bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A note on the influence of ‘boar effect’ component stimuli on puberty attainment in the gilt
Authors: Kirkwood R. N. , Hughes P. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTForty Large White × (Landrace × Large White) gilts were allocated by litter to one of four treatments, such that one gilt from each of 10 litters was on each treatment. The treatments were: (i) 30-min daily boar exposure; (ii) 30-min daily pen change; (iii) 30-min daily pen change, plus exposure to boar urinary pheromone; and (iv) a control, subject to no stimulation.The treatments commenced at a gilt age of 165 days and continued either until puberty was detected or a cutoff age of 250 days was reached. Analysis revealed no significant differences between any groups for age at puberty or ovulation rate (determined at slaughter following the second oestrus).
Beef production from silage 2. The performance of beef cattle given silages of either perennial ryegrass or red clover
Authors: Thomas C. , Gibbs B. G. , Tayler J. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. A primary growth of perennial ryegrass was cut on 8 to 11 May (early) or on 12 June (late) for comparison with the primary growth of a tetraploid red clover, which was cut either on 1 or 2 June (early) or on 28 June (late). The crops were ensiled, after wilting for about 4h, with the addition of formic acid at 2·21/t fresh crop. The silages were given ad libitum alone or with rolled barley at 11·5 g dry matter per kg live weight to 40 British Friesian steers initially 3 months old and 108 kg live weight.2. On average there was no significant difference in digestibility between perennial ryegrass and red clover. However, the rate of decline in digestibility with time was greater with perennial ryegrass than with red clover.3. Calves given silage of red clover as the sole feed ate more dry matter and grew faster than calves given grass silage (P <0·001) but supplementation with barley reduced the intake of red clover silage to a greater extent than that of perennial ryegrass silage. Barley supplementation increased live-weight gain of calves given perennial ryegrass from 0·32 to 0·83 kg/day and that of calves given red clover from 0·63 to 0·99 kg/day (interaction P <0·05). The results did not indicate a higher net efficiency of utilization of the legume. Date of cut had no significant effect on dry-matter intake but earlier cutting resulted in an increase in live-weight gain from a mean of 0·61 to 0·77 kg/day (P <0·001).4. The results show that high rates of live-weight gain (0·74 kg/day) can be achieved by calves given silage of red clover and that earlier cutting of herbage for silage does not always result in higher intakes of dry matter. Supplementation of silages with barley can reduce markedly the difference in intake and live-weight gain apparent when the silages are given as sole feeds.
Copper supplementation of isonitrogenous diets for growing pigs containing white-fish meal or soya bean meal as the protein supplement
Authors: Barber R. S. , Braude R. , Mitchell K. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT1. Two trials were carried out to investigate the effects of high-copper supplementation of isonitrogenous diets containing either white-fish meal or soya bean meal as the sole protein supplement.2. There was no difference in performance between the two diets when they were fed unsupplemented with copper in trial 1. The addition of 250 mg copper per kg diet significantly and similarly improved performance on both diets.3. Liver-copper stores, but not kidney-copper stores, were significantly increased when the copper-supplemented diets were fed. The level of the liver-copper stores on the soya bean meal supplemented diet was, however, some 400g/kg less than that on the white-fish meal supplemented diet. The significance of this clearly established finding is discussed.
A note on the diurnal activity of early-weaned piglets in flat-deck cages at 3 and 6 weeks of age
Authors: Wood-Gush D. G. M. , Csermely D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe behaviour of eight litters of Large White × Landrace piglets aged 3 weeks was scored in flat-deck cages every 2min for 12 h during the day, noting the frequences of 11 behaviour patterns. Similar observations were made at 6 weeks of age, and five main activities at the two ages were compared. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of aggressive encounters between the two ages, while the other activities remained at the same frequencies. The proportion of scores devoted to the main activities is given.
A function for live-weight change between two calvings in dairy cattle
Authors: Korver S. , van Arendonk J. A. M. , Koops W. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA function to describe live-weight changes of dairy cows between two calvings is constructed. The following measurements were used: live-weight level (scale), pregnancy parameter, maximum decrease of live weight during the lactation and the time during lactation at which minimum live weight occurred.An analysis was carried out for each of 71 dairy cows of two genotypes, Dutch Friesian and Holstein Friesian crossbreds, given a high or a low concentrate diet. Data set 1 contained data of 40 weeks lactation and data set 2 data from calving to calving.The mean residual standard deviation per genotype-diet group ranged from 11 to 14 kg. The mean R2 ranged over the subgroups in data set 1 from 0·715 to 0·792 and in data set 2 from 0·857 to 0·906. Diet had a significant influence on the magnitude of the decrease in live weight during the lactation (71 v. 46 kg) and the mean time during the lactation at which minimum live weight occurred. The latter time ranged from day 58 to 100 over the four groups and a diet effect existed. The pregnancy parameter could not be estimated accurately based on measurements during the first 40 weeks of lactation. The correlation coefficient between the pregnancy parameter in data sets 1 and 2 ranged from +0·13 to +0·78. The other parameters showed coefficients from +0·82 to +0·99.
The effect of fish meal and sucrose supplementation on the voluntary intake of grass silage and live-weight gain of young cattle
Authors: England P. , Gill Margaret 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn an experiment designed to investigate the effects on the growth and voluntary food intake of grass silage by calves, the silage was supplemented with varying levels of fish meal and sucrose. The grass silage had a pH of 3·6, a lactic acid content of 90·0 g/kg dry matter (DM) and total nitrogen content of 15·5 g/kg DM. Supplements of 50, 75 and 100 g fish meal per kg silage DM and 50, 75, 100 and 150 g sucrose per kg silage DM were mixed with the silage just prior to feeding. The eight diets were offered to 32, 4-month-old British Friesian steers for 12, 7-day periods. Intake was recorded daily and live weight weekly.Digestibility of organic matter (P < 0·05) and N (P < 0·001) were increased by fish-meal supplementation but the effect of level of fish meal was not significant. Sucrose supplementation significantly decreased both N (P < 0·01) and cellulose (P < 0·05) digestibility. The effect on cellulose digestibility increased with level of sucrose (P < 0·01).The intake of silage DM increased in response to increasing level of fish-meal inclusion when intake was expressed in terms of kg/day (P < 0·01) but not when expressed in g/kg live weight. Total DM intake showed a significant (P < 0·001) linear response when expressed both in terms of kg/day and g/kg live weight. The intake of silage DM declined in response to increased level of sucrose supplementation both in absolute (P < 0·05) and live-weight terms (P < 0·001) but sucrose supplementation had no significant effect on total intake.Live-weight gain was significantly increased with increasing level of fish-meal supplementation (P < 0·001), but sucrose supplementation had a significant effect on live-weight gain relative to the control treatment at only the 75 g/kg level, where live-weight gain was increased.
An evaluation of the Hennessy Grading Probe and the SFK Fat-O-Meater for use in pig carcass classification and grading
Authors: Kempster A. J. , Chadwick J. P. , Jones D. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe Hennessy Grading Probe (GP) and the SFK Fat-O-Meater (FOM) are instruments capable of automatically measuring fat and muscle thicknesses from the differential light reflectance of tissues. They may offer advantages in the precision and cost of measurement over the simpler optical probe (OP). The GP and FOM were used on the slaughterline at nine abattoirs to measure fat thickness over the m. longissimus dorsi (MLD) and MLD depth at the last rib (LR) and third to fourth from last rib (3/4 LR) positions. The probes were used alternatively on runs of 100 carcasses which were also measured for LR fat thickness by OP in the normal course of carcass classification. In all 4642 (GP) and 5760 (FOM) carcasses were measured. A further 130 carcasses sampled from six of the abattoirs were measured by all three probes and their left sides were dissected into component tissues. The performance of the automatic probes relative to the OP was found to differ between abattoirs. The FOM worked more effectively on the slaughterline, requiring fewer repeat readings to obtain a satisfactory measurement than the GP. Both automatic probes gave more precise results when used at the 3/4 LR position. In the overall sample, residual s.d. for the prediction of OP-measured fat thickness were 2·33 mm (GP) and 2·07 (FOM). Residual s.d.'s for the prediction of carcass lean content from 3/4 LR fat thickness were 30·8 g/kg (OP), 36·6 (GP) and 31·4 (FOM). Addition of MLD depth provided a significant improvement in precision; residual s.d. were 35·9 g/kg (GP) (P < 0·05) and 29 1 g/kg (FOM) (P < 0·001). These results rate the FOM as superior but the differences are not large enough to discount the GP.
A note on the effect of feeding frequency on nitrogen use in growing boars given diets with varying levels of free lysine
Authors: Partridge I. G. , Low A. G. , Keal H. D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effect of frequency of feeding on the efficiency of utilization of L-lysine hydrochloride supplements was studied in 30- to 60-kg pigs. The feeding regimes were: (A) once daily, (B) twice daily, (C) four times daily between 08.30 and 20.30 h, (D) four times daily at 6-h intervals. The response criterion was urinary-nitrogen (N) excretion during 5-day periods. Linear improvements in N utilization were seen in response to lysine supplementation: (a) of a mineralized barley diet (4·0 g lysine per kg to levels of 5·0 and 6·0 g/kg (trial 1)), and (b) of a barley-soya diet (5·5 g lysine per kg to levels of 6·8 and 8·1 g/kg (trial 2)). In both trials the efficiency of N use averaged over the three diets was significantly poorer with once-daily feeding than for the other three treatments, which did not differ significantly from each other.
A study of water allowances for the bacon pig
Authors: Holme D. W. , Robinson K. L. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe results of two experiments, involving 72 individually fed pigs during a growing period between about 40 and 200 lb. live-weight, indicated that a water allowance of 1½ lb. per 1 lb. meal in place of 2½ lb. water had little effect on the performance of the pigs or on carcass measurements. With unrestricted water there were considerable differences in intakes between experiments but these were without significant effects on the criteria studied, when compared with the respective fixed water to feed ratios.In the first experiment, but not in the second, a dietary supplement of penicillin was associated with a reduced voluntary intake of water. The penicillin was without overall effect on performance or carcass composition, but was associated with a significant growth response up to 100 lb. live-weight in the first experiment.In both experiments females were less fat than castrates, as indicated by significantly different carcass densities and by some linear measurements.
The use of station and field tests for the improvement of milking performance in dairy cattle. II. Milking rate and time as indicators of a cow's milking ability
Authors: Hinks C. J. M. , Nielsen E. O. , Neimann-Sørensen A. 
Published: September 2010

An investigation of milking ability in three dairy breeds has shown that selection for superior productive performance would contribute little to the improvement of milking time. The heritability of both average rate of flow and milking time was reasonably high in all three breeds, however, and direct selection should result in effective improvements.The problem of slow milking was more acute in the Danish Red breed, in which almost one cow in ten needed more than six minutes to milk out, than in the Black Pied or Danish Jersey breeds.A comparison of the average rate of flow and milking time as criteria of selection for milking ability indicated that both measures were equally effective in the Black Pied and Jersey breeds, but that rate of flow was considerably more (40%) effective than milking time in the Danish Reds. This was largely because the heritability of milking time in this breed was only one-third that of milking rate.It was concluded that the average rate of flow was to be preferred to milking time as a criterion of selection for milking ability in the Danish station testing programme.
Change in the rate of eating during a meal and the effect of the interval between meals on the rate at which cows eat roughages
Authors: Suzuki Shozo , Fujita Hiroshi , Shinde Yozo 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The rates of eating silages and hay throughout a meal were recorded in eight cows consecutively using a special manger and an automatic recording apparatus. At each meal the rate of eating was highest in the first five or ten minutes and then fell gradually. These characteristics were observed both on silages and on hay and for all the experimental cows. The mean rates of eating hay, but not of silages, agreed with previous reports.2. The highest rate of eating was slightly faster at the evening meal than at the morning meal, when cows received equal amounts of feeds twice each day. The rate of eating declined at much the same rate throughout each meal when the cows received from 2 to 5 meals daily.3. When the cows were fed twice daily, the rate of eating throughout a meal was not affected by changing the interval between meals from 12 hr to 6 hr.4. When cows were given large amounts of feed at any one time, three stages of rate of eating, fast, decreasing and slow, were recognized.5. The quality of feed, individuality of cow and pregnancy evidently affected the rate of eating throughout a meal.
Albumin polymorphism in British cattle
Authors: Spooner R. L. , Oliver R. A. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA survey of albumin polymorphism in the major breeds of cattle in the British Isles is described. Four and probably five alleles have been found.AlbAis the common type in all breeds.AlbBoccurs with less than 1 % frequency in all breeds except Sussex and Charolais, where it has a frequency of 12% and 16% respectively. The possible implications of this finding are discussed. The other allelesAlbC(Ed)andAlbDare extremely rare, and are confined to a few animals each within one breed.AlbGhas been tentatively proposed as the name for a new albumin type.
Thyroid function as measured by131iodine release rate, weight and RNA/DNA in growing lambs, and its relation to growth rate
Authors: Draper S. A. , Haynes N. B. , Falconer I. R. , Lamming G. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThyroid activity was assessed in two groups of crossbred lambs and in Dorset Horn lambs fedad libitum, by measuring the rate constant (K4) for the release of131iodine from the gland. The results demonstrated a highly significant curvilinear correlation (P<0·001) between growth rate and the rate constant (K4) in experiments based on individual measurements in animals from three populations.Separate work carried out on the measurements of both thyroid size and RNA/DNA ratio suggests a need for caution when these are interpreted as parameters of thyroid activity. In the growing animal these may be more reflective of the growth of the thyroid gland itself, differences which may be governed by factors not directly related to variations in hormone secretion rate.The findings are discussed in terms of an explanation of the contradictory results obtained where attempts have been made to alter the thyroid status of growing animals by the use of thyroid hormone analogues and thyroid depressant drugs.
The effect of birth weight on the estimated milk intake, growth and body composition of sow-reared piglets
Authors: Campbell R. G. , Dunkin A. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTen littermate pairs were used to study the effects of light and heavy birth weight on the development of muscle tissue, growth rate, body composition and the estimated milk consumption of piglets reared on the sow to 6·5 kg live weight.Neither average daily gain to 6·5 kg nor body composition at the latter weight were significantly affected by birth weight. Birth weight also had no effect on the weight or deoxyribonucleic acid content of the semitendinosus musde at 6·5kg. However, pigs of hght birth weight -were lighter at 2\ days of age (P < 0·01) and older at 65 kg (P < 0·01) than those of heavy birth weight.Pigs of heavy birth weight consumed more milk per suckle than their lighter birth weight littermates (P < 0·01). However, the relative milk consumption (g/kg live weight) of both groups was similar.
A note on the grazing behaviour of young bulls and steers
Authors: Hinch G. N. , Thwaites C. J. , Lynch J. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe grazing behaviour of bulls and steers was examined by observation and the use of vibra-recorders. Twenty-four-h grazing times were similar for both bulls and steers but grazing patterns differed, with bulls being more sensitive to environmental change and grazing more intermittently than steers.
The effect of type of concentrate and level of concentrate feeding on milk production
Authors: Mayne C. S. , Gordon F. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTTwenty-four British Friesian dairy cows in early lactation were used in a change-over design experiment with three periods, each of 4 weeks duration. The aim of the experiment was to assess the effects of both the type of concentrate and the level of concentrate supplementation on the utilization of grass silage for milk production. Four treatments consisted of offering 10 kg/day of either a barley (10B) or a sugar beet pulp-based concentrate (10S), each concentrate being offered at two crude protein concentrations of 175 (low) and 245 (high) g/kg dry matter. In a further two treatments the barley-based concentrates containing the low and high protein concentrations were offered at 7 kg/day (7B). All concentrates were offered in addition to the cows having ad libitum access to grass silage containing a dry-matter concentration of 213 g/kg and a digestible organic matter concentration of 668 g/kg dry matter.Silage dry-matter intakes (kg/day) for cows given the low- and high-protein concentrates respectively were: 9·06 and 9·28 for the 7B treatments; 8·21 and 8·33 for the 10B treatments; and 8·04 and 7·97 for the 10S treatments (pooled s.e. 0·11). Fat-corrected milk yields for cows given the low- and high-protein concentrates respectively were: 24·0 and 24·1 for the 7B treatments; 25·9 and 27·0 for the 10B treatments; and 25·7 and 26·2 for the 10S treatments (pooled s.e. 0·57).The higher level of concentrate feeding significantly increased milk yield (P < 0·001) whereas neither energy source nor protein concentration in the concentrates had a significant effect on milk yield (P > 0·05). There was a trend towards a greater response to increased protein concentration at the higher level of feeding.
Performance of lambs from three crossbred ewe types
Authors: Cameron N. D. , Smith C. , Deeble F. K. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe performance of predominantly Suffolk-sired lambs from Border Leicester (BL), Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) and ABRO Damline (DL) crossbred ewes was compared on 18 commercial and college farms throughout England and Wales. The comparison took place over the 5-year period 1977 to 1981 and was the second stage in a comparative study on the productivity of the crossbred ewes. A total of 1277 crossbred ewes were involved with data on up to 3 years lambings per ewe, giving a total of 3522 mating records and 4864 lamb records.The BFL lambs were heaviest and the DL lambs were lightest. The DL lambs had the lowest survival rates, and the BFL lambs the highest. The BFL lambs were slaughtered earlier (12 days) and at heavier weights (1·4 kg) than the DL and BL lambs, and had slightly heavier carcasses. The DL and BFL carcasses had better MLC carcass classifications than the BL, resulting in an advantage of 4 p/kg of carcass.In productivity per ewe, the BFL litters had the highest slaughter and carcass weights and the highest income per litter, with the DL litters intermediate. An attempt was made to express productivity per unit of sheep weight maintained, taking account of ewe weight, litter size and the lamb slaughter date. On this index, the DL were marginally superior to the BFL, and both were superior to the BL.
Some factors influencing the availability of colostrum to piglets
Authors: Fraser D. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTFive experiments, involving the hand milking of 53 farrowing sows, examined aspects of colostrum yield during and soon after farrowing. The initial and abundant yield of colostrum from a teat (averaging 6 to 10 g/min) declined after several minutes of continuous milking. Thereafter, most colostrum was released in discrete ejections, possibly caused by discrete releases of oxytocin. Colostrum ejections varied greatly in their yield and duration, and were sometimes associated with the birth of a piglet, sounds of other sows nursing, or other factors.Teats varied greatly in their yield. During the initial minutes of milking, the most anterior teats gave, on average, 3 to 5 times more colostrum than the most posterior teats, with a nearly monotonic decline from front to rear. However, the difference between anterior and posterior teats disappeared after several minutes of continuous milking. Stimulation of the anterior teats appeared to cause the release of more colostrum than did either the stimulation of the posterior teats or no stimulation of the udder at all. A strong sucking stimulus, applied to several teats by a milking machine, elicited a large, prolonged release of colostrum.The results suggest that (1) much of the colostrum received by newborn piglets is obtained in discrete ejections rather than in a continuous manner; (2) appropriate stimulation of the udder by the piglets may be important to elicit maximum colostrum yield; and (3) a high initial yield from anterior teats, coupled with a higher yield when anterior teats are stimulated, may help to explain the piglets' preference for anterior positions on the udder.