SCOPE Investigate the influence of low-folate supply during pregnancy and lactation on obesity and markers of the metabolic syndrome in offspring, and how provision of a high-fat diet post weaning may exacerbate the resultant phenotype. METHODS AND RESULTS Female C57Bl/6 mice were randomized to low or normal folate diets (0.4 or 2 mg folic acid/kg diet) prior to and during pregnancy and lacta...

(Co) variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits in Arman sheep were estimated, using data collected during an 11-year period (1999-2010), by applying the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure under univariate and bivariate animal models. The studied traits were body weight of lamb at birth (BW), body weight at 3 months of age as weaning weight (WW), body weight at 6 m...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect on growth and iron status in preterm infants of a specially devised weaning strategy compared with current best practices in infant feeding. The preterm weaning strategy recommended the early onset of weaning and the use of foods with a higher energy and protein content than standard milk formula, and foods that are rich sources of iron and zinc. SUBJECTS AND DE...

The importance of birth-to-weaning average daily gain as a determinant of weight at a final age and yield of marketable pork was investigated. Treatments were imposed to create variation in birth-to-weaning ADG independent of birth weight. Newborn pigs were cross-fostered to create litters of four through 14 pigs/litter. Creep feed was offered to pigs from 5 d of age or during last 2 d before w...

Variance and covariance components were estimated for yearling scrotal circumference and weaning weight from Limousin field data. Records of 8.226 bulls were used to evaluate 584 sires and 653 maternal grandsires. Data included all herdbook records of bulls with a recorded scrotal circumference and their weaning contemporaries. Analyses were performed by restricted maximum likelihood techniques...

Objective: Estimation of genetic parameters for Kleiber ratio (KR) and genetic trends for pre-weaning weights of Arabi sheep has not been previously conducted.Methods: Data and pedigree information were collected at the Khuzestan Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Animal Science Research Station, located in southwest Iran, from 2001 to 2008. (Co)variance components and corresp...

Preweaning and weaning records on 457 calves and weights and milk production of their dams were used to evaluate breed of dam effects, breed of sire effects, and individual heterosis effects. Hereford and Tarentaise dams were mated to Hereford and Tarentaise sires and calves were born from 1987 to 1991. Calf traits were birth weight, proportion calving difficulty, weaning weight, weaning height...

this experiment was conducted using 172 male lambs of ghezel and mehraban breeds for two periods of 60 and 80 days. two systems of fattening were studied. the first group of lambs entered feedlot boxes immediately after weaning (spring) but the second group being fed on pasture, entered the experiment approximately 4 months later (autumn). fattening periods were 60 and 80 days. the average wean...