bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disaster Events and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Washington State Investigation
Authors: Gold Laura S. , Kane Leslee B. , Sotoodehnia Nona , Rea Thomas
Published: August 2016

Background:

Psychological distress following disaster events may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake and the 11 September terrorist attacks profoundly affected Washington state residents.

Hypothesis:

This research investigated the theory that the incidence of sudden cardiac death would increase following these disaster events.

Methods:

Death certificates were abstracted using a uniform case definition to determine the number of sudden cardiac deaths for the 48-hour and one week periods following the two disaster events. Sudden cardiac deaths from the corresponding 48-hour and one-week periods in the three weeks before the events, and the analogous periods in 1999 and 2000 were designated as control times. Using t-tests, the number of sudden cardiac deaths for the periods following the disaster events was compared to those of the control periods.

Results:

In total, 32 sudden cardiac deaths occurred in the four counties affected by the Nisqually earthquake during the 48 hours after the event, compared to an average of 22 ±3.5 (standard deviation) in the same counties during the control periods (p = 0.02). No difference was observed for the one week period (94 compared to 79.2 ±12.4,p = 0.28). No difference was observed in the number of sudden cardiac deaths in the 48-hours or one-week following the terrorist attacks compared to control periods.

Conclusions:

A local disaster caused by a naturally occurring hazard, but not a geographically remote human disaster, was associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may have implications for prevention of sudden cardiac death.
Expanding the Scope of Humanitarian Program Evaluation
Authors: Bolton Paul , Bass Judith , Murray Laura , Lee Katharine , Weiss William , McDonnell Sharon M.
Published: August 2016

The effectiveness of humanitarian programs normally is evaluated according to a limited number of pre-defined objectives. These objectives typically represent only selected positive expected impacts of program interventions and as such, are inadequate benchmarks for understanding the overall effectiveness of aid.This is because programs also have unexpected impacts (both positive and negative) as well as expected negative impacts and expected positive impacts beyond the program objectives.The authors contend that these other categories of program impacts also should be assessed, and suggest a methodology for doing so that draws on input from the perspectives of beneficiaries. This paper includes examples of the use of this methodology in the field. Finally, the authors suggest future directions for improving this type of expanded assessment and advocate for its widespread use, both within and without the field of disaster response.
Measuring Health Program Effectiveness in the Field: An Assessment Tool
Authors: McDonnell Sharon M. , Yassin Abdiaziz S. , Brown Wayne G. , Perry Helen N. , Thacker Stephen B.
Published: August 2016

To assist field workers in program evaluation and to explicitly discuss program strengths and weaknesses, a practical method to estimate the effectiveness of public health interventions within the existing program capacity was developed. The method and materials were tested in seven countries (Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Ghana). In this method, four core components are assessed using a questionnaire: (1) the efficacy of the intervention; (2) the level of existing human resources (i.e., quality of recruitment, training, and continuing education); (3) the infrastructure (i.e., supplies, salary, transportation, and supervision); and (4) the level of community support (i.e., access and demand). Using the assessment tool provided, program staff can determine if all necessary elements are in place for a successful program that can deliver the specific intervention. Based on the results of the assessment program, weaknesses can be identified, explicitly discussed, and addressed.The usefulness of this tool in humanitarian relief may be twofold: (1) to assess the design and implementation of effective programs; and (2) to highlight the inevitable need for capacity building as the disaster situation evolves.
Task Force St. Bernard: Operational Issues and Medical Management of a National Guard Disaster Response Operation
Authors: Bonnett Carl J. , Schock Tony R. , McVaney Kevin E. , Colwell Christopher B. , Depass Christopher
Published: August 2016

After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States on 29 August 2005, it became obvious that the country was facing an enormous national emergency. With local resources overwhelmed, governors across the US responded by deploying thousands of National Guard soldiers and airmen. The National Guard has responded to domestic disasters due to natural hazards since its inception, but an event with the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina was unprecedented. The deployment of >900 Army National Guard soldiers to St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana in the aftermath of the Hurricane was studied to present some of the operational issues involved with providing medical support for this type of operation. In doing so, the authors attempt to address some of the larger issues of how the National Guard can be incor- porated into domestic disaster response efforts. A number of unforeseen issues with regards to medical operations, medical supply, communication, preventive medicine, legal issues, and interactions with civilians were encoun- tered and are reviewed. A better understanding of the National Guard and how it can be utilized more effectively in future disaster response operations can be developed.
Psychological Trauma in a Relief Worker—A Case Report from Earthquake-Struck Areas of North Pakistan
Authors: Bilal Muhammad Sami , Rana Mowadat Huassain , Rahim Sajid , Ali Sohail
Published: August 2016

Vicarious traumatization is now a well-known entity and may have negative influences on those that are involved in rescue efforts in any disaster or traumatic events. Healthcare workers work with trauma survivors and witness an immense array of gruesome and ghastly images. This work has the potential to cause those engaged in rescue efforts to become affected subconsciously.

Job-related stress may cause psychological symptoms in care providers who provide support and listen to the survivors' account of trauma. A therapist working in disaster situations may become a victim of psychological anguish—undermining their physical and mental well-being as well as their profession, adversely affecting their traumatized patients, and leading to a counter-productive therapist-survivor relationship.

This significant theme of secondary trauma must be recognized in relief workers at early stages and must be addressed at an individual as well as organizational level. The key may lie in turning to social supports, adapting positive coping mechanisms, and subsequently seeking mental health consultation. Further research is required in this area to determine the best resolution.
Editorial Comments— Preliminary Investigation into the Role of Physiotherapists in Disaster Response
Authors: McColl Graeme
Published: August 2016

Too often during major emergencies, those with specialty skills are perceived as unnecessary and are left sitting on the sidelines. Sometimes, they are not even considered. When they are utilized, they often are assigned menial tasks that, understandably, do not encourage a willingness to “buy in” to a response.
Effect of food allowance on diet selectivity and intake of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) stover leaves by sheep
Authors: Fernández-Rivera S. , Midou A. , Marichatou H.
Published: August 2016

The influence of food allowance or level of food excess on diet selectivity and intake by sheep given pearl millet stover leaves, and the potential feeding value of the food leftovers (not eaten) (L) were studied. Animals were given food at four levels of L (100, 300, 500 and 700 g dry matter (DM) per day). All sheep received different food allowances (A, g DM per day) and had different L/A and A/M (g DM per kg M) ratios. An additional treatment consisted of feeding the leftovers from the two highest levels of food excess to six rams to have 300 g DM of L per day. A diet supplement was given to provide sufficient rumen degradable protein and sulphur to sustain microbial activity. Variances of organic matter (OM) digestibility (OMD, g/kg) and intake (g/kg M0·75) of both DM (DMI) and digestible OM (DOMI) of the original millet leaves were analysed using L, L/A, A/M and A/M0·75as independent variables. Variation accounted for was highest when OMD was analysed as a function of L/A (R2= 0·34) and when DMI was analysed as a function of A/M (R2= 0·79) or A/M0·75(R2= 0·80). The response in OMD to varying L/A was best described by the equation OMD = 457 (s.e. 16) + 157 (s.e. 48) L/A. As L/A or A/M increased, L had a lower concentration of acid-detergent fibre and a higher in sacco OM disappearance. As A/M increased, DOMI and L/A increased following a diminishing return pattern. However, when A/M fell below 31·1 (s.e. 0·9) g DM per kg M, DOMI decreased linearly. No differences (P> 0·33) were observed for OMD between the original food (505 (s.e. 8) g/kg) and the re-fed leftovers (489 (s.e. 15) g/kg), but DOMI was lower with the latter (22•4 (s.e. 0·4) v. 20·3 (s.e. 0·8) g/kg M0˙75,P< 0·03). Results suggest that DOMI of millet stover should be determined at L/A much higher than the traditionally recommended (0·15), and support the hypothesis that farmers could benefit from feeding millet stover at high allowances to animals of high economic value and give the leftovers to less valuable or less selective stock.
The effect of body weight and energy intake on the composition of deposited tissue in pigs
Authors: de Greef K. H. , Verstegen M. W. A. , Kemp B. , van der Togt P. L.
Published: August 2016

Many pig growth models assume that there is no effect of energy intake and of body weight on the ratio of lipid to protein deposition rate in pigs below their maximal protein deposition rate. An experiment was performed to check whether an effect of body weight and of amount of energy intake on this partitioning of energy is indeed absent when protein deposition is limited by energy intake. Two constant amounts of energy were given above maintenance requirement (12·6 and 16·3 MJ digestible energy (DE) per day for production, treatment L and H, respectively). A total of 52 entire male pigs were slaughtered at 25,45, 65, 85 or 105 kg live weight. Results showed that, for both levels of intake, the ratio of lipid to protein deposition rate increased with increasing body weight. At the L energy intake, the ratio of lipid to protein deposition rate increased from 0·74 at 25 kg to 0·99 at 105 kg body weight. In animals receiving the H treatment, the ratio of lipid to protein deposition rate increased from 0·82 to 1·35 in that weight range. This change in nutrient partition was also reflected in daily gain. Daily gain declined with increasing live weight, a decrease of 150 g/day over the weight range 25 to 105 kg. The 3·7 MJ DE difference in energy intake between treatment H and L resulted in an average overall difference of 105 g daily gain. A control group fed ad libitum showed that protein deposition capacity was above 200 g/day, thus the pigs at the L and H treatment were below their protein deposition capacity. It was concluded that both live weight and energy intake influence the ratio of lipid to protein deposition rate. The mechanism of partitioning between lipid and protein deposition below maximal protein deposition capacity needs further specification in order to improve the predictions of growth models which use the linear-plateau concept.
Performance of broilers and rabbits given diets containing full fat neem (Azadirachta indica) seed meal
Authors: Salawut M. B. , Adedeji S. K. , Hassan W. H.
Published: August 2016

Experiments were carried out to establish the suitability of full fat neem seed meal (FFNSM) in broiler and growing rabbit diets. In the broiler experiment, 200-day-old (Babcock) broiler chicks were used in a 10-week trial, with the FFNSM fixed at 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg diet. In the rabbit experiment 24 rabbits of three different breeds were used in an 8-week trial, with the FFNSM fixed at 0 (control), 100, 200 and 300 g/kg diet. The criteria of response were food intake, weight gain, food conversion and protein efficiency ratio and mortality. There was a significant (P < 0·05) negative correlation between the dietary inclusion of FFNSM, weight gain and food conversion efficiency of the birds in the starter phase. In the finisher phase from 5 to 10 weeks, food intake, weight gain, food conversion and protein efficiency ratio did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between the birds on the control diet and diets containing up to 75 g FFNSM per kg. For all the measurements, rabbits on the diet with 100 g FFNSM per kg gave better results than the control. Food intake, weight gain, food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between rabbits on control diet and the diet containing 200 g FFNSM per kg. Performance on the diet with 300 g FFNSM per kg was poorest.
A note on effect of inbreeding on production traits in pigs
Authors: Christensen K. , Jensen P. , Jørgensen J. N.
Published: August 2016

Pigs with inbreeding coefficients, ranging from 0·125 to 0·375 were analysed for effect of inbreeding on daily carcass gain, body length and meat proportion in the carcass. The foundation animals were back crosses of a Landrace boar of his daughters which were Yorkshire Landrace hybrids. The statistical model included effect of sex and slaughter weight in addition to the effect of inbreeding. A statistically significant effect of inbreeding on daily carcass gain was found with a linear decline of 1·6 g for 0·1 increase in inbreeding coefficient. There was no effect of inbreeding on body length and meat proportion. Carcass weight had a highly significant effect on body length and daily carcass gain. Effect of sex was statistically significant for meat proportion only.
Factors affecting calving date and its relationship with production traits of Hereford dams
Authors: Rege J. E. O. , Famula T. R.
Published: August 2016

Calving date (CD) records of 68 896 polled Hereford dams of 120 682 calves were coded within herd-year-season with date 1 being the date the first calf was born. Factors affecting CD and its relationship with production traits were investigated. Early calving was found to be associated with high performance, conceivably because dams calving early were able to utilize the season-dependent range pastures to their advantage thus providing adequate milk supply to their calves. Weight and age of dam, weight of calf, initial CD, index of milk production potential, and previous CD were found to have significant influence on current CD. Extremely small cows at previous weaning had a tendency to calve late. Cows calving in the spring produced calves with higher overall weight per day of age than did cows calving in other seasons. Initial CD was found to affect CD in subsequent parities. Repeatability of CD was estimated at 0·23. Heritability was estimated at 0·16 (s.e. 0·05) and indicated that additive genetic variance constitutes a moderate proportion of the variation in CD. Genetic correlation of CD with birth weight (−0·30, s.e. 0·10), post-weaning rate of gain (·0·64, s.e. 0·19) and yearling weight (−0·60, s.e. 0·11) indicated that ‘plus’ additive genes for CD influenced these traits favourably. However, the corresponding correlations with pre-weaning rate of gain (−0·03, s.e. 0·08) and weaning weight (−0·05, s.e. 0·03) were not significant.
Effect of feeding level during rearing and mating strategy on performance of Swedish Yorkshire sows. 1. Growth, puberty and conception rate
Authors: Le Cozier Y. , Ringmar-Cederberg E. , Johansen S. , Dourmad J. Y. , Neil M. , Sterna S.
Published: August 2016

From 74 to 180 days of age, a complete diet was offered either ad libitum (AL) or at proportionately 0·8 of the observed consumption (R) to two groups of purebred Yorkshire gilts, comprising 128 and 127 animals, respectively. Half of the animals in each group was served at the first detected oestrus, and the other half at the third detected oestrus, according to a plan defined at the start of the experiment. Animals which failed to show oestrus before 240 days of age were culled.

At 100 kg live weight (LW), AL gilts were younger (-20 days) and had thicker backfat (+2.3 mm) than R gilts. At the first detected oestrus, AL females were also younger (198v.203 days), heavier (127v.117 kg LW) and fatter (17·8v.14·7 mm backfat thickness) than R gilts. No difference between feeding treatments during rearing was observed in the percentage of females detected on heat before day 240. Seventy-three animals were culled from the start of the experiment until service, half of them (54%) failing to show oestrus. At service, LW and backfat thickness in the four treatments ranged from 117 to 148 kg LW and 14·9 to 19·7 mm, respectively. The body fatness, estimated from the ratio of backfat to LW, was higher in AL than in R gilts (0·14 and 0·12 , respectively), whereas no difference was observed between E1 and E3 gilts (0·13 on average). After the first service 15% of the gilts came back into heat but the conception rate was not affected by feeding treatment during rearing.
Predicted responses to selection from indices incorporating feeding pattern traits of pigs using electronic feeders
Authors: Hall A. D. , Hill W.G. , Bampton P. R. , Webb A. J.
Published: August 2016

The main aims of this study were to predict the increase in the accuracy of selection and the response to selection achieved by including feeding pattern traits, such as number and size of meals, as selection criteria in indices to improve growth rate, lean content of the carcass and food conversion ratio. Genetic and phenotypic parameters obtained for pigs given foodad libitumusing single space electronic feeders were used to construct the indices. The predicted genetic gain in the index increased for indices with more feeding pattern traits. The inclusion of part test records for feeding patterns resulted in similar predicted correlated responses and predicted accuracy of selection to those using whole test records of daily food intake. The inclusion of feeding patterns as selection criteria resulted in indices that were less robust to inaccurate parameter estimates. It was concluded that feeding pattern traits could be used to improve the predicted accuracy of selection for the efficiency of lean growth but the most effective and robust index would include only daily gain, backfat depth, daily food intake and mean number of visits to the feeders per day. These traits may also be useful in reducing the length of the test period necessary for accurate measures of food intake, so increasing the potential intensity of selection using a given number of feeders.
The influence of the proportion of Duroc genes on growth, carcass and pork eating quality characteristics
Authors: Blanchard P. J. , Warkup C. C. , Ellis M. , Willis M. B. , Avery P.
Published: August 2016

A study was carried out involving 721 pigs, comprising boars and gilts, with either 0, 0.25 , or 0.50 Duroc inclusion level, which were produced by mating Large White boars with Large White × British Landrace sows, Large White boars with Duroc × (Large White × British Landrace) sows, or Duroc boars with Large White × British Landrace sows, respectively. Animals were reared on one of seven different feeding regimens from 30 to 90 kg live weight. Tissue growth rates were determined using a triple sampling procedure based on a combination of full-side and ham joint dissection on subsamples of pigs (127 and 366 pigs, respectively) and P2 backfat thickness on the remainder. Initial body composition was determined at 30 kg on subsamples of the three genotypes. Daily food intakes increased with increasing Duroc inclusion but live-weight gains were similar for the three genotypes. Lean and fat growth rates and food conversion ratios were greatest for the 0·50 Duroc group, although the genotype differences were small. Killing-out proportions and P2 fat depths were higher for the 0.25 and 0·50 Duroc groups. The proportion of lean in the carcass was lower (P < 0·01) for 0·50 Duroc pigs. Japanese colour scores and EEL reflectance indicated that the longissimus muscle was darker for the 0·25 and 0·50 Duroc genotypes. Subcutaneous fat firmness scores and penetrometer readings taken in the mid back indicated softer fat for the 0 Duroc group. Intramuscular fat levels increased (P < 0·01) with increasing Duroc inclusion (10.4, 11.2, and 18·2 g/kg for the 0, 0.25, and 0.50 groups respectively). Cooked longissimus from pigs with 0·50 Duroc had a lower shear force and was judged to have a stronger pork odour and to be more tender and acceptable than that from the 0 Duroc group. The 0.25 Duroc group showed a small improvement in tenderness but a weaker pork odour and similar overall acceptability compared with the 0 Duroc group. This study suggests that the use of the Duroc in crossing systems in the United Kingdom will have limited impact on growth performance but that 0·50 Duroc inclusion will result in fatter carcasses, higher intramuscular fat levels and improved eating quality.
The use of genetic algorithms for optimizing age structure in breeding populations when inbreeding depresses genetic gain through effects on reproduction
Authors: Meszaros S. A. , Banks R. G. , Werf J. H. J. van der , Goddard M.
Published: August 2016

A genetic algorithm (GA) was used to find optimal male and female age distributions in a natural mating system that maximizes cumulative response to mass selection over a 20-year time horizon for the case where inbreeding affects reproduction at 0·0 (F-0) and 0·1 (F-10) per 0·1 inbreeding coefficient. Twenty breeding female population sizes were considered ranging from 25 to 500 breeding females distributed across five age groups. Loss of response due to inbreeding effects on reproduction ranged from 19.4% and 15.5% in small breeding female populations to 2.5% and 5.2% in large breeding female populations when number of males was fixed (FX) or optimized (OP), respectively. OP resulted in an increase in response over FX ranging from 0·0 % to 69.3% for F-0 and 0·0 % to 77.6% for F-10. The potential loss of genetic gain that resulted from ignoring the inbreeding effects upon reproduction when they really existed ranged from 0·1 % to 44.6%. The potential loss of genetic gain that resulted from including inbreeding effects upon reproduction when they did not exist ranged from 0·1% to 3.9%. Optimal male and female age structures depended upon breeding female population size, the number of breeding males and inbreeding effects. Ignoring inbreeding effects upon reproduction may result in over estimation of response to selection. Use of a GA allowed accounting for complex relationships in the optimization.
Effects of age and maternal reactivity on the stress response of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis and the sympathetic nervous system in neonatal pigs
Authors: Kanitz E. , Otten W. , Nürnberg G. , Brüssow K. P.
Published: August 2016

The study was conducted to investigate the adreno cortical capacity after injection of ACTH and the sensitivity of the pituitary and the adrenal to immobilization in neonatal pigs at different ages. Furthermore, the endocrine reactivity of the offspring was compared with the stress reactivity of their mothers. Four piglets were selected from each of six different litters and subjected to an immobilization test and an adrenal function test using synthetic ACTH1-24 at the ages of 7, 21 and 35 days; the six sows were also subjected to restraint and an ACTH stimulation test. Plasma β-endorphin, norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations were measured in blood samples taken 2 min after restraint and cortisol concentrations were measured 60 min after ACTH administration. A highly sensitive adrenal response was demonstrated in both sows and piglets and adrenal reactivity showed also a considerable consistency over time within sows. In neonatal pigs, the cortisol response to ACTH was greatest on day 7 and decreased up to day 35. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels after the 2-min immobilization were also higher at day 7 compared with the other ages (P < 0·01). Piglets from sows, classified as high reacting according to their cortisol or epinephrine response, also showed significantly higher cortisol levels after ACTH challenge at all ages and significantly higher epinephrine levels after restraint at day 7 than piglets from low reacting sows. The results show an age-related change of pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenomedullary responses in neonatal pigs and an absence of a stress hyporesponsive period at all ages studied. The results also indicate different levels of excitability in the offspring depending on the maternal stress reactivity.
A comparison of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface, Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates
Authors: Johnston S. D. , Steen R. W. J. , Kilpatrick D. J. , Lowe D. E. , Chestnutt D. M. B.
Published: August 2016

A comparison was made over 2 years of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface), Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates under a grass-based system of production. Suffolk Cheviot ewes consumed significantly more silage dry matter than the Greyface ewes in both years of the study. There was no overall difference between Greyface and Suffolk Cheviot ewes in terms of prolificacy. However lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes had a higher growth rate than lambs from Greyface ewes from birth to weaning in year 1 (P < 0·01). In the comparison of the three ewe breeds sired by Dutch Texel rams in year 2, Dutch Texel ewes produced a similar number of lambs to the other genotypes but had a higher incidence of difficult lambings, higher lamb mortality and consequently a lower number of lambs weaned. Purebred Dutch Texel male lambs had lower growth rates than crossbred Dutch Texel lambs (143 compared with 158 glday for lambs from Greyface ewes and 166 (s.e. 13.4) glday for lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes in year 1 and 183 compared with 251 and 248 respectively (s.e. 10.9) glday in year 2). Lambs sired by Suffolk rams had higher growth rates than those sired by Dutch Texel rams (252 compared with 224 (s.e. 5.4) glday) in year 2.
Effect of feeding before, during and after milking on dairy cow behaviour and the hormone cortisol
Authors: Johansson B. , Redbo I. , Svennersten-Sjaunja K.
Published: August 2016

The present study was performed to find out how dairy cow behaviour and the level of the adrenocortical hormone cortisol were influenced by feeding in relation to milking The experiment was designed as a Latin square and performed on 24 primiparous and multiparous Swedish Red and White dairy cows. Each treatment period lasted for 21 days, including 11 days when the cows became accustomed to the new routines. The cows were exposed to three treatments: feeding 1·5 h before milking (FBM), feeding exactly at the same time as milking (FDM) and feeding 1·5 h after milking (FAM). Recordings of individual behaviour were made with instantaneous direct observation of each cow. For the statistical analyses the recordings were divided into two groups: 0 to 1·5 h after feeding and 0 to 1·5 h after milking. Results with a P-value below 0·05 were regarded as statistically significant. The interesting findings in this study were: (a) 0 to 1·5 h after feeding, the percentage of lying was higher in FDM and the percentage of lying while ruminating was higher in FDM; (b) 0 to 1·5 h after milking, the cows in FAM had a significantly lower percentage of social interactions and a significantly higher percentage of oral activity; and (c) feeding-related level of cortisol stayed higher 30 to 60 min after feeding in FAM compared with FBM and FDM, whereas milking-related cortisol secretion tended to be lower in FDM than in FBM and FAM These results demonstrate that feeding during milking may be an important management routine, also for dairy cow behaviour.
The effect of dietary protein level on milk yield and composition and piglet growth and composition of the Meishan synthetic and European White breeds of sow
Authors: Sinclair A. G. , Shaw J. M. , Edwards S.A. , Hoste S. , McCartney A.
Published: August 2016

Current feeding recommendations for lactating sows may be inappropriate for modern genotypes with high milk production. The introduction of the prolific but obese Meishan breed into sow lines also necessitates a review of nutrient requirements. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was used to investigate the influence of breed type (Meishan synthetic 50% (M) and purebred European White (W) on response to dietary protein level (L = 140 g crude protein (CP) per kg, 6 g lysine per kg; H = 181 g CP per kg, 9 g lysine per kg) over a 5-week lactation. Milk yield (days 5, 9, 13,17, 21 and 28), milk composition and piglet growth and body composition were measured to quantify aspects of lactational performance. M had higher litter sizes throughout lactation (P < 0·001) and produced more milk than W(M = 10·04 W = 7·85 (s.e.d. 0·521) kg/day, P < 0·001) and milk of a higher fat content (M = 79·6 W = 75·0 (s.e.d. 5·71 g/kg, P < 0·05). Total solids were not significantly different between treatments. H produced higher milk protein content than L (L = 43·0 H = 55·7 (s.e.d. 3.01) g/kg, P = 0·05). Litter growth rates showed a breed effect (P < 0·001), diet effect (P < 0·001) and a breed × diet interaction (ML = 2·41 MH = 3·21 WL = 2·07 WH = 2·07 (s.e.d. 0·658) kg/day, P < 0·001). M piglets had higher fat deposition rates (M = 37 W = 24 (s.e.d. 4.5) g/day, P < 0·05). L piglets had a lower protein (P < 0·05) and fat (P < 0·05) deposition rate compared with H piglets. Higher litter growth rates of M sows resulted from a combination of increased milk yield and f at content and this was further enhanced by additional dietary protein. W sows showed no milk yield response to dietary protein but reduced maternal tissue catabolism.
Variance components due to direct and maternal effects and estimation of breeding values for 12-week weight of Welsh Mountain lambs
Authors: Saatci M. , Ap Dewi I. , Ulutas Z.
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of the genetic and maternal environmental factors influencing the 12-week weight (12WW) of Welsh Mountain lambs and to estimate genetic parameters for this trait. Records of 8880 Welsh Mountain lambs born between 1979 and 1995 were analysed. The records were from the nucleus flock of the CAMDA cooperative breeding group. In this flock selection of replacements had been based on a multi-trait index incorporating lamb growth and maternal ability as important objectives and 12WW as one of the selection criteria. Twelve models were examined, all including direct additive genetic variance and various combinations of genetic and environmental maternal effects. The most appropriate model was chosen based on log-likelihood ratio tests. It included appropriate fixed effects, and direct additive, maternal additive, maternal permanent environment and maternal common environment (litter) random effects that defined proportionally 0⋅21 (h2), 0⋅09 (m2), 0⋅06 (pe2) and 0⋅18 (ce2) of the phenotypic variance. Ignoring the additive maternal effect resulted in inflated estimates of direct heritability and ignoring the environmental effects associated with dam inflated the direct and maternal heritabilities. There was no correlation (P < 0⋅05) between the additive direct and additive maternal effects. Additive direct and maternal breeding values increased by 0⋅12 (s.e. 0⋅006) kg/year and 0Ό3 (s.e. 0⋅003) kg/year respectively. The results demonstrate the effective incorporation of selection index methodology in the context of a hill sheep flock and also the importance of several categories of maternal effects.
Dietary fat and climate alter food intake, performance of lactating sows and their litters and fatty acid composition of milk
Authors: Christon R. , Saminadin G. , Lionet H. , Racon B.
Published: August 2016

Two experiments were carried out simultaneously in a temperate environment (T), at Sourches (west France), with 24 Landrace X Large White sows and in a tropical environment (TRO), in Guadeloupe, France (16° latitude N, 61° longitude W), with 18 Large White sows, to study the effect of incorporating fat into the lactation diet on sow and litter performance. In each environment, multiparous sows were divided into three groups and given either a control diet (C) containing 20 g fat per kg, or the same diet enriched with a 50 : 50 peanut-rapeseed oil mixture, so as to obtain a fat content of 80 g/kg (medium fat, MF) or 140 g/kg (high fat, HF). A restricted experimental diet was supplied to the sows from day 105 of gestation until farrowing and then ad libitum throughout the 28-day lactation period. The piglets all had ad libitum access to solid food from day 21 to day 70. Milk samples were collected 24 h post partum (colostrum) and at day 21 of lactation. Chemical composition of milk was determined and fatty acid composition was assessed by capillary gas chromatography. Compared with T, the TRO sows showed an increase (P < 0⋅001) in rectal temperature and respiration rate but a decrease in food intake (P < 0·01), milk yield (P < 0⋅001) and litter weight gain from birth to weaning (P < 0⋅05) as well as from weaning to day 70, reaching 25 to 30 kg live weight (P < 0⋅05). However, as dietary fat level increased, the T sows showed a linear decrease (P < 0⋅01) in food intake and no significant change in metabolizable energy (ME) intake during the lactation period. In TRO, the MF diet led to a 0⋅22 proportional increase (P < 0⋅01) in ME intake through a change in nycthemeral feeding behaviour. Both environment and increased dietary fat level significantly affected the fat level and fatty acid composition of colostrum as well as mature milk, particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in milk. In conclusion, the addition of fat to the lactating sow diet may be more beneficial under high ambient temperatures than in thermoneutral conditions.
Digestion and microbial fermentation ofEragrostis curvulasupplemented with tallow
Authors: Fondevila M. , Cufré G. , Nogueira J.C.M. , Godio L. , Alcantu G.
Published: August 2016

Twoin vitroexperiments were conducted in order to determine if microbial fermentation of Eragrostis curvula hay is depressed by high levels of added tallow. Two levels of tallow, to reach 0.06 (T6) and 0.12 (T12) of the ether extract (organic matter basis) in food were compared with a control (T0, 25 g ether extract per kg). The first experiment studied the pattern of gas production. From 24 h onwards, gas volume for T0 was higher (P < 0.05) than for T6 and T12. However, lag time was shorter with tallow, probably because of utilization of the released glycerol. Fermentation of a similar amount of fat included in T6 and T12 as the only substrate (fat-6 and fat-12) depressed gas production compared with the blank, irrespective of fat level. In a second experiment, characteristics of microbial fermentation were studied, including volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, bacterial adhesion to fibrous particles (measured according to purine bases concentration) and polysaccharidase and glycosidase activities, at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h incubation. Total VFA was higher (P < 0.05) in T0 compared with T6 but not with T12. Acetate: propionate ratio diminished with tallow in the food. Higher total xylosidase (P > 0⋅05) and glycosidase (P < 0⋅001) activities were observed for T0 than for T6 and T12 and similar responses were observed regarding specific activities. Bacterial adhesion was not different between T0 and T6 but it was smaller in T12. The inhibition of microbial fermentation by tallow addition is more related to specific polysaccharidase and glycosidase activities, rather than to a depressed bacterial adhesion.
Traceability of lamb production systems: carotenoids in plasma and adipose
tissue
Authors: Prache S. , Theriez M.
Published: August 2016

This study was conducted to determine whether carotenoid pigments can act as
biomarkers of grass feeding to trace lamb production systems. Three production
systems were compared: G = grazing (72 lambs), S = stall-feeding (26 lambs), and
GS = grazing period followed by a stall-feeding period (27 lambs). Presence of
carotenoids in tissues was evaluated by plasma concentration and reflectance
spectrum of subcutaneous caudal adipose tissue. Plasma carotenoid content was
measured during the grazing period for G and GS lambs, at the end of the grazing
period for GS lambs and at slaughter for G, S and GS lambs. Reflectance spectrum
of adipose tissue was measured at slaughter for 38 G and 26 S lambs. We collected
135 G and 26 S blood samples. Carotenoids were detected in 97% of the G blood
samples, whereas they were not detected in 93% of the S blood samples. Plasma
carotenoid content of all the GS lambs decreased during the stall-feeding period.
Mean reflectance spectra of adipose tissue of G and S lambs differed between 450
and 510 nm, which corresponds to light absorption by carotenoids. We performed a
mathematical analysis of the spectrum in order to quantify absorbance in this zone
and to propose an index that can be used in the meat industry to trace animal
production systems. This method was less discriminating than plasma carotenoid
analysis, as there was some overlapping in the frequency distribution of the
traceability index for G and S lambs that concerned 19% of the lambs. Sensitivity
of the two methods to bias and applicability to cattle are discussed.
Effects of heat load and photoperiod on milk yield and composition in three
dairy herds in Israel
Authors: Aharoni Y. , Brosh A. , Ezra E.
Published: August 2016

Effects of heat load and of photoperiod on lactation performance were
evaluated using milk test data of three Israeli Holstein herds over a period of 3
years, from 1994 to 1996. All together 2209 cows, with 28029 milk records, were
included. Photoperiod effects were examined as associated with day length and
daily changes in day length and heat load index was formulated as a function of
the seasonal day and night ambient temperatures, to account for the heat load
effect. The regression model included effects of cow, herd, year, lactation number
and days in milk in addition to the seasonal effects. The dependent variables were
milk yield and fat, protein and lactose concentrations. Milk yield was affected by
both photoperiod and heat load, with the peak photoperiod effect in May and
amplitude of 3·1 (s.d. 0·9) kg/day and negative heat load effect of-1-8 (s.d. 0·4)
kg/day at its peak. Protein concentration was affected by photoperiod, with the
peak effect in January (amplitude of 1·7 (s.e. 0·5) g/kg) but not by heat load
(-0-2 (s.d. 0·6) glkg). Fat concentration was affected primarily by heat load
(-3-4 (s.d. 0·7) g/kg), with a photoperiod effect which peaked in October
(amplitude of 1·8 (s.d. 0·8) g/kg). Lactose concentration was affected by both
environmental factors to a lesser extent (photoperiod amplitude of 0·6 (s.d. 0·2)
g/kg and heat load effect of-0-03 (s.d. 0·16) g/kg). Comparison of the predicted
seasonal effects on milk yield and composition with the annual fluctuation in the
national herd showed a good match of the predicted effects with the national
observations. It is concluded that while heat load relief may be beneficial,
manipulation of the photoperiod may induce adverse effects on milk yield and
composition.
Some maternal factors associated with dystocia in Belgian Blue cattle
Authors: Murray R. D. , Cartwright T. A. , Downham D. Y. , Murray M. A.
Published: August 2016

Measurements of conformation and pelvic characteristics of pedigree Belgian
Blue cows were compared in cattle from 11 herds. In seven herds comprising 56 cows
caesarean sections were routinely used to deliver pedigree calves and in four
herds comprising 52 cows they were given the opportunity to calve naturally per
vaginum. Cows in the seven herds were approximately 10 months younger than those
in the other herds. External pelvic measurements were linear distances between the
tuber coxae, between the tuber coxarum and the tuber ischium, between the tuber
ischii, the vertical distance between the underside of the tail and the tuber
ischii, and heights of the tuber coxae and tuber ischii from the floor. Internal
pelvic measurements were the vertical distance between the ventral body of the
sacrum and the pubic symphysis and the horizontal distance between the wings of
the ileum at the widest point of the pelvic inlet, both made with a Rice
pelvimeter. Condition scores were assessed for all cows. There were correlations
(P < 0·001) between internal pelvic height and width, external measurements,
and age. For cattle that calved unassisted, pelvic height (P < 0·05) and area
(P < 0·05) were significantly larger than those delivered by elective caesarean
section. From internal pelvic measurements of 74 cows, those which always
delivered live calves had a larger pelvic area (P < 0·01) than cows that
delivered a dead foetus following any parturition.
Effect of dietary lipid on the content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in beef muscle
Authors: Enser M. , Scollan N. D. , Choi N. J. , Kurt E. , Hallett K. , Wood J. D.
Published: August 2016

We have examined the effect of dietary fats containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of beef m. longissimus lumborum. Four groups of eight Charolais steers were given, for 120 days, grass silage plus a barley/sugar-beet feed concentrate containing one of four fat supplements: Megalac (saturated), linseed (high 18: 3),fish oil (high 20: 5 n-3, eicosapentenoic acid and 22: 6 n-3, docosahexaenoic acid) or linseed plus fish oil. The concentrates supplied 400 g/kg dry-matter (DM) intake and were designed to supply 45 g/kg of the total dietary fat calculated to be 60 g/kg of DM and to contain similar amounts of linoleic acid. Muscle from steers given the Megalac supplement contained 11·3 mg CLA per 100 g muscle and this was increased two- to three-fold in animals given the more unsaturated fat supplements. The increased deposition of CLA was similar for both linseed and fish oil supplements although the concentrations of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fish oil diet were much less than in the linseed diet. This suggests potent inhibition of conversion of CLA to trans vaccenic acid by fish oil fatty acids or their rumen metabolites.
Effects of dietary lipid composition on growth, food utilization and body
composition of European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
Authors: García-Gallego M. , Akharbach H. , de la Higuera M.
Published: August 2016

Six experimental diets with similar contents of macronutrients (450, 300 and
70 g/kg dry matter of protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively) and, therefore,
total energy, hut differing in the composition of lipid component, were each given
to three replicate groups of European eel. Different fat mixtures were used to
formulate diets with different levels of fatty acids considered as essential for
fish: linoleic (18: 2n6), linolenic (18: ЗпЗ) and highly unsaturated fatty acid
(HUFA)n3, mainly EPA (20: 5n3) and DHA (22: 6n3). One tested diet contained low
levels of all the three components, three diets had a high level of each one of
these, the fifth diet contained high levels of both 18C fatty acids and, finally,
a sixth diet incorporated simultaneously high amounts of 18: 2n6 and
(HUFA)nЗ.

Dietary lipid composition did not significantly affect food intake or protein
and fat apparent digestibility. However, growth and food efficiency were the best
with the diet containing approximately 5 g/kg of both linoleic and linolenic
acids. Although all groups increased their body fat content over the experiment,
the fatty acid composition of total muscle lipids was rather insensitive to lipid
dietary composition, perhaps due to the high body fat content of the eels prior to
the experiment.
Silages harvested at different stages of grass growth v. concentrate
foods as energy and protein sources in milk production
Authors: Rinne M. , Jaakkola S. , Kaustell K. , Heikkilä T. , Huhtanen P.
Published: August 2016

Four silages were prepared at 1-week intervals from a primary growth of
timothy-meadow fescue sward. They were offered to 32 Finnish Ayrshire cows and
supplemented with 7 or 10 kg of concentrate containing 0 or 1·15 kg rapeseed meal
(RSM). The basal concentrate consisted of barley, oats and molassed sugar-beet
pulp (2: 2: 1) and minerals. Diets were arranged 4 × 2 × 2 factorially in a cyclic
change-over experiment with four periods of 21 days each.

Silages contained 739, 730, 707 and 639 g digestible organic matter (D value)
per kg dry matter (DM) for harvests I, II, III and IV, respectively. All dietary
factors had marked effects on the performance of the cows but generally
interactions between treatments could not be detected. A decrease of 10 g/kg in
silage D value decreased energy-corrected milk (ECM) production of the cows by
0·50 kg/day and silage DM intake by 0·162 kg/day. An increment of 1 kg concentrate
DM decreased silage DM intake by 0·61 kg and yielded 0·55 kg more ECM per day.
Inclusion of RSM into the concentrate increased daily ECM production by 1·7 kg and
silage DM intake by 0·60 kg/kg RSM when substituting the basal concentrate. Milk
yield and yields of milk constituents decreased curvilinearly with delayed date of
harvest the difference being greatest between the last two cuts and thus closely
reflected the changes in silage D value. Milk protein concentration increased as
apparent digestibility (P < 0.001) and concentrate level in the diet increased
(P < 0.001). Milk fat concentration was not affected by the dietary
treatments.

Marginal ECM production responses to estimated metabolizable energy (ME)
intake were higher when intake was manipulated with the date of silage harvest
(0·138 kg ECM per MJ additional ME) compared with increased concentrate feeding
(0·103); highest response was achieved by RSM feeding (0·244). Additional intake
of calculated amino acids absorbed from the small intestine (AAT) manipulated by
silage harvest time resulted in the highest marginal response (0·59 g milk protein
per g additional AAT), while increased concentrate feeding and inclusion of RSM
were equal (0·50 v. 0·49, respectively). Improving silage quality by earlier
harvest resulted in higher milk yield, and in greater efficiency in the use of
increments of estimated ME and AAT than was seen with increased concentrate
feeding. Protein supplementation improved milk production irrespective of silage
harvest date.