On exposure to oxygen, venison discolours at a faster rate than lamb, beef or pork (Trout and Gutzke, 1995) and a short shelf life is a problem for meat retailers. Increasing antioxidants in meat through the diet, and the type of packaging system used, can substantially improve shelf life. This study determined the effects of supplemental vitamin E and packaging system on colour stability and fat rancidity in venison from red deer finished off grass or concentrates.

Early work established that carcasses of deer, compared with other species, were leaner, yielded a greater proportion of ‘first class meat’, that venison had a beneficial fatty acid composition and was dark in colour (Blaxter et al., 1974). More recently, Fisher et al. (1998) and Stevenson-Barry (2000) have reviewed and identified potential important ‘quality’ parameters for venison. From these, the UK deer industry needs to identify a suite of measurements to define ‘quality’, to improve on the current subjective assessments of carcasses in commercial abattoirs and to help guide future production systems. The aim of this study was to identify suitable quality measurements to characterize UK venison.

Each primal cut of a pig carcass has a separate market and value. Commonly the degree of blemishes on the skin of the cut is the main determinant of its quality. However, the lean meat percentage of the primal cut is also of importance, especially to the consumer. If prediction equations were in place to enable processors to more accurately estimate the lean meat percentage of specific primal cuts, it would allow optimisation of primal cuts for specific markets or processing operations. The experiment investigated the accuracy of lean meat prediction equations for primal cuts using indicator cuts, grading probe data, data from photographic images and whole carcass lean meat percentage values.

Usually investigations on wool properties are carried out using classical instruments like a Projection Microscope at wool laboratories in Iran. It is readily acknowledged that the Projection Microscope is of limited usefulness. Firstly, it is a very slow and labour intensive technique. Secondly, it is very imprecise when a single operator conducts measurements within one laboratory. Image analysis presents a quick, reliable, unbiased technique for determining wool properties (Rose and Debra, 2001). The application of computer-assisted image analysis to the measurement of wool properties potentially enables a significant reduction in the counting time for each sample. Recently in Iran, coarse-mixed wools have been valued and used in similar areas as finer wools. Coarse-mixed wools can be blended with artificia1 fibres to produce high valued clothes. They are also used widely in carpet production. This is why, in Iran, carpet wool breeds of increasing fleece weight is a main selection target, with improvement of fineness and uniformity as the next most important. Typically small samples from the whole fleece are taken using a scissors. The samples can be taken from six regions, i.e. neck, back, hip, shoulder, flank and rump, however usually they are taken from three regions, namely the shoulder, last rib and rump, in breeds with coarse-mixed wools. These sampling methods cause loss of time and require more labour. In this research, two methods of sampling the Arkharmerino × Ghezel fleece were compared. Sampling from only over the right mid-side, as occurs in fine wool breeds was compared with taking samples from three regions (shoulder, last rib and rump).

Visual and near infrared reflectance (VisNIR) has been identified as a possible on-line method that could discriminate some eating quality attributes of lamb (Andres et al. 2007). However, the accuracy and repeatability of this method for predicting eating quality depends on the development of an optimal sampling protocol (Shackelford et al., 2004) and of an optimal formula for the prediction model. The aims of this experiment were to identify if factors such as abattoir, carcass suspension method, ageing time and anatomical position along the Longissimus dorsi muscle can affect the characteristic of the VisNIR spectra. The information obtained from this study will allow the development an optimal protocol and prediction model.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) located on chromosome 2 in the region of the myostatin gene or polymorphisms in the myostatin gene have shown major effects on sheep carcass muscling (e.g. Clop et al., 2006). MyoMAXTM (MMQTL) is one such QTL/allele identified in Texel sheep, which increases carcass muscling and reduces carcass fatness (e.g. Laville et al., 2004; Johnson et al., 2005). The UK sheep industry may benefit from using MM-QTL to increase meat yield in lamb carcasses once its effects are verified in a genetic background typical of the stratified UK system.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been associated with numerous health benefits in animal models including modulation of immune response and fat deposition (Lock & Bauman, 2004). The most predominant CLA in ruminant products (meat and milk) is cis-9 trans-11 with traces of other isomers such as trans-10 cis-12 which can be increased according to dietary regimes such as increasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet (Sackmann et al. 2003). More recent findings into the health benefits of CLA in humans have found the trans-10 cis-12 isomer to be more potent than cis-9 trans-11 (Tholstrup et al. 2008). Whilst it has been reported that acidic methylation during analysis of milk fat results in isomerisation of cis-9 trans-11 (Lee & Tweed, 2008) little information is available on the effect of different methylation regimes on the increasingly important trans-10 cis-12 isomer. This study investigated the isomerisation of esterified and un-esterified trans-10 cis-12 CLA during three methylation regimes.

It is common practice to give cereal fed bulls a 160g/kg crude protein (CP) diet to 250kg live weight, dropping to 140g/kg CP from 250kg to slaughter. The majority of intensively fed beef cattle are fed home mix rations based on rolled barley with a protein concentrate or ‘protein rich’ straights such as rapeseed meal and soya bean meal. In this latter situation higher protein rations will have increased ration costs. The objective of this experiment was therefore to determine the effect of feeding barley based rations containing 120, 140 or 160g/kg dietary CP on the performance of cereal fed 280kg Holstein bulls through to slaughter.

Due to an increasingly discerning consumer demand, the eating quality of beef has become a major focus of research effort for the beef supply chain and some pricing schemes currently reward Aberdeen Angus sired animals over animals sired by other breeds. However, the animal performance characteristics of beef cattle at a farm level must also be examined in studies on beef eating quality since they will remain an integral part of primary producer returns for the foreseeable future. As part of a wider beef eating quality project, the objective of the current study was to assess the on-farm and carcass animal performance characteristics in suckler-bred steers and heifers during the finishing phase.

There are four main parameters to determine weaning time with artificially reared dairy-bred calves: age, liveweight, concentrate intake and milk price. Most commercial calf rearers use concentrate intake as the main method weaning calves when eating 1kg of concentrates per day. Calves can be weaned either abruptly or gradually where the quantity and strength of milk replacer is reduced over a period of time. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of gradual or abrupt weaning strategies for calves weaned at 42 days of age.

Agro-industrial by-products are characteristically high in fiber and low in starch with some disparity in protein content based on source and processing method. Barley Distillers’ Grains (BDG) consists largely of structural and protein remaining when extracted residues of grains used in the brewing process. Fresh BDG contain about 70%-80% moisture and can store as silage. However, there is limited research information available on improving BDG silage with readily fermentable carbohydrate. McKendrick et al. (2003) ensiled BDG with molassed sugar beet pulp (MSBP) very well. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the potential of ensiled wet BDG with and without MSBP as alternative to maize silage on DM intake, milk yield and composition of dairy cattle.

Lupins (Lupinus; Leguminosae) as a high protein, high energy, nitrogen-fixing grain legume, have the potential to be used as a home-grown feedstuff to replace soya (Glycine max) in livestock feeds in the UK. Lupins are not typically grown in the UK but their high feed value and the low alkaloid concentrations in new varieties have prompted a renewed interest in their use (Wilkins and Jones, 2000). Traditionally, white lupin (Lupinus albus) is the predominant species fed as a soya replacement to dairy cows in Europe and the USA but recent research has shown advantages of growing yellow lupins (Lupinus luteus) in the UK compared with white lupins. This study reports on the effects of feeding concentrate diets containing yellow lupin compared with soya bean meal on intakes, milk productivity and milk composition in dairy cows.

Zinc (Zn) has a wide spectrum of biological activities and its deficiency has been related to various dysfunctions and alterations of normal cell metabolism (El Hendy et al., 2001). This element is a central component of hundreds of metalloenzymes which are concerned with the metabolism of feed constituents. Zn requirements of ruminants appear to be affected by dietary factors based on the variable animal responses that were observed after zinc supplementation. Supplemental zinc is usually added to animal diets in the form of zinc oxide or zinc sulphate. Recently, organically bound zinc supplements are using in diets of animals. Some researchers (Wedekind et al., 1992) have reported higher bioavailability for organically bound zinc sources than inorganic forms. Therefore, the objective of this experiment is to comparison the effects of organically bound and inorganic zinc supplements on haematological and biochemical parameters in blood serum.

Pistachio hull (PH) is the main pistachio by-product produced from the pistachio dehulling process. The product consists of 12.7, 5.7, 16.6, 25, and 20% ash, EE, CP, NDF, and ADF, respectively and can be used as a feedstuff for ruminant animals. It is a mount of energy, fibre and potassium (Naserian and Vahmani, 2005). Because its constitutive tannin content can bind protein and cellulose, it was hypothesized that PH tannin can decrease the digestibility of protein. There is no clear consensus amongst researchers on the effect of dried pistachio by product on milk yield, milk composition, rumen fluid pH and N-NH3 concenteration. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate effects of different sources of supplemental protein with dried pistachio by product on milk yield, milk composition rumen fluid pH and N-NH3 concenteration of dairy cows.

Supplemental fat sources are utilized in rations for dairy cows as a common method to increase the energy density of the diet to support energy demands for milk synthesis in early lactation (Heravi Moussavi et al, 2007). Although dietary fat supplementation increases the energy density of the diet, data on the relationship between the addition of dietary fat and the performance of lactating dairy cows are inconsistent because the impact of dietary fat is influenced by source of fat, method of processing, amount of fat included in the diet and stage of lactation. Canola seed which contains 40% fat is an excellent source of dietary fat high in unsaturated fatty acids and protein for dairy animals. Canola oil contains 51% oleic, 25% linoleic, and 14% linolenic acids. Fish oil (FO) also contains relatively high concentrations of two polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 family: (EPA, C20:5) and (DHA, C22:6). Combination of fish oil with different plant oils has been studied previously but there are few studies which have examined the inclusion of fish oil in combination with canola oil. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to study the effects of different levels of fish oil and canola oil in early lactating Holstein cows.

Carbohydrates are the major source of energy in diets fed to dairy cattle and usually comprised 60 to 70 percent of the total diet. They provide energy for both rumen microbes and the host animal. Sugars, starch, and other reserve carbohydrates such as fructans make up the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) fraction and are major sources of energy for high producing dairy cattle (NRC, 2001). The fermentation of different NSC sources varies in digestion characteristics and in the profiles of organic acids produced (Hall and Herejk, 2001). Cholesterol is a structural lipid that is not required in the diet, since ample amounts are synthesized in the body. This lipid is a required component of most cells of the body. Cholesterol has received a great deal of attention in the nutritional and biochemical communities because of its strange metabolism in certain regions of the body, for example, the arteries that supply oxygen and other nutrients to the heart muscle (Brody, 1999). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing different type of NSC (sucrose or starch) on blood cholesterol and some hepatic enzymes namely serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in Holstein steers.

Isoflavones belong to a large group of phytoestrogens that possess the most potent estrogenic activity. Raw soybeans contain 1.2 – 4.2 mg/g dry weight of isoflavones mainly genistein, daidzein and their conjugates (Kurzer and Xu, 1997). In ruminants, isoflavones are highly metabolized by rumen microorganisms that convert daidzein into equol and genistein into p-ethyl-phenol (Lundh, 1995). Isoflavones and their metabolites can be excreted in milk, thus, soybean products used in dairy cows feeding may represent, via milk, a source of isoflavones in the human diet. Isoflavones are particularly important due to their diverse pharmacological and antioxidant properties because they reduce the risk of several types of cancers including the breast, prostate and colon (Messina and Barnes, 1991), heart disease, menopausal symptoms (Chiechi, 1999) and bone health (Anderson and Garner, 1997).

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary soybean isoflavones on their concentration and total output in bovine milk.

There are too many physiological and nutritional factors which can influence lactation performance of early lactation Holstein dairy cows. Supplemental fat sources are utilized in rations for dairy cows as a common method to increase the energy density of the diet, especially in early lactation (Juchem et al., 2007). The fat sources also have a positive effect on milk fatty acid profile. Canola seed which contains 40% fat is an excellent source of dietary fat high in unsaturated fatty acids and protein for dairy animals. Canola oil contains 51% oleic, 25% linoleic, and 14% linolenic acids. Fish oil contains relatively high concentrations fatty acids of the n-3 family. It seems that feeding a blend of different oils will have more positive productive response than individual usage of them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing fish oil and canola oil starting from transition period on milk production and composition of early lactating Holstein cows.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient for animals, functioning largely or entirely in enzyme systems and being involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and many other biochemical reactions (Miller, 1970). This element is important in maintenance of health and integrity of epithelial tissue, such as skin (teats) and mammary tissue, because of its role in cell division and protein synthesis (Cook-Mills and Fraker, 1993). The most widely used products for zinc supplementation are zinc oxide, zinc sulphate and zinc methionine. Knowledge of organic Zn compounds is still incomplete. In particular, there is a lack of reports on the effect of such compounds in roughage based diets and only a limited number of studies have investigated the importance of Zn methionine in dairy cattle. Some research suggest that supplementing certain organic forms of zinc improve animal-production responses compared with those observed in ruminants that are supplemented with inorganic zinc (Spears, 1996). Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare organic and inorganic zinc supplements effects on production and components of milk. A second objective was to determine effects of different zinc sources on zinc concentration of milk.

Approximately 80% of all production costs are related to the purchase of forages and other feeds in dairy enterprises in Mexico. Resource poor, smallholder (campesino) systems are heavily reliant on the use of maize stover, noncultivated/cultivated grass species and weeds to feed their dairy cattle, thus a nutritional understanding of local forage resources would be of considerable economic benefit. The objective of this study was to develop predictive models of herbage production and nutrient composition of four non-cultivated pastures (NcP), in order to minimise the cost of sample analysis and improve the utilisation of local forage resources in dairy enterprises.