bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF SALINOMYCIN ON NUTRIENT ABSORPTION AND RETENTION BY GROWING PIGS FED CORN-SOYBEAN MEAL DIETS WITH OR WITHOUT OAT HULLS OR WHEAT BRAN
Authors: MOORE ROBERT J. , KORNEGAY E. T. , LINDEMANN M. D.
Published: March 2010

Four balance trials were conducted to determine the effect of the antibiotic salinomycin (SM) on nitrogen (N) and energy utilization and fiber component digestibility by swine fed low- or high-fiber diets. Treatments were corn-soybean meal control (C), 10% oat hull (OH) and 20% wheat bran (WB) diets, each with or without SM (82 mg kg−1). In trial 1A, 12 female pigs (34.6 kg) were fed the C or WB diets with or without SM for a 9-d adaptation period followed by a 5-d feces and urine collection period. In trial IB, the same pigs (50.5 kg) were fed the C or OH diets with previous fiber and SM levels reversed. Trial 2 was conducted in a similar fashion with the order of the fiber sources fed reversed (OH in trial 2A, 32.3 kg; WB in trial 2B, 44.7 kg). SM increased apparent N digestibility and N absorption (P < 0.01) in the WB trials, but also increased (P < 0.05) urine N and thus SM did not affect N retention. Although apparent N absorption was decreased (P < 0.06) by SM in the OH trials, this largely reflected a lower N intake (P < 0.02) and SM did not alter N retention. SM did not alter apparent energy utilization by pigs fed the C or OH diets, but increased the coefficients for DE and ME (P < 0.01) and dry matter (DM) digestibility (P < 0.05) of pigs fed the WB diets. Both OH and WB decreased apparent N digestibility (P < 0.01), but did not affect N retention (P > 0.10). OH and WB decreased (P < 0.01) energy digestibility. Digestion coefficients for DM, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, cellulose and hemi-cellulose were not affected by SM, but were depressed by OH and WB (P < 0.01). Estimated DM digestibilities (calculated by difference) for OH and WB were 4.9% and 61.3%, respectively. The data indicate that SM may influence energy and N utilization in pigs fed a degradable source of fiber (WB), but not in pigs fed a low-fiber diet (C) or a diet containing a high-fiber ingredient resistant to fermentation (OH). This suggests that SM may alter microbial fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract of the pig. Key words: Swine, fiber, salinomycin, nitrogen utilization, energy utilization
VARIATION IN PIGLET WEIGHTS: DEVELOPMENT OF WITHIN-LITTER VARIATION OVER A 5-WEEK LACTATION AND EFFECT OF FARROWING CRATE DESIGN
Authors: THOMPSON B. K. , FRASER DAVID
Published: March 2010

Piglets from 51 litters were weighed weekly over a 5-wk lactation in an experiment that studied the effects of farrowing crate design and other factors on variation in piglet weight. Of two farrowing crates used, one had low horizontal bars that tended to impede access to the upper row of teats, while the other had angled vertical bars which permitted freer access. Fourteen-day weights were more uniform in the vertical-bar crates than in the horizontal-bar crates (P < 0.025), but the difference waned by day 35 (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean body weight owing to crate type (P < 0.05) for any of the weekly measurements but, by day 14, there was a significant linear trend (P < 0.05) at decreasing mean body weight with increasing litter size. The interaction between crate type and litter size was significant at the later ages (P < 0.01 at day 35) because the linear trend was more pronounced for horizontal-bar crates than for vertical. Litters differed greatly in the uniformity of their body weights. Much of the variation became established in the first and, to a lesser extent, the second week after birth. In those weeks, weight gains were highly variable and were not closely related to weight at the beginning of the week. Thereafter, the established differences tended to be perpetuated to 35 d, because weight gains were largely proportional to body weight. Within-litter competition appeared to influence weight gain considerably. Key words: Piglet, body weight, suckling behavior, sow, farrowing crate design, litter size
LUTEOLYTIC ACTION OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN SWINE AND THE EFFECTS OF CLOPROSTENOL ON LUTEINIZING HORMONE RECEPTORS AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURE OF PORCINE CORPORA LUTEA
Authors: BUHR M. M. , McKAY R. M. , GRINWICH D. L.
Published: March 2010

The luteolytic action of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), 15-keto-PGF2α, 15-methyl-PGF2α, and cloprostenol was evaluated in cycling gilts and sows after intramuscular injection on day 13 of the estrous cycle. Only cloprostenol significantly shortened the mean cycle length (18.5 vs. 20.3 d, P < 0.05). Cloprostenol also caused a more rapid decline in serum progesterone concentrations than did the other prostaglandins. Serum concentrations of the prostaglandin metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α (PGFM), showed rapid transitory peaks after PGF2α or 15-keto-PGF2α and a lower, later rise after cloprostenol. A second experiment examined luteal luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors and luteal membrane ultrastructure during the estrous cycle and pregnancy and the effect of cloprostenol on these parameters during the estrous cycle. The number of unoccupied luteal LH receptors, as measured by specific 125I-hCG binding, dropped significantly from mid to late pregnancy and from mid to late cycle. Cloprostenol lowered serum progesterone concentrations but did not affect hCG binding. X-ray diffraction showed no correlation of gel or liquid-crystalline phase lipids in luteal microsomes with the stage of the estrous cycle or pregnancy or cloprostenol treatment. Key words: Swine, luteolysis, estrous cycle, prostaglandins, luteal LH receptors
PROTEOLYSIS AND FERMENTATION OF GRAIN-CORN ENSILED AT SEVERAL MOISTURE LEVELS AND UNDER SEVERAL SIMULATED STORAGE METHODS
Authors: BARON V. S. , STEVENSON K. R. , BUCHANAN-SMITH J. G.
Published: March 2010

Proteolysis of ensiled grain corn (Zea mays L.) was studied in both whole-kernel and ground forms at initial grain moisture levels ranging from 22 to 36%. Three trials simulated and examined the effects of anaerobic fermentation, aerobic pre-ensiling and aerobic postensiling environments on soluble nitrogen (SN) formation (Trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively). Sealed mason jars (1.2 L) with fermentation locks, polyethylene-lined metal pails (23 L) and polyethylene-lined metal pails with fermentation locks were used as storage containers in Trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Soluble nitrogen as a percent of total nitrogen (TN) increased substantially during anaerobic fermentation (0–90 d), but increased only slightly and not at all during aerobic storage pre-ensiling (0–5 d) and postensiling (0–8 d). As moisture level increased, rates and extent of fermentation and proteolysis increased in both whole and ground grain (Trial 1). Soluble nitrogen contents after 90 d of sealed storage were approximately double for ensiled corn above compared to below 30% moisture. Grinding increased the rate but not the extent of proteolysis at grain moisture levels above 30%; grinding had little effect on SN formation or fermentation parameters at lower moisture percentages. A fourth trial compared the effect of three low-rate organic acid treatments to ground and sealed corn and an unsealed 1.5% (wt/wt) acetic:propionic acid (20:80) treatment on whole kernels for proteolysis in grain corn at 28% moisture. Only a 0.2% (wt/wt) acetic:propionic:formic acid:formaldehyde (10:40:20:30) treatment partially inhibited proteolysis; it did not control mold growth. A 1.5% acetic propionic acid treatment inhibited fermentation, but produced SN contents similar to the ensiled control. Key words: Proteolysis, corn, simulated, storage methods, moisture level
GRAIN SCREENINGS AS A DIETARY COMPONENT FOR PIGS AND SHEEP. I. BOTANICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Authors: BEAMES R. M. , TAIT R. M. , LITSKY J.
Published: March 2010

Screenings were collected from grain elevators in the port of Vancouver and from a rapeseed processing plant in Alberta. From a total of 251 samples consisting of No. 1 feed screenings, uncleaned screenings, refuse screenings, rapeseed screenings and mixed feed oats, samples which appeared to be representative of the range were selected — 36 for botanical analysis and 94 for chemical analysis. The No. 1 feed screenings consisted of over 90% wheat (Triticum vulgare) and wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus), with a mean protein content of 14.8%. The composition of uncleaned screenings was highly variable, but approximated poorly cleaned No. 1 screenings. Refuse screenings could be divided botanically only into chaff, dust, grain and weed seeds, with an average total chaff plus dust content of 70%. Mean levels of crude protein and acid detergent fiber were 11.7% and 33.0%, respectively. Rapeseed screenings contained an average of 15.6% rapeseed, with the remainder mostly weed seeds, the major ones being stinkweed (Thlaspi arvense; mean 19%) and lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album; mean 18%). Average content of crude protein, acid detergent fiber and ether extract was 19.6, 28.0 and 22.5%, respectively. Mixed feed oats were essentially wild oats (Avena fatua). Average levels of crude protein and acid detergent fiber were 13.4 and 22.5%, respectively. Key words: Grain, wheat, barley, oats, rapeseed, screenings
ENZYMATICALLY PREHYDROLYZED SOYBEAN MEAL FOR MINK (Mustela vison) I. NUTRITIVE VALUE FOR GROWTH AND FURRING
Authors: BELZILE R. J. , DAUPHIN F. , ROBERGE A. G.
Published: March 2010

Experiments were conducted to measure the nutritive value of dehulled soybean meal (SBM) prehydrolyzed for 5 h with pancreatin, pepsin or papain. In these studies, a conventional meat-based diet and an unhydrolyzed SBM diet were used as control diets. For the pancreatin experiment, the levels of SBM used in the wet diet (35% DM) were 5, 10 and 15%, whereas, for the pepsin and papain experiment, only a 10% SBM level was used. Results indicate that the introduction of SBM in a growing-furring mink diet for partially replacing animal proteins led to a reduction in body weight gain and to some reduction in pelt size, but the quality of the fur remained essentially the same. There was some improvement of body weight gain from feeding hydrolyzed SBM, especially at the 10 and 15% levels, but pelt length and fur quality were unaffected. Key words: Mink, growth and furring, soybean meal, enzymes
ENZYMATICALLY PREHYDROLYZED SOYBEAN MEAL FOR MINK (Mustela vison). II. EFFECTS ON BLOOD AMINO ACIDS AND ON BRAIN NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Authors: ROBERGE A. G. , BELZILE R. J.
Published: March 2010

During postweaning growth and furring, 42 male Pastel kits were distributed into four groups. One group received a conventional diet made up of raw meat and commercial cereal mix; the other groups were fed diets containing, on a wet-matter basis, 10% soybean meal, 10% soybean meal prehydrolyzed with pepsin or 10% soybean meal prehydrolyzed with papain. Dry matter, protein and energy contents were approximately the same in all diets. Weight gain over 20 wk was significantly lower in soybean meal-fed groups compared with the one fed the conventional diet. Serum amino acids and brain biogenic amines were measured. When mink were fed pepsin-treated soybean meal, there was a significant increase in serum methionine, taurine, glycine and arginine contents compared with the groups fed the conventional or soybean diets. In the pepsin-treated group, the serum urea level was significantly lower than in the groups fed untreated or papain-treated soybean meal, suggesting that pepsin treatment decreases protein catabolism. In the papain-treated group, there was more tryptophan in the serum, suggesting a greater availability for the brain and for serotonin synthesis. In this respect, comparing papain and pepsin treatments, the serotonin content was significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the papain than for the pepsin group but in the same order of magnitude as the conventional or soybean-meal groups. A greater utilization of serotonin in the pepsin group and a greater mobilization of serotonin in the papain groups seemed to dissociate these two treatments on the basis of neurotransmitter synthesis as well as of the availability of amino acids. On the other hand, whole-brain noradrenaline content was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) with both pepsin and papain treatments compared with the conventional and untreated soybean-meal groups, suggesting greater noradrenaline utilization. Key words: Mink, neurotransmitter, amino acids, soybean meal
NUTRITIONAL AND MONETARY EVALUATION OF DAMAGED LENTILS FOR GROWING PIGS AND EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS
Authors: BELL J. M. , KEITH M. O.
Published: March 2010

Lentils (Lens culinaris) damaged by frost and ascochyta blight were nutritionally evaluated in digestibility and feeding trials with 23- to 100-kg specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs, using 0, 10, 20 and 30% dietary levels. Cross-treatments included carbadox and oxytetracycline antibiotic supplements and an antibiotic-free control diet. Neither average daily gain (ADG) nor feed:gain ratio (F:G) was affected by replacing equivalent amounts of 1:1 soybean meal:canola meal protein with lentil protein. Antibiotic supplements did not improve ADG and adversely affected F:G. ADG ranges for all diets were 0.76–0.78 kg for 23- to 57-kg pigs and 0.82–0.86 kg for 23- to 100-kg. Digestibility of crude protein (CP) in lentils was 72%, gross energy 78%, and non-CP gross energy 81%, indicating a possible trypsin inhibitor effect on CP digestibility. A monetary assessment of lentils based on a modified Petersen method, using barley and soybean meal for establishing the value of digestible CP and non-CP digestible energy, showed lentils to be worth from 10 to 50% more than good quality barley, depending on the CP content of the lentils and the relative monetary values of barley and soybean meal. Key words: Lentils, low quality, pigs, feeding value, digestibility, composition
AN APPROACH RESPONSE OF PIGLETS TO THE SOW'S NURSING VOCALIZATIONS
Authors: LEWIS N. J. , HURNIK J. F.
Published: March 2010

The approach response of piglets to recorded sow nursing vocalizations was tested in a T-maze. Sixty-nine percent of piglets 1–14 d of age approached the vocalizations. Neither age nor experience nor hunger affected the strength of this response. An approach response to sow vocalizations may be important for the contiguity of the litter, and for the elicitation of the approach response of piglets in nursings initiated by the sow. Key words: Behavior, approach for nursing, piglets, vocalization
THE EFFECT OF RIBBING SITE ON FAT THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS AND THE PREDICTION OF BEEF CARCASS COMPOSITION
Authors: JONES S. D. M. , TONG A. K. W. , MARTIN A. H. , ROBERTSON W. M.
Published: March 2010

Over a 2-yr period, 409 beef carcasses were used to assess the differences of ribbing site (11/12th vs. 12/13th) on fat thickness measurements and the use of these measurements to predict carcass composition. Minimum fat thickness taken at the location specified for use under Canadian beef carcass grading procedures was 1.6 mm less, averaged over all carcasses at the 13th rib, compared with the same measurement taken at the 12th rib. Prediction equations for estimating carcass lean or fat content based on coefficients of determination and residual standard deviations had similar precision using fat thickness measurements from either ribbing site. These results are discussed in reference to National carcass grading procedures. Key words: Carcass grading, fat thickness, carcass composition
COBALT CONTENT OF NEW BRUNSWICK FORAGES
Authors: NICHOLSON J. W. G.
Published: March 2010

The mean cobalt content of 59 grass samples was 0.028 ± 0.003 mgkg−1 and of 25 legume samples 0.088 ± 0.008 mg kg−1. It was concluded that supplemental cobalt is justified for ruminant animals fed forages grown in New Brunswick. Key words: Cobalt, forages
LIVER DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER AND 99Mo IN SHEEP FOLLOWING INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF COPPER SULFATE AND [99Mo]-TETRATHIOMOLYBDATE
Authors: KELLKHER C. A. , IVAN M.
Published: March 2010

The effect of a single intravenous dose of 0, 50 or 100 g molybdenum (Mo) as [99Mo] labelled sodium tetrathiomolybdate (Na2MoS4) on the subcellular distribution of copper (Cu) in the liver was studied in three groups of four sheep. The sheep received a 35-mg intravenous dose of Cu 20 h prior, and were killed 24 h after the dosing with Mo. Subcellular fractionation of liver homogenates revealed that [Formula: see text] may react with Cu in the nuclear (lysosomal) fraction. Key words: Sheep, copper, molybdenum, tetrathiomolybdate, liver fractions
THE INFLUENCE OF TIME OF FEEDING ON THE TIME OF PARTURITION IN EWES
Authors: GONYOU H. W. , COBB A. R.
Published: March 2010

Three trials, involving a total of 365 ewes, were conducted to determine the influence of the time when feed is available on the distribution of parturitions. In the initial trial, ewes were fed at either 0800, 1600 or 2400 h. Births were unevenly distributed throughout the day with 29% of parturitions occurring between 0400 and 0800 h (P < 0.01). The time of day when feed was available influenced the time of parturition (P < 0.01) with 64.9% of lambings occurring between 4 h prior to 8 h after feeding. In subsequent trials, feeding for 4 vs. 8 h, beginning in the morning, did not influence the proportion of ewes giving birth during the day (0600–1800 h) or during the late night (2200–0600 h). Feeding late in the morning (1200 h) compared with feeding at 0800 h did not significantly increase the proportion of parturitions occurring during the day (65.1 vs. 61.2%, respectively) but tended to reduce late night lambings (19.8% vs. 31.6, respectively; P = 0.06). It was concluded that a large proportion of daytime births can be achieved by feeding in the morning, and late morning feeding is indicated to reduce late night parturitions. Key words: Sheep, parturition, feeding, diurnal
A STUDY OF ULTRASONIC PROBING TECHNIQUES FOR SWINE. I. THE EFFECT OF OPERATOR, MACHINE AND SITE
Authors: SATHER A. P. , TONG A. K. W. , HARBISON D. S.
Published: March 2010

Ultrasonic probe data were available on 99 Lacombe gilts and 128 barrows. These animals were probed at approximately 80, 90, 100, or 110 kg by two operators, with three probes (Krautkramer USM2, Scanoprobe 731 A, Renco Lean-meater [L-M]) at three sites along the midback and two sites along the loin prior to slaughter. Measurements were recorded for both the second fat layer and for total fat depth. Averaged over operators, machines and sites total fat was 19.7, 20.0 and 19.6 mm for the USM2, 731A, and L-M, respectively. Total fat averaged over operators, machines and sites increased linearly from 17.5 mm at 80 kg to 22.8 mm at 110 kg. While the two operators were in close agreement (0.1 mm) when only the first two fat layers were measured, they diverged by 0.4 mm when total fat was measured. The two midback measurements that were made 5 cm off the midline differed by only 0.5 mm, but when measured 6 cm off the midline increased the difference by 2.1 mm. The two loin measurements differed by 1.6 mm, suggesting that the greatest source of error in the ultrasonic determination of backfat thickness would be associated with poor location of the loin probe sites. Key words: Swine, ultrasonic probes, machine comparison, site evaluation
SEX DIFFERENCES IN CARCASS COMPOSITION AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION IN MATURE DOUBLE MUSCLED CATTLE
Authors: SHAHIN KARIMA A. , BERG R. T. , PRICE M. A.
Published: March 2010

Nineteen mature Double Muscled (DM) cattle consisting of 11 cows and eight bulls were slaughtered between 470 and 710 kg to determine the influence of sex on carcass composition and muscle, bone and fat in DM cattle. Expressed as a percentage of the total side weight, DM bull carcasses had 15% more muscle and 55% less total fat. When sides were compared DM bulls showed a 17% increase in the muscle:bone ratio compared with DM cows. In bull carcasses, there were shifts in muscle weight distribution towards the forequarter. The ratio of hindquarter muscle:forequarter muscle was greater in cows than in bulls. Expressed as a percentage of the total side muscle, significant differences between sexes were found in 48 of the 95 muscles. The most striking sexual dimorphism was found in the neck region, particularly among the muscles responsible for secondary sexual features and those which act to elevate and extend the head. Sexual dimorphism was less pronounced in the distal parts of the both limbs. The cervical vertebrae and scapula made up a greater proportion of total side bone in DM bulls than in DM cows. There was a consistent but nonsignificant trend for the cows to have more of their bone caudally and less anteriorly compared with the bulls. Key words: Carcass composition, muscle distribution, bone distribution, mature Double Muscled cattle, double muscling
GROWTH OF DIGESTIVE ORGANS AND THEIR CONTENTS IN HOLSTEIN STEERS: RELATION TO BODY WEIGHT AND DIET
Authors: BAILEY C. B.
Published: March 2010

Holstein steers given concentrate or roughage diets were slaughtered at 60, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 kg liveweight. Their gastrointestinal tracts were separated into reticulo-rumen, omasum, abomasum, and intestine, emptied of digesta and weighed. Growth of organs relative to growth of the empty body as a whole was described by the allometric equation (Y = aXb). Relative growth rates of the organs were greater than that of the empty body during transition from milk to a solid diet, and less than that of the empty body (b < 1) after the transition. Post-transition growth rate of the reticulo-rumen was greater than that of the other organs. Diet had no effect on weights of reticulo-rumen, abomasum, or intestine, but omasa of hay-fed steers were heavier than those of concentrate-fed steers. Weight of digesta increased substantially during transition to full anatomical development of the gastrointestinal tract, and thereafter continued to increase in all organs except the abomasum. Hay-fed steers had more digesta in the reticulo-rumina, omasa, and intestines and the digesta had a lower percentage of dry matter than in concentrate-fed steers. Within diets, total digesta dry matter in the entire tract, the reticulo-rumen, and the intestine was proportional to dry matter intake, and it was suggested that development of a prediction equation for estimating digesta from dry matter intake might be possible if more information were obtained on how differences in the amount and nature of diet and the time elapsed since the previous meal affect weight of digesta. Key words: Cattle, diet, digesta, digestive tract, growth
BOAR, BREED AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON MOTILITY OF FROZEN-THAWED SPERMATOZOA
Authors: JOYAL S. M. , KENNEDY B. W. , WILKINS J. N.
Published: March 2010

A total of 5186 ejaculates from 115 boars of five breeds (48 Yorkshire, 25 Landrace, 20 Duroc, 18 Hampshire and four Lacombe) were collected and frozen between 1975 and 1980. Frozen semen was thawed and evaluated for percentage progressive motile sperm (post-thaw rating) and loss in percentage motile sperm due to freezing and thawing. Boar repeatabilities and effects of breed of boar, year, month, age of boar at collection and percentage of extender added were examined. Boar repeatabilities were 0.32 for post-thaw rating and 0.22 for loss in percentage motile sperm. Breed of boar was not significant. Year was significant, and percentage motile sperm recovered declined from 1976 through 1980. Semen collected between March and May had the highest post-thaw rating. As age of boar increased, post-thaw rating declined and loss in percentage motile sperm increased. As the percentage of extender added to semen increased, so did the loss in percentage motile sperm after freezing. Correlations between post-thaw rating and fresh semen motility score, volume, concentration and percentage motile sperm were 0.24, 0.03, −0.20 and 0.25, respectively. Respective correlations of fresh semen measures with loss in percentage motile sperm after freezing were 0.15, 0.01, 0.17 and 0.23. The current practice of standardizing fresh semen to a given concentration before freezing does not result in a standard frozen-thawed product with respect to percentage motile sperm. Key words: Boar, semen, freezing, thawing, motility
EFFET DE DIFFERENTS TRAITEMENTS ALIMENTAIRES SUR LA CROISSANCE ET L'EFFICACITE ALIMENTAIRE DES TAURILLONS DE RACE HOLSTEIN
Authors: FLIPOT PAUL M. , DIONNE J. L. , LALANDE G. , GIRARD J. M.
Published: March 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate different feeding systems for young Holstein bulls grown from 140 to 525 kg liveweight. In phase I, which lasted 134 d, 184 bulls were assigned to five treatments involving either pasture or silage with different levels of concentrate. In phase II, which lasted until the animals weighed 400 kg, 48 bulls from one pasture treatment and all 96 bulls fed silage in phase I were reassigned, within previous treatments, to subtreatments in which corn silage was supplemented with 0, 250 and 500 g head−1 d−1 of soybean meal. In phase III, which concluded the study, bulls were maintained on corn silage but reassigned, as in phase II, to treatments involving a restricted (5 kg) or ad libitum supplement of barley. In phase I, increasing the level of concentrates up to 3 kg head−1 d−1 for bulls on pasture increased their growth rate but was not associated with improved dry matter intake or feed efficiency. Bulls gained weight faster and were more efficient on pasture than on silage, when their diet was supplemented with 1 kg concentrate. In phase II, gain and feed efficiency were improved by 50 and 28% respectively, by supplementing corn silage with 500 g of soybean meal per head and per day. In phase III, an improvement of 17% in feed efficiency was recorded for bulls fed barley ad libitum rather than at a restricted level. Generally, superior performance in phases II and III was made by bulls whose performance had been restricted in the previous phase. Bulls started on pasture, supplemented with 1 kg concentrate daily, then fed corn silage, supplemented with 500 g soybean meal head−1day−1 in phase II, gained between 920 and 960 g daily over the entire study and this performance was comparable to bulls started on grass-legume silage provided with a concentrate supplemented ad libitum in phase I, regardless of treatment applied with corn silage in phases II or III. Key words: Young bulls, pasture, grass-legume silage, corn silage, soybean meal, barley
THE VOLUNTARY INTAKE OF DIETS DIFFERING IN DIGESTIBLE ENERGY CONCENTRATION AND FORM OF HAY
Authors: HIRONAKA R. , GRIGAT G. A. , KOZUB G. C.
Published: March 2010

One hundred sixty steer calves were allotted to 10 groups and fed diets with hay to concentrate ratios of 77:23, 68:32, 59:41, 49:51, and 40:60. At each ratio, one group received long (baled) hay and one group received cubed hay. The steers were marketed as they reached 475 kg liveweight. There were interactions between form of hay and hay to concentrate ratios for feed and digestible energy (DE) intake per day and digestible energy intake per unit metabolic weight (DE/W0.75). The DE/W0.75 of diets containing long hay increased as the proportion of concentrate was increased from 23 to 41% then levelled off when concentrate was increased above this level. With the cubed hay diets, DE/W0.75 declined as proportion of concentrate in the diet increased from 23 to 41% then increased rapidly as the proportion was increased to 60%. The feed to gain and DE to gain ratios declined as the percent concentrate in the diet increased for both long and cubed hay diets. The rate of gain increased as the proportion of hay in the diet was decreased for diets containing hay or cubed hay. Carcass backfat thickness increased as the proportion of hay in the diet decreased. Steers fed long hay had thicker backfat than those fed cubed hay. Key words: Voluntary intake, beef, hay to grain ratio
EFFECTIVENESS OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA AS A PRESERVATIVE FOR HIGH-MOISTURE ALFALFA HAY IN LARGE ROUND BALES
Authors: ATWAL A. S. , HESLOP L. C. , LIEVERS K.
Published: March 2010

Two experiments were conducted in sequence to determine the effectiveness of anhydrous ammonia (AA) as a preservative of alfalfa hay stored as large round bales (LRB). In the the first experiment application of 3% AA (wt/wt) to alfalfa hay baled at about 23% moisture-content (MC) increased the temperature markedly above the control treatment and resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) higher acid-detergent-insoluble nitrogen and acid-detergent lignin. In the second experiment application of about 1% AA slowly (over 48 h) to LRB of alfalfa hay packaged at about 30% and > 35% MC, significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the cumulative degree-days above all reference points from 35 to 65 °C. Ammoniation completely eliminated dry matter losses in storage which were highest (8.3%) for 33% MC control hay. High moisture control hay (33% MC) suffered severe heat damage with 33% of total N being in the acid-detergent-insoluble fraction as compared to less than 10% for medium-moisture (26% MC) control and even lower values for ammoniated hay. Digestibility of crude protein and energy was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by ammoniation of medium-moisture (about 30% in-to-storage) alfalfa hay. When the ammonia-treated hay was uncovered in spring, coarsely ground and stored in a hay wagon the high-moisture-ammoniated hay (> 35% MC) became moldy within 4 wk, even when the ambient temperature was about 6 °C, whereas medium-moisture-ammoniated hay (about 30% MC) showed some deterioration after 7 wk as the ambient temperature increased to about 12 °C. Key words: Ammonia, alfalfa hay, digestibility, heat damage, high-moisture hay, large bales
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROTEIN SOLUBILITY IN BICARBONATE-INDUCED CHANGES IN NITROGEN UTILIZATION AND ACID-BASE BALANCE IN LAMBS
Authors: ROGERS M. V. , PHILLIP L. E.
Published: March 2010

Six crossbred wether lambs were fed six isonitrogenous (15% protein) diets according to a 6 × 4 incomplete latin square with four 24-d periods. The diets were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial and contained high moisture ear corn (HMEC), supplemented with either brewer's dried grains (BDG) or linseed meal (LSM), containing 18% and 46% soluble protein, respectively. To each of these diets, sodium (Na) was either not added or added as NaHCO3 (4% of DM) or NaCl (2.8% of DM). Voluntary intake of organic matter (OM) was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with both NaHCO3 and NaCl supplementation but the response was greater with NaHCO3 than with NaCl. Nitrogen retention tended to be reduced with NaHCO3 supplementation; the reduction was greater with the BDG diet than with the LSM diet. Compared to NaHCO3, NaCl caused a smaller reduction in nitrogen (N) retention when added to the BDG supplemented diet but improved N retention when added to the LSM diet. Blood bicarbonate and base excess (BE) values increased (P < 0.01) with NaHCO3 addition, but the increment in blood bicarbonate and BE tended to be higher with the BDG than the LSM diet. It is concluded that NaHCO3 could impair nitrogen retention by elevating blood bicarbonate in ruminants not suffering acid stress. Key words: Bicarbonate, nitrogen balance, protein solubility, acid-base balance, lambs
EFFECT OF FEEDING DIETS CONTAINING DEOXYNIVALENOL (VOMITOXIN)-CONTAMINATED WHEAT OR CORN ON THE FEED CONSUMPTION, WEIGHT GAIN, ORGAN WEIGHT AND SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT OF MALE AND FEMALE PIGS
Authors: FRIEND D. W. , TRENHOLM H. L. , FISER P. S. , HARTIN K. E. , THOMPSON B. K.
Published: March 2010

Diets containing clean wheat, deoxynivalenol-contaminated wheat and Fusarium-inoculated corn were fed to 23-kg boars and gilts. Twelve Yorkshire pigs were fed the control diet (CW) and 18 each the contaminated-wheat (VW) and the inoculated corn (IC) diets (3.7 and 4.2 mg deoxynivalenol kg−1 respectively) for a 7-wk period, at which time each pig was necropsied. The diets caused a 23–29% reduction in feed consumption with considerable variation among pigs within diets. The VW pigs gained 30% less and the IC pigs 72% less weight than the controls. Differences in performance between boars and gilts were not significant (P > 0.05). Weights of the major body organs at necropsy followed the pattern set by body weights, i.e. CW > VW > IC (except the stomach and uterus), but this relationship did not remain when organ weights were expressed relative to body weight. Dietary differences (P < 0.01) were shown for the fundic region necropsy scores in which the IC diet caused less fundic mucosal inflammation than either of the other two diets, and in the esophageal region where the VW and IC diets seemed to have maintained the integrity of the mucosa better than the control diet. Histological examination of testis (seminiferous epithelium) and ovary (follicle) tissue revealed no significant differences in sexual development attributable to diet. The marked effect of the IC diet on feed intake and weight gain suggests the presence of another metabolite which adversely affected weight gains. Key words: Deoxynivalenol, vomitoxin, feeding, pigs, sex
CONDITION SCORE, BODY WEIGHT AND HIP HEIGHT AS PREDICTORS OF GAIN IN VARIOUS BREED CROSSES OF YEARLING STEERS ON PASTURE
Authors: HAND R. K. , GOULD S. R. , BASARAB J. A. , ENOSTROM D. F.
Published: March 2010

Condition score, initial body weight and weight to hip height ratio were each negatively related to yearling steer gain on pasture but these relationships were too small to be of practical predictive value. Gain in the early part of the pasture season was a better predictor. A significant relationship (r = 0.71–0.86, P < 0.001) was noted between condition score and weight to hip height ratio. Key words: Yearling steers, condition score, hip height, pasture
BIOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS TO RUMINANT PRODUCTION
Authors: RODE L. M. , COULTER G. H. , MEARS G. J. , LAWSON J. E.
Published: March 2010

Productivity is at a maximum when the principles of chemistry and genetics allow it to proceed no further, even under ideal environmental conditions. It is often limited by current knowledge, which could be improved through research, by the antagonism between selection criteria, or by economic considerations that make additional productivity unrealistic. Emphasis on increased productivity per se should give way to or at least accommodate improved efficiency of production. Some of the areas of constraint and potential improvement as they relate to the nutritional and reproductive physiology and genetics of ruminants are discussed. For the most part, advances in the level of production will continue to be made in small increments. Radical changes in performance brought about by new technology must be tested thoroughly under practical conditions to assure that long-term deleterious effects on the ruminant population do not exceed the apparent productivity benefits in the short term. Key words: Biological constraints, ruminants, nutrition, physiology, metabolism, reproduction
PEDIGREE INDEXING YOUNG HOLSTEIN DAIRY BULLS USING ANCESTRAL INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Authors: JANSEN G. B. , SCHAEFFER L. R. , BURNSIDE E. B. , WILSON H. M.
Published: March 2010

A model is described for utilizing ancestor estimated transmitting abilities from different countries to increase the accuracy of prediction of the performance of young dairy bulls in artificial insemination within a country. The model was applied to young Canadian Holstein bulls having pedigree information from Canada and the United States. Models with varying sources of pedigree information were compared. When sire, dam and maternal grandsire were in the model, the correlations between pedigree index and actual progeny test were 0.64, 0.70 and 0.55 for milk yield, fat yield and fat percentage, respectively. There was little difference in accuracy using a sire and dam model. Average pedigree indices were calculated for bulls in artificial insemination in Canada. The average pedigree index has increased 0.87 BCA (breed class average) per year for milk yield over the last ten years. Key words: Holstein sires, pedigree indexes, production traits
GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC PARAMETERS OF CARCASS TRAITS IN RAM LAMBS REARED ARTIFICIALLY IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT
Authors: SHRESTHA J. N. B. , FORTIN A. , HEANEY D. P.
Published: March 2010

Genetic and phenotypic relationships among carcass traits were calculated for 654 ram lambs from 210 sires of three synthetic strains developed at the Animal Research Centre. Lambs were housed indoors in a controlled environment on expanded metal floors and reared artificially with milk replacer and solid diets. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability at 36-kg body weight and 116 of age were moderate to high ranging from 0.38 to 0.67 for shoulder and leg (trimmed and lean), total trimmed retail cuts, total lean, chilled carcass weight and lean weight per day (P < 0.01). Estimates of phenotypic and genetic correlations between the above traits showed a significantly favorable relationship indicating their usefulness as criteria in selection for meatiness. Heritability estimates for front, back and total in rough retail cuts, trimmed loin cuts, lean in rack and loin, kidney fat weight and dressing percentage ranged from −0.19 to 0.27 (P > 0.05). Estimates involving loin, rack, front, back, total retail cuts, kidney fat wt, dressing percentage and chilled carcass weight per day showed lower and nonsignificant relationships with total trimmed retail cuts or total lean. Key words: Sheep, heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations, lamb carcass traits
PRETEST HERD EFFECTS ON STATION PERFORMANCE TEST
Authors: TONG A. K. W. , NEWMAN J. A. , RAHNEFELD G. W.
Published: March 2010

Effects of herd of origin and the relationships between pretest and station test environments were examined from pre- and postweaning performance records of 1675 crossbred male and female calves of Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn dams, sired by 20 Charolais, 12 Simmental and 15 Limousin sires. The calves were born during 1969–1972 and raised to weaning in 45 herds from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and were then transported to the Brandon or the Lacombe Research Station for a 140-d postweaning performance test. Fixed effects and variance and covariance components were estimated from a mixed model which included fixed effects of herd-year, sex of calf and breed of sire and random sire effects. Herd-year effects were significant (P < 0.01) for all performance traits studied. Herd-year mean squares expressed as a percentage of the corrected total sum of squares accounted for 25.81% in the pretest period to a maximum of 54.26% in the warm-up period and then decreased to 6.78% in the 140-d period. Herd-year differences were relatively small in the later part of the test. Correlations of herd-year solutions ranged from −0.10 to 0.05 and of environments ranged from −0.09 to 0.02 between pretest average daily gain (ADG) and ADG at various test intervals. The low environmental correlations suggest that the performance of calves centrally tested at the Brandon and Lacombe Research Stations were not affected by the pre-test herd environment. Key words: Beef cattle, station test, pretest herd effects, environmental correlation
SUMMIT METABOLISM OF NEWBORN CALVES WITH AND WITHOUT COLOSTRUM FEEDING
Authors: OKAMOTO M. , ROBINSON J. B. , CHRISTOPHERSON R. J. , YOUNG B. A.
Published: March 2010

Resting and summit metabolic rates were measured in 13 newborn (2.5–15 h old) male Holstein calves exposed to warm and cold tempertures in a water immersion system. Six calves were bottle fed 1 kg of colostrum 30 min before the measurements commenced. In the remaining seven calves, colostrum was withheld until after the end of the measurement period. There were no significant effects of colostrum feeding on resting or summit metabolic rates or the time required for rectal temperature to drop to 35 °C when the calves were immersed in cold water. The time required for rectal temperature to drop to 35 °C increased as the body weight of the calves increased; for each kilogram additional body weight, cooling was delayed for an extra 2.9 min. The resting metabolic rate averaged for both feeding treatments was 2.0 ± 0.1 W kg−1 while mean rectal temperature was 39.1 ± 0.2 °C. Mean summit metabolic rate was 7.2 ± 0.4 W kg−1 and occurred at a mean rectal temperature of 35.4 ± 0.3 °C. The average ratio of the summit to resting metabolic rate was 3.7 ± 0.2. Cooling via water immersion was associated with increases in plasma levels of glucose and free fatty acids. The feeding of 1 kg of colostrum 30 min prior to exposure to acute cold did not improve the apparent resistance of the calves to hypothermia. Key words: Newborn calf, summit metabolism, cold tolerance
INTRAUTERINE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING FETAL WEIGHT AT MID-PREGNANCY IN SWINE
Authors: DYCK G. W. , McKAY R. M.
Published: March 2010

The relationship between fetal weight (FW) at mid-pregnancy, and uterine weight of the area of placental attachment (UW), fetal membrane weight (FMW), allantoic fluid volume (ALFV), amniotic fluid volume (AMFV), fetal sex (FS), left vs. right uterine horn (UH), number of fetuses per uterine horn (NF), fetal location within the uterine horn (FL), fetal age (FA), dietary intake (DI) and year group of gilts (YG) was determined on 935 fetuses from 93 Lacombe gilts, bred to Yorkshire boars, that were slaughtered at 58–62 d of gestation. A stepwise regression analysis was utilized with 9 of the 11 variables found to have a significant effect and accounted for 66.5% of the variation in fetal weight. Uterine weight of the area of placental attachment (UW) accounted for 47.5% of the variation in fetal weight. The next five variables (FA, AMFV, FS, FMW and ALFV) accounted for a further 17.9% of the variation in fetal weight. The remaining 1.1% reduction in variation in fetal weight occurred with the inclusion of FL, DI and NF. The effects of the UH and YG were not significant. Thus, the parameters associated with the individual fetus are the most important variables influencing fetal weight with the uterine weight of the area of placental attachment being of greatest importance. Key words: Gilts, mid-pregnancy, fetal weight
NITROGEN TRANSFORMATIONS AND DUODENAL AMINO ACID CONTENT IN SHEEP GIVEN FOUR FORAGE DIETS AND EXPOSED TO WARM AND COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES
Authors: KENNEDY P. M. , EARLY R. J. , CHRISTOPHERSON R. J. , MILLIGAN L. P.
Published: March 2010

Sixteen closely-shorn sheep fistulated at the rumen and duodenum were exposed to temperatures of 22–25 °C or 1–4 °C for periods of 45 d. Comparisons were made of digestion of nitrogen from alfalfa, red clover, reed canarygrass and bromegrass diets given in the chopped, or ground and pelleted form at intervals of 2 h. There was no consistent effect of environmental temperature on flow of nonammonia N to the intestines, irreversible loss rate of rumen ammonia, or rate of digestion of dietary N from nylon bags. In addition, apparent N digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract was not affected by environmental temperature, but cold exposure resulted in increases (P < 0.05) in apparent digestion of nonammonia N in the intestines relative to total intake of digestible organic matter. Grinding and pelleting of diets decreased (P < 0.001) rumen ammonia concentrations and increased (P < 0.01) total amino acid content of duodenal nonammonia N. There were dietary differences in flows of duodenal N, rumen ammonia concentration and rates of digestion from nylon bags. It was concluded that there were interactions between diet, dietary form, and the ratio of nitrogenous to energy-yielding metabolites which determine responses of ruminants to cold exposure. Key words: Cold stress, nitrogen, amino acids, sheep
DISTRIBUTION OF METHIONINE AND ITS METABOLITES IN THE PREGNANT EWE AND FETUS FOLLOWING INTRAVENOUS OR ABOMASAL INJECTION OF 35S-METHIONINE INTO THE EWE
Authors: KNIPFEL J. E. , ELLIOT J. I. , WILLES R. F.
Published: March 2010

The placental transfer of 35S-Methionine was studied in the chronically cannulated ovine fetus following intravenous or intra-abomasal administration of varying methionine loads into the ewe. Transport of methionine across the ovine placenta was related to duration and degree of elevation of maternal plasma methionine concentrations. Placental regulation of transport involved buffering of minor fluctuations in maternal blood methionine level and limitation of the rate of transfer from ewe to fetus. Fetal ability to clear methionine from plasma was limited relative to maternal ability. Patterns of accumulation of metabolites in maternal and fetal blood, and in amniotic fluid suggested a reduced capacity for methionine metabolism by the fetus. Maintenance of elevated maternal plasma methionine concentrations increased fetal fluid concentrations to extremely high levels. The data reconcile previous differences observed in methionine transfer across the placenta when injected at different concentrations. Key words: Methionine, 35S, ewe, fetus, placental transfer
COMPARISON OF DISTILLERS GRAINS WITH SOLUBLES FROM RYE AND CORN IN PRODUCTION AND DIGESTIBILITY TRIALS WITH LACTATING COWS AND SHEEP
Authors: SHELFORD J. A. , TAIT R. M.
Published: March 2010

Dehydrated rye distillers grains with solubles or corn distillers grains with solubles were incorporated into dairy concentrate mixes at the level of 15%. These concentrates were then fed along with alfalfa cubes in a 50/50 mix (as-fed basis) to 18 lactating dairy cows in a two 6-wk period change over design. Feed intake, milk yield, milk composition and body weight change data indicated no difference between types of distillers grains. Total collection digestibility studies conducted during the last week of each period with six animals per treatment indicated no difference between the type of distillers grains in dry matter, protein or fiber digestion. Total collection digestibility studies using six mature ewes per treatment indicated no differences in dry matter, organic matter or protein digestibility when determined for the concentrates containing rye distillers grains (RDG) or corn distillers grains (CDG) fed in the dairy production trial. Acid detergent fiber digestibility was significantly lower (P < 0.01) on the RDG diet. Digestibility by difference was used to compare RDG and CDG when they made up 70% of the diet. RDG had significantly lower (P < 0.01) digestibilities of dry matter, energy (12.2 vs. 17.1 MJ digestible energy kg−1 dry matter), protein and fiber. The influence of the lower digestibility of RDG was masked in the concentrate mix and complete diet fed to the lactating cows due to dilution from other ration components. Rye distillers grains plus solubles can replace corn distillers grains in dairy concentrates at the level of 15% with no effects on dairy cow production. Key words: Rye distillers grains, sheep, dairy cattle