bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Milk production from silage 2. The influence of the digestibility of silage made from the primary growth of perennial ryegrass
Authors: Thomas C. , Daley S. R. , Aston K. , Hughes P. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. The primary growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cultivar Endura) was cut on 23 May (high digestibility) and 23 June (low digestibility) and ensiled with an additive consisting of equal volumes of formic acid and formalin to supply 30 g formaldehyde per kg crude protein. The silages were given ad libitum, together with 6·3 kg dry matter per day of a barley/soya bean supplement, to 24 British Friesian cows over weeks 4 to 18 of lactation.2. The delay in cutting the primary growth led to an increase in grass yield from 3·78 to 6·94t dry matter per ha but a depression in the content of digestible organic matter in the silage dry matter from 748 to 639 g/kg. However, the effect of the digestibility of the silage on the digestibility of the total diet by the cows was small. The silages contained low levels of fermentation acids and ammonia-nitrogen.3. The digestibility of silage did not influence silage dry-matter intake in early lactation but in mid lactation the intake of the low-digestibility silage declined whilst that of the high-digestibility silage increased slightly.4. Cows given silage of high rather than low digestibility produced significantly more milk (high, 28·0 v. low, 24·7kg/day, P < 0·01 ) of lower fat content (high, 36·1 v. low, 41·0 g/kg, P < 0·01 ) but higher protein content (high, 31·5 v. low, 29·4g/kg, P < 0·05). Cows given silage of low digestibility lost more live weight than cows given silage of high digestibility but the effect was not significant.
The management of calves on an early-weaning system: the relationship of voluntary water intake to dry feed intake and live-weight gain to 5 weeks
Authors: Thickett W. S. , Cuthbert N. H. , Brigstocke T. D. A. , Lindeman M. A. , Wilson P. N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA trial compared the voluntary water intake of 72 purchased British Friesian bull calves fed at different nutrient intake levels by varying the type and strength of the milk replacer given to 5 weeks of age. There was no control group without water on offer. Water was offered from the 1st day the animals entered the unit. All calves received 4 1/day of either cows' milk (12 calves), milk replacer with 100 g fat per kg (24 calves), milk replacer with 170 g fat per kg (24 calves) or milk replacer with 200 g fat per kg (12 calves). Standard early-weaning pellets containing 190 g crude protein per kg and hay ad libitum were on offer from the 2nd day on the unit. Results indicated that voluntary intakes of water were highest with calves fed on cows' milk and lowest on the milk replacer with 100 g fat per kg given at the lowest mixing strength, although differences were only significant in week 5 (P ≤ 0·05). By covariance analysis, the effects of water intakes on live-weight gain and on pellet intake were examined. The regression coefficient of live-weight gain (weeks 0 to 5) (kg) on water intake (weeks 1 to 5) (1) was b= 0·056 (s.e. 0·021, P ≤ 0·01). The regression coefficient of pellet intake (weeks 0 to 5) (kg) on water consumption was: b= 0·082 (s.e. 0·031, P ≤ 0·01). There was thus a significant correlation of both live-weight gain and pellet intake with water intake. For each extra litre of water consumed per day, there was an extra pellet intake of 0·082 kg and an increase in live-weight gain of 0·056 kg. There was a significant difference in total water intake according to the initial live weight of the calf.
An evaluation of feedblocks as a means of providing supplementary nutrients to ewes grazing upland/hill pastures
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Kendall P. T. , Hemingway R. G. , McClelland T. H. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA series of trials was conducted to measure the extent of individual variation in feedblock intake for ewes on upland/hill farms. From 15 flocks on nine farms 4284 ewes were selected with a range of environmental conditions and levels of performance. Ewes were given either Rumevite, Norbloc or Wintawell feedblocks containing chromic oxide. Faecal grab samples were taken per rectum from individual ewes and analysed for their chromium content to obtain estimates of feedblock consumption.The results showed that provision of feedblocks does not ensure a uniform intake of supplementary nutrients by sheep in upland/hill situations. On average, 19% of the 2931 ewes sampled had not eaten the feedblock on offer. The proportion of ewes not consuming feedblock varied from flock to flock (0 to 67%). The coefficient of variation of faecal chromium concentrations varied between flocks (46 to 231%). The reasons for the large variation in intakes observed are discussed. Feedblock intake was significantly affected by the grazing area per ewe (P<0·01) and the age of ewes (P<0·05 to P< 0·001).
Effect of sex and birth status on the wool follicle population in unselected Corriedale sheep
Authors: Butler L. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe follicle population of 44 purebred 20-month-old Corriedale ewes and rams was examined for effects due to sex and birth status. Twin birth resulted in a lower ratio of secondary to primary follicles at 20 months of age in these medium follicle-density animals. This effect is similar to that reported for the high follicle-density Australian Merino. Similarly, the ewes had a lower ratio of secondary to primary follicles than the rams.
Amino acid requirements of growing pigs 2. Identification of the limiting amino acid(s) in a low-protein diet supplemented with lysine
Authors: Taylor A. J. , Cole D. J. A. , Lewis D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA basal diet containing 120 g crude protein per kg and 9g lysine per kg, and previously shown to be limiting in one or more essential amino acids and/or non-essential nitrogen, was examined. It was fed either alone to growing female pigs from 25 kg to 55 kg live weight or in combination with four supplements of synthetic amino acids each containing three out of isoleucine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan. A control diet containing 140 g crude protein per kg and 9g lysine per kg was also included. Blood samples were collected at 40 kg live weight in order to examine the influence of dietary treatments on blood metabolites. Results for growth performance, carcass composition and blood urea indicated that threonine was the first limiting amino acid in the basal diet. Plasma free amino acids gave no clear trend. Growth performance and carcass composition were unaffected by supplementation of the diet with glycine indicating that the dietary supply of non-essential nitrogen was adequate.
A Bayesian estimation of the lactation curve of a dairy cow
Authors: Goodall E. A. , Sprevak D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA recursive procedure for the estimation of the lactation curve of a dairy cow, which allows the inclusion of prior information on the curve and which takes account of the correlation between successive observations, is described. The method is based on the Kalman filter. It was found to give accurate estimates of the total milk yield at early stages of lactation.
Effects of different energy intakes before and after calving on food intake, performance and blood hormones and metabolites in dairy cows
Authors: Kunz P. L. , Blum J. W. , Hart I. C. , Bickel H. , Landis J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTAn experiment with 25 dairy cows was performed to investigate the effects of different energy intakes on food intake, performance and blood hormone and metabolite levels during the last 70 days of pregnancy and the first 125 days after parturition. Compared with animals fedad libitumbefore parturition, cows fed only according to requirements during the same time showed no decrease of food intake at calving. Cows fed at a restricted level also showed a faster increase in food intake, a smaller energy deficiency at the onset of lactation and a smaller weight loss after parturition. Peak milk yield was also lower, but the peak was maintained for a longer period, and during the first 2 months of lactation these cows had higher concentrations of glucose and lactic acid, and lower concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies in the blood. Weight losses, and decrease of milk production during the 1st weeks of lactation were higher in cows fed only 0·75 of requirements during the first 60 days of lactation than in animals whose energy intake was planned to cover energy requirements, and during the first 2 months of lactation levels of unesterified fatty acids, ketone bodies and urea were higher, whereas levels of insulin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine were lower. Endocrine and metabolic changes seen during early lactation suggested improved glucose homeostasis, diminished fat mobilization and ketogenesis in cows given reduced amounts of energy during the dry period compared to animals fedad libitum. To prevent the development of acetonaemia an adequate energy supply during the first part of lactation is, however, of greater importance.
Growth of Holstein Friesian females in the Venezuelan tropics
Authors: Vaccaro R. , Rivero S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA study was made of the growth of Holstein Friesian females in an intensive production system in the Venezuelan tropics, using monthly weights from birth (no. = 922) up to 72 months of age (no. = 63). Birth weights were adjusted for age of dam, month and year of birth of heifer, whereas subsequent weights were adjusted for birth weight and month and year of birth. Despite lower weights at birth (mean = 35·9 kg), live weights were comparable to the Beltsville standard for the breed up to 12 months of age. However, at 24, 36, 48 and 72 months of age the weights observed only reached 0·84, 0·77, 0·75, 0·79 and 0·78, respectively, of the Beltsville standard. No effect was observed on birth weight of age of dam, month or year of birth, but birth weight affected subsequent weights (P < 0·001) and the effects of month and year of birth on live weight were significant at most ages. The poor quality of the forage consumed and stress due to high environmental temperatures and humidity appear to be the main reasons for the reduced growth rates. Von Bertalanffy's model gave a higher residual error than a polynomial model when fitted to the data, but resulted in a curve which agreed more closely with the conventional biological growth pattern.
The effects of halothane susceptibility on some economically important traits in pigs 1. Litter productivity
Authors: Carden A. E. , Hill W. G. , Webb A. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of susceptibility to halothane anaesthesia on litter productivity were investigated by comparing susceptible and normal females in two sets of data. The first comprised 206 litters from the first five generations of Pietrain/Hampshire synthetic lines selected for and against halothane susceptibility. Susceptible and normal females were mated to boars of their own type. The second data set consisted of 93 litters from the same susceptible and normal females mated to normal boars. Compared with normal contemporaries, litter sizes of susceptible females were reduced by 1·16 (s.e. 0·40) piglets at birth, and 1-76 (s.e. 0·41) at weaning (ca. 1 weeks). Maximum likelihood estimates of the proportions of piglet deaths from birth to weaning as a trait of susceptiblev.normal dams were 0·32v.014 (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences in piglet weights or perinatal mortality, and no apparent influence of piglet genotype on any trait. The lower litter size of susceptible females at weaning appeared to result from reductions in both numbers born and survival to weaning. The study bears out previous reports of a reduction in litter productivity due to the halothane gene. However, the present differences could have arisen largely from random genetic differentiation between lines, or linkage disequilibrium in the synthetic foundation population.
A note on the effect of the F gene on wool production and live weight of Booroola × South Australian Merino rams
Authors: Ponzoni R. W. , Fleet M. R. , Walkley J. R. W. , Walker S. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of the high fecundity Booroola Merino gene (F) on wool production and live weight of Booroola x South Australian Merino rams classified as being offspring of FF, F+ or ++ Booroola sires was investigated. The characters studied were: greasy fleece weight in lambs, hogget (approx. 15 months old) greasy fleece weight and the associated scouring yield, clean fleece weight, fibre diameter, staple length and wool style; birth weight and live weight gains from birth to weaning in September (3 months of age), from September to the following March, and from March to September. There were no significant differences among sire genotypes in the characters studied. The results suggest that the F gene had no undesirable pleiotropic effects on wool and live-weight traits.
The influence of pre-weaning nutrition on subsequent growth and development of bacon pigs
Authors: Duckworth J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe growth and carcass data were determined for pigs reared on two creep rations to different weights, and subsequently fattened with and without an antibiotic.Pigs weaned at a ‘standard’ weight of 43·8 lb. at 56 days of age grew more quickly over the range 120 to 210 lb. live-weight than pigs weighing 51·0 lb. at weaning. Both groups were fed according to a fixed scale related to live-weight. Heavy weaners growing slowly in the later stages had slightly thicker backfat measurements, indicating that they were at a more advanced stage of physiological development than the light weaners.The presence of antibiotic in the fattening ration caused no significant difference in growth rate or carcass measurements, but there were significant interactions between weaning weight and presence or absence of antibiotic in the fattening ration for length of carcass, and between sex and presence or absence of antibiotic for the traits of age at 70 lb. live-weight, carcass length and depth of mid-backfat.Weaning weight and rate of gain from 70 to 120 lb. live-weight were significantly and positively related to carcass length.It is concluded that further studies of the growth curve of the pig are required to determine the scope and importance of compensatory growth, and the interaction of growth rates in the different phases of the pig's life and their relationships to carcass traits.
Sustained release of chromic oxide in the rumen of sheep from a CR2O3-paper pellet
Authors: Troelsen J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Pellets of Cr2O3-paper were administered to sheep to reveal the excretion pattern of Cr2O3 in the faeces.2. Two sheep fed on long hay and pelleted hay for each of two 28-day periods were given a Cr2O3-paper pellet daily at 9 00 hrs. during the 15th to the 24th day inclusive in each period.3. Total faeces were collected at hourly intervals during the 15th to the 28th day. Dry weight and concentration of Cr2O3 of each fraction was determined.4. A balance between input and output of Cr2O3 and a minimal standard J deviation of the concentration of Cr2O3 in the faeces between hourly collections was reached in 3 days with long hay and in 2 days when the hay was given as pellets.5. The decline in the concentration of Cr2O3 in the faeces started the day after the administration of pellets was discontinued.6. Grinding and pelleting of the hay resulted in a doubling of the standard deviations of the concentration of Cr2O3 in the hourly faeces collections during the period of input-output equilibrium.7. A pattern of a diurnal cyclic trend was apparent in the concentration of Cr2O3 in the hourly faeces collections, but it varied between animals and between diets.8. Pellets of Cr2O3-paper are suggested to facilitate the administration of Cr2O3 to ruminants.9. The effect of sampling frequency and animal replication on estimation accuracy is discussed.
The effect of age and live-weight on the feed intake of grazing wether sheep
Authors: Hadjipieris G. , Jones G. W. , Holmes W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Estimates of the voluntary feed intake of three age groups of wether sheep on ryegrass and white clover pasture from July to October, 1962, were made by total collection of faeces and the use of local faecal nitrogen-digestibility regressions.2. Average faecal output and intake of digestible organic matter (DOM) increased with age of the sheep. However, relative to body weight (W) or to W073, the aged sheep (5 years old), which did not change much in weight over the period, consumed only about two-thirds of the DOM consumed by the younger (sixteen- and four-month-old) growing sheep.3. For the growing sheep intake was directly related to weight. Intake was calculated to be 24 W (kg.)–28 ±108 g. DOM per day.4. The results are discussed in relation to the errors in estimation of digestibility. Comparison of the intake estimates with other published data suggests there was a high apparent maintenance requirement. The voluntary feed intakes observed, when expressed as g. dry matter per kg. W0–73, were somewhat higher for young sheep but lower for aged sheep than estimates of previous authors.
Some responses of hill ewes and lambs to artificial shelter
Authors: Miller G. R. 
Published: September 2010

1. Experiments were done to assess the reaction of sheep to small artificial shelters and to study the effect of these shelters on the live-weight gain of young lambs in the springs of 1958, 1959 and 1960.2. Lambs sought shelter particularly when it was raining. They were sensitive to high wind speed and low temperature but did not usually shelter in mild dry weather.3. Ewes were indifferent to rain and remained in the open in wet weather while many of their lambs sheltered. They occasionally used the shelters for shade in warm sunny weather when their lambs usually went with them.4. Because of these differences between ewes and lambs in their response to shelter, during wet weather ewes were less closely associated with their lambs where they had access to shelter than where there was no shelter.5. In the wet spring of 1958, lambs with access to shelter gained weight more slowly than those without shelter. It is postulated that the lambs with shelter may have consumed less milk than the others due to a weaker social bond with their dams.6. None of the experiments showed that shelter improved the live-weight performance of young lambs.
The performance of different breeds of beef cattle in Cuba
Authors: Willis M. B. , Preston T. R. 
Published: September 2010

A method for performance testing beef bulls on a high-energy diet from 90 days of age to 400 kg is described. Test results for 81 bulls showed that both in weight-for-age at 400 kg and feed conversion on test there were significant differences between breeds in favour of the Charolais followed by Santa Gertrudis, Criollo and Zebu in that order. Results for 8 Holstein bulls reared artificially were similar to those for Santa Gertrudis.Comparative data on birth weights, weaning weights and pre-weaning mortality indicate that the Zebu was inferior to the other beef breeds in all these traits.Of 60 bulls slaughtered, liver abscesses were encountered in only 2 animals, both of which had been reared artificially from birth.
Castration experiments with Yugoslav Simmental cattle. I. The effect of castration on growth and live-weight gains
Authors: Čobić T. 
Published: September 2010

1. Bulls and steers of the Yugoslav Simmental breed (38 in total) were reared and fattened to 470 kg live weight. Half received a moderate level of feeding to 8 months of age and half a high level of feeding over this period; all were fed on a high level from 8 months to slaughter, their diet involving a concentrate mixture, lucerne hay and maize silage.2. At slaughter weight, steers were 2·5% higher at withers than bulls, but other body measurements showed no significant difference.3. Castrates needed a 3 to 8% longer fattening period depending on the feeding treatment.4. Castration reduced the rate of live-weight gain by 4·9% over the whole rearing and fattening period, and by 8·0% over the fattening period only.5. Bulls had better feed conversion ratios overall. Steers consumed more starch units per kg of live-weight gain—8·1% more over the whole rearing and fattening period and 9·8% over the fattening period. Consumption of digestible crude protein was also higher in steers.6. The detrimental effect of castration was more strongly expressed on the HH feeding treatment. An increase in the concentration of the rations did not improve food conversion ratios.
Copper supplementation of pig diets. The effect of protein level and zinc supplementation on the response to added copper
Authors: Hanrahan T. J. , O'Grady J. F. 
Published: September 2010

1. Five hundred and fifty-two pigs were used in an experiment having six treatments. High and low protein rations were given (a) unsupplemented, (b) supplemented with 0·1% copper sulphate (CuSO4·5H2O) and (c) supplemented with 0·1% copper sulphate and 0·025% zinc carbonate (ZnCO3).2. Performance was significantly reduced and 18 pigs died from copper toxicosis, when the low protein ration supplemented with copper sulphate was fed.3. There were no indications of toxicity and performance was equal to the controls when the low protein diet supplemented with copper and zinc was fed.4. The addition of copper to the high protein diet slightly reduced performance and six pigs died from copper toxicosis.5. The addition of copper and zinc to the high protein diet improved growth rate and eliminated the toxicity associated with copper supplementation.6. No significant treatment effects on haemoglobin or packed cell volume
were observed, other than a small effect of protein level on PCV.7. Copper supplementation of the diets significantly increased liver and kidney copper levels and liver zinc levels. It reduced liver and kidney iron contents. The addition of copper and zinc to the diet reduced the increase in liver copper associated with copper supplementation, and increased the level of zinc in both livers and kidneys.
The rearing of colostrum-deprived piglets
Authors: Perry G. C. , Lecce J. G. 
Published: September 2010

1. Four treatments were employed in the rearing of colostrum-deprived piglets from birth to 14 days of age. The performance of the artificially reared piglets was compared with that of conventionally raised sow-suckled piglets.2. Statistically significant differences in growth rate were found in favour of piglets receiving 22% cows' milk solids from birth when compared with the sow-suckled group and the other artificial treatments.3. Small non-significant differences in feed conversion efficiency were found between the artificial treatments with one exception. Pigs receiving 22% cows' milk solids from birth possessed superior conversion figures when compared with pigs receiving 6% cows' milk solids after birth.4. Each of the artificial treatments led to fewer deaths than the sow-suckled group.5. Pigs on the artificial treatments did not undergo such rapid changes of serum protein profile as did the sow-suckled piglets. Serum protein values for the pigs on the artificial treatments rose from approximately 33% of the levels in the sow-suckled group at two days of age to approximately 60% at 14 days of age.
The distribution of sheep β-lactoglobulins
Authors: King J. W. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSamples of sheep's milk were used to study the occurrence of β-lactoglobulin variants of fast or slow electrophoretic mobility. The distribution of variant types between a sample of daughters and their dams was in general accord with simple Mendelian expectations for two autosomal co-dominant alleles.