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}
Pub Date : 2025-09-21DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105826
Piero Seddaiu , Simon P. Turner , Irene Camerlink
Social relationships in farm animals, including pigs, have become a focus of research, yet long-term studies are scarce. Pigs, being highly social animals, offer an excellent model to explore social preferences over time. This study aimed to investigate social preferences in female pigs across life stages by observing a group of ten gilts over one year, with each season serving as an assessment point. Social interactions (allogrooming, snout-body, and snout-head contact) were recorded through live and video observations, totaling 396 h per animal. Social Network Analysis (SNA) assessed group cohesion using measures of density, reciprocity, and degree centralization. Monte Carlo simulations, half-weight association index (HWI) and the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) were used to evaluate social preferences and their recurrence across seasons. Results showed high density (0.95) and reciprocity, with weak centralization (in-degree 0.19, out-degree 0.27), indicating uniform distribution of social interactions. On average across the four seasons, 5.8 % of connections were strong, 35.7 % weak, and 58.5 % non-preferential. Social preferences correlated modestly between autumn and winter, but not with summer and spring. This study confirms previous findings that only a small proportion of pigs form non-random associations within a group. Social preferences lasted for a maximum of two seasons, likely influenced by pregnancy and transitions from gilt to adult sow, which resulted in temporary withdrawal from the group.
{"title":"Long-term social preferences in a group of sub-adult female pigs","authors":"Piero Seddaiu , Simon P. Turner , Irene Camerlink","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Social relationships in farm animals, including pigs, have become a focus of research, yet long-term studies are scarce. Pigs, being highly social animals, offer an excellent model to explore social preferences over time. This study aimed to investigate social preferences in female pigs across life stages by observing a group of ten gilts over one year, with each season serving as an assessment point. Social interactions (allogrooming, snout-body, and snout-head contact) were recorded through live and video observations, totaling 396 h per animal. Social Network Analysis (SNA) assessed group cohesion using measures of density, reciprocity, and degree centralization. Monte Carlo simulations, half-weight association index (HWI) and the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) were used to evaluate social preferences and their recurrence across seasons. Results showed high density (0.95) and reciprocity, with weak centralization (in-degree 0.19, out-degree 0.27), indicating uniform distribution of social interactions. On average across the four seasons, 5.8 % of connections were strong, 35.7 % weak, and 58.5 % non-preferential. Social preferences correlated modestly between autumn and winter, but not with summer and spring. This study confirms previous findings that only a small proportion of pigs form non-random associations within a group. Social preferences lasted for a maximum of two seasons, likely influenced by pregnancy and transitions from gilt to adult sow, which resulted in temporary withdrawal from the group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105826"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157196","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 : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105825
C.F. Børsting , D.W. Olijhoek , A.L. F. Hellwing , K.M. Moyes , S. Østergaard , M.R. Weisbjerg , P. Lund , B.M. Raun , B.A. Røjen , N.B. Kristensen
We evaluated how to maintain dairy herds in a productive state after extreme drought episodes via substituting high quality forage (corn and grass-clover silages) with concentrate and straw. Ninety Holstein cows were allocated to a randomized trial for 11 weeks. The planned roughage-to-concentrate ratios (% of dietary DM) of the diets were: 51:49, 30:70, and 9:91. Two different concentrate palettes were used to substitute forage representing domestic (RGB) and globally (COS) available feedstuffs. The concentrate mixture RGB contained only feedstuffs that can be produced in the European Union. The RGB mixture contained starch from the feedstuffs ground barley and NaOH-treated whole wheat kernels, fibers from dried beet pulp and distiller’s dried grains (DDGS) and protein from rapeseed cake and DDGS. The concentrate mixture COS was based on globally available feedstuffs and contained starch from corn (ground kernels), fiber from soyhulls, and protein mainly from soybean meal. Treatments did not affect concentrate intake in milking robots, whereas intake of the partially mixed rations was 0.6 kg DM per day less with RGB when compared to COS. Milk fat concentrations were severely reduced with greater concentrate intake and reflected ruminal molar proportions of acetate to propionate. The study showed that it is possible to use concentrate-based emergency rations to keep dairy herds milking after severe drought episodes with a shortage of forage, however, the loss in milk fat yield implies that farmers should prioritize forage, even when prices are up to 2.5 to 3.3 times the standard production cost.
我们评估了如何通过用精料和秸秆替代优质饲料（玉米和草三叶草青贮）来维持极端干旱后奶牛群的生产状态。90头荷斯坦奶牛随机试验期11周。试验饲粮粗精料比（占饲粮DM的百分比）分别为：51:49、30:70和9:91。采用两种不同的精料调色板替代代表国内（RGB）和全球（COS）有效饲料的饲料。浓缩混合物RGB只含有可以在欧盟生产的饲料。RGB混合料中含有来自大麦粉和naoh处理过的全麦粒的淀粉、来自干甜菜浆和干酒糟（DDGS）的纤维以及来自油菜籽饼和DDGS的蛋白质。该浓缩混合物COS以全球可用的饲料为基础，含有玉米（磨碎的玉米粒）淀粉、豆皮纤维和主要来自豆粕的蛋白质。处理不影响挤奶机器人的精料摄入量，而与COS相比，RGB部分混合日粮的摄入量每天减少0.6 kg DM。随着精料摄入量的增加，乳脂浓度严重降低，反映了瘤胃乙酸与丙酸的摩尔比。研究表明，在饲料短缺的严重干旱时期，使用以浓缩饲料为基础的紧急口粮来保持奶牛群的挤奶是可能的，然而，乳脂产量的损失意味着农民应该优先考虑饲料，即使价格高达标准生产成本的2.5至3.3倍。
{"title":"Feed intake, ruminal parameters, milk production and economy in Holstein cows fed reduced forage or non-forage emergency diets","authors":"C.F. Børsting , D.W. Olijhoek , A.L. F. Hellwing , K.M. Moyes , S. Østergaard , M.R. Weisbjerg , P. Lund , B.M. Raun , B.A. Røjen , N.B. Kristensen","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We evaluated how to maintain dairy herds in a productive state after extreme drought episodes via substituting high quality forage (corn and grass-clover silages) with concentrate and straw. Ninety Holstein cows were allocated to a randomized trial for 11 weeks. The planned roughage-to-concentrate ratios (% of dietary DM) of the diets were: 51:49, 30:70, and 9:91. Two different concentrate palettes were used to substitute forage representing domestic (RGB) and globally (COS) available feedstuffs. The concentrate mixture RGB contained only feedstuffs that can be produced in the European Union. The RGB mixture contained starch from the feedstuffs ground barley and NaOH-treated whole wheat kernels, fibers from dried beet pulp and distiller’s dried grains (DDGS) and protein from rapeseed cake and DDGS. The concentrate mixture COS was based on globally available feedstuffs and contained starch from corn (ground kernels), fiber from soyhulls, and protein mainly from soybean meal. Treatments did not affect concentrate intake in milking robots, whereas intake of the partially mixed rations was 0.6 kg DM per day less with RGB when compared to COS. Milk fat concentrations were severely reduced with greater concentrate intake and reflected ruminal molar proportions of acetate to propionate. The study showed that it is possible to use concentrate-based emergency rations to keep dairy herds milking after severe drought episodes with a shortage of forage, however, the loss in milk fat yield implies that farmers should prioritize forage, even when prices are up to 2.5 to 3.3 times the standard production cost.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223269","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 : 2025-09-14DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105824
P. Langendijk , A.K. Agyekum , F. Simard , M. Richer-Lanciault
From day 30 of gestation, 288 mixed parity sows were fed a diet varying in the inclusion of lysine and other amino acids, to meet changing requirements throughout gestation more closely (precision feeding). Lysine inclusion for precision fed sows was varied by parity group and was altered every few days by blending two diets differing in lysine at varying ratios. As a reference, 280 mixed parity sows were fed a single gestation diet consistent in lysine and well above requirements (NRC 2012). To investigate the role of lysine intake in prenatal development, standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine requirements were estimated retrospectively based on realised maternal gain and litter weights at farrowing. SID Lysine excess was calculated over day 30 to 80 of gestation, the period of accelerated placenta growth, and defined as lysine intake minus requirements. SID Lysine excess was lower for precision fed sows, and sows with lowest lysine excess (1 g/d or less) had lower foetal survival (90.8 % vs 93 to 95 %), more mummies per litter (0.6 vs 0.2 to 0.3), and more litters with at least one mummy (38 % vs 12 to 21 %), compared to sows with SID lysine excess of 1 g/d and more. In conclusion, when feeding amino acids closer to requirements, in some sows this may result in feeding under requirements, potentially compromising foetal development. This study provides a previously undefined safety margin for SID lysine of 1.5 g/d, which can be used to formulate gestation diets and feeding strategies.
从妊娠第30天开始，288头混合胎母猪饲喂不同赖氨酸和其他氨基酸添加量的饲粮，以更密切地满足妊娠期间不断变化的需求（精确饲养）。精密饲养母猪的赖氨酸含量随胎次组的不同而不同，每隔几天通过混合两种赖氨酸含量不同的饲粮进行改变。作为参考，280头混合胎母猪饲喂赖氨酸含量一致且远高于要求的单一妊娠日粮（NRC 2012）。为了研究赖氨酸摄入量在产前发育中的作用，根据分娩时实现的母体增重和窝重回顾性估计了标准化回肠可消化赖氨酸需要量。在妊娠第30 ~ 80天（胎盘加速生长的时期）计算SID赖氨酸过量，定义为赖氨酸摄入量减去需水量。精密饲养母猪的SID赖氨酸过量较低，与SID赖氨酸过量1 g/d及以上的母猪相比，最低赖氨酸过量（1 g/d或更少）的母猪的胎儿存活率较低（90.8% vs 93 ~ 95%），每窝妈咪较多（0.6 vs 0.2 ~ 0.3），至少有一个妈咪的窝仔较多（38% vs 12 ~ 21%）。综上所述，在某些母猪中，当饲喂氨基酸接近所需水平时，可能会导致饲料低于所需水平，从而潜在地影响胎儿发育。本研究提供了先前未定义的1.5 g/d的SID赖氨酸安全边际，可用于制定妊娠日粮和喂养策略。
{"title":"Precision feeding in gestating sows: a retrospective analysis of lysine intake and pregnancy outcomes","authors":"P. Langendijk , A.K. Agyekum , F. Simard , M. Richer-Lanciault","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105824","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105824","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>From day 30 of gestation, 288 mixed parity sows were fed a diet varying in the inclusion of lysine and other amino acids, to meet changing requirements throughout gestation more closely (precision feeding). Lysine inclusion for precision fed sows was varied by parity group and was altered every few days by blending two diets differing in lysine at varying ratios. As a reference, 280 mixed parity sows were fed a single gestation diet consistent in lysine and well above requirements (NRC 2012). To investigate the role of lysine intake in prenatal development, standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine requirements were estimated retrospectively based on realised maternal gain and litter weights at farrowing. SID Lysine excess was calculated over day 30 to 80 of gestation, the period of accelerated placenta growth, and defined as lysine intake minus requirements. SID Lysine excess was lower for precision fed sows, and sows with lowest lysine excess (1 g/d or less) had lower foetal survival (90.8 % vs 93 to 95 %), more mummies per litter (0.6 vs 0.2 to 0.3), and more litters with at least one mummy (38 % vs 12 to 21 %), compared to sows with SID lysine excess of 1 g/d and more. In conclusion, when feeding amino acids closer to requirements, in some sows this may result in feeding under requirements, potentially compromising foetal development. This study provides a previously undefined safety margin for SID lysine of 1.5 g/d, which can be used to formulate gestation diets and feeding strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105824"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095889","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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