bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicted responses to selection from indices incorporating feeding pattern traits of pigs using electronic feeders
Authors: Hall A. D. , Hill W.G. , Bampton P. R. , Webb A. J. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe main aims of this study were to predict the increase in the accuracy of selection and the response to selection achieved by including feeding pattern traits, such as number and size of meals, as selection criteria in indices to improve growth rate, lean content of the carcass and food conversion ratio. Genetic and phenotypic parameters obtained for pigs given foodad libitumusing single space electronic feeders were used to construct the indices. The predicted genetic gain in the index increased for indices with more feeding pattern traits. The inclusion of part test records for feeding patterns resulted in similar predicted correlated responses and predicted accuracy of selection to those using whole test records of daily food intake. The inclusion of feeding patterns as selection criteria resulted in indices that were less robust to inaccurate parameter estimates. It was concluded that feeding pattern traits could be used to improve the predicted accuracy of selection for the efficiency of lean growth but the most effective and robust index would include only daily gain, backfat depth, daily food intake and mean number of visits to the feeders per day. These traits may also be useful in reducing the length of the test period necessary for accurate measures of food intake, so increasing the potential intensity of selection using a given number of feeders.
The influence of the proportion of Duroc genes on growth, carcass and pork eating quality characteristics
Authors: Blanchard P. J. , Warkup C. C. , Ellis M. , Willis M. B. , Avery P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA study was carried out involving 721 pigs, comprising boars and gilts, with either 0, 0.25 , or 0.50 Duroc inclusion level, which were produced by mating Large White boars with Large White × British Landrace sows, Large White boars with Duroc × (Large White × British Landrace) sows, or Duroc boars with Large White × British Landrace sows, respectively. Animals were reared on one of seven different feeding regimens from 30 to 90 kg live weight. Tissue growth rates were determined using a triple sampling procedure based on a combination of full-side and ham joint dissection on subsamples of pigs (127 and 366 pigs, respectively) and P2 backfat thickness on the remainder. Initial body composition was determined at 30 kg on subsamples of the three genotypes. Daily food intakes increased with increasing Duroc inclusion but live-weight gains were similar for the three genotypes. Lean and fat growth rates and food conversion ratios were greatest for the 0·50 Duroc group, although the genotype differences were small. Killing-out proportions and P2 fat depths were higher for the 0.25 and 0·50 Duroc groups. The proportion of lean in the carcass was lower (P < 0·01) for 0·50 Duroc pigs. Japanese colour scores and EEL reflectance indicated that the longissimus muscle was darker for the 0·25 and 0·50 Duroc genotypes. Subcutaneous fat firmness scores and penetrometer readings taken in the mid back indicated softer fat for the 0 Duroc group. Intramuscular fat levels increased (P < 0·01) with increasing Duroc inclusion (10.4, 11.2, and 18·2 g/kg for the 0, 0.25, and 0.50 groups respectively). Cooked longissimus from pigs with 0·50 Duroc had a lower shear force and was judged to have a stronger pork odour and to be more tender and acceptable than that from the 0 Duroc group. The 0.25 Duroc group showed a small improvement in tenderness but a weaker pork odour and similar overall acceptability compared with the 0 Duroc group. This study suggests that the use of the Duroc in crossing systems in the United Kingdom will have limited impact on growth performance but that 0·50 Duroc inclusion will result in fatter carcasses, higher intramuscular fat levels and improved eating quality.
The use of genetic algorithms for optimizing age structure in breeding populations when inbreeding depresses genetic gain through effects on reproduction
Authors: Meszaros S. A. , Banks R. G. , Werf J. H. J. van der , Goddard M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA genetic algorithm (GA) was used to find optimal male and female age distributions in a natural mating system that maximizes cumulative response to mass selection over a 20-year time horizon for the case where inbreeding affects reproduction at 0·0 (F-0) and 0·1 (F-10) per 0·1 inbreeding coefficient. Twenty breeding female population sizes were considered ranging from 25 to 500 breeding females distributed across five age groups. Loss of response due to inbreeding effects on reproduction ranged from 19.4% and 15.5% in small breeding female populations to 2.5% and 5.2% in large breeding female populations when number of males was fixed (FX) or optimized (OP), respectively. OP resulted in an increase in response over FX ranging from 0·0 % to 69.3% for F-0 and 0·0 % to 77.6% for F-10. The potential loss of genetic gain that resulted from ignoring the inbreeding effects upon reproduction when they really existed ranged from 0·1 % to 44.6%. The potential loss of genetic gain that resulted from including inbreeding effects upon reproduction when they did not exist ranged from 0·1% to 3.9%. Optimal male and female age structures depended upon breeding female population size, the number of breeding males and inbreeding effects. Ignoring inbreeding effects upon reproduction may result in over estimation of response to selection. Use of a GA allowed accounting for complex relationships in the optimization.
Effects of age and maternal reactivity on the stress response of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis and the sympathetic nervous system in neonatal pigs
Authors: Kanitz E. , Otten W. , Nürnberg G. , Brüssow K. P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe study was conducted to investigate the adreno cortical capacity after injection of ACTH and the sensitivity of the pituitary and the adrenal to immobilization in neonatal pigs at different ages. Furthermore, the endocrine reactivity of the offspring was compared with the stress reactivity of their mothers. Four piglets were selected from each of six different litters and subjected to an immobilization test and an adrenal function test using synthetic ACTH1-24 at the ages of 7, 21 and 35 days; the six sows were also subjected to restraint and an ACTH stimulation test. Plasma β-endorphin, norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations were measured in blood samples taken 2 min after restraint and cortisol concentrations were measured 60 min after ACTH administration. A highly sensitive adrenal response was demonstrated in both sows and piglets and adrenal reactivity showed also a considerable consistency over time within sows. In neonatal pigs, the cortisol response to ACTH was greatest on day 7 and decreased up to day 35. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels after the 2-min immobilization were also higher at day 7 compared with the other ages (P < 0·01). Piglets from sows, classified as high reacting according to their cortisol or epinephrine response, also showed significantly higher cortisol levels after ACTH challenge at all ages and significantly higher epinephrine levels after restraint at day 7 than piglets from low reacting sows. The results show an age-related change of pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenomedullary responses in neonatal pigs and an absence of a stress hyporesponsive period at all ages studied. The results also indicate different levels of excitability in the offspring depending on the maternal stress reactivity.
A comparison of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface, Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates
Authors: Johnston S. D. , Steen R. W. J. , Kilpatrick D. J. , Lowe D. E. , Chestnutt D. M. B. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA comparison was made over 2 years of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface), Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates under a grass-based system of production. Suffolk Cheviot ewes consumed significantly more silage dry matter than the Greyface ewes in both years of the study. There was no overall difference between Greyface and Suffolk Cheviot ewes in terms of prolificacy. However lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes had a higher growth rate than lambs from Greyface ewes from birth to weaning in year 1 (P < 0·01). In the comparison of the three ewe breeds sired by Dutch Texel rams in year 2, Dutch Texel ewes produced a similar number of lambs to the other genotypes but had a higher incidence of difficult lambings, higher lamb mortality and consequently a lower number of lambs weaned. Purebred Dutch Texel male lambs had lower growth rates than crossbred Dutch Texel lambs (143 compared with 158 glday for lambs from Greyface ewes and 166 (s.e. 13.4) glday for lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes in year 1 and 183 compared with 251 and 248 respectively (s.e. 10.9) glday in year 2). Lambs sired by Suffolk rams had higher growth rates than those sired by Dutch Texel rams (252 compared with 224 (s.e. 5.4) glday) in year 2.
Effect of feeding before, during and after milking on dairy cow behaviour and the hormone cortisol
Authors: Johansson B. , Redbo I. , Svennersten-Sjaunja K. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe present study was performed to find out how dairy cow behaviour and the level of the adrenocortical hormone cortisol were influenced by feeding in relation to milking The experiment was designed as a Latin square and performed on 24 primiparous and multiparous Swedish Red and White dairy cows. Each treatment period lasted for 21 days, including 11 days when the cows became accustomed to the new routines. The cows were exposed to three treatments: feeding 1·5 h before milking (FBM), feeding exactly at the same time as milking (FDM) and feeding 1·5 h after milking (FAM). Recordings of individual behaviour were made with instantaneous direct observation of each cow. For the statistical analyses the recordings were divided into two groups: 0 to 1·5 h after feeding and 0 to 1·5 h after milking. Results with a P-value below 0·05 were regarded as statistically significant. The interesting findings in this study were: (a) 0 to 1·5 h after feeding, the percentage of lying was higher in FDM and the percentage of lying while ruminating was higher in FDM; (b) 0 to 1·5 h after milking, the cows in FAM had a significantly lower percentage of social interactions and a significantly higher percentage of oral activity; and (c) feeding-related level of cortisol stayed higher 30 to 60 min after feeding in FAM compared with FBM and FDM, whereas milking-related cortisol secretion tended to be lower in FDM than in FBM and FAM These results demonstrate that feeding during milking may be an important management routine, also for dairy cow behaviour.
The effect of dietary protein level on milk yield and composition and piglet growth and composition of the Meishan synthetic and European White breeds of sow
Authors: Sinclair A. G. , Shaw J. M. , Edwards S.A. , Hoste S. , McCartney A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCurrent feeding recommendations for lactating sows may be inappropriate for modern genotypes with high milk production. The introduction of the prolific but obese Meishan breed into sow lines also necessitates a review of nutrient requirements. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was used to investigate the influence of breed type (Meishan synthetic 50% (M) and purebred European White (W) on response to dietary protein level (L = 140 g crude protein (CP) per kg, 6 g lysine per kg; H = 181 g CP per kg, 9 g lysine per kg) over a 5-week lactation. Milk yield (days 5, 9, 13,17, 21 and 28), milk composition and piglet growth and body composition were measured to quantify aspects of lactational performance. M had higher litter sizes throughout lactation (P < 0·001) and produced more milk than W(M = 10·04 W = 7·85 (s.e.d. 0·521) kg/day, P < 0·001) and milk of a higher fat content (M = 79·6 W = 75·0 (s.e.d. 5·71 g/kg, P < 0·05). Total solids were not significantly different between treatments. H produced higher milk protein content than L (L = 43·0 H = 55·7 (s.e.d. 3.01) g/kg, P = 0·05). Litter growth rates showed a breed effect (P < 0·001), diet effect (P < 0·001) and a breed × diet interaction (ML = 2·41 MH = 3·21 WL = 2·07 WH = 2·07 (s.e.d. 0·658) kg/day, P < 0·001). M piglets had higher fat deposition rates (M = 37 W = 24 (s.e.d. 4.5) g/day, P < 0·05). L piglets had a lower protein (P < 0·05) and fat (P < 0·05) deposition rate compared with H piglets. Higher litter growth rates of M sows resulted from a combination of increased milk yield and f at content and this was further enhanced by additional dietary protein. W sows showed no milk yield response to dietary protein but reduced maternal tissue catabolism.
Variance components due to direct and maternal effects and estimation of breeding values for 12-week weight of Welsh Mountain lambs
Authors: Saatci M. , Ap Dewi I. , Ulutas Z. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the importance of the genetic and maternal environmental factors influencing the 12-week weight (12WW) of Welsh Mountain lambs and to estimate genetic parameters for this trait. Records of 8880 Welsh Mountain lambs born between 1979 and 1995 were analysed. The records were from the nucleus flock of the CAMDA cooperative breeding group. In this flock selection of replacements had been based on a multi-trait index incorporating lamb growth and maternal ability as important objectives and 12WW as one of the selection criteria. Twelve models were examined, all including direct additive genetic variance and various combinations of genetic and environmental maternal effects. The most appropriate model was chosen based on log-likelihood ratio tests. It included appropriate fixed effects, and direct additive, maternal additive, maternal permanent environment and maternal common environment (litter) random effects that defined proportionally 0⋅21 (h2), 0⋅09 (m2), 0⋅06 (pe2) and 0⋅18 (ce2) of the phenotypic variance. Ignoring the additive maternal effect resulted in inflated estimates of direct heritability and ignoring the environmental effects associated with dam inflated the direct and maternal heritabilities. There was no correlation (P < 0⋅05) between the additive direct and additive maternal effects. Additive direct and maternal breeding values increased by 0⋅12 (s.e. 0⋅006) kg/year and 0Ό3 (s.e. 0⋅003) kg/year respectively. The results demonstrate the effective incorporation of selection index methodology in the context of a hill sheep flock and also the importance of several categories of maternal effects.
Dietary fat and climate alter food intake, performance of lactating sows and their litters and fatty acid composition of milk
Authors: Christon R. , Saminadin G. , Lionet H. , Racon B. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out simultaneously in a temperate environment (T), at Sourches (west France), with 24 Landrace X Large White sows and in a tropical environment (TRO), in Guadeloupe, France (16° latitude N, 61° longitude W), with 18 Large White sows, to study the effect of incorporating fat into the lactation diet on sow and litter performance. In each environment, multiparous sows were divided into three groups and given either a control diet (C) containing 20 g fat per kg, or the same diet enriched with a 50 : 50 peanut-rapeseed oil mixture, so as to obtain a fat content of 80 g/kg (medium fat, MF) or 140 g/kg (high fat, HF). A restricted experimental diet was supplied to the sows from day 105 of gestation until farrowing and then ad libitum throughout the 28-day lactation period. The piglets all had ad libitum access to solid food from day 21 to day 70. Milk samples were collected 24 h post partum (colostrum) and at day 21 of lactation. Chemical composition of milk was determined and fatty acid composition was assessed by capillary gas chromatography. Compared with T, the TRO sows showed an increase (P < 0⋅001) in rectal temperature and respiration rate but a decrease in food intake (P < 0·01), milk yield (P < 0⋅001) and litter weight gain from birth to weaning (P < 0⋅05) as well as from weaning to day 70, reaching 25 to 30 kg live weight (P < 0⋅05). However, as dietary fat level increased, the T sows showed a linear decrease (P < 0⋅01) in food intake and no significant change in metabolizable energy (ME) intake during the lactation period. In TRO, the MF diet led to a 0⋅22 proportional increase (P < 0⋅01) in ME intake through a change in nycthemeral feeding behaviour. Both environment and increased dietary fat level significantly affected the fat level and fatty acid composition of colostrum as well as mature milk, particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in milk. In conclusion, the addition of fat to the lactating sow diet may be more beneficial under high ambient temperatures than in thermoneutral conditions.
Digestion and microbial fermentation ofEragrostis curvulasupplemented with tallow
Authors: Fondevila M. , Cufré G. , Nogueira J.C.M. , Godio L. , Alcantu G. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractTwoin vitroexperiments were conducted in order to determine if microbial fermentation of Eragrostis curvula hay is depressed by high levels of added tallow. Two levels of tallow, to reach 0.06 (T6) and 0.12 (T12) of the ether extract (organic matter basis) in food were compared with a control (T0, 25 g ether extract per kg). The first experiment studied the pattern of gas production. From 24 h onwards, gas volume for T0 was higher (P < 0.05) than for T6 and T12. However, lag time was shorter with tallow, probably because of utilization of the released glycerol. Fermentation of a similar amount of fat included in T6 and T12 as the only substrate (fat-6 and fat-12) depressed gas production compared with the blank, irrespective of fat level. In a second experiment, characteristics of microbial fermentation were studied, including volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, bacterial adhesion to fibrous particles (measured according to purine bases concentration) and polysaccharidase and glycosidase activities, at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h incubation. Total VFA was higher (P < 0.05) in T0 compared with T6 but not with T12. Acetate: propionate ratio diminished with tallow in the food. Higher total xylosidase (P > 0⋅05) and glycosidase (P < 0⋅001) activities were observed for T0 than for T6 and T12 and similar responses were observed regarding specific activities. Bacterial adhesion was not different between T0 and T6 but it was smaller in T12. The inhibition of microbial fermentation by tallow addition is more related to specific polysaccharidase and glycosidase activities, rather than to a depressed bacterial adhesion.
Traceability of lamb production systems: carotenoids in plasma and adipose
tissue
Authors: Prache S. , Theriez M. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
This study was conducted to determine whether carotenoid pigments can act as
biomarkers of grass feeding to trace lamb production systems. Three production
systems were compared: G = grazing (72 lambs), S = stall-feeding (26 lambs), and
GS = grazing period followed by a stall-feeding period (27 lambs). Presence of
carotenoids in tissues was evaluated by plasma concentration and reflectance
spectrum of subcutaneous caudal adipose tissue. Plasma carotenoid content was
measured during the grazing period for G and GS lambs, at the end of the grazing
period for GS lambs and at slaughter for G, S and GS lambs. Reflectance spectrum
of adipose tissue was measured at slaughter for 38 G and 26 S lambs. We collected
135 G and 26 S blood samples. Carotenoids were detected in 97% of the G blood
samples, whereas they were not detected in 93% of the S blood samples. Plasma
carotenoid content of all the GS lambs decreased during the stall-feeding period.
Mean reflectance spectra of adipose tissue of G and S lambs differed between 450
and 510 nm, which corresponds to light absorption by carotenoids. We performed a
mathematical analysis of the spectrum in order to quantify absorbance in this zone
and to propose an index that can be used in the meat industry to trace animal
production systems. This method was less discriminating than plasma carotenoid
analysis, as there was some overlapping in the frequency distribution of the
traceability index for G and S lambs that concerned 19% of the lambs. Sensitivity
of the two methods to bias and applicability to cattle are discussed.
Effects of heat load and photoperiod on milk yield and composition in three
dairy herds in Israel
Authors: Aharoni Y. , Brosh A. , Ezra E. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Effects of heat load and of photoperiod on lactation performance were
evaluated using milk test data of three Israeli Holstein herds over a period of 3
years, from 1994 to 1996. All together 2209 cows, with 28029 milk records, were
included. Photoperiod effects were examined as associated with day length and
daily changes in day length and heat load index was formulated as a function of
the seasonal day and night ambient temperatures, to account for the heat load
effect. The regression model included effects of cow, herd, year, lactation number
and days in milk in addition to the seasonal effects. The dependent variables were
milk yield and fat, protein and lactose concentrations. Milk yield was affected by
both photoperiod and heat load, with the peak photoperiod effect in May and
amplitude of 3·1 (s.d. 0·9) kg/day and negative heat load effect of-1-8 (s.d. 0·4)
kg/day at its peak. Protein concentration was affected by photoperiod, with the
peak effect in January (amplitude of 1·7 (s.e. 0·5) g/kg) but not by heat load
(-0-2 (s.d. 0·6) glkg). Fat concentration was affected primarily by heat load
(-3-4 (s.d. 0·7) g/kg), with a photoperiod effect which peaked in October
(amplitude of 1·8 (s.d. 0·8) g/kg). Lactose concentration was affected by both
environmental factors to a lesser extent (photoperiod amplitude of 0·6 (s.d. 0·2)
g/kg and heat load effect of-0-03 (s.d. 0·16) g/kg). Comparison of the predicted
seasonal effects on milk yield and composition with the annual fluctuation in the
national herd showed a good match of the predicted effects with the national
observations. It is concluded that while heat load relief may be beneficial,
manipulation of the photoperiod may induce adverse effects on milk yield and
composition.
Some maternal factors associated with dystocia in Belgian Blue cattle
Authors: Murray R. D. , Cartwright T. A. , Downham D. Y. , Murray M. A. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Measurements of conformation and pelvic characteristics of pedigree Belgian
Blue cows were compared in cattle from 11 herds. In seven herds comprising 56 cows
caesarean sections were routinely used to deliver pedigree calves and in four
herds comprising 52 cows they were given the opportunity to calve naturally per
vaginum. Cows in the seven herds were approximately 10 months younger than those
in the other herds. External pelvic measurements were linear distances between the
tuber coxae, between the tuber coxarum and the tuber ischium, between the tuber
ischii, the vertical distance between the underside of the tail and the tuber
ischii, and heights of the tuber coxae and tuber ischii from the floor. Internal
pelvic measurements were the vertical distance between the ventral body of the
sacrum and the pubic symphysis and the horizontal distance between the wings of
the ileum at the widest point of the pelvic inlet, both made with a Rice
pelvimeter. Condition scores were assessed for all cows. There were correlations
(P < 0·001) between internal pelvic height and width, external measurements,
and age. For cattle that calved unassisted, pelvic height (P < 0·05) and area
(P < 0·05) were significantly larger than those delivered by elective caesarean
section. From internal pelvic measurements of 74 cows, those which always
delivered live calves had a larger pelvic area (P < 0·01) than cows that
delivered a dead foetus following any parturition.