The effect of daylength on the growth of lambs. 5. Skeletal long photoperiod

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Brinklow ◽  
R. Jones ◽  
J. M. Forbes

ABSTRACTFour experiments were carried out, with a total of 98 Suffolk-cross lambs fed at a restricted level, to study the effects of skeletal long photoperiod (7 h light: 10 h dark: 1 h light: 6 h dark) compared with short photoperiod (8 h light: 16 h dark) on growth and blood levels of hormones. The experiments started when the lambs were from 2 to 10 months of age and continued for 9 to 14 weeks.In the first experiment, the weight gains of both females and castrated males were significantly increased by skeletal long photoperiod. Plasma prolactin was increased and cortisol decreased by skeletal long photoperiod.Experiment 2 included females and castrated males; prolactin was stimulated by skeletal long photoperiod and there was a significant positive correlation between live-weight gain and prolactin.The weight gains and carcass characteristics of the female lambs used in the third experiment were not affected by photoperiod. Live-weight gain was negatively related to plasma cortisol.In experiment 4, there were 12 intact males and 12 castrated males. The intact animals grew significantly faster; skeletal long photoperiod caused a depression in testosterone levels in plasma even though it tended to increase live-weight gain.When the data from all four experiments were pooled, it was found that skeletal long photoperiod gave a significant increase in live-weight gain in animals whose pineal gland was intact (40 per photoperiod; 138 v. 113 g/day); there was no effect on gut fill at slaughter and the increase in carcass weight (0·5 kg) was not significant.

Author(s):  
Hacer Tüfekci ◽  
Mustafa Olfaz

This research was carried out to investigate the fattening performance and slaughter and carcass characteristics of Hair goat and Saanen × Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids in different fattening systems. Thirty Hair goats and 30 Saanen × Hair goat (G1) crossbred singleton male kids 2.5-3 months old and weaned were used. The kids were fattened in three different systems: intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive. Marginal value analysis was applied to determine the optimum feeding periods of the kids. In order to determine the slaughter and carcass characteristics, all the kids fattened were taken to slaughter after determining their live weight at the end of the fattening. Live weight gains after the intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive fattening were 17.83 kg, 19.39 kg, and 18.29 kg in the Hair goat kids and 17.88 kg, 18.24 kg, and 17.32 kg in the Saanen × Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids, respectively. In the same order, the average concentrate feed consumed by kids for 1 kg live weight gain was 7.55 kg, 7.28 kg, 7.00 kg and 7.07 kg. Hot carcass weights after the intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive fattening were 13.58, 14.06, and 13.02 kg in the Hair goat kids and 14.21, 15.03, and 14.06 kg in the Saanen × Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids. The Saanen × Hair goat (G1) crossbred goats increased more in live weight than the Hair goat kids and the semi-intensive fattened goats increased more in live weight than the intensive and extensive fed goats. Moreover, the optimum fattening times generally varied between the groups, but not between genotypes within the group.


1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted with weaned, suckled calves to investigate the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on their subsequent performance when continuously grazed on pasture maintained at two sward heights. Low, medium and high levels of winter feeding resulted in winter live-weight gains of 0·31, 0·58 and 0·79 (s.e. 0·027) kg/day (P < 0·001) during the 152-day winter in experiment 1 and 0·44, 0·69 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day (P < 0·001) for 189 days in experiment 2. During summer (93 days in experiment 1 and 87 days in experiment 2) there was a significant effect of winter food level on performance when live-weight gains were 1·10, 1·02, 0·87 and 1·35, 1·23 and 1·19 (s.e. 0·060) kg/day for the low, medium and high winter food levels on the short and tall swards respectively in experiment 1 (P < 0·01) and 0·86, 0·66, 0·51 and 1·26, 1·18 and 0·91 (s.e. 0090) kg/day in experiment 2 (P < 0·001). The cattle showing compensatory growth had higher herbage intakes and it is postulated that this occurred because of a negative association between body fat and herbage intake. Sward height had a large positive effect on herbage intake and live-weight gain and it is concluded that for maximum intake on ryegrass swards, herbage height should be at least 8 cm. Lower levels of winter live-weight gain delayed the time to slaughter, but allowed cattle to achieve heavier carcass weights at a fixed level of fatness.It is concluded that there is no single optimum winter food level for weaned, suckled calves but that the choice will depend upon several factors, including availability of winter and summer food resources, the length of the winter feeding period, the desired date of slaughter and type of carcass to be produced.


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bartoň ◽  
D. Řehák ◽  
V. Teslík ◽  
D. Bureš ◽  
R. Zahrádková

Breed effects on live weight gain, slaughter characteristics and carcass composition were compared in Aberdeen Angus, Charolais, Hereford and Simmental bulls. The experiment extended over 2 years and involved totally 96 animals. The target slaughter live weights were determined 550 kg for earlier maturing breeds Aberdeen Angus and Hereford and 630 kg for later maturing breeds Charolais and Simmental. Charolais and Simmental gained more rapidly (P &lt; 0.05) than Aberdeen Angus while Hereford were intermediate. Hereford had lower (P &lt; 0.05) dressing percentage than the other breeds. Percentages of grade I meat were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in Charolais and Simmental. The highest percentage of separable fat was recorded in Hereford (P &lt; 0.05). Charolais and Simmental had lower (P &lt; 0.05) thickness of subcutaneous fat over MLLT than Aberdeen Angus andHereford. The later maturing bulls generally tended to achieve higher live weight gains during the experiment, produced less fat and had higher percentage of meat from high priced joints in comparison with earlier maturing animals. &nbsp;


1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Curran ◽  
I. J. Lean ◽  
J. E. Duckworth ◽  
W. Holmes

SUMMARY1. The growth, feed consumption per unit weight gain, carcass characteristics and some aspects of meat quality were studied in two trials with crosses derived from Landrace (L), Pietrain (P), Hampshire (H) and Large White (LW) breeds.2. In Trial 1, 96 pigs of both pure Landrace and LW(× (L♀ × P♂)♂ origin were studied up to slaughter weights of 64 and 91 kg live weight. In Trial 2, Landrace, LW♀ × (L♀ × P♂)♂ and LW ♂x (P♀x L♂)♂, (H♀ × P♂ × L♂ and (H♀ × P♂)♀ × LW♂ pigs were compared up to 91 kg live weight using 48 pigs of each type.3. All crossbred types showed better economy of production than Landrace when assessed by live-weight gain and feed consumption per unit weight gain. Their carcasses contained greater quantities of lean meat and similar quantities of rind, bone and fat than Landrace at comparable weights, but they exhibited a variable tendency to poorer meat quality. LW × (L × P) and LW × (P × L) carcasses at 91 kg live weight were shorter than Landrace; 4% and 14% of pigs in trials 1 and 2 respectively were less than the currently acceptable length of bacon pigs (775 mm). (H × P) × LW and (H×P)×L carcasses at this weight were much shorter; 34% and 38% respectively were less than 775 mm.


1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Leaver ◽  
N. H. Yarrow

SUMMARYWhole milk was given once daily to three groups each of 18 Friesian heifer calves and concentrates and hay were also available. Calves in one group received 2·4 kg milk/day and in a second 3·0 kg milk/day and in both of these groups individual calves were weaned when their daily intake of concentrates reached 400 g. In the third group the calves received 3·0 kg milk/day and were weaned after 28 days. Concentrate and hay intakes were not significantly affected by the treatments. Mean growth rate over 56 days increased with increasing quantity of whole milk offered but the differences between treatments were not significant. The performance of calves given whole milk was compared with the performance achieved in previous experiments where milk substitute was given. It was estimated that 1 kg whole milk gave the same live-weight gain as 170 g milk-substitute powder. From this estimate price/cost relationships were determined to indicate when whole milk or milk substitute should be fed to calves.


1957 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. W. Spedding ◽  
T. H. Brown

1. The live-weight gain of lambs initially infected at five different levels was compared with that of similar but worm-free animals, under conditions of set-stocking at a high rate per acre.2. Over a period of 9 months the worm-free controls gained 67·7% more weight than the total infected group, but the live-weight gains of the five levels did not appear to be related to their original infection or to their egg counts.3. Although a few nematode eggs were detected in the faeces of some control lambs, reinfection was negligible under the conditions of this experiment.4. It was concluded that a marked depression of productivity may be associated with an egg count as low as 114 e.p.g. in sheep 4–7 months of age.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. O'Donovan ◽  
A. Gebrewolde ◽  
B. Kebede ◽  
E. S. E. Galal

SummaryTwo group-feeding and one individual-feeding experiments were made for 112 and 182 days, respectively, with 76 cross-bred and eight Zebu bulls. Simmental, Friesian and Jersey sire breeds were mated to three Ethiopian Zebu breeds, namely Boran, Horro and Barca, while Zebu bulls were included for comparison purposes in Expt 3. The trials were conducted in confinement at Holetta Research Station, located at 2400 m elevation and having a mean maximum temperature range of 18·7–24 °C. In the group-feeding trials (Expts 1 and 2) a common diet was fed, consisting of native hay (30%) molasses (20%) and a concentrate supplement. In the third experiment, two diets containing 30 and 50% native hay were supplemented by concentrate and fed individually to eight Simmental and eight Friesian cross bulls, while eight Zebus served as a control.The average daily gains, feed intake and conversion did not differ markedly between Simmental and Friesian crosses, but lower values were generally found for Jersey crosses. Cross-breds outgained Zebus, consumed more feed and converted it more efficiently to live-weight gain. Performance differences were noted between the Zebu breeds as well as some evidence of sire × dam breed interactions. Significantly higher gains were achieved with the low than with the high roughage diet.


1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Rutter

SUMMARY1. Seventy-two Blackface ewes with 96 Greyface (Border Leicester ♂ × Blackface ♀) lambs were allocated to three groups. Twenty-four ewes with 32 suckling lambs were set-stocked on 2·4 hectares (ha) of grass (A); 32 lambs were weaned and set-stocked on 2·4 ha of grass (B) and 32 lambs were weaned, housed and given concentrates (C). Beef cows with calves were used to control the grass in the two grazing groups.2. The average initial live weight of the lambs was 18 kg. Treatments had a significant effect on performance, the live-weight gains per lamb over the initial 35 days being 11·2, 9·1 and 5·9 kg for groups A, B and C respectively. The total gains over 70 days, when the suckled lambs (A) were weaned, were 17·6, 15·5 and 14·3 kg.3. The total live-weight gain per ha from lambs and calves over 88 days was higher on treatment B than on treatment A. The lambs weaned on to grass took 9 days longer than the suckled lambs to reach a slaughter weight of 42 kg and had significantly poorer killing-out percentages.4.The lambs given concentrates had an overall food conversion efficiency of 4·89 kg concentrates per kg live-weight gain.


1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Leaver

SUMMARYThe effects of three levels of concentrate supplementation on the live-weight gain and intake of roughages of 12-week-old British Friesian female calves were examined. Each supplement was offered for 12 weeks to two replicates of five calves which were group fed. The following six roughages were studied; high quality hay, dried grass wafers, grass silage, barley straw, poor quality hay and maize silage. The digestibility of the roughages was measured with sheep by total collection of faeces.Increasing the level of concentrate supplementation gave linear increases in live-weight gains of calves with all roughages, the greatest response occurring with roughages of low digestibility. The intake of roughage was depressed by increasing the level of concentrate supplementation, the greatest depressions occurring with roughages of high digestibility. Live-weight gains and roughage intakes were higher with dried grass wafers and lower with maize silage than would be expected from their respective digestibility coefficients.Multiple regression equations were calculated to relate live-weight gains or roughage intakes to concentrate intake and roughage digestibility. These equations predict from the digestibility of a roughage, the amount of concentrates required daily to produce a given live-weight gain, and the amount of roughage which is eaten under these circumstances.


1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. McCarrick ◽  
M. J. Drennan

SUMMARYThree experiments were conducted to compare the performance of 9-month-old Friesian steers wintered in three environments, (a) conventional cattle houses, (b) wind-sheltered roofless sawdust pads and (c) unsheltered roofless sawdust pads. Within each environment animals were fed on two planes of nutrition.In each experiment, winter live-weight gains of animals accommodated on the three winter environments were similar as were weight changes during the subsequent four weeks at grass in Experiments 2 and 3.No interaction on live-weight gain was found between plane of nutrition and winter environment. Health of outwintered animals was good throughout. The response to feeding barley with hay in these experiments (obtained by comparing low-plane with high-plane treatment groups) showed that on average 5·5 kg of barley dry matter were required to produce 1 kg of additional live-weight gain above that obtained from hay fed alone.


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