bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carcass composition of serially slaughtered Friesian, Hereford × Friesian and Charolais × Friesian steers finished on two dietary energy levels
Authors: Keane M. G. , More O'Ferrall G. J. , Connolly J. , Allen P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe carcass composition of Hereford × Friesian (HE), Friesian (FR) and Charolais × Friesian (CH) steers finished on diets of high (H) and medium (M) dietary metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations and slaughtered at low (L), normal (N) and heavy (W) carcass weights was examined in a 3 × 2 × 3 (no. = 9 per individual treatment) factorial experiment. A pre-finishing slaughter group of nine animals of each breed type was also included, giving a total 189 animals in 21 experimental groups. ME concentrations of the H and M diets which were offered ad libitum were 12·6 and 10·4 MJ/kg dry matter. Target carcass weights for L, N and W were 260, 300 and 340 kg for HE and FR and 260, 320 and 380 kg for CH.Carcass side weights (before tissue separation) of the HE, FR and CH pre-finishing slaughter groups were 90·8, 970 and 101·0 (s.e.d. 3·9) kg. Corresponding tissue proportions were 188, 199 and 200 (s.e.d. 4·3) g/kg bone, 663, 686 and 690 (s.e.d. 5·3) g/kg muscle and 135, 99 and 96 (s.e.d. 5·7) g/kg fat. Main effect side weights of the finished groups were 152·3, 151·4 and 162·2 (s.e.d. 1·4) kg for HE, FR and CH. 158·5 and 152·2 (s.e.d. 1·1) kg for H and M and 131·2, 155·2 and 179·6 (s.e.d. 1·4) kg for L, N and W, respectively. Tissue proportions in the same order were 146, 160 and 157 (s.e.d. 2·0), 149 and 159 (s.e.d. 1·6) and 163, 154 and 146 (s.e.d. 2·0) g/kg bone, 579, 601 and 635 (s.e.d. 5·5), 600 and 610 (s.e.d. 4·5) and 637, 599 and 574 (s.e.d. 5·5) g/kg muscle and 264, 228 and 195 (s.e.d. 6·4), 240 and 219 (s.e.d. 5·2) and 188, 235 and 264 (s.e.d. 6·4) g/kg fat. CH had more (P < 0·001) of their muscle in the pelvic limb and less (P < 0001) in the thorax than HE and FR. HE had more (P < 0·001) of their carcass fat in the subcutaneous depot and less (P < 0·001) in the intermuscular depot than FR and CH. The allometric regression coefficients for the main joint and tissue weights on side weight were <1·0 for both limbs, loin, bone and muscle. Coefficients were >1·0 for the thorax, ribs, flank and fat. The regression coefficients for the main muscles of the pelvic limb and loin and total thoracic limb muscle on total side muscle were <l·0, while the coefficients for the flank, ribs and thorax muscles were >1·0. Similarly the regression coefficients for the bones of the two limbs on total side bone were <10, while the coefficients for the loin, ribs and thorax bones were >10. It was calculated (for the H diet) that at a carcass weight of 300 kg, HE, FR and CH would have carcass tissue proportions of 576, 600 and 642 g/kg muscle and 261, 227 and 180 g/kg fat. The three breed types would have similar carcass fat contents at carcass weights of 264, 300 and 376 kg for HE, FR and CH, respectively.
Carcass composition in lambs of Greek dairy breeds of sheep
Authors: Zygoyiannis D. , Stamataris K. , Kouimtzis S. , Doney J. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTNine male and nine female lambs each from the Karagouniko (K), Chios (C) and East Friesland (F) breeds were weaned at a mean age of 50 days and were killed over a commercial range of live weight from 16 to 44 kg (carcass weights 6 to 22 kg).Carcass weight was linearly related to fasted live weight prior to slaughter (r = 0·994). There were significant but small differences between breeds in mean weight of lungs, pelt and internal fat. The carcass components of bone, muscle and fat tissues were related to carcass weight by linear or quadratic regression. Adjusted to mean carcass weight, the mean weight of bone did not differ between breeds (2·82 kg, s.e. = 0·056 at 12·8 kg carcass). The K and C lambs had significantly less muscle than the F lambs (6·77, 6·63 and 8·20 kg, respectively, s.e.d. = 0·094) and more fat (2·87, 2·95 and 1·29 kg, respectively, s.e.d. = 0·017) when compared at mean carcass weight. The breed differences were significant over the whole range whether compared at equal weight or at an equal proportion of estimated mature weight. At the same proportion of carcass fat, corresponding to the United Kingdom market average (250 g/kg) the calculated carcass weights were 16, 17 and 30 kg, respectively, for K, C and F lambs.It is concluded that the Friesland breed differs from many others in the proportions of muscle or fat at corresponding carcass weights but this difference is not a general characteristic of dairy sheep. Comparison of breeds at defined proportions of carcass components, as determined by market standards, can be effectively achieved by serial slaughter over a suitable weight range.
Carcass and eating quality of ram, castrated ram and ewe lambs
Authors: Dransfield E. , Nute G. R. , Hogg B. W. , Walters B. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCarcass and meat composition and eating quality of m. longissimus lumborum (LI) and leg joints were compared in entire male (ram), castrated male (wether) and female (ewe) Dorset Down-cross and Suffolk-cross lambs at about 20 weeks old. Rams grew faster than wethers and ewes particularly in the earlier maturing Suffolk crosses. Carcass weights ranged from 13 to 24 kg and at the mean carcass weight of 17·7 kg ram carcasses yielded larger shoulder joints. Ram carcasses were assessed visually leaner than those from the other sexes with similar conformation scores. Dorset Down carcasses tended to be fatter than Suffolk carcasses and the leanest carcasses were from Suffolk rams. Intramuscular fatness in LI was similar in all sexes. Intramuscular collagen contents were higher in ram LI than in other sexes. There were no differences in protein content, pH or colour of raw or roast LI. In assessments of eating quality of LI by triangle tests, male and female assessors differentiated twin rams and wethers equally. Category scaling showed LI from ewes to be slightly tougher than those from rams and wethers. Consumer evaluation of leg joints did not detect any differences in odour due to sex and ram meat was assessed better than that from wethers or ewes.
Effects of monosodium l glutamate on diet palatability and piglet performance during the suckling and weaning periods
Authors: Gatel F. , Guion P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of monosodium L glutamate (MSG) on diet palatability and piglet performance during the suckling and weaning periods was studied in the course of five successive experiments involving a total of 230 litters during the suckling period and 120 pens of seven piglets during the post-weaning period. During the suckling period, the addition of 5 g MSG per kg diet led to a significant 0·36 proportional increase of creep food intake from the 18th day post farrowing. However, no increase in weaning weight was observed subsequent to the intake of the diet with added MSG. Moreover, in an experiment where MSG was added with an associated commercial flavour, no flavour enhancing effect of MSG was detectable. Few health problems were encountered at weaning and the number of scouring piglets was not related to one particular diet. During the first 13 days after weaning the addition of MSG to the diet increased daily food intake by proportionately 0·1 (P < 0·01) as well as growth rate by proportionately 0·07 (P < 0·01). Moreover, the addition of MSG to the diet was more effective with piglets of low weaning weight and thus contradicted the classical relationship between post-weaning performance and weaning weight. Finally, in an experiment where weaning occurred at lower ambient temperature, no improvement of post-weaning performance was observed following the addition of MSG.
Biological and economic impact of trypanosome infections on milk production in N'Dama cattle managed under village conditions in The Gambia
Authors: Agyemang K. , Dwinger R. H. , Jeannin P. , Leperre P. , Grieve A. S. , Bah M. L. , Little D. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOver a 3-year period, productivity characteristics and criteria of trypanosomiasis incidence and severity have been monitored by monthly examination of individual N'Dama cattle in villages in The Gambia. From this database, 60 lactating cows in which Trypanosoma congolense or T. vivax had been detected on blood examination (group 1) were compared with 50 cows which had not been found infected with trypanosomes during the monitoring period (group 2). The latter were selected on the basis of comparability of age and stage of lactation to those of group 1 for examining the effect of trypanosome infections on the quantity of milk extracted for human consumption, and on the growth of their sucking calves. Data from a 6- to 7-month period were examined in the analysis.The quantity of daily milk extracted during the 1st month ot intection (group 1) decreased by proportionately 0·25 in comparison to the amount extracted during the preceding month when parasites were not detected. The corresponding figure in the uninfected controls (group 2) was 0·02. The mean daily milk extracted for human consumption from uninfected cows during a 6-month period was proportionately 0·26 higher than the mean for the infected cows. Growth rates of calves sucking infected and uninfected dams were similar.These observations indicate that infection with pathogenic trypanosomes of lactating N'Dama cattle causes a reduction in milk production.In economic terms, it was estimated that the decline in milk extracted for human consumption due to trypanosome infections amounted to an average of £1 per month per cow.
Some factors influencing behaviour of cattle in a slaughterhouse lairage
Authors: Cockram M. S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOne hundred and twenty-seven groups of cattle were studied in a slaughterhouse lairage to determine the factors affecting their ability to rest. The cattle were studied by direct observation over one 30-min period during their first 3·5 h in the lairage. An ethogram/time budget analysis of one focal Hereford × Friesian steer or heifer per group was undertaken and the lying behaviour of the whole group was recorded. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the effect of length of time in the lairage on behaviour. The effects of source, sex, group size, space allowance and bedding were examined by a comparison of regression lines. In cattle from markets, standing and moving behaviour, and the number of aggressive interactions decreased and lying behaviour increased with time in the lairage. This was not the case in cattle coming direct from farms. In cattle from markets, steers settled down at a faster rate than heifers, and cattle kept in group sizes >5 settled down at a faster rate than those kept in group sizes ≤5. The presence of straw bedding was associated with greater lying behaviour in market heifers and in market cattle kept in group sizes ≤5 than in similar cattle without straw bedding. Cattle from markets but not those from farms started to settle down within 3·5 h of arrival in the lairage and their behaviour was affected by the social and physical environment.
The effect of supplementary nickel on urea metabolism in sheep given a low protein diet
Authors: Milne J. S. , Whitelaw F. G. , Price J. , Shand W. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWork in the United States of America has shown that dietary supplements of nickel (Ni) can result in an increase in rumen urease activity and can increase growth rate and food conversion efficiency in lambs and steers given low protein diets. It has been suggested that Ni enhances urea recycling through its effect on urease activity. To examine this hypothesis, four sheep were given a high-energy, lowprotein diet with or without a supplement of 5 mg/day Ni, given as NiCl2.6H2O by continuous infusion into the rumen. Urea irreversible loss rate (ILR) and pool size were measured by means of a single intravenous injection of 14C-urea. The addition of Ni resulted in a significant increase in rumen urease activity (P< 0·05) but there was no significant effect on urea ILR, urea pool size, urinary urea excretion or on the quantity of urea recycled to the gastro-intestinal tract. Ni also had no effect on plasma urea or rumen ammonia concentrations, on diet digestibility or on nitrogen retention. It is concluded that the enhancement of urease activity by supplementary Ni conferred no nutritional advantage to the sheep.
The effect of energy concentration in complete diets on the performance of heifers and mature cows
Authors: Crosse S. , Murphy J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were carried out in the springs of 1986 and 1987 to investigate the effect of energy concentration in complete diets on the performance of heifers and mature cows. In 1986, all animals were on trial for an 8-week indoor period. In 1987, 14 heifers were on trial for 8 weeks, four heifers were on trial for 7 weeks and six heifers were on trial for 4 weeks. Carry-over effects were compared while animals were on pasture. Two diets offered ad libitum were compared. Diet H contained 0·7 concentrates and 0·3 grass silage. Diet L contained 0·5 concentrates and 0·5 grass silage. In 1986, the concentrate portion of diet H had a higher metabolizable energy (ME) content than diet L whereas in 1987 the same concentrate mixture was used in both diets.Increasing the energy concentration of the diet from 10·66 MJ ME per kg dry matter (DM) to 11·21 MJ ME per kg DM resulted in a significant proportional increase of 0·36 in DM intake for heifers and mature cows in 1986. The proportional increase in DM intake in 1987 for heifers was 0·17. DM intake (kg DM per day) for heifers and mature cows in 1986 and for heifers in 1987 for diets H and L was 11·8, 8·7, 15·0, 11·0, 14·9, 12·7 respectively. The energy concentration of the complete diet did have a significant effect on average milk yield during the treatment period in the 1986 trial for mature cows but not for heifers in either year. Milk yields were 19·1, 17·5, 26·3, 240, 19·8, 18·9 kg/day respectively for heifers and mature cows in 1986 and for heifers only in 1987. In vivo digestibility coefficients in 1986 for energy, DM, organic matter, modified acid-detergent fibre and protein for diet H (0·708, 0·702, 0·724, 0·678, 0·671) were significantly higher than those for diet L (0·677, 0·666, 0·694, 0·653, 0·625).The total lactation yield for the heifers and mature cows was not significantly influenced by the energy concentration of the diet given in early lactation.
Selection for rate and efficiency of lean gain in Hereford cattle. 2. Evaluation of correlated responses
Authors: Mrode R. A. , Smith C. , Thompson R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCorrelated responses in two lines of Hereford cattle selected for lean growth rate (LGR) from birth to 400 days of age and lean food conversion ratio (LFCR) from 200 to 400 days of age for a period of 8 years were evaluated. Correlated changes were estimated by two methods: deviation of selected lines from a control line and restricted maximum likelihood. Generally, estimates from the two methods were similar but tended to be more precise for the latter. Statistically significant correlated responses occurred in growth rate in the LGR line and in lean proportion and food conversion ratio in both selected lines. Selection for LGR was accompanied by increases in body weight at various ages in both male and female progeny. In the LFCR line there were little or no changes in body weight for male calves but some increases at certain ages for female progeny. There were no adverse correlated responses detected in reproductive traits such as calving difficulty and calving and pre-weaning mortality.
Protein requirements of boars of high genetic potential for lean growth
Authors: Rao D. S. , McCracken K. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSix replicates (five Landrace and one Duroc) of four littermate entire male pigs were used to evaluate the effect of protein level in diets of constant amino acid composition on live-weight gain, efficiency of gain, nitrogen balance and carcass characteristics. The diet contents ranged from 151 to 282 g crude protein (CP) and 8·5 to 16·4 g lysine per kg dry matter (DM) and were studied over two live-weight ranges, 33 to 55 kg and 55 to 88 kg. All the diets had similar metabolizable energy (ME) values (15·0 MJ/kg DM). Pigs were given food twice daily to appetite. Sixteen pigs (four replicates) were used for metabolism trials at 35 to 43, 58 to 65 and 78 to 88 kg live weight and after attaining a live weight of 88 kg they were slaughtered to assess carcass characteristics. Between 33 and 55 kg live weight significantly linear improvements (P < 0·01) in the daily live-weight gain and in the ratio ME: live-weight gain were observed for daily intakes in excess of 300 g ideal protein and 21 g lysine (212 g CP and 12·5 g lysine per kg DM). Between 55 and 88 kg live weight, linear improvements in the same two variables were observed for daily intakes of 395 g ideal protein and 28 g lysine (212 g CP and 12·5 g lysine per kg DM). For the 33 to 88 kg live-weight period the average ME intake was 30 MJ/day and the predicted intakes for maximum growth and food conversion efficiency were in excess of 370 g ideal protein and 26 g lysine. Nitrogen retention improved significantly with increasing dietary crude protein content in all three balance periods. Fat thickness measurements decreased linearly (P < 0·05) and the proportions of lean and fat in rumpback increased and decreased respectively (P < 0·01) as the dietary protein level increased.
Factors affecting food efficiency and body composition of growing ruminants offered straw-based diets: supplementation with lipids with and without protein meal
Authors: van Houtert M. F. J. , Perdok H. B. , Leng R. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTGrowing heifers (experiment 1) and wether lambs (experiments 2 and 3) were offered ammoniated cereal straw with or without a protein meal. The effects of supplementation with long-chain fatty acids (LCFA; as calcium salts of LCFA (CaLCFA) or fat prills) on nutrient utilization were studied.Intake of the basal diet (g/kg live weight) was unaffected by the protein meal, but was often reduced by supplementation with LCFA, especially fat prills. Live-weight gain was increased both by supplementation with protein meal and CaLCFA. Fat prills only increased live-weight gain in the presence of protein meal and depressed live-weight gain in the absence of protein meal. There were small differences between the two sources of LCFA in their apparent effects on rumen fermentation.Supplementation with protein meal increased relative protein content (P < 0·05) and tended to increase water content (P > 0·05) in the wethers in experiment 3 (corrected to equal empty-body weight at slaughter). Of the LCFA, only CaLCFA tended to increase relative body fat content (by proportionately 0·23; (P > 0·05) but decreased relative protein and water content by 0·05 and 0·06 (P < 0·05).Supplementation of straw-based diets with as little as 20 g CaLCFA per kg food dry matter improved live-weight gain and efficiency of nutrient utilization of ruminants, particularly when offered in combination with a protein meal. There appeared to be marked differences in the effects of CaLCFA and fat prills on food intake, productivity and to some extent body composition.
Energy and protein supplements to straw-based diets for yearling cattle: effects on straw intake and digestibility
Authors: Al-Saghier O. A. S. , Campling R. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA series of change-over experiments examined the intake and digestibility of straw-based diets in yearling dairy heifers. Voluntary intakes of straws given as the sole food to yearling dairy heifers were 1·28, 1·20 and 0·90 kg dry matter (DM) per 100 kg live weight for barley, wheat and oat straws respectively, and the corresponding digestibility of organic matter was 0·47, 0·53 and 0·48. When supplemented with 2 kg rolled barley the intakes of straw did not alter, nor were they affected by replacing part of the rolled barley with an equal amount of soya-bean meal and thus increasing the dietary concentration of protein from about 50 to 110 g/kg DM. The use of molassed sugar-beet pulp in place of rolled barley reduced the intake of straw. Flaked maize promoted slightly higher intakes of straw than an equal amount of coarsely milled maize. Replacing rolled barley by lucerne hay reduced straw intake. It is estimated that, to provide sufficient energy and protein for a daily gain of 0·5 kg, heifer straw-based diets would require a supplement of 1·2 kg rolled barley and 0·8 kg soya-bean meal.
Genetic and phenotypic parameters for litter traits of D'Man ewes
Authors: Boujenane I. , Kerfal M. , Khallouk M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA total of 1754 records for litter traits of 458 D'man ewes sired by more than 45 rams were analysed to estimate repeatability, heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations. Repeatability estimated by the intraclass correlation method was 0·11, 0·11, 0·12 and 0·15 for litter sizes at birth and at weaning and litter weights at birth and at weaning, respectively. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability were 0·09 (s.e. 0·06), 0·04 (s.e. 0·05), 0·15 (s.e. 0·07) and 0·08 (s.e. 0·05), respectively. Genetic correlations among the traits were all positive and varied from 0·17 to 0·72, whereas phenotypic correlations ranged from 0·68 to 0·86.
Growth rate, total body water volume, dry-matter intake and water consumption of domesticated ostriches (Struthio camelus)
Authors: Degen A. A. , Kam M. , Rosenstrauch A. , Plavnik I. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTGrowth rate, total body water volume (TBW), dry-matter intake (DMI) and water consumption were determined in ostriches from hatching to 350 days at which time they weighed approximately 100 kg. A Gompertz equation was used to describe the sigmoidal growth curve; mature body mass (Mmb) wascalculated as 104·1 kg from this equation. Highest average daily gain (ADG) was 455 g/day which occurred between 70 days and 98 days. Time to reach 0·5 Mmb and to grow from 0·25 to 0·75 Mmb per Mmb025 were 46·8 days and 39·7 days, respectively. Maintenance energy requirements were 1·07 MJ/kg063per day and energy requirements for kg mb increase were 0·260 MJ/kg109: thes e values were derived from a non-linear regression model. TBW as a fraction of mb declined from 0·84 in 35-day-old chicks to 0·57 in 322-day-old birds, indicating a concomitant increase in the fraction of body lipid content. Mass specific DMI decreased from 0·061 g/g mb in chicks to 0·020 g/g mb in 322 to 350 day old birds, while mass specific water influx decreased from 0·21 ml/g mb to 0·046 ml/g mb during this time. The ratio of DMI to ADG increased steadily from 1·07 to 17·1; the ratio of water consumption to DMI remained relatively constant at approximately 2·3.