bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
2.2 Dairy Herd Management
Authors: Esslemont R. J. , Stephens A. J. , Ellis P. R. 
Published: June 2019

The Unit's work on herd monitoring was motivated by the need for a system to record data for a Study of Methods of Improving Oestrus Detection (Esslemont, 1973). These interests were shared with Dr R. S. Morris, then at Melbourne University, who made available a suite of computer programs for analyzing dairy herd health and fertility data which suited the immediate needs (Morris, Blood, Cannon, Cannon and Williamson, 1978). Out of this generous co-operation has evolved the ‘MELBREAD’ Herd Health and Fertility Reporting Scheme, the more comprehensive ‘DANDAIR’ system, the ‘YOUNGSTOCK’ system for recording heifers, and now ‘DAISY’ with which data processing is being decentralized to farms and veterinary practices. We are also starting to develop similar systems for intensive pig enterprises.This paper presents background information on the development of herd monitoring and a description of computerized record systems for the dairy herd developed by VEERU, especially the ‘DAISY’ software package for small computer systems.An estimate of the breakdown of fixed and variable costs on a per cow basis for a UK dairy herd is shown in Table 2.2.1a and typical good performance levels are shown in Table 2.2.1b. These figures show the need for very high technical performance in order to produce truly economic results. They also show that costs per cow for improved management information systems (at £5/cow/year) can be kept below 1% of turnover.
Donor policy on funding livestock research and development
Authors: Scott J. M. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn recent years there has been a decline in donor support for livestock research and production in the developing world. Evaluation studies suggest that such activities have a mixed record of success. Failures have been ascribed to institutional weaknesses and an inability to identify farmers’ priorities. In addition, there is an increasing donor concern about the adverse environmental effects of livestock, particularly in fragile ecosystems.Concern has been expressed that, if the decreasing support is not reversed, donor supported activities will underplay the important rôle of livestock in rural development.There are, however, signs that many of the lessons of experience have been learned and that there is an improving understanding of the crucial part played by livestock in sustainable land-use systems and in generating cash income.Donors are increasingly appraising livestock activities within an agro-ecological or land-use systems framework and adopting a ‘demand-led’ approach based on farmer's priorities. Past experience suggests that Government institutions should concentrate on regulatory functions and other activities unsuited to the private sector. There is, therefore, a greater willingness to involve private-sector organizations, co-operatives and non-governmental organizations. Environmental impact assessments are becoming an integral part of donor supported rural development activities.Any increase in the levels of funding for livestock research and development will depend on the socioeconomic and environmental impact of livestock in the developing world being better understood and, wherever possible, quantified.
Technical constraints to ruminant livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: von Kaufmann R. R. , Fitzhugh H. A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractConstraints do not only occur in production systems. They also limit the support available from research and extension and they have serious consequences for human welfare in Africa and for the whole community of nations.The agricultural research agendas in sub-Saharan Africa are indicating more concern for appropriate technology and interest in collaboration but support for research is declining when it is most urgently needed. Food production in sub-Saharan Africa is not keeping pace with demand and this is a cause of instability that will constrain all other attempts at development.The effect of the constraints is most evident on the deteriorating environment which is evident in each agro-ecological zone despite the different potentials and pressures. Animal productivity is low but has the potential for substantial improvement. Misconceptions and a lack of faith in the potential for improvement are themselves constraints in the sense that they discourage donor support for research to alleviate the real problems. Opportunities for improvement have been identified in each agro-ecological zone.There are three major categories of research institutions: national agricultural research systems, international agricultural research centres and developed country research centres. Each has its own comparative advantages and a vital rôle to play in collaboration with the others. With the limitation in research resources there is an urgent need to develop appropriate research methods and techniques that can be applied sufficiently to have impact across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. These are particularly required in regard to food production. Research opportunities are identified in plant genotypes, animal health, animal genotypes and extension and input supply.
Antinutritional factors in foods for livestock
Authors: Makkar H. P. S. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAntinutritional factors in livestock foods may be defined as the substances which either by themselves, or through their metabolic products arising in the system, interfere with food utilization and affect the health and production of animals. These deleterious substances, also referred to as anti-quality factors can be divided tentatively into four groups based on their effects on livestock: (i) affecting protein utilization and depressing digestion (protease inhibitors, tannins, saponins, lectins, etc.), (ii) metal ion scavengers (oxalates, phytates, gossypol pigments, glucosinolates), (Hi) antivitamins, and (iv) those which cannot be put in the above categories (mycotoxins, mimosine, cyanogens, nitrates, alkaloids, photosensitizing agents, isoflavones, etc.). This paper discusses only those deleterious substances which are of prime concern to the farmers and scientists of developing countries. Much emphasis is given to polyphenols compounds, as this class of anti-nutritional factor is the most widespread in non-conventional foodstuffs, i.e. agroindustrial and forestry byproducts. The effective utilization of these non-conventional foods forms the main area of research in the third world countries due to shortages of conventional foods. Efforts have been made to present the current knowledge on their assay methods, effects on animals, mode of action and detoxification/detannification using physical, chemical and biotechnological approaches. Other anti-quality factors viz., mycotoxins, mimosine, cyanogens and nitrates which also cause damage to livestock in developing countries are also discussed briefly.
Conservation of farm animal genetic resources – a global view
Authors: Cardellino R.A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractFarm animal genetic resources face a double challenge. On the one hand the demand for animal products is increasing in developing countries. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated that demand for meat will double by 2030 (2000 basis) and demand for milk will more than double in this 30-year period. On the other hand, animal genetic resources are disappearing rapidly worldwide. Over the past 15 years, 300 out of 6000 breeds identified by FAO have become extinct, and 1 to 2 breeds disappear every week. FAO has been requested by its member countries to develop and implement a global strategy for the management of farm animal genetic resources. It is important to conserve local breeds because many of them utilise lower quality feed, are more resilient to climatic stress, are more resistant to local parasites and diseases, and represent a unique source of genes for improving health and performance traits of industrial breeds. It is important also to develop and utilise local breeds that are genetically adapted to their environments. Genotype x environment interactions are important especially where extreme environments are involved. Most of these production environments are harsh, with very limited natural and managerial inputs, and they are not limited to developing countries. Animals genetically adapted to these conditions will be more productive at lower costs. They will support food, agriculture and cultural diversity, and will be effective in achieving local food security objectives. In many countries local communities depend on these adapted genetic resources. Their disappearance or drastic modification, for example by crossbreeding, absorption or replacement by exotic breeds, will have tremendous impacts on these human populations. Most breeds at risk are not supported by any established conservation activity or related policy, and breed extinction rates are increasing.
The phytoplankton ecology of the Firth of Clyde sea-lochs Striven and Fyne
Authors: Tett P. , Gowen R. , Grantham B. , Jones K. , Miller B. S. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisLochs Fyne and Striven are deep-silled fjords opening into the northern Firth of Clyde. They receive relatively little freshwater from local runoff, have a relatively low rate of tidal exchange, and undergo periods of deep water stagnation. Both contain fish farms which have lost stock because of phytoplankton blooms. Loch Striven was investigated in detail in 1980. Observations are also reported for 1979 and 1981, and for Loch Fyne from 1980–1982. Most stratification in Striven is due to salinity layering, but most of the freshwater in the loch probably originates in the Clyde Estuary and is associated with high concentrations of nitrate. Typical phytoplankton biomasses in Striven are the same as those in the western seaboard Loch Creran, but maxima exceed those in Creran. In addition to a red tide of Gyrodinium aureolum in September, 1980, three periods of high biomass seem to be a regular feature of the phytoplankton calendar in Striven. The spring increase takes place in March or early April, is dominated by the diatom Skeletonema costalum, and probably depends on the stabilizing effects of reduced near-surface salinities. A summer flourishing of Leptocylindrus danicus and dinoflagellates is also associated with near-surface salinity layering. A late spring bloom of diatoms, dinoflagellates and small flagellates, some ichthyotoxic, appears to be related to the occurrence of thermohaline stratification and near-surface nutrient depletion; on some occasions lochhead upwelling may also have been involved. Insofar as data are available, the ecology of phytoplankton in Loch Fyne appears similar to that in Loch Striven.
Regional atmospheric budgets of S and N fluxes: how well can they be quantified?
Authors: Galloway J. N. , Rodhe H. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisRegional atmospheric sulphur/nitrogen budgets have been used in several regions of the world to help build up an overview of fluxes, reservoir contents and turnover times, and as a basis for quantitative modelling. However, there are some deficiencies in the regional budget approach. The analysis is of necessity superficial, and can give a false impression of certainty. This paper reviews the regional budgets for sulphur/nitrogen which have been created in various regions of the world, analyses their common findings, addresses the issue of uncertainty, and recommends areas of future research.Most regional sulphur/nitrogen budgets have been constructed for North America, northern Europe and a few in other parts of Europe. A common finding is that anthropogenic emissions are large relative to natural emissions and that there is substantial international transport. The results of the budget analysis, while having elements of uncertainty, have proved to be valuable both in the synthesis of knowledge, and in their contribution to the increased awareness among policy makers and the public at large about the long-range transport of sulphur/nitrogen emissions.Unfortunately, there have been few regional budgets for the developing portions of the world. Given the projected increase in population – and per capita S and N emissions for these regions – we encourage a future focus on regional sulphur/nitrogen budgets for the less developed regions of the world.
The role of maternal psychosocial perceptions in parent-training programs: a preliminary randomized controlled trial
Authors: ALPER Rebecca M. , HURTIG Richard R. , MCGREGOR Karla K. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractParent–child interaction is critical for early language and literacy development. Parent training programs have proliferated to support early interactions. However, many environmental and psychosocial factors can impact the quality of parent–child language and literacy interactions as well as training program outcomes. This preliminary randomized controlled trial examined maternal perceived self-efficacy and locus of control during a language and literacy parent training program. Thirty mother–child dyads (mother age 21–40; children 2;6–4;0) were assigned in parallel to the training or control group. The training was efficacious for mothers and children – training-group dyads made significantly greater gains in maternal strategy use, responsivity, and child print awareness than the control group. Gains were maintained one month post-training. Children whose mothers had more external baseline control perceptions identified significantly fewer print targets at baseline and made greater gains than those with more internal control perceptions. Future directions and implications are discussed.
The inclusion of ammonia-treated straw in pelleted diets for calves
Authors: Thirgood Elizabeth M.A. , Hinks C.E. 
Published: June 2019

Experiments have demonstrated the importance of roughage to young calves in stimulating weight gain and feed intake through increased rumen buffering capacity.Previous studies (Thomas and Hinks) have shown that weight gain and pry Matter intake were optimised with the inclusion of 220g/kg of chopped barley straw. Furthermore, the inclusion of increasing levels of barley straw in the diet were closely associated with increases in rumen pH, possibly linked with increased saliva flow, and marked changes in rumen VFA proportions. In view of the alkaline nature of ammonia-treated straw, linked with improvements in digestibility and crude protein content, further studies have been conducted to determine whether intake and weight gain might be further enhanced with the inclusion of this material in the diet.
The effect of long-term administration of bovine somatotrophin on the performance of dairy heifers during their first lactation
Authors: Butterwick R.F. , Rowlinson P. , Weekes T.E.C. , Parker D.S. , Armstrong D.G. 
Published: June 2019

The objectives of the trial were to Investigate the effects of long-term administration of bovine somatotropin (BST) from week 2 and 10 post-partumn on the yields of milk, milk components, body weight, body condition, health and reproductive status during the first lactation of dairy heifers.19 Friesian dairy cows in their first lactation were allocated at calving to one of 3 treatments: Daily subcutaneous Injection of recomblnantly derived bovine somatotropin (25 mg/d) from either week 2 (BST2;n=6) or week 10 (BST10;n=6) of lactation, or injection of buffer solution from week 2 of lactation (C;n=7). Treatments continued until week 42 of lactation, or until 60 days prior to predicted calving date, if this occurred before week 42 of lactation. Initially cows were housed in cubicles and fed ad libitum individually through calan doors, on a diet of concentrate and grass silage (Table 1) on a 60:40 dry matter ratio. In approximately mid-lactation cows were turned out to grass but continued to receive concentrates according to milk yield and body condition. Milk yield was recorded daily and milk composition twice weekly as were live weight and body condition. Health and reproductive status were monitored over the lactation.
Depressing Effect of Rumen Distension on Silage Intake of the Lactating Dairy Cow
Authors: Mbanya J.N. , Anil M.H. , Forbes J.M. 
Published: June 2019

The numerous factors involved in the control of food intake by ruminants have been reviewed in detail (Baile and Forbes, 1974.). Distension of the rumen is thought to limit the voluntary intake of hay by dry cows (Campling and Balch, 1961) and by lactating cows (Mbanya, Anil and Forbes, 1987). In more recent reports, it is thought that some of these factors which are negative feedback signals combine additively in their effects to induce satiety (Forbes, 1986). Prior to investigating the additive effects of rumen distension to those of other feedback signals on intake of silage by lactating dairy cows, we carried out a preliminary study now reported to establish a response curve to different levels of distension which will enable an appropriate degree of distension to be imposed in future experiments involving combinations of treatments.Animals and Housing - Five rumen fistulated, non-pregnant Friesian cows in early lactation (mean daily milk yield, 25.2 kg) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design with a row omitted.
Effect of Growth Rate on Mineral Retention and Body Composition of Growing Lambs
Authors: Wan Zahari M , Thompson J K , Scott D 
Published: June 2019

The effects of plane of nutrition on the body composition of growing sheep are very apparent when animals are compared at the same age following different nutritional histories. These differences are, however, less obvious when animals of the same breed and sex are compared at the same body weight and at present there is some conjecture whether composition is affected by growth rate. This uncertainty is not limited to fat and protein but includes the bone and ash, fraction and the ash composition.The primary objective of this trial was to study the effects of different growth rates achieved by feeding different amounts of the same concentrate diet on the composition of empty-body gain and on the retention of minerals by growing lambs. A secondary objective was to examine the effect of adding supplementary calcium carbonate to the basal diet at the fast rate of growth.
Examination of factors affecting litter productivity in pig herds recorded by MLC
Authors: Guy D R 
Published: June 2019

1.The main commercial recording scheme operated for pig producers by the MLC is the Pigplan Recording and Costing Service, currently covering some 1,100 herds. The service records a basic list of herd performance and financial factors, with the processed results forming the basis of MLC field staff on-farm advisory services.2.The MLC Sow and Boar Monitoring Service was established in late 1983 using a bureau service with central computer processing. The service is available where it is felt necessary to undertake more detailed individual litter recording in order to identify particular weaknesses in production.3.Individual sow and boar details are recorded. Then, starting with the weaning of the last litter, details of all services over a period are submitted regularly. The records of each parity are completed with the submission of farrowing and weaning data. Processed results, in the form of tabulated printout, are provided for forward planning management aids, individual sow and boar summaries, and herd summary performance over a suitable period.4.In September 1987, 135 units were actively recording with an average herd size of 200 sows. Over 150,000 litter records have accumulated since the service started, representing some 66,000 sows from a total of 250 herds.
Fat Coated Synthetic Lysine in Diets for Growing Pigs
Authors: Ellis M. , Parker D.S. 
Published: June 2019

Synthetic lysine and fat supplements are widely used in diets for growing pigs. However, there is evidence to suggest that free lysine is more rapidly absorbed than protein bound amino acids resulting in reduced growth performance particularly under infrequent feeding regimes. In addition, the incorporation of conventional fat supplements into cereal based diets is problematic particularly where on-farm mixing of feed is carried out. One potential solution to both these problems is to use fat coated synthetic lysine sources which have recently become available and two such materials were evaluated in this study.Four dietary treatments were compared. These were a control diet (C) with soya bean meal as the protein supplement and diets in which 0.3 of the total lysine was supplied from either synthetic lysine (S) or synthetic lysine coated with a single (SC) or a double layer(DC) of hardened soya oil. All diets were barley based and were formulated to contain the same level of total lysine (0.01) and hardened soya oil.
Evaluation of avotan* avoparcin for improving milk production of dairy cows in europe
Authors: Parker LD , Smith H , Rock DW 
Published: June 2019

Avoparcin is a feed antibiotic growth promoter used widely in Europe for broiler chickens, pigs and beef cattle.This paper presents the results of 17 trials conducted in the UK (13), France (3) and Germany (1) to determine the efficacy of avoparcln at levels of 50-150mg per head per day for improving milk production of lactatlng dairy cows.
Milk production from sheep and goats
Authors: Mowlem A. , Treacher T.T. 
Published: June 2019

As farmers seek alternative enterprises to boost falling incomes, interest is focussed on sheep and goat farming. In recent years the number of sheep and goat dairy units in the United Kingdom has increased. There are now 20-30 sheep milking units accounting for around 6000 ewes and about 150 commercial goat dairy units milking a total of over 12000 goats, with many more part-time units milking small numbers of goats.The recent increase in the demand for speciality cheese and yoghurt has created good market outlets for sheep and goat milk and milk products. The small size of the animals and the facilities required for them means much less start-up capital is required than for many other livestock systems. It also means the units can be operated by female family labour. The current growth of the industry also means sale of female replacers can make a significant contribution to the income. There is already a well established sheep industry in the UK and milking can be seen as an extension of this.
Effect of sward surface height of mixed swards of ryegrass/white clover on the intake and performance by ewes and their twin lambs
Authors: Orr R.J. , Penning P.D. , Parsons A.J. , Treacher T.T. 
Published: June 2019

Mixed swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. S23) and white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Huia) were maintained at sward surface heights (SSH) of 3 (GC3), 6 (GC6) and 9 cm (GC9) by continuous variable stocking to examine effects on sward and animal performance. In addition, a pure grass sward of S23 was kept at 6 cm (G6) and fertilized with 14 applications of 30 kg N per ha at fortnightly intervals, beginning on 25 March. The swards were sown in August 1983, cut twice in 1984, in May and June, and then grazed thereafter. Fertilizer was applied to the seedbed at 40 kg N per ha, 20 kg P205 per ha and 20 kg K20 per ha. In March 1984 and 1985, 20 kg per ha each of P205 and K2O were applied to all plots.Dry sheep grazed the paddocks (0.69 ha) to the required SSH's with grazing starting on 4 April, 9 April, 12 April and 24 April for treatments GC3, G6, GC6 and GC9, respectively. On 24 April, two days after lambing, core groups of 8 Scottish Halfbred ewes with twin lambs were put on the plots. Additional ewes, kept on swards similar to the treatment areas, were used to adjust the stocking rate to maintain the SSH's. These were measured three times each week with 200 readings per plot.