bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supplementation of grazing dairy cows with a brewers grains/treated straw mixture
Authors: Leaver J.D. , Campling R.C. 
Published: June 2019

Supplementary feeding of grazing dairy cows is often uneconomic, and whilst supplementation with silage (buffer feeding) can be worthwhile, this often leads to a depletion of winter forage stores. In this study, a mixture of brewers grains and treated straw was used as a supplement. Offered as a 1:1 mixture in the dry matter (DM), it is a purchased substitute for grass silage, having a similar cost, and similar metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) contents. The high seasonality adjustments to milk price in mid-late season make supplementation potentially worthwhile.Experiments were carried out from April to September in 1988 and 1989, which had moderate and very low rainfall respectively. Each year 20 British Friesian cows which calved December to March (1988 experiment) and February-April (1989) were allocated at random to either treatment B or C. In B, the cows were offered a 1:1 mixture (DM basis) of brewers grains and NaOH treated chopped barley straw for 60 minutes after morning milking. In C, the cows received no supplement. Both groups were fed 1.0 kg/day of concentrates in the milking parlour. Due to the severe drought in 1989, concentrate feeding was increased to 5.0 kg/day for all cows during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Also, urea-treated whole crop wheat was fed at a level of 2.5 kg DM/day during the last 7 days.
The effect of age of purebred large white and landrace boars at time of service on herd performance
Authors: Francis M. J. H. , Mercer J. T. 
Published: June 2019

Practically, the effect of selection for growth and efficiency on breeding performance has been largely ignored in the past, despite changes in the age and weight of animals at puberty. It has been demonstrated that it is beneficial to delay service in gilts, both to improve their condition and allow them to complete more oestrous cycles prior to service. It seems likely that performance of boars might also be enhanced if they were worked later.This analysis was designed to examine the relationship between age and reproductive performance in the boar, with a view to developing guidelines for young boar management.
Effect of dietary protein and energy on growth and fibre characteristics of british angora goats
Authors: Shahjalal Md. , Galbraith H. , Topps J.H. 
Published: June 2019

There is increasing interest in the diversification of animal production systems to produce products which are not in surplus nationally. Fine fibre production from goats is one such subject area. Previous studies (e.g. Huston, 1980; Calhoun et al, 1988) in other countries have suggested that the yield and quality of mohair fibre may be influenced by nutritional factors such as protein and energy. The aim of the work reported here was to investigate the effects of differences in dietary protein and energy on body growth and yield and quality of mohair fibre produced by British Angora goats.Twenty four male castrate British Angora goats of Australasian origin with an initial liveweight of 23.5 kg were used in a 112 day study. The goats were housed in individual pens and introduced to pelleted diets over a period of three weeks. The animals were allocated to four dietary treatments by randomised block design according to liveweight. The animals received diets containing, per kg dry matter, concentrations of estimated metabolizable energy of 10.2 MJ (LE) or 11.9 MJ (HE) and crude protein concentrations of 108 g (LP) or 180 g (HP) in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment. The animals were offered high energy diets (30 g/kg liveweight) which were increased when live weight increased by 1.0 kg. The goats on the low energy rations were offered amounts equivalent to 0.85 of the ME intake from HE diets. The live weight gain and food intake were recorded weekly.
Effect of two growth rates and two forage diets over winter on the performance of red deer stag calves
Authors: Davies M.H. , Thomas E.M. 
Published: June 2019

Scottish red deer research has defined under hill and upland conditions the relationship that exists between the winter growth rate of stag calves and their performance at grass the following summer (Adam, 1986; Blaxter et al, 1988). With the increasing movement of stag calves to the lowlands of England and Wales, and an expansion in finishing units in these areas, such a relationship needs re-defining to take account of the differences in climate, length of growing season and grass supply. This trial investigates the effect of two growth rates over winter on the overall performance of stag calves, both on hay and silage based rations, under lowland conditions.Forty red deer stag calves approximately 4 months of age and weighing 40 kg liveweight were purchased from Scotland in September 1988. They were housed in one group and fed a common ration of ad libitum hay + 1 kg of a proprietary 18% CP compound per head per day from arrival on 26 September until 9 November 1988.
Silage and hay intakes of housed red deer calves
Authors: Kennedy D J 
Published: June 2019

There is an increasing interest in deer farming as an alternative livestock enterprise. One of the main reasons for this is that, currently, demand for venison (a low fat, red meat) is much greater than supply. However a major limiting factor to venison production is the slow growth rate of deer during the winter months. This is a consequence of their low feed intakes over this period. The aim of this study was to monitor feed intakes of housed, commercially-farmed red deer calves on a ‘good quality’ diet over the winter months to observe seasonal variations in appetite.One hundred and fifty four red deer calves (mainly June born) were observed in this study. There were four pens of stags containing 25, 23, 22 and 13 animals per pen, and three pens of hinds with 25, 25 and 21 animals per pen. All animals were offered forage ad-libitum plus 1.36 kg/d of a home-mix ration (12.9 MJ ME/kg DM, I62g CP/kg DM). One group of hinds was offered hay as the forage whilst the others all received silage.
The roles of feeding regime, housing and Individuals' characteristics in the development of stereotypic behaviour in pregnant gilts
Authors: Terlouw E.M.C. , Lawrence A.B , Illius A.W 
Published: June 2019

It has recently been shown that stereotypies In tethered sows are reduced at high feeding levels, Indicating that feeding level may be a major factor in the development of stereotypies (Appleby and Lawrence, 1987). It has also been suggested that the restraint of tethering Itself Is a major source of stress for the sow, thus promoting the development of stereotypies. The exact role of both factors of feeding level and restraint on the development of stereotypies have not yet been studied separately.Differences in experimental environments and genotypes may explain part of the large variability in levels stereotypies previously observed in tethered sows across experiments. Differences in stereotyped activities between sows of the same genotype within experiments must, however, be explained by individual differences In sows’ behavioural and neurological profiles.The present experiment investigated the role of restraint and feeding level on the development of stereotypies in pregnant gilts. Secondly it Investigated social temperament as a factor reflecting the gilts’ predisposition to develop certain abnormal behaviours.
Space requirements of the boar and sow at mating
Authors: Petchey A M , Hunt K A 
Published: June 2019

Mating and the resultant conception is a critical event in the operation of a pig production unit. The boar's presence is known to influence the reproductive performance of the female pig in several ways, such as the onset of puberty, the weaning-to-conception interval, behavioural oestrus, conception and the number of piglets born in the subsequent litter. To optimise the productive benefits from this interactive process and for ease of husbandry there are several key requirements.The boar must be housed to maintain his health, welfare and reproductive ability, the newly weaned sow must be aware of the boar's presence and an area must be provided where mating can be successfully executed. Additionally, there are second-order objectives of considerable importance: the easy and clean provision of feed and water, a minimal effort muck removal system, pens which provide easy access for stock and pigmen whilst allowing easy stock transfers. The multiplicity of objectives must be integrated and satisfied in a successful design.
Hypothermia and its attempted control in newborn piglets
Authors: Pattison R J , English P R , MacPherson O , Roden J A , Birnie M 
Published: June 2019

The newborn piglet is prone to hypothermia because of the body heat which is lost in evaporating birth fluids from its surface and because the climatic environment provided for the piglet at birth can be sub-optimal. If deep body temperature drops by over 2°C from the norm of 39° C the pig suffers from reduced locomotor vigour and becomes, more lethargic (Stephens, 1971). Such disadvantages can make the piglet less effective in competing for a teat and colostrum and also more prone to be overlain by the dam (English and Morrison, 1983). Because of the possible consequences of hypothermia, therefore, there is a need to quantify piglet body temperature trends from birth in the variable conditions provided for farrowing and to develop improved approaches for reducing the problem.Studies in newborn piglets were conducted on a large commercial unit in which farrowing took place in pens with solid floored front creeps with underfloor heating, while the remainder of the pen floor was of woven wire. Mean temperatures (4 cm above floor level) in the front creep and the remainder of the pen were 22.6°C and 21.4°C respectively. Rectal temperature (at a depth of 4 cm) was recorded using a hand held digital thermometer in 168 piglets in 17 litters at 10 minute intervals in the first hour of life, at hourly intervals thereafter up to 10 hours and also at hourly intervals from 24 to 36 hours of age.
Evaluation of different feeding strategies for the lactating sow
Authors: Anderson C J M , English P R , Edwards S A , McPherson O 
Published: June 2019

Feeding strategies for the lactating sow must aim to achieve high piglet survival and growth rates and maximise subsequent reproductive performance of the sow. Feeding less frequently and feeding ad libitum may be ways of reducing disturbance and crushing of piglets, enhancing milk yield and maintaining sow body condition to enhance subsequent performance. High protein diets may encourage sows to utilise body fat reserves for milk production without compromising rebreeding. This experiment was designed to investigate these possibilities in commercial practice.100 Camborough hybrid sows were allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments:1)ration fed with the daily allocation divided between two feeds2)ration fed with the total daily allocation given in one feed3)fed ad libitum on the standard diet (CP 150 g/kg)4)fed ad libitum on a high protein diet (CP 180 g/kg).The feeding scale for the ration fed sows, based on commercial farm practice, was as follows: 2.5 kg on days 1-3, 3.5 kg on days 4-5, 5.0 kg on days 6-9 and 7.0 kg/day thereafter.The experimental diets were based on barley and soya, with the higher protein diet obtained by substituting an additional 75 g/kg of barley with soyabean meal.
Electronics in animal breeding
Authors: Simm G , Wray N R 
Published: June 2019

Two of the major steps in animal breeding programmes are (i) estimation of breeding values for a defined selection objective (such as milk production or carcass lean content), and (ii) design of optimum breeding programmes, including proportion of animals selected as parents, population size etc. Advances in electronics, and particularly in computer technology, have had a major Impact on these procedures in a number of ways. In this paper we aim to highlight four of these.The preferred method of estimating breeding values is universally recognised to be BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction). BLUP is superior to classical procedures, such as contemporary comparison, for several reasons. The most important is that it is more accurate in separating differences between animals which are attributable to genetic rather than environmental factors. BLUP was first proposed by Henderson in 1949 but the first BLUP evaluation was not implemented until 1970 (Henderson, 1987). This delay is almost entirely attributable to inadequate computing facilities and technology at that time, since a BLUP evaluation system requires a large number of equations to be stored and solved.
Basal urinary excretion of purine derivatives in sheep
Authors: Balcells J. , Guada J.A. , Castrillo C. , Bonafonte J.I. 
Published: June 2019

In ruminants duodenal purines,mainly derived from microbial nucleic acids, are catabolised and excreted in the urine as xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid and allantoin. The use of purine derivatives as an index of net microbial syntesis in the rumen requires a better understanding of the contribution of endogenus losses to total urinary excretion.Similar levels of basal excretion of purine derivatives has been determined in ruminants maintained by intragastric nutrition (Giesecke et al. 1984, Fujihara et al. 1987) and preruminants fed on liquid diets (Linberg, 1989). However, lower excretion of allantoin and uric acid were recorded when exogenous supply was reduced by fasting (Rys et al. 1975).
The use of N-Alkanes as indigestible markers in studies on intestinal digestion in sheep
Authors: Kafilzadeh F. , Parker D.S. 
Published: June 2019

Faecal recoveries of herbage n-alkanes (odd-chains) as well as dosed alkanes (C28, C30, and C32) have been shown to be incomplete (Mayes & Lamb, 1984; Mayes et al. 1986). The purpose of this experiment was to identify both the extent and the site or sites of losses of natural and dosed (C32 and C36) alkanes along the digestive tract of sheep and to assess their use as indigestible markers in studies on intestinal digestion. The recovery of both natural and dosed alkanes was compared with that of the conventional marker Cr2O3 at the duodenum, the ileum and in the faeces.Four mature sheep fitted with re-entrant cannulae placed in the proximal duodenum and ileum (Brown et al, 1968) were used. The sheep were fed twice daily and the diet consisted of 700 g hay and 350 g of a stock ration containing; barley 60%, lucerne 30%, fishmeal 5% and molasses 5% (Table 1). Cr2O3 impregnated paper onto which C32 and C36 alkanes had been absorbed was shredded and introduced into the rumen in form of a 2 g pellet twice daily at feeding time.
The effect of supplemental yeast culture (yea-sacc) on patterns of rumen fermentation and growth performance of intensively fed bulls
Authors: Edwards I E , Mutsvangwra T , Topps J H , Paterson G M 
Published: June 2019

Supplementation with Yea-sacc - yeast (Saccharomyces cerivisiae ‘1026’) and its growth medium - has been found by several workers to alter rumen fermentation patterns, increase milk yield and growth rate in dairy cows and calves. This experiment investigated the effect of inclusion in the diet of intensively fed bulls on rumen fermentation and animal performance.Twenty-six Limousin x Friesian bulls reared to 3 months of age on a common diet were allocated to treatment on the basis of liveweight and previous growth rate at an average liveweight of 133 kg.The Treatments were Control ‘C” and Yea-sacc ‘YC’ - the control diet supplemented with Yea-sacc. (Alltech Inc. USA) at 1.5 kg/tonne of fresh feed. The diet was a mixture of barley and soyabean meal (Tables 1 & 2) with the inclusions of the latter reduced at 159 days. Mineral and vitamin supplements were included together with molasses to bind the ingredients.
Response of urinary purine derivatives to urea supplementation of sodium hydroxide treated straw
Authors: Guada J.A. , Balcells J. , Gasa J. , de Vega A. 
Published: June 2019

Since in ruminants urinary excretion of purine derivatives is related to duodenal absorption of purines (Fujihara et al.1987;Giesecke et al.1984), it may be a valuable index to identify nutritive constraints limiting rumen fermentation and microbial synthesis.In the present experiment, the response in the urinary excretion of purine derivatives to urea supplementation of a N deficient diet was studied to test the validity of the above assumption.Five Rasa Aragonesa ewes rumen cannulated and 38, 9±2, 52 Kg mean live weight, were offered “ad libitum” OHNa treated barley straw (50 g/Kg DM) ground and pelleted.Five experimental treatments including four levels of urea supplementation(6.5, 13, 19.5 and 26 g/d) plus a negative control were arranged in a 5x5 latin square design,allowing 14 days of adaptation between experimental periods.The urea was given by continuous infusion to the rumen at a flow rate of 0.92 ml/mn during 18 h per day starting after feeding.
A comparison of high nitrogen and clover based swards grazed by summer calving cows
Authors: Bax J A , Roberts D J 
Published: June 2019

The herbage intake of June/July calving cows in early lactation is limited by a number of factors including the quality of the sward. A typical management strategy is to graze dry cows at a high stocking rate at turnout to maximise the silage area and graze the freshly calved cows on silage aftermaths. A further refinement could be the use of clover rich swards. Winter feeding experiments have demonstrated that animals can eat more and perform better when offered a clover rich silage rather than a conventional silage. The following experiment was carried out to establish whether similar benefits would result from the grazing or clover rich swards.In a continuous design experiment lasting 12 weeks, sixteen summer calving British Friesian cows (mean calving date 7 June) were allocated to either a perennial ryegrass dominant sward (PRG) or a white clover rich sward (WC) silage aftermath. The target sward height was 7-10 cm measured by swardstick. Additional cows were available on a put and take basis to maintain parity between the sward heights in the two treatments.
A parsimonious model of seasonal and regional variation in the parameters of lactation curves for milk yields in cows in the UK
Authors: Gnanasakthy A. , Morant S. V. 
Published: June 2019

Yields of milk and its constituents recorded by National Milk Records (NMR) are used to estimate total lactation yields and to predict future yields while the lactation is still in progress. Morant and Gnanasakthy (1989) developed new lactation curves of the form:where t is the days since calving and t' = (t-150 ) /100, for cows on a complete diet throughout lactation. The objective of this study was to extend this model for use with cows at grass during the summer months.Approximately 2000 2nd and 3rd lactations of Friesian/Holstein cows, 1013 from the North and 960 from the South West of England, were obtained from the NMR data base by systematic sampling. The sampling fraction was 0.1. The cows calved between October 1987 and September 1988. Their lactations spanned at least 305 days and were recorded at approximated monthly intervals. In each of two regions the average milk yield in each month of lactation for cows calving in each month of the year were calculated. To obtain Initial estimates of grazing effects on the shape of the lactation curves, twelve dummy variables (gi, i=1, 2…12), where gi=1 for ith calendar month of recording and 0 otherwise, were included in the model.
Intake and digestibility of urea-treated whole-crop wheat by growing heifers
Authors: Castejon M. , Leaver J.D. 
Published: June 2019

The use of whole-crop wheat harvested at the hard dough (55-65% DM) stage has advantages of high yields of DM, and no effluent production. Treatment with urea prior to storage prevents fermentation or moulding, increases the nitrogen (N) content and may increase digestibility (Deschard et al, 1987; MacDearmid et al, 1988).The objective of this experiment was to investigate the intake and digestibility of urea-treated whole-crop wheat when fed alone, or when supplemented with an energy supplement (molassed sugar beet pulp) and a protein supplement (fish meal).
Restriction of the silage fermentation by the application of high levels of mixed aliphatic carboxylic acids on the productive performance of lactating dairy cattle
Authors: Jackson D A , Furniss S J 
Published: June 2019

ADAS costings show that the dairy farmers with the highest margins per litre of milk sold are those who maximise yield from home grown forages. Forage quality obviously has an influence on cow performance but high intakes are the most important factor in determining yields.Many physical and chemical factors can affect the nutritional value of silage and consequently intake.The major deficiency of well fermented silage is that levels of residual sugars are normally very low (<10g/kg DM), this reduces the potential microbiological activity in the rumen. In addition the products of the silage fermentation affect palatability and can limit intake.Restriction of the silage fermentation to a minimum, should overcome the nutritional limitations caused by the fermentation process, increasing intakes and the resulting animal performance.
Evaluation of a lactobacillus inoculant as an additive for silage fed to heifers
Authors: O' Kiely P. 
Published: June 2019

When grass with an adequate content of fermentable substrate and epiphytic lactic acid bacteria is ensiled properly, the fermentation which follows is normally considered satisfactory. This fermentation can be altered by various categories of additive such as acids, sugars and inoculants, each of which can influence the fermentation differently. The experiment reported compared the fermentation products, aerobic stability and animal performance for silages made using formic acid or a Lactobacillus plantarum inoculant with well preserved silage made without additive treatment.A 42 day regrowth of Lolium multiflorum (cv. Lemtal) was harvested without wilting using two precision - chop harvesters. Alternate loads of grass were ensiled with (a) no additive, (b) formic acid (850g/kg) at 3.0 1/t or (c)inoculant (Ecosyl - ICI plc) at 3 1/t (separate harvester). The inoculant was constituted immediately before use and was applied in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Harvesting was completed and the silos sealed within 26 hours of mowing. The silos were opened after 113 days.
The effect of a biological silage additive and type of supplement on the performance of beef cattle
Authors: Laird R , Gill A , McAuslan J T , Thomas C , Wright I D 
Published: June 2019

The biological silage additive, Safe-Sile, is a commercial product prepared by Microferm Ltd. and the objective of the experiment was to appraise its efficacy in the conservation of silage and its subsequent feeding value.Safe-sile contains lactic acid bacteria (2.5 x 109 cfu/g consisting of proportionately 0.75 Lactobacillus plantarum and 0.25 Pediococcus acidilactici) together with enzymes (hemicellulase, amyloglucosidase and cellulase) and a mixture of bacteriophages (2.5 x 109 pfu/g). These active ingredients are carried in dextrose together with mineral salts, trace elements and vitamins.Two silages were made in September 1988 from third-cut wilted grass, one silage receiving no additive (control treatment) and the other receiving Safe-Sile at the rate of 1 kg per 15 tonnes of grass approximately. The fields harvested for this experiment were perennial ryegrass/white clover swards and the silages were made after a field wilting period of 24 hours under good silage-making conditions.