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Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.3.637.6
The influence of various factors on wool clip and quality of Lithuanian local coarsewooled sheep
Birutė Zapasnikienė
Summary
In 1998-2004, a study was carried out with local coarsewooled sheep from the conservation flock of the LVA Institute of Animal Science to determine the influence of wool colour and clipping frequency on wool clip and quality.
Sheep clipping once a year (in spring) produced on average 3.0 kg of grey, white, brownish, black semi-soarsewooled and felted wool of 21.5 cm length. Twice clipping (in spring and autumn) has not resulted in higher wool clip (3.0 kg), but the wool was longer even by 48% (P < 0,001). Autumn clipping was also by 0.6 kg more productive and the wool was 2 to 4 cm longer.
There were no significant differences observed at comparison of wool of various colours. Only yellowish wool of ewes was shorter and higher in fineness by, respectively, 6 cm and 6 microns, and its clip was 0.2-0.4 kg lower compared with the wool clip of other colours. The yellowish wool of breeding rams was longest (< 29 cm). Dark grey wool from ewes was thickest (43.1 microns), but the highest amount (3.5 kg) of the longest wool (29.3 cm) was clipped from sheep with yellowish white wool.
Key words: local sheep, wool colour, clipping frequency, wool clip and quality.
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
EFFECT OF PACKAGING VOLUME ON POST-THAW PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF STALLION SEMEN
Vidmantas Pileckas, Jonas Kutra, Artūras Šiukščius, Algirdas Urbšys, Rasa Nainienė
Summary
Fresh stallion semen with the sperm motility not lower than 6 points and concentration not lower than 0.15 milliard/cm3 was diluted at a rate of 1:1 using the extender consisting of 11 g lactose, 0.008 g sodium hydrocarbonate, 0.089 g sodium citrate (with 5H2O), 0.1 g ethylendiamintetraacetate acid sodium salt and 100 cm3 of bidistilled water. Diluted semen was cooled at 18±10C temperature for 15 minutes and centrifugated at 3500 revol./min for 15 minutes. The sperm concentrate was diluted for the second time with the 19±10C extender of the same composition with 10 cm3 of egg yolk and 3 cm3 of glycerol and packaged into 0.21, 0.25 and 0.5 cm3 straws and 2 and 5 cm3 syringes. The packaged semen was cooled at 4±10C temperature for 2.5 hours and afterwards frozen. Semen packaging into 0.25 cm3 straws resulted in 40.6% (P < 0.001) higher sperm motility in comparison with semen packaging into 2 and 5 cm3 syringes. Post-thaw motility of spermatozoa tended to be higher when the straw volume and diameter were lower. With the straw volumes of 0.21, 0.25 and 0.5 cm3, the sperm motility amounted on the average to 3.2±0.25, 2.8±0.24 and 2.2±0.22 points, respectively.
Key words: stallion semen, packaging types, semen freezing.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636. 4. 082
SOWS’ INFLUENCE ON MEAT CHARACTERISTICS AND MEAT QUALITY OF OFFSPRING
Česlovas Jukna, Vigilijus Jukna, Nijolė Kvietkutė, Gintė Mauručaitė, Stanislovas Rimkevičius
Summary
The article contains material about the investigation on Lithuanian White Pigs and the influence of the same boar and different sows’ offspring’s fattening and meat characteristics. Experiments were carried out with offspring from 3 boars and 9 sows. It was determined that during the feeding, the weight gain difference between offspring groups from the same boar and different sows was 172-101 g or 19.4-10.4 percent (P<0.001), feed conversion per weight gain unit from 0 to 45 percent. The difference of carcass output of offspring from separate sows was 2.67-5.0 percent (P<0.001). The sows had an influence on the length of carcass part and the ham part of the offspring as well. Tendency was observed of boars growing faster on less length of carcass/ham portions. The difference of muscularity between the groups of offspring was 2.3 percent, and the loin lean area was 8.7-5.5 percent (P<0.001-0.01), ham weight – 8-1.9 percent. The sows also had an influence on fat thicknessof offspring at measured points. The sows had the biggest influence on meat color, cooking losses and toughness (P<0.001), less influence was on meat pH and water binding capacity. Statistics on the dependable differences of meat chemical composition have been established between the groups of offspring from separate sows. It has been concluded that estimating of sows and clarifying optimal combinations are of greatest significance for selection of pigs and increase the competitive ability of pork within the region.
Keywords: sows, growth speed, meat quality, dry matter, protein, water binding capacity, meat toughness, muscularity.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.2.084
INFLUENCE OF TWO HARVESTING METHODS OF LEGUME-GRASS SILAGE ON RUMEN FUNCTION AND HEALTH OF FATTENING BULLS
Jonas Jatkauskas, Vilma Vrotniakienė
Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy
A b s t r a c t
In 2002 the experiment was carried out at institute of animal science to determine influence of different silages on rumen fermentation parameters of fattening bulls. The silages were made from a first cut wilted (10-12 hours) red clover-grass (60% - red clover, 25% - timothy, 10% - fescue and 5% - others) sward. Twelve fattening bulls assigned on the basis of initial weight and breed into two groups were housed in individual pens and offered silages ad libitum during a period of 143 days. There were no significant effects of the type of silage on pH in the rumen (6.74 vs 6.66 for the trench silage and that one in big bales), on the infuzoria count (346 vs 377 thous. ml-1), on the total volatile fatty acid concentration (9.73 vs 10.30 mmol 100 ml-1) and on these proportions (57.54 vs 57.52 for acetic acid, 21.76 vs 20.83 for propionic acid, 15.41 vs 16.31 for butyric acid). Feeding silage in big bales was beneficial to rumen protein synthesis, i.e. the content of protein nitrogen and that of total nitrogen were, respectively, by 25.13 and 11.6 mg l00 ml-1 higher and the content of ammonia nitrogen was by 2.5 mg 100 ml-1 lower compared to the trench silage. The analysis of blood samples indicated that the animals in both groups were healthy.
Key words: trench, big bale, rumen contents, infuzoria count, volatile fatty acids, nitrogen, blood.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636. 4. 084
EFFECTS OF TRITICALE ON PIG PERFORMANCE, CARCASS AND MEAT QUALITY
Raimondas Leikus
Summary
In 2002-2003, two feeding trials were conducted at the LVA Institute of Animal Science to determine the efficiency of triticale in the diets of fattening pigs. The data from the trials indicated that replacement of wheat or barley in the compound feed for growing pigs (up to 60 kg weight) by 30 %, 40 %, 50 % and 60 % of triticale had no significant influence on weight gain of pigs (P>0.2-0.5). The use of 40 %, 50 % and 60 % of triticale in the compound feed for finishing pigs (over 60 kg weight) increased the daily gain of pigs on the average by 10.5-13.8 % (P<0.01-0.05) in comparison with the control group. However, the growth of pigs was almost the same at 70 % triticale inclusion in the diets (P>0.2-0.5). Almost complete replacement of barley by triticale (82.8 %) in the diets for growing pigs revealed a tendency towards lower (9.6 %) daily gains, but the difference were statistically insignificant (P>0.2). Complete replacement of barley by triticale (88.7 %) in the diets for finishing pigs had no significant influence on growth of pigs (P>0.5). No significant influence on feed intake and conversion have been determined at wheat or barley replacement by 30-40 %, 40-50 %, 50-60 % and 60-70 % of triticale. Complete replacement of barley by triticale in the diets for pigs had lowered the feed intake and increased feed consumption per kg gain for growing pigs.
Triticale feeding of pigs had no significant influence on the carcass quality and physicochemical indicators of meat and backfat, except for the lower contents of linoleic acid in the backfat (P<0.025).
Thus, the feeding trials indicated that replacement of wheat or barley in the diets of fattening pigs by triticale is efficient at a rate of up to 50-60 % for growing pigs (up to 60 kg weight) and 60-70 % for finishing pigs (over 60 kg weight.
Key words: triticale, growth rate of pigs, feed consumption, carcass quality, chemical composition of meat.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.5.084
EFFICIENCY OF TRITICALE IN TURKEY-BROILER DIETS
Sigitas Janushonis, Audrone Benediktavichiute-Kishkiene, Robertas Juodka
Summary
A trial was carried out to determine the effect of maize replacement with triticale and enzymes in the diets of turkey broilers on their weight gains, food consumption and meat quality.
The amount of maize in the diets was replaced with triticale balanced according to the level of metabolizable energy in the diet at the rate of 25 to 35% with respect to turkey age. The trial results indicated that food consumption in the experimental groups was lower and average body weight was higher. There was no significant difference between the groups for the chemical composition of meat.
Key words: triticale, maize, diet, turkey-broiler.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.2.083
EVALUATION OF THE MICROCLIMATE IN THE BEEF CATTLE BARNS
Vytautas Ribikauskas, Gediminas Vaičionis
Summary
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the microclimate in the beef cattle barns and investigate dependencies between some microclimatic indices. The study showed that there were different levels of microbial pollution in various cattle barns. The highest concentration of microorganisms was in the air of the smallest (80 places) insulated beef cattle barn: total bacterial count was 114.73 thous. CFU m-3, E. coli count 17.27 thous. CFU m-3, mould count 6.55 thous. CFU m-3. The smallest concentration of microorganisms was in the air of the uninsulated dairy barn: total bacterial count was 48.06 thous. CFU m-3, mould count 1.00 thous. CFU m-3.
The concentration of microorganisms in the air of cattle barns in highly related with animal density and dust concentration in the air. The concentration of ammonia and carbon dioxide was most dependant on air velocity in cattle barns.
Key words: beef cattle barns, microclimate, indoor bioaerosols, ammonia, carbon dioxide, airborne microorganisms.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.5.083
INVESTIGATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION ON TURKEY FARMS
Ina Skurdenienė, Vytautas Ribikauskas, Gediminas Vaičionis, Audronė Benediktavičiūtė-Kiškienė
Summary
An outbreak of diseases on any poultry farm can cause loss of turkeys for sale, production losses, and extra expenses for veterinary service, quarantine, and (or) costs of sanitation and disinfection. Assessment of microbiological risk is now a key feature of food management. Adequate microclimate in the living area of turkey is essential to their welfare and performance.
In 2002-2003 the investigation carried out at the Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, at the Department of Animal Hygiene and Ecology and on the two turkey farms. Many cultures of fungi and bacteria were isolated from different substrates on turkey farms: indoor air, litter (straw and peat), water and feed. The average concentration of molds propagules was four times less (P<0.05) on the farm with straw litter compared with the farm with peat litter. Micromycetes of 37 species were identified. The results showed that micromycetes species of genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria and Mucor were the most frequent in all the substrates of turkey farms. Aspergillus was the most numerous genus of the dominant group (40.5%).
Airborne pathogens are more difficult to prevent since poultry do need ventilation to reduce humidity, ammonia, dust and heat.
Key words: turkey farms, microclimate, contamination, fungi.
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 44, p.
UDK 636.4.083
THE INFLUENCE OF LYING AREAS OF DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION ON THE GROWTH OF SUCKING PIGS
Remigijus Juška, Violeta Juškienė
Summary
Thirty-six litters of sucking pigs were used in the trial from birth till 55 days of age. The lying areas for the experimental pigs were fitted with 0.9 m2 area creep boxes having 0.34 m2 holes and made from wood fibre slabs. Four groups of sucking pigs were used in this trial. Group 1 had access to the box the opening of which was covered with synthetic tarpaulin. Group 2 had access to the box the top of which was covered with transparent polyethylene and Group 3 had access to the box the top of which was covered with air conductive material – polypropylenic fabric. The creep holes for Groups 2 and 3 were covered with three-layer Manar flex 250 ultra curtains. Group 4 was a control one. At the age of two weeks, the curtains were raised up. All experimental piglets were additionally heated with infrared lamps from birth till 10 days of age. Control piglets were heated with infrared lamps from birth till the end of the trial and had no boxes installed.
The results from the study indicated that the temperature I the lying areas of all three experimental groups was on the average 4.2-5.60C (P < 0.001) and 6.6-8.00C (P < 0.001) higher than that in, respectively, the lying area of control pigs and the barn. The relative air humidity in the boxes was 1.8-5.8% lower, however, the concentration of carbon dioxide gases was 1.9-2.2 (P < 0.001) higher than that in the barn and exceeded the standard requirements by 7.8-23.2%.
The microclimate inside the boxes had no negative influence on the growth and health of piglets. The piglets in Groups 2 and 3 (transparent coverings) had the highest weight gains during the trial. The average piglet weight in these groups was 7.5-5.9% and 7.7% and the average litter weight was 6.1-5.6% and 10.4-10.2% higher in comparison with the weight of pigs heated with only lamps (control group) and lying in dark creep boxes, respectively.
Key words: creep box, sucking pigs, transparent and air conductive materials.