bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of sequential selection in pig improvement
Authors: Hagenbuch P. , Hill W. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect on genetic improvement of a policy of sequential selection, in which breeding animals are retained for differing times, is investigated for a closed herd of pigs. Selection is practised for traits of the growing animal, either on phenotype or on predicted breeding value with account taken of parental age.The following scheme gives near to maximum response over a wide range of values of parameters such as litter size, mating ratio and farrowing interval and of heritability. One out of every three or four females should be retained fora second litter and with continuous use of males about three out of every seven males should be retained after 3 months of use for a further 3 months. Such a scheme gives an improvement of only up to 3% over a procedure where all females are kept for two litters and all boars for 6 months, and progeny are selected without regard to parental age. The advantage of sequential selection becomes greater if sows are kept for more litters.
Growth of bovine tissues 2. Genetic influences on muscle growth and distribution in young bulls
Authors: Berg R. T. , Andersen B. B. , Liboriussen T. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMuscle weight distribution was compared by jointing and complete tissue separation of carcasses from 277 young male progeny of eight sire breeds and two dam breeds, serially slaughtered at 300 kg live weight, 12 months and 15 months of age. The sire breeds were Simmental, Charolais, Danish Red and White, Romagnola, Chianina. Hereford, Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin; the dam breeds were Danish Red and Danish Black Pied.Growth impetus for muscle in each joint was established from the allometric equation (Y = aXb). Growth coefficients, b, were homogenous among breeds, indicating similar muscle development patterns over the range of weights studied. Growth impetus waves increased centripetally on the limbs, caudocephalically on the whole of the body (being more marked dorsally) and dorsoventrally on the trunk.There were small but significant breed differences in the proportion of muscle in different joints at similar total muscle weight. They probably reflect differences in maturity and other minor functional influences. Chianina and Hereford crosses were the two extremes for muscle distribution with many of the remaining breed groups being very similar. Differences were already established by 300 kg live weight and muscle growth patterns were similar among breeds over the range of the experiment.
The use of sodium hydroxide-treated straw in rations for beef cattle
Authors: Cuthbert N. H. , Thickett W. S. , Wilson P. N. , Brigstocke T. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSixty-four British Friesian castrated male cattle (steers) with an average starting weight of 292 kg and an average slaughter weight of 460 kg were used to compare compound diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% NaOH-treated straw. A basic diet of 1·8 kg hay, 1·8 kg barley straw and sugar beet pulp, on a scale rising from 1·4 to 2·8 kg according to live weight, was given throughout the trial. Compound diets were individually offered on a scale starting at 3·8 kg rising to 5·8 kg with an average intake of 4·9 kg/day. Treatments did not differ significantly in respect of live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·94 kg/day with the control to 0·97 kg/day with the 30% NaOH-treated straw compound. The grading of the animals, based on the Meat and Livestock Classification scheme, also showed no significant difference.A second trial with a further 64 British Friesian steers tested inclusion levels of 0, 30,45 and 60% treated straw in a compound diet. At the start of the trial, the cattle averaged 328 kg live weight and were slaughtered from 450 kg live weight. Animals were yarded in store condition and were given a combination of grass silage and compound diets according to a scale, based on live weight and a predicted performance of 1 kg live-weight gain per day. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·97 kg on the control to 1·02 kg/day on the 45% NaOH-treated straw diet. There was some refusal on the 60% NaOH-treated straw diet in respect of twice daily allocations, with a few cattle on occasions not being able to consume the allowance in the 30 min provided. However, each feed allocation was always consumed before the next meal. There were no significant differences between treatments in respect of fat class, but cattle on the 45% treated-straw diet had statistically superior conformation compared with the control.
Efficiency of lean meat production by British Friesian and Jersey steers
Authors: Hind E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Eight-one British Friesian and 44 Jersey steers was slaughtered at 1. 12, 24, 48 or 72 weeks of age. Those aged 24 weeks and over were reared on a standard complete diet offered ad libitum, and individual food intakes were recorded until slaughter when carcasses were dissected on an anatomical basis.2. From 1 to 72 weeks British Friesians were on average 50% heavier than Jerseys and consumed 47% more food. Total lean tissue (L) increased 11-fold to 137 + 6·4 kg in the British Friesians and 16-fold to 84 ± 4·7 kg in the Jersey. L as a percentage of live weight rose to 32% ±0·6 in the British Friesians and to 29% ±0·8 in the Jerseys. Breeds did not differ significantly in average efficiency of growth of lean tissue in any period.3. From 24 to 72 weeks, an allometric relationship held between L and total food consumed postnatally, F. The two breeds had the same allometric coefficient of 0·61. Current efficiency, 0·61 L/F, was thus proportional to cumulated efficiency, L/F. Allowance was made for the prenatal input, Fo, required to produce the newborn calf. An optimum slaughter point at which overall efficiency, L/(F+F0), reached a maximum occurred in each breed when postnatal input was 58% higher than prenatal input (F = 1·58F0). When the breeds had equal maximum efficiency the British Friesian: Jersey ratios for prenatal input, total food consumed and total lean produced were all 2·6:1.
A note on the physiological development of a red muscle from the ham region of the pork carcass
Authors: Swatland H. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTSamples from a dark red area of the vastus medialis muscle were taken from eight Canadian Yorkshire-breed pigs after slaughter. Frozen transverse sections were tested for alkali-stable adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and the ratio of strong to weak reacting muscle fibres was determined from photomicrographs. The percentage of fibres with strong ATPase reactions was positively correlated (r = 0·82, P<0·01) with animal live weight. This growth-related change is in the opposite direction to that known to occur in the white longissimus dorsi muscle of the pork carcass.
A note on draught capacity in castrated and entire male buffaloes as reflected in some blood constituents
Authors: Nangia O. P. , Rana R. D. , Singh Narinder , Ahmad A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCastrated and entire male buffalo calves of about 2 years of age were made to work by pulling a stone roller weighing 80 kg at a constant speed of about 3 km/h on even ‘Kachha’ ground for 3 h. Blood levels of lactic acid and pyruvic acid and the Icteric index increased, whereas blood levels of bicarbonate and proteins decreased in response to exercise. No change was observed in blood glucose or chloride levels. There was no difference in the concentrations of blood constituents of the two groups.
The effect of field wilting and mechanical treatment on the feeding value of grass silage for beef cattle and on beef output per hectare
Authors: Steen R. W. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out to compare three methods of harvesting grass silage for beef production. These involved (a) harvesting the grass directly with a flail forage harvester (b) pre-cutting the grass with a rotary mower and harvesting it with a precision-chop forage harvester without wilting and (c) pre-mowing and harvesting with a precision-chop forage harvester after field wilting for 36 to 80 h (experiment 1) or 20 to 24 h (experiment 2). Half of the grass harvested by each method received formic acid at a rate of 2·5 1/t while the other half received no additive. The silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·6 kg concentrates per head daily to 72 castrated male cattle in each experiment. The unwilted and wilted herbages had mean dry-matter concentrations of 163 and 273 g/kg at ensiling and all silages were well preserved. Harvesting silage with a precision-chop rather than a flail forage harvester produced only a small non-significant increase in intake (0·034) and performance (0·046) and did not affect carcass gain per ha. Field wilting for 36 to 80 h prior to ensiling (experiment 1) reduced animal performance by 0·08 and beef output per ha by 0·11. Wilting for 20 to 24 h in ideal weather (experiment 2) did not affect animal performance or beef output per ha compared with that produced by well-preserved, unwilted silage. There was no significant interaction between method of harvesting and additive treatment.
Weaning at birth: the effect on the reproduction of the sow
Authors: Varley M. A. , Atkinson T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThirty-six Landrace × Large White sows were allocated at random to one of three treatment groups. Sows on treatment A (no. = 6) did not lactate at all and the piglets from these sows were removed at birth. Sows on treatment B (no. = 15) lactated for 1 day after parturition and sows on treatment C (no. = 15) acted as controls and lactated for 42 days. The reproductive performance of each treatment group was recorded and all sows were bled every 2nd day from parturition to 30 days post partum. All blood samples were assessed for oestradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations. In treatments A and B, a high proportion of anoestrous sows was seen (0·28). None of the sows in treatment C became anoestrous. The mean interval from weaning to the onset of oestrus for treatments A and B (19·0 (s.e. 6·5) days and 19·7 (s.e. 3·8) days respectively) were not significantly different, while that for treatment C (5·6 (s.e. 0·4) days) was significantly shorter (P < 0·01). The number of piglets born alive at the subsequent farrowing for treatments A, B and C respectively was 7·3 (s.e. 0·8), 9·1 (s.e. 0·8) and 10·5 (s.e. 0·67) (P < 0·05). The calculated annual sow productivity (piglets born alive per sow per year), excluding the first litter born, for treatments A, B and C respectively was 18·4, 22·8 and 22·9. Weaning at, or close to, parturition did not, therefore, influence sow productivity compared with weaning after 6 weeks of lactation.
Selection indices for terminal sires to improve lean meat production from sheep in the United Kingdom
Authors: Parratt A. C. , Simm G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSelection indices to improve lean meat production of terminal sire breeds of sheep were derived. An aggregate breeding value which comprised growth rate, killing-out proportion and carcass lean proportion was examined. Selection criteria included growth rate and ultrasonic or X-ray computer tomography (CT) estimates of carcass composition. Correlations betwen the index and the aggregate breeding value were about 0·38 for indices using ultrasonic fat measurements, and about 0·40 for those using CT measurements. Dropping ultrasonic or CT measurements from the indices reduced the correlations with the aggregate breeding value by only about 0·01 and 002 respectively, indicating that selection on growth rate alone under current economic conditions was highly efficient. Changes in economic weights, and genetic parameters had little effect on the efficiency of selection. The total national discounted value of returns from a single round of selection on the indices was expected to be between £6 and £30·5 million, depending on penetration rates of improved stock, the breeding scheme used, and with a time horizon of 20 years.
A genetic analysis of body weight traits in young Bauscat and Giza White rabbits
Authors: Khalil M. H. , Afifi E. A. , Owen J. B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effects of various genetic and environmental factors on body-weight traits were studied in 3051 records of Bauscat (B) and Giza White (G) rabbits in the period from October 1976 to September 1983. Sixty-five sires and 289 dams were used for analysis of data of body weight at 6 weeks and bi-weekly up to 12 weeks of age. Year and month of birth exerted a pronounced effect on body weights of rabbits. Sex differences on the other hand were small at all ages studied and no pattern of parity effects was observed. Effects of litter size at birth were significant for 6-week weight but not for weights taken at later post-weaning ages. Body weights at the four ages studied decreased as litter size at weaning increased. Litter-weight effects on body weights decreased significantly as the age of the rabbit advanced. Sire and dam affected significantly most of the body-weight traits studied. The proportion of variance attributable to both sire and dam components for all body weights studied in G rabbits were generally larger than those in B rabbits. Heritabilities from sire and dam components of variance for body weights n i B rabbits were substantially lower than the corresponding estimates in G rabbits. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights at all ages studied were positive and of moderate or high magnitude, and tended to decrease in value as the differences between the two ages increased.
Toxicity induced by poultry litter consumption: effect on measurements reflecting liver function in beef cows
Authors: Silanikove N. , Tiomkin D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDuring clinical investigation of a commercial herd it was found that intake of supplemented poultry litter (PL) by beef cows at >10 kg/day, was associated with severe cachexia and a mortality rate of between 10 and 20% of cows. Postmortem analysis of 40 fresh carcasses and elevated serum levels of cholesterol, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase in cachetic cows indicated that the cows suffered severe liver damage. The interrelationship between liver damage and PL intake was subsequently investigated in three groups of 20 beef cows each, consuming 0, 3 and 10 kg PL respectively. As determined by the serum indices, intake of 3 kg PL seemed to be sufficient to cause liver damage, although these cows appeared healthy.In another experiment, six beef cows were stall-fed a diet giving separate access to PL and wheat straw. PL intakes were 3·1,4·7 and 6·0 kg/day. Ruminal ammonia concentration was three to five times higher than the estimate of that required for maximal fermentation in the rumen. The high pH values (6·81 to 6·97) found are optimal for absorption of ammonia from the rumen. The combination of excess absorption of ammonia from the gut and low metabolizable energy intake might have been the cause of liver damage.
The effect of feeding supplements in the autumn on the reproductive performance of grazing ewes 1. Feeding fixed amounts of supplement before and during mating
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Milne J. A. , Senior A. J. , Sibbald A. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effects on reproductive performance offeeding supplements to ewes grazing predominantly perennial ryegrass swards before and during mating which started in mid November were examined with approximately 200 Scottish Blackface ewes in each of three experiments. In two experiments, ewes were offered no supplement (C), 600 g barley (S(B)) or 500 g barley + 100 g white-fish meal (S(B + FM)) per head per day from 3 weeks before until 3 weeks after the start of the mating period. Ewes in experiment 1 were grazed on different areas and in experiment 2 were rotated around these areas on a 12-day cycle. Initial herbage allowance in both experiments was 40 to 50 kg organic matter per ewe and stocking rates ranged from 10 to 14 ewes per ha. Ewes in experiment 3 were rotated around the same areas on a 10-day cycle at a stocking rate of 18 ewes per ha and offered either no supplement (C) or 600 g barley (S(B)) per head per day when live weight started to decrease or sward height declined to 3·5 cm, whichever occurred first. Both of these occurred shortly after the start of mating. Sward height fell from mid October and throughout November and was between 3 and 4 cm at the start of mating in all experiments.There were no differences in response to the (S(B)) and (S(B + FM)) treatments in live weight, body condition or reproductive performance in experiments 1 and 2 and the effects of supplementation were examined with these treatments pooled.Supplementation had very little effect on live weight, resulting in higher values only in experiment 1 but did produce higher body condition in all experiments. This occurred by the start of mating in experiment 1 but not until mid December in experiment 3 and early January in experiment 2.A significant increase in the number of lambs born per ewe lambing was obtained from supplementation when the data from experiments 1 and 2 were combined (P < 0·05). There was no response in reproductive performance to supplementation in experiment 3. It was concluded that supplementation in the pre-mating period can improve reproductive performance when sward height declines from 6 to 3·5 cm but that supplementation in the post-mating period may not, even when the sward height is below 3·5 cm.
Comparison of the Duroc and Large White as terminal sire breeds and their effect on pigmeat quality
Authors: Edwards S. A. , Wood J. D. , Moncrieff C. B. , Porter S. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe experiment examined the effect of breed, diet and sex on pig performance and carcass quality. Eight sires of the Duroc and Large White breeds each produced four experimental litters. Two boar and two female pigs from each litter were reared under standard conditions to 38 kg and then one of each sex was allocated to each of two finishing diets. These were cereal-based diets with and without 16 g/kg soya oil. Following slaughter at 80 kg, loin chops taken from half of the pigs (two litters per sire) were subjected to detailed investigation of physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics. Lifetime live-weight gain was similar for both breeds but Duroc-sired pigs had greater voluntary food intakes and poorer food conversion efficiencies in the finishing stage. They also had greater killing-out proportions (775 v. 755 g/kg, P < 0·001) and backfat thickness at slaughter (284 v. 27·2 mm at P1 + P3, P < 0·05). Fat firmness measured by penetrometer at 4°C was lower in Duroc-sired pigs (738 v. 792 units, P < 0·001). The proportion of extractable intramuscular lipid was greater in chops from Duroc-sired pigs (13·8 v. 10·4 g/kg, P < 0·001). There were no significant effects of breed or diet on the eating quality of the grilled chops as assessed by a trained taste panel and a consumer panel.
Effect of varying weight gain during the last trimester of gestation on productivity of beef heifers
Authors: Whittier J. C. , Clanton D. C. , Deutscher G. H. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn experiment was conducted using medium-sized crossbred beef heifers to study how manipulation of weight gain in late gestation affected production. Forty heifers were fed individually to gain according to one of three regimens for an approximate 90 day period prior to parturition: (1) 1·2 kg gain per head per day for 45 days followed by no gains for 45 days; (2) 0·6 kg gain per head per day for the entire period; (3) no gain for the first 45 days followed by 1·2 kg gain per head per day for the last 45 days. Milk production was measured by weighing of calves before and after suckling at 30, 60, and 150 days post partum. Heifers were weighed, measured for heart girth and hip weight, and visually scored for condition at the start, middle and end of the feeding period to quantify growth and condition changes. Heifers that had a high rate of gain for a short time produced more milk in early lactation than heifers that gained at a slower rate for a longer time pre-partum (P < 0·05). Calf weaning weights and dam reproductive performance were unaffected (P < 0·05) by pre-partum weight gain. It is concluded from these results, that as long as the recommended weight gain is achieved during late gestation, the timing of the weight gain is not critical to sustain productivity.
Blood and tissue lipid composition and lipase activity in wether lambs treated with trenbolone acetate combined with oestradiol-17 β at two different live weights
Authors: Singh S. B. , Scaife J. R. , Galbraith H. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThirty-two Border Leicester ♂ × Scottish Blackface ♀ wether lambs aged about 5 months, were divided on the basis of live weight such that group G1 contained the 16 lightest lambs and group G2 the 16 heaviest lambs. Lambs in group G1 were subdivided equally at random to be either sham-implanted controls (group C1) or to be implanted with 35 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA) + 5 mg oestradiol-17β (OE) (group T1) at 24 kg initial live weight. Lambs in group G2 were also subdivided into two groups (C2 and T2) and similarly treated approximately 1 month later at 37 kg initial live weight. Animals were offeredad libitum, a diet containing an estimated 12·5 MJ metabolizable energy and 140 g crude protein per kg dry matter. The experimental treatments lasted for 60 days.Samples of pre-heparin plasma were analysed for free fatty acid (FFA) and triglycerides (TG). Post-heparin plasma was analysed for lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Samples of subcutaneous (SCAT), perinephric (PNAT), mesenteric (MAT) and intermuscular (IMAT) adipose tissue, liver and muscle, taken immediatelypost mortem, were analysed for total lipid concentration and fatty acid composition. Comparisons were made for the main effects of hormonal treatment and live weight.Plasma FFA concentrations in heavier lambs (group G2) were significantly higher than in group G1 from week 1 pre-implantation to week 3 post implantation. Compared with group G1, animals in group G2 had significantly higher plasma TG concentrations at weeks 1, 2, 5 and 8 when data was analysed using pre-implantation values as covariates. The lipid concentration was lower in group G1 than in group G2. In group G1 compared with group G2 there were greater proportions of C12:0 and C18:2 in SCAT and C16:1 in PNAT and lesser proportions of C18:0 in SCAT and PNAT.Significant effects due to hormonal treatment were recorded for plasma TG at weeks 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mainly due to increases in group T1 compared with group C1. Hormonal treatment increased the proportions of C12:0, C15:0, C16:1 and C18:1 in SCAT and C16:1 and C18:1 in IMAT; reduced the proportions of C16:0 and C18:0 in SCAT and C18:0 in MAT and IMAT and reduced the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in SCAT and IMAT and to a lesser extent in MAT.