bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endogenous faecal loss of calcium by ruminants
Authors: Braithwaite G. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA re-examination of the results from 374 sheep used in previovis studies of calcium metabolism show there is a highly significant linear relationship between endogenous faecal loss of Oa and food intake, endogenous loss increasing by about 0·64 mg/day/kg body weight for each 1 g/day/kg body weight increase in food intake. This loss was unaltered by Ca intake or by pregnancy and lactation but was slightly higher in young animals than in adult animals given the same Ca intake on a body-weight basis. It is suggested that a variable factor for endogenous Ca loss, based upon some measure of level of feeding, should be introduced into rationing schemes.
The influence of plant raising conditions on the head weight of crisp lettuce at maturity
Authors: Wurr D. C. E. , Fellows Jane R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo experiments investigated the effects of raising crisp lettuce seedlings under different environmental conditions prior to transplanting, on transplant size and weight and head weight at maturity.The use of tungsten lighting for 4 h after the end of a 12 h period of fluorescent and tungsten lighting increased transplant size and weight and the weight of heads at maturity compared with fluorescent and tungsten lighting only. Glasshouse-raised transplants were larger than those raised under artificial lighting but gave heads of similar weight to transplants which had supplementary tungsten lighting for 2 weeks. Both these treatments gave significantly heavier heads than a drilled crop or plants raised without supplementary tungsten lighting. Increasing the number of weeks of the supplementary lighting treatment tended to increase the coefficient of variation (c.v.) of head weight. Nevertheless the drilled crop had a higher c.v. of head weight than any transplanted treatment.The variety Pennlake produced pointed (‘coned’) heads when grown in the open and its leaves were shorter and broader than those of plants grown in polyethylene tunnels, which did not show ‘coning’. It is suggested that ‘coning’ occurs primarily as a result of either lower mean temperatures or a lower amplitude of temperature when grown in the open. It occurred most frequently with glasshouse-raised plants indicating that a higher raising temperature may also contribute to the problem.
The indirect determination of energy retention in farm animals: I. The development of method
Authors: Blaxter K. L. , Rook J. A. F. 
Published: March 2009

1. Methods of estimating water retention in the body of cattle are discussed, and it is shown that methods based on determinations of the initial and final body-water content are of low accuracy and are not suitable for the indirect estimation of fat balance over a period of 24 days.2. Analyses of tissues from young and adult cattle showed that with the exception of serum, brain, skin and bone, water content of the tissues may be predicted from the following equation:Water(g./100g.)= 0·292 Na(mg./100g.)+ 0·147 K(mg./100g.).This equation shows that 1 m.equiv. of the Na of tissues is associated with more water than is 1 m.equiv. of the K.3. No differences between cattle aged from less than 1 week to more than 5 years were observed in the relationship between water and Na and K content.4. The equation applied also to the contents of the digestive tract, other than those of the abomasum which gave low results, ascribed to the presence of a high concentration of H+ions.5. Analyses of whole foetuses for Na, K and H2O showed that their water content could be predicted accurately. The same was true of amniotic fluid, but the water content of allantoic fluid was underestimated by 50%.6. It was shown that despite the anomalous behaviour of brain, serum, skin and bone, accurate predictions of the water content of the animal could be made from simultaneous determinations of Na and K retentions, providing a correction was made for the storage of bound Na in bone.7. Data are presented which indicate that the equations apply equally well to the tissues of the sheep.
The indirect determination of energy retention in farm animals: II. Studies on the validity of the method
Authors: Blaxter K. L. , Rook J. A. F. 
Published: March 2009

1. A series of simultaneous determinations of the Na, K, N, C, ash, H2O and energy retentions of calves have been made in order to test the validity of a method of estimating energy retention without recourse to respiration chamber technique. The experiments involved 72 days' calorimetric observation with six animals. A further series of fourteen experiments with sheep involving 58 days' calorimetric observation were made but are not reported in detail2. It was found that, with calves, water retention could be estimated by an indirect method from Na, K and ash metabolism without significant systematic error. The standard deviations attached to the indirect estimates appeared to be invariant with length of period. Thus, by increasing the length of the period the accuracy of the mean daily estimate of water retention could be considerably increased.3. With calves, energy retention measured indirectly from body-weight gain and the gain of ash, protein and water did not differ significantly from that determined calorimetrically by the C and N balance technique. The standard deviation of the mean daily difference fell with increasing length of period, being ± 407 Cal./24 hr. in an experiment lasting 8 days. It was calculated that experiments with four calves lasting 24 days would give results of the same precision as that obtained in a single calorimetric trial.4. The use of the ratio calorie retention/protein retention could permit the calculation of energy retention from the N metabolism of the animal. It is suggested that this method, if developed to take into account the effect of nutritional plane on the ratio, could have considerable practical value.5. It was found that cutaneous losses of K by the sheep in its skin secretions (suint) make it impossible to interpret the difference between the intake and faecal and urinary losses of K as a body gain of K and express it in terms of water. The method is not therefore suitable for the sheep.6. The difficulties involved in the application of the method to adult cattle are pointed out, particularly those that stem from the high K content of most of the foods they eat. A very high analytical accuracy is necessary if the estimates of Na and K retention are to have the necessary precision.
Crop compatibility and spatial arrangement in sorghum-based intercropping systems
Authors: Waghmare A. B. , Krishnan T. K. , Singh S. P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYField experiments on crop compatibility and spatial arrangements in sorghum were conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in irrigated conditions in 1976 and 1978. Grain yield of sorghum increased when grown in association with the legumes greengram, groundnut, grain and fodder cow peas and soya bean, compared with sole sorghum. Planting of sorghum in paired rows (30:90 cm) with two rows of intercrop in the 90 cm space produced maximum yields of sorghum and intercrops.
Labour saving in feeding of fattening pigs
Authors: Braude R. , Rowell J. G. 
Published: March 2009

In a co-ordinated experiment involving twenty centres and 558 pigs it was found that the growth rate, efficiency of food conversion and carcass quality of the pigs were not affected when one after-noon meal was omitted each week throughout the fattening period, provided the amount of meal thus saved was distributed between the remaining feeds during each week.Limited evidence is presented to show that similar results may be obtained when two afternoon feeds are omitted each week.
Effects of nitrogen applied at different dates, and of other cultural treatments on eyespot, take-all and yield of winter wheat (field experiment, 1953)
Authors: Salt G. A. 
Published: March 2009

A field experiment to test effects of cultural treatments on eyespot (Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fron.), lodging and yield of winter wheat, begun in 1952 (Salt, 1955), was continued on the same site in 1953. In 1952 only eyespot and lodging were severe, but in 1953 take-all (Ophiobolus graminis Sacc.) and weeds were severe also.Squareheads Master 13/4 and Cappelle, each sown at 1½ and 3 bushels/acre, were top-dressed at four different dates with ammonium sulphate at 0, 2 and 4 cwt./acre. Sulphuric acid (12½% b.o.v. at 100 gal./ acre) was sprayed on four of the eight blocks of ten plots in March to control eyespot.Halving the seed rate decreased the percentage of severe eyespot from 63 to 52%, decreased the area stunted by take-all from 36 to 14% and increased yield by amounts ranging from 8·3 cwt. in nitrogendeficient plots to 2·6 cwt./acre in plots well supplied with ammonium sulphate. The fertilizer applied to Squareheads Master at 0, 2 and 4 cwt./acre had little effect on the incidence of eyespot lesions at harvest, but increased the area lodged from 23 to 53 and 60% respectively; it decreased the area stunted by takeall from 47 to 19 and 10% respectively, and increased yield from 13 to 17 and 18 cwt./acre. Cappelle did not lodge and the fertilizer decreased take-all patches from 51 to 28 and 18% respectively, and increased grain from 15 to 20 and 21 cwt./acre. The time when nitrogen was applied to either variety had no important effect on disease incidence or yield.Sulphuric acid sprayed in 1953 on blocks unsprayed in 1952 and so having a higher initial infection of eyespot and weeds, decreased the area lodged and the area covered by weeds, but did not decrease the percentage of straws with eyespot below that in unsprayed plots.
Comparison of six different levels of feeding for fattening pigs
Authors: Barber R. S. , Braude R. , Mitchell K. G. 
Published: March 2009

1. Sixty Large White pigs in ten blocks of six litter-mates were individually fed on six different planes of feeding. Three groups were fed according to live weight and according to three different scales, and in the other three groups the pigs were given as much food as they would eat in 30 min. at two feeds daily up to a maximum of 7·0, 6·5 and 6·0 lb./day respectively. All pigs received the same meal mixtures.2. Although the groups being fed according to the various scales took slightly longer to reach bacon weight, they utilized their food more efficiently than the groups fed on the ‘to appetite’ systems. Thus the pigs fed according to the scale shown in Table 1, but up to a daily maximum of 6½ lb. meal/pig, required about 35 lb. less meal to reach bacon weight than those pigs fed ‘to appetite’ up to a maximum of 7 lb. meal/day. The saving in food costs at present-day prices was approximately 10s. per pig.3. The percentages of grade A carcasses were very high in all groups, but there was a marked tendency for the ‘to appetite’ fed groups to have thicker midback and loin fats, the latter being reflected in the poorer commercial grading results.4. The importance of interpreting the results in the light of the influence of the strain of pig, environment and type of diet fed on the question of plane of feeding, was emphasised.
The apparent digestibility of crude protein by the ruminant: II. The general equation and some of its implications
Authors: French M. H. , Glover J. , Duthie D. W. 
Published: March 2009

The general equation, y = 70 log x − 15, connecting y, the digestibility coefficient, to x, the percentage of crude protein in the dry matter of the feed of ruminants, which was proposed in an earlier paper, has been shown to fit all the directly determined world data for cattle, sheep and goats which have been published by Schneider (1947). It is applicable to rations composed of both single and mixed feeds for it is the total percentage of crude protein in the ration which determines its digestibility.The equation is of general application, irrespective of climate or feed, and for the first time a link is provided between the large bulk of data from temperate regions and those hitherto neglected and apparently aberrant data from the tropics and subtropics.The equation adequately explains a large part of the variability of results obtained by the ‘by difference’ method. In particular, attention is drawn to its value in explaining ‘associative effects’ in mixed feeds.It would seem to have several practical applications; one being the ready determination of the average digestibility of crude protein in rapidly growing grasses and herbages at different stages of development; another being the evaluation of average crude protein digestibility of single or compound feeds in those parts of the world where adequate facilities for digestibility studies are not available. It can also be used in computing maintenance and production rations for meat and milk.
Phenotypic and genetic parameters for reproductive performance in a synthetic line of sheep
Authors: Martin T. G. , Nicholson D. , Smith C. , Sales D. I. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYData on 902 ewes (1755 records) bom over 7 years in the synthetic ABRO Dam Line were analysed by least squares. Reproductive traits of the ewe were not affected by whether she was a single or a twin or by the age of her dam. Ewe age had major effects on all reproductive traits. Litter weight traits were affected by the sex distribution and the age of the litter when weighed.Heritability estimates, both by half sib and regression methods, were low for litter size, low to moderate for litter weights, and higher for ewe and fleece weights. Genetic correlations among the litter-weight traits were high. Together with the heritability estimates, they indicated that selection on litter weight at birth (and perhaps other traits) might give a greater change in total litter weight at weaning, the main measure of ewe productivity and the objective in improvement, than would direct selection.
Skin histology and birthcoat fibre-follicle relationships in Merino and ⅝ Merino lambs
Authors: Guirgis R. A. , Ghanem Y. S. , Amin S. O. , El-Ganaieny M. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSkin biopsy samples from imported Merino and ⅝ Merino/⅜ Barki were examined from birth to the age of 1 year. Birthcoat fibre type arrays and fibre-follicle relationships were also studied.Merino lambs had a greater S/P ratio than ⅝ Merino at all ages; values at 1 year of age were 9·98 and 6·87 respectively.The ⅝ Merino lambs showed a wider range of follicle diameters than Merinos from birth to 1 year of age.The ratio of primary to secondary follicle diameters showed higher values in ⅝ Merino than in Merinos. Merino gave lower values of follicle wall thickness than ⅝ Merino.In Merino birthcoat samples, only one array was plain, representing 4%, whereas the rest were saddle. In ⅝ Merino the majority of fibre type arrays were plain, representing 75 %, whereas the rest were saddle and plateau.In Merino, because of the absence of halo hairs and super sickles, only two samples had few super sickle B; primary central follicles were occupied by sickle fibres, medium with large sickle ends as well as curly tips, and primary lateral follicles had mostly medium and fine curly tips, only four samples had sickle fibres, and secondary follicles produced medium and fine curly tips and histerotrichs.In ⅝ Merino primary central follicles produced halo hairs, super sickle A, A', B and occasionally sickle fibres, primary lateral follicles grew super sickle A, A', B, sickle fibres and curly tip fibres, and secondary follicles had medium and fine curly tips and histerotrichs.
A mathematical model of pasture contamination by grazing cattle and the effects on herbage intake
Authors: Brockington N. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA mathematical model has been constructed to simulate pasture contamination by the faeces of grazing cattle and the effects on herbage intake. The model describes the rate of deposition of faeces in relation to herbage intake, the effects of contamination on intake as modified by grazing pressure, and the rate at which the influence of faeces on grazing behaviour declines after deposition.The information available on these processes is incomplete and imprecise in a number of respects. It appears from the modelling exercise that further data are most urgently needed on the rate at which the inhibitory influence of faeces declines, and on the precise effect of grazing pressure on the amount of herbage rejected.A secondary effect of contamination is recognized, in which the utilization of herbage initially rejected because of the presence of faeces is modified subsequently because the temporary protection from grazing allows it to become too mature. This effect may be quantitatively larger than the primary contamination effect on untrimmed pastures, but its accurate prediction depends on the establishment of comprehensive relationships between the amount and composition of herbage on offer and intake by the grazing animal. The latter studies deserve at least an equal research priority, in relation to the contamination problem in toto, as the elucidation of the details of the primary effect.
Efficacy of associative N2-fixation by streptomycin-resistant mutants ofAzospirillum brasilensewith genotypes of chick peaRhizobiumstrains
Authors: Rai R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAzospirillum brasilensewas treated with nitrosoguanidine and two mutants isolated which were resistant to 500 μg streptomycin/ml. Ultraviolet sensitivity, photoreactivation and effect of acriflavin on pre- and post-irradiation were studied. Chick pea showed an increase in grain yield, nodule dry weight, N2ase activity and active iron content of nodules when inoculated withA. brasilenseor its mutants together withRhizobium. The interaction betweenRhizobiumstrains and genotypes of chick pea was significant.
Growth, nutritive value and selection by sheep of sainfoin, red clover, lucerne and hybrid ryegrass
Authors: Wilman D. , Asiedu F. H. K. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA site containing plots of sainfoin, red clover, lucerne and hybrid ryegrass, each sown as a pure stand, was grazed by sheep three times in the first and second harvest years and once in the third. Crop growth was studied during the 8 weeks preceding each grazing.Sainfoin had a high proportion of green leaf and a high weight per unit area of leaf, and the stem as well as the leaf was readily eaten. The yield and persistence of sainfoin were poor, the number of plants and the number of shoots per plant were low, the development of leaf area was slow, and nitrogen content and digestibility were rather low.Red clover had a high proportion of green leaf, large leaves, high nitrogen content and fairly high digestibility, and the stem as well as the leaf was readily eaten. Yield was low except at the first two grazings of the first harvest year, and persistence was poor, there being a large number of plant deaths near the time of the second grazing.Lucerne was higher yielding and more persistent than the other legumes, with a satisfactory number of plants, a relatively large number of shoots per plant, a high rate of emergence of leaves and a relatively large amount of branching. The lucerne had a rather high proportion of stem, and the stem was of rather low digestibility and not very attractive to the sheep.The hybrid ryegrass yielded more herbage than the legumes, had a satisfactory and increasing number of tillers, increased in yield relatively early in spring and recovered well after defoliation. The proportion of green leaf was low by the end of each of the first two growth periods of each year, the leaves emerged at a rather slow rate in the later stages of a growth period, the crop had a relatively high proportion of cell wall and the stem in particular was relatively unattractive to the sheep.
Denitrification in soil. II. Factors affecting denitrification
Authors: Bremner J. M. , Shaw K. 
Published: March 2009

1. The factors affecting denitrification in soil have been studied by determining loss of nitrogen from soil under various conditions by total-N analysis.2. It was found that the rate of denitrification of nitrate in soil was dependent upon various factors such as the pH, temperature and water content of the soil and that, under conditions conducive to denitrification, 80–86% of nitrate-N added to Rothamsted soils was lost by denitrification in 5 days.3. The rate of denitrification was greatly affected by the pH of the soil. It was very slow at low pH (below 4·8), increased with rise in soil pH and was very rapid at pH 8·0–8·6.4. The rate of denitrification increased rapidly with rise in temperature from 2° to 25° C. The optimum temperature for denitrification was about 60° C.5. The degree of water saturation of the soil had a profound influence on the rate of denitrification. Below a certain moisture level practically no denitrification occurred; above this level denitrification increased rapidly with increase in moisture content. The critical moisture level was about 60% of the water-holding capacity of the soil.
The inter-relationships of individual proteins and carbohydrates during fermentation in the rumen of the sheep. I. The fermentation of casein in the presence of starch or other carbohydrate materials
Authors: Lewis D. , McDonald I. W. 
Published: March 2009

1. The metabolic interactions of casein and starch or other carbohydrates are measured by estimating the concentrations of volatile fatty acids, ammonia, lactic acid and amino acids in the rumen after administering the protein and carbohydrate supplements alone or together.2. The ammonia concentration is reduced (i.e. its utilization is probably increased), by the carbohydrate materials; levan and starch achieve this slightly more effectively than glucose or xylan and the effect of cellulose is very slight.3. Under conditions when the normal ration fed is not of high quality a small supplement of casein stimulates the rate of fermentation of starch and other carbohydrates.4. The findings indicate that the best utilization of protein supplements is probably obtained when a carbohydrate is also present that can be fermented at a comparable rate, conditions which stimulate microbial synthesis in the rumen.
Thiamine requirement of young ruminants
Authors: Edwin E. E. , Hebert C. Nancy , Jackman R. , Masterman Sheila 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe possibility of a sub-clinical state of thiamine deficiency in young cattle and sheep is discussed. A trial was carried out on six MAFF experimental husbandry farms in which groups of animals were given 100 mg of thiamine per day orally throughout the rearing period. Measurement of erythrocyte transketolase showed that the dosed group gave a significantly lower percentage thiamine pyrophosphate effect than the control group. There was no difference in weight gain of the two groups during the limited period of the trial.