This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and their association with litter performance in primiparous gestating sows. Blood samples were collected from 72 Large White × Landrace crossbred primiparous sows on the day of mating (G0), and on days 30 (G30), G60, G90 and G110 of gestation, and were analyzed for levels of CD4+ T cell subsets include T helper 1

Certain types of fiber inclusion in sow diets can offer benefits such as promoting a healthy microbiome, improving intestinal health, and enhancing welfare through satiety mechanisms. While most research has focused on gestating sows, studies on lactating sows, especially regarding fiber types, levels, and fermentation rates, are limited. This study explored how fiber inclusion and fermentation rate

Liver abscesses (LA) cause significant economic losses in U.S. beef feedlot cattle through a variety of production and performance effects. This research estimated annual economic losses secondary to LA in U.S. beef feedlot cattle using a stochastic simulation model that was based on data from the literature, economic data, and expert opinion. LA prevalence was estimated for four US regions and four

Extra-label bisphosphonate (BP) use in juvenile horses is anecdotally reported, primarily for analgesic effects, despite limited scientific understanding of biologic impacts on skeletally immature horses undergoing exercise. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of clodronate disodium (CD), a form of BP, on endocrine regulators of calcium. Thus, 32 yearling Quarter Horses were stratified

Reduced feed intake is a hallmark of many animal diseases and environmental conditions and has been shown to cause intestinal barrier dysfunction. As there are several markers and assays to evaluate intestinal barrier function, feed restriction may present a potential model to validate and compare multiple in vivo, ex vivo, and tissue markers of intestinal integrity. Forty-eight barrows (9.7 kg initial

The bison industry in the United States has been growing rapidly. In 2023, over 75,000 bison were commercially slaughtered, but stunning methods for bison did not appear to be scientifically evaluated at the time of our study. Our primary objective was to evaluate tissue thicknesses at the frontal (FRONTAL: 2.5 cm above a line connecting the bottom of the horns) and poll (POLL: below the crest of the

Having comprehensive access to information on sheep behaviors is essential for acquiring relevant insights into the health status of sheep and preventing diseases promptly. In particular, the ruminating behavior of sheep tends to reflect the health of their digestive system. However, due to the challenging nature of detecting ruminating behavior, traditional research has not yielded satisfactory results

We compared reticulorumen pH measurements determined using smaXtec boli (SMAX; smaXtec Inc., Graz, Austria), Moonsyst boli (MOON; Moonsyst International, Kinsale, Republic of Ireland), and a handheld pH meter (METER; PH8500 pH/mV Meter, Apera, Columbus, OH) over time and during an ex vivo acidosis challenge. Eight ruminally cannulated heifers were used for 6 consecutive 21-d periods. On d 0, SMAX and

A two-year experiment was conducted to determine the impact of maternal metabolizable energy intake (MEI) on energy partitioning and performance of beef cows and calves. Forty mature crossbred Angus beef cows (6 ± 2.0 y, 534 ± 60 kg BW) were used each year along with their suckling steer calves (84 ± 8.7 d, 130 ± 15 kg BW). Cows were stratified by early-lactation milk yield and randomly assigned to

The dairy industry faces significant challenges from climate change, requiring a deeper understanding of how climatic factors influence raw milk composition and quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of climatic variables, such as temperature, solar radiation, and carbon dioxide levels, on raw milk parameters, including somatic cell count, protein percentage, fat, and total bacterial

Direct genetic selection for increased ewe longevity can improve flock profitability and animal welfare. However, longevity indicator traits are not presently evaluated by the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). The primary objective of this study was, therefore, to estimate genetic parameters for 8 longevity indicator traits using data collected in NSIP Katahdin flocks. Ewes (n = 12,734) were

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of extruded distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut health, and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 144 piglets (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire, initial body weight 6.60 ± 0.35 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatments based on body weight (BW). The control group was fed a basal diet

This study investigated how the nutrition of gestating sows affects piglet performance, behavior, and fecal microbiota. Twenty-four sows were divided into two feeding groups: those on a restricted diet (once a day) and those fed ad libitum (as much as they wanted), with all receiving the same diet during lactation. The piglets were categorized based on their feeding groups; RG-RL: Piglets born and

For livestock, transport can involve several potential stressors including human handling, stocking density, air temperature, noise, vibration, and loading/unloading procedures. The animal’s perception of and its ability to adapt to those stimuli are not fully understood, which makes it difficult to carry out welfare assessments. This study aimed to detect stressful moments in lambs during transport

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro fermentation potential of ileal digesta from pigs fed seven protein sources with different batches—maize germ meal (MGM), cottonseed meal (CSM), rapeseed cake (RSC), rapeseed meal (RSM), peanut meal (PM), soybean meal (SBM), and sunflower meal (SFM)—to assess their potential impact on hindgut protein fermentation, which can be harmful to animals. Ileal digesta

Corn protein (CP), a co-product of the corn ethanol industry, is a sustainable protein source used in pet foods. The objectives of this study were to determine the palatability and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of diets containing CP and to test the effects of CP-containing diets on the serum metabolites, hematology, and fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult

The objective of the current study was to was to determine the influence of biochar supplementation on steer growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal temperature of calf-fed Angus × Holstein (AXH) crossbred steers versus calf-fed Charolais × Holstein (CXH) crossbred steers fed for over 300 days. Fifty-six AXH crossbred steers (body weight (BW) = 192 ± 12 kg), and 56 CHX steers (BW =

This study explored the effects of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury in weaned piglets, and also investigated its possible molecular mechanism. The results showed that dietary supplementation of DHM could improve the jejunum morphological structure of piglets induced by LPS, reduce jejunum mucosa inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress, increase jejunum

Incorporating canola meal (CM) into nursery pig diets has been limited due to the adverse effects of glucosinolates—sulfur-containing glycosides presented in Brassica family oilseeds. This study investigated the effects of acidifiers supplementation in high CM diets on the performance, organ weights, blood profiles, and hindgut microbial composition of nursery pigs. A total of 315 nursery pigs, average

An in vivo experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN; 5Ca (NO3)2·NH4NO3·10H2O, 75% DM NO₃⁻) supplementation on enteric CH4 emissions, ruminal fermentation and microbial community and productivity in Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) steers. Twenty Hanwoo steers (average body weight 348 ± 18 kg) were randomly allocated to five pens (4 head/pen) balanced for body weight

The ergot alkaloid ergovaline is a potent vasoconstrictor. Previous research has shown that ergovaline can bind serotonin (5-HT) receptors and elicit vasoconstrictive activity. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate 5-HT as a vasorelaxant in the ovine saphenous artery and vein. Blood vessels were collected from mixed breed market ram lambs (n=23) at slaughter. Experiment 1: artery and vein cross-sections

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of unconventional ingredients (wheat, broken rice, rapeseed meal, rice bran meal, and fermented distiller grains) into sow diets on sow reproductive performance, placental nutrient transport function, and fecal microbiota. Thirty multiparous sows with similar parity and backfat thickness were randomly assigned to three groups: corn-soybean

Lidocaine is a commonly used local anesthetic that blocks sodium channels in nociceptor neurons, preventing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Lidocaine can be administered to reduce discomfort during tissue biopsies. Biopsy tissue may then be used to study the transcriptome under the assumption that the genomic activity of lidocaine-treated tissue accurately reflects that of untreated

Behavioural reactivity in horses poses a welfare and safety risk to both the horse and the handler, however, beneficial effects have been observed when dietary fat is increased in replacement of sugar. Supplementation with the fatty acids (FA) eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) appear to improve negative behaviours in rodents and humans, but the effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA),

Expected changes in climate warrant research on selection for a phenotypically stable cattle population that can perform consistently across diverse environmental conditions. In this study, we utilize a heteroscedastic random regression model to: 1) characterize the additive genetic and other phenotypic components of dry matter intake (DMI) and respiration rate (RR) with respect to the temperature

This study evaluated the impact of grain processing method (dry- vs. steam-rolling) and diet uNDF concentration (low vs. high; 5.7% vs. 6.6% on DM basis by replacing silage with straw) in finishing diets on feed intake, feeding behavior, growth performance, ruminal pH, fermentation parameters, inflammatory stress responses, and carcass traits of 376 intact (initial BW ± SD, 440 ± 33.6 kg), and 24 ruminally

The use of indigestible markers continues to be among the best tools available for estimating dry matter intake (DMI) in situations where individual animal feeding cannot be feasibly measured. The constant animal handling required for dosing markers and subsequent fecal sample collection required are often limiting, especially when grazing or when animal handling facilities are not accessible. Identifying

Gossypol is a phenolic compound found in cottonseed. Phenolic compounds are plant secondary metabolites, known to have both, beneficial and negative effects on animals. The present experiment evaluated the beneficial and negative effects of cottonseed on growth, daily weight gain, parasite infection measured by fecal egg counts, liver function, and ruminal microbiome of growing female meat goats. Forty

The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a novel algorithm for image extraction of structural conformation traits and estimate variance components among skeletal conformation, growth, and herd retention traits. An Intel RealSense D435i camera was used to obtain left side-view RGB images on individual purebred Duroc pigs (n = 846) at 156 d of age. Frames were selected by a trained swine

Livestock industry stakeholders rely on research, often randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to make evidence-based decisions. Economic implications of interventions are often a major deciding factor for adoption by producers. However, economic analyses in beef feedlot trials are infrequently conducted and often suffer from inconsistent methodologies. Gaps in planning, execution, and reporting of economic

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), a polyphenol-rich plant, has shown promising anti-parasitic properties in ruminants, but results in horses are fewer and inconsistent. The mechanisms of action involved are not fully understood and different factors may influence its anti-parasitic properties. Recently, it has been shown that the effect of sainfoin depends on the horse's diet. Indeed, the inclusion

Low feed intake in weanling pigs can be hypothesized as both cause and consequence to intestinal disturbances and metabolic stress. We explored the associations between individual daily feed intake (FI) patterns, metabolic status and intestinal physiology. Female pigs (n = 24) were selected based on high or low cumulative FI between d1 and d3 relative to weaning (d0) from 12 pens equipped with electronic

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of increasing levels of benzoic acid (BA) on nitrogen utilization and metabolism affecting growth performance, ammonia emissions, and carcass characteristics, and to determine the optimal levels of BA for the growth performance and carcass characteristics when fed to pigs from weaning to market. A total of 480 pigs (6.0 ± 1.5 kg) were assigned

The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA) in feed ingredients is not constant in pigs with 3 different body weight (BW) after reaching 20 kg. Eight ileal-cannulated pigs with an initial BW of 22.2 kg (standard deviation = 1.2) were used in a 2-period cross-over design. Each period consisted of a 5-d adaptation and a 2-d

Forty-four pregnant Angus first-calf heifers (initial body weight [BW] = 490 ± 8 kg, body condition score [BCS] = 5.4 ± 0.06) were selected and assigned to the experiment at the end of their second trimester of gestation. From d 0 until calving, first-calf heifers were gathered and individually fed three times a week with dry distillers’ grain (DDG; 3.5 kg/heifer per feeding; as-fed basis) + treatments

During the weaning period, piglets suffer from various challenges induced by changed trophic conditions, unstable immune systems, and exposure to unfamiliar environments accompanied by direct or indirect production losses. Supplementation of probiotics in a nursery diet has been considered an effective strategy that improves the growth rate and gut health of pigs. In swine production, lactic acid-producing

Optimizing low-protein (LP) diets in swine nutrition is critical for reducing nitrogen excretion and resource waste, while reducing meat quality. However, LP diets may disrupt amino acid (AA) balance, affecting growth and health. Supplementing with non-protein nitrogen sources such as diammonium phosphate (DP) can enhance nitrogen utilization and support protein synthesis efficiently. This study aimed

The highly sought-after carnivorous leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) in seawater is valued for its vivid coloration and nutritional richness. Dietary phospholipid supplementation has been demonstrated to enhance physiological health in fish, but these effects are species-dependent. Despite its popularity, there is scarce study regarding the effects of dietary phospholipids on P. leopardus

Early-life pig growth is influenced by protein synthesis facilitated by sow milk intake. However, factors such as teat disorders, timing of milk letdown, and seasonal fluctuations can limit milk intake, leading to slower growth and higher mortality rates. Artificial rearing systems allow precise regulation of milk intake, providing a valuable platform for researchers to investigate various feeding

Sows were supplemented with high dietary zinc (Zn) at different times in gestation to determine effects on piglet tissue mineral concentrations and gene expression. Ten sSows per treatment were assigned to dietary treatments: 1) Control - sows fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet containing 206 ppm total supplemental zinc supplied by zinc hydroxychloride from mating to farrowing; 2) Breed-to-Farrow -

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus, exhibit immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. This study analyzed the preventive and therapeutic effects of APS on chicks infected with Eimeria tenella (E.tenella) and its impact on intestinal health. A total of 120 1-day-old Hy-Line Brown chicks were assigned to four groups (2 × 2 factorial):

Intestinal epithelial cells are the primary performers of intestinal functions and have a highly glycosylated surface. Membrane proteins are regulated by N-linked glycosylation, making it likely that glycosylation plays a key role in cell differentiation. To investigate the effect of glycosylation on intestinal morphology, we selected 90 pigs with an average initial body weight of 27.74±0.28 kg to

This experiment evaluated dry matter intake, ruminal in situ nutrient disappearance, total-tract apparent nutrient digestibility, microbiome, and ruminal fermentation parameters of crossbred beef cows offered forage-based diets and a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM). Fifteen rumen-cannulated Angus × Hereford cows were used in a crossover design. Treatments consisted of forage-based diets plus

Globally, poultry production has increased to meet the demand for animal protein. Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters have been used to enhance growth performance and prevent infections in commercial poultry practices. However, concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance have triggered interest in alternative solutions, such as essential oils (EOs) and seaweed additives. The aim of the current

Dietary nutrients not only affect the growth and pectoral muscle production of broilers, but also are related to the occurrence of pectoral myopathies, such as wooden breast (WB) and white striping. We investigated whether dietary metabolizable energy (ME) densities and inclusion of oxidized soybean oil could affect growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, redox status, and incidence of WB

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and the expression of genes related to anabolism of skeletal muscle in finishing beef cattle. One hundred and twenty Nellore bulls (initial body weight [BW] = 376 ± 20 kg) were blocked by initial BW, allocated to 24 pens (5 bulls/pen)

One of the main functions of ruminant adipose tissue (AT) is to store lipids for use in productive functions. Body fat mobilization is required during periods of negative energy balance (NEB) such as early lactation or undernutrition. Ruminant nutrition modifies the expression of adipose genes, the regulation of which is not fully understood. The expression of more than 60% of protein-coding genes

Recent advancements in genotyping technologies have revolutionized our ability to estimate breed composition in pigs. The classical compositional regression used for this purpose requires a multibreed panel to detect crossbreeding and its application is limited to breeds in the panel. Some breed entities may not have access to multibreed panel but may have access to a single breed panel. We present

Dietary enzyme supplementation may enhance the digestibility and utilization of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in fiber-rich feedstuffs, which are increasingly being used in swine diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a carbohydrase enzyme containing xylanase and cellulase on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients

Under current dairy cow feeding conditions, the conversion efficiency of dietary nitrogen into milk protein is less than 30%. A thorough understanding of amino acid (AA) uptake and utilization in mammary in response to AA supply is essential for accurately modeling nutritional requirements. This study utilized bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) as a model to investigate the effects of increasing

The use of insects, such as black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (BSFLM), as an alternative protein source for pet food has gained attention due to their high nutritional value. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, amino acid digestibility, and protein quality of defatted BSFLM of two distinct substrates (wheat and corn, BSFLM-W and BSFLM-C). Whole egg

Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) serve as an alternative protein source. Because the amino acid (AA) concentrations, AA digestibility, and protein quality of ingredients may vary depending on their husbandry, harvest and processing procedures, and other factors, each should be evaluated separately. The objective of this study was to measure the AA composition, AA digestibility, and protein quality

Indirect calorimetry can provide insights into the metabolic processes occurring in cats through substrate utilization and energy expenditure (EE). Additionally, the influence of dietary macronutrients on the heat increment of feeding (HIF) in cats remains unexplored. As such, this proof of principle study aimed to test the short-term effects of three test diets formulated for adult maintenance according

This study investigated the effects of up to 45% inclusion of whole pulse ingredients in grain-free (GF) diets on the excretion of bile acids (BA) and other fecal metabolites in healthy large-breed dogs. Twenty-eight adult Siberian Huskies were fed one of four experimental diets formulated to meet the same macronutrient profiles for 20 weeks: 1) grain-inclusive diet with 45% corn (Ctl), 2) GF diet

Insects reared in large-scale, commercial settings may be a sustainable alternative to conventional livestock feeds. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) has been researched as a potential protein supplement for cattle, but knowledge gaps remain in how BSFL affects rumen microbial populations. Further, frass and larval sheddings (FRS) are produced in greater quantities than larval biomass and are N rich

Feedlot cattle in the U.S. have been progressively fed to heavier, more extreme endpoints (EPs) in recent decades. The primary objective was to evaluate economic risk associated with extending days-on-feed (DOF) by characterizing net return distributions of feedlot steers fed to later EPs, compared to current industry standards. Stochastic simulation modeling was employed to simulate a variety of conditions

Wagyu cattle have seen an upsurge in popularity within the United States in recent years, as consumers seek improved meat quality and intramuscular fat, also known as marbling. The small effective population size of Wagyu cattle, paired with the growing interest in the breed, has led to increased inbreeding. As inbreeding has increased, the emergence of deleterious traits (i.e. progressive bovine myeloenecphaly

Body reserves (BR) mobilization (BRM) and accretion (BRA) are crucial biological processes in ruminants that help them manage negative energy balance and adapt to changing environments. The BR dynamics (BRD) is affected by the interplay of key factors such as the farming system (FS) characteristics, physiological stage (PhySt), and parity (Par) or cohort (Coh) of the ewes, as well as litter size (LSi)

A total of 352 sows were used to investigate the effect of soybean meal (SBM) level and adjusted branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) balance on lactating sow and piglet performance. On day 112 ± 1.5 of gestation, sows were randomly assigned, within parity, to one of four dietary treatments: low SBM (LSBM), high SBM (HSBM), LSBM with adjusted BCAA (LSBM+BCAA), or HSBM with adjusted BCAA (HSBM+BCAA). The

The objective was to test the hypothesis that standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA), metabolizable energy (ME), and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in soybean expellers produced from a new variety of high-oil soybeans (SBE-HO) are not different when compared with expellers produced from conventional soybeans (SBE-CV). In Exp. 1, nine barrows (30.0 ± 1.5 kg) that