bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathways for the elimination of biuret in sheep
Authors: Schröder H. H. E.
Published: March 2009

The rumen was found to be the main site of metabolism of biuret in sheep adapted to this compound. Some of the biuret which passed into the lower gut could be broken down there but this could account for the breakdown of less than 1 g/day when 15 g was fed. Biuret injected into the jugular vein or entering the bloodstream from the rumen or intestine was excreted unchanged in the urine. Sheep excreted 9–21% of biuret fed in a solid form and 37–39% when it was dosed as an aqueous solution. Sheep not adapted to biuret failed to retain any introduced into the rumen, duodenum or jugular vein.
The effect of subsoiling and different levels of manuring on yields of cereals, lucerne and sugar beet
Authors: Hull R. , Webb D. J.
Published: March 2009

The effect of subsoiling an old arable clay-loam soil at Broom's Barn Experimental Station, Suffolk, was tested with a sequence of wheat, barley and sugar-beet crops, a lucerne ley and a sugar-beet test crop in the fourth year.

Subsoiling increased the yield of each crop each year, averages over 3 years were: wheat, 0·6 cwt/acre of grain; barley 0·4 cwt/acre; lucerne 0·6 cwt/acre of dry matter. Average increases of sugar beet over 4 years were 0·7 tons/acre of roots or 2·1 cwt/acre of sugar; the increase was greatest (2·9 cwt/acre of sugar) in the first year.
The effect of iodine manuring on the iodine content of plants
Authors: Orr J. B. , Kelly F. C. , Stuart G. L.
Published: March 2009

The question of the effect of iodine manuring on the iodine content of plants has recently assumed considerable importance in view of the use of iodine as a cure and preventive of simple goitre. Whether the theory that goitre is due to deficiency of iodine be correct or not, it appears to be well established that small doses of iodine act both as a cure and a preventive of enlargements of the thyroid. It has therefore been suggested that a simple and effective method of general prophylaxis, in areas where goitre is at present endemic, might be found in increasing the iodine content of foodstuffs such as milk and eggs, by administration of iodine, and of plants by iodine manuring.
The composition of flaked maize
Authors: Woodman H. E. , Stewart J.
Published: March 2009

During recent years a growing interest has been manifested by feeders of stock in the form of cooked maize known as flaked maize, which is produced on the industrial scale by the steaming and rolling of maize grain. Following the publication of the results of an investigation into the comparative values of dry, soaked, cooked and flaked maize for pig-feeding, in which investigation the high digestibility and feeding, value of flaked maize were amply demonstrated, frequent enquiries have been received as to whether it is justifiable to assume an equal feeding value for the several brands of flaked maize which are put on the market at the present time.
The influence of genetic and environmental factors on the germination of sugar beet seed
Authors: Battle J. P. , Whittington W. J.
Published: March 2009

Twenty-four sugar-beet plants were cut into quarters, planted and allowed to produce fruit under varying fertilizer and irrigation treatments. Studies on the germination rates of these clusters showed that there were marked genetic differences between the clones. Wetting the seeds continually by overhead irrigation, to simulate heavy rainfalls markedly decreased the rate of germination, apparently by delaying the onset of maturity. Immature clusters from early harvests of plants which were not irrigated also showed a decreased germination capacity. The fertilizer treatments in this experiment were less important as a source of variation than the clonal and irrigation components. The results may be related to the presence of germination inhibitors in the clusters but there may be important changes in the embryos of the seeds themselves.
The Visual Description of Carcasses
Authors: Williams D. R.
Published: March 2009

A traditional type score card for ten carcass characteristics was tested against an experimental reorganization of this card on a simplified 7 point scaling system. Results
showed that both experienced judges and novices were more consistently discriminating when using the revised system. This was most evident when the concept of an optimum was eliminated from the judgements. It was also evident when complex judgements which do not involve an optimum were simplified. The scale of marks and the diversity in maximum marks for different characteristics appeared to have less influence upon consistency and discrimination. However, it is probable that, with traditional cards, the maximum marks are often too high and that the diversity in total possible marks adds a further difficulty for judges.
Fertilizer nitrogen and growth regulators for field beans (Vicia faba L.):I. The effects of seed bed applications of large dressings of fertilizer nitrogen and the residual effects on following winter wheat
Authors: McEwen J.
Published: March 2009

Applying large dressings of fertilizer nitrogen to the seed bed lessened nodulation of spring field beans by as much as 50%.

The largest mean responses to broadcast nitrogen ranged from 1·9 cwt grain/acre in 1967 (3 cwt N/acre) to 3·1 cwt grain in 1966 (3 cwt N/acre).

About one-sixth of the nitrogen applied to beans was used by a following winter wheat at Rothamsted, one-twelfth at Woburn.

The results suggest that there is no prospect for the economic use of fertilizer nitrogen in the seed bed for spring beans.
Dietary effects on beef composition: II. Quantity and distribution of fat
Authors: Johnson H. R. , Garrigus R. R. , Howard R. D. , Firth N. L. , Harrington R. B. , Judge M. D.
Published: March 2009

Studies were conducted on the quantity and distribution of fat in 104 half-sib Angus steers which had received various combinations of hay, corn silage, and corn concentrate. Groups were slaughtered at live weights of 216, 284, 340, 409, and 454 kg. The weights of mesenteric, cod, pelvic, kidney and total excess carcass fat were determined. Four linear measurements of subcutaneous fat, three cross-sectional area measurements of intermuscular fat, and the intramuscular fat in seven muscles were observed. The results showed that the feeding regimes had marked influences on the quantity and location of fat, particularly during the early feeding period (216–340 kg live wt.). Feeding hay during this period generally resulted in less fat deposition than feeding corn silage, but the suppression of intramuscular fat deposition was not evident until the animals were subsequently fed higher energy rations to heavier weights (409 and 454 kg). The results indicated that it may be possible to design dietary regimens that suppress waste fat but allow intramuscular fat to be deposited.

The results described above imply that one might influence the deposition of intramuscular fat by proper design of the diet in the early feeding period. Although this possibility exists, it is noted that quantities of chemically extractable fat are not identical with quantities of marbling fat and hence changes in the former may not alter the visible quality of the meat.
Genetic analysis of root growth in wheat
Authors: Monyo J. H. , Whittington W. J.
Published: March 2009

The growth characteristics of root systems were studied in the wheat varieties Chinese Spring' Hope and the chromosome substitution lines of Hope into Chinese Spring. The growth patterns varied considerably between the lines and this was due to the fact that the plants formed different numbers of tillers and grew for different periods of time. A correlation existed between the development of the shoot and root systems although some lines differed widely in their shoot root ratios. Differences between the lines in the early stages of growth were small and they reacted uniformly to different levels of phosphorus supply. The relation between shoot and root growth was also shown by the fact that the conclusions from genetical analyses were very similar. These showed that the method of control was largely additive in nature. It was concluded that variations in shoot and root characteristics were markedly influenced by single genes affecting the duration of the vegetative growth period as well as by polygenic systems.
The relation of seed vigour to field establishment of garden pea cultivars
Authors: Perry D. A.
Published: March 2009

Emergence trials of five different seed lots each of cv. Lincoln and Kelvedon Wonder at six centres provided 27 different sowing treatments. Although mean emergence between treatments varied, the rank order of the lots remained almost constant. The results of seedling evaluation and conductivity vigour tests correlated well with field emergence, with neither test superior to the other. Grades of vigour were established and related to the performance of the seed lots in the field trials.
The effect of different levels of sodium hydroxide spray treatment of wheat straw on consumption and digestibility by cattle
Authors: Singh Mahendra , Jackson M. G.
Published: March 2009

A sodium hydroxide spray treatment of wheat straw was evaluated in experiments on twenty male calves. Sodium hydroxide solutions of 0, 3·3, 6·7 and 10% concentration were sprayed on ground wheat straw (Exp. 1) and chaffed wheat straw (Exp. 2) at the rate of 1000 litres per tonne. The straws were not washed. The treated straw was then fortified with groundnut cake, molasses and a mineral supplement. In Exp. 1 rations were prepared in bulk and dried and in Exp. 2 the rations were prepared daily and fed wet. A 1 kg green forage supplement was fed daily to all animals. The dry-matter intake (g/kg body weight0·75), and organic matter digestibility coefficients (%) for the four levels of alkali treatment were 86, 95, 78, 66 and 53, 63, 63 and 62 respectively in Exp. 1 and for Exp. 2 they were 95, 121, 105, 89 and 55, 70, 71 and 71. The intake of digestible organic matter thus increased by 25 and 63% in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively. Nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus retentions were not adversely affected up to 3·3% alkali treatment in Exp. 2. The effectiveness of this spray treatment in terms of increased nutritive value is compared with that of the older Beckmann method of alkali treatment. Treatment costs are also compared.
Some observations on swayback disease of lambs
Authors: Shearer G. D. , McDougall E. I.
Published: March 2009

A brief account is given of the work done in these laboratories on swayback and a comparison is made with a similar disease occurring in Australia. The Australian disease is due to an uncomplicated Cu deficiency of soil and herbage, but it is shown that swayback in this country is due to neither a Cu deficiency of soil nor herbage but nevertheless the affected animals suffer from a Cu deficiency and respond to Cu medication.

It is shown that ewes with a low blood Cu in Derbyshire on being transferred to Cambridge rapidly attained a normal blood Cu.

Analyses of grass from widely separated swayback-affected areas showed that in no case was the Cu content low.

A short discussion is given of the possibility of lead being implicated in the causation of the disease, but it is concluded that lead plays only a secondary role.

In the discussion it is pointed out that there is much fluorspar in the affected area of Derbyshire.
The seasonal incidence of calving and of sexual activity in Zebu cattle in Nyasaland
Authors: Wilson S. G.
Published: March 2009

A continuous cattle census scheme was started in the Central Province of Nyasaland in 1943, and data thus accumulated on the calving rate of native cattle form the basis of this paper.

The system of animal management prevailing in the area is described, and meteorological data collected at Lilongwe over 3 years are also given.
Flavour differences in meat from lambs grazed on tropical legumes
Authors: Park R. J. , Minson D. J.
Published: March 2009

Dorset Horn × Merino and Corriedale wether lambs grazed one of four tropical legume species or the grass Panicum maximum for up to 4 months in the immediate pre-slaughter period. A laboratory taste panel compared the flavour of the meat from legume-fed lambs with that from corresponding grass-fed lambs.

Lamb meat from animals grazed for up to 15 weeks on Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) was not significantly different from the control meat in any flavour property, while showing a slight but insignificantly greater degree of acceptability of flavour.

The meat from lambs grazed for up to 6 weeks on Silverleaf desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum) showed no significant difference from the control meat in flavour properties except for a slightly greater intensity (P < 0·05) of an uncharacterized aroma.

The meat from lambs grazed on Dolichos axillaris for up to 4 months occasionally exhibited a characteristic and sometimes objectionable odour and flavour. However, this characteristic flavour had no significant influence on the acceptability of the meat.

The meat from lambs grazed on Glycine wightii for up to 6 weeks exhibited a characteristic and objectionable odour and flavour (P < 0·001). After 4 months of grazing the intensity of this flavour was considerably reduced. A low intensity of this flavour was also found in a group grazed for 4 weeks in the previous year, indicating a variability in the tainting properties of this legume.
Evaluation of protein quality of poultry feedingstuffs. 2. Fish meal
Authors: Zombade S. S. , Lodhi G. N. , Ichhponani J. S.
Published: March 2009

The present study was made to evaluate the protein quality of 11 samples of fish meal (FM) covering a wide range of nutrient content to find a suitable laboratory method for predicting nutritive quality. The nutrient content of the samples ranged from 34 to 62% in crude protein, 28 to 48% in true protein and 0·99 to 2·87% in available lysine. The true protein content of FM was further partitioned into myogen, myosin and stroma proteins. The stroma protein accounted for 61% of total crude protein suggesting that a large portion of FM comprised scales, viscera, cartilage, bones and other inedible parts of fish (head, tail, etc.). Neither true protein nor its different fractions was found suitable to detect differences in protein quality of FM although there was an inverse relationship between stroma protein and nitrogen solubility.

Available lysine content and relative nutritive value (RNV) were found accurate and reliable laboratory tests for assessing the protein quality of FM. The linear equations to predict gross protein value (GPV) from available lysine content and RNV are

GPV = 11·2×% available lysine+34·5;

GPV = 0·55×RNV+51.

The correlation coefficients between biologically assayed and predicted GPV from available lysine and RNV were 0·71 and 0·62, respectively. The findings suggest that the screening of FM samples for their nutrient content is essential before compounding diets for different categories of chickens.
Behaviour in the soil of orthophosphate from pig slurry compared with that of KH2PO4
Authors: Bhat K. K. S. , O'Callaghan J. R.
Published: March 2009

An assessment was made of the relative merits in the short term of KH2PO4and pig slurry as sources of orthophosphate. This involved a comparison of these two sources of P with regard to (1) adsorption of P by the soil from solution, (2) maintenance of the solid-phase P in labile form and (3) rate of release of the solid-phase P into solution.

The adsorption isotherms made with two soils revealed that the amount of orthophosphate adsorbed from pig slurry was much higher than that from KH2PO4 at all levels of application. Conversely, in order to raise the orthophosphate concentration in the soil solution to a given level, much larger applications of orthophosphate would be required as pig slurry than that in the form of KH2PO4. Therefore, the risk of direct orthophosphate-P pollution of ground water from pig slurry is likely to be even less than that from soluble P fertilizers.

Determinations of exchangeable-P in treated soils after different times from treatment showed that a larger fraction of the solid-phase P derived from slurry orthophosphate remains in an exchangeable form than that from KH2PO4.

The rate of desorption of solid-phase P into solution measured using an anion exchange resin was higher in the KH2PO4-treated soil than that in the slurry-treated soil at different times from addition of equal amounts of orthophosphate-P.
The effects of underfeeding during pregnancy and lactation on structure and chemistry of bovine liver and muscle
Authors: Reid I. M. , Roberts C. J. , Baird G. D.
Published: March 2009

An experiment was carried out to study the effects of underfeeding during late pregnancy and early lactation on the structure and chemistry of liver and muscle of dairy cows. Two groups of cattle were fed at 60 and 40% of estimated requirements for maintenance and pregnancy or lactation for 13 weeks before and 13 weeks after calving, and one group was fed at maintenance level only for the same period. A control group was fed at 100% of estimated requirements for the same period. All groups were subsequently fed at the control level for a further 24 weeks.

Underfeeding resulted in significant changes in muscle and liver of dairy cows. In particular, there was a decrease in liver cell volume in the underfed groups and a persistence of post-parturient fat in the moderately underfed cows. Muscle fibre diameter was reduced and there was a loss of fast twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres in the underfed cows.
Hyaluronidase activity in Murrah (Bos bubalis) and HRS (Bos indicus) bulls in relation to fertility and seasons
Authors: Raizada Santosh , Singh Mehar , Chaudhary K. C.
Published: March 2009

There are few reports on hyaluronidase activity (Kaur, Chaudhary & Anand, 1976) which is one of the important enzymes concerned with fertilization (Austin, 1960) and to the best of our knowledge none on the relation of hyaluronidase activity to fertility. This communication attempts to study the relation of hyaluronidase activity with various physical characteristics and fertility in buffalo (Murrah) and cattle (HRS) semen.
Some factors affecting voluntary food intake in buffaloes. 2. Effect of feeding mixed diets
Authors: Taparia A. L. , Sharma V. V.
Published: March 2009

Seven non-pregnant Murrah buffalo heifers aged 20–34 months and weighing 170–260 kg were used in a 7 × 4 incomplete latin square design to study the effect of feeding mixed diets on voluntary intake over a period of 84 days. Voluntary intake and rate of passage were determined during the last 10 days and digestibility of feed nutrients during the last 6 days of each 21-day experimental period.

Maize stover, dry grass and wheat straw were fed ad libitum mixed with either a fixed quantity of berseem hay (MH, GH and WH rations, respectively) or concentrates (MC, GC and WC rations, respectively) to total co. 0·80% of body weight (BW). Berseem hay fed free choice mixed with limited (0·70% BW) concentrates (HC ration) comprised another treatment. The mean daily total dry-matter intake (DMI g/kgW0·75) and total digestible nutrient intake (given in parenthesis) by animals were 62·2 (1·94), 72·2 (2·20), 74·3 (2·30), 75·2 (2·94), 79·5 (2·59), 85·9 (2·78) and 88·5 (2·98), respectively on MH, GH, WH, HC, MC, WC and GC rations. The digestible crude protein intake on the HC ration was higher than on the remaining six rations. Feeding a fixed quantity of either berseem hay or concentrates resulted in lower consumption of basal roughages suggesting that the physical capacity of the gut limited intake.

Dry-matter digestibility (%) and mean retention time (h), given in parenthesis, were 57·6 (69·4), 56·3 (64·6), 56·7 (67·5), 72·2 (79·9), 59·2 (620), 59·4 (620) and 58·9 (66·0), respectively on MH, GH, WH, HC, MC, GC and WC rations. The digestibilities of D.M. and proximate principles, except crude fibre (CF), of the HC ration were higher than those of the remaining six mixed diets. Concentrate feeding tended to hasten the movement of digesta of the roughage portion of the mixed diet through the digestive tract. The longest mean retention and rumen retention times were associated with the highest digestibilities. The wheat straw-berseem hay mixed diet was as good as dry grass or maize stover-berseem hay mixed diets with regard to its nutrient intake and weight gain by the heifers.
Profile distribution of iron sesquioxide contents in selected Nigerian soils
Authors: Udo E. J.
Published: March 2009

Total, dithionite-extractable (‘free’) and oxalate-extractable (amorphous) Fe as Fe2O3 forms were determined in eight Nigerian soil profiles selected to include four major parent materials and different drainage conditions.

Total Fe ranged from 1·98 to 15·01 % Fe2O3, the average contents being 4·40, 8·62, 12·59 and 13·49 Fe2O3 for soils derived from the coastal plain sands, basement complex rocks, shale and basalt, respectively. ‘Free’ Fe ranged from 0·08 to 12·28% Fe2O3, the basaltic soils having the highest content, and those on shale the least. Generally the poorly drained soils had low contents, the free Fe oxide constituting about 61 % of total Fe in well-drained soils, and only about 9% in poorly drained soils.

The oxalate-extractable or non-crystalline Fe oxide ranged from 0·04 to 1·21% Fe2O3. The proportion of amorphous iron oxide, indicated by the ‘active’ ratio ‘oxalate-Fe/DCB-Fe’, was higher in poorly drained than in well-drained soils.

The clay/DBC-Fe ratio remained constant in the well-drained soils but increased with depth in the poorly drained profiles, indicating a co-migration of free Fe oxide and clay in the former but not in the latter soils.

In general, the relative distribution of the different Fe forms appeared influenced by both the parent materials and the drainage of the soils.
Double scaup in sheep
Authors: Cresswell E.
Published: March 2009

1. This investigation into double scaup in hill sheep took the form of a series of field experiments combined with the gathering of incidental information.

The field experiments were designed to test the currently held view that double scaup is a ‘disease’ caused by mineral deficiencies (probably phosphorus) complicated by parasite infestation, which can be cured by the offering of, or treatment with, mineral mixtures combined with the use of anthelminthics.

2. The experiments involved the use of a proprietary mineral mixture containing feeding bone flour, lime salt and trace elements, freely offered in troughs. Phenothiazine, dicalcium phosphate and trace elements administered orally were also used. Vitamin D2 (calciferol) was introduced into the investigation following a suggestion by Innes (1934) that double scaup may be a form of rickets.

3. Statistical analysis of the weight records obtained from these experiments revealed no beneficial effect on weight gains from any of the treatments given. Field examination indicated that the treatments also had no effect upon the incidence of detectable double scaup in each of the flocks studied.

4. It was found that double scaup is not a condition affecting only poorer hill farms in the north of England and in southern Scotland, but is in fact an indication of the generalized thinning of the skeleton of vast numbers of young and apparently healthy sheep in these areas.
The effect of plane of nutrition on the growth and development of the East African dwarf goat. I. Effect of plane of nutrition on the live-weight gains and the external measurements of kids
Authors: Wilson P. N.
Published: March 2009

1. Fifty-five kids of the East African dwarf goat were used in the experiment. The kidding percentage was 107·8%, and the twinning percentage 12·7%; the proportion of twin births increased in the latter stages of the experiment, related to the longer period the late-kidding dams had spent on the rising plane of nutrition.

2. The percentage of female kids to total kids born was 56·4%, male kids 43·6%. The mean birth weight of female kids was 4·5 lb., compared to 5·2 lb. for male kids.

3. The sex difference in live-weight increase increased markedly after 16 weeks of age. The growth of females slowed down to approximately ½ lb. per head per week, whereas that of males continued to increase at the rate of approximately 1 lb. per head per week. H-plane female kids reached 33 lb. at 31 weeks, H-plane males achieved the same weight at 20 weeks of age.

4. The effect of plane of nutrition on the live weights of experimental kids of both sexes was statistically significant as from the third week of age. H-plane kids reached 33 lb. live weight at approximately 26 weeks of age, L-plane kids at about 48 weeks.

5. The kids initially placed on a L-plane of nutrition exhibited a marked resilience when switched to the H-plane. The live-weight gains after switching were for females as great as, and for males greater than, the gains made by kids on a H-plane of nutrition throughout the growing period.

This recuperative capacity of animals changed from L to H levels of diet, at or before the point of inflexion of the growth curve, has now been clearly established for all types of farm livestock examined, the pig, the sheep, the chicken and the goat. Both sexes exhibited this capacity to recover from initial low-plane feeding.
Effect of ammonium sulphate and farmyard manure on the yield of paddy and on soil
Authors: Digar S.
Published: March 2009

1. The results of an experiment to study the effect of continuous application of ammonium sulphate, with and without f.y.m. in an alluvium clay soil for a period of 10 years on the yield of paddy and soil, have been reviewed.

2. The grain yield was increased significantly by ammonium sulphate in all the years except in the last two. The increases in straw yield were significant in all years.

On consolidating the results, it was found that both the grain and straw yields were significantly increased by the effect of ammonium sulphate. The grain yield was not increased by the effect of f.y.m., but the straw yield was increased by this significantly at 5% level.

3. The straw:grain ratio increased with the increasing doses of nitrogen.

4. The maximum grain yield was obtained by the combination of ammonium sulphate at the rate of 30 lb. N plus f.y.m. at 100 md. per acre. This combination was significantly better than f.y.m. alone, but was not significantly better than ammonium sulphate at 30 lb. N. On economical consideration at the prevailing market price level, the dose 30 lb. N of ammonium sulphate applied alone is the most suitable.

5. No deleterious effect on the yield of paddy or change in the composition, hardness and percentage aggregation in soil have been observed after a 10-year period of continuous application of ammonium sulphate in the same paddy soil.
Fodder supply to dairy cows during the dry season in Tanzania: comparative evaluation of three silages and lupin green forage
Authors: Mbwile R. P. , Wiktorsson H.
Published: March 2009

Forty-eight Friesian cows in weeks 4–20 of lactation at the start of the trial were used in a comparative evaluation of Desmodium–grass silage, Rhodes grass silage, maize silage and lupin green forage. The forages were group-fed ad libitum and a concentrate was offered according to a standard lactation of 4200 kg milk in a 12-week test period. A digestibility trial with five wethers was used to evaluate the nutritive value of the forages.

Cows offered the Rhodes grass silage had the highest forage dry-matter intake and those on maize silage had the lowest intake. There was no significant difference between the intake of Desmodium–grass silage and lupin green forage. Milk and FCM production were not significantly different on the four treatments although lupin green forage gave appreciably less than the silages. The expected milk production from the energy and protein consumed suggested that the milk produced was mainly from the concentrate. It is concluded that low energy concentration in all the forages, and low crude protein content in the silages, were the main limiting factors for high milk production.
A note on cutaneous loss of potassium in Chokla sheep
Authors: Rai A. K. , More T. , Singh Manohar
Published: March 2009

The loss of potassium through the cutaneous route was measured in three Chokla rams by balance trial and by washing the animals (ambient temperature 28–33 °C, 28–30 mmHg vapour pressure). The excretion of potassium through urine and faeces was 46·7 and 19·4% of the intake, respectively. The excretion through skin recorded by washing the animals was 29·1% against 33·7% potassium available for excretion through the thermoregulatory route. About 2·56 g potassium was thus excreted through the cutaneous route per day. There was a net retention of 9·8 g sodium/ram/day.
Performance of seed mixtures and multilines of Upland cotton in Uganda
Authors: Innes N. L. , Jones G. B.
Published: March 2009

In five experiments with binary mixtures of a wide range of Upland cotton varieties grown at three sites in Uganda in 1969–70 and 1970–1 there was no evidence to indicate that components interacted to give better yields than would be expected from their yield in pure stand. Moreover, in district variety trials over three seasons there was no evidence that mixtures of several lines of closely related material were more stable than the individual component lines. Problems related to a breeding programme based on the development of multiline varieties are discussed. Although the variable ecological conditions in Uganda should provide an excellent opportunity of developing multilines with a high degree of population buffering, it is concluded that pure lines tested in a wide range of environments are as good as, and are less costly to produce, than mixed populations that have been specially bred and tested. Multilines with components that differ little in yielding ability or stability do, however, provide an opportunity of more rapid seed multiplication, and there is also the possibility that multiline seed issues may show progressive increases in yield with each year of growing. Present practice in Uganda of releasing as seed issues multilines with closely related components that have been adequately tested as individual lines should therefore be continued.
Meat properties of lambs grown to 32 kg at various rates on phalaris or lucerne pastures and an apparent effect of pre-slaughter ambient temperature
Authors: Furnival E. P. , Corbett J. L. , Shorthose W. R.
Published: March 2009

One hundred and fifty-nine Corriedale x Dorset Horn lambs were slaughtered at 32 kg live weight at ages varying from 98 to 303 days. The youngest lambs were from ewes on a pasture with high herbage availability and had not been weaned; the next youngest were from the same group of ewes but had been weaned at 6 or 12 weeks of age. Older lambs had been weaned at 6, 12 or 29 weeks from ewes on a pasture with low herbage availability. The weaned lambs grazed either a phalaris or a lucerne pasture.

Lambs that grazed lucerne had a greater dressing percentage and a heavier carcass. Over all lambs, ultimate pH of the m. semimenxbranosus ranged from 5·4 to 6·0 and Warner-Bratzler shear values increased twofold from lowest to highest pH. Minimum ambient temperatures during the nights before the slaughter days ranged from 13 to – 1°C; ultimate pH increased by 0·25 units with decreasing temperature over the range, equivalent to an increase in shear value of 26%. Shear values adjusted for pH differences increased from about 3·4 kg/cm2 at 130 days of age to about 7·5 kg/cm2 at 300 days.

Visual attractiveness of 13th rib chops increased with increasing area of the m. longissimus dorsi. Attractiveness was least at intermediate dominant wavelength (redness) of this muscle, but was not related to its reflectance. Optimum fat depth was about 2·4 mm. In general, chops from younger lambs were more attractive than those from older lambs.
Direct estimation of the extent of contamination of food residues by microbial matter after incubation within synthetic fibre bags in the rumen
Authors: Mathers J. C. , Aitchison Elisabeth M.
Published: March 2009

The artificial fibre bag technique has been widely used in studies of forage dry-matter digestibility (Van Keuren & Heinemann, 1962) and of the release of a range of plant constituents during fermentation in the rumen (Playne, McLeod & Dekker, 1972). More recently, the technique has been promoted as a simple means of estimating the rate and extent of food protein degradability in the rumen (θrskov & Mehrez, 1977; Mathers, Horton & Miller, 1977).
Environment and genetic factors affecting wool production from sub-tropical coarse wool sheep
Authors: Aboul-Naga A. M. , Afifi E. A.
Published: March 2009

Wool production from different flocks of Ossimi, Rahmani and Barki Egyptian local sheep, raised at six different locations in the country was studied. Different genetic parameters for greasy fleece weight of the three breeds were estimated.

Location was of significant effect on annual greasy fleece weight of Rahmani sheep only. With the adjustment for differences in yield percentages, differences in clean wool production from one location to another were slight for the three breeds. Age of ewe was of highly significant effect on annual greasy fleece weight.

Heritability estimates of annual greasy fleece weight of the ewes were found to be generally low in the three breeds (range 0·00–0·34). The estimates differed markedly with age; those of the yearling fleece weight of Rahmani and Barki ewes were the highest, being 0–19 and 0–34, respectively.

Repeatability estimates of annual greasy fleece weight were also low, being 0·11–0·04 and 0·29 for Ossimi, Rahmani and Barki ewes, respectively.

Estimates of genetic correlation between yearling greasy fleece weight of the Ossimi and Rahmani ewes and their weaning and yearling body weights were high and positive. Those between annual greasy fleece weight of the ewes and their reproductive performance traits differed greatly in the two breeds.
Growth And Development Of Indeterminate Bush And Climbing Cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Inoculated with Rhizobium
Authors: Graham P. H. , Rosas J. C.
Published: March 2009

Twenty cultivars of P. vulgaris differing in growth habit, and inoculated with an efficient strain of R. phaseoli, were sampled weekly in the period 22—99 days after planting. Acetylene reduction and specific nodule activity were similar to or better than those reported for other grain legumes, and were higher than achieved by a soya-bean cultivar. Though the period of active fixation was limited, nitrogen gains estimated at 25—30 kg/ha/growing cycle were obtained. Climbing beans were superior to bush beans in acetylene reduction and specific nodule activity, but differed little in nodule development. Two varieties, Cargamanto and Sangretoro, were outstanding in fixation. Differences between varieties in nodule to root ratio, and in rate of N accumulation in the leaves were shown. Both groups of plants stored appreciable starch in the stem after flowering. The results are related to the need for N fertilization in Latin America.
Studies on the fungicidal control of bulb rot caused by Botrytis allii in onions for the production of seeds
Authors: Kritzman G.
Published: March 2009

Botrytis allii, grey mould, is the major cause of bulb and seed yield losses of growing onion seeds in Israel. Nursery treatments with iprodione or vinclozolin significantly decreased the number of diseased onion bulbs which were supplied to the farmers from 24% in the control to 8% in the treated plots and resulted in higher yield of seed with increases of 45% in seed weight per plant. Onion bulbs under non-irrigated conditions in the mountains were found to be more susceptible to the disease, as well as to secondary infection, than irrigated onions that were grown in the plains. Chemical treatment of the bulbs before planting significantly reduced the rate of secondary infection in the field and decreased seed losses. The survival of B. allii propagules and their importance as a primary source of inoculum in growing onions for seed were studied in the central mountainous region of Israel. From 197 to 1532 B. allii propagules per g soil were found in the field plots, this as the result of only one season growing onion seed. Ninety-one per cent of the total planted healthy bulbs were infected in the highly contaminated plots after 150 growing days. The surviving B. allii propagules reduced the seed yield, from 14·4 in the less contaminated plots to 10·4 g/plant in the highly contaminated.
The relationship of bovine rostral tooth development to age determined by post-mortem radiographic examination of cattle aged between 12 and 24 months
Authors: Andrews A. H.
Published: March 2009

Results of rostral tooth development determined both visually and by post-mortem radiographic examination were used to provide age ranges and median ages for stages which could be seen between 1 and 2 years old. These showed that intra-oral eruption of the permanent rostral teeth was of little value in age estimation during the second year of life. However, utilizing the stages of tooth development which could be seen radiographically the maximum age range before differentiation was 5 months (1 year 1 month from 1 year 6 months and 1 year 5 months from 1 year 10 months). Thus it appeared that rostral tooth radiography was of more use in age estimation than intraoral eruption of the permanent teeth.
Persistence and growth of Lotononis bainesii–Digitaria decumbens pastures: 2. Sheep treading
Authors: Pott A. , Humphreys L. R. , Hales J. W.
Published: March 2009

A pasture of Lotononis bainesii and Digitaria decumbens cv. Pangola at Mt Cotton, south-east Queensland was mown on six occasions at intervals of ca. 3 months and after each mowing was subjected in 1 day to the treading intensity expected from sheep grazing at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28/ha. A movable corridor and folds were employed to walk the sheep the required number of times on eight replicates of each treatment.

Lotononis regrowth was negatively related to sheep treading intensity, whereas Pangola was highly resistant to treading and grew vigorously from underground buds on rhizomes and from persisting stolons. Young lotononis seedlings were more vulnerable than older seedlings which had branched; plants developed from autonomous nodal roots were more resistant than seedlings. Attention is drawn to the contractile growth of the hypocotyl following epigeal germination which leads to a buried crown.

Lotononis plants were short-lived, and seedling regeneration of ca. 27 and 47 plants/m2 occurred in the late summer of the 2nd and 3rd year after sowing. Soil seed reserves averaged 16900/m2. Studies might be undertaken of management systems directed to favouring lotononis plant replacement through accretion to seed reserves, seedling regeneration through the creation of ‘gaps’, and seedling survival through judicious timing of grazing.
Sire-breed comparison of carcass composition of steers from Angus dams
Authors: Bass J. J. , Carter A. H. , Johnson D. L. , Baker R. L. , Jones K. R.
Published: March 2009

Body composition of 324 steers from Angus dams by ten different sire breeds was compared at constant age. Progeny of the large European breeds and the Friesian attained heavier fasted live weights and carcass weights than the local Angus and Hereford breeds. Friesian cross-breds had the lowest dressing percentage. The Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin crosses had the lightest bone weights and this was reflected in high meat yields. The European breeds had the leanest carcasses, the traditional beef breeds the heaviest subcutaneous fat weights and the dairy breeds the heaviest internal fat weights. The results are discussed in relation to overseas findings.
Effects of Age at Harvest and Fertilizer Application on the Yield, Available Carbohydrates and Hydrocyanic Acid Content of Cassava (Manihot palmata Pohl)
Authors: Obigbesan G. O. , Ketiku A. O. , Fayemi A. A.
Published: March 2009

Experiments were carried out over two growing seasons to find out the effects of fertilizer application and age at harvest on the yield, available carbohydrates and hydrocyanic acid content of Manihot palmata.Fertilizers were applied at the following rates: 0–0–0; 45–45–0; 45–45–45; 45–45–67, and 45–45–90 kg/ha of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. Harvests were at 9 and 15 months after planting. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus resulted in significant yield increases. Fertilizer application had no significant effect on the hydrocyanic acid content of the tubers. Harvesting at 15 months gave more than double the tuber yields and a higher percentage of hydrocyanic acid than harvesting at 9 months. It is, therefore, desirable to use efficient methods of processing the tubers harvested at 15 months to obtain safe products for industrial and nutritional uses.
Estimation of body water and fat in cattle using tritiated water space and live weight with particular reference to the influence of breed
Authors: Chigaru P. R. N. , Holness D. H.
Published: March 2009

The body composition of 18 each of Mashona, Afrikaner and Hereford heifers was measured at the beginning and after 16 and 32 weeks of the experiment. The heifers not slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment were fed a complete diet containing 132 g crude protein and 12·0 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter. Before slaughter, the animals were deprived of food and water for 24 h. Each animal was infused with 1 mCi of tritiated water (TOH) in order to measure total body water (TBW) and to estimate body fat.

The growth rate of the three breeds of heifers was similar despite differences in age and initial live weight. Both TBW and fat proportions, however, differed significantly (P < 0·01) between slaughter stages for each breed and between breeds at each slaughter stage. At the first, second and final slaughter stages the proportions of TBW were: 68·0, 59·4 and 54·5% for Mashona; 70·;5, 64·3 and 58·3% for Afrikaner and 65·3, 57·6 and 46·2% for Hereford heifers respectively. The corresponding proportions of body fat were: 10·2, 18·4 and 24·2% for Mashona; 6·6, 12·0 and 20·0% for Afrikaner and 13·7, 20·8 and 25·8% for Hereford heifers respectively.

There was a close relation between empty body weight and live weight at slaughter which was not influenced by breed. Both TBW and fat were estimated more accurately when TOH space and live weight were used jointly. However, the slopes of the prediction equations for each breed were significantly different (P < 0·05) in the case of both total body water and fat. It was necessary to use separate equations for each breed in order to predict either body water or fat. The significance of these findings for the estimation of body fat in live cattle is discussed.
Evaluation of phosphorus in savannah soils of western Nigeria under bush fallow systems
Authors: Ayodele O. J. , Agboola A. A.
Published: March 2009

Yield calibration of soil tests in western Nigeria savannah has been difficult owing to low response to P and response to only low P rates despite low available P in the soils. A study on the distribution of P forms in 60 surface soils of the savannah derived from igneous and metamorphic rocks and grouped into 11 classes was made. Average total P was 0·018% and organic P, which varied between 44 and 114 mg/kg, constituted 41% of total P. Active P components made up 40% of total inorganic P, the bulk of which was in the Fe-P fraction. All P forms except non-extractable P correlated significantly with organic matter.

The amounts of P needed to increase available P by 1 mg/kg in the soils, an index of P fixation, was correlated with pH and the free oxides of Fe and Al. The direct role of Fe-oxides and probable indirect effect of organic matter were indicated by regression analysis.

There was minimal maize yield response to P application and this was obtained only at low P rates from which an optimum rate of 20 kg P/ha was suggested. An attempt to use phosphorus sorption capacity (PSC) for P recommendation was not successful probably because of the low PSC values. A quick P recommendation based on available P status, fertilizer factor of 3·0 mg/1 and an optimum available P level derived from the relative yield v. soil P calibration curve was therefore suggested.
Edge effects on yield, yield components and other traits in mechanized durum wheat and barley trials
Authors: Hadjichristodoulou A.
Published: March 2009

A series of trials were conducted during 1979–82 under semi-arid conditions in a Mediterranean-type environment to study the edge effects in mechanized durum wheat and barley variety trials when uncropped pathways are left between plots. Varietal differences in edge effects on grain yield were in most trials not significant. Thus, edge effects do not distort significantly the relative ranking of varieties.

Edge effects were significant for all traits studied and higher in grain and straw yields. These effects were also higher in drier seasons. The overestimation of grain yield from whole plots was 13–18% in relatively high rainfall seasons and 29% in a dry season. In two seasons the scores on the two outer rows were higher than on the two central rows by 89 and 117 % for grain yield, by 72 and 73% for straw yield, by 44 and 48% for numbers of tillers, by 6% for 1000-grain weight and by 14 and 40% for number of grains per tiller. The edge effect was not confined to the outer rows, but it extended to the inner rows of the plot; the magnitude of this effect varied with season and trait.

Rows adjacent to the pathway and unprotected from wind had a lower value for all traits than the opposite rows of the pathway, which were protected by the inner rows.
Soil moisture changes under grassland as measured by neutron probe in midland England
Authors: Hall D. G. M. , Jones R. J. A.
Published: March 2009

The moisture regimes of three soils under grassland in midland England were investigated using a neutron probe moisture meter from May 1976 until August 1978. The main aim of the experiments was to compare the differential build-up of moisture deficits in the three soils of different texture by monitoring moisture extraction down to 1·50 m depth. The moisture deficits measured by neutron probe were also compared with those predicted from meteorological data using the Grindley (1970) model.

The sandy (Newport) soil dried out more quickly and more completely than the clayey (Worcester) or fine loamy over clayey stagnogley (Salop) soil, particularly in 1976. This reflected the fact that the former had the smallest available water, most of which is held at low suctions, whereas the Salop soil, with much of its water bound at high suctions, continued to supply small amounts to plant roots when the available water in both the other soils was exhausted.

The soil moisture deficits determined from neutron probe measurements were much larger at all three sites in 1976 than in the following 2 years. The deficit increased more slowly in the Salop soil than in the other two in the early part of 1976 and more slowly than predicted by the Grindley model. However, during July and August of the same year, deficits in the Salop and Worcester soils increased more quickly than predicted and maximum deficits were in proportion to the available water capacities of the three soils. Deficits in 1978 were very small (less than 70 mm) in all three soils because of the wetter weather.

The results of this neutron probe study clearly show that the patterns of moisture extraction and the maximum deficits which developed in the three soils, particularly in 1976, are closely related to their physical properties, as determined from undisturbed soil cores.