Inclusion of fishmeal in diets fed to dairy cows has been found to increase milk yield and milk protein content (Pike et al 1994). This is thought to be the result of increased intake of DUP. However, its inclusion in dairy rations is limited by its relatively high cost in addition to the negative image of feeding protein derived from animal sources in the light of the recent BSE crisis. The literature contains many instances where no response has been found to increasing DUP supply by feeding protected vegetable protein. The lack of response could be attributed to an unbalanced amino acid composition of DUP (Schingoethe 1996). This study was designed to observe the effects of replacing a proportion of cereal with either fish meal or a protected protein blend (Amino Green™, Nutec Ltd, Lichfield) formulated to supply the ideal balance of amino acids for milk production in a high yielding dairy cow.

While end-point in vitro techniques provide no information regarding the kinetics of feedstuff degradation they are generally simpler to conduct and require fewer inputs especially with respect to labour. In contrast systems, which permit degradation dynamics to be assessed, require that multiple measurements are made and be continued for a sufficient period to ensure that asymptotic values are reached. This study was therefore conducted to examine the variability that could be expected between short-term end-point in vitro degradability techniques and to compare some of the values with in sacco derived estimates.

Traditionally, grass hay fed to horses is low in crude protein (CP) and is unable to meet the animal’s nitrogen requirements. This necessitates the provision of a supplemental source of additional nitrogen (N). Sugar beet pulp (SB), which contains ca. 100g CP/kg DM and has the potential to fulfil this role. Previous work has indicated that SB CP is poorly digested in the small intestine of the horse, with the majority reaching the hindgut, where it is readily degraded by the microflora (Moore-Colyer, 2000). This experiment sought to determine the effect of added SB and or additional N on the in vitro fermentation of hay by a faecal inoculum obtained from a pony fed commercially available chopped hay.

Extensive research into human-animal interactions, particularly in the pig industry, has led to the proposal that high fear of humans, through a stress response, can limit an animal’s growth, reproduction and welfare (Hemsworth et al., 1993). In a recent study in the Australian dairy industry, a significant negative between-farm correlation was found between the avoidance of an experimenter by cows in a standard test and milk yield of the farm, suggesting that fear of humans may also have implications for the productivity of dairy cows (Breuer et al., 2000). The behaviour of stockpeople is a likely factor affecting fear of humans in dairy cows (Breuer et al., 2000). It was the aim of this experiment to investigate the effects of handling on the stress physiology and behaviour of dairy heifers.

DNA-based molecular methods have made possible genotyping of animals of any age and sex for milk and meat genes, thus providing a potentially more efficient and flexible selection tool. Among specific genes that may affect economically important traits in sheep, the Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) locus has been extensively studied [Barillet et al., 2005]. The genotype BB of BLG seems to be associated with higher milk yield; on the other hand genotypes AA and AB seem to be superior in protein and casein content and crude yield [Garzon et al., 1992]. Another genes intensively investigated in farm animal are that of calpastatin (CAST) and calpain (CAPN). Calpastatin and calpain (CAPN) deserves special attention because of their major role in meat production. The calpain-calpastatin system (CCS) comprises a family of calcium dependent neutral proteases. The CAPNs have been shown to play the major role in post mortem tenderization in beef, lamb, and pork by degrading specific muscle structural proteins. The aim of the present study was to identify genotypes of BLG, CAST and CAPN genes in Kurdi sheep breed by PCR.

The intake potential of silage is determined by the intrinsic characteristics of parent herbage, e.g. plant species, cell wall content and digestibility. Measured intake may, however, be markedly reduced due to modifications of carbohydrate and N fractions during ensilage, and therefore the relationship between digestibility and intake has been weaker for ensiled than dried forages. Increased proteolysis and extent of fermentation have generally decreased silage DM intake (SDMI). However, correlations between fermentation characteristics and SDMI reported in literature are generally weak, particularly those based on individual cows data. In addition to D-value (g DOM/kg DM) and fermentation quality, SDMI is also influenced by DM content, amount and type of concentrates fed, production level and stage of lactation. Gordon et al. (1998) measured SDMI under standardized conditions in cattle and developed straight NIRS calibrations for the prediction of SDMI. The purpose of this study was to develop a SDMI index describing the relative intake potential using available data based on mean treatment digestibility, fermentation characteristics and SDMI values.

Trans- 10, cis- 12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a biohydrogenation intermediate produced in the rumen, is a potent inhibitor of milk fat synthesis. Data from a number of studies where various doses of trans -10, cis -12 CLA have been abomasally infused demonstrate a curvilinear relationship between the percent reduction in milk fat yield and both the dose of trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA infused and the milk fat content of trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA. In addition to a reduction in milk fat output, under some circumstances an increase in milk yield and milk protein output are observed. To date, there has been no examination of the effects of trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA on milk fat synthesis in lactating sheep. The current study was therefore designed to determine if trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA would inhibit milk fat synthesis in lactating sheep. In order to test the effectiveness of trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA in inhibiting milk fat synthesis we used a lipid-encapsulated trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA supplement (LE-CLA) as a means to provide the trans- 10, cis- 12 CLA isomer post-ruminally.

Sociability refers to the extent to which animals seek social companionship. Individual differences in social behaviour exist between animals. It is important to measure individual social motivation in order to develop suitable temperament scores that can be used in future breeding programmes or as part of welfare assessment schemes. Runway tests have been shown as reliable methods of measuring sociability in animals (Birds Mills & Faure, 1991; Sheep Sibbald et al., 2005). The aim was to develop a suitable test that could be used to measure sociability of cows in a commercial situation. The following questions were addressed i) How repeatable is the runway test when carried out on dairy cattle, ii) Does a cow’s performance in a runway test correlate with social behaviour within a group house setting?

Isolates of Lactobacillus spp were obtained from colon samples from a total of 26 randomly selected Scottish piggeries. These were screened for probiotic potential, assessed by their ability to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli K88. It emerged that the distribution of potentially probiotic isolates was not uniform: certain piggeries seemed to harbour populations of Lactobacillus spp. with a high proportion of potential probiotics, while other piggeries yielded few or no active isolates. We postulate that this distribution may influence the perceived variation in efficacy of commercial probiotic preparations.

Traditional sheep producers in the South European countries fed lambs with concentrate, in order to obtain light carcasses of young animals. As a consequence of this lamb production system, large grazing areas have been abandoned. However, some producers are taking into consideration the extensive grazing systems to reduce costs and at the same time to obtain subsidies established by the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. Moreover, the increasing demand of healthy and safe meat products is stimulating the interest in pasture-based production systems. However, in our dry mountain conditions, this grazing system can be associated to poorer ewe and lamb performances. The present study sought to compare the productive parameters of ewes and lambs obtained in four different management strategies.

Genetic parameters of mastitis are required in genetic selection for mastitis resistance. Excluding cows that are culled at an early stage of lactation due to mastitis from genetic parameter estimation may introduce culling bias. The use of linear models, suitable for continuous traits, is inappropriate for analysis of mastitis records because it is recorded as an all or none (binary) trait. Here, a Bayesian-threshold model with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques was used to analyze mastitis data. The objective was to estimate genetic parameters of mastitis in first and all-lactation cows using complete or incomplete records on disease.

A significant proportion of the grass silage fed to lactating dairy cows may be of only modest quality due either to delayed harvesting and/or poor ensiling conditions. In such situations, both total feed intake and milk production are likely to be compromised with the consequent need to feed more concentrates. Part of this effect is considered to be due to the development of a solid mass of digesta in the rumen, with loss of the normal layered or biphasic stratification of rumen contents. Under such conditions, rumen motility, rate of forage digestion and hence voluntary feed intake will be compromised. Mertens (1997) stressed that chemical definition of dietary fibre such as neutral- (NDF) or acid-detergent (ADF) fibre content was an inadequate description of the fibre content of a diet as it affects rumen function and animal performance. Consequently he proposed both effective NDF (eNDF; ability of a feed to replace a roughage with no negative effect on milk fat content) and physically effective NDF (peNDF; a measure of the physical properties of fibre as it stimulates chewing activity and development of the biphasic stratification of rumen contents) as additional descriptors of the physical characteristics of dietary fibre but to date these concepts have attracted limited attention in the UK. This study examined the effect of replacing increasing amounts of grass silage (GS) on a dry matter (DM) basis in a silage:concentrate ration with pressed sugar beet pulp (PP) on various processes of digestion in the rumen of lactating dairy cows, specifically in relation to chewing activity and rumen mat density.

Concerns over low levels of intramuscular fat and poor eating quality of meat from modern lean lines of pigs have focused attention on approaches to increasing the marbling fat content of pork. A number of techniques to increase intramuscular fat by manipulation of the nutrient composition of the diet have been evaluated. These have included feeding of protein deficient diets and of excess dietary leucine levels (Cisneros et al., 1996). Leucine is a ketogenic amino acid, the carbon skeleton of which can be used to synthesize fatty acids in muscle. In a previous study (Cisneros et al., 1996) feeding excess dietary leucine increased intramuscular fat and also improved muscle color. This study was carried out to validate those findings.

In farm animals early embryonic loss is recognised as a major cause of reproductive wastage. In sheep and pigs there is evidence that high energy intakes prior to ovulation and in early pregnancy depress systemic progesterone with a detrimental effect on embryo survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short term nutritional changes pre- and post-insemination on embryo survival and systemic progesterone in cattle. Preliminary results have been presented previously (Dunne etal., 1997).

Oestrus was synchronised in 247 beef cross heifers aged 18-24 months using two injections of prostaglandin (PG) administered 10 days apart. At the oestrus following the first PG injection heifers were allocated to either a Low (L, 0.6 M) or High (H, 2.3M) pasture allowance for the 10 day period prior to artificial insemination (AI). AI was carried out at the oestrus following the second PG injection using semen from a single Limousin bull. On the day following AI, heifers were randomly reallocated to either a L or H pasture allowance until embryo recovery at day 14 to 16 or pregnancy diagnosis at Day 30.

Mastitis is a complex disease causing inflammation of the udder, which has been estimated to cost the dairy farmer between £40-£117/cow per year (Stott et al., 2002). Economic loss occurs as a result of discarded milk, reduced milk yield and milk quality, increased vet costs and an increase in replacement costs. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of breed on the incidence of mastitis and somatic cell counts and milk production capabilities of Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss and Brown Swiss crossbred cows.

In 1991 it was recommended that total fat intake in the UK should be reduced to a population average of less that 33% of total daily energy intake and that saturated fatty acids should contribute no more than 10% of total energy (Department of Health, 1991). A further recommendation was that the intake of trans fatty acids should not exceed 2% of total energy. These recommendations were made primarily on the basis of the influence of fatty acids on plasma cholesterol and thereby on the development of cardiovascular disease. While associations of fat intake with other chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity and diabetes have also been suggested, it was felt that there was insufficient evidence to make specific recommendations on the basis of such claims. A reduction in saturated fat intake has remained a central target of public health nutrition within the United Kingdom ever since. Despite concerted efforts, particularly throughout the 1990s., to achieve these targets little progress has been made. In 2000, total fat intake remained at 38% and saturated fatty acid intake at 15% (DEFRA, 2001).

Early in the 1980s a selection index was designed at SAC to improve the rate of lean growth in terminal sire sheep which combined ultrasound measurements of fat and muscle depth, and live weight at 150 days of age (Simm and Dingwall, 1989). Beginning in 1985, this index was applied in the SAC Suffolk flock in a performance test. In 1994, rams from a line selected on this index weighed on average 12% more (8 kg) and had 12% lower fat depth (– 0.9 mm) and 10% higher muscle depth (2.9 mm) than rams from an unselected Control line. Comparison of Selection and Control line animals has thus far been based on live predictors of carcass composition at weights substantially heavier than typical market lamb weights. The aims of this study were to test whether selection decisions based on the lean growth index produced an improvement in actual carcass composition in purebred terminal sire sheep and whether these changes persisted at live weights different from those under which selection was carried out.

An adequate intake of colostrum by the newborn piglet allows the piglet to acquire passive immunity and develop active immunity. However there is relatively little information on the composition of colostrum from sows of modern genotypes. The purpose of the study was therefore to investigate the changes in IgG concentration of colostrum and the uptake of colostrum by piglets.

A total of 9 muciparous sows (Newsham - Large White x Landrace) were observed whilst farrowing naturally. Colostrum was sampled, without using oxytocin, at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h post partum from the anterior, middle and rear thirds of the udder and frozen at -20 °C. Colostrum intake was measured as soon as piglets began to suckle after being born, by removing three piglets/sow from the sow and weighing the piglets before and after a period of suckling, the mean weight change over eight consecutive weighings (corrected for urinary losses) being taken as colostrum intake. Piglets were observed to determine on which udder section the piglet was suckling. IgG concentration was measured using an ELISA technique (Varley et al, 1985). Statistical analysis was carried out using analysis of variance.

Acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) is used in the UK Metabolisable Protein system (AFRC, 1992) to estimate the amount of indigestible nitrogen (N) in a feedstuff. A novel process has been developed which is intended to increase the proportion of undegradable protein in rapeseed meal. In situ work on this treated rapeseed product (TRSM) has shown a reduced rate of rumen degradation compared with the untreated product (UTRSM). However when these data were used in combination with ADIN content to calculate digestible undegraded protein (DUP), there was a minimal increase in DUP due to the high content of ADIN in the TRSM. There have been other cases where products have high ADIN content (e.g. distillery by-products; Webster, 1992) but when whole tract determinations of indigestible N were made, this was considerably lower than estimated from ADIN content. This raises some concerns about the use of ADIN to estimate indigestible protein for by- and treated- products. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the ADIN content of the untreated and treated rapeseed products was representative of the indigestible N.

The gas production (GP) technique, (e.g. Theodorou et al., 1994; Cone, 1994) is increasingly used as an indirect measure of substrate fermentability in the rumen. However, there are few data concerning the effects of making changes to the various integral steps of the GP procedure. This study investigated the effects of inoculum concentration and method of inoculation on the GP profile of high temperature dried grass (HTDG).