bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The intensive production of herbage for crop-drying: Part I. A study of the productivity of two annual crops and two leys and of their responses in yield and chemical composition to applications of nitrogenous manure
Authors: Holmes W. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY1. The importance of uniform production of herbage for crop-drying is emphasized.2. A replicated experiment is described which compared four crops, two annuals and two leys under four manurial treatments which included a control and three applications of fertilizer (3½ cwt. ‘nitrochalk’) distributed during the season in three ways.3. Vetches yielded 2500–3000 lb. dry matter per acre of 28–30% crude-protein content in two cuts.Barley yielded 2500–3000 lb. dry matter per acre of 18–21% crude protein in five to six cuts.Leys yielded 4000–5000 lb. dry matter per acre of 15–18% crude protein in four cuts in their first year, and 5000–6000 lb. dry matter per acre of 15–18% crude protein in five cuts in their second year.
The early weaning of pigs. VIII. Copper sulphate as a growth stimulant
Authors: Lucas I. A. M. , Livingstone R. M. , Boyne A. W. , McDonald I. 
Published: March 2009

The effects of copper supplements on the performance up to 45 lb. live weight of early weaned pigs were measured in two experiments. Copper sulphate included as 0·1% of the diet had no apparent adverse effect on the piglets, even when it was introduced immediately after weaning at about 8 lb. live weight, but improved rate of gain by 6 and 12% and feed conversion efficiency by 5 and 6% in the two experiments, respectively. The length of the period of slow growth after weaning was reduced in both experiments. There was no clear advantage in delaying the introduction of the high-copper diet until the pigs weighed 17 or 26 lb.The second experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial, the second factor being the presence or absence in the diet of antibiotic (present throughout in the first experiment). Antibiotic appeared to have slight beneficial effects on growth rate and feed conversion, which were additive to the effects of copper so that the best results were obtained from the diet containing both copper and antibiotic.In a continuation of the first experiment it was found that the early copper treatment had no effect on rates of gain and feed conversion between 55 and 200 lb. live weight or on carcass measurements. The inclusion of a copper supplement in the diet from 55 to 200 lb. improved feed conversion by 4% and rate of gain by 3·5%, reduced the thickness of streak and increased the ratio of width to depth of eye muscle. None of these responses was affected by the copper treatment prior to 55 lb. live weight.
Evaluation of phosphate fertilizers: I. Immediate value of dicalcium phosphate, nitrophosphates, Gafsa rock phosphate basic slag and potassium metaphosphate for barley and ryegrass
Authors: Mattingly G. E. G. , Penny A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThree granular nitrophosphates containing 5, 26 and 50 % of their total phosphorus in a water-soluble form, granular potassium metaphosphate, Gafsa rock phosphate and basic slag (both as powders) were compared with granular superphosphate and powdered dicalcium phosphate as standards in two annual experiments with ryegrass and in three experiments with barley.In 1960 total yields of ryegrass during a whole season were similar with all fertilizers. Nitrophosphate-5, Gafsa rock phosphate and basic slag acted more slowly than granular superphosphate and grass grew less well and took up less phosphorus during the first 12 weeks. Over the whole growing season more phosphorus was taken up by grass from powdered dicalcium phosphate and from granular potassium metaphosphate (0.5–2.0 mm) than from granular superphosphate (1.0–4.0 mm).Powdered dicalcium phosphate was equivalent to about 60% as much phosphorus applied as superphosphate to barley. Rock phosphate was almost inert and percentage granular superphosphate equivalents of basic slag and potassium metaphosphate were 22 and 23% respectively. Percentage superphosphate equivalents of the granular nitrophosphates were 1, 25 and 53% and almost equal to the water-soluble phosphate they contained.
Hormonal induction of superovulation in cattle
Authors: Scanlon P. , Sreenan J. , Gordon I. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEighty-nine cattle were treated to induce high superovulation with 3000 i.u. PMSG on day 16 of the cycle and slaughtered shortly after breeding and injection of 2000 i.u. HCG. In the 79 cattle that came in oestrus, the mean number of ovulations was 9.0. The percentage of follicles ovulating and the mean ovulation rate increased markedly as the interval between PMSG and oestrus increased from 2 to 5 days. Seventy-one percent of eggs shed were recovered; 68% of eggs recovered were cleaved. Evidence on cleavage stages attained, and on the location of eggs in the Fallopian tubes and uterus, suggests that a majority of eggs were capable of normal development.
Shorn and unshorn Awassi sheep I. Body temperature
Authors: Eyal E. 
Published: March 2009

1. The rectal temperatures of shorn and unshorn Awassi sheep were measured at various hours of the day and during various seasons of the year in two different locations in Israel.2. An increase in body temperature accompanied an increase in environmental temperature. A steeper temperature increase was noted in shorn sheep kept in the shade. When ambient temperatures were below 30° C. the body temperature of shorn sheep was lower than that of the unshorn sheep by an average of 0·16° C.3. When ambient temperatures were above 30° C. the body temperature of shorn sheep was equal to or higher than that of unshorn ones.4. Upon exposure to direct sunlight, the body temperature of shorn sheep exceeded that of unshorn animals. However, when the animals were transferred to the shade, or after sunset, the shorn sheep cooled at a faster rate. Their body temperature fell below that of the unshorn sheep during the cool hours of the day.5. Wind velocity, both in the shade and in the sun, had a greater effect on shorn than on unshorn sheep.6. A rise in the relative humidity of ambient temperatures above 25° C. caused body temperature to rise, particularly in unshorn animals. The body temperature of shorn sheep exceeded that of unshorn ones when the animals were maintained in a hot and dry environment.7. While the body of the shorn sheep was entirely affected by the macroclimate, the unshorn sheep were greatly influenced by the microclimate existing in the fleece. Fleece temperatures always lagged behind and were rarely equal to environmental temperatures. Since it was postulated that heat tolerance of certain animals was related to their ability to exploit cool hours of the day, it is suggested that in certain ‘tolerance tests’ records should be taken not only during exposure to heat but also during cool hours of the day.
Upgrading the indigenous poultry of Uganda I. The growth rates and feed conversion from hatching to maturity of indigenous poultry crossed with four imported breeds
Authors: Trail J. C. M. 
Published: March 2009

1200 chicks comprising 300 each of Light Sussex × indigenous, Rhode Island Red × indigenous, White Leghorn × indigenous and Black Australorp × indigenous cross-breeds were reared from day old to 24 weeks under good conditions of feeding and management and growth rates, food consumption and feed conversion measured weekly to assess any improvements brought about by cross-breeding the indigenous poultry of Uganda and compare the value of the four imported breeds for this purpose.Growth rates of the indigenous birds were greatly improved by crossing with Light Sussex, Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp cockerels, the Light Sussex cross giving the best results, but the White Leghorn cross not greatly improving the growth rates of the indigenous birds.Crossing with Light Sussex and Rhode Island Red cockerels gave birds with greatly improved feed conversion figures over the indigenous poultry, with the Light Sussex cross again being superior, and nearly as good as the imported breeds. Crossing with Black Australorp and White Leghorn cockerels did not produce birds with improved feed conversion rates over the indigenous poultry.
Upgrading the indigenous poultry of Uganda III. Shell and egg interior quality
Authors: Trail J. C. M. 
Published: March 2009

Albumen quality, shell thickness and incidence of blood and meat spots in eggs from the progeny of indigenous poultry of Uganda crossed with four imported breeds were compared with results from the pure imported Rhode Island Red breed and discussed relative to figures previously obtained from indigenous poultry. The measurements were taken for a 5-day period during the 12th month of age of the birds when maintained under a high environmental temperature in Uganda.The albumen quality of all four cross-breeds, as measured by Haugh units, was significantly higher than that of the Rhode Island Red breed.All four cross-breeds produced eggs with shells significantly thicker than the Rhode Island Red, only slightly below the generally accepted figure of 0·013 in.The incidence of both blood and meat spots was lower in all four cross-breeds than in the Rhode Island Red, in the case of blood spots significantly lower in one cross-breed and in the case of meat spots significantly lower in three cross-breeds.
Soil changes in ley-arable experiments
Authors: Low A. J. , Piper F. J. , Roberts P. 
Published: March 2009

The effects of four five-course and six four-course rotations on some physical and chemical properties of a sandy loam overlying London Clay are reported.Periods under ley increased the water stability of the air-dry soil aggregates, the resistance of moist soil aggregates to simulated raindrops, the rate of drainage under 60 cm. of water tension as measured in the laboratory, decreased the draw-bar pull during ploughing and the force required to crush air-dry aggregates. These effects increased with the number of years under grass.After 2 years of arable cultivation the effect of a 3-year ley on water-stable aggregation was still apparent whereas the effect of a 2-year ley had largely disappeared, and those of a 1-year ley had completely disappeared.A 2-year ley in a five-course ley-arable rotation was sufficient to maintain the total soil nitrogen at about 0·16%. With one year of ley in a four-course rotation a slow decline in nitrogen was found when the initial level was about 0·21%.The rate of CO2 formation in soils of the arable break was proportional to the number of years they had been under ley; the longer the period the greater the volume of CO2 produced.Evidence is presented that fertilizer nitrogen is used most efficiently by cereals growing in soil in good physical condition. This is usually best following a period under grass.
Effects of potassium fertilizers, age of ewe, and small magnesium supplementation on blood magnesium and calcium levels of lactating ewes
Authors: Hemingway R. G. , Ritchie N. S. , Rutherford A. R. , Jolly G. M. 
Published: March 2009

1. An experiment is described which investigated the effects of potassium fertilizer, age of ewe, and a small magnesium supplement, on the plasma magnesium and calcium levels of ewes shortly after lambing.2. Three potassium treatments (0, 1, and 2 cwt. muriate of potash/acre) were used, each being replicated six times, which gave a total of eighteen plots. Each plot was grazed by two old and two young ewes. One ewe of each age in every plot was given supplementary magnesium in the form of two magnesium heavy pellets, which released a total of 150 mg. Mg/day.3. 22% of the ewes had plasma magnesium values below 1·0 mg. Mg/100 ml. on at least one sampling occasion during the experimental period. There was only one clinical case of tetany.4. Neither potassium fertilizer use, nor magnesium supplementation influenced plasma magnesium and calcium levels of the ewes. Old ewes had greater temporary falls in plasma magnesium values and had consistently lower plasma calcium values.5. Attention is drawn to the large individual variation between animals and the consequent need for providing adequate statistical analysis of experiments of this type.
Results of an experiment at Rothamsted testing farmyard manure and N, P and K fertilizers on five arable crops II. Nutrients removed by crops
Authors: Williams R. J. B. , Cooke G. W. , Widdowson F. V. 
Published: March 2009

1. The amounts of N, P and K recovered by five arable crops and by permanent grass from soil alone, and from fertilizer and farmyard manure (FYM) dressings were measured. All the crops responded well to P and K fertilizers and all except clover responded to N. Uptakes from soil alone are therefore the maximum amounts of each nutrient that each crop could remove when supplied with other fertilizer nutrients (the exchangeable Ca and Mg in the soil were adequate).2. Permanent grass (free from legumes) obtained about 114 lb. N/acre each year from soil and other natural sources; winter wheat obtained 1001b. N, kale and potatoes about 80 lb. N and spring barley only 57 lb. A 1 year ley of clover and grass fixed at least 1 cwt. N/aere/year. Permanent grass removed most P from soil (17 lb./acre a year), potatoes removed least (6 lb. of P) and other crops intermediate amounts. Most K was taken from soil by kale (70 lb. K/acre/year) and least (20 lb.) by potatoes. Annual variations in the amounts of nutrients recovered from soil by any one crop were much greater with K than with N or P.3. Most fertilizer N was recovered by kale and least by potatoes; with these crops two-thirds and one-third respectively of the light dressing was recovered, percentage recovery from the higher rate of N tested was less. Kale and the 1 year ley recovered nearly one-quarter of the P applied, permanent grass recovered little more than one-tenth. Clover-grass ley recovered most fertilizer K, apparently taking up four-fifths of that applied. Potatoes, kale and permanent grass all recovered more than half of the fertilizer K given, cereals were least efficient although both responded well to K dressings.4. Farmyard manure supplied large amounts of nutrients to all crops. Similar amounts of N, P and K appeared to be recovered from FYM whether or not NPK fertilizer was also used. A rough estimate was that crops like kale, potatoes and permanent grass, which received FYM each year, recovered about 30 lb. of N, 4 lb. of P and 75 lb. of K from a 10 tons/acre dressing.
The herbage intake of cattle grazing lucerne and cocksfoot pastures
Authors: Alder F. E. , Minson D. J. 
Published: March 2009

1. From 1955 to 1957 a cattle grazing experiment was carried out on lucerne and cocksfoot pastures. Hereford-cross steers were used. Results obtained on the assessment of herbage intake either by the use of chromic oxide and faecal index methods or by herbage sampling are presented here.2. Except in 1955, when techniques were being developed, the digestibility of the herbage on offer to the bullocks was estimated by cold storing herbage, cut with an Allen Autoscythe and later feeding it to sheep in indoor digestion trials. The in vitro digestibility of herbage samples cut in 1955 and 1956 was also determined.3. In 1956 the mean intake of organic matter (lb.) per 100 lb. live weight by faecal methods was 2·38, 2·07, 2·20 and 2·29 on pastures of lucerne, cocksfoot, lucerne/cocksfoot (broadcast) and lucerne/cocksfoot (alternate 1 ft. drills), respectively, and 1·99, 1·76, 2·02 and 1·97, respectively, in 1957.4. In 1956 the mean intake of organic matter (lb.) per 100 lb. live weight by herbage sampling methods was 2·14, 1·70, 2·11 and 1·99 on the same pastures of lucerne, cocksfoot, lucerne/cocksfoot (broadcast) and lucerne/cocksfoot (drills), respectively, and 2·49, 1·32, 2·35 and 2·03, respectively, in 1957. The modified Tarpen trimmer, cutting to within 1 in. of the ground was used for sampling in 1956 and the Allen Autoscythe cutting to within 2 or 3 in. of ground level in 1957.5. Detailed botanical separation of herbage samples showed that the bullocks were selecting the more digestible parts of the plants; the top 4 in. of lucerne and the ends of leaves and stems of cocksfoot. This and other factors which could affect the estimates of digestibility of herbage eaten by the cattle are discussed together with possible sources of error in the herbage sampling methods.
A comparison of feeding growing pigs once or twice daily
Authors: Braude R. , Townsend M. Jill , Harrington G. , Rowell J. G. 
Published: March 2009

1. A co-ordinated trial has been carried out at 17 centres to compare the effects on performance and carcass quality of feeding growing pigs once or twice daily.2. No significant differences were found between growth rate, efficiency of food conversion or length of pigs on the two treatments.3. Killing out percentage was on average 0·92% worse for the pigs fed once daily, a significant effect, probably because the pigs on the two treatments received different amounts of food at the last feed before slaughter.
Residual value of superphosphate and rock phosphate on an acid soil I. Yields and phosphorus uptakes in the field
Authors: Mattingly G. E. G. , Widdowson F. V. 
Published: March 2009

1. A field experiment on an acid soil long in arable cropping at Rothamsted measured residual effects of superphosphate, applied at several rates, and Gafsa rock phosphate applied at a single rate. Residues were valued after 1 year with barley, and after 2 years with rye-grass. In each year, the value of the residues was related to yields from fresh superphosphate dressings taken as standards. ‘Percentage fresh superphosphate equivalents’ of the residues were determined using yields and P uptakes of both crops. An isotope dilution method with 32P was also used with barley. The experiment was continued for 2 further years without applying phosphate fertilizers, to measure yields and P uptakes from the residues and yields and P uptakes from rock phosphate relative to superphosphate.2. ‘Percentage fresh superphosphate equivalents’ of residues of superphosphate for barley varied with the growth of the crop and with the method used to calculate them. They were 21–24%6 weeks after sowing, measured from yield, P uptake or isotope dilution. At harvest, they were 26% from yield, 43% from P uptake and 49% by isotope dilution. ‘Percentage fresh superphosphate equivalents’ 6 weeks after sowing increased with the rate of superphosphate but at harvest were independent of rate. ‘Percentage superphosphate equivalents’ of Gafsa rock phosphate were much smaller; they increased from 2–3% 6 weeks after sowing to 7–12% at harvest.3. With rye-grass ‘percentage fresh superphosphate equivalents’ of residues of superphosphate applied either 1 or 2 years previously also varied with growth. All methods of valuation showed that residues were about twice as effective after 1 year as after 2 years in the soil. ‘Percentage fresh superphosphate equivalents’ derived from P uptake remained constant during growth and were 37–38% for superphosphate applied 1 year before and 18–20% for superphosphate applied 2 years before. Values derived from rye-grass yields decreased during growth from 76 to 45% (1-year residues) and from 38 to 21% (2-year residues).4. After cropping with barley for 2 more years, there was little difference between yields or P uptakes from equal amounts of superphosphate whether applied 3 or 4 years previously. Residues from rock phosphate were almost equivalent to those from superphosphate after 3–4 years.5. Apparent recoveries of superphosphate, as percentages of the amount applied, decreased with rate. The apparent recovery of P by crops in 5 years was about 21% from superphosphate and about 10% from rock phosphate when both were applied at 3·0 owt. P2O5 per acre.
The effects of single compared with split applications of fertilizer nitrogen on the yield and seasonal production of a pure grass sward
Authors: Castle M. E. , Reid D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn a 2-year experiment conducted on a pure S. 24 perennial ryegrass sward, fertilizer nitrogen in the form of ‘Nitram’ (34·5%) N was applied at rates of 100, 200 and 300 lb/ acre either as single dressings in the spring or as two, three, four or five split dressings at successively later dates in the growing season. Total yields of herbage dry matter and of crude protein, and their distribution over the season, were determined by cutting the herbage five times at intervals of approximately 5 weeks. Yields of herbage dry matter were increased by increasing the nitrogen application rate and by splitting the total amount of fertilizer nitrogen into either three or four equal dressings. The mean crudeprotein content of the herbage dry matter was increased by increasing the nitrogen application rate, but it was reduced by splitting the total amount of fertilizer into several dressings. The nitrate content of the herbage was higher after a single heavy dressing of fertilizer nitrogen than after several split dressings. It is concluded that the optimum application programme for a total rate of 100 lb nitrogen/acre was three split dressings each of 33J lb/acre, and for the 200 and 300 lb nitrogen/acre rate, four split dressings of 50 and 75 lb/acre respectively.
The growth of vining peas: I. The effect of time of sowing
Authors: Milbourn G. M. , Hardwick R. C. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYYield and growth analysis have been applied to the results of an experiment comparing early and late sown peas. Yield analysis showed that in this experiment late sown peas had:(i) fewer podding nodes per main stem,(ii) fewer pods per podding node, and(iii) a slower rate of increase in pod weight.The physiological origins of these differences are discussed.The first component is determined by the stage at which node production is terminated by the death of the apical bud.The second is determined by morphogenetic factors at the apical meristem early in in the life of the plant, when (in the variety DSP) either a single or a double flowered raceme is initiated, and also during the harvesting period when some pods are lost from the lower-most flowering nodes.The differences in the third component, the rate of increase in pod weight, could not be explained by conventional growth analysis. Pod growth rate was not a simple function of leaf area index.It is suggested that the relationship between leaf area and pod growth rate is complicated by the existence of other sources of materials for pod growth such as stored products in the roots and stems, and photosynthesis by the fruit itself.
Comparative studies of perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot as food for the calf
Authors: Alder F. E. , Cooper E. M. 
Published: March 2009

1. Perennial ryegrass (S. 23 and S. 24 sown together) and cocksfoot (S. 37 and S. 143 sown together) were compared in grazing and individual feeding experiments during the summer months of 1960, 1961 and 1962, using spring-born calves.2. Herbage samples indicated that more grass was available to the animals grazing on ryegrass than on cocksfoot in 1961 but no differences were found in 1962. The ad lib. method of feeding should have ensured that quantity did not affect the results in the feeding experiments.
The fleece of the Scottish Blackface sheep III. The relative importance of the fleece components
Authors: Doney J. M. 
Published: March 2009

The relative importance of variation in the components of wool production to variation in wool production itself was estimated by two methods of analysis. About 30% of the attributable variation in total fleece weight was found to be due to variation in surface area and 70% was due to wool production per unit skin area. Between 50 and 60% of the variation amongst sheep in the latter character was found to be due to variation in fibre weight, the rest being attributed to variation in number of fibres per unit area (fibre density). The variation in mean fibre weight was further partitioned into 50 to 70% due to variation in mean cross-sectional area and the remainder to variation in mean fibre length.Variation in wool production per unit skin area was also analysed according to growth period and position on the body. The results are discussed in relation to the partition of variance in wool production of other breeds.