bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The roles of feeding regime, housing and Individuals' characteristics in the development of stereotypic behaviour in pregnant gilts
Authors: Terlouw E.M.C. , Lawrence A.B , Illius A.W
Published: June 2019

It has recently been shown that stereotypies In tethered sows are reduced at high feeding levels, Indicating that feeding level may be a major factor in the development of stereotypies (Appleby and Lawrence, 1987). It has also been suggested that the restraint of tethering Itself Is a major source of stress for the sow, thus promoting the development of stereotypies. The exact role of both factors of feeding level and restraint on the development of stereotypies have not yet been studied separately.

Differences in experimental environments and genotypes may explain part of the large variability in levels stereotypies previously observed in tethered sows across experiments. Differences in stereotyped activities between sows of the same genotype within experiments must, however, be explained by individual differences In sows’ behavioural and neurological profiles.

The present experiment investigated the role of restraint and feeding level on the development of stereotypies in pregnant gilts. Secondly it Investigated social temperament as a factor reflecting the gilts’ predisposition to develop certain abnormal behaviours.
Space requirements of the boar and sow at mating
Authors: Petchey A M , Hunt K A
Published: June 2019

Mating and the resultant conception is a critical event in the operation of a pig production unit. The boar's presence is known to influence the reproductive performance of the female pig in several ways, such as the onset of puberty, the weaning-to-conception interval, behavioural oestrus, conception and the number of piglets born in the subsequent litter. To optimise the productive benefits from this interactive process and for ease of husbandry there are several key requirements.

The boar must be housed to maintain his health, welfare and reproductive ability, the newly weaned sow must be aware of the boar's presence and an area must be provided where mating can be successfully executed. Additionally, there are second-order objectives of considerable importance: the easy and clean provision of feed and water, a minimal effort muck removal system, pens which provide easy access for stock and pigmen whilst allowing easy stock transfers. The multiplicity of objectives must be integrated and satisfied in a successful design.
Hypothermia and its attempted control in newborn piglets
Authors: Pattison R J , English P R , MacPherson O , Roden J A , Birnie M
Published: June 2019

The newborn piglet is prone to hypothermia because of the body heat which is lost in evaporating birth fluids from its surface and because the climatic environment provided for the piglet at birth can be sub-optimal. If deep body temperature drops by over 2°C from the norm of 39° C the pig suffers from reduced locomotor vigour and becomes, more lethargic (Stephens, 1971). Such disadvantages can make the piglet less effective in competing for a teat and colostrum and also more prone to be overlain by the dam (English and Morrison, 1983). Because of the possible consequences of hypothermia, therefore, there is a need to quantify piglet body temperature trends from birth in the variable conditions provided for farrowing and to develop improved approaches for reducing the problem.

Studies in newborn piglets were conducted on a large commercial unit in which farrowing took place in pens with solid floored front creeps with underfloor heating, while the remainder of the pen floor was of woven wire. Mean temperatures (4 cm above floor level) in the front creep and the remainder of the pen were 22.6°C and 21.4°C respectively. Rectal temperature (at a depth of 4 cm) was recorded using a hand held digital thermometer in 168 piglets in 17 litters at 10 minute intervals in the first hour of life, at hourly intervals thereafter up to 10 hours and also at hourly intervals from 24 to 36 hours of age.
Influence of heavy slaughter weights on growth and carcass characteristics of pigs
Authors: Ellis M. , Avery P.J.
Published: June 2019

Slaughter weights for pigs in the United Kingdom have traditionally been much lower than those in most other European countries and in North America. For example, in 1988 average carcass weights in the UK were around 64 kg compared to 72 kg in Denmark, 80 kg in Holland and over 105 kg in Italy. Currently, there is considerable interest within the BritisTi pig industry in heavier slaughter weights for pigs to exploit potential advantages in reducing fixed costs of production per unit of output. A research programme is currently being undertaken at this centre to investigate the potential for increasing slaughter weight and results from the first two studies undertaken are reported here.
Evaluation of different feeding strategies for the lactating sow
Authors: Anderson C J M , English P R , Edwards S A , McPherson O
Published: June 2019

Feeding strategies for the lactating sow must aim to achieve high piglet survival and growth rates and maximise subsequent reproductive performance of the sow. Feeding less frequently and feeding ad libitum may be ways of reducing disturbance and crushing of piglets, enhancing milk yield and maintaining sow body condition to enhance subsequent performance. High protein diets may encourage sows to utilise body fat reserves for milk production without compromising rebreeding. This experiment was designed to investigate these possibilities in commercial practice.

100 Camborough hybrid sows were allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments:

1)ration fed with the daily allocation divided between two feeds

2)ration fed with the total daily allocation given in one feed

3)fed ad libitum on the standard diet (CP 150 g/kg)

4)fed ad libitum on a high protein diet (CP 180 g/kg).

The feeding scale for the ration fed sows, based on commercial farm practice, was as follows: 2.5 kg on days 1-3, 3.5 kg on days 4-5, 5.0 kg on days 6-9 and 7.0 kg/day thereafter.

The experimental diets were based on barley and soya, with the higher protein diet obtained by substituting an additional 75 g/kg of barley with soyabean meal.
The effect of high-fat diets on gastric inhibitory polypeptide (gip) and insulin secretion in growing pigs
Authors: Ponter A.A. , Salter D.N. , Morgan L.M. , Flatt P.R.
Published: June 2019

Hyperinsulinaemia, which is associated with obesity and type II diabetes (Gama and Marks, 1989), may be due in part to an overactive enteroinsular axis. The gut hormone GIP is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion and is currently thought to be one of the main components of the enteroinsular axis. Exaggerated GIP responses have been observed after a mixed meal in obese subjects (Hampton, Kwasowski, Tan, Morgan and Marks, 1983), and a high-fat diet increases fat-stimulated GIP secretion in rats (Ebert, Willms, Brown and Creutzfeldt, 1976) and glucose stimulated GIP secretion in man (Morgan, Tredger, Hampton, Kwasowski, Wright, Dunn and Marks, 1983). This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of high-fat diets on the development of the biochemical parameters which are characteristic of obesity.
Effect of feed intake on protein and energy retention of boars of high genetic potential for lean growth
Authors: Rao D S , McCracken K J
Published: June 2019

The daily rate of lean deposition achieved by growing pigs is a function of a wide range of factors including genotype, gender, liveweight and intake of energy/protein. The review of ARC (1981) highlighted the controversy surrounding the effects of liveweight and energy intake on lean deposition. Recent publications suggest that there are interactions between these factors and also with genotype. In contrast to the linear/plateau relationship between energy intake and protein deposition proposed by Whittemore and Fawcett (1976), Campbell and Taverner (1988) observed a linear response in protein deposition up to the highest energy intake achieved, with pigs of improved genotype. The slope of the relationship was much greater than that observed in previous studies (ARC 1981). In a recent experiment, McCracken and Rao (1989) have shown that high-lean pedigree boars can achieve protein deposition rates as high as 200 g/d over the liveweight range of 33 to 88 kg. At present there is no published information on the response of such pigs to energy intake though the low rates of fat deposition observed suggest that energy intake could be limiting protein deposition. The experiment described below was designed to measure the response of protein deposition to energy intake at a series of liveweights between 33 and 88 kg. The diet and the treatments were chosen to obtain a wide range of energy intakes above and below those observed with dry, pelleted diets.
Measurement of lamb carcass composition using the velocity of ultrasound
Authors: Miles C.A. , Fisher A.V. , Fursey G.A.J. , Page S.J.
Published: June 2019

There is a need for objective measurement of the carcass composition of sheep to apply to live animals (selection) and to the carcass itself (classification). Ultrasonic scanning of live sheep has generally produced disappointing results, and tissue depths measured by automatic probes on carcasses have not been as precise as the best visual scores for fatness. The application of the velocity of sound (VOS) technique to lamb carcasses in a previous study (Fisher and Page, 1986) measured composition at a hindlimb and neck site but was not as precise as fat scores in predicting lean proportion. A recent patent describes a method for determining the speed of ultrasound through soft tissues in the vicinity of bone (Miles, Fursey and Page, 1989), allowing measurements to be made across the back through M longissimus thoracis et lumborum and between the spinous processes of the vertebrae. This study uses that method to examine VOS measurements made at sites along the vertebral column in live sheep and carcasses.
Electronics in animal breeding
Authors: Simm G , Wray N R
Published: June 2019

Two of the major steps in animal breeding programmes are (i) estimation of breeding values for a defined selection objective (such as milk production or carcass lean content), and (ii) design of optimum breeding programmes, including proportion of animals selected as parents, population size etc. Advances in electronics, and particularly in computer technology, have had a major Impact on these procedures in a number of ways. In this paper we aim to highlight four of these.

The preferred method of estimating breeding values is universally recognised to be BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction). BLUP is superior to classical procedures, such as contemporary comparison, for several reasons. The most important is that it is more accurate in separating differences between animals which are attributable to genetic rather than environmental factors. BLUP was first proposed by Henderson in 1949 but the first BLUP evaluation was not implemented until 1970 (Henderson, 1987). This delay is almost entirely attributable to inadequate computing facilities and technology at that time, since a BLUP evaluation system requires a large number of equations to be stored and solved.
Basal urinary excretion of purine derivatives in sheep
Authors: Balcells J. , Guada J.A. , Castrillo C. , Bonafonte J.I.
Published: June 2019

In ruminants duodenal purines,mainly derived from microbial nucleic acids, are catabolised and excreted in the urine as xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid and allantoin. The use of purine derivatives as an index of net microbial syntesis in the rumen requires a better understanding of the contribution of endogenus losses to total urinary excretion.

Similar levels of basal excretion of purine derivatives has been determined in ruminants maintained by intragastric nutrition (Giesecke et al. 1984, Fujihara et al. 1987) and preruminants fed on liquid diets (Linberg, 1989). However, lower excretion of allantoin and uric acid were recorded when exogenous supply was reduced by fasting (Rys et al. 1975).
Feeding behaviour and digestive kinetics in sheep fed chopped or ground and pelleted low quality alfalfa hay
Authors: de Vega A. , Gasa J. , Fondevila M. , López A.
Published: June 2019

Rumen capacity together with speed of rumen emptying limit voluntary intake of low quality well balanced forages (Ellis et al., 1983). Chemical composition and physical processing have important effect on both digestion plus absorption and passage through the reticulo-omasal orifice. Feeding chopped forage generate a large rumen pool of coarse particles which must be broken down by chewing and ruminating before to have a chance to escape from the compartment (Grovum, 1983). Grinding, by contrast, greatly reduce this rumen pool increasing likelihood of particles to leave the foregut (Rodrigue and Allen, 1960). This paper aims to study the effect of physical processing of roughage on feeding behaviour and digestive kinetics together with voluntary intake and digestibility.
The use of N-Alkanes as indigestible markers in studies on intestinal digestion in sheep
Authors: Kafilzadeh F. , Parker D.S.
Published: June 2019

Faecal recoveries of herbage n-alkanes (odd-chains) as well as dosed alkanes (C28, C30, and C32) have been shown to be incomplete (Mayes & Lamb, 1984; Mayes et al. 1986). The purpose of this experiment was to identify both the extent and the site or sites of losses of natural and dosed (C32 and C36) alkanes along the digestive tract of sheep and to assess their use as indigestible markers in studies on intestinal digestion. The recovery of both natural and dosed alkanes was compared with that of the conventional marker Cr2O3 at the duodenum, the ileum and in the faeces.

Four mature sheep fitted with re-entrant cannulae placed in the proximal duodenum and ileum (Brown et al, 1968) were used. The sheep were fed twice daily and the diet consisted of 700 g hay and 350 g of a stock ration containing; barley 60%, lucerne 30%, fishmeal 5% and molasses 5% (Table 1). Cr2O3 impregnated paper onto which C32 and C36 alkanes had been absorbed was shredded and introduced into the rumen in form of a 2 g pellet twice daily at feeding time.
The effect of supplemental yeast culture (yea-sacc) on patterns of rumen fermentation and growth performance of intensively fed bulls
Authors: Edwards I E , Mutsvangwra T , Topps J H , Paterson G M
Published: June 2019

Supplementation with Yea-sacc - yeast (Saccharomyces cerivisiae ‘1026’) and its growth medium - has been found by several workers to alter rumen fermentation patterns, increase milk yield and growth rate in dairy cows and calves. This experiment investigated the effect of inclusion in the diet of intensively fed bulls on rumen fermentation and animal performance.

Twenty-six Limousin x Friesian bulls reared to 3 months of age on a common diet were allocated to treatment on the basis of liveweight and previous growth rate at an average liveweight of 133 kg.

The Treatments were Control ‘C” and Yea-sacc ‘YC’ - the control diet supplemented with Yea-sacc. (Alltech Inc. USA) at 1.5 kg/tonne of fresh feed. The diet was a mixture of barley and soyabean meal (Tables 1 & 2) with the inclusions of the latter reduced at 159 days. Mineral and vitamin supplements were included together with molasses to bind the ingredients.
Response of urinary purine derivatives to urea supplementation of sodium hydroxide treated straw
Authors: Guada J.A. , Balcells J. , Gasa J. , de Vega A.
Published: June 2019

Since in ruminants urinary excretion of purine derivatives is related to duodenal absorption of purines (Fujihara et al.1987;Giesecke et al.1984), it may be a valuable index to identify nutritive constraints limiting rumen fermentation and microbial synthesis.

In the present experiment, the response in the urinary excretion of purine derivatives to urea supplementation of a N deficient diet was studied to test the validity of the above assumption.

Five Rasa Aragonesa ewes rumen cannulated and 38, 9±2, 52 Kg mean live weight, were offered “ad libitum” OHNa treated barley straw (50 g/Kg DM) ground and pelleted.

Five experimental treatments including four levels of urea supplementation(6.5, 13, 19.5 and 26 g/d) plus a negative control were arranged in a 5x5 latin square design,allowing 14 days of adaptation between experimental periods.The urea was given by continuous infusion to the rumen at a flow rate of 0.92 ml/mn during 18 h per day starting after feeding.
The effect of differing patterns of energy intake in mid and late pregnancy in maiden heifers
Authors: Sinclair K D , Lowman B G
Published: June 2019

The sharp fall in dairy cow numbers which has occurred since the introduction of milk quotas in 1983 has seen a resurgence of interest in the suckler cow. As a result the June 1989 census revealed that the number of heifers under two years old destined for breeding was 6.1 percent up on the previous year. It therefore seems clear that over the next few years as the beef herd expands more emphasis is going to be placed on the young breeding heifer. Problems with breeding from young heifers are well known. However, current knowledge of the effects of pre partum nutrition on heifer and calf performance is incomplete. The purpose of this study was therefore to monitor the effects, of differing patterns of energy intake in mid and late pregnancy in maiden heifers.
Effects of Including Malt Distillers Grains (Draff) Either Ensiled Alone or with Molassed Sugar Beet Shreds as a Concentrate Feedstuff for Dairy Cows
Authors: Hyslop J J , Roberts D J
Published: June 2019

Previous work reported at last years' conference (Hyslop, Offer and Barber, 1989) has demonstrated that the inclusion of molassed sugar beet shreds (MSBS) with malt distillers grains (draff) at ensiling; greatly reduces dry matter loss and enhances animal performance compared with ensiling draff alone. It has also been observed that draff may comprise up to 30% of dietary DM in silage based complete diets for dairy cows; without loss of performance (Hyslop and Roberts, 1989). This experiment examines the long term technical and economic consequences of replacing barley and soya with draff plus additional minerals in dairy cow diets. In addition; a comparison is made between draff ensiled alone, or in conjunction with MSBS.
The effects of protein and energy content of compound feeds offered at low levels to October calving dairy cows
Authors: Davies O D , Theobald V J
Published: June 2019

Interest in milk production from home grown forage has increased in recent years, resulting in a reduction in the amount of compound feed offered. With autumn calving cows there has been a limited amount of work investigating high forage, low compound feeding throughout the winter period. Encouraging results from Trawsgoed over the past 5 years have shown the potential for high forage diets, however reductions in compound feed has consistently resulted in poorer milk quality, particularly milk protein. Experiments conducted by ICI and research workers at Hillsborough, N Ireland have shown favourable responses in milk protein from increasing the compound's protein content. In addition milk butterfat was improved at Hillsborough when the energy content of the compound was increased from 10.8 to 12.9 MJ ME/kg. Unfortunately these trials involved only short feeding periods and were unable to determine long term effects or effects at varying stages of lactation. This experiment examined the effects of both protein and energy concentrations of dairy compound feeds on silage intake and cow performance, when compounds were fed at a flat rate of 3 kg per day to October calving dairy cows throughout a 197 day winter feeding period.
A comparison of high nitrogen and clover based swards grazed by summer calving cows
Authors: Bax J A , Roberts D J
Published: June 2019

The herbage intake of June/July calving cows in early lactation is limited by a number of factors including the quality of the sward. A typical management strategy is to graze dry cows at a high stocking rate at turnout to maximise the silage area and graze the freshly calved cows on silage aftermaths. A further refinement could be the use of clover rich swards. Winter feeding experiments have demonstrated that animals can eat more and perform better when offered a clover rich silage rather than a conventional silage. The following experiment was carried out to establish whether similar benefits would result from the grazing or clover rich swards.

In a continuous design experiment lasting 12 weeks, sixteen summer calving British Friesian cows (mean calving date 7 June) were allocated to either a perennial ryegrass dominant sward (PRG) or a white clover rich sward (WC) silage aftermath. The target sward height was 7-10 cm measured by swardstick. Additional cows were available on a put and take basis to maintain parity between the sward heights in the two treatments.
A parsimonious model of seasonal and regional variation in the parameters of lactation curves for milk yields in cows in the UK
Authors: Gnanasakthy A. , Morant S. V.
Published: June 2019

Yields of milk and its constituents recorded by National Milk Records (NMR) are used to estimate total lactation yields and to predict future yields while the lactation is still in progress. Morant and Gnanasakthy (1989) developed new lactation curves of the form:

where t is the days since calving and t' = (t-150 ) /100, for cows on a complete diet throughout lactation. The objective of this study was to extend this model for use with cows at grass during the summer months.

Approximately 2000 2nd and 3rd lactations of Friesian/Holstein cows, 1013 from the North and 960 from the South West of England, were obtained from the NMR data base by systematic sampling. The sampling fraction was 0.1. The cows calved between October 1987 and September 1988. Their lactations spanned at least 305 days and were recorded at approximated monthly intervals. In each of two regions the average milk yield in each month of lactation for cows calving in each month of the year were calculated. To obtain Initial estimates of grazing effects on the shape of the lactation curves, twelve dummy variables (gi, i=1, 2…12), where gi=1 for ith calendar month of recording and 0 otherwise, were included in the model.
Intake and digestibility of urea-treated whole-crop wheat by growing heifers
Authors: Castejon M. , Leaver J.D.
Published: June 2019

The use of whole-crop wheat harvested at the hard dough (55-65% DM) stage has advantages of high yields of DM, and no effluent production. Treatment with urea prior to storage prevents fermentation or moulding, increases the nitrogen (N) content and may increase digestibility (Deschard et al, 1987; MacDearmid et al, 1988).

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the intake and digestibility of urea-treated whole-crop wheat when fed alone, or when supplemented with an energy supplement (molassed sugar beet pulp) and a protein supplement (fish meal).
Beef production from silages produced from Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne and permanent grassland swards
Authors: Keating T. , O' Kiely P.
Published: June 2019

Grass forms a major component of the total ruminant feed in both Ireland and the UK. Much of the grassland consists of permanent swards of diverse botanical composition with many of the grass species present considered ‘secondary’ or ‘undesirable’ (Frame and Tiley, 1987). The objective of this study was to compare reseeded Lolium multiflorum and Lolium perenne swards with an old permanent grassland sward managed under intensive silage conservation systems, and to determine the annual production of grass silage and subsequent beef carcass output per hectare when the silages were offered to finishing cattle.
Restriction of the silage fermentation by the application of high levels of mixed aliphatic carboxylic acids on the productive performance of lactating dairy cattle
Authors: Jackson D A , Furniss S J
Published: June 2019

ADAS costings show that the dairy farmers with the highest margins per litre of milk sold are those who maximise yield from home grown forages. Forage quality obviously has an influence on cow performance but high intakes are the most important factor in determining yields.

Many physical and chemical factors can affect the nutritional value of silage and consequently intake.

The major deficiency of well fermented silage is that levels of residual sugars are normally very low (<10g/kg DM), this reduces the potential microbiological activity in the rumen. In addition the products of the silage fermentation affect palatability and can limit intake.

Restriction of the silage fermentation to a minimum, should overcome the nutritional limitations caused by the fermentation process, increasing intakes and the resulting animal performance.
Evaluation of a lactobacillus inoculant as an additive for silage fed to heifers
Authors: O' Kiely P.
Published: June 2019

When grass with an adequate content of fermentable substrate and epiphytic lactic acid bacteria is ensiled properly, the fermentation which follows is normally considered satisfactory. This fermentation can be altered by various categories of additive such as acids, sugars and inoculants, each of which can influence the fermentation differently. The experiment reported compared the fermentation products, aerobic stability and animal performance for silages made using formic acid or a Lactobacillus plantarum inoculant with well preserved silage made without additive treatment.

A 42 day regrowth of Lolium multiflorum (cv. Lemtal) was harvested without wilting using two precision - chop harvesters. Alternate loads of grass were ensiled with (a) no additive, (b) formic acid (850g/kg) at 3.0 1/t or (c)inoculant (Ecosyl - ICI plc) at 3 1/t (separate harvester). The inoculant was constituted immediately before use and was applied in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Harvesting was completed and the silos sealed within 26 hours of mowing. The silos were opened after 113 days.
The effect of a biological silage additive and type of supplement on the performance of beef cattle
Authors: Laird R , Gill A , McAuslan J T , Thomas C , Wright I D
Published: June 2019

The biological silage additive, Safe-Sile, is a commercial product prepared by Microferm Ltd. and the objective of the experiment was to appraise its efficacy in the conservation of silage and its subsequent feeding value.

Safe-sile contains lactic acid bacteria (2.5 x 109 cfu/g consisting of proportionately 0.75 Lactobacillus plantarum and 0.25 Pediococcus acidilactici) together with enzymes (hemicellulase, amyloglucosidase and cellulase) and a mixture of bacteriophages (2.5 x 109 pfu/g). These active ingredients are carried in dextrose together with mineral salts, trace elements and vitamins.

Two silages were made in September 1988 from third-cut wilted grass, one silage receiving no additive (control treatment) and the other receiving Safe-Sile at the rate of 1 kg per 15 tonnes of grass approximately. The fields harvested for this experiment were perennial ryegrass/white clover swards and the silages were made after a field wilting period of 24 hours under good silage-making conditions.
The effects on feed intake in weaned calves of low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal as the sole protein supplement
Authors: Vincent Isobel C , Thompson J , Hill R
Published: June 2019

Concentrate feed with high-glucosinolate rapeseed meal (BRSM) as the sole protein supplement was eaten less readily by weaned calves than a similar feed based on soyabean meal (Stedman et al, 1983), and this was so whether intake was measured during continuous ad libitum feeding, or for short periods, 0.5 h, after twice-daily feeding with changes of feed each day. In these and other experiments with calves (Stedman and Hill, 1987), concentrate feeds based on low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal were eaten more readily than those based on high-glucosinolate meal, but intake of the low-glucosinolate feeds rarely matched that of the corresponding feed containing soyabean meal.
The voluntary feed intake and weight gain of lambs given compound concentrate feeds containing rapeseed meal with a range of glucosinolate contents
Authors: Vincent Isobel C , Thompson J , Hill R
Published: June 2019

Lambs given ad, libitum, a compound concentrate feed containing a high proportion of a high glucosinolate rapeseed meal gained weight at a significantly lower rate than similar lambs given a concentrate feed based on soyabean meal (Stedman et al, 1983). The glucosinolate content of the concentrate feed containing rapeseed meal was just over 20 µmol/g. In the experiment described here the effects on lamb weight gain and concentrate intake were determined from a range of compound feeds containing the same proportion of rapeseed meal but different glucosinolate contents, to a maximum approaching 20 µmol/g.

Two rapeseed meals were used, one of low glucosinolate content (Dolar-DRSM), about 3.5 µmol/g, and the other of high glucosinolate content (autumn UK sown variety - BRSM), about 85 µmol/g. Eight compound concentrate feeds were prepared (Table 1), all containing 0.20 rapeseed meal but having calculated glucosinolate contents of 0 to 17.5 µmol/g. Their ME value was 12.5 MJ and CP 200 g/kg DM. The mineral and vitamin supplement provided 0,8 mg I/kg concentrate feed.
Rapeseed meal and maize gluten as supplements to straw in winter rations for spring calving suckler cows
Authors: Pullar Duncan , Rigby Ian
Published: June 2019

Winter feed represents a major cost in the production of suckled calves. By using the summer grazing period to ensure that cows are housed in good body condition winter feed can be restricted. The controlled weight loss of cows through the winter subsidises food inputs (WRIGHT, RUSSEL and HUNTER, 1986). At High Mowthorpe a mixture of barley and urea (BU) has proved to be a cheap and successful supplement to ad-lib wheat straw as a winter ration for suckler cows. Rapeseed meal (RSM) and maize gluten (MG) are possible alternatives to BU. RSM and MG have two potential advantages in that they may be cheaper to purchase and that they eliminate the need for milling and mixing facilities. Provided cow performance is not adversely affected RSM and MG could offer scope for simplifying ration preparation and reducing winter feed costs.
Optimising crop residue utilization in zimbabwe
Authors: Manyuchi B , Ncube S , Smith T
Published: June 2019

Dry season feed for ruminants is characterised by a shortage of energy and protein. Technology for improving the utilization of crop residues may not be available because of shortages of money or inputs. Chemical treatment, supplementation and handling of stovers available in Zimbabwe has been studied.

Lambs were allocated to treatment by blocking according to live weight and then randomizing within blacks. Three weeks acclimatisation was followed by intake measurement over 7 days and digestibility over 5 days.
Performance and digestiblity of non-starch polysaccharides in cereals or sugar beet pulp in pigs of 3 - 8 weeks
Authors: Low A. G. , Carruthers J. C. , Longland A. C. , Harland J.I.
Published: June 2019

In several recent studies it has been shown that growing pigs and sows can digest substantial amounts of plant cell wall polysaccharides (non-starch polysaccharides (NSP)) by microbial activity in the intestines (for example, see Longland and Low, 1988). Furthermore, it is clear that the principal products of the fermentation, acetic, propionic and butryic acids, are absorbed and used as energy substrate for growth (Bulman et al, 1989). Of the sources of NSP that have been examined, sugar beet pulp is particularly well digested, and it was used in the present study. The objective of the work was to measure the development of the capacity of the intestinal microflora of piglets, after weaning at 21 d, to digest sugar beet pulp. At the same time the performance of the piglets from 21 to 56 d was assessed.
Nutritive value of zero-tannin, white-flowered and tannin-containing, coloured-flowered field beans (vicia faba L.) for Chicks
Authors: Wareham C.N. , Wiseman J. , Cole D.J.A.
Published: June 2019

One of the disadvantages in using field beans (Vicia faba) has been the presence of tannins which form insoluble complexes with proteins, enzymes and carbohydrates. This experiment evaluated zero-tannin, white-flowered varieties and tannin-containing, coloured-flowered ones, in terms of the utilization of energy and nitrogen by broiler chicks.

A basal diet was designed to give sub-optimal levels of protein (70% of requirement, ARC 1975). The 5 bean varieties were incorporated into the basal diet at 4 rates (Table 1). Three of these were white-flowered with negligible levels of tannin (Albinette, 0.006g/kg; Blandine, 0.005g/kg; and Albatross, 0.010g/kg) and two were coloured-flowered and contained significant levels of tannins (Minden, 0.138g/kg; and Alfred, 0.113g/kg). Methionine and lysine were subsequently added in quantities sufficient to ensure they were not first limiting. The 16 diets were fed to Cobb broiler cocks of 7 days initial age (4 replicates of 2 birds per cage).
Soyabean meal protein degradabiuty in the sheep rumen
Authors: Siddons R C , Paradine J , Beever D E
Published: June 2019

Measurement of N disappearance during the incubation of a feed in polyester bags in the rumen is a widely used procedure for determining the ruminal protein degradability characteristics of the feed. These can then be used in conjunction with measurements of rumen outflow rate to calculate the expected extent of degradation in the rumen, which is a necessary prerequisite for diet formulation. Using the polyester bag procedure rates of feedstuff protein degradation have been found to be lower when cereal diets are given than when forage diets are given. Whilst this has been attributed to lower levels of cellulolytic activity in the rumen of cereal-fed animals it has also been suggested that it may be due to the physical nature of the rumen contents causing blockage of the bag pores. In the present study the effect of feeding either an all-forage or a high-cereal diet on polyester bag-derived and in vivo estimates of soyabean meal (SBM) protein degradability in the sheep rumen was examined.
A Legume browse, sesbania sesban as an alternative protein supplement to fishmeal for lactating cows in bangladesh
Authors: Khan M.A.S. , Jabber M.A. , Akbar M.A. , Topps J.H.
Published: June 2019

In Bangladesh, locally produced fishmeal is available as a protein source of lactating cows but there is a need to find an alternative concentrate such as a legume browse which can be grown on small farms. An experiment has been carried out to assess the effect on performance of partly replacing fishmeal with fresh foliage from Sesbania sesban.
A comparison of hay and strawmix as forages for preweaned calves
Authors: Njei R. , Phillips C.J.C. , Weiguo L.
Published: June 2019

Hay is an increasingly scarce commodity on cattle farms in the UK, due to the transition to silage in recent years. However it is generally preferred by farmers for feeding to calves because it is easy to transport and to feed in small quantities without rapid deterioration. A commonly used alternative is straw, and the voluntary consumption is as high as hay (Kang and Leibholz, 1973), but the DM digestibility is low and high levels of straw in the diet depress empty body weight gain (Thomas and Hinks, 1982). Mixing straw with palatable feeds of high nutrient content, such as molasses, has been shown to increase its feeding value to that of silage for older cattle (Phillips and Leaver, 1985), and could increase the forage intakes of young calves, where palatability is important in determining intake. Maintaining a high forage intake could also reduce the incidence of deleterious oral behaviours, such as licking the pen.
The system efficiency in mediterranean sown irrigated pastures consumed by lactating ewes
Authors: Caballero R. , Arauzo M. , Hernaíz P.J.
Published: June 2019

A three years field experiment in practical management conditions was carried out at La Poveda Field Station with the aim of establishing the relationship between allowance and intake and estimating the overall efficiency of the grazing system.

A paddock grazing management system was implemented with grazing time restricted to eight hours per day. 90, 98 and 98 lactating ewes of the Hanchega breed in its spring lambing season were used in 1985, 1986 and 1987 respectively.
Influence of supplementation on the composition of manchega ewe's milk grazing sown pastures in central spain
Authors: Caballero R. , Fernández E. , Riopérez J. , Amigo L. , Fontecha J.
Published: June 2019

Manchega ewes grazing sown irrigated pastures during the autumn or spring lambing season were or were not supplemented with up to 1 kg ewe-1 d-1 of on-farm supplements (barley and field beans) until mid-lactation with the aim of assessing the influence of practical concentrate supplementation on milk yields and milk composition. Milk samples were taken at 15-day intervals from seven days after lambing.
Silvopastoral sheep and pine systems for small farmers in southern chile
Authors: M.P. Herve , O.A. Balocchi , R. Penaloza
Published: June 2019

Chile's X region (40-43 degrees south), has around 1 million has. of marginal soils with forest-livestock potential use, red clay slopes being dominant, located in the coastal ranges. Subsistance agriculture with increasing erosion damage is carried out on small properties which also practice extensive livestock production with sheep and cattle.

In order to study alternative land use which could benefit small peasant farmers agroforestry with sheep and pines was attempted.

Two agroforestry systems using Pinus radiata D.Don and sheep were developed. System I started in 1977 planting 8 ha at 2,5 x 7m spacing. Romney ewes were introduced in 1979 initially at a stocking rate of 5/ha. Prunnings were carried out in 1980, 1984 and 1986; thinnings were done in 1982,1984 and 1986, to 7m and 200 st/ha respectively.

System 2 used 20ha of conventional 2 x 2m forest planted in 1974. It was prunned and thinned in 1982,1984 and 1986 to Bm and 200 st /ha respectively and stocked initially with 4.7 Romney ewes/ha in 1983.
An evaluation of methods for improving reproductive performance in summer lambing ewes
Authors: Margaret E King , Mitchell L M , Hutchinson J S M , Glatt R , Ibraheem M F
Published: June 2019

Manipulation of seasonality in the ewe has been the subject of extensive research over the past few years. Demand for continuous supply of home-bred lamb has encouraged producers to breed their ewes both earlier and later in their natural breeding season. Extending the breeding season to a Summer (May/June) lambing has proved a low input system reducing the requirement for concentrate feeding in late pregnancy and eliminating the need for housing during the winter period (Stone, 1988). However, Summer lambing involves mating ewes in January when fecundity may be declining. Exogenous Melatonin has been shown to be effective in advancing the breeding season by extending the length of time that significant levels of Melatonin are present in the blood. It may also have a beneficial effect on embryo survival (Wigzell et al, 1986; Kennaway et al, 1987). In Summer lambing ewes, where endogenous Melatonin is in decline during tupping in January, the introduction of exogenous Melatonin may result in continued reproductive activity and aid implantation of embryos.
Effects upon the performance of scottish blackface ewes with different nutrition during the second oestrous cycle after ram joining
Authors: Waterhouse A , Roger Louise C.
Published: June 2019

The availability of high quality pasture for mating is frequently limited in hill farming systems. The majority of ewes usually conceive during their first oestrous cycle after ram joining. More effecient use might therefore be made of better grassland if ewes could be successfully returned to their hill grazings part way through the mating period. This would allow either a longer period of availability of improved grass before ram joining or more logically access by a larger number of ewes to the improved grassland area.
Teasing to induce ovarian activity in anoestrous mule ewes
Authors: Ibraheem M F , Hutchinson J S M , King M E , Mitchell L M , Donald M
Published: June 2019

Efficient management techniques in sheep production must take particular account of the pattern of reproductive behaviour and its application in the manipulation of reproductive processes. Conventionally in the UK, the advancement of the breeding season has been achieved by the use of progesterone-impregnated sponges and pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). The ‘ram effect’ has been shown to be a powerful and cheap way of controlling the time of mating of sheep. The objective of the present study was to investigate the value of using different methods of teasing for the stimulation of ovarian activity in an early lambing flock.
A comparison of an indirect and direct method for converting sire evaluations from the united states to united kingdom improved contemporary comparison equivalents - holstein friesian
Authors: Swanson G. J.T. , Bellamy Mrs H. J.
Published: June 2019

The increasing international exchanges of semen and embryos have made it necessary to develop methods for converting bull and cow evaluations from the scale in the country of export to the scale in the country of import. Methods were Initially recommended by the International Dairy Federation (IDF, 1983) and latterly by the International Bull Evaluation Service (Interbull),(Philipsson et al, 1986).

The Interbull recommended methods were compared using United Kingdom (UK) data and one, known as the Goddard method was selected for routine use (Swanson, Bellamy and Oliver, 1988). These methods dealt with direct comparisons whereby progeny test evaluations for the same bulls were available In the two countries for which a conversion was required. In situations where this information is not available or is limited, an indirect conversion involving a third country may be calculated.
Yolk lipid changes during embryonic development of the alligator and chicken : association with temperature dependent sex determination
Authors: Noble R.C. , Ferguson M.W.J. , Deeming D.C.
Published: June 2019

The slaughter of male chickens at hatching in the egg industry constitutes a considerable financial loss. Although there is a close phylogenetic relationship with the chicken, the alligator displays the unique phenomena of temperature dependent sex determination i.e. the temperature of egg incubation determines the sex of the progeny (1). A comparison of chicken and alligator embryo metabolic data may thus suggest ways through which the sex determination operates and may be applied to the chicken. In the chicken and the alligator the lipids of the yolk perform a vital role as an essential nutrient and energy source to the developing embryo (2). As part of a wider research programme on temperature dependent sex determination, comparative data has been obtained on aspects of yolk lipid metabolism in the two species.
Beef production from once calved heifers
Authors: Keane M.G. , Harte F.J.
Published: June 2019

Approximately 480,000 maiden heifers surplus to herd replacements are slaughtered annually for beef in Ireland. They comprise approximately 150,000 Hereford and Angus x Friesians, 150,000 continental x Friesians, 100,000 Hereford and Angus crosses from the suckler herd and 80,000 continental crosses from the suckier herd. At times of calf scarcity and high prices some of these heifers could be bred to produce a calf before slaughter. Provided that calved heifers are slaughtered before 30 months of age, there is little difference in meat quality between such animals and maiden heifers slaughtered at 18 to 24 months of age (Joseph, 1975). The objective of the present experiment was to quantify the productivity of once calved heifers finished indoors or at pasture.
Relationships among commercial and laboratory methods of assessing the quality of pig meat from different joints
Authors: Planella J , Cook Q L , Kempster A J , Wood J D
Published: June 2019

Meat quality forms an important part of the assessment of any production method. Some components of quality can only be assessed subjectively using sensory evaluation. Both consumer panels and trained panels have been used to assess visual appeal, tastes and odours, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Trained panels are better at discriminating and at describing differences between samples, but are less close to consumer reality. Because quality assessments are made from representative joints, differences among joints might add inconsistency to the results. However, comparisons between different types of panels or sampling sites have rarely been made and there is no indication how well they are associated. The present paper examines the results from different parts of the carcass and from consumer and trained panels assessing visual and taste characteristics.
The effects of feeding level during both pregnancy and lactation on long-term productivity and body composition of sows
Authors: Lee P.A. , Close W.H.
Published: June 2019

Body reserves play an important role in reproduction because they can be used by the sow to buffer against inadequate nutrition when metabolic demands are high, especially in late pregnancy and lactation. There is, however, little available information on the dynamic role of body reserves during reproduction and the present experiments were designed to demonstrate how the body reserves of the sow change in response to different nutritional inputs and to determine whether these influence sow productivity.
Relationships between growth performance and feeding pattern of pigs using electronic feeding stations
Authors: Bampton P. R.
Published: June 2019

The technology to measure individual feed consumption of pigs in groups using electronic feeders is a recent development. As well as providing information on total feed consumption and consequently feed efficiency it is also possible to examine feeding behaviour under normal social conditions (ad libitum feeding in groups). Changes in feeding behaviour over a performance test are of particular interest to determine if growing pigs increase consumption by larger meals, more frequent feeding or a combination of both.

Selection for high lean growth rate may lead to changes in both feeding behaviour and duration of feeding which could have undesirable side effects in a genetic selection programme. Increased feeding activity may lead to aggression and lost efficiency of feed conversion due to greater activity.
Effects of active immunization against inhibin and androstenedione, separately or together, on hormone profiles, ovarian follicle populations and ovulation rate in heifers
Authors: Rhind S.M. , Schemm S.R. , Schanbacher B.D.
Published: June 2019

It was postulated that the induction of twin ovulations in cattle may require a combination of two appropriate stimuli. The first putative requirement is an increase in the circulating FSH concentrations and/or a decrease in inhibin concentrations to induce the development of additional potentially ovulatory follicles. The second putative requirement is an increase in LH pulse frequency during the follicular phase of the cycle to enhance the stimulus for follicle maturation and ovulation. On the basis of studies reported in the literature, it was suggested that such stimuli may be provided by immunization against inhibin and against a steroid hormone such as androstenedione, respectively. This experiment was designed to determine the effects of immunization against androstenedione and inhibin, either separately or together on the endocrine status of heifers and on the associated patterns of ovarian follicle development and ovulation rate.