bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats 5. Lipid in dry tissue
Authors: Taylor C. S. , Murray J. I. , Thonney M. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMales and females from Soay, Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Finnish Landrace, Jacob, Wiltshire Horn and Oxford Down sheep breeds and a breed of feral goats were slaughtered when proportionately 0·40, 0·52 0·64 or 0·76 of mature live weight. Lipid concentrations in dried tissue were obtained for perirenal fat, omental plus mesenteric fat, subcutaneous fat, carcass muscle plus associated intermuscular fat, carcass bone and offal (pelt, head, feet and organs). Lipid varied from 260 g/kg dry matter (DM) for bone to 968 g/kg for perirenal fat.As animals matured, lipid concentration increased in the dry matter of all tissues except bone, most rapidly in offal and least in intra-abdominal fat. The increases were highly correlated with the associated increases in proportion of dissected fat.Breeds differed significantly in lipid concentration in the DM of all tissues examined. Breeds with a high lipid concentration in DM of one tissue usually had high concentrations in all other tissues. The Oxford Down had the highest concentration, and the Soay and feral goat the lowest. Males had slightly lower concentrations in all tissues except internal fat.As breed size increased, mean lipid concentration (at the same stage of maturity) also increased in the DM of all tissues except bone. These breed regressions were attributed to the sampling of breeds, the smallest breeds being the exceptionally lean Soay and feral goat. Among the domesticated breeds, there were no signficant trends with breed size.
Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats 6. Breed correlations for body composition and food conversion efficiency
Authors: Taylor C. S. , Murray J. I. , Thonney M. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBreed means are given for 40 traits relating to food conversion efficiency and body composition at the same stage of maturity in seven breeds of sheep and a feral goat breed. In terms of breed means, food intake and food conversion efficiency were genetically correlated, as were most traits associated with fatness or leanness.Highly inter-correlated measures of breed fatness were proportion of fat in the carcass, proportion of total carcass fat found in the rib plus loin, the fat : muscle ratio and the lipid concentration in the dry matter of all tissues except bone. Dressing proportion was highly correlated with all these measures of fatness.Breeds with a high proportion of subcutaneous fat did not necessarily have a low proportion of intra-abdominal fat. A low proportion of carcass fat in the rib plus loin was associated with a high proportion in the shoulder (inter-breed correlation —0·7): both were measures of leanness. Muscle : bone ratio was not correlated with fatness or leanness. Slower maturing, larger breeds had slightly more bone, less fat and more lean in their higher-priced cuts. Breeds with heavier fleeces were fatter (0·7). The food conversion efficiency of a breed was largely independent of its body composition.
The effect of feeding saltbush and sodium chloride on energy metabolism in sheep
Authors: Arieli A. , Naim E. , Benjamin R. W. , Pasternak D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of consumption of saltbush and sodium chloride on energy metabolism in sheep was investigated. Twenty-four Awassi wethers were fed at maintenance level and allotted to three treatments: saltbush (Atriplex barclayana), salt (NaCl) and control. Daily mineral intakes with these diets were 149, 158 and 57 g, respectively. The saltbush had been irrigated with an equal-part mixture of seawater and fresh water and contained 15 g nitrogen and 310 g ash per kg. Energy and nitrogen balance were conducted using indirect calorimetry. The disappearance of organic matter and nitrogen from saltbush in the rumen was studied by the polyester bag technique.Water intake of animals fed a high salt diet was 2·9 times higher and urine excretion was 3·7 times higher than in the control. Digested energy was proportionately 0·616 of dietary gross energy in the saltbush treatment, and 0·700 and 0·707 in the salt and control treatments respectively. Metabolizable energy (ME) was proportionately 0·795, 0·786 and 0·815 of digested energy, and heat production was 1·135, 1·043 and 0·867 of ME in the saltbush, salt and control treatments, respectively. The calculated values for digestible energy, ME, and net energy for maintenance on the saltbush diet were 5·02, 3·77 and 0·54 MJ/kg dry matter.It is suggested that the low energetic utilization of saltbush is related to its low digestibility and the associated increase in energy expenditure, which are apparently related to mineral metabolism in the rumen. To maintain sheep on saltbush diets efforts should be made to lower the mineral content of this shrub.
Ultra-violet irradiation of fattening pigs
Authors: Walker-Love J. , Laird R. , Thomson J. M. , Gray K. W. 
Published: September 2010

1. Ninety-six Large White fattening pigs, 8-10 weeks old at the beginning of the trial were used to study the effects of ultra-violet irradiation (22½ hours daily) with and without oxytetracycline supplements of the diet. All meal fed was fortified with vitamin D.2. Under the conditions of this trial ultra-violet irradiation was without effect. Oxytetracycline supplementation resulted in significantly higher live-weight increases, lower age at slaughter and improved feed conversion.3. No significant treatment differences were recorded for any of the carcass measurements.4. Ultra-violet irradiation did not reduce the number of ‘thumping’ pigs nor the degree of lung damage by virus pneumonia, whereas ‘thumping’ was significantly less on the oxytetracycline treatments.5. The results are discussed in relation to vitamin D requirements and the presence of virus pneumonia.
Milk yield and butterfat percentage of twin and single-born cattle under experimental and field conditions
Authors: Watson J. H. 
Published: September 2010

1. A comparison has been made of 305-day lactation milk yields and butterfat percentages of twin and single-born cattle under experimental and field conditions. Experimental two-egg twins, as judged from within-pair variances, were four times as variable as one-egg twins. Two-egg twins in the experimental herd were more alike than twins in dairy herds in fat percentage due to more frequent butterfat testing. Variance of milk yield within pairs was the same in both experimental and farm twins.2. Twins and half sisters in dairy herds had similar within-pair variances for milk yield and fat percentage. Full sisters, of necessity non-contemporary, differed more in yield than twins and half sisters; significantly so in the latter comparison.3. The between-pair variance components for experimental twins were high, relative to twins in herds. In experimental twins, breed differences, lack of culling and uniform treatment were probably contributing causes, and also more frequent observation of fat percentage during lactation. Twins n i dairy herds had greater between-pair variances than full sisters.4. Experimental MZ twins had an intra-class correlation for milk yield of 0·88 and DZ twins of 0·67 which was much higher than for twins on farms. Farm twins and half sisters had correlations for milk yield of 0·37 and 0·31, to be compared with 0·20 in full sisters. Corresponding values for fat percentage were 0·40, 0·35 and 0·25 on farms as against 0·88 and 0·65 for MZ and DZ twins at the experiment station. These differences between experimental and commercial pairs were largely attributable to differences in between-pair variance.5. There is no evidence from experimental or commercial data that twins produce less milk than single-born cows.6. Differences between farms increased the within-pair variance in yield and decreased the intra-class correlation of twins and half sisters but had less effect on full sisters.
An analysis of the Entebbe herd of Nganda cattle in Uganda
Authors: Mahadevan P. , Marples H. J. S. 
Published: September 2010

In the herd of Nganda cattle at the Government Livestock Experiment Station, Entebbe, Uganda, it was found that of the known environmental factors affecting milk production, the more important ones were age (in lactations) and length of the calving interval preceding the second and third lactations. The correlations between performance in different lactations of the same animal were high for lactation milk yield (0·73) and average daily milk yield (0·62) and low for calving interval (0·21) and dry period (0·15). The repeatability of lactation length was intermediate (0·42). The heritability values were around 0·3 for the weight measurements, around 0·2 for yield characteristics and around 0·1 for length of lactation and age at first calving.The sires used in the breeding programme at Entebbe made little impact on production performance in the herd. The estimated genetic improvement in milk yield through selection of dams of cows was also low. It is argued from comparison with results from other parts of the tropics that superior genotypes for milk production are difficult to come by among indigenous cattle in these areas and that we should therefore look for other opportunities and methods to move ahead faster in the future.
The regulation of food intake by sheep
Authors: Blaxter K. L. , Wainman F. W. , Wilson R. S. 
Published: September 2010

1. A series of experiments with adult sheep were carried out in an attempt to place on a quantitative basis the generalisation that the voluntary food intake of ruminants increases with the quality of the fodder they are given.2. Methods of determining voluntary intake free of subjective bias were developed. It was shown that voluntary intake varied with a fractional power of body weight close to 0·734. The length of time necessary to establish stable intakes was 12–15 days and the number of times fresh food was offered each day had no apparent effect on intake.3. It was found that voluntary intake of long fodders was related to the apparent digestibility of their energy, increasing rapidly as digestibility increased from 38% to 70% and thereafter more slowly.4. The giving of concentrated food resulted in a drop in the voluntary intake of fodder. With high quality hay 100 g. concentrates replaced 100 g. hay. With poor quality hay, 100 g. concentrates replaced 47 g. of hay.5. The passage of three widely different hays through the gut was measured and the poorest passed most slowly. Calculations showed that the dry matter content of gut contents was the same for all three materials irrespective of their quality.6. It was shown that an increase in digestibility of 10 units in the range 40–60% resulted in considerable increases in the total amount of energy apparently digested and in equivalent increases in daily gain.7. The digested energy consumed/day/kg. W0·734 (E) can be related to voluntary intake (I) g./day/kg. W0·734 by the equation:—E=4·(I—31)which provides a rapid and easy method of assessing fodder quality under conditions of ad libitum supply.8. The results are discussed and it is shown that under ad libitum feeding conditions an increase in the nutritive value of unit feed from 50 to 55, i.e. by 10%, increases body gain by 100%.
Heritability of chemical fat content in the loin muscle of baconers
Authors: Duniec H. , Kielanowski J. , Osińska Zofia 
Published: September 2010

Data on carcasses of 352 Large White baconers by 44 boars were taken from reports of Progeny Testing Stations to estimate the heritability of chemical fat in the loin muscle and of fatty tissue content in the carcass, and their phenotypic and genetic correlations.The heritability of the chemical fat content in the loin muscle was found to be 0·50, that of the fatty tissue content in the carcass 0·69. The genetic correlation between the characteristics under study seems to be very low (rA = 0·11), and their phenotypic correlation, though significant statistically, was also found to be low (about 0·2).
The effect of parenterally administered iron upon the growth of piglets reared on concrete
Authors: Walker Elizabeth A. , Taylor J. H. 
Published: September 2010

1. Four fitter-mates from 20 litters on each of 3 farms were divided equally and distributed at random between two treatment groups. Each piglet was injected intramuscularly with 2 c.c. of an iron preparation between 1 and 2 days of age. The control group received an iron-dextran complex which provided 150 mg. of iron per piglet and a second group received an irondextrin complex which provided 200 mg. of iron per piglet.2. The body weight and the level of haemoglobin in the blood of each piglet were measured at 1, 8, 15, 22, and 56 days of age and the incidence and cause of disease and mortality were recorded.3. The level of haemoglobin in the blood of both groups was comparable throughout the experiment.4. At the 22nd and 56th day, the group receiving 200 mg. of iron was approximately 6% heavier than the group receiving 150 mg. of iron. These differences were highly significant at the 0·1% level.5. From each of 3 additional litters, 3 piglets received no supplementary iron while 5 piglets received 200 mg. of iron provided by the iron-dextrin complex. The three whole litters were slaughtered on days 3, 8, and 22 respectively. The mean level of iron per 100 g. of liver and spleen within the untreated group on the above occasions was 5·8, 5·8, and 3·7 mg. respectively, compared with 72·9, 55·1, and 17·6 mg. respectively within the treated piglets. The differences were highly significant at 0·1 % level.
Specialised sire and dam lines. II. The choice of the most profitable parental combination when component traits are genetically additive
Authors: Moav Rom 
Published: September 2010

Detailed graphic and algebraic procedures were outlined for finding the most profitable parental combination among a group of lines when genetic additivity of component traits is assumed.Profit was expressed as a linear function of productivity and a reciprocal function of reproductivity. The non-linearity and the unequal contributions to profit of the sire and dam lines were exploited in order to minimise both reproduction and production costs.
Studies on the nutritive value of the diet selected by grazing sheep. I. Differences in composition between herbage consumed and material collected from oesophageal fistulae
Authors: Langlands J. P. 
Published: September 2010

Freshly-cut forages and lucerne chaff were given to penned sheep fistulated at the oesophagus. The feed given and the samples obtained through the fistula were analysed for in vitro digestibility, nitrogen, ash, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and calcium. Organic matter digestibility was predicted from the in vitro determination.Three regression equations were calculated relating predicted organic matter digestibility of the feed to the digestibility of the extrusa sample. The most precise of these equations had a residual standard deviation of ±3·4 units.The relationship between the nitrogen contents of the feed and sample was calculated. The equation did not pass through the origin but the differences in nitrogen content between feed and extrusa were small over the range 4·69 to 1·28% N included in this study. The nitrogen and calcium contents of the feed could be estimated from the sample with errors of ±7·5 and 9% respectively. The sodium, potassium and ash contents of the diet could not be reliably estimated from an oesophageal sample.
Maternal performance in sheep as affected by breed, crossbreeding and other factors
Authors: Wiener Gerald , Hayter Susan 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYMaternal performance of female sheep of three hill breeds, Scottish Blackface, Cheviot and Welsh Mountain, and the crosses among these breeds has been studied in terms of lifetime production and some of its components. The data are based on 193 ewes, which were given the opportunity of having four annual lamb crops, and their lambs.There was no significant variation among the breeds and crosses in ewe survival or in the proportion of barren ewes at each lambing. There was significant variation among the breeds and crosses in the number of lambs born per ewe lambing, in lamb survival and in weights of lamb at birth and at weaning. Crossbred ewes (producing crossbred lambs) had more and heavier lambs than expected from the average of the pure breeds contributing to each cross, but the three crossbred types differed in the amount of heterosis shown. Over their lifetime in the flock there were significant breed differences in the total weight of lambs weaned, with crossbred ewes producing about 9% more than the average of the parent breeds involved. The crossbred ewes produced more weight of lambs over their lifetime than pure Cheviot or pure Welsh Mountain ewes, but not as much as pure Scottish Blackface.Effects of parity of dam and of sex, birth type, and type of rearing of lamb are given.
The rate of cutaneous evaporation in some tropical and temperate breeds of cattle in Nigeria
Authors: Amakiri S. F. , Mordi R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe rate of cutaneous evaporation was highest in the White Fulani (Bos indicus) followed by the N'Dama and German Friesian (Bos taunts). The lowest rate of evaporation was recorded in the Muturu (Bos taurus brachyceros). In all breeds, the rate at 15.00 hr was significantly higher than at 18.00 hr.For the sites sampled, evaporation rate was highest on the hump and mid-side, followed by the neck and lateral thigh and lowest on the dewlap and navel flap.The possible correlation of these results with the size and distribution of the sweat glands on various sites of different cattle breeds is discussed.
An evaluation of the micronization process for preparing cereals for the growing pig. 3. A note on the effect of micronization temperature on the nutritive value of wheat
Authors: Lawrence T. L. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. In two experiments the nutritive value for the growing pig of wheat which had been micronized at temperatures of 155°, 190° or 220°C, flaked (rolled) and then ground was compared with wheat which had either been ground, or rolled and then ground.2. In the first experiment 60 pigs offered individually, restricted amounts of feed were used in a growth and efficiency of conversion study. In the second experiment 15 pigs were used in digestibility and nitrogen retention studies.3. The highest micronization temperature gave a significant depression in growth rate and in efficiency of conversion of dietary dry matter as compared with the other treatments for which there were no significant differences.
The effect of time of weaning on the biological efficiency of meat production in sheep
Authors: Walsingham J. M. , Large R. V. , Newton J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe value of E, defined as the weight of carcass produced per 100 units of digestible organic matter (DOM) consumed, was used to assess the biological efficiency of meat production in housed sheep. The effect on E of weaning lambs at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks post partum was studied for a number of different breed crosses. The age at which lambs were weaned was found to have little effect on the growth rate of lambs and no significant effect on the biological efficiency with which sheep produce meat.
Factors affecting calving difficulty and gestation length in cows mated to Chianina bulls and factors affecting the birth weight of their calves
Authors: Wilson A. , Willis M. B. , Davison C. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryImported semen from 10 Italian Chianina bulls was used to inseminate beef and dairy cattle throughout England and Southern Scotland. A total of 2134 records of calving performance were subjected to least squares analyses. Dystocia score was significantly affected by county of birth, parity of dam, sire, type of birth, birth weight (P < 0·001), season of birth and sex of calf (P < 0·01). There were no significant effects of breed or size of cow. Serious dystocia was encountered in 3% of calvings, with the incidence for individual sires ranging from 1·7% to 6·7%. Arithmetic mean gestation length was 284·2 days and it was significantly affected by county, sire (P < 0·05), sex of calf (P < 0·01), and type of birth (P < 0·001). Arithmetic mean birth weight of the calves was 41·2 kg and this was significantly affected by all main effects studied except season of birth and type of herd.
Effects of plane of nutrition, diethylstilboestrol implantation and slaughter weight on the performance of Israeli-Friesian intact male cattle
Authors: Levy D. , Holzer Z. , Folman Y. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe effects of two levels of energy intake, ad libitum and 80% of ad libitum, of diethylstilboestrol implantation and no such treatment, and of two slaughter weights (‘450’ and ‘490’ kg), on the performance of Israeli-Friesian intact male cattle were studied.Average daily gain was 1130 g and 959 g and daily carcass gain was 630 g and 553 g for animals on ad libitum and 80% of ad libitum energy intake, respectively. Average daily gain was 1038 g and 944 g and daily carcass gain was 595 g and 562 g, for diethylstilboestrol-treated and untreated animals, respectively. Slaughter weight had little effect on rate of gain.The differences in conversion ratio of ME into live weight between treatments were small. Diethylstilboestrol-treated animals were slightly more efficient.The non-implanted animals on the restricted plane of nutrition and which had been slaughtered at ‘490’ kg had a significantly higher dressing percentage, a higher percentage of fat trim and less bone than animals slaughtered at ‘450’ kg body weight on both levels of nutrition.Among the diethylstilboestrol-implanted male calves, however, the animals fed at 80% of ad libitum feed and killed at ‘450’ or ‘490’ kg live weight had significantly more fat trim in the carcass and less bone than the animals fed ad libitum.
Comparative methods of testing Hereford × Friesian progeny groups for growth and carcass characters
Authors: Wood P. D. P. , Hodges John 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYWays of conducting a progeny test for growth of carcass characters are discussed with reference to statistical efficiency. An intensive system (375 kg slaughter weight) is compared with a semi-intensive system (475 kg slaughter weight) and the use of intermediate results as predictors of the final outcome is discussed.The crossbred progeny of 32 Hereford bulls (1043 calves) were admitted to a Progeny Testing Centre at 2-month intervals at 2 weeks of age over a period of 2 years, and divided between the two feeding regimes. Growth and carcass characters were measured, including taste panel assessments.The semi-intensive system was found to have a higher power of discrimination between progeny groups, and tended to rank the bulls i n a different order from the intensive system. Truncation of the test at various intervals introduced an element of risk into the formation of the final judgement and showed little advantage as a predictor.
Within-litter variation in the performance of piglets to three weeks of age
Authors: Hemsworth P. H. , Winfield C. G. , Mullaney P. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn a series of observations the association between within-litter variation in growth performance of piglets to 3 weeks of age and other parameters was examined in 28 litters. Growth rate was correlated significantly with birth weight and milk intake of the piglet. Birth order and location of the preferred teat did not influence significantly the milk intake or growth performance. In a second series of observations the individual behaviour of the piglets immediately after birth was examined in relation to the within-litter variation in growth performance to 3 weeks of age in three litters. The amount of time that each teat was sucked during the period of continuous suckle was positively correlated with the growth performance of the piglet which preferred the teat at day 21 of lactation.