bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fermentation kinetics of the carbohydrate fraction of fresh forage, silage and hay of Avena sativa
Authors: Calabrò S. , Bovera F. , Zicarelli F. , Tudisco R. , Cutrignelli M.I. , Piccolo G. , Infascelli F.
Published: June 2019

The aim of the present paper was to study the fermentation characteristics and kinetics of the carbohydrate fractions of fresh, ensiled and hay of oats (Avena sativa) using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) and the in vitro gas production technique (GPT). The whole forage and its NDF and EIR (ethanol insoluble residue) fractions were incubated in order to estimate the fermentation kinetics of carbohydrate fractions (A, B1 and B2) with the curve subtraction method. The carbohydrates fermentation kinetics estimated with the GPT agree with the three CNCPS carbohydrate fractions and explain some modification due to forage preservation methods. For all forages, the fermentation rate of the three CNCPS carbohydrate fractions showed the same ranking A > B1 > B2. Fermentation rate value (RM: 0.163, 0.057, 0.032 h-1 A, B1, B2 fraction for fresh oats; 0.106, 0.032, 0.016 h-1 for A, B1, B2 fractions of ensiled oats; 0.165, 0.051, 0.022 h-1 A, B1, B2 fraction for oats hay) could be used as kd in the CNCPS.
A Methodological approach in La Reunion Island on the value of faecal Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess grazing intake and diet quality of the dairy cow
Authors: Decruyenaere V. , J.Bony  , Grimaud P. , Lecomte Ph.
Published: June 2019

To test the applicability of faecal NIRS to real conditions, an experimental approach was undertaken across several representative dairy farms (N = 30) located ‘La Réunion’ island. From an ongoing survey, this approach consists to characterize the nutritional value of all feeds (grazed fresh forage, hay, silages and supplementary feeds) offered to the lactating herds, and to predict ingested diet from faecal NIRS models previously developed on a large experimental sheep faeces reference data-base.

The methodological objective was to evaluate if such a spectral database could be a useful reference to estimate dairy cow total dry matter intake and diet quality, and so predict the grazed grass intake with reasonable accuracy. According to preliminary results, the NIRS estimated total intake varied between 13.7 and 19 kg DM/day and in vivo organic matter digestibility ranged from 51.7 to 74.8 % with an averaged value of 66 %. The estimated grass intake varied between 0 to nearly 10 kg DM/d. On a spectral basis, dairy cows faeces were quite different from the sheep faeces reference database, with an averaged standardised distance (H) upper of 3.0 (H = 9.1; Hmin = 2.08 – Hmax = 19.22) but predicted intake appeared valid. Indeed, according to the feeding value of diets and lactating cow requirements, the NIRS predicted total intakes were well correlated to the level of milk production. Moreover, for four particular situations, the fresh grass was cut, distributed at the trough and total intake really measured. The correlation between predicted and measured values was high with R2 = 0.94 and standard error of regression = 0.469 kg DM/d. These initial results appear quite encouraging, although the methodology is still exploratory and needs to be validated across a larger set of data. As a low cost and rapid prediction technique, NIRS appears to be a potential methodology that could find many useful developments in the improvement of the knowledge of forage use in tropical conditions.
Genetic aspects of condition score, heart girth and milk-yield traits in Italian Friesian cows
Authors: Gallo L. , Carnier P. , Cassandro M. , Dal Zotto R. , Bittante G.
Published: June 2019

Functional traits related to costs are currently of interest for selection and management of dairy cattle. The present study was aimed to estimate heritability for body condition score (BCS) and heart girth (HG), to investigate the genetic relationships between BCS, HG and milk-yield traits using a test-day model and to analyse the consistency of the estimates in different lactation stages. Cows from 25 dairy herds were scored for BCS and measured for HG at 3-month intervals for 2 years. Approximately 5000 test-day observations on BCS, HG and milk fat and protein yield from 1429 Italian Friesian cows were analysed using two approaches: (1) repeated observations were treated as repeated measurements of the same trait, both within and across lactations; (2) observations collected in different stages of lactation (dry period, 1 to 75 days in milk (DIM), 76 to 130 DIM, 131 to 210 DIM, 211 to 300 DIM) were treated as different traits. (Co)variance components and related parameters were estimated using REML multiple-trait procedures and unequal design animal models.

Heritability estimates (approach 1) for fat and protein test-day yield, BCS and HG were 0.22, 0.18, 0.29 and 0.33, respectively. BCS was negatively correlated with yield traits (-0.43 and -0.48 for fat and protein yield, respectively) but positively correlated (0.33) with HG. Genetic relationships between HG and milk-yield traits were negligible. Heritability estimates (approach 2) were 0.28 and 0.27 for BCS recorded in the first half of lactation (1 to 75 and 76 to 130 DIM, respectively), 0.36 for BCS measured on cows in the second half of lactation and 0.32 for BCS recorded on dry cows. Heritability estimates for HG in different lactation stages ranged from 0.31 to 0.40. Genetic correlations between BCS measured in different lactation stages were generally high (0.85 or more), with the exception of the correlation between the first and the last stage of lactation (0.74) and of the relationships between the beginning of lactation and the dry period (0.7). Genetic correlations between HG measured in different lactation stages were mostly higher than 0.80.
Genetic correlations among female fertility traits and milk production in different parities in Swedish dairy cattle
Authors: Roth A. , Strandberg E. , Berglund B. , Emanuelson U. , Philipsson J.
Published: June 2019

The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between fertility and production in first and second lactations as well as between fertility traits measured in the same way at different ages. The analyses were carried out for Swedish Red and White cows born from 1986 to 1996, in total about 578 000, 430 000, and 221 000 records in the heifer period, first lactation and second lactation, respectively. The fertility traits studied were: interval between calving and first insemination (CFI), interval between calving and last insemination (CLI), number of inseminations per service period (NINS) and number of treatments for reproductive disturbances (NREPT). Production was measured as the average of the energy-corrected milk yield from the second and third test-days in a lactation (ECM23). A linear, bivariate model that included effects of herd-year, month, age, and sire of the cow was applied. A relationship matrix containing sire and maternal grandsire of the sire was included. The (co)variance components for the random effects were estimated by use of a restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. The genetic correlations between fertility traits and production within first and second lactation were in the range of 0.1 to 0.3, all of them unfavourable. However, the genetic correlation between NREPT and ECM23 was close to zero within both lactations. The heritabilities, calculated without the herd-year variance included in the phenotypic variance, varied between 0.02 and 0.06 for the fertility traits with only minor differences between first and second lactation. The heritability of ECM23 was 0.35 in the first lactation and 0.28 in the second lactation. The genetic correlation between NINS during the heifer period and in first lactation was high, 0.7. The heritabilities for NINS and NREPT during the heifer period were very low, <0.01. In conclusion, there were only minor differences in inter-relationships between fertility and production in first and second lactation and the traits were negatively associated with each other. Based on the genetic correlation between NINS in the heifer period and NINS in first lactation, this study indicated that the traits at least partly are regulated by different sets of genes.
Grazing behaviour of dairy cattle selected for high and average milk yield
Authors: Fuerst-Waltl B. , Sölkner J. , Appleby M. C.
Published: June 2019

The present study was designed to examine the effects of selection for milk production as well as stage of pregnancy, on the grazing behaviour of dairy cattle. Subjects were 43 Holstein-Friesian cows from the Langhill Dairy Herd in Edinburgh. The herd consists of two genetic lines, one selected for high milk solids yield and a control line of average genetic index for milk solids yield. Animals of both genetic lines were observed as non-lactating heifers in 1992 and as first lactating and dry cows in 1993. Behaviour was recorded using scan-sampling procedures during seven observation periods at day and two periods at night. For analysis animals were grouped by their first lactation 305-day ECM (energy-corrected milk) yield for four observation periods during the day and for both night time observations animals were additionally grouped by stage of pregnancy. The majority of selected animals was in the high yielders’ group. In September 1992 and 1993 herbage intake on pasture was also investigated.

No significant influence of 305-day ECM yield on time spent grazing, lying or ruminating was found. The influence of stage of pregnancy was stronger, although results for heifers and cows were contradictory. During the day heifers which were closer to parturition spent less time grazing (P < 0.10 in two of three periods) and more time lying (P < 0.05 in one period) whereas lactating cows in late pregnancy spent more time grazing and less time lying (P < 0.01 and P < 0.10, respectively). High yielders had higher herbage intakes than low yielders but this result was significant for heifers only (P < 0.01).
Isis-Hellas
Authors: Witt R. E.
Published: June 2019

For centuries after the death of Alexander the cult of the Egyptian gods, and of Isis in particular, was widespread in the Mediterranean. The fact is of considerable importance in the history of religious ideas; yet it has not received much special attention. Perhaps this is not altogether surprising. The range of the search is wide and the task daunting. The subject of Isis–Hellas is unclaimed by Egyptology. For its proper exploration the classical scholar must delve into many fields. Besides the epigraphical and numismatic evidence many literary texts have to be read. Sculpture, painting, magical amulets and papyri can all be turned to account. Some fresh approach may suddenly throw the Isiac faith into a strange light as when Merkelbach four years ago found links between its mysteries and the romantic tales by such writers as Achilles Tatius and Heliodorus. Abundant proof for the existence of the Egyptian cult on the Greek mainland and in the Aegean and Asia Minor has been brought forward by Rusch, Brady and Magie. Yet we have to bear in mind how strong it also became during the Imperial Age in Italy, as was shown years ago by Lafaye and more recendy by the Dane Alfoldi and the Vietnamese Tran Tam Tinh. No wonder then that a comprehensive and definitive work on Isis in all her countless guises (Isis Myrionymos) has still to be written.
The Sound of Profession Ceremonies in Novohispanic Convents
Authors: FAVILA CESAR D.
Published: June 2019

Nuns in New Spain were celebrated with music and elaborate rituals when they took the habit and professed in a convent. These grandiose profession ceremonies drew in a host of urban citizens to the convent churches. Indeed, “more girls are smitten by the ceremony, than anything else,” remarked Fanny Calderón, wife of a Spanish ambassador who lived in Mexico City in the early 1840s, confirming that the iconic festivity endured well into the nineteenth century after Mexico's independence.

This article on nuns’ professions is framed within the Order of the Immaculate Conception (Conceptionists). One of the largest extant collections of Novohispanic convent music comes from the Conceptionist community of the Santísima Trinidad, founded in seventeenth-century Puebla. The manuscripts are preserved at Centro Nacional de Investigación, Documentación e Información Musical “Carlos Chávez” in Mexico City, and they contain profession villancicos. My research on Conceptionist ritual books and biographies of noteworthy nuns allows me to place the villancicos within the wider context of Conceptionist devotion, convent race relations, and artistic patronage. The texts for the villancicos present women as the main subject of the compositions, which adorned a spectacular ritual also centered on women. The profession ceremony is, therefore, a valuable source to begin understanding Novohispanic women's contribution to music making.
“Per noi emigrati”: Nostalgia in the Reception of Puccini's La fanciulla del West in New York City's Italian-Language Newspapers
Authors: HARA KUNIO
Published: June 2019

The premiere of Puccini's La fanciulla del West at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910 inspired enthusiastic reactions from the New York audience. However, as demonstrated by Annie J. Randall and Rosalind Gray Davis's 2005 study, Puccini and the Girl: History and Reception of “The Girl of the Golden West,” the critical reception of the work highlighted the Italian composer's inability to measure up to the critics’ preconceived notions about the American West. Among the many perceived oddities of the opera was the character of Jake Wallace, a “wandering camp minstrel,” who appeared in an unconventional form of blackface and sang an aria based on a transcription of a Native American song. This essay reexamines the early American reception of La fanciulla by analyzing the coverage of the opera in Italian-language newspapers published in New York. Articles in these periodicals suggest that Jake's nostalgic song (canto nostalgico) and the sentiment of homesickness that it projected played a central role in the positive reception of the work among their readers. Acknowledging such a reaction to the opera reminds us of the difficulty of ascribing a uniformly “American” reception to any work. It also uncovers an unexpected way in which Puccini and his collaborators promoted the opera to a particular segment of the American society.
Up Close and Personal: Opera and Television Broadcasting in the 1950s
Authors: WARD-GRIFFIN DANIELLE
Published: June 2019

This article examines early pedagogical experiments in opera on television that were meant to attract new audiences in the 1950s. The aesthetics of early television have often been thought to run contrary to opera, particularly in its grander iterations, but I argue that television producers capitalized upon the traits of early television to personalize opera, both on and off screen. Comparing two NBC pedagogical initiatives—a 1958Omnibusprogram starring Leonard Bernstein and the 1956–57 visits of the NBC Opera Company to Saint Mary's College (South Bend, Indiana)—I explore how these efforts were meant to approximate the opera fan's experience as well as prepare audience members to enter the opera house. Ultimately, although opera on television failed to secure a strong foothold in the 1950s, it helped to re-envision the ways in which American audiences could relate to the art form and set the terms for the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcasts today.
Effects of pre-weaning food presentation on response to solid feed in piglets post-weaning
Authors: White G. , Cooper J. J.
Published: June 2019

Piglets commonly show a setback in growth and a low intake of solid feed on weaning at three to four weeks of age. Outdoor reared piglets, however, have been found to spend more time eating solid feed than indoor reared piglets in straw yard weaning pens (Webster and Dawkins 2000, Cox and Cooper 2001), even though outdoor piglets do not conventionally receive creep feed prior to weaning. Outdoor piglets are, furthermore, frequently observed chewing the roll nuts provided to outdoor sows. In this study, therefore, we investigated the effect of two aspects of outdoor rearing on the feeding behaviour of indoor reared piglets. These aspects were maternal facilitation of feeding and large pellet size.
Effects of protein source, formaldehyde treatment and rumen-protected methionine on the metabolism and performance of pregnant and lactating ewes fed straw
Authors: Handford D. , Pattinson S.E. , Wilkinson R.G. , Sinclair L.A.
Published: June 2019

Fishmeal is a suitable protein source for pregnant and lactating ewes, providing higher levels of undegradable protein than vegetable protein sources, with an improved biological value (Robinson, 1987). Vegetable protein sources may however be improved by formaldehyde treatment to reduce protein degradability and by the addition of rumen-protected amino acids. The objective of the current experiment was to compare the effects of feeding concentrates containing fishmeal with concentrates containing soya-bean meal, formaldehyde treated soya-bean meal and formaldehyde treated soya-bean meal with rumen-protected methionine.
Low Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) concentrations affect gene expression patterns in cultured bovine fibroblasts before any cytotoxicity appears at the cellular level
Authors: Hue I. , Degrelle S. , Laloy E. , Servely J-L. , Petit E. , Brouwer A. , Renard J-P.
Published: June 2019

Hormonally active compounds of different origins such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their derivatives are widely dispersed in the environment by various industrial processes. They represent a threat to human health since their toxic effects can result from biological accumulation of low doses of active compound during extended periods of exposure. Critical doses for a cytotoxic effect have been determined using cellular models such as cultured hepatocytes but it is still not known if lower doses can affect in vitro cell functions before any toxic effect can be detected. To address this issue we have used a functional genomic approach to characterize changes in the profile of genes expressed by cultured bovine fibroblasts exposed during only 26 hours to concentrations as low as 10-10 to 10-12 molar of TCDD
The effect of the lambing distribution on the evolution of bulk tank milk composition in the Latxa dairy sheep of the Basque Country (Spain)
Authors: Ruiz R. , Oregui L. M.
Published: June 2019

According to the lambing distribution more than 90% of the Latxa flocks existing in the Spanish Basque Country can be classified into four typologies (Oregui et al., 1996, Ruiz et al., 1997). Generally speaking, flocks located in the highlands or mountainous areas (Groups 1 and 2) usually concentrate the lambing season at the end of winter. As winter conditions are less severe, lambings tend to begin before (early-winter or late-autumn) and follow a more scattered pattern (Groups 3 and 4). The objective of this analysis was to study the possible relationship between lambing distribution and solids composition of bulk tank milk, which affects cheese-making performances at the farm.
Increased intake responses from beef steers zero-grazed on Lolium perenne selected for high levels of water soluble carbohydrate
Authors: Lee M.R.F. , Evans R.T. , Moorby J.M. , Humphreys M.O. , Theodorou M. K. , MacRae J.C. , Scollan N.D.
Published: June 2019

Fresh forages may result in the loss of up to 40% of dietary nitrogen as rumen ammonia, as the microbial population is unable to utilise all the non-protein nitrogen released from rapidly degradable plant proteins. This may be due to the characteristically low levels of readily available energy released in the rumen, primarily as a result of the low levels of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) in traditional forages. In a previous experiment Lee et al, (1999) found an increase in liveweight gain of pre-weaned lambs grazing Lolium perenne selected for high WSC concentrations. This study examined whether the enhanced performance on high WSC grass may be related to increased supply of nitrogen to the small intestine.
Voluntary intake and apparent digestibility in ponies offered alfalfa based forages ad libitum
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Calder S.
Published: June 2019

There is increased interest in using forages other than grass hay as the basal diet for equines in the UK. Whilst a range of short-chopped dehydrated alfalfa based forages may be used as alternatives to grass hay in equine diets, there is very little information available on their likely intake characteristics, apparent digestibilities or their nutritive values. The objectives of the current experiment were:- 1) to determine the voluntary feed intake (VFI) characteristics of three alfalfa based forages when offered ad libitum to ponies, 2) to determine the in vivo apparent digestibility, digestible energy (DE) and digestible crude protein (DCP) contents of these forages and 3) to compare the actual energy and protein intakes with theoretical energy and protein requirements.
Sample test-day heritability estimates for somatic cell score for Hungarian Holstein- Friesian crossbreds
Authors: Amin A. A. , Tibor G.
Published: June 2019

There have been many studies of genetic variance in somatic cell score (SCS). Reported estimates of heritability (h2) range from 0.02 to 0.16, the lowest h2 obtained in the 1st parity and increased in the later lactations (Mrode and Swanson 1996). The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of introducing Holstein-Friesian genes in the Hungarian native breed on the inheritance of sample test-days SCS.
Total Enterobacteriaceae counts as an indicator of the internal hygiene of feed mills
Authors: Wood A. D. , Howard K. , Mills A. L. , Williams P. E. V.
Published: June 2019

Raw materials used in feed manufacture are contaminated with high (>104cfu/g) levels of enterobacteriaceae indicating the potential for contamination with pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella (Woodet al.2001). There is urgent need to reduce the contamination of animal feed with zoonoses such as salmonella and campylobacter. During manufacture of feedingstuffs, heat and moisture are used to process and sterilise feed but this can also provide conditions for microbial growth. High temperature treatment used to sterilise feed will not protect feedingstuffs from recontamination, if residual microbial contamination remains in the feed mill. It is essential to understand the influence of feed processing and the feed mill environment on the microbial contamination of feed.
The influence of oxygen on the efficacy of porcine lactobacillus probiotic cultures
Authors: Periz J. , Hillman K.
Published: June 2019

Lactobacillus probiotics have consistently shown in vitro properties of key importance in the prevention of diarrhoea at weaning. However, these probiotics have shown variable results in pigs in vivo, and it is important to determine the reasons for this variability if the efficacy of the preparations is to be improved. Hillman et al. (1993) reported that there are significant oxygen levels along the piglet intestine. As Lactobacillus spp. are primarily anaerobic bacteria, and are isolated and examined in vitro under anaerobic conditions, it is possible that the presence of oxygen along the piglet intestine could be exerting a detrimental action on their probiotic effectiveness. This experiment was set up to examine the influence of oxygen on two porcine Lactobacillus spp which have been previously demonstrated to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli K88 in vitro (Hillman and Fox, 1994).
Fibrolytic enzymes increase the hydrolysis and rate of fermentation of pure substrates in vitro
Authors: Colombatto D. , Mould F. L. , Bhat M. K. , Owen E.
Published: June 2019

Treatment of forage with enzyme mixtures can increase rate of degradation in vitro (Colombatto et al., 2000a). However, the complexity of natural forage makes it difficult to determine what fractions are most affected by enzyme treatment. The use of pure substrates (e.g. cellulose and xylan), provides a way of evaluating enzyme mode of action. Therefore, the present study examined the effects of pre-treating avicel and xylan with an enzyme mixture (EM) on a) the reducing sugars produced during treatment before rumen fermentation and b) the gas production profiles during in vitro rumen fermentation using the Reading Pressure Technique (RPT) (Mauricio et al., 1999).
The effect of mixing piglets at different ages pre-weaning on pre-weaning behaviour
Authors: Allen M. J. , Stewart A. H. , Mackenzie A. M.
Published: June 2019

In commercial practice, the mixing of pigs often occurs on more than one occasion. This can be very stressful for the pig, as new dominance hierarchies have to be formed at each mixing. Mixing piglets pre-weaning has been used as a method of removing the stress of mixing from the point of weaning (Allen et al., 2000; North & Stewart, 2000) but the effects of mixing at different ages on pre-weaning behaviour needs to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine if mixing piglets pre-weaning affects their sucking and social behaviour.
Late gestation protein supplementation influences milk, fat and protein yields of primiparous Holstein dairy cows in the first half of their first lactation
Authors: Moorby J. M. , Robinson P. H.
Published: June 2019

Considerable effort has recently been directed towards better defining protein requirements of dairy cows approaching parturition. Little effort has been directed towards cows entering first lactation, although Van Saun et al., (1993) suggested modest increases in milk protein production to a supplement of high undegradable dietary protein (UDP) in the late dry period. The objective of this study was to define the impact of supplementation of a high UDP protein supplement in the late gestation of cows entering first lactation on production of milk and its components.
Nutritional strategies to maximise forage intake in high yielding dairy cows
Authors: Phipps R.H. , Jones A.K. , Reynolds C.K. , Henderson A.R. , Woodacre B.S.
Published: June 2019

Cow genetics, forage supply and quality, and feeding systems are relatively fixed in the short term. Therefore, it is important to establish the effect on intake and performance of a range of nutritional strategies. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects on milk production and composition of nutritional strategies designed to increase forage intake by altering the composition of the concentrate supplement, and reducing the level of concentrate feeding.
Genetic correlations between 305-day and monthly test day milk yield records in primiparous Iranian Holsteins
Authors: Farhangfar H. , Rowlinson P. , Willis M.B.
Published: June 2019

Traditionally, in most dairy cattle breeding programmes genetic evaluation of dairy sires and cows has been primarily based on 305-day lactation yield. To provide 305-day lactation yields many partial lactations have to be extended by adjustment factors resulting in overestimation or underestimation of 305-day yields which in turn leads to biased prediction of breeding values. Over the past decade there has been a considerable interest in using monthly test day records instead of 305-day lactation yield to predict breeding values of dairy cattle as early as possible and also to increase genetic gain through reducing generation interval. The main objective of present research was to estimate the genetic correlations between 305-day and monthly test day milk yields in Iranian Holstein dairy heifers.
An introduction to endocrine disrupting compounds
Authors: Rhind S.M.
Published: June 2019

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) include a diverse range of chemicals derived from industrial, agricultural and domestic processes (IEH, 1999). They include phthalates (used in the manufacture of plastics), alkyl phenols (present in detergents and surfactants), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; formerly used in electrical equipment), dioxins (released from incinerators), organochlorine pesticides and organohalogens (used as flame retardants).

The compounds have a wide range of chemical structures but all of them have the capacity to disrupt normal hormonal actions. In some cases they bind to steroid hormone receptors and so they can have weak oestrogenic or androgenic effects while others disrupt thyroid hormones or other physiological functions. Consequently, they may disrupt reproductive or immune function and can be carcinogenic.

Evidence of adverse effects on animal physiology is partly circumstantial and partly based on empirical studies, mostly involving laboratory rodents. Many reports in the literature indicate that reproductive disorders in wildlife species such as pelicans, birds of prey and polar bears are associated with abnormally high concentrations of EDC in their tissues. Furthermore, controlled studies involving the administration of large, arguably pharmacological, doses of EDC to laboratory rodents have demonstrated adverse effects on their reproductive or immune systems. Relatively little work has yet been done to determine the pattern of uptake and bioaccumulation of EDC in domestic species or the effects of EDC on the physiology of these species.
Food safety Issues: safe meat and a prosperous industry?
Authors: Humphrey Tom
Published: June 2019

The United Kingdom, and much of the rest of Western Europe, has seen a series of food “crises” over the last 10-15 years, which have shaken consumer confidence in the safety of the food they purchase. Such concerns have also led to the establishment of Food Safety/Standards Agencies in a number of European countries. The most serious food safety issue has been BSE, which has claimed the lives of many thousands of cattle and almost 100 people in the UK. The rise of BSE coincided with the appearance of highly pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 4 and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Campylobacter spp. also became highly important zoonotic pathogens during this period.

There is a public belief that the above bacterial pathogens, and BSE, gained a foothold in animal production as a consequence of the intensification of the industry. Although this is an over-simplification, there is no doubt that the presence of a large number of potential host animals in the same place at the same time facilitates both infection and horizontal transmission. Food safety cannot be separated from the economics of production, however, and with ever-falling profit margins farmers must find the most economical ways of producing animals. The unit costs of intensive production will often be lower than with extensive systems and thus it is highly likely that intensive animal production will continue. Does intensification necessarily mean unsafe? Is it possible to produce food at an affordable price that is free from microorganisms that are potentially pathogenic for man? These and other issues will be discussed with particular emphasis on Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli O157:H7.
Genetic improvements of beef cattle – the farmer/practioner
Authors: Fuller R
Published: June 2019

JSR Farms at Givendale runs a commercial cross-bred suckler herd of 100 cows alongside a pedigree Charolais herd of 110 cows. The Charolais breeding programme is focused on improving the output from the cross-bred herd by using BLUP to select sires with superior genetic merit for production traits. Breeding stock with high EBV’s for growth and carcase traits are selected for re-breeding and attention is also paid to 200 day milk EBV’s and to controlling the level of calving difficulty. Home-bred replacement heifers are selected with Beef Values ranked in the top 10% of the National breed and the stud of reference sires used in the programme have Beef Values in the top 1% of the breed.
The effect of demonstrator reward on social learning of operant key pecking by domestic hens
Authors: Sherwin C.M. , Heyes C.M. , Leeb C. , Nicol C.J.
Published: June 2019

Social learning is said to occur when social interaction facilitates the acquisition of a novel pattern of behaviour. It usually takes the form of an experienced animal (the demonstrator) performing a behaviour such that a naive animal (the observer) subsequently expresses the same novel behaviour, earlier or more completely than it would have done using individual learning. Social learning is involved in the transmission of a great variety of behaviours, e.g. tool-use, food preferences, and has also been implicated in maladaptive behaviours such as stereotypies in voles. In studies of social learning, the observers usually see the demonstrators receive a reward for performing the required behaviour. But, the role of the reward has rarely been investigated and results have been equivocal. Understanding the role of demonstrator reward on social learning is necessary to assess the cognitive abilities of individuals of different species, and aids understanding of the transmission of maladaptive behaviours.
Intake, growth and feed conversion in weaned suckled bulls finished on a cereal-based ration
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Keatinge R. , Chapple D. G.
Published: June 2019

Enhanced economic sustainability may be achievable by upland beef farmers if they could finish weaned suckled calves on-farm using purchased feeds, rather than selling store animals. The objectives of this study were to examine voluntary feed intake, growth rate and carcass slaughter parameters of weaned bulls from an upland suckler herd finished intensively from approximately 9 months of age using a cereal-based ration.
The importance of aspects of the cage environment to female laboratory rabbits
Authors: Seaman S.C. , D’Eath R.B. , Waran N.K.
Published: June 2019

It is generally recommended that female laboratory rabbits are housed socially, although this may not always be possible for experimental reasons. Some newer cage designs allow rabbits in adjacent cages to have visual and minimal tactile contact through a mesh panel. However, it is not known whether rabbits find such limited contact rewarding. It is becoming increasingly common for rabbit cages to be fitted with a platform, which provides a raised area as well as a darkened and often enclosed area underneath, which can act as a bolt-hole. Rabbits may be able to see into adjacent cages from on top of platforms, and it is not known whether they use the platform primarily to rest on or as a means of gaining social contact, or both. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the motivation of rabbits for visual and minimal tactile contact with a conspecific and a raised platform/bolt-hole.
Effects of red clover silage and supplementary vitamin E on the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of milk from Holstein-Friesian cows
Authors: Dewhurst R. J. , Tweed J. K. S. , Fisher W. J. , Al-Mabruk R. M. , Beck N. F. G.
Published: June 2019

Red clover silage is an important component of many organic dairy systems. The high intake and milk production potential of red clover silage has been recognised for many years (e.g. Thomas et al., 1985). Our earlier studies confirmed this potential and showed additional benefits with increased polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of milk (Dewhurst et al., 2002). The objective of this study was to investigate further the effect of red clover silage on milk PUFA and to examine whether supplementary vitamin E, which is needed to slow oxidative deterioration of milk with enhanced PUFA content, had an effect.
The genetic relationship between interval to commencement of luteal activity postpartum and UK national fertility proofs for dairy cattle
Authors: Royal M.D. , Wall E. , Flint A.P.F.
Published: June 2019

The coefficient of genetic variation of fertility traits is of a similar magnitude to that present in production traits, however traditional measurements of fertility have low heritability (h2 < 0.05), and recording is often poor, hindering the identification of genetically superior animals. The effect of sire on daughter fertility has been examined as part of a DEFRA LINK project to produce an UK fertility index. The project is investigating the use of six currently recorded traits to calculate sire genetic merit for fertility: calving interval (CI), interval to first service (DIMFIR), nonreturn rate 56 (NR56), number of services per conception (CINSOBS), milk yield and condition score (Wall et al., 2002). An alternative way to measure fertility is to use endocrine measurements such as interval to commencement of luteal activity postpartum (CLA). This parameter is less influenced by management decisions and has a moderate heritability (0.16; Royal et al., 2002a.) and is measurable early in lactation. Although information on the genetic relationships between CLA and other traits of economic importance have been reported previously (Royal et al., 2002a.; Royal et al, 2002b.) further information would be useful in order to assess the usefulness of incorporating CLA into a future UK breeding programme. The objective of these analyses was therefore to obtain information on the genetic correlation (rA) between lnCLA and the emerging UK national fertility proofs.
Genetic correlations among body condition score, body weight, and fertility in dairy cows
Authors: Berry D. P. , Buckley F. , Dillon P. , Evans R. D. , Rath M. , Veerkamp R. F.
Published: June 2019

Interest is accruing in indicator traits as predictors of fertility which: 1) can be more easily recorded; 2) can be measured early in life; and, 3) possess a co-heritability that is larger than the heritability of the fertility traits. Potentially interesting indicator traits include body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW). The objective of this study was to estimate genetic (co) variances between BCS, BCS change, BW, BW change, and fertility traits in dairy cattle.
Supplementation with rumen inert fat of late pregnant dairy cows modifies the relationship between body condition and plasma leptin concentration
Authors: Jaurena G. , Moorby J. M. , Beck N.F.G.
Published: June 2019

The association among feeding, body fat reserves, plasma leptin concentration and intake has been indicated in many reports, however the characteristics of these associations in late pregnant ruminants is not yet completely clear. As part of a larger experiment concerned with nutrition during the dry period (DP), a study was undertaken to identify the relationship between precalving fat and protein supplementation with plasma leptin concentration and the association of leptin with fat reserves and dry matter intake (DMI) during the periparturient period. Further results associated with this experiment were reported elsewhere (Jaurenaet al., 2001a.,b; Jaurenaet al., 2003).
Comparative study on amplification methods dedicated to gene profiling during trophoblast expansion in bovine embryos
Authors: Degrelle S. , Hue I. , Renard J-P.
Published: June 2019

In bovine conceptuses, the trophoblast elongates rapidly from the 13th to the 19th day of pregnancy, while the embryonic disc differentiates to set up the primary germ layers and the axis of the fetus. Observations on pregnancies of cloned fetuses underline placental abnormalities which could originate from earlier gene deregulations occurring during this long pre-implantation period. To allow screenings with individual trophoblasts we used amplification protocols involving either PCR or in vitro transcription steps. For that purpose we used a bovine-specific macro-array starting from a cDNA library generated on early in vivo elongating conceptuses. RNAs from adult somatic tissues were used to compare hybridisation patterns generated with amplified and unamplified polyA+ probes.
Repeated fence-line ram exposure advances the timing and improves the synchrony of oestrus and lambing in ewes
Authors: Hawken P.A.R. , Evans A.C.O. , Beard A.P.
Published: June 2019

Introduction of a ram to anoestrous ewes induces an almost instantaneous rise in LH pulse frequency. This is commonly sufficient to overcome the seasonal suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and induce a synchronous first ovulation. This study investigates the application of repeated fence-line ram exposure during the beginning of the breeding season to synchronize oestrus and subsequent lambing in ewes.
Effect of nutrition on endometrial progesterone receptor expression in ewes
Authors: Abecia J.A. , Sosa C. , Lozano J.M. , Viñoles C. , Forcada F. , Forsberg M. , Meikle A.
Published: June 2019

It has been postulated that undernourishment could affect embryo survival through changes in the uterine environment (Abecia et al., 1995). Moreover, we have shown that undernourished ewes had higher plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations and a lower endometrial content of P4 (Lozano et al., 1998), suggesting that this lower endometrial content could be due to a decrease in the content of endometrial progesterone receptors (PR). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low and high levels of food intake on PR in different endometrial cell types.
Liveweight and pre-weaning growth in suckled calves sired by either Aberdeen Angus or Charolais bulls from contrasting autumn-calving continental x dairy cows over three years
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Keatinge R. , Chapple D. G.
Published: June 2019

Little information is available on the performance of suckled calves sired by either traditional UK beef breeds or continental beef breeds in conjunction with modern continental x dairy suckler cow genotypes. The objectives of this study were to determine gestation length, calf liveweight (LW) and pre-weaning daily liveweight gain (DLWG) from contrasting suckler dam and terminal sire breeds when managed within an upland suckler herd.
Prediction of nitrogen degradability in grass silages using nutrient concentration and fermentation variables
Authors: Yan T. , Agnew R. E.
Published: June 2019

Nitrogen (N) degradability is a key variable in protein rationing systems but there is little information in the literature to predict it in a feed. The objective of the present study was to develop equations to calculate N degradability in grass silages using nutrient concentration and fermentation data.
Ruminal and intestinal protein disappearance of some tropical (Iranian) feeds used in dairy cow diets estimated by the mobile nylon bag technique
Authors: Mesgaran M. Danesh
Published: June 2019

In Iran milk production, in dairy cows, is based mainly on intensive systems in which cereals and industrial by-product are the most important source of nutrients. So, high digestible protein feeds are often desired for supplementation of high producing dairy cows to meet their amino acid requirements. Incubation of feeds in nylon bags in the rumen of fistulated ruminants have been used to evaluate the extent of digestion. In addition, the mobile bag technique has been used to measure intestinal digestibility of undegraded dietary protein and intact feed protein (Mesgaran, 2002). The work described in this summary assessed the digestibility of dry matter and protein, using ruminal and intestinal mobile nylon bag technique, of some tropical (Iranian) feeds used in dairy cow diets.
Supplementation of finishing Nellore steers during dry season using byproducts
Authors: Souza A. A. , Boin C. , Lourenço A. J. , Manella M. Q. , Suguisawa L.
Published: June 2019

Beef cattle production based in tropical pasture has a period of low daily weight gains during dry seasons, because the lowest quality and quantity pastures in this period. This study evaluated the effects of protein supplementation in animal performance and carcass characteristics of Nellore cattle on tropical pasture.
The effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on feed intake, milk yield and composition in lactating Holstein cows
Authors: Rezaeian M.
Published: June 2019

During the recent years, the use of yeast products as feed additives has been increased in animal nutrition (Newbold et al 1996). Results from various experiments indicate that these microorganisms are able to alter ruminal fermentation patterns and have positive effects on the performance of ruminants (Wolht, et al. 1998). Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Biosaf, a live yeast strain of saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc 47), on feed intake, milk yield and composition in lactating Holstein cows.
The use of fresh or thawed rumen fluid containing glycerol or particle associated microbes to estimate in vitro degradation of feeds
Authors: Mohamed R. , Chaudhry A. S. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

Thawed rumen contents have been used to obtain strained rumen fluid (SRF) to estimate in vitro dry matter degradation (DMD) of feeds (Mohamed et al., 2002). However, thawed SRF (TSRF) gave lower DMD than fresh SRF (FSRF) which was partly attributed to reduced microbial activity in TRSF following storage at -20°C. This study examined the addition of glycerol (G) as cryopreservative and washing from particle associated microbes to SRF before its storage for later use as TSRF to estimate in vitro degradation of rapeseed meal (Rsd) and grass nut (Gnt).
Stable carbon isotope analysis of faecal and blood samples of sheep in relation to the diet
Authors: Balcaen A. , Claeys E. , Fievez V. , Boeckx P. , van Cleemput O. , de Smet S.
Published: June 2019

Stable isotopes have been extraordinarily helpful in understanding animal migration, diet, food webs and nutrient flow (Hilderbrand et al., 1996), based on the property that C3 and C4 plants possess distinctly different 13C/12C ratios (δ13C value) due to isotopic fractionation during photosynthetic carbon fixation (Smith & Epstein, 1971). Most woody species and temperate graminoids assimilate carbon via the Calvin cycle (C3), which discriminates stronger against the heavier isotope (13C) than Hatch-Slack (C4) species (tropical and subtropical graminoids and some shrubs). C3 and C4 plant species have mean δ13C values of -27 ‰ and -13 ‰ respectively (O’Leary, 1981). DeNiro & Epstein (1978) were one of the first to show that the isotopic composition of the whole animal body is similar to that of its diet. Other authors have also found relationships between the isotopic composition of animal tissues and the diet (González-Martin et al., 1999; Jones et al., 1979). The aim of this study was to investigate stable carbon isotope composition in sheep fed diets consisting of either C3 or C3+C4 plants.
Effect of urea-whey treatment on the chemical composition and digestibility of wheat straw
Authors: Fazaeli H. , Tokasi M. V. , Arjmand S.
Published: June 2019

Recently, in Iran, increasing surplus of whey, a by-product of cheese producing plants are becoming an environmental problem and this is due to dairy development programs. Whey dumped into the plant disposal systems insert a high pollution load to the environment. Whey is a valuable source of carbohydrates, a good supply of energy and contains high quality protein and minerals. Options such as condensation and/ or fractionation also dehydration are too costly, and requires high technology. Finding an alternative method for preserving and using of whey could reduce the environmental risks, cost and associated difficulties. The use of liquid whey has been used for many years as a supplemental feed for ruminants. Like molasses, liquid whey can be a carrier of non-protein nitrogen components such as urea or ammonium salts to make crude protein supplements (Khattab et al. 2000). Therefore, the objective of the present study was to find a simple method to preserve and improve the utilisation of fresh whey in animal nutrition as well as a desirable way to reduce environmental pollution.