Efficiency of conversion of food to wool. III. Wool production of ewes selected for high clean wool weight and of random control ewes on restricted and unrestricted food intakes in pens

1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHS Dolling ◽  
LR Piper
Keyword(s):  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Energetic Efficiency ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

The clean wool production (W), gross energy intake (I), and body weight (B) of individually fed medium Peppin ewes representative of two groups, one (selected, S) genetically superior in W to the other (control, C), have been measured under restricted and ad libitum feeding of lucerne chaff in pens. Differences in favour of the S group were observed for W and W/I under both regimes, the respective relative values of S/C being under restricted feeding 110/100 and 112/100, and under ad libitum feeding 113/100 and 112/100. Of these between-group differences, only W/I on restricted feeding was significant (P < 0.05). Differences between groups for B and I were small and not significant. On restricted feeding the S/C values were 98/100 for both; on ad libitum feeding they were 99/100 for B and 101/100 for I. When the data from the two feeding regimes were combined, the between-group differences in both W and W/I were significant (P < 0.05), but no significant group x nutritional level interaction was observed in any character. The two levels of nutrition in the pens yielded wool production rates similar to those observed contemporaneously on natural pastures. There were large positive phenotypic correlations between net efficiency (W/I under restricted feeding) and gross efficiency (W/I under ad libitum feeding), and between net efficiency and W under both regimes. There were also positive phenotypic correlations between I and both W (moderate) and B (large) under ad libitum feeding. W/I accounted for 92% of the between-group (genetic) and 70% of the within-group (phenotypic) variation in W. There was no significant difference in plasma protein-bound iodine (PBI) between S and C ewes, while correlations between W and PBI were not significant within either group. The energetic efficiency of the wool production process is discussed; in this experiment no more than 1.5% of the energy consumed appeared as energy in the form of wool fibre.

Skin folds and Merino breeding. 9. Efficiency of conversion of food to wool

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (80) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Robards ◽  
CH Davis ◽  
DG Saville
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Skin Fold ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Intake ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding ◽  
Reduced Surface

This paper reports a study of the efficiency of wool production, liveweight change and ad libitum intake of 60 hogget ewes from flocks selected for 15 years for skin wrinkle (Folds Plus), against skin wrinkle (Folds Minus) and randomly selected as a control (Random). Initially, under restricted feeding ewes from each genetic flock consumed 594, 750, 951 or 1097 g DM day-1 of a lucerne pellet ration. The mean efficiency of clean wool production of Folds Minus ewes (8.47 g CW/kg D.M.I.) was less (P < 0.05) than that of either Random (9.38) or Folds Plus (10.18) ewes, which did not differ significantly. During the following ad libitum feeding period, the Folds Minus ewes again produced less wool than either of the other groups and their wool production was less efficient even though they consumed significantly less feed than either Random or Folds Plus ewes. The significant difference in intake between Random and Folds Minus ewes remained when the n takes were corrected for liveweight (kg), metabolic body size (kg0.73) or surface area based on liveweight alone (kg0.67). However, when fold score (FS) was included in the surface area estimate as LW0.67 + FS0.2 the intake difference between flocks became very small. The experimental results and components analyses of the pre- and post-shearing data showed that selection for skin fold had not changed wool growth rate or efficiency of wool production, but had reduced staple length. On the other hand, the lower wool production of Folds Minus ewes was due to both reduced surface area and lower wool production per unit area.

scholarly journals Effect of restricted feeding in the far-off period on performance and metabolic status of dairy cows

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz Nowak ◽  
Robert Mikuła ◽  
Ewa Pruszyńska-Oszmałek ◽  
Barbara Stefańska ◽  
Paweł Maćkowiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
System Recommendation ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate experimentally the effects of restricted or ad libitum feeding in the far-off period on performance of dairy cows. Two groups of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows having 19 animals in each group were allotted to two planes of nutrition in the far-off period from -56 to -22 days. The ADLIB group was fed ad libitum (DMI 12.9 kg) while in the RES group the dry matter intake was restricted by 3 kg DM compared to the average dry matter during the last 7 days in the ADLIB group. Average daily energy intake decreased from 8.90 UFL in the ADLIB to 6.83 UFL in the RES group. In the close-up period and after parturition, the cows of both groups were given the same diet. In restrictively fed cows, there was a tendency to a greater decrease in BCS during both the dry period (P=0.09) and lactation (P=0.07). After parturition milk production, fertility indices and blood concentration of IGF-1, insulin and glucose were not significantly affected by the far-off treatment. In the RES group, lower BHBA 3 days before calving and on day 5 of lactation and lower NEFA on day 28 of lactation were recorded. Also in this group higher levels of glucose 3 days before calving, triiodothyronine (T3) on days -30 and 5, and thyroxine (T4) on days -3 and 28 were observed. It is concluded that restricted feeding in the far-off period positively affected blood indicators of lipomobilization during the transition period, but had little effect on performance of lactating cows. In spite of low energy, high-fibre diet offered ad libitum in the faroff period resulted in the energy overfeeding compared to the INRA system recommendation.

Assessing Wiltshire Horn-Merino crosses. 1. Wool shedding, blowfly strike and wool production traits

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Rathie ◽  
ML Tierney ◽  
JC Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Head Neck

Wiltshire Horn-Merino (WH-M) crosses of 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 Merino content were compared over 10 years for wool shedding, blowfly strike frequency and wool production traits. Merinos and 1/2 Merino WH-M were compared over 4 years. For wool production traits, 1/2 and 5/8 Merino WH-M ewes were compared to Border Leicester-Merino (BL-M) ewes over 2 years. Shedding increased with age for all WH-M genotypes, with 3/4 Merinos showing less shedding than 1/2 Merinos at all ages. At 1 and 2 years of age, 5/8 Merinos were intermediate between the other 2 WH-M genotypes, but at later ages they were similar to 1/2 Merinos. All genotypes showed less shedding at the belly site than the head, neck and breech as lambs, but not at older ages. Phenotypic correlations between sites on the same sheep were high, averaging 0.85. Repeatability estimates for each site ranged from 0.26 to 0.45. Shedding increased most with age in the 1/2 Merinos, and least in the 3/4 Merinos. Little or no shoulder and back wool was shed by most sheep. All 1/2 and 5/8 Merinos and most 3/4 Merinos had bare legs and points. Blowfly strike incidence was far higher in Merinos than 1/2 Merinos, in all years. Among WH-M, blowfly strike incidence increased as Merino content increased, in all years. All WH-M were far inferior to both Merinos and BL-M in total greasy wool weight and all its components, and also in clean fleece weight, with their level of inferiority increasing as their Merino content declined. Wool fibre diameter for all WH-M was coarser than for Merinos, but was a little finer than for BL-M. Fibre diameter increased in the WH-M as their Merino content declined. All WH-M had lower wool yields than the Merinos or BL-M. In some years the 314 Merinos had lower wool yields than the 1/2 and 5/8 Merinos, which were similar in all years. Shedding caused numerous genotype x age interactions in wool weight and its components, as Merinos and BL-M did not shed, and with the WH-M shedding increased most with age in the 1/2 Merinos, and least in the 3/4 Merinos. Due to preferential shedding from the belly and other low-value areas, the WH-M inferiority in total wool weight was less severe for fleece weight. Winter shearing succeeded in harvesting some wool from WH-M that would be shed before a summer shearing, but not enough to alter rankings among genotypes. All WH-M genotypes have wool too coarse, and not enough of it, to compete as a wool sheep with the Merino at current wool prices under usual Australian pastoral conditions. In areas where mustering is difficult or blowfly strike unusually severe, WH-M genotypes may find a niche.

Responses to supplements by weaned lambs grazing mature pasture or eating hay in yards

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Freer ◽  
H Dove ◽  
A Axelsen ◽  
JR Donnelly ◽  
GT McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Substitution Rate ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Sunflower Meal ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Supplement Intake

Weaned crossbred lambs grazing mature pasture in summer at stocking rates of 14, 28 or 42 lambs/ha were supplemented for 60 days with 0, 400, 600 or 800 g/day of either sunflower meal or a 1:1 mixture of sunflower meal and oats. Mean daily gains in fasted weight without and with supplement were - 51 and 62 g, respectively, with no significant difference between the three feeding levels. Greasy wool production increased from 4.7 g/day without supplement to 9.9 g/day at the 600 or 800 g level but the composition of the supplement had no effect. Stocking rate had no effect on animal performance. It was estimated that pasture intake increased slightly with the first 400 g of supplement but fell sharply as the level increased further, with a substitution rate of 1.3. In two experiments, yarded lambs were offered oaten or lucerne hay ad libitum and mixtures of sunflower meal and oats at levels from 400 g/day to ad libitum. Mean daily gain in fasted weight increased from about 140 to about 190 g/day over this range of supplementation and greasy wool production from about 9 to about 10 g/day. In one experiment weight gain and wool production were significantly lower with a 1:6 mixture of sunflower meal and oats than with a 1:2 mixture and the same trend was shown in the other experiment. Measurements of intake showed that the substitution rate for both types of hay was only about 0.5. Comparisons of the animals' estimated requirements and intake in all three experiments indicated that the relatively poor performance of grazing animals was due to the very high substitution rate for grazed pasture at levels of supplement intake above 400 g/day.

Acceptance and Feasibility of Seated Elliptical Pedaling to Replace Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 844-853
Author(s):  
Nicholas L. Lerma ◽  
Chi C. Cho ◽  
Ann M. Swartz ◽  
Hotaka Maeda ◽  
Young Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Activity Monitor ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a seated pedaling device to reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in the homes of older adults. Methods: Each participant (N = 20) was outfitted with an activity monitor and seated pedaling device in the home for 7 days and randomly assigned to one of four light-intensity pedaling groups (15, 30, 45, and 60 min/day). Results: There was 100% adherence in all groups and significant group differences in the minutes pedaled per day (p < .001), with no significant difference in the total pedaling days completed (p = .241). The 15-, 30-, 45-, and 60-min groups experienced a 4.0%, 5.4%, 10.6%, and 11.3% reduction in SB on the days pedaled, respectively. Conclusion: Clinically relevant reductions in SB time were achievable in this 1-week trial. Long-term adherence and the impact of replacing SB with seated light activities on geriatric-relevant health outcomes should be investigated.

Effects of a severe nutritional check in early post-natal life on the subsequent growth of sheep to the age of 12–14 months

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Hopkins ◽  
N. M. Tulloh
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Surface Measurements

SUMMARYThe growth of 26 castrated ram lambs was severely restricted for the first 5 weeks of post-natal life. Subsequently, these lambs (group R) were fed ad libitum on the same high quality diets as fed to a control group of 26 similar lambs (group C) from birth.At regular intervals lambs were weighed, X-rayed and surface measurements were aken. At the age of 12–14 months, covering the body-weight range of 63–83 kg, ten animals from each group were slaughtered for dissection and measurement. These data were used to compare the skeletal growth of the two groups of animals. Measurements of skeletal dimensions by dissection were compared with measurements obtained by surface and radiographic techniques. After slaughter, the brain, kidneys, liver, the left semitendinosus and gastrocnemius muscles from each lamb were used for the following analyses: dry matter, ash, fat, protein, DNA and RNA contents.At the end of the period of feed restriction, there was a mean body-weight difference between groups of 9·2 kg (63%).This represented a weight for age difference of 36 days, which was reduced to 29 days at the conclusion of the experiment, restricted animals not having fully recovered from the period of underfeeding.Clean wool production per day was significantly (P < 0·05) depressed by the restricted feeding, lambs in group C producing 11·07 g/day during the first shearing interval compared with 10·07 g/day from group R lambs. There was no difference between groups in clean wool produced during the second shearing interval.Restricted feeding caused a reduction in the rate of bone growth but, during subsequent regrowth (apart from minor exceptions), it did not disrupt the relationship of skeletal dimensions to fleece-free body weight (FFBW). Surface measurements showed that during recovery, group R animals were significantly narrower (P < 0·05) at the hips and wider (P < 0·05) at the shoulders than group C animals. The results obtained from the radiographs for length of foreleg were similar to those obtained from surface measurements. Metacarpal width (measured at two sites) and weight were significantly greater in group R than in group C animals. With the exception of width at hips and although not statistically significant (P > 0·05), the skeletal measurements of group R were slightly greater than those of group C animals. This may have been due to the slightly greater age of group R at slaughter and to an effect of restricted feeding.There was no significant difference between groups R and C in the DNA content of the tissues investigated. Neither was there any difference between the groups in cell size as indicated by the protein: DNA and tissue weight: DNA ratios. Even though hyperplasia and hypertrophy were slowed by the period of restricted feeding, this effect was transient, full recovery apparently occurring as indicated by tissue weights and composition at the time of slaughter. The RNA and the protein contents of the tissues were similar in both groups. In addition, the similarity of the RNA:DNA ratios suggests that tissues in each group possessed the same capacity to synthesize protein.In practical terms, the recovery of group R was associated with a time lag in reaching any particular body weight and a loss of wool production. Both of these consequences are of economic importance. At the time the experiment ended, no skeletal stunting was evident in these sheep and, apparently, they had recovered in terms of cellular growth.

scholarly journals Contextual Information Modulates Pupil Size in Autistic and Non-Autistic Children.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Tortelli ◽  
Antonella Pomè ◽  
Marco Turi ◽  
Roberta Igliozzi ◽  
David Charles Burr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparison Group ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background. Recent Bayesian models suggest that perception is more “data-driven” and less dependent on contextual information in autistic individuals than others. However, experimental tests of this hypothesis have given mixed results, possibly due to the lack of objectivity of the self-report methods typically employed. Here we introduce an objective no-report paradigm based on pupillometry to assess the processing of contextual information in autistic children and a comparison clinical group.Methods. After validating (in a group of neurotypical adults) a child-friendly pupillometric paradigm, in which we embedded test images within an animation movie that participants watched passively, we compared pupillary response to images of the sun and meaningless control images in children with autism versus age- and IQ-matched children presenting developmental disorders unrelated to the autistic spectrum. Results. Both clinical groups showed stronger pupillary constriction for the sun images compared with control images, like the neurotypical adults. There was no detectable difference between autistic children and the comparison group (in spite of a significant difference in pupillary light responses, enhanced in the autistic group). Limitations: Having found no statistically significant differences between groups, we cannot exclude that group differences existed but were too small to be detected – a critique that applies to most negative findings. Additional limitations concern the heterogeneous composition of the comparison group and the types of stimuli tested, which only allowed for studying the effect of context on relatively complex perceptual processes. Conclusions: Our report introduces an objective technique for studying perception in clinical samples and children. The lack of statistically significant group differences in our tests suggests that autistic children and the comparison group do not show large differences in perception of these stimuli. This opens the way to further studies testing contextual processing at other levels of perception.

Grazing management of native pastures in the New England region of New South Wales. I. Pasture and sheep production with special reference to systems of grazing and internal parasites

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Roe ◽  
WH Southcott ◽  
HN Turner
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Parasitic Infestation ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sheep Production

In a 4-year grazing experiment with Merino sheep, on a native pasture dominated by Bothriochloa ambigua S.T. Blake, three rates of stocking and continuous v. rotational grazing were compared. The effects of these treatments on the forage available and the botanical composition of the pasture and on sheep liveweights, size of sheep, wool production, wool fibre diameter, and parasitic infestation, both with and without drenching with phenothiazine, mere studied. The effects of seasonal conditions on the above and on the chemical composition of the pasture were also recorded. No consistently significant differences between grazing treatments in their effects on the pasture or on sheep liveweights or parasitic infestation were recorded, although during the final 3 years the total forage available was less under heavy stocking. Seasonal variations in total forage mere not marked, but, production of green forage increased greatly in the spring and declined to a very low level during winter. Similarly, sheep liveweights increased during spring and summer and declined in the winter. These liveweight changes were significantly correlated with the amount of green forage available. Wool fibre diameter showed similar seasonal fluctuations but the maximum diameter was attained earlier than maximum liveweight. Coincident with a spring rise in the amount of green forage there was also an increase in the percentages of crude protein and phosphorus in the green components of the pasture. Liveweight gains of the drenched sheep were significantly greater from the beginning of each experimental year in the late spring (November) to late winter (August) in all stocking treatments. In the spring, when the quality of the pasture improved and worm egg counts were low, drenching had no effect on liveweight gains in three out of four years. Drenching also significantly improved wool production and resulted in an increase in skeletal size of sheep in three out of four years. Drenching reduced egg counts of the parasites Oesophagostomum spp. and Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi) Cobb but was less effective against Trichostrongylus-Ostertagia spp. For all grazing treatments there was no significant difference in the amount of wool produced per head, but over the 4-year period 56 per cent. more wool per acre was produced from the heavy than from the light rate of stocking.

Cancer patients’ reported illness and treatment related concerns, perception of availability and use of available information: The influence of socio-demographics

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6077-6077
Author(s):  
P. Jean-Pierre ◽  
J. A. Roscoe ◽  
G. R. Morrow ◽  
M. Hofman ◽  
K. Fiscella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Illness Perception ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
And Gender

6077 Backgrounds: Studies that examine the roles of socio-demographics in illness perception and healthcare communication among cancer patients are relatively absent. Methods: This sample included 973 (904 whites, 69 non-whites) patients undergoing treatment for cancer at 20 geographically separate sites. Concerns over understanding the diagnosis and treatment plan were assessed on a 5-point-scale (“1=no concern” to “5=a great deal of concern”). Patients were also asked if: a) whether or not information was available to them, b) if yes, did they used it or not, and c) would more information have been helpful. χ2-analyses and ANCOVAs, were conducted to examine group differences in education, occupation, and concern over understanding the diagnosis and treatment plan. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the independent association of race to patients’ beliefs that additional information would have been helpful. Results: χ2 analyses showed no significant difference between whites and non-whites in education and occupation (Ps > .05). Subsequent ANCOVAs showed significant group differences in concerns over understanding the diagnosis (F(1, 967) = 9.13, p = 0.003) and treatment plan (F(1, 967) = 7.95, p = 0.01), after adjusting for education, occupation, age, and gender. Additionally, χ2 showed significant group differences in beliefs that more information would have been helpful (p < .05). More non-whites (70.3%) than whites (53.1%) indicated that additional information would have been helpful to understanding the diagnosis. Similarly, more non-whites (69.4%) than whites (53.4%) indicated that additional information would have been helpful to understanding the treatment plan. Subsequent logistic regressions confirmed that race independently predicted patients’ indications that more information would have been helpful to understanding the diagnosis (OR = 1.96, 95%CI = 1.12, 3.42) and treatment plan (OR = 1.84, 95%CI = 1.05, 3.22). Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for oncology professionals to consider and integrate information about socio-demographics in their intervention and communication with racial/ethnic minority patients. Supported by NHI PHS-grant U10-CA37420 No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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