bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rearing of dairy cattle 1. Type and level of milk substitute offered once daily to calves
Authors: Leaver J. D. , Yarrow N. H. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA simple feeding system for British Friesian dairy female calves was examined. It involved once-daily feeding of a fixed amount of milk substitute to calves from 5 to 32 days of age. A comparison was made between low-fat and high-fat milk substitutes each offered at three levels of feeding. Performance was measured for a further 28 days after weaning. There was a greater incidence of nutritional scours in calves given the low-fat diets and also in those at higher levels of feeding. Live-weight gain to weaning and to 60 days was greater on the high-fat diets and at the higher levels of feeding. Intakes of concentrates, hay and water were little affected by type or level of milk-substitute feeding. Total feed costs over the 8-week period were greater for the high-fat diets and for the higher levels of feeding, but feed costs/kg live-weight gain were similar for the low-and high-fat diets. The results indicate that low levels of a high-fat milk substitute should be offered when using a once-daily feeding system in order to ensure a low incidence of nutritional scours and relatively low feed costs.
A study of retail requirements and genetic parameters of carcass quality in polled dorset horn sheep
Authors: Bowman J. C. , Hendy C. R. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYData on growth rate and carcasses of pedigree Polled Dorset Horn castrated male lambs have been collected. The lambs were the half-sib progeny of 18 rams mated to groups of 20 ewes in 1968 and 1969. The lambs were slaughtered at between 35 and 45 kg live weight and when considered ‘fit’ on the basis of a handling appraisal. The whole carcasses were classified by a retail organization as either ‘accepted’ or ‘rejected’ and subsequently all carcasses were cut into commercial joints ready for sale. Analyses indicated that classification of carcasses was largely but not solely based on backfat thickness. Accepted carcasses were from older and heavier lambs which had larger eye-muscle areas. There was no difference in value per unit weight between accepted and rejected carcasses.Heritability for growth rate to 16 weeks of age was zero but for growth rate and age at slaughter was 0·26 ± 0·22 and 0·28 + μ 0·22 respectively. The heritability estimates for percentage best end, loin and backfat thickness were greater than 0·30. There were insufficient data to estimate genetic correlations accurately, but the estimates of pheno-typic correlations and heritabilities were very similar to those obtained in a previous study of carcasses of Down cross lambs.It is suggested that the method of choosing lambs for slaughter accounts for the large difference in the heritabilities for growth to 16 weeks and to slaughter. Selection to change backfat thickness would be effective and would probably result in a reduction in age at slaughter and an increase in growth rate to slaughter. Selection to change proportions of the carcass is not considered to be worthwhile.
The effect of level of feeding on persistency of milk yield of Ayrshire cows
Authors: Filmer D. G. , Roberts P. , Mines K. A. , Clarkson H. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Twenty-four Ayrshire cows were used in a changeover experiment to investigate the effects on milk yield of offering concentrates at three rates of feeding (220, 250 and 290 g SE/kg milk) and two nutrient densities (63·5 and 72·5 SE). Nutrient density had no effect on milk yield but there was a positive relationship between rate of feeding and persistency.2. A regression equation relating log10 (—log10 persistency) to the rate of feeding (g SE/kg milk) was fitted to the data and accounted for 92·3 % of the variation between treatments.
A note on instability of the dominance hierarchy and variations in level of aggression within groups of fattening pigs
Authors: Meese G. B. , Ewbank R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSocial organization in the pig is based on the dominance hierarchy. Hitherto this has been assumed to be stable but present studies have shown that spontaneous changes of rank can occur. It has proved almost impossible, however, to alter social ranks artificially. Pig groups also show considerable fluctuations from day to day in the level of aggression at feeding periods. This variation cannot be correlated with the occurrence of sexual cycles in the females or variations in the general level of group activity.
A note on the determination of the age of cattle at slaughter by visual assessment of the stage of ossification of bones in sides of beef
Authors: Leach T. M. , Akers J. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe stage of ossification of various, normally visible, bones were examined by two independent observers on 134 sides of beef from cattle of known dates of birth. These examinations failed to produce sufficiently consistent values to allow the ages of these cattle at slaughter to be determined from their skeletal characteristics within an accuracy of 3 months.
Zinc storage in the tissues and organs of pigs fed graded levels of zinc in the tropics
Authors: Babatunde G. M. , Fetuga B. L. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThirty-six weaner pigs of average initial live weight of 16 kg, and of Large White and Landrace breeds, were allocated to six treatments differing in the level of zinc supplementation (from 0 to 500 p.p.m.) of a basal diet containing approximately 24% crude protein on a dry-matter basis. At the final live weight of about 50 kg, four pigs from each treatment were slaughtered and the hair, skin, lung, heart, kidney, pancreas, liver and spleen were sampled and frozen until they were analyzed for their zinc contents. Appetite and weight gain tended to be reduced at high levels of zinc supplementation (200 to 500 p.p.m.) though not significantly so. The average total zinc consumed per pig increased with increasing levels of zinc supplementation, but organ weights were not consistently affected by the levels of zinc in the diets. Only for the hair, skin, spleen and the kidneys was any significant variation in zinc concentration found among the treatment groups, but there were no consistent trends related to the level of dietary intake of Zn. Hair had the highest zinc concentration per kg of tissue, followed by the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, heart, the lungs and the skin, in that order. The organs showed very little or no increase in the Zn concentration, in the Zn-supplemented groups compared with the unsupplemented, except that the liver showed slight increases up to a level of supplementation of 300 p.p.m. followed, however, by a decline in concentration at higher dietary levels of Zn.
The effect of suckling regime on growth rate and lactation performance of the Cyprus Fat-tailed and Chios sheep
Authors: Louca Avraam 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSeventy-two Cyprus Fat-tailed and Chios ewes with their lambs were used over a 2-year period to study the effects of three suckling regimes on the lactation performance of ewes and growth rate of lambs. The regimes studied were continuous or 24-hr a day suckling, 12-hr suckling and no suckling. The lambs were weaned at the age of 10 weeks. All the ewes, including those suckling, were handmilked throughout the trial twice daily.Highly significant differences in milk yield (milk sucked by lambs plus milk withdrawn by hand) and lactation length were found between the Fat-tailed and Chios ewes, the respective average milk yields being 159 and 265 kg and the corresponding lactation lengths, 158 and 209 days. There were no significant differences between breeds in the live weight or average daily gain of lambs up to the age of 20 weeks. Suckling for 12 rather than 24 hr a day had no adverse effects on the milk yield of ewes or the growth rate of lambs. The no-suckling regime, however, adversely affected milk yield and lactation length but the effects were less pronounced for the Chios breed.
A note on haemoglobin and potassium types in Nali breed of Indian sheep and their relationship with body weights and wool yield
Authors: Arora C. L. , Acharya R. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYHaemoglobin and potassium types were related to body weights from birth to 1 year of age and first 6-monthly wool yield in the Nali breed of Indian sheep. Weighted mean comparisons between haemoglobin and potassium types made within sires for weights at birth, weaning (3 months), 6 months and 1 year and first 6-monthly wool yield did not show any statistically significant differences for any of these traits.
A note on the effect of ram to ewe ratio on reproductive performance of synchronized ewes
Authors: Laster D. B. , Glimp H. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwo hundred and four Targhee ewes and 15 rams were used to study the effect of the number of ewes per ram on mating activity and conception rate in ewes mated after synchronizing oestrus with intravaginal, progestinated pessaries. Each ram was mated with 8, 12, 16 or 20 ewes.The number of ewes per ram had no influence on the percentage of ewes mated or conception rate at the synchronized oestrus. It also had no effect on percentage of ewes lambing, number of lambs born per ewe lambing or average lambing date. Seventy-six% of the ewes were marked within 8 days after progestagen treatment with a conception rate of 84-5%. This study demonstrated that one ram per 20 ewes is sufficient for maximum mating activity and conception rate in ewes mated at a synchronized oestrus.
Mating behaviour in a small flock of lowland sheep
Authors: Tomkins T. , Bryant M. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA flock of Polled Dorset Horn ewes joined with three Polled Dorset Horn rams were observed during the hours of daylight, for 17 days, when all the ewes were known to be showing oestrus regularly. The number of approaches, mounts and serves made by the rams and the identities of the ewes involved were recorded.The mean and SE for the number of services per ewe in oestrus was 4·2 ± 0·3. There were no significant differences in sexual performance between the rams apart from the number of mounts and the mount to service ratio. The number of ewes served per ram and the number of services per ewe in oestrus declined significantly over the 17-day period. Ram performance was significantly related to the number of ewes in oestrus and to the time that the rams had been joined with the same group of stimulative animals (e.g. multiple regression of number of services x with time y and number of ewes in oestrus z is: x = −0·72y + 1·3z + 8·8).
The nutrition of artificially reared lambs 1. The effect of different feeding methods applied at three stages of growth
Authors: Morgan J. A. , Owen J. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYLambs weaned from the ewe at 2 days of age were fed liberally or on a restricted level in each of three periods of growth according to a factorial design. In the first period restriction was achieved by giving less milk (5 as against 9 kg of milk replacer) and in the later periods by diluting one of the diets with 40% oat husks.Milk restriction had no effect on performance from 15 to 35 kg or on the carcass composition as determined by dissection into fat, lean and bone. However, in the separate stages, 15·25 kg and 25·35 kg there was some indication that previous restriction of milk affected subsequent dry-matter intake and growth, particularly in the middle period of growth in lambs given the low energy diet.Restriction after 15 kg, particularly from 15 to 25 kg, reduced overall performance to slaughter at 35 kg but had little effect on dissected carcass components. Restriction in the middle period affected performance in the final period and reduced food conversion efficiency. It is calculated that milk allowances for artificially reared lambs can be reduced without much effect on subsequent performance particularly where good diets are self-fed after 15 kg.Restriction after 15 kg can be achieved by diet dilution but it has no apparently beneficial effect on carcass quality, as in pigs, and particularly if applied soon after 15 kg has been reached, can severely reduce growth and efficiency of feed conversion.
A note on the water intake of ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation
Authors: Davies P. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe water intake of individually penned ewes has been determined during the last 21 days of pregnancy and the first 21 days of lactation. Pregnant ewes carrying one lamb had lower water intakes than ewes carrying twins. Water intake per unit dry-matter intake increased as dry-matter intake declined.Lactating ewes suckling twin lambs consumed more water than ewes suckling singles although both groups had similar dry-matter intakes.
The reproductive performance of Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn and Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface ewes mated three times in 2 years
Authors: Speedy A. W. , FitzSimons J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe reproductive performance of 51 Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn (FD) ewes was compared with that of 50 Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface or Greyface (GF) ewes. Ewes were mated without hormone synchronization in November 1973 and with hormone synchronization in August 1974 and again in February 1975. Conception rates at the three matings were 88, 82 and 73% respectively in FD ewes and 96, 56 and 26% respectively in GF ewes. Mean litter size over three lambings was 2·34 in FD ewes and 2·15 in GF ewes. Stillbirths accounted for 12·0 and 10·2% of all lambs respectively and further lamb deaths during and after birth were 15·2 and 4·3% respectively; 11·6% of live FD lambs and 7·7% of GF lambs were fostered or reared artificially. The losses resulted in mean numbers of lambs weaned per ewe lambing of 1·75 from FD ewes and 1·85 from GF ewes (including lambs from those ewes that were artificially reared). Annual productivity was 2·13 and 1·67 lambs respectively.
The mating behaviour of rams in a pedigree pen-mating system in relation to breed and fertility
Authors: Winfield C. G. , Kilgour R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThree mature rams in each of four naturalized breeds (Romney, Border Leicester, Cheviot and Dorset Down) and two or three 15-mo-old rams in each of four recently imported ‘exotic’ breeds (Finnish Landrace, East Friesian, German Whiteheaded Mutton and Oxford Down) were mated to between 14 and 32 Romney ewes in a pedigree pen-mating system at Mana Island, New Zealand. Two or three 60-min observations of mating behaviour were made on each ram.There were no significant differences in mating behaviour scores between groups of breeds, but the mature rams of the naturalized breeds were more fertile than the young rams of the exotic breeds (76% and 57% ewes not returning to first mating respectively). Within the young exotic breed group there were significant differences between breeds in number of serves per test, interval to first mount and fertility. Fertility was negatively correlated with time to first mount.
The effect of dried grass and cereal-based concentrate on the voluntary intake of unwilted grass silage
Authors: McIlmoyle W. A. , Murdoch J. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwo 7 × 7 Latin square experiments were carried out with British Friesian steers (mean initial live weight 360 kg). In Experiment 1 the effects of different levels of dried grass or concentrate on the intake of silage dry matter (DM) were compared, and in Experiment 2 the effect of a supplement containing various proportions of dried grass: concentrate on the intake of silage DM was examined. In both experiments the digestibility of the ration and the rate of passage of digesta were measured.In Experiment 1, supplementation depressed intake of silage DM, the difference being significant (P<0·05) at 5·0 and 7·5 kg/day, but there were no significant differences in silage intake between supplements given at the same level. Intake of silage was also significantly lower (P<0·05) in Experiment 2 when a supplement was offered, but differences between supplements were not significant. Total DM intake was increased significantly (P<00·5) by supplementation in both experiments. Supplementation increased energy digestibility but decreased crude fibre digestibility. In Experiment 1 nitrogen digestibility was significantly lower (P<0·05) with dried grass than with concentrate supplementation, but in Experiment 2 supplementation increased the digestibility of nitrogen. In both experiments the mean retention time was shorter, the time for the highest rate of excretion of stained particles was lower, and the maximum rate of excretion higher for dried grass than for silage.
The effects of shearing on the heat production and activity of sheep receiving dried grass or ground hay
Authors: Davey A. W. F. , Holmes C. W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Oxygen consumption was measured in two experiments using castrated Romney male sheep both shorn and unshorn. The sheep were fed either ground hay or dried grass. An ambient temperature of 13°C ± 1°C was maintained at all times. In Experiment 1, oxygen consumption was measured with eight sheep using a respiration chamber and in Experiment 2, oxygen consumption was measured with four sheep using a ventilated hood. The times spent standing, lying, eating and ruminating were measured in Experiment 2. Heat production was calculated from the measured values for oxygen consumption.2. Heat production increased following shearing in both experiments. In Experiment 1, heat production of the sheep receiving dried grass was significantly greater (P<0·05) on days 1, 8 and 16 following shearing, compared with pre-shearing values. For sheep receiving ground hay, heat production was greater on day 1 (P<0·05) and day 8 (P<0·01) following shearing, compared with pre-shearing values. The mean maximum increase in heat production following shearing was 2·3 MJ/24 hr (25% increase) for sheep receiving dried grass and 1·2 MJ (17%) for those receiving ground hay.3. The patterns of change in heat production following shearing in Experiment 2 were similar to those observed in Experiment 1 although the maximum increases were smaller: 21% for the sheep receiving dried grass and 13% for those receiving ground hay.4. The time spent standing increased considerably after shearing and this change in behaviour made a large contribution to the increase in energy expenditure after the sheep were shorn.
Effects of castration on growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and carcass quality in Damascus goats
Authors: Louca A. , Economides S. , Hancock J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOne hundred and forty-two kids of the Damascus breed of goat were used over a 10½-mo period to study the effects of early castration (at 7 days of age) on growth, feed conversion efficiency and carcass quality and late castration (at 7½ mo of age) on the presence or absence of taint in goat meat.Intact male kids grew faster and used feed more efficiently than castrates until they were about 9 mo old (56 kg live weight). There- after intact kids exhibited strong sexual activity and as a result their growth ceased completely whereas castrates continued growing. Early castrates produced fatter carcasses than those of intact kids. Castration of male kids at the age of about 7½ mo (44 kg live weight) was not successful in this trial and the kids performed very poorly. A taint of varying intensity was present in the meat of intact goats but not in that from any of the early or late castrates.
Teat diameter gradient associated with milk yield and somatic cell count in British Friesian cows
Authors: Rathore A. K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTeat diameters of 144 British Friesian cows were measured (1) at the proximal end of the teat and (2) 20 mm above the distal end before and after milking. Proximal minus distal diameter—‘teat diameter gradient’is used to describe shapes varying from cylindrical to funnel-shaped. Proximal and distal teat diameters and teat diameter gradient had higher values before milking than after milking. Teat diameter, teat diameter gradient and difference in gradient before and after milking, were positively correlated with milk yield and negatively correlated with somatic cell count.
The redilution of deep frozen bull semen
Authors: Macmillan K. L. , Shannon P. , Hart N. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWith deep frozen bull semen processed in an egg yolk – milk diluent and stored in plastic straws at — 196°C, a lowering of the dose rate from 25 million (3824 inseminations) to 12·5 million total sperm per insemination (3900 inseminations) resulted in a decline in conception rate (CR = 49-day non-return rate) of 6·5 % (60·1v.53·6). Development of a processing technique which allowed sperm to be stored at — 196°C at concentrations of 450 or 100 million sperm per ml prior to subsequent rapid thawing and redilution (RDF) allowed dose rates to be reduced to around 5 million total sperm per insemination without any significant reduction in CR. The re-diluted semen was used for inseminations made from 4 to 8 h after thawing and redilution. The use of RDF procedure could reduce semen storage costs, increase the number of inseminations per sire, and has potential application in oestrus synchronization programmes or in countries with developing insemination programmes.
The effects of injected and surface-spread slurry on the intake and grazing behaviour of dairy cows
Authors: Pain B. F. , Broom D. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTDirect injection of slurry into soil was tested as a means of avoiding the rejection of herbage by dairy cattle when slurry is spread on the surface. British Friesian dairy cows grazed paddocks that had been injected with slurry at 25 t/ha ( = 60 kg N/ha) 9 weeks previously, had slurry spread on the surface at the same rate and time, or received 60 kg N/ha as ammonium nitrate. There was less herbage dry matter available per cow on paddocks with slurry than on the control. The cattle on the surface slurry treatment consumed approximately 30% less herbage dry matter than those on the other two treatments.Cattle on pasture with surface-spread slurry spent longer grazing, walked about more during grazing, appeared to take smaller bites of grass, engaged in competitive interactions more frequently and drank more often. Behaviour was less affected on injected paddocks. In a second experiment, paddocks which either received inorganic fertilizer throughout the season, or were injected at 25 t/ha in June and August instead of the fertilizer application, were grazed by the herd at intervals during the season. Injecting slurry had no effect on herbage intake or animal behaviour.
The effect of daylength on the growth of lambs 2. Blood concentrations of growth hormone, prolactin, insulin and thyroxine, and the effect of feeding
Authors: Forbes J. M. , Driver P. M. , Brown Wendy B. , Scanes C. G. , Hart I. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. The levels of four hormones which might be involved in the control of growth have been measured in the blood of lambs kept in 16 or 8 h daylengths for 4 months in each of two experiments. Under the conditions of these experiments long daylength stimulated growth.2. Prolactin concentration was significantly increased by long day-length and by ad libitum feeding, compared with short daylength and restricted feeding, respectively.3. Growth hormone, insulin and thyroxine concentrations were unaffected by daylength. Ad libitum feeding caused lower growth hormone and higher insulin concentrations than restricted feeding, and growth hormone levels fell after the morning feed.4. Of the hormones measured, prolactin is most worthy of further study as a possible mediator of the effects of long daylength on growth.