bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproductive performance at first lambing and in twice-yearly lambing in a flock of Finnish Landrace sheep in Finland
Authors: Goot H. , Maijala K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The reproductive performance of 128 first-lambing ewes born during 1966–71, and of 118 ewes kept on a twice-yearly lambing system during 1968–1972/73, in a commercial flock of Finnish Land-race sheep in Finland, was analysed.2. The first-lambing ewes were exposed to the ram throughout the year, except in June and July. Out of 95 ewes born between January and May, 92 (97%) lambed at the age of 376·4 ± 29·9 days, and out of 20 born between July and September, 15 (75%) lambed when 323·8 ± 50·4 days old.3. The average litter sizes at first lambing were 1·6, 1·9 and 2·6 for ewes with average ages of 324, 388 and 534 days, respectively; the 5-mo litter weights averaged 41·7, 45·7 and 70·5 kg per ewe for the three groups.4. In the twice-yearly lambing system 55% of ewes lambed once within a calendar year and 45% lambed twice. The number of consecutive lambings and the number of lambs born per ewe per year were 1·52 ± 0·29 and 4·03 ± 1·18, respectively. The consecutive lambings of the 118 ewes, over a period of 1½ to 5½ yr, did not indicate any decline in reproductive performance.5. The estimated lambing-to-conception interval in consecutive lambings was 116·6 ± 64·3 days; February had the lowest conception rate (0·7%) and November the highest (20·8%); April (16·5%) and September (15·5%) were similar.6. Litter size was not affected by year, age of ewes, or lambing period. The mean lamb mortality up to 14 days of age, based on 1168 lambs born dead or alive, was 12·8% and the annual ewe wastage averaged 21·9%7. For ewes which lambed twice within a calendar year, the lambing to conception interval was 71·7 ± 24·7 days. Such ewes produced 5·0±1·4 lambs per calendar year and the combined 5-mo weight of both litters was 168·2 ± 43·2 kg per ewe.
Food intake, eating rate, weight gains, metabolic rate and efficiency of feed utilization in Bos taurus and Bos indicus crossbred cattle
Authors: Frisch J. E. , Vercoe J. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFood intake, eating rate, weight change and fasting metabolic rate were measured on 12 animals of each of the following breed-types: Hereford × Shorthorn (HS), Brahman × HS (BX) and Africander × HS (AX). Measurements were made on ad libitum and fixed levels of lucerne and ad libitum and fixed levels of low-quality tropical pasture hay (approx. 1·2% N) during feeding periods of about 100 days' duration.The BX and AX were heavier and either gained more weight or lost less weight than the HS on all diets. At feeding levels close to maintenance, which included the ad libitum pasture hay diet, adjustment for differences in either live weight or intake did not alter the unadjusted ranking of the breeds. On ad libitum lucerne, however, adjustment for either weight or intake showed higher gain in the HS than in the BX. The voluntary food intake per kg live weight was consistently and significantly highest for the HS and lowest for the BX. Rates of eating were not significantly different for the different breed-types but they were higher for high-quality lucerne and for the lower level of feeding. Fasting metabolic rate per kg live weight was highest for the HS and lowest for the BX; the difference between the breeds varied with the previous dietary treatment. The ratio of voluntary food intake to fasting metabolism was practically constant between breeds and animals within breeds, though different between diets.Correlations for animals within breeds and years between the various parameters within diets and between diets are presented.
A note on the utilization of hay by pure and cross-bred Marwari sheep
Authors: Ratan Ram , Purchit G. R. , Abichandani J R. K. , Ghosh P. K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA comparative study was made of the utilization of hay (Lasiurus sindicus) by Marwari and Russian Merino × Marwari male sheep. Intakes of dry matter and crude protein and digestibility of dry matter were similar for both groups but the digestibility of crude protein was higher for the purebred Marwari sheep. Within the purebred animals, digestibility of crude protein was higher in those that gave a consistently low fleece yield.
Meat production from pigs which have farrowed 1. Reproductive performance and food conversion efficiency
Authors: Brooks P. H. , Cole D. J. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe reproductive performance and food conversion efficiency ofyoung female pigs (gilts) destined for slaughter after weaning their first litter were investigated using four treatment groups of 19 Landrace × (Landrace × Large White) gilts. In two treatment groups gilts were mated at pubertal heat and suckled for 5 to 11 and 35 to 42 days respectively. These gilts were slaughtered following weaning. A third group of gilts were conventionally mated at third oestrus and suckled for 35 to 42 days. These animals acted as controls for reproductive performace. The fourth treatment group consisted of unmated gilts, slaughtered at 118 kg live weight, which served as controls for food conversion efficiency, growth rate and carcass measurements.There were no significant differences in either the number or weight of piglets born in any of the treatment groups. The food conversion efficiency and growth rate of the mated gilts was significantly (P< 0·001) worse than that of the unmated gilts marketed at heavy weights. Of the mated gilts those mated at puberty and weaned at 35 to 42 days had the best overall feed conversion efficiency (4·56: 1) between the start of the experiment and weaning and required less food per piglet reared to 6 weeks of age than the gilts mated at third heat.
A note on meat production from pigs slaughtered after first weaning a litter
Authors: Kotarbińska Maria , Kielanowski J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYFourteen Large White female pigs were mated at about 6 months of age and 90 kg live weight. Three of them gave birth to very small litters and were slaughtered a week after parturition at an average live weight of 166 kg. From the other 11 females 6-week-old litters with average an of 8-8 piglets were weaned. Twenty-four days after weaning the mothers, averaging 152 kg live weight, were slaughtered. Performance was compared with that of unmated females slaughtered at 90 or 130 kg live weight. After subtracting the amount of feed used normally for the production of weaned litters from the total feed consumption of the 14 females which farrowed, the feed intake per 1 kg live-weight gain was 3·67 kg, as compared with 3·43 kg and 4·46 kg in the groups slaughtered at 90 or 130 kg live weight, respectively. The average daily protein deposition in the 14 females together with their litters was 119·6 g, compared with 104·1 and 81·4 g in the control groups.
A note on the digestibility by sheep of hulls from the field bean (vicia faba l)
Authors: Edwards D. G. , Duthie I. F. , Rogers Barbara M. , Owen Emyr 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe digestibility of a feed containing hull material prepared mechanically from Throws MS field bean (Viciafaba L) was determined in a 12-day balance trial with sheep. The pelleted feed contained 62 % hulls and 38 % of a concentrate mixture, and was given at a maintenance level. The mean digestibility coefficients of the feed were for dry matter, 66·3; organic matter, 68·2; nitrogen, 65·7; crude fibre, 59·4; and energy, 65·5%.The coefficients for the bean hulls themselves, estimated by assuming coefficients for the concentrates, were dry matter, 59·6; organic matter, 61·0; nitrogen, 58·2; crude fibre, 60·3; and energy, 59·9%. By assuming a value of 2·515 Mcal/kg for the metabolizable energy of the concentrates, the metabolizable energy of the bean hulls was calculated to be between 2·00 and 2·10 Mcal/kg.Digestibility coefficients for the bean hulls determined in vitro were found to agree with those determined in vivo.
Studies on the effect of social environment on the behaviour and growth rates of artificially-reared British Friesian male calves
Authors: Stephens D. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYObservations have been carried out on the effect of social environment on the behaviour and growth rates of British Friesian male calves artificially reared on an automatic Nursette milk dispenser. The observations were made during two watches of 3 hr duration per week for the first 9 weeks of the calves' stay in the rearing unit. The calves appeared to be in a high state of anxiety on arrival and showed a vigorous following response to each other and the stockman. Although the lighter subordinate calves spent less time in sucking the Nursette than the heavier dominant calves, and had a lower pre-weaning growth rate, they spent more time ingesting dry feed. Consequently they suffered a less severe check in growth rate at abrupt weaning after 6 weeks than the dominant calves. Non-nutritive cross-sucking of the ear, scrotum or prepuce of others in the group occurred in some calves. The aetiology of cross-sucking is discussed and interpreted in terms of an oral deprivation hypothesis.
Comparative reproductive performance of Brahman and Santa Gertrudis cattle in a hot humid environment 1. Fertility and descriptive statistics
Authors: Willis M. B. , Wilson A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn a 15-year period (1956-1970) data were available from 192 Brahman cows exposed to bulls on 1409 occasions (1199 calvings) and from 155 Santa Gertrudis cows exposed 907 times (847 calvings). All were mated by natural service in the same herd in Cuba. Calving percentage and net calf crop significantly favoured the Santa Gertrudis with overall means of 92·7 and 85·3% for the two traits respectively. Parity, lactation status and year of calving significantly affected calving percentage with significant year × breed and status × parity interactions. Lactation status, year of calving, breed × year and status × parity interactions also affected net calf crop. Calf mortality was 6·41% in Brahmans and 5·64% in Santa Gertrudis but more of the latter breed were stillborn (41·7 v. 16·9% of all deaths). There were no breed effects on age at first or last calving, age at culling or calves per cow which were 38·5 months, 117·1 months, 130·1 months and 6·62 calves in Brahmans and 39·3, 111·5, 123·2 and 6·58 respectively in Santa Gertrudis. Twinning percentage was low (under 0·4%) and male births high (53·54%) in both breeds. Some 30% of cows lost at least one calf prior to weaning during their lifetime.
Comparative reproductive performance of Brahman and Santa Gertrudis cattle in a hot humid environment 2. Factors affecting calving interval
Authors: Wilson A. , Willis M. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYOver a 15-year period 1011 calving intervals from 187 Brahman (B) cows and 687 calving intervals from 146 Santa Gertrudis (SG) were examined. Year of calving significantly affected intervals in both breeds. Season of calving and parity of dam were both important in SG. Longer intervals were seen in B than SG (437 v. 406 days). Repeatability of calving interval was low (< 0·02). The average life-time calving interval was significantly related to total calf production in that cows with shorter mean intervals had more calves in their lifetime.
Milk production from silage 3. A comparison of red clover with grass silage
Authors: Thomas C. , Aston K. , Daley S. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSilages were made from the primary growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or red clover (Trifolium pratense) and were given ad libitum to 52 British Friesian cows, together with 70 kg dry matter per day of a barley/ground maize/soya bean supplement in 2 years. Twenty of the cows were used in both years, providing a total of 72 observations. Three treatments were imposed during weeks 3 t o 20 of lactation: red clover silage, (RC/RC); red clover silage, weeks 3 to 10, grass silage weeks 12 to 20 (RC/PRG); grass silage (PRG/PRG).Apparent digestibility of the gross energy assessed in lactation weeks 14 and 15 was slightly lower for red clover than for perennial ryegrass (0·683, 0·706 and 0·701 for treatments RC/RC, RC/PRG and PRG/PRG respectively). There was no effect of previous treatment on the digestibility of perennial ryegrass diets (RC/PRG v. PRG/PRG). Cows given red clover silage consumed proportionately 1·22 of the dry matter and 1·09 of the digestible energy ingested by those given perennial ryegrass. The intake of perennial ryegrass in mid lactation was similar, irrespective of early lactation treatment.During weeks 3 to 20, cows given red clover yielded 1·9 kg more milk than did those given perennial ryegrass (P < 0·01). However, this milk had a significantly lower concentration of fat (P < 0·01; 37·2 and 41·2 g/kg for treatment RC/RC and PRG/PRG respectively). In mid lactation the cows that had received red clover silage in early lactation (RC/PRG) had the lowest yield of milk, milk fat, protein and lactose and the difference between this treatment and PRG/PRG was significant for milk and milk fat yields (P < 0·05).Red clover silage rather than perennial ryegrass silage of similar digestibility resulted in higher silage intake and higher yields of milk, milk protein and lactose. However, the strategic use of red clover silage to increase yield in early lactation did not induce positive residual effects in mid lactation; rather, there was evidence of a negative effect on milk and milk-fat yield.
The effect of a fully-controlled out-of-parlour concentrate dispenser on the production of British Friesian dairy cows
Authors: Rees P. , Rowlinson P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn two experiments the effect of giving concentrates to dairy cows from a fully-controlled out-of-parlour dispenser was compared with giving concentrates twice daily in the milking parlour. In experiment 1, 22 cows were used in a cross-over design during the first 19 weeks of lactation. In experiment 2, 34 cows were used in a continuous trial during the first 18 weeks of lactation. Weeks 1 to 3 of each experiment were used as a standardization period during which all cows were given equal amounts of concentrates twice a day during milking. At the end of this period cows were paired and assigned to receive concentrates either in the milking parlour (group P) or to receive 1·0 kg concentrates per day in the milking parlour and the remainder from an out-of-parlour dispenser (group O). Within pairs, between treatments, cows were offered the same amount of concentrates and allowed access toad libitumsilage. Means for milk yield, fat and solids-not-fat concentrations during experiment 1 were 25·1v.23·9 kg/day (P< 0·01), 36·5v.38·1 g/kg, 89·9v.89·1 g/kg (P< 0·001), and for experiment 2 were 27·1v.25·4 kg/day (P< 0·01), 39·8v.42·6 g/kg, and 90·9v.90·9 g/kg, for groups O and P respectively. Mean concentrate intakes during experiment 1 were 8·3v.8·4 kg/day (P< 0·01) and during experiment 2 were 8·9v.8·6 kg/day (P< 0·01) for groups O and P respectively. In both experiments, group O had more positive changes in weight and body condition score (P< 0·05). It is concluded that the use of the dispenser improved milk yield, weight and condition-score changes, though milk fat concentration was decreased compared to that of parlour-fed cows.
A note on the effect of suckling stimulus on uterine involution, post-partum ovarian activity and fertility in Nili-Ravi buffaloes
Authors: Usmani R. H. , Ullah N. , Shah S. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTNineteen pluriparous buffaloes of Nili-Ravi breed which calved during the months of October and November 1983 were studied for the effects of sucking stimulus on the uterine involution, post-partum ovarian functions and fertility. On the day of calving, buffaloes were assigned to either a limited-suckling (LS) or non-suckling (NS) group. Changes in reproductive organs were monitored by rectal palpations at weekly intervals. Buffaloes were observed for oestrus twice daily (04.00 and 18.00 h) with the help of a teaser bull, and were artificially inseminated at the first post-partum and each subsequent oestrus. LS buffaloes had a shorter period to uterine involution (20 days) than NS buffaloes (28 days). Intervals to regression of the corpora lutea of pregnancy and to resumption of post-partum follicular development did not differ in the two groups. LS buffaloes had longer intervals to first post-partum oestrus and conception (54 and 88 days respectively) than NS buffaloes (39 and 68 days respectively). However, the difference in services per conception of LS and NS buffaloes was non-significant (2-05 v. 1·62). These limited data reveal that the suckling stimulus has a negative effect on the post-partum resumption of oestrous activity, and that conception is delayed. Further studies are indicated to verify these observations in a larger sample size and during all seasons of the year.
A note on the behaviour of individually-penned sheep regarding their use for research purposes
Authors: Marsden Debbie , Wood-Gush D. G. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe behaviour of individually-penned lambs was observed and found to include many abnormal as well as normal behaviour patterns. Those with ad libitum pelleted concentrate or hay or greater environmental disturbance spent less time exhibiting abnormal behaviour.
The use of a synthetic prostaglandin analogue (cloprostenol) to control parturition in the commercial rabbit
Authors: Partridge G. G. , Lamb I. C. , Findlay M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were performed to examine the efficacy of a synthetic prostaglandin analogue, cloprostenol (‘Planate’, ICI) to induce parturition in the rabbit. In experiment 1, does were injected intramuscularly on day 28 of pregnancy with either saline or with 4·38 μg, 8·75 μg, or 17·5 ug cloprostenol; a fifth group comprised untreated controls. Experiment 2 included only the groups treated with 4·38 μg and 17·5μg cloprostenol and untreated controls. In both experiments, cloprostenol injection significantly reduced the length of pregnancy when compared with saline-injected and untreated controls. Of the does treated with cloprostenol, 25 out of 26 kindled between 30 and 60 h after injection, whereas the variation in birth time in untreated and saline-treated groups was much greater (range 26 to 140 h). Litter birth weights tended to be lower in cloprostenol-treated does because of their precocious delivery but this did not appear to reduce pup viability. In both experiments, the proportion of pups dead at birth tended to be higher for does which did not receive cloprostenol (0·22 v. 0·10). Deaths between birth and weaning were similar on all treatments. Conception rate following mating 1 day after parturition appeared to be unaffected by cloprostenol treatment, as was milk yield during the 1st week of lactation.
Prolificacy and 50-day lamb weight of ewes in the Cambridge sheep breed
Authors: Owen J. B. , Crees Sarah R. E. , Williams Janet C. , Davies D. A. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe paper describes the results of the analysis of over 3000 records of Cambridge sheep kept on 11 farms over a 12-year period. The heritability of the number of lambs born per ewe increased from a low value for the 1-year-old ewes to a high value for the 3-year-old ewes; the multiple age value for 2-, 3- and 4-year-old ewes was 0·33 (s.e. 0-121). Heritability estimates for number of lambs surviving were lower, but showed the same trend of increasing values with increasing ewe age. This trend in heritability was also evident for the mean 50-day lamb weight, as a trait of the ewe, which had a multiple age value of 0·20 (s.e. 0·151). The estimates of heritability of various measures of early lamb mortality were relatively low. Date of first oestrus showed a variable heritability although the multiple age value was 0·42 (s.e. 0·149).Prolificacy was strongly correlated with various measures of early lamb mortality although the correlation with the final number of lambs weaned was positive. Prolificacy was positively correlated with the ewe's mature weight and the ewe's date of first oestrus and the genetic correlation with mean 50-day lamb weight was slightly positive.The effect of increases in prolificacy on numbers of lambs weaned was markedly curvilinear with maximum numbers of lambs weaned at an intermediate level of prolificacy.
Milk yield and milk composition of indigenous goats (Capra prisca) in Greece
Authors: Zygoyiannis D. , Katsaounis N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty-four indigenous goats suckling either single (male or female) or twin kids were traditionally reared during a 32-week lactation period. During the suckling period of 12 weeks, milk production was estimated at 7-day intervals. During the milking period the goats were hand-milked twice daily and their milk production was measured at 4-week intervals. Milk samples were analysed for fat, protein, lactose, ash and dry matter concentration and solids-not-fat and energy concentration were calculated. During lactation, the goats were weighed at regular intervals and their body-condition score assessed at each weighing.Goats with twins produced more milk than did those with singles during the suckling period but not after weaning. Peak yield occurred between the 10th and 11th week of lactation. Yield declined rapidly after weaning at 12 weeks and then decreased gradually from 16 to 32 weeks. The sex of the single kids had no effect on lactation yield. Milk composition was not affected by the number or sex of the kids suckled. Fat, protein and ash concentration fell during the 1st month of lactation and thereafter showed a gradual rise. Lactose concentration fell gradually after the 2nd month. Both live weight and body condition of the goats increased continuously throughout lactation.
Performance of pigs with or without the intestinal receptor forEscherichia coliK88
Authors: Edfors-Lilja Inger , Petersson H. , Gahne B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe adhesion of Escherichia (E.) coli K88ac to epithelial cells of the small intestine was studied after slaughter in 564 crossbred pigs (Swedish LandracexSwedish Yorkshire). E.coli K88ac adhered to epithelial cells obtained from different parts of the small intestine in 40·8% of the pigs studied. Performance data indicated that presence of the receptor resulted in poorer daily gain during the 1st weeks of life, but that it had a beneficial influence on daily lean growth during the fattening period (24 to 100 kg live weight).
Seasonal grouping in a herd-year-season model of sire evaluation
Authors: Chauhan V. P. S. , Hill W. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTAnalyses of variance were conducted using two separate random sets of data (25 158 and 24 084 records) on first-lactation, milk-production records of progeny of 69 British Friesian-Holstein proven sires in order to examine the criteria of seasonal grouping for a sire-evaluation model fitting herd-year-season as a fixed effect. Five different seasonal groupings were chosen each comprising two or three seasons with equal or unequal number of months and with different trends in production within season.The smallest herd-year × month of calving within-season interaction, smallest residual variance, largest effective number of daughters and smallest among-months, within-season variation were considered to be the appropriate criteria of seasonal grouping. None of the groupings examined satisfied all criteria. However, a small herd-year × month within season interaction and all small within-season variation would be desirable if milk records were pre-corrected for the effect of month of calving in sire evaluation, and the effective number of daughters should be large. Given this the grouping currently used in Britain (three seasons: December to March, April to July and August to November) was considered to be appropriate, although a grouping with two seasons: February to July and August to January gave similar results. The regional differences in production were observed to be large, but the region × month-of-calving interaction was small.