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...

Four groups of six 28-day-old piglets (three male, three female) were assigned to each of four floors, bedded concrete, bare concrete, perforated metal or raised rubber-coated metal. Each pen was equipped with a microswitch which, when pushed, turned on three 250-W infrared lamps suspended 42 cm abo...

From day 104 to 114 after mating, 7 sows received daily intravenous infusions of ACTH at 1 IU/kg while 6 sows received daily infusions of metyrapone at a dose decreasing stepwise from 5 mg/kg on day 104 to 1 mg/kg on day 108, followed by saline until day 114. Saline was infused into 5 control sows. ...

Blood samples were collected from 5 pregnant sows from day 111 after mating to farrowing and from their piglets at regular intervals between birth and 48 h of age. The time between birth and 1st suckling was recorded for each piglet. Maternal serum testosterone concentration was detectable only at t...

In a 5 x 5 Latin square with 12-day periods, 35 yearling Hereford steers, 358+or-32 kg, were randomly assigned to one of 5 groups to estimate the effects of adding flavouring agents to grass-legume silage at feeding time. Flavouring agents chosen represented major taste groups: sweet (0.025% asparta...

Total urinary creatinine (UC) was measured three times a day from 5 days before to 4 days after parturition in 13 Yorkshire sows. Total UC remained unchanged during days 5, 4, and 3, and decreased during days 2 and 1 before parturition. After parturition, levels increased, reaching peak values on da...

Serum concentrations of cortisol were monitored in four sows 100 days pregnant during and after cannulation through an ear vein and thereafter for 11.5 days. During this period, the sows were exposed to the following environmental temperatures: 2 days at 18 degrees C and 3 days at 2, 18 and 32 degre...

The survival rates of pigs subjected to different farrowing management protocols were compared. 60 litters of YorkxLandrace piglets were either unattended at farrowing or were dried, had the umbilical cord tied, had oral and nasal cavities suctioned to clear mucus, received oxygen and received bovin...

Several types of equipment utilizing microwave (MW) radiation were developed to provide supplemental heat to young animals including broiler embryos and chicks, newly-weaned piglets and hypothermic piglets and lambs. Exposure of broilers to MW during incubation or brooding resulted in no change in g...

The objective of this study was to determine if using maternal sounds, at a higher frequency, associated with lactation, would indirectly influence milk production by the sow, thus increasing litter weight. The litters of 36 crossbred sows were allocated into 4 experimental groups. The study was div...