bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urinary purine derivatives excretion in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle
Authors: Herrera Gomez F. , Hovell F.D.DeB , Sandoval Castro C.A.
Published: November 2021

The purine derivatives (PD) have been proposed as a non-invasive method to estimate microbial-N supply to the small intestine (Chen et al., 1990a; Verbic et al., 1990). The use of PD urinary excretion has the advantage that it can be used with intact animals thus reducing the concern of animal welfare issues. Although, there are known differences in purine metabolism between cattle (B. taurus), sheep and buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) (Chen et al., 1990b; Chen et al., 1996), no direct comparison of PD urinary excretion has been made so far between cattle especies, therefore, the objective of the present experiment was to compare PD urinary excretion of B. taurus and B. indicus cattle fed similar diets under tropical conditions.
Milk production from dairy cows offered a conserved barley/kale bicrop compared to grass silage
Authors: Moorby J.M. , Evans P.R. , Young N.E.
Published: November 2021

The efficiency of use of feed protein for milk protein production is very poor, particularly for animals offered conserved forages. Contributing to this is the inefficient capture of rumen degradable N in situations where a readily fermentable energy supply is not available for use by the rumen microbial population. The incorporation of a whole crop cereal into a conserved forage could increase rumen protein efficiency. This experiment was carried out to investigate the milk production of dairy cows offered a conserved forage of a whole crop barley and kale bicrop compared with grass silage, and a mixture of the two.
Effect of non-digestible oligosaccharides in diets for weaner pigs on in vitro fermentation
Authors: Houdijk J.G.M. , Williams B.A. , Tamminga S. , Verstegen M.W.A.
Published: November 2021

Dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) shifted the proportion of propionate (↑) and acetate (↓) compared to transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS) in weaner pigs' ileal digesta, both in vivo and in vitro (Houdijk et al., 1997). This could be related to different fermentation rates between these so-called non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs). These rates were studied via the cumulative gas production technique comparing FOS, TOS, and glucose.
Lack of relationship between wheat in vitro viscosity and digestibility parameters for pigs
Authors: Lewis F.J. , McEvoy J. , McCracken K.J.
Published: November 2021

Whilst wheat is a major component in many pig diets it has the most variable composition of any of the cereals (Bolton & Blair, 1974) with wheat variety and the environment in which it was grown influencing its chemical and physical properties and thus nutritive value. A rapid and inexpensive method for prediction of nutritive value is thus needed to account for these variations in wheat composition. Viscosity is closely related to the soluble arabinoxylan content of wheat (Dusel et al., 1997) with a high in vitro wheat viscosity associated with a reduction in apparent metabolisable energy (AME) for poultry (Classen et al, 1995). The relationship between viscosity and nutritive value for pigs is therefore of interest. The present study investigated the effect of wheat quality measured by extract viscosity, on ileal and overall digestibility using the post-valve ‘T’ caecal (PVTC) canulation method in growing pigs.
The effect of offering diets with a reduced crude protein and digestible energy content on the retention and excretion of nitrogen by pigs
Authors: Lee P.A. , Kay R.M.
Published: November 2021

Manipulation of dietary nitrogen content can reduce nitrogen excretion (NE) by the pig by 40 per cent (Kay and Lee, 1995), which has major implications for pollution legislation. Past work (Kay and Lee, 1996) has shown that whilst reduced crude protein (CP) diets reduce NE whilst maintaining nitrogen retention (NR), there is also an increase in backfat depth at slaughter. This suggests an ‘energy sparing’ effect from the lower levels of excess amino acids which might be exploited to lower the cost of the reduced CP diets. The objective of this experiment was to determine the NR and NE of growing and finishing pigs offered diets with reduced CP and Digestible Energy (DE) contents compared with commercial diets or diets with reduced CP content only.
An examination of the effects of level of fish oil inclusion in the diet on forage intake, milk yield and composition of lactating dairy cattle offered two levels of concentrates
Authors: Keady T.W.J. , Mayne C.S.
Published: November 2021

Milk quota restricts the volume and butterfat content of milk production within the European Community. Consequently, reducing the butterfat concentration of milk enables greater volumes of milk to be produced within a given quota, provided the national butterfat base has been exceeded, as has occurred in the United Kingdom in recent years. For example, milk volume supplied within a given quota may be increased by 0.18 for each 10 g/kg decrease in butterfat content. Consequently, there is considerable interest in developing strategies to decrease butterfat content whilst maintaining milk output. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of level of fish oil inclusion on the silage intake of, and animal performance from, lactating dairy cows offered two levels of concentrates.
Effect of nose ringing and dietary modification in outdoor pig production on temporal changes in soil nitrogen status
Authors: Edwards S. A. , Jamieson W. , Riddoch I. , Watson C. A.
Published: November 2021

Traditionally fed outdoor sows at commercial stocking rates can deposit onto soil in excess of 500 kg of nitrogen per hectare per annum from unused dietary nutrients. This has the potential to give rise to serious environmental pollution problems, and it is therefore important to seek methods to reduce this amount or to influence its pollution potential. One major determinant will be the extent to which it can be captured and utilised in grass growth, but this will be dependant on the extent to which the rooting activity of the pigs has destroyed the vegetation cover. This experiment was therefore designed to measure the impact of reducing dietary nitrogen inputs and maintaining grass cover by nose-ringing of sows on the long term changes in soil nitrogen content.
Estimation of direct and maternal genetic parameters for weights of Welsh Black Cattle
Authors: Ulutas Z. , Ap Dewi I. , Saatci M.
Published: November 2021

The importance of maternal effects on birth weight and early growth is well known. These effects represent the contribution of the dam through milk and other aspects of mothering ability (i.e. uterine environment) (Meyer, 1993; Robinson, 1996). In this study a series of animal and animal maternal models were fitted using MTDFREML (Boldman et al., 1995) allowing estimates of direct and maternal genetic paremeters on weights of Welsh Black Cattle.
A description of the growth of sheep
Authors: Lewis R.M. , Emmans G.C. , Simm G. , Dingwall W.S. , FitzSimons J.
Published: November 2021

The idea that an animal of a given kind has, and grows to, a final or mature size is a useful one and several equations have been proposed that describe such growth to maturity (Winsor, 1932; Parks, 1982; Taylor, 1982). The Gompertz is one of these growth functions and describes in a comparatively simple, single equation the sigmoidal pattern of growth. It has 3 parameters, only 2 of which are important - mature size A and the rate parameter B. Estimates of A and B, however, are highly correlated. Considering A and B as a lumped parameter (AB) may overcome this problem. A Gompertz, or any other, growth function is not expected to describe all growth curves. When the environment (e.g., feed, housing) is non-limiting, it may provide a useful and succinct description of growth. The objectives of this study were to examine: (i) if the Gompertz equation adequately describes the growth of two genotypes of sheep under conditions designed to be non-limiting; and, (ii) if the lumped parameter AB has more desirable properties for estimation than A and B separately.
Replacement of fishmeal by rape-seed meal and soya bean meal in concentrates given to pregnant and lactating ewes
Authors: Hill J. , Notman A.B.
Published: November 2021

Fishmeal has been considered for many years an important component of the diet of pregnant and lactating ewes (Hovell and Ørskov, 1989). Recently concerns have been raised over adverse effects of industrial fishing on fish stocks (House of Lords, 1996) and use of animal protein in ruminant diets (GAFTA, 1997). Alternative sources of protein (vegetable sources) to fishmeal have been proposed but they are either expensive or lacking in supply of essential amino acids. The research reported in this paper examines the performance of an alternative protein source to fishmeal given in late pregnancy to ewes bearing multiple offspring and as a creep feed to lambs.
Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows under strip-grazing management
Authors: Orr R.J. , Rutter S.M. , Penning P.D. , Yarrow N.H. , Atkinson L.D. , Champion R.A.
Published: November 2021

Grazed herbage is the cheapest feed available for dairy cows but total intake of nutrients from grazed pasture alone is generally insufficient to allow high yielding dairy cows to reach their production potential. Cows have their main daily meal following afternoon milking in the period up to sunset (e.g. Rook et al., 1994 ). In addition, both the DM content and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of grass increase over the day (e.g. Orr et al., 1997) due to the loss of moisture and the accumulation of the products of photosynthesis. Based on this evidence, this study tested the hypothesis that dairy cows receiving strip-grazing allocations following the afternoon rather than the morning milking would show higher intake rates and consequently higher milk yields.

Twenty Holstein-Friesian cows (median calving date 10 February 1997) were each supplemented with 4 kg concentrates day-1 and strip-grazed a perennial ryegrass pasture in four groups of 5 cows.
Variation in number and proportion of rumen microbes examined both in vivo and in vitro using a simulation system
Authors: Gizzi Gisèle , Zanchi R. , Sciaraffia F.
Published: November 2021

The use of in vitro techniques is rapidly expanding because of an increasing need for routine and reproducible methods to obtain bioavailability data in addition to chemical ones. Furthermore in vivo methods are very expensive, an invasive technique for animals and may give non homogeneous results. In vitro systems could be divided in simulation systems (e.g. Rusitec, Czerkawski and Brekenridge, 1977) that attempt to closely reproduce the animal rumen ecosystem and are characterised by a higher level of complexity; and techniques that are mainly targeted to obtain biavailability data, without trying to mimic rumen metabolism (e.g. enzyme tests, Antoniewicz and Kosmala, 1997). As the fate of feedstufis in the rumen is mostly regulated by the micro-organisms, a rumen simulation system should primarily be characterised by a representative rumen microflora. The aim was to evaluate the possibility of maintaining a normal rumen microflora in an in vitro simulation system.
Relationship between the gas production profiles of mixtures of hay and maize and the patterns of rumen fermentation observed in sheep fed those mixtures
Authors: Rymer C. , Givens D.I.
Published: November 2021

The gas production (GP) technique has been developed to assess dynamics of ruminant digestion. Relationships have been observed between a feed's GP profile and in vivo parameters such as digestibility (Khazaal et al., 1993), feed intake and growth rate (Blümmel and Ørskov, 1993), and in situ degradability (Sileshi et al., 1997). However, there are few studies which relate GP data to the in vivo pattern of rumen fermentation (in terms of the rate of pH decline 2 h post-feeding and the mean rumen pH, concentration of total VFA and molar proportion of individual VFA). The object of this experiment was to determine whether such a relationship existed between a feed's GP profile and the pattern of rumen fermentation observed in animals fed that feed.
Estimation of fermentable energy by the automatic in vitro gas production technique for a selection of feedstuffs incubated alone and in combination
Authors: Fakhri S. , Moss A. R. , Givens D.I. , Owen E.
Published: November 2021

The gas production (GP) technique has previously been used to estimate the gas volume (fermentable energy (FE)) of compound feed ingredients for ruminants (Newbold et al., 1996). It was shown that the FE content of feed mixtures was represented by the combination of the total gas from the incubation of the individual feeds. However this additivity might not be consistent throughout the incubation period. The objectives were to test whether 1. other GP parameters give better estimates of FE for simple mixtures and are they additive; 2. whether organic matter apparently degraded in the rumen (OMADR) explain differences in GP; and 3. to find out if there are any other better measures than OMADR for estimating FE.
The effect of feeding a dried yeast culture on the performance of beef cattle finishing on a grass silage based ration
Authors: Chapple D G , Grundy H F , Wheeler K P A , Marsh S P
Published: November 2021

There is increasing consumer resistance to feeding antibiotic performance enhancers to beef cattle which has created interest in the use of yeast cultures as an alternative. Yeast cultures such as Diamond V ‘XP’ (Rumenco) are produced by growing selected yeast strains (on a semi-solid medium under stressed conditions) which are then dried. Yeast cultures are now used in a considerable number of North American beef feed lots. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of feeding ‘XP’ Yeast to finishing beef cattle on a typical UK grass silage-based diet.
Chemical Composition and Digestibility of Vetch (Vicia sativa) and Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia)
Authors: Tabatabaie M. M. , Kafilzadeh F.
Published: November 2021

Vetch (Vicia sativa) and Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia) are two grain legumes cultivated in many areas of Iran particularly in the west and north west. They grow under a wide range of environmental condition and are quite resistant to low rainfall. These seeds are traditionally used at a moderate level as a part of a ration for dairy cows and fattening lambs by rural farmers. They are considered as a feed with a high crude protein content. However little is known about their nutritional values for ruminants. In this study the two grain legumes were evaluated in terms of their chemical composition and digestibility in sheep fed straw as a basal diet.
The acquisition and persistence of aversions towards flavoured foods associated with the administration of oxalic acid to sheep
Authors: Kyriazakis I , Anderson D H , Duncan A J
Published: November 2021

It has been suggested that large herbivores learn to avoid potentially harmful plants/foods by developing conditioned food aversions (CFAs) towards food flavours associated with negative post-ingestive consequences (Provenza, 1995). This suggestion has been based mainly on experiments which have used LiCl as a ‘model’ aversive stimulus to demonstrate the development of learned CFAs in sheep. The overall objective of the experiment was to test whether sheep are able to form CFA toward a food flavour associated with the administration of an aversive stimulus which occurs naturally in food plants : oxalic acid, OA. Specific objectives were: (1) whether the rate and degree of formation of CFA are dependent on the dose rate of OA administered, and (2) whether the persistence of formed CFA depends on the previous dose rate of OA.
The effect of stocking density on the grazing behaviour of sheep at the same herbage mass
Authors: Sibbald A.M. , Shellard L.J.F.
Published: November 2021

It is well recognised that the grazing behaviour of sheep is influenced by the availability of vegetation (Hodgson, 1985). However, the extent to which grazing may also be influenced by social factors related to stocking density is not well understood, since stocking density and herbage availability are normally confounded. In this study an experimental design was used which, for the first time, allowed the effect of stocking density on grazing behaviour to be explored without being confounded with differences in herbage height or mass.
The effect of sire breed on colostrum production of crossbred ewes
Authors: Pattinson S. E. , Thomas E. W.
Published: November 2021

Recently there has been increased interest in the effect of sire breed on the carcass characteristics of lambs. However, when breeding ewe replacements maternal characteristics are important. For example, an adequate supply of colostrum is vital to the newborn lamb in order to provide energy for heat production, and maternal antibodies for protection against infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the effect on colostrum production of using a meat type ram rather than a milk type ram when producing crossbred ewes.
Interactions between ewe and lamb genotype and sucking success in neonatal lambs
Authors: Dwyer C. M. , Lawrence A. B.
Published: November 2021

Perinatal lamb mortality remains a major economic and welfare concern in sheep farming with 80-90% of pre-weaning lamb losses occur in the immediate postnatal period (Haughey, 1993). One of the predominant factors in the death of neonatal lambs is failure of ewe-lamb bonding leading to delay or lack of sucking. Successful sucking requires the co-ordinated expression of appropriate behaviour from both the ewe and lamb. Previously we have demonstrated an interaction between ewe and lamb breed in the rate of successful sucking (Dwyer et al., 1996) with Blackface lambs having a higher rate than Suffolk lambs but also a higher rate with Suffolk ewes than with Blackface ewes. In the present study we investigated the role of ewe responses to lamb sucking attempts in determining the sucking success of neonatal lambs.
An evaluation of protein supplements with different protein degradabilities and yeast culture for twin bearing/rearing lowland ewes
Authors: Dalby J.A. , Marsh S.P.
Published: November 2021

Fishmeal has been regarded as a valuable feedstuff for sheep as it supplies high levels of digestible undegradeable protein, however there is increasing consumer concern regarding the feeding of fishmeal to ruminants. The objective of this trial was to evaluate an alternative foodstuff based on 935g/kg protected soya, 15g/kg protected methionine (SmartamineTM) and 50g/kg yeast culture, Diamond V ‘XP’ yeast (FivexTM, Rumenco). The performance of silage fed pregnant ewes offered Fivex, was compared with similar ewes offered fishmeal with a barley based, 18% crude protein (CP) ration, as well as those offered a supplement based on rapeseed and soya, or rapeseed and soya with Diamond V ‘XP’ yeast culture.
Consistency of measurement of social status in sows housed in two group dry-sow systems
Authors: Bradshaw R. H. , Skyrme J. , Brenninkmeijer E. E. , Broom D. M.
Published: November 2021

A wide range of measures have been employed in an attempt to determine social structure in groups of animals and different analyses of social behaviour may result in the construction of different hierarchies (Tomback et al. 1989). In order to investigate social aspects of welfare in group-housed sows it is important to establish a meaningful measure of group dynamics. We therefore wished to establish whether different measures of social status resulted in the construction of similar hierarchies in dry-sows housed in indoor or outdoor group-housing systems.
Effect of environmental and social enrichment during lactation on the response of piglets to weaning
Authors: Foster E , Edwards S A , Davidson F M , Duncan J
Published: November 2021

Weaning is a time at which many different stressors are imposed on the piglet and poor health and performance are significant commercial problems. It is therefore important to understand which factors influence a piglet's adaptation to weaning, and how this might be improved. UK national recording scheme data demonstrate consistently better post-weaning performance for piglets from outdoor breeding herds than for indoor-bred piglets. There are many differences between the outdoor and indoor situation, and these are being systematically investigated. One potential difference which might influence the response to weaning is the greater degree of environmental and social diversity typically experienced by outdoor piglets during lactation.

Fifty-four sows and their litters were allocated according to farrowing date and parity to one of three enrichment treatments: treatments were (1) Control (C) in which litters remained in fully slatted farrowing pens with crates throughout lactation, (2) Socially enriched (SE) in which two adjacent litters were allowed to co-mingle from 12 days of age by removal of the dividing partition, and (3) Environmentally enriched (EE) in which piglets in similar housing were presented with a variety of small moveable objects and a rooting substrate.
Behaviour and production of sows and piglets in crates and oval pens
Authors: Bradshaw R. H. , Broom D. M.
Published: November 2021

Farrowing crates are widely used in commercial practice but restrict sow movement. Pens have therefore been developed which allow the sow greater freedom of movement but this may result in piglets being exposed to events likely to cause injury or death due to crushing. This is particularly the case immediately after farrowing. The behaviour of sows during lying and piglet aggregation behaviour may be factors contributing to these problems. We therefore wished to compare these behaviours and production performance in crates and oval pens.

The subjects were 18 Large White x Landrace sows; 10 farrowed in crates and 8 in oval pens (balanced for parity and time of year; c. half farrowed Aug. - Nov. 1996 and half April - July 1997). Sows entered the accommodation five days before the farrowing date. Feeding was manual, daily at 08.00h and 15.00h. Crates and oval pens were cleaned and shavings (crate) or straw (pen) were added daily. There was a piglet drinker in each accommodation and creep feed was available 14 days post-partum. Piglets were teeth-clipped and iron-injected within 48h post-partum.
Welfare of finishing pigs after mixing in kennelled or unkennelled accommodation
Authors: Spoolder H.A.M. , Corning S. , Edwards S.A.
Published: November 2021

The Codes of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock (pigs) recommends “Pigs should be kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible”. In practice, mixing can not always be avoided, particularly towards the end of the finishing period. The present study investigated welfare aspects of mixing finishing pigs in two different types of accommodation.

A total of 240 finishing pigs (weight: 29.0 kg, SD=2.6 kg), housed in groups of ten, were subjected to a 2 x 4 factorial designed study. The factors were housing (two treatments) and mixing / moving (four treatments). The mixing treatments were applied at 55 and 75 kg average group weight, by either mixing half the group with half the pigs from another group in a pen unknown to both groups (MIX), or moving the pigs to a new pen (MOVE). The four mixing treatments therefore were: A (control). MOVE at 55 and 75 kg, B: MIX at 55 and MOVE at 75 kg, C: MOVE at 55 and MIX at 75 kg and D: MIX at 55 and 75 kg. The housing treatments were: scrape-through dunging area with strawed kennel (KEN) and strawed sloping floor without kennel (NO). Agonistic behaviour was recorded during the first two hours after MIX or MOVE, of four focal pigs in each group.
The use of organic acids as potential inhibitors of bacterial growth in minced beef
Authors: Vega L. , Bruce J. , Crawford S. , Humpheson L.
Published: November 2021

Several organic acids have been accepted by the EU as non toxic food grade additives, to control spoilage and maintain fresh appearance in raw meat. Research has confirmed the antibacterial effect of certain organic acids such as acetic, propionic, sorbic, fumaric and citric acids on fresh beef (Anderson 1992; Dickson and Siragusa, 1994, Podolak et al., 1996). However many of these trials have been focused on spraying the acids onto the surface of meat, while little attention has been given to evaluating their effectiveness when mixed into ground beef. The work described here deals with the effect of a mixture of organic acids on the microbial contamination and appearance of minced meat.

Forequarter muscles from three beef carcasses were removed 48h after slaughter. The meat from each carcass was cut into cubes and kept separate during storage for a further 24h at 2 °C. Half of the meat from each carcass was treated with a commercial preparation (BOMBAL, Van Hees; FISPAK Ltd.) containing the following organic acids; sodium acetate, sodium ascorbate, citric acid and ascorbic acid at a rate of 5g BOMBAL/kg of diced meat.
Comparisons of ubiquitin system function in muscle of broiler and layer breeds of chicken
Authors: Harper J.M.M. , Mee M.P. , Arnold J.E. , Boorman K.N. , Buttery P.J. , Mayer R.J.
Published: November 2021

The physiological basis of the widely differing growth rates between broiler and layer chickens is still poorly understood. Recurrent findings have included differences in rates of protein breakdown, especially in young birds (1.2- fold to 10- fold higher in layers e.g. Muramatsu et al., 1987; Flannery and Beynon, 1991). Ubiquitin is abundant in many tissues including muscle. It has important functions including the tagging of proteins for degradation by ATP-dependent and lysosomal pathways, and a role in cell surface receptor down-regulation; transcription of its mRNA is increased in many catabolic states in mammals (Attaix et al., 1994; Strous et al., 1996). The aim of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that differing regulation of ubiquitin pathways might be responsible in part for the divergence of growth rates seen in chicken breeds.

Week-old male broiler (Ross No.l) and layer (ISAbrown) chicks were randomly assigned to cages, as pairs of the same breed. Chicks had free access to water and a standard crumb starter diet. Birds were slaughtered at four weeks and rapidly dissected. Tissues were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70°C until use.
Urinary Excretion of Purine Derivatives in Fed and Fasted Yaks (Bos gruniens)
Authors: Long R. J. , Chen X. B. , Dong S. K. , Zhang D. G. , Ørskov E. R. , Hu Z.Z.
Published: November 2021

Previous studies in sheep and cattle have demonstrated that the urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) provides an index of the intestinal flow of microbial protein (Chen et al. 1990). Yak is the most important ruminant species in Tibetan Plateau. It was of interest to establish whether the approach of PD excretion to estimate microbial protein supply is applicable in yaks. The objective of this work is to measure the effect of fasting and different levels of feeding on PD excretion in yaks.

The feeding experiments were carried out in Xi-ning, China at an altitude of 3100m and a latitude of 36.8° N. Six 5-year old female yaks were used and 3 experiments were completed.
A comparison of particle breakdown during chewing by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and sheep
Authors: Fraser M.D. , Baker D.H.
Published: November 2021

To date, attempts to account for reported differences in digestive efficiency of camelids and ruminants have focused on factors such as stomach motility and the retention time of feed particles. The physical breakdown of forage into particles small enough to pass through the reticulo-omasal orifice is one of the major factors influencing the rate of passage of digesta from the reticulo-rumen in ruminants. Two of the main processes involved in particle size reduction are chewing (pre- and post-regurgitation) and microbial fermentation. While the characteristic vertical and horizontal jaw movement which occurs during mastication in the camelid is believed to allow for efficient use of the premolars and molars in cutting and grinding fibrous feeds, there have been no comparative studies to verify this, and to assess the contribution of chewing to differences in digestibility coefficients. The aim of this experiment was to directly compare particle breakdown during chewing by guanacos and sheep.
Effect of repeated cycles of melatonin and long light on milk production in the goat
Authors: Alamer M.A. , Knight C.H.
Published: November 2021

Exposure to long day photoperiod is known to stimulate milk secretion in dairy cattle, but the mechanism has not been determined. Melatonin (MEL), which is produced by the pineal gland, is stimulated during darkness and has been known to mimic the short day signal when administered during long day exposure. Preliminary evidence has suggested that long term MEL treatment sensitizes lactating goats to subsequent long light exposure (Knight, 1993). The present study was undertaken to test if repeated short cycles of MEL would prime goats to subsequent long light effect on milk yield.
Calibration of the near infra-red spectroscope for the casein content of Malagueña goats milk
Authors: Johnson S.C. , Serradilla J.M. , Garrido Varo A. , Margerison J K
Published: November 2021

In southern Spain the manufacture of goats milk cheese represents a large proportion of total the dairy production. Throughout the whole of Andalucia and the Malaga province the Malagueña breed of goat is of particular importance, due to its ability to produce high milk yields with a high protein content.

The proportion of casein in milk is one of the most important factors determining the quantity and quality of cheese which can be made from that milk. It is therefore essential to be able to rapidly measure the milk casein levels prior to commencing the expensive process of cheese making.
The effect of wilting grass prior to ensiling on silage intake of beef steers
Authors: Dawson L.E.R. , Steen R.W.J. , Ferris C.P.
Published: November 2021

Wilting of grass prior to ensiling has been widely adopted as a means of improving the fermentation quality of silage. However, the effects on intake have been variable. For example, with growing cattle, Rohr and Thomas (1984) reported that wilting increased silage dry matter (DM) intake by 0.09, while Steen (1984) reported an increase of 0.18. Similarly with lactating cattle, Rohr and Thomas (1984) reported and increase in intake in response to wilting of 0.04, while Patterson, Yan, Gordon and Kilpatrick (1997) observed an increase of 0.20. However, a range of additives were used in these studies and it is suggested that this may have caused variation in the fermentation quality of the unwilted silages which in turn may have affected the response to wilting. Consequently an experiment was designed to determine if the variability in the intake responses to wilting could be explained by differences in the fermentation characteristics of the unwilted silage.
Effects of tannins, formaldehyde and formic acid on total tract disappearance of DM,
nitrogen and amino acids in grass silage
Authors: Salawu M.B. , Acamovic T. , Hvelplund T. , Weisbjerg M.R.
Published: November 2021

A major problem with grass is that during ensilage the proteins are degraded and nitrogen lost as non protein nitrogen. In the animal a disadvantage of grass silage is that the proteinaceous nitrogen is readily degraded in the rumen to ammonia. There is considerable evidence in the literature indicating that ruminal undegradable protein is a desirable component of some feeds (AFRC, 1993). This is valuable since proteins that by-pass the rumen may be digested in the intestine and the resultant amino acids absorbed. Tannins have been identified by other workers as suitable for the protection of protein in the rumen. However, there is some dubiety regarding the subsequent efficient release of protein in the intestine (McNabb et al., 1993). The effect of quebracho or mimosa tannins or formaldehyde or a combination of tannin/formate or formaldehyde/formate on silage total tract disappearance of dry matter (DM), nitrogen and total amino acids (TAA) was examined in this study.
Comparison between titanium dioxide as an inert marker and total collection in the determination of digestible energy of diets fed to pigs
Authors: Thompson J.E. , Wiseman J.
Published: November 2021

Different inert markers have been employed in nutritional studies, (Kotb and Luckey, 1972). The most commonly found marker in studies involving pigs is chromic oxide (Low, 1982) although it is now apparent that many problems are associated with its use. Other metal oxides, particularly titanium dioxide, may prove to be superior alternatives but further validation of their use as markers is required, (Kotb and Luckey, 1972). In an evaluation of inert markers, (Jagger et al. 1992) it was found that, for the determination of ileal and faecal apparent digestibility values in the pig, titanium dioxide at a rate of lg/kg feed was the most suitable of those tested. However, this conclusion was drawn from results obtained from one dietary treatment only. A crucial assumption of the use of inert markers is that they move in phase with the digesta which might not be the case if components vary widely in physical characteristics, leading possibly to differential adsorption of marker. Accordingly the objective of the current experiment was an evaluation of titanium dioxide in diets representing likely extremes of levels of fat or fibrous raw materials.
Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake
Authors: Jones G. , Edwards S.A. , Jagger S. , Hoste S.
Published: November 2021

Relationships between sow nutrition, milk yield, milk composition and piglet performance during lactation have been studied in numerous experiments. However, the subsequent effects of these pre-weaning factors on post-weaning piglet performance are less well studied. Commonly a growth check in piglets in response to weaning is noted, but to date it is unknown why some piglets do better than others in this period. The present experiment explored some of the pre-weaning factors that could explain the variability in piglet post-weaning growth.

The performance of piglets from 41 litters was monitored during a lactation period of 26 days. Litter size was standardised to 10 piglets, which were not offered creep food. Piglets were weighed individually on a weekly basis from farrowing to weaning at 26 days. Daily litter milk intake was estimated by a weigh-suckle-weigh technique in 24 litters on 4 occasions at 5 day intervals across lactation. On the day after each of these days, the composition of milk was determined from milk samples obtained by hand milking following oxytocin injection. Litter milk intake and composition of milk were used to calculate the mean daily piglet nutrient intakes during lactation. After weaning some piglets were sacrificed for the analysis of body composition and 310 piglets out of the 41 litters were penned in litter groups in controlled environment flat decks for two weeks to monitor daily group feed intakes and weekly individual growth rates.
The effect of the addition of a protease enzyme to raw or autoclaved soya bean on the growth performance of liquid fed grower/finisher pigs
Authors: Beal J.D , Brooks P.H , Schulze H.
Published: November 2021

Attempts to improve nutrient utilization by the incorporation of proteolytic enzymes into dry diets for pigs have met with limited success (Dierick and Decuypere 1994) Liquid feeding provides an ideal environment for optimizing the action of feed additive enzymes, and an opportunity to pre-treat individual dietary components. Raw soya has a poor nutritive value and there is potential for improving the nutritional status by partial hydrolysis of native proteins that largely resist mammalian digestive tract enzymes. Such enzyme treatments may also improve protein availability in cooked soya. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effectiveness of pre-treating raw and autoclaved soya with a microbial protease on the growth performance of grower/finisher pigs.
Fermentation characteristics of carbohydrate-rich feedstuffs, using faecal inocula from unweaned piglets.
Authors: Voigt C. , Williams B. A. , Verstegen M. , Mosenthin R.
Published: November 2021

It is increasingly being realized that hindgut fermentation in monogastric animals has an important role in maintaining the health of the GIT and also of the animal itself. Thirty-five feedstuffs which were likely to be rich in fermentable carbohydrates were fermented in vitro using faeces from 28 day old piglets as the inoculum. The piglets had been offered a standard creep feed (no added antibiotics and copper). The in vitrocumulative gas production technique (Theodorou et al., 1994) was used to measure the fermentation characteristics of the feedstuffs.

The substrates were separated into groups according to the component present in the largest amounts as: fibre (pea hulls, oatbran, soya hulls, wheat bran, wheat straw); grain (barley, maize oats, wheat); gums (gum arabic, guar gum); oligosaccharides (fructo-, trans-galacto-oligosaccharide); pectin (low and high methylated citrus fruits, high methylated sugar beet pectin); starch (oatmeal, inulin from Jerusalem Artichokes and Chicory Root, maize starch, native & treated potato starch, wheat flour, pea starch). The cumulative gas data were fitted to the monophasic modified Michaelis-Menten model (Groot et al, 1996).
The hydrolysation of protein in raw and autoclaved soya bean meals by a microbial protease
Authors: Beal J.D. , Brooks PH. , Schulze H.
Published: November 2021

The large storage proteins of soya bean, glycinin and pconglycinin are relatively indigestible in their native state. Even when partially denatured by heat treatments these proteins may not be utilised fully by young pigs. Glycinin in particular has been implicated in causing immune hypersensitivity reactions that can lead to gut damage. Partial hydrolysis of these large proteins may increase their digestibility and improve the nutritional value of both raw and heat treated soya bean meals. The increased protein digestibility in humans of fermented soya foods compared with soya bean flour has been attributed to partial proteolysis by microbial proteases produced by the fermenting organisms. The objective of this study was to assess the proteolytic action of a microbial protease P#4 (Finnfeeds International Marlborough) on raw and autoclaved soya with a view to its inclusion into liquid diets for grower/finisher pigs.
Interaction between different protein levels in the diet and infection with Haemonchus placet in calves under tropical condition.
Authors: Louvandini H. , Abdalla A. L. , Gennari S. M.
Published: November 2021

Haemonchosis in cattle represents one of the biggest problem in Brazil, where an wide variations in dietary protein can be observed in pastures throughout the year. It is thought that this variation in protein intake might have influences on the impact of the parasite host metabolism arid productivity. This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary protein and the infection with Haemonchus placet upon parasitological parameters in growing calves.
Effect of Enzyme Treatment on the Production of Reducing Sugars and Ruminal Degradability of Sugar Beet Pulp
Authors: Coonan C. , Galbraith H. , Scaife J.R. , de B Hovell F.D.
Published: November 2021

Studies with sugar beat pulp (SBP) have suggested that high levels (up to 650/kg dry matter (DM)) in the diet may beneficially reduce voluntary intake and live-weight gain (LWG) in pregnant sows. (Brouns, Edwards and English, 1995). Similarly, increasing the ratio of SBP: barley from 0.5:0.5 to 0.8:0.2 in the diet of growing sheep reduced LWG, DMI and apparent rate of ruminal digestion (Rouzbehan, Galbraith, Rooke and Perrott, 1994). The effects recorded have been associated with increases in viscosity of digesta due to the presence of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs). The objective of this study was to determine whether pre-treatment with enzymes (a) may reduce NSP concentrations, measured by breakdown to reducing sugars, and (b) increase the rate of utilisation of NSP in ruminant diets.
Hysteroscopic observation of cervical response in the oestrous and anoestrous ewe
Authors: King M E , McKelvey W A C , Ranilla M J , Robinson J J
Published: November 2021

Due to the interlocking nature of the ovine cervix semen deposition during cervical insemination takes place at the external cervical os resulting in commercially unacceptable conception rates when using frozen/thawed semen. During natural mating it is not known whether the cervix plays a pro-active role in the transport of semen into the uterine lumen. Endogenous and seminal prostaglandins and coitally-released oxytocin may contribute to the stimulation of the cervix and enhance the capture and movement of semen through the cervical canal. Electromyographical studies showed spontaneous motility of the ovine cervix and uterus with the greatest activity recorded during the periovulatory period (Garcia-Villar et al., 1982). Recent advances in fibre-optics and video technology allowed us to make direct observations and time-sequence recordings of cervical activity in fully conscious ewes under minimal restraint. The aim of the study was to observe and record for the first time the response of the external os cervix before and immediately after ram stimulation both with and without intromission, during artificial deposition of semen and after administration of exogenous oxytocin.
The lack of a compensatory ovulation rate effect following hemi-ovariectomy in sheep superovulated with oFSH
Authors: Joyce I.M. , Khalid M. , Haresign W.
Published: November 2021

Variability in superovulatory responses remains one of the major factors preventing the more widespread utilisation of embryo transfer in sheep breed improvement. Previous work in our group has suggested that in sheep receiving a standard superovulatory treatment regime using oFSH (Ovagen, Immuno-chemical Products Ltd., Auckland, NZ) there is an identifiable pool of follicles at the start of oFSH treatment that eventually ovulate following treatment. If this is the case then research efforts to increase the consistency of superovulatory responses should be focused on increasing the supply of follicles in this category. This experiment therefore had two aims, i) to test the theory that variability in superovulatory responses is a function of variability in the number of potentially ovulatory follicles at the time of the first FSH injection, and ii) to identify the size category of follicles at the start of superovulatory treatment that forms this ovulatory pool.
The incidence of prolonged luteal function following early resumption of ovarian activity in post partum dairy cows
Authors: Ball P.J.H. , McEwan E.E.A.
Published: November 2021

Early onset of ovarian activity post partum is thought to benefit reproductive performance in dairy cows (e.g. Darwash et al., 1997). However, as in the lactating ewe (Aitken et al., 1995), very early resumption may be detrimental to subsequent conception. An experiment was conducted to determine whether cows commencing ovarian activity very early would be more likely to suffer problems such as prolonged luteal function.

Milk samples were collected from 133 individual multiparous cows three times a week, from approximately one week after calving until the subsequent pregnancy was well established. Profiles of progesterone, measured by ELISA, were used to detect the start of ovarian activity, prolonged luteal function (high values until 24 or more days after the start of ovarian activity or subsequent ovulations), and pregnancy.
The effect of feeding different protein sources on intake, milk yield, milk composition and liveweight in high yielding Holstein cows
Authors: Mansbridge R J , Blake J S
Published: November 2021

High yielding cows require high quality diets to sustain milk yields and to minimise weight loss, metabolic disorders and fertility problems. Traditionally, these diets have contained fishmeal and soyabean meal, both widely regarded as good sources of high quality, digestible undegraded protein (DUP). However, there is increasing concern over the sustainability of world fish stocks and the BSE scare has increased public awareness to the extent that feeding animal protein to herbivores may become unacceptable in me future. This in turn has driven up the price of high quality imported vegetable proteins, such as soyabean meal. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fishmeal and soyabean meal could be replaced in the diet of high yielding cows, with protein sources grown in the UK

In a 12 week randomised block design experiment, 60 muciparous Holstein cows, on average 28 days calved at the start of the study, were fed total mixed rations based on grass silage and one of five protein mixtures. These were either 0.5 kg DM fishmeal + 0.7 kg DM soya + 2.5 kg DM rapeseed (PC), 1.3 kg DM soyabean + 2.3 kg DM rapeseed (PI), 3.8 kg DM lupins + 2.3 kg DM heat treated rapeseed (P2), 3.6 kg DM linseed + 1.4 kg DM rapeseed (P3) or 5.8 kg DM rapeseed (P4). Each diet was formulated to supply sufficient energy and metabolisable protein for maintenance + 43 litres and 0.75kg/d weight loss and to contain similiar levels of DUP (AFRC, 1993).
Acidogenicity of feeds for dairy cows. 2. Production responses
Authors: Dewhurst R.J. , Wadhwa D. , Borgida L.P. , Davies D.W.R. , Fisher W.J.
Published: November 2021

Falling prices for cereals and beneficial effects on milk protein concentrations may promote greater inclusions of rapidly fermented ingredients in dairy rations. There is, however, a limit to the inclusion of these feeds into dairy rations beyond which performance declines due to sub-acidosis and related disorders. The feed compounder will need to be able to set limits on levels of feeding concentrates according to these risks. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeds of different acidogenicity (Wadhwa et al., 1998) on lactation performance of dairy cows offered diets based on grass- or maize-silage.

Twelve multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in the third month of lactation were used for this experiment. The experimental design involved adaptation and covariance recording on a standard diet (grass silage and 10 kg concentrates per day), followed by three 21-day experimental periods arranged as four 3x3 Latin Squares. The Latin Squares were constrained to a single forage to avoid difficulties in changeovers between grass silage and maize silage.
Effects of forage type and protein supplementation on voluntary intakes and particle breakdown of forages by dry dairy cows
Authors: Dewhurst R.J. , Davies D.W.R. , Fisher W.J. , Thomas I.J. , Adesogan A.T.
Published: November 2021

There is now considerable evidence of residual effects of both energy and protein supply during the dry period on performance in the next lactation. Changes in forage intake and eating/rumination behaviour in the dry period have been implicated in predisposition to metabolic disorders in the subsequent lactation. In particular, there is a close association between intake either side of calving (Grummer, 1995). The primary objective of this experiment was to identify the effects, and interactions, of pre-partum energy and protein supply on forage intake and particle size reduction (as an index of rumination behaviour) of cows in the dry period.

Fifty-two Holstein-Friesian cows, calving from September to November 1996, were used in a continuous design experiment The cows were dried off 8 weeks before their anticipated calving date and grazed on bare pasture for one week before training to use Calan gates (using grass silage only).