bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A note on annual reproductive rhythm in Marwari sheep of the Rajasthan Desert in India
Authors: Mittal J. P. , Ghosh P. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSeasonal fluctuations in oestrous activity and live weight were studied in ewes of the Marwari breed indigenous to the Rajasthan Desert in north-western India. Of the ewes examined 80 to 100% were in oestrus every month of the year, indicating thereby the non-seasonality of female reproductive activity in this breed. On average, each ewe exhibited heat 18 times a year. The incidence of silent heats was low (4·2 %). The average length of an oestrous cycle was 17 days, while the actual period of oestrus varied from 24 to 48 h with an average of 36 h. No seasonal effect on these activities could be observed. The maximum and minimum body weights of the animals were recorded during the autumn (October) and summer (June) months respectively. The body weights differed significantly (P<0·05) between months. Sexual activity in these animals is, therefore, apparently not affected by changes in body weight. The continuous nature of oestrous activity in Marwari sheep may be economically exploited by regulating the lambing season according o t the prevailing ecological conditions and market demands, without the use of hormones.
Phenotypic and genetic parameters for lamb weights in a synthetic line of sheep
Authors: Martin T. G. , Sales D. I. , Smith C. , Nicholson D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTData on 2120 lambs produced over 7 years in the Animal Breeding Research Organization synthetic Dam Line (49% Finn, 22% East Friesian, 16 % Border Leicester and 13 % Dorset Horn) were analysed by least squares. The effects of sex, age of dam, year of birth, birthrearing class, and age of lamb on weights at birth and at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age were all appreciable. However, pooled within-year correction factors should be adequate in adjusting records for selection. Heritability estimates for weights at the five ages ranged from 0·17 to 0·24 by the sire component method and from 0·18 to 0·28 by regression of offspring on dam. Previous reports of differences in heritability in singles and in twins were not confirmed. Estimates of the genetic correlations among the various lamb weights were high (0·62 to 1·04) indicating that selection for weight at one age should result in increased weights at all ages.
A note on the performance of Soay ewes, when mated to Soay and Dorset Down rams, and the growth rate and carcass production of their lambs
Authors: Large R. V. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSoay ewes were mated to a Soay or a Dorset Down ram. Live-weight changes of the ewes, birth weights, growth rates and carcass production of the lambs were recorded, and the food consumption of the ewes and lambs was measured. The use of the Dorset Down ram resulted in significantly heavier birth weights, higher growth rates and heavier carcasses. Under conditions of good nutrition the Soay ewes proved to be capable of carrying very high foetal burdens and it was estimated, from lamb live-weight gains, that they produced a large quantity of milk, relative to their size, particularly when crossed with the Dorset Down ram.
Legume silages as supplements to a maize silage plus urea diet for young calves
Authors: Bowden D. M. , Osbourn D. F. , Gill Margaret , Gibbs B. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTForty British Friesian calves aged approximately 90 days, mean initial live weight 107 kg, were divided into five groups and the animals in each group offered, ad libitum for 84 days, one of five diets based on maize silage. The basal diet of maize silage and 20 g urea/kg dry matter (diet 1) was supplemented with fish meal at 47 g/kg dry matter (diet 2) or with legume silage supplements at 310 g silage dry matter/kg dry matter. The silage supplements were red clover ensiled with formic acid (diet 3), red clover ensiled with formic acid plus formaldehyde at 30 g/kg crude protein (diet 4), or sainfoin ensiled with formic acid (diet 5). Diets 1 to 5 contained 23·7, 28·8, 28·3, 28·3, and 27·1 g total nitrogen/kg dry matter respectively.The proportion of the total nitrogen insoluble in water, an indicator of the protein in the diet that was likely to escape degradation in the rumen, was 273, 356, 377, 413 and 339 g/kg for diets 1 to 5 respectively. Increasing the proportion of insoluble nitrogen in the diet by including fish meal or formaldehyde-treated red clover silage improved rates of live-weight gain and efficiency of feed conversion. Mean daily intakes of 15·2, 16·2, 16·2, 15·4 and 15·8 g digestible organic matter/kg live weight produced daily live-weight gains of 0·79, 1·05, 0·88, 0·93 and 0·83 kg/head by calves on diets 1 to 5 respectively. Diet 2 produced live-weight gains and gains per kg of digestible organic matter intake that were greater than those for diets 1, 3 or 5 (P<0·05), but not significantly greater than those for diet 4 (P<0·05). Calf live-weight gains were similar and satisfactory on the basal diet (maize silage and urea) and the diets with formic acid-preserved silage of red clover or sainfoin, but poorer than on the diet with 47 g fish meal/kg diet dry matter (P<0·05).
Effect of copper and cobalt treatment on finishing steers
Authors: MacPherson A. , Dixon J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. An experiment was undertaken with 44 finishing steers (initially of more than 400 kg live weight) into the effects of copper and cobalt treatments.2. Significant responses to copper treatment of up to 0·41 kg per head per day of live-weight gain were obtained.3. A different response to copper treatment between Friesian and beef-type (Hereford or Devon) steers reflected not a true breed effect but a difference in initial copper status.4. Cobalt bullet therapy proved to be ineffective in maintaining normal plasma vitamin B12 concentrations over the course of the experiment although liver cobalt levels were generally adequate.
A note on the digestibility in lambs of whole, dry barley treated with ammonia
Authors: Laksesvela B. , Slagsvold P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWhole, dry barley treated with ammonia (A), whole, untreated barley (WU) or ground barley (G) were fed with hay and a little high protein concentrate to 7 to 11-month-old lambs. Most apparent digestibility coefficients were found to be 3 to 5 units higher in the diet with barley A than in diets with barley WU or G, the differences being significant. Calculation of the digestibility of barley by difference showed that the coefficients were 8 to 10 units higher in barley A than in barley WU or G as regards dry matter and organic matter. Digestion of crude fibre was better in both A and WU than in G. These differences were also significant.
The use of monensin in European pasture cattle
Authors: Wilkinson J. I. D. , Appleby W. G. C. , Shaw D. C. J. , Lebas G. , Pflug R. 
Published: September 2010

Monensin increases propionic acid production in the rumen and improves the efficiency of feed conversion in fattening cattle. Trials carried out in the USA showed that 200 mg monensin/head per day was the optimum dose for increasing the rate of live-weight gain in beef cattle at pasture.Twelve pasture trials, involving a total of 434 beef cattle, were carried out during 1976 and 1977 to assess the efficacy of monensin for grazing cattle under European conditions. Each trial compared a group given 200 mg monensin/head per day in 0·5 to 10 kg of carrier supplement with a negative control group, fed blank supplement. The average initial live-weight was 260 kg and the average trial duration was 119 days. Daily live-weight gains of the control and monensin-treated cattle averaged 0·786 and 0·893 kg/head per day respectively, an advantage of 107g/head per day or 13·7 % in favour of the monensin treatment (P<0·001). The growth-promoting effect of monensin showed no tendency to diminish with time.
Effects of different husbandry systems on milk production of purebred and crossbred sheep
Authors: Mavrogenis A. P. , Louca A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of different husbandry systems on production characters of 616 purebred and crossbred sheep are reported. The Cyprus Fat-tailed (L), Chios (C) and Awassi (A) breeds were evaluated under intensive, semi-intensive and extensive production systems. The performance of crossbred (C × L, A × L and A × C) Cyprus Fat-tailed and Awassi sheep was compared under extensive husbandry conditions. Ewes on the intensive systems produced more milk, fat and protein (P<0·01), but with somewhat lower fat and protein content than those on the extensive or semi-intensive systems. Chios and Awassi ewes were superior to Cyprus Fat-tailed ewes in nearly all traits (P<0·1), but inferior in terms of fat and protein content (P<0·1). Awassi × Chios crossbreds outyielded both purebred and crossbred sheep in terms of milk, fat and protein yield (P<0·1). Lactation number had a significant effect on milk traits. Maximum milk production was obtained at fourth lactation.
The performance of fattening cattle offered barley and grass silage in various proportions either as discrete feeds or as a complete diet
Authors: Petchey A. M. , Broadbent P. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSeventy-two male castrates (60 British Friesian and 12 Lincoln Red Shorthorn × (Hereford × British Friesian)) were used. The barley was offered either once daily or in a homogenous mix (complete diet) at different proportions of the total dry matter. The diets ranged from silage alone to one of rolled barley plus 1 kg long hay per day. Animals on the complete diet had greater intakes (8·9%) than those offered their barley once daily but this was not reflected in significantly greater daily live-weight gains. Curvilinear regressions were fitted to the data but further investigations with different breeds of cattle and qualities of grass silage will be required before they can be used with any assurance for predictive purposes in advisory situations. When steers were fed on diets with more than 0·40 barley in the total dry matter their intakes declined but their calculated energy (MJ metabolizable energy) intakes remained similar. It is suggested that this finding should be taken into account when diets for cattle are formulated for advisory purposes.
Soya bean meal, crystalline urea, and a urea, mineral and vitamin solution as nitrogen sources for lactating ewes given whole oats
Authors: Bass Jean M. , Fishwick G. , Parkins J. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTFifty-one ewes with single lambs and 87 ewes suckling twin lambs (mean ewe live weight, 67 kg) were given a basal diet of 1·0kg hay and 1·0kg whole oats, providing approximately 16·7MJ metabolizable energy and lOOg digestible crude protein per day. Three supplements (A, B and C), providing an additional 45 g digestible crude protein, were compared. Supplement A consisted of 40 g of a fully-soluble liquid product (LS) containing urea, (equivalent to 1090g crude protein per kg), minerals and vitamins; B was 16g urea with solid minerals and vitamins; and C was 125g soya bean meal given in substitution for the same amount of whole oats plus solid minerals and vitamins. The growth rate to 6 weeks for single lambs (11 kg) was unaffected by treatment. For twin lambs the growth rates were 7·5kg (LS), 7·1kg (crystalline urea), 7·8kg (soya) and 6·4k g (unsupplemented) (s.e. of mean = 0·31 kg). Ewes with twin lambs given crystalline urea or LS lost more live weight (approximately 1·04kg) than those given soya (6·6kg) over the first 6 weeks of lactation. The maintenance of normal concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the blood of ewes suggested that the low total intakes of approximately 4·1 g calcium and 4·7 g phosphorus by the ewes were not inadequate.
The effect of breed type and inbreeding on characteristics of the fleece and skin of 12-week-old lambs
Authors: Woolliams J. A. , Wiener G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSheep of three pure breeds, the Scottish Blackface, South Country Cheviot and Welsh Mountain, and the crosses among these breeds, were inbred mostly by younger-parent offspring matings for three generations. Observations on lambs at 12 weeks of age were weight of fleece per unit area of skin, mean and variance of fibre length, both primary and secondary follicle density, and fibre diameter. The observations were analysed for the effects of inbreeding of the lamb and its dam, breed type, parity, and the sex and birth type of the lamb. Variation in the traits was also analysed for their relationship to lamb's live weight.Secondary follicle density and the density ratio (Ns/Np) decreased with inbreeding of the lamb. Primary follicle density increased whilst secondary fibre diameter and mean fibre length decreased with inbreeding of the dam. The effects of inbreeding on the density ratio and on secondary fibre diameter were correlated with inbreeding effects on the lamb's 12-week live weight. For other traits inbreeding did not have a clear-cut effect. Heterosis observed in F2 lambs was in general greater than that previously recorded for F1. For mean fibre length and mean fibre diameter the comparison of the crossbred deviations from mid-parent of the F2 and inbred lambs suggested epistatic interactions were involved. The effect of inbreeding crossbreds and inbreeding purebreds was different for secondary follicle density and primary fibre diameter, the two traits most clearly exhibiting heterosis in the F2. Lambs from first parity ewes had finer primary fibres and lighter fleece samples than had lambs from later parities.
Backfat studies in growing pigs 1. Influence of energy intake on growth and carcass measurements at varying live weights
Authors: Giles L. R. , Murison R. D. , Wilson B. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Measurements of digestible energy intake, live growth and carcass measurements were conducted with 96 individually housed pigs (48 male and 48 female) given the same diet at four feeding levels (ad libitum; Agricultural Research Council daily digestible energy intake (C); C–12·5%; and C–25% daily digestible energy intake. The pigs were slaughtered at one of six live weights (45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 kg).2. Prediction equations of average daily live-weight gain and introscope P2 backfat thickness on the hot carcass (hot P2) were developed as functions of average daily digestible energy intake for males and females at varying live weights. The relationships found were 20·8 g live-weight gain per MJ digestible energy intake and 0·81 mm hot P2 backfat thickness per MJ digestible energy intake from 25 to 90 kg live weight.3. Compared with feeding level C, C –25% produced no difference in feed conversion ratio, reduced shoulder maximum, mid-back and loin minimum backfat thickness by 6–8 mm (14–4%), 4–2 mm (168%) and 4–1 mm (17–5%) respectively (P<0·01) and increased eye-muscle area by 2908mm2 (10·9%).4. Compared with females, males reached slaughter weight 9·4 days earlier, increased daily live-weight gain by 64g, increased feed conversion ratio by 0·3, had 1·6mm less hot P2 backfat thickness, had less backfat at all mid-line positions and showed no difference in eye-muscle area.
A comparison of defluorinated rock phosphate and dicalcium phosphate, in diets containing either skim milk powder or soya bean meal as the main protein supplement, for early-weaned pigs
Authors: Partridge I. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThirty-six pigs were weaned at 21 days of age and were given diets supplemented with either dicalcium phosphate (DCP) or defluorinated rock phosphate (DFP) from 4 weeks of age until slaughter at 50 kg live weight. From 4 to 9 weeks of age the diets contained either skim milk powder (SKIM) or soya bean meal (SOY) as the main protein supplement. The dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design. From 9 weeks of age until slaughter, SOY was the only protein supplement used. Four 7-day measurements of phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen balance were made on each pig. Faecal endogenous P was estimated in two pigs per treatment by the 32P dilution method.There were no significant effects of P supplement on performance or on apparent absorption, true absorption or retention of P. The apparent absorption and retention of Ca were both 0·07 lower with DFP than with DCP in the period from 9 weeks of age to slaughter (P< 0·001).From 4 to 9 weeks of age there was no effect of protein supplement on performance. From 9 weeks of age to slaughter, when all pigs were given SOY, those which had received SKIM in the previous period grew slightly faster (P<0·05); their growth-rate overall, from 4 weeks of age to slaughter, was also significantly better (P <0·05).Pigs given SKIM showed a higher apparent absorption of P (P < 0·001) and higher apparent absorption (P<0·01) and retention (P<0·001) of both Ca and N from 4 to 9 weeks of age. Again, there were carry-over effects in the period from 9 weeks of age to slaughter, although the trends observed in the first period were reversed; pigs previously given SKIM showed significantly lower apparent absorption and retention of both P and Ca, and apparent absorption of N, than those previously given SOY.There were no significant effects of dietary treatments on the ash, Ca or P content of the fourth metacarpal.
Effect of the sire on the subsequent lactation performance in the dam
Authors: Basu S. B. , Tomar S. S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of 18 buffalo sires, used in 2 years of a progeny-testing programme, on the subsequent lactation performances of their mates, were investigated from a study of 685 lactation records. The traits studied were: milk production, lactation length, length of post partum anoestrus, number of services per conception and length of service period (calving to conception). Parity of calving and sire had a significant effect on 305-day milk yield and lactation length of the mates. Between the 2 years, the sires did not differ for any of the traits of their mates. Although the breeding value of the sires, high or low, did not differ significantly, the sires with high breeding value tended to depress the milk production in the subsequent lactation of their mates and vice versa (r= −0·05). The birth weight of the calves significantly affected milk production. It was concluded that all methods of sire evaluation are likely to be biased by the effect of sires.
Value of conformation as an indicator of sheep carcass composition within and between breeds
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Croston D. , Jones D. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCarcass evaluation data from two breed-comparison trials were used to examine the value of conformation as an indicator of carcass composition when used in addition to carcass weight and different measures of fatness. One trial involved 1478 crossbred lambs out of three ewe types by Border Leicester, Dorset Down, Ile-de-France, North Country Cheviot, Oxford Down, Southdown, Suffolk, Texel and Wensleydale sires. The other trial involved 920 crossbred lambs out of two dam types by Dorset Down, Ile-de-France, Oldenburg, Oxford Down, Suffolk and Texel sires. Each trial extended over 3 years.Conformation contributed little to the prediction of carcass lean percentage or proportion of lean in the higher-priced joints, although the additional precision was often significant at P<0·01. When conformation was used in association with dissected subcutaneous fat percentage, it was positively associated with carcass lean content; used with a visual assessment of external fat cover on a five-point scale, which provided a less effective control of fatness variation, it tended to be negatively related to carcass lean content.Conformation was slightly more valuable for the prediction of lean to bone ratio and m. longissimus depth. The addition of sire-breed effect to weight and fat class provided an important increase in the precision of prediction of percentage lean in carcass and lean to bone ratio. Texel progeny had higher lean to bone ratios and more lean in the carcass than progeny of other sire breeds, but they did not have sufficiently high conformation scores to clearly identify this advantage.
A comparison of silages made from red clover/grass, white clover/grass and high nitrogen grass swards for beef production
Authors: Stewart T. A. , McCullough I. I. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSilage cut twice annually (June and August) from a tetraploid red clover/grass sward and three times annually (May, July and September) from a low nitrogen (N) and high N perennial ryegrass/white clover sward was fed in proportion to dry-matter yield from each cut, over a 10-week period, each winter for 3 years to castrated male cattle of initial live weight 401 kg in year 1 and 425 kg in years 2 and 3. The silages were supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg concentrate per head daily.Total dry-matter yield from the red clover/grass sward was similar to that from the perennial ryegrass/white clover sward (high N grass) receiving 360 kg N per ha but the digestibility, particularly of first cut material was much lower. Dry-matter production of the low N grass/white clover sward was 0·73 of high N grass sward and produced silages of similar digestibility and fermentation.Dry-matter intakes by the cattle were higher on the legume-based silages in years when clover made a worthwhile contribution to total yield, but this did not significantly improve utilization or animal performance compared with high N grass silage. Mean daily carcass gain per head on red clover/grass silage was 0·41 kg which was significantly less than the 0·61 kg on white clover/grass silage and 0·59 on high N grass (P < 0·001). Carcass output from red clover/grass silage was 618 kg/ha and 629 kg/ha from white clover/grass, both of which were significantly less than the 863 kg/ha from the high N grass silage (P < 0·001). Dressing proportion was also significantly poorer in animals fed red clover/grass silage compared with the other silage types.
Estimation of carcass leanness in young rams
Authors: Cameron N. D. , Smith C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe accuracy of six methods to estimate carcass leanness in young rams was studied in 36 Texel-Oxford rams, measured at 5 months of age. The rams were slaughtered and dissected. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid and very low density lipoprotein concentrations, sampled before, during and after fasting, showed no relationship with carcass leanness. The same was true for food conversion efficiency measured from 6 to 16 weeks of age, and for measurements taken with the Scanogram ultrasonic machine. The Vetscan and Danscanner ultrasonic machines gave repeatable measurements of fat depth (0·41 and 0·46 respectively). The Vetscan was the best predictor of carcass leanness by proportionally reducing the residual mean square by about 0·20, corresponding to a correlation of −0·45 between ultrasonic fat depth and carcass leanness. Inclusion of average daily gain and ultrasonic fat depth in a selection index would allow appreciable improvements in both traits.