Animal最新文献

{"title":"Variability of daily feed intake as an indicator of resilience in Pietrain pigs","authors":"C. Casto-Rebollo ,&nbsp;P. Nuñez ,&nbsp;S. Gol ,&nbsp;J. Reixach ,&nbsp;N. Ibáñez-Escriche","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a growing need to produce more resilient livestock that can cope with extreme environments and their associated impacts. Daily feed intake (<strong>DFI</strong>) is a promising metric for the development of resilience indicators (<strong>RIs</strong>), as reduced feed consumption is widely recognised as a clinical sign of disease. However, there is no consensus on which DFI-based RIs are the most informative. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the most common DFI-based RIs and their relationships with feed efficiency traits (<strong>FETs</strong>), (ii) to investigate the relationship between these indicators and progeny mortality rates on commercial farms, and (iii) to gain insight into their biological mechanisms. A total of 111 121 DFI records of 1 634 healthy purebred Pietrain boars were used, ranging from 47 to 90 days, with an average of 69 DFI records per boar. Three RIs were calculated: residual variance, RMSE and logarithm of the variance of the deviations from an expected pattern (<strong>LnVar</strong>). A classical animal model was used to estimate the variance components of each RI, and a bivariate model was implemented to estimate the genetic correlation between RIs and the FET. Furthermore, a preliminary mortality study was carried out using data from 6 889 progeny of 55 boars on farms catalogued as virulent for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. Progeny mortality was calculated for each contemporary group (farm and batch) of the offspring, and sires were classified into three levels of resilience. A Bayesian linear model was used to determine whether the differences in progeny mortality rate between the levels of resilience were relevant. On the other hand, a weighted single-step genome-wide association study was performed for each RI and the FET, using a total of 1 216 genotypes. RIs showed moderate heritability (<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></math></span> = 0.27–0.49) and moderate to strong genetic correlation with FET. Progeny of resilient sires had an 80% probability of at least a 2.5% higher survival rate. Overlapping genomic regions were found for RIs and feed conversion ratio, highlighting <em>DOCK1, SYK</em> and <em>SPTLC1</em> genes for their potential roles in modulating immune responses and/or metabolism. The LnVar of deviations from the population mean was the most promising indicators (LnVar-Pop) for disease resilience, as it was the RI that better captured differences in progeny mortality. Furthermore, these results suggest a common biological basis for RIs and FET of interest to breeding programmes. Further studies are needed to validate them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101415"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143076181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The carbon cost of impaired welfare on sheep farms","authors":"L. Lanzoni ,&nbsp;M.C. Reeves ,&nbsp;K. Waxenberg ,&nbsp;R. Ramsey ,&nbsp;A.S. Atzori ,&nbsp;J. Bell ,&nbsp;R.M. Rees ,&nbsp;G. Vignola ,&nbsp;C.M. Dwyer","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101390","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101390","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the face of global climate threats, farm and land-management decisions must balance climate concerns with profitability, animal welfare, and ecosystem health. However, few comprehensive studies have quantified the relationship between animal welfare and greenhouse gas (<strong>GHG</strong>) emissions, and no study focuses specifically on sheep farms. The present study aims to quantify the effects of impaired welfare on GHG emissions for common welfare challenges faced in UK lowland (<strong>L</strong>) and hill (<strong>H</strong>) sheep farming systems. Two case study research farms in Scotland, representative of high welfare conditions, were used as baselines for semi-intensive L and extensive H systems. In this study, “high welfare conditions” are defined as situations where animals have access to adequate feeding, suitable housing, good health, and opportunities to express natural behaviours. From each high-welfare baseline, scenarios representing common levels of impaired welfare conditions were modelled, using parameters retrieved from the published literature. The selected poor-welfare scenarios included lameness, gastrointestinal nematodes, blowfly strike, liver fluke, inadequate shelter provision, inadequate feeding during lamb growth and late gestation, and high lamb mortality rate. GHG emissions were estimated “from-cradle-to-farm-gate” using Agrecalc ©, a Life Cycle Assessment tool for the agricultural sector. Total GHG emissions and emission intensities (<strong>EI)</strong> in kg of CO₂ equivalent per kg live weight were compared across the baseline and the scenarios. Gross farm emissions and product-level EIs demonstrated divergent patterns in response to impaired welfare. Most impaired welfare scenarios led to a slight decrease in total farm emissions (0.03–3%), with a few exceptions. On the other hand, EI increased across all impaired welfare scenarios relative to the baseline, because meat production decreased by 1.3–16.6% across all impaired welfare scenarios, reducing resource use efficiency. Lameness was identified as particularly impactful, resulting in 18 and 10% increases in EI on H and L farms, respectively. This was primarily due to the high lamb mortality associated with lameness in published studies. Inadequate shelter provision was associated with an 8–15% increase in EI. Scenarios related to ineffective parasite control contributed to an EI increase ranging from 1 to 13%, while inadequate feeding management caused a 3–4% increase in EI. This study highlights the potential for reducing emission intensity through system-specific interventions, emphasising the importance of integrating animal welfare into GHG mitigation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101390"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142967157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opinion paper: Phasing out of the aid provided to the livestock sector during expectedly recurrent emergencies","authors":"H.P.S. Makkar","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101409","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101409"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143025654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting rotational grazing systems with virtual fencing: paddock transitions, beef heifer performance, and stress response","authors":"N.A. Grinnell ,&nbsp;D. Hamidi ,&nbsp;M. Komainda ,&nbsp;F. Riesch ,&nbsp;J. Horn ,&nbsp;I. Traulsen ,&nbsp;R. Palme ,&nbsp;J. Isselstein","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animal welfare is integral to sustainable livestock production, and pasture access for cattle is known to enhance welfare. Despite positive welfare impacts, high labour requirements hinder the adoption of sustainable grazing practices such as rotational stocking management. Virtual fencing (<strong>VF</strong>) is an innovative technology for simplified, less laborious grazing management and remote animal monitoring, potentially facilitating the expansion of sustainable livestock production. VF uses Global Navigation Satellite System technology, wireless communication, and stimuli (auditory and electrical) to manage livestock movements and contain animals without physical barriers. Training animals to associate the auditory cue with the subsequent aversive stimulus enables effective livestock containment without physical barriers. While previous studies have largely dispelled concerns about adverse effects on cattle behaviour associated with the use of VF collars, there is limited knowledge regarding the impacts on animal physiology, particularly in rotational stocking systems. Addressing this knowledge gap, this study investigated differences in diet digestibility, livestock performance, and stress response of beef heifers on pastures using a VF compared to a physical electric fence. The study was conducted over 8 weeks, subdivided into two grazing cycles, with 32 heifers in four groups. Each experimental pasture was subdivided into four paddocks. The study monitored the interaction with the VF by analysing the temporal development of the ratio of auditory and electrical cues (success ratio and confidence ratio) emitted by the collars. Additionally, the grassland herbage quality, BW gain, and concentrations of faecal cortisol metabolites (<strong>FCMs</strong>) were assessed, as well as the time required for animals to cross into a new paddock. VF success ratios increased in the second grazing cycle, reflecting enhanced adaptation over time. Similarly, the reduction in time taken to cross into new paddocks in the VF groups indicated that animals learned to interact with the VF and rely on the auditory cues for directing movements. The absence of a significant effect of the fencing system on FCMs suggested that stress was unrelated to the VF technology. Further, animal performance was not affected as indicated by similar BW gains under both fencing systems. This study also attempts to establish a benchmark threshold for successful responses to the auditory cues, allowing comparative evaluation of VF systems. Overall, under rotational grazing, VF did not adversely impact animal welfare or performance compared to physical fencing, opening avenues for further exploration of VF technology in diverse grazing conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101416"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143042333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A conceptual mechanistic model of amino acid fluxes in the small intestine, taking the example of pig","authors":"C.J.J. Garçon ,&nbsp;N. Le Floc’h ,&nbsp;Y. Mercier ,&nbsp;J. van Milgen","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During digestion, almost 50% of absorbed essential amino acids (<strong>AAs</strong>) are metabolised by intestinal tissue, thus not appearing directly in the portal vein. This value, which is referred to as first-pass metabolism, seems high in relation to the overall efficiency of AA use considered in growth models. Experimental studies of first-pass metabolism are complicated due to the presence of numerous metabolic fluxes in the intestine and to the dynamics of digestion and absorption. The aim of this study was to integrate current knowledge of the metabolic AA fluxes in the small intestine in a conceptual model of intestinal AA metabolism. The model was built as a series of 200 intestinal segments, each having the same structure. Each segment was composed of seven pools, representing the fate of a generic AA according to their location (i.e., luminal or intestinal), origin (i.e., dietary or endogenous), and form (i.e., as protein or as a free AA). The pools were connected by fluxes, representing the main fates of AA, such as saturable transport of luminal AA or homeostasis of free or protein-bound AA in intestinal tissue. To parameterise the model, data from the literature were used, as well as values considered as reasonable. Simulations were carried out over 24 h, with five meals during the day and fasting during the night. Representing the small intestine as a series of segments allowed to account both for its tubular structure and for changing luminal environment. During the day, the model simulated the uptake of AA from the intestine and export to the blood, while during the night it simulated the uptake of AA from the blood to ensure intestinal homeostasis. Approximately, half of dietary AAs absorbed were metabolised in first-pass by intestinal tissue (i.e., used for intestinal protein synthesis). Part of this intestinal protein was secreted in the lumen as endogenous protein, which was driven by the presence of digesta, and endogenous protein can be digested and absorbed in more distal segments. <em>In vivo</em>, only the apparent first-pass metabolism of AA can be measured due to the dynamics of AA recycling and the tubular structure of the small intestine. This model can be a valuable tool for research and education to simulate the impact of nutrition on intestinal AA metabolism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101414"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143043311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review: The need for holistic, sector-tailored sustainability assessments for milk− and plant-based beverages","authors":"E. Maree ,&nbsp;J.N. Blignaut ,&nbsp;C.J.L. Du Toit ,&nbsp;H.H. Meissner ,&nbsp;P. Ederer","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable food systems encompass nutrition, the environment and socioeconomics, each aspect requiring unique assessment and consideration. This is especially important in the dairy industry, since livestock contributes 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions while also contributing 49% to global calcium supply and 12% to global protein supply. This necessitates strict measurement to ensure science-based decision-making while producing sustainably, ensuring adequate nutrient supply. This review aimed to identify and evaluate existing measures of sustainability with the goal to generate recommendations for future sustainability measurements. From a nutritional perspective, it identified existing measures such as nutritional life-cycle analysis, hybrid nutrient−rich food index, nutrient−rich food adjusted for adequate intake and nutrient deficiencies, as well as the priority micronutrient density score, as methods which consider broader nutrient profiles and utilise more recent research, and therefore serve as a basis for future models. Major limitations exist in the incorporation of bioavailability or the food matrix effect in such measures, as well as food-group−specific indices. The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology healthy diet score also provides promise in serving as an updated version of current dietary guidelines. Environmentally, the life cycle analysis approach forms a detailed basis for environmental footprint assessment, although the practical application thereof in modern agriculture may be cumbersome and may warrant the use of simpler metrics. However, the complexity of sustainability assessments due to differing production methods and system boundaries makes comparisons difficult, which justifies either standardised or contextualised indices. Lastly, socioeconomics which are often measured only via retail price with a focus on economics also deserves consideration of affordability at consumer and producer level by evaluating the effect of the production system on the local and global economy, producer affordability and the potential to improve livelihoods. In conclusion, a localised and holistic measure of sustainability is warranted which is both sector and context−specific and reported in sufficient detail to prevent the masking of poor results due to single metric expressions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101348"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and high phytase doses on performance, vitamin D status, bone mineralization, and mechanistic target of rapamycin gene expression of broilers","authors":"L.S. Bassi ,&nbsp;C.C.S. Martins ,&nbsp;C.A. Lozano-Poveda ,&nbsp;I.C. Dias ,&nbsp;S.G. Oliveira ,&nbsp;A. Maiorka","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101353","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101353","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of exogenous phytase and vitamin D₃ metabolites such as 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (<strong>25-OH-D₃</strong>) for poultry is well consolidated, but the potential for additive effects when supplementing both requires further investigation. This study investigated possible interactions between supplementation of 25-OH-D₃ and high doses of phytase for broilers fed Ca− and P-deficient diets. A total of 1 200 one-d-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated from one of four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: 600 or 2 000 phytase units (<strong>FYT</strong>)/kg and with or without the inclusion of 25-OH-D₃ at 69 µg/kg, with 12 replicates of 25 broilers each. Two feeding phases were stablished (1-to-21 and 22-to-42 d) and all diets contained commercial levels of vitamin D₃ (100 µg/kg) with total Ca and available P respectively set to 0.6 and 0.3%. Supplementation with 25-OH-D₃ increased body weight gain (<strong>BWG</strong>) and reduced feed conversion ratio (<strong>FCR</strong>) from 1 to 21 d (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), as well as increased BWG from 1 to 42 d (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Serum 25-OH-D₃ levels at 21 and 42 d were increased with 25-OH-D₃ (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Phytase did not affect growth performance from 1 to 21 d, but a higher dose (2 000 FYT/kg) reduced feed intake and FCR from 22 to 42 d compared to 600 FYT/kg, also reducing FCR in the total period (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). The mRNA expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin in breast muscle assessed at 42 d was enhanced with 2 000 FYT/kg (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Bone weight, bone contents of ash, Ca, and P, and bone breaking strength of tibia bone measured at 42 d were not affected by any dietary treatment. Although both additives are known to improve dietary Ca and P utilization, there were no detected additive or synergic effects. The results suggested that the inclusion of 25-OH-D₃ and phytase combined with regular vitamin D₃ levels can help minimize losses of performance and bone mineralization of broilers fed Ca- and P-deficient diets. Furthermore, vitamin D status is refined with dietary 25-OH-D₃ and potential improvements on breast meat yield can be obtained with a high phytase dose of 2 000 FYT/kg.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101353"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142958334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of fertility in timed artificial insemination programs in beef cattle: predictive ability and risk factors from almost 2 million data points","authors":"R.E.F. Assis ,&nbsp;F. Baldi ,&nbsp;L.B. Temp ,&nbsp;R. Ungerfeld ,&nbsp;M.F. de Sá Filho","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Timed artificial insemination (<strong>TAI</strong>) is a technology widely used in cattle production based on controlling ovarian follicular growth. This study analyzed a large database aiming to determine the influence of several intrinsic and extrinsic female factors, as well as their interactions to determine risk factors and produce prediction ability in beef cattle. A total of 1 832 999 TAIs conducted on 2 002 farms across South American countries were considered for the analysis, including 15 main fixed effects or interactions in the statistical model, in addition to five random effects. The pregnancy/A.I. (<strong>P/AI</strong>) was affected by Order of service (1st TAI &gt; resynchronizations), body condition class (<strong>BCS</strong>) (high &gt; medium &gt; low), female genetic group [<em>Bos taurus</em> and crossbreds &gt; <em>Bos indicus</em>], breeding season (reduction of the P/AI every year), female category [Non-lactating multiparous &gt; Suckled multiparous &gt; Suckled primiparous &gt; Nulliparous heifers], period of year (July-September, October-December and January-March &gt; April-June) and climatic region as well as the interactions between Order of service and female category, BCS class and female genetic group (impact of BCS: <em>Bos taurus</em> or crossbreed animals &gt; <em>Bos indicus</em>), BCS and female category (impact of BC:S Suckling &gt; non-Suckling categories), female category and time of female availability, female category and female genetic group, female category and climatic region, and climatic region and period of the year. Farm, technician, and sire were the variables with the highest predictive ability for P/AI. At the same time, breeding season, climatic region, and time of female availability were the variables with the lowest predictive ability. In conclusion, the main female intrinsic factors that affected fertility in commercial beef cattle A.I. programs were the Order of service, BCS class, female category, and female genetic group. The female extrinsic factors that most affected P/AI were the breeding season and the climatic region. Farm, A.I. technician, sire, and the interaction between the female category and BCS class were the variables with the highest predictive abilities on pregnancy per TAI. Conjunctural factors, which are more adjustable, have a higher impact on P/AI prediction ability than structural factors. Thus, farm management and structure, A.I. technician, bull semen, and female BCS should be the main factors of attention to obtain good results in applying this biotechnology in beef cattle. Despite the influence of each factor, this study demonstrated the usefulness of analyzing big databases, allowing to determine effects that cannot be studied with experimental approaches, providing a complementary approach to decide where to focus future studies to enhance TAI pregnancy rates in beef cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101410"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143041927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review: A systematic review of dairy cow health, welfare, and behaviour in year-round loose range housing","authors":"W.J. Harvey ,&nbsp;L. Petrokofsky ,&nbsp;M.W. Jordon ,&nbsp;G. Arnott ,&nbsp;L.W. von Walter ,&nbsp;A. Malik ,&nbsp;T. Carter ,&nbsp;L.S. Wade ,&nbsp;G. Petrokofsky","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic review compares the health, welfare, and behaviour of dairy cows in year-round loose housing systems against those kept in other housing systems in temperate regions. Year-round loose housing systems comprised housing where dairy cows had no access to the outdoors or only had access to a yard, pen or run. The comparator housing systems also comprised housing with and without outdoor access (including grazing). To contribute to evidence-informed policy, a systematic evidence evaluation was undertaken to assess the scientific evidence base for this question, and determine whether the evidence base is robust enough to determine any association between housing systems and health, welfare and natural behaviour in dairy cows. We assessed 11 181 references and reviewed 53 articles in detail following best practice guidance for systematic review. Seven different types of housing systems were compared and a total of 120 different Health, Welfare and Behaviour (<strong>HWB</strong>) outcomes were assessed, comprising 839 measurements for HWB. Results indicate both advantages and disadvantages of year-round loose-housing systems. These differences were not just between studies; there were also differences within-studies for individual HWB indicators. There was substantial heterogeneity in methods of collecting and measuring HWB outcomes across the studies; therefore, a robust statistical test (such as meta-analysis) of correlation between potential explanatory variables and HWB outcomes was not possible for any housing comparison or any individual HWB measurement. Assessing the evidence base systematically as a whole, there is only weak evidence that year-round loose-housing is either better or worse than housing systems with grazing for the health and welfare of dairy cows. There is also only weak evidence that year-round loose-housing is either better or worse than housing systems with any outdoor access, including but not limited to grazing, for the health and welfare of dairy cows. Variation in data reporting across studies is too great to allow robust statistical analysis of the direct effects of loose-housing systems and/or grazing on the health and welfare of dairy cows. Data are also often presented in an aggregated form that limits meaningful comparisons. For future research, data collected should be made freely available in a disaggregated form to enable robust meta-analysis to be conducted. In order to change policies and practices, based on evidence, more standardised primary research studies, measuring welfare indicators, including behaviour, are necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101411"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143061044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short communication: Genomic prediction based on unbiased estimation of the genomic relationship matrix in pigs","authors":"M.Y. Li ,&nbsp;L.Y. Shi ,&nbsp;D.E. MacHugh ,&nbsp;X.Q. Wang ,&nbsp;J.J. Tian ,&nbsp;L.G. Wang ,&nbsp;Y.J. Deng ,&nbsp;L.X. Wang ,&nbsp;F.P. Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The traditional genomic relationship matrix (<strong>GRM</strong>) has shown to be a biased estimation of true kinship, which can affect subsequent genetic analyses. In this study, we employed an unbiased kinship (<strong>UKin</strong>) estimation method within the genomic best linear unbiased prediction framework to evaluate its prediction performance on both a simulated dataset and a Large White pig dataset. The simulated dataset encompasses six traits, 900 quantitative trait loci, and 36 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (<strong>SNPs</strong>). Two scenarios (small effect genes; major genes and small effect genes) and three heritabilities (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) were considered. The Large White pig dataset includes two traits, 3 290 animals and 35 172 SNPs. The prediction performance of the Ukin method was compared with several other GRM construction methods, including VanRaden1 and 2 methods, Goudet method, and the runs of homozygosity (<strong>ROH</strong>) method. In the simulated dataset, VanRaden2 method and the UKin+VanRaden1 method achieved relatively higher prediction accuracies, averaging 0.561 and 0.558 for the six traits, respectively. Apart from the ROH method, all methods demonstrated similar levels of unbiasedness, around 1.10. In the Large White pig dataset, the accuracy of two traits hovered around 0.780, and the unbiasedness around 0.99, again with the ROH method as an exception. This study underscores the potential of the unbiased kinship estimation method in animal breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 2","pages":"Article 101402"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143015043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}