bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breed differences in the expression of maternal care at parturition persist throughout the lactation period in sheep
Authors: Pickup H E , Dwyer C M
Published: June 2019

In the ewe maternal care begins at parturition with grooming of the neonate and cooperation with early sucking attempts (e.g. Shillito-Walser 1978). Subsequently maternal care is expressed through sucking interactions, a close ewe-lamb association and a tendency to seek absent lambs (e.g. Hinch et al 1987). The ewe increasingly controls sucking interactions using a ‘head-up’ posture to signal when the lamb may approach and suck (Lawrence 1984).

Two breeds of sheep, Suffolk and Scottish Blackface, are known to differ in their initial maternal behaviour. Blackface ewes spend longer grooming their lambs, show more cooperation with sucking attempts and less negative behaviour such as aggression and rejection, when compared to Suffolk ewes (Dwyer & Lawrence 1998). The aim of this study was to examine whether these breed differences in the expression of maternal care persist throughout the lactation period.
Spatial distribution during grazing reflects dominance relationships between individual sheep
Authors: Erhard H.W. , Sibbald A.M. , Fàbrega-Romans E.
Published: June 2019

Female sheep do not frequently show overt dominance displays while grazing on pasture. This has led to the conclusion that, for female sheep, dominance at pasture is of little importance. While sheep show few agonistic interactions, they do make clear and consistent choices of who they graze close to. This experiment was designed to answer the question whether these choices reflect the underlying dominance relationships between individuals, potentially being the reason for the low level of agonistic interactions on pasture.
The use of in vitro digestibility techniques in determining the nutritive value of barley and barley–based diets for growing pigs
Authors: McCann M.E.E. , McCracken K.J.
Published: June 2019

Information on the digestibility of a feed or feed ingredient is of crucial importance to the feed compounder leading to reduced variability and a more accurate prediction of nutrient content. As it is not possible to carry out in vivo studies on every feed or feed ingredient, in vitro techniques have been investigated as an alternative means for obtaining this vital information. There have been several methods developed to determine in vitro digestion in monogastrics at both the ileal and overall level. It has been suggested that the methods of Boisen and Fernandez (1995; 1997) to determine in vitro digestibility of CP at the ileal level and of energy at the overall level, are the most reliable and accurate methods available (Moughan 1999). The objectives of this study were to compare in vivo and in vitro digestibility coefficients of both barley and barley-based diets and to evaluate the in vitro techniques.
The effect of form and placement of feed for newly weaned piglets on growth performance for three weeks postweaning
Authors: Corrigan B. P. , Ellis M. , Wolter B. F. , DeDecker J. M. , Curtis S. E.
Published: June 2019

At weaning, piglets must adapt to considerable changes in their environmental, immunological, and nutritional status. This period of adaptation is accompanied by a reduction in piglet growth rate that has been associated with the shift from sow’s milk to a solid dry diet. Consequently, feeding management strategies that result in increased feed intake may increase piglet growth rate postweaning. This study evaluated the effects of providing feed as a gruel and feeding on floor mats on piglet performance for three weeks after weaning
Leptin interrelationships to energy-related metabolites and hormones in fed and fasted sheep
Authors: Wylie A.R.G. , Devlin D.J. , Bjourson A.J.
Published: June 2019

A review of published leptin data for growing lambs, older ewes and mature dairy cows in late lactation showed that only 0.30-0.37 of the variation in blood leptin concentration was explained by differences in body fat variably expressed as % of liveweight (LW), backfat thickness and body condition score (BCS) respectively (Wylieet al., 2002). In dairy cows between 15d and 226d postpartum, Wylieet al(2002) observed no overall correlation between leptin at slaughter and lipid expressed as % of LW, empty body weight or carcase weight and only a weak correlation in cows in mid-lactation. Losses of fat during early lactation may ‘uncouple’ the link between leptin and fat and produce a bias across all of lactation. Another explanation is that leptin may be more closely linked with lipogenesis than with the amount of stored fat. This study revisits some metabolite and hormone data from a previous investigation of IGF-1 changes in fed, fasted and re-fed sheep in the light of more recently obtained leptin concentrations in the same animals.
Hourly measurement of plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations in non-pregnant ewes under group housing conditions over 23 hours
Authors: Dandrea J. , Pearce S. , Davidson G. , Morrison C. , Goddard P. , Keisler D.H. , Stephenson T. , Symonds M.E.
Published: June 2019

The closely related actions of cortisol and leptin (Ahima & Flier, 2000) are involved with appetite, tissue growth and maturation, energy balance and weight deposition so that resistance to either may lead to obesity. In normal weight humans, plasma leptin and cortisol exhibit diurnal variation, peaking during darkness and late afternoon (respectively). In sheep, the literature consensus is that plasma cortisol levels are greatest during daylight. Ovine plasma leptin is also reported to vary in response to photoperiod-driven changes (Bocquier et al., 1998) and such as alterations in voluntary feed intake as daylength changes. Daily circadian patterns, however, are thought to be entrained by the time of daily feed presentation (Marie et al., 2001). The aim of the present study was to investigate the diurnal variation in ovine plasma leptin in unrestrained animals with ad-lib access to hay and water in relation to their plasma cortisol profile over the same period. Remote blood sampling was employed in order to reduce sampling stress that would affect the animals’ plasma physiology.
Absence of plasma leptin or metabolite variation after subcutaneous melatonin release in adult ewe
Authors: Delavaud C. , Daveau A. , Tourret M. , Malpaux B. , Chilliard Y.
Published: June 2019

Leptin is mainly secreted by adipose tissue and plays an important role in body homeostasis and in a great number of physiological functions, particularly in reproduction. Sheep is a seasonal ruminant whose reproductive period is initiated during decreasing day lengths. Leptin expression and secretion have shown to be decreased during short days, independently of adipose cell size, feed intake and ovarian activity (Bocquier et al., 1998). The mechanism by which leptin could be modulated is not well understood (Chilliard and Bocquier, 2000). As nocturnal pineal melatonin secretion is increased during short days, it appears as a potential mediator in the regulation of plasma leptin by photoperiod. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by comparing plasma leptin and metabolite concentrations in adult ewes exposed to long days treated (M), or not (LD), with melatonin after 20 and 69 days.
Plasma leptin in transition dairy cows. Effects of body fatness, ambient temperature and dietary factors
Authors: Kokkonen T. , Taponen J. , Alasuutari S. , Nousiainen M. , Anttila T. , Syrjälä-Qvist L. , Delavaud C. , Chilliard Y. , Tuori M. , Tesfa A.T.
Published: June 2019

In ruminants plasma leptin is increased with increasing body fatness. Leptin acts on hypothalamus to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure. It is possible that leptin has a key role in transition from pregnancy to lactation of dairy cows. The objective of the present work was to investigate the pattern of plasma leptin concentration, as well as its relationship with other hormones and metabolites and dairy cow performance.
Serum leptin concentration is a poor predictor of body fat content in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Wylie A.R.G. , Devlin D.J. , Mayne C.S. , Agnew R.E. , Patterson D.C. , Steen R.W.J. , Gordon F.J.
Published: June 2019

Blood concentrations of leptin have been associated, to varying degrees, with assorted measures of fat in mammalian species. In ruminants, 0.30, 0.35 and 0.37 of the variation in leptin levels in lambs (Blache et al., 2000), older (2-7 yr) multiparous ewes (Delavaud et al., 2000) and mature, late-lactation, dairy cows (Ehrhardt et al., 2000) was attributed to variation in fat as % of liveweight (LW), backfat thickness and body condition score (BCS) respectively while a strong correlation (R_a2=0.83) between leptin and fat as % of empty body weight (EBW) was found for growing Holstein bull calves by Ehrhardt et al. (2000). The objective of the current study was to determine if leptin could be usefully related to fat in multiparous dairy cows differing widely across stages of lactation.
The effect of grass or maize diet on plasma leptin and adipose tissue lipogenic enzyme activities in steers
Authors: Faulconnier Y. , Delavaud C. , Fléchet J. , Dozias D. , Jailler R. , Jurie C. , Micol D. , Chilliard Y.
Published: June 2019

Leptin is an important hormone for the control of food intake and body weight homeostasis in human and rodents. In ruminants, plasma leptin is positively related to body fatness and energy balance or feeding level (Chilliard et al., 2001) and linked to meat quality determinants such as marbling score (Minton et al., 1998). To our knowledge, no information is available on the effects of the nature of dietary forage on this parameter. The objective of the current work was to examine the effects of replacing maize silage with grass on plasma leptin as well as on the activities of five lipogenic enzymes in perirenal and inter-muscular adipose tissues (AT).
Leptin and its effect on glucose and insulin metabolism in pregnant and lactating goats
Authors: Heintges U. , Hennies M. , Gertler A. , Sauerwein H.
Published: June 2019

Pregnancy and lactation are phases during which major adaptations in maternal metabolism are necessary to meet the requirements of foetal growth and of lactation. Leptin, an adipocyte derived hormone, involved in regulation of energy metabolism, has been implicated in the coordination of these adaptive processes. Similar to monogastric species, increased leptin blood concentrations are reported for sheep at mid-pregnancy when compared to prebreeding, late pregnancy or early lactation (Ehrhardt et al., 2001). In sheep, the changes of leptin concentrations showed no obvious relation with the ability of insulin to promote glucose utilisation (Ehrhardt et al., 2001). With the study presented herein, we aimed to elucidate whether exogenous leptin modulates insulin responsiveness and whether the responsiveness is dependent of the physiological status of the animal. Using specific clamp techniques i.e. glucose infusion studies to quantify insulin secretion and resistance, we compared the effect of leptin application on glucose metabolism in pregnant versus lactating goats.
Influence of a nonforage diet on plasma leptin in dairy goats throughout lactation
Authors: Rosi F. , Rapetti L.
Published: June 2019

Leptin is a 16kDa peptide hormone mainly secreted by fat cells to regulate of food intake and energy homeostasis, and to signal the status of body energy stores to the brain (Houseknecht et al., 1998). In ruminant, reducing feedstuffs particle size increases DM intake, particularly if feedstuffs quality is poor, due to a shorter retention time of the particles in the rumen. By-products are included in the ration to supply energy and protein, but they have often a high content of fibre. The by-product fibre has different properties than forage NDF, being characterised by particles of small dimensions and a high density. The aim of this study was to compare the plasma level of leptin in lactating goats fed a traditional silage-based diet or a totally free forage diet, throughout lactation and during the pre and post-feeding state.
Leptin fully suppresses insulin secretion induced by acetylcholine and its effect is reversed by tolbutamide in in vitro perfused chicken pancreas
Authors: Benomar Y. , Taouis M. , Rideau N.
Published: June 2019

The chicken leptin cDNA has been cloned and sequenced (AF012727, AF082500) (Taouis et al., 2001) and in this species, the leptin messenger has been found to be expressed not only in adipose tissue but also in the liver. In mammals, circulating leptin acts through specific receptors (Ob-Rb) located in the region of hypothalamus that regulates feeding behavior and energy expenditure; Ob-Rb have also been identified in the pancreatic ß-cells that produce insulin supporting evidence that leptin directly regulates insulin release (Kieffer et al. 2000). A direct effect of leptin on peripheral target tissues has not yet been demonstrated in chicken. The work was designed to study the effect of recombinant chicken leptin on acetylcholine-induced insulin secretion by isolated perfused chicken pancreas.
Replacement of soyabean meal by barley or wheat distillers grains for lactating dairy cows
Authors: Sutton J.D. , Humphries D.J. , Phipps R H , Witt M.
Published: June 2019

The complete replacement of soyabean meal by maize distillers grains (MDG) in dairy cow diets had no significant effects on milk production, rumen digestion or the supply of non-ammonia N to the duodenum (Sutton et al., 2000; Phipps et al., 2001). The present experiment was designed to extend this work by examining the response when barley (BDG) or wheat (WDG) distillers grains replaced soyabean meal.
Prediction of the intake potential of grass silage in the supplemented diets of lactating dairy cows
Authors: McNamee B. F. , Woods V. B. , Kilpatrick D. J. , Gordon F. J.
Published: June 2019

In the majority of farming systems in Ireland and the UK, grass silage is supplemented with varying types and levels of concentrates when offered to lactating dairy cows (Keadyet al., 1998). This supplementation results in a reduction in the intake of the silage. The aim of the current study was therefore to use data from the literature to develop empirical models that would allow the prediction of grass silage dry matter intake with increasing amounts of concentrate intake.
Production response of lactating dairy cows fed increasing amounts of ground rapeseed
Authors: Reynolds C.K. , Phipps R. H. , Jones A. K. , Lupoli B. , Beever D.E.
Published: June 2019

Fat is often fed to lactating dairy cows to provide supplemental metabolizable energy and increase milk yield. Commercial fat sources are typically processed to render them more inert in the rumen, but whole oil seeds also represent an effective fat source for lactation rations. In a previous study (Reynolds et al., 1998), we fed lactating dairy cows a commercial rumen-inert fat, cotton seed or crushed rapeseed at 25 g added fat/kg ration DM in a grass silage-based total mixed ration (TMR). All 3 fat supplements increased milk yield to a similar extent, whilst the commercial fat source, but not the whole oil seeds, reduced milk protein concentration. As a UK grown source of supplemental fat and protein, crushed rapeseed offers an attractive alternative to commercial fat supplements for dairy rations. Therefore, our objective was to determine the incremental effects of supplemental ground rapeseed on intake and milk production response of dairy cows fed rations containing maize silage.
Response of dairy cows offered a high feed value grass silage, to concentrate feed level and concentrate crude protein content
Authors: Ferris C.P. , Gordon F.J. , Patterson D.C. , Kilpatrick D.J.
Published: June 2019

The environmental and economic cost of concentrate protein ingredients is high, with the economic impact being especially important if these are certified free from genetically modified material. While reducing the crude protein (CP) content of the concentrate will reduce feed costs, animal performance is also likely to suffer (Mayne and Gordon, 1985). However it may be possible to maintain performance and yet reduce feed costs by reducing the protein content of the concentrate offered, with a simultaneous increase in concentrate feed levels. The current study was designed to examine the effects on animal performance of adopting this approach, and to quantify the ‘protein sparing’ effect of increasing the quantity of concentrate offered.
Comparison of Calan gate and easy feed systems on the intake of dairy cows
Authors: Ferris C.P. , Keady T.W.J. , Gordon F.J. , Kilpatrick D.J.
Published: June 2019

In many Research Centres in the UK, dairy and beef cattle access their daily allowance of forage, and perhaps concentrates, through Calan gate type feeding systems. As up to four animals may share one feed unit in these systems, only a proportion of animals can gain access to feed at any one time. This may have a negative effect on food intake and subsequent animal performance. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects on intake from offering food through a Calan gate type system, compared to a conventional easy feed system.
Effect of a yeast culture on the performance of early-weaned beef calves
Authors: Marsh S.P , Thompson W.A.J.
Published: June 2019

Artificial rearing is a common practice for rearing calves from the dairy herd destined for beef production or as replacements for the dairy or suckler herds. One of the major expenses with calf rearing is the cost of the milk. Hence emphasis is placed on early weaning of the calf at 5-7 weeks old and encouraging concentrate intake. With increasing consumer concern over the use of antibiotics in feed, there is greater focus on the use of probiotics or yeast cultures to enhance calf performance. Yeast culture is a fermentation product resulting from the inoculation of grains with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its growth media. This yeast culture mash is incubated and dried in a manner that preserves all the metabolites and the fermenting activity of the yeast. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding a yeast culture (YC) on the performance of early-weaned beef calves.
Performance of red deer grazing pure white clover or perennial ryegrass swards
Authors: Deakin D. W. , Chapple D. G. , Davies M. H.
Published: June 2019

Farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) are highly seasonal animals, showing a marked winter inappetance followed by excellent growth from turnout in spring. The quality of grazed herbage has been demonstrated to have a significant impact upon growth during the grazing season. For example, performance is improved by the provision of a sward surface height of 8 - 10 cm compared with a sward height of 5 - 6 cm (Davies et al, 1998). The objective of this study was to assess whether deer performance could be further enhanced by providing white clover (Trifolium repens) swards (C) either in early, late or throughout the grazing season compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) swards (G).
Effects of behaviour selection on litter size, fetal development and plasma progesterone concentrations during pregnancy in silver fox vixens
Authors: Osadchuk L. V.
Published: June 2019

Animal domestication is a natural selection experiment the important result of which is a great increase in the rate of appearance of new forms and in the wild range of variation of organisms. Analysing different aspects of this problem, D.K. Belyaev has came to a hypothesis that the morphological and physiological reorganisation of domestic animals has been going by the way of unconscious selection of animals on their behaviour, carried out by person at the very first stages of domestication (Belyaev, 1979). To testify this hypothesis, a population of tame silver foxes has been produced in long-term selection for lack of aggression and fear towards humans (domestic behaviour) at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia. In the process of selection the genetic transformation of behaviour and morphology, and physiological functions has been observed (Trut, 1999). In particular, selected animals show no aggressiveness to man, behave amicably towards humans and have some changes in the coat colour and body constitution (Trut, 1999). The important part of Belyaev’s hypothesis was the assumption that selection for domestic behaviour could affect the reproductive function, in particular the pituitary-gonadal axis controlling reproduction and fertility. The aim of this study was to obtain information about possible changes in reproduction between control (C) and domesticated (D) vixens. Reproductive performance, potential fertility, embryonic mortality and fetal viability were analysed for vixens from domesticated and control population. In addition, plasma progesterone concentrations were determined in selected and control females during pregnancy.
The evaluation of Acacia and other tree pods for goats: influence of rumen fluid source and polyethylene glycol addition on in vitro gas production
Authors: Mlambo V. , Mould F. L. , Smith T. , Owen E. , Mueller-Harvey I.
Published: June 2019

After prolonged exposure to tanniniferous diets, it has been reported that some rumen microorganisms acquire defensive mechanisms against tannins (Brooker et al., 2000) or produce tannin-degrading enzymes. Such rumen microorganisms are said to be “tannin resistant” as their fermentation activity is less inhibited by the presence of tannins in the host’s diet. As acacia pods contain tannins their use as protein supplements for goats in the dry season may require that they be first detannified e.g. by using polyethylene glycol (PEG). However, goats with prior exposure to tanniniferous diets may have developed adaptive mechanisms to deal with tannins. This study, therefore, investigated the need for tannin inactivation in feeds given to ‘adapted’ animals by comparing the effect on the in vitro fermentation of tree pods incubated with and without PEG using rumen fluid from adapted and unadapted goats.
A comparison of solvents for extraction of condensed tannins in tree leaves
Authors: Capetillo Leal CM , Reyes Ramírez R. , Sandoval-Castro CA , Camacho Morfin D.
Published: June 2019

The occurrence of tannins in plant leaves has a widely known ecological significance in terms of both nutritional constraint for animals and litter decay in the soil. However, there is no single protocol for extracting tannins for their subsequent quantification. The use of acetone has the advantage of inhibiting the polyphenol-protein interaction (Hagerman and Robbins, 1987), but becomes an disadvantage when assaying the protein precipitation capacity of the extract in biological assays (Hagerman and Butler, 1991). The objective of the present work was to compare tannin extracting agents and to assess the relationship arising between different solvents.
Intake, digestibility and microbial-N synthesis in Creole goats fed grass/forage tree silage
Authors: Sol J , Solorio-Sanchéz FJ , Sandoval-Castro CA
Published: June 2019

Forage trees are commonly used in the tropics as supplementary feed for ruminants. However, during the dry season where grass is of poor quality, many trees also shed their leaves and are no longer available. Adequate strategies are to be evaluated to allow forage trees to be introduced into feeding systems as good quality supplements along the year. Silage might be an adequate technology if the resultant product allow similar animal performance as those achieved using commercial concentrate as supplement, but few studies have been conducted with forage tree silages. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate intake, digestibility and microbial-N synthesis of diets supplemented with grains or forage tree silage.
Milk yield in Creole goats fed grass/forage tree silage
Authors: Sol J , Solorio-Sanchéz FJ , Sandoval-Castro CA
Published: June 2019

In tropical smallholding, goats are a common source of milk either for sale of self-consumption. Concentrates are commonly use to support milk production during the dry season where many trees shed their leaves and are no longer available for feeding. Silage making might be an adequate technology for using forage trees as quality supplements along the year. Few studies have been conducted with forage tree silages to evaluate the resultant animal performance especially regarding milk production. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate milk production and quality of milk of goats fed grass and supplemented with grains or forage tree silage.
Relationship between in vivo, in situ and in vitro techniques for evaluation of tropical forages in Brazil
Authors: Bueno Ives C.S. , Cabral Filho Sergio L.S. , Oetting Liliana L. , Machado Mariana C. , Gobbo Sarita P. , Abdalla Adibe L.
Published: June 2019

In vivo experiments are the preferred method for ruminant feed evaluation, but they are very expensive, laborious and time-consuming. In situ and in vitro techniques are commonly used as a routine all over the world as a predictor of in vivo results. In situ assays have been the basis of many feed evaluation systems due to its ease of use and low cost. In vitro techniques, such as gas production, give an opportunity to get similar information plus a better description of fermentative kinetics. The aim of this work was to compare data obtained from in vivo, in vitro and in situ assays for the evaluation of three tropical forages used in ruminant nutrition in Brazil.
Voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of tropical forages fed to sheep in Brazil
Authors: Bueno Ives C.S. , Filho Sergio L.S. Cabral , Oetting Liliana L. , Abdalla Adibe L.
Published: June 2019

In Brazil ruminant production is based mainly on extensive systems in which forages are the most important, if not the only, source of nutrients. The quality of tropical forages declines seriously with advancing maturity and in extensive systems large amounts of forage commonly remain unused after grazing during the wet season (spring/summer). This unused forage could be harvested and sun-dried. During the dry season, there is a lack of feed on pastures and the hay produced from unused forages could provide a cheap alternative to concentrate supplements. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate three commercially available tropical forages as sheep feed in the Piracicaba river region of Sao Paulo State in Brazil.
The effect of wilting or soaking on the nutritive value of two invasive weed species in Nepal
Authors: Rymer C. , Givens D.I.
Published: June 2019

Goats are an important component of the livelihoods of resource poor livestock keepers (RPLK) in Nepal. A major constraint is the poor health (and low economic value) of goats in the early part of the wet season, and this is partly brought about by the shortage of available forage in the dry season. Two invasive weeds (Eupatorium adenophorum, EA, and Chromolaena odorata, CO) now grow throughout Nepal. The plants grow year round, and so could be used as a source of forage, but their voluntary intake and perceived nutritive value by goats is low. If an appropriate means of treating EA and CO could be developed, their nutritive value may increase. EA and CO could then be included in the forage harvested for goats. The objective of this experiment was therefore to determine the effect on the nutritive value of EA and CO of either wilting or soaking these plants.
The influence of chemical treatment on the degradation characteristics of weathered maize stover components
Authors: Mwiinga M. , Mould F.L. , Owen E. , Butler E.A.
Published: June 2019

Zambian small-holders are dependent on natural grazing to supply the nutrient requirements of their cattle. During the dry season grazing is severely limited, production declines steeply, reproductive cycles become dormant and new-born calves are subject to a high mortality rate. A potential supplemental feed, maize stover, is poorly exploited resulting in extensive field losses. Collection and controlled feeding would greatly increase its efficiency of use, plus such a feed system offers the opportunity to chemically treat the maize stover pre-feeding. This study was conducted to identify the degree to which the nutritive value of this material could be improved using such techniques.
Nutritive value of sunflower as whole crop silage in Uruguay
Authors: Cozzolino D , Fassio A , Fernandez E
Published: June 2019

Shortages of feed resources often impose major constraints on the development of animal production in the tropics and sub-tropics. Considerable quantities of crop residues and agro - industrial by products are generated every year in most developing countries. Forage crops must have particular features to warrant their use in animal production and feeding systems. These are related to seasonality of yield and product quality (Wilkins, 2000). Silage crops can provide forage of high nutritive value and high yields per unit of land are desirable to diversify crop rotations and to allow production changes, which may improve yields for livestock. Sunflower (Helianthus annus, L.) is mostly grown for seed oil production where the seeds represent only about one third of the total dry matter content of the crop ranging from 3 to 4 ton ha -1. Reports on the chemical composition of sunflower silage suggested that total digestible nutrients of sunflower were two-thirds of that of corn silage. These characteristics of sunflower show its great potential so as to include it as a forage crop. Sunflower is grown in Uruguay for seed oil production (approximately 150000 ha) showing great potential to be include in animal production systems as an alternative silage crop. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the nutritive value of sunflower as whole crop silage.
The degradation characteristics of three Sri Lankan rice straw cultivars, following treatment with urea, assessed using three in vitro techniques
Authors: Weerakkody G. , Mould F.L. , Owen E. , Butler E.A.
Published: June 2019

In 1999 85 % of the milk and milk products consumed in Sri Lanka were imported at a cost of over 7000 m rupees. While this appears to offer a major opportunity for the national herd to improve production, indiscriminate deforestation, reduction of farm size and increased use of agricultural land for crop production has tended to depress both cattle numbers and production. Poor nutritional status of the animals is the major limiting constraint, caused by the inadequate supply of quality feedstuffs and confounded by the lack of advice from the poorly supported agricultural extension service. In addition little detailed information exists concerning the nutritive value of the majority of Sri Lankan feeds. Three in vitro techniques – the Minson and McLeod (1972) version of Tilley and Terry (T&T), the modified ANKOM (ANK) batch culture technique (Mould and Nordheim, 1998) and the RPT methodology (Mauricio et al., 1999) were compared in an effort to identify a suitable system to investigate Sri Lankan feeds. The degradation characteristics of rice straw were investigated in this study as, while nearly three-quarters of Sri Lankan cattle and buffaloes are reared in arid zone where rice straw is the major crop residue, only a small proportion is offered as feed.
Effects of fungal treated wheat straw on Feed intake and growth of fattening lambs
Authors: Foroughi A.R. , Nikkhah A.
Published: June 2019

White- rot fungi have been investigated for biological upgradation of cereal straws into livestock Feed by solid substrate fermentation (Tripathi et al. 1991). Studies showed that pleurotus sajor- cajo(PSC) grew well on wheat straw and improved nutritive value (Leng 1990), due to the presence of wide spectrum of extracellular hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes and high infiltration of the mycelium into the substrate (Kokhreidze et al,1993).The objective of this study was to examine the effect of treated wheat straw by PSC edible fungi on feed intake and daily gain of fattening male lambs.
Rice water in feeding of Holstein dairy cattle
Authors: A. Teimouri Yansari , Valizadeh R. , Nasserian A.
Published: June 2019

Nearly 2.4 million tons of rice is consumed by Iranian(37kg/person/year). Generally, in rice cocking process the grain is boiled and drained and a large volume of rice water is produced. Rice water is content of 5%DM, 0.43% CP, 3.75% NFE and almost 2 Mcal/KgDM gross energy. This liquid as a product of drained processing can be utilized in animal feeding (Valizadeh et al. 2000). Two studies carried out to evaluated the differences levels of rice water and its effects on milk production, rumen and blood metabolites of dairy cows.
Voluntary feed intake in autumn calving continental x dairy suckler cows given a grass silage based diet ad libitum
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Hedley B. A. , Keatinge R. , Chapple D. G.
Published: June 2019

An understanding of the dry matter intake (DMI) capacity of suckler cows is crucial to the provision of adequate nutrition during lactation. However, quantitative data on the likely feed intake patterns of modern continental x dairy suckler cow genotypes is scarce. The objective of the current experiment was to determine voluntary DMI in Simmental x Holstein/Friesian (SIM) and Belgian Blue x Holstein/Friesian (BB) autumn calving suckler cows offered a grass silage based diet ad libitum.
Piglet liveweight and rate of gain as predictors of body tissue composition
Authors: Slade R. D. , Miller H. M.
Published: June 2019

The assumption that liveweight increase, decrease or stasis reflects piglet response to nutritional or management strategies may be incorrect. Adjustments in tissue composition following weaning result from altered metabolic state. Such compositional changes therefore accurately describe post-weaning response but are unlikely to be detectable by measurements of piglet weight alone. Accordingly, this study evaluates the accuracy of sequential weight measurements as predictors of tissue composition determined by dissection and chemical analysis. In addition, comparisons are made between weight measurement and body density (BD) predictions of tissue characteristics.
Effects of stocking rate and feeder-trough space on pig performance in wean-to-finish production systems
Authors: Wolter B. F. , Ellis M. , Curtis S. E. , DeDecker J. M. , Corrigan B. P. , Parr E. N. , Webel D. M.
Published: June 2019

Wean-to-finish production, which involves taking pigs from weaning to slaughter in the same building, is becoming widely adopted in the US swine industry. This production system is being advocated largely because of claims of improved animal performance and a decrease in labor needed for animal movement compared to conventional multiple-stage systems. One of the potential disadvantages of this system is the considerable underutilization of floor space during the early growth period if pigs are penned in the group sizes that are appropriate for finishing pigs. However, increasing the stocking rate initially at weaning, with some of these pigs subsequently being moved to another finishing facility, may increase output from the system. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate effects of initial stocking rate and of feeder-trough space in commercial wean-to-finish facilities on pig performance from weaning to slaughter.
The reproduction of in sacco degradation profiles using an in vitro batch culture technique
Authors: Mould F.L. , Kanelias K. , Owen E. , Butler E.A.
Published: June 2019

The in sacco technique (e.g. Ørskov et al., 1980) remains the methodology with which the majority of rumen degradability estimates are made. However ethical, animal welfare and cost issues regarding the use of surgically modified animals plus the relatively slow rate at which samples can be examined (two samples per week using three sheep) have combined to compel researchers into developing alternative techniques. Precise, high capacity in vitro systems now exist. However the feed industry is unwilling to adopt these “new” values, partly due to having spent considerable time and effort creating databases of in sacco values which can be used directly in current feed evaluation systems. This paper describes modifications to an in vitro system that provides values similar to that obtained in sacco.
Fresh or frozen rumen contents as sources of inocula to estimate in vitro degradation of ruminant feeds
Authors: Mohamed R. , Chaudhry A.S. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

Fresh rumen contents are the most common source of inoculum for use to estimate in vitro degradation of ruminant feeds. However, the need to routinely access fistulated or slaughtered cattle to obtain rumen contents limits the availability of such inoculum and hence the applicability of in vitro methods by the commercial laboratories. Therefore, it would be advantageous, if rumen contents are preserved in sufficient quantity and used as a source for inoculum for use when there is a need to do so to estimate degradability of ruminat feeds. This study compared the suitability of frozen rumen contents as a source of inoculum to estimate in vitro rumen degradation of rapeseed meal (rapeseed) and grass nuts at various times.
Prediction of ADF and NDF in faeces by NIRS to assess diet composition in grazing animals
Authors: Cozzolino D. , La Manna A. , Vaz Martins D.
Published: June 2019

Chemical analysis have been useful in characterising both nutrient content and digestibility of forages but less useful in predicting voluntary intake by animals (Ward et al., 1982). Faeces is the product of eroding and synthesising digestive processes and consists of residues of feed and plant tissue, component of microbial and animal origin, for this reasons faeces should contain information about the amount and characteristics of the diet. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used to predict quality characteristics in forages and several reports (Lyons and Stuth, 1992; Leite and Stuth, 1995, Coates, 1999) indicated that useful prediction of dietary digestibility in grazing ruminants using faecal NIRS analysis. It is assumed for different authors that rangeland herbivore faeces contains chemical bonds resulting from undigested residues and microbial fermentation and host animal digestion end products which can provide NIRS spectral information highly correlated with dietary crude protein and digestibility (Lyons and Stuth, 1992). The objective of this work was to develop NIRS equation calibrations to estimate acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and nitrogen in faecal samples to be used as a tool to estimate diet composition in ruminant animals under grazing conditions.
Comparison of immunochemical and histochemical analysis of fibre type distribution in ovine skeletal muscles
Authors: Sazili A. Q. , Parr T. , Sensky P. L. , Jones S.W. , Bardsley R.G. , Buttery P. J.
Published: June 2019

The characterisation of muscle fibres has become increasingly important as the proportion of slow and fast fibre types are known to influence the biochemical and physiological properties of muscle during postmortem tenderisation (Ouali and Talmant, 1990). Current histochemical methods are labour intensive, time consuming and hazardous, requiring rapid freezing of samples in isopentane cooled in liquid nitrogen. The purpose of this study was to investigate an alternative immunochemical approach for identifying fibre types by examining the expression of slow myosin heavy chain (MHC-s) and fast myosin heavy chain (MHC-f) and comparing the data with classical histochemical techniques. Five different ovine skeletal muscles with known differences in fibre types distribution were studied.
Modelling the odour of cooked meat in vitro using different fatty acids
Authors: M.M. Campo , G.R. Nute , J.D. Wood , S.J. Elmore , D.S. Mottram , M. Enser
Published: June 2019

The odour/flavour of beef from animals raised on cereal concentrates differs from that of forage fed animals and this is thought to be caused, at least in part, by differences in fatty acid composition (cereals, high in linoleic acid, C18:2; grass, high in linolenic acid, C18:3). During cooking, the thermal oxidation of fatty acids produces aroma volatiles and intermediates (Mottram, 1991) that modify the Maillard reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars. In this study, we have investigated the reactions that naturally occur in the muscle during cooking by heating together a sugar (ribose), a sulphur amino acid (cysteine) and several unsaturated fatty acids to evaluate the organoleptic contribution of fatty acids to meat aroma development.
Genetic and environmental factors affecting some measures of yield and fertility in a registered Canadian Holstein dairy herd in Iran
Authors: Toosi Ali
Published: June 2019

Milk production is the most important trait in dairy cattle breeding. Measures of additional traits are also important. Traits of lactation curve are important in their relation to production characteristics. The two major reasons for which dairy cows are disposed are fertility problems and low milk yield (Hansen et al.,1983). The objectives of this study were 1) To evaluate effects of some environmental factors on some measures of yield and fertility, and 2) To estimate genetic parameters for these traits applying REML procedures under sire model.
Heritability of mastitis and lameness in dairy cows using threshold models
Authors: Pirzada R.H , ApDewi I. , Owen J.B.
Published: June 2019

Improvements in management (including health care, preventative strategies and housing design) are one way to decrease the incidence of diseases. However, susceptibility to diseases is heritable and there is interest in selection for disease resitance. Genetic parameters of diseases, such as mastitis and lameness, are required so that these traits can be included in selection programmes. Phenotypes for mastitis and lameness are not expressed on a continuous scale and Gianola (1982) suggested that threshold models are more suitable for such binary traits. Whilst threshold models have been reported as appropriate for the analysis of binary traits they demand more time and greater computing power (Kadarmideen et al., 2000). The objectives of the current analyses were to estimate heritability and repeatability of mastitis and lameness where these traits were treated as binary traits, and to compare the estimates to those obtained in analyses that assumed the traits were continuous (i.e. that ignored the fact that they were “all or nothing” traits).
The effect locomotion score and lameness and on dry matter intake and behaviour in dairy cattle
Authors: Margerison J. K. , Winkler B. , Stephens G.
Published: June 2019

Lameness has been identified as an extremely painful condition (Manson and Leaver, 1988). Studies have found increased locomotion score (LS) and lameness to reduce productivity, while other have found no such reduction (Manson and Leaver, 1988; Kelley et al., 1990; Phillips et al., 1994). Changes in time spent feeding have been associated with changes in LS (Manson and Leaver, 1988) and less time lying down (Hassall, 1993). However, while lame cows change their feeding and general behaviour there is little information regarding the extent and mode of these changes. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of locomotion score on behavior and feed intake.
Influence of Genetic Merit on Mastitis and Lameness in Dairy Cattle on Commercial Farms
Authors: Wicks H.C.F. , Leaver J.D.
Published: June 2019

The cost of disease within the dairy industry is associated with loss of yield, discarded milk, cost of treatment and reduced fertility. Mastitis and lameness are two of the most financially important health problems associated with dairy production in the UK. Mastitis alone is estimated to account for approximately 10% of all cull cows and to have an associated cost of £218 per case (Kossaibati and Esslemont, 1995). Lameness accounts for approximately 6% of cull cows and has an associated cost of £273 per case (Kossaibati and Esslemont, 1995). In the present study somatic cell count (SCC) and locomotion score (LS) records were used as indicators to estimate the influence of genetic merit for milk production on mastitis and lameness.
The effect of molybdenum, iron and sulphur supplementation on immune function in growing lambs
Authors: Williams C.L. , Mackenzie A.M. , Wilkinson R.G.
Published: June 2019

Clinical copper (Cu) deficiency in ruminant animals is mainly attributed to antagonistic interactions with molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe) and sulphur (S) and Williams et al. (2001) reported differential effects between Mo and S, compared with Fe and S on various copper parameters. Suttle and Jones (1986) reported an increased mortality of lambs and infection rate due to copper deficiency which suggests an effect of Cu deficiency on immune function. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Mo or Fe and S on the cellular and humoral immune responses of growing lambs.
Screening of fibrolytic enzymes as additives for ruminant diets: relationship between enzyme activities and the in vitro degradation of enzyme-treated forages
Authors: Colombatto D. , Morgavi D.P. , Furtado A.F. , Beauchemin K.A.
Published: June 2019

Results in the literature concerning the efficacy of feed enzymes for ruminant diets have been mixed. Commercial preparations currently used are fermentation extracts containing several enzymic activities. It has been suggested that ruminal fermentation of grass and maize silages is enzyme-limited (Wallace et al., 2001). In order to design better enzyme additives, the enzyme activities likely to affect the animal responses should be identified. This study examined 23 commercial enzyme preparations for their biochemical properties and their ability to influence the in vitro degradation of alfalfa and maize silage.
Effect of soluble non starch polysacharide degrading enzyme supplements on nutrient efficiency of young broiler chickens fed wheat with different viscosities and triticle
Authors: Kermanshahi H. , Shakouri M.D.
Published: June 2019

Although wheat is an important ingredient in poultry diets, a large variability of the nutritive quality of wheat especially in its AME value is reported. A negative correlation between the lower AME in wheat or other cereal grains like barley, rye and triticle and their amount of soluble non-starch polysacharides (NSP) has been found in birds (Annison, 1990). A positive correlation between the amount of NSP in grains and the viscosity of the gut is also reported (Van der klis et al., 1995). High viscosity of the gut reduces the performance of the birds. Detrimental effect of NSP can be decreased by adding NSP degrading enzymes in the diet (Annison, 1992). Therefore the objective of this experiment was to study the viscosity of different wheat cultivars and triticle and the effect of NSP degrading enzyme supplements in young broiler chickens.
Yeast application and its derived products to reduce aflatoxicosis
Authors: Baptista A.S. , Horii J. , Calori-Domingues M.A. , Gloria E.M. , Vizioli M.R.
Published: June 2019

Yeasts have been studied and used as source of proteins for animal feeding over many years. Recently, new ideas on their use has lead to studies to enrich yeasts with micronutrients and use them as vehicles in feed production. Yeast cellular components are also used to improve the animal health and performance. The use of living yeasts are also thought to improve animal food consumption and reduce cell damage caused by substances such as aflatoxins found in animal foods. Aflatoxins, secondary metabolites produced by some fungi in foods and feeds can, on ingestion, result in the illness or death of animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae living cells and its derived products on animals when they are supplied with diets contaminate by aflatoxins.