bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An association between the concentration of copper in whole blood and haemoglobin type in sheep
Authors: Wiener Gerald , Hall J. G. , Hayter Susan 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn a genetically diverse flock of about 320 sheep a significant association has been found between the concentration of copper in whole blood and the haemoglobin type.Sheep were bled on four occasions over a period of 1 year, with the flock mean concentration of copper varying between 53 and 96 fig per 100 ml whole blood. The copper concentrations in whole blood from sheep of haemoglobin type B exceeded those from sheep of type A by 9, 16, 15 and 15 fig per 100 ml on the four occasions respectively. The copper concentrations from sheep of type AB were 8, 11, 7 and 7 μg higher than those from type A.Differences in the frequency of the three haemoglobin phenotypes accounted for part of the breed variation in copper concentration previously observed in the same flock, but even when that effect was allowed for, highly significant breed variation remained. When plasma instead of whole blood was examined in two other flocks from which breed variation in plasma copper concentration had been reported no association was found between the plasma copper concentration and haemoglobin type.
Cold-induced inhibition of thermal panting in shorn sheep. 2. Effect of previous acclimatization to cold
Authors: Slee J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Short cold exposures (2 hr at 18° or 8°C) were used to delay or block panting during subsequent heat stress in shorn Merino and Scottish Blackface sheep. The effect of previous acclimatization to cold upon the block to thermal panting was studied.2. After acclimatization the block was reduced, but less in Merinos than in Blackfaces. In Blackfaces, the reduction effect was inconsistent after short periods of acclimatization, but became significant after prolonged (3 weeks) acclimatization.3. Acclimatization produced elevations in heart rate and body temperature implying increased heat production. Variation in block reduction between breeds and between individuals was related to these presumed changes in heat production. Sheep with highly elevated metabolic rates showed complete block prevention. 4. After cold exposure ceased, elevated heat production disappeared within 8 days and the block returned.5. It was concluded that elevated heat production resulting from acclimatization caused block prevention partly because increased heat storage cancelled the heat debt otherwise incurred during blocking treatment and partly because the increased requirement for heat dissipation overruled the respiratory centre block.
The response of lactating sows and their litters to different dietary energy allowances. 1. Milk yield and composition, reproductive performance of sows and growth rate of litters
Authors: O'Grady J. F. , Elsley F. W. H. , MacPherson R. M. , McDonald I. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwenty-four gilts were used at each of two centres in an experiment designed to examine the effects of dietary energy intake during lactation on yield and composition of sows' milk and the growth of their litters. Gestation feed intake was standardized at 2 kg per day supplying 6·28 Meal digestible energy (DE) and 280 g crude protein. The energy levels fed during lactation ranged from 12·2 to 18·25 Meal DE per day for gilts, 12·9 to 19·6 Meal DE per day for second parity and from 13·2 to 20·25 Meal DE per day for third parity sows. Daily crude protein intake and amino acid balance ofthe protein were kept constant.In the first lactation milk yield and composition and growth of litters were not influenced by dietary energy intake. In the second lactation milk yield was depressed by lower energy intakes and this was reflected in litter weights at 21 though not at 42 days. In the third lactation lower energy intakes seriously depressed milk yield and daily output of milk nutrients. On the lowest level of energy, milk yield was 32% lower at day 24 and 20% lower at day 41 of lactation than on the highest energy level. The corresponding depressions in litter weights were 17·2 and 13·5% at 21 and 42 days respectively.
Reproduction in the gilt 1. The influence of age and weight at puberty on ovulation rate and embryo survival in the gilt
Authors: Hughes P. E. , Cole D. J. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFifty-three Landrace × (Landrace × Large White) young female pigs (gilts) were fed ad libitum from selection at 20 kg live weight until mating at the second oestrous period. All gilts were subjected to a change of environment at 55 kg live weight, and the male was introduced daily from 64 kg live weight. Gilts were mated twice at second heat, and slaughtered on the 20th day of gestation. There was a range in age at puberty from 135 to 235 days (mean 178·9 ± 3·4 days), and in weight at puberty from 70 to 125 kg (mean 90·5 ±2·3 kg), indicating that there is a potential in some animals, at least, to attain sexual maturity at a very young age. Neither gilt age norweight at puberty significantly affected ovulation rate at second oestrus, conception rate or embryo survival during the first 20 days of gestation.Gilts sired by one boar reached puberty significantly earlier (P < 0·05) than did the offspring of three other boars.
A note on the value of molasses and tapioca as energy supplements to forage for growing steers
Authors: Ahmed F. A. , Kay M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe intake and digestibility of diets containing dried grass supplemented with either molasses or tapioca was studied with 12 Friesian steers in two experiments, using a Latin square design. Three periods were used, each containing 3 weeks preliminary followed by a 10-day collection period. In both experiments long, artificially dried grass was given to appetite (treatment A). The other treatments in Experiment 1 were 25% molasses plus 75% dried grass (B) and 50% molasses plus 50% dried grass (C). In Experiment 2 the treatments were 21% tapioca plus 79% dried grass (D) and 42% tapioca plus 58% dried grass (E). There was no significant difference in dry matter or organic matter intake between the diets, though the intakes in both experiments tended to be lower when the dried grass was supplemented with either molasses or tapioca than when it was given alone. Nor were there any significant differences in the digestibility of dry matter or organic matter between the diets in either experiment. In both experiments the digestibility of crude fibre was significantly lower (P<0·05) when either molasses or tapioca was given with the dried grass than when the grass was offered alone.
A note on the density of bovine limb bones
Authors: Fursey G. A. J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe densities of about 1000 limb bones, excised from 110 carcasses of four breeds of cattle ranging in age from 6 to 36 months, were measured by the method of weighing in water. The density of individual bones varied considerably ranging from 1·24 to 1·71 gcm-3Some of this variation was due to differences between the various bone types within a limb, the cannon bones being more dense than the tibia and radius/ulna which in turn were more dense than either the humerus or femur. Age and breed also influenced density; the older the animal the more dense were its bones and the bones of Jersey cattle were more dense than those of Herefords of the same age. These findings conflict with an assumption that has been made hither to in theoretical analyses of the densitometric method of estimating the composition of carcasses, where skeletal density has been generally taken as constant.
Fertility differences between groups of sires relative to the stage of oestrus at the time of insemination
Authors: MacMillan K. L. , Watson J. D. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYRecords for 6012 inseminations of cows were analysed to determine the effect of the stage of oestrus at the time of insemination on conception rates for three groups of sires. All inseminations were completed between 8.30 hr and 11.30 hr using 2·5 million total spermatozoa in 0·5 ml of ‘Caprogen’ extender containing catalase. The designation of the stage of oestrus was based on the milking or milkings relative to the time of insemination at which each cow was observed in oestrus. Data from cows returning to service less than 18 days after insemination were excluded.The average conception rates (18 to 49 day% non-return rate) for the three groups of sires were 72·9% (7 sires of above average fertility), 70·5% (5 sires of average fertility), and 68·3% (6 sires of below average fertility). With inseminations in early oestrus, the comparable results were 74·3, 62·7 and 58·4% respectively. In contrast, the results for the three groups of sires with post-oestrous inseminations were 73·3, 71·13 and 73·8% respectively.The average interval from insemination to ovulation and fertilization is related to the stage of oestrus at insemination. This interval was the major factor contributing to the fertility differences between the groups of sires included in this experiment. These differences were also reflected in the percentage and distribution of normal (18 to 24 day) return intervals.
Determination of age of lamb carcasses from pelvic ossification
Authors: Kirton A. H. , O'Hara P. J. , Cairney I. M. , Bishop W. H. , Nottingham P. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn a study involving over 300 pelves from lambs of known age at slaughter it was shown that time of ossification was poorly related to age of lamb. The youngest lamb with an ossified pelvis was a female aged 22·4 weeks and at the other end of the scale a third of a group of 45-week-old castrated male lamb pelves were not ossified. Female lamb pelves ossified earlier than castrated male lamb pelves. Carcasses with ossified pelves at a given age tended to be heavier than those with pelves not ossified and pelves of well-fed lambs probably ossified before those of poorly fed lambs. The results indicate that the suggested Codex method for a carcass classification or grading system for dividing lamb carcasses into those under and those over 6 mo of age at slaughter was not accurate. The reason for wanting such a classification is also questioned.
The relative incidence and effect of bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle
Authors: Frisch J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYData on incidence and severity of infection with bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis and proportion of eye margin pigmentation were collected over 3 years in a mixed herd of Hereford × Shorthorn (HS), Africander x HS, Brahman x HS, grade Africanders and purebred Brahmans. Both sexes were scored at 3 and 8 mo but only females were scored at 15 mo. At all ages, the incidence of infection was greatest in the HS and lowest in the Brahmans in which no infections were recorded. The severity of infection and proportion of bilateral infections were also greatest in the HS animals.Infected animals were lighter at all ages than comparable uninfected animals. HS females which showed signs of infection at each age were 22·8 kg lighter at 15 mo than those which had never shown signs of being infected. The magnitude of the weight difference was directly related to the severity of infection.In the HS breed, both the incidence and severity of infection were related to the proportion of eye margin pigmentation. At 15 mo, 68% of HS females with full eye margin pigmentation were infected compared to 96% of comparable unpigmented animals. At 15 mo infected HS females with full eye margin pigmentation were heavier than unpigmented contemporaries. It was concluded that the lower weight of infected animals was primarily the result of the disease rather than vice versa.
Sodium hydroxide treatment of barley straw; effect of volume and concentration of solution on digestibility and intake by sheep
Authors: Jayasuriya M. C. N. , Owen Emyr 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Four experiments have been carried out to determine the effect of treatment of spring-sown barley straw (var. Deba Abed) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and subsequent neutralization with hydrochloric acid (HCl) on its digestibility and intake by sheep.2. In Experiment 1, chopped straw was mixed with 4·5 or 9·0 g NaOH in 200 or 800 ml water/100 g, straw, and after 24 hr neutralized with HCl and left for a further 24 hr before being offered to castrated male sheep (wethers) in a maintenance diet containing 35% concentrates. Organic-matter digestibility of straw significantly increased, by 8 and 11 percentage units respectively, after treatment with 200 ml solution containing 4·5 and 9·0 g NaOH. Volume of solution did not affect digestibility.3. In Experiment 2, straw treated as in Experiment 1 was given ad libitum. The highest intake was for straw treated with 200 ml solution containing 4·5 g NaOH/100 g straw, treatment with 9·0 g NaOH giving a significantly lower intake but higher than that of untreated straw.4. In Experiment 3, the in vitro digestibility of milled straw, treated as in Experiments 1 and 4, increased with increasing volumes of solution up to 120 ml/100 g straw, but the response to successive increments of NaOH declined progressively.5. In Experiment 4 chopped straw was mixed with 4·5, 6·75 or 9·0 g NaOH in 30, 60 or 120 ml water/100 g straw and offered as in Experiment 1. Treatments significantly increased straw digestibility, by 8 to 16 percentage units. Increasing the volume of water from 30 to 60 ml significantly improved digestibility, by 5 percentage units at the two lower levels of NaOH. The response to an increase in the level of NaOH was less, and inconsistent. In vitro and in vivo digestibilities were significantly correlated, but it is concluded that the in vitro technique used overestimates the digestibility of treated straw.
Influence of taste-modifiers on taste responses of pygmy goats
Authors: Mehren M. J. , Church D. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe taste responses of pygmy goats to addition of gymnemic acid (GymA), inosinic acid (InoA), or monosodium glutamate (MSG) t o sucrose or quinine monohydrochloride (QHC1) solutions were studied. Addition of 20, 40 or 100 p.p.m. GymA to 25 % sucrose (aversive) solution caused the goats to show strong preference responses. Addition of GymA to a 30 % sucrose solution did not change the response from strong rejection. Addition of GymA to 1000 p.p.m. QHC1 did not change the strong rejection response, but additions of 10, 20, 60, 80 or 100 p.p.m. GymA to a 200 p.p.m. QHC1 solution changed the response from rejection to non-discrimination or weak preference.Addition of 50 to 500 p.p.m. InoA to 0·08 % sucrose solution did not change the response from non-discrimination; InoA added to a 6·25 p.p.m. QHC1 solution, changed the response from non-discrimination to rejection at 50 p.p.m. and to strong rejection at 250 p.p.m. When MSG was added to 0·08% sucrose solution, the response remained non-discriminatory until 500 p.p.m. MSG was reached; this elicited a weak rejection. MSG (5, 50, or 500 p.p.m.) added to 10 % sucrose solution, changed the response from moderate preference o t non-discrimination. With 30 % sucrose solution the response was changed from weak rejection to non-discrimination by addition of 5 or 50 p.p.m. MSG but reverted to weak rejection at 250 p.p.m. MSG and to non-discrimination at 500 p.p.m. MSG. The addition of 5 to 250 p.p.m. MSG to 100 p.p.m. QHC1 solution changed the taste response from moderate rejection to non-discrimination; 500 p.p.m. resulted in slight rejection. Addition of 5 to 500 p.p.m. MSG to 6·25 p.p.m. QHC1 solution did not change the response from non-discrimination.
A note on muscle pH1 values in commercial pig carcasses
Authors: Smith W. C. , Wilson A. , Burr A. C. , Clark J. B. K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOver an 8-week period pH measurements were taken in the longis-simus dorsi muscle of 17 157 bacon-weight carcasses at 45 min post mortem (pH1 ) in one abattoir. The overall least squares mean pHt was 6·38 and 9·9% of carcasses had pHt values of 5·9 or less. Neither sex, type of dam, breed nor testing background of sire of the carcasses examined had a significant effect on muscle pHj or the incidence of values below p H 6·0. Although first-grade carcasses had a higher incidence of low pHj values relative to those in the other grades, it was of no practical significance. Carcasses of homebred pigs had a higher incidence of muscle pHt values of 5·9 and below (2%) compared with those from pigs initially purchased as weaners. There was a marked producer effect on muscle pHj and the incidence of values below pH 6·0.
Effect of sampling errors on efficiency of selection indices. 2. Use of information on associated traits for improvement of a single important trait
Authors: Sales Jill , Hill W. G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYAn analysis is undertaken of the effect of errors in estimates of parameters on the response to selection for an economically important trait (trait 1) when one or more additional traits are added in a selection index. The detailed analysis is confined to one additional trait (trait 2) which contributes useful information unless the genetic and phenotypic regressions of trait 1 on trait 2 are equal.If there are errors in parameter estimates the extra response obtained by including trait 2 will usually be over-predicted. When trait 2 actually contributes no useful information the predicted benefit equals the real loss in efficiency from its inclusion.The loss in efficiency from poor estimation of parameters, whether or not the second trait makes a contribution, is roughly one-quarter of the squared coefficient of variation of a heritability estimate of trait 1 in the same experiment.
Fat distribution in steer carcasses of different breeds and crosses. 1. Distribution between depots
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Cuthbertson A. , Harrington G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYDissection data from 643 carcasses of castrated male cattle (steers) of 15 breed-type × feeding system groups were used to examine the distribution of total fat (TF) between subcutaneous (SF), intermuscular (IF), kidney knob and channel (KKCF) and cod fat depots. The breed-type groups, which were from cereal or grass/cereal feeding systems, included Ayrshire, Simmental × Ayrshire, British Friesian and Friesian crosses with Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, South Devon and Simmental. Means for percentage TF in side ranged from 21·4 to 36·2 with a pooled within group SD of 3·87.The growth of each depot relative to TF was examined using the allometric equation. Significant but not large differences existed between groups for the growth coefficients of SF and IF while the coefficients for KKCF differed widely among groups. The coefficient for SF was greater than that for IF in every group (pooled within-group b values±SE were 1·20±·02 and 0·87±0·01 respectively).At constant TF weight, carcasses from Ayrshire and Ayrshire crosses tended to contain less SF and more IF+KKC F than those from Friesian and beef breed × Friesian. Important differences in distribution were recorded between the various beef breed × Friesian groups. The proportion of SF was lower for cattle fed on grass/cereal diets than for cattle of the same breed type fed on cereal diets.The differences in fat distribution led to substantial bias for some groups when the percentages of IF and TF in the side were predicted from percentage SF. The bias was less when both KKCF and SF were used as predictors.
The supplementation of maize silage for an autumn-calving dairy herd
Authors: Phipps R. H. , Cramp D. G. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThirty-nine British Friesian lactating cows were used to study the effects on milk production of supplementation of maize silage offered ad libitum during two 3-hr periods each day. During weeks 11 to 24 of lactation a comparison was made of (i) no supplement, (ii) 183 g/day of a mixture (2: 1) of urea: urea phosphate, (iii) 5 kg/day of barley plus 183 g/day of the urea: urea phosphate mixture, (iv) 7 kg/day of dried grass and (v) 10 kg/day of dried grass. The corresponding treatment mean values were: milk yield (kg/day), 10·0, 9·9, 13·4, 15·1, 16·8; fat content (%), 3·43, 3·80, 3·98, 3·92, 3·61; solids-not-fat content (%), 7·95, 8·03, 8·45, 8·51, 8·49; energy intake (MJ/day), 71·2, 76·9, 130·3, 132·7, 138·6; intake of dry matter as maize silage (kg/cow per day), 7·1, 7·7, 8·3, 7·7, 6·5. With the exception of fat content, the differences between treatments 1 and 2 were not significant but the values for these two treatments were significantly lower than those for the other three treatments.
Milk production from diets of silage and dried forage. 1. Effects of methods of processing dried grass and of including barley in the supplementation of grass silage given ad libitum
Authors: Tayler J. C. , Aston K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.
Growth and carcass characteristics of purebred and crossbred cattle with special reference to their carcass lean:bone ratios
Authors: Broadbent P. J. , Ball C. , Dodsworth T. L. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Three pure breeds, Aberdeen-Angus (AA), Ayrshire (AYR) and British Friesian (FR), and three crossbreds, Aberdeen-Angus × Ayrshire (AA × AYR), Aberdeen-Angus × British Friesian (AA × FR) and British Friesian × Ayrshire (FR × AYR) were studied. Each breed type was represented by 12 male castrates which were the progeny of at least seven sires in each case.2. The purebred cattle of dairy type (FR and AYR) were faster growing (P < 0·001), heavier at slaughter (P < 0·001) and produced heavier carcasses (P < 0·001) than the pure beef breed. There were no significant differences between the breeds in the lean contents of their carcasses and there was no indication of any systematic breed effect on the distribution of lean within the carcass. The AA had carcasses with a higher fat content (P < 0·05), a lower bone content (P < 0·001) and a higher lean:bone ratio (P < 0·001) than the FR and AYR.3. In general the values for performance and carcass data of the crosses between the three purebreeds fall mid-way between their parent values or do not differ significantly from this value. The hypothesis that crossbred cattle produce carcasses with higher muscle: bone ratios than purebred cattle is refuted by these data.