bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Nesting Motivation in Domestic Hens
Authors: Cooper Jonathan J. , Appleby Mike C.
Published: June 2019

The fact that laying hens prefer to lay in a nest is not evidence in itself that a suitable nest-site is necessary for the hens’ well-being. Stronger evidence would be found if hens were prepared to pay some cost to use a nest-site. The objective of this study is to quantify the strength of individual hens’ nesting motivation in terms of meaningful measures such as overcoming aversive obstacles, work or time.

To investigate the motivation to gain access to a nestbox, hens were floor housed in groups of four in a pen containing food and water. Access to a nesting pen containing two nestboxes, could be restricted using a number of obstacles such as a narrow gap, a water bath and a swing door. Between trials hens were singly housed in wire-floored cages containing a perch and a nestbox. Results indicate that hens made less entries of longer duration to the nesting pen (Means + s.e in Figures 1 and 3) on treatment days with an obstacle than on control days without an obstacle. There was little disruption of use of the nest box (Figures 2 and 4). Hens that were due to lay made more visits on both control (C Egg) and treatment (T Egg) days (Figure 1), which may indicate greater motivation to explore the whole pen before oviposition.
The Initial and Longterm Preference of Broilers for Red, Blue or Green Light After Being Reared in Red, Blue, Green or White Light
Authors: Prayitno D.S. , Phillips C.J.C , Omed H.M
Published: June 2019

Most birds,both domestic chicks and adult chickens,belong to the group of animals which have a relatively well developed mechanism for visual perception and discrimination (Hurnik et al , 1971). Furthermore, this ability extends to a differentiation between certain areas of the colour spectrum. According to Bell and Freeman (1971) fowls can more easily be trained to distinguish colours than to distinguish intensity.

The present study was designed to investigate whether a response in the initial and long-term preference of broilers could be achieved by using different colour light after being reared in red, blue, green and white light.
Are aggressiveness and social status of group housed sows predictable from observations of earlier behaviour?
Authors: Mendl M.
Published: June 2019

The forthcoming UK ban on stall and tether housing for sows will result in an increase in the use of group housing for these animals. In group housing systems, certain individuals may be particularly aggressive or bullied by others, and this may result in injury or socially induced stress. To attempt to overcome these problems we need to know the answers to questions such as whether removal of a particularly aggressive animal from a group will result in a general decrease in aggression, or whether it will simply result in other animals becoming more aggressive. Answers to these sorts of question require a fundamental understanding of pig social behaviour and individual characteristics. For example, is aggressivness a stable individual characteristic across time and situation? This research addressed these issues by examining the cross-time consistency of individual aggressiveness and social status in groups of pigs.
Effect of bovine somatotropin (growth hormone) treatment on gonadotropin profiles and ovarian follicle populations during the postpartum period in beef cows in low body condition
Authors: Andrade L.P. , Rhind S.M. , Wright I.A. , McMillen S.R. , Whyte T.K.
Published: June 2019

Cows in low body condition exhibit a prolonged postpartum anoestrous period and a delayed return to normal follicular function (Prado et al 1990). Previous studies have shown that the effects of body condition on gonadotrophin profiles are inconsistent (Wright et al 1990; Rhind et al 1992) indicating that the effects of body condition on ovarian function cannot be explained by changes in gonadotrophin profiles alone. Since nutritional state influences growth hormone profiles which in turn can affect ovarian function (Gong et al 1991), it was postulated that the effects of body condition on the duration of postpartum anoestrus could be mediated through changes in profiles of this hormone.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of growth hormone on ovarian follicle development and associated gonadotrophin profiles in post-partum beef cows.
Production responses by cows to grass-clover swards maintained at different heights with or without concentrate supplementation
Authors: Huckle C. A. , Rook A. J. , Wilkins R. J.
Published: June 2019

Clements, Huckle and Wilkins (1991) reported that milk yield did not differ significantly between cows grazing grass-clover swards with compressed sward heights maintained at either 4.5 or 6 cm in early season. However, cows grazing the shorter sward produced milk with a lower protein concentration. The feeding of 4 kg concentrates/day resulted in an increase in milk yield at both sward heights but there was no effect on milk constituent concentrations. The present experiment was designed to investigate the effect of a wider range of sward heights and their interaction with concentrate supplementation.

Forty eight, multiparous, Holstein Friesian cows with a mean calving date of 21 March were continuously stocked on mixed grass-clover swards. The cows were blocked by calving date, parity and milk yield and randomly allocated to one of six treatments, 0 (U) or 4 kg concentrate supplementation (S) with swards maintained at 4, 6 or 8 cm compressed sward height. Sward heights were maintained by adjusting the grazed area. The swards were permanent pastures which had received no fertilizer nitrogen.
Superovulatory responses of hill ewes
Authors: Haresign W. , Merrill B. , Richards R.W.
Published: June 2019

There is a clear need to improve financial returns from hill sheep to help maintain rural populations in hill/upland areas while at the same time reducing the reliance of hill sheep farmers on social/production type subsidies. Particular problems with hill sheep are their small carcass size and poor conformation, which result in reduced values for both draft ewes and wether lambs. These poor carcass attributes are also passed down to the lowland producer through the production of poor conformation halfbred ewes out of hill ewes. With the increasing pressures being placed on the lowland sector to improve carcass quality, many producers are beginning to look at the possibility of breeding their own replacement top-cross ewes. Any widespread adaption of this practice will further undermine the profitability of sheep production in the hill and upland sectors.
An evaluation of MOET in Suffolk sheep
Authors: Dingwall W S , McKelvey W A C , Mylne J , Simm G
Published: June 2019

SAC Edinburgh has a long established breed improvement programme to increase the lean growth rate of Suffolk sheep. Studies commenced in 1989 to evaluate the extra genetic gain which could be achieved through the application of multiple ovulation-embryo transfer (MOET). Theoretical studies show that rates of genetic progress in sheep could be increased by 100% through use of MOET to increase selection intensity amongst females and reduce female generation intervals (Smith, 1986). However, to achieve these levels of improvement requires good embryo transfer rates (10 progeny per donor) at 6 to 8 months of age. Smith (1986) identified that current transfer rates fell well short of these required by his calculations. Given that minimally invasive techniques for the recovery and transfer of embryos by laparoscopy are available (McKelvey, Robinson and Aitken, 1985a), the main impediment to achievement of the embryo transfer rates required is the low and variable superovulatory response in donor ewes. Previous studies investigating superovulatory drugs to increase the ovulation rate of donor ewes in MOET programmes identified Ovagen (Immuno-Chemical Products), as the most potent product (Dingwall, Fernie, FitzSimons and McKelvey, 1991). This trial reports the use of Ovagen in a large scale MOET programme applied to Suffolk ewes.
Use of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy to Predict the Composition of Carcass Samples
Authors: Sanderson R. , Lister S.J. , Dhanoa M.S.
Published: June 2019

Near infrared spectroscopy offers an alternative to wet chemical methods for determining the composition of a diverse range of materials. This physical method requires only a single instrument and although this can be expensive initially, the cost per sample analysed is relatively low when compared with many chemical methods. If it is to be applied in a quantitative way near infrared spectroscopy requires calibration against chemical methods, but once calibrated the instrument is simple to use and there are few operator-induced sources of error. The objective of this work was to evaluate near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a technique for assessing the composition of carcass samples from young steers.

Seventy-one, approximately 9-month-old, British Friesian steers with live weights ranging from 106 to 265kg were slaughtered. The left half carcass (including the left kidney and kidney knob and channel fat) was retained, blast frozen and subsequently minced in the frozen state through a 10mm plate of a KS Mincemaster.
Effect of intraruminal infusions of volatile fatty acids on the intake of a low-digestibility straw by sheep
Authors: López S. , Hovell F. D. de B.
Published: June 2019

The voluntary intake of roughage diets by ruminants is related to their degradation characteristics (Hovell et al., 1986). Furthermore, as forage quality is improved the outflow of undegraded particles is increased. Previous studies have shown that differences between forages in outflow from the rumen were mainly associated with the outflow of liquid from the rumen. In this context there could be chemical factors arising from the rapid fermentation of the more degradable forages that could stimulate salivary flow or movement of water across the rumen wall, increasing liquid outflow from the rumen, and thus washing undegraded residues from the rumen and enabling the animal to eat more. One possible signal is rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) levels since YFA production and concentration are significantly greater with roughages that support greater intakes and rumen outflows. Intraruminal infusions of VFA have been shown to depress feed intake in ruminants (Baile & Forbes, 1974). However, most of the infusion studies have been conducted with animals fed diets containing concentrates or high-quality forages, and most of them examined short-term intake responses to intraruminal infusions of, probably, supraphysiological levels of VFA (Dejong, 1986). The aim of this experiment was to examine whether the voluntary intake of a low quality roughage by sheep could be affected by the infusion of VFA at different doses into the rumen.
Effects of synchronising dietary nitrogen and energy supply in diets with a similar carbohydrate composition on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in sheep
Authors: Sinclair L. A. , Garnsworthy P. C. , Newbold J. R. , Buttery P. J.
Published: June 2019

The recently introduced metabolisable protein system for ruminants (Webster 1992) relates microbial nitrogen production to daily supply of fermentable metabolisable energy and effective rumen degradable protein but does not consider the effect of the pattern of supply of nutrients to rumen microbes on their efficiency and growth. However, synchronising the hourly supply of nitrogen and energy yielding substrates to rumen micro-organisms has been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (Sinclair et al. 1993). The objective of the current experiment was to examine the effects of synchronising the hourly supply of energy and nitrogen in diets with a similar carbohydrate composition but differing in the rate of protein degradation, on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in sheep.
Comparison of sodium hydroxide and alkaline hydrogen peroxide in improving chemical composition and utilization of wheat straw by sheep
Authors: Chaudhry A. S. , Miller E. L.
Published: June 2019

Chaudhry and Miller (1993) have demonstrated the effectiveness of Alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) in improving in vitro digestibility (IVD) of cereal straws. Further experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of AHP on a larger scale compared with varying amounts of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in improving the nutritive value of wheat straw (WS) for sheep.
A comparison of the Suffolk and Vendeen breeds when used as terminal sires for crossbred lamb production
Authors: Merrell B G
Published: June 2019

Lamb carcass quality is becoming economically more important. Crossbred lamb production in the UK is based upon the use of terminal sire breeds, chosen for carcass characteristics, mated to crossbred ewes, chosen for maternal attributes. The choice of terminal sire breed represents the most immediate option available to the commercial producer to improve the carcass characteristics of finished lambs. Previous studies (Croston, Guy, Jones, and Kempster, 1983; Cameron and Drury, 1985; Merrell, Webster and Ellis, 1990) have compared several terminal sire breeds, but these have tended to concentrate on the British Down breeds, particularly the Suffolk, and tne numerically more important imported breeds, such as the Texel and Charollais. Vendeen sheep were imported from France in 1981 but little information was available on growth and carcass traits of Vendeen crossbred lambs. A three year experiment compared, within a flock, the performance of the crossbred progeny of Suffolk and Vendeen rams.
Improvements in growth and wool production of winter-grazed merino weaners when offered a protein-rich supplement
Authors: Nolan J.V. , Thomas J.A. , Hill M.K.
Published: June 2019

Protein-rich supplements often enhance production of ruminants grazing native pastures during the winter on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. However, graziers report that animals offered supplements often do not consume them; there is also experimental evidence, obtained using tritiated supplements, that intake of supplements by individuals within a flock may exhibit wide variation. The objectives of this study were first, to evaluate a commercial protein-rich supplement when given to winter-grazed weaners, by determining the effect of supplementation on liveweight gain, wool production and fibre diameter, and second, to estimate the changes in patterns of intake of supplement by individual animals over time during a 12 week supplementation period.
Cut-and-carry feeding of indigenous grasses in indonesian smallholder sheep production: effect of amount offered on intake and growth, and on output of compost made from refusals and excreta
Authors: Tanner J C , Owen E , Winugroho M , Gill M
Published: June 2019

Sheep in West Java, Indonesia, are raised by smallholders using labour-intensive, cut-and-carry feeding of indigenous grasses. Flock sizes are small, ca. 5 sheep per household and animals are permanently housed in thatched sheds. The sheds are elevated on stilts and are fitted with slatted floors beneath which the excreta and feed refusals (ca. 400 g/kg offered) are composted. Compost is an important fertiliser for smallholders' crops.

Cutting and carrying grass is labour demanding (eg 2.1 h/sheep.day [Thahar & Petheram, 1983]; 1.4 h/sheep.day [Hill, 1973]); allowing sheep to refuse ca. 400 g/kg of grass offered would therefore appear wasteful. However research on feeding barley straw (Wahed, Owen, Naate & Hosking, 1990) has shown intake to increase when sheep and goats are allowed to refuse 500 g/kg offered instead of the more conventional 200 g/kg refusal-rate.
Absorption of Nutrients by pigs fed Diets Containing 9% Nonstarch Polysaccharides from Sugar beet Pulp or Wheatstraw
Authors: Longland A.C. , Low A.G. , Bray S.P. , Quelch D.B.
Published: June 2019

Different sources of dietary fibre (defined here as non-starch polysaccharides, NSP) are hydrolysed to varying degrees in the GI tract of pigs. Unlike starch, NSP cannot be digested to its monomeric constituents by mammalian enzymes, but instead must be fermented by the gut microflora, to yeild volatile fatty acids (VFA). These VFA, like the glucose derived from the digestion of starch, are subsequently absorbed and metabolised to yeild ATP, but with a lower efficiency than glucose. Clearly, therefore, knowledge of the relative amounts of products of fermentation and digestion which are absorbed, will enable the nutritive value of a feed to be described more accurately. We report the time course of absorption of glucose, VFA, lactate, and α-amino N from semi-purified diets containing two contrasting sources of NSP, wheatstraw (WS) and sugar beet pulp (SBP), by growing pigs.
The fermentable metabolisable energy in grass silage
Authors: Chamberlaina A T , Seyoum K , Chapman D , Piotrowski C
Published: June 2019

The UK metabolisable protein system (AFRC, 1992) requires the measurement of fermentable metabolisable energy (FME) to determine the potential yield of microbial crude protein in the rumen. FME is defined as:

The objective of this work was to measure the ME , ether extract and volatile fatty acid components of first cut grass silages to assess the range of FME and non-fermentable fractions and hence the range of fermentabilities (FME:ME).

Eighty-four clamp grass silages, predominantly first-cut rye grass, were analysed for modified acid detergent fibre (MADF), individual volatile fatty acids, oil (ether extract) and oven dry matter. ME was predicted from the MADF after correction for oven dry matter. The gross energy of the lactic, acetic, propanoic, butyric and valeric acid were taken to be 15.2, 14.6, 20.8, 24.9, and 28.0 MJ/kg DM, and for the Ether Extract fraction of grass 38.5 MJ/kg DM. The energy content of the volatile fatty acids in the silage were summed and FME was calculated as described above. The fermentability of the silage was the expressed as the proportion of FME to ME.
The effect of species complexity and sodium fertilizer application on the grazing behaviour of calves
Authors: Youssef M. , Chiy P.C. , Phillips C.J.C. , Metwally M.
Published: June 2019

Cattle exhibit preferences not only for certain sward species but for the same species at different stages of growth, and the various parts of an individual plant and for individual plant of preferred composition. This tendency is termed selective grazing (Fontenot and Blaser, 1965). For example ruminants will select a high Sodium diet. Calves tend to be more selective than adult cattle, muzzling herbage before eating.

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of sward complexity, species and sodium fertilizer on the grazing behaviour of calves.

Sixteen dairy Friesian calves, aged 5 to 6 months, with no previous grazing experience, were allocated to groups of 4 similar calves, and then at random to four pasture treatments of 3480m2 each with one (Perennial Ryegrass, P), two (P and Timothy, T), three (P, T and Cocksfoot, C) and four (P, T.C and Red Fescue, R) grass species in a balanced change over design. Each species was sown in plots of 290m2 and one half of each plot received 48Kg/ha. nacl.
Encouraging store lambs to eat barley straw at housing: Influence upon intake of pen to pen visibility and number of lambs per pen
Authors: Odoi F.N.A. , Owen E.
Published: June 2019

Many trials at Reading have shown store lambs to be reluctant to eat straw when first housed after grazing. This is especially so if penned individually, as is often the case in feeding trials. Such isolation may induce stress, including depressed intake (Crampton, 1959; Kidwell, Bohman and Hunter, 1954). Farm animals are generally stimulated to eat more when in a group than when isolated (Curtis, 1983), yet most intake studies, particularly with sheep and cattle, are conducted with individually-penned animals. Concern for the welfare of animals being used for trials calls for systems of housing that minimise stress.

The present experiment tested the hypothesis that straw intake, by store lambs first-housed after grazing, would increase if lambs were penned in pairs rather than individually, or confined in pens allowing pen to pen vision rather than prohibiting pen to pen vision.
Comparison of Grass Silage and Whole Crop Fodder Beet Silage When Fed to Ewes in Late Pregnancy
Authors: O'Doherty J.V. , Quinn P.J. , Crosby T.F.
Published: June 2019

The use of fodder beet in rations fed to cattle and sheep has always been valued highly. Recent long-term experiments have shown that the palatability and high feeding value of fodder beet is fully preserved during the ensiling process.The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the performance of ewes in late pregnancy when fed either whole crop fodderbeet silage or grass silage.

Mature (2-7 yrs), oestrous synchronised, twin bearing ewes (n=60) of mixed breeds (mainly Suffolk cross, greyface and halfbred), were selected following winter shearing and pregnancy scanning in December. At ten weeks prior to the predicted mean lambing date, the ewes were allocated to one of two treatment groups which were balanced for breed, age and liveweight. High quality precission chopped silage (DM 194 g/kg; CP 152 g/kg DM; in vivo ME 12.8 MJ/kg DM) and whole crop fodderbeet silage (WCFB)(DM 171 g/kg; CP126 g/kg DM; in vivo ME 11.7 MJ/kg DM) were fed in Tl and T2 respectively.
The Effect of Varying Cattle Trough Height on Their Reach and Food Wastage
Authors: Petchey A M , Hailu Tesfaye
Published: June 2019

Feeding cattle is an operational process where such factors as the size and range of the animals, the nature of the feed, the design and robustness of the feed barriers and troughs and the man doing the feeding task all contribute to its efficiency. In two trials reported here three types of feed barrier, dovetail, tombstone and diagonal, were compared and their troughs were varied in height. A previous trial (Petchey and Abdulkader, 1991) indicated that food wastage was significantly (P<0.05) greater from a post-and-rail barrier. The third trial was to examine the effect of varying the central rail and trough height on the efficiency of the post-and-rail barrier.

Each of the experimental barriers was movable 2.7 m long and positioned across the front of the experimental pens. Each trough could be varied in height. The trials had a Latin square design. In trials 1 and 2 there were three Friesian heifers and two Hereford x Friesian cows in each group respectively. Trial 3 had three Friesian heifers in each group. The mean values for the nine heifers, six cows and nine heifers in trial 1,2 and 3 respectively are given in Table 1.
Ontogenic study of Expression of IGF-I and Gh-Receptor (GHR) mRNA in pig Liver and Skeletal Muscle.
Authors: Brameld J.M. , Weller P.A. , Gilmour R.S. , Buttery P.J.
Published: June 2019

Many of the effects of growth hormone are now thought to be mediated via the stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production by many tissues, especially the liver, with this stimulation being dependent upon the presence of the GH-receptor (GHR). IGF-I gene expression occurs via alternative promoters giving rise to class 1 and 2 transcripts, of which class 2 is thought to be preferentially responsive to GH (Saunders, Dickson, Pell & Gilmour, 1991).The effects of IGF-I include the stimulation of DNA synthesis (mitogenesis) and protein synthesis in most cell types, together with the differentiation of many cell types into mature tissue, including the differentiation of muscle cells into muscle fibres. Thus the GH/IGF-I axis has been found to play a major part in the control of animal growth. For this reason, we studied the age related changes in IGF-I and GHR mRNA expression in pig liver and skeletal muscle.
Studies on the structure and function cellulases and hemicellulases.
Authors: Gilbert H.J. , Hazlewood G.P.
Published: June 2019

Plant structural polysaccharides provide a major source of nutrient for ruminant livestock. These carbohydrates are not degraded by mammalian-derived enzymes, but are hydrolysed by rumen microbial plant cell wall hydrolases. In view of the pivotal role of microbial cellulases and xylanases in ruminant nutrition, there has been considerable interest in these enzymes. In this paper we wish to illustrate how recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology can be utilised to dissect the biochemistry and molecular architecture of these enzymes, and provides us with the opportunity of generating novel cellulases and xylanases with increased capacity to hydrolyse the plant cell wall.

In general cellulases and xylanases from anaerobic microbes associate into large molecular weight complexes, whose integral structures are responsible for the efficient hydrolysis of plant structural polysaccharides. The feasibility of altering these complexes, or transferring them to other organisms represents a significant challenge.
The use of genetically Lactobacillus plantarum in the ensilage process.
Authors: Gilbert H.J. , Rixon J.E. , Sharp R.S. , O'Donnell A.G. , Hazlewood G.P.
Published: June 2019

Silage inoculants consisting of primarily Lactobacillus plantarum, are widely used to ensure that lactic acid bacteria dominate the fermentation of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) during the ensilage process. Previous studies have shown that the supplementation of ensiled forage crops with cellulases can also improve the quality of silage through i) increasing the generation of WSC, and therefore ensuring an adequate supply of substrate for L. plantanim; ii) Partial hydrolysis of the plant cell wall increasing the rate of cellulose hydrolysis within the rumen. From the above discussion it is apparent that the use of an L.plantarum strain, with the capacity to hydrolyse cellulose, could be beneficial in the ensiling process. No celluloytic lactic bacterium has been isolated from microbial ecosystems. However, the advent of recombinant DNA technology affords us the possibility of engineering a cellulolytic derivative of L. plantarum. This report describes progress towards this objective.
Autocrine control of milk secretion by a milk protein
Authors: Wilde C.J. , Addey C.V.P. , Campbell F.M. , Connor S.A. , Kerr M.A. , Knight C.H.
Published: June 2019

The rate of milk secretion is controlled acutely by the frequency and completeness of milk removal from the mammary gland. Numerous experiments in dairy animals have shown that this acute control is exerted locally within each gland, rather than by circulating galactopoietic hormones (Wilde & Peaker, 1990). Local regulation of milk secretion by milk removal is not related to physical distension of the gland by accumulated milk (Henderson & Peaker, 1984), but is instead the result of changes in the degree of chemical feedback inhibition exerted by a secreted milk constituent.

Proteins that may act as feedback inhibitors of lactation (FIL) have been isolated from goat's milk (Addey et al, 1991a), cow's milk (Addey et al, 1991b) and human milk (Wilde, unpublished work) on the basis of their ability to inhibit synthesis of milk constituents in a rabbit tissue explant bioassay (Wilde et al, 1987a).
Lipid blends and antioxidant supplements in broiler chicken diets: effects on performance, meat properties and storage quality
Authors: Scaife J. R. , Iji P. , Michie W. , Davis M.
Published: June 2019

Broiler diets are routinely supplemented with approximately 50 g/kg lipid. The lipid supplement used in the UK has been a blend of tallow and vegetable oil, however, there is considerable interest in the use of alternative fat sources. The fatty acid composition of supplemental lipids, in particular the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids can (1) effect lipid digestibility and may be reflected in differences in growth performance and (2) markedly influence tissue fatty acid profiles which may increase the requirement dietary antioxidant supply and affect meat storage characteristics.
Salivary losses of purine derivatives in sheep
Authors: Surra J. , Guada J.A. , Balcells J. , Castrillo C.
Published: June 2019

Developed models to estimate rumen microbial yield from the urinary excretion of purine derivatives fail to account for a complete absorbed purines (Chen et al., 1990a, Balcells et al., 1991). Ruminal degradation of purine derivatives recycled via saliva has been suggested as a possible explanation after detecting the presence of allantoin and uric acid in the sheep saliva (Chen et al. 1990b). However, it is not known to what extent these losses may be affected by dietary induced variations in saliva flow (Kay, 1966).

This paper reports preliminary results of an experiment designed to study the effect of diet processing and blood allantoin concentration on the rate of purine derivatives losses through salivary secretion.
The effects of low molecular weight phenolics in the ruminant gut metabolism
Authors: Parrinder R. , Buttery P.J. , Dawson J.M. , Wood C.D. , Gill M.
Published: June 2019

Polyphenolics are a common group of anti-nutritional factors, which occur in many browse plants found in the tropics. They have been implicated in the poor performance of ruminants. Detrimental effects could occur in the rumen or, if phenolics or their metabolites escape degradation, in the intestines or animal tissues. Most published reports have concentrated on examining the effect of feeding plant material containing anti-nutritional factors or the effects of administration of plant extracts containing a mixture of possible anti-nutritional compounds. We have adopted an alternative approach by investigating the metabolism of individual phenolic compounds rather than broad groups. For our initial studies the flavonol glycoside rutin (a monomeric unit of many condensed tannins) and gallic acid (monomeric unit of many hydrolysable tannins) were chosen as models to study the fate of these compounds in the rumen environment.

All samples were analysed for phenolics by HPLC (Spectra Physics Focus System) using a diode-array detector (220-900nm) and a 250 × 4mm column packed with ODS Hypersil, CIS. Samples run on this system were eluted with a linear gradient of 2% glacial acetic acid(A) and methanol(B), 100% A - 100% B in 30-60 min, the gradient run time depending on the type of sample being analysed. Sample peaks were identified using their retention time, maximum absorbances and peak spectra relative to known phenolic standards. All samples containing phenolics were extracted in 100% methanol by homogenization (Polytron AG Kinematic, Switzerland) at 13,500 rpm for 2 × 90 sec. The homogenate was then centrifuged at 1·000g for 10 min. The resulting supernatant was analysed for phenolics by HPLC.
Purine derivatives excretion in sheep urine in relation to metabolizable energy and rumen degradable protein intake
Authors: Giráldez F.J. , Peláez R. , Zorita E. , Valdés C.
Published: June 2019

Recently has been shown that allantoin or total purine derivatives excretion in urine are strongly related to the amount of purines reaching the small intestine (Chen et al., 1990; Balcells et al., 1992) and as consequence purine derivative output is propouse to be used as an index of microbial protein flow to small intestine.

Because energy and rumen degradable protein supplies are the main factors affecting rumen microbial growth, the effect of changes in rumen degradable protein supplies at different levels of ME intake on urinary excretion of purine derivatives was studied in this work.
Plasma iodine status in steers treated with iodine
Authors: Rogers P.A.M. , Larkin J.A. , Moloney A.P.
Published: June 2019

Twenty-four steers of low iodine (I) status were selected from a group of 40 of similar weight and type. Changes in plasma inorganic iodide (PII) levels in steers treated with I were examined in a randomised block experiment (Part 1 below). Relationships between PII, plasma total I (TOTI) and thyroxine (T4) levels were examined also (Part 2 below).

The trial began after a pre-treatment blood sampling (Pre) on Day 1. Selected steers (4 groups of 6 each) were assigned at random to individual stalls. Treatments were: C = no I supplement; D = a daily oral drench of 10 mg I (as potassium iodide)/100 kg liveweight (LW) on Days 1 to 7 inclusive; F = one application of 70 mg I (as Tincture of l)/100 kg LW to the flank fold on Day 1; L = intramuscular injection (1.1 ml/100 kg LW) of an oil-based iodine preparation (Lipiodol; 400 mg l/ml)) on Day 1.
The effect of supplementation with starch on the voluntary intake of straw and the flux of water from the rumen of sheep
Authors: Nengomasha E.M. , Fikrernariam D. , Hovell F.D.DeB. , Lopez S.
Published: June 2019

The literature suggests that supplementation of fibrous roughages with small amounts of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates can increase intake. A wide range of supplements has been used such as sugar beet pulp, (Silva, 1985), barley (Chimwano et al, 1976), maize starch (Huque, 1991) or sucrose (Campling et al, 1962). It has been suggested that one of the positive effects of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates on poor quality roughages is to provide extra fermentable organic matter, thereby enhancing microbial activity and fermentation of the less readily degradable components of the roughage. Thus Chappel and Fontenot (1968) used an 8 per cent concentrate inclusion with a roughage-based diet, and observed higher cellulose digestibility than without supplementation. We have suggested (Hovell et al 1988) that the outflow from the rumen of undegraded roughage residues is driven by salivary flow, rumen VFA levels stimulating saliva production during rumination. In this case, at least part of the effect of starchy concentrates on stimulating intake would be through a stimulation of rumen outflow. This hypothesis would seem to have been confirmed by the observations of Huque (1991) who supplemented a basal straw diet with maize starch (10, 20 or 30%) and observed an increased intake and rumen outflow with the lower levels of supplementation.

The objective of the experiment described here was to study the effect of the addition of starch to a straw diet on voluntary intake and rumen parameters including the dynamics of water flux.
Selection of dietary lysine and threonine concentration of growing pigs
Authors: Fairley R. A. C. , Rose S. P. , Fuller M. F.
Published: June 2019

The aim of these trials was to discover if growing pigs can select an appropriate mixture of two feeds differing only in the level of one amino acid.

A trial was conducted with 40 male pigs, with an initial mean weight of 13.1 kg. A basal low lysine feed was formulated with 172 g digestible protein (DP)/kg feed which was supplemented with synthetic lysine. The resulting feeds were similar in all respects except digestible lysine (DL) level, which was 25 (L), 50 (ML), 109 (MH) and 141 (H) g/kg DP.

A second trial was carried out with threonine, using 48 male pigs with an initial mean weight of 11.94 kg. The same basal feed was supplemented with synthetic lysine to 70 g DL/kg DP and then supplemented with varying amounts of synthetic threonine to form four feeds with digestible threonine (DT) levels of 29 (L), 35 (ML), 55 (MH) and 68 (H) g/kg DP.
A three-year comparison of profitability of organic and conventional beef production systems
Authors: Younie D , Carr G W , Yackiminie D S
Published: June 2019

There is a demand for organically produced meat from consumers concerned about environmental protection, food quality and animal welfare. Premium prices are claimed for most organic foods, but offset against these must be the possibility of reduced output. In order to quantify the reduction in physical output and the potential for improved sale prices, a beef systems comparison was carried out at Craibstone, Aberdeen, centred on two grassland farmlets; a conventional fertiliser-based system (C) and an organic system based on clover (O) each of which supported an 18-month beef unit. This paper describes the results from three full production cycles covering the period from autumn 1988 to spring 1992.
Effect of Offering Concentrate Rations with Different Energy Densities on Calf Performance
Authors: Fallon R.J. , Twigge J.R.
Published: June 2019

The primary aim of the calf rearer is to ensure a successful transition from non ruminant to ruminant status while achieving rapid growth and an early intake of solid food. Newbold, Blake and Hagges (1991), found that increasing the concentration of ME in either the starter or milk replacer will not promote more rapid growth, but will simply reduce the rate of starter consumption. This present study investigated the extent to which the energy density of a calf starter ration affected starter intake and liveweight gain in calves receiving a fixed allowance of a high energy milk replacer with ad libitum access to solid calf starter rations.
Effect of extended daxlength on appetite, liveweighr performance, and attainment of slaughter weight in weaned deer stag calves
Authors: Davies M.H. , Wade A.P.
Published: June 2019

Deer are strictly seasonal animals. In mid-winter a period of reduced feed intake and growth ensues, and is especially pronounced in weaned calves (Kay, 1989). As a result the majority of farmed venison is slaughtered at 15-20 months of age. Research has shown that winter inappetance is affected by photoperiod (Simpson et al., 1984). This may offer the potential to manipulate growth rates, and alleviate the current problem of venison marketing and continuity of supply. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the possibility of producing carcasses of an acceptable size and quality at different times of the year.
Production aspects of integrated housing of sows with confined litters
Authors: Wim Houwers Ing. , Rob Buré ir. , Walvoort Johan
Published: June 2019

In an integrated group housing system for sows, animals of all stages of production are kept in one group, except around farrowing, and remain there throughout their productive life. Lactating sows have access to the suckling section of the house via an electronic gate. Jostling of piglets from different litters is avoided by keeping the litters in their own suckling pen until weaning. The system allows lactating sows to freely evade their piglets, and move between the suckling section and the communal area. They can maintain their social position and cool off in the relative cool communal area. Earlier observations (Houwers et al., 1992) showed sows decreased sucklings and increased their absence from the farrowing pen towards weaning. It was not clear whether the overall performance of the piglets was depressed by absence of sows before weaning. The relevance for practical farming partly depends on the production results that can be achieved.
Effect of ascorbic acid and 1,25(OH)2D3 on bone cell metabolism in relation to the development of tibial dyschondroplasia.
Authors: Farquharso C. , Rennie J.S. , Loveridge N. , Whitehead C.C.
Published: June 2019

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) results from a defect in endochondral ossification and is characterised by an accumulation of avascular cartilage extending distally from the growth plate. The lesion develops in young fast growing birds (broilers and turkeys) and is thought to be a result of incomplete chondrocyte differentiation. This condition can result in deformed bones and lameness and has therefore many economic and welfare implications.

Since its description 25 years ago, TD has been studied extensively. The majority of the research has focused on determining the role of nutrition in the aetiology of the disease but it has only recently been shown that this disorder can be completely prevented by supplementing the diet with 1,25(OH)2 D3 (Rennie et al., 1993).This may be related to the hormones ability to increase the rate of chondrocyte differentiation (Farquharson et al., 1993). Since ascorbic acid (AA) has been shown previously to stimulate the endogenous synthesis of 1,25(OH)2 D3 (Weiser et al. 1988), its effect on the development of TD in young fast growing broilers was investigated
Genetic evaluation of pedigree beef cattle in Great Britain
Authors: Crump R E , Bryan J G E , Nicholson D , Thompson R , Simm G
Published: June 2019

In order that genetic progress in British beef breeds could be improved, performance traits have been recorded by the Meat and Livestock Commission for many years. A large number of pedigree beef herds have recorded with the Meat and Livestock Commission during this period. Until recently, these records were only made use of via within herd contemporary comparisons such that the results for animals could not be compared across herds or time.

Through the use of Individual Animal Model Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP), differences between herds and contemporary groups within herds can be accounted for provided there are genetic links between herds and contemporary groups. As a result of the small pedigree herd size in Great Britain, typically less than 20, sires are often chosen from outside the herd in order to reduce inbreeding. This practise has resulted in there being a relatively high level of connectedness between contemporary groups and this enables the BLUP procedure to disentangle management and genetic effects.
The Ceremonial of Royal Succession in Capetian France: The Double Funeral of Louis X
Authors: Brown Elizabeth A. R.
Published: June 2019

On 12 and 13 July 1316 the abbey of St-Denis was the scene of a curious and unusual service performed for King Louis X of France, who had died and been buried at the abbey more than a month before. As Geffroy de Paris relates, Philip, count of Poitiers, ‘made his way to St-Denis and there, grieving and downcast, he did his brother's service’; another chronicler, more explicit, says that ‘in Philip's presence were celebrated obsequies for his brother King Louis.’ Fuller information is found in the accounts kept by Geffroy de Fleury, future argentier of Philip V, for what he terms the obseque of Louis X, performed for the king's trespassement. In the account are recorded expenses for a chapelle used for the occasion, and, to make the border, cover, and ceiling of the chapel, 14 aunes of red silk worked with the royal arms and 16 double aunes, two pieces of sky-blue silk, and five black cloths; money was also spent on workmen who went to St-Denis to put the chapel in place — ‘tendre la chappelle’ — and on the nails they used to do their work. Finally, two Turkish cloths were bought ‘to put over the body,’ and the 22 1. par. paid for these cloths represented more than a third of the entire cost of the funeral, which amounted to 59 1. 6 s. par. The evidence in Fleury's account supplements the chroniclers' terse references to the ceremony, but no more than the chronicles does the account suggest the significance of the strange service: the only double funeral ever held for any king of France.
The Nature of Need in ‘Piers Plowman’ XX
Authors: Adams Robert
Published: June 2019

Those familiar with the latter parts ofPiers Plowmanwill recall that Need makes his mysterious entrance immediately after we have witnessed the origins of disharmony in the redeemed field of Dobest. When several shady characters claim discipleship to three of the cardinal virtues, we may suspect a note of cynicism in their professions; but one (the brewer) has openly defied Conscience altogether.
The Early Metaphorical uses of ΣΚΙΑΓΡΑΦΙΑ and ΣΚΗΝΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ
Authors: Trimpi Wesley
Published: June 2019

Precise differentiations between the pictorial techniques referred to by the terms σκιαγϱαφία and σκηνογϱαφία in the fourth century b.c. have proved difficult to establish. The terms occur most often in illustrative metaphors which compare these techniques with restrictions or deficiencies in various disciplines such as metaphysics, epistemology, psychology, optics, ethics, rhetoric and poetry. It is difficult to judge, however, from the metaphors illustrating these limitations just what these techniques were and how they were evaluated in themselves as types of artistic representation. One might use, that is, a skiagraphic sketch, roughed-out in shadow and shading and probably viewed from some distance, to illustrate the incompleteness of knowledge, or use a carefully contrived skenographic perspective, characteristic of stage scenery, to illustrate the deceptiveness of sophistic argumentation, without regarding either artistic method as illegitimate in itself. This paper will deal primarily with the metaphorical applications of these terms in order to clarify further the nature of the literary styles which were described by comparisons with them. Further clarification of the metaphorical illustrations may, in turn, suggest further consideration; for the history of art.
Note of a Case of Early Appreciation of Musical Pitch
Authors: McKendrick John G.
Published: June 2019

A boy has recently come under my observation in whom the appreciation of pitch is developed at so early an age and with so remarkable a degree of accuracy as to justify a record being made of the case.

His name is John Baptist Toner. He was born on 11th June 1891, so that he is now a little more than four and a half years of age. He is a fine healthy-looking boy. His parents, who are young, are both musical. The mother sings and has a keen appreciation of music. The father plays on both the piano and the organ, has all his life taken much interest in music, and has studied the theory of the art. So far as can be discovered, neither the grandparents, nor any member of collateral branches of the family, were distinguished by musical ability.

Since he was two years of age, the boy has had access to a piano, and he seems to find pleasure in fingering the keys. During the last week of 1895, his father first taught him the names of the notes on the piano, and he says that his little boy picked up this information with astonishing rapidity. He acquired the names of the white keys in two or three minutes, in his first lesson, and the names of the black keys were acquired on the following day in an equally short period of time. Since that date, he has not forgotten the names of the notes, and when any note is sounded, by striking a key on the piano, he invariably can tell the name of the note, simply after hearing the sound, and without seeing the key struck.
Note on a Sensitive Flame
Authors: McKendrick John G.
Published: June 2019

Dr M'Kendrick showed an extremely sensitive flame made by Dr R. Koenig. It is constructed on the type of the sensitive flame apparatus devised by Barrett and improved by Govi. A Lecomte burner directs the gas towards a fine wire gauze screen, and when the gas is lit above the screen the flame is very sensitive at ordinary pressures. The special part of the apparatus now shown consisted of a funnel or resonator placed at right angles to the Lecomte gas-jet and opening into the space below the gauze screen. To ensure success a fine stop-cock or clip must be used for the regulation of the quantity of gas. Dr M‘Kendrick showed also that by placing a glass tube 460 mm. in length by 40 mm. in diameter over the flame, and about 4 mm. above the level of the gauze, as first suggested by Geyer, a musical note was heard which was disturbed by vibrations acting on the flame. The apparatus not only showed the ticking of a watch, placed in the resonator, by the movements of the flame, but with each “tic” the tube sounded slightly. The slightest movement in the vicinity of the apparatus agitated the flame; and as the latter was arranged so as to be near the point when it evoked the tone of the tube, now and again the tube gave forth a strong tone as a vibration acted on the mass of gas below the gauze.