bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of level of feeding on the response of lactating ewes to dietary supplements of fish meal
Authors: Gonzalez J. S. , Robinson J. J. , McHattie I. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThirty-six individually-penned ewes (mean live weight 69 kg), each suckling two lambs, were given one of three diets containing either 128 (low), 155 (medium) or 186 (high) g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter. All diets contained (g/kg), milled hay, 570; molasses, 95; and a barley/fish meal concentrate, 330. The three protein concentrations were achieved by adjusting the proportions of barley and fish meal in the concentrate. Each diet was given at daily metabolizable energy (ME) intakes of 19, 23 and 27 MJ. Mean daily yields of milk in weeks 3 to 8 of lactation for ewes given the diet with the low concentration of crude protein increased from 2·32 kg at 19 MJ ME to 2·53 kg at 27 MJ. Corresponding values for the medium concentration of CP were 2·49 and 2·67 kg and for the high concentration 2·52 and 3·09 kg (P < 0·05 for differences between ME intakes and differences between dietary protein concentrations). For milk composition, interactions between the concentration of dietary protein and level of ME intake were not statistically significant but the main treatment effects were significant, with the protein concentration in milk increasing from 49·6 g/kg for ewes given the low concentration of dietary protein to 54·1 g/kg for those given the high (P < 0·001). Corresponding values for protein concentration in milk for the lowest and highest energy intake were 51·2 and 53·4 g/kg (P < 0·05). Losses of tissue protein were variable but decreased from 26 g/day for ewes given the low-protein diet to 8 g/day for those given the high. In discussing the responses in milk yield to dietary protein and ME intake attention is drawn to the modifying influence of the energy contributed from body tissue.
Effect of winter nutrition of young farmed red deer on their subsequent growth at pasture
Authors: Adam Clare L. , Moir Carol E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTHoused male (stags) and female (hinds) red deer, initial live weight 43·2 and 38·3 kg respectively, were given ad libitum (1) ammonia-treated straw, (2) a barley and fish meal concentrate, and hay, or (3) potatoes and hay, from 7 to 11 months of age. Dry matter (DM) intakes were low for all deer and some live-weight loss was experienced for the first 6 weeks in January/February. Thereafter DM intakes increased, and deer given the concentrate diet showed higher live-weight gain (P < 0·001) than those given potatoes and hay (273 and 162 g/day, respectively) whereas deer receiving the treated straw continued to lose weight (-18 g/day) (P < 0·001).From 11 to 16 months of age at grass, deer previously given treated straw grew significantly faster (P < 0·001) than those previously overwintered on concentrate or potato diets (215, 156 and 170 g/day, respectively). Final live weights for animals given straw, concentrates and potatoes in the preceding winter were, respectively, 71·6, 92·6 and 80·8 kg (stags) and 63·0, 71·9 and 68·5 kg (hinds).The dietary treatments imposed in the previous winter had no lasting effects on the carcass composition of stags slaughtered at 16 months, and the practical implications of the different growth patterns are discussed.
Bacon yield from fasted pigs
Authors: Warriss P. D. , Down N. F. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCommercial crossbred pigs weighing about 80 kg and comprising equal numbers of females (gilts) and castrated males (castrates) were killed at a bacon factory 4 h (controls), 24 h or 48 h after food withdrawal. The carcasses from pigs fasted 24 h were on average 1·4 kg lighter, and those from pigs fasted 48 h, 2·9 kg lighter, than those of the control group. Fasting also reduced liver weight by about 0·3 kg but had no significant effect on backfat thickness or mean initial or ultimate pH in the muscles. Carcasses were cured into bacon by the Wiltshire process. Those from pigs fasted longer gained less weight after pumping with brine but also lost less weight during brine immersion and maturation. The overall yield of bacon, in relation to carcass weight, was therefore not affected by fasting. Consequently, the reduced carcass weight in the fasted pigs was carried through almost unchanged to the final yield of matured bacon. This was proportionately reduced by 0·019 in the pigs fasted 24 h and 0·043 in those fasted 48 h when compared with the control group.There was thus no evidence of any material reduction of yield differences during curing which could be caused by equilibriation of water in the carcass tissues with that in the curing brine. The implication is that losses in carcass weight in fasted pigs cannot be attributed simply to dehydration. Cured sides from fasted pigs tended to have proportionately slightly less weight in the ham and middle and more in the shoulder, and bacon from the pigs fasted 48 h was marginally less salty.
Systems of concentrate allocation for dairy cattle 1. A comparison of three patterns of allocation for autumn-calving cows and heifers offered grass silage ad libitum
Authors: Taylor W. , Leaver J. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTHigh quality grass silage (10·5 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM)) was offered ad libitum to three groups of autumn-calving dairy cattle, each group containing eight cows and eight heifers. In a 20-week period commencing at week 3 post partum each group received, on average, 1260 kg fresh weight of a concentrate containing 180 g crude protein per kg. Animals in treatment F each received a flat-rate of 9 kg concentrates per day throughout. In treatment D, a declining rate of 11, 10, 9, 8 and 7 kg/day was given in successive 4-week periods. Animals in treatment Y were each offered a fixed rate of concentrates (range 7 to 12 kg/day) based on their milk yield at 2 weeks post partum with a mean intake of 9 kg/day for the group. For treatments F, D and Y respectively, the mean daily milk yields were, 26·2, 26·7 and 26·9 kg for cows, and 19·5, 19·1 and 18·8 kg for heifers; mean live-weight gains were, 0·28, 0·30 and 0·22 kg/day for cows, and 0·41, 0·54 and 0·38 kg/day for heifers; and intakes of silage were, 10·1, 10·6 and 10·7 kg DM per day for cows, and 7·8, 7·7 and 7·3 kg DM per day for heifers. The differences between treatments were not significant but there were significant differences between cows and heifers. No significant differences were found between treatments in milk composition although heifers produced milk with significantly higher milk protein concentration (P < 0·05) and significantly greater milk lactose concentration (P < 0·01) than did cows. During the residual period (4 weeks indoors and 16 weeks grazing) all animals were treated as a single group and there were no significant differences in performance. The 305-day milk yields were not significantly different between treatments and averaged 6587 kg for cows, and 5124 kg for heifers.
Systems of concentrate allocation for dairy cattle 2. A comparison of two patterns of allocation for autumn-calving cows offered two qualities of grass silage ad libitum
Authors: Taylor W. , Leaver J. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn a 25-week experiment beginning at week 3 post partum, grass silages of 10·5 (H) and 8·9 (L) MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM) were offered ad libitum to two groups of 24 autumn-calving dairy cows. Within each silage-quality group, two patterns of concentrate allocation were compared, a flat-rate (F) and a variable rate (V). All four treatment groups, HF, HV, LF and LV, received on average 1575 kg fresh weight per cow of a concentrate containing 170 g crude protein per kg during the 25 weeks. The cows on treatment F were all individually given 9 kg concentrate per day throughout. Individuals on the V treatments received different levels of concentrate, based initially on their 14-day milk yield and then reduced by 1 kg/day at 10, 15 and 20 weeks. For treatments HF, HV, LF and LV respectively, mean adjusted daily milk yields were, 24·4, 24·1, 21·6 and 22·1 kg; intakes of silage DM, 9·1, 8·7, 7·6 and 7·6 kg/day, and live-weight gains, 0·39, 0·31, 0·28 and 0·22 kg/day. The effects of silage quality were significant in each case, but the effects of pattern of concentrate allocation were not. Cows given the H silage produced milk with significantly greater lactose and solids-not-fat concentrations. During the residual period (2 weeks indoors and 14 weeks grazing) no significant differences in milk yield were observed. The 305-day yields of 6215, 6096, 5786 and 5824 kg for treatments HF, HV, LF and LV respectively, reflected the differences obtained during the indoor feeding period.
The composition and energy content of empty body-weight change in mature cattle
Authors: Wright I. A. , Russel A. J. F. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBody-composition data from 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating cows of five genotypes were used to calculate the composition of empty body-weight change in mature cattle. The composition of empty body-weight change was shown to be dependent on empty body weight, containing more fat and less water, protein and ash at higher empty body weights. There were no differences between the genotypes. Between 300 and 600 kg empty body weight the protein concentration in empty body-weight change ranged from 125 to 40 g/kg, whilst application of standard energy values for fat and protein gave equivalent figures for body energy of 22·5 to 32·7 MJ/kg.
The growth of Clun and Southdown sheep: body composition and the partitioning of total body fat
Authors: Butler-Hogg B. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe growth of Southdown and Clun lambs was studied over the period birth to 415 days of age.At birth, 50, 100, 150 and 200 days of age five lambs of each breed, and at 415 days three lambs of each breed, were slaughtered and their body composition determined by dissection.The relative growth of lean, bone and total body fat was not influenced by breed. At each age both Cluns and Southdowns had similar proportions of total body fat, and were considered to be at the same stage of maturity.There was a breed difference in fat partitioning, with the Clun depositing proportionately more of its total body fat intra-abdominally, compared with the Southdown. However, there was no significant effect of breed on the growth of individual fat depots relative to total fat. From earliest to latest the order of maturity was pericardial, intermuscular, perirenal-retroperitoneal, mesenteric, subcutaneous and lastly, omental fat.
Asymptotic rates of response from index selection
Authors: Wray Naomi R. , Hill W. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe reduction in additive genetic variance due to selection is investigated when index selection using family records is practised. A population of infinite size with no accumulation of inbreeding, an infinitesimal model and discrete generations are assumed. After several generations of selection, the additive genetic variance and the rate of response to selection reach an asymptote. A prediction of the asymptotic rate of response is considered to be more appropriate for comparing response from alternative breeding programmes and for comparing predicted and realized response than the response following the first generation of selection that is classically used. Algorithms to calculate asymptotic response rate are presented for selection based on indices which include some or all of the records of an individual, its full- and half-sibs and its parental estimated breeding values. An index using all this information is used to predict response when selection is based on breeding values estimated by using a Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) animal model, and predictions agree well with simulation results. The predictions are extended to multiple trait selection.Asymptotic responses are compared with one-generation responses for a variety of alternative breeding schemes differing in population structure, selection intensity and heritability of the trait. Asymptotic responses can be up to one-quarter less than one-generation responses, the difference increasing with selection intensity and accuracy of the index. Between family variance is reduced considerably by selection, perhaps to less than half its original value, so selection indices which do not account for this tend to place too much emphasis on family information. Asymptotic rates of response to selection, using indices including family information for traits not measurable on the individuals available for selection, such as sex limited or post-slaughter traits, are found to be as much as two-fifths less than their expected one-generation responses. Despite this, the ranking of the breeding schemes is not greatly altered when compared by one-generation rather than asymptotic responses, so the one-generation prediction is usually likely to be adequate for determining optimum breeding structure.
The effect of food intake in the rearing period on the reproductive performance of heavy and light gilts from large litters
Authors: Ogle R. B. , Dalin Anne-Marie 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSixty crossbred gilts, comprising 15 groups of four littermates from large litters (> 12 pigs) were used. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial, with two initial live weights (light (L) or heavy (H)) and either a low (lp) or high (hp) plane of feeding during the rearing period and post mating within each litter group. The hp gilts were significantly heavier (P< 0·001) and had thicker backfat (P< 0·001) than the lp gilts at first oestrus. The Hhp gilts reached puberty 26·4 days earlier than the Hip gilts (P< 0·05). Level of food intake significantly influenced ovulation rates and total embryo numbers, the hp gilts shedding on average 2·4 more ova and having 1·9 more embryos than the lp gilts 28 to 35 days post mating (P< 0·05). However, due to somewhat higher embryonic mortality in the hp gilts, the mean number of live embryos was not significantly higher than for the lp gilts (P< 0·05).
Change in amino acid composition of different protein sources after rumen incubation
Authors: Susmel P. , Stefanon B. , Mills C. R. , Candido Manuela 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effective degradability (Dg) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and amino acids (AA) in soya-bean meal (SBM), fish meal (FM), dried brewers' grains (DBG) and ensiled lucerne (EL) was measured using polyester bags suspended in the rumens of six cows given a basal diet of maize silage, hay and concentrate. Rumen outflow rate was measured using chromium-mordanted SBM.AA were grouped into essential (EAA), non-essential (NEAA) or branched chain (BrAA). The AA concentration in DM varied from 88 g/kg DM for EL to 566 g/kg for FM. The proportion of determined AA in crude protein (CP) was similar for SBM, FM and DBG and always higher than 0·85. EL had the lowest A A concentration in CP, partly due to the presence of ammonia N (170 g/kg total N).Methionine always had a higher, and threonine a lower Dg than total AA in all foods. Dg of other AA was generally food dependent.SBM always had the highest EAA, BrAA, NEAA, mean AA and total N degradability, whilst FM always had the lowest Dg for EAA, BrAA, mean AA and total N, and these values were significantly different in comparison with SBM. The effective Dg of BrAA in DBG was significantly lower than in SBM and significantly higher than in FM. In EL, NEAA and mean AA Dg were significantly lower compared with SBM.Effective Dg of total AA in SBM and EL was significantly lower than the CP Dg; this difference was not apparent in DBG or FM.The undegraded fraction of FM and EL had a significantly higher proportion of EAA whilst DBG and EL had a higher proportion of BrAA when compared with the unexposed food. Isoleucine concentration, highest in EL, and lysine and methionine contents, highest in FM, differed significantly between the four protein source residues.The first limiting AA after rumen incubation, in relation to casein and meat, was always methionine. The essential amino acid index of the food residues post incubation, relative to casein and meat, was lower in SBM, DBG and EL but higher in FM.
Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters of growth and carcass traits from closed lines of pigs on restricted feeding
Authors: Gu Y. , Haley C. S. , Thompson R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTData from two selected lines of pigs in closed herds of a breeding company were collected over a 5-year period. The lines were selected for growth rate and leanness and were housed together in the same environment. Animals were performance tested from 35 kg for about 58 days, and were fed individually according to a scale determined by time on test; the boars were more liberally fed than the gilts. At the end of test, average daily gain (ADG) values were calculated and ultrasonic measures were taken of fat depths at the shoulder (SF), loin (LF) and last rib, 4·5 cm (CF) and 8 cm (KF) off the mid line.Estimates of heritabilities, phenotypic and genetic correlations were obtained from paternal half-sib analyses. All heritability estimates were significantly different from zero and ranged from 0·18 to 0·42 for ADG and from 0·21 to 0·59 for fat depths. The genetic correlations between ADG and fat measurements in boars of the two lines were not significantly different from zero, averaging 0·08; in the gilts they were negative, averaging –0·39.After long-term selection, appreciable genetic variation remained in the closed lines studied here for growth rate and fat depths. Although sex and feeding level were confounded, it is likely that the genetic correlation between growth rate and fat depth was influenced by the level of feeding and associated with partitioning of energy between lean and fat deposition.
Conformation of twin and quadruplet freemartins
Authors: Donald H. P. 
Published: September 2010

1. Observations were made at 2 years of age on 25 freemartins and their castrated brothers. Three of the freemartins belonged to a set of 4-egg quadruplets. For comparison there were 93 normal pregnant twin and single-born heifers and 14 males twin to males.2. Twelve body measurements on each animal were taken. Averages for each character for 25 single-born Ayrshire heifers and for 10 single-born Friesian heifers were used as standards for comparison with the various groups of twins of like and unlike sex, triplets, and quadruplets.3. Normal twin heifers were slightly smaller in all respects than the standard. Freemartins were also smaller but more so. The quadruplet freemartins were smaller still, but at 2 years they had the live-weight of normal heifers only 1½ years old. Twin males, whether from like or unlike-sexed pairs, were on average slightly smaller than the standard.4. Percentage deviations of each group mean from standard varied systematically when characters were listed in a pre-determined order based on earliness of maturing. This relation has been summarised for each group by the regression of the percentage deviation on order of maturity, the order beginning with head width, and ending with the widths of hooks, pins, and chest. Each available group differed significantly from the chosen standard in conformation in such a way that the later a character appeared in the order, the less it exceeded, or the more it fell short of the standard.5. As judged by the size of these regression coefficients, males twin to males showed the greatest difference in conformation from normal single-born females. Males twin to freemartins showed a slightly smaller difference. Freemartins were intermediate but closer to males. Fertile twin females and single-born females differed very little. These relations held at both 2 years of age and a live-weight of 650 lb. (1½ to 1½ years).6. The quadruplet freemartins were anomalous in having the linear dimensions of immature normal instead of freemartin females of the same weight as if their early maturing body characters had been permanently retarded during slow growth before and after birth.
Lamb survival in two hill flocks
Authors: Purser A. F. , Young G. B. 
Published: September 2010

The effects of birth weight, maternal age and parity on survival of single lambs have been studied in a Blackface and a Welsh Mountain flock.In both flocks the maximum survival rate was found to occur among lambs with birth weights just above the mean. Mortality increased as lambs' birth weight increased or decreased from the optimum, but was especially heavy at the lower extreme of the range of birth weights.Mortality decreased with age of dam to 14·3% for lambs from 4- to 6-year-old Blackface ewes and to 9·4% for lambs of 3- to 4-year-old Welsh ewes. Ewes having their first lambs gave mortality rates twice as great as for the mature ewes in the same flocks. The lower chances of survival of first born lambs irrespective of dam's age accounts for the apparent trend of mortality with maternal age in the Blackface.Changes in mortality rates associated with variation in lamb's birth weight and with the age structure of the ewe flock were estimated. Possible means of improvement of survival rate are discussed.
A note on the measurement of ‘eye’ muscle area in beef carcasses
Authors: Bodwell C. E. , Harrington G. , Pomeroy R. W. 
Published: September 2010

1. The area of eye muscle cross-section of beef carcasses may be accurately measured by tracing the boundary and measuring the tracing with a planimeter. Taking a single area measurement from each of duplicate tracings increases the accuracy by some 30%. If a planimeter is not available, the area may be estimated by superimposing a grid on the tracing and counting squares; although this method is some 25% less accurate than the planimeter method it is sufficiently repeatable for experimental use.2. Area estimated by combinations of linear measurements is highly repeatable, but predicts true area with insufficient accuracy for experimental use. The standard error of prediction is about 7% of the mean area. Regression equations relating planimeter area and combinations of measurements for various cuts and animals are given.
A report on feeding additional protein to fattening steers implanted with hexoestrol
Authors: Dodsworth T. L. 
Published: September 2010

Twenty-four Hereford × Angus × Shorthorn steers, which were 18 months old, were divided at random into four groups of six. There were four treatments, two involving the feeding of supplementary protein and two involving implantation of the steers with hexoestrol, thus:(1) basic ration, no hexoestrol;(2) supplementary protein, no hexoestrol;(3) basic ration, hexoestrol implant;(4) supplementary protein, hexoestrol implant.While the hexoestrol implantation produced a significantly higher growth rate, the addition of protein, above the level in the basic ration, had no effect.