bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Response to feed Additives in Beef Production Systems
Authors: Scott L. , Kay M. , Hunter E. A.
Published: June 2019

Feed additives are widely used in beef production systems. Two series of trials were carried out during a 2 year period on several farms in the N.E. of Scotland to determine the effects of the feed additives, Salinomycin, Flavomycin, Romensin and Avotan on the growth rate of beef cattle. In the first trial which was carried out on 27 farms, there were 1650 steers and heifers which were on an ad-libitum diet of grass silage and a rolled barley supplement. The additives were pre-mixed with 1 kg ground barley and fed once daily to the groups of cattle as part of their concentrate allowance. The additives compared were Salinomycin 150, Flavomycin 40, Romensin 200 and Avotan 150 mg/head/day. All cattle were weighed at 0, 42, 84 and 126 days. The responses in terms of daily gain and the persistency of those responses were measured for the various feed additives. In the second trial which was carried out on 13 farms, there were 470 bulls which were in cereal-beef units. The additives used were premixed and fed in a similar manner to that in trial 1. The same additives were compared at similar dose rates to the other trials. All cattle were weighed at 28-42 day intervals and daily gains were recorded. On one farm, feed intake was recorded for each group of bulls given the different feed additives. The data from each farm was analysed using the analysis of variance technique. The mean gains on each farm were subjected to further analysis using least squares techniques to provide overall mean values with appropriate standard errors.
Artificial Insemination of Ewes with Ram Semen Frozen by the Pellet Method
Authors: Curnock R M , Reed H C B , Logue D N , Maxwell W M C
Published: June 2019

One problem encountered in the widespread application of sheep artificial insemination (AI) is the rapid decline in fertility of fresh or liquid chilled ram semen. An effective deep-freezing procedure would enable semen to be collected and stored from selected rams throughout the year for subsequent use in controlled breeding programmes, as well as facilitating the import and export of semen.

Following some encouraging results from the use of pooled semen frozen by an Australian pellet method (Maxwell et al 1980), further field trials were conducted to investigate fertility of semen frozen from individual rams as well as pooled semen. The effects of season of freezing and number of inseminations on fertility were also investigated.
The Use of Sheep A.I. for Genetic Improvement in Commercial Lamb Production
Authors: King Margaret E , Clark C F S , Fraser C , Aitken R
Published: June 2019

In 1980/81 the North of Scotland College of Agriculture and the Rowett Research Institute carried out collaborative trials on artificial insemination of ewes. The ewes were double inseminated at 48 and 60 hours after pessary withdrawal, using diluted, fresh semen chilled to 15°C. The average conception rate at synchronised oestrus was 70%.

Considerable interest was shown by farmers in the North East of Scotland resulting in on-farm trials. These were restricted to a 50 mile radius of Aberdeen in order to minimise time between collection and insemination and ensure viability of semen. However one trial entailed flying semen to the Orkney Island of Hoy and covered 250 ewes over two days of which 66% lambed to the synchronised oestrus.
Water Intake of Weaned Pigs from 3 to 7 Weeks of Age
Authors: Brooks P.H. , Russell S.J. , Carpenter J.L.
Published: June 2019

There is considerable interest in using drinking water as a vehicle for the medication of early weaned piglets. A prerequisite of effective medication via drinking water is an accurate assessment of water intake. Unfortunately there is no published information on the water intake of early weaned piglets under modern systems of housing, feeding and management.
The influence of nutrition and environment on the growth and metabolism of the weaned piglet
Authors: Close W.H. , Le Dividich J.
Published: June 2019

Weaning represents a critical period in the life of a piglet. Although the age at which piglets are weaned is rather variable, it is common practice to wean them at an early age. At weaning the normal pattern of growth and development is interrupted. The extent to which nutritional, climatic, social and managemental practices influences the check in growth rate and change in tissue accretion is not well documented. The present experiments were designed to investigate the influence of some of these factors on the growth and development of the weaned piglet.
Dairy cow intakes and performance on wilted silage treated with or without a silage additive
Authors: Slade C F R , Wray J P
Published: June 2019

Some degree of wilting of grass prior to ensiling is a widespread management technique when weather conditions permit. The intention by using this technique is to both reduce the volume of effluent produced and improve silage quality. The majority of experiments suggest that there is not much benefit to silage analysis if a silage additive is used on grass that has already been wilted. However, in the case of a milking cow that is expected to consume large amounts of silage through the winter period, there could be an improvement in intake if a wilted silage was treated with an additive. The object of this experiment was to see if the use of a reliable silage additive on wilted grass led to a greater silage intake and better performance, by milking cows.
Characterisation of the Lactation Curve in Pakistani Buffaloes
Authors: Gondal K.Z. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

The rate of milk secretion in dairy animals displays a trend throughout the lactation period. It increases to a maximum in a few weeks following parturition and decreases thereafter until the animal goes dry.This trend draws a certain curve, namely the lactation curve.The milk yield of a single lactation may be influenced by many factors but the general shape of the lactation curve defined by the locus of weekly yields remains substantially unchanged. It rises rapidly to the peak within a few weeks after calving followed by a more or less gradual decline until the end of lactation.

The analysis of the lactation curve, i.e. the week to week output of milk and trend of increase and decrease in yield with advancement of lactation is important for day to day management and forward planning of dairy herds by reliable forecasting of week by week milk production, seasonal variation and the total milk yield of individual cows or groups of cows.

A number of reports pertaining to dairy cattle have been published but very few studies have been concerned with buffaloes. In most of the countries, the buffaloes have been used for draught purpose but it is in the Indian subcontinent that this animal is seen at its greatest advantage as a source of animal protein, i.e. milk and meat for human consumption.
The Genetic Improvement of Dairy Cattle
Authors: Land R.B. , Simm G. , Thompson R. , Woolliams J.A.
Published: June 2019

Dairying is the largest single sector of British agriculture. European milk production is however in surplus and the imposition of quotas has put pressure on the industry. It has also constrained the interaction of the industry with market forces and hence its potential for progressive development. The greater the pressure the more important is efficency and hence the greater the need for and the benefits from genetic improvement. This paper reviews breeding objectives for dairy cattle, and considers the opportunities for the uptake of new technologies such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, and physiological predictors of genetic merit.

Concentration on clear and limited breeding goals is crucial to the success of any breeding programme. This is probably the principal factor underlying the greater genetic progress achieved in North America and New Zealand than in Europe.

Gibson (1987) has estimated that the optimum ratio of fat:protein In milk for processing is currently about 1.65:1 (i.e. 5.6% fat would be required to match the current average protein production of about 3.4%). Even with a 30% fall In consumption of dairy fat, the optimum fat % in milk for manufacturing would still be 3.8—4.7%.
The ability of growing pigs to control their protein intake when fed in different ways
Authors: Kyriazakis I. , Emmans C.C. , Whittemore C.T.
Published: June 2019

On a single feed an animal can increase its intake of a nutrient (eg. protein), as its ratio to energy is reduced, only by increasing its rate of energy intake. When given, as a choice, two feeds of a different protein but equal energy contents, it can vary its protein intake independently of Its energy intake by varying the proportion of each feed in its diet.

The experiment described here was designed to investigate the effect of feed protein content on the feed intake of young pigs and to test the proposition that young pigs, when given a choice between two feeds of different protein contents, a combination of which is non-limting, will select a diet which meets their protein requirements. In addition an investigation of the rules which govern the diet selection was carried out.

Four feeds (L, A, B and H) with similar energy contents (16.5 MJ DE per kg fresh feed) but different levels of crude protein (CP) were formulated and made into pellets. All feeds were intended to be non-limiting in vitamins and minerals.
Genetic Resistance to K88 E. Coli - Pig Performance Trials
Authors: Walters J.R. , Sellwood R.
Published: June 2019

International field data suggest that up to one out of every four piglets dies before weaning. After accounting for stillbirths, crushing and piglets that die because they do not get enough to drink or are too weak to survive, most of the remainder die of scours. In the first week of life most scours are caused by Escherichia coli. Data have suggested that up to 50% of these scour deaths are caused by the K88 type E. coli, accounting directly for the deaths of about 150 thousand piglets per year in the U.K. and over 10 million worldwide.

Field observations have suggested that only some litters are affected while others remain healthy even though they are reared alongside litters with K88 scour. Similarly, it has been observed that the progeny from certain boars are more susceptible.
Comparison of dried molassed and unmolassed sugar beet feed and barley at two protein levels for milk production in early lactation
Authors: Sutton J.D. , Daley S.R. , Haines M.J. , Thomson D.J.
Published: June 2019

Previous experiments have shown important differences in milk production when mixed starch sources were replaced by mixed high quality by-products in high concentrate diets with hay as the forage (Sutton et al. 1987). The purpose of the present experiment was to compare rolled barley with sugar beet feed (SBF) in both molassed and unmolassed forms when given alone with grass silage in a high-concentrate diet. Additionally the effect of altering protein concentration of the concentrates was examined.
Effects of Manipulating Rumen Fermentation and Outflow Rate in Sheep on Microbial Protein Yield as Estimated from Allantoin Excretion
Authors: Dewhurst R.J. , Webster A.J.F.
Published: June 2019

New schemes describing the protein nutrition of ruminants consider both host and microbe requirements for nitrogenous compounds, truly absorbed amino N (TAAN) and rumen degradable N (RDN) respectively. This has made the prediction of the energetic efficiency of rumen microbial protein yield (E,MiN) crucial. However there is little guidance concerning the prediction of E,MiN since there are few consistent relationships in the literature. We face the dilemma that current techniques for measuring E,MiN are costly, invasive and laborious which makes it difficult to conduct large, designed and replicated experiments to investigate sources of variation. We have adopted the much simpler techniques of measuring urinary allantoin excretion to investigate sources of variation in E,MiN. Our objective was to investigate effects on E,MiN of varying rumen outflow rates by nutritional (level of intake and diet digestibility), and non-nutrition (supplementary NaHCO3) methods.
Management - Disease interactions in pigs 3: Nutrition - disease interactions
Authors: Miller B.G. , M.Bailey  , Telemo E. , Stokes C.R. , Bourne F.J.
Published: June 2019

Both level of feeding and dietary composition have been demonstrated to influence bacterial colonisation and diarrhoea in the weaned pig (Smith & Hall 1968, Bertschinger et al 1978, Lecce et al 1983). Kenworthy and Allen 1966 proposed that “the stimulus to bacterial growth derives from the hosts response mechanisms to intestinal irritation” and that the enterotoxigenic E Coli “Acts as an exacerbating agent rather than a primary pathogen” (Kenworthy et al 1967).

Several workers have suggested that the primary intestinal response is villus atrophy, an elevation in crypt cell mitosis (by up to x10) and crypt cell hyperplasia, associated with malabsorption, mal-digestion and increased intra-epithelial lymphocytes. Such a response is characteristic of a T cell mediated type IV hypersensitivity (Ferguson 1980). Miller et al (1984) have therefore suggested that one of the factors which may contribute to the aetiology of postweaning diarrhoea is a transient hypersensitivity to dietary antigens prior to the development of oral tolerance.
The effect of body reserves at farrowing on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows
Authors: Mullan B.P. , Williams I.H.
Published: June 2019

Recent work in the United States (Reese, Moser, Peo, Lewis, Zimmerman, Kinder and Stroup 1982) and in Australia (King and Williams, 1984) has clearly shown that nutrition during lactation can affect the fertility of young sows. If first-litter sows are restricted in food intake during lactation, so that they lose body weight and backfat, they take longer to return to oestrus after weaning than their counterparts fed ad libitum. To reproduce successfully the sow must have some mechanism(s) of monitoring its nutritional status, preferably before conception takes place. It is difficult to imagine mechanisms capable of monitoring body reserves per se. It is more likely that the sow can monitor changes in its body reserves, for example, by measuring the rate of lipid mobilized from adipose tissue or the rate of protein breakdown from muscles, or both.

Crossbred gilts (Landrace x Large White) were selected at about 45 kg body weight (approx 3 months of age) and allocated to treatment according to litter and live weight. A total of 22 groups each of 24 animals was selected. Within each group gilts were fed (13.0 MJ DE/kg, 160 g/kg CP) either ad libitum (High), 2.0 kg/day (Medium) or 1.8 kg/day (Low) from selection through until mating.
Diets to Maintain Heat Content of Overfat Lambs on Slimming Regimes
Authors: Vipond J E , King M E , Wetherill G
Published: June 2019

Downgrading of lamb carcasses for overfatness is a major source of revenue loss to U.K. sheep farmers due to loss of EEC payments worth up to £20 per head. The difficulties of assessing fatness on live lambs by subjective assessment using lumbar palpation and the fact that in live markets the same techniques are used by the MLC graders cause problems to the farmer attempting to avoid overfat lambs. The trial reported here addresses the problem of how to feed lambs identified at live certification as overfat with the objective of reducing fatness but retaining the meat content of the carcass. Work by Hovell, Orskov, MacLeod and McDonald (1983) using intragastric infusion techniques showed how lambs could maintain positive N balance on diets that were below accepted maintenance levels for energy but had adequate protein.

In the first trial 76 Suffolk X overfat lambs previously fed on roots and concentrates outside were allocated to initial slaughter (28) or barley straw ad lib (24) versus barley straw ad lib + 100 g/day fishmeal pellets (24). Lambs were slaughtered after 14, 28 or 42 days on trial. Data was collected on the straw intake and liveweight change, but slaughter data was not available.
Effect of melatonin implants on reproductive performance in ewes
Authors: Haresign W. , Peters A.R. , Webster G.M. , King J.W.B. , Staples L.D.
Published: June 2019

It has been known for many years that the annual breeding cycle of the sheep is controlled by photoperiod. More recently it has become apparent that this process involves the pineal gland. Light is effectively monitored by retinal photoreceptors within the eye which transmit a neural signal to the pineal gland, and this in turn responds by secreting melatonin during the period of darkness. As daylength decreases in the autumn, the duration of elevated melatonin secretion increases, and this changing ratio of high:low melatonin during each 24h period stimulates breeding activity.

Both timed (by afternoon feeding or injection) and continuous (by subcutaneous or vaginal implant) administration of exogenous melatonin to ewes in mid-summer have recently been shown to mimic the effects of decreasing photoperiod by advancing the onset of the breeding season. The present experiment was undertaken to investigate the ability of a subcutaneous implant of melatonin to manipulate reproductive activity of ewes under field conditions in the U.K.
Effect of ewe body condition on mean ovulation rate and associated hypothalamic activity and responsiveness to GnRH
Authors: Rhind S.M. , McNeilly A.S. , McKelvey W.A.C. , McMillen S.
Published: June 2019

In many breeds of ewe, body condition at mating is a major determinant of ovulation rate and lambing rate. It has been shown that differences in body condition are associated with differences in the number of large, potentially ovulatory ovarian follicles (McNeilly, Jonassen and Rhind, 1987) and mean circulating FSH concentrations (Rhind and McNeilly, 1986). Differences in circulating gonadotrophin concentrations could be a function of parallel differences in either hypothalamic activity or pituitary sensitivity to GnRH; either or both of these factors could be affected by ovarian steroid feedback. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of ewe body condition on these parameters in the absence of ovarian steroidal feedback.

LH secretion was used as an indirect measure of the secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus since LH secretion closely mirrors GnRH secretion (Clarke and Cummins, 1982). Pituitary sensitivity was assessed by measurement of LH release following injection of a GnRH bolus.

At 2 and 7 days after bilateral ovariectomy, blood samples were collected from each of 2 groups of 12 mature Scottish Blackface ewes in condition scores of 2.75/3.00 (H) or 1.75/2.00 (L) and with mean(+ s.c.) liveweights of 53.4 ± 1.47 kg and 38.2 ± 1.80 kg respectively. Samples were collected every 15 mins for 8 h and then for a further 3 h after each ewe was injected (I.V.) with 10 μg GnRH. They were analysed for concentrations of FSH and LH.
The Effect of Breed and Diet on Pig Carcass Quality
Authors: Edwards S. A. , Wood J. D. , Moncrieff C. B. , Porter S. J. , Whitehouse J. M.
Published: June 2019

Increasing concern has been expressed about deterioration in the handling and eating quality of pigmeat produced in modern U.K. circumstances. Many of the problems are attributed to excessive leanness. It has been suggested that the Duroc breed may produce a better quality product than current U.K. white breeds as a result of its higher level of intramuscular fat. Diet composition has also changed over time, with increasing use of a wider variety of ingredients and added fats. This experiment was carried out to examine the effects of breed and dietary fat on pigmeat quality characteristics.
Lean meat quality of different pig breed types
Authors: Warriss P.D. , Kestin S.D. , Brown S.N. , Bevis E.A.
Published: June 2019

Major attributes of pig lean meat quality are colour and the amount of exudate lost during storage. These can be influenced by genotype and preslaughter handling. Surprisingly, there is hardly any Information on the inherent meat quality potential of different breeds of pig in the UK and this is particularly true of the traditional breeds. While these may form a negligible part of the British pig population, with the increasing concern at the apparent recent increase in the incidence of PSE meat, use of genes from possibly-resistant traditional breeds in commercial hybrids might be valuable to improve quality. In this work therefore, eleven breeds of pig were compared, each represented by about twenty animals from at least two different source herds (see Table 1). Both gilts and castrates were represented. They were fed a diet containing 20% protein ad libitum and slaughtered at a live weight averaging 62 kg after having been subjected to the minimum of stress. The pH in the H. longissimus dorsi (LD) was measured at 45 min post mortem. After overnight chilling the carcasses were cut into primal joints and the loin joint scored for shape of the LD, coarseness of the grain of the muscle fibres and ‘setting’ of the joint. Setting is an important quality characteristic in that it facilitates butchery and enhances the appearance of retail cuts. Measurements of reflectance and loss of exudate during storage were made on the LD. Reflectance was measured using an EEL meter and exudation was determined after storage at 1°C for 3 days.
Consumer Attitudes to Meat
Authors: Woodward J
Published: June 2019

The meat industry has come under increasing pressure in recent years: there is increased competition between the meat species and between neat and non-meat alternatives. Earlier qualitative consumer research (Wright and Slattery, 1986) highlighted several factors causing concern which were apparently affecting meat consumption. These factors included an awareness of the causal link between dietary fat and coronary heart disease; interest in the quality of meat; concern regarding the use of growth hormones and/or food additives and concern regarding animal welfare issues. A greater understanding of consumer attitudes towards meat which might be effecting a reduction in consumption is needed if the industry is to devise successful production and marketing strategies. This forms the rationale for this investigation.
The prediction of milk fat concentration from the characteristics of a cow's diet
Authors: Morant S.V. , Sutton J.D.
Published: June 2019

The extension of the milk quota system to include milk fat as well as milk yield has focussed attention on the control of milk composition by dietary means. For example, when dairy farmers are faced with the need to reduce milk yields to stay within quota they may choose to reduce the herd's intake of concentrates. If they do this they run the risk of increasing the weighted average milk fat concentration of their annual milk supply to a level at which, according to current regulations, they are deemed to have produced a greater volume of milk. Additionally, in the long term an ability to reduce the fat content of milk in a predictable manner in response to the increasing demand for low-fat products might become beneficial. The characteristics of a cow's diet that would enable such predictions to be made with adequate precision need to be identified.
An ELISA technique for the determination of soya bean lectin in animal feeds
Authors: Prince R.I. , Miller B.G. , Bailey M. , Telemo E. , Patel D. , Bourne F.J.
Published: June 2019

Soya bean (Glycine max) contains large quantities of lectin, which has been implicated as an important anti-nutritional component of animal feeds; but the significance of this has previously been difficult to assess, since no simple method has been available to accurately measure lectin concentration.

We have now developed an assay method suitable for the routine screening of animal feeds using minimal laboratory apparatus. The technique relies upon an enzyme linked immunusorbent assay (ELISA) system, to give a visible colour indication of the presence of SBL.

Samples (100 ul) are serialy diluted on microtitre plates prior coated with affinity purified rabbit anti-SBL antibody. Bound lectins are then detected using a second anti-SBL antibody raised in sheep, followed by an alkaline phosphatase conjugated pig anti (goat) IgG. The addition of p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium (Sigma 104) substrate gives a yellow colour in the presence of lectin.
Variation in the Seasonal Oestrus Period in Three Breeds of Greek Sheep
Authors: Vosniakou A. , Tsakalof P. , Doney J.M.
Published: June 2019

The preferred mating period in Greece is spring and early summer. Conception rate to natural mating at the end of one oestrus period or early in the next is low, leading to a lengthy lambing period. Some 10% of flocks are synchronised during this period by a standard progestagen/PMSG treatment. There is considerable variation in ovulation rate, conception rate and litter size which could be related to within-flock variation in oestrous activity.

Fourteen adult ewes from each of three breeds -Chios, Karagouniko and Serres - were maintained as a single flock at Diavata (latitude 40.5°N), without mating, from the end of the milking period in September. From the following April, oestrous activity was checked daily by vasectomised ram for 18 months. Live weight was maintained approximately constant at 59, 54 and 54 kg, respectively, for Chios, Karagouniko and Serres. Plasma progesterone was measured 10 days after detected oestrus and after 28 days when there was no intermediate activity. A silent oestrus in the breeding period was counted as oestrus but when it occurred prior to the first or after the last detected oestrus, it was not used to determine the breeding period.
Melatonin advances and condenses the onset of seasonal breeding in greek dairy ewes
Authors: Kouimtzis S. , Belibasaki Sofia , Doney J.M.
Published: June 2019

The indigenous sheep breeds in Greece have a relatively short anoestrus. Some ewes begin to cycle before June but there is considerable variation, both between the within breeds, which may be associated with genotype or with environmental factors. Mating in spring or early summer, with or without synchronisation, is a common practice in order to take advantage of the climatic conditions and of the traditional marketing period for suckled lambs. In many cases the ewes are still being milked daily and are in low body condition. Conception rate is often low and the lambing period - in flocks of around 100 ewes - may extend over several months. Melatonin is known to advance the onset of oestrus in autumn breeding ewes but treatments initiated before June have given equivocal results.
Duration of melatonin treatment and ovarian activity in ewes
Authors: Wigzell S. , Robinson J.J. , Wallace J.M. , Aitken R.P.
Published: June 2019

Daily oral dosing in mid afternoon with 3 mg of the indoleamine, melatonin, from early June onwards is highly effective in advancing the breeding season of both Greyface and Scottish Blackface ewes kept under a natural photoperiod; the mean reaction interval from initial dosing to the onset of ovarian activity in Scottish Blackface ewes being around 65 days compared with 110 days for untreated controls (Robinson et al 1985). Advancing the starting time for the melatonin treatment to mid-March gave a similar reaction interval with behavioural oestrus occurring in late May/early June (Wigzell et al 1986a). Following this reversal of the breeding season by melatonin, continued melatonin treatment in unmated ewes resulted in a period of oestrous cyclicity lasting 4 to 5 months. Thereafter the ewes became refractory to melatonin and returned to anoestrus at a time when untreated controls were commencing ovarian activity (Wigzell et al 1986b). These observations prompted us to investigate the effects of different durations of melatonin treatment on ovarian activity.
Effect of ram introduction upon the pulsatile release of LH and follicle development in pre-puberal ewe lambs
Authors: Al-Mauly N.Z. , Bryant M.J. , Cunningham F.J.
Published: June 2019

The introduction of rams to seasonally-anovular ewes will, at certain times of the year, stimulate increased pulsatile release of LH, follicle development and ovulation (Martin et al., 1986). The neuroendocrine mechanism governing the transition into adulthood of ewe lambs is incompletely understood, but it is believed to be similar to that which controls the transition to the breeding season in the adult ewe (Foster, Yellon and Olster, 1985; Legan, Karsch and Foster, 1977). Thus the introduction of rams may have a similar action in the pre-puberal ewe lamb as in the seasonally-anovular adult ewe. This experiment investigated the effect of the introduction of rams on the pattern of LH secretion and follicle development in ewe lambs during the late summer/early autumn of their first year of life.
The effect of dietary protein concentration on the performance of triplet rearing ewes and their lambs
Authors: Davies D.A.R. , Gallo C.B.
Published: June 2019

In ewes rearing triplets high milk yields in early lactation are vitally important. The trial was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary protein intake on ewe milk yield and the performance of their triplet reared lambs.

The trial involved 24 Cambridge (C) and 12 Suffolk x Cambridge (SxC) ewes rearing triplets. Ewes and their lambs were housed and penned in individual family groups until 35 days post partum. During the 7-35 day period ewes were fed ad libitum one of two coarsely milled complete diets differing in protein concentration (Table 1) together with a daily allocation of 510 g hay (oven dry).
Effect of concentrate energy source on lactation performance of dairy cows
Authors: Abubakar M.M. , Rowlinson P. , Armstrong D.G.
Published: June 2019

Over recent years there has been increasing interest in the diversity of materials which may be used as energy sources in dairy cow concentrates. Traditionally, many dairy concentrates have been based upon cereals with the cereal starch providing a rapidly fermentable energy source. Such diets, particularly on systems where the feeding frequency is low, may depress rumen pH and promote low rumen volatile fatty acid ratios of acetic + butyric : propionic which are associated with the production of milk of low fat content. The feeding of dairy concentrates based upon materials containing appreciable quantities of digestible fibre may be expected to alleviate this problem. The purpose of the trial reported here was to investigate the effect of concentrate energy source on lactation performance of dairy cows.

30 autumn calving multiparous Friesian cows were fed one of two concentrates which were formulated to isoenergetic extremes of starch and fibre content.

Three weeks before their expected calving date cows were housed in cubicles with access to Calan individual feeders. Following equalised concentrate feeding in a post-parturn covariance period, one of each pair (Pairing having been on the basis of previous milk yield, milk composition and expected calving date) was gradually introduced to its designated concentrate over a five day period. Cows were flat rate fed at 7, 10 or 13 kg concentrate DM/d (depending upon yield potential) from day 20 of lactation for 10 weeks. Concentrates were fed in three equal feeds daily.
The influence of long-term dietary inclusion of the antibiotic Actaplanin on dairy cow performance
Authors: Abubakar M.M. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

The antibiotic Actaplanin is a complex of glycopeptide compounds produced by Actinoplanes missourrensis. When included in feed as a performance enhancer it has been shown to increase milk production of dairy cows (McGuffey et al. 1983). Actaplanin is associated with reduced proportions of acetate and increased proportions of propionate in rumen fluid and a depression in milk fat proportion may result (Clapperton et al. 1987). The aim of the trial reported here was to monitor the effects of feeding 960 mg Actaplanin/head/d to dairy cows throughout two successive lactations.
A study of the influence of Harming newborn piglets either immediately following birth or soon after successful suckling
Authors: Furniss S. R. , English P. R. , MacPherson O. , Birnie M.
Published: June 2019

The deep body temperature of the newly born piglet (39°C) in many circumstances drops immediately after birth. A drop in body temperature of 2°C or more is considered to constitute chilling. When pigs are chilled they become lethargic and are more prone to overlying and starvation (Stephens, 1971). Because chilled piglets are less successful in competing for a suckling position and in obtaining colostrum they are more prone to disease such as scouring (Kelley, 1982). Lynch (1983) found in a farrowing house temperature of 24°C, 23 and 3 per cent of piglets had a body temperature of 37°C or less at 1 and 24 hours of age respectively. When farrowing house temperature was at 17°C, the proportion of chilled pigs (body temperature below 37°C) was 72,59 and 6 per cent at 1, 24 and 48 hours of age respectively. Thus, the incidence of chilling after birth can be extremely high and the consequences are likely to be serious. An experiment was carried out to investigate approaches for minimising the drop in piglet body temperature after birth and to examine the effects on piglet survival and growth.
Effect of energy intake during lactation on nitrogen retention by the sow for 35 days post-weaning
Authors: Roos M. A. , Bechtel Peter J. , Easter Robert A.
Published: June 2019

To establish the effect of an Inadequate dietary energy intake during lactation on the repletion of maternal energy and protein stores post-weaning.

Forty-two crossbred, multi-parous (parity 2 to 5) sows were randomly assigned to diet on day-1 of lactation based upon ancestry and parity, Diets were (1) high-energy (66.9 MJ/day) and (2) low-energy (33 MJ/day). Lactation diets were prepared with maizestarch and soyabean meal and formulated to provide equal intake of all nutrients except energy during the 28-day lactation. Total daily nutrient intake was achieved in four proportional meals All litters were standardized to nine pigs/litter on day-1 of lactation. On day-14 of lactation, daily milk yield was estimated by the Weight-suckle-welgh method. Sows were weighed on day-1, day-21 and day-28 of 1actation. Maternal weight change was calculated using maternal weight postpartum and at weaning. On day-28 of lactation, ten sows (weight 182 to 258 kg) from each treatment were selected at random and assigned to metaboilsm crates for a 35-day post-weaning nitrogen and energy balance experiment.
Water use by lactating sows
Authors: Gill B.P. , Brooks P.H. , Carpenter J.L.
Published: June 2019

There have been few published studies on the water needs of lactating sows under contemporary systems of feeding, housing and management. The literature available indicates that lactating sows provided with an unrestricted water supply show considerable individual variations in daily water consumption. Although ARC (1981) suggest that lactating sows should have access to an unrestricted water supply, an allowance of between 15 and 20 l/day has been recommended to meet the requirements for water. This study investigated the water demands of lactating sows provided with an unrestricted supply of water and to determine the stage of lactation on daily water use.
The effect of feed intake during late pregnancy on the performance of sows when fed a common high level during lactation
Authors: Harker A J , Cole D J A
Published: June 2019

It is established that backfat depth and body condition during late pregnancy and lactation can be manipulated through changes in feed intake (Harker and Cole, 1984). Other work has shown that high level feeding throughout pregnancy is associated with a reduction in voluntary feed intake (e.g. Salmon-Legagneur and Rerat, 1962; Harker and Cole, 1985). However, it remains unclear whether high level feeding during late pregnancy alone has any effect on subseguent voluntary feed intake or changes in liveweight and backfat depth during lactation.

The present experiment was designed to compare the performance and body condition changes of sows fed different levels in late pregnancy followed by a common and relatively high feed level during lactation.
Effects of simple or complex starter diets on the performance of pigs weaned at three weeks of age
Authors: Taylor J.A. , Low A.G. , Partridge I.G.
Published: June 2019

The nutritional objective for pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age is to enable the most economical transition from sows milk to predominantly cereal/soya based diets in the grower/finisher period. Conventional ‘complex’ diets given to early weaned pigs usually consist of a range of high quality, and therefore relatively expensive, ingredients such as skim milk powder, fishmeal and cooked cereals. Often the aim is to provide a more than adequate supply of highly digestible proteins with a view to maximising weight gain over this initial period. An alternative strategy is to provide the weanling pigs with a low-cost cereal/soya diet which is balanced, in terms of Its amino acid complement, in a manner similar to the ideal protein. A variation on this theme is to use a more conventional diet as a ‘pre-starter’ diet for the first two weeks after weaning, before the introduction of a cereal/soya diet, as there is often a check in growth rate associated with simple diets during this period. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate these alternative dietary regimes with pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age.
The effect of prior experience of feeds on the diets selected by growing pigs
Authors: Kyriazakis I. , Emmans G.C. , Whittemore C.T.
Published: June 2019

A test of the theory that animals seek to eat what they need, is to offer them a choice of two feeds with different protein contents but similar energy yields. The animals, treated in this way, are expected to eat that combination of the two feeds which Just meets their protein and energy requirements. However, in a previous experiment (Kyriazakis, Emmans and Whittemore, 1987), when pigs were offered a choice between two feeds, a high variation in the choices of individuals was observed. This was attributed to the need for an initial learning period, where animals obtain information about the feeds before making “correct choices”. The purpose of this experiment was to compare different ways of giving the opportunity to the animals to learn about the feeds on offer, and to measure their effects on the diets selected by young pigs given choices between the same pair of feeds.
Effect of added fat and monensin sodium in the diet on growth performance and rumen and blood characteristics of entire male cattle
Authors: Kennedy D J , Galbraith H , Scaife J R , Thomas S
Published: June 2019

The energy density of diets can be increased by the inclusion of fat containing long chain fatty acids which may have antimicrobial activity. Their interaction with antibiotic feed additives is unknown. This study was designed to investigate the effects of monensin sodium (Romensin - Elanco Products Ltd) an antibiotic feed additive, and supplementary fat (BP fat prills - BP Nutrition Ltd) when fed either alone or together in the diets of barley-beef bulls.
The feeding value of inoculated silage as assessed by the use of beef animals
Authors: Hooper P.G. , Rowlinson P. , Armstrong D.G.
Published: June 2019

Previous studies conducted at Newcastle with a lactobacilli silage inoculant(Pioneer Brand 1177) had shown that when compared to an untreated control silage, the silage produced with the Inoculant had improved chemical composition. The benefits of applying the inoculant were further seen in improvements in nutritive value and voluntary food intake by sheep.
Effects of feeding level and of late pregnancy increases in feed allocation on the reproductive performance of sows
Authors: Fowler V.R. , Curran M. , Davies O. , Edwards S. , Ellis M. , Franklin M. , Hazzledine M. , Lee P. , Lynch B. , Petchey A.M. , Walker I. , Vint H. , Wood J.
Published: June 2019

The role of nutrition in determining the reproductive performance of sows is still controversial. Much of the dispute arises because in many published experiments there were very few sows in each treatment group. In addition, there have been substantial changes In the husbandry of sows over recent years, and these include the much earlier weaning of the litter at as little as three weeks of age, the breeding of the gilt at a younger age since she reaches 100 kg very much more quickly, and the development of facilities which allow each sow to be treated as an individual. A further change has been in the genotype of the breeding female which means that quite often she enters the reproductive phase of her life carrying very much less adipose tissue than hitherto. The recent development of equipment and techniques to monitor the backfat thickness of sows during life has introduced a new management tool, for which guidelines are readily given, but for which hard experimental evidence is often lacking. The purpose of the coordinated experiment reported here was to attempt to establish critical factors in the history of the sow which put her reproductive performance at particular risk and to evaluate widely recommended practices of Increasing the feed Intake at over the terminal phase of pregnancy, The work was jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and each of the centres.
Estimation of sire with feeding regime interaction in pigs
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Curran M.K.
Published: June 2019

Genetic improvement in commercially important traits of pigs produced under commercial conditions is generally achieved through selection of parents which are performance tested under special conditions. If pigs are performance tested in one environment and progeny tested in another environment, then the same animals may not be selected on the basis of the two tests, which would result in a genotype-environment interaction. The testing station and commercial unit often have feeding regime (ad-libitum, restricted or both) confounded with environment. This study estimated the genetic correlation between ad-libitum and restricted feeding in one environment for production traits to traits to determine the contribution 6T the genotype-feeding regime interaction to the genotype-environment interaction.
Comparison of Large White and Duroc boars as terminal sires
Authors: Simpson S.P. , Webb A.J. , Dick S.
Published: June 2019

Pig improvement schemes have generally concentrated on producing lean, efficient pigs with rapid growth rates, but there is growing concern that pork is being produced which is too lean and that meat quality is deteriorating. The American Duroc breed may have an advantage over the Large White and Landrace breeds in eating quality through a higher level of intra-musclar fat. This study compares production and carcass traits in a three breed cross with Duroc and Large White boars as terminal sires and Large White x Norwegian Landrace dams. Pairs of sibs were penned and tested together and fed ad libitum or on a time based scale, and carcass measurements were taken at the end of test.
Limitations of present classification schemes and new developments
Authors: Fisher A.V.
Published: June 2019

Carcass classification essentially has two functions: to provide information on aspects of carcass value which are of importance in subsequent marketing operations, and to provide a formal basis for a producer payment system which would thus encourage the production of carcass types demanded by the trade. There are examples of characteristics which have a market value unjustified in the light of objective analytical data, carcass conformation in sheep, and particularly cattle, being a prominent example. Idealistic carcass classification schemes would convey estimates of the amount of lean meat in a carcass and of the proportions of lean and fat in different carcass parts. They would include measurements of meat quality, not only extremes such as pale, soft, exudative (PSE) or dark, firm, dry muscle, (DFD) and soft, oily fat, but also measures indicative of eating quality, particularly texture, within the range of ‘normal’ meat.
The effects of a combination of the β agonist clenbuterol and bovine pituitary growth hormone on growth of milk-fed calves
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Innes G. M. , Ogden K. , James S.
Published: June 2019

Clenbuterol, a β adrenergic agonist has been shown to increase nitrogen retention and decrease lipid deposition in cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and laboratory rodents. Effects on nitrogen retention occur primarily in skeletal muscle (Williams et al 1987) and results suggest that reduced protein degradation is mainly responsible for the increased N retention. Reductions in N excretion were insufficient to account for the increased N retention in muscle and we demonstrated (Williams et al 1987) that increased N retention in skeletal muscle was occurring partly as a result of a nitrogen repartitioning in the body with reduced N retention in the viscera. Growth hormone also stimulates skeletal and muscle growth furthermore the mechanism whereby growth hormone stimulates N retention was considered to act primarily via a stimulation of protein synthesis (Eismann et al 1986). It would therefore appear that clenbuterol and growth hormone both increase N retention but by different mechanisms leading to the possibility of achieving an additive effect from the use of the two compounds in combination. The present experiment was designed to study the effects of clenbuterol and growth hormone individually and in combination on the N balance, creatinine excretion, protein and lipid accretion of veal calves.
Dried Poultry Manure as a Nitrogen Supplement for Young Cattle on Winter Grazing.
Authors: Smith T. , Sibanda S. , de Souza C.R. , Chakanyuka C. , Chihora R.M.
Published: June 2019

A feeding trial with young cattle, supported by measurements of digestibility and intake in lambs, was carried out to compare dried poultry manure (DPM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) or a urea maize mix (UM) as supplements to unimproved dry season grazing.

Eighty Mashona steers, aged 9 months, initial live-weight 157 kg, were divided into eight groups, one of which was used as an initial slaughter group. The remainder were grazed by day and penned overnight (119 days). Whilst in the pens they received either no supplement (C) or DPM; CSM; UM; DPM + CSM; CSM + CSM; UM + CSM. The single supplements contained 150g crude protein and the double supplements 250 g crude protein per day. All animals were offered a mineral supplement and water was available during the day. At the end of the dry season half of the animals from each group were slaughtered and half retained to measure compensatory growth.

Twelve lambs housed in crates each received one of the treatments (C, DPM, CSM, UM) with veld hay ad libitum (CP 2.5%) to measure digestibility and intake.
Genetic and environmental effects on barley straw quality
Authors: Capper B.S. , Rihawi S. , Nagi I.
Published: June 2019

Before progress can be made in the selection of barley varieties (or genotypes) which have superior straw quality it is necessary to demonstrate stability for indicators of straw quality. This means that the ranking of genotypes from those with superior straw value down to those with lower value should be broadly similar when planted either at the same location in different years (or growing seasons) or in the same growing season at different locations. A preliminary test which can be carried out is to compare variation in straw quality caused by genotype with genotype x season interaction variation following removal of variation caused by blocks and season.

Barley straw was obtained from 20 genotypes grown, in randomised blocks with three replications, in successive seasons in Syria where rainfall was 229 mm in 1983/84 and 373 mm in 1984/85. There were two experiments, one where the plots had been grazed by sheep at the tillering stage and another where plots were left ungrazed. The material planted consisted of 62-rowed and 146-rowed genotypes.