bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rearing twin and triplet lambs on the ewe
Authors: Gallo C. B. , Davies D. A. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe performance of 32 Cambridge (C) and Suffolk × Cambridge (S × C) twin and triplet rearing ewes and their progeny was investigated from lambing until the lambs reached slaughter weight. The ewes and lambs were housed and penned in individual family groups until 35 days after lambing. From 7 to 35 days the effect of rearing type was studied in combination with feeding the ewes a complete diet containing either 250 (diet 250) or 400 (diet 400) g milled hay per kg. After 35 days ewes and lambs grazed pasture. Ewes suckling triplets produced slightly more milk at 20 days 4·3 v. 4·1 (s.e.d. 0·20) kg/day and significantly more at 30 days 4·1 v. 3·7 (s.e.d. 0·18) kg/day, but consumed similar amounts of dry matter (3·9 kg/day) and so tended to lose more body condition. The latter was also a feature of ewes given diet 400 which produced similar milk yields but had lower complete diet intakes than those on diet 250. S × C had higher yields than C ewes.Triplet lambs grew faster than twins 361 v. 290 (s.e.d. 9·0) g/day to 35 days but during the outdoor period triplet males but not females grew as fast as their twin counterparts 337 v. 317 for males and 269 v. 302 for females (s.e.d. 12·7) g/day. A selection of male twin and triplet lambs was slaughtered within the range 39 to 42 kg when 102 and 105 days old respectively. Triplet lambs had a lower killing-out proportion 0·458 v. 0·477 (s.e.d. 0·0085) and hence carcass weight but all carcasses qualified for Meat and Livestock Commission certification.
Effects of fish-meal supplementation and shearing in store/finishing systems for lambs
Authors: Vipond J. E. , FitzSimons J. , Robb J. , Horgan G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDevelopment of new systems of lamb finishing for the late winter/spring market involving an extended housed store period on a predominantly straw diet are constrained by unacceptable reduction in muscle mass arising from inadequate protein supply during dietary adaptation from grass to straw. Problems with subsequent finishing on forage brassicas fedin situ arise from carcass contamination due to soiled wool of crossbred lambs which grow long fleeces over the extended store I finishing period. In order to study the effect of fish-meal supplementation on dietary change over from grass to straw 116 Mule wether lambs were allocated to four treatments, three of which received a supplement of 100 glday fish meal for 28 days from housing and introduction of a diet of straw ad libitum and 225 glday grain distillers' dark grains, the fourth group received no fish meal and was unshorn (No F/US). Shearing treatments of shorn (F/S), unshorn (F/US) and crutched (F/C) were applied to fish-meal supplemented group's. After 112 days, the housed lambs were grazed outside on swedes (Brassica napus) and effects of treatments on performance and bacterial contamination of carcasses (shearing treatments only) were studied. Fish-meal supplementation significantly reduced weight loss on dietary change by 2·2 kg after 45 days (P< 0·001). Of fishmeal supplemented lambs 83% eventually ‘finished’ (defined as Meat and Livestock Commission fat class 3LI3H) v. 34% of unsupplemented lambs. Shearing or crutching had little effect on store or finishing performance indicating adequate fleece regrowth for insulation purposes after turn-out. Shorn and crutched lambs had lower levels of bacterial carcass contamination with reductions of 0·06, 0·42 and 0·40 in counts for colony forming units per cm2, coliforms and Escherichia coli on leg sites (P < 0·05). Economic evaluation indicated financial advantage from fish-meal supplementation with an increase in margin over food costs of €3·50 as a result of heavier carcass weight and a reduced need for remedial concentrate feeding in the store period.
A growth model to estimate economic values for food intake capacity in pigs
Authors: de Vries A. G. , Kanis E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA biological growth model was developed to study economic values for averagead libitumfood intake capacity (FIC) in growing pigs. The model was based on the linear/plateau relationship between protein deposition and food intake. Input variables were: minimum fat to protein deposition ratio (R), maximum protein deposition rate (Pdmax)and food intake (FI). Output variables were production traits and production costs.Economic values (under commercial conditions withad libitumfeeding) were derived with the growth model for each of the traits FIC, R, and Pdmax keeping the other two traits constant, for three alternative levels of FIC. If FIC was too low to realize Pdmax, FIC had a positive economic value, R had a negative economic value and the value of Pdmaxwas zero. If FIC was higher than necessary to realize Pdmax, economic values were negative, zero and positive for FIC, R, and Pdmaxrespectively. If FIC was just sufficient to realise Pdmax, the lowest production costs occurred. Now, R had a negative economic value and Pdmax had a positive economic value.With a restricted feeding regimen under commercial conditions a daily food supply just sufficient to realize Pdmaxshould be pursued. It was concluded that use of a biological growth model to estimate economic values for FIC would give more insight into correct selection strategies than would the use of an economic model.
Use of two vegetable by-products as protein sources in rainbow trout feeding
Authors: Moyano F. J. , Cardenete G. , de la Higuera M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo experiments were designed to test the possibility of partially replacing fish-meal protein in rainbow trout either with maize-gluten meal (MGM) (experiment 1) or potato protein concentrate (PPC) (experiment 2). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 30 g initial average weight were given diets containing different levels of MGM or PPC proteins ranging from 0 to 0·4 or to 0·6 of dietary protein, respectively. Substitutions of fish meal either by MGM or PPC were carried out establishing two different total dietary protein levels; 350 and 450 g/kg. Results showed that the MGM diets were acceptable and gave a significant enhancement (over 0·37 in the better case) in nutrient utilization when compared with those including only fish meal. On the contrary, diets including PPC were poorly accepted, and the growth offish and nutrient utilization were negatively correlated with dietary levels of PPC. It is concluded that levels of MGM representing around 400 g/kg diet can be used in foods for rainbow trout, whereas PPC appears not to be a suitable protein source for those fish.
Transferrin polymorphism of indigenous cattle in Rhodesia and Zambia
Authors: Carr W. R. , Condy J. B. , Burrows P. M. 
Published: September 2010

1. Two-thousand and sixty serum samples from indigenous cattle in Central Africa were examined for serum transferrin type. The breeds studied were Manguni, Mashona, Tuli, Angoni and Afrikander.2. The variation in gene frequencies from breed to breed is presented. With the exception of one Angoni herd, the remaining herds fall into distinct breed groups.3. The Mendelian hypothesis was tested on eight herds including at least one herd of each breed. With two exceptions good agreement with this hypothesis was obtained. The two exceptions were traced to two bulls, a Mashona (TfB/TfD) and a Tuli (TfD/TfF), both of which contributed TfD to their progeny at a rate in excess of Mendelian expectation.4. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium hypothesis was tested for thirteen herds and good agreement was obtained in all cases.5. In Angoni cattle no evidence was found to reject the hypothesis of independent segregation at the haemoglobin and transferrin loci.
The effect of Norbolethone, an anabolic steroid, on the performance and body composition of castrate pigs
Authors: Robinson D. W. , Singleton A. G. 
Published: September 2010

1. An experiment was carried out with 24 individually fed castrated male, Large White pigs, to examine the effects upon growth and body composition of an anabolic steroid included in finishing diets of two protein levels.2. There was a significant interaction between steroid and dietary protein level on the growth rate and food conversion efficiency. On the low protein diet growth rate and efficiency were improved by steroid treatment while with high protein intake the steroid significantly depressed growth. Analysis of the main effects showed no significant differences between steroid and protein means for food conversion efficiency and no significant difference between protein means for growth. There was a significant difference (P<0·05) for rate of growth in favour of the animals not receiving the steroid.3. Steroid significantly improved the percentage of lean and the eye muscle area, but decreased the length of pigs. High protein feeding also improved the percentage of lean and the eye muscle area and also increased the length.4. The results are discussed in relation to the use of steroids in other species, optimum time of application and the problem of ascertaining accurate physiological doses.
Conversion of energy and the chemical composition of gain in bacon pigs
Authors: Kielanowski Jan 
Published: September 2010

Relationships between the intake of energy and the rate of gain on the one hand, and the chemical composition of gain on the other were studied in bacon pigs, assuming that: (1) the only important determinants of the energy balance are the expenditures of energy in maintenance, in protein deposition and in fat deposition; (2) the net energy cost of fat or of protein deposition remains constant in pigs of all ages and live-weights, whatever the level of nutrition; (3) the average maintenance requirements of pigs growing over the same live-weight range and kept under similar conditions are constant, irrespective of their daily gains; (4) the ratio of non-fat components to protein in the gains of pigs over a similar live-weight range is virtually constant. Deductions based on these assumptions enabled the expression of the feed conversion ratio as a function of the average daily protein deposition, the average daily maintenance requirements and the average daily intake of energy to be made. The dependence of the feed conversion ratio on each of these three factors was demonstrated.After the substitution of plausible values for the energy costs of protein and of fat deposition, as well as for the average maintenance requirements, equations were derived for the estimation of the content of protein and of fat in the live-weight gain, when the total feed consumption and the number of days on test (20 to 90 kg.) were known. Using these equations, the average gain of fat and of protein in each year were estimated for the Danish Progeny Testing Stations during the period from 1926–7 to 1962–3. It was found that the decrease of the feed conversion ratio and consequent reduction in fat deposition which were achieved during this period, were accounted for mainly by an increase in daily protein deposition.
A comparison of ‘on-farm’ and station testing in pigs
Authors: Bampton P. R. , Curran M. K. , Kempson R. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYData from 14 074 gilts, performance-tested on 66 farms, were matched with those from 3835 station-tested boar sibs, the whole comprising progeny test results on 456 sires. Both groups of data were adjusted independently for effect of month of test and the farm data further adjusted to a constant weight of 91 kg. Analysis of variance and covariance was carried out within herds using weighted sire progeny means. Phenotypic correlations between the same traits recorded ‘on-farm’ and in station, ranged from 0·12* (weight/age) to 0·25** (‘C’ + ‘K’ fat depth) while genetic correlations, computed using the estimated accuracy of each test, ranged from 0·23* (weight/age) to 0·49** (simple performance test index). Correlations were generally higher in Large White than in Landrace pigs.
Anhydrous ammonia-treated whole-crop barley for beef steers
Authors: Williams P. E. V. , Macdearmid A. , Innes G. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWhole-crop barley (cv. Midas) was harvested when the grain dry matter (DM) reached 640 g/kg and was treated with either anhydrous ammonia at 40 g/kg DM or propionic acid (30 g/kg DM) and stored in polythene-lined tower silos. Anhydrous ammonia and propionic acid preserved the early harvested barley whole crop but distribution of ammonia through the silos was not uniform. Coefficients of DM and starch losses from whole grains separated from the ammonia- or propionic acid-treated whole crops or from rolled barley grains and suspended in the rumen of steers in nylon bags weqe, after 42 h incubation 0.73,0.85,0.26,0.21 and 0.78,0.96 respectively. Coefficients of digestibility of the ammonia-treated (AWC), of the propionic acid-treated (PWC) whole crops and of a diet of rolled barley and ammonia-treated straw (RB) with the same grain to straw DM proportion as that in the whole crops were 0·62 (AWC), 0·55 (PWC) and 0K57 (RB). Daily live-weight gains (kg/day) of 350 kg Hereford × Friesian steers offered the diets for up to 100 days were 0·33 (AWC), ·0·61 (PWC) and 0·74 (RB) and DM feed intakes (kg/day) were 4·7,3·4 and 7·6 respectively.
Thyroid hormones, blood plasma metabolites and haematological parameters in relationship to milk yield in dairy cows
Authors: Blum J. W. , Kunz P. , Leuenberger H. , Gautschi K. , Keller M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTo study their relationship to milk yield, the concentrations, in jugular venous blood, of thyroxine iodine (T4I), thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-tri-iodothyronine (T3), glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, urea, haemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) have been measured in 36 cows (Simmental, Swiss Brown, Holstein and Simmental × Holstein) of different ages during a full lactation, pregnancy, dry period, parturition and 150 days of the ensuing lactation. Thyroid hormones and triglycerides were negatively, and total protein, globulin, cholesterol and phospholipids were positively, correlated with uncorrected or corrected milk yield during several periods of lactation, whereas glucose, NEFA, albumin, urea, haemoglobin and packed cell volume were not correlated with milk yield. The 10 animals with the highest milk yield (18·9 to 23·5 kg/day) exhibited significantly lower values of T4I, T4, T3and glucose, significantly higher levels of total protein and globulin and tended to have higher levels of NEFA than the 10 cows with the lowest milk yield (10·9 to 14·3 kg/day) throughout or during certain periods of lactation, whereas concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, albumin, haemoglobin and PCV did not differ. Changes in T4I, T4, T3, glucose and total protein during lactation were also influenced by age, presumably associated with an increase in milk production with age. T3was consistently lowest and cholesterol and phospholipids, during later stages of lactation, were highest in Holsteins, which had the highest milk yields of all breeds. Changes of blood parameters were mainly caused by shifts in energy and protein metabolism in association with level of milk production
A note on an effect of sodium monensinate supplements on the level of some chemical elements in the organs and muscle of feedlot steers
Authors: Mašek J. , Gilka J. , Dočekalovà H. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn muscle and livers of steers given a diet with sodium monensinate a significant decrease in cadmium content was observed. The concentration of manganese, copper, zinc, lead and iron in the analysed organs varied inconsistently. It seems from the results that, in tissues, monensinate influences the metabolism not only of monovalent cations but of polyvalent cations as well.
Puberty attainment in oestradiol-treated gilts given allyl-trenbolone and gonadotrophins
Authors: Varley M. A. , Yang H. , Rodway R. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSixty Large White ♂ × (Large White ♂ × Landrace ♀) pre-pubertal gilts were allocated at random to one of five treatments. Gilts on treatment A were given oestradiol benzoate (OB) at 160 days of age. They were also given allyl-trenbolone (AT) at 166 days of age for 18 days followed by an injection of gonadotrophins (Gn) at 184 days of age. Gilts on treatment B were given OB and AT, but not Gn. Gilts on treatment C were given OB and Gn, but not AT. Gilts on treatment D were given OB only and gilts on treatment E were given Gn only. Gilts which were in heat after 183 days of age were artificially inseminated twice during the first 2 days of oestrus. All gilts were slaughtered either 20 days after insemination or at 220 days of age if they were still anoestrus.The percentages of gilts ovulating after Gn injection were 36% (4/11), 91·7% (11/12) and 91·7% (11/12) for treatment groups A, C and E respectively (P < 0·01). Gilts on treatments A, C and E were inseminated at a significantly younger age than those on treatments B and D (P < 0·05). No significant differences were found in ovulation rate or embryo survival between treatments.The results indicated that the administration of AT prior to Gn injection had an adverse effect on both the percentage of gilts ovulating and the development of embryos.
The development of sexual activity and semen production in ram lambs of two prolific breeds: Romanov and Finnish Landrace
Authors: Louda F. , Doney J. M. , Štolc L. , Křížek J. , Šmerha J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe development of sexual activity, sperm production, semen characteristics, testis growth and body size was studies in 10 male sheep (ram lambs) of the Romanov breed and 11 of the Finnish Landrace breed between the ages of 4 and 15 months.The sexual responses, observed daily for 40 days from the age of 4 months, developed earlier and more intensively in the Romanov than in the Finnish ram lambs, being fully developed in the former breed after 4 days as compared with 14 days in the latter breed. All lambs of both breeds, however, were considered capable of impregnating females by 5 months of age.In both breeds there was a considerable delay between the onset of sexual maturity and the time at which it became possible to collect semen by means of an artificial vagina. Successful collection was not achieved until the age of 11 months, there being no difference between breeds in this respect.Subsequent semen production increased to the 14th month of age, with little difference between breeds. Respectively for Romanov and Finnish rams at this age (±s.e.), the mean ejaculate volume was 0·85 + 0·062 and 0·77±0·052ml; motility 64·6 ± 1·62 and 59·7±l·66%; sperm concentration 4·75±0·198 and 4·7 ± 0·197 ×1012perl; number of sperm per ejaculate 4 09±0·338 and 3·63 ±0·259 × 109; and fructose concentration 6·84 × 0·2606 and 4·87 ± 0·2707g/1. In the 15th month there was a tendency for these values to decline except in the case of sperm concentration and, hence, total sperm number.Mean live weight and size increased until the 14th month and there was no difference between breeds, but testis length and diameter were greater in the Romanov rams at this age.
Starling damage and its prevention at an openfronted calf yard
Authors: Feare C. J. , Swannack K. P. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractStarlings had free access to cattle food placed in open troughs in a calf yard. During the winters 1974/75, 1975/76 and 1976/77 birds took 1·49, 1·70 and 1·991 of calf food respectively, this ranging from 6·4 to 12·4% of the food given to the calves. These losses were eliminated using enclosures made of Terylene netting or PVC strips. Both enclosures kept starlings out of the yard: the latter was more manageable to farm staff, and calves within grew significantly faster than controls, probably due to a combination of the absence of bird competition for food and the elevated temperature within the enclosed area.
The response of pigs weaned at 5 weeks of age to digestible energy and lysine concentrations in the diet
Authors: O'Grady J. F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEight-hundred-and-fifty-two pigs were weaned at 5 weeks of age, and at an average weight of 8·5 kg were allocated in pens of 14 or 15 to diets having 13·6 or 14·6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg combined with 11·0 or 11·8 g lysine per kg.Over a 5-week experimental period, pigs receiving the diet with the higher DE content had a lower daily feed intake, improved feed conversion efficiency (FCE) but a similar rate of gain to those getting less DE/kg. Efficiency of utilization of energy was poorer when DE content was higher.Increasing lysine level increased daily feed intake and rate of gain while improving FCE. There were significant energy x lysine interactions. At the lower energy density, increasing the lysine level resulted in increased daily feed intakes whereas the reverse was the case at the higher energy density. Daily gain increased when lysine level was increased at the lower energy density but was unaffected at the higher density. Efficiency of energy utilization was improved by increasing lysine at the higher but not at the lower energy level.
A note on the effect of contact with male goats on occurrence of puberty in female goat kids
Authors: Amoah E. A. , Bryant M. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwelve British Saanen female kids were exposed to male goats for 1 h daily on 29 July (Ml), 12 on 12 August (M2) and 12 on 27 October (M3), when the kids were, on average, (± s.d.) 136·4 (± 12·2), 150·2 (± 12·8) and 225·4 (± 3·5) days of age, respectively. Blood samples were collected to determine plasma progesterone concentrations from 17 July onwards. By 27 October, 11 and 12 kids from treatments Ml and M2 had attained puberty, compared with no kids from treatment M3. Ten kids from treatment M3 attained puberty after male introduction. The mean ages and dates at puberty for treatments Ml, M2 and M3, respectively, were as follows: 205·5, 215·3 and 233·0 days (P < 0·001); and 7 October, 17 October and 3 November (P < 0·001). The mean reaction interval to male introduction for treatments Ml, M2 and M3 was 69, 66 and 7 days (P < 0·001), respectively. The variances for the date of attainment of puberty showed differences in the degree of synchronization of the event between all three treatments.
Comparison of Canadian Holstein × British Friesian and British Friesian steers for beef production. 1. On-farm performance
Authors: Rowlinson P. , Baber P. L. , Willis M. B. , Chalmers A. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA comparison was undertaken of 92 Canadian Holstein × British Friesian (HF) and 93 British Friesian (F), autumn born, male calves on three typical United Kingdom production systems. These were: intensive barley beef system (BB); a grass/cereal 18-month system (18m); and 24-month forage system (24m). Calves were brought in from a variety of farms. HF calves were heavier on arrival (43·1 v. 40.7 kg ***). The calves were the progeny of 27 Canadian Holstein and 43 British Friesian sires, and all out of British Friesian dams. They were castrated and reared conventionally to 100 kg before being allocated to treatment. Slaughter was undertaken when subjective handling suggested that the carcass would classify as fat-class 2 on the Meat and Livestock Commission classification scheme (equivalent to European Economic Community fat-class 3), provided that a minimum live weight (BB, 380 kg; 18m/24m, 420 kg) was achieved. There were no differences between breeds in daily live-weight gain on any system. Other results, HF first, follow. At slaughter, HF were both older (BB, 362 v. 342 days **; 18m, 591 v. 558 days ***; 24m, 716 v. 673 days ***) and heavier (BB, 413 v. 395 kg ***; 18m, 486 v. 469 kg NS; 24m, 531 v. 496 kg ***). Efficiency of food conversion, measured on the BB system only, was not significantly different (5·83 v. 5·84).