bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of adding a compound feed to herbage, at the time of ensiling, on intake and milk yield
Authors: Wilman D. , Williams S. P. , Brigstocke T. D. A. , Baker D. H. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe idea that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage can result in adequate preservation of the crop without the need for an acid additive, and that less compound feed would then need to be given when the silage is subsequently fed, was tested with dairy cows. Two diets were compared: (1) a conventional grass silage, to which acid had been added at the time of ensiling, plus concentrates supplied at the time of feeding, and (2) grass silage, to which a compound feed had been added at the time of ensiling, plus a lower rate of concentrates. Each diet was fed to 12 lactating cows for 82 days.The total intake of dry matter was 17·3 kg per cow per day on diet 1 and 18·3 kg on diet 2. Daily milk yields per cow were 24·5 and 26·1 kg, respectively, with similar milk composition. The estimated diet costs per kg of milk were 9·3 p on (1) and 8·3 p on (2). It is concluded that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage is worth considering on dairy farms as an alternative to conventional grass silage, but that a more comprehensive study is needed.
Feeding behaviour, feed intake, chemical and botanical composition of the diet of indigenous goats raised on natural vegetation in a semi-arid region of Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyamangara M. E. , Ndlovu L. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe feeding behaviour of indigenous goats grazing on natural vegetation in a semi-arid region of Zimbabwe was studied over five seasons covering a period of one year (March 1989 to March 1990). The goats were randomly allocated to two groups, A and B, which grazed for 8 h (08.00–16.00 h) and 5 h (11.00–16.00 h) daily, respectively. These grazing times were based on the current practices of smallholder farmers. The botanical and chemical composition of the diet was determined by analysing samples collected from oesophageal fistulated goats. Daily feed intake was estimated by the total faecal collection method. Feed selection varied markedly with season and was similar in both groups. From January to March (wet season) grass formed 55–70% of the forage consumed, while from May to early November (dry period) browse, herbs and fruits formed 77–91% of the diet. Dietary crude protein levels ranged from 128 to 157 g/kg over the seasons. Neutral detergent fibre content ranged from 590 to 790 g/kg, and was highest in wet months and lowest in dry months. Feed intake ranged from 33 to 60 g/kg BW0·75 or 16–28 g/kg of body weight. It appeared that a feeding duration of 5 h per day was adequate for maintenance but insufficient for optimum production.
Effects of single and repeated applications of chlormequat on early crop development, lodging resistance and yield of winter oats
Authors: Leitch M. H. , Hayes J. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of single and repeated early applications of chlormequat (at up to and including Zadoks growth stage (GS) 32) on the growth and development of the winter oat cultivar Bulwark were investigated in two seasons of field experiments at Tenby, UK. Early dry matter production, shoot initiation and subsequent shoot survival were unaffected by all treatments. At maturity, reductions in stem length and lodging were best achieved by chlormequat applied at GS 32; this treatment shortened stems by an average of 24% in 1985/86 and 31% in 1986/87. Earlier applications were significantly less effective.Grain yields were unaffected by single and repeated early applications of chlormequat. However, in both seasons, yields were significantly reduced by repeated treatments with chlormequat, including application at GS 32. Individual grain weight was the yield component principally affected.
Effect of rates and methods of urea-N application and presubmergence periods on ammonia volatilization losses from rice fields in a sodic soil
Authors: Kumar D. , Swarup A. , Kumar V. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn a field experiment with transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) during the wet season of 1990 at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India, the effects of four rates of N application (0, 80, 120 and 160 kg N/ha), two methods of urea application (before puddling, M,, and after puddling, M2) and two presubmergence periods (none, S0, and 1 week, S1,) were evaluated on ammonia volatilization losses in a sodic soil (pH 9·0, exchangeable sodium 29%). Cumulative ammonia volatilization losses were 1·43, 18·00, 22·54 and 28·29 kg/ha following applications of 0, 80, 120 and 160 kg N/a respectively; 17·08 and 18·01 kg/ha for treatments M1, and M2 respectively; and 18·63 and 16·34 kg/ha for treatments S0 and S1 respectively. Flood-water NH4+ and pH increased during days 1–4 and then there was a sharp decline on days 4–9, followed by a gradual decline. The highest flood-water NH4+ and pH values were found for the treatments which received urea at the rate of 160 kg N/ha, after puddling (M2) and with no presubmergence period (S0).
Effect of incorporating rolled barley in autumn-cut ryegrass silage on effluent production, silage fermentation and cattle performance
Authors: Jones D. I. H. , Jones R. , Moseley G. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYDirect-cut silage was made in mid-October 1985 from established swards of predominantly hybrid ryegrass (Lolium perenne x Lolium multiflorum). The crop contained 161 g dry matter/kg and 94 g soluble carbohydrate/kg and was ensiled in bunker silos with (i) no additive (control), (ii), formic acid (5 litres/t) or (iii) addition of 45 kg rolled barley per tonne of grass in silo.The inclusion of barley reduced effluent production to 27 litres/t of ensiled grass compared with 51 litres for the control and 60 litres for the formic acid treatment. Losses of DM in effluent were small but total in-silo DM loss was reduced from 25 % for the control to 11% by formic acid and to 13% by inclusion of barley.DM content of the silage containing barley was 30 g/kg higher than that of the other silages. Silage treated with formic acid contained least ammonia-N, 6% of the total N, compared with 9% in the barley-added silage and 11% in the control. In vivo assessment in sheep gave metabolizable energy values of 98, 10·9 and 11middot;2 MJ/kg for the control, formic and barley silages, respectively; N retention was higher in the formic acid and barley-added silages.The silages were fed ad libitum to beef cattle for 8 weeks, with a daily feed supplement to the control and formic acid groups to equate barley intakes. Silage DM intake was higher for the barley silage, daily live weight gain per animal was similar for the barley-added and formic acid silages (c. 1 kg), both being higher than the control (0·8 kg).It was concluded that barley inclusion achieved similar improvements in silage quality, in-silo losses and cattle performance to formic acid treatment but with the additional benefit of markedly reducing effluent production.
Seed yield and yield stability of determinate and indeterminate autumn-sown white lupins (Lupinus albus) grown at different locations in France and the UK
Authors: Julier B. , Huyghe C. , Papineau J. , Milford G. F. J. , Day J. M. , Billot C. , Mangin P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe seed yields and maturity dates of an indeterminate cultivar (Lunoble) and a determinate line (CH304/70) of Lupinus albus L. were measured at three locations in France (Lusignan, Dijon and Gotheron) and at Rothamsted, UK, in 1989/90 and 1990/91. Different combinations of sowing dates, plant densities and irrigation treatments were tested at some sites.Averaged over all sites, CH304/70 yielded more than Lunoble (3·26 v. 2·98 t/ha) but there were significant genotype × location interactions for yield and date of maturity. Both genotypes gave similar yields at the three locations in France (3·13 and 3·06 t/ha, respectively). But under the cool and wet conditions at Rothamsted, CH304/70 yielded 4·26 t/ha compared with only 202 t/ha for Lunoble. Yields of CH304/70 were more stable than those of Lunoble across locations and years; the coefficients of variation about the overall means were 14 and 22%, respectively. CH304/70 ripened up to 16 days sooner than Lunoble in France, and 6 weeks earlier than Lunoble in the cooler conditions of the UK.In wet growing conditions (Lusignan 1989/90, Rothamsted 1990/91) Lunoble had increased vegetative growth which decreased the proportion of yield produced by mainstem pods and correspondingly increased the proportion borne on second-order branches. This continued branching also delayed harvest, especially in the UK where the crop was not harvestable until early November. In these conditions, CH304/70 outyielded Lunoble at Lusignan (3·4 v. 2·7 t/ha) and at Rothamsted (4·3 v. 2·0 t/ha) and was harvested acceptably early in mid-September. However, under warm, dry conditions, Lunoble produced only one order of branches at Gotheron and two orders at Lusignan in 1990/91. At Gotheron, both genotypes matured at the same time but CH304/70 yielded slightly better (3·1 v. 2·8 t/ha) because it produced a higher proportion of its yield on the mainstem, whereas at Lusignan, Lunoble yielded better than CH304/70 (4·1 v. 3·4 t/ha) because of extra yield from pods on second-order branches.CH304/70 produced seeds of larger mean size and had greater stability of seed size across years and locations than Lunoble did. This was apparently the result of CH304/70's determinate structure, in which c. 75–100% of the yield was from pods on the mainstem and first-order branches, whose seeds were larger and less variable in size than those from pods on higher-order branches of indeterminates.The development of autumn-sown genotypes with a determinate structure that combine adequate yield and early harvest under cool conditions offers the prospect of extending the geographical range of lupins, grown for grain, both to the cool regions of northern Europe and to hotter and drier regions in southern Europe where summer drought limits the yield of conventional indeterminate types.
Growth, milk intake and behaviour of artificially reared sambar deer (Cervus unicolor)and red deer(Cervus elaphus) fawns
Authors: Semiadi G. , Barry T. N. , Muir P. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSambar deer (n = 8) and red deer (n = 8) fawns were successfully artificially reared to 70 days of age, using ewe milk replacer, at Flock House Agricultural Centre, New Zealand, during 1991. Sambar deer fawns had a lower overall milk consumption than red deer fawns (312 v. 359 g DM/day; P < 0·05), and showed an earlier peak in milk consumption, a faster rate of decline and earlier self weaning. Birth weight as a proportion of dam liveweight was lower for sambar than for red deer, but liveweight gains to weaning (347 v. 330 g/day) and 70 day weaning weights (300 v. 30·4 kg) were similar. The age at which deer commenced a range of activities, including eating forage and ruminating, was similar for both species, except that jumping activities commenced 5 days later in sambar than in red deer (P < 0·01). Following milk feeding, sambar fawns were less active than red deer fawns. It was concluded that sambar deer fawns can be successfully artificially reared using ewe milk replacer, but that extra precautions are needed to avoid scouring and abomasal bloat, which were more prevalent in sambar than in red deer fawns.
Evaluation of the nutritive value of jackseed (Artocarpus heterophyllus) meal for poultry
Authors: Ravindran V. , Ravindran G. , Sivakanesan R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe starchy seeds of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllusLam.) contain 124 g crude protein and 740 g total carbohydrates per kg. The possible replacement value of jackseed meal (JSM) for maize in chick diets was evaluated in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka between 1986 and 1989. In Expt 1, the inclusion of 125 and 250 g raw JSM/kg diet severely depressed growth performance and increased mortality in chicks. Organ weights, relative to body weight, were also affected in chicks fed on diets containing 250 g raw JSM/kg diet. Subsequent analyses revealed lectins and trypsin inhibitors to be responsible for the toxic effects of raw JSM. Processing of JSM by moist-heat treatment completely destroyed these antinutritional factors. This was demonstrated by the results of Expt 2, where the feeding value of processed JSM was found to be comparable to that of maize up to 250 g/kg diet. Moist-heat treatment also improved thein vitroprotein digestibility (56·7v.84·2%) and apparent metabolizable energy (8·97v.13·72 MJ/kg) values of JSM. In Expt 3, the inclusion of 500 g processed JSM/kg diet resulted in reduced broiler performance and lowered the apparent dry matter digestibility and apparent energy utilization of the diets. The non-starch polysaccharide component of the JSM may have been responsible for these negative effects.
The effect of concentrate composition and method of silage feeding on intake and performance of lactating dairy cows
Authors: Phipps R. H. , Sutton J. D. , Weller R. F. , Bines J. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryNinety-nine lactating British Friesian cows, in their second and subsequent lactations, were divided into two groups receiving ad libitum grass silage. The cows in group A were offered silage individually through Calan Broadbent gates while those in group B were given 24 h/day access to a self-feed silage clamp. The crude protein (CP), acid-detergent fibre (ADF), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), in vitro digestible organic matter and estimated metabolizable energy (ME) values in the D.M. of the silage were 140, 373, 584, 610g/kg D.M. and 9·7 MJ/kg D.M. respectively. The cows in each group received either 11kg/day fresh weight of concentrate S in which the principal energy source was cereal starch or 9 kg/day fresh weight of concentrate F containing mixed high quality fibre sources plus 2 kg/day fresh weight of concentrate S. The CP, ADF, NDF, starch and sugar concentrations in concentrates S and F were 203, 71, 204, 444, and 44 and 202, 147, 329, 116 and 149g/kg D.M., respectively.The only significant difference produced by method of silage allocation was that groupfed cows gained more live weight (P < 0·01) than those fed individually.Over the whole experimental period the mean silage D.M. intake of cows fed concentrate F in group A was 0–5 kg/day higher than those fed concentrate S. However, in early lactation the benefit to silage intake in favour of concentrate F was 1 kg D.M./day.In group A estimated intakes derived from calculated ME inputs and outputs were markedly lower than the observed intakes, but were similar to correspondingly derived estimates for group B.Although concentrate type did not affect milk yield, concentrate F was associated with a higher fat concentration and yield (P &lt;0–05) but a lower protein concentration (P &lt; 0·001) and a slightly lower yield.The in vivo digestibility coefficients for D.M. and organic matter determined in lactating dairy cows given concentrates S and F respectively were similar (0·724 v. 0·716 and 0·749 v. 0·742) but that for ADF was significantly (P < 0·001) higher (0·565 v. 0·673) in the ration containing concentrate F than in that containing concentrate S.Estimates of the mean efficiency of utilization of the production ME made on a weekly basis were unaffected by concentrate type.
Effects of harvesting programme and sowing date on leaf growth in forage barley in Cyprus
Authors: Wilman D. , Droushiotis D. N. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryAll combinations of four harvesting treatments and two sowing dates were compared in each of 2 years in field experiments near Nicosia. In one of the years, two levels of applied nitrogen were compared. The harvesting treatments were: (1) a milk-stage cut, (2) a boot-stage cut and a regrowth cut, (3) a grazing-stage cut and a regrowth cut, and (4) three grazing-stage cuts and a regrowth cut. The sowing dates were (1) normal (12 November) and (2) early (15 October), with sufficient irrigation to ensure establishment.Applied nitrogen had virtually no effect on leaf growth, evidently because of high reserves of available nitrogen in the soil. Early sowing increased the rates of leaf emergence, extension and expansion up to the time of the first ‘grazing’ cut (when the first node was showing) and reduced the number of leaves which died in that period. Where growth was uninterrupted to the milk stage, early sowing did not affect the number of leaves produced by a main stem or primary tiller, but increased the longevity of the later leaves. Where there were three ‘grazing’ cuts, early sowing allowed time for the production of more and larger leaf blades, with longer sheaths, between the third 'grazing’ cut and the final harvest.The ‘grazing’ cuts considerably reduced the rates of extension and expansion and the final size of the leaves which emerged soon after a cut. There was good recovery subsequently, however, in rates of extension and expansion and final leaf size, particularly with October sowing.During almost all the period of leaf production on a main stem or primary tiller, several leaves (up to six) were expanding at the same time. The stage, during the period between emergence and death, at which a leaf blade reached its full length was typically half-way between emergence and death. Where growth was uninterrupted, area per leaf blade was positively correlated with both the number of days between the emergence of successive leaves and the number of days between emergence and death.
Post-weaning growth performance, carcass characteristics and preliminary heritability estimates for some carcass traits of two types of Sudan Desert sheep on intensive feeding
Authors: Karim A. I. A. El , Owen J. B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwenty-five male Shugor, 25 female Shugor, 25 male Watish and 25 female Watish lambs, individually fed for 57 days, were used to study post-weaning growth performance and carcass composition of these breed types when subjected to a period of intensive feeding.Means and standard error of means of daily gain on experiment were 191·0±5·81, 166·0±5·81, 150·0±5·81 and 134·0±5·81 g for Shugor males, Watish males, Shugor females and Watish females, respectively. The means and S.E. for feed conversion ratio (FCR) were 5·79±0·190, 7·30±0·190, 7·47±0·190 and 8·00±0·190 in the same order. Shugor and male lambs had better gain (P < 0·001) and FCR (P < 0·01)than Watish and female lambs respectively.Shugor had heavier slaughter weight and cold carcass weight than Watish (P < 0·01). Males were superior to females in slaughter weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage (P < 0·01). No difference was detected in lean, fat or bone percentage between breed type or sex (P < 0·05). Males had larger muscle area (P < 0·001) than females. On the other hand, females had more percentage kidney knob and channel fat (P < 0·001) and thicker fat depth (P <0·01) than males. Shugor were superior (P < 0·01) in fat depth to Watish.Percentage non-carcass components showed that females had more percentage omental and mesenteric fat (P < 0·001) and percentage full stomach (P < 0·01). Breed type and sex showed significant effect (P < 0·001) on percentage liver.In linear measurements, Shugor had greater carcass length and femur length (P < 0·01). Males had bigger circumference of buttocks and chest depth (P < 0·001).For carcass joints as a percentage of side weight, the only clear effect of breed type was on percentage loin (P < 0·05). Males had bigger percentage middle neck (P < 0·001) and shoulder and percentage scrag (P < 0·01) than females, whereas females had higher percentage loin and chump.Heritability estimates of some carcass traits, admittedly based on limited numbers, ranged from 0·32 (S.E. 0·183) for leg to 0·18 (S.E. 0·180) for loin weights. Linear carcass measurements showed low heritability of around 0·10 (S.E. 0·160).
Testing the tuber deformation resistance of tetraploid and dihaploid potatoes
Authors: De Maine M. J. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryDihaploids obtained from two tetraploids showed variation in tuber deformation resistance using a pendulum test and there were significant differences between them when used as parents in 2x × 4x crosses. Their ranking by tetraploid progeny means was the same as by clonal performance.However, whereas the pendulum test was useful for the rapid measurement of rheological properties of tubers, there was found to be no correlation of control cultivar rankings using this test with those obtained using the squeezing test or farm survey data.
Assessments of the resistance of potato cultivars and breeder's clones to external mechanical damage
Authors: Maine M. J. De , Caligari P. D. S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwenty potato cultivars and breeder's clones were subjected to tests of external damage susceptibility at two sites. At one site tubers were, as in usual agricultural practice, lifted by mechanical harvester, and damage indices were subsequently assigned to each clone. At the other site tubers were harvested by hand on two dates. Drop tests were carried out on this material after 1 week in store and also, in the case of the laterdug (maincrop) material, after 3 months.Ranks based on damage indices were approximately as expected from previous cultivar assessments carried out by other workers. The mean drop test scores showed varying degrees of rank correlation with the damage indices. The highest correlation was with ranks obtained from the drop test on early-harvested material. It was concluded that this was because damage had been inflicted in both cases before skin curing had occurred.
Chick rearing X. Roughage and protein as dietary factors influencing coccidiosis in chicks, with notes on the limitation of sulphamezathine in the control of coccidiosis
Authors: Barton Mann T. 
Published: March 2009

Caecal coccidiosis of rather more than usual severity has been found to develop in chicks folded on a stemmy type perennial rye grass pasture at Hanns Hall Farm this season.Subsequent brooder house experiments have demonstrated that chicks receiving a diet relatively low in protein and fibre content and relatively high in starch content, as cereals, failed to develop coccidiosis when subjected to severe infestation by coccidial oocysts, while the chicks in the same brooder house on a diet containing more roughage developed acute coccidiosis, and other chicks in the same brooder house on a diet containing a relatively high proportion of protein developed chronic coccidiosis.As these experiments have shown that coccidiosis occurs on diets designed to promote proliferation of anaerobic bacteria in the intestines, and, conversely, does not occur when chicks are fed a diet designed to depress the proliferation of undesirable bacteria in the intestines, it would appear that coccidiosis in chicks is a secondary complaint, the primary aetiological agents being bacteria which proliferate to excess in the presence of roughage or protein.Attention is drawn to the occurrence of postcoccidial abscesses which may occur after apparent successful treatment with Sulphamezathine for the cure of coccidiosis.