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Biomedical subjects

T Tomkins

Publications and source records attributed to T Tomkins.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Effect of supplemental pig milk replacer on litter performance: seasonal variation in response.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental milk replacer on sow and litter performance. The study was conducted in 12 farrowing groups (171 litters) over a 3.5-yr period (October 1990 to April 1994). Commercial milk replacer was prepared fresh daily (150 g/L) and offered with ad libitum access in the farrowing crates within 24 h of parturition and was continued through weaning (d 21). Average pig weight (control, 5.5 kg/pig; supplemented, 6.4 kg/pig; P < .001) and total litter weight (control, 52.2 kg/litter; supplemented, 60.9 kg/litter; P < .001) at weaning were greater for litters receiving supplemental milk replacer. There was no effect (P > .2) of supplemental milk replacer on feed intake, backfat thickness, or body weight loss in the sow. Consumption of milk replacer varied greatly among litters. A portion of this variation in intake was accounted for by differences in ambient temperature among farrowing groups. Average milk replacer intakes (liters per pig) from birth to d 21 were 2.5 L/pig (.375 kg dry matter) and 9.9 L/pig (1.49 kg dry matter) for pigs born during the cool and warm seasons, respectively (P < .001). The weaning weight advantage conferred by milk replacer was most evident during the warmer months. Sow feed intakes averaged 5.8 and 3.9 kg/d over the same periods (P < .001). These results demonstrate the advantage of milk replacer on weaning weight and indicate that the greatest benefit from the supplement is during the warmer months when sow feed intake and subsequent milk production are lower.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Treatment of commercial broiler chickens with a characterized culture of cecal bacteria to reduce salmonellae colonization.

The effect of treatment with a newly developed characterized continuous-flow (CCF) culture composed of 29 strains of cecal bacteria on salmonellae colonization was evaluated in commercially reared broiler chickens. Newly hatched chicks in three flocks were sprayed with CCF culture as they were placed in rearing houses and compared with untreated flocks on the same farm. Hatchery transport tray liners and rearing house feed, water, and little samples were cultured for the presence of salmonellae. Cecal samples were cultured after 3- and 6-wk growout. Skin-feather samples were cultured at 6-wk growout. Fifty-five percent of the transport tray liners were contaminated with salmonellae on the day of chick placement. At 3 wk, salmonellae serotypes present on the tray liners were widely distributed in the litter of the rearing houses. The results indicated that exposure to salmonellae occurred before culture treatment and continued in the rearing houses during the 6-wk growout period. Salmonellae cecal colonization was decreased (P < .05) in two of the treated flocks at 3 wk and diminished (P < .07) in the third treated flock compared with control flocks. At 6 wk, skin-feather contamination and cecal colonization were decreased (P < .05) in one of the treated flocks whereas no treatment effect occurred in two of the treated flocks compared with controls. The results clearly indicate the necessity of implementing integrated programs to control salmonellae in both the hatchery and rearing house environments. The CCF culture served to enhance salmonellae colonization resistance and may serve as a useful component of an integrated control program.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effect of extra energy as fat or milk replacer solids in diets of young dairy calves on growth during cold weather.

The effects of feeding two levels of supplemental fat and extra milk replacer solids on Holstein calves housed in hutches during the winter were investigated. Fifty calves (10 per treatment) were assigned to the following dietary treatments: 1) milk replacer (control) reconstituted to 12.5% DM fed at 10% of BW (adjusted weekly), 2) same as treatment 1 plus 113 g/d of supplemental fat, 3) milk replacer reconstituted to 15% DM and fed at 10% of BW (adjusted weekly), 4) same as treatment 1 plus 226 g/d of supplemental fat, and 5) milk replacer reconstituted to 15% DM fed at 14% of BW (adjusted weekly). Half the amount of milk replacer consumed during wk 4 was fed during wk 5, and calves were weaned to dry feed at 35 d of age. A pelleted starter was offered for ad libitum intake throughout the 42-d trial. Gains in BW were greater for calves fed 226 than 113 or 0 g/d of supplemental fat (d 3 to 28). Calves fed milk replacer reconstituted to 15% DM at 14% of BW had greater BW gains during d 3 to 28 than control. Starter consumption was similar between groups receiving 113 and 0 g/d of fat supplement but lower in the group fed 226 g/d. Extra milk replacer solids in diets increased fecal scores to levels greater than those of calves in other groups. The benefit of fat supplementation of milk replacers was manifested as increased BW gain during the 1st mo of life.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1991

Preruminant calf nutrition.

This article has attempted to give the reader an outline of the principles involved in preruminant calf nutrition together with a practical understanding of milk replacers and their use for raising calves. While the nutrient requirements of the preruminant calf are reasonably well understood, the complex interactions occurring when attempting to replace milk proteins with high levels of nonmilk proteins are clearly not well understood. Further, the management and environmental interactions on nutrition are profound and far from elucidated.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

Feeding acidified or sweet milk replacer to dairy calves.

The objective of this study was to compare performance of calves fed acidified milk replacer or regular (sweet) milk replacer twice daily at 10% of BW. Thirty-seven female Holstein calves were fed replacers reconstituted to 12.5% DM for 4 wk, At 28 d, half of the amounts of milk replacer consumed during wk 4 were fed during wk 5 and calves weaned from replacer at d 35 age. A pelleted starter feed was offered for ad libitum access throughout the 42-d trial. Body weight was recorded at birth, d 3 of age, and weekly thereafter. Fecal consistency scores were recorded. Other parameters were measured on d 3 and 42. Average daily gains (d 3 to 42) for calves fed sweet and acidified milk replacers were .33 and .38 kg/d. Starter consumption was similar for both treatments. Calves fed acidified milk replacer (d 3 to 28) had a lower (1.4 vs. 1.6) fecal consistency score than those fed sweet milk replacer (scale of 1 to 4, 1 = normal and 4 = watery). Benefits of feeding acidified milk replacer at 10% of BW per day may be in reducing the incidence of some infectious scours, although further experiments are needed to verify this.

Animal Feed↗