@conference {41157,
	title = {Liveweight gain of young sheep grazing tall fescue or perennial ryegrass swards of different white clover content},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {60},
	year = {2000},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {51-54},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {It is not clear whether the inherent qualities of tall fescue or the legumes grown with it are responsible for the wide range of liveweight gains in young sheep grazing these swards. The objective of this experiment was to determine the value of the white clover content in tall fescue swards relative to perennial ryegrass/white clover swards in respect to live weight gain in young sheep. Nine trials (ranging from 41 to 190 days) were conducted at AgResearch Poukawa and AgResearch Lincoln from spring 1995 to autumn 1997 using 15 animals as replicates in 19 treatments. Overall, live weight gains ranged from {\textendash}87 to 366 g/head/day. Even small increases in clover content had large positive effects on liveweight gain of young sheep grazing both perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. At the same pasture mass and composition, all spring grazing liveweight gains were significantly greater than those in autumn (P<0.001). Tall fescue swards appear to sometimes produce higher liveweight gains than perennial ryegrass-based swards, but this is by virtue of growing more white clover, particularly in spring.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Hyslop MG and Fraser TJ and Smith DR and Knight TL and Slay MWA and Moffat CA}
}
@conference {41142,
	title = {Farm of origin and finishing environment effects on beef quality attributes},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {59},
	year = {1999},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {282-286},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that finishing environment can affect beef quality attributes, including fat and meat colour, meat pH, subcutaneous fat depth (FD) and intramuscular fat (IMF) content of pasture-fed beef. 181 rising 2-year old Angus steers were obtained from 4 source farms and finished at 4 North Island locations. On 3 properties, home-bred cattle were compared to a common control line. On a fourth property, cattle from the 3 sources were compared to each other and to the control. FD, meat pH and meat colour were affected by location (P<0.01), but not source. Only source effects were significant (P<0.05) for IMF. Both source and location affected fat colour (P<0.01). Steers that were killed later had significantly (P<0.01) higher meat pH (r=0.33), darker meat (r=-0.24), greater IMF (r=0.26), higher plasma carotene levels at slaughter (r=0.38) and yellower fat b* (r=0.39). The results indicate that both farm of origin and finishing environment can affect meat quality. Both sources of variation appeared to be mediated, in part, by cattle growth rate. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith DR and Smith NB and Muir PD}
}
@conference {40811,
	title = {Variation in meat pH in steers and association with other carcass attributes: analysis of a commercial database},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {56},
	year = {1996},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {187-192},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Measurements of meat pH on 16905 steer carcasses supplied to the  Richmond Asian Beef Programme in the 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons were  analysed for variability between suppliers and associations between pH and  other carcass attributes. Carcass measurements were made 12 hours or later  after slaughter. Factors evaluated included carcass weight, carcass grade,  marbling level, age of cattle, mob size, and use of growth promotants. The frequency distribution of meat pH was highly skewed, with 92\% of  carcasses falling within the range of 5.2 to 5.8, and the remainder forming a  long tail above 5.8, ranging to an extreme value of 7.1. For carcasses falling  in the pH range of 5.2 to 5.8, pH showed a highly significant positive  association with meat colour. As pH rose above 5.8, the slope of the  relationship increased and the percentage of carcasses in the darkest meat  colour category rapidly approached 100\%. In the range 5.2 to 5.8, pH showed highly significant negative (P< 0.0001)  associations with degree of marbling and carcass weight. After adjusting for  carcass weight and marbling score, pH showed a significant positive  association with age of cattle. The percentage of carcasses with a pH above  5.6 was 38\% for carcasses with a marbling score of 1. For every unit  increase in marbling score (up to 5), the percentage of carcasses above a pH  5.6 specification declined by approximately 5\%. However, the proportion of  carcasses with pH above 5.8 showed little association with marbling.  Similarly, effects of weight and cattle age on pH were much more apparent  near the mean pH (5.61) than at pH values at and above 5.8. Mob size had a small but highly significant(P<0.001) effect on the  frequency distribution of pH, with smaller mobs tending to have lower pH.  The effect of smaller mob size was more evident near the high pH range  than in the middle of the frequency distribution. For mobs of 15 or fewer  cattle, 94\% of carcasses had a pH of 5.8 or less. For mobs larger than 15,  91\% of carcasses met this specification. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith DR and Wright DR and Muir PD}
}
@conference {40689,
	title = {Near-infrared reflectance analysis of intramuscular fat in beef},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {124-126},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {In adult sheep, cadmium (Cd) accumulates in both liver and kidney  tissue in an age dependent manner. To quantify the accumulation of Cd in  the developing foetus and investigate the relationship with the Cd status of  the maternal parent, liver and kidney samples were collected from both  Romney and Merino foetuses, approximately fortnightly, from 60 days after  conception up to parturition, and from the suckling lamb, weekly over three  weeks. Matching liver and kidney samples were also obtained from the dam.   Tissue sub-samples were analysed for metallothionein-mRNA by dot blot  hybridisation of total RNA extracts to assist in identifying regulatory aspects  of Cd accumulation in hepatic foetal tissue and any relationship with Zn.   Cadmium concentrations (means },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith DR and Smith NB and Muir PD}
}
@conference {40472,
	title = {Animal toxicity problems perceived to be associated with different pasture types on East Coast sheep/beef farms},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {53},
	year = {1993},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {133-138},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {An understanding of behavioural principles such as the flight zone, 360 degree vision, sensitive hearing, strong reactions to novelty and effects of pressure on the body will facilitate handling and restraint of livestock.  Silencing high pitched noise from hydraulic pumps and motors will reduce stress. Solid fences on races, crowd pens and loading ramps will keep animals calmer by blocking their vision. A curved race to a crush or stunning box will facilitate cattle movement because an approaching animal will not be able to see people at the other end. Wild cattle will stand still in a dark box for AI. Wild cattle in a restraint device will remain calmer if they are unable to see people inside their flight zone or a pathway of escape. It is important to keep vision blocked until the animal is completely restrained.  Restraint devices should only apply sufficient pressure to hold the animal snugly in a comfortable position and to make the animal "feel restrained" without any pain or discomfort. Pressure applied with a slow steady movement will keep cattle calmer but pressure applied with jerky sudden movement causes excitement. Handlers and equipment engineers who utilize these principles can move and restrain livestock more efficiently with less stress and carcass damage. Rough handling is one of the major causes of carcass damage.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Korte CJ and Smith DR}
}
