bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of two indoor farrowing systems for sows
Authors: Robertson J. B. , Laird R. , Hall J. K. S. , Forsyth R. J. , Thomson J. M. , Walker-Love J. 
Published: September 2010

1. Over a 3-year period 150 farrowings of Large White sows were used to compare a stall farrowing system with a conventional-pen farrowing system.2. Farrowing in the stall system of management resulted in a significantly lower percentage mortality both at 3 weeks (5·73±2·70%) and at 8 weeks (7·92±2·89%), than in the conventional-pen system.3. Both total litter and individual pig weights were higher at 3 and 8 weeks in the stall system.4. Despite higher building and electricity costs the stall system showed a margin of £1, 14s. per litter over the conventional-pen system.
The correlation between first lactation milk production and longevity in dairy cattle
Authors: Robertson Alan , Barker J. S. F. 
Published: September 2010

1. An analysis has been made of the relationship between first lactation progeny test for milk yield and the survival of a bull's daughters to different ages using data for British Friesian, Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian cows. It was found that the relative effect on survival of differences between bulls in milk yield increased by about 10% per 100 gallons for each lactation survived, e.g. for two bulls differing in heifer progeny test by 100 gallons, that with the higher figure will have 10% more daughters surviving to have a second lactation, 20% more having a third and so on. The probable effect on total length of life is 1·2 lactations per 100 gallons.2. No evidence was found that selection on first lactation progeny test would reduce productive life in the dairy herd or even that it would increase the proportion culled for reasons other than yield in later lactations.3. The genetic effects of culling in the first lactation on yield were in agreement with those expected from multiplying the phenotypic selection differential by the heritability. On the other hand, the selection differential in heifer yield produced by culling in later life considerably under-estimated its genetic effect. The effect of culling was to increase the genetic potential of animals for yield in the first lactation by roughly 10 gallons for each lactation survived, so that the average genetic superiority over their heifer contemporaries of cows in the herd at any time would be 30 gallons.4. The heritability of survival to different ages was significantly different from zero in all analyses. The theoretical prediction that this would have a maximum at the fourth lactation was borne out in one sample but not in the other.5. The genetic correlation of first lactation yield with survival was lowest in all samples for survival to have a second lactation. For survival to the third or later lactations it was higher than 0·7 in all analyses. As the genetic correlation between first and later yields in these data averaged about 0·8, this can only mean that milk yield is by far the most important genetic determinant of survival at all ages.
Studies on the nutrition of ruminants. I. Substitution of maize by milled barley straw in a beef fattening diet and its effect on performance and carcass quality
Authors: Lamming G. E. , Swan H. , Clarke R. T. 
Published: September 2010

Sixty-four yearling Friesian steers, in eight groups with eight animals per treatment, were fed on pelleted diets containing ground barley straw, maize and soya bean meal. The percentage of straw in the diets varied from 0% to 50% and the crude protein was adjusted in all diets to 12% on an air dried basis. Levels of 0, 10, 20 and 30% ground straw were tested in 1963–4 and 20, 30, 40 and 50% in 1964–5.Growth rates in the range of 8·28–9·49 kg. per week were obtained, with growth rate falling significantly (P<0·05) by 0·36±0·15 kg. per week for each 10% increase in straw in the 1964–5 trial; the differences between treatments in the 1963–4 trial were non-significant. The efficiency of food conversion varied from 6·5:1 for 0% straw to 7·7:1 for 50% ground barley straw. Feed intake increased as the percentage of straw in the diet rose above 20%. Regressions relating those carcass measurements in which differences between groups were significant to the percentage of straw in the diet were not significant except that for eye muscle area (P<0·05). Neither carcass nor meat quality differed significantly in animals given 20 % and 50 % ground straw.The results of digestibility trials with male hoggets showed a linear depression in the digestibility of diets as the percentage of straw increased.The results are discussed in relation to previous knowledge of the factors affecting the voluntary feed intake of ruminants.Agricultural Research Council, 1965. Recommended procedures used in the measurement of beef cattle and carcasses. H.M.S.O., London.
Observations on the food conversion rate of Specific-Pathogen-Free boars
Authors: Jollans J. L. 
Published: September 2010

Data are presented concerning the efficiency of growth of Specific-Pathogen-Free Large White boars on individual performance test. Various aspects of growth rate, backfat thickness and food conversion are compared.It is suggested that tests should be shortened by starting later, rather than finishing earlier.Some support is given to the theory that one type of pig may not be suitable, from the point of view of efficiency of growth, for supplying the full range of carcass weights in current demand.
Lipid mobilization in pigs selected for leanness or fatness
Authors: Standal N. , Vold E. , Trygstad O. , Foss Irene 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYLipid mobilization was investigated in pigs selected for high and low backfat thickness for four generations. Both epinephrine and pituitary lipid mobilizing factors (LMF) induced in vitro lipolysis in pig fat. The release of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from fat pads sampled from the group selected for thin backfat, the control group, and the group selected for thick backfat differed significantly, the means being 1·16 ± 0·18, 0·83 ± 0·06 and 0·40 ± 0·04 μmol/100 mg per 3 hr respectively.The inhibition by pig serum from the same groups of an LMF- induced adipokinesis in rabbits also differed significantly. The mean NEFA concentrations were, in the same sequence, 5·05 ± 0·15, 3·35 ± 0·27 and 1·29 ± 0·11 milliequiv/litre respectively. A difference in feeding level of about 20% between 25 and 90 kg live weight did not influence lipid mobilization in vitro.The serum inhibition method may be a useful aid to early selection for leanness, since it appears that the method may be used for pigs 5 to 6 weeks old.
The nutrition of artificially reared lambs. 3. The effect of sex on the performance and carcass composition of lambs subjected to different nutritional treatments
Authors: Morgan J. A. , Owen J. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYForty-eight Suffolk cross lambs were reared artificially from 2 days of age. Sixteen entire males, 16 castrates (castrated by rubber ring at 2 days) and 16 female lambs were allocated at random to a set of 2×2×2 factorial treatments in which feeding was ad libitum or restricted for each of three growth periods—from 2 days old to 15 kg, from 15 to 25 kg and from 25 to 40 kg live weight.The results showed no apparent interaction of sex and feeding treatment and differences due to sex were apparent only in the period after 25 kg live weight. Entire males grew faster and were more efficient at this stage although there was little difference in voluntary feed intake. Carcasses of the males were lower in fat and energy content and higher in protein content than those of females and castrates.The feeding treatments in the main had similar effects to those shown in other studies in the series. Restricted milk feeding was compensated for by increased solid food consumption during the milk-feeding stage but in this experiment there was no tendency for restricted lambs to eat more and grow faster when fed ad libitum in the following period. Restricted feeding in the last period, particularly if preceded by restricted feeding, gave higher killing-out percentage, higher fat content and lower protein content in the carcass than feeding ad libitum. This finding was partly explained by the higher weight of the carcasses of the restricted lambs.
Studies on the nutritive value of the diet selected by grazing sheep. VI. The use of tritiated water as a marker to estimate the composition of the diet from material collected by oesophageally fistulated sheep
Authors: Langlands J. P. , Bowles J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFive forages were given to three oesophageally-fistulated sheep held in metabolism cages. Estimates of the N, P and K contents of the forages were derived after correcting the composition of the extrusa for salivary contamination by using tritiated water (TOH) as a marker. Estimated N and P contents of the diet were generally higher, and estimated K content was lower, than in the diet. The estimates were variable and could not be used to estimate dietary N, P or K. It is suggested that the ratio of N, P or K to TOH of the pre-feeding saliva sample may have differed from the corresponding ratio during feeding, or that TOH may have moved independently of salivary N, P or K during feeding and processing. These difficulties might be overcome by marking each dietary component with its own isotope.Estimates of dietary composition were also derived from analyses of squeezed extrusa without correcting for residual saliva or losses in leaching. The error with which dietary N content was estimated was then sufficiently low for most practical purposes. The equation relating dietary and extrusa N contents yielded similar estimates of dietary N to an equation derived in an earlier report.
Selection of dairy bulls on half-sister records
Authors: Owen J. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA scheme is described for the genetic improvement of milk yield in a large population of dairy cows, based on half-sister selection of young bulls, as an alternative to the normal procedure of progeny testing. The results indicate that the suggested scheme would lead t o an eventual rate of genetic progress very similar to the progeny testing scheme. However, the annual cost of the new scheme is less than a progeny testing scheme, largely because the ‘laying off’ of candidate bulls, to await selection, is completely eliminated. In addition, improvement of the dairy cows shows up sooner in the new scheme; by the 10th year from the start the cumulative genetic improvement is four times greater than for progeny testing.
The water intake of British Friesian cows on rations containing various forages
Authors: Castle M. E. , Thomas Thesca P. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe intake of drinking water of lactating British Friesian cows in 14 herds with a total of 840 animals was measured monthly from November to April inclusive. The intake of food, the air temperature and relative humidity were also recorded. The herds which mainly contained autumn-calved cows were managed under controlled commercial conditions.The average daily intake of drinking water was 49·9 (range 20·1 to 87·1) kg/cow for animals yielding an average of 16·8 kg milk/day in an environment with a mean temperature of 8·2°C and a relative humidity of 84·8%. The amount of water drunk daily was positively and significantly related to the mean daily milk yield and the drymatter content of the ration, but not significantly related to either the mean air temperature or the relative humidity. The average intake of water was 3·70 kg per kg of dry matter consumed after subtracting the amount of water in the milk. On average, 40·0% of the total daily intake of water was drunk between 15·00 and 21·00 hr.Behaviour studies of 24 hr duration on five herds showed that drinking time ranged from 2·0 to 7·8 min/cow per day, and the rate of drinking varied from 4·5 to 14·9 kg/min.Recommendations are made for the provision of drinking water for dairy cows being offered a wide range of forages under modern conditions of housing.
Nutritional evaluation of wheat 3. Effects of supplementation with lysine, threonine and methionine of diets based on wheat containing 13% crude protein on the performance of pigs
Authors: Ivan M. , Farrell D. J. , Edey T. N. 
Published: September 2010

Summary1. Large White x Landrace pigs were used to study the effects of supplementation with limiting amino acids of diets based on wheat containing 13% crude protein. Measurements were made of growth rate, feed conversion, carcass composition, plasma-free amino acid concentrations, digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, nitrogen retention and metabolizable energy.2. A wheat diet supplemented with lysine and threonine, the firstand the second-limiting amino acids respectively, produced almost the same growth rate and feed conversion ratio as one supplemented with fish meal and meat meal. Methionine was probably the thirdlimiting amino acid, and additional supplementation with methionine produced a further small improvement in growth rate and feed conversion ratio to the point where they were equal to those on the diet supplemented with fish meal and meat meal.3. Supplementation of the wheat diet with lysine only produced the same growth rate and feed conversion ratio as a least-cost commercial diet; performance was, however, inferior to that on a wheat diet supplemented with fish meal and meat meal. The commercial diet had a lower dry-matter digestibility.4. Eye-muscle area of pigs on the wheat diet supplemented with lysine was similar to that of pigs on a wheat diet supplemented with fish meal and meat meal; however, backfat thickness was significantly lower on the latter diet.5. Except for threonine, plasma-free amino acid concentrations reflected with reasonable accuracy amino acid deficiencies in the diets.
A note on the effect on sow productivity of methallibure administration following a 10-day lactation
Authors: Walker N. , Eddie S. M. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryFemale pigs (sows) which had lactated for about 10 days were allocated at random either to a control group or to a group given 75 mg methallibure per day for 5 consecutive days, followed by an intramuscular injection of 1000 IU PMSG. All sows were mated as soon as they came into oestrus and again 24 hr later. Nineteen out of 21 treated sows exhibited a controlled oestrus 9·4 + 0·25 days after weaning, compared with 21 out of 23 control sows in 8·2 + 0·64 days. Fourteen treated and 17 control sows conceived at that oestrus resulting in total pigs born per litter of 9·4 and 9·9 respectively. None of these differences was statistically significant.
A Note on the use of micronized barley for growing pigs
Authors: Fernandes T. H. , Hutton K. , Smith W. C. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryAn experiment was undertaken to examine the effects of the micronization process followed by grinding on the chemical composition of barley and on digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention in the growing pig. Micronization relative to normal grinding increased the dry matter (DM) content and starch availability in vitro and decreased the protein content of the cereal. Retention of N was not affected by the process but apparent digestibility of the DM, N and gross energy was improved. The improvement in digestible energy content of micronized barley over the ground grain was 3·8%. In a subsequent trial 24 pigs were individually and scale-fed a diet containing 75% of barley in ground or micronized and ground form over the liveweight range 33 to 80 kg. Processing treatment did not influence growth rate, DM food conversion ratio, killing-out percentage, deposition of backfat or area of ‘eye muscle’ in cross-section.
Effect of sampling errors on efficiency of selection indices 1. Use of information from relatives for single trait improvement
Authors: Sales Jill , Hill W. G. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryAn analysis is undertaken of the effect of errors in estimates of parameters, particularly the intra-class correlations, on the response from selection for one trait using an index of individual together with full- and/or half-sib family records. A distinction is drawn between the response (R) possible with use of the optimum index, that predicted (R) and that achieved (R*) with an index which uses the sample estimates of the parameter values.It is found that the loss of efficiency (R*–R) using sample estimates is very small even for estimates far from the correct value. R is more sensitive to errors, particularly of the heritability and phenotypic variance estimates. Since the latter also appear in the prediction of response from individual selection, errors in predicting the relative responses from index and individual selection are small. Expected values of the proportional loss in response,are approximately proportional to the variance of the estimate of intra-class correlation. It is shown that in practice initial experiments with 20 or so families may be sufficient to get average proportional losses down to less than 1%.
Intake by and performance of early-weaned calves offered unwilted or wilted silage supplemented with a cereal and protein concentrate or dried grass
Authors: Marsh R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYForty-two British Friesian castrated male calves of 1 to 3 weeks of age were offered ad libitum unwilted or wilted silage made from the same sward for 21 consecutive weeks. Both silages were supplemented with a cereal and protein concentrate at two restricted levels of intake or with dried grass cobs offered ad libitum. There was little difference i n the chemical composition ofthe two silages except for DM content. Dry-matter intake of wilted silage was slightly but not significantly greater than that of unwilted silage. Differences between silages in daily gain or final live weight were not significant.An increase in the intake of the cereal and protein concentrate led to a significant decrease (P < 0·001) in silage DM intake and a significant increase (P < 0·001) in daily gain andfinallive weight. Calves offered dried grass as a supplement to silage ate similar quantities of silage DM to calves offered an equal amount of the cereal and protein supplement but gained significantly less (P < 0·001) live weight. When intakes were presented on a unit metabolic live-weight basis, calves ate significantly more (P < 0·001) silage when supplemented with dried grass than calves offered the cereal and protein supplement.
Effect of silage additives on the intake and performance of male calves and steers
Authors: McIlmoyle W. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn two feeding experiments, an untreated silage which had received no additive was compared with silages which had received either formic acid (‘Add-F’) or a formalin and sulphuric acid mixture (‘Sylade’). The ‘Add-F’ was applied at the rate of 3·81/t and ‘Sylade’ at the rate of 3·1 1/t of fresh herbage harvested from a perennial ryegrass and white clover sward.The silages were offered ad libitum to 30 British Friesian male calves (mean fasted live weight 97 kg) in Experiment 1 and to 27 steers (mean fasted live weight 320 kg) of mixed breed in Experiment 2. Concentrate was offered to the animals in Experiment 1 at the rate of 0·86 kg dry matter/head per day.In each experiment the intakes of dry matter and digestible organic matter were higher from the additive-treated silages than from untreated silage.In Experiment 1 the application of ‘Sylade’ increased significantly (P < 0·05) the mean daily unfasted live-weight gain (0·87 kg/day) over that for animals offered untreated silage (0·74 kg/day). In Experiment 2 the mean daily unfasted live-weight gains from ‘Sylade’-treated (0·70 kg/day) and ‘Add-F’-treated silage (0·78 kg/day) were significantly higher (P<0·01) than that from untreated silage (0·38 kg/day).
Effects of restricting the water intake of dairy cows upon their milk yield, body weight and blood composition
Authors: Little W. , Sansom B. F. , Manston R. , Allen W. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Water intake was measured in eight lactating cows. Subsequently n i an experiment of a 4 × 4 Latin square design, each cow received 100, 87, 73 and 60% of its voluntary intake for 6 days followed by an 8-day recovery period.2. Measurements were made of the intake of feed, milk yield and quality, water, Na and K balances, metabolic profiles, and serum and urine osmolalities. The cows were weighed at the beginning and end ofthe experimental periods, and pulse, respiration and rumination rates and rectal temperatures were measured daily.3. Milk yield decreased significantly with increasing water deprivation. A 40% reduction in water intake was associated with a 16% decrease in intake of dry matter and a concomitant 16% decrease in milk yield. The only significant change in milk composition was a small increase in lactose concentration with increasing water deprivation.4. There was no significant reduction in urine output, but the output of water in faeces was reduced and there was evidence of a reduction i n total body water which approximated the reduction in body weight. 5. Concentrations of serum Na and urea-N and serum osmolality increased significantly with increasing water deprivation.
Influence of breed, birth weight and weather on the body temperature of newborn lambs
Authors: Sykes A. R. , Griffiths R. G. , Slee J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe rectal temperature of 208 lambs of Scottish Blackface, Tasmanian Merino, Southdown, Cheviot, Soay and Finnish Landrace breeds was measured between 15 and 25 min after birth, and that of 94 lambs again 1 hr after birth. Relationships within breeds between rectal temperature and birth weight, weather (temperature and wind speed) and gestational age were examined.Within the range of birth weights and weather encountered over a period of years Scottish Blackface, Cheviot and Soay breeds maintained homeothermy at birth. In contrast, the Merino and Finnish Landrace breeds, which had comparable birth weights to the Black-face and Soay respectively, showed significant reductions in body temperature sometimes exceeding 10°C in cold weather. The Southdowns also showed hypothermia. In the Merinos and Finns, 30 and 54% respectively of the variation in rectal temperature was accounted for by birth weight and weather.Of those lambs with low rectal temperatures 20 min after birth, few showed any improvement after 1 hr. Merinos in cold weather showed the least tendency to recover.Possible reasons for the different performance of the breeds and the implications for lamb survival are discussed.
Evaluation of molassed sugar-beet pulp nuts supplemented with urea as an energy and protein source for lactating ewes
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Fraser J. , Hemingway R. G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA molassed sugar-beet product with added urea and dicalcium phosphate was evaluated as an energy and protein source for housed lactating ewes. Comparisons were made with a barley-vegetable protein and a barley-urea concentrate each formulated to supply approximately the same amount of crude protein. The overall performance of ewes and lambs given barley and vegetable protein was very significantly superior to that of ewes receiving the sugar-beet product. At 6 weeks after lambing the ewes given barley and vegetable protein had lost 57% (with singles) and 23% (with twins) less weight and their lambs had grown 28% (singles) and 48% (twins) more quickly than for ewes receiving the sugar-beet product. The intermediate performance of the ewes receiving barley and urea illustrated that the difference between the barley-vegetable protein concentrate and the sugar-beet product was both an energy and a protein effect.