bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A note on propionic acid-treated barley of different moisture contents in the diets of growing pigs
Authors: Cole D. J. A. , Williams I. H. , English P. R. , Luscombe J. R.
Published: September 2010

Growth and carcass traits were measured in pigs grown from 25 to 90 kg live weight on barley stored and prepared in different ways. Some of the barley was prepared in the conventional manner by drying to a moisture concentration of 140g/kg before hammer-milling. The remainder of the barley was rolled after treating batches, containing 140, 180 and 240 g moisture per kg, with propionic acid. A total of 128 pigs was used at three centres.

There were no differences between the centres and no differences in the performance and carcass measurements of pigs given acid-treated and rolled, or untreated and milled barley, despite differences in physical form between the rolled and milled samples. When the intake of dry matter was equalized there was no apparent effect on the pigs of acid treatment of barley containing different amounts of moisture.
Growth and carcass composition in the crossbred progeny of six terminal sire breeds of sheep
Authors: Wolf B. T. , Smith C. , Sales D. I.
Published: September 2010

Records were available for the progeny of Dorset Down, Oxford, Suffolk, Ile-de-France, Oldenburg and Texel sires out of Border Leicester × Blackface and Animal Breeding Research Organisation Dam Line × Blackface ewes. The data analysed were: (a) growth traits to 12 weeks for 2585 lambs, the progeny of 102 sires; (b) growth traits for slaughter at fixed weights of 35kg and 40kg for 1884 lambs (79 sires); and (c) half carcass dissection traits for 956 lambs (65 sires).

Oxford and Suffolk cross lambs were heaviest at all ages and thus youngest at slaughter. Texel cross lambs grew slowly to 12 weeks but were not significantly older than Dorset Down, Ile-de-France and Oldenburg cross lambs at slaughter. The Texel cross produced the leanest carcass with a high lean/bone ratio and eye-muscle area. Dorset Down and Ile-de-France cross lambs were fattest at slaughter but had high values for lean/bone ratio and eye-muscle area. Interactions between breed of sire and slaughter weight were non-significant for all traits (P>0·05).

Breed differences in carcass composition were also compared statistically as if at a constant percentage of subcutaneous fat. The differences were not so great as at constant live weight but the Texel cross would have had the leanest carcass. Side weights would be heaviest in the Texel and lowest in the Dorset Down and Ile-de-France. Oxford, Suffolk and Dorset Down cross lambs would be youngest at slaughter and Texel and Oldenburg crosses oldest.
The effect of wilting of herbage on silage composition and its feeding value for milk production
Authors: Gordon F. J.
Published: September 2010

A randomized block experiment was used to assess the effects of wilting of herbage prior to ensiling. Three silages, each a composite of three harvests taken over the season, were prepared by ensiling herbage as unwilted, medium-wilted or high-wilted material with mean dry-matter contents in the resulting silages of 192, 254 and 455g/kg respectively. The silages were ensiled in bunker silos using the same harvesting machinery and with formic acid applied at the rate of 2 81/t of herbage. The silages were offered to 81 January- and February-calving cows from the 8th day post partum until going to pasture on 27 April, with a mean period on treatmen t of 92 days. In addition, all animals received a fixed concentrate allowance of 7·6 kg/day. Wilting increased silage dry-matter intake, the mean intakes being 9·2, 9·4 and 10·0kg/day for the unwilted, medium-wilted and high-wilted material respectively, but resulted in a significant depression in milk yield, with the yields obtained during the final 14 days on treatment being 23·6, 21 -8 and 21·5kg/day respectively. Milk composition, live weight, body condition, total ration digestibility and nitrogen-balance data are also presented.
Chemical and dissected composition changes in weaned piglets
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Taylor H. M. , Henderson R. , Wood J. D. , Brock D. C.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-four pigs were weaned at 21 days of age and given restricted feed allowances for the subsequent 8 days. Eight suckled pigs served as control and gained 320 g daily, of which approximately 40 g were lipid and 40 g protein. Pigs were slaughtered at 2-day intervals, physically dissected into non-carcass, carcass fatty tissue and carcass muscle plus bone, and these fractions were then analysed for water, protein and lipid. On average, weaned pigs made small positive body-weight gains. In comparison with suckled pigs, weaned pigs contained more water and less lipid but the same protein, and more non-carcass and less carcass fatty tissue but similar carcass muscle plus bone. Losses of lipid were offset by gains of water and associated with an increase in the percentage water content of carcass fatty tissue. At zero weight gain, pigs lost 43 g carcass fatty tissue, gained 37 g non-carcass, lost 56 g lipid and gained 53 g water, while carcass muscle plus bon e and protein gains were themselves not significantly different from zero. No change in carcass fatty tissue weight was associated with counterbalancing losses of lipid (18 g) and gains of water (15 g) and protein (3g). Lipid catabolism to support anabolism of essential body tissues commenced in the weaned pigs when weight gains fell below 193 g/day; this was about two-thirds of the gains achieved by the suckled control pigs. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations indicated that maximum lipid catabolism to occur on the 2nd day after weaning, and to reduce thereafter as body fat stores were progressively depleted.
A note on the protection provided by the hair coat or fleece of the animal against the thermal effects of simulated rain
Authors: Holmes C. W.
Published: September 2010

The rate of heat transfer from a model animal, covered with one of three animal pelts, was measured when the pelts were dry and when they were exposed to a fine spray of water. Wetting of the pelts increased heat transfer by 192, 114 and 15W/m2 respectively for the hairless skin, the skin with calf's hair coat (5 to 10 mm) and the skin with the lamb's fleece (60 mm). These results demonstrate the considerable protection against the thermal effects of wetting which is provided by animal coats, particularly if these are relatively deep.
Carcass composition of double-muscled cattle
Authors: Johnson E. R.
Published: September 2010

1. An anatomical explanation of the observed differences between double-muscled and phenotypically normal cattle was sought by detailed dissection of the sides of six double-muscled Santa Gertrudis steers and six Brangus steers.

2. Relative to carcass weight the double-muscled steers had a significantly greater proportion of muscle and a significantly lower proportion of bone and fat than the Brangus steers. Relative to muscle plus bone weight the muscle proportion was greater and the bone proportion lower in the double-muscled steers.

3. The musculature of the double-muscled steers exhibited a gradient of hypertrophy: 12 muscles (234g/kg of total muscle weight) were grossly hypertrophied, 56 muscles (565g/kg) were hypertrophied to a lesser degree and 28 muscles (195g/kg) showed either a minor degree of hypertrophy or no hypertrophy.

4. The grossly hypertrophied muscles were generally the larger, superficial muscles of the proximal pelvic limb and shoulder area. The muscles showing least hypertrophy were mostly small muscles located in the deeper areas of the carcass, particularly around the spine and in the proximal hindlimb, and in the proximal and distal forelimb.

5. Abnormalities of shape in double-muscled cattle may be attributed largely to altered proportions of total muscle and total fat, and to changes in weight distribution within the musculature.
Factors affecting resistance to induced body cooling in newborn lambs of 10 breeds
Authors: Samson Deborah E. , Slee J.
Published: September 2010

1. The ability to resist hypothermia was measured in 265 lambs of 10 breeds immersed in a progressively cooling water bath.

2. Cold resistance varied significantly between breeds, with hill lambs showing the highest resistance. Hill breeds and feral breeds together had the highest weight-specific cold resistance.

3. Cold resistance was positively correlated with birth weight and skinfold thickness.

4. Age at test varying from 1 to 60 h did not significantly affect cold resistance.

5. Rate of recovery from hypothermia varied slightly between breeds. The feral lambs tended to recover fastest.
The effect of injecting or infusing low doses of bovine growth hormone on milk yield, milk composition and the quantity of hormone in the milk serum of cows
Authors: Hart I. C. , Bines J. A. , James S. , Morant S. V.
Published: September 2010

The effects of administering bovine growth hormone (bGH) on milk production in cattle were examined in two experiments.

In experiment 1, a Latin-square design, three groups of four Friesian cows were injected daily with one of two doses of bGH (6 ng/kg and 30 ug/kg; 0·82 unit/mg) or with saline (control) throughout three successive 21-day periods in mid-lactation. At 30 ug/kg daily bGH stimulated a significant increase in milk yield (P < 0·001) and this response increased with the duration of treatment. Changes in the yields of milk fat, protein and lactose closely followed the changes in milk production. The concentrations of milk fat (P < 0·05) and protein (P < 0·05) rose and fell respectively during the 1st week of injections.' A daily dose of 6 ug/kg bGH failed to stimulate an increase in milk yield but milk lactose content was reduced (P < 0·05) during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of treatment. The proportion of milk serum samples containing detectable quantities of the hormone was increased by the higher dose of bGH.

In experiment 2 the milk yields of four Friesian cows were measured when bGH (21·0 to 37·9 mg/day) or saline was infused intravenously for 6 days. The infusions produced up to eight-fold increases in plasma bGH. These were within physiological limits, and remained at elevated levels throughout the 24-h period. Three of the cows demonstrated a clear increase in milk production.
The utilization of whole and rolled cereals by ewes
Authors: Vipond J. E. , Hunter E. A. , King Margaret E.
Published: September 2010

Two trials were undertaken to investigate the effect of rolling on the digestibility of barley and oat supplements offered to pregnant ewes at 0·43 kg dry matter per day. In the first trial, with ewes given a basal diet of grass silage ad libitum, rolling barley improved the apparent dry matter digestibility of the diet by 0·036 (s.e. 0·0115) and reduced the excretion of whole grains from 0·127 (s.e. 0·0190) of grain fed to almost nil. Method of storage (dried or treated with propionic acid) had no effect on utilization of whole or rolled barley. Grain excretion was lower with whole oats 0·049 (s.e. 0·0147) than with whole barley. In the second experiment, basal diets containing hay or roots ad libitum were supplemented with whole or rolled barley and oats. Excretion of whole grains was very low on the root-based diets and amounted to only 0·047 (s.e. 0·0177) for the whole barley and hay diet. Excretion of whole grains varied between animals and was shown to be a characteristic of the animal. It was concluded that in most situations grain should be given whole to ewes but that it may be advantageous to roll barley when it is given with silage.
Factors affecting the fractional outflow of protein supplements from the rumen 3. Effects of frequency of feeding, intake of water induced by the addition of sodium chloride, and the particle size of protein supplements
Authors: Elimam M. E. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: September 2010

Four experiments were conducted with lactating dairy cows offered a hay and concentrate diet (0·5:0·5) to investigate the effects of (1) the frequency of feeding a completely mixed diet (experiment 1) compared with feeding the concentrate fraction and the roughage fraction separately (experiment 2), and (2) the addition of sodium chloride to a completely mixed diet (experiment 3), on the fractional rate of outflow (FRO) of chromium (Cr)-treated fish meal from the rumen, and on milk yield and composition. The cows were offered the diet at either twice the maintenance requirement (experiments 1 and 2), or 2-5 x maintenance (experiment 3) in a 4 x 4 Latin-square design. The effect of the particle size of the Cr-treated soya bean meal was investigated in experiment 4.

The frequency of feeding of the completely mixed diet had no significant effect on the rate of outflow of Cr-treated fish meal from the rumen, or on milk yield or composition. FRO per h were 0·070, 0·085, 0·079 and 0·086 when the diet was offered once, twice, four times or 12 times per day respectively. Increasing the frequency of feeding of the concentrate fraction of the diet had no significant effect on FRO. FRO per h were 0·073, 0·078, 0·081 and 0·081 when the concentrate fraction was offered once, twice, four times or 12 times per day respectively.

The addition of NaCl to the diet significantly increased water intake (P < 0·001), but had no significant effects on FRO or milk yield. FRO per h were 0·074, 0·075, 0·076 and 0080 when 50, 265, 529 or 794 g of NaCl were added into the diet respectively. The respective intakes of water were 66·6, 74·1, 88·4 and 101·6 kg/day.

The FRO per h of fine particles of Cr-treated soya bean meal was 0·085 and for coarse particles, 0·096. The difference was not significant.
A note on the use of assortative mating in tandem selection
Authors: Garcia C. , Toro M. A.
Published: September 2010

Computer simulation was used to study the effect of assortative mating in tandem selection. Selection was applied alternatively for each of two traits of equal economic importance, the mating being assortative for the trait not subjected to selection. Two heritabilities (0·2, 0·4), two selection intensities (20/40, 20]100) and three additive genetic correlations (0·50, 0, —0·50) were considered. Assortative mating gives a response which is 1·03 to 1·10 times that achieved when random mating is employed.
Quantitative estimates of lamb carcass composition 3. Carcass measurements and a comparison of the predictive efficiency of sample joint composition, carcass specific gravity determinations and carcass measurements
Authors: Timon V. M. , Bichard Maurice
Published: September 2010

Interrelationships between carcass measurements were studied in 83 purebred Clun Forest lambs slaughtered at approximately 80 lb. live-weight and ranging in carcass weight from 29 to 42 lb. Individual carcass measurements did not have a worthwhile predictive value; apart from loin (C) and rib (J) fat depths none of 12 external or internal carcass measurements showed a correlation with carcass composition greater thanr= 0·70. Similarly, none of 9 offal measurements recorded had a worthwhile predictive value. In multiple regression certain combinations of these measurements accounted for as much as 77% of the variation in carcass fat, 64% in carcass muscle and 64 % in carcass bone.

The predictive efficiency of sample joint composition, specific gravity determinations and carcass measurements were evaluated in terms of the increased error variance using predicted values and the effect of this increase on sample size in treatment comparisons. Generally the results indicated that increasing treatment group size by relatively few animals is sufficient to absorb the additional error variance arising from the use of predicted values. This is particularly true where treatment differences of the order of one standard deviation exist and where part-carcass dissection values are used.
A Relation between mature weight and time taken to mature in mammals
Authors: Taylor C. S.
Published: September 2010

The larger the mature size of a mammal, the longer tends to be the time it takes to mature. In an attempt to quantify this relationship, Brody's (1945) studies on post-natal growth and Weinbach's (1941) study on pre-natal growth are re-examined. Both these authors described growth by attributing to each species a live-weight scaling parameter, an age scaling parameter, and a parameter for age origin. By examining the interrelations of these six pre- and post-natal growth parameters, a general empirical relationship between mature weight and time taken to mature is obtained. The time a species takes to reach any particular degree of maturity, that is any fraction of its mature weight, tends to be directly proportional to its mature weight raised to the 0·27th power. This result is in general agreement with previous theoretical work and with results on the time required to reach adult weight.

The simplest way to make use of this general relation is considered. When age measured from an origin at or near conception is divided by the 0·27th power of mature weight, then on this modified scale, the age at which a species reaches a given degree of maturity has an expectation independent of mature weight. This age scale has been called metabolic age, since it amalgamates the properties of Brody's physiological age and Kleiber's metabolic turnover time. The most useful working form, however, is the logarithm of metabolic age which is approximately normally distributed with constant variance at all degrees of maturity. Equations are derived giving the expected metabolic age of a species at any degree of maturity in the range covered by Brody's and Weinbach's growth curves. Metabolic age thus appears to furnish a one-parameter representation of comparative mammalian growth.
Genetic parameters of British Landrace bacon pigs
Authors: Smith C. , Ross G. J. S.
Published: September 2010

Genetic parameters were estimated among 26 traits in British Landrace bacon pigs. The data involved 2,296 pigs from 250 boars tested at the five British national pig progeny testing stations from 1959 to 1961 inclusive. Separate analyses were performed for each sex and for the litter totals, adjustments being made to the data for differences among periods within stations and for differences in age at start of test and in weight at slaughter. The genetic parameters were estimated from the sire components in a conventional hierarchical analysis of variance.

Estimates of heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations among the 26 traits are presented and discussed. The parameter estimates were in very good agreement with figures obtained in a previous analysis with Large White pigs. They indicate that a large part of the variation and covariation among the 26 traits is genetic in origin, and the traits involved would change in response to selection. Moreover, with regard to their concurrent improvement there were no serious antagonisms in the genetic relationships among the traits studied. There was however, evidence of an interaction of sire and sex of progeny for nine of the 26 traits.

A principal component analysis was used in an attempt to summarise the correlations among the 26 traits. The first two components gave a reasonable fit to the correlation pattern and these were associated with fat depth, measures of muscling and dressing-out percentage.
The effect of concentration of milk substitute on the performance of artificially reared lambs
Authors: Large R. V.
Published: September 2010

1. Six Dorset Horn lambs were reared on each of four different concentrations of reconstituted full-cream dried milk powder (10, 15, 20 and 25 % dry matter). The lambs were fed to appetite four times a day for 3 weeks.

2. The lambs consumed significantly more liquid milk at the two lower concentrations. Intake of waterper seincreased with increasing concentration of dry matter.

3. There were no significant differences in the consumption of milk dry matter between the treatments, although there was a significant linear trend, with dry-matter intake decreasing with decreasing concentration.

4. There were no significant differences between the treatments in live-weight gain from 0 to 3 weeks or from 0 to 10 weeks.

5. There were no significant differences in the efficiency of feed conversion between the treatments.

6. Examination of the distribution of milk intake within days showed that the proportion of milk voluntarily consumed in the first feed of the day increased with age and with concentration.

7. The incidence of scouring was high, but there was no general relationship with treatment.

8. Abrupt weaning was not satisfactory for the lambs which had been offered only liquid food for 3 weeks and they had to receive a low level of milk feeding for a further week while they became accustomed to solid food.
Genetic and environmental control of foetal and placental growth in the mouse
Authors: McCarthy J. C.
Published: September 2010

Birth weight was recorded in the first and second litters of six inbred strains of mice and of all possible crosses between them. The mean birth weight of F1young was significantly greater than that of inbred young in most cases; in no case were they significantly lighter than inbred young at birth.

Foetal weight and placental weight were recorded on the 17th daypost coitumin the first litters of four strains and of two pairs of reciprocal crosses. F1foetuses were 13–16% heavier than inbred foetuses on crossing four strains. F1placentae were about 15% heavier than inbred placentae on crossing three strains. Crossbreeding did not affect placental weight in the fourth strain. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Analyses of data from individual strains and crosses showed that foetal weight was affected by the number of implants in the same uterine horn and independently by the number in the whole litter. The two independent effects, local and systemic respectively, tended to decrease foetal weight as litter size increased. The independent local effect of litter size on placental weight was different and tended to increase placental weight slightly as the number of implants in the same uterine horn increased.

Three different instances of maternal effects on foetal and placental growth were observed.

The effects of the litter and the mother on foetal growth are discussed in relation to the physiological basis of environmental variation in pre-natal growth.
Acclimatization of Scottish Blackface sheep to cold. 2. Skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, shivering intensity and skinfold thickness
Authors: Sykes A. R. , Slee J.
Published: September 2010

Closely shorn Scottish Blackface female sheep aged 9–14 months, half on high plane and half on low plane nutrition, were subjected, in climate chambers, to two short acute cold exposures down to −20°C. The acute exposures were separated by two weeks chronic exposure to a moderately subcriticai temperature (+8°C) or to a thermoneutral temperature (+30°C). Most of the sheep showed a greater resistance to body cooling at the second acute exposure (Slee and Sykes, 1967). This increased resistance to hypothermia, defined as acclimatization, was apparently influenced more by acute than by chronic cold exposure. The present paper deals with changes in skin temperature, heart rate, shivering intensity and skinfold thickness which also resulted from cold exposure, and accompanied acclimatization.

After acute cold exposure followed by chronic exposure to +8°C the following changes in these parameters were observed:

1. Extremity skin temperatures and heart rates were consistently increased at thermoneutral ambient temperatures.

2. Vasoconstriction of the extremities and increased heart rate, both of which normally occur during the early stages of cold exposure, were delayed.

3. Heart rates at sub-zero ambient temperatures were increased.

4. Cold-induced vasodilatation at sub-zero ambient temperatures was increased.

After acute cold treatment alone the intensity of shivering during the second acute exposure was reduced. Also the onset of foot vasoconstriction was slightly delayed.

A highly significant relationship was observed between shivering intensity and heart rate during cold exposure.

Plane of nutrition had less effect on the physiological responses to cooling than did previous cold experience.

It was suggested in discussion that the physiological responses associated with acclimatization were: elevated basal metabolic rate, delayed onset of vasoconstriction and delayed metabolic response to cold, and consequent lowering of the critical temperature. Summit metabolism was also increased and shivering intensity reduced during acute cold exposure. Some of these responses could have resulted from either acute or chronic moderate cold exposure. However their persistence, once induced, appeared to depend upon continued exposure to moderate cold.
Some effects of cold exposure, nutrition and experimental handling on serum free fatty-acid levels in sheep
Authors: Slee J. , Halliday R.
Published: September 2010

Blood serum free fatty acid (FFA) levels have been measured in sheep subjected to: (a) short periods (20–24 hours) of fasting, (b) physical and emotional disturbances associated with experimental handling, and (c) exposure to cold temperatures when either pregnant or unmated.

The first two factors acted additively, each causing a small elevation of about 100–200 μ-equiv/litre above the pre-existing FFA level. The effect of short-fasting gradually disappeared during the first 6 hours after feeding; the effect of experimental disturbance lasted less than 2 hours.

The effect of severe cold treatment (exposure to approximately 60°C subcriticai ambient temperatures for 2–10 hours) was very marked, producing mean FFA elevations of about 2000 μ-equiv/litre.

Mild cold exposure (3−8°C below the critical temperature), even when maintained for several days, produced little change in the FFA levels already typical of either well-fed or short-fasted sheep. Exposures of moderate intensity (25°C below the critical temperature) apparently produced small elevations in short-fasted sheep only.

It was concluded that a large increase in FFA level was the normal response to acute cold exposure. Elevations due to other factors were, in the context of these experiments, very small. Within the normal range of response to cold exposure there was considerable individual variation in the degree of FFA elevation, but this variation was not generally related to cold resistance expressed as the ability to maintain rectal temperature. However, a few sheep which failed to raise FFA values to the normal extent did show poor cold resistance.
Genetic parameters of carcass quality in Down cross sheep
Authors: Bowman J. C. , Marshall J. E. , Broadbent J. S.
Published: September 2010

This report gives an account of the paternal half-sib analysis of carcass quality, based on commercial joint dissection, on Down cross sheep collected in the four years 1962–65 inclusive. It also includes a discussion of the multiplicative correction factors used, and the phenotypic and genetic correlations between all the traits, estimated from the pooled within-farm, within-year analysis. It shows that there is very little genetic variation for many of the characters but that the percentage leg, percentage best end, age at slaughter and eye-muscle area have much additive genetic variation remaining for worthwhile response to be expected from selection. These three carcass traits are also the most important characters in determining the commercial value and saleability of lamb. From the results obtained it is argued that there is still much genetic variation for fat development in sheep.
A note on the effect of diethylstilboestrol on the performance of lambs
Authors: Ibrahim E. A. , El-Shazly K. , Karam H. A. , Hamada M. K. O.
Published: September 2010

Two trials were undertaken to test the effect of different levels of diethylstilboestrol (DES) on the performance of Egyptian castrated male (wether), male (uncastrated) and female lambs. Ninety crossbred lambs in groups of 10, comprising 30 wethers, 30 male and 30 female lambs were used.
A note on the water balance of dairy cows drinking nutrient solutions
Authors: Robertson I. S. , Paver H. , Cassie Linda
Published: September 2010

Attention has recently been focussed on the possibility of supplementing cattle diets with nutrient solutions containing ammonium salts of short chain fatty-acids (Kay, Preston, Walker, Macleod, 1965; Prescott, Shobokshy and Armstrong, 1967). This method of supplementation requires the liquid feed to be as acceptable to the cow as water or, if less acceptable, to be the only source of liquid intake. In both these circumstances there is a possibility that consumption of such liquids likely to be hypertonie will lead to water imbalance in the animal body.
Inherited variation in carcass composition of Suffolk × Welsh lambs
Authors: Watson J. H. , Broadbent J. S.
Published: September 2010

Relationships were measured between growth constants for live weight and tissue weights in the hind limb sample joint in 60 Suffolk × Welsh lambs.

The lambs were random samples of five male and five female from the single-born progeny of each of six Suffolk rams. They were slaughtered as near to 75 lb live weight as possible and a standard cut of the hind limb, extending up to and including the muscles of the upper thigh and pelvis, was removed from the carcass for dissection.

Whilst muscles in the upper thigh, pelvis and abdomen were affected predominantly by sex, sire effects increased and progressively substituted them in passing down the limb.

Linear growth in body weight was positively associated with weight of bone and muscle in the sample joint but not with subcutaneous or intermuscu-lar fat.
Body temperature and vasomotor responses in Scottish Blackface and Tasmanian Merino sheep subjected to slow cooling
Authors: Slee J.
Published: September 2010

1. Scottish Blackface and Tasmanian Merino one-year-old males were exposed to cold in climate chambers. The environmental temperature fell slowly from +10°C to −15°C in the first experiment when the sheep were in full fleece and from +30°C to −5°C in the second experiment when the same sheep were closely shorn. In the second experiment each sheep received two identical exposures separated by one day spent in a cool environment. Rectal temperatures and skin temperatures on the body and the extremities were recorded.

2. In experiment 1 skin temperatures on the feet and ears generally fell sharply due to vasoconstriction, especially in the Blackface sheep. The Blackface sheep showed earlier and more intense vasoconstriction than the Merinos.

3. In experiment 2 foot and ear skin temperatures fell smoothly with gradual vasoconstriction. In contrast to experiment 1, both breeds were similar in the time of onset of vasoconstriction. Foot temperatures, however, were significantly higher and vasoconstriction correspondingly later during the second exposure of experiment 2 than during the first exposure.

4. The skin temperature at which vasoconstriction occurred remained similar irrespective of breed, shearing or exposure occasion. But the ambient temperature at vasoconstriction was significantly influenced by all these variables.

5. Cold-induced vasodilatations were more frequent in experiment 1 than in experiment 2.

6. Retarded vasoconstriction among the Merinos in experiment 1 could, except for two sheep, be accounted for by their superior fleece cover. In experiment 2, the delayed foot vasoconstriction on second exposure was attributed to increased blood flow resulting from acclimatization.
The effect of protein intake during gestation on ewe and lamb performance
Authors: Robinson J. J. , Forbes T. J.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were carried out in which a total of sixty-four Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface ewes were each individually fed on one of eight experimental diets from six weeks after service to parturition. The eight diets supplied four intakes of crude protein (156, 119, 90 and 65 g/68-kg ewe per day) and two intakes of energy (2923 and 2468 kcal ME/68-kg ewe per day). After parturition the ewes received one of two lactation treatments supplying a standard protein intake of approximately 260 g/68-kg ewe per day at ME intakes of 4700 and 4186 kcal/68-kg ewe per day.

The relationship between net body weight change (Y, kg) and ME (X1) and DCP (X2) intakes (per 68-kg ewe) was described by the equation Y = The DCP intake corresponding to maximum efficiency of energy utilization was 98 g/68-kg ewe per day. The relationship between lamb birth weight (Y, kg) and ME and DCP intake was described by the equation Y = 0·0003X1 + 0·0080 X2 + 2·8501.

Ewe live-weight loss during early lactation, lamb growth rates from birth to three weeks and ewe milk yield at three weeks tended to decrease with decreasing protein intake during pregnancy.
The effect of cereal and protein source on the energy intake and nitrogen balance of fattening lambs given all-concentrate diets
Authors: Davies P. J.
Published: September 2010

Energy intake and nitrogen balance studies have been conducted on 12 lambs fedad libitumon four all-concentrate diets of equal crude-protein content in an experiment of latin square design. Each diet contained one cereal, either barley or oats and one protein supplement, either white-fish meal or soya bean meal.

Protein supplements had no influence on energy intake, but intake was significantly higher when the lambs were given barley rather than oat diets.

There were highly significant differences in the degree of utilization of digested nitrogen between diets containing fish meal and soya bean meal, and between diets containing barley and oats.

The energy: nitrogen ratio of urine was inversely related to the proportion of urinary nitrogen present as urea and directly related to the degree of utilization of digested nitrogen.
A note on estimates of the repeatability of weaning weight in beef cattle
Authors: Kilkenny J. B.
Published: September 2010

Profitable beef production in stickler herds depends upon each cow within the herd producing a heavy, well-grown calf every year. The weight of the weaned calf has a large effect on the producer's income. The pedigree beef breeder therefore needs to select female lines within his herd which produce calves above the herd average weight at weaning.
The effects of varying the quantity and distribution of liquid feed in lambs reared artificially
Authors: Owen J. B. , Davies D. A. R. , Ridgman W. J.
Published: September 2010

1. An experiment to test the effects on growth rate of lambs to 15 kg live weight of 5, 7 or 9 kg of milk replacer powder given according to four systems of daily restriction is described and the results are discussed.

2. Although the average age at weaning varied from 18 to 50 days according to treatment, the quantity of milk replacer did not affect the lambs' overall growth rate. Lambs deprived of milk consumed extra concentrates at a rate of 1·75 ± 0·219 kg per kg of milk powder.

3. Although severe restriction of the daily allowance markedly reduced the growth of lambs during the milk-feeding period, they subsequently grew at a faster rate and there was no resultant major depression of overall growth rate. The lambs first consumed a measurable quantity of solid food when they were on average 21 days old and this varied little according to treatment.

4. It is concluded that under the conditions of this experiment it was not economic to give more than 5 kg of milk powder and that it was not advantageous to adopt distribution systems that delayed weaning much beyond 20 days.

5. The applicability of these findings to practice is discussed in relation to the possibility of treatment effects from the rearing period being carried over to the period beyond 15 kg live weight, and also to the possible effects of single penning versus grouping on lamb behaviour.
The repeatability of maternal performance in inbred, outbred and linecross large white sows
Authors: King J. W. B. , Gajić Z.
Published: September 2010

Repeatability estimates for various maternal characteristics were calculated for 301 inbred, 150 outbred and 135 linecross Large White sows each with two litters. The estimated repeatabilities did not differ significantly between the three kinds of sow and the arithmetic average of the values obtained were as follows: number of pigs born alive 0·24; number of pigs born dead 0·05; total birth weight of litter 0·25; average individual birth weight 0·41; number of pigs alive at 50 days 0·07; total litter weight at 50 days 0·14; average individual weight at 50 days 0·15.

The linecross sows produced and weaned more pigs than the outbred sows, which in turn performed better than the inbred sows. Changes in performance from the first to the second litter were similar for all three groups of sows.
Sheltering behaviour at lambing by Welsh Mountain ewes
Authors: Winfield C. J. , Brown W. , Lucas I. A. M.
Published: September 2010

From observations made over 3 years on a flock of Welsh Mountain sheep kept at 210 to 330m above sea level there was no indication that ewes especially sought shelter for lambing when wind speed was under 8 km/hr or the Kata cooling power was below 20 millical/cm2 per sec. When wind speed or cooling power rose, lambing sites chosen by the ewes were progressively more sheltered. Average wind speed and Kata cooling power at sheep height at lambing sites were about 14 km/hr and 35 millical/cm2 per sec.

Variability in wind speed and cooling power at an unsheltered site accounted for only 24% and 18% of the variability in these measures at the lambing sites, thus the lambing sites chosen depended to a considerable extent upon other factors, which are discussed.

The environment at lambing sites chosen by ewes cannot be taken as the optimum. No attempt was made to correlate lambing site environment with ewe or lamb performance.
A note on the body composition of a double-muscled female and a normal female from a linebred Aberdeen Angus herd
Authors: Rollins W. C. , Julian L. M. , Carroll F. D.
Published: September 2010

Body composition of a pair of related double-muscled and normal Aberdeen Angus females was analysed. The following ratios of weights of body components of the double-muscled individual to the normal were found: empty body, 1·0; carcass, 1·1; total muscle, 1·4; carcass fat, 0·7; offal fat, 0·9; viscera, 0·9; hide, 0·8; ash (in carcass), 1·0. The data supported an hypothesis of generalized muscular hypertrophy. The empty body weight of the normal female was 474 kg.
Effect of replacing rolled barley with swedes or potatoes on the intake and rumen volatile fatty acid composition of lambs
Authors: Ørskov E. R. , Andrews R. P. , Gill J. C.
Published: September 2010

The effect of gradually replacing barley with swedes or potatoes on intake of digestible dry matter and on the volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition of liquor was measured in an experiment with eight female and four castrated male sheep approximately six months old. The total intake of digestible dry matter was greatest when rolled barley was given at two-thirds of estimated maximal intake and roots given ad libitum. The intake of digestible dry matter was reduced to 80% of the highest intake when all the barley was substituted with swedes and to 70% of the highest intake when all the barley was substituted with potatoes. Replacing barley with roots had little or no influence on VFA composition.
A note on the use of distillers' by-products in diets for growing pigs
Authors: Livingstone R. M. , Livingston D. M. S.
Published: September 2010

A by-product of the distilling industry designated ‘distillers’ grains plus solubles' was evaluated using forty-eight growing pigs. The product was included at 0, 14·7 and 25% in three diets in which the proportion of other constituents was adjusted to give similar concentrations of TDN, dry matter and crude protein.

The performance and carcass quality of pigs receiving 0% and 14·7% of the by-product in the diet was similar, but inclusion at 25% significantly reduced growth rate (g/day) from 632 for the 0% diet to 578.
A note on the voluntary feed intake of lactating ewes, their milk yield and the growth rate of their lambs
Authors: Forbes J. M.
Published: September 2010

Voluntary hay intake and milk yield were measured in 11 singlesuckling and 4 twin-suckling ewes for the first seven weeks of lactation. There was no significant difference between the intakes of the two classes of ewe and milk yield differed only in the seventh week. Variations in milk yield and live-weight change were significantly associated with variations in voluntary intake. Lamb weight gain was correlated with milk yield and voluntary intake of the dam.
The relative size of calf and dam and the frequency of calving difficulties
Authors: Monteiro L. S.
Published: September 2010

The frequencies of calving difficulties were computed for 458 calvings of first and second parity Friesian, Ayrshire and Jersey dams with pure and crossbred progeny in all possible combinations. It was found that heavier breeds of dams have higher frequency of difficult calvings. For each breed of dam there is also a direct relationship between the mean birth weight of the calves and the frequency of calving difficulties associated with the breed or cross of calf.

An index of calving difficulties calculated in the form of a discriminant function which combined both the birth weight of the calf and the calving weight and parity of the dam was:
Z = log BW−0· log DW−0·10 P,

where Z is the index of calving difficulties, BW and DW are respectively the birth and dam weight and P the parity variable withthe values of one for second parity and zero for the first.
A study of the energy requirements of weaned lambs
Authors: Forbes T. J. , Robinson J. J.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were carried out to study the energy requirements of young fattening lambs for maintenance and production. Forty weaned lambs were used in each experiment, 20 being allocated to a high level of feeding (900 g air-dry feed per day) and 20 to a low level (540 g). The animals used in Experiment 1 were approximately 12 months of age and their mean live weight was 35·3±4·03 kg. Those in Experiment 2 were approximately seven months of age and their mean live weight was 36·7 ± 4·57 kg. Experiment 1 continued for 100 days and Experiment 2 for 47 days. Three digestibility trials, involving three animals from each feeding level, were carried out during the course of each experiment to obtain precise estimates of digestible organic matter intake (DOMI). The estimated mean DOMI required for maintenance for a 45-kg lamb was 400 g (0·88 lb) or 1500 kcal metabolizable energy per day. The estimated maintenance requirement was not affected by the age of the animal. The DOMI required for production ranged from 1·55 kg per kg live-weight gain for the younger animals to 1·71 kg for the older animals. Both these requirements were lower than those obtained by other workers and those suggested by the Agricultural Research Council (1965).
Fleece characteristics and the wool follicle population of the Merilin, a Uruguayan sheep breed
Authors: Clarke W. H. J. , Donnelly J. B. , Lombardini A. , González R.
Published: September 2010

Total follicle density, primary follicle density, secondary follicle density, secondary/primary ratio and incidence of medullated fibres were studied in skin specimens from 78 2-year-old Merilin rams representing nine parent studs in Uruguay. The limited data available suggest that the studs sampled may fall into various groups, although separation into distinct groups is not equally well defined for all variables measured. Consequently, a firm conclusion about the Merilin awaits further information on fleece weight, staple length and body weight.
Derivation of improvement lags in a livestock industry
Authors: Guy D. R. , Smith C.
Published: September 2010

A simple and general procedure for calculating the equilibrium improvement lag in a livestock dissemination system is presented. The lag is conveniently measured in terms of the number of years of genetic change that it represents, and depends on the age and on the genetic superiority of the parents used in each step of the dissemination system. The total lag is the sum of the lags in all steps, weighting each step by the proportion of genes going through it.
A note on the use of Dexamethasone to induce parturition in the ewe
Authors: Webster G. M. , Haresign W.
Published: September 2010

A single intra-muscular injection of either 6mg or 12 mg Dexamethasone on day 142 of gestation resulted in a high degree of synchrony in the time of lambing compared with untreated controls, with no increase in lambing difficulty or perinatal mortality. Birth weight and growth rate of lambs born to treated ewes were not significantly different from those of untreated control ewes.

A single intra-muscular injection of 12 mg Dexamethasone on day 125 of gestation resulted in abortion in nearly half of the ewes, and their lambs were either stillborn or died soon after birth.

These data demonstrate the need to know precise mating dates if parturition is to be induced in this way.
A note on an alternative form of the lactation model of Wood
Authors: Dhanoa M. S.
Published: September 2010

An alternative form,y=Anmce−cn, of the lactation model of Wood,y=Anbe−cn, is suggested. The new parameter, m, is the time required to achieve maximum milk yield. The correlations between non-linear parameters are reduced.
The utilization of dietary cellulose by growing pigs
Authors: Partridge I. G. , Keal H. D. , Mitchell K. G.
Published: September 2010

1. The objective was to determine to what extent pigs can make use of energy yielded by fermentation of cellulose in the hindgut.

2. Two groups of 12 pigs were grown from 20 to 80 kg live weight on diets based on barley and soya bean meal. In treatment 1 energy intakes were restricted to approximately 085 of that required for maximum growth rate but intakes of other nutrients were adequate. Treatment 2 provided the same intake of all nutrients as treatment 1, but cellulose (‘Solka-floc’) was given in addition at a level of 150 g/kg food intake.

3. There were no significant differences between treatments in average daily gain or carcass linear measurements but dressing proportion was lower with added cellulose.

4. At 35 and 65 kg live weight, apparent digestibility of fibre and energy was measured in 5-day periods on each pig. The weight of the fibre digested in treatment 2 was considerably higher than for treatment 1; the digestibility of added neutral-detergent fibre was 0·40. However, the quantity of energy apparently absorbed was the same for both treatments. In treatment 2, either none of the energy released from digestion of added cellulose was absorbed or, if any was absorbed, it was offset by reduced absorption of energy from other sources.
‘Flight distance’ in Merino sheep
Authors: Hutson G. D.
Published: September 2010

The ‘flight distance’ of Merino sheep was examined in three experiments. In experiment 1 a man moved towards flocks of sheep confined at the end of a 2-m wide laneway, and the speed of approach, flock density and flock size were varied. In experiment 2, single sheep were tested and, in experiment 3, the width of the laneway was doubled.

The critical distance at which sheep started moving past the man was proportional to the width of the laneway. In the 2-m wide laneway the flight distance was 5·7 (s.e. 0·3) m compared with 11·4 (s.e. 0·6) m in the 4-m laneway. Flight distance was not affected by flock size, density or speed of approach, except for individual sheep, who had a greater flight distance than flocks, but this was reduced at fast approach speeds.

Analysis of head orientation showed that the proportion of the flock facing towards or away from the handler could be a useful predictor of the flight distance of confined flocks. On the edge of the flight zone approximately half the flock was facing towards the handler and half was facing to either side or away from him.