bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Once-bred heifer systems
Authors: Rigby I 
Published: June 2019

Major changes are taking place in the UK beef industry, as a result of the reduction in dairy cow numbers due to milk quotas. Similar reductions are taking place throughout Europe and have resulted in a strong export market for UK calves. Consequently in 1988 there were 800,000 fewer calves available for beef production than there were when quotas were introduced. This downward trend is forecast to continue and by 1990 the EEC will no longer be self-sufficient for veal and beef.At times of calf shortages the concept of once-bred heifer beef (producing one calf out of a heifer otherwise destined for slaughter as clean beef, and then slaughtering her shortly after calving) has been considered as a way of generating extra calves and meeting the shortfall. Historically low fertility in young heifers, and high levels of dystokia have limited the commercial uptake of the technique. In addition returns have been low because heifers that have produced a calf are not eligible for Variable Beef Premium payments and, being unfamiliar with this type of slaughter animal the meat trade has regarded tham as cull cows and paid a reduced price.
The Potential for increasing slaughter weight of suckled calves
Authors: Spedding A W 
Published: June 2019

Milk quotas have resulted in a reduction in dairy cow numbers between 1983 and 1987 which represents a loss of almost 250,000 calves for beef rearing. Increasing slaughter weights is one way to make up for some of the consequent shortfall in beef production. However slaughter weights will not increase unless it is profitable to the producer.MLC investigations are showing that differences in performance within a group of finishing cattle means that there is extra profit in keeping faster growers longer than average. Table 1 shows slaughter weights of a group of Charolais cross male suckled calves at different ranges of daily gain. Optimised slaughter weights for each sub-group and the extra gross margin after interest which should have accrued if they had been sold at the optimised weights are also given. Within the group the fastest growing bulls should have been kept longest and would have shown the biggest increase in margins.
Intrauterine insemination in superovulated ewes:- the effects of depositing semen in one versus two uterine horns at 48 or 60 hours after progestagen withdrawal
Authors: Wallace J. M. , Robinson J. J. , Aitken R. P. 
Published: June 2019

The deposition of semen under laparoscopic visualisation directly into the uterine lumen alleviates the problem of low fertility in superovulated ewes. However, we have recently demonstrated that intrauterine insemination when carried out at 52 h after progestagen pessary withdrawal results in a significant reduction in the percentage of embryos recovered. This observation seemed to suggest that intrauterine insemination, the timing of which was chosen to coincide with ovulation, is interfering with collection of the oocytes by the fimbria or altering the rate of oocyte transport. The present experiment was carried out to test this hypothesis by assessing ovum recovery and fertilization rates following intrauterine insemination unilaterally in the right horn only or bilaterally, at either 48 or 60 h after progestagen pessary withdrawal.Twenty-five Finnish Landrace x Dorset Horn ewes were studied during seasonal anoestrus in May 1988. Ewes were individually penned under natural lighting conditions (57°N 2°W) and were offered 1.4 kg per day of a complete diet supplying 9 MJ of metabolizable energy/kg.
Genetic relationships between carcass and meat/eating quality traits in pigs
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Warriss P.D. 
Published: June 2019

The main selection objective in pig breeding is efficient lean meat production. Selection for leaner meat has been associated with reduced meat quality (Kempster et al, 1986) and with reduced eating quality, but the latter was not substantiated in the study of Wood et al (1986). The genetic relationships between carcass traits and meat/eating quality traits need to be quantified, so that calculation of selection Indices for increased efficiency of lean meat production can take account of correlated changes in meat and eating quality traits.Duroc and halothane negative British Landrace pigs were performance tested on ad-libitum or restricted (0.75 g/g of ad-libitum) feeding, with like-sexed, non-littermate groups of one, two, three and four pigs per pen. Pigs started performance test at a within pen average weight of 30 (±3) kg and finished test at either a within pen average weight of 80 (±5) kg for pigs fed ad-libitum or after 70 days on test for restricted fed pigs. Half carcasses were dissected and shoulder joints and loin chops were used for objective measurements of meat quality and trained taste panel assessment of eating quality.
Energy metabolism studies in pigs fed diets containing sugar beet pulp
Authors: Close W.H. , Longland A.C. , Low A.G. 
Published: June 2019

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the feeding of high fibre diets to pigs. The potential use of these diets will depend upon the extent to which the fibrous components are fermented and the subsequent capacity of the products of fermentation, that is volatile fatty acids, to meet the energy needs of the animals. One fibrous feed that has considerable potential for inclusion in diets of pigs is sugar beet pulp and the present experiments were designed to study the extent to which diets containing varying proportions of plain sugar beet pulp influenced nutrient partition and the efficiency of energy utilisation of growing pigs.The experiment was designed as a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement and involved 4 diets containing 0, 150, 300 and 450 g plain sugar beet pulp/kg, each fed to pigs between 20 and 90 kg bodyweight at 2 levels so that the animals received either 1.5 or 3.0 times their maintenance energy requirement (M), where M = 440 kJ ME/kg bodywelght 0.75 per day. The diets were formulated to be iso-energetic (13.8 MJ DE/kg) and iso-lysinic (9.5 g/kg) and were based on barley, wheat, soyabean and fishmeal with plain sugar beet pulp largely replacing cereals at the appropriate rates.
Intake and performance of growing pigs fed diets containing 0, 150, 300 or 450 g/kg molassed or plain sugar beet pulp
Authors: Bulman J. C. , Longland A. C. , Low A. G. , Keal H. D. , Harland J. I. 
Published: June 2019

The energy value of feedstuffs with a high content of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) has rarely been measured accurately. The aim of this study was to measure the intake, performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs given 0, 150, 300 or 450 g plain (P) or molassed (M) sugar beet pulp per kg diet (using substitution for barley). This NSP source was chosen because it is known to be highly digestible by pigs (Longland et al., 1988) and because it is widely available. This work forms part of our programme to evaluate fibrous feeds which may be useful, without or with modification, as alternatives to cereal grains.Each diet was given to twelve Large White x Landrace pigs. Equal numbers of entire male and female pigs were given each diet. Their initial weight was 18 kg and the pigs were killed two days after their weight exceeded 77.5 kg. The pigs were kept Individually, without straw, at a temperature of 20 ± 3°C.
Future trends in animal products marketing
Authors: Harrington Geoff 
Published: June 2019

A conventional forecasting paper would begin with an account of the demographic trends, the likely developments in the economy and therefore disposable income, the social changes with particular reference to household and family size and structure, the trends in food preparation in the factory and the home, eating out habits, the influence of the multiples in the retail sector and the likely impact of political decisions. I shall take much of that as read.Only one aspect needs to be brought out. This is the effect of changing life-styles, family structure, shopping, cooking and eating habits on consumer requirements. Our industries need to grasp these issues more positively and carry out more product development work and associated marketing activity if not to be totally outsmarted by poultry, fish and non-animal-based convenience foods. The potentials are very great, because the great majority of consumers are still looking for cheap, lean, nutritions tasty meat and convenient products - whatever the technology.But I suggest that for our industry the biggest imponderables in forecasting and planning are whether there is or will be a significant resistance from consumers to technological advance (both on the farm and in the processing plant) and whether there is or will be a significant rejection of exploitation of animals for food.
1992 Implications for the health and welfare of livestock in the U.K.
Authors: Alexander T.J.L. 
Published: June 2019

Farm livestock in the U.K. (i.e. Scotland, Wales, and England) enjoys a higher and less vulnerable health status than any country in the European Community (E.C.) other than Denmark and Ireland (Eire and Ulster). There are three main reasons for this. First, the physical barriers of the sea. Only Foot and Mouth disease (F.M.D.) is known to be able to blow across the Channel and then only under very limited climatic conditions. Second, the expertise of the veterinary arm of A.D.A.S., supported by laboratories such as the A.V.R.I, at Pirbright and the C.V.L. at Weybridge. Their ability to eradicate and/or control infectious disease has been well proven over many years. Third, the national control exercised over imports of live animals and animal products. Until now, of course, M.A.F.F. has been able to exercise an efficient safeguard.To maintain this privileged position, all three factors would have to be maintained intact. The first, the barrier of the sea, would be difficult to erode. The channel tunnel will barely dent it.
The influence of beta-adrenergic agonists and exogenous growth hormone on lean meat quality
Authors: Warriss P D 
Published: June 2019

Quality can be described under various headings. Deficiencies in muscle colour and structure lead in the extreme to pale, soft, exudative (PSE) or dark, firm, dry (DFO) meat. Intramuscular fat content (marbling) may be important but this varies between species. Eating quality relates to three major components. Texture is most important, followed by juiciness and flavour intensity. Flavour becomes more important when associated with unusual or ‘off’ odours.The conversion of muscle to meat is accompanied by two major changes, the onset and resolution of rigor mortis and acidification of the tissue. Both the rate and extent of acidification may vary. If the rate is rapid, so that the pH reaches a low value when the temperature of the carcass is still high, PSE meat can result. The rate of acidification is largely determined by the degree of muscle stimulation immediately before and at slaughter.
Growth enhancers and their use in practice political considerations
Authors: Buckwell Allan 
Published: June 2019

The growth and manner of the use of the five hormone products in the European Community will be reviewed.The circumstances leading to the decision by the European Council to ban the use of steroid hormones in beef production will be discussed. This will include reference to the Lamming report and to the attempts by the UK government and the Agro-chemical industry to have the decision reversed.
Evaluation of swede varieties with high, medium and low dry matter content in finishing systems for crossbred lambs from hill ewes
Authors: Vipond J.E. , King M.E. , Wetherill G.Z. 
Published: June 2019

The first objective of this trial was to evaluate swedes of different dry matter content developed by the Scottish Crop Research Institute in particular to determine whether dry matter content and related hardness were appropriate for the grazing situation. The second objective was to study the performance of Highland Mule wether lambs (Bluefaced Leicester x Blackface) (BFLX) compared to Suffolk x Blackface (SX) and Cheviot (C) wether lambs. The Highland Mule wether lamb is a by-product in the production of Highland Mule ewe lambs for breeding and the specific interest was in whether there was any deleterious effect on finishing performance associated with the Bluefaced Leicester sire.Representative lambs of the genotypes involved were purchased in September and run on grass and stubbles until the start of the swede feeding period (2 November) with the aim of maintaining liveweight. Liveweight was 33, 33 and 36 kg for BFLX, S and C respectively on 2 November. Adjacent plots of the swede varieties Dryden (D), Melfort (M) and Doon Major (DO) were grown in one field (two replicates) and 33 lambs of each genotype grouped and allocated to each variety.
The influence of changes in tissue shape on muscle: bone ratio in growing sheep
Authors: Young Mark J. 
Published: June 2019

Muscle: bone ratio is a term commonly used in studies of growth and meat production. It is perceived to affect carcass value (Kempster et al., 1982) even though it is positively correlated with the fat: muscle ratio. Both ratios increase during post-natal growth but the literature is lacking in a detailed description of how this occurs.Bone and muscle are closely related due to their roles in movement. Much evidence exists to support the hypothesis of Hooper (1978) that bone is the “pacemaker” for muscle growth. Certainly, muscle appears to display a more passive role in growth, responding to changes in length or loading by altering its length and diameter (eg. Holly et al., 1980; Sivachelvan and Davies, 1986), while bone growth in length is progressive and finite, appearing to follow a genetically determined plan. Thus the fundamental importance of bone to growth of muscle cannot be over-emphasized.Relatively greater increases in diameter than in length occur during post-natal growth of bone and muscle. The relative magnitude of these changes has been little studied due, in part, to the difficulty in definition of shape. Consequently conformation has normally been quantified subjectively or indirectly in terms of weight.
The Energy Metabolism of Twin Bearing Cows
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Broadbent P. J. , Macdearmid A. , Mollison G. S. 
Published: June 2019

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer techniques increase the possibility of improving the reproductive efficiency of beef cows by twinning. However, the gestation length of cows carrying twin calves is approximately 10 days shorter than cows carrying a single foetus and twin calves at birth are lighter (0.85 of controls) and growth rate to weaning is less (0.85 of controls) compared with single born calves (Dickerson and Anderson 1988). Changes in gestation length and the low birth weight of the twin calf may partly be associated with changes in the nutritional status of the dam and the increased nutrient requirement. It is important to define the nutritional requirements of twin bearing cows if twin calves are to be successfully produced and reared.The cows were a mixture of Hereford and Charolais cross Friesian suckler cows and heifers. Animals used for the measurement of heat production were paired where possible according to parity and live weight, one member of each pair carrying a single calf and the other twins.
Response of modern hybrid pigs to dietary energy concentration
Authors: Chadd S.A. , Cole D.J.A. 
Published: June 2019

In a recent experiment using the same improved genotype, pigs over the liveweight range 25 to 120 kg were found to have modest voluntary energy intakes (Chadd and Cole, 1988) particularly when compared with former intake prediction equations. It follows that the response of such pigs in terms of voluntary feed intake behaviour when provided with diets differing in energy concentration may have also changed. Diets that are formulated to be low in energy density and therefore bulky in nature are likely to represent more of a limitation to voluntary feed intake than previously. Former experiments designed to examine the pig's ability to adjust feed intake in order to maintain a constant energy intake have produced results varying from complete to incomplete compensation.A study was undertaken to examine the response of a modern genotype in terms of voluntary feed intake, digestible energy (DE) intake, growth performance and associated carcass characteristics, when offered a range of dietary energy concentrations ad libitum and taken to a heavy slaughter weight.
Ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs using single-space or multi-space feeders
Authors: Kay R.M. , Armsby A.W. , Lightfoot A.L. 
Published: June 2019

Good husbandry practices for ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs have traditionally provided between 50-75 mm trough space per pig. However, following the success of commercial pig producers in Denmark and The Netherlands in using single-space feeders, these feeders are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If pig performance is unimpaired, the saving in floor area required for feeders may provide an opportunity to increase stocking rate per pen.Two hundred and sixteen entire male and female pigs of about 30 kg liveweight at 12 weeks of age were blocked by sex and weight to groups of 12 and allocated at random to one of 3 treatments:1. Ad libitum feeding with one single-space feeder (occupying 0.326 m2 floor area).2. Ad libitum feeding with 2 single-space feeders (occupying 0.652 m2 floor area).3. Ad libitum feeding with one multi-space feeder (occupying 0.439 m2 floor area).Pigs were housed in an environment controlled house managed on a fully-slatted slurry system with no bedding used. The single-space feeders (QE Fivestar c) incorporate a 5 starred wheel which pigs operate with their snouts to drive an auger which dispenses a metered amount of feed from a bulk hopper.
Evaluation of the performance of british landrace pigs under tropical conditions of zimbabwe
Authors: Pathiraja N. , Mandisodza K. T. , Nyabako L. 
Published: June 2019

British Landrace (BL) is used widely as a dam breed in producing crossbred sows for commercial pig production in Zimbabwe. This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of BL under current level of management in Zimbabwe and to make recommendation for improvement of productivity.The records for this study were obtained from a nucleus/multiplier farm. The data included 720 litters from BL sows over the five year period 1983 - 1987. The reproductive traits analysed, number born alive (NBA), number weaned (NW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB) kg, at weaning (TLWW), age at first litter (AFL) days, days weaning to effective service (DWES) and farrowing interval (FI) days, were from both pure and crossbred matings. The performance data, daily gain (DG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) between 35 - 86 kg and k backfat thickness (BF) at 86 kg, were from 620 performance tested BL pigs. The data were analysed by least-squares procedures. The fixed effect included in the analysis of reproductive traits were the sire breed of the litter, the dam parity and the year and season of birth of litter. The effects considered for the performance data were the year and season of performance test and the sex. The season according to month of birth of litter, farrowing, rebreedlng or performance test was classified as cold (April - July), dry (August - November) or rainy (December - March). For all the traits, typical model included the above fixed effects and two-way Interactions.
Degree of enclosure preferred by sows around farrowing
Authors: Hunt K , Petchey A M 
Published: June 2019

Farrowing accommodation is currently provided by different variants, or designs, of the farrowing crate. The farrowing crate, which is intended to reduce piglet mortality and give the piglets good access to the sow, severely restricts her movement and activity. The welfare codes (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1983) recommend that pigs should have ‘freedom of movement’ and ‘opportunity to exercise most normal patterns of behaviour’. There is, therefore, a need to develop farrowing facilities which allow the sows freedom of movement and permit greater activity but which also maintain or improve economic performance.A sow which is permitted greater freedom of movement in the late stages of pregnancy would, within the pen, determine her own farrowing site. This benign approach cannot easily be reconciled to the production process which seeks to reduce uncertainty and maximise the use of resources. In this instance, the provision (creep, heat source) made for the litter. Thus it is important to be able to identify the sows’ preference for such a site and to identify features which attract the sow. This study examined some of the structural and environmental preferences for a farrowing site of sows and gilts, and examined behaviour at their chosen site.
The efficacy of an anthelmintic (mebendazole) under different dosing strategies in controlling nematode parasite infection in sheep and pasture contamination
Authors: Lawton Tina E. , Speedy A.W. 
Published: June 2019

Control of parasitic nematode infection is the first priority in intensive lowland lamb production. The most effective method has been the ‘clean grazing system’ of Rutter (1983) but this depends on the integration of cattle and sheep. Clarkson (1987) has proposed repeated early dosing with anthelmintic as an alternative in an ‘all sheep’ system. An experiment is decribed here in which the efficacy of the anthelmintic. Mebendazole (Janssen Pharmaceuticals Ltd), was examined using different dosing regimes on contaminated pasture and compared with clean pasture.The study was conducted with a flock of 520 mule (Bluefaced Leicester x Swaledale) ewes and Suffolk x lambs at Home Farm, Wytham, near Oxford. Four x 8 hectare fields were used.
The use of fecundin® with or without pmsg In late-lambing mule ewes synchronized with Progestagen sponges
Authors: Sadeghi Namaghi G.H. , Webster G.M. 
Published: June 2019

There is increasing interest in the development of systems in which crossbred ewes are lambed later in the spring so that the ewes’ nutritional needs are matched more closely with grass growth (Stone, 1988). Lambs may then be sold as stores in the autumn or finished indoors on silage-based diets through the winter (Povey and Webster, 1987). However, ovulation rate tends to be declining at the time of mating in such a system. These experiments were designed to investigate the benefits of using Fecundin, either alone or in conjunction with pregnant mares’ serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) in synchronized ewes lambing in April/May.Two groups of 30 Mule (Bluefaced Leicester x Swaledale) ewes matched for age, weight and condition score were allocated to the experiment. Treated ewes were given 2 x 2 ml intramuscular (i.m.) injections of Fecundin®(Coopers Animal Health) four weeks apart while control ewes received no Fecundin treatment. Unfortunately a ram escaped into the flock prior to the planned mating date. All ewes were therefore injected i.m. with 1.5 ml Lutalyse®(Upjohn) 12-16 days after suspected mating. However, it would appear that the dose used was insufficient to cause abortion and only those ewes marked subsequently by a raddled vasectomized ram remained in the experiment. All these ewes (n = 17 per group) were treated with progestagen-impregnated intravaginal sponges (Veramix® Upjohn) left in situ for 12 days. Rams were introduced on 18th December 1986, two days after sponge withdrawal and four weeks after the second injection of Fecundin. The ewes were shorn and housed prior to ram introduction and given a diet of hay ad libitum with up to 1 kg concentrates by the time of lambing in May 1987.