bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of factors affecting superovulatory responses in ruminants
Authors: Woolliams J. A. , Luo Z. W. , Villanueva B. , Waddington D. , Broadbent P. J. , McKelvey W. A. C. , Robinson J. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYData on ovulation rate and numbers of ova and transferable embryos recovered from superovulated cattle and sheep were analysed using generalized linear models, quasi-likelihood, restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMS). The data pertained to the operation of nucleus breeding schemes in cattle and the commercial application of embryo transfer in sheep.Results of the analyses showed that generalized linear models involving Poisson and Binomial distributions were inappropriate because of over-dispersion, and that analyses using quasi-likelihood to model negative binomial and β-binomial distributions were more suitable. Factors identified as important in determining the results in cattle were the number of previous superovulations (a higher proportion of transferable embryos were obtained in the initial flush compared to subsequent recoveries in two out of three sets of data), the donor (significant in all analyses with repeated recoveries) and its mate (significant in some analyses). In sheep, the use of pFSH or hMG for superovulation increased embryo yields above those obtained with PMSG + GnRH. Analyses of a further data set for sheep showed the effect of breed was ambiguous.The effects of donors and their mates were treated as random effects in analyses involving REML and GLMMS. Results showed that the repeatability of the number of transferable embryos produced per donor ranged between 0·13 and 0·23 in three sets of data and was significant in all cases. In these analyses the variance among mates was not significantly different from zero.The results of analyses were used to develop a random generator to simulate the numbers of ova and embryos recovered from a cow following superovulation. By sampling from negative binomial distributions where the scale factor used for each cow was a normally distributed deviate, distributions were obtained which had the same mean, variance and repeatability as those observed.
Ratios of plant to soil concentrations of strontium-85 and their relation to exchangeable bases for soils and crops of Greece
Authors: Papanicolaou E. P. , Apostolakis C. G. , Skarlou V. , Nobeli C. , Kritidis P. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe relationship between values of 85Sr concentration ratios (CRs) and exchangeable bases, expressed in absolute (mmol/kg) or relative (percentage of cation exchange capacity (CEC)) terms, was considered using the results of a glasshouse pot experiment conducted in 1989, for soils and crops of Greece. Exchangeable calcium, expressed in mmol/kg, presented, in most instances, a significant (P = 0·05–0·01) or highly significant (P < 0·01) negative correlation with the CRs of various crops or plant parts, while exchangeable calcium plus magnesium or total exchangeable bases (expressed also in mmol/kg) showed an even better correlation (higher values of r, lower variability). Expression of the amounts of exchangeable bases in relative terms further improved the correlation coefficient in each comparison. The correlations between the percentage of exchangeable (Ca + Mg) or exchangeable bases and CRs, which were always negative, were significant or highly significant for all tested crops or plant parts. The correlation between CRs and soil properties was greatest for exchangeable (Ca + Mg) expressed as a percentage of CEC (r = -0·92) and followed the order: Exchangeable (Ca + Mg) as % of CEC ≈ exchangeable bases as % of CEC ≈ exchangeable (Ca + Mg) in mmol/kg ≈ exchangeable bases in mmol/kg > exchangeable Ca as % of CEC > exchangeable Ca in mmol/kg.Quantitative relationships between CRs of the tested crops or plant parts and exchangeable calcium plus magnesium (% of CEC) of soils are also presented.
Effects of pre-mating undernutrition on oestrus, ovulation and prenatal mortality in Merino ewes
Authors: Mackenzie A. J. , Edey T. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYOestrus, ovulation rate and prenatal mortality were studied in 114 mature Merino ewes of high and low body weight at mating. Three nutritional treatments were imposed over 8 weeks prior to hand mating to fertile rams; high plane (HH), low plane (LL) and 7 weeks of high plane followed by 1 week of fasting immediately prior to mating (HL). Ovarian activity, ovulation rate and the extent and timing of prenatal loss were assessed by the appropriate use of direct ovarian observations, pregnancy diagnosis, returns to service and lambing records.While both prolonged undernutrition (LL) and acute nutritional restriction (HL) were associated with some suppression of behavioural oestrus, neither had any appreciable effect on ovulation rate or prenatal mortality. In all groups the right ovary was more active in producing ova than the left, and the HH group had more ovarian follicles (≥ 4 mm diameter) than the other two groups. Large unruptured ovarian follicles (6—15 mm diameter) were observed in nine ewes. Significantly more ova shed in multiple ovulations were lost, and multiple-ovulating ewes were more likely to suffer complete rather than partial loss of both embryos. Impaired fertility was evident when ewes that returned to service at an extended cycle length were re-mated.
Voluntary feed intake by sheep and digestibility of shadedStenotaphrum secundatumandPennisetum clandestinumherbage
Authors: Samarakoon S. P. , Shelton H. M. , Wilson J. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of shade (50% of ambient light transmission) on the quality of established swards of buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) were examined at Wollongbar Research Station, northern New South Wales. Sarlon cloth was used to shade plots of the two species, after cutting to 8 cm, from November 1985 to March 1986. Herbage was harvested from shaded and adjacent unshaded plots for chemical analyses and for feeding as dry chaff to penned sheep at the University of Queensland research farm at Mt Cotton.Shade markedly decreased the voluntary feed intake (VI) ofP. dandestinumby 30·7% over the two harvests while VI ofS. secundatumwas not significantly affected. Shade had no effect on thein vitroandin vivodigestibility ofP. clandestinumherbage but marginally increased that ofS. secundatum. These shade effects resulted in a 14·2% increase forS. secundatumand a 34% decrease forP. clandestinumin the intake of digestible dry matter of shaded compared with unshaded herbage.The reduced VI of the shade-grown herbage ofP. clandestinumwas associated with a higher proportion of stem (21v. 8% for unshaded herbage), a lower proportion of leaf (48v. 54%), and a lower concentration of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) (0.9v. 2.1%). InS. secundatum, there were similar, but smaller, changes in proportion of stem and TNC percentage in shade-grown herbage but, in contrast toP. clandestinum, these potential detriments to VI were offset by an increase in proportion of leaf and a decrease in the proportion of dead material. Average moisture content of shaded herbage (76%) was higher than that of unshaded herbage (70%). Nitrogen and potassium concentrations in plant tissue were higher in the shaded herbage.The higher yielding capacity and maintenance of nutritive quality of shadedS. secundatumcompared with shadedP. clandestinumindicates the potential usefulness ofS. secundatumfor plantation agriculture.
Efficiency of urea-based fertilizers for wetland rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Mahapatra P. , Panda D. , Mohanty S. K. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYField experiments were conducted in two wet and two dry seasons in 1984–86 to evaluate efficiencies of different urea-based fertilizers, and methods of application, for irrigated rice. Response to applied N was significant in all seasons. In the wet season, use of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) green manure and urea (Dh + U), reduced zone placement of urea supergranules (USG), surface application of laccoated urea (LCU) and prilled urea in three split doses (PU-split) gave similar results, and all were better than basal broadcast application of urea coated with neem (Azadirachta indica) cake (NCU) or prilled urea (PU-basal). In the dry season, USG was significantly superior to PU-basal, NCU and (Dh + U). Nitrogen uptake by rice was greatest 15–30 days after transplanting (DAT), followed by a second peak during the reproductive phase of the crop. Ammonium-N in the soil decreased sharply up to 30 DAT, more slowly up to 60 DAT and then increased slightly. Ammonium-N in the soil was higher with USG, (Dh + U) and PU split than with other treatments, especially in uncropped conditions.
Effects of autumn sowing dates on growth and yield of indeterminate and determinate field beans (Vicia faba)
Authors: Pilbeam C. J. , Hebblethwaite P. D. , Ricketts H. E. , Hassan O. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYDeterminate forms of field bean (Vicia faba L.), because of their altered growth habit, may differ in phenology from indeterminate cultivars and so their responses to environmental conditions may necessitate different optimum sowing dates. This was studied in autumn-sown field beans at the University of Nottingham at Sutton Bonington by standard growth analysis techniques, final yield components and monitoring of crop growth stages in an indeterminate cultivar, Bourdon, and two determinate populations, 858 and 796 (provided by Plant Breeding International, Cambridge), in three consecutive seasons beginning in 1985/86.Bourdon yielded significantly more (2·4 t/ha, on average) than the determinate selections as a result of more pod-bearing nodes per stem and seeds per pod and a greater individual seed weight. There was, however, no correlation between seed yield and canopy size, either in total or during pod filling. Determinacy, contrary to expectation, did not increase harvest index. In fact, the reproductive stems of Bourdon had higher harvest indices than those of 858. The yield disadvantage of determinates was therefore exacerbated by the existence of reproductive stems, which, by prolonging the maturation phase, may also detract from a further potential benefit of the determinate habit, namely an increase in yield stability.There seemed to be no cultivar differences in the temperature requirement for the initiation of developmental processes. An average accumulation of 1239 °C days was required from sowing to flowering. Differences between this and other work in the calculated base temperature for flowering were cautiously explained by the lack of data distinguishing day and night temperature in this experiment and by the use of autumn-sown rather than spring-sown cultivars. It is also suggested that photoperiod may be important in initiating flowering.Both determinate and indeterminate forms gave the greatest seed yields from the earliest sowing dates.
Land evaluation modelling to assess the effects of climate change on winter wheat potential in England and Wales
Authors: Brignall A. P. , Rounsevel M. D. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of climate change on crop suitability in England and Wales were estimatedby systematically adjusting agroclimatic data inputs to a land evaluation model. Mean temperature risesof 1 and 2°C increased drought risk and reduced the length of time whe soil was at field capacity over-winter by raising potential evapotranspiration. In eastern England, this change had a detrimental effect on the potential for cultivating winter wheat because of drought stress. In northern and western England and Wales, drier conditions promoted greater opportunities for soil tillage, especially when temperature rises wereassociated with decreased precipitation. The effect of increased temperature was offset by increased precipitation. The magnitude of the drought stress and length of field capacity periods are similar to current mean conditions when a + 1 °C temperature change is coupled with a 10% increase in precipitation. This demonstrates that winter wheat suitability in England and Wales is affected more by changes in precipitation than by changes in temperature. The local limitations of soils and relief notwithstanding, it appears that the northern and western areas of England and Wales are most likely to gain from a warmer, drier climate.
Effect of herbage rejection by steers on white clover (Trifolium repens) branching and development in continuously stocked grass–clover swards
Authors: Teuber N. , Laidlaw A. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe proportion of sward area rejected for grazing under different stocking intensities in grass-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) swards continuously grazed by steers toconstant sward height was determined and the effect of these areas on clover stolon developmentwas investigated.In a randomized block field experiment, grazing treatments imposed from 1988 to 1991 comprised target sward surface heights (SSH) of 5, 7 or 9 cm from April to July followed by 7 or 9 cm from July to October (i.e. six treatments). The percentage area rejected was higher in 9 cm than in the shorter swards, the proportion of the total areas rejected increasing generally over the year. Within the rejected areas in spring the number of branches on the main axes of white clover plants was only 17% and the mean number of nodes per branch was 14% of those in grazed areas. Corresponding percentages in summer in rejected areas were 56 and 46% compared with grazed areas.In a glasshouse experiment involving stolons grown for 18–21 days, the difference between those from grazed and rejected areas in branch number per stolon and mean node number per branch was much reduced. Branching and rate of branch development (node number) were slower in stolons maintained under dark conditions.Mean growing point density over six sampling dates from summer 1990 to autumn 1991 was significantly higher in the 5 cm than in the 9 cm spring SSH treatment. Although rejected areashad only 34% of the growing point density of grazed areas in autumn, the latter comprised the majority of the total area in most sward height treatments and so reduced the overall effect of rejected areas on growing point density.
An approach to determining optimum tuber planting densities in early potato varieties
Authors: Wurr D. C. E. , Fellows J. R. , Allen E. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThirteen experiments conducted near Tenby, Dyfed, between 1973 and 1980, examined the effects of seed-tuber weight and within-row spacing on tuber yields of seven potato varieties grown for early production. These data have been used in an attempt to develop an approach to the determination of optimum tuber planting densities in early crops which will provide agronomists with logically applicable principles. Tuber planting densities, which maximized the net crop return (ware value minus seed cost), were estimated for eight ratios of seed cost to ware value ranging from 0·25 to 8·0. Optimum tuber planting densities decreased with the use of higher ratios of seed cost: ware value and heavier seed, except for ratios of 0·25 and 0·50 applied to yields of tubers > 25 mm harvested in June. In general, later harvesting together with the use of larger riddle sizes give a lower optimum density with ratios < 2·2·0. Optimum densities for Red Craigs Royal, Ulster Sceptre and Vanessa were higher than for the other varieties.The results provide an illustration of how to approach the problem of selecting tuber planting densities in order to maximize net crop returns in early potato varieties.
Use of prolonged-release bovine somatotropin for milk production in British Friesian dairy cows. 3. Effect on manufacturing properties and quality of Cheddar, Wensleydale and Cheshire cheese
Authors: Phipps R. H. , Bines V. , Adriaens F. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYManufacturing properties and quality of Cheddar, Wensleydale and Cheshire cheeses made either with milk from cows treated with Sometribove, methionyl bovine somatotropin (BST), or with milk from untreated control cows were compared.The source of milk did not affect manufacturing properties in terms of processing time. Renneting times for Cheddar cheese made from control milk and that made from milk produced by cows treated with BST were 57 and 55 min, respectively. Corresponding values for Wensleydale and Cheshire cheeses were 50 and 53 min and 49 and 46 min, respectively. The source of milk did not influence cheese composition in terms of moisture, fat, protein and salt. When cheeses were submitted to the National Grading Service, those made from milk produced by BST-treated cows were indistinguishable from those made from control milk. The total points scored (maximum 100) for Cheddar, Wensleydale and Cheshire cheeses made with milk from control and BST-treated cows were 89 and 88, 85 and 85, and 86 and 86, respectively.
Whole-body and tissue protein synthesis in steers losing weight on a low-protein roughage diet: the effect of trenbolone acetate
Authors: Hunter R. A. , Magner T. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSix Brahman (Bos indicus) steers implanted with 300 mg trenbolone acetate and six similar nonimplanted steers were fed a low-quality, low-protein roughage diet at 10 g dry matter/kg live weight. They were housed in individual pens for 27 days in 1987 before being placed in metabolism crates for measurement of digestibility, nitrogen retention, and the rate of protein synthesis in the whole body and fractional rate in three muscles and hide.The rate of weight loss of steers treated with trenbolone acetate was significantly (P < 0·05) less than that of controls (–0·34 v. –0·56 kg/day). Treated steers excreted significantly (P < 0·05) less 3-methylhistidine (128 v. 202 μmol) and urea N (0·5 v. 1·6 g/day) in urine. There was a more favourable nitrogen retention in animals implanted with trenbolone acetate (–10 v. –12g/day) but this difference was not significant.Whole-body protein synthesis, calculated from plasma leucine flux, was 511 and 508 g/day in treated and control steers, respectively. Treatment also had no significant effect on the fractional rate of protein synthesis, in skeletal muscle or in hide. The fractional rate of synthesis in muscle was < 1%/day and in hide < 2%/day. These results are discussed in relation to the protein and energy metabolism of undernourished cattle.
Effect of storage temperature and time on viability of rhizobia on lime-coated alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) seed
Authors: Stout D. G. , Hall J. W. , Brooke B. M. , Baalim G. , Thompson D. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSeed is often stored in warehouses where the temperature may drop below freezing or increase to 40°C depending on the time of year. Survival of rhizobia on lime-coated alsike clover (Trifolium hybridumL.) seed stored in polypropylene bags was monitored under various temperature regimes ranging from –10 to 35 °C at Agriculture Canada Range Research Station, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada during 1990 and 1991. Rhizobia were applied ata range of initial concentrations. Seed was inoculated with a peat-based clover inoculant (‘B’ inoculant, Nitragin Ltd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA), and then given a commercial polymer-based lime coat (GNR™, Grow Tec Ltd, Nisku, Alberta, Canada). Rhizobia died continuously at all temperatures within the range —10 to 35°C. The dependence of Iog10(number of viable rhizobia/seed) on storage time was best described by a linear equation: Iog10(viable rhizobia/seed) =a+b(time). Coefficientaprovidedan estimate of the initial concentration of rhizobia. Coefficientbprovided a measure of how rapidly rhizobia died. The death rate of rhizobia was the same during storage at 5 or 20 °C, but increased at a storage temperature of 35 °C. Storage at freezing temperatures did not increase the rate of rhizobial death but repeated freezing and thawing resulted in an increase. As the rate of rhizobial death was similar at constant temperatures from — 10 to 20 °C, temperature requirements are not stringent. Nevertheless, some temperature control is required to maximize the legal storage life of preinoculated coated seed, which in this study was estimated to be 96 days.
Quantitative selection for compact, high-yielding maize hybrids
Authors: Zhang J. H. , Luo Y. N. , Wang Z. X. , Gao X. Z. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYMaize (Zea mays L.) hybrids with different productivity per unit approximate leaf projected area (ALPA) were compared in China, 1990–92. The results showed that the selection index (SI) values of all the hybrids tested decreased with an increase in population density. Nevertheless, the hybrids with high SI values at low plant densities also had relatively high SI values at high plant densities. Thus, high SI hybrids could be selected at any of these densities. Although no significant yield increase was obtained by using high SI hybrids at plant densities of 52500 plants/ha or lower; significant increases in yield were obtained for high SI hybrids at > 67 500 plants/ha. Leaf area was one of the parameters necessary for determining SI, and this could be predicted with a skewed bell-shaped function simply by measuring the length and breadth of the largest leaf and counting the total number of leaves per plant.
Potassium depletion under long-term fertilization in a semi-arid soil in India
Authors: Mittal S. B. , Singh Raghbir , Mehta S. C. , Singh Mahendra 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn 12-year (1975–87) fertilizer trial on a pearl millet-wheat rotation, there were no responses to applied K and exchangeable K decreased from 620 to 200 kg/ha. In spite of progressively diminishing exchangeable K, removal of K by crops was independent of soil K status, indicating that exchangeable K had no relation to K uptake in this soil. Thus, nonexchangeable K made a major contribution to plant K, up to 90% in untreated plots and > 70% in K-treated plots. A significant (r = -·708) relationship between nonexchangeable K and K fixation capacity was found. Nonexchangeable K was also significantly but negatively correlated (r = -0·583) with free energy exchange (ΔGr). Potassium supply values, expressed by pK-½p (Ca + Mg), were positively and significantly correlated with K removal by crops in 1987 and with the K saturation values of the exchange phase, so that both these measures can be successfully used to test soil K availability. The results of this study suggested that on this soil, under a pearl millet-wheat crop system, inclusion of K in the fertilizer programme may soon be needed.
In vivo and in sacco digestibility and rumen microbial degradation of cell walls of soyabean and rape integuments and of dehydrated beet pulp in sheep, observed by scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Grenet E. , Barry P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe in vivo digestibility of soyabean integuments, rape integuments and dehydrated beet pulp was determined in sheep in the Centre de Recherches de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, in 1985. Organic matter digestibility was 83·5, 59·6 and 85·0%, respectively, for the three feeds. The nylon bag method was used to determine the disappearance of dry matter (DM) in the rumen. After 72 h, 89 and 96% DM had disappeared for soyabean integuments and beet pulp, respectively, but only 61% for rape integuments. The DM disappearance rate was slowest (P < 0·05) for soyabean integuments. Microscopic examination showed that the different layers of the soyabean integument could be ranked in increasing order of resistance to microbial degradation as follows: parenchyma, aleurone layer, column cell layer, palisade layer and epidermis. The hilum area was the most resistant and the only one lignified. The cell layers of the rape integument could be ranked in increasing order of resistance as follows: epidermis, aleurone layer and palisade layer. The last was highly lignified and not degradable. Degradation of beet pulp was fast, occurring first in the parenchyma. The vessels resisted degradation but were only a small part of the feed. This study shows why beet pulp has a low fill value and allows high intake. The soyabean integument is very digestible and is degraded slowly, whereas almost half of the rape integument is made up of a cell layer that is not degradable.