@conference {40565, title = {Comparative performance of Angus cattle and swamp buffalo fed ad libitum either a lucerne hay and concentrate ration or pasture hay.}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {67-70}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {Voluntary intake and liveweight gain of Angus cattle (CAP) and swamp buffalo (B) were compared on 2 feeds; ad lib., lucerne hay (L) + 1 kg concentrate/animal/day (LC) and ad lib. pasture hay (P) in a 2 x 2 Latin square designed trial. The two hays had similar ME values; L, 8.5 and P 8.7 MJ/ME/kg DM, but differed (P<0.05) in protein content; L, 14.6\% and P 10.1\%. The concentrate was 13.5 MJ ME/kg DM and 14.1\% protein. Animals were fed in a feed-lot with individual pens/treatment. Intake was assessed on a group basis for all treatments and individual animal intake was assessed for the P treatments only using slow release chromium capsules. Two, 4 week experimental periods were preceded by a 2 week feed adjustment period. Liveweight gains showed a species x fed interaction (P<0.001) with individual treatment gains (kg/day) of; 0.80, -0.54, -0.02, -0.09 for CLC, CP, BLC, and BP groups respectively. Cattle consumed (group assessment) more (P<0.05) L Hay than buffalo; 127 vs 99 g DM/kg LWT0.75. The intake of P hay was similar for each species; 102 and 100 g DM/kg LWT0.75 for C and B respectively. The release of CR2O3 from the capsules were similar for the two species (1.56 g/day). Intakes of P hay assessed by the marker techniques differed (P<0.05); 100 and 88 g DM/kg LWT0.75 for the CP and BP treatments respectively. The difference in performance of the two species on P may have been the result of the marginal (for cattle) protein levels. No explanation is given for the poor performance of buffalo on the LC ration. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Thomson NA and Death AF and Power MT} } @conference {40601, title = {A comparison of the carcass and meat quality of Awassi-cross and Texel-cross ram lambs}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {209-214}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {The Awassi is a fat-tailed sheep breed from the Middle East that has recently been imported into New Zealand for live-sheep export and for milk production. The aim of the current trial was to compare the carcass and meat quality of Awassi-cross and Texel-cross ram lambs. There were 36 lambs in each sire-breed group with an equal number from Romney and Poll Dorset ewes. Lambs were allocated at random within breed-cross groups to groups of 9 that were slaughtered in either May or August to give an overall mean carcass weight of 19.7kg. The Awassi-sired group had a lower dressing-out percent (44.4 vs 44.8; P<0.01), similar GR tissue depths (7.6 vs 8.4 mm) but more weight-adjusted leg fat (537 vs 446g. P<0.001). The most clear-cut difference was in carcass shape with Awassi-cross lambs having longer carcasses (1068 vs 1013 mm), longer legs, and longer, heavier leg bones at a constant carcass weight (all P<0.001). The shape difference at a common carcass weight was also reflected in the Awassi-cross lambs having lower leg muscle to bone ratios (3.49 vs 3.88), muscle weight (2047 vs 2172 g), and muscularity values (0.436 vs 0.488) than the Texel-cross lambs, and shallower longissimus muscle depths (28.0 vs 29.8 mm)(all P<0.01). Differences between Awassi and Texel-sired lambs in tenderness (shear values) and colour (L*,a*,B* values) of the semimembranosus muscle were not significant. Differences between dam-breed groups were generally small, although, relative to the Poll Dorset, the Romney-cross group had lower weight-adjusted longissimus depths (28.2 vs 29.6 mm) and leg muscle to bone ratios (3.57 vs 3.80(both P<0.01). When adjusted to the same carcass weight, lambs slaughtered in August had lower dressing-out percentages (42.6 vs 46.6), lower GR depths (6.7 vs 9.3 mm, longer carcasses (1063 vs 1018 mm), and poorer leg muscularity (0.450 vs 0.474) than those slaughtered in May (all P<0.02). In this study Awassi-cross carcasses were inferior to those of Texel-cross lambs in terms of composition and shape, but differences in meat quality not apparent. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Holloway IJ and Purchas RW and Power MT and Thomson NA} } @conference {40587, title = {Liveweight and fleece production from New Zealand, South African and first cross Angora goats}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {151-154}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {The release of the South African Angora from quarantine will be the single factor with the greatest impacts on the New Zealand mohair industry over the next few years. In order to provide information on production under New Zealand farming conditions, trial was carried out comparing the liveweight and fleece production of South African, New Zealand and first cross South African x New Zealand (Crossbred) Angora goats from birth to two years of age. Crossbred and South African goats were significantly heavier than New Zealand Angoras at most ages. South African Angoras were heavier than Crossbreds for the first 8 months only. Fleeces from South African goats were heaviest, New Zealand Angora fleeces were lightest, while Crossbred fleece weights were intermediate between the parental breeds at all shearing times. Fibre diameter of fleeces from New Zealand goats was finer at 12 months of age (24.8 {\textpm} 0.4, 27.0 {\textpm} 0.4, 27.6 {\textpm} 0.3 {\textmu}m for New Zealand, Crossbred and South African respectively) but there were no differences at 18 and 24 months of age. Medullation and kemp levels were higher in New Zealand than South African fleeces at all sampling times. Medullation and kemp levels in the Crossbred fleeces were higher than the mean of the parent levels, indicating heterosis effects. Medullation levels did not differ in Crossbred and New Zealand fleeces at 18 and 24 months of age. Advantages of the South African Angora over the New Zealand Angora goat were confirmed in this study, however anticipated improvements in fleece quality were not achieved in the first cross. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Newman S-AN and Paterson DJ and Power MT} } @conference {40447, title = {An evaluation of a possible complementary effect of grazing goats with bulls in an intensive bull beef system}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {53}, year = {1993}, month = {Jan}, pages = {23-28}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {

A field trial at Flock House over a three year period (July 1989 - March 1992) compared the performance of grazing bulls alone at three stocking rates (3.0,3.7 and 4.5 bulls/ha) with grazing bulls at 3.0 bulls/ha with an increasing stocking rate of goats (3,7, and 13 Angora does/ ha). The respective stocking rates in stock units @/ha) for the six respective treatments from bulls alone at increasing stocking rate to bulls with goats at increasing stocking rate of goats were 15,19,23,18,21, and 26 su/ha respectively. Weaner bulls were brought onto the farmlets in November each year and all rising 2 year bulls were sold off the farmiets over January to April at 18-21 months of age.

Bull growth rates were significantly depressed by increasing the stocking rate of bulls but were unaffected by an increasing stocking rate of does. Bulls in the bull/goat treatment at 26 su/ha grew at a similar rate to bulls alone, stocked at 15 su/ha. Goat performance; kidding, kid fleece weight and doe fleece weight were not affected by goat stocking rate. However at the high doe stocking rate, kid liveweight at\ weaning and doe liveweight (March) was reduced (P\<0.01 and P\<0.05 respectively).\  Stocking rate treatments had little effect on the economic farm surplus (variation between $680/ha for the least profitable $730/ha for the most profitable treatments).\  However with a more buoyant mohai market and a more robust/productive strain of Angora goat ie. the Zimbabwe Angora, it is assumed the bull/goat system would be more profitable than bulls alone.

Although goats were not complementary to bull beef production they were also not competitive with bulls over the stocking rates investigated.

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Thomson NA and Power MT} }