bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of cold exposure, food allowance and litter size on immunity of periparturient sheep toTeladorsagia circumcinctaand Trichostrongylus colubriformis
Authors: Xie H. L. , Stankiewicz M. , Huntley J. F. , Sedcole J. R. , McAnulty R. W. , Green R. S. , Sykes A. R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSixty twin- and 60 single-bearing ewes were used in a 2 ✕ 2 ✕ 2 factorial design incorporating nutritional and shearing-cold exposure treatment (no. = 15 per subgroup) to study the effects on periparturient immunity against nematode infection. From week –8 to week –4 relative to parturition, animals grazed ryegrass-white clover pastures at allowances designed to provide either 0·8 (low allowance) or 1·2 (high allowance) of estimated metabolizable energy requirement for a ewe carrying 1·5 lambs. During week –4, half the sheep from each reproductive effort and nutritional group were shorn and exposed to artificial wind and rain for 4 h on each of 4 days consecutively. During the same week, all animals were challenged twice with 1·5 ✕ 104Teladorsagia circumcincta and 1·5 ✕ 104Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective third stage larvae to supplement the natural infection from pasture. From week –3 to week + 5 relative to parturition the sheep were run together and offered pasture at rates estimated to enable them to meet their nutrient requirement.Shearing and cold stress reduced ewe body weight (by up to 4·66 kg per sheep), and temporarily reduced the levels of IgA against T. circumcincta (by proportionately 0·24) and T. colubriformis (0·34), and raised faecal egg count (1·6 to 4·4 fold) but did not affect the parasite-specific total antibody levels in the serum. The low allowance during pregnancy was associated with a 6·09-kg decrease in ewe body weight, decrease in the levels of total antibody and of IgA against both T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis, and increased faecal egg count (by 1·5 to 10·6 fold) during pregnancy and lactation. Faecal egg count was consistently higher (up to 8·8 fold) in twin-bearing and rearing ewes than in single-bearing and rearing ewes except during the first 4 weeks of the experiment. A significant effect of litter size on antibody levels was relatively small when compared with short-term changes (reductions) in antibody levels immediately around parturition. There were significant negative correlations between faecal egg count during late pregnancy and ewe body weight in lactation and significant negative correlations between the levels of total antibody against T. colubriformis and faecal egg counts near the end of the experiment. We conclude that litter size is likely to have greater influence on the resistance of ewes to nematode infections in the periparturient period than either pasture allowance or cold stress within the range of parameters used in this work.
The effect of zeolite on digestibility and feedlot performance of Mehraban male lambs given a diet containing urea-treated maize silage
Authors: Forouzani R. , Rowghani E. , Zamiri M. J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA naturally occurring zeolite (Anzymite™) was added to a diet containing 350 g maize silage per kg (which was treated with 10 g urea per kg (fresh weight)), 375 g barley and 275 g alfalfa hay per kg. Effect of inclusion of zeolite (0, 30 and 60 g/kg diet) on diet digestibility, ruminal fluid acidity and ammonia concentration, blood urea nitrogen level, and feedlot performance was studied in Mehraban ram lambs. The diets were given ad libitum. Digestibility coefficients of dietary dry matter and crude protein were significantly increased by zeolite (P < 0·05). The diet containing 30 g zeolite per kg had higher neutral-detergent fibre digestibility compared with the control (P < 0·05). Over all sampling times, the ruminal fluid of the sheep given the 30-g/kg zeolite diet had the highest and those given the 60-g/kg zeolite diet had the lowest pH values (P = 0·03). Before feeding, ruminal ammonia concentration was low for all treatments (4 to 8 mg/dl). At 4 h after feeding, the control diet had the lowest ruminal ammonia concentration (5·5 mg/dl) which was significantly lower than the values for zeolite diets (35 to 39 mg/dl). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level increased post feeding for all diets. At 4 h post feeding, the level for the control diet was significantly higher than for the zeolite diets, but at 6 h post feeding, the level of BUN was higher with 60 g zeolite per kg diet. Daily dry-matter intake for the 60 g zeolite per kg diet was significantly higher than for the control. Backfat depth in the 60 g zeolite group was significantly less than the control group. Pelvic and pericardial fats were significantly higher for the zeolite groups. Fat-tail weight in the 60 g/kg of zeolite group was significantly higher than in the 30 g zeolite and control groups. The findings indicated that, in spite of some improvements in digestibility and rumen fermentation pattern, addition of zeolite to the diet of feedlot Mehraban lambs, under the conditions of this experiment, was not advantageous.
Genetic parameters for resistance to nematode infections in Texel lambs and their utility in breeding programmes
Authors: Bishop S. C. , Jackson F. , Coop R. L. , Stear M. J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis paper addresses the inheritance of host resistance to gastro-intestinal nematode parasite infections in commercial Texel lambs, and the rôle of resistance to parasites in breeding programmes. In two flocks of Texel sheep, faecal egg counts following natural parasite challenge were measured on up to three occasions post weaning per lamb over a 4-year period, with 1385 and 287 lambs measured on the two farms. Live weight, and ultrasonically measured fat and muscle depth at weaning were available for each lamb, as were deep pedigrees. Egg counts were moderately to strongly heritable on all occasions, with Nematodirus egg counts more heritable than the Strongyle egg counts. Weighted average heritabilities for Strongyle and Nematodirus egg counts were 0.26 and 0.38, respectively. Within the same category of parasite, genetic correlations across time were positive and strong but somewhat less than unity, as were the correlations between Strongyle and Nematodirus egg counts measured at the same time. Genetic correlations between performance traits and Strongyle egg counts were usually favourable (i.e. negative) but weak, whereas those with Nematodirus egg counts were generally neutral or slightly positive. Whilst Nematodirus resistance may not necessarily be included in a breeding goal, the results suggest that Nematodirus egg counts can be used as an additional genetic indicator of Strongyle egg counts, at little extra cost. Including the epidemiological consequences of decreasing Strongyle egg counts in benefits of increasing parasite resistance, it is suggested that under UK conditions selection goals that place equal emphasis on live weight and log-transformed egg counts will be a robust means of improving growth rate and decreasing parasite larval challenge.
Effect of dietary probiotic on the pH and colour characteristics of carcasses, breast fillets and drumsticks of broilers
Authors: Karaoglu M. , Aksu M.I. , Esenbuga N. , Kaya M. , Macit M. , Durdag H. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis research was carried out to determine the effects of commercial probiotic (115-Biogallinox) on the colour properties of carcasses and dissected products in broilers. Ross-308 male chicks were given probiotic (P0:0 g/kg, P1:1 g/kg and P2:2 g/kg) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 49 days. At the end of the trial all birds were slaughtered, and pH and skin colour of the carcasses were determined at various times during the first 24 h (1, 3, 7, 12, 17 and 24 h). After dissection, breasts and drumsticks were divided into two groups for vacuum packaging and aerobic packaging. Packaged breasts and drumsticks were stored at 3 ± 0.5°C for 12 days. During the storage period, the colours of breast meat, drumstick meat and drumstick skin were determined.pH values of carcasses decreased (P < 0.01) over the 24-h period post mortem. The pH values of the P1 group were lower than the P0 and P2 groups (P < 0.01). L*, a* and b* values increased during the 24-h period and the P0 group had lower a* values than the P1 and P2 groups (P < 0.05). The use of probiotic in the broiler diet had no effect on L*, a* and b* values of breast and drumstick muscle. The L* and a* values of breast muscles were lower than drumstick muscles (P < 0.05). The values of b* in aerobic packaged breasts and drumsticks were higher than when vacuum packaged (P < 0.01). L* and b* values were also affected by storage period. While the L* and b* values of drumstick skin were higher than of drumstick meat, a* values in drumstick meat were higher (P < 0.05). The packaging had no effect on drumstick colour values (drumstick meat and drumstick skin) and L* and b* values decreased during the storage period.
Effect of finishing system (feedlot or pasture), high-oil maize, and copper on conjugated linoleic acid and other fatty acids in muscle of finishing steers
Authors: Engle T. E. , Spears J. W. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSixty Angus steers (413 ± 8.0 kg) were used to determine the effects of copper (Cu), maize type, and finishing system (confinement v. pasture) on performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle in steers. Steers in confinement were given individually high concentrate diets containing either typical or high-oil maize, using Calan gate feeders. Steers grazing pasture (tall fescue) were maintained in four pastures with each pasture containing five steers. Salt was used to limit concentrate intake in pasture steers to approximately 0.6 of that observed in confinement steers. One half of the steers in each treatment received a CuO needle bolus at the initiation of the study while the remaining steers received no supplemental Cu. Equal numbers of steers per treatment were harvested after 91, 112 or 133 days on food. Rate of gain was lower (P < 0.01; 1.2 v. 1.6 kg/day) for pasture-fed steers compared with steers receiving typical maize. Cu supplementation increased (P < 0.05) ADG in steers given typical maize (1.8 v. 1.5 kg/day) and those on pasture (1.3 v. 1.1 kg/day) but not in steers given high-oil maize diets (1.5 v. 1.5 kg/day). Gain, dry-matter intake and gain/food did not differ between steers given typical or high-oil maize. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in steers given typical maize relative to steers given high-oil maize. Steers receiving a Cu bolus had higher plasma (P < 0.05) and liver (P < 0.01) Cu concentrations than steers not receiving a Cu bolus. Steers receiving typical maize had lower (P < 0.05) liver Cu concentrations than steers receiving high-oil maize. Steers finished on pasture with limited concentrate had conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations in longissimus muscle that were approximately three times higher (P < 0.01) than steers given typical maize. Cu supplementation tended (P < 0.10) to increase muscle CLA. Longissimus muscle from pasture-fed steers was lower (P < 0.01) in C16: 0 and higher (P < 0.05) in C10: 0, C17: 0, C18: 3, C20: 3 and total polyunsaturated fatty acids than steers given typical maize. Muscle C18: 1 trans and C17: 0 tended to be reduced (P < 0.10) by Cu supplementation. These results indicate that finishing cattle on pasture with limited grain increases CLA in longissimus muscle and that Cu supplementation also alters the fatty acid composition of muscle.
Acute and long term effects of chronic intermittent noise stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenomedullary axis in pigs
Authors: Otten W. , Kanitz E. , Puppe B. , Tuchscherer M. , Brüssow K.P. , Nürnberg G. , Stabenow B. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractNoise is a potential environmental stressor and has also been identified as an aversive stimulus during animal housing. The impact of a 4-week chronic intermittent noise exposure on plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH, cortisol and behaviour was studied in 24 male castrated German Landrace pigs. Three treatment groups were formed: N1 animals were subjected to a daily stimulation with broad-band noise (2 h, 90 dB(Lin)), N2 animals were subjected to the same stimulus three times a week and control animals were equally handled but experienced no noise exposure. Blood was serially sampled once a week via jugular vein catheters before, during and after a noise session. Behavioural observations of focal animals were performed by video technique. The first noise exposure of the animals caused no significant changes of stress hormone levels compared with the controls despite indices for more locomotion and less lying at the beginning of the noise stimulation, indicating that this noise stimulus is a rather mild stressor compared with other stimuli. The chronic intermittent noise stimulation, however, caused an increase of plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations in the N1 animals after 4 days. The cortisol response of the N2 animals was unchanged compared to the controls at day 4, increased thereafter and at day 11 and 18 these animals tended to have higher cortisol levels compared with the controls. The noradrenaline/adrenaline ratio was significantly increased in N1 animals after 11 days and thereafter, whereas this ratio was unchanged in N2 animals until day 18, but also increased at day 25. In tendency, chronic intermittent noise exposure tended to reduce social behaviour and increase lying behaviour in both noise groups. In addition, the growth performance of pigs was negatively affected by the daily noise stimulation. In a second experiment with 16 male castrated German Landrace pigs, the impact of the daily intermittent noise exposure (N1) on the endocrine response to an acute stressor (restraint) and on the adrenocortical sensitivity to an ACTH challenge was studied. The time course of cortisol levels during the ACTH test indicated alterations in the time dynamics of the adrenocortical response with a more rapid response in the N1 animals. The results show that chronic intermittent noise exposure causes time-dependent alterations of the adrenocortical and sympathetic neural systems and may lead to behavioural suppression and growth retardation in pigs. Thus, repeated exposure of animals to noise levels over 90 dB should be avoided in pig husbandry to sustain productivity and animal welfare.
Effects of season and stocking density during transport on live weight and biochemical measurements of stress, dehydration and injury of rabbits at time of slaughter
Authors: de la Fuente J. , Salazar M. I. , Ibáñez M. , González de Chavarri E. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe effects on rabbit welfare of transport in two seasons (summer and winter) and at two stocking densities (high stocking density: 12 rabbits per cage; low stocking density: 8 rabbits per cage) were studied. The loss of live weight during transport was calculated. At slaughter, blood samples were obtained and some physiological parameters related to stress were analysed: cortisol, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactate, glucose, packed cell volume (PCV), osmolarity, and albumin and globulin concentrations. In addition, liver and muscle samples were taken and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for subsequent glycogen measurements.Season significantly affected the live-weight losses and plasma concentrations of cortisol (P< 0.01), CK, LDH, lactate (P< 0.001) and glucose (P< 0.01), as well as osmolarity (P< 0.001). Liver and muscle glycogen concentration were also affected by the season (P< 0.001). The loss of live weight was higher in rabbits transported in winter than in summer. The plasma concentrations of cortisol, lactate and glucose, CK and LDH activity, and osmolarity, as well as liver and muscle glycogen concentrations were higher in rabbits transported in summer than in winter. Stocking density had no effect on the analysed parameters. The high levels of the analysed blood parameters, which are related to stress, lead to the conclusion that the welfare of the rabbits transported in summer was more affected than those transported in winter.
Estimation of colostrum intake in the neonatal pig
Authors: Devillers N. , van Milgen J. , Prunier A. , Le Dividich J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThree trials were performed in order to establish a method of estimation of colostrum intake based on weight gain in newborn pigs. The first trial involved 33 piglets, bottle-fed with sow colostrum and weighed regularly for 25 h. A regression equation relating colostrum intake (CI in g) to birth weight (BWB in kg), weight at CI estimation (BW in kg), age at first suck (tFS in min) and duration of colostrum intake (t in min and with 17 h < t < 25 h) was established with a root mean-square error equal to 33 g. This equation was evaluated with a second data set using 15 further bottle-fed piglets (trial 2). Measured and predicted values were very close (R2 = 0.90). The third trial compared colostrum intake estimated either with the previous equation or with the deuterium oxide dilution method in catheterized sow-reared or bottle-fed piglets (no. = 12 per group). The equation underestimated colostrum intake of those piglets, probably due to prior surgery. However, the feeding method (bottle-feeding v. sow-rearing) had no effect on the relationship between weight gain and colostrum intake. Therefore, the equation established in bottle-fed piglets may be applied to sow-reared piglets.
Effects on inbreeding of different strategies aimed at eliminating scrapie sensitivity alleles in rare sheep breeds in The Netherlands
Authors: Windig J. J. , Eding H. , Moll L. , Kaal L. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe Dutch scrapie eradication programme aims at the exclusive use of homozygous ARR/ARR breeding rams by the end of 2004. As a consequence, breeds with a small population size and a low frequency of the ARR allele may suffer unacceptable losses of genetic diversity and high inbreeding levels. We simulated three breeding strategies to assess their efficacy in eliminating scrapie sensitive alleles and their effect on inbreeding levels. Under mild selection, both homozygous and heterozygous ARR rams were used indiscriminately. Under moderate selection, homozygous ARR rams were used preferably but they were supplemented with heterozygous rams when necessary. Under severe selection, only homozygous rams were used. Severe selection mimics then the proposed eradication programme. Simulations were carried out with allelic frequencies and population parameters of existent rare breeds in The Netherlands. With severe selection all simulated breeds showed unacceptably high inbreeding rates (> 0·5% per year). For some breeds, moderate selection resulted in acceptable inbreeding rates, while for other breeds only mild selection resulted in acceptable rates. The frequency of the ARR allele after 5 years of selection was only slightly lower with moderate selection than with severe selection (0·8% lower on average), but it was clearly lower with mild selection. Based on these simulations, we propose a selection programme where with low frequencies of the ARR allele, mild selection is used initially. Once the ARR frequencies rise to a particular value, the switch can be made to moderate selection. The population size (e.g. below 750, 750 to 3750 and above 3750 ewes) determines the frequency of the ARR allele at which the switch can be made (33%, 25% and 10%, respectively). With even higher ARR frequencies (above 70%, 50% and 33%, respectively) the regime can be changed to severe selection.
Genetic relationships between faecal egg count and production traits in commercial Merino sheep flocks
Authors: Pollott G. E. , Greeff J. C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn several countries the gastro-intestinal parasites of sheep show evidence of resistance to the commonly used anthelmintic treatments. The use of animals with genetic resistance to such parasites has been shown to be a viable alternative in a number of resource flocks. However, the genetics of host resistance to parasites in industry flocks and the effects on production traits of using resistant sheep is relatively unknown. This study addresses these questions using data from 55 commercial Merino flocks in Australia. The heritability and genetic correlations were estimated for faecal egg count (FEC), an indicator of host resistance, and eleven fleece and body production traits. The heritability of FEC (0·26 (s.e. 0·018)), using a sire model, was found to be similar to other estimates reported in the literature from resource flocks. The heritabilities of production traits were also consistent with published reports from resource flocks. The genetic correlations between FEC and the 11 production traits, calculated using a sire model, were mostly zero, except for staple strength (-0·17 (s.e. 0·096)), fat depth (-0·26 (s.e. 0·088)) and eye-muscle depth (-0·18 (s.e. 0·091)). Animal model estimates of heritability and the genetic correlations between the traits were largely similar to the sire model estimates. Correlated responses to selection for reduced FEC based on the sire model genetic parameters were calculated to be less than 0·15% of the trait mean per generation for all traits except staple strength, fat depth, muscle depth and live weight. These were expected to increase slightly under selection for reduced FEC. Thus industry-based selection programmes to increase host resistance to parasites should be effective and have no detrimental effect on production characteristics of Merino sheep in Australia. The full benefit of such industry-based schemes could be improved by a better level of recording in the flocks studied.
Genetic parameters for growth, reproductive performance, calving ease and suckling performance in beef cattle heifers
Authors: Phocast F. , Sapa J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThere is considerable concern about the consequences on fitness-related traits of using narrow breeding objectives for production traits. The aim of this study was to assess the potential consequences of selection for growth in French beef cattle breeds by estimating genetic correlations between growth, reproduction, calving and suckling traits of Charolais, Limousin and Blonde d’Aquitaine heifers. Data consisted of the records collected from 1985 to 2002 in progeny test stations that were used in the genetic evaluation of 284 Charolais, 125 Limousin and 118 Blonde d’Aquitaine AI sires. Seven traits were considered simultaneously in the analysis: weights at 18 months and after calving (for measuring heifer growth), sexual precocity and fertility (for measuring heifer reproductive performance), calving difficulty score and pelvic opening (for measuring calving ease) and milk yield (for measuring the suckling ability of the primiparous cow). REML (co)variance estimates were derived using linear multitrait sire models. Estimates of heritability were in the range of values given in the literature. They were very similar in the Charolais and Blonde d’Aquitaine breeds, and rather different for reproductive and suckling performance in the Limousin breed. Estimates were about 0·35 for heifer growth traits and about 0·15 for calving difficulty score in the three breeds. In the Charolais and Blonde d’Aquitaine breeds, estimates of heritability were 0·15 for sexual precocity and 0·05 for heifer fertility. These estimates were close to zero in the Limousin breed. Heritabilities of pelvic opening and milk yield were, respectively, 0·2 and 0·6 in the Limousin breed and around 0·3 in the other two breeds. Genetic correlations between traits concerning the same ability (as, for instance, weight at 18 months and weight at calving) were high and, in general, similar among breeds. Genetic correlations between heifer growth, reproductive traits, calving ease and suckling performance were nil or slightly favourable in the three breeds. Consequently, past selection mainly directed towards increasing growth seems not to have adversely affected the efficiency of female reproduction and the maternal abilities of French specialized beef cattle breeds.