bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some effects of bran and cellulose on the water relationships in the digesta and faeces of pigs Part II. The effects of adding different levels of fibrous cellulose to a highly digestible purified ration
Authors: Cooper P. H. , Tyler C.
Published: March 2009

1. Two experiments have been described in which pigs were fed different levels of fibrous cellulose superimposed on a highly digestible purified basal ration. These experiments involved 24 hr. faecal collections and ultimate slaughter of the animals, together with analysis of faecal material and gut contents.

2. The results of these experiments, together with those from experiments described in the previous paper in this series, have provided the basis for a discussion of the effects of adding bran and cellulose to pig rations, and of the influence of the progress of the residues of feeds through the digestive tract, on the pattern of excretion and the dry matter content of the faeces.
Some effects of bran and cellulose on the water relationships in the digesta and faeces of pigs Part III. The effect of level of water intake and level of cellulose in the ration on the dry-matter content of the faeces
Authors: Cooper P. H. , Tyler C.
Published: March 2009

1. An experiment has been described in which pigs were fed rations containing four different levels of cellulose, each ration being fed successively at three different levels of water intake. The cellulose levels were superimposed on a highly digestible basal ration.

2. It appears that altering the level of water intake, while keeping the ration constant, has only a very limited effect on the level of faecal dry-matter percentage, and on the pattern of variation therein.

3. Further evidence is cited in support of the theories, advanced in a previous paper, relating to the influence of fibrous cellulose on water relationships in the digesta and faeces.
The effect of farmyard manure on fertilizer responses
Authors: Boyd D. A.
Published: March 2009

Farmyard manure affected the response of the potato crop to fertilizers similarly in seven series of experiments (sixty-two in all) at Rothamsted, and in the West Midlands and north of England.

In the absence of f.y.m. there were large interactions between each of the fertilizer nutrients, but with f.y.m. the interactions were small. These interactions appear to have been ignored by previous workers, who claimed that N responses ar unaffected by dressings of f.y.m. In fact, f.y.m. increased the response to N applied alone, but decreased the N response where basal P and K fertilizers were also applied. For P the results were similar to those for N.

Most of the experimental sites were low in K, and K responses were very large, especially in the presence of basal NP fertilizer. Farmyard manure greatly reduced the response to K, particularly in presence of basal NP fertilizer.

A few Rothamsted experiments with f.y.m. and fertilizers and several times of planting showed that the large responses to f.y.m. alone and to fertilizers used in combination (but without f.y.m.) were not reduced by late planting. The result conflicts with previous reports of these data, in which interactions between nutrients were ignored. The combined effect of f.y.m. and fertilizers at late planting was little more than their separate effects, presumably due to delayed maturity, the influence of which would be exaggerated by the early burning-off of haulm in this series of experiments.

Most of the experiments were limited to testing fertilizers at two levels (presence and absence), so the effective quantities of nutrients provided by f.y.m. for the crop to which it was applied could only be estimated approximately; the average amounts suggested for normal f.y.m. are 0·3 cwt. N, 0·4 cwt. P2O5 and 0·75 cwt. K2O in 10 tons f.y.m.

These results lead to the practical conclusion that, in manuring potato crops on average land, much the same plant food ratios will be appropriate whether or not F.Y.M. is given, and the amount of fertilizer applied can be decreased to allow for the nutrients contained in the f.y.m.
Sweating in cattle. I. Cutaneous evaporative losses in calves and its relationship with respiratory evaporative loss and skin and rectal temperatures
Authors: Taneja G. C.
Published: March 2009

Three calves (Australian Illawara Shorthorn, Shorthorn and Zebu × Australian Illawara Shorthorn) were exposed to different combinations of wet- and dry-bulb temperatures in a psychrometric chamber at the Physiology Department of the University of Queensland. These animals were 2–3 months old when first exposed to heat.

Measurements were made on these animals for cutaneous and respiratory water losses, and skin and rectal temperatures.

Cutaneous water losses in all the animals studied increased with increases in air temperature. Comparing these results with those on men with congenital absence of sweat glands exposed to high air temperature below the sweat point, suggests that the cutaneous evaporative losses in cattle are more than those that can be accounted for by diffusionmoisture alone.

Increase in cutaneous evaporation under hot conditions is accompanied by increase in skin and rectal temperatures. In the Zebu cross, however, the skin temperature did not rise with rise in air temperature.

Keeping the humidity constant, rise in dry-bulb temperature caused increase in respiratory water loss. On the other hand, rising humidity at a constant dry-bulb temperature resulted in decrease in respiratory evaporation. Respiratory evaporative loss was, therefore, greater in hot-dry than in hot-wet conditions.
The efficiency of food utilization for egg production by pullets
Authors: Bolton W.
Published: March 2009

1. The efficiency of food utilization for egg production by pullets has been determined for two diets, one high in energy and the other low.

2. Both groups laid at the same rate (245 eggs/bird) throughout the year.

3. Birds fed the low-energy diet ate more food, but the intakes of digestible protein, non-protein digestible energy and metabolizable energy were the same for both groups.

4. The cost of food perton was higher for the high-energy diet; per bird per year it was the same for both groups.
A note on the six-course rotation experiments at Rothamsted and Woburn
Authors: Yates F. , Patterson H. D.
Published: March 2009

The results of an interim examination of the experiments at Rothamsted and Woburn on the effects of nitrogen, phosphate and potash on a six-course rotation of crops are reported.

It has become apparent that the main aim of the experiments, to relate the effects of the fertilizers to weather conditions, is not being fully realized. This is in part a consequence of the design, which has inherently low accuracy and results in low responses to phosphate and potash. In addition, faulty randomization and, at Woburn, fertility irregularities and pest damage have further reduced the accuracy attained.

The faulty randomization also seriously affects the estimates of experimental error given by deviations from smoothed response curves. Alternative estimates of error are provided to overcome this difficulty.

The mean yields and mean standard responses over the period 1931–55 are presented.

There is very little year-by-year variation in the responses to phosphate, but the responses to nitrogen and, for some crops, the responses to potash show sufficient variation to justify further analysis. As a first step the regressions of the responses to nitrogen on winter rainfall and on rainfall during the growing season and, for the root crops only, the regressions on sowing or planting date are briefly considered.
Causes of variation in dental characters of Scottish Blackface sheep in a hill flock, and relations to ewe performance
Authors: Purser A. F. , Wiener G. , West D. M.
Published: March 2009

Observations were made in three successive years on the dentition of Scottish Blackface ewes of 1½–4½ years old in a large hill flock in southern Scotland.

The number of permanent incisor teeth was not a reliable guide to age, since at each age there was variation about the modal number. The length of the central permanent incisors increased slightly with age, and associated with this there was a slight forward movement in the position at which these teeth occluded with the dental pad. The modal position was 1 mm behind the anterior point of the dental pad of gum. About 1·5 % of the observations had bite positions deviating by 5 mm or more from the mode.

Keeping the females during their first winter on low-ground pasture instead of the hill led to earlier eruption and slightly longer central incisors, but had little effect on bite position.

The heritability of the number of incisors present at any one age was estimated to be 0·39 ± 0·11 by paternal half-sib correlation and 0·80 ± 0·27 by daughter-dam regression. Estimates of h2 for incisor length were less than half these values and those for the measure of bite position were very small and not significantly different from zero.

For the ages up to 3½ years old, there were low but statistically significant correlations of number of incisors with ewe live weight (0·1–0·2) and fleece weight (around 0·1), incisor length with fleece weight (around 0·1) and at 1½ years old only between the bite measure and both weights (0·1). Weight of lamb weaned by the ewe was uncorrelated with these dental traits.

It is concluded that in this flock, culling on the dental characters studied would not have improved performance, and selection would not change the position of the bite.
A mathematical model of the rumen
Authors: France J. , Thornley J. H. M. , Beever D. E.
Published: March 2009

A dynamic model of rumen processes is constructed. The nine state variables considered are: rumen metabolic volume, non-rumen-degradable β-hexose, rumen-degradable β-hexose, α-hexose, water-soluble carbohydrates, non-protein nitrogen, rumendegradable protein and non-rumen-degradable protein. The dietary and salivary inputs to the rumen may be continuous, or pulsed. Rumen outflow given by the model is compared with data on sheep fed with different diets. Reasonable agreement is obtained when the model is run in the continuous mode, but there are considerable discrepancies between the experimental data and the pulsed model.
Effect of spray cooling and wallowing on potassium concentration of erythrocytes in buffaloes (Bos bubalis) during summer
Authors: Gangwar P. C. , Bahga C. S. , Srivastava R. K. , Dhingra D. P.
Published: March 2009

Forty-five normal lactating buffaloes from Punjab Agricultural University, Dairy Farm herd, were used for this study and were divided into three groups as group I (control), group II (showers) and group III (wallowing). The study was conducted from May to September in two periods, May–June as period I (hot and dry) and July–September as period II (hot and humid). Potassium concentration was estimated on a flame photometer. The overall average values (m-equiv/l) were found to be lowest in the control group (21·5 ± 1·27) and highest in wallowing (24·3 ± 1·20). Lower values were obtained in period I than in period II. Different correlations of potassium concentration in red blood corpuscles with climatic variables are discussed. Erythrocyte potassium concentration may act as an index of heat tolerance in buffaloes.
The metabolic significance of variations in the shell calcium: retained calcium relationship between individual laying hens
Authors: Tyler Cyril
Published: March 2009

Statistical analysis of data from calcium and hosphorus balance experiments with laying hens has shown that, for regression equations relating shell calcium to calcium retention:

(a) Individual birds give different regression coefficients (b values).

(b) The equations obtained for each of twelve birds belong to one family which can be represented by a more general equation.

(c) Over the whole of an experiment the b value and the phosphorus balance for each bird is significantly correlated with the total shell calcium secreted by that bird.

The metabolic significance of these findings is discussed in relation to shell formation and bone mobilization, and it is suggested that potentially high secretors of shell calcium are those which have a greater ability to lay down calcium on the bone during periods of low production and a greater ability to remove it from the bones when in high production.
A survey of methods of milk production: II. Statistical analysis of bacteriological tests on milk samples
Authors: Leech F. B. , Egdell J. W. , Thomas S. B.
Published: March 2009

1. The results of a survey of the methods of milk production on a random sample of farms in four counties of England and Wales were used in conjunction with bacteriological and keeping quality tests of the milk produced, to estimate the influence on milk quality of factors in equipment and technique.

2. Of the many factors in technique investigated, only the sterilization of utensils and the cooling of the milk appeared to affect milk quality. The effects of these two factors differed in some degree with the four tests used.

3. Milk samples from machine-milked herds had significantly greater thermoduric colony counts than samples from hand-milked herds. No other factor of equipment showed appreciable association with milk-quality tests.

4. Brief recommendations are made about the conduct of any future field survey of factors affecting bacteriological and keeping quality of milk.
The effect of varying seed rate on the yield and yield components of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus)
Authors: Scarisbrick D. H. , Daniels R. W. , Rawi A. B. Noor
Published: March 2009

Two varieties of oil-seed rape were drilled in 1979–81 at a range of seed rates. Percentage establishment, plant weight, height, and the ratio of seed to total aboveground dry matter were lower in high-density plots. Seed yields were not increased when the seed rate was raised from 9·0 to 13·5 kg/ha (Expts 1 and 2) or from 4·5 to 18·0 kg/ha (Expt 3) owing to a compensating reduction in the number of pods per plant. Seed quality and 1000-seed weight were not influenced by the seed-rate treatments.
Assessment of components in a set of management practices for the wet-season production of vegetable cow pea in Trinidad
Authors: Brathwaite R. A. I
Published: March 2009

Experiments were conducted in association with farmers during 1977, 1978 and 1979 on a River Estate sandy loam at Valsayn and on a Cunupia clay loam at Piarco, Trinidad, to assess the relative importance of components in a set of practices for wetseason production of ‘yellow shell’ pods of ‘blackeye’ type of cow pea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Though the response of the cow pea growth, yield and seed quality characteristics were similar at both locations, crop performance was consistently better at Valsayn and was attributed to more favourable soil conditions and to a lower incidence of pests (mainly Ceratoma beetles), cow pea severe mosaic virus, and weeds. Overall, it was found that pest control was the most important management factor, accounting for a mean yield increase of 144%. The adoption of the improved cultivar, California Blackeye No. 5, increased yield by 77%. Other inputs resulting in significant yield increases were, in order of magnitude, weed control (40%), roguing of mosaic infected plants (37%) and high plant density of 110000 plants/ha (23%). A fertilizer treatment did not significantly increase yield. The results suggest that adoption of the insect control treatment by farmers in their cultivation of an improved cultivar sown at high plant density, the use of herbicide and roguing of mosaic infected plants have practical potential and would be economically justified for the production of high yields and good quality ‘yellow shell’ pods of vegetable cow pea for processing.
The yield and composition of kale and cabbage with and without nitrogenous top-dressing
Authors: Castle M. E. , Foot A. S. , Hosking Zena D. , Rowland S. J.
Published: March 2009

In 4 consecutive years, 1948 to 1952, combined varietal and manurial trials were carried out to obtain information on the yields of marrow-stem kale, thousand-head kale and cattle cabbage in the presence and absence of sulphate of ammonia applied as a top-dressing at the rate of 6 cwt./acre.

Yield and composition of all crops were apparently affected by differences in weather conditions. In most years, and particularly for cabbage, the yield declined with successive harvests.

Increased green crop, dry matter and crude protein yields resulted from the application of nitrogenous fertilizer in 3 years, but in the other year, a very dry season, the response to the top-dressing was negligible.

Marrow-stem kale both with and without the additional fertilizer, yielded more, in terms of fresh crop, dry matter and crude protein, than thousandhead kale with the same manurial treatment. Cabbage yields often approached those of marrowstem kale at the first harvest, but were nearer to those of thousand-head by the last harvest of each year.
Studies on soil humic acids II: Observations on the estimation of free amino groups. Reactions of humic acid and lignin preparations with nitrous acid
Authors: Bremner J. M.
Published: March 2009

1. Free amino groups in humic acid preparations isolated from 0·5M-sodium hydroxide and 0·1M-sodium pyrophosphate (pH 7·0) extracts of various soils have been estimated by the nitrous acid method of Van Slyke (1929) and the fluorodinitrobenzene technique of Sanger (1945).

2. The results obtained by the Van Slyke method using a reaction time of 15min. indicated that from 12 to 30% of the total nitrogen in the preparations examined was in the form of free amino groups. No free amino groups could be detected by the fluorodinitrobenzene technique.

3. It is shown that lignin interferes with the estimation of amino groups by the Van Slyke method, and it is suggested that lignin or ligninderived material may be largely responsible for the high apparent amino-nitrogen values obtained with humic acid preparations by this method.

4. The reaction of humic acid with nitrous acid resembles the reaction of lignin with nitrous acid in that it is accompanied by the fixation of nitrogen and the destruction of methoxyl groups. The reaction of lignin with nitrous acid is similar in many respects to its reaction with nitric acid.

5. Only about one-third of the nitrogen fixed by lignin in its reaction with nitrous acid is removed by prolonged hydrolysis with 6N-HC1, and most of the nitrogen so released is in the form of ammonia. A small amount of the nitrogen liberated by acid hydrolysis is in the form of hydroxylamine.
Soil fauna of dry and irrigated farm systems in the Egyptian western desert
Authors: Hegazi E. M. , Abd-Elatif M. A. , Moursy K. S. , Maareg M. F.
Published: March 2009

Soil fauna of irrigated olive and vine farms and a rain-fed farm at the Egyptian western desert were surveyed and analysed between September 1977 and August 1978. In samples from these farms, Collembola and Acari constituted the highest fraction of total arthropod fauna while Aranea, Myriapoda, Crustacea, and Pseudoscorpionida comprised the lowest fractions. Populations of annelids and nematodes differed from one farm to another. The study revealed that plant cover, irrigation system, human interference and the physical and chemical properties exerted a considerable effect on the number and type of soil fauna components at each farm.
The effects of grinding, either with or without NaOH treatment, on the utilization of straw by yearling dairy cattle
Authors: Smith T. , Broster W. H. , Broster Valerie J. , Siviter J. W.
Published: March 2009

Processed straw, both ground and ground–NaOH treated, has been compared with long straw in diets of straw and concentrates fed to yearling dairy heifers. Protein allowances were varied by the addition of fishmeal.

Improved growth rate was consistently observed with those animals receiving fishmeal. When a fixed amount of barley straw was offered neither digestibility nor growth was affected by the form of the straw. With wheat straw grinding–NaOH treatment resulted in increased growth when fed in diets containing some long roughage. Voluntary intake of straw was additively increased by grinding and by treatment with 5% (w/w) NaOH. Ground-NaOH treatment of straw increased in vitro digestibility.
The performance of Andropogon gayanus – legume associations in Colombia
Authors: Grof B.
Published: March 2009

The forage potential of Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) was assessed in cutting experiments on a low fertility, acid Ultisol in Colombia. This grass recently introduced from Africa outyielded Hyparrhenia rufa, Panicum maximum, Brachiaria decumbens and Digitaria decumbena in various mixtures made up of a single grass and a single legume. A. gayanua performed well as a companion grass with the legumes Styloaanthes guianensis, Stylosanthes capitata and Centroaema sp., while B. decumbena suppressed the legumes planted in these trials during the 2nd year following establishment.
Seasonal influence on the total glycoside content of foxglove (Digitalis lanata)
Authors: Rajukkannu K. , Dhakshinamoorthy M. , Arumugam R. , Duraisamy P.
Published: March 2009

Several plants are cultivated for medicinal and aromatic purposes. Foxglove (Digitalis lanata) has been introduced into India from Western Europe and is cultivated for medicinal use. The leaves of D. lanata contain various glycosides, namely digoxin, gitoxin and gitalin, which are of medicinal value. This crop is cultivated throughout the year but not much information is available about

seasonal influence on the glycoside content. Hence, attempts are made to assess the effect of seasonal variation on total glycoside content and to arrive at an optimum season for harvesting the crop.
The effects of the long-term application of a wide range of nitrogen rates on the yields from perennial ryegrass swards with and without white clover
Authors: Reid D.
Published: March 2009

The yield results are reported for the final 3 years of a 6-year experiment in which twenty-one rates of nitrogen fertilizer ranging from 0 to 800 lb/acre (897 kg/ha) were applied annually on S. 23 perennial ryegrass swards with and without S. 100 white clover. The long-term effects of the treatments on herbage yields are discussed using the results from all 6 years. Four-parameter exponential curves fitted to the herbage yield data from each year show that the response pattern for the pure-grass sward remained relatively constant over the years although the mean annual yields varied slightly. The response of dry-metter yield to nitrogen rate on this sward was almost linear between the 0 and 300 lb nitrogen/acre (336 kg/ha) rates, then it decreased progressively, becoming non-significant about the 500 lb/a ere (560 kg/ha) ra te. Crude-protein yield responded almost linearly up to the 600 lb/acre (673 kg/ha) rate. The average yield responses over the 6 years for the pure-grass sward with nitrogen rates between 0 and 300 lb/acre was 27–8 lb dry matter (range 25·8–29·8 lb) and 4·2 lb crude protein (range 3·8–4·8 lb) per lb of nitrogen applied. At high nitrogen rates the yield curves for the grass and clover sward were similar to those for the pure-grass sward but at low rates the grass and clover sward gave a lower response to nitrogen and a greater yield at each nitrogen rate. The yield response to nitrogen rates between 0 and 300 lb/acre applied on this sward increased from 13·1 lb dry matter/lb of nitrogen in the first year to 20·2 lb in the sixth year. The difference in yield between the grass and clover and the pure-grass swards given no nitrogen fertilizer decreased from 4850 lb dry matter/acre (5440 kg/ha) to 2370 lb/acre (2660 kg/ha) over the same period. Within each year the yield difference between the two swards decreased with increasing nitrogen rate reaching an insignificant value at a rate of about 350 lb/acre (392 kg/ha) in the first year declining to 150 lb/acre (168 kg/ha) in the sixth year. On average the weight of nitrogen required annually on the pure-grass sward to give the same herbage yield as the grass and clover sward receiving no nitrogen was 125 lb/acre (140 kg/ha) on a drymatter basis and 195 lb/acre (219 kg/ha) on a crude protein basis.
Relationship between visual colour rating and chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and some growth characteristics in couchgrass (Cynodonspp. L.)
Authors: Rahman M. S.
Published: March 2009

Chlorophyll contents per unit leaf area and unit dry weight, chlorophylla:bratio, visual colour rating, specific leaf area, and leaf fresh weight: dry weight ratios were estimated for 12 couch (bermudagrass) varieties (Cynodonspp. L.) in winter (July) and spring (October). Net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates were estimated in winter only.

The chlorophyll contents per unit leaf area were higher in all varieties in spring than in winter, but per unit weight were more variable. The varieties differed substantially in the net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates. The specific leaf areas were greater in winter than in spring in five varieties: in others it changed little. The fresh: dry weight ratios of the leaves were almost constant between varieties in the spring but varied greatly during the winter. Visual colour ratings were well correlated with chlorophyll contents per unit area but not with weight. The net photosynthetic rate was closely correlated with chlorophyll content (per unit area) but not so closely with colour rating.
Studies in grazing management. VI. The influence of free- and strip-grazing and of nitrogenous fertilizers on production from dairy cows
Authors: Campling R. C. , MacLusky D. S. , Holmes W.
Published: March 2009

1. An experiment with dairy cows is described in which the production per animal and per acre obtained in three methods of grazing management were compared during 2 years.

(A) An intensive method. Strip-grazing daily on heavily fertilized grass sward.

(B) A modified intensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a heavily fertilized grass sward.

(C) An extensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a grass and clover sward receiving a basic application of phosphate and potash only.

The intensively fertilized swards received a total of 212 lb. fertilizer nitrogen per acre, together with adequate amounts of phosphate and potash throughout the grazing season. No supplementary foods of concentrate type were fed to the cows during the experiment.

2. For the comparison of production per animal 3 × 3 Latin-square experimental design, with twelve Ayrshire cows and periods of 3 weeks' duration, was used. Two separate trials were conducted during the grazing season of 1955 and a third trial during 1956.

3. The different methods of grazing management and intensive use of fertilizer had little influence on the milk yield and butterfat percentage of the milk of the cows.
The relationship between fineness of grinding of food and rumination
Authors: Gordon John G.
Published: March 2009

1. Five out of six sheep ruminated more in terms of the total time spent ruminating when fed their food (dried grass) cut into approximately 2 in. lengths, than when fed the same quantity and quality of food in the long (uncut) state or when ground to a meal.

2. Grinding to a meal markedly reduced rumination times as compared with the same quantity and quality of diet fed long or chopped.

3. It is postulated that these effects may be related to the stimulation of rumination.
The effects of a low-protein food supplement on the yield and composition of milk from grazing dairy cows and on the composition of their diet
Authors: Corbett J. L. , Boyne A. W.
Published: March 2009

1. Dried molassed sugar-beet pulp was fed to dairy cows grazing abundant intensively managed pastures in two trials (spring and autumn), each of 8 weeks' duration. A change-over design (four 14-day periods) with twenty-four cows was employed in each trial. Apart from six changes for the autumn trial, the same cows were used throughout.

2. In the spring trial (May–July) 8 lb. beet pulp were fed daily. The herbage dry matter consumed contained, on average, 16·8% crude protein, and the general mean milk yield was 38 lb./cow/day. The milk yield of the supplemented cows was 1·3 lb. (3·7%) greater than that of the control animals (P< 0·05).

3. In the autumn trial (August–October) 10 lb. beet pulp were fed daily. The herbage dry matter consumed contained 23·8% crude protein and the general mean milk yield was 27 lb./cow/day. The milk yield of the supplemented cows was 2·9 lb. (11·3%) greater than that of the control animals (P< 0·001).
Studies on forage cell walls: 5. Alkali-treated lucerne
Authors: Mathews M. G. , McManus W. R.
Published: March 2009

Ground lucerne was treated with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) in a ‘dry crystal’ process, prior to pelleting.

Data for feed characteristics and related utilization by sheep fed these diets are reported. NaOH and KOH had effects of different magnitude on the digestibility of cell-wall constituents (CWC). An increase of nitrogen (N) in the cell wall (CWN) induced by tha alkali treatments, resulted in depressed nitrogen digestibility. The residual alkali and high electrolyte intakes produced higher rumen pH, but values were more stable than for sheep fed the control diet.
Uptake efficiency of roots in plants at different ploidy levels
Authors: Cacco G. , Ferrari G. , Lucci G. C.
Published: March 2009

The uptake efficiency of roots for sulphate and potassium was evaluated in wheat, sugar beet, and tomato, at different ploidy levels. At increasing ploidy, wheat and sugar beet showed higher, tomato lower efficiency, the polyploid absorption system being characterized in sugar beet by higher Vmax and Km, in wheat by higher Vmax and unchanged Km, in tomato by lower Vmax and Km. Uptake efficiency of roots appears tightly bound to the evolutionary progress, that is to the level of environment adaptation of plants, and should be susceptible of further improvement by breeding practices.
Evaluation of soil tests for the estimation of available sulphur
Authors: Arora B. R. , Sekhon G. S.
Published: March 2009

In a glasshouse experiment, sulphur was applied to 22 soils as 35S-labelled gypsum. Estimates of available sulphur using different extractants were correlated with yield responses and sulphur uptakes by oats. The largest correlation coefficients were obtained with ‘A’ values and sulphur soluble in 0·5 M-NaHC03, 1% NaCl after heating and ammonium acetate–acetic acid. Critical levels of available sulphur obtained by relating these four methods to yield responses were 24·0, 22·0, 11·0 and 10·5 mgS/kg soil respectively.
Magnesium metabolism in the dairy cow. II. Metabolism during the spring grazing season
Authors: Rook J. A. F. , Balch C. C.
Published: March 2009

1. Three experiments are reported in which magnesium metabolism trials were carried out with milking cows that had been changed abruptly from typical winter rations to herbage cut freshly from swards at an early or at a more mature stage of growth and fed in the stall.

2. The intake of herbage magnesium by individual animals varied from 9·5 to 15·2 g./day. Much of this variation was, however, associated more with differences in the palatability and dry-matter content of the herbage offered than with individual differences in appetite.

3. The mean proportion of the ingested herbage magnesium excreted in the faeces was similar in all three experiments, being 82·3, 83·0 and 82·4% respectively. With any given sward there were, however, wide variations between individual animals in their utilization of herbage magnesium.

4. The supply of ‘available’ magnesium to animals fed cut herbage in the stall varied from 0·5 to 4·2 g./day, as compared with values of from 2·6 to 10·5 g./day obtained previously (Rook et al. 1958) with cattle fed typical winter rations. In spite of this lower intake of ‘available’ magnesium, the animals maintained a positive magnesium balance.
Effects of fertilizers and dung on potatoes
Authors: Reith J. W. S. , Inkson R. H. E.
Published: March 2009

Field experiments were carried out in north-east Scotland on potatoes to measure the responses to, and the two-factor interactions between, nitrogen, phosphate, potash and dung, and have given the following results:

1. The responses to nitrogen, phosphate and potash are quite variable from centre to centre, but the mean results show moderately large increases to all three nutrients.

2. The mean responses to both nitrogen and phosphate are the same in the presence as in the absence of dung. The response to potash is reduced by two-thirds in the presence of dung.

3. There is a general trend for both nitrogen and potash to increase the linear component of the response to phosphate and vice versa. Nitrogen and potash show practically no interaction effects.

4. Dung produces a considerably larger increase in yield in the absence than in the presence of fertilizers.

5. The nitrogen and potassium contents of the tubers show appreciable effects of the nitrogen, potash and dung treatments.

6. Suitable fertilizer dressings are suggested for potatoes grown in the absence and presence of dung.
The influence of four levels of feeding on the position and eruption of incisor teeth in sheep
Authors: Wiener G. , Purser A. F.
Published: March 2009

The distance between the front of the incisor teeth and the front of the maxillary pad (incisor bite measure) was measured in 140 sheep about 1 year old. The sheep consisted of seven breed types—the offspring of Blackface ewes by Wiltshire, Border Leicester, Lincoln and Blackface rams, and of Welsh ewes by Welsh, Wiltshire and Suffolk rams. Within each breed type the effects of four different feeding treatments lasting 7 months were studied. These produced small but very significant differences in bite measure. Differences between breed types were significant only in respect of the division between the two breeds of dam. Effect of breed of dam, however, was confounded with any effect due to differences in origin.

The proportion of permanent central incisors which had replaced milk teeth when the animals averaged a little more than a year old was affected both by the level of treatment during the experiment and by breed.
The apparent digestibility of crude protein by the ruminant: IV. The effect of crude fibre
Authors: Glover J. , French M. H.
Published: March 2009

The role of crude fibre in modifying the general equation relating the digestibility coefficient of crude protein to the percentage of crude protein in the dry matter of a feed is described.

It is shown that for normal average food-stuffs the effect is slight and that for all practical routine purposes the original equation will provide satisfactory estimates of the digestibility coefficient when only the crude-protein content of the dry feed is known.

On the other hand, when exceptional feeds are encountered, particularly those in which the crudefibre/crude-protein relationship is abnormal, then more accurate estimates of the digestibility coefficient of crude protein can be obtained from the modified equation which is described above.
Further studies on fishmeal and the hatching rates of hen's eggs
Authors: Coles R.
Published: March 2009

Reference is made to the depression in hatching rates occasionally recorded when fishmeal is fed to breeding hens. In a previous communication this depression was tentatively ascribed to the presence of aerobic sporing bacteria, support for this theory being given by the high early death-rate from yolksac infection in the chicks hatched from the affected pens. In this experiment samples of white fishmeal from widely separated points of origin were employed. With one group of birds extreme hatching depression was recorded; in one other group a moderate depression was found. Bacterial assays showed that only one sample contained aerobic sporing bacteria capable of coagulating yolk and the count was not high. But the birds fed this sample were those manifesting the mild depression in the hatching rate and this was the only group to show an appreciably above normal early death-rate in the chicks. The major cause of death was yolk-sac infection, and it is concluded that in this group the presence of aerobic sporing bacteria was partially responsible for the depression in hatching, but that the degree of contamination was not as high as that which probably occurred in the previous year.

The hatching rate in all groups was inversely related to the depth of coloration in the fishmeal samples. The theory is advanced that, as a result of overheating during manufacture, degradation of the proteins occurred giving rise to toxic products which in turn led to a high embryonic death-rate during the last 4 days of incubation. The highest embryonic death-rate in total, and during this period, was found with those birds fed the fishmeal with the darkest colour. The egg production in all groups of birds was high and it therefore seemed improbable that overheating had proceeded to the stage of materially damaging the essential aminoacid contents of the meal, for it seems widely accepted that if the amino-acid level is sufficient for egg production it is sufficient for good hatchability.
Studies on some sources of variation in carrot root weight
Authors: Salter P. J. , Currah I. E. , Fellows Jane R.
Published: March 2009

Five investigations were carried out to determine the magnitude of root-size variation within crops of cv. Chantenay Supreme grown under competitive and non-competitive conditions, and to study possible sources of inter-plant variation.

In the first experiment root-size variation from crops grown at a high population density (245 plants/m2) and at a low density (25 plants/m2) were compared over a 21-week period from sowing. The c.v.s of root weight were always higher from the high density than from the low density over the harvesting period from 11 to 21 weeks after sowing, and ranged from 74 to 94% and from 50 to 63%, respectively. A second study showed that even with a very low population density (3 plants/m2) the c.v. of root weight at harvest was 58%. The third study showed that 40% of the root weight variation was accounted for by the time of seedling emergence. The results of a pot experiment indicated that when the size of seed, sowing depth, rooting medium and time of seedling emergence were made as uniform as possible, a very uniform population of roots was produced with a c.v. of root weight of 32%. In the final field experiment when time of seedling emergence, seed size and spatial distribution of the plants were the experimental variables, the results confirmed the importance of variability in time of seedling emergence and seedling size in creating variation at an early stage of growth.

The results of these studies indicate that competition per se was not a prime source of variation in root size but magnified any initial variation within the crop at the time of seedling establishment. The importance of this early establishment phase in determining the spread of root-size distribution within a crop is discussed together with the factors which influence the time of seedling emergence and seedling size.
Changes in the concentration of plasma proteins in intensively bred ewes
Authors: Mackie W. S.
Published: March 2009

The mean concentration of plasma albumin in 30 Finnish Landrace x Dorset Horn ewes subjected to intensive breeding decreased as the number of pregnancies increased from three to seven; it also changed significantly within a pregnancy. Gamma globulin concentration was not affected by the number of pregnancies but decreased significantly within a pregnancy. Total plasma protein was affected like albumin by the number and stage of pregnancy.

Plasma volume increased by 23 % in the latter third of pregnancy.
Seasonal growth patterns in field beans (Vicia faba) as affected by population density, shading and its relationship with soil moisture
Authors: Sprent Janet I. , Bradford Alison M. , Norton C.
Published: March 2009

Field experiments, usingVicia fabacvs Herz Freya and/or Maris Bead were made in 1972–5. Population densities were varied and shading treatments were applied. Soil moisture content was monitored throughout. Maximum dry-matter production per plant and per unit area were similar in 1973 and 1974, but lower in 1975. Variations in growth were associated with variations in soil moisture content. When pods began to fill, plants reached maximum total water content and root growth ceased.

Increasing density enhanced, and shading retarded both leaf senescence and seed maturation. Maximum potential seed yield (5–6 t/ha) in 1974 was obtained at 32plants/m2. In 1975, yields of 7–9 t/ha were obtained at 66 plants/m2, probably as a result of retention of many pods by the plants. Since total dry-matter production was lower in 1975 than in 1974 we conclude that photosynthetic potential did not limit yield in the earlier year.

From the patterns of rainfall, soil moisture and plant water content, we suggest that water supply may be a more important factor controlling yield than either solar radiation or plant competition, with the period following pod setting being especially vital. At this time plant water requirement may often be in excess of supply.
The relationship between the digestibility and decomposibility of some animal feeds
Authors: Birch H. F.
Published: March 2009

A close relationship has been found between the decomposition of feeds in the macro-respirometer and their digestibility. The degree of nitrogen mineralization appears also to conform with certain aspects of protein digestibility. The various relationships are sufficiently close to suggest that the macro-respirometer can be used in a preliminary assessment of the digestibility of feeds.
Simulation study of three adjustment methods for the modified augmented design and comparison with the balanced lattice square design
Authors: Lin C. S. , Poushinsky G. , Jui P. Y.
Published: March 2009

Three adjustment methods using control plots to adjust for soil variation in a modified augmented design (Lin & Poushinsky, 1983) were studied by simulation. The results show that adjustment by design structure (row and column correction factors) is best when soil variation is relatively uniform in one or two directions, while adjustment by regression analysis is best when the variation is multi-directional. Adjustment using the control plot as a fertility index is least satisfactory. A modified augmented design in a replicated experiment is generally inferior to a balanced lattice square design but is competitive when the percentage of environmental variation attributable to soil factors is less than 70% of the total variation.
The effects of breed, breeding system and other factors on lamb mortality: 3. Factors influencing the incidence of weakly lambs as a cause of death
Authors: Woolliams Carol , Wiener G. , Macleod N. S. M.
Published: March 2009

The incidence of lamb mortality from weakness at birth, underdevelopment, exposure and starvation was examined over 6 years in an upland flock and analysed in relation to breed, breeding system and other factors. These causes accounted for more than a quarter of the deaths and contributed to many more.

The frequency of death due to these causes was greater in lambs light at birth. The incidence of these causes of death differed significantly between the breeds, Scottish Blackface, Cheviot and Welsh Mountain and their crosses, but for the separate categories breed variation was significant only for the incidence of death by starvation, which was also less frequent in cross-breds than purebreds. Mortality from several of these causes was increased by inbreeding (25–59%), but decreased by crossing inbred lines. Lambs born to line-cross or other non-inbred dams had a relatively low incidence of these various causes of death. For underdeveloped lambs variation due to maternal inbreeding was significant. When classes were adjusted for difference in birth weight, breed variation in mortality was greatly enhanced but variation due to inbreeding much reduced.

Slightly more twins than single-born lambs died from these causes and triplets fared worst, but such variation was significant only for death from exposure. Mortality from these causes varied significantly with parity of dam, being highest in the first, and mortality in males was slightly but not significantly higher than in females.
Kabuli chickpea as a winter-sown crop in northern Syria: moisture relations and crop productivity
Authors: Keatinge J. D. H. , Cooper P. J. M.
Published: March 2009

In the Mediterranean region, chickpeas are traditionally spring-sown since humid winter conditions encourage the development of Aschochyta blight which often causes complete crop failure. Lines resistant to this blight have been selected at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) and thus winter planting has become feasible. The best selection, ILC 482, was sown in both winter and spring at three locations in northern Syria with contrasting precipitation patterns. Crop growth and soil moisture analyses were undertaken on all treatments, and relevant meteorological data were collected at each location. At all locations maximum greenarea and dry-matter production of the winter-sown crop was nearly double that of the spring sowing. Large differences were also observed between sites, with green-area and dry-matter production decreasing with precipitation. Depth of profile recharge, amount of extractable moisture and crop evapotranspiration also decreased with precipitation, but only small differences in these moisture variables were observed between winter and spring sowing. Duration of green-area production, as determined by the onset of rapid leaf senescence, was closely related to the fraction of extractable moisture in the soil profile, rapid senescence occurring in all treatments when extractable moisture fell below 40% of its maximum value. Differences in the maximum rates of green-area production are discussed both in relation to the depth of profile recharge, hence the depth of rooting and moisture extraction and to the ambient evaporative demand. The differences observed in green-area and dry-matter production was clearly reflected in final seed yield. The components of yield, number of pods, percentage of empty pods and seed size are related to the variations in moisture stress experienced by the crop.
Maize yield as affected by irrigation and evapotranspiration control treatments
Authors: De R. , Rao Y. Y. , Ikramullah M. , Rao L. G. Giri
Published: March 2009

Maize yield was increased by the application of organic mulch (6 t/ha). Mulched plots treated with any of the antitranspirants (kaolin or alachlor) and receiving two or four irrigations yielded as much as untreated plots receiving four or six irrigations. Cob length, number of grains and grain weight of maize were increased by mulching and by the transpiration suppressants. Irrigation water-use efficiency was improved by evapotranspiration control treatments.
The nutritive value of the forage peaPisutn arvensecv. ‘Rosakrone’ for laying hens
Authors: Davidson J. , McFadyen Morag , Milne E.
Published: March 2009

The nutritive value of a new forage pea (Pisum arvense), commercially available as ‘Rosakrone’, was assessed by feeding the seeds in ground form to laying hens as a supplementary source of protein in diets based on mixed cereals. Like other pulse seeds they were found to be relatively deficient in methionine. The effect of this on egg production was overcome by adding synthetic methionine to the diet.

However, there was also present an anti-nutritive factor, similar in action to that found in other pulse seeds, which caused live-weight loss and reduced the rate of lay to about 0·85 of normal in 20 weeks with 40% pea meal in the diet. This anti-nutritive factor appeared to be heat stable.