No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 2001. / A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture. Bibliography : leaves 252-280.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1999. / Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 257-262).

This thesis describes a number of experiments undertaken to assess the nutritional requirements of pregnant and lactating fallow does with the aim of enhancing production and Quality Assurance in the Australian Deer Industry.Areas of study include determination of metabolisable energy intake of farmed fallow deer does of two genotypes throughout pregnancy and lactation, metabolisable energy intake of fallow deer fawns from 12 to 20 weeks of age and the effects of restricted maternal nutrition on foetal and placental development at different stages of gestation.In conjunction with nutritional adequacy, a body condition scoring system based on ante-mortem and post-mortem descriptors was developed for fallow deer. The results of this research make possible the precise strategic feeding of fallow deer breeding stock, which should lead to more consistent reproductive performance and higher quality slaughter animals. Furthermore, use of strategic feeding in conjunction with BCS systems will lead to better resource management and profitability, as farmers consistently produce animals to specification / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of gossypol ingestion on reproductive function and productivity of female fallow deer (Dama dama) by measuring endocrine function, pregnancy rates, and body weights of does and fawns. Sixty multiparous fallow does were randomly allotted into three groups corresponding to treatment diet that varied in respect to gossypol content. The does were then separated by treatment into pastures containing two fallow buck sires per pasture. The control group (SBMG), (containing no gossypol in diet) received 362 g soybean meal (SBM) ·animal-1·day-1. The low gossypol group (CSML) was fed 227 g cottonseed meal (CSM; 0.09% free gossypol; determined by HPLC) and 181 g SBM·animal-1·day-1. The high gossypol group (CSMH) received 454 g CSM·animal-1·day-1. Diets were fed daily from 6/16/2003 to 11/20/2003. Blood samples were collected weekly from 8/14/2003 to 11/20/2003 for progesterone and gossypol analysis. Fawns born in June and July of 2003 were weaned 9/18/2003. Bucks were fitted with marking harnesses for the duration of the breeding season and heat marks were recorded daily for estrus detection. Ultrasonography, for pregnancy detection, was performed on 11/20/2003 and 12/15/2003. All groups lost weight from 8/14/03 to 11/20/03. SBMG lost less (P<.05) weight than either CSML or CSMH. Final body weights were 2% greater (P<.02) in SBMG than in CSML or CSMH. Body condition from 8/14/03 to 11/20/03 did not differ (P>.1) between treatments. The pregnancy rate for all groups was 100%. There was no difference (P>.01) in time from weaning to conception (23 d) between treatments. Does in CSMH exhibited decreased (P<.02) progesterone concentrations. Consumption of CSM (free gossypol in amounts up to 0.81 mg·kg-1BW; 0.41 g·animal-1·day-1).did not appear to affect reproductive performance of fallow deer.

No description available.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of gossypol ingestion on reproductive function and productivity of female fallow deer (Dama dama) by measuring endocrine function, pregnancy rates, and body weights of does and fawns. Sixty multiparous fallow does were randomly allotted into three groups corresponding to treatment diet that varied in respect to gossypol content. The does were then separated by treatment into pastures containing two fallow buck sires per pasture. The control group (SBMG), (containing no gossypol in diet) received 362 g soybean meal (SBM) ·animal-1·day-1. The low gossypol group (CSML) was fed 227 g cottonseed meal (CSM; 0.09% free gossypol; determined by HPLC) and 181 g SBM·animal-1·day-1. The high gossypol group (CSMH) received 454 g CSM·animal-1·day-1. Diets were fed daily from 6/16/2003 to 11/20/2003. Blood samples were collected weekly from 8/14/2003 to 11/20/2003 for progesterone and gossypol analysis. Fawns born in June and July of 2003 were weaned 9/18/2003. Bucks were fitted with marking harnesses for the duration of the breeding season and heat marks were recorded daily for estrus detection. Ultrasonography, for pregnancy detection, was performed on 11/20/2003 and 12/15/2003. All groups lost weight from 8/14/03 to 11/20/03. SBMG lost less (P<.05) weight than either CSML or CSMH. Final body weights were 2% greater (P<.02) in SBMG than in CSML or CSMH. Body condition from 8/14/03 to 11/20/03 did not differ (P>.1) between treatments. The pregnancy rate for all groups was 100%. There was no difference (P>.01) in time from weaning to conception (23 d) between treatments. Does in CSMH exhibited decreased (P<.02) progesterone concentrations. Consumption of CSM (free gossypol in amounts up to 0.81 mg·kg-1BW; 0.41 g·animal-1·day-1).did not appear to affect reproductive performance of fallow deer.

No description available.

Crop rotations which differ in fallowing frequency, residues returned and fertilizer additions were hypothesized to have measurably altered the soil physical and biological properties that contribute to a quality soil. This study was initiated to evaluate the role of crop rotation in determining soil organic matter levels and concomitant changes in soil properties.<p> The rotation site was started in 1958 on a Black lacustrine soil at the Agriculture Canada Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sk. Rotations of unfertilized fallow-wheat(FW), fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat(FWW(N+P;+straw)), fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat with straw baled (FWW(N+P; -straw)), unfertilized fallow-wheat-wheat-hay-hay-hay (FWWHHH), and fertilized continuous wheat (cont.W) were maintained in a modified randomized complete block design. Cultural practices were fairly consistent over time. Fertilizer additions, after 1977, increased to levels recommended by the Saskatchewan soil testing laboratory. However, the overall mean fertilizer additions from 1960 to 1984 varied only slightly among fertilized rotations.<p> Systematic transects across the experimental site revealed a major change in soil type occurring in the northern ranges, which was useful in determining a uniform sampling area. Ap horizon thickness and depth to carbonates suggested that topsoil was being removed from the plot areas and accumulating on the grassed roadways.<p> Continuous wheat and FWWHHH rotations maintained the highest organic C and N concentrations. Soils under FW and FWW rotations contained 13% less organic C and N on average than the cont.W or FWWHHH soils. The amount of light fraction (LF) organic matter and the C:H ratio of the LF were closely related to biological turnover, the LF is a readily available portion of the soil organic matter. Soils under cont.W and FWWHHH contained 1.5 to 2 times more of this active organic matter than those under FWW and FW. Baling straw, reducing fallow frequency, and adding fertilizer did not have a clear impact on total organic matter or the LF.<p> Mineralization of C, N, and S was statistically more sensitive to reductions in fallow frequency, improved fertility and residue removal. Nitrogen and S mineralization followed a ranking similar to organic C and LF-C contents, with cont.W = FWWHHH > FWW (N+P;+straw) > FWW (N+P;-straw) > FW. Soil biological properties in the 7.5 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm depths were not affected by long-term crop rotation, except for higher rates of C mineralization under cont.W and FWWHHH.<p> Soil aggregates were larger and more water stable in the less frequently fallowed cont.W and FWWHHH rotations. Soil organic matter and fertility characteristics were related to soil aggregation, likely through enhanced crop growth and production of roots and fungal hyphae. Sorptivity of water under suction was a sensitive indicator of pore structure. Soils in frequently fallowed rotations had the fewest large pores, whereas cont.W and FWWHHH soils had the most large pores. Long-term crop rotation did not affect soil aggregation below the 7.5 cm depth, except where rotations were sampled directly after forages.<p> Erosion, estimated by comparing 137Cs content in the topsoil, was highly variable but suggested that FW incurred the largest topsoil losses, followed by FWW and cont.W, with the FWWHHH rotation least eroded. Reconstruction of the Ap horizon also indicated that crop rotation had influenced the amount of soil lost. Forage periods and improved trash cover, associated with infrequently fallowed rotations, probably reduced wind erosion. Soil loss from frequently fallowed rotations may be exacerbated by tillage and lateral movement of soil from the plots onto the roadways. Loss of organic matter rich topsoil was negatively related to the level of 137Cs, implicating soil loss as an important process in depleting organic matter.<p> Soil quality as indicated by nutrient supply, soil organic matter content and lability, and soil tilth was best in the least eroded, most productive FWWHHH and cont.W rotations. Frequently fallowed FW or FWW rotations resulted in the lowest soil quality, with straw baling and inadequate fertilizer additions of lesser importance to the overall soil quality.

Crop rotations which differ in fallowing frequency, residues returned and fertilizer additions were hypothesized to have measurably altered the soil physical and biological properties that contribute to a quality soil. This study was initiated to evaluate the role of crop rotation in determining soil organic matter levels and concomitant changes in soil properties.<p> The rotation site was started in 1958 on a Black lacustrine soil at the Agriculture Canada Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sk. Rotations of unfertilized fallow-wheat(FW), fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat(FWW(N+P;+straw)), fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat with straw baled (FWW(N+P; -straw)), unfertilized fallow-wheat-wheat-hay-hay-hay (FWWHHH), and fertilized continuous wheat (cont.W) were maintained in a modified randomized complete block design. Cultural practices were fairly consistent over time. Fertilizer additions, after 1977, increased to levels recommended by the Saskatchewan soil testing laboratory. However, the overall mean fertilizer additions from 1960 to 1984 varied only slightly among fertilized rotations.<p> Systematic transects across the experimental site revealed a major change in soil type occurring in the northern ranges, which was useful in determining a uniform sampling area. Ap horizon thickness and depth to carbonates suggested that topsoil was being removed from the plot areas and accumulating on the grassed roadways.<p> Continuous wheat and FWWHHH rotations maintained the highest organic C and N concentrations. Soils under FW and FWW rotations contained 13% less organic C and N on average than the cont.W or FWWHHH soils. The amount of light fraction (LF) organic matter and the C:H ratio of the LF were closely related to biological turnover, the LF is a readily available portion of the soil organic matter. Soils under cont.W and FWWHHH contained 1.5 to 2 times more of this active organic matter than those under FWW and FW. Baling straw, reducing fallow frequency, and adding fertilizer did not have a clear impact on total organic matter or the LF.<p> Mineralization of C, N, and S was statistically more sensitive to reductions in fallow frequency, improved fertility and residue removal. Nitrogen and S mineralization followed a ranking similar to organic C and LF-C contents, with cont.W = FWWHHH > FWW (N+P;+straw) > FWW (N+P;-straw) > FW. Soil biological properties in the 7.5 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm depths were not affected by long-term crop rotation, except for higher rates of C mineralization under cont.W and FWWHHH.<p> Soil aggregates were larger and more water stable in the less frequently fallowed cont.W and FWWHHH rotations. Soil organic matter and fertility characteristics were related to soil aggregation, likely through enhanced crop growth and production of roots and fungal hyphae. Sorptivity of water under suction was a sensitive indicator of pore structure. Soils in frequently fallowed rotations had the fewest large pores, whereas cont.W and FWWHHH soils had the most large pores. Long-term crop rotation did not affect soil aggregation below the 7.5 cm depth, except where rotations were sampled directly after forages.<p> Erosion, estimated by comparing 137Cs content in the topsoil, was highly variable but suggested that FW incurred the largest topsoil losses, followed by FWW and cont.W, with the FWWHHH rotation least eroded. Reconstruction of the Ap horizon also indicated that crop rotation had influenced the amount of soil lost. Forage periods and improved trash cover, associated with infrequently fallowed rotations, probably reduced wind erosion. Soil loss from frequently fallowed rotations may be exacerbated by tillage and lateral movement of soil from the plots onto the roadways. Loss of organic matter rich topsoil was negatively related to the level of 137Cs, implicating soil loss as an important process in depleting organic matter.<p> Soil quality as indicated by nutrient supply, soil organic matter content and lability, and soil tilth was best in the least eroded, most productive FWWHHH and cont.W rotations. Frequently fallowed FW or FWW rotations resulted in the lowest soil quality, with straw baling and inadequate fertilizer additions of lesser importance to the overall soil quality.