bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flood tolerance of rice grown under intermediate deepwater conditions (15–50 cm) as affected by phosphorus fertilization
Authors: Reddy M. D. , Sharma A. R. , Panda M. M.
Published: March 2009

The effect of phosphorus fertilizer on the performance of an improved semi-dwarf (100 cm), long duration (170 days), photosensitive rice variety CR 1016, grown under conditions of intermediate deepwater (15–50 cm) and simulated flash flooding (80 cm), was investigated at Cuttack, India in 1985, 1987 and 1988. Growth and yield of rice subjected to overhead flash flooding (complete submergence) at the vegetative stage for 10 days was decreased significantly compared with partial submergence in water of intermediate depth. The adverse effect of complete submergence was due to greater tiller mortality and lower number and/or weight of panicles at maturity. Rice plants fertilized with P tolerated flooding better and produced significantly higher grain yields than when no P was applied. There was no significant effect of P application on the crop grown under natural unsubmerged conditions, except when it was raised in the same plots as the previous year and may therefore have benefited from residual effects. Therefore, application of 8.7–17.5 kg P/ha along with 60 kg N and 16.7 kg K/ha at sowing was essential to overcome the deleterious effects of submergence on rice grown under waterlogged conditions.
Intercepted radiation and yield of lentils (Lens culinaris) in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: McKenzie B. A. , Hill G. D.
Published: March 2009

Lentils were grown in 1984/85, 1985/86 and 1988/89 in Canterbury, New Zealand. Results showed that lentil canopies were capable of intercepting a maximum of 95% of incident solar radiation at a leaf area index of 7. Autumn sowings attained canopy closure, but late spring sowings did not. At the highest population density used (500 plants/m2), only 65% of incident solar radiation was intercepted by a late spring-sown crop. In all three growing seasons there was a highly significant positive relationship between cumulative absorbed radiation and dry matter (DM) production. Over all seasons, 1·6 g DM/m2 was produced per MJ of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The final utilization coefficient (u) was not affected by sowing date but in a late-sown, diseased crop, u was 38% less than in a disease free crop. In 1984/85, dryland crops had a utilization coefficient of 1·39 while irrigated crops had a u of 1·54. Growth efficiency of lentils was low, at 2·5%.
Physiological state of sheep before and during fattening
Authors: Graham N. McC. , Searle T. W. , Margan D. E. , Spence F. B. , Wynn P. C.
Published: March 2009

Various physiological characteristics of castrate male sheep fedad libitumwere studied between 1986 and 1987 in Australia. The sheep were between 20 and 45 kg live weight (LW) before and during fattening. Sequential data on body composition, estimated from TOH space (starting at 10 kg), established that the weight gain contained 19% fat and 13% protein belowc.26 kg LW and 55% fat and 10% protein above. For a given feed intake, the rate of fat gain was constant but the rate of body protein gain was 45% lower above 26 kg LW. Voluntary feed consumption per unit weight peaked at 26 kg LW and declined thereafter. There was an increase at 45 kg LW in weight of rumen digesta per unit feed intake and in digestibility; metabolizable energy (ME) per kg feed was increased as a result by 6–9%. Efficiency of use of ME, determined by calorimetry, increased from 44% in the lower weight range to 53% in the higher; utilization of nitrogen decreased from 37 to 28%. Partition of ME and energy gain suggested that the energetic efficiency of neither fat nor protein deposition changed between the two weight ranges. Change in the amount of DNA (‘cell number’) rather than g tissue/mg DNA (‘cell size’) accounted for weight change in three muscles and most digestive organs. Exceptions were the rumen, in which cell number and size both contributed to gain and the large intestine, in which cell size diminished during growth. It was concluded that fattening in sheep reflects diminution of the protein content of weight gain due to a decrease in the efficiency of protein utilization at the tissue level.
Modelling Agriculture Under Pressure
Authors: Audsley E.
Published: March 2009

The Agricultural and Related Industries Study Group of the Operational Research Society held a one-day meeting on ‘Modelling Agriculture under Pressure’ on 22 May 1991 at the Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. The group promotes the use of the scientific method in solving management problems. The aim of this meeting was to look at different ways of modelling the effect of changes on farm economics and profitability. Three papers discussed partial-equilibrium economic models and national policies. The other three papers concerned farm profitability. The speakers generated lively discussions. One of the most memorable replies was from Peter Midmore to the question of what he would use instead of input-output analysis: ‘1.2’.
Utilization of the energy and protein of the same diet by cattle of different ages
Authors: Blaxter K. L. , Clapperton J. L. , Wainman F. W.
Published: March 2009

1. Five experiments, each with three steers, were made in which the same diet was given in three different amounts and energy and N metabolism measured. Fasting metabolism was also determined in each experiment. The experiments were made when the steers were 15, 31, 35, 46 and 81 weeks of age.

2. Age of animal had no effect on the apparent digestibility of the diet, methane production and urine energy loss from or on the metabolizable energy of the diet. The efficiency with which the metabolizable energy of the diet was used to maintain the animals and to promote energy retention by them was also unaffected by their age. The determined efficiencies were those to be expected from the results obtained in experiments with mature ruminants.

3. Retention of N was more efficient in the younger animals, and the composition of the gains showed that protein energy accounted for 30.5% of the total energy retained in the 15-week-old animals and 24.8 % in the animals 81 weeks of age.
A study of the composition of Clun Forest ewe's milk. II. Mineral constituents
Authors: Ashton W. M. , Yousef I. M.
Published: March 2009

1. This paper provides further information on the mineral content of the milk of Clun Forest ewes, particularly those elements not dealt with in a previous paper, namely, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and certain trace elements.

2. The average composition was as follows: calcium 0.200, magnesium 0.0147, sodium 0.046, potassium 0.168, phosphorus 0.140 and chlorine 0.076%; copper 0.22, iron 0.77, manganese 0.07 and aluminium 1.7 parts per million. Where possible the results are compared with those obtained by other workers for ewe's and cow's milk.

3. Statistical analysis of the data showed that, with the exception of phosphorus, the content of major elements varied significantly during the lactation period. There was also a significant variation in all major elements between sheep.
Some biochemical and hormonal aspects of experimental ovine pregnancy toxaemia
Authors: Saba N. , Burns K. N. , Cunningham N. F. , Hebert C. Nancy , Patterson D. S. P.
Published: March 2009

1. Some of the effects of stress, fasting and ACTH injections in pregnant ewes were investigated.

2. A 6-day fast produced a relatively mild hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia without inducing pregnancy toxaemia.

3. Stress of transport produced an immediate slight rise in plasma cortisol; 4 hr. later the plasma cortisol had returned to the pre-stress levels.

4. A combination of stress and fasting produced severe hypoglycaemia, hyperketonaemia and subacute pregnancy toxaemia, but there was no increase in plasma cortisol levels.

5. Daily injections of ACTH resulted in a fourfold increase in plasma cortisol and prevented the development of hypoglycaemia, severe hyperketonaemia, and pregnancy toxaemia in pregnant ewes subjected to stress and fasting.

6. Changes in plasma concentrations of NEFA, urea, proteins, catecholamines and insulin were also investigated.
Effects of leaf shear breaking load on the feeding value of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) for sheep
Authors: Inoué T. , Brookes I. M. , John A. , Hunt W. F. , Barry T. N.
Published: March 2009

Two populations of perennial ryegrass (PRG) (Lolium perenne L.) were selected for low (LS) and high leaf shear breaking load (HS) in 1984 at DSIR, Palmerston North. Leaf shear breaking load for the LS group was c. 41% lower than for the HS group and the LS selection had significantly shorter, narrower leaves and smaller leaf cross-sectional areas than the HS selection. LS leaves were c. 27% less resistant to shear than HS leaves per unit of cross-sectional area. The lower leaf shear strength in the LS selection was associated with a significantly lower concentration of sclerenchyma tissues in the leaf cross-sectional area compared with the HS selection. The total shear load required to break down the same dry weight of leaves to 1 mm particle size (leaf index of masticatory load) was calculated and shown to be influenced by the differences in leaf morphology. LS leaves were estimated to have a 21% lower index of masticatory load than HS leaves when both were grown under optimum climatic conditions.
Influence of soil type, crop management and weather on the recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizer applied to winter wheat in spring
Authors: Powlson D. S. , Hart P. B. S. , Poulton P. R. , Johnston A. E. , Jenkinson D. S.
Published: March 2009

15N-labelled fertilizer was applied, in spring, to winter wheat crops in nine experiments in eastern England over a period of 4 years. Five were on Batcombe Series silty clay loam, two on Beccles Series sandy clay loam (with a mole-drained clay subsoil) and two on Cottenham Series sandy loam. In three of the experiments, different rates of fertilizer N were applied (up to 234 kg N/ha); in the others, a single rate (between 140 and 230 kg/ha) was used.

Recovery of fertilizer N in the above-ground crop (grain, chaff, straw and stubble) ranged from 46 to 87% (mean 68%). The quantity of fertilizer N retained in the soil at harvest was remarkably constant between different experiments, averaging 18% where labelled N was applied as 15NH415NO3, but less (7–14%) where K16NO3 was applied. Of the labelled N present in soil to a depth of 70 cm, 84–88% was within the cultivated layer (0–23 cm).

L70 = 5(± 1 63) + 0·264(±00352) R3

accounted for 73% of the variation in the data where: L70 = percentage loss of fertilizer N from the crop: soil system, defined as percentage of labelled N not recovered in crop or in soil to a depth of 70 cm at the time of harvest; R3 = rainfall (in mm) in the 3 weeks following application of N fertilizer.

There was a tendency for percentage loss of fertilizer N to be greater when a quantity of N in excess of that required for maximum grain yield was applied. However, a multiple regression relating loss both to rainfall and to quantity of N applied accounted for no more variance than the regression involving rainfall alone. In one experiment, early and late sowing were compared on the first wheat crop that followed oats. The loss of N from the early-sown crop, given fertilizer N late in spring, was only 4% compared with 26 % from the later-sown crop given N at the same time, so that sowing date had a marked effect on the loss of spring-applied fertilizer N.

Uptake of unlabelled N, derived from mineralization of organic N in soil, autumn-applied N (where given) and from atmospheric inputs, was < 30 kg/ha on a low organic matter (0·08% total N) sandy soil but > 130 kg/ha when wheat followed potatoes or beans on soil containing c. 0·15 % total N. Unlabelled N accounted for 20–50% of the total N content of fertilized crops at harvest. About 50% of this unlabelled N had already been taken up by the time of fertilizer application in spring and the final quantity was closely correlated with the amount present in the crop at this time. Applications of labelled fertilizer N tended to increase uptake of unlabelled N by 10–20 kg/ha, compared to controls receiving no N fertilizer. This was probably due to pool substitution, i.e. labelled inorganic N standing proxy for unlabelled inorganic N that would otherwise have been immobilized or denitrified.
Planting date and density effects on six pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) cultivars at three Nigerian Savanna locations
Authors: Akinola J. O. , Oyejola B. A.
Published: March 2009

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of planting pigeonpea in May, June or July at Mokwa and June or July at Shika and Kano, Nigeria at population densities of 18·5×103, 27·8×103, 55·5×103, 111×103, 222×103and 444×103plants/ha on dry matter (DM) and seed yields of cultivars Local, UQ50, 3D8103, 3D8104, 3D8111 and 3D8112 in the 1974/75 season. Planting in May had no above-ground DM yield advantage over planting in June at Mokwa. Planting in June gave higher yields than planting in July irrespective of site, except for the short, early maturing, soya-type cultivar 3D8103 at Shika. Cultivar responses to density were inconsistent between sites and also between dates at Shika and Kano. Cultivars Local, UQ50 and 3D8104 showed the highest DM yield at all sites. Leaf DM yield tended to decline as planting was delayed but was highest at densities of 111×103or 222×103plants/ha for May and June-planted cultivars Local, UQ50, 3D8104 and 3D8112, which showed potential as feed supplements for poultry. Reasons were advanced for the variability in pod yield responses to planting date and density between the different pigeonpea cultivars. Root DM yields were proportional to above-ground DM yield but, over all cultivars, root yield was unaffected by planting date at Shika.

Seed yield was highest from the June sowing, cv. 3D8104 was the most productive and the optimum densities were 27·8×103plants/ha for the larger-sized cultivars Local and UQ50, 55·5×103plants/ha for the medium-sized cultivars 3D8104, 3D8111 and 3D8112, and 444×103for cv. 3D8103. A complementary study over 13 years showed that the seed yield of intermediate and late maturing pigeonpeas was strongly and linearly related to total annual rainfall.
Effect of virginiamycin on digestibility of nutrients, blood and immunologic parameters, and quality of meat in veal calves
Authors: Skřivanová V. , Marounek M. , Šimůnek J. , Benda V.
Published: March 2009

Experiments were carried out in 1992 with ten male calves, 4 weeks old initially, on a milk diet. Five calves received 80 mg/head virginiamycin (a feed antibiotic) daily for about 14 weeks. Virginiamycin significantly (P < 0·05) increased weight gains (122±2 kg ν. 114±2 kg), digestibility of ash, serum iron and haemoglobin. The feed intake per 1 kg of gain was non-significantly lowered in the virginiamycin group. The phagocytic activity of granulocytes in blood samples of treated calves was slightly increased with a concomitant decrease in the concentration of immunoglobulins. Meat of virginiamycin-fed calves tended to be somewhat darker, to contain more K, Na and Fe and to have a higher pH 24 h post mortem. There were no major differences in other qualitative characteristics of meat between the groups.
Comparative rates of emergence and leaf appearance in wild oats (Avena fatua), winter barley (Hordeum sativum) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Authors: Cousens R. D. , Johnson M. P. , Weaver S. E. , Martin T. D. , Blair A. M.
Published: March 2009

Winter barley cv. Igri, winter wheat cv. Avalon and spring wild oats (Avena fatua) were studied in monocultures in pots and in the field. The field experiments were located near Bristol and Bury St Edmunds in 1988/89. Pot sowings were monthly, whereas there was a single sowing date for each of the two field locations. Base temperatures for emergence in pots were 2·2, 1·3 and 2·3 °C for barley, wheat andA. fatuarespectively. Barley was consistently the fastest to emerge. Leaf number was strongly correlated with photothermal time from emergence, with barley producing leaves at the greatest rate. Base temperatures for leaf appearance were −6, −5 and −3 °C for barley, wheat andA. fatuarespectively. The field studies confirmed the ranking of the species based on the pot experiments. Both a model based on photothermal time and one based on rate of change of daylength at emergence gave good descriptions of the data. It is argued that correlations of rates of development with individual environmental variables are not sufficient to deduce the underlying mechanisms.
Intravaginal SC-9880-progesterone treatments in the synchronization of oestrus in cyclic sheep
Authors: Gordon I. , Maher P. G.
Published: March 2009

The mating response and lambing outcome in fifty-three sheep was studied after treatment with intravaginal sponges during October (normal breeding season). Bach pessary carried a dose of 30 mg ‘Cronolone’ (9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxy-17α-acetoxyprogesterone; SC-9880, G. D. Searle) in finely dispersed form and was inserted for 14 days. Half the number of pessaries carried an additional dose of 400 mg progesterone. Breeding was by natural service, using 10% rams. Ninety per cent of the fifty ewes bred immediately after treatment conceived; the average number of lambs/conception was 1·9. Sheep treated with ‘Cronolone’/progesterone pessaries showed a marginal and non-significant advantage over those treated with ‘Cronolone’. The application was effective in ensuring the birth of most lambs (87% of total) within a period of 1 week.
Culture and fertilization of sheep ovarian oocytes:II. Timing of nuclear maturation in oocytes cultured in growth medium
Authors: Crosby T. F. , Gordon I.
Published: March 2009

In 450 oocytes, recovered from the vesicular follicles of prepuberal lambs and cultured in growth medium for 2–48 h, 76·4% resumed meiosis. The first evidence of polar body extrusion was at 18 h; maturation was completed in most oocytes by 25–27 h.
A study of growth in calves:I. Carcass tissues
Authors: Butterfield R. M. , Johnson E. R. , Pryor W. J.
Published: March 2009

Calves were slaughtered at predetermined weights after being fed individually on fresh and reconstituted whole milk at three levels. The highest level of feeding was ad libitum and the lowest was aimed at keeping the calves at their birth weight for 72 days before providing extra milk to allow growth to proceed.

Dressing percentage did not decline with age as it did in a previous experiment using roughage in the diet. The faster-grown calves had a higher dressing percentage. It is concluded that both rate of growth and the physical nature of the diet influenced dressing percentage.

Muscle: bone ratio and the amount of fat and bone in the carcass were not significantly affected by the rate of live-weight increase.
Yield, nutritive value and ensiling characteristics of whole-crop spring cereals
Authors: Lawes D. A. , Jones D. I. H.
Published: March 2009

The dry-matter yield, in vitro digestibility and crude protein content of four varieties of spring cereals (one barley, one wheat and two oats) were examined at weekly intervals at two levels of nitrogen fertilization during two successive years. The ensiling characteristics of crops cut at two dates were also determined. Dry-matter yields increased until the end of July. Digestibility and crude protein content declined until mid July when values of 56–60 and 6–7% for the barley and wheat, and 53–55 and 5–6% for the oats respectively were maintained. Crops of all varieties were suitable for ensiling at maximum yield.

Other experiments investigating level of whole-crop cereal yields obtainable with higher levels of fertility produced yields of over 16 metric tons D.M./ha with applications of 200–250 kg N, P2 O5 and K2O per hectare.
Breeding of maize for low rainfall areas of Kenya:1. The reliability of yield of early and later maturing maizes
Authors: Dowker B. D.
Published: March 2009

A trial to compare the reliability of yield of a quick maturing maize (Taboran) with the medium maturity local maize was carried out at two low rainfall sites in Southern Province, Kenya, from 1957 to 1961. Each variety was grown at two spacings, giving plant densities of 1·8 and 3·6 pl./m2. Results showed a consistent difference in ‘days to 50% silking’, Taboran being on average 17 days earlier than Local White. There was no overall difference between varieties or spacings in yield per ha. There were highly significant interactions of seasons with varieties and with spacings. These were interpreted in terms of different linear yield/rainfall relationships for each variety and each spacing. A variety/spacing interaction was also demonstrated.

Analysis of components of yield showed that similar linear relations between rainfall and each yield component obtained. There were significant differences between varieties and between spacings in both mean number of cobs per plant and yield per cob. Taboran had a higher mean number of cobs per plant and Local White a higher mean yield per cob. Seasons x varieties interactions were again interpreted in linear regression terms. Earliness of the Taboran variety often enabled plants to produce silks before development was arrested by drought and so was responsible for its relatively high mean number of cobs per plant in low rainfall seasons, giving it an advantage over Local White in yield per unit area in such circumstances. Taboran was shown to have a potential value in local agriculture, because of its consistency of yield. The expected advantage or disadvantage of Taboran over Local White was calculated for an area of known rainfall from the respective yield/rainfall regressions and the seasonal rainfall probabilities.

Selection for earliness was shown to be of basic importance in a breeding programme for the low rainfall areas. Within a specified early maturity range, selection for yield improvement through the yield per cob component could be practised. A maturity length similar to Taboran would ensure a high value of mean cobs per plant in low rainfall season, i.e. confer the necessary reliability of yield.
Effect of phosphorus, farmyard manure and nitrogen on some soil properties in a soya bean-maize sequence
Authors: Nimje P. M. , Seth Jagdish
Published: March 2009

The effects of applying phosphorus, farmyard manure (FYM) and nitrogen on some soil properties were studied at the end of 2 years of field experimentation at New Delhi, India. Each year a crop of soya bean sown in the rainy season received phosphorus and farmyard manure and maize sown in winter received nitrogen fertilizer. Phosphorus was applied to soya bean at 0, 40 and 80 kg P2O5/ha, farmyard manure at 0 and 15 t/ha and nitrogen to maize at 0, 60 and 120 kg N/ha. Phosphorus application increased organic C, total N and available P status of the soil. It also improved bulk density and water-holding capacity of the soil. Farmyard manure increased organic C, total N, available P and K and pH of the soil, but decreased EC and bulk density of the soil. Water-holding capacity of the soil was increased by FYM. N fertilizer increased organic C and total N only.
The utilization of leaf wax by N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface
Authors: Samanta R. , Dutta A. K. , Sen S. P.
Published: March 2009

The possibility of utilization of leaf wax by N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface of plants was examined. Chloroform and n-hexane extractable wax could be isolated in significant amounts, ranging between 0·13 and 6·83 g/kg fresh weight from leaves of rice cv. IR·26, wheat cv. Sonalika, jute cv. JRO 632, pigeon pea, Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosa, Eichornia crassipes, Calotropis procera and Cocos nucifera. Pigeon pea and coconut leaves were very rich in wax. The utilization of leaf wax was studied by observing the growth of micro-organisms in Burk's N-less DN2 medium containing 0·025% yeast extract and jute or coconut leaf wax as the sole C source. A 2·fold increase in growth was observed as compared with the control containing no wax. The most growth was exhibited by Pseudomonas azotogensis, P8. azotocolligans, Xanthobacter flavus, Azotobacter paspali 23A and Klebsiella pneumoniae Kupbr2. Utilization of wax components was studied by comparing the amounts of acetylated alcohols and methyl esters of fatty acids in leaves inoculated with those untreated with bacteria after separation of the components by gas chromatography. A strain of K. pneumoniae KUP4, the association of which very remarkably improved the growth of jute plants, was found to utilize particularly C10–, C13– and C16– saturatedfatty acids and C15–, C18–, C25–, C26– and C27– fatty alcohols. It is suggested that leaf wax may act partly as an energy substrate for growth of N2-fixing micro-organisms on the leaf surface.
Effects of sowing date, sowing density and nitrogen supply on leaf extension in spring barley
Authors: Maan A. A. S. , Wright D. , Alcock M. B.
Published: March 2009

Three pot experiments were performed in unheated glasshouses at the University College of North Wales College Farm, Aber, Gwynedd in 1980–1983. Two experiments tested the effects of sowing date and N supply, the third sowing density and nitrogen supply. Extension growth of main-stem leaves was measured by ruler and expressed in thermal time units to allow comparisons between sowing dates. Rate and duration of leaf extension were determined from linear regressions of leaf length against thermal time.

Increasing N supply increased leaf extension rate but had no significant effects on leaf extension duration. Leaf extension rate increased with leaf position on the main shoot, but decreased slightly in leaves extending at the time of stem elongation. Leaf extension duration also increased with leaf position on the main shoot and was related to mean temperature during the leaf extension phase. Plants sown in September were able to compensate for lower radiation receipts by having a faster rate and longer duration of leaf extension, by producing larger leaves with a greater specific lamina area and by partitioning a greater proportion of extension growth into lamina and less into sheaths. In plants sown in June, the largest leaf occurred at a lower stem node and leaves emerging later showed a strong response to N. It is suggested that this is attributable to earlier onset of internal competition for assimilates. Variation in leaf extension rate was the main factor influencing variation in final leaf area. There was a strong positive relationship between leaf extension rate and leaf N content.

Increasing sowing density increased the area of the first four leaves on the main shoot and decreased that of later leaves, changes mainly associated with changes in leaf extension duration. It is concluded that progress in the modelling of leaf area expansion, light interception and dry matter production requires more information about how sowing date, sowing density and N supply interact to influence crop development and leaf growth.
Effects ofTrypanosoma vivaxinfection during pregnancy on feed intake, nitrogen retention and liveweight changes in West African Dwarf ewes
Authors: Akinbamijo O. O. , Reynolds L. , Gort G.
Published: March 2009

The effects of infection withT. vivaxin mid- or late pregnancy on food intake and utilization, liveweight changes, abortion rate and lamb growth rate were investigated in West African Dwarf ewes at lbadan, Nigeria in 1990. Rate of liveweight gain by ewes infected during mid-pregnancy (IMH) was16 g/day compared with 33 and 37 g/day for the uninfected ewes offered medium (CM) or high (CH) plane diets. Although digestibility coefficients were not affected, intake of digestible organic matter was higher in CH ewes than in IMH and CM ewes. Nitrogen retention at mid-pregnancy on a metabolic size basis was higher in CH ewes than in CM and IMH ewes.

Lamb birth weight and survival rate were lower in infected ewes. Ewes infected in mid-pregnancy (IMH) and in late pregnancy (ILH) had mean birth weights of 1·4 and 1·0 kg compared with CM and CH ewes, which had mean birth weights of 1·9 and 2·0 kg respectively. Observed survival rates were 63, 15, 75 and 80% for lambs nursed by IMH, ILH, CM and CH ewes respectively. During the first 6 weeks postpartum, lamb growth rate in all groups did not differ. However, during weeks 7–12 postpartum, lambs nursed by IMH ewes had significantly lower growth rates. Weaning weight was also lower in lambs from IMH (5·0 kg) dams than in lambs from CM and CH dams (7·1 kg). Infection during late pregnancy was more severe and all infected ewes lost weight due to reduced feed intake and fever.T. vivaxinfection in sheep is responsible for reproductive wastage, abortion, poor lamb growth and ewe mortality.
Effects of raw and treated jack beans(Canavalia ensiformis) and of canavanine on the short-term feed intake of chicks and pigs
Authors: Belmar R. , Morris T. R.
Published: March 2009

Four experiments were conducted in the Yucatán, Mexico, in 1991 and 1992 to study feed intake in 24 h trials with chicks and pigs fed diets containing either raw or treated jack beans or conventional diets with added canavanine.

Feed intake of chicks in the first hour was markedly reduced and feed intake of pigs was severely reduced when raw jack beans (300 g/kg for chicks, 250 g/kg for pigs) were included in their diets. Feed intake of pigs diminished to a greater extent than that of chicks when treated beans (300 g/kg) were included in the diet. Short-term feed intake of chicks was not affected when canavanine (3·5 g/kg) was added to a sorghum-soyabean diet. However, pigs showed a large drop in feed intake when canavanine was added to a maize-soya diet at only 0·8 g/kg. It was concluded that in both species the anti-nutritional factors in jack beans cause a rapid reduction in feed intake which precedes a depression in growth rate. The initial feed intake depression in pigs could be partly attributed to canavanine remaining in the jack beans after treatment. In the chicks' case, however, rejection of a diet containing treated jack bean was due to anti-nutritional factor(s) other than residual canavanine.
Moisture stress impact on N partitioning, N remobilization and N-use efficiency in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Foster E. F. , Pajarito A. , Acosta-Gallegos J.
Published: March 2009

Field and glasshouse studies were conducted in Durango, Mexico in 1987 and in East Lansing, Michigan, USA in 1989, respectively, to determine the effects of moisture deficits upon N-use efficiency (NUE), N partitioning and remobilization, and N harvest index (NHI) in edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Four indeterminate, semi-prostrate genotypes adapted to the semi-arid high plains of Mexico, Pinto Nacional-1, Durango 222, L1213–2 and Bayo Madero, were used in the field study and Pinto Nacional-1 and Bayo Madero were used in the glasshouse study. A Xerosol Haplic soil was used in the field study and a Spinks loamy sand in the glasshouse study. A moisture deficit was induced by use of temporary rainshelters in the field and curtailment of water in the glasshouse. Plants were sampled periodically and subdivided into leaves, stems, pods and flowers, and roots (in the glasshouse study only) for determination of dry weight and total N content. Water-use efficiency was determined in the glasshouse study. A moderate moisture deficit (drought intensity index 0·41) reduced yield by 41% in comparison with non-stressed yield (from 134·3 down to 79·2 g/m2) and resulted in a greater percentage of seed-N derived from N that had been redistributed from the leaf, indicating that N partitioning was not impaired by this degree of stress. In contrast, N remobilization was greatly reduced by a more severe moisture deficit (drought intensity index 0·92), which resulted in yield losses of 92% (from 2·19 down to 0·17 g/pot). These results suggest that N remobilization may be an important drought adaptation strategy under moderate or intermittent moisture deficits. Severe moisture deficits reduced NHI, harvest index (HI), NUE and water-use efficiency (WUE) when WUE was expressed as seed dry weight per litre water used. Genotypic variability was observed for NHI, HI and NUE.
Effects of growth regulators on reproductive abscission in faba bean (Vicia fabacv. Troy)
Authors: Clifford P. E. , Pentland B. S. , Baylis A. D.
Published: March 2009

Growth regulators were applied to faba bean (field bean) plants in order to study hormonal control of premature reproductive abscission. Combined data from pairs of racemes sited in a consistently yielding region of the main stem indicated effects of growth regulator treatments. Decapitation increased pod numbers, but the inhibitory influence of the upper shoot could not be replaced completely by indol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA) applied to the cut stem stump. Blockage of auxin transport through the stem with the auxin-transport inhibitors 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) or methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylate (CF, chlorflurenol) reduced pod numbers above the application point. The latter effects might have been indirect and due to elevated ethylene levels, since pod retention in this shoot region was decreased when sprayed with the ethylene-releasing compound 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) and increased when sprayed with ethylene-biosynthesis inhibitors 2-aminoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG) or l-amino-2-cyclopropylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cyclopropyl-ACC). Pod numbers were increased when the reproductive structures themselves were sprayed with IAA, gibberellic acid (GA3) or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), although a corresponding increase in total seed weight occurred only with the latter growth regulator. Application of BAP or abscisic acid (ABA) as root drenches showed that levels of reproductive abscission were raised or lowered with BAP treatment, depending on its concentration, and lowered with ABA treatment. It is suggested that growth regulator treatments leading to decreased ethylene production in the shoot and/or increased cytokinin and abscisic levels in the xylem sap are those most likely to reduce abscission.
Ratios of strontium-85 to cations for crops and soils of Greece
Authors: Papanicolaou E. P. , Apostolakis C. G. , Skarlou V. , Nobeli C. , Kritidis P.
Published: March 2009

In a glasshouse pot experiment in Athens, Greece in 1989, 85Sr to calcium observed ratios (OR) based on the values of exchangeable Ca instead of soil Ca (ORexCa), were determined for crops or plant parts grown in eight soils widely differing in their physical and chemical properties. Compared to the values of concentration ratio (CRs) the values of ORexCa did not show as wide variation with the soil type. They were relatively constant and usually not related to soil properties. The ORexCa values were essentially the same as OR values for the non-calcareous soils and much smaller than the OR values for calcareous soils, considering as soil Ca in the calculation of OR, the sum exchangeable, watersoluble and CaCO3 Ca.

The values of 85Sr/Ca + Mg observed ratios (ORexCaMg) were just as good as the ORexCa values, while those of 85Sr/Ca + Mg + K + Na (ORex bases) showed more variation.

Highly significant (P <0·01) correlations were observed between the fractions of the observed ratios ORexCa, ORexCaMg and ORex bases, for each crop or plant part tested.
On the variation of urinary creatinine in buffalo calves and the effect of dietary protein intake on urinary creatinine, creatinine-nitrogen ratio and creatinine coefficient
Authors: Chetal Urmila , Mehra Usha R. , Nath K. , Ranjhan S. K.
Published: March 2009

Variation in urinary creatinine in nine male and twelve female buffalo calves divided into three equal groups on diets containing three levels of dietary protein intake (low, medium and high) was estimated. The variation in urinary creatinine (% and total) was large from animal to animal and also from day to day (P< 0·01) in the same animal. It was not affected (P> 0·05) by the level of dietary protein. The creatinine-nitrogen ratio decreased (P< 0·01) with increase in the protein level of the ration, but the creatinine coefficient (creatinine per kg body weight) did not differ significantly (P> 0·05). The male and female animals responded similarly.

It was concluded that urinary creatinine (% and total) and the creatinine coefficient cannot be used as an index either in nutrient balance studies or for evaluating ruminant nutrition in general. The creatinine-nitrogen ratio could also not provide a suitable yardstick to evaluate protein status of the animals because of the significant interaction of days × protein. The nitrogen balance is considered to be better for this purpose.
Energy values in pig nutrition:II. The prediction of energy values from dietary chemical analysis
Authors: Morgan D. J. , Cole D. J. A. , Lewis D.
Published: March 2009

Eighteen individual feedstuffs and 19 mixed diets were used in a study attempted to relate determined energy values to various chemically determined measures. For cereals the level of fibre could be used to predict digestible and metabolizable energy (DE and ME). In the case of DE the relationships with crude fibre and modified acid detergent fibre (MADF) based on 14 feeds were:

DE (kcal/kg D.M.) = 4179–86 MADF (%):r=–0·96; P < 0·01,

DE (kcal/kg D.M.) = 4228–140 x crude fibre (%):r=–0·97;P< 0·01.

For all feeds the following equations gave the best prediction of energy values from dietary analysis (on the basis of correlation coefficients and residual standard deviations):

DE (kcal/kg D.M.) = 109·9 x crude protein (%) + 149·3 x acid ether extract (%) + 90·1 x nitrogen-free extract (%)–5030: R = 0·95; P < 0.01.

ME (kcal/kg D.M.) = 99·5 x crude protein (%) + 144·7 x acid ether extract (%) + 87·8 x nitrogen-free extract (%)–4795: R = 0·94; P < 0·01.

Digestible nutrients were closely related to DE and ME, e.g.

DE (kcal/kg D.M.) = 52·9 x digestible crude protein (%) + 108·3 x digestible ether extract (%) + 39·4 x digestible crude fibre (%) + 39·9 x digestible nitrogen-free extract (%) + 183·7: R = 0·99; P < 0·01.
Relationships between levels of feeding and certain blood metabolites in dairy cows in mid lactation
Authors: Fisher L. J. , Donnelly P. E. , Hutton J. B. , Duganzich D. M.
Published: March 2009

Following a 14-day uniformity period when they were stall-fed to appetite on a grass silage-grass ration, 18 cows in mid lactation were allocated to three treatments on which they received during the following 28 days either 100%, 75% or 50% of their previous voluntary feed intakes.

Treatment effects were measured on milk yield and composition, live weight, liveweight change and fasted live-weight change. Twice during uniformity period, and on the 7th, 14th, 22nd and 26th days of the treatment period, samples of jugular blood were obtained from each cow immediately before and 3 h after the first meal of the day. These were analysed for percentage packed cell volume, blood acetone and β-hydroxybutyrate levels, plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid, and total fatty acid concentrations.

Alternative methods of collecting blood samples, involving cannulation of the vein and venipuncture, were compared. Obtaining samples through cannulae took nearly three times as long as by venipuncture, but the method of sampling did not significantly affect the concentrations of individual blood metabolites. Blood samples collected before as contrasted with after feeding had significantly higher concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and glucose, and lower concentrations of acetone and β-hydroxybutyrate.

The feed requirements of the cows were assessed using data on live weights, fasted live-weight change and milk production by calculating the regression of estimated net attributable energy/kg LW0·75 on digestible energy intake/kg LW0·75, from data for the full 28-day period. The maintenance requirement was 124 kcal net energy/kg LW0·75, and the efficiency of conversion of digestible energy to milk and body-tissue loss or gain was 60%. These data were used with each animal's live weight, milk yield and liveweight change appropriate to each blood-sampling day to calculate individual feed requirements on every occasion. Ratios of actual feed consumed to estimated requirements were calculated subsequently to provide quantitative indices involving all cows and feeding levels. Regressions of these indices on individual blood metabolites were examined to assess the value of the latter as predictors of the relative nutritional status of the cows as defined in this way. Of the blood metabolites studied, only plasma NEFA were consistently significantly correlated with these indices, and relationships were specific to each feeding level. Thus although, at a common feeding level, plasma NEFA can be used to categorize lactating cows according to degree of nutritional stress, they will have limited values as predictors if applied indiscriminately to the wide range of feed availabilities and intakes which exist between herds at similar stages of lactation.

The results have been discussed relative to previously published work, mainly with sheep and beef cattle.
The nutritive value for sheep of ruminant Diet AA6, a complete cobbed diet containing 30% barley straw
Authors: Wainman F. W. , Smith J. S. , Dewey P. J. S.
Published: March 2009

Seven determinations of energy and nitrogen retention using four adult wether sheep were made when they were fed a complete cobbed diet. The diet contained 30% of barley straw and had a metabolizable energy value of 10·9 kJ/g organic matter and the net availabilities of its metabolizable energy were 52·8% for fattening and 72·8% for maintenance. The starch equivalent on a dry basis was 53.
The results of the Red Sindhi grading-up scheme in Malaysia
Authors: Sivarajasingam S. , Mukherjee T. K.
Published: March 2009

The upgrading programme of. the Local Indian Dairy cattle in Malaysia to the Red Sindhi over a period of 21 years is evaluated. Heterosis was not observed among the Fx cross-breds for milk yield and related traits. The attempt to upgrade local dairy cattle using Red Sindhi however resulted in deterioration of performance.
Heritabilities and genetic correlations for yield in Italian ryegrass (Lolium muliflorum Lam.) grow at different densities
Authors: England F.
Published: March 2009

Fifty-nine full-sib progenies produced in a North Carolina Model I design were assessed fortotal yield (sum of three harvests) under four treatments differing in plot size and density. The treatments were: swards of 0.25 m2, spaced plants at 0.6 x 0.6 m and single and double rowswith 0.3 m betweenrows and 0.15 m between plants, with ten plants per row. Estimates of plot heritabilities ranged from 0.24 for spaced plants to 0.59 for double rows. Heritability in the sward was 0.35. Additive genetic correlations between the sward and the other treatments were surprisingly high: about + 0.86 for the spaced plants and between +0.8 and +0.9 for the row plots. The implications of these estimates for the relative selection efficiencies of the non-sward treatments are discussed.
Experiments on the nutrition of the dairy heifer:IX. Food utilization in lactation
Authors: Broster W. H. , Broster Valerie J. , Smith T. , Siviter J. W.
Published: March 2009

Food utilization by lactating dairy cows was studied in a randomized experiment covering the first 24 weeks of lactation, with further observations on performance over the remainder of the lactation under farm conditions. Over a 3-year period 90 firstcalf cows each took part in the experiment for one lactation, making six groups of 14–16 animals.

For the experimental period a fixed basal diet was given of hay, concentrates, and wet brewer's grains. One group received only the basal ration. Four groups received in addition a fixed concentrates supplement for 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks from calving onwards respectively. The sixth group also had supplementary concentrates for 16 weeks but for weeks 5–12 inclusive the amount was doubled so that this group's diet simulated broadly ad libitum feeding in early lactation.

Milk yield was increased by extra concentrates. The greater part of the effect was apparent in the first 2 weeks of different levels of intake, with a further build-up over the next 6–8 weeks. The size of the response fell as time from calving to initiation of different intakes increased. Additional food increased and delayed peak yield level. Persistency of milk yield was not affected by fixed differences in intake. Rate of liveweight change was improved by extra concentrates, less so in the third compared with the first month on treatment.

A higher level of feeding in early lactation led to a greater partition of nutrients in mid-lactation to milk at the expense of gains in body reserves. This advantage to milk production extended to the end of lactation. In it the greatest response per unit concentrates was obtained from supplementation in the first 4 weeks of lactation but the total effect was increased by giving a double allowance of concentrates, and by extending the period of extra feeding to 8 weeks after calving.

Solids-not-fat content and yield, and fat yield but not fat content, showed a similar response pattern to milk yield.

Animal-to-animal variation in output on constant diets was characterized by negative regressions of live-weight change on milk yield. The regression coefficients were greater in early than in mid-lactation but they were constant in size at any one time for the various groups. A change in ration induced a change in output of the individual in which that production pathway favoured naturally by the animal was the more affected.
Palatability tests of seventeen maize (Zea mays) genotypes for human consumption
Authors: Alika J. E. , Okwechime C. C.
Published: March 2009

seventeen maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes (unimproved local varieties, improved open-pollinated composites, hybrids and F1 varietal crosses) were compared on a 1–5 scale for taste when eaten as boiled green maize. Significant differences were obtained between and within genotypic groups. Differences within the open-pollinated composites and the varietal crosses were highly significant. Using mean score ratings as an index for selection, the three genotypes TZB, BN59 × 1K8149SR-BC2 and TZESR-W × 1K8149SR-BC2 were identified as having the best taste, with mean scores of 3·6, 4·3 and 3·5, respectively.
Autocrine control in milk secretion
Authors: Wilde C. J. , Peaker M.
Published: March 2009

The mammary gland is controlled at two levels in the body. The genetically controlled pattern of parental investment during lactation is modified by nutritional status and signalled to the mammary gland by the endocrine system (see Peaker 1989). The response to this strategic control of the rate of milk secretion is modulated by a tactical control mechanism operating within each mammary gland. The local intramammary mechanism responds to changes in the frequency or completeness of milk removal and acts to match the rate of milk secretion to the rate of milk removal by the young or, in dairy animals, by the milker. It is the local control of milk secretion by milk removal which has been uncovered in recent years, following the realization of the physiological significance of unilateral effects of frequent milking in goats (Linzell & Peaker 1971) and cows (Morag 1973) that is the subject of this brief review.
Effects of sulphitation press mud and nitrogen fertilizer on biomass, nitrogen economy and plant composition in sugarcane and on soil chemical properties
Authors: Yaduvanshi N. P. S. , Yadav D. V.
Published: March 2009

On a clay loam soil, the cultivar Col 148, planted in spring 1987 at 57560 three-budded setts/ha received 0, 75, 100 and 150 kg N/ha and 0, 10, 20 and 30 t/ha fresh sulphitation press mud either separately or in combined applications, at 80% moisture. Separate applications of up to 150 kg N/ha and up to 30 t press mud/ha increased the cane biomass by 24·6% and 13·2%, respectively, whereas combined application increased it up to 38·1% more than in the control. A N concentration of 1·95–2·12% in the blades of leaves 3·6 from the top of the plant from tillering to the grand growth stage was necessary for maximum dry matter production. Sulphitation press mud enhanced uptake and availability of N and P to the crop and reduced soil pH. Application of 10 t press mud/ha saved 75 kg/ha of fertilizer N.