bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of parenterally administered iron upon outdoor-reared piglets
Authors: Walker Elizabeth A. , Taylor J. H. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. An experiment is described in which 194 pairs of piglets on 10 commercial farms were reared out of doors with access to soil, either on free range or in field pens. One piglet from each pair received 200 mg. of iron as a parenterally administered iron dextrin complex. The soil type and the iron content of the soil were determined on each farm.2. During the first 8 weeks of life, the treated piglets showed a small but significant positive growth response of 1–2 lb. (3·0%). The response was greater (2·1 lb.) in piglets reared in field pens, but was non-significant in those reared on free range.3. Differences in blood haemoglobin levels, mortality and the incidence of runt piglets were not significant.4. Total body iron increased during the first 3 weeks of life by a mean of 339 mg., of which approximately 295 mg. appeared to be derived from the soil.
The nutrition of the early-weaned calf VIII. The effect on nitrogen retention of diets containing different levels of fish meal
Authors: Preston T. R. , Whitelaw F. G. , MacLeod N. A. , Philip Euphemia B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. All-concentrate diets containing four different levels of Peruvian (anchovy) fish meal and varying in crude protein content from 14·8% to 21·7% in dry matter were given ad libitum to 8 early-weaned Friesian calves over a live-weight range of 60–100 kg.2. Nitrogen retention was significantly higher on diets containing 21·7% and 19·4% crude protein in dry matter than on diets with 16·8% and 14·8% crude protein. Nitrogen retention as a percentage of dietary intake appeared to be less on the diet with 21·7% crude protein in dry matter than on the other diets.3. From these data it was calculated that the digestible crude protein requirement for a calf of 82 kg. live-weight gaining at 909 g. daily is between 270 and 340 g.
The effect of three suckling regimes on the lactation performance of Cyprus fat-tailed, Chios and Awassi sheep and the growth rate of the lambs
Authors: Lawlor M. J. , Louca A. , Mavrogenis A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYNinety-nine ewes, 33 from each of the Cyprus fat-tailed, Chios and Awassi breeds, were used to compare the effects of three suckling regimes on lactation. These consisted of weaning the lambs at birth (W0), 2 days (W2) and 35 days (W35). The 35-day, 150-day and total milk yields, as well as lactation length, were measured for each group. The lambs weaned from the ewes at birth and 2 days were reared on ewe-milk replacer. The growth rate of these lambs was compared with that of the lambs being suckled by their dams, before and after weaning.In all cases the milk yields of the Chios and Awassi breeds of sheep were significantly higher (P<0·01) than those of the Cyprus fat-tailed. Within each breed the 35-day milk yields of the ewes suckling one lamb were significantly higher (P<0·01) than those of the ewes on the W0 or W2 treatments, which themselves did not differ significantly. While the 150-day milk yields of the W35 treatment were significantly higher than those of the W0 or W2 treatments, the differences between suckling regimes in terms of total milk yield and lactation length were not significant. It is concluded that differences in milk yield obtained on different suckling regimes are attributable solely to the length of time that the lambs are suckled by their dams.Prior to weaning the growth rate of the lambs given the ewe-milk replacer was significantly lower than that of the lambs suckled by their dams. There were no differences in the growth rates of these groups of lambs when both were fattened on a creep feed after weaning.
The effect of low ambient temperatures on the energy metabolism of sows
Authors: Holmes C. W. , McLean N. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The heat production of four sows, approximately 17 months old at the start of the experiment, was measured at five ambient temperatures from 23° to 6°C. Food intake was controlled at different levels for different sows; one sow conceived during the experiment.2. Heat production increased consistently as temperature decreased from 23° to 6°C; the relative effect on heat production of exposure to low temperatures was greater the lower the level of feeding.3. Estimated values for whole body conductance decreased as ambient temperature decreased to minimum values of 73 to 77 kcal/m2. day. °C for three sows and 87 kcal/m2. day.°C for the fourth sow, which had a considerably thinner backfat than the others.4. Estimated values for lower critical temperature varied from 10° to 20°C, with the lower values associated generally with the higher levels of feeding; nevertheless heat production was consistently lower at 23°C than at 18°C.5. Differences in level of feeding were generally associated with differences in live weight, and it was difficult to obtain reliable estimates of metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance and of net efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy above maintenance; however analysis on the basis of live weight0·75 produced values of 92 kcal/kg0·75 per day at 23°C and 106 kcal/kg0·75 per day at 18°C for maintenance and between 67 and 75% for the efficiency of utilization above maintenance.
A note on the effect of the presence of rams upon the amount of luteinizing hormone in the blood of ewes
Authors: Chesworth J. M. , Tait A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe effect of the presence of rams upon the blood LH levels of ewes just at the start of the breeding season has been studied. It was found that there was a large and sudden increase in LH levels of ewes exposed to rams when compared to a control group. There were also small but non-significant effects on the mean date of the start of the breeding season and upon the number of lambs born.
A note on the prediction of carcass composition in beef cattle
Authors: Hinks C. E. , Prescott J. H. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSelected sample joints from the right sides of twelve 18-month-old Friesian steers were used to compare their accuracy in predicting carcass composition. Results indicated that whilst the shin joint proved the more accurate predictor of carcass muscle and bone contents, the loin (ribs 11 to 13) or foreloin (ribs 9 to 10) proved more useful in predicting total carcass composition, provided carcass weight was included as an additional variate.
A note on the reproductive activity of Hampshire and Suffolk ewes outside the breeding season
Authors: Bellinger L. L. , Mendel V. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe present study investigated the intensity of the anoestrous period in 36 Hampshire and Suffolk ewes as influenced by the photoperiod and the presence of the ram. The study began on 4 April and terminated on 11 June. Ewes kept under natural light in the absence of the ram (Group I) exhibited a limited amount of ovarian activity as determined by cervical smear. Ewes kept under natural light, but in the presence of a ram (Group II) showed an increased amount of cycling (P < 0·05) when compared to that in Group I. Two ewes from Group II mated during the so-called anoestrous period and subse-quently lambed. Ten of 12 ewes, subjected to a decreased photoperiod (Group HI), increased ovarian activity within a few days of light reduction. Five ewes in this group lambed.
A note on the effect of bovine somatotrophic hormone on wool production in growing lambs
Authors: Reklewska Barbara 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn two experiments carried out on 36 crossbred growing lambs the effect of purified bovine somatotrophic hormone (STH) on wool production and some qualitative fleece characters was studied. Food intake during and after the hormonal treatment was also examined. STH, injected in a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight in 10- or 15-day intervals to growing lambs from 2 to 100 days of age, increased fleece weight significantly. This increase was accompanied by considerably higher daily food intake both during the hormonal treatment and 15 weeks after cessation of STH injections. No significant effect of STH on qualitative fleece characters was found.
Genetic variation in a line of mice selected to its limit for high body weight
Authors: Al-Murrani W. K. , Roberts R. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA line of mice, at its limit to selection for high body weight did not decline in performance over 11 generations of random mating, neither did it respond when selection was renewed. The experiment tested a method of improving body weight by a scheme which had earlier increased litter size under similar circumstances. The scheme was to derive partially inbred lines from the plateaued line, to select during inbreeding and, finally, to cross the best inbreds. Body weight was not increased, but the study allowed further examination of the residual genetic variance in the line.During inbreeding, the inbred lines became clearly differentiated in body weight, proving that loci controlling body weight had not become fixed. There was also a significant response to selection for a lower body weight during inbreeding. The pattern of results suggested the segregation of recessive genes, detrimental to high body weight but which selection had become inefficient at removing. A genetic model compatible with the results accommodated several such recessives, perhaps as many as 10, each with an effect of about two-thirds of a standard deviation (or some equivalent combination of gene number and effect), and at frequencies of around 0·2. Nevertheless, the total improvement in body weight to be gained by their elimination was only half a gram, or less than 2 %. Thus, substantial genetic effects can occur at individual loci despite trivially low heritabilities and negligible potential gains.
A note on the effects of monensin on the performance and on rumen metabolites of intact male cattle
Authors: Holzer Z. , Ilan D. , Levy D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo groups of 14 intact male weanling beef breed calves were each fed 1·45 kg oat hay daily and concentrates ad libitum, in a 158-day feeding trial. Group ‘a’ received 35 p.p.m. monensin in the concentrate. Group ‘b’ served as a control.Average daily gain was 1·28 and 1·27 kg, dressing percentage was 58·1 and 58·0, daily intake of concentrate was 8·10 and 8·79 kg and conversion ratio of metabolizable energy into live weight was 74·53 and 81·30 MJ/kg for the monensin and the control group respectively. The percentage of acetic acid in rumen liquor was reduced and that of propionic acid increased very markedly. As a result the acetic acid: propionic acid ratio was reduced from 3·2 in the control group to 1·8 in the monensin group. No peculiarity in the response of intact male cattle to monensin was observed.
Estimation of economic values for selection indices
Authors: Melton Bryan E. , Heady Earl O. , Willham Richard L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA procedure to estimate economic values for use in selection indices is developed. A profit function is specified and a production function that links output to the several inputs developed. The profit function is maximized by equating the partial derivatives of the function with respect to each input to zero and simultaneously solving the resulting system of first-order equations for optimal levels of the variables. These variables include economic values for animal traits and levels of exogenous, producer-supplied inputs. The economic values are then used in a selection index. The resulting index value is therefore determined by the average values of the traits, the available inputs and their prices, output price and the specified production function. The procedure has the flexibility, through varying these parameters, to provide index solutions that are tailored to suit individual production conditions. A numerical example is provided.
Response to different rates of energy intake by Gloucester Old Spot and Large White boars and gilts given the same total feed allowance
Authors: Wood J. D. , Lodge G. A. , Lister D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSixty pigs, equal numbers of boars and gilts of the two breeds Large White (LW) and Gloucester Old Spot (GOS), in litter groups of three, were divided equally between an initial slaughter group and two treatment groups; H, given a diet with 149 g/kg crude protein (CP) at a daily level of 0·1 W0·75; and L, given a diet with 193 g/kg CP at a daily level of 0·075 W0·75. The cumulative total amount of feed given to each pig was the same, 175 kg, but H received more energy per day. All pigs received the same CP per day but L received more CP in total. Pigs started on experiment at 12 weeks of age. The treatments differed mainly in their ability to promote fat deposition: H pigs grew faster than L, due mainly to a greater deposition of fat (as measured by the weight of subcutaneous fat produced) rather than lean (as measured by the weight of hind limb lean produced). H pigs had a poorer feed efficiency than L pigs.The breeds were similar in most aspects of production and body composition over both treatments but GOS tended to be slower growing and fatter than LW, with shorter carcasses, thicker backfat, and smaller subcutaneous fat-free hind limbs. Boars were faster growing, leaner and more efficient than gilts, with a higher proportion of bone in the subcutaneous fat-free hind limb and a lower muscle: bone ratio (boars 4·74, gilts 5·28).For several aspects of carcass composition the potential benefits of the lean types (LW and boars) over the fat types (GOS and gilts) were realized on treatment L but not on H. There was a significant breed × treatment interaction for lean content of hind limb: LW had higher values than GOS on L but both breeds were similar on H. Both LW and boars had significantly less subcutaneous fat than GOS and gilts respectively on treatment L but similar amounts on H.
A comparison of four ultrasonic machines (sonatest, scanogram, Ilis Observer and Danscanner) for predicting the body composition of live pigs
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Cuthbertson A. , Owen M. G. , Alliston J. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMeasurements of the m. longissimus and overlying fat at the last rib were taken on the live pig using ultrasonic machines of differing complexity: Sonatest (simple A-mode machine), Scanogram and His Observer (modified linear scanners), and Danscanner (‘real time’ scanner). These measurements were examined as predictors of the corresponding carcass measurements and percentage lean in the carcass.Sonatest and Scanogram were compared using 143 purebred and crossbred pigs of different types. The analysis was pooled within breed-type and sex. The standard deviation for percentage lean was 3·94. Residual standard deviations for predicting percentage lean from live weight and best fat thickness were 2·72 (Sonatest) and 2·56 (Scanogram). Addition of m. longissimus depth (Sonatest) and m. longissimus area (Scanogram) reduced these to 2·69 and 2·29 respectively. The use of two or more fat measurements provided no extra precision over a single fat measurement.Scanogram and His Observer were compared using a subset of 38 pigs. Scanogram was a better predictor of percentage lean using a single fat measurement but when a combination of measurements was used, there was little difference between the machines.Scanogram and Danscanner were compared using a subset of 27 pigs. The standard deviation of percentage lean was 3·57. Residual standard deviations for predicting percentage lean from live weight, best fat depth and m. longissimus area were 2·18 (Scanogram), and 2·03 (Danscanner). Fat areas had similar predictive precision to fat thickness measurements.
The influence of weaning regime on central testing station performance in pigs
Authors: Webb A. J. , King J. W. B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTo investigate possible pre-test environmental effects on testing station performance, pigs from a total of 107 litters from two breed types were weaned on one of three treatments: weaning at 3, 5 or 8 weeks of age, with a different creep-feeding regime on each. At 8 to 10 weeks of age, litter groups (usually consisting of two boars, one male castrate and one gilt) were sent to a Meat and Livestock Commission testing station and performance-tested from 27 to 85 kg live weight on twice daily to-appetite feeding.Weaning treatment significantly affected live weight at 50 days and boar growth rate and feed efficiency on test, but carcass traits were largely unaffected. Boars weaned on the 8-week treatment showed a significant advantage in index score of two-thirds of a standard deviation over those weaned at 3 weeks. A smaller number on the 5-week treatment were intermediate but did not differ significantly from those on the other two. It is concluded that wide variation in the weaning methods of herds sending pigs to a testing station could affect selection decisions. Ways of removing any bias by standardizing weaning methods or by statistical adjustment are discussed.
The effect of plane of nutrition in early lactation on the performance of beef cows
Authors: Lowman B. G. , Edwards R. A. , Somerville S. H. , Jolly G. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty-one mature autumn-calving Blue Grey cows were divided into three groups for a 3-year change-over experiment, and each group was allocated to one of three planes of nutrition for the first 150 days of lactation during each year. Milk yields were recorded by machine milking twice daily. The three planes of nutrition corresponded to 1·63, 1·21 and 0·89 of the cow's maintenance allowance 12 h post partum. Increasing the plane of nutrition significantly (P<0·05) increased 150-day cumulative milk yield, but had no significant effect on milk composition. The extent of live-weight loss decreased significantly (P<0·001) as plane of nutrition increased and was reflected in cows maintaining better condition, measured as condition score, through the experimental period.The small 150-day cumulative milk yield response (32·8 kg per additional 10 MJ metabolizable energy and 62 g digestible crude protein/day) demonstrated the limitation of feeding beef cows for increased milk production in comparison with feeding the calf directly. However, the possible relationship between plane of nutrition, live-weight loss and fertility suggests an important limitation of under-feeding cows during the mating period. Within the constraints imposed, the medium treatment (64 MJ metabolizable energy and 516 g digestible crude protein/day) resulted in levels of cow performance similar to those currently recorded in commercial units. One of the major constraints in the present investigation was the high level of body reserves available in the cows at the start of lactation.
Effects of exposure to a hot environment on Friesian and Brahman × Friesian cattle, with some measurements of the effects of exposure to radiant heat
Authors: Holmes C. W. , King C. T. , Sauwa P. E. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Eight calves of each of two breed types, Friesian (Fr) and Brahman × Friesian (FB), were fed ad libitum on one of two diets; the digestibility of the dry matter of the diets was 72% and 63%. Eight calves were kept at 34°C and eight at 17°C. In a second experiment six of the calves previously exposed to 34°C were subjected to daily exposures to a radiant heat load at 32°C air temperature, while fed on the diet of lower digestibility.2. Rectal temperatures and respiratory rates were higher, and food intakes and growth rates were lower, at 34°C than at 17°C. However there was only a small difference in growth rate between the two temperatures after the effect of temperature on food intake had been removed by regression.3. At 34°C FB calves had lower rectal temperatures and respiratory rates than Fr calves, and when fed on the diet of higher digestibility FB calves ate more and grew faster than Fr calves at both temperatures; however there were only small corresponding differences between the breed types for calves fed on the diet of lower digestibility at both temperatures.4. At 34°C FB calves had lighter (weight) hair coats than Fr calves and FB calves had lighter coats at 34°C than at 17°C; the latter difference was not apparent for Fr calves. Nevertheless, neither rectal temperature nor respiratory rate was significantly affected for either breed by removal of the hair coat at 34°C.5. In the second experiment the rectal temperatures of FB calves increased by smaller amounts during exposure to radiant heat than was the case for Fr calves; FB calves had faster sweating rates than Fr calves during these exposures.
A comparison of incomplete nursing in the sow in two environments
Authors: Whatson T. S. , Bertram J. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Many apparently normal nursings occur in the absence of milk ejection, but little is known about their frequency or causes. The present paper reports an observational study in which the incidence of these incomplete nursings was studied in detail.2. Nine lactating sows were studied throughout a 5-week lactation in each of two environments. One was a normal commercial farrowing house, and the other a cubicle in which the sow and litter were effectively alone. Extended (3 h) observations were made on each litter at various ages.3. Twenty-seven per cent of all nursings were found to be incomplete with little difference between the grouped and alone sows. Incomplete nursings often occurred within 40 min of a complete nursing and increased the interval between successive complete nursings. They also occurred most frequently during the 2nd and 3rd weeks post partum.4. Irrespective of the housing condition the sows initiated the same proportion of all nursings and a similar percentage of these were incomplete.5. Incomplete nursings appear not to be an artefact caused by crowding many lactating sows together, but they may reflect some form of discomfort of the sow. The problem of real and apparent nursing intervals is discussed.
Relationships among uterine and placental factors in prolific ewes and their relevance to variations in foetal weight
Authors: Rhind S. M. , Robinson J. J. , McDonald I. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTObservations were made on the distribution of ovulations between the two ovaries, the distribution of foetuses between the two uterine horns, the total numbers of cotyledonary burrs, and the weights and numbers of foetal cotyledons for each foetus in 80 Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes killed between 50 and 145 days of gestation. While ovulations were randomly distributed between right and left ovaries, viable foetuses were more evenly distributed between right and left uterine horns. Migration of embryos between the horns contributed to this relative balance but early foetal mortality, which increased with ovulation rate, tended to upset it. The mean number of foetal cotyledons per foetus depended on litter size and distribution, and at any fixed litter size was substantially reduced in those ewes with six or more ovulations. Foetal weights were also relatively low in these ewes. The total weight of cotyledons per foetus decreased by about 12% for each increase of one in number of foetuses, as compared with a 20% decrease in number of cotyledons but only a 7 to 11 % decrease in the weight of the individual foetuses. Comparisons between foetuses within the same litter led to similar trends in the ratios of cotyledon numbers, cotyledon weights and foetal weights. It is suggested that the presence of some very small lambs in large litters should not be attributed to maternal under-nutrition in late pregnancy.