bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Total amino acid requirements of weaned piglets 8 to 25 kg live weight given diets based on wheat and soya-bean meal fortified with free amino acids
Authors: Gatel F. , Buron G. , Fékéte J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out with weaned piglets from 8 to 25 kg live weight in order to determine the dietary amino acid content necessary for maximum growth. Six diets based on wheat, soya-bean meal, soya-bean oil and free amino acids were compared in each experiment. Essential amino acids were in the same relative proportion for all diets: (methionine + cystine)/lysine = 0·60 to 0·65; threonine/lysine = 0·65; tryptophan/lysine = 0·19. The range of amino acid content was 9·53 to 12·52 g lysine per kg in the first experiment and 11·34 to 15·94 g lysine per kg in the second experiment. The number of piglets used per diet was 136 (20 pens) and 106 (16 pens) in respectively the first and the second experiment. The relationship between either dietary lysine content or daily lysine intake and growth rate was quadratic and significant. Dietary lysine content and daily lysine intake which enable maximum growth were calculated according to this model. Dietary lysine contents were 15·5 and 14·9 g/kg for the first 3 weeks (8 to 17 kg) and for the overall post-weaning period (8 to 25 kg) respectively. Daily lysine intakes were 10·6 and 13·3 g/day respectively for the same two periods. Reasons for these values being higher than those currently cited are discussed.
Measuring hunger in the pig using operant conditioning: The effect of food restriction
Authors: Lawrence A. B. , Appleby M. C. , Macleod H. A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOperant conditioning techniques were used to measure the feeding motivation (hunger) of pigs restricted to the low food levels used under certain commercial conditions. Six Large White × Landrace boars were maintained in individual pens where they received their daily food allowance. Initially food was available ad libitum; subsequently boars were restricted proportionately to 0·8, 0·6 and 0·4 of their ad libitum intake in a Latin-square design. Finally boars were again offered their previously measured ad libitum intake (treatment 1·0). Hunger was measured by conditioning boars to press a panel 10 times to receive a 7-g reward of food. Operant response rates were measured over 20-min sessions during each of the treatments and at three times of day (pre-feeding, immediately post feeding and 5 h post feeding).Operant response rate was strongly affected by restricting food allowance (means: treatment 1·0, 42 panel presses; 0·8, 212; 0·6, 266; 0·4, 320). There was a signficant interaction between food allowance and time of day (P < 0·001). Treatments did not vary in response rate before feeding. Treatments 1·0 and 0·8 depressed response rate post feeding (P < 0·001) and treatment 1·0 also 5 h post feeding (P < 0·001). Response rates on treatments 0·6 and 0·4 did not vary significantly from one another or with time of day.Restricting pigs to low food levels resulted in a high level of hunger throughout the day. This was so even for food allowances that met current recommended feeding levels sufficient for maintenance and low weight gain (treatment 0·6 equivalent to 1·3 times maintenance). Commercial levels of feeding for the pig breeding population whilst meeting production needs do not satisfy feeding motivation. The hunger resulting from low food levels may act as a major source of stress under certain husbandry conditions such as tether and stall systems for dry sows, where sows are subject to both physical and food restriction.
The effects of protein and energy content of compound supplements offered at low levels to October-calving dairy cows given grass silage ad libitum
Authors: Davies O. D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractNinety-six October calving, multiparous Friesian dairy cows were given from week 2 of lactation perennial ryegrass silage ad libitum, supplemented with one of four compound foods, offered at a flat rate of 3 kg/day. The compound foods differed in crude protein (CP) concentration (210 (LP) and 350 (HP) g/kg dry matter (DM)), achieved by including fish meal at 50 and 250 kg/t respectively; and in metabolizable energy (ME) concentration (12·8 (LE) and 14·0 (HE) M/kg DM), achieved by adding protected fat (approx. 100 kg/t). There were no significant interactions between supplement type in terms of animal performance. Over an average feeding period of 152 days, milk yields were significantly increased by 0·49 kg/day per 100 g supplementary CP (P < 0·01) and 0·50 kg/day per MJ of supplementary ME (P < 0·05).Increasing the level of supplementary CP had no effect on milk composition but significantly increased yield of milk protein (67 g/day). An increase in supplementary ME significantly reduced protein concentration in the milk (1·1 gjkg) but had no effect on protein yield. Yield of milk fat was significantly increased (76 g/day). The additional energy also significantly improved cow fertility in terms of a reduced interval from calving to both first service and conception.
Social behaviour of domestic animals II. Effect of the peck order on poultry productivity
Authors: McBride G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Peck order position was assessed by aggressiveness scores for birds housed intensively on deep litter on the floor and in cages.2. Relationships were shown between scores and egg weight, egg number and egg mass for the birds on the floor but not for the caged birds. The nature of the relationships found was discussed.3. The correlation between egg weight and egg number was higher in the flock on the floor than in the caged flock. This appeared to be due to a significant positive correlation among the lowest scoring birds on the floor.
Social behaviour of domestic animals III. Steers in small yards
Authors: McPhee C. P. , McBride G. , James J. W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYBehaviour observations and measurements were carried out on three classes of beef steers kept in yards under drought feeding conditions. The classes were (i) 2-year-old Brahman × Hereford crossbreds, (ii) 2-year-old Herefords and (iii) 3-year-old Herefords.Animals of each class were placed in two groups and fed on low quality bush hay, one group ad lib. and the other on a restricted basis. An intermingled group comprised two animals from each class and was fed ad lib.Fairly stable linear social orders were observed in each yard, social success depending mainly upon height. In the intermingled group, the crossbreds dominated the 3-year-old Herefords, which in turn dominated the 2-year-old Herefords.Crossbreds bunted more actively and were more often disturbed at feeding during the day. They consequently consumed proportionately more feed at night than the Herefords.Although high social ranking animals had priority at the feed trough there was no relationship between social rank and growth.The orders in which the 2-year-old Herefords and crossbreds entered a crush were non-random. These orders appeared not to be related to social rank.
Studies of the inheritance of bovine serum transferrins
Authors: Gall G. A. E. , Berg R. T. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The transferrins in two cattle herds were studied by means of starch gel electrophoresis. Three phenotypes were observed in a Hereford herd and six in a Hybrid herd comprised of Galloway, Aberdeen Angus and Charolais breeds.2. Gene frequencies were calculated for each herd. Great variation was found in the frequency of the transferrin alleles between breed and source within the Hybrid herd and between the Hybrid and Hereford herds. The frequencies of the transferrin alleles found in the cows in the Hereford herd were TfA= 0·467 and TfD= 0·533; those found in the cows in the Hybrid herd were TfA= 0·382, TfD= 0·506 and TfE= 0·112.3. Progeny data were in general agreement with the three-allele theory of inheritance, although the data suggested that offspring in the Hybrid herd carrying the TfEallele occurred at a lower frequency than expected.4. The possible relation of transferrin type to embryonic mortality was studied. The results were in general agreement with those of other workers, indicating a possible interaction between the genotypes of the foetus and dam.5. The characteristics of the transferrin types and the postulated three-allele genetic mechanism for the control of the observed variation are discussed.
The effects of level of feeding of sows during pregnancy. II. Changes in body weight
Authors: Lodge G. A. , Elsley W. H. , MacPherson R. M. 
Published: September 2010

1. Twelve groups of 3 litter-sister Large White gilts were given during three successive pregnancies a daily meal allowance of either 6 lb. (Group A) 3 lb. (Group B) or 3 lb. for 76 days followed by 6 lb. until parturition (Group C). During 8-week lactation periods all received the same daily allowance of 4 lb. meal plus 0·8 lb. for each piglet suckled.2. Net weight gains during the three successive pregnancies respectively were: Group A, 114, 97 and 79 lb.; Group B, 11, 10 and 7 lb.; Group C, 47, 44 and 35 lb. The differences between groups were highly significant (P<0·001) and there was a significant parity interaction (P<0·05) in that Group A sows showed a significant decline in net weight gain from parity to parity whereas those of Groups B and C did not. No relationship was found between net weight gain and litter weight at birth.3. Weight changes during the three successive lactation periods respectively were: Group A, –37, –41 and –36 lb.; Group B, 2, 14 and 4 lb.; Group C, –10, –14 and –5 lb. The differences between groups were significant to various degrees in different lactations. There was no relationship between weight changes during lactation and total litter weight at 3 weeks of age.4. Overall weight changes from first service to third weaning were: Group A, 160 lb.; Group B, 72 lb.; Group C, 71 lb. The differences between Group A and Groups B and C were highly significant (P<0·001).5. The implication of the results as an indication of feed requirements for reproduction is discussed.
Sources of variation in the uptake of a marker antibody by piglets
Authors: Perry G. C. , Watson J. H. 
Published: September 2010

1. Homologous antibodies toSalmonella pullorumwere produced by immunising pigs between 100 and 200 lb. live-weight.2. Standardised doses of antibody, extracted from whole serum after these pigs were slaughtered, were administered to 245 piglets by stomach tube during the first 24 hr. after birth.3. The marked variation in uptake of the marker antibody, determined by direct agglutination tests on the blood serum of the dosed pigs, was chiefly due to variation between litters. This variation was attributed to maternal effects, associated with agents secreted in varying quantities into colostrum. Concentration of antibody in the dose administered to piglets, time elapsing between birth and dosage and differences between sire families, were subsidiary causes of variation. Possible mechanisms influencing efficiency of antibody absorption were examined and discussed.
Rearing of dairy cattle. 7. Effect of level of nutrition and body condition on the fertility of heifers
Authors: Leaver J. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOne-hundred-and-seventy British Friesian heifers were individually fed from 6 weeks before to 6 weeks after artificial insemination on a diet of 90% maize silage and 10% decorticated groundnut in the dry matter. Three levels of nutrition were compared: 48, 55 and 62 g/day of digestible organic matter/kg live weight0·73, which gave mean growth rates of 0·34, 0·50 and 0·68 kg/day respectively. Pregnancy rates to first service were not significantly different, averaging 67, 69 and 65%. Heifers were given a body condition score at the time of insemination, and pregnancy rates corrected for level of nutrition were 42,72, 70 and 63% for heifers in poor, moderate, good or very good condition. For heifers in poor/moderate condition increasing the level of nutrition increased pregnancy rates and for those in good/very good condition pregnancy rates declined, but these effects were not significant.
Effect of season of the year and phase of the moon on puberty and on the occurrence of oestrus and conception in dairy heifers reared on high planes of nutrition
Authors: Roy J. H. B. , Gillies Catherine M. , Perfitt M. W. , Stobo I. J. F. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA study of the factors that influence the age at first oestrus has been made with 57 Friesian heifers reared on high planes of nutrition in a partially-controlled environment. Although animals born during the period of increasing daylength reached puberty approximately 2 months earlier than those born during decreasing daylength, there was also a marked influence of live weight at 182 days of age and of the phase of the moon at the time of oestrus.Frequency of occurrence of first oestrus and of conception showed four distinct peaks at approximately 7-day intervals within the lunar cycle; this association between conception and lunar phase appeared to decline with increasing parity. Frequency of occurrence of artificial insemination, which reflected all suspected instances of oestrus, was also related to lunar phase. This effect of the lunar phase appears to be associated in the young heifer with 7-day cycles of oestrous activity positioned in time by the occurrence of the full moon.
The incidence of halothane sensitivity in British pigs
Authors: Webb A. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTAn adverse reaction in pigs to the anaesthetic halothane at approximately 8 weeks of age appears to be controlled by a single recessive gene affecting stress susceptibility, lean content and reproductive performance. In a survey of British nucleus herds, a total of 2998 pigs between 5 weeks of age and 28 kg live weight were given 3-min halothane tests during visits to 17 breeders or companies. There were no positive halothane reactions among 764 Large Whites from 7 herds. The frequency of positive reaction among 1538 Landrace from 14 herds averaged 11%, with a range from 0 to 23 % in individual herds. Frequencies in other pure breeds or synthetic lines varied from 0 to 88%. British and foreign breeds are compared, and the possibility of eliminating the halothane gene is discussed.
Feeding sows for specific weight gains in pregnancy and its effect on reproductive performance
Authors: Lee Pauline A. , Mitchell K. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTForty-five Large White × Landrace gilts were given food to realize energy intakes recommended by the Agricultural Research Council (1981) to attain maternal weight gains in pregnancy of either 40, 20 or 10 kg using a diet containing 125 g crude protein and 12·5 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg over three parities. During a 3-week lactation period all animals were given a standard level of feeding. Maternal weight gains in pregnancy were much greater than those anticipated, for all treatments during each parity. The relationship between the actual and the predicted weight gains (kg) was the same for all three parities, actual AW = 22·62 + 0·71 predicted AW (R = 0·69). There was a large range of weight gains within treatments which was related to backfat thickness (P2 measurement (mm)) at conception in the second and third pregnancies, AW = 10·52 + 0·62 P2 measurement (R = 0·63) and to the change in P2 measurement, AW = 38·37 + 1·68 AP2 (R = 0·38) in the first pregnancy. The daily gain per MJ DE intake decreased wth parity and with decreasing energy intake. Numbers of piglets born and weaned were similar for all treatments; birth weights were also similar but there was an unexplained significant difference in piglet weaning weight in parity 2. There were no significant differences among treatments for either the total number or weights of piglets produced over the three parities.
The behaviour of pigs in a semi-natural environment
Authors: Stolba A. , Wood-Gush D. G. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn order to obtain a better knowledge of the behaviour of the domestic pig, a small population was established in 1978 near Edinburgh in an enclosure with several types of habitat, including woodland and bog. Over a 3·5-year period 13 different groups were studied with each group typically containing a boar, four sows, a young sub-adult boar and an immature gilt. The sow and her piglets were allowed to determine the time of weaning and, apart from providing food for maintenance and reproduction, handling was kept to a minimum. The behaviour of these pigs, which included most of the behaviour of the European wild boar, is described in a general manner for the non-specialist.
A note on the effect of early weaning on performance and carcass characteristics in Angus cross and Charolais cross steers
Authors: Butler-Hogg B. W. , Prescott J. H. D. , Lowman B. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTEight Angus cross and eight Charolais cross steer calves (out of Hereford × British Friesian cross dams) were weaned at turnout when 7 months old. Over a summer grazing period of 182 days these ‘early-weaned’ calves grew 30 to 35 % slower than eight comparable steer calves of each cross which continued to suckle their dams until 11 months of age. At housing, the early-weaned calves were 100 g/kg lighter, but this difference had no effect on growth rates or silage intakes during the 138-day finishing period. At the same age early-weaned steers had reduced hot carcass weight and dressing percentage but a similar proportion of fat in the forerib joint.
The use of natural shelter by hill sheep
Authors: Munro Joan 
Published: September 2010

A small flock of 16 Blackface ewes occupying 40 acres of hill ground grazed as a fairly tight community. From observations over a complete year, 1960, it has been shown that sheltering behaviour was largely dependent on wind speed exceeding 24 m.p.h. Sheltering increased markedly at temperatures below freezing. Temperature above freezing, except for rapid falls in temperature exceeding 4° F., exerted little effect on sheltering. No relationship could be found between sheltering behaviour of the sheep and other factors which included rain, relative humidity, wind direction or season of the year.It would appear therefore that the sensitivity of sheep to exposure is influenced more by wind speed than any other climatic factor.
A note on the effect of castration on the growth performance and concentrations of some blood metabolites and hormones in British Friesian male cattle
Authors: Galbraith H. , Dempster D. G. , Miller T. B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEight British Friesian bulls and eight steers were compared in terms of performance and levels of metabolites and hormones in circulating blood. Under conditions of generous nutrition the bulls grew significantly more quickly, exhibited a superior feed conversion efficiency and had lower levels of serum albumin and plasma urea and higher levels of serum growth hormone and prolactin than the steers. Differences in levels of plasma glucose and free fatty acids and serum total protein and insulin were not significant. It is suggested that the superior growth performance of the bulls is due, at least partially, to hormonally mediated differences in nitrogen metabolism that result in a greater deposition of lean tissue and hence increased weight gain.
Environmental and genetic causes of variation in production traits of Damascus goats. 1. Pre-weaning and post-weaning growth
Authors: Mavrogenis A. P. , Constantinou A. , Louca A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTData on 1542 Damascus kids, collected from 1977 to 1981, were used to study environmental and genetic factors influencing pre-weaning and post-weaning growth traits of kids. Season of birth, type of birth, sex of kid and dam lactation number were the environmental factors investigated. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated from paternal half-sib correlations. The average sire family size was 17·2 kids. Single kids were heavier at birth, at weaning and at 140 days of age than twins or other multiples (P < 0·01). Male kids were heavier (P < 0·01) and grew faster (P < 0·01) than female kids from birth to 140 days of age (4·7 and 4·2 at birth, and 29·2 and 24·6 kg at 140 days, respectively). Dam lactation number significantly affected pre-weaning growth, but had no effect on the post-weaning growth rate of kids.Heritabilities for birth, weaning and 140-day weights, and pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rate, were 0·31 (s.e. 0·08), 0·27 (s.e. 0·07), 0·21 (s.e. 0·07), 0·16 (s.e. 0·06) and 0·22 (s.e. 0·07), respectively. Genetic correlations were mostly high and all positive, especially between weaning weight and 140-day weight (0·82 (s.e. 0·08)), and pre-weaning growth rate and 140-day weight (0·80 (s.e. 0·10)). The corresponding phenotypic correlations were also high and positive (0·71 and 0·67, respectively). No genetic antagonisms were found among the characters studied. Response to selection for post-weaning growth should be effective.
Evaluation of a model of the energy system of lactating and pregnant cows
Authors: Broadbent P. J. , Topps J. H. , Clark J. J. , Bruce J. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. The model of the energy system of lactating, and pregnant, cows proposed by Bruce, Broadbent and Topps (1984) has been evaluated using data relating to 166 lactations for dairy cows and 48 lactations for beef cows. The cows in both sets of data were subjected to various nutritional and managerial regimes.2. The discrepancies between observed and predicted values of milk (energy) and live weight were small, both as a proportion of the measured values and total energy intake. For Danish Black and White dairy cows the discrepancies for milk were virtually zero on both bases; those for live weight represented 0·020 of the total energy intake, or an over-prediction by 0·054 in late lactation. For Hereford × British Friesian beef cows, suckled by one or two calves, the discrepancies as a proportion of the total energy intake ranged from 0·005 to 0·051 for milk and 0·001 to 0·063 for live-weight change across the nutritional and managerial regimes.3. It was concluded that the model of Bruce et al. (1984), which considers genetic potential for milk production and growth, nutritional (energy), reproductive and environmental status, may be used to predict milk yield and live-weight change simultaneously from food (energy) input.
The association between clinical mastitis and milk yield in dairy cows
Authors: Lucey S. , Rowlands G. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA study of 1514 lactations that occurred between 1977 and 1982 in 790 Friesian, Ayrshire and Holstein crossbred cows was undertaken. One thousand and eighty-four of these lactations were used to consider the association between the occurrence of clinical mastitis and changes in milk yield, and to illustrate a technique that enables the previous lactation history of a cow to be used for estimating changes associated with the disease.The lactation curves were described using the model y(n) = anbe−cn from which values for peak yield, persistency, rate of decline at week 25, and recorded and extrapolated 305-day yield were calculated. A significant correlation between successive lactations of the same animal was observed for each of these variables. Pairs of successive lactations free from clinical mastitis were then compared by regression analysis with lactations in which the preceding lactation was free from the disease whilst the second lactation of the pair was infected.Significant reductions in peak yield, recorded and extrapolated 305-day yield were found when mastitis occurred before the week of peak yield. A reduction in recorded 305-day yield was also observed when the disease occurred between peak and 10 weeks after peak. Mastitis later in the lactation had no significant effect.The mean reduction in recorded 305-day yield of 540 kg when mastitis occurred before peak for a cow with a mean yield of 4830 kg, was higher than previous estimates. No evidence of recovery was observed in subsequent lactations that were free of clinical infection, indicating that once a cow has contracted mastitis it may not achieve its full milk-yield potential in the next lactation.