bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Further studies on the prediction of the nutritive value of protein for ruminants
Authors: Osman H. Elsayed , Amin B. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummarySix successive trials with three adult rams (Sudan desert sheep) were conducted with the main object of finding a suitable index for the prediction of the nutritive value of protein in non-legumes for ruminants.The mean change in the concentration of ruminal ammonia, blood urea and ruminal V. F. A. 3 h after feeding legumes was considerably greater than after feeding the nonleguminous hays. Among the legumes berseem hay gave the least change in the concentration of ruminal ammonia, blood urea and V. E. A. The leguminous hays produced more gas underin vitroconditions than the non-legumes. Berseem hay produced the greatest volume of gas. Butterfly pea hay and lubia hay gave more or less similar results. Among the non-legumes the desert grasses gave the lowest values.Of all the feeds studied maize hay gave the highest nitrogen retention, followed by berseem hay. Despite this superiority of maize hay, the overall mean nitrogen retention of legumes was much greater than that of the non-legumes. Among the non-legumes dry desert grasses displayed a negative nitrogen balance.Regression equations based on the present data indicated that nitrogen retention only of leguminous hays could be always predicted from changes in blood urea concentrations. The present results also showed that the nitrogen retention of non-legumes and to a lesser extent that of all feeds taken together (i. e. legumes and non-legumes) can be assessed by using volume of gas producedin vitro(i. e. rate ofin vitrofermentation).
Effects of fine-particle amendments on the soil moisture characteristics of a gravelly sandy loam and on crop yields
Authors: Stone D. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPulverized fuel ash and fiuidized combustor ash were used to modify the availablewater capacity and moisture characteristics of a gravelly sandy loam soil in a study of the effects of fine-particle amendments on crop yield. Intimate incorporation of the ashes into the top-soil at rates of up to 502 t/ha increased the available water retained in the surface 0·3 m of soil by 40–80 %. The increase was mainly water held at potentials of between –0·05 bar and – 1 bar.Two sugar-beet crops followed by broad beans, salad onions and cabbage were grown in the amended soil. With the highest rate of ash addition yield of the onions was increased by over 30% and of the cabbages by 14%. No improvement in sugar-beet or broad-bean yields resulted from the treatment. Poor growth of the second sugar-beet crop was attributed to a reduced aeration effect but it is suggested that the failure of the increased available water to improve yield consistently in this and a previous experiment was in part caused by rapid evaporative losses from the amended soil.
Factors affecting yield and fertilizer response of sugar beet in Iran
Authors: Bolle-Jones E. W. , Sanei F. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryField experiments were conducted in four provinces of Iran in which sugar-beet yield responses to added nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were correlated with soil test values and number of irrigations.Although significant yield responses to fertilizer application were obtained in all four provinces, extremely few significant relationships were established between soil test values and yield response.Average crop yield was favourably influenced by the number of irrigations applied in Fare and Khorasan, by organic carbon status in Esfahan and Khorasan and adversely affected by increased soil conductivity in Esfahan and Khorasan. These results were taken to imply an inadequate number of irrigations in Fars and Khorasan. The high calcium carbonate status found in Fars soil adversely affected the level of average yield.Response to nitrogen fertilizer declined in Fars and Khorasan as the leaf nitrogen exceeded 3·15 and 4·0% respectively. Response to phosphate fertilizer declined in West Azerbaijan and Khorasan when leaf phosphorus exceeded 0·4%.
The prediction of the body composition of hill sheep from body weight, red cell volume and tritiated water space
Authors: Sykes A. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe use of body weight, red cell volume and tritiated water space in the prediction of the body water, body-fat and soft tissue protein contents of hill sheep was investigated. Sixteen Blackface sheep, ranging in age from 2½ to 6½ years, were used before mating in November when in peak body condition and 21, of similar age distribution, were used in mid-lactation in June when in very poor body condition. Mean fat concentrations in the empty body were 188 and 28 g/kg in November and June, respectively.Body weight alone accounted for 46 and 14% of the variation in body-fat content in November and June, respectively. The inclusion of red cell volume as a second independent variate did not improve the efficiency of the prediction equations. When tritiated water space and body weight were used 77% of the variation in body-fat content was accounted for in both November and June. Separate equations for the November and June groups gave the most accurate estimate of body-fat content, but it was concluded that for most practical purposes a single relationship would be sufficiently accurate. Soft tissue protein content was best described as a simple function of body weight.The application of prediction equations from the literature to the present populations of sheep led to overestimates of body-fat content by up to 100%. It is suggested that prediction equations need to be specific to the experimental conditions operating or to the particular population under study.
Relative efficiency of urea and urea supergranules for irrigated wheat
Authors: Prasad R. , Singh S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA field experiment was made in rabi seasons (November–April) of 1981–2 and 1982–3 to study the relative efficency of urea and urea supergranules (USG) for spring wheat. USG showed no advantage over prilled urea for spring wheat.
The blood composition of Friesian bulls; variations with age and relationships with results of progeny tests
Authors: Stark A. J. , Rowlands G. J. , Manston R. , McClintock A. E. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryBlood samples were taken from 172 Friesian bulls during 1973–5 on three or four occasions. The bulls were in Milk Marketing Board cattle breeding centres in England and Wales and were from 1 to 14 years of age.The blood samples were analysed for packed cell volume, haemoglobin, erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume and glucose, and samples of serum for the concentrations of albumin, total protein, urea-nitrogen, inorganic phosphate, Ca, Mg, K, Na and Cu.Packed cell volumes and haemoglobin and K concentrations were higher in bulls than those previously recorded in dairy cows. There were significant age relationships for packed cell volume, haemoglobin, albumin and globulin (P < 0·001), inorganic phosphate and erythrocytes (P < 0·01) and Ca and Mg (P < 0·05).Repeatability estimates were calculated and compared with estimates previously obtained for dairy cows.On the basis of improved contemporary comparisons of the bulls, there was a significant relationship between the average milk yield of a bulls daughters and the concentrations of urea, inorganic phosphate and K (P < 0·05) in the blood serum of the bull.
Studies on a barley-oats mixture
Authors: Taylor B. R. 
Published: March 2009

In three experiments with mixtures of barley and oats, a combination of Midas barley and Karin oats gave consistently higher yields than the mean of the components and slightly higher yields than the better component. The performance of this mixture was maintained over different sowing patterns and seed rates, but where sowing was arranged to give an advantage to one component of the mixture at the expense of the other, mixture yields were less than where both components were closely mixed.The increased yield of the mixture was attributed to the greater tillering of barley in mixture than in pure stand, brought about by less competition before heading, and to a higher weight per grain of Karin in mixture than in pure stand, a result of its greater height after heading and the favourable disposition of its panicles and upper leaves in the canopy.
The longevity of sodium, potassium and magnesium fertilizer residual effects on the yield and composition of ryegrass grown on a sandy soil
Authors: Bolton J. , Penny A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryA field experiment testing the effects of potassium and magnesium sulphates applied from 1960 to 1967 and sodium chloride applied in 1966 and 1967 on a range of crops (Bolton & Penny, 1968) was sown with ryegrass in 1967. Only basal N and P was given to all plots until 1971 when basal K was also applied. The experiment terminated in autumn 1974.Grass yields were increased by K residues for 3·5 years but overall yields became small due to K deficiency. After giving basal K, residual K no longer increased yields but did slightly increase % K in the grass until the end of the experiment. Some residual K from the 1960–7 dressings was found in the sandy loam soil after the final harvest.Magnesium fertilizer residues slightly increased grass yields in the 1967–70 period but not later. However, % Mg in the grass dry matter was increased by the residues for the whole 7·5 year period. Exchangeable Mg was also increased in soil sampled after the final harvest, especially in the 23–46 cm subsoil.Sodium fertilizer residues increased grass yields until the basal K was applied, especially on plots without added K. Significant increases in % Na in the grass and Na uptakes were detectable in all years, i.e. up to 7·5 years after the last Na application. This finding is contrary to most accepted views on the longevity of Na fertilizer effects and could be important in areas where sodium deficiencies in cattle and sheep occur.Increases in % Cl in the grass from the sodium chloride were only detectable in the first two cuts in the year following the final application.
Lamb mortality in a flock of East African Blackheaded sheep
Authors: Trail J. C. M. , Sacker G. D. 
Published: March 2009

1. The effects of birth weight, sex, twinning, parity of dam and dry season on mortality rates of lambs were studied between birth and weaning at 20 weeks in a flock of East African Blackheaded sheep.2. The mean birth weights of non-surviving lambs were lower than those of surviving lambs. Singles from gimmers and twins from ewes were 0.5 and 1.0 lb., respectively, lighter at birth, and had higher mortality rates than singles from ewes. The overall mortality rate of singles from ewes was 16%, singles from gimmers 20% and twins from ewes 28%. Male and female lambs born alive had similar mortality rates (18%).
An evaluation of pasture quality with young grazing sheep. II. Chemical composition, botanical composition and in vitro digestibility of herbage selected by oesophageal-fistulated sheep
Authors: Grimes R. C. , Watkin B. R. , Gallagher J. R. 
Published: March 2009

1. In a grazing experiment with sheep, cocksfoot, rye-grass and tall fescue were grown with and without white clover, under ‘short’ and ‘long’ management systems.2. One sheep on each plot was fitted with an oesophageal fistula, from which herbage samples were collected at fortnightly intervals. The botanical composition of samples from the mixed swards was estimated by an optical point quadrat method. Samples were analysed for crude protein and cellulose, and digestibility was estimated in vitro.3. Treatment difference within the mixed swards were not significant in terms of botanical composition. The mean proportions selected were 73% grass, 9% clover and 18% dead matter. The proportion of clover selected did not differ significantly between sample collections.
Estimation of the proportion of C3 and C4 plant species in the diet of animals from the ratio of natural 12C and 13C isotopes in the faeces
Authors: Jones R. J. , Ludlow M. M. , Troughton J. H. , Blunt C. G. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe relation between the ratio of the natural 12C and 13C isotopes of carbon in the feed and resultant faeces of animals was studied to develop a technique for estimating the proportion of C3 species (tropical legumes) and C4 species (tropical grasses) selected by grazing animals.In general, theδ13C values (see text for definition) of faeces from rabbits, sheep, goats and cattle were lower (more negative) than those of the corresponding feeds by from 0·4 to 2·0. This was possibly due to contamination in the gut by tissues or fluids with lower δ13C values. When C4 and C3 feeds were alternated, cattle took about a week to fully achieve the new level (δ13C of – 28·7 on the C3 feed and – 13·1 on the C4 feed) in the faeces. This time lag is associated with the time taken for the feed to move through the digestive tract.When mixed C3 and C4 feeds were fed to rabbits, sheep, goats and cattle there was a negative linear relation between percentage legume (C3) in the feed and the δ13C of the faeces (P < 0·01). A decrease in one unit in the δ13C value was associated with an increase of 7·0–8·5% legume in the diet.Estimation of the percentage legume in the feed from the δ13C value of the faeces and of the C3 and C4 components of the diet, resulted in a consistent over estimation of the legume component because the faeces had lower values than the corresponding feeds. This bias was removed if the prediction was based on the δ13C of the feeds minus 1 unit; the legume percentage in the diets of the sheep, goats and cattle could then be estimated with a precision of about ± 5%.Differences in digestibility between the C3 and C4 components greatly bias the estimations. This bias in the diets fed to rabbits was effectively removed by using in vitro organic matter digestibility values of the two components to correct for the differences. Legume percentage in the diet could then be estimated with a RSD of ± 3%.Advantages and disadvantages compared with alternative methods of estimating the diet of grazing animals are discussed.
Experiments comparing ‘break crops’ as a preparation for winter wheat followed by spring barley
Authors: Prew R. D. , Dyke G. V. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryOats, clover, beans(Vicia)and maize were tested as ‘break crops’ in three experiments on land cropped frequently with wheat or barley. Barley was used as a ‘no-break’ control treatment. Test crops were winter wheat followed by spring barley; they received N-fertilizer at four rates. After barley wheat had much take-all(Gaeumannomyces graminisvar.tritici); all the break crops decreased the take-all effectively and equally. Other soil-borne diseases were unimportant. N-fertilizer required for best yields was less, by 100 kg N/ha after clover and by 50 kg after beans, or maize, than after barley or oats. Best yields after oats, beans, clover were respectively I·O, 1·2, 1·4 t/ha better than after barley. Differences in take-all explain much of these effects. Ploughed-in trefoil did not affect take-all but gave small increases in yield. Percentage N in wheat grain was increased by fertilizer-N; it was greater after barley, maize or clover than after oats. Effects on the following barley, except those of N-fertilizer, were small.
Effect of soil moisture on nodulation of cowpea and hyacinth bean
Authors: Habish H. A. , Mahdi A. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPot experiments in which cowpea and hyacinth bean were grown at 15–45% soil moisture showed that nodulation, nitrogen fixation and plant growth were poor at 15%. The weights of nodules and plants were lower in January (winter) than in June (summer). In June cowpea was more tolerant of dry conditions giving good nodulation at 25–35% whereas hyacinth bean required 35–45%.Under field conditions the number and dry weight of nodules were affected by the irrigation interval whereas plant growth was affected by the amount of water applied. Applying 75 mm depth of water every 7 days gave the best combination of nodulation and plant growth.
Foetal stunting in sheep: 2. The effects of high ambient temperature during gestation on wool follicle development in the foetal lamb
Authors: Cartwright G. A. , Thwaites C. J. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryHotroom treatment of ewes during the last two-thirds of gestation resulted in the birth of lambs which were significantly lighter than lambs born to nutritionallydeprived ewes. Neither high temperature nor undernutrition had significant effect on the density of either primary or immature secondary wool follicles, but the total number of mature secondary follicles tended to decline in the lambs from unheated ewes as the level of nutrition declined, and was significantly reduced by a further 30 % in the hotroom group.In a second experiment, heated and unheated ewes fed to appetite were compared with unheated ewes pair-fed to the hotroom level of feed intake. High temperature had no apparent effect on maternal wool growth, but did reduce total wool follicle number in new-born lambs by approximately 50%. This effect was most marked with respect to mature secondary follicles (only 18% of unheated mean), less so in immature secondaries (56% of unheated mean), and barely discernible amongst primary follicles (93% of unheated mean). None of the differences in follicle numbers between the two unheated groups was significant.The results suggest that the effects of high temperature on wool follicle development in the sheep foetus are akin to those of extreme undernutrition.
Diurnal variation in the chemical composition of plasma from lactating beef cows on three dietary energy intakes
Authors: Coggins C. R. E. , Field A. C. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwenty-two beef cows, producing on average 5·5 kg 4% fat corrected milk per day, were offered diets of rolled barley and silage such that eight animals were consuming 70%, seven 95% and seven 120% of their estimated energy requirements. Blood samples were taken at intervals during the day and the plasma concentrations of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), ketone bodies, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea nitrogen, calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium and copper determined.Diurnal variation was found in the plasma concentration of glucose, FFA, ketone bodies, urea nitrogen, albumin, calcium and magnesium; it was particularly marked for the first four constituents and appeared to be related to feeding.There were no overall significant differences between groups in the mean daily concentrations of the measures of energy status (glucose, FFA, ketone bodies), but significant (P < 0·001) prefeeding group differences were found in glucose and ketone body concentrations. No significant differences between groups were found for the remaining constituents.There was a postprandial depression in plasma glucose concentration, which was positively correlated with FFA concentration.
Interrelationships between different chemical components in mixed rumen bacteria
Authors: McAllan A. B. , Smith R. H. 
Published: March 2009

Mixed rumen bacteria entering the duodenum of a ruminant are a major source of some of the nutrients required by the animal. A number of values for the chemical composition of mixed rumen bacteria have been reported and a few observations made on interrelationships between different components at different times after feeding (Hoogenraad & Hird, 1970; Jouany & Thivend, 1972; Bird, 1973; Smith & McAllan, 1973; Czerkawski, 1975; McAllan & Smith, 1974, 1976). There is also some published information on in vivo variations in the storage carbohydrate in mixed rumen bacteria with different diets (Jouany & Thivend, 1972; McAllan & Smith, 1976) but no information on interrelationships between such variations and changes in other components in the bacteria.The present paper reports a study of such interrelationships in bacterial samples, containing wide ranges of storage polysaccharide (α-dextran) and crude protein concentrations, obtained from steers given a wide variety of diets.
The pollination requirements of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Williams Ingrid H. , Martin A. P. , White R. P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe pollination requirements of three cultivars of winter and one of spring swede rape (Brassica napus), grown in a glasshouse, were compared. All cultivars yielded more when hand-pollinated than when auto-pollinated but were self-fertile and yielded equally well whether self- or cross-pollinated. In most cultivars plants that were shaken to simulate movement of plants by wind yielded more than autopollinated plants and not significantly differently from hand-pollinated plants. Handpollinating and shaking plants also increased the set of early flowers.
Studies on the adaptation of the rumen to the hydrolysis of biuret in cattle
Authors: Kondos A. C. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYStudies on the adaptation of cattle to the hydrolysis of biuret and on the response of rumen ammonia level to the introduction of 50, 100 or 150 g of feed-grade biuret showed that (1) the rate of ruminal adaptation to the hydrolysis of biuret increased to a maximum effective level of about 350 mg/24 h/100 ml within 10 days when a readily available energy source was fed, (2) a single dose of 50, 100 or 150 g/day of biuret was associated with a prolonged increase of rumen NH3 concentration. The magnitude of the increase was 8–9 mg/100 ml for every 50 g of added biuret, (3) adapted rumens retained their biuretolytic activity for several weeks, and responded to the re-introduction of biuret into the diet by increasing to a near maximum rate within 24–48 h.
Biuret and urea in maintenance and production diets of cattle
Authors: Kondos A. C. , Mutch B. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA series of five field trials with cattle was carried out to study the comparative efficiency of utilization of urea and biuret in various maintenance and production nutritional situations. It was shown that in maintenance diets with energy intake above 8 Meal/head/day and where half of the nitrogen requirements of the animals was contributed by one of the two non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources, biuret was utilized 30% more efficiently than urea. No difference in the degree of utilization of urea or biuret was apparent when the energy was reduced to 6·7 Meal/head/day. On the other hand, a high intake of nitrogen in production rations had a masking effect on the nitrogen contribution of the NPN sources and no significant differences in bodyweight gain were recorded.
Effect of seasonal temperature on the yield and chemical composition of a lucerne-timothy mixture
Authors: Hamilton Herman A. , Dermine P. P. , Hidiroglou M. 
Published: March 2009

1. The yield and mineral composition of a timothylucerne mixture at different stages of maturity were determined in selected growing periods under the climatic conditions of Northern Ontario.2. An alteration in temperature from cool to warm or from warm to cool conditions appeared to favour increased forage production, but the rate of increase in dry-matter yields declined more under cooler conditions.3. Forage yields obtained on a second cutting increased with delayed harvesting of the first cut, and yield reductions from an early harvest were not economically compensated for by increased yields of dry matter of the second cutting.
Rumen fermentation of herbage in sheep receiving carbohydrate supplements
Authors: Christian K. R. , Williams V. J. 
Published: March 2009

Concentrations of rumen volatile fatty acids, ammonium and protein nitrogen and free microbial count in groups of sheep fed fresh herbage have been compared with concentrations in groups supplemented with pure carbohydrates.Rumen ammonia concentrations in sucrose and cellulose-supplemented sheep tended to be lower before feeding than in sheep fed herbage only, but this difference disappeared after feeding. Ammonia concentrations in sheep supplemented with starch, and those receiving herbage only were similar before feeding, but the rise after feeding was less for the starch-supplemented group. The rise in volatile fatty acids after feeding was greater when part of the herbage was replaced with an equal weight of dry matter of starch, but lower when replaced with ucrose or cellulose.