bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of milk substitute input during calfhood on the lifetime performance of beef cattle
Authors: Steen R. W. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThree randomized-block experiments involving 87 British Friesian, 18 Simmental × Friesian and 18 Hereford × Friesian, artificially reared calves (mean initial live weight 47 kg and age 9 days), were carried out to examine the effects of the quantity of milk substitute consumed on the lifetime performance of beef cattle. The three treatments were (1) 400 g milk powder per head daily, weaned at 42 days of age (2) ad libitum intake of milk powder, weaned at 42 days and (3) ad libitum intake of milk powder, weaned at 60 days. All calves were individually penned and fed until after weaning; those on treatment 1 were bucket fed twice daily, while those on treatments 2 and 3 sucked the milk from 25·1 containers through artificial teats. They were offered a pelleted, barley/soya-bean meal concentrate (197 g crude protein per kg dry matter (DM)) ad libitum from purchase until intake reached a maximum of 2·7 kg per head daily, and well preserved grass silage ad libitum from 6 weeks of age. Three commercial, skimmed milk-based, acidified milk substitutes (242 and 187 g crude protein and oil per kg respectively) were used. Intakes of milk substitute, concentrate DM and silage DM per calf to 12 weeks of age for treatments 1 to 3 respectively were as follows: 13·0, 39·7 and 54·8 (s.e. 1·67) kg; 88, 73 and 58 (s.e. 1·5) kg and 9·4, 10·6 and 11·2 (s.e. 0·23) kg. Live-weight gains to 12 weeks of age and carcass weights adjusted to 19 months of age were 0·71, 0·82 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·026) kg/day and 335, 340 and 341 (s.e. 3·8) kg. It is concluded that increasing the input of milk substitute above 400 g per head daily until 6 weeks of age produced only a small and uneconomic increase in the lifetime performance of beef cattle.
The effect of level of nutrition prior to mating on the reproductive performance of ewes of two welsh breeds in different levels of body condition
Authors: Gunn R. G. , Maxwell T. J. , Sim D. A. , Jones J. R. , James M. E. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe effects of high-low (HL) and low-high (LH) patterns of nutrition during the 5 weeks prior to a synchronized mating were studied on the reproductive performance of 115 Welsh Mountain and 114 Brecknock Cheviot ewes in a range of body condition at the start of treatment. For 2 months prior to treatment imposition, ewes were grazed in a systematic way at different stocking rates on different sward heights to obtain a range of body condition scores. Target score groupings were 2·00 to 2·25, 2·50 to 2·75 and 3·00 to 3·25 and although scores of 1·50 to 3·25 were obtained, most lay in the 2·00 to 2·75 range. Two treatment groups, balanced for live weight and body condition score, received high and low levels of nutrition for 16 days from mid October, achieved, respectively, by a low stocking rate on a sward with a high surface height plus ad libitum concentrate and a high stocking rate on a sward with a low surface height plus 200 g hay per head per day. Treatments were then reversed for the 17 days prior to mating. Live-weight and body condition-score changes were recorded and reproductive performance at first mating was measured from counts of corpora lutea and viable embryos at slaughter either at return to service or at 4 weeks after first mating. There were no differences due to nutritional pattern in live weight or body condition score at mating. The LH treatment significantly increased the rates of ovulation, conception, multiple ova survival and potential lambing per ewe pregnant and per ewe mated in the Welsh Mountain breed but significantly increased only the rates of ovulation and potential lambing per ewe pregnant in the Brecknock Cheviot breed compared with the HL treatment. The relatively poorer response in the latter breed was partially due to a lower ovulation rate potential coupled with non-significantly lower rates of conception and survival of single-shed ova associated with the LH treatment. Much of this relatively poorer reproductive performance in the Brecknock Cheviot breed was in ewes with body condition scores 3= 2·75. Reproductive performance increased with increasing body condition at the start of treatment over the range of scores =≤ 2·25 to 2·50 in both breeds and, while continuing to improve in scores above 2·50 in the Welsh Mountain breed, in the Brecknock Cheviot breed it started to decline. Ewes with a body condition score of 2·50 in both breeds showed the greatest response in potential lambing rate to the LH treatment.
The effects of food protein content on the performance of pigs previously given foods with low or moderate protein contents
Authors: Kyriazakis I. , Stamataris C. , Emmans G. C. , Whittemore C. T. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTAn experiment was conducted to study the ability of the pig to recover from the effects of a period on a food deficient in crude protein (CP). Forty young pigs were given free and continuous access to foods with either 150 (L) or 252 (M) g CP per kg in period 1 of the experiment, from 6·3 kg to 13·4 and 12·3 kg live weight respectively. These live weights were expected to give equal lipid-free empty body weights. In period 2, four males and four females from each of the period 1 treatments were given access to either M or a food with 377 g CP per kg (H) to a live weight of 30 kg, when the 32 pigs were killed.Pigs on L took 11 (s.e. 0·6) days longer to complete period 1, and had, at the end of this period, 0·20 (s.e. 0·03) kg less protein and 1·20 (s.e. 0·06) kg more lipid in their bodies than the M pigs, at a common ash weight. In period 2, pigs from L grew at a faster rate (750v.633 (s.e.d. 20) g/day), ate food at the same rate (1115v.1085 (s.e.d. 35) g/day) and converted food more efficiently (0·676v.0·585 (s.e.d. 0·016) g gain per g food) than those from M. At 30·3 kg live weight the pigs from L had corrected their protein deficit relative to ash and reduced their fatness, so that they had the same protein: ash ratio and only 0·47 (s.e. 0·12) kg more lipid in their bodies than those from M. This was the result of a higher rate of gain of protein and water, a lower rate of lipid gain and similar rate of ash gain by the pigs from L than those from M. In the first 7 days of period 2 the pigs from L gained weight at 1·4 times the rate of those from M. In the final 7 days there was no significant effect of period 1 treatment on growth rate. The pigs from L given food H in period 2 were more efficient than those given M in period 2 (food conversion efficiency (FCE) values of 0·884 and 0·791 respectively; s.e.d. 0·027), but this difference was reversed in the final 7 days (FCE values of 0·521 and 0·603 respectively). t I is concluded from these results that a period of eating a food of low protein content produces a reduced protein: ash and an increased lipid: ash ratio in the body and reduced growth rate and efficiency. When subsequently pigs are given a food of sufficiently high protein content, the protein: ash and lipid: ash ratios return to normal. The repletion of labile protein reserves, with their associated water, leads to a substantial increase in the rate of live-weight gain. The lower lipid content of the gain leads to a high efficiency. The duration of these effects depends on the protein content of the food given.
Differences in the composition and tissue distribution of pig carcasses due to selection and feeding level
Authors: Godfrey N. W. , Frapple P. G. , Paterson A. M. , Payne H. G. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTA total of 96 Large White weaner pigs, comprising equal numbers of entire males and females, and of controls and eighth generation index-selected genotypes, were fed ad libitum until 40 kg live weight. From 40 kg until slaughter at 85 kg live weight pigs within genotype and sex groups were fed either ad libitum or 2·2 times maintenance. The left sides of the carcasses were divided into shoulder, middle and ham portions and the middles further divided into eye, wedge and belly dorso-ventral portions. Tissue dissection was performed on all portions separately.Selected pigs yielded proportionately 0·15 less fat, 0·08 more muscle, a smaller muscle: bone ratio and 4·05 mm less P2 backfat depth than the controls. When the data were adjusted to the same mean P2 fat depth, the carcasses of selected pigs had 0·07 less fat and 0·03 more muscle. There were no appreciable differences between the genotypes in cranio-caudal tissue distribution. However, there were differences in dorso-ventral tissue distribution since the middles of selected pigs had proportionately and absolutely more of each tissue in the belly. There was no evidence that selection against fat at the P2 site had caused any increase in fat lateral to the m. longissimus.Food restriction increased carcass muscle by 0·10 and decreased fat by 0·17, but had no effect on muscle: bone ratio or cranio-caudal or dorso-ventral tissue distribution. At the same carcass side weight and P2 fat depth, restricted feeding decreased fat by 0·10 and increased muscle by 0·06 in the carcass side.It is concluded that carcasses of the selected pigs would be undervalued relative to the controls due to less fat and more muscle at the same weight and P2 fat depth. Also, restriction on food intake can cause carcasses to be undervalued relative to feeding ad libitum.
Prediction of gross energy content of ewe milk
Authors: Šebek L. B. J. , Everts H. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe interpretation of the results of feeding trials with lactating ewes and their sucking lambs can be improved considerably when milk energy production is known. The determination of gross energy (GE) however is time consuming and expensive. Therefore an equation to predict GE from milk constituents would be helpful.Using multiple regression analysis a GE-prediction equation was derived with milk samples mainly from crossbred ewes. The concentrations of milk constituents were determined by infrared spectrometry (calibrated with cow milk). Fat concentration ranged between 43·8 and 125·0 g/kg, protein concentration between 32·4 and 53·1 g/kg and lactose concentration between 38·9 and 52·9 g/kg. GE (adiabatic bomb calorimetry) of the samples under consideration ranged between 3500 to 6800 kj/kg.The following equation, including fat (f), protein (p) and lactose (I), is recommended and predicts GE as kj/kg fresh milk using constituents in g/kg fresh milk:GE = 41·94 × f + 15·85 × p + 21·41 ×l (residual s.d. = 92, adj.R2 = 0·98).This equation has, in the GE range 4500 kj to 6000 kj, an almost constant confidence interval with an average of ±25 kJ and an almost constant prediction interval, with an average of ±87 kJ. In the period until weaning it would appear justified to use the derived equation regardless of stage of lactation. The equation is valid for milk samples from sheep breeds with relatively high fat and low protein contents and where milk constituents have been determined by cow milk calibrated infrared spectrometry.
The influence of an inoculant/enzyme preparation as an additive for grass silage offered in combination with three levels of concentrate supplementation on performance of lactating dairy cows
Authors: Smith E. J. , Henderson A. R. , Oldham J. D. , Whitaker D. A. , Aitchison K. , Anderson D. H. , Kelly J. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThree silages were prepared from the primary growth of a predominantly perennial ryegrass sward (dry matter (DM) 175 g/kg; crude protein 142 g/kg DM; water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) 243 g/kg DM). Herbage was wilted for 24 h and then treated with either an inoculant/enzyme preparation (Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici), formic acid applied at 4·2 lit (Add F, BP Chemicals) or no additive. Time series analysis of laboratory silages revealed that different patterns of fermentation had been achieved: formic acid treatment resulted in high levels of residual WSC and low levels of lactic acid, indicative of an inhibited fermentation, whilst treatment with the inoculant/enzyme preparation resulted in high levels of lactic acid with a low level of residual sugars, as expected with an enhanced fermentation. Analysis of the material ‘as fed’ showed that losses in the WSC content of the formic acid-treated silage had occurred in the clamp. Secondary fermentation of lactic to acetic acid was apparent in the untreated silage, but not in the inoculant/enzyme-treated silage. Digestibility, as determined using Greyface wether lambs, was marginally higher for both additive treatments when compared with the untreated silage. An evaluation of the silages for milk production was carried out at three levels of concentrate supplementation using 18 Ayrshire × British Friesian cows in a replicated 3×3 Latin-square design experiment. Treatment with formic acid resulted in significantly higher DM intakes, but this was not reflected in milk energy output. Cows offered the inoculant/enzyme-treated silage partitioned energy away from milk production toward body tissue deposition (average milk yields 19·9, 19·9 and 15·2 kg/day, and weight gain 0·26, 0·38 and 0·81 kg/day for the untreated, formic acid and inoculant/enzyme-treated silages respectively). The reason for this is not clear, but it is postulated that microbial capture of degraded nitrogen may have been impaired with the inoculant/enzyme-treated silage, resulting in an imbalance in metabolizable protein: metabolizable energy.
The effects of dietary fibre and starch concentrations on the response by dairy cows to body condition at calving
Authors: Garnsworthy P. C. , Jones G. P. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to examine the effects of dietary fibre and starch levels on the response to condition score at calving. Fifty-two cows were used over two winter feeding periods, with 24 and 28 different cows in each. Twelve weeks before their expected calving date, cows were paired and the level of feeding adjusted to attain mean condition scores at calving of 2·0 (T) and 3·5 (F) within pairs. At calving, pairs of cows were allocated to treatment HF or LF, giving four groups in total. Each day for the first 16 weeks of lactation, all cows were offered 10 kg dairy concentrate containing either high-fibre/low-starch (FHF and THF), or low-fibre/high-starch (FLF and TLF), 2 kg sugar-beet pulp and hay ad libitum. Two cows from each group were used to determine apparent digestibility of the whole diet each year, using chromium III oxide as a faecal marker. Eight steers were used to determine the degradabilities of dry matter, nitrogen and fibre in the two concentrates and to provide rumen fluid samples for volatile fatty acid determination.
Covariance matrices for growth traits of Australian Polled Hereford cattle
Authors: Meyer K. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEstimates of covariance components due to direct and maternal effects among birth, weaning, yearling and final weight for Australian Polled Herefords were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood fitting an animal model. Data were obtained from commercial herds participating in the National Beef Recording Scheme and an across-herd genetic evaluation service. Analyses were carried out considering nine subsets of data, each comprising at least 3000 weaning, 1000 yearling and 500 final weight records which yielded a total of 30 506,17 105 and 9486 records for the three weights, respectively. Estimates of variances and genetic parameters varied considerably between data sets. Both genetic and permanent environmental effects were found to affect all traits except final weights significantly, with maternal environmental effects explaining proportionately more than 0·20 of the total variation in weaning weight. Estimates of the direct-maternal genetic correlation were consistently negative and moderate to strong, ranging from -0·34 to -0·82 for weaning weight. Maternal correlations between weaning and yearling weights were close to unity. Estimates of the direct genetic correlations among the three later weights were 0·8 or larger. Problems with this kind of analysis are discussed.
A comparison of gas production during incubation with rumen contents in vitro and nylon bag degradability as predictors of the apparent digestibility in vivo and the voluntary intake of hays
Authors: Khazaal K. , Dentinho M. T. , Ribeiro J. M. , Ørskov E. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTen hays harvested at three stages (early bloom MB, mid bloom MB or in seed) made from lucerne (Medicago sativaj, sweet clover (Melilotus segetalis), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) and pre-bloom (PB) Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum var.), were offered ad libitum to four Merino male sheep and daily intake (g dry matter (DM) per kg M0·75) and DM apparent digestibility (DMD) were measured. In sacco DM degradation (g per 100 g DM), gas production (ml per 200 mg DM), in vitro digestibility and fibre composition (g/kg DM) of the hays were also studied. Gas production or DM degradation were calculated at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h and their kinetics were described using the equation p = a + b(1 - e-ct). Intake and in vivo DMD of the hays were variable (P < 0·01). Lucerne EB and Persian clover (all stages) had the highest nutritive value, whereas sweet clover (all stages) had the lowest. Apart from neutral-detergent fibre, which was only related to intake (r = -0·68; P < 0·05), chemical components and in vitro digestibility were poorly (P > 0·05) related to animal performance. Between 12 and 96 h incubation, intake and in vivo DMD were better related to DM degradation (r = 0·79 to 0·83; r = 0·61 to 0·77) than to gas production (r = 0·73 to 0·80; r = 0·58 to 0·78). Prediction of intake and in vivo DMD from the (a + b) values did not provide a great advantage over using some of the static values of gas production or DM degradation.Multiple regression using separated kinetics of degradation resulted in highest accuracy for predicting intake and apparent digestibility from gas production (R2 = 0·63; R2 = 0·78) and nylon bag degradability (R2 = 0·77; R2 = 0·89). It was concluded that the gas test has good potentiality as it was capable of predicting not only apparent digestibility, but also intake to a level close to that of the nylon bag technique.
The use of degradation characteristics of browse plants to predict intake and digestibility by goats
Authors: Kibont A. , Ørskov E. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTwenty-five male goats weighing 16 (s.e. 1-5) kg and aged 15 months were used to measure the dry matter (DM) intake of five browse species namely Acacia albida, Tamarindus indica, Etanda africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Sterculia setigera in a growth trial lasting 16 weeks. This was followed by a digestion trial with five goats in a 5 × 5 Latin square with 10 days adaptation and a 5-day measurement period. The degradation characteristics of the browse were measured by incubating samples in nylon bags for 6, 24, 48 and 96 h in the rumens of three sheep fitted with rumen cannulae and given hay plus grass nuts. The exponential model P = a +b(l — ect) was fitted to the data. Rumen fluid from the sheep was also used as an inoculum to incubate the samples in vitro for 3, 6,12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Nylon bag degradability results were compared with in vivo results and in vitro gas production. The mean DM intakes, apparent digestible DM intakes and growth rates were 0·60, 0·62, 0·55, 0·53 and 0·65 kg/day, 0·43, 0·43, 0·35, 0·34 and 0·49 kg/day and 55, 60, 49, 42 and 62 glday for A. albida, T. indica, E. africana, A. leiocarpus and S. setigera respectively. Using the degradation characteristics A, B and c in a multiple regression analysis, the correlation coefficients with DM intake, apparent DM digestibility, apparent digestible DM intake and growth rate were 0·99, 0·88, 0·92 and 0·99 respectively. The inclusion of a lag phase (L) instead of A in the regression analysis improved the prediction of apparent DM digestibility and apparent digestible DM intake. The correlation coefficients between DM loss in nylon bags and in vitro gas production at 6, 24 and 48 h incubation were 0·84, 0·83 and 0·90 respectively. The results indicate that it may be possible to predict DM and apparent digestible DM intakes of browse by goats from the rumen degradation characteristics.
Performance of British Saanen, Boer × British Saanen and Anglo-Nubian castrated male kids from 8 weeks to slaughter at 28, 33 or 38 kg live weight
Authors: Gibb M. J. , Cook J. E. , Treacher T. T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe performance of British Saanen, Boer × British Saanen and Anglo-Nubian kids from weaning to slaughter at 28, 33 or 38 kg live weight (LW) was examined in a 3 × 3 factorial experiment. Kids were reared on a concentrate and hay ration, after weaning at 8 weeks of age. Intakes were measured individually. At slaughter, carcasses and body fractions were weighed, left half-carcasses were dissected into muscle, fat and bone, and the carcass and non-carcass fractions were analysed chemically. There ivas no significant effect of breed type on mean daily intakes, but there was a significant breed-type effect on mean daily LW gains in the order British Saanen > Boer × British Saanen > Anglo-Nubian kids. Compared with the pure British Saanen kids, the Anglo-Nubian kids produced heavier carcasses yielding more muscle and less subcutaneous and intermuscular fat at each slaughter weight. By contrast, the Boer × British Saanen carcasses contained proportionately more fat, mainly intermuscular fat, than the British Saanen when slaughtered at 28 or 33 kg LW. When taken on to slaughter at 38 kg LW, the Boer × British Saanen kids showed little further increase in fat deposition at the internal and intermuscular sites compared with the British Saanens, resulting in carcasses with slightly more subcutaneous fat but lower overall carcass fat content.