bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of draught work on performance and metabolism of crossbred cows 1. Effect of work and diet on body-weight change, body condition, lactation and productivity
Authors: Gemeda T. , Zerbini E. , Wold A. G. , Demissie D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractForty pregnant F1 crossbred dairy cows (20 Friesian × Boran and 20 Simmental × Boran) were stratified in a 2 × 2 diet × work factorial experiment (not working-not supplemented, NWNS; not working-supplemented, NWS; working-not supplemented, WNS; and working-supplemented, WS). Working cows pulled sledges 100 days/year (pull = 350 to 450 N, 4 h/day, 4 days/week). Work output of supplemented and non-supplemented cows was similar over 1 and 2 years. Over all 3 years, dry-matter intake relative to metabolic body size (g/kg M0.75 was greater for working, compared with non-working cows. Body-weight changes and body condition score were similar for working and non-working cows. Non-supplemented cows lost weight throughout the first 2-year period, while supplemented cows tended to maintain or gain body weight over 1 and 3 years. Over 2 years, supplementation of working cows proportionately reduced live-weight loss by 0.73 and doubled the number of conceptions and parturitions. Days in milk, milk, milk fat and protein yields were similar for working and non-working cows, but were greater for supplemented, compared with non-supplemented, cows. Total conceptions and calves born in all 3 years tended to be greater for supplemented and non-working compared with non-supplemented and working cows. A productivity index (PI) that took into account food intake was calculated. The PI for supplemented cows over 2 years was greater than that for non-supplemented cows. Meanwhile the PI was similar for working and non-working cows over all periods considered. A similar PI for working and non-working cows under supplementation indicates potential of on-farm adoption of a cow traction technology that includes improved food production and ng strategies.
The performance and changes in body composition of steers offered cut grass or grazing following three patterns of nutrition in winter
Authors: Baker R. D. , Gibb M. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractFriesian steer cahes were reared over winter on a silage (S) or on a silage plus concentrate (SC) diet to provide cattle of the same live weight, but of different ages for a comparison of grazing and feeding cut herbage indoors during the summer. A further group received fish meal (SF) as a supplement in an attempt to provide cattle of the same age as the S group, but of different body composition. Although supplementation improved the daily deposition of fat and protein, it did not lead to differences in body composition at the end of the winter period. The ratio of protein to fat deposition and the efficiencies of conversion were low for all groups, but they did improve as the level of supplementation increased.There was no carry-over effect of winter treatment on summer performance. However, housed cattle deposited significantly more fat.The trial demonstrated the inefficient use of nitrogen from silage with poor fermentation characteristics and the predisposition of cattle on such diets to low protein to energy retention. Whilst supplementation altered this balance, higher levels than given would be needed to have a marked effect. It was also concluded that the performance of housed cattle as an indicator of that of grazing cattle, is likely to be misleading because lower activity reduces maintenance requirement and leads to greater fat deposition.
Resistance to cold stress in sheep shorn by cover comb or standard comb
Authors: Dabiri N. , Holmes C. W. , McCutcheon S. N. , Parker W. J. , Morris S. T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe cover comb has been developed in New Zealand as a means of increasing residual fleece depth after shearing and so increasing the resistance of shorn sheep to cold stress.The effects of shearing by cover comb and standard comb were studied over 2 days pre-shearing and 10 days post-shearing in eight pairs of non-pregnant, non-lactating 2-year-old ewes. Animals were housed and given a maintenance level of chaffed lucerne hay. One member of each pair was shorn with a cover comb, the other with a standard comb. Each pair was exposed to ‘cold plus wind’ (7°C ambient temperature, 7 km/h air movement) followed by ‘cold plus wind plus rain’ (10°C ambient temperature, 7km/h air movement, wetting at a rate equivalent to 25 mm/h rain from overhead sprinklers) in a calorimetry chamber on days S –3, S –2, SO (day of shearing), S2, S6 and S10. Heat production immediately after shearing (SO) was proportionately 0·22 greater in ewes shorn by the standard comb under conditions of ‘cold plus wind’ and 0·38 greater under conditions of ‘cold plus wind plus rain’ than in their cover comb-shorn cohorts. Circulating concentrations of non-esterifiedfatty acids were substantially elevated on the day of shearing and 2 days thereafter in ewes shorn by the standard comb, indicating increased rates of body fat mobilization to support heat production in these ewes compared with those shorn by the cover comb. This was reflected in a 1·4 kg weight loss in the standard comb-shorn ewes compared with a 0·4 kg live-weight gain in the cover comb-shorn group over the 10 days of the experiment. It was concluded that use of a cover comb will significantly reduce the risk of death from hypothermia in sheep shorn during winter and spring, and should facilitate an increase in the productivity of animals by allowing a greater proportion of food energy to be used for productive purposes.
Effects of pre-partum oestradiol injection on parturition in sows and piglet survival
Authors: Kirkwood R. N. , Thacker P. A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractFifty-four multiparous Yorkshire × Landrace sows were allocated equally to receive an intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 3 ing oestradiol-17β (E2) or no injection at 112 days of gestationto determine the effect of E2on the timing and duration offarrowing. All sows received an injection (i.m.) of 10 mg prostaglandin F2x af 113 days of gestation. Of the soivs allocated to treatment, 21 oestrogen-treated and 19 control sows were assigned to be observed for the onset of parturition. A further six oestrogen-treated and eight control sows were included to increase the data base for litter production. The time of piglet delivery was monitored between 08·00 and 18·00 h on day 114 of gestation. Blood samples were obtained from each offour piglets from four E2-treated and five control litters. More E2-treated (8/21) than control sows (1/19) farrowed before 08.00 h of day 114 (P < 0·05) although, for those sows farrowing during the observation period, there was no effect on the time to onset or duration of parturition. Plasma oestradiol concentrations were higher (P < 0·06) in piglets delivered by E2-treated sows. However,this was not associated with any effect on piglet pre-weaning survival. It is concluded that exogenous oestradiol can influence the timing of onset offarrowing in some sows. Although further refinement in terms of timing of E2injections is required, it seems likely that exogenous E2may have a useful role to play in hastening the induction of parturition in sows.
The effect of heat treatment on ileal amino acid digestibility of growing broilers given vetch and bitter vetch meals
Authors: Fernández-Fígares I. , Pérez L. , Nieto R. , Aguilera J. F. , Prieto C. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractForty-eight 4-week-old White Rock growing chickens (mean live weight 500 (s.e. 9·3) g) were given, by crop intubation, four isoencrgetic (13·1 M] metabolizable energy (ME) per kg dry matter (DM)) and isonitrogenous (120 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM) semisynthetic diets based on vetch (V) or bitter vetch (B) seeds, untreated or antoclaved at 120°C for 30 ruin (diets V, AV, B and AB, respectively). Autoclaving of the seeds caused some changes in amino acid (AA) composition but did not reduce the availability of A As, especially of lysine.The average apparent AA digestibility values derived from ileal content were 0·75, 0·85, 0·59 and 0·85 for diets V, AV, B and AB, respectively, corresponding to true absorption values of 0·90, 1·00, 0·74 and 0·97, respectively. Although the apparent digestibility values of several AAs were relatively low (methionine, isoleucine, tyrosine and cystine), most were higher than 0·70. Heat treatment resulted in a significant increase (P < 0·05) in the AA apparent digestibility of both seeds. It is concluded that heat treatment is useful for improvement of vetch and bitter vetch seeds for inclusion in poultry diets.
Effects of dietary maize level on net flux across splanchnic tissues of oxygen and nutrients in wethers consuming ad libitum different forages
Authors: Goetsch A. L. , Ferrell C. L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractCrossbred wethers (34 (s.e. 0·9) kg), with catheters in a hepatic vein, the portal vein and a mesenteric vein and artery, were offered ad libitum alfalfa (A), bermudagrass (B) or ryegrass-wheat (RW) hay and approximately 0, 200 or 400 g/kg maize (dry matter) to determine influences of maize level on net flux of oxygen and nutrients across the portal-drained viscera (PDV) and liver with different forage sources. Digestible energy intake (MJ/day) was 8·5, 12·0 and 12·8 (s.e. VIS) for A; 4·5, 5·5 and 9·0 (s.e. 0·93) for B; and 9·4, 8·8 and 12·2 (s.e. 0·93) for RW with 0, 200 and 400 g/kg maize, respectively. Splanchnic bed oxygen consumption (mmol/h) was 301, 304 and 322 (s.e. 27·2) for A; 178, 187 and 217 (s.e. 30·0) for B; and 226, 133 and 233 (s.e. 19·0) for RW with 0, 200 and 400 g/kg maize, respectively. Increasing dietary maize level linearly increased (P < 0·05) PDV release of alpha-amino nitrogen with B (5, 9 and 14 mmol/h) but not with A or RW. Dietary maize level did not consistently alter PDV or hepatic net flux of urea or ammonia nitrogen, suggesting that changes in ruminally fermentable organic matter from diets offered ad libitum, presumably induced by varying dietary concentrate level, may not alter nitrogen recycling when forage is 86 g/kg or greater in crude protein. Propionate release by the PDV and hepatic uptake increased linearly (P < 0·08) as maize level in A and B diets increased, although increasing dietary maize level did not significantly alter PDV, hepatic or splanchnic bed net flux of glucose regardless of forage source. Nevertheless, glucose concentration in arterial blood with A and RW increased linearly fP < 0·05) with increasing maize level, suggesting increased peripheral glucose availability. In conclusion, the potential to decrease energy consumption by splanchnic tissues relative to digestible energy intake by dietary inclusion of maize, thereby increasing the proportion of absorbed energy available to extra-splanchnic tissues, may be greater for low-quality forage than for forage of moderate or high quality and for moderate v. low dietary levels of maize with low-quality forage.
Steroid production and LH receptor concentrations of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea and associated rates of ova wastage in ewes given high and low levels of food intake before and after mating
Authors: Abecia J. A. , Rhind S. M. , Bramley T. A. , McMillen S. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo groups of eives were fed to provide 1·5 × (high, H; no. = 13) or 0·5 × (low, L; no. = 12) energy requirements for maintenance of live weight from 12 days before a synchronized mating in November until slaughter at 14 days after mating and the effects on embryo survival and associated patterns of gonadotropin secretion, and ovarian follicle and corpus luteum function were investigated. Proportionately, there were more pregnant ewes in the H group than the L group (0·62v.0·08; %2 = 7·67;P< 0·01) at day 14 of pregnancy but there were no differences in mean LH concentrations, LH pulse frequencies or amplitudes, either before mating and ovulation (follicular phase) or at day 10 after mating (luteal phase). The mean size (mm) of the three largest follicles (H: 5·69; L: 5·65; s.e.d. = 0·21), the proportion of these follicles that were oestrogenic (secreting > 500 pg oestradiol per h; H: 0·29; L: 0·28; y) = 0·01;P> 0·05) and secretion (pg/h) in vitro of oestradiol (H, 294; L, 386; s.e.d. = 146) (pg/h) and testosterone (H: 636; L: 508; s.e.d. = 293) by these follicles were similar for both treatments. There were no treatment differences in LH receptor concentrations (pg hormone bound per mg protein) in granulosa (H: 69·02; L: 67·76; s.e.d. = 0·20) and thecal (H: 46-88; L: 50·82; s.e.d. = 0·19) tissues. However, there was a higher concentration of receptors in the thecal tissue of oestrogenic follicles ofL than H ewes (167v.62; s.e.d. = 18;P< 0·05). Mean weights (g) of corpora lutea (H: 0·72; L: 0·59; s.e.d. = 0·003; P = 0·09), progesterone secretion (ng/mg per h) in vitro by luteal tissue (H: 1·75; L: 1·78; s.e.d. = 0·30) and LH receptor concentrations in corpora lutea (H: 58·16; L: 54·27; s.e.d. = 25·14) were similar for both treatments. It is concluded that the reduction in embryo survival associated with a reduced level of food intake was not attributable to a reduction in LH secretion, inadequacies in follicle growth and development or in the capacity of the corpora lutea to synthesize and release progesterone.
Biological efficiency of meat and wool production of seven sheep genotypes
Authors: Greeff J. C. , Bouwer L. , Hofmeyr J. H. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOne hundred and thirty-two ewes of the Merino (M), Finn × Merino (FLXM), Border Leicester × Merino (BLXM), Bleu de Maine × Merino (BMXM), Texel × Merino (TXM), Cheviot × Merino (ChXM) and Merino Landsheep × Merino (MLXM) were evaluated for efficiency of lamb production. Individual food intakes of every ewe and also of her lamb(s) were determined over a complete production cycle. Efficiency of lamb production (kg lamb marketed at 35 kg live mass per kg food consumed by the ewe and her lamb(s)) indicated that the FLXM was the most efficient, followed by the TXM, Merino, MLXM, BLXM, ChXM and the BMXM was the least efficient. No significant differences (P < 0·05) were found between genotypes for efficiency of lamb production for ewes producing and rearing singletons until 35 kg live mass with ewe mass included as a covariate. Efficiency of wool production of the Merino was significantly (T < 0·001) higher than that of the other crosses. These results emphasize the importance of reproduction traits in improving efficiency of lamb production.
The effects of frequency of feeding of supplementary concentrates on performance and metabolite and IGF-1 status of ewes given silage in late pregnancy
Authors: Chestnutt D. M. B. , Wylie A. R. G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEiues on grass silage-based diets were offered, during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, an increasing allowance of a barley-soya-fish meal concentrate (400 g/day in weeks 15/16; 600 g/day in weeks 17/18; 800 g/day in weeks 19/20) as either one, two or three feeds daily or as a complete mix with silage. Silage dry-matter intake increased with concentrate feeding frequency (P < 0·01) and was greatest with the mixed diet at an average of 1·38 of that with a single daily concentrate meal. The effect on silage intake was evident even at the lowest level of concentrate supplementation during weeks 15/16 and was independent of silage quality. Ewes gained more live weight (P < 0·01), and maintained a higher live weight post partum, as a result of increasing the frequency of feeding of concentrates but mean lamb birth weight was unaffected. Maternal serum metabolites were measured in weeks 17/18 and 19/20 only. Mean [i-hydroxybutyrate was higher, but not significantly so, in weeks 19/20 despite the increased concentrate allowance and was higher overall (P < 0·05) in ewes offered concentrates once daily compared with those receiving concentrates three times daily or mixed with the silage. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was higher in serum of ewes given frequent concentrate meals compared with those offered concentrate once daily (P < 0·05). Serum albumin and globulin increased as concentrate intake increased between weeks 17/18 and 19/20 (P < 0·05) and also, when concentrates were offered more than once daily (P < 0·05). Serum urea level was higher with more frequent concentrate meals (P < 0·01) and was affected by silage quality (P < 0·001).
Microbial production of skatole in the hind gut of pigs given different diets and its relation to skatole deposition in backfat
Authors: Jensen M. T. , Cox R. P. , Jensen B. B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe intestinal production of skatole and its deposition in backfat was investigated in 35 uncastrated crossbred male pigs. The pigs were fed five purified non-commercial diets containing either casein or brewers yeast slurry as protein source. The yeast slurry diet was used alone or supplemented with either wheat bran (200 g/kg), sugar-beet pulp (200 g/kg), or soya oil (100 g/kg).Skatole concentrations in backfat, and in digesta in different sections of the gastro-intestinal tract were measured at slaughter (mean weight 112 kg). There were large variations in skatole concentrations in the hind gut of different animals given the same diet. Although there was some correlation between skatole in intestinal contents and deposition in adipose tissue, there were also large variations between individual animals in their response to intestinal skatole. Nevertheless, there was a clear effect of diet on both intestinal skatole production and skatole deposition in backfat. The use of casein as a protein source decreased microbial skatole production, the total amount in the gut, and the concentration in the backfat. Addition of sugar-beet pulp to the yeast slurry diet increased microbial activity in the intestine (measured as ATP content, concentration of short-chain fatty acids, and lowering of digesta pH). There was a decreased rate of skatole production during in vitro incubations of intestinal content, and less skatole in the hind gut and backfat.In vitro fermentations of freeze-dried Heal effluent inoculated with faecal bacteria, and addition of substrates to in vitro incubations of intestinal contents, demonstrated that tryptophan availability rather than microbial activity was the limiting factor for skatole production.The results show that skatole production depends on the amount of protein entering the hind gut and the proteolytic activity of the intestinal microbiota. Protein fermentation in the hind gut can be decreased either by using more readily digestible protein sources (for example casein rather than yeast slurry) which reduce the amount of protein passing through to the hind gut, or by adding an alternative energy source which is more readily metabolized by the hind gut microbiota (for example supplementation of the yeast slurry diet with sugar-beet pulp). This provides a basis for the rational design of diets which will decrease skatole concentrations in the carcass.
The digestion of dry matter and non-starch polysaccharides from diets containing plain sugar-beet pulp or wheat straw by pregnant sows
Authors: Yan T. , Longland A. C. , Close W. H. , Sharpe C. E. , Keal H. D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractForty days after mating, 16 pregnant sows were randomly allocated to two diets containing either sugar-beet pulp (SBP) or wheat straw (WS) each offered at two levels (1·0 or 1·5 × maintenance energy requirement (M), where M = 460 kJ digestible energy (DE) per kg0·75 per day). Diets were iso-nitrogenous, and contained similar levels of DE together with 260 g non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) per kg dry matter (DM) largely derived from either the SBP or the WS. A 7-day NSP and DM balance was made between day 60 and 100 of gestation. During lactation sows had ad libitum access to a conventional sow diet which contained neither SBP or WS.Outputs of both fresh and dry faeces from sows given diet WS were significantly greater than the outputs from sows given the corresponding SBP diets (P <0·05), and outputs were significantly greater at the higher feeding level for both diets (P < 0·05). There was a tendency for higher urinary outputs from sows given diet WS, but these were variable and not significantly different from those from sows given diet SBP. The apparent digestibility and retention of DM was significantly greater for the SBP diet than for diet WS but were not significantly affected by feeding level. The apparent digestibilities of the total NSP and each of the individual constituent monomers were significantly higher for diet SBP than for diet WS (P < 0·001), but were independent of feeding level (P> 0·05). Xylose was the most poorly digested NSP constituent from both diets. Apparent digestibility coefficients for the remaining NSP constituents in diet SBP were > 0·8 and were > 0·52 in diet WS, with the uronic acids and mannose being the most highly digested NSP fractions from diets SBP and WS respectively.
Qualitative requirement for B vitamins in diets for the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)
Authors: Morris P. C. , Davies S. J. , Lowe D. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSemi-purified diets incorporating 495·4 g/kg crude protein and 72·0 g/kg oil, were used to identify the qualitative requirement of Spams aurata juveniles for thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin and pantothenic acid. Deficiency of these vitamins was associated with poor performance in terms of growth, food efficiency and apparent net protein utilization. All dietary vitamin deficiencies resulted in elevated moisture and a lowering of the lipid content of the carcass. In addition to increased mortality among the fish fed deficient diets, a small number of externally visible changes were observed including food refusal, anorexia and changes of skin colour. At the haematological level, all cases of vitamin deficiency were associated with significant reductions in haematocrit. In general, histological examination revealed that the pancreas of vitamin-deficient animals became atrophic with an accumulation of pigmented granules around this organ while additionally, the normal homogeneity of the liver parenchyma was lost.
Effects of single-space feeder design on feeding behaviour and performance of growing pigs
Authors: Nielsen B. L. , Lawrence A. B. , Whittemore C. T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractComputerized food intake recording systems of various designs are used by research, centres and breeding companies to monitor the individual food intake of pigs kept in groups. In the present experiment, three feeder designs are compared in order to estimate the effect on performance and feeding behaviour. Ninety entire male pigs (34 (s.e. 0·6) kg) were allocated in three replicates to pens of 10 pigs; each pen containing one of three different feeder entrance designs: low (head-guard), medium (full-length standard race), and high (enclosed pneumatic race) protection against disturbance of the feeding pig. No significant differences were found between treatments in daily food intake, daily live-weight gain, food conversion ratio, number of visits per day and daily feeder occupation. Pigs with access to an enclosed race had longer visits than pigs on the two other treatments, and they also ate more per visit (4·8, 4·8 and 6·2 (s.e.d. = 0·37) min per visit; 172, 157, and 202 (s.e.d. = 11·1) g per visit; means of low, medium and high protection, respectively). The enclosed race was not only the most protective, it was also the most difficult to enter, and this decreased accessibility of the food may have given rise to the changed feeding pattern displayed by pigs using this type of race. Access to a feeder with low protection resulted in a faster rate of eating (36·9, 33·2, and 32·8 (s.e.d. = 0·82) g/min; means of low, medium and high protection, respectively) indicative of a more forced feeding behaviour.