bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of passive immunization with different doses of anti-testosterone antiserum on the reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes in different levels of body condition at mating
Authors: Rhind S. M. , Morris B. A. , Clayton Jill , Gunn R. G. , Gittus G. , Leslie I. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of injection of 0, 0·5, 1·0, 1·5, 2·0 or 5·0 × standard doses of anti-testosterone antiserum on the reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes was investigated using a total of 423 ewes with body condition scores ranging from < 2·00 (low) to > 2·75 (high). Increased mean litter sizes and lambing rates were obtained in ewes in all levels of body condition following immunization with a range of antibody doses (P < 0·05). However, it is concluded that there is an intermediate optimum dose, probably approximately 1·5 × standard doses, for ewes of this breed, at a non-synchronized mating. The limiting effect of body condition on reproductive performance could not be completely overcome by increasing the antibody dose. Circulating antibody titres were directly related to the dose administered but there was no direct relationship between circulating titre and reproductive performance.
Relative precision of the tritiated water and slaughter techniques for estimating energy retention in grazing sheep
Authors: Reardon T. F. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe errors of the slaughter and tritiated water techniques of estimating energy retention were compared in a group of grazing sheep deprived of feed and water for 48 hr. It was calculated that the mean energy retention of the experimental animals would have had a standard error of 3·64 Mcal if estimated by the slaughter technique, and 1·56 Mcal if estimated by the tritiated water technique. It was concluded that in other experimental groups the precision of the relationship between energy content and live weight is likely to be the most important determinant of the relative precision of the two methods. In neither method would worthwhile gains in precision result from knowledge of the weight of the contents of the alimentary tract.
Physiological adjustment to repeated wind exposure in sheep
Authors: Griffiths J. G. , Doney J. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYAn experiment was undertaken to examine the possibility that progressive adjustments in tissue insulation on the trunk might occur following repeated wind cooling. Two sheep were exposed at right angles to an air flow of 12 mph for 6 hr daily on each of 7 consecutive days.When first exposed to the wind the heat loss from the fleece-covered surfaces increased due to a reduction in insulation and apparently increased vaso-dilatation. After the first day there was a progressive increase in surface vaso-constriction before exposure and a gradual decrease in the extent of the vaso-dilatation during exposure. The results indicate the possibility of centrally-induced peripheral adjustments in blood flow occurring on the trunk of the sheep in response to repeated wind cooling.
The effect of body condition on ovulation rate in the sow
Authors: Hardy B. , Lodge G. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwenty-four sows from three nutritional regimes imposed until weaning of their third litters were used to investigate the influence of weight and body condition on ovulation rate.For low-, medium- and high-plane sows respectively, mean corpora lutea numbers at 3 to 6 days post coitus were 13·8±0·78, 16·4±0·87 and 15·2±1·01 (not significantly different); conception rates at first service were 50, 87·5 and 100% percentages prenatal mortality were 36·1±7·95, 67·2±7·26 and 41·7±7·26, and mean numbers of pigs born alive were 9·0±1·19, 5·2±1·09 and 8·8±1·09.Pooled data indicated no significant effect of body weight but a significant effect of weight loss during the preceding lactation on ovulation rate (P<0–01).
A note on the effect of variation in crude protein level in diets for bacon pigs
Authors: Cole D. J. A. , Luscombe J. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThree treatments involving isocaloric diets with the same levels of lysine and methionine but different crude protein levels were imposed on pigs from 50 to 200 lb live weight. Significant treatment differences were obtained only during the period from 50 to 120 lb live weight when pigs on the 17% protein diet (barley+soya bean meal+white fish meal) had the fastest growth rates and best food conversion efficiencies and pigs on the 11% protein diet (barley only) were the poorest. Pigs fed barley alone also had the fattest carcasses.
Effects of nutrition in late pregnancy on subsequent milk production in Ewes
Authors: Treacher T. T. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Scottish Half-bred ewes carrying twin foetuses were fed individually to make live-weight gains in the last six weeks of pregnancy of (1) 20%, (2) 10% and (3) 0% of their live weight in week 14 of pregnancy. In lactation the ewes were fed ad libitum. The lambs were removed 12 to 16 hr after parturition and the ewes were machine-milked twice daily for the first six weeks of lactation.2. Total birth weights per ewe of twin lambs from the treatments were (1) 10·10 kg, (2) 9·44 kg and (3) 8·18 kg and differed significantly.3. The level and pattern of voluntary intake in lactation did not differ significantly between the treatments. Total dry-matter intakes in the six weeks of lactation were (1) 121·9 kg (2) 105·9 kg and (3) 109·5 kg.4. The pregnancy treatments affected the level of milk production and the shape of lactation curves. The total yields in the first six weeks of lactation were (1) 58·8 kg, (2) 43·5 kg and (3) 26·9 kg. Higher contents of fat and protein and the lower content of lactose in the milk from treatment-3 ewes on days 1 and 3 of lactation indicated a slower onset of lactation in these ewes. Between days 7 and 35 of lactation the contents of fat and SNF were lowest on treatment 3 but the differences were not significant.5. The live-weight changes in lactation, which were in inverse order to the gains in late pregnancy, were (1) 3·4 kg, (2) 5·5 kg and (3) 9·5 kg.
Some effects of including differently processed barley in the diet of the growing pig: 1. Growth rate, food conversion efficiency, digestibility and rate of passage through the gut
Authors: Lawrence T. L. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. An experiment was conducted in which the effects on growth rate, food conversion efficiency, digestibility and rate of passage through the gut of diets containing 85% of differently processed barley, fed to growing pigs, were studied. Five different processing treatments were compared with the inclusion of the grain in the whole (unground) form (diet W). The processing treatments were: grinding through (1·56 mm), (4·68 mm) and (9·36 mm) screens (diets O, T and S respectively); cold rolling (diet R) and coarse crimping (diet C).2. Differences in growth rate and food conversion efficiency between diets O, T, S and R were small and not significant with a slight overall superiority evidenced for diet R over the other three. Compared with these results those of diets C and W were inferior, significantly so for both diets in growth rate but for diet W only in food conversion efficiency. Diet C was superior to diet W in both of these parameters (significantly so for growth rate).3. The overall digestibility of diet W was significantly poorer and the rate of passage through the gut faster than for any of the other diets. Diet O was retained in the gut significantly longer than any of the other diets and gave the highest coefficient of apparent digestibility for both the ether extract and crude fibre fractions of the diet.
A note on the effect of tylosin and a combination of diethylstilbestrol and methyltestosterone on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs
Authors: Wahlstrom Richard C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYNinety pigs were divided into two replicated groups, randomly allotted to three treatments: (1) control, (2) 2 g of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 2 g of methyltestosterone (MT) per ton and (3) 2 g DES + 2 g MT + 10 g tylosin per ton. Rate of gain was not affected by treatment; however, pigs fed the treated rations consumed less feed and were more efficient in feed conversion. Carcasses of pigs fed DES + MT or DES + MT + tylosin had significantly less backfat and a slightly higher percentage of ham and loin, and of lean cuts.
Photoperiodism in the ewe. 3. The effects of various patterns of increasing daylength on the onset of anoestrus in Clun Forest ewes
Authors: Ducker M. J. , Bowman J. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn light-proofed buildings experiments were conducted with six groups each of ten Clun Forest ewes to determine whether the onset of anoestrus was affected by the absolute size of increase in the case of an abrupt increase in daylength, and by the rate of increase in the case of a given total increase in daylength. The mean number of days from the onset of the light treatments to the cessation of oestrus (the reaction interval) for ewes receiving gradual increases in daylength of 3·5, 7·2 or 10·9 min per day from 23 December were 79·8, 84·1 and 75·7 days respectively. The reaction interval for ewes receiving abrupt increases in daylength of 3·75, 7·75 or 11·75 hr on 23 December were 86·3, 76·5 and 61·5 days respectively. A control group of ten ewes at pasture on natural daylength had a reaction interval of 93·6 days.The results show that increasing daylength largely controls the mean date of onset of aneostrus in Clun Forest ewes. The greater the increase in daylength the sooner the onset of anoestrus occurs.The observations on vaginal smears indicate that photoperiodic changes, whilst affecting the oestrous status of the ewe, may have no effect on ovulation.
The mating behaviour and semen characteristics of Finnish Landrace and Scottish Blackface rams
Authors: Land R. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFour Finnish Landrace and four Scottish Blackface rams were exposed at 21-day intervals over a period of 19 months to two ovariectomized ewes, which had been induced to show oestrus. The behaviour of each ram was observed for 10 minutes with each ewe. Over the period of the experiment the Finnish Landrace rams consistently mounted the ewes more often than did the Blackfaces and in this respect in particular the reproductive behaviour of the males of these breeds was found to be positively correlated with that of the females of their breed.Initially, however, the Finnish Landrace rams mated more ewes than did the Blackfaces, but from the time that all rams became sexually active it was impossible to differentiate between the ability of the two groups of rams to mate the ewes presented to them. Semen collections from each ram were attempted by the use of an artificial vagina, again at three-weekly intervals. The motility, density and proportion of live sperm did not differ between the two groups of rams.The average number of mounts accredited to each ram during the test increased from around 5 in the summer to around 35 in the autumn.
The use of moist barley in diets for growing pigs
Authors: Livingstone R. M. , Livingston D. M. S. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA total of 156 pigs of the Large White breed were used in a series of four experiments to test the suitability of barley which had been stored with a high moisture content as an ingredient in the diets of growing pigs. Barleys with mean moisture contents of 26·3%, 28·1% and 21·2% and a range from 19·6% to 30·5%, from three successive harvests were used.In all the trials there was evidence that the use of moist barley in diets for growing pigs had an adverse effect on live-weight gain and feed conversion ratio, the effect being independent of whether feed intakes were equated on the basis of the dry-matter content of the diets. In one of the experiments performance was depressed to the extent of causing changes in carcass characteristics. The performance of pigs given rolled barley was similar to that of others given ground barley.
The voluntary intake by cattle of four silages differing in dry matter content
Authors: Jackson N. , Forbes T. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYHerbage from the same timothy/meadow fescue/white clover sward was ensiled at four different dry matter contents. The resulting silages had dry matter contents of 19·0, 27·3, 32·3 and 43·2%, the dry matter content increasing with the length of the wilting period. An experiment was carried out to determine the voluntary intake of the silages. Each silage was given to 7 animals individually, the mean live weight of these being 334 kg.Although the silages made from wilted herbage were lower in digestibility than that made from unwilted herbage, wilting increased dry matter intake and metabolizable energy (ME) intake. The mean daily intakes of digestible organic matter were 53·0, 58·1, 59·6 and 59·6 g/kgW0·73, for silages of increasing dry matter content. The corresponding ME intakes, expressed as a multiple of the ME requirement for maintenance, were 1·17, 1·29, 1·30 and 1·28. The percentage of acetic acid in the silage dry matter was significantly (r= −0·56) and linearly related to voluntary intake. The relationship between lactic acid concentration and voluntary intake was significantly curvilinear (r= 0·48).
A note on the relation between weights of alimentary tract contents, body fat and the uterus in Blackface ewes
Authors: Foot Janet Z. , Greenhalgh J. F. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe relation between the weight of the alimentary tract contents and the weights of body fat and the uterus was examined in 23 Blackface ewes. Six ewes were not pregnant, five had single foetuses and 12 had twins. The pregnant ewes were slaughtered three or four days before their expected lambing date. There was a negative relation between uterine weight or body fat weight and the weight of alimentary tract contents. The effect of uterine weight was small and not significant when only the pregnant animals were considered. It was unlikely that physical restriction of the alimentary tract by the uterus played more than a minor role in limiting voluntary food intake under the conditions of this experiment.
The development of solid food intake in calves. 2. Studies on the volume of rumen fluid, determined by an indirect method
Authors: Hodgson J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Two experiments are described in which polyethylene glycol was used to estimate the volume of fluid in the rumen of calves weaned at an early age from milk substitute on to diets of dried grass.2. The limitations of the technique in relation to studies on voluntary food intake are discussed.3. Linear relationships were observed between the volume of rumen fluid and the consumption of solid food within each of three diets, as solid food intake increased after weaning.4. In one experiment, the concentration of dry matter in the rumen contents increased by 50% over the first 3 weeks after weaning. There was no significant change with time after weaning in the pH or the digestive efficiency, measured in vitro, of samples of rumen contents.5. The times spent eating and ruminating increased rapidly after weaning on both a long and a pelleted diet, but then remained relatively constant despite continued increases in solid food intake. Eating and ruminating times were much greater for the long than for the pelleted diet.
Intensive beef production. 12. Replacement of concentrates with chopped dried grass
Authors: Kay M. , Massie R. , MacDearmid A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. A growth trial was carried out using 24 British Friesian steers given diets containing (1) 100%, (2) 60%, (3) 40% and (4) 0% concentrates and chopped dried grass up to 100%.2. Daily dry-matter intake was significantly lower for steers on Treatment 1 than for steers on the other three treatments.3. Rate of live-weight gain declined from 1·18 to 0·88 kg/day and carcass gain from 625 to 430 g/day between steers on Treatments 1 and 4.4. Killing-out percentage dropped from 55·3% (1) to 51·9% (4) and the 8th-10th rib from steers on Treatments 3 and 4 contained significantly more crude protein and less ether-extractable matter than ribs from steers on Treatments 1 and 2.
A note on the haem pigment concentration of lamb as influenced by age and sex
Authors: Ledward D. A. , Shorthose W. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYMyoglobin and haemoglobin concentrations were determined in the m. longissimus dorsi of 133 Dorset Horn × Corriedale lambs, varying in age from 98 to 310 days, and killed at a live weight of 32 kg. Analysis of the data showed that age, over the period studied, was not a critical factor in determining the myoglobin concentration within the muscle. The average pigment level in the muscle of ewes was some 20% greater than in ‘cryptorchids’ and approximately 10% greater than in wethers. Haemoglobin was found to represent about 40% of the total haem pigment.
The genetic and financial consequences of selection amongst dairy bulls in artificial insemination
Authors: Hinks C. J. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA numerical model of male and female replacement processes in a dairy cattle population was constructed in order to describe the long-term genetic and financial consequences of selection amongst bulls in AI.Changes with time in the relative contribution of different generations of offspring to the total genetic improvement of the population were described. It was shown that the genetic change resulting from a single selection process amongst the males eventually approaches an equilibrium many years after selection is practised. Owing to the delays involved in the progeny test, individual males made no genetic contribution for a period of 10 years and a small but constant contribution thereafter.The costs of bull testing and selection, and the monetary benefits obtained from it, were estimated. Current selection procedures proved to be highly profitable at prevailing market prices. Capital invested in the testing programme was recovered within 2 to 5 years of the first offspring calving.The effect of changes in milk prices and feeding costs on monetary returns was examined. It was concluded that sire testing programmes are likely to prove unprofitable only under extremely adverse economic conditions.
Milk substitute intake of artificially reared lambs during the first days of life as affected by time of removal from the dam and frequency of feeding
Authors: Bryant M. J. , Owen E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYForty-eight Suffolk × Clun lambs were used in an experiment to investigate the effects of two times of removal from the dam and two feeding frequencies upon milk intake over the first 4 days on an artificial rearing system.Lambs removed at birth consumed significantly more milk replacer at feeding periods up to 32 hr after removal than lambs removed at 24 hr after birth. Removal at birth also significantly increased voluntary milk intake between feeding periods for up to 32 hr and from 64 to 80 hr after removal.Feeding the lambs during a 16-hr period in a 4, 4, 8 hr sequence instead of 8, 8 hr intervals significantly improved milk intake at feeding periods.
A note on studies on heat tolerance in Awassi sheep
Authors: Juma K. H. , Gharib F. H. , Eliya J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYBody temperature and respiratory rate were investigated during the hottest months of the year in five docked and five undocked fattailed Awassi rams, together with the effect of month and docking on these physiological variables.Month had significant effects on both variables in the two groups. Diurnal variation in rectal temperature was significant in both groups.Docked rams maintained significantly lower rectal temperatures and respiratory rates than their controls.
A note on the association of haemoglobin types with ewe and ram fertility and lamb mortality in Indian sheep
Authors: Arora C. L. , Acharya R. M. , Kakar S. N. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYHaemoglobin types of two Indian breeds of sheep were related to ram and ewe fertility and lamb mortality. Rams with Hb B type had a significantly higher number of lambs born to ewes mated to them. Ewe fertility and lamb mortality were better, but not significantly so, in animals with Hb B type.
A possible indicator muscle for the fibre content and growth characteristics of porcine muscle
Authors: Stickland N. C. , Goldspink G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFibre number and fibre size were measured in theflexor digiti V brevismuscle and other muscles in pigs of different breeds. A large variation in fibre number (200%) was found among the breeds. However, the fibre number in theflexor digiti V breviswas closely correlated with fibre number of other muscles in the same animal. Fibre number and size measurements were also carried out on animals at different ages taken from a relatively pure breed of pig. Fibre size was found to increase to differing extents in different muscles, although the increase in theflexor digiti V breviswas almost the same as in thelongissimus dorsi. Fibre number did not change during growth. On the basis of these findings it is suggested that theflexor digiti V brevisis a suitable indicator muscle for genetic experiments.
The effect of level and pattern of energy intake during late pregnancy on the performance of housed Scottish Blackface ewes
Authors: McClelland T. H. , Forbes T. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSixty Scottish Blackface ewes were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment in which two levels of metabolizable energy (ME) were given during the final 6 weeks of pregnancy. In two treatments 1600 and 2000 kcal M E were given daily over the total period while in the remaining treatments daily ME intakes were 1200 and 1600 kcal ME during the first 3 weeks of the feeding period and 2000 and 2400 kcal ME during the last 3 weeks. Digestible crude protein (DCP) intakes were constant at approximately 30 g per head daily in the constant energy treatments and 15 and 45 g per head daily in the first and second periods respectively for the low-high energy treatments.Energy intake had no statistically significant effect on lamb birth weight nor on ewe net body-weight change (change from the start of the experimental feeding period to immediately post partum). Ewes on low-high energy intakes had a significantly lower net body-weight loss than did ewes on constant energy intakes. Pattern of feeding had no significant effect on lamb birth weights. Negative nitrogen balances were found during the first feeding period where the daily DCP intake was approximately 15 g per head.
Apparent heterozygote excess at the amylase I locus in cattle
Authors: Spooner R. L. , Mazumder N. K. , Griffin T. K. , Kingwill R. G. , Wijeratne W. V. S. , Wilson C. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe amylase (Am I) genotypes have been determined in sera from 834 cows comprising 562 Friesians, 77 Ayrshires, 106 Guernseys, 62 Jerseys and 27 crossbred cows. All of these cows had completed their third lactation and many were much older. There was a highly significant excess of heterozygotes at the Am I locus. This excess of heterozygotes was highest in high-yielding Friesian herds and there was a significant correlation between percentage heterozygotes and herd yield in the Friesians.
Milk and herbage intakes by grazing lambs born to Merino ewes and sired by Merino, Border Leicester, Corriedale, Dorset Horn and Southdown rams
Authors: Langlands J. P. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYEstimates were made of milk and herbage intakes and growth rates of male lambs born to Merino ewes which had been mated to Merino, Border Leicester, Corriedale, Dorset Horn or Southdown rams. The lambs were castrated and with the ewes grazed grass-clover pastures at two stocking rates.Crossbred lambs consumed more milk and more grass, and grew more rapidly than Merino lambs. The greatest intakes and growth rates were attained by progeny of Border Leicester and Dorset Horn sires; Corriedale and Southdown crosses also grew more rapidly than Merinos.Lambs at the high stocking rate received slightly more milk and consumed less grass than those grazed at the low stocking rate. The growth rates of groups were similar.