bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studies of rectal temperature, respiratory rates and heat tolerance in cattle in the humid tropics
Authors: Amakiri S. F. , Funsho O. N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe rectal temperature and respiratory rates of German Brown, Friesian, German Brown/Friesian crosses, N'Dama and German Brown/N'Dama (BN) crosses were studied with a view to establishing baseline data for cattle in the humid tropical environment of Nigeria.Mean morning (38·62°C) and late afternoon (39·19°C) rectal temperatures for the various breeds were found to differ significantly (P<0·01). However, general breed differences as well as differences between heifers, milking cows, bulls and calves were not significant. Respiratory rates (counts/min) were also significantly higher (P<0·01) in the afternoon than in the morning and appeared related to changes in atmospheric temperature and relative humidity. Breed differences in respiratory rates were also significant, being within the range 17 to 34 in N'Dama, 24 to 43 in BNs and 29 to 51 in the German Brown and Friesian.Heat tolerance indices were very high (89 to 91) for all the breeds studied but showed that the Friesian and German Brown were less heat tolerant than the BNs, and the N'Dama and White Fulani. The results indicate the need to consider diurnal changes in rectal temperature and respiratory rates in the use of these parameters for clinical diagnostic purposes.
Protein, fat and carbohydrates in the diets of pigs between 7 and 28 days of age
Authors: Wilson R. H. , Leibholz Jane 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn two experiments, pigs were weaned at 4 to 5 days of age and offered dry diets based on milk proteins and tallow. Live-weight gains between 7 and 28 days of age were 220 g/day with feed conversion ratios of 0·80 when the optimum diets were given.Expt 1 was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with eight pigs per treatment. There were two sources of carbohydrate, lactose and wheat starch, two levels of fat, 40 and 250 g/kg and two levels of crude protein, 140 and 250 g/kg of the diet. There was no significant difference in the performance of pigs when they were fed lactose or wheat starch as the source of carbohydrate. However, the feed intake of the pigs and their weight gains and apparent digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen were lower when the diets contained 250 g fat/kg than when the diets contained 40 g fat/kg.In Expt 2 six diets were fed to 12 pigs each. The diets contained 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 or 300 g/kg of crude protein. Weight gains and nitrogen retention showed a positive correlation (r= 0·997) with the dietary nitrogen intake but there was no statistical increase in these parameters above the 270 g crude protein/kg level. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen showed a similar trend. A value of 141 mg nitrogen/day per kg M0·75was estimated as the metabolic endogenous loss of nitrogen.
The effect of silage type on the performance of lactating cows and the response to, high levels of protein in the supplement
Authors: Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA change-over design experiment, comprising four periods each of 4 weeks' duration, was used to evaluate three silage types each fed with two levels of protein in the supplement in a 3×2 factorial arrangement. The three silages were high digestibility unwilted (A), high digestibility wilted (B) and low digestibility unwilted (C). The supplements had crude protein contents of 152 and 240 g/kg dry matter, and were offered at a standard rate of 10 kg undried weight daily. The mean silage intakes were 9·3, 9·5 and 8·6 ±0·19 kg dry matter/day for A, B and C respectively, but protein content of the supplement had no significant effect on the intake of silage. Milk yield was significantly affected by both silage type and protein content of the supplement, with the mean yields being 23·6, 23·9 and 22·0 ± 0·49 kg/day for A, B and C respectively, and 22·4 and 24·0 ±0·40 kg/day for the medium and high protein supplements respectively. Although there was no significant interaction between silage type and protein content of the supplement, the greatest response to increased protein was obtained with B. Neither silage type nor protein content ofthe supplement affected animal live weight or milk composition (other than fat content, which was significantly affected by silage type). Blood plasma urea levels were 281 and 405 ± 28·0 mg/1 for the medium and high protein supplements respectively.Total ration digestibility and nitrogen balances were carried out on three animals per treatment. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen was significantly affected by both silage type and level of protein in the supplement. The output of nitrogen in the urine was also significantly affected by both these factors.
A note on the influence of micronization and polyethylene glycol on the nutritional value of brown sorghum for growing pigs
Authors: Savage G. P. , Smith W. C. , Briggs P. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMicronization followed by grinding of brown-seeded sorghum increased starch availability in vitro but had no effect on proximate composition of the grain. In diets containing 70% of sorghum in ground or micronized and ground form, apparent digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen and nitrogen retention by growing pigs were improved (2·5, 5·0 and 12·2% respectively). Addition to the diet of 0*2 g polyethylene glycol per g crude protein in the sorghum fraction produced similar effects. In the ground cereal diet inclusion of polyethylene glycol increased apparent digestibility of gross energy (3·8%) and improved metabolizable energy content by 5·5%, but i n the micronized and ground cereal diet the additive had no effect.
The effect of body condition and time of mating on the reproductive performance of Masham ewes
Authors: Newton J. E. , Betts J. E. , Wilde Renée 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMasham ewes were mated at three stages of the breeding season, early (15 September to 20 October), mid (20 October to 24 November) and late (15 December to 19 January), at two different body condition scores, 4 and 2, for 3 successive years. The mean scores achieved for body condition 4 were 3·6, 3·7 and 3·9 for early, mid and late respectively and for body condition 2 were 2·4, 2·3 and 2·2. In the late lambing flock more ewes were marked by vasectomized rams and less ewes were barren than in the early and mid flocks. The ewes in higher body condition at mating had significantly more triplets and fewer singles, and a higher lambing percentage (183 versus 165). This effect of body condition on litter size distribution was significant at each time of mating, with the ewes at the late mating producing significantly fewer triplets and more singles; this difference was caused by a reduction in the performance of the body condition 4 ewes in the late group.Young ewes in the body condition 4 group produced significantly fewer triplets and more singles than the mature ewes in the same body condition group, but at the lower body condition age had no effect on litter size distribution.
Genetic factors influencing atrophic rhinitis in the pig
Authors: Kennedy B. W. , Moxley J. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTData from 1447 pigs from 438 litters were used to estimate heritability, breeding and mating system differences and heterosis of atrophic rhinitis. Yorkshire, Landrace and Lacombe breeds and their crosses were represented. Rhinitis was measured by necropsic examination of the degree of degeneration of the nasal turbinates. Two traits were considered: rhinitis incidence, based on whether or not pigs showed any nasal turbinate degeneration; and rhinitis score, which ranged from zero to four, based on the percentage of nasal turbinate degeneration exhibited. Heritabilities of rhinitis incidence and score were 0·12±0·09 and 0·03±0·02, respectively. Mating system differences were significant but differences between crosses within mating system were not. Estimates of heterosis of two-breed, backcross and three-breed cross pigs over purebreds were respectively, 1·1, 3·4 and 22·1% for rhinitis incidence and 10·1, 13·2 and 28·5% for rhinitis score.
A note on the lactation curves of some high-yielding British Friesian cows
Authors: Wood P. D. P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn the year ending September 1977, 242 British Friesian cows were recorded as having produced more than 10 000 kg in a 305-day lactation. The model y(n) = anbe−cn was fitted to the monthly test day yields of each lactation (a, b, c are constants, e the base of natural logarithms and y(n) the average daily yield in week n). The model explained 87·7% of total variation in the loge y(ri), and the mean constants were 31·8, 0·3160 and 0·0373. Seasonality of production was confined mainly to a spring peak of about 10% above an approximately constant level of production during the rest of the year. These lactations generally peaked later, were more persistent and showed less response to seasonal variation than average.
The effect of type of silage and level of concentrate supplementation offered during early lactation on total lactation performance of January/February calving cows
Authors: Steen R. W. J. , Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA 3 × 2 factorial design experiment using 84 British Friesian cows was conducted to assess the effect of offering three types of grass silage and two levels of concentrate supplementation during early lactation on the total lactation performance of cows which calve during January and February. The three types of silage were early-cut wilted (ECW), early-cut unwilted (ECU) and late-cut unwilted (LCU), and the two levels of concentrate supplementation were 538 kg (LC) and 738 kg (HC) during a mean post-calving period of 71 days. The animals had a mean calving date of 29 January and were blocked according to calving date, and allocated at random to the treatments within each block on day 7 of lactation. The treatments were applied from day 7 of lactation until the animals were turned out to pasture on 18 April. Mean milk yields for the indoor period were: HC treatments 1963 (ECW), 1979 (ECU) and 1830 (LCU); LC treatments 1938 (ECW), 1942 (ECU) and 1731 (LCU) ± 41·3 kg; and for the total lactation were: HC treatments 5375 (ECW), 5438 (ECU) and 5284 (LCU); LC treatments 5509 (ECW), 5529 (ECU) and 5316 (LCU) ± 184·1 kg. There was no significant interaction between silage type and level of concentrate supplementation.Milk composition, animal live weight and body condition were not significantly affected by either silage type or level of concentrate supplementation.
Quantitative studies of sweating rate in some cattle breeds in a humid tropical environment
Authors: Amakiri S. F. , Onwuka S. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe sweating rate of N'Dama cattle was found to show a significant stepwise increase from 10.00 h to 14.00 h (P ><0·01).Among breeds, the sweating rates (mg/10 cm2 per 5 min) in White Fulani and N'Dama cattle were similar (100·8 to 118·3), but were significantly higher than for N'Dama × German Brown (74·4), German Brown (62·6) and Friesian (56·7) cattle (P<0·10).Sweating rate was significantly higher for the neck and midside (90·0 to 93·3) than for other sites (75·1 to 80·0) (P<0·05).
The effect of trenbolone on acetate growth, blood hormones and metabolites, and nitrogen balance of beef heifers
Authors: Galbraith H. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTFour animals from a group of eight Hereford × Friesian heifers weighing approximately 365 kg were implanted with 300 mg trenbolone acetate at the beginning of a 60-day trial period. Treated heifers grew more quickly (P<0·05) and converted food to liveweight gain more efficiently (P < 0·01) than untreated cdntrols. They had lower overall concentrations for serum albumin and plasma urea (P<0·01), the differences being maintained throughout the diurnal periods studied. No significant differences were recorded in the mean values for serum total protein, plasma glucose or free fatty acids. Similarly, the absence of significant differences in the mean values for serum growth hormone, insulin and prolactin suggested that these hormones did not mediate the response to trenbolone acetate. Implanted heifers had a significantly greater retention of nitrogen (P<0·01) which was mainly due to a reduction in the excretory products associated with total urinary nitrogen.
Breed variations in the shape of the lactation curve of cattle and their implications for efficiency
Authors: Wood P. D. P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMean daily milk yield, fat percentage and protein percentage were recorded monthly, from August 1978 to July 1979. for 579 303 British Friesian, 6 608 Shorthorn, 27 374 Ayrshire, 19 529 Jersey, and 19 760 Guernsey cattle and classified by breed, parity and stage of lactation. Parameters of the function y(n) = anb ecn were estimated for each breed/parity group for yield, fat percentage and yield, protein percentage and yield, and energy (MJ) output as milk (b and c describe the shape of the curve, a is a scalar, n the week of lactation and e the base of natural logarithms). In the mature cows of each breed (parity 4 or more), the shape constants (b, c) for milk, fat and protein production in kg respectively were:Generally, cows of all five breeds which calved in the winter produced about 4% more milk, fat and protein than average, and those that calved in the summer produced about 4% less. After allowing for that, and removing the effect of the calving pattern, a seasonal variation in production occurred to produce a peak in June 1979 nearly 12% above average for liquid milk, in July 1979 about 4% for fat and in June 1979 about 12% for protein production (not percentage). Trough month was January 1979 for all three characters: —8%; —4% and — 9% respectively.A consideration of the theory of metabolizable energy suggested that the peak of energy output which occurred about week 4 of lactation in all breeds and parities, expressed as a fraction of the live weight of the animal, had a critical bearing on the need to mobilize body reserves.
Fat changes in breeding sows
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Franklin M. F. , Pearce B. S. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOne hundred and eight crossbred sows from nine different commercial sources were monitored over two parities for changes in live weight and fatness. All sows were given a common nutritional regime. Thirty sows were slaughtered and physically dissected. After weaning the second litter, mean carcass measurements ( ± s.d.) were: live weight, 139±9·5kg; lean mass, 26·6 ± 2·8kg; subcutaneous fat mass, 4·l ± l·7kg; ultrasonic P2 backfat depth (USP2), 11·3±2·8mm; total dissected fat (kg) = 0·63 ± 0·073 USP2 —1·1 ±0·85(r = 0·85). Between mating (parity 1) and weaning (parity 2) sows gained 22kg live weight and lost 6·8mm backfat. There were significant differences between sources with respect to fatness, despite standardized feeding. It is suggested that for breeding pigs such as these, starting their reproductive life with limited fat reserves (16·4 ± 3·0mm USP2 at 92 ± 6kg live weight), a conventional fat-exploiting feeding regime is unlikely to be appropriate.
A note on the efficacy of continuous v. limited boar exposure on puberty attainment in the gilt
Authors: Kirkwood R. N. , Hughes P. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThirty Large White × (Landrace × Large White) gilts were allocated to one of three treatments such that one gilt from each of 10 litters was on each treatment. The treatments were: (i) continuous boar exposure (CB); (ii) 30-min daily boar exposure (DB); and (iii) control, which had no boar exposure (NB). The experiment started at a gilt age of 165 days, and continued until either puberty was detected or a cut-off age of 250 days was reached.The results indicate no significant difference in age at puberty between the CB and DB groups (194·6 v. 198·7 days), although both were significantly younger at puberty than the NB group (232·1 days, P<0·01). A possible ‘boar age’ effect is discussed.
A note on the fatty acid composition of backfat from boars in comparison with gilts and barrows
Authors: Smithard R. R. , Smith W. C. , Ellis M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBackfat from each of 25 littermate boars, barrows and gilts, which were crosses of the Large White and British Landrace breeds slaughtered at approximately 90 kg live weight, was analysed for fatty acid composition. Fat from boars had a significantly higher proportion of total unsaturated fatty acids (61·6%) compared with barrows (60·2%), This sex difference was due to a lower palmitic acid (16:0) content and higher linoleic (18:2) and linolenic (18:3) fatty acid levels in backfat of boars. Gilts were intermediate to boars and barrows in the degree of unsaturation of backfat.
The incorporation of alkali-treated straw in fattening rations for male cattle
Authors: Holzer Z. , Levy D. , Folman Y. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe fattening process of male cattle was divided into three weight stages: 150 to 250kg, 250 to 400kg, 400 to 490kg. Seventy animals were fed either a control (C) diet containing 10·3 MJ/kg metabolizable energy and some hay, or an experimental (E) diet containing 8 4 MJ/kg, in which NaOH-treated wheat straw (450g/kg) and long straw (50 g/kg) were incorporated.The diets were given during the three weight stages to five treatment groups as follows: 1. C-C-C. 2. E-E-E. 3. C-E-E, 4. C-E-C, and 5. E-E-C. The average daily gain and metabolizable energy conversion ratios were: 1344, 980, 1127, 1145, 1094g/day and 71·4, 90·6, 77·3, 73·7, 79·8 MJ/kg live weight, respectively. The saving of concentrates plus hay in groups 2 to 5 compared with group 1 was 1·33, 1·65, 0·84 and 0·91 kg/kg live weight respectively, and the concentrates plus hay by straw replacement ratio was 3·80, 2·12, 2·00 and 3·06, respectively. Dressing percentage and percentage of fat in the large depots of the animals in groups 1 to 5 were 57·2, 58·7, 58·3, 57·8, 57·9 and 3·88, 2·28, 2·52, 3·42, 2·81, respectively. The results suggest that it is not economical to feed the E-diet to animals before they reach a weight of 250 kg, and that termination of the feeding process by a highly concentrated diet is not advantageous.
The chemical composition of the intensively fed lamb
Authors: Theriez M. , Tissier M. , Robelin J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIntact male lambs from Limousin and Charmoise breeds, or crossbreds from F1 (Romanov × Limousin) ewes sired by Berrichon rams, were early weaned, intensively fed, and slaughtered between 20 and 40 kg of empty body weight. The whole carcass was chemically analyzed, and the results expressed on a shorn, empty body-weight basis.Some between breed differences in the weight of fat and gross energy content were found: fat contents ranged from 179 to 212g/kg at 30 kg of empty body weight. The corresponding range for energy was 10·8 to 11·8MJ/kg of empty body weight. Differences between protein and ash contents were limited, from 154 to 165g/kg empty body weight, and from 31 to 33g/kg empty body weight respectively.At the same empty body weight Charmois lambs (a small sized breed) contained more fat, less water and less protein than the crossbreds. Values obtained on the Limousin lambs were intermediate.There was no evidence of diet or growth rate effect on chemical composition when compared with published data obtained from more conventionally fed lambs.
The influence of the presence of the female on the sexual behaviour and plasma testosterone levels of the mature male pig
Authors: Hemsworth P. H. , Winfield C. G. , Chamley W. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty-seven mature boars were housed in individual pens for 9 weeks under one of the following social conditions: isolated from female pigs; near sexually non-receptive female pigs; and near sexually receptive female pigs. The sexual behaviour of the boars during the 9-week treatment period was observed weekly in standard 15- min tests. The sum of the individual courting behaviour activities and the total time spent ejaculating were significantly greater for the boars housed near either sexually receptive or sexually non-receptive females than for those boars isolated from female pigs (P<0·01 and P<0·05, respectively). Although the boars housed near sexually receptive and sexually non-receptive females achieved 43 and 38% more copulations, respectively, than those isolated from females, the difference was significant only for the latter comparison (P<005). There was no consistent difference in testosterone concentration over a 12-h period between boars housed near sexually-receptive females and those isolated from females.
Effect of supplementary feeding and herbage mass on the intake and performance of grazing ewes in early lactation
Authors: Milne J. A. , Maxwell T. J. , Souter W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of a cereal-based supplement and herbage mass on the intake and performance by Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface ewes nursing twin lambs in early lactation.2. In one experiment 16 ewes, individually penned, were given one of four amounts of supplement (0, 320, 640 and 960 g organic matter per ewe per day) and offered ad libitum freshly-cut perennial ryegrass herbage (organic-matter digestibility 82%). Intake of herbage and total organic matter digestibility declined linearly with increasing intake of supplement (0·84 g organic matter of herbage per g organic matter of supplement and 0·50 percentage units per 100 g organic matter of supplement respectively).3. In the second experiment three amounts of supplement (0, 480 and 960 g organic matter per ewe per day) were offered individually to groups of seven ewes grazing a perennial ryegrass sward of high digestibility, maintained at herbage masses of either 500 or 750 kg organic matter per ha. A further group of seven unsupplemented ewes were grazed on the same sward maintained at 1500 kg organic matter per ha. Intakes of herbage and digestible organic matter by ewes, and lamb live-weight gain, were all significantly greater and ewe live-weight loss significantly less at herbage masses of 750 and 1500 tha n at 500 kg organic matter per ha (P <0·05). The mean decline in herbage intake was 0·93g organic matter per g organic matter supplement consumed. Amount of supplement had no significant effect on lamb live-weight gain at either weight of herbage nor on ewe live-weight loss at the 750 kg organic matter per ha herbage mass. At 500 kg organic matter per ha herbage mass, intake of digestible organic matter was significantly greater and ewe live-weight loss was significantly less for 960 than for 0 and 480 g organic matter per day amounts of supplement (P <0·05).
A note on the use of whole, moist barley treated with ammonia as a feed supplement for sheep
Authors: Laksesvela B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWhole, moist barley treated with ammonia (A), whole, untreated barley (WU) and ground barley (G) were fed with hay and a little high protein, mixed concentrate. Digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and crude fibre, assessed with young adult female sheep, were highest in diet A and lowest in diet G. The digestibilities of dry matter and crude fibre were also higher in diet WU than in diet G. Digestibility coefficients for dry matter and organic matter in barley, calculated by difference, appeared higher in A and in WU than in G. Young female sheep fed on the above diets from the age of 7 to 11 months ate more hay and gained more weight on A than on G; again diet WU was intermediate. Differences also occurred between the three groups as regards volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid. Sheep on A or WU had a higher pH in the rumen fluid than those on G. Finally, sheep on A gave birth to more offspring than those on WU or G. All these differences were significant.