bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic and clonal responses in closed dairy cattle nucleus schemes
Authors: de Boer I. J. M. , van Arendonk J. A. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe additive genetic response per generation and the genetic superiority of female genotype(s) selected for commercial cloning (clonal response) were maximized for a closed adult nucleus scheme, with 256 or 1024 test places, by varying the mating design (number of clones, full-sibs and half-sibs). Responses were corrected for effects of finite sample size and correlated index values on the selection intensity, and variance reduction due to selection. Additive genetic responses, which varied from 0·153 to 0·514 phenotypic standard deviations per generation, were 0·68 to 0·89 of corresponding uncorrected predictions. Reductions were largest when the intensity and accuracy of male selection were high. Clonal responses varied from 0·460 to 2·506 phenotypic standard deviations, increasing with the intra-clone correlation, the intensity of clonal selection and the test capacity. Reductions in clonal responses, which varied from proportionally 0·04 to 0·27, were smallest when dominance variance was high. Increasing the test capacity resulted in a proportionally 0·21 to 1·55 increase in genetic responses, while proportional increases in clonal responses varied from 0·09 to 0·36. With selection of only one male per full-sib family, designs which maximized genetic and clonal responses were different in all cases. Differences were largest when the heritability and the intra-clone correlation were low and the intensity of clonal selection was high. Without the restriction on male selection, optimal mating designs were different, unless dominance variance and intensity of clonal selection were both low.
Body dimensions of Nigerian cattle, sheep and goats
Authors: Hall S. J. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOne hundred and thirty-six multiparous cows, 63 goats and 71 sheep were measured in breeding flocks and herds in Nigeria. The humped cattle breeds, and the large-bodied, humpless Kuri, are narrow-bodied and tall in relation to their length when compared with British breeds. Pelvic dimensions are small. The sheep and goats native to the coastal and middle belts (the West African Dwarf breeds) are miniature versions of those found in the north. Neither appears to be achondroplasic but dwarfing seems to have proceeded differently in the two species in that the adult West African Dwarf goat is similar in its relative body proportions to the adult northern goat, implying a proportional miniaturization. The West African Dwarf sheep appears to be a neotenous form with body proportions similar to those of an immature sheep.
Evaluation of intrauterine insemination of sheep with frozen semen: effects of time of insemination and semen dose on conception rates
Authors: Findlater R. C. F. , Haresign W. , Curnock R. M. , Beck N. F. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe field application of a laparoscopic technique to permit intra-uterine insemination of ewes with frozen-thawed semen was examined in two trials, conducted over successive years, to (i) determine the optimum time of insemination relative to sponge removal/pregnant mares's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection and (ii) establish the relationship between semen dose and conception rate. Pooled semen was used in both trials, and each involved > 900 ewes in a number of commercial flocks.Maximum conception rates were achieved when insemination was conducted between 54 h and 60 h after sponge removal/ PMSG injection. However, there was no significant difference in conception rate when motile sperm numbers were reduced from 52·2 × 106to 13·0 × 106 motile sperm per uterine horn.The overall conception rates (pooled over flocks and treatment groups) were 56% and 58% for the two trials, with a wide degree of variation between flocks in both cases (45% to 79% for trial 1 and 45% to 69% for trial 2). However, there was evidence for consistent differences in conception rates between the six flocks involved in both years of the trials.
The effects of involuntary coprophagy on the production of skatole in growing pigs
Authors: Hawe S. M. , Walker N. 
Published: September 2010

Six boars weighing about 65 kg were penned individually in preliminary observations to investigate their response to increasing levels of faeces in a concentrate diet fed as a gruel. During an introductory 5-day period pigs were restricted to 1·5 kg concentrates plus 100 g fresh faeces daily. The daily concentrate allowance was then increased to 2·2 kg and faeces increased by 50 g/day providing the ration was consumed completely. Two animals showed diarrhoea at intakes of 1 kg faeces per day while the remaining four animals showed no signs of ill health at the maximum allowance of 1·4 kg faeces per day.In the main experiment littermate pairs of the same sex (16 boars plus 16 gilts in total) were allocated to control (concentrates only) or treated (concentrates plus fresh faeces) groups. Animals were housed in metabolism crates from about 55 kg live weight and the diet allowances were increased gradually up to 2·5 kg concentrates with or without 500 g fresh faeces per day. This was achieved on day 17 and continued to slaughter some 40 days later when pigs weighed around 85 kg live weight. Levels of skatole and indole were significantly higher in the caecal contents of treated pigs at slaughter but similar in faeces compared with controls. There was no effect of dietary treatment on skatole or indole levels in subcutaneous fat.It seems unlikely that natural coprophagy would contribute significantly to skatole and indole levels in carcass tissues.
Optimum linear indices for non-linear profit functions
Authors: Pasternak H. , Weller J. I. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn iterative method is presented, based on the method of Moav and Hill (1966) to derive the optimum linear selection index for any number of traits with linear or non-linear profit functions. For non-linear profit functions the index weights will be functions of the trait means prior to selection and the selection intensity. Using the equations developed, the optimum selection index for three dairy cattle milk production traits was computed. Convergence was obtained after three to four iterations, and was robust to the starting values used for iteration. The ratio of expected genetic gains were only marginally different for selection intensities of 1 and 4 standard deviation units. Differences were greater for the index coefficients. All alternative indices tested gave lower gains in profit than the optimum index. For linear profit functions this index reduces to the standard linear index, and for two uncorrelated traits this index reduces to the index of Moav and Hill (1966).
Evidence of genotype by environment interaction for reproductive and maternal traits in beef cattle
Authors: Morris C. A. , Baker R. L. , Hickey S. M. , Johnson D. L. , Cullen N. G. , Wilson J. A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA total of 161 bulls from 11 breeds were used to generate crossbred calves from Angus cows in 1973 to 1977 at each of three diverse New Zealand locations, and from Hereford cows at one of the locations in the same years. The bulls comprised four local breeds, Angus, Friesian, Hereford, and Jersey, and seven recently imported breeds, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Charolais, Chianina, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Simmental and South Devon. This paper reports the reproductive and maternal performance of the straightbred and first-cross cows over the first four calvings, with first mating as yearlings at 14 to 16 months of age. A total of 7575 mating records from 2109 cows were analysed. Location differences were greater for reproduction than for growth traits and resulted in genotype × environment interactions for some components of cow performance and particularly the composite traits, weight of calf weaned per cow joined (productivity) and cow ‘efficiency’ (the ratio of productivity to cow weight). At all locations the Friesian-cross cows weaned the greatest weight of calf per head but were matched or surpassed by the lighter Jersey crosses in terms of efficiency of calf production. Most of the European crosses performed relatively much better in the most favourable environment than in the harsh environment and this was particularly marked for the productivity of Simmental crosses. Heterosis as a proportion of the purebred mean was important for cow performance and particularly pregnancy rate (0·12), productivity (0·21) and the efficiency ratio (0·16). Heritabilities for weight and age at puberty were both 0·34 (s.e. 0·08). Repeatabilities and heritabilities for cow reproductive traits were low (0·0 to 0·10) but higher for calf weights up to weaning as a trait of the cow (0·09 to 0·38). In general, the large European breeds which excelled in growth and carcass production produced female progeny which reached puberty at greater ages, had lower reproductive performance (especially in less favourable environments) and larger mature size. Some breed utilization strategies to achieve trade-offs between these genetic antagonisms are discussed.
Rice polishings as an alternative to sugar cane molasses as a supplement with urea to low-quality forage diets for ruminants
Authors: Garcia D. Cardenas , Newbold C. J. , Galbraith H. , Topps J. H. , Chen X. B. , Rooke J. A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effect of including 14 g urea with either 75 g dry matter (DM) from sugar cane molasses (UM) or Colombian rice polishings (RP) at three levels, 68 (RP1), 137 (RP2) or 203 (RP3) g DM on grass hay DM intake and on rumen fermentation was investigated. An incomplete Latin-square design was used and each experimental period was divided into 12 days for adaptation to each diet followed by 9 days in metabolism cages when all measurements were made using five adult sheep.Pooled mean values for rumen metabolites (five samples per day) were calculated. Rumen pH was not affected by the nature of the supplements. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) (UM 92·8, RP1 84·2, RP2 86·4, and RP3 84·0 (s.e.d. 3·4) mmol/l) and lactate (UM 2·0, RP1 1/6, RP2 1/7, RP3 1/8 (s.e.d. 0·014) mmol/l) (UM v. RP, P < 0·05 and P < 0·10 respectively) were lower when RP were given, while concentration of branched and longer chain VFA (26·5, 34·0, 31·1 and 33·5 (s.e.d. 1·6) mmol/mol total VFA, UM v. RP, P < 0·01) and ammonia (98, 131, 141, 137 (s.e.d. 16·1) mg/l, UM v. RP, P < 0·05) were increased. Numbers of rumen protozoa (1·6, 3·2, 2·7, 3·3 (s.e.d. 0·75) × 105 per ml, UM v. RP, P < 0·20) tended to be higher 2 h after feeding when RP rather than UM were given. However, hay DM intake (1050, 960, 960, 880 (s.e.d. 45·3) g/day, UM v. RP, P < 0·05), and microbial protein supply (11·7, 9·3,11·1,10·8 (s.e.d. 0·59) g N per day, UM v. RP, P < 0·05), estimated from urinary purine excretion were reduced by feeding RP instead of UM.At the levels of inclusion tested RP did not increase the efficiency of rumen fermentation and were not as effective a supplement with urea as was molasses for a low-quality forage diet.
Influence of quality of dietary protein supplement and anabolic steroids on muscular and skeletal growth of foals
Authors: Saastamoinen M. T. , Koskinen E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwenty-two weanling foals, about 7 months (215 days) old, were allotted to two groups. One group received high-quality protein (HP; milk powder) and the other received poor-quality protein (PP; barley protein). In addition, six foals in each group were injected intramuscularly (1 mg/kg body weight) with an anabolic steroid (Nandrolon lauras, Laurabolin vet®) at intervals of 3 weeks from weaning to 12 months (362 days) of age. Skeletal and muscular measurements from foals were also made at intervals of 3 weeks. Closure of the right distal growth plate was assessed radiographically in 13 colts in their 2nd and 3rd years of life. Blood samples were taken to investigate the blood chemistry. The HP-group foals gained weight faster from weaning to 12 months of age and were heavier at the age of 12 months than the PP-group foals. The growth of longissimus dorsi muscle and cannon bone circumference were also significantly greater in the HP-group foals. The high-quality dietary protein supplement also increased serum amino acid concentrations and haemoglobin and packed cell volume values. The foals treated with the anabolic steroid increased in body length more slowly from weaning to 12 months of age than the untreated foals. Growth plates closed about 1·5 months later in the horses treated with anabolic steroid than in the untreated horses. Weanling foals seem to require a protein supplement rich in lysine for their optimal growth. More than 31 g/day (0·46 g/MJ metabolizable energy) lysine can be recommended up to 10 months of age.
Growth hormone release in calves selected for milk fat yield
Authors: Løvendahl P. , Sejrsen K. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn two experiments Red Danish dairy calves of both sexes, and of two lines selected for high (H) and low (L) milk fat production (proportional difference 0·22), were tested at 4 months and again at 10 months of age for their growth hormone (GH) release following intravenous administration of either thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, experiment 1: 0·15 μig/kg live weight, no. = 16 H + 10 L) or arginine hydrochloride (ARG, experiment 2: 0·10 g/kg live weight, no. = 19 H + 10 L). The GH response was measured in serial blood samples for 0·5 h prior to and for 2 h following intravenous injections. The response peak, measured as the geometric mean of the 5-, 10- and 15-min samples following TRH was greater in the line selected for high yield, at 10 months (H, 42·4 μg/l; L, 20·6 μig/l; P < 0.01) but not at 4 months of age (H, 25·4 μg/l; L, 18·6 μg/l; P > 0·05). The response peak following arginine measured in the 20-, 30- and 45-min samples was smaller than the peak following TRH and did not differ between selection lines, although there was a tendency for H calves to have a larger release at 10 months of age. After puberty (10 months) male calves responded more to both secretagogues than females, while there was no difference before puberty (4 months). These results suggest that GH release may be useful as a juvenile predictor of dairy merit, but results need to be confirmed in further and larger studies.
Milk progesterone profiles during anoestrus through to pregnancy in Greek dairy goats (Capra prisca): the effect of melatonin treatment and male introduction
Authors: Belibasaki S. , Zygoyiannis D. , Davies P. , Doney J. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo groups of 10 lactating does were housed separately, in isolation from bucks. Does in one group (T) were implanted with melatonin; the second group (U) were not implanted. After 30 days, five implanted and five non-implanted bucks were introduced, singly, into both groups of females each day. Subsamples of milk were taken from the daily output of each doe on 3 days each week for progesterone analysis.Mean milk progesterone concentration during anoestrus varied significantly amongst individuals (P < 0·001), but the difference between T and U groups was not significant (1·51 and 1·93 (s.e.d. 0·52) μg/l, respectively). Elevated progesterone levels, indicative of a short oestrous cycle and commencing days 2 to 5 after male exposure, were observed in most does. Mean progesterone concentrations were 9·9 and 9·6 (s.e.d. 1·32) μg/l in T and U does respectively. Most does showed a second short cycle starting at 12 to 18 days, (mean concentration 8·4 and 10·6 (s.e.d. 1·64) ng/l, respectively). Untreated does then returned to anoestrus until mated at 63·1 (s.e. 0·94) days after male introduction. In contrast, T does either became pregnant or had a normal oestrous cycle, followed by a repeat cycle or pregnancy (mean onset 21·7 (s.e. 2·22) days after male introduction). The mean time of effective mating for group T does was 37·3 (s.e. 5·91) days, 26 days earlier than for U does (P < 0·001). Mean progesterone concentration in early pregnancy was 65·7 (s.e. 5·78) and 67·6 (s.e. 5·41) μg/l in T and U does, respectively. Males did not become sexually active until after the onset of luteal activity in the females, although treated males were earlier than untreated. There were no significant differences in lactation pattern associated with the progesterone profiles in the two groups.The introduction of males during late anoestrus initiates short luteal cycles. Only those does closest to onset of the breeding season, in this case induced by melatonin, continue to cycle normally and mating success may require early stimulation of sexual activity in males.
The bioavailability of magnesium from different types of calcined magnesites of Greek origin
Authors: Zervas G. , Papadopoulos G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe objective of this work was to determine the apparent bioavailability of magnesium from four different types of calcined magnesites of Greek origin. These four types (A, B, C, D) were different in particle size fractions and production process. The solubility of the above four magnesium samples and their fractions were determined: (a) in the laboratory using ammonium nitrate solution after 24-h shaking and (b) in vivo using a nylon bag technique after 24-h incubation.Solubility was correlated with apparent bioavailability as determined in a balance experiment with five wether sheep in a 5×5 Latin-square design.Sheep were kept in metabolism cages and were given daily a basal diet (500 g hay + 700 g concentrate) plus 2 g magnesium supplements from types A to D. The magnesium bioavailability of the basal diet was used as a base for the determination of the bioavailability of magnesium in A, B, C and D supplements.Magnesium apparent bioavailability of the basal diet was found to be 0·203 and, for the supplements A, B, C and D, 0·381, 0·339, 0·315 and 0·292 respectively. The solubility of supplements A, B, C and D in ammonium nitrate solution and in vivo (using the nylon-bag technique) was found to be 0·812, 0·805, 0·784 and 0·773 or 0·294, 0·152, 0·102 and 0·200 respectively.The solubilities of the magnesium supplements in ammonium nitrate solution and in vivo both reflected dietary bioavailability differences up to a point, but neither was well enough correlated with the apparent bioavailability as determined by the balance experiment, this being judged to be the most precise method for bioavailability determination.
Freezing buck semen diluted in amine-organic buffers
Authors: Dunner S. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAmine-organic buffers (BESKOH and TESTRIS) were compared for their ability to be used for buck semen dilution in a freezing procedure. BESKOH showed better results (P< 0·05) at the time of dilution and after chilling at +5°C (72% motilityv.54% at dilution and 62%v.39% after chilling). After freezing and thawing, none of the variables measured (motility, normal acrosome ridge and normal swelling) was significantly different. A washing procedure was necessary when freezing was undertaken and egg yolk addition was necessary to avoid cold shock as the temperature lowered during chilling. There were no significant differences between a 3% and 12% level of egg yolk addition.
Factors influencing the welfare and carcass and meat quality of pigs: the use of water sprays in lairage
Authors: Weeding C. M. , Guise H. J. , Penny R. H. C. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo experiments were made to study the effects of a mist or large-droplet water spray for different lengths of time, on pig behaviour in lairage prior to slaughter and on subsequent carcass Quality. Water spraying caused more pigs to stand, chew the pen walls and root around the pen floor compared with unsprayed controls, and they also tended to fight more. The sprayed pigs produced meat of superior quality in terms of m. longissimus dorsi rate of acidification and colour. It is suggested that these benefits were due to the effects of evaporative cooling and increased water intake.
Effect of remating interval and diet on the performance of female rabbits and their litters
Authors: Cervera C. , Fernandez-Carmona J. , Viudes P. , Blas E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn an experiment of factorial design, female rabbits were given four diets, containing 13·0, 11·4, 10·4 and 9·7 kJ digestible energy (DE) per g and subjected to two remating intervals (R) of 1 to 2 days (intensive) or 9 days (semi-intensive) from parturition. The experiment lasted for 2 years during which 352 does produced a total of 1254 litters. The only major differences due to diet were that the diet with the highest energy concentration, and which contained 35 g/kg added fat, promoted a significantly higher energy intake in lactation (111 v. an average of 94 MJ DE) than the other diets, and thereby increased litter weight at weaning at 28 days (3·48 v. 2·99 kg). Diet and R showed no major interactive effects. The intensive treatment significantly reduced parturition interval (46 v. 52 days) and increased the output of weaned rabbits per doe per year (35 v. 29). As actual R was more variable than the theoretical R imposed by the treatments, further analyses were made by dividing the does into four groups according to the actual R. In these analyses, the effects of R on current and subsequent lactation performance were assessed separately. The main difference between the groups was that litter size increased significantly with R (e.g. litter size at birth in subsequent parities was 8·0, 9·2, 9·7 and 9·0 for mean intervals of 2, 10, 16 and 37 days). However, the same pattern of differences occurred in the current parity, indicating that it was litter size that affected R, rather than the reverse (i.e. does with small litters conceived earlier than those with larger litters).
Calculation of response and variance reduction due to multi-stage and multiple trait selection
Authors: Andersen S. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn deterministic comparisons of breeding schemes it is necessary to take account of variance reduction due to selection. This can take place as multi-stage selection within generations and it takes place across generations when offspring of selected parents are selected. A standard way to deal with this is to set up selection index equations where the parameters are altered as a consequence of selection. It is shown that if the breeding schemes use a univariate or multivariate best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) animal model for prediction of breeding values this procedure can be simplified. This is done by modelling the distribution of estimated breeding value (EBV) utilizing that changes in EBV of an individual are independent of selection. In the univariate case the variance reduction and the resulting genetic gain can be calculated from the selection intensities and the accuracies in the unselected population. An expression is given for the response in each generation when selection is started in a base population with complete pedigree. This shows that a limiting value is obtained within three to four generations. The asymptotic response for several traits is described in the case where selection is on multitrait BLUP.