bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The availability and absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the young growing pig
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Smith W. C. , Thompson A.
Published: September 2010

The availability of Ca and P in the young growing pig was determined by the use of a radioisotopic technique. Eighteen Large White barrows of 25 kg mean body weight were used in the study, 10 being fed 1·20 kg per day of a cereal-based diet and the remainder half of this amount. At the higher dietary level the intake of Ca was 9·4 g/day, and that of P was 9·7 g/day. The mean availabilities of Ca and P were 41·5% and 78·1% respectively. At the lower level of intake there was no significant change in the availability of either element, mean values being 39·6% for Ca and 82·5% for P. These values contrast markedly with the 67% for Ca and 50% for P currently used in the calculation of dietary requirements for the elements by the factorial approach.
Prediction of the energy requirements for growth in beef cattle 3. Body weight and heat production in Hereford × British Friesian bulls and steers
Authors: Webster A. J. F. , Smith J. S. , Mollison G. S.
Published: September 2010

1. A total of 74 energy balance trials was made with five Hereford × British Friesian bulls and five steers raised intensively on a barley/protein diet to a slaughter weight of about 450 kg.

2. Predicted basal metabolism (F′) was calculated for each trial by extrapolation to zero intake of measurements made on animals in positive energy balance. Logarithmic and linear equations are presented for F′ for bulls and steers throughout growth. Bulls had F′ values about 20% higher than steers.

3. Values for fasting metabolism (F) in young cattle are reviewed and compared with values for F′ It is concluded that observed differences within and between different estimates of F and F′ can be attributed to the impetus for growth in young animals. Thus, at a stated body weight and intake of metabolizable energy, heat production is influenced by class and breed, bulls being higher than steers and large breeds higher than small breeds.
The accumulation of copper in the liver of lambs on diets containing dried poultry waste
Authors: Suttle N. F. , Munro C. S. , Field A. C.
Published: September 2010

(1) Eight groups of newly weaned lambs were given diets containing 15, 30, 45 or 60% dried poultry waste (DPW) from battery or broiler units in a 4x2 factorial experiment lasting 16 weeks. The Cu content of the diets increased from 12·7 to 35·5 and from 16·1 to 47·1 mg/kg DM with increasing levels of battery and broiler waste, respectively.

(2) As inclusion rates increased, final liver Cu concentrations were 269, 318, 379 and 441 with battery waste and 686, 1009, 877 and 874 mg/kg DM with broiler waste. Total liver Cu accumulation, though higher on broiler than on battery waste, was not proportional to inclusion rate and reached a plateau at the 30% level for both sources.

(3) Mean hepatic Cu retention was constant at 4·8 % of Cu intake with battery waste but decreased from 8·3 to 3·2% as level of broiler waste increased.

(4) Plasma asparate amino transferase (PAAT) levels were highest in groups given broiler waste and final PAAT concentrations were correlated with liver Cu concentration, reaching levels associated with Cu toxicosis in some individuals. The effect of DPW on PAAT was not proportional to inclusion rate.

(5) The factors responsible for the observed variations in liver Cu accumulation between sources and inclusion rates and the possibility of Cu toxicity occurring in sheep given DPW are discussed.
A note on red clover silage for cattle finishing
Authors: Day N. , Harkess R. D. , Harrison D. M.
Published: September 2010

Trials were carried out over two winters to compare red clover and grass silage for cattle finishing.

The silages were mixed to give rations containing 0,25,50,75 or 100% red clover dry-matter and were offered ad libitum to individually fed British Friesian-type steers. Significant differences in dry-matter intake occurred but the effect of silage type on animal performance was not significant. Barley supplementation had a significant effect on both total dry-matter intake and daily live-weight gain.
The effects of forage digestibility and concentrate supplementation on the nutritive value of the diet and performance of finishing cattle
Authors: Vadiveloo J. , Holmes W.
Published: September 2010

Hays varying from 58 to 75% organic matter digestibility (OMD) were offered ad libitum to steers weighing approximately 400 kg, together with concentrates at rates varying from 0·0 to 8·5 g organic matter (OM)/kg live weight per day. Total digestible OM intake (DOMI) increased linearly by 0·75 g/g concentrate OM intake (OMI) for a hay of 58% OMD, but by only 0·26 to 0·36 g/g concentrate OMI for hays above 70% OMD. With hays above 70% OMD, supplementary feeding had little effect on the overall OMD of the diet but significantly depressed the cellulose digestibility of the diet. With the hays of lower digestibility, supplementary feeding increased the OMD of the diet by an average of 0·90% units/unit concentrate OMI, and had no significant effect on the cellulose digestibility of the diet. Live-weight gain increased with increasing digestibility of the hay and with increasing level of supplement.

In multiple regression equations, variations in hay digestibility and concentrate intake accounted for from 77 to 91% of the variation in hay intake, diet digestibility and total DOM intake.
A note on the effects of dietary protein degradability in the rumen on the voluntary intake and digestibility of barley straw by lactating beef cows
Authors: Alawa J. P. , Fishwick G. , Parkins J. J. , Hemingway R. G.
Published: September 2010

In a previous experiment with pregnant beef cows (Alawa, Fishwick, Parkins, Hemingway and Aitchison, 1986) when equal amounts of crude protein (CP) were supplied from a range of concentrates providing different amounts of rumen-degraded protein (RDP), the voluntary intake of barley straw dry matter (DM) and the metabolizable energy (ME) obtained from straw were positively and significantly correlated with the intake of RDP. Whilst increasing proportions of rumen-undegraded protein (UDP) have been shown to increase the milk yield of ewes (Robinson, McHattie, Calderon Cortes and Thompson, 1979) the response of lactating beef suckler cows to UDP in terms of milk yield is not clear. There is an increasing interest in the use of peas as a protein supplement but they have not been compared with more conventional protein sources. Accordingly these present experiments were conducted to study the response of lactating beef cows and their calves to proteins from different sources providing different amounts of RDP and UDP.
Comparison of seven ultrasonic techniques for in vivo estimation of beef carcass composition with special reference to performance testing
Authors: Porter S. J. , Owen M. G. , Page S. J. , Fisher A. V.
Published: September 2010

Forty-nine bulls, 27 Limousin × Friesian and 22 Charolais × Friesian, were evaluated and slaughtered in four batches of about equal size over 4 weeks. Each batch was of one breed. Age, live weight at evaluation and subjective assessments of fatness and conformation were recorded together with fat and muscle measurements by the Delphi, Meritronics, Scanogram, Vetscan, Kaijo Denki, Warren and the Velocity of Sound ultrasonic machines. Experienced operators were used to assess the performance of machine/operator combinations likely to be achieved in bull performance testing in the field. Fat thicknesses and areas, and m. longissimus areas were taken at the 10th rib and 13th rib, and 3rd lumbar regions by most machines. For the Delphi and Meritronics machines, fat thicknesses only were taken; for the Velocity of Sound machine, time interval measurements and anatomical distances were taken at the shoulder, mid back, lumbar and hind limb regions. The left side of each carcass was fully separated into lean, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, bone and waste. All measurements were examined as potential predictors of carcass composition in step-wise regression in a model which included week of evaluation, breed and live weight at evaluation as the first independent variable. On the whole, scanning machines had a higher precision than A-mode machines, with the Velocity of Sound machine achieving the highest precision for carcass lean (g/kg) (residual s.d. = 13·0) and fat (g/kg) (residual s.d. = 14·1). None of the linear and area measurements taken on the carcass achieved the degree of precision of the Velocity of Sound, Scanogram and Vetscan machines.
Changes in plasma cortisol and β-endorphin concentrations and behaviour in sheep subjected to a change of environment
Authors: Fordham D. P. , Al-Gahtani S. , Durotoye L. A. , Rodway R. G.
Published: September 2010

Changes in plasma cortisol and B-endorphin concentrations and behaviour in sheep subjected to a change in environment have been studied. Three male and three female sheep were transferred from pasture to indoor crates for a 9-week period. Behaviour was observed by scan sampling for 1-h periods morning and afternoon 5 days/week. Blood samples were taken hourly for 24-h periods on days 1, 5, 30 and 60, and assayed for β-endorphin and cortisol.

Plasma cortisol concentration decreased significantly between days 30 and 60 (P < 0·001) but there was no significant change in plasma B-endorphin concentration over the experimental period. After an initial period of ‘withdrawal’ in weeks 2 and 3, when the amount of time spent resting increased, the occurrence of active behaviours increased with length of confinement. The results suggest that animals had not fully acclimatized to the new surroundings within the 9-week period. This raises important welfare issues concerning experimental animals.
Effect of energy intake on protein and energy metabolism of boars of high genetic potential for lean growth
Authors: Rao D. S. , McCracken K. J.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were conducted each using one batch of six Landrace littermate, entire male, pedigree pigs in a Latin-square change-over study of the effects of energy intake on nitrogen and energy metabolism over the range 33 to 88 kg live weight. One animal from each litter was slaughtered at 33 kg body weight to obtain initial body composition data. Five feeding levels (80, 100, 120, 140 and 160g/kg M0·63) were used during five consecutive metabolism trials each of 11-days duration, excreta being collected during the last 7 days. The pigs were housed in individual metabolism cages and the diets were offered in liquid form (approx. 300 g dry matter (DM) per kg) twice daily at 09.00 and 16.00 h. Heat production was measured for 1 day during each balance period in an open-circuit respiration chamber. The average daily gain, nitrogen retention, heat production and energy retention increased linearly (P < 0·001) with increasing metabolizable energy (ME) intake. The relationship between energy intake and protein deposition was linear up to levels above the normal ad libitum consumption of energy. Protein deposition potential of these high genetic potential pigs was at least 200 g/day, and tended to be constant between 35 and 85 kg live weight. From the combined results of experiments 1 and 2, the energy requirement for maintenance was 0·982 MJ ME per kg M0·63 per day and the decrease in protein deposition was approximately 6 g/MJ reduction in ME within the range of practical energy intakes.
A note on the influence of storage duration of fresh semen on fertilizing capacity and embryo survival in sows
Authors: Sather A. P. , Harbison D. S. , Seth P. C.
Published: September 2010

Fresh sperm motility declined from 79·2 (s.e. 0·9)% to 55·8 (s.e. 1·7)% while occurrence of normal acrosomes declined from 82·9 (s.e. 1·3)% to 71·3 (s.e. 1·2) % from the day of collection to 7 days after collection, and conception rate declined from 47·6% using 3-day-old semen to less than 30% from using 5· or 7-day-old semen. Neither the number of embryos nor embryo survival from pregnant sows were affected by the age of semen. Boar effects were evident but they did not interact with the effects of age of semen, indicating that semen quality after storage was proportional to initial semen quality.
The effect of three concentrate input levels on the performance of dairy cows calving during mid-winter
Authors: Gordon F. J.
Published: September 2010

A randomized block experiment was conducted using 27 British Friesian cows to assess the effects of three levels of concentrate input (589 (H), 456 (M) and 316 (L)±19·2 kg/cow) on performance. The animals, mean calving date of 6 January, were blocked according to calving date and allocated at random to treatments. All concentrates were given during the post-partum indoor feeding period (mean of 86 days) in addition to accessad libitumto grass silage. All animals received equal concentrate inputs/kg milk produced for 29 days after calving, following which the concentrate inputs were reduced, the reduction depending upon treatment. The milk outputs during the treatment period were 2147, 2075 and 1850 ± 75·8 kg and live weights at the end of the period were 504·1, 500·0 and 468·8 ± 4·96 kg for the H, M and L levels of concentrate supplementation respectively. Six animals per treatment were rotationally grazed at pasture at a stocking rate of 6·0 cows/ha for 11 weeks following the indoor feeding period. Performance at pasture was not affected significantly by previous treatment, with the milk outputs for the pasture period being 1647, 1673 and 1738 ± 53·0 kg, for the H, M and L treatments respectively. The milk outputs during the total indoor feeding plus grazing period at 3887, 3852 and 3636 ± 103·5 kg for the H, M and L treatments respectively did not differ significantly. Milk composition data are also presented.
The thin sow—observations on digestive efficiency, nitrogen balance and carcass composition
Authors: MacPherson R. M. , Campbell Rosa M. , Smart R. I.
Published: September 2010

Measurements were made of apparent digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and lipid, nitrogen balance, pancreatic lipase activity and carcass composition in eight non-pregnant sows during three 10-day balance trials during which the feed intake was 1·1, 0·8 and 2·6 kg/day of a diet containing 14·69% crude protein and 3·0 Meal gross energy/kg DM.

All the sows had similar breeding histories and had completed their fourth lactation. Four were in standard condition (mean body weight, 160 kg) and four in thin condition (mean body weight, 134 kg). All the animals lost weight and were in negative nitrogen balance while on the two lower levels of feed intake; the thin sows lost significantly more N than the standard animals (P< 0·05) and on the lowest level of feeding digestibility of DM by the thin sows was significantly less (P< 0·001).

In both groups there was a rapid recovery in nitrogen retention and in body weight when the food intake was increased.
A note on the use of dexamethasone for inducement of parturition of Finn × Dorset ewes
Authors: Shevah Y.
Published: September 2010

Dexamethasone (16 mg) induced parturition in sheep when injected i n the dam on day 141 of gestation. The mean time of parturition was 49·0 ±2·18 hr after the injection, with 90% of the injected ewes lambed by the 143rd day of gestation compared with the 147th day in the control group. There was no ill effect on the ewe or the lamb born.
The performance and intake of weaned lambs grazing S24 perennial ryegrass, with and without supplementation
Authors: Newton J. E. , Young N. E.
Published: September 2010

Two forms of supplement, barley or dried grass pellets (G) were given to weaned lambs, set-stocked at pasture, at three stocking rates (43·5, 60 and 87 per hectare). The supplements were given either from weaning or from the time growth rate fell below a target value. The supplements significantly increased the proportion of lambs reaching the target weight (35 kg) and G was significantly better than barley, but slightly more G was given. The substitution value of supplement for herbage was 0·48 ± 0·12 and there was no difference in this value between barley and G. The proportion of lambs reaching the target slaughter weight was not influenced by whether the supplement was offered at weaning or delayed until lamb growth declined below a target level. Increase in stocking rate depressed the herbage intake and growth rate of the unsupplemented control lambs.
A note on further studies on sodium salicylate as a growth stimulant for growing pigs receiving diets with or without copper sulphate
Authors: Barber R. S. , Braude R. , Mitchell K. G.
Published: September 2010

Results are reported of an experiment with 60 pigs (12 pigs/treatment) covering the growing period between 22 and 87·5 kg live weight in which the growth-stimulating properties of sodium salicylate were examined either as a single additive or with copper sulphate. The pigs were individually fed a wet diet ‘to appetite’ and the quality of the carcasses was assessed at slaughter.

No significant improvement in live-weight gain or feed: gain ratio was obtained when either 200 or 700 mg of sodium salicylate/kg was added to the diet. When 700 mg of salicylate was given together with 250 mg Cu/kg diet, the response in growth rate was significantly higher than that obtained from the addition of copper alone.

There was no significant treatment effect on carcass quality as assessed by linear measurements, nor on the dry matter, nitrogen or ash contents of the gluteus medius muscle.
The effect of avoparcin and monensin on the performance of growing and finishing cattle offered grass silage-based diets
Authors: Unsworth E. F. , McCullough I. I. , McCullough T. A. , O'Neill D. G. , Steen R. W. J. , Titterington C. I.
Published: September 2010

The effect on animal performance of the inclusion in the diet of avoparcin at one or more of the following levels 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg per head daily and 200 mg per head daily monensin was studied i n a series of four trials. Finishing cattle of 428 (s.e. 3·9) kg live weight were used in three trials and yearling heifers (218 (s.e. 4·9) kg live weight) in the fourth. All animals received grass silage ad libitum with 0·5 to 6·0 kg per head daily of a cereal-based supplement. Relative to the control diets with no additive, proportionate increases in live-weight gain of between 0·07 and 0·38 were obtained with the inclusion of avoparcin at 150 mg per head daily in the diet with a small depression in silage dry-matter intake. The effects at higher levels of inclusion of avoparcin and of monensin were more variable. Alteration in the proportion of propionate to acetate in the rumen fluid of the animals was observed only at the highest levels of additive inclusion. There was no effect of additive treatment on carcass weight or dressing proportion.
A note on the method of replicate blood sampling when assessing the mean concentration of insulin, prolactin and growth hormone in the plasma of heifers fed different diets at different frequencies
Authors: Little W. , Harrison R. D. , Williams Linda A. , Hart I. C.
Published: September 2010

Two groups of six heifers of mean age 284 days and mean body weight 233 kg were offered respectively, a barley-beef (BB) diet and a diet based on dried grass and sugar beet pulp (DG) at a rate calculated to give a live-weight gain of 0·5 kg/day. Three heifers from each group were fed twice daily, and the remaining three were fed through an out-of-parlour concentrate dispenser, and, during the period of blood sampling, hourly. Following a period of adaptation, blood samples were taken hourly during 24 h and the plasma analysed for insulin, prolactin and growth hormone (GH). The experiment was repeated 28 days later using the same heifers offered the same diets except that the twice-daily fed heifers were fed hourly and vice versa.

Comparing the heifers fed the BB diet and those fed the DG diet, insulin in plasma was higher (7·11 v. 3·54 mU/1, P < 0·001) and GH lower (2·48 v. 3·41 uxg/l, P < 0·05) in heifers fed the BB diet. There were no overall significant differences between the two diets for prolactin or between the two frequencies of feeding for all three hormones.

The residual variation among and within heifers was used to estimate the standard error of a treatment mean for different numbers of hourly samples on different numbers of heifers. Little was to be gained by taking in a day more than eight hourly-samples for insulin and more than 12 hourlysamples for GH and prolactin. Precision was most improved by increasing the number of heifers sampled. Feeding the heifers more than twice daily did not improve precision significantly.
The voluntary intake of hay by sheep in relation to its degradability in the rumen as measured in nylon bags
Authors: DeB. Hovell F. D. , Nǵambi J. W. W. , Barber W. P. , Kyle D. J.
Published: September 2010

The voluntary intake and digestibility of four hays were measured with eight sheep using two 4 × 4 Latin squares. Measurements were made during the last 8 days of each 3-week period. The degradation characteristics of the hays were measured by incubating samples (in nylon bags) for 12, 24, 48 or 72 h in the rumen of four sheep fitted with rumen cannulae and given a good hay. The exponential p = a + b(1 − e−α) where p = degradation loss, t = time, and a, b and c are constants, was fitted. The potential degradability (defined as a + b) of the dry matter (DM) of the four hays was 0·76, 0·66, 0·54 and 0·46 with corresponding voluntary intakes of 71, 62, 52 and 45 ± 2·9 g DM per kg M075 per day. The in vivo digestibilities were 0·61, 0·59, 0·46 and 0·45 (s.e. 0·013) respectively and corresponded to 23-, 25-, 31- and 67-h degradation. Voluntary intake was better related to potential degradability (and degradability at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) than to in vivo digestibility. It is concluded that the degradation characteristics of forages may have useful application in predicting voluntary intakes, and that potential degradability could be used to define the rumen (jegradable nitrogen content necessary with any particular forage.
The effect of restricted energy and nutrient intake after mating on reproductive performance of multiparous sows
Authors: Dyck G. W. , Cole D. J. A.
Published: September 2010

Ninety-six multiparous sows were allocated at random on the 1st day of mating at the post-weaning oestrus to three dietary treatments of: 1·84 kg control diet (C); 0·92 kg control diet plus 0·92 kg pelleted hay (R); or 1·84 kg pelleted hay per day (M) for the following 10-day period to determine if restriction of nutrient intake affected reproductive performance. Subsequent to the 10-day period of nutrient intake restriction, all sows were fed 1·84 kg control diet once daily. The treatments had no effect on pregnancy rate, number of piglets born, number born alive, number weaned, or on piglet weight at birth or at weaning. Sows on the M treatment from oestrus to day 10 lost more weight (8·6 kg) during the 10-day period of nutrient restriction than the sows on the R (3·4 kg) or. the C (0·7 kg) treatments. However, weight gain from oestrus to day 110 of gestation was similar for all three treatments (16·5, 17·8 and 17·1 kg, respectively). Thus, restriction of nutrient intake early in pregnancy is not a critical factor affecting litter size and weight at birth or weaning in the multiparous sow.
Selection indices to improve the efficiency of lean meat production in cattle
Authors: Simm G. , Smith C. , Prescott J. H. D.
Published: September 2010

Selection indices to improve the efficiency of lean meat production in cattle were derived with an aggregate breeding value which comprised growth rate, food conversion efficiency, killing-out proportion and carcass lean proportion. Index measurements were growth rate, food conversion efficiency and ultrasonic fat area. Relative economic values of traits in the aggregate breeding value were calculated for an 18/20-month beef system, assuming a fixed national output of lean meat. Literature estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters were used. Two indices were derived, one with a complete restriction on genetic changes in birth weight, and the other without restriction. Correlations between the index and the aggregate breeding value were 0·53 for the restricted index, and 0·57 for the unrestricted index. The maximum proportional reduction in expected economic response, due to complete restriction of birth weight was about 0·08. Selection on either index would actually lead to a slight decrease in carcass lean proportion, but this was less than the decrease expected from selection solely on growth rate. Correlations between the indices and the aggregate breeding value (measuring the accuracy of selection) fell by only about 0·01 when ultrasonic measurements were omitted from the index, but fell by about 0·09 when food conversion efficiency was omitted. Sensitivity of the indices to changes in parameters was also examined. With proportional changes of ±0·5 in individual economic weights, or absolute changes of ±0·2 in genetic correlations or −0·2 in heritabilities, the efficiency of selection ranged from 0·93 to 1·00.
The effects of a combined androgenic-oestrogenic anabolic agent in steers and bulls 2. Muscle weight distribution, partition of body fat and carcass value
Authors: Wood J. D. , Fisher A. V. , Whelehan O. P.
Published: September 2010

Twenty-one pairs of male cattle twins, 10 of which were monozygotic, were used in a study of the effects of a combined implant of trenbolone acetate (140 mg) and oestradiol-17β (20 mg) on muscle distribution, fat partition and carcass value. There were three comparisons within pairs: (1) between bulls and steers (no implants); (2) between bulls and implanted steers; and (3) between bulls and implanted bulls.

Implants were given twice, at 44 to 73 and 300 days of age, and animals were slaughtered at 400 days following ad libitum consumption of a complete pelleted diet. The effects of castration and/or implantation on muscle distribution, fat partition and carcass value were assessed by comparison with the untreated (control) bull values within each group and expressed as a ratio (treatedxontrol). These ratios were then compared between groups.

Implantation of steers increased slightly the weight of muscles in the neck which in a preliminary study had been shown to be particularly heavy in mature bulls compared with steers. Implantation therefore produced a more bull-like muscle distribution in steers and the effect in bulls was to increase the weight of these muscles even further. In steers and bulls the partition of body fat was not affected by implantation. Both implanted steers and bulls were fatter than their respective control bulls and their fat partition was appropriate to this (higher subcutaneous to intermuscular fat ratio).

Differences in carcass value between the groups, as evidenced by a retail cutting method applied to the right side of the carcass, reflected these differences in muscle distribution and fat partition. Thus, implantation of steers was judged to be economically advantageous despite the marginal reduction in value brought about by enlarged forequarter musculature. Implanted bull carcasses were less valuable than their respective controls mainly because they were fatter and required more trimming.
A note on the comparative reproductive performance of Friesland × North Country Cheviot and North Country Cheviot ewes on two levels of pasture prior to mating
Authors: Gunn R. G.
Published: September 2010

The Friesland or East Friesian breed of sheep is a heavy-milking type with a high level of prolificacy. The progeny of the cross with the Scottish Blackface female sheep (ewe) have been shown to have larger, heavier litters in a good lowland environment compared with crossbreds derived from other crossing sires (Boaz, Jones and Smith, 1980; British Friesland Sheep Society, 1983) and to have a higher twinning rate than Scottish Blackface ewes when mated on improved pasture on a hill farm (Doney, Peart, Smith and Sim, 1983). Information is required on the performance of crossbred ewes derived from Friesland sires on other hill breeds and run in less favourable environments such as are common in the hills and uplands.
Milk production from silage 4. The effect of the composition of the supplement
Authors: Thomas C. , Aston K. , Daley S. R. , Bass Jacqueline
Published: September 2010

Primary growths of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were cut on 22 May and 12 June and wilted for 24 h prior to ensiling. A 40: 60 mixture of the two silages was offered ad libitum with two pelleted supplements. Supplement Ba was a mixture of (dry matter (DM) basis) 932 g rolled barley and 68 g fish meal per kg. Supplement SBP/FF consisted of 555 g unmolassed beet pulp, 314 g extracted rice bran, 56 g fat prills and 75 g soya-bean meal per kg. The factorial combination of the two supplements (Ba and SBP/FF) given at two levels, 6 kg DM (L) or 12 kg DM (H), provided the four treatments imposed over weeks 3 to 10 of lactation on 40 British Friesian cows. During weeks 12 to 20 of lactation (post-experiment period) the cows were given an equal mixture of the two concentrates at 9 kg DM per day.

Supplement Ba contained less ash (31 v. 94 g/kg), acid-detergent fibre (68 v. 218 g/kg) and fat (29 v. 77 g/kg) but more starch (558 v. 89 g/kg) and digestible organic matter in the dry matter in vitro (DOMD) (781 v. 627 g/kg) than SBP/FF. The concentration of total nitrogen (N) was similar at 25·6 g/kg. Silage had a DOMD of 643 g/kg, a pH of 3·8 and proportionately 0·82 of fermentation acids as lactic acid.

Apparent digestibility of gross energy was higher for Ba diets (0·748) than for SBP/FF (0·704). Cows given SBP/FF ate 0·9 kg more silage DM than those given Ba (P < 0·01) but there was no difference in digestible energy intake or in substitution rate (−0·37 kg silage DM per kg additional supplement DM). Increasing the amount of supplement increased milk yield by 3·9 kg/day (P < 0·001). Cows given SBP/FF yielded on average 1·6 kg more milk than those given Ba (P < 0·05). However, this increased output consisted almost entirely of lactose and water as a result of a high concentration of fat in the milk of cows given Ba at the low level (46·3 g/kg). Further, the concentration of protein was less with SBP/FF (28·0 g/kg) than with Ba (29·2 g/kg).

The effects of SBP/FF in early lactation were translated into a positive residual effect in mid lactation equivalent to the immediate effect. In contrast, raising yield by increasing the amount of supplement did not result in increased output subsequently. The results show that a supplement of fibre and fat despite having a lower digestibility than barley can produce more milk but a similar yield of fat and protein provided silage is offered ad libitum.
Diets with chemically treated straw for beef steers: effects of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate on food utilization, growth and bacterial cellulolysis
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Stewart C. S. , Macdearmid A. , Brewer A.
Published: September 2010

The effects of level of supplemental carbohydrate from turnips and level of rumen degradable nitrogen on bacterial cellulolysis, food intake, live-weight gain and diet digestibility were examined with 36 300-kg Friesian steers allocated, in a randomized-block design, to one of six dietary treatments: (i) sodium hydroxide treated straw plus a supplement of urea (30 g urea per kg straw dry matter (DM)) (uO); (ii) uOplus turnips (23·5 g DM per kg M0·75); (Hi) uOplus a high level of turnips (47 g DM per kg M0·75); (iv) (v) and (vi), the same three diets, but with additional urea (60 g urea per kg straw DM). In two separate experiments each lasting for 56 days, the turnip allowance was given in either two feeds, or one feed per day and the straw was given to appetite. Rumen fluid was obtained by stomach tube from all steers before feeding (07·30 h) and after feeding (11.00 h) on days 10 and 24 of each experiment.

Weight gains for all groups given straw plus turnips were high (> 0·90 kg/day). Increasing the quantity of turnips gave significantly increased DM intakes and weight gains but then turnips substituted for straw, and the proportion of straw consumed decreased from 0·8 to 0·6 of the dietary DM (P< 0·01) There were no significant interactions between frequency of feeding of turnips and level of urea on the variables food intake and weight gain. Fibre digestibility was not depressed by the addition of turnips to the diet. Rumen fluid pH decreased after the steers ate turnips but tended to remain above 6·7. There were no large changes in the total number of viable cellulolytic bacteria as a result of either addition of urea or turnips to the diet; counts remained in the order of 107 per ml. Steers consumed large quantities of sodium hydroxide treated straw; turnips were therefore only a small proportion of the overall DM intake with relatively little effect on bacterial cellulolysis.
Inter-age correlations of food conversion efficiency with body weight, growth rate and food intake within and between British breeds of cattle
Authors: Thiessen R. B. , Taylor St C. S.
Published: September 2010

In a multibreed experiment 306 females from 25 British breeds of cattle were given a standard pelleted diet ad libitum. Correlations of food conversion efficiency (FCE) with body weight, weight gain, and food intake were studied over 12-week and longer periods from 12 to 72 weeks of age. Inter-age correlations of FCE with itself and the other traits were also studied over age intervals separated by 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks. The between-breed correlations were genetic while the within-breed correlations were phenotypic.

Between breeds, FCE measured over the full age range from 12 to 72 weeks appeared to be very highly correlated with FCE measured over the 12-week period between 24 and 36 weeks of age. Correlations of 12 to 72 week FCE with traits not requiring measurement of food intake were much lower, being at most 0·77 for weight gain, 0·73 for weight gain per unit body weight and 0·57 for body weight. The pattern of correlations implied that over constant age ranges the larger faster-growing breeds with high intakes tended to be more efficient; however, these correlations were generated primarily at early ages between 12 and 36 weeks and FCE at later ages could not be predicted from other traits measured at earlier ages. Nevertheless, between-breed selection to improve FCE by indirect selection on body weight and weight gain could be effective but there would appear to be no advantage in waiting beyond 1 year of age.

Within breeds, correlations of 12 to 72 week FCE with FCE measured over 12-week periods increased with age from 0·24 to 0·61. Correlations of FCE with weight gain in the same 12-week periods were quite high (0·49 to 0·89) and those with weight gain per unit weight were invaribly higher (0·68 to 0·90). However, as a predictor of FCE in any subsequent period, weight gain per unit body weight was poor and weight gain of no value whatsoever. There was no strong association of FCE with body weight.
A note on the effect of nutrition during mid pregnancy on lamb production of primiparous ewes in high body condition at mating
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Russel A. J. F. , Barthram E.
Published: September 2010

Mid-Pregnancy nutrition has been shown to have both positive and negative effects on lamb birth weight in primiparous Scottish Blackface ewes. The direction of the effect depends on the level of body condition at mating, being negative in ewes in high body condition (Russel, Foot, White and Davies, 1981). In the same study, it was argued that the effect in younger ewes could be due to their greater sensitivity to both under- and over-nutrition during the earlier to mid stages of their first pregnancy than is evident in older ewes. Russel et al. (1981) also suggested that the level of mid-pregnancy nutrition is likely to have effects on other aspects of production such as embryonic loss, foetal mortality and even ewe mortality.
The effect of environmental temperature and feeding level on energy and protein retention of individual housed pregnant sows
Authors: Kemp B. , Verstegen M. W. A. , Verhagen J. M. F. , van der Hel W.
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were performed to study the effect of ambient temperature and feeding level on energy and protein metabolism of individually housed pregnant sows. In experiment 1, 12 pregnant animals were used. The stage of pregnancy at the start of the experiment ranged from 34 to 41 days. In experiment 2, 10 pregnant animals were used. The stage of pregnancy at the start of the experiment ranged from 38 to 47 days. In each experiment two groups of animals were used. Each group of five or six animals was individually tethered in one of two identical calorimeters and given one of two feeding levels. At the high feeding level the animals received about 1·35 × maintenance. At the low feeding level the animals received about 1·1 × maintenance. The temperature in experiment 1 changed stepwise in both calorimeters by 3°C every 5 to 7 days from 21 to 12°C and then in reverse order. Temperature in experiment 2 changed stepwise in both calorimeters by 2°C every 3·5 days from 25°C to 11°C and then in reverse order.

Energy gain was negative in animals at the low feeding level at the temperatures below 15 to 18°C. At the high feeding level sows lost energy at 12°C or lower in experiment 2. Protein gain was depressed by both low feeding level and low temperatures. Energy balance was depressed by about 90 kJ/kg M0·75 per day at the lower feeding level and by 19 kJ/kg M0·75 per day per °C below thermoneutrality. Protein gain was depressed by about 26 g/day at the low feeding level and by about 6 g/day per °C below thermoneutrality. Fat gain at low feeding level was depressed by about 92 g/day and by about 154 g/day at the lowest temperature. At low feeding level below the critical temperature, gain of fat was negative. Feeding levels used in these experiments did not supply sufficient energy for energy equilibrium or fat gain for the pregnant sow kept for longer periods below the thermoneutral zone.
A performance test of pigs according to a modified Kielanowski system
Authors: Merks J. W. M. , Donker R. A. , Brascamp E. W. , Buiting G. A. J.
Published: September 2010

A performance test of pigs was conducted according to an adapted version of the ‘Kielanowski system’ in which the feeding level and the termination point of the test period were changed. A total of 119 pigs of six genotypes (participants in the Commercial Pig Evaluation in The Netherlands, 1981) averaging 22 kg weight, were fed for 17 weeks on a scheme according to days on test. The regime was such that not all the pigs could consume their total allocation of food. The fast-growing pigs were expected to be more efficient and therefore the leanest.

Forty-eight pigs consumed their total food allocation, whereas the remainder left an average of 5·89 kg food. Pigs that consumed their total allocation of food had a significantly better food conversion ratio (0·07 kg/kg; P < 0·01) and a higher daily gain (33 g/day), but they had significantly less lean (10 g/kg; P < 0·05) in their carcasses than pigs that could not consume their whole allocation. The ranking of genotypes for average daily food intake closely agreed (rs = 0·94) with the ranking in another trial with ad libitum feeding, which points to the possibility for selection on food intake capacity in the proposed system. For the other variates, the ranking correlations were moderate.

Among the pigs that consumed the total amount of food offered, a moderately strong relation (r = 0·70) was found between daily gain and lean tissue growth rate. With the system tested, it was not possible to determine leanness simply by weighing the pigs afterwards. Nevertheless, the results of the modified Kielanowski system show some interesting aspects which contribute to the design of a test system for a genetically unbiased comparison among pigs.
Effects of ovulation status and stage of oestrous cycle on plasma progesterone concentrations in cattle with or without a history of twin calvings
Authors: Morris C. A. , Day A. M. , Peterson A. J.
Published: September 2010

Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured over two collection periods from two groups of mature non-pregnant cows involved in a twin-breeding experiment. One group (T) consisted of cows obtained from private herds after having produced at least two sets of twins each; the other was a control group of similar ages and breeds. Yearling heifers from the same breeding experiment were also included. The mean progesterone concentration from cows in the T group was proportionally 0·83 of the value in control cows and the cow group effects were consistent in direction for samples obtained after single or double ovulations. Results were also consistent in early oestrous cycle (days 3 to 7, oestrus = day 0), mid cycle (days 8 to 13) but not late cycle (days 14 to 18). Concentrations were significantly higher in yearling heifers than in control cows. There was a trend for higher progesterone concentrations after double than after single ovulations assessed by rectal palpation, but differences were not significant.
Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats 3. Muscle weight distribution
Authors: Thonney M. L. , Taylor St C. S. , Murray J. I. , McClelland T. H.
Published: September 2010

Males and females from Soay, Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Finnish Landrace, Jacob, Wiltshire Horn and Oxford Down sheep breeds and a breed of feral goats were slaughtered when they reached 0·40, 0·52, 0·64 or 0·76 of the mean mature body weight of their breed and sex. Total weight of dissected muscle was close to 0·30 times fleece-free empty body weight, or 0·24 times live weight, for all breeds and stages of maturity. The growth of 12 individual muscles or muscle groups dissected from the commercially higher-valued joints of the carcass, was examined in relation to live weight and total muscle weight. Limb muscles matured early. All 12 muscles, when combined, also matured early so that the proportion of lean tissue from the higher-valued joints declined as live weight increased.

There were small but significant sex differences in the relative growth rate of some muscles. The abdominal muscles were early maturing for males and average for females. There were also sex differences in muscle weight distribution. The proportion of muscle in the hind limb of females was 1·055 times that in males, while the 12 muscles from higher-valued cuts constituted 0·403 of total carcass muscle for females and 0·389 for males, a proportional difference of 0·035.

Muscle weight distribution was unrelated to breed size with the possible exception of m. gastrocnemius which appeared to be relatively smaller in genetically larger breeds. After accounting for differences in mature weight, there remained small but significant breed deviations in muscle weight distribution. Southdowns had the most attractive distribution. Feral goats and Jacob sheep, although they had the highest proportion of total muscle, had a much less attractive distribution.
The growth to maturity of lean and fat lines of broiler chickens fed diets of different protein content: Evaluation of a model to describe growth and feeding characteristics
Authors: Whitehead C. C. , Parks J. R.
Published: September 2010

Body weight and food intake were measured at different ages up to 30 weeks in males and 21 weeks in females in lean, fat and commercial lines of broiler chickens given diets of different crude protein content. The lean and fat lines showed no differences in rates of body-weight gain or final body weights but the lean line had consistently lower food intakes. Dietary protein concentration within the ranges studied did not influence final body weights.

Equations derived from a theory of feeding and growth were used along with the data up to 21 weeks of age to calculate mature body weights and various feeding characteristics. These values were compared with those obtained by application of the theory to another set of broiler data. The theory was found to be sufficiently robust to give some consistent interpretations of data from experiments involving considerable differences in time, breed and diet.
Estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth and reproductive traits for red deer on an upland farm
Authors: McManus C. M. , Hamilton W. J.
Published: September 2010

Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an upland environment in the north-east of Scotland. Genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood analyses. Heritabilities of pre-weaning traits associated with growth were moderate for birth weight (0·27 (s.e. 0·04)), weaning weight, generally in September at 3 months of age (0·21 (s.e. 0·06)) and growth rate from birth to weaning (0·15 (s.e. 0·03)). Heritabilities for post-weaning traits were 0·10 (s.e. 0·05) for turn-out weight in April/May, 0·14 (s.e. 0·06) for September weight, at 15 months of age, 0·08 (s.e. 0·05) for growth rate weaning to turn-out and 0·12 (s.e. 0·06) for growth rate turn-out to September. Correlations between weaning weight and post-weaning traits were high indicating the usefulness of weaning weight as a selection criterion for red deer on upland farms. While Wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) crosses grew faster than pure red deer they also tended to have higher mortality rates pre-weaning. Older dams were more likely to have a successful pregnancy and also tended to calve earlier. Date of calving was found to show no heritable variation in this study.
Effect of duodenal proline infusion on milk production and composition in dairy cows
Authors: Bruckental I. , Ascarelli I. , Yosif B. , Alumot E.
Published: September 2010

Four Israeli-Friesian cows, two at peak and two at mid lactation, were fitted with duodenal cannulas. They were given proline or water infusions for 8-day periods to evaluate the effect of duodenal infusion of proline on arginine uptake by the mammary gland and on milk yield and composition of dairy cows. Milk fat content and 40 g/kg fat-corrected milk yield increased for all cows due to proline infusion. Milk protein concentration during either early or mid lactation and milk protein yield during early lactation, were not affected by proline infusion. Milk protein yield during mid lactation was increased due to proline infusion. Arginine uptake by the udder dropped by one-half during proline infusion. Results suggest that post-ruminal administration of supplemental proline reduced requirements for arginine by the udder and improved efficiency of dietary energy utilization.
Time series analysis of the prevalence of Ascaris suum infections in pigs using abattoir condemnation data
Authors: Goodall E. A. , McLoughlin E. M. , Menzies F. D. , Mcllroy S. G.
Published: September 2010

In most regions of the world, condemnations of porcine livers are almost always due to parasitic Ascaris suum infections. Thus, accurate data for all abattoirs in a region will reflect the prevalence of this disease in the pig population of that region. In Northern Ireland, a computerized information database retrieval system for abattoir data has been available since 1986. The information recorded by the system details the specific cause and location of all condemnations in cattle, sheep and pigs for all abattoirs in Northern Ireland since 1969. In this paper, results of analysis of a subset of these data (1969 to 1989) for pigs is presented and a univariate time series model identified for the recorded prevalence of condemnations due to cirrhotic lesions in pig livers. The results of the analysis demonstrate a very highly significant upward trend in the occurrence of Ascaris suum infections. The residual terms for the model were correlated with the corresponding time series of all the key meteorological variables. The association between the level of lesions and the mean level of air temperature over the early summer period is highlighted. The overall proportion of variation accounted for in the time series of the annual level of cirrhotic condemnations was 96%.