bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production characteristics of high-yielding dairy cows
Authors: Neilson D. R. , Whittemore C. T. , Lewis M. , Alliston J. C. , Roberts D. J. , Hodgson-Jones L. S. , Mills J. , Parkinson H. , Prescott J. H. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the relationships between food intake, milk output and body condition in high-yielding dairy cows is crucial in determining suitable management strategies. During two winter feeding periods 38 and 37 cows were individually fed, to appetite, complete diets which on average contained 11·7 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter and comprised grass silage, concentrate meal and brewers' grains (draff). The groups' mean 305-day yield was 7 240 kg (s.d. 1 281) with 42 g (s.d. 4·3) fat per kg. Regression analysis was carried out to describe dry-matter intake both for 26 weeks post calving and for four successive 6-week periods from calving. The final equations, which had a residual s.d. of 0·07 to 0·10 of the observed intake, included milk yield, cow size and a measure of body-condition change. The cows were divided into three groups (high, medium and low) on two criteria: (1) mean milk yield (MJ/day) during the first 26 weeks of lactation and (2) post-calving backfat index determined ultrasonically. Differences were found between milk-yield groups from gross efficiency (milk yield (MJ)/energy intake (MJ metabolizable energy)) (P < 0·001), mean metabolizable energy intake (MJ/day) (P < 0·01), dry-matter intake as a proportion of live weight (P < 0·05), and post calving live weight (kg) (P < 0·05). Differences were found between backfat-index groups for maximum backfat loss and loss to day 42 (P < 0·001); also for mean live weight during the 26 weeks and post calving live weight (P < 0·001), dry-matter intake as a proportion of live weight (P < 0·05) and lactation number (P < 0·05). Interactions were found between the milk yield groups and backfat groups for milk yield (P < 0·01) and gross efficiency (P < 0·05) with the fattest group containing the highest and lowest yields and efficiencies.
Variation in milk cell counts during lactation of British Friesian cattle
Authors: Wood P. D. P. , Booth J. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA survey was carried out of 1 640 British Friesian heifers calving predominantly in the autumn of 1979. The monthly samples of 1 055 animals showing no reported evidence of udder infection were used to evaluate the parameters of a lactation curve in milk cell count. The model wasC = 190 n−0.4880exp(0·178n)where C is the monthly cell count in millions per 1 during the nth month of lactation. The cell count varied from 230 × 106 in week 1 and 190 × 106 in week 11 to 400 × 106 in week 44 of lactation.On applying the model to the whole sample, milk sampled within a month before or after antibiotic treatment for clinical mastitis contained more than 200 × 106 cells per 1 above the level suggested by the lactation curve. Lactation mean cell counts of treated cows were 400 × 106 cells per 1 higher than those of untreated cows. It was not possible to identify periods in which cows required treatment, or those with high cell counts, by reference to the lactose concentration in the milk samples. Among the untreated cows, the cell count at the third monthly test-day was lower than at any other time, and was more highly correlated with the lactation mean cell count.
Increased rates of genetic change in dairy cattle by embryo transfer and splitting
Authors: Nicholas F. W. , Smith C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTPossibilities for increased rates of genetic change in dairy cattle through embryo transfer and embryo splitting are examined, using the multiple ovulation and embryo transfer systems previously proposed. These involve embryo transfer from 1-year-old females (juvenile scheme, generation interval 1·8 years) and from females after 1 lactation (adult scheme, generation interval 3·7 years), with use of males at similar ages. Though selection is less accurate than in conventional progeny testing, the annual rate of genetic improvement can be increased, and even doubled. If the number of transfers is restricted andm the inbreeding rate is limiting, the adult scheme for both sexes is preferred. A scheme with 1 024 transfers per year and 512 females milk-recorded per year will sustain a rate of genetic improvement some 30% above that possible by a conventional national progeny-testing programme. Because of the relatively small number of animals involved, it is argued that greater control over recording, breeding and selection should be possible, leading to a larger proportion of the possible genetic gains being realized in practice. Other advantages, and disadvantages of these systems, and their integration in dairy cattle improvement are discussed.
Comparative performance and body composition of control and selection line large white pigs 1. On a generous fixed feeding scale for a fixed time
Authors: Henderson Ruth , Whittemore C. T. , Ellis M. , Smith W. C. , Laird R. , Phillips P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTGrowth performance and body composition differences between Large White control (C) and 10th generation index-selected (S) pigs were evaluated on a fixed food, fixed time trial. This avoided the complicated interpretation associated with interacting variations in food intake, days on test and body composition. Thirty-nine C and 40 S boars were slaughtered, their carcasses dissected and whole empty bodies minced and chemically analysed after an 84-day trial starting at 26·6 ± 0·27 kg live weight. S boars were older at the start of test (95·2 v. 89·0 days, P < 0·001), were heavier at the end of test (96·2 v. 93·8 kg, P < 001) and converted food more efficiently (0·392 v. 0·378 kg gain per kg food, P < 0·01) than C boars. Bodies of S boars contained more water (48·3 v. 45·9 kg, P < 0·001), less lipid (17·4 v. 18·8 kg, P < 0·001) less gross energy (1 004 v. 1 045 MJ, P < 0·05), but similar amounts of protein (13·8 v. 13·4 kg, NS) compared with C boars. S carcasses contained more lean (34·1 v. 31·8 kg, P < 0·001), less subcutaneous fat (12·5 v. 13·7 kg, P < 0·001), and had lower P2 backfat depths (15·8 v. 18·3 mm, P < 0·001) than C carcasses. Although carcass leanness had been increased, 10 generations of index selection had also reduced the overall energetic efficiency of the selection line, apparently by increasing non-productive heat loss.
A comparison of the nursing and suckling behaviour of group- and individually-housed sows and their litters
Authors: Bryant M. J. , Rowlinson P. , Van der Steen H. A. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTNursing frequency, suckling duration and teat order were recorded in 12 ‘hybrid’ sows and their litters from parturition to weaning at day 42 post partum. Sows and their litters were moved from the farrowing quarters at day 20; half were housed as a group (G) and fed ad libitum with a boar present and the other half were housed individually (S) with no boar present and ration-fed to scale.Some differences occurred in behaviour from day 20. A significantly greater number of false nursing periods, significant synchronization of nursing periods, and a tendency for more long and short nursing intervals occurred in G than S sows and litters. The duration of the preliminary nosing phase and the total nursing period were significantly longer in S than G litters. Teat order scores, indicating consistency of piglet suckling position on the sow, tended to be greater in S than G litters, and there was a fall in the score for G litters in the weeks following grouping. This was associated with a check in live-weight gain.All G sows showed oestrus during lactation, on average 15 days after grouping. There was no incidence of lactational oestrus in the S sows which showed oestrus 5 days after weaning.
Effects of diets consisting of maize and milk on growth and carcass characteristics of mice
Authors: Bateman Nigel 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYDiets of cooked maize meal and dried skim milk were fed to newly weaned mice for 2 weeks, and to lactating females for 3 weeks. The diets ranged from 16% to 100% maize, with complementary amounts of from 84% to 0% milk and a 5% supplement of yeast.Live-weight gains from 3 to 5 weeks of age were greatest when an intermediate diet containing 76% maize was fed. Average gains on 16%, 76% and 100% maize were 8·0 g, 17·7 g and 5·5 g respectively. The full sib phenotypic correlation was 0·45 but gains were independent of weaning weight. No carry-over effect was detected from maize-milk diets that had been fed to the dams; the dams' own gains at the same age had little influence on their offspring.Weight of food consumed per mouse varied little between diets despite marked differences in gain. Food and energy intakes relative to gain showed no trend between 16% and 88% maize but doubled between 88% and 100% maize. Protein was used most economically for gains on 88% maize.There were health problems. When high milk diets were first used many mice suffered from diarrhoea. A few mice on 95% maize, whose dams had been given the same diet during lactation, died without prior symptoms. Mice on 100% maize were thirsty, but not glycosuric.Females nursing litters on high milk or high maize diets drew on reserves in the carcass, liver, pancreas, spleen and fat. In addition, high milk diets caused hypertrophy of kidneys and caecum, and diarrhoea.
Moist barley for growing pigs: some effects of storage method and processing
Authors: Livingstone R. M. , Denerley H. , Stewart C. S. , Elsley F. W. H. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYForty-eight pigs were used to compare the feeding value of barley which had been stored dry, and then hammer-milled, with that of barley stored moist, either anaerobically or treated with 1·3% propionic acid, and then rolled. The pigs were fed from 30 kg live weight for a period of 11 weeks and during this period all consumed the same allowance of dry matter. The growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the pigs given the rolled moist barley were significantly poorer than those of others given dry milled or acid treated rolled barley. There were no treatment differences in carcass attributes.Microbiological counts made throughout the experiment showed that there was no significant fungal or bacterial development on the acid treated barley. Similar numbers of bacteria were present on the dry barley as on the moist, but the fungal count for the moist grain was always at least 500 times higher than that of the corresponding dry sample. The dominant organisms were identified.In a further experiment the apparent digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen of diets containing dry, moist or propionic acid treated barley, processed either by milling or rolling, were determined. The highest values were obtained for dry barley. Acid treated moist barley had lower values than moist barley. The method of processing did not affect the apparent digestibility of the dry matter, but that of the N was significantly lower for the rolled barleys.
Rearing of dairy cattle 2. Weaning calves according to their concentrate intake
Authors: Leaver J. D. , Yarrow N. H. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYBritish Friesian dairy female calves were offered once daily either 320 or 480 g of milk substitute reconstituted in warm water. Weaning took place when calves were consistently eating 400, 650 or 900 g/day of concentrates. The number of days taken to reach weaning was greater with calves offered 480 g than with calves offered 320 g of milk substitute per day. Calves with a high initial live weight achieved the required concentrate intake and were therefore weaned sooner than smaller calves. A fall in energy intake occurred immediately after weaning and this was greatest in calves previously offered 480 g/day of milk substitute. The treatments had no significant effect on the total intake of concentrates and hay over the 8 weeks of the experiment. Increasing the amount of milk substitute from 320 to 480 g/day increased total feed costs, and feed costs per kg live-weight gain. Increasing the required level of concentrate intake at weaning also increased total feed costs and feed costs/kg live-weight gain, but to a lesser extent. The results suggest that it is preferable to feed dairy replacement calves only 320 g of milk substitute in a once-daily feeding system. Weaning can be successfully under-taken when the calves are consistently eating 400 g/day of concentrates.
The influence of a bio-active feed supplement (hormonexa) on the performance of beef cattle
Authors: Laird R. , Walker-Love J. , Dickson I. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Hormonexa, a bio-active feed supplement, was included at the rate of 3·1 kg per 1000 kg of the concentrate ration for finishing Hereford · Ayrshire steers.2. Live-weight gain and food conversion were unaffected by the addition of Hormonexa.3. The killing-out percentage of the supplemented animals was significantly lower and their carcass quality was slightly, but not significantly, lower than that of the control animals.
Growth and lifetime production of scottish blackface hill ewes in relation to the level of feeding during rearing
Authors: Gunn R. G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA study was made of the effects of different levels of nutrition between 3 and 6 months and between 6 and 12 months of age on subsequent growth to mature size, longevity and lifetime production of Scottish Blackface female sheep on a hill farm. Treatment differences between 3 and 6 months were small and resulted in only a 3 kg live-weight advantage for the animals receiving a high level of feeding. Treatment differences between 6 and 12 months were considerable and resulted in a mean 14 kg advantage for animals receiving a high level of feeding. Those animals remained significantly heavier until 42 months of age and significantly larger, as depicted by skeletal measurements, until 54 months of age.A high level of feeding between 3 and 6 months of age had no significant long-term effect on wool growth ewe survival or lifetime lamb production, whereas a high level of feeding between 6 and 12 months of age had a significant positive effect on the mean number of lambs born per ewe over five lamb crops. This effect was not maintained to weaning, due to an apparently greater lamb mortality. Treatment effects on ewe survival and on flock lifetime production, although considerable, were not statistically different.It is concluded that any advantages of improved feeding during rearing were largely lost through the inadequacy of the adult nutritional environment and only when the latter was not limiting would higher standards of rearing be justified.
A note on the effect of tail-tying on the reproductive performance of Welsh Mountain ewes
Authors: Newton J. E. , Betts J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn a Welsh Mountain flock of 104 ewes, 51 had their tails tied aside for the duration of one oestrus. Tail-tying significantly increased the conception rate at this oestrus. It also significantly increased the mean litter size of ewes superovulated with 1000IU PMSG from 1·70 to 2·33. It is suggested that the most likely reason for this increase in the number of multiple births was an increased number of ejaculations per oestrus. Perinatal mortality was high in lambs from multiple births. The effect of PMSG and tail-tying was to increase the lambing percentage from 77 to 120.
The effects of short-term undernutrition and adrenocortical stimulation on wool growth
Authors: Thwaites C. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSeven daily doses of 60 or 120 mg cortisol administered to mature sheep given a maintenance ration depressed wool fibre diameter by approximately 10%. Similar treatment with 120 mg cortisol for 14 days produced a more severe and prolonged effect, though fibre diameter was unaffected by a series of seven injections of 40 IU ACTH given every second day.Fourteen days at 10% of maintenance and 14 days' cortisol treatment were applied to mature sheep fed either continually at 150% maintenance, or at 75% followed by 150% maintenance. Cortisol treatment was associated with a significant reduction in fibre diameter only in the animals fed at 150% maintenance. Restriction to 10% maintenance for 14 days had no such effect. Approximately 20% of fibres were shed following cortisol treatment in both nutritional groups, but a marked ‘break’ in the fleece occurred only in the 75% maintenance group.A low plane of nutrition is confirmed as a major factor predisposing to ‘tenderness’ and ‘break’, and short-term adrenocortical stimulation is shown to be sufficient to produce the reduction in fibre diameter and increased fibre shedding associated with these faults. However, semi-starvation (represented by restriction to 10% of maintenance) appears to have played a relatively minor role in their development.
Estimates of combining abilities and maternal influence in crosses between Merino, Ossimi and Barki sheep
Authors: Galal E. Salah E. , Aboul-Naga A. , Eltawil E. A. , Khishin E. S. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA total of 523 lambing records were used to study general combining ability (g.c.a.), maternal ability and specific combining ability (s.c.a.) for three breeds of sheep, the native Ossimi and Barki and the Fleisch Merino. All possible combinations along with the pure breeds were represented. Traits studied were: birth, weaning (4-months) and yearling body weights; lamb survival at weaning; fleece weight and staple length.Ossimi showed the highest g.c.a. estimates for all traits except birth weight and fleece weight where Merino was the best, and survival where Barki was the best. Barki showed the worst g.c.a. in all traits except survival and staple length for which Merino had the lowest estimates.Barki exhibited the best maternal ability in weaning and yearling body weights and lamb survival, while Ossimi was best in the other traits. Merino was consistently worst in maternal ability. The two native breeds interacted more favourably with each other than with Merino in lamb production traits. Among the purebred lambs, the Ossimis performed the best in all traits except fleece weight where they were excelled by the Merinos. It was concluded that for marketing weights (i.e. weaning and yearling) and especially when viewed with respect to survival, the Ossimi × Barki cross offers the highest production; while for fleece weight the Merino × Ossimi is the best.
Intensive beef production 13. Replacement of concentrates with root crops
Authors: Kay M. , Macdearmid A. , Massie R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Two growth trials and a digestibility trial were carried out with a total of 84 British Friesian steers to investigate the substitution of root crops for a part of the concentrates in an all-concentrate diet. In Trial 1 six experimental diets were offered ad libitum and contained, on a dry-matter basis, (1) 100% concentrates, (2) 34%, (3) 66%, (4) 87% sliced swedes and (5) 66%, (6) 87% whole potatoes. In Trial 2, five diets were offered ad libitum and contained (1) 100% concentrates or (2) 34%, (3) 50%, (4) 66%, (5) 100% swedes.2. In both the growth trials when the steers weighed less than 350 kg live weight, daily dry-matter intake was lower for steers offered the highest proportion of swedes than for steers offered concentrates. Substitution of potatoes for concentrates resulted in a higher daily dry-matter intake and daily live-weight gain than did substitution of swedes.3. In Trials 1 and 2 rate of live-weight gain and in Trial 2 carcass gain were similar for steers on treatments 1 and 2. In Trial 2 liveweight gain declined from 1-05 to 0-87 kg/day and carcass gain declined from 0-62 to 0-51 kg/day between steers on treatments 1 and 5. 4. The replacement of concentrates with swedes or potatoes did not affect the overall digestibility of dry matter.
A note on the association between transferrin types and production traits in Indian sheep
Authors: Arora C. L. , Acharya R. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYAn investigation of the association of transferrin types with body weights at birth, 3, 6,12 months and first 6-monthly wool yield in Indian sheep showed that variation among transferrin types was a significant source of variation only for yearling weight. Sheep of Tf MB type had the highest yearling weight followed closely by Tf EC. Highest birth weight was recorded in sheep with Tf EM whereas 3-month weight was highest in sheep of Tf EE type. Tf EM sheep had the highest 6-month weight and fleece weight.
The effects of environmental temperature and feeding pattern on the performance of artificially-reared lambs fed cold milk substitute
Authors: Gibb M. J. , Penning P. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYAn experiment was carried out using lambs reared from 1 day to 23 days of age on milk substitute given either ad libitum or at a restricted rate of 250 g dry matter per day, in rooms maintained at three temperatures, 7, 14 and 21°C.Lambs fed milk substitute ad libitum showed similar growth rates (about 365 g per day) at all environmental air temperatures. Total dry-matter intake of milk substitute per lamb over 22 days was slightly higher in those kept in an environmental air temperature of 7°C. The efficiency of lambs in the 7°C environment was lower than those in the 14 and 21°C environments.When dry-matter intake was held constant, at the restricted level, growth rate increased linearly between 237 and 265 g per day as the environmental air temperature was increased.At each of these temperature levels the restricted-rate lambs were more efficient than the respective lambs fed ad libitum.
Protein utilization and performance of early-weaned lambs
Authors: Ørskov E. R. , Davies P. J. , Dickson I. A. , Humphries A. B. , Rutter W. , Treacher T. T. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Groups of 12 male and 12 female lambs, early weaned and individually fed, were used at six centres in Great Britain to determine the effect of dietary protein concentration on growth rate and feed utilization from weaning to 37 kg live weight. Three diets varying in the proportion of rolled barley to white-fish meal were used to give 13·5, 16·0 or 18·5% crude protein in the dry matter. The diets were pelleted and offered ad libitum.2. The male lambs showed significantly poorer growth rates and feed conversions on the low-protein than on the other diets. Results for the females were more variable so that although the mean values showed similar trends these were not statistically significant.3. Female lambs had about 19% lower growth rates than male lambs. The mean food conversion (kg dry matter/kg gain) with the diet containing 16% crude protein was 2·67 for the males and 3·30 for the female lambs. Food utilization differed significantly between centres, the centres using lambs of Finn Dorset breeding having lower growth rates and poorer food utilization than Suffolk crosses.
A note on rate of eating in sheep
Authors: Forbes J. M. , Wright J. A. , Bannister A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSheep ate significantly faster during the first 30 min after being offered fresh food when they were fed on ground, pelleted dried grass than when fed on long hay; chopped dried grass was eaten at an intermediate speed. Rate of eating of the unground diets was negatively related to mean retention time and positively related to total voluntary intake.In a second experiment, rate of eating during the 30 min after feeding was significantly faster when hay was fed at two-thirds of the ad libitum rate than when it was fed ad libitum, irrespective of whether penning was individual or in groups of six.