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}
Pub Date : 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820
Camila S. Mussi , Gabriel C. Medeiros , Rafael Espigolan , Fernando Baldi , Marcio R. Silva , José D. Guimarães , Elisangela C. Matos , Joanir P. Eler , Tamires Miranda Neto , José Bento S. Ferraz , Luiz F. Brito
Nellore cattle (Bos taurus indicus), the predominant beef cattle breed raised in Brazil, has substantial economic importance in the global beef market. Ultrasonography is commonly used to measure carcass traits, which facilitate the genetic evaluation of live animals and provides indicators of meat quality. Male reproductive efficiency assessed by semen quality and scrotal circumference traits directly influences farm profitability. This study estimated variance components and genetic correlations between ultrasound-based carcass and semen quality and scrotal circumference traits in Nellore cattle. We used a dataset of 116,011 animals with phenotypic records, 13,632 genotyped animals, and a pedigree with 635,175 animals. Heritability estimates for scrotal circumference at 18 and 24 months were moderate (0.39 ± 0.008 and 0.38 ± 0.02, respectively). Semen quality traits, including motility, vigor, and mass activity were found to be lowly heritable with estimates ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.05 ± 0.01. The heritability estimates for sperm defects were also low and ranged from 0.01 ± 0.007 to 0.12 ± 0.02. Carcass traits, including ribeye area and rump fat thickness, were moderately heritable (0.34 ± 0.05 and 0.39 ± 0.06), while subcutaneous fat thickness had a heritability of 0.18 ± 0.04. Genetic correlations between carcass with semen quality and scrotal circumference traits were of low to moderate magnitude and unfavorable. These findings indicate that carcass traits can be improved through genetic selection and the generally low genetic correlations with sperm quality traits and scrotal circumference traits suggest that selection for improved carcass traits, measured using ultrasonography technology, is expected to have minimal impact on semen quality. Therefore, simultaneous selection for both trait groups is recommended to ensure optimal long-term genetic improvement in Nellore cattle breeding programs.
{"title":"Genetic correlations between carcass traits measured by ultrasonography and semen quality traits in Nellore cattle incorporating genomic information","authors":"Camila S. Mussi , Gabriel C. Medeiros , Rafael Espigolan , Fernando Baldi , Marcio R. Silva , José D. Guimarães , Elisangela C. Matos , Joanir P. Eler , Tamires Miranda Neto , José Bento S. Ferraz , Luiz F. Brito","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nellore cattle (<em>Bos taurus indicus</em>), the predominant beef cattle breed raised in Brazil, has substantial economic importance in the global beef market. Ultrasonography is commonly used to measure carcass traits, which facilitate the genetic evaluation of live animals and provides indicators of meat quality. Male reproductive efficiency assessed by semen quality and scrotal circumference traits directly influences farm profitability. This study estimated variance components and genetic correlations between ultrasound-based carcass and semen quality and scrotal circumference traits in Nellore cattle. We used a dataset of 116,011 animals with phenotypic records, 13,632 genotyped animals, and a pedigree with 635,175 animals. Heritability estimates for scrotal circumference at 18 and 24 months were moderate (0.39 ± 0.008 and 0.38 ± 0.02, respectively). Semen quality traits, including motility, vigor, and mass activity were found to be lowly heritable with estimates ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.05 ± 0.01. The heritability estimates for sperm defects were also low and ranged from 0.01 ± 0.007 to 0.12 ± 0.02. Carcass traits, including ribeye area and rump fat thickness, were moderately heritable (0.34 ± 0.05 and 0.39 ± 0.06), while subcutaneous fat thickness had a heritability of 0.18 ± 0.04. Genetic correlations between carcass with semen quality and scrotal circumference traits were of low to moderate magnitude and unfavorable. These findings indicate that carcass traits can be improved through genetic selection and the generally low genetic correlations with sperm quality traits and scrotal circumference traits suggest that selection for improved carcass traits, measured using ultrasonography technology, is expected to have minimal impact on semen quality. Therefore, simultaneous selection for both trait groups is recommended to ensure optimal long-term genetic improvement in Nellore cattle breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105820"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095992","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 : 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105823
Samuel Oliveira Borges , Tiago Goulart Petrolli , Melissa Izabel Hannas , Romário Duarte Bernardes , Carlos Henrique de Oliveira , Kelly Morais Maia Dias , Bruno Figueiredo de Almeida , Lucimauro da Fonseca , Alex Filipe Ramos de Sousa , Arele Arlindo Calderano
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different inclusion levels of phytase on the performance, body composition, blood parameters, and bone characteristics of broilers fed reduced-nutrient diets. The experiment was conducted using 1400 male broilers, allocated to seven treatments with ten replicates and twenty birds per experimental unit, in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments were: positive control, formulated to fully meet the birds’ nutritional requirements; negative control 1 (NC1), negative control 2 (NC2) and negative control 3 (NC3), formulated with nutrient reductions according to the phytase nutrient release matrix but without enzyme supplementation; and NC1, NC2 and NC3 supplemented with 500, 750 and 1000 FTU of phytase. Phytase supplementation improved (P < 0.05) body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and final body weight compared to the negative controls, restoring these parameters to levels comparable with the positive control, even in diets simultaneously reduced in available phosphorus (P), total calcium (Ca), total sodium, metabolizable energy, crude protein, and digestible amino acids. Improvements were also observed in serum Ca and P levels, as well as in bone indicators, including the Seedor index, bone breaking strength, and ash and magnesium concentrations, matching those of the positive control (P < 0.05). Phytase supplementation further enhanced body composition, with greater deposition of lean tissue, protein, and bone in supplemented birds (P < 0.05). The main contribution of this study is the confirmation of phytase’s effectiveness as a nutritional tool in challenging diets, demonstrating its capacity to recover performance and bone quality, with benefits that extend beyond phosphorus utilization.
{"title":"Effects of phytase supplementation on broiler chickens fed nutrient-deficient diets","authors":"Samuel Oliveira Borges , Tiago Goulart Petrolli , Melissa Izabel Hannas , Romário Duarte Bernardes , Carlos Henrique de Oliveira , Kelly Morais Maia Dias , Bruno Figueiredo de Almeida , Lucimauro da Fonseca , Alex Filipe Ramos de Sousa , Arele Arlindo Calderano","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different inclusion levels of phytase on the performance, body composition, blood parameters, and bone characteristics of broilers fed reduced-nutrient diets. The experiment was conducted using 1400 male broilers, allocated to seven treatments with ten replicates and twenty birds per experimental unit, in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments were: positive control, formulated to fully meet the birds’ nutritional requirements; negative control 1 (NC1), negative control 2 (NC2) and negative control 3 (NC3), formulated with nutrient reductions according to the phytase nutrient release matrix but without enzyme supplementation; and NC1, NC2 and NC3 supplemented with 500, 750 and 1000 FTU of phytase. Phytase supplementation improved (<em>P</em> < 0.05) body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and final body weight compared to the negative controls, restoring these parameters to levels comparable with the positive control, even in diets simultaneously reduced in available phosphorus (P), total calcium (Ca), total sodium, metabolizable energy, crude protein, and digestible amino acids. Improvements were also observed in serum Ca and P levels, as well as in bone indicators, including the Seedor index, bone breaking strength, and ash and magnesium concentrations, matching those of the positive control (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Phytase supplementation further enhanced body composition, with greater deposition of lean tissue, protein, and bone in supplemented birds (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The main contribution of this study is the confirmation of phytase’s effectiveness as a nutritional tool in challenging diets, demonstrating its capacity to recover performance and bone quality, with benefits that extend beyond phosphorus utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105823"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095888","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 : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105822
Hanne Kongsted, Eimear Theresa Mc Loughlin
In June 2022, Danish authorities implemented the EU ban on ‘pharmaceutical levels of zinc oxide’ (pZnO) in pig herds to protect the environment from pollution from heavy metals. Following the ban, an increased use of antibiotics was seen, especially for treating post-weaning diarrhoea.
The study used joint semi-structured interviews with farmers (n = 10) and vets (n = 8) to explore the challenges encountered in Danish pig herds and the background for the increased use of antibiotics following the ban. Interviews were carried out between January and April 2024.
Interviewees explained how diarrhoea, general unthriftiness, increased use of antibiotics and problems with antibiotic resistance were often the consequences of not providing pZnO. The most common measures to protect pigs from postweaning diarrhoea were changes in feeding management to ensure a steady feed intake and to avoid high levels of protein. However, in many cases such changes did not offset the negative effects, and some herds continuously struggled with unthrifty pigs. Surprisingly, most vets could not explain the possible reason that some herds were relatively unaffected whilst others experienced severe problems.
The study sheds light on the restrictive systemic conditions in modern Danish pig farming and how they affect the possibilities for adapting to societal demands. Many agreed that extensive management measures like lowered stocking density and increased weaning age might enable weaning without pharmaceuticals, but these measures were generally considered too expensive. In addition to increased disease occurrence, the increased use of antibiotics was explained by regulatory frameworks and intentions to support a ‘smoothly running production’.
{"title":"Managing without pharmaceutical zinc in Danish pig production – insights from farmers and veterinarians","authors":"Hanne Kongsted, Eimear Theresa Mc Loughlin","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In June 2022, Danish authorities implemented the EU ban on ‘pharmaceutical levels of zinc oxide’ (pZnO) in pig herds to protect the environment from pollution from heavy metals. Following the ban, an increased use of antibiotics was seen, especially for treating post-weaning diarrhoea.</div><div>The study used joint semi-structured interviews with farmers (<em>n</em> = 10) and vets (<em>n</em> = 8) to explore the challenges encountered in Danish pig herds and the background for the increased use of antibiotics following the ban. Interviews were carried out between January and April 2024.</div><div>Interviewees explained how diarrhoea, general unthriftiness, increased use of antibiotics and problems with antibiotic resistance were often the consequences of not providing pZnO. The most common measures to protect pigs from postweaning diarrhoea were changes in feeding management to ensure a steady feed intake and to avoid high levels of protein. However, in many cases such changes did not offset the negative effects, and some herds continuously struggled with unthrifty pigs. Surprisingly, most vets could not explain the possible reason that some herds were relatively unaffected whilst others experienced severe problems.</div><div>The study sheds light on the restrictive systemic conditions in modern Danish pig farming and how they affect the possibilities for adapting to societal demands. Many agreed that extensive management measures like lowered stocking density and increased weaning age might enable weaning without pharmaceuticals, but these measures were generally considered too expensive. In addition to increased disease occurrence, the increased use of antibiotics was explained by regulatory frameworks and intentions to support a ‘smoothly running production’.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105822"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095890","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 : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105821
S. Siahpour , M.A.Karimi Torshizi , O. Jangjou , H. Saleh
Trace mineral supplementation via vitamin–mineral premixes (VMP) is essential for broiler health and productivity but may contribute to environmental pollution through excessive mineral excretion. This study investigated the effects of time-based VMP withdrawal at different production stages on growth performance, bone mineralization, immune function, antioxidant capacity, welfare indicators, and zinc and copper excretion in broilers. A total of 500 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were allocated to five dietary treatments (five replicates per treatment; 20 birds/replicate) in a completely randomized design over 42days. Treatments consisted of a control group (VMP fed for 42 days) and four time-dependent withdrawal groups, where VMP was removed for the final 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of the trial. Growth performance, tibia characteristics, leg condition, serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA), cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx), total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and fecal mineral excretion were measured. Data were analyzed using a general linear model with Tukey’s test (P < 0.05) Results showed that earlier VMP withdrawal impaired growth, bone integrity, immunity, and antioxidant status while increasing feed conversion ratio, pro-inflammatory cytokines, MDA levels, and gait abnormalities. However, zinc and copper excretion decreased progressively as withdrawal occurred earlier. These findings suggest that strategically timed VMP withdrawal during the final production phase may reduce environmental impact without compromising broiler health, offering a practical and sustainable mineral management strategy.
{"title":"Effects of timing and duration of stepwise vitamin–mineral premix withdrawal on welfare indicators and trace mineral excretion in broilers","authors":"S. Siahpour , M.A.Karimi Torshizi , O. Jangjou , H. Saleh","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trace mineral supplementation via vitamin–mineral premixes (VMP) is essential for broiler health and productivity but may contribute to environmental pollution through excessive mineral excretion. This study investigated the effects of time-based VMP withdrawal at different production stages on growth performance, bone mineralization, immune function, antioxidant capacity, welfare indicators, and zinc and copper excretion in broilers. A total of 500 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were allocated to five dietary treatments (five replicates per treatment; 20 birds/replicate) in a completely randomized design over 42days. Treatments consisted of a control group (VMP fed for 42 days) and four time-dependent withdrawal groups, where VMP was removed for the final 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of the trial. Growth performance, tibia characteristics, leg condition, serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA), cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx), total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and fecal mineral excretion were measured. Data were analyzed using a general linear model with Tukey’s test (<em>P</em> < 0.05) Results showed that earlier VMP withdrawal impaired growth, bone integrity, immunity, and antioxidant status while increasing feed conversion ratio, pro-inflammatory cytokines, MDA levels, and gait abnormalities. However, zinc and copper excretion decreased progressively as withdrawal occurred earlier. These findings suggest that strategically timed VMP withdrawal during the final production phase may reduce environmental impact without compromising broiler health, offering a practical and sustainable mineral management strategy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105821"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057254","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 : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105819
Matteo Buffoni , Marco Viveen , J Arjan GM De Visser , Lapo Mughini-Gras , Rob JL Willems , Anita C Schürch , Jannigje G Kers
Post-weaning (PW) is a stressful period in the early life of growing pigs. Changes in diet may cause a shift in microbiome composition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), with potential effects on piglet health. Here, we evaluate the effect of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil, as a sustainable nutrient source, on growth performance and fecal microbiome composition in PW pigs. Two trials were conducted, with Trial 1 including 60 piglets, of which 40 were sampled for microbiome analysis, and Trial 2 involving 160 piglets, of which 122 were sampled. All piglets were approximately 21 days old, Topigs/Pietrain crossbreed, weighed over 5 kg, and both trials lasted 39 days post-weaning. To assess the impact of BSFL oil blend on microbiome composition, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on fecal samples collected on day 11 and 26 in Trial 1, and day 11 and 42 in Trial 2. No direct effects of BSFL oil blend implementation were observed on pig general performance in terms of body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G). Moreover, no difference in microbiome development was observed with BSFL oil blend relative to soy and palm kernel oil. These results indicate that BSFL oil is a valid alternative nutrient source for weaned pigs, as both performance and microbiome are unaffected.
{"title":"Effect of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae oil feed inclusion on growth performance and fecal microbiome development in post-weaning pigs","authors":"Matteo Buffoni , Marco Viveen , J Arjan GM De Visser , Lapo Mughini-Gras , Rob JL Willems , Anita C Schürch , Jannigje G Kers","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Post-weaning (PW) is a stressful period in the early life of growing pigs. Changes in diet may cause a shift in microbiome composition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), with potential effects on piglet health. Here, we evaluate the effect of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil, as a sustainable nutrient source, on growth performance and fecal microbiome composition in PW pigs. Two trials were conducted, with Trial 1 including 60 piglets, of which 40 were sampled for microbiome analysis, and Trial 2 involving 160 piglets, of which 122 were sampled. All piglets were approximately 21 days old, Topigs/Pietrain crossbreed, weighed over 5 kg, and both trials lasted 39 days post-weaning. To assess the impact of BSFL oil blend on microbiome composition, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on fecal samples collected on day 11 and 26 in Trial 1, and day 11 and 42 in Trial 2. No direct effects of BSFL oil blend implementation were observed on pig general performance in terms of body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G). Moreover, no difference in microbiome development was observed with BSFL oil blend relative to soy and palm kernel oil. These results indicate that BSFL oil is a valid alternative nutrient source for weaned pigs, as both performance and microbiome are unaffected.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105819"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057259","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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