bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of transport on slaughter weight lambs
Authors: Knowles T.G. 
Published: November 2021

It is necessary to quantify the effects of road transport on farmed livestock in order to provide a sound basis for legislation required to protect the animals. At present there is much interest in the transport of slaughter lambs as these animals tend to be transported for further, longer and in greater numbers than other, similar farmed species within the UK (Warriss et al 1990) and also because of the large numbers which are now exported. In 1993 approximately 2 million live lambs were exported from the UK, 8 per cent of UK production.There is general agreement that transport is a stressful procedure. There are a variety of parameters which can be measured to give an indication of how well the animals are coping with the process. One measure which most would agree is indicative of failure to cope is mortality. When there is an increase in mortality it is not just those which have died which are likely to have suffered, those that survive have probably had more difficulty coping. In a survey of lambs arriving for slaughter in the south of England the overall mortality rate of lambs dead on arrival or dying in the lairage before slaughter was very low, at 0.018 per cent, when compared with figures for pigs (0.07 per cent) or broilers (0.19 per cent) (Knowles et al 1994a). This, despite a generally more protracted marketing process. However, the type of marketing process was important, as those animals which were brought direct from the farm for slaughter suffered a mortality rate of 0.007 per cent whilst those which were bought from a live auction market suffered a rate of 0.03 per cent.
An investigation of the role of thyroid hormones in the control of secondary fibre growth and moult in cashmere goats
Authors: Rhind S.M. , McMillen S.R. 
Published: November 2021

The growth of a fine undercoat (cashmere) in goats is a seasonal phenomenon; growth generally begins during the autumn, continues into the winter and is followed by a moult in the spring. The endocrine mechanisms involved in the control of these processes are unclear but the thyroid hormones have been implicated in the control of fibre growth (Ferguson, Schenckel, Carter and Clarke, 1956; Lincoln, Klandorf and Anderson, 1980) and in the normal seasonal cycle of reproductive activity in sheep (Follett and Potts, 1990). However, it is not known whether or not the thyroid hormones have a role in the mediation of photoperiodic effects on secondary hair follicle activity in goats.Most of the metabolic activity of the thyroid hormones is thought to be attributable to triiodothyronine (T3) which is primarily derived from thyroxine (T4) by a process of monodeiodination. This process can be inhibited by treatment with methylthiouracil.The aim of this study was to suppress the synthesis of T3 and so to determine whether or not it has a direct role in the control of seasonal variation of secondary hair follicle activity and cashmere growth and moulting.
Comparison of the performance of two multiparous continental genotypes in a hill suckler herd
Authors: Christensen K.A. , Rowlinson P , Seal C.J. , Keatinge R. 
Published: November 2021

There is little published data on the detailed performance of continental genotypes as suckler cows in a hill environment. The work presented investigates further, aspects of reproductive performance and metabolic profiles published previously (Christensen et al 1994) and (Keatinge et al 1994), for an autumn calving herd, during the post-partum period.The herd consisted of 41 Piemontese X Holstein/Friesian (PXH/F) and 43 Simmental X Holstein/Friesian (SXH/F) cows which were grazed on upland pasture from May-September, with calving (second, @ approx. 3.5 years) from late September through October. The herd was housed in early November in a cubicle shed with barrier access to clamped grass silage, the calves had access to adjoining creep areas.
Alternative nutritional strategies to increase milk yield in dairy cows: a modelling approach
Authors: Newbold J.R. 
Published: November 2021

When the ratio between Metabolisable Protein (MP) and Metabolisable Energy (ME) is optimal for a given level
of milk output (not constrained by genotype, management or other nutritional factors), further increases in milk output can be obtained by two strategies:
Strategy 1. Increased supply of ME and MP (maintaining optimal MP:ME), orStrategy 2. Oversupply of MP (ie MP:ME > optimum)Possible mechanisms underlying Strategy 2 include use of amino acids for gluconeogenesis or oxidation
(Oldham, 1994), mobilisation of body energy reserves or, where forage is available ad libitum, increased forage intake (Newbold, 1994). For the purpose of this study, supply of MP above the theoretical optimum was assumed to increase milk protein yield only via the mechanism of increased forage intake.The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic (cost of ration) and environmental (overall efficiency of N use) consequences of increasing milk yield by these two strategies.
An evaluation of a protected trace mineral supplement (carbosan copper) for beef cattle
Authors: Kirby P.S. , Chapple D.G. 
Published: November 2021

Incidence maps show bovine hypocupraemia to be a widespread problem in the cattle-populated regions of the United Kingdom. Absolute copper defciency, molybdenum-, sulphur- and iron-induced hypocupraemia have been demonstrated on commercial farms and there are specific areas with a high incidence of hypocupraemia, particularly in parts of Cumbria, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Somerset, County Down and Londonderry.Molybdenum- and sulphur-induced copper deficiency is probably mediated through thiomolybdates formed in the rumen, which then react with copper and particulate matter to form highly stable compounds that cannot be digested and absorbed. The consequential loss in physical and financial performance can be high. Hence, a protected source of copper, which by-passes the rumen, could offer an effective method of improving performance.The purpose of this experiment was to compare the efficacy of copper sulphate sequestered to a polysaccharide coating (Carbosan Copper, Quali Tech Inc Chaska, Minnesota, USA) with conventional copper sulphate using finishing beef cattle on a grass silage-based diet.
The effect of protected methionine and lysine on milk production and composition on grass-silage based diets
Authors: Younge B.A. , Murphy J.J. , Rath M. , Sloan B.K. 
Published: November 2021

Methionine and lysine have been shown to be the two amino acids most limiting for milk protein synthesis in lactating dairy cows. Many studies have shown positive effects of adding protected forms of methionine to cows on maize silage-based diets supplemented with soyabean meal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on milk production and composition of adding protected methionine and lysine to cows fed a grass silage diet.24 Autumn-calved cows (2nd lactation or greater) were blocked into groups of 4 based on calving date and milk yield in the immediate pre-experimental week. Cows within each group were subjected to each of the following 4 treatments in a latin square design: (1) 7 kg of by-product concentrate per day (C), (2) C plus 4.8 g digestible methionine per day (3) C plus 4.8 g digestible methionine and 6.2 g digestible lysine per day (4) 7 kg of barley-soya concentrate + 7.7 g digestible methionine per day. Each period lasted 4 weeks and data from weeks 3 and 4 were used to compare treatment effects. The amino acids were supplied in a rumen protected form (SmartamineTM, RPAN Technology) and all figures relate to estimated intestinally digestible amino acids based on the French system of calculating digestible lysine and methionine. The cows received primary growth unwilted grass silage ad libitum (Oven Dry Matter 189 g/kg, in-vitro DMD 714 g/kg DM, Crude protein 160 g/kg DM, pH 3.9).
Response of weaned pigs to choice feeding of a complete diet
Authors: Lawlor P.G. , Lynch P.B. , Caffrey P.J. , Henry W.D. , Harrington D. 
Published: November 2021

Choice feeding of complete feeds offers the potential for a more gradual transition to feeds of lower specification as the pig grows. This may result in more efficient production as the pig consumes a blend of nutrients which provides the optimum match to its nutrient requirement for growth. The objective of this study was to compare performance of weaned pigs fed a sequence of commercial feeds with pigs allowed consume these diets free choice.Two experiments were carried out using pigs weaned at 22-26 days of age, penned in groups of 16 and fed the test diets for a 26 day period from weaning. The test diets were commercial starter, link and weaner feeds, marketed as suitable for pigs of 3-8kg, 8-15kg and 15-30kg respectively. Each group had two self feeders, 0.75m long with one diet in each. After the 26 day trial period all pigs received a common grower diet (barley, wheat, soyabean meal, fishmeal, DE: 14.4 MJ/kg, lysine: 1.19%) to about 36kg liveweight
Preferential choice of diets differing in protein content by pigs divergently selected for lean growth rate
Authors: Cameron N.D. 
Published: November 2021

Performance testing several genotypes on one diet may impose nutritional constraints on the genetic merit for growth of particular genotypes. Use of the diet choice procedure may remove nutritional constraints on growth, if pigs can “choose” the appropriate combination of the diets to attain the growth determined by the animal's genotype. In a genetic improvement framework, the diet choice procedure could be used to identify animals of high genetic merit for a given selection objective.There were 120 Large White pigs from the high, low and control lines, which had been selected for lean growth rate for seven generations in the Edinburgh lean growth selection experiment. In each selection line, there were 10 full-sib groups of four pigs. Pigs were performance tested from 30 to 85 kg, with individual penning and ad-libitum feeding. Within each full-sib group, one pig was allocated to each of the high (HP : 220 g crude protein (CP)/kg) or low (LP : 120 g CP/kg) protein diets.
The energy and protein value of lupins for ruminants
Authors: Moss Angela R. , Givens D. I. 
Published: November 2021

A substantial proportion of the protein needs of highly productive ruminants in the UK is met by imported protein sources notably soya bean meal (SBM). New determinate varieties of sweet lupin (DSL) (Lupinus albus) low in alkaloids offer the potential to be a useful source of protein as agronomic conditions favour their cultivation in temperate climates where other proteinaceous legumes fail. There are at present no data on the new determinate varieties developed and under agronomic test in the UK. The objective of the work was to determine the chemical composition and the rumen degradability of nitrogen (N) of two UK varieties of lupins and to determine the digestibility and energy value of one of these varieties.The digestibility and metabolisable energy content of one new variety (CH304/70) of UK grown DSL was determined in a hay based diet using wether sheep (n = 5). The diets were offered in a 4 x 4 latin square design at foragexoncentrate ratios of 1.0, 0.9, 0.8 and 0.6 (dry matter (DM) basis) at near to the maintenance level of feeding.
Influence of soluble components on parameter estimation using the in vitro gas production technique
Authors: N.S. Jessop  , M. Herrero  
Published: November 2021

The in vitro gas production technique aims to characterise feeds in terms of both the amount and rate of supply of fermentable carbohydrate. Models are used to interpret the data collected and typically assume that there is one pool of fermentable carbohydrate which is used at a fractional rate although it has been shown that inclusion of a modifying rate improves the fit of the model to the data (France et al., 1993). Since forage carbohydrate is not homogenous and can, at the simplest level, be divided into soluble (sugars) and insoluble (fibre) components, the aim of the experiment was to determine the influence of soluble material on the parameters obtained using this technique.Gas production from glucose: 12.5, 25 and 50 mg; cellulose: 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg; glucose/cellulose mixtures: 10/190, 20/180, 30/170, 40/160 and 50/150 mg and Brachiaria decumbens (Brach.), Cynodon nlenfluensis (Star) and Pennisetum clandestinum (Kikuyu) grasses: 200 mg, was measured in prewarmed 100 ml glass syringes using standard techniques with four or six replicates per sample.
Objective assessment of lamb conformation: reliability of body measurements determined by computer image analysis
Authors: Al-Shami S. , Ap Dewi I. 
Published: November 2021

A method to determine body measurements by computer image analysis of lamb photographs was described by Komlosi (1994). It was suggested that the technique could be used to predict conformation of live sheep, particularly candidate breeding rams. This study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of lamb body measurements derived using this technique.Thirty lambs (Border Leicester (4), Texel (16), Suffolk (10)) were used. Reliability estimates were obtained from repeated (5 replications) photographs of the same animals and from repeated measurements (4 replications) of individual photographs. Eight lamb body measurements were used in this study namely, body length (BL), height at withers (HW), height at hip (HHP), hind-quarter horizontal distance (HQH), hind-quarter diagonal distance (HQD), hind quarter area (HQA), side area (SA) and rump diagonal (RUD). These measurements are as described by Komlosi (1994).
The effect of different dietary protein levels in the rearing phase (from 60 kg) on body composition and reproductive performance of gilts
Authors: Cia M C , Edwards S A , Glasgow V L , Shanks M , Fraser H 
Published: November 2021

Low protein diets have been proposed as a way to enhance fat reserves and reduce liveweight gain in breeding animals of very lean genotypes. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different protein levels on daily gain, body composition and reproductive performance of gilts.At 118 (sem=0.28) days old, 54 genetically lean gilts ((Landrace x Large White) x Large White) were allocated, considering firstly age and secondly weight, between three treatments with different dietary lysine:energy (g/MJ DE) ratios: High (0.9), Medium (0.6) and Low (0.3), fed twice daily at 2.9 x maintenance energy. Animals were weighed weekly and backfat thickness (P2) and muscle depth values were also taken. Eye muscle area measurements were taken by real time ultrasonography (Aloka 500) at the end of the experiment At 160 days of age, puberty was induced by administration of exogenous gonadotropin (PG600).
Biphasic breakdown of peptides by rumen bacteria
Authors: Wallace R.J. 
Published: November 2021

Excessive protein breakdown and ammonia production often lead to inefficient N utilisation in ruminants. Peptides are intermediates in the breakdown process. The aims of this study were to characterize peptidase activities of rumen bacteria and to determine which species of bacteria were responsible for the different steps of peptide breakdown in the rumen.Four rumen-fistulated adult sheep received a mixed diet (hay, barley, molasses, fishmeal and minerals and vitamins: 500, 99.5, 100, 91 and 9.5 g/kg dry matter respectively) fed in equal meals of 500 g at 0800 and 1600 h. Rumen fluid was removed 3 h after the morning feeding, strained, and mixed bacteria were prepared by differential centrifugation. Bacteria were sonicated and debris was removed by centrifugation. Peptidase activities were determined on the supernatant fluid.
The effect of mats on the welfare of sows and piglets in the farrowing house
Authors: Boyle L.A. , Leonard F.C. , Lynch P.B. , Brophy P. 
Published: November 2021

Flooring in the farrowing house has changed dramatically over the years from straw bedding on concrete to metal, cast iron or plastic slats. Animals can develop abrasion injuries from these floors (Edwards and Lightfoot, 1986) and sows have been shown to avoid slatted floors during and immediately after farrowing (Phillips et al., 1996). There is some evidence that providing a cushioning material in the pen could improve animal welfare (Gravas, 1979). The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of providing mats in the farrowing house on behaviour and lesion development in sows and piglets.Nineteen sows and their litters housed on metal slatted floors (Tri-bar, Nooyen, Duerne, The Netherlands) and nineteen sows and their litters on mats (Productive Comfort, Pemarsa, S.A.) were included in the study. Mats were made of micro-cellular foam and were placed in the area of the farrowing crate and on both heat pads. Sows were examined in 34 locations for skin lesions on entry to the farrowing house and again at weaning, approximately four weeks later. Lesions were scored according to their severity (1 to 6); addition of scores yielded a total score for each sow.
Identification of Cytokeratin 9 in the bovine hoof sole
Authors: Meyer K. , Lomax M.A. , Galbraith H. , Hazlerigg D.G. 
Published: November 2021

Lameness in the dairy cow results in large financial losses to the industry and severely compromises the welfare of the cows affected. A large proportion of lameness involves haemorrhage and lesions of the solar horn of the hoof. Deterioration of hoof horn quality may involve inadequate keratinisation, with differences in the amount of specific keratins present in the horn. Few studies of the keratin composition of solar horn have been carried out. The present study examines specifically the expression of the type I, acidic cytokeratin 9 (CK9). since this protein appears to be a major constituent of hardened epidermal structures. In human epidermal studies, CK9 has only been identified in the calloused palmar and plantar sites (Langbein et al, 1993). A comparable cytokeratin has been demonstrated in the epidermis of the bovine heel pad, but not at other body sites studied (Knapp et al, 1986). CK9 has not previously been reported in the solar horn.Bovine hoof soles from adult cows were obtained from abattoirs. Samples of cornified Stratum comeum material from below the pedal bone (the commonest site of solar lesions) were taken and the proteins extracted in 8M urea.
Relationships between muscle fibre traits with meat and eating quality in pigs
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Oksbjerg N. , Henckel P. , Nute G. , Brown S. , Wood J.D. 
Published: November 2021

Knowledge of the genetic and phenotypic relationships for muscle fibre characteristics with meat and eating quality in pigs is required by the pig breeding industry for two reasons. Muscle fibre traits, determined from muscle biopsy, could be used as genetic predictors of meat and eating quality traits and, secondly, if responses in meat and eating quality traits are partially due to changes in muscle fibre traits, then selection criteria can be designed to compensate for such responses. The current study estimated the genetic and phenotypic relationships for muscle fibre traits with meat and eating quality traits.The study consisted of 160 Large White pigs from lines divergently selected for lean growth rate on ad-libitum or restricted feeding regimes, lean food conversion ratio and daily food intake for seven generations in the Edinburgh lean growth selection experiment. Within each selection line, there were 10 pairs of full-sibs. Boars and gilts were tested from 30 kg, individually penned and fed a diet consisting of 224 g CP/kg DM and 15.9 MJ DE/kg DM.
Voluntary feed intake and apparent digestibility in vivo in ponies given ad libitum access to de-hydrated grass or hay harvested from the same grass crop
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Bayley A. , Tomlinson A. L. , Cuddeford D. 
Published: November 2021

De-hydrated forages are often fed to equids in the UK in place of more traditional grass hay, particularly where individual animals are known to have a sensitivity to dusty, mouldy hay which may play a part inducing respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One such alternative forage is short-chop de-hydrated grass. However, there is very little information available on voluntary feed intake (VFI), apparent digestibility and nutrient intake parameters when de-hydrated grass is offered to equids compared with traditional grass hay. This study examines the VFI and apparent digestibility in vivo of a short-chop de-hydrated grass compared with a traditional grass hay and determines their ability to meet the predicted energy and protein needs of mature ponies.Six mature Welsh-cross pony geldings with a mean liveweight (LW) of 281 kg (s.e.d. 0.89) were individually housed and offered ad libitum access to either short-chop de-hydrated grass (DHG) or traditional grass hay (HAY) plus 60 g/h/d minerals. The DHG and HAY were made from the same 2nd cut perennial ryegrass sward cut on the same day.
Photoperiodic entrainment of seasonal changes in appetite and growth in pony colts
Authors: Fuller Z. , Cox J.E. , Argo C. McG. 
Published: November 2021

During winter, voluntary food intake (VFI) and growth decreased in light horse weanlings given ad libitum access to a forage/concentrate diet (Cymbaluk et al, 1989). These changes were attributed to decreased ambient temperatures. However, photoperiodically entrained seasonal changes in VFI and growth are documented in other Northern ungulates (Moen, 1978) and may comprise an adaptation to changes in forage availability. Throughout their evolution, horses experienced similar environmental pressures and may demonstrate similar photoperiodic adaptations. This study characterised changes in VFI and growth in pony colts maintained under an artificial photoperiodic regime.Seven, 2 year-old pony colts of Welsh Mountain type (182.4 ± 5.4 kg), were obtained from pasture (53°N). Animals were individually housed in loose-boxes, within a light-proof building. Measured quantities of a complete pelleted diet (gross energy = 16.7 MJ.kgDM-1), calculated to exceed appetite by at least 1 kg, were offered daily.
Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake
Authors: Bland I. , Rooke J.A. 
Published: November 2021

An adequate intake of colostrum by the newborn piglet allows the piglet to acquire passive immunity and develop active immunity. However there is relatively little information on the composition of colostrum from sows of modern genotypes. The purpose of the study was therefore to investigate the changes in IgG concentration of colostrum and the uptake of colostrum by piglets.A total of 9 muciparous sows (Newsham - Large White x Landrace) were observed whilst farrowing naturally. Colostrum was sampled, without using oxytocin, at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h post partum from the anterior, middle and rear thirds of the udder and frozen at -20 °C. Colostrum intake was measured as soon as piglets began to suckle after being born, by removing three piglets/sow from the sow and weighing the piglets before and after a period of suckling, the mean weight change over eight consecutive weighings (corrected for urinary losses) being taken as colostrum intake. Piglets were observed to determine on which udder section the piglet was suckling. IgG concentration was measured using an ELISA technique (Varley et al, 1985). Statistical analysis was carried out using analysis of variance.