The effects of heat stress and feed restriction were evaluated on a total of 180 weaned rabbits divided into three experimental groups (60 animals/group): 2 groups were fed ad libitum and reared under different temperatures (20 °C – 20AD and 30 °C – 30AD), while a third group was housed under controlled temperature (20 °C) but pair-fed to 30AD rabbits, thus feed restricted (20FR). During the trial, both 30AD and 20FR groups exhibited reduced growth performance, including body weight and daily weight gain (both, P < 0.001), although feed conversion ratio improved (P = 0.016). The reference carcasses of 20FR and 30AD rabbits were lighter and leaner (both, P < 0.001) than that of 20AD rabbits, while the slaughter yield decreased only in 20FR rabbits (P = 0.001). Regarding meat physical traits, 20FR rabbits exhibited the highest pHu (P < 0.001) and the lowest total losses (P < 0.001), whereas the meat-to-bone ratio decreased in both 20FR and 30AD groups (P = 0.007). As for meat proximate composition, protein and lipid contents were lower (P = 0.008 and P = 0.0002, respectively) in 20FR and 30AD rabbits, while water content was greater (P < 0.001) compared to 20AD rabbits. At the lipid level, higher TBARS (P = 0.001) were found in both 20FR and 30AD groups. The 20FR and 30AD groups showed some differences in their carcass and meat quality traits, however the majority of changes induced by chronic heat stress were mostly attributed to the reduced feed intake.
{"title":"Effect of heat stress and feed restriction on performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of growing rabbits","authors":"Emanuele Pontalti , Marco Cullere , Zsolt Szendrő , Zsolt Matics , Zsolt Gerencsér , Bianca Palumbo , Antonella Dalle Zotte","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effects of heat stress and feed restriction were evaluated on a total of 180 weaned rabbits divided into three experimental groups (60 animals/group): 2 groups were fed <em>ad libitum</em> and reared under different temperatures (20 °C – 20AD and 30 °C – 30AD), while a third group was housed under controlled temperature (20 °C) but pair-fed to 30AD rabbits, thus feed restricted (20FR). During the trial, both 30AD and 20FR groups exhibited reduced growth performance, including body weight and daily weight gain (both, <em>P</em> < 0.001), although feed conversion ratio improved (<em>P</em> = 0.016). The reference carcasses of 20FR and 30AD rabbits were lighter and leaner (both, <em>P</em> < 0.001) than that of 20AD rabbits, while the slaughter yield decreased only in 20FR rabbits (<em>P</em> = 0.001). Regarding meat physical traits, 20FR rabbits exhibited the highest pHu (<em>P</em> < 0.001) and the lowest total losses (<em>P</em> < 0.001), whereas the meat-to-bone ratio decreased in both 20FR and 30AD groups (<em>P</em> = 0.007). As for meat proximate composition, protein and lipid contents were lower (<em>P</em> = 0.008 and <em>P</em> = 0.0002, respectively) in 20FR and 30AD rabbits, while water content was greater (<em>P</em> < 0.001) compared to 20AD rabbits. At the lipid level, higher TBARS (<em>P</em> = 0.001) were found in both 20FR and 30AD groups. The 20FR and 30AD groups showed some differences in their carcass and meat quality traits, however the majority of changes induced by chronic heat stress were mostly attributed to the reduced feed intake.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105836"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837
Clodagh V. Ryan , Deirdre C. Purfield , David Kenny , Paul Crosson , Ross D. Evans
Genetic selection presents a long-term opportunity to reduce enteric methane emissions in beef cattle. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating an enteric methane production trait into the Irish Terminal Index, an index that is typical of global terminal-type indexes and quantified its impact on methane output and other economically important traits. At present, the Irish Terminal Index incorporates a Carbon sub-index based on life cycle assessment in an effort to reduce farm carbon emissions. Selection index scenarios were modelled to reflect an index with no environmental consideration, the current status quo, the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait and finally the impact of changes in carbon pricing. Genetic parameters were derived from a national multi-breed dataset of 1508 beef animals with enteric methane phenotypes. Selection based on the current index which includes a lifecycle carbon weighting, increased daily enteric methane emissions by up to 2.14 g/day, while the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait reversed the response, with predicted reductions of 0.22g/day and 4.20 g/day depending on carbon price. Associated changes included a 13.81 kg increase in carcass weight response and a 0.33 kg reduction in feed intake per animal under the highest environmental weighting (Carbon valued at €160/tonne and a direct enteric methane trait). Scaled to the national herd, this would equate to an annual reduction of approximately 27,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and an opportunity cost of 1311 tonnes of carcass output. Selection direction remained favourable across all production traits, with minimal impact on calving, docility, and conformation traits. These results demonstrate that enteric methane can be incorporated into the national breeding goal with measurable reductions in emissions and limited trade-offs in economically relevant performance traits.
{"title":"Refining Irish breeding goals for sustainable suckler systems through the incorporation of an enteric methane emissions trait","authors":"Clodagh V. Ryan , Deirdre C. Purfield , David Kenny , Paul Crosson , Ross D. Evans","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic selection presents a long-term opportunity to reduce enteric methane emissions in beef cattle. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating an enteric methane production trait into the Irish Terminal Index, an index that is typical of global terminal-type indexes and quantified its impact on methane output and other economically important traits. At present, the Irish Terminal Index incorporates a Carbon sub-index based on life cycle assessment in an effort to reduce farm carbon emissions. Selection index scenarios were modelled to reflect an index with no environmental consideration, the current status quo, the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait and finally the impact of changes in carbon pricing. Genetic parameters were derived from a national multi-breed dataset of 1508 beef animals with enteric methane phenotypes. Selection based on the current index which includes a lifecycle carbon weighting, increased daily enteric methane emissions by up to 2.14 g/day, while the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait reversed the response, with predicted reductions of 0.22g/day and 4.20 g/day depending on carbon price. Associated changes included a 13.81 kg increase in carcass weight response and a 0.33 kg reduction in feed intake per animal under the highest environmental weighting (Carbon valued at €160/tonne and a direct enteric methane trait). Scaled to the national herd, this would equate to an annual reduction of approximately 27,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and an opportunity cost of 1311 tonnes of carcass output. Selection direction remained favourable across all production traits, with minimal impact on calving, docility, and conformation traits. These results demonstrate that enteric methane can be incorporated into the national breeding goal with measurable reductions in emissions and limited trade-offs in economically relevant performance traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105837"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145364635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105834
Romane Gillet , Marie Schneider , Kerstin Barth
Prolonged cow-calf contact in dairy farming is receiving considerable attention. However, research on systems that allow calves to access the whole dairy herd has been limited. This study investigated the time that German Holstein calves spent daily within the dairy herd of their dams, its association with calf growth and health, and the effect of herd (horned vs. polled). The calves with whole-day contact (WDC, n= 23) could enter the herd at any time during the day, except during milking; the calves with daytime contact (DTC, n= 26) had only access between morning and evening milking. Calves with no herd contact (NOC, n= 42) served as a control. Calves were weighed weekly and their health status was assessed. Between the 2nd and 11th weeks of life, the time spent in the cow herd decreased in WDC calves (h d-1, horned WDC: - 10.9, polled WDC: - 3.7, P< 0.001), but did not differ in DTC calves (P> 0.1). More time in the herd was associated with higher growth rates (P= 0.003). However, no effect of the herd was observed on calf growth or health. WDC calves had the highest growth rate compared to DTC and NOC (g d-1, 991 ± 36, 718 ± 35, 869 ± 28, respectively, P< 0.05). Unrestricted access to the cow herd resulted in individual variation in the time calves spent within the herd, with no observed effects on growth or health.
{"title":"Calf presence in the cow herd: Associations with growth, health, and herd horn status in a cow-calf contact system","authors":"Romane Gillet , Marie Schneider , Kerstin Barth","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prolonged cow-calf contact in dairy farming is receiving considerable attention. However, research on systems that allow calves to access the whole dairy herd has been limited. This study investigated the time that German Holstein calves spent daily within the dairy herd of their dams, its association with calf growth and health, and the effect of herd (horned vs. polled). The calves with whole-day contact (WDC, <em>n</em>= 23) could enter the herd at any time during the day, except during milking; the calves with daytime contact (DTC, <em>n</em>= 26) had only access between morning and evening milking. Calves with no herd contact (NOC, <em>n</em>= 42) served as a control. Calves were weighed weekly and their health status was assessed. Between the 2nd and 11th weeks of life, the time spent in the cow herd decreased in WDC calves (h d<sup>-1</sup>, horned WDC: - 10.9, polled WDC: - 3.7, <em>P</em>< 0.001), but did not differ in DTC calves (<em>P</em>> 0.1). More time in the herd was associated with higher growth rates (<em>P</em>= 0.003). However, no effect of the herd was observed on calf growth or health. WDC calves had the highest growth rate compared to DTC and NOC (g d<sup>-1</sup>, 991 ± 36, 718 ± 35, 869 ± 28, respectively, <em>P</em>< 0.05). Unrestricted access to the cow herd resulted in individual variation in the time calves spent within the herd, with no observed effects on growth or health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105834"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105829
Jean-Louis Peyraud , Jean-François Hocquette
Debates about livestock and meat consumption are generally fragmented, and to date no study has simultaneously analyzed all the dimensions affected by livestock farming. The environmental impacts of livestock are well described and often emphasized in the media as the negative effects of methane emission from ruminants, but the associated benefits are poorly described in scientific literature thus giving an unbalanced picture of livestock farming. Based on various findings from research, this review aims to propose a multidimensional view on this topic.
Firstly, most of the environmental or nutritional arguments generally put forward against meat are provided without enough nuances. Without ignoring the negative impact of livestock on the climate and the environment, we show they need to be better deciphered. We provide examples dealing with the competition between feed and food, the water footprint of livestock, and the carbon footprint of meat production and consumption.
On the other hand, livestock farming produces several ecosystem services beyond human food production that are not well known. Indeed, livestock production is the basis of agricultural activities and rural vitality in many parts of the world. Herbivores contributes to valorize large grassland areas that are not suitable for crop production and are hotspot of biodiversity. Livestock, notably ruminants, plays a key role in maintaining soil carbon content and soil fertility, and manure from livestock is a source of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus.
An original service-bundle methodology designed to capture European livestock production in a global manner highlights antagonism between certain services. Thus, it is not possible to summarize livestock effects and impacts in a single indicator, be it positive or negative. Finally, we show that different scenarios exist to reduce the negative impacts of livestock. More global actions are needed on all fronts: improving meat production and supply, reducing demand, losses and waste of food. Eating less meat on average in developed countries and lowering the proportion of animal protein in diets may also be part of a global solution. Improving livestock farming systems in favor of grassland-based systems, which rely on natural resources without competing with human food production and which provide environmental services is also an essential strategy. In any case, a world without meat–producing livestock is unlikely to be sustainable as suggested by several studies.
{"title":"Towards a balanced view of livestock: Benefits of grazing farming systems to produce meat","authors":"Jean-Louis Peyraud , Jean-François Hocquette","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Debates about livestock and meat consumption are generally fragmented, and to date no study has simultaneously analyzed all the dimensions affected by livestock farming. The environmental impacts of livestock are well described and often emphasized in the media as the negative effects of methane emission from ruminants, but the associated benefits are poorly described in scientific literature thus giving an unbalanced picture of livestock farming. Based on various findings from research, this review aims to propose a multidimensional view on this topic.</div><div>Firstly, most of the environmental or nutritional arguments generally put forward against meat are provided without enough nuances. Without ignoring the negative impact of livestock on the climate and the environment, we show they need to be better deciphered. We provide examples dealing with the competition between feed and food, the water footprint of livestock, and the carbon footprint of meat production and consumption.</div><div>On the other hand, livestock farming produces several ecosystem services beyond human food production that are not well known. Indeed, livestock production is the basis of agricultural activities and rural vitality in many parts of the world. Herbivores contributes to valorize large grassland areas that are not suitable for crop production and are hotspot of biodiversity. Livestock, notably ruminants, plays a key role in maintaining soil carbon content and soil fertility, and manure from livestock is a source of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus.</div><div>An original service-bundle methodology designed to capture European livestock production in a global manner highlights antagonism between certain services. Thus, it is not possible to summarize livestock effects and impacts in a single indicator, be it positive or negative. Finally, we show that different scenarios exist to reduce the negative impacts of livestock. More global actions are needed on all fronts: improving meat production and supply, reducing demand, losses and waste of food. Eating less meat on average in developed countries and lowering the proportion of animal protein in diets may also be part of a global solution. Improving livestock farming systems in favor of grassland-based systems, which rely on natural resources without competing with human food production and which provide environmental services is also an essential strategy. In any case, a world without meat–producing livestock is unlikely to be sustainable as suggested by several studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105829"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105832
Giulio Giagnoni , Alastair James Ward , Coralie Masclet , Henrik Bjarne Møller , Martin Riis Weisbjerg
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on the in vitro methane yield from dairy cow faeces, when the diet is manipulated for either source or concentration of dietary fat (rapeseed or palm kernel fatty acids; 20 to 50 g/kg DM), or a source of carbohydrate (grass-clover vs maize silage, and barley vs dried beet pulp). The faecal samples from two nutrition trials were used in an in vitro system for anaerobic digestion for measuring gas volume and methane concentration at given times, from 5 to 90 d. The ultimate methane yield measured at d 90, and the coefficients estimated from a modified Gompertz model (maximum methane yield, methane production rate, and lag time) were analysed in a linear mixed model. Increasing dietary concentration of fat increased the maximum methane yield, the methane production rate, and the lag time when rapeseed was used as fat source, but use of palm kernel fatty acids in the diet did not result in an increase of any parameter. The effect of the carbohydrate inclusion from forage and concentrate was additive, so no interaction was observed, and maximum methane yield increased with increasing dietary starch concentration. Ultimate and maximum methane yield were highly correlated, with the latter underestimating ultimate methane yield by 3-4%. Estimated coefficients from a modified Gompertz model are useful to understand the effect of diet on biogas yield and production rate from faeces, but slight under-estimation of maximum methane yield was observed at incubation time of three months.
{"title":"Effect of manipulating dietary fat and carbohydrates on methane potential of dairy cow faeces","authors":"Giulio Giagnoni , Alastair James Ward , Coralie Masclet , Henrik Bjarne Møller , Martin Riis Weisbjerg","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on the <em>in vitro</em> methane yield from dairy cow faeces, when the diet is manipulated for either source or concentration of dietary fat (rapeseed or palm kernel fatty acids; 20 to 50 g/kg DM), or a source of carbohydrate (grass-clover vs maize silage, and barley vs dried beet pulp). The faecal samples from two nutrition trials were used in an <em>in vitro</em> system for anaerobic digestion for measuring gas volume and methane concentration at given times, from 5 to 90 d. The ultimate methane yield measured at d 90, and the coefficients estimated from a modified Gompertz model (maximum methane yield, methane production rate, and lag time) were analysed in a linear mixed model. Increasing dietary concentration of fat increased the maximum methane yield, the methane production rate, and the lag time when rapeseed was used as fat source, but use of palm kernel fatty acids in the diet did not result in an increase of any parameter. The effect of the carbohydrate inclusion from forage and concentrate was additive, so no interaction was observed, and maximum methane yield increased with increasing dietary starch concentration. Ultimate and maximum methane yield were highly correlated, with the latter underestimating ultimate methane yield by 3-4%. Estimated coefficients from a modified Gompertz model are useful to understand the effect of diet on biogas yield and production rate from faeces, but slight under-estimation of maximum methane yield was observed at incubation time of three months.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105832"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833
NM Elbanhawy , S El-Kassas , MM. Sharaf , IA Elkhaiat , HA Basha , MI. Abo-Samaha
<div><div>The impact of varying doses of water-soluble <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract was evaluated on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant enzymes, histology, and expression of some related genes in brown- and white-feathered Japanese quails. Seven hundred and twenty 2-wk old quails (360 brown- and 360 white-feathered quails, 180 males and 180 females each) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 3 replicates having 30 quails per replicate (15 females and 15 males from the same quail’s variety). The <em>E. longifolia</em> was incorporated in drinking water at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L for treatment 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This experiment lasted for 4 wk. Drinking water with <em>E. longifolia</em>, especially at 125 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L increased body gains and feed consumption as well as gain-to-feed ratio (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with brown females, compared to brown males and both sex of white-feathered quails, displayed greater improvement. Growth-related genes: growth hormone receptors and insulin growth factor-1, and ghrelin mRNA concentrations were upregulated while leptin mRNA copies were reduced with <em>E. longifolia</em> (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Increasing the dose of <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced water consumption (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001). The brown-feathered quails drank more water compared to the white-feathered ones, especially with increasing the <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation rate (<em>P</em> = 0.004). <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused distinct improvement of quails’ immunity manifested by a reduced heterophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (quadratic, <em>P</em> = 0.005) and increases in the superoxide dismutase (cubic, <em>P</em> = 0.015), catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities and their mRNA copies (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Additionally, <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation caused increases in cholesterol concentrations in white-feathered females and males and brown females while increased triglycerides concentrations, particularly at 125 mg/L in all quails except in brown female, <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced its concentration (quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05). Increasing supplementation dose to 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L lowered these concentrations compared to the lower doses. Incorporating <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused increases in the intestinal villi lengths (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001; quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with fat vacuolation in hepatic tissue. Moreover, reduction in estrogen (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001) and changes in testosterone concentrations (quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) were measured with <em>E. longifolia</em> treatment. In conclusion, <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract could be used as a potential alternative osteogenic herbal additive to enhance bird’s performance. Its impacts in quail’s drinking water significan
{"title":"Effect of water supplementation with Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics, antioxidant responses, and gene expression in brown and white Japanese quails","authors":"NM Elbanhawy , S El-Kassas , MM. Sharaf , IA Elkhaiat , HA Basha , MI. Abo-Samaha","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of varying doses of water-soluble <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract was evaluated on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant enzymes, histology, and expression of some related genes in brown- and white-feathered Japanese quails. Seven hundred and twenty 2-wk old quails (360 brown- and 360 white-feathered quails, 180 males and 180 females each) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 3 replicates having 30 quails per replicate (15 females and 15 males from the same quail’s variety). The <em>E. longifolia</em> was incorporated in drinking water at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L for treatment 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This experiment lasted for 4 wk. Drinking water with <em>E. longifolia</em>, especially at 125 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L increased body gains and feed consumption as well as gain-to-feed ratio (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with brown females, compared to brown males and both sex of white-feathered quails, displayed greater improvement. Growth-related genes: growth hormone receptors and insulin growth factor-1, and ghrelin mRNA concentrations were upregulated while leptin mRNA copies were reduced with <em>E. longifolia</em> (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Increasing the dose of <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced water consumption (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001). The brown-feathered quails drank more water compared to the white-feathered ones, especially with increasing the <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation rate (<em>P</em> = 0.004). <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused distinct improvement of quails’ immunity manifested by a reduced heterophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (quadratic, <em>P</em> = 0.005) and increases in the superoxide dismutase (cubic, <em>P</em> = 0.015), catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities and their mRNA copies (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Additionally, <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation caused increases in cholesterol concentrations in white-feathered females and males and brown females while increased triglycerides concentrations, particularly at 125 mg/L in all quails except in brown female, <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced its concentration (quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05). Increasing supplementation dose to 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L lowered these concentrations compared to the lower doses. Incorporating <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused increases in the intestinal villi lengths (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001; quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with fat vacuolation in hepatic tissue. Moreover, reduction in estrogen (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001) and changes in testosterone concentrations (quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) were measured with <em>E. longifolia</em> treatment. In conclusion, <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract could be used as a potential alternative osteogenic herbal additive to enhance bird’s performance. Its impacts in quail’s drinking water significan","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105833"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831
M. Kasprowicz-Potocka , A. Zaworska-Zakrzewska , D. Łodyga , A. Ludwiczak , J. Składanowska-Baryza , A. Cieślak , A. Czech , G. Cieleń , M. Muzolf-Panek , E. Sell-Kubiak
Pork is a major source of dietary fat but has a poor n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. Feeding n-3 PUFA-rich sources to pigs can improve this ratio, but it may also lead to oxidation-related changes affecting meat quality and shelf life. The study investigated the effect of dietary mixture (LAM) composed of linseed, apple pomace, and milk thistle on the growth performance, fatty acid content, and health status of fattening pigs. Ninety pigs (31 kg of body weight) were divided into three groups: Control (CON) - diet without LAM, LAM-F and LAM-GF with 5 % LAM supplement during the finisher phase only or in grower and finisher, respectively. At the end of the experiment, 14 pigs per group were slaughtered, and muscle samples were analysed for fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, and quality parameters. Daily weight gain were similar in total fattening period (P > 0.05). LAM supplementation increased n-3 PUFA content and reduced the n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. Moreover, the LAM diet improved liver antioxidant enzyme activity, but LAM-F pigs had higher malondialdehyde levels in the blood, indicating more pronounced lipid oxidation. LAM also reduced inflammatory markers (interleukins) and increased antioxidant-related compounds in the liver and blood, suggesting health benefits, increased the change in thaw loss, and tenderness of meat stored for 3 or 7 days under refrigerated conditions. The LAM diet effectively improved the fatty acid profile of pork and enhanced oxidative stability and immune function without negatively affecting growth performance.
{"title":"Dietary linseed with apple pomace and milk thistle improves fatty acids profile of pork and its oxidative status","authors":"M. Kasprowicz-Potocka , A. Zaworska-Zakrzewska , D. Łodyga , A. Ludwiczak , J. Składanowska-Baryza , A. Cieślak , A. Czech , G. Cieleń , M. Muzolf-Panek , E. Sell-Kubiak","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pork is a major source of dietary fat but has a poor <em>n</em>-6/<em>n</em>-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. Feeding <em>n</em>-3 PUFA-rich sources to pigs can improve this ratio, but it may also lead to oxidation-related changes affecting meat quality and shelf life. The study investigated the effect of dietary mixture (LAM) composed of linseed, apple pomace, and milk thistle on the growth performance, fatty acid content, and health status of fattening pigs. Ninety pigs (31 kg of body weight) were divided into three groups: Control (CON) - diet without LAM, LAM-F and LAM-GF with 5 % LAM supplement during the finisher phase only or in grower and finisher, respectively. At the end of the experiment, 14 pigs per group were slaughtered, and muscle samples were analysed for fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, and quality parameters. Daily weight gain were similar in total fattening period (<em>P</em> > 0.05). LAM supplementation increased <em>n</em>-3 PUFA content and reduced the <em>n</em>-6/<em>n</em>-3 ratio in meat. Moreover, the LAM diet improved liver antioxidant enzyme activity, but LAM-F pigs had higher malondialdehyde levels in the blood, indicating more pronounced lipid oxidation. LAM also reduced inflammatory markers (interleukins) and increased antioxidant-related compounds in the liver and blood, suggesting health benefits, increased the change in thaw loss, and tenderness of meat stored for 3 or 7 days under refrigerated conditions. The LAM diet effectively improved the fatty acid profile of pork and enhanced oxidative stability and immune function without negatively affecting growth performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105831"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-06DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105830
J. Wiskandt , K. Aulrich , M. Bochnia , R. Bussemas , H. Kluth , M.-T. Machner , A. Zeyner , S. Witten
A study was conducted to investigate, if 3 different vetch species contribute to the protein supply of growing-finishing pigs while maintaining carcass composition. In a feeding trial with 2 consecutive replications, 140 mixed sex pigs (females and castrates, (Landrace x Large White) × Piétrain)) with an initial body mass of 51.7 ± 6.78 kg were provided with an organic on-farm formulated compound feed for growing-finishing pigs and either triticale straw or a silage derived from 1 of 3 vetch species (Vicia sativa, Vicia pannonica and Vicia villosa). Experimental unit was individual pig for body mass gain and carcass characteristics and pen (10 pigs) for data related to feed intake. The total tract nutrient digestibility of the vetch species was studied using the difference method with 16 pigs of the same origin in 2 replications with 8 animals each. In each replication 2 animals were subjected to either a control diet or a diet with 1 of the 3 silages. Experimental unit for the digestibility trial was the individual pig. Pigs fed additional silage to a compound feed had a greater average body mass gain and gain:feed in the finishing phase than pigs fed triticale straw as roughage (P< 0.05), while total crude protein needed to achieve a kilogram of body mass gain increased (P< 0.05). Carcass characteristics were not affected by the type of roughage. The apparent total tract digestibility of organic matter and crude protein ranged from 51 to 66 % and 55 to 70 %, respectively, and did not differ among vetch species. The findings of this study indicate that whole plant silage of vetch serves as a valuable roughage for growing-finishing pigs and contributes to the animals' protein supply.
{"title":"Whole plant silage of vetch in growing-finishing pigs: Effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics, and determination of its apparent total tract digestibility","authors":"J. Wiskandt , K. Aulrich , M. Bochnia , R. Bussemas , H. Kluth , M.-T. Machner , A. Zeyner , S. Witten","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A study was conducted to investigate, if 3 different vetch species contribute to the protein supply of growing-finishing pigs while maintaining carcass composition. In a feeding trial with 2 consecutive replications, 140 mixed sex pigs (females and castrates, (Landrace x Large White) × Piétrain)) with an initial body mass of 51.7 ± 6.78 kg were provided with an organic on-farm formulated compound feed for growing-finishing pigs and either triticale straw or a silage derived from 1 of 3 vetch species (<em>Vicia sativa, Vicia pannonica</em> and <em>Vicia villosa</em>). Experimental unit was individual pig for body mass gain and carcass characteristics and pen (10 pigs) for data related to feed intake. The total tract nutrient digestibility of the vetch species was studied using the difference method with 16 pigs of the same origin in 2 replications with 8 animals each. In each replication 2 animals were subjected to either a control diet or a diet with 1 of the 3 silages. Experimental unit for the digestibility trial was the individual pig. Pigs fed additional silage to a compound feed had a greater average body mass gain and gain:feed in the finishing phase than pigs fed triticale straw as roughage (<em>P</em>< 0.05), while total crude protein needed to achieve a kilogram of body mass gain increased (<em>P</em>< 0.05). Carcass characteristics were not affected by the type of roughage. The apparent total tract digestibility of organic matter and crude protein ranged from 51 to 66 % and 55 to 70 %, respectively, and did not differ among vetch species. The findings of this study indicate that whole plant silage of vetch serves as a valuable roughage for growing-finishing pigs and contributes to the animals' protein supply.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105830"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105827
Samuel Rodrigues Bonamichi do Couto , Nicolas Moreira Piedras Monnerat Caparelli , Thiago Souza Vieira , Daniela Cristina Rocha de Freitas , Mateus Gonçalves Costa , Mellyssa Sad Rodrigues Gomes , João Paulo Nascimento Andrade , Rondineli Pavezzi Barbero , Felipe Zandonadi Brandão , Marco Roberto Bourg de Mello
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of temperament and reactivity on oocyte recovery and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) efficiency in Nellore females. We hypothesized that stress from an excitable temperament would impair IVEP outcomes. This study was conducted on a commercial farm in Paraná, Brazil, involving 133 Nellore females, yielding 3,820 oocytes. Temperament was scored on a scale of 1–4 based on behavior during handling, categorizing animals into calm (ADQ; score ≤ 2) or excitable (EXC; score > 2) groups. Cortisol concentrations were measured to validate the temperament assessments. Oocytes were morphologically evaluated and subjected to a commercial IVEP protocol. Statistical analyses were performed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS (P ≤ 0.05). Excitable females (n = 32) had higher cortisol levels than calm ones (n = 101) (62.5 ± 7.2 vs. 42.2 ± 3.8 ng/mL; P = 0.008). The ADQ group had a higher proportion of viable oocytes (79.3%¦vs. 75.5%; P = 0.01) and lower degeneration rates (20.6%¦vs. 24.4%; P = 0.01). The cleavage (74.9%¦vs. 64.7%; P < 0.001) and blastocyst (25.4%¦vs. 19.2%; P = 0.02) rates were also higher in calm females, with greater blastocyst production per donor (6.2 vs. 3.0 embryos; P < 0.001). In conclusion, excitable temperament negatively affects oocyte quality and IVEP efficiency, suggesting that temperament-based selection and management can enhance IVEP success in Nellore cattle.
{"title":"Excitable temperament impairs oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production efficiency in Nellore donors","authors":"Samuel Rodrigues Bonamichi do Couto , Nicolas Moreira Piedras Monnerat Caparelli , Thiago Souza Vieira , Daniela Cristina Rocha de Freitas , Mateus Gonçalves Costa , Mellyssa Sad Rodrigues Gomes , João Paulo Nascimento Andrade , Rondineli Pavezzi Barbero , Felipe Zandonadi Brandão , Marco Roberto Bourg de Mello","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of temperament and reactivity on oocyte recovery and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) efficiency in Nellore females. We hypothesized that stress from an excitable temperament would impair IVEP outcomes. This study was conducted on a commercial farm in Paraná, Brazil, involving 133 Nellore females, yielding 3,820 oocytes. Temperament was scored on a scale of 1–4 based on behavior during handling, categorizing animals into calm (ADQ; score ≤ 2) or excitable (EXC; score > 2) groups. Cortisol concentrations were measured to validate the temperament assessments. Oocytes were morphologically evaluated and subjected to a commercial IVEP protocol. Statistical analyses were performed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.05). Excitable females (n = 32) had higher cortisol levels than calm ones (n = 101) (62.5 ± 7.2 vs. 42.2 ± 3.8 ng/mL; <em>P</em> = 0.008). The ADQ group had a higher proportion of viable oocytes (79.3%¦vs. 75.5%; <em>P</em> = 0.01) and lower degeneration rates (20.6%¦vs. 24.4%; <em>P</em> = 0.01). The cleavage (74.9%¦vs. 64.7%; <em>P</em> < 0.001) and blastocyst (25.4%¦vs. 19.2%; <em>P</em> = 0.02) rates were also higher in calm females, with greater blastocyst production per donor (6.2 vs. 3.0 embryos; <em>P</em> < 0.001). In conclusion, excitable temperament negatively affects oocyte quality and IVEP efficiency, suggesting that temperament-based selection and management can enhance IVEP success in Nellore cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105827"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828
Nathalia da Silva Costa , Renato Fontes Guimarães , Vinícius Silva Junqueira , Vanessa Peripolli , José Bento Sterman Ferraz , Felipe Pimentel , Daniel Pimentel , Luís Telo da Gama , Danielle de Faria , Rafael Núñez-Domínguez , Concepta McManus
The slick hair phenotype in cattle is a thermotolerance trait of increasing relevance in the context of climate change. This study evaluated 3233 Montana Tropical cattle to investigate environmental and spatial factors associated with genetic variation in the genomic region linked to the slick hair trait and to identify candidate genes potentially involved in thermotolerance. A panel of 120 SNPs spanning 5.5 Mb of the slick hair region on BTA20 was analyzed using logistic regression against six environmental variables: temperature, humidity, altitude, precipitation, NDVI, and solar radiation. Spatial genetic structure was assessed through Mantel tests, spatial autocorrelation, genetic landscape modeling, and Monmonier's algorithm. Eight SNPs were significantly associated with at least four environmental variables, with radiation and humidity showing the strongest effects. Gene annotation revealed five key genes—PRLR, RAD1, BRIX1, TTC23L, and DNAJC21—and functional annotation indicated roles in immune function, DNA repair, and ribosome biogenesis. Spatial analyses detected fine-scale genetic structure and multiple genetic barriers, particularly in southern Brazil, suggesting the combined effects of environmental selection and region-specific breeding practices. These findings enhance understanding of environmental influences on the slick hair genomic region and provide markers for breeding strategies aimed at improving heat tolerance in tropical cattle populations.
{"title":"Landscape genomics of thermotolerance: Environmental and genetic determinants of the slick hair phenotype in Montana Tropical cattle","authors":"Nathalia da Silva Costa , Renato Fontes Guimarães , Vinícius Silva Junqueira , Vanessa Peripolli , José Bento Sterman Ferraz , Felipe Pimentel , Daniel Pimentel , Luís Telo da Gama , Danielle de Faria , Rafael Núñez-Domínguez , Concepta McManus","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The slick hair phenotype in cattle is a thermotolerance trait of increasing relevance in the context of climate change. This study evaluated 3233 Montana Tropical cattle to investigate environmental and spatial factors associated with genetic variation in the genomic region linked to the slick hair trait and to identify candidate genes potentially involved in thermotolerance. A panel of 120 SNPs spanning 5.5 Mb of the slick hair region on BTA20 was analyzed using logistic regression against six environmental variables: temperature, humidity, altitude, precipitation, NDVI, and solar radiation. Spatial genetic structure was assessed through Mantel tests, spatial autocorrelation, genetic landscape modeling, and Monmonier's algorithm. Eight SNPs were significantly associated with at least four environmental variables, with radiation and humidity showing the strongest effects. Gene annotation revealed five key genes—<em>PRLR, RAD1, BRIX1, TTC23L</em>, and <em>DNAJC21</em>—and functional annotation indicated roles in immune function, DNA repair, and ribosome biogenesis. Spatial analyses detected fine-scale genetic structure and multiple genetic barriers, particularly in southern Brazil, suggesting the combined effects of environmental selection and region-specific breeding practices. These findings enhance understanding of environmental influences on the slick hair genomic region and provide markers for breeding strategies aimed at improving heat tolerance in tropical cattle populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105828"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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