bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationships between leptin and insulin in blood plasma of growing lambs
Authors: Tokuda T. , Kimura D. , Fujihara T. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe present study was designed to examine the pattern of changes in plasma leptin concentration during the early stage of young ruminants. Five crossbred lambs weaned at 45 days were housed individually in pens. The lambs were offered timothy hay, rolled barley and soya-bean meal to meet a 200 g daily gain, and were given free access to water and mineral block. Blood samples were collected just before the morning feeding and at 30-min intervals for 6 h after the morning feeding beginning at 0·5 months after weaning and thereafter monthly for the next 6 months. Plasma leptin level increased dramatically from 0·5 to 3 months after weaning. Thereafter, it dropped to a similar level to that at 2 months after weaning and remained at that level. Moreover, plasma leptin level was not affected by feeding, and no variation throughout the day of sampling was observed. Plasma insulin levels showed similarity to changes in plasma leptin levels. Plasma insulin levels were positively correlated (r = 0·63) with plasma leptin levels. This study shows that plasma leptin level dramatically increases after weaning. Additionally, it suggests that insulin contributes to the increase of leptin with growth in lambs.
Selection for high or low backfat depth in Coopworth sheep: breeding-ewe traits
Authors: McEwan J. C. , Morris C. A. , Fennessy P. F. , Greer G. J. , Bain W. E. , Hickey S. M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA breeding experiment in Coopworth sheep where selection was applied to backfat depth was evaluated after 14 years (1981-94). There were three self-replacing lines, two selected for increased or decreased subcutaneous fat depth, and an unselected control (average size = 51 ewes per line per year). Reproductive traits, ewe body weight and ewe fleece weight were monitored in each line as potential correlated responses. In the last 4 years studied, the fat (F), control (C) and lean (L) lines differed significantly in the proportion of ewes lambing (0·87, 0·93, 0·94 respectively), litter size at birth (1·64, 1·83 and 1·89), and lamb survival up to weaning, unadjusted for birth rank and sex (0·88, 0·81 and 0·74). The overall reproductive trait, lambs weaned per ewe joined (1·22, 1·33 and 1·26), did not differ significantly among lines. From pre-mating weights of ewes present in 1993 or 1994, means for mature ewes by line were 60·1, 62·4 and 63·3 kg, respectively (P < 0·01). Means for weight at scanning time (7 months of age) by line, as a proportion of mature weight were: 0·533, 0·561 and 0·559, respectively (P < 0·05). There were also significant line differences in ewe fleece weights, with the 1993 and 1994 data averaging 3·93, 4·05 and 4·27 kg respectively (P < 0·01). For weight of lamb weaned per ewe weaning at least one lamb, the L line had a 0·09 higher mean proportionally than the F line (P < 0·05), but for a composite trait which was a weighted combination of weight of lambs weaned and ewe fleece weight per ewe joined (with or without allowance for different ewe live weights), the L line was no longer significantly different from the F line. Repeatabilities and single-record heritabilities were also estimated for various ewe traits. The implications are that lean-lamb selection would be associated with only small changes in net reproduction, ewe fleece weight and live weight, but larger differences would be expected from selection in the opposite direction.
The nutritive value of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) when treated with CaO, NaOH or a microbial inoculant and offered to dairy heifers as big-bale silage
Authors: Chaudhry A. S. , Cowan R. T. , Granzin B. C. , Klieve A. V. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA series of laboratory and animal studies examined the use of chemical and biological agents to enhance the digestibility of Rhodes grass (grass) cut at 60 (young) and 100 (mature) days of regrowth and ensiled as big round bales. The treatments included an untreated control (C), a microbial inoculant (I), NaOH, CaO and NaOH plus inoculant (NaOH + I). Inoculant was grown anaerobically, using a starter culture of rumen fluid from cattle given Rhodes grass. Treatments C, I, NaOH, NaOH + I, were offered separately to twelve dairy heifers, in a 3✕4 randomized complete block design, repeated twice for each grass silage. C and I had substantial mould growth, compared with no visible mould in NaOH or NaOH + I. CaO treatment was effective in preventing mould growth, but had little effect on the chemical composition and in sacco digestibility of mature grass silage. NaOH reduced NDF content and increased in sacco digestibility (P< 0·05) but not the in vivo digestibility (P> 0·05) of both mature- and young-grass silage. The effects of other treatments on nutritive value were non-significant at both stages of maturity. NaOH increased the intake of mature-grass silage by 24-26% (P< 0·05), but had little effect on the intake of young-grass silage (P> 0·05). Treatment I consistently reduced grass silage intake (P< 0·05) for young-grass silage. The findings of these studies show that treating mature Rhodes grass with NaOH will improve its nutritive value and reduce mould growth in conserved herbage. However none of the treatments in this study had any consistently positive effects on the in vivo nutritive value or storage quality of young-grass silage.
Technical review of the energy and protein requirements of growing pigs: protein
Authors: Whittemore C.T. , Green D.M. , Knap P.W. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA review of work reported in the literature was used to present quantitative descriptions of protein use in the growing pig. These are detailed in the text, which also points to preferred values, and to anomalies and lacunae. The review was prepared with the objective of allowing from its content the inclusive and quantitative modelling of amino acid requirement. Requirement was approached as the sum of the component factors: maintenance and protein retention. Ileal true digestible protein and amino acid requirements are presented in a form consistent with that forwarded for energy. Thus both energy and protein elements can be conceptualized within a single coherent framework. Priority uses for absorbed amino acids were assumed to be (a) to support endogenous protein losses resultant from the passage of food and incomplete re-absorption prior to the terminal ileum, (b) to replace lost hair and skin, and (c) to cover the basic maintenance losses which will occur as a result of minimal protein turn-over even when protein retention is zero. The bulk of the protein requirement was directly linked to the daily rate of protein retention, for which the linear-plateau response was accepted. For determination of the maximum rate of protein retention the Gompertz function was proposed, although the use of a single value throughout the growth period was not dismissed. The balance of amino acids for protein retention is specified as different from that for maintenance. Central to the approach was the proposal that the inefficiency of use of ileal digested ideal protein, even when not supplied in excess, was an expression of protein losses occurring as a result of protein turn-over. The requirement for the satisfaction of the losses from protein turn-over occurring as a consequence of protein retention, and therefore additional to the requirements for maintenance, was identified. Quantification was attempted with sufficient success to warrant its inclusion into requirement estimation. It was concluded that this element addressed previously inadequately explained protein utilization inefficiencies. Algorithms are presented based upon protein turn-over which appear to be consistent with empirical findings.
Multi-trait selection indexes for sustainable UK hill sheep production
Authors: Conington J. , Bishop S.C. , Grundy B. , Waterhouse A. , Simm G. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThree selection indexes for the UK hill sheep sector are derived to suit the extremes of hill production systems. These are: (i) intensive, where all surplus lambs not required for breeding are finished for slaughter, (ii) extensive, where all surplus ‘store’ lambs are sold to other farmers for finishing, and (iii) semi-intensive, which is intermediate between the two extremes, i.e. farms finish some lambs for slaughter and sell others as store lambs. Parameters for 12 breeding goal and index traits were estimated using a total of 3962 lamb records and 5944 ewe lambing records from Scottish Blackface sheep on two Scottish Agricultural College experimental hill farms. The breeding goal comprised carcass, maternal and survival traits. The evaluation of these indexes showed that improvements in maternal traits are possible, along with more modest improvements in carcass quality traits. Responses to selection are expected to be lower for the extensive farm in general, compared with the intensive farm. Evaluations of alternative indexes show that an index using measurements of fat and muscle on ewes rather than on lambs may be more cost-effective to implement in practice, compared with the original index, although this change results in a higher (i.e. undesirable) gain in mature size. Sensitivity analyses showed that in general, the indexes are robust to changes in economic values and to changes in heritability estimates.
Effect of pasture crude protein and fermentable energy supplementation on blood metabolite and progesterone concentrations and on embryo survival in heifers
Authors: Kenny D.A. , Boland M.P. , Diskin M.G. , Sreenan J.M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSeasonal milk production systems rely on heavy inputs of nitrogenous fertilizer, which typically generate pastures with a high crude protein (CP) and low fermentable energy concentration. High intake of CP, particularly in association with low rumen fermentable energy, increases systemic ammonia and urea and has been associated with reduced fertility in cattle. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between pasture protein intake and fermentable energy supplementation on a range of blood metabolites and on embryo survival and development in cattle.Oestrous synchronized, nulliparous beef heifers (no. = 175) were randomly assigned to one of four pasture-based dietary treatments in a 2✕2 factorial study carried out over 2 years. Animals were randomly allocated to either high (85 kg nitrogen (N) per ha; HN) or low (0·0 kg N per ha; LN) N fertilized pastures and within pasture treatment were randomly allocated to receive either zero or three (+3P) kg dry matter (DM) of molassed sugar-beet pulp (MSBP) per head per day as follows: (1) HN (no. = 44), (2) HN + 3P, (no. = 43), (3) LN (no. = 44), (4) LN + 3P (no. = 44). Blood samples were collected to measure systemic concentrations of ammonia, urea, insulin, glucose and progesterone. Heifers were artificially inseminated (AI) and pregnancy diagnosis was carried out by ultrasonography 30 days after AI. Subgroups of pregnant animals across treatments were slaughtered 40 days after AI to estimate conceptus development.The HN pasture had a higher CP (P< 0·001) and lower water-soluble carbohydrate (P< 0·01) concentration. Plasma concentrations of ammonia (P< 0·05) and urea (P< 0·001) were higher in the animals on the HN pastures and were reduced (P< 0·05) by MSBP supplementation, but only in animals on the HN pastures. Embryo survival rate across treatments was high overall (71%) and not related to pasture CP concentration, fermentable energy supplementation or systemic concentrations of ammonia, urea, glucose or insulin. There was no relationship between dietary treatment or systemic metabolites and any of the estimates of conceptus development. Systemic insulin was not affected by pasture N treatment or MSBP supplementation (P> 0·05). Systemic concentrations of glucose were not affected by pasture N treatment (P> 0·05) but were increased by MSBP supplementation (P< 0·05). Systemic progesterone was not affected by pasture CP or MSBP supplementation (P> 0·05) but at day 7 after AI was positively related (P< 0·05) to embryo survival. Intake of high CP herbage elevated systemic ammonia and urea but there was no association with embryo survival rate or embryo development in heifers.
Effect of fish-oil supplementation on levels of (n-3) poly-unsaturated fatty acids in the lipoprotein fractions of bovine plasma
Authors: Offer N.W. , Speake B.K. , Dixon J. , Marsden M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractEight mid-lactation Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in an experiment to investigate whether poor transfer to milk of (n-3) long chain (≥C20) poly-unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA), from diets containing fish oil, is related to their mode of transport in plasma lipoproteins. The cows were split into two groups of four, each of which was housed with 24 other cows which did not provide blood data in this experiment. All cows received a basal diet ad libitum consisting of (kg/t dry matter) silage (539), grain distillers’ grains (148), rolled barley (248) and soya (65). All cows also received a mid-day meal of 2·76 kg per cow per day of molassed sugar-beet shreds. The control group (C) received no oil supplement but those in the treatment group (F) received 300 g per cow per day of fish oil absorbed onto the sugar-beet shreds. Fish oil inclusion progressively depressed milk fat concentration of the four cows from each group over the 3 weeks of the experiment so that levels were approximately 20 g/kg lower for cows in treatment F than for those in C (P < 0·05). Mean concentrations over all cows of the long-chain (≥C20, n-3) poly-unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat (g/100 g) were 0·12 and 0·54 for treatments C and F respectively, whilst corresponding output in milk (g/day) increased from 116 to 3·91, an average efficiency of transfer of 4·6%. The fatty acid compositions of the lipoproteins were measured in plasma samples from the four cows from each group after 3 weeks on the experimental diets The proportions (g/100 g fatty acids) of C20: 5 (n-3) in cholesteryl (CE) and phospholipid (PL) of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the plasma were respectively increased from 0·97 to 4·39 (P < 0·05) and from 1·15 to 4·74 (P < 0·01) by the fish-oil supplementation. For C22: 6 (n-3), the proportions in CE and PL of HDL respectively increased (P < 0·001) from 0·02 to 0·23 and from 0·16 to 2·18 as a result of the supplementation. The mean proportions (g/100 g fatty acids) of C20: 5 (n-3) and C22: 6 (n-3) in the triglyceride fraction of very low-density lipoprotein were 1·05 and 2·3 respectively and were not significantly altered by fish-oil supplementation (P > 0·05). It is suggested that the low transfer efficiency of (n-3) LCPUFA to the milk is partly due to their transport in the plasma largely as components of HDL lipids which are unavailable to the mammary gland.
Effect of feeding supplements on the intake and live-weight gain of male red deer given silage during winter
Authors: Webster J.R. , Corson I.D. , Littlejohn R.P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe live-weight gain (LWG) of young male red deer in New Zealand naturally slows during winter and feeding diets of mainly silage appears to exacerbate this effect. We aimed to quantify the effect of feeding silage on intake and LWG during winter and the ability to improve LWG by feeding supplements, mainly in the form of barley. Seven groups of eight deer were maintained outside in gravelled enclosures and offered silage ad libitum for 94 days during winter. Six groups were given supplements (950 g barley with 50 g rapeseed meal per kg to make all diets isonitrogenous) at rates of proportionately 0·2, 0·4, 0·5, 0·6, 0·7 and 0·9 of the metabolizable energy (ME) intake of the group given only silage (0). The study also examined the effect of the winter treatments on subsequent LWG to slaughter weight whilst grazing on pasture during spring and into summer (102 days).Increasing supplement intake resulted in a decrease in silage dry matter (DM) and ME intake (P< 0·001) and an increase in total ME intake (P< 0·01). The substitution rate for silage DM was 0·84 (s.e. 0·079). LWG during silage feeding was positively related (P< 0·01) to supplement intake with an increase of 6·21 g/day per MJ per day. LWG on pasture was not related to either supplement feeding rate or LWG during winter. LWG over the entire experiment was related (P< 0·01) to supplement feeding rate, with a final difference in live weight of 6 kg between 0 and 0·9 groups.This study has confirmed that the LWG of young male deer is low during winter when given only silage and that feeding supplements increases total ME intake and LWG. The reduced LWG due to silage feeding was not compensated for on pasture during spring and summer, thus delaying the time to reach slaughter weight by approximately 1 month. High proportions of silage in the diet appear unsuitable for young male deer if the aim is to achieve rapid LWG during winter.
On a Formula giving the Expectation of Life approximatively
Authors: Willich Charles Arnold M. 
Published: August 2016

Dr. Farr. in the 12th Report of the Registrar-General, has given the value of annuities and the expectation of life, as deduced from the male English Life Table.Observing a very uniform difference between the results thus obtained and those from the Carlisle Table of Mortality, it appeared to me probable that a simple hypothesis might be constructed which would produce a close approximation to the expectation of life between certain ages, but somewhat less favourable than the hypothesis. I proposed in 1857 for the expectation of life according to the Carlisle Table of Mortality.
On the Tendency of some Systems of Distribution of Surplus to defeat the Object of Life Assurance
Authors: Terry James 
Published: August 2016

The system pursued by each Office in the distribution of surplus may be divided into three parts, namely—1. The class of members amongst which surplus is distributed;2. The actual distribution of it amongst that class; and3. The interval which elapses between successive distributions.It is impossible to obtain a comprehensive view of the subject without considering separately these three distinct parts; and, since it forms no part of the present purpose to estimate the relative advantages of different Offices, no attempt will be made to follow the numerous combinations or systems of distribution produced by differences in practice under each of the above heads.
On the proper Mode of estimating the Liabilities of Life Assurance Companies
Authors: Tucker Robert 
Published: August 2016

The object of this paper is to endeavour to show that the true method of estimating the liabilities of an Insurance Company should be based upon the principle of re-insurance by its own rates of premium, interest being reckoned at 3 per cent.In submitting the following observations, I feel it necessary, in the first place, to apologise for recurring to a subject which has been so frequently and ably treated by the President of the Institute of Actuaries. But as my method of dealing with this important branch of our business differs in some respects from the plan laid down by that learned writer, I trust I may be allowed to record the present attempt to demonstrate what in my opinion are the true principles which should guide us in determining the liabilities of Life Insurance Companies.
A Budget of Paradoxes (Continued from page 284, vol. xi)
Authors: De Morgan A. 
Published: August 2016

An essay to ascertain the value of leases and annuities for years and lives. By W[eyman] L[ee]. London, 1737, 8vo.A valuation of Annuities and Leases certain, for a single life. By Weyman Lee, Esq., of the Inner Temple. London, 1751, 8vo. Third edition, 1773.Every branch of exact science has its paradoxer. The world at large cannot tell with certainty who is right in such questions as squaring the circle, &c. Mr. Weyman Lee was the assailant of what all who had studied called demonstration in the question of annuities; and he can be exposed to the world: for his error arose out of his not being able to see that the whole is the sum of all its parts.
A Budget of Paradoxes (Continued from p. 48)
Authors: De Morgan A. 
Published: August 2016

The Mythological Astronomy of the ancients; part the second: or the key of Urania, the wards of which will unlock all the mysteries of antiquity. Norwich, 1823, 12mo.A Companion to the Mythological Astronomy, &c., containing remarks on recent publications. … Norwich, 1824, 12mo.A new Theory of the Earth and of planetary motion; in which it is demonstrated that the Sun is vicegerent of his own system. Norwich, 1825, 12mo.The analyzation of the writings of the Jews, so far as they are found to have any connexion with the sublime science of astronomy. [This is pp. 97–180 of some other work, being all I have seen.]
On the valuation of life contingencies by means of tables of single and joint lives
Authors: Hargreave Charles James 
Published: August 2016

Let a1, a2 . . an be the reciprocals of the roots of the expression 1 − s1x+s2x2 − . . ±sn−1xn−1∓snxn, which call ϕx. We have then ϕx = (1 −a1x) (1 −a2x) . . . (1 −anx), from which the following series of values may be readily deduced, the Σ implying the sum of all the instances of the form placed under it, so that each expression is a symmetrical function of a1, a2 . . an.The sign is positive when p is even, and negative when p is odd. A single term of the pth expression contains p factors of the form a, and n–p factors of the form 1 – a; and the expression itself is the sum of every term which can be so constructed.
On a Method of finding the Product of two Factors by means of the Addition and Subtraction of Natural Numbers
Authors: Laundy Samuel Linn 
Published: August 2016

The paper which I have the honour to submit is so elementary in its details that I have to claim the indulgence of the meeting; but, as the practical application of the simple formulæ to which I shall have occasion to refer may be interesting, I trust I may not unworthily occupy a short portion of your time.A few months ago it occurred to me that tables to facilitate the process of multiplication, based upon the identitywould be of extensive use in actuarial and other calculations, and would effect a considerable saving of labour—to an extent even greater than that acquired by the use of logarithms. This led me to give attention to the subject; and after a trial on a small scale, I deemed it of sufficient importance to construct for my own use a series of tables of the fourth parts of the squares of all integer numbers up to 100,000.
On some points connected with the Education of an Actuary
Authors: Porter H. W. 
Published: August 2016

In the paper I shall have the honour of reading to you this evening, upon some points connected with the education of an actuary, I shall endeavour to describe some of the more important duties and responsibilities of that office—to offer some observations to the student, as to his preparation for the profession of an actuary—and to suggest to the Council of the Institute some reasons for enlarging the sphere of the examinations that they may think proper to prescribe.I shall not detain you with any account of the ordinary duties of an actuary, which are of course well understood in this room, but shall at once proceed to the consideration of the foundation of all actuarial knowledge—mathematics.
On the mortality arising from military operations
Authors: Hodge William Barwick 
Published: August 2016

The present paper may be considered a sequel to that upon the “Mortality arising from Naval Operations,” which I had the honour to lay before the Society in their last session.Although military affairs are in general looked upon in England with less interest than those of the navy, they derive at this time increased importance from the fact that nearly all the great operations of the present war have been upon land; and have, moreover, from a combination of unfortunate circumstances, been subjected to much criticism and discussion.