriched with CLA on sensory traits and oxidative status of pork meat
Authors: Pieszka M. , Paściak P. , Barowicz T. , Janik A. , Kędzior W. , Wojtysiak D. , Migdał W.
Published: June 2019

There is some concern that meat and eating quality can suffered as a result of dietary CLA supplementation through the influence on fatty acids metabolism and it content in meat. CLA addition to pigs’ diet requires simultaneous addition of antioxidative vitamins’ taking part in stabilization of double bonds of CLA inbuilt in phospholipids complex of cell membrane (Livisay et al., 2000).
A pilot study to estimate the intake of grass by ponies with restricted access to pasture
Authors: Ince J. C. , Longland A. C. , Moore-Colyer M. , Newbold C. J. , Drakley C. , Harris P.
Published: June 2019

It has been shown that horses and ponies at pasture usually graze for 15-17 hours per day, and consume between 16 and 33g dry matter (DM) /kg live weight per day, depending on animal size and physiological status. However, many predominantly stabled horses have restricted access to pasture, often only 1-3 hours/day. There is no information on voluntary food intake (VFI) of horses under such regimens. Therefore the aim of this pilot study was to determine the voluntary intake of fresh herbage by ponies when their access to pasture was restricted.
Body weight and measurements of Holstein heifers under intensive management in Indonesia
Authors: Anggraeni A. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

Optimising heifer growth rates is an essential component of dairy replacement management in order to ensure sustainable heifer replacement stocks. Continuous evaluation of the growth pattern of heifers in a herd may be used to identify particular effects of nutritional management and the environment. Body weight is considered the most useful indicator of a heifer’s growth rate, both in practice and experiment work, along with body measurements reflecting the skeletal growth of heifer. The aims of this research are to investigate: 1) body trait : age relationships, 2) ratio of body measurements to body weight, and 3) to predict body weight based on body measurements of Holstein heifers in Indonesia.
The influence of dam breed on maternal and progeny characteristics of the suckler herd
Authors: Kirkland R. M. , Keady T. W. J. , Ingram P. A. , Patterson D. C. , Steen R. W. J. , Comerford J. , Mayne C. S.
Published: June 2019

The suckler beef industry in Northern Ireland comprises many differing dam breeds and breed crosses. However, there is a paucity of data on the influence of dam breed on parameters such as carcass weight, fatness and conformation, and on factors affecting management of the herd (e.g. dystocia and fertility). The latter are particularly important in view of the increasing number of part time beef farmers in Northern Ireland. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of dam breed on production characteristics of the suckler herd in Northern Ireland.
The influence of conformation of the suckler dam on dystocia and progeny characteristics
Authors: Kirkland R. M. , Keady T. W. J. , Ingram P. A. , Patterson D. C. , Steen R. W. J. , Comerford J. , Mayne C. S.
Published: June 2019

The Northern Ireland beef herd currently incorporates a very diverse range of genotypes which produces a very varied product in terms of carcass weight, fatness and conformation (Kirkland et al., 2004). However, factors other than genotype may also influence the expression of maternal traits and progeny carcass characteristics. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of dam conformation, irrespective of genotype, on dystocia and progeny carcass traits.
An evaluation of Norwegian dairy breed and Holstein-Friesian cattle for beef production
Authors: Kirkland R. M. , Patterson D. C. , Keady T. W. J. , Steen R. W. J.
Published: June 2019

In contrast to the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed, Norwegian dairy cattle (NC) have been selected with emphasis on disease resistance and beef characteristics as well as milk production, and hence may be more suited to beef production than high genetic merit Holstein animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the beef production potential of NC bulls, and to compare their performance with that of HF bulls.
Using computed tomography (CT) to quantify bone properties in Scottish Blackface ewes
Authors: Conington J. , Watts S. , McLean K. , Lambe N. , Bünger L.
Published: June 2019

Good bone quality in breeding ewes is important for the mineralisation of foetal skeletons and to sustain maternal dentition, as tooth loss is the main reason for culling sheep in the UK. Among other functions, bone is a storage depot for calcium and other key minerals that are mobilised to meet major demands such as during lactation. As other studies in humans and poultry have shown, there is substantial genetic variation (h2 between 0.5 and 0.8) for bone properties, suggesting a similar situation in ewes. These properties, e.g. bone density, are key to successful production and nurturing of healthy lambs, which can be used in selective breeding strategies to extend breeding ewes’ productive lives. CT has been shown to be a useful method of assessing bone properties in sheep (Rubin et al., 2001). This study quantifies the main bone types in Scottish Blackface ewes and investigates environmental factors affecting bone quality.
A survey of scrapie PrP genotype results and their relationship with coat colour and hornedness in selected UK rare breed sheep
Authors: Bell L. , Goodman T. , Martin J. H. , Rosbotham M. , Stockwell C.
Published: June 2019

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) and belongs to a category of incurable diseases that include BSE in cattle. An association exists between the Prion-Protein (PrP) genotype of an animal and the risk of developing disease after exposure (Tongue et al., 2004). This PrP genetic information is the basis of the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) which aims, through genotyping, to eradicate those individuals which have the susceptible alleles. Studies into scrapie risk (Jeffrey et al., 2002) have highlighted several alleles which confer scrapie susceptibility. The NSP have used these alleles to categorise individuals according to risk with group one being most scrapie resistant to group five being least resistant. VRQ alleles are synonymous with infection however the ARQ affords susceptibility but not the disease itself. Genotype may however not be the sole indicator of scrapie risk. There is an inference of a relationship between phenotypic characteristics (hornedness, coat colour) and scrapie risk. These alternative indicators of scrapie risk may affect the final choice of susceptible individuals. Scrapie risk studies carried out on the Shetland Isles (Jeffrey et al., 2002) investigated the alleles concerned with scrapie infection. Results confirmed that VRQ alleles are synonymous with scrapie infection however the ARQ alleles, even though they afford susceptibility, do not necessarily confer disease, the animal still has to be exposed to the scrapie agent. Using survey-type questionnaires, the study investigated any potential relationship between the PrP gene, coat colour and hornedness.
Use of productive data to predict length of productive life in Iranian Holstein cattle
Authors: Abdolmohammadi A. , Shahrebabak M. Moradi , Ashtiani S. R. M.
Published: June 2019

Improvement of longevity by direct selection of sires based on theirs daughters’ longevity measures is impractical because of a low heritability and generation intervals prolonged by waiting until all cows complete their productive life. As an alternative to direct evaluation of sires for longevity is indirect prediction from genetically correlated production traits measures in the first lactation. The objectives this study were 1) to estimate genetic parameters of longevity and production traits 2) to examine relationships between longevity and first lactation milk production traits and 3) to determine selection index for sires’ longevity based on production traits.
Genetic variation of income over feed costs as an individual trait in Holstein cows
Authors: Zamani P. , Miraei-Ashtiani S. R. , Naserian A. , Nikkhah A. , Shahrebabak M. Moradi
Published: June 2019

The goal of a breeding programme is to select animals that will be more profitable or efficient than their parents. Two main methods have been developed to allow selection on the breeding objective. The first method is use of selection index that combines individual trait breeding values with economic weights to provide a single measure on which to select animals. The second method measures the breeding objective (e.g. net profit or lifetime profit) directly and provides genetic evaluations for this measure (Visscher and Goddard, 1995). The profitability of a dairy cow is dependent on both outputs (incomes of milk, fat, protein, calving, etc.) and inputs (costs of feed, labour, facilities, etc). Outputs have received considerable attention in breeding objectives for dairy cattle, whilst there has been less consideration of inputs. Feed is a major cost input for dairy producers. Hence, breeding for increasing main gross incomes (milk, fat and protein) and reducing main variable cost (feed) potentially can be of considerable importance. This study was conducted to estimation of genetic variation in income over feed cost (IOFC), as a single trait, and its association with some of other traits in Holstein dairy cows.
Genetic evaluation of productive life in Iranian Holstein using survival analysis
Authors: Dadpasand Taromsari M. , Miraei-Ashtiani S. R. , Shahrebabak M. Moradi , Vaez Torshizi R.
Published: June 2019

Improvement of herd life increases profitability due to lower replacement costs of heifers, higher proportion of mature cows that produce at their maximum potential and increased opportunity for voluntary culling. Functional productive life (PL) after adjustment for production is the ability of a cow to remain healthy and delay involuntary culling (Ducrocq et al 1988). Survival or failure time analysis has replaced linear model approaches for routine genetic evaluation of dairy cattle in several countries (Sewalem et. al. 2003). It allows proper treatment of censored data, inclusion of time-dependent covariates and skewed or non normal distribution of data. Approximate estimates of the heritability of longevity traits typically range from 0.05 to 0.10 and 0.15 to 0.20 using linear models and survival analysis, respectively (Vollema et al. 2000 and Caraviello et. al. 2004). The objective of this study was to apply survival analysis methodology for assessing the most important factor influencing PL, estimation of genetic parameters of productive life and genetic evaluation in Iranian Holstein dairy cattle.
Effect of tannins in the rumen microbial growth measured by 32P incorporation
Authors: Godoy P. B. , Bueno I. C. S. , Filho S. L. S. Cabral , Nozella E. F. , Peçanha M. R. S. R , Vitti D. M. S. S. , Abdalla A L.
Published: June 2019

The phenolic compounds are substances which reduce feed intake, protein digestibility and reduce ruminal activity in sheep and goats. To reduce the effects of tannins a lot of synthetic materials, for example PEG (polyethylene glycol) is tested as tannin-binding agent, and let protein free for the digestibility. The aim of this work was to test the effect of tannins in the rumen microbial growth using the in vitro 32P incorporation technique.
Effects of sequential short-term grazing on different bioactive forages on viability and fecundity of established adult population of Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep
Authors: Tzamaloukas O. , Athanasiadou S. , Kyriazakis I. , Jackson F. , Coop R. L.
Published: June 2019

Bioactive forages such as chicory (Cichorium intybus) or tanniferous legume sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), have been reported to lower the parasite intensities or faecal egg counts (FEC) of parasitised ruminants (Waller and Thamsborg, 2004). To our knowledge, there is no report studying the effects of these forages on established worm populations when grazed in combination. This knowledge could guide us towards optimum grazing management using special forage species as de-worming paddocks. The aim of the present study was to use the bioactive forages alone or in combination for a short period to test their effects on established T. circumcincta adult population in sheep. The tested bioactive forages were chicory and sulla, with grass/clover (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens) providing the control forage.
Effect of breed and age on stearoyl co-enzyme A desaturase expression in the omental adipose tissue of Texel, Beulah and Soay sheep
Authors: Daniel Z. C. T. R. , Hammond L. E. , Dawson J. M , Salter A. M. , Buttery P. J.
Published: June 2019

Adipose tissue becomes more saturated and less unsaturated with age (Kemp et al., 1981). Desaturation of stearic acid to the oleic acid is catalysed by stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and increasing the degree of desaturation of lamb is likely to be beneficial in terms of human nutrition. By altering the levels of ovine SCD mRNA, the supply of oleic acid to the tissue could be manipulated, resulting in a practical method of changing the fatty acid profile of the animals meat. Previous work in our laboratory has shown variability between adipose tissue depots in their expression of SCD and that this variability is associated with changes in oleic acid content (Daniel et al, 2004). Such differences in SCD expression between depots implies that there may be even larger variation in SCD expression between breeds. A sheep breed with particularly high level of SCD mRNA could then be exploited through breeding programmes to produce animals with increased desaturase activity and therefore increased oleic acid content. Three sheep breeds, Texel, Beulah and Soay, were therefore used to study the influence of breed and age on SCD expression.
Sheep production in Spanish dry mountain areas: 2. Dietary supplementation of lambs on grazing behaviour of Churra Tensina ewes and their lambs
Authors: Alvarez J. , Balmisse E. , Casasús I. , Delfa R. , Joy M. , Sanz A.
Published: June 2019

Churra Tensina is a coarse-wooled hardy breed usually managed in semi-extensive systems in Spanish Pyrenees. Grazing natural meadows in spring together with lambing season could be involved in the alternatives of its production system. The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of dietary supplementation of lambs on grazing behaviour of Churra Tensina ewes and their lambs during lactation in natural meadows.
Effects of fat source in flushing diets on various reproduction parameters in Zandi fat-tailed ewes
Authors: Sadeghipanah H. , Shahneh A. Zare , Nik-Khah A.
Published: June 2019

Fats in the diet can influence reproduction positively by altering both ovarian follicle and corpus luteum (CL) function and by increasing precursors for the synthesis of reproductive hormones such as steroids and prostaglandins (Mattos et al., 2000). Fat supplementation positive effects include: increased size of the ovulatory follicle, increased numbers of ovarian follicles, increased plasma concentration of progesterone, reduced secretion of PGF2α, increased lifespan of the CL, and improved fertility (Staples et al., 1998). Lucy et al. (1992) suggested that it was fatty acids, and not the additional energy provided by the fatty acids, that stimulated ovarian function. Recently, new information has been published that demonstrates that the type of dietary fatty acids is important as individual fatty acids do not have the same effects on reproduction of the dairy cow (Petit et al., 2001).The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplemental fat source on reproduction parameters in Iranian fat-tailed ewes.
Effect of defoliation intensity of barley when grazed as green forage by sheep on grain production at harvest
Authors: de Vega A. , Olmos G. , Keli A. , Guada J. A.
Published: June 2019

Grazing of barley as green forage is a common practice in the Mediterranean area due to its active growth along autumn and winter, and its ability to recover after a mild grazing (Bonachela et al., 1995). However, grain production at harvest might be affected depending on the intensity of defoliation suffered by the plant (Yau, 2003). Those studies were carried out mainly by hand clipping or allowing only a few hours of grazing per day. Hence, the objective of this experiment was to establish the relationship between grazing intensity and grain production at harvest when animals are kept in the paddocks for the whole day. Moreover, the ability of barley height and/or residual biomass after grazing (kg dry matter/ha) to predict final grain production was also tested.
Chemical composition and in vitro organic matter degradability of various Iranian forages
Authors: Rezaeian M. , Chaudhry A. S.
Published: June 2019

Saffron (Crocus sativa, SF) and Madder (Rubia tinctorum, MD) are planted for their stamen (used in food industry) and roots (used for dyeing) in northeast and central Iran respectively. Artemisia siberi (AR) is also a typical plant of the arid and semi-arid areas in Iran. The forage parts of these plants have been used as ruminant feedstuffs for many years. However, little is known about the nutritional value of these forages and so information about their composition and degradability characteristics is necessary in order to properly balance their use in ruminant diets. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and extent of digestion of DM and OM of these plants compared with grass nuts (GN) as a reference feed by using an in vitro method (Chaudhry et al., 2002).
Use of silkworm pupae meal as protein supplement in the nutrition of broiler chickens
Authors: Pirsaraii Z. Ansari , Navidshad B.
Published: June 2019

Silkworm pupae meal is a silk industry by-product that in some countries is available as a local product. It contain up to 30% crude fat and 50% crude protein. The chemical score of silkworm pupae protein is 60 and tryptophan is its limiting amino acid. The silk worm pupae meal fat contains 25.7% linoleic acid (Udayasekhara Rao, 1994). Reddy et al (1991) reported that use of diets contain 5% 8% SWP so that replaced 50% of fish meal, lowered weight gain. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of substituting different levels of silkworm pupae (SWP) for soybean meal (SBM) in Arian (an Iranian strain) broiler rations.
Mycology of some litter materials and effect of litter and preslaugther feed withdrawal on gut bacterioflora in broiler chicken
Authors: Khosravinia H. , Gharoni M. H. , Darvishnia M.
Published: June 2019

One prerequisite for efficient broiler production is suitable litter. In addition to desirable chemical and physical characteristics, poultry litter must also be low in microbial load to minimize risk of incidence or transmission of diseases. This study was conducted to assess the mycoflora of six kinds of litter materials and evaluate the effect of litter kind and preslaugther feed withdrawal (PSFW) on gut bactrioflora of broilers.
Effects of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) on eggshell quality
Authors: Malecky M. , Shivazad M. , Nikkhah A.
Published: June 2019

Using inorganic additives is one suggested approach for improvement of performance or for preventing some disorders and poisoning of farm animals. One of those which use in animal diets is zeolite. There are more than 40 types of natural zeolites, of which one of the commonest is Clinoptilolite. Clinoptilolite has a relatively constant crystalline structure and has good adsorption properties. One of the most important problems in the poultry industry is low eggshell quality, particularly at end of lay. This leads to problems such as the breaking of egg in transport. Research on this has indicated positive effects of zeolites. Adding 1.5% clinoptilolite causes a significant increase in the calcium CA concentration of serum (Hossein et al., 1994). Olver (1989) observed a significant increase in eggshell thickness when 5% clinoptilolite was added to the diet of laying hens. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of different dietary concentrations of clinoptilolite on some blood parameters and eggshell quality.
Effect of hyperthermia in growing broiler chickens on meat quality
Authors: Połtowicz K. , Sosnówka-Czajka E.
Published: June 2019

During growth period of 6 to 7 weeks, broiler chickens are exposed to different stressors, the effects of which are dependent on the type, duration and intensity of stress that affects the bird. Stress-induced changes in muscular metabolism alter the physico-chemical traits of meat, thus affecting its quality (Ali et al., 1999). The negative effect of ante-mortem thermal stress on the quality of broiler meat has been the object of many studies and is relatively well documented (Warriss et al., 1999). There is a scarcity of data on whether and to what degree hyperthermia in growing chickens affects the technological parameters of poultry meat. Therefore we carried out an experiment to determine the effect of 5-day heat stress in 4-week-old broiler chickens on their later meat quality.
Immunoglobulin-Y (IgY) levels in domestic fowl exposed to red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)
Authors: Arkle S. , Guy J. H. , Sparagano O.
Published: June 2019

Red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae; De Geer, 1778) is currently the most economically deleterious ectoparasite of layer hens in several countries (Chauve, 1998). D. gallinae is an obligatory haematophagous ectoparasite of both domestic and wild birds (Bruneau et al., 2001), only found on the host during darkness when obtaining a blood meal. The remaining part of its lifecycle is spent concealed deep in the house substructure, in cracks and crevices, with control typically implemented via chemical spraying. Mite exposure in laying hens generally results in irritation, restlessness, anaemia, and occasionally death and may subsequently lead to decreased egg production, poor shell integrity, blood staining and egg size reductions (Chauve, 1998; Cosoroaba, 2001). Natural exposure to mite-antigens during feeding activates humoral immunity of the fowl, in the form of immunoglobulin production. However, the magnitude of this serological response over a prolonged infestation period and at different mite population levels is unclear. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the levels of anti-mite immunoglobulin present in egg yolks of laying hens in flocks infested with differing population levels of red mite over a period of 16 weeks.
Preliminary effects of altering plane of nutrition during different stages of the life cycle, and gender, on meat quality of beef cattle
Authors: Lively F. O. , Keady T. W. J. , Kilpatrick D. J. , Moss B. W.
Published: June 2019

Cost effective performance from birth to slaughter must be achieved in order for beef producers to maximise income and survive in a subsidy-free, market led environment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gender, plane of nutrition during the growing and finishing indoor feeding periods, and stocking rate and concentrate supplementation from weaning to finishing on meat quality.
The effect of slaughter weight on carcass characteristics of Holstein-Friesian male cattle
Authors: Kirkland R. M. , Keady T. W. J. , Patterson D. C. , Steen R. W. J.
Published: June 2019

The commercial value of beef carcasses can be assessed by several methods including the yield of primal joints and meat quality characteristics. However, it is also important to determine the composition of the carcass in terms of lean, fat and bone concentrations, and to evaluate individual fat components of the carcass, to provide an overall assessment of the commercial value of the carcass. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on carcass composition of Holstein-Friesian bulls and steers offered cereal-based rations.
The effect of slaughter weight on meat quality characteristics of Holstein-Friesian male cattle
Authors: Kirkland R. M. , Keady T. W. J. , Patterson D. C. , Moss B. W. , Steen R. W. J.
Published: June 2019

Meat from Holstein-Friesian bulls, which are bred for dairy traits, is generally regarded as low quality and is usually destined for the commodity (mince) market. However, given their ready availability as a by-product from the dairy herd, it is important to determine if meat from these animals would be suited to higher-priced markets. Furthermore, meat from bulls is generally considered to be lower quality than that from steers, though there is a paucity of data comparing meat from both sources. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on meat quality characteristics of Holstein-Friesian bulls and steers offered a cereal-based ration.
Colour and fatty acid profile of beef subcutaneous fat depending on breed and feeding system
Authors: Aldai N. , Oliván M. , García M. J. , Martínez M. J. , Mocha M. , Nájera A. I. , Osoro K.
Published: June 2019

Both breed and feeding system can affect the composition of fat depots in cattle. Furthermore, carcass fat colour may be influenced by forage-based diets due to the deposition of pigments, but also by changes in texture and firmness because of differences in the fatty acid (FA) profile. The objective of this work was to study the relationship between colour and FA profile of subcutaneous (SC) fat depending on breed and feeding systems in yearling bulls.
Prediction of carcass weight from live weight in beef animals
Authors: Keady T. W. J. , Kilpatrick D. J.
Published: June 2019

Beef production is the most important farm enterprise on Northern Ireland farms, accounting for 32.5% of Gross Agricultural Output. In beef production the end saleable product is carcass rather than live weight. When undertaking nutrition studies with beef cattle, it is essential to evaluate effects on carcass characteristics, as improvement in live weight may not transfer to improvements in carcass weight and characteristics due to change in gut fill effects. Undertaking carcass assessments in beef production studies increases experimental costs. To determine carcass gains it is essential to slaughter a representative batch of cattle pre-experimentally in order to develop a relationship between initial live weight and initial carcass weight. Slaughtering store cattle further adds to the costs of beef experimentation. The present study was undertaken to develop a relationship between live weight and carcass weight of beef cattle offered grass silage-based diets to facilitate the determination of initial carcass weight of store beef cattle at the point of initiation of nutritional studies.
Effect of ruminal degradable nitrogen deficit on nitrogen metabolism in growing double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls fed maize silage based diet
Authors: Valkeners D. , Beckers Y. , Van Laere M. , Théwis A.
Published: June 2019

As concerns for environmental damage instigated by agricultural processes increase, there is a greater need to develop more ecologically acceptable methods of producing agricultural products. Therefore, in beef production we have to minimise N excretion and maximise N retained. Urea recycling provides a mechanism by which N may be salvaged into bacterial matter that may be digested by the animal to supply amino acids for production purposes. According to Huntington and Archibeque (2000), the amount of recycled urea-N can be influenced by the ruminal ammonia concentration, the OM digestibility and the plasma concentration of urea. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of different levels of ruminal degradable N (RDN) on nutrient digestion and N metabolism in double-muscled Belgian Blue (dm-BB) bulls fed maize silage based diet.
Comparative post-weaning growth and carcass characteristics in suckled, purebred Charolais and Limousin x Aberdeen Angus steers finished intensively on a cereal based ration
Authors: Hill G. J. , Hyslop J. J.
Published: June 2019

Following commercial practice in France, there is increased interest in using specifically selected purebred maternal lines as suckler cow dams in the UK. Consequently, there is also a need to evaluate the finishing performance of the concomitant purebred male progeny from these maternal lines within typical UK suckled calf finishing systems. The objective of this study was to compare the post-weaning performance of purebred Charolais (CH) steers and crossbred Limousin x Aberdeen Angus (LIMxAA) steers when finished using a cereal-based ration.
Effect of various levels of imbalance between energy and nitrogen supplies in the rumen on nitrogen metabolism in growing double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls fed maize silage based diet
Authors: Valkeners D. , Beckers Y. , Amant S. , Théwis A.
Published: June 2019

In a previous study, Valkeners et al. (2004) reported that feeding a concentrate-based diet with an imbalance between energy and N release in the rumen did not greatly influence the N balance of double-muscled Belgian Blue (dm-BB) bulls if daily ruminal degradable N (RDN) and fermentable OM (FOM) ratio did not exceed 6.2 g RDN/kg FOM. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of a higher level of imbalance between energy and N release in the rumen on microbial protein synthesis and N metabolism in dm-BB bulls fed maize silage based diet.
Effect of Bombesin on the amount and constituents of milk in the Sarabi cows
Authors: Yousef Elahi M. , Baghaei E.
Published: June 2019

It is now established that the process of milk production and its constituents are affected by different physiological factors, including hormones and neurotransmitters. Bombesin (BBS) is a tetradecapeptide that isolated and characterized from the skin of amphibian frog bombina bombina (Jontown et al., 1995). Subsequently, several BBS-like peptides have been identified in mammals consisting of various forms of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB), together with their distinct receptor subtypes (Jian et al., 1999). Nowadays, they have been found at different parts of the body such as neuron system, gastrointestinal tract and some nucleuoses of hyphothalamus of vertebrates and invertebrates. The bombesin family of peptides are biologically active in the central nervous system and periphery. Bombesin achieves to its functions by starting the secondary messenger of inositol triphosphate (IP3). The effects of bombsin on production and constituents of the milk are not studied yet. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether injections of bombesin increase milk amount and constituents in the cows.