bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacteria of the ovine rumen I. The composition of the population on a diet of poor teff hay
Authors: Gilchrist F. M. C. , Kistner A. 
Published: March 2009

1. The composition of the bacterial population in the rumen of adult merino wethers conditioned to a diet of poor teff hay was studied during three consecutive periods of 60, 109 and 42 days when the ration was 1200,600 and 300 g. per day, respectively.2. In all three periods there was no significant difference between the three sheep with regard to either the viable counts of the functional groups of bacteria fermenting cellulose, starch, glucose, xylose and lactate or the percentage proportions of the different morphological types occurring in each group.3. The reduction of food intake had little or no influence on either the numbers or the morphological types of bacteria in each functional group.4. The animals lost weight at approximately the same rate throughout the three periods of the experiment which was ended when they were in a state of prostration.5. These results suggest that, providing the diet is changed only in respect of quantity, important functional groups of rumen bacteria can survive at levels of food intake which are insufficient for the survival of the animal.
Technique for evaluating the potential for growth of shoot and root buds of white clover (Trifolium repens)
Authors: Newton P. C. D. , Hay M. J. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAn assay was developed for assessing the potential for growth of shoot and root buds of white clover. This paper describes the technique and the experimental results on which it was based. The assay involved the incubation of nodes under standard conditions and the monitoring of bud activity at the nodes. Shoot buds were of primary interest but the assay was also used to investigate the activity of root primordia. Correlative influences were reduced by separating individual nodes and by removal of their subtending leaves and petioles. The optimal environmental conditions for incubation were: a constant temperature of 20 °C, a 24 h photoperiod of low irradiance (4 W/m2) and a high relative humidity (≥ 90%). The technique proved suitable for the monthly screening of 1000–2000 nodes sampled from field populations of white clover.
Nutritive value of the olive leaf: effects of cultivar, season of harvesting and system of drying
Authors: Cabrera-Gomez A. , Garrido A. , Guerrero J. E. , Ortiz V. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYLeaves of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) of eight cultivars, Manzanilla, Picual, Hojiblanca, Edremit, Conservolia, Picholine-Marroqui, Chemlali and Frantoio, were collected in different seasons and years in Córdoba, Spain. Their chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility values were determined. Differences in composition and nutritive value between cultivars, years and seasons were studied in Manzanilla, Picual and Hojiblanca, the three most important local cultivars. There were significant differences both between cultivars and seasons (P < 0·05) and a non-significant difference between years.The effect of various drying procedures (fresh, oven-dried, air-dried indoors or air-dried outdoors) on chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and in vivo digestibility in sheep was also examined. The in vivo organic matter digestibility of fresh leaves was significantly higher than that of dried leaves. No difference was found between leaves air-dried indoors and oven-dried leaves. However, leaves air-dried outdoors were significantly less digestible. Quick drying in an oven reduced the digestibility of crude protein and acid detergent fibres compared to air drying indoors. There was a significant decrease in digestibility of 11% when leaves were dried separated from the branches as compared to leaves dried on the branches.
Effect of condensed tannins upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism in sheep grazing sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and perennial pasture
Authors: Terrill T. H. , Douglas G. B. , Foote A. G. , Purchas R. W. , Wilson G. F. , Barry T. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAreas of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and pasture (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens/Holcus lanatus) were grazed by young sheep (29·5–34·8 kg initial liveweight) in four experiments, and effects upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism were measured.Sulla contained 40–50 g condensed tannins (CT)/kg DM, whilst the pasture contained small amounts of CT (2–6 g/kg DM). After chewing during eating, a lower proportion of total CT was readily extractable and greater proportions were protein-bound and fibre-bound. Nutritional effects attributable to CT were assessed by oral administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which binds and inactivates CT, to half the animals grazing each forage. Rates of body growth were consistently higher for lambs grazing sulla than those grazing pasture, with the CT concentration in sulla being neither stimulatory or inhibitory to body growth or voluntary feed intake (VFI). The action of CT reduced carcass fatness in sheep fed both diets, in the one experiment where this was measured. CT present in both sulla and pasture decreased rumen ammonia concentration and decreased molar proportions of iso-butyrate and iso and n-valerate. During spring and early summer, when wool growth rates were highest, CT present in both pasture and sulla increased wool growth rate; when wool growth rates were low during winter, CT had no effect upon the wool growth of sheep grazing either forage. Numbers of protozoa and molar proportions of n-butyrate in rumen fluid were increased by CT in sheep grazing sulla but not pasture.It was concluded that the higher rates of body growth and VFI in lambs grazing sulla was most likely to be due to its very high ratio of readily fermentable: structural carbohydrate.
Not all sheep prefer clover: diet selection revisited
Authors: Newman J. A. , Parsons A. J. , Harvey A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSeveral previous studies have shown that the proportion of clover in sheep diets was greater than the proportion of clover in the mixed species swards being grazed. Various hypotheses have been put forward to explain this observation. One widely held hypothesis is that sheep prefer (actively select) clover to grass. This hypothesis was tested by offering 12 sheep, six that had been recently grazing perennial ryegrass and six that had recently been grazing white clover, the choice between foraging on grass or clover provided as turves. It was found that, rather than prefer clover, the sheep preferred the opposite species to the one they had previously grazed. From these observations, alternative hypotheses are proposed to explain the disparity in composition of the diet relative to the swards observed in previous studies, and the evidence for a constant preference for clover and its basis in grazing behaviour is reconsidered.
Effect of centre of production, maturity and storage treatment of seed tubers on the growth of early potatoes: II. Field growth
Authors: Goodwin P. B. , Brown A. , Lennard J. H. , Milthorpe F. L. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYStudies were carried out on the effect of source, time of lifting and post-harvest treatment of apparently virus-free Arran Pilot seed potatoes on subsequent crop growth. The experiments were carried out in 1961–2 and 1962–3 at Efford, Sutton Bonington and Edinburgh. Seed tubers from the more southern region, which were older and showed greater sprout development at planting, gave plants with a higher stem number at soil level, a higher tuber number and a greater percentage of the tuber yield as seed grade than northern-produced seed. High bulking rates were associated with early emergence, high tuber numbers and late apparent time of tuber initiation. In 1962 southern seed produced plants which initiated tubers early and had low bulking rates and low final yields. In 1963 seed source had little effect on the time of tuber initiation of resulting plants, and southern-produced seed gave plants with high bulking rates and high final yields. Early lifted and greened tubers gave rise to plants with the same pattern of response as seed produced at the southern centre. It is suggested that this variation in response between years was due to the climatic conditions at the time of tuber initiation in the field crop.Seed of a required state at planting can usually be obtained by growth at the centre of ware production provided disease can be controlled and the time between harvesting of seed and planting is longer than about 3 months.
Effect of light on spring breeding of mutton merino ewes
Authors: Goot H. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYMutton Merino ewes, all of which had lambed in the preceding in-season, were divided into two groups some 30 days after lambing.The ‘light’ group was subjected, over 84 days, to a simulated decrease in daylength, achieved by first adding artificial light to the daylight and then stepping down the light at weekly intervals, from approximately 17 h, on 22 January, to natural daylength (13 ¾ h), on 20 April 1967. The control group was exposed to the normally increasing daylength.Starting on 1 March, the ewes in both groups were ‘teased’ and hand-service commenced on 20 April.The breeding activity (oestrus, ewes lambing, lambs born and twin births) as well as the length of gestation and birth weight appeared to be unaffected by the light.It would appear that the ‘short-day’ photoperiodic theory is not applicable to all breeds of sheep, and it is suggested that in sheep with a long sexual season genetic heterozygosity may be responsible for regulating the breeding season by allowing other environmental stimuli, besides light, to trigger-off sexual activity.
Studies on the Northern Rhodesia Hyparrhenia veld V. The yield of veld compared with giant Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana)
Authors: Smith C. A. 
Published: March 2009

A plot trial compared the herbage yields of Hyparrhenia veld and giant Rhodes grass (Ghloris gayana cultivar) cut at grazing and hay stages of growth at four levels of N fertilizer. Veld outyielded Rhodes grass in all treatments.The milk yields from Hyparrhenia veld and a giant Rhodes grass pasture were similar when grazed at low and high stocking rates with and without N fertilizer.
The utilization of the energy of different rations by sheep and cattle for maintenance and for fattening
Authors: Blaxter K. L. , Wainman F. W. 
Published: March 2009

1. Six diets in which the percentage of hay varied from 0 to 100% and the percentage of flaked maize varied conversely from 100 to 0% were each given to three sheep and three steers in a series of 72 calorimetric experiments. In addition the fasting metabolism of each animal was determined on two occasions.2. The loss of energy in the faeces increased linearly with the percentage of flaked maize in the diet, but the loss of N in the faeces did not, the loss being proportionately smaller for diets containing more than 60 % maize.
Magnesium metabolism in the dairy cow IV. The availability of the magnesium in various feedingstuffs
Authors: Rook J. A. F. , Campling R. C. 
Published: March 2009

1. The ‘availability’ of the magnesium of diets consisting solely of roughage or succulent feeds, including herbages cut at different seasons and at different stages of growth, and of diets of hay supplemented with various concentrate feeds, was assessed in metabolism trials conducted with two non-pregnant, non-lactating Shorthorn cows.2. The highest daily intakes of magnesium (1720 g./day) were provided by a diet of red clover: grasses and hays generally gave a considerably lower intake of magnesium (8–10 g./day), and most of the other diets provided intermediate amounts. However, with timothy hay and barley straw, intakes of 5 and 2 g./day, respectively, were recorded. Supplements to a diet of hay of dairy cubes or of oilcakes rich in protein gave a massive increase in magnesium intake but a supplement of flaked maize provided little additional magnesium.3. The ‘availability’ of the magnesium of the diets was generally low, within the range of 5–30%. With diets of single feeds no clear distinction between the various roughages and succulents in the ‘availability’ of their magnesium was established, though within the group of herbages the lowest values tended to occur with grasses cut at an early stage of growth and the highest values at the mature stage. A supplement of flaked maize increased the ‘availability’ of dietary magnesium and one of protein-rich oil cakes decreased the ‘availability’ of dietary magnesium.4. The results are discussed in relation to the development of hypomagnesaemia in cattle grazing spring pasture.
Effects of nitrogen fertilizers on total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen and soluble carbohydrate contents of grass
Authors: Nowakowski T. Z. 
Published: March 2009

Italian rye-grass given ammonium sulphate or sodium nitrate at 56 or 112 lb. N/acre was analysed for total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen (non-protein-nitrogen) and soluble carbohydrates.Ten days after applying fertilizer the differences in total-N between the grass receiving 56 and grass receiving 112 lb. N/acre were very small. Total-N in grass decreased with growth, but the effect of the rate of nitrogen on total-N increased. At first the grass given sodium nitrate contained more soluble nitrogen than grass given ammonium sulphate, the difference being greater at 56 lb. N/acre; soluble nitrogen decreased with increasing growth. Ten days after applying fertilizer, the nitrate-N content of grass was very high (ranging from 0·1 to 0·9% in the D.M.) and it gradually decreased. At both levels of nitrogen application, grass given sodium nitrate contained much more nitrate-N than grass given ammonium sulphate. Forty days after applying nitrogen the nitrate-N contents of grass which received 56 and 112 1b. N/acre as ammonium sulphate were 0·039 and 0·222% of the dry matter, respectively; the grass supplied with sodium nitrate gave values of 0·082 and 0·438%.Total soluble carbohydrates in the grass were small early in growth and gradually increased. Nitrogen dressings had little effect on the content of soluble sugars (glucose + fructose + sucrose) but greatly decreased the fructosan. The pattern of changes in the total soluble carbohydrate content followed that in fructosan content. Early in growth, the total soluble carbohydrate/crude protein ratio was very small in grass from all treatments except the ‘control’. This ratio increased with growth and at the last sampling was 2·13 in grass receiving no nitrogen, and in grass supplied with 56 and 112 lb. N/acre as ammonium sulphate it was 1·44 and 0·72 respectively; the corresponding figures for grass receiving sodium nitrate were 1·13 and 0·66. The total soluble carbohydrate carbon/soluble nitrogen ratio in grass with no nitrogen was 18 at the first sampling and it increased gradually, reaching 70 at the last sampling. This ratio was considerably less with all nitrogen treatments than with ‘control’. The values obtained with 112 lb. N/acre were less than those obtained with 561b./acre, irrespective of the form of nitrogen used.The relationship between the soluble carbohydrate carbon content and the soluble nitrogen in grass is illustrated graphically and discussed.
Lameness in buffalo in N.E. Malaya
Authors: Hill R. , Rajagopal N. M. 
Published: March 2009

The skeletons of most of a group of lame buffalo from an area around Pasir Puteh and of some of a group of similarly lame animals from an area S.W. of Pasir Mas were poorer than those of a control group from around Kota Bharu. Analyses of blood and liver indicated that the defective mineralization of the skeleton was caused by a shortage of phosphorus rather than of calcium or copper.Evidence for a relationship between lameness and the quality of the skeleton was not strong and further study including a feeding experiment is needed to establish the validity of this.
Wool length and radiant heating effects in sheep
Authors: Parer J. T. 
Published: March 2009

1. When Merinos of varying wool lengths were exposed at constant air temperature of 36° C. (c. 97° F.) to infra-red radiation of energy equivalent to that which they might receive from the sun, the following responses were noted:(a) A very highly significant (P < 0·001) inverse relationship between respiration rate and wool length.(b) A non-significant inverse relationship between rectal temperature and wool length.(c) A very highly significant (P < 0·001) quadratic relationship between back wool-tip temperature and wool length.(d) A very highly significant (P < 0·001) inverse relationship between back-skin temperature and wool length.Thus, the length of wool determines to a large extent the degree of protection given to the sheep against radiant heat.2. The rate of conduction of heat per unit area through the back wool in different sheep was hyperbolically related to wool length. Below 1 cm. woollength heat was taken up very rapidly; beyond 4 cm., increasing wool length afforded negligible additional protection.
Utilization of urea by sheep
Authors: Schwartz H. M. , Schoeman C. A. , Färber M. S. 
Published: March 2009

1.The breakdown of urea, soluble starch and glucose was followed in the rumen of fistulated sheep and in artificial rumens containing rumen ingesta or strained rumen fluid.2. Carbohydrate remained in the rumen two to three times as long when starch was dosed in vivo as when glucose was given.3. The relative rates of breakdown of urea and carbohydrate by strained rumen fluid in vitro differed markedly from those in vivo. This was due to the fact that straining removed large numbers of starch- and glucose-utilizing micro-organisms which were attached to the larger food particles, while the concentration of the urea-splitting organisms which were freely suspended in the strained liquor was apparently the same as that obtained in the strained material. Strained rumen fluid should therefore not be used for studies of the utilization of urea in vitro.
A study of the ‘dissolved faeces fraction’ method for the indirect estimation of herbage intake
Authors: Langlands J. P. , Corbett J. L. 
Published: March 2009

1. Samples of faeces obtained from eleven continuous digestibility trials in which sheep, steers or cows were given fresh herbages grown in different seasons in 2 years were analysed for the ‘dissolved faeces fraction’ (D.I-.F.).2. Dry-matter intake by sheep was linearly related to the weight of D.F.F. excreted and the equation predicted intakes that were 20 %higher at the mean intake than those estimated from a similar type of relationship obtained by Owen (1961). A logarithmic relationship was derived when the observations for all species were combined.
Sodium and potassium balances and growth on high and low sodium diets
Authors: Horrocks D. 
Published: March 2009

1. Sodium and potassium balances and the growth rate of steers have been recorded for animalsreceiving a protein supplement on a high and low salt regime.2. Zebu steers receiving less than an average of 0-2 g. sodium per day were able to grow at 82 % of the rate of Zebu steers receiving salt supplement. Shorthorn steers under the same conditions grew at 72 % of the rate of Shorthorns receiving the supplement.
The value of urea nitrate and urea phosphate as nitrogen fertilizers for grass and barley
Authors: Gasser J. K. R. , Penny A. 
Published: March 2009

Urea nitrate, urea phosphate, and a mixture of urea phosphate and urea were tested as nitrogen fertilizers to find whether the presence of the anion decreases the damage urea causes to germinating seeds and seedlings and increases the efficiency of urea by preventing loss of ammonia.Urea nitrate was compared with ammonium sulphate for grass grown in pots in the glasshouse and with ammonium nitrate for permanent grassland in the field. In the glasshouse, a large dressing of urea nitrate damaged the early growth of grass in sandy-loam soil. On average of sandy-loam and clay-loam soils with a small dressing of fertilizers, grass recovered similar amounts of N from urea nitrate and ammonium sulphate; with the large dressing it recovered less from urea nitrate.In the field, 100 and 200 lb N/acre were applied to permanent grassland which was cut twice. The herbage was ‘scorched’ by the urea nitrate because its solution is very acid. Urea nitrate at 200 lb N/acre produced less dry matter containing less nitrogen than did ammonium nitrate.Urea nitrate, urea phosphate and urea phosphateurea mixture were compared with ammonium nitrate for barley and grass grown in clay-loam and sandyloam soils. Tests were made of 33, 67 and 100 lb N/acre for barley and 100, 200 and 300 lb N/acre for ryegrass; the fertilizers were applied immediately before sowing. On the light Woburn soil early growth of barley was least good with urea nitrate, which also damaged the early growth of grass.
The grazing habits of African-owned, East African zebu cattle in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia)
Authors: Smith C. A. 
Published: March 2009

The grazing behaviour of village cattle in the Eastern Province of Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) was studied.Usually, the cattle graze in the bush during the rains and on the dambos in the dry season. Where most of the upland was cultivated, the cattle were forced to graze in the dambos during the rains contrary to correct land use. The arable land and crop residues are grazed after the harvest in middry season.
Protein, lysine and feed intake level effects on pig growth. III. Regression analysis and economic aspects
Authors: Dent J. B. , Blair R. , English P. R. , Raeburn J. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYData from the experiment described in the first paper of this series were subjected to regression analysis. Lean meat and live-weight gain response to both lysine and crude protein intake was almost linear in period 1 but in later periods little response was evident. Response of live-weight gain to increased energy was continuous though diminishing in the later periods. In periods 1 and 2 lean gains showed positive though diminishing response to energy.In a multivariate regression analysis it was clear especially for younger pigs that the response to dietary lysine for both live-weight and lean meat gains is influenced by the dietary level of crude protein and the energy intake. Separate multivariate analysis for each sex indicated that females are more efficient converters of lysine and energy into live weight and lean meat. Also an interaction between sex and dietary lysine level was suggested.A methodology for an economic analysis taking the joint objectives of total cost of production, speed of grain and quality of gain is established as a basis for design of high profit system of production.
The effect of sowing date and harvesting date on the yield of sugar beet
Authors: Hull R. , Webb D. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA field experiment in each year 1963 to 1967 in Suffolk, England, tested the effect on yield of sugar beet of sowing dates ranging from 13 March to 11 May and harvest dates ranging from 20 September to 8 December. Sowings in March or early April gave similar yields of sugar but with later sowings yield decreased progressively faster. The relationship is represented by the equationy = 106·3 (±2·24) + 0·212 (±0·184)x-0·009 (±0·003)x2,y = yield as percentage of mean (60·1 cwt/acre of sugar), x = number of days after 12 March.Delayed harvest increased sugar yield; the relationship is represented by the equationy = 80·22 (±1·51) + 0·836 (±0·09)z-0·006 (±0·001)z2,z = number of days after 19 September. This represents an increase of 0·247 cwt/acre/day of sugar in October and 0·083 cwt/acre/day in November, equivalent to about 2½ tons/acre of roots in October and 1 ton/acre in November.The effect on sugar yield of different lengths of growing period, which ranged from 138 to 271 days, is represented by the equationy = 38·7 (±26·6) + 1·045 (±0·267)a-0·0017 (±0·0007)a2,a = number of days between sowing and harvest.On average, sowing date had negligible effect on sugar percentage at harvest. In 3 years sugar percentage increased after the first harvest to a maximum and then decreased; in 2 years it decreased with consecutive harvests.