bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of Charbray and Hereford cattle and crosses between them
Authors: Carroll F. D. , Rollins W. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThis experiment was designed to compare the average performance of Charollais-Hereford and Hereford-Charbray calves with the average performance of purebred Hereford and Charbray calves as a measure of hybrid vigour in various traits of economic importance.The ratio of lumbar length to carcass length was larger in the crossbreds. With this exception there was no significant difference between purebreds and crossbreds in any of the measurements that characterise performance of the live animal or the carcass. However, the trend of the carcass measurements possibly indicated that the purebreds were fatter and higher in carcass grade than the crossbreds.Studies on three cuts of meat from each carcass indicated larger cooking losses (percentage drip loss) in steaks from purebreds and larger ‘shear’ values for steaks from crossbreds. The panel of judges found no significant differences in tenderness, flavour or juiciness. There were no significant differences in colour of lean meat from crossbred and purebred animals.Meat from the purebred Herefords appeared fatter and more tender than that from the Charbray cattle, but this comparison may be biased due to sire differences.
Further studies on the energy and protein metabolism of pigs growing at a high ambient temperature, including measurements with fasting pigs
Authors: Holmes C. W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The experiment was designed to compare the protein and energy metabolism of pigs growing at 25°c or 34°C. The pigs were given two levels of feeding while growing between 25 and 75 kg live weight.2. The high temperature was associated with increases in rectal temperature of 1·2 to 20°C. Both pigs on the higher level of feeding at 34°C became lame in their hind legs.3. The high temperature was also associated with increases in heat production and in urinary nitrogen and energy losses for pigs fed at the higher level of feeding only; however fasting heat production was not affected significantly by temperature. The high temperature had no effect on the apparent digestibility of the diet.4. It was calculated from data for pigs at both levels of feeding kept at 25°C, that efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy (ME) above maintenance was 71%, and the maintenance requirement for ME was 100 kcal/kg0·75 day. Energy retention was reduced at 34°C in pigs fed on the higher level of feeding.
Progeny test results on Hereford bulls weight-recorded on the farm
Authors: Smith C. , Steane D. E. , Jordan C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTRegressions of progeny growth rate and slaughter age on bull weight for age (400-day) record were estimated from data on 63 Hereford bulls. The bulls had been weight-recorded by the Meat and Livestock Commission and subsequently progeny-tested by the Milk Marketing Board on 1300 crossbred British Friesian steers. Interpretation of the regressions led to estimates of 16 to 35% (± 9 to 17%) for the ‘effective’ heritability of400-day weight. These are lower than the average in the literature and may indicate that farm records with natural rearing of bulls are less reliable than tests with uniform rearing and feeding conditions.
The effect of energy intake during late pregnancy on the production from two genotypes of suckler cow
Authors: Russel A. J. F. , Peart J. N. , Eadie J. , Macdonald A. J. , White I. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of energy intake during the final 12 weeks of pregnancy on the production of 59 Blue Grey (Shorthorn × Galloway) (BG) and 56 Hereford × Friesian (HF) cows inseminated with Hereford semen was studied over 2 years.Energy intakes ranged from 34·3 to 78·2 and from 30·3 to 58·2 MJ ME/day for a 500 kg cow in the 2 years respectively. The cows were fed ad libitum for 22 weeks after calving.Plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in late pregnancy were closely and inversely related to energy intake.In the first year there was a curvilinear relationship between calf birth weight and pre partum energy intake, maximum birth weights occurring at an intake of about 58 MJ ME/day. Over the lower range of intakes in the second year the relationship was linear and positive; the difference in calf birth weights between extreme levels of intake was 15%.Pre partum energy intake had a small inverse effect on voluntary food intake some 16 to 20 weeks after calving, and a large inverse effect on cow live-weight change throughout lactation, but had no measurable effect on milk production or calf growth rate.HF cows gave birth to heavier calves which grew more quickly in the 2nd year, had higher voluntary food intakes during lactation, and produced more milk than did the BG cows.
Monensin supplementation of young Israeli Friesian male cattle
Authors: Levy D. , Holzer Z. , Ilan D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTFour groups of 14 3-month-old Israeli Friesian male cattle were each given monensin supplement in their concentrates at the following rates: between 3 and 6 months of age, 0, 0, 25 and 35 p.p.m.; and between 6 months and slaughter, 0, 35, 35 and 35 p.p.m. They were offered hay at approximately 0·3 % of their live weight and concentrates ad libitum.Daily gain between 3 and 6 months was 1·36, 1·40, 1·50 and 1·57 kg/day, respectively; between 6 months and slaughter it was 1·22, 1·32, 1·33 and 1·24 kg/day, respectively. Differences in intake of concentrates were small. There were no significant differences in slaughter data.Daily carcass gain throughout the experiment was 0·71, 0·74, 0·77 and 0·76 kg/day, respectively.Monensin-supplemented animals were approximately 9% more efficient in the conversion of metabolizable energy into live weight or carcass weight than the control animals.Production of propionate in the rumen was significantly increased in response to monensin supplementation, and the acetate to propionate ratio was significantly reduced.
A model for the effects of energy nutrition on the pregnant ewe
Authors: Geisler Pamela A , Neal Heather 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA computer-based model of the response of the ewe to energy nutrition during pregnancy is described, based on a previous analysis of energy requirements. A ewe of specified weight and body condition 30 days from conception, carrying a known number of lambs, is predicted to grow them to an optimal weight if the nutritional regime allows. Daily energy requirements of the ewe-foetus system are calculated as the sum of requirements for maintenance and for growth and are compared with the daily energy supplied.If the feed provides energy surplus to requirements, the ewe herself gains weight; otherwise, the ewe mobilizes her own reserves, within limits, to protect the foetus. If this does not produce the energy required for optimal growth, foetal growth is reduced.Published experimental results are compared with predictions of the model when run under similar conditions; in general, predictions of total maternal weight at the end of pregnancy are within 5 % of those observed in the experiments. Model predictions of the effects of some particular nutritional regimes during pregnancy are presented and the sensitivity of the predictions of the model to certain of the assumptions made in its construction are discussed.
A note concerning the effects of ewe nutrition and colostrum deprivation on young lambs
Authors: Khalaf A. M. , Doxey D. L. , Baxter J. T. , Black W. J. M. , FitzSimons J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwin Scottish Half bred × Suffolk lambs born to well-nourished ewes suffered no ill effects, in terms of growth rate or serum immunoglobulin levels, when deprived of colostrum for periods of up to 9 h after birth provided they received adequate colostrum after the deprivation period was completed.Poor ewe nutrition during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, when combined with 9-h periods of colostrum deprivation, adversely affected serum immunoglobulin levels and appeared to increase mortality.
A note on some factors influencing post-weaning performance of purebred and crossbred lambs
Authors: Mavrogenis A. P. , Louca A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTLive weights at weaning, and 10, 15 and 20 weeks of age, and postweaning gains of 738 lambs (390 males and 348 females) obtained from purebred and crossbred lambs were studied. The main breeds involved were the Cyprus fat-tailed, Chios and Awassi. Male lambswere heavier (P< 0·01) and grew faster (P< 0·01) than female lambs. Singles were heavier (P< 0·01) than other multiples at all ages, which probably reflects differences in initial weight, since no differences were found in growth rate. Crossbred lambs were heavier at 20 weeks of age and had a faster growth rate than purebred lambs. Ewe lactation number significantly affected lamb weaning weights, the heaviest lambs being those from 3- to 5-year-old dams (third and fourth lactation).
A comparison of a dairy cow compound feed with and without cassava given with grass silage
Authors: Brigstocke T. D. A. , Cuthbert N. H. , Thickett W. S. , Lindeman M. A. , Wilson P. N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTCassava is increasingly available in the United Kingdom for use in compound feeds. The trial reported here was a 2 × 4 factorial and compared dairy cow compound feeds containing nil or 400 g of cassava per kg, and crude protein levels of 100, 120, 140 and 160 g/kg, given in conjunction with grass silage.Forty-eight Friesian cows were used in a change-over design with four periods each of 4 weeks. The trial, therefore, compared six blocks of four cows on each of the non-cassava and cassava treatments, with each cow in a block receiving a different protein level. Compound feeds without cassava had a mean barley content of 600g/kg whereas feeds with cassava had a mean barley content of 103g/kg.There were no significant differences in milk yield (21 14 and 22·27 kg/day) or milk fat level (41·4 and 40·4g/kg milk) on the non-cassava and cassava treatments respectively (P ≤ 0·05). Differences in solids-not-fat concentration were also not significant.Average intakes of silage were similar on each type of diet. Daily intakes of the compound feed per cow varied from 6·95kg on the non-cassava treatment to 7·08kg on the cassava treatment. This difference in compound intake was not significant. The results indicated that compound feed containing 400 g of cassava per kg perform as well as cereal-based feeds and, therefore, cassava can be considered as a satisfactory replacement for cereals up to a level of 400 g/kg in compound feeds for dairy cows.
Effect of dietary carotene on fertility of high-yielding dairy cows
Authors: Ascarelli I. , Edelman Z. , Rosenberg Miriam , Folman Y. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMultiparous dairy cows were allotted at the beginning of the dry period to two groups, each of about 75 cows. In addition to a basal diet containing a very low concentration of carotene and a normal concentration of retinyl ester, the carotene group was given a daily supplement of 500 mg carotene during the dry period and 750 mg carotene during lactation, and the retinol group was given an equivalent amount of retinyl ester. Plasma carotene concentrations were much higher in the carotene group (ca. 4·2 mg/1v. ca.. 0·35 mg/1), but plasma retinol did not differ. Neither peripheral plasma progesterone concentration nor the interval between calving and first insemination were affected by carotene supplementation. Conception rate was greatly improved by carotene supplementation in the younger cows (second and third lactation) during the first part of the experiment (cows calving in September to December): conception rates at first insemination were 0·70v.0·33 (P < 0·05); for all inseminations, conception rates were 0·71v.0·38 (P < 0·01). However during the second part of the experiment (cows calving in January to April) no significant differences were found between the two groups.Plasma tocopherol concentration in cows given carotene was significantly higher during the dry period and the 1st weeks of lactation, but these differences disappeared in the later stages of lactation. Plasma cholesterol concentration in the carotene group was highly correlated with plasma carotene concentration (r = 0·52 to 0·59,P< 0·001); however even higher correlation coefficients were found between plasma cholesterol and plasma tocopherol in both the carotene and the retinol groups (r = 0·61 to 0·80,P< 0·001). Plasma concentrations of triglycerides, glucose, urea and aspartate aminotransferase were not affected by the treatment.A high plasma carotene concentration is not a prerequisite for conception; however, under certain conditions which need defining, the carotene concentration appears to be a limiting factor.
The effect of mechanical treatment of silage on intake and production of sheep
Authors: Apolant S. M. , Chestnutt D. M. B. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTOver a period of 3 years, silages subjected to various mechanical treatments by the use of conventional silage harvesters were offered ad libitum to pregnant ewes and to castrated male lambs and the effects on intake and productivity were measured. The intake of silage made from grass harvested with a precision-chop harvester was substantially greater than the intake of silage made with other types of harvester (especially, a flail harvester), causing a lower degree of comminution.Mean daily silage dry-matter intake of ewes was 0·99 kg and 1·28 kg in mid-pregnancy, and 0·85 kg and 1·10 kg in late pregnancy with flail-harvested and precision-chop silages respectively. Silage was supplemented with various levels of concentrate in late pregnancy and an increasing level of concentrates did not reduce silage intake. In early lactation, when 800 g concentrate was given daily, ewes consumed 1·00 kg flail-harvested silage and 1·39 kg precision-chop silage. Compared with flail-harvested silage, precision-chop silage increased ewe body weight immediately post lambing by 5·1 kg, lamb birth weight by 0·27 kg and lamb growth rate by 58 g/day. Increases in intake of precision-chop silages by hoggets were on average greater, though more variable, than by ewes and were reflected in increased carcass weight.The reason for the increased intake of the finely-chopped silage was examined. It would appear that the major factor is the physical size of particle involved though there was some evidence that improved fermentation resulting from finer chopping may have been partly responsible for increased intake.
Serum γ-globulin levels in dead lambs from hill flocks
Authors: Halliday R. 
Published: September 2010

Blood samples were taken from 472 dead lambs on hill farms in Peeblesshire and their serum proteins fractionated by paper electrophoresis. No y-globulin was detected in 84% of the lambs dying on the day of birth, or in 43% of all other lambs aged 9 days or less. Most of these lambs had not fed. But a substantial minority, including 24·5% of all lambs dying, after walking, on the first or second days, i.e. when the gut is normally permeable to protein, had not absorbed γ-globulin despite having food in the gut. This could be due to a failure of colostral proteins to pass from the stomach into the small intestine, γ-globulin being detected relatively more often in lambs with food in their intestines than in lambs with food only in their stomachs; insufficient time between the arrival of food in the small intestine and death; or a premature loss of gut permeability.The mean γ-globulin levels in lambs aged up to 6 days, excluding those with none, were significantly lower than in live lambs. Differences between older lambs were slight. Lambs aged up to 9 days and recorded as dying of starvation because they had no visceral fat, had significantly lower levels than lambs dying from other causes. The levels in older lambs were not correlated with the reasons for death.
Some effects of compulsory exposure over winter on in-lamb Welsh Mountain ewes
Authors: Winfield C. J. , Brown W. , Lucas I. A. M. 
Published: September 2010

1. Experiments were carried out during two winters on the effects of exposure, partial outdoor shelter and complete indoor shelter on individually penned pregnant Welsh Mountain ewes at an altitude of approximately 275 m. A single pelleted diet was given at several levels of intake.2. In Experiment 1 ewes fed at an approximately maintenance level indoors had post partum live weights 0·9 and 1·4 kg greater than those fed at the same level in the partially sheltered and exposed pens.3. The daily voluntary feed intake of ewes fed to appetite was 20% greater in the exposed and partially sheltered pens than in the indoor pens. But there were no consequent differences between post partum live weights, which were all higher than for ewes kept at maintenance intake.4. In Experiment 2, when the weather was milder, the effects of exposure and shelter on ewes fed at the maintenance level were smaller and not statistically significant. Raising intake by 5 or 10% caused only small and not statistically significant increases in post partum weight.5. Neither changes in food intake nor in environment affected lamb birth weights.6. Ewes fed to appetite had a significantly greater wool production than those at the maintenance level. Environment had no effect on the weight of clean wool produced but penning indoors increased the weight of suint.
The effect of frequency of harvesting grass for silage and level of concentrate supplementation on the intake and performance of beef cattle
Authors: Steen R. W. J. , McIlmoyle W. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA randomized-block experiment has been carried out over 2 consecutive years to examine the effects of frequency of harvesting grass for silage, and level of concentrate supplementation, on the intake and performance of beef cattle. Swards of S24 perennial ryegrass were harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals throughout the growing season, commencing on 14 May, 4 June and 25 June respectively. The three silages were offered ad libitum with 0, 1, 2 or 3 kg per head per day of cereal-based concentrates to 84 Hereford-cross suckled calves (mean initial live weight 313 kg) in a 3 × 4 factorial design experiment in each year. The treatments were imposed for a mean period of 100 days. The digestible organic matter in the dry-matter values of the silages harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals were 0·684, 0·646 and 0·607 respectively. The mean silage dry-matter intakes and live-weight gains for the silages harvested at 6-, 9- and 12-week intervals were 4·75, 4·70 and 4·74 (s.e. 0·08) kg/day, and 0·75, 0·67 and 0·52 (s.e. 0·020) kg/day, respectively. The mean silage dry-matter intakes and live-weight gains for the supplement at 0, 1, 2 and 3kg/day were 5·23, 4·79, 4·72 and 4·17 (s.e. 009)kg/day, and 0·38, 0·57, 0·75 and 0·88 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day, respectively. There was a significant interaction between cutting interval and level of supplementation for live-weight gain, the response to supplementation declining as silage digestibility increased.
Induction of parturition in cattle
Authors: Prakash B. S. , Madan M. L. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTen crossbred (Karan Swiss) cows were induced to calve about 1 month prior to expected term using either 25 mg dexamethasone alone (Group B) or 25 mg dexamethasone in combination with 25 mg vetoestrol (Group C). Another five animals served as controls (Group A). The average time interval from injection to calving was not significantly influenced by the two treatments used, and was 52·2 ± 4·07 h and 49·0 ± 1·55 h for groups B and C respectively. The mean gestation lengths for animals in groups A, B and C were 283·60 ± 2·77, 255·20 ± 1·93 and 255·20 ± 2·3 days respectively. The calves born from cows induced to calve early were significantly lighter at birth compared to controls (P < 0·05). The average live-weight gain over the first 12 weeks among calves was not significantly influenced by treatment averaging 2·58 ± 0·07, 2·81 ± 0·16 and 2·20 ± 0·16 kg/week for groups A, B and C respectively. Foetal membranes had not been voided by 24 h in the animals induced to calve early and hence required manual intervention. The length of the service period, number of services per conception and the milk yield of the cows induced to calve was not significantly different from their previous records (P > 0·05).
A note on induced cryptorchidism in male cattle
Authors: Rees E. D. , Lucas I. A. M. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe induction of cryptorchidism in dairy-bred male calves during the 1st week after birth severely restricted testicular growth and the semen of cryptorchids was practically sterile. Their lifetime performance in a semi-intensive beef system was similar to that of bulls and significantly superior to that of steers. Similar differences were found in carcass characteristics. The grazing behaviour of cryptorchids was similar to that of bulls.
Crossbreeding beef cattle in Western Uganda 4. Calving percentage and mothering ability
Authors: Sacker G. D. , Trail J. C. M. , Fisher I. L. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe female progeny of Angus, Boran and Red Poll bulls mated to Ankole, Boran and Zebu cows were compared. Heifers by Angus and Red Poll sires out of Boran and Zebu cows could be mated at an average age of 23 months with excellent calving percentages, whereas Boran-sired heifers and heifers from Ankole cows were not ready for service at this age. Lactation stress caused heifers suckling calves to lose 4% of body weight over a 7½ month suckling period, while heifers not suckling calves gained 14% in body weight. Heifers by Red Poll sires did not provide more milk for their calves, as measured by early growth rate, than heifers by Angus or Boran sires. The effect of hybrid vigour on mothering ability of F1 dams was at least as great as it was on the early growth of the F1 crossbreds themselves.
Crossbreeding beef cattle in Western Uganda 5. Growth and carcass evaluation of castrated males
Authors: Trail J. C. M. , Sacker G. D. , Marples H. J. S. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYGrowth from two years to three years and carcass yield and composition were evaluated in nine types of steers produced by mating Angus, Boran and Red Poll bulls to Ankole, Boran and local Zebu cows. One hundred and nine steers were slaughtered at the average age of 3 years and 1 month.At three years of age, steers by Angus and Red Poll sires were 7% heavier than steers by Boran sires, while progeny of Boran and Ankole dams were 14% heavier than progeny of Zebu dams. Significant hybrid vigour effects on weight-for-age were found.After adjustment for weight and age at slaughter, linear carcass measurements supported the impression that steers by Angus sires were more compact and blocky than steers by Red Poll and Boran sires and that progeny of Ankole dams were longer in the leg and body than progeny of Boran and Zebu dams. Steers by Red Poll sires appeared to have a higher fat content than steers by Angus and Boran sires on the basis of dissection of a tenth rib sample joint. Progeny of Boran dams had a higher dressing percentage than progeny of Ankole and Zebu dams. Hybrid vigour appeared to have little effect on carcass traits.
A note on the utilization of urea by Sudan desert sheep
Authors: Hassan H. M. , Mukhtar A. M. S. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYSixty-four young male Sudan desert lambs were group-fed for 87 days on four diets, all containing approximately 10% crude protein. The four diets contained 0, 1·3, 1·7 and 2·7% urea, respectively.Average daily gains were 0·15, 0·14, 0·14 and 0·13 kg; feed conversion ratios (kg of feed required to produce 1 kg live-weight gain) were 7·26, 8·14, 8·92 and 7·92; dressing percentages were 43·6, 42·1, 44·1 and 42·3.Digestibility trials with lambs fed on diets with 0 or 2·7% urea gave higher digestibility coefficients for crude fibre and nitrogen-free extract for the urea-supplemented lambs. Crude protein digestibility and nitrogen retention values were lower for urea-supplemented lambs.