Liveweight Production Research Articles

Influence of the probiotic preperation “BIO PLUS YC” and prebiotic preparation “Kormomix MOS” on the development and meat productivity of Stavropol rams

The results of using the probiotic preparation “BioPlus YC” and the prebiotic preparation “Kormomiks MOS” for growing ram’s Stavropol breed up to 8 months of age are presented. Their positive influence on the growth of live weight and meat production has been established.

The influence of living mass of the ukrainian black and white dairy breed cells in various everyday periods on their more dairy productivity

The connection of live weight of cows of Ukrainian black-and-white milk breed in the conditions of the Carpathian region of Lviv region in different ages with their subsequent milk productivity is established. It was investigated that live weight during the period of individual growth and development of animals has a significant impact on hopes, the content of fat in milk and the amount of milk fat. The difference in liveliness between cows with live weight at the first insemination to 300 and 361–380 kg for the first lactation was 249.3, for the second – 500.7 (P < 0.002), for the third – 97.0 kg, and for the highest – 405.5 kg (P < 0.01). Between cows with live weight at the first insemination of 361–380 and 401–420 kg, this difference was 185.1, 319.9 (P < 0.05), 38.7 and 265.3 kg respectively (P < 0.05). According to the results of the research, it can be stated that the optimum live weight during the period of raising cows at 6 months of age is a live weight of 160–180 kg, at 12 months of age it is 260–280 kg and the highest rates are obtained from cows that were growing at 18-months of age had a live weight of 360–380 kg. From the results of our research, it follows that for the Ukrainian black-and-white milk breed in the conditions of the Carpathian region of Lviv, the optimum live weight at the first insemination is 361–380 kg. The share of influence on milk production of live weight of cows during their growing period: at 6 months of age on hopes – 13.53–27.56%, on the fat content in milk – 15.18–39.70 and on the amount of milk fat 11.89–39.41%; at 12 months of age – respectively 24.65–37.84, 23.45–33.0 and 23.37–35.17%; in the 18-month – 27.38–40.93, 29.12–33.23 and 25.81–39.10%, and at the first insemination – 21.59–40.08, 31.32–39.99 and 21.52–39.88% at P < 0.05–0.001. The probable correlation coefficients between the live weight of cows at 6 months of age and the reliance on second, third and highest lactation were 0.163–0.2253 and between live weight and fat content in milk – 0.110–0.233, between live weight at 12 months of age and the expectation for the second, the third and highest lactation – 0.233–0.240 and between the live weight and the amount of milk fat – 0.127–0.202, at the age of 18 months and for the second, third and highest lactation – 0.246–0.337 and between the live weight and the amount of milk fat – 0.116–0.308, and at the first insemination – 0.135–0.195 and 0.118–0.188 respectively at P < 0.005 – P < 0.001.

CRITERIA FOR ECONOMIC EVALUATION UNPRODUCTIVE COSTS FOR DAIRY CATTLE MAINTENANCE

Costs are an important economic category that have a decisive influence on the definition of pricing policies and the formation of financial performance of the enterprise, characterizing the level of organization of production and application of technologies. According to expediency of their spending, costs are divided into productive and unproductive. Unproductive costs arise in the event of a violation of technology, deficiencies in the organization of production, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the economic evaluation of unproductive costs in breeding dairy cattle is carried out in order to determine their volume and specific weight in total expenses.
 An economic evaluation unproductive costs for dairy cattle maintenance should be carried out on the basis of criteria that take into account the main factors affecting the efficiency. These criteria include innovation, production, market, social and environmental. Their assessment under all criteria is conducted using the methods of economic analysis. The reasons and dynamics of their emergence should be the subject of a thorough study of management accounting and financial management of enterprises.
 According to the analysis of the structure of the cost of livestock production in state enterprises "Experimental farm "Niva" and "Experimental farm "Khrystynivske" that are part of the network of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics nd. a. M.V.Zubets NAAS (Cherkasy region) (Table 1 ), in the structure of the cost of milk production the largest share is the cost of feed (42.6%) and labor remuneration combined with accrual (20.4%). In the production of live weight of cattle for feed and wages account for 76.6% of all costs.
 Rational use of feed is one of the main ways to strengthen the economy of the enterprise. In order to avoid unproductive costs, it is necessary to observe all technological stages of production, storage, distribution and feeding of forages. Provision for increasing the efficiency of feed costs is to increase the conversion of feed to products and reduce the cost of the diet and its individual components. In particular, finding suppliers with lower prices for concentrated feeds and milk replacers, growing fodder crops with higher nutrition.
 The system for keeping animals is also important. For example, with untied, labor costs by 67% lower than with tied, the profitability of milk production is increased by 4%.
 The most economic losses to farms are caused by diseases of the mammary gland, which lead to a decrease in the milk productivity of cows, the quality of milk; an increase in the incidence of calves, and the abandonment of livestock. At present, the total unproductive costs of udder disease are estimated at the equivalent of 5-8% of the gross annual income, or from 2.6 to 4.1 thousand UAH. per cow.
 Other unproductive costs of dairy cattle maintenance of productivity direction are financial losses from the reduction of genetic potential, prolongation of the interotional period, the reduction of duration of the economic use of cows, the low quality of milk and the non-equivalent milk sales prices.
 Comprehensive economic assessment of unproductive costs, determined in accordance with innovative production, market, social and environmental criteria, will allow, in conditions of relative limited resources, to ensure the effective management of production processes of breeding dairy cattle, aimed at increasing profits.

Yield gap analysis of feed-crop livestock systems: The case of grass-based beef production in France

Sustainable intensification is a strategy contributing to global food security. The scope for sustainable intensification in crop sciences can be assessed through yield gap analysis, using crop growth models based on concepts of production ecology. Recently, an analogous cattle production model named LiGAPS-Beef (Livestock simulator for Generic analysis of Animal Production Systems – Beef cattle) was developed, which allows yield gap analysis in beef production systems. This paper is the first to assess yield gaps of integrated feed-crop livestock systems, to analyse underlying causes of yield gaps, and to identify feasible improvement options. We used grass-based beef production in the Charolais area of France as a case study. To this end, we combined LiGAPS-Beef with crop growth models that simulate grass production (fresh grass under grazing, grass silage, hay) and wheat production (concentrate). Feed crop and cattle production were integrated to simulate potential and resource-limited live weight (LW) production per hectare. Potential production is defined as the theoretical maximum LW production per ha, in the absence of resource or management limitations. Resource-limited production is determined by availability of one or several resources: water and nutrients for crops, and feed quality and quantity for animals. Potential production of a cattle herd with an ad libitum diet of grass silage was 2380kgLWha−1year−1 and resource-limited production was 664kgLWha−1year−1. Actual LW production (354kgLWha−1year−1) was 15% of the potential production, implying a relative yield gap of 85%, and 53% of the resource-limited production, implying a relative yield gap of 47%. Applying yield gap analysis disentangled the major biophysical causes of these yield gaps: feeding diets other than the ad libitum grass silage diet, water-limitation in feed crops, and sub-optimal management. These yield gaps suggest scope to intensify beef production. We demonstrate, however, that yield gap mitigation decreased the operational profit per kg LW under the European regulations for bovine and grassland premiums operational in 2014. Hence, as expected, the premiums aiming to support farmers' income and to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development were not conducive to narrow yield gaps at the same time. The current common agricultural policy (CAP, 2015–2020) provides more scope for intensification, such as increasing stocking density via better grassland management.

The effects of nutrition and parity on the development and productivity of Angora goats: 2. Effects of six combinations of mid pregnancy and postnatal nutrition on energy intake and doe live weight, body condition and mohair production

There is little research on the nutrient requirements and the effects of nutrient manipulation on the productivity of lactating Angora does. The study design investigated the combined effects of 3 levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN)×2 levels of postnatal nutrition during lactation (PNN) with both single and twin bearing does, providing 6 nutrition patterns. Following artificial insemination and pregnancy scanning, does were fed pelleted rations in individual pens in an outdoor feedlot from day 47 of pregnancy until 13 weeks following kidding. MPN treatments commenced from day 47 as follows: Control (C), fed to lose live weight (–67g/day); Maintenance (M), does fed to maintain live weight; Supplemented (S), does fed to gain live weight at 102g/day. From days 105 of pregnancy until 4days postpartum the feeding level was ad libitum for all treatments. From 4days postpartum PNN treatments were: ad libitum (AL) to allow maximum ME intake; Restricted (R) to 70% of AL. This report is concerned with the responses from kidding to weaning for energy intake, live weight, body condition score (BSC) and mohair production. In AL treatments, maximum ME intake was reached during weeks 5–10 of lactation as follows: twin rearing does 3.88×maintenance; single rearing does 3.25×maintenance. No interaction occurred between MPN and PNN in affecting doe live weight. PNN significantly affected doe live weight from week 2 until weaning with AL does gaining 97g/day from kidding to week 5 and thereafter 28g/day. R fed does lost 40g/day from kidding to week 10 and thereafter gained 38g/day. By week 4 of lactation twin rearing does were 4kg lighter than single rearing does. The change in BCS from just prior to kidding to day 90 of lactation was affected by an interaction between MPN and PNN. BSC of does fed M-R and S-R declined to a greater extent than does fed C-R, while the BCS for C-AL and M-AL increased to that of S-AL, which had remained constant at a high BCS. By day 21 of lactation the effects of PNN were significant, with AL does having significantly higher BCS than R does and the differences increased as lactation progressed. The BCS of single rearing does fed AL increased progressively, while the BCS of all other does declined. By the end of lactation, R does had significantly lower BCS than twin rearing does fed AL, which in turn had a significantly lower BCS compared with single rearing AL fed does. Significant interactions between MPN and PNN affected mohair growth, clean washing yield, mohair fibre diameter, incidence of medullated non kemp fibres and staple length. For fleece weight, S-AL and M-AL had heavier greasy and clean fleece weight compared with S-R and M-R with the other treatments intermediate. Similarly, the mean fibre diameter of S-AL was 2.4μm coarser than that of M-R, with other treatments being intermediate. For both greasy and clean fleece weight, twin rearing does produced 14% less mohair than single rearing does. For R fed twin rearing does, the mohair had greater fibre diameter variability compared with other does. Overall, PNN had a greater number of and larger effects on measured parameters than MPN. Restricting nutrition in lactation was shown to depress doe live weight, BCS and the growth of mohair. Lactating Angora does rapidly changed their live weight and BCS in response to ME provision. To maintain live weight during lactation ME intakes of 3×maintenance were required. Twin rearing does required an additional 0.5×maintenance ME requirement compared with single rearing does. Does can gain live weight and BCS during lactation provided they are fed sufficiently. The preferred nutritional practice should allow maximum ME intake at least until week 6 of lactation.

The effects of nutrition and parity on the development and productivity of Angora goats: 1. Manipulation of mid pregnancy nutrition on energy intake and maintenance requirement, kid birth weight, kid survival, doe live weight and mohair production

Farmers report low Angora kid birth weight associated with high kid mortality. As breeding goats are likely to face energy restrictions during winter when pregnant this study investigated the effects of energy intake during mid pregnancy on Angora kidding losses, birth weight, placenta weight and productivity of does. The design was three levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN) with live weight (mean±sd, 34.6±3.1kg) and parity blocks. Following artificial insemination and pregnancy scanning 102 does, including 24 twin bearing does, were fed pelleted rations in individual pens in an outdoor feedlot from day 47 of pregnancy until kidding. MPN treatments were: Control, live weight loses of 2.5kg; Maintenance, maintenance of live weight; Supplemented, moderate live weight gains. From days 105 of pregnancy until 4days postpartum the feeding was ad libitum. Feed and energy intake, live weight, body condition score and mohair production were measured. The pattern of live weight change followed the ME intake pattern. ME intake of Control does declined to 0.5–0.6 maintenance and they lost 67g/d. Supplemented does intake increased to near 2× maintenance and gained 102g/d. The maintenance ME requirement of does in mid pregnancy was determined as 384±19.7kJ/kg0.75/d. Following removal of energy restrictions, from day 117 to kidding Control does consumed more ME than Maintenance and Supplemented treatments. During the last 4 weeks of pregnancy ME intake for all treatments increased from 2× maintenance to at least 2.5× maintenance. In the last trimester does were able to substantially but not fully compensate for live weight losses or penalties induced as a consequence of energy restrictions during the middle trimester. Does gained body condition in mid or late pregnancy provided energy provision was sufficient and close to ad libitum feeding. Control does had 15% greater foetal losses prior to kidding compared with other treatments. Kid losses at birth and in the first 24h did not differ between treatments. As a consequence of compensatory gain in late pregnancy there was no significant difference in kid birth weight between treatments. MPN did not affect placenta weight although placenta weight was positively associated with kid birth weight. However, heavier does in late pregnancy produced heavier kids once allowance was made for differences in birth parity and kid sex. There were small significant effects of MPN on mohair production and diameter. The findings indicate that Angora producers should minimise doe live weight loss during mid pregnancy to avoid foetal losses, feed does well during the last trimester to optimize doe live weight and kid birth weight and provide the best care possible during kidding to optimize kid survival.

Faecal egg counts and immune markers in a line of Scottish Cashmere goats selected for resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasite infection

This study aimed to investigate the effect of selection for low faecal egg count (FEC) in Scottish Cashmere goats in comparison to a control line of unselected goats grazing the same pasture. Goats from generations F2 through to F9 were monitored for FEC, bodyweight, peripheral eosinophilia and IgG, IgA and IgE response against Teladorsagia circumcincta from the end of their first grazing season, through winter housing (during which a single artificial challenge dose of 10,000 drug susceptible T. circumcincta was given) and the following full grazing season. The study demonstrated that selected line animals excreted a significantly lower number of parasite eggs (P<0.01) in the majority of generations examined. Liveweight productivity was unaffected by selection. Although selected line animals had greater numbers of circulating eosinophils in many of the generations (four generations of males and six generations of females, P<0.05), there was no direct link between eosinophilia and reduced FEC. Immunoglobulin levels showed no consistent difference between selected and control lines. IgG, IgA and IgE levels were not different between lines over the whole dataset(P>0.05), although the selected line had significantly elevated or reduced levels (P<0.05) for all three within individual generations. There were significant associations between increased IgG and reduced FEC under artificial infection conditions (P=0.02). Increased IgA was also significantly associated with elevated FEC during the second grazing season (P<0.001). The study demonstrates that selection produced a line of goats with consistently reduced FEC compared with control animals, but did not identify a clear relationship between any of the immune markers measured and faecal egg output.

Comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of Tilapia in two production systems: semi-intensive and intensive

In order to meet the upscaling demand of food products worldwide, the aquaculture industry has been expanding within the last few years in developed countries. Major expansions of aquaculture farming occurred in many developed countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Egypt. Egypt ranks ninth in fish farming production worldwide and first on Africa. Egypt has the largest aquaculture industry in Africa which represents two-thirds of African aquaculture production. Tilapia production accounts for 75.5 % of aquaculture production in Egypt. Tilapia aquaculture production has grown exponentially in recent decades until it reached 4.5 million tonnes in 2012 placing Egypt as the second worldwide producer of tilapia after China. The production of tilapia is practiced in different production systems including intensive and semi-intensive systems. These production systems require different resources and impact differently on the environment. The aim of the current study was to model the environmental performance of tilapia production and compare semi-intensive and intensive production systems. The main questions were the following: What are the different impacts of tilapia production on the environment? Which production system is more environmentally friendly? What are the preferable practices for better environmental performance and sustainable ecofriendly industry of Tilapia production? Life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to determine the environmental impacts of tilapia production and compare semi-intensive and intensive production systems. Data for life cycle inventory were collected from two case study farms for tilapia production in Egypt. Four impact categories were taken into consideration: Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED). LCA revealed that production of tilapia in intensive farming has less impact on GWP, AP, and CED, while its impact on EP is higher than in semi-intensive farming. The identified impacts from 1-tonne live weight production of tilapia were the following: GWP 960.7 and 6126.1 kg CO2 eq; AP 9.8 and 24.4 kg SO2 eq; EP 14.1 and 6.3 kg PO2 eq; and CED 52.8 GJ and 238.3 GJ eq in intensive and semi-intensive systems, respectively. Fish meal production and energy consumption were the major contributors to different impact indicators in both systems. An overall improvement in environmental performance for tilapia production can be achieved by novel feed formulations that have better environmental performance. Energy consumption is a major area for improvement as well, as proper energy management practices will reduce the overall impact on the environment.

Evaluation of Emblica officinalis fruit powder as a growth promoter in commercial broiler chickens.

Aim:The present study was conducted to evaluate the dietary addition of Emblica officinalis (Amla) fruit powder as a growth promoter in commercial broiler chickens.Materials and Methods:An experiment was conducted on 135 commercial broiler chicks (Ven-Cobb 400 strain) divided into three groups with three replicates of 15 chicks each. Three treatment groups were as follows – T1: Basal diet as per BIS standards; T2: Basal diet supplemented with 0.4% of E. officinalis fruit powder; and T3: Basal diet supplemented with 0.8% of E. officinalis fruit powder.Results:The average body weights at the end of the 6th week were significantly higher (p<0.05) in groups T2 and T3 compared to group T1. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg live weight production were similar among the treatment groups. The net profit per bird was the highest in group T2 (Rs. 19.22/bird) followed by group T3 (Rs. 17.86/bird) and the lowest in group T1 (Rs. 14.61/bird).Conclusion:Based on the results of the present study, it was concluded that dietary addition of E. officinalis (Amla) fruit powder had a positive effect on growth performance and net profit per bird in commercial broiler chickens.

Liveweight production of ewes and lambs grazing a dryland lucerne monoculture with or without barley grain supplementation

In 2013/2014 (Year 1) and 2014/2015 (Year 2) at Ashley Dene, Canterbury, New Zealand, sheep grazing dryland lucerne monocultures were supplemented with barley grain. In neither year did barley grain supplementation improve lamb growth rates. In 2013/2014 total liveweight (LWt) production of lambs was 782 ± 11.5 kg LWt/ha between 3/9/2014 and 3/2/2015 when pastures were destocked. However, ewes with continuous access to barley grain gained 12.4 kg LWt/ha over the lactation period compared with those without access to grain that lost 14.0 kg LWt/ha. In 2014/2015 (Year 2), liveweight production of lambs totalled 408 ± 1.0 kg LWt/ha from those with no access to grain and 382 ± 1.0 kg LWt/ ha from those with grain supplementation. Upon restocking with weaned lambs, each lamb with access to grain gained 154 ± 9.8 g/d which was less than those without grain access (188 ± 9.7 g/d). Sheep ingested 25-83 g/d of grain with ad lib feeding. These results support previous literature that suggests liveweight responses from grain supplementation of sheep are inconsistent. Keywords: alfalfa, Medicago sativa, Hordeum vulgare, feed conversion efficiency

The concordance between greenhouse gas emissions, livestock production and profitability of extensive beef farming systems

Here we examine the concordance among emissions, production and gross margins of extensive beef farming systems by modelling a range of scenarios for herd management, animal genotype and pasture nutritive quality. We based our simulations on a case-study farm in central Queensland, Australia, and studied the influence of interventions designed for emissions mitigation, increasing productivity, or increasing gross margin. Interventions included replacing urea supplementation with nitrate, finishing cattle on the perennial forage leucaena (L), herd structure optimisation (HO), higher female fecundity (HF), and a leucaena finishing enterprise that had net farm emissions equal to the baseline (leucaena equal emissions; LEE). The HO intervention reduced the ratio of breeding cows relative to steers and unmated heifers, and lowered the ratio of costs to net cattle sales. Gross margin of the baseline, nitrate, L, LEE, HO and HF scenarios were AU$146 000, AU$91 000, AU$153 000, AU$170 000, AU$204 000 and AU$216 000, respectively. Enterprises with early joining of maiden heifers as well as HO and HF further increased gross margin (AU$323 000), while systems incorporating all compatible interventions (HO, HF, early joining, LEE) had a gross margin of AU$315 000. We showed that interventions that increase liveweight turnoff while maintaining net farm emissions resulted in higher gross margins than did interventions that maintained liveweight production and reduced net emissions. A key insight of this work was that the relationship between emissions intensity (emissions per unit liveweight production) or liveweight turnoff with gross margin were negative and positive, respectively, but only when combinations of (compatible) interventions were included in the dataset. For example, herd optimisation by reducing the number of breeding cows and increasing the number of sale animals increased gross margin by 40%, but this intervention had little effect on liveweight turnoff and emissions intensity. However, when herd optimisation was combined with other interventions that increased production, gross margins increased and emissions intensity declined. This is a fortuitous outcome, since it implies that imposing more interventions with the potential to profitably enhance liveweight turnoff allows a greater reduction in emissions intensity, but only when each intervention works synergistically with those already in place.

Long-term Trade-Offs Among Herbage Growth, Animal Production, and Supplementary Feeding in Heavily Grazed Mediterranean Grassland

A 17-yr grazing trial was conducted in the eastern Galilee of Israel to quantify trade-offs among the responses of pasture and livestock productivity, duration of grazing, amount of supplementary feed, and profitability to higher stocking density during the growing season of a Mediterranean grassland. Treatments included two stocking densities and two grazing protocols. The stocking densities throughout the grazing period were 0.55 animal unit (AU)∙ha-1, which is common in this region, and 1.1 AU∙ha-1, which is considered high. The grazing protocols were continuous grazing throughout the grazing season and split-paddock grazing in which the herd grazed one subpaddock from the onset of grazing until the pasture was depleted, after which the herd was moved to the second ungrazed subpaddock. Under both protocols, heavier stocking density reduced standing biomass of the whole paddock at the end of the growing season by 43% and grazing duration during the subsequent dry season by 38% but increased the daily consumption of supplementary feed and the weaned live-weight production per unit area. Under continuous grazing the high stocking density of 1.1 AU∙ha-1 was maintained throughout the grazing season for 17 consecutive yr with no detectable effect on productivity of the pasture, typical to the resilience of Mediterranean grasslands that have been grazed for thousands of years. The lower pasture biomass production was compensated by higher weaned calf production. At the current local prices, the heavier stocking density was close to the economically optimal stocking density for the pasture in the region. It is concluded that on Mediterranean grassland intensive use of the pasture with high stocking density during the growing season can be economically feasible in those cases where the feed requirement of the herd can be maintained throughout the growing season.

Improving greenhouse gas emissions intensities of subtropical and tropical beef farming systems using Leucaena leucocephala

Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a perennial legume shrub of subtropical regions that has forage characteristics favourable for livestock production, often delivering ruminant liveweight gains that are superior to most other forage systems. Recent work suggests that leucaena mitigates ruminant enteric methane emissions, implying that the shrub may also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the whole farm level. However, the high crude protein content of leucaena relative to endemic grasses can increase livestock urine nitrogen concentration and may increase soil nitrous oxide emissions, potentially offsetting benefits of enteric methane mitigation.Here we examine the effects of leucaena on emissions, production and profitability at the whole farm level by modelling a property in northern Australia, assuming enterprises that specialise in cattle breeding and finishing. To contrast leucaena with a baseline property with Rhodes grass, we modelled three equivalent leucaena scenarios by matching (1) annual average stocking rate, (2) total liveweight production or (3) net farm emissions with that of the baseline, assuming all animals had access to leucaena.To maintain average annual stocking rate or liveweight production, scenarios 1 and 2 carried 5% and 12% less cattle than the baseline because animals on leucaena grew faster and had greater liveweight. In contrast, the number of animals carried and liveweight production in scenario 3 increased by 15% and 31% relative to the baseline, respectively, due to enteric methane abatement and greater liveweight gains. Grazing of leucaena increased soil nitrous oxide emissions by more than 38% in all scenarios, but this did not substantially offset net emissions abatement because nitrous oxide constituted a far smaller proportion of emissions than did methane (<10% and >90%, respectively). In all scenarios, emissions intensity (net farm emissions per unit liveweight sold) caused by grazing leucaena was reduced by more than 23% relative to baseline emissions intensities.This work shows that whilst income from carbon offsets associated with grazing leucaena is small, leucaena has significant potential to increase both animal production and gross margin, whilst reducing emissions intensity. Provided net farm emissions are maintained or reduced, these results suggest that leucaena is conducive to sustainable intensification of beef production in subtropical grazing systems.

‘MaxClover’ grazing experiment II: sheep liveweight production from six grazed dryland pastures over 8 years

Liveweight production was quantified from six dryland pastures at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, over an 8 year period. The experiment was a randomised complete block with six replicates. The pastures were established in autumn 2002 with cocksfoot (CF) and subterranean (CF/Sub), balansa (CF/Bal), white (CF/Wc) or Caucasian (CF/Cc) clovers, a perennial ryegrass/white clover (RG/Wc) control and a lucerne (Luc) monoculture. Liveweight (LWt) production from Years 2 (2003–04) to 9 (2010–11) was 7940 kg LWt/ha from the lucerne monoculture, 7270 kg LWt/ha from the CF/Sub pasture and 5680 ± 171 kg LWt/ha from CF/Bal, CF/Wc, CF/Cc and RG/Wc pastures. Annually, LWt production ranged from 443 kg/ha (CF/Wc pastures with hoggets grazing in spring in 2006–07) to 1285 kg/ha from CF/Sub pastures in Year 9 when ewes with twin lambs at foot grazed in spring. On average, grass-based pastures produced 64%–70% of their total annual LWt production in spring compared with 57% from lucerne monocultures. In spring, relationships between LWt and total spring DM yield showed that 7.3 ± 0.68 kg LWt/ha was produced per 100 kg total DM (R2 = 0.87) grown in 5 of the 6 years under the hogget/weaned lamb grazing system. Relationships between LWt and metabolisable energy or N yield failed to improve this relationship, which suggests that DM yield from persistent improved pasture components was the major factor responsible for differences in LWt production from these optimally grazed pastures.

Monensina sódica sobre vacas em fase inicial de lactação: produção de leite e peso vivo

Avaliou-se o efeito do fornecimento de monensina sódica no desempenho de vacas leiteiras em fase inicial de lactação, cuja alimentação, em sua dieta total no cocho, compôs-se em 81,4% de silagem de milho e 18,6% de concentrado, em que se fez uso de maior proporção de silagem de milho de que concentrado. Foram utilizadas 14 vacas multíparas 7/8 Holandês, aos 20±10 dias pós-parto aproximadamente, com média de 22±0,5kg vaca-1 dia-1 de leite, em delineamento de blocos casualizados, adotando-se o esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, em modelo de medidas repetidas. Os tratamentos nas parcelas foram diferenciados pela presença (200mg animal-1dia-1) ou ausência da monensina na ração e, nas subparcelas, pelos diferentes períodos de avaliação. Não se observaram diferenças no consumo em matéria seca da dieta, conversão alimentar, produção de leite in natura e corrigida e peso vivo nas médias diárias de cada período. No entanto, a produção de sólidos totais foi superior para os tratamentos com o ionóforo, sinalizando que a administração da monensina sódica para vacas no início de lactação modifica o rendimento em produção de leite.

Efecto de la alimentación den diferentes horas del día sobre el comportamiento productivo de conejos en crecimiento

The objective was to evaluate the effect of different feeding times on the productive performance of growing rabbits. We worked with 90 rabbits between males and females, races New Zealand with an average weight of 434g. The treatments were: T0 = power (day and night), T1 = 7pm -7am power supply and T2 = 7:00 a.m. -7pm; The diets were formulated containing 18% protein and digestible energy level 2,500kcal / Kg. Significant difference (P <0.01) feed intake was found, live weight gain, feed conversion and production costs in males and females in the tratamientoT1 COA (8727.24), IP (967.1667 ± 1.124 ab), CA (3.8), CP (S / .0.60) in males and females T1COA (8694.20), IP (956,667 ± 2,104 b), CA (3.5) and CP (S / .0.65) with respect to T0 results show treatments T2.Los the T1 was optimal for increasing live weight of male and female rabbits.

Monthly metabolisable energy feed requirements of crossbred ewes in accelerated and traditional lamb production systems

The annual metabolisable energy (ME) feed requirements and patterns of monthly ME requirements for ewe maintenance, gestation, lactation and lamb growth to weaning were evaluated for 1175 crossbred ewes over 4 years at two sites (Cowra and Wagga Wagga). The study involved three lamb production systems: accelerated 8-monthly joinings, with two flocks joined 4 months apart (Ac8), spring joining with an autumn backup joining (SpB), and annual autumn joining (AuA). The Ac8 and SpB systems were evaluated at Cowra and the SpB and AuA systems were evaluated at Wagga Wagga. Two genotypes of ewes, Border Leicester × Merino (BLM) and Hyfer (Dorset × Merino composite), were used at both sites, with natural joinings to Dorset, Suffolk or Hyfer rams. The ewe liveweight, reproduction and lamb production data from individual ewes in the experiment were used to calculate monthly ME requirements using derived simplified equations for ewe maintenance, gestation, lactation and lamb growth to weaning. Annual ME, dry sheep equivalent (DSE = maintenance for a 50-kg, 3.5-year-old ewe = 3030 MJ) and weight of lamb weaned per DSE were analysed and the monthly pattern of ME components presented graphically. The ewes in the Ac8 system had 11% higher ME than those in the SpB system because of their considerably higher annual lambing performance, which resulted in 16–47% greater efficiency of the Ac8 compared with the SpB system when expressed as weight of lamb weaned per DSE. There was also a lower proportion of ME for ewe maintenance in the Ac8 (58%) than SpB or AuA (68%) systems. There was little difference in the annual feed requirements or DSE for ewes in the SpB and AuA production systems, although ewes in the AuA system weaned 9–28% more weight of lamb per DSE than the SpB ewes because of their higher lambing performance. The differences in ME and DSE between the BLM and Hyfer ewes were relatively small and mainly reflected the differences in lambing performance of the genotypes in the various production systems. The seasonal pattern of ME for the AuA and SpB systems showed a sharp increase from the last month of pregnancy to a high peak at weaning with a relatively low requirement for the rest of the year. Under the Ac8 system the ME requirements were more consistent throughout the year and at a lower level than the peak for the other systems. The results highlight the possible increased efficiency from an accelerated lambing system, provided the seasonal feed requirements throughout the year can be provided cost effectively.

Live weight and relative faecal production of Hylamorpha elegans (Burm.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae fed on soils with different particulate organic matter content

AbstractPrevious studies using white grub larvae have not found a relationship between scarabaeid larval growth and the quantity of total organic matter (OM) in the feeding soil. This is probably because it is the type or quality of the OM that is more important to larval nutritional requirements. The aim of this research was to study, under laboratory conditions, how the quality of OM, measured as the percentage of particulate OM (POM), affected the live weight and faecal production of Hylamorpha elegans (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae. Results showed that live weight gain of second and third instar larvae increased with an increase in the amount of POM. The faecal production showed no differences. Therefore, the effect on second and third instar larvae was related to the quality of the resource and not to an increase in the quantity of soil ingested. Better understanding of the dynamics of POM and other labile fractions of the soil OM as microbial biomass could be fundamental to assessing and implementing out agricultural practices that can ameliorate the impact of this pest.

Use of dried stoned olive pomace in the feeding of lactating buffaloes: effect on the quantity and quality of the milk produced.

Dried stoned olive pomace (DSOP) was administered to dairy water buffaloes, and their productive performance and milk composition were analysed. Sixteen pluriparous lactating buffaloes were divided into two uniform groups (control and experimental), taking into consideration the following parameters: milk production (2,192 and 2,102 kg) and duration of lactation (254 and 252 d) of the previous year, distance from calving (51 and 43 d), milk production (9.71 and 10.18 kg/d), body condition score (BCS) (6.44 and 6.31) and weight (617 and 653 kg) at the beginning of the trial. Both diets had the same formulation: second cut alfalfa hay 20%, corn silage 42%, concentrate 38% but the two concentrates differed in their formulation, the experimental one contained 15.50% of DSOP as fed. The employed DSOP showed high amounts of secoiridoids, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (3,4-DHPEA) (1.2 g/kg DM), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (3,4-DHPEA-EDA) (12.6 g/kg DM), p-hydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (p-HPEA-EDA) (5.6 g/kg DM) and lignans, which are known to be powerful bioactive compounds. The control diet had an energy-protein content of 0.86 Milk FU/kg DM and 143.3 g/kg DM of crude protein, whereas the experimental diet of 0.87 Milk FU/kg DM and 146.6 g/kg DM of crude protein. Each animal of the two groups received 17 kg DM/d and each buffalo of the experimental group, by way of the concentrate, ingested 1.05 kg DM/d of DSOP. The trial lasted 40 days. No significant difference was found between the BCS (6.41 and 6.53), live weight (625.93 and 662.50 kg) and milk production (9.69 and 10.08 kg/d) of the two groups, as was the case for fat, protein, lactose, pH and coagulating parameters of the two milks. The milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content of total tocopherols (10.45 vs 8.60 μg/g, p<0.01) and retinol (3.17 vs 2.54 μg/g, p<0.01). The content of the reactive substances with tiobarbituric acid (TBARs) was significantly lower in the milk fat of the experimental group (12.09 vs 15.05 μg MDA/g, p<0.01). The acid content of the milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content (p<0.05) of C18:0 and of C18:3ω6. LC-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of 3,4-DHPEA (36.0 μg/L) in the milk of the DSOP-fed buffaloes, while other phenols were not found. DSOP, in the quantity utilized, can be used in the feeding of the lactating buffalo; the dietetic-nutritional characteristics of the milk are improved due to a greater contribution of tocopherols, retinol and the presence of hydroxytyrosol.

Produção, composição do leite e variação do custo e da receita de produção de leite de cabras Saanen recebendo rações com casca de soja em substituição ao milho

The objective of this work was to evaluate the milk production and composition, dry matter intake, live weight and milk production curves along lactation, as well as the cost and revenue variation of milk production of Saanen goats fed rations with soybean hulls (SBH) in replacement to the corn (0%SBH, 50%SBH and 100%SBH). Fourteen goats were used (75.17± 9.96 kg) in a completely randomized design and confined in individual pens. The rations presented 14.50% of CP and 2.57 Mcal of ME/kg DM intake. Treatments did not affect (P&gt;0.05) live weight (LW, kg), dry matter intake (DMI, kg/day) and milk production along the lactation period. Soybean hulls can be used as a corn ground replacement in rations for lactating Saanen goats, because it did not change the DMI, LW and milk production. Moreover, it provided greater fat percentage in milk and higher ration cost margin.