Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, diets were supplemented with blood, fish and soybean meals (HQ) or corn gluten meal (LQ) for similar CP and UIP, but differed in Lys%(HQ =.91; LQ =.59). Diets were fed to evaporatively cooled (EC) or non-cooled (S) cows. Milk yield was higher for HQ than LQ and for EC than S. Compared to S, EC cows tended to consume more feed and had lower rectal temperatures and respiration rates. Experiment 2 consisted of a metabolic and an in situ trial. Ruminal, postruminal and total tract digestibilities of DM on HQ and LQ diets did not differ, while postruminal digestibility of CP was higher for HQ than LQ. The pattern of EAA flowing to the duodenum was not affected by diets; however, after 24 h incubation in the rumen, residual Lys tended to be higher, but Leu and Phe lower for HQ than LQ. Rumen bypass of Lys is increased by feeding diets high in UIP and Lys, resulting in increased milk yields. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Twenty-four multiparous and twelve primiparous Holstein cows were assigned at calving to four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Factors were: (1) grain processing: dry rolled sorghum (D) vs. steam flaked sorghum (S); (2) rumen inert fat: supplemented (F) vs. non supplemented (C). The F diets were supplemented at 2.5% of dry matter (DM) as Ca-soaps. The S diets increased (P<.02) milk production 12%, while F diets decreased (P<.28) milk 5%, due to a 16% decrease (P<.01) in feed intake. However, F diets increased (P<.01) efficiency of feed utilization 15%, partially sustained by greater (P<.08) body weight losses. The DF diet decreased milk protein 0.21% compared to the DC diet, but the S diets had similar milk protein content regardless of fat supplementation. Milk protein yields were higher (P<.01) for S diets. The S diets decreased (P<.03) milk fat percentages but yields were not affected. The S diets had higher (P<.01) digestibilities for DM, CP, GE, and starch than D diets. Digestibilities of CP and GE were higher (P<.05) for F than C diets. Steam flaked sorghum grain maintained milk protein percent in lactation diets supplemented with Ca-Soaps of fatty acids.

The link between poultry animal production factors and poultry meat processing has not been studied in detail.  The effect of factors such as genotype, sex, age, diet and muscle type on meat processing capabilities such as post-mortem pH, soaked, cooked yield, texture and binding of whole and comminuted meat are reported here.  To determine the processing  capabilities of the meat, various methods were employed, including muscle fibre typing, microscopy and electrophoresis. The breast muscle was more suited to processing that the thigh, particularly with regards to texture.  Genotype was the most significant production factor for processing capabilities: broiler-type birds produced meat which gave higher soaked and cooked yields, was less tough and improved meat bind.  Generally, older animals produced meat less suitable for processing.  Diet had little effect on the processing capability of the meat. The addition of salt and phosphates to poultry meat had a more significant effect on processing behaviour than any animal production factor.  Phosphate increased the soaked and cooked yield, reduced toughness and increased meat bind.  Salt improved the processing performance more than phosphate.  Salt and phosphates added together improved processing performance more than either alone.  This synergistic result was independent of animal production factors. These findings indicate that muscle location, genotype and bird age are the most significant animal production factors.  Additionally, salt and phosphate affect the processing capability of meat more than any of the animal production factors.  Muscle fibre type has no affect on meat processing capability.  Microscopic observations suggest that protein dispersion, decrease in porosity and void size increased cooked yield and meat binding.  The electrophoresis results showed that actin and myosin are the two proteins most dispersed by the action of salt and phosphate.

Spermatozoa are highly specialised cells which display a range of unique features associated with their crucial function of egg fertilisation. One of the most striking characteristics of spermatozoa, in biochemical terms, is the extremely high proportion of long chain highly polyunsaturated fatty acids present as components of the plasma membrane phospholipids. This high degree of unsaturation is almost unique amongst animal cells; the only other cell types which display similar levels of these polyunsaturates are the neurons of the brain and retina. The reason why spermatozoa exhibit such an unusual fatty acid composition is not clear but it is feasible that the highly unsaturated phospholipids may confer a high degree of flexibility on the sperm plasma membrane as well as provide a potential energy source in order to facilitate the characteristic flagellar motion of these cells. There is also evidence that spermatozoa lipids play a crucial role in the membrane fusion and signal transduction events associated with the acrosome reaction and fertilisation. Initial observations were made between the semen of domestic cockerel and bull with respect to animal ageing and semen quality. Within both species similar patterns were observed in that with age there was a loss of the long chain C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids accompanied by a loss of the major antioxidant enzyme systems. A decrease in phosphatidyl ethanolamine and an increase of phosphatidyl choline with age were also observed to be associated with a reduction in semen quality parameters and fertility in both species. In contrast cockerels displayed significant increases in spermatozoa and seminal plasma lipid levels where the bull exhibited losses, reflecting possible differences in spermatozoa metabolism and function.

The British uplands support a rich assemblage of a number of predatory and scavenging birds, including golden eagle, merlin, red kite, hen harrier, raven and buzzard, with nationally and internationally important populations of some of these species. A feature all these species have in common is the requirement for large foraging ranges by individuals which means that large tracts of suitable habitat are necessary to support viable populations. Current changes in upland land use such as afforestation and changing agricultural practices give cause for concern. The conservation of these species and others like them requires a greater understanding of how these birds interact with the landscape and how their distribution and breeding performance reflects their habitat. Ecologists are becoming increasingly aware of the potential of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for exploring these relationships between animal species and their habitat. In this thesis, the buzzard was chosen as a model species to explore ways of predicting bird distributions and breeding performance from readily available data using GIS. This study was carried out in mid-Argyll, Scotland. The distribution and breeding performance of buzzards was determined for a number of study areas, chosen to represent the full spectrum of habitats to be encountered in mid-Argyll, during 1989 and 1990. Parameters of breeding performance used were laying date, clutch size, initial brood size and fledging success. Brood quality was also assessed, based on nestling growth. The breeding performance of buzzards in mid-Argyll was included in a comparison of published data from studies elsewhere in Britain. Laying dates were found to be consistent throughout the country while clutch size, initial brood size and fledging success were seen to differ between studies. No patterns which might relate to latitudinal or climatic trends were apparent and differences were considered to be due to overall habitat differences between the regions considered. While buzzards in mid-Argyll tended to produce low clutch sizes the population as a whole showed high fledging success. While buzzards nestlings in mid-Argyll had good survival rates the high fledging success is probably best explained by absence of human interference, malicious or otherwise in this area. An important consideration when looking at the distribution of a bird size such as the buzzard is whether this might be influenced by nest site availability. Buzzards in mid-Argyll used a number of distinct nest site habitats. While the majority of buzzards nested in trees, a substantial proportion were found nesting on steep banks and crags. Considering the adaptability of buzzards in their choice of nest site and the abundance of acceptable sites it was considered that the availability of potential nest sites was unlikely to influence buzzard distribution in mid-Argyll.

Lying is a restful, high priority behaviour for dairy cows which can be affected by various factors associated with production but is not directly related to productivity. As such, lying behaviour has potential for use as an indicator of welfare. Information in the literature regarding the effect of stage of lactation on lying behaviour was contradictory and information on optimum lying behaviour and maximum bout lengths was scarce. The aim of this study was to improve knowledge in these areas and find a way of using lying behaviour to assess welfare. Pregnant heifers were observed at pasture in order to describe lying behaviour in conditions that may be considered optimum. Lying behaviour at pasture was characterised as having 10.5 h total lying time per 24h, few (6-7) lying bouts and a long maximum bout length (3.5h). The effect of two very different levels of production on the lying behaviour of heifers during their first lactation and housing period was compared. Although total lying times did not change much over the lactation, early location was associated with disturbed lying behaviour (increased lying frequency and short bout lengths) and indicators of metabolic challenge in low input heifers. High input heifers however, showed more disturbance later in lactation associated with being moved to another feeding group. Two pilot studies were carried out to investigate cows' preferences for cubicles with mats or mattresses and to compare lying behaviour on the two surfaces. Social factors appeared to affect preference and lying behaviour. Consequently total lying times were very low (less than 8h) and preferences were not clear. However, lying times were low even in a group of undisturbed late lactation cows and the pattern of lying (number of bouts and maximum bout length) was similar to that of heifers at grass.

Farm, cattle group and individual bovine risk factors for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle herds in the South West of England were explored. A cohort study using 148 well characterised cattle herds was conducted in SW England 2001-2004. The study was set up in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 and all farms were taking part in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). The use of a standard questionnaire and national data records from the skin intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin test (SICCT) and from the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) databases were combined. The two main statistical techniques used were survival analysis and multilevel logistic regression with random effects. Associations with the risk of herd breakdown with bTB were explored using survival analysis. The main factors associated with disclosure of reactor cattle were the purchase of cattle from markets and the storage of slurry and manure in close containment. In the investigation of the risk of an individual bovine animal becoming a reactor using multilevel logistic regression with random effects analysis, explanatory variables at herd, individual cattle and test levels, were explored. The potential exposure to reactor cattle in previous tests was the most significant finding as a risk for a bovine animal reacting at a current test. Only 9/19,027 cattle became reactors if they had not been exposed to a reactor animal previously. When the risk of an animal group having at least one reactor disclosed in the group was investigated using the location of the animal groups within the farm by monthly periods, the risk increased with the number of cattle in the groups when these were housed and with the presence of badgers in the fields when they were grazing. This thesis has provided a deep investigation into the risk factors that can affect the introduction and persistence of infection with M. bovis in cattle herds, and the importance that cattle play in these factors has been highlighted.

A cross sectional study of 103 indoor and outdoor British pig farms was carried out in 2003-2004. Over 12,000 pigs aged from 3 days up to multiparious breeding sows were examined. Prevalence of foot, limb and body lesions and lameness was recorded using clear case definitions. Detailed data were also collected on the pen or paddock that the pigs were housed in with particular reference to the floor design, material and condition. Associations between prevalence of disease and the environment the pig was housed in were analysed using multilevel regression models. Post-mortem examination of a small sample of foot and limb lesions was carried out to better understand the pathology. There was a lower prevalence of body and limb lesions in pigs of all ages, and foot lesions in preweaning piglets, housed outdoors compared with indoors. However, there was little difference in the prevalence of foot lesions and lameness in gilts and pregnant sows kept indoors compared with outdoors. In most pigs housed indoors, there was a trend for an increased risk of limb and body lesions and lameness in pigs housed on hard and slatted floors compared with solid concrete floors with bedding. Although, in contrast to this the prevalence of wounds on the limbs in piglets was lower on slatted floors compared with solid concrete floors. The associations between foot lesions and indoor floor type varied with the age of the pig and the type of lesion. In piglets, sole bruising was associated with housing on slatted floors while sole erosion was associated with housing on solid concrete floors without bedding. In gilts and sows, heel flaps were associated with housing on slatted floors while toe erosion was associated with solid floors with deep bedding. In conclusion, this study has provided the most accurate estimates of the prevalence of foot, limb, body lesions and lameness in the English pig herd to date and generated useful hypotheses regarding the aetiology of these lesions. To further understand this topic cohort and intervention studies are now needed.

In 2007 the first brand new Vet School built in over fifty years in the UK, opened at the University of Nottingham. Innovative evidence-based approaches were taken to each aspect of the new Vet School from the ICT infrastructure, staff recruitment through to curriculum design. This is a relatively rare scenario which offers a unique opportunity for research into this set of innovations and their cumulative effect on the student experience. Research into the student experience is timely and relevant. The world knowledge base is rapidly expanding, in part due to digitality, especially in relation to medical and professional learning. This, with the accompanying disappearance of the 'job for life', has led to increased emphasis within education to develop transferable skills and lifelong learning. As the Higher Education (HE) market becomes more competitive, the student role in the market develops towards consumerism. These factors give impetus for studies into new and developing student learning experiences. The author is an educationalist with no veterinary expertise. Due to this outsider perspective, an emergent ethnographic approach was taken to the research. Data sources are wide ranging from participation observation and field notes to recurring interviews with ten key informant students. Analysis was undertaken through thematising data and iterative ethnographic writing, simultaneously with literature review. Data is presented firstly in a series of descriptive vignettes which highlight key findings. Further to this, analysis is presented and underpinned by examples from primary and secondary data. Key issues are described from a majority rule position but also highlighting negative cases. This approach is useful to represent experiences of a community from a combination of participant perspectives. The research is undertaken in the socio-cultural paradigm where learning is not an individual pursuit but one undertaken in a social context. Wenger's (1999) 'Communities of practice' model describes learning as activity through participation in a community during which individuals construct meaning and identity. This model is most often reported in the literature in relation to informal work-based learning as it is argued that distance between context and classroom creates an artificial learning environment. This thesis takes a novel approach to apply the "Communities of Practice" model to a formal learning environment and considers Higher Education to operate at the 'legitimate periphery of participation' of workplace professionalism. By using Wenger's model as a broad framework, the research highlights the importance of both curriculum and relationships to the student learning experience. Evidence-based educational approaches such as integrated curriculum and early reflective learning were shown to be beneficial to student learning, although the student understanding of the benefits of these approaches on their learning developed longitudinally across the early part of the course. Students participate in learning through the important relationships which exist between peers, students and teachers, and those within the experienced veterinary community of practice. Data showed that talk in both formal and informal relationships is a method used by students in constructing conceptual meaning, and is one way that learners understand their construction of a professional identity during the early part of the course. Cognitive, social and experiential congruence between students and others is shown to have impact on the student learning experience. Specific case examples show that the student experience of a wide range of relationships covering each type of congruence has maximum benefit. Peer learning has significant benefits, and talk and discussion are key to developing both meaning and identity. Professional identity is constructed during both formal and informal, planned and emergent contexts. Significant others act as role models or anti-role models in the student learning journey. SVMS learners develop a professional learning identity related to the nature of knowledge and lifelong learning. A brief summary of the most recent British Veterinary Association (BVA) and Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) student satisfaction survey (2008) concludes that Nottingham has the highest levels of satisfaction and perceived readiness for practice amongst its students of any UK Vet School. This research shows the way that students in the new Vet School learn to both 'talk the walk' and 'walk the walk'.

Aim The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of the factors which influence veterinary surgeons’ clinical decision making during routine consultations. Methods The research takes a qualitative approach using video-cued interviews, in which one of the veterinary surgeon’s own consultations is used as the basis of a semi-structured interview exploring decision making in real cases. The research focuses primarily on small animal consultations in first opinion practice, however small numbers of consultations from different types of practice are included to highlight contextual influences on decision making. Findings The study reveals differences between the way clinical decision making is taught and the way that it is carried out in practice. In comparison to human medicine, decision making in veterinary practice appears to be more a negotiated activity, relying on social context, which takes account of the animals’ and owners’ circumstances, as well as biomedical information. Conclusions Veterinary practice especially that provided for companion animals has similarities with medical practice, however there are also differences caused by the status of the animal; the contrast between predominately fee for service veterinary care and state funded medical provision; and the acceptability of euthanasia as a “treatment” option. Clinical decision making in veterinary practice is affected by a range of factors including the resources of the owner, the value placed on the individual animal and the circumstances in which the decision making takes place. Veterinary surgeons in practice need teaching and evidence based resources to take account of these factors in order to provide the best care to their animal patients. Further sociologically informed research is required to provide a greater understanding of the contextual factors which influence clinical decision making.