@conference {40598, title = {Carcass, liver and kidney characteristics of lambs grazing plantain (Plantago lanceolata), chicory (Cichorium intybus), white clover}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {197-200}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {Plaintain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is being evaluated in New Zealand as a potential pasture species because of its supposed medicinal attributes. Seventy six, four month old Coopworth ram lambs were rotationally grazed on either plantain (PL), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.; CH), white clover (Trifolium repens L.; WC) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; RG) for 82 days from January to April, 1993 at an allowance averaging 1.8 kg green DM/lamb/day. At slaughter treatment differences in carcass weight were apparent (16.8, 18.3, 20.1 and 15.6kg, respectively, for PL, CH, WC and RG). After adjustment for body size no differences in carcass characteristics were apparent between treatments. However, differences still existed for liver and kidney size. WC lambs were the heaviest at slaughter and had the largest livers after adjustment. In contrast, kidney size did not follow liveweight with PL lambs having the largest kidneys after adjustment. Serum urea and creatinine levels indicate that renal function was not impaired in PL lambs relative to RG lambs. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Deaker JM and Young MJ and Fraser TJ and Rowarth JS} } @conference {40602, title = {Ultrasound measurements predict estimated adipose and muscle weights better than carcass measurements.}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {54}, year = {1994}, month = {Jan}, pages = {215-218}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {Seventy-six 6 month old Coopworth ram lambs were scanned with ultrasound for muscle depth B, fat depth C and tissue depth GR. Lambs were slaughtered, then B, C and GR measured directly on each carcass. The hindquarters (loin and hind legs) of each carcass were boned out and soft tissue minced then analysed for lipid and protein content. From these, hindquarter adipose and muscle weights were estimated. Correlations of estimated tissue weights with ultrasound measurements were consistently higher than those with direct measurements (averaging 0.423 versus 0.293, respectively). The latter method may be more prone to measurement errors associated with displacement, damage or distortion of tissue or positioning of the measurement site. It is concluded that ultrasound measurements may be better than those made directly on the carcass for predicting tissue weights. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Young MJ and Deaker JM} } @conference {40371, title = {Factors affecting repeatability of tissue depth determination by real-time ultrasound in sheep}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {52}, year = {1992}, month = {Jan}, pages = {37-40}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {The behaviour of 7476 calves transported on double- or triple- decker trucks was studied during unloading. Recorded behaviour was classified into 2 categories (upright or not upright) and the frequencies of these at three ramp slopes (4.2, 12 and 18.8 ) are presented. The proportions of animals upright on the 3 slopes (low, medium and high) were 93, 74 and 20\%. On average, 100 calves were unloaded in 5.3, 7.7 and 7.1 min down the low, medium and high slopes, respectively. Improvements in welfare of bobby calves and probably reduced bruising would result if ramp slopes were kept at less than about 12 so that most animals could remain upright. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Young MJ and Deaker JM and Logan CM} } @conference {40373, title = {Subcutaneous fat distribution as assessed by ultrasound in Border Leicester and Dorset Down ewe hoggets}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {52}, year = {1992}, month = {Jan}, pages = {45-48}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, abstract = {A study of growth and venison production from weaner red deer grazing pure "Pawera" tetraploid red clover (RC) or conventional perennial ryegrass/white clover (PRG) pasture was conducted, with the objective of attaining a minimum slaughter liveweight (92 kg; 50 kg carcass) by 12 months of age in the stags. Ten weaner red deer stags and 10 weaner red deer hinds were rotationally grazed on either RC or PRG pasture. In autumn and spring, forage allowances were respectively, 7 kgDM/h/d and 8 kgDM/h/d. In winter, the animals from both groups were grazed together on PRG pasture, at a residual dry matter of 1100 kg/DM/ha; 0.5 kgDM/h/d of meadow hay was also provided. Liveweight gains of RC and PRG stags were respectively 263 vs 192 g/d, 101 vs 106 g/d and 362 vs 341 g/d during autumn, winter and spring. With hinds, the liveweight gains of RC and PRG groups were respectively 198 vs 173 g/d, 52 vs 53 g/d and 242 vs 218 g/d during autumn, winter and spring. Animals grazing RC pasture had significantly higher liveweight gain during autumn (p<0.01), but not in winter and spring. At one year of age, stags grazing RC were 7 kg heavier and hinds 3 kg heavier than animals grazing PRG pasture. Animals grazing RC pasture had higher voluntary feed intake (VFI) in both autumn (p<0.10) and spring (p<0.001), than animals grazing PRG pasture. All stags grazing RC pasture reached the minimum slaughter liveweight by one year of age, compared to 75\% grazing PRG pasture. Stags that had grazed RC produced heavier carcass weights (59.9 vs 54.5 kg, p<0.01), and had higher carcass dressing percentage (55.3 vs 53.2\%, p<0.01). RC has potential as a special purpose forage for the growth of weaner red deer. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Deaker JM and Young MJ} }