bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of breed of sire on the accumulation of copper in lambs, with particular reference to copper toxicity
Authors: Woolliams J. A. , Suttle N. F. , Wiener G. , Field A. C. , Woolliams Carol 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTLambs, 9 weeks of age, the offspring of sires of the Scottish Blackface, East Friesland, Finnish Landrace, Suffolk and Texel breeds mated to Scottish Blackface females, as a common maternal breed, were given diets containing 12 or 20 mg copper per kg dry matter for 13 weeks. Concentrations of liver copper and of copper and aspartate amino-transferase in the plasma were measured regularly, and the concentrations of copper in the kidney, mandible and cheek muscle were also measured terminally. Livers were examined for histological symptoms of copper toxicity.Wide breed variation was apparent in liver copper concentration after 6 weeks and in plasma aspartate aminotransferase concentration after 9 weeks. At slaughter, total liver copper and kidney copper concentration showed significant breed variation. For all traits, the Texel-cross lambs had the highest concentrations, followed by the Suffolk crosses, and the Blackface had the lowest. The proportion of ingested copper retained in the liver of the Texel-cross lambs was twice that of the Blackface lambs (0·137 v. 0·056), with the other breed crosses intermediate.There was a significant difference between diets for liver, kidney and mandible copper concentrations, plasma aspartate amino-transferase concentration, and for total liver copper but not for cheek muscle. Both diets produced elevated plasma aspartate amino-transferase concentration and histological symptoms of copper toxicity in the livers of some lambs.The results show large breed differences in the susceptibility to copper poisoning, some breeds being at risk when given diets containing 12mg copper per kg dry matter for long periods. There was no suggestion that breeds differed in resistance to poisoning other than through different retentions of copper consumed
The response of early-weaned piglets to various levels of lysine in diets of moderate energy content
Authors: Rogerson J. C. , Campbell R. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThirty entire male piglets weaned at 21 days of age were used to study the effects of two levels of dietary protein (178 and 194g/kg), each in combination with five levels of supplemental lysine (0, 1·5, 3·0, 4·5 and 6·0g/kg), in diets given ad libitum and containing 14 MJ digestible energy per kg, on performance from 6 to 20 kg live weight.Raising total lysine from 7·2 to 8·7 g/kg diet with 178 g crude protein per kg promoted significant increases in average daily gain, efficiency of food conversion and voluntary food intake, and raised all these parameters to levels exhibited by piglets receiving the basal diet containing 194 g crude protein per kg (8·7 g total lysine per kg).Lysine supplementation of the diet containing 194g crude protein per kg had no effect on growth performance or food intake.Carcass characteristics at 20 kg live weight were not significantly affected by either dietary crude protein or total lysine (P> 005).
The reproductive performance, mothering ability, and productivity of crossbred and Tswana beef cows in Botswana
Authors: Light D. , Buck N. G. , Lethola L. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe calving rates, survival and growth of calves of Brahman (344), Bonsmara (454), Simmental (601) and Tuli (276) crossbred cows, and pure Tswana (405), were collected for a 7-year period, 1974–80. Calving and survival rates for calves were 0·90, 0·88, 0·87, 0·87 and 0·82; and 0·94, 0·93, 0·96, 0·94 and 0·93, for Simmental, Tuli, Brahman and Bonsmara crossbreds, and pure Tswana, respectively. These differences were not significant (P<0·05).Calves produced by Simmental ♂ and Bonsmara ♂ crossbred cows were significantly heavier than those from Brahman ♂ and Tuli ♂ crossbred cows (P<0·01), but not from Tswana-sired calves. At weaning, calves from Simmental-cross cows weighed 214 kg, significantly heavier than those produced by any other cow type (P<0·01). Bonsmara- and Brahman-cross cows produced calves weighing 203 and 198kg respectively at weaning, which were also significantly heavier than the calves of Tswana and Tuli crossbred cows (P<0·01), which weighed 187 and 184 kg respectively.Productivity estimates combining these three traits, and expressed as weight of calf weaned per cow per year, per kg cow weight and per kg metabolic weight of cow, demonstrate the advantages of three of the crossbred cow types over the pure Tswana. Recommendations for the further development of crossbreeding systems in Botswana are made on the basis of this finding.
Some sources of error and possible bias in Danscan ultrasonic measurements of cattle
Authors: Gibson J. P. , Alliston J. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTPhotographs of ultrasonic images of 10 animals were taken. Two replicate photographs were taken at each of four body positions (10th rib, 13th rib, 3rd lumbar and hindquarter) on both sides of the body in the morning and the afternoon of the day of scanning. Several measurements were taken on each photograph by an experienced interpreter. Replicate photographs failed to account for all possible sources of measurement error. Since neither time of day nor side of the body affected the mean value, taking observations at different times of the day or on both sides of the body could permit most sources of measurement error to be taken into account. Variation due to errors of measurement and differences among animals are presented. The residual error distribution contained several extreme outliers.It was concluded that a better understanding of all the sources of bias and error will be needed if ultrasonic measurements are to be more widely used.
Lipid metabolism in finishing bulls and steers implanted with oestradiol-17 β-dipropionate
Authors: Prior R. L. , Smith S. B. , Schanbacher B. D. , Mersmann H. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty bull calves were assigned to one of four treatment groups: 1) intact bulls; 2) intact bulls implanted with oestradiol dipropionate; 3) steers, and 4) steers implanted with oestradiol dipropionate. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy 5 months after implantation. Experimental treatment did not alter (P> 0·05) mean adipose cell volume, diameter or cell number per g adipose tissue. Soluble protein content of adipose cells from bulls was increased by implantation, but not in steers.In vitrorates of fatty acid synthesis were higher in oestrogen-implanted cattle compared with nonimplanted cattle when expressed per g adipose tissue, but not when expressed per cell. Maximal activities of the lipogenic-related enzymes, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase, aconitate hydratase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase were higher in implanted compared with nonimplanted cattle when the activities were expressed per g tissue and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase and aconitase were also higher when expressed per adipose cell. Bulls and steers had the same basal and stimulated lipolytic rates and implantation of oestradiol dipropionate had no effect on either basal or stimulated lipolytic rate. In this experiment, the oestrogenic implant appeared to have a stimulatory effect onin vitroestimates of lipogenesis.
Beef production from silage 3. The effect of supplements of hay and dried grass on the performance of beef cattle
Authors: Thomas C. , Tetlow R. M. , Gibbs B. G. , Gill Margaret 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. The primary growth of perennial ryegrass was cut between 7 and 9 June and ensiled with formic acid at 2·5 1/t. The regrowth was cut on 24 July; part was dried at high temperature (dried grass), the remainder was left to dry in the field (hay). The dried grass (DG) and part of the hay were ground and pelleted, the hay being pelleted alone (PH) or with the addition of formaldehyde at 20 g/kg crude protein (PHF). The remainder of the hay was offered in the chopped form (CH). The four supplements (CH, PH, PHF, DG) were offered at two levels, 6·5 (L) and 130 (H) g dry matter per kg live weight to 54 British Friesian steers (initial live weight, 110 kg) receiving the silage ad libitum.2. The silage had a high pH and a high proportion of the total nitrogen was in the form of ammonia, indicating poor fermentation. The solubility of nitrogen in the supplements was highest (262 g/kg total nitrogen) in CH, progressively less in PH and PHF and lowest (122 g/kg total nitrogen) in DG.3. Total dry-matter intake was highest with DG at the higher level of inclusion. Dry-matter intake was significantly higher for PH and PHF than for CH (P < 0·001). However, intake of digestible energy did not differ between hays. Live-weight gain was increased from a low level of 0·24 kg/day (silage alone) by all supplements, but this effect was greater with DG than with the hays (P < 0·001). Level of supplementation increased live-weight gain from 0·54 to 0·74 kg/day.4. Supplements of dried grass gave higher live-weight gains than did hay made from the same sward. However, the results indicate that supplementation of badly preserved silage with grass hay of good quality can produce acceptable levels of performance of up to 0·70 kg/day in 4-month-old steers. Processing of the hay had little effect on animal performance.
Effect of inclusion of protected and unprotected tallow in the supplement on the performance of lactating dairy cows
Authors: Murphy J. J. , Morgan D. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThree concentrate mixtures were compared in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square feeding trial with cows in early lactation to evaluate the effect of inclusion of tallow. The concentrates were based on barley and soya bean meal (223 g crude protein per kg dry matter) with either no tallow addition (control group) or with the addition of a protected tallow premix (0·75 spray-dried formaldehyde-treated tallow, 0·25 casein) or an unprotected tallow premix (0·75 spray-dried tallow, 0·25 casein), both added at 138 g/kg. Each concentrate was given at a rate of 8 kg per cow per day and silage was offered ad libitum. The inclusion of unprotected tallow in the concentrate did not significantly change milk yield, fat concentration, lactose concentration or live weight compared with those in the control group. The inclusion of the protected tallow supplement resulted in significantly higher yields of milk (22·9 kg/day), fat (0·95 kg/day) and lactose (1·05 kg/day) compared with those of the control group (21·3 kg/day, 0·79 kg/day, 0·95 kg/day), whilst milk protein concentration was significantly reduced. A digestibility trial with steers showed that, when hay was given with the diets, inclusion of tallow in the concentrate significantly increased the digestible and metabolizable energy concentration of the diets compared with the control diet, but dry matter, energy and fibre digestibility was reduced.
The effect of protein intake and lactation number on post-partum body weight loss and reproductive performance of dairy cows
Authors: Kaim M. , Folman Y. , Neumark H. , Kaufmann W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn three experiments 250 high-yielding dairy cows were fed for 18 weeks after parturition either a low-protein (LP) diet containing 150 to 160 g crude protein per kg or a high-protein (HP) diet containing 190 to 200 g crude protein per kg. In all three experiments cows were fed an average of 2·6 to 2·9 kg crude protein per day on the LP diet and 3·3 to 3·7 kg crude protein per day on the HP diet. Inclusive of maintenance, crude protein intake was, on average, 71 to 83 g crude protein per kg milk on the LP diet and 84 to 112 g crude protein per kg milk on the HP diet.Protein intake did not affect the post-partum decrease in body weight; however, cows in their 4th and later lactations lost significantly more weight than cows in their 2nd and 3rd lactations (P < 0·01). Number of lactation did not affect the levels of rumen fluid ammonia or plasma urea, but older cows had significantly higher milk yields than younger ones. In all the experiments the first oestrus was observed, on average, between 38 and 43 days after parturition. The first insemination was carried out, on average, between 69 and 75 days after calving. Protein intake or age did not affect the intervals between parturition and the first observed oestrus or insemination. Proportional conception rates of cows fed the LP and HP diets were 0·566 and 0·431, respectively (P < 0·05). Conception rates of cows in their 2nd and 3rd lactations were 0·582 and 0·515 for cows on the LP and HP diets, respectively, whereas conception rates of cows in their 4th and later lactations were 0·526 and 0·288, respectively (P < 0·02). Within the HP-fed group the difference in conception rate between cows in their 2nd and 3rd lactations and those in their 4th and later lactations was also significant (P < 0·01). The proportion of cows pregnant 126 days after parturition was 0·786 and 0·645 for cows fed the LP and HP diets, respectively (P < 0·05). The proportion of cows in their 2nd and 3rd lactations which were pregnant, was 0·792 and 0·702 for cows of the LP and HP groups, respectively. Pregnancy rates for cows in their 4th and later lactations were 0·769 and 0·515 in the LP and HP groups, respectively (P < 0·05).
Comparative performance of crossbred ewes from three crossing sire breeds
Authors: Cameron N. D. , Smith C. , Deeble F. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe performance of crossbred ewes sired by Border Leicester (BL), Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) and ABRO Damline (DL) crossing sires was compared. The dams of the crossbred ewes were of three hill breeds (Scottish Blackface, Swaledale and Welsh Mountain). Contemporary comparisons were made on 18 commercial and college farms throughout England and Wales from 1977 to 1981. A total of 1 277 crossbred ewes were involved with data on up to three years' lambings per ewe, giving a total of 3 522 mating records. The analyses were by least squares, fitting constants for terminal ram breed × farm × year of birth of ewe groups, sire breed, dam breed, age of crossbred ewe and all two-way interactions.The DL crossbred ewes were lighter at mating than the other crossbreds at each age. The proportion of 1-year-old crossbred ewes lambing was highest for the DL (0·78), compared to BFL (0·73) and BL (0·62), indicating earlier sexual maturity. Over all ages, the DL crossbreds were more prolific with 1·79 lambs per ewe lambing compared to BFL (1·63) and BL (1·53) and more lambs were weaned (1·33, 1·29 and 1·19 respectively). The total litter weight at both birth and weaning of the DL crossbreds was greater than the BL crossbreds but less than the BFL crossbreds at each age. For prolificacy and early sexual maturity, the DL cross is superior to both breeds. In overall production, the DL cross had no advantage over the BFL cross, as the litters of the DL crossbred ewes were lighter than the BFL litters at both birth and 10 weeks of age
Follicle curvature score and its relationships with wool production
Authors: Gonzàlez R. , Lombardini A. , Ibañez W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMedium-wool Australian Merino rams were sampled in 1978 and 1979 to estimate the relationships between the follicle curvature score, fleece and body characteristics.As a high correlation coefficient between two independent observers was found in both years, only one observer was used to correlate follicle curvature score with wool production.Repeatability of the follicle score between lambs at weaning and 14- to 15-month-old rams was 0·61*** and 0·65***.Clean fleece weight was significantly correlated with greasy fleece weight (0·8***, 0·9***), clean scoured yield (0·6***, 0·7***), staple length (0·4*, 0·5**) and crimps per cm (-0·3, -0·4*), but the correlation was very low with fibre diameter (0·01, 0·06).The correlation of clean fleece weight with body weight at 14 to 15 months varied between 0·2 and 0·5 (P < 0·001).Follicle curvature score was significantly correlated with clean fleece weight (-0·5**), clean scoured yield (0·6***, 0·7***), staple length (-0·4*, -0·7***), fibre diameter (0·3, 0·6***) and crimps per cm (0·4*. 0·6***). Non-significant correlations of follicle curvature score with greasy fleece weight (–0·2) and body weight at 14 to 15 months (–0·04, –0·1) were found.Depending on whether the proportion of superior 14- to 15-month-old rams which are to be retained for breeding is 0·10 or 0·05, then, according to our data, the proportion of lambs that can be culled at weaning (with an accuracy of P < 0·05) is 0·31 or 0·42, respectively.
A comparison of two-cut and three-cut systems of silage making for beef cattle using two cultivars of perennial ryegrass
Authors: Steen R. W. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo randomized-block experiments have been carried out to examine the effects of increasing the digestibility of grass silage offered to beef cattle by harvesting three crops of grass after shorter growth intervals rather than two crops after longer growth intervals. In experiment 1 early-cut silages were harvested on 1 June, 16 July and 24 August, and late-cut silages on 20 June and 22 August 1979. In experiment 2 the early-cut silages were harvested on 19 May, 2 July and 20 August, and the late-cut silages on 5 June and 12 August 1980. Early- and late-cut silages were made from each of two cultivars of perennial ryegrass (cultivars Cropper and Talbot). The silages were unwilted and had formic acid applied at 2.5 1/t fresh crop.In experiment 1 the silages were offered ad libitum, both unsupplemented and supplemented with 2·2 kg concentrates per head daily, to 88 cattle of mixed beef breeds and mean initial live weight 337 kg, in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. In experiment 2 the silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·4 kg of concentrates per head daily to 56 Charolais × (Aberdeen Angus × Friesian) cattle of mean initial live weight 351 kg, in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Grass cultivar did not significantly affect silage intake or animal performance but intake, live-weight gain and carcass gain were significantly higher for the early-cut than for the late-cut silages in both experiments. In experiment 1 silage dry-matter intakes were 6·33, 5·12, 5·80 and 4·67 (s.e. 0·124) kg/day; live-weight gains were 0·72, 0·89, 0·47 and 0·76 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day; and carcass gains were 0·46, 0·60, 0·27 and 0·48 (s.e. 0·016) kg/day, for the unsupplemented and supplemented early-cut silages, and the unsupplemented and supplemented late-cut silages, respectively. In experiment 2 silage dry-matter intakes were 5·49 and 4·95 (s.e. 0·056) kg/day; live-weight gains Were 0·95 and 0·76 (s.e. 0·033) kg/day; and carcass gains were 0·67 and 0·50 (s.e. 0·17) kg/day, for the early- and late-cut silages, respectively.
Effects of body condition and environmental stress on ovulation rate, embryo survival, and associated plasma follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and progesterone profiles in Scottish Blackface ewes
Authors: Rhind S. M. , Doney J. M. , Gunn R. G. , Leslie I. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn a 2 × 2 factorial experiment, half of each of two groups of ewes in high (20 ewes) or low body condition (20 ewes) were subjected to procedures designed to simulate normal management and climatic stresses, and the effects of these treatments on ovulation rate, embryo survival and endocrine status were investigated.The mean ovulation rate of ewes in the high condition group was significantly higher than that of ewes in the low condition group (1·8 v. 11) (P < 0·001). Embryo survival rates were unaffected. Neither ovulation rate nor embryo survival were affected by stressful treatments.Circulating follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels were recorded in the peri-ovulatory period. Mean circulating follicle stimulating hormone levels were similar in three of the treatment groups but were generally lower in ewes in the low condition/stressed group. This difference was significant in some of the sampling periods. Neither basal levels of luteinizing hormone nor the size of the pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge were significantly affected by level of body condition or stress but the surge began earlier in ewes in the low condition groups. The difference in timing was not, however, related to ovulation rate. Circulating prolactin levels were consistently and often significantly lower in ewes in poor condition (P < 0·05). Levels were not significantly affected by stress.While ovulation rate was affected by body condition, the recorded progesterone profiles during the first 2 weeks after mating suggest that luteal function was not affected by any of the treatments applied.
Prediction of the true metabolizable energy concentration in forages for ruminants
Authors: Dewhurst R. J. , Webster A. J. F. , Wainman F. W. , Dewey P. J. S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA model has been developed to predict the true metabolizable energy (ME,) concentration in forages given to ruminants.The chemical description of forages is based on the concentrations of ash, crude protein, ether extract, sugars and α-glycans, β-glycans and lignin, volatile fatty acids and lactic acid. The model assumes complete fermentation of sugars, α-glycans and lactic acid. The extent of fermentation of β-glycans and crude protein is determined in part by rumen solid-phase outflow rate, which can itself be predicted from dry-matter intake.The model was tested using 121 graminaceous forages whose chemical composition and concentration of metabolizable energy had been measured in the Feedingstuffs Evaluation Unit at the Rowett Research Institute. The agreement between observed and predicted ME, for all classes of forage was nearly always as good as, or better than, the best prediction from single attributes of food chemistry which could only be determined retrospectively and were not consistent even within classes of forage. The model predicts a decline in ME, with increasing rumen solid-phase outflow rate which is determined mainly by the extent of fermentation of β-glycans.