bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Placement of fertilizers for row crops
Authors: Cooke G. W. , Widdowson F. V.
Published: March 2009

In experiments on peas, beans, carrots, kale, beetroot and spinach appropriate dressings of fertilizers placed in one band 3 in. below the soil surface and 2 in. to the side of the seed did not damage germination. Peas and beans are likely to be injured when even small dressings of soluble fertilizers are drilled in contact with or below the seed.

In sixteen experiments on peas and nineteen experiments on beans in 1949–51 broadcast fertilizer gave small increases in yield of beans and peas in dry years and larger increases in wet years. In about one-quarter of all the experiments fertilizer broadcast early and either ploughed or cultivated deeply into the soils gave significantly higher yields than late dressings worked into the seed-beds. In roughly one-third of all the experiments on each crop there were significant increases in yield from placing as compared with broadcasting fertilizer. The average extra yields produced by placing fertilizer were 1·8 cwt. per acre of threshed peas, 9·3 cwt. per acre of green peas, 1·0 cwt. per acre of winter beans and 1·3 cwt. per acre of spring beans. For spring-sown crops extra yields from placement were greater than the increases from broadcasting fertilizer. There was little advantage from splitting the fertilizer dressing, broadcasting half and placing the remainder beside the seed.

In most experiments on peas and beans, yields given by a single dressing of placed fertilizer were equal to, or greater than, the yields given by double dressings of broadcast fertilizer. When placed in the correct position quite small quantities of fertilizer are sufficient for maximum yields of such crops. The use of suitable drills should be profitable to farmers growing appreciable acreages of peas, beans and rapidly maturing horticultural crops. Where special placement drills are not available, fertilizers for peas and beans should be broadcast before cultivating to prepare the seed-bed and, when possible, the dressings should be ploughed-in. There was no advantage from placing fertilizer at the side of the seed for carrots, kale or beet. Placed fertilizer gave a higher yield of spinach than broadcast fertilizer.

Placing fertilizer at the side and below the level of the seed is likely to give better yields than broadcast fertilizer for crops having short growing seasons or poorly developed roots and when broadcast nutrients are immobilized in the surface soil by drought.
Effects of varying degrees of water restriction on the distribution of body water in high- and low-potassium-type Marwari sheep
Authors: Purohit G. R. , Ghosh P. K. , Taneja G. C.
Published: March 2009

The distribution of body water in the different body compartments of four highpotassium (HK) and four low-potassium (LK) type sheep of the Marwari breed of the Rajasthan desert was determined after imposing the following watering treatments, viz. watering ad lib., ¼, ½ and ¾ restrictions (each of five days ‘duration with a sevenday normal drinking regime between each treatment) and water deprivation (of three days’ duration). There was no difference in the voluntary water intake of the HK and LK animals. The HK animals normally have a higher blood and plasma volume status than the LK. In both types of animals, the total body water, total blood and plasma volumes and the extracellular, intracellular and interstitial fluid volumes started decreasing as water intake was reduced below 25% of the daily requirement. In both the phonotypes 75% reduction was similar in its effect to complete deprivation. The physiological status of the HK Marwari animals appears to be somewhat superior to that of the LK although both types seem to be equally adapted to the conditions of the habitat.
The study of variability in some wool traits in a coarse wool breed of sheep
Authors: Guirgis R. A.
Published: March 2009

Wool samples from 47 Barki yearlings were taken from five positions during two years to study the variability in the fleece, the cause of variability and associations between different fleece traits. Statistical analysis has indicated the following significant points.

An antero-posterior gradient occurred in the different traits under study. When medullation was discarded, though it was of a low magnitude (3·9%), a reduction of 5·89% in the mean fibre diameter and of 18·33% in its standard deviation occurred.

The position most representative of the whole fleece varied with the trait. It is recommended to take three sampling positions forming a triangle, withers, mid-side and hip, to represent the Barki fleece.

The animals contributed the major part in the variability of mean fibre diameter (1), the standard deviation of fibre diameter (S.D.1), percentage medullation, mean fibre diameter after discarding the medullated fibres (2), the standard deviation of fibre diameter after discarding the medullated fibres (S.D.2), the contribution of medullation to the total variability, percentage fine fibres and percentage coarse fibres. The positions were the main contributor to the variability of percentage kemp fibres, staple length, medullation index and to a certain extent to that of the kemp score. The year played a significant part in the variability except for 2 and S.D.2.

The highest correlations with the standard deviation of fibre diameter were those of percentage medullation and kemp score. These three variables when considered separately accounted for 0·47, 0·35 and 0·31 respectively of the variability in S.D.

Equations were obtained to predict the standard deviation from both the mean fibre diameter and the percentage medullation and to predict the mean fibre diameter from the staple length and the kemp score. The coefficient of determination of the first set of equations ranged from 0·47 to 0·56 while that of the second set ranged between 0·07 and 0·51 for different positions.
Studies on forage cell walls
Authors: McManus W. R. , Bigham M. L.
Published: March 2009

Food intake prediction relationships were developed from in vitro dry-matter digestibility determinations on food and resultant faecal material for a number of diets ranging from low quality roughage to high quality irrigated pastures.

The relationship between true digestibility in vitro and in vitro food dry-matter digestibility was curvilinear, although true digestibility of food dry matter in vivo was highly correlated with apparent digestibility of food dry matter in vivo. The latter relationship was linear.

For 122 sheep observations on voluntary dry-matter intake incorporating 11 diet types, introduction of either of the terms, cell-wall concentration in food: cell-wall concentration in the resultant faeces (CWFo/CWFe), or its converse, into conventional faecal index relationships did not increase precision of intake prediction using faecal nitrogen as an indicator substance. However, significant intake prediction relationships using food:faeces cell-wall ratios were generated.

Values for in vitro digestibility of food and resultant faeces dry matter expressed as either a ratio (R) or as a difference (delta) yielded useful prediction relationships. For ‘green’ and for ‘dry’ classifications of the feedstuff's investigated some of these new relationships were either equal to or superior to the predictive efficiency of conventional faecal index relationships.

Reasons are discussed for use of maximum potential in vitro digestibility values for food and faecal dry matter in such relationships in future work rather than a conventional 48 h fermentation.
Losses of nitrogen and other plant nutrients to drainage from soil under grass
Authors: Garwood E. A. , Tyson K. C.
Published: March 2009

Drainage lysimeters were used to estimate actual transpiration of a perennial ryegrass sward; this is compared with the calculated values for potential transpiration. Losses to drainage of nitrate nitrogen (NO3–-N) under differing levels of application of nitrogen fertilizer were examined. When 250 kg N/ha were applied annually losses of NO3-N were negligible; when 500 kg N/ha were applied up to 142·9 kg N/ha were lost to drainage. Concentration of NO3-N in the leachate with an application of 250 kg N/ha was low (1–5 ppm); with 500 kg N/ha the concentration ranged from 10 to 109 ppm. Losses of NO3–-N were particularly severe during winter following a dry autumn. When drainage occurred during the growing season losses were minimal.

Concentrations and quantities of K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, Cl and S (as sulphate) leached wore also examined.
Nitrification inhibitors and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers for rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Rajale G. B. , Prasad Rajendra
Published: March 2009

Pot-culture experiments were made with the rice variety IR-8 on a sandy clay loam soil to study the relative efficiency of urea, urea treated with nitrification inhibitors N-Serve and AM, AM-fertilizer, and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers IBDTJ, oxamide and N-enriched coal. N-enriched coal supplied very little nitrogen to rice and gave no more yield than the control. All other materials were superior to urea. Largest yield of rough rice and nitrogen uptake by rice was obtained with IBDU and AM-fertilizer. Compared with untreated urea IBDU, oxamide, AM-fertilizer and urea treated with N-Serve or AM left larger amounts of mineral-nitrogen in the soil after the harvest. In the case of nitrification inhibitors residual ammoniacal-nitrogen was more at the higher rates of inhibitors.
Urea phosphate and mono-ammonium phosphate as dietary supplements for sheep fed diets inadequate in phosphorus and nitrogen
Authors: Fishwick G. , Hemingway R. G.
Published: March 2009

Growing wether sheep in metabolism cages were fed a low phosphorus diet (0–7 g P/day) and providing 16 g N/day supplemented with either urea phosphate, monoammonium phosphate or dicalcium phosphate and with appropriate additions of urea to give equivalent additional intakes of phosphorus (1–75 g P/day) and nitrogen (4–6 g N/day).

All three sources of phosphorus and nitrogen resulted in similar and significantly improved phosphorus and nitrogen retentions. There were also very similar effects on urine outputs of phosphorus and nitrogen and on the concentrations of phosphorus and urea in the blood of the sheep.
An experiment in the control of the ground water-level in a fen peat soil
Authors: Nicholson H. H. , Alderman G. , Firth D. H.
Published: March 2009

1. The methods of investigation of the effect of ground water-level on crop growth, together with tho field installations in use, are discussed.

2. Direct field experiments are handicapped by the difficulties of achieving close control on a sufficiently large scale, due to considerable variations of surface level and depth of peat within individual fields and to rapid fluctuations in rainfall and evaporation. Many recorded experiments are associated with climatic conditions of substantial precipitation during the growing season.

3. Seasonal fluctuations of ground water-level in Fen peat soils in England, in natural and agricultural conditions, are described.

4. The local soil conditions are outlined and the implications of profile variations are discussed.

5. The effective control of ground water-level on a field scale requires deep and commodious ditches and frequent large underdrains to ensure the movement of water underground with sufficient freedom to give rapid compensatory adjustment for marked disturbances of ground water-level following the incidence of heavy rain or excessive evaporation.

6. A working installation for a field experiment in ordinary farming conditions is described and the measure of control attained is indicated.
Stocking intensity and pastoral production: III. Wool production, fleece characteristics, and the utilization of nutrients for maintenance and wool growth by Merino sheep grazed at different stocking rates
Authors: Langlands J. P. , Bennett I. L.
Published: March 2009

Wool production and wool characteristics are reported for a 5-year period in which sheep grazed Phalaris tuberosa–Trifolium repens pastures at stocking rates ranging from 2·5 to 37·1 sheep/ha. The utilization of nutrients for maintenance and wool production were calculated over shorter periods.

Maximum wool production/ha was always recorded at the highest stocking rate attained. The highest annual maximum was 111 kg clean wool/ha in 1963–4. The decline in wool production/sheep/unit increase in stocking rate was greatest during winter and the amplitude of the seasonal rhythm in wool production increased with stocking rate.

At high stocking rates wool count increased, staple length and character declined, colour and handle improved, soundness tended to decline and fibre entanglement (cotting) to increase particularly during drought. Live-weight gain/sheep also declined with stocking rate, the rate of decline being greatest during drought. Maximum live-weight change/ha was attained at a lower stocking rate than maximum wool production/ha.

The maintenance requirement of grazing sheep was estimated to be 58·3 kcal metabolizable energy/day/kg live weight and did not vary consistently with stocking rate. The value was 79% greater than the requirements for penned sheep estimated from fasting heat production.

Efficiency of wool production was defined as wool grown/100 g digestible organic matter intake (ED) and as wool grown/100 g nitrogen intake (EN). EN declined linearly with increasing stocking rate but the intercepts differed between months, and were least in late winter and early spring. En declined with stocking rate in winter and increased during summer. At low stocking rates, ED showed some variation throughout the year but this was much greater at high stocking rates.
Quantitative digestion of fresh herbage by sheep: III. The movement of Mg, Ca, P, K and Na in the digestive tract
Authors: Grace N. D. , Ulyatt M. J. , Macrae J. C.
Published: March 2009

Sheep prepared either with a rumen cannula, or with a rumen cannula plus re-entrant cannulae in the duodenum and ileum were fed fresh ‘Ruanui’ perennial ryegrass (R), ‘Manawa’ short-rotation ryegrass (M) and white clover (C) at dry-matter intakes ranging from 450 to 1000 g/24 h. Paper impregnated with chromic oxide was given once daily via the rumen fistula as a marker.

Amounts of Mg, Ca, P, K and Na entering and leaving the small intestine and excreted in the faeces were regressed against the intake of each element for each sheep and these equations (all, other than the faecal excretion of Na, significant (P< 0·05)) were used to calculate the extent of apparent absorption or secretion in the stomach, the small intestine and the large intestine at two levels of OM intake (500 and 800 g daily).

Quantities of Mg (at high intake), Ca and K (except sheep fed M) leaving the stomach were significantly lower (P< 0·05), while the amounts of P and Na were significantly higher (P< 0·01) than the amounts consumed. Quantities of Mg (at high intakes) and Ca leaving the small intestine were significantly higher (P< 0·05) while amounts of P, K and Na (at high intakes) were significantly lower (P< 0·05) than the corresponding quantities entering the small intestine. At both intakes in the case of Na and at the higher intakes in the case of the other mineral elements, quantities of Mg, Ca (except sheep fed C), P, K and Na excreted in the faeces were significantly less (P< 0·05) than the amounts entering the large intestine.

Thus at the higher intakes there were net absorptions of Mg, Ca and K (except sheep fed M) from, and net secretions of P and Na into, the stomach. The small intestine was the major site of net absorption for P and K and a minor site for Na, while a net secretion of Mg and Ca occurred into this region. Net absorption of Mg, Ca, P, K and Na occurred from the large intestine at the higher intakes.

The retention of Mg, Ca and P is discussed in relation to the animals' minimal daily requirements of these elements.
The response of diploid and tetraploid rye genotypes to phosphate treatments and to cold temperature
Authors: Hutto Janice M.
Published: March 2009

As an indication of heritable variation between genotypes, the response of diploid and autotetraploid homozygous inbred lines of rye to varying applications of inorganic nutrients and to temperature ‘shocks’ during growth was studied. The results indicated first that developmental differences occur between lines and between diploids and tetraploids under comparable conditions of growth. Secondly, the consequences of altering growing conditions can differ between lines and between diploids and tetraploids. Thirdly, the effect of polyploidy upon the response to these treatments was shown to vary between lines. It is concluded that an assessment of plant growth and development must take into consideration the genie, chromosomal and environmental interactions.
Growth and distribution of individual muscles in Double Muscled and normal cattle
Authors: Shahin Karima A. , Berg R. T.
Published: March 2009

Eighteen Double Muscled (DM), 18 Beef Synthetic and 18 Hereford bulls, serially slaughtered from approximately 250 to 800 kg live weight, were used to examine the influence of maturity type and Double Muscling on individual muscle growth patterns and distribution.

Breed types differed significantly in the relative growth rate of five of the 95 muscles. Individual muscles grew and developed at relatively different rates with muscles associated with locomotion being early developing followed by those associated with structure or posture and finally those which respond to sexual maturation or luxury muscles which were late developing. Individual muscle growth patterns revealed an increasing disto-proximal gradient along the limbs and an increasing caudo-cranial gradient along the whole body. However, within any anatomical region considerable variations with well defined growth gradients were found for individual muscles. In the proximal region of both limbs increasing medio-lateral growth gradients were apparent.

At the same total side muscle, breed types differed significantly in adjusted mean weights of 33 of the 95 muscles. When comparison was made at the same total side muscle, DM showed a range of hypertrophy of + 28% to -28% when compared with the more normal breed types.

Muscular hypertrophy followed a disto-proximal gradient along the limbs and an inner–outer gradient across the muscle layers with the superficial and bulkiest muscles being the most hypertrophied. At the same total side muscle, DM had heavier expensive or luxury muscles than normal cattle.
A predictive model of seasonal changes in herbage digestibility
Authors: Illius A. W.
Published: March 2009

A quantitative description of the factors underlying seasonal changes in herbage digestibility is developed and applied to sets of data from S. 24 and S. 23 perennial ryegrass. A new variable, relative maturity, is used to describe the effect of defoliation in interrupting the process of tiller maturation which leads to the decline in digestibility. For S. 24, the model explained 95·5% of variation in digestibility decline, R.S.D. = 1·07, allowing accurate prediction of digestibility. For S. 23, 87·5% of variation was explained, R.S.D. = 1·85. The model for S. 24 also worked well on data from a different site, nitrogen level and cutting regime, and the question of the model's generality is discussed. Relative maturity appears to be a useful concept in describing the physiological maturity of swards under different harvesting regimes.
Carcass Characteristics of Holstein and Hereford steers
Authors: Carroll F. D. , Clegg M. T. , Kroger Dietrich
Published: March 2009

Two groups of steer carcasses, eight Holsteins and eight Herefords, were compared in carcass traits. Although the quality of the meat (colour, texture, firmness, marbling and maturity) was comparable for both groups, the Holstein carcasses were heavier, older in chronological age and showed less thickness, plumpness and general compactness.
Effect of varying quantities of dicyandiamide on the utilization of nitrogen by several crops from sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate
Authors: Reddy G. R.
Published: March 2009

Coastal Bermuda grass tolerated the highest rate (16·7 p.p.m. N) of dicyandiamide with no decrease in growth although mild toxicity symptoms were observed. The data in Tables 1 and 2 show that with a constant rate of sodium nitrate and increasing rates of dicyandiamide the yields of maize, oats and wheat gradually decreased. The effect must be direct toxicity of dicyandiamide as plants receiving ammonium sulphate were not injured to any greater extent than those receiving sodium nitrate. The author's observations are in agreement with the Coastal Bermuda grass tolerated high rates of dicyandiamide; oats, wheat, maize and cotton were moderately injured and tomatoes were severely injured by the higher rate (16·7 p.p.m. N) of dicyandiamide. With a constant rate of sodium nitrate and increasing rates of dicyandiamide the yields of maize, oats and wheat gradually decreased indicating that the toxicity of dicyandiamide was a direct injury. Visible toxicity symptoms were observed on plants receiving 6·7 p.p.m. N or more of dicyandiamide in the soil. The highest rate (16·7 p.p.m. N) caused progressive withering of leaves from the tip and subsequently depressed the growth of cotton, oats and tomatoes. However, a low content of dicyandiamide (not exceeding 15 lb./A) in nitrogen fertilizers may benefit plant growth.
Comparison of the performance of ¾ Hereford–¼ Brahman calves with Hereford calves in a variable climate
Authors: Rollins W. C. , Carroll F. D. , Ittner N. R.
Published: March 2009

This study compared ¾ Hereford–¼ Brahman calves with Hereford calves under Imperial Valley conditions. The calves produced in four successive crops were all paternal half sibs.

The cross-bred calves outgained the Hereford calves in the summer both on pasture and in the feedlot; the reverse was true for feedlot gains during the fall and winter, the period of non-stressful weather in the Imperial Valley for British type cattle. Possible causes for the breed by season interaction are discussed.
Measurement of milk temperature as an aid to oestrus detection in dairy cattle
Authors: Ball P. J. H. , Morant S. V. , Cant E. J.
Published: March 2009

The rectal temperatures of ten cows were measured each morning and their milk temperatures measured at each morning and afternoon milking for 40 days in order to study the value of these temperature measurements in determining the best time to inseminate, whether or not standing oestrus is exhibited. The best determination was based on the observation that a cow in oestrus had a milk temperature, taken at morning or afternoon milking, at least 0·1 °C higher than the corresponding temperature on any one of the previous 15 days. This method successfully detected 12 of 14 oestrous periods in the 10 cows (86%) and gave a false positive diagnosis on 6 days out of a total of 236 non-oestrous days (2·6 %).
Lactational characteristics of imported British Friesian cattle in Western Nigeria
Authors: Adeneye J. A. , Adebanjo Adetowun K.
Published: March 2009

During the period 1962–73, the majority of the 92 lactations of imported British Friesian animals were initiated during the dry season (October–March). The following average values were obtained: lifetime number of lactations, 4·5; lifetime milk production, 9392 kg; age at producing first live calf, 39·6 months; milk yield of nine lactations, 2159 kg; lactation length, 336·5 days; daily milk yield, 6·3 kg; 305-day milk yield, 2012 kg; dry period, 173 days.

Milk production was highest in the fourth lactation when the animals averaged 7 years old. Differences in milk yield among lactations were small. Peak daily milk yield was greatest in the third lactation and was reached within the first 21 days of each of the first four lactations. A second but lower peak with the highest milk production persistencies at a later stage of lactation apparently depended on feed availability. The 305-day milk yield was reasonably predicted from the 100- and 200-day yields.

Lactations subsequent to abortions and stillbirths were slightly longer, gave less milk (P> 0·05) and were followed by longer dry periods than those initiated by normal births.
Comparison of lambing outcome in ewes after synchronization of oestrus by progestagen or prostaglandin treatment
Authors: Boland M. P. , Lemainque F. , Gordon I.
Published: March 2009

It has been shown (Gordon, 1975) that certain progestagens administered intravaginally can be highly effective in the control of oestrus, ovulation and fertility in ewes. Prostaglandin (PGF2α) when infused into the uterine vein ipsilateral to the ovary containing the corpus luteum has been shown to result in luetolysis and a return to oestrus in a high proportion of ewes (Hearnshaw, Restall & Gleeson, 1973). Synthetic analogues of PGF2α have also been shown to have a marked luteolytic effect in ewes (Baird & Scaramuzzi, 1975). Variable fertility has been reported following the use of prostaglandin or its analogue for oestrous synchronization (Jennings, 1975; Haresign, 1976; Fairnie, Cumming & Martin, 1976; Lightfoot, Croker & Marshall, 1976; Trounson, Willadsen & Moor, 1976). Low fertilization has been reported after the use of a prostaglandin analogue and artificial insemination at a predetermined time in ewes (Boland, Gordon & Kelleher, 1978). The purpose of the present experiment was to extend these observations, using a ram in natural service after employing a double prostaglandin injection regime or an intravaginal progestagen treatment for the control of oestrus in cyclic sheep.
The nutritive value of ground and pelleted barley straw. I. Ground and pelleted v. long straw for growing Ayrshire heifers
Authors: Burt A. W. A.
Published: March 2009

1. Twenty-four individually fed yearling Ayrshire heifers were used to compare diets consisting of (1) long barley straw and concentrates; (2) the same quantities of similar foods as in (1) but with most of the barley straw ground and pelleted with a proportion of the concentrates in a ratio of 70:30; (3) replacement of the whole of diet (1) by the pelleted 70:30 mixture to provide a similar theoretical starch-equivalent intake.

2. Live-weight gains over an experimental period of 10 weeks were: treatment 1, 0.55 lb./day; treatment 2,0.99 lb./day; treatment 3,1.23 lb./day. These differences were statistically significant and indicated a marked response in energy value due to processing the straw.
The influence of temperature and soil water potential on the leaf extension rate of perennial ryegrass in Northern Ireland
Authors: Keatinge J. D. H. , Stewart R. H. , Garrett M. K.
Published: March 2009

The rate of leaf extension in swards of the perennial ryegrass cv. Perma was monitored continuously from March 1976 to September 1977 in Northern Ireland. In this period air temperature and soil water potential were shown to be closely correlated with leaf extension rate. Simple linear expressions are shown to adequately describe the relationship between temperature and leaf extension rate when the year is divided into a winter phase, in which sward growth is very slow, and the remainder of the year in which temperature is high enough to allow significant sward production. Leaf extension growth occurred at all temperatures above freezing point. Soil water potentials of 0·15 MPa are shown to be capable of significantly reducing leaf extension rate. However, the occurrence of such soil water potentials are sufficiently rare in Northern Ireland as to permit prediction of leaf extension rates in perennial ryegrass from simple daily temperature records.
Fertility and birth weights of goats in a subtropical environment
Authors: Epstein H. , Herz A.
Published: March 2009

Records of fertility and birth weights were examined in eight breeds of goat, indigenous to, or imported into, the subtropical environment of Israel. These included the local Syrian Mountain, Negev and Damascus breeds, and the imported Malta, Appenzeller, Saanen, Fawn German and Anglo- Nubian.

All breeds of goat, local or imported, kidded at the end of winter and in early spring, and all, save the late-maturing Damascus and part of the Anglo- Nubian, kidded for the first time at the age of 1 year.

In imported breeds of goat which acclimatized well in the subtropical environment fertility was not impaired.
Herefords and 1/4 Brahman–3/4 Hereford cross-breds: comparison of carcasses and meat palatability
Authors: Carroll F. D. , Rollins W. C. , Kunze Marion Simone
Published: March 2009

A comparison of eighty-eight steers and heifers, representing equal numbers of Herefords and 3/4 Hereford–1/4 Brahman cross-breds, showed that the cross-bred dressed higher (60·3 % against 58·7 %) and that the cross-bred carcasses had more flank (6·9 % against 5·6 %).

In two out of three palatability experiments, Hereford meat was more tender and, in one experiment, juicier than cross-bred meat. When breeds were compared as to colour of meat, cross-bred was judged darker. Also, heifer meat was judged darker than steer meat.
Starvation changes and sebsequent recovery of adult beef muscle
Authors: Yeates N. T. M.
Published: March 2009

Two pairs of identical twin steers and six other adult cattle were killed, and their carcasses and tissues examined as necessary to study: (a) the muscle changes resulting from severe weight loss from starvation; (b) the reversability of such changes, as shown at various stages in recovery of the animals' weight.

Decrease in the cross-sectional area of muscle following starvation was associated with reduction in muscle fibre diameter. There was no suggestion of the complete loss of any fibres; thus, with regain of live weight, recovery both of whole-muscle dimensions and muscle fibre diameter, appeared to be complete.
Magnesium in the dairy cow. VI. Metabolism on artificial diets low in magnesium
Authors: Rook J. A. F. , Campling R. C. , Johnson V. W.
Published: March 2009

1. The results are reported of three experiments in which metabolism trials were carried out with milking cows given artificial diets low in magnesium with or without supplementary magnesium.

2. In Exps. 1 and 2, the basal diets provided cither about 13 or about 9 g. of magnesium/day, that is an intake of magnesium similar to that found previously with cut-grass diets (Rook & Balch, 1958) which produced hypomagnesaemia. The ‘availability’ of the magnesium of the artificial diets was, however, of the order of 25–35 % and higher than that of cut-grass diets, and for all cows the artificial diets provided magnesium in excess of requirements, as indicated by the excretion of measurable amounts of magnesium in the urine and the maintenance of normal concentrations of magnesium in the blood serum.
Selection Criteria in Grass Breeding. II. Effect, on Lolium perenne, of differences in population density, variety and available moisture
Authors: Lazenby Alec , Rogers H. H.
Published: March 2009

A summary of the objectives of the present studies has been presented in a previous paper (Lazenby & Rogers, 1962): traditional methods used in the selection of improved grass varieties were reviewed together with a history of varietal assessment and some recent research developments of importance to both grass breeder and grassland agronomist. For full evaluation of selection criteria, the performance of the grass plant should be studied when the variables potentially affecting growth and development are controlled individually and in combination. Results were reported of an experiment designed to study the behaviour of one variety of Lolium perenne, S. 24, grown in different densities and under two moisture règimes. Data presented were total yield per unit area and the botanical components of such yield—number of plants, yield por plant, number and weight of sterile and fertile tillers—together with a statistical appraisal of their interrelationships (Campbell, 1962).
The cellularity of adipose tissue from pigs of different weights
Authors: Enser M. B. , Wood J. D. , Restall D. J. , MacFie H. J. H.
Published: March 2009

Fat cell diameters were measured at 2-mm intervals throughout the depth of cores of subcutaneous shoulder and mid-back fat from ten Large White pigs. Five of the pigs were examined at 39 kg live weight and five at 70 kg live weight.

In the shoulder fat of both groups there was a gradual change in fat cell size from the skin to the musculature. Cells were relatively small beneath the skin and adjacent to the underlying muscle and increased in size towards the junction of the inner and outer fat layers. The major difference between the two groups of pigs was that the cells closest to the skin and in the bulk of the inner layer were larger in the heavier animals whereas the cells at the junction of the two layers and closest to the muscle were similar in size. Such a uniform picture was not observed in the mid-back region where cells from the inner layer were larger than those from the outer layer.

Cell size was Normally distributed at each site throughout the tissue. When the cell measurements for all the sites in each layer were combined there was no consistency in the type of distributions obtained although there was a tendency for them to be bimodal.

In both layers of the shoulder fat there was a significant increase in the number of cells present in the 70 kg pigs compared with the 39 kg pigs and the new cells contributed considerably to the growth of the tissue between these weights. The observed cell size distributions and the cell size gradients within the tissue suggest that in the inner shoulder layer the new cells arise adjacent to the muscle. In the mid-back there was no significant difference in the number of fat cells present in the two groups of pigs and the growth of the mid-back fat was due to an increase in the size of fat cells already present.
The effect of sample date and plant density on the carbohydrate content of forage maize and the changes that occur on ensiling
Authors: McAllan A. B. , Phipps R. H.
Published: March 2009

The (early maturing) maize hybrid, Anjou 210, was sown on 1 May (1975) and 50000 (LD) and 150000 (HD) plants/ha established. Leaf, stem, ear and husk components of the shoots, and whole shoots were separately examined for changes in dry weight, soluble sugars, starch, hemicellulose and cellulose at regular intervals from 104 to 154 days after planting together with whole shoots after ensiling.

Throughout the sampling period whole shoot and ear dry weights increased steadily whereas those of leaf and stem decreased in plants from both treatments.

Total soluble sugar contents for plants grown at LD were at a maximum 104 days after planting compared with 125 days after planting for the HD crop. Immediately prior to ensiling whole shoot soluble sugar content was 74 and 93 g/kg D.M. for LD and HD treatments respectively.

Small amounts of starch (g/kg D.M.) were found in stems (10–25), husks (40–80) and leaves (17–35) of plants grown at both densities. The starch content of the ear increased from 57 to 390 g/kg D.M. and 168 to 376 g/kg D.M. in plants grown at LD and HD respectively.

For plants from both treatments hemicellulose contents of husks, leaves and whole shoots increased with age whereas those of stems decreased. Cellulose contents did not vary greatly over the growing season.

On ensiling plants from both densities, total soluble sugars had virtually disappeared after only 3 days. Apparent losses (approximately 0·3 g/g), over a longer period of time, were observed in hemicellulose sugars and starch. Apparent increases were observed in cellulose contents of approximately 0·15 g/g.
Effect of restricted water intake during summer on the digestibility of cell-wall constituents, nitrogen retention and water excretion in Marwari sheep
Authors: Bohra H. C. , Ghosh P. K.
Published: March 2009

Studies were made on the effect of 50% reduction in daily water intake during summer on food intake, digestibility coefficients of the cell-wall constituents (CWC), nitrogen retention and water excretion in urine and faeces in the Marwari breed of sheep of the Rajasthan desert, India. The water-restricted animals consumed 54 and 42% less dry matter and digestible energy respectively than normally-watered animals. The digestibility coefficients of different CWC were apparently, though not significantly, higher in water-restricted animals. Throughout the study period, animals of both the groups, particularly the water-restricted group, remained in negative nitrogen balance. Moisture loss through the faeces was about 22% less in the water-restricted group than in the control animals. The water-restricted animals lost 21·1% of body weight in 23 days and these animals, when allowed water ad libitum, were able to recover 71·5 % of the lost body weight within 3 days.
The digestion of organic matter, nitrogen and amino acids in calves fed semi-purified diets containing urea, uric acid or soya-bean meal
Authors: Jacobs G. J. L. , Leibholz Jane
Published: March 2009

Semi-purified diets containing urea (diet A), uric acid (diet B) or soya-bean meal (diet C) as the sole source of nitrogen were fed to two Friesian bull calves fitted with re-entrant duodenal cannulae. Total collections of digesta leaving the abomasum were made over 24-h periods.

The flow of organic matter to the duodenum expressed as a percentage of intake increased from 35·8% (diet A) and 40·6% (diet B) for the non-protein nitrogen diets to 58·3% for diet C. A greater proportion of the apparent digestion of organic matter occurred in the forestomachs of the calves when fed diets A or B than when they were fed diet C.

The flow of nitrogen from the abomasum expressed as a percentage of intake showed a significant increase (P< 0·05) from 65·4% for diet A to 84·4% for diet B and 85·1% for diet C. When diets B and C were fed to the calves a greater proportion of the apparent digestion of nitrogen occurred in the hindgut than when they were fed diet A. The synthesis of microbial protein was 13·9 g and 13·0 g for every 100 g of organic matter digested in the stomach when the calves were fed diets B and C and only 10·9 g when the calves were fed diet A.

A significantly (P< 0·05) greater proportion of dry matter of the digesta at the duodenum was composed of amino acids on diet C (19·5%) than diet A (16·1%) with the proportion of essential amino acids (especially threonine, lysine, histidine and arginine) also being greater. The amino acid composition of the digesta dry matter on diet B was intermediate (17·2%).

From the data presented, it was predicted that cystine and histidine were the first limiting amino acids for growth when the calves were fed the non-protein nitrogen diets (A and B).
Mustard cake a substitute for groundnut cake in egg-type and meat-type chick diets
Authors: Cilly V. K. , Lodhi G. N. , Ichhponani J. S.
Published: March 2009

Experiments were made to assess the nutritive value of expeller-proeessed mustard cake (MS) for egg-type and meat-type chicks. Eight samples of MS on average contained 37·2% crude protein, 27·5% true protein, 12·6% available carbohydrate and 2·09 % tannins. The average metabolizable energy content (ME) of eight samples of MS for egg-type and meat-type chicks were 2350 and 2300 kcal/kg respectively. MS in the diet replacing groundnut cake (GN) which formed 30–32 % of the control diets was found to have no effect on growth rate of the chicks of either breed although there was thyroid enlargement. MS was also found not to affect the body composition of the chicks.
The effect of dehydration on Sudanese desert sheep and goats
Authors: El-Hadi H. M.
Published: March 2009

Changes in body weight and body temperature were observed in Sudanese desert sheep and goats, which had been subjected to the summer sun (20 °C min. to 42 °C max.), given water normally and then deprived of water for 3 days. Tritiated water was also used to measure total body water and water turnover in these animals together with measurements of plasma and extracellular space, intracellular fluid volume and blood osmolality. The body weight and the size of the fluid compartments decreased in the two species at varying degrees associated with haemoconcentration. The extent of some changes was more marked in sheep than in goats, suggesting better adaptation of the former species to desert life.
Influence of NAA and nitrogen on the growth and yield of late-planted paddy (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Grewal H. S. , Gill H. S.
Published: March 2009

Field experiments were carried out at Ludhiana in Punjab during 1982 and 1983 on the effect of foliar application of water spray or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 100 and 200 mg/1 of water on the growth and yield of rice when applied at tillering and before panicle emergence stages of late-transplanted paddy grown under four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha). Foliar spray of NAA significantly increased the grain yield of paddy as compared with water spray under low levels of nitrogen (0 and 60 kg/ha) owing to increases in the number of ear-bearing shoots per plant, number of filled grains per panicle and grain weight. Chlorophyll content of leaves, leaf area index and interception of photosynthetically active radiation by the crop canopy also increased with foliar spray of NAA and application of nitrogen. Paddy responded significantly up to 90 kg N/ha in terms of grain yield whereas straw yield increased significantly up to 120 kg N/ha. However, grain mass declined significantly with increase in nitrogen from 90 to 120 kg/ha.
The growth and activity of winter wheat roots in the field: nutrient inflows of high-yielding crops
Authors: Barraclough P. B.
Published: March 2009

Nutrient inflows, that is the amount of nutrient absorbed per unit root length per unit time, have been determined for several winter wheat crops (cv. Hustler) with grain yields in the range 8–11 t/ha (85% D.m.). Inflows reached a maximum in April or May with values in the range 13–34, 0·5–1·6, 3·5–13, 0·9–1·8 and 0·35–0·60 × 10–14 mol/cm root/sec for N, P, K, Ca and Mg respectively. The concentration in the soil solution necessary to maintain inflows by diffusion of nutrient through the soil was calculated using a nutrient uptake model. For an October-sown crop the model predicted that soil solution concentrations of 165 μΜ N, 14 μΜ P and 56 μΜ K were needed to sustain the observed maximum inflows, whereas for a September-sown crop, with a larger root system, even lower values of 106 μΜ N, 8 μΜ P and 36 μΜ K were needed. It appears that nutrient transport is unlikely to limit uptake by winter wheat crops growing in moist, well fertilized soils, at least for crops up to about 17 t/ha of total dry matter.
Effects of season, altitude and daylength on floral initiation of two contrasting genotypes ofTrifolium repensL.
Authors: Von Sury F. , Nösberger J.
Published: March 2009

The effects of season and altitude on floral initiation of twoTrifolium repenaL. cultivars, Haifa and California Ladino, were tested in the area of Ayacucho, Peru (2730 m, 13° S), with regard to their seed production potential. Specific effects of daylength at a constant temperature (20 °C) were examined in growth chambers.

In Ayacucho, the proportion of inflorescence-bearing nodes was found to be lowest between December and June (Haifa 10–20%, Ladino 0–10%) and highest in August (Haifa 30%) and September–October (Ladino 15%). Late in the cool season, floral initiation of Ladino, but not that of Haifa, increased strongly at a high altitude (3250 m). In growth chambers, Haifa initiated few inflorescences and Ladino none in a 10 h daylength. In 16 h, the floral initiation of Haifa was very limited but Ladino formed many inflorescences. Floral initiation of Haifa was most pronounced and lasted longest after a daylength shift from 10 to 13 h.

It is concluded that seasonal and altitudinal variations in low temperature were the main factors influencing floral initiation in the region of Ayacucho. Haifa is considered to be an intermediate-day plant, suited for seed production in the region because of its marked and early flowering. Ladino was classified as a quantitative longday plant, unsuitable for seed production at this low latitude because of its retarded floral response to low temperature.
Effects of soil and fertilizer P on yields of potatoes, sugar beet, barley and winter wheat on a sandy clay loam soil at Saxmundham, Suffolk
Authors: Johnston A. E. , Lane P. W. , Mattingly G. E. G. , Poulton P. R. , Hewitt M. V.
Published: March 2009

During 1899–1964 various levels of 0·5 M sodium bicarbonate-soluble P had been established in an experiment on a sandy clay loam (pH 6·5–7·0) at Saxmundham, Suffolk. Modification made between 1965 and 1968 widened the range of soluble P values to 3–67 mg/kg. Relationships between these soluble P values and yields of potatoes and sugar beet in 1969–74 and cereals in 1970–7 were assessed. Responses by potatoes and sugar beet to freshly applied superphosphate were also determined at each level of soluble P. Residual effects of these dressings and responses to fresh superphosphate between 1974 and 1976 were measured by barley. Two amounts of N were tested on spring barley in 1976–7 and two cultivars of winter wheat were grown in 1977 and yields related to soluble P.

Relationships between yields and soluble P were described by an asymptotic regression equation. This model represented the measured yields well for all crops except barley, in one 4-year-period, when there were insufficient data at low soil P values and a linear regression model was fitted. The asymptotic model was used to estimate plateau yields each year and soluble P values at which yields were less than plateau values by one standard error. Average plateau yields, and associated soluble P values were: potatoes, 43 t/ha and 25 mg P/kg; sugar (from sugar beet) 6·8 t/ha and 20 mg P/kg; spring barley, given 63 kg N/ha, 4·7 t/ha and 25 mg P/kg; barley given 94 kg N/ha, 5·3 t/ha and 33 mg P/kg; winter wheat, 6·5 t/ha and 20 mg P/kg.

The model was further used to estimate responses to dressings of superphosphate at three levels of soluble P (9, 15 and 25 mg/kg) in the soils. Yield responses to 55 kg P/ha were 3·9, 2·1 and 1·8 t tubers/ha and 1·1, 0·3 and 0·0 t sugar/ha, for potatoes and sugar beet respectively, at the three levels of soluble P.

On impoverished soils (soluble P < 10 mg/kg) even the largest fresh applications of broadcast superphosphate did not raise yields to those achieved on enriched soils (soluble P > 25 mg P/kg) in the absence of fresh phosphate.

Soluble P in the soils accounted for much of the within-year variation of yields and estimated reliably and quantitatively the value of phosphate residues derived from both superphosphate and farmyard manure which had been applied in varying amounts and at different times between 1899 and 1976.
Induction of oestrus in ewes using a controlled internal drug release device and PMSG
Authors: Maxwell W. M. C. , Barnes D. R.
Published: March 2009

A number of methods have been developed for synchronization of oestrus in sheep (reviewed by Maxwell, 1984), but the most successful have been based on the suppression of the oestrous cycle by treatment with a polyurethane progestagenimpregnated intravaginal sponge (Robinson, 1965). A precise synchronization of oestrus and ovulation for artificial insemination (A.I.) is obtained following a 12- to 14-day treatment with the intravaginal sponge and an injection of pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) at sponge removal (Robinson & Smith, 1967). This allows a single fixed time A.I. to be performed on all ewes without the need for detection of oestrus.