The British Society for Animal Science held its annual conference at Croke Park this week. The event, titled Innovation to compete in the Global Livestock Industry, attracted over 500 scientists, vets, policy-makers and farmers from across the world. The most eye-catching trials are summarised below.

Oats versus barley

Replacing barley with oats in a ration (86% rolled barley, 6% soya bean meal, 5% molasses) did not lead to any significant performance differences where continental steers were fed 71% DMD grass silage and 4kg of ration (dry matter) for 134 days. Daily gains were 1.03kg and 1.03kg, carcase weights were 328kg (b) and 325kg (o).

Methane reduction

The replacement of cereals with by-product feeds, and inclusion of linseed oil in the diet, reduced methane production by 32% per day in cattle.

Ewe vitamins

Supplementing ewes with 9mg vitamin E/kg intake versus 2.8mg viitamin E/kg increased placental weight, birth weight and eight-week litter weight in Suffolk x mule ewes.

Pig fostering

Cross-fostering of piglets increased the risk of death at all stages of the production cycle, irrespective of when it was performed. It also had a negative effect on rates of ear lesions and later fostering reduced carcase weight.

Mastitis control

Administering teal seal only at drying off to cows with an SCC <200,000 throughout lactation may offer a viable method to reduce on-farm anti-microbial use without negatively impacting whole-herd SCC.

Lamb growth from sward diversity

Twin-bearing ewes stocked at 12.5 ewes/ha grazed either a perennial ryegrass sward (PRG), a PRG sward with white clover, a six-species sward (grasses, legumes and herbs) or a nine-species sward. Average daily gain from birth to slaughter was increased by 7% in the multispecies swards versus PRG and these also needed less anthelmintic doses per year.

Lamb sex and meat quality

Gender (castrate versus intact) effects of male Scottish Blackface and Texel lambs only led to slight differences in meat quality which the consumer would not detect.

Does EBI work?

In a four-year trial to evaluate the EBI, Holstein Friesian cows from the top 1% (EBI €154, milk €37, fertility €80) were compared with national average cows (EBI €51, milk €17, fertility €13). Top 1% cows had higher milk fats, 4.5% versus 4.2% and protein concentrations, 3.7% versus 3.5%. Top 1% cows were also lighter, 507kg versus 515kg, and maintained body condition better, 2.92 versus 2.74. In terms of fertility, top 1% cows had higher three-week submission rates, 92% versus 86%, first service conception rates 60% versus 46% and six week in-calf rate, 73% versus 58%.

Feeding differences within single bales

Researchers in England found that crude protein percentage was higher on the outer depth (curved edge) of round silage bales.

Does nitrogen fertiliser application rate affect grazing cattle?

Fertilising pastures with either 12 units of N/acre or 65 units/acre per grazing rotation lead to higher levels of blood urea and urine N-excretion in Charolais steers. However, total intake and diet digestibility were unaffected.

Heat activity influenced by herd mates in heat

Harper Adams research determined that heats are more intense and last longer with increasing numbers of cows in heat simultaneously.

Rubber mats or concrete slats?

Finishing dairy beef bulls in Northern Ireland grew faster (1.55kg/day versus 1.49kg/day) and produced heavier carcasses (283kg versus 270kg) when housed on rubber slat mats versus concrete slats alone. The trial lasted 216 days.

Recommended space allowance

Research from Grange showed that a the minimum space allowance for housed cattle on concrete slats should be 2.0m2, but no positive effect on animal growth was observed above 3.0m2 per head.

Calf jackets necessary?

Research from Queens’ University concluded that the use of calf jackets during the summer months and an ambient temperature of 16°C on average did not benefit health or performance.

How good is your colostrum management?

Smaller dairy herds (75-107 cows) had higher rates of immunity transfer versus larger herds (110-385 cows). Calves born earlier in the season had better immunity than those born later. Timing of calving season did not affect rates of immunity.

Molasses for rearing calves

Molasses was included at 0%, 5% or 10% in drinking water offered to young dairy heifers during rearing. Liveweight gain was 0.49, 0.64 and 0.70kg/day (0, 5 and 10% inclusion). The incidence of scour were 67% for 0%, 33% for 5% and 0 for 10%. Pneumonia was reduced in a similar fashion.

Worm resistance

A Teagasc/UCD stidy showed worm resistance to be present on 12/16 test farms where fenbendazole was used and 16/16 farms where ivermectin was used.

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