bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a survival factor
Authors: Tong Zhimin , Wu Xuli , Ovcharenko Dmitriy , Zhu Jiuxiang , Chen Ching-Shih , Kehrer James P. 
Published: February 2006

NGAL (human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) and its mouse analogue 24p3 are members of the lipocalin family of small secreted proteins. These proteins are up-regulated in a number of pathological conditions, including cancers, and may function as transporters of essential factors. Although previous publications have suggested that 24p3 has pro-apoptotic functions, other data are more suggestive of a survival function. The current study was designed to determine whether NGAL is pro- or anti-apoptotic. Apoptosis induced in human adenocarcinoma A549 cells by the 5-lipoxygenase-activating-protein inhibitor MK886, or several celecoxib-derived PDK1 (phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1) inhibitors that are devoid of cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitory activity, was accompanied by a dose- and time-dependent increase of NGAL mRNA levels, as was reported previously with 24p3. A similar induction of NGAL mRNA was observed in human breast cancer MCF7 cells treated with MK886, indicating this was not a cell-specific effect. Treatment of A549 cells with up to 150 μg/106 cells of purified recombinant NGAL protein had no effect on viability, whereas antisera against the full-length NGAL protein induced apoptosis in these cells. The stable overexpression of NGAL in A549 cells had no effect on proliferation or viability. However, the cell death induced by a PDK1 inhibitor was reduced by 50% in NGAL-overexpressing cells. Decreasing NGAL mRNA and protein expression with siRNA (small interfering RNA) in A549 cells increased the toxicity of a PDK1 inhibitor by approx. 45%. These data indicate that, although the induction of NGAL correlates with apoptosis, this induction represents a survival response. Because NGAL is a secreted protein, it may play an extracellular role in cell defence against toxicants and/or facilitate the survival of the remaining cells.
Factors identifying pigs predisposed to tail biting
Authors: Beattie V. E. , Breuer K. , O'Connell N. E. , Sneddon I. A. , Mercer J. T. , Rance K. A. , Sutcliffe M. E. M. , Edwards S. A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractApproximately 5% of pigs slaughtered in the UK have been tail-bitten, leading to welfare and production issues. Tail biting is sporadic and not all pigs tail bite. The aim of this study was to identify factors that are common in pigs that perform tail-biting behaviour, and that might be used in a predictive way to identify such animals.The behaviour of 159 pigs was observed in the post-weaning period. Pigs were weaned at 4 weeks of age. In the week prior to weaning and at 6 weeks of age each pig was individually tested in a tail chew test (tail chew test 1 and 2, respectively). The tail chew test involved recording the pig's behaviour directed towards two ropes, one of which had been soaked in saline solution and the other not. The production performance of the pigs was recorded from birth to 7 weeks of age. Time spent performing tail-biting behaviour correlated positively with time in contact with the rope in tail chew test 2 (r= 0·224,P< 0·05), and time spent ear biting correlated positively with time spent in rope directed behaviour in tail chew test 1 (r= 0·248,P< 0·01). Pigs that spent as much as 1·5% of their time of more performing tail-biting behaviour were lighter at weaning (26 days) and tended to be lighter at 7 weeks of age compared with pigs that spent less than 1·5% of their time performing tail-biting behaviour (weaning weight: ≥1·5% tail biting 8·96 kg, <1·5% tail biting 9·67 kg,P< 0·05; 7-week weight: ≥1·5% tail biting 15·75 kg, <1·5% tail biting 17·09 kg,P< 0·08). There was no significant difference in birth weight between pigs that spent ≥ or <1·5% of their time performing tail-biting behaviour. Pigs that spent 1·5% of their time or more performing tail-biting behaviour showed significantly lower growth rates between birth and weaning (≥1·5% tail biting 260 g/day, <1·5% tail biting 285 g/day,P< 0·05) but not between weaning and 7 weeks of age (≥1·5% tail biting 343 g/day, <1·5% tail biting 365 g/day,P> 0·05).The results suggest that pigs that tail bite have some nutritional deficiency that results in performance of foraging behaviour that is expressed in intensive housing as ear/tail biting.
Comparing two concentrate allowances in an automatic milking system
Authors: Halachmi I. , Ofir S. , Miron J. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis study investigated the potential for applying an automatic milking system (AMS) to the management of high-yielding cows offered a total mixed ration (TMR). The null hypothesis was that it is desirable to maintain even in AMS, the TMR feeding management practice recommended for high-yielding cows and therefore it can be attained by ‘reducing the concentrate allocation in the robot without reducing the number of milkings’. Two feeding regimes were used: the ‘candy concept’, with only 1·2 kg of food concentrate – the minimum to attract the cow – provided at each visit to the milking robot; and the provision of a maximum of 7 kg of food concentrate per day. Approximately 100 cows were subjected to one or other of these two treatments. Although the cows in the first treatment consumed approximately 3·5 kg of concentrate per day and those in the second treatment approximately 5 kg per day, no significant differences were observed in the numbers of voluntary milkings.
Effects of diet calcium: phosporus ratio and metabolizable energy content on development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in blue foxes
Authors: Korhonen H. T. , Happo M. , Rekilä T. , Valaja J. , Pölönen I. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAbstract The study evaluates the effects of two dietary Ca: P ratios (1·5: 1v. 2·5: 1) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents (17·3 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)v. 19·2 MJ/kg DM) on the development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in juvenile male blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Four experimental groups (no. = 10 per group) were formed : (1) low energy, lagopus). low Ca: P (LELC); (2) normal energy, low Ca: P (NELC); (3) low energy, normal Ca: P (LENC); and (4) normal energy, normal Ca: P (NENC). The experiment started at weaning in mid July and finished in early October. From mid August onwards, animals on the normal energy diets (NELC, NENC) grew significantly faster (P< 0·001) than animals on the low energy diets (LELC, LENC). The final body weights of the normal energy groups were 1·5 kg higher than those of the low energy groups (P< 0·001). The dietary Ca: P ratio did not affect live-weight gain. Foot bending increased significantly from summer to autumn (P< 0·001). Changes in foot bending between initial and final evaluations showed that bending was significantly greater (P< 0·05) in animals on normal energy (NELC, NENC) than on low energy diets (LELC, LENC). Significant differences were not found in the mean degree of damage in foot and cartilage between the groups. Ulna breaking strength was significantly higher (P< 0·05) in normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. Ulna calcium and phosphorus concentrations of the normal Ca: P (LENC, NENC) groups were significantly higher (P< 0·001,P< 0·05) than those of the lower Ca: P (LELC, NELC) groups. The bone (ulna) calcium and phosphorus concentrations tended to be higher in the normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in the low energy (LELC, LENC) groups (calciumP= 0·07; phosphorusP= 0·06). The bone Ca: P ratio was higher (P< 0·001) in the normal (LENC, NENC) than in the low Ca: P diet (LELC, NELC) animals. The carcass weights of normal energy animals (NELC, NENC) were significantly higher (P< 0·001) than those of low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. The fat : dry matter ratio was higher (P< 0·05) in normal (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) carcasses. We conclude that the Ca: P ratio of the diet has no effect on the development of osteochondrosis or bending of the foot. The higher body weight caused by normal as opposed to low metabolizable energy content seems, however, to increase the incidence of foot bending.
Effects of age and breed of beef bulls on growth parameters, carcass and muscle characteristics
Authors: Jurie C. , Martin J.-F. , Listrat A. , Jailler R. , Culioli J. , Picard B. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe effects of age and breed on growth parameters, carcass and muscle characteristics of bulls, slaughtered at 15, 19 and 24 months of age, were analysed in four French breeds: Aubrac (AU), Charolais (CH), Limousin (LI), and Salers (SA). Muscle characteristics were determined in three muscles: longissimus thoracis (LT), semitendinosus (ST) and triceps brachii (TB). They included: (1) the % frequency, cross-sectional area and % area of fibre types, which were classified according to the contractile nature of the fibres and their metabolic properties (SO slow oxidative, FOG fast oxidative glycolytic and FG fast glycolytic); (2) the isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, representative of oxidative and glycolytic metabolism respectively; and (3) the total and insoluble collagen contents.In the four breeds, the average daily gain and the food efficiency decreased with age (P < 0·001). The carcass characteristics (muscle, fat and bone weights) increased with age (P < 0·001). The increase of muscle carcass weight with slaughter age was in parallel with the increase in cross-sectional area of individual muscle fibres. Oxidative fibre (SO and FOG) areas increased more between 15 and 24 months than glycolytic fibre (FG) area. Differences between muscles in increases in areas of muscle fibres were consistent: the increase was greater for TB than ST and LT. The muscles studied became more slow and more oxidative above 19 months of age, as evidenced by the fact that the SO % frequency (P < 0·001) and % area (P < 0·001) and ICDH activity (P < 0·05) increased, and LDH activity decreased (P < 0·01). Insoluble collagen content decreased between 15 and 19 months (P < 0·001), and both total (P < 0·01) and insoluble (P < 0·001) collagen contents increased from 19 months.So carcass characteristics were modified between 15 and 24 months, and muscle characteristics were especially modified from 19 months of age. In addition, differences in slaughter data between breeds were clear and consistent, whereas those of muscle characteristics were few and not consistent.
Adjustment of lamb birth and weaning weights for continuous effects of ewe age
Authors: Notter D. R. , Borg R. C. , Kuehn L. A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractProcedures for continuous adjustment of lamb birth and weaning weights for effects of ewe age were developed using 18 747 birth and 13 139 weaning weight records of Polypay sheep enrolled in the US National Sheep Improvement Program. Changes in birth and weaning weights across ewe age groups were modelled using hybrid curves that combined asymptotic regression models to describe initial increases in lamb weight as ewes moved into adulthood with secondorder polynomials to describe declines in lamb weights in older ewes. Lamb birth and weaning weights were highest (and the asymptotic and polynomial forms comprising the hybrid curves intersected) at ewe ages of 76 and 52 months, respectively. Across all ewe ages, hybrid curves were superior to second- and third-order polynomials in goodness of fit, producing a parabolic form with a flat top and different decay rates on either side of the ewe ages corresponding to maximum lamb weights. Fourth- and fifth-degree polynomials were equivalent to hybrid curves in goodness of fit, but generally did not produce reasonable predictions for the oldest ewes. Adjustment factors derived from the hybrid curve predicted that lamb birth weight would increase from 76% of maximum in 11-month-old ewes to 90 and 96% of maximum in 24- and 36-month-old ewes, respectively, and then decline to 97% of maximum at 105 months. For weaning weight, 83, 95, 99, and 93% of maximum lamb weight were attained at ewe ages of 11, 24, 36, and 105 months, respectively. Resulting multiplicative adjustment factors avoid discontinuities at boundaries between ewe age categories and are particularly useful in accelerated or other multiple-season lambing systems.
Effects of microwave irradiation on ruminal degradation and in vitro digestibility of soya-bean meal
Authors: Sadeghi A. A. , Nikkhah A. , Shawrang P. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis study was carried out to determine ruminal dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradation characteristics of untreated, 2-, 4- and 6-min microwave-treated soya-bean meal (SBM) by using nylon bags and sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) techniques. Nylon bags of untreated or treated SBM were suspended into the rumen of three Holstein steers from 0 to 48 h, and data were fitted to non-linear degradation characteristics to calculate effective rumen degradation (ERD). There were significant differences (P < 0·05) for DM and CP degradation parameters between untreated and microwave-treated SBM. Microwave treatments decreased the water-soluble fraction and increased the potentially degradable fraction of CP. The degradation rate of the latter fraction decreased with these treatments. As a consequence, microwave treatments decreased (P < 0·05) ERD of CP. From densitometric scanning, SBM proteins were seen to be composed of two major components; β-conglycinin and glycinin, accounting for proportionately 0·30 and 0·40 of buffer-soluble SBM proteins, respectively. Electrophoretic analysis of untreated, 2-, 4- and 6-min microwave-treated SBM protein residues revealed that two of the subunits of β-conglycinin (α -and α) were degraded completely after 2, 4, 24 and 48 h, respectively, whereas the α subunit of this protein was more resistant to degradation. In untreated SBM, the two subunits of glycinin (acidic and basic polypeptides) were degraded in the middle of the incubation period, but in microwave-treated SBM were not degraded until 48 h of incubation. In vitro digestibility of ruminally undegraded CP of untreated and treated SBM increased (P < 0·05) with increases in rumen incubation time from 8 to 24 h. In conclusion, SBM proteins appeared to be effectively protected from ruminal degradation by a 4-min microwave treatment. SDS-PAGE results indicated that ruminally undegraded protein from untreated SBM was mainly composed of the basic subunit of glycinin, whereas that from microwave-treated SBM was composed of β-conglycinin and both basic and acidic subunits of glycinin.
Feeding mulberry leaves to fattening rabbits: effects on growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality
Authors: Martínez M. , Motta W. , Cervera C. , Pla M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractOne hundred and thirty-two young rabbits were divided into two groups at weaning and given ad libitum a control diet (C), or an experimental diet (M) in which lucerne hay was substituted by mulberry leaves in order to examine their effects on fattening rabbit performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality.Digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein and gross energy were similar in both groups but digestibility of crude fibre in the experimental diet was higher in line with a lower food intake in this group of animals, while ether extract digestibility of mulberry leaves was very low.Food conversion ratio was similar in the two groups (3.1 g DM per g gain) but rabbits given the experimental diet had lower food intake (102 v. 144 g/day) and impaired live-weight gain. The rate of mortality was similar in the two groups. The substitution of lucerne with mulberry in the diet may have induced a higher retention time of digesta, as seems to be indicated by a higher weight of digestive tract contents recorded at slaughter (proportionately 0.32 more) in mulberry group. Live weight at slaughter of animals in control group was higher (2680 v. 2211 g) and also skin weight was proportionately 0.5 higher and its carcasses were proportionately 0.41 heavier than those of animals in experimental group (dressing yield 587 v. 503 g/kg). At constant carcass weight, the carcasses of rabbits of the mulberry group were longer than the lucerne group, but lumbar circumference tended also to be higher (P = 0.09) and no differences were found in the length: circumference ratio. No differences were found in the weights of kidneys or thoracic viscera, but livers of rabbits of the lucerne group were heavier (proportionately 0.3 heavier). The more remarkable difference was that carcasses of rabbits given the experimental diet had markedly less fat in scapular (5.8 v. 10.0 g) and perirenal fat (9.0 v. 22.3 g) deposits.No differences in cooking losses or water-holding capacity of the meat were found and also the colour was similar, but the b* parameter was a little lower for meat of the M group rabbits.The proportion of protein in the meat was the same for rabbits of the two groups, but rabbits given the experimental diet which had leaner carcasses also had leaner meat (19 v. 37 g lipids per kg meat) and a little more moisture (755 v. 736 g/kg meat). Intra and intermuscular fat of hindleg meat from rabbits of group M was less saturated and more unsaturated than that of the conventional rabbits mainly due to its higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, ω6 (37·3 v. 29·1 g/100 g lipids) and ω3 (3·4 v. 2·2 g/ 100 g lipids). Polyunsaturated: saturated ratio was higher in the mulberry group than in the lucerne group (1·15 v. 0·85) indicating a more desirable value in rabbits given the experimental diet, so meat of these rabbits could be considered preferable for human nutrition from this point of view.
Feeding behaviour and diet choices and diet choices of cattle with physical and temporal constraints on forage accessibility: an indoor experiment
Authors: Ginane C. , Petit M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAn indoor choice experiment was conducted to assess the extent to which heifers offered two forages of different quality will attempt to consume the better quality forage when the weight/number of constraints applied on its harvesting increase. The experiment involved six Salers heifers, a leafy (L) and a coarse (C) hay, and two combined or single accessibility constraints. A physical constraint consisted of reducing the prehensibility of L by covering the trough with a steel grid of either 4 cm or 6 cm mesh size (L4 or L6 v. L ∞ for no grid). A temporal constraint limited the daily access time to both hays to 4 v. 24 h. The hays were either offered alone or together over 2-week periods. Dry-matter intake and feeding time were recorded daily.As expected, the physical constraint (only L4 was efficient) made the heifers decrease their choice (proportion of feeding time or intake) for L regardless of access time, whereas the temporal constraint had no significant effect on choice. The heifers greatly modulated their intake rate of L even under strong physical constraint (L4), and then unexpectedly managed to ingest L faster than C. This emphasizes their motivation to keep ingesting the better quality forage, and underlines the difficulties in comparing diet choices with the optimal foraging theory predictions based on the relative values of a behavioural component subject to large variation, i.e. intake rate. In a very constraining situation (L4 and 4-h access), heifers made a choice that allowed them to increase their total daily digestible organic matter (DOM) intake compared with L4 or C offered alone because of an inverse relationship between feeding time and intake rate on L4. They did not however maximize their total daily DOM intake in a less constraining situation (L ∞ or L6 and C, with 4-h access), since they did not consume L exclusively and showed a marked preference for a mixed diet.
Management strategies to maximize pigmeat output: effect of group size and split-marketing
Authors: O'Connell M. K. , Lynch P. B. , O'Doherty J. V. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractTwo experiments were completed with grower-finisher pigs to determine if pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gain per m2 per year, could be increased, by 1: increasing group size or 2: split-marketing pen groups. In experiment 1, 390 pigs (mean initial live weight 36·7 (s.d. 1·99) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments each with 10 replicates: 11, 13 or 15 pigs per single-sex group in pens measuring 11·04 m2. Space allowance was 1·00, 0·85 and 0·74 m2 per pig, respectively. Pelleted food was provided ad libitum. There were no differences (P > 0·05) between group sizes in growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio, backfat and muscle depth or carcass lean content. Pigmeat output per unit area increased with each increase in group size (234, 279 and 314 kg/m2 per year for 11, 13 and 15 pigs: P < 0·001). In experiment 2, 26 groups of 13 pigs (mean initial live weight 38·3 (s.d. 2·15) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments: 1D - group sold on 1 day (no. = 9), 2D - group sold over 2 days (14 days apart, no. = 10), or 3D - group sold over 3 days (each 7 days apart, no. = 7). Pigs were given a standard liquid diet three times daily. No differences (P > 0·05) were observed between treatments for overall growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass lean content, backfat and muscle depth, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio or killing-out proportion of pigs. Split-marketing increased cycle length (67·7, 75·9 and 76·8 days for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively; P < 0·001). Live and carcass daily growth rates per pig place decreased with increase in number of sale days (live: 772, 680, 670 g/day and carcass: 658, 575, 571 g/day; P < 0·001). Carcass gain per unit area decreased in split-marketed groups (358, 318, 312 kg/m2 per year for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively: P < 0·05). Carcass weight variation (s.d.) within pen decreased with each increase in number of sale days (s. d. 5·28, 3·81 and 1·74, respectively; P < 0·001). In conclusion, pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gains per m2 per year, was improved with increase in group size and by marketing all pigs in a group on a single day.
Metabolic response of pigs supplemented with incremental levels of leguminousAcacia karroo,Acacia niloticaandColophospermum mopaneleaf meals
Authors: Halimani1 T. E. , Ndlovu L. R. , Dzama K. , Chimonyo M. , Miller B. G. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe nutritional effects of varying levels of leguminous leaf meal inclusion were investigated using 40 mixed weaner pigs of average weight 31·4 (s.d. 4·19) kg offered diets which included leguminous leaf meals (Acacia karroo,Acacia niloticaandColophospermum mopane) over 18 days. The leaf meals were included at 100, 200 and 300 g/kg of dry matter. Leaf meals increased daily live-weight gain (P> 0·05) at low inclusion levels. They were also shown to increase food intake and food conversion ratio. There was an increase in digestibility of dry matter and protein at low inclusion level of leaf meals (P< 0·05), then a decrease in the digestibility as the level of leaf meals increased. Inclusion of leaf meals induced production of proline-rich proteins (molecular weights of 24 600, 54 000, 66 000 and 74 000 Da) in the parotid salivary glands of pigs but not in the mandibular glands (P> 0·05). The activity of hepatic microsomal uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase increased significantly (P< 0·05) for pigs offered diets supplemented withA. niloticaandC. mopanebut not withA. karroo(P< 0·05). Intestinal parameters (crypt depth, villus height and villus-crypt ratio) were not significantly affected by leaf meal inclusion (P> 0·05) except crypt depth at the proximal position of the small intestine, which decreased with increasing leaf meal levels (P< 0·05).