scholarly journals What is the current significance of low birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland in terms of impaired growth and mortality?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J Hawe ◽  
Nigel Scollan ◽  
Alan Gordon ◽  
Elizabeth Magowan
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Alimentary Tract ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Birth Mother ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract There is little modern data addressing the differential lifetime growth of commercially reared low and average birthweight pigs born into large litters (>14 piglets). As such, the main aim of this study was to quantify the lifetime growth and mortality rate of low and average birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland. It was also aimed to analyze the level, stage and cause of mortality within each birthweight category. A total of 328 low birthweight (low BW; <1 kg) and 292 average birthweight (Av BW; 1.3 to 1.7 kg) pigs were individually identified across four commercial farms and one research farm. Animal growth and mortality were monitored on an individual basis from birth until slaughter age. Av BW pigs were heavier than low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.001), with a weight advantage of 1.16 kg at weaning increasing to over 9 kg at slaughter age. Av BW pigs recorded a superior average daily gain (ADG) to low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.05), with the greatest difference recorded immediately postweaning between weeks 4 and 8 and weeks 8 and 12 when a 77 and 85 g/d difference was recorded, respectively. AV BW pigs which were cross-fostered were significantly lighter than those remaining with their birth mother at weaning (0.9 kg), week 8 (1.7 kg), and week 12 (3.1 kg) (P < 0.05, respectively). The variance of weight was significantly greater for the AV BW pig population than the low BW pig population at week 4 (P < 0.001) and 8 (P < 0.05). Preweaning mortality of low BW pigs was over three times greater than that of Av BW pigs (21% vs. 6%; P < 0.001), with low BW deaths occurring earlier (9.2 d vs. 15.4 d; P < 0.001) and at a lighter weight (1.2 vs. 2.4 kg; P < 0.001) than Av BW pigs. There was a clear association between birthweight and cause of preweaning death (P < 0.05), with starvation (49%) and overlying (28%) accounting for the majority of low BW mortalities. Birthweight had no effect on rate, age, or weight of postweaning mortalities (P > 0.05). The alimentary tract (27%) and respiratory tract (27%) were the most commonly implicated body systems following postmortem examination of postweaning deaths. In conclusion, this study quantified the inferior weight, growth rate, and mortality of low BW pigs, identifying the lactation and immediate postweaning periods as having the greatest potential in reducing this birthweight associated growth differential.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF SLAUGHTER’ AGE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS AND NON-CARCASS COMPONENTS TRAITS OF BERBER BREED LAMBS

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1401-1407
Author(s):  
S. Atroun ◽  
C. Aissaoui ◽  
S. Smeti ◽  
N. Atti
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Yield ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this work was to study the lamb’s growth, the carcass yield and composition and the importance of main organs of Berber lambs slaughtered at 4 or 6 months. The study concerned 40 lambs reared under motherhood. Lambs of the first group were slaughtered at the age of 4 months (4M) and the second at 6 months (6M). Slaughter body weights (BW), hot and cold carcass weights and organs were recorded. The carcass was cut out and dissected. The average BW at birth was 4.14 + 0.506 kg while the BW at slaughter was 22.86 kg + 3.40 and 31.51 + 3.50 kg for 4M and 6M groups, respectively. The average daily gain were 172 and 164g for 4M and 6M groups, respectively. Therefore, during 2months the lambs of 6M group gained 8.67 kg in BW. The carcasses were heavier for 6M than 4M. The carcass commercial yields were 42% and 45% for 4M and 6M groups, respectively, resulting in 4.1 kg gain of meat during 2 months. The tissular (muscle, fat and bone) and the regional (leg, shoulder …) carcass composition did not differ among groups. All organs were heavier for 6M than 4M; however, their proportion in the empty body weight were variables. The BWand carcass gain at six months are encouraging to prolong the lamb’s slaughter age without carcass composition difference given the similar fat proportion in the carcass of both groups.

Kinetics of genetic progress on growth performance in a synthetic strain of rabbit

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikhlef Lynda ◽  
Kaidi Rachid ◽  
Benidir Mohamed ◽  
Ghozlane Faissal
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Complementarity Effect ◽  
Growth Performances ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Successive Generations ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this study is to evaluate the growth performances and some genetic parameters of a synthetic rabbit strain over 3 successive generations (G4, G5 and G6), resulted from crossing between the local population and the INRA2666 Strain (France).The results indicated that all the growth indicators (average live weights at birth, weaning and slaughter, average daily gain in pre-weaning and post-weaning) show overall better performance levels than those observed by Several authors for the local population. The crossing thus effectively improved the average daily gain and reduced the slaughter age by two weeks. The study of correlations between growth criteria showed that early selection of weight and average daily gain is effective but that direct selection on average daily gain may also improve the weight by indirect or correlative effect. Finally, the kinetics of genetic progress indicates a fluctuation in genetic progress from one generation to another, which proves that this synthetic strain benefited from the complementarity effect without having undergone a selection on the growth criteria.

COMPARISONS OF CROSSBRED CALVES BY SOUTH DEVON, MAINE- ANJOU AND SIMMENTAL SIRES FOR SOME BEEF PRODUCTION TRAITS

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
B. SCHRADER
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Daily Gain

Breed of sire comparisons are made amongst calves born to commercial Hereford cows and sired by bulls of the South Devon (SD, 10 bulls used), Maine-Anjou (MA, two bulls used) and Simmental (SIM, eight bulls used) breeds. Numbers of observations ranged from 239 bulls and 224 heifers for "ease of birth" to 98 bulls for carcass traits. The feedlot test period was 91 days and three feedlot treatments were imposed. Slaughter criteria were subjective and "breed-of-sire" differences in slaughter age and carcass weight were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Differences amongst breed-of-sire means attained statistical significance for "birth weight" (MA > SIM > SD; P < 0.001), weaning weight of males (MA > SIM > SD; P < 0.001), "on-test" weight (MA > SIM > SD; P < 0.001), average daily gain on test (MA > SIM > SD; P < 0.001) average fat depth/100 kg carcass weight (SD > MA = SIM, P < 0.05), trimmed, de-boned, defatted primal cuts per day of age (MA > SIM > SD; P < 0.01), meat marbling score (SD more marbled than SIM more marbled than MA; P <.05). A significant interaction existed between breed of sire and feeding group for average daily gain on test (P < 0.01) and cutability (P < 0.025). Breed-of-sire differences did not attain statistical significance for weaning weight of female calves, loin area/100 kg carcass weight, cut-ability, or meat color score.

scholarly journals Carcass and meat quality traits of Saanen goat kids reared under natural and artificial systems and slaughtered at different ages

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hulya Yalcintan ◽  
Pembe Dilara Akin ◽  
Nursen Ozturk ◽  
Bulent Ekiz ◽  
Omur Kocak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Saanen Goat ◽  
Slaughter Weight ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Daily Gain

Production of high-quality carcass and meat from goat kids may contribute to an increase in goat farming profitability. The aim was to compare carcass and meat quality traits of Saanen goat kids raised under natural (NR) and artificial (AR) rearing systems and slaughtered at 80 days and 120 days of age. The AR kids were separated from their dams immediately after birth and were fed with a commercial milk replacer, while the NR kids suckled their mothers. The rearing type did not affect the average daily gain, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, empty body weight, commercial dressing percentage, subjective conformation and fatness scores. In parallel with the increase in slaughter age, the slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, empty body weight and subjective carcass conformation score increased. The rearing type had no effect on instrumental meat quality traits, except for meat Lightness (L*) and Hue values. Meat from NR kids had higher L* and Hue values 1 h and 24 h after cutting than those of AR kids. Warner-Bratzler shear force value increased with the slaughter age, but the meat lightness decreased. The ultimate pH was generally high in all groups, ranging between 5.94 and 6.10. The panellists evaluated the meat from NR kids to be more tender and juicy and also gave the highest tenderness scores to the meat obtained from the kids slaughtered at 80 days of age. As a conclusion, the slaughter age may be more determinant than the rearing type in the occurrence of carcass and meat quality characteristics.

scholarly journals PRODUCTIVITY OF FIRST CALVING COWS UKRAINIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE DAIRY BREED DEPENDING ON WEIGHT GROWTH OF HEIFERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-33
Author(s):  
А. А. Klimkovetskyi ◽  
D. K. Nosevych
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Dairy Breed

The productivity of cows with the first calving depending on live weight and average daily gains of heifers during rearing studied. The data of animals of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed of Kyiv factory type used for the research. Every three months, from birth to 18 months of age, heifers were determined live weight and average daily gain. According to the indicators of weight growth, the heifers divided into 5 groups of the standard deviation principle from the mean. In animals included in these groups studied the performance of the first lactation. It found that obtaining a live weight of 3-month-old heifers over 127 kg can significantly reduce the age of the first calving. The advantage over animals belonging to the groups with less weight is 2.7-3.5 months. Increasing the live weight of heifers at 12 and 15 months also allows reducing the age of the first calving. Moderate (less than 722 g per day) growth of heifers at the age of 6-9 months also has a positive effect on the reduction of the age of the first calving. The weight of newborns heifers during lactation was associated with first calving cow’s milk yield. Heifers born with the lowest live weight (less than 28 kg) had after the first calving milk yield per lactation 145… 1956 kg more than in other groups. The live weight of 3-month-old heifers is of the greatest importance for the formation of high milk productivity of cows. Obtaining live weight of heifers of this age 117-127 kg with an average daily gain of 902-1037 g provided in first the lactation the largest milk yield with an advantage over animals of other groups up to 3119 kg. In older age periods, the influence of growing heifers on the formation of milk productivity is less pronounced, and the optimal live weight and growth rate was at the level of the average size of the herd. The research results can used to optimize the growth plans of heifers and their selection.

PSIV-8 Effect of pre-grazing herbage mass, post-grazing sward height and finishing diet on performance of late-maturing beef steers

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 296-296
Author(s):  
Peter R Doyle ◽  
Mark McGee ◽  
Aidan P Moloney ◽  
Alan K Kelly ◽  
Edward G O’Riordan
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract Grazing sward structure can influence animal performance in forage-only and forage plus concentrate-based production systems. The objective was to determine the effects of pre-grazing herbage mass (PGHM), post-grazing sward height (PGSH) and indoor finishing diet on performance of weaned, spring-born beef steers. Steers (n = 96, ca. 12 months of age, 396 ± 20.1 kg) previously fed grass silage only over the first winter, were assigned to one of twelve grazing groups, balanced for live weight. Grazing groups were randomly assigned to a two PGHM (1500 or 2500 kg DM/ha) × two PGSH (4 or 6 cm) factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 3 groups/treatment). Steers rotationally grazed Lolium perenne-dominant swards (not mechanically topped) for 222 days. Steers were then accommodated indoors and offered grass silage only (SO) or grass silage + 3.8 kg concentrate DM/head daily (SC) for a 146 day finishing period. Data were analysed using the mixed procedure of SAS with terms for PGHM, PGSH, finishing diet and their interactions in the model. Grazed herbage intake was unaffected by PGHM but was greater for PGSH-6 than PGSH-4 (6.94 vs. 6.18 kg DM/day; P &lt; 0.001). Steer average daily gain at pasture was greater for PGHM-1500 than PGHM-2500 (0.65 vs. 0.60 kg; P &lt; 0.05) and for PGSH-6 than PGSH-4 (0.70 vs. 0.55 kg; P &lt; 0.001). After indoor finishing, carcass weight was unaffected by PGHM, but was heavier for PGSH-6 than PGSH-4 (386 vs. 367 kg; P &lt; 0.01); carcass traits were unaffected by PGHM or PGSH. Carcasses were heavier (+43 kg), fatter (P &lt; 0.001) and more conformed (P &lt; 0.01) for SC than SO. In conclusion, both PGHM-2500 and PGSH-4 restricted animal growth at pasture; however, following an indoor finishing period, carcass weight did not differ between PGHM, but was heavier for PGSH-6 than PGSH-4.

The length of test required to measure liveweight change when testing for feed efficiency in cattle

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
B. W. Knee ◽  
J. F. Graham ◽  
S. A. Knott
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Testing Time ◽  
Residual Variance ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Random Coefficient Regression ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Sufficient Precision

Measuring differences in the efficiency of converting feed to liveweight gains of beef cattle depends on assessments of feed intake and animal growth over a specified period. Previous studies have shown that feed intake can be measured with sufficient precision after 35 days, however, to assess growth rate with acceptable precision, a feeding period of 70 days is required when the cattle are weighed fortnightly. In order to test if more frequent weighing could improve the precision of estimates of liveweight, or reduce the duration of tests, animals were tested in units where an automatic weighing system recorded the liveweight of an animal every time it entered a feeder. Eight groups of beef bulls (171 animals in total) were tested. A random coefficient regression model including a cubic spline for time was used to estimate average daily gain. Evaluation of the residual variance, slope (average daily gain), and its standard error from the models showed that through the use of automated liveweight measurement, the duration of tests could be decreased to 56 days without reducing the precision of estimates of liveweight change. Depending on the precision required, further decreases in testing time could be accommodated.

scholarly journals The Implications of Changing Age and Weight at Slaughter of Heavy Pigs on Carcass and Green Ham Quality Traits

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2447
Author(s):  
Isaac Hyeladi Malgwi ◽  
Luigi Gallo ◽  
Veronika Halas ◽  
Valentina Bonfatti ◽  
Giuseppe Carcò ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Initial Body Weight ◽  
Dry Cured Ham ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Slaughter Age ◽  
Daily Gain

Italian dry-cured ham production requires pigs to be slaughtered at 160 ± 16 kg at 9 months of age (control, C). The study explored three alternatives, based on different feeding conditions: (1) allowing pigs to express their growth potential by letting them reach 160 ± 16 kg slaughter weight (SW) at younger slaughter age (SA) (younger Age, YA); (2) allowing pigs to express their growth potential by maximizing their SW at 9 months SA (greater weight, GW); (3) increasing the SA required to reach 160 ± 16 kg SW (older age, OA). Pigs (336 C21 Goland, 95 kg initial body weight) were slaughtered on average at 257, 230, 257, and 273 d SA and 172.7, 172.3, 192.9, and 169.3 SW kg for the four treatments, respectively. C pigs had an average daily gain (ADG) of 715 g/d and feed efficiency (FE) of 0.265 (gain to feed). Compared to C, YA pigs had higher ADG (+32%), FE (+7.5%), and better ham adiposity; GW pigs had higher carcass weight (+12%), ADG (+25%), trimmed ham weight (+10.9%), and better ham adiposity. OA treatment affected ADG (−16.4%), FE (−16.6%), and trimmed ham weight (−3.6%). YA and GW could be promising alternatives to C as they improved FE and ham quality traits.

Productivity of Holstein heifers and fi rst-calf cows of different paternal origin

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
V. V. Lyashenko ◽  
I. V. Kaeshova ◽  
A. V. Gubina ◽  
A. A. Naumov
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Holstein Breed ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Dairy Cattle Breeding ◽  
One Year ◽  
Daily Gain

The origin of an animal determines its productive and breeding traits. It is well known that in dairy cattle breeding a great importance belongs to sires, especially those belonging to the leading lines of Holstein breed. The productive indicators of heifers and fi rst-calf cows the off spring of diff erent lines of Holstein breed and daughters of diff erent sires have been presented in the article. The researches have been carried out under the environments of specialized enterprises for rearing of replacement heifers and milk production. Diff erences have been found in the daughters of diff erent sires in terms of live weight and milk productivity. Accounting for the weight growth of the daughters of sires has shown that the live weight of heifers between the lines Wes Ideal 933122 and Refl ection Sovereign 198998 was not a signifi cant diff erence. Daughters of sire # 511H11283 of the line Refl ection Sovereign 198998 in all age periods had a live weight, absolute and average daily gain, the growth rate of replacement heifers was higher than the daughters of other sires. At one year of age, their live weight was higher than that of heifers-daughters of sires # 11H11596, # 11H11565 and # 511H11422, respectively, by 4,1 % (P<0,001), 3,1 % (P<0,01) and 5,0 % (P<0,001). The daughters of sire # 511H11283 of Refl ection Sovereign line also had a higher yield of calves – 104,8 %. However, the largest number of heifers (75,7 %) has been obtained from the daughters of sire # 11H11565 of Refl ection Sovereign line. In terms of milk yield, signifi cant diff erences have been found between the lines and daughters of diff erent sires. Higher milk yield was obtained from the fi rst-calf cows of line Wes Ideal 933122 (12361±321 kg) and the daughters of the sire Mogul 11H011757 (13587±328 kg). According to the mass fraction of fat and protein in milk, the duration of the period of open days and the number of inseminations, there were no signifi cant diff erences between the studied groups of animals. Thus, the infl uence of specifi c sires on individual productive indicators of daughters has been established.

scholarly journals Growth and development of bulls of different types of productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 00040
Author(s):  
Alexandr Donetskikh ◽  
Styapas Grikshas ◽  
Olga Pastukh ◽  
Polina Korenevskaya ◽  
Ruslan Kertiev
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Daily Gain

The article provides data on the weight growth of bulls of different types of productivity. The growth and development of Black-and-white, Simmental and Aberdeen-Angus bulls were studied during the period of their rearing and feeding. The change in live weight was established, the dynamics and growth rate of the studied bulls were calculated depending on the breed and type of productivity. The research results showed that the Aberdeen-Angus bulls had the highest live weight during fattening - 485.2 kg, which was significantly higher than that of the Black-and-White and Simmental breeds by 68.7 kg (p <0.001) or 14.0% and 19.7 kg (p <0.01), or 4.1% respectively. The average daily gain in live weight from birth to 15 months of age in bulls of Black-and-white, Simmental and Aberdeen Angus breeds amounted to 860.0; 965.1 and 1022.7 grams respectively. In the Aberdeen-Angus cattle, in comparison with the Black-and- White and Simmental breeds, the value of this indicator was significantly higher, by 162.7 g, or 15.9% (p <0.001) and 57,6 g, or 5.6% (p <0.01) respectively. It was found that the type of productivity had a certain effect on the dynamics of live weight, the intensity of growth and development of animals.

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