Microwave radiation (2.45 GHz) was examined as a heat source for rewarming chilled neonatal piglets. A multi-mode cavity (60 x 60 x 60 cm) was constructed of 22 gauge perforated galvanized steel. The radiation applicator was a slotted waveguide, 70 cm in length, which was located centrally 46.5 cm a...

Hereford steers, average weight 230+or-23 kg, in a 28-day trial period, had access to an individual electronically controlled Calan Broadbent feeder or to 3 or 4 feeders (groups A, B and C, respectively). The steers were fed grass legume silage ad libitum with fresh silage added 4 times daily. 24 ho...

Sows were infused with corticotropin (ACTH) at 1 IU/kg body wt per day in 1 litre saline, or with the same volume of saline, from the 104th day of gestation. In piglets from both groups of sows, blood cortisol decreased significantly after birth, while glucose increased within 2 h. The total number ...

Two trials were carried out to determine the effect of manure handling systems (MHS) on the performance of growing-finishing pigs when ventilation rate was governed by temp. The first trials compared accumulated manure (1 m-deep pit) and subsequent evacuation from under slats with continuous gravity...

In this study, the amount of nursing synchronisation was quantified, the dependence of the degree of synchronisation on the spatial distance between sows was examined, and the effect of nursing vocalisation playback on nursing frequency and nursing synchronisation was assessed in a large commercial ...

Before suckling, 14 newborn piglets, weighing <1.25 kg, were dried, weighed, and their rectal temperatures recorded. Rectal temperatures were then reduced to 25 degrees C, to induce hypothermia, by placing the piglets in a 10 degrees C cooling unit. A microwave (MW) generator was programmed to re...

A study was conducted to establish whether auditory stimulation in the form of pre-taped maternal vocalizations would influence initial feeding behaviour in newly hatched poults. For the purposes of the study control birds (Group C) were raised under simulated commercial conditions. Other birds were...