bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Causes of variation in dental characters of Scottish Blackface sheep in a hill flock, and relations to ewe performance
Authors: Purser A. F. , Wiener G. , West D. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYObservations were made in three successive years on the dentition of Scottish Blackface ewes of 1½–4½ years old in a large hill flock in southern Scotland.The number of permanent incisor teeth was not a reliable guide to age, since at each age there was variation about the modal number. The length of the central permanent incisors increased slightly with age, and associated with this there was a slight forward movement in the position at which these teeth occluded with the dental pad. The modal position was 1 mm behind the anterior point of the dental pad of gum. About 1·5 % of the observations had bite positions deviating by 5 mm or more from the mode.Keeping the females during their first winter on low-ground pasture instead of the hill led to earlier eruption and slightly longer central incisors, but had little effect on bite position.The heritability of the number of incisors present at any one age was estimated to be 0·39 ± 0·11 by paternal half-sib correlation and 0·80 ± 0·27 by daughter-dam regression. Estimates of h2 for incisor length were less than half these values and those for the measure of bite position were very small and not significantly different from zero.For the ages up to 3½ years old, there were low but statistically significant correlations of number of incisors with ewe live weight (0·1–0·2) and fleece weight (around 0·1), incisor length with fleece weight (around 0·1) and at 1½ years old only between the bite measure and both weights (0·1). Weight of lamb weaned by the ewe was uncorrelated with these dental traits.It is concluded that in this flock, culling on the dental characters studied would not have improved performance, and selection would not change the position of the bite.
A mathematical model of the rumen
Authors: France J. , Thornley J. H. M. , Beever D. E. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA dynamic model of rumen processes is constructed. The nine state variables considered are: rumen metabolic volume, non-rumen-degradable β-hexose, rumen-degradable β-hexose, α-hexose, water-soluble carbohydrates, non-protein nitrogen, rumendegradable protein and non-rumen-degradable protein. The dietary and salivary inputs to the rumen may be continuous, or pulsed. Rumen outflow given by the model is compared with data on sheep fed with different diets. Reasonable agreement is obtained when the model is run in the continuous mode, but there are considerable discrepancies between the experimental data and the pulsed model.
Effect of spray cooling and wallowing on potassium concentration of erythrocytes in buffaloes (Bos bubalis) during summer
Authors: Gangwar P. C. , Bahga C. S. , Srivastava R. K. , Dhingra D. P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYForty-five normal lactating buffaloes from Punjab Agricultural University, Dairy Farm herd, were used for this study and were divided into three groups as group I (control), group II (showers) and group III (wallowing). The study was conducted from May to September in two periods, May–June as period I (hot and dry) and July–September as period II (hot and humid). Potassium concentration was estimated on a flame photometer. The overall average values (m-equiv/l) were found to be lowest in the control group (21·5 ± 1·27) and highest in wallowing (24·3 ± 1·20). Lower values were obtained in period I than in period II. Different correlations of potassium concentration in red blood corpuscles with climatic variables are discussed. Erythrocyte potassium concentration may act as an index of heat tolerance in buffaloes.
The metabolic significance of variations in the shell calcium: retained calcium relationship between individual laying hens
Authors: Tyler Cyril 
Published: March 2009

Statistical analysis of data from calcium and hosphorus balance experiments with laying hens has shown that, for regression equations relating shell calcium to calcium retention:(a) Individual birds give different regression coefficients (b values).(b) The equations obtained for each of twelve birds belong to one family which can be represented by a more general equation.(c) Over the whole of an experiment the b value and the phosphorus balance for each bird is significantly correlated with the total shell calcium secreted by that bird.The metabolic significance of these findings is discussed in relation to shell formation and bone mobilization, and it is suggested that potentially high secretors of shell calcium are those which have a greater ability to lay down calcium on the bone during periods of low production and a greater ability to remove it from the bones when in high production.
A survey of methods of milk production: II. Statistical analysis of bacteriological tests on milk samples
Authors: Leech F. B. , Egdell J. W. , Thomas S. B. 
Published: March 2009

1. The results of a survey of the methods of milk production on a random sample of farms in four counties of England and Wales were used in conjunction with bacteriological and keeping quality tests of the milk produced, to estimate the influence on milk quality of factors in equipment and technique.2. Of the many factors in technique investigated, only the sterilization of utensils and the cooling of the milk appeared to affect milk quality. The effects of these two factors differed in some degree with the four tests used.3. Milk samples from machine-milked herds had significantly greater thermoduric colony counts than samples from hand-milked herds. No other factor of equipment showed appreciable association with milk-quality tests.4. Brief recommendations are made about the conduct of any future field survey of factors affecting bacteriological and keeping quality of milk.
The effect of varying seed rate on the yield and yield components of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus)
Authors: Scarisbrick D. H. , Daniels R. W. , Rawi A. B. Noor 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo varieties of oil-seed rape were drilled in 1979–81 at a range of seed rates. Percentage establishment, plant weight, height, and the ratio of seed to total aboveground dry matter were lower in high-density plots. Seed yields were not increased when the seed rate was raised from 9·0 to 13·5 kg/ha (Expts 1 and 2) or from 4·5 to 18·0 kg/ha (Expt 3) owing to a compensating reduction in the number of pods per plant. Seed quality and 1000-seed weight were not influenced by the seed-rate treatments.
Assessment of components in a set of management practices for the wet-season production of vegetable cow pea in Trinidad
Authors: Brathwaite R. A. I 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYExperiments were conducted in association with farmers during 1977, 1978 and 1979 on a River Estate sandy loam at Valsayn and on a Cunupia clay loam at Piarco, Trinidad, to assess the relative importance of components in a set of practices for wetseason production of ‘yellow shell’ pods of ‘blackeye’ type of cow pea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Though the response of the cow pea growth, yield and seed quality characteristics were similar at both locations, crop performance was consistently better at Valsayn and was attributed to more favourable soil conditions and to a lower incidence of pests (mainly Ceratoma beetles), cow pea severe mosaic virus, and weeds. Overall, it was found that pest control was the most important management factor, accounting for a mean yield increase of 144%. The adoption of the improved cultivar, California Blackeye No. 5, increased yield by 77%. Other inputs resulting in significant yield increases were, in order of magnitude, weed control (40%), roguing of mosaic infected plants (37%) and high plant density of 110000 plants/ha (23%). A fertilizer treatment did not significantly increase yield. The results suggest that adoption of the insect control treatment by farmers in their cultivation of an improved cultivar sown at high plant density, the use of herbicide and roguing of mosaic infected plants have practical potential and would be economically justified for the production of high yields and good quality ‘yellow shell’ pods of vegetable cow pea for processing.
The yield and composition of kale and cabbage with and without nitrogenous top-dressing
Authors: Castle M. E. , Foot A. S. , Hosking Zena D. , Rowland S. J. 
Published: March 2009

In 4 consecutive years, 1948 to 1952, combined varietal and manurial trials were carried out to obtain information on the yields of marrow-stem kale, thousand-head kale and cattle cabbage in the presence and absence of sulphate of ammonia applied as a top-dressing at the rate of 6 cwt./acre.Yield and composition of all crops were apparently affected by differences in weather conditions. In most years, and particularly for cabbage, the yield declined with successive harvests.Increased green crop, dry matter and crude protein yields resulted from the application of nitrogenous fertilizer in 3 years, but in the other year, a very dry season, the response to the top-dressing was negligible.Marrow-stem kale both with and without the additional fertilizer, yielded more, in terms of fresh crop, dry matter and crude protein, than thousandhead kale with the same manurial treatment. Cabbage yields often approached those of marrowstem kale at the first harvest, but were nearer to those of thousand-head by the last harvest of each year.
Studies on soil humic acids II: Observations on the estimation of free amino groups. Reactions of humic acid and lignin preparations with nitrous acid
Authors: Bremner J. M. 
Published: March 2009

1. Free amino groups in humic acid preparations isolated from 0·5M-sodium hydroxide and 0·1M-sodium pyrophosphate (pH 7·0) extracts of various soils have been estimated by the nitrous acid method of Van Slyke (1929) and the fluorodinitrobenzene technique of Sanger (1945).2. The results obtained by the Van Slyke method using a reaction time of 15min. indicated that from 12 to 30% of the total nitrogen in the preparations examined was in the form of free amino groups. No free amino groups could be detected by the fluorodinitrobenzene technique.3. It is shown that lignin interferes with the estimation of amino groups by the Van Slyke method, and it is suggested that lignin or ligninderived material may be largely responsible for the high apparent amino-nitrogen values obtained with humic acid preparations by this method.4. The reaction of humic acid with nitrous acid resembles the reaction of lignin with nitrous acid in that it is accompanied by the fixation of nitrogen and the destruction of methoxyl groups. The reaction of lignin with nitrous acid is similar in many respects to its reaction with nitric acid.5. Only about one-third of the nitrogen fixed by lignin in its reaction with nitrous acid is removed by prolonged hydrolysis with 6N-HC1, and most of the nitrogen so released is in the form of ammonia. A small amount of the nitrogen liberated by acid hydrolysis is in the form of hydroxylamine.
Soil fauna of dry and irrigated farm systems in the Egyptian western desert
Authors: Hegazi E. M. , Abd-Elatif M. A. , Moursy K. S. , Maareg M. F. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSoil fauna of irrigated olive and vine farms and a rain-fed farm at the Egyptian western desert were surveyed and analysed between September 1977 and August 1978. In samples from these farms, Collembola and Acari constituted the highest fraction of total arthropod fauna while Aranea, Myriapoda, Crustacea, and Pseudoscorpionida comprised the lowest fractions. Populations of annelids and nematodes differed from one farm to another. The study revealed that plant cover, irrigation system, human interference and the physical and chemical properties exerted a considerable effect on the number and type of soil fauna components at each farm.
The effects of grinding, either with or without NaOH treatment, on the utilization of straw by yearling dairy cattle
Authors: Smith T. , Broster W. H. , Broster Valerie J. , Siviter J. W. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYProcessed straw, both ground and ground–NaOH treated, has been compared with long straw in diets of straw and concentrates fed to yearling dairy heifers. Protein allowances were varied by the addition of fishmeal.Improved growth rate was consistently observed with those animals receiving fishmeal. When a fixed amount of barley straw was offered neither digestibility nor growth was affected by the form of the straw. With wheat straw grinding–NaOH treatment resulted in increased growth when fed in diets containing some long roughage. Voluntary intake of straw was additively increased by grinding and by treatment with 5% (w/w) NaOH. Ground-NaOH treatment of straw increased in vitro digestibility.
The performance of Andropogon gayanus – legume associations in Colombia
Authors: Grof B. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe forage potential of Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) was assessed in cutting experiments on a low fertility, acid Ultisol in Colombia. This grass recently introduced from Africa outyielded Hyparrhenia rufa, Panicum maximum, Brachiaria decumbens and Digitaria decumbena in various mixtures made up of a single grass and a single legume. A. gayanua performed well as a companion grass with the legumes Styloaanthes guianensis, Stylosanthes capitata and Centroaema sp., while B. decumbena suppressed the legumes planted in these trials during the 2nd year following establishment.
Seasonal influence on the total glycoside content of foxglove (Digitalis lanata)
Authors: Rajukkannu K. , Dhakshinamoorthy M. , Arumugam R. , Duraisamy P. 
Published: March 2009

Several plants are cultivated for medicinal and aromatic purposes. Foxglove (Digitalis lanata) has been introduced into India from Western Europe and is cultivated for medicinal use. The leaves of D. lanata contain various glycosides, namely digoxin, gitoxin and gitalin, which are of medicinal value. This crop is cultivated throughout the year but not much information is available aboutseasonal influence on the glycoside content. Hence, attempts are made to assess the effect of seasonal variation on total glycoside content and to arrive at an optimum season for harvesting the crop.
The effects of the long-term application of a wide range of nitrogen rates on the yields from perennial ryegrass swards with and without white clover
Authors: Reid D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe yield results are reported for the final 3 years of a 6-year experiment in which twenty-one rates of nitrogen fertilizer ranging from 0 to 800 lb/acre (897 kg/ha) were applied annually on S. 23 perennial ryegrass swards with and without S. 100 white clover. The long-term effects of the treatments on herbage yields are discussed using the results from all 6 years. Four-parameter exponential curves fitted to the herbage yield data from each year show that the response pattern for the pure-grass sward remained relatively constant over the years although the mean annual yields varied slightly. The response of dry-metter yield to nitrogen rate on this sward was almost linear between the 0 and 300 lb nitrogen/acre (336 kg/ha) rates, then it decreased progressively, becoming non-significant about the 500 lb/a ere (560 kg/ha) ra te. Crude-protein yield responded almost linearly up to the 600 lb/acre (673 kg/ha) rate. The average yield responses over the 6 years for the pure-grass sward with nitrogen rates between 0 and 300 lb/acre was 27–8 lb dry matter (range 25·8–29·8 lb) and 4·2 lb crude protein (range 3·8–4·8 lb) per lb of nitrogen applied. At high nitrogen rates the yield curves for the grass and clover sward were similar to those for the pure-grass sward but at low rates the grass and clover sward gave a lower response to nitrogen and a greater yield at each nitrogen rate. The yield response to nitrogen rates between 0 and 300 lb/acre applied on this sward increased from 13·1 lb dry matter/lb of nitrogen in the first year to 20·2 lb in the sixth year. The difference in yield between the grass and clover and the pure-grass swards given no nitrogen fertilizer decreased from 4850 lb dry matter/acre (5440 kg/ha) to 2370 lb/acre (2660 kg/ha) over the same period. Within each year the yield difference between the two swards decreased with increasing nitrogen rate reaching an insignificant value at a rate of about 350 lb/acre (392 kg/ha) in the first year declining to 150 lb/acre (168 kg/ha) in the sixth year. On average the weight of nitrogen required annually on the pure-grass sward to give the same herbage yield as the grass and clover sward receiving no nitrogen was 125 lb/acre (140 kg/ha) on a drymatter basis and 195 lb/acre (219 kg/ha) on a crude protein basis.
Relationship between visual colour rating and chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and some growth characteristics in couchgrass (Cynodonspp. L.)
Authors: Rahman M. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYChlorophyll contents per unit leaf area and unit dry weight, chlorophylla:bratio, visual colour rating, specific leaf area, and leaf fresh weight: dry weight ratios were estimated for 12 couch (bermudagrass) varieties (Cynodonspp. L.) in winter (July) and spring (October). Net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates were estimated in winter only.The chlorophyll contents per unit leaf area were higher in all varieties in spring than in winter, but per unit weight were more variable. The varieties differed substantially in the net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates. The specific leaf areas were greater in winter than in spring in five varieties: in others it changed little. The fresh: dry weight ratios of the leaves were almost constant between varieties in the spring but varied greatly during the winter. Visual colour ratings were well correlated with chlorophyll contents per unit area but not with weight. The net photosynthetic rate was closely correlated with chlorophyll content (per unit area) but not so closely with colour rating.
Studies in grazing management. VI. The influence of free- and strip-grazing and of nitrogenous fertilizers on production from dairy cows
Authors: Campling R. C. , MacLusky D. S. , Holmes W. 
Published: March 2009

1. An experiment with dairy cows is described in which the production per animal and per acre obtained in three methods of grazing management were compared during 2 years.(A) An intensive method. Strip-grazing daily on heavily fertilized grass sward.(B) A modified intensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a heavily fertilized grass sward.(C) An extensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a grass and clover sward receiving a basic application of phosphate and potash only.The intensively fertilized swards received a total of 212 lb. fertilizer nitrogen per acre, together with adequate amounts of phosphate and potash throughout the grazing season. No supplementary foods of concentrate type were fed to the cows during the experiment.2. For the comparison of production per animal 3 × 3 Latin-square experimental design, with twelve Ayrshire cows and periods of 3 weeks' duration, was used. Two separate trials were conducted during the grazing season of 1955 and a third trial during 1956.3. The different methods of grazing management and intensive use of fertilizer had little influence on the milk yield and butterfat percentage of the milk of the cows.
The relationship between fineness of grinding of food and rumination
Authors: Gordon John G. 
Published: March 2009

1. Five out of six sheep ruminated more in terms of the total time spent ruminating when fed their food (dried grass) cut into approximately 2 in. lengths, than when fed the same quantity and quality of food in the long (uncut) state or when ground to a meal.2. Grinding to a meal markedly reduced rumination times as compared with the same quantity and quality of diet fed long or chopped.3. It is postulated that these effects may be related to the stimulation of rumination.
The effects of a low-protein food supplement on the yield and composition of milk from grazing dairy cows and on the composition of their diet
Authors: Corbett J. L. , Boyne A. W. 
Published: March 2009

1. Dried molassed sugar-beet pulp was fed to dairy cows grazing abundant intensively managed pastures in two trials (spring and autumn), each of 8 weeks' duration. A change-over design (four 14-day periods) with twenty-four cows was employed in each trial. Apart from six changes for the autumn trial, the same cows were used throughout.2. In the spring trial (May–July) 8 lb. beet pulp were fed daily. The herbage dry matter consumed contained, on average, 16·8% crude protein, and the general mean milk yield was 38 lb./cow/day. The milk yield of the supplemented cows was 1·3 lb. (3·7%) greater than that of the control animals (P< 0·05).3. In the autumn trial (August–October) 10 lb. beet pulp were fed daily. The herbage dry matter consumed contained 23·8% crude protein and the general mean milk yield was 27 lb./cow/day. The milk yield of the supplemented cows was 2·9 lb. (11·3%) greater than that of the control animals (P< 0·001).
Studies on forage cell walls: 5. Alkali-treated lucerne
Authors: Mathews M. G. , McManus W. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryGround lucerne was treated with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) in a ‘dry crystal’ process, prior to pelleting.Data for feed characteristics and related utilization by sheep fed these diets are reported. NaOH and KOH had effects of different magnitude on the digestibility of cell-wall constituents (CWC). An increase of nitrogen (N) in the cell wall (CWN) induced by tha alkali treatments, resulted in depressed nitrogen digestibility. The residual alkali and high electrolyte intakes produced higher rumen pH, but values were more stable than for sheep fed the control diet.
Uptake efficiency of roots in plants at different ploidy levels
Authors: Cacco G. , Ferrari G. , Lucci G. C. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe uptake efficiency of roots for sulphate and potassium was evaluated in wheat, sugar beet, and tomato, at different ploidy levels. At increasing ploidy, wheat and sugar beet showed higher, tomato lower efficiency, the polyploid absorption system being characterized in sugar beet by higher Vmax and Km, in wheat by higher Vmax and unchanged Km, in tomato by lower Vmax and Km. Uptake efficiency of roots appears tightly bound to the evolutionary progress, that is to the level of environment adaptation of plants, and should be susceptible of further improvement by breeding practices.
Evaluation of soil tests for the estimation of available sulphur
Authors: Arora B. R. , Sekhon G. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn a glasshouse experiment, sulphur was applied to 22 soils as 35S-labelled gypsum. Estimates of available sulphur using different extractants were correlated with yield responses and sulphur uptakes by oats. The largest correlation coefficients were obtained with ‘A’ values and sulphur soluble in 0·5 M-NaHC03, 1% NaCl after heating and ammonium acetate–acetic acid. Critical levels of available sulphur obtained by relating these four methods to yield responses were 24·0, 22·0, 11·0 and 10·5 mgS/kg soil respectively.