bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of winter feeding level on the performance of red deer calves (Cervus elaphus)
Authors: Brelurut A. , Theriez M. , Bechet G. 
Published: September 2010

The aim of this trial was to determine the effects of a high winter feeding level on the performance of red deer calves from weaning to 15 months of age.Two groups of 10 calves in each group were fed indoors from weaning to turn-out on good quality hay ad libitum. They received concentrates for 197 days, the first group (treatment H) ad libitum, and the second (treatment L) a daily quantity of 616 g dry matter (DM). At turn-out the two lots were grouped together for 149 days on natural pastures containing grass species characteristic of the area.During the indoor period, treatment H calves consumed 2·5 times more concentrate than those in treatment L (272v.110 kg DM) and 2·8 times less hay (48v.234 kg DM). They weighed 19·6 kg more at turn-out (88·9v.69·3 kg). The difference in weight decreased to 8·8 kg at 15 months of age, but varied according to sex. This reduction of the weight gap between groups was due to the better adaptation of treatment L to pasture and to compensatory growth resulting from a higher grass intake after turn-out.It is concluded that despite the good performance of treatment H animals in winter, a high energy level of feeding is only advantageous in certain cases. It is of benefit to animals that are to be slaughtered at 1 year of age and to lateborn calves, and can improve the frame development of females in their first breeding season.
Factors affecting water intakes of lactating dairy cows offered grass silages differing in fermentation and intake characteristics
Authors: Dewhurst R. J. , Offer N. W. , Thomas C. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of silage characteristics on water intake of lactating dairy cows and to examine the prediction of water intake. Sixteen grass silages, differing in fermentation and intake characteristics, were offered ad libitum to dairy cows in early lactation supplemented with 7 kg/day of concentrate (13·3 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM) and 216 g crude protein per kg DM). Four silages were offered in each of four incomplete change-over design experiments, consisting of three 3-week periods. Water intakes were recorded through individual Kent water meters and press water bowls over the final week of each period. Tree (drinking) water intake ranged from 20·1 to 89·9 (mean = 45·2; s.d. = 12·96) I/day whilst total water intake (also including food water) ranged from 48·4 to 123·8 (mean = 87·3; s.d. = 14·12) I/day. Water intake increased with increasing silage DM concentration, however free water replaced silage water at a rate less than 1. Milk yield and silage D value (digestible organic matter, g/kg DM) were strongly positively correlated with free water intake (r = 0·751 and 0·595 respectively), though fermentation indices were not good single predictors of water intake. Further analysis revealed problems owing to collinearity within the predictors of water intake: DM intake, silage D value and milk yields being significantly correlated, as were pH and volatile fatty acids as a proportion of total fermentation acids. The ridge regression technique was used to reduce collinearity problems and produce stable equations. The best prediction equations for water intake involved a combination of both animal and analytical information: diet DM concentration, milk yield and silage pH. The use of fermentation information, whether from titration or high-performance liquid chromatography did not describe real variation in water intake beyond that described by silage pH. Free water intake was higher with higher diet DM concentrations, higher milk yields and higher silage pH.
Annual energy intake and the metabolic and reproductive performance of beef cows differing in body size and milk potential
Authors: Sinclair K. D. , Yildiz S. , Quintans G. , Gebbie F. E. , Broadbent P. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe metabolic status and reproductive performance of four pure breeds of beef cow (small size and low milk potential, Aberdeen Angus; small size and high milk potential, Welsh Black; large size and low milk potential, Charolais; and large size and high milk potential, Simmental) were monitored during their first two parities. Heifers from each breed were allocated to one of two levels of annual energy intake relative to metabolic body weight (M075) (mean daily intakes equivalent to 705 and 820 kj/kg M0·75) in a factorial design. In the 1st year 64 heifers (eight per treatment) which had calved as a consequence of first or second service were selected for the experiment. In the 2nd year 40 of these animals (five per treatment) which held to first or second service remained on experiment. Animals were housed all year round and given diets designed to represent energy intakes while grazing during the summer and conserved feeding during the winter. Pregnancy was established in late July of each year using a combination of oestrous synchronization and artificial insemination. Blood samples were collected at monthly intervals from weaning in November until calving in May; three times weekly from calving until oestrous synchronization (11 weeks later); and fortnightly thereafter until weaning.For the annual levels of dietary energy intake offered, two breeds (Welsh Black and Charolais) exhibited relatively high growth rates and had the longest post-partum anovulatory periods; and Charolais cows also had the poorest conception rates of all breeds. Relatively lean cows at calving (body condition score < 2·5 units) were sensitive, in terms of the duration of the anovulatory period, to live-weight loss during the early post-partum period, particularly when blood glucose levels were low, whereas relatively fat cows at calving (body condition score > 2·5 units) were not. The data suggest: (i) that mechanisms controlling the anabolic processes governing maternal growth are antagonistic towards those that control reproduction; and (ii) the catabolism of lean tissue rather than fat tissue during the early post-partum period is also antagonistic towards the mechanisms that govern reproductive function in cows.
The utilization of diets containing increasing levels of dried brewers' grains by growing lambs
Authors: Bovolenta S. , Piasentier E. , Peresson C. , Malossini F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the feeding characteristics and the productive responses of lamb diets containing increasing levels of dried brewers' grains (DBG). Five groups of six 70-day-old Bergamasca lambs were housed in individual pens and givenad libitumfor 9 weeks pelleted diets containing 200 g/kg of concentrate and 800 g/kg of a mixture of DBG and lucerne hay in the ratios of 0:80 (DBG0), 20:60 (DBG20), 40:40 (DBG40) 60:20 (DBG60) and 80:0 (DBG80). During the last 12 days of the experimental period, a digestibility trial was carried out for each diet. After this, all the lambs were slaughtered and the composition of the empty body weight was determined. The initial composition of the empty body was estimated from the composition of a sixth group of lambs slaughtered at the beginning of the trial.The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral-detergent fibre and energy increased with the proportion of DBG. The daily DM intake relative to metabolic body weight (M0·75) diminished significantly with the increasing proportion of DBG in the diet, from 127 g/kg M0·75for diet DBG0 to 83 g/kg M0·75for diet DBG60. The daily live-weight gain and food DM conversion efficiency were highest with the intermediate diets (414 g/day with diet DBG40 and 240 g/kg DM with DBG60), showing a quadratic trend, an indication of a positive interaction between DBG and lucerne hay. The fat content of the live-weight gain was particularly high in the lambs given the diet with the highest proportion of DBG. It was concluded that DBG may be profitably used in growing-fattening diets for lambs in a proportion not exceeding about 400 g/kg DM.
Effect of high fat diets on the performance and food intake of primiparous and multiparous rabbit does
Authors: Pascual J. J. , Cervera C. , Blas E. , Fernandez-Carmona J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe influence of high fat diets on several production traits of primiparous and multiparous rabbit does was studied in 246 lactations from a total of 61 crossbreed rabbit does (Californian × New Zealand). Starting with a control diet (diet C) with 26 g ether extract (EE) per kg dry matter (DM), two isoenergetic diets were formulated adding fat from vegetable sources up to 99 g EE per kg DM (diet V) or animal sources up to 117 g EE per kg DM (diet A). Digestible energy/digestible protein ratio (DE/DP) was maintained between 82 and 87 kj/g. Food intake decreased with high fat diets compared with the control diet during gestation (P ‘lt; 0·001), which implied a decrease in the DE intake (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 for primiparous and multiparous does, respectively). Fat addition did not affect food intake of primiparous does during lactation (101·8,106·9 and 103·7 g DM per day per kg live weight (M)0·75 for C, V and A diets, respectively) but increased the DE intake (1121 kj/day per kg M°0·75 for C diet cf. 1325 for V and 1264 for A diets; P < 0·01) and reduced does' weight losses at the end of lactation (F > 0·05). However, multiparous does on C diet showed a greater food intake during the last 2 weeks of lactation (110·6 for C diet v. 101·5 and 98·9 g DM per day per kg M0·75 for V and A diets, respectively; P < 0·001). High fat diets improved significantly the productive parameters at the 21st day of lactation: increasing litter size (P < 0·01 for multiparous does) and weight (P < 0·01 and P < 0·001 for primiparous and multiparous does, respectively) and decreasing the food conversion ratio (P < 0·001). An increase of dietary fat content decreased solid food intake of litters during the last 2 weeks of lactation (P < 0·01 and P < 0·001 for primiparous and multiparous does, respectively) but only affected their solid DE intake slightly. In conclusion, high fat diets seem to improve the productivity of lactating does and their corporal condition during the first lactation.
Influence of dietary protein of diets given in late gestation and during lactation on protein content and oestrogen concentrations in the colostrum and milk of gilts
Authors: Al-Matubsi H. Y. , Bervanakis G. , Tritton S. M. , Campbell R. G. , Fairclough R. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractForty first cross hybrid gilts were used to study the effect of dietary protein during lactation on free amino acid, protein and total oestrogen concentrations in colostrum and milk. The diets were formulated to contain similar levels of digestible energy (DE) but with either 236 or 186 g protein per kg and 13·3 and 8·1 g lysine per kg air-dried diet respectively. Both diets were offered at 2·5 kg/day for 1 week prior to farrowing and ad libitum throughout a 24-day lactation (no. = 20 gilts per treatment). Colostrum and milk were collected manually at 3h (colostrum), 3, 7, 14 and 22 days (milk) post partum. Free amino acid concentrations in colostrum and milk were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography following derivatization of the amino acids by 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate. The lysine and glutamic acid concentrations in colostrum were the most abundant free amino acids followed by tryptophan and taurine in order of decreasing abundance. Milk free taurine concentrations increased to the greatest extent among all free amino acids over the 21 days of lactation. Gilts' mature milk was rich in free taurine, glutamic acid, glycine and lysine. During the first 3 h post partum, the protein content of colostrum was unaffected by dietary protein. However, milk protein content over 7 to 21 days of lactation was significantly higher in gilts offered the higher protein diet (P < 0·001). Total solids in colostrum and milk was not significantly affected by dietary protein. At 3h and 3 days post partum the concentrations of total oestrogen in colostrum and milk, determined by radioimmunoassay, were significantly higher in gilts offered the high protein diet (P < 0·05). These finding indicate that a high protein diet in late gestation and during lactation can influence protein content, amino acid and oestrogen concentrations of milk in gilts.
Dietary fibre for sows: effects of large amounts of soluble and insoluble fibres in the pregnancy period on the performance of sows during three reproductive cycles
Authors: Vestergaard E.-M. , Danielsen V. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOne hundred and twenty crossbred gilts and sows were used in an experiment with three differently composed pregnancy diets in order to study the effects on performance during three reproduction cycles. Treatments during pregnancy were: (1) a standard diet; (2) 500 g sugar-beet pulp per kg diet; (3) 500 g mixture of green grass-meal, wheat bran and oat hulls per kg diet. Sows were given similar levels of estimated daily net energy (NE). All three groups were given the same standard lactation diet semi-ad libitumin two daily meals. Recordings were made of food intake during pregnancy and lactation, body weight of sows at mating, farrowing and weaning, days until first mating, litter size, and mean piglet weight at birth and weaning. Pregnancy food intake (kg) was highest in diet 3 and lowest in diet 1 (P< 0·001). Food intake was lower for sows given diet 2 than for sows given diets 1 and 3, when measured in NEfor pigs (P< 0·001). Food intake during lactation was higher for sows given diet 2, than for sows in the two other diet groups (P< 0·01). Results were consistent during all three experimental rounds. Mean body weight of sows was the same for all diet groups both at mating, farrowing and weaning. Weight gain during pregnancy and weight loss at farrowing was significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1 (P< 0·001). Litter size was not affected by the different pregnancy diets, neither total number live born nor weaned. Both mean piglet weight and total mean litter weight at birth were negatively influenced by diet 2 (P< 0·001) and (P< 0·05) respectively. This indicates that a diet with a high content of soluble dietary fibre and a large capacity to induce satiety may have a negative effect on piglet weight at birth. At weaning, however, the mean weights of piglets were the same for the three diet groups. It was concluded, that it is possible to feed pregnant sows very differently composed diets without detrimental effects on performance.
Effect of draught work on performance and metabolism of crossbred cows 2. Effect of work on roughage intake, digestion, digesta kinetics and plasma metabolites
Authors: Zerbini E. , Gemeda T. , Wold A. G. , Nokoe S. , Demissie D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractForty pregnant F1crossbred dairy cows (20 Friesian × Boran and 20 Simmental × Boran) were stratified in a 2 × 2 diet × work factorial arrangement (not working-not supplemented, NWNS; not working-supplemented, NWS; working-not supplemented, WNS; and working-supplemented, WS) were used to study the effect of work and diet supplementation on roughage intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, digesta kinetics and plasma metabolites. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intakes were greater for working than for non-working cows. Work and supplementation increased DM and OM in vivo apparent digestibility. This effect was particularly significant when comparing working cows at rest and at work. Passage rate and rumen mean retention of Cr-mordanted hay were similar for working and for nonworking cows. Liquid turn-over rate of Co-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) was lower and rumen mean retention time of Co-EDTA was greater in working than in non-working cows whether supplemented or not. Working coios had lower plasma glucose during and immediately after working than non-working cows. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) was higher in working cows at the end of the working period and after rest between working hours. This effect was greater in non-supplemented than in supplemented cows. In working cows, β-hydroxybutyrate was lower at the end of working hours than in non-working cows. Lactate was greater in working than in non-working cows after the 3rd and 4th hours of work. Digesta kinetics could explain only partially the possible mechanisms responsible for greater roughage intake and apparent digestibility in working cows. The decrease of plasma glucose and the increase in NEFA during work indicates an increasing utilization of NEFA by muscle during consecutive working hours.
Modelling the effect of the stage of pregnancy on dairy cows' milk yield
Authors: Coulon J. B. , Pérochon L. , Lescourret F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effect of pregnancy on milk yield was studied on a 601 lactation sample. One hundred and sixty-nine lactations of non-pregnant cows, managed under identical conditions, served as controls. Lactations were divided into five groups according to parity (primiparous or multiparous) and production potential (two ranks for primiparous cows, three ranks for multiparous cows). The difference between the individual milk yield of each pregnant animal, and the mean production of the corresponding controls was computed weekly from the week of conception. The reducing effect of pregnancy began to be measurable from the 20th week of pregnancy, regardless of the group studied or the week of conception. Analysing the amplitude of this effect restricted the investigation to the three following groups: (i) primiparous cows, (ii) low- and medium-producing multiparous cows, (iii) high-producing multiparous cows. The effect of pregnancy was lower in primiparous than in multiparous cows. In the latter, it was higher in high-producing cows, partly because of the greater calf weight. At the 29th pregnancy week, this effect reached -17middot;5, -2·4 and -3·6 kg/day in the three groups, respectively. In each of these three lactation groups, the following non-linear modelY = −e−a[(Pw~18)e−bpw]was fitted, where Y is the difference between the milk yields of pregnant and non-pregnant cows at a given stage (week), Pw is the pregnancy week, and a and b are parameters. The overall milk yield losses over a complete lactation, as estimated from the integral of that equation, reached 89, 137 and 203 kg, respectively in the three groups.
The effects of grass preservation on intake, apparent digestibility and rumen degradation characteristics
Authors: Cushnahan A. , Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA study was carried out to examine the effects of method of grass conservation on intake and apparent digestibility by sheep and rate of degradation in the rumen of cattle. Thirty-six hoggets were arranged in a three-period partial change-over design involving nine treatments. The treatments consisted of fresh herbage or herbage from the same pasture which was ensiled for 2, 4, 7, 10, 20 and 41 days in round bales or herbage from the same pasture conserved as hay or ensiled in a bunker silo for 51 days. In addition the rate of dry-matter disappearance in the rumen for each treatment was determined using three rumen fistulated steers. The fresh and ensiled treatments had been frozen prior to feeding. Results from the study showed that the dry-matter intakes, corrected for losses of volatile compounds, of material ensiled in round bales, was increasingly depressed with period of ensiling up to 20 days after ensiling. Intakes of digestible energy followed a similar trend. Regression analysis indicated that reductions in intake with ensiling were mainly due to increases in ammonia N and n-butyric acid concentration, while changes in pH, water-soluble carbohydrate and acetic acid concentration also influenced intake. The differences in intakes of dry matter and digestible energy between fresh herbage and herbage from the bunker silo were not significant. The ensiling of herbage in round bales had little effect on organic matter apparent digestibility but led to an increase in nitrogen apparent digestibility and effective degradability when calculated at rumen outflow rates of 0·05 per h and 0·08 per h. Conservation of grass as hay led to a reduction in the intake, apparent digestibility and effective degradability of dry matter.
Sustainability in animal production systems
Authors: Spedding C. R. W. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract‘Sustainability” has been defined in so many different ways that it no longer has an accepted (or acceptable) meaning. Nevertheless, it is being used as a label to confer respectability on corporate plans and research proposals, practical projects, attitudes and intellectual positions. The weaknesses of current definitions are examined with a view to clarifying the physical, biological and socio-economic objectives, covered by the term ‘sustainable’.Since it is no longer feasible to abandon the term or to restrict its scope, it is worth considering what useful meaning can be attached to the concept. An attempt is made to spell out the tvays in which it could sensibly be used in relation to animal production systems. It is suggested that this would have to take the form of a package of expressions covering the essential attributes offuture animal production systems.