scholarly journals Using automated supplementation systems to meet growth targets for grazing sheep

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Bowen ◽  
P. M. Pepper ◽  
J. L. Winkleman ◽  
R. C. McPhie ◽  
M. R. Winter

Remote drafting technology now available for sheep allows targeted supplementation of individuals within a grazing flock. This paper reports results of three experiments. Experiment 1 examined the weight change of Merino wethers allowed access to either lupin grain or whole cottonseed 0, 1, 2 or 7 days/week for 6 weeks. Experiment 2 examined the weight change of Merino wethers allowed access to either lupins or a sorghum + cottonseed meal (CSM) supplement 0, 2, 4 or 7 days/week for 8 weeks. Experiment 3 investigated the relationship between five allocations of trough space at the supplement self-feeders (5–50 cm/sheep) and the weight change of Merino wethers allowed access to lupins 1 day/week for 8 weeks. In all experiments, the Merino wethers had free access as a single group to drinking water and low quality hay in a large group pen and were allowed access to supplement once per day on their scheduled days of access. No water was available in the areas containing supplement, but one-way flow gates allowed animals to return to the group pen in their own time. There was a linear response in growth rate to increased frequency of access to lupins in Experiments 1 and 2, with each additional day of access increasing liveweight gain by 26 and 21 g/day, respectively. Similarly, the response to the sorghum + CSM supplement was linear, although significantly lower (P < 0.05), at 12 g/day. Providing access to whole cottonseed resulted in no significant change in growth rate compared with the control animals. In Experiment 3, decreasing trough space from 50 to 5 cm/sheep had no effect on sheep liveweight change. It was concluded that the relationships developed here, for growth response to increased frequency of access to lupins or a sorghum + CSM supplement, could be used to indicate the most appropriate frequency of access to supplement, through a remote drafting unit, to achieve sheep weight change targets. Also, that a trough space of 5 cm/sheep appears adequate in this supplementation system.

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Mears

Somatomedin (IGF-1) was measured in plasma samples obtained from lambs undergoing SRIF immunization to improve their rate of growth. Weight gains and blood samples were obtained at predetermined intervals between weaning and slaughter for a total of 78 crossbred ewe, ram and wether lambs in three experiments. Plasma IGF-1 concentrations were not altered by SRIF-immunization despite improved rates of gain in wether and ram lambs. Ewe, wether and ram lambs had similar plasma IGF-1 concentrations until 12 wk old. After 12 wk of age, ram lamb IGF-1 plasma concentrations were significantly higher than those of ewe and wether lambs. Fasting lambs for 24 h reduced plasma IGF-1 concentrations, having the greatest effect on heavier lambs. When lambs were allowed free access to feed, plasma IGF-1 concentrations obtained between 7 and 18 wk of age were positively correlated, both with weight gains prior to sampling, and with total weight gain from weaning to slaughter. Thus, at each age examined, lambs with higher than average plasma IGF-1 concentrations weighed considerably more than average at slaughter. This indicates that plasma IGF-1 concentrations obtained at an early age may be useful indicators of growth potential and aid in the selection of fast growing animals. Key words: Somatomedin, IGF-1, lambs, growth rate, somatostatin immunization


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108
Author(s):  
Rezwan Ahmed Rahi ◽  
Sumaiya Afrin ◽  
Md Abdur Rahman Howlider ◽  
Md Shawkat Ali

A total of 90 day old as hatched Cobb 500 broilers had free access to a pre-starter diet (crumble) from day old to 14 days of age. A starter diet (pellet) was provided up to end of the experiment. Broilers were allocated to 0 (control), 0.2 or 0.4% of potassium chloride (KCl) in drinking water and reared up to 500, 1000 or 1500g target weights to vary the rearing period. The study was aimed at to assess broiler performance (growth and meat yield) altered by KCl supplementation in drinking water in a hot and humid summer. KCl had no effect (p>0.05) on growth and meat yield characteristics of broilers except feed conversion (p<0.05) at different target weights. In most of the growth and meat yield parameters, KCl had no interactions (p>0.05) with target weights. However, 0.4% KCl level slightly improved feed intake, growth rate and performance index. Increasing level of KCl tended to increase most of the major meat yield characteristics. On the basis of results of this study, it may be concluded that, supplementation of KCl in drinking water in summer improved the feed conversion of broilers. However, further experiments using several doses of KCl may be conducted to confirm the appropriate doses of supplementation.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(1): 103-108


1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (02) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guojuan Wu ◽  
Kazutoshi Yamamoto ◽  
Takao Mori ◽  
Hideo Inatomi ◽  
Hiroshi Nagasawa

Free access of 0.5% Guan-mu-tong (Gmt) as drinking water inhibited lactation of mice estimated by pup growth rate, which was associated with a decrease in RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio in the mammary glands. 0.05% Gmt improved pup growth rate and mammary DNA content. No pups were lost during the experiment. Similar results were obtained by 0.5% Xia-ru-yong-quan-tang (Xryqt), a Chinese herbal medicine, which contained 0.05% Gmt. Xryqt further prevented a decline in ovarian weight seen by 0.05% Gmt treatment and significantly increased mother weight. These findings revealed two opposite effects of Gmt on mammary glands, stimulative and inhibitory, at low- and high-dose levels, respectively.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 501d-501
Author(s):  
Jonathan N. Egilla ◽  
Fred T. Davies

Six endomycorrhiza isolates from the Sonoran Desert of Mexico [Desert-14(18)1, 15(9)1, 15(15)1, Palo Fierro, Sonoran, and G. geosporum] were evaluated with a pure isolate of Glomus intraradices for their effect on the growth and gas exchange of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. cv. Leprechaun under low phosphorus fertility (11 mg P/L). Rooted cuttings of Hibiscus plants were inoculated with the seven mycorrhiza isolates and grown for 122 days. Gas exchange measurements were made on days 26, 88, and 122 after inoculation, and plants were harvested on day 123 for growth analysis. Plants inoculated with the seven isolates had 70% to 80% root colonization at harvest. Plants inoculated with G. intraradices had significantly higher leaf, shoot and root dry matter (DM), leaf DM/area (P ≤ 0.05) than those inoculated with any of the six isolates, and greater leaf area (LA) than Desert-15(9)1 and 15(15)1. Uninoculated plants had significantly lower leaf, shoot, root DM, leaf DM/area and LA (P ≤ 0.05) than the inoculated plants. There were no differences among the seven isolates in any of the gas exchange parameters measured [photosynthesis (A) stomatal conductance (gs), the ratio of intercellular to external CO2 (ci/ca), A to transpiration (E) ratio (A/E)]. The relationship between inoculated and uninoculated plants in these gas exchange parameters were variable on day 122 after inoculation.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ito ◽  
T. Okumura ◽  
M. Yamamoto

The study of the relations between the senses of smell and taste and odorant concentration is important for the solution of odor problems. The threshold concentrations of odor and taste (TOC, TTC) of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin were measured by the non-forced choice triangle method using 12-20 panelists. Both TOC and TTC were found to be functions of water temperature and the concentration of residual chlorine. The TOC and TTC of mixed samples were rather lower than the concentrations calculated from the mixing ratio. The sensitivities of the consumer panel and the number of musty odor complaints from consumers are related to MIB or geosmin concentration. The ratio of the number of complaints to MIB (or geosmin) concentration decreased after maximum complaint, but the sensitivity of the consumer panel remained the same.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Ledvinka ◽  
L. Zita ◽  
M. Hubený ◽  
E. Tůmová ◽  
M. Tyller ◽  
...  

We assessed the influence of the particular genotype, age of layers, feather growth-rate gene, and their mutual interactions on selected indicators of eggshell quality in six groups of hens of the laying type Dominant. The following genotypes were examined in the experiment: Barred Plymouth Rock, Dominant BPR 951 (K) strain, slow-feathering; Barred Plymouth Rock, Dominant BPR 901 (k) strain, fast-feathering; Blue Plymouth Rock, Dominant BLPR 954 (K) strain, slow-feathering; Blue Plymouth Rock, Dominant BLPR 894 (k) strain, fast-feathering; crossbreds of the above strains in the F<sub>1</sub> generation Dominant D 107 blue (K), slow-feathering and Dominant D 107 blue (k), fast-feathering. The layers were fed a feed mixture NP1 (16.64 % CP) from the 20<sup>th</sup> week of age and a feed mixture NP2 (15.02% CP) from the 42<sup>nd</sup> week. Husbandry conditions met the regular requirements of laying hens. Egg production and live weight of hens were monitored for the duration of the experiment (12 months). Eggshell quality was examined at the layers' age of 27, 35 and 56 weeks. The average hen-day egg production for the duration of the experiment (12 months) was not significantly influenced by the particular genotype or the feather growth-rate gene. The varying representation of the feather growth-rate gene significantly (P &le; 0.001) influenced the live weight; similarly, the relationship between the genotype and the representation of K/k alleles was significant. The average egg weight was influenced statistically significantly (P &le; 0.001) by the age of hens, their genotype (P &le; 0.05), feather growth-rate gene (P &le; 0.001), and the relationship between the age and genotype (P &le; 0.001). The age of hens, genotype, and the interaction of these two factors affected the egg shape index, as did the incidence of the feather growth-rate gene within the population (with a statistical significance of P &le; 0.001). The age, genotype and the feather growth-rate gene incidence within the population also significantly affected the eggshell quality indicators. In the eggshell to egg ratio, eggshell thickness and strength, an interaction was determined between the age of hens and their particular genotype. The eggshell colour was also significantly (P &le; 0.001) affected by hens' age, genotype (P &le; 0.001), as well as by the feather growth-rate gene (P &le; 0.001). No significant interaction between the age and the genotype was found for this indicator.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Farthing ◽  
Thomas W. Schwertner ◽  
Heather A. Mathewson ◽  
Kimberly A. Guay

Gossypol, a secondary plant compound found in cotton (Gossypium spp.), is known to be toxic to a variety of animals, particularly monogastric mammals and birds. Because ruminants are resistant to gossypol, whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal have been used as a feed supplement for many decades. Concerns over gossypol toxicity arise because of its presence in cottonseed products, particularly livestock and wildlife feed. The concentration of cottonseed in the environment near livestock and wildlife feeding stations presents the possibility that it may be ingested in significant amounts by non-target wild animals, resulting in inadvertent gossypol dosing. A species of significant economic and cultural value is the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). However, there are no published data regarding if Northern Bobwhites would consume cottonseed meal given the opportunity. We assessed selection for or against cottonseed meal by performing a dietary preference study. Birds (n =120) were given the choice between commercial game bird feed, scratch grains, and cottonseed meal containing 0.74% total gossypol. We measured feed consumption for five days. The birds’ diet consisted of 51.74% game bird feed, 37.72% scratch grains, and 10.54% cottonseed meal, and percentages varied significantly among all feed types (P≤0.001, n =360). We concluded that Northern Bobwhites selected against the cottonseed meal in favour of the game bird feed first and the scratch grains second. Our results suggest that given the choice, Northern Bobwhites will select against cottonseed meal if other feed choices are available.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Rieke ◽  
Ramon Durazo-Arvizu ◽  
Kiang Liu ◽  
Erin D. Michos ◽  
Amy Luke ◽  
...  

Objective. To examine the association between anxiety and weight change in a multiethnic cohort followed for approximately 10 years.Methods. The study population consisted of participants of the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis who met specified inclusion criteria (n= 5,799). Weight was measured at baseline and four subsequent follow-up exams. Anxiety was analyzed as sex-specific anxiety quartiles (QANX). The relationship between anxiety level and weight change was examined using a mixed-effect model with weight as the dependent variable, anxiety and time as the independent variables, and adjusted for covariates.Results. Average annual weight change (range) was −0.17 kg (−6.04 to 4.38 kg) for QANX 1 (lowest anxiety), −0.16 kg (−10.71 to 4.45 kg) for QANX 2, −0.15 kg (−8.69 to 6.39 kg) for QANX 3, and −0.20 kg (−7.12 to 3.95 kg) for QANX 4 (highest anxiety). No significant association was noted between QANX and weight change. However, the highest QANX was associated with a −2.48 kg (95% CI = −3.65, −1.31) lower baseline weight compared to the lowest QANX after adjustment for all covariates.Conclusions. Among adults, age 45–84, higher levels of anxiety, defined by the STPI trait anxiety scale, are associated with lower average baseline weight but not with weight change.


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin

This paper develops a monetary endogenous growth model with capital and skill heterogeneity to analyze the relationship among inflation, growth, and income inequality. In the model inflation, growth, and inequality are jointly determined. We show that an increase in the long-run money growth rate raises inflation and reduces growth, but its effect on income inequality depends on the relative importance of the two types of heterogeneity. Inequality shrinks with the rise of inflation when capital heterogeneity dominates and enlarges when skill heterogeneity dominates. Therefore, our model supports a negative (positive) inflation–inequality relationship and a positive (negative) growth–inequality relationship when capital (skill) heterogeneity dominates. In any event, inflation and growth are negatively related.


2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mahouachi ◽  
N. Atti

Abstract Fifty intact male Barbarine lambs were used to assess the effects of restricted feeding and re-alimentation on intake, growth and non-carcass components. Five lambs were slaughtered at the start of the trial, the remainder were randomly allocated into three groups. One group was offered only stubble grazing (low: L), another, also on stubble, received, indoors, an average of 80 g dry matter (DM) of soya-bean meal per day (medium: M); the third group was kept indoors and had free access to hay and 450 g of concentrate per day (high: H). At the end of this restriction period (70 days), five lambs per group were slaughtered. The 10 remaining animals in each group were divided into two groups receiving concentrate and hay ad libitum. The crude protein content (CP) of the concentrate was 160 and 210 g/kg DM for the two treatments, respectively. At the end of the trial all animals were slaughtered at 37·61 ± 2·05 kg live weight.In the restriction period, sheep from the H group had a significantly higher growth rate (108 g/day) than L group (61 g/day) with M intermediate. The empty body weight (EBW) as well as carcass weight were significantly higher in H than in restricted sheep. Digestive tract components and liver weight were the same for all treatments. However, skin weight was significantly (P < 0·01) affected by dietary treatment. The heart and lungs were also heavier in H lambs than in the two other groups. Conversely, the relative weights of gut and liver as proportion of EBW increased in restricted lambs, while that of skin and red organs was not affected by diet.In the re-alimentation period and with both CP levels, the compensating animals showed the same growth rate as the previous unrestricted ones. At the end of this period, organ weights, in both absolute and relative value, were comparable among lambs of the three nutritional histories and two CP level. The absolute and proportional daily gains were similar in all animals for visceral and external organs, but they were significantly higher in H lambs than in L and M ones for the omental and mesenteric fat and testis.


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