Keeping goats can make an important contribution to the livelihoods of small and landless farmers in Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries. However, the capital cost of buying a goat can be prohibitive for very poor households. An alternative entry point is to keep the goats on a share basis, with a richer neighbour providing a goat or goats to a poorer neighbour to keep. The practice is governed by a complex set of rules and norms which are not easy to set out categorically, but the principle seems to be that equal shares go to owner and keeper. For example, when does that are kept in this way kid, one of the kids is generally given to the goat raiser, while the doe and her other kids may be returned to the goat owner after weaning. The price raised by selling shared goats is generally split equally between the owner and the goat’s keeper, after deducting the initial price of the goat if it was bought in by the owner. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of this practice in the southern region of Nepal, and to estimate the contribution that share-keeping goats may make to the livelihoods of households that were unable to buy a goat for themselves.

Increasing resistance to anthelmintic drugs (Waller, 2003) has increased the need for the development of alternative methods of worm control. The antiparasitic properties of condensed tannins have been evaluated in small scale experimental trials (Athanasiadou et al. 2000) with positive effects obtained under restricted feeding regimes. However, Dawson et al. (2004) did not observe significant effects on strongyle faecal egg counts through the inclusion of 80 g tannins/kg fresh concentrate offered to lambs at grass in the period from weaning to slaughter. The aim of the current study was therefore to evaluate the effect of increased levels of tannin inclusion offered to lambs from six weeks of age on grass-based systems on faecal egg counts.

Sainfoin is a leguminous, highly nutritive plant with bloat free characteristics, suitable for growing lambs. In addition, sainfoin has been tested for its anthelmintic properties in goats and sheep, because of its high content of plant secondary metabolites (PSM), specifically condensed tannins. However, Athanasiadou et al. (2005) compared the effect of sainfoin vs lucerne on sheep and the animals showed poor performance, manifested as a lower intake and liveweight gain. But on the other hand, the intake of sainfoin resulted in lower daily parasite egg output. The hypotheses of the present study were: (1) The consumption of sainfoin hay in lambs continuously infected with T. colubriformis will result in negative effects on the parasites, measured through levels of faecal egg counts (FEC). (2) The parasite infection will affect grass hay intake more than sainfoin hay intake, because the PSM content will allow animals to cope better with the parasitic infection. (3) The use of an adaptation period to sainfoin hay prior to infection is expected to improve the parasite control of growing lambs continuously infected with T. colubriformis, through the establishment of a hostile environment for the incoming larvae and also will ameliorate the possible negative effects of PSM contained in sainfoin on the performance of the sheep.

Choline is a vitamin like compound that functions in several metabolic ways, mainly as phospholipids. It plays an important role in cell membrane integrity and is involved in lipid digestion and transport (Bindle et al., 2000). Much of the choline that reaches the intestines of ruminants is phosphatidil choline contained in protozoa (Broad and Dawson, 1976). Feeding cattle with high concentrate diets cause to decrease in protozoa numbers by decreasing ruminal pH (Towne et al., 1990). Therefore high concentration diets limit the choline supply to the intestinal of cattle. In ruminant diets supplemental choline similar to other compounds of diets affected by rumen micro organism. So if we protect it from these micro organisms, we will protect its vitamin properties. The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of rumen protected choline chloride (RPC) on milk yield, milk composition, and blood metabolites in dairy Sannan goats.

There is a risk of chronic copper poisoning (CCP) in breeds such as the Texel whenever they are liberally fed pelleted commercial rations. Addition of the Cu- antagonists iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) or a combination of molybdenum and sulphur (Mo + S) to the diet have each significantly reduced liver Cu and risk of CCP in separate experiments but usually in less susceptible breeds. ‘Cocktails’ of antagonists are routinely added to compound feeds to reduce the risk of CCP but components and inclusion rates vary and the additivity of their protective effects has not been studied. Furthermore, the apparent inability of Texels to limit hepatic Cu retention (HCR) has called into question the reliability of antagonist cocktails for this breed (Suttle et al 2002). The objective of this experiment was to test the ability of a cocktail of Mo, S and Zn to restrict HCR by Texel rams, given a pelleted commercial concentrate that raised Cu in the total ration to the EC maximum permitted level of 17mg/kgDM.

The productive response of dairy cows to relatively high protein diets could be mediated, amongst other things, by provision of essential amino acids. Therefore, it may be possible to reduce the level of dietary protein (main source of N pollution) if the amino acid (AA) profile of metabolisable protein (MP) is considered in formulating diets. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of both dietary crude protein (CP) content and AA profile of MP on productive responses of dairy cows fed maize silage-based diets.

Levels of Se in plant, animal and human food reflect the considerable variations that occur in soil Se throughout the world. In 12 out of 21 countries selenium intake in humans has been found to be below WHO recommended levels (40 male, 30 female ug/h/d). In humans low selenium (Se) intake has been linked to a higher risk of CVD, arthritis, infertility, immunosuppresion, adverse mood states and cancer. As a consequence, the concept of healthy food additives, with the term “functional foods” has been defined as a food that provides benefits beyond the traditional nutrients it contains. In this case selenium. The purpose of this work was to compare the effect of the source and level of selenium supplementation in the diets of lactating dairy cows on the selenium content of milk and cheese.

In recent years increasing milk production in Iran caused to increase nutrient requirement of dairy cattle. In other wise in semiarid countries such as Iran providing forage requirement of cattle is limited by deficiency in forage resources. So it is better to use plants that they have low water requirements, high growth rate and high forage yield per hectare. Rapeseed is reasonably widely adapted and performs well in many areas in Iran. In spite of its low water requirements and high growth rate, its cultivation season is matched with environmental condition in Iran. Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) recently has received consideration as a forage source for livestock. Its use has been restricted by numerous antinutritions such as glucosinolates and Erucic acid (Wilkes et al., 1987). Fales et al. (1987) reported a 100-fold reduction in Glucosinolate concentration when rapeseed forage underwent ensiling. The main objective of this study was to evaluate effects of rapeseed silage on Holstein dairy cow’s performance.

Milk from ewes is characterized by a high fat content and ratio of fat to protein, but for most full fat type cheeses the high fat content is a disadvantage as the excess is lost in the whey. Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of milk fat synthesis in dairy cows and more recently in sheep (Sinclair et al., 2005), and therefore represents a suitable management tool to reduce fat yield. In addition to a reduction in milk fat output, under some circumstances trans-10, cis-12 CLA results in an increase in milk and milk protein yield, particularly when the animal is under supplied with dietary energy. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of supplementing dairy ewes with a rumen protected source of trans-10, cis-12 CLA at a high and low level of energy intake on milk fat synthesis, energy metabolism and cheese yield.

Previously reported results (Wicks et al., 2005) indicated growth rates from birth to day 28 increased when level of milk replacer feeding was increased from 600 to 1200 g/d, but that there was no increase when milk crude protein content replacer was increased from 230 to 300 g/kg (Wicks et al., 2005). Calf starter concentrate intake decreased with increasing milk replacer feeding and calves offered 1200 g milk powder/d at concentrations of 120 g powder/l water did not consume their whole allocation of milk replacer. The objective of the current study was to establish the optimum level of inclusion of milk replacer and to evaluate the effect of an intermediate protein concentration i.e. between 230 and 300 g/kg.

There has been known that body fat of pigs comes from a combination of fats produced endogenously and those from the diet for pigs. Polyunsaturated fatty acid absorbed from the diet specially inhibit endogenous synthesis of fatty acids, inflating the effect of dietary fat composition on body fat composition (Pettigrew and Esnaola, 2001). Futhermore, the supplementation of a highly polyunsaturated oil can decrease total serum cholesterols in pigs compared to those fed the diet supplemented with a highly saturated fat or oil. However, the plasma triacylglycerols concentration can vary greatly, depending in large part on dietary intake, storage in or mobilization from adipose tissues, and synthesis in the liver. Thus, the current study attempt to specify the effect of fat source on fatty acid composition of main tissues and plasma lipid concentration in growing-finishing pigs.

Pregnant sows are commonly fed a restricted diet in order to minimise fat deposition and maximise efficiency of feed utilisation. This restrictive regime can contribute to increased levels of aggression, and also to the development of stereotypic behaviours (Meunier-Salaün et al., 2001). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of providing access to grass silage on the welfare of sows introduced to a large dynamic group.

The concentration of most plasma acute phase proteins (APP) increases at times of clinical infection in pigs (Murata et al., 2004) and may be used as a marker to describe objectively pig health status. However, whether sub-clinical gastrointestinal infections also induce APP responses is less well known. Here, we have assessed whether experimentally induced sub-clinical post-weaning colibacillosis (PWC) affects the concentration of the two APP, i.e. haptoglobin (Hp) and C-reactive protein (CRP), which are two major acute phase proteins in pigs (Murata et al., 2004). Current research aims to reduce sub-clinical PWC through the development of pig feeding strategies that do not rely on in-feed anti-microbial growth promoters (AGP). One such strategy explores the possibility of temporarily lowering dietary protein content (Wellock et al., 2006). Therefore, an additional objective was to assess whether the APP response observed was sensitive to the level of dietary protein.

The commercial trend of increasing slaughter weight in finished pigs, combined with the UK practice of using entire boars for production, might have detrimental consequences for behaviour, carcass quality and production efficiency. The associated increase in age is linked to an increased risk of reaching sexual maturity, with endocrine changes that result in behavioural problems and carcass taint. There is limited research examining environmental effects on performance and behaviour of pigs of modern genotypes finished to heavy weights. The sexual behaviour of boars can be influenced by the social environment during rearing (Thomas et al, 1979) suggesting that the risk of adverse behaviour around puberty might be modified. This study explored the effect of contact with the opposite gender on behaviour and performance in entire males and gilts in the 60kg-130kg weight range.

Weaning is a critical process in piglets, with increased risk of health problems and decreased performance. Previous studies have shown that fish oil, rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids, has an anti-inflammatory effect in pigs, which has led to improved pig performance under infectious challenge conditions (Liu et al. 2003). When piglets are weaned onto diets containing plant proteins, local inflammatory responses in the gut can reduce feed intake and performance. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) edible algae, as an omega-3 fatty acid source, in sow lactation and piglet post-weaning diets on piglet health and performance, when diets of different potential antigenicity were fed after weaning. It was hypothesised that increased omega-3 intake, either in sows’ milk before weaning or in the diet at the time of weaning, might facilitate the transition to solid food.

Pre-weaning piglet mortality is currently 11.8% of piglets born alive in indoor units (MLC, 2005) and is a major welfare concern and a continuing production problem within the pig industry. The farrowing crate was implemented with some success to decrease the amount of crushing of piglets (Edwards & Fraser, 1997). However, this system is restrictive, limits the behaviour and compromises the welfare of the sow (Jarvis et al., 2001). There is growing pressure to abolish this technology in favour of less restrictive systems. It is therefore vital to identify behavioural and physiological characteristics relating to piglet survival, which can then be influential in alternative systems. Important factors in relation to piglet survival include birth weight, birth order, and adequate thermoregulation (Tuchscherer et al. 2001). The aim of this study was to identify additional behavioural and physiological indicators, which could predict piglet survival.

Lameness of dairy cattle is an economic and welfare issue. This problem is the third most important health related economic loss facing the dairy industry, following fertility and mastitis. Lameness often follows a seasonal trend with an increase in lesions associated with laminitis appearing several weeks after some environmental hardship such as heat stress. Also healthy hooves are an important prerequisite for the welfare and productivity in dairy cow.

The precise aetiology of lameness in dairy cows remains unclear, and it’s likely that a number of different factors affect its development. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of different management regimes during rearing on the development of sole lesions in dairy herd replacements.

Very little is known about the eliminative behaviour of dairy cows though housed cattle are traditionally thought to show little or no faeces-avoidance behaviour (Hafez and Schein, 1962). Management practices, such as cubicle housing, are designed to limit contact between cows and their faeces but are often restrictive in nature and can have an adverse effect upon other, unrelated behavioural patterns. For welfare reasons, housing systems for dairy cows should be designed with an aim to reduce the differences in behaviour between outdoor and indoor systems. This study aims to provide a clearer understanding of the eliminative behaviour of dairy cows in the two most commonly used housing systems in the UK, i.e., straw yards and cubicle yards and to investigate whether any difference in behaviour is imposed by housing regime.

Declining longevity, poor fertility and increasing incidence of disease in Holstein cows has led to renewed interest in alternative dairy breeds. The Jersey is the second most popular breed in the UK, and its numbers have increased by 50% since 1999 (The Jersey Cattle Society). Limited research has indicated that there are physiological differences between the Jersey and larger dairy breeds, in addition to those of milk quality. Consequently, current dairy cow rationing systems may be inappropriate for Jerseys because they are based on data from Holsteins. The behaviour data presented here was part of a larger study which also compared the intake capacity, diet digestibility and rate of passage of Jersey and Holstein cows.