bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre-weaning mortality and productivity indices for goats and sheep on a Masai group ranch in south-central Kenya
Authors: Wilson R. T. , Peacock C. P. , Sayers A. R. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn an examination of the productivity of goats and sheep on a Masai group ranch in Kenya, estimated least-squares means for pre-weaning mortality were 28·6% for goats and 32·1% for sheep. Three productivity indices based on total live weight of young produced per female per year, per kg female per year and per kg metabolic weight per year gave values of 11·1 kg, 410 g and 0·99 kg for goats and 14·1 kg, 473 g and 1·18 kg for sheep. The effects of environmental variables on these indices, the comparative advantage accruing to the variables, mortality, reproductive success and weight gain were used to construct a proposed set of interventions for the improvement of small ruminant production in south-central Kenya.
Approximations in the variable net energy system for ruminants
Authors: Glen J. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe variable net energy system for ruminants was developed to allow rations to be formulated in an additive manner. It is demonstrated that the variable net energy system is based on approximations which can cause errors in ration formulation. The extent of these errors is examined for cattle rations, and it is shown that the errors can be significant.
A note on the effect of olaquindox as a food additive in diets with or without a high-copper supplement for pigs weaned at 21 days
Authors: Patterson D. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn a study involving 240 pigs, starter and grower diets containing copper at a high level (180 mg/kg) or olaquindox (110 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg in starter and grower diets respectively) or both were compared with a control diet containing 15 mg Cu per kg. The pigs were weaned at 21 days and given the starter diets until they reached a mean live weight of 10·2 kg, followed by grower diets for 28 days.In both the starter and grower periods, the effects of the high Cu supplement were not significant. In the starter period, olaquindox significantly improved daily gain (by 25 g) and food conversion efficiency proportionately by 0·07 (P < 0·01). In the grower period, olaquindox did not significantly affect performance.
Biochemical and physiological responses to metabolic stimuli in Friesian calves of differing genetic merit for milk production
Authors: Sinnett-Smith P. A. , Slee J. , Woolliams J. A. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTChanges in blood metabolite and insulin concentrations in response to metabolic stimuli were evaluated as potential predictors of dairy merit. Calves of high or low genetic merit for milk production were subjected to the stress of: simulated feeds by injection of sodium propionate (0·5 mmol/kg body weight), a short fast and short-term cold exposure. Responses of insulin, free fatty acids, urea, glucose and D-β-hydroxybutyrate were determined by serial blood sampling.Injections of sodium propionate did not greatly affect blood metabolite concentrations but did sharply increase insulin concentrations; no difference in response between high and low lines was observed. During fasting serum free fatty acid and D-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greatly increased but no variation due to line was observed. Urea concentrations were also greatly increased during fasting and in this case animals of high dairy merit showed a considerably smaller increase than animals of low dairy merit. Heart rates decreased by one-third during the fast but no variation due to line was apparent;during refeeding high dairy-merit animals had lower heart rates than low-merit animals.Short-term cold exposure did not significantly alter plasma insulin or metabolite concentrations.These results are discussed in relation to previous findings and it is concluded that serum urea concentrations during a fast may provide the basis for a useful and robust predictor of dairy merit in young animals.
Policy of selecting bulls to breed bulls
Authors: Goddard M. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn the breeding of dairy cattle the selection of bulls to breed young bulls for progeny testing is a crucial process. This paper compares several policies for making this selection based on the criteria-selection response, inbreeding depression, loss of genetic variance and variability of response. A number called the ‘effective number of new bulls to breed bulls selected each year’ (NBBe) is defined which is closely related to the last three of these criteria. Past studies of the design of dairy cattle breeding programmes have assumed that selection is within a group of bulls progeny tested in the same year (policy I). However, modern sire evaluation methods allow comparison of sires tested in different years. To evaluate the effect of selecting bulls to breed bulls from all available bulls (policy II) a computer simulation program was used. Policy II results in an increase in the response to selection but a substantial decrease in NBBe. When compared at the same NBBe, policy II results in a smaller selection response than policy I. A policy which allows the best bulls to be used for more than 1 year but which limits the maximum number of years for which they can be used, results in the best compromise. If bulls are to be used for several years there is little advantage to be gained from making more matings within each year to more high-rated bulls or to older, more reliably evaluated bulls.
Inter-breed relationships of birth weight and maternal and paternal weight in cattle
Authors: Taylor C. S. , Murray J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe inter-breed relationship of birth weight and maternal and paternal weight in cattle was examined using published data on over 200 different breeds from a total of over 500 experiments. This collection of data was far from optimal for estimating genetic between-breed regressions and should have contained fewer breeds and more experiments on the same breed. Nevertheless, it was established that the mean mature weights of bulls and cows maintained a constant ratio throughout the range of breed size but mean calf weight declined relative to mean sire and mean dam weight as breed size increased.When considered in conjunction with other results on litter weight at birth, the best relationship to use appeared to be that of proportionality to dam weight to the power 0·83, which could uniformly be applied to both breeds and species. The constant of proportionality found for cattle was 0·197 which can be compared with estimates of 0·183 for sheep, 0·185 for dogs and 0·165 on average for mammalian species.
Muscle growth and distribution of muscle weight in Clun and Southdown sheep
Authors: Butler-Hogg B. W. , Whelehan O. P. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA total of 56 sheep, 28 Clun and 28 Southdown were slaughtered, five of each breed, at birth, 50, 100, 150 and 200 days and three of each breed at 415 days of age. The left half of each carcass was separated anatomically into individual muscles, bones and fat depots. For the purposes of analysis, individual muscles were assigned to one of eight muscle groups, depending upon their anatomical location.The relative growth of some individual muscles was found to change over this age range, as indicated by a significant squared term in the quadratic allometric equation: this was true for proportionately 0·33 of the muscles in Clun and for proportionately 0·44 of those in Southdown, accounting for proportionately 0·33 and 0·47 of total muscle weight in Clun and Southdown respectively.Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to derive the multivariate analogue of the quadratic part of quadratic allometry: the sign of the loading on the second principal component had the same sign as the change observed in bq, the quadratic relative growth coefficient. Thus, PCA offers the potential to identify simultaneously, and independently of shape or conformation, all those muscles whose relative growth coefficients change over the period examined. It could be applied successfully to breed comparisons of conformation.The cumulative effects of changing relative growth rates of muscles were small. Muscle weight distribution appears to be almost fixed within the first few weeks after birth. Despite their differences in conformation and mature size, Clun and Southdown lambs had similar distributions of muscle weight at the same age; the high valued muscles constituted 513·8 g/kg total muscle in Clun and 514·7 g/kg total muscle in Southdown lambs at 200 days of age.
Cold exposure of Southdown and Welsh Mountain sheep. 4. Changes in concentrations of free fatty acids, glucose, acetone, protein-bound iodine, protein and antibody in the blood
Authors: Halliday R. , Sykes A. R. , Slee J. , Field A. C. , Russel A. J. F. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTwenty-four Southdown and 24 Welsh Mountain year-old female sheep, half on high-plane and half on low-plane nutrition, were shorn and given two acute cold exposures in climate chambers. For 2 weeks before and 2 weeks between exposures the sheep were kept in a subcritical (+ 8°C) or a thermoneutral (+30°C) environment. Before the temperature treatment each sheep received an injection of Brucella abortus vaccine. Blood samples were taken during exposure to + 8°C and + 30°C and during the acute cold exposures for estimation of free fatty acid (FFA), protein-bound iodine (PBI), glucose, acetone, serum protein and antibody levels. FFA and glucose levels alone were measured in 32 similarly treated Scottish Blackface sheep.1. Low plane sheep had higher PBI levels at all temperatures, and higher glucose levels during acute cold exposure than high plane sheep. Otherwise most major effects were attributable to ambient temperature.2. At +8°C the PBI, FFA, glucose, serum protein and acetone levels were higher than at + 30°C.3. Blackface sheep had lower FFA and glucose levels than Southdown and Welsh sheep at both temperatures.4. During acute cold exposure, PBI, acetone and FFA levels increased further. PBI levels were highest in sheep previously at + 30°C, and acetone highest in sheep previously at + 8°C. Very high FFA levels were recorded, especially in sheep not previously cold-acclimatized.5. Glucose levels increased initially, but fell towards the end of acute exposure, suggesting that relatively less carbohydrate and more fat was utilized for energy metabolism during this period.6. Serum protein levels fell during acute exposure, possibly because protein catabolism increased. The proportions of albumin and γ-globulin increased and decreased respectively.7. No effects of temperature on antibody levels were detected.
Single cereal diets for bacon pigs: 2. The effect of methods of storage and preparation of barley on performance and carcass quality
Authors: Cole D. J. A. , Dean G. W. , Luscombe J. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYBarley which had been stored after treatment with 0·8 % propionic acid was incorporated into pig diets in either the milled or the rolled form and its feeding value compared with that of barley stored dry and then ground, and of moist barley stored anaerobically and then rolled. The pigs were fed from 50 to 200 lb live weight on the four diets. Their performance was not affected by the method of storage of the barley, but those given rolled barley required 11% more dry matter per unit of live-weight gain than those given milled barley. There were no significant differences between the treatments in carcass measurements, or in apparent digestibility coefficients as measured by the chromic-oxide method.
Dental occlusion in young bulls of different breeds
Authors: Wiener Gerald , Gardner W. J. F. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe position of the incisor teeth in relation to the maxillary pad was examined in bulls (at approximately 10 months old). Visual gradings grouped into five classes were made on 5582 bulls of eight breeds in the course of inspection for licensing. In addition, measurements of the tooth positions (grouped into 11 classes) were made on separate samples of 1163 Galloway and 191 Ayrshire bulls.Among the beef breeds 84·0% of all tooth positions were classed as being normal and 96·6% of those among the dairy breeds. The proportion of mouths with incisor teeth forward of the maxillary pad was higher among the beef breeds. Individual breeds within the beef and dairy types also differed significantly.Herds of the Galloway and of the Ayrshire breeds, judged on the bulls submitted for licensing, differed in the distributions of the position at which the incisor teeth met the pad. Herds also differed when judged on the occlusion of the sons of their bulls.Heritability was calculated for Galloways by half-sib correlation and sire-son regression, yielding estimates from 0·31 to 1·28, suggesting that at least some of the variation is inherited. The undershot and overshot conditions were found together only rarely among the male offspring of any one bull.
The nutritive value of separated milk for pigs: II. The effects of different amounts on performance to 90 kg live weight
Authors: Chamberlain A. G. , Cooke B. C. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYEach of seven diets containing different proportions of separated milk and barley meal, supplemented with minerals and vitamins, was given to five groups of four pigs. The ratios of barley to milk solids were such that the crude protein of the dry matter given to pigs of 20 to 40 kg live weight ranged from approximately 15 to 21%. Within each treatment, the proportion of milk was gradually adjusted so that the crude protein level was reduced by 3% over the live-weight range 40 to 91 kg. Daily energy allowances of all pigs were governed by the same scale.The total dry matter consumed by the pigs had mean total lysine levels of from 0·52 to 1·18% (approximately 0·1% lysine between successive treatments).Pigs on the lowest level of milk grew more slowly and had poorer feed conversion than other animals.Percentage dissectable lean in the trimmed side was highly correlated with lysine level. Within the range studied, each 0·1% increase in lysine increased lean by 0·69% and caused decreases in fat thickness. The performance of the milk-fed pigs was compared to controls given a standard all-meal diet.Nitrogen metabolism trials were carried out on the milk diets. Beneficial responses in terms of nitrogen retention were found up to the highest level of milk given to pigs between 16 and 90 kg live weight.
A note on mating preferences of Clun Forest ewes
Authors: Lees J. L. , Weatherhead M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYGroups of Clun Forest ewes, in which oestrus had been synchronized following the removal of progestogen-impregnated pessaries, were introduced into a small enclosure containing tethered Hampshire, Suffolk and Clun rams. The ewes exhibited a clear preference for the ram of their own breed. The Suffolk ram appeared to be a very poor second choice. When the Clun ram was replaced by a Kerry more ewes went to the Suffolk than to either the Hampshire or the Kerry. When Clun ewes were introduced to 3 tethered Clun rams there was no obvious preference for an individual ram.
The biological efficiency of meat production in sheep
Authors: Large R. V. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe biological efficiency of meat production (E) is defined as the weight of carcass produced per 100 units of digestible organic matter (DOM) consumed. The factors affecting this relationship, for ewes and lambs, are discussed and the results of experiments are used to demonstrate the effect of number of lambs per year and size of ewe on the value of E. Calculations are made to show the effect on E of other factors such as the growth rate of the lambs and the weight at which the lambs are slaughtered. The general conclusions are that the highest values for E will be obtained from small breeds of ewes producing large litters and crossed with a large breed of ram, leading to a high growth rate and final size in the lamb. A relatively small increase in litter size in the small breeds of ewe (i.e. from one to two lambs) may result in a level of efficiency as high as that achieved by a larger breed with a large litter size (i.e. three to four lambs) without having to resort to techniques such as the artificial rearing of lambs.
Intensive beef production. II. Replacement of cereals with ground straw
Authors: Kay M. , Macdearmid A. , Massie R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. A growth trial was carried out with 21 Friesian steers given diets containing either 0%, 30% or 50% ground straw, and concentrates up to 100%.2. Steers offered the diet containing 0% straw consumed less dry matter per day than steers on the other two treatments.3. Rates of live-weight gain were 1·20, 1·04 and 0·87 kg/day for the three treatments respectively, and carcass gains were 690, 550 and 440 g/day.4. Killing-out percentage dropped and alimentary-tract fill increased as the proportion of straw in the diet increased.5. The dry-matter digestibility coefficients for the three diets, determined at maximal intake, were 79·1%, 62·3% and 56·6%, respectively.
Performance testing for beef: inter-relationships among traits in bulls tested from an early age
Authors: Willis M. B. , Preston T. R. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Performance tests were made on 221 bulls of eight breeds or crosses from 90 days of age (weaning) up to 400 kg live weight. Feeding was in individual pens on a high-energy complete diet.2. Pre-weaning gain was not significantly related to gain on test (r = 0·11) nor was 90-day weight to gain on test (r = 0·26) or feed conversion (r = −0·15). Weight for age at 200 and 300 kg was highly correlated with final weight for age (r = 0·72 and 0·89 respectively) while gain on test and final weight for age had a pooled correlation (across breeds) of r = 0·95. The correlation of feed conversion with gain on test was highly significant in all breeds. The range of values (−0·72 to −0·86) is higher than any previously reported estimates possibly due to an absence of initial weight effects, a reduction in the proportion of feed used for maintainenance and the use of complete diets.3. It is suggested that with this testing system at least 50% of bulls could be culled at 300 kg without affecting selection of the best 20% of all bulls starting the test.
Some thermal effects on the pig of the ingestion of liquid feed at various temperatures
Authors: Holmes C. W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Experiments have been performed to determine the thermal effects, on pigs, of the ingestion of whey at various temperatures while housed at various air temperatures.2. Measurements of carotid artery and rectal temperatures showed that a general cooling of deep-body tissues occurred after the ingestion of cool whey.3. Measurements of rectal and skin temperatures, and observations of respiratory rate and shivering activity, indicated that thermo-regulatory responses were induced by the ingestion of cool whey; the nature of the responses was dependent on the air temperature.4. The results indicate that the temperature of liquid food offered to animals is a significant parameter in their climatic environment.
A note on the voluntary feed intake and growth of pigs given diets containing an extremely bitter compound
Authors: Blair R. , Fitzsimons J. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn two trials 20 female pigs were given diets containing up to 50 p.p.m. ‘Bitrex’ during their growth from 100 to 200 lb live weight. Voluntary feed intake, daily live-weight gain and carcass quality were not influenced significantly.
A note on the weights and weight gains of some Charolais and contemporary calves of other breeds in Northern Ireland
Authors: McNally D. H. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYData on calves sired by Charolais bulls and their contemporaries in 22 commercial herds in Northern Ireland indicate that the Charolais calves were significantly heavier than their contemporaries at weaning as well as at birth. Although the weight of dam was also significantly greater for the Charolais calves, all the evidence indicated that this was not associated with calf weight and did not, therefore, invalidate the conclusion on calf weights.The present results suggest that although interaction between breed of sire and sex is not statistically significant for calf weights neverthe-less the superiority of Charolais sires was much greater for males than for females. The interaction was significant for daily gain to weaning. Separate analyses for the two sexes indicated that the Charolais-cross males gained significantly better than their contemporaries whereas no significant difference in gain could be detected in the females.
Performance test procedures for meat production amongst dairy bulls used in AI
Authors: Hinks C. J. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe potential benefits to be obtained from the adoption of performance testing for meat production in a dual-purpose breed have been examined and contrasted with those obtainable from improvements in dairy progeny test procedures.It was concluded that capital investments in performance testing are likely to prove profitable, but less profitable than similar investments in the improvement of the dairy progeny test. Where performance testing is practised, there appears to be little advantage to be gained from the application of selection rates in excess of 1 in 3.
A note on the fertility of hill ewes mated to Finnish Landrace and Border Leicester rams
Authors: Barker J. D. , Land R. B. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe litter size and lambing rate of 1531 ewes of British hill breeds which had been mated to Finnish Landrace or Border Leicester rams was found to be independent of breed of ram. It was concluded that Finnish Landrace rams do not have a particular effect on the reproductive performance of ewes to which they are mated.
Adaptation of growing pigs to changes in environmental temperature
Authors: Morrison S. R. , Mount L. E. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYPigs fed ad libitum were exposed to changes from 22 to 33°C and from 33 to 20°C. Responses were investigated in two groups of animals kept for three successive periods of four weeks at 22°, 33° and finally 20°C.Twenty-four hr after the first change, from 22 to 33°C, there was a decline in body weight; after the second change, from 33 to 20°C, there was a large increase. After the change to 33°C, feed intake by the second day and growth rate for the first week were about the same as at the end of the four weeks, but about 12 days were required for water intake, rectal temperature and respiratory rate to reach steady values.After the change from 33 to 20°C, steady values for respiratory rate and rectal temperature were reached in one and 12 days respectively. The rate of gain in weight increased to reach a peak nine days following the temperature change and then declined.
A note on the effect of docking on fat deposition in fat-tailed sheep
Authors: Joubert D. M. , Ueckermann L. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYThe deposition of body and subcutaneous fat was compared in two groups of fat-tailed sheep, the one group docked shortly after birth and the tails of the other left intact. The slightly heavier live and carcass weights of the latter animals could be accounted for almost entirely by their significantly heavier weights of caudal fat, there being no firm evidence in support of increased internal or subcutaneous fatty deposition following amputation of the cauda.
A note on the relations between scrotal wool cover, face cover, and cover on points in Merino rams
Authors: Rathore Ashok K. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYIn Merino rams studied over three seasons in New South Wales scrotal cover was correlated with face cover (0·29) and cover on points (0·16). Scrotal length was positively correlated with scrotal wool cover (0·17) and cover on points (0·28).