bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conformity Assessments and Post-market Monitoring: A Guide to the Role of Auditing in the Proposed European AI Regulation
Authors: Mökander Jakob , Axente Maria , Casolari Federico , Floridi Luciano
Published: November 2021

The proposed European Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) is the first attempt to elaborate a general legal framework for AI carried out by any major global economy. As such, the AIA is likely to become a point of reference in the larger discourse on how AI systems can (and should) be regulated. In this article, we describe and discuss the two primary enforcement mechanisms proposed in the AIA: theconformity assessmentsthat providers of high-risk AI systems are expected to conduct, and thepost-market monitoring plansthat providers must establish to document the performance of high-risk AI systems throughout their lifetimes. We argue that the AIA can be interpreted as a proposal to establish a Europe-wide ecosystem for conducting AI auditing, albeit in other words. Our analysis offers two main contributions. First, by describing the enforcement mechanisms included in the AIA in terminology borrowed from existing literature on AI auditing, we help providers of AI systems understand how they can prove adherence to the requirements set out in the AIA in practice. Second, by examining the AIA from an auditing perspective, we seek to provide transferable lessons from previous research about how to refine further the regulatory approach outlined in the AIA. We conclude by highlighting seven aspects of the AIA where amendments (or simply clarifications) would be helpful. These include, above all, the need to translate vague concepts into verifiable criteria and to strengthen the institutional safeguards concerning conformity assessments based on internal checks.
Variation in the chemical quality of woody supplements for nursery growing media affects growth of tree seedlings
Authors: Adamczyk Bartosz , Adamczyk Sylwia , Kitunen Veikko , Hytönen Tuija , Mäkipää Raisa , Pennanen Taina
Published: November 2021

Tree seedlings are produced in tree nurseries. However, nursery-grown seedlings often exhibit poor performance after outplanting due to the lack of adaptation to harsh natural conditions. These nursery-grown seedlings do not necessarily possess well-developed ectomycorrhizal symbionts, which help to obtain nutrients and increase resilience in exchange for seedling photoassimilated carbon. To improve the quality of the seedlings in natural conditions, we sowed spruce seeds on growing media with the addition of wood chips, i.e. stemwood chips or polyphenol- and resin acid-rich knotwood chips. Wood chips were chosen because they are common forest side-streams, and their compounds have shown a potential to improve mycorrhization and seedling fitness. Wood chips initially decreased the growth of seedlings. However, this effect levelled off with time and depended on the quality of the wood. Wood chips had no effect on mycorrhization. Further testing of the wood material showed that wood chips seemed to decrease seedling growth via nitrogen (N) immobilisation rather than a direct toxic effect. The phenomenon of N immobilisation on wood chips could be explored further to develop a slow-release N source, aptly reflecting N availability in natural conditions. Slow-release N source based on wood chips could be beneficial both to increase survival in natural conditions and for environment protection.
Accuracy of vertebral puncture in percutaneous vertebroplasty
Authors: Noguchi Tomoyuki , Yamashita Koji , Shida Yoshitaka , Okafuji Takashi , Kamei Ryotaro , Maehara Junki , Tajima Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To clarify the accuracy of vertebral puncture of the vertebral tertile area needling (VETERAN) method puncturing the pedicle superimposed on one-third of the width between the lateral vertebral line to the contralateral medial lamina line compared with Cathelin-needle-assisted puncture (CAP) method puncturing using the Cathelin needle as a guide in percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Materials and methods

449 punctures by CAP method and 125 punctures by VETERAN method were enrolled. We compared the puncture accuracy of both methods. We estimated a vertebral estimated tilting ratio (VET-ratio) defined as ratio of the distance between the lateral vertebral line and the contralateral medial laminal line to the distance between the vertebral lateral line and the puncture point measured by computed tomography. We also estimated the procedural items and clinical outcomes.

Results

VETERAN method with 100% of punctures within safe zone (cortical breaches within 2 mm) had significantly higher accuracy than CAP method with 97.8% (p < 0.01) for the 2 mm incremental evaluation. No cases with a VET-ratio of 36% or less had cortical breaches. VETERAN method had shorter operative time per puncture (p < 0.01) and exposure time per puncture (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

VETERAN method reduced the occurrence of the inaccurate puncture, operative times, and exposure times. A VET-ratio with 36% or less is associated with a safe puncture using VETERAN method.
Farmed animal production in tropical circular food systems
Authors: Oosting Simon , van der Lee Jan , Verdegem Marc , de Vries Marion , Vernooij Adriaan , Bonilla-Cedrez Camila , Kabir Kazi
Published: November 2021

In the discourse about the development of farmed animal production (terrestrial livestock production and aquaculture) in the tropics, two important food system outcomes emerge: (1) to supply animal-sourced food (ASF) at a level that suffices healthy future diets, including for poor people, and (2) to contribute to climate change mitigation and minimize pollution with nitrogen and phosphorus. Livestock production and aquaculture contribute to food security directly by increasing producers’ food diversity and availability, but also that of urban consumers, and indirectly through income generation and increased farm resilience. Recently, circularity has come to the fore as an integrated approach to food system development. Circularity has four cornerstones: (1) food crops have highest priority (which implies no food-feed competition), (2) avoid losses, (3) recycle waste and (4) use animals to unlock biomass that humans cannot eat. In this review, the role of farmed animals in circular food systems in the tropics is presented in four case studies and the impacts of circularity on food security and environmental impact mitigation are discussed. The cases are ruminants in grazing systems in West Africa and in Colombia, fish in pond aquaculture in general, and land-limited dairy production in Indonesia. Additionally, options for novel protein sources for use in livestock and fish feeding are presented. It is concluded that farmed animals are important in circular food systems because of their use of land unsuited for crop production, their upgrading of crop residues, and their supply of manure to crop production. Nevertheless, the increasing demand for ASF puts pressure on important characteristics of circularity, such as minimizing food-feed competition, maximization of use of waste streams in feed, and the value of manure for fertilization. Hence, in line with conclusions for Western countries, maximum circularity and sustainability of food systems can only be achieved by optimizing the population size of animals. Thus, a sustainable contribution of ASF production to global food security is complex and in not only a technical matter or outcome of an economic process balancing supply and demand. It requires governance for which public, private, and social actors need to partner.
Combined Butyric Acid and Methane Production from Grass Silage in a Novel Green Biorefinery Concept
Authors: Steinbrenner Jörg , Mueller Joachim , Oechsner Hans
Published: November 2021

In a Green Biorefinery, grass silage can be a source for lactic acid, proteins, amino acids and fibres. Processing residues can be used for anaerobic digestion and methane production. But by changing the ensiling conditions, butyric acid fermentation can be achieved. That makes grass silage also a potential substrate for a combined butyric acid and methane production. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of butyric acid production at different ensiling conditions applied to grass and measuring the methane yield potential of solid residues after a separation step. The highest butyric acid concentration in the produced press juice was 20.1 ± 4.5 g kg−1 and was achieved by carbonated lime addition and a reduced dry matter content after 90 days at mesophilic storage conditions. This resulted in a theoretical butyric acid yield of 332 kg ha−1 a−1. For the fibrous leftover press cake, a theoretical methane production potential of 2778 m3CH4 ha−1 a−1 was reached. The results show that theoretically a combined production of butyric acid and methane can be realised in a Green Biorefinery concept.

Graphic Abstract
Associations Between Complex Trauma Exposure in Childhood/Adolescence and Psychopathology in Older Age: The Role of Stress Coping and Coping Self-Perception
Authors: Pfluger Viviane , Rohner Shauna L. , Eising Carla M. , Maercker Andreas , Thoma Myriam V.
Published: November 2021

Complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence is common and has repeatedly been linked to mental ill-health across the lifespan. While the correlates of complex trauma and mental health are well-studied in individuals up to middle adulthood, correlates in older adulthood, as well as potential mediators of this relationship, such as stress coping, are insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aimed to (a) examine the mental health of Swiss older adults affected by complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence, in comparison to non-affected individuals; and (b) to examine the potential mediating role of coping strategies and coping self-perception. Data fromN = 257 participants (complex trauma [CT] group:n = 161;Mage = 69.66 years, 48.4% female; non-complex trauma [nCT] group:n = 96;Mage = 72.49 years, 42.7% female) were assessed using self-report questionnaires and a clinical interview. The CT group presented with significantly more current and lifetime mental health disorders, more disadvantageous coping strategies, and significantly lower coping self-perception, compared to the nCT group. Mediation analyses revealed that maladaptive coping and coping self-perception were relevant mediators of the relationship between complex trauma exposure and psychopathology. Results suggest that complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence can have a lasting impact on mental health in later life and can be negatively associated with stress coping. Findings emphasize the relevance of a lifespan perspective in research and clinical practice for addressing consequences of complex trauma exposure.
A Hypothesis Framework for Students’ Difficulties with Proof By Contradiction
Authors: Quarfoot David , Rabin Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2021

In mathematics education, the research on proof by contradiction (PBC) often claims that this activity is more difficult for students than direct proof, or simply difficult in general. Many hypotheses have been offered to support or explain this belief, yet they span a disorientingly wide swath of journal articles, conference papers, dissertations, book chapters, etc. In addition, few attempts have been made to organize these hypotheses or carefully test them. In this paper, we conduct a thorough literature review on PBC, organize existing hypotheses about challenges with PBC into a Hypothesis Framework for (Students’ Difficulty with) Proof By Contradiction (HFPBC), discuss the state of research related to each hypothesis, and offer thoughts on the future study of these hypotheses.
The development of environmental science agency for primary school students through an environmental entrepreneurship intervention programme
Authors: Komodiki Antigoni , Charalambides Alexandros , Ioannou Andri
Published: November 2021

The development of environmental science agency (ESA) is considered very important for the sustainability and conservation of the environment and the safeguarding of the cultural heritage. It is enhanced through experiential programmes and participatory actions that shape future environmental behaviour. ESA consists of three components: knowledge, role development and agency about the environment and the current issues affecting it. The present research was designed to explore how an environmental entrepreneurship intervention programme with primary school students can promote the development of their ESA. The study involved 34 primary students, aged 11–12, who participated in an environmental entrepreneurship educational programme. It follows a mixed methods design using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, namely pre- and post-students’ questionnaires and teachers’ interviews. The results indicate the development of knowledge and roles components, while the third component, agency, seems to diminish. The results of this study seem to be suggesting that late childhood is a good period to invest in the development of ESA, by offering environmental entrepreneurial programmes to students that might leverage their future intentions and willingness in taking action towards the sustainability of the environment and the cultural heritage. Future studies should continue to investigate the relationship between environmental entrepreneurship education and the development of ESA.
Philibert de L’Orme’s Dome in the Chapel of the Château d’Anet: The Role of Stereotomy
Authors: Galletti Sara
Published: November 2021

The coffered dome designed by Philibert de L’Orme (1514–70) for the chapel of the Château d’Anet in northern France between 1549 and 1552 is a masterpiece of stereotomy — the stone vaulting technique characterised by the custom cutting (or dressing) of a vault’s components or voussoirs. The dome was executed by first individually dressing its large voussoirs, so that they would fit one another precisely, and then dry assembling them like the pieces of a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. The spiralling ribs that form the coffers added a layer of complexity to the work, for they are embedded in the voussoirs; thus the exact shape and position of the rib sections belonging to each voussoir had to be calculated precisely before dressing to ensure that, after assembling, they would form the correct pattern over the vault’s surface. The dome’s execution method continues to baffle historians, in particular with regard to the transfer of the complex pattern formed by the ribs on to the templates used by the stonecutters to shape the voussoirs. Based on a new 3D laser scan of the dome and on the analysis of late medieval and early modern stereotomic practices and theories, this article offers a new interpretation of the methods that de L’Orme adopted at Anet and of their significance within the panorama of sixteenth-century architectural practice and theory.
Gandy’s Arkaiology: The Deluge and Romantic Climatologies of Architecture
Authors: Hönes Hans C.
Published: November 2021

Numerous renowned antiquaries and architects in Georgian Britain were enthralled by a strange craze: they declared the ark of Noah to be the origin and divine model for architecture worldwide. This article analyses the fashion for ‘arkaiology’ (as the poet Robert Southey mockingly called it) by focusing on one of its most spectacular exponents, the architect Joseph Michael Gandy (1771–1843). Taking Gandy’s theories as the starting point to reconstruct a broader debate on climatological thinking about art and architecture, the article shows that the fascination with the deluge is best understood as a reaction against the climatic theory of the origins of architecture associated with Johann Joachim Winckelmann and the implicit cultural relativism that it entailed. The case of Gandy also sheds fresh light on the search for origins in late (Romantic) classicism. Instead of submitting to a climatically determined vernacular tradition, Gandy’s arkaiology allowed him to theorise the distant past as a space for speculative artistic reconstruction of the principles of architecture.
COUNTEREXAMPLES TO THE HASSE PRINCIPLE IN FAMILIES
Authors: THO NGUYEN XUAN
Published: November 2021

We generalise two quartic surfaces studied by Swinnerton-Dyer to give two infinite families of diagonal quartic surfaces which violate the Hasse principle. Standard calculations of Brauer–Manin obstructions are exhibited.
Latency to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor vs benzodiazepine treatment in patients with panic disorder: a naturalistic study
Authors: Piccoli Eleonora , Bergamaschini Irma , Molteni Laura , Vanzetto Simone , Varinelli Alberto , Viganò Caterina , Catania Gabriele , Baldwin David S. , Domschke Katharina , Dell’Osso Bernardo
Published: November 2021

Background

Panic disorder (PD) is a prevalent and impairing anxiety disorder with previous reports suggesting that the longer the condition remains untreated, the greater the likelihood of nonresponse. However, patients with PD may wait for years before receiving a guideline-recommended pharmacological treatment. The widespread prescription of benzodiazepines (BDZ) for managing anxiety symptoms and disorders might delay the administration of pharmacotherapy according to guidelines (eg, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs). The present study aimed to determine the mean duration of untreated illness (DUI) in a sample of PD patients, to quantify and compare DUI-SSRI to DUI-BDZ, and to compare findings with those from previous investigations.

Methods

Three hundred and fourteen patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition diagnosis of PD were recruited from an Italian outpatient psychotherapy unit, and epidemiological and clinical variables were retrieved from medical records. Descriptive statistical analyses were undertaken for sociodemographic and clinical variables, Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test was applied to compare the distribution of DUI-SSRI vs DUI-BDZ, and Welch’s t test was performed to compare findings with those from previous studies.

Results

The mean DUI-SSRI of the total sample was 64.25 ± 112.74 months, while the mean DUI-BDZ was significantly shorter (35.09 ± 78.62 months; P < 0.0001). A significantly longer DUI-SSRI, compared to findings from previous studies, was also observed.

Conclusions

The present results confirm a substantial delay in implementing adequate pharmacological treatments in patients with PD, and highlight the discrepancy between recommendations from international treatment guidelines and common clinical practice in relation to BDZ prescription.
The Prospect of Spatially Accurate Reconstructed Atom Probe Data Using Experimental Emitter Shapes
Authors: Op de Beeck Jonathan , Scheerder Jeroen E , Geiser Brian P , Bunton Joseph H , Ulfig Robert M , Larson David J , van der Heide Paul , Vandervorst Wilfried , Fleischmann Claudia
Published: November 2021

Reliable spatially resolved compositional analysis through atom probe tomography requires an accurate placement of the detected ions within the three-dimensional reconstruction. Unfortunately, for heterogeneous systems, traditional reconstruction protocols are prone to position some ions incorrectly. This stems from the use of simplified projection laws which treat the emitter apex as a spherical cap, although the actual shape may be far more complex. For instance, sampled materials with compositional heterogeneities are known to develop local variations in curvature across the emitter due to their material phase specific evaporation fields. This work provides three pivotal precursors to improve the spatial accuracy of the reconstructed volume in such cases. First, we show scanning probe microscopy enables the determination of the local curvature of heterogeneous emitters, thus providing the essential information for a more advanced reconstruction considering the actual shape. Second, we demonstrate the cyclability between scanning probe characterization and atom probe analysis. This is a key ingredient of more advanced reconstruction protocols whereby the characterization of the emitter topography is executed at multiple stages of the atom probe analysis. Third, we show advances in the development of an electrostatically driven reconstruction protocol which are expected to enable reconstruction based on experimental tip shapes.
The effect of supplementing grass/clover silage with barley grain or fodder beet on dairy cow performance and nitrogen efficiency
Authors: Hameleers A , Haytink K , Roberts D J
Published: November 2021

Environmental pressures on the agricultural industry to reduce the use of nitrogenous mineral fertiliser combined with a trend to more extensive systems of production has led to renewed interest in white clover for dairy systems. An EEC funded research project was initiated to investigate whole systems implications with regard to nitrogen efficiency. As part of the project the potential of barley grain or fodder beet as home-grown concentrates to supplement grass/clover silage was investigated.

Thirty early lactation muciparous Holstein Friesian cows were used in a 16 week continuous design experiment lasting from 13 December 1993 to 3 April 1994. The animals were allocated to three treatments on the basis of milk yield, liveweight and days calved. The treatments consisted of ad-libgrass/clover silage supplemented with 5 kg DMd-1 barley grain (B), 2.5 kg DM d-1 of barley grain and 2.5 kg DMd-1 of fodder beet (B/FB) or 5 kg DMd-l fodder beet (FB) daily. All animals received additionally a protein supplement consisting of 3 kg DMd-1 of soya bean meal. The silage was made from the primary growth of grass/white clover sward containing 12% white clover in the DM. The grass/clover herbage, barley and fodder beet were all produced without the use of nitrogenous mineral fertiliser.
Embryo mortality and its prevention
Authors: Peters A R
Published: November 2021

The economic and biological significance of embryo mortality in cattle is well recognised. About 90% or more ova are fertilised at oestrus but only about 55% of dairy cows calve to first insemination (reviewed by Sreenan and Diskin, 1985). Of this 35% post fertilisation loss, most (25-30%) occurs within a cycle length therefore not affecting the time of return to the subsequent oestrus. It is also accepted that the maintenance of early pregnancy requires the secretion of progesterone by a viable corpus luteum and that premature luteolysis is the major cause of embryonic loss during these early days of pregnancy.

The corpus luteum forms after ovulation from the cells of the granulosa and theca interna layers of the ovarian follicle. These are thought to differentiate into the large and small luteal cells respectively (Smith et al., 1994). The large cells secrete progesterone and oxytocin and are responsive to prostaglandin E whilst the small ones secrete progesterone and are responsive to LH (reviewed by Wiltbank, 1994).
Rate and site of fat deposition in pigs selected for components of efficient lean growth rate
Authors: Cameron N.D.
Published: November 2021

Rates and sites of fat deposition were measured in a population of Large White pigs, after six generations of divergent selection on lean growth rate with ad-libitum (LGA) and restricted (LGS) feeding, lean food conversion (LFC) and daily food intake (DFI).
Validation of advisory models for the prediction of voluntary intake of grass silage by lambs and dairy cows
Authors: Offer N.W. , Thomas C. , Dewhurst R.J.
Published: November 2021

Inaccurate prediction of silage intake is a major source of error in ration calculation. New routine methods such as electrometric titration (ET) and near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) have the potential to improve silage intake prediction (Offer et al., 1994). Development of new advisory models is slow because of the need to do large numbers of intake measurements. It is also essential that models are blind-tested (validated) on data not used for calibration. At SAC, sufficient animal intake data is now available for both calibration and validation although it is intended to continue to accumulate data for these purposes.
Least cost diets to reduce nitrogen excretion by growing and finishing pigs
Authors: Kay R.M. , Lee P.A.
Published: November 2021

In the UK, pollution of the water system with nitrate nitrogen leaching from the soil is seen as a major problem and farm animal effluents have been identified as a major source of nitrate pollution. It would, therefore, be beneficial to the livestock producer and to the environment if the nitrogen excretion from animals could be kept to a minimum. To limit the excretion of nitrogen by the pig, it is necessary to supply amino acids in the diet in better agreement with its dietary requirements. This could be achieved either by feeding diets according to the pig's requirements based on age and/or weight (phase feeding) or by improving protein quality. The best protein quality would be that which has the same balance of essential amino acids (EAA) with respect to lysine as that required by the pig, i.e. ideal protein. Diets formulated on the basis of total dietary EAA on an ideal protein basis, using crystalline EAA, could enable lower crude protein (CP) diets to be offered whilst maintaining nitrogen retention (NR). An alternative approach to formulating diets would be to base the formulations on either: 1) currently available, commercial database values for ileal digestible EAA values of ingredients to achieve diets as close to ideal protein as possible but within least cost formulation constraints; or 2) ingredients limited simply to cereals and pulses and supplemented with crystalline EAA to formulate as close to ideal protein as possible. The object of the present experiment was to evaluate diets, formulated on this basis, in terms of nitrogen intake (NI), excretion (NE) and retention (NR) in pigs using balance studies.
Methods for reducing stress during transport and handling
Authors: Grandin Temple
Published: November 2021

Stress can be reduced during transport and handling by training people to use behavioral principles when handling animals, selecting livestock with a calm temperament and using well designed handling facilities and vehicles. In the U.S., there are increasing problems with very excitable cattle and pigs which are very difficult to handle and drive. Gentle, quiet handling of excitable genetic lines of pigs in single file races in a high speed slaughter plant is extremely difficult. Excitable pigs are more easily distracted by small distractions such as a sparkling reflection on the floor and are more likely to balk and pile up. Some excitable genetic lines of pigs have greatly elevated death losses during transport. Excitable animals are more fearful of novel new situations than calmer genetic lines. Similar excitability problems are being observed in cattle. Excitable genetic lines of cattle are more likely to severely injure themselves or handlers during handling because they are more likely to panic when confronted with novelty. The author has observed cattle from excitable genetic lines that went into a total panic when they were in novel surroundings. Excitability problems are more likely to cause problems in the U.S. due to very extensive raising of cattle. Excitable cattle that are reared intensively become accustomed to people and vehicles and they are more tolerant of novel situations than excitable cattle reared on open rangeland where they seldom see people. Excitable genetic lines of cattle which are completely halter broken become trained to accept novelty and will usually remain calm, but when these same animals are raised extensively where they seldom see people, they often panic and injure themselves when they are brought to an auction market or slaughter plant. Breeders need to select animals that have a calm temperament. Recent research in our laboratory has shown that the position of the spiral hair whorls on the foreheads of beef cattle is related to temperament. Beef cattle with high hair whorls located above the eyes become more agitated during restraint in a squeeze chute compared to cattle with hair whorls located between or below the eyes. Indiscriminant selection for rapid growth and leanness has contributed to this problem. Excitable genetic lines of cattle and pigs are causing serious welfare problems during handling in the U.S.
The effect of type and number of fsh injections on superovulation in ewes
Authors: Boland M.P. , Kelly P. , Crosby T.F. , Roche J.F.
Published: November 2021

One of the major limiting factors in practical exploitation of embryo transfer is the lack of a predictable and reliable supply of embryos on a regular basis. Superovulation requires the stimulation of significantly increased numbers of pre-ovulatory follicles by the administration of gonadotrophins mimicking the effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Ewes can be effectively superovulated using gonadotrophins given towards the end of a 12 to 14-day progestagen treatment, initiated without reference to the stage of the oestrous cycle (Boland et al., 1983). However, as in cattle (Goulding et al., 1991) there is a large variation in the follicular and ovulatory response in sheep. Although crude horse pituitary extracts will induce superovulation effectively in sheep, the lack of availability means that they are rarely used. The LH content in commercial FSH preparations has been indicated as contributing to some of the variation in the yield of transferable embryos in cattle following superovulation (Murphy et al., 1984). Recent preliminary data from this laboratory indicates that pFSH with a high LH:FSH ratio will induce superovulation in cattle and sheep. However, pFSH is normally given in multiple injections over 3 to 4 days which makes administration difficult. Therefore, an experiment was designed to assess the efficacy of a pFSH preparation with a high LH:FSH ratio to induce superovulation in sheep when given in either 4 or 6 injections. A second experiment compared the use of an ovine and porcine FSH preparation during superovulation in ewes.
Comparative performance of two primiparous continental genotypes in a hill suckler herd - calf performance
Authors: Chapple D G , Davies M H , Grundy H F , Keatinge R
Published: November 2021

Suckler cows from the hills and uplands are generally of traditional type. The introduction of new continental genotypes into a hill environment could have the potential to increase output and produce carcasses of high quality. The objective of this experiment was to assess the output and reproductive performance of Simmental cross Holstein/Friesian (S) and Piemontese cross Holstein/Friesian (P) suckler cows producing three-quarter bred continental progeny from an autumn calving suckler herd. Reproductive performance and calving difficulties of the first calf crop were presented previously (Keatinge et al 1994). This paper presents the growth and finishing performance of calves from S and P dams.
Organic and inorganic nutrient utilization by ewes zero-grazed on pastures of varying sodium levels
Authors: Chiy P.C. , Phillips C.J.C.
Published: November 2021

Efficient nutrient utilization by livestock is a function of adequate intake of a given nutrient, its unimpaired release from the ingested feed and optimal availability to, absorption by, and retention in animals. Optimization of these functions to fulfil livestock physiological requirements is not often achieved under normal feeding conditions. A nutrient imbalance, especially of minerals, can initiate the onset of clinical disease such as parturient paresis and hypomagnesaemia. An additional difficulty of improper nutrient balance arises in diet formulation, since the addition of one nutrient almost invariably affects the concentration and utilization of another. The antagonism between sodium (Na) and potassium (K) and their specific involvement at the cellular level in water metabolism, nutrient uptake and transmission of nerve impulses is a firmly established example. High levels of Na ingestion such as often occurs in saline environments or when loose forms of Na are included in conserved feeds can be detrimental to animal performance. However, at levels more typical of practical livestock feeding, Na nutrition is beneficial to livestock productivity. Sodium increases the divalent cation contents of forage and depresses K (Moseley, 1980; Chiy and Phillips, 1993), improves in vivo DM and fibre digestion and the release of inorganic nutrient from fresh forage grazed by ruminants (see recent review by Chiy and Phillips, 1995).
The effect of feeding supplementary mixtures of tree leaves on nitrogen utilisation in sheep
Authors: Powell C J , Lascano C E , Romney D L , Gill M
Published: November 2021

The potential benefits of mixing leaves containing high and low levels of condensed tannin (CT) on N utilisation in sheep was studied at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Colombia.

Supplements of Cratylia argentea (Ca) (tannin free), replaced with 0, 25, 50 or 100% Flemingia macrophylla (Fm) (25.1 g CT/kg DM) were fed as 40% of total ration DM (85g/M0Â·75), the remainder coming from Brachiaria dictyoneura (Bd). Treatments were offered in a replicated 4x4 latin square to eight male African Hair sheep (mean liveweight 23 (s.e. 1.5) kg), fistulated at the rumen and proximal duodenum (T-piece). Total collections of urine and faeces were used to estimate apparent N retention. Ammonia concentration was measured in rumen liquor samples taken hourly over 24 hours, while duodenal flows were estimated from spot samples using Ytterbium chloride as a single phase marker.
The role of biotechnology in enhancing the digestion of forage cell walls by ruminants (jerry hughes scholarship)
Authors: Deaville E. R.
Published: November 2021

The term biotechnology has been defined as the application of biological organisms, systems or processes to manufacture and service industries (Anon, 1980) and is, therefore, more than the application of ‘genetic engineering’ techniques alone. The potential application of biotechnology to the agricultural livestock industry includes many wide ranging areas: animal health; breeding; livestock production; livestock nutrition and the nutritive value of feeds. The role of biotechnology in animal nutrition and feeding is of particular importance since feed costs account for a significant proportion of the total variable costs in any livestock production system (e.g. milk, meat). The potential implications of biotechnology in animal nutrition has been reviewed by Armstrong (1986) and includes references to the improvement of the nutritive value of feeds through, for example, genetic manipulation of feed sources (cereals), appropriate supplementation and the use of biological inoculants with or without enzymes as silage additives and to improvements in the ability of the animal to obtain nutrients from feeds through the addition of enzymes to feeds and modification of rumen microbes through genetic engineering.
The effect of ensiling molassed sugar beet pulp or formic acid with grass on the digestion and rumen fermentation patterns in sheep
Authors: O' Doherty J.V. , Callan J.J. , Crosby T.F.
Published: November 2021

There is considerable scope for modifying the extent of fermentation during silage production by selecting an appropriate silage additive, with chemicals such as formic acid restricting fermentation and/or fermentable carbohydrates stimulating the natural fermentation in the silo. Both approaches can achieve satisfactory preservation but can produce silages of quite different chemical compositions. The objective of this experiment was to compare the pattern of rumen fermentation and digestibility of a silage, which had 50 kg of molassed sugar beet pulp (MSBP) applied at harvesting, with those of an untreated silage and a silage treated with formic acid.
Effects of level of concentrate on the eating behaviour and predicted hourly release of nutrients in the rumen of sheep fed grass silage
Authors: Sinclair L.A. , McQuiston G.C.
Published: November 2021

The pattern in which ruminants consume their daily allocation of forage may affect their total daily intake and the pattern of supply of energy and protein to the micro-organisms in the rumen. Synchronizing energy and nitrogen supply to the rumen has been demonstrated to improve the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (Sinclair et al. 1993, 1995). However, it remains unclear whether animals, when offered a feed with a predicted asynchronous release of nutrients, will alter their pattern of intake to achieve a synchronous supply. In addition, the provision of a concentrate may alter daily intake, hourly intake and the pattern of release of nutrients in the rumen. The objectives of the current experiment were to examine the effects of level of supplement on the pattern of intake and the predicted release of nutrients in the rumen in sheep fed grass silage.
Effect of supplementing grass silage with fish meal on rumen fermentation and methane production by sheep
Authors: Moss Angela R , Givens D I
Published: November 2021

Methane production by ruminant animals is an important source of methane to the atmosphere and is considered an important source to more accurately estimate and to control. It has been known for some time that, in ruminants, diet type and composition can influence methane production, yet there is little quantitative information for contemporary diets used in the UK. Attemps to predict methane production from either diet chemical composition or digestibility have not been successful (Moss and Givens. 1990; Johnson et al., 1991). In order to estimate more accurately the amount of methane produced by a ruminant on a given diet, it is essential to establish whether there are interactions of various substrates with forage and to relate this to the rumen environment. Previous work showing interactions has used mainly hay-based diets (Blaxter and Wainman. 1964): as grass silage is now the major forage in the UK, work with this forage was undertaken.
A comparison of concentrate and silage-based finishing diets on the performance, carcass composition and meat quality of suffolk cross and scottish blackface lambs
Authors: Mustafa M. I. , Webster G. M.
Published: November 2021

There is great variation in lamb carcass quality due to there being many breeds and crosses involved in lamb production. Breed of lamb appears to influence the pattern of development of the important carcass components, and thus the carcass quality, when comparison is made at equal weights. Plane of nutrition may also affect the growth rate, carcass composition and eating quality of lambs of the same genotype. It was planned to study the effect of both breed and diet on growth performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics by feeding two different diets to the lambs of two different breeds similarly managed from birth to slaughter.
The effect of dietary protein and energy sources on ruminal accumulation of low molecular weight peptides in sheep
Authors: Danesh Mesgaran M. , Parker D.S.
Published: November 2021

Peptides are intermediates in the conversion of ingested protein to ammonia in the rumen and their presence in rumen fluid is influenced by the nature and amount of protein in the diet (2). Transient accumulation of peptides occurs after feeding and then their concentration declines (1,6). However, it is not clear what properties of natually occuring peptide moieties result is increased resistance to degradation in the rumen (5). The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of altering the dietary sources of available energy and protein on the accumulation of peptides in the ruminal fluid.
Excess rumen degradable protein influences the rate of development and glucose metabolism of fertilized sheep ova
Authors: Madibela O.R. , McEvoy T.G. , Robinson J.J. , Findlay P.A. , Aitken R.P. , Robertson I.S.
Published: November 2021

The level of protein degradability in ruminant diets, notably in the peri-ovulatory period and during the early weeks of gestation, can significantly affect conceptus survival and may even interfere with normal control of foetal growth. For example, high levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) increase embryonic mortality in superovulated sheep but, paradoxically, also have been linked with foetal and neonatal oversize in a small number of cases (Bishonga et al, 1994; Animal Production 58: 447). The present study examined whether there was any evidence of altered development at the early pre-implantation stage in ova derived from ewes offered high levels of dietary RDP in the form of urea, and also investigated the possibility of systemic and local micro-environmental effects in vivo.
The application of an oral zinc tolerance test to assess zinc absorption from three different dietary sources in the dog
Authors: Lowe J.A. , Wiseman J.
Published: November 2021

Zinc (Zn) is a key nutrient for dogs, playing an important role in many metabolic functions. It has been estimated that 91% of the minimum maintenance requirement for Zn is needed to support hair growth. Coat condition is perceived as being important by pet owners and is thus of fundamental concern when evaluating the adequacy of a diet for dogs.

Zn absorption has been shown to vary as a function of the amount and source of the Zn in the diet and as a function of the presence of elevated calcium and / or phytate levels in the diet.

It has been suggested that when dietary Zn is supplied in the form of a chelate with amino acids, rather than from inorganic sources, a greater proportion of Zn is absorbed an is thus available to the animal. Further, the undesirable effects that dietary antagonists, such as calcium, exert on Zn absorption may be negated
A Comparison between in vitro digestibility, in situ degradability and a gas production technique for predicting the in vivo digestibility of whole crop wheat
Authors: Adesogan A T , Giverts D I , Owen E
Published: November 2021

Public aversion to animal experimentation demands the replacement of typically expensive, laborious and lengthy in vivo forage evaluation techniques with non-invasive, laboratory-based techniques. This study aimed to assess the suitability of three less animal-dependent techniques (in vitro digestibility (Tilley and Terry, 1963), in situ degradability (Ørskov and McDonald, 1979) and gas production (Theodorou et al., 1994)) for predicting the in vivo digestibility of whole crop wheat (WCW). The study forms part of an on-going MAFF LINK project that aims to develop equations for the laboratory-based prediction of the nutritive value of WCW.
Effect of heat processing on the nutritive value of mucuna bean (mucun sloanei) for rats
Authors: Chaudhry A. S. , Egedege G. , Webster A.J.F. , Kitcherside M. A.
Published: November 2021

Mucuna bean (Mucuna sloanei, MB) is widely cultivated as a cover crop in a traditional bush fallow system of tropical regions. Despite its protein value and high yield in Nigeria, its use is limited to grazing animals. Its physical-chemical properties may be responsible for under-utilization. Like other legumes, Mucuna bean may contain antinutrients i.e., phenolic compounds which limit their utilization for man and animals. The utilization may be increased by either modifying or removing these compounds using simple processing methods. The following studies were conducted to test the efficacy of using physical-mechanical methods to improve the nutritive value of MB for rats and by implication for other species including human beings.
Selecting terminal beef sires on their estimated breeding values for economic efficiency
Authors: King Margaret E , Broadbent P J
Published: November 2021

The selection objective of the SAC Simmental MOET Project, is to improve the economic efficiency of lean, or saleable, meat production in crossbred beef production systems.

The factors which contribute to the selection objective are the yield of saleable meat, feed intake and calving difficulty. These goal characteristics are combined into an index by taking into account their respective financial values and costs. Calves generated by multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) are weaned from their recipient dams at 10 weeks old and placed in performance test from 5 to 11 months of age. At the end of the performance test, saleable meat yield is estimated from liveweight at end of test, ultrasonic fat depth measurements and muscling score. Calving difficulty is predicted from the birthweight and gestation length of the animal on test whilst feed intake is measured directly by recording individual food intakes during performance testing. The estimated breeding value for the selection index of an animal is expressed in Â£'s (pounds sterling) as deviations from a mean of zero for the SAC population of Simmentals. It is calculated using the information for each animal plus that of all its relatives in its own and other performance tests by means of BLUP procedures.

The objective of the work described here was to evaluate the effectiveness of the selection index in identifying sires of superior genetic merit for use in crossbred beef production systems.
The effect of gossypol on rumen fungal attachment to and degradation of cellulose in culture
Authors: Ismartoyo  , Stewart C.S. , Acamovic T. , Richardson A.J.
Published: November 2021

Whole cottonseed and other cotton products contain gossypol {2,2’bi (formyl-1,6,7 trihydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-methyl napthalene)},a polyphenolic compound that is toxic to prefunctional ruminants and monogastric animals. Gossypol in excessive quantities may escape detoxification by the animal and produce toxicosis in functional ruminants. Recent reports have documented that gossypol inhibits rumen microbial growth and the degradation of grass hay by rumen microbes (Ismartoyo et al, 1993), growth and total protein content of animal cells (Ismartoyo et al, 1994a) and fermentation by rumen protozoa in culture (Ismartoyo et al, 1994b). The present study reported herein was designed to investigate the effect of gosssypol on the degradation of cellulose by pure cultures of the rumen fungus Neocalimastix frontalis strain REl.
The effect of metabolisable protein supply at constant energy intake on the liveweight gain of bovines
Authors: Johnson P N , Deaville E R
Published: November 2021

The metabolisable protein (MP) system (AFRC, 1992), adopted as the official method of describing the protein requirements of ruminants in the UK, introduces the concepts of effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP), digestible undegradable protein (DUP) and fermentable metabolisable energy (FME). For effective protein rationing, the aim is to match the supply of FME and ERDP, and to supply further protein requirements as DUP. This should lead to a better balance of energy and protein to meet the requirements of the animal. Diets are likely to have lower total protein contents than those presently available, leading to reductions in diet costs and nitrogen (N) excretion. The MP system was constructed primarily on a theoretical basis and this experiment was an initial step in validating it for beef cattle.
The relationship between digestibility, methane energy loss and metabolisable energy of whole crop wheat
Authors: Adesogan A T , Givens D I , Owen E
Published: November 2021

Recognition of the potential of whole crop wheat (WCW) as an ‘environmentally friendly’ complement to grass silage has led to several studies on its nutritive value. Most of these quantified nutritive value using the in vivo digestibility technique. In spite of the number of studies on the subject, there is little information available on the relationship between the digestibility and metabolisable energy (ME) content of WCW. The complications of measuring methane production have also meant that where reported, ME values for WCW have been estimated rather than measured. Accurate ME measurements are integral for the inclusion of WCW when formulating livestock diets. This study examined the relationship between digestibility in vivo and ME content derived using measured methane contents of WCW harvested at different stages of maturity and conserved using contrasting methods. The study forms part of an on-going MAFF LINK project that aims to develop equations for the laboratory-based prediction of the nutritive value of WCW.