bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of hexoestrol on growth, carcass quality, endocrines and reproductive organs of ram, wether and female lambs
Authors: Preston T. R. , Greenhalgh Isoline , MacLeod N. A. 
Published: September 2010

1. Two experiments were made. In Experiment 1, 124 ram, wether and ewe lambs were allocated to four equal groups as they reached a live-weight of 30 lb. Group A received no hexoestrol; group B were implanted with a 15 mg. pellet of hexoestrol and lambs of group C were given a second pellet of 15 mg. 35 days after the first. Group D were implanted with three 5 mg. pellets simultaneously in three different sites. The lambs were creep-fed while running with their dams on pasture and were killed as they reached a live-weight of 95 lb.In Experiment 2, 20 weaned ram lambs were allocated to a hexoestrol-implant group or a control group as they reached a live-weight of 40 lb. They were fed a pelleted ration indoors and were slaughtered at a live-weight of 110 1b.2. Length of teats and weight of the pituitary were significantly increased for all lambs treated with hexoestrol as compared with their controls. Excessive mammary development and one case of rectal prolapse were observed i n treated ewe lambs, while 3 of the treated rams in Experiment 2 had scrotal oedema.3. The rate of live-weight gain was greater for all hexoestrol-implanted lambs in Experiment 1 but less for the implanted lambs on Experiment 2 as compared with their respective controls. The differences just failed to attain significance at the 5% level.4. Dressing percentage was significantly reduced by hexoestrol treatment i n Experiment 1. On the other hand treated ram lambs in Experiment 2 had significantly higher dressing percentages and appeared to be fatter than the controls.5. Weights of testes and seminal vesicles in the ram and of the ovary in the ewe were decreased by hexoestrol treatment. Weights of seminal vesicles in the wether and of oviducts and uterus in the ewe were increased.
Factors influencing average milk yield of herds at two levels of production
Authors: Wiener Gerald 
Published: September 2010

An experiment was started in 1950 designed to find out what proportion of the difference in milk yield between herds is genetic in origin. Sixty-five pairs of twins were split at birth equally between farms having high-yielding herds and farms having low-yielding herds. A previous paper on this experiment reported on the growth of the twins, the present paper on milk yield and on management practices in the herds.Twenty-four pairs of twins survived to complete one lactation and these provide an estimate of 24%±18% for the genetic part of the difference between the herds.Aspects of rearing of the twins and of management of the herds were examined. Twins in the high-yielding herds were served and calved earlier than those in the low-yielding group but they had a longer interval between service and calving. Differences between average heifer yields and average cow yields were from one-and-a-half to two times greater in the high- than in the low-yielding herd group. There were no obvious quantitative differences in feeding practice between the two groups although differences in body size suggest that twins in the high group were done better. For the age at first service there was a positive rank correlation of 0·30 between body size differences and subsequent differences in first lactation milk yield. There was no single factor of management or environment which appeared to be the cause of the yield difference between the herds.
The effect of partial replacement of groundnut meal by white-fish meal in the diet of early-weaned calves
Authors: Preston T. R. , Ndumbe R. D. , Whitelaw F. G. , Charleson Euphemia B. 
Published: September 2010

Comparisons have been made of a calf early-weaning concentrate mixture in which 50% of the total nitrogen was derived from groundnut meal and a similar mixture having 33% of the nitrogen from groundnut and 19% from white-fish meal.In a feeding trial with 9 pairs of Aberdeen-Angus crossbred calves which were weaned at 3 weeks and then fed ad libitum, those given the ‘groundnut plus fish meal’ ration ate 4% less concentrate and gained 6 lb. more in weight over an 81-day period than their pair mates fed the ‘groundnut’ ration. Neither effect was significant.There were no differences between the two rations in their digestibility or their ability to promote nitrogen retention when food intake was equalised.
Preliminary studies of eye judgements of the gammons of bacon pigs in relation to dissection data
Authors: Gatherum D. P. , Harrington G. , Pomeroy R. W. 
Published: September 2010

1. Attributes desired in the gammons of bacon pigs are discussed, together with the methods whereby they are measured.2. An experiment is described in which 16 judges made visual assessments of the qualities of the gammons of 10 carcasses of bacon weight from photographs, both of the fresh carcasses and of the cured bacon sides.3. The judges did not show a high level of agreement in their rankings of the gammons. Although the overall rankings by the panel of the gammons on the fresh carcasses and on the bacon sides were similar, neither ranking was related to the composition or yield of the gammons.4. The judges showed better agreement in their rankings of photographs of the cut surfaces of these 10 gammons and the cross-sections of the cooked gammons produced from them; in this case their preferences were related to the lean content of the gammons.5. A second trial in which 25 judges scored 12 actual bacon sides for the quality of their gammons showed an even lower level of agreement between the judges' rankings, and again there was little agreement between the overall rankings of the panel and the results of dissections.
Level of feeding during early life and the subsequent reproductive performance of sows
Authors: Lodge G. A. , McPherson R. M. 
Published: September 2010

1. Nine groups of 4 litter-mate Wessex Saddleback gilts were divided on a within-litter basis between 4 treatments so that they were reared from 8 weeks of age to 200 1b. live-weight according to different levels of total feed intake; (a) a high level rising to 8·0 1b. meal per day at 200 1b. live-weight, (b) a medium level approximately 80% of the high, (c) a low level approximately 60% of the high and (d) changing from the low to the medium level between 14 and 16 weeks of age. From 200 1b. live-weight to mating at first heat after reaching 300 1b. all were fed to the medium scale (6·5 1b. meal per day), and all were treated alike during each of 3 pregnancies and lactations.2. Mean rate of growth from weaning to 100 1b. and from 100 to 200 1b. differed significantly between treatments (P<0·001), and mean efficiency of feed conversion of the low-plane group was significantly poorer than that of the high-plane group (P<0·05) from weaning to 100 1b. live-weight.3. All gilts, regardless of treatment, reached puberty at approximately the same age (25 weeks), with the result that mean weight at puberty differed markedly between treatments (P<0·001); 116, 154, 189 and 147 1b. for treatments (a) to (d) respectively.4. Gilts reared on medium and high planes of feeding exhibited oestrus less strongly than those reared on the low-plane, with the result that mean weight at successful mating was significantly greater in these two groups (P<0·05).5. Four gilts in the low-plane group and one in the high-plane group failed to conceive after repeated matings, but numbers were insufficient to indicate the significance of this.6. From the original 36 gilts, 27 first litters, 26 second litters and 25 third litters were produced and reared to 8 weeks of age. There was no significant difference between treatment groups in litter size at birth, mean weight of piglets at 3 or 8 weeks of age or total litter weight at weaning.7. Trouble from temporary collapse of the legs was experienced in all but one gilt of the high-plane group between 6½ and 7½ months of age.
Parentage tests in cattle using erythrocyte antigens and serum transferrins
Authors: Rendel Jan , Gahne Bo 
Published: September 2010

Blood grouping was used to investigate 1000 parentage cases in Swedish cattle. The blood samples were tested for 39 antigenic factors belonging to 9 different systems. One of the two possible bulls could be excluded as the sire in about 80% of the complete parentage cases in the Swedish Friesians (SLB) as well as the Swedish Red and White breed (SRB). The additional use of the transferrin systems in 79 of these cases resulted in a considerably increased efficiency. The probability of making exclusions with the aid of the various blood grouping systems was estimated from gene frequency data and showed good agreement with the results actually obtained. In the SRB the combined use of tests for cellular antigens and transferrins is expected to give solutions in about 84% of the complete paternity cases with two possible sires.The value of using genotypic classifications in the complex blood group systems in parentage tests is discussed. Finally, attention is given to the difficulty encountered in parentage cases involving twin-born animals with erythrocyte admixture.
The nutritive value of grass silage self-fed to fattening cattle
Authors: Kerr J. A. M. , Brown W. O. , Morrison J. 
Published: September 2010

1. High and low dry-matter silages were fed to fattening bullocks on the self-feed system giving daily live-weight increases per head per day of 2·6 lb. and 1·7lb. respectively, over a feeding period of 10 weeks.2. Chemical data on the composition of a low dry-matter silage and high dry-matter silage are presented.3. Digestibility studies using sheep were carried out to obtain the starch equivalent values of the two types of silage. The starch equivalent of the high dry-matter silage was 12·4 while that of the low dry-matter silage was 9·9. This difference in starch equivalent explains the extra 0·9 lb. per head per day live-weight increase made by the bullocks on the high dry-matter silage.4. Mineral balances were carried out. The results show that the low dry-matter silage would supply an inadequate amount of calcium for satisfactory production.
The effect of suckling, management and season on sheep milk production as estimated by lamb growth
Authors: Doney J. M. , Munro Joan 
Published: September 2010

1. The mean daily live-weight gains of lambs from the 1956–59 flock records were used to estimate the milk yield of ewes during the first six weeks of lactation.2. The yield was affected by the number of lambs suckled but not by the number born. Ewes rearing twins on the hill gave a higher yield than those rearing singles (145%–155%). Good grazing raised the yield to twice that of ewes rearing singles on the hill.3. In 3 out of the 4 years the utilised yield was remarkably constant in the case of ewes rearing single lambs, but ewes rearing twins on the hill were more variable. Ewes rearing twins on low ground did not show any significant seasonal differences.4. From an experiment on 36 ewes it was confirmed that twin-rearing ewes produce more milk than single-rearing ewes in all environments. There was no difference between ewes rearing one lamb whether born as a single or as a twin. Leaving two lambs on the ewe for a few days to establish a high level of milk yield did not benefit the remaining lamb after its twin was removed.
Long continued oestrogen administration to fowls
Authors: Greenwood Alan W. 
Published: September 2010

Long continued administration of a substance (dienoestrol diacetate) having oestrogenic properties as a dietary additive to chickens from hatching over a period of 4½ years resulted in:—(1) an early, transient, hindrance to sexual development in both males and females,(2) a wide range of individual variation in response to the drug, shown i n the degree of feminisation of the plumage in males, and certain characteristics associated with egg laying in the females,(3) shell defects and related early embryonic deaths which could be attributed to an interference by the drug with development and differentiation of the oviduct.The birds were maintained throughout the experiment under two contrasting environments ‘natural’ and ‘constant’. In the former group two birds developed tumours (one a typical adenocarcinoma) while four of the ‘constant’ birds had adenocarcinomata on examination post-mortem. The incidence of the condition was much lower than that encountered in a previous experiment and suggested that the oestrogen employed was not of itself a carcinogenic agent.The primary function of the ovary was apparently unaffected and egg production to normal expected levels in both environments was attained.The disproportionally high number of hens dying with inspissated yolk i n the oviduct and/or free yolk in the abdomen emphasises the possible effect of oestrogen on oviduct development and activity.The danger of increasing the ‘load’ of oestrogens to susceptible individuals destined for breeding stock (and not short term administration of oestrogens for growth and ‘finishing’ of birds for slaughter) is referred to, and also its wider application were natural and synthetic oestrogenic substances in the diet to exceed a non-effective level.
Response to selection for multiple births in the Australian Merino: a progress report
Authors: Turner Helen Newton , Hayman R. H. , Triffitt L. K. , Prunster R. W. 
Published: September 2010

Results of two-way selection for multiple births are reported, in a flock of Australian Merinos.Base ewes, selected for having multiple or single births at each of two lambings at 5 and 6 years of age have shown a good repeatability, the T group (multiple-bearers) having averaged 31 more lambs per 100 ewes mated than the O group (single-bearers) for 6 subsequent lambings.Unselected daughters of the base ewes, now ranging in age from 2 to 6 years, have also shown a difference in lamb drop, those in the T group averaging 21 more per 100 ewes mated. The difference in lamb drop has increased with the age of the daughter ewes, reaching 31 lambs per 100 ewes mated at 6 years of age.A small group of Merino ewes from a property where selection for multiple births is practised has produced 1·60 lambs per ewe mated at 2 and 3 years of age.It is suggested that earlier low estimates of heritability for the incidence of multiple births have led to unwarranted pessimism, and that in some circumstances selection for multiple births may be successful.
A genetic analysis of 305-day yield in second lactation in Red Danish cattle and Black Pied Danish cattle
Authors: Christensen K. , Sørensen P. , Venge O. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe material for the present investigation included approximately 4000 cows in 50 progeny groups from the dual-purpose breeds Red Danish cattle and Black Pied Danish cattle. The main objective was to investigate production in 305 days of second lactation. The characteristics studied were milk yield, butterfat yield and fat content. Analyses of the influence of the four environmental factors, herd average, age at calving, calving interval and calving season, were carried out using least squares. It was shown that age at calving, calving interval and calving season had a curvilinear effect on the yield traits. Herd average yield had a strong linear effect on the yield traits. The reduction in the phenotypic variance due to regression of yield on environmental factors was about 35% for milk and butterfat, and about 18% for fat content.Heritabilities for yield traits in second lactation as well as phenotypic and genetic correlations between the yield traits in first and second lactation were presented. The coefficients of repeatability for milk and butterfat yield diminished from 0·5 to 0·3 when the data were corrected for the environmental factors.
Digestibility by pigs of the major chemical components of diets high in plant cell-wall constituents
Authors: Farrell D. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYDigestibility of the major chemical components in diets high in plant cell-wall constituents was determined with four pigs. Two were given a commercial pig meal and two were given, in addition, alkali-treated straw (25% of the diet). Dry-matter digestibility of the straw was 32%, and protein excretion in faeces was increased by the addition of straw to the basal diet. Calculations based on microbial protein synthesis per gram of organic matter fermented showed that the additional nitrogen in the faeces may have been almost entirely microbial in origin.In a second experiment, ground lucerne was progressively introduced into the diet in substitution for commercial pig meal. There was no obvious associative effect on the digestibility of the chemical components examined. Apparent digestibility of dry matter of the all-lucerne diet was 53%.
Relation of concentration of growth hormone in blood plasma to growth rate and carcass characteristics in the pig
Authors: Chappel R. J. , Dunkin A. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Pig growth hormone (PGH) concentrations were measured in plasma samples from piglets of 3–4 to 7–8 weeks of age.2. Plasma PGH concentrations decreased significantly with age. No difference was observed between the hormone concentrations of gilts and barrows.3. Correlation coefficients were calculated between mean plasma growth hormone concentration over a 4-week period and several carcass characteristics and measures of growth rate. Plasma PGH over this period showed significant negative correlations with several measures of carcass backfat thickness at bacon weight. In barrows only, PGH concentrations showed a significant direct correlation with relative growth rate from 3 to 7 weeks.
Nutritional evaluation of wheat. 2. The sequence of limiting amino acids in wheats of different protein content as determined with growing rats
Authors: Ivan M. , Farrell D. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Weanling male rats were used in three experiments to evaluate the sequence of limiting amino acids for maximum growth with diets based on wheats containing 10, 13 or 17% crude protein (N×5·71).2. Lysine was the first-limiting, threonine the second-limiting, and valine or methionine the third- or fourth-limiting amino acid for growth rate and feed-conversion ratio of rats offered the diet based on wheat containing 10% crude protein. A further four amino acids (isoleucine, histidine, tryptophan and tyrosine) were limiting for feed-conversion ratio only.3. For the diet based on wheat containing 13% crude protein the sequence of limiting amino acids was lysine, threonine and methionine.4. Only lysine was limiting in the diet based on wheat containing 17% crude protein.5. Plasma-free amino-acid concentrations were found to be a valuable criterion for prediction of the first-limiting amino acid in diets.6. Improvement of growth and feed-conversion ratio was observed with diets based on wheat containing 17 or 13% crude protein when the limiting amino acids were supplemented to provide the recommended allowance. Further improvement in feed-conversion ratio was obtained when lysine and threonine were provided in excess of the recommended allowances.7. There was a lysine-threonine interaction affecting growth rate and feed-conversion ratio, and a lysine-me.thionine interaction affecting feed-conversion ratio.
Protein levels in diets for European pigs in the tropics. 2. The effect of lysine and methionine supplementation on the protein requirement of growing pigs
Authors: Fetuga B. L. , Babatunde G. M. , Oyenuga V. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOne hundred and twenty-eight Landrace and Large White pigs were allocated on the basis of sex, litter origin and initial weight to one of 16 treatments made up of four basal 16, 18, 20 and 22% protein diets, each supplemented with either 0·00,0·05,0·10 or 0·15% synthetic L-lysine; methionine was added to meet the levels earlier found to be optimal. All diets had a common energy level of 3740 kcal/kg DE and pigs were fed from 8 to 50 kg live weight.Growth rate and feed efficiency improved as the protein levels were increased from 16 up to 20%. Only the 16 and 18% protein diets showed significant responses to additional lysine. Best overall gains and efficiency of gain was achieved on the diet with 20% protein and total dietary lysine and methionine+cystine levels of 1·17 and 0·66% respectively. Carcass leanness increased and fatness decreased as protein and lysine levels were increased, being best at the highest level (1·41%) of lysine studied.Nitrogen retention indicated slightly lower protein and lysine requirement, efficiency of utilization being best on the 18% protein diet with added 0·15% lysine, giving a total dietary lysine level of 1·1% at the equalized methionine and cystine level of 0·66%.It is indicated that diets providing between 18 and 20% protein in the diet, provided proper amino acid balance is maintained, would be optimal for pigs between 8 and 50 kg live weight.
A note on dried grass as a component of concentrate mixtures for lactating dairy cows
Authors: McIlmoyle W. A. , Murdoch J. C. , Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwenty-four cows were used in a randomized block, continuous feeding trial to examine the effects of including 0, 25 or 50% of dried grass in a concentrate given to cows receiving grass silage ad libitum. The concentrates also contained barley, and soya bean meal to maintain the crude protein content at 16%, and were given at the rate of 0·4 kg/kg of milk. The treatments were imposed for a 6-week period after a preliminary feeding period of 4 weeks. At the beginning of the experiment the cows had, on average, calved 39 days previously. The mean intakes of silage dry matter were 7·60, 8·28 and 8·39 kg/day with the concentrates containing 0, 25 and 50% dried grass, respectively, and were significantly greater when dried grass was included in the concentrate. The mean milk yields of 200, 18·2 and 19·6 kg/day for the three treatments respectively were not significantly different. Body-weight change and milk composition were not significantly different between treatments.
Milk production from silage and concentrates containing varying proportions of dried grass and cereals
Authors: Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryTwenty-eight lactating cows were used in an experiment of changeover design with four periods to evaluate concentrates containing 0, 16, 32, 49, 65, 81 and 97% dried grass. The dry matter of the dried grass was 63% digestible. The concentrates also contained barley, together with groundnut meal to equalize their protein content at approximately 16-5% of dry matter. All animals had grass silage ad libitum and all concentrates were given at the rate of 0·4 kg/kg milk. Milk yield, milk composition and liveweight change were not affected by including dried grass in the concentrate. No significant effect of concentrate on silage intake was obtained. Ration digestibility and nitrogen utilization were measured with four animals per treatment. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen was not reduced by increasing the proportion of dried grass in the concentrate. The efficiency of utilization of apparently digested nitrogen for total productive purposes (body retention and milk nitrogen) was also not affected by the proportion of dried grass.