bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Milk Protein Precursors in the Goat During Late Lactation
Authors: Bequette B.J. , Backwell F.R.C. , Calder A.G. , Metcalf J.A. , Wray-Cahen D. , MacRae J.C. , Lobley G.E.
Published: June 2019

Previously, we have reported on work in dairy goats using stable isotope kinetics to examine the precursors for milk protein synthesis (1). Contrary to a previous hypothesis (2), these results suggested that blood free amino acids (AA) are not simply transported into the mammary gland and incorporated directly into milk protein. Although the latter may still occur, a substantial amount of the AA for milk protein synthesis appears to be channelled through constitutive mammary gland protein(s) first. Moreover, the data indicated that a proportion (12-20%) of the casein protein precursor may be derived from extra-mammary sources other than blood free AA, e.g. peptides and/or proteins. It may be possible therefore to alter milk protein synthesis by the provision of different forms of precursor amino acids. Since the previous study was in goats during early lactation (day 61 ± 11), the present study reports on the precursors for milk protein synthesis in goats during late lactation, and allows a comparison between stages of lactation.
The efficiency of amino acid utilisation by the mammary gland of holstein friesian cows fed three levels of dietary crude protein
Authors: Metcalf J A , Wray-Cahen D , Bequette B J , Backwell F R C , Humphries D J , Beever D E , Sutton J D
Published: June 2019

Although milk output is known to be affected by dietary manipulation, studies have so far failed to provide sufficient information to successfully predict dietary effects on both milk protein content and yield (Thomas 1983). In a further effort to determine the metabolic control of milk protein synthesis three diets containing different levels of crude protein were fed to four Holstein-Friesian cows in early- to mid-lactation, and metabolite flow across the mammary gland was measured in relation to milk protein production.
Purine derivatives in spot urine samples and plasma of sheep: a possible index of microbial protein supply
Authors: Chen X. B. , Mejia Adriana T. , Kyle D. J. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: June 2019

In ruminants, daily urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) reflects the absorption of microbial purines and can be used as an index of microbial protein supply (Chen, Ørskov and Hovell, 1991). The application could be extended to farm conditions if measurements based on spot urine samples or plasma could serve as an alternative index. The objective of this study was to examine whether PD concentrations in spot urine or plasma samples vary diurnally during a given feeding regime and if they reflect differences in daily PD excretion induced by varying feed intake.
Comparison and evaluation of protein evaluation systems currently in use in europe
Authors: van Straalen W.M. , Salaün C.
Published: June 2019

In modern protein evaluation systems the protein unit (PU) of a feedstuff and the requirement of PU is expressed as true protein assumed to be absorbed from the small intestine. Total PU supply originates from feed protein escaping rumen degradation and from microbial protein synthesised in the rumen. Escape feed PU is calculated from crude protein (CP) multiplied by the escape CP fraction, amino acid content of escape CP and small intestinal digestibility of escape amino acids. Microbial PU is calculated from the energy source for microbial growth multiplied by the efficiency by which this energy is used for microbial CP synthesis, amino acid content of microbial CP and the digestibility in the small intestine of microbial amino acids.
Effect of group size on the feeding behaviour of pigs using a computerized single-space feeding system.
Authors: Nielsen B L , Whittemore C T , Lawrence A B
Published: June 2019

In the past selection programmes for pigs have been based on measurements from individually housed animals. The manual weighing of food and refusals to obtain information on individual food intake is labour-consuming, and the housing method different to that found on most commercial farms where growing pigs are housed in groups. The selection of pigs in one environment to be kept in another often leads to a discrepancy between performance results achieved by pig breeders and those obtained in a commercial situation (Merks, 1989).
The Effect of dietary fibre on the meat eating and fat quality of finishing pigs fed ad libitum
Authors: Gill B P , Hardy B. , Perrott J. G. , Wood J. D. , Hamilton M.
Published: June 2019

Microbial activity in the gut of pigs may influence meat eating quality through the fermentation of dietary substrates to intermediate and end products which can be absorbed and concentrated in tissue. In turn, it may thus be possible to modify the eating quality of pig meat by dietary manipulation of gut microbial activity. This can be achieved by using feed ingredients with high levels of fibre (non-starch polysaccharides NSP). The response may differ depending on NSP composition, its effects on microbial activity and the concentration of substrates which are fermented to compounds having either negative or positive effects on meat quality. For example, Lundstrom et al. (1988) were able to formulate a high-fibre diet which increased fat skatole concentrations and associated undesirable flavours in meat from boars. On the other hand Longland et al. (1991) found that the overall acceptability of meat from growing pigs was enhanced by feeding up to 300 g/kg of dried sugar beet pulp (SBP), which is a rich source of readily fermentable NSP.

The aim of this study was to compare effects on meat eating and fat quality from growing pigs fed SBP (unmolassed) and oatfeed (OF), a cereal by-product high in insoluble NSP which is less readily degraded.
The Influence of Early Life Environment on Personality Development and Reproduction in Multiparous sows
Authors: Varley M A , Stedman R C
Published: June 2019

Personality or emotionality development in animals is influenced profoundly by experiences and stimuli in the early stages of growth. Previous work at Leeds University (Stedman and Varley, 1990) has shown that there are large variations in the personality characteristics of multiparous sows and these are stable and repeatable over time. The work also showed that personality traits may account for a significant proportion (17.8 %) in the overall variations in prolificacy in the pig.

The effect of different environments on individual animals may have its foundation in the perception of stress by each individual. What may be tolerable for one animal may not be so for another. Stress is a notoriously difficult concept to evaluate in terms of its effects on animals and on the production of animal products. The components of a high stress system will include; very high stocking densities, repeated new social grouping, barren environments, poor thermoregulation and human-animal interactions which cause either physical or psychological trauma to the animals. Reproductive processes are particularly affected by stress and some of the manifestations of this are: reduced litter size, failure to show oestrus, poor conception rates and sporadic puberty attainment.
Long-term influence of feeding regime and housing on development of stereotypies in sows
Authors: Lawrence Alistair B. , Claudia Teriouw E. M. , Neilsen Birte L
Published: June 2019

Previous work has shown that feeding regime and not physical restraint is a major cause in the development of stereotypies in closely confined sows, (Teriouw et al, 1991). However, this and a previous report on the relationship between feeding regime and stereotypies in sows (Appleby and Lawrence, 1987) have only studied gilts in their first pregnancy. The objective of this present work was to examine longer-term effects of feeding regime and housing on the development of stereotypies in sows.

Thirty-two sows (Cotswold Pig Development Co. Ltd, UK) were allocated to either loose (Lo) or tether (Te) housing and to Low (L; 2.5 kg/day) or high (H; 4.0 kg/day) food levels in a balanced design. Apart from social contact and freedom of movement the housing systems were similar including the provision of chains to the loose housed animals. The behavioural response to these treatments was observed over parities 2,3 and 4 using a time sampling technique, and the data analysed by analysis of variance and linear correlation.
Rapid Assessment of Silage Fermentation Characteristics by Electrometric Titration
Authors: Offer N.W. , Rooke J.A. , Dewhurst R.J. , Thomas C.
Published: June 2019

Inaccurate prediction of silage intake is often the greatest source of error in ration formulation but improvements have been hindered by an inadequate description of the silage fermentation in advisory practice. Until recently, only pH and ammonia N have been routinely measured as indicators of silage fermentation characteristics. A new method, based on research in Finland (Moisio and Heikonen, 1989) has been developed and is now in use by SAC. This involves automated titration of juice squeezed from the silage to pH 2 (with HC1) followed by stepwise titration (with NaOH) to pH 12. Concentrations of juice constituents are predicted from the buffering capacities measured over segments of the titration curve (pH 2 to pH 12). Calibrations have been obtained empirically by the addition of known increments of standards to a range of silage juices. Proportions of variance (R2) of measurements made by reference methods accounted for by predictions from titrations for a validation set of 93 silages were 0.90, 0.78, 0.92, 0.82 and 0.82 for lactic acid, acetic+butyric acids (VFA), soluble N, sugar and ammonia N respectively.
The effects of ensiling on the intake of herbage and milk production by lactating dairy cows
Authors: Keady T. W. J. , Murphy J. J.
Published: June 2019

In general cows have higher intakes and higher milk yields when outdoors grazing pasture compared to indoors consuming grass silage. However, this observation is not valid as a direct comparison of grass and silage due to the following reasons. Firstly, the cows consuming the silage and grass are usually at different stages of lactation and secondly the silage has not been produced from the herbage being grazed. There is little information available in the literature comparing the intakes of grass and silage harvested from the same sward at the same stage of maturity when fed to lactating dairy animals at similar stages of lactation. The present study was initiated as part of a series of studies at this Institute, to evaluate factors affecting silage intake. The main aims of this study were to determine the actual effect which ensiling “per se” had firstly on dry matter intake and secondly on animal performance by the lactating dairy cow.
The effect of mixed forage diets on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows
Authors: Phipps R H , Sutton J D , Jones B A , Allen D , Fisher W J
Published: June 2019

In many parts of Europe complementary forage crops such as maize silage, fodder beet and whole crop cereals have been widely used in dairy cow ration. In France, Germany and Holland, over 2.5 million hectares of maize are grown for silage, while in Denmark fodder beet and whole crop cereals are an integral part of most dairy cow rations. With the introduction of milk quota many farmers in the UK tried to maintain margin/litre by placing greater reliance on high quality home produced forage. On many grassland farms this strategy met with limited success as grass silage is often an unpredictable and variable commodity which is prone to low intakes. At the same time evidence was being accumulated in the UK as to the potential benefits of mixed forage diets in dairy cow ration. As a result the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales established a programme work to determine the effect of incorporating a range of alternative forages or forage substitutes into grass silage based diets, on DM intake and milk production.
The effect of fine grinding or sodium hydroxide treatment of wheat, offered as part of a concentrate supplement, on the performance of lactating dairy cows
Authors: Mayne C S
Published: June 2019

There is increasing interest in the use of higher levels of cereals in dairy cow rations. This reflects both die greater emphasis on milk protein concentration in milk pricing systems and the prospect of reductions in cereal prices as a result of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. However, excessive processing of cereal grains results in rapid fermentation in the rumen which can lead to depressions in rumen pH and reductions in cellulose digestion and forage intake, particularly at high levels of feeding. Orskov et al (1978) have shown that treatment of whole cereal grain with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) reduced the rate of grain digestion in die rumen and enabled a higher forage intake compared to a similar level of ground cereal grain. However, inclusion of NaOH treated grain in die ration offered to dairy cows has produced varying effects on animal performance. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of method of grain treatment on die performance of dairy cows offered a grass silage based diet and a range of concentrate intakes.
Biotechnology - The possibilities
Authors: Robinson J.J.
Published: June 2019

An increasing proportion of Agricultural Research funding is being directed to biotechnology and to cell and molecular biology. This shift in funding has two effects on animal production research. First it provides a certain amount of novel information and technology with which to improve current production systems. Second, it leaves less of the research budget for whole animal experiments. It behoves us therefore to keep abreast of the achievements and aspirations of the molecular and cellular biologists. The diverse interests and expertise of the BSAP membership in research, development, advisory work and teaching make the Society a unique forum for conducting the open and on-going debate that is needed to ensure that the results of modern biotechnology are examined critically and applied to the animal production industries in an efficient and acceptable manner.
Growth potential and feed intake capacity of spanish sheep breeds from weaning to maturity
Authors: Cropper M. R. , Flores G. , Zea J.
Published: June 2019

One of the principal restraints on the productivity of sheep in Less Favoured Areas of the EC is the small size of the native breeds which can only produce light finished carcases. The experiment reported here forms part of a collaborative study made between centres in Spain, Greece (Zygoyiannis, Stamataris and Katsaounis, 1993) and Great Britain (Friggens, Kyriazakis, Shanks and McClelland, 1993) aimed at assessing and comparing the potential and feed intake capacity of nine lesser known, small-sized European sheep breeds.
Consumer panel assessment of eating quality of lamb from the progeny of Suffolk sires with high or low indices for leanness
Authors: Lewis R M , Simm G , Murphy S V , Browm H E , Warkup C C
Published: June 2019

With links between saturated fat in the diet and health, consumers are increasingly favouring leaner meats. Increases in carcass lean weight and lean percentage can be achieved within breeds through selection. Yet fat may enhance post-slaughter processing and cooking of red meat and thus reductions in fat depots could detract from eating quality.

In the UK, selection decisions within terminal sire flocks are increasingly being based on a combination of liveweight and ultrasonic measures of fat and muscle depth. The underlying goal in these programmes is to increase the daily rate of lean tissue growth. In most pedigree flocks in terminal sire breeds ram lambs are reared on a high plane of nutrition. Yet most lambs in the UK are reared in extensive production systems. Thus it is important to know whether differences in performance of rams reared under feeding practices typical in pedigree flocks translate into detectable differences among their crossbred progeny in carcass composition and eating quality characteristics under grass finishing. In this study, the objective was to evaluate whether consumers could detect differences in the appearance and eating quality in shoulder joints from extensively reared crossbred lambs sired by Suffolk rams, with high or low lean growth index scores.
Interactions between bacteria and the surface of the small intestine
Authors: Kelly D. , Begbie R. , Flanagan A.J. , Mattison R.G. , King T.P.
Published: June 2019

Many bacterial species are closely associated with epithelial surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. The physicochemical interactions between bacteria and the intestinal surface are complex and include both stereospecific and chemotactic effects. Such mechanisms of interaction and attachment of bacteria to the gut have received considerable attention over the last decade as they have been recognised as an important initial event in colonisation and the pathogenesis of enteric infections. Many disease-causing bacteria possess surface fimbriae or fibrillae with lectin-like adhesins which interact with peptides or carbohydrates present on surface glycosphingolipids and/or glycoproteins. Research on the structural features of fimbrial receptors and on their expression on the surfaces of the mammalian intestine has led to new ideas for nutritional therapy and/or prophylaxis based on the prevention of adherence of pathogenic bacteria.
A method for reducing inbreeding with Best Linear Unbiased Prediction
Authors: Grundy B , Hill WG
Published: June 2019

An optimum way of selecting animals is through a prediction of their genetic merit (estimated breeding value, EBV), which can be achieved using a best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) (Henderson, 1975). Selection decisions in a commercial environment, however, are rarely made solely on genetic merit but also on additional factors, an important example of which is to limit the accumulation of inbreeding. Comparison of rates of inbreeding under BLUP for a range of hentabilities highlights a trend of increasing inbreeding with decreasing heritability. It is therefore proposed that selection using a heritability which is artificially raised would yield lower rates of inbreeding than would otherwise be the case.
Environmental and genetic influences on hill lamb performance
Authors: Conington J , Simm G , Bishop S , Waterhouse A
Published: June 2019

Fat reserves are often perceived as essential to the hill ewe, so that they may be mobilised in adverse conditions to meet energy deficits. However, deer and some primitive breeds of sheep are remarkably lean animals which survive and thrive/reproduce in such conditions. The consequence of using genetically lean sheep in hill environments to meet the ultimate goal of reducing carcass fat is largely unknown. It is possible that the ewes' maternal ability, performance and welfare are in some way compromised. An SAC/IAPGR Hill Sheep Project was instigated: (1) to investigate if selection for differing fat levels under intensive concentrate feeding has any effect on progeny reared in extensive situations; (2) to determine the relationships between growth, carcass, reproduction, wool and survival traits, and to investigate which traits would be useful in an index of overall merit; and (3) to investigate if selection for improved carcass and growth characteristics affect maternal performance and survivability.
Milk nitrogen fractions in holstein-friesian cows as affected by amount and protein concentration of the concentrates
Authors: Sutton J.D , Beever D.E , Aston K. , Daley S.R.
Published: June 2019

Recent experiments have shown consistent improvements in grass silage intake and milk yield by cows in response to increasing concentrations of crude protein (CP) in the concentrates. Such results have led to recommendations that a strategy for winter feeding of dairy cows should be based on relatively small amounts of high-protein concentrates with grass silage ad libitum. There is, however, little information about the possible effects of such a strategy on milk nitrogen fractions. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of two approaches to increasing the CP concentration of the concentrates on milk yield and composition, particularly nitrogen fractions.

From calving, 44 muciparous Holstein-Friesian cows were given 3 weeks on a standard diet and then were allocated to one of five concentrate treatments with grass silage ad libitum from weeks 4 to 18 of lactation. Concentrates were formulated to contain 200, 300, 400 or 600g CP/kg DM (Table 1). The silage contained 312g DM/kg and, per kg DM, 483g neutral detergent fibre, 286g acid detergent fibre, 168g CP, 16lg lactic acid, 14g acetic acid and l.lg butyric acid. Ammonia-N was 69g/kg total N and pH was 3.9.
Studies to determine energy and protein requirements of the gastro intestinal tract of pigs
Authors: Bosch M.W. , van Leeuwen P.
Published: June 2019

In intensive animal production, surplusses of nitrogen (N) are polluting the environment. Therefore it is important to compose diets matching the requirements of the animals as close as possible. Untill now mostly apparently digestible N or amino acids (feacal) have been used as criteria. It is also well established that amino acids disappearing from the hindgut do not contribute much to amino acid supply of the animal. Moreover, big differences between ileal digestible amino acids and faecal digestible amino acids are found, depending on the feed composition. Because the amounts of absorbed amino acids is more reflected by the amounts of ileal digestible amino acids than by the amounts of faecal digestible amino acids, contents of the ileal digestible amino acids of the commonly used feed stuffs in the Netherlands have been determined. Diets can now be formulated on contents of ileal digestible amino acids.
Effect of supplement type and grass silage:concentrate ratio on methane production by sheep
Authors: Moss Angela R. , Givens D.I.
Published: June 2019

Methane production by ruminant animals is an important anthropogenic source of methane to the atmosphere and is considered an important source to more accurately estimate and to control. It has been known for some time that, in ruminants, diet type and composition can influence methane production, yet there is little quantitative information for contemporary diets used 1n the UK. Attempts to predict methane production from either diet chemical composition or digestibility have not been successful (Moss and Givens, 1990; Johnson et al., 1991). In order to estimate more accurately the amount of methane produced by a ruminant on a given diet, it is essential to establish whether there are interactions of various substrates with forage and to relate this to the rumen environment. Previous work showing interactions has used mainly hay-based diets (Blaxter and Wainman, 1964); as grass silage is now the major forage in the UK, work with this forage was needed.
The effect of ad lib feeding on the efficiency of energy utilization in growing and lactating cattle
Authors: Tolkamp B.J. , Ketelaars J.J.M.H.
Published: June 2019

Recently, we have proposed a new theory of feed intake regulation in ruminants (Ketelaars and Tolkamp, 1992a,b; Tolkamp and Ketelaars, 1992). This theory attributes great significance to the efficiency of metabolizable energy (ME) utilization for feed intake regulation. In brief, we assume that feed intake behaviour of ruminants aims at maximizing the ratio of net energy intake (representing the benefits of feeding) relative to oxygen consumption (representing the metabolic costs of feeding). Starting from this assumption, we have shown that knowledge of the efficiency of ME utilization obtained under conditions of restricted feeding can be used successfully to predict voluntary intake (Tolkamp and Ketelaars, 1992).

If, indeed, voluntary feed intake and the efficiency of ME utilization are so intimately related, the question comes up what the effect of ad lib feeding is on the overall efficiency of ME utilization (total net energy intake, NEI, as a fraction of ME intake, MEI). This paper investigates this question by means of model calculations for growing and lactating cattle according to the UK energy evaluation system.
Relationships between observable oestrous behaviour and the number of heifers in oestrus
Authors: Pullar D , Collins C.A
Published: June 2019

The accurate detection of oestrus in beef and dairy cows prior to AI or embryo transfer (ET) is essential if optimal pregnancy rates are to be acheived. In dairy cows under normal husbandry conditions only 55% of normally cycling animals are correctly detected in oestrus and inseminated at the appropriate time (Esslemont and Bryant 1976). The use of pedometers, changes in milk yield, milk progesterone and trained sniffer dogs are all methods which can significantly improve the oestrus detection and hence pregnancy rates acheived by AI (Phillips and Schofield, 1988: McLeod, Foulkes, Williams and Weller, 1991; Jezierski, 1988) . However, oestrus detection by visual monitoring is still the most widely used method of detection.

To ensure high pregnancy rates from AI or ET when visual oestrus detection methods are used the form and range of behaviours which cattle perform needs to be understood. There are a wide range of oestrus behaviour patterns displayed both within and between individual cows so deciding on the correct time for AI or ET depends on interpreting the available evidence. This paper reports the behaviour of maiden heifers during natural oestrus and following a pharmacologically induced oestrus (designed to synchronise the time of oestrus for a number of heifers). By understanding the range of oestrus behaviour patterns guidelines can be established for observation methods and the interpretation of oestrus behaviour. This should enable the prediction of the optimum times for AI or ET. A corresponding improvement in the number of pregnancies should be acheived.
Superovulation in the ewe: the effects of source of gonadotrophin, season, breed and age
Authors: Fernie K. , Dingwall W.S. , McKelvey W.A.C. , FitzSimons J.
Published: June 2019

The potential rate of genetic improvement which can be achieved in sheep through the use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) is limited by the great variation in the response of ewes to superovulation treatments. Factors which have been shown to influence natural ovulation rate in the ewe include season, breed, age and the administration of exogenous gonadotrophins from different sources. The following study was conducted to examine the effects of these factors on the response of ewes to superovulation treatments, with a view to increasing the mean ovulation rate and to concurrently decrease the between-ewe variability.

During the course of 4 experiments a total of 170 ewes (Suffolk and Texel) were treated with 45mg progestagen-impregnated intravaginal pessaries (Chronogest: Intervet Laboratories Ltd.) for a period of 12 days. Sixteen ewes had no further treatment and were used as controls. The remaining 154 ewes, were treated with one of two exogenous gonadotropin preparations on days 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the progestagen treatment period (day 0 = pessary insertion). One group (n = 76) was treated with a porcine pituitary extract (pFSH) and the second (n = 78) with a highly purified ovine FSH (Ovagen: Immuno-Chemical Products).
The effects of handling on stress parameters before religious slaughter in sheep and cattle
Authors: M.H.Anil  , Yesildere T. , Çoteliöglu Ü. , Nazli B.
Published: June 2019

Religious slaughter methods which preclude the use of preslaughter stunning have been subject to controversy for many years. Three fundamental questions have been raised and need clarification: Does the preceeding handling of the animal cause undue stress, is the sticking wound during cutting and afterwards painful, and how long does it take before permanent insensibility is reached. This study has attempted to answer the first question about the stress of handling cattle and sheep prior to religious slaughter.

Eight slaughter sheep previously fitted with jugular vein catheters for blood sampling were used. The first sample was taken in the holding pen and animals were transported to the University's slaughterhall (approx. 500m). The legs of sheep were tied together for restraint on arrival. A second sample was taken immediately prior to religious slaughter which was performed within 2 minutes. A third sample was taken from the exsanguinated blood from the wound made with a gash stick
Noise and stress responses in sheep and pigs
Authors: Anil M.H. , Özgen Ö. , Warriss P. , Knowles T. , Brown S. , McKinstry J.L. , Edwards J. , Adams S. , Rodway R.
Published: June 2019

The Farm Animal Welfare Council made a recommendation in its report on the welfare of livestock at the time of slaughter in 1984 that noise levels in slaughterhouses should be reduced. There were specific recommendations for using materials such as plastics for reducing the noise in the construction of gates, shackle lines, conveyors etc. This recommendation was based on the assumption that excessive noise such as found in a slaughterhouse environment would cause stress. However, it is not clear whether in fact animals show a stress response to slaughterhouse noise.
The Effect of Slaughter Handling System on Levels of Stress Indicators in Pig Serum
Authors: Weeding C.M. , Guise H.J. , Hunter E.J. , Penny R.H.C.
Published: June 2019

This experiment was conducted under commercial conditions to establish the response of various blood parameters to handling in the period immediately prior to slaughter under a variety of conditions.

Pigs from four farms were slaughtered at two abattoirs, each with two slaughter handling systems. Pigs at abattoir one were electrically stunned (low voltage, 110v) either in a floor pen (FPl) holding five pigs or in a single pig conveyor restrainer (RR). Pigs were driven in groups of 25 thrQugh a straight race 1.5m wide to FPl. The race system leading to RR consisted of a collection pen holding 25 pigs. This pen was stepped in two places and led to a 10m single file race which fed the restrainer. Abattoir two also had a floor pen system (FP2) with low voltage (11Ov) stunning, and a CO2 dip-lift system (CO2). FP2 was fed by a single file race 7m long with a 90° curve within the first 2m. The CO2 stunner was fed by a circular collection pen 3m in diameter, with a rotating gate moving pigs into a double race 3m long which supplied the dip-lift unit.
The effect of supplementary light on the productivity and behaviour of dairy cows during the spring
Authors: Lomas C.A. , Arab T. , Phillips C.J.C. , Axford R.F.E. , Rodway R.
Published: June 2019

Previous studies indicate that milk yield can be increased by the provision of supplementary light when natural daylength declines to between 8 and 10 hours per day. However, the response has been shown to be variable and the mechanism by which milk production is stimulated remains to be determined. One theory is that photoperiod could directly influence the hedonistic response of cows to their environment and hence improve welfare by reducing stress. Increasing production by manipulating photoperiod is more acceptable to the consumer than the administration of exogenous hormones, although the commercial benefits require further investigation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of providing supplementary light for dairy cows during the spring months when natural daylength is increasing, most previous studies having compared light supplemented cows with those in declining daylength.
The Effect of Cubicle Mats on the Behaviour, Health and Productivity of Dairy cows.
Authors: Ball P J H , McEwan E E A , Offer J E
Published: June 2019

The use of cubicle mats for dairy cows has been promoted on the basis that they encourage cubicle occupancy, thus improving hygiene, and reduce the incidence and severity of udder and leg injuries. It has also been suggested that cows are less stressed so that fertility and production performance is improved, thus increasing profitability. This experiment was carried out to study the effect of synthetic cubicle mats (Cow Comfort, Wigan) on dairy cattle behaviour, health and productivity.

The first study used 33 cows offered a choice of 24 matted cubicles and 24 unmatted cubicles arranged in alternating groups of four. The cows were observed every half hour for 24 hours and their location (in or out of cubicles) and behaviour (standing or lying and whether ruminating) recorded. The second was a changeover experiment in which two groups of 28 cows were housed for two periods, each of at least two months, on either matted or concrete cubicles. In each period cow location and behaviour was recorded half hourly for a 24 hour duration. The 1·19 X 2·17 metre cubicles had Dutch Comfort divisions and all were bedded with sawdust. Cow health, reproductive performance and lameness were monitored throughout.
The Use of Time-budgets in the Assessment of Animal Welfare in the Horse; “Are Changes in Time-budgeting indicative of changes in Welfare?”
Authors: Marsden M.D.
Published: June 2019

Based upon the concept of ethological need, changes in time-budgeting from the baseline of that of feral conspecifics are considered to be detrimental to welfare. However, it is argued that domestication changes innate abilities and expectations, and that changes in behaviour may be appropriate adaptations to changes in environment. These opposing ideas present a difficulty in the use of time-budgets in the assessment of animal welfare.

This paper shows how experimentation can aid the interpretation of changes in behaviour seen in horses kept in a variety of environments, and so validate the use of time-budgets in the assessment of welfare.

Six 24 hour time budgets were compiled for 4 Thoroughbred geldings, aged 12-19, 15 - 16·5 hh, weighing 490 - 600 kg. They were kept in a variety of environments; (i) at pasture (approx. 7000 m2/head) (ii) in loose boxes (14 m2/head) fed hay ad libitum, (iii) in stalls (6 m2/head) fed hay ad libitum, (iv) in stalls fed hay to maintenance (v) in stalls fed pelleted hay to maintenance and (vi) in stalls fed alfalfa-maize cobs to maintenance, for one month at a time, in random order.
The effects of food level and a foraging device on the behaviour of sows
Authors: Young Robert J. , Lawrence Alistair B.
Published: June 2019

Economic and production reasons dictate that the breeding stock of domestic pigs are normally fed a food ration less than their ad libitum intake (Whittemore 1987), and commercial levels of food restriction have been shown using operant conditioning to result in sustained feeding motivation (Lawrence et al 1988). However, operant conditioning procedures can be criticised on the basis that they impose artificial conditions on the animal.

The practice of food restriction with dry sows has been directly linked to the performance of stereotypic behaviour (Appleby and Lawrence 1987) which maybe interpreted as an indicator of poor welfare (Mason 1991). Stereotypies in sows have often been associated with physically restrictive housing such as stalls and tethers. However, stereotypies can also develop in loose housed sows if they are also food restricted (Terlouw et al 1991). The performance of stereotypies may then reflect underlying feeding motivation and the subsequent potentiation foraging behaviour (Hughes and Duncan 1988). Stereotypies may arise where restrictive housing in some way interferes with the expression of that foraging behaviour perhaps by modifying or channelling complex and variable foraging behaviour into more simple and often repeated forms (Lawrence and Terlouw, in press.
A comparison of the frequency of lambing on the reproductive performance of finn dorset ewes
Authors: Minter C.M.
Published: June 2019

One of the major factors affecting the efficiency and profitability of sheep production is the number of lambs reared per ewe. In 1991 lambs reared per ewe accounted for 14% of the difference in gross margin per hectare between top third and average lowland spring lambing flocks (MLC, 1992). The hypothesis was developed that in managing the prolific ewe three possible management systems could be employed; frequent lambing (FL), early annual lambing (EAL), or late annual lambing (LAL). The choice of these lambing systems was based on minimising the problems of the prolific ewe. Of these systems FL (lambing on an eight month cycle), provided the best opportuity for achieving high numbers of lambs sold per ewe.
Effect of body condition and breeding history on the reproductive performance of twenty month old female breeding sheep
Authors: Mitchell Linda M , King Margaret E
Published: June 2019

Ovulation rate in the ewe is positively related to body condition score (Gunn, Doney and Smith, 1979). For optimum performance it has been recommended that ewes should be in body condition score 3.5 at mating (MLC. 1981). However excessive fatness (body condition score 3.5 and above) has been associated with a reduction in lambing performance as a consequence of increased embryo mortality (Rhind, Gunn, Doney and Leslie. 1984).

Previous studies at the Scottish Agricultural College-Aberdeen (King and Mitchell. 1990) have demonstrated superior reproductive performance for twenty month old female breeding sheep (gimmers) which have bred successfully as ewe lambs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the combined effect of body condition and breeding history (bred or unbred at eight months of age) on fecundity.
Whole-crop barley as a supplementary feed for dairy cows grazing at two sward heights
Authors: Hargreaves A. , Leaver J.D.
Published: June 2019

In previous research grazing dairy cows showed no response to whole-crop barley silage (WCB) cut at different stages of growth, but the crop yield and quality, and DM losses were optimised at 350 to 450 g DM/Kg (early to hard dough) (Hargreaves and Leaver, 1992). However tha effect of herbage availability on the response to WCB supplementation is not known, therefore the objective of this study was to examine this effect during mid to late summer.

Winter barley (var. Puffin) was harvested on 16th July at 380 g DM/Kg (soft dough) and a yield of 14 t DM/ha. The chopped material was stored in a bunker silo.
Rate of growth and timing of growth and moulting of secondary fibre in Siberian and Icelandic X Feral goats fed high and low levels of dietary protein
Authors: Rhind S M , McMillan S R
Published: June 2019

The weight of secondary fibre (including fibre ˂18µ diameter (cashmere)) produced by goats differs greatly between genotypes. The reasons for such differences are unknown but may include differences in rate of growth, duration of the period of growth, the number of secondary hair follicles and fibre diameter.

Studies of the effect of dietary protein level on secondary fibre production have so far indicated that there is little potential for nutritional manipulation of fibre yield. However, these studies have been confined to breeds which have relatively low yields of fibre.
The effects of urea treatment, urea supplementation and coarse milling on the nutrient intake of sheep fed barley straw.
Authors: Termanini A. , Goodchild A. , Treacher T. , Rihawi S. , Owen E.
Published: June 2019

Farmers in the Middle East have traditionally chopped cereal straw during threshing to produce tibn for feeding to sheep. They say this reduces feed selection and waste, and have recently developed hammer mills with large screens to make a similar product from combine-harvested straw. Some nutritional advisers have recommended urea or ammonia treatment of straw as an alternative to (or in addition to) this. These processes improve digestibility and nitrogen content. The nitrogen content of the ration may also be improved by supplementation using a smaller quantity of urea (Greenhalgh 1984).

Coarse milling is said to allow particles to flow rapidly from the rumen, to reduce rumen fermentation and to increase the quantity of nutrients digested in the small intestine. Part of the fibre that escapes the rumen is fermented in the large intestine. But because digestion of the microbial protein formed in the large intestine is less efficient than in the rumen, coarse milling is likely to increase animals’ protein requirements.
The Adaptation to and Digestion of Diets Containing Sugar Beet Pulp or Solka Floc by Growing Pigs
Authors: Longland A.C. , Low A.G , Bray S.P. , Quelch D.B
Published: June 2019

With the increasing interest in the use of fibrous feeds as energy sources for pigs, it is important to establish appropriate methods for determining the digestibility of such feedstuffs. In pig nutrient balance studies, a seven-day adaptation period to a new diet is frequently used. However one week may be insufficient for stability of measurements of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) digestibility to be achieved, for Giusi-Perrier et al (1989) found that fermentation of high-cellulose diets by pigs increased up to 4 weeks after initial exposure to the diet. The aim of this experiment was to measure the development of NSP, nitrogen and energy balance in growing pigs fed contrasting types of NSP at two levels of inclusion over a period of 6 weeks. The two NSP sources chosen for study were wood cellulose (Solka floC) and plain sugar beet pulp (SBP), which are known to be poorly and highly fermentable respectively (Longland and Low 1988).
Digestibility of Soya Bean Meal and Raw Peas for Growing Pigs
Authors: Greer H E , McEvoy J , McCracken K J
Published: June 2019

Peas (Pisum sativum) are a good source of protein for pigs (Saini and Batterham, 1989) and can be substituted for soyabean meal (Gatel and Grosjean, 1990). However, there is relatively little information on the true replacement value of peas in terms of energy and protein. The present study was undertaken to compare extracted, dehulled soyabean meal and a spring variety of peas (Solara) when used as the sole source of supplementary protein or in combination.
Effect of the Degree of Saturation on the Digestible Energy Value of Fats Fed to Growing / Finishing Pigs
Authors: Powles J. , Wiseman J , Cole D J A , Hardy B
Published: June 2019

It is well recognised that fats and oils utilised in diets for pigs are variable commodities in terms of their dietary energy value. One of the major factors determining this is the degree of saturation. Thus vegetable oils, being unsaturated, are of higher digestible energy (DE) than the more saturated fats of animal origin. This generalisation, however, has not been adequately quantified which was the objective of the current study.
An Assessment of Source of Supplemental Dietary Fat During Early Gestation on Fetal Survival and Fetal Measurements in Swine
Authors: Lindemann M.D. , Rigau A.P. , Kornegay E.T. , Harper A.F.
Published: June 2019

The greatest loss in litter size occurs prior to farrowing. That loss is the embryonic or fetal death loss; this is normally 25-40% of the number of eggs ovulated in swine. Recently a report from Canada (Fengler et al., 1990) demonstrated an improvement in embryo survival of about 14% with the dietary supplementation of oils in early gestation. The Canadian research supplemented the diet at a rate of 4% with either safflower oil or olive oil. The assumption tested and discussed was related to the role of linoleic acid (C 18:2w6) in swine diets. Linoleic acid is thought to be the only essential fatty acid needed by swine and it can be found in large amounts in many fats and oils.

Interestingly, in the analysis of the fatty acid composition of the embryos, the only significant difference in the embryonic fatty acid content was an increase in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexanoic acid (C 22:6w3) in embryos from those sows fed diets supplemented with oil. Docosahexanoic acid is not found in plant oils; however, through a series of metabolic reactions swine can manufacture this fatty acid from another fatty acid - linolenic acid (C 18:3w3). There are three good sources of linolenic acid from plant origin; those sources are linseed oil (from flax), canola oil (from rapeseed or canola) and soyabean oil. The positive results which they observed then may have been due to trace amounts of linolenic acid in the oils which they evaluated.
Grazing of barley stubble by sheep in Syria: effect of stocking rate on selective intake of stubble fractions
Authors: Rihawi S , Owen E , Goodchild A V , Termanini A , Treacher T T
Published: June 2019

Stubble grazing is the main source of nutrients for small ruminants in the Middle East for 3-5 months after cereal harvesting in late May or June. As the flocks are usually mated at this time, poor nutrition may affect the prolificacy of the flocks. However, there have been very few studies of the process of grazing stubble that have defined nutrient intakes and the need for supplementation to sustain particular levels of weight change at mating. An experiment was designed to describe the patterns of removal of different fractions of stubble during grazing at different stocking rates.
Vertical ‘reach’ capacity of sheep and goats fed through barriers
Authors: Muhikambele V.R.M. , Owen E. , Owen J.E.
Published: June 2019

A previous study with sheep and goats (Muhikambele, Owen & Owen, 1992), measured horizontal reach for food offered through barriers on platforms at 0, 25, 50 or 75 cm above ground. At 75 cm, some animals were unable to reach the food, and in the other animals, reach length was reduced compared to reach at lower platform-heights.

The present study measured reach in a vertical plane. The information, together with that from the previous study, is aimed at modelling ‘reach’ in sheep and goats, with the overall objective of designing mangers for small-ruminant, stall-feeding systems.
Ingestive behaviour of cows grazing grass-clover swards maintained at different heights with or without concentrate supplementation
Authors: Rook A. J. , Huckle C. A. , Penning P. D. , Wilkins R. J.
Published: June 2019

Huckle, Rook and Wilkins (1993) have reported elsewhere in this meeting the production responses of cows grazing grass-clover swards maintained at different heights with or without concentrate supplementation. In order to understand these responses more fully the ingestive behaviour of the animals was studied in detail.

Multlparous Holstein-Friesian cows with a mean calving date of 21 March were continuously stocked on mixed grass-clover swards. The cows were blocked by calving date, parity and milk yield in week two of lactation and randomly allocated to one of six treatments, 0 (U) or 4 kg (3.44 kg DM) (S) concentrate supplementation (180 g CP/kg DM, 12.8 MJ ME/kg DM) with swards maintained at 4, 6 or 8 cm compressed (rising plate) sward height by adjusting the grazed area. In order to avoid the possibility of social facilitation occurring between supplemented and unsupplemented animals, two paddocks were maintained at each sward height with the concentrate treatments alternating daily between the paddocks at each height. Jaw movements were recorded automatically over a 24 hour period for a different cow on each treatment for each of 6 days between 15 and 25 June 1992, using the apparatus described by Huckle, Clements and Penning (1989).
The Effects of Feeding Silage and Sugar Beetpulp, Separately or Ensiled, to Twin Bearing Ewes, on Ewe and Lamb Performance
Authors: O'Doherty J.V. , Crosby T.F. , Quinn P.J.
Published: June 2019

Incorparating dry feed materials such as molassed sugar beet pulp with grass at ensiling has been shown to reduce effluent production (Jones et al. 1990) and improve silage fermentation (Offer and Al-Rwidah,1989). Jones and Jones (1988) observed higher liveweight gains in beef steers fed silage produced by ensiling grass with molassed sugarbeet pulp compared to animals fed the same quantity of beet pulp, mixed with silage produced from untreated grass, at the point of feeding. Ferris and Mayne (1990) observed that milk output per unit of grass ensiled was similar for cows offered diets in which a given quantity of sugar beet pulp was either included with grass at eniling or offered as a supplement with untreated grass silage.The objective of the present study was to examine the possible use of molassed sugar beet pulp fed either separately or ensiled with grass at the time of silage making on ewe and lamb performance.