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Animal 2020 May 22:1-9. Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Animal Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castelane s/n, 14883-900Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.

Each individual in the population has a distinct maximum growth potential, and the growth curve may vary depending on the response to nutrient intake, growth phase and variability among animals. The present study aimed to (1) model weight gain (WG) response to methionine+cystine (Met+Cys) supply using different mathematical functions, (2) identify functions that better fit the growth responses of pullets, (3) determine the Met+Cys requirements that maximize WG based on breeding standards and (4) partition the Met+Cys requirements for WG and maintenance. Three trials were performed using 1448 laying-type pullets. Read More

Animal 2020 May 21:1-4. Epub 2020 May 21.

IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), PO Box 47824-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

Animal 2020 May 21:1-12. Epub 2020 May 21.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Nanjing, Jiangsu210095, P. R. China.

Antibiotics are designed to affect gut microbiota and subsequently gut homeostasis. However, limited information exists about short- and long-term effects of early antibiotic intervention (EAI) on gut homeostasis (especially for the small intestine) of pigs following antibiotic withdrawal. We investigated the impact of EAI on specific bacterial communities, microbial metabolites and mucosal immune parameters in the small intestine of later-growth-stage pigs fed with diets differing in CP levels. Read More

Animal 2020 May 19:1-9. Epub 2020 May 19.

Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou510640, China.

The meat quality of chicken is an important factor affecting the consumer's health. It was hypothesized that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) could be effectively deposited in chicken, by incorporating antioxidation of soybean isoflavone (SI), which led to improved quality of chicken meat for good health of human beings. Effects of partial or complete dietary substitution of lard (LA) with linseed oil (LO), with or without SI on growth performance, biochemical indicators, meat quality, fatty acid profiles, lipid-related health indicators and gene expression of breast muscle were examined in chickens. Read More

Animal 2020 May 19:1-9. Epub 2020 May 19.

Grupo de Melhoramento Animal de Mato Grosso (GMAT), Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Campus Universitário de Rondonópolis, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Avenida dos Estudantes, nº 5055, Rondonópolis, MTCEP 78735-901, Brazil.

Remarkable increases in the production of dairy animals have negatively impacted their tolerance to heat stress (HS). The evaluation of the effect of HS on milk yield is based on the direct impact of HS on performance. However, in practical terms, HS also exerts its influence during gestation (indirect effect). Read More

Animal 2020 May 19:1-11. Epub 2020 May 19.

MeetMe Psykologkonsult AB, Åvägen 16, SE-443 31Lerum, Sweden.

Veterinarians often give advice in a persuasive form, a style that has been shown to evoke resistance to change in clients experiencing psychological ambivalence (i.e. those who see both advantages and disadvantages to changing). Read More

Animal 2020 May 18:1-8. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 8, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen1870, Denmark.

Tail-biting occurs pre-weaning, but literature on tail damage during lactation and on the development of damage over time is sparse, especially for non-docked piglets. We assessed the prevalence of tail damage in non-docked piglets in a commercial Danish piggery during the lactation and weaning period, and investigated the within-animal association of tail lesions pre- and post-weaning. Non-docked piglets (n = 741) from 51 loose-housed sows were individually marked and tracked from birth to 9 weeks (w9) of age. Read More

Animal 2020 May 13:1-9. Epub 2020 May 13.

Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.

There is a requirement in some beef markets to slaughter bulls at under 16 months of age. This requires high levels of concentrate feeding. Increasing the slaughter age of bulls to 19 months facilitates the inclusion of a grazing period, thereby decreasing the cost of production. Read More

Animal 2020 May 13:1-9. Epub 2020 May 13.

School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch6150, Western Australia, Australia.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is an imaging modality that has been used to predict the computed tomography (CT)-determined carcass composition of multiple species, including sheep and pigs, with minimal inaccuracies, using medical grade DEXA scanners. An online DEXA scanner in an Australian abattoir has shown that a high level of precision can be achieved when predicting lamb carcass composition in real time. This study investigated the accuracy of that same online DEXA when predicting fat and lean percentages as determined by CT over a wide range of phenotypic and genotypic variables across 454 lambs over 6 kill groups and contrasted these results against the current Australian industry standard of grade-rule (GR) measurements to grade carcasses. Read More

Animal 2020 May 13:1-9. Epub 2020 May 13.

Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria3821, Australia.

Addition of fats to the diets of ruminants has long been known to result in a reduction in enteric methane emissions. Tannins have also been used to reduce methane emissions but with mixed success. However, the effect of feeding fat in combination with tannin is unknown. Read More

Animal 2020 May 13:1-13. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719Olsztyn, Poland.

Recent research has demonstrated that chemerin may take part in the regulation of reproduction. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of chemerin system - chemerin and its receptors, chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) and C-C chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) - in the porcine uterus during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy, and in trophoblasts and conceptuses by real-time PCR and western blotting. Chemerin concentrations in uterine luminal flushings (ULF) were determined using ELISA test. Read More

Animal 2020 May 13:1-9. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106Warszawa, Poland.

Obestatin is a gastrointestinal peptide having wide-ranging effects on cell proliferation; however, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Thus, the aim of the study was to elucidate the effect of exogenous obestatin on the postnatal structural development of the small intestine. Seven-day-old piglets with an average BW of 1. Read More

Animal 2020 May 11:1-9. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada.

Due to genetic selection for fast growth and high breast meat yield, commercial strains of broiler chickens and broiler breeders are predisposed to high feed intake; however, feeding broiler breeders ad libitum impairs their health and reproductive performance. Broiler breeders are feed-restricted throughout rearing to maintain health and performance, yet feed restriction results in hunger, feeding frustration and lack of satiety. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of alternative feeding strategies, including feed additives (separately or combined) and a fixed non-daily feeding schedule, on the feeding motivation and welfare of broiler breeders during rearing. Read More

Animal 2020 May 11:1-7. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition - DIANA, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122Piacenza, Italy.

The use of modern prolific lines of rabbit does in intensive production systems leads to an increase in productivity but also causes a rise in several problems related to the does' health status. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the litter size on the metabolic, inflammatory and plasma amino acid profile in rabbit does. The blood of 30 pregnant does was sampled on the 27th day of pregnancy. Read More

Animal 2020 May 8:1-10. Epub 2020 May 8.

Livestock Systems Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, Ireland.

Breeding values for feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle are generally derived indoors on high-concentrate (HC) diets. Within temperate regions of north-western Europe, however, the majority of a growing beef animal's lifetime dietary intake comes from grazed grass and grass silage. Using 97 growing beef cattle, the objective of the current study was to assess the repeatability of both feed intake and feed efficiency across 3 successive dietary test periods comprising grass silage plus concentrates (S+C), grazed grass (GRZ) and a HC diet. Read More

Animal 2020 May 8:1-8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011, USA.

Although cattle can synthesize vitamin C (VC) endogenously, stress may increase VC requirements above the biosynthetic threshold and warrant supplementation. This study investigated the effects of a VC injection delivered before or after a long-distance transit event on blood parameters and feedlot performance of beef steers. Fifty-two days prior to trial initiation, 90 newly weaned, Angus-based steers from a single source were transported to Ames, IA, USA. Read More

Animal 2020 May 8:1-11. Epub 2020 May 8.

Laboratory of Bio-feed and Molecular Nutrition, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, P. R. China.

Reducing dietary CP content is an effective approach to reduce animal nitrogen excretion and save protein feed resources. However, it is not clear how reducing dietary CP content affects the nutrient digestion and absorption in the gut of ruminants, therefore it is difficult to accurately determine how much reduction in dietary CP content is appropriate. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of reduced dietary CP content on N balance, intestinal nutrient digestion and absorption, and rumen microbiota in growing goats. Read More

Animal 2020 May 8:1-11. Epub 2020 May 8.

Biostatistic Group, Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska 7, Wrocław51-631, Poland.

Less than 2% of mammalian genomes code for proteins, but 'the majority of its bases can be found in primary transcripts' - a phenomenon termed the pervasive transcription, which was first reported in 2007. Even though most of the transcripts do not code for proteins, they play a variety of biological functions, with regulation of gene expression appearing as the most common one. Those transcripts are divided into two groups based on their length: small non-coding RNAs, which are maximally 200 bp long, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are longer than 200 nucleotides. Read More

Animal 2020 May 8:1-12. Epub 2020 May 8.

Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften, Universität Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 6-10, 70599Stuttgart, Germany.

Single concentrate feeds are mixed together forming compound feeds for cattle. However, knowledge regarding the potential interactions (associative effects) between the feeding values of single feeds in compound feeds is lacking. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate ruminal fermentation characteristics and feeding values of eight industrially produced compound feeds in mash form from their constituent single feeds for dairy cows through in vitro assays. Read More

Animal 2020 May 5:1-9. Epub 2020 May 5.

Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou510640, China.

Ovarian follicle selection is a natural biological process in the pre-ovulatory hierarchy in birds that drives growing follicles to be selected within the ovulatory cycle. Follicle selection in birds is strictly regulated, involving signaling pathways mediated by dietary nutrients, gonadotrophic hormones and paracrine factors. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that dietary Ca may participate in regulating follicle selection in laying ducks through activating the signaling pathway of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), possibly mediated by gonadotrophic hormones. Read More

Animal 2020 May 5:1-9. Epub 2020 May 5.

Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera km 1, 41013Sevilla, Spain.

Although dried orange pulp (DOP) may conveniently replace cereals in ruminant diets, few studies have considered similar diet substitution for goats. We hypothesised that DOP could replace cereal-based concentrate in goat diets without detrimental effects on growth performance and carcass quality of suckling kids and milk performance and blood biochemical parameters of dams in early lactation. We also hypothesised that DOP substitution may increase the levels of antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds and vitamin E, in milk and improve its total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Read More

Animal 2020 May 5:1-7. Epub 2020 May 5.

Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, DK-8830Tjele, Denmark.

Use of antimicrobials for food-producing animals is a major public concern due to the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Although dairy production has a relatively low usage of antimicrobials, the potential for further reduction should be explored. The objective of the study was to estimate the current differences in antimicrobial use in Danish organic and conventional dairy herds and to describe the differences between them. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 30:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Tropical Forages Program, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Duduville Campus, Off Kasarani Road, PO Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya.

Heat stress is a global issue constraining pig productivity, and it is likely to intensify under future climate change. Technological advances in earth observation have made tools available that enable identification and mapping livestock species that are at risk of exposure to heat stress due to climate change. Here, we present a methodology to map the current and likely future heat stress risk in pigs using R software by combining the effects of temperature and relative humidity. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 30:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and Environment, Kampusranta 9, Seinäjoki60320, Finland.

In order to reduce antimicrobial use in pig production, the consequences of insufficient biosecurity and welfare problems need to be known. This study aimed to investigate associations between the number of antimicrobial treatments per fattening pig, and biosecurity, indicators for animal welfare as well as the prevalence of lesions at slaughter. The data used in this study were extracted from the pig health and welfare classification system (Sikava), which gathers data on medicine usage, meat inspection, animal welfare and the condition of farm buildings from over 95% of pig production in Finland. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 30:1-12. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Unidad Regional Universitaria Sursureste, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Km. 7, Carretera Teapa-Vicente Guerrero, Teapa, Tabasco86800, México.

Technological and mathematical advances have provided opportunities to investigate new approaches for the holistic quantification of complex biological systems. One objective of these approaches, including the multi-inverse deterministic approach proposed in this paper, is to deepen the understanding of biological systems through the structural development of a useful, best-fitted inverse mechanistic model. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the capacity of a deterministic approach, that is, the multi-inverse approach (MIA), to yield meaningful quantitative nutritional information. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 30:1-10. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35590Saint-Gilles, France.

Quantifying robustness of farm animals is essential before it can be implemented in breeding and management strategies. A generic modelling and data analysis procedure was developed to quantify the feed intake response of growing pigs to perturbations in terms of resistance and resilience. The objective of this study was to apply this procedure to quantify these traits in 155 pigs from an experiment where they received diets with or without cereals contaminated with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 29:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Sergipe49100-000, São Cristó vão, Brazil.

The use of antibiotics as performance enhancers in animal feeding is declining, so Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil (LGSEO) could be used as a potential substitute for the conventionally used growth promoters. The LGSEO contains components such as carvacrol and thymol, which kill and/or control pathogenic bacteria, increase population of beneficial organisms, act against oxidative processes and onto nutrient digestibility and absorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the action and the effects of LGSEO as a growth promoter in the diet of Japanese quail by examining their productive performance, intestinal microbiology, blood biochemical parameters, hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and intestinal gene expression. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 28:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province030801, P. R. China.

Se can enhance lactation performance by improving nutrient utilization and antioxidant status. However, sodium selenite (SS) can be reduced to non-absorbable elemental Se in the rumen, thereby reducing the intestinal availability of Se. The study investigated the impacts of SS and coated SS (CSS) supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation and microbiota in dairy cows. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 23:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830Tjele, Denmark.

In the mink industry, feed costs are the largest variable expense and breeding for feed efficient animals is warranted. Implementation of selection for feed efficiency must consider the relationships between feed efficiency and the current selection traits BW and litter size. Often, feed intake (FI) is recorded on a cage with a male and a female and there is sexual dimorphism that needs to be accounted for. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 22:1-10. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QuebecJ1M 0C8, Canada.

Precision feeding requires a mathematical model to estimate standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) requirements (SIDLysR) in real time. However, this type of model requires constant calibration updates. The objective of this study was to review the calibration of the model used to estimate the real-time Lys requirements of individual growing-finishing pigs. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 20:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 33 Wołyńska Street, 60-637Poznań, Poland.

The comparison of the effects of all forage offering methods would be particularly useful information in modeling growth performance and rumen fermentation of dairy calves. Therefore, this study attempted to evaluate the effects of methods of oat hay provision on growth performance, rumen fermentation and biochemical blood indices of dairy calves during preweaning and postweaning periods. At birth, 40 female Polish Holstein-Friesian calves (3 days of age; 39. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 16:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing400715, P. R. China.

Beef cattle are often fed high-concentrate diet (HCD) to achieve high growth rate. However, HCD feeding is strongly associated with metabolic disorders. Mild acid treatment of grains in HCD with 1% hydrochloric acid (HA) followed by neutralization with sodium bicarbonate (SB) might modify rumen fermentation patterns and microbiota, thereby decreasing the negative effects of HCD. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 15:1-8. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Department of Animal Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Pasture management that considers pasture growth dynamics remains an open question. Conceptually, such management must allow for grazing only after the recuperation of the pasture between two separate timely grazing periods when pasture reaches optimum recovery, as per the first law of Voisin's rational grazing system. The optimum recovery period not only implies a pasture with better nutritional value and higher biomass yield but one that also reduces the production of enteric methane (CH4) to improve the grazing efficiency of cattle. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 15:1-12. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS79804-970, Brazil.

Chitosan (CHI) is a natural biopolymer with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and digestive modulatory effects, which can be used in the ruminant diet to replace antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CHI on lamb growth traits, nutrients digestibility, muscle and fatty deposition, meat fatty acid (FA) profile, meat quality traits and serum metabolome. Thirty 30-month-old male lambs, half Suffolk and half Dorper, with an average BW of 21. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 15:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 14884-900Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.

Mycotoxins are present in almost all feedstuffs used in animal nutrition but are often ignored in beef cattle systems, even though they can affect animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mycotoxins and a mycotoxin adsorbent (ADS) on performance of Nellore cattle finished in a feedlot. One hundred Nellore cattle (430 ± 13 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 15:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá, Paraná87020-900, Brazil.

Milk production is an important economic and social activity in Brazil. Failure to meet institutional and market demands for quality and sustainability has led farmers, particularly small-scale farmers, to leave agriculture. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sustainability of dairy farms in Paraná, Brazil. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 15:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Swine Research Center, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga13635-900, Brazil.

The use of altrenogest (ALT) supplementation for oestrous synchronization improves subsequent reproductive performance of gilts and sows. However, the causes of this improvement in reproductive performance after ALT treatment are not fully/clearly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ALT supplementation for oestrous synchronization in gilts on the endometrial glands and embryonic development characteristics at 28 days of pregnancy. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 8:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, PragueUhříněves10400, Czech Republic.

In animal breeding, genetic parameters along with economic weights (EWs) of traits are applied. Profit functions currently used to calculate rabbit traits' EWs do not consider nutrient requirements based on animal weight, growth rate and doe reproductive status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a flexible bioeconomic model of rabbit-production systems and implement it in a computer programme in order to calculate economic values and relative EWs for rabbit traits. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 8:1-9. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Universitätsplatz 5, Bolzano39100, Italy.

Cubicle characteristics such as cubicle dimensions or management factors such as cow-to-cubicle ratio could affect health and behaviour of dairy cows. The objective of this study was to estimate effects of cubicle characteristics on animal welfare indicators in dairy cattle. A total of 64 loose housing farms in Germany were assessed once during the winter housing period by one experienced assessor. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 8:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement - INRAE Theix, F-63122Saint-Genès Champanelle, France.

Cortisol is often used as a stress indicator in animal behaviour research. Cortisol is commonly measured in plasma and can also be measured in saliva. Saliva contains only the free form of cortisol, which is biologically active, and saliva sampling is not invasive and may therefore be less stressful. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 8:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University and Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WDWageningen, The Netherlands.

The performance of pigs is affected by the rate of nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which depends in turn strongly on the rate of stomach emptying. The 13C breath test provides a non-invasive diagnostic tool to measure gastric emptying patterns. Despite the wide acceptance of this method in human intervention studies, it has not found its way to the domain of animal sciences. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 8:1-8. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI53706, USA.

The recent increased prevalence of uterine prolapses in sows around parturition has led to inferences that the prolapses may be associated with hypocalcemia. However, limited data are available to support that hypocalcemia occurs in sows. Hypocalcemia in dairy cows is associated with feeding excess dietary Ca during late gestation. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 7:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College, Sherbrooke, QuébecJ1M 0C8, Canada.

Many studies have shown that metabolic efficiency of ruminants can be significantly decreased when B-vitamin supply is insufficient. Under the present state of knowledge, the amounts of B vitamins available for intestinal absorption cannot be predicted based on diet composition. Therefore, in an attempt to increase our understanding of the effects of dietary factors, on B-vitamin supply for dairy cows, the effects of increasing amounts of extruded linseed in diets based on hay (permanent grassland hay, H; Experiment 1) or corn silage (CS; Experiment 2) on apparent ruminal synthesis (ARS) of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folates and vitamin B12 were evaluated. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 7:1-11. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Forage and Fodder Management, Regional Office for Southern Africa, P.O. Box MP 163, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Livestock production provides a pathway for improving livelihoods and reducing poverty in semi-arid tropical regions. However, this contribution has been affected by low livestock productivity. Most livestock programmes have also failed due to, among other things, the inability to understand the dynamics in smallholder breeding preferences. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 6:1-10. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Peter Henry Rolfs Avenue, Viçosa, Minas Gerais36570-900, Brazil.

Nutrient requirements in cattle are dependent on physiological stage, breed and environmental conditions. In Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers, the lack of data remains a limiting factor for estimating energy and protein requirements. Thus, we aimed to estimate the energy and protein requirements of Holstein × Gyr crossbred heifers raised under tropical conditions. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 6:1-10. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700AHWageningen, The Netherlands.

Requirements for energy and particular amino acids (AAs) are known to be influenced by the extent of immune system stimulation. Most studies on this topic use models for immune system stimulation mimicking clinical conditions. Extrapolation to conditions of chronic, low-grade immune system stimulation is difficult. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 6:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Laboratory of Genetics, NAIK-Research Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Meat Science, Gesztenyés u. 1., 2053Herceghalom, Hungary.

Hungarian Grey is an indigenous cattle breed that is one of the national symbols of Hungary. However, genetic description of the Hungarian Grey cattle has not yet been conducted based on whole-genome screening. Using the GeneSeek high-density Bovine SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) 150 K BeadChip, we sampled the genome of 36 Hungarian Grey, 12 Maremmana, 13 Hungarian Fleckvieh and 5 Holstein-Friesian cattle for population studies and used data of 139 other cattle from an additional dataset created on European cattle breeds (Upadhyay et al. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 6:1-11. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

PEGASE (Physiology, Environment, and Genetics for the Animal and Livestock Systems), INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment), Institut Agro, 35590Saint-Gilles, France.

Conventional pork production, based on highly selected breeds for growth efficiency and carcass leanness, is generally considered to decrease pork quality. In contrast, non-selected breeds produced in extensive systems are associated with high pork quality, which is generally attributed to higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content and less glycolytic muscle metabolism. The present study aimed to determine biochemical, histological and quality traits of loin and ham muscles of pigs from selected Large White (LW) and local French, non-selected Basque (B) breeds. Read More

Animal 2020 Apr 3:1-11. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Agriculture Building, King's Road, Newcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU, UK.

Determining best practices for managing free farrowing systems is crucial for uptake. Cross-fostering, the exchange of piglets between litters, is routinely performed amongst crate-housed sows. However, cross-fostering can increase fighting amongst the litter and may be more challenging within free farrowing systems as sows have more freedom to respond to cross-fostered piglets. Read More

Animal 2020 Mar 31:1-8. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Estado de México, Toluca, México.

Rumen fluid from slaughtered animals is one of the wastes of slaughterhouses released to the environment that, due to its high nitrogen and phosphorus contents, can lead to soil and groundwater pollution. Meanwhile, it contains ruminal microbes and some bioactive compounds such as enzymes, minerals, vitamins and organic acids. This study was designed to examine the potential of rumen fluid as a feed additive. Read More