bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrition management of growing pigs
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Green D. M. , Schofield C. P. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractNutritional management of pigs to optimise growth demands pig-specific, time-specific and place-specific determination and provision of nutritional requirement. These elements need to be incorporated into response prediction models that operate in a real-time (not retrospective) closed-loop control environment. This implies appropriate means for the on-line measurement of response to change in nutrient provision, and the simultaneous means for manipulation of feeding level and feed quality. The paper describes how response prediction modelling and response measurement may now be achieved. Optimisation may be pursued with mixed objectives, including those of production efficiency and environmental protection.
Applications of process control techniques in poultry production
Authors: Aerts J.-M. , Wathes C. M. , Berckmans D. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe application of modern process control techniques to poultry production is outlined. Compact dynamic data-based models are proposed to describe and control the metabolic responses of broiler chickens to variations in the micro-environment. The dynamic response of heat production to step changes in air temperature and light intensity could be modelled with a, on average, of 0.83 and 0.93 respectively. Using recursive parameter estimation techniques, the time-variant response of animal growth to food supply could be predicted on-line with a prediction error of a maximum of 5%, three to seven days ahead depending on the type of feeding schedule. We argue that the potential conflicts between the environmental, financial and biological pressures on sustainable poultry production can be resolved through the development of integrated management systems using process control techniques.
The effect of reducing feed intake following insemination on embryo survival in cattle
Authors: Dunne L.D. , Diskin M.G. , Sreenan J.M. 
Published: June 2019

In farm animals early embryonic loss is recognised as a major cause of reproductive wastage. In sheep and pigs there is evidence that high energy intakes prior to ovulation and in early pregnancy depress systemic progesterone with a detrimental effect on embryo survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short term nutritional changes pre- and post-insemination on embryo survival and systemic progesterone in cattle. Preliminary results have been presented previously (Dunne etal., 1997).Oestrus was synchronised in 247 beef cross heifers aged 18-24 months using two injections of prostaglandin (PG) administered 10 days apart. At the oestrus following the first PG injection heifers were allocated to either a Low (L, 0.6 M) or High (H, 2.3M) pasture allowance for the 10 day period prior to artificial insemination (AI). AI was carried out at the oestrus following the second PG injection using semen from a single Limousin bull. On the day following AI, heifers were randomly reallocated to either a L or H pasture allowance until embryo recovery at day 14 to 16 or pregnancy diagnosis at Day 30.
The effect of body composition at farrowing and subsequent protein intake on performance and lactational oestrus in gilts following modification of the suckling stimulus
Authors: Sinclair A.G. , Bland V.C. , Edwards S.A. 
Published: June 2019

Reproductive performance of modern lean genotypes of pig has been shown to be particularly sensitive to dietary protein (Sinclair et al. 1996, Cia et al. 1998). This experiment examined the effect of modifying body protein : lipid ratio at different absolute protein mass on ovarian function in lactating gilts. A partial weaning technique was used to increase the potential sensitivity of the reproductive axis to differing lactational dietary protein levels.A 3x2 factorial experiment involving 60 first parity sows compared 3 different pregnancy feeding strategies and 2 lactation diets. During pregnancy, sows were fed from day 42 either a set quantity (mean of 2.27 kg/day) of basal diet (5 g lysine, 13 MJ DE/kg[C]), or basal diet + energy (maize starch + soya oil in 3:1 ratio [E]), or additional basal diet supplying both protein and energy [P]. Lactation diets provided either high (180 g CP/kg, 9g lysine/kg [H]) or low lysine (120 g CP/kg, 6g lysine/kg [L]) and were formulated to be isoenergetic (14.5 MJ DE/kg) and fed to appetite. From day 21 of lactation, sows were separated from their litters and housed next to a boar for 8 hours each day; final weaning occurred on day 31.
The effect of pre-weaning environment on piglets' post weaning behaviour
Authors: Cox L. , Cooper J.J. 
Published: June 2019

A number of welfare and production problems are associated with weaning piglets including belly-nosing, ear and tail-biting, depressed immune responses, low intake of pelleted feed and impaired growth rate. These problems are, however, less pronounced in piglets reared on outdoor systems, which initially consume more pelleted food and show less belly-nosing and ear and tail biting than comparable indoor reared piglets. The objective of this study was to investigate how these differences in post weaning behaviour relate to the piglets' pre-weaning behaviour in the two rearing environments.The study was carried out on a 200 sow breeding herd (Camborough line 12) with sows equally divided between extensive and intensive systems. In the intensive system, sows were singly housed prior to farrowing in crates and their piglets received a pelleted “creep” feed prior to weaning. On the outdoor system, sows were allowed to build straw nests in arks for farrowing and both sow and piglets had access to pasture. Each ark had observation holes in the front and back to allow sampling of the piglet's behaviour without disturbing the sow. Indoor and outdoor piglets were weaned at three weeks of age and mixed together in groups of 90-120 in straw-yard housing with access to a pelleted feed.
The effect of flight distance on aggression and skin damage of newly weaned sows at mixing
Authors: Kay R. M. , Burfoot A. , Spoolder H. A. M. , Docking C. M. 
Published: June 2019

The mixing of unfamiliar sows at weaning results in the establishment of dominance hierarchies, frequently involving aggression. In commercial situations, with limited available flight distances, this can result in injuries and poor sow welfare. The objectives of this study were to measure flight and chase distances, and the incidence of aggressive interactions and levels of skin damage that occur when newly weaned sows were mixed in a large area where flight and chase distances were unlikely to be limiting.Eight replicate groups of six unfamiliar sows were mixed in an arena (18x10.5m) at weaning. The sows were mixed at 09.00 h on Day 1, removed on Day 2 at 08.00 h for feeding in individual stalls, and returned to the arena at 09.00 h. Sows were observed directly from 09.00 h to 16.00 h on Day 1, and from 09.00 h to 13.00 h on Day 2. Video tape records were taken continuously for 28 hours from 09.00 h on Day 1. All aggressive interactions were recorded and categorised into three classes: brief (single knock, snap or bite), one-sided fight (no retaliation by defender), or two-sided fight (defender retaliates).
Effect of maize silage maturity on digestibility and energy balance of lactating cows
Authors: Sutton J.D. , Cammell S.B. , Beever D.E. , Phipps R.H. , Humphries D.J. 
Published: June 2019

Increasing maturity at harvest of maize silage has been shown to affect feed intake and milk production in Holstein-Friesian cows (Phipps et al., 1998). The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether the milk production response was related to improvements in the efficiency of feed energy utilisation.Four multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows (mean live weight 620 kg) fitted with permanent cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were given diets based on maize silage and grass silage (3:1 DM ratio) offered ad libitum plus 8.7 kg DM/day of a concentrate (254 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM) starting 5-10 weeks post-calving. The maize silage was harvested at four different stages of maturity as defined by DM content and ensiled without additives. The grass silage was a first-cut perennial ryegrass (260 g DM/kg, 519 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM, 146 g CP/kg DM).
Prediction of carcass composition in meat breeds of sheep using computer tomography
Authors: Young M.J. , Lewis R.M. , McLean K.A. , Robson N.A.A. , Fraser J. , Fitzsimons J. , Donbavand J. , Simm G. 
Published: June 2019

Ultrasound imaging has proved a very useful tool for the modern animal breeder wishing to improve carcass composition. However, more accurate imaging technologies, such as X-ray Computer Tomography (CT), could accelerate genetic improvement of carcass composition, and widen the range of traits assessed (e.g. by considering deeper tissues). Carcass quality is assuming more importance for breeders but quality traits are difficult to assess objectively and accurately in live sheep. The present study was designed to identify a few CT scan positions from which accurate prediction of dissected tissue weights could be made in meat sheep.One hundred Suffolk lambs (50 of each sex) were CT scanned and slaughtered at 14, 18, 22 or 26 weeks of age (59±16kg LW, range 20-96kg). Each animal was scanned at seven sites; three in the gigot (ISC, caudal ischium; FEM, mid-shaft of femur; HIP, hip joint), two in the loin (LV5 and LV2, 5th and 2nd lumbar vertebrae) and two in the chest/ shoulder (TV8 and TV6, 8th and 6th thoracic vertebrae).
Mapping genes for growth and fatness in pigs with data from international studies
Authors: Walling G.A. , Visscher P.M. , Andersson L. , Rothschild M.F. , Moser G. , Groenen M.A.M. , Bidanel J.P. , Haley C.S. 
Published: June 2019

The use of genetic markers to identify regions of the genome associated with variation in quantitative traits (QTL) is now widespread. Several studies have attempted to find QTLs for growth and fatness in pigs. Since the first published study (Anderssonet al., 1994) many groups have found effects on chromosome 4, albeit with different breeds. In theory, joint analysis offers considerable potential to extract additional information from the data. This study aims to investigate the benefits and drawbacks of joint analysis.Data on birth weight (BWT), growth rate to end of test or slaughter (GRE) and average backfat depth (BF) were supplied from seven different pig populations in six countries. The data from Scotland, France, USA, Netherlands and half of the data from Germany were Meishan (MS) x commercial F2populations. Data from Sweden and the remaining German data were from wild boar (WB) x commercial F2populations. A total of 31 different markers were used, all on chromosome 4.
Effect of parity number on growth pattern and carcass measurements of continental cross suckler cows under lowland conditions
Authors: Patterson D.C. , Moore C.A. , Steen R.W.J. , Kilpatrick D.J. 
Published: June 2019

The objective was to examine the effects of parity of cows at slaughter on the growth and development of the carcass, and changes in carcass composition in continental suckler cows in a lowland beef system.The experiment had a factorial design based on the factors : parity and level of finish. The parity treatments were parities: 0 (maiden), 1, 3 and 5. The levels of finish were medium (fat class 3) and high (fat class 4 L). A group of three Blonde d’Aquitaine AI sires was common to parities 1, 3 and 5. Mean lactation length was 163 days which was spent at pasture. Animals for the medium level of finish were slaughtered at the point of service (maiden heifers) or at weaning (parities 1, 3 and 5), while high finish animals all had an additional finishing period on a grass silage/concentrate diet. A total of 77 animals of ¾ Charolais genotype were slaughtered within the experimental design with approximately equal numbers of animals slaughtered within each treatment.
The effect of housing system on the behaviour, welfare and performance of beef cattle
Authors: Lowe D.E. , Steen R.W.J. , Beattie V.E. , Moss B.W. 
Published: June 2019

There is increasing public concern about the welfare of farm animals and one of the issues recently raised has been the use of totally slatted floors for rearing and finishing beef cattle. The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects of using different types of floors in accommodation for beef cattle on the performance, physiology and behaviour of beef cattle.Sixty Continental-cross steers (mean initial live weight 450 (s.e.m. 2.5) kg) were blocked according to live weight and randomly assigned to one of three floor types, namely fully slatted floors, fully slatted floors covered with perforated rubber mats or solid floors bedded with straw. There were four pens of five animals in each treatment. Daily food intakes and live-weight and carcass weight gains were determined for a mean duration of 139 days. Each individual animal was observed directly, once per week.
Use of near infrared spectroscopy for beef meat quality assessment: can NIRS measure tissue vitamin E?
Authors: Thomas E , Scaife J R , Murray I. , Rutter A , Cowie E , Colquhoun G 
Published: June 2019

Assessment of the quality characteristics of meat is time consuming and, due to the heterogeneity of muscle tissue, is subject to considerable variability. A cheap, fast, accurate and non-destructive method of assessment of meat with the potential to predict subsequent quality, would be useful to the meat industry. Near infra red spectroscopy (NIRS) offers this potential for rapid quality assessment and has been shown to be a valuble tool in the evaluation of a variety of meats (Cozzolino et al 1996)Twenty beef bulls were selected from a commercial herd. Ten bulls (group US) were fed a standard barley-based ration consisting of (g kg–1 DM) barley, 900; GFS Beef 34 protein pellets, 100. Ten bulls (group S) were fed an identical ration supplemented with α-tocopherol acetate (ATA). The average daily intake of these diets was 10 kg DM head-1 d-1 over 100 days prior to slaughter.
The effect of feeding a diet high in fibre during the rearing period on reproduction in gilts
Authors: Glasgow V.L. , Edwards S.A. , McEvoy T.G. , Shanks M. 
Published: June 2019

Feeding diets high in fibre to breeding sows has been found to have a positive effect on reproductive performance. Danske Slagterier (1994) found a significant increase in litter size when sows were fed a diet containing high levels of unmolassed sugar beet pulp (USBP) during pregnancy and lactation. Litter size is influenced by two main factors; ovulation rate and embryo survival. Glasgow et al (1996) found no increase in ovulation rate in gilts fed high USBP diets. This experiment was designed to assess the effect of feeding a high USBP diet on endocrinology and early embryo viability.The experiment was of a randomised block design incorporating two diets; a cereal based diet (C) and a diet containing 50% unmolassed sugar beet (HF). 72 gilts of lean genotype (Newsham Hybrids) were allocated to treament at 138 days of age, housed in groups of 6 and had liveweight and backfat thickness recorded fortnightly. For the first 8 weeks, HF gilts were fed ad-libitum and C gilts were pair fed to the same daily energy intake. Subsequently, gilts were floor fed isoenergetically at a flat rate of 2.8 kg/d (HF) and 2.3 kg/d (C).
Factors effecting the feeding value of maize and grass silage in late lactation dairy cows
Authors: Mulligan F.J. , O'Mara F.P. , Rath M. , Caffrey P.J. , Callan J. , Flynn B. 
Published: June 2019

Higher dry matter intakes (DMI) have been reported in dairy cows fed maize silage than in dairy cows fed grass silage. The objective of this experiment was to investigate this phenomenon by the measurement of digestibility and the determination of rumen outflow rates for both forages. The response in milk production of late lactation dairy cows to grass or maize silage was also measured.Fourteen late lactation multiparous dairy cows (n = 7) were fed diets containing either grass silage (GS) (DM: 197g/kg; pH: 4.05; NDF: 642g/kg DM) or high starch maize silage (MS) (DM: 339g/kg; pH: 3.94; starch: 360g/kg DM; NDF: 442g/kg DM) ad-libitum plus 4kgs/hd/day of a dairy concentrate (233g CP/kg DM). Urea (460g N/kg DM) was used as a source of degradable protein (10g/kg DM) for the MS diet which also included straw (40g/kg DM). Dietary NDF equalled 542 and 423g/kg DM for the GS and MS diet.
Effect of conditioning feed flavour to rumen distension in cows
Authors: Klaiss M , Forbes J M 
Published: June 2019

Inflation of a balloon in the rumen of forage-fed ruminant animals depresses intake. This might be due to the unpleasant over-stimulation of stretch receptors or to mimicking the pleasant after-effects of eating. If the former then cows would be expected to avoid stimuli which they had learned to associate with distension, while if the latter, they should be attracted to such stimuli. The experiment reported here paired small meals of flavoured concentrates with inflation of a balloon in the rumen of dry cows on several occasions and examined their subsequent preferences for the flavour of concentrates.12 individually-tethered adult Holstein cows, neither pregnant nor lactating, were fed freshly-chopped sugar cane ad libitum with 4 kg/day soya bean meal sprinkled over it. At 1200 h the basal food was removed and 30 min later 6 cows had a balloon inserted into the rumen via a cannula which was filled with 12 litres of water and remained in place for 120 min.
Effect of crude protein concentration on urinary excretion of purine derivatives in growing heifers fed concentrate and barley straw on an ad libitum basis
Authors: Devant M. , Pérez J. F. , Plaixats J. , Ferret A. , Caja G. 
Published: June 2019

The amount and source of nitrogen required to optimize microbial protein synthesis has been widely discussed in the literature. However, information available on factors affecting microbial protein synthesis in young heifers fed high concentrate diets is limited. Our objective was to study the effect of CP concentration on ruminal fermentation and urinary excretion of purine derivatives, used as an index of microbial yield, in heifers fed concentrate and barley straw, both ad libitum, from 100 to 230 kg LW.Ten crossbreed beef heifers (101±4.5 kg LW), of which 6 where ruminally cannulated, were individually penned and randomly offered (115% of previous day consumption) a concentrate (14%, L or 17%, H) and barley straw diet once daily. Concentrates (H and L) were composed of ground corn (32; 38%), barley (27%), cassava (17%) and sunflower meal (5.8%) and soya bean meal included either at 16% or 9%, respectively.
A comparative study of dry matter intake and digestive pool variations in Manchega and Lacaune dairy sheep
Authors: Molina E. , Ferret A. , Caja G. , Calsamiglia S. , Gasa J. 
Published: June 2019

Manchega (MN) and Lacaune (LC) are two semi-coarse-wooled dairy breeds with similar size but different milk yield, the latter producing twice as much milk as the former (Pérez, 1997). The aim of this experiment was to compare, under the same feed conditions, dry matter intake and performance in late pregnancy and lactation and digestive pools of these two breeds.Twenty-four ewes, 12 per breed, were used in three different periods: late pregnancy (8 weeks), rearing (5 weeks) and milking (7 weeks). At lambing, average body weight was 74.4 vs 78.5 kg, for LC and MN, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI), apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD), body condition score (BCS) and milk yield (MY) standardized according to Bocquier et al. (1993) were recorded.
The Effect Of Forage Maize Hybrid Type On Site Of Digestion In Sheep
Authors: Kamalak A. , Parker D.S. , Finlayson H.J. , Hooper P. 
Published: June 2019

The introduction of new forage maize hybrids has provided feed raw materials with a range of nutritional characteristics. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the impact of feeding different hybrids of forage maize on the overall digestibility of feed components and rumen degradability of starch in sheep.Four forage maize hybrids from different sites within the UK[NANCIS(A) and EMA(B)] and France[Hybrid 6196 High Oil (C) and Volgata Waxy(D)] were ensiled in sealed drums with no additives. The resultant silages were used as the basis for a digestibility trial using four fistulated Suffolk X wethers in a 4 X 4 factorial design. Sheep were fed twice daily with total intake of 900 g DM of silage plus 150g Soya Bean Meal. After an adaptation period (21d) a 5 day total collection of faeces was carried out followed by a rumen degradability study.
Effects of diets formulated to contain similar amounts of ERDP with different protein sources on ruminal peptide-N concentrations in Iranian Baloochi lambs
Authors: Danesh Mesgaran M , Moosavi A R H 
Published: June 2019

Peptides are intermediates in the conversion of ingested protein to ammonia in the rumen and their accumulation depends upon the nature of dietary protein (Mesgaran & Parker, 1995). In addition, It has been demonstrated that the hydrolysis rate of peptides was influenced by peptide structure and that proline containing peptides were hydrolysed more slowly by rumen fluid (Mesgaran & Parker, 1996). The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of altering the sources of protein, in diets with similar effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP), on the ruminal peptide-N concentrations.Four Iranian Baloochi lambs weighing 33±1.3 Kg, each with a permanent rumen fistula, were fed twice daily with diets differing in protein sources in a 42 latin square design. The diets consisted of a basal diet of chopped lucerne, barely and sugar beet pulp (190, 230 and 170 g DM d–1, respectively) which was supplemented with lucerne (L), cottonseed meal (C), soybean meal (S) or molasses+urea (M+U) (210, 118, 84 and 80+9 g DM d–1, respectively).
The CAMDA sheep breeding scheme: I. Estimation of genetic parameters for 18-week weight
Authors: Aslaminejad A. A. , Lewis R. M. , Roden J. A. , Fowler V.R. 
Published: June 2019

The CAMDA group breeding scheme was established in 1976. Its objective is to increase lamb growth rate, mature size and maternal ability of the Welsh Mountain sheep while retaining their hardiness and breed type. The opportunity to achieve this goal depends on the extent of genetic variation within the breed for these traits. The objective of this study was to estimate the amount of variation in 18-week live weight attributable to the lamb genotype (direct) and dam maternal ability, both genetic and environmental, in Welsh Mountain sheep within this scheme.A total of 12954 records of 18-week live weight of Welsh Mountain lambs collected between 1976 and 1995 from 4 flocks of the CAMDA scheme were considered. The data were edited for small contemporary groups and for incomplete performance or pedigree recording.
The CAMDA sheep breeding scheme: II. Genetic progress over twenty years
Authors: Aslaminejad A. A. , Lewis R. M. , Roden J. A. , Fowler V.R. 
Published: June 2019

Two aspects of the CAMDA group breeding scheme is to improve lamb growth rate and the mothering ability of Welsh Mountain sheep. Genetic variation for these traits is present (Aslaminejadet al., 1999) but the rate of genetic progress depends on the selection decisions made within the scheme. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic gain achieved in the nucleus and members’ flocks over the 20 years since the scheme began.A total of 31887 records of 12 and 18-week live weight of Welsh Mountain lambs collected between 1976 and 1995 in 7 flocks of the CAMDA scheme were used in this study. Each flock was analysed separately fitting a univariate animal model with a direct and maternal random genetic effect. Genetic parameters were estimated using a derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood algorithm (DFREML; Meyer, 1993).