bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative estimates of lamb carcass composition 2. Specific gravity determination
Authors: Timon V. M. , Bichard Maurice 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYRelationships between specific gravity and carcass tissue were studied in 83 purebred Clun Forest lambs slaughtered at approximately 80 lb. liveweight and ranging in carcass weight from 29 to 42 lb. Carcass specific gravity accounted for 86·1% and 78·1% of the respective variances in carcass fat percentage and muscle percentage. Specific gravity determinations on a single joint were also highly correlated with the carcass tissues. Correlation coefficients between loin specific gravity and carcass fat and muscle were −0·89 and 0·82 respectively; corresponding figures for best-neck specific gravity were −0·86 with carcass fat percentage, and 0·76 with carcass muscle percentage. In partial correlation analyses, muscle/bone ratio failed to have a significant effect on these relationships. The usefulness of estimates of carcass composition based on specific gravity determinations is discussed in relation to the maximum probable errors associated with predicted values and with reference to the accuracy of these estimates under different experimental conditions. The magnitude of the confidence limits (P = 0·05) on individual predictions varied from ±2·98% to ±3·48% for fat and muscle respectively and for group (n= 12) predictions, from ±0·88% to ±1·01% respectively. This suggests that little confidence can be placed in specific gravity determinations as a reflection of real individual differences or small treatment differences.
Intensive beef production 5. The effect of different sources of protein on nitrogen retention
Authors: Bowers H. B. , Preston T. R. , MacLeod N. A. , McDonald I. , Philip Euphemia B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Nitrogen balance studies were made on 8 Friesian steers given allconcentrate diets containing fish meal, soya bean meal, groundnut meal or cottonseed meal.2. There were no differences in nitrogen retention but voluntary feed intake was significantly lower on the fish meal diet.3. Adjustment of nitrogen retention to constant dry matter intake resulted in significantly higher values for the diets containing fish meal and cottonseed meal than for the others.4. Rumen pH, rumen ammonia and blood urea were all much lower on the fish meal diet.
An evaluation of the growth promoting effect of the lactoperoxidase system in newborn calves
Authors: Reiter B. , Fulford Rosemary J. , Marshall Valerie M. , Yarrow N. , Ducker M. J. , Knutsson Maud 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTResults are reported from four trials in which neonatal calves were given either whole milk or milk substitute containing the lactoperoxidase system.Trial 1 was a pilot trial conducted in Sweden in which calves given whole milk with the lactoperoxidase system gained significantly more weight than controls (P< 0·05). Trials 2, 3 and 4 were carried out in successive years at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, using large numbers of newborn, female Friesian calves. In trial 2 a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system with whole milk on live-weight gain was established by 3 weeks of age (P< 0·05) and sustained until weaning at 5 weeks. There was no significant effect of the lactoperoxidase system for the milk substitute treatment. In trial 3 the whole milk comparison from trial 2 was repeated. There was a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system on the live-weight change after 2 weeks of age only (P< 0·05). In trial 4 two different methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system were compared for calves given whole milk. There was no effect of either method on the live-weight gain of the calves. However, as the levels of scouring were extremely low for all calves, a comparison of the two methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system was not justified. The combined results from trials 2, 3 and 4 confirmed that the lactoperoxidase system significantly increased the live-weight gain of calves given whole milk, despite the fact that the overall level of mortality and incidence of scouring was low in these trials.
The effect of β-carotene on the fertility of dairy heifers receiving maize silage
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Yarrow N. H. , Bloomfield Glenys A. , Edwards-Webb J. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOne hundred and sixty Friesian heifers were divided into four groups on the basis of live weight and age. All four groups received a production ration of 15 kg maize silage, 0·5 kg straw and either 1·5 or 0·5 kg concentrates according to their mean live weight. This ration supplied only 38 mg (3-carotene per animal per day.Two groups of heifers received a daily supplement of 300 mg β-carotene per head. The other two groups acted as controls and received a daily supplement of 60 000 i.u. vitamin A (18 mg retinol). All heifers received an adequate supply of vitamin A.Supplementation with 300 mg β-carotene per day significantly increased mean plasma concentrations from 3·52 mg/1 at housing to 5·58 mg/1 at first insemination (P < 0·001). Mean plasma concentrations in the control heifers declined from 3·31 mg/1 at housing to 2·42 mg/1 at first insemination and to 2·13 mg/1 50 days later. Of the 40 smaller controls half had concentrations below 1·00 mg/1 50 days after first insemination.Supplementation with β-carotene did not affect reproductive performance or growth rate in heifers receiving a ration based upon maize silage.
The performance of dairy cows with access to self-feed silage offered concentrates from a free-access dispenser
Authors: Chalmers J. S. , Moisey F. R. , Leaver J. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn two experiments cows with access to self-feed grass silage were offered concentrates either twice daily in the milking parlour at a fixed level (controls) or in addition given free-access to a concentrate dispenser sited in the self-feed area (dispenser). A time-lapse mechanism on the dispenser limited successive 1 kg feeds to a minimum of 10 min in experiment 1 and 5 min in experiment 2. The ‘dispenser’ cows had significantly greater total concentrate intakes than had the controls (10·4 v. 7·1 kg/day in experiment 1, 13·4 v. 7·3 kg/day in experiment 2), but there was a large variation in intake between individuals. Access to the dispenser increased milk yields only slightly, reduced milk fat concentration and increased milk protein concentration and live-weight gain. Following turnout to grass in the spring, there was evidence that the cows that had been on the dispenser treatment showed a faster rate of decline in milk yield than did the controls, and this was supported by lower lactation yields in the dispenser group.
Absorption of immunoglobulin from colostrum in newborn calves
Authors: Kruse V. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOne hundred and forty-one calves, belonging to three different breeds, were each given one single feeding of a variable amount of colostrum from their dams at the age of 2, 6, 10, 14 or 20 hr, respectively.The increase in serum Ig concentration during the first 24 hr after colostrum feeding (Δ Ig % 24) was a function of the mass of Ig fed to the calf, the age at colostrum feeding, and the birth weight of the calf. Among these three factors the mass of Ig and the age of the calf were the two predominant factors. The absorption coefficient, expressing the absorbed fraction of a given amount of Ig, was primarily determined by the age of the calf at first feeding. Thus the absorption coefficient was reduced linearly to about half by delaying the feeding from 2 to 20 hr. Except for a negative effect of increasing amounts of colostrum in one of the breeds, no other factors were detected as responsible for variation in the efficiency of Ig absorption. Thus, the absorption coefficient appeared to be unaffected by the Ig % in the colostrum and also by the quantity of Ig given to the calf.
Induced cryptorchidism in lambs: effects on growth rate, carcass and meat characteristics
Authors: Corbett J. L. , Furnival E. P. , Southcott W. H. , Park R. J. , Shorthose W. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYPushing the testes of lambs 1 to 2 weeks old into the body cavity and applying a rubber ring to cause atrophy of the empty scrotum, did not prevent most testes growing in a subcutaneous position. A modified technique used in a second experiment, which caused ablation of the tunica vaginalis as well as the scrotum, impeded more effectively the descent and growth of the testicles.In the two experiments growth rates of the induced cryptorchids were, respectively, 15·3% and 6·0% (non-significant) greater than those of castrated males, dressing percentages were about 2 units lower, and fat depth over the eye muscle of 13th rib chops was 2·6 compared with 2·9 mm (non-significant) and 1·9 compared with 4·1 mm. Chops from the cryptorchids had a visual appeal similar to those from castrated male and from female lambs; differences in flavour detected by taste panel had no significant effect on overall flavour acceptability.Tenderness did not differ significantly between sex groups, but age and Warner-Bratzler shear values were significantly and positively correlated as were ultimate pH of the meat and age at slaughter. Cryptorchidism induced by the modified technique probably permits the production of heavier carcasses with lower fat cover than on castrated males and avoids practical disadvantages that may be encountered in raising entire male lambs.
The effect of level of feeding of dried grass on milk production and the value of dried grass as a replacement for conventional dairy concentrates
Authors: Gordon F. J. , Kormos J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYAn experiment designed to study the response in milk production to dried grass given as an addition to a basal roughage diet and to assess its value as a replacement for conventional dairy concentrates is described. A randomized block design with 34 lactating cows was used. The cows received supplements of either dried grass (dry-matter digestibility, 70%, 0·28, 0·39, 0·50 or 0·61 kg/kg milk) or a cereal-based dairy concentrate (0·39 kg/kg milk) in addition to silage offered in amounts to meet the maintenance energy requirements. Milk yield, milk energy output, live-weight gain and the fat, solids-not-fat and protein contents of the milk increased with level of addition of dried grass. Interrelationships between the level of feeding of dried grass and milk output and body-weight change are given. The derived relationships between dried grass input and animal output were used to predict the replacement value of dried grass for conventional dairy concentrates. These indicated that dried grass offered at 042 kg/kg milk would produce equivalent milk yield and body-weight changes to concentrate given at 0·39 kg/kg milk. Ration digestibility and nitrogen balance results are also given.
Evaluation of female reproductive performance of 28 one-way crosses produced from eight breeds of swine
Authors: Holtmann W. B. , Fahmy M. H. , MacIntyre T. M. , Moxley J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe study included 1013 gilts representing 28 one-way crosses among Yorkshire (Y), Landrace (Ld), Lacombe (Lc), Hampshire (H), Duroc (D), Berkshire (B), Large Black (LB) and Tamworth (T) breeds of swine. The crosses were distributed among five cooperating stations and were mated to Poland China boars to evaluate sow reproductivity based on the performance of the first two litters. The traits studied were weight at 112 days of age, age at puberty, percentage farrowing, litter size and weight at farrowing and at 3 weeks. Significant differences between crosses were found for all traits except farrowing percentage. The most prolific crosses were LdxY, HxLd and D x Y which gave birth to 11·0, 11·0 and 10·8 pigs per litter respectively, compared to the overall mean of 9·7 Ld x Y, LB x Lc and H x Ld crosses weaned litters 7·4, 5·3 and 4·9 kg heavier than the 40·5 kg mean for all crosses. Using percentage farrowing multiplied by litter 3-week-weight for the two litters as a measure of sow productivity, Ld x Y and LB x Lc crosses ranked highest. The breeds that had the best combining abilities for 3-week litter weight were Ld, Y, LB and Lc, however their specific combining abilities are important and hence not all crosses between these breeds produced superior performing crossbred sows. Overall, the Ld x Y was the most precocious, farrowed and weaned the greatest number of pigs per litter and had the heaviest litters at 3 weeks post-farrowing.
A Comparison between rotational grazing and set stocking with ewes and lambs at three stocking rates
Authors: Young N. E. , Newton J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn 1972 a comparison was made between rotational creep grazing (R—8 paddocks) and set stocking (S—2 paddocks) for ewes and their twin lambs at 3 stocking rates viz. 20 (H), 17 (M) and 14 (L) ewes/ha.The herbage intakes/kg live weight of the R ewes were similar to those of the S ewes in period 1 (c. 7th week of lactation) but higher i n period 2 (c. 10th week of lactation). The intakes of the lambs were not affected by the grazing management in periods 3 or 5, but in period 4 the R lambs had a higher intake than those on S. The overall lamb growth rates were also higher on R compared with S. The carcass outputs (net of supplementary feed) were higher for any R treatment compared with any S treatment being 453, 451 and 427 for R and 419, 379 and 380 for S at the H, M and L stocking rates respectively.
A note on the metabolism of ca, P, Mg, Na and K by pigs growing at a high ambient temperature
Authors: Holmes C. W. , Grace N. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwo levels of feeding were offered at each of two air temperatures, 25° or 33°C, to pigs while they grew from 20 to 70 kg live weight; two pigs were subjected to each of the four treatments. Significant increases occurred in the urinary excretion of Ca and K by the two pigs fed on the higher level and exposed to 33°C. However these effects could not be related in an obvious way to the lameness which developed in the latter pigs.
Reproductive performance of the West African Dwarf and the Nungua Black Head sheep of Ghana
Authors: Ngere L. O. , Aboagye G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA study was made of some aspects of reproduction in the Nungua Black Head and the Ghanian variety of the West African Dwarf sheep. The gestation period of the two breeds was similar: 150 and 148 days respectively. Ewes mated in August and September tended to have slightly longer gestation periods than those mated in March. The mean birth weights were 2·2 kg in the Nungua Black Head and 13 kg in the West African Dwarf. Type of birth affected the weight of lambs at birth. The Nungua Black Head had no triplets, 0·132 twins and 0·868 singles. The West African Dwarf was more prolific: 0·402 singles, 0·557 twins and 0·041 triplets. The weight advantage of the Nungua Black Head lambs at birth was maintained to weaning and they also had better survival rates. The adjusted 12-week weaning weights averaged 9·8 and 5·8 kg respectively for the Nungua Black Head and West African Dwarf. What the West African Dwarf lost in individual weight it appeared to make up in numbers so that, when the breeds were compared in terms of kg of lamb weaned per ewe mated, there was no significant difference between them.
The Effects upon the intake and performance of store lambs of supplementing grass silage with barley, fish meal and rapeseed meal
Authors: Yilala K. , Bryant M. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo experiments are described in which individually-penned Suffolk × (Blue-faced Leicester × Swaledale) lambs were given complete diets based on grass silage, and voluntary intake, live-weight gain and nitrogen (N) retention were measured.Experiment 1 investigated the effects of supplements of fish meal (0, 60 and 120 g/kg diet dry matter (DM)) and barley (0, 150 and 300 g/kg diet DM) in a 3 × 3 design using 72 lambs. The lambs averaged 35 kg live weight at the start of the 47-day experiment. Fish-meal supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM, silage DM and metabolizable energy (ME), and improved daily gains, carcass weights and N retention. Barley supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM and ME, but reduced silage DM intake; live-weight gain, carcass weight and N retention were all improved.Experiment 2 investigated the effects of supplements of rapeseed meal (0 and 120 g/kg diet DM) in two forms (untreated and formaldehyde-treated) and barley (0 and 150 g/kg diet DM) in a 2 × 2 × 2 design with two missing treatments and using 48 lambs. The lambs averaged 39 kg live weight at the start of the 42-day experiment. Rapeseed meal supplements increased daily intakes of diet DM, silage DM and ME, and improved daily gains, carcass weights and N retention. Form of rapeseed meal had no effect. Barley increased diet DM and ME intakes and improved daily gains and carcass weights.
The effects of source population, feeding regimen, sex and day of slaughter on the muscle quality characteristics of British crossbred pigs
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Evans D. G. , Chadwick J. P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTData for 15 487 pigs taken from the first 8 years (1973–81) of the Meat and Livestock Commission's Commercial Pig Evaluation were used to examine the effects of sex, feeding regimen, slaughter weight and day of slaughter on muscle quality characteristics in 20 populations (pigs from different commercial breeding companies and control populations). The characteristics examined included pH measurements both at 45 min post mortem (pH,) and after overnight cooling (pH2), in the m. longissimus and m. semimembranosus. Visual assessments of m. longissimus colour and condition were also made.The overall mean for pH, in the m. longissimus was 6·34; 0·12 of pH, values were less than 6·0. The proportion of carcasses visually assessed as either pale or wet was 0·116, and 0·027 were assessed as both pale and wet.The populations were compared separately within each of three time periods (covering the full 8 years) since significant population × time period interactions were recorded for several characteristics. Within each period the populations differed significantly for all characteristics examined (P < 0·05); but with the exception of two extreme populations, the differences were relatively unimportant.The effects of sex, feeding regimen and slaughter weight were negligible but the effect of day of slaughter was very important: the s.d. of pH1 was reduced by 0·15 when calculated within day but by only 0·01 when adjusted for all other factors.Muscle quality characteristics were poorly correlated with carcass characteristics: the highest correlation within day of slaughter was −0·23, recorded between pH, and ham conformation score.
Relationship of rumen degradability with microbial colonization, cell wall constituents and tannin levels in some tree leaves
Authors: Makkar H. P. S. , Singh B. , Negi S. S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTRumen microbial attachment to food particles had a significant negative correlation with cell wall contents, cellulose and acid-detergent fibre (ADF) (P< 0·01) and a non-significant correlation with lignin, total phenolic content, condensed tannins and protein precipitation capacity. Microbial colonization was significantly positively correlated within saccodry-matter loss (DML) at 48 h of rumen incubation (P< 0·01). The cell wall contents and ADF were good predictors of DML. The relationship of DML (Y) with cell wall contents(X)and ADF(X')wereY= 1·012 – 0·0011Z,r= –0·89 (P< 0·01, no. = 10) andY= 0·977 – 0·0014X',r= –0·88 (P< 0·01, no. = 10), respectively.
Cold stress and post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets inoculated orally or by aerosol
Authors: Wathes C. M. , Miller B. G. , Bourne F. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThree-week old piglets were subjected to two levels of moderate, chronic cold stress immediately post-weaning and inoculated orally or by aerosol with an enterotoxigenic strain ofEscherichia coli. Oral challenge, as well as both piglet-produced and artificial aerosols ofE. coliwere capable of inducing infection. In infected animals, live-weight gain and food conversion efficiency were significantly worse at 15°C than at 20° or 30°C. The incidence and severity of diarrhoea was greatest at 15°C and least at 30°C, but only in those piglets fedad libitum. Piglets fed at a restricted level kept at 15°C did not become infected or suffer a check in growth after inoculation.In the absence of other risk factors, piglets kept at thermoneutrality are unlikely to suffer post-weaning diarrhoea even in the presence of an enterotoxigenic strain ofE. coli. Diarrhoeic piglets did not exhibit the normal rise in food intake at temperatures below their thermoneutral zone. Traditionally, the design specification and control of the thermal environment in a piggery has been based on the performance of predominantly healthy pigs but the results of this study imply that the additional criterion of health can now be used.
The nutrition of the early-weaned calf. II. A comparison of commercial groundnut meal, heat-treated groundnut meal and fish meal as the major protein source in the diet
Authors: Whitelaw F. G. , Preston T. R. , Dawson G. S. 
Published: September 2010

1. Nitrogen balance studies were conducted on 6 early-weaned calves fed three diets containing respectively commercial groundnut meal, heattreated groundnut meal and fish meal as the major protein sources.2. Nitrogen retention and live-weight gain differed significantly between diets, being highest on the fish meal diet and least on the commercial groundnut diet.3. Blood urea concentration was significantly lower on the fish meal diet than on either of the groundnut diets but differences between the groundnuts were not significant.4. Differences between diets in nitrogen utilisation were due almost entirely to differential urinary nitrogen losses.
The feed intake of grazing cattle. II. The influence of size of animal on feed intake
Authors: Holmes W. , Jones J. G. W. , Drake-Brockman R. M. 
Published: September 2010

1. Two experiments each with 3 dry cows, 3 heifers and 3 calves were carried out in 1959 and 1960 under uniform continuous grazing conditions on a ryegrass-white clover sward to measure individual feed intake by the chromic oxide-faecal nitrogen method.2. Estimates of digestibility were high (70–82% in organic matter) and there was evidence that calves selected a diet of higher digestibility than cows.3. Mean daily estimates of organic matter intake were for cows (1300 lb. live-weight) 23·5 lb., for heifers (790 lb. live-weight) 20·8 lb. and for calves (450 lb. live-weight) 14·3 lb. Corresponding digestible organic matter intakes were 17·4, 15·3 and 11·0 lb.4. Relationships between digestible organic matter intake and liveweight were calculated and the merits of the exponents 0·62 and 0·73 of liveweight discussed.5. The results were compared with accepted cow equivalent standards and, regardless of the exponent chosen, agreed with the system which adopts higher values for young grazing cattle.
Studies on the feeding of supplements to beef cattle on grass
Authors: Dodsworth T. L. , Ball C. 
Published: September 2010

Four trials were carried out to determine the effect of feeding a supplement to stirks 6–9 months of age when turned out to grass. In two trials there was no response and in two there was a response to supplementary feeding.No response was obtained in five trials when supplements were fed to store and fattening cattle. The feeding of undecorticated cotton cake did not have any apparent effect either on rate of live-weight gain or on scouring.It is concluded that while the feeding of a supplement to young animals can bejustified when maximum live-weight gain is required, feeding of supplements to older cattle cannot be recommended so long as the animals are grazing good swards.