@conference {41019,
	title = {The role of milk production in dryland lamb production systems},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {170-174},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {A farmlet study was carried out over 2 years to examine the role of milk production in dryland lamb production systems. Poll Dorset and Romney ewes were used to represent high and low levels of milk production and mated to produce reciprocal cross lambs. High and low fecundity treatments were included in replicated farmlets of 2.9 ha and stocked at 15 ewes/ha. Mean lambing dates were 5th and 8th August with lambs drafted for slaughter from mid October. In Year 1, Poll Dorset ewes produced 44\% (singles) and 88\% (twins) more milk in peak lactation than their Romney counterparts. In late lactation, Poll Dorsets produced 41\% (singles) and 169\% (twins) more milk. In Year 2, the advantages were 19\% (singles) and 18\% (twins) in peak lactation and 78\% (singles) and 67\% (twins) in late lactation. Increased milk production had small effects on lamb growth rates in the low fecundity treatments (Year 1: 338 vs 328 g/d; Year 2: 317 vs 300 g/d for the respective high and low milk treatments). In the high fecundity farmlets, dam breed differences were larger (Year 1 :280 vs 244g/d ; Year 2: 307 vs 283 g/d, respectively). Number of lambs drafted by the 2nd December were also similar in low fecundity groups (Year 1: 93\% vs 95\%; Year 2: 90\% vs 93\%, respectively). Greater numbers of lambs were drafted off high fecundity Poll Dorsets than Romney dams (56\% vs 23\%) in Year 1 but not in Year 2 (85\% vs 81\%). The greater effect of milk on lamb growth in high fecundity treatments in Year 1 was attributed to poor spring feed conditions and the buffering ability of high milk producing ewes. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Wallace GJ and McCall DG and Dodd CJ}
}
@conference {40728,
	title = {Brief Communication - The cost of producing feedlot beef in New Zealand},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {255-256},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {In recent years there has been considerable interest in feedlotting as a  means of producing beef carcasses with more desirable characteristics (eg.  improved fat colour, marbling). This paper outlines the cost of feeding  heavyweight cattle on a feedlot ration and the likely premiums required to  meet this additional cost.   In three experiments Angus steer were fed 70\% grain diets ad libitum  for at least 14 weeks. In experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively, steers grew  from 621 to 761 kg, 574 to 674 kg and 563 to 657 kg, over 70, 68 and 71 day  period, respectively. Feed intakes averaged 15.2 kg of dry matter per day  and were 2.2\% of bodyweight. Average liveweight gain was 1.60 kg/day and  average feed conversion efficiency was 9.5 kg feed per 1 kg of liveweight  gain. Based on typical New Zealand feed costs, the average daily feed cost  was $3.44 per head and the premium required to recoup the feed cost alone  would need to be $1.18 per kg of total carcass weight. Approximately $1.48  per kg would be required to cover all costs.  },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Smith NB and Wallace GJ}
}
@conference {40729,
	title = {Effect of allowance and the rate of adaptation of weaned calves to two brassica types},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {257-260},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Groups of 10 Friesian bull calves averaging 142 kg were offered  Winfred forage brassica (62\% leaf) at allowances of 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15\% of  bodyweight (BW) for 6 weeks. Similarly, groups of 8 Friesian bull calves  averaging 150 kg were offered Wairoa forage brassica (67\% leaf) at  allowances of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 \% of bodyweight. Calves were weighted  weekly and offered fresh allowances each week. The two experiments were  conducted between January and March of the same year but were not run  concurrently.   There was a significant effect (P<0.01) of allowance on liveweight gain for  calves offered Winfred, with calves on the lowest allowance (3\% of BW)  growing at 0.90 kg/day, compared to 1.20 kg/day for calves grazing the other  four allowances. Calves grazing the low allowance (3\% of BW) utilised  77\% of the total crop, but only 43\% of the stem. On the other hand, calves  grazing the low allowance of Wairoa utilised 90\% of the total crop and 72\%  of the stem without suffering a liveweight penalty. There was no effect of  allowance of Wairoa on calf growth rate and overall, calves on Wairoa grew  at an average of 1.03 kg/day. Choice of a leafy type of brassica maybe  important if the objective is a high degree of utilisation coupled with good  animal performance. Alternatively, on },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Wallace GJ and Slay MWA}
}
@conference {40385,
	title = {A comparison of grain and pasture finishing of heavyweight cattle},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {52},
	year = {1992},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {93-96},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Data for the years 1986 to 1990 from the "Kamo" out-of-season  lambing flock were subjected to analyses to determine the genetic  variation for lambing date. The response variate was date of lambing  (provided the ewe had a chance to mate for an autumn lambing) and this  was transformed to an underlying normal scale by treating it as an  ordered categorical response. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML)  analyses were performed using an animal model. Year of record and age  of ewe were included as fixed effects. There were 870 ewes having a  total of 1967 lambing records. The estimate of heritability for  standardised lambing data was 0.23 and repeatability 0.36 while the  heritability for litter size was 0.03. Preliminary multivariate  analysis indicated that the genetic correlation between standardised  lambing date and litter size to be 0.09.   At the time of disbanding of the flock samples of ewes selected on the  phenotypic response (i.e. number of times lambed in autumn) of the ewe  or of her dam, were brought to Ruakura. In 1991 following a best linear  unbiased prediction (BLUP) analyses these were assigned to Autumn and  Spring lambing flocks on the basis of their breeding value (BV) for  standardised date of lambing. The average BV for the Autumn flock was -  0.13 while that for spring was +0.07 and there was a 26 day difference  in mean lambing date (167 vs 193).  },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Cruickshank GJ and Smith NB and MacLean KS and Wallace GJ}
}
@conference {40424,
	title = {Effects of grazing pressure and competition on growth rate of Merino and Romney lambs},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {52},
	year = {1992},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {247-250},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The effect of nutritional management of Angora goats on fibre  production and fibre quality was investigated over two years. After  shearing in August, does were fed either maintenance (MPA) or ad  libitum (HPA ryegrass/white clover pasture (approximately 1.0 kg and  >4kg DM/head/day respectively). In October half the does were removed  from each allowance group and introduced into the alternate allowance  group. This was repeated in early February, allowance groups being  balanced for their previous allowance history. Fleece weights were  recorded at shearing in February and August. Fibre diameter,  medullation and kemp levels were measured at shearing in February and  August and also in October and May. Doe live weights were recorded  monthly and when fleece measurements were made. After one year of  measurements, does were completely randomised onto new pasture  allowances and the experiment was repeated.   Nutritional treatments generated liveweight differences between HPA and  MPA does throughout the year (P<0.05). February fleece weights were  similar in both HPA and MPA groups in 1990 (1.73 vs 1.67; s.e.d 0.067 kg  for HPA vs MPA respectively) and in 1991 (1.43 vs 1.41; s.e.d 0.060 kg  for HPA vs MPA respectively) though approximately 25\% lower than in  1990. August fleece weights were similar in 1990 and 1991 but were  approximately 20\% higher in HPA does than in MPA does (1.46 vs 1.26;  s.e.d 0.051 kg for HPA vs MPA respectively in 1990 and 1.49 vs 1.20;  s.e.d 0.040 kg for HPA vs MPA respectively in 1991). Increased August  fleece weight was associated with increased fibre diameter (34.9 vs  32.7; s.e.d 0.52 },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Cruickshank GJ and Wallace GJ and MacLean KS and Smith NB}
}
@conference {40414,
	title = {Effects of location and source of ewes and rams on the onset of oestrus in Romney ewes},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {52},
	year = {1992},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {207-210},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Spermatozoal motility is known to be influenced both by the  diluent used and by the physical parameters involved in the processing  of semen. We have evaluated the effect of cooling and dilution on ram  spermatozoal motility in a defined semen diluent. The results indicated  that ram semen is best stored at 15 C, this temperature being reached by  cooling at a rate not greater than 3 C per minute. Time (up to 60  minutes from semen collection) and extent of dilution (500 or 800 x 10 6  spermatozoa per mil) were found to have no effect upon maintenance of  spermatozoal motility.  },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Knight TW and Muir PD and O{\textquoteright}Neill KT and Wallace GJ and Hamilton GJ and McLean K}
}
@conference {40175,
	title = {Early lambing in Hawkes Bay: The effect of pasture allowance and protein supplementation at pasture on lamb growth rates},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {49},
	year = {1989},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {237-244},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Groups of Coopworth ewes were mated to Polled Dorset rams at 2 monthly intervals for 12 months following induced ovulation and synchronised oestrus. The ram lambs were made cryptorchid and grown to a target slaughter liveweight of 40 kg. The influence of birthdate on birthweight, pre- and post-weaning growth rate, time from birth to slaughter and carcass leanness was studied. The major influence on lamb performance was the timing of lambing in relation to spring pasture growth and the subsequent summer period, characterised by low pasture growth and quality. When late gestation was during summer lamb birth weight was lower (3.5 and 3.6 kg for January and March born lambs respectively) than for other periods (4.3, 4.4, 4.8 and 4.5 kg for May, July, September and November born lambs respectively). Similarly, pre- and post-weaning growth rates were higher during spring (pre-weaning maximum, 276 g/d for lambs born in July; post-weaning maximum 223 g/d for lambs born in May) and lowest during summer (pre-weaning minimum 150 g/d for lambs born in November, post-weaning minimum 123 g/d for lambs born in September). Age at slaughter was lowest for lambs born in May and July and highest for lambs born in September and November. When corrected to an average liveweight of 42 kg the average age was 230, 208, 176, 175, 245 and 236 days for lambs born in January, March, May, July, September and November respectively. These data suggest that lamb growth to these comparatively high slaughter weights was optimal when lambs were born in May and July. If premiums are offered for out-of-season production of heavy carcasses to supply the chilled meat trade, May appears to be the optimal time for lambing as the average slaughter date for this group was 27.10.87, compared to 12.01.88 for lambs born in July.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Wallace GJ and Smith NB and Ryan AM}
}
@conference {40181,
	title = {Early lambing in Hawkes Bay: Use of the ram effect},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {49},
	year = {1989},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {271-276},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Three trials involving a total of 345 animals have been conducted in widely separated geographical regions in New Zealand, using a similar trial design to compare different treatment regimes for invermectin in beef weaners. Commencing at weaning and continuing into late winter/spring, trial animals received ivermectin subcutaneously at 200 },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Smith NB and Wallace GJ}
}
