Context: Increasing demand for livestock products in developing countries provides opportunities for smallholder farmers to increase and diversify their income through increased livestock production. However, livestock production in these systems is often limited by inadequate animal nutrition, and farmers need ways to increase the availability and quality of livestock feed without compromising yields

Context: Differences among breeds or lines of pigs in terms of growth and carcass characteristics may be affected by rearing environment (genetic × environment interaction). Aims: The present study compared the growth performance and carcass composition of pigs from two sire lines reared under constant thermoneutral (22°C; TN) or high ambient temperature (33°C; HT) conditions. Methods: Hampshire (HAM)

Context: Selection using visual muscle score (MS) has been proposed to increase carcass leanness (i.e. meat yield), without compromising eating quality. Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact that selection for divergent MS has on live animal, commercial carcass and carcass tissue weights by using computed tomography (CT) including Meat Standards Australia (MSA) index-predicted

Context: Ecchymosis is an undesirable appearance in meat caused by small bleeds from capillaries broken during the slaughter process. These lesions are heavily trimmed during processing, incurring labour costs and yield losses. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of ecchymosis in a South Australian abattoir and investigate potential predisposing factors. Methods: A generalised linear mixed model estimated

Context: Separation of a calf from its dam at weaning can cause stress behaviours such as excessive walking and vocalising. These behaviours combined with poor dry matter and water intakes during weaning can cause bodyweight loss in calves. We questioned whether adding a social facilitator cow to pens of calves weaned on pasture would decrease calf walking behaviours and prevent a loss in bodyweight

Context: Finishing lambs on pasture and specialist forages is a commonly used production system in southern Australia; however, there is little information properly comparing multiple pasture options for lamb production. Aim: We aimed to compare growth rates of lambs when grazing traditional pastures, novel legumes, or a herb–legume mixture. Methods: Six pasture and forage treatments were sown in three

Context: High concentrations of crude protein in ruminant diets may lead to excessive production of ruminal ammonia, which may stress the animal’s metabolism and impact nitrogen efficiency. This may become a problem in zero-concentrate feeding systems when pasture grass is rich in crude protein. Polyphenols such as tannins may protect part of dietary protein from ruminal degradation and thus inhibit

Context: Large-ruminant production in developing countries is inefficient with low growth rates and declining weights, particularly in the dry season. Aims: The impact of ad libitum supplementation of cattle with high-quality molasses blocks (20 kg) containing either 8% urea (UMB) or nil urea (MB), was examined. Methods: Field trials on smallholder farms compared weight changes and average daily gains

Context: Cattle grazing tropical forages usually perform below genetic potential due to limited nutrient intake. Aims: Four experiments were conducted to evaluate supplementation strategies on performance and metabolism of cattle grazing intensively managed marandu palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha). Methods: Experiment 1 evaluated the average daily gain (ADG) of 72 young bulls (222 ± 25 kg bodyweight

Context: Due to high protein concentrations in pastures, dairy cows offered a pasture-based diet often consume excess nitrogen (N), which leads to high ruminal ammonia concentrations and excessive urinary N excretion, thereby contributing to pasture N leaching. Aims: To study the effect of administration of natural zeolite on ruminal pH and ammonia production and N excretion in lactating cows offered

Context: It is believed that the X chromosome plays an important role in influencing quantitative traits. Despite this, until recently, X-linked genetic effects have not been considered in models to estimate genetic parameters for economically important traits of livestock. Aims: A large dataset was analysed to quantify autosomal additive genetic, X-linked additive genetic and maternal effects on growth

Context: Cassava bagasse is readily available in tropical countries as an energy source for ruminant diets, but previous research has shown low cattle performance at high inclusion rates. Aims: The nature of the dose–response relationship between increasing inclusion rate of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) bagasse (CB), substituting for protein meals in diets of fattening cattle, was used to evaluate

Herd improvement has been occurring since the domestication of livestock, although the tools and technologies that support it have changed dramatically. The Australian dairy industry tracks herd improvement through a range of approaches, including routine monitoring of genetic trends and farmer usage of the various tools and technologies. However, a less structured approach has been taken to valuing

Context: Net reproduction rate defined as number of lambs weaned for joined ewes reflects conception, litter size and the ability of ewes to rear lambs to weaning age. These three attributes can be treated as separate traits for genetic evaluation, allowing breeders to focus selection for each appropriately. Aims: The aim of the present paper was to present characteristics of the data, models and genetic

Context: Probiotics are attracting wide attention today as a non-antibiotic feed additive in layer feed, and the number of studies in this field is on the increase. However, the results of the effects of probiotic-yeast supplementation on egg-production indices in laying hens are contradictory. Aim: Therefore, the aim of the present study was to use meta-analytical methods to ascertain whether yeast-based

Context: Music induces physiological responses in animals, and as an enriched environment, it may have a positive effect on behaviour and productivity. Aims: This study aimed to determine the effects of different kinds of music on immunity, stress response and performance of piglets. Methods: In total, 144 hybrid piglets (Yorkshire × Durac × Minpig) at the age of 7 weeks were divided into three treatment

Aims: This in vitro study aimed to examine the effect of proportions of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) to Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) or levels of corn oil (CO) and their interaction on ruminal fermentation, methane (CH4) production and fatty acid profile. Methods: The experiment was conducted as a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement following a completely randomised design

Context: BREEDPLAN reports estimated breeding values (EBVs) for many traits, but there are few EBVs specifically for the inputs into the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) index for producers, so as to make genetic progress. It is not known how selection on current BREEDPLAN EBVs influences the MSA index and whether these relationships are the same for different market end-points. Aims: The aim of the

Data concerning the practices and policies of collaborating properties for nutritional, breeding and health management of herds were captured by survey of herd owners/managers (n = 78) at the commencement of a large observational study conducted across northern Australia to identify and quantify the effect of major animal-, management group- and property-level risk factors on measures of reproductive

A population-based epidemiological study was conducted between 2007 and 2011 and involved 78 northern Australian commercial beef-breeding herds and in excess of 56 000 cattle concurrently monitored. Cow reproductive performance was described from the biannual assessment of fetal age and lactation status. Both novel and well established measures of performance were used within four broad country types

Context: The most common way of pricing beef carcasses is through a price grid. Most processors make greater profit from higher-quality carcasses, which are those with higher meat yield and eating quality. Aims: The aim of this study was to calculate the value of diverse carcasses and compare pricing mechanisms on their ability to discriminate variation in meat yield and predicted eating quality. Methods:

Context: The Australian government has approved a greenhouse gas (GHG) offset method that requires cattle to consume nitrate in the form of a lick block. Field studies demonstrating the effectiveness of this methodology have not been previously reported. Aims: This experiment was conducted to determine the effects on productivity and health when nitrate lick blocks were provided as a supplement to

Bacteria colonisation of the foal’s gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a critical developmental stage, effecting subsequent immunological and health outcomes. It has long been thought that the equine fetus develops in a sterile intrauterine environment and GIT colonisation commences at birth. Research now suggests that bacteria isolated from amniotic fluid are the initial colonisers of the fetal GIT,

Context: Total ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) or acetate concentrations were previously found to be moderate correlated proxies to select sheep that are genetically low methane (CH4) emitters. However, this was based on trials, with sheep fed lucerne pellets at a fixed feeding level, which is different from pastoral farming conditions in New Zealand, where the correlated proxy would be applied

Context: While several studies have documented the consistency of milking order and its association with milk yield in herds with conventional milking systems, there is limited data available on herds in the automatic milking systems (AMS) where cows move to the dairy voluntarily to be milked. Aims: The present study was conducted to examine the consistency of milking order in AMS and its association

Context: Knowledge of the nutrient requirements of dairy cows, and the nutritional composition and physical form of the feed resources used to prepare the total mixed ration (TMR) of basic and concentrated feeds, is essential to achieving high milk yields, health and welfare in modern commercial herds. Grass and maize silage components can vary widely in composition depending on harvesting intervals

Context: Determination of the neutral detergent fibre digestibility is one of the important parameters to consider when formulating diets. However, the in vitro determination shows low repeatability because of the source of rumen-fluid inoculum. Priming of the rumen fluid inocula, obtained through an oesophageal probe, has been proposed to overcome this issue. Aim: The objective of the study was to

Context: Beef industry productivity and profitability would be enhanced by improved efficiency at pasture. Our research is evaluating performance at pasture of Angus heifers divergent in estimated breeding values for residual feed intake determined from feedlot data (RFI-f-EBV) under a range of grazing conditions. Aims: To determine whether Low- and High-RFI-f-EBV cattle differ in their growth response

Aims: The aim of this experiment was to determine if the provision of straw and the presence of undocked twins could be used to mitigate the pain experienced by lambs having their tails docked using rubber rings. Methods: A total of 54 twin St. Croix 60-days-old weaned lambs were assigned to one of four treatments: (i) the presence of undocked twins and no provision of straw (U); (ii) the provision

Context: The use of microalgae as prebiotics in poultry diets may improve production efficiency by modifying the gastrointestinal ecosystem. Prebiotic properties of the cyanobacterium Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis have been confirmed, but effects of its combination with probiotics on broiler chicken performance are unclear. Aims: This experiment was designed to study the effects of different levels

Research into the growth and development of Thoroughbreds managed on commercial breeding farms is reviewed in this paper. As horses are not meat producing animals, less research has been performed quantifying growth, muscle and bone development than with other production animals. However, variations in growth and development are linked with both value and wastage in young Thoroughbred horses, and can

Context: Dingoes and hybrid domestic dogs (wild dogs) are lethally managed, principally by large-scale baiting programs, to protect Australia’s AU$11.4 billion beef cattle industry from predation. This strategy is promoted by pest management agencies as best practice. Aim: To investigate the impact of baiting frequency and rainfall on percentage fetal and calf loss. Methods: Using 64 property-years

Context: Rumen biohydrogenation is an important way to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), especially the rumenic acid isomer. However, CLA is principally synthesised endogenously in lactating mammals by delta 9-desaturase in breast tissue. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate milk fatty acid profile, rumen microbial population and animal performance in response to diets containing sunflower

There has been a marked increase in the incidence of equine obesity globally, especially in countries where there has been a shift away from the horse having an economically essential working role. This change in its core role, plus the increasing numbers of individual horse owners without access to traditional knowledge of animal and land management, have helped fuel this equine obesity ‘epidemic’

Context: Gelatin, presently a waste material from animal tissues and bones, may be suitable as a partial dietary replacement for soybean meal. In combination with protease, it may enhance growth performances of broiler chickens. However, limitations when introducing gelatin, are its unusual amino acid profile and digesta viscosity. Aim: An experiment was conducted to elucidate effects on growth performance

Context: Research into improving feed efficiency by ruminant animals grazing pastures has historically been restrained by an inability to measure feed intake by large numbers of individual animals. Recent advances in portable breath measurement technology could be useful for this purpose but methodologies need to be developed. Aims: To evaluate predictive models for metabolisable energy intake (MEI)

Context: The texture of beef is highly important for the eating experience, and there is a continued interest in understanding the biochemical basis for the variation in texture between cattle and their meat cuts in order to improve and minimise variation in tenderness due to production and processing factors. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of characteristics of meat on Warner-Bratzler

As the sophistication of genomic technologies increases and their cost continues to decrease, they are becoming routine tools in livestock breeding programs and production systems. The convergence of electronic measurement systems, cloud-based computing and fast internet enable the use of powerful decision support to help automate and manage livestock production, animal welfare and quality control

Context: Acid hydrolysis of animal and plant protein ingredients can generate beneficial and cost-effective peptides and free amino acids for use in livestock feed. Aims: The aim was to determine whether a cow-skin gelatin (CSG) hydrolysate, rich in low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acid and produced through acid (4 M HCl) hydrolysis, improved the digestibility of CSG and performance of

It is essential to understand responses to stress and the impact of stress on physiological and behavioural functioning of hens, so as to assess their welfare. The current understanding of stress in laying hens is comprehensively reviewed here. Most research on stress in hens has focussed on the activity of the adrenal glands, with the most common approach being to measure corticosterone, which is

Context: Understanding the welfare indicators that affect animal performance can facilitate modifications that improve both animal welfare and profitability. Aims: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of animal welfare indicators and quantify their possible associations with feed conversion ratio (FCR) and daily feed intake (DFI) of growing-finishing pigs (Sus scrofa)

Context: Protease supplementation increases the digestibility of protein, which enables reduction in the requirement of crude protein (CP) in the diet for optimum performance and egg quality in laying chickens. Aims: An experiment was conducted to study the effects of protease supplementation (0 and 4000 u/kg) in diets containing three graded levels of CP on egg production, egg quality and nitrogen

Context: It is hypothesised that protein supplementation in pregnant Nellore cows during the dry season would improve reproductive performance in the next breeding season, as well as growth, myogenesis and intramuscular lipogenesis of the progeny until weaning. Aims: To evaluate the effect of maternal nutrition on cow reproductive performance, as well as on the growth, myogenesis and lipogenesis of

Context: Many indices of feed efficiency for livestock have been proposed, but most are associated with differences in body composition and consequently affect meat quality. Aims: This study aimed to assess meat quality and lipid profile of intramuscular fat of Texel crossbred lambs classified by residual intake and gain (RIG). Methods: Seventy-seven non-castrated male Texel crossbred lambs (1/4 Pantaneira

Context: The availability of effective indirect rather than direct selection criteria for genetically reducing breech flystrike is crucial for the Australian wool industry, as expression of breech flystrike is routinely suppressed by management interventions to minimise the risks to sheep health, welfare and productivity. Understanding how much genetic gain can be made in reducing breech strike, while

Heat stress and a high metabolic rate of broilers increase the production of reactive oxygen species, which must be removed by antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress. Selenium (Se) is a potent antioxidant as it is a structural part of glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Dietary supplementation of Se can help reduce the oxidative stress caused by heat-stress conditions. The aim was to evaluate the effect

Context: Dressing percentage (DP) and meat yield (MY) predictions using live assessments and carcass measurements enable objective valuation of animals and their carcasses. We hypothesised that distribution of goat carcass tissues affects predictive value of live body condition scoring (CS) methods and carcass measurements for these traits. Aims: The present paper aimed to assess the value of CS methods

Context: Few studies have evaluated the effects of providing concentrate pre- or postpartum, or during both of these intervals, to beef cows grazing tropical pastures, even though this information is important for planning breeder herd management. Aims: A study was undertaken to examine the effects of supplementation with concentrates before calving (prepartum), after calving (postpartum) or during

Context: Uninterrupted nutrient uptake and the use of bulls with high genetic merit for carcass traits may increase the likelihood of producing high-quality retail cuts for different markets. Aim: The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the combined effects of level of nutrition during the 104-day post-weaning winter period (WADG; low-L: 0.2 vs high-H: 0.6 kg/calf per day) and level of expected

Context: Methane (CH4) accounts for loss of dietary gross energy in ruminants and is a potent greenhouse gas. Feedstuffs that could alter ruminal fermentation by decreasing methane production without reducing total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration are desirable. Aims: Tropical fruit peels, which can be simply collected and exploited, were compared with lucerne (Medicago sativa) in order to assess

Context: The in vivo evaluation of body tissue development on meat production sheep can be used both to identify and select animals with the best characteristics and to make choices regarding marketing the products of these animals. Aims: The objective of this work was to evaluate, using computed tomography, the dynamics of body tissue development and composition of male and female Santa Inês sheep

Context: Methionine (Met) is an essential amino acid in pig diets. However, high blood homocysteine concentration, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can arise from high dietary Met intake and may indicate an imbalance in the Met cycle. Vitamin B6 acts as a cofactor for enzymes associated with the trans-sulfuration pathway, considered the major elimination route of excess homocysteine. Aims:

Context: Lamb survival can be compromised by twin-bearing ewes being unable to produce enough colostrum and immunoglobulins following parturition. Without sufficient colostrum production, newborn lambs are at risk of death due to starvation, mismothering, exposure and infection. These deaths can be reduced by altering the ewe’s nutrition in the final weeks of pregnancy. Starch, a glucose precursor

Context: European beef production is facing fresh challenges on various fronts: increasing public concern on animal welfare; declining EU meat consumption; and, conversely, expected growth in global demand for meat. The Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (CReNBA) has developed an assessment protocol for collecting information about beef cattle welfare and biosecurity conditions, with

Context: Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) is a relatively new legume species in Australia that has been shown to maintain higher quality forage late in the season than subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Aim: This study investigated the suitability of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), subterranean clover and biserrula, or a choice of both biserrula and subterranean clover, for finishing

Context: There is increasing interest in the composition of lipids in beef from pasture-fed Wagyu-cross cattle and how they compare to beef from traditional beef breeds. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the differences in fatty acid and phospholipid content of the ribeye, striploin and tenderloin obtained from commercially sourced beef. Hypothesis: We hypothesised that long-chain omega-3

Context: Twin-bearing ewes may be unable to produce enough colostrum following birth to support the survival of two lambs. This causes the newborn lambs to be at risk of death due to starvation, mismothering, cold exposure and infection. Niacin has previously been demonstrated in cattle to increase immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum, possibly due to niacin increasing blood flow, allowing the

Context: Beef producers in northern Australia are continually presented with new technologies and opportunities to enhance beef production. They need to be able to accurately and efficiently assess the potential impact of alternative strategies on profitability, risk and the period of time before benefits can be expected. Aims: Our aim was to demonstrate the value of the farm-management economics framework