bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correction [to “Apollo 11 Mission commemorated”]
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: August 2009

In the 28 July 2009 issue of Eos (90(30), 258), a date was incorrect in the news item entitled “Apollo 11 Mission Commemorated.” NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan was referring to the 1970s, not the 1960s, in talking about his expectation of when humans would be back on the Moon.Eos regrets this error.
Immunological traits have the potential to improve selection of pigs for resistance to clinical and subclinical disease
Authors: Henryon M. , Heegaard P. M. H. , Nielsen J. , Berg P. , Juul-Madsen H. R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIt was reasoned that, if we used a large sample of pigs, we could demonstrate that total and differential numbers of leukocytes, expression levels of swine leukocyte antigens (SLA) I and II, and serum concentrations of IgG and haptoglobin show additive genetic variation and are, therefore, potentially useful as criteria to improve selection of pigs for resistance to clinical and subclinical disease. We tested this premise by assessing 4204 male pigs from the Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds for total and differential numbers of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IgG and haptoglobin; 1217 of the Duroc and Landrace pigs were also assessed for expression levels of SLA I and II. We estimated the amount of additive genetic variation by fitting linear animal models to the total and differential numbers of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IgG and haptoglobin. We fitted linear sire models to the expression levels of SLA I and II. We detected additive genetic variation for each group of traits. Total and differential numbers of leukocytes were moderately heritable (h2=0·22 to 0·30), expression levels of SLA I and II were moderate-to-highly heritable (h2=0·46 to 1·23), while serum concentrations of IgG and haptoglobin were lowly heritable (h2=0·14 to 0·16). The additive genetic variation shown for the immunological traits is encouraging for pig breeders. It indicates that these traits are potentially useful as criteria to improve selection of pigs for resistance to clinical and subclinical disease.
Associations of PrP genotypes with live weight and slaughter traits in an experimental flock of Swaledale sheep in Great Britain
Authors: Man W. Y. N. , Brotherstone S. , Merrell B. G. , Murray W. A. , Villanueva B. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractPolymorphisms at codons 136, 154 and 171 of the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP) are associated with susceptibility to classical scrapie in sheep. Genetic selection for scrapie resistance based on PrP genotypes is central to the scrapie eradication programme in Great Britain but there are concerns about how this may affect other economically important traits. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations of PrP genotypes with live weight and slaughter traits in a hill sheep breed in Great Britain. Data used were from an experimental flock of Swaledale sheep in which the alleles ARR, ARQ, AHQ and VRQ were present. About 1450 genotyped lambs with birth, marking and weaning weights, and 620 with slaughter records were used for the study. Mixed models with various fixed effects and random direct genetic and maternal effects were tested to determine the appropriate model to use for each trait. None of the differences in lamb performance between PrP genotypes consistently reached significance. Therefore, this study does not support existence of significant relationships between PrP genotype and lamb performance traits in this breed.
Responses to supplementation by dairy cows given low pasture allowances in different seasons 1. Pasture intake and substitution
Authors: Penno J. W. , Macdonald K. A. , Holmes C. W. , Davis S. R. , Wilson G. F. , Brookes I. M. , Thom E. R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTwo factorial experiments were designed to determine the effects of stage of lactation, and season of the year, on cow responses to supplementary feeding. These experiments were conducted over consecutive years with 128 high genetic merit multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in early, mid and late lactation in spring, summer, autumn and winter. At each stage of lactation, and in each season of the year, cows were offered a restricted pasture allowance (25 to 35 kg dry matter (DM) per cow per day), either unsupplemented (control) or supplemented with 50 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per cow per day in experiment 1 and 80 MJ ME per cow per day in experiment 2. Two different supplements were offered, namely, rolled maize grain (MG) and a mixture of foods (BR) formulated to nutritionally balance the diet. In experiment 2, a fourth treatment consisting solely of a generous pasture allowance (60 to 75 kg DM per cow per day, AP) was introduced. Offering MG and BR increased DM intake (DMI). At the restricted pasture allowance, increasing total ME allowance (MEA) by offering supplementary foods increased ME intake (MEI) by 0·68 (s.e. 0·047) MJ per extra MJ ME offered. This highly significant (P<0·001) linear relationship was consistent across seasons, and did not diminish at higher MEA. In experiment 2, cows in early lactation had lower substitution rates than mid and late lactation cows irrespective of season. Substitution rate was higher when higher pasture allowance or quality of pasture on offer enabled the unsupplemented cows to achieve higher DMI from pasture than at other times of the year. These results suggest that one of the key factors determining the intake response to supplementary foods is pasture allowance. Within spring calving dairying systems, the largest increases in total DMI per kg of supplement offered is likely when offering supplements to early lactation cows grazing restricted allowances of high quality pasture.
Responses to supplementation by dairy cows given low pasture allowances in different seasons 2. Milk production
Authors: Penno J. W. , Macdonald K. A. , Holmes C. W. , Davis S. R. , Wilson G. F. , Brookes I. M. , Thom E. R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTwo factorial experiments were designed to determine the effects of stage of lactation, and season of the year, on cow responses to supplementary feeding. These experiments were conducted over consecutive years with 128 high genetic merit multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in early, mid and late lactation in spring, summer, autumn and winter. At each stage of lactation, and in each season of the year, cows were offered a restricted pasture allowance (25 to 35 kg dry matter (DM) per cow per day), either unsupplemented (control) or with supplement at 50 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per cow per day in experiment 1 and 80 MJ ME per cow per day in experiment 2. The two supplements given in both years were rolled maize grain (MG) and a mixture of foods formulated to nutritionally balance the diet (BR). In experiment 2, another treatment, of a generous pasture allowance (60 to 75 kg DM per cow per day) (AP), was imposed on an additional group of early lactation cows during each season. Direct milk solids (MS) (milk fat plus milk protein) responses in experiment 1 to MG were 169, 279, 195 and 251 g MS per cow per day in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, while those to BR were 107, 250, 192, 289 g MS per cow per day. In experiment 2, however, milk solids responses to both supplements during spring were slightly below the control treatment, with values similar to those in experiment 1 in summer and autumn for cows on the BR but not the MG supplement. Milk solids responses to supplementary foods were largest during seasons of the year when the quantity and quality of pasture on offer resulted in the lowest milk solids yield from unsupplemented cows. When carry-over effects of feeding MG and BR on milk solids production were detected, they were only about half the magnitude of the direct effects. Serum urea concentrations were higher in control cows than those offered MG with a similar effect for BR in all but summer in experiment 1, while serum glucose concentrations were highest in winter and lowest in summer. The most important factor influencing milk solids responses was the relative food deficit (RFD) represented by the decline in milk solids yield of the respective control groups after changing from a generous pasture allowance to restricted allowance when the feeding treatments were imposed. Total milk solids responses (direct and carry-over) to supplements were greatest when severe food restrictions, relative to the cows' current food demand, resulted in large reductions in milk solids yield of the control groups. The RFD was the best predictor of milk solids response to supplementary foods. Therefore, it is likely that cows are most responsive to supplementary foods during or immediately after the imposition of a severe food restriction.
Response of growing pigs toPeniophora lycii- andEscherichia coli-derived phytases or varying ratios of calcium to total phosphorus
Authors: Adeola O. , Olukosi O. A. , Jendza J. A. , Dilger R. N. , Bedford M. R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to study the effects of phytase derived fromEscherichia coli(ECP) andPeniophora lycii(PLP) on performance, nutrient digestibility, and phosphorus (P) equivalency values of young pigs; and the influence of varying ratios of calcium (Ca) to total phosphorus (Ca:tP) with or without ECP on growth performance of pigs. In each experiment, 48 10-kg pigs were housed in individual pens for 28 days. Experiment 1 was designed to study the efficacy of ECP and PLP in improving growth performance and bone mineralization of young pigs given a low inorganic P (iP) diet. In the experiment, pigs were blocked by weight and sex and randomly allocated to eight dietary treatments. Each treatment had six replicates. The treatments were a positive control with adequate iP (PC); a low iP negative control (NC) diet; NC with supplemental iP in the form of monosodium phosphate added to provide 0·75 or 1·50 g iP per kg diet (as-fed basis); NC with ECP or PLP added at 500 or 1000 FTU per kg (as-fed basis; one phytase unit or FTU is defined as the quantity of enzyme required to liberate 1 μmol of iP per min, at pH 5·5, from an excess of 15 μmol/l sodium phytate at 37°C). In experiment 2, the objective was to study the effect of varying Ca:tP ratio with or without ECP on growth performance of growing pigs. Pigs (eight replicates) were blocked by weight and sex and randomly assigned to six dietary treatments in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of Ca:tP ratios at 1·2, 1·5, or 1·8; and ECP at 0 or 1000 FTU per kg (as-fed basis). In experiment 1, ECP (P<0·001) and PLP (P<0·05) linearly increased daily gain. There was a positive linear (P<0·05) response to the supplementation of the NC diet with ECP or PLP in the mineralization of the third and fourth metacarpal bones. Phosphorus equivalency values for 500 FTU of ECP or PLP based on mineralization of the third metacarpal bone were 0·77 g or 0·572 g, respectively. There were linear (P<0·001) and quadratic (P<0·05) responses to ECP, and linear (P<0·01) response to PLP in P digestibility. Neither iP supplementation nor either of the two phytases had significant effects on digestibility of dry matter, protein or energy. In experiment 2, reducing Ca:tP ratio linearly improved (P<0·05) daily gain, food intake, and food efficiency in pigs regardless of phytase supplementation. There was an enzyme by Ca:tP interaction on food intake. These studies in young pigs showed that ECP and PLP were efficacious in improving the growth performance and bone mineralization and that reducing the Ca:tP ratio enhanced performance response to phytase supplementation.
Heritability of post-mixing aggressiveness in grower-stage pigs and its relationship with production traits
Authors: Turner S.P. , White I. M. S. , Brotherstone S. , Farnworth M. J. , Knap P. W. , Penny P. , Mendl M. , Lawrence A. B. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractMixing of commercial pigs frequently leads to intense aggression. Considerable phenotypic variation exists between individuals and selection against aggressiveness may offer a long-term reduction in aggression without incurring additional costs to the primary producer. The genetic contribution to aggressiveness was quantified in this study using the number of skin lesions as an indicator of involvement in aggression. A sample of 1132 pigs were mixed at an average weight of 27·9 (s.d. 4·6) kg into 96 pens on a commercial sire line nucleus unit. Post-mixing aggressiveness of pigs was assessed using the lesion score (LS) approach. Growth rate, between 27·9 and 91·9 kg, and backfat depth at 91·9 kg were recorded for a subsample of 658 pigs. With a pedigree file of 1947 animals, a heritability of 0·22 was estimated for the LS trait. No significant genetic or phenotypic correlations were found between LS and growth rate or backfat depth, but standard errors of estimates were large. The response to selection, when all selection pressure was placed on the LS trait, was a 25% reduction in LS per generation. It is therefore technically possible to select for a reduced LS without substantially inhibiting genetic progress in growth rate or backfat depth through antagonistic genetic relationships.
The effect of feeding a low- or a high-starch diet on thein vitrofermentative capacity of equine faecal inocula
Authors: Murray J. M. D. , Longland A. , Moore-Colyer M. , Dunnett C. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractSeven mature Welsh-cross pony geldings provided the faecal inocula in a cross-over design experiment, consisting of two 14-day periods. In period 1, four ponies (group 1) were offered a low-starch fibre mix (LS), and three (group 2) were offered a conventional high-starch coarse mix (HS). Both groups were offered these mixes in a 50:50 ratio with mature grass hay, to give a total daily dry-matter intake of 17·5 g/kg live weight per day. Diets were then switched in period 2. At the end of each experimental period freshly voided faeces were collected from each animal and assessed for their ability to ferment grass hay (H), fibre mix (FMix) or starch-based coarse mix (SMix) using the gas production (GP) technique of Theodorouet al.(1994). Donor animal diet and donor animal had no effect on any end-point measurements. Lag times recorded for the SMix were significantly (P<0·001) greater in LS-inoculated bottles compared with the HS inocula (1·74v.2·25 h, respectively). Lag times for FMix and SMix varied significantly (P<0·001) between ponies (0·82 to 1·78 h in the FMix and 1·64 to 2·51 h in the SMix). The degradation rate of H also differed significantly (P<0·001) between ponies with the time taken to reach 50% of GP (T50) ranging from 12·70 to 17·30 h. Consequently, it would appear that the effect of feeding LS or HS on thein vitrofermentative capacity of equine faecal inocula is minimal; moreover, the GP technique appears to be valuable tool for evaluating such effects.
Comparison of fresh and ensiled white and red clover added to ryegrass on energy and protein utilization of lactating cows
Authors: van Dorland H. A. , Wettstein H.-R. , Leuenberger H. , Kreuzer M. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTwo respiratory chamber experiments were conducted with dairy cows to compare metabolizable energy and protein utilization when feeding white or red clover with ryegrass. In experiment 1, fresh ryegrass was mixed with fresh white (WF) or red clover (RF) (60/40, on dry matter (DM) basis). Experiment 2 involved similar mixed diets in ensiled form (WS and RS, respectively), and two ryegrass silage diets, without (GS) or with supplementary maize gluten (GS+). Barley was supplemented according to requirements for milk production. Voluntary forage DM intake remained unaffected in experiment 1 and was higher (P<0·01) in experiment 2 for WS than for GS and GS+(128 v. 98 and 106 g/kg M0·75). Within experiments, no treatment effects occurred for apparent nutrient digestibilities, milk yield, and composition. Protein utilization (milk-N/N-intake) was numerically lower on all clover-based diets (0·24 to 0·25) versus GS (0·29). With added maize gluten (GS+), protein utilization decreased to 0·23, indicating that ryegrass silage (plus barley) alone provided sufficient metabolizable protein. Consequently, higher (P<0·01) urinary energy losses occurred in GS+ compared with GS, despite similar metabolizable energy intakes, and a trend for the highest plasma urea levels was found for GS+ cows (7·59 mmol/l;P<0·1). Overall, this study illustrates that the white and red clovers investigated were equivalent in energy and protein supply, also in comparison to the ryegrass. It remains open whether these forage legumes, when supplemented to a moderate-protein ryegrass, would have contributed to metabolizable protein supply or would have merely increased metabolic nitrogen load.
Influence of provision of toys during transport and lairage on stress responses and meat quality of pigs
Authors: Peeters E. , Geers R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTransport and accompanying mixing of pigs causes fights among pigs and stress resulting in decreased welfare and reduced meat quality. This study investigates the effect of toys available during transport and lairage on behaviour, stress responses, and meat quality of slaughter pigs. Cross-bred (Piétrain×Hypor) pigs (109·1±10·1 kg) were allocated to one of three treatments during transport and lairage: 1) no toys (control) 2) rubber toys and 3) balls. The rubber toy consisted of two fixed rubber sticks; the plastic ball was filled with pieces of maize, which became available for the pigs in small amounts by manipulating the ball. Per group of 11 pigs, two toys were provided. Totally, divided over 4 replicates, 144 pigs were involved, of which 72 were used for blood sampling and meat quality measurements. Five minutes scans during lairage revealed that treatment did not affect the percentage of pigs that lay (P=0·20), stood (P=0·83) or sat (P=0·12) and that in almost all scans at least one pigs was manipulating a ball, compared with half of the scans in which at least one animal was manipulating a rubber toy (P=0·02). However both toys resulted in a lower incidence of shoulder lesions compared with the control group (P=0·06; 31·1% and 28·9% of the pigs for the rubber toys and balls respectively, versus 51·1% for the control group). Blood sampling at sticking showed that pigs with the balls during transport and lairage tended to have lower cortisol concentrations (P=0·07) than pigs with the rubber toys. Also, a decrease in plasma lactate concentration was observed for these pigs in comparison with the control group (P=0·08), and a higher pH of the m. longissimus dorsi 45 min post mortem for the pigs with the balls was found than for the pigs with the rubber toys (P=0·01). These results indicate that enrichment of compartments during transport and lairage with balls reduced glycolysis in muscle resulting in a lower lactate production and a slower pH decline. The pH 45 min post mortem of the m. biceps femoris and the pH, electrical conductivity, colour, and water-holding capacity of the loin 48 h post mortem were not affected by treatment. In conclusion, environmental enrichment with toys during transport and lairage can decrease shoulder lesions and lower the pH decline 45 min post mortem, especially by provision of plastic balls filled with maize.
Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 2. Lactation and growing period
Authors: Quevedo F. , Cervera C. , Blas E. , Baselga M. , Pascual J. J. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA total of 166 crossbred does were used to study the possible long-term effect of two types of crossbred does (H1v.H2, old and current generations, respectively) from the cross of different generations of lines selected for litter size, the use of a rearing programme based on a low-energy diet, and the administration of a high-energy diet during reproductive life, on the performance and body condition of lactating rabbit does and their litters until slaughter. The body condition of the reproductive rabbit does increased in the successive cycles to the fourth parturition, being maintained from this moment on. Animals more selected for litter size at weaning presented a greater food intake (+3%;P<0·05) and milk yield (+6%;P<0·05) during the first 21 days of lactation, which could be related to greater maternal aptitude. The difference in the weight of pups at slaughter time (+24 g for H2 respect to H1 pups) was one third lower than that expected from the generation response of the paternal line (0·45 g/day), perhaps related to the different enteropathy incidence depending on the genetic type. The use of a high-energy diet during the reproduction period increased the milk yield (+22%;P<0·05) of does, as the growth (+16 g at weaning day;P<0·05) and survival index (+2%;P<0·05) of the litters during lactation, but could produce a more sudden weaning of pups as a consequence of their lower pre-weaning food intake (−42%;P<0·05), which has been related with a greater health risk index during the growing period (+4·2%;P<0·05). Reproductive does given a high fibre diet during the rearing period (from 3 kg live weight to 28th day of the first pregnancy) reached parturition with a higher live weight than does that received a moderate energy diet restricted during this same period (+142 g;P<0·05). All other parameters controlled for the lactating does and their litters were not affected by the type of diet received during the rearing period. Females that were not effectively mated at first AI (11 dayspost partum) showed a greater increase in their perirenal fat thickness between partum and the 11th day of lactation than those lactating females that showed an effective mating (+0·22v.+0·37 mm, respectively;P<0·05).
Oral administration of spermine advances intestinal maturation in sucking piglets
Authors: Cheng Z. B. , Li D. F. , Xing J. J. , Guo X. Y. , Li Z. J. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of orally administered spermine at various doses on intestinal maturation in sucking piglets. Thirty-six 11-day-old sucking piglets were assigned randomly to one of six treatments to receive via a stomach tube 0, 0·1, 0·2, 0·3, 0·4, or 0·5 mmol spermine per kg live weight (LW) per day for 3 days. At day 14 of age, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were obtained for biochemical and morphological analysis. Increasing the dose of orally administered spermine increased intestinal weight (linear effect, P<0·01), mucosal weight (linear effect, P<0·05), and mucosal protein, DNA and RNA contents of the duodenum (linear effect, P≤0·01) and jejunum (linear effect, P<0·01). Elevating spermine doses also enhanced (linear effect, P≤0·02) the specific activities of maltase and sucrase but decreased (linear effect, P<0·01) lactase specific activity in the jejunum and duodenum. Furthermore, augmenting oral doses of spermine increased crypt depth and villus width but reduced villus height in the jejunum (linear effect, P<0·05) and duodenum (linear effect, P<0·01). For most measurements, the effects were observed at the oral spermine doses of 0·3 to 0·5 mmol/kg LW per day. Collectively, the results show that oral administration of optimal doses of spermine to 11-day-old sucking piglets induces precocious intestinal maturation and promotes intestinal growth.