bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses in wool and live weight when different sources of dietary protein are given to pregnant and lactating ewes
Authors: Masters D. G. , Stewart C. A. , Mata G. , Adams N. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWool growth, staple strength and fibre diameter are reduced during pregnancy and lactation. This may be due to the increased requirement for protein for foetal growth, udder development and milk production causing a lack of amino acids for wool. Responses in wool production, ewe live weight, lamb birth weight and growth, plasma amino acids and levels of cortisol, insulin and growth hormone were measured when different sources of protein were offered. Either lupin seed (L), fish meal (F) or formaldehyde-treated egg white (E) were included in an oaten hay-based diet offered during the final 3 weeks of pregnancy and first 3 weeks of lactation. Provision of diets containing E or F resulted in significant (P < 0·001) increases in wool growth and trends towards increased staple strength (4 to 6 N/ktex) and clean fleece weights (0·17 to 0·38 kg) compared with the sheep given L. Feeding the E diet increased the concentration of cystine in plasma and sulphur in wool in late pregnancy. Feeding the F diet increased the concentrations of arginine, histidine, lysine and threonine in plasma in early lactation. Ewes given E had higher circulating insulin and increased insulin resistance, compared with sheep given L, on 2 of the 4 days of sampling during pregnancy and lactation during the treatment period. There were no treatment effects on lamb birth weight or growth but ewes given the E diet were significantly (P < 0·05, 3·3 kg) heavier than the ewes given L after 3 weeks of lactation. The results indicate that a lack of protein available for absorption in the small intestine causes reduced wool growth during late pregnancy and early lactation. Wool growth is more sensitive to a reduced protein supply than foetal growth, maternal weight or milk production.
Effects of dietary energy level and source on foetal development and energy balance in concurrently pregnant and lactating primiparous rabbit does
Authors: Fortun-Lamothe L. , Lebas F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe aim of this experiment was to study the effects of dietary energy level and source on foetal growth and survival and mobilization of body stores in concurrently pregnant and lactating primiparous rabbit does. Does were given a moderate-energy diet (≍9·9 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg dry matter (DM); group M, no. = 23) or a high-energy diet (-12·2 MJ DE per kg DM). In this latter case, additional energy came from starch (group S, no. = 23) or starch and fat (group F, no. = 22). Primiparous rabbit does were mated within 12 h after parturition and were slaughtered on day 28 of gestation-lactation. During the first 21 days, the DE intake and milk production were higher in the group F than in the groups S and M (P < 0·05). On day 28 of pregnancy, the weight of adipose tissues and liver, as well as the lipid content of the carcass, were higher in the groups S and F than in the group M (P < 0·05). Foetal survival and weight were similar in the three groups. These results indicate that increased energy level of the diet did not improve foetal survival or growth in concurrently pregnant and lactating primiparous does. On the contrary, it could reduce the mobilization offat stores, especially if the energy source is starch.
Factors affecting posture-changing in loose-housed and confined gestating sows
Authors: Marchant J. N. , Broom D. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe time taken to lie down and stand up was determined for dry sows from different housing systems and related to physical and genetic parameters. In experiment 1, the times taken to lie down by 32 sows in two dry-sow housing conditions were measured. Sows housed long-term in stalls took longer to lie down than group-housed sows (20·42 v. 9·28 s, P < 0·001). Group-housed sows took longer to lie down in the open than to lie down against a wall (11·07 v. 7·48 s, P = 0·004). The length of time taken for stall-housed sows to lie down had strongest association with body length (P = 0·033, R2 = 0·718). The length of time taken for group-housed sows to lie down in the open had strongest association with the proportional weight of the extensor carpi radialis, (P = 0·001, R2 = 0·915). In experiment 2, the times taken for 30 sows in stalls to lie down and stand up were measured and genotype differences investigated. There were no differences between genotypes in total times taken to stand up or lie down, but total times taken to stand up quickly and lie down had strongest association with body length (P = 0·032, R2 = 0·185, and P < 0·001, R2 = 0·574 respectively). The results indicate that sows housed long-term in gestation stalls experience difficulty of movement when standing up quickly and lying down. Although the chronic effects of lack of exercise and the acute effects offloor type may contribute to this difficulty, the major factor is likely to be space restriction as the times taken to lie down and stand up quickly both increase as body length, and hence dynamic space requirement, increases. Lying down in an unrestricted environment is under muscular control and the degree of control depends on the proportion of muscle weight to total body weight. The factors affecting lying down and standing up should be considered when designing dry-sow and farrowing accommodation.
The effects of ewe live weight and body condition score around mating on production from four sheep breeds in extensive grazing systems in Uruguay
Authors: Gonzalez R. E. , Labuonora D. , Russel A. J. E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEwe live iveights were recorded 4 weeks prior to mating, at the beginning of mating and 22 to 23 days later over a period of 3 years in a flock of some 300 breeding ewes comprising approximately equal numbers of Australian Merino, Ideal (Polwarth), Merilin and Corriedale breeds in a pastorally based grazing system in Uruguay. Multiple-bearing ewes were generally heavier than single-bearing ewes which in turn were heavier than ewes which did not conceive, these differences being greatest in 3- and 4-year-old ewes (i.e. in their second and third breeding seasons). Body condition scores of non-pregnant ewes were lower than those of pregnant ewes, particularly in the 3-and 4-year-old age groups. Ewe live weights achieved prior to, during and at the end of the mating period and the body condition score achieved 4 weeks prior to mating all had significant influences on the number of lambs born (P < 0·01) but there were no significant effects of changes in either live weight or body condition over the 4 weeks prior to mating or during the mating period. The effect of body condition score over the range from 2·0 to 4·0 was to increase the proportions of single- and multiple-bearing ewes and to decrease the proportion of non-pregnant ewes such that the number of lambs born per ewe mated increased from 0·94 to 1·38. Fleece weights differed significantly between breeds, Corriedales having the heaviest fleeces and Merilins the lightest (4·26 and 3·22 kg respectively). Wool production was also significantly and positively affected by age (P < 0·01) and by ewe weight at mating (P < 0·01). The results demonstrate the importance of giving preferential nutritional treatment to younger ewes to ensure a satisfactory subsequent lambing performance and improved wool production.
Muscle and hepatic fatty acid profiles and α-tocopherol status in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) given diets varying in oxidative state and vitamin E inclusion level
Authors: Baker R. T. M. , Davies S. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOn termination of a 56-day feeding trial, the effect of dietary oxidized oil and all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate on fatty acid and α-tocopherol status of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinusj muscle and liver was investigated. Clarias of mean initial weight 15·8 (s.e. 0·29) g were given food at -proportionately 0·03 body weight per day on diets of two oxidative states (fresh or oxidized) at two levels of supplemental α-tocopheryl acetate (20 or 100 mg/kg dry matter).As well as having a significant detrimental effect on final body weight (P < 0·001), oxidation of the dietary lipid source was responsible for decreasing muscle but not hepatic polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUTAs). Liver tissue was suspected of actively synthesizing longer chain PUT As in response to consumption of oxidized oils, as indicated by decreases in the proportions of linoleate (18:2 n-6) and linolenate (18:3 n-3) and the increased abundance of eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4 n-6, arachidonate) and docosahexaenoic acid (22: 6 n-3, DHA). This phenomenon has not been described in fish nutrition and therefore possible mechanisms are discussed. Additionally, oxidized oils in catfish diets caused significant depletion of a-tocopherol from both muscle and liver (P < 0·05).Modulation of the effects of oxidized lipids was achieved at the higher dietary tocopherol concentration. Appearance of an unknown aliphatic compound (equivalent chain length (ECL) = 13·1), believed to be a product of lipid peroxidation, demonstrated that catfish given rancid/low-tocopherol diets had been subjected to heightened oxidative nutritional stress. Values obtained for this peak were significantly correlated with dietary regime (P < 0·02), Once more, dietary α-tocopheryl acetate moderated this effect. It was concluded that elevated inclusion of all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate into diets for African catfish could abrogate the effects of oxidized dietary lipids on muscle and liver fatty acids and α-tocopherol.
Short time effect of zinc bacitracin and heavy fouling with faeces plus urine on boar taint
Authors: Hansen L. L. , Larsen A. E. , Jensen B. B. , Hansen-Møller J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a short-term addition of an antibiotic food additive (50 mg zinc bacitracin per kg food) on skatole concentration in faeces, blood (vena jugularis) and backfat of boars kept under two housing conditions at summer temperatures. They were kept clean or were heavily fouled with faeces plus urine. The experimental material consisted of six litters in each of four replicates, in total 24 litters, each litter of four boars. Fourteen days before slaughter the boars were distributed to the four treatments in four equally large pens according to litter and start weight. Two pens had a wholly slatted floor and two pens had a concrete floor, and each pen held six boars allowing 0·6 m2 per boar. All boars were kept at high pig house temperatures (22°C). In the two wholly slatted-floor pens the boars were kept very clean and in the two concrete floor pens boars were kept heavily fouled with faeces and urine during the final 14 days before slaughter. Boars in half the pens of both floor types were given an antibiotic food additive (50 mg zinc bacitracin per kg food) in the last week before slaughter.Administration of the food additive zinc bacitracin significantly decreased the skatole level in blood and backfat in both clean and dirty boars when used for 3 and 7 days before slaughter. The experiment further confirmed that boars at high stocking rate and lying in copious amounts of warm faeces and urine at temperatures of 25°C or more, for at least a week, had higher indole and skatole levels in blood and subcutaneous fat than pigs which were kept clean. The androstenone concentration in backfat was not significantly influenced by either of the two treatments. A highly significant correlation between skatole in blood (vena jugularis) and in backfat was found at the day of slaughter (r = 0·98).
Eating quality of beef from different sire breeds
Authors: Homer D. B. , Cuthbertson A. , Homer D. L. M. , McMenamin P. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThree hundred and eight cattle, comprising steers and heifers from continental and British crosses were finished on an 18-month beef production system at Warren Farm, Lambourn, Berkshire and slaughtered across a range of fatness levels. The eating quality of roasting joints (semimembranosus.) and sirloin steaks (longissimus thoracis et lumborumj was evaluated and the chemical composition of the lean tissue was taken on a subset of the samples. Results suggested that the greatest differences between the breeds was in the joints. There were significant (P < 0·01) differences in the lipid, moisture and collagen contents of the lean tissue of the joints from the different sire breeds. The Belgian Blue sire progeny had significantly lower lipid content than the Charolais or Aberdeen Angus crosses, and significantly lower collagen content than the Aberdeen Angus cross. In addition joints from Belgian Blue crosses were more tender than joints from other breed crosses. Although the lipid and moisture contents of the steaks from different sire crosses were significantly different there was no evidence of differences in eating quality. Perhaps surprisingly there were no significant relationships between the eating quality and chemical composition between or within breed. Irrespective of breed, carcass fatness influenced the juiciness of both the joints and the steaks although the response was different for continental crosses and British crosses and depended on carcass sex. Over and above this response, steer meat was generally more juicy than heifer meat.
Estimation of the energy expenditure from heart rate measurements in working oxen
Authors: Rometsch M. , Roser U. , Becker K. , Susenbeth A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe heart rate (fH) and the energy expenditure (EE) of seven Hintenvaelder (Bos taurus) draught oxen and three zebu (Bos indicusj oxen were measured, while the animals were standing, walking and pulling different loads. Linear regressions for all animals relating EE to fHwere highly significant (P < 0·001). The standard errors of the estimate expressed as a percentage of the mean EE (PE) ranged from ±6·7% to ±10·5%. Two animals with PE ±13·7% and ±17·1% were beyond that range. One year later, fHand EE were measured on six of the original seven Hinterwaelder oxen while the animals were standing and walking on a treadmill, on the level and at gradients of 3%, 6% and 9%. In the two experiments mean slope and mean intercept of the regressions of EE on fHwere not different (P > 0·05). Irrespective of the kind of work (draught work or lifting work),fHallows a reliable prediction to be made of the EE of working oxen.
Effect of ammoniation or protein supplementation of barley straw on digestion and purine derivative excretion in sheep
Authors: Mawuenyegah P. O. , Warly L. , Harumoto T. , Fujihara T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to examine the effect of ammonia treatment or soya-bean meal supplementation on rumen and lower tract digestion and urinary purine-derivative excretion in sheep given barley straw-based diets. Four wethers each fitted with simple rumen and duodenal cannulae were randomly allocated to four diets in a 4×4 Latin-square design. The diets were, untreated barley straw + molasses meal (diet 1), ammonia-treated barley straw + molasses meal (diet 2), untreated barley straw + soya-bean meal + molasses meal (diet 3) and ammonia-treated barley straw + soya-bean meal + molasses meal (diet 4). Dry-matter (DM) intake, total tract neutral- and acid-detergent fibre apparent digestibility and faecal nitrogen (N) output were higher for diets 2 and 4. Microbial protein yield, determined from total urinary purine-derivative excretion, was also high in sheep on diets 2 and 4. However, supplementation with soya-bean meal in diet 4 reduced DM and fibre digestion but increased intake and microbial synthesis. Despite the lower microbial protein synthesis for diet 3, total tract N digestion was high for the diet, an indication of higher nutrient absorption in the lower tract. The above results indicated that there was a substantial increase in rumen microbial N yield from ammoniated straw-based diets. However, not all the N was made available to the animals. Some of the microbial N absorbed in the lower tract may have been overestimated by the use of the purine derivative-microbial N evaluation method. On the other hand, when protein supplements were given the amount of microbial protein available to the ruminant through absorption in the lower tract may have been underestimated by urinary purine derivatives.
Free amino acid concentrations in plasma, muscle and liver as indirect measures of protein adequacy in growing chickens
Authors: Fernández-Fígares I. , Prieto C. , Nieto R. , Aguilera J. F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn experiment was carried out to study the effect of changes in either the quality or the quantity of dietary protein intake on the free essential amino acid profiles in plasma, muscle or liver of growing chickens. Following a randomized paired-feeding design based on metabolic body weight (kg M0·75), White Rock male broilers were allocated to one of three isoenergetic (14·5 kJ metabolizable energy per g dry matter (DM)) semisynthetic diets containing different levels of protein (60, 120, 180 or 240 g/kg DM). All diets were based on soya-bean meal, as the sole source of protein, either unsupplemented (diets S) or supplemented with 20 g/kg L-lysine (diets SL) or 2 g/kg DL-methionine (diets SM). Samples of blood, biceps muscle and liver were taken and amino acid analysis was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Plasma was only adequate to detect the effect of the supplementation with methionine to balance the dietary amino acid (AA) profile. Plasma concentrations of free methionine significantly increased as a result of the supplementation with methionine (P < 0·001) and remained unaffected by the amount of protein ingested. When lysine was added to diets S to induce an AA imbalance, a significant increase in muscle concentrations of free valine, isoleucine and phenylalanine (P <0·05) and a significant decrease in liver concentrations of free arginine and phenylalanine were observed (P<0·05). The supplementation with DL-methionine gave rise to a significant fall in the concentrations of free histidine, glycine and threonine (P < 0·05) and increased those of isoleucine and methionine in the skeletal muscle (P < 0·05), while in liver it significantly lowered the concentrations of free arginine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and methionine (P < 0·001 to P < 0·05) and raised that of free glycine (P < 0·001). The ratios lysine: phenylalanine, lysine: valine and methionine: glycine in muscle together with that of methionine: glycine in liver seem to be appropriate indexes of the adequacy of the dietary AA profile to requirements.
Relationships between body condition score, body weight and internal fat deposits in Latxa ewes
Authors: Oregui L. M. , Gabiña D. , Vicente M. S. , Bravo M. V. , Treacher T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe relationships between body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and internal fat deposits were studied in Latxa dairy ewes. In 2 years, the BW and BCS of 20% of the ewes in 14 flocks were recorded at the beginning of the mating period (pre-mating), and in the 1st month of lactation (post lambing). BW increased with age (BW = 54·05 × (1-e−0·988 × age), and the mature weight was not reached until 4 years, after which weight did not differ between pre-mating and post-lambing periods. Body condition score, however, differed between the two periods. The regression coefficients (b) of BW on BCS, when flock-year and age were included in the regressions, differed significantly (P < 0·05) in the pre-mating and post-lambing periods, and were 5·3 (s.e. 0·31) and 6·3 (s.e. 0·43) kg per unit BCS, respectively. The correlation coefficients (r) were 0·77 and 0·71 respectively, compared with 0·42 and 0·38 when the flock-year and age of the ewes were not included in the regression.Thirty-seven of these ewes, with BCS between 0·75 and 4·00, were slaughtered, the weights of omental, mesenteric and kidney and channel fat recorded, and the lumbar fat thickness assessed at the last rib. The regressions between the weight of fat deposits and lumbar fat thickness and BW and BCS fitted to semi-logarithmic equations, except for mesenteric fat, in which the relationship was linear. Body condition score was a better predictor than BW for individual fat deposits, with proportionately 0·81 to 0·83 of the variation in the weight of the deposits accounted for by variation in BCS and 0·57 to 070 by variation in BW.
Assigning pedigree beef performance records to contemporary groups taking account of within-herd calving patterns
Authors: Crump R. E. , Wray N. R. , Thompson R. , Simm G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA method is described for assigning beef cattle performance records to within-herd management effects (contemporary groups) retrospectively, using information on the recording date and herd. This method takes account of the within-herd calving pattern. The objective of developing a method of assigning records to contemporary groups was to maximize the contemporary group size while ensuring as far as possible that records in any contemporary group were subject to the same management.A simple method for assessing the effectiveness of different strategies for assigning records to contemporary groups is proposed, based on investigating the balance between the effects of contemporary group size upon the heritability and the accuracy of mass selection.The results of a study of different contemporary grouping strategies in the Simmental breed are reported.
Increased winter growth in male red deer calves under an extended photoperiod
Authors: Webster J. R. , Corsor I. D. , Littlejohn R. P. , Suttie J. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe growth of male red deer slows during the first winter of life before increasing again during spring. This study aimed to determine if this period of slow growth could be minimized using artificial photoperiods during autumn and winter (10 April (week 1) to 11 September (week 23), southern hemisphere). Four groups of deer (no. = 10) were housed indoors as follows. Two groups were placed on a winter solstice photoperiod (8·5 light (L): 15·5 dark (D)) and given either a natural increase in photoperiod to 11·25L: 12·75D (WSN) or held on 8·5L: 15·5D for 7 weeks followed by an abrupt increase to 11·25L: 12·75D (WSH). One group was exposed to a summer solstice photoperiod of 16L: 8D (SS) and one group exposed to a natural photoperiodic pattern (IC). A fifth group of deer (no. = 10) was maintained outside on a gravelled enclosure under natural changes in photoperiod (OC). All groups were given a diet containing 160 g protein per kg and 11·0 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM)ad libitum. All animals were weighed weekly and group food intake recorded daily. Metatarsal length was measured at weeks 3,17 and 22 from the start of treatments.The major differences occurred between SS and the other groups. After a period of slower growth (weeks 1 to 5, SS = 88 g/dayv.168 g/day other groups, s.e.d. 31·2,P< 0·05), SS grew more rapidly from week 10 (P < 0·01). As a result, SS was heaviest from week 17 (P < 0·05) until the end of the experiment (P < 0·01). The mean growth rate of SS animals from weeks 10 to 23 was 346 g/day compared with 173 g/day (s.e.d. 15·3;P< 0·001) for the other groups. Over the whole experiment, SS animals gained 42·3 kg live weight, compared with 31·1 kg for WSN, 26·6 kg for WSH, 25·1 kg for OC and 23·7 kg for IC (s.e.d. 2·08 kgP< 0·01). The DM intake of SS from week 9 until the end of the experiment averaged 2·04 kg DM per head per day compared with 1·48 (s.e. 0·041) kg DM per head per day for the mean of the other groups. Metatarsal length increased more in SS than the other groups (P < 0·001) between weeks 3 and 17 and was longest in SS at weeks 17 and 22 (P < 0·01). Exposure to a 16L: 8D photoperiod during winter advanced the rapid growth of red deer calves normally associated with spring and summer. This response may be used to advance slaughter dates for venison production.