bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capacity of goats to reach for food through tombstone barriers, as affected by position of food, body weight and body dimensions
Authors: Muhikambele V. R. M. , Owen E. , Owen J. E. , Mtenga L. A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractGoat production systems increasingly involve indoor feeding. To facilitate manger design, there is need for information on the ability to reach for food, such as that for cattle given food through tombstone barriers. In the first study, 20 castrated and 20 non-pregnant female Saanens of mean live weight (M) 39·3 (s.d. 14·42) kg were trained to reach, through a vertical tombstone barrier, for concentrate meal placed on a horizontal platform attached to the barrier. The barrier allowed the neck but not the shoulders to pass through. It was hypothesized that horizontal reach forwards (F, distance from mid point of barrier to uneaten meal) and sideways (S, distances sideways from mid point of barrier to uneaten meal adjacent to barrier) would be a function of height of platform above the floor and size of goat. Because of size, eight goats (mean M, 16·4 kg) were unable to reach meal when the platform height was 75 cm. Mean (s.e.) values for F at platform heights 0, 25, 50 and 75 cm were 55·9 (0·68), 58·8 (0·64), 57·8 (0·69) and 41·1 (1·23) cm respectively. Values for S were smaller, but followed a similar pattern (49·4 (0·64), 52·4 (0·56), 53·2 (0·53), 36·6 (1·17) cm). Linear regression of either F or S on M and linear body dimensions (e.g. body length, neck and head length, neck-joint height, withers height) showed high correlations with R2 values being 0·8 or more. In the second study, 10 castrated and 10 non-pregnant females (M, 48·7 (s.d. 14·56) kg) were trained to reach through the tombstone barrier for concentrate pellets 'glued', using molasses, on to a vertical plate. It was hypothesized that vertical reach (V, distance from floor to uneaten pellets) would be a function of distance between barrier and plate (20, 30, 40, 45, 50 cm), height of step (0,14·2, 28·4, 42·6 cm) on which goats placed their forelegs and size of goat. Four goats (mean M, 29·9 kg) were unable to reach pellets when the plate was at 45 and 50 cm. Mean (s.e.) V values decreased with increasing plate distance and increased with step height (e.g. at 0 cm step, 122·4 (1·96), 116·9 (2·05), 109·4 (2·16), 103·9 (2·49) and 96·5 (2·75) at 20-; 30-; 40-; 45- and 50-cm plate distances respectively; at 20-cm plate distance, 122·4 (1·96), 137·5 (2·00), 151·3 (1·90) and 164·3 (2·00) cm at 0-; 14·2-; 28·4-and 42·6-cm step heights respectively). Linear regression of V on body weight and body dimensions (e.g. body length, heart girth, withers height) showed high correlations (R2 > 0·8). It is concluded that for practical purposes, body weight is a satisfactory predictor of reach. The results support the hypotheses. The data will facilitate the design of mangers for goats with body weights and dimensions in the range of those used in the present study.
Effect of short-term exposure to high ambient temperatures on gas exchange and heat production in boars of different breeds
Authors: Tauson A.-H. , Chwalibog A. , Ludvigsen J. , Jakobsen K. , Thorbek G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effects of short-term exposure to high ambient temperatures on gas exchange, heat production (HE), respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature were evaluated individually with boars of approximately 100 kg live weight. The boars were of different breeds with four of Yorkshire (YS), eight of Danish Landrace (DL), out of which three were found stress susceptible by the halothane test (DLH+), eight of Duroc (DR) and eight of Hampshire (HS) breeds. After 1 h rest in the respiration chamber at 17·0°C the gas exchange measurements started with al-h basal period at 17 °C, followed by 2h of heating during which temperature increased to 35·0 °C (period I) and then further to 39·7X1 (period II). Then cooling of the chamber started, and after 1 h (period III) temperature had decreased to 21·8°C, and after the 2nd h of cooling (period IV) temperature was 18·2 °C. The gas exchange was measured for each hour from 09.00 h (basal period) until 14.00 h (period IV). RR was recorded every 15 min. Rectal temperatures were measured when the animals were removed from the chamber. The gas exchange and HE increased slowly during period I but rapidly in period II, followed by decreasing values in the cooling periods. HS and DLH+ had considerably higher gas exchange and HE than other breeds in these two periods and the values remained high during period III. In period IV all breeds had gas exchange rates and HE below those of the basal period. RR increased slightly in period I and then a sharp increase followed during period II. Maximum RR was recorded in period III with an average of 183 breaths per min for all breeds. RR increased earlier and more steeply in HS and reached the highest mean value of 236 breaths per min. Four HS boars salivated heavily during heat stress and rectal temperatures of these animals were 39·7 °C when removed from the chamber compared with close to 39·0 °C for all other breeds. It was concluded that there were considerable breed differences in response to heat stress and that DLH+ and HS were more severely stressed than boars ofYS, DL and DR.
The milking performance of dual-purpose crossbred yaks
Authors: Jialin B. , Mingqiang W. , Zhonglin L. , Chesworth J. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWild yak males were crossed with domesticated female yaks to produce a breeding herd of crossbred animals. The milk production of the progeny of this herd was measured in the present study. Yaks were milked once daily after prior suckling of the calf. Yaks were allowed to graze for 15 hiday on high-altitude (3200 to 3500 m) pastures. No supplementary food was given. Average daily milk yield of 1·77 (s.e. 0·16) kg and milk yield over 120 days, 212·2 (s.e. 20·2) kg were significantly higher (P < 0·01) than the corresponding figures for unimproved domestic yaks (1·53 (s.e. 0·10) kg and 184·6 (s.e. 10·5) kg respectively). The fat content of milk from crossbred yaks, 52 (s.e. 2·9) glkg, was not significantly different from that of unimproved animals, 53·5 (s.e. 4·1) g/kg.
Behavioural strategies used by parasitized and non-parasitized sheep to avoid ingestion of gastro-intestinal nematodes associated with faeces
Authors: Hutchings M. R. , Kyriazakis I. , Anderson D. H. , Gordon I. J. , Coop R. L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA study was instigated to test whether grazing herbivores have evolved effective strategies to reduce parasite ingestion and to assess the effects of parasitism on these strategies. Two choice trials, each using five animals parasitized with O. circumcincta and five parasite naive animals, were conducted to investigate cues used by sheep to avoid grazing swards contaminated with faeces. Animals were presented with pairs of artificial swards (36 × 21 cm) and allowed to graze for short periods. In the first trial, four quantities (0 g, 5 g, 15 g and 25 g), and in the second trial a control (no faeces) and three age classes (0, 10 and 21 days old), of faeces were tested against each other. Increasing amount offaeces per sward tray was associated with a reduced proportion of bites taken from the sward and reduced bite depth and mass. The minimum amount of faeces at which sheep showed significant levels of rejection was 15 g. Decreasing age of faeces was associated with a reduced proportion of bites taken from the sward, reduced bite depth and mass. This presented the paradox that grazing swards contaminated with young faeces presented least risk of parasitism, yet fresh faeces presented the strongest stimulus for sward rejection. Parasitism altered animal grazing behaviour with parasitized animals becoming more selective when avoiding contaminated swards, taking smaller bites at reduced bite rates compared with non-infected animals. The enhancement of faeces avoidance behaviours shown by parasitized animals could act to reduce further intake of parasites and suggests that grazing behaviour is affected by nematode infection.
The amino acid composition of cat (Felis catus) hair
Authors: Hendriks W. H. , Tarttelin M. F. , Moughan P. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe amino acid composition of cat hair was determined by conventional 24-h acid hydrolysis and non-linear least-squares extrapolation to time zero of the amino acid composition data from a series of hydrolysis intervals. Twenty-five individual samples of cat hair, consisting of four colours, were also analysed (24-h hydrolysis) to determine if there was an effect of hair colour on amino acid composition. Amino acids were determined following HCl hydrolysis (6 mol/l) with cysteine and methionine determined by performic acid oxidation of the sample prior to hydrolysis.There was no significant (P > 0·05) effect of hair colour on the amino acid composition of cat hair. The non-linear compartmental model used to determine the amino acid composition of cat hair took into account the simultaneously occurring processes of hydrolysis and degradation of amino acids over time. The amino acids cysteic acid, methionine-sulphone, threonine and serine exhibited high loss rates during 6 molll HCl hydrolysis while the peptide bonds involving valine and leucine were slowly hydrolysed. Amino acid nitrogen accounted for 0·94 of the total nitrogen in cat hair when determined by conventional 24-h hydrolysis and 0·99 of the total nitrogen when the compartmental model was applied. The average nitrogen proportion in cat hair protein was found to be 0·175. The amino acid composition of cat hair protein is comparable with that of dog, horse, sheep and human hair although the proline content of cat hair protein appears to be lower than that in the other species.
Metabolic response of early-lactating cows exposed to transport and high altitude grazing conditions
Authors: Kreuzer M. , Langhans W. , Sutter F. , Christen R. E. , Leuenberger H. , Kunz P. L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe metabolic response of dairy cows to high as opposed to low altitude conditions (2000 m v. 400 m above sea level) was determined. In the first experiment, four cows were subjected to a series of measurements before, during and after transport from lowland to high altitude pasture. During transport, cortisol, l-lactate and non-esterified fatty acids were significantly elevated but decreased within 1 to 3 days to initial levels. After transport, β-hydroxybutyrate and the thyroid hormones immediately increased and returned within 3 weeks to initial levels. Plasma urea increased during transport and subsequently was at an intermediate level due to the different diet. There were no direct carry-over effects of transport on metabolic traits during pasturing.In the second experiment, three groups of six different dairy cows were either grazed in one of two consecutive years or kept inside (2nd year only). Lowland sojourn lasted for 4 weeks, and high altitude period for 8 weeks. At the end of high altitude sojourn, both outside and inside groups were found still to have significantly higher plasma cortisol values than at lowland. Thyroid hormones and ketosis related metabolites sharply increased at the start of the alpine period and were elevated for 1 to 3 weeks thereafter. According to the hormonal and metabolic profiles, the permanently housed cows did not benefit from the less adverse climatic conditions and the lower physical strain. Plasma urea closely reflected dietary changes in the ratio of nitrogen to fermentable organic matter. Plasma protein, albumin, creatinine, and liver enzyme activities were not affected by transport or high altitude sojourn in both experiments. The results indicate that the metabolic response to transport and high altitude conditions can be mostly explained by the efforts to cover the additional energy requirements. Overall the data suggest a wide but nevertheless limited ability of early-lactating cows to adapt to high altitude conditions.
Faecal nematode egg counts in lactating ewes from Romney flocks selectively bred for divergence in lamb faecal egg count
Authors: Morris C. A. , Bisset S. A. , Vlassoff A. , West C. J. , Wheeler M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractFaecal nematode egg counts (FECs) were examined in lactating ewes from divergent flocks of Romney sheep which had been selectively bred from 1979 to 1996 for or against FEC in 4 to 7 month old lambs. Faecal samples were obtained from the ewes while under normal grazing management, 1 to 2 months after lambing in spring for each of 6 years between 1987 and 1996 (no. = 785 records; 298 animals). Analyses were carried out on loge (FEC
+ 100)–transformed data using animal-model maximum likelihood procedures, accounting for repeated records on ewes, within and between lactations. An examination of non-genetic effects indicated that there was no significant effect of age class of ewe on FEC but ewes which gave birth to single lambs had significantly lower post-parturient FECs than those bearing twins (back-transformed means of 184 v. 276 egg per g, respectively; P < 0·001). In relation to genetic effects, post-parturient FECs were significantly lower in ewes from the flock bred for low lamb-FEC than in their counterparts from the flock bred for high lamb-FEC, with ewes from the most recent birth years (1991 to 1994) showing a nine-fold difference (back-transformed means of 33 and 305 eggs per g faeces respectively; P < 0·001). This was equivalent to 69% of the divergence observed between loge (FEC + 100) in their lambs in the same years. Heritability and repeatability estimates for loge (FEC + 100) in ewes were 0·37 (s.e. 0·06) and 0·46 (s.e. 0·03) respectively. Genetic correlation estimates between a ewe's post-parturient loge (FEC + 200) and her loge (FEC + 100) as a lamb, based on analysis of (co)variance or realized responses, were 0·70 or 0·58 respectively. The phenotypic correlation between a ewe's loge (FEC + 100) and that of her lamb(s) in the same lactation was 0·29 (s.e. 0·06) (P < 0·001). From the results it is clear that substantial genetic changes in post-parturient FECs of breeding ewes can be induced through a correlated response to selective breeding for or against reduced FEC in lambs. This may have important implications for the epidemiology of nematode parasite infections in spring-born lambs, a possibility which is currently being investigated.
Secretion pattern of growth hormone, prolactin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in the periparturient sow depending on the metabolic state during lactation
Authors: Kraetz W. D. , Zimmer C. , Schneider D. , Schams D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate the influence of different energy levels during a 4-week lactation on the regulation of the metabolic hormones somatotropin (GH), prolactin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). A total of 21 crossbred sows (German Landrace × Duroc) were cannulated for daily blood collection from 3 weeks before parturition until 2 weeks after weaning and for weekly window sampling (every 20 min for 10 h). Nineteen sows were given 2·8 kg food during late gestation, 5·0 kg food during lactation and 2·8 kg food per day after weaning and two sows were given food at a restricted level (3·0 kg) during lactation. In the 19 sows, the different energy balance was induced by allocation of different numbers of sucking piglets to the respective sows. One group of sows suckled seven piglets and served as a control (C; no. = 7) and another group suckled 10 to 12 piglets and was energy deficient (D). After the study, the sows of the deficient group were, based on their litter weight gain from parturition until weaning, divided into low (D-L; no. = 6) or high (D-H; no. = 6) litter weight gain. The D-H sows lost more body weight during lactation than C and had lower glucose and higher nonesterified fatty acids levels before morning feeding. GH and prolactin increased around parturition and their secretory profiles during lactation were altered by the frequent sucking stimulus, whereby the access of the piglets to their dams was not controlled. During lactation, GH and prolactin were highest in D-H sows. The results suggest a possible role of not only GH but also of prolactin in nutrient partitioning to the mammary gland just before the start of lactation and for minimizing the adverse effects of a negative energy balance. Furthermore, insulin and IGF-1 increased around parturition in all sows. Insulin was higher before and after feeding and the highest levels were found in C and D-L sows. The regulation patterns of insulin and IGF-1 indicate that the lactating sow is able to mobilize enough energy from body reserves to prevent metabolic disorders, even during a period with deficient energy supply. This is contrary to the regulation in the dairy cow, where the negative energy balance is coupled with a severe glucose deficit during phases of high milk yield, which causes decreased levels of insulin and IGF-1. In the sow, the glucose intake with the food meets the glucose requirement for metabolic pathways also during a deficient lactational energy intake. Therefore, in sows IGF-1 can be stimulated by increased GH levels via the GH receptor in the liver during a state of nutritional energy deficiency and the fact that sows can compensate a deficient metabolic state much better than cows is also reflected in the respective endocrinology.
Uterine capacity and prenatal survival in Meishan and Large White pigs
Authors: Lee G. J. , Ritchie M. , Thomson M. , Macdonald A. A. , Blasco A. , Santacreu M. A. , Argente M. J. , Haley C. S. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractUterine capacity was estimated in Chinese Meishan (MS), Large White (LW) and crossbred (LW × MS) sows, using unilateral liysterectomy-ovariectomy (UHO) methods. In the first two parities, 20 sows of each genotype, whose left uterine horn and ovary had been removed in the post-pubertal period, were mated, their ovulation rate recorded by laparoscopy and allowed to farrow normally. In the third parity the mated sows were slaughtered at around 30 days of pregnancy and ovarian, uterine and embryo traits were recorded. The ovulation rate in UHO females was similar to that observed previously in intact females of the same population, MS sows producing 4·2 (s.e. 1·0) more ova at parities 1 and 2 and 7·0 (s.e. 1·9) more ova at parity 3 than LW sows. At parity 3, MS sows had 5·9 (s.e. 2·0) more viable embryos at 30 days of pregnancy than LW sows. Crossbred sows were intermediate for both ovulation rate and the number of viable embryos at 30 days. At the first two parities, litter size was higher in the MS by 1·0 (s.e. 0·8) piglets per litter than in the LW, while the crossbred sows exceeded the mid-breed mean by 1·7 (s.e. 0·7) piglets. Uterine capacity, estimated as twice the number of piglets carried to term in a single horn, was 12 foetuses in the LW, 14 in the MS and 16 in the crossbred sow. Piglets born to MS sows were 0·4 (s.e. 0·1) kg lighter than those born to LW sows, with a significantly lower (MS: LW = 0-68, P < 0·01) within-Utter standard deviation, which was found to be independent of the smaller mean weight. At parity 3, MS sows were found to have uteri of similar length with both lighter (-0·36 (s.e. 0·14) g) and shorter (-1·54 (s.e. 0·76) mm) embryos with smaller spaces (-7·8 (s.e. 2·7) cm) between embryo sites than LW sows. Within-Utter standard deviations for embryo size traits were lower in MS than in LW sows, especially for the distance between embryo sites (MS: LW = 0·45, P<0·01). The reduced variability of embryo traits in litters in MS sows was independent of their smaller litter means. Third parity litters from crossbred sows were similar to the mid-breed mean for means and variability of embryo traits but crossbred sows had significantly longer uteri (48·5 (s.e. 18·5) cm) than the mid-breed mean, being longer than either pure breed. It was concluded that differences between the pure breeds in uterine capacity may have arisen through better within-uterus organization, whereas the observed heterosis effects may result in part from physically longer uteri in crossbred sows and that uterine capacity contributes to the genotype differences in prenatal survival and prolificacy, especially in crossbred sows.
Effect of dietary energy level, addition of fat and physiological state on performance and energy balance of lactating and pregnant rabbit does
Authors: Xiccato G. , Parigi-Bini R. , Dalle Zotte A. , Carazzolo A. , Cossu M. E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effects of dietary energy level and added fat were studied by comparative slaughter on 60 primiparous rabbit does in different reproductive states. Nine does were slaughtered immediately after their first parturition (preliminary slaughter group) to estimate initial empty body composition. The 51 remaining does were divided into three groups and given diets differing in digestible energy (DE) content: M (11·28 MJ/kg dry matter (DM); H (12·16 MJ/kg DM); F (11·93 MJ/kg DM, obtained by the inclusion of 25 g/kg of animal fat). Thirty-six does (12 per group) were remated 3 to 4 days after parturition, after which 20 does were concurrently pregnant and lactating (LP) and gave birth a second time. At the second parturition these does were slaughtered with their new-born litters. The non-mated or non-pregnant lactating does (LN) were slaughtered at the same time. All litters from the first parturition were weaned at the 30th day of age.The diets influenced the DE intake (3·11 v. 3·31 and 3·36 MJ/day, P < 0·05) and the milk production (171 v. 180 v. 191 glday, P < 0·05), respectively for the M, H and F diets. The high-energy diets (H and F) significantly modified the final empty body composition. The loss of body fat was proportionately 0·34, 0·36 and 0·39 of the initial body fat and the loss of energy was proportionately 0·17, 0·19 and 0·21 of the initial body energy in the M, H and F groups respectively (P > 0·05) (average of LP and LN does). The maternal diet significantly influenced the weight of the sucking litters (first parturition) at 20 days (2409 and 2454 v. 2629 g, P < 0·05).The LP does showed lower DE intake, milk yield (from 10 to 30 days) and litter weaning weights than LN does. Between the first and the second parturition, the LP does had a loss of empty body weight and a negative protein balance (-0·06 of the initial content), while the LN does had an increase in live weight and empty body weight and a positive protein balance (+0·11 of the initial content). Both LP and LN does had a negative energy balance (−0·24 v. −0·25, respectively; P < 0·01).