bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of winter shearing welsh mountain ewes in the hill environment
Authors: Glanville J.R.D. , Phillips C.J.C. 
Published: June 2019

Previous work on winter shearing has concentrated on lowland ewes in mild conditions. With increased emphasis in hill areas on housing ewes before lambing and resting hill pastures, the possibility of shearing ewes before lambing, rather than in the summer now exists. A review of work with lowland ewes has shown that winter shorn ewes produce lambs with a heavier birthweight (average +0.55kg) and increased liveweight gain (average +15g day-1) (Phillips, 1980), but it is not clear whether these benefits would be obtained with less prolific ewes under hill conditions.The experiment was carried out from February to July 1985. Twenty-two Welsh Mountain ewes were housed 45 days pre-lambing in a fully enclosed but well-ventilated shed with slatted flooring. At 42 days pre-lambing ewes were randomised for weight and age and half the ewes were shorn with a normal comb, and half left unshorn until the summer.Ewes in both treatments were offered and consumed the same level of concentrates (0.25kg ewe-1 day-1 post-shearing increased to 0.5kg ewe-1 day-1 before lambing). Medium quality hay was offered ad-libitum to both treatments. Water intake was measured daily. Ewe liveweight was measured weekly on five occasions between shearing and one week before lambing. Respiration rates of ewes were measured on 4 different occasions at 4 extreme environmental temperatures. Maximum and minimum house temperatures were recorded for the whole of the housed period. Lamb birthweights, liveweight gains and 84 day weights were corrected to male singles using additive correction factors derived from the mean of the flock over the previous two years.
Breed of ewe effects on the utilisation of pasture maintained at two sward heights
Authors: Doney J M , Smith A D M , Sim D A , White I R 
Published: June 2019

An experiment was carried out at the Glensaugh research station to investigate the effects of breeds of ewe, differing in mature body size on the utilisation of a long-established reseed maintained at sward heights of 3.5 and S.5 cm until weaning.The experimental area, dominated by Lolium perenne (40%), Poa spp (30%) with other grasses (10%) and weed species (20%), was divided into 12 plots each of 0.7 ha. When the mean sward height reached at least 3.5 cm in every plot (13.5.85) they were each stocked with 9 ewes + 15 lambs from one of 3 ewe genotypes (Border Leicester x Blackface, GF; East Friesland x Blackface, EFX; Cheviot x Shetland, SHX) in two replicates. All lambs were sired by Suffolk rams.Mean sward height, herbage mass and estimated herbage accumulation rate were measured weekly and ewes and lambs were weighed weekly. Sward heights were maintained on each plot by movement of an electric fence to vary the grazing area. The area behind the fence was maintained at an equal sward height by non-experimental ewes and lambs to permit movement in any direction. The lambs were approximately 6 weeks old at the beginning of the trial and were weaned after 13 weeks on the plots.
The effect of dietary protein level and creep feeding on carcass composition at slaughter in the pig
Authors: Miller B , Bourne F J , Brown A J , Lightfoot A 
Published: June 2019

It is common practice to wean pigs at five weeks of age, or less, on to a high protein diet (>200g crude protein/kg). However, a transient hypersensitivity to the dietary protein may pre-dispose the pig to post weaning diarrhoea and the relatively high level of protein in both early weaner rations (Bertschinger, et al. 1979) and creep feeds (Miller et al. 1984) may exacerbate the problem.We report here some preliminary results from a feeding trial at Terrington Experimental Husbandry Farm. Animals were allocated at 7 days of age, whilst still suckling, to one of four treatments. Groups 1 and 2 were fed a high protein (220 g CP/kg DM) diet and groups 3 and 4 were fed a low protein (160 g CP/kg DM) experimental diet. Both of the diets were balanced such that they provided 17.2 MJ/kg digestible energy with a lysine value of 16 g/kg CP. Neither diet contained any antibiotics. Groups 1 and 3 were fed the ration as a creep from 7 days. Animals were weaned at approximately 21 days into kennels maintained at 29°C for the first week, 28°C for the second week and gradually reduced to 20°C during the third week.
The effect of oestradiol 17β on liveweight gain and carcass composition of intensively reared cereal beef bulls
Authors: Grantley-Smith M. P. , Southgate J. R. , Jones D. W. , Peters A. R. , Dobson M. 
Published: June 2019

Oestradiol 17β (Compudose-365 ) is widely used as a growth promoter in steers and the daily gain response is well known. However, for bull beef production the efficiency of the hormone implant is not so well researched, particularly in Great Britain, where there is not yet a product licence for use in bulls. Work in the U.S.A. has shown that Oestradiol 17β implants in bulls stimulate daily gain and improve carcass shape, but at the same time increasing subcutaneous fat levels (Johnson et al, 1984). The trial described here was designed to study the effect of Oestradiol 17β under a range of farm conditions in Great Britain.Sixteen groups of bulls on 14 farms, totalling 450 bulls, were selected. Fourteen of the groups were wholly British Friesian, the remainder Friesian/Holstein or Limousin cross. The bulls were weighed at 3-4 months of age and paired by weight. One of each pair was implanted subcutaneously in the ear with a silastic rubber implant containing 45 mg Oestradiol 17β (Compudose-365, Elanco Products Ltd.). The bulls were weighed after three and six months (mean 108 and 180 days respectively), and about half were weighed within four days of slaughter (mean 222 days).
The effects of zeranol on performance and carcass characteristics of young bulls
Authors: Scott B M , Fisher A V , R A Cooper  , J A Kirk  
Published: June 2019

Kirk and Cooper (1983) reported two experiments in which the growth performance and carcass conformation of intensively fed dairy-bred bulls was improved by sequential implantation with Zeranol®. Two further studies have been conducted in which there has been repeat implantation of Zeranol® and detailed carcass dissection to measure precisely the effects on carcass quality.In trial A, 16 Holstein bull calves were purchased from pedigree breeders and weaned at eight weeks of age, when they were divided into two groups of eight, balanced by weight. From 8 to 12 weeks they were given commercial rearing pellets followed by a. commercial pencil and hay was given ad libitum. From 12 weeks onwards a cereal mix was offered ad libitum, formulated to give 13 MJ/kg dry matter, 160 g/kg crude protein. Hay was withdrawn from 14 weeks of age. At eight weeks of age, half the animals were implanted with 36 mg Zeranol® (Ralgro, Crown Chemical Company, Kent), and re-implanted a further three times every 70 days. Five blood samples were taken from all animals over a 15h period at about 8, 14, 33 and 43 weeks of age.
The effect of dam’s parity on the first lactation performance of dairy heifers
Authors: Furniss S. J. , Stroud A. , Barrington H. , Kirby S. P. J. , Wray J. P. , Dakin P 
Published: June 2019

Whether they are planning to calve for the first time at two or three years old Many farmers choose to serve their maiden dairy heifers (animals not previously served, (M. A. F. F. 1985)) with a beef breed recognised for giving easier calvings .Often the heifer breeding programme is not well supervised and it is a matter of convienience to use a resident beef bull.There are however,considerable advantages to serving heifers with dairy bulls including an increased number of heifer calves for selection or the ability to serve older, nature cows (animals that have commenced at least their first lactation (M. A. F. F. 1985))with a continental beef breed giving large calves of higher market value. Because heifers tend to be calved as a group they provide a batch of calves which can be concentrated upon, easing management and improving control over performance.If heifers are served by bulls of as higher genetic merit as would normally be used on cows then increased genetic turnover will raise the genetic index in the younger dam which should be reflected in her daughter’s performance.
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated winter wheat straw in complete diets for early lactation dairy cows
Authors: Furniss S. J. , Kilpatrick J. B. , Stroud A. , Kirby S. P. J. , Slade C. F. R. 
Published: June 2019

It is important that lactating dairy cows have at least forage continuosly available to them if milk yields and health are to be maintained.Shortfalls in silage stocks have to be made up by purchasing, possibly hay. brewers grains or such like. Another alternative is to feed more compound, this reduces the demand for silage but is obviously, costly.Untreated straw is rarely considered as an alternative because of its low feed value. Methods of improving the feed value of straw with alkalis have long been available. However, improvements in feed values are variable although specific methods of treatment are recognised as giving consistently good results.Ammonia treatment, leaves straw in its long form which is unsuitable for feeding in forage box or complete diet systems. Effective chopping and distribution of NaOH and consistent improvements in straw digestibility can be acheived with machines now available. Not only is the product palatable and easy to include in complete feeds but claims are made that, because its inclusion’ increases intake of the ration, milk yields will also increase,
The response of spring calving cows and their calves to sward height
Authors: Wright I.A. , Russel A.J.F. 
Published: June 2019

There is a need to introduce objectivity into the management of grassland under continuous stocking so that management decisions can be taken in response to changing conditions, and at the same time allow the consequence of these decision to be predictable. There is much interest in using sward height as an objective criterion by which to manage grassland under continuous stocking. An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of spring calving cows and their calves when continuously grazing swards maintained at a range of sward heights.Initially nine cows (four Hereford x Friesian and five Blue-Grey) and their Charolais cross calves which had been born in March - April were turned out in mid-May to each of five sward surface height treatments. Treatments 1, 3 and 5 were one field and Treatments 2 and 4 in another. The botanical composition of each treatment is shown in Table 1. Sward length was measured twice weekly using the H.F.R.O. Swardstick, and maintained by the addition and removal of non-experimental cows and calves. Because of excessive rainfall and very wet soil conditions the numbers of annuals were reduced below nine on some of the treatments, and the two lowest sward height treatments were abandoned in mid-August because of damage to soil structure. From mid-August until the end of September only the upper three treatments continued.
Evaluation of monensin sodium from a ruminal delivery device as a growth promoter for pastured fattening cattle
Authors: Buchanan A. G. , Dobson M. B. 
Published: June 2019

Ramensin premix was launched onto the UK market in 1978 and became the first non hormonal feed additive for beef cattle.Since that time it has become the most widely used feed additive worldwide and has been shown both by Elanco research and independent research to improve the utilisation of feed by 10%.However, until recently the only method of administration of Romensin was via the feed or incorporated in a feed block.At pasture, if grass is of sufficient quality, it may be unnecessary to feed a supplement thus losing the carrier for Romensin, for a large part of the summer season. During this period of time, the farmer may thus be missing out on an opportunity to achieve the optimum utilisation of feed.As a result of recent research it may now be possible for beef producers to feed Romensin the whole year round. Romensin has been incorporated in a ruminal delivery device containing 16.5 g of monensin sodium designed to delivery 90 - 100 mg of monensin sodium daily over a period of 150 days.
An Assessment of an electronic feeding system and “dynamic” grouping in loose-housed sows
Authors: Lambert R.J. , Ellis M. , Rowlinson P. 
Published: June 2019

Recently, sow-activated electronic concentrate dispensers allowing dry sows to be group-housed and individually fed have been seriously considered as an alternative to the close confinement of pregnant sows. For the system to be economic, each feeding unit needs to be used to its maximum potential, while at the same time considering the well-being of the animals.Previous work has established that levels of aggression may be minimised within a set group size and the maximum number of sows per feeder may be increased to over 30 by feeding only once per day on this system (Lambert et al., 1985). With groups of this size, the practical aspects of large group management need to be considered.
A model of the growth of pigs fed ad libitum
Authors: Emmans G.C. 
Published: June 2019

The growth of a pig depends on the rate at which it eats feed and the composition of the feed. Where feed intake is controlled a pig eats all of its allowance and the problem is to predict its growth. When a pig is given free and continuous access to a feed its rate of intake as well as its growth has to be predicted. Functions which predict intake as dry matter or energy in terms of pig weight can, at best, be only approximations. A different approach to the problem of predicting feed intake is suggested here.Prediction of intake. Suppose a pig at a protein weight, P kg, seeks to attain rates of protein and lipid retention of PR and LR kg/d respectively. Its protein requirement, PRQ kg/d, is some function of P and PR and its energy requirement, ERQ, is some function of P, PR and LR.
Rumen outflow rate estimated from the decline of chromium concentration in faecal -and rumen samples after the dosage of sodium dichromate treated fish meal.
Authors: Guada J.A. , Castrillo C. , Vega A. , Gasa J. 
Published: June 2019

The declining rate of Cr concentration in faeces after the dosage of a Sodium dichromate treated protein supplement can be used as an estimate of the protein outflow; rate. The experiment reported was planned to show wheter the variation in the rate of decline of Cr concentration in faeces induced by level of feeding and processing of the diet reflect the variation in rumen outflow determined by the rumen dilution rate of the marker.In a duplicate 3x3 square latin design, 6 mature ewes cannulated in rumen were fed a ground pelleted diet of ‘0.6 alfalfa hay and 0.4 barley grain at 1 or 2 x maintenance energy level (P1,P2) or the same proportions of chopped hay and -cracked barley offered in a loose mix at twice maintenance (Ch2). 50 g. of fish meal treated withsodium dichromate were given as a single dose after 15 days of adaptation period to the diet and faecal grab samples taken at 6,12,18,24,32,36,42,48,60, 72,96 and 120 h. A second dosage was given 7 days later and rumen samples withdraw-ned at 1,3,6,9,12,15,18,22,28,36,48,60 and 72 h.
The Effect of Amount Offered on Selection and Intake of Barley Straw by Goats
Authors: Waned R.A. , Owen E. 
Published: June 2019

The conventional method of measuring ad libitum intake of roughages involves offering sufficient (usually in chopped form) to ensure that 15 to 20% is left at the end of the feeding period (Blaxter et al 1961). Earlier experiments (Waned and Owen, 1986) with goats and sheep fed long roughages ad libitum (allowing 20% of feed offered to be refused) showed both species to be capable of selective feeding, in that refusals had a lower nutritive value than feed offered. The latter study and that of Glbb and Treacher (1976) with grazing sheep, suggested that selection and hence intake of roughage would increase if the amount offered (and hence refusal rate) was increased.To test this hypothesis two experiments were conducted with housed (16 hours light, 8 hours dark), individually penned Saanen castrate goats ranging in weight (15 to 65 kg) and age (6 to 30 months). Animals were fed restricted amounts of concentrates (15 g dry matter (DM) per kg M0.7S daily) and long barley straw ad libitum.
Grape juice concentrate as a feed for growing pigs
Authors: Hemsley C.L. , Ellis M. , Rowlinson P. 
Published: June 2019

Wine production within the EEC has been increasing continuously over the past decade, creating a surplus which has been handled either by storage as wine or concentrated grape juice, or by the distillation of wine to higher strength alcohol. As a possible alternative outlet, it has been proposed that grape Juice concentrate (GJC) be used as a component of animal feed systems.The dry matter (DM) of GJC averages 630 g/kg, with a sugar content of 920 g/kg DM, of which approximately equal proportions are fructose and glucose. The protein content averages only 10 g/kg DM.A series of production and digestibility studies has been conducted, to investigate the feasibility of utilising grape juice concentrate (GJC) in the diet of growing pigs.
Estimation of genetic and phenotypic trends for litter size in canadian yorkshire and landrace swine
Authors: Southwood O. I. 
Published: June 2019

Litter size in swine, although lowly heritable, has been receiving increasing interest especially with the availability of computer programs to allow estimation of genetic merit for this trait using family information. Genetic changes in a trait over time can be monitored by estimating best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) of breeding value for individuals exhibiting the trait. Data from a recording programme within a Canadian province allowed estimation of genetic and phenotypic trends for three measures of litter size.Data from purebred Yorkshire and Landrace litters were obtained from the Quebec Record of Performance Sow Productivity Program. First parity litters born between 1977 and 1987 were analysed for total numbers born, numbers born alive and numbers weaned. Data were edited to include only herds with ten or more litters in Yorkshire and 40 or more litters in Landrace. Also, in order to reduce the number of records further, due to computing limitations, a sow was only allowed one daughter per full-sib family. A total of 2024 Yorkshire gilts (from 467 sires and 1539 dams) and 1920 Landrace gilts (from 421 sires and 1436 dams) provided records.
Lactational responses of dairy cows to changes in dietary protein fed at different stages of lactation
Authors: Wood Bethan L , Roberts D J , Hunter E A 
Published: June 2019

There is evidence from a range of experiments of increases in milk production, including improvements in milk protein content, to additional dietary inclusions of low degradability ‘animal’ protein sources. This experiment was designed to examine the effect of stage of lactation on the response of dairy cows to increased dietary protein.The continuous design experiment was conducted with 20 individually fed autumn calved dairy cows and four heifers over the first 26 weeks of lactation. The animals were fed initially a ‘standard diet’ of silage ad libitum and 8 kg (freshweight) of concentrate per day up to the 14th day of lactation. The cows were then allocated to four balanced groups of five cows (and one heifer) on the basis of lactation number, body weight and current milk yield. The data recorded during the first 14 days were used for subsequent covariance analysis.
Relationships between lamb vigour and maternal behaviour on sucking success at parturition
Authors: O'Connor C.E. , Lawrence A.B. 
Published: June 2019

High perinatal mortality in sheep flocks worldwide remains a major economic and welfare issue. Maternal behaviour and lamb vigour are both considered major variables affecting lamb survival, but there is little data to describe their relative importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lamb vigour and maternal behaviour at parturition. With the increase in hill ewes being crossed to longwool breeds there is an interest in the relative survivability of these lambs. This study compared the behaviour of Mule [Bluefaced Leicester x Blackface] lambs with purebred Scottish Blackface lambs.Data on 32 third parity single and twin-bearing Blackface ewes lambing indoors were collected by focal animal observations on the ewe's grooming behaviour. These observations included details of the time spent grooming specific areas of the lamb's body and also general activity and udder-seeking behaviour of the lambs. Observations lasted 10 minutes and were made at parturition and then at 30 and 90 minute intervals. The data was transformed by arcsin. for proportions, or log, for frequencies, and analysed by Analysis of Variance,
The Problem, legislation and codes of practice
Authors: Nielsen V C 
Published: June 2019

Pollution of the environment by livestock wastes occurs in many instances due to the difficulties involved in managing, storing and spreading manure and effluents. The total amount of neat manure produced by housed livestock for England and Wales has been calculated to be 70 million tonnes a year. All this has to be collected, stored and applied to agricultural land. There are, in addition 60 million tonnes of manure which livestock drop as they graze grass and forage crops. Problems of controlling the adequacy of farm waste systems are compounded by the scattered nature of livestock farms, the numbers (approximately 120,000 in England and Wales), and that often, the farm buildings are in close proximity to water courses.Environmental pollution caused by livestock farming affects water, air and the soil.This is caused by the escape of liquids or the dumping of solid wastes into water courses. The polluting effect is caused by water soluble organic matter, suspended solids and minerals. The result of the entry of polluting matter into water is the rapid growth of micro-organisms which deplete the oxygen content of the receiving water.
The use of bovine somatotropin (bst) to increase summer milk production
Authors: Roberts D J , Wells R J , Logue D N , Buchanan A G 
Published: June 2019

Farmers are receiving a price incentive to produce more milk during the summer months. Bovine somatotropin (BST) could be used as a means of increasing milk yield from late winter/spring calving cows during the summer months. However, most of the research work with BST has been with housed cattle on winter feeding systems. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the use of BST with grazing cattle supplemented with silage as a buffer feed.Thirty-six January to March calving multiparous Friesian dairy cows were allocated to 4 treatments: CG - Control/Grazing, TG - Treated/Grazing, CB - Control/Buffer fed, TB - Treated/Buffer fed. The treated cattle were given 640 mg of recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (Somidobove Elanco Products Limited) in a sustained release formulation at 28 day intervals. The treatment period at grass lasted for 8 weeks from 18 August 1988. The cattle were then housed for a further 8 weeks in 2 groups of sixteen cows (with one block of cows omitted from the experiment).