bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution and Aesthetics
Authors: O'Hear Anthony
Published: June 2019

I want to begin with four quotations, fairly typical of their type, and germane to our topic because they encapsulate what many artists and art lovers feel about art and music. These feelings are often inchoate, to be sure, and in the cold light of analytical day they may look extravagant and exaggerated. But they do capture something of the experience people often have of art and beauty, and for that reason alone must be given some phenomenological plausibility at least.
The Loss of Rational Design
Authors: Weinert Friedel
Published: June 2019

Charles Darwin published hisOrigin of Specieson November 24, 1859. Whatever hurdle the theory of natural selection faced in its struggle for acceptance, its impact on human self-images was almost immediate. Well before Darwin had the chance of applying the principle of natural selection to human origins—in hisDescent of Man(1871)—his contemporaries quickly and rashly drew the inference to man's descent from the ape. Satirical magazines likePunchdelighted in depicting Darwin with his imposing head on an apish body. At the Oxford meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (June 1860), Bishop Wilberforce asked T. H. Huxley triumphantly whether he traced his ancestry to the ape on his grandfather's or grandmother's side. A wave of evolutionary texts swept over Europe (L. Biichner, E. Haeckel, T. H. Huxley, J. B. Lamarck, C. Lyell, F. Rolle, E. Tyler and K. Vogt). Written in English, French and German, they all had a common focus: the place of humans in a Darwinian world, including religion and morality.
Under Darwin's Cosh? Neo-Aristotelian Thinking in Environmental Ethics
Authors: Wheeler Michael
Published: June 2019

As a first shot, one might say that environmental ethics is concerned distinctively with the moral relations that exist between, on the one hand, human beings and, on the other, the non-human natural environment. But this really is only a first shot. For example, one might be inclined to think that at least some components of the non-human natural environment (non-human animals, plants, species, forests, rivers, ecosystems, or whatever) have independent moral status, that is, are morally considerable in their own right, rather than being of moral interest only to the extent that they contribute to human well-being. If so, then one might be moved to claim that ethical matters involving the environment are best cashed out in terms of the dutes and responsibilities that human beings have to such components. If, however, one is inclined to deny independent moral status to the non-human natural environment or to any of its components, then one might be moved to claim that the ethical matters in question are exhaustively delineated by those moral relations existing between individual human beings, or between groups of human beings, in which the non-human natural environment figures. One key task for the environmental ethicist is to sort out which, if either, of these perspectives is the right one to adopt—as a general position or within particular contexts. I guess I don't need to tell you that things get pretty complicated pretty quickly.
Where does the Moral Force of the Concept of Needs Reside and When?
Authors: Braybrooke David
Published: June 2019

My point of departure in the book Meeting Needs was the conviction that the concept of needs has moral force, but the force has been dissipated and anyway made hard to see by multiple complications including but not confined to multiple abuses. I now think that is only half the problem.
Big Decisions: Opting, Converting, Drifting
Authors: Ullmann-Margalit Edna
Published: June 2019

I want to focus on some of the limits of decision theory that are of interest to the philosophical concern with practical reasoning and rational choice. These limits should also be of interest to the social-scientists' concern with Rational Choice.

Let me start with an analogy. Classical Newtonian physics holds good and valid for middle-sized objects, but not for the phenomena of the very little, micro, sub-atomic level or the very large, macro, outer-space level: different theories, concepts and laws apply there. Similarly, I suggest that we might think of the theory of decisionmaking as relating to middle-sized, ordinary decisions, and to them only. There remain the two extremes, the very ‘small’ decisions on the one hand and the very ‘big’ decisions on the other. These may pose a challenge to the ordinary decision theory and may consequently require a separate treatment.
The Politics of Emotion: Liberalism and Cognitivism
Authors: James Susan
Published: June 2019

Liberal political theorists commend a comparatively orderly form of life. It is one in which individuals and groups who care about different things, and live in different ways, nevertheless share an overriding commitment to liberty and toleration, together with an ability to resolve conflicts and disagreements in ways that do not violate these values. Both citizens and states are taken to be capable of negotiating points of contention without resorting to forms of coercion such as abuse, blackmail, brainwashing, intimidation, torture or other types of violence. In explaining what makes such a state of affairs possible, such theorists have tended to present the citizens of liberal polities as more or less rational individuals who are aware of the advantages of a pluralist, yet co-operative way of life, and understand what it takes to maintain them. Liberalism works best, they have suggested, when, and because, individuals understand its benefits, and therefore act broadly in accordance with the norms it prescribes.
The potential impact of Vietnam's entry to the WTO on the livelihoods of smallholder pig producers and small pig traders
Authors: McLeod A. , Taylor N. , Lan L.T.K. , Thuy N. T. , Dung D. H. , Minh P.Q.
Published: June 2019

The authors were supported by the EU-funded Strengthening of Veterinary Services, Vietnam (SVSV) Project to study the benefits and costs to different stakeholders of options to control Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in the Red River Delta. The potential for export expansion as a result of improved disease control was considered during the study. Vietnam hopes to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2005, with an objective of increasing export trade.
Effect of method of conservation on the n-alkane C31 concentration of two legumes and three temperate grasses
Authors: Reyes-Reyes M.R. , Buntinx S. E. , Barajas-Torres F. S. , Gavilán-García I. C. , Castrejón-Pineda F.A.
Published: June 2019

The objective of this study was to compare five methods of forage preservation (ice, dry ice, liquid-N, drying in newspaper, and sundried) on the concentration of the n-alkane C31 in Medicago sativa cv Puebla 76 (lucerne/alfalfa), Trifolium repens latum (white clover), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass), Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu grass) and Dactylis glomerata (orchardgrass/cocksfoot). The sampled forages in ice and dry ice were kept in hermetically sealed plastic bags in a plastic cooler. The deep frozen samples were put into small plastic bags and submerged in liquid-N. The samples dried in newspaper were placed between sheets of newspaper, and put into hermetically sealed plastic bags. All these samples were taken to the laboratory and freeze-dried approximately 24 h later. The sun-dried samples were taken to the laboratory in newspaper and sun-dried for 48 h. The forage samples were ground and worked on in triplicate, extracted by the Soxhlet method (C34 n-alkane was used as standard and n-heptane as solvent), saponified, separated, purified and injected into a gas chromatograph. The data were analysed for variance as a randomised factorial (n=74). The comparison between means was by the Boneferroni test (P<0.05). The interaction between forage and method of conservation was significant P<0.0001). There were no differences between methods of conservation for white clover (mean 26mg C31/kg DM) or orchardgrass/cocksfoot (mean 31 mgC31/ kgDM). In comparison with liquid-N, (261 mgC31/kgDM), the other methods reduced the concentration of n-alkane in kikuyu grass by 27-35%. Sun and newspaper dried samples increased the concentration of C31 in alfalfa/lucerne by 6 and 15% respectively in comparison with freezing with liquid-N (291 mgC31/kgDM), while that frozen on ice reduced C31 by about 8%. This method, however, increased the ryegrass n-alkane by 12% in relation to liquid-N (169 mgC31/kgDM), but sun drying reduced it by about 40%. It is concluded that drying in liquid-N is the most reliable method for the conservation of samples for n-alkane analysis.
Cumulative gas production: how to measure it, and what it can and cannot tell you
Authors: Williams Barbara A.
Published: June 2019

The three most important factors describing the nutritive value of ruminant feeds are: feed intake, rumen fermentation, and enzymatic digestion. Animal experiments are usually expensive and time-consuming, so many in vitro techniques have been developed which are supposed to assist in the prediction of nutritive value, usually of rumen fermentation. One of these is the measurement of gas production from the substrate when incubated with a specific inoculum. The cumulative gas production technique measures gas at regular intervals in time, as an indicator of the kinetics of fermentation. The resultant cumulative gas profiles, fitted to specific equations, and in combination with other end-products (i.e. VFA and NH3) can indicate both the rate and extent of fermentability of the test substrates. This information can be used to compare substrates with each other. However, the fact that the technique has not yet been standardized, and that inoculum varies according to time and place, means that comparison both between runs and locations, can be very difficult. Also, there are a number of aspects of the technique which will always mean that its resemblance to the in vivo situation must be limited. Some of these limitations and other important considerations of the technique are described in this review.
Can plant secondary metabolites have a role in controlling gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in small ruminants?
Authors: Athanasiadou S. , Kyriazakis I. , Jackson F.
Published: June 2019

Plant secondary metabolites (PSM) are widely known for their antinutritional properties; their excessive consumption can detrimentally affect herbivore health and, in some cases, survival. However, a growing body of evidence is suggesting that some classes of PSM may also have some positive effects on herbivores. Such positive effects include the antiparasitic properties of certain PSM and their beneficial consequences on the herbivore's fitness. One of the better-exploited classes of PSM that have been reported with anthelmintic properties is that of the condensed tannins. The consumption of moderate concentrations of condensed tannins has resulted in reduced level of parasitism in sheep and other ruminants. In this paper we discuss the conditions that should be met in order for the positive anthelmintic properties of PSM, and condensed tannins in particular, to be beneficial for parasitised sheep. We also examine whether PSM could have a role in controlling parasitism in ruminants and point out the future research needed to achieve an efficient use of PSM for parasite control.
Perceived welfare issues in dairy cattle, with special emphasis on metabolic stress
Authors: Nielsen B. L.
Published: June 2019

There appears to be little consensus on the extent and the exact nature of the dairy cow welfare problem. In the present paper the welfare of cows is described in the light of metabolic stress. The duration of lactation relative to level of production is highlighted as the main factor which sets the dairy cow apart from other lactating mammals. A conceptual diagram of the components and effects of metabolic load is given, a number of questions are raised and two aspects of dairy production are highlighted which relate to the welfare of modern dairy cows. These relate to decreased fertility in high yielding cows and the cumulative effects of successive lactations. Finally, the need for the dairy industry to participate actively and openly in the welfare debate is emphasized.
Genetics of food intake, live weight, condition score and energy balance
Authors: Veerkamp R. F. , Koenen E. P. C.
Published: June 2019

The objectives of this study were to investigate genetic variation for traits that are part of the food utilization complex and to investigate the scope for future genetic improvement of traits possibly linked to metabolic stress: live weight (change), condition score (change) and energy balance. Many aspects of the food utilization complex appear to be heritable and are affected by genetic selection for yield. In general, genetic selection for yield increases intake and body tissue mobilization and energy balance is expected to decrease. However, unfavourable effects of genetic selection can be compensated for by measuring additional traits to be included in breeding programmes. Food intake, live weight (change) and condition score (change) are all potential options. Which traits should be measured, at what lactation stages and in which (nutritional) environment will merely depend on the coheritability with health and fertility, the genetic correlation with milk yield and the cost of measuring the trait effectively in a breeding programme.
Management options to reduce load
Authors: Thomas C. , Leach K. A. , Logue D. N. , Ferris C. , Phipps R. H.
Published: June 2019

The aim of this paper is to define the critical periods within the lifetime of the cow where metabolic load is likely to have an influence on health, welfare and reproductive performance and to devise management strategies which will reduce the metabolic ‘load’ at those critical periods. The paper uses the data from the SAC Acrehead ‘metabolic stress’ study as its base. This systems study examines a low input (LI) and a high output (HO) strategy and their influence on financial performance, nutrient balance and the health and welfare of dairy cows. Milk yields ranged from 53371 (LI spring calving heifers) to 100191 (HO autumn-calving cows). By using weight and condition-score losses, reduced milk yield and metabolic profiles as indices of metabolic stress, two critical points were identified in the systems. These were in LI systems in years of low forage supply and spring-calving cows at grass in spring. The Acrehead study is remarkable in that it shows that cows of relatively high genetic merit have, in the main, a similar incidence of disease and level of immune function in both systems. However the general level of reproductive performance and incidence of lameness, although comparable with other studies, is disappointingly poor and reproductive performance at Acrehead has been declining over time. Thus there is reason for decreasing the degree of load in both systems. Strategies over the lifetime of the cow designed to overcome these problems in critical periods are examined. These periods are identified as rearing,pre-partum, calving and early lactation. Within each of these periods, management options to overcome load, such as feeding, housing and, where applicable, milking, are discussed. From the combination of systems results from Acrehead and reference to the literature it is concluded that, in the past, too much emphasis has been placed on examining the effects of nutrition alone on metabolic load and its implications. On the other hand, too little research has been conducted on the interaction between nutrition and the management of the cow, in terms of housing and grouping, food trough access and building design. It is also important to recognize that each day within the lifetime of the cow is not independent. Thus management during one period could have an influence during a subsequent period, not only on the likelihood of the cow to experience metabolic load but also on her ability to ameliorate its effects on health and reproduction.
Multi-trait covariance functions to estimate genetic correlations between milk yield, dry-matter intake and live weight during lactation
Authors: Veerkamp R. F. , Thompson R.
Published: June 2019

Energy balance is a function of dry-matter intake (DMI), live weight and milk yield over a certain time period. To investigate potential strategies to use genetic selection for the improvement of the negative energy balance, genetic co-variances were estimated among DMI, live weight and milk yield during the first 15 weeks of lactation (no.=628). Rather than estimating the full 45 by 45 matrix a random regression model was used to estimate a second order covariance functions for the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Fixed effects were test-day, a group effect and week in lactation. Estimates for the genetic covariance function demonstrated that a high level of milk yield is only moderately correlated with a high level of DMI (0.21) but very strongly correlated to an increase of intake (0.97) and a loss of live weight (-0.46) during the first 15 weeks of lactation. Levels of weight and intake were correlated strongly (0.81). Estimates for the genetic correlations between weeks 1 and 15 were 0.79, 0.34 and 0.83 for milk yield, DMI and live weight respectively. DMI during early lactation was negatively correlated with milk yield but DMI during the later weeks was positively correlated with milk yield. The implication is that when selection is for a linear combination of milk yield, DMI and live weight (i.e. energy balance or efficiency) the moment in lactation of measuring each trait on the cow is of importance
Correlations between food intake in young bulls and production, fertility and health disorders in lactating dairy cattle
Authors: Wassmuth R. , Boelling D. , Jensen J.
Published: June 2019

Disease incidence in dairy cattle is to be reduced for animal welfare and economical reasons. This should be achieved not only by improvement of management but preferably also by genetic means. This study looks at the possibility of decreasing disease incidence in first lactation cows by increasing food intake. The latter is not measured on the cows directly but on young bulls during their performance test. Data consisted of 2203 Danish Red, 4527 Danish Black and White and 1022 Danish Jersey potential AI-bulls and 56 494 Danish Red, 264107 Danish Black and White and 57 661 Danish Jersey first lactation cows. Measures of food intake were provided by two Danish performance test stations. Information on incidence of mastitis, retained placenta, metritis, sole ulcer and ketosis as well as calving interval and energy corrected milk yield of first lactation cows was based on data extracted from the national data base in Denmark. Genetic (co)variances were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood. Heritability estimates of disease incidence and calving interval were low, ranging from <0.01 to 0.13 depending on breed. Heritability estimates of energy corrected milk yield were in the range of 0.28 to 0.33. In all breeds, an unfavourable genetic relationship between milk yield and disease incidence was found, while genetic correlations between food intake and ketosis were favourable, ranging between -0.03 and -0.25. Fertility disorders had an inconsistent correlation with food intake traits across breeds. Food intake of bulls could be included in the selection process in order to avoid nutrition-related disorders like ketosis.
Localization of metabolic restriction point in cows of differing genetic merit
Authors: Sorensen A. , Knight C. H.
Published: June 2019

Milk synthesis and secretion have a high priority in the metabolism of the lactating cow. At peak lactation the nutrient needs of the mammary gland are of such magnitude relative to total metabolism that the udder has been compared with a parasite. The question arises: has the udder taken control of the cow? The aim of this study was to investigate whether the metabolic restriction point determining maximum milk output is localized at the level of the mammary gland itself or elsewhere in the body. The results indicate that the restriction point determining the maximum metabolic capacity is not localized in the udder as indicated by the ability of the mammary tissue to increase further its rate of milk secretion and therefore the maximum capacity is determined at the level of the whole body.
Effect of milk yield and energy balance on neutrophil function in dairy cows
Authors: Poelarends J. J. , Kruijt L. , van der Gaast H. , Veerkamp R. F.
Published: June 2019

Neutrophils perform a series of sequential functions to kill pathogens entering the body. The objective of this study was to investigate whether variation across cows in neutrophil function tests is related to milk production and energy balance. Blood samples from 37 Holstein-Friesian heifers were taken early morning after milking and prior to feeding. Each cow was sampled about 30 days before calving and at 30 and 100 days after calving. Three groups of neutrophil function tests were used: (i) measurement of phagocytosis of bacteria (with heat inactivated serum (no complement) or complete serum (complement and antibodies)); (ii) measuring production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with 30, 100 or 300 nmol/l phorbol myristate acetate (PMA); and (iii) after ingestion of bacteria (Staphylococcus or Streptococcus). Milk production (including fat, protein and lactose percentage), live weight and food intake were recorded for the first 100 days of lactation and blood metabolic concentrations (non-esterified fatty acid, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate) were measured fortnightly (six samples per cow). Restricted maximum likelihood was used to estimate the regression coefficients of neutrophil function on these traits and cow identity was fitted as random effect to account for the repeated measurements. There was no effect of milk yield on the neutrophil function but animals with a higher food intake and a more positive energy balance had a lower ROS production across the lactation (PMA). Of the metabolic characteristics, (beta hydroxybutyrate was positively associated with the capacity of reactive oxygen species production (significantly for 300 nmol/l PMA and close to significant for 100 nmol/l PMA;P< 0.05) but negatively with reactive oxygen species after ingestion of bacteria. Hence, results from these two reactive oxygen species tests contradict each other. The results suggest that immune function is not affected by selection for milk yield, as long as food intake capacity is increased sufficiently.
Informal Institutions and the Regulation of Smuggling in North Africa
Authors: Gallien Max
Published: June 2019

Contemporary writing on North African borderlands invokes the idea of a general, unregulated porosity through which small-scale informal traders of food or textiles move alongside drug smugglers and terrorists. I challenge that conception, demonstrating that the vast majority of smuggling activity is in fact highly regulated through a dense network of informal institutions that determine the costs, quantity, and types of goods that can pass through certain nodes, typically segmenting licit from illicit goods.

While informal, the institutions regulating this trade are largely impersonal and contain third-party enforcement, hence providing a direct empirical challenge to common characterisations of informal institutions in political science. I argue that revisiting the characteristics associated with informal institutions, and understanding them as contingent on their political environment, can provide a new starting point for studying institutions, the politics of informality, state capacity, and the regulation of illegal economies.
The Effect of Electing Women on Future Female Candidate Selection Patterns: Findings from a Regression Discontinuity Design
Authors: Jankowski Michael , Marcinkiewicz Kamil , Gwiazda Anna
Published: June 2019

In this article, we address the question of how electing women to national or subnational parliaments affects future female candidate selection in an open-list proportional representation system, using the example of Poland. We consider three potential effects of electing a woman. First, based on existing theories of the incumbency advantage, elected women should have higher chances of reselection and reelection in future elections (incumbency effect). Second, as a result of becoming more powerful within their party, elected women might have a stronger influence on future list composition, and thus more women should run for office on these lists (empowerment effect). Finally, we argue that other parties might adjust their candidate selection patterns in response to the election of women on other party lists (contagion effect). We find strong evidence for the incumbency effect and some support for the contagion effect. The empowerment hypothesis, however, finds no empirical support.
Plutarch, ‘Alcibiades’ 1–16
Authors: Russell D. A.
Published: June 2019

The first part of Plutarch's Alcibiades, down to the point at which preparations for Sicily begin (17.1), has only the roughest chronological framework. It is largely made up of anecdote and reflection, and the order seems to be determined mainly by literary considerations. Hence its special interest for the study of Plutarch's methods. Why is the material arranged as it is? And what, if any, is Plutarch's original contribution? These are dangerous questions—the first because it is human to claim the presence of design where there is really only accident, and the second because to answer it properly would require unattainable completeness in our knowledge of the sources. Nevertheless, it is perhaps worth making the attempt.
Milk production and N partitioning in early lactation dairy cows offered perennial ryegrass containing a high concentration of water soluble carbohydrates
Authors: Moorby J. M. , Miller L. A. , Evans R. T. , Scollan N. D. , Theodorou M. K. , MacRae J. C.
Published: June 2019

The efficiency of utilisation of grass nitrogen for milk protein production tends to be low, because rumen fermentable energy sources limit the amount of diet amino acids that are incorporated into microbial protein. As a consequence, absorption of ammonia from the rumen and excretion of high-N waste products is considerable. Previous studies (Miller et al., 1999) have shown that the efficiency of use of feed N can be increased in late-lactation dairy cows by feeding ryegrass bred to contain a high concentration of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC). The objective of this study was to investigate milk production and N partitioning in early lactation dairy cows using the same high WSC ryegrass variety, AberDove.
Body protein reserves affect periparturient breakdown of immunity to nematodes in ewes
Authors: Houdijk J.G.M. , Kyriazakis I. , Jackson F. , Coop R.L.
Published: June 2019

Body reserves can be regarded as sources of nutrients at times of scarce nutrient intake. It has been suggested that the latter is responsible for the periparturient breakdown in immunity to parasites (BIP), since most scarce nutrients are expected to be allocated to the prioritised reproductive effort (Coop and Kyriazakis, 1999). Nutrient supply from body reserves may partly overcome scarce nutrient intake and, as a consequence, can be expected to affect BIP. It has been shown that an increased supply of dietary metabolizable protein (MP), but not of metabolizable energy (ME), reduces periparturient BIP (Donaldson et al., 1998). Therefore, we tested the hypotheses that body protein reserves, but not body fat reserves, affect BIP and its relationship with dietary MP supply in periparturient ewes.
Creep feed consumption and individual food intake characteristics of group housed weaned pigs
Authors: Bruininx E.M.A.M. , van der Peet-Schwering C.M.C. , Swinkels J.W.G.M.
Published: June 2019

The provision of creep feed to suckling pigs is considered to stimulate early food intake as well as health post weaning. However, Barnett et al. (1989) found no effects of creep feeding on post-weaning performance. Research by Pajor et al. (1986) indicated that there is a high variability in creep feed intake both among and within litters. This variability in creep feed intake is probably the main cause of disagreement on the effects of creep feed provision. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of creep feed consumption on individual food intake characteristics and performance of group-housed weaned pigs. Chromic oxide was added to the creep feed to identify piglets that consumed food during the suckling period. In the piggery, IVOG®-feeding stations were used to measure individual food intake after weaning.
The effect of stocking density, group size and boar presence on the behaviour, aggression and skin damage of sows mixed in a specialised mixing pen at weaning
Authors: Docking C. M. , Kay R. M. , Day J. E. L. , Chamberlain H. L.
Published: June 2019

The mixing of unfamiliar sows at weaning leads to aggression whilst dominance hierarchies within the group are established (Kay et al, 1999). The objective of this study was to determine whether the presence of a boar would reduce the incidence of aggression and level of skin damage of newly mixed sows. The overall aim of the project was to improve welfare by designing a suitable strategy for mixing groups of newly-weaned sows
Effect of breed and nutritional management on fatty acid composition of lambs of dairy Greek breeds of sheep
Authors: Arsenos G. , Zygoyiannis D. , Kufidis D. , Katsaounis N. , Stamataris C.
Published: June 2019

Carcass fat of meat producing animals has long been identified as one of the most important characteristics of overall meat quality. In this respect, consumer choices of particular food reflect their awareness of the link between health and consumption of fats particularly saturated. Lamb meat is considered to be excessively fat and this results in substantial loss in its marketability. This study was carried out to assess the effect of breed, sex, post-weaning nutrition, live weight at slaughter and their interactions on the fatty acid (FA) composition in carcass fat of lambs of three indigenous dairy Greek breeds of sheep.
The effect of forage type and host animal diet on the in situ rumen degradation of grass silage and pea/wheat bi-crops containing different pea varieties
Authors: Salawu M.B. , Adesogan A.T. , Dewhurst R.J.
Published: June 2019

Compared to grass silage, pea/wheat bi-crops produce higher dry matter (DM) yields, higher feed intakes and nitrogen (N) retention (Adesogan et al., 2000). The improved performance of animals fed bi-crops may be due to a postulated synchronous supply of readily fermentable energy and protein for ruminal microbial protein synthesis. This study attempted to validate this theory by measuring the rumen degradability of grass silages and pea/wheat bi-crop silages containing different pea varieties. To determine if grass silage-fed animals could be used to determine the degradability of bi-crops, the effect of host animal diet on rumen degradation was also examined.
Effects of fibre level and particle size on rumen microbial fermentation and protein metabolism using liquid and solid associated bacteria
Authors: Rodríguez M. , Calsamiglia S. , Ferret A.
Published: June 2019

The effects of fibre level (F) and forage particle size (S) on ruminal fermentation profile is often mediated through changes in feed intake, rates of digestion or passage, ruminal pH and/or bacteria population. Therefore, most in vivo studies have confounded the direct effect of F or S with changes in the rumen environment. In vitro systems allow to control several fermentation conditions independently (pH, flow rates, intake). Total, bacterial and dietary nitrogen (N) flows are generally calculated using liquid associated bacteria (LAB), although solid associated bacteria (SAB) represent about 80% of total bacterial population in the rumen (Olobobokun and Craig, 1988). The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of F and S on microbial fermentation and N metabolism using LAB or SAB values in a dual flow continuos culture system.
The effects of liquid feed on the small intestine mucosa and performance of finishing pigs at different water to feed ratios
Authors: Hurst D. , Lean I.J. , Hall A.D.
Published: June 2019

Liquid feeding of growing pigs is believed to increase feed intake and growth performance compared to a dry diet. There is little information on the comparative feed conversion efficiency of pigs on the two forms of diet or the underlying physiological basis for the differences and how liquid diets affect the absorptive mucosa of the small intestine. This study was designed to investigate differences in feed utilisation and mucosal structure in modern genotype pigs offered equal amounts of feed in dry and liquid form. Additionally, the effect of reducing the pH of the liquid diet was considered.
The effect of graded levels of ‘Greenwich Gold’ on the performance of growing-finishing pigs
Authors: Brooks P.H. , Russell P.J.
Published: June 2019

Using food industry liquid co-products can significantly reduce the cost of pig production (Scholten, van der Peet-Schwering, Verstegen, den Hartog, Schrama and Vesseur 1999) as well as reducing environmental pollution (Brooks, Moran and Beal 1999). Greenwich Gold (GG)(Amylum UK Ltd.) is a liquid residue, known in the trade as bottom stills, resulting from alcohol fermentation of wheat starch. Although the product is widely used by UK pig producers there is no published information on which to base a recommendation for maximum inclusion rate in diets for growing-finishing pigs. The objective of the study reported here was to assess the effect on growth performance and carcass quality of feeding pigs diets containing increasing levels of GG.
Effect of digestible undegradable protein (DUP) concentration of concentrates offered to ewes on grass-based diets in late pregnancy on colostrum production and lamb performance
Authors: Annett R.W. , Carson A.F.
Published: June 2019

Nutrition of ewes during late pregnancy is a key factor influencing lamb survival and subsequent lamb growth and performance. Results from on-farm trials indicate that the superior lamb output from highly prolific compared with moderately prolific ewe breed types is less in grass-based compared with indoor lambing systems (Carson and Dawson, 2002). This is as a result of higher mortality rates of triplet lambs in outdoor systems with lower levels of intervention. Feeding and management strategies to maximise lamb viability for multiple births are required for grass-based lambing systems. Protein nutrition is likely to be a key factor, particularly considering that energy intakes in late pregnancy in triplet-bearing ewes are unlikely to meet requirements (Robinson, 1983). At sub-optimal energy intakes the supply of rumen undegraded protein is a major determinant of colostrum production and lamb birth weight. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effect of supplementing grass-based diets with concentrates with a range of digestible undegradable protein concentrations on colostrum production and lamb output.
Effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on ex-vivo lymphocyte stimulation response to Cooperia onchophara L3 antigen in calves
Authors: Muturi K.N. , Birnie M. , Wallace M. , Struthers J. , Scaife J. R. , Lomax M.A. , Barker R.
Published: June 2019

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to influence the fatty acid composition of immune and inflammatory cell membranes (Yaqoob et al, 1995). Changing the fatty acid composition and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio of cell membranes has been reported to have profound effects on immune cell functionality (Blok et al, 1996). Immune responses to Cooperia onchophara, a nematode parasite that infects calves, are usually slow to develop and inappropriate. The aim of this experiment was to establish the extent to which supplementation of pre-ruminant calves with an n-6 or n-3 PUFA source may influence ex-vivo lymphocyte response to an L3 C onchophara antigen.
The effect of maturity of maize silage at harvest on the performance of lactating dairy cows offered three contrasting grass silages
Authors: Keady T. W. J. , Mayne C. S. , Kilpatrick D. J.
Published: June 2019

Recent developments in maize breeding and in agronomic practices, particularly the development of degradable full cover plastic mulch, have resulted in the possibility of consistently producing high yields of high starch maize silage in Northern Ireland. However, there is considerable variability in the quality of maize and grass silages produced. In a recent study Keady et al. (2002) concluded that the highest yield of fat and protein from dairy cows was obtained from maize silage ensiled at approximately 30% dry matter (DM) when offered as 40% of the forage component of the diets consisting of either medium or high feed value grass silages supplemented with concentrates. Also Keady et al. (2002) concluded that replacing 40% of the grass silage component of the diet with maize silage had a concentrate sparing effect, as determined for milk yield, of up to 1.9 kg/cow/d. The objective of the current study was to examine further the effect of maturity of maize silage at harvest on the performance of dairy cattle offered grass silages differing in feed value. The potential concentrate sparing effect of contrasting maize silages was also examined.
Effect of incremental replacement of cereal grain with sugar beet feed on the lactational performance of high yielding cows offered maize silage based diets
Authors: Phipps R. H. , Jones A. K. , Beever D. E. , Witt M. W.
Published: June 2019

Dairy cows are increasingly being fed high levels of starch to increase energy intake and promote milk protein content. However, too high levels of degradable starch can cause rumen acidotic effects leading to poor rumen health, laminitis and ultimately reduced efficiency of milk production. Fibrous feeds have known benefits on rumen health by helping to buffer rumen pH, but little is known of the effects of replacing starch with fibre in high maize silage based rations for dairy cows. The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of incremental replacement of cereal grain with sugar beet feed in a total mixed ration on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition and yield of milk constituents of lactating dairy cows receiving a high starch diet based on maize silage.
The relationship between diet and the chemical composition of sheep faeces
Authors: Afdal M. , Givens D. I. , Rymer C. , Owen E. , Mould F.
Published: June 2019

The use of faecal inoculum in in vitro feed evaluation methods was examined by Balfe (1985). However, there is limited information concerning the chemical composition of faeces and factors affecting this. The chemical composition of faeces may reflect the microbial population and hence its fermentative activity. A knowledge of the faecal composition is essential as this affects the quality of faecal inoculum. The objective of this work was therefore to study the relationships between diet and the chemical composition of faeces using data obtained from sheep.
The possible use of n-alkanes, long-chain fatty alcohols and long-chain fatty acids as markers in studies of the botanical composition of the diet of free-ranging herbivores
Authors: Ali H. A. M. , Mayes R. W. , Hector B. L. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: June 2019

Few methods exist for quantitatively estimating the diet composition of free-ranging herbivores. Because their patterns differ between species, plant n-alkanes have been successfully used as faecal markers to estimate the botanical composition of simple diets, however, the reliability of this methods may decline as the number of dietary plant species increases (Dove and Mayes, 1996). The objective of this study was to examine whether additional plant-wax compounds, such as long-chain fatty alcohols (Alc) or long–chain fatty acids (Ac) could be used along with n-alkanes (Alk) to allow reliable diet composition estimates to be made in herbivores consuming complex diets.
Effect of CRYSTALYX® on the performance of breeding ewes during first three months of pregnancy while grazing grass outdoors
Authors: Chaudhry A. S. , Lister C. J. , Rowlinson P.
Published: June 2019

It is recognised that feeding grass alone cannot satisfy the nutritional needs of breeding sheep and this consequently can impair their health and production. However, if grass is fed together with a suitable supplement that is specifically formulated to compensate for the nutrient deficiency of that grass then its utilisation followed by animal performance can be improved. This study examined the effect of feedingad libitum anExtra High Energy (16MJ ME/kg DM) supplement (Crystalyx®) containing sugars, oil, protein (12%) and minerals on the performance of breeding ewes when grazing grass outdoor pre-joining and during first 3 months of post-joining with rams.
Effect of beta lactoglobulin polymorphism on milk production in Holstein dairy cattle of Iran
Authors: Zakizadeh Sonia , Reissmann Monika , Reinecke Peter , Rahimi Ghodrat , Nejati-Javaremi Ardeshir , Miraie-Ashtiani Seyed Reza
Published: June 2019

Beta-Lacto globulin (BLG) is a major protein in the milk of ruminants. Bovine BLG gene is located on the chromosome 11q28 and has two common genetic variants, ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Gene-Bank X14710). These variants are different in amino acids at positions 64 and 118, where allele ‘A’ has Asp and Val and allele ‘B’ has Gly and Ala, respectively. Difference at position 118 can be detected by PCR-RFLP (Medrano and Agiular-Cordova 1990). It is reported that allele ‘A’ is associated with milk production (Strzalkowska et al. 2002) and allele ‘B’ has a positive effect on fat percentage (Tsiaras et al. 2005). The aim of our study was to estimate the allelic frequency in polymorphic site of exon IV (allele ‘A’ or HaeIII (-)) of BLG gene in Holstein dairy cattle of Iran and also to find any association of total milk production (first lactation) with BLG genotypes.
Food-derived phytochemicals ‘Curcumin’ and ‘Resveratrol’ counteract the catabolic effects of inflammatory lipopolysaccharides: studies on in vitro models of canine and porcine arthritis
Authors: Williamson S.M. , Reynolds J.A. , Mobasheri A. , Royal M.D. , Vaughan-Thomas A. , Thompson N.J. , Shakibaer M.
Published: June 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) and Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) are osteoarticular disorders that cause leg weakness, lameness, pain and suffering in companion animals, some farm animals and humans. OA is one of the most common age-related osteoarticular disorders in humans and dogs. In pigs, both OA and OCD are thought to arise from changes in the articular cartilage and growth plates within the synovial joints causing structural damage to joint tissues. Since these changes are not observed in the slow maturing wild boar, they are suggested to be a result of the modern intensive pig production industry which has very successfully selected pigs for rapid growth rates, large muscle mass and efficient feed conversion placing increased weight and mechanical stress on growth plates. The aim of this study was to establish canine and porcine articular cartilage explant models which are essentially tissue culture techniques for isolating and maintaining cartilage tissue ex vivo for subsequent assessment of potentially beneficial effects of specific phytonutrients. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used as a catabolic mediator to create a culture model of joint inflammation mimicking the events that occur in late stages of OA and OCD. We then performed assays to determine if the dietary phytochemical ‘curcumin’ (derived from Curcuma longa) and the polyphenolic phytoalexin stilbene ‘resveratrol’ (found in red grapes, red wine, peanuts and some berries) are able to counteract the catabolic effects of LPS by inhibiting LPS stimulated release of cartilage matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
The effect of age and gender on current and potential intakes of very long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from oil-rich fish and animal derived foods in the UK
Authors: Gibbs R.A. , Givens D.I. , Rymer C.
Published: June 2019

The health benefits of consuming sufficient very long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC n-3 PUFA) such as EPA (C20:5) and DHA (C22:6) are well established. A key supplier of these fatty acids is oil-rich fish, however a recent study relating to UK adults indicated that only 27% of the population consume oil-rich fish and current intakes of VLC n-3 PUFA are substantially sub-optimal (Givens and Gibbs, 2006). There is also evidence to indicate that in vivo conversion of alpha linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) to EPA and DHA is limited and highlights the need for an increased supply of preformed EPA and DHA in the diet. The role of animal-derived foods in the supply of VLC n-3 PUFA has been identified and emphasis has been placed on the need to enrich foods such as poultry meat which are widely consumed in order to make a valuable contribution to the supply of EPA and DHA to those with low or zero oil-rich fish consumption. However the effect of age and gender on intakes remained unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age and gender on oil-rich fish consumption.
Effect of dietary fish and soya oil supplementation on muscle fatty acid concentrations and oxidative lipid stability in beef cattle
Authors: Kenny D.A. , Kelly J.P. , Monahan F.J. , Moloney A.P.
Published: June 2019

Some studies have shown a synergistic effect of supplementing dairy cow diets with a blend of fish and soya oil on the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk. This is apparently due to increased accumulation of ruminal and tissue concentrations of vaccenic acid (VA), the main substrate for ∆-9 desaturase catalysed, de novo tissue synthesis of the cis 9, trans 11 isomer of CLA. Furthermore, recent in vitro studies suggest that the dietary ratio of linoleic acid to the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be an important mediator of this synergism (AbuGhazaleh and Jenkins, 2004). Additionally, dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFA can shorten the shelf life of meat. The objectives of the current study were to examine level and duration of dietary PUFA supplementation on tissue fatty acid concentrations and on lipid oxidative stability of beef cattle.
Effect of dietary fish and soya oil supplementation on ∆-9 desaturase relative gene expression in muscle of beef cattle
Authors: Waters S.M. , Kelly J. , O’Boyle P. , Moloney A.P. , Kenny D.A.
Published: June 2019

Supplementation of cattle diets with a blend of oils rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) and linoleic acid have a synergistic effect on the accumulation of ruminal and tissue concentrations of vaccenic acid (VA), the main substrate for ∆-9 desaturase catalysedde novotissue synthesis of the cis 9, trans 11 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This dietary strategy translates into increases in milk concentrations of CLA in dairy cows, however, CLA concentrations in the muscle of beef animals have not always been increased (Kennyet al., 2007). Studies within-vitromammary cell lines (Keatinget al., 2006) and mice (Ntambiet al., 1999) suggest that ω-3 PUFA may inhibit expression of ∆-9 desaturase. Furthermore, the promoter regions of the bovine ∆-9 desaturase gene have been shown to contain a conserved PUFA response region (Keatinget al., 2005) and this has been suggested as a mechanism through which ω-3 PUFA may modulate ∆-9 desaturase expression in bovine muscle. Currently there is no evidence to support this hypothesis. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the influence of ω-3 PUFA dietary supplementation on the expression of ∆-9 desaturase gene in bovine muscle.