bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of ambient temperature and urea supplementation on the intake and digestion of alkali-treated straw by Brahman cattle and swamp buffaloes
Authors: Pearson R. A. , Archibald R. F. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYFour adult swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and four adult Brahman cattle (Bos indicus), maintained in climate rooms, were provided ad libitum with a pelleted NaOH-treated barley straw ration (10·7 g N/kg dry matter) supplemented with sulphur, minerals and vitamins and 0, 14·5 or 22 g urea/kg. The animals were given each diet when housed at 32 °C and, in addition, were given the urea unsupplemented diet at 22 °C. All animals received all treatments for periods of 21 days, measurements being made during the last 8 days, after the animals had been given single doses of two nonabsorbable markers (Cr-fibre and Co-EDTA). Intake, digestibility and gastro-intestinal passage rate were low on the unsupplemented N-deficient (10·7 g N/kg dry matter) diet at both temperatures. Urea supplementation to provide diets of 17·3 and 20·7 g N/kg dry matter was associated with increased intake and digestibility of the feed and increased rate of passage of digesta through the gut.Despite differences in respiration rate and plasma thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations at the two temperatures, no effects of temperature on intakes and digestion of the unsupplemented diet were seen. Differences between species were seen in respiration rate at 32 °C and plasma T4, which were higher, and mean retention time of Cr in the gut at 22 °C and water intakes, which were lower, in Brahman cattle than in buffaloes. There were no significant species differences in response to dietary urea supplementation.
Response of rice to rate and time of application of organic materials
Authors: Sharma A. R. , Mittra B. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYWheat straw (WS), paddy straw (PS), farmyard manure (FYM) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) compost (WHC) were applied at four rates and on four dates before transplanting to the rice cultivar Ratna, in a pot experiment at Kharagpur, India in the wet (first crop) and dry (second crop) seasons of 1985/86. Grain yield of the first crop increased significantly with increasing rates of FYM and WHC up to the equivalent of 15 t/ha but, with the application of WS and PS, the yield was greatest at 10 t/ha and decreased at 15 t/ha. On the other hand, yield increased appreciably when WS and PS were applied up to 30 days before transplanting (DBT) but, with FYM and WHC, such increases were less pronounced. The effect of higher rates (10 and 15 t/ha) was more pronounced with early application of organic materials (20 and 30 DBT). Residual soil fertility estimated by organic carbon and available N, P and K increased under all the organic materials, which favourably influenced growth and yield of the second crop grown without supplementary fertilization. The residual effect of increasing rates of WS and PS in increasing grain yield was significantly higher than with FYM and WHC.
Growth, yield and plant-water relations of four cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars in the Sahel
Authors: Sivakumar M. V. K. , Ntare B. R. , Roberts J. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe response of four cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.) cultivars to the warm, semi-arid tropical environment at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center at Sadore, Niger was studied during 1985 and 1986 interms of leaf area index (LAI), dry matter (DM) accumulation, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, total water use and yield. Among the three improved cultivars, IT82D–716 is early and erect, cv. IT83S–947 is early and spreading and cv. TVX4659–03E is a medium-duration, highyielding, dual-purpose type. The local cv. Sadore Local is a long-duration, photosensitive, spreading type used mainly for fodder. In both years, Sadore Local recorded the highest LAI. IT82D–716 and IT83S–947 produced < 1·3 t/ha of DM in both years, whereas TVX 4659–03E produced > 2 t/ha of DM and proved superior to Sadore Local in partitioning DM into pods. The four cultivars did not differ significantly either in stomatal conductance or in net phytosynthetic rates. Observed maximum photosynthetic rates of c. 20 μmol/m2/s lie at the bottom of the range 21–38 μmol/m2/s reported for 31 cowpea genotypes in an earlier study. Photosynthetic rates increased with increasing photon flux density. TVX4659–03E had an advantage in total seed plus fodder yields while the local cultivar gave significantly greater fodder yields in both years. Seed and fodder yields, as well as water-use efficiency, confirmed the advantages offered by the dual-purpose cultivar TVX4659–03E. Future breeding efforts in the Sahel should focus on dual-purpose (grain/fodder) cowpea types.
Nitrogen digestion in forage-fed sheep with and without intraruminal propionate infusion
Authors: Seal C. J. , Parker D. S. , Balcells J. , Mole J. L. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYNitrogen balance and flow of nitrogen along the gastrointestinal tract were determined in growing wether sheep fed a dried grass pellet diet with or without intraruminal propionic acid infusion. Plasma free amino acid and glucose concentrations tended to be higher in peripheral blood of animals receiving propionate (P < 0·10). Overall total nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities and apparent digestibilities of each fraction along the digestive tract were not affected by infusion of propionic acid. The contribution of microbial amino acids to total amino acid flow in the duodenum measured using purine bases as the microbial marker averaged 0·49 and was not affected by propionic acid infusion. It is suggested that changes in circulating amino acid levels arise from reduced utilization of luminal amino acids by gastrointestinal tissues due to the increased availability of alternative energy-yielding substrates.
Effects of field treatments on processing quality of Record and Pentland Dell potatoes during storage
Authors: Hogge M. C. , Stalham M. A. , Allen E. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYPrevious research has suggested that fry colour of processed potatoes is inversely correlated with tuber reducing sugar content, and agronomic practice should therefore be tailored to minimize amounts of tuber sugars at harvest and during storage as a means of maximizing processing quality. A total of 30 experiments from three sites in England from 1985 to 1988 examined this hypothesis for two cultivars using a wider range of husbandry than that used in practice and long periods of storage. No tuber sugar value was sufficiently well correlated with fry colour for the relationship to be interpreted as causal and of use predictively, irrespective of whether it was measured early in growth, at harvest or at the time of processing. Fry colour at harvest was not correlated with fry colour after storage. No agronomic practice (variables used were physiological age, date of planting, irrigation or date of harvest) consistently caused fry colours to be darker than the acceptable colour limit, whether at harvest or after long term storage. Crops producing unacceptable fry colours early in storage generally improved to produce acceptable fry colours after long term storage. Agronomic practices within the range normally found in commercial production are therefore considered to have little effect on long-term processing quality, although harvesting, handling and transport operations were not investigated.
Fertilization of spring barley by combination of pig slurry and mineral nitrogen fertilizer
Authors: Petersen J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYField experiments at Askov and Lundgaard Experimental Stations, Denmark, were carried out in 1987–91. Winter and spring applications of pig slurry at two application rates and an unfertilized treatment were combined with three rates of mineral nitrogen fertilizer; 15 treatment in all. Grain and straw yield, nitrogen content and nitrogen uptake of spring barley were measured at harvest. All main effects were significant, resulting in increasing yield and nitrogen uptake both when increasing the rate of mineral nitrogen fertilizer and slurry, and when slurry was applied in spring rather than in winter. The nitrogen content of the barley was affected by mineral nitrogen fertilizer application, and by the rate of slurry. The nitrogen efficiency of applied ammonia-N in the pig slurry was estimated by a quadratic polynomial yield response function and expressed relative to a reference function based on the application of mineral nitrogen fertilizer. The efficiency was estimated at 10 for spring-applied pig slurry. The value for winter-applied pig slurry was lower (0·6) and more variable. The efficiency of ammonia-N in spring-applied pig slurry decreased by 0·4/100 kg N/ha when supplementary mineral nitrogen fertilizer was applied at the same time.
Effect of time and amount of first irrigation on the root distribution and fodder yield of oats
Authors: Sharma B. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryWater-use efficiency and forage yield of irrigated oats depend to a large extent on water application during initial growth. Root distribution, growth and fodder yield of oats as influenced by time and amount of first irrigation were studied in the field for 2 years. Root-weight density of each layer, profile-root-weight density and yields decreased progressively when the first irrigation was delayed. Application of a small amount of irrigation (20 mm) at day 25 proved to be better than applications of 50 or 70 mm at later stages.
Time and source of nitrogen application in rice and wheat
Authors: Meelu O. P. , Saggar S. , Maskina M. S. , Rekhi R. S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe results of four field experiments conducted for 2 or 3 years on two soils, loamy sand (Typic Ustipsamments) and silty clay loam (Natric Ustochrept) showed that in rice, application of N in three equal amounts was more efficient than one or two applications, irrespective of source of N and type of soil. The results further showed that application of the first dose of N 7 days after transplanting rice was more beneficial than its application at transplanting. Calcium ammonium nitrate was significantly inferior to urea and/or ammonium sulphate for rice in both soils. There were no significant differences in wheat yield, N concentration or uptake due to time and source of N application.
A comparison of cross-bred ewes raised from Welsh Mountain dams by three sire breeds: Cambridge, Border Leicester and Lleyn
Authors: Owen J. B. , Whitaker C. J. 
Published: March 2009

summayA study of cross-bred ewes sired by Cambridge, Border Leicester and Lleyn rams out of Welsh Mountain ewes, involving a total of 408 observations, was carried out partly under lowland and partly under upland conditions in North Wales. The results snowed that the Cambridge and Lleyn were more precocious than the Border Leicester (relative percentage of ewes put to the tup lambing at 1 year old was 51·9, 66·3 and 66·8 respectively for Border Leicester, Cambridge and Lleyn cross-breds). In terms of lambs born and lambs reared per ewe lambing the ranking of the breeds was (in descending order) Cambridge, Border Leicester and Lleyn respectively. The Cambridge was lower in terms of mean weight of lambs at birth and at 56 days and relative mean age at slaughter tended to be lower in the Border Leicester crosses. Taking into consideration the lower body weight, particularly of the Lleyn cross-breds, ranking on relative feed conversion efficiency was Cambridge, Border Leicester and Lleyn when ewe fertility and days to slaughter were excluded.
Comparative Studies of Meat I. The chemical composition of fatty and muscular tissue in relation to growth and fattening
Authors: Callow E. H. 
Published: March 2009

1. Chemical analyses have been carried out on the muscular and fatty tissues from thirty-one beef animals and twenty-nine lambs, and also on the psoas muscle from twenty-nine pigs. The animals were selected to represent a very wide cross-section of our meat industry.2. The water content of muscular tissue (psoas muscle), calculated on a fat-free basis, was found to be the same for cattle, lambs, and pigs (immediately after death), the average being about 78%.3. Similarly, the original water-content of the fatty tissue (perinephric), calculated on a fat-free basis, was found to be the same for cattle and lambs, being on the average about 81–82%.4. The average water-content of boneless meat (i.e. the combined muscular and fatty tissues from a whole side or carcass) was the same for cattle and lambs, being about 79% (on a fat-free basis), shortly after death.5. In all these cases there was no significant difference between the different species.
The characterization of the humic complexes of soil organic matter
Authors: Forsyth W. G. C. 
Published: March 2009

1. During the course of the alkali fractionation and the preparation of the humic precipitates, the qualitative characters of the fractions were followed by employing a standard hydrolysis with dilute acid. Humic acid itself was shown to be unhydrolysed by this reagent, and, therefore, the extent of hydrolysis of a humic fraction can be used as a criterion of purity.2. Studies on the fractionation of the humic precipitate with aqueous, anhydrous, and alcoholic bases, led to the following conclusions:(a) The humic precipitate as normally prepared i s always a mixture of true humic acid with varying amounts of co-precipitated material of a non-humic nature.(b) This non-humic material is not an integral part of the humic molecules, it is merely co-precipitated and adsorbed contaminants.(c) The non-humic material is differentiated from the humic acids by the following properties: (i) it is hydrolysable with acid; (ii) it does not give the characteristic nitro-humic compound on nitration.
The performance of West African Dwarf does and their kids at various stocking densities on stylo-based pasture in the subhumid zone of Nigeria
Authors: Iji P. A. , Umunna N. N. , Alawa J. P. , Ikwuegbu O. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo studies were conducted between 1991 and 1993 to assess the impact of grazing improved v. natural pasture at different stocking densities on animal and vegetation responses. In the first grazing season, goats of the West African Dwarf (WAD) breed were grazed at four stocking densities – 1·90, 2·86, 3·86 or 4·71 TLU/ha (Tropical Livestock Unit = 250 kg liveweight). Wet-season grazing lasted for 14 weeks while assessment was continued until kids were weaned at 120 days of age. There were significant (P < 0·05) changes in the content of legume and forbs in response to variations in stocking density. Liveweight gain per head was significantly (P < 0·05) higher at low than at high stocking density. The same trend was maintained with most aspects of reproductive performance. Goats at low stocking density were of a higher (P < 0·05) body condition score at parturition and had larger litter sizes than does stocked at high stocking density. Kid birth weight and liveweight gain were significantly (P < 0·001) higher at low than at high stocking density. The overall weight loss in does during nursing was similar at the different stocking densities.In the following year, comparisons were made between three stocking densities, 2·11, 3·17 and 4·23 TLU/ha, on improved and unimproved pastures. Over 14 weeks of wet-season grazing, there was a significant (P < 0·01) decline in available dry matter except at the lowest stocking density on both pasture types. Weight gain per head decreased with increase in stocking density while the reverse was true for weight gain per unit of land. No significant differences were observed for reproductive performance between pasture types or stocking densities. Kid growth rate up to weaning declined with increase in stocking density (P < 0·001) while kid mortality rose with increase in stocking density (P < 0·01). Weight losses in nursing does were higher (P < 0·05) at low than at high stocking density.
Effects of immunization against GnRH upon body growth, voluntary food intake and plasma hormone concentration in yearling red deer stags (Cervus elaphus)
Authors: Freudenberger D. O. , Wilson P. R. , Barry T. N. , Sun Y. X. , Purchas R. W. , Trigg T. E. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYRed deer stags in New Zealand were given a series of immunizations against GnRH at 9–12 months of age (spring/early summer) in 1989 and 1990 and the effects upon plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone during the rut (15–17 months; autumn) and upon body growth to slaughter at 22 months (spring) were studied in two experiments. Control animals showed a sharp peak in plasma LH and testosterone concentration during late summer/early autumn, just preceding the rut, with scrotal circumference increasing to a maximum during the rut; body growth stopped during the rut in Expt 1 but not in Expt 2. Immunization caused the development of significant antibodies against GnRH during late spring and summer, and reduced but did not eliminate the increase in plasma LH and testosterone and scrotal enlargement leading up to the rut. Immunization did not affect body growth or voluntary feed intake during the rut in either experiment, but in Expt 1 early immunization significantly increased growth during both the pre-rut and post-rut periods. Immunization did not effect dressing out percentage, slightly increased carcass fatness in Expt 1 but not Expt 2, and reduced velvet antler growth by 12 months of age.
Effect of combined and single infections of mosaic and leaf curl viruses on okra (Hibiscus esculentus) growth and yield
Authors: Atiri G. I. , Ibidapo B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryIn field experiments, infections by okra mosaic virus (OMV) and okra leaf curl virus (OLCV) reduced trie growth of okra more than when the plants were infected singly by either virus. The critical growth component responsible for low performance was leaf area in OLCV-infected plants and chlorophyll content in OMV-infected plants. However, the two viruses had a synergistic effect in mixed infection.Expressed as percentage yield loss, mixed infections significantly reduced edible fresh fruit weight more than single infections in all okra cultivars. In single infections, OLCV caused higher yield loss than OMV. Since both viruses cause more damage in mixed infections, it may be preferable to breed for combined resistance, particularly if the genes for resistance are linked.
Du-ter as a synergist for insecticide formulations against cotton leafworm
Authors: Moustafa Omayma K. , Attal Z. M. El , Abdallah M. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe joint action of several insecticide formulations with a constant concentration of the antifeedant Du-ter that gives 50% starvation with the fourth instar of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) was assessed. The results provided evidence that the toxicity of all the tested insecticides to the cotton leafworm can be markedly increased by using Du-ter in combination with each of the candidate insecticides. Since Du-ter proved to be highly synergistic, its mixtures with insecticides can result in a decrease in the rate of insecticide application.
Investigations into the Intensive System of Grassland Management. By the Agricultural Research Staff of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited. VII. The Digestibility and Feeding Value of Grass Silage Made in a Pit
Authors: Watson S. J. 
Published: March 2009

Silage has been made satisfactorily in a pit from grass cut at the flowering stage when it was impossible to make hay. The digestibilities of all the constituents compare favourably with meadow hay with the exception of the protein which shows a depression.The silage is richer in starch equivalent than meadow hay, if compared on a dry matter basis, and equal in digestible protein content to poor meadow hay though not to good meadow hay. It is therefore better to make grass silage when weather conditions are bad rather than attempt to make hay which, under such conditions, would be of poor quality.The silage was used within four weeks of being made and was eaten readily by dairy cows on grass.
Effect of growth hormone on the response to insulin and glucose turnover in sheep
Authors: Rose M. T. , Obara Y. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique was used to determine the effect of recombinant bovine growth hormone on the response to insulin in castrate male Corriedale sheep. Saline or growth hormone (6·3 μg/min/animal) was infused into four sheep from the beginning of each experiment for 9 h, such that eight clamp experiments were performed, four with growth hormone and four controls. After a basal period of 3 h, insulin was sequentially infused at 1, 3 and then 6 mU/kg/min for 2 h each and the plasma glucose concentration was maintained at the value noted during the basal period by a variable rate of glucose infusion. Short-term growth hormone infusion decreased the glucose infusion rate (GIR) required to maintain eugylcaemia as well as the rates of glucose appearance and disappearance. The glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was also decreased by the growth hormone treatment at all rates of insulin infusion, the average decrease ranging between 20 and 30%. The insulin concentration causing half maximal stimulation of glucose MCR and GIR was unchanged by growth hormone treatment. Endogenous glucose production was not consistently affected by either the growth hormone or insulin treatments. The results of this experiment demonstrate that growth hormone decreases the responsiveness of peripheral tissues to insulin, possibly at a site beyond the receptor.
Bone mineral density and sex hormone status in intellectually disabled women on progestin‐induced amenorrhea
Authors: ARVIO MARIA , KILPINEN‐LOISA PÄIVI , TIITINEN AILA , HUOVINEN KARI , MÄKITIE OUTI 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjective. To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and hormonal status in female patients with intellectual disability and a history of progestin‐induced amenorrhea. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Nursing home. Sample. The study included 51 patients with a history of therapeutic amenorrhea (age 23–77 years, mean 45 years); 115 staff members (age 21–64 years, mean 45 years) at the same nursing homes served as controls. Methods. Calcaneal BMD was measured for all (Peripheral Instantaneous X‐ray Imaging Lunar Bone Densitometer); blood samples for serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) were obtained only for the patients. Results. The patients showed significantly lower age and weight‐adjusted BMD than the controls (0.35 g/cm2±0.13 vs. 0.53 g/cm2±0.09, p<0.001). BMD values did not differ between pre‐ (N = 29) and postmenopausal (N = 22) patients. Osteoporosis was observed in 57% of the patients and only in 2% of the controls. Four patients (8%) but none of the controls had sustained a bone fracture during the preceding five years. Most premenopausal patients had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, as shown by low serum E2, LH and FSH levels in 83%, 69%, and 59% of the cases. Postmenopausal patients showed normal hormonal status for their age. Conclusion. Osteoporosis with concomitant fractures is prevalent in women with intellectual disability on therapeutic amenorrhea. Progestin‐induced amenorrhea results in hypogonadism, an established risk factor for osteoporosis. New strategies for the management of menstruation should be considered.