Four studies were conducted using high water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), sweet (SM) and low WSC, regular (RM) pearl millet and high WSC (SS) and low WSC (RS) sorghum cultivars. The first and the second studies evaluated the chemical composition and ensiling characteristics of those cultivars. Millet cultivar had no effect on pH. SM silage contained less neutral and acid detergent fiber than RM silage. SS cultivar had less pH than RS cultivar at any ensiling period. RS silage contained greater acid detergent lignin and less non protein nitrogen than SS silage. The third and the fourth studies investigated the feeding value of SM and SS silages. Cows fed SM silage produced milk with greater fat concentration, energy corrected milk, 4% fat corrected milk, and solid corrected milk yield than cows fed corn silage. Milk fat was greater, while milk yield and lactose concentration were less for cows fed SS silage than cows fed alfalfa silage. In conclusion, there is a good potential for pearl millet silage as a source of forage for dairy cows. Further investigations are required to optimize the feeding value of sorghum silage. / Quatre études ont été conduites utilisant deux variétés de millet perlé [i.e. riches en glucides solubles (GS) (MS) et pauvre en GS (MR)] ainsi que deux variétés de sorgho [i.e. riches en GS (SS) et pauvre en GS (SR)]. Les première et deuxième études évaluèrent la composition chimique et les caractéristiques d'ensilage des différentes variétés. La variété de millet n'eut pas d'effet sur le pH. L'ensilage de MS contenait moins de fibre NDF et ADF que l'ensilage de MR. La variété de SS avait un pH inférieur au SR à tout moment lors de la période d'ensilage. L'ensilage de SR contenait une quantité supérieure de lignine et moins d'azote non protéique que l'ensilage de SS. Les troisième et quatrième études investiguèrent la valeur nutritive des ensilages de MS et SS. Les vaches soignées à l'ensilage de MS ont produit du lait plus concentré en gras, énergie du lait corrigée, 4% gras du lait corrigé et rendement en solides du lait corrigé que les vaches soignées à l'ensilage de maïs. La concentration en gras du lait était la même tandis que le rendement en lait et la concentration en lactose furent inférieurs pour les vaches soignées à l'ensilage de SS comparativement à celle soignées à l'ensilage de luzerne. En conclusion, il y a un grand potentiel pour l'ensilage de millet perlé en tant que source de fourrage pour les vaches laitières. D'autres études seraient nécessaires pour optimiser les valeurs nutritives de l'ensilage de sorgho.

The influence of 4, 5 and 6 generations of selection for duration of fertility of frozen-thawed chicken semen on fertility and hatchability of frozen-thawed semen, fertility of fresh semen, semen volume, concentration of spermatozoa, spermatozoal motility and on spermatozoa and seminal plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels and their ratios (generations 5 and 6) as well as the genetic influence on these traits was studied. A selected line and an unselected control line of broiler chickens were used. / All estimates of fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen were significantly (P 0.05). / The heritabilities of fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen and semen characteristics were generally low and those for spermatozoa lipid levels and their ratios were generally medium. / The positive phenotypic correlations between estimates of fertility within frozen-thawed and fresh semen were high but low between fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen. The phenotypic correlations between semen characteristics and fertility were inconsistent. The phenotypic correlations of spermatozoa and seminal plasma cholesterol with fertility of frozen-thawed semen were negative as were the phenotypic correlations of seminal plasma cholesterol with fertility of fresh semen. Genetic correlations were also calculated and were similar in direction to the phenotypic correlations but their magnitudes exceeded unity in many cases. The level of inbreeding was uncorrelated with either fertility, semen characteristics, spermatozoa and seminal plasma lipids or their ratios.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-02, Section: B, page: 0677. Adviser: James K. Drackley. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-02, Section: B, page: 0678. Adviser: Michael Ellis. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0748. Adviser: Larry L. Berger. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7031. Adviser: David H. Baker. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7032. Adviser: Larry Berger. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7033. Adviser: Dan B. Faulkner. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-05, Section: B, page: 2682. Adviser: Hans-Henrik Stein. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3514. Adviser: Carl M. Parsons. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.