bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of regulated release supplements for ewes in late pregnancy fed hay based diets
Authors: Minter C.M. , Wilkinson R.G. , Hough T.J.
Published: June 2019

Urea is a cheap source of non-protein nitrogen that can be included in ewe diets to meet their increasing demand for protein during late pregnancy. However, its rapid rate of ammonia release results in inefficient utilisation of the nitrogen by rumen microbes. New technology which binds urea with sugar has been developed to reduce the rate of ammonia release (regulated release) in the rumen and increase the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation. The objectives of this work was to evaluate the effects of including a regulated urea release product in the diet of ewes during late pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance.
Effect of physical processing on in situ degradation of maize and peas in the caecum of ponies
Authors: McLean B M L , Hyslop J J , Longland A C , Cuddeford D , Hollands T
Published: June 2019

Maize and peas that have undergone physical processing are used routinely in cereal mixes for equines. However, little information is available on how physical processing of maize and peas affects degradation dynamics in equines. This experiment examines the effect of two physical processing methods (micronisation and extrusion) on in situ degradation of maize and peas in the caecum of ponies

Two caecally-fistulated mature Welsh-cross pony geldings (approx. LW 270kg) were offered ad libitum grass hay plus minerals. Incubation bags (monofilament polyester 6.5 x 20cm, 41? m pores, 16mg/cm2 sample size) containing either unprocessed maize (UM), micronised maize (MM), extruded maize (EM), unprocessed peas (UP), micronised peas (MP) or extruded peas (EP) were incubated in the caecum for fixed times according to both a forward (0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 8, 24, 48h) and reverse (48, 24, 8, 4, 12, 6, 2, 0h) incubation sequence. For each feedstuff residues from each time were bulked within pony and across incubation sequence for subsequent analysis of dry matter (DM) and starch (STC).
In situ degradation of crude protein in physically processed barley, maize and peas in the caecum of ponies
Authors: McLean B M L , Hyslop J J , Longland A C , Cuddeford D , Hollands T
Published: June 2019

Little information is available on how physical processing of cereals affects crude protein (CP) degradation dynamics in equines. In two experiments the effects of two physical processing methods (micronisation and extrusion) on in situ degradation of CP in barley, maize and peas in the caecum of ponies were investigated.

In experiment 1, three caecally-fistulated mature Welsh-cross pony geldings (approx. LW 270kg) were used whilst two of these ponies were used in experiment 2. In both experiments ponies were offered ad libitum grass hay plus minerals. Incubation bags (monofilament polyester, 6.5 x 20cm, 41μm pores, 16mg/cm2 sample size) contained either unprocessed barley (UB), micronised barley (MB) or extruded barley (EB) (experiment 1) and either unprocessed maize (UM), micronised maize (MM), extruded maize (EM), unprocessed peas (UP), micronised peas (MP) or extruded peas (EP) (experiment 2).
Effect of screen diameter on particle size and water holding capacity of 15 starch based equine feedstuffs ground through a 1.0 mm or 0.5 mm screen
Authors: McLean B M L , Hyslop J J , Longland A C , Cuddeford D , Hollands T
Published: June 2019

Particle size (PS) may be reduced when feeds are ground through small screen sizes leading to increased losses from artificial fibre bags during in situ or mobile bag experiments in equines. Smaller PS may also alter the water holding capacity (WHC) of feeds which in turn may alter bag transit times during mobile bag experiments. This study examines PS and WHC in a range of starch based equine feedstuffs ground through two screen sizes.

Five feedstuffs (F) were used ie: barley (B), maize (M), peas (P), wheat (W) and naked oats (NO). Feedstuffs were subjected to three types of physical pre-processing (Pr) ie: unprocessed (Un), micronised (Mi) or extruded (Ex) and then ground through either a 1.0 or 0.5 mm screen size (SS). For PS analysis a 25g sample of each feedstuff was sieved through a stack of 11 sieves ranging in pore diameter between 45 μm and 2 mm using a mechanical shaker for 20 min.
Effect of inoculant and enzyme additives on fermentation characteristics and gas production of grass silage
Authors: Davies Z.S. , Brooks A.E. , Theodorou M.K. , Griffith G.W. , Merry R.J
Published: June 2019

Inoculants containing lactic acid bacteria, added to herbage at time of cutting, aid the natural process of fermentation to produce lactic acid during ensilage. This lowers the pH and preserves the silage. It is also claimed that enzyme additives break down polysaccharides in plant cell walls, releasing fermentable sugar to stimulate fermentation and increase the digestibility of the silage. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of inoculants and enzymes on silage fermentation characteristics and gas production during in vitro fermentation.

A second cut of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was mown, chopped to 2 – 4 cm lengths, divided into aliquots and treated at a rate of 10 ml kg-1. The treatments were: 1) control (water), 2) inoculant (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacter jensenii at 1.6 x 105 cells g-1 herbage) 3) enzyme (xylanase, β-glucanase and amylase, applied at a rate of 0.001 g kg-1 herbage) and 4) inoculant + enzyme.
Nutritive evaluation of Prosopis Juliflora fruits and leaves from Kenya: Chemical composition and in vitro gas production
Authors: Abdulrazak S. A. , Awano T. , Ichinohe T. , Fujihara T. , Nyangaga J.
Published: June 2019

Tree legume forages plays an important role in livestock nutrition in many parts of the tropics. One of the commonly used tree species is leucaena. However, the recent infestation of Leucaena leucocephala by the pest Heteropsylla cubana calls for alternative sources of legume forages. Abdulrazak et al. (1997) for instance, showed that Gliricidia sepium could be an alternative, and indicated the need to identify more promising species. Prosopis Juliflora (prosopis) grows in many parts of the tropics, including the arid and semi arid areas of Kenya. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional value of prosopis fruits (pods with seeds) and leaves as ruminant feed.
Effect of reducing the interval of recording from three to one hour on gas production profiles in the semi-automated technique using a pressure transducer
Authors: Mauricio R. M. , Mould F. L. , Owen E. , Dhanoa M.S. , Theodorou M.K.
Published: June 2019

Mauricio et al.(1997) reported that faeces as an inoculum in the gas production produced similar results to rumen liquor in terms of total gas production and OM digestibility but a greater initial lag phase was observed. Where a mathematical description is to be used to develop the gas production profiles an accurate description of the lag phase (the period prior to degradation during which multiplication and attachment of the micro-organisms occur) must be obtained. For this to be achieved when a large number of samples are to be examined, measurement of gas production has to be achieved rapidly; this is possible using a semi-automated technique (Mauricio et al., 1998). This study evaluated the effect of recording gas production using a manual (syringe) technique, with a standard 3 h interval, and at 1h and 3 h intervals using a semi-automated system.
The effect of lead on the rate of fermentation of herbage by rumen micro-organisms
Authors: Strojan S. T. , Phillips C. J. C.
Published: June 2019

Lead from car exhausts persists on roadside verges, and ruminants grazing close to a busy road are likely to consume contaminated herbage. However, cattle can detect lead on herbage when it is at concentrations of 170 mg Pb/kg DM or above and have been observed to avoid grazing pasture with 304 and 462 mg Pb/kg DM (Strojan and Phillips, 1997). Herbage 7.5 m from a busy dual carriageway has been recorded with 454 mg Pb/kg DM (Mottoet al., 1970).

The avoidance of lead-contaminated herbage may be the result of low digestibility of the leadcontaminated herbage, so the digestion rate of samples of herbage from the experiments of Strojan and Phillips (1997), referred to in the Introduction, was determined by the gas production technique (Menke and Steingass, 1988). Using 15 and 10 replicates/treatment from two experiments where lead acetate was sprayed onto cut (Experiment 1) and grazed (Experiment 2) herbage, 200 mg DM of each herbage sample was incubated in sheep rumen liquor in syringe pipettes.
Effect of frequency of ovine ruminal sampling on microbial activity and substrate fermentation
Authors: Nagadi S. , Herrero M. , Jessop N.S
Published: June 2019

Food eaten by a ruminant firstly undergoes microbial fermentation within the rumen. Nutritionally important characteristics of the food are the rate and extent of fermentation of its carbohydrate fraction, which can both be estimated using the in vitro gas production technique. The single greatest source of uncontrolled variation in any in vitro rumen fermentation system is the rumen fluid; curves produced from gas production data were influenced significantly by the variation in microbial activity between days (Menke and Steingass, 1988; Beuvink et al, 1992). A more reliable measure of rumen fluid activity is needed. The objective of this study was to determine whether the frequency of sampling of rumen fluid affected the microbial activity and subsequent fermentation.
Prediction of in vitro gas production parameters of concentrate feeds by near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)
Authors: Fakhri S. , Moss A. R. , Givens D.I. , Owen E.
Published: June 2019

Herrero et al. (1996) found that NIRS was able to calibrate and cross-validate the static values of gas produced from the incubation of Kikuyu grass using manual in vitro gas production. However, the fermentation kinetic coefficients were not calibrated satisfactorily by NIRS. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of NIRS as a means of predicting fermentation and the France et al. (1993) model parameters obtained from the automated in vitro gas production experiments for a range of concentrate feeds.

Thirty-eight milled (1 mm) samples representing three typical concentrate feed types were scanned over the infra-red region covering 1100 to 2300 nm using an NIRS systems 6500 spectrometer. Optical data recorded as log 1/Reflectance were transformed to their standard normal variates and detrended values (SNV-D).
Predicting the apparent disappearance of starch in the rumen of cows from the in vitro gas production profile of their diet
Authors: Rymer C. , Givens D.I.
Published: June 2019

Assessing the availability of a feed in the rumen is an important element of its characterisation. In the Metabolisable Protein system, it is assumed that all starch is available in the rumen, although clearly this is not the case. However, estimating the amount of starch that is apparently fermented in the rumen is difficult, expensive and cannot be routinely undertaken. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether the in vitro gas production technique could be used as a means of predicting the amount of starch that apparently disappears in the rumen (STA ADR).

Four Holstein cows, each fitted with a rumen and duodenal cannula, were used. They were fed one of four diets in a 4x4 latin square design. The diets consisted of grass silage (GS), molassed sugarbeet feed (MSBF), fishmeal (FM) and minerals (MIN). They were also supplemented with either wheat (WHT) or maize (MZE).
The detection of apoptosis and bcl2 in isolated secondary mohair follicles (growing and quiescent), cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of biotin
Authors: Tahmasbi A.M. , Galbraith H. , Scaife J.R. , Finn D.
Published: June 2019

Apoptosis is a physiologically active process whereby cells die in a programmed manner (Stenn et al 1993). Growth of hair occurs as a consequence of proliferation and differentiation of the epidermal cells in the bulb of the hair follicles. Reduction of hair growth or loss of follicle viability may arise from reduction in proliferation, and also from apoptosis of epidermal hair shaft-forming cells. Increases in apoptosis have been associated with reduction in expression of the apoptosis inhibitor bcl2 (Lindner et al 1997). Previous studies (Tahmasbi et al 1998) have shown that biotin deficiency reduced the viability of mohair follicles and thymidine uptake in vitro. The aim of this work was to investigate the presence of apoptosis and bcl2 in follicles which maintained growth or were quiescent following culture in media unsupplemented or supplemented with biotin.
The effects of amino acid supply on the sensitivity of IGF-1 secretion to growth hormone stimulation in ovine hepatocytes
Authors: Wheelhouse N.M. , Hazlerigg D.G. , MacRae J.C. , Lomax M.A.
Published: June 2019

Many of the anabolic effects of growth hormone (GH), including promotion of lean tissue growth, are mediated by the actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (Gluckman et al, 1987). It is known that the response of hepatic IGF-1 synthesis to GH may be modulated by alterations in levels of feeding or changes in protein supply (Pell et al, 1993). The aim of the current study was to develop an in vitro model to characterise interactions between amino acid supply and GH on hepatic IGF-1 release in ruminants.

Ovine hepatocyes were prepared by a modification of a published method (Luo et al, 1992) from the median lobe of livers removed immediately after slaughter from sheep killed at a local abattoir. Free amino acid concentrations in test media were 5x, 1x and 0.2x physiological concentrations based upon in vivo ovine portal venous blood data (Lobley et al, 1995).
Effects of intravenous isoproterenol (β-agonist) administration on expression and synthesis of ovine uncoupling protein-1
Authors: Finn D.S. , Trayhurn P. , Struthers J. , Lomax M.A.
Published: June 2019

A crucial factor in the prevention of hypothermia in the neonatal lamb is the functional activitation of a mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1) in brown adipose tissue. UCP1 disappears from lamb brown fat over the first 14 days of life (Finn et al., 1998), but it is not known whether this process can be modulated in lambs by the release of catecholamines which have been established in rodents as a mediator of the response to cold stress. This study examines the effect of administering a β-adrenoceptor agonist on the disappearance of UCP1 and UCP1 mRNA during early neonatal life, using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.
The effects of wheat variety, dietary heat treatment and enzyme inclusion on digestibility parameters for growing pigs
Authors: Lewis F.J. , McCann M.E.E. , Schulze H. , McEvoy J. , McCracken K.J
Published: June 2019

Thermal processing is carried out on commercial diets primarily to kill bacteria and reduce mould growth, although additional benefits have been shown such as an inactivation of trypsin inhibitors present in soyabean meal (McNaughton and Reece, 1980). However, heat treatment if too severe can produce negative effects, such as reduced apparent digestibility and increased viscosity of gut contents in broilers, an effect reversed by the addition of enzymes (McCrackenet al, 1993). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of heat treatment during diet preparation on ileal and overall apparent digestibility of diets for growing pigs, made from two wheat varieties of differentin vitroviscosity (8.8 vs 20.8 cps) with and without the addition of feed enzyme.
The effects of wheat variety on diet digestibility and on performance parameters of pigs from 10 - 20 kg
Authors: Lewis F.J. , Schulze H. , McEvoy J. , McCracken K.J
Published: June 2019

Lewiset al(1998) observed differences in overall and ileal apparent digestibility of wheat varieties using a wheat / casein diet but no significant relationships within vitroviscosity of wheat. In the present study six of the varieties used previously were selected to examine if the variety differences would be repeatable using a more commercial diet and the extent of correlation between overall digestibility (OD) and performance parameters. The wheats chosen wereAbbott, Caxton, Crofter, Encore, Hussar, Riband(in vitroviscosity range 6.8 - 19.2 cps). Three contained the 1B1R gene (Crofter, Encore, Hussar) and three were soft wheats (Crofter, Encore, Riband). All wheats were harvested in Northern Ireland in 1997.
Interactions of phosphorus content and phytase inclusion in diets for growing pigs: Digestibility and P utilisation
Authors: McCracken K.J. , Beattie V.E. , Weatherup R.N. , Henry R. W. , Smyth S.
Published: June 2019

There is considerable literature on phosphorus requirements of pigs and on the use of phytase to improve phosphorus digestibility and reduce P excretion. However, much of this has been concentrated on weaned pigs (eg Beers and Jongbloed, 1992), the finishing stage (eg Russoet al, 1995) or the diets used were synthetic (eg Ketarenet al, 1993). The available P requirement for pigs between 20-50 kg was estimated at 3 g/kg by ARC (1981) but the NRC (1998) estimate is 2.3 g/kg. This paper reports digestibility and P utilisation data on 40 kg pigs using the grower diets employed in a study on the impact of commercially feasible reductions in dietary P content and of phytase inclusion on growth and bone strength (Weatherupet al, 1999).
The effect of phosphorus concentration and the use of phytase enzyme in pig diets on growth performance and bone characteristics of finishing pigs
Authors: Weatherup R.N. , Beattie V.E. , McCracken K.J. , McIlroy S.G. , Henry R.W.
Published: June 2019

Recommended P concentrations in pig diets have been reduced recently (NRC, 1998) but few studies have evaluated these throughout both the growing and finishing stages (Harper et al., 1997). These new recommended P concentrations were based on feed intakes of 1.8 and 2.8 kg/d for growers and finishers respectively which are much higher than the feed intakes of 1.4 and 2.1 kg/d currently achieved in normal UK commercial practice. This suggests that dietary P concentrations should be increased from NRC (1998) estimates to approximately 6 g/kg to ensure adequate growth performance and structural soundness of UK pigs. Phytase enzyme has also been shown to improve the bioavailability of dietary P (Harper et al., 1997). This experiment was designed to examine the effects of grower/finisher diet P concentration and presence of phytase on growth performance and finisher bone thickness and strength.
Comparison between titanium dioxide as an inert marker and total collection in the determination of digestibility of components in diets fed to pigs
Authors: Thompson J.E. , Wiseman J.
Published: June 2019

Nutritional studies with pigs have most commonly used chromic oxide as an inert marker, (Low, 1982) although there are various problems associated with its use. Continued experimentation to validate the use of other substances as inert markers has led to titanium dioxide becoming more popular. In an evaluation of markers using a single dietary treatment, (Jagger et al. 1992) it was concluded that titanium dioxide at a rate of 1g/kg feed was the most suitable marker of those tested. More recent work using ten dietary treatments, (Thompson and Wiseman, 1998) found titanium dioxide to be a valid inert marker in the determination of energy digestibility of diets which varied in content of fat and fibre. The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate titanium dioxide as a marker in the determination of digestibility of components in diets based on a range of raw materials.
Postweaning benefits of porcine plasma
Authors: Toplis P. , Miller H.M.
Published: June 2019

Plasma protein is known to increase feed intake and growth rate in the first week following weaning (Coffey and Cromwell, 1995) although these benefits are not always evident some weeks later (Nessmith, et al., 1997). However, as most UK food retailers demand the exclusion of same species animal products from livestock diets, plasma products are excluded from UK piglet diets even though they are commonly used in several EU countries. The benefits of plasma protein are thought to result from its immunoglobulin content therefore alternative sources of specific immunoglobulins may be equally beneficial. One such source is egg protein derived from hens which have been vaccinated against specific pig pathogens (Kichura, 1997) eg Protimax (DuCoa, USA). The aims of this experiment were to estimate the potential loss of efficiency in the UK by the exclusion of porcine plasma protein from weaner diets and to determine whether egg protein containing specific immunoglubulins could produce similar piglet performance to plasma protein.
The effect of gestation feeding strategy on body composition of gilts at farrowing and response to dietary protein in lactation
Authors: Sinclair A.G. , Bland V.C. , Edwards S.A.
Published: June 2019

Previous experiments (Sinclair et al., 1998) have indicated that reproductive function in lean modern genotypes may be more dependent on body protein mass than, as previously believed, on body lipid reserves. Related work (Sinclair et al., 1996) also indicated that lean genotypes of sows are particularly sensitive to dietary protein restriction during lactation. This experiment was designed to achieve differential body reserves of protein and fat at farrowing by different feeding strategies during pregnancy, and to measure the interactive effect of dietary protein during lactation on subsequent nutrient partitioning.

A 3x2 factorial experiment involving 60 first parity sows compared 3 different pregnancy feeding strategies and 2 lactation diets. During pregnancy, sows were fed, from day 42, either a set quantity (mean of 2.27 kg/day) of basal diet (5g lysine/kg, 13 MJ DE/kg [C]), or basal diet + energy (maize starch + soya oil in 3:1 ratio [E]), or additional basal diet supplying both protein and energy [P].
Effects of Buserelin on day of service or 12 days post service on farrowing rate and litter size to first service in outdoor sows and gilts
Authors: Peters A.R. , Dwyer L.A. , Dawson A. , Canham P.A. , Mackinnon J.D.
Published: June 2019

The problem of seasonal infertility in pigs has been recognised for many years. The infertility complex can may be manifested by increased returns to service, prolonged weaning to oestrus intervals and decreased litter size. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effects of Buserelin treatment on fertility in sows and gilts during the seasonally infertile period.

A total of 1231 mixed parity sows and gilts from five outdoor herds in East Anglia were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Any sows not presented for service at first post weaning oestrus were excluded. All sows and gilts judged to be in adequate health and condition to be kept in a commercial breeding herd were included. Group C sows and gilts were given no treatment. Group R1 sows and gilts were injected i.m. with 8μg Buserelin (2.0ml Receptal; Hoechst Roussel Vet UK Ltd) on the day of service.
The effect of handling, oral dosing and injection of iron on the heart rate and behavioural responses of day old piglets
Authors: Wynn R.J. , Spoolder H.A.M. , Kay R.M.
Published: June 2019

Injectable solutions of iron are a long established and widely accepted method of preventing anaemia in neonate piglets, although recently several oral iron preparations have become available which avoid the intrusive nature of injection. However, both methods of iron administration involve handling piglets which in itself may be stressful to the neonatal piglet. The aim of this study was to investigate the heart rate and behavioural responses of piglets during handling, or during handling associated with administration of either oral or injectable iron.

Whole litters of 33 PIC Camborough sows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments, each administered before 24 hours of age; injection of 1ml of iron into the neck muscle (Gleptosil; Alstoe Animal Health), oral administration of 2ml of iron (Neoglobin; Labtec) and handling the piglet for 30 seconds between removal and replacement in the creep, but without the administration of iron.
The effects of farrowing system design on gilt behaviour
Authors: Marchant J.N. , Forde R.M. , Corning S. , Broom D.M.
Published: June 2019

The farrowing crate was designed to make sow management easier, allow higher stocking densities and reduce piglet mortality. Recently, concerns about sow welfare within farrowing crates have lead to a reappraisal of open farrowing systems. However, more freedom of movement for the sow places greater influence on the quality of maternal care, if piglet welfare is to be safeguarded. The aims of this study were to compare the behaviour of gilts housed in different farrowing systems and to determine any differences in behaviour, that may affect piglet survival.

After service, 38 LW x Landrace gilts (PIC, Abingdon, UK) were formed into groups of 3-5 and were assigned to either farrowing crates or a communal farrowing system. Each crate room housed six conventional crates with sow feeders, nipple drinkers and forward piglet creeps. Each pen room contained five individual strawed pens (2.7m x 1.9m) with a rectangular piglet creep at the rear, sloping walls along both sides and piglet and sow drinkers.
Prediction and manipulation of weaning to ovulation interval in the sow
Authors: Prathalingam N.S. , Edwards S.A. , Davidson F.M. , Healey W. , Prieto L. , Tarongi A. , English P.R.
Published: June 2019

There are commercial benefits in being able to predict the time of ovulation, post weaning in the sow. These include the use of a single insemination, with associated decreased AI and labour costs, and increased litter sizes resulting from the correct timing of insemination (Waberski et al., 1994). To predict the time of ovulation in the sow, a variety of potentially influential factors have to be considered. Predictability may be increased by timed administration of gonadotrophin, which has been shown to reduce the variance in the weaning to oestrus interval in multiparous sows (Lancaster et al., 1985). This experiment was designed to determine the major factors influencing the weaning to ovulation interval and to examine the effects of exogenous gonadotrophin on the length and variation of this interval.
Mammary gland order and piglet growth during lactation
Authors: Kim S.W. , Hurley W.L. , Easter R.A.
Published: June 2019

It has been suggested that the anterior glands may be larger, produce more milk or provide a more comfortable position for piglets (Donald, 1937; Gill and Thomson, 1956) while others have suggested that there is no difference in milk yield among teats (Hartman et al., 1962; Pond et al., 1962). The real advantage of the anterior mammary glands of sows for the suckling pig remains unclear. We have demonstrated that substantial mammary growth occurs during lactation in the sows (Kim et al., 1999). This study was designed to relate teat preference and piglet growth with gland size and composition. Our hypothesis is that there are differences between anterior and posterior glands in size and composition and that these differences may be related to piglet growth during lactation.
The effect of breed on calpastatin isoforms and longissimus shear force in pigmeat
Authors: Sensky P.L. , Parr T. , Bardsley R.G. , Buttery P.J. , Warkup C. C.
Published: June 2019

The calpain enzyme system plays an important role in the proteolytic events leading to the conversion of muscle to meat in livestock species. Increasing evidence suggests that calpastatin, the inhibitory component of the system, correlates negatively with tenderness in beef and pigs (Koohmaraieet al., 1995; Senskyet al., 1998). In this study, the immunoreactivity of calpastatin in three pig breeds with different meat quality traits have been measured.

Thirty-six female pigs, comprising equal numbers of Duroc (D), Large White (LW) and Duroc x Large White (50:50 DxLW) breeds were reared under identical conditions at a commercial pig unit and slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse on the same day by electrical stunning and severance of the carotid arteries. Carcass weight, backfat thickness, pH45and pHuwere all monitored.
Ethical attitudes of consumers and farmers to the use of two dairy technologies : Bovine somatotrophin (BST) and Automated Milking Systems (AMS)
Authors: Millar K.M. , Tomkins S.M. , Mepham T.B.
Published: June 2019

The importance of considering public opinion in technology development and use is widely recognised. Several studies have assessed public opinion on modern biotechnologies used in animal production systems (Eurobarometer, 1997), but few have focused on specific technologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes to two defined technologies, bovine somatotrophin (BST) and automated milking systems (AMS), as part of a wider study of the role of ethical analysis in technology assessment. The preliminary results described below highlight only certain aspects of a much more comprehensive survey.

Postal surveys of consumers and farmers were conducted in the Spring/Summer of 1998. The farmers’ population sample (n=1,000) was randomly selected from the National Farmers Union Dairy Farmers database. The selection, based on an nth term sample, was stratified for geographical region only.
Describing the lactation curve of dairy animals
Authors: Pollott G. E.
Published: June 2019

Most functions used to describe the lactation curve of dairy animals are empirical in approach and result in parameters with little or no biological meaning. A new model for describing lactation based on the biology of the pregnant and lactating animal is proposed and compared to several empirical models (Wood, 1967; Grossman and Koops, 1988; Morant and Gnanasakthy, 1989).

Lactation is thought of as the balance between an increase in secretory cell numbers (NSCP) and their later decline (NSCD). The difference between them is the number of active secretory cells, each of which secretes milk at a particular rate (S kg/cell/day). Thus daily milk yield (MY) = (NSCP – NSCD) x S.
The effect of days in milk and physiological state (number of mammary glands milked) on the partitioning of increments of metabolisable energy in dairy cows
Authors: Kirkland R.M. , Gordon F.J.
Published: June 2019

The response in milk energy output to increasing metabolisable energy intake (MEI) is curvilinear and obeys the law of diminishing returns (Blaxter, 1966). This curvilinearity can be explained by the increased partitioning of MEI to body tissue as intake increases. Rationing dairy cows for cost-effective milk production requires prediction of the extent and nature of this partitioning phenomenon. However, the current rationing system in the U.K., the ME system, does not address this issue. The objective of this study was to examine two of the possible animal factors which might influence the partitioning of increments of MEI given above requirements i.e. days in milk (DIM) and physiological state (number of mammary glands milked) of the animal.
Milk production from dairy cows fed an alternative to fish meal
Authors: Allison R.D. , Garnsworthy P.C.
Published: June 2019

Inclusion of fishmeal in diets fed to dairy cows has been found to increase milk yield and milk protein content (Pike et al 1994). This is thought to be the result of increased intake of DUP. However, its inclusion in dairy rations is limited by its relatively high cost in addition to the negative image of feeding protein derived from animal sources in the light of the recent BSE crisis. The literature contains many instances where no response has been found to increasing DUP supply by feeding protected vegetable protein. The lack of response could be attributed to an unbalanced amino acid composition of DUP (Schingoethe 1996). This study was designed to observe the effects of replacing a proportion of cereal with either fish meal or a protected protein blend (Amino Green™, Nutec Ltd, Lichfield) formulated to supply the ideal balance of amino acids for milk production in a high yielding dairy cow.
Prediction of milk protein content from elements of the Metabolisable Protein System and the effect of ether extract on prediction precision of models
Authors: Smoler E.
Published: June 2019

Carbohydrates and proteins are the major dietary components supplying metabolisable protein for milk protein production. However, ether extract (EE) or fats have sometimes been related to negative effect on milk protein concentration (Spörndly, 1989; Smoler, 1996). Models for the prediction of milk protein concentration from combinations of carbohydrate and protein feed components have been constructed by Smoler (1996). In order to reduce collinearity among predictors and verify EE's negative effect on predictions of milk protein concentration, predictive models based on carbohydrate and protein dietary components were compared to those based on the same components but with the addition of EE.
Comparison of 15N and purines as microbial markers in a RUSITEC system
Authors: Carro M.D. , Miller E.L.
Published: June 2019

One of the problems of quantifying the microbial protein synthesis in the rumen is the lack of an ideal microbial marker. Purines and 15N are two of the most recommended microbial markers (Broderick and Merchen, 1992), but none of them has proven to be completely satisfactory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using two different microbial markers (15N and purines) on the estimation of microbial production of four different diets in a RUSITEC system (Czerkawski and Breckenridge, 1977).

Two 14-day incubation trials were carried out with a RUSITEC system (8 vessels). In each vessel 12 g of fibre were incubated daily in nylon bags for 48 h. Half of the nitrogen (N) requirements was infused continuously as ammonia (NH4Cl). The other half of N was infused as protein, peptides, amino acids (AA) or ammonia. In each period, 2 vessels received each of the N treatments and a solution of (15NH4)2SO4 was infused as microbial marker.
Microbial contribution to the duodenal flow of purine bases in cattle
Authors: Vicente F. , Guada J.A. , Balcells J. , Castrillo C.
Published: June 2019

It is widely accepted that purine bases (PB) could overestimate microbial production when used as microbial markers as result of rumen by-pass of dietary PB. Free nucleic acids are rapidly degraded when incubated in rumen content either in vitro or in vivo (McAllan and Smith, 1973) and nylon bag disappearance of food PB seems to confirm their low contribution to duodenal flow (Pérez et al. 1996). However isotopic labelling of microbial PB (Pérez et al. 1997) have resulted in much higher estimates of non microbial PB arriving to duodenum, which were attributed to differential uptake of dietary PB by bacterial and protozoal populations leading to lack of representativeness of the reference bacterial sample. The present experiment aimed to know if estimation of microbial contribution to duodenal PB could be biased by differences between rumen bacterial and protozoal populations in 15N enrichment of PB.
The effect of dietary energy source on diet digestibility and growth performance of rainbow trout
Authors: Weatherup R.N. , McCracken K.J.
Published: June 2019

There is confusion in the literature as to the effects of carbohydrates in the diet of fishes. Warmwater, herbivorous fishes can digest more complex carbohydrates (Shiau and Chuang, 1995) while coldwater, carnivorous fish may digest glucose better. However high levels of dietary glucose may increase fat deposition in the viscera (Bergot, 1979). Furthermore, Kaushik and de Oliva-Teles (1985) reported that heat treatment of raw starch in diets for rainbow trout improved its utilisation. This study was conducted to determine the digestibility of diets containing raw wheat, extruded wheat, glucose and fish oil. The effects of these diets on growth performance and body composition of trout were also determined.
Nutritive value of caecum microorganisms and caecotrophes in rabbits
Authors: Ganuza J. M. , Balcells J. , Pérez J. F. , Fondevila M. , Parker D.S.
Published: June 2019

Rabbits are able to recycle most of the microbial protein produced in the caecum by means of caecotrophagy. Caecotrophagy consists in a selective retention in the caecum of fluid and small particles (as vehicles of microorganism) that results in two type of faeces. Excretion of large and indigestible particles constitute the hard faeces whereas excretion of fermented material generate caecotrophes or soft faeces, that are reingested for the animal. It is true that bacterial-N represents the major part of caecotrofes-N. However, a fraction of indigestible dietary N and some addition of endogenous N can modify the final nutritive value of the caecotrophes (Hörnicke & Bjornahg, 1980). The aim of this study was to compare the Nitrogenous composition of bacteria extracted from the caecum against caecotrophes.
The effect of feeding intensity during the dry period on plasma leptin and time to return to cyclicity in dairy cows
Authors: Holtenius K. , Agenäs S. , Gustafsson H. , Delavaud C. , Chillard Y.
Published: June 2019

Much evidence has accumulated showing that female reproductive functions are disrupted when changes in nutritional status take place in both over- and undernutrition. The peptide hormone leptin is considered a possible link between nutrition and reproduction. One objective with the present study was to investigate how different levels of feed intake during the dry period, thereby creating differences in body condition at parturition, affected the plasma leptin concentration and the reproductive function after parturition.
The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation of ewes on neonatal lamb vigour, lamb growth and colostrum parameters
Authors: Capper J. L. , Wilkinson R. G. , Sinclair L. A. , Pattinson S. E. , Mackenzie A. M.
Published: June 2019

The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are the most abundant fatty acids in the brain and are vital for its correct development and for that of the nervous system (Huang and Craig-Schmidt, 1996). Ruminant diets are low in DHA and its precursor alpha-linolenic acid. In addition, dietary PUFAs are substantially hydrogenated in the rumen. Consequently, it may be argued that the diets of pregnant and lactating ewes may be deficient in DHA and that a response to supplementation may be observed. Studies involving the supplementation of pregnant ewes with supraoptimal levels of vitamin E have shown that lambs born to supplemented dams are more vigorous immediately after birth and have higher liveweight gains (Merrell, 1998). The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary long-chain PUFA in combination with vitamin E supplementation of ewes on ewe and lamb performance.
Influence of dietary n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on milk fat composition and performance of lactating Friesland ewes
Authors: Chikunya S. , Sinclair L. A. , Wilkinson R. G.
Published: June 2019

The health benefits of n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to humans are now widely recognised. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n -3 series such as a-linolenic acid (C18:3n -3), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n -3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n -3; DHA) reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases (Department of Health, 1994). CLA has a diverse array of potential beneficial health effects which include anticarcinogenesis, antiatherogenesis, immune system modulation, antidiabetic effects and reduction of body fat accretion (Bessa et al., 2000). However, the consumption of both n -3 PUFA and CLA by humans is currently less than optimal. The current study investigates the extent to which n -3 PUFA and CLA in milk fat of lactating ewes may be enhanced by feeding diets rich in EPA and DHA.
The effect of two levels of nutrient intake on milk production of two dairy cow genotypes
Authors: Keady T.W.J. , Mayne C.S.
Published: June 2019

Breeding goals differ for different breeds of dairy cattle. For example the breeding programmes for Holstein-Friesian (HF) animals have been based primarily on improved milk production with little emphasis on functional traits such as fertility. In contrast, Norwegian (NC) dairy cattle have been bred using a multi-trait selection procedure for 25 years. These differences in selection procedures for the two breeds may have major effects on overall herd output and profitability with the forage-based systems of milk production employed in Northern Ireland. The objective of the present paper is to present the effects of two levels of nutrient input on food intake and utilisation, and animal performance of the two breeds, with diets based on grass silage during the first and second lactation.
The effect of maturity of maize silage at harvest on the performance of lactating dairy cows offered two contrasting grass silages
Authors: Keady T.W.J. , Mayne C. S. , Kilpatrick D.J.
Published: June 2019

Under Northern Ireland conditions, until recently, it was difficult to achieve high starch maize (greater than 200 g/kg DM) more often than one year in fifteen. However, recent developments in maize breeding and in agronomic practices, particularly the development of degradable full cover plastic mulch, have resulted in the possibility of consistently producing high starch maize. As there is considerable variability in the quality of grass silage produced on Northern Ireland dairy farms, the objective of the present study was to examine the effects of maturity of maize silage at harvest on the performance of lactating dairy cattle offered two contrasting feed value grass silages. The potential concentrate sparing effect of contrasting maize silages was also examined.
Relationship between linear and composite type traits, somatic cell count and lifespan in pedigree and non-pedigree cows
Authors: Mrode R. A. , Swanson G. J. T.
Published: June 2019

Lifespan (LS) evaluations in the United Kingdom (UK) are based on bivariate analyses of LS scores, a direct longevity measure calculated from the number of lactations a cow has completed or is expected to complete, and an index of 4 linear type traits as an indirect predictor (Brotherstone et al, 1998). However, the study did not consider composite type traits or somatic cell count (SCC) and the data was only from pedigree herds. This study examines the relationship between type traits and SCC with LS in pedigree and non-pedigree cows.
Comparing the performance of Holstein and Friesian dairy cows on British dairy farms
Authors: Pollott G. E. , Leaver J. D.
Published: June 2019

In recent years there has been an influx of Holstein genes into the UK dairy herd, largely achieved by a ‘grading up’ process using imported Holstein semen on Friesian cows. The research reported here investigates this process using performance records from UK dairy herds.
Application of test day model for the genetic evaluation of somatic cell counts and the effects of bimonthly sampling
Authors: Mrode R. A. , Swanson G. J. T.
Published: June 2019

Currently, genetic evaluations in the United Kingdom for somatic cell count (SCC) are based on a single trait repeatability animal model (AM). A test day model (TDM), which allows for improved correction of environmental effects and the modelling of the individual lactation curve of each cow (Schaeffer and Dekkers, 1994), would be the preferred method of choice. In an attempt to reduce costs, farmers are opting for cheaper milk recording schemes, such as bimonthly recording. Bimonthly schemes might miss short frequency mastitis infection and it is not clear what effect this might have on evaluations for SCC. The objective of this paper is to report preliminary evaluations for SCC using a TDM and to evaluate the effect of bimonthly recording on such evaluations.
Serum urea concentration to determine protein requirements of pig genotypes
Authors: Cameron N.D. , McCullough E. , Troup K. , Penman J.C.
Published: June 2019

An in vivo procedure to determine nutrient requirements for growing pigs would have substantial cost advantages over serial slaughter and furthermore repeated measurements would allow estimation of protein requirements at each stage of growth. Serum urea concentration (Urea) has been proposed as a candidate indicator of protein requirement as over-supply of protein will increase Urea (Chen et al., 1995). The study estimated genetic variation in Urea at different stages of performance test and the relationships between Urea and performance traits.
A genetic analysis of wool and lamb production traits in Scottish Blackface Sheep
Authors: Murphy A. , Conington J.
Published: June 2019

Scottish Blackface sheep have a multi-purpose role in the UK to produce breeding females and lambs for meat consumption. Over the last fifty years, wool has accounted for a very low proportion of economical return from hill sheep production in the UK. In recent years, the ratio of the value of lamb meat to wool clip has altered, with wool becoming relatively more important in particular for hill breeds. The consequence of direct selection for improved carcass traits in these breeds on wool quality is unknown. With other sheep breeds such as Merino, selection for improved wool traits has largely been undertaken with little regard to the impact on meat production. The objectives of this study are to quantify wool quality traits and examine genetic relationships between wool quality and carcass traits in Scottish Blackface sheep.
Predicting food intake and performance during adaptation to a new food
Authors: Whittemore E.C. , Emmans G.C. , Kyriazakis I.
Published: June 2019

Current models that predict food intake over time assume that the animal is always fully adapted to the food that it is on. This approach does not account for the immediate effects of a change in food type upon intake. Such a change may have large effects on intake and performance particularly when the change is to a food of higher bulk content. Such a change initially causes a reduction in intake. Over time, with adaptation, intake gradually increases until a new equilibrium intake is reached. The ability to predict intake and performance during the period of adaptation will allow models to predict food intake on high bulk foods more accurately. Data recorded during the period of adaptation are frequently excluded, perhaps to make the prediction of intake on high bulk foods easier. This work is an attempt to develop a model to predict intake and performance during the adaptation period when an animal is changed to a food of higher bulk content.
Description and validation of a harmonised model of the growing pig for the optimisation of the utilisation and excretion of nutrients
Authors: Green D. M. , Whittemore C. T.
Published: June 2019

The proposed model may be considered as an advance upon previous models; giving a synthesis of the contemporary information base and having a structure with maximum flexibility and minimum usage of fixed coefficients. It is distinctive in that it includes: (1) linkage from dietary nutrients to tissue retention via algorithms for main-stream biochemical processes; (2) a unified driver allowing compatible calculation of (i) the nutrient costs of energy and of protein cycling, (ii) the nutrient costs of maintenance and protein retention, and (iii) the interactions between energy and protein usage; (3) prediction of the rate and composition of tissue retention during growth, and of the cost of thermoregulation; (4) reversal of the role of conventional model parameters such that they become out-turns, rather than inputs, of the model, including (i) the metabolisability of energy, (ii) the ideality of protein and the efficiency of use of ileal digested ideal protein, (iii) the efficiency of utilisation of energy (k) for maintenance (kM), for protein (kPr) and lipid (kLr) retention, which are accepted as variables derived from calculation of efficiencies of production of ATP.