@article {3672,
	title = {Do cows with facial eczema feel pain?},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {122-128},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Facial eczema (FE) negatively influences production and welfare. One consequence of FE is reduced feed intake, which could possibly be a consequence of cows experiencing nausea or pain or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of cortisol and acute phase protein (APP) concentrations (indirect measures of pain) with gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and bile acid concentrations (indirect measures of liver damage) in dairy cattle. Blood samples were collected from 2,080 lactating dairy cattle from seven farms that were affected by FE and located in the North Island of New Zealand. Blood samples were analysed for GGT, bile acid, cortisol and APP (serum ferroxidase (SF), serum amyloid A and haptoglobin) concentrations. Data were analysed using best subsets linear regression including farm as a factor and various other prediction variables. There was a significant positive relationship between GGT and bile acid (P<0.001, Adjusted R2=37.3\%), SF (P<0.001, Adjusted R2=27.4\%), and haptoglobin (P<0.001, Adjusted R2=1.9\%) concentrations, but not with cortisol. The positive association between GGT concentrations and APP (SF, haptoglobin) may partly reflect the degree of liver damage caused by sporidesmin intoxication, however, it could also suggest that animals with higher GGT levels are experiencing systemic inflammation and potentially pain.


Keywords: acute phase proteins; facial eczema; gamma-glutamyl transferase; inflammation; pain},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Sutherland M and Huddart F and Cox NR and Cuttance E and Sch{\"u}tz K}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {Is there sire variation in seasonal liveweight gain of rising-yearling red deer?},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {186-189},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Red deer exhibit the greatest seasonal control of nutritional physiology of farmed ruminants in New Zealand, highlighted by seasonal inappetence during winter, present in all sex and age classes. Four years of data from 2048 DNA-pedigreed mixed-sex progeny of 112 sires and 1069 dams from a red deer breeding stud were interrogated to investigate the hypothesis of sire variation in growth across seasons in rising yearlings. Analysis used 17145 live weights from progeny with >= 4 live weights to a minimum of 300 days of age. Estimates of the weights of all animals at the same age were calculated by fittinga restricted maximum likelihood model to adjust for multiple variables and create sire best linear unbiased predictions of rising-yearling growth. Liveweight gain was examined at 11 key seasonal ages. While overall post-weaning variation in liveweight gain was low (CV = 3.6-4.7\%), for seasonal periods it was higher (CV 9.2-15.5\%), with the greatest variability during the winter period (CV = 15.5\%). Ranking sires by the predicted proportion of gained live weight of their offspring over seasonal periods showed sire variation across different seasons. Such variation may be beneficial allowing genetic selection of animals to fit dferent farm systems.Keywords: red deer; Cervus elaphus; seasonality; growth; live weight},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Ward JF and Cox NR and McMahon CD and Stevens DR and Asher GW}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {Development and evaluation of a temperament-scoring system for farmed deer: genetic and environmental components},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {76},
	year = {2016},
	month = {07/2016},
	pages = {109-103},
	address = {Adelaide},
	abstract = {A temperament-scoring system for farmed red deer was developed and evaluated. Hinds (n=1102) and their progeny (n=1609)
from three farms were repeatedly scored (7867 observations in total) for aggression, agitation in a pen or when confined in a
crate, ease of handling, and exit speed from a crate. The animals were scored when yarded for management procedures by one
handler. Inter-observer reliability recorded on a separate occasion was between 70 and 82\%, measured as percentage agreement.
For progeny, heritability was for aggression:0.03{\textpm}0.024, agitation (pen):0.23{\textpm}0.077, agitation (crate):0.17{\textpm}0.056, ease of
handling:0.10{\textpm}0.037, and exit speed:0.04{\textpm}0.021, with a repeatability of 0.19{\textpm}0.018, 0.24{\textpm}0.022, 0.25{\textpm}0.017, 0.24{\textpm}0.015, and
0.17{\textpm}0.013, respectively (estimate{\textpm}SE of estimate for all preceding values). For hinds, repeatability was for aggression:0.23{\textpm}0.048,
agitation (pen):0.16{\textpm}0.068, agitation (crate):0.38{\textpm}0.052, ease of handling:0.45{\textpm}0.048, and exit speed:0.27{\textpm}0.061 (estimate{\textpm}SE of
estimate), respectively. Animals that were agitated in a pen were also more agitated in a crate (r=0.352 and 0.479 for progeny and
hinds, respectively), all other associations were weak (r<=0.228). Farm, year born, age, and drafting order, but not sex, influenced
most temperament scores. Temperament of red deer can reliably be scored in a yard. Agitation showed a moderate genetic
component and could, therefore, be included in future breeding programmes.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Sch{\"u}tz KE and Ward JF and Cox NR and Asher GW}
}
@conference {60950,
	title = {Variation of wool between and across the fleeces of composite-breed strong wool sheep in New Zealand},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {69},
	year = {2009},
	month = {Jun},
	pages = {90-95},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Christchurch},
	abstract = {Many farmers in New Zealand have moved towards using composite-breed sheep flocks to increase the meat production and fecundity of their stock. We aimed to determine whether flocks with a wider genetic base had greater between and within-fleece variation than single-breed flocks. Wool from seventeen body sites of sheep from five flocks of diverse genetic background (Romney, Coopworth, and crosses with Texel, Finnish Landrace and East Friesian breed lines) were compared. Both mean fibre diameter and mean fibre curvature differed between flocks (P <0.001), and across the body (P <0.01). While fibre diameter was more consistent, fibre curvature was more variable across the finer fleeces of flocks with some Finnish Landrace influence. Wool was shorter in Texel crosses, resulting in more consistent length across body sites. Our data suggests that composite-breed sheep exhibit increased within-fleece variation of some wool traits and decreased variation of others. Of most significance was that the extent of wool variation across body sites varied considerably between sheep, regardless of their genotype. In general, there was little association between wool traits with respect to this across-fleece uniformity. Fleece uniformity can be assessed by sampling across the anterior-posterior axis. Selection of stock with more uniform fleeces for specific traits may aid the production of wool better specified to satisfy differentiated niche markets. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Craven AJ and Ashby MG and Wildermoth JE and Cox NR and Scobie DR and Nixon AJ}
}
@conference {41789,
	title = {Relative economic value of wool processing parameters for New Zealand strong wool between 2003 and 2007},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {68},
	year = {2008},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {53-56},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Brisbane, Australia},
	abstract = {Price trends for a total of 147,416 lots of wool in the strong wool segment of the New Zealand clip sold at auction between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2007 were analysed by multiple regression analysis to determine the effect on price of five key characteristics known to affect wool processing performance. Changes in exchange rate were allowed for by covariance against the exchange rate of the US dollar on the day of the auction. The residual standard deviation within the data set was 20.4 c/kg clean. Mean values of the slope of the regression, or relative economic value, were 0.4 {\textpm} 0.2 c/ kg clean/mm change in barbe length, -1.9 {\textpm} 0.9 c/kg clean/{\`\i}m change in mean fibre diameter, 2.5 {\textpm} 0.5 c/kg clean/CIE Y value change in brightness, -5.0 {\textpm} 0.6 c/kg clean/CIE Y-Z value change in intensity of yellowness and -16.8 {\textpm} 3.0 c/kg clean/\% change in vegetable matter contamination. These estimated values align closely with values estimated in 1991 for the New Zealand clip as a whole confirming that despite the significant changes that have occurred within the wool processing industry the economic significance of individual wool characteristics to wool processors have not changed. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Sumner RMW and McDermott AK and Cox NR}
}
@conference {41745,
	title = {Semen parameters of cloned bulls},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {297-302},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {Bulls cloned from the somatic cells of genetically elite sires can make a major contribution to genetic improvement and the rate of dissemination of improved genetics within both the dairy and beef industries. However, little is known about the physiology of clone males and the quality of their semen in particular. This paper reports on the semen characteristics of five cloned Friesian bulls, compared to the two {\textquoteleft}Donor{\textquoteright} bulls from which three and two of the clones were derived by nuclear transfer, respectively, and an age matched control bull. Three batches of frozen semen from each of these eight bulls were obtained from a commercial AB centre and analysed. Four straws from each batch of semen were thawed, pooled and made up to 1mL with RSD-1 diluent and sub-samples taken to evaluate viability, motility, morphology, migration (using a synthetic mucus) and DNA damage. Viability, motility and migration assays were performed immediately after thawing (0 hours) and repeated after 3 hours of incubation at 38{\textdegree}C. An additional straw from each semen batch was used to determine sperm concentration and proportion of diploid cells. There were significant differences (P<0.05)between individual bulls in all parameters except diploid cells (0.16 {\textpm} 0.05 \%), sperm DNA damage (4.41 {\textpm} 1.13\%) and normal sperm (93.3 {\textpm} 6.7\%). The differences in viability (range 74.9 to 54.9\% at 0 hours; 49.6 to 22.5\% at 3 hours), motility (59.2 to 28.3\%; 52.5 to 29.2\%) and migration (vanguard distance 68.3 to 42.5 mm; 38.8 to 12.5mm and running distance (>150 sperm) 33.3 to 23.3mm; 20.4 to 6.7mm) were greater at 3 hours than at0 hours reflecting individual variation in rate of change in parameters over time. However, examination of the variation between clones within a clonal family or line and between lines revealed that this was similar to the overall individual variation, indicating that members of a clonal family are not more uniform. Nonetheless, these results indicate that the samples of semen from the cloned bulls were as good as those of the original donor bulls and fit for commercial use to potentially disseminate elite genotypes.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and McDonald RM and Wells DN and Cox NR}
}
@conference {41726,
	title = {Sperm DNA damage after scrotal insulation in rams},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {192-197},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {Human male fertility is in decline and one reason given for this is the increased incidence of sperm showing chromosomal or DNA damage. Previous work in laboratory and farm animals as well as humans has shown that elevated testicular temperatures increases the incidence of sperm with DNA damage. As part of a study into the effect of temperature on mutation rate in spermatozoa using rams as a model, measurements of sperm DNA damage were also recorded. Twelve mature Dorset x Romney rams, were trained to AV semen collection. Scrotal insulation harnesses were applied (plastic bag with cotton wool insulation inside a rubberised fabric protection cover) to two groups of 6 rams for either a 24 or 48 hour period at day 0. Semen was collected on days -4 and 0 as control samples for each ram before treatment and days 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 45 and 49 post treatment. Semen was diluted in RSD-1 + TNE and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Samples were thawed and assessed by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) on the flow cytometer. This measures sperm susceptibility to {\textquoteleft}in situ{\textquoteright} acid denaturation by staining with acridine orange fluorochrome, which fluoresces differentially when binding to double stranded DNA (green) or single stranded DNA (red). The data indicate an increase in the percentage of sperm that have DNA damage, appearing about 21 days post treatment and reaching a maximum at 35 days. The proportion of sperm with moderate to highlevels of DNA damage was significantly (P<0.001) greater in the 48 hour treatment group and was still observed at 49 days while most of the 24 hour treated animals had recovered by this stage. Of particular interest was the shift of the entire sperm population, in DNA fragmentation index (ratio of red fluorescence:total (red + green) fluorescence), indicating increased susceptibility of DNA denaturation in all cells. This was accompanied by an increase in DNA stainability (increase of green fluorescence) which is interpreted asbeing due to an increase in the number of immature sperm cells with less compacted chromatin which results from abnormal or unprocessed protamines. The sperm damage seen after a relatively mild heat treatment indicates possible mechanisms for the adverse effects of modern life styles on male fertility.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McDonald RM and Smith JF and Montgomery GW and Fleming JS and Cox NR}
}
@conference {40223,
	title = {Facial eczema in Jersey cattle: heritability and correlation with production},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {50},
	year = {1990},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {255-260},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Fifty-eight possums (28 male, 30 female) were captured from the   wild. Animals were grouped into ages of 1, 2-4 and 5+ years. Males   were always heavier than females of the same age, while carcass weight   increased significantly with age up to 5+ years. Age had a more   pronounced effect on carcass composition and meat quality than sex. At   all ages, and in both sexes, possums produced carcasses which were high   in dissected lean (78-80\%) and low in fat (0.8-2.6\%). Their meat was   very high in protein (24-26\%) and low in fat (1.4-2.0\%). Tenderometer   results showed that all age groups produced meat which would be rated as   acceptably tender.    },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Morris CA and Towers NR and Tempero HJ and Cox NR and Henderson HV}
}
@conference {39690,
	title = {The effect of level of feeding of pasture on its digestion by lactating dairy cows},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {40},
	year = {1980},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {227-230},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Trigg TE and Bryant AM and Cox NR}
}
@conference {39646,
	title = {The effect of herbage yield and allowance on growth and carcass characteristics of weaned lambs},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {39},
	year = {1979},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {254-259},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Jagusch KT and Rattray PV and Oliver TW and Cox NR}
}
@conference {39616,
	title = {Ovulation-liveweight relationships in ewes},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {39},
	year = {1979},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {50-55},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Rattray PV and Jagusch KT and Cox NR and Tervit HR}
}
