bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of barley and molassed sugar beet feed for saanen goats in early lactation
Authors: Sutton J D , Mowlem A 
Published: June 2019

In comparison of barley and molassed sugar beet feed (SBF), as the principal energy sources in the concentrates, for milk production by dairy cows, only small differences have been established with diets containing conventional proportions of forage and concentrates. No similar comparison using dairy goats appear to have been made and the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of these two energy sources on hay intake and milk production by British Saanen goats.Twenty-nine multiparous Saanen goats were allocated to one of two concentrate types one month before kidding. The concentrates were based on barley (B) (690 kg rolled barley, 310 kg soyabean meal/tonne) or molassed SBF (700 kg SBF, 300 kg soyabean meal/tonne) and were pelleted. They were offered at 0.45 kg/day for 4 weeks before kidding, increasing to 1 kg/day by day 15 after kidding. Chopped lucerne hay was offered through Calan gates at 1.5 kg/day before kidding and ad libitum thereafter. The goats consuming the SBF concentrates were given a high-phosphorus mineral supplement. Feed was offered twice dally and refusals were taken once dally. The goats were milked twice daily and samples were taken on two consecutive milkings weekly. Live weight was measured twice weekly.
Reproductive and kid performance of a newly established feral goat herd being graded up for cashmere production
Authors: Roger Louise C , Gunn G J , Waterhouse A 
Published: June 2019

Interest in farming goats for cashmere production has recently arisen, both as a means of farm diversification and, through goats grazing preferences, to utilise previously under exploited resources on hill farms.A herd of 160 feral does of Irish and Scottish origin was established at the West of Scotland College's Kirkton Unit in June 1987 to investigate the potential for cashmere production from goats on a hill sheep farm. The Irish goats are of mixed ancestry with obvious dairy crossbreds in addition to many of more feral phenotype. The Scottish feral does came as an established group but proved excitable and difficult to handle. Whenever goats were grouped together for handling or at feeding points there was considerable fighting and other agonistic behaviour. A year later the level of this has reduced.One hundred and fifty eight does were divided into four groups and oestrus synchronised (goats sponges 45 mg progesterone supplied by Intervet). These were then artificially inseminated by laparoscope in two, two day sessions a week apart (21/10, 22/10, 29/10 and 30/10).
A comparison of consumer perceptions of goat and lamb meat
Authors: Kirk J.A. , Brunton S. , Owen D.R. , Cooper R.A. 
Published: June 2019

Carruthers (1986) estimated the United Kingdom goat population to be between 100,000 and 150,000 head. Ryder (1986) stated that U.K. goat numbers are increasing at twice the rate of the sheep population. In the U.K. goats are kept primarily for milk and fibre production. As a result of the reputedly small market for goat meat In the U.K. producers are disadvantaged as they are unable to rear and sell their male kids as an additional source of income. The net result of this is that an estimated 55,000 male kids are culled at birth.Naude and Hofmeyer (1981) reported that carcasses of most goat breeds tend to be leaner than of sheep breeds. With the increasing consumer demand for lean meat it may well be that the goat meat is able to compete for the sheep meat market.This study aims to reveal some of the factors which might affect the demand for goat meat by comparison of the eating qualities of lamb and goat.
Ensiled Distillers or Brewers Grains as the Sole Diet for Beef Cattle
Authors: Lewis M , Lowman B G 
Published: June 2019

Malt distillers grains (MDG) and brewers grains (BG) are the fibrous residues remaining after the extraction of sugars from malted barley during the process of malt whisky and beer production, respectively. MDG and BG are popular supplements in beef finishing diets with up to 15kg/head/day being fed on Scottish farms (Lilwall, Smith and Wood, 1983). However, in some areas, close to distilleries and breweries, and particularly during the summer months, MDG and BG can be bought cheaply and ensiled, and could be fed to appetite as the sole or major part of the diet. This investigation explores this possibility.Some unusual limitations of MDG and BG as a complete diet are that they are virtually devoid of soluble minerals such as Na and K and are low in some trace elements and vitamins. They also contain high levels of unsaturated fats which depress fibre digestion and voluntary dry matter intake (Miller et al., 1970). This effect can be partly overcome by supplementation with calcium carbonate (El Hag et al., 1972) probably by the formation of insoluble calcium soaps of fatty acids in the rumen. Based on these considerations a mineral/vitamin mix was designed specifically to supplement these materials.
Effect of carcass manipulation on muscle collagen
Authors: Dawson J. M. , Buttery P. J. , Gill M. , Beever D. E. 
Published: June 2019

The amount of connective tissue in meat is believed to be one of several factors which affect meat tenderness. Collagen, the major protein component of connective tissue in muscle, exists as an aggregate of three polypeptide chains, stabilized by intra- and inter-molecular cross-links. The degree of cross-linking determines its solubility to heat and affects the amount which is reduced to gelatine on cooking. This factor is now believed to be an equally important determinant of meat tenderness.The aim of this work was to determine the effect of three different methods of carcass manipulation on muscle composition in young steers with particular reference to their effects on muscle collagen.Twenty four Friesian steers (12 weeks age, 113± 6 kg) were offered silage ad libitum either alone (12 animals) or supplemented with 150g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter (DM). Half of the animals offered fishmeal-supplemented silage were also ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β. Six animals offered silage alone were also administered the β-agonist cimaterol via subcutaneously implanted osmotic mlnipumps (0.06 mg cimaterol/kg liveweight/d).
Factors Affecting Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cows
Authors: Russel A.J.F. , Wright I.A. , Hunter E.A. 
Published: June 2019

Successful and timely rebreeding is of major importance to the economics of suckler cow enterprises. Research into the causes of reprodutive failure and extended calving intervals can be difficult, not least because of the need for experiments involving large numbers of animals if statistically significant treatment effects are to be demonstrated. Useful information however, can be obtained from the analysis of data derived from a number of relatively small-scale experiments, not necessarily on reproduction per se, but in which records of reproductive performance are available.This paper deals with the analysis of data on the reproductive performance of beef cows used in a number of experiments on the effects of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on components of production such as milk yield and composition, calf birth weight and early calf growth rate. The objective of the analysis was to identify the major factors affecting calving interval and to quantify the magnitude of the effects of these factors.
Comparison of rapeseed meal, sunflower and soyabean meals as protein sources in concentrates for milking cows
Authors: Vincent Isobel C. , R. Hill  , Campling R.C. 
Published: June 2019

A compound feed that is designed to be given in equal amounts with cereals for milk production would contain about 30% crude protein, and if rapeseed meal were the major high protein supplement to be used along with cereal, about 60% would need to be included. No observations have been reported in which this high proportion of rapeseed meal has been used and the experiment described was planned to provide this information, using low glucosinolate rapeseed meal. The control diet contained soyabean meal in place of rapeseed meal, and a third compound was used containing sunflower meal seed as the major protein supplement.Thirty-nine Friesian cattle were used in a randomised block design: the three treatments, compounds containing low glucosinolate rapeseed meal, sunflower seed meal and soyabean meal, were applied for 16 weeks. There were 21 cows and 18 heifers, the mean days in milk at the start of the experiment was 62 days and the mean yield over the previous two weeks was 26.9 kg.
Protein sources for monogastric and ruminant livestock in the cauca valley of colombia
Authors: Cruz M L , Preston T R , Speedy A W 
Published: June 2019

Almost all attempts to improve animal production systems in developing countries have failed because they relied on the transfer of technologies from developed countries. Livestock production systems in industrialized conuntries have high rates of animal productivity, which at the same time require high quality feeds, rich in energy and protein. Most developed countries are located in temperate climates in which cereals and high quality feeds and grains can be readily grown and have the currency to provide all the fossil fuel inputs required.In order for Third World countries, located mostly in tropical regions, to adapt these systems, they must import exotic livestock and provide the high level of feeding at high cost. The transferred system has led to a loss of interest in indigenous breeds and local resources.It is clear that there is a great need for new rural development strategies that should take into account not only food production but also renewable energy resources, employment generation, self reliance and protection of the enviroment. This strategy includes selection of crops and cropping systems which maximize biomass production, nitrogen fixation and minimize the use of imported or expensive inputs.
Predicting the time of ovulation in dairy cows using milk progesterone kits
Authors: McLeod B.J. , Weller R.F. , Phipps R.H. , Foulkes J.A. 
Published: June 2019

Poor reproductive performance of dairy herds is seldom attributable to a high incidence of embryonic loss or to long periods of anoestrus, but is generally due to the failure to inseminate cows that are cycling normally.Even in the best managed herds, oestrus detection rates rarely exceed 70-80%, and often 10-20% of non-oestrous animals may be recorded as being on heat. These shortcomings in oestrus detection can be overcome by monitoring oestrous cycles in Individual animals, thus enabling the time of ovulation to be predicted. For example, when cows that failed to show oestrus, were inseminated on the basis of milk progesterone profiles, the conception rates achieved were similar to those in cows inseminated at observed oestrus (Ball and Jackson, 1979). In addition, in groups of animals inseminated at progesterone-timed rather than at observed oestrus, the number of cows served over a one-cycle period increased dramatically (98 v 71%), and days from calving to first service decreased (78 v 92 days), (Foulkes, Cookson and Sauer, 1982). In this study, the feasibility of using on-farm milk progesterone kits as a practical method of predicting ovulation, and its effects on herd reproductive performance were assessed.
The rumen solubility of a calcium soap of palm fatty acids
Authors: Givens D I , Everington Jeannie M , Shepperson N 
Published: June 2019

Several experiments have shown (see Armstrong and Ross, 1968) that the addition of fats to ruminant diets can lead to a reduction in the digestibilities of forage cell walls due to adverse effects on the rumen microflora. Jenkins and Palmquist (1982) showed in vitro that the in situ formation of calcium soaps in the rumen could prevent this problem. Subsequently Jenkins and Palmquist (1984) have provided evidence that the feeding of preformed calcium soaps of tallow and soya oil fatty acids to dairy cows allowed normal rumen digestion of cell walls whereas non-saponified tallow fatty acids caused cell wall digestibility to be reduced.Givens et al (1988) reported that a calcium soap of palm fatty acids (Protector, UFAC-UK Ltd) did not cause any reduction in the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) when fed to sheep at up to 152.4 gkg-1 of total diet dry matter (DM). Since it is believed that these beneficial effects of calcium soaps are due to their reduced rumen solubility, the present experiment has examined this aspect in further detail.
An evaluation of by-products from wheat distillation as feeds for ruminant livestock
Authors: Taylor Linda M , Parkins J J 
Published: June 2019

During the distillation of wheat to produce whisky, two residual products are formed. These are the spent grains and a thick syrup resulting from evaporation of the liquor remaining after the whisky has been distilled off. These by-products may be combined to form undried dark grains (UDG) or further dried and pelleted to form wheat distillers dark grains (WDDG). UDG and WDDG were evaluated as feeds for ruminant livestock.WDDG had the appearance of a typical concentrate pellet, dark brown in colour with a molasses like malty odour. UDG was lighter brown in colour but formed a dark brown surface crust on exposure to air. The bulk of the material had a granular putty-like texture and a smell akin to that of WDDG. Compositions of the two by-products and that of distillers dark grains derived from barley fernentation alone are given in Table 1.
Digestibility of diets differing in rumen degradability of protein as affected by sex and species
Authors: Topps J.H. , Nurul Islam Md , Broadbent P.J. 
Published: June 2019

Insufficient information is available on Whether significant differences exist between digestive efficiency of pregnant cattle and sheep and that of the corresponding male castrates. The latter animals are invariably used to obtain digestibility values for foods or diets Which are applied to other ruminant animals including pregnant females. Three experiments have been undertaken in Which the digestibility of two diets fed at two levels Was compared in eWes and Wethers (two experiments) and steers and heifers (one experiment). For each species the females Were in the last trimester of pregnancy.The diets were similar to those used in recent Work on pregnant cows and designed to contain a similar amount of RDP, but different amounts of UDP i.e. 0.17 (low) and 0.29 (high) of total crude protein. The low UDP diet contained (on dry matter basis) barley straw (0.39), barley grain (0.40), molassed meal (0.Z0) and urea (0.01). The high UDP diet contained (on DM basis) barley straw (0.38), barley grain (0.18), malt distillers dark grains (0.11) and special propietary cubes (0.33). The levels of feeding were 1.0 and 1.5 x maintenance.
The effect of silage preference on the performance of dairy cows
Authors: Heller R.F. , Phipps R.H. 
Published: June 2019

Numerous factors such as the digestibility value, fermentation characteristics and chop length of silage have all been shown to increase the intake and performance of dairy cows.Although the effect of silage preference has been examined with young stock and dry cows there has only been a limited number of studies involving lactating cows.The aim of the present trial was to determine the effect on intake and performance of lactating dairy cows offered either grass silage alone, a mixture of grass and maize silages blended in a ratio of 1:2 or a free choice of grass and maize silages.Thirty-three British Friesians in weeks 17-24 of lactation were used in the study. All animals received 6 kg/d of a concentrate supplement containing 190 g/kg DM of crude protein and 12.8 MJ ME/kg CM and allowed ad libitum access to the silages.
Design of multivariate selection experiments to estimate genetic parameters
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Thompson R. 
Published: June 2019

Precise, unbiased estimates of genetic parameters, such as heritability and genetic covariance, are necessary to optimise breeding programs and to predict rates of change for various selection schemes. A classical method of estimation is to use high and low selection experiments. We consider two generation selection experiments when observations in the parental generation are only taken on one sex, resulting in half-sib family information. We consider cases of two standardised traits, with zero mean and unit variance, and assume that the traits are normally distributed. The genetic and phenotypic variance-covariance matrices for the traits are denoted by G and P respectively. The genetic variances and covariances of the standardised traits are then heritabilities and co-heritabilities.The construction of other designs is examined, assuming the phenotypic correlation of rp between traits is known. For simplicity, comparisons of designs are developed by considering the variance of the genetic variances when the traits are uncorrelated both phenotypically and genetically.
Lamb production in mature scottish blackface ewes treated with fecundin ® and veramix sponges®
Authors: McClelland T.H. , Waterhouse A. , Logue D.N. 
Published: June 2019

The availability of the vaccine Fecundin ® (Coopers Animal Health) could have far reaching effects on commercial lamb production in the UK. Immunisation with Fecundin is claimed to increase ovulation rate with a corresponding effect on subsequent lambing rate.Trials in Australia, New Zealand and the UK have produced responses to immunisation in lambing percentage (lambs reared/100 ewes mated) ranging from −5% to +67%. The trial being reported set out to examine the effect of treatment with and without oestrus synchronisation in an upland flock of Scottish Blackface ewes being crossed with Texel rams and with a normal lambing percentage of around 130.One hundred and sixty nine 1, 2 and 3 crop (2.5,3.5 and 4.5 year old) Scottish Blackface ewes were allocated in September 1984 between four treatments on the basis of age, liveweight and condition score.
The effect on fertility of fecundin used together with PMSG and progestagen in early lambing mule ewes
Authors: Logue D.N. , Gill A. , McClelland T.H. 
Published: June 2019

Observations of the effect of the immunogen ovandrotone-albumin (Fecundin ® Coopers Animal Health) when used in ewes mated in their breeding season have shown that with a boost-tupping interval (BT) of 21 days for natural oestrus and 28 days for synchronised oestrus there was an increased fecundity but that treated ewes lambed a little later than controls.While this latter effect was not dramatic it was felt advisable to investigate the use of Fecundin as a means of boosting lamb production in an early lambing flock in conjunction with progestagen and PMSG treatments.
Animal fats and health
Authors: James W. P. T. 
Published: June 2019

The new concern in Britain which links diet to health is likely to have a major impact on the agricultural and food industries. Five years ago consumers were not interested in the health issue but now consumer groups are lobbying for change. Health has become the second most important factor considered by a housewife when shopping for her family, the first being whether the food is appetizing.Both the DHSS and MAFF have accepted, the 1984 COMA panel's report on diet and cardiovascular disease which sets out a programme of preventive measures with recommendations to the general public, medical practitioners, health educators, food producers, manufacturers, distributors and caterers and to Government. Specific changes in the British diet are advocated for the first time with a suggested reduction in saturated fat intake of 25% and in total fat of 15%.
A Comparison of the Hennessy Lamb Probe, Ruler Probe and Visual Fat Scores for Use in Sheep Carcass Classification
Authors: Chadwick J P , Kempster A J , Homer D L M 
Published: June 2019

1Visual assessments of subcutaneous fat cover are used in the Meat and Livestock Commission's Sheep Carcass Classification Scheme to estimate meat yield. (Details of the scheme have been given by Meat and Livestock Commission, 1980.) The scheme is operated in over 100 abattoirs and covers approximately 0.25 of the GB kill. Objective measures of fatness may improve the precision of predicting carcass composition, aid standardisation and stimulate the uptake of the scheme by creating greater confidence.2Previous MLC trials with either a simple Ruler Probe or equipment developed for use in pig carcass classification such as optical or automatic-recording probes have indicated only moderate success with sheep carcasses. The precision achieved with probe measurements was no better than visual scores, but additional precision resulted from combining both techniques (Kempster, Chadwick, Cue, Grantley-Smith, 1986).
How well do bacon grade schedules reflect carcass composition?
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Monk A. S. 
Published: June 2019

Most bacon carcasses in Britain are measured, within the national Pig Carcase Classification Scheme operated by the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC), for P2 fat thickness, shoulder and loin fat thicknesses and carcass length. Bacon curers use these measurements to define the grading schedules most appropriate to their buying requirements.There is debate about the value of mid-line fat measurements and length as indicators of carcass quality. The scientific evidence indicates that mid-line measurements are less precise predictors of carcass lean content than P2, and that the mid-line loin measurement is superior to the mid-line shoulder measurement.However, it is argued that the mid-line measurements may have special regional value: eg as predictors of carcass lean content in individual joints. The analysis reported uses a computer model (PIGRADER) to examine overall lean in carcass, the composition of individual joints and joint proportions for alternative grading schedules.
Silage: pollution problems and their avoidance
Authors: Castle M.E. 
Published: June 2019

Pollution problems caused by silage are mainly odour and effluent production.Odour can be virtually eliminated by ensuring a satisfactory silage fermentation, i.e. a low pH and a low ammonia concentration in the total nitrogen. This can be achieved by following the basic rules of good silage making, including the correct use of an effective acid additive.Effluent is the major problem, particularly when it enters drains and water courses. This is because a typical effluent will have a pH of approximately 4.0 and a high 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5) up to 90 000 mg O2, per 1. This compares with BOD5, values of 5000 and 500 mg O2 per 1 in cow slurry and untreated domestic sewage respectively. Thus silage effluent in water courses removes the dissolved oxygen and will kill fish and other aquatic fauna. Effluent from a silo containing 300 t of low dry matter (DM) silage is equivalent in BOD5 to the daily sewage from a town of 80 000 people.
Reproductive problems and targets in commercial pig breeding units
Authors: Riley J E 
Published: June 2019

The objective of the commercial pig breeder is, normally, profit per sow place per annum. Pigs reared per sow place per annum must be optimised to cover the fixed and variable costs of the business and leave an acceptable financial surplus. “Optimising output” is emphasised because in the late 1970s and early 1980s conmercial pig breeders were often encouraged to maximise sow output at any cost. The efficiency parameter “pigs reared per sow place per annum” takes into account the fact that many units run below capacity increasing the costs both fixed and variable carried by the sows actually in the herd. In a herd producing 20 pigs per sow per annum each 5% shortfall in herd size is equivalent to a reduction of one pig per sow per annum.Every producer should assess the resources at his disposal namely capital, labour, buildings, stock, etc. and then optimise sow output within the limitations imposed by those resources. Output from the breeding herd is dependent on pigs born alive per litter, piglet survival rate, the interval from weaning to successful service, lactation length and the ability to maintain herd size.