bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ileorectal anastomosis as a model for digestion studies in sheep: effect on water, acid-base, electrolyte and energy balance of the whole animal, as well as on the anatomy of the digestive tract
Authors: van der Walt J. G. , Meyer J. H. F. , van Rensburg I. B. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWater balance, electrolyte and acid-base status of a group of five South African Mutton Merino wethers given chopped lucerne hay ad libitum was determined before and after ileorectal anastomosis. In general, the sheep recovered rapidly from surgery, resuming, within 10 days, a level of dry matter intake only slightly less than pre-operative levels (1323 (s.e. 147) and 1419 (s.e. 196) g/day respectively, P > 0·05). A new water balance was established at about the same time, when sheep with an ileorectal anastomosis drank about 2500 ml/day more water, while losing about 2400 ml/day more water in the faeces and about 365 ml/day less water in the urine than did the control sheep. Most of the electrolyte and acid-base parameters tested were not significantly affected by the anastomosis but the concentrations of oxygen and potassium in the blood of sheep with an anastomosis were significantly lower (P < 0·001), while those of chloride (P < 0·001) and bicarbonate (P < 0·05) were significantly higher, than before surgery. These observations, together with normal blood pH values, suggest that bypassing the large intestine caused a compensated metabolic alkalosis.Energy balance was determined on the five sheep with an ileorectal anastomosis as well as five control animals in an indirect, open-circuit calorimeter. Despite a significantly lower (P < 0·05) loss of nitrogen and energy via the urine (due to a lower output of urine) in sheep with an ileorectal anastomosis, total heat loss, whether absolute or relative to energy intake, did not differ from control values and therefore indicated that basal metabolic rate was not significantly affected.From post-mortem examinations, anastomoses appear to have induced a marked atrophy of the bypassed caecum and colon, whilst the mass of the large intestine was significantly less than in control animals, despite the significant enlargement of the rectum. On the other hand, the small intestine appeared unaffected, either macroscopically or histologically.The most significant physiological changes that occurred on bypassing the large intestine were related to loss of water reabsorbtion. However, good adaptation to the increased turn-over of water was evident, providing free access to water and a salt lick was allowed.
Rumen degradation of straw 9. Effect of cellulase and ammonia treatment on different varieties of rice straws and their botanical fractions
Authors: Nakashima Y. , Ørskov E. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe composition and degradability of four varieties of rice straw were examined. The varieties were tall or short and early or late maturing. The straws and their botanical parts (leaf blade plus leaf sheath, internode, node and chaff) varied in acid-detergent fibre, ash and silica contents, but not in nitrogen and neutral-detergent fibre. There were some trends but no significant difference in proportions of parts between varieties. Milled samples of whole straw and its parts were either untreated, treated with a cellulase preparation plus propionic acid, treated with ammonia, or treated with cellulase then ammonia. Rumen degradability was measured by incubating the samples in polyester bags suspended in the rumen of sheep. The soluble fraction and potential degradability were greater in untreated short and early than in tall and late varieties, but rates of degradation did not vary significantly. Internode was more degradable than leaf. Cellulase and/or ammonia treatments increased the soluble fraction, especially in tall and late varieties, and increased potential degradabiiity except in internode. Degradability correlated positively with ash and silica contents.
An improved water-bath test to study effects of age and previous sucking on metabolic rate and resistance to cold in newborn lambs
Authors: Slee J. , Simpson S. P. , Stott A. W. , Williams J. C. , Samson D. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTDifferent procedures for measuring cold resistance and metabolic rate of newborn lambs were evaluated by varying the extent of induced hypothermia, the rate of cooling and the method of rewarming. Relatively fast cooling followed by a simple self-rewarming procedure proved harmless and satisfactory.The effect of age, from birth up to 2 weeks, on thermoregulation was studied. There was no difference in cold resistance between 0·5 h and 30 h after birth, and between 1 day and 2 weeks after birth, despite a large increase in insulation, body weight and coat depth over this period. Weight-specific resting metabolic rate and cold-induced peak metabolic rate similarly did not change significantly in the first 30 h, although resting metabolic rate tended to be lower at birth than at 30 h of age. Peak metabolic rate decreased significantly between 1 day and 2 weeks of age.The effect of fasting, for 3 to 4 h after birth, on thermoregulation was also studied. Cold resistance and peak metabolic rate were not significantly affected by fasting. Recovery from hypothermia was slightly slower in fasted lambs.These results may reflect the newborn lamb's initial reliance on heat production derived from brown fat and non-shivering thermogenesis. Older lambs, which benefit from better insulation, rely more upon shivering. Fasted lambs showed a tendency to rely more on insulation and slightly less on heat production than suckled lambs.
Effect of food intake capacity on production traits in growing pigs with restricted feeding
Authors: Kanis E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTEffects of food intake (FI) and ad libitum food intake capacity (FIC) were investigated in 438 pigs fed in seven batches. Batches 1 to 6 consisted of barrows and batch 7 of gilts. Restrictedly fed animals had one to three ad libitum fed litter mates. In batches 6 and 7, animals were fed ad libitum until 48 kg live weight. Thereafter, two-thirds of the animals were fed according to a fixed weight scale. FIC is considered as a trait of the animal, independent of its actual FI. With ad libitum feeding FIC can be measured directly, with restricted feeding FIC has to be estimated.Two methods of estimating average FIC from about 27 to 107 kg live weight were applied. The first method consisted of assigning to each restrictedly fed animal the average FI of one to three ad libitum fed litter mates. The second method was applied in batches 6 and 7 only and consisted of estimating FIC with multiple regression based on individual 'ad libitum performance' in the first part of the growing period.Effects of FI and FIC on daily gain, food conversion ratio, backfat thickness, lean tissue proportion, fatty tissue proportion, lean tissue growth rate, fatty tissue growth rate and lean tissue food conversion were investigated. FI had significant effects on each trait, except on lean tissue food conversion. FIC had significant effects on body composition traits, but not on daily gain and food conversion ratio.Irrespective of the method used to estimate FIC, results showed that animals with a higher FIC produced more fat and less lean from the same amount of food than animals with a lower FIC. It was suggested that the partition of food energy between energy for maintenance, protein deposition and fat deposition is associated with FIC. The findings confirmed that selection for leaner and more efficient pigs may result in animals with lower FIC, irrespective of the feeding regimen during performance testing.
Effects of dietary carbohydrate composition on rumen fermentation, plasma hormones and metabolites in growing-fattening bulls
Authors: van Eenaeme C. , Istasse L. , Gabriel A. , Clinquart A. , Maghuin-Rogister G. , Bienfait J. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo groups of six bulls were offered a fattening diet based on barley or sugar-beet pulp in the proportions of either 500: 200 g/kg or 200: 500 g/kg to compare the effects of starch and degradable fibre on rumen fermentations, plasma hormones and metabolites. The bulls were fed twice daily at 08.00 and 16.00 h.The large proportion of sugar-beet pulp in the diet induced higher levels of acetic and butyric acids and less propionic acid than the high proportion of barley. The diurnal patterns over a 24-h period of rumen pH, volatile fatty acids, glucose and ammonia were characterized by two cycles. Sugar-beet pulp in large proportions induced more even fermentations as indicated by flatter curves with less extreme values than those produced by a large inclusion of barley in the diet. Ammonia concentration was high before feeding and decreased subsequently during 4 to 6 h after the meal.No typical patterns were observed in plasma concentrations of glucose and alpha-amino nitrogen. Plasma urea concentration rose 2h after feeding and dropped during the following 6 to 8 h. There were no effects of dietary carbohydrate composition on growth hormone concentration but plasma insulin was significantly reduced with the diet high in sugar-beet pulp. Furthermore, the insulin profile showed peaks after each meal with the barley diet but only after the afternoon feeding with the diet high in sugar-beet pulp.
Prediction of body dimensions of Mule and Scottish Blackface ewes from measurement of body weight
Authors: Sharples T. J. , Dumelow J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe body dimensions and live weight of 126 Mule (Bluefaced Leicester × Scottish Blackface) and Scottish Blackface ewes were measured during the 1986/87 housing season. Body dimensions included: head and neck length, body length, diagonal body length, height to withers, height to rump, girth at widest point, heart girth, width at widest point and width at shoulders. It was found that most body dimensions varied greatly with body weight. However, some body dimensions such as head length were found to be independent of weight within the weight range studied. Prediction equations are presented for each body dimensions for unshorn sheep.These predictions can be used as a basis for the design of sheep housing, for example, trough space allowances, design of feeders or as a biological basis for space allowance.
Digestion of unmolassed sugar-beet pulp in young growing pigs and implications for the growth-supporting values of fermented energy
Authors: Zhu J. Q. , Fowler V. R. , Fuller M. F. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTExperiments involving both digestion and growth trials were undertaken to compare the responses of pigs to two increments of digested energy resulting either from gut fermentation or from digestion by endogenous enzymes in the small intestine. Unmolassed sugar-beet pulp (SBP) and maize starch (MS) were selected as model materials for these two systems. A control diet was formulated to fulfil the needs of pigs for all essential nutrients apart from energy. This diet was offered according to a scale set at about twice the maintenance energy requirement. The two SBP diets contained 150 and 300 g SBP per kg (SBP15 and SBP30) and the two MS diets 100 and 200 g MS per kg (MS10 and MS20). Sixty observations were made with 10 female and 20 male growing pigs to provide information on digestion. The results showed that the energy in SBP and MS had an apparent digestibility of 0·74 and 0·98 respectively (s.e.d. 0025). The neutral-detergent fibre fraction of SBP had a digestibility of 0·81 (s.e. 0·055). Forty pigs (20 male and 20 female) were involved in the growth trial. The responses of pigs to increments of different digestible energy (DE) were measured in terms of daily carcass-weight gain. The results gave values of 435, 478, 527, 511 and 567 (s.e.d. 17·3) g/day for the control, SBP15, SBP30, MS 10 and MS20 treatments respectively. These results suggest that the apparent DE of SBP is used for carcass growth with an efficiency of 0·57 (s.e. 0·012) relative to the DE from MS.
The nutritive value of fruits (pods with seeds) from four Acacia spp. compared with extracted noug (Guizotia abyssinica) meal as supplements to maize stover for ethiopian highland sheep
Authors: Tanner J. C. , Reeds J. D. , Owen E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTForty Menz rams weighing 20 to 22 kg and aged 13 to 18 months were individually offered 1·0 kg/day chopped maize stover and one of five supplements over a 70-day growth trial followed by a 10-day metabolism trial. The amounts of supplement offered were designed to supply 4·4 g nitrogen per day and with stover, sufficient nutrients to allow growth rates of 50 g/day. The control supplement, 80 g dry matter (DM) per day extracted noug (Guizotia abyssinica) meal, was compared with 194 to 212 g DM per day of fruits (pods (carpels) with seeds) of Acacia tortilis, A. albida, A. nilotica and A. sieberiana. For the control and four Acacia supplements respectively, mean growth rates were 32, 32, 21, 16, 4 (s.e.6) g/day and mean stover intakes 483, 430, 401, 347, 320 (s.e. 74) g DM per day. The low growth rates and intakes with A. sieberiana and to a lesser extent A. nilotica were probably related to their content of phenolic compounds including insoluble proanthocyanidins which may have lowered the digestibility of neutral-detergent fibre and nitrogen. A. tortilis and A. albida would appear to be of comparable nutritive value to noug meal as supplements to maize stover. Unlike noug meal Acacia fruits are widely available in rural areas of Africa. Further research is required to identify other tree species suitable for use as supplements and how to overcome the anti-nutritional factors.
Effects of exogenous bovine somatotropin on milk yield and pasture intake in dairy cows of low or high genetic merit
Authors: Michel A. , McCutcheon S. N. , Mackenzie D. D. S. , Tait R. M. , Wickham B. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (bST) treatment on milk production and pasture intake was examined in 16 New Zealand Friesian cows from low or high genetic merit (breeding index) selection lines. Recombinantly derived bST was administered by 2-weekly injection of a controlled release formulation for a period of 4 weeks (weeks 16 to 19 of lactation) at a dose rate equivalent to 50 mg/day. During this period the animals were housed for 18 days with food intake being measured over the last 8 days. Treatment with bST resulted in significantly higher yields of milk, fat and protein compared with the controls. Cows from the low breeding index (LBI) line were more responsive to exogenous bST than cows of the high breeding index (HBI) line in both milk and fat yield. Milk composition was not affected by bST treatment. There was a significant increase of proportionately 0·108 in intake of freshly cut pasture between bST-treated and untreated animals during days 16 to 23 of treatment. Thus, no significant difference in calculated energy balance was observed between the bSTtreated and untreated cows. This study indicates that the genetic background of cows may be an important determinant of their response to bST treatment and that such treatment rapidly alters voluntary intake in pasture-fed cows.
Digestion and live-weight gain by beef cattle consuming bermudagrass supplemented with grain or different high-protein foodstuffs
Authors: Goetsch A. L. , Forster L. A. , Murphy G. E. , Grant E. W. , Galloway D. L. , West C. P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were made to determine the effects on digestion characteristics and live-weight (LW) gain of cattle consuming bermudagrass of supplementing with ground maize, soya-bean meal or a maizegluten— blood meal mix alone or maize plus the protein supplements. Experiment 1 was a Latin-square design with 14-day periods using six beef cows fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas (490 kg). Cows were given bermudagrass hay at 12·7 g/kg LW alone (control, C) or with 2·4 g/kg LW of ground maize (M), 0·98 g/kg LW of soya-bean meal (S), 0·53 g/kg LW of maize-gluten plus 0·17 g/kg (dry matter basis) of blood meal (GB), M plus S (M + S) or M plus GB (M + GB). Nitrogen (N) intake was 106, 123, 143, 148, 166 and 166 g/day; total N at the duodenum was 101, 124, 117, 126, 140 and 161 (s.e. 5·91) g/day; and post-ruminal N disappearance was 61, 77, 72, 84, 87 and 110 (s.e. 5·6) g/day for C, M, S, GB, M + S and M + GB, respectively. In experiment 2, 96 crossbred beef heifers (203 kg LW) implanted with 200 mg testosterone and 20 mg oestradiol benzoate were allotted to 12 groups by LW (two groups per treatment). Heifers grazed bermudagrass paddocks for 84 days in two 42-day periods and supplement treatments were those in experiment 1. A period × treatment interaction in LW gain was noted (P< 0·05). LW gain was 0·78, 0·81, 0·79, 0·76, 0·70 and 0·95 kg in period 1 and 0·46, 0·51, 0·56, 0·53, 0·64 and 0·61 kg in period 2 for C, M, S, GB, M + S and M + GB, respectively (s.e. 0·049). In conclusion, duodenal flow and post-ruminal disappearance of N were similar for the protein sources when offered singularly, but when given with maize values were greater for the mix of protein meals high in ruminal undegradable protein as compared with soya-bean meal. LW gain by heifer calves grazing bermudagrass was increased only by supplementation with ground maize plus the protein meal mix of low ruminal degradability.
Sire × testing regime interactions in growing pigs
Authors: Haer L. C. M. de 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCentral test data of two pig breeding companies were analysed to estimate sire × testing regime (S × T) interaction for ultrasonic backfat thickness (BT), life-time growth rate (GL) and growth rate during test (GT). Testing regime consisted of a combination of sex, test period and housing system (individual v. group housing). Data were analysed within five lines, with 5417, 8331, 3427, 2413 and 1263 records of progeny of 97, 162, 64, 69 and 33 sires, respectively. The data were collected from May 1983 until May 1987 (lines 1, 2 and 3) and from June 1985 until May 1987 (lines 4 and 5). Testing regime had a significant effect on BT (in three lines) and on GL and GT (in five lines). S × T interaction was significant only for BT in three lines and for GT in one line. Genetic correlations between identical traits, measured under the two testing regimes, varied from 0·64 to 1·00 for BT, from 0·65 to 1·00 for GL and from 0·62 to 1·00 for GT. Conclusively, within central test S × T interactions were relatively unimportant for BT, GT and GL.
Effect of supplemental lighting on puberty, follicular development, pituitary and serum concentrations of LH and hypothalamic content of GnRH in gilts
Authors: Brandt K. E. , Diekman M. A. , Grieger D. M. , Moss G. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOne hundred and thirty crossbred gilts (Yorkshire × Duroc × Hampshire) were exposed to either natural (40 lux) or supplemental lighting (700 lux) beginning at 8 weeks of age. Gilts received supplemental lighting from 40-W flourescent bulbs from 05·15 to 09·00 h and 16·30 to 20·15 h from 9 September to 22 April. At 4 months of age, all gilts were exposed daily for 15 min to mature boars five times weekly. Twelve gilts from each group were slaughtered at 4, 5, 6 and 7 months of age. All gilts were bled from indwelling cannulas at 20-min intervals for 4 h the day preceding slaughter. In addition, blood samples were drawn weekly from 17 gilts in each group from 7 to 9 months of age and analysed for progesterone to determine age of puberty. Twelve of 17 gilts that received supplemental lighting reached puberty at 228 (s.e. 11) days of age whereas 11 of 16 gilts that received natural lighting reached puberty at 252 (s.e. 7) days of age (P = 0·07). No significant differences occurred in anterior pituitary gland weight or pituitary concentration of LH, mean concentrations of serum LH or number of LH secretory spikes between natural and supplemental-lighted gilts at each month (all P > 005). Concentration of oestradiol-17β and progesterone in follicular fluid was similar between treatment groups within months and follicular size (P > 0·05). Content of GnRH in the stalk-median eminence, preoptic area and hypothalamus proper were also similar between treatment groups (P > 0·05). In summary, supplemental lighting reduced the age of puberty in gilts without a detectable change in pituitary, hypothalamic or ovarian parameters.
Carcass composition in male fallow deer: age and castration effects on dissected tissue distribution
Authors: Hogg B. W. , Catcheside L. M. , Mercer G. J. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty-eight male fallow deer (Dama dama), 14 entire and 14 castrated (seven each 1- and 2-year-old) were slaughtered and their carcasses jointed. Each joint was separated into venison, trim A (low visible fat, diced pieces), trim B (pieces suitable only for mincing), waste and bone. Castration had a significant and cumulative effect on live and carcass weights. At 1 year of age castrated males were 80 g/kg lighter in live weight; at 2 years this difference had increased to 119 g/kg. The pattern for differences in hot and cold carcass weights was similar, being 66 and 148 g/kg lighter at 1 and 2 years old, respectively.Castration caused small but significant shifts in the proportions of the primal joints, and the proportions of venison, trim A and trim B. Castrated males had smaller neck (9 g/kg) and saddle (10 g/kg) joints, but 18 g/kg larger legs. In the whole carcass they contained 12 g/kg more venison, but correspondingly less trim A and trim B.Older animals had higher proportions of venison and lower proportions of bone. Venison distribution altered with age, but this was mainly a reflexion of changes in joint proportions.The overall effect of castration was to reduce carcass weights (on which producers are paid) and reduce venison production proportionately to 0-97 and 0-88 of that achieved in 1- and 2-year-old entire males respectively. In some market situations castration may be an acceptable method of producing venison outside of the normal peak production, but the reduced production would require higher schedule prices to be economically viable for the producer.
Thermosensitivity of Bos indicus cattle and their F1, crosses with three breeds of Bos taurus
Authors: Singh Khub , Bhattacharyya N. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTResting heat production (H), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (Tr) were measured at different controlled temperatures (Tt) in Hariana (Bos indicus) and its F, crosses with Jersey (JH), Brown Swiss (BH) and Holstein Friesian (FH) (Bos taurus) breeds and the values obtained were used to assess their relative thermosensitivity.The lowest Tt at which H significantly decreased from that at 17°c was 32°c for Hariana, JH and BH and 27°c for FH after exposure for 8 days. The corresponding values after exposure for 18 days were 37°c for Hariana and 32°c for all the three crossbred groups. Differences between the genetic groups were also significant. The lowest Tt at which metabolizable energy (ME) decreased significantly in comparison with those at 17CC was 32°c in all the genetic groups. The differences in ME intake between genetic groups were significant only at 32°c Tt. The lowest Tt at which RR significantly increased from those at 17°c were 32°c in Hariana, 27°c in JH, BH and FH for both 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 days of exposure. The corresponding Tt for increase in Tr was 37°c in Hariana, 32°c in JH and 27°c in BH and FH at both 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 days of exposure.The ambient temperature at which H would have significantly decreased and RR and Tr increased from the respective values at 17CC Tt were calculated curvilinearly for different genetic groups. There were differences in these values of calculated ambient temperatures between genetic groups and between exposure durations in respect of H, RR, and Tr, indicating differences in thermosensitivity.