Six sheep were used in a Latin-square experiment to investigate the effect of pre-harvest treatment of pasture with glyphosate (Roundup, a translocated herbicide) on the palatability of hay. Four hays were used: control (C), Roundup (R), quinine (Q, 100 mg/kg) and Roundup with quinine (QR). During each week one of the following choices was given to each animal: (a) C/C; (b) C/R; (c) R/R; (d) Q/C; (e) Q/R; and (f) C/QR. There were no significant effects of treatment on the proportion chosen or on total daily intake, mean meal size or rate of eating. It was concluded that neither pre-harvest treatment with Roundup nor post-harvest treatment with quinine affected the palatability of hay.

The effect of cereal straw supplement on turnip diets has been studied in Romanov × Rasa Aragonesa ewes in early lactation. Measurements were made of level of intake, blood characteristics and performance under pen-fed and grazing conditions. Barley straw supplementation resulted in a proportional increase of 0·1 in turnip intake to give daily intakes of 82 and 94 g organic matter per kg M0·75 for pen-fed and grazing ewes respectively.

Ewes fed on turnips showed a significant decrease in red blood cell numbers, haemoglobin and packed cell volumes though remaining within the range considered as normal for this species. Heinz bodies were present in proportionately up to 0·25 of erythrocytes and no clinical symptoms were observed.

The average weight gain of lambs reared by the grazing ewes was 173 g/day. However, growth rates of lambs and weight losses of ewes on turnip diets were lower than expected from the performance of animals on a control diet based on barley, lucerne and straw.

Consumer reaction to bacon from boars and castrates, whose production and processing characteristics were known, was determined in 122 households consisting of 238 respondents. On a seven-point scale the mean scores for six organoleptic characteristics were similar for each sort of bacon relative to that usually purchased. A proportion of 0·045 of cooks scored boar bacon at the point of strongest rejection (unappetizing aroma) during cooking but less than 001 considered that the flavour was very much stronger than their usual bacon. Few respondents marked boar bacon inferior to their usual bacon for eating characteristics. On a comparative basis the frequency distribution of scores for flavour, juiciness and pleasantness of aroma on the plate was slightly in favour of castrate bacon but was of little importance. Using the production and processing data obtained and accepting no adverse consumer reaction to boar bacon, a financial advantage to the producer of entire male pigs for bacon manufacture over castrates was demonstrated (£2·95). However, if the retailer should not reward the curer for the extra leanness of the boar then the curer might be at a financial disadvantage.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate water absorbing capacity and the drying and cooling rates of fur in farmbred male mink (Mustela vison) following 10 s of simulated diving. Comparisons were made between adult animals with summer and winter fur. The water loss from a swimming pool following diving in summer amounted to 146 (s.e. 14) g and 152 (s.e. 9) g in dry and wet mink, respectively (P > 0·05). During winter the corresponding values averaged 148 (s.e. 9) and 125 (s.e. 7) g, respectively (not significant: P > 0·05). No significant differences between summer and winter were found for dry mink. In wet-coated mink, on the other hand, water loss from the swimming pool was significantly greater (P 0·05) in summer than in winter. Drying of the fur was slow and significantly (P 0·05) affected by season so that half of the 100 g water absorbed by fur evaporated within 20 min during winter (at –2°C) whereas in summer (at +18°C) it took 60 min. A slower drying rate in summer could be benefical as it allows long-term body cooling in warm environment. Cooling constants of winter-coated dry mink (0·01955 (s.e. 0·00183) per min) were not significantly different (P > 0·05) from those of winter-coated wet mink (0·02091 (s.e. 0·00144) per min) indicating that energy costs of wet fur after diving are not critical for the survivial of the mink during winter.

The relative performances of crossbred ewes sired by Finnish Landrace or by non-Finnish rams were measured in trials at 18 farms which yielded a total of about 2600 ewe lambing records. The dams of the crossbred ewes were Hill breeds (40%), Upland (22%), Long-wool x Hill (20%) and other breed types (18%). The non-Finnish sires were Longwool breeds (35 %), Down and Down crosses (33 %), Upland (22%) and other breeds (10%).

Finnish crossbred ewes were lighter at mating than the average of non-Finnish crossbreds by 10% at 7 months, increasing to 24% at 31 and 43 months, with an average difference of 18% for the first 4 years of life. Over the same period of 4 years Finnish crossbreds had a 27 % higher lambing percentage and 21 % higher weaning percentage than non-Finnish crossbreds.

Lambs born to Finnish crossbreds were, over the 4-year period, 16% lighter for singles and 20 % lighter for multiples at birth, and 11 % for single born and 12% for multiple born at 10 weeks, than those born to non-Finnish crossbreds. But the total litter weight of lamb reared to 10 weeks per 50-kg metabolic ewe weight (at mating) was 16% more for Finnish crossbreds than for non-Finnish crossbreds.

With the increasing availability of large amounts of data in the livestock domain, we face the challenge to store, combine and analyse these data efficiently. With this study, we explored the use of a data lake for storing and analysing data to improve scalability and interoperability. Data originated from a 2-day animal experiment in which the gait score of approximately 200 turkeys was determined through visual inspection by an expert. Additionally, inertial measurement units (IMUs), a 3D-video camera and a force plate (FP) were installed to explore the effectiveness of these sensors in automating the visual gait scoring. We deployed a data lake using the IMU and FP data of a single day of that animal experiment. This encompasses data from 84 turkeys for which we preprocessed by performing an ‘extract, transform and load’ (ETL-) procedure. To test scalability of the ETL-procedure, we simulated increasing volumes of the available data from this animal experiment and computed the ‘wall time’ (elapsed real time) for converting FP data into comma-separated files and storing these files. With a simulated data set of 30 000 turkeys, the wall time reduced from 1 h to less than 15 min, when 12 cores were used compared to 1 core. This demonstrated the ETL-procedure to be scalable. Subsequently, a machine learning (ML) pipeline was developed to test the potential of a data lake to automatically distinguish between two classses, that is, very bad gait scores v. other scores. In conclusion, we have set up a dedicated customized data lake, loaded data and developed a prediction model via the creation of an ML pipeline. A data lake appears to be a useful tool to face the challenge of storing, combining and analysing increasing volumes of data of varying nature in an effective manner.

Fully slatted concrete floors are labour-efficient, cost-effective and thus common in beef cattle housing. However, the welfare of cattle accommodated on them has been questioned. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of floor and diet on hoof health and lying behaviours of housed dairy-origin bulls, from a mean age of 8 months to slaughter at 15.5 months old. Forty-eight bulls, which had a mean initial live weight of 212 (SD = 23.7) kg, were allocated to one of four treatments, which consisted of two floors and two diets arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The floors evaluated were a fully slatted concrete floor and a fully slatted concrete floor overlaid with rubber, while the diets offered were either a high concentrate diet or a grass-silage-based diet supplemented with concentrates. The mean total duration of the study was 216 days. Floor had no significant effect on claw measurements measured on day 62 or 139. However, bulls accommodated on slats overlaid with rubber had a tendency to have a higher front toe length measured pre-slaughter than those accommodated on concrete slats (P = 0.063). Floor had no significant effect on the net growth of toes or heels during the duration of the study. The number of bruises (P < 0.01) and the bruising score (P < 0.05) were significantly higher on day 62 in bulls accommodated on fully slatted concrete floors than on concrete slats overlaid with rubber, but there was no significant effect of floor on these parameters on day 139 or at the measurement taken pre-slaughter. There was a tendency for bulls accommodated on concrete slats to have a higher probability of having sole bruising at the end of the experiment than those accommodated on slats overlaid with rubber (P = 0.052). Diet had no significant effect on toe length or heel height, number of bruises, or overall bruising score at any time point of the study. There was little evidence in the current study to suggest that bulls lying on fully slatted concrete floors could not express lying postures similar to those on concrete slats overlaid with rubber.

Energy reserve, estimated as body condition score (BCS), is the major determinant of the re-initiation of ovarian activity in postpartum cows. Leptin, IGF-I and insulin are positively related to BCS and are putative mediators between BCS and reproductive function. However, when BCS and body composition dissociates, concentrations of these metabolic hormones are altered. We hypothesized that increasing lean muscle tissue, but not fat tissue, would diminish the reproductive response to oestrus induction treatments. Thirty lactating beef cows with BCS of 3.10±1.21 and 75.94±12 days postpartum were divided in two groups. Control cows (n=15) were supplemented with 10.20 kg of concentrate daily for 60 days. Treated cows (n=15) were supplemented equally, and received a β-adrenergic receptor agonist (β-AA; 0.15 mg/kg BW) to achieve accretion of lean tissue mass and not fat tissue mass. Twelve days after ending concentrate supplementation/β-AA treatment, cows received a progestin implant to induce oestrus. Cows displaying oestrus were inseminated during the following 60 days, and maintained with a fertile bull for a further 21 days. Cows in both groups gained weight during the supplementation period (Daily weight gain: Control=0.75 kg v. β-AA=0.89 kg). Cows treated with β-AA had a larger increase in BCS (i.e. change in BCS: control=1 point (score 4.13) v. β-AA=2 points (score 5.06; P<0.05), as a result of muscle accretion (i.e. change in muscle depth: control 0.21 cm v. β-AA 0.97 cm; P<0.05) but not adipose tissue (i.e. change in back fat depth; control 0.13 cm v. β-AA −0.06 cm; P<0.05). The changes in body composition in β-AA cows were associated with a reduction in serum concentrations of IGF-I (25.4%) and leptin (27.9%), without observed changes in insulin. Ovulation and pregnancy to 1st service (P>0.05) did not differ between groups. However, the number of cows displaying oestrus (control 13/15 v. β-AA 8/15; P<0.05) and the percentage cycling (control 6/8 v. β-AA 3/10; P=0.07) after progestin treatment and the pregnancy percentage at the end of the breeding period (control 13/15 v. β-AA 8/15; P<0.05) were lower in β-AA than control cows. In summary, the increase BCS through muscle tissue accretion, but not through fat tissue accretion, resulted in a lower response to oestrus induction, lower percentage of cycling animals and lower pregnancy percentage after progestin treatment; which was associated with a decrease in serum concentrations of leptin and IGF-I.

The present study tested a hypothesis that dietary fish oil (eicosapentaenoic acid+docosahexaenoic acid) in a commonly achievable dose ameliorates a systemic inflammation in pigs. Two groups of pigs of 16 animals each were fed a diet with either 2.5% of fish oil (F) or a control diet with 2.5% of palm oil (P). After 70 days of fattening, eight F and eight P pigs were challenged (F+; P+) i.v. by lipopolysaccharide. After 3 h, all pigs were sacrificed and blood, liver and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) samples were taken. No significant effect (P>0.05) of dietary oil on the feed intake and daily weight gain was found out. Less neutrophils (16.8% v. 28.8%; P<0.05) were found in the F+-leukocytes of the peripheral blood; F+ pigs had lower (P<0.05) percentage of the swine leukocyte antigen-D-related CD163+ (SLA-DR+ CD163+) macrophages in the VAT (15.4% v. 21.8%) and lower expression of the SLA-DR-CD163+ surface molecules of the VAT macrophages. No difference (P>0.05) between F+ and P+ pigs in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, GPR120, Adipor1 and Adipor2 (adiponectin receptor) gene expression, respectively, was established; plasma adiponectin was the same (21.1 ng/ml) in F+ and P+ pigs. In comparison with the P+ pigs, increased expression of the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) gene and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) gene was found out in the liver of the F+ pigs; expression of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) gene was higher in the liver but lower in the VAT of the F+ pigs (P<0.05). The F+ pigs had higher (P<0.05) plasma concentration of both anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (0.46 v. 0.04 ng/ml) and pro-inflammatory TNF-α (13.41 v. 7.72 ng/ml). It was concluded that dietary fish oil at the tested amount had a negligible effect on expression of the evaluated receptor genes and plasma adiponectin, and had an ambiguous effect on expression of cytokine genes and plasma cytokine levels.

Live-weight growth was studied for 64 female, 64 castrated male and 64 intact male indigenous Nigerian pigs at 16 ages from birth to 672 days. The weights obtained were fitted into four different growth functions to derive prediction equations for the models used. The quadratic (W = a + bt + ct2) and the Schmalhausen functions (W = at) described live-weight growth better than the simple linear function fW = a + bt). Estimating live-weight growth using Brody's function (Y = aebt) gave the least exact predictive ability. Linear growth in indigenous Nigerian pigs occurred between 112 and 336 days. Castrated male pigs exhibited higher live-weight growth rates than either the female or intact male pigs. Differences in the prediction of live weights using the four growth functions and the actual live weights are presented and discussed.

A simple model was derived relating the phenotypic effect (g) of a major gene to observed values of the population mean and variance for a trait, at specified values of the major gene frequency and at specified basal values of the population mean and variance (in the absence of the major gene). This model was applied to a total of 549 observed values of ovulation rate in ewes of the Cambridge breed at Bangor under a range of assumptions. The mean values of ovulation rate were 2·44 for 243 ewes of 1 year of age and 37·54 for 306 ewes of 2 and 3 years of age with a coefficient of variation for both age sets of 0·50.

The results indicate a minimum value for g, in this data set, of 1·07 for 1 year old and 1·72 for 2 and 3 year old ewes. The results are also consistent with a frequency value in the region of 0·3 to 0·4, with the absence of dominance and with a reasonable concordance with Hardy-Weinburg equilibrium. The results also indicate that the value of g varies according to the background phenotype since it is lower for younger as compared with older ewes.

Eight trials involving 522 fattening lambs were conducted to compare rations of shelled corn and either long or chopped alfalfa hay with complete pelleted rations containing various proportions of concentrate.

Feeding lambs on complete pelleted rations that contained 50–100% roughage resulted in increased feed consumption and significantly greater gains. However, efficiency of feed conversion was improved by pelleting in only one trial.

Feed consumption and rate of gain were not improved by pelleting ground ear corn. Conversely, lambs fed only pelleted alfalfa hay gained significantly faster than lambs fed only chopped hay.

Ninety-six October calving, multiparous Friesian dairy cows were given from week 2 of lactation perennial ryegrass silage ad libitum, supplemented with one of four compound foods, offered at a flat rate of 3 kg/day. The compound foods differed in crude protein (CP) concentration (210 (LP) and 350 (HP) g/kg dry matter (DM)), achieved by including fish meal at 50 and 250 kg/t respectively; and in metabolizable energy (ME) concentration (12·8 (LE) and 14·0 (HE) M/kg DM), achieved by adding protected fat (approx. 100 kg/t). There were no significant interactions between supplement type in terms of animal performance. Over an average feeding period of 152 days, milk yields were significantly increased by 0·49 kg/day per 100 g supplementary CP (P < 0·01) and 0·50 kg/day per MJ of supplementary ME (P < 0·05).

Increasing the level of supplementary CP had no effect on milk composition but significantly increased yield of milk protein (67 g/day). An increase in supplementary ME significantly reduced protein concentration in the milk (1·1 gjkg) but had no effect on protein yield. Yield of milk fat was significantly increased (76 g/day). The additional energy also significantly improved cow fertility in terms of a reduced interval from calving to both first service and conception.

From among a group of ewes in which oestrus had been induced following progesterone and PMS treatment and which had been mated in the spring, those lambing in early October were used for this experiment. They were divided into three treatment groups: (1) reared their lambs for 24 hr, (2) reared lambs for 16 days and (3) reared lambs for 75 days.

For the ewes rearing single lambs only in groups 1, 2 and 3, 100% (8 of 8), 93% (13 of 14) and 65% (11 of 17) respectively exhibited oestrus between lambing time in autumn and early winter (P<0·05). The average interval to post-partum oestrus was 29, 37, 50 days for group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Group 3 exhibited first oestrus later than group 1 (P<0·01). These data show that lactation even during the peak of sexual activity has some suppressing effect on both the percentage of ewes showing oestrus and on delaying the onset of oestrus exhibition.

N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) are subject of growing interest as they are of particular relevance for meat quality and human health. However, their content in the muscles of cattle is generally low probably as the complex result of their biosynthesis from dietary n-3 PUFA in the muscle and/or in other tissues/organs and of their subsequent uptake by the muscle. In view of this, this study aimed at understanding whether the changes in the muscle n-3 LCPUFA content, depending on the diet (maize silage v. grass) or the muscle type (Rectus abdominis, RA v.Semitendinosus, ST) in 12 Charolais steers, were related to variations in the gene expression of proteins involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis or cellular uptake. Tissue fatty acid composition was analysed by gas-liquid chromatography and mRNA abundance of proteins by quantitative real-time PCR. The grass-based diet resulted in a 2.3-fold (P < 0.0002) increase in both RA and ST n-3 LCPUFA content compared with the maize silage-based diet, whereas no difference in the expression of genes involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis and uptake was observed between diets. ST exhibited a 1.5-fold higher n-3 LCPUFA content than RA (P < 0.003), whereas the gene expression of proteins involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis and uptake was 1.3- to 18-fold higher in RA than in ST (P < 0.05). In conclusion, diet- or muscle type-dependent changes in the muscle n-3 LCPUFA content of Charolais steers did not seem to be mediated by the gene expression regulation of proteins involved in the biosynthesis or uptake of these fatty acids.

Recent legislation prohibiting the use of individual confinement systems for dry sows has led to the adoption of group housed systems which have perceived welfare advantages. The feeding system for dry sows and gilts is fundamental to welfare and production; problems such as abnormal behaviours, aggression and psychological stress, caused by poor nutrient distribution in group systems, must be addressed.

In this study the relative merits of three feeding systems for group housed gilts were investigated in relation to welfare and production.

Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a feed high in fat and protein, to lactating beef cows can alter milk production and composition, resulting in improved pre-weaning growth of progeny. This alteration in milk profile may consequently alter the growth and carcass composition of the offspring after weaning. Therefore, Angus×Simmental steers (n=48) whose dams were fed one of two diets supplemented with either DDGS or soybean meal (CON) from calving to mid-lactation were placed in a feedlot to determine the effects of maternal nutrition during lactation on progeny development and carcass composition. Cow–calf pairs were allotted to two treatments at birth based on cow and calf BW, breed and age. Maternal diets were isocaloric (3.97 MJ/kg NEg) and consisted of rye hay supplemented with DDGS at 1% of BW (19.4% CP; 8.76% fat) or rye hay and corn silage supplemented with CON (11.7% CP; 2.06% fat). After conclusion of the treatments at 129 days postpartum, cow–calf pairs were comingled and managed as one group until weaning at 219 days postpartum. Steers were then transitioned to a common diet composed of 60% DDGS, 34% corn silage and 6% vitamin/mineral supplement and were placed indoors in individual pens with slatted floors. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed 134 days after feedlot entry on 16 steers (CON, n=7; DDGS, n=9) to determine the effect of maternal diet on glucose and insulin sensitivity. Steers were slaughtered at a target BW of 645 kg. Categorical and continuous data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX and MIXED procedures of SAS, respectively. Steers from DDGS dams tended to be heavier on day 85 of feedlot finishing (P=0.09) compared with steers from CON dams. However, there were no differences in final weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake or efficiency (gain:feed, P⩾0.18). Maternal treatments did not affect progeny days on feed (P=0.15), despite a mean difference of 9 days in favor of DDGS. Glucose and insulin concentrations and area under the curve of progeny as measured by IVGTT were not affected by maternal diet (P⩾0.16). Maternal DDGS supplementation decreased marbling score (P=0.04), but did not influence carcass grading percentage or any other carcass characteristic (P⩾0.17).

Milk consumption was estimated for crossbred suckled calves from birth to weaning during 2 years. Breed groups utilized were Aberdeen Angus (A) and Charolais (C) sires on Fl Angus-Hereford (and their reciprocals) dams in the 1st year and in the 2nd year, sires A and Nelore (Bos indicus) (N) were used on the same type of dam. The weigh-suckle-weigh technique was employed twice a day to estimate milk consumption on a weekly basis. Estimations were adjusted by least-squares for the effects of genetic group, week of estimation, and their interaction, with sex of calf and calf and cow weights in the week of estimation as covariables. Then a non-lineal regression equation of the form: y = b0Wb1e -b2b2W was fitted for each individual, where y = milk consumption and W = week of estimation. Curves for A and C were very close in their shape, but with a greater consumption (P < 0·01) for C. For the 2nd year, there were differences among A and N both in the shape of the curve and in consumption at the peak of lactation (P < 0·01). Differences in time to peak lactation were also found: for A calves, it was week 9, for C calves week 10 and for N calves week 3·8. The N group showed a sharper decline in persistency than the other groups, suggesting different patterns in milk consumption.

Ninety pigs were divided into two replicated groups, randomly allotted to three treatments: (1) control, (2) 2 g of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 2 g of methyltestosterone (MT) per ton and (3) 2 g DES + 2 g MT + 10 g tylosin per ton. Rate of gain was not affected by treatment; however, pigs fed the treated rations consumed less feed and were more efficient in feed conversion. Carcasses of pigs fed DES + MT or DES + MT + tylosin had significantly less backfat and a slightly higher percentage of ham and loin, and of lean cuts.