bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A study of subclinical worm infestation in sheep: part III. The effect on wool production
Authors: Spedding C. R. W. , Brown T. H. 
Published: March 2009

1. The results of five experiments, comparing the wool production of worm free and infected sheep, are described.2. Worm-free sheep produced (a) 12·0–38·8% higher total fleece weights and (b) 17·2–43·2% more clean, dry wool per unit area than infected sheep. None of the infestations was higher than occurs naturally in the field, but the greatest effects were associated with a low level of nutrition.3. It is suggested that the precise effect of worm infestation on wool production will depend upon the age of the host when first infected, the size of the infestation and the rate of wool growth at the time when the infestation is at maximum.
Persistence and growth of Lotononis bainesii–Digitaria decumbens pastures: 1. Sheep stocking rate
Authors: Pott A. , Humphreys L. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSheep were grazed for 2 years at stocking rates of 7, 14, 21 and 28/ha on a pasture comprising Lotononis bainesii and Digitaria decumbens cv. Pangola at Mt Cotton, south–east Queensland. There were six replicates of each treatment grazed in rotation with 3 days' grazing followed by 15 days' rest.The initial dominance of lotononis was lost after 6 months of grazing and lotononis failed to persist satisfactorily at any stocking rate. Demographic studies showed that lotononis behaved as a short-lived plant, predominantly annual, with some vegetative perennation as stolon-rooted units under heavy grazing. Soil seed reserves varied from 5800 to 400 m2 at the lightest and heaviest stocking rates respectively. Lotononis failed to regenerate under Pangola shading or inopportune high grazing pressure. Soil bulk density (0–7 cm) increased from 1·2 to 1·4 g/cm3 according to stocking rate.
An analysis of cattle live-weight changes on tropical grass pasture during the dry and early wet seasons in northern australia: 1. The nature of weight changes
Authors: McLean R. W. , McCown R. L. , Little D. A. , Winter W. H. , Dance R. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYStudies were conducted to elucidate the nature and cause of the drastic losses of live weight of cattle grazing buffel grass pastures after first rains at the end of the dry season in northern Australia. This paper examines trends in weight and body composition during the dry and early wet seasons; it shows that although most of the loss in fasted live weight occurred just after first rain, most of the loss of body solids, mainly fat, had already occurred by this time. Losses of body solids in the dry season were not fully reflected in live-weight losses because of increases in total body water and in gut ‘fill’. The greatly accelerated weight loss in the period following first rain appears to have been due mainly to a large reduction in gut contents. Empty-body weight actually increased during this period owing to increases in tissue water. Continuation of this trend in tissue water into the early wet season resulted in the rate of live-weight gain greatly exceeding that of body solids.
Partition of circulating triglycerides between formation of milk fat and other metabolic pathways in sheep
Authors: Glascock R. F. , Smith R. W. , Walsh Ann 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAn emulsion of [3H]triglycerides was used to investigate how circulating triglycerides are partitioned between milk fat, body fat and use as an energy source in lactating sheep. Immediately after intravenous injection of the emulsion the radioactivity in the blood was predominantly associated with the triglycerides of the fraction that contained chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. The radioactive triglyceride was used both as a precursor of milk fat and as a source of energy. The proportions utilized for these two purposes were determined experimentally and the amount retained in the carcass lipids was found by difference. In separate control experiments with nonlactating sheep the total radioactivity in the body lipids was determined by carcass analysis. This total together with that accounted for by oxidation amounted to 98% of the total radioactivity injected. These results established that the emulsion was a reliable model for the purpose intended.The proportion of the labelled triglyceride that appeared in milk fat declined from 45% at 17 days after lambing to 8–10% at 73 days after lambing. The proportion that was oxidized was also lower in late lactation so that retention in carcass lipids was substantially increased at that time.
Influence of dietary lysine content on wool follicle function in pre-ruminant lambs
Authors: Chapman R. E. , Colebrook W. F. , Black J. L. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYWool follicles and fibres of pre-ruminant lambs abomasally fed isoenergetic diets with daily amounts of lysine ranging from 0·12 to 1·94 g/(kg live weight)0·75were examined by light and electron microscopy. In lambs which receivedca.0·9 g lysine/kg0·76daily, the follicles appeared normal, whereas in those which received less than 0·9 g lysine/kg0·75daily several follicle abnormalities developed and the percentages of follicles affected increased as the amount of lysine was decreased. These abnormalities included the formation of autophagic vacuoles (or apoptotic bodies) in follicle bulb cells, and retarded and incomplete keratinization of the wool fibres, which led to the kinking of fibres at the mid-dermal level and gross distortion and partial degradation of fibres in the distal parts of follicles with thickened outer root sheaths. Following the introduction of a low-lysine diet, autophagic vacuoles developed in most follicle bulbs within 24 h. Impaired keratinization and kinking of fibres were evident in increasing proportions of follicles after 2 days, and gross distortion of fibres after 3–4 days. When the lambs were returned to a diet with adequate lysine recovery of normal follicle structure followed a similar time pattern, except that gross distortion of fibres persisted in the distal parts of some follicles for longer than 1 week. In some lambs given more than 0·9 g lysine/kg0·75daily a small percentage of follicles had short keratogenous zones. Clumping of fibres, which occurred in the proximal parts of a small number of follicles, was unrelated to the amount of lysine in the diet.
Altitudinal effects on Stylosanthes guianensis at a low latitude site: 2. Seed production
Authors: Ison R. L. , Humphreys L. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSeed production of five selections of Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis was studied in Bali, Indonesia (latitude 8° 30′ S) with a series of harvests at three sites of increasing altitude and rainfall: (1) Sesetan, 10 m, (2) Kuwum, 280 m and (3) Pekarangan, 1000 m. Seed yield of cv. Graham, CPI 34906, cv. Cook and cv. Endeavour was maximal at Sesetan with yields of 109, 39, 38 and 166 g/m2 respectively, whilst cv. Schofield, which flowered little at low altitude, produced 12 g/m2 at Pekarangan. Optimum time of harvest varied from 26 April for cv. Graham at Sesetan to 1 November for cv. Schofield at Pekarangan. Yield stability over sites was greatest in cv. Graham, in which increased number of florets per spike at high altitude partially compensated for negative altitudinal effects on spike density. Disease reduced yields of cv. Cook and cv. Endeavour at Kuwum and Pekarangan and the incidence of rainfall at advanced stages of crop development reduced spike density and seed maturation.It is suggested that the high seed yields attained at the low altitude, low latitude Sesetan site were attained via (1) vigorous vegetative growth and a longer duration of floral induction resulting in high bud site density, (2) high bud site fertility, (3) high seed set (ca. 70–80%), (4) high seed weight and (5) little or no disease or insect damage. The greater synchrony of flowering at higher latitude sites may be less critical for high levels of seed production than the greater length of crop development available at low latitudes.
Field studies on the growth and development of winter wheat
Authors: McLaren J. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of variety, plant density and time of N application on the yield and yield components of winter wheat were investigated in factorial experiments during 1977–8 and 1978–9, at Sutton Bonington. Armada produced substantially fewer vegetative tillers/m2but the number of ears/m2, from anthesis onwards, was similar to that of Maris Huntsman. The effects of the time of N application on tiller production and survival differed between the 2 years and may have been related to the amount of residual N in the soil. A linear relationship was found between the number of tillers/m2which died and the maximum number of tillers/m2.Kador produced a lower grain yield than Armada or Maris Huntsman, owing to a combination of lower ratio of grain D.M. to total above-ground D.M. (harvest index) and lower total dry-matter production. Armada produced a higher grain yield than Maris Huntsman in response to earlier application of N. Grain yield was less variable when final plant densities were greater than 200/m2.Grain yield was not particularly well related to individual yield components but showed a good linear relationship with number of grains/m2. Grain yield was also linearly related to total dry-matter production, with treatment effects on harvest index being relatively small. The results indicate that factors which influenced crop growth during grain site development were relatively more important than the factors affecting subsequent grain filling.
Effects of cattle grazing, sheep grazing, cutting and sward height on a grass-white clover sward
Authors: Briseño De La Hoz V. M. , Wilman D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThirteen defoliation treatments were applied to a grass-white clover sward for 2 years to study some effects on the sward of cattle grazing compared with sheep grazing compared with various cutting treatments and to study the effect of height of defoliation.Sheep actively sought out the clover in preference to grass whereas the cattle did not. The response of the clover to sheep grazing was a large reduction in the amount of stolon, shorter internodes, petioles and leaflets, and thinner stolon closer to the ground. Reducing the height of defoliation from 8 to 4 cm above ground level also reduced the dimensions of white clover. The clover, however, appeared to recover quickly and completely from the effects both of sheep grazing and of reducing the height of defoliation when these treatments were discontinued. In plots cut for hay the clover disappeared from the sward suddenly and completely in dry conditions following the 2nd-year hay cut. The effect of cattle grazing on white clover was similar to the effect of comparable cutting treatments. Cattle grazing, however, reduced the number of tillers of grass andincreased the proportion of bare ground, compared with cutting or sheep grazing. Grazing rather than cutting tended to encourage perennial ryegrass and to discourageHolcus. Cutting for hay encouragedBromus mollis. Reducing the height of defoliation reduced leaf sheath and blade length and the rate of production of new blade per tiller in perennial ryegrass, but increased the numbers of tillers of grasses.
Genetic studies on peak yield in Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal cross-bred cattle
Authors: Deshpande K.S. , Bonde H. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAnalyses of data on first peak yields of 1346 Holstein Friesian (HF) × Sahiwal crossbred cows belonging to four Indian military dairy farms were carried out. There were highly significant differences amongst different grades. The < ⅛ HF had the minimum (9·35 kg) and £ HF had the maximum (12·77 kg) peak yield during first lactation. Half-breds appeared to be most suited for peak production. Genetic grades, farms and periods of calving had highly significant, and season of calving had significant, influences on peak yield in cross-bred cows. Heritability of peak yield was 0·405±+ 0·023. Peak yield had highly significant and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations with total lactation yield, 300-day milk yield, milk yield per day of first calving intervaland milk yield per day of age at second calving. Interval, in days, between the dates of first and second calvings was considered the first calving interval. Age, in days, at the time of second calving was considered age at second calving. The high heritabilities and desirable correlations indicate the possibility of satisfactory correlated response in thesetraits, if selection is based on peak yield.
The effect of varying plant population density on the seed yield of Navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)in south-east Enland
Authors: Scarisbrick D. H. , Wilkes J. M. , Kempson R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYNavy beans were precision drilled in 1973–5 at a range of plant population densities. Within each growing season the density treatments did not influence seed yield, but mean yields differed significantly between years. The results suggest that cultivars similar to Purley King can only be regarded as a reliable break crop in a season such as 1973 which was slightly warmer and drier in mid-summer than average. Although the rate of drying increased with increasing plant density in two of the growing seasons, no practical advantages are proposed.
Oil content of cotton seed in Northern Nigeria: 1. Assessment of nuclear magnetic resonance for the determination of the oil percentage of cotton seed
Authors: Smithson J. B. , Gridley H. E. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe oil content of a number of introduced and local varieties was determined using three nuclear magnetic resonance oil analysers at different centres and compared with results from conventional solvent extraction. Differences were evident between the three centres and between the techniques but in both cases the rankings were similar.
The development of winter wheat in the field. 1. Relation between apical development and plant morphology within and between seasons
Authors: Baker C. K. , Gallagher J. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYMain-stem apical development and its inter-relations with other aspects of plant morphology were studied in seven field crops of winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL., cv. Maris Huntsman).Apical primordia were produced slowly in autumn and winter, then faster in spring as the weather became warmer. Spikelets were initiated about three times as fast as leaves. Leaf initiation ended at around the time that tiller bud initiation stopped. Apical dome length and diameter both increased during leaf initiation, reached a maximum at double ridges and then decreased. Double ridges appeared when very nearly 50% (range 49–52%) of the final number of spikelets was present. Spikelet initiation ended a few days after the first florets were initiated and when stem extension began, but usually before the stem apex rose above the soil. Floret initiation finished at about the time that the flag leaf appeared. Throughout tillering there was a strong association between tiller emergence and leaf appearance.There were considerable differences between seasons in the timing of developmental events on the apices of main stems, but a difference in sowing date of 5 months was reduced to little more than 1 month in the timing of anthesis and the maximum numbers of organs varied only slightly with sowing date.
The efficiency of incomplete block designs in National List and Recommended List cereal variety trials
Authors: Patterson H. D. , Hunter E. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYUse of generalized lattice designs instead of complete block designs in 244 cereal variety trials grown in the U.K. since 1975 has resulted in an average reduction of 30% in variances of varietal yield differences. The lattice designs were most effective when the number of varieties was more than 50 but worthwhile reductions in variance, averaging about 24%, were obtained in trials with fewer than 20 varieties. The data also provide guidance on the choice of block size and the potential for improvement by neighbour methods.
Grain and fodder legumes as preceding crops affecting the yield and N economy of rice
Authors: De R. , Rao Y. Yogeswara , Ali W. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYExperiments made for 2 years on a sandy-loam soil showed that previous grain crops of mung bean (Vigna radiata), cow pea (V. unguiculata) and black gram (V. mungo) increased the grain and straw yield of a subsequent crop of rice relative to previous fodder crops of maize or guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) or a grain crop of Phaseolus bean (Phaseohcs vulgaris). The benefits from preceding crops of mung bean, cow pea or black gram were equivalent to 36–67 kg N/ha of chemical fertilizer applied to the rice crop following a cereal. The legumes improved yield-contributing characters such as number of productive tillers/m2, panicle length and number of grains/panicle. The yield increase from the preceding legumes was noted even when the rice crop was given increasing rates of fertilizer up to 90 kg N/ha.
A barley breeding programme based on an ideotype
Authors: Donald C M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAn attempt has been made to produce barley lines in accordance with an ideotype designed in 1968. Current lines are early maturing, uniculm, six-row barleys, of medium height, high harvest index, and moderate resistance to lodging. However, they have lax leaves of medium length, in contrast to the short, erect leaves of the ideotype. When sown in narrow rows at a rate three times that of tillered lines, they have given grain yields greater than the two- and six-row tillered controls, especially in favourable seasons, but less so in dry years. The quality of the grain has not been examined. In the absence of plasticity in number of tillers, uniculm lines show increased plasticity in number of grains per ear and weight per grain. It is possible that the uniculm habit, apart from effects on morphology and maturity, may permit more exacting selection of high-yielding plants than is possible among plants each comprising many mutually competing culms.
The effects of implanting prepuberal dairy heifers with anabolic steroids on live-weight gain, blood and urine composition and milk yield
Authors: Little W. , Kay R. M. , Harwood D. J. , Heitzman R. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwenty-seven British Friesian heifer calves were housed as a group but fed individually barley-lucerne pellets according to a scale related to body weight. At 16 weeks and again at 31 weeks of age nine calves were implanted subcutaneously at the base of the ear with 300 mg trenbolone acetate (group T), nine calves were similarly implanted with 140 mg trenbolone acetate and 20 mg oestradiol-17/? (group TE) and the remaining nine calves were sham implanted (group C).As a result of increased feed conversion ratios, body-weight gains were significantly greater in group T (0–80 kg/day) and group TE (0–87 kg/day) than in group C (0–72 kg/ day) during the 15 weeks following the second implant, but there was no significant difference between groups following the first implant.Following both implants in groups T and TE the mean concentrations of urea and albumin in serum decreased, and that of globulin increased. The mean urea: creatinine ratio in the urine of animals in groups T and TE relative to that in group C also decreased.The heifers were served by an Aberdeen Angus bull at the first and, when they occurred, subsequent oestruses. Following calving the mean milk yields in the first lactation in group T (641 kg in 96 days) and group TE (1993 in 212 days) was considerably lower than in group C (3636 kg in 293 days). The udder size in both groups of animals treated with the anabolic steroids was markedly reduced. It is concluded that despite an improvement in feed conversion ratios and body-weight gains, trenbolone acetate should not be administered to prepuberal heifers which will be retained for breeding and milk production.
Effect of ammonium on the regulation of sodium transport in Helianthus annuus
Authors: Ragab S. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe electrical potential difference between exuding sap of detopped sunflower plants and rooting media containing different NH4 ion concentrations was measured, together with the Na and K concentrations in root tissue and their fluxes in the xylem exudate. It was found that adding NH4 ions to the medium made the electrical potential difference less negative with respect to the external solution and decreased the water conductivity of roots. Moreover, fewer K and Na ions were transported to the xylem sap and the K concentration in root tissue after 3 h had decreased whereas that of Na had increased. These results suggest that the sunflower root acts as an efficient accumulator for Na rather than simply as a barrier to Na transport. It is suggested that NH4 ions caused a decrease in charge separation across one of the barriers where Na is actively transported so that adding NH4 ions to the medium increased Na accumulation in root cells. This barrier may have been at the symplast.
Unrestricted whey for fattening pigs
Authors: Braude R. , Clarke P. M. , Mitchell K. G. , Cray A. S. , Franke A. , Sedgwick P. H. 
Published: March 2009

1. Results are reported from two experiments in a series to determine the optimal amount of meal to be fed in conjunction with unrestricted whey for fattening pigs.2. In both experiments, one carried out during the summer and the other during the winter season, the same four treatments were given. The control pigs received meal ad. lib up to a maximum of 6½ lb./ head daily. Pigs on the other three treatments received whey ad lib., and either 3 lb., or 3 lb. reduced at two different stages to 2 lb. of meal per head daily. There were ten pens of nine pigs on each treatment, involving a total of 360 pigs. Comprehensive carcass measurements were made on all pigs.3. The data obtained showed that satisfactory results could be obtained by feeding a daily allowance of 3 lb./pig of a proprietary sow and weaner meal throughout the fattening period, in conjunction with unrestricted whey. Where the utilization of as much whey and as little meal as possible was required, it was shown that a reduction from 3 to 2 lb. meal/pig/day by the 13th week of life could be made without adverse effects, apart from an increase of approximately 12 days in the time taken to reach bacon weights.4. Carcass grading results of all whey-fed pigs were reasonably satisfactory, but both the carcass grading and general performance of the control animals was not good. Possible reasons for this were discussed.5. Data concerning the pattern of food consumption over 14-day periods throughout the experiments were presented. Pigs given 3 lb. of meal/day throughout, or 3 lb. reduced to 2 lb./day, consumed up to approximately 3¼–3½ or 3¾–4 gal. of whey/day respectively.
Carcass length measurement in bacon pigs
Authors: Braude B. , Mitchell K. G. , Harrington G. 
Published: March 2009

1. Two experiments involving length measurements of ninety-six bacon-pig carcasses showed that chopping out the backbones, chilling and laying the carcasses down on a table, each resulted in a decrease in average length. There was variation from carcass to carcass in the magnitude of these decreases which, in the case of the chopping out the backbone and laying down stages, was related to the fatness of the carcass, greater decreases being found in the longer, leaner carcasses than in the shorter, fatter sides.2. Estimates of the precision of measuring showed that length from the junction of the first rib and the sternum to the symphysis pubis taken on hanging carcasses was less susceptible to errors than the same measurement taken on the lying carcass, and that both these measurements were more accurate than that from the atlas bone to the symphysis pubis taken on carcasses either hanging or lying.