scholarly journals The extent of differences between six British breeds of sheep in their metabolism, feed intake and utilization, and resistance to climatic stress

1966 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
J. L. Clapperton ◽  
F. W. Wainman
Keyword(s):  
Heat Production ◽  
Feed Utilization ◽  
Metabolic Responses ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Standard Series ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Breed Comparison ◽  
Voluntary Intake

1. Thirty wether sheep comprising five of each of the following breeds, Scottish Blackface, Welsh Mountain, Cheviot, Suffolk Down, Kent and Hampshire Down, were subjected to a standard series of experiments in which energy metabolism was measured during fasting and at the maintenance level of nutrition, and in which maximal voluntary intake of food was measured and the metabolic responses to the stress of wind (10 miles/h) and rain (1 cm/h) were determined. 2. The weight of an individual sheep at the maintenance level of feeding was 8.4% greater and when given feed ad lib. 22% greater than its weight when fasted. These increases largely reflected changes in the weight of gut contents. 3. When fasting metabolism was expressed per kg weight raised to the power 0.73, the small Welsh Mountain sheep had the lowest metabolism of 54.1 kcal/kg W0.73 and the Cheviot sheep the highest of 64.4 kcal/kg W0.73. Overall breed differences were statistically significant (0.05 > P > 0.01). Evidence collected in the experiments, however, suggests that fasting metabolism was more closely related to body-weight raised to the power 0.85. When this basis for breed comparison was used, differences in fasting metabolism between breed groups disappeared. 4. No differences between breed groups in the proportion of the energy they ingested which was lost in faeces, in urine or as methane, were found when they were given food at a maintenance level. The Welsh Mountain sheep, however, had the smallest heat production at the maintenance level when expressed as kcal/kg W0.73. 5. No differences between breed groups in the apparent digestibility of the energy of feed given ad lib. were found. The voluntary intake increased with weight of sheep. When the amount of feed energy consumed and the energy apparently digested were related to the determined maintenance requirement for apparently digested energy of each sheep, no differences between breed groups were found. The efficiency of feed utilization by these breed groups of sheep when given feed ad lib. was the same. 6. It was found that the Hampshire sheep were the most resistant to the effect of wind on their heat production, and the Welsh Mountain sheep the least. The Scottish Blackface was most resistant to the effect of rain on heat production. 7. It is concluded that metabolic differences between different breeds of sheep differing widely in size are quite small, but that breeds differ markedly in their resistance to environmental stresses caused by wind and rain, and that these largely reflect the characteristic fleece types of the breeds concerned.

Frequency of concentrate supplementation for cattle fed barley straw. 1. Effect on voluntary intake, ruminal straw disappearance, apparent digestibility and heat production

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Tellier ◽  
G. W. Mathison ◽  
E. K. Okine ◽  
D. McCartney ◽  
R. Soofi-Siawash
Keyword(s):  
Heat Production ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Protein Concentrate ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Feeding Frequency ◽  
Voluntary Intake

Five ruminally cannulated crossbred steers (474 ± 30 kg) were fed diets containing 70% barley straw and 30% concentrate in an unbalanced 5 × 5 Latin square design experiment to investigate the effects of frequency of feeding barley grain-based concentrates (daily, alternate days or every third day) with different dietary protein (7.9 and 11.5%) on voluntary intake of straw, ruminal disappearance of straw, apparent digestibility, and heat production. Neither frequency of feeding nor dietary protein concentration influenced voluntary intake of straw, nor did cattle eat differing amounts of straw on days when concentrate was fed in comparison with days when concentrate was not fed. Protein supplementation increased (P < 0.01) 24-h ruminal straw disappearance, but did not affect disappearances at other times. Concentrate feeding frequency had no influence on rate of ruminal disappearance of straw. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, gross energy, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and crude protein were 5, 6, 8 and 33% higher (P < 0.05), respectively, in diets containing the high-protein concentrate, but were not affected by frequency of concentrate feeding. Heat production (kJ kg-0.75) tended to be reduced (P = 0.06) by 4% in steers fed concentrate on alternate days in comparison with steers fed concentrate daily. Dietary protein concentration had no influence on heat production even though digestible energy intake was 10% higher when the high protein concentrate diet was fed. It was concluded that concentrate can be fed every second day without any negative impact on intake and digestibility, with a possible benefit of a reduction in energy lost as heat. More research, however, is required to study the feasibility of feeding concentrate every third day. Key words: Cattle, straw, protein, feeding frequency, digestion, heat production

scholarly journals Blastocyst formation, embryo transfer and breed comparison in the first reported large scale cloning of camels

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. O. Olsson ◽  
A. H. Tinson ◽  
N. Al Shamsi ◽  
K. S. Kuhad ◽  
R. Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Donor Cell ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Embryo Formation ◽  
Large Expansion ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Breed Comparison

AbstractCloning, through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), has the potential for a large expansion of genetically favorable traits in a population in a relatively short term. In the present study we aimed to produce multiple cloned camels from racing, show and dairy exemplars. We compared several parameters including oocyte source, donor cell and breed differences, transfer methods, embryo formation and pregnancy rates and maintenance following SCNT. We successfully achieved 47 pregnancies, 28 births and 19 cloned offspring who are at present healthy and have developed normally. Here we report cloned camels from surgical embryo transfer and correlate blastocyst formation rates with the ability to achieve pregnancies. We found no difference in the parameters affecting production of clones by camel breed, and show clear differences on oocyte source in cloning outcomes. Taken together we demonstrate that large scale cloning of camels is possible and that further improvements can be achieved.

The relations between the apparent digestibility of roughages in the rumen and lower gut of sheep, the volume of fluid in the rumen and voluntary feed intake

1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ulyatt ◽  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
I. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Glycol ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Volume Of Fluid ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Hind Gut ◽  
Volumes Of Distribution

Three sheep with permanent fistulas of the rumen were each given dried grass and two hays, each in three different amounts, and the apparent digesti-bility of the roughages in the rumen and distal to the rumen was determined. A lignin ratio method was used to measure digestibility.With increase in the amount of the poorest hay given, the proportion digested in the rumen fell and that distal to the rumen increased. With the second hay this effect was also noted but was not statistically significant. The voluntary intakes ofdry matter varied from 1·94 kg/day for the dried grass to 1·28 for the poorest hay. The volumes of distribution of polyethylene glycol in the rumen when feed was offered ad libitum, however, were the same, irrespective of the type of feed, at between 14·1 and 15·2 litres. These observations were confirmed at slaughter. The results support the hypothesis that sheep voluntarily consume roughages of different qualities to achieve constant fill of their rumens, and that little regulation of voluntary intake can be attributed to distension of the hind gut.

The relationship between apparent retention time in the rumen, voluntary intake, and apparent digestibility of legume and grass diets in sheep

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 889 ◽  
Author(s):  
RF Thornton ◽  
DJ Minson
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Jaw Movements ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
The Relationship

Eight grasses and six legumes were fed ad libitum at hourly intervals to wethers fitted with large rumen fistulas to determine voluntary intake, apparent digestibility, and the apparent retention time of organic matter in the rumen, as well as the quantity of rumen digesta and the organic matter content of the rumen digesta. The voluntary intake of legumes was 28% higher than that of equally digestible grasses. This difference was caused by a shorter retention time (17%) and a higher amount of organic matter (14%) in the rumen digesta from legume diets than from grass diets. The weight of wet digesta in the rumen of sheep fed on legumes was 7% lower than from those fed on grass. Neither the quantity of digesta nor the quantity of organic matter in the rumen was related to the voluntary intake, digestibility, or retention time of organic matter in the rumen. Number of jaw movements each day and rate of cotton thread digestion were not related to the retention time of the diets either. Daily intake of digestible organic matter (DOMI, g/day) was closely correlated with retention time (RTOM, hr) for the feeds in this study (r = –0.93) and the same relation applied to both temperate and tropical feeds, viz. DOMI = 1276–50.7 RTOM (r=0.96) Differences in voluntary intake between grasses and legumes were attributed to differences in retention time and the density to which the food was packed in the rumen.

The assessment of a crop husbandry technique in terms of animal production

1963 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
R. S. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Crop Husbandry ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SUMMARY1. The energy value of three hays cut at three stages of maturity was. measured by calorimetric methods and, in addition, the amounts of the hays consumed voluntarily by sheep were measured. Voluntary intake was alsa measured when 200, 500, 800 and 1,200 g. of pelleted concentrates were given.2. The metabolisable energy values of the three hays measured at the-maintenance level were 2·45, 2·26 and 2·16 kcal./g. for cuts 1, 2 and 3-respectively (cut 1 being the earliest). The net energy values for fat production were 0·96, 0·85 and 0·68 kcal./g. respectively.3. The apparent digestibility of the hays fell with increasing intake, but supplementation with concentrates increased their apparent digestibility.4. The voluntary intake of the hays given as the sole food was 70, 62 and 57 g./kg. W0·73 for the three cuts, respectively. When concentrates were given in increasing amounts, the intake of cuts 2 and 3 increased to maxima of 65 g. and 64 g./kg. W0·73 respectively and thereafter declined. With cut 1, intake of hay declined even with the smallest intake of concentrates. Voluntary intake of the hays was maximal when the protein content of the whole ration was 8·5%.5. When no supplement was given the digested energy per sheep per day supplied by cut 1 was 64% greater than that supplied by cut 3. When 800 g. concentrates were given, however, the ration including the early cut of hay provided only 2% more energy than that including the late cut.6. It is shown that if hay were given as the sole food cut 3, which produced 57% more weight of crop per acre, would provide 38% more metabolisable energy/acre and 11% more net energy (starch equivalent)/acre than would cut 1. The late cut would also enable 92% more sheep to be kept feeding to maximal appetite on an acre of produce. However, the total live-weight gain per acre would be only 25% of that obtained with thefirstcut.7. Comparable calculations have been made for the experiments in which concentrates were given. It is shown that here too optimal times of cutting can only be assessed in terms of estimates of animal production.

Corrigendum - Comparative breed studies of beef cattle. III. Carcass composition

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
NM Tulloh
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Breed Comparison

An investigation was made of published data on the carcass composition of cattle, based on dissection of carcasses into bone, muscle, and fat. The data included females and castrate males, without regard to breed, age, or nutritional history. It was found that the relation between each carcass component and empty body weight could be described by a linear regression equation by using logarithmic values for the variables. The differential growth ratios given by the regression equations indicated, as empty body weight increased, that: (a) the weight of each of the dissected carcass components (i.e. bone, muscle, and fat) also increased; (b) the proportion of carcass bone fell, that of fat increased, and that of muscle remained almost constant. The relations between dissected bone, muscle, and fat and carcass weight were similar to those obtained between dissected carcass components and empty body weight. To obtain evidence on whether the differential growth ratios between dissected carcass components and empty body weight or carcass weight showed any change throughout post-natal life, quadratic equations were computed by using logarithmic values for the variables. These ratios fell for all carcass components, but in only three out of six equations were the quadratic terms statistically significant. This re-examination of published data indicates that any comparisons of the carcass composition of cattle may be invalid unless they are made at the same body (or carcass) weights. In addition, a comparison made by using regression equations, with the variables expressed as percentages, is confusing because it may not reveal abnormal composition in animals of particular weights. A satisfactory type of analysis can be made by using regression techniques with the original data. The above principles of analysis were applied in a breed comparison study of the carcass composition of 28 Hereford, 25 Angus, and 18 Shorthorn steers. These cattle comprised two age groups, born in 1957 and 1958 respectively. Carcass composition was estimated by dissecting, into bone, muscle and fat, the left and right 11th ribcuts from the carcasses of the 1957 steers, and the 9th–10th–11th rib-cuts from the left sides of the carcasses of the 1958 steers. When the rib-cut data were plotted, the relations appeared linear; the data were therefore analysed by using linear regressions with arithmetical values for the variables. Results showed that the fat content was greater and the muscle content smaller in the rib-cuts of the Shorthorns in both years than in those of either Hereford or Angus steers. Differences between Herefords and Angus were small. In view of the high correlations found by other workers between the results of rib-cut dissections and carcass composition, it is assumed that the breed differences reported here in rib-cut composition were reflections of breed differences in carcass composition. The carcass compositions of the cattle used in the breed comparison study were also estimated from hot carcass weight by using regression equations derived from the literature. A comparison of the two methods of estimating carcass composition suggests that, if hot carcass weight is to be used, regression equations will need to be developed for each breed in various environments.

The effects of wheat variety, dietary heat treatment and enzyme inclusion on digestibility parameters for growing pigs

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 165-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.J. Lewis ◽  
M.E.E. McCann ◽  
H. Schulze ◽  
J. McEvoy ◽  
K.J McCracken
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Thermal Processing ◽  
Wheat Variety ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Wheat Varieties ◽  
Soyabean Meal

Thermal processing is carried out on commercial diets primarily to kill bacteria and reduce mould growth, although additional benefits have been shown such as an inactivation of trypsin inhibitors present in soyabean meal (McNaughton and Reece, 1980). However, heat treatment if too severe can produce negative effects, such as reduced apparent digestibility and increased viscosity of gut contents in broilers, an effect reversed by the addition of enzymes (McCracken et al, 1993). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of heat treatment during diet preparation on ileal and overall apparent digestibility of diets for growing pigs, made from two wheat varieties of different in vitro viscosity (8.8 vs 20.8 cps) with and without the addition of feed enzyme.

Some breed effects on the melting point and fatty acid composition of carcass fat in lambs

1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. L'Estrange ◽  
J. P. Hanrahan
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Melting Point ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Breed Comparison ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fat Depot ◽  
Perinephric Fat

SummaryTwo breed comparisons were made: (a) between Galway and Galway x Finnish Landrace (Fingalway) lambs, and (6) between Galway x Fingalway and Galway x (Finn x Texel) lambs, for the melting point and fatty acid composition of subcutaneous tail, subcutaneous 13th rib and perinephric fat. The lambs were slaughtered at market weight from September to January, being finished off on grass except for a small number finished indoors on concentrates and hay.Slaughter age and carcass weight, both of which had significant effects on some of the measurements, were included as covariates in the breed comparisons. Overall breed effects were small. The melting point of the fat from Fingalway lambs was lower than that of the Galway breed in each location, the difference being significant for subcutaneous rib fat. This was associated with a lower concentration of stearic acid and a higher concentration of oleic acid in each fat depot of the Fingalway breed, the difference being significant for oleic in subcutaneous tail and for stearic in subcutaneous rib fat. No significant breed differences or trends were observed for the other fatty acids measured. Results for a small number of pure Finn lambs supported the Finn ancestry influence indicated by comparison (a). In the second breed comparison, no significant breed differences were observed, the values being close to those obtained for the pure Galway lambs.

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