Meat quality comparisons were made between a total of 43 infertile bulls and 42 steers in five separate trials. Tenderness, juiciness and flavour were tested by taste panel for each of the five trials, making 15 subjective tests, while objective tests were made of tenderness (Warner-Bratzler shear) and juiciness (industrial press) in the five trials, making a further ten tests.

From this total of 25 different groups of assessments no significant difference between bull and steer meat was detected in 21; of the four groups of assessments where significant differences were detected, two favoured the bulls and two favoured the steers; the quality of all the samples was acceptable.

It is concluded from the overall results that in terms of practical meat quality there was no difference between the bulls and steers used in these five trials.

Preweaning litter traits of 289 Large White (LW) and of 167 Landrace (LR) litters born between 1 January, 1967 and 31 December, 1969 were analysed for seasonal effects. The month during which farrowing occurred exerted highly significant effects on the average piglet weight at birth and at weaning, as well as on the preweaning piglet weight gain (P <0·001). Piglet weight at birth was higher during the hot and dry months of the year, while the preweaning piglet weight gain was greater during the cooler season. The heaviest piglets at weaning were those born in August, the coldest month of the year. Piglet weight at birth was negatively correlated with the mean relative humidity of the month of farrowing (r = -0·79; P <0·01). The percentage of stillborn piglets was high in litters born during March and April (P < 0·005), and the positive correlation between the mean physiologically effective temperature and the percentage of stillborn piglets (r = +0·57) approached significance (P < 0·10).

The considerable variations in litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning as well as the variations in preweaning mortality were not significant.

The two breeds differed significantly (P < 0·005) in piglet weight at birth (LW: 2·8 lb; LR: 3·0 lb), in litter weight at birth (LW: 24 lb; LR: 28 lb), and in the percentage of stillborn piglets (LW: 4·5%; LR: 7·5%).

Considerable information is available in the literature concerning the levels of organic and inorganic constituents of blood of normal animals. It is well established that levels of many of these constituents are affected by season, age, breed, growth and other factors (Greatorex, 1957; Bhannasiri, 1960; Luitingh, 1962; Wilson, 1965). It is surprising, however, that little attention has been given to the relationship between these constituents of blood. Occasional reports on the relationship of a few constituents are available, but these were mostly studied in connection with the response of animals to a specific ration or certain ailment.

For seed crops other than cereals there have been comparatively few comprehensive field studies which have analysed the physiological basis of the effects of genotype and agronomic treatments on growth, development and yield. Milbourn & Hardwick (1968), working on vining peas (Pisum sativum L.), have recently shown that pod growth rate and the yield of seeds are not simple functions of leaf area index and that sourc es of materials other than the leaves are important in affecting the yields of pods and seeds. Furthermore, Flinn & Pato (1970) have shown that the pods themselves can contribute to assimilation in the field pea (Pisum arvense L.). Field experiments carried out at Cambridge in 1968 and 1969 have produced evidence on the relative importance of leaves and other photosynthetic tissues in determining the yields of pods and seeds in another seed crop, namely oilseed rape. The experiment in 1969 is described and discussed below.

Twelve non-pregnant and 20 pregnant North Country Cheviot ewes due to lamb in April 1969 were subjected to an 18 h daylength during the previous December. Thereafter daylength was reduced by 25 min per week. Eight ewes mated naturally in late May and early June and 22 of the remainder mated within 6 days after treatment with progesterone and gonadotrophin. Five of the photostimulated and 14 of the photostimulated plus hormone-treated ewes subsequently lambed in November 1969. The lambs were weaned at 28 days and 16 of the ewes were returned to fertile rams immediately after weaning. All 16 ewes were re-mated to naturally occurring oestrus during January-February 1970 and 13 proved pregnant.