The influence of weaning regime on central testing station performance in pigs

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Webb ◽  
J. W. B. King
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Creep Feeding ◽  
Statistical Adjustment ◽  
Selection Decisions ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTTo investigate possible pre-test environmental effects on testing station performance, pigs from a total of 107 litters from two breed types were weaned on one of three treatments: weaning at 3, 5 or 8 weeks of age, with a different creep-feeding regime on each. At 8 to 10 weeks of age, litter groups (usually consisting of two boars, one male castrate and one gilt) were sent to a Meat and Livestock Commission testing station and performance-tested from 27 to 85 kg live weight on twice daily to-appetite feeding.Weaning treatment significantly affected live weight at 50 days and boar growth rate and feed efficiency on test, but carcass traits were largely unaffected. Boars weaned on the 8-week treatment showed a significant advantage in index score of two-thirds of a standard deviation over those weaned at 3 weeks. A smaller number on the 5-week treatment were intermediate but did not differ significantly from those on the other two. It is concluded that wide variation in the weaning methods of herds sending pigs to a testing station could affect selection decisions. Ways of removing any bias by standardizing weaning methods or by statistical adjustment are discussed.

Growth and Performance of Agriculture Sector in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naresh Singla ◽  
Mamandeep Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Capital Formation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Agricultural Credit ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Food Grain ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Agricultural Labourers

The growth of agriculture and allied sectors is critical for the Indian economy as about 49 percent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. During the last decade and so, the agriculture sector has undergone profound changes resulting in sharp deceleration in its growth. The study has attempted to analyze growth and performance of the agriculture sector in India since 1980-81 and tries to comprehend some of the factors responsible for the deceleration in growth. The study has shown that agriculture sector has been able to show tremendous improvement in expansion of area and production of food grain and non-food grain crops. However, there are so many underlying factors responsible for slowdown of the agricultural growth. Some of the factors identified include: Increase in area under non-agriculture uses, excessive dependence on rain fed farming, increase in number of agricultural labourers, reducing size of the operation holdings, over use of agri-inputs, inequity in the distribution of agriculture credit along with sharp deceleration in public gross capital formation in agriculture etc. The study pointed in order to achieve higher growth rate, there is a need to enhance the gross capital formation in agriculture sector particularly on irrigation so that more area can be brought under assured irrigation. Bringing equity in distribution of agricultural credit coupled with judicious and need-based agricultural inputs are some of the other recommendations drawn based upon the study.

THE EFFECTS OF SEX AND AGE OF MALE AT CASTRATION ON GROWTH AND CARCASS QUALITY OF YORKSHIRE SWINE

1961 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Charette
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Iodine Number ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Effect On Growth

The effects of sex and age of castration of males on growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in bacon type swine were measured using 16 pigs each as gilts, entire boars, and boars castrated at birth, 6, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age. Castration at 20 weeks was too late since some pigs reached 200 pounds live weight before that age. Boars consumed less feed daily than barrows and gilts, were thinner in loin fat, and yielded a higher percentage of shoulder than gilts. The carcasses of boars and gilts were longer, had less fat covering over the shoulder and back, a larger area of loin, and a higher iodine number than those castrated late. Acceptability tests showed that sex or age of castration did not affect the flavour, odour, or tenderness of the meat.Purebred breeders can delay castration for better selection of boars without any serious effect on growth, physical carcass characteristics, and feed requirements. Although the market discriminates against boars, it appears questionable whether castration is necessary when boars are slaughtered at 200 pounds before they reach the age of 150 days.

Comparison of the productivity of Texel and Rouge de l’Ouest ewes and their crosses

2002 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. R. Dawson ◽  
A. F. Carson ◽  
L. O. W. McClinton
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Average Figure

AbstractAn experiment was undertaken to compare the productivity of crossbred ewes, produced by crossing Texel sires with Rouge de l’Ouest (Rouge) dams and Rouge sires with Texel dams, relative to purebred Texel and Rouge ewes. The purebred and crossbred ewes were crossed with Rouge and Texel sires. The proportion of productive ewes was similar in the purebred and crossbred ewes with an average figure of 0·92. Irrespective of crossing sire, Rouge ewes produced 0·48 more lambs per ewe lambed than Texel ewes (P < 0·001). The two crossbred ewe types (Texel ✕ Rouge and Rouge ✕ Texel) each produced similar numbers of lambs (on average 1·92 lambs per ewe lambed). Individual heterosis values for ewe fertility and prolificacy were small and not significant (–1·67 for the proportion of productive ewes and –3·14 for the number of lambs born per ewe lambed). Maternal heterosis values were also not significant but were of larger magnitude (6·26 for ewe fertility and 3·12 for prolificacy). Lamb mortality (number of lambs born dead per ewe lambed) at birth was similar for purebred Rouge (0·44) and Texel (0·30) ewes and was significantly reduced by crossbred matings and mating the crossbred ewes (individual heterosis –30·68, P < 0·10; maternal heterosis –80·23, P < 0·001). Individual and maternal heterosis values for lamb growth rate from birth to six weeks were 8 (P < 0·05) and 4 (P > 0·05) respectively. Lamb growth rate from birth to weaning was significantly lower in lambs from Texel ewes compared with those from the other genotypes (P < 0·05). Individual and maternal heterosis values for live-weight gain from birth to weaning were 5 (P < 0·10) and 5 (P < 0·01). The results of the current study demonstrate the superior performance of purebred Rouge ewes compared with purebred Texel ewes in terms of prolificacy and lamb growth rate from birth to weaning. However, both breeds had high lamb mortality at birth. Crossbreeding led to the production of hybrid ewes which had relatively high prolificacy with low levels of dystocia and lamb mortality.

Photoperiodic requirements for rapid growth in young male red deer

1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Webster ◽  
I. D. Corson ◽  
R. P. Littlejohn ◽  
S. K. Stuart ◽  
J. M. Suttie
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Reproductive Development ◽  
The Other ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Lower Amplitude

AbstractWinter growth of young male red deer can be increased by exposure to 16 h of light (L) and 8 h of dark (D) per day (16L: 8D). This study tested the duration of photoperiod required for this growth response, determined if the time to reach slaughter weight can be reduced and monitored plasma IGF-1, prolactin and reproductive development. Fifty male calves were allocated to five equal groups. Four groups were housed indoors and for 33 weeks from the winter solstice (22 June, southern hemisphere) until 11 February were placed under either 16L: 8D (16L), 13·25L: 10·75D (13L), 10·751:13·25D (111) or 8L: 16D (8L) photoperiods. The fifth group of deer (OC) remained outside in a gravelled enclosure. All groups were given a pelleted diet ad libitum. Group food intake was recorded daily, individual live weight was measured weekly and testes diameter and blood samples taken at weekly or 2-week intervals.Plasma prolactin concentrations in 16L increased within 4 weeks of treatment and were different (P < 0·001) between groups from 14 August to 4 September. IGF-1 increased in both 16L and 13L 4 weeks after treatments and then increased further in 16L above that of 13L (P < 0·01). All groups grew at the same rate for the first 7 weeks. 16L then gained more weight (P < 0·001) than the other groups over the next 19 weeks (50·7 kg v. 38·5 for 13L, 35·7 for 11L, 37·0 for 8L and 37·4 for OC; s.e.d. 3·76). Food intake was positively related to growth rate in a similar way among the inside groups (P < 0·001), however there was a higher energy requirement outdoors (P < 0·05). A target live weight for slaughter of 95 kg was reached 7 weeks earlier for 16L than the other groups (P < 0·01). Testes diameter of 16L was larger than in the other groups from 13 November until 24 December (P < 0·001). The growth oflSL slowed from 1 January while that of OC increased and the live weight ofOC was equal to 16L by the end of the experiment. OC also had the largest testes diameter from 5 February onwards (P < 0·01). The live-weight increase in OC was associated with increases in both prolactin and IGF-1 levels.This study confirmed that 16L: 8D stimulates rapid growth of young male red deer during winter for sufficient time to achieve an earlier slaughter date. The live-weight advantage was lost by late summer however. The increased growth rate was mediated by food intake and associated with increases in IGF-1 and prolactin and earlier reproductive development. Photoperiods of 13 h of light per day or less did not stimulate growth and increases in IGF-1 and prolactin were of a lower amplitude than under 16L: 8D.

Effects of crossbred ewe genotype and ram genotype on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability and lamb output in the lowland sector

2002 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. R. DAWSON ◽  
A. F. CARSON
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lamb Growth

A study was carried out on five lowland farms in Northern Ireland over 3 years to investigate the effect of crossbred ewe and ram genotype on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability and weaned lamb output. Four crossbred ewe genotypes were sourced from six hill farms involved in a previous study – Bluefaced Leicester×Blackface (BLXB), Texel×Blackface (TXB), Suffolk×Cheviot (SXCH) and Texel×Cheviot (TXCH). On each farm, groups of 20–30 of each crossbred ewe genotype were mated with Suffolk or Texel rams. Throughout the 3 years of the study, the ewe genotypes lambed at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. Within each of the ram breeds, high lean growth index rams sourced from UK sire reference schemes were compared with rams sourced from flocks not involved in objective genetic improvement programmes (control). BLXB ewes were the most prolific of the four ewe genotypes producing 1.73 lambs per ewe lambed compared with 1.47 for TXB, 1.46 for SXCH and 1.41 for TXCH (P<0.001). Lamb mortality was similar for the four ewe genotypes, thus number of lambs weaned was greatest for the BLXB ewes (P<0.001) with the other three crosses producing similar numbers of lambs. A greater proportion (P<0.05) of SXCH ewes lambed without assistance compared with BLXB and TXB ewes and a greater proportion of TXCH ewes had abundant supplies of colostrum compared with the other crosses (P<0.10). Output of weaned lamb per ewe lambed and per ewe metabolic live weight (P<0.001) was greatest in the BLXB ewes. Ewe productivity, prolificacy, number of lambs weaned and the proportion of ewes lambing without assistance increased with ewe age (P<0.001). Lamb growth rate from birth to 6 weeks and from birth to weaning increased with ewe age (P<0.05). Crossbred ewes lambing at 3 years old had a greater output of weaned lamb compared with ewes lambing at 1 and 2 years old (P<0.001). Ram genotype had no effect on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability or pre-weaning growth rates, although Texel-sired lambs had lower birth weights than Suffolk-sired lambs and control-sired lambs had lower birth weights than high lean index-sired lambs (P<0.05).

Post-weaning growth of Hereford and first-cross heifers grazing three pasture systems

1989 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Hearnshaw ◽  
R. E. Darnell ◽  
R. Barlow ◽  
Virginia Finch
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Frame Size ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Pelvic Area ◽  
Genotype Interaction ◽  
Similar Body

SummaryThe post-weaning growth, frame size and body condition of Hereford (H × H), Brahman × Hereford (B × H), Simmental × Hereford (S × H) and Friesian × Hereford (F × H) heifers were evaluated on three pasture systems in each of five years. One group of heifers was grown from weaning (at 8 months of age) to 18 months on the high-pasture system, which included supplementation with grain, while the other two groups were grown to 30 months on pastures of medium or low quality. Pasture effects were large compared with differences between years, with average daily gains between weaning and 18 months of 552, 275 and 97 g/day on high, medium and low pastures, respectively. Genotype had a significant effect on all measurements. Pasture × genotype interaction was significant in most instances. While crosses grew faster and were heavier than H × H on all pastures, S × H were heaviest by 18 months on high pasture, with B × H heaviest at all ages up to 30 months on both medium and low pastures. There was little difference in live weight between B × H and F × H on high pasture, or between S × H and F × H on medium pasture, whereas F × H was heavier than S × H on low pasture. There were concomitant differences in measures of skeletal size, but when adjusted allometrically to a common live weight, pasture effects were removed, while differences between genotypes remained. At a common live weight F × H had the largest height, length and pelvic area, but shared the lowest body condition with S × H. Pelvic height was greatest among B × H heifers, but this cross had similar body length, condition and subcutaneous fat cover to H × H. The pattern of genotype × pasture interaction observed in this study was similar to that observed by Darnell, Hearnshaw & Barlow (1987) for growth rate among contemporary steers located in different environments.

Growth and herbage consumption of grazing Merino and Border Leicester lambs reared by their mothers or fostered by ewes of the other breed

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

SUMMARYEight Border Leicester castrated male lambs (wethers) were fostered on to 8 Merino ewes (MB) at birth, and 10 Merino wethers were fostered on to Border Leicester ewes (BM). Two additional groups of 10 wethers consisted of Border Leicester lambs (BB) and Merino lambs (MM) reared by their natural mothers. The lambs and ewes grazed together and growth rate, and milk and herbage consumption of the lambs were recorded.Live-weight gains to weaning at 74 days were 275, 245, 204 and 184 g/day for groups BB, MB, BM and MM respectively. Lambs reared by Border Leicester ewes received more milk and consumed less grass than lambs of similar genotype reared by Merinos, but BM lambs consumed less milk than BB lambs. Merino lambs also consumed less grass than Border Leicester lambs.It was concluded that Merinos grew more slowly than Border Leicester lambs primarily because of their lower voluntary food intake. The lower milk production of Merino ewes was considered to be of secondary significance since if herbage is available ad libitum, lambs with high voluntary intakes will compensate for the lack of milk by consuming more forage.

The intensive rearing of lambs 2. Voluntary food intake and performance on diets of varying oat husk and beef tallow content

1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Owen ◽  
D. A. R. Davies ◽  
E. L. Miller ◽  
W. J. Ridgman
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Beef Tallow ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Physical Form ◽  
Intensive Rearing ◽  
Pelleted Diet ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Oat Husk ◽  
The Relationship

1. Two experiments concerned with the voluntary intake of food by artificially reared lambs are described and the results discussed.2. When the diets were pelleted the addition of finely ground oat husks to form as much as 40% of the diet had practically no effect on live weight gain since the lambs controlled their consumption to achieve the same energy intake on the various diets. When the diets were given as a meal, the addition of 20% oat husks caused food intake to increase, digestible dry-matter intake to remain the same and growth rate to be somewhat poorer; but the addition of 40% oat husks caused no further increase in intake so that digestible drymatter intake fell markedly and growth rate was much reduced. It is argued that the relationship between food intake and digestibility is dependent on the physical form of the diet.3. Addition of beef tallow to the meal diets had very little effect on the lambs' performance.4. Lambs which had received a restricted quantity of milk replacer from birth to 11·4 kg live weight had a slower growth rate and poorer food conversion efficiency during the subsequent feeding period (13·6–34·1 kg) than lambs which had received milk ad libitum. This effect was greater with meal diets containing 40% oat husks than with more concentrated diets.5. On a pelleted diet containing 85% barley a conversion ratio of 3·21 was achieved over the whole fattening period, indicating the commercial feasibility of intensive lamb production on cereal diets.

scholarly journals USING BOARS OF CANADIAN BREEDING TO IMPROVE THE MEAT QUALITIES OF LARGE WHITE PIGS

2018 ◽  
pp. 83-92
Author(s):  
V. A. Bekenеv ◽  
V. I. Frolova ◽  
V. S. Deeva ◽  
I. V. Bolshakova ◽  
Yu. V. Frolova
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thoracic Vertebrae ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Large White ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Meat Productivity

Three experiments were carried out to improve the meat productivity of pigs of Large White (LW) breed of russian selection by different variants of crossing with the Yorkshire (Y) breed of canadian selection. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of reproductive qualities. Two-breed pigs (LW x Y) grew more intensively and the live weight of the piglet at the 30 days was 8,7 kg, which is higher than in the other groups with a significant difference (P <0,05). When the live weight of 100 kg was reached, the вackfat thickness of the fat over 6-7 thoracic vertebrae was 26,3 mm compared to 30,7 mm in purebred pigs of the LW of the breed (P <0,001), the area of the muscular eye was respectively 45,1 cm 2 and 30,6 cm 2 (P <0,001). In the fourth generation of reproductive and absorbent crossing of pigs of LW and Y of breeds, the thickness of the fat on the carcasses of pigs was 21,2 mm (Р < 0.001), which is 30-39 % less than for the LW carcasses, the area of the muscular eye was 44 mm. In three-breed hybrids (LW x D) x L, the age of reaching 100kg was less by 12,5 days (P <0,01), the thickness of the fat was 23,6 mm, that is, it was 11,4 mm less (P < 0,001) in comparison with the control group. The replacement pigs obtained from the absorbent crossing (LW x Y) x Y showed the best results for the вackfat thickness - 19,2 mm, but they were inferior to the purebred Y (13,0 mm) (P <0,001). In the sows of this combination, 11,6 piglets were born alive, the number of piglets at weaning was 10,6, the weight of the nest in the 30-day was 78,7 kg. Differences in the frequency of occurrence of certain antigenic factors of blood in animals of different combinations of breeds are revealed. In animals that have the EAE allele edf, a higher growth rate is revealed, but thicker the backfat.

scholarly journals The effect of growth and development intensity in replacement heifers on economically important traits of Holstein cattle in the Czech Republic

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bouška ◽  
M. Štípková ◽  
M. Krejčová ◽  
L. Bartoň
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Productive Life ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
The Relationship

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of growth and development intensity in Holstein replacement heifers on economically important animal traits. The intensity of growth was assessed by the average live weight gain until 14 months of age. In addition, live weight and height at the sacrum at 14 months of age were analysed as indicators of growth and development when evaluating the length of productive life. The milk yield of first-calvers increased as the average daily live weight gain in the rearing period increased. An opposite tendency was recorded for cows in their second and third lactation and the total production also decreased with a higher growth rate of heifers. The analysis of the relationship between growth rate and the following reproduction traits revealed that the increased average daily live weight gain to 14 months was subsequently associated with reduced reproduction efficiency in cows. The differences between the groups with the lowest and the highest average live weight gains in the number of days open in the first and second calving interval were 26.78 and 17.47 days, respectively. This tendency was also confirmed in the other reproduction traits analysed. Productive life was significantly longer in animals with the lowest intensity of growth and development compared to the other groups (2.17 to 5.49 months, <i>P</i> < 0.01).

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