bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of fat thickness and sex on pig meat quality with special reference to the problems associated with overleanness 1. Butcher and consumer panel results
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Dilworth A. W. , Evans D. G. , Fisher K. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA trial was carried out to examine some of the factors involved in the possible deterioration in pig meat quality associated with the trend towards leaner carcasses. Five batches of pigs, each one as far as possible from the same producer, were identified at each of 10 abattoirs. Three gilts and three entire males were selected from each batch to show a range of fatness. Overall mean fat thickness measurements over the m, longissimus at the last rib (P2, mm) for lean, average and fat carcasses were 8·8, 11·6, and 16·9 (gilts) and 8·4, 11·7 and 15·5 (entire males). The overall mean carcass weight was 58 kg. Loin and leg joints were assessed for cutting and presentational characteristics by a panel of 45 butchers. Loin chops and shoulder and leg joints were assessed for eating characteristics by consumer panels involving a total of 500 families. Butchers judged the fat of lean carcasses to be softer and the meat to be floppier and with more tissue separation. Entire males also had slight disadvantages in these respects. Consumers found the chops of lean carcasses to be less juicy on average (0·16 lean carcasses were judged to have dry chops compared with 0·09 for fat carcasses) with a tendency towards toughness and less flavour. There were no differences in overall acceptability. Meat from the two sexes did not differ in eating quality or overall acceptability to consumers. The butchers were more critical of overlean carcasses than were consumers. The trial indicates that the trend towards leaner carcasses is likely to create butchery problems but not consumer dissatisfaction.
Relative growth of incisor arcade breadth and eating rate in cattle and sheep
Authors: Taylor C. S. , Murray J. I. , Illius A. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMaximum eating rate, rmaxin kj metabolizable energy per min, at a given body weight W kg, can be predicted in normally growing cattle when adult body weight, A kg, is known, by the formula of Taylor and Murray (1987) as rmax= 31μ0·86A0·73whereu= W/A is degree of maturity in body weight. When the pattern of normal growth is disturbed by fluctuating levels of food intake, a better prediction can be obtained in terms of incisor arcade breadth. This paper gives the allometric relationship between degree of maturity in body weight,u, and degree of maturity in incisor arcade breadth uD, fo r both cattle and sheep, asuD=u0·29.Combining this allometric relationship with that of Illius and Gordon (1987) gives the following formula for incisor arcade breadth, Du(mm), in the rth species at age,t, in relation to degree of maturity in body weight,uit, and adult body weight,Aikg): Dit= 7·8 uit0·29Ai0·36. Substituting uDand adult arcade breadth, Dadult, foruand A in the formula of Taylor and Murray (1987) gives the following more robust formula for predicting maximum eating rate, namely, rmax= 0·53u3DD2adut.
Mineral retentions and body composition of grazing lambs
Authors: Thompson J. K. , Gelman A. L. , Weddell J. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTGrowth rates and chemical compositions were measured with ram lambs grazing pure stands of perennial ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot and tall fescue. A group of lambs slaughtered at the start of the trial enabled estimates to be made of the live-weight gains over the summer and the composition of these gains. The composition of the grass was also measured in samples taken at weekly intervals and estimates were made of the nutrients consumed from the different grass plots.The quantities of ash, Ca, P and Mg in the empty bodies of the lambs were within the range of published values from similar studies. They support the contention that grass-fed lambs tend to have larger contents of ash, Ca and P in their empty bodies than concentrate-fed lambs of similar weight. Perennial ryegrass provided a superior diet in that lambs eating this grass grew more quickly, with leaner tissues and higher levels of ash, Ca and P in their empty-body gains. Lambs consuming tall fescue grew most slowly but their mineral contents were as large as the ryegrass-fed lambs when data were adjusted for differences in empty-body weight. Lambs fed on timothy or cocksfoot were the most poorly mineralized in spite of consuming considerably more Ca, P and Mg than the lambs on ryegrass. The data suggest that the efficiencies of absorption of Ca and P in ryegrass may be high, at about 0·64 for Ca and 0·71 for P.
Effect of unwilted and wilted grass silage on the intake and performance of pregnant ewes at varying levels of concentrate feeding
Authors: Wilkinson S. C. , Chestnutt D. M. B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn three separate experiments a total of 144 Greyface ewes was offered direct-cut or wilted silage from week 4 to 5 of pregnancy until lambing with varying levels of concentrate during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Wilting resulted in a proportional increase in the intake of silage dry matter of 0·08 on average but, because digestibility of the wilted silages was lower, digestible energy intake of both silages was similar. Average change in ewe live weight from housing until after lambing was not affected by silage type and there was a small, non-significant increase in lamb birth weight on direct-cut silage. There was no evidence of any reduction in silage intake as total concentrate intake over the last 6 weeks of pregnancy increased to about 18 kg, and limited evidence of a reduction at higher levels with some indication of a greater reduction on direct-cut than on wilted silage. Compared with no-concentrate feeding the highest level increased ewe live weight by 252 g/kg concentrate and there was a non-significant effect on lamb birth weight of 13 g/kg concentrate.
Inbreeding and family index selection for prolificacy in pigs
Authors: Toro M. A. , Silio L. , Rodrigañez J. , Dobao M. Teresa 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe use of family selection indices has been proposed as a promising selection method for increasing prolificacy in pigs. Responses of up to 0-50 pigs per litter per generation are predicted from selection programmes using information from the dam and from relatives (full and half-sibs) of the dam and sire. In order to test this method in populations of finite size, the rates of selection response and the accumulation of inbreeding have been studied by simulation along 10 generations in a selected herd of 10 sires and 100 dams using five different family selection indices (Id, Ifd, Ihd, Ifs, Ihs). Two undesirable features were evident: (a) the standard deviations of indices were lower than those expected; and (b) the increase of inbreeding was up to three times that expected without selection. Both effects increased with the complexity of the family index reducing the rates of selection responses per generation, when a genetic model with dominance was assumed, to values close to 0·20 piglets, similar to those obtained with the basic index (Id). Some results of inbreeding effects on reproductive traits in three strains of an old closed herd of Iberian pigs are also presented. Multiple regression analysis of data from 4657 litters indicated a decrease in the number of live born ranging from 0·14 to 0·35 piglets per 10% increase in dam or litter inbreeding coefficient.
The influence of dietary protein intake and of hoof trimming on lameness in dairy cattle
Authors: Manson F. J. , Leaver J. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn an experiment during weeks 3 to 26 of lactation, two groups of 12 cows were offered a mixed concentrate/grass silage diet containing 161 g crude protein per kg dry matter, and two similar groups a diet containing 198 g crude protein per kg dry matter. The concentrate: forage ratios and the daily metabolizable energy intakes were the same for all four groups. The cows in one of the two groups at each crude protein level had their hooves trimmed prior to parturition, the other group remaining untrimmed. The high protein diet significantly increased locomotion score (higher scores indicate poorer locomotion), the number and duration of clinical cases of lameness and outer toe length. Trimming of hooves reduced locomotion scores and the number and duration of clinical cases. Hoof growth was significantly increased by trimming. Mid-sole hardness was negatively correlated with locomotion score. At the two extremes, the low protein trimmed group had five cows lame for an average of 1·0 weeks, whereas the high protein untrimmed group had nine cows lame for an average of 4-2 weeks. Condition score and live-weight change were negatively correlated with locomotion score. There were no significant differences between treatments in milk solids yield.
The effect of oestrogenic agents on live-weight gain, carcass composition, reproductive function and tissue residues in intensively reared beef bulls given cereal-based diets
Authors: Peters A. R. , Southgate J. R. , Aughey E. , Dixon S. N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe use of oestradiol-17β was evaluated in cereal-based beef production on 14 farms with 450 bulls. Half of the bulls were implanted subcutaneously in the ear with a silastic rubber implant containing 45 mg oestradiol-17β Representative bulls close to mean weight for each group were selected for slaughter on the same day at the end of the trial for carcass measurements. The remaining bulls were slaughtered at the farmers' discretion. Where possible, slaughter live weight (208 bulls), carcass weight (412) and European Economic Community carcass classification (353) were recorded. Implanted bulls had higher gains only in the first 3 months (+76 (s.e. 17) g/day;P< 0·001) and had heavier carcasses with the extra weight in the forequarter (+2·3 (s.e. 0·61) kg;P< 0·001), better carcass shape (+0·9 (s.e. 0·3) points;P< 0·01) and more subcutaneous fat in the thin flank (+1·3 (s.e. 0·6) g/kg;P< 0·05). Implanted bulls selected for slaughter by farmers were not slaughtered earlier, but killed out better (+0·7 (s.e. 0·3) g/kg;P< 0·05) and had heavier carcasses (+4·6 (s.e. 0·5) kg;P< 0·01) of better shape (+0·8 (s.e. 0·3) points;P< 0·05).The use of zeranol was evaluated in cereal beef production on 15 farms with 385 bulls. Half received 36 mg zeranol which was repeated after 6 months. Forty-four bulls were selected for detailed carcass assessment as above. Implanted bulls had daily gains 0·06 (s.e. 0·01) kg greater (P< 0·001) than controls. Farmers chose to slaughter implanted bulls 8·3 (s.e. 3·8) days earlier (P< 0·05) at only marginally heavier weights (+4·8 (s.e. 3·1) kg;P= 0·08). More implanted bull carcasses were distributed in better shape and higher fat classes (P< 0·01). There were no significant differences in fore- and hindquarter and thin-flank tissue proportions. Oestradiol treatment marginally decreased testis weight in slaughtered bulls whereas zeranol treatment had no significant effect although epididymal weight was decreased in zeranol treated bulls. There were no clear effects of either treatment on testicular structure, but both oestradiol and zeranol caused a degree of disruption to the epididymal epithelium. Zeranol concentrations in treated animal tissues were not significantly different from those in control animals.
Endogenous hormone and metabolite concentrations in different breeds of beef steer on two systems of production
Authors: Beeby J. M. , Haresign W. , Swan H. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of sire breed and production system on serum GH, insulin, prolactin, glucose and blood urea nitrogen concentrations in growing beef cattle. A total of 187 steers, representing a wide range of maturity types, was reared to slaughter on either the 16-month or 24-month production systems in experiment 1, and blood samples for hormone and metabolite determinations were collected at 3-monthly intervals. Experiment 2 compared only the extremes of maturity type, with four early- and four late-maturing animals on each production system. Blood samples from these animals were collected hourly for 10 h on 2 or more consecutive days at six different time periods during the growth of the animals.Although significant between-breed differences in hormone concentrations were observed in experiment 1, there were no significant correlations between growth rate and circulating hormone concentrations. These results were largely borne out by the more detailed blood sampling used in experiment 2.Differences did occur in live-weight gain, GH and insulin concentrations between production systems, although these were largely determined by the induced changes resulting from the imposition of a store period on the animals produced through the 24-month production system.These results indicate that between-breed differences in growth rate cannot be accounted for by differences in circulating GH, insulin and prolactin concentrations. Rather, it appears that the hormones are primarily used to enable the animal to adjust its metabolism to changes in nutrient supply.
Genetic variations in subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism in sheep
Authors: Sinnett-Smith P. A. , Woolliams J. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTAdipocyte volume rates of fatty acid synthesis, acylglycerol glycerol synthesis and lipolysis (basal and noradrenaline stimulated) along with the activities of acetyl CoA carboxylase and lipoprotein lipase were determined in subcutaneous adipose tissue, sampled by biopsy, from the rump of four breeds of sheep differing in growth and body characteristics.Significant differences among breeds were observed for adipocyte volume, fatty acid synthesis, stimulated lipolysis rates, initial and total acetyl CoA carboxylase activity and lipoprotein lipase activity, but not for acylglycerol glycerol synthesis.Differences in adipocyte volume did not appear to be related to the previously reported carcass fatnesses of the breeds. Similarly differences in adipocyte volume were not related to differences in either de novo fatty acid synthesis or lipolysis rates. Across breeds there was a trend toward higher acylglycerol glycerol synthesis rates associated with greater adipocyte volume although the source of fatty acids for esterification varied greatly.Breed variation in fatness in sheep therefore appears to be a consequence of different balances of anabolic and catabolic processes in adipose tissue, with a unique pattern for each breed. Further elucidation of these patterns may lead to the identification of key sites for genetic manipulation. In addition these breed differences provide an alternative, complementary and qualitatively different, model for the study of the control of fat metabolism to that provided by nutritional or hormonal manipulations.
Effect of average carcass fat concentration on correlations among lamb carcass measurements
Authors: Bennett G. L. , Meyer H. H. , Kirton A. H. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of average carcass fat concentration of a group of lambs on correlations among lamb carcass measurements within the group and of slaughter age on variances of carcass measurements were studied. Three-hundred and sixty-eight crossbred lambs from one experiment were slaughtered on 10 days over a 2-year period. Average carcass fat concentration of the 10 groups ranged from 179 to 326 g/kg carcass weight. Variances of carcass fat, water and protein concentrations and of muscle measurements did not increase at later slaughter ages but variances of kidney fat weight, fat depths and total tissue depths increased. Several correlations among carcass measurements had significant regressions on average carcass fat composition of the groups slaughtered. When measurements were adjusted for age but not weight, correlations of carcass weight, kidney fat weight, specific gravity, tibia and tarsus length and m. longissimus depth with carcass fat, water and protein concentrations weakened as carcass fat concentration of the group increased. Correlations of kidney fat, specific gravity and m. longissimus width with fat, water and protein concentrations adjusted for carcass weight weakened as average carcass fat concentration of the group increased. Multiple regression equations did not reveal any advantage in using combinations of muscle or leg dimensions to predict fat concentration.
Rumen degradation of straw 5. Botanical fractions and degradability of different varieties of oat and wheat straws
Authors: Shand W. J. , Ørskov E. R. , Morrice L. A. F. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTStraw from six varieties of oat and 12 varieties of wheat were divided into their botanical fractions of leaf plus leaf sheath, internodes, nodes and chaff, and the rumen degradabilities of the individual fractions determined by the nylon bag method.The proportions of the fractions varied between varieties, but more so within wheat than within oat straw. The proportion of leaf plus leaf sheath varied from 0·27 to 0·37 for wheat and 0·29 to 0·33 for oats with the proportion of stem ranging from 0·41 to 0·51 for wheat and from 0·55 to 0·60 for oats. There were also differences in degradation characteristics, more evident in wheat than in oats. The 48-h degradability varied from 570 to 650 g/kg for wheat leaf plus leaf sheath and from 300 to 380 g/kg for wheat stem. The respective ranges for oat straws were from 480 to 530 and from 250 to 280.Generally, the wheat straw varieties, and in particular leaf from wheat straw, were of a higher degradability than oat straw. The mean 48-h degradabilities of wheat and oat leaf were 615 and 501 g/kg respectively. There was no relationship between the nitrogen content of leaves or stems and their degradability.
Effect of level of food intake in mid and late pregnancy on the performance of breeding ewes
Authors: Wilkinson S. C. , Chestnutt D. M. B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn three experiments pregnant ewes (mean weight 72·5 kg) were subjected to different planes of nutrition on grass silage-based diets during mid pregnancy and, in factorial designed trials with ad libitum silage or ad libitum silage + concentrates in late pregnancy. The high plane of mid-pregnancy nutrition resulted in an average gain of 11·5 kg between weeks 7 and 14 of pregnancy while the low plane gave an average loss of 3·5 kg during this period. These differences did not affect lamb birth weight but ewes on the high plane were 7·2 kg heavier after lambing than those on the low plane. The effect of plane of nutrition during mid pregnancy on silage intake during late pregnancy was variable but there was some evidence of a greater reduction in intake during the last few weeks of pregnancy following the high plane of mid-pregnancy nutrition. The higher plane of nutrition in late pregnancy resulted in higher ewe live weights as well as higher lamb birth weights and highest lamb birth weights occurred following restriction in mid pregnancy and a high plane of nutrition in late pregnancy.Plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate levels were variable but there was little evidence of an effect of mid-pregnancy nutrition although levels appeared to be increased by the low plane of nutrition in late pregnancy.
Rumen degradation of straw 6. Effect of polysaccharidase enzymes on degradation characteristics of ensiled rice straw
Authors: Nakashima Y. , Ørskov E. R. , Hotten P. M. , Ambo K. , Takase Y 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of three variables; polysaccharidase inclusion level (0, 5 and 10 g/kg), moisture content (500, 600 and 700 g/kg dry matter (DM), and particle size (20, 5 and 2 mm), on the quality and degradation characteristics of ensiled rice straw were investigated. The polysaccharidase product used was shown to contain a broad spectrum of activities against polysaccharides typical of plant material. The major activities present being: mixed link glucanase, xylanase and both endo- and exo-cellulase. The straw treated with polysaccharidase had a lower final pH (5·21, 4·87, 4·82;P< 0·01), higher concentrations of lactic acid (1·98, 3·90, 3·67 g/kg;P< 0·01), a lower content of neutral-detergent fibre (689, 630, 621 g/kg DM;P< 0·01) and a higher solubility, measured as washing losses from nylon bags (152, 196, 212 g/kg DM;P< 0·01) for the 0, 5 and 10 g/kg polysaccharidase treatments respectively. The samples were subsequently incubated in nylon bags in the rumen of three sheep for 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h to estimate degradation rate and potential degradability using the expression p = a + b (1 – e−ct) wherepis degradability at timetanda, bandcare constants. While there was no effect of moisture content or physical form of the straw, the degradation rate constant (c) was increased (P< 0·01) by the addition of polysaccharidase. The maximum potential degradability (a + b), however, was not altered by any of the treatments. The values forcwere 0·0498, 0·0677 and 0·0817 per h and for (a + b) were 62·4, 62·1 and 62·8 g/100 g DM for the 0, 5 and 10 g/kg polysaccharidase enzyme additions respectively. It is concluded that the use of polysaccharidase enzymes can assist in the preservation of wet straw and can result in improved degradation characteristics.
Effects of fodder beet on rumen metabolism
Authors: Sabri M. S. , Offer N. W. , Roberts D. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were carried out with sheep, to characterize fodder beet in terms of its effects on rumen function. In experiment A, a study was made of the effects of supplementing hay with fodder beet (FB) on rumen pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration compared with two control supplements of either barley/maize (BM) or molassed sugar-beet shreds (SBP). Hay was offered with all three supplements in a 50: 50 ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. The mean rumen pH for the fodder beet diet was 6·34 and intermediate between two controls (BM 6·20 and SBP 6·38). There was no significant difference in rumen concentration of total VFA for the three different diets (FB, SBP and BM) but there were highly significant effects due to diet for acetic and propionic acid molar proportions (P< 0·001). Molar proportion of propionic acid for diets FB, BM and SBP were 0·2064, 0·2221 and 01880 respectively. The loss of DM from nylon bags incubated in the rumen of sheep given the test diets was 471, 447 and 486 g/kg for FB, BM and SBP respectively. In experiment B, the rate ofin saccoorganic matter (OM) disappearance of the three supplements were compared in sheep given a constant high forage diet (900 g/day hay DM + 200 g/day compound food DM). There were highly significant differences in rates of OM disappearances for the supplements (P< 0·001). The losses of OM measured after 3 h incubation in the rumen were 767, 608, 378 and 236 g/kg for fodder beet, barley/maize, molassed sugar-beet shreds and hay respectively.