bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Producing firm yet thin bacon fat
Authors: Brown A J , Wood J D , Chambers J 
Published: June 2019

The firmness of backfat in pigs is an important aspect of meat quality which is influenced by the chemical composition of the fat tissue. This is affected by the amount (thickness) of fat and by diet. Thin backfat Is relatively soft but nutritional manipulation can potentially overcome this problem.This work compared fat thickness in pigs on a commercial farm fed a concentrate diet (CD) or a skimmed milk - balancer diet (SM). The low level of oil in SM was likely to be a key factor in increasing firmness.
The effect of the oral administration of melatonin at two times of the year on ovarian activity in ewes
Authors: Wigzell S. , Robinson J. J. , Aitken R. P. , McKelvey W. A. C. 
Published: June 2019

It has previously been shown (Robinson et al., 1985) that the normal breeding season of Greyface and Scottish Blackface ewes can be advanced by the daily administration of the indoleamine melatonin; the administration of the melatonin beginning midway during the anoestrous period. If melatonin is administered towards the end of the normal breeding season, oestrous activity can be extended, but only for a period of about six weeks until the ewe becomes refractory to the melatonin treatment (Nett and Niswender, 1981). There is no information on the administration of melatonin at the beginning of the anoestrous period.In the following experiments we report results for the influence on the subsequent breeding activity of Greyface ewes of the oral administration of melatonin at the beginning of their normal period of anoestrus. We also report the results of an investigation on the effects of melatonin in advancing the breeding season of Scottish Blackface ewes maintained on either a high or low plane of nutrition. The experiments were carried out under natural daylength conditions at 57°N.
Reproductive performance of scottish blackface gimmers trained to eat supplements as ewe hoggs and offered feedblocks during mating
Authors: Waterhouse A. 
Published: June 2019

Hill gimmers typically perform below the flock average and are reluctant to	take supplementary feed. This paper reports an attempt to evaluate the effects in	the first breeding season of training young flock replacements to eat supplementary	feed in the form of either concentrate pellets or feedblocks.Four hundred and fifty-five ewe hoggs were allocated to two groups on return from away-wintering on 1 April. Untrained hoggs (U) were put to the hill immediately. The remainder were trained to feed (T) for one week before rejoining their contempories. Training and subsequent mating treatments are summarised in Table 1.
Conception rates following cervical and intrauterine insemination in the ewe
Authors: Haresign W. , Curnock R.M. , Reed H.C.B. 
Published: June 2019

The current technique for artificial insemination (AI) of ewes during the breeding season necessitates the synchronisation of oestrus with progestagen sponges and PMSG, and involves depositing semen into the posterior cervix at a fixed time after sponge removal. Extensive field trials over a number of years in the UK have indicated that a single insemination using fresh diluted semen 56 h after sponge removal generally results in a conception rate of 70%, while conception rates following a single insemination of frozen-thawed semen 57 h after sponge removal have ranged from 19% to 34% (mean 28%). Giving two inseminations of frozen-thawed semen at 50 h and 60 h after sponge removal increased the overall mean conception rate, but only up to 48%. This inability to achieve acceptable conception rates with frozen-thawed semen nullifies many of the potential benefits of AI in sheep flocks.It is well established that the cervix presents a major barrier to sperm transport in the ewe, particularly when oestrus has been synchronised with progestagens and PMSG.
Laparoscopy for insemination, embryo recovery and embryo transfer in ewes
Authors: McKelvey W. A. C. , Robinson J. J. , Aitken R. P. 
Published: June 2019

Embryo transfer has become a widely used technique for the more rapid dissemination of valuable genetic traits in cattle. The rapid uptake of embryo transfer technology by the cattle breeding industry has largely resulted from the development of non-surgical methods for the recovery of embryos from donor cows and for their subsequent implantation into recipient animals. These non-surgical methods not only reduce operative time but permit the repeated use of cows without the risk of formation of post-operative adhesions.Although embryo transfer is a technique commonly used by research workers in the study of certain aspects of reproductive physiology in sheep, there are several problems associated with conventional transfer procedures in this species which have precluded its adoption by the sheep breeding industry.
Nutritional manipulation of lamb growth and its effect on body composition and carcase quality
Authors: Cropper M. , Lloyd M.D. , Emmans G.C. 
Published: June 2019

The growth rate and body composition of lambs depend on their rate of feed intake and the composition of the feed given. The purpose of the experiment described here was to test predictions of the growth and composition of lambs given feeds of two protein contents at three levels of feeding.73 Scottish Blackface wethers were abruptly weaned at 49 days of age and an average live weight (LW) of 18 (sd 2.2) kg. Six, chosen to cover the range in initial liveweight, were killed and those remaining were put into individual pens and fed in one of six ways. Two feeds with 140g CP/kg fresh weight (FW), called LP, and 220 g CP/kg FW, called HP, were used. They were formulated using barley, maize and soyabean meal, and hay at 150g/kg FW, and were calculated to yield 11.8 MJ ME/kg FW. Each feed was given ad libitum (AL) and at daily rates of 1.2 or 0.8 kg FW. The numbers of sheepstarted were: ALHP, n = 8; ALLP, n = 8; 1.2 HP, n = 12, 1.2 LP, n = 13, 0.8 HP, n = 14, 0.8 LP, n = 12. Sheep were killed from each treatment at 5 kg LW intervals from 25 to 50 kg. After slaughter the weights of gut-fill and organs were taken and the carcase physically dissected into lean, bone and fat. The chemical composition - dry matter and the ash, N, lipid and gross energy contents of the dry matter - of the whole empty body, excluding wool, was measured. Wool weights were determined. The intakes and weights of each sheep were measured twice weekly.
Choice feeding as a method of determining lamb nutrient requirements and growth potential
Authors: Cropper M. , Lloyd M. , Emmans G.C. , Hinks C.E. 
Published: June 2019

The experiment described here was designed to test the proposition that lambs, given access to two feeds, as a choice, one abundant in crude protein (CP), the other deficient, can both select a diet which supports their potential growth rate and which avoids excesses of protein intake.Twenty four Suffolk x Greyface wether and females, at a mean liveweight of 20.2 kg (s.e. 0.6) were individually housed and their feed intake and liveweight recorded weekly.The four pelleted feeds used were highly digestible and had estimated energy yields of 10.5 MJ ME/kg freshweight. The basal feed (A) was made from equal parts barley and sugar beet pulp plus a vitamin/mineral mix. It contained 91 g CP/kg FW. Feed D was made by substituting fishmeal for the barley in feed A such that it contained 383g CP/kg. Feed B contained one third D and two thirds A and contained 182g CP/kg. Féed C contained two thirds D and one third A, giving a CP content of 266g CP/kg. Thus each of the four feeds A, B, C and D could be described in terms of either the proportion of feed A or the crude protein which it contained.Four lambs were offered feed A alone, and four lambs received feed B only. Twelve of the lambs were given ad 1ibitum access to both the basal feed A and one of the three other feeds B, C and D, for ten weeks. Four lambs were offered a choice between feed B and feed D for four weeks.
Energy and protein supplementation for shorn in-lamb ewes fed silage
Authors: Stone C R , Appleton M 
Published: June 2019

Increased food intake of ewes has been noted at experimental and research centres as a consequence of shearing in mid-pregnancy (Great House EHF, 1972/3, Drayton EHF, 1976, 1977, Grassland Research Institute 1976). This should allow a greater reliance on cheaper home-grown forage to supply nutrients during the latter stages of pregnancy. Silage alone or with small amounts of energy and/or protein supplementary feed, may provide the nutrients to support shorn in-lamb ewes through to lambing.One hundred and four shorn Border Leicester x Welsh Mountain ewes, penned in groups of 26, were offered silage ad libitum from housing in mid-January until lambing in early April. Six weeks before lambing, supplements were introduced. The treatments were either no supplement (Nil), rolled barley (B), white fishmeal (FM) or rolled barley plus white fishmeal (B + FM).
Determination of herbage intake of suckling lambs using long-chain n-alkanes as markers
Authors: Hayes R.V. , Lamb C.S. , Colgrove Patricia M. 
Published: June 2019

The n-alkanes of grass outioular wax (odd-chain, C25- C25) can be used simultaneously with dosed n-alkanes (C28or C32) as markers for estimating the herbage intake of grazing sheep if the faecal recoveries of both herbage and dosed markers are the same. In adult sheep the accuracy of herbage intake estimation is not affected by the inclusion of concentrate in the diet as long as the intake and alkane concentrations of the concentrate are known. If, similarly, the ingestion of milk does not interfere with the relative absorption of dosed and herbage alkanes the herbage intake of suckling lambs at pasture could be estimated. To evaluate the potential of the technique in suckling lambs the faecal recoveries of odd-chain herbage n-alkanes and of dosed dotriacontane (C32) were determined in lambs offered eves’ milk and freshly cut herbage.From 2 weeks of age seven individually-housed male lambs received 1 kg/day homogenised ewes’ milk (166 g/day dry matter (DM)) in 4 feeds from an automatic feeder. The milk Has obtained by daily hand-milking of East Friesland ewes and was stored at -20° until used. Freshly cut perennial ryegrass was offered to the lambs ad libitum from the age of 4 weeks. A 6-day total collection of faeces was carried out when the lamba were 10 weeks of age.
A method for the automatic recording of the eating behaviour, intake and liveweight of individual cows housed in groups
Authors: Rees C.P. 
Published: June 2019

An automated method of monitoring the feeding and liveweight characteristics of dairy cows has been developed with the following properties.
1Minimal disturbance of animal behaviour2Use of proven, commercially available components3Easy to operate4Records data oni)forage intakeii)concentrate intakeiii)liveweightiv)frequency and duration of meals
Consumer responses to beef of different fatness levels and the effect of electrical stimulation
Authors: Cook G L , Hardham L E , Dilworth A W , Harrington G 
Published: June 2019

Several expert committees have recommended reductions in intake of saturated fat for health reasons and in Britain this advice has been accepted by Government. There will be increasingly more fat-conscious consumers demanding leaner meat and in order to supply this demand retailers will select leaner carcasses and adopt new cutting methods. The trend within the beef industry is towards leaner cattle, coupled with increased production rates in abattoirs. This has led to concern about possible damage to eating quality.A trial was carried out to investigate the eating quality of lean beef cuts produced from leaner animals or by more severe trimming and to investigate the possible compensatory effects of electrical stimulation on quick chilling.At each of 20 abattoirs, 12 steers were selected and slaughtered together. Four were Hereford x Friesian, four were Continental x Suckler and four were Friesian/Holstein.
Influence of Different Levels of Dietary Energy on Performance of Double Suckled Cows and Calves
Authors: Khan M.A.S. , Topps J.H. , Broadbent P.J. 
Published: June 2019

The winter feeding of beef cows represents a high, proportion of the costs of calf production. Attempts to minimise cost include the use of beef (♂) x dairy cows (♀) which have the ability to suckle two calves and to mobilise body reserves during periods of underfeeding in early lactation. Khan and Topps (1985) observed that cows in good condition at calving could maintain milk production and raise two good calves when given 110 MJ ME/day in a diet which included a source of undegradable protein. Subsequently a preliminary experiment was carried out with three single suckled and nine double suckled cows to examine the effect of energy level on the performance of cows and calves.Three single suckled cows and nine double suckled cows i.e. six with a natural plus foster calf and three with twin calves produced by embryo transfer were used in this experiment. The levels of energy that were examined were 70 or 90, 80 or 100 and 90 or 110 MJ ME/day for single and double-suckled cows respectively, supplied in diets containing ammonia treated straw, barley and fishmeal. Nine of the cows were placed into trios according to calving date and age, with a trio consisting of a cow with a natural calf, a cow with a natural and foster calf, and a cow with twin calves. Each trio was allocated at random to one of the three levels of energy. Similarly, the remaining three cows with a natural and foster calf were allocated at random to 90, 100 or 110 MJ ME/day. The calves were given good quality hay ad libitum and free access to a concentrate mixture up to a maximum intake of 2 kg/head/day. The concentrate mixture consisted of (g/kg) 800 barley, 150 soyabean meal and 50 molassine meal. The experiment started on the 22nd day of lactation and was of 20 weeks duration for most of the cows.
The effect upon the intake of grazing calves of infection with the gastrointestinal nematode ostertagia ostertagi
Authors: Bell Sharon L. , Frost A.I. , Jeffrey Yvonne , Thomas R.J. 
Published: June 2019

Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE), largely attributable to the abomasal parasite
Ostertagia ostertagi is a cause of major economic loss in the cattle industry. It has been suggested from studies on infected housed animals, together with pair fed controls, that the characteristic loss of weight occurring as a consequence of PGE is due mainly to loss of appetite, (Dargie, 1980). Thus in the present study the intention was to measure the effect of parasitism on intake under natural grazing conditions.2 groups of 20 Freisian steer calves (175 kg at turnout), were grazed from May to September 1984 on adjacent 5 acre paddocks which had been contaminated the previous autumn by cattle Infected with 0. ostertagi. The allocation of calves to each group was such that the mean weight and range of weights within each group were similar. At turnout each calf in group A received a (Morantel slow release bolus), group B being untreated controls. The calves were weighed and sampled regularly for faecal egg counts.
An Alternative to stalls and tethers, a straw-based housing system for dry sows using a computerised sow feeder
Authors: Smith Paul , Gorman N , J Payne  
Published: June 2019

Many existing sow stall and tether houses, besides not conforming with the Pig Welfare Code are thermally inadequate and require major alterations. A possible alternative system, comprising loose-housed sows with rations allocated from an electronic sow feeder was evaluated.A building comprising single-skin concrete blocks and insulated roof originally housed 74 dry sows in stalls bedded with straw. The building was gutted and re-fitted to accommodate loose-housed sows. Minimal repairs were undertaken on the concrete floor, and some new blockwork was erected, deep straw was incorporated into the new lying areas.
The influence of dietary energy on carcass fat in sows and the relationship of fat content to P2 measurements.
Authors: Lee Pauline A. 
Published: June 2019

There is little available information on the influence of dietary energy on fat stores in the sow or on the relationship between these stores and backfat thickness measured at the P2 site. The present study was therefore designed to determine the influence of dietary energy intake in pregnancy on the fat stores of the sow after three parities including its relationship with P2 measurements taken at slaughter. In addition a comparison was made between ultrasonic measurement of P2 on the live animal and P2 measurements taken on the carcass.There were three treatments with 15 sows per treatment which were rationed by live weight to receive approximately 30, 26, 23 MJ DE/day at 120 kg (Table 1). During lactation all sows were fed to a scale recommended by the ARC (1981) After weaning their third litter the sows were slaughtered and the left side of the carcass dissected into shoulder, ham, loin and belly joints as described by Fortin (1980). These were weighed, minced and analysed for fat content by the Folch method. P2 measurements were taken ultrasonically on the live animal, by probe on the hanging carcass and by straight measurement on the dissected loin.
Effects of level of feeding after mating on ‘fat’ and ‘thin’ sows
Authors: Walker N. 
Published: June 2019

Pregnant sows in poor body condition require a high feed intake to restore body fat reserves. However, a high intake in the period following conception may increase embryo losses. The first objective of this experiment was to determine whether a high feed allowance after conception has any effect on litter size compared with a normal allowance. The second objective was to investigate the effects of body condition at conception and feed rate in early pregnancy on the components of maternal gain.Multiparous cross-bred sows of Large White and Landrace lineage were classified subjectively at farrowing according to body condition as either fat (F) or thin (T). A single diet containing 12.5 MJ DE/kg and 150 g CP/kg was fed throughout the experiment. The fat sows were fed more generously than the thin sows during the 28 day lactation with mean intakes of 5.3 and 4.8 kg/day. This was to maintain the differential in body condition between the two groups. After weaning all sows were fed 3 kg per day until mating. Within the fat and thin groups sows were allocated at random to either 4 or 2 kg of feed per day for 30 days after mating.
Effect of using vasectomised boars for additional matings on sow reproductive performance
Authors: Davies O D 
Published: June 2019

Vasectomised boars are already in use on some commercial farms for detecting and synchronising oestrus, especially in gilts. Increasing the number of matings a sow receives during oestrus has been found to increase subsequent litter size and conception rate (Reed 1982, Tilton and Cole 1982). If vaginal-uterine stimulation is the underlying cause for this reproductive improvement, then similar effects should be possible using vasectomised boars.A total of 200 Large White/Landrace cross sows were weaned at 4 to 5 weeks and housed adjacent to mature fertile boar where physical contact was possible through a barred gate. The sows were inspected for signs of oestrus each morning and, if receptive, were given a single mating with a fertile boar. Approximately 3 hours later, alternate sows were penned with a vasectomised boar and one service was supervised. These sows remained with the vasectomised boar overnight and were then remated with the original boar. The control sows were also remated with a fertile boar, 24 hours after the first service.From weaning to service all sows were offered 2.7 kg of a 155 g/kg crude protein, barley based sow nut. After service this was reduced to 2.2 kg per day.
An analysis of piglet mortality with behavioural observations
Authors: Edwards S.A. , Malkin S.J. , Spechter H.H. 
Published: June 2019

Preweaning mortality generally accounts for 10-20% of all piglets born alive. A better understanding of the reasons for this mortality should help reduce losses.Data from 493 litters born over a period of 18 months were analysed to investigate the timing, apparent cause and predisposing factors of piglet mortality.To examine in more detail the way in which deaths occur a continuous video recording was made for the first 48 h. after farrowing for 31 litters. The way in which any deaths happened and the events leading up to them were then examined in detail.
An evaluation of split litter suckling as a method of reducing pre-weaning mortality in pigs
Authors: Furniss S R , Sutton B , Furniss S J 
Published: June 2019

Pre-weaning mortality in pigs in the United Kingdom is estimated to be 11.6% ie the loss of around 2 million piglets every year. If only the cost of piglet production is considered this represents a loss to the industry of approximately £28 million each year. In fact the revenue foregone from finished pigs is much greater (MAFF,1985).Over 50% of the losses of liveborn piglets occur in the first 48 to 72 hours after birth. Around 75% of mortalities are due to the two, often related causes, overlying by the dam and starvation (English and Morrison, 1984).Mortality is inversley related to birth weight, small piglets being affected by competition from their larger litter mates and having lower energy reserves. To reduce piglet mortality care must therefore be concentrated, especially on small weakly piglets in the first 48 hours of life.
Methods of feeding growing pigs to maximise feed intake
Authors: Lightfoot A.L. , Armsby A.W. , Widdows C.F. 
Published: June 2019

An experiment was carried out to determine which feeding method maximised feed intake of growing pigs and to record growth rates, feed conversion efficiency and backfat measurements. There is an increasing tendency for dry fed pigs to be fed ad libitum or to appetite in order to increase growth rates and throughput of building.Limited information is available on how the modern genetically improved pig will respond to high levels of feeding and whether ad libitum feeding will encourage higher feed intake than feeding to appetite either wet or dry.
The effect of a flavour compound on the intake of silage by wether lambs
Authors: Henderson A.R. , Anderson D.H. , Baines D.A. , Phillips P 
Published: June 2019

The intake of ensiled forages by lambs is frequently much lower than the intake of corresponding dried forages (Sormunen - Cristian, 1985). The latter is generally positively correlated with digestibility but a comparable relationship for ensiled forages is confounded by the many changes in composition which result from the activity of plant enzymes and bacteria during ensilage. The major fermentation pathways are well documented but much less is known about the changes in minor components and the effects these may have on the intake of silage.Two extraction techniques, Grob headspace stripping (Grob and Zurcher, 1976) and Likens Nickerson extraction (Likens and Nickerson, 1964) were employed to study the components of grass and silages. Headspace chromatograms are presented along with the composition of the silages.