There is evidence that silage may be utilised more effectively when supplemented with sugar rather than starch (Thomas and Rae, 1988). A trial was made to measure the effect of supplementing silage with a sugar-based feed (molasses) or a starch-based feed (barley), in combination with fish meal, on the performance of young growing cattle.

Sixty four castrated male calves (Limousin x Friesian and Hereford x Friesian) initially weighing 129 kg were offered grass silage (DM, 200 g/kg; ME, 10.4 MJ/kg DM; CP, 144 g/kg DM) ad libitum with four dietary supplements.

Daily supplementation was as follows:

• 1.0.25 kg white-fish meal

• 2.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.4 kg molasses

• 3.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.8 kg molasses

• 4.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.75 kg bruised barley

The levels of molasses and barley in Treatments 3 and 4 supplied the same amount of dry matter.

Path analysis was applied to correlations among lamb carcass measurements. Correlations were obtained from lamb carcasses averaging 15·7 kg and 270 g fat per kg carcass weight. Correlations were adjusted to represent within breed, sex and management group relationships. The purpose of the analysis was to study the relationships of carcass weight with carcass measurements and to identify carcass measurements that are independent other than through their relationships with carcass chemical fat concentration and carcass weight. The direct effect of live weight on all carcass measurements was positive. Thus, heavier carcasses with the same fat concentration had larger fat and tissue depths, muscle measurements, leg measurements and kidney fat weights. The results of correlations among the residuals suggest that fat depths C and J, specific gravity, muscle width A and kidney fat weight are nearly independent estimates of carcass composition in the sense that they are only correlated through their relationships with carcass weight and carcass fat composition. Robust predictors of carcass composition were developed by first adjusting carcass measurements for the direct effects of carcass weight and then computing regressions on the adjusted measurements. These predictors appeared to be better predictors of environmental and genetic differences than least-squares multiple regression yet reduced the accuracy of within group prediction only slightly.

The objective of this research was to determine the site of dissolution of viscous polysaccharides in the intestinal tract of birds fed a barley-based diets and the site of action of enzymes designed to degrade such polymers. A barley-based diet (60% Condor variety, 4.58% β-glucan) was fed with and without β-glucanase supplementation to broilers from 1-21 days of age (4 replicate pens of 5 birds per pen), at which time weight gain, feed intake and viscosity of digesta supernatant (12,500 x g, 5 min) from the gizzard, first and last half of the small intestine was measured. Two β-glucanase sources were tested, a commercial multienzyme product, blended from several microbial and fungal fermentations containing β-glucanase, xylanase and amylase activities (Avizyme Sx, Finnfeeds International Ltd., BG1) and a single Trichoderma fermentation source of β-glucanase (BG2). Each enzyme was added at 250 β-glucanase U/g (pH 6.8) feed. Addition of BG1 and BG2 improved weight gain by 28 and 28% respectively (p<0.0001) and FCE by 23% and 18% respectively (p<0.0001). Viscosity in the gizzard, first and last half of the small intestine was 10, 88 and 270 cp respectively in control broilers, an unacceptably high set of values, particularly in the hind-gut. Addition of either enzyme source significantly reduced viscosity in all gut sections and prevented the increase in viscosity noted in control fed birds. Foregut intestinal viscosity correlated well with weight gain (R2=0.907, p<0.0001) and FCE (R2=0.871, p<0.0001). The variance associated with weight gain and FCE was substantially reduced with enzyme addition, but particularly so with BG1. BG1 tended to reduce gizzard viscosity to a greater extent than BG2 suggesting that it is either more active at acid pH or that undefined associated activities (eg glucosidase) are necessary for optimum viscosity reduction.

Lameness in dairy cows has both important animal welfare and economic implications. High concentrate to silage ratios may be an important predisposing factor, whilst trimming has been advocated as an effective preventative measure. This trial examined the effects of these two factors on locomotion, incidence of lameness and hoof measurements.

Growing lambs are frequently subject to varying planes of nutrition. Knowledge of the response of lambs to the restoration of non-limiting feeding conditions following a period of feed restriction is necessary in order to determine economic systems for finishing lambs.

Thirty Blackface wether lambs (birth weight 3.8 kg s.d. 0.38 kg) were treated in two ways from birth to 25 kg live weight (LW). One half were reared by well-fed ewes at grass (treatment UR). The other lambs sucked poorly-fed ewes up to weaning at 18.2 kg LW (s.d. 1.9); thereafter R lambs were given 700 g/day of a high quality pelleted feed (F) to 25 kg LW. Feed F contained 158 g crude protein/kg dry matter (DM) and had an estimated metabolisable energy yield of 12.5 MJ/kg DM.

From 25kg LW both UR and R lambs had ad libitum access to feed F to a final LW of 45 kg unless slaughtered earlier. The feed intakes and LW of individual sheep were measured weekly. Six lambs from each treatment were slaughtered at 25 kg LW in order to assess the effect of treatment on body composition. Three lambs from each treatment were subsequently slaughtered at 35 kg, 40 kg and 45 kg LW. Weights of gut-fill and organs were recorded and the cold carcass (CC) dissected into lean, bone and fat.

A primary growth crop of perennial ryegrass (cv. S24), containing 17% crude protein and 9·9 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter, was artificially dried, ground through a 3·0 mm screen and pelleted either without further treatment (C), or after the application of formaldehyde (T) at a rate of 1 g/100 g crude protein. The C and T diets were each fed to 20 lambs for 77 days. Diets C and T were given ad libitum and at three lower planes of nutrition. Similar amounts of dry matter, nitrogen and digestible energy were consumed at each of the four planes of nutrition by lambs fed diets C and T. Carcass energy, fat and protein retention, and total body energy retention were measured by the comparative slaughter technique and did not differ between the diets (P> 0·05). Metabolizable energy intake was calculated from digestible energy intake using the factor 0·81. The efficiency of utilization of the metabolizable energy for growth and fattening (kf) and the net energy value were calculated by linear regression analysis from the total body energy retention, the calculated metabolizable energy intake and dry-matter intake data scaled to M0·75. They did not differ between the diets (P > 0·05), and were 0·370 (C) and 0·431 (T) for kf, and 2·09 (C) and 1·97 MJ/kg dry matter (T) for net energy.

The overproduction of many traditional forms of agricultural production in the EEC has stimulated an interest in alternative land-use enterprises. Of these, non-food products such as animal fibres are of particular interest, although it must be borne in mind that these too will generate meat as a by-product. Fibre production from a number of animal species is being examined in different countries throughout the world; this paper is concerned with fibre production from only the goat and sheep.

Superovulatory treatments for ewes are normally preceded by a period of priming. In a recent study involving two contrasting levels of feeding (0.6 versus 2.4 x maintenance), McEvoy et al (1993) observed that the higher level of feeding suppressed pre-ovulatory plasma progesterone concentrations and the subsequent early development and viability of fertilized ova. This finding suggests that there is a need to reconsider the recommendation, based on data for spontaneously-ovulating ewes, that ‘superovulated embryo donor ewes’ should be maintained on a high level of feeding during the period of oocyte maturation. It also raises questions regarding the form of the relationship between food intake and plasma progesterone concentrations over the wide range of feeding levels that occur in practice. The aims of the present study were therefore two-fold; firstly, to investigate the relationship between level of feeding and plasma progesterone for feed intakes that ranged from 0.6 x maintenance (M) to 2.4 M and secondly to assess the effect of pre-ovulatory feeding levels on the number, quality and viability of ova produced following superovulation.

Two trials were undertaken to test the effect of different levels of diethylstilboestrol (DES) on the performance of Egyptian castrated male (wether), male (uncastrated) and female lambs. Ninety crossbred lambs in groups of 10, comprising 30 wethers, 30 male and 30 female lambs were used.

Reproductive data of 139 Simmentaler heifers, previously subjected to different levels of winter and summer nutrition, over a 3-year period, were analysed. Pregnancy rates of 77% and 96% were achieved during the first and second seasons for the two groups of heifers, respectively. Winter and summer nutritional levels affected the number of heifers culled, but had little effect on conception. There were no significant differences in the weight at mating between the heifers that conceived and those that failed to conceive. Mean date of conception was within 30 days and 20 days of the commencement of the breeding season for the first and second season, respectively. Post-weaning nutrition played a relatively minor role in affecting the time of conception. Birth weights of the progeny were not affected by treatment. Calf birth weight was however, significantly (P < 0·05) correlated with the weight of the dam at mating. Sixty-three % of the heifers produced three calves in 3 years, 35% produced two calves in 3 years and only two heifers produced one calf in 3 years. The data supported the original hypothesis that the emphasis, when heifers are bred at 2 years of age, should be shifted away from a physiological base to one where management and grazing strategy are more important in rendering the enterprise economically viable.

1. Body shape and carcass composition have been measured in a dated series of Romney-Southdown cross and Australian Merino sheep foetuses.

2. Large differences in shape exist between the two breed groups and these result from growth rate differences in certain components of the bone and muscle tissue.

3. Carcass composition at any particular foetal weight, however, is more uniform. In relation to body weight, the Merino has a higher proportion of bone in the body but the proportion of muscle is the same in both breed groups. Nevertheless, the distribution of muscle tissue is changed as there s i a higher proportion of muscle in the hind limb of the Romney-Southdown cross.

The developing UK cashmere goat industry utilises a variety of goat breeds and crosses as base stock in breed improvement programmes. Native feral goats contribute small but significant quantities of very high quality fibre and the attribute of hardiness. Stock from overseas are imported to increase the weight of cashmere produced. Some dairy goats are used for their higher prolificacy and because their superior ability to rear kids is important in the production of goat meat which is a secondary but nonetheless important source of income in cashmere production enterprises.

Early growth rates of feral kids have been shown to be low in relation to those of dairy breed and crossbred kids when reared by their natural mothers (Russel, Lippert, Ryder and Grant, 1986) but it is not known whether this is a result of a low potential growth rate or a limitation in the production or composition of their dams’ milk.

Little is known of the milk production characteristics of feral goats or even of dairy goats kept under suckling as opposed to milking regimes. This paper describes the milk production characteristics of suckled feral, dairy and feral x dairy goats and the effects of these characteristics on early kid growth rate.

There is currently increasing interest in the diversity of materials which may be used as energy sources for dairy cow diets. Feeding of concentrates with a high “digestible fibre” content may be of benefit to the lactating dairy cow. In comparison with a concentrate based on a highly fermentable energy source such as cereal starch a concentrate high in digestible fibre content may undergo a slower fermentation within the rumen such that the resultant fermentation pattern may be altered. Diets and feeding regime's that promote low rumen volatile fatty acid ratios of acetic plus butyric:propionic have been associated with the production of milk of low fat content. Feeding of a high “digestible fibre” concentrate may therefore help prevent this problem. The purpose of the trial reported here was to compare the effects of concentrate energy source on the milk performance of dairy cows in early lactation.

A survey of dry sow housing across England (Baynes and Hunter, 1993) was conducted to assess farmers' future plans and opinions regarding the onset of the 1999 ban relating to stall and tether housing systems. Results from this survey showed that approximately one third of English pig producers currently with these types of systems were undecided as to which system to choose. A number of case studies are currently being conducted on existing group-housed systems to contribute to a data base on group housing options.

Sows were housed in a general purpose barn which had been divided into 12 pens, each housing ten sows. Sows were liquid fed once a day in a common trough with partial barriers. Total space allowance was 2.96m2/sow, of which 1.23m2 was kennelled.

Advantages of the use of test-day records for genetic evaluation of dairy cattle are now widely accepted. In particular, longitudinal models such as random regression avoid using ad hoc extrapolation procedures to reconstruct complete lactations as they provide individual predictions even for incomplete data. However, these predictions and parameter estimates obtained in the model do not take into account the lactation length. This can be an important drawback for phenotypic and genetic analysis of milk production of cows with shorter lactations. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology that would correct these predictions, weighting them by the probability at each point in time of each cow being dried off. The proposed procedure is easy to implement and calculations are fast to compute. A simulation study and an application on real data for daily milk records show that the proposed methodology provides a more accurate estimation for individual cumulative production as well as genetic values, and avoids predicting negative productions at the end of the lactation as is often the case with random regression models.

Dried skimmed milk (DSM) is a common constituent of piglet creep rations. Liquid skimmed milk (ISM) is considerably cheaper per unit of feed value and if it could be fed successfully to young pigs as a substitute for DSM without adversely affecting performance, significant savings could be made in weaner rearing costs.

Twenty litters from Large White x Landrace sows, totalling 199 piglets, were offered one of two creep rations.

Using a high protein diet (483 g/kg), two trials were carried out to assess any potential benefit which may result from the supplementation of diets for fingerling and grower class gilthead seabream with pyridoxine at levels which were below, matched and far exceeded the minimum dietary requirement. At the level of supplementation below the minimal requirement (lowest level) the responses from the practical diet almost matched the responses from the diet containing an amount of pyridoxine corresponding to the published minimum requirement for the species and no significant improvement in performance was recorded in response to increasing supplement level. However, despite the absence of a marked effect on overall performance, a small potential for increased activity of alanine aminotransferase was recorded amongst grower class fish given diets containing the lowest supplement. The proximate composition of the grower class fish was unaffected by the level of pyridoxine supplementation though marginal increases in the lipid content of the fingerlings were observed. At the haematological level, haematocrit, total haemoglobin and the plasma concentrations of glucose and protein were also unaffected. However, on the application of an acute stressor (repeated netting), significant alterations in haematocrit and plasma glucose concentration reflecting dietary pyridoxine supplement were recorded.

In a 2 × 2 × 2 experiment, 296 Scottish Blackface ewes were fed to achieve one of two levels of body condition (high: condition scores ^2·75; low: condition scores ^2·50) by 2 weeks before joining with rams. Half of the ewes of each condition score were fed dried grass pellets ad libitum and 300 g hay per head daily, between 2 weeks before and 8 days after joining, while the remaining ewes were offered a live-weight maintenance ration comprising 750 g pellets and 400 g hay per head daily. From 8 days after joining the intake of all ewes was gradually changed, over a 2-week period, to 1250 g pellets and 400 g hay per head daily. Two days before joining, half of the ewes of each condition/intake group were passively immunized against testosterone. A total of 99 ewes were slaughtered 18 days after joining and their ovulation rate at the first mating determined. Ovulation rates were significantly affected by immunization (immunized: 2·31, control: 1·86, pooled s.e. = 0·055; P < 0·01) and food intake (ad libitum: 2·24, maintenance: I 92, pooled s.e. = 0·055; P < 0·05) but not by body condition at mating (high: 2·15, low: 2·02, pooled s.e. = 0·059; P > 0·05). Lambing rates were dependent on treatment (immunized: 1·82 control: 1·62, pooled s.e. = 0·044; P < 0·01), food intake (ad libitum: 1·85, maintenance: 1·59, pooled s.e. = 0·043; P < 0·01) and body condition (high: 1·82, low: 1·62, pooled s.e. = 0·044; P < 001). In ewes in a high body condition at mating, the effects of intake and immunization were additive but in ewes in low condition, immunization induced little improvement in performance in ewes fed ad libitum. Circulating antibody titres were lower in ewes fed ad libitum than in ewes offered a maintenance ration (1: 416 v. 1: 534, pooled s.e. = 14; P < 0·001), but ovulation rates and litter sizes were not related to titres.